Moviefone Editorial

Author: Jami Philbrick

  • Breaking Down the ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer

    Tom Holland in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
    Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    On Tuesday, November 16th, Sony and Disney released the final trailer for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ which opens in theaters on December 17th. With just a month to go until the release, promotion is kicking into high-gear, as they released the first poster last week, and a second this week that adds Benedict Cumberbatch to the background. The new trailer expands on the film’s plot, which we knew very little about previously other than that Peter Parker will go to Doctor Strange and ask him to make the world forget he is Spider-Man, and that opens up all kinds of Multiverse trouble. The trailer also features more footage of the villains, as well as our first look at Oscar winner Jamie Foxx reprising his role as Electro from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ Unfortunately, Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield do not appear in the final trailer, as many fans had hoped, and there is no confirmation that they will ultimately appear in the movie at all.

    The trailer begins with Peter Parker explaining to MJ that since he was bitten by that spider, he’s only had one good week, and that was the week he told her the truth about who he is. We then cut to the Sanctum Sanctorum, where Doctor Strange explains that ever since Peter made him “botch that spell” to have everyone forget that he is Spider-Man, they’ve been “getting some visitors from every universe.” We then cut to the action scene on the bridge, and get our first look at the Green Goblin flying out of a cloud of smoke above Spider-Man. We then see Spider-Man in his black costume dodging yellow lightning, followed by Doctor Octopus’ introduction on the bridge where Alfred Molina’s character unmasks Spider-Man and says, “You’re not Peter Parker.”

    Alfred Molina in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
    Alfred Molina in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    The next shot shows Doctor Octopus captured in some kind of cell and surrounded by Peter, MJ, and Ned. Peter asks him his name, and he replies, “Doctor Otto Octavius.” The kids then laugh at him, and Peter says, “No, seriously, what’s your real name?” This is a callback to the joke between Peter and Doctor Strange in ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ After another shot of Peter in the black costume, doing some sort of “Doctor Strange magic” with his wrist, we cut back to the Sanctum Sanctorum where Strange is yelling at Peter, MJ and Ned. He says, “There are others out there. We need to send them back, so, Scooby-Doo this crap!” After making the Mystery Gang reference, MJ is having none of it and replies, “You know, all of this is kind of your mess. I know a couple of magic words myself, starting with the word please.” To which Strange smiles and says, “Please… Scooby-Doo this crap!”

    Jamie Foxx in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
    Jamie Foxx in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    After a shot of a sandstorm and yellow electricity flowing through the streets surrounding Oscar winner J.K. Simmons reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson, we see Alfred Molina’s character say to Peter and his friends, “You’re flying out into the darkness to fight ghosts.” Peter asks him to explain what he means, and we cut to Strange saying that all the multiverse villains “die fighting Spider-Man” and that it is “their fate.” Not excepting that as the truth, Peter then steals a “magic box” from Strange and the two fight in the streets before taking their battle to on top of a moving train. Spider-Man says, “There must be another way,” and Strange shouts, “There isn’t. They are a danger to our universe.” We then get our first shot of Jamie Foxx reprising his role as Electro. He looks much more like his comic book counterpart this time around, with yellow lightning, not blue, and it forms around his head in pointed triangles, replicating the character’s original comic book costume. Electro is fighting Spider-Man, floating in the air and says, “You’ll never take this away from me,” before he shoots lightning at our hero.

    Willem Dafoe in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
    Willem Dafoe in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    After a few more action shots of Spider-Man swinging through the air, we hear Willem Dafoe’s voice as the Green Goblin saying, “Peter, you’re struggling to have everything you want while the world tries to make you choose.” We then get a great shot of Green Goblin, who certainly looks like the Dafoe version, fighting Spider-Man at the Statue of Liberty. After an explosion, we see Electro in the same shot as the Lizard, at the Statue of Liberty with the Sandman’s giant head forming behind them. Then we cut to Peter and MJ, and he tells her, “This is all my fault. I can’t save everyone.” We cut back to the Statue of Liberty and Spider-Man starts to go to battle against Electro, Lizard and Sandman. The trailer ends with MJ falling off of the Statue of Liberty, and then Spider-Man diving after to save her.

    Electro, Sandman, and The Lizard in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
    Electro, Sandman, and The Lizard in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    It’s much clearer to me now as to what the basic premise of the story is and what the movie is really all about. We knew that Peter was going to ask Strange to cast a spell, so everyone would forget he’s Spider-Man, and that would lead to villains from other Spider-Man movies to appear through the multiverse, possibly creating a Sinister Six. While that is the setup, I think the plot will have more to do with Strange ordering Peter to “kill” these “variants,” and Spider-Man refusing to do it. This will also add drama to the trailer’s cliffhanger where MJ is falling to her death, which we know has happened with other versions of the character. Will Peter let MJ die, and would he sacrifice another life just to save hers? I think that may be the larger question that the film is dealing with, and multiverse villains is just the icing on the cake.

    Zendaya and Tom Holland in 'Spider-Man: No Way Home'
    Zendaya and Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    But I still wouldn’t expect Tobey McGuire or Andrew Garfield to appear, and based on that trailer, I’m not even sure where you could fit them in. The only way I can think that you could have one or both of the former Spider-Man actors still appear is if they show up towards the end of the movie somehow and give Tom Holland’s Peter the confidence to save everyone, including the bad guys. What we do know is that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ will feature Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, and maybe Willem Dafoe, reprising their previous MCU and Spider-Man franchise roles, and it will be release in theaters on December 17th.

    You can watch the trailer below:
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  • Review: ‘King Richard’ Showcases a Bravura Performance from Will Smith

    (L to R) Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Will Smith as Richard Williams in 'King Richard'
    (L to R) Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Will Smith as Richard Williams in ‘King Richard’

    Opening in theaters on November 19th is the new biopic ‘King Richard,’ which chronicles the life of Richard Williams, father of tennis legends Venus and Serena. The film stars Oscar-nominee Will Smith in the title role and follows his character’s journey to make his two youngest daughters the greatest tennis players of all-time. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (‘Monsters and Men’), the movie also features Jon Bernthal (‘The Punisher’), Tony Goldwyn (‘Scandal’), Dylan McDermott (‘Olympus Has Fallen’), Aunjanue Ellis (‘The Help’), and Saniyya Sidney (‘Hidden Figures’) and Demi Singleton (‘Godfather of Harlem’) as Venus and Serena, respectively. The result is an inspiring feel-good movie with an Oscar-level performance from Smith, and excellent supporting turns from Ellis, Sidney and Singleton.

