Premiering on June 13th, Prime Video’s hit superhero series ‘The Boys’ is back for another explosive fourth season. ‘The Boys’ is based on The New York Times best-selling comic by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, who also serve as executive producers and developed by executive producer and showrunner Eric Kripke.
(L to R) Chace Crawford and Antony Starr talk ‘The Boys’ season 4.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Antony Starr and Chace Crawford about season 4 of ‘The Boys’, Homelander’s exploration into mortality and fatherhood, The Deep’s new outlook on life, and the hierarchy within The Seven.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Starr and Crawford, Erin Moriarty, Claudia Doumit, Karen Fukuyama and showrunner Eric Kripke.
Moviefone: Antony, this season deals a lot with the past, and with Homelander specifically, he’s dealing with having to face his own mortality and fatherhood. What has it been like for you to deep dive into that part of the character for the season?
Antony Starr: Honestly, as a non-parent, it was great. I get to go into parenting without dealing with the responsibility of having a kid. I think season 4 started somewhere midway through season three with the idea of mortality and everything that comes along with that. That naturally led to legacy, which is where we pick up in season 4, and that’s all about fatherhood and familial relationship. But I don’t think Homelander is equipped. He just doesn’t understand how that actually works. Loves the idea of it, but he just doesn’t know how to make it function, which is arguably true of many people. I keep saying if you want to look at your present, look at your past. If you want to look at your future, look at your present, right? So the future is Ryan, and the present is him. The past is where we go in episode four, and that is all in order to make himself a better father in his eyes for Ryan, which is a very selfish move, actually. It’s about his legacy. But he does love the kid, so there’s that.
MF: Chase, in this season The Deep gets some words of encouragement from Sage, a new member of The Seven, and after that he finds the courage to speak up. What is something about this season that you’re excited to explore for The Deep?
Chase Crawford: It was exactly what you just mentioned, to be honest. I mean, Sage obviously has super intelligence, hyper intelligence, and she knows how to play 4D chess, and she’s manipulating him a little bit. But I do think it’s funny that any compliment he takes, he’s like, “Thank you.” He really takes it to heart. It means a lot to him if someone, especially another superhero, and then of course, he’s attracted to her after that. Just a sucker for flattery. But I do like that he’s testing the bounds of his emotional world and sort of taking it out on other people. It just makes it interesting that he’s leaning into a bit of what Homelander leans into and being aggressive, and liking it in a way and really saying, “I’ve already done this thing. I’ve already done murders. I’m doing everything.” It’s ridiculous what he’s willing to do for Homelander, but it’s been fun to explore a new dimension of The Deep and also his relationship.
MF: Finally, Antony, can you talk about the hierarchy within The Seven and each of their motivations?
AS: It’s such a hierarchy in The Seven, everyone’s trying to ascend. It’s like a wolf pack constantly trying to get over each other. I’m always curious about the motives of the characters on this show because I think it’s always blurred. But I think it’s really interesting that all the superheroes are really self-motivated, and all the anarchists, per se, are really doing something. They’re really altruistic, and they want to do something for the masses, except Butcher, who’s a serial killer who wants to kill me because he thinks I did something that I didn’t do.
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What Is The Plot Of ‘The Boys’?
In Season 4, the world is on the brink. Victoria Neuman (Claudia Doumit) is closer than ever to the Oval Office and under the muscly thumb of Homelander (Antony Starr), who is consolidating his power. Butcher (Karl Urban), with only months to live, has lost Becca’s son as well as his job as The Boys’ leader. The rest of the team are fed up with his lies. With the stakes higher than ever, they have to find a way to work together and save the world before it’s too late.
The follow up to 2021’s ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ sees the Spengler Family fully embracing their new lives as Ghostbusters, roaming all over New York City investigating paranormal activities and trapping ghosts. All of that ghost catching comes with a price when they find out the spirit containment unit is at full capacity. On top of it all, an ancient entity has been unleashed, ready to turn the world into his icy playground.
Did you miss this paranormal adventure on the big screen? Don’t worry, the movie is now available on VOD for rent or purchase, so you can watch it from the comfort of your couch or your personal Ecto-1.
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. As of April 30, 2024, the movie was made available to rent for $19.99 or purchase for $24.99 on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu.
With ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ raking in over $198.9 million at the global box office, it has become the fourth biggest movie of 2024 so far. Despite the low critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, the fans enjoyed the movie, garnering it an 83% audience score. It’s easy to see why the moviegoers enjoyed this chapter in the Ghostbusters franchise. The nostalgia hits hard when the film reunites the original Ghostbusters cast members as they take up their uniforms and proton packs for another round of ghostbusting.
While there has not been any confirmed plans for the next Ghostbusters movie, it is clear its original cast members loves being a part of the story and legacy.
“Well, it’s been over half my life, 40 years of ‘Ghostbusters’. I’ve been Winston Zeddemore to people I meet on the street and everywhere. So, it’s hard to separate me from the role, and the fact that it’s still current, that people still love it, wherever I go in the world ‘Ghostbusters’ fans will show up, and express to me how much the movie has meant to them, and their families. So yes. It’s just very exciting, and I’m just so thankful that it has relevance in these 40 years after the fact. No way could I have imagined that this would be happening. But it is happening, and it’s wonderful. As an actor, I’ve done a lot of movies over the years, and it’s great to have one that people really connect to and hold onto.”
‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD on June 25th. Collectors can also look forward to a 2-film collection set, which will include both ‘Afterlife’ and ‘Frozen Empire.’ The home release will feature bonus content such as:
Return to the Firehouse: Making of ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’
Watch the official trailers for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’ is below:
The Spengler family returns to where it all started — the iconic New York City firehouse — to team up with the original Ghostbusters, who’ve developed a top-secret research lab to take busting ghosts to the next level. But when the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.
The next chapter in Paul Atreides’ story takes shape in ‘Dune: Part Two’, and is now available on VOD, with the home release coming in May 2024.
Based on Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, the follow-up to the 2021 ‘Dune’ was originally slated to release on October 20, 2023. However, the film was delayed due to the WGA and SAG strike. The film finally premiered on March 1, 2024. ‘Dune: Part Two’ received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.
With ‘Dune’ taking home five Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, Best Orignal Score, and Best Production Design, it is very possible to see ‘Dune: Part Two’ snagging nominations for the 2025 awards season.
Did you miss the epic sci-fi sequel on the big screen? You’re in luck. The movie is now available on VOD for rent or purchase, so you can watch it from the comfort of your couch, no sandworms necessary.
‘Dune: Part Two’ has a runtime of 2 hours and 47 minutes. As of April 16, 2024, the movie was made available to rent for $24.99 or purchase for $29.99 on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Apple TV includes over 100 minutes of bonus content included in the digital version. Take a deeper look at the character of Dune, the Freman language, sandworm-riding, costumes, music, and more.
With ‘Dune: Part Two’ raking in over $637 million at the global box office, what is next for ‘Dune’? In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly in 2021, Director Denis Villeneuve says he’s “always envisioned three movies.” to fully round out the Paul Atreides story. He has also mentioned that a script for the third movie is in the works.
“I always envisioned three movies. It’s not that I want to do a franchise, but this is ‘Dune,’ and ‘Dune’ is a huge story. In order to honor it, I think you would need at least three movies. That would be the dream. To follow Paul Atreides and his full arc would be nice.”
Filming a sci-fi epic is no easy task, and the director mentions the possibility of taking a break between ‘Dune: Part Two’ and ‘Dune: Messiah’. However, the third film, ‘Dune: Messiah’ is in active development.
‘Dune: Part Two’ will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD on May 14th. Collectors can also look forward to a 2-film collection from Target. The home release will feature over an hour of bonus content:
Watch the final trailer for ‘Dune: Part Two’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Dune: Part Two’ is below:
Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
There were a total of nine emotions in the original pitch.
The sequel will explore the minds and emotions of a teenager.
Finding the new voices for ‘Inside Out 2’.
Pixar Animation’s upcoming sequel ‘Inside Out 2’ will see the journey of Riley in her teenage years. Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear are gearing up for brand new adventures for the next chapter in Riley’s life, but unbeknownst to them, everything they know is about to change.
During the long lead day presentation at the Pixar Animation Studio in Emeryville, California, director Kelsey Mann (‘Good Dinosaur’) and producer Mark Nielson held a press conference to discuss the sequel.
When it comes to crafting the next chapter, Mann has some big shoes to fill. 2015’s ‘Inside Out’ was directed by Pete Docter, who is now the Chief Creative Officer for Pixar. The film won an Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 88th Academy Award. Mann talks about the pressure of needing to make something great, but he was up for the challenge, “There’s nobody’s feet I’d rather follow than that man.”
Kelsey Mann is photographed on September 25, 2013 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar.
On taking over for the sequel and following in Docter’s footsteps:
Kelsey Mann: I’ve really been following Pete’s footsteps for a long time. But I feel nothing but, you know, excitement. Joy is at my console and, of course, you’re like you wanna make sure you’re doing right to everyone that loves the original film. I wanna do Pete proud. I wanna do everybody who loved the original proud. I’m just more excited than I am scared.
Anxiety, Envy, Embarrassment, and Ennui join the original five emotions for ‘Inside Out 2’. Mann reveals that more emotions were originally planned – nine, to be exact.
Kelsey Mann: Nine new emotions showed up. I really wanted Joy to feel overwhelmed by all of these new emotions that showed up. I was like well, let’s have a lot show up. Then you couldn’t keep track. There were so many emotions and they all canceled each other out because you couldn’t keep up with everybody. My first note from the first screening was simplify.
The director mentions the many emotions that didn’t make the cut for both films, including the emotion Schadenfreude, which means joy or satisfaction felt at someone else’s expense. Pete Doctor originally had the idea of having Schadenfreude in the first film, so Mann wanted to try again but it was ultimately cut from the film.
To help narrow down the number of new emotions, Mann and Nielson enlist the help of Dacher Keltner, a professor at Berkeley who also served as the emotional expert on the first movie.
Mann knew he wanted to pitch the idea of exploring Riley’s mind as a teenager for the sequel. He speaks about the drama that would go on, as well as hilarious moments to highlight in the film:
Kelsey Mann: I looked into what happens in our brains at that age, and it’s a lot. There’s a lot that goes on. It gave us everything that we kinda need for a Pixar movie. There’s a lot of drama that goes on. But also it’s really funny. Like, I could come up with a lot of really good gags about Riley being inside the mind of a teenager.
