Luke Evans as Gaston in 2017’s ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Photo: Disney.
Preview:
Disney is developing a Gaston movie.
The character was last seen in the live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast.’
Dave Callaham will write the script.
No-one spins off like Gaston?
If Disney has its way, the boastful, buffoonish character from ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will be getting his own movie.
Last seen in 2017 live-action take on the fairy tale, there played by Luke Evans, the character is now the focus of development on a new film.
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While the success of that movie –– which also starred Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Josh Gad –– spurred development of a potential spin-off TV series starring Evans and Gad (who was his loyal sidekick LeFou), that didn’t come to pass. But according to Deadline, the studio is energized by the new concept (more on that in a moment).
Gaston (Richard White) in 1991’s animated ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Photo: Disney.
Gaston first appeared in Disney’s original 1991 animated classic (there voiced by Richard White) as an arrogant and ruthless hunter who had unrequited feelings for the main protagonist, the beauty Belle, and ultimately becomes the main adversary of The Beast.
That said, Deadline’s sources have heard that it’ll be a new and original take on the character with a new actor, and that the film will have “swashbuckling” tones to it.
Evans was a great Gaston in the 2017 effort, so whoever takes over the character’s smug mantle will have some big boots to fill. And might the movie go the ‘Cruella’ route and chart where his attitude came from?
When will the Gaston movie be in theaters?
Gaston (Richard White) in 1991’s animated ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Photo: Disney.
With no director aboard yet and zero casting, don’t expect to see this one on screens just yet. Disney has also to yet to officially announce the movie either.
Matthew Modine will be part of the cast for the ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ sequel.
His character is a mystery for now.
Grant Sputore is in the director’s chair.
As Legendary and Warner Bros. look to keep the Monsterverse marching onwards, the latest movie in the ever-expanding creature feature franchise is stomping towards production on its latest installment, with cameras ready to roll in Australia starting next month.
Just last month, we learned that Dan Stevens would be returning to play Trapper, the cocky, Hawaiian shirt-sporting vet who helps treat King Kong when the giant beast is injured.
Now, per Deadline, Matthew Modine is also joining the new movie, playing a character whose motivations are a mystery.
Could he be a wrong ‘un, like Modine’s last big genre effort, ‘Stranger Things,’ where he played a nefarious scientist? Or possibly a benevolent type who just wants to help the other human characters from becoming monster-bait.
If we’re honest, we could picture the actor as a shady higher-up within the Monarch organization that monitors monster developments.
The movie followed up the explosive showdown of ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat of a monstrous white ape hidden within our world, challenging their very existence –– and our own.
It delved further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
The new, untitled effort is still mostly being kept under wraps, but according to the first official details, it’ll follow “several new human characters alongside the beloved and iconic Titans Godzilla and Kong as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat.”
Yep, apparently, there are still some giant threats lurking out there; so the big ape and the giant lizard will have to spring into action once again. At least Kong will know his teeth will be taken care of…
And back in January, Deadline reported that the movie saw its first piece of casting as Kaitlyn Dever locked in a deal to star.
Best known for her roles in TV limited series ‘Dopesick’ and the 2019 movie ‘Booksmart,’ Dever will next star in the Netflix limited series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar,’ and will also show up in the second season of HBO’s ‘The Last of Us.’
Details on her character are also, like much of the movie, a mystery, though apparently it represents a renewed push to add in solid characters, which has been a common complaint of especially some of the more recent Monsterverse efforts.
Modine is a veteran actor who certainly scored a new generation of fans thanks to ‘Stranger Things’ but he’s probably still best known for his role as Private Joker in Stanley Kubrick’s Vietnam War epic ‘Full Metal Jacket.’
On TV, in addition to ‘Stranger Things,’ he’s popped up in ‘The West Wing,’ ‘Weeds,’ ‘Proof’ and, most recently, he was seen opposite Robert De Niro in Netflix thriller series ‘Zero Day.’
What has happened with the Monsterverse so far?
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
Already around for a decade, Legendary’s Monsterverse follows humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality –– the monsters of our myths and legends are real.
The Monsterverse has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the global box office and has expanded onto smaller screens via ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a second season.
When will the new Monsterverse movie be on screens?
