(Left) Sophie Turner in ‘Another Me.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox. (Right) Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.
Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.
The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.
That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but though there had been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench‘s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.
Amazon, of course, bought MGM, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.
With the rights firmly in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot but is currently focused on a TV series (unrelated to the one already on Netflix).
Who is who in the new ‘Tomb Raider’ TV series?
Jason Isaacs in ‘Words of War’. Photo: Decal.
Martin Bobb-Semple is Zip, Lara Croft’s long-standing tech support and friend, while Isaacs is Atlas DeMornay, Laura’s uncle. Bill Paterson is playing Winston, the longstanding Croft family butler.
Weaver, meanwhile, will be Evelyn Wallis, a mysterious, high-flying woman who is keen to exploit Lara’s talents and Paterson Joseph is Thomas Warner, a senior government official brought in to clean up an almighty mess.
The rest of the cast includes Jack Bannon, John Heffernan, Celia Imrie, Sasha Luss, Juliette Motamed and August Wittgenstein.
When will the ‘Tomb Raider’ series hit screens?
With production just now kicking off, there’s a chance the show could be ready for late this year, but 2027 seems more likely.
(Left) Sigourney Weaver stars in ‘Call Jane.’ (Right) Sophie Turner stars in ‘Trust’.
Preview:
Sigourney Weaver is in talks to join the ‘Tomb Raider TV series.
Sophie Turner is playing Lara Croft.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is co-showrunner.
While she’ll be back on big screens next week with ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash,’Sigourney Weaver also has her eyes on TV –– and another big, popular property to boot.
(Left) Sophie Turner in ‘Another Me.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox. (Right) Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.
Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.
The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.
That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but though there had been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench‘s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.
Amazon, of course, bought MGM, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.
With the rights firmly in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot but is currently focused on a TV series (unrelated to the one already on Netflix).
What has Phoebe Waller-Bridge said about ‘Tomb Raider’?
Phoebe Waller-Bridge from ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
Here’s what ‘Raider’ fan Waller-Bridge had to say:
“Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.”
When will the ‘Tomb Raider’ series hit screens?
With the show still in the development phase and casting not yet complete, we wouldn’t expect this one on screens much before late next year or at some point in 2027.
Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Tomb Raider’ Franchise:
(Left) Sophie Turner in ‘Another Me.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox. (Right) Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.
Preview:
Amazon MGM has confirmed that Turner is officially aboard.
Chad Hodge is joining Phoebe Waller-Bridge to run the show.
The show will run on Prime Video.
We’ve known for nearly two years now that Amazon has plans for treasure hunting character Lara Croft and the series of ‘Tomb Raider’ games in which she appears.
Now, from the sounds of it, Waller-Bridge and Amazon have made their choice, as Deadline reports that Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the huge HBO fantasy series, will be strapping on a utility belt and shorts as Croft.
Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft in ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.
The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.
That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but though there had been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench‘s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.
Amazon, of course, bought MGM last year, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.
With the rights in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot but is currently focused on a TV series (unrelated to the one already on Netflix).
What has Phoebe Waller-Bridge said about ‘Tomb Raider’?
Phoebe Waller-Bridge from ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
While Amazon MGM Studios Head Jennifer Salke has described the company’s plans for the show and other ventures as “epic” and “globe-trotting,” here’s what ‘Raider’ fan Waller-Bridge had to say:
“Lara Croft means a lot to me, as she does to many, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure. Bats ‘n all.”
When will the ‘Tomb Raider’ series hit screens?
With the show still at the casting stage (and Amazon as yet unwilling to officially confirm Turner, pointing to a deal that hasn’t closed right now), it’s far too early to speculate when it might be on Prime Video’s servers.
But we’ll go ahead anyway: 2026 at the earliest!
Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’ Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
Other Movies and TV Shows in the ‘Tomb Raider’ Franchise:
(Left) Sophie Turner stars in ‘Trust’. (Right) ‘Trust’ director Carlson Young.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sophie Turner and director Carlson Young about their work on ‘Trust’, Turner’s first reaction to the screenplay, her approach to the role, the themes Young wanted to explore with the movie, and the challenges of directing a dog.
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You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Turner and Young.
Sophie Turner in ‘Trust’. Photo: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
Moviefone: To begin with, Sophie, what was your first reaction to reading the screenplay and what were some of the aspects of your character that you were excited to explore on screen?