When it came to deciding which of the new emotions would take control at the console inside Riley’s mind, Mann knew it had to be Anxiety. Conferring with emotions expert Dacher Keltner, they focused on the self-conscious emotions, “at this age, you start, we’re hard wired at this age to start to become really self-conscious.”
Kelsey Mann: In part, we’re doing it because when you’re a kid, you’ve got your parents and your caregivers taking care of you. Eventually, you’re gonna have to take care of yourself. That’s why we’re hard wired to like, push our parents and our caregivers away is so that we can become independent people that can take care of ourselves.
Mann also touches on a teenager’s need to fit in and feel accepted.
Kelsey Mann: How do I fit in? Do you like me? It’s all about fitting in at that age. It’s part of our design of who we are because if you don’t like me, you’re gonna banish me and I’m gonna go out into the woods and die alone. So, that’s why we kind of worry so much about what others think about us at that age. It kinda turns on and it kinda never goes away. You kinda have to manage it, which is a big reason why I’m making this movie. So, that’s why we ended up going towards the emotions that we have in the film now.
As a father, Mann speaks to how important and personal this story is to him.
Kelsey Mann: A big reason why I’m making this movie is I want to make it for everyone but I’m also making it for my little girl. I’m making it for my daughter. I wish I had a movie like this when I was a teenager.
When cast for the new emotions, Mann and Nielson looked for actors who embodied the characters they were building.
Mark Nielsen: The process, we kinda take it emotion by emotion and what we’re looking for is for actors out there that purely embody the character that we are building. So, you know, going back to the first film, Lewis Black, when you think about Anger, and if you’ve seen any of his comedy, there was no question that there wasn’t anybody else that could play that character.
When it came to casting Maya Hawke for Anxiety, the creative team had a very funny and unexpected story, where Mann auditioned the actress from Disney World.
Kelsey Mann: So, we went out to do an audition with Maya, and Mark [Nielsen] was like, “Good news is she said, yes, she would love to audition and meet with you. Bad news is it’s during your vacation.” So, me and my kids, we were all at Disney World. I’m like, “I’m at Disney World.” He’s like “Don’t worry, we’ll figure something out.” So, I went to Disney World, and I was at EPCOT.
The casting team for Pixar took Mann through the backlots of EPCOT, through the Mexico Pavilion, and auditioned Hawke via Zoom. Mann was so happy with her audition he burst into tears.
Kelsey Mann: She absolutely crushed it. My favorite part was, at the end of it, I talked about what I wanted the movie to be about and she just immediately connected with it. I think I even cried as she was talking. I walked away and called you and were like “oh my God, she’s perfect.” Then I went back into EPCOT and continued my vacation. It was hilarious.
While the story takes place inside Riley’s mind, the sequel also serves as a parental movie, inspired by Mann and Nielsen’s own lives as parents to teenagers. The film also highlights Joy’s protective nature when it comes to Riley.
Kelsey Mann: When I started, my daughter was 13 and my son was 14. I’m like this is the exact age I want her to be in the movie. So they’re immediately right there. You’re always pulling from your lives in every movie I’ve done here. We’re always talking about what it’s like to be alive and be a person, a father, a husband, you know, whatever it may be. So, you’re always kind of putting that into the movie.
Mark Nielsen: Yeah. This really is a parental story, and even though it takes place in Riley’s mind, she is kind of the set piece and there’s something incredibly universal about this story and these emotions that we all have. Even Joy who’s the protagonist of this story, has a very parental view of Riley and all the emotions do, right? They’re there to serve her. They’re there to do their very best to do whatever they need to protect their girl and to kind of steer her in the right way. So, even the original film was based on Pete Docter’s observations of his daughter as she was growing up and going through change and becoming a young teen. So, having the parental lens on this film has been incredibly helpful.
There was a land called Procrastination Land inside Riley’s brain – a land that would always be under construction and never finished. Ultimately, Procrastinating Land did not make the final cut of the film.
The baggage Anxiety carries during her first appearance in the film originally belonged to Guilt, one of the nine emotions that didn’t make the cut.
This is the first Pixar animated feature film to have a female composer – Andrea Datzman
‘Inside Out 2’ arrives in theaters on July 14, 2024.
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What Is the Plot of ‘Inside Out 2’?
Following the 2015 movie, ‘Inside Out 2’ will return to the mind of Riley (Kensington Tallman) as she enters her teenage years. Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Liza Lapira), and Fear (Tony Hale) have their hands full as Riley experiences life-changing moments, along with Headquarters going under a sudden demolition to make room for something completely unexpected – brand new Emotions. Experience an emotional rollercoaster as the sequel introduces Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), who will share Headquarters with the original 5 Emotions.
Meet the new Plastics in the latest adaptation of the 2004 cult classic ‘Mean Girls.’ The updated version incorporates 13 songs from the Broadway show, a brand new cast, and the return of some fan favorites.
Based on Tina Fey’s adaptation screenplay of ‘Queen Bees and Wannabees,’ the 2004 film was later adapted for Broadway in 2018, earning 12 Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, Best Original Score, Best Choreography, and more.
Originally slated for a streaming release on Paramount+, the studio decided on a theatrical release for the film following positive test screenings. ‘Mean Girls’ held its premiere in New York City on January 8, 2024.
‘Mean Girls’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 53 minutes. Didn’t get to experience the musical movie in theaters? Don’t worry. As of February 20, 2024, the movie was available to rent for $19.99 or purchase for $26.99 on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Currently, various streaming platforms have the movie on sale for $5.99 to rent and $12.99, so if you’ve been wanting to see the movie, take advantage of this deal before it’s gone.
