Chris Nolan is adding Charlize Theron to his new movie.
She joins the likes of Lupita Nyong’o, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Zendaya.
Nolan is keeping the plot a mystery.
Just as he did with ‘Oppenheimer’ –– and even more so since that movie did nearly a billion dollars in business and won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor (for star Cillian Murphy) ––– Christopher Nolan is able to attract big names for his new project.
What’s the story of Christopher Nolan’s next film?
Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of ‘Oppenheimer.’
As with everything to do with Nolan, the title, plot and even genre are a mystery at this point. Nolan is not a man to release loglines easily, and his level of creative control means that, short of an unauthorized leak, no information will be out there until he’s ready.
There had been some chatter a few years ago about the writer/director looking at adapting cult British series ‘The Prisoner’ for the big screen, but this is apparently not that.
More recent rumors have pointed to a film inspired by movie and TV series ‘Blue Thunder,’ which was about a sophisticated police helicopter in Los Angeles, but that has since been shot down (the rumor, not the helicopter).
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Who else is in the cast for Nolan’s latest project?
(Far Left) Matt Damon promoting ‘The Instigators’. Photo: Apple TV+. (Center Left) Zendaya and Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. Photo: Marvel Studios. (Center Right) Anne Hathaway for Apple TV+’s ‘WeCrashed.’ (Far Right) Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.
Assuming the story on Theron truly pans out (though Deadline’s story indicates she’s at least either signed or close to making a deal), she’ll join an all-star cast of returning Nolan veterans and new recruits.
Damon, Hathaway, and Pattinson, of course, have all worked with the director at least once before.
What else is Charlize Theron working on?
Charlize Theron in ‘The Old Guard.’ Photo: Netflix.
Theron has a few projects on the go. Netflix action sequel ‘The Old Guard 2’ has been stymied by strike delays and is still going through post-production but will hopefully arrive next year.
She also has a number of movies either in development or preparing to shoot, including action thriller ‘Two for the Money,’ and she’s about to film another thriller, survival title ‘Apex,’ which co-stars Taron Egerton.
Which studio will distribute Nolan’s new film?
Writer, director, and producer Christopher Nolan on the set of ‘Oppenheimer.’
While the filmmaker had been based for years at Warner Bros., the company’s decision to put much of its 2020 slate on streaming saw him take his business elsewhere.
The rights to ‘Oppenheimer’ were put up for auction, a bidding battle that Universal ultimately won and reaped the rewards when the movie became a huge sensation.
Nolan was clearly happy without things worked out in collaboration with the studio, as he’s gone right back to it for this new project, which, like ‘Oppenheimer,’ will shoot in the IMAX format.
When will Chris Nolan’s next movie be in theaters?
Universal and IMAX have planted a flag in a July 17th, 2026 release slot for the new movie.
So it’s perhaps not surprising to see her sparking to a new action project, as Netflix has her aboard a thriller called ‘Apex’ which will call her to scale some heights to survive.
Jeremy Robbins wrote the screenplay, which Deadline has learned is described as a combination of ‘Free Solo’ and ‘The Silence of the Lambs’, in which a rock climber finds herself hunted in the wild. Reportedly it was good enough that Netflix was quick to purchase it.
The company nabbed the rights to the script back in February, in an unusual sale that, in this era of “packaging” (attaching directors and actors to scripts before taking them out) stands out.
Who is Making ‘Apex’?
(L to R) Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in ‘2 Guns’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
With the script acquired, Netflix acted quickly to find a star and a director. Theron signed on around the same time as director Baltasar Kormákur. He’s got a little bit of experience with high altitude action since he directed 2015 based-on-truth drama ‘Everest’.
The filmmaker has also been behind the likes of ‘2 Guns’, ‘Beast’ and his most recent effort, new drama ‘Touch’, which is earning him some positive reviews.
As for Theron, ‘Apex’ puts her back in business with Netflix, for whom she starred in ‘The Old Guard’. And talking of the graphic novel-based franchise…
Theron Talks ‘The Old Guard 2’
Charlize Theron in ‘The Old Guard.’ Photo: Netflix.
The first installment of ‘The Old Guard’ –– which writer Greg Rucka adapted from his own comic book for director Gina Prince-Bythewood –– landed on Netflix in 2020 and became a pandemic viewing hit with its story of a small army of superhero-esque immortals whose centuries-old secret existence is threatened by a villainous pharmaceutical titan.
“We got kind of stuck in that and our post-production shut down, I think, five weeks into it. They [Netflix] were going through a lot of changes, and I totally understand it. We finally picked it back up and I’m really excited about it. It’s really good. It’s a really important film to us. I only wanted to do it if we could make it amazing. I really love this movie.”
We’ve yet to learn when it might earn a spot on Netflix, but if all goes well it could finally arrive either later this year or early next.