    The film begins in Los Angeles in the early 1990s and shows Richard Williams (Smith) hustling to get tennis balls to practice with for his two youngest girls, Venus (Sidney) and Serena (Singleton), who he believes are preordained to be the greatest tennis players of all-time. Living in Compton and working several jobs to make ends meet, Richard and his wife Oracene (Ellis) have a strict plan to take their girls to the top of the tennis world, which up to this point has been dominated by white, upper-class players. Practicing on dangerous community park courts at night will only take the girls so far, and the Williams realize that in order to go the distance, the girls will need professional training.

    After rejections from some of the best coaches in the game, who simply dismiss Venus and Serena based on their skin color and financial situation, Richard refuses to give up and eventually convinces Wimbledon champion John McEnroe’s coach, Paul Cohen (Goldwyn), to train the girls. He realizes right away how special they are but can only take one of them on as his student and chooses Venus because she is older. Cohen takes Venus on the junior circuit, where she dominates, but he bumps heads with Richard when he decides Venus will not compete again until she goes pro. Eventually, Richard convinces legendary Tennis coach Rick Massi (Bernthal) to take Venus under his wing, and the Williams family moves to Florida, so she can train full time. Meanwhile, felling left-out but still supporting her sister, Serena begins training with her mother, who “fixes” her serve.

    The drama escalates as both Venus and Rick try to convince Richard that she is ready to go pro. On the verge of her first big professional win, Nike offers her a 3-million-dollar contract, which she declines, wanting the world to see how good she is before she takes the money, which does end up working to her advantage in the end. But, on the eve of Venus becoming the #1 ranked tennis player in the world, Serena is feeling left-out again, when her father finally lets her in on his ultimate plan. He tells her that while he always knew Venus would “open the door,” he believes that someday Serena will become the greatest to ever play the game, which of course, is exactly what happened.

    While I loved the movie, and found it to be both touching and inspirational, I have to get one thing off my chest first. The concept that the two greatest tennis players in the history of the game would be supporting characters in their own story is problematic. While Richard is the lead character, I’m happy to say that Will Smith’s performance, as good as it is, does not over-shadow the importance of Venus and Serena’s own story. But it’s important to note that both Venus and Serena Williams are producers on the film and signed off on it, likely as a love letter to their late dad. That’s important because they clearly wanted this story told, putting the focus on their father’s sacrifices for their success, rather than their own personal triumphs.

    On that level the film definitely works, but it also does not shy away from showing Richard warts and all, as the character can be insensitive and overbearing at times, and as the film demonstrates, also had several other children from other relationships that he tried to hide from Oracene and the rest of his family. Richard Williams was not a perfect person, and I appreciate that the filmmakers and Smith included that, rather than depicting him as a saint. But what is clear from the film and Smith’s performance is how much Richard loved and believed in his girls, even when no one else would, and how he fought tirelessly for their chance at success.

    Will Smith has previously been nominated twice for Best Actor Academy Awards. First for 2002’s ‘Ali,’ for which I think he should have won, and secondly for 2007’s ‘The Pursuit of Happiness.’ Will Smith will receive an Oscar nomination for his performance in ‘King Richard,’ and in a fairly weak year for leading men, he likely will win, both because his performance is a career achievement, and also for the overall body of his work. And don’t think that love for the Williams sisters and their achievements won’t also play a part in his ultimately winning the award, if that does come to pass. The performance is a breakthrough for Smith, playing a well-intended but flawed character, and he does it with all the charm and charisma we expect from the “Artist formerly known as the Fresh Prince.”

    I also want to mention Jon Bernthal and Tony Goldwyn, who are both great and give really fun performances as Venus and Serena’s coaches, Rick Massi and Paul Cohen, respectively. But please don’t overlook the truly fantastic supporting performances from the female members of the cast, especially Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton. As Richard’s wife, Oracene, Ellis is brilliant and completely holds her own against Smith. In fact, the veteran actress got some of the biggest reactions in the movie from the audience at the screening I attended and will likely earn herself a Best Supporting nomination as well.

    But as good as Smith and Ellis are, the film simply would not work if the actresses playing Venus and Serena were not completely believable, both as well-known characters and tennis players. Sidney and Singleton are both equally wonderful in their roles and bring their characters completely alive in a very vulnerable way, which could have been a real challenge for the young actresses seeing how famous the characters they are playing are. While I would love to have seen more of their characters’ points of view in the film, I understand that the focus was on Richard, and Sidney and Singleton’s performances compliment Smith’s.

    Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (‘Monsters and Men’), the film is not perfect, and ended on a bit of a down note for essentially a sports film. However, since we know about the real-life success both Venus and Serena will go on to achieve in the sport, I understand why the movie concluded as it did. In the end, ‘King Richard’ isn’t about tennis, and in a way it’s not even about the Williams sisters, it’s about a man’s resilience and his commitment to his family and their dreams. With an inspiring story, and powerhouse performances by Smith and the rest of the cast, ‘King Richard’ is truly a feel-good movie that will resonate with audiences over the holiday season and may even produce some Oscar nominations during award season too.

    King Richard gets 8.5 out of 10 stars.

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  • Review: ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Mostly Recaptures the Magic

    Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Logan Kim in 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife'
    Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Logan Kim in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’

    Opening in theaters on November 19th is ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife,’ which is the fourth film in the franchise and a direct sequel to ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘Ghostbusters II.’ Written and directed by Jason Reitman (‘Up in the Air’), son of the original film’s director Ivan Reitman, the new movie is set over 30-years after the original and follows a group of kids in Oklahoma who discover their town is plagued with ghosts and that they have a mysterious direct connection to one of the famed Ghostbusters. The new film stars Mckenna Grace (‘Captain Marvel’), Finn Wolfhard (‘It’), Carrie Coon (‘Avengers: Infinity War’), and Paul Rudd (‘Ant-Man’), as well as Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and Sigourney Weaver reprising their roles. The result is a really fun movie that has fantastic new characters but relies heavily on nostalgia and basically copies the first film’s plot.