While ‘Mean Girls’ features a (mostly) brand new cast, there are a few return fan favorites and cameos. Tina Fey and Tim Meadows return to reprise their roles as Ms. Norbury and Mr. Duvall, respectively. Ashley Park (‘Joy Ride’) cameos as French teacher Madame Park in the film. Park originated the role of Gretchen Wieners on Broadway and earned a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
It is also worth mentioning that Reneé Rapp also played the role of Regina George on Broadway. In fact, the role marks the actress’ Broadway debut, who played Regina from 2019 to 2020 before it was shut down due to the pandemic.
Lindsay Lohan, the star of the original ‘Mean Girls’, also appears in the film as the Mathletes Moderator.
‘Mean Girls’ will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray, and 4K UHD on April 30th. A two-movie collection set will be available, with both the 2024 version and the original 2004 version. April 30th also marks the first time the original film will be released in 4K.
Watch the official trailers for ‘Mean Girls’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Mean Girls’ is below:
From the comedic mind of Tina Fey comes a new twist on the modern classic, MEAN GIRLS. New student Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called “The Plastics,” ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George (Reneé Rapp) and her minions Gretchen (Bebe Wood) and Karen (Avantika). However, when Cady makes the major misstep of falling for Regina’s ex-boyfriend Aaron Samuels (Christopher Briney), she finds herself prey in Regina’s crosshairs. As Cady sets to take down the group’s apex predator with the help of her outcast friends Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey), she must learn how to stay true to herself while navigating the most cutthroat jungle of all: high school.
The upcoming Pixar animated feature ‘Inside Out 2’ will be in theaters on June 14, 2023. Moviefone was invited to Pixar Animation Studio in Emeryville, California, along with a group of journalists to preview the first 30 minutes of the film and get a closer look at the inner workings of creating an animated feature film.
Director Kelsey Mann Presents the First 30 Minutes of the Film
Kelsey Mann is photographed on September 25, 2013 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar.
Moviefone had the pleasure of screening the first 30 minutes of ‘Inside Out 2’. Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, Pete Docter (who directed 2015’s ‘Inside Out’) kicked things off by talking about using big backdrops for past animation movies. Docter speaks about stories using large backdrops such as the ocean or space in films such as ‘Finding Nemo‘ and ‘Lightyear,’ but with ‘Inside Out,’ it explores the vast mind of a young girl.
‘Inside Out 2’ director Kelsey Mann and producer Mark Nielsen present the 30-minute footage. The director also clarified that some shots were not completely finished at the time of the presentation. Both Mann and Nielsen are now fathers of teenage girls and expressed that that made working on this film extra special and meaningful.
Mann says he could not stop thinking about the final line from Joy in the first film: “After all, Riley’s 12 now. What could happen?” as he began to work on this movie to explore Riley’s next chapter. ‘Inside Out 2’ will examine this stage of growing up – when a teenager’s self-consciousness and self-doubt are at the forefront of their emotions.
While Mann did not work on ‘Inside Out,’ he did experience the film as an audience. Now, as director, he’s able to go into the sequel and explore the next chapter with new emotions: “I’d zeroed in on the idea of Anxiety being a major character,” said Mann. “It’s something that really starts to appear as we become teenagers – we can “It’s something that really starts to appear as we become teenagers—we can all relate. I remember doing a lot of research early on about what happens in our brains at this age that triggered this idea of a wrecking ball coming through Headquarters — a bunch of workers piling in and tearing everything down. It’s a renovation — that’s kind of what it feels like to be a teenager. It’s chaotic.”
Anxiety brings along fellow new emotions: the always-admiring Envy, the ever-mortified Embarrassment, and Ennui, who is in a constant state of boredom and disdain, opting to lay on a couch and stare at the phone rather than interact with the group.
The presentation kicks off with Riley’s hockey game, and inside Headquarters, the Emotions are gearing up for the big game. As Joy commands the console, she also doubles as a sports commentator as she gives the play-by-play. The other Emotions take turns at the console as the game continues – Anger when Riley needs to be more aggressive on the ice; Disgust when Riley accidentally puts someone else’s mouthguard in her mouth; Fear ensures Riley skates with caution; and Sadness when Riley gets a penalty. This is followed by a short exposition where Joy catches the audience up on what Riley’s been up to and gives a quick overview of the workings parts inside her mind, such as Personality Island, Friendship Island, and more.
The scene introduces something new called Riley’s Sense of Self. It blooms as Riley experiences various successes and failures — like scoring a goal or missing a pass from a teammate. The Emotions call this their masterpiece.
After the game, Riley and her two best friends are approached by a high school hockey coach to commend them on a well-played game and extend an invitation to hockey camp. This is where we’ll see Riley’s self-doubt come into play as she grows anxious and nervous about her performance at hockey camp. Joy has invented a “Riley Protection System” for moments like this — where she takes the “bad” emotions and launches them out of Headquarters and into the back of Riley’s mind.
Another new element introduced is the Belief Center, adorned with beautiful light threads made from Riley’s beliefs, which is where Joy stores the key memories.