When Will ‘Apex’ Be On Screens?
As of yet, Netflix hasn’t offered any details of when the movie might land –– or, indeed, if it’ll see a theatrical element before hitting the streamer’s servers.
Returning to the cinematic world he created, filmmaker George Miller once again delivers an exciting and thrilling adventure, which acts as both a prequel and a spinoff to ‘Fury Road’. While ‘Furiosa’ is more character driven than its predecessor it still features the same level of visually stunning action sequences, which are enhanced this time around by the character development. Both Alyla Browne and Anya Taylor-Joy give extremely strong performances as Furiosa, but it is Chris Hemsworth in his first truly great post ‘Thor’ performance as the evil yet hysterically funny biker villain, Dementus.
Beginning decades before ‘Fury Road’, the film first introduces us to a young Furiosa (Browne), who lives in a secret eutopia far away from the Wasteland called the Green Place of Many Mothers. When bikers accidentally come across their home, Furiosa bravely warns her people, but is abruptly kidnapped by the bikers and taken to their leader, the Warlord Dementus (Hemsworth). After a desperate rescue attempt by her mother (Charlee Fraser) fails, Furiosa is raised by Dementus so he can gain her trust and discover the location of her home to take it for his own.
Dementus soon sets his sights on taking over the Citadel from its leader, Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme). But when his first attempt fails, he negotiates what he wants from Joe in exchange for Furiosa, who will be groomed as a wife to breed. After the exchange, Furiosa (now Taylor-Joy) eventually escapes and meets a transporter, or a Road Warrior if you will, named Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke). Jack agrees to teach her his ways in exchange for her help transporting goods for Immortan Joe and as time passes, she slowly becomes the character we remember from ‘Fury Road’, albeit a slightly younger version. But, when Dementus and his biker horde wage war on Immortan Joe, it gives Furiosa her chance at revenge and possibly finally returning home.
To be fair, I’ve never been a huge fan of the ‘Mad Max’ franchise. The first two films, ‘Mad Max’ and ‘Mad Max 2’ were a little too slow for me. ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome’ injected more humor into the franchise and therefore was a bit more enjoyable. Miller certainly reinvented the franchise with ‘Fury Road’, which I enjoyed but not as much as most. The action was incredible and visually beautiful to watch, but the story was complicated and the characters, while interesting, were not explored or developed enough for me to ultimately care.
That is not the case with ‘Furiosa’ as Miller really takes his time to tell the title character’s backstory and develop not only her, but Hemsworth’s villain and Burke’s Jack as well. By the end of the movie, you really care about the characters and what happens to them. That only adds to the excitement of the action sequences, which in some ways are better than the last film. Miller has truly created a captivating world, and ‘Furiosa’ allows him to explore it in a way he never has before.
Miller out does himself this time with a barrage of stunning, high-octane action sequences that rival what was seen in ‘Fury Road.’ Along with his cinematographer Simon Duggan, Miller conceives grand, sweeping master shots of the desolate Wasteland while also serving up metal-crashing explosive action sequences. One such scene involves a big rig truck barreling through the desert at top speeds while being attacked by bikers and hybrid helicopter-bikes. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before from Miller in this universe and ups the action from the previous installments.
Alyla Browne and Anya Taylor-Joy are both excellent as Furiosa and give a seamless performance together. However, it is worth noting that they equally share the role, and Taylor-Joy does not appear until the halfway mark. Once she does, her dialogue is limited, but the actress excels at expressing her emotions physically or with just a quick look. Taylor-Joy transforms into the basic character we know from ‘Fury Road’ quite well, and in the end is a dead ringer for Theron’s version. She also has great chemistry with Burke, and I’m glad they gave Furiosa an alley to relate to and care for.
But it is Browne who carries much of the film, and really builds the character for Taylor-Joy to take over. Browne creates a believably strong character and lays the groundwork for what is to come. The young actress is great opposite Hemsworth, making Furiosa and Dementus’ volatile relationship fun to watch.
While he was unarguably great in the MCU movies, Chris Hemsworth has struggled ever since to find a role that fit him quite as well as Thor. He has had some success with the ‘Extraction’ movies, but not since ‘Avengers: Endgame’ has he really been able to tap into both his physical strength and his surprising comedic abilities … until now.
Dementus is the perfect Chris Hemsworth role! It allows him to be physically imposing, over-the-top funny, and as evil as he wants to be. The actor plays the character with an evil charm and a sadistic humor but is also physically believable in his action sequences. While Browne and Taylor-Joy might be the heart of the movie, Hemsworth steals every scene he’s in and may now be the best villain in the ‘Mad Max’ franchise.
The film’s ending does beg questions about how this connects to ‘Fury Road’ and the future of the franchise, but it doesn’t take away from the emotionally affective and visually exciting theatrical experience the audience has just had. And at just over two and half hours, I can honestly say that it never felt long and kept my attention throughout.
