Shane West’s Bane may not be the villain “Gotham” deserves, but he’s the one it needs — or at least has — right now.
“Gotham” is now filming its fifth and final season. Fans will see the results in 2019. But fans have already seen the first looks at Shane West as DC Comics villain Bane. And many are unimpressed — so far.
“Gotham” writer/producer Tze Chun shared the first photo of West’s Bane:
According to EW, Bane will be introduced as Eduardo Dorrance, a former Army friend of Jim Gordonās (Ben McKenzie), who is gradually transformed into the supervillain.
Showrunner John Stephens described this Bane as āvery, very strong, and very angry ā¦ we made him integral to the fact of coming in as a special ops government agent.”
“Gotham” Season 4 ended with “No Man’s Land,” as Gotham was mostly evacuated and overrun by villains. Only a few — including Bruce Wayne — stayed behind to try and keep the peace in the city.
Those guys wrote “Zombieland” and the first two “Deadpool” movies (which were all rated R). Now they are in early talks to write a script for a reboot of Disney’s PG-13 “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise.
That’s the scoop from Deadline. The site added that Jerry Bruckheimer would continue to produce the films. That’s basically all the intel they had, but more drips and drabs will surely leak out as this moves forward.
The billion dollar question is whether Johnny Depp would be involved. It’s a reboot, but who knows what that might mean in terms of cast or story.
Would Disney be disinclined to acquiesce to fans’ request for more (Captain) Jack Sparrow?
Yeah, he can be controversial — and the James Gunn situation showed how little Disney wants to be even semi-controversial — but Depp is also their “Pirates” cash cow. Does this franchise work (make $$$) without him?
The most recent film with Depp’s Sparrow — the fifth film in the series, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” — was released in 2017 and made just under $800 million worldwide. That sounds damn good but it was the second-lowest grossing movie in the series. It was also panned by critics and only got lukewarm user reviews from viewers.
Back in August, rumors spread — via The GWW — that Disney was still moving forward on “Pirates of the Caribbean 6.” They said “Dead Men Tell No Tales” co-director Joachim RĆønning might return, with a script seeming to be in progress by writers Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, and Jeff Nathanson.
No idea what’s going on with that, or how it — if it happens — it could relate to this reboot idea. Just grab some rum (unless it’s gone again) and stay tuned.
TVD’s very familiar town of Mystic Falls will be front and center for the series, which is based at the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted. Apparently some students in that school will be joining in a TVD tradition — the Miss Mystic Falls pageant.
Here’s what Executive Producer Julie Plec told TV Guide:
“We are just now sitting down to start talking about Miss Mystic Falls. We’ve really enjoyed incorporating some of the traditions that we established over the course of ‘The Vampire Diaries’… and who doesn’t love a good, totally sexist, dated beauty pageant?”
Oof. That pageant was visited three times over the course of “The Vampire Diaries” — in Season 1, Season 4, and Season 8.
The first time was for the Season 1, Episode 19 episode called “Miss Mystic Falls.” In that episode, Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) told Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) that her mother was really into Founders Day and was even Miss Mystic “in her day.” So she wanted to do the pageant for her mom.
Caroline Forbes (Candice King) ended up being named Miss Mystic Falls that year, so it would be nice to see her return for the new version — especially since it sounds like her twin daughters will be involved.
“I’ll tell you who is really, really ready to get into that competition is the daughters of Miss Mystic Falls herself, Josie (Kaylee Bryant) and Lizzie Saltzman (Jenny Boyd). That being said, each girl has really sort of been on a journey over the course of the season, and their feelings about this pageant aren’t necessarily what you might think. Certainly we know Hope MikaelsonĀ (Danielle Rose Russell) has never once in her life ever wanted to wear a beauty crown, and when things take a turn in her life, she just might find herself smack in the middle of the competition.”
Interesting. We don’t know when that episode will air, but it sounds like it will be a while.
“Legacies” also brings back TVD’s Alaric Saltzman (Matthew Davis), Sheriff Matt Donovan (Zach RoerigĀ ), and Jeremy Gilbert (Steven R. McQueen). Caroline Forbes will be missing at least at the start of “Legacies,” and her absence will be mentioned.
“Legacies” premieres Thursday, October 25 at 9/8 p.m. on The CW.
Bloody Disgusting reports that LeBron James and his Springhill Entertainment are in talks with Vertigo Entertainment for this “Friday the 13th” reboot. Apparently LeBron is a huge horror fan, and BD even dug up one of his old tweets on the franchise:
Friday the 13th! Jason Vorhees is one of my favorites. Still don't understand how he caught people running and he just walked though.
However, it appears to be early days on the talks, and there may be some legal snags to get through.