    After she is evicted from her apartment, Callie Spengler (Coon) movies her kids, Phoebe (McKenna) and Trevor (Wolfhard), to her recently deceased estranged father’s abandoned home in Summerville, Oklahoma. The town is experiencing unusual daily earthquakes, while Phoebe and Trevor adjust to their new life. Trevor gets a job at the local burger joint, so he can be closer to Lucky Domingo (Celeste O’Connor), the girl he likes who is also the Sheriff’s daughter. Meanwhile, Phoebe goes to summer school and makes a new friend, Podcast (Logan Kim), a young boy obsessed with recording everything. Trevor and Phoebe are discouraged by their mother to learn about their grandfather, who they never knew, but eventually Trevor discovers and begins to repair the Ecto-1, while Phoebe finds a hidden ghost trap beneath the floorboards of their house.

    Phoebe takes the ghost trap to class and her teacher, Mr. Grooberson (Rudd) explains the history of the Ghostbusters and everything that happened in New York in the 1980s, as they are completely unaware. Phoebe soon realizes that her grandfather was Egon Spengler, a member of the Ghostbusters. When a green ghost appears in Summerville, Phoebe, Trevor and Podcast use the Ecto-1 and a Proton Pack found in Egon’s hidden laboratory to capture the ghost but destroy half the town in the process and are arrested by Lucky’s dad. After a date with Mr. Grooberson, Callie picks her kids up from jail and tells them the truth about her father, that he was crazy and had turned his back on all his friends and family years ago. Believing that her town is about to become ground zero for the apocalypse, Phoebe calls the only people she thinks can help … the Ghostbusters. But with the team disbanded, it’s up to Phoebe and Trevor to follow in their grandfathers’ footsteps, along with Podcast and Lucky, and “suit up” to defeat the ghosts and ghouls plaguing their town.

    There are a lot of fun Easter Eggs in ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ that I want to try and not spoil, but surprisingly the best part of the film are the new characters and fresh setting. Mckenna Grace is absolutely captivating and creates a fun and rich character in Phoebe. She carries the emotional thrust of the film and builds a character that you want to follow and see more of in the future. Equally, Finn Wolfhard is super fun as Trevor and has great charisma and onscreen chemistry with Celeste O’Connor’s Lucky. Rounding out the foursome is Logan Kim’s terrific Podcast, who makes a great sidekick to Phoebe. In fact, the kids are so great in this film that you don’t really care when the original Ghostbusters show up, and that is part of the problem. Jason Reitman’s script works so well introducing us to the Spengler kids and the town of Sommerville, that it almost seems anticlimactic when Murray, Aykroyd and Hudson appear, which is not really a spoiler since the three actors have been doing press for the film.

    Another issue I have with the movie is that, other than a new cast and a fresh environment, the movie is almost exactly the same as the first, pretty much beat-for-beat. I’d say it is kin to ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ in that sense, which is not a bad thing per se. I’m a longtime fan of the ‘Ghostbusters’ franchise and I definitely think this is the best film since the original, but it would have been nice if the basic plot was slightly different. It’s still great to see the “big three” when they do appear, and their appearance does not overshadow the kids. There is also a wonderful tribute to the late great Harold Ramis in the film, which I won’t spoil, but just say that it was done very tastefully and handled better than, for example, Carrie Fisher’s inclusion in ‘The Rise of Skywalker.’ There are a few other cool cameos in the movie, as well as an all new version of the fan-favorite Slimer, and mini-Stay Puft Marshmallow men, which I thought was a fresh take on an old concept.

    Jason Reitman was definitely the right person to lead the franchise in this direction, and with the fun new characters he has definitely created something I would like to see more of, but in future installments hopefully it will be less reliant on the same old formula. Carrie Coon is strong as Phoebe and Trevor’s mom, struggling to get by and holding deep resentment for her own father. She also has great chemistry with Paul Rudd, who as always is adorably fun to see on screen. Rudd plays his character of Mr. Grooberson with hilarious enthusiasm, and you get the idea that the actor is having as much fun being in a Ghostbusters movie as his character is fighting ghosts. There is a clever twist with Callie and Mr. Grooberson’s relationship, that I have to admit I saw coming, but it still works within the context of the film. In the end, while it’s not as original a movie as you may have been led to believe, Jason Reitman still has found a way to breathe fresh life into the franchise his father created, establishing great new characters for a new generation of fans in a fun and entertaining, yet nostalgia-heavy film.

    ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

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  • How Does ‘Morbius’ Fit Into the MCU?

    Jared Leto in 'Morbius'
    Jared Leto in ‘Morbius’

    Last week, the new ‘Morbius‘ trailer dropped, which is the upcoming Sony/Marvel movie based on the popular Spider-Man villain. Directed by Daniel Espinosa (‘Safe House’) and set for release on January 28, 2022, the film tells the story of Michael Morbius (Oscar winner Jared Leto), a brilliant scientist with a rare blood disease who takes a dangerous cure that gives him a form of vampirism. In addition to Leto, the movie also features Matt Smith (‘Doctor Who’), Adria Arjona (‘Triple Frontier’), Tyrese Gibson (‘F9’) and Jared Harris (‘Foundation’).

    Since the film is based on a Spider-Man character, which is owned by Sony and not Disney, most assumed that ‘Morbius’ would be set in the ‘Venom’ universe, or even its own, but the new trailer certainly puts both of those options in question. Let’s take a look at all the different options, and the evidence in the trailer that points in those directions.

    EVIDENCE FOR THE ‘VENOM’ UNIVERSE

    There are several very clear references to Venom in the trailer. The clearest one comes at the very end when Leto’s Morbius attacks an unsuspecting victim and says Venom’s catchphrase, “I Am Venom.” Another clue comes halfway through the trailer when an FBI agent mentions to Gibson’s Agent Simon Stroud, “We haven’t had anything like this since that thing in San Francisco,” which seems to point to the events of ‘Venom,’ ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage,’ or both. While the “San Francisco” line could just be an Easter Egg, the “I am Venom” line seems like pretty concrete evidence that the movie is set in Venom’s world… or at least “a” Venom’s world.

