Moviefone Editorial

Category: Video

  • Tom Cruise Shows Off ‘Mission: Impossible’ Stunt Work

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    Long gone are the days when we had to wait for home entertainment to see “Making Of” videos explaining how filmmakers pulled off amazing stunts or effects sequences.

    These days, they’re out before the film itself arrives.

    And if you’re Tom Cruise, you don’t have the patience to hold off until the year the movie lands, let alone the month or week. Hence a new look online at the extensive preparation behind one of the keynote stunts of ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’, which will see his character, daredevil agent Ethan Hunt, sailing over a cliff on a motorbike and launching himself into the sky for a BASE jump.

    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ will be in theaters on July 14th, 2023.
    ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ will be in theaters on July 14th, 2023.

    He might not have the patience to wait and show off the team behind the stunt, but Cruise certainly has it to make sure the sequence goes flawlessly––and with good reason, because no one wants to see him pancaked on the ground.

    Least of all writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, who can be seen in the video visibly aging as Cruise pulls off his latest wild activity.

    Which means we’re treated to an extensive exploration of what goes into a sequence such as this––in this case, much stunt bike training, test jumps and even microchip-linked drones which accurately record his distance, velocity, and angles so all involved can make sure it’s worked out properly.

    And the ‘Mission: Impossible’ movies could certainly use the good publicity after a couple of years that have seen them hit with pandemic filming delays and all sorts of issues as the mammoth shoot continued (and continues).

    Holt McCallany, Henry Czerny, and Nick Offerman in Paramount's 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two.'
    (L to R) Holt McCallany, Henry Czerny, and Nick Offerman in Paramount’s ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two.’

    We still don’t know exactly what the story will be this time (besides the obvious opportunities for Ethan Hunt to run/drive/jump off/into/out of things), besides hints that his past will be coming back to haunt him––particularly since old enemy Eugene Kittridge (Henry Czerny) is back from the original ‘M:I’ movie way back in 1996.

    We can expect to see Simon Pegg (back as Benji) and Ving Rhames (Luther), plus more recent recruits including Rebecca Ferguson’s Isla Faust and Vanessa Kirby’s White Widow.

    Completely new this time are Hayley Atwell’s Grace, plus Pom Klementieff, Indira Varma, Mark Gatiss, Rob Delaney, Charles Parnell, and Esai Morales, who was drafted in to replace Nicholas Hoult as one of the movie’s villains, after the latter had a schedule clash due to the movie’s many delays.

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    Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick'
    Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ from Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films.

    In related Cruise news, he also took time out from flying around to thank fans who showed up in droves and helped make ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ one of the biggest hits of the year.

    But far from simply standing in front of a poster of the film (or in front of some pretty location where he’s still currently filming the two new ‘Mission’ movies), he chose to do it in his inimitable style––jumping out of a plane. Seems fitting, we suppose…

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  • Will Smith Posts Video About the Oscar Slap

    The “slap heard about the world” continues to resonate with repercussions.

    Months after March 27th’s Academy Awards, people are still talking about the incident between comedian/actor Chris Rock and movie star Will Smith.

    While the Oscars had been proceeding normally – the first full, in-person ceremony since the pandemic began – events took a turn when Chris Rock arrived on stage to present Best Documentary and in his presenter’s remarks made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

    Seemingly unaware that Pinkett smith had been dealing with alopecia for years, Rock made a joke comparing her to the main character in ‘G.I. Jane’ and, after briefly laughing, Will Smith got to his feet, marched on stage and slapped Rock. As he retook his seat, Smith yelled, “keep my wife’s name out of your f*****g mouth”, stunning the audience that might have thought it was a comedy bit set up by the Academy, its writers and the two performers.

    Smith would go on to win Best Actor for ‘King Richard’ that same evening, but the fallout has included Smith leaving the Academy (and the organization banning him from its events for a decade) and Smith largely staying quiet, out of the public eye.

    Will Smith photo courtesy of YouTube.
    Will Smith photo courtesy of YouTube.

    He has returned via his YouTube channel, answering questions about the event. And, in one particular segment, he apologized to Rock and his family.

    “I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk. I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview she did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment.”