According to Screen Rant, the franchise has stalled since the 2009 reboot, due in large part to legal issues concerning distribution rights. Victor Miller — who wrote the script for the first “Friday the 13th” movie in 1980, creating the character of Jason Voorhees — just won a legal battle against producers Horror, Inc. That gives Miller the rights, for now, although the producers are appealing the latest judgment.
There have been 12 films in the franchise so far, from 1980 to 2009, along with a TV show, games, and merchandising — including Jason’s mask, which has been a Halloween costume favorite for decades.
Interestingly enough, Blumhouse chief Jason Blum has also mentioned wanting to do a “Friday the 13th” movie. He just had a massive success bringing back “Halloween,” so — no offense to LeBron James — if it came down to LeBron vs. Blumhouse, we’d go with the proven track record. But it’s not going to come down to us.
Stay tuned for any developments on Jason’s latest slasher.
“Happy Death Day” is getting a horror-comedy sequel called “Happy Death Day 2U.” The Blumhouse film arrives in theaters like a bouquet of thorny roses on February 14, 2019.
The “Happy Death Day 2U” trailer has yet to be released online. As Bloody Disgusting noted, Blumhouse did the same thing with “Unfriended: Dark Web” earlier this year — debuting the trailer in theaters and then waiting a few weeks before the trailer showed up online.
But! At least we get this tasty poster, with a nice callback to the first film in that cupcake:
Blumhouse/Universal
Christopher Landon directed the first film, and he also returned to write and direct the sequel, which brings backĀ Jessica RotheĀ as the perpetually ill-fated Tree Gelbman.
“Chris has done this incredible thing where the sequel, the way he described it to me, elevates the movie from being a horror movie ā and I wouldn’t even say it’s just a horror movie because it’s a horror, comedy, rom-com drama ā into a ‘Back to the Future’ type of genre film where the sequel joins us right from where we left off, it explains a lot of things in the first one that didn’t get explained, and it elevates everything. I was really pleased to know that we weren’t just gonna be pushing all the buttons that people loved the first time, over and over again, ’cause I think that gets old.”
“Iām extremely proud of the second movie. Itās better than the first movie, it takes it further. Chris Landon got the tone right, and youāre going to love it.”
“Happy Death Day 2U” arrives in theaters on February 14, 2019.
Guillermo del Toro does ______ immediately has our time and attention, and usually takes our money.
In this case, the Oscar-winning director for “The Shape of Water” doesn’t need our money ’cause we’re already giving it to Netflix each month.
According to TheWrap, del Toro has decided to set up his “Pinocchio” passion project at Netflix, with production expected to begin this fall.
The Jim Henson Company and ShadowMachine will work with del Toro on the stop-motion animation production. This will mark del Toro’s first time directing (co-directing, withĀ Mark Gustafson) an animated feature film. He’s also going to co-write and produce the film, which was described as “a stop-motion musical.”
Del Toro created DreamWorks Animation’s “Trollhunters” computer-animated series for Netflix, and it sounds like that relationship sealed the deal for the streamer to get this project.
In a statement, Guillermo del Toro told TheWrap more about his vision for the film:
“No art form has influenced my life and my work more than animation and no single character in history has had as deep of a personal connection to me as Pinocchio.
In our story, Pinocchio is an innocent soul with an uncaring father who gets lost in a world he cannot comprehend. He embarks on an extraordinary journey that leaves him with a deep understanding of his father and the real world.
Iāve wanted to make this movie for as long as I can remember. After the incredible experience we have had on āTrollhunters,ā I am grateful that the talented team at Netflix is giving me the opportunity of a lifetime to introduce audiences everywhere to my version of this strange puppet-turned-real-boy.”
We’re all familiar with the 1940 Disney film “Pinocchio,” but the children’s book “Le avventure di Pinocchio” — “The Adventures of Pinocchio” — was published in 1883 byĀ Italian author Carlo Collodi.
Before winning Best Director and Best Picture last year for “The Shape of Water,” del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth” team won Oscars for makeup, production design, and cinematography. He’s pretty discerning about directing features, with a relatively short list from the early 1990s to today, including “Cronos,” “Mimic,” “Hellboy,” “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “Blade II,” “Pacific Rim,” and “Crimson Peak.”
Ian Somerhalder is a one-man marketing machine. He’s on a mission to get you to watch “V-Wars” … whenever it premieres on Netflix.
“The Vampire Diaries” alum just finished filming his upcoming vampire show. This time, he does not play a vampire. Instead, he plays Dr. Luther Swann, who…
“…enters a world of horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne (Adrian Holmes), into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these vampires. Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.”
“V-Wars” is based on the IDW anthology series “V-Wars: Chronicles of the Vampire Wars” by Jonathan Maberry.
