‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein will make a ‘Venom’ animated movie.
Tom Hardy is aboard to produce.
The movie is at an early stage.
Having managed to get a movie trilogy out of slavering, ravenous Spider-Man character Venom, Sony is looking to keep the franchise alive in the animated realm.
The directors have become an in-demand duo since ‘Bloodlines’ helped to shock the horror movie series back to life with $315 million in box office receipts.
Venom, created by writer Bill Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, was famously introduced as a villain in 1988’s ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ No. 300, and quickly became a fan-favorite as well as one of his arch-nemeses. He got his first solo comic in 1993.
Sony produced three ‘Venom’ movies starring Tom Hardy as down-on-his-luck journalist Eddie Brock, who bonds with the symbiote. The eponymous first arrived in 2018, followed by sequels ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ in 2021 and 2024’s ‘Venom: The Last Dance.’
Hardy is aboard the new movie as a producer alongside live-action team Amy Pascal, Avi Arad and Matt Tolmach, alongside Kelly Marcel, who wrote on all three of the movies and directed ‘The Last Dance.’
There’s no word on a plot for the animated movie at this early stage –– Sony is in the process of opening a writers’ room to develop ideas, run by Lipovsky and Stein.
The pair are also at work with Chris Columbus on a new ‘Gremlins’ movie. They are also developing to direct the original thriller ‘Long Lost’, described as ‘What Lies Beneath’ meets ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ and set up at Universal with Amblin Entertainment producing.
When will the new ‘Venom’ movie be on screens?
Given the development stage, Sony has yet to confirm a release date for the potential movie.
Venom in Columbia Pictures ‘Venom: The Last Dance’. Photo: Sony Pictures.
(Left) Steven Knight attends the ‘All The Light We Cannot See’ New York special screening at Paris Theater on October 30, 2023 in New York City. Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Netflix. (Right) Daniel Craig in ‘No Time To Die’. Photo: Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.
Preview:
‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight is the write the next Bond movie.
We already know that ‘Dune’ director Denis Villeneuve will be the filmmaker charged with bringing 007 back to screens following the effective slate wipe that was Daniel Craig’s final outing, ‘No Time to Die’.
Knight is a fascinating choice –– while he has produced some truly great (and occasionally Oscar-nominated) work, he’s also had a few whiffs, such as ‘Serenity’ and ‘Locked Down’. But he is certainly an interesting person to work alongside Villeneuve on Bond.
“It has always been on my bucket list, and it’s fantastic to be invited to do it — I can’t wait to get started. I’m hoping that, being a Bond fan for so many years, it will be imbued into me and I will be able to produce something that’s the same but different, and better, stronger and bolder.”
“I very quickly discovered what it was about and became very excited and hopeful. And then the process is…you do some meetings, you discuss some ideas, and then you find out you’ve got it. I found out a while ago, but it was announced last night, which is great. It’s a high pressure job, but you’ve just got to do what you do, do it as well as you can.”
That’s the next big question that fans are looking to answer.
We’ve had a wealth of names speculated about since Craig hung up his holster and downed his last martini (and, er –– spoiler alert for ‘No Time to Die’ –– let’s not forget was blown up by a missile).
Pierre will next be seen in DC/HBO series ‘Lanterns’.
When will the new Bond movie be on screens?
With Villeneuve currently busy preparing to make the third ‘Dune’ outing (that one is scheduled for December 16th, 2026), we wouldn’t expect to see a new Bond much before 2027 at the earliest.
Amazon MGM Studios has announced that Denis Villeneuve will direct the next James Bond movie.
The news follows Bond shepherds Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handing over control.
There’s still no official word on a new Bond.
At least one mystery surrounding the future of the Bond franchise can be laid to rest alongside the villains that our hero has killed in his years of service: we know who will direct the next 007 movie after the long hiatus following ‘No Time to Die.’
It might sound like a surprise –– and not least because of the filmmaker’s current busy schedule –– but despite his love of putting his stamp on projects, he’s worked comfortably in the blockbuster/franchise space before –– besides the ‘Dune’ movies, there was ‘Blade Runner 2049’.
Villeneuve is now part of a team that already includes producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal, and executive producer Tanya Lapointe (who has worked with Villeneuve for years).
Here’s what Villeneuve had to say on the news:
“Some of my earliest movie-going memories are connected to 007. I grew up watching James Bond films with my father, ever since ‘Dr. No’ with Sean Connery. I’m a die-hard Bond fan. To me, he’s sacred territory. I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor. Amy, David, and I are absolutely thrilled to bring him back to the screen. Thank you to Amazon MGM Studios for their trust.”