    EVIDENCE FOR THE MCU

    When the first teaser trailer for ‘Morbius’ dropped earlier this year, fans were shocked to see that Michael Keaton makes an appearance as his character, Adrian Toomes/Vulture, from the MCU’s ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming.’ The scene is brief and involves the two Spidey villains bumping into each other while they are both in custody of the authorities. This scene, at least on the surface, points to the idea that Morbius, at least partially, will take place in the MCU.

    If this scene takes place towards the end of the movie, or is even from an end-credit scene, then it is possible the film starts in its own universe but that at some point Morbius crosses over to the MCU somehow. It’s not unheard of, spoiler alert for ‘Venom: There Will Be Carnage,’ as that is exactly what Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock does at the end of that film.

    There is even more evidence, as in one scene Morbius walks by a wanted poster that has a picture of Spider-Man, graffitied with the word “murderer,” which follows story threads from ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home.’ But there is one problem with that theory…

    EVIDENCE FOR THE TOBEY MAGUIRE UNIVERSE

    While the Spider-Man wanted poster fits with what we know about the upcoming ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ it’s not Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the picture! Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that this Spider-Man closer resembles Tobey Maguire’s version from the Sam Raimi films. Now of course there have been rumors that with the multiverse plot involved in ‘No Way Home,’ Tobey Maguire and/or Andrew Garfield could make an appearance. We know that two of each of their villains, Doc Ock and Sandman, and Lizard and Electro, respectively will make appearances. So, if Maguire in fact is going to appear in ‘No Way Home,’ and there is no real evidence at this point to believe that he will, it would make sense to sprinkle some of the character throughout ‘Morbius.’

    There is also more evidence pointing to the Raimi films, as the Daily Bugle logo seen on a newspaper in a quick shot in the trailer is the logo from the Tobey Maguire movies and not the Fox News type logo used in the MCU films. But wait, there are also some Easter eggs on the newspaper that would lead one to believe that the film is set in the same universe as the Andrew Garfield movies!

    EVIDENCE FOR THE ANDREW GARFIELD UNIVERSE

    If you look closely at the newspaper, you will see two headlines, one about the Rhino, and one that mentions Black Cat. The only live-action Spider-Man film to ever feature the Rhino was ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ which also included an appearance from Felicity Jones as Felisha Hardy, the character that becomes the Black Cat in the comics.

    But that’s not the only clue pointing to the Andrew Garfield films, as there is a wide-shot of the city’s skyline and in the background, you can spot a building with the Oscorp logo on it. It is clearly the same logo used for the company in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ movies, leading to more speculation that we could see Garfield put on the costume again in the future.

    FINAL CONCLUSIONS

    But what does this all mean? I think the point is that we are not supposed to know, and it may not even be made clear in ‘Morbius’ itself. We know that Sony, who owns the film rights to all Spider-Man characters, and Disney, which owns Marvel Studios, who owns the film rights to all the other Marvel characters, almost had a split after the success of ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home’ but eventually came to an agreement. What exactly that agreement was we don’t really know, but assumingly it allowed Sony to integrate some of their other Marvel characters into the MCU, like Venom, for example, and Disney obviously lent out Michael Keaton’s services as well.

    Knowing that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ at least in some way, will involve the multiverse, it makes sense to drop hints to all of the different cinematic Spider-Men in ‘Morbius,’ even if it’s being released after the MCU’s next installment. My guess is that the film itself will play fast and loose with whichever universe it is actually set in, and while I don’t think we should expect to see Leto in ‘No Way Home,’ I think Sony is definitely setting the stage so that the character could appear in the MCU at some point down the line. Not to mention that with a new Blade film starring Mahershala Ali on the horizon, as recently teased in ‘Eternals,’ there is no telling what type of crossovers we could see in the future.

  • Marvel, Star Wars, & Pixar Updates from the Disney+ Day Announcements

    On Friday, November 12th, Disney+ celebrated its second anniversary with Disney+ Day, where they announced literally dozens of upcoming series from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and more. The presentations, which include some new clips, first looks, and upcoming announcements, can currently be viewed on Disney+, but Moviefone is here to break it all down for you.

    MARVEL

    The Marvel video presentation, which is now available on Disney+, begins with recaps of all the 2021 Marvel series that have been released so far including ‘WandaVision,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ ‘Loki,’ and ‘What If…?’ Then we get an extended trailer for ‘Hawkeye,’ which drops on November 24th. We also got to see a full scene from the show, which involves Jeremey Renner’s Hawkeye and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop stealing a car and then getting into a chase while Hawkeye teaches Kate how to use his trick arrows. The sequence is one continuous shot, ending with the two heroes swinging off of a bridge on to a moving train.

    The official synopsis for the series confirms that it is set in a post-blip New York City and follows Clint Barton on a seemingly simple mission to get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with 22-year-old skilled archer Kate Bishop to unravel a criminal conspiracy. In addition to Renner and Stanfield, the series also features Vera Farmiga (‘The Departed’), Brian d’Arcy James (‘Spotlight’) and Florence Pugh reprising her ‘Black Widow’ role as Yelena Belova.

    The video presentation also includes fans first look at Oscar Isaac in ‘Moon Knight.’ The series will follow the story of this complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities that live inside him find themselves thrusted into a deadly war of the Gods against the backdrop of modern and ancient Egypt. The clips basically show Isaac’s Marc Spencer being tortured by his dreams, with the character’s voice-over explaining that to the audience. We only get very quick glimpses of Isaac in the Moon Knight outfit, but the presentation ends with him in full costume jumping off of rooftops with the Moon lit full behind him. Actor Ethan Hawke is also set to appear as the show’s big bad.

    We also got new footage from the upcoming series, ‘She-Hulk.’ The teaser is narrated by Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, as she explains that she is a lawyer but also, something else. There is a quick body shot of Jennifer fully-green with her comic book accurate costume, although it cuts away before we see She-Hulk’s face. We also get two glimpses of Mark Ruffalo, who returns as Jennifer’s cousin, Bruce Banner/Hulk.