Somerhalder shared the first look at his character on set back in August. Now it’s October, and filming has just wrapped in Canada.
Somerhalder shared a couple of Instagram posts on the topic, including some early impassioned pitches for a Season 2 renewal:
As he notes, now it’s time for post-production editing and visual effects work. It’s not clear when Netflix plans to release this series, but Mr. Smolderhotter will definitely let everyone know.
To prove Kylo Ren is not a spoiled child, Disney protected him from the gentle mockery of “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”
That’ll show ’em!
The “Wreck-It Ralph” sequel, “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” has several in-house jokes about favorites in the Disney/Lucasfilm/Marvel family. We’ve seen a lot about the Disney princesses, and there will be some “Star Wars” references. But there will not be a shot at Adam Driver‘s character, Kylo Ren.
Directors Rich MooreĀ andĀ Phil Johnston, and head of story Josie Trinidad, told IGN about the joke Disney nixed:
āAt one point we had a joke about Kylo Ren being kind of a spoiled child,ā Moore said. āWe went to Lucasfilm and said, hereās what weāre doing. And they said, well, weād prefer that you donāt show him as a spoiled child. You know, he is our villain, and weād prefer you donāt do that. So we were respectful of that.”
The filmmakers did get to take some “playful jabs” at other characters, though, including showing C-3PO as the Disney princesses’ butler. Johnson said that “felt like thatās of his character. Itās really loving satire that weāre doing.”
Disney has the Force to stop one of its own films from mocking Kylo Ren, but it had no such power over “Saturday Night Live.” Based on this reaction, they must’ve LOVED Adam Driver’s “Star Wars Undercover Boss: Starkiller Base” sketch. That video has more than 35 million views, and includes Kylo insults like this:
“Kylo Ren is a punk bitch. That guy looks like he weighs 30 pounds soaking wet under that little black dress.”
Yeah, “SNL” is comedy aimed at adults, but it’s still kind of surprising that Disney was so thin-skinned about calling Kylo a spoiled child. Because Kylo Ren is in fact a spoiled brat who killed his own dad and pouts all the time like a kid in constant tantrum mode over not getting to play Xbox.
“Ralph Breaks the Internet” opens in theaters November 21st, 2018. Kylo Ren will probably be just as much of a spoiled baby in “Star Wars: Episode IX,” which opens December 20, 2019.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “the cancellation was due to creative differences and the inability to agree to terms for a third season of the show.”
A lot memories. A lot of individual thank you calls to make. Just want to say thank you to Marvel, Netflix, the best Writerās room, cast, crew, the Midnight Hour, all those who graced the stage at Harlemās Paradise and the most incredible fan base in the world. Forward always…
But it’s the message from Finn Jones — who plays Iron Fist on that other recently canceled Netflix/Marvel series — that really got fans’ hopes up for a new series:
Many fans think that’s a tease for an Iron Fist/Luke Cage team-up, which happened in Marvel Comics with the “Heroes for Hire” series. The two lads teamed up for a private investigation operation.
So now fans wonder if the upcoming Disney streaming service — expected to launch late 2019 — will bring back both heroes for that series. When “Iron Fist” was canceled, we were among the many to suspect the Disney streamer would bring it back. Now that Luke Cage is leaving Netflix too, that suspicion is even stronger.
There definitely seems to be interest out there. So if Disney was just considering the idea, the fan responses should help sway them forward. We’ll see what they do, if anything, once that streaming service is up and running in late 2019.
It’s a dark and stormy night across most of this week’s haunted offerings — but not with this lot.
The “Mamma Mia!” sequel gang is all bright island colors, songs, dances, and exclamation points! “Here We Go Again” is releasing on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and On Demand October 23. There’s a special Sing-Along Edition with so very many bonus features. The behind-the-scenes cast extras, deleted scenes, extended songs, and enhanced sing-alongs go on and on.
“The Americans” Season 6
“The Americans: The Complete Final Season” is finally ready for home viewing on DVD starting Tuesday, Oct. 23.
Matthew Rhys just picked up an Emmy for his work here,Ā while Keri Russell was ROBBED, damn the world! The show also won a writing Emmy for its series finale. Watch how the Russian spy couple’s story ends, as one of the greatest shows of all time says “dosvidaniya.”
“Sorry to Bother You” This surreal look at capitalism, corporate greed, and fractured workplace dynamics arrives on Blu-ray and DVD October 23.
In an alternate present-day version of Oakland, CA, struggling telemarketer Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) discovers a magical key to professional success, which propels him into a macabre universe. Extras include “Beautiful Clutter with Director Boots Riley,” “The Cast of Sorry to Bother You,” “The Art of the White Voice,” and commentary with director Boots Riley.