And here’s Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios:
“We are honored that Denis has agreed to direct James Bond’s next chapter. He is a cinematic master, whose filmography speaks for itself. From ‘Blade Runner 2049’ to ‘Arrival’ to the ‘Dune’ films, he has delivered compelling worlds, dynamic visuals, complex characters, and — most importantly — the immersive storytelling that global audiences yearn to experience in theaters. James Bond is in the hands of one of today’s greatest filmmakers and we cannot wait to get started on 007’s next adventure.”
Finally, Heyman and Pascal weighed in on the decision:
“Denis Villeneuve has been in love with James Bond movies since he was a little boy. It was always his dream to make this movie, and now it’s ours, too. We are lucky to be in the hands of this extraordinary filmmaker.”
That’s the next big question that fans are looking to answer.
We’ve had a wealth of names speculated about since Daniel Craig hung up his holster and downed his last martini (and, er –– spoiler alert for ‘No Time to Die’ –– was blown up by a missile).
Pierre will next be seen in DC/HBO series ‘Lanterns’.
The Amazon MGM movement comes, of course, after the surprise decision by 007 stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson to hand the reins of the franchise over to the company for a hefty pay day.
Talking of…
Bond handover: the studio and producers’ comments
Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Casino Royale.’
This was Wilson’s comment at the time:
“With my 007 career spanning nearly 60 incredible years, I am stepping back from producing the James Bond films to focus on art and charitable projects. Therefore, Barbara and I agree, it is time for our trusted partner, Amazon MGM Studios, to lead James Bond into the future.”
And crucially, Barbara Broccoli:
“My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli. I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of ‘No Time to Die’ and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
Broccoli and Wilson stepping back is perhaps less of a surprise these days since she in particular has expressed frustration with the Amazon deal. And this way, the duo will have some small say in the future, but also enjoy what is surely a healthy payday.
When will the new Bond movie be on screens?
With Villeneuve currently busy preparing to make the third ‘Dune’ outing (that one is scheduled for December 16th, 2026), we wouldn’t expect to see a new Bond much before 2027 at the earliest.
Let’s not forget –– hiring a director is just the first step. Now the current Bond team needs a script and a leading man around which the build the new movie.
Amazon has officially hired producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman to oversee the Bond franchise.
They’ll replace longtime shepherds Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
It follows the company securing creative control over the spy movie.
Forget M and Q, now we know a little bit more about who will be guiding Ian Fleming’s super-spy James Bond in future endeavors.
Following the recent change in Bond creative ownership (get all the details below), Amazon/MGM Studios has officially set powerhouse producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman to oversee the Bond franchise on screens big and (if Amazon has its way) small.
The news confirms rumors first floated by reporter Jeff Sneider, who brought word that Amazon was looking to bring in two giant producing veterans to steer the Bond movies.
18129
Pascal, of course, already has Bond bona fides (Bonda fides?), as when she served as Sony’s chairman of film, she oversaw the release and distribution of the likes of ‘Casino Royale,’ ‘Quantum of Solace,’ ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Spectre,’ which are among the most successful movies featuring the character.
She’s also been a key part of the ‘Spider-Man’ franchise and holds a wealth of experience bringing big movies to screens.
As for Heyman, he has a little franchise called ‘Harry Potter’ to his credit, one of the most successful movie series of all time. He’s also worked on a variety of other projects, including the ‘Paddington’ movies.
Producer Amy Pascal attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Here’s what Amazon MGM Studios’ Head of Film, Courtenay Valenti had to say about the new recruits:
“We are approaching every creative decision with James Bond, which Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have so masterfully steered, with the greatest sense of responsibility. Part of an elite group of producers who have developed and managed massive film franchises to box office success and critical acclaim, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are two of the most accomplished, experienced, and respected film producers in our industry. We are honored to be working with them on James Bond’s next chapter and are excited to deliver to global audiences storytelling that upholds the impeccable legacy of this beloved character.”
And this was the statement from Pascal and Heyman:
“James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema. We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson who made so many extraordinary films and honored and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive as he embarks on his next adventure.”
What happened with Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson?
Daniel Craig as James Bond in ‘Casino Royale.’
In a shocking turn of events, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, the longtime stalwart step-sibling powerhouse producers behind the last couple of decades of Bond films, relinquished control of the franchise and handed more creative decision-making to Amazon MGM studios.
