Val Kilmer in ‘Batmen Forever’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Preview:
‘Batman Forever’ has low critic and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes and is widely considered to be not good.
The movie is better than people give it credit for, as it has some great performances from great actors.
The action sequences are also quite entertaining.
‘Batman Forever‘ is celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2025, so now is as good a time as any to revisit this classic and point out that it is not as bad as people say it is. The movie is certainly not perfect, by any means, but it has a lot of entertaining moments, unforgettable performances, and great action sequences.
The film takes place in Gotham, featuring two of the most iconic DC villains, Two-Face and Riddler, as they plan to get revenge on Batman. At the same time, Gotham’s hero is struggling with his own identity as he contemplates if he wishes to be Batman forever or if he is ready to hang up the cowl. His love interest, Dr. Chase Meridian, played by Nicole Kidman, is who he turns to for guidance.
‘Batman Forever’ Features Several Unforgettable Performances
Jim Carrey as the Riddler in ‘Batman Forever.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
When an actor plays a superhero, there can be a lot of pressure due to the fact that they have to play two different personas. Val Kilmer does a great job of portraying both Bruce Wayne and Batman, something that isn’t always easy to pull off. Each of them have their own unique mannerisms and personalities, making it believable not everyone around them would immediately know they are the same person. It is a shame that he did not have a good time making the movie, opting not to return, however George Clooney is a great Batman as well, so it was nice to get to see that.
Chris O’Donnell did return for ‘Batman & Robin’, thankfully. He delivers a good performance as Robin, even if he was a bit too old at the time to be believable as the character. This is not his fault, and he does what he can to make himself seem a little more immature and younger than he is, in an effort to make it work.
Tommy Lee Jones is decent as Two-Face, even if some of the writing and his performance is over-the-top. This character may be crazy and psychotic, but he isn’t supposed to be silly. One thing that is noticable during ‘Batman Forever’ is that he tends to re-flip his coin if he does not get the outcome he wants, which is not something the comic book version would do. He prefers everything to be left up to chance – not to say he wouldn’t rig it if he had to.
The standout performance in ‘Batman Forever’ is easily Jim Carrey. He is a character actor for the most part, which really shines in this film. Riddler is cartoonish and over-the-top, which is why Jim Carrey was the perfect choice to play him. This version of Riddler is smart and full of himself, but also more on the energetic and crazy side than we have seen in other movies (for example Paul Dano‘s Riddler in ‘The Batman‘). This Riddler really works for the story being told in ‘Batman Forever’ and is a more comic book accurate version of the character. A truly unforgettable Jim Carrey character.
There Are Great Action Sequences Sprinkled Throughout The Film
Chris O’Donnell as Robin in ‘Batman Forever’. Photo: Warner Bros.
What is a superhero movie without epic action sequences? Nothing.
‘Batman Forever’ thankfully delivers some great action scenes right from the start. There are heists, there are gangs, and of course, there are team-ups. All of these things together create some edge-of-your seat sequences that have you wondering if the good guys will make it out alive. If you don’t feel the stakes in a movie like this, it never really works. Of course, they do survive, but the villains are devious enough to have viewers curious if they will or not.
Allowing Two-Face and Riddler to team-up with one another creates a more dangerous situation for Batman and Robin, but also evens the playing field. These fight scenes are filled with cheesy one liners, but also include well done practical effects, something that is often missed in the industry nowadays.
Say What You Will, ‘Batman Forever’ Is Entertaining
(L to R) Tommy Lee Jones as Two-Face and Jim Carrey as the Riddler in ‘Batman Forever.’ Photo: Warner Bros.
‘Batman Forever’ might not be a perfect movie, but it is far from terrible. It is nrealy impossible to watch this film without laughing and having a good time. Sure, some of the performances are a bit over-the-top, but honestly, that is the point. This is a superhero movie that opted to lean more into the ridiculous and silly side of things, while still delivering some more grounded, epic action sequences.
‘Batman Forever’ is not a movie that takes itself too seriously. In fact, it almost never takes itself seriously, which is the fun of it all. It takes the quirkiness of the 1966 series and dials it up to eleven. If you want to simply have a good time watching a movie, now is the perfect time to revisit this one.
(L to R) Val Kilmer and Nicole Kidman in ‘Batmen Forever’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Fans are worried that James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ has too many characters in it.
James Gunn is known for large ensemble casts and knows how to write for them.
No one has ever complained about the numerous characters in ‘The Godfather’.
Every time a new trailer or TV spot for ‘Superman‘ is released, the internet is abuzz with people saying that there are too many characters. The concerns are that if there are too many characters, the story would be difficult to follow, there would be too many side plots to give the core story the time it needs, and the film would end up too oversaturated.
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The thing is, James Gunn is well known for his large ensemble casts. This is his wheelhouse, so there is no reason to be worried. He thrilled Marvel fans with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ trilogy, and his ‘The Suicide Squad‘ success surely had something to do with DC Studios handing him the reins as co-CEO.
On top of that, this feels like just another reason for people to complain about something they aren’t even that passionate about, as no one has ever said the same about ‘The Godfather‘, which has just as many characters.
The Prominent Characters In ‘Superman’ All Make Sense For The Story We Assume Is Being Told
(Center) James Gunn and the cast of ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram Account.
One of the biggest thing that fans need to remember about ‘Superman’ is that this is technically the introduction into James Gunn’s DCU, as it is the first feature film. Yes, ‘Peacemaker‘ is (mostly) cannon and ‘Creature Commandos‘ is included yet animated, but this is the real start of Gunn’s plans. Because of this, it is necessary to establish the world that these heroes live in. Superman is not the only hero, and opting not to include any others would only hurt the believability of the story.
How many times have people asked where the Eternals or Namor were during the events of ‘Avengers: Infinity War‘ and ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ and why they never came to help? Even if Marvel tries to offer a reason, most viewers do not accept it. James Gunn is avoiding this response to ‘Superman’ by showing where the main characters of the DCU are during these events and establishing that they do exist in this world.
David Corenswet stars as Clark Kent / Superman, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luther, can you imagine a story that only involves the three of them? Not only would it likely get very boring, very quickly, it risks being repetative and too closed off.
Adding in nurmerous characters (that are likely to not be a major part of the plot, mind you) such as Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen, Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Beck Bennett as Steve Lombard, Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho, and Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr will bring in subplots and round out the universe, making it more realistic while simultaneously setting up for what is to come in future films and television projects.
If Anyone Can Handle An Ensemble Cast, It Is James Gunn
It is hard not to laugh at the idea that ‘Superman’ has too many characters when you look at who is behind it all. James Gunn is writing and directing, and if anyone knows his way around an ensemble cast, it is that man. He is a genuis when it comes to plucking characters out of obscurity and telling an emotional, exciting, and action-packed story around them.