    “I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”

    Smith also covered whether Pinkett Smith prompted him to act: “No. I made a choice on my own, from my own experience, and my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe, and I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”

    Finally, he offered his perspective and what he intends to do now. “Two things. One, disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down, so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to peoples’ image and impression of me,” he admits.

    “The work I am trying to do is, I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I’m human and I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit so I would say to those people, I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world,” Smith continues. “If you hang on, I promise we will be able to be friends again.”

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

  • ‘Orphan: First Kill’ Trailer Starring Isabelle Fuhrman

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    If you’ve been craving more horror in your summer, then the ‘Orphan: First Kill’ trailer is here to deliver.

    2009’s ‘Orphan’ famously revealed that its titular character was – spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t seen it – not actually an orphaned girl, but a murderous, height-challenged woman who posed as a nine-year-old and was adopted by a family grieving the death of their daughter.

    In that film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, Isabelle Fuhrman played Russian girl “Esther”, who ends up causing violent, murderous problems for adoptive parents played Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, at least until they discover the truth.

    Esther (AKA Leena Klammer) suffers from Hypopituitarism, a condition where a lack of hormone generation leads to dwarfism, which in her case allowed the 33-year-old woman to pose as a child.

    ‘Orphan: First Kill’ is the prequel to that movie. Fuhrmann returns as “Esther” (though we know from the start that she’s actually Klammer), for a story that takes place before the events of that movie.

    Originally titled ‘Esther’, the movie has William Brent Bell (‘The Boy’, ‘The Devil Inside’) in the director’s chair, while David Coggeshall wrote the script based on story concepts from David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick and Alex Mace, who worked on the original ‘Orphan’.

    Isabelle Fuhrman in Paramount Pictures 'Orphan: First Kill,' from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    Isabelle Fuhrman in Paramount Pictures ‘Orphan: First Kill,’ from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.

    Here’s your synopsis: After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter – who at this point has been gone for four years – of a wealthy family. Yet, an unexpected twist arises that pits her against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous “child” at any cost.

    Julia Stiles plays the proactive mother of the family Tricia Albright, with Rossif Sutherland as her husband Allen, who is initially convinced that his wife is suffering from paranoia and hallucinating, and Leena sees this as an opportunity to drive a wedge between them.

    Matthew Finlan, Hiro Kanagawa, Jade Michael, Samantha Walkes, Kristen Sawatzky, Andrea del Campo and Kennedy Irwin are also all in the cast.

    With Fuhrmann returning, the filmmaking team had to rely on even more clever techniques to make her into a convincing child, including make-up and forced perspective (sizing tricks utilized by movies such as the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy and ‘Elf’ to make actors appear different sizes.

    The trailer promises plenty of creepiness, including “Esther” plotting something with rats (that can’t end well), unusually skilled artwork for a youngster, warped music and chaos when the truth is discovered. And while the prequel story means that Leena survives to kill again, don’t expect everyone to survive this initial encounter…

    There was also some CG deployed alongside child doubles (including Irwin, who also plays Lena at a younger age.

    ‘Orphan: First Kill’ will be making its way into theaters, digital and streaming via Paramount+ on August 19th.

    Isabelle Fuhrman as "Esther" in 'Orphan: First Kill' from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    Isabelle Fuhrman as “Esther” in ‘Orphan: First Kill’ from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    Julia Stiles as "Tricia" in 'Orphan: First Kill' from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    Julia Stiles as “Tricia” in ‘Orphan: First Kill’ from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    Rossif Sutherland as "Allen" and Julia Stiles as "Tricia" in 'Orphan: First Kill' from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    (L to R) Rossif Sutherland as “Allen” and Julia Stiles as “Tricia” in ‘Orphan: First Kill’ from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    (L to R) Matthew Finlan as "Gunnar" and Julia Stiles as "Tricia" in 'Orphan: First Kill' from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    (L to R) Matthew Finlan as “Gunnar” and Julia Stiles as “Tricia” in ‘Orphan: First Kill’ from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    ‘Orphan: First Kill’ will be making its way into theaters, digital and streaming via Paramount+ on August 19th.
    ‘Orphan: First Kill’ will be making its way into theaters, digital and streaming via Paramount+ on August 19th.
    Isabelle Fuhrman in Paramount Pictures 'Orphan: First Kill,' from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
    Isabelle Fuhrman in Paramount Pictures ‘Orphan: First Kill,’ from Paramount Players, eOne, and Dark Castle Entertainment.
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  • ‘Day Shift’ Trailer Has Jamie Foxx Hunting Vampires

    Netflix has certainly tapped into the vampire vein as one of its prime source materials for movies and TV shows, including recent examples such as ‘First Kill’ and ‘Night Teeth’.