In the middle of the night, the console begins beeping. One by one, the Emotions awake to investigate the sound. A new button on the console is causing the beep – we come to find out this button is “Puberty.” Amidst the chaos of the demolition of Headquarters, the Emotion finds that the control console has become increasingly sensitive, causing Riley’s mood to surge from one spectrum to the other with even the slightest touch of a button. If things weren’t crazy enough, new Emotions, Anxiety, Envy, Ennui, and Embarrassment, arrive at this moment.
During the commotion, an Emotion we have yet to see makes a quick appearance, hinting at what’s to come for Riley in her adult life, but we won’t spoil that moment for you here. We also get a quick glimpse inside Riley’s mom’s mind as Riley experiences mood swings, “Welp, that’s a preview of the next 10 years.”
While talking to her best friends on their way to hockey camp, we get a better look at Riley’s self-consciousness taking over her mind. Disgust overanalyzes everything they say, including zooming in on her friends’ faces to study their expressions. It turns out that her friends would not be attending the same high school as Riley next year, causing a small rift in their friendship.
Arriving at hockey camp, the girls are enamored by being around high school students. They meet Valentina “Val” Ortiz, the captain of the high school hockey team. With both old and new Emotions now sharing the console, Riley’s first meeting with Val quickly becomes awkward, from a very cheesy greeting with “shooting” hand gestures to nonchalant responses courtesy of Ennui.
Joy and Anxiety fight over Riley’s Sense of Self, as they do not see eye-to-eye on how to best handle social situations at hockey camp among high school-aged girls, as well as whether she should be hanging out with the hockey team or her best friends. Anxiety’s approach is to “plan for the future” which would mean Riley should hang out with her potential future teammates, whereas Joy chose to stay with what’s familiar – Riley’s friends.
With Joy and Anxiety unable to agree on the best way to help Riley, Anxiety ends up throwing the old Emotions inside a bottle and launching them out of Headquarters. Then, she announces her plan to build a brand new Riley. The new Emotions heads down to the Belief Center to begin the rebuild, and we see the straight, shining threads turn into sharp, jagged lines—similar to Anxiety’s hair.
The old Emotions find themselves inside a dark vault, where some of Riley’s oldest memories – and perhaps some secret – lie. This scene includes two new characters in a very different art style – a 2D animation-style character reminiscent of ‘Dora the Explorer’ and ‘Blue’s Clue’ and a 3D polygonal character whom the Emotions ask for help getting out of the vault and return to Headquarters.
Following the footage presentation, journalists were split into various groups and guided into the working offices of the Pixar campus for an in-depth look at what it takes to create the sequel.
First up was character development with Production Designer Jason Deamer and Character Art Director Keiko Murayama. They speak about the process of creating an Emotion by studying their Shape Language – like Anxiety who is more tightly wind-up and Joy who has more of a star-burst shape. Color and silhouette are looked at as well in character creation. One of the bigger challenges in creating the sequel is that it must look and feel like the first film, and it took around a year and a half to get it to look just right.
Next up is Story Pitch with Story Artist Becca McVeigh, who took us through the process of being assigned to a scene, animating it, and pitching it to the director. McVeigh live-pitched the scene called ‘The Alarm,’ where the Emotions are awoken by a strange beeping sound coming from the console. During the story pitch, artists will not only draw the sequence of the scene but also act out the dialogue and sound effects. After the pitch, director Kelsey Mann is there to give his notes, and they will run through the animated scene with McVeigh making changes right there on the spot – from adding more jokes or adjusting the dialogue of important moments to elevate the film further.
(L to R) Becca McVeigh and John Hoffman during a story review, as seen on March 19, 2024 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar.
Following the story pitch is the live edit session, where ‘Inside Out 2’ lead editor Maurissa Horwitz demonstrates how the editors piece together a scene, from layering various sound effects to make the scenes sound fuller to choosing the right music for scenes and picking the perfect dialogue performance.
Journalists also got a try at voicing a character in the movie in a mock voice recording session directed by a senior recording engineer.
The next stop was Virtual Camera Set Scout, where Adam Habib, Ryan Heuett, and Sunguk Chun gave an inside look at how being on a digital set in a Pixar film can parallel being on a physical set in a live-action film. The team used a tablet on a handheld rig, which functions just as a camera that allows the director and editors to move around anywhere on the set to find the right shot. This technology allows for over-the-shoulder shots, birds-eye view, and more. It can even give certain scenes a specific camera language. For example, Anxiety will be a more handheld-type, up-close shots and have less motion blur – with Heuett referencing the inspiration from ‘Uncut Gems’. In this session, journalists got to operate the handheld rig to virtually “walk” around the emotions’ Headquarter.
(L to R) Kelsey Mann and Pete Docter talk before an Inside Out 2 animation review on February 8, 2024 at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, Calif. Photo by Deborah Coleman / Pixar.
The final stop is Animation Polish Review, where animators will go over a specific shot they’ve been working on, addressing the various notes and changes before receiving final notes or approvals. This process takes a close look at the detail elements such as fabric movement and wrinkle, ice particles on a hockey rink, and more.
Just like the Emotions and Mindworkers inside Riley’s mind, it takes a team and a lot of coordination to create an animated feature film.
‘Inside Out 2’ will arrive in theaters on June 14, 2024.
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What is the plot of ‘Inside Out 2?’