While Superman, Lois Lane, and Lex Luther are undoubtedly household names, several other characters in ‘Superman’ are not. Those who do not read DC Comics and don’t immerse themselves in these worlds, probably have never heard of Mister Terrific or Steve Lombard. James Gunn excels at bringing these types of characters to life.
If you look at character list for ‘The Suicide Squad’, it has just as many, if not more, than ‘Superman’ does. There were two complete rosters in that movie and fans still soaked it all in and loved nearly every moment of it. James Gunn is brilliant when it comes to giving every character, big or small, their time to shine and justifying their reason to exist in that universe. There is no reason to believe he will not do the same with ‘Superman’.
No One Has Ever Said ‘The Godfather’ Has Too Many Characters
(L to R) James Caan, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in ‘The Godfather’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
The final point to make in this arguement is that no one has ever said ‘The Godfather’ had too many characters – and there are at least fifteen prominent characters in that movie. They do not all need a backstory for it to make sense that they exist in the world. Viewers don’t complain that the plot gets lost because there are so many of them, and ‘The Godfather’ certainly is not considered a bad movie (not even remotely).
This is just one example of a beloved film having multiple characters, each with a job to do to drive the plot forward even if you don’t know about their upbringing or their deep dark secrets. A movie can have one hundred main characters and still be good if the writing and the story being told is good.
James Gunn himself pointed out that ‘Oppenheimer‘ has three times as many speaking roles as ‘Superman’ does and promises that the film will not confuse anyone in an interview with IGN. Plus, ‘Superman’ isn’t even out yet, so can we please normalize saving the criticism of a movie until after you watch it?
(L to R) David Corenswet and Krypto in ‘Superman.’ Photo: James Gunn’s Instagram account.
Bella Ramsey in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Preview:
The strong hatred towards The Last Of Us Season 2 is unnecessary
Changes made from The Last Of Us Part II are minor and always enhance the storytelling
The Last Of Us Season 3 will focus on Abby’s journey and introduce key characters that fans are worried will not be included
Spoiler Alert: Spoilers for ‘The Last Of Us’ Season 2 below.
‘The Last Of Us‘ season one was a massive hit with both critics and audiences, but Season two, unfortunately, cannot say the same. While the Rotten Tomatoes score for both seasons remains similar (in the nineties) for critics, the audience score has dropped from eighty-six percent to thirty-eight percent. Viewers have not been afraid to go to the internet and express their hatred for this latest season, which is completely unwarranted.
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As with any adaptation, there are changes from ‘The Last Of Us Part II’ video game. This is often done to expand on the storytelling and allow for things to play out better for a viewing audience versus a gaming audience.
The devastating death of Joel (Pedro Pascal) caused an uproar among video game players as well. Some went so far as to stop playing the game before finishing it, so it was not a complete surprise that viewers felt this way as well. That said, season two is not nearly as bad as people act like it is. While there are some minor changes, they only enhance the viewing experience and set up what is sure to be a fantastic season three.
MovieFone breaks down the most significant changes that are incorporated into ‘The Last Of Us’ Season 2, and why they make the story even better.
Kaitlyn Dever in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
While Abby’s backstory is revealed at the very beginning of ‘The Last Of Us’ Season two, players do not discover who her father is until much later in the game. As the creators of the series have explained in detail, doing it this way makes much more sense for an audience.
If everyone watching was kept in the dark about why Abby is doing these horrible things, it would be almost impossible to connect with her on a human level. In the game, you are forced to play her, which is when that bond is formed. In the show, you need to understand her motives in order to fully understand where things are going.
An Infected Horde Attacks Jackson
Gabriel Luna in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
The infected attacking Jackson is easily one of the best parts of the season. It comes in episode two, which is already a highly emotional episode, and adds much higher stakes. The different patrol pairings, Dina going with Joel and Ellie going with Jesse, mean that viewers get to see Dina and Joel’s bond rather than just hear about it, as they do in the game.
At first, there was some concern that key moments between Ellie and Dina would be missing because of this, but the series makes up for it later in the game. Having the attack on Jackson forces Tommy to stay behind and help manage repairs, rather than go off after Abby immediately, as he does in ‘The Last Of Us Part II’. He remains a part of the story, however, as Jesse and Tommy decide to go after Ellie and Dina and end up saving them from likely death.
The Addition Of Gail, Played By Catherine O’Hara
Catherine O’Hara in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Catherine O’Hara is a great actress, so bringing her into any project is a good decision. She plays a therapist named Gail, who is there to help viewers learn more about what certain characters are thinking. Again, when you are playing them in a game, you grow closer to them and feel that you understand them inside and out. That is more difficult to accomplish in a series if you are not laying it all out on the table.
Not only does the addition of Gail let viewers know what is going on inside Joel, Tommy, and Ellie’s heads, but it also gives more meaning to Eugene. He is only mentioned in passing in the game, but has a key role in the series, as his death is what makes Ellie realize that her suspicions about what Joel did to the Fireflies at the hospital were right.
While the actual confrontation does not happen until later, Joel lying and saying he would not kill Eugene until he could say goodbye to Gail, but then doing it anyway, proved to her that he will lie when push comes to shove.
Joel & Tommy’s Backstory Adds More Emotion To Why Joel Did What He Did
Pedro Pascal in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
The video game does not offer up any details about Joel and Tommy’s upbringing, so including the scene of a young Joel with Tommy and his father at the beginning of ‘The Last Of Us’ Season 2 Episode 6 is a welcome change. It is here that we learn their father abused them, but that he was slightly better than his own father, who once broke his jaw.
The added generational trauma, and the fact that Joel is trying hard to break the cycle himself with Ellie, makes the story that much more emotional, especially when it comes to the heart-to-heart they have on the porch, which is another sequence that was changed for the better.
Not only is this revelation at the end of the game, but Joel never says “I love you” to Ellie. This is still the last time they talk to one another before his death, but in the game version, this was a conversation about forgiveness, as Ellie has known what Joel really did for months at this point in the game.
Joel getting to express his feelings adds a bit of closure that the game did not have. We all know that he thinks of Ellie as a daughter, but for her to be able to hear that from him is satisfying and one of the best changes that was made.
The Scars Almost Kill Abby, Not Ellie, In The Game
Kaitlyn Dever in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
Anyone who is worried that Abby’s encounter with the Scars is not going to happen because Ellie was almost killed on Scar Island can put their minds at ease. If you look closely at Abby in the theater scene at the end of ‘The Last Of Us’ Season 2, you can see a bruise on her neck.
Without getting into spoilers, there are key characters that come into play during this part of Abby’s story, which we are sure to see play out in Season 3 as we follow what she has been up to those three days in Seattle.
‘The Last Of Us’ Season 1 and Season 2 are currently streaming on HBO Max. The third season has been greenlit, but does not currently have a release date.