It was perhaps not as surprising as it might have seemed, though: In 2022, Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion, acquiring a vast catalog with more than 4,000 films and 17,000 TV shows alongside the rights to distribute all of the James Bond films and to develop spin-offs (such as the frankly less-than thrilling reality competition show ‘007: Road to a Million,’ which saw Bond fans answering trivia questions –– posed by Brian Cox, no less –– in search of cash prizes).
But a key part of that deal was that the producers kept creative control of the character, deciding on who would play the main role, hiring directors and other key choices, while stopping ideas they didn’t approve of.
Yet it has seemed as though the pair were in something of a creative downbeat following the departure of Daniel Craig as Bond, with the character killed off in 2021’s ‘No Time to Die’ and little sign of forward movement.
Here’s what Broccoli previously told The Guardian on the past changes:
“I go back to ‘GoldenEye’ when everyone was saying ‘the cold war is over, the wall is over, Bond is dead, no need for Bond, the whole world’s at peace and now there’s no villains’ –– and boy was that wrong! Daniel gave us the ability to mine the emotional life of the character… and also the world was ready for it.”
And her comments on where they are with the next phase of the franchise from 2023:
“I think these movies reflect the time they are in, and there’s a big, big road ahead reinventing it for the next chapter, and we haven’t even begun with that. Our focus is making the feature films. When we get going on a Bond movie it takes our full attention for three or four years so that’s our focus. We make the Bond movies for the big theatrical screen and everything about the Bond movies is for audiences to see around the world on that format, so we’ve not wanted to do television.”
That seems likely to change going forward, as Amazon would clearly like to exploit new avenues.
As per details of the historic new agreement, Amazon MGM Studios, Wilson and Broccoli have formed a new joint venture to house the James Bond intellectual property rights. The three parties will remain co-owners of the iconic franchise but Amazon MGM will have creative control.
Broccoli and Wilson stepping back was perhaps less of a surprise these days since she in particular has expressed frustration with the Amazon deal. And this way, the duo will have some small say in the future, but also enjoy what is surely a healthy payday.
Which is even more surprising, since the first two films in Sony’s trilogy were critical and commercial successes for the studio, grossing a combined $1.07 billion at the global box office.
Additionally, ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ won the Animated Feature Oscar in 2019, and its acclaimed sequel, ‘Across the Spider-Verse’, became the highest-grossing animated film for the studio to date.
Yet here we are in 2024 with no release date locked in for the third movie and plenty of chatter about delays, script re-writes and issues with ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse,’ produced as ever by Phil Lord and Chris Miller.
OLMdQLVRzca6dN0FMqpSn2
Though the second and third movies were supposedly being produced back to back, there have been changes afoot behind the scenes, with Sony just now announcing that Bob Persichetti and Justin K. Thompson are directing the film.
Persichetti previously served as part of the Oscar-winning directorial team on ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ and was an executive producer on ‘Across the Spider-Verse.’ Thompson served as the production designer on ‘Into the Spider-Verse,’ where he was instrumental in developing the franchise’s groundbreaking visual style. He went on to join the directorial team on the sequel alongside Joaquim Dos Santos and Kemp Powers.
Powers and Dons Santos have since moved on, but this has slightly the feel of the studio trying to get some good news about the ‘Spider’-sequel as concerns rise.
‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’: The Filmmakers Speak
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
Here’s Persichetti and Thompson’s statement on the gig:
“We have had the immense privilege of being part of Miles’ journey from the very beginning and directing the conclusion to his story is beyond exciting. The creativity and care poured into every minute of this project has been truly inspiring. We have crafted what we feel is a very satisfying ending, and we can’t wait for fans to experience it – we’re bringing everything we’ve got!”
And this was the statement from Lord and Miller:
“Bob and Justin’s fingerprints are woven into the DNA of these films, and their passion for Miles’ journey shines through in every frame of his last adventure. There is nothing more rewarding than collaborating with creative partners with bold vision and brilliant execution like Bob and Justin. We are thrilled to work with them once again to create a beautiful and satisfying conclusion to this story.”
Finally, here’s Kristine Belson, President of Sony Pictures Animation:
“We’re very happy to officially announce the directorial duo behind the final chapter of the Spider-Verse saga. Bob, Justin, and the entire filmmaking team have been hard at work crafting something truly spectacular, and we’ve been blown away by what we’ve seen so far –– there’s more work ahead to bring Miles’ story to a satisfying close and we are confident that they are perfect pair to pull it off.”
What’s the story of ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’?
‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ lands in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
The exact plot is still under wraps, though since ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ ended on a cliffhanger with Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) arriving in universe where one of his alternates has become the villain known as the Prowler, and a rescue attempt launched by some of his friends, you know that story will need to be wrapped up somehow.