Following the 2015 movie, ‘Inside Out 2’ will return to the mind of Riley (Kensington Tallman) as she enters her teenage years. Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Liza Lapira), and Fear (Tony Hale) have their hands full as Riley experiences life-changing moments, along with Headquarters going under a sudden demolition to make room for something completely unexpected – brand new Emotions. Experience an emotional rollercoaster as the sequel introduces Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), and Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos), who will share Headquarters with the original 5 Emotions.
Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man in ‘The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’ originally premiered at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival last June and was made widely available by Sony Animation Pictures on March 28th, 2024. The short film takes a closer look at the superhero Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as he struggles to balance his life as a teenager, a friend, and the responsibilities of being Spider-man. As the pressure continues to build on Miles, he experiences a panic attack that forces him to face the manifestation of his anxiety in this thriller short film.
Initial Thoughts
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Fans of the ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ animated franchise will be excited to see another chapter of the story, no matter how short it is. Especially when it carries an important message – that everyone, even superheroes, struggles with mental health.
While there are no explosive action scenes, this 7-minute and 14-second short still packs a punch. It’s eerie and unsettling, and as Miles’ anxiety kicks in, his world warp into chaotic visuals that represent how anxiety or a panic attack can feel like. Going the horror route definitely feels like the right choice for this story.
Aside from creepy optics, the short did a good job of communicating the feeling of being overwhelmed and when anxiety takes over your body. Small details like Miles’ heavy breathing as he tries to calm his nerves, the sleep paralysis, and his shaky hand on the doorknob made it feel even more real and relatable.
‘A Spider Within’: Story and Direction
Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
‘A Spider Within’ is directed by Jarelle Dampier, who took a horror angle for this story. In an interview with The Wrap, Dampier says the inspiration came from his own experience with sleep paralysis. Aside from the performance from Shamiek Moore, what really sold the horror aspect was the sound effects and music. It wasn’t anything we heard in pervious films. For example, when Miles’ anxiety shifts from a large spider into millions of smaller spiders crawling all over his body is paired with the rapid plucking of strings, much like we often hear in horror films. The sound will have your hairs standing on ends and feel like there are spiders crawling all over you too.
As a juxtaposition to the jump scares and loud sounds are the quiet moments. This comes right after Miles’ mind is plagued with overlapping dialogue from the day – “These grades are unacceptable. You need to apply yourself. You always seem so distracted.” These conversations grows so loud, which makes the following silent moment standout even more.
‘A Spider Within’: Performances
Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
Returning to the role of Miles Morales is Shameik Moore. Aside from a quick exchange with his father Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry) before heading into his room, Miles is alone for most of the short. This means it was solely up to Moore to deliver all the emotion Miles was feeling. With two ‘Spider-Verse’ movies under his belt, Moore delivered on all fronts, perfectly portraying the panic in Miles’ voice, as well as the tone of frustration as he shoulders the pressure of living a double life.
‘A Spider Within’: Final Thoughts
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Spider-man has always struggled with the pressure of living the double life, and the sense of doing too much and not enough is well conveyed in this short film. The moments of Miles feeling overwhelmed, and his struggle to open up about it is so relatable. By putting this story into the ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ world is great way to deliver the message of the importance of mental health and reaching out for help.
Horror and jump scares aside, the final moment when Miles opens up to his dad will surely drum up some emotions in the audience.
‘A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the Plot of ‘A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’?
Miles Morales is feeling the pressure of being both Spider-man and a teenager. As he struggles to juggle everything in his life, anxiety and panic kicks in and inevitably manifests itself, forcing Miles to come face-to-face with it.
Sony Pictures Animation has teamed up with the Kevin Love Fund to digitally release the animated short film, ‘The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’, that will be incorporated into the Kevin Love Fund’s new mental health focused lesson plan, “The Hero Within”. The lesson plan invites students to tell their own story through the lens of mental health awareness via an interactive curriculum including a creative storyboard activity. Visit kevinlovefund.org for additional information.
‘A Spider Within’ was developed and produced by Sony’s LENS (Leading and Empowering New Storytellers) program, a 9-month leadership training program that provide candidates from underrepresented groups with an opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience in animation.
Who is in the cast of ‘A Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story’?
Returning to reprise his roles as Miles Morales is Shameik Moore. Brian Tyree also returns as the voice of Jefferson Davis.
‘A Spider Within’ is written by Khailia Amazan and produced by LENS program creators Michelle Raimo-Kouyate and David Schulengurg. Clara Chan served as VFX supervisor ad Joe Darko served as animation supervisor.
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Other Movies Similar to ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’:
There’s more than meets the eye in the word ‘The Beekeeper.’
In the Jason Statham-led action thriller, it isn’t just about someone who tends to the bees but about a powerful and clandestine organization known as the “Beekeepers.” When Adam Clay’s client and friend fall for a phishing scam that leads to her suicide, the former operative sets out to bring her death to justice.
The movie premiered on January 10, 2024, in London at Leicester Square, released in the United States on January 12, 2024. ‘Beekeeper’s theatrical release included showings in IMAX and Dolby Cinema for audiences to get a more immersive experience. The David Ayer action thriller has grossed over $63 million domestically and over $149.6 million worldwide.
‘Beekeeper’ has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. If you missed the movie in theaters, don’t worry. As of January 30, 2024, it is available to rent or purchase on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Prices range from $19.99 for rental or $24.99 for purchase.
Since the film was released under MGM, it will likely end up streaming for free on Prime Video subscribers. However, no official streaming date has been announced by the studio or Prime Video. If you’re a Sky Cinema subscriber, the movie will be available to watch at no additional cost on March 8.