(L to R) Isabela Merced and Bella Ramsey in ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2. Photograph by Liane Hentscher/HBO.
What is the plot of ‘The Last of Us’ season 2?
Five years after the events of the first season, Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are drawn into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.
Sacha Baron Cohen makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’.
Mephisto makes a deal with Riri Williams to bring back her friend Natalie, which is sure to have serious consequences.
Mephisto will likely be a big part of the MCU moving forward.
SPOILER ALERT: Spoilers for ‘Ironheart’ below.
Ever since ‘WandaVision‘, Marvel fans have been speculating when and where Mephisto will show up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and now the time has finally come. Sacha Baron Cohen portrays the demon in ‘Ironheart‘, making his debut in the season one finale. While the Riri Williams (Dominique Thorne) led series may not continue with a season two, Mephisto is likely not going anywhere, and is sure to have a major impact on the future of the MCU.
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There is a reason fans have been begging for Mephisto to show up. He is known for making deals and mucking things up. While he looks like the devil, he is not Lucifer, but he certainly allows others to think he is. In Marvel Comics he has ties to many characters that have already been introduced, most notably Scarlet Witch, Thor, and Doctor Strange, as well as others that are coming soon including Doctor Doom and Franklin Richards.
Mephisto is powerful, extra-dimensional demon. As showcased in ‘Ironheart’ he is a master manipulator who almost always gets his way. His deal with Parker Robbins (Anthony Ramos) corrupted him, leaving him with scars all over his body and an obsession with the cloak he was gifted. When Mephisto decided to be done with him, he simply moved onto his next victim, Riri Williams.
While the demon behind Parker’s hood was initially suspected to be Dormamu, the finale reveals that this is not the truth. It is, indeed, Mephisto, something that is sure to make fans jump up and down with glee, since his debut in the MCU has been long-awaited. During his final conversation with Parker, he admits to being very busy, hinting that he has had his hands in a lot of the events that have been taking place over the course of previous Marvel projects.
After Riri defeats Parker, Mephisto appears to her, inviting her to sit down for a meal. He is very charasmatic and during their conversation, she ends up making a deal with him. Her friend Natalie (Lyric Ross) was murdered, but she was able to bring her back as an AI, only to lose her again. This is something that Riri is not able to deal with, so she asks Mephisto to bring her back.
In the end-credit sequence it is discovered that this is not an AI version of Natalie, but rather the actual Natalie, who is very confused and does not remember her fate. This is likely to cause a lot of problems for Riri going forward, because how to you explain someone returning to the world after being dead for several years?
Why Sacha Baron Cohen Is The Perfect Casting Choice For Mephisto
Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto in ‘Ironheart’. Photo: Disney+.
Casting Sacha Baron Cohen as Mephisto is a brilliant choice for several reasons. All you have to do is take one look at his scenes in the ‘Ironheart’ finale to know this. He is able portray someone who is trusting as well as mischievous. His human form is unsuspecting enough, but it is the fact that he knows how to pull information from his victims to discover what would be worth it to them to forfeit their souls.
For Parker Robbins, he wanted revenge against his father and money. For Riri Williams, she just wants her friend back, especially after getting a taste of what it was like to have her back in her life. The kicker for her is that this version of Natalie will not remember all of the healing and growing they did together when Natalie was an AI.
Sacha Baron Cohen is great at playing a character. We have seen that with his films like ‘Borat‘ and ‘Bruno‘. Even though Mephisto is mostly in his human form, there is one quick shot of him in his demon form, seen in a reflection, that is equal parts chilling and exciting. Sacha Baron Cohen, if given the chance, will bring Mephisto to life in a way that fans could seemingly only have imagined.
Mephisto Can Easily Return In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Or ‘Champions’
What fans have seen in the ‘Ironheart’ finale is just a small glimpse at what Mephisto is capable of. In the comics, he is the reason that Billy and Tommy Maximoff even exist. While they were created by their mother’s chaos magic, this was done in tandem with parts of Mephisto. At one point he goes so far as to reabsorb them. However, they find a way to return. This exact scenario is not likely to play out in the MCU, but it would make sense for the twins to cross paths with the Mephisto eventually, likely in a ‘Young Avengers’ or ‘Champions’ title.
It is not far fetched to believe that Mephisto could have orchestrated the events of ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘ as well. As we have seen, he is known for making deals and has the ability to bring people back from the dead. With Robert Downey, Jr. returning to the MCU, this time as Victor Von Doom and not Tony Stark, there is a chance Mephisto could absolutely be behind it. If someone wanted to make a deal with him to bring Stark back, it absolutely makes sense that this was Mephisto’s evil twist on things.
While it has not been revealed the lasting effect that Mephisto will have on the MCU, there is no way he is being introduced for Marvel to then do nothing with him. He is a powerful, manipulative demon who only has his own best interest at heart. One thing is for sure, our heroes are in trouble now that he is in the mix.
Denis Villeneuve is directing the new James Bond movie, which doesn’t immediately sound like the perfect fit.
As a lifelong Bond fan, choosing Denis Villeneuve puts the future of the franchise in good hands.
If nothing else, Denis Villeneuve will make the most visually stunning James Bond movie.
It was recently announced that Denis Villeneuve is going to be directing the new James Bond film, after control was handed over to Amazon MGM. While the internet is debating on if he is right for the job or not, there are a lot of things that make him the perfect choice, but a couple concerns as well.
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Not a lot is known about the next film, including which actor will be portraying the title character. Denis Villeneuve is busy with the upcoming ‘Dune: Messiah‘ which releases in December 2026 meaning it might be a while until we hear more details about this movie. Chances are the new 007 movie will not start filming until ‘Dune: Messiah’ is in post-production, although the script and casting should be completed before then.
Fans are looking at a late 2026 or early 2027 release at the earliest. That definately feels like a long time after 2021’s ‘No Time To Die‘.
James Bond (Daniel Craig) prepares to shoot in ‘No Time To Die,’ a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film.
Probably the most exciting aspect of this decision is that Denis Villeneuve has admitted that he grew up watching the James Bond films. They hold a special place in his heart and he went so far as to call them sacred territory so he knows what he needs to accomplish. And if anyone can do it, it is him.
Often when a director is passionate about a franchise before they are welcomed into it, they want nothing more than to create a perfect addition to it. This is something that Denis Villeneuve has dreamed of, making it unlikely he would do anything that would anger the fans.
He knows what works and what doesn’t in a James Bond movie, and he is certainly willing to put in the work. No one has ever claimed that Denis Villeneuve doesn’t know what he is doing, so odds are he will put everything he has into making the next James Bond movie something special. Why take on the responsibility of something like this, especially a franchise you love, and phone it in?