In the end, ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ is an exciting, action-packed, character driven film that succeeds on most levels. Director George Miller has created another visually stunning action adventure, that really takes its time to set up the characters and build on the world from the previous films. While Alyla Browne and Anya Taylor-Joy are wonderful together as the title character, Chris Hemsworth brings the action and the fun in one of his finest roles to date.
‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’?
Set 15 to 20 years before the events of ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, as the world falls apart, young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) is snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers and into the hands of a Biker Horde led by the Warlord Dementus (Chris Hemsworth). While two Tyrants war for dominance over the Citadel, an older Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy) survives many trials as she plots a way back home through the Wasteland.
Charlize Theron and Daniel Craig are on for new heist pic ‘Two for the Money’.
‘Fast & Furious’ veteran director Justin Lin is making the movie.
Apple has landed the rights to the new project.
It’s clearly the week for big star projects to start looking for homes. We already have Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale aboard a spy story, and now comes word that Charlize Theron and Daniel Craig are aboard heist thriller ‘Two for the Money’.
And the genesis for this one comes from an unlikely place: ‘Fast X’. Because it was an idea that writer/director Justin Lin hatched with his co-writer on the movie, Dan Mazeau.
Theron, who returned as the villainous Cipher for the film, liked the concept and pitched that Craig should co-star.
(L to R) Vin Diesel and director Justin Lin on the set of ‘Fast Five.’
According to The Hollywood Reporter, which broke the news, the plot is being kept in a vault. But the story reportedly follows the evolution of a relationship between two career thieves, to be played by Theron and Craig, over the course of three big jobs.
Theron was apparently impressed by the snappy dialogue between the two main characters, which invoked feelings of classic romantic comedies such as ‘His Girl Friday’.
Which company has bought the new movie?
(L to R) Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Killers of the Flower Moon,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
Apple secured the rights for this one, representing the company continuing its mission to land big projects following the likes of ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and ‘Napoleon’, which have both been in theaters and are in the awards race.
Charlize Theron leads a band of seemingly immortal soldiers in the Netflix Original ‘The Old Guard.’
Theron will be back as her long-lived warrior character for ‘The Old Guard 2’, due out on Netflix in 2024, and has a variety of projects she’s working on as a producer.
Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel Studios’ ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’
When we last saw Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, he was being spirited away on a new adventure by Charlize Theron’s Clea, a character fans have long wanted to see adapted from Marvel Comics.
Now, according to Cumberbatch himself, we might have more of an idea when we’ll see the good –– and not always so good –– Doctor, as talking during a long interview for the JW3 Speaker series, he said, “there are some Marvel capers in the making next year.”
At the end of 2022’s ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, Strange, freshly returned from his trip to parallel worlds and a battle against Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff (who was looking to harness the power of the multiverse to be reunited with her children), is insisting to Wong (Benedict Wong) that he hasn’t been affected by the dark magic of the tome known as the Darkhold.
But moments later, as he walks down the street he collapses to his knees in pain, screaming as a third eye (similar to one used by his “dark” alternate self in another universe) opens on his forehead.
In the first post-credits scene for the movie, we learn what happens next, more or less. Jumping forward in time, the scene follows Strange out for another walk with a scarf on, only to find himself confronted by a purple-costumed woman who appears from another dimension.
Her name is Clea, and she has a bone to pick with Strange. “You caused an incursion, and we’re gonna fix it,” she tells him. This calls back to a threat mentioned in the main body of the film, where multiversal travel is noted to risk “incursions” where two universes collide, and one is destroyed.
Insisting he’s not afraid, Strange transforms his scarf into his usual cloak and he heads off with Clea.
(L to R) Charlize Theron and Benedict Cumberbatch in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.’
Naturally, since this involves Marvel, there is very little to go on besides Cumberbatch’s statement since the studio is notoriously tricky in what it reveals ahead of time.
We don’t, therefore, know whether this will be a new stand-alone Strange adventure or point to him teaming up for the new ‘Avengers’ movies planned for the future.
While Disney/Marvel’s release calendar is full for the next couple of years, there are some “untitled” slots that a new Strange movie could fill.
And according to ‘Multiverse of Madness’ writer Michael Waldron, that could well include Clea.
“We knew that we wanted to introduce Clea. She’s Strange’s great love in the comics and it was felt to me like Strange wasn’t at the point at the start of our movie where he was ready to meet the love of his life. It felt like we had to close the loop with he and Christine Palmer. And so, after she gives him her wisdom to not be afraid of loving someone, then it felt like we were right to tease what could be eventually with he and Clea.”
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
The past always has a way of catching up with Dominic Toretto and his gang. This time, someone from Dom’s past shows up in the most unexpected way, putting everyone in danger, including Dom’s son – Little B.
“Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto and his family have outsmarted and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they must confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced. Fueled by revenge, a terrifying threat emerges from the shadows of the past to shatter Dom’s world and destroy everything — and everyone — he loves.”
‘Fast X’ premiered in Rome on May 12, 2023. It opened in theaters domestically on May 19th. The film opened to $67 million and has grossed over $676.9 million worldwide since its release.
The Past Continues To Haunt Dominic Toretto
(L to R) Vin Diesel and Daniela Melchior in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Trouble always seems to find its way to Dominic Toretto’s doorstep, much like when ‘Fate of the Furious’ villain Cypher (Charlize Theron) shows up at Dom’s home badly injured. She tells Dom of a new threat named Dante, who turns out to be the son of drug lord Herman Reyes. Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) appeared in ‘Fast Five’ and met his end after chasing Dom’s team for the vault.
Played by Jason Momoa, Dante seeks revenge for his father’s death and will stop at nothing to hurt Dom – including kidnapping his son Brian. Dante may be the franchise’s most interesting and formidable villain so far – outsmarting Dom in ways we’ve never seen before. Fashionable, unhinged, and outright entertaining to watch, Dante steals every scene he is in.
New Players Entering ‘The Fast & Furious’ Franchise
(Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Joining the Fast family are Brie Larson (‘Captain Marvel’), Alan Ritchson (‘Dark Web: Cicada 3301’), and Daniela Melchior (‘The Suicide Squad’). Brie Larson portrays Tess, who is revealed to be the daughter of Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell). She is helping Dom and his team in their fight against Dante Reyes. Alan Ritchson plays Aimes, the new head of The Agency. Daniela Melchior plays Isabel, a Brazilian street racer who is connected to someone from Dom’s past.
There is more than meets the eye with these new characters, so you should check out the movie to find out exactly who they are and if they’re on Team Dom or plotting against them.
Where Can I Watch ‘Fast X’?
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 19th, 2023, and its follow-up is already announced to be released on April 4th, 2025. While the movie is already available on VOD, you can still catch the high-octane action in theaters. ‘Fast X’ is available in IMAX, Dolby Atmos, 3D, and 4DX format, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Fast X’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 21 minutes, making it the second-longest movie in the franchise.
You now have the option to rent or purchase ‘Fast X’ on VOD for $19.99 or $24.99, respectively. The movie is available on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Direct TV, Google Play, Vudu, Microsoft, YouTube, AppleTV, and Redbox.
As the movie is distributed by Universal Pictures, Peacock subscribers (in both Premium and Premium Plus tiers) will be able to stream ‘Fast X’ once available – likely to be in late August or early September though no official date has been announced by the studio.
No official date has been announced for the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the film, though pre-orders are already available from stores such as Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
(Clockwise, from left) Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), Han (Sung Kang), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel), Dom (Vin Diesel), Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), Abuelita (Rita Moreno), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Tej (Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges, back to camera) and Roman (Tyrese Gibson, back to camera) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
‘Fast X’ opening in theaters on May 19th, is the latest entry in the sprawling, wildly successful franchise that begun in much more humble fashion as a take on ‘Point Break’s undercover lawman genre in 2001 and his since spiraled into a bombastic action franchise revolving around the endlessly repeated theme of family.
After a muted, disappointing entry with ‘F9: The Fast Saga’ in 2021 (which nevertheless did good business), it’s a relief to report that fans of the franchise, led by star/producer Vin Diesel, is a return to the ridiculous, stunt-heavy, common sense-free form that we’ve come know and appreciate.
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What’s the story of ‘Fast X?
Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is back living in the family home in Los Angeles with wife Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and son Brian (Leo Abelo Perry). It’s a relatively quiet time for Dom and his gang, punctuated by family barbecues, driving lessons for Brian and a visit from his Abuela (Rita Moreno).
But Dom’s peace is ruined when old enemy Cipher (Charlize Theron) shows up badly injured at his door one night, spinning a story of a new threat called Dante (Jason Momoa). He, it turns out, is the son of Hernan Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida), the drug kingpin that Dom and his team robbed and killed 10 years ago in Rio (as chronicled in the events of ‘Fast Five’ in 2011).
(From left) Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Soon, the flamboyant, crazed Dante is setting traps for our heroes, including luring Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) and Han (Sung Kang) on a fake mission to Rome where they and others, including spy agency member Little Nobody (Scott Eastwood) must stop a giant, rolling bomb from destroying parts of Rome and the Vatican.
But when they’re all framed for the attack, the “family” is scattered to various parts of the world as Dante schemes and undermines them, stealing all their money and threatening their own family members.
Soon Dom is locked in a frantic battle with Dante, forced to rely on everyone he loves, even as they’re put in mortal danger. Can he succeed against this powerful villain?
