Yet director Denis Villeneuve remains confident in his follow-up to 2021’s ambitious science fiction epic and is in fact making early plans for a third movie.
Which is perhaps not too shocking since there is plenty of material. Author Frank Herbert, on whose ‘Dune’ the movies are based, continued the story of Arrakis in a series of subsequent novels, before his son Brian took over to continue it even further. The sand, therefore, is far from running out.
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What did Villeneuve say about a potential third Dune?
‘Dune Part Two’ CinemaCon 2023 Presentation and Press Line, April 25th. Photos By Eric Charbonneau.
While the first two movies adapt the original ‘Dune’ book, a third would target ‘Dune Messiah’.
“If I succeed in making a trilogy, that would be the dream. Dune Messiah was written in reaction to the fact that people perceived Paul Atreides as a hero. Which is not what he wanted to do. My adaptation [of ‘Dune’] is closer to his idea that it’s actually a warning. After that the books become more… esoteric.”
Sounds like he’ll be done with ‘Dune’ after any third film. Which, given the time and effort he put into the first two, is understandable, especially given all the delays (pandemic for the first, strikes for the second).
And in case you’re wondering whether this is just a filmmaker speculating, Villeneuve confirms that there are “words on paper” for a third movie. Likely not a script (given the writers’ strike) but at least an idea.
‘Dune: Part Two’ adapts the second half of Herbert’s novel and keeps the focus on Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). He is, as you recall, the scion of House Atreides, whose father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) was ordered by the Emperor of the galaxy to take over running Arrakis, the desert planet from where the various space-going people mine valuable spice to help their navigators guide vessels.
It was, of course, part of a plan between the violent, cruel Harkonnen (led by Stellan Skarsgård’s Baron) and the Emperor to destroy the Atreides.
The new movie picks up the story after Paul and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) flee into the desert following the devastating attack on the Atreides base by Harkonnen and Imperial forces. Paul is destined to rise as a spiritual and military leader of the native Fremen and lead an attack against the Harkonnen and the scheming Emperor.
Alongside Chalamet and Ferguson, we’ll see the return of Josh Brolin (who plays Atreides war master Gurney Halleck, another survivor of the attack) and Skarsgård, along with Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, AKA “The Beast”.
On the Fremen side, we’ll get to properly meet Zendaya’s Chani, a Fremen warrior who haunted Paul’s dreams and visions long before he ever met her, and who is destined to become the great love of his life. And Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, leader of the Fremen people, who will work with Paul to attack the Harkonnen.
New this time? Florence Pugh, who plays Princess Irulan and Christopher Walken as her father, Emperor Shaddam IV.
On the Harkonnen side, there is the cunning, weapon happy Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by ‘Elvis’ Austin Butler.
‘Dune: Part Two’ will (hopefully) be in theaters on March 15th, 2024.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto at a ‘Blue Beetle’ Fan Screening in London.
Having seen his most recent movie –– DC superhero origin story ‘Blue Beetle’ –– open top of the box office this weekend (with the proviso that it was a relatively soft $25.4 million, less than Warner Bros. was hoping for), director Ángel Manuel Soto has another potential job on the horizon.
According to The Wrap, he’s adding to his To Do list: Soto is now attached to direct buddy action comedy ‘The Wrecking Crew’ for MGM.
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What is ‘The Wrecking Crew’?
Dave Bautista in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
While the title has been used before –– cinematically for a Dean Martin-starring Matt Helm movie and a documentary about the legendary group of 1960s session musicians, while there is a Marvel comic with the name –– this is, in fact, the movie that Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa set up back in 2021.
The two actors, who are friends in real life, decided to figure out a movie to work together on.
Bautista put the idea out into the world as a tweet in August of 2021.
The concept has snowballed since then; MGM snapped up the chance to make the movie after a bidding war and it has since been handed to ‘Warrior’ and ‘Banshee’ TV series creator Jonathan Tropper (who wrote ‘The Adam Project’ for Ryan Reynolds and director Shawn Levy) to turn into a script. Jeffrey Fierson, who worked with Momoa on the Netflix series ‘Frontier,’ will produce.
Jason Momoa as Dante in ‘Fast X’, directed by Louis Leterrier.
So far, neither MGM nor the potential stars have revealed anything about the plot for this one –– Momoa and Bautista had hoped for something along the lines of ‘Lethal Weapon’.
Perhaps (and this is only our speculation) it’ll focus on a pair of cops who are notoriously destructive in their missions, hence the name. That’s something we can see the pair doing well.
Soto, of course, isn’t David Leitch as the original tweet suggested, but he’s certainly proved he can bring fun and style to the movies he makes, including ‘Beetle’ and his previous effort, ‘Charm City Kings’.