Sophie Turner: I mean, my initial reaction reading the screenplay was like, is there a higher power that has dropped this into my lap? Because it felt like it came at the perfect time in my life to get some anger out, and it was so cathartic. The thing I was so excited to play was, I mean, there are so many elements that she’s so multifaceted, but there’s the motherhood element I was incredibly excited to play, but it was more her journey. I mean, it’s so extensive this arc that she goes on throughout this movie, and I don’t think there’s one emotion that we didn’t explore or one kind of challenge that we didn’t take. Then it was also just the physical aspect of it that I was so excited to play. The fact that I’d never done any sort of thriller in my life. So, that was something that I’d never done before and I was just excited to be vulnerable and bring so much of my own stuff into it. I think that’s what I was the most excited about.
MF: Carlson, as a director what were the themes you wanted to explore and what did you want to say with this film?
Carlson Young: I wanted to explore so many things. I wanted to explore how the universe has this way of putting things in front of you and that we will keep colliding with patterns until we change the story. It had this contained survival thriller aspect of it on the surface, but I saw something much deeper. When I met Sophie as a creative partner, it just made sense to me. She had a bravery and a fearlessness and the way that she spoke about the material, I knew that it was a creative kindred spirit, and I could not have made this movie with anyone else. I can say that cosmically.
Billy Campbell in ‘Trust’. Photo: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
MF: Just to follow up, you said that there was something “much deeper” to the screenplay than just a survival thriller. What do you mean by that?
CY: That there’s a predator through line and it was important for me to take the power away from them, from that narrative, to tell the full story about what it means to be a mother, to accept that responsibility, to accept a child with someone who is a perpetrator of your deepest trauma. Oh, there was a lot and fighting your way through that, and absolutely facing that challenge and being brave and everything kind of working out in the end because of that bravery. You’re rewarded for that bravery in a sense. There’s a freedom that comes.
MF: Sophie, can you talk about where Lauren is personally, emotionally and mentally when we meet her at the beginning of the movie? What is her mindset when she arrives at the house?
ST: When she arrives there at this mansion, we’ve all been in that place where I think, or at least I have so many times where you’re so overwhelmed that you are paralyzed, and you genuinely don’t know what to do about it. I think she’s in that stage where she can’t think in a straight line. She can’t think logically. She can’t see the forest for the trees. It is an existential crisis, basically, her coming and arriving at this place. I think in earlier drafts of the scripts, there was mention of, maybe I just want to walk into the woods and let the woods swallow me up. I think there’s a full chance that she was going to that place to go and commit suicide. There’s a chance that she was going there to just get some rest away from the world. But I think she’s almost inside, totally catatonic. It’s not a good place to be in. But also, again, there’s a relief to be there and a relief to be away from all of this. So, it was balancing all those things at once. I think so many times she’s sitting outside watching the trees blow in the wind, and then suddenly, she gets this feeling of, “Oh my God, I’m so overwhelmed I don’t know what to do with my body.” So, you need to go. I think she’s just all over the place, basically.
Katey Sagal in ‘Trust’. Photo: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
MF: Carlson, what is like directing a dog?
CY: I love Georgie. Let’s talk about the dog. It’s such an element of light, I think, in the face of that existential crisis that she’s going through. There’s a friend just before she steps off the edge. Her name was Penga and she was an incredible performer. She was good and it was a joy to work with her. They say don’t work with kids and dogs. We did have both, and I can report a really good experience with that. She was dialed. She could hit her mark.
MF: Sophie, did you enjoy working with Penga and can you talk about how Georgie helps save Lauren in more than one way?
Sophie Turner: You’re so right. Georgie’s like, he grounds her. I think later, when eventually Georgie runs or gets kicked out, literally, then the grounding force becomes her baby, her unborn child. So, it’s nice to have that grounding theme throughout the show and that grounding thing, because otherwise, I don’t know if Lauren would’ve made it out of that room without having that.
Sophie Turner in ‘Trust’. Photo: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
MF: Finally, Sophie, your character is isolated through much of the movie, and it is a physically and mentally demanding role. Can you talk about the challenges of playing this character?