What else is happening with ‘Spider-Man’ movies?
Issa Rae as Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,’ which opens in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.
Amy Pascal and Avi Arad, who are the general overseers of Sony’s Marvel-affiliated Spider-Verse, talked to Variety about possibilities for other movies.
Among them? A live-action film focused on the Miles Morales character and a ‘Spider-Woman’ animated spin-off.
What did the Spider-team say about a Miles Morales movie?
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.
Morales, who first appeared in the pages of Marvel Comics in ‘Ultimate Fallout #4’ in 2011, has become a popular figure for fans who enjoy the more diverse characterization.
As the emotional core of the ‘Spider-Verse’ movies, he’s also crossed over into a more mainstream movie audience.
“You’ll see all of it. It’s all happening,” Pascal said last year at the ‘Across the Spider-Verse’ premiere.
On the small screen, the ‘Spider-Noir’ series (which is drawn from a character who was used well in ‘Into the Spider-Verse’ and is likely to return for ‘Beyond’) is still moving forward at Prime Video with Nicolas Cage leading a cast that includes Jack Huston, Brendan Gleeson, Lamorne Morris and Li Jun Li. That show is filming now.
And, of course, there is the next Sony/Marvel ‘Spider-Man’ movie starring Tom Holland, which has ‘Shang-Chi’s Destin Daniel Cretton directing. It’s due to film next year and is set for release in July 2026.
When will ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ be in theaters?
As mentioned, Sony hasn’t confirmed a new release date for the latest ‘Spider-Verse’ installment.
Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.’
(Left) Jamie Lee Curtis poses backstage with the Oscar® for Actress in a Supporting Role during the live ABC telecast of the 95th Oscars® at Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 12, 2023. (Right) Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Television.
Preview:
Jamie Lee Curtis is circling the lead in the ‘Murder, She Wrote’ movie.
Universal is driving the new development.
If she signs, she’d take over the role made famous by Angela Lansbury on TV.
And bestriding the genre like a colossus spanning both sides is Rian Johnson, who continues to see success with his ‘Knives Out’ franchise, which stars Daniel Craig as detective Benoit Blanc and TV’s ‘Poker Face,’ in which Natasha Lyonne plays Charlie Cole, who has the ability to know when people are lying and keeps stumbling into murder mystery situations.
Yet back in the day (by which we mean the 1980s), the 800lb gorilla of mystery on TV was ‘Murder, She Wrote,’ with Angela Lansbury starring.
JTFcwczdRTAEo13zi5kJw3
It’s a little surprising given the enduring popularity of the show (and the love for existing intellectual popularity to exploit), why it has taken this long for a movie to enter development. Yet the wheels got turning last year, when Universal began work on one, with Amy Pascal producing.
Now, according to Deadline, Oscar winner Jamie Lee Curtis is close to a deal to take the lead, though the site cautions that it’s not quite locked in yet.
What’s the story of ‘Murder She Wrote’?
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Television.
For those who didn’t grow up in the 1980s or have somehow gotten this far in life not knowing the name Jessica Fletcher, ‘Murder She Wrote’ was a crime procedural drama series that kicked off on CBS in 1984.
It stars Lansbury as Fletcher, a seemingly mild-mannered crime writer who has a penchant for digging into mysteries of all kinds. Working and living primarily in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, she’s consistently underestimated by police and criminals and ends up solving many murders.
Her travels during the series –– which ran for 12 seasons –– have taken her all over the United States and abroad.
In that time, Lansbury was nominated for an Emmy every single year, and won various awards. She reprised the role in the four TV movies.
Lansbury said in the past that she’d have been open to making a comeback appearance, which would make for a fun cameo in any potential movie. But in a 2015 interview with Zap2It, she said it was no longer feasible:
“I think it would be a downer. In some way, we’d have to show her as a much older woman, and I think it’s better to maintain that picture we have in our mind’s eye of her as a vigorous person. I’m still pretty vigorous, especially in the garden, but if I wanted to transform myself back into the woman I looked like then, it would be ridiculous. And I can’t do that.”
It has since become even less feasible, as the acting legend died in 2022.
Producer Amy Pascal attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Amy Pascal is a former Sony chairperson who has become a powerful and influential producer via her Pascal Pictures company.
On the writing front, we have Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who got their start as reporters at the ‘Wall Street Journal’ and segued into dramatic writing on the staff of ‘Orange Is the New Black’.
They wrote last year’s GameStop share story movie ‘Dumb Money’ and have several scripts in development, including one about the GamerGate phenomenon which Pascal is also producing, and contributed writing to a new take on ‘The Wolf Man’ for Universal (though their script has since fallen by the wayside).