    The company is upping the star power for its latest example, as the likes of Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dog, Dave Franco and more are part of the cast of ‘Day Shift’.

    Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, a man whose unassuming day job as a San Fernando Valley pool cleaner is a cover for how he really makes money – in a world where vampires are everywhere (and are mostly monstrous murderers), there’s cash to be had “cutting necks and cashing checks”, as Bud explains.

    Yet with a few “incidents” on his record, Bud has been drummed out of the international Union of Vampire Hunters, and now he’s facing the prospect of his wife (Meagan Good) and daughter (Zion Broadnax) moving to Florida for a better life.

    With the help of his pal and fellow hunter (Snoop Dogg), Bud has to wrangle his way back into the union to keep the cash flow going, and make sure he saves his own neck. Mostly, though, the story looks like an excuse for lots of crazy vamp action.

    Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in 'Day Shift.'
    Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewid/Netflix.

    Not to mention Dave Franco as a guy who has his first vampire encounter and reacts… well, how you might expect. And, of course, there are jokes about other vampire fiction, including the ‘Twilight’ movies.

    This new movie is directed by J.J. Perry, who has cut his teeth as a stuntman, stunt coordinator and second unit director on big titles such as ‘John Wick’ and more than one ‘Fast & Furious’ movie. And the ‘Wick’ connection continues thanks to co-writer Shay Hatten (a veteran of a couple of those movies, plus a lot of work with Zack Snyder, including ‘Army of the Dead’ and the upcoming ‘Rebel Moon’.)

    Then we have Chad Stahelski, who has co-directed or directed all the ‘Wick’ movies so far and serves as a producer here. It’s perhaps not surprising that the trailer makes ‘Day Shift’ look chock full of inventive action moments.

    And the horror aspect means plenty of crazy vampire moments – the creatures here have a twisty-limbed style that would probably put a smile on the face of fans of the work of John Carpenter or ‘Train to Busan’.

    With Bud finding all manner of ways to put an end to undead creatures, we can also expect lots of inventive kills, while Snoop shows up at one point touting a minigun to kill as many vamps as possible.

    Featuring Karla Souza, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Scott Adkins, Steve Howery, Tetiana Gaidar, Massi Furlan and Gloria Bishop in the cast, ‘Day Shift’ will arrive on Netflix on August 12th.

    Snoop Dogg as Big John Elliott, Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski and Seeger in 'Day Shift.'
    (L-R) Snoop Dogg as Big John Elliott, Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski and Seeger in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix © 2022.
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  • ‘Luck’ Trailer Takes Us into a New World

    John Lasseter was once the king of American animation – the genius storyteller and director who led Pixar to huge box office wins, Oscar success and massive popular acclaim with movies such as ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Cars’ and being anointed as the creative boss at both the Emeryville studio and Walt Disney Feature Animation.

    He was ousted from his position, though, after revelations about toxic and misogynistic behavior. Yet that situation didn’t seem to worry Skydance Animation, which hired him as its chief in 2019. And now he’s one of the main producers behind new Apple TV+ ‘toon movie ‘Luck’.

    The real driving force here, though, is director Peggy Holmes, who works from a script by Kiel Murray, Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger.

    ‘Luck’ is the story of Sam Greenfield (Eva Noblezada), who is convinced she’s the unluckiest person on the planet. She’s always late, things go wrong constantly around her and she never seems to catch a break.

    Then she discovers a mysterious, mystical lucky penny, which turns everything around for her… until she flushes it down a toilet. That leads to her meeting a talking black cat named Bob (Simon Pegg) who in turn accidentally gives her access to the Land of Luck, where on top everything runs smoothly and goes right, but bad luck is banished to the bottom.

    The Dragon (voiced by Jane Fonda), Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg) and Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada) in “Luck,” premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.
    (L to R) The Dragon (voiced by Jane Fonda), Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg) and Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada) in “Luck,” premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.