And while no one can work on the movie just yet because of the writers and actors’ strike (Tropper’s script was completed before the Writers Guild of America started its industrial action back in May), Soto has proved to be a director in demand.
In addition to this new potential assignment, he is also attached to work on a new ‘Transformers’ spin-off for Paramount. Soto has been developing that alongside ‘Daredevil’ (Netflix era) writer Marco Ramirez.
Few details are available on that movie, aside from the fact that it won’t be a main franchise entry for ‘Transformers’ but will instead serve as a spin-off focusing on a different story and characters within the robots-in-disguise universe.
We’ll have to wait and see whether either of these movies actually ends up hitting screens, but ‘The Wrecking Crew’ (which had been previously untitled) certainly appears to have taken a positive step forward.
Director Ángel Manuel Soto at a ‘Blue Beetle’ Fan Screening in Mexico.
The film is set after the events of ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special’, where we find the band of misfits in their new home on Knowhere. Unexpectedly, a new powerful enemy crashes in and injures Rocket, and if the Guardians don’t act fast enough, it could mean life or death for their teammate.
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The official synopsis for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is below:
“In Marvel Studios ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.”
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ opened in theaters on May 5th, 2023, to $118.4 million domestically and has grossed over $348.5 million since its opening. Worldwide box office earnings have grossed over $825.3 million since its release. This was a highly anticipated film among Marvel fans and is certified Fresh on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with an 82% score from critics and a 94% score from the audience.
The team faces brand new threats in this movie, with the stakes being higher than ever when it involves one of the members of the team. Still recovering from his heartbreak and loss of Gamora, Peter Quill and his band of misfits are settled in on Knowhere when Adam Warlock crashes in.
Adam Warlock has long been teased to appear in the MCU since ‘Thor: Dark World’ and the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ However, it was in the post-credit scene in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2’ that confirmed his appearance. Played by Will Poulter, the MCU’s Adam Warlock origin differs from the comics. Instead of being created by scientists, Adam Warlock in the film is a Sovereign warrior created by the high priestess Ayesha and The High Evolutionary.
The film also introduces The High Evolutionary (played by Chukwudi Iwuji) to the MCU. A geneticist whose personal mission is to create the perfect species, he abducted various creatures for his experiment, with Rocket Raccoon (then named 89P13) being one of his test subjects. When Rocket points out the flaws in The High Evolutionary’s project, it confuses and angers him to the point where he orders Rocket’s brain to be removed so that he can study him.
Rocket manages to escape. Years later, when The High Evolutionary learns of his involvement with the Guardians of the Galaxy, he orders Adam Warlock to retrieve him at all costs.
When it comes to the Guardians of the Galaxy, we know we’re in for a grand space adventure, with hilarious banter between the Guardians. However, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ takes on a more somber and emotional tone. With director James Gunn being the co-chairman of DC Studios, this is likely the final film he’ll direct for Marvel. This movie not only wraps up the adventures of the current team of the Guardians, but it also dives into the origin story of Rocket.
Previously named 89P13, Rocket Raccoon is subjected to tests and experiments by The High Evolutionary. In flashback scenes, we meet Rocket’s fellow cagemates Floor, Teefs, and Lylla. The four friends found comfort in each other, often playing games and daydreaming about the “forever and beautiful sky.” The message of animal cruelty is not missed in the film, and what The High Evolutionary does to Rocket and his friends will send a shock through your system and gives you an insight into some of Rocket’s hardened personality.
Though the Guardians tend to bicker with each other, the group has become quite close-knit. Once Rocket’s life is on the line, his friends will stop at nothing to save him, even if it means sacrificing themselves. Rocket is definitely the heart of this story and we suggest you have some tissues on standby when you watch.
Where Can I Watch ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’?
(L to R) Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
The film premiered at Disneyland Paris on April 22nd, 2023. Later, the US premiere was held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, California, on April 27th, 2023. The movie is still showing in theaters, so be sure to check with Moviefone below for showtimes in your area. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ has a total runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes, making it the longest film in the Guardians franchise.
Watch the official trailers for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3’ below:
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Can’t make it out to the theater? You will soon have the option to rent or purchase the movie on VOD. Services such as Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Movies Anywhere will have the movie available digitally on July 7th, 2023.
As for as streaming goes, an official date hasn’t been confirmed. The movie is released by Disney so it is likely to end up on Disney+ once it is ready to go to streaming.
For those who prefer physical copies, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ will be available on DVD/Blu-Ray on August 1st, 2023, complete with special features such as featurettes, deleted scenes, director’s commentary, and gag reel.
To watch our exclusive interview with writer/director James Gunn and Chris Pratt about ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3,’ please click on the video player below.