(Right) Brie Larson is Tess in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
To put it bluntly, there are two main advantages to the new ‘Fast’ movie, and the biggest is easily Jason Momoa. Clearly understanding that he A) needs to bring some fun and B) have some fun in the role of the big bad, he’s the most entertaining villain, and possibly the most entertaining character, the franchise has had for a long time.
Extravagantly dressed, free of macho impulses and always ready with a quip, he’s a giant breath of fresh air that nevertheless also feels like a real challenge to Dom and co. Even his mantra of, “Never accept death when suffering is owed,” inherited from his late father (who is glimpsed in an opening blend of footage from ‘Fast Five’ and newly created shots) helps to justify why Dom and company usually tend to escape from their adventures all but unscathed. You might still find yourself shouting, “why don’t you just kill [insert name here]??” at various points, but that’s all part of the fun of the franchise.
And let’s be honest: people “die” in this movie series and have returned before (Han in particular). It’s rarely the end it might be elsewhere.
(From left) Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry, back to camera) and Jakob (John Cena) in ‘Fast X,’ directed Louis Leterrier.
While there were real concerns after ‘F9’ felt like a tired retread of the usual tropes, a sign the movies are running out of gas, ‘Fast X’ actually comes across as a second wind, embracing the set piece silliness and leaning into the entertainment value. Aside from Momoa, it also succeeds by letting Cena embrace his more humorous side since switching sides from being the vengeful villain in the previous entry.
An early briefing for a new character lets the franchise poke proper fun at itself, nodding towards the physics-defying action and globe-trotting story. It’s a canny way to catch up anyone who has decided to make this their first ‘Fast’ movie (though it’s hard to imagine anyone rocking up to these films without having seen at least one other).
Plus, new director Louis Leterrier (who replaced veteran Justin Lin after the latter quit one week into production) is something of a revelation, bringing a combo of his ease with the sort of high-concept action where he started his career (such as ‘The Transporter’) and finding the emotional core these films need to work.
(L to R) Vin Diesel and Director Louis Leterrier on the set of ‘Fast X.’
What are the problems of the movie?
For all its advantages, there are also the usually clunky elements, this entry still boasting scenes that make it seem as though a straight-to-DVD B-movie broke out in the middle of a summer blockbuster.
Actors who have won Oscars struggle with dialogue that would trip any actor up, whole moments sounding like they were written by feeding to suggestions to a ChatGPT AI that was then dropped on its hard drive, so leaden and first base are the results. It’s especially glaring for any scenes set in the mysterious “agency” spy division currently run by Ritchson’s Aimes. The man who is Jack Reacher on TV doesn’t break free of the dodgy lines he’s handed. And even Larson can’t make Tess work beyond some basic motivations.
And Diesel, despite being the core of the film, remains the one who treats it all so completely seriously that it’s actually less fun when he’s growling and putting the pedal to the metal.
(From left) Queen (Helen Mirren) and Dom (Vin Diesel) in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Even as the movie acknowledges its own ridiculous nature, you’ll end up giggling at how many times the word “family” is uttered as usual, and the number of familial connections between characters is becoming ever more ridiculous. Everyone Dom knows at this point is connected to someone else in the franchise. It’s not hard to imagine him running into someone at the local auto parts store who is a long-lost cousin.
Fortunately, ‘Fast X’ is nimbler than ‘F9’ and papers over some of these typical cracks with gusto .
‘Fast X’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
‘Fast X’ is produced by Neal H. Moritz, Vin Diesel, Justin Lin, Jeff Kirschenbaum and Samantha Vincent. The executive producers are Joseph M. Caracciolo, Jr., David Cain, Chris Morgan, Amanda Lewis and Mark Bomback.
Vin Diesel as Dom in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Just when you though the ‘Fast & Furious’ team had really, truly finalized plans to wrap the franchise up (while still, of course, leaving the car door open for future spin-offs etc.) with the already-announced 11th entry as a two parter with this week’s ‘Fast X’ along comes star/producer Vin Diesel teasing that there could well be at least one more movie.
Team ‘Fast’ headed to Rome shortly before the weekend for a big press event to promote the movie (which makes sense, since a chunk of the film takes place in the city).
Interviewed by Fandango about a possible future for the franchise, Diesel said this,
“It’s a really good question. As filmmakers, you want to allow people to enjoy the film without tipping the hat too much. I can say this. Going into making this movie, the studio had asked if this could be a two-parter. And after the studio saw this, part one, they said, could you make ‘Fast X’, the finale, a trilogy?”
Diesel and co-star Michelle Rodriguez wouldn’t be drawn on whether it’ll happen for sure, though Diesel did say, “probably”.