The movie is currently scheduled for release on March 26th, 2027. So if you hear rumbling around that time, chances are it’s because some massive monster is headed to your local cinema.
Premiering on Netflix on February 20th, ‘Zero Day’ ponders how America might react to a catastrophic cyber-attack on its services, transport and technology, with the lingering threat of another.
Big questions are asked, as they always are, about how personal freedom could be compromised in the search for safety, and how much the country’s elected leaders must answer to the general public for their actions in times of crisis and beyond.
Beyond a TV movie about Bernie Madoff and a quirky, little-seen Italian comedy series from a couple of years ago, Robert De Niro’s primary contributions to TV have been as an executive producer on a handful of shows.
But we live in an age when actors of any stature are lured by prestige small screen productions (and we’re sure the healthy paycheck from Netflix’s deep pockets didn’t hurt). Here, the man who made his name playing angry young men and his since transitioned to acting as compromised authority figures or senior mob figures, takes on a timely and careworn role as a former politician forced into an impossible situation.
Boasting Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim and Michael S. Schmidt as its co-creators and executive producers, you knew the shows wasn’t completely going to be a first-base exploration of the issues surrounding presidential (or in this case former presidential) power and the sacrifices in morals and ethics that are made in the name of patriotism and safety.
With the space to breathe that a limited series provides in place of a movie, there is the chance to explore more about the central figure especially, and De Niro’s Mullen is a complicated man, a decorated veteran and (mostly) beloved former President who resigned after the death of his son –– but if you thought that was all there was to it, you’ve clearly never seen a movie or show such as this before.
And yet if we’re honest, this show is more about the driving plot that truly deep characterizations. We learn some about other players on the show (including Mullen’s wife and bitter politico daughter), but for the most part it’s getting us to the next revelation. Which is also a key element of these sorts of stories.
It’s smartly told, though at least one “surprise” was something you’ll see coming from several miles away, not least because of the casting. And the actual plot line, about a one-minute-long attack on vital services that has echoes of 9/11, is perfunctory, but works well enough.
‘Homeland’ veteran Lesli Linka Glatter, meanwhile, is show’s only director and also executive producer and brings a sense of steel and weight to the proceedings.
Netflix certainly gave the team the budget to make this one look slick, though if you’re after pulse-pounding action, that’ s again not really what the show is about. There are a few set pieces, but the driving force here is people in offices talking about the next step or accusing each other of cover-ups/betrayals.
If you’ve got Robert De Niro agreeing to star in your limited series, of course you’re going to give him something meaty to chew on. President Mullen here is a layered character, a man who tried to do the right thing in office, but here finds himself much more compromised given the shifting political tones of the day.
And he’s also someone who is starting to suffer the maladies of his age –– while he’s concerned about someone using a secretive weapon against him that is disrupting his mind, the series is smart enough to keep us guessing as to whether it’s just someone whose faculties are going.
Around De Niro we have Joan Allen as his wife, Sheila, who mostly has the steadfast role to play in his life, but does have some shades of her own, including the fact that she’s running for a supreme court role. Then there’s Alexandra Mullen (Lizzy Caplan), who has a troubled relationship with her father, especially since he tried to stop her going into politics herself (she’s a congressional representative these days). Caplan is good in the role, though her character is written in somewhat predictable fashion.
Then we have the fixer characters, particularly Connie Britton as Valerie Whitesell (who once served in the White House) and Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons), who is close to Mullen but also has dodgy business connections. They’re both excellent in their roles, calculated and charming in equal measure.
Angela Bassett, meanwhile, is President Evelyn Mitchell, the current head of state, but though she has a couple of decent scenes (which Bassett naturally knocks out of the park), it’s not much of a role.
Finally, there is ambitious Speaker of the House Richard Dreyer, played by Matthew Modine. No fan of Mullen’s, he’s pushing for further action to be taken and has his own agenda.
Released at a time when the federal government is not, shall we say operating at peak efficiency (despite what the people in charge might say), ‘Zero Day’ feels like an eerily prescient peek into what could happen (though we don’t see Joe Biden stepping up to run an investigative commission if it did) and a decently diverting thriller series that has its share of genre tropes but doesn’t lean too heavily into them.