This Could Be The Most Visually Stunning Bond Movie With Denis Villeneuve At The Helm
With Denis Villeneuve in the director’s chair for the new James Bond movie, there is a good chance this is going to be the most beautiful of the franchise. As exciting as this is, here is where one of the concerns comes in. No one is doubting that with Denis Villeneuve involved this movie is going to look beautiful, as we have seen him win multiple awards for visual effects and cinematography, but you need more than that for a successful film.
His visual style doesn’t exactly scream James Bond. At least not at first thought. Denis Villeneuve is known for sweeping landscapes, desaturated tones, and extremely well done special effects. These are all things that the new James Bond movie could thrive off of, but it might take long time fans a bit longer to get used to it.
‘Blade Runner 2049‘ is a great example. The film might have been a box office disappointment, but it is also applauded for its incredible visuals and world building. It found its audience at home after some were skeptical about Denis Villeneuve being at the helm and a need for another movie.
The new James Bond movie will not have this problem, however, as it is already a well established franchise. Odds are fans will be showing up in theaters no matter what, although that also depends slightly on who the next James Bond actor is.
Denis Villeneuve Is Widely Considered One Of Today’s Best Working Directors
Of course there were fans of ‘Dune‘ before Denis Villeneuve’s films, but he introduced it to so many people all around the world in a way that caused them to explore the world further: reading the books, seeing the previous film, and so on. His work drew people in and created new fans, which is something that he could do for the James Bond franchise as well, something Amazon MGM surely thought about.
Denis Villeneuve has a way of adapting and growing already established projects, like ‘Dune’ and ‘Blade Runner‘. He often remains faithful enough to the original, but still adds something new and exciting. He knows how to build tension and create worlds and characters that will leave viewers mesmerized.
James Bond already has a well established fan base, but it still needs the next movie to be good, well-respected, and an entertaining watch. Denis Villeneuve is going to bring his A-game because of his love for the character. He is well versed in the films so there is no need to think he will change what makes James Bond so beloved. Surely we are all in good hands.
The upcoming ‘The Cat in the Hat‘ is a new introduction to a beloved character that expands on the things we already know about him. Voiced by the talented Bill Hader, this animated theatrical feature film is an all-new, epic adventure where mischief, magic, and mayhem reign supreme.
A scene from 2026’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Moviefone was in attendance at a virtual press conference celebrating the release of the first teaser trailer for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ featuring actor Bill Hader, Warner Bros. Pictures Animation President Bill Damaschke, and writers/directors Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja, to learn behind-the-scenes details of this new animated feature.
1) ‘The Cat in the Hat’ Is A Completely Original Take On The Character
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation President Bill Damaschke. Photo: Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Pictures Animation President Bill Damaschke explains how ‘The Cat in the Hat’ might feature a beloved character, but it is an original take on him, which is something we have not seen before.
Bill Damaschke: Animation’s always been a cornerstone of Warner Bros. but in this this next chapter called Warner Bros. Pictures Animation, we’re really doubling down on that commitment to original stories as well as really innovative takes on some of our beloved characters and worlds. And for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ to be our first film just seems like the perfect, perfect project because it’s actually all of those things at the same time. It’s a completely original take on a character that I think a lot of people have a connection to, but handled and brought to life by our filmmakers and by the very singular actor who plays the cat. It just comes out in a way that’s bigger, better, more amazing, and more whimsical than you could ever imagine.
2) Bill Hader Says This Is The First Book He Remembers Reading
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
Bill Hader recalls that the first books he remembers reading by himself are Dr. Suess books, and that he then read them to his kids, so he was thrilled to be a part of this story.
Bill Hader: : Like everybody, I remember reading that book as a kid, and then reading it to my kids, and then, I’ve worked with these guys before on different projects, and I’ve known them forever, so the combination of these two and the chance to play such an iconic character? I was like, yes. The biggest thing was I’m a big reader and I think those were the first books I remember reading on my own. It’s a habit I had. I get in bed and read a book, and I started that with those books. I remember collecting them.
3) Bill Hader Might Be Great At Improv, But Improvising Didn’t Always Work With ‘The Cat in the Hat’
A scene from 2026’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Bill Hader is well known for his impressions and improvising skills, but when talking about ‘The Cat in the Hat’ he admits that this was not a movie where improvising worked in the booth.
Bill Hader: They wrote this incredibly funny script and so you didn’t have [to improvise]. Sometimes you do these things and you’re like, oh man I gotta really improvise a lot and try to make it work somehow but this was not like that. The script was lso insanely funny and then on top of that, they were like, yeah, try stuff. So there was some little improvs here and there. It was funny. I would improvise sometimes, and you could just see them go, let’s do another one. Let’s do one as written, because it would go too far off. It’s weird because they have it in their heads and I’m just reacting to the words and so you try a lot of things and but they’re very good at communicating what the scene is and here’s the emotion of it and here’s what we need to try to convey.
4) Expect More Things Than Just Thing 1 and Thing 2
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
Thing 1 and Thing 2 are such an integrel part of the story of ‘The Cat in the Hat’. The fillmmakers did not want to say too much about them, but did confirm they will play a role in the movie and there will be more than you might expect.
Erica Rivinoja: Well, they are not well-behaved, I will say. They are consistent with the Things that you meet in the book. And as you saw in the trailer, we have Thing 1, but we also have Thing 3, and many, many more. There’s many, many that come up. The Cat in the Hat is chaos, and the Things are extra chaos on top of that. And they’re so cute, too. So you get all that chaos from them, but you’re still like, oh, you’re cute.
5) The New Characters All Have A Dr. Suess Asthetic
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
‘The Cat in the Hat’ expands on the world that we all know and love, but these new characters will feel as if they perfectly fit into that world, complete with a Dr. Suess asthetic.
Erica Rivinoja: Our art team was really amazing about using Seuss’s aesthetic and his iconic shape language and character language to really help design those. So they feel, there’s so many new characters in this movie, but they all feel like Seuss.
Alessandro Carloni: Well, that’s the thing is that as we follow Cat at the end of the book and we discover that entertaining children and sad kids on a rainy day is his job, there’s a whole corporation. It was basically an institution to create this. And as we know, there’s Cat in a Hat, and we meet pig in a wig, yak with a pack, ox in a box, owl in a towel, goat in a coat. When you complain about the fact that, oh my god, Cat in a Hat makes such a mess, but you don’t want to get rat with a bat.
6) Even Though It Is Rare, The Voice Cast Recorded In The Studio Together A Few Times
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
In animation, it is not very common for the voice actors to record in the booth together. For ‘The Cat in the Hat’ there were times that they were able to do this, which the filmmakers believe improved perfmances.
Alessandro Carloni: It’s a rare thing, because the thing about animation is that you don’t get to book your actors all at the same time. But we still insisted in wanting to make sure that this Bill and his character had something to play against. So Xochitl Gomez, which plays our Gabby, one of our stars, that she’s such a breath of ffresh air when she comes in the room. But when Xochitl came in, when Quinta Bronson came in, watching these masters bring the scene to life is so exciting.