    “The tiniest amount of bad luck can shut down our entire operation,” cautions the CEO of Good Luck, a dragon who has the voice of Jane Fonda.

    Humans are strictly not allowed, so Sam’s presence of course causes all sorts of chaos. She’s looking to bring some luck back to her world, but when she severs the connection between good and bad luck… bad things happen.

    Now Sam and Bob must put things right, with the help of cheery leprechaun Gerry (Colin O’Donoghue), strict leprechaun leader The Captain (Whoopi Goldberg) and eccentric unicorn Jeff (Flula Borg), who has a thing for exercise routines.

    The likes of Lil Rel Howery, Maurice Irvin and Adelynn Spoon (plus former Pixar good luck voice charm John Ratzenberger) also star here.

    ‘Luck’ itself has not always had the best, well, luck, as it lost the services of Emma Thompson back in 2019, who resigned from the cast in protest of Lasseter’s hiring at Skydance, where the movie was in production. “It feels very odd to me that you and your company would consider hiring someone with Mr. Lasseter’s pattern of misconduct given the present climate in which people with the kind of power that you have can reasonably be expected to step up to the plate,” Thompson wrote in a letter published in the Los Angeles Times.

    Apple will of course be hoping for some luck, though it doesn’t have to worry about box office, since it’ll be debuting via Apple TV+ on August 5th.

    Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg) and Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada) in 'Luck,' premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.
    (L to R) Bob (voiced by Simon Pegg) and Sam Greenfield (voiced by Eva Noblezada) in ‘Luck,’ premiering globally on Apple TV+ on August 5, 2022.
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  • Natalie Portman Talks ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’

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    ‘Thor: Love and Thunder,’ opens in theaters on July 8th and is the fourth MCU movie starring the God of Thunder, following ‘Thor: Ragnarok.’

    Directed by Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth reprises his role as Thor, with actress Natalie Portman returning to play Jane Foster after sitting out the last movie. This time Foster becomes The Mighty Thor, and must team with her ex-boyfriend to defeat Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who has vowed to kill all Gods.

    In addition to Hemsworth, Portman, and Bale, the movie also stars Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Jamie Alexander as Sif,  Chris Pratt as Star-Lord, Russell Crowe as Zeus, and Waititi as Korg,

    Moviefone and Made In Hollywood recently had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with Natalie Portman in-person about her work on ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’

    Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth in Marvel's 'Thor: Love and Thunder.'
    (L to R) Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ Photo courtesy of Disney Studios.

    You can read the full interview with Natalie Portman below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Portman and Chris Hemsworth.

    Moviefone: To begin with, people are going back to the theaters and Marvel fans are really excited to see ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ on the big screen. Is there anything you’d like to say directly to the fans as they’re getting ready to sit down and watch this movie?

    Natalie Portman: I’m just so excited for people to see it. I just feel like it’s so entertaining. I think they’ll get a lot of joy and heart from it.

    MF: Can you talk about returning to this franchise, returning to the character of Jane Foster, and having the opportunity to hold the hammer and finally play a superhero yourself?

    NP: It was such an incredible opportunity that Taika and Marvel invited me back in this way where Jane gets to become The Mighty Thor. I got to work with Chris again, and with Tessa again, even though we hadn’t worked in the MCU together, but we had worked together on ‘Annihilation.’ It was just such a gift to get to come into this incredibly fun environment, and with people I felt so comfortable with.

    Natalie Portman in Marvel's 'Thor: Love and Thunder.'
    Natalie Portman in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ Photo courtesy of Disney Studios.

    MF: Had you followed this storyline in the comics? Were you aware that Jane Foster eventually becomes The Mighty Thor?

    NP: I did. I think it was actually first mentioned to me by journalists when I was doing press for something around the time the comics first came out. So, I had heard about it, but it wasn’t until Taika approached me. I mean, it was right before the pandemic I feel like that he kind of started talking to me about the possibility of doing it together.

    MF: What was it like reuniting with Chris Hemsworth, and can you talk about the different dynamics between Jane and Thor this time around?

    NP: Well, it was so fun to work with Chris again. I mean, first of all, he’s just the best person, he’s so nice, fun, hardworking and such a good actor. He’s so just wonderful, and it was also very moving. When we met, we had both just started dating our future spouses on the first one and now our kids are running around on the set playing together. So, that was so wild to kind of cut to 10 years later.