    The first scene shows Bruce experimenting on Jennifer when she is just a child, presumably in a flashback, but what is interesting is that he is Smart Hulk in this scene. Since ‘Shang-Chi’ gave us an end-credit scene that revealed that at some point after the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Smart Hulk reverted back to Bruce, it makes you wonder if this scene takes place between ‘Endgame’ and ‘Shang-Chi.’ If that is the case, and Jennifer was a child during that time period, it makes you wonder if the bulk of the series itself will make a time jump and take place decades after ‘Endgame’? We also get a clip that looks more like a commercial, with Jennifer and Bruce dressed in retro clothes and Jennifer saying, “”Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” which is clearly a nod to the 1970’s series, The Incredible Hulk.

    The last series to get new footage in the video presentation was ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which stars Iman Vellani as 16-year-old Kamala Khan. A Pakistani American and a fan-girl of the Avengers, Kamala is overjoyed when she discovers she has superpowers, and now must use them to find her place in the world. The footage shows her revealing her iconic mask for the first time and ends with Kamala standing on a New Jersey rooftop wearing a Captain Marvel Halloween Costume and preparing to use her powers to fly for the first time. Vellani is set to reprise her role, along with Teyonah Parris from ‘WandaVision’ and Brie Larson, in the upcoming feature film, ‘The Marvels.’

    But that’s not it! Marvel also announced a slew of new upcoming shows, some of which had been rumored, and also confirmed that ‘Loki’ and ‘What If…?’ will be getting second seasons. In fact, ‘What If…?’ will also be getting a spinoff with the new animated series ‘Marvel Zombies,’ which imagines a world where Marvel’s heroes have been turned into the undead. Staying with animation, Disney+ also announced a sequel to the classic 90’s animated X-Men series entitled ‘X-Men ’97,’ as well as ‘Spider-Man: Freshman Year,’ which will look at Peter Parker’s first year in high school, and ‘I Am Groot,’ a series of original shorts starring everyone’s favorite sentient tree.

    On the live-action side, ‘Secret Invasion’ was confirmed, which is based on the popular Marvel Comics series. The show will bring Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos back together to fight a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years. Also confirmed were ‘Echo,’ which will star Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, who will be introduced in ‘Hawkeye,’ and James Gunn will write and direct ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

    Marvel also announced two new series based on the Iron Man franchise. First is ‘Armor Wars,’ which will star Don Cheadle reprising his role as War Machine. The second is ‘Ironheart,’ a series that will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Finally, Marvel confirmed the recent rumor that Kathryn Hahn will reprise her ‘WandaVision’ role as Agatha Harkness in her own series, which will be called ‘Agatha: House of Harkness.’

    LUCASFILM

    While there was no new footage included, fans got their first look at the making of the upcoming Star Wars series, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’ The video is narrated by director Debbie Chow and actor Ewan McGregor and explains what fans can expect from the new series. “For this character to come back, the fans have been waiting long enough,” said McGregor. Chow explained that this is a “dark time,” for Kenobi and that it is “not safe” for him with “Jedi hunters” on the rise. McGregor said that his character has one task, which is “to keep Luke safe,” but Chow explained how that is just a starting point for the series.

    “The most beautiful thing of all is that it has brought me back together with Hayden,” McGregor said about the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. “We couldn’t tell the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi without addressing Anakin or Darth Vader,” added Chow. We are then given some behind the scenes shots of McGregor at rehearsal practicing his lightsaber skills. “To have another swing at each other, might be quite satisfying for everybody,” the actor teased in closing.

    Disney+ also released a Boba Fett documentary called ‘Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett.’ It is mostly a “history of the character” video and does not include any new footage from the upcoming series ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ which premieres on December 29th.

    Finally, the presentation included a video from the set of the new series ‘Willow,’ which is based on the 1988 Ron Howard-directed and George Lucas-produced movie. The film’s star, Warwick Davis returns as the title character, and introduced the cast that includes Ruby Cruz (‘Mare of Easttown’), Erin Kellyman (‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’), and Tony Revolori (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’). The video was done “tongue in cheek” with Davis playing a version of his arrogant ‘Life’s Too Short’ character and getting upset when the younger cast can’t remember the original film and begin to question why anyone would want a sequel series!

    PIXAR

    Unfortunately, Pixar did not have a lot to announce outside of a Cars-based animated series called ‘Cars on the Road,’ which will feature Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their roles as Lightning McQueen and Mater, respectively. Other announcements from the animation company included behind the scenes documentaries for the upcoming feature films ‘Turning Red’ and ‘Lightyear,’ as well as a new series called ‘Win or Lose,’ which is an animated show that will highlight the perspectives of different characters as a middle school coed softball team prepares for their championship game.

    DISNEY STUDIOS AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

    On the Disney Studios side, a remake of ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ was announced, which will star Gabrielle Union (‘Bad Boys II’) and Zach Braff (‘Oz the Great and Powerful’) and is set to premiere in March 2022. ‘Enchanted’ fans will be happy to learn that the long-awaited sequel, ‘Disenchanted’ will hit the streaming network in the fall of 2022 and once again star Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. It was also announced that comedians John Mulaney and Andy Samberg will star in the new live-action/CG animation film entitled ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,’ which is based on Disney’s popular chipmunk characters and will premiere in the spring of 2022.

    Director Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Pinocchio,’ based on the Disney animated classic, will bow in the fall of 2022 as well, and stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, and Luke Evans, with the voices of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco. Also premiering in the fall of 2022, just in time for Halloween, is ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ which is a sequel to the cult classic 1990’s movie. Returning stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are all set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters in the new sequel. A new clip from Peter Jackson’s upcoming documentary, ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ was also released featuring the legendary band performing “I Got a Feeling” in rare behind the scenes footage. The three-part documentary launches on Disney+ November 25th.

    Disney also announced a new series based on the beloved best-selling novels ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles,’ as well as animated spinoff series from some of their most popular films, including Baymax from ‘Big Hero Six,’ Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ and’ Zootopia+,’ which opens up the world of ‘Zootopia.’ They also announced ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild,’ which will star Simon Pegg as his ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ character.