Where else can I see Jamie Lee Curtis?
Oscar® nominee Jamie Lee Curtis arrives on the red carpet of the 95th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Curtis is certainly enjoying a career renaissance between the return of the ‘Halloween’ franchise and particularly in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ which scored her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar last year.
She’s been winning further cinematic praise for her role in ‘The Last Showgirl,’ and on TV has been seen in the likes of ‘The Bear.’ Curtis is currently on screens in Prime Video maple syrup heist comedy drama ‘The Sticky.’
On the mystery front, she’s busy filming another Prime Video series, this one based on the Patricia Cornwell ‘Kay Scarpetta’ books, which also stars Nicole Kidman.
When will the ‘Murder She Wrote’ movie be on screens?
Universal has yet to announce anything resembling a release date for the movie –– that will likely have to wait until a director is attached and more deals are closed.
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Television.
‘Spider-Noir’ is adding Lamorne Norris and Brendan Gleeson to its cast.
The live-action series will star Nicolas Cage as the Spider-Man Noir character.
Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot will run the show.
Marvel and Sony have had joint success with the most recent ‘Spider-Man’ live-action movie trilogy and the latter is seeing great results via the ‘Spider-Verse’ animated outings.
Yet Amazon’s attempts to jump on the spider-wagon has been less successful so far –– the ‘Silk: Spider Society’ series it had in the works was scrapped in May.
(Left) Nicolas Cage (“Nick Cage”) contemplates his career while poolside in Mallorca, Spain in ‘The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent.’ Photo credit: Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate. (Right) Nicolas Cage as Peter Parker / Spider-Man Noir in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Photo: Sony Pictures.
While the character (voiced by Cage) appeared in ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ (and briefly at the end of (‘Across the Spider-Verse’, pointing to more in the next film, ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’), ‘Spider-Noir’ will be its own, live-action take on the grizzled hero.
The official logline for the show fills in a little more detail: it’ll follow the story of an aging and down on his luck private investigator in 1930s New York, who is forced to grapple with his past life as the city’s one and only superhero.
Marvel Comis Robbie Robertson. Photo: Marvel Comics.
Morris’ character is described as: “Driven, hard-working, and won’t take no for an answer. A dedicated journalist trying to make it with the odds stacked against him as a black professional in 1930s New York. He takes on riskier stories that no one else would touch in order to catch attention and a paycheck. He is willing to do whatever is necessary for his career.”
Who is working on ‘Spider-Noir’?
2018’s ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
Oren Uziel and Steve Lightfoot, who will also serve as co-showrunners and executive producers. They developed the series with the ‘Spider-Verse’ team of Phil Lord, Christopher Miller and Amy Pascal, all of whom will also executive produce.
‘Enola Holmes’ director Harry Bradbeer will be an executive producer and handle the first two episodes.
Vernon Sanders, head of television for Amazon MGM Studios said this about the new show:
“Expanding the Marvel universe with ‘Noir’ is a uniquely special opportunity and we are honored to bring this series to our global Prime Video customers. The extremely talented Nicolas Cage is an ideal choice for our new superhero and the accomplished producing team with Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Amy Pascal, and the incredible team at Sony is dedicated to expanding this franchise in the most authentic way.”
When will ‘Spider-Noir’ be on screens?
There is no official date set for ‘Spider-Noir’ yet, though we do know it’ll premiere on MGM+ linear channel and then on Prime Video.
2018’s ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.’ Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
(L to R) Writer Justin Kuritzkes, producer Amy Pascal, Josh O’Connor, Zendaya, Mike Faist, director Luca Guadagnino, producer Rachel O’Connor and Mike Hopkins, SVP of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Preview:
Zendaya, Mike Feist and Josh O’Connor were among the talent attending the ‘Challengers’ press conference.
Zendaya talked about how her dance background helped with her tennis training.
Director Luca Guadagnino outlined the lengths he went to for the movie’s final sequence.
Luca Guadagnino (‘Call Me by Your Name’, ‘Bones and All’) is a director known for his grasp of sensuality and complicated, grown-up stories of relationships. And his latest, ‘Challengers’ marries that sensitivity with the competitive world of tennis, where curdled personal and professional jealousy causes issues for one woman and the men who share an attraction to her –– at the cost of their own formerly deep friendship.
‘Challengers’ stars Zendaya (‘Dune: Part Two’) as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court.
Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist, ‘West Side Story’), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor, ‘The Crown‘) –– his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend.
As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself what it will cost to win.