As Robert De Niro’s first big American TV series (well, miniseries), it’s not always worthy of his presence, but it works when it needs to.
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What’s the plot of ‘Zero Day’?
Robert De Niro stars as respected former U.S. President George Mullen, who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber-attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.
As disinformation runs rampant and the personal ambition of power brokers in technology, Wall Street, and government collide, Mullen’s unwavering search for the truth forces him to confront his own dark secrets while risking all he holds dear.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Joan Allen about her work on ‘Zero Day’, his first reaction to the project, her character’s relationship with her husband, working with Robert De Niro and the rest of the cast, and the importance of having one director for the entire series.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Allen, Matthew Modine, director by Lesli Linka Glatter, and showrunners Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction to this project and the opportunity to play this character?
Joan Allen: I thought the writing was terrific and that Robert De Niro was playing the main character, who I had admired so much for all my years as an actor. It was very exciting, and I loved our wonderful director, Lesli Glatter. When I met and spoke with her, she was incredibly inspiring and I was like, “I want to work with that lady.”
MF: Can you talk about George and Sheila’s marriage and how she supports him throughout the series?
JA: They are a team and Lesli emphasized that, and I really liked that as we were playing the scenes. He trusts her as maybe his most trusted confidant and adviser. I think she believes she’s not afraid to share her opinions with him. She also respects and admires him and believed in his presidency and the policies that he put forth. So, I think they’re a team and I would say not even that she supports him, they support each other. They work together is what it felt like and it’s a great relationship.
MF: What is Robert De Niro like to have as a scene partner?
JA: He’s just the best. I mean, there were wonderful actors in the entire series and he’s just incredibly generous, open, giving, and very obviously incredibly smart in terms of what the scene is about and he’s just a wonderful collaborator. It was just a joy to be with him every day.
MF: The series features an extraordinary cast of actors. What was it like for you to work with this ensemble?
JA: I just was so happy every day. I was so happy to come to work. They are lovely, wonderful actors, terrific human beings and great people. We just had had a fantastic time working. It was just a joy. They were all such fine actors, and I was glad to be to be working with them. I was very grateful.
MF: Finally, what was it like working with director Lesli Linka Glatter and was it helpful to have the same person directing the entire series?
JA: It was very grounding for me, very grounding and made me feel extremely safe because it was cohesive. So, you’re not going back and forth and dealing with talking with showrunners, et cetera. It’s like, there’s an anchor. She’s always going to be there. She’s incredibly prepared, knowledgeable, and on her game. It’s great to go to work knowing my director is there and you build a communication. It builds as you spend more time together and knowing that she was going to be there for the whole duration, made an enormous difference to me.
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What’s the plot of ‘Zero Day’?
Robert De Niro stars as respected former U.S. President George Mullen, who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber-attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.
As disinformation runs rampant and the personal ambition of power brokers in technology, Wall Street, and government collide, Mullen’s unwavering search for the truth forces him to confront his own dark secrets while risking all he holds dear.
Dan Stevens is returning for a new Monsterverse movie.
He played Kong dentist Trapper in ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’
Grant Sputore is in the director’s chair this time.
Emboldened by the success of last year’s ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ (it earned more than $571 million at the worldwide box office), Legendary is full speed ahead expanding its “Monsterverse” cinematic universe revolving around the likes of Godzilla, King Kong and others (Gamera is still waiting for his spotlight. Justice for Gamera!)
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The next movie doesn’t yet have an announced title, but it’ll continue the story introduced in that film and there will be at least one human character continuing over.
Trapper, you may recall, was introduced wearing a loose Hawaiian shirt over a t-shirt, in ‘Godzilla x Kong’ doing dangerous dental work on Kong and replacing the big ape’s infected tooth.
This laidback veterinarian soon ends up joining the other characters on an expedition into Hollow Earth, an area that is the home to gigantic and monstrous creatures.
Stevens, of course, was brought aboard by his occasional collaborator, director Adam Wingard. Since handling the last two movies, though, Wingard has chosen not to return for this one.
Instead, Grant Sputore is in the director’s chair.
The movie followed up the explosive showdown of ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat of a monstrous white ape hidden within our world, challenging their very existence –– and our own.