While he was once known for the likes of ‘The Hangover’ movies and ‘Scary Movie’ franchise, writer/producer/director Craig Mazin is more famous these days as the creator of hit HBO series ‘Chernobyl’ and, more recently, for developing and co-showrunning the company’s successful adaptation of video game sensation ‘The Last of Us’.
Yet despite his busy TV schedule (he’s also consulted on Apple TV+ comedy ‘Mystic Quest’ in the past), movies are not completely out of his work sphere under certain conditions.
(L to R) Pedro Pascal and Anna Torv in ‘The Last of Us.’ Photo: Warner Media.
“I’m out of the movie business, basically. I’ll work with certain directors when they call because I love them and because they’re so brilliant, so if, like, Denis Villeneuve calls, then absolutely. I’m there for, three-four weeks, a month, to work on what you’re working on. Anytime Denis makes a movie, you should be excited. He is as kind as he is brilliant. He is a rare one, he’s just remarkable.”
And here’s Mazin talking about the credit he’s receiving on the new movie:
“I am a participating writer in Dune: Part Two’ “I came in and did a little bit of work… It used to be that you couldn’t even say that, but now they have this additional ‘literary material thing at the end, so I am ‘Additional Literary Material’.”
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What is ‘Additional Literary Material’?
The ALM credit was introduced in 2022, ensuring writers who have rendered WGA-covered writing services on theatrical features (but cannot claim authorship) receive acknowledgement for their contributions.
So, if a writer helps to polish a script, but doesn’t meet the criteria to receive full credit, this description kicks in.
Mazin happens to be a vocal member of the Writers Guild of America and is currently on strike (the ‘Dune’ work was completed before the strike began) and also co-hosts a podcast on screenwriting called ‘Scriptnotes’.
What’s the story for ‘Dune: Part Two’
The new ‘Dune’ movie picks up where the first one left off, adapting the remainder of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel. ‘Dune: Part Two’, with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) fleeing into the desert following the devastating attack on the Atreides base by Harkonnen and Imperial forces. Paul is destined to rise as a spiritual and military leader of the native Fremen and lead an attack against the Harkonnen and the scheming Emperor.
Alongside Chalamet and Ferguson, we’ll see the return of Josh Brolin (who plays Atreides war master Gurney Halleck, another survivor of the attack) and Stellan Skarsgård, along with Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban Harkonnen, AKA “The Beast”.
On the Fremen side, we’ll get to properly meet Zendaya’s Chani, a Fremen warrior who haunted Paul’s dreams and visions long before he ever met her, and who is destined to become the great love of his life. And Javier Bardem’s Stilgar, leader of the Fremen people, who will work with Paul to attack the Harkonnen.
On the Harkonnen side, there is the cunning, weapon happy Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played by ‘Elvis’ Austin Butler. From the looks of the character, Villeneuve and his team are aiming to have this Feyd be as distinctive as the metal-jockstrap version played by Sting in David Lynch’s movie.
‘Dune: Part Two’ will be in theaters on November 3rd.
After an attack from Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) injures Rocket, the Guardians learn of his origins and confront his creator, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). Meanwhile, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still coming to terms with the “new” Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), who is now a Ravager. In order to save their friend, the Guardians must go on a dangerous mission that could lead to the team dissolving if they fail.
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Who is in the cast of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3?’
Joining the cast are actors Chukwudi Iwuji (‘Peacemaker‘) as the High Evolutionary, and Will Poulter (‘We’re the Millers‘) as Adam Warlock.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director James Gunn and Chris Pratt about their work on ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3,’ telling Rocket’s story, what the franchise has meant to Pratt, and what fans can expect from the new film.
(L to R) James Gunn and Chris Pratt attend the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Gunn and Pratt.
Moviefone: To begin with, James, what would you tell fans sitting down to watch this movie now to prepare them for the theater experience they are about to have?
James Gunn: I know so many of you have grown up with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ So many of you have seen and supported us over the years. We’re so grateful to you for that and we really put our hearts and souls in this movie. We put in every ounce of everything we could, and I hope you guys enjoy it from the bottom of my heart.
Marvel Studio’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
MF: Chris, what would you say to the fans to get them ready for this movie?
Chris Pratt: First of all, I’d say thank you. Thank you. You sitting down in these seats right now are the reason the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ are the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ We’ve been able to full on live our dreams because of the support of the greatest fans in the world. Thank you so much. We really owe it all to you. James is extraordinary. He’s led me on this journey and he’s created what I think is the best of the three films. Buckle up and I hope you have some tissues nearby.
MF: James, can you talk about the decision to tell Rocket’s origin story in this movie and how his journey is