(L to R) Josh O’Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
The movie marks Guadagnino’s latest and potentially most mainstream crossover movie, with a script from relative newcomer Justin Kuritzkes and ‘Spider-Man’ veteran Amy Pascal among its producers.
Moviefone recently attended a virtual press conference for ‘Challengers.’ Taking part were stars Zendaya, Faist and O’Connor alongside director Guadagnino, producer Pascal and writer Kuritzkes.
Here are 10 things we learned from the press conference, edited for clarity and length.
1) Writer Justin Kuritzkes was Partly Inspired by a Particular Moment in Tennis
Writer Justin Kuritzkes attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Kuritzkes says he wasn’t much of a sports fan before writing the script, but one moment during a televised tennis game gave him the initial kernel for ‘Challengers’, which hinges on a couple of dramatic games.
Justin Kuritzkes: I just happened to turn on the US Open and it was the final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. And there was this very controversial call from the umpire where he accused Serena Williams of receiving coaching from the sidelines. I had never heard of this rule, but Serena was saying, ‘That didn’t happen. I would never do that.’ Immediately this struck me as this intensely cinematic situation where you’re all alone on your side of the court and there’s this one other person in this massive tennis stadium who cares as much about what happens to you as you do, but you can’t talk to them. For whatever reason, it just clicked in my mind: What if you really needed to talk about something, and what if it was something beyond tennis? What if it was something that was going on with the two of you, and what if it involved the person on the other side of the net? How would you have that conversation and how could you communicate the tension of that situation using the tools that are specific to film? So yeah, that was really where it all started for me.
2) Amy Pascal Wanted to Produce the Film Because it Was a Grown-Up Concept
Producer Amy Pascal attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Pascal was given the script by her producing partner Rachel O’Connor and knew it was something she wanted to shepherd to screens.
Amy Pascal: It is very rare that commercial movies are about adult relationships and about sex. I was sick of it, so I thought it was high time that people kiss in movies and more, and there was no better director to bring that to life than Luca.
3) Pascal Convinced Kuritzkes to Let Her Option the Script with One Compelling Offer
(L to R) Director Luca Guadagnino and producer Amy Pascal attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Pascal brings enough of a heavyweight reputation thanks to her years in the business, which you think might be enough for most people. But thanks to her history with the ‘Spider-Man’ movies, she also had a secret weapon…
Pascal: I think what really locked it, and I don’t think Zendaya knows this, but I’ll say it now, is we promised we’d get her to do it. I said, I know there’s a lot of other producers, but I know Z personally and I will get her to do this movie, and that is why Justin chose us, I’m certain.
4) Luca Guadagnino Loved the Script –– But Had to be Cajoled to Read it at First
Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Guadagnino said he’d wanted to work with Pascal for a while, so the script was a tempting one… Even if she had to keep at him to read it, since he was already busy on another film.
Luca Guadagnino: Amy and I, we have been courting each other for many years now. There is a sort of an unspoken love story between the two of us! But when Amy sent me the script I was working on something else, and she was calling me every half hour to ask me if I was reading it or not. Eventually I had to read it while working. The script was fantastic. The characters were amazing. The structure was so cinematic that I just immediately, instinctively felt that the company of Amy, the company of Zendaya and the company of Justin, the artistic endeavor that we could all gather together in this would be fantastic. So, I think I said I was in immediately.
5) Zendaya was convinced to do the film after a table read
Zendaya attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Zendaya is a busy actor, and obviously is offered a lot of scripts these days. So the producers decided to go an extra step to convince her to join ‘Challengers’.
Zendaya: We had a mock table read at my agent’s house and I just fell in love with the script. I mean, it was brilliant. It also made me very nervous as something to tackle because of, I think, how complicated these characters are. Also, I couldn’t define what kind of movie it was. It was funny. It was so funny, but I wouldn’t say it was a comedy. There was drama, but I wouldn’t say it was just a drama. It had tennis, but it wasn’t like a sports movie. So I think that feeling that it was just everything at once in this beautiful way was terrifying, but equally exhilarating and exciting.
6) Mike Faist thought he’d blown his chance to appear in the film.
Mike Faist attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
Faist, who broke out big in Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of ‘West Side Story’ admits he needs prodding from his agents to read scripts. But he loved the ‘Challengers’ screenplay when it was sent to him to read at home in Ohio and immediately agreed to a Zoom meeting with Guadagnino, which led to a screen test.
Mike Faist: They flew me to London to meet with Zendaya, and we did a screen test there. I remember I left the screen test, and I was walking around London, and I actually felt like it went atrociously wrong. I thought, “Oh, okay. Well, I did not book that at all.” Then Luca gave me a call and he said, “Mike, where are you? Come back, have lunch with me.” We sat down and had lunch and we just chatted some more and got to know each other.