ST: I mean, to be honest, it wasn’t a challenge. It really fed into the performance. It was all so useful to basically shoot. I mean, I think there were maybe two or three scenes where, maybe more than that, but most of my scenes were on my own. So that isolation, you do feel it and the set was practical. We were in a very small room shooting that, and I’m really breaking the walls and I’m really scratching at the wallpaper and really being covered in these horrible cockroaches. So, because of the practicality of it all, it made it so much easier to step into that world. But again, it’s a challenge for me. I don’t really do that, or I haven’t really done that much physical stuff in my career before this. So, it was something totally new and different and I loved every minute of it.
Sophie Turner in ‘Trust’. Photo: Republic Pictures (a Paramount Pictures label).
What is the plot of ‘Trust’?
After a scandal, a Hollywood starlet (Sophie Turner) retreats to a remote cabin—but she’s not alone. Betrayed by the man she trusted most; she’s trapped in a brutal game of survival. She can hide, but she can’t run.
Premiering its final episode of its second season on Apple TV+ October 25th is the popular sci-fi series ‘Invasion,’ which was created by Simon Kinberg (‘Dark Phoenix’), who also wrote the episode, and David Well (‘Hunters’).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with series creator Simon Kinberg about the season 2 finale of ‘Invasion,’ telling a different alien invasion story, the scope of the series, working with the new season 2 directors, and as a producer on ‘Deadpool’ and ‘Logan,’ how he feels about Hugh Jackman reprising his role as Wolverine opposite Ryan Reynolds in the MCU’s ‘Deadpool 3.’
Shioli Kutsuna in ‘Invasion’ season 2, now streaming on Apple TV+.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to fans of the show to tease them about the season 2 finale, and will it act as a satisfying ending to the overall story or will there be a cliffhanger for a possible season 3?
Simon Kinberg: I think what people can expect from the last episode is certainly bigger action than they’ve seen so far in season two. There’s been a lot of action in season two, obviously a lot more than there was in season one. But really it culminates in episode 9 and gets massive in episode 10. The other thing I would say about the last episode is, in many ways, the first two seasons have been obviously about these different characters from all over the world, but they’ve been slowly coming together in terms of their storylines over now 19 episodes and going into 20. The last episode brings them together in some surprising ways, and you see in some ways why we chose these particular stories to tell. It wasn’t completely random. I hope that the end of episode 10 is satisfying to people because it’s got a big battle and it has a measure of closure to it. But like all of my favorite television and certainly my favorite science fiction and mystery television, there’s still whole worlds to unfold beyond this season.
Azhy Robertson and Golshifteh Farahani in ‘Invasion’ season 2, now streaming on Apple TV+.
MF: Can you talk about developing the series and what you wanted to do differently with the alien invasion concept?
SK: In general, from the beginning, what I felt was missing from the alien invasion genre was a truly global perspective, that it was often or always told from the perspective of one character and that character was usually American. If it was an ensemble, they were all Americans, like in ‘Independence Day.’ So if the whole planet came under attack, America’s not the only place that’s dealing with the problem, everywhere is and I wanted to see what the different reactions from different types of characters in different types of societies would be. That was the thing that was the spark of inspiration for me, and if you were to do a mashup of ‘War of the Worlds’ with a movie like ‘Babel,’ that was the North Star from the beginning.
Shioli Kutsuna in ‘Invasion’ season 2, now streaming on Apple TV+.
MF: Can you talk about the scope of the series and the challenges of telling an international story about an alien invasion?
SK: It’s an incredibly ambitious television show, and I have to applaud and just get on my knees with gratitude to Apple. They really believed in the show from the very beginning, despite the fact that it’s not based on a huge piece of IP. It doesn’t have huge stars in it. They just believed in the concept and quality of the show, and they backed it in a way that was really extraordinary. The first season was incredibly challenging because we were filming in Tokyo, London, Morocco, New York, and other places I think I’m forgetting, but those were our main hubs, in the middle of the pandemic. So that was really a challenge unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my career, having made some really big movies all over the world. The second season had different challenges, and I would say the biggest challenge was less about the physical production, though the production is really big, and more about the visual effects. We really amped up the aliens, the action and the world building in season two. I wanted the visual effects to feel like it was the same level quality as you’d see in big budget movies I’ve worked on in the past, like the ‘Star Wars’ movies, the ‘X-Men’ movies, those kinds of films. So designing all of that with a lot of the geniuses I’ve worked with in my feature film life, designing all of those worlds was a whole lot of fun. And trying to find new designs for aliens, motherships and things we’ve seen in lots of movies done extremely well, trying to find new versions of that. So there was a conceptual challenge and then there was the execution challenge of those visual effects.