    Similarly, in the film, I think our characters are kind of reuniting after all this time passed and seeing where the other is in their lives, and so much has changed for them. I mean, it’s not similar places. We are in our lives as our characters are, but just the passage of time and how wild that is to have this relationship with someone that you’ve known for so long.

    Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth in Marvel's 'Thor: Love and Thunder.'
    (L to R) Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’ Photo courtesy of Disney Studios.

    MF: Finally, what was your experience like working with director Taika Waititi on ‘Thor: Love and Thunder?’

    NP: Taika is just so extraordinary, and singular as a director and as a person. I mean, he really insists on spontaneity all the time, which is so incredible to be challenged with as an actor to be like, oh, every time has to be completely different. I have to be completely open to anything that could happen and just flow with it. It was really wonderful.

    Then he also kind of makes it his responsibility to have everyone have a great time every day. He’s DJing, there’s music, and he’s on the mic making jokes. He’s leading the crew in workouts every hour on the hour. So, it’s the most fun set and it’s just his generosity that he cares about everyone having a good time.

    Natalie Portman stars in Marvel's 'Thor: Love and Thunder.'
    Natalie Portman stars in Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder.’
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  • Christian Bale Stars in First Trailer for David O. Russell’s ‘Amsterdam’

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    David O. Russell is a man who can certainly attract eclectic, impressive ensembles for his movies – and his latest, ‘Amsterdam’, is no exception. When Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and John David Washington are just the tip of the casting iceberg, you know you’re in for an acting treat.

    Described as a ‘romantic crime epic’, Russell’s first film since 2015’s ‘Joy’ is a blend of fact and fiction as three close friends find themselves at the center of one of the most shocking secret plots in American history.

    Bale, Robbie and Washington are those three friends, a doctor, a nurse and an attorney who meet in Belgium and form a strong bond. When they witness a murder, Bale’s Burt is accused of the crime and will need help from his buddies and others to clear his name. Beyond that, the story is mostly a mystery, though largely seems to be an excuse for Russell – who wrote the script as well as directing – to indulge in some quirky caper goodness.

    It kicks off with the central trio wheeling a dead guy into a funeral home. “You have a dead white man in a box,” Chris Rock’s character says at the start of the trailer. “Not even a casket. It doesn’t even have a top on it.” As he wheels the container away, he laments: “Who do you think is going to get in trouble here?”

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The trio sets out to find someone, anyone (starting with Robert De Niro’s character, a friend of the victim who was killed “because of something monstrous he had seen”) to help them uncover the truth. Along the way, there are encounters with all sorts of odd characters and a quick-acting version of infamous painkiller morphine.

    There are shades of TV’s ‘Fargo’ here (not least thanks to the presence of Rock, who starred in the show’s most recent season), but the big appeal is in the astonishingly stacked cast that the director has rounded up.

    Bale, of course, is a repeat Russell collaborator, having appeared in ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Fighter’, though he’s trumped by De Niro, who marks his fourth role in a movie for the director.

    Alongside the veterans, there is a batch of actors who make their Russell debuts for the sprawling ensemble of ‘Amsterdam’. Alessandro Nivola, Andrea Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matthias Schoenaerts, Timothy Olyphant, Michael Shannon, Mike Myers, Zoe Saldaña, Rami Malek and even Taylor Swift showed up for this one (we’re hoping the latter had a good time shooting the movie, or there will be a very critical, well-written song in Russell’s future).

    ‘Amsterdam’ will make its way into theaters on November 4th.

    Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Christian Bale, John David Washington, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale, John David Washington, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Rami Malek, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Margot Robbie in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Zoe Saldana in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    Zoe Saldana in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Robert De Niro in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    Robert De Niro in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Christian Bale and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios' 'Amsterdam.'
    (L-R): Christian Bale and John David Washington in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Amsterdam.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Viola Davis in First Trailer for ‘The Woman King’

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    Looking to upend what we have traditionally seen from historical action dramas – which, let’s be honest have often been focused on white dudes swinging swords to avenge their families or conquer other countries – director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s ‘The Woman King’ instead puts Viola Davis front and center as the general commanding an army.

    Inspired by true events, ‘The Woman King’ tells the story of the Agojie (AKA Amazons), the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. This is the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.