7) Voicing A Character Is More Exhausting Than You Might Think, Says Bill Hader
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
When talking about his exprience in the booth, Bill Hader says that he felt like he was in good hands with the directors, but there are still challenges when it comes to voicing animation.
Bill Hader: People think you roll out of bed and you get to go and voice a cartoon and animate a movie, and it’s really easy. It’s actually so exhausting afterwards, because you’re essentially just screaming for four hours. And then you’re saying the same lines over and over again, and they just start to lose meaning. They’ve watched me have a full-on existential crisis in the booth. And they’re like, all right, we’re all just going to leave. Just leave me in the booth. They turn the lights off, and I just sit there. No. But that’s the only thing is I just I have to very consciously pace myself because you do just get so tired just screaming.
8) Bill Hader Has Played The Cat in the Hat Before… On SNL
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
‘The Cat in the Hat’ will not be the first time that Bill Hader has played this character. He actually portrayed him on ‘Saturday Night Live’. While he does love the book, and wanted to play him, that was not the reason behind the sketch.
Bill Hader: The ‘SNL’ thing was, they didn’t write that because I love ‘Cat in the Hat’. It was more, I think, the writers were going through an issue in their marriage and decided to use the Cat in the Hat as a way of indirectly commenting to their spouse at home, I think is what was happening.
9) ‘The Cat in the Hat’ Book Is Used As A Jumping Point
A scene from 2026’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’. Photo: Warner Bros.
The story told in ‘The Cat in the Hat’ is still tied to the book, however it is used as more of a starting point, explains Alessandro Carloni.
Alessandro Carloni: We used the book more of a jumping point for us in the sense that the book became a question for us, which is, is this cat really just out there to have a good time for himself and making a mess, or is there more to it? We look at the book and realize that at the end of the book, the kid seems to be a little more confident with himself. Could it be that the cat is actually the greatest child psychologist? So we basically used the book as our starting point, that’s how our movie starts, and then our movie becomes an expansion on that adventure. We decided to follow the cat at the end of the book to find out where does this guy go and discover, in fact, the truth about him.
10) Alessandro Carloni and Erica Rivinoja Embraced The Uniquness Of The Book To Create A Whimsical World
(L to R) Erica Rivinoja, Alessandro Carloni, and Bill Hader attend a press conference event for ‘The Cat in the Hat’ trailer launch. Photo: Warner Bros.
Alessandro Carloni explains that in ‘The Cat in the Hat’ one of Dr. Suess’ characters enters the real world and interacts with children, something that is unique to this story. They used that to their advantage while creating this animated film.
Alessandro Carloni: The uniqueness about animation is that much like in live action, we have amazing performers creating the characters with us. But then it becomes about truly anything has to be created from scratch, which means that everything is open for us to imagine what could it look like, what could it imagine. In live action, you get a lot of stuff for free in a way. Like you shoot something, there’s a tree in the background, you get that tree for free because it’s there. You have to build a tree and shape each leaf and build everything in the world, which means that you can do anything you want, which also is daunting about what can you create. And then that’s why we end up creating movies like the one we have just created, which we’re so excited about, where we can actually get to explore fantastical, incredible worlds that we’ve never seen before. The uniqueness thing about this book, that Erica and I took advantage of is that it’s the only Seuss book where a Seussian, magical, whimsical character enters the real world to meet the children. And so we decided to try to embrace that and enhance that so that every time the cat enters from his world into the real world, and then we navigate into fantastical world, we created entirely different looks of picture, entirely different aesthetics, and entirely different animation styles. So our world in our movie is based on many, many different worlds and different aesthetics where we traverse through in our adventure.
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What is the plot of ‘Cat in the Hat’?
The Cat in the Hat (Bill Hader) attempts to cheer up a pair of siblings when they move into a new town.
Opening in theaters on June 27th is ‘M3GAN 2.0’, the sequel to Blumhouse horror flick ‘M3GAN‘, which explores the darker side of AI and technology. Gerard Johnstone directs both films.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Ivanna Sakhno about joining the cast of ‘M3GAN 2.0’. She discusses learning the fight choreography, playing a robot, her reaction to the script, collaborating with Blumhouse, and discovering that she would be setting the tone for the movie in the opening sequence.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
(from left) M3gan and Amelia (Ivanna Sakhno) in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your reaction to discovering your scene was going to open the film?
Ivanna Sakhno: I’ll be honest. I found out when I first read the script and it was exciting. It was most exciting when I landed in New Zealand. The first week and a half, we had the chance to play around with physicalityand start learning the stunts. And when I saw what the fight was,and when we were on the ground filming it,I just could tell that it was going to be quite a fun opening sequence.I was excited for it.
MF: Was it difficult learning all the fight choreography?
IS: It was really, really fun and also moving. You get to learn so much about your body and create a physicality of a being. You do so with some of the best professionals in the field. So I got to work with our amazing movement coach, Luke, who is so clocked in. He’s so on top of it and so open to different ideas and seeing how your brain works and how you’re connected to the body. He was immediately, he made me just walk a straight line and immediately was like, okay, so this, this, this, this, he just like read me. It was just really awesome to work with him.
Ivanna Sakhno as Amelia in ‘M3GAN 2.0’, directed by Gerard Johnstone. Photo: Universal Pictures.
MF: How would you describe AMELIA for those who know nothing about her?
IS: Amelia is seen as a threat to humanity,which she may be, I’m not gonna lie,but I have to stand up for her a little bitand say that she’s very much somebodywho’s trying to understand her own upbringingand trying to deal with the worldthat is not necessarily open to having her existence be a part of their daily life,obviously for good reasons,but it’s not her fault at all. I thinkthere’s quite a bit of amplitude to her being. In that darkness exists,I think, an immense amount of lightand desire to belong and find compassion from others.
MF: Finally, without spoilers, can you talk about your reaction to the reading AMELIA’s story and the end of the movie?
IS:I think I will be honest,the reaction itself was just to the script. I didn’t expect to be so emotionally moved by it. There were moments whenI found myself tearing up reading it. Discovering Amelia on the page just made me understandthat I really immediately wanted to become part of it. I wanted to tell her story and obviously work with peoplelike Allison and Gerard and Blumhouse, Atomic Monster. I was psyched when I finished reading the script.I just knew that it was going to be a special one. I do genuinely think it is a really fun film.And I hope the audience gets to enjoy itand see it, hopefully in theaters.
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What is the plot of ‘M3GAN 2.0’?