7) Josh O’Connor initially worried he wasn’t up to the challenge of his role.
Josh O’Connor attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
O’Connor, who plays strong-headed but down-on-his luck player Patrick Zweig, was concerned he didn’t have the chops to play such a complicated character, despite winning awards for playing ‘The Crown’s Prince Charles.
Josh O’ Connor: I’d read the script before. But then when Luca asked me about doing it initially, Patrick was, I thought, beyond my reach. I felt like this was a character that was so confident, so front-footed, so comfortable in himself, even though he has, as we all do, fears and insecurities. But really he completely lives life to the full and is very accepting of his flaws. All those things seemed like a reach and Luca very brilliantly accepted that and made me feel comfortable around that.
8) Zendaya found one of her own skills helped her with learning to look like a tennis pro.
The actor recalls having trouble with the tennis training, and that even when she thought her skills had clicked in, she couldn’t remember them.
Z: I’d be, Yeah, I got this. Okay, and then you come in the next day, and you can’t recreate it and you’re, ‘Damn, back to square one.’ I once said, ‘I want to try to see what it feels like to return a serve. Someone hit me a real one.’ The way that thing flew by me so fast, and at the time I still had glasses, so I couldn’t even see the dang thing!
But she figured out that something she was already skilled at might help.
Z: At some point I realized, “Okay, my approach has to be different because whatever this is, isn’t working.” So I said, “Okay, well, let me approach it like choreography. I’m a dancer, so let me dance this thing out.”
9) Faist and O’Connor developed a close bond before shooting and enjoy joking about their connection on and off screen.
(L to R) Josh O’Connor, writer Justin Kuritzkes and Mike Faist attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Stewart Cook/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
It’s clear from hearing them talk about it that Faist and O’Connor are good friends. But that doesn’t stop them having fun at each other’s expense. Such as when they’re asked to define how they developed the toxic bromance between Art and Patrick in the movie and Faist answers: “Well, we hate each other.”
JOC: Mike does this joke sometimes and sometimes he follows it up with the punchline of, “Just kidding. We’re great friends.” But in the UK last week we did an interview where he committed so much to this joke that it sounded like I bullied him. It was extraordinary.
(L to R) Josh O’Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
MF: Josh genuinely in the middle of the interview, was screaming at me, “Please tell them that you’re joking!”
10) Luca Guadagnino and his team worked hard crafting the kinetic final tennis sequence.
The movie jumps back and forward in time, but hinges on one particular climactic match between Faist’s Art and O’Connor’s Patrick. Guadagnino and his team knew that would need a lot of preparation to make work on the different emotional and physical levels.
LG: We rehearsed the dramatic part of the movie many, many, many days. Then we were on the court every day, few hours watching the points, understanding how those sports action had to be reflective of the dynamic between the characters. We understood that the final sequence, the final moment, had to be basically a silent sequence or a non-dialogue sequence, that was going to be very clear to everyone in the audience, to understand the emotional ramp up that had to be built there. It took a long time in the conception, planning and shooting. I think that sequence, the last 10 minutes, took us eight days to shoot, more or less, which is incredible.
‘Challengers’ is in theaters on April 26th.
gwLiqXqIYZMU7Nzp1ffta
What is the plot of ‘Challengers’?
Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) are college tennis players with dreams of turning pro who both unexpectedly fall for fellow player Tashi (Zendaya). Patrick ends up dating her, but as their careers take different paths, it’s Art and Tashi who eventually get married. Yet Tashi’s plan to snap Art out of a losing streak and get him to the U.S. Open are disrupted by the return of Patrick, as tensions sexual and otherwise run high.
(L to R) Dustin Hoffman and director Noah Baumbach on the set of ‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected).’ Credit: Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix.
Little is known properly about the plot of this untitled project yet –– all Deadline was able to discover was that it’s described as “a funny and emotional coming-of-age film about adults.” Which certainly has echoes of one of Baumbach’s earlier Netflix productions, ‘The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)’, which also starred Sandler.
And unlike some other recent films which Baumbach wrote with his longtime life and creative partner Greta Gerwig (including this year’s biggest success, ‘Barbie’), he worked on this one with actor Emily Mortimer.
Amy Pascal (more normally found shepherding Sony’s Spider-output) and David Heyman (best known for the ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Paddington’ movies will produce this new film, which has yet to announce when it might start and certainly doesn’t have a release date on the schedule yet.