Shamier Anderson in ‘Invasion’ season 2, now streaming on Apple TV+.
MF: As a director yourself, what has it been like for you to collaborate with other directors on this series?
SK: It’s really fun working in television with directors. It’s so different than features. With features, you’re working with one director and you’re living for years with that director telling that story. I’ve had some amazing relationships with filmmakers on films. In TV, you’re working with a director and they’re in and out, if they’re doing one episode. We had incredible filmmakers in season two. I mean, from really seasoned people, like Alik Sakharov who directed episodes of ‘The Sopranos’ and ‘Ozark’ and I mean he is truly one of the greatest television directors. No exaggeration, obviously, because those are among the greatest shows of all time. He was the DP on the pilot of ‘The Sopranos.’ I mean, the guy has seen and done everything you could possibly do in TV. I learned an immense amount from him actually about TV storytelling and production. Then we had people that were less experienced come in for an episode. So it was really fun just working with such a diverse group of people, diverse in terms of their personal experience and their professional experience.
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.
MF: Finally, since you were a producer on both ‘Deadpool’ and ‘Logan,’ I have to ask how you feel about Hugh Jackman returning to the role of Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3’ and having those characters now exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
SK: I love Hugh so much. I mean, he’s somebody who’s really been a huge part of my life. I’ve made six or seven movies with him, even a movie outside the ‘X-Men’ universe. He’s one of the kindest, just sweetest humans, let alone movie stars, I’ve ever met. I love him as Wolverine, and it’s really hard for me to imagine another actor playing Wolverine. That’s not true for every comic book character, but I can’t imagine anyone else playing that part. So as much as I really love what we did with ‘Logan’ and really feel like we gave that character and Hugh’s journey as that character a fitting goodbye, I’m really excited to see him do it again. I’m really excited to see him do it in a different toned story. I adore Ryan and I adore what Ryan does with Deadpool, so I’m just really excited to see those two guys together.
‘Invasion’ series creator Simon Kinberg.
‘Invasion’ Season 1 Recap
An alien invasion is seen through the different perspectives of various people on different continents across the world.
What is the plot of ‘Invasion’ season 2?
Season 2 picks up just months after the events of season 1, with the aliens escalating their attacks in an all-out war against the humans. As the aliens continue their land grab, pockets of resistance across the world join the World Defense Coalition searching for ways to destroy the enemy, including the grassroots vigilante alien hunters, The Movement, and the experiments being done at the Alien Research Facility.
Premiering on Apple TV+ on August 23rd is the second season of the popular sci-fi series ‘Invasion,’ which was created by Simon Kinberg (‘Dark Phoenix’) and David Well (‘Hunters’).
‘Invasion’ Season 1 Recap
An alien invasion is seen through the different perspectives of various people on different continents across the world.
What is the plot of ‘Invasion’ season 2?
Season 2 picks up just months after the events of season 1, with the aliens escalating their attacks in an all-out war against the humans. As the aliens continue their land grab, pockets of resistance across the world join the World Defense Coalition searching for ways to destroy the enemy, including the grassroots vigilante alien hunters, The Movement, and the experiments being done at the Alien Research Facility.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure speaking with director Alik Sakharov (‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘The Witcher’) about his work on season 2 of ‘Invasion,’ where he directed the first three episode as well as episode five. Sakharov discussed the pressure of joining a series in the second season, how his previous work as a cinematographer informs his work as a director, the most challenging aspect of directing ‘Invasion,’ and bringing something fresh to the genre.
Shioli Kutsuna in ‘Invasion,’ premiering August 23, 2023 on Apple TV+.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, as a director, when you join a series that is already in progress, do you feel pressure to continue the success of the show, or is that something that you’ve gotten use to at this point in your career?