    Finally, National Geographic announced a new six-part series for 2022 called ‘Limitless’ with Chris Hemsworth. The series will follow the ‘Thor’ actor as he helps viewers discover the full potential of the human body. Nat Geo also announced a series called ‘Welcome to Earth,’ which is set to premiere on Disney+ next month. The series will be hosted by Will Smith as he encounters Earth’s greatest wonders.

  • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Poster Hints at Multiple Villains

    Spider-Man fans already had a lot of expectations for the upcoming ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ and thanks to the first official poster for the movie, which earlier this week, they now expect to see the Green Goblin return as well!

    The new movie will deal with the aftermath of Peter’s secret identity going public at the end of ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home,’ thanks to Mysterio, and having Doctor Strange cast a spell so the world forgets who Spider-Man really is. However, we know from the recent trailer that things will go terribly wrong and tear a rift in the multiverse, allowing villains from the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb movies to also appear.

    Conformation of this was given at the beginning of production when it was announced that Jamie Foxx would be reprising his role as Electro from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ Then, earlier this year, actor Alfred Molina himself confirmed in an interview with Variety that he would also be reprising his role as Doctor Octopus from ‘Spider-Man 2.’ This led to countless rumors about the film, including that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield may also return, playing their respective versions of Peter Parker.

    Then, just last week, news hit that Empire Magazine was running an article on the film in their December issue that confirmed Rhys Ifans and Thomas Haden Church returning in ‘No Way Home’ as the Lizard and the Sandman, their characters from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and ‘Spider-Man 3,’ respectively. Not to mention, and Spoiler Alert for ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage,’ but Tom Hardy’s title character is also now running around in the MCU. Which leaves the Green Goblin, whose pumpkin bombs could be seen in the trailer, but who’s image has been kept secret until now.

    If you zoom into the background of the new poster, you can see a small image that looks to be the Willem Dafoe version of the character from Spider-Man. While the Green Goblin’s voice can be heard in the trailer, it is difficult to know if it is really Dafoe or not. Although the new poster would indicate that this version of Norman Osborne will appear in the movie, there still has been no official confirmation from Sony or Marvel that the Oscar-nominated actor will be reprising his role. Fans will also notice that the new poster teases the other three previously announced returning franchise villains, with Doc Ock’s metal tentacles, yellow lightning to represent Electro, and a sandstorm for the Sandman featuring prominent in the poster.

    But like a mirage, many online fans think that they have spotted other potential villains hidden in the poster. If you look at the Green Goblin image, there are two pieces of debris on either side of him, and some fans think that those tiny images are of James Franco and Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblins from ‘Spider-Man 3’ and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ respectively. When I zoomed in on the poster, it just looked like debris to me, and there is absolutely nothing indicating that Franco or DeHaan will be reprising their previous roles in the upcoming film.

    But the online guessing game doesn’t stop there, as some people think that the debris in the background near the edge of Spider-Man’s right hand is the Vulture flying in the background. Some online have even said that the Lizard is hidden in the bottom right hand corner, and that Rhino’s horn can be seen just below Spider-Man’s knee, but I don’t buy that one as it just looks like a metal spike poking out of concrete. But the wildest online theory is that the metallic tentacle we see on the right hand side of the poster is not Alfred Molina’s character, but instead Kathryn Hahn’s Doctor Olivia Octavius from ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ which seems completely made-up if you ask me.

    The poster was dropped on the film’s official Twitter account, which even encouraged fans to use their “Spidey Senses” to look for “details,” so they clearly want fans guessing. But I think with many fans trying to find out everything they can about the upcoming movie, they are beginning to see things that are just not there, which may be exactly what Disney wants. I can’t remember a time in the past when a simple poster for a movie has caused so much excitement and online debate. I only fear that fans now expect far too much from ‘No Way Home,’ and anything short of all three cinematic Spider-Man fighting off a multiverse version of the Sinister Six will leave hardcore viewers disappointed.

    Now, assuming that Venom is not one of the Sinister Six, as he wasn’t in the comics, and also assuming that the Sinister Six is featured in the new movie at all, that still leaves one-member unknown. It likely won’t be Jared Leto’s Morbius, as his solo film is not set to release until January, but it could be Michael Keaton’s Vulture, who is also set to appear in Morbius. And let’s not forget Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio, although he apparently died in ‘Far From Home,’ the character is best known for his illusions, so anything is possible.

    Vulture, or possibly Mysterio, would make the most sense to me to actually be the sixth member of the Sinister Six, if they do in fact appear. But if Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, Lizard, and Electro are in the movie, that would represent one villain from every non-MCU Spider-Man movie, and I would think that Marvel Studios would want at least one of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man villains from the MCU to appear as well.

    With Benedict Cumberbatch and Benedict Wong already confirmed to reprise their Doctor Strange roles in ‘No Way Home,’ as well as Oscar winner J.K. Simmons returning as J. Jonah Jameson, the cast is already packed with other MCU characters. So, with the exception of Molina’s Doc Ock, and maybe the Green Goblin, I wouldn’t expect any of the villains from previous Spider-Man movies to have terribly large roles, as they will most likely appear as cameos towards the end of the movie, which is rumored to run well over two and a half hours.

    Check out the new poster below, and ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is set to open in theaters on December 17th.

    Spider-Man: No Way Home

  • ‘Belfast’ Review: Kenneth Branagh’s Best & Most Personal Film

    ‘Belfast’ Review: Kenneth Branagh’s Best & Most Personal Film

    (L to R) Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in 'Belfast,' directed by Kenneth Branagh
    (L to R) Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in ‘Belfast,’ directed by Kenneth Branagh

    Opening in theaters on November 12th is ‘Belfast‘, the new film from director Kenneth Branagh, which won the People’s Choice Award at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival and is already gaining early Oscar buzz. Written by Branagh and loosely based on his own childhood, the film features an excellent cast of actors that includes Caitriona Balfe (‘Ford v. Ferrari‘), Jamie Dornan (‘Fifty Shades of Grey‘), Ciarán Hinds (‘Justice League‘), Academy Award winner Judi Dench (‘Skyfall‘), and nine-year old actor, Jude Hill.