It delved further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond, while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
The new, untitled effort is still mostly being kept under wraps, but according to the first official details, it’ll follow “several new human characters alongside the beloved and iconic Titans Godzilla and Kong as they face off against a cataclysmic world-ending threat.”
Yep, apparently, there are still some giant threats lurking out there; so the big ape and the giant lizard will have to spring into action once again. At least Kong will know his teeth will be taken care of…
And last week, Deadline reported that the movie saw its first piece of casting as Kaitlyn Dever locked in a deal to star.
Best known for her roles in TV limited series ‘Dopesick’ and the 2019 movie ‘Booksmart,’ Dever will next star in the Netflix limited series ‘Apple Cider Vinegar,’ and will also show up in the second season of HBO’s ‘The Last of Us.’
Details on her character are also, like much of the movie, a mystery, though apparently it represents a renewed push to add in solid characters, which has been a common complaint of especially some of the more recent Monsterverse efforts.
Where else have I seen Dan Stevens?
Dan Stevens in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
The British actor rose to fame on UK TV series ‘Downton Abbey,’ but since then has forged a healthy movie career for himself.
Coming up, he has horror movie ‘The Ritual,’ ‘Swiped,’ which tells the story of Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, and action horror thriller ‘Onslaught,’ re-uniting him with Wingard.
There will also be the small screen likes of ‘The Terror’ and Robert De Niro-starring limited series ‘Zero Day.’
What has happened with the Monsterverse so far?
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,’ coming soon to Apple TV+.
Already around for a decade, Legendary’s Monsterverse follows humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality –– the monsters of our myths and legends are real.
It all kicked off with ‘Godzilla’ in 2014 and continued through 2017’s ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ 2019’s ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters,’ 2021’s ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ and last year’s record-breaking ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.’
The Monsterverse has grossed more than $2.5 billion at the global box office and has expanded onto smaller screens via ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ for Apple TV+, which has been renewed for a second season.
When will the new Monsterverse movie be on screens?
The movie is currently scheduled for release on March 26th, 2027. Plenty of time to get to the shelters for when the next round of creature madness stomps across cities.
The first pictures of Robert De Niro in ‘Zero Day’ have arrived.
He’s playing a former President who must investigate a cyber-attack.
Eric Newman and Noah Oppenheim created the show, with Lesli Linka Glatter directing.
While movie icon Robert De Niro has certainly guested on his fair share of TV series (‘30 Rock,’ ‘Extras’) and more recently had a bigger role in Argentinian miniseries ‘Nada,’ he’s better known for producing a variety of shows.
But with ‘Zero Day,’ a new Netflix thriller series, he’s stepping up to star in his first Stateside show, agreeing to both lead and serve as an executive producer on the show.
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Created by Eric Newman (who has produced a metric ton of movies and shows and worked on the likes of ‘Griselda’ and the ‘Narcos’ series for Netflix), Noah Oppenheim (who swapped a career in TV news to work on shows and movies) and Pulitzer Prize winner Michael S. Schmidt, it tracks the aftermath of a devastating attack on the United States, and the man leading the investigation into what was really behind it.
Here’s what Newman told Netflix’s Tudum sight about the collaboration with the acting legend that is De Niro:
“As a lifelong fan of American cinema, no actor looms larger for me than Robert De Niro. To have him as a producing partner and star in this show is beyond our wildest dreams. I’m grateful to Netflix for their continued faith and support and thrilled to be in business with the amazing creative team of Noah, Lesli, and Jonathan [Glickman] on this timely (and terrifying) series.”
The new series follows respected former U.S. President George Mullen (De Niro), who, as head of the Zero Day Commission, is charged with finding the perpetrators of a devastating cyber-attack that has caused chaos around the country and thousands of fatalities.
As disinformation runs rampant and the personal ambition of power brokers in technology, Wall Street, and government collide, Mullen’s unwavering search for the truth forces him to confront his own dark secrets while risking all he holds dear.
Lest you think he’s just picking up a paycheck on this one, De Niro was, according to Newman, truly involved:
“De Niro very much became our partner in this process — very hands-on, very involved, read everything at every stage, and it’s been an incredible honor and privilege. You can count on one hand the actors and actresses in history who bring this level of gravitas, pedigree, and talent to their work.”