You can see the full video here:
WATCH: On the red carpet in Rome, Italy, did Vin Diesel just confirm that #FastX is the first part of a… trilogy?! Whoa! It all begins in theaters a week from today. Ready, set… go get your tickets! 🚘🎟's —> https://t.co/jO68lUJ5h6pic.twitter.com/2DiJsYkgUz
Of course, even though Diesel has an awful lot of say over developments in the ‘Fast’ world, it’s up to Universal whether this actually happens. But we can certainly see the studio happy to keep its most successful franchise motoring.
Our guess –– and this is purely speculation –– is that executives are waiting to see the box office results of ‘Fast X’ before making any final decision.
Jason Momoa is Dante in ‘Fast X,’ directed by Louis Leterrier.
Directed by Louis Leterrier (who replaced Justin Lin) ‘Fast X’ picks up with Dom and his crew as they look to fend off the pair of big bads — the cyberterrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron) and her mysterious cohort, Dante (Jason Momoa), who, it turns out, has a link to another previous franchise antagonist, the drug kingpin Reyes, played in ‘Fast Five’ by Joaquim de Almeida.
Dante, as the trailers for ‘Fast X’ have already revealed, is the son of Reyes, and has spent the time since ‘Fast Five’ plotting his revenge against Dom and co.
Dom and the usual gang will need help of a new friend, Tess (Brie Larson), who has her own connections to a supporting ‘Fast’ character.
And original franchise star Paul Walker’s daughter Meadow will appear in the film in a cameo to “honor” the legacy of her late father, as she revealed on social media last week.
‘Fast X’, as mentioned, is due in theaters on Friday. The 11th film (with Leterrier returning) has yet to announce a release date but is likely headed our way in 2025.
(L to R) Jason Momoa and Vin Diesel star in ‘Fast X.’ Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures.
‘Fast X’ is produced by Universal Pictures, Original Film, One Race, and Perfect Storm Entertainment. It is set to premiere in theaters on May 19th, 2023.
Currently available on Netflix is the fantasy comedy ‘The School for Good and Evil,’ which is based on the popular novels of the same name by Soman Chainani and was directed by Paul Feig.
The film stars Sophia Anne Caruso as Sophie, a young girl from the village of Gavaldon who wants to be a princess. Sophie’s dreams come true when she and her best friend the cynical Agatha (Sofia Wylie) are selected for The School for Good and Evil, but Sophie’s dream becomes a nightmare when she is admitted to the School of Evil and Agatha is delivered to the School for Good.
Upon arrival, they meet the Dean of the School for Good, Prof. Clarissa Dovey (Kerry Washington), and the Dean of the School for Evil, Lady Leonora Lesso (Charlize Theron), as well as the mysterious School Master (Laurence Fishburne).
Believing a mistake has been made, Sophie and Agatha must now find Sophie’s true love and receive her true love’s kiss in order for her to be accepted at the School for Good, and so Agatha can return to Gavaldon.
Paul Feig may have begun his career as an actor on ‘Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,’ but he has transitioned into an acclaimed writer and director, and one of the most successful filmmakers working today.
Feig has directed such beloved television shows as ‘Freaks and Geeks,’ ‘Arrested Development,’ ‘The Office,’ ’30 Rock,’ and ‘Mad Men.’
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Feig about his work on ‘The School for Good and Evil,’ adapting the source material, his casting process, working with Charlize Theron and Kerry Washington, using practical vs. visual effects, his next project, and the possibility of making more ‘Good and Evil’ movies.
Paul Feig attends the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘The School For Good And Evil’ at Regency Village Theatre on October 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Paul Feig about ‘The School for Good and Evil.’
Moviefone: To begin with, how did you get involved with this project and what excited you about the characters and mythology established in the source material?
Paul Feig: I got sent this from Netflix almost three years ago, and fantasy’s never been top of my list of genres to do. But when I read it, I just so fell in love with this friendship between these two leading characters. I’m always looking for good, three dimensional roles for women. It just really spoke to me and I realized that the fantasy genre was such a great way to explore it, and to challenge it, and to have it ultimately come out on top. So, I was in the minute I read it, I should say.
MF: The film deals with themes such as finding your power and your place in the world, nature versus nurture, and the thin line between good and evil. What were some of the themes of the novel that you really wanted to explore with this movie?
PF: Well, those are all part and parcel with it. I’m very fascinated with the idea of good and evil, and how I think it’s such a simplistic dynamic that we rely on that causes most of our problems. The fact that we’re so divided right now, and it is because we’re going like, “Your side is evil, and our side is good.” I thought this was a really non-preachy, interesting way to deconstruct that so that the message is there, but we’re not hanging a hat on it.