Check out this exclusive bonus clip on Armie Hammer‘s character:
“After a super-virus has turned humankind into highly intelligent, streamlined killers, an asymptomatic victim (Matt Smith) who can communicate with the infected, must lead the last survivors on a hunt for Patient Zero and a cure.”
This very dark take on Sabrina the Teenage witch comes from the “Riverdale” producers and may eventually someday crossover with that CW show. In the meantime, get to know half-witch, half-mortal Sabrina (Kiernan Shipka), who has to make a choice between her two worlds on her 16th birthday. The magic happens October 26. Check out the trailer.
“Castlevania” Season 2 (Netlix Original) “Raise hell!” Inspired by the video games, the “Castlevania” series follows a vampire hunter who fights to save a besieged city from an army of otherwordly beasts controlled by Dracula himself. Season 2 streams October 26, only on Netflix.
“Bodyguard” (Netflix Original)
Robb. Stark. LIVES. Maybe not, but Richard Madden and his fantastic voice are alive and well in this TV drama, which streams starting October 24.
“Set in and around the corridors of power, ‘Bodyguard’ tells the story of David Budd (Richard Madden), a heroic, but volatile, war veteran now working as a Specialist Protection Officer for Londonās Metropolitan Police Service. When he is assigned to protect the ambitious Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes), Budd finds himself torn between his duty and his beliefs. Responsible for her safety, could he become her biggest threat?”
“Terrorism Close Calls” (Netflix Original)
This 10-part investigative series follows the world’s deadliest terror plots — from a planned attack on the New York City subway system in 2009, to plots planned for Germany, Israel, and Australia. Each episode showcases a plot that was disrupted, and how. Check it out October 26.
The Spike LeeĀ film arrives on Digital/Movies Anywhere on October 23; you can see it on Blu-ray, DVD, 4K Ultra HD, and On Demand November 6.Ā Extras include the “BlacKkKlansman” extended trailer featuring Princeās āMary Donāt You Weep”; plus the featurette “A Spike Lee Joint,” with producer Jordan Peele, cast, and film subject Ron Stallworth discussing the unique experience of working with director Spike Lee.
As a U.S. Army colonel (Willis) trains Chinese aviators to battle Japanese fighters, a hotheaded pilot begs to fly a powerful bomber that could stop the attacks. Meanwhile, a team of spies and refugees must carry a game-changing decoder device through the war-torn countryside.Ā Check out the trailer.
“Killer Kate!” Danielle Burgess,Ā Tiffany Shepis, and Alexandra Feld star in this horror film available in select theaters and available on Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, YouTube Movies, and On Demand October 26.
“Estranged sisters Kate and Angie havenāt spoken since Angie went to college and left Kate to care for their ailing father. In a show of reconciliation, several years after moving out, Angie invites Kate to her bachelorette party held at a remote house booked on a home-sharing app. The women are unaware that by booking this house, theyāre walking into a trap set in motion by a disturbed family of amateur killers who are out for blood to right a cosmic wrong.” Here’s the red band trailer.
TV Worth Watching
“Midnight, Texas” Season 2 (Friday on NBC at 9 p.m.)NBC
Yes, the supernatural drama “Midnight, Texas” is finally back — and at the perfect time of year. The NBC series is based on the books by Charlaine Harris (“True Blood”) set in a remote Texas town that’s a mysterious safe haven for those who are a bit “different.” Season 2 starts with “Head Games” on October 26 at 9 p.m.: “Manfred discovers the strange dreams he’s having are disturbingly real just as Midnight’s newfound peace is disrupted by the arrival of energy healer Kai, his wife, Patience, and an influx of followers to their newly opened spa retreat in Midnight.”
“Legacies” (Thursday on The CW at 9 p.m.)
“The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals” had a baby, and that baby now has her own show. The “her” is basically “The Originals” character Hope Mikaelson, one of the stars of “Legacies,” which is set at the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted run by TVD character Alaric Saltzman. (And Caroline Forbes, when she’s around).
“Legacies” premieres October 25, and boss Julie Plec said the first few episodes “play into what’s going on with the school and the town of Mystical Falls.” Episode 1 is called “This Is the Part Where You Run.”
“Ray Donovan” Season 6 (Sunday on Showtime at 9 p.m.) Liev Schreiber‘s drama was renewed for a 12-episode sixth season, premiering this Sunday, October 28 with “Staten Island – Part 1”: “Ray is pulled from the East River by Police Officer Sean ‘Mac’ McGrath.
Taken over the bridge to Staten Island, Ray finds a chance at a new life, but it is interrupted when Sam Winslow comes calling. With the ghosts of his past returning, and his father Mickey plotting something in prison, Ray may not have a choice but to return to his roots.”
Jeff Neumann/FOX, via EW
Netflix