Two years after the robot M3GAN (Amie Donald) embarked on a murderous rampage before being destroyed, her tech has been stolen and misused by a powerful defense contractor to create a military-grade robot named AMELIA (Ivanna Sakhno), which becomes a threat to human existence. M3GAN’s creator Gemma (Allison Williams) is convinced by her niece Cady (Violet McGraw) that the only option is to resurrect M3GAN and give her a few upgrades so she can defeat AMELIA — or can she?
’28 Years Later’ has an ending that is dividing audiences.
The ending is a perfect transition into the next film, ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’.
The final scene could have been an end-credit scene.
SPOILER ALERT: Some spoilers for ‘28 Years Later’ below.
The ending of ‘28 Years Later‘ is getting people to talk about the movie, that’s for sure. Some love it, some hate it, some are indifferent to it, but either way you look at it, that final scene is splitting audiences. People online have gone so far as to say that the end completely ruined the movie for them.
While it does shift the movie tonally, it feels as if there is a reason for that. Nia DaCosta‘s follow-up, ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple‘, releases January 16, 2026, and this is likely a transition into that. It also ties together the opening scene as well as hints that were sprinkled throughout the film in an interesting way.
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’28 Years Later’ takes place, you guessed it, 28 years after the infection prominently featured in ‘28 Days Later‘ and ‘28 Weeks Later‘ started. It is not necessary to have seen the other movies, as this one follows a new group of people and does a decent job of catching viewers up on where they need to be to understand it.
Spike (Alfie Williams) has turned twelve and his father Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) believes it is time for him to go zombie hunting on the mainland and get his first kill. His mother, Isla (Jodie Comer), is very sick, although they do not know with what. After discovering there is a doctor on the mainland, he leaves the safety of his community with her to try to help her.
What follows is a terrifying adventure as they navigate a plethora of zombies and threats – including a pregnant zombie who births a non-infected child, something that will surely come back around later.
After Spike drops a newborn baby off at his community, he decides that he needs some time to clear his head and wander the countryside. You see, this movie has always been about him. About his relationship with his parents and his journey into adulthood. The trailers showcased Spike and Jamie, but that was in an effort to keep a lot of surprises, twists, and turns hidden so audiences can experience them on the big screen.
As he is cooking fish and relaxing, a zombie horde attacks. He holds his own for a while, but thankfully Jimmy (Jack O’Connell) shows up with some friends to take down the rest of the horde in a wild, ridiculous, over-the-top, yet extremely fun action sequences. The internet is calling this group Power Rangers and the Tracksuit Mafia, because they all wear brightly colored outits. Jimmy wears a crown on his head and definitely a weird guy, but this is not the first time we have seen him.
The opening scene showed a young Jimmy at the start of the infection. His father was a priest and welcomed the zombies, claiming that it was a prophecy being fulfilled. Jimmy hid in the church as he watched his father be devoured, so it makes sense that his brain might have snapped a little at that moment.
While we did not see him at all throughout the rest of the movie, we did see his name a few times. It was carved into the hanging zombie that Spike and his father come across early on, as well as written on one of the walls that they passed. There are likely even more references to him that eagle-eyed viewers can spot.
It might seem like this final scene comes completely out of left field, but it instantly felt like a transition into the next movie. Looking around the internet, so many have forgotten about Nia DaCosta’s ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’ and the fact that it not only was shot together with this movie, but that it is releasing in January.
When a director takes over the franchise for another director, often they collaborate on the pivotal scene that leads from one to another. For example, The Russo Brothers directed the end-credit scene in ‘Thunderbolts*‘ because it is going to lead into ‘Avengers: Doomsday‘. Surely she had some involvement, and potentially even directed this divisive scene.
Jack O’Connell shined in ‘Sinners‘ as Remmick, a cenuries-old vampire who has some quirks of his own. He is a little weird and a little twisted, so it should come as no surprise that he is channeling a little bit of that into his ’28 Years Later’ character, Jimmy. Plus, it makes sense storywise for him to be a little off.
The Ending Would Have Been Easier To Digest As An End-Credit Scene
Nia DaCosta (director, ’28 Years Later: The Bone Temple’), (L) and Danny Boyle (director, ’28 Years Later’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
All of this to say that the final sequence should have been an end-credit scene. This would have helped audiences separate the two with it not being such a stark difference from the majority of the movie, and certainly the third act. The tonal shift seems to be what it holding a lot of people back from allowing themselves to not only enjoy it, but to get excited about what is coming next.
It would have been easy enough to start rolling the credits when Spike was cooking the fish, but then during a mid-credit or end-credit scene show the zombie horde attacking with the lead-in to him meeting Jimmy and his crew. This would have helped viewers to see this as the start of the next movie, rather than an ending that comes out of nowhere for this one.
(L to R) Director-Producer Joseph Kosinski, Damson Idris, Brad Pitt, and Kerry Condon attend a Press Conference in Mexico City on June 10th, 2025 for Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films ‘F1’. Photo Credit: Chino Lemus. Copyright: Chino Lemus 2022.
Director Joseph Kosinski’s ‘F1 The Movie’ stars Brad Pitt as Sonny Hayes, FORMULA 1’s most promising phenomenon in the 1990s before an accident that ended his career. Thirty years later, he is a racer for hire who moves from city to city picking up jobs.
His former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) is the owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team and convinces Sonny to come back for one last chance to be the best in the world, and to save the team, of course. Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) is the team’s hotshot rookie who wants to do things his way which causes them to butt heads at times.
Moviefone was in attendance of a virtual press conference featuring Brad Pitt, Kerry Condon, Damson Idris, Joseph Kosinski, and Jeremy Kleiner, to learn behind-the-scenes details and what it was like to make such a high-octane movie.
1) Joining ‘F1 The Movie’ Was A No Brainer For Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt attends a Press Conference in Mexico City on June 10th, 2025 for Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films ‘F1’. Photo Credit: Chino Lemus. Copyright: Chino Lemus 2022.
Brad Pitt explains that he has been trying to do a racing film for decades and is extremely thankful that not only did it finally pan out, but that it did so in this way.
Brad Pitt: It was just a no-brainer. When Joe has this audacious plan to embed us in the racing season, to put us actually in the cars, it was just a dream come true. I’ve been trying to do a racing film for literally decades, and whether it was on bikes or whether it was in cars, for whatever reason, it just didn’t pan out. I’m so grateful because the experience Joe gave us, putting us in the car, putting us in this ecosystem of the F1 racing season with all the drivers, with the teams, was just an extraordinary experience. Nothing like I’ve ever experienced in all my decades doing this. And I will always thank Joe for this film that we’re able to bring to you today and just being the architect of this insane idea.
Director Joseph Kosinski crated a new FORMULA 1 team, complete with garages and the actors driving, in order to perfectly blend reality and fiction.
Joseph Kosinski: There’s nothing like being at a real FORMULA 1 race. You just can’t fake that energy, the energy of the crowd, the sound. I knew that if we were going to make a film in this world, we had to shoot it at the races. Stefano Domenicali, who runs Formula 1, Brad and Jerry and I went very early on the project and pitched the idea of what we wanted to do and he got it right away. The partnership has been really incredible. I think we learned so much from them. I think they learned a little bit from us. The partnership has been amazing and I can’t wait for people to see the result.
3) Brad Pitt & Damson Idris Are Really Driving The Cars In ‘F1 The Movie’
Damson Idris and Brad Pitt attend a Press Conference in Mexico City on June 10th, 2025 for Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films ‘F1’. Photo Credit: Chino Lemus. Copyright: Chino Lemus 2022.
Brad Pitt and Damson Idris discuss what it was like to do their own stunts in ‘F1 The Movie’ and what it was like to actually drive cars going at such high speeds.
Brad Pitt: The idea of being in the car and dealing with these forces, G-forces, the physics of it all, is just something you cannot fake. Joe said it. I want to make the most immersive, visceral racing film that’s ever been done. That’s how he got Lewis in, that’s how he got me in, that’s how he got all of us in. So we started this training and we ended up getting to drive for basically two years in the making of this. I would almost wish we could shoot it again because by the end of it, Damson and I, I’d say we were quite tasty as drivers.
Idris added:
Damson Idris: Before I even got the part, I drove up somewhere in California and got in simulators and got the guy to put all the race tracks there so I could learn them before I even came to London. Then I downloaded the F1 game, created a fake character, and won a championship. I was doing a lot of manifesting. When I finally got the part, it was about the training, intense training from Rockingham to Silverstone, Palm Springs. We were in Austin, Texas, all the way from F4 up to F1. Just really learning and immersing myself in the world of Formula 1.
4) A Whole New Camera System Was Built To Capture The Speed Of The Cars
‘F1 The Movie’ is extremely immersive, causing viewers to feel as if they are in the car alongside the drivers. Director Joseph Kosinski explains that they needed to build a new camera system to pull that off.
Joseph Kosinski: In order to capture what it’s like to be in one of these FORMULA 1 cars, we had to come up with a whole new camera system that was very light and very small. So we took the system we developed for ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ and we miniaturized it. We made it as small as we could. I’m sure these guys wish it was a little smaller because it was right in front of their face the whole time while they were driving. You don’t think about that as you’re watching the movie, but they have four cameras pointing at their faces while they’re driving around the track. These cameras also move, which was a new innovation that we developed for this film. But the reason it feels immersive is because it’s really happening. These guys are driving the cars at 180 miles an hour. The cameras are mounted to the cars. We’re shooting it during a real race weekend between practice and qualifying sessions. And the audience can feel that. When you go to all that effort to do it for real, I really believe you feel it when you’re watching the film.
5) FORMULA 1 Driver Lewis Hamilton Was A Key Part Of Making ‘F1 The Movie’
Brad Pitt explains that ‘F1 The Movie’ could not have been made without the incredible support that they received from FORMULA 1 and in particular, driver Lewis Hamilton.
Brad Pitt: We couldn’t have done this without the support of F1, the teams, the principals, the drivers themselves. We all went to even driver meetings to try to earn their trust, let them know how much we respect their sport, how much we want to get it right, and we want to include them. And if we’re ever in the way, please tell us, and we’ll scram. But exactly what Damson was saying about Lewis Hamilton coming in, it was so smart of Joe to bring him in first and foremost because his knowledge is unfathomable. We would have meetings with him, some 12-hour meetings just as we developed the story, developed the script, and he would tell us his experiences. A lot of him is in the film as far as certainly our summation where we end. He is so knowledgeable even in the post portion of the film, putting the film together. He could tell you if we were in the wrong gear at turn six or that there’s a reverb when you go down the straight and make sure you add that.
6) One Scene Could Have Gone Horribly Wrong… But Thankfully Didn’t
Kerry Condon attends a Press Conference in Mexico City on June 10th, 2025 for Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films ‘F1’. Photo Credit: Chino Lemus. Copyright: Chino Lemus 2022.
The cast and filming crew felt extreme pressure during a key scene because they knew they could cause a racing team to be disqualified.
Kerry Condon: We were all nervous. Even the camera people were nervous because they had to walk backwards. And we were told 20 times by F1, don’t touch the cars. It’s the end of the race. That’s when the cars all pull in at the end and they have to check that they didn’t cheat or whatever. They have to weigh them and stuff. And so you can’t touch them. If you touch them, they’re disqualified. So everyone was so nervous about touching these cars. And then it was a beautiful moment for our team in the movie, so we had to have a great feeling. Everybody worked together, the AD department and the camera department and the sound department and stills photography. It was like all of us had to be great at the exact same time. So just the feeling when we did it was like, I was so high for so long.
7) Sonny’s Line “New Day, New Challenge” Is Something Director Joseph Kosinski Will Always Take With Him
Director-Producer Joseph Kosinski attends a Press Conference in Mexico City on June 10th, 2025 for Warner Bros. Pictures / Apple Original Films ‘F1’. Photo Credit: Chino Lemus. Copyright: Chino Lemus 2022.
Joseph Kosinski compares his experience in filmmaking to a line that Brad Pitt’s Sonny Hayes says in ‘F1 The Movie’.
Joseph Kosinski: He has a line in the film, New Day, New Challenge, and for me, that’s what I think about when approaching a film. What’s something I’ve never done before? What’s something that’s going to inspire me to get up out of bed every day and want to tackle it? So I think that’s one thing I’ll take away from this experience.
8) Filming ‘F1 The Movie’ Is An Experience Brad Pitt Will Never Forget
Brad Pitt is a fan of FORMULA 1 racing so for him to be able to sit in the drivers seat was not just another day at work, but rather an experience he will never forget.
Brad Pitt: It’s a religion for me as well. It’s incredible what these guys can do. We all think we’re backseat drivers in a way that we would know how to handle it. The precision, as Kerry said, they’re changing time zones. They’re taking these corners, they’re pulling 5Gs. It is staggering. And the idea that these guys can go around a four-mile track, a three-and-a-half-mile track, and all be within one second of each other, it’s awesome. So for us to even get to experience a hint of that, it’s such a high… I would love to explain what downforce feels like, the way these cars can stick. It is awesome. I don’t know how to do any better than that because there’s nothing I can compare it to. It is such a high… And the fact that we got to be tourists in this ecosystem for a little bit was an experience I’ll never forget.
9) FORMULA 1 Is Full Of Stories, Which Is Something This Movie Worked Hard To Capture
Brad Pitt is walking away from making ‘F1 The Movie’ knowing that the sport is full of stories. It is not just about the races, but the athletes and people behind-the-scenes, their lives, and the stories they tell.
Brad Pitt: F1 is full of stories, and each individual has their own quest and their own forces that they’re fighting against. Me, myself, for Sonny, he’s a character who had an early existence in F1, and it didn’t pan out for him, and he thinks he’s made his peace with that and has structured his life around that and moved on. But as life does, those unanswered things seem to circle back around, and we have to address them again, and that’s the Sonny story as I see it, which I’m quite moved by. But there’s many more stories to our story. There’s an underdog story, they’re a last-place team, how do they fight within the rules, how can they become a winning team? Kate’s fighting against a glass ceiling, in a sense. Damson’s character is a new and young phenomenon. He’s trying to find his way in a sport under great scrutiny, and still trying to operate at his best, and Javier is someone who’s trying to maintain this dream. He anchors it. So there’s multiple things going on in our story, and just like if you follow any racing weekend, the headlines are full of individual stories, and that’s the same for us.
10) Kerry Condon Never Thought She Would Be In A Hollywood Blockbuster
Kerry Condon admits that the main reason she joined the cast of ‘F1 The Movie’ is because she never thought she would be in a blockbuster film.
Kerry Condon: It was a blockbuster movie, and I grew up watching them in Ireland. I never thought I would have been in a big Hollywood movie with the music and the effects. It was just crazy thinking that I was even up for it, to be honest. I just wanted to be in it because it was one of those movies I had watched as a child.
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What is the plot of ‘F1”?
Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a Formula One driver who raced in the 1990s, has a horrible crash, forcing him to retire from Formula One and start racing in other disciplines. A Formula One team owner and friend, Ruben (Javier Bardem), contacts Hayes and asks him to come out of retirement to mentor rookie prodigy Joshua “Noah” Pearce (Damson Idris) for the Apex Grand Prix team (APXGP).
Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Preview:
A ‘Spaceballs’ sequel is in the works with much of the original cast returning.
Without the original actors reprising these roles, ‘Spaceballs 2’ would likely lack what is needed for it to succeed.
The addition of Lewis Pullman, Josh Gad, & Keke Palmer is also a brilliant move.
A ‘Spaceballs‘ sequel is in the works after nearly forty years and while that is exciting enough information on its own, the fact that much of the cast is returning is the icing on the cake.
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Unless ‘Spaceballs 2‘ were to follow a group of completely new characters (think ‘Star Wars‘ prequels or sequels), there is no way getting around replacing these actors. The film is so iconic that simply recasting would not only be a kick in the teeth to the actors (and the fans) but it would likely never capture the same satirical vibe that it needs to on order to be a success.
‘Spaceballs’ is a beloved film, a cult classic if you will, and needs to be treated as such. To bring in all new people, without any true ties to the original, would be a disgrace. The original cast members are not just perfect choices to play these characters, but the right choices to play them, as well.
(L to R) Rick Moranis as Dark Helmet and George Wyner as Colonel Sandurz in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Rick Moranis is that actor who would be the hardest to replace and keep fans feeling as if Dark Helmet is the same character. It would be just like ‘Star Wars’ putting out a movie featuring Darth Vader and not using James Earl Jones‘ iconic voice. It would immediately feel like an impression, an imitation, and not the same thing.
This is the most surprising return for most, considering that he hasn’t acted in quite sometime. His last live-action role was ‘Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves‘, which release in 1997. After that he did lend his voice to several animated projects, but ultimately gave up acting more or less in 2008. It is a treat to have him return and quite honestly, we wouldn’t have it any other way.
The main cast are such iconic characters that it simply makes sense to have the actors who know them inside and out come back and reprise their roles. As long as they are willing and able, there truly is no reason to recast.
Mel Brooks and Daphne Zuniga Are Also, Thankfully, Returning
(L to R) Joan Rivers as the voice of Dot Matrix and Daphne Zuniga as Princess Vespa in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Mel Brooks directed and starred in the original 1987 film. He is currently 98 years old, so his return for ‘Spaceballs 2’ as Yogurt is a bit shocking. That said, he can simply provide the voice via a recording booth if necessary, and have a stand-in actor if need be, due to the nature of the character. While fans would love to see him don the iconic gold makeup, that is simply not necessary with today’s technology. Of course, that would be ideal, but there are work arounds if they are needed.
Daphne Zuniga returning as Princess Vespa is no surprise to many as she has continued to act since ‘Spaceballs’. Knowing that Princess Vespa and Lone Starr marry at the end of the first film is the perfect lead-in to introducing their child, who will likely be the main focus of ‘Spaceballs 2’.
Sadly one of the most memorable characters, Barf, cannot be portrayed by the original actor, John Candy, as he has passed away. It is hard for fans of ‘Spaceballs’ to imagine a sequel without this particular character, so odds are Barf will either be recast, or one of his offsprings will join in the adventure. This is likely where Josh Gad steps in, because has the comedic chops to pull it off, although we do not yet know for sure.
Lewis Pullman Joining His Father, Bill Pullman, As His Son Is A Brilliant Casting Choice
Lewis Pullman coming in as Lone Starr’s son, which is fitting becauae his father, Bill Pullman, is reprising that role as well for ‘Spaceballs 2′. Having both Pullmans on screen is sure to be a joyful fans, but it will also make their moments together believable. As with Rick Moranis’ return as Dark Helmet, finding a replacement actor for Bill Pullman’s Lone Starr would prove to be incredibly difficult.
Bringing in Lewis Pullman is a brilliant move because not only is he the perfect person to carry on the Lone Starr legacy because of his father, he is also a great actor, which he has proven time and time again, most recently in ‘Thunderbolts*‘.
Keke Palmer also joins the ‘Spaceballs 2’ cast in an undisclosed role. Another comedic genuis who is sure to fit into this crazy Sci-Fi world perfectly.
Josh Gads Love For The Original ‘Spaceballs’ Is Reassuring
(Left) Mel Brooks in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (Right) Josh Gad in ‘The Wedding Ringer’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Josh Gad is leading the charge on ‘Spaceballs 2’, reportedly starring and producing. He also apparently wrote the sequel. Not only does he know his way around comedy, he is also a big fan of the original film. He has admitted to seeing ‘Spaceballs’ before even seeing ‘Star Wars’. Knowing that he is such a big fan himself should put minds at ease. Surely he would not agree to star in something that doss have the same vibe and feeling of the original, which he loves so much.
While not much is known about the story yet, ‘Spaceballs 2’ will clearly be set a long time after the events of ‘Spaceballs’. The actors have aged forty years, which is something you simply cannot avoid. Plus, with Lewis Pullman playing the adult son of Lone Starr, we know time must have passed. There are so many routes they can go, but with the original cast on board, fans will have high hopes that they can recreate magic.
Amazon MGM’s ‘Spaceballs 2’ is set to release in 2027. There is no confirmation yet as to if it will head to theaters yet, or release exclusively on Prime Video.
(L to R) John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga and Bill Pullman in ‘Spaceballs’. Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