So that really, I do love. Then as far as finding out who you are, that’s a theme I feel like I explored my entire career and will continue to do that. Because I think so many of us just don’t know our place in the world, or don’t feel like we know what our place in the world is and truly who we are. It takes a big event to focus you on that and to be challenged, and then have that challenge make you have a little more clarity. I mean, do we ever fully have clarity? No, probably not. But I think life is a constant movement towards trying to figure that out.
MF: Can you talk about your casting process in general and specifically in terms of this movie?
PF: Yeah, I cast like a fan. I don’t have people in mind, especially when I’m writing something. I tend not to write for anybody because I just explore the characters. But when something comes to me that I haven’t written the first draft of, you start to get ideas and you start to see archetypes in your head of who could play things. Then I just really spend a lot of time being thoughtful, like “Who would be great in these roles?”
It’s been said before, one of the biggest things a director does is cast the movie. Because once you’ve got the right cast, then it makes my job easier in that regard because I know those people are then going to make it great. It’s just up to me to make sure I record them correctly and I give them the right direction to steer them into different places with it. But I also want their creativity from it.
So, it’s really just who’s going to bring the most to these roles? Not just show up and read the lines, but who’s going to add their personality into it? Who’s going to add their creativity to it? So, it’s my favorite part of the process and we work very hard on it when we’re putting it together. The casting is a really long process, but at the same time I always walk out of it going like, “Oh man, I think we got a great cast.”
MF: Can you talk about the friendship between Sophie and Agatha and also casting Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie in those roles?
PF: Yeah, I always amass people in my travels and watching stuff. A friend of mine was an investor in ‘Beetlejuice’ on Broadway. So, I went to see that and saw Sophia Anne Caruso in the lead. This was before I even knew ‘The School for Good and Evil’ existed. I was just like, “Who is that young woman? She’s amazing.” So, I kind of wrote her name down, and said “Okay, remember her, we got to put her in something.”
Then when we started casting though, I didn’t know Sophia Wiley, I hadn’t seen ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’ or anything. But she was just somebody who had sent an audition tape. So, I was watching that and just going, “Who is this young woman? She’s so good.”
But there was a few candidates and I was kind of like, “How do I decide?” I was like, “You know what, let’s have them record the big death scene at the end.” And even my casting director was like, “That’s really a hard thing for somebody to do on their phone.” I was like, “I know, but let’s just see what happens.” Literally, this is every actor’s nightmare.
I was out for a walk, my morning walk, with my phone and my earbuds in and just was like, “Oh, let me watch that audition.” Which is terrible. It’s a really, really terrible way to do it. But she was so good, and I was literally crying as I’m walking. If you can make a director impressed when they’re watching on their phone walking through their neighborhood, that was it. But then what we had to do is, you always kind of end the process of casting a duo by having them do a chemistry read.
Normally what you’ll do is you’ll fly them in or have them come into the office and sit together and do the scene, and you kind of watch how they play off each other. But we were in COVID, so we couldn’t do that. So, we had to do it on Zoom. I had to do a chemistry read between our two leading actors on Zoom. Their chemistry was so strong through the computer, that I was like, “Okay, if they can kill it on Zoom, then when they get together on the movie set, it’s going to be magic.” And it was.
MF: What was it working with iconic actors like Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Michelle Yeoh, and Laurence Fishburne?
PF: I’d worked with Charlize back in 2005 on ‘Arrested Development’ and we’d had a ton of fun together. So, we always stayed in contact of “What do we do together? We got to find something to do.” So, when I read Lady Lesso, I was like, “Okay, this is Charlize, she will just absolutely destroy this role.”
Kerry is somebody who I’ve been dying to work with. I became friendly with her because one of my best friends is Betsy Beers, who’s Shonda Rhimes‘ producing partner. So, I was always like, “You got to introduce me to Kerry.” We met and hit it off. Again, same situation, “What do we do together? We got to find something.” It was when I saw her on ‘Saturday Night Live’ when she hosted that time, I was like, “Oh my God, Kerry’s really funny.” So, I was just like, there’s no other Professor Dovey that I want than Kerry Washington.
Then Michelle Yeoh and I had worked together on ‘Last Christmas,’ and she’s one of my closest friends. I was just like, “Would you come in and do this? It’s not a giant part, but it’s a really fun part.” She’s like, “Of course.” She came in and quarantined for 10 days in Belfast. I was like, oh my God, that’s a real friend that will come in and do that, especially when you’re about to win an Oscar, which I’m sure she’s going to, if there’s any justice in the world.
Then Laurence Fishburne I’d never worked with before, but I was always a fan and he’s just delightful. Absolutely a delightful person. So, that was great. Then Cate Blanchett, who I’ve kind of had the same thing with. We had lunched a few years ago and we’re always trying to figure out something to do, and when we had this, I was like, “Oh Cate, would you want to play the voice of a pen?” And she’s like, “Sure.” I said, “Okay, cool.”