Angela Bassett is President Evelyn Mitchell, the current president of the United States. Mitchell is a brilliant and perceptive political tactician who hires Mullen to take on an unprecedented role in American history.
Jesse Plemons is Roger Carlson, George Mullen’s former aide. Roger is now a trusted fixer and an unabashed hustler who’s seeking a return to the national stage alongside Mullen.
Lizzy Caplan is Alexandra Mullen, a young congresswoman from New York who’s worked hard to distance herself from her father’s political legacy and establish herself in her own right.
Connie Britton is Valerie Whitesell, a savvy, intelligent political operative and Mullen’s former chief of staff who returns to public life to oversee Mullen’s new role back in the spotlight.
Joan Allen is Sheila Mullen, former first lady and nominee to the federal bench. Elegant and always poised, Sheila is a supportive and present wife and mother with strong professional ambitions of her own — and she’s nobody’s fool.
Matthew Modine is Richard Dreyer, a confident, colorful public figure. As the speaker of the house, he’s an adept politician.
Bill Camp is CIA Director Jeremy Lasch, the ultimate insider who seems to know everyone’s secret. He can either be a dangerous enemy or a valuable friend to Mullen and everyone in his circle.
Dan Stevens is Evan Green, the charismatic, calculating, and divisive host of a wildly popular political TV show who becomes a thorn in George Mullen’s side as his loudest critic and chief public antagonist.
Gaby Hoffmann is Monica Kidder, a controversial Silicon Valley billionaire whose brilliant vision and technological domination has the power to help or hinder Mullen’s investigation.
Clark Gregg is Robert Lyndon, a corporate raider, provocateur, and billionaire who has mastered the dark arts of political manipulation.
Mark Ivanir is Natan, an intelligence operative and Mullen confidant from an era when intelligence — and trust — still mattered.
When will ‘Zero Day’ be on screens?
Netflix will launch all six hour-long episodes of the show on February 20th next year.
Related Article: Director Tilman Singer Talks ‘Cuckoo’ and Working with Hunter Schafer
Initial Thoughts
Hunter Schafer in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
German filmmaker Tilman Singer made a splash a few years back on the festival circuit with his horror feature debut, ‘Luz,’ and now he’s returned with a second entry in what could shape up to be one of the more loopy, esoteric filmographies in the genre if he sticks with it. ‘Cuckoo’ starts off on a weird note and gets even stranger from there, finding a nice balance between a serious sense of dread and an underlying tone of camp for most of its running time.
It begins to run into problems in its third act, and while we shy away from movies over-explaining everything, ‘Cuckoo’ could use a bit more clarity down the homestretch. But it’s still a satisfying watch in many ways, thanks especially to excellent work from Hunter Schafer and the magnificent Dan Stevens.
Story and Direction
‘Cuckoo’ director Tilman Singer.
Hunter Schafer (best known for her main role on ‘Euphoria’ but also recently showing up in ‘Kinds of Kindness’) plays Gretchen, a 17-year-old girl who is mourning the death of her mother. She’s forced to accompany her father (Martin Csokas), his wife (Jessica Henwick), and their mute young daughter Alma (Mila Lieu) to the Bavarian Alps, where her architect father has been hired to redesign a resort owned by Herr König (Dan Stevens).
The Alps are beautiful, mysterious and vast, the aging, nearly empty resort broods on the side of a mountain, and Herr König himself is a ready-made mix of slippery charm and underlying menace who offers Gretchen a job at the hotel’s front desk. Grieving, angry, and bored (she also plays bass in a rock band that she’s been obliged to leave behind), Gretchen takes the gig – and immediately strange things start to happen.
A woman wanders into the lobby in a sort of trance and begins to vomit, Alma herself has some kind of seizure that seems to actually cause time itself to glitch (a callback to an enigmatic scene that opens the film involving a different character), and worst of all, Gretchen is attacked one night while riding her bike by a woman in a hood with glowing eyes who emits a piercing, animalistic shriek. Herr König seems to both dismiss what’s happening while knowing full well what’s going on, and Gretchen’s one attempt to escape – with a young hotel guest (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) who takes a shine to her – ends in a serious car accident that puts the teen in the hospital.