Director David Ayer leans into the mythology behind bees – the idea of taking care of and protecting the hive and turning it into how a powerful secret organization would operate. The director also found Statham to be the perfect actor to express that mythology. With that, Ayer used the opportunity to try something different from his usual dark drama style
“When I read this script, it was this fascinating look into the world of the beekeepers. It was the right amount of, just enough to know what’s going on, and not so much that you don’t lose the magic and mystery of it. In that script, I saw an amazing role for Jason, he came attached to it, but also, I saw an opportunity for me to do something a little bit different. It’s really a classic action, escapist, thrill ride. Normally I do a lot of dark drama, and so to have the opportunity to make a fun movie that I know an audience is going to love was something I couldn’t say no to.”
We’ve seen Statham in plenty of action movies, everything from the ‘Transporter’ franchise to ‘Fast & Furious.’ Aside from delivering on the action front, Statham is the kind of actor who can make any dialogue work – even ones that feel a bit over-the-top or ridiculous.
In ‘Beekeeper’, you’ll see plenty of Jason Statham putting his martial arts skills to use as he sets out to take down the Danforth corporation. Ayer worked with stunt coordinator Jeremy Marinas on the film and mentions that Statham does his own stunts, “you present him a scene, he’s the guy that’s going to do everything, and he has a loud vote, he has a voice.”
“So, we had this great stunt coordinator and choreographer, Jeremy Marinas, who comes from the 87eleven school, and his understanding of human kinetics and how people just move was educational for me. Then with Jason, I mean, he’s an action icon, he’s a legend. He does his own stunts, so it’s interesting because you present him a scene, he’s the guy that’s going to do everything, and he has a loud vote, he has a voice. He’s probably forgotten more about action than I’ve ever known. So, it was really challenging, I always bring my A game to set and Jason taught me that there’s an A+ game when it comes to action.”
Watch the official trailers for ‘Beekeeper’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Beekeeper’ is below:
In The Beekeeper, one man’s brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as “Beekeepers”.
Premiering on Disney+ on March 20, ‘X-Men ‘97’ will pick up from where season 5 of the original series left off in 1997. The series consists of ten episodes with updated animation in the same style and features returning voice talents such as Cal Dodd, Lenore Zann, Alison Sealy-Smith, and George Buza reprising their roles.
For those who grew up on the original 90’s cartoon, the anticipation for this series is high. ‘X-Men ‘97’ not only captures the heart and soul of the original but adds elevated animation and gripping storylines that’ll leave audiences wanting more. The familiar intro is refreshed but is still very similar to the 1992 series. Once the theme song kicks in, you’ll feel like you’re transported right back to that era, once again watching the characters you’ve grown up with.
The series will premiere with two episodes, then one episode releasing weekly after.
Story and Direction
‘X-Men ’97’ supervising producer and head director Jake Castorena.
‘X-Men ‘97’ is created by Beau DeMayo, with Jake Castorena as supervising director. The series picks up exactly where the 1996 episode “Graduation Day” leaves off, where the X-Men bid farewell to their leader, Professor Xavier. In the new series, Scott Summers aka Cyclops, steps into the role to lead the X-Men, but not without some growing pains. Cyclops faces the challenges of constantly questioning whether he can be a good enough replacement for Charles, and with Jean Grey pregnant, do they stay with the team or pursue a private family life outside of all the fighting?
In its first episode, “To Me, My X-Men”, does a great job of moving things along within its 30 minutes run-time, setting up the obstacles the team will face, giving each character an adequate amount of screen time, and of course, plenty of action. Just like the original, the show’s overall theme focuses on the mutants trying to find a way to co-exist with the humans in peace, even though the humans continuously seek new ways to destroy them, using weapons like the Sentinal. Each episode teases the next precarious challenge for the X-Men to confront, leaving the viewers wanting more.
One of the most intriguing plots of this new series is how the X-Men continue on without their leader. In the official trailer, X-Men’s longtime nemesis Magneto shows up, announcing he will be taking over the school as it was “the last will and testament of Charles Xavier.” This interesting twist is handled so well, but one can’t help but second guess the true intention of Magneto.
Aside from the action, story, and cliffhangers, this series never forgets to have fun. It fully embraces the 90’s era dialogue and humor, and the fans will again get to see the banter between Wolverine and Cyclops.
The series sees the return of some of the original voices reprising their roles, such as Cal Dodd as Wolverine, Lenore Zann as Rogue, George Buza as Beast, and Alison Sealy-Smith as Storm. Catherine Disher also returns to the series but voices the character Dr. Valerie “Val” Cooper instead of reprising her role as Jean Grey, now voiced by Jennifer Hale.
The cast of old and new does an excellent job in the series by capturing the core elements of their respective characters. Their performances hook you right in and doesn’t leave you time to compare how they sound to the original. Storm has an updated look and combined with the powerful performance by Sealy-Smith, it’s hard to keep your eyes off her throughout the series. Perhaps one of the most fun characters to watch is Morph (JP Karliak), a mutant with the ability to shapeshift. His power makes the action scenes extremely entertaining, sometimes shifting so fast that if you blink, you’d miss it. While Morph has a ton of comedic moments, there are hints of darkness in a later episode.