Alik Sakharov: I don’t think I had the pressure, to be honest with you. I mean, as a seasoned pro, I didn’t feel pressure. I just felt responsibility of delivering good product. I had a very wonderful set of meetings with Simon Kinberg, and (executive producer) Audrey Chon, and with Apple executives. I felt, it was a wonderful dynamic, if you will, it was very friendly atmosphere, and very encouraging. Obviously, I read the scripts beforehand. So, we started talking about concept, about this and that, and the design, and it all felt very natural. The reason why it felt natural to me is because, although it’s sci-fi, it’s based on character and based on drama. It’s based on very important universal things that virtually everyone can relate to. We’re talking about, if Anisha is on the run with her kids, trying to protect them and save them, then we understand what that is. So the universality of it is very palatable and very palpable. So, relating to it wasn’t very complicated. For me personally, it was great to have this drama against the sweeping backdrop of this huge canvas of aliens invading.
Golshifteh Farahani in ‘Invasion,’ premiering August 23, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: You began your career as a cinematographer, how does that experience inform your work as a director?
AS: To answer your question, as a director of photography, coming to directing, is really, for me, a crucial thing, because you understand the language, you understand how to tell the story, by way of where the camera is going to be. It’s not to say that every director has to do that, not at all. But, most accomplished directors that I really respect, Stanley Kubrick, David Fincher, the CoenBrothers, Christopher Nolan, they understand what lenses can do. They understand what photography can do. So, you don’t usually want to give way for someone to set up the shot. You either bring them on board, the director of photography, the camera operators, and discuss what needs to get accomplished, as opposed to just farming it all out, because then, you’re immediately losing a bit of the language that you’ve been designing to tell the story. So, very important to engage everybody, to bring everybody together, and to set shots up, such that, everyone’s happy. So usually, I know exactly what the lens is going to be. I know exactly what the camera angle is going to be. I don’t try to be fascistic about it, but I would suggest where it would be, and then I’d say to my crew, “Guys, go crazy. Enhance it. Make it great.” So, everyone participates in it, and finds their own, and they’re all fulfilled. That’s, to me, key to a great collaboration on set. So, if I communicate my ideas to the director of photography and he communicates his ideas to his lighting crew, and grip department, and his camera operator, and then we’re all discussing how it’s going to resolve itself on the screen, then the resulting image, or images, or set of storylines through visuals can invoke some reaction from you as a viewer. So if the camera is too high, you go, “Guys, the camera is too high.” If the verticals are not correct, you go, “Verticals are not correct.” If the camera is too low, “It’s too expressive. Let’s bring it up to the human perspective.” You have to choose all those things. You have to, not dictate it, but propose it, such that, it’s much more humanized.
(L to R) Cache Vanderpuye, India Brown and Louis Toghill in ‘Invasion,’ premiering August 23, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: ‘Invasion’ is a series that is very large in scope and told from several different perspectives. How did your work on shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Rome’ prepare you to direct this series?
AS: Well, because of the scope, I could see why you are comparing it to ‘Game of Thrones.’ But, I mean, I was involved in big scope shows like ‘Rome’ for instance, and ‘Marco Polo’ for instance. Those are very scopey shows. I mean, the dictate of this particular show, of this particular parameters is grand scale. So, you need to approach it in grand scale. It’s not so much a TV mentality. You have to approach it like a cinematic event, because of the cinematic event, it could be compared to these shows that you’re proposing.
(L to R) Azhy Robertson, Tara Moayedi and Golshifteh Farahani in ‘Invasion,’ premiering August 23, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: You directed the first three episodes of season 2, what was the most challenging scene to shoot in those first couple of episodes?
AS: The most challenging was, believe it or not, was the very first scene of episode one, where we’re just thrown into the invasion. The challenge of it was basically that we needed to shoot it fast. I mean, it’s a huge scene. Initially, we planned to shoot it over the course of five days. We needed to find a location which would be able to guide us through, basically the timeline of the scene. In order for us to do that, we needed to find a particular set of streets that one street would lead into the other, into the other, and into the other. So, it’s all making sense, because it was not a backlight. We found a little section in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, where it was basically one and two-story buildings with tin roofs. From a bird’s eye view, it felt like the right way of approaching the scene. So, our production designer, Simon Rogers, was basically instrumental in dressing the streets. Then, I started discussing with my crew how are we going to approach it, and how we’re going to break down the scene, such that, we would have absolutely everything, broken down into, not only just shots, but also into little segments that would segue from one to the other because there’s a very propulsive energy throughout that scene. So, the challenge was to accomplish everything in set time and the allotted time to rehearse everything. It was involving 200 extras. We had six cameras. We had to deal with the weather. We had to deal with a helicopter landing. We had to deal with so many elements. It became like a feature film, yet, we needed to do it as a television schedule. I think we actually did tremendously well. We shot the whole thing that was designed to be shot in five days, in four days, and we were able to accomplish everything.