    Looking like the sort of fighting force that inspired ‘Black Panther’s fearsome Dora Milaje, the Agojie are responsible for defending King Ghezo (John Boyega). Our way into the story, meanwhile, is via Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), who is a relatively new recruit and learns that there’s more to this fighting force than just being badasses.

    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures' 'The Woman King.' Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures’ ‘The Woman King.’ Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.

    “I’ve never had a role like this before. It’s transformative,” Davis tells Vanity Fair. “And to be a producer on it, and to know that I had a hand in bringing it to fruition…. There’s always a vision you have for your career, but there are very few roles as an actress of color. Dark skin with a wide nose and big lips. I’m just gonna continue to say it. Those stories are extraordinarily limited. I knew what it would mean to us as Black people. Something that has never been done before. And what it would mean for Black women sitting in that movie theater. The responsibility is really high.”

    For Prince-Bythewood, part of getting a handle on the movie’s impressive-looking action was also taking inspiration from her own past. “I grew up an athlete. The women around me were athletes,” she says. “There was a normalcy to how I thought about myself. You fight. Aggression is good. Leave it all out on the floor. And as I got older, it surprised me how few women had the advantage of growing up like that. That innate warrior that I believe we all have is dormant in so many women because it wasn’t encouraged or valued.”

    With a cast that also includes Lashana Lynch (no stranger to impressively mixing action and drama after ‘Captain Marvel’ and ‘No Time to Die’), Sheila Atim (who had a small role in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ but deserved more and should get that here), Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Jordan Bolger, Adrienne Warren, Jayme Lawson, Shaina West and Jimmy Odukoya. Dana Stevens wrote the initial drafts of the movie, while Prince-Bythewood added her own material once she came aboard.

    ‘The Woman King’ will march into theaters on September 16th.

    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures' 'The Woman King.' Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures’ ‘The Woman King.’ Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
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  • Kevin Smith Unveils the First Trailer for Legacy-Referencing ‘Clerks III’

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    Though he’s forged new horizons (‘Red State’, a ‘He-Man’ TV series among others), writer/director Kevin Smith has never been afraid to look back. He doesn’t so much wallow in nostalgia as dive in fully, crafting what he used to refer to as the View Askewniverse to chart the misadventures of characters in New Jersey.

    For his latest, ‘Clerks III’, he’s gone full meta, merging his more recent life-threatening experience via a heart attack with the start of his career, committing the eccentricities of convenience store work to celluloid for the original 1994 ‘Clerks’.

    We’re back at the Quick Stop, which, while some of the products and adjoining stores might have changed, is still the same grudge work occasionally patronized by locals and local weirdoes (including Smith and Jason Mewes as drug dealers Jay and Silent Bob).

    Our focus once again is on Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson), who are back slinging smokes, coffee and gum at the store. After a heart incident of his own, Randall decides he’s going to stop being a wastrel and make a movie about his experiences.

    This first trailer for ‘Clerks III’ itself is packed with references to the other two ‘Clerks’ movies and Smith’s wider career (hello, Ben Affleck!) The likes of Rosario Dawson, Trevor Fehrman, Marilyn Ghigliotti return from the previous movies, while we can also expect cameos from Justin Long, Fred Armisen and more.

    Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Becky (Rosario Dawson), and Randal (Jeff Anderson) in the comedy film, 'Clerks III.'
    [L to R] Elias (Trevor Fehrman), Dante (Brian O’Halloran), Becky (Rosario Dawson), and Randal (Jeff Anderson) in the comedy film, ‘Clerks III,’ a Lionsgate release. Photo courtesy of John Baer.
    And Smith, in his usual self-deprecating style, is unafraid to poke fun at the whole endeavor, going so far as to reference the darker deleted ending where Dante is shot during a robbery. “I’m

    not letting you kill me off in the third act! What if there’s a sequel?” bleats Dante. “What am I, a hack?” replies Randal. Cue Smith – as Silent Bob – pointing at him.

    Jay and Bob, meanwhile, are referred to as the C3PO and R2D2 of the ‘Clerks’ world – “they’ve been here since the first movie, which was the last time they were cool, but they’ve been with the franchise so long they still give them cameos and put them on lunchboxes.”