This series hits hard with nostalgia. For those who grew up watching the original 90s animated series, it’s incredibly fun and refreshed with gorgeous animation. The characters feel just as we saw them last. New viewers who are completely unfamiliar with X-Men might have a harder time catching on as the series doesn’t take the time to explain the characters’ origins or their powers. Regardless, the series is entertaining, the storyline (and twists) hooks you right in, and the show’s theme song is still one of the best theme songs around.
Picking up after the events of ‘X-Men: The Animated Series’ (1992–1997), the X-Men face dangerous new challenges following the loss of their leader, Professor X (Ross Marquand).
“There are many stories where a knight saves a damsel in distress. This is not one of them”. The Millie Bobby Brown led fantasy adventure ‘Damsel‘ lands on Netflix on March 8th, where she plays Elodie, a dutiful damsel set to marry a handsome prince.
Despite the beautiful gowns and gorgeous castle, Elodie soon realizes there’s something far more sinister lying under the guise of a royal wedding – a generational debt to be paid to a fearsome dragon, and she’s the sacrifice.
This story isn’t your traditional fairy tale. There’s no prince coming to Elodie’s rescue, and she’s not falling in love. Instead, Elodiel has found herself betrayed and trapped in the dragon’s lair. The only person who can help her is herself. While there’s not a lot of dialogue in the film – as Elodie spends most of the time trying to escape from the dragon’s wrath – it makes up for it in action.
The film’s first act has quite a bit of exposition, setting up the origin of the sacrificial debt to the dragon, Elodie’s family’s dire financial situation, and why she was willing to marry a prince she’s never met before. However, once the film moved into the second act, it was gritty, brutal, and action-packed.
‘Damsel’ is directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, with an original screenplay by Dan Mazeau. Based on the novel by New York Times best-selling author Evelyn Skye, this film is a collaboration between Netflix and Random House.
The movie quickly establishes the reason why the kingdom of Aurea owed an ancient debt to the dragon and why it must take place every generation. The flashback scene of the then-King of Aurea and the dragon was far more brutal than expected, with his army succumbing to the dragon’s deadly fire breath.
Fast forward to centuries later, we meet Elodie and her family in their kingdom of Inophe. The good-natured princess was always willing to help out the people of her realm, not afraid to get her hands dirty. Elodie had a great relationship with her father, Lord Bayford (Ray Winston), her sister Floria (Brooke Carter), and her stepmother, Lady Bayford (Angela Bassett).
Knowing her realm was in trouble, and the marriage to Prince Henry of Aurea would help her people exponentially, Elodie put her own feelings aside and agreed, even if the proposal of marriage came for a mysterious woman clad in red whose sinister presence should have been questioned.
Upon Elodie’s arrival in Aurea, her ship sails past dense fog with statues of terrifying dragons lining the course, eluding to the unknown danger she’ll soon face. However, the film does a great job of making Aurea look spectacular once the ship breaks through the fog with bright green lands as far as the eye can see, and a stunning castle, making it a perfect juxtaposition of the prior scene.
Despite the happy facade of a royal wedding, Elodie soon finds out the cruel trap that’s been laid for her as she is tossed without a care into the dragon’s pit. The film did not pull punches when it came to Elodie’s suffering and injuries while she was in the depths of the lair, giving her almost a “John McClane” level of scrapes, cuts, and bruises.
It was great to see how Elodie would survive and outsmart the dragon as more layers of the story are revealed. She’s not imbued with super-human powers, so it was great watching her relying on her own physical strength and survival skills as she navigates through the Dragon’s den. The movie did make a point of showing Elodie’s fascination with drawing and creating mazes – but the film never put this particular (and seemingly perfect) skill to use where she would map out the lair on her own.
The highlight of the film lies in Elodie’s encounter in the lair, where her determination to survive is captivating and most interesting to watch. When it came to the dialogue, much of it felt awkward or fast-tracked, with the exception of the relationship between Elodie and her sister Floria and a brief conversation between Robin Wright’s Queen Isabelle and Angela Bassett’s Lady Bayford.
It is clear that Millie Bobby Brown isn’t afraid to get down and dirty in this role as her character stumbles, crawls, and climbs through the underground lair. A majority of her scenes are by herself, and her range of emotions, from despair to determination, is perfectly portrayed. This film showcases her ability to not only carry a feature film on her shoulders but also be so captivating that the audience can’t help but cheer her on.
While Brown shines in the film, the other characters feel at times forgotten. The dialogue between characters is mostly short lived and only used as a way to propel the story forward rather than developing their character. Robin Wright was terrific as Queen Isabelle, whose beautiful smile hides a vicious agenda. It’s unfortunate that Wright and Bassett were given so little to do in the film, and their talents felt wasted.
Add this movie to the list of great female-empowering films that are fun to watch. It’s dark and gritty, has a ton of action, and breaks the “damsel in distress” trope. The story isn’t exactly original, but there are more twists and surprises than one can expect. While the dialogue lacked in parts, the movie shines the most when Millie Bobby Brown goes up against the dragon, putting her survival skills and fighting spirit to use.
‘Damsel’’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
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What is the Plot of ‘Damsel’?
A dutiful, sheltered young noblewoman (Millie Bobby Brown) agrees to marry a handsome prince (Nick Robinson), only to discover that his family intends to sacrifice her to repay an ancient debt. Trapped in the cave of a fearsome dragon, she must rely on her wits and will to survive.