Shamier Anderson in ‘Invasion,’ premiering August 23, 2023 on Apple TV+.
MF: Finally, can you talk about finding a way to bring something fresh to a genre that has seen a lot of entries? How did you go about finding something fresh, even for season two compared to season one?
AS: I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think about that. What I think about is the human perspective, the drama. Look, if I sit in my chair, and I react to the acting, and it works, and it feels right, then your audience is going to react that way too. If you feel that it’s false, you go for another take. Because, if you’re going to move on and you have a false take, your audience is not going to buy it. So, I always come from a perspective of it’s not to design the most fresh, the most interesting, the most this, and that, look, we’re not going to be reinventing the wheel. It’s been invented. So, what you’re going to go for is the performance. What you’re going to go for is for the trueness. The value of whether or not it is good. It has a capability to hook you, to appeal to you, to convince you that this is what’s happening, and this is the right thing, and it’s the honesty.
‘Invasion,’ premiering August 23, 2023 on Apple TV+.
At a loss for what to watch this week? From new DVDs and Blu-rays, to what’s streaming on Netflix and on good old fashioned television, we’ve got you covered.
This reboot/continuation of the franchise pairs up Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the lead agents, taking the place of Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. Emma Thompson reprises her role as Agent O, the head of MIB’s American branch, who sends new recruit Agent M (Thompson) to London to team up with Agent H (Hemsworth) in investigating a series of alien attacks. But their mission is compromised by a mole within the ranks of the MIB.
The movie arrives on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on Sept. 3 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus content includes deleted scenes, gag reel and making-of featurettes.
Octavia Spencer as a lonely woman who befriends a group of teens. When they ask her to buy some booze, she invites them to her house to party in the basement. She lays down some strict rules: One of the kids has to stay sober. Don’t curse. Never go upstairs. And call her “Ma.” But when Ma starts to become terrifyingly obsessive, the teens’ parties begin to turn into nightmares.
The movie arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on Sept. 3 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus content includes deleted scenes, alternate ending and making-of featurettes.
Olivia Wilde makes her directorial debut with this coming-of-age film that’s part “Lady Bird,” part “Superbad.” Best friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) have worked all through high school to get good grades and get into good colleges, but on their last day, they realize the kids who partied also got into good colleges. “Nobody knows that we are fun,” Molly says. “We haven’t done anything! We haven’t broken any rules!” Well, a bunch of them are about to get broken.
The movie arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on Sept. 3 (and is already available on Digital HD). Bonus content includes deleted scenes, making-of featurettes and audio commentary by Wilde.
Rooney Mara finds Jesus in this indie drama also starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Son of God. The story follows the titular Biblical figure as she flees the marriage her family has arranged for her and finds a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by Jesus of Nazareth. The sole woman among his band of disciples, she undergoes a spiritual awakening and becomes drawn into conflict with Jesus’ apostles.
The movie arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on Sept. 3 (and is already available on Digital HD).
‘Fists in the Pocket’ (Sept. 3):Marco Bellocchio’s darkly funny directorial debut gets a new 4K restoration from Criterion, approved by the filmmaker himself. The tale employs gallows humor as it follows a a young man who takes drastic measures to rid his grotesquely dysfunctional family of its various afflictions.
With great power comes great danger. That’s the warning sounded in the final chapter of the “X-Men” saga, which comes to a close after 20th Century Fox was purchased by Disney. Now the mutants will be folded back into its home at Marvel. The movie adapts the classic comics storyline of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) getting zapped by an alien force and turning into an evil version of herself. She turns against her X-Men friends, all the while relishing the extreme new powers she wields. Available on Digital HD Sept. 3.
Famed indie director Jim Jarmusch takes a decidedly new path with this zombie flick, which stars Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny, and Tilda Swinton. In the sleepy small town of Centerville, the dead rise up out of their graves and the living citizens must battle to survive. Available on Digital HD Sept. 3.
Amazon snapped up the the Sundance darling starring Emma Thompson and Mindy Kaling for a lot of cash. Thompson plays late night talk show host Katherine Newbury, whose world is turned upside down when she attempts to address diversity issues by hiring her first female staff writer (Mindy Kaling). Generational clashes ensue, all while rumors swirl that the host will soon be replaced.