    The film is a love letter to Branagh’s childhood home of Belfast, Ireland, and tells the story of nine-year old Buddy (Hill), and his working-class family in 1969 that includes his brother, mother (Balfe) and father (Dornan), and grandmother (Dench) and grandfather (Hinds). Buddy lives a happy and normal life, playing with his friends, living with the locals, and adoring the girl that sits in front of him in class. Buddy’s father must travel to England for work, and is gone weeks at a time, which begins to put stress on his mother, who is desperately trying to get them out of financial trouble. Buddy is also very close to his grandparents, particularly his grandfather, who is hiding health issues of his own.

    But unbeknownst to Buddy, his entire world is about to change as the Northern Conflict between Protestants and Catholics begins waging wars in the streets of his small town. With Buddy’s father away, his mother does her best to keep the violence from affecting her children, but this becomes impossible to do as the conflict grows. As Protestants themselves, Buddy’s family tries to stay neutral, having much sympathy for their Catholic neighbors and appalled by the horror in the streets. But when Buddy’s father is approached by the leader of the anti-Catholic movement, Billy Clanton (Colin Morgan), he is forced to choose a side and do what’s best for his family. With a solid job offer in England, that will also provide a house with a yard for his family, Buddy’s father tries to convince his wife that they have no choice but to leave their friends and home behind for a safer life for their children. Now, with the prospect of leaving Belfast, his grandparents, and the girl he “loves” for good, Buddy will learn the only way possible what it truly means to grow-up.

    Drawing on inspiration from his own life, writer and director Kenneth Branagh has truly made his greatest movie yet, which is a beautiful and touching film about growing up, contrasted with the backdrop of the looming Northern Ireland Conflict. While most know Branagh as an accomplished actor, he is also quite the accomplished filmmaker and has been directing his own movies since he practically began in Hollywood over thirty-years ago. Branagh’s early work as a filmmaker includes such acclaimed films as ‘Henry V,’ ‘Dead Again,’ ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ ‘Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein,’ and ‘Hamlet.’ But, for the better part of the last decade, Branagh has directed big studio movies like ‘Thor,’ ‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,’ ‘Cinderella,’ ‘Murder on the Orient Express,’ and ‘Artemis Fowl.’ One might wonder why Branagh directed so many studio films over such a relatively short period of time. And after seeing ‘Belfast,’ I think I have the answer.

    At the Los Angeles premiere of the film, which is where I saw it, Branagh spoke and mentioned that he has been trying to make this movie for over thirty-years, and suddenly, it all made sense to me. Why else would the director of ‘Henry V’ and ‘Hamlet’ decide to make ‘Thor’ or ‘Cinderella?’ It was so he could eventually get ‘Belfast’ financed and made, and it was well worth the wait. Choosing to shoot the film in black and white gives the movie a feeling of timelessness, which I’m sure was the intended effect. There is some color in the film, wisely used when Buddy is watching American television or movies, which gives them the feeling of being from another world. The only use of color I object to was in the opening title sequence, which shows Belfast today and then cuts to the black and white of 1969. I felt that this opening sequence did not fit the tone of the rest of the movie, and puts you a bit off to begin with, but I understand the effect that Branagh was going for, contrasting Belfast now and then.

    The cast was absolutely incredible, led by a beautiful performance from Jude Hill. I am a voting member of the Hollywood Critics Association, and I have my own strict rules when it comes to voting for awards. I do not vote for children, ever! I know how hard and how long it takes to become an actor and prefer to vote for actors who have been working hard for decades, instead of a phenom kid who knocks it out of the park first time at bat. That being said, I may have to amend my personal rules this award season, as I was completely won over by Hill’s performance. He is so natural in this role and gives off so much deep emotion that it is almost startling. He is completely captivating and, to a degree, really carries the movie on his back.

    I also have to say how impressed I was with Jamie Dornan. Except for a handful of small roles, I’ve only ever seen Dornan in the ‘Fifty Shades’ movies, and am afraid to say, basically wrote him off as an actor. Boy, was I wrong! Jamie Dornan is a very gifted actor and has a range I was completely unaware of. He plays his character as a decent man, just trying to do what is best for his family, and basically stuck between “a rock and a hard place.” But he also shows great emotion in scenes with his wife and his father, yet has very silly, loveable scenes, like when he sings at a party at the end of the film.

    For her part, Judi Dench is, well, Judi Dench! She is wonderful in the role as Buddy’s grandmother, even if her Irish accent is not as good as the rest of the cast. She has some fantastic scenes where she is in the background, but she is so captivating just listening to the other actors, that you can’t take your eyes off her.

    But for me, the two Oscar worthy performances in this film come from Caitriona Balfe and Ciarán Hinds, respectively. As Buddy’s mom, Balfe gives an amazing performance, channelling all the worry of a young mother in her situation, at the same time exuding a young innocence that makes the character fun. The actress also displays a range of emotions in the film that is quite impressive. Hinds should also be in the Oscar race for playing Buddy’s grandfather, in some ways the heart of the film. The actor, who has worked somewhat under the radar for several decades, finally has a role that truly lets him shine, tapping into both his emotional and humorous sides. And he more than holds his own in his scenes with the legendary Dench.

    Finally, I want to mention the music, which was provided by Irish musician Van Morrison. I’m not sure if he recorded anything new for the film, but his library of classic songs is featured throughout the movie. It makes a lot of sense to use Morrison as the soundtrack for this film, and in a lot of places it really works. But there are some scenes, the opening sequence for example, where I felt a score would have been better used and allowed the emotion of the scene to resonate better.

    In the end, ‘Belfast’ is an absolute triumph for Kenneth Branagh as a filmmaker and is the “cherry on top” for an already brilliant career. I expect that Belfast will be nominated for Best Picture, and that Branagh will receive a directing nomination as well, and both would be well deserved. It is a heart-warming, and at times humorous movie with brilliant performances, and a veteran director finally regaining his stride.

    Belfast receives 9 out of 10 stars.