    There are lots of other callbacks to the original movie, such as hockey played on the roof and some of the customers. Oh, and one of the most famous, quoted snippets of ‘Clerks’ dialogue, Randal musing on how many innocent independent contractors died when the unfinished Death Star was destroyed in ‘Return of the Jedi’. Though this time updated with a worry that Disney might sue if they use it.

    Fans of Smith’s oeuvre will no doubt be happy to see the various references and it’s honestly fun to be hanging out with this people again.

    As has become common with Smith’s big-screen work, the release is not your standard opening, tied instead to Fathom Events for two nights of screenings across the country on September 13th and 15th. You can get tickets here.

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  • Constance Wu and JD Pardo Talk ‘The Terminal List’

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    Premiering on Prime Video beginning July 1st is the new action series ‘The Terminal List,’ which is based on the novel of the same name by Jack Carr and directed by Antoine Fuqua.

    The series stars Chris Pratt as Lt. Commander James Reece, a former Navy SEAL officer investigating why his entire platoon was ambushed during a high-stakes covert mission.

    In addition to Pratt, the cast also includes Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Riley Keough, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Arlo Mertz, Jai Courtney, JD Pardo, Tyner Rushing and LaMonica Garrett.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Constance Wu and JD Pardo about their work on ‘The Terminal List.’

    JD Pardo and Constance Wu in Prime Video's 'The Terminal List.'
    (L to R) JD Pardo and Constance Wu in Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List.’

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Wu and Pardo, as well as Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, Jeanne Tripplehorn, LaMonica Garrett, author Jack Carr, writer David DiGillio, and director Antonie Fuqua.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you both describe your characters for our audience?

    JD Pardo: That’s an interesting question. My character is an original character created for the series, so I can’t really get into it too much because I think I’ll start spoiling some things. I play Tony Layun, who’s an FBI agent in San Diego, which is a smaller market. When he sees that James Reece is a fugitive and he’s wanted, and that everyone says that he can’t be caught and how dangerous he is, Tony wants to get him. So, that’s where I come in.

    Constance Wu: I play Katie Buranek, who is a war correspondent, and has a personal history with journalism that makes journalistic integrity really personally important to her. She gets involved with the story of James Reece and what happened to his team of SEALs. She finds that there are a lot of inconsistencies and mystery around it. As someone who is committed to uncovering the truth and doing it with journalistic integrity, she sets on a mission in the same way James Reece sets on his type of mission. Her mission is to uncover the truth, to do justice to and for these service men and women who are so often overlooked, when they really are our nation’s heroes fighting for us.

    JD Pardo as Tony Liddel, and Christina Vidal as Mac Wilson in Prime Video's he Terminal List.'
    (L to R) JD Pardo as Tony Liddel, and Christina Vidal as Mac Wilson in Prime Video’s he Terminal List.’ Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.

    MF: Finally, can you both talk about how your character’s react to Reece’s actions in the first episode?

    JP: In the beginning, my character, he got into fugitives because he likes things being black and white. He doesn’t want to get into the emotion. He doesn’t want to get into that gray. If you’re bad, you’re bad, you do bad things and I want to catch you. As it starts to unfold, he gets thrown into this gray area and then it becomes a question of morality. What is good? What is bad? What is the truth? How is the truth manipulated? What are we told? Then eventually he has to start looking within himself and what his own heart tells him. It’s really complicated, and at the same time feels completely relatable.

    Constance Wu: I think Katie’s relationship with James Reece, Chris Pratt’s character, one of the things I love that it continues to evolve and change. I do think at the beginning, it’s a journalistic scoop. She’s looking for a story, but as she looks at the pieces of the story and finds some mystery and inconsistencies in it, then it becomes about a personal quest to uncover the truth, and Reece is a means to that. He’s also a person who this affected. The tragedy that happens in the beginning, it affected him and his family. So, she cares about it from a human level. The more she utilizes him as a source, the more she gets to know him as a person.

    I think that evolution of understanding him and everything he’s going through, and what his goals are and why they are those goals, I think changes her point of view almost from episode to episode. That’s really fun that it’s not static because we’re all humans and we’re way more complex than that. I think that’s a good thing we can all think about.

    Constance Wu as Katie Buranek on Prime Video's 'The Terminal List.'
    Constance Wu as Katie Buranek on Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List.’ Credit: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: Amazon Studios.