NEW ON NETFLIX
‘The Spy’ (Sept. 6)
In this secret agent series, Sacha Baron Cohen goes undercover as a dramatic actor. He plays the legendary Israeli Mossad agent Eli Cohen, who ran a successful undercover operation in Syria in the 1960s. He becomes close enough to ambitious military leaders and their rich friends to earn a game-changing level of trust about Syria’s biggest anti-Israel secret initiatives.
‘Greenleaf’ Season 4 Premiere, OWN (Sept. 3, 10 p.m.)
The Greenleafs attempt to maintain a united front in the face of losing Calvary to Bob Whitmore (Beau Bridges) and Harmony & Hope Ministries, but secrets past and present create what could be fatal fractures in the family’s fragile foundation.
‘Mayans M.C.’ Season 2 Premiere, FX (Sept. 3, 10 p.m.)
EZ Reyes (JD Pardo) continues to straddle his two worlds. Meanwhile, the M.C. uncovers a leak.
OK, so “The New Mutants” is likely never seeing the light of day after the flop of X-Men film “Dark Phoenix.”
But does that mean the X-Men franchise is dead now that Disney owns the Fox property?
Hardly. Today, Disney announced that Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige is inheriting Fox’s comic book heroes, including the X-Men. So, continue dreamcasting the new Wolverine, people.
However, Disney is axing the majority of the existing Fox film development slate and “refocusing output,” after the studio posted a $170 million operating loss in Disney’s fiscal third quarter.
What else is safe, besides the X-Men?
James Cameron’s sequels to “Avatar” are on track, as well as more “Planet of the Apes” movies.
Disney CEO Bob Iger also said indie label Fox Searchlight will continue to make feature films and and also make movies for Disney+. However, Fox’s film divisions will be producing significantly less movies than before the Disney purchase.
“It will probably take a solid year, maybe two years, before we can have an impact on the films in production. We’re all confident we’re going to turn around the results of Fox live action,” Iger said.
It’s an “X-Men” reunion — Alexandra Shipp, who played Storm in “Dark Phoenix,” is joining Michael Fassbender (Magneto) in “Kung Fury 2.”
Deadline reports the actress will join the cast of the film, which comes from writer/director David Sandberg. The movie will also feature Arnold Schwarzenegger and David Hasselhoff.
“Kung Fury 2” is the follow-up to Sandberg’s YouTube short, “Kung Fury.” The action-comedy is set in 1985 Miami, which is kept safe under the watchful eye of Kung Fury, the greatest cop of all time. His Thundercops are the ultimate police force assembled from across history to defeat the villainous Kung Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler.
After the tragic death of one of their members causes the group to disband, a mysterious villain emerges from the shadows to aid in the Fuhrer’s quest to attain the ultimate weapon. Kung Fury must travel through space and time to save his friends, defend the prestigious Miami Kung Fu Academy, and defeat evil once and for all.
Shipp is replacing Eiza Gonzales in the film. She’ll play Rey Porter, a news anchor who will do anything to get the best story.
Sequels underwhelmed at the box office this weekend, with both “Men in Black: International” and the third “Shaft” film falling short of projections. Not to mention “Dark Phoenix” taking a sharp nosedive from last week.
“MIB: International” was the No. 1 film with $28.5 million, but that’s about half of what the previous three films in the franchise earned. At least it only cost $100 million to produce, about half of what “MIB 3” cost.
The sequel reteams “Thor: Ragnarok”‘s Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson, but mostly wastes their considerable chemistry. The movie has earned a dismal 24% on Rotten Tomatoes and a “B” CinemaScore.
Warner Bros.
Debuting in fifth place was “Shaft,” with a disappointing $8.3 million. By comparison, 2000’s “Shaft,” also starring Samuel L. Jackson, took in $21.7 million its first weekend. The latest remake brings together three generations of Shafts played by Jackson, Jessie Usher, and the 1971 original, Richard Roundtree. Critics gave it a 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences were kinder with an “A” CinemaScore.
20th Century Fox
Meanwhile, in its second weekend, the critically panned X-Men sequel “Dark Phoenix” plunged nearly 73% from last week to land in fourth place. That’s not a record-setting drop, but it’s hardly a positive note on which to end the nearly 20-year franchise.