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  • Latest News about Snow White, Wicked, Black Adam, Guardians of the Galaxy 3, & more

    There have been a slew of big-time casting announcements over the last week, from ‘Wicked’ to ‘Snow White,’ and Leonardo DiCaprio taking on one of the world’s most notorious murderers.

    We’ve also seen production updates for highly awaited films like ‘Black Adam,’ ‘John Wick 4,’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy 3.’ As well as a delay for the Star Wars spinoff ‘Rogue Squadron,’ and the release of the final ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ trailer.

    If you missed anything this week, Moviefone has you covered!

    CASTING NEWS:

    WICKED

    The Hollywood production of the fan-favorite Broadway musical ‘Wicked‘ kicked things into high gear this week when director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) announced on Twitter that he had found his Elphaba and Glinda in Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo and Grammy-winning musician Ariana Grande.

    Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel originated the roles of Elphaba and Glinda, respectively, on Broadway, and the big screencasting has drawn some critique from fans, especially for Grande’s casting. However, Chenoweth answered Grande’s critics on Instagram by saying, “You were destined for this role. The best Glinda you will be.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CV6FxK1vOYo/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=cf045dac-d82f-4081-9321-6c842b0ef5c6

    SNOW WHITE

    Deadline announced last week that Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot was cast to play the Evil Queen in Disney’s upcoming live action Snow White. Directed by Marc Webb (The Amazing Spider-Man) and starring Rachel Zegler (West Side Story) in the title role, the adaption will also feature new music from Oscar-winners Benji Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land).

    Disney released the original animated version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1938, which was based on the fairytale by the Brothers Grimm. Gadot will next be seen in Netflix’s ‘Red Notice,’ which also stars Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds, before appearing next year in the Kenneth Branagh-directed sequel, ‘Death on the Nile.’

    JIM JONES

    Yesterday, Deadline reported that MGM has made a seven-figure deal with Leonardo DiCaprio to produce and star in ‘Jim Jones,’ which is about the notorious murderer and what led to 1978’s tragic Jonestown Massacre. DiCaprio will produce through his company, Appian Way Productions, with a script written by Scott Rosenberg (Jumanji: The Next Level).

    In November 1978, under Jim Jones’ leadership, 900 members of the People’s Temple in Guyana, including children, were killed in a mass suicide or gunned down by Jones himself. The events were chronicled in the 2018 CNN documentary, ‘Escaping Jonestown.’ DiCaprio’s casting follows a string of Oscar-nominated performances including ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ ‘The Revenant,’ for which he won, and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ The actor will next be seen in Adam McKay’s ‘Don’t Look Up,’ which opens in theaters on December 10th.

    PRODUCTION NEWS:

    GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3

    Production on Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3‘ began this week, with director James Gunn announcing it on Twitter. Posting a photo of the cast assembling on set, the director said, “It’s been a strange and long and at times challenging journey to get here, but the obstacles along the way have only made this moment more blissful. Back on set with my Guardians family for the first day of shooting.”

    https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1457754577411973122

    Gunn also took the moment to reveal that he has cast ‘Peacemaker’ actor Chukwudi Iwuji in Guardians 3. “Chuk has indeed joined the cast,” the director confirmed. “After working with him on ‘Peacemaker’ I wasn’t about to let go of one of the best actors I’ve ever worked with. So, I gave him the role most every big-name actor in Hollywood wanted.”

    BLACK ADAM

    While promoting the upcoming ‘Red Notice’ last week, Comicbook.com had a chance to speak with President of Production at Seven Bucks Productions Hiram Garcia about the upcoming DC film, ‘Black Adam.’ The producer talked about the recent ‘Black Adam’ presentation at DC Fandome, and why it was so important to him and Dwayne Johnson to have an opportunity to show the fans what they plan to do with the upcoming film.

    “It was really important for us to set the table and make sure that all the fans knew that we weren’t messing around, and that we weren’t making a soft ‘Black Adam.’ It was important for us to show that the first guy who approaches him is no longer on the planet. I think that sets the tone that this isn’t a broad movie, this isn’t Shazam!, or anything like that. We take it very serious. The edge that Black Adam has, if you are a threat, there’s probably not a chance you’re going to get to breathe another breath around this guy. And I think that, that was really important for us to just make a statement and make sure everyone understood. Look, we know what you guys want. We know what this character is supposed to be. We’re going to do our best to make sure that we honor that and turn him into a monster.”

    JOHN WICK 4

    Production recently wrapped on ‘John Wick 4,’ and thanks to a photo Tweeted by actor Shamier Anderson (Stowaway), we may finally know the full title of the upcoming film in the Keanu Reeves franchise. While the actor posted several photos from the shoot, one of the pictures is of a drawstring bag, probably a wrap gift, with the title ‘John Wick 4: Hagakure’ printed on it.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CWBDjPzlGMw/

    Whether ‘John Wick 4: Hagakure’ is the film’s true title or not, only time will tell. In addition to Reeves and Anderson, the film will also feature returning cast members Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick, as well as new cast members Donnie Yen (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), Bill Skarsgard (It), and Clancy Brown (Highlander). The film is once again directed by Chad Stahelski, and hits theaters on May 27th, 2022.

    ROGUE SQUADRON

    The new Star Wars spinoff, ‘Rogue Squadron,’ from Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins has been delayed. The Hollywood Reporter announced earlier this week that the film, which was scheduled to begin production early next year for a December 22, 2023 release date, will be taken off of Disney’s production schedule.

    The reason given had to do with scheduling conflicts for Jenkins, who is attached to direct a Cleopatra movie for Paramount starring Gal Gadot, as well as the recently announced ‘Wonder Woman 3.’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ was scheduled to be the Star Wars franchise’s return to the big screen after 2019’s divisive ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’

    TRAILERS:

    GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE

    Lastly, this week Sony released the final trailer for their upcoming reboot/sequel, ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife.’ Directed by Jason Reitman, son of franchise creator Ivan Reitman, the film stars a new cast that features Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon, and Paul Rudd, as well as returning cast members Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and Sigourney Weaver.

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    The new movie focuses on the grandchildren of the late Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis), who discover paranormal activity in their small Oklahoma town. The trailer features many references to the original series, including the Terror Dogs, Slimer, and voice-overs from both Aykroyd and Murray.