MF: Obviously you’ve used visual effects before in movies like ‘Ghostbusters,’ but can you talk about using VFX versus practical effects in a fantasy film like this?
PF: Well, I love it. It’s really fun, but my goal is always to make sure we do as much as we can in camera, practical. Even if it’s something that then we’re going to augment with CG. But I just never want my cast acting against tennis balls in front of a green screen. So, it’s really important to me to build these sets. Those sets are all real. I mean we built those giant sets, all the interiors of the school, that’s ours.
We did a little bit of green screen on some of the outdoor work, but even when they’re in the forest, the blue forest, that looks like CG, but that is a real place. I’m telling you. We added some of the blue smoke, but otherwise it’s this place called Big Dog Forest, which is outside of Belfast. It’s about two hours outside and is one of the hardest locations to get into. It’s just in the middle of nowhere. I’ve never seen something that looked like this in a movie. So, we slept out there and worked in the rain for several days.
But our wolf guards are real, those are guys in animatronic suits. Even when we’re doing things that are full CG, like Hester’s demon that comes out of her tattoo, we built these big green screen puppets and we had this puppeteer named Mikey who would then put on a green suit and he would fly around, run around and actually act out the thing with the actors. So, the actors are interacting with it. Then we just replace it with CG. But again, it’s not a tennis ball, they’re actually getting to act and I’m getting to see how I’m going to shoot it because I know what’s in the frame.
MF: Finally, you have both a sequel to ‘A Simple Favor’ and ‘Spy’ recently announced, which movie do you think will be your next project?
PF: Well, we’re figuring that out right now, to be honest. There’re about three different projects that are kind of in contention to go next. I’m just trying to figure out which one I want to do. Scheduling wise, Hollywood is a rough business. Just trying to get everybody’s schedules together is literally impossible.
So, one of those, but then hopefully another one of these, if we continue doing as well as we are on the platform so far, we’d love to make more. I mean, there’s six plus books in the series, so there’s a lot more to explore in ‘The School for Good and Evil.’
MF: Do you have a dream project? A movie that you are dying to get made?
PF: Well yeah, I’ve got a few. I don’t know if they’ll ever get made. I got my monster movie over at Universal, ‘Dark Army’ that I love. Whether it’ll get made, I don’t know. But that, and I’m dying to do a musical. I don’t even know what it is. We’ve been trying to develop an original musical for a while, we still aren’t happy with what we have, but at the same time, that would be fun.
I just want to work my way through all the genres. I think that’d be really fun. One of my heroes is Howard Hawks, who went from screwball comedies to a gangster movie, to a Western, just so effortlessly. That’s fun, I want to live in that world.
(L to R) Jeff Kirschenbaum, Soman Chainani, Kit Young, Charlize Theron, Jamie Flatters, Laurence Fishburne, Patti LuPone, Sofia Wylie, Paul Feig, Sophia Anne Caruso, Kerry Washington, Michelle Yeoh, Laura Fischer, Kane Lee, and Jane Startz attend the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘The School For Good And Evil’ at Regency Village Theatre on October 18, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix.
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Adapted from Soman Chainani’s best-selling book series, our story starts in the village of Gavaldon, where two misfits and best friends, Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso) and Agatha (Sofia Wylie), share the unlikeliest of bonds. Sophie, a lover of fairy tales, dreams of escaping her ordinary village life, while Agatha, with her grim aesthetic, has the makings of a real witch. Then one night under a blood red moon, a powerful force sweeps them away to the School for Good and Evil — where the true story of every great fairy tale begins.
Yet something is amiss from the start: Sophie is dropped into the School for Evil, run by the glamorous and acid-tongued Lady Lesso (Theron), and Agatha in the School for Good, overseen by the sunny and kind Professor Dovey (Washington).
As if navigating classes with the offspring of Cinderella, Captain Hook, and the dashing son of King Arthur (Jamie Flatters) wasn’t hard enough, according to the Schoolmaster (Laurence Fishburne), only true love’s kiss can change the rules and send the girls to their rightful school. But when a dark and dangerous figure (Kit Young) with mysterious ties to Sophie reemerges and threatens to destroy the school and the rulebook entirely — the only way to a happy ending is to survive the fairytale first…
As the new, full trailer suggests, Sophie is all too ready to embrace her bad side, while Agatha will have to fight to save her.
They’ll have help from the likes of Yeoh as Professor Anemone, who teaches beautification at the School for Good. From the looks of the trailer, she’s got a nice line in zingers to go with her powers.
There’s plenty of subversive fantasy action to be found here, which will hopefully lift this above the many movies that have come along in the wake of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise, many of which wouldn’t even make the grade at Hogwarts.
And given the presence of Feig (who wrote the script with David Magee) behind the camera, there’s plenty of scope for this to have a decent vein of humor running through it.