(L to R) Greta Fernández and Hunter Schafer in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
Up to this point, ‘Cuckoo’ has been building up a steady underlying sense of weird, queasy malevolence, thanks to the atmospheric setting, Singer’s use of silence and darkness, and the growing feeling that Gretchen is trapped in some of kind of waking nightmare where logic doesn’t quite apply. The late involvement of a former cop named Henry (Jan Bluthardt) who’s investigating his wife’s death points to the mystery eventually getting uncovered – which only partially happens.
While the film’s third act is more action-oriented – as the injured Gretchen teams with Henry and moves to rescue a character she had previously shown little concern for – the explanation for what is happening at the hotel, the area around it, and a nearby medical lab in which Herr König is also involved remains frustratingly opaque. Without spoiling anything, it does tie into the bird of the film’s title, but in a way that’s still maddeningly unclear. As we said earlier, films don’t have to clarify everything; in fact, when it comes to horror, the lack of a clear rationale for the events of the story or the menace behind them often makes the narrative more terrifying.
But Singer keeps the full contingent of secrets in ‘Cuckoo’ just out of reach, which doesn’t work as well once the film switches from atmospheric slow burn to wild-and-reckless homestretch. The movie accumulates an accelerating stream of bizarre moments on top of what we’ve already seen, yet none of it comes together in a way that quite makes sense. The result is still a fun, creepy ride, but lacks a satisfying resolution.
The Cast
Hunter Schafer in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
Not having seen ‘Euphoria,’ we can only go on our recent experiences with Hunter Schafer on the big screen, and ‘Cuckoo’ shows her to be a confident, fearless actor with lots of presence and emotional weight. Gretchen surfs a full range of reactions and feelings here, from grief to loneliness to rebelliousness to terror, and Schafer pulls them all off while keeping the character grounded, intelligent, and empathetic. It’s an impressive lead performance that bodes well for Schafer’s future beyond her breakout work on ‘Euphoria.’
Opposite her is the great Dan Stevens, who is having a hell of a year between this, ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,’ and ‘Abigail.’ A resourceful, wide-ranging, and chameleonic actor, Stevens plays Herr König with a nice mix of low-key authority and gleeful malevolence, gradually making the performance bigger as the story goes off in stranger directions. Like Schafer, he is (and has been for a while) a compelling presence onscreen, and he’s uniquely suited to playing charming villains with outrageous accents. Although he’s hampered in some ways by the way his character (poorly, it must be said) explains what’s happening in his pastoral little kingdom, Stevens continues to deliver in what has become one of the most formidable under-the-radar acting resumes around.
The rest of the cast is small and relatively unknown, but our only disappointment is that Jessica Henwick – so terrific in ‘Iron Fist,’ ‘The Matrix Resurrections,’ ‘Glass Onion,’ and ‘The Royal Hotel’ – gets underused here as Gretchen’s stepmother Beth.
Final Thoughts
Dan Stevens in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
‘Cuckoo’ takes its cues from ‘70s and ‘80s horror cinema, particularly indie and/or European efforts like David Cronenberg’s ‘The Brood’ (big Cronenberg energy here, in fact), Dario Argento’s ‘Phenomena,’ Nicolas Roeg’s ‘Don’t Look Now,’ and Jorge Grau’s ‘Let Sleeping Corpses Lie.’ All those films operate in a territory that veers back and forth between realism and nightmare, an aesthetic that Tilman Singer is clearly influenced by and successfully channels.
That atmosphere can only take you so far, however, and Singer’s build-up of surreal story beats, genuinely unnerving imagery (as in the scene where Gretchen is chased on her bike) and thick atmosphere leads to a climax that is more perplexing than transcendent, with a wobblier grasp of the film’s brew of terror and camp. That may be where he wants his strange bird of a movie to ultimately land, but as a result ‘Cuckoo’ doesn’t quite sustain the horror heights that it aims for.
‘Cuckoo’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘Cuckoo’?
After reluctantly moving to the German Alps with her father (Marton Csokas) and his new family, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) discovers that their new town hides sinister secrets, as she’s plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Tilman Singer about his work on ‘Cuckoo’, developing the screenplay, the themes he wanted to explore, the visual effects, and working with Hunter Schafer.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
‘Cuckoo’ director Tilman Singer.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about developing the screenplay and the themes you wanted to explore as a director?
Tilman Singer: I mean, the idea grew out of a mood that I had at the time. I finished up the movie I shot before called ‘Luz’. I wasn’t in a good space at that time. I thought nobody’s going to watch that movie that we were making then. So, I had this kind of grim mood. I watched a documentary about the cuckoo bird and how they breed and that they put their eggs into the nests of other bird species. I couldn’t let go for quite a while. Then I started thinking about the themes, very abstractly. But I knew there’s something about family, about a circle, about a generational circle. It may be a violent one or one of love, but that’s what slowly evolved while thinking about my characters.
Dan Stevens in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
MF: Can you talk about the time looping effect you used in the film and how you executed that?
TS: I mean, we shot scenes basically a couple of times with different levels of distress for the characters. So, we basically shot things repeatedly, but with a higher stress level and with more sweat on them and stuff like this. Then of course it’s an edit thing. Along with that came an idea for an effect that our cinematographer, Paul Faltz, said he wanted to shoot through a mirror and have that mirror shake on two axes, so you get a parallax view. So, the camera can look behind the actor so it’s not only shaking the screen. We couldn’t pull that off for every scene. We didn’t have the time for it. So then later we tasked an effect artist to recreate that. They got the plan from Paul, from the cinematographer, who took a mirror, one of those lighting mirrors, put two or three electrical drills on it that were sort of vibrating the mirror like this. Then when he drew them a sketch of this, they were like, “Oh, okay. We get it. We know what you did.” Then they could recreate it and we could use it for the scenes where we didn’t have it.
Hunter Schafer in ‘Cuckoo’. Photo: Neon.
MF: Finally, can you talk about working with Hunter Schafer and what Hunter brings to a role like this?
TS: Well, what Hunter brought to the role was, first herself, the way she connected to the role, to the movie, it was immediately clear that we were thinking and speaking about the same thing, and had this beautiful understanding, which it’s hard to get and you can’t really talk about it, because it’s kind of abstract. It’s kind of based on emotions and feeling or whatever you want to call it. So, she had that, which was most importantly to begin with. But then I saw her tape back then. I couldn’t go to Los Angeles to meet people because it was COVID times, and they shut down the borders. So, we had to rely on tapes, which kind of sucks, especially for the actors. It’s not a thankful thing to record yourself. But the way Hunter was able, even in this situation, to tap into something, an emotional bubble or pool or whatever you want to call it, within herself, in a relaxed but not casual way, was an extremely impressive talent that she has and that I could immediately see. I could see how she’s emotionally, mentally connected to the script. Sure enough, when she showed up on set, we shot some easy things before, like in the first day, as you do, everybody gets to know each other. But then she had to do difficult, heavy lifting, emotion scene, I think day two or three. That’s when I knew, “Oh, this is not only going to go great, but also be really special, what she’s bringing.” Sure enough, she is the movie. She is the story. Her character, her presence is that.
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What is the plot of ‘Cuckoo’?
After reluctantly moving to the German Alps with her father (Marton Csokas) and his new family, Gretchen (Hunter Schafer) discovers that their new town hides sinister secrets, as she’s plagued by strange noises and frightening visions of a woman pursuing her.
Explore the depth of Hollow Earth as Kong finds his family when he uncovers an unbelievable threat to mankind – the Skar King. Kong and Godzilla team up in this next installment in the Monsterverse, helmed once again by Adam Wingard (‘Godzilla vs Kong’).
The film premiered at the Grauman’s Chinese Theater on March 25, 2024, and arrived in theaters on March 29. The movie received mixed reviews, with a 53% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics and a 91% from the audience it has grossed over $196.3 million domestically and over $567.6 worldwide, making ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ the highest-grossing movie in the Monsterverse franchise. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes.
Missed it in theaters? Don’t worry. The movie is now available for rent or purchase on digital for $19.99 and $24.99, respectively, on platforms such as Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube, Vudu, and more. If you’re looking for a deal, it is currently on sale for $5.99 for rental or $12.99 for purchase. There’s no telling how long this deal of a titan proportion will last, so take advantage of it while you can. Subscribed to Max? The title is available to stream on the platform as of July 4, 2024, so you can enjoy all the action from home.
After directing two films in the MonsterVerse, Adam Wingard has departed the franchise due to scheduling conflicts. However, the studio already has the next film in motion. The next installment is scheduled for release on March 26, 2027 with a new director – Grant Sputore, at the helm. The sequel could see the returns of characters such as Rebecca Hall’s Dr. Ilene Andrews, Kaylee Hottle’s Jia, Brian Tyree Henry’s Brnie Hayes, and potentially Dan Stevens’ Trapper.
For physical media lovers, the monster action flick is now available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K UHD, and will include featurettes such as an in depth look at Hollow Earth and the Monsters of Hollow Earth, behind-the-scenes look at some of the film’s most epic scenes, and a commentary track featuring director Adam Wingard, visual effects supervisor Alessandro Ongaro, production designer Tom Hammock, and editor Josh Schaeffer.
For fans of the Monsterverse, a new five-film collection celebrating the 10th anniversary will be available, including 4K UHD copies of ‘Godzilla,’ ‘Kong: Skull Island,’ ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters,’ ‘Godzilla vs. Kong,’ and ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’.
Watch the official trailer for ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’ is below:
This latest entry in the Monsterverse franchise follows up the explosive showdown of Godzilla vs. Kong with an all-new cinematic adventure, pitting the almighty Kong and the fearsome Godzilla against a colossal undiscovered threat hidden within our world, challenging their very existence – and our own. The epic new film will delve further into the histories of these Titans, their origins, and the mysteries of Skull Island and beyond while uncovering the mythic battle that helped forge these extraordinary beings and tied them to humankind forever.
Who’s In the Cast of ‘Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire’
(Left) Al Pacino at the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. (Right) Dan Stevens in 2014’s ‘The Guest.’
Preview:
Al Pacino and Dan Stevens are starring in ‘The Ritual’.
David Midell co-wrote the script and will direct.
It’s a based-on-truth story of possession and exorcism.
If you were to go to the IMDb and enter the title ‘The Ritual’, you’ll find yourself confronted with a boatload of movies and shorts using that name. And that’s not even including the ones that add extra words such as ‘The Ritual Killer’.
So we think it’s high time there was a moratorium on using the title, say for around 100 years from now, to force filmmakers to come up with more original names for their work –– even if, as in the case of director David Midell’s new movie –– it does hinge on rituals.
With its grounding in a true story, the movie follows two priests — one questioning his faith (Stevens) and one reckoning with a troubled past (Pacino) — who must put aside their differences to save a possessed young woman through a difficult and dangerous series of exorcisms.
The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms. Her case remains the most thoroughly documented exorcism in American history.
It’s certainly one that has potential –– after all, we’ve seen successful horror movies drawn from true life cases (or loosely based on them) including the likes of ‘The Exorcism of Emily Rose’, last year’s Russell Crowe pic ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ and, of course, even ‘The Exorcist’, which has its roots in reality.
Who else is in ‘The Ritual’?
Ashley Greene and Abigail Cowen are also in the cast for this one, but we’d expect that to expand as the movie gets going.
Who is making ‘The Ritual’?
Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett’s ‘Abigail’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Midell, who previously directed movies such as ‘NightLights’ and ‘The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain’, wrote the new movie with his creative partner Enrico Natale.
And Stevens is no stranger to horror movies –– his latest, ‘Abigail’, is in theaters right now, and he has ‘Cuckoo’ coming up later this year. As for Pacino, his most famous horror-inflected movie may well be ‘The Devil’s Advocate’, in which he played John Milton, who turns out to be… well, the title is a clue. We would also throw in his performance as a version of himself rapping about coffee in ‘Jack and Jill’. That’s pretty terrifying.
When will ‘The Ritual’ be in theaters?
As of yet, the movie, which will be distributed worldwide by XYZ Films, doesn’t yet have a set date, but the company is planning to release it next year.
Oscar® nominee, Al Pacino arrives on the red carpet of The 92nd Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 9, 2020.