George Clooney’s own latest directorial effort, historical sports drama ‘The Boys in the Boat’ comes to theaters on December 25th. He’s not on screen in that one, but will appear in ‘Wolfs’, the new film from ‘Spider-Man’ trilogy director Jon Watts, in which plays opposite ‘Ocean’s franchise friend Brad Pitt as one of two fixers who are assigned to the same job. That one doesn’t have a release date, but will hit theaters via Apple and Sony, presumably next year.
And talking of ‘Oceans’, Clooney recently told Uproxx that a script exists for a new instalment of the heist films.
Here’s what he said:
“We have a really good script for another ‘Ocean’s now, so we may end up doing another one. It’s actually a great script. I don’t want to call it ‘Ocean’s 14’, the idea is kind of like ‘Going In Style’.”
Adam Sandler has a Netflix deal much like Baumbach, and most recently released animated comedy adventure ‘Leo’. He has another film set to arrive on the streaming service, this time the sci-fi adventure ‘Spaceman’, which also stars Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano and Isabella Rossellini.
And he’s also reunited with Benny and Josh Safdie, who he previously collaborated with on ‘Uncut Gems’. Little is known about that one for now.
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
There are many examples of TV series making the jump to movie theaters. Some are updates years after the original show went off the air (apart from re-runs) such as ‘The A-Team’ or ‘Charlie’s Angels’.
Others were produced either while the show was still running or not long after, and continued the story with the series cast, including ‘The X-Files’ or ‘Sex and the City’.
‘Murder, She Wrote’, given that it last aired in 1996 (though four TV movies followed, the last released in 2003) falls squarely into the first category and not least because we sadly lost iconic star Angela Lansbury last year.
It’s almost surprising that no one has gotten this far into development on a ‘Murder’ movie given the show’s enduring popularity and cult appeal.
But Universal Pictures (which makes sense since Universal Television produced the show) now has a deal with producer Amy Pascal and Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, who wrote upcoming based-on-truth comedy drama ‘Dumb Money’ to make it happen.
According to Above The Line, Blum and Angelo were hired to write the script before the WGA strike began, but obviously forward movement on that front is in limbo until the writers’ and actors’ strikes are resolved.
1368911
What is ‘Murder She Wrote’?
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
For those who didn’t grow up in the 1980s or have somehow gotten this far in life not knowing the name Jessica Fletcher, ‘Murder She Wrote’ was a crime procedural drama series that kicked off on CBS in 1984.
It stars Lansbury as Fletcher, a seemingly mild-mannered crime writer who has a penchant for digging into mysteries of all kinds. Working and living primarily in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, she’s consistently underestimated by police and criminals and ends up solving many murders.
Her travels during the series –– which ran for 12 seasons –– have taken her all over the United States and abroad.
In that time, Lansbury was nominated for an Emmy every single year, and won various awards. She reprised the role in the four TV movies.
Lansbury has said in the past that she’d have been open to making a comeback appearance, which would make for a fun cameo in any potential movie. But in a 2015 interview with Zap2It, she said it was no longer feasible:
“I think it would be a downer. In some way, we’d have to show her as a much older woman, and I think it’s better to maintain that picture we have in our mind’s eye of her as a vigorous person. I’m still pretty vigorous, especially in the garden, but if I wanted to transform myself back into the woman I looked like then, it would be ridiculous. And I can’t do that.”
tnuF0VIYGBZUoWBCH8lL26
Who is the team behind the new planned movie?
(L to R) Rebecca Angelo, Writer/Executive producer, and Lauren Schuker Blum, Writer/Executive producer, attend the gala screening of ‘Dumb Money’ at the Toronto International Film Festival. Copyright: Eric Charbonneau. Photo By Eric Charbonneau.
Amy Pascal is a former Sony chairperson who has become a powerful and influential producer via her Pascal Pictures company.
Schuker Blum and Angelo got their start as reporters at the ‘Wall Street Journal’ and segued into dramatic writing on the staff of ‘Orange Is the New Black’. They have several scripts in development, including one about the GamerGate phenomenon which Pascal is also producing, and a new take on ‘The Wolfman’ for Universal.
As for ‘Dumb Money’, which chronicles the GameStop short squeeze share affair from the POV of various people who were involved, that movie will be in theaters on limited release on September 22nd before going wide on September 29th.
pjslwnt7
Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher in ‘Murder, She Wrote.’ Photo courtesy of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.
Venom, created by writer Bill Michelinie and artist Todd McFarlane, was famously introduced as a villain in 1988’s ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ No. 300, and quickly became a fan-favorite as well as one of his arch-nemeses. He got his first solo comic in 1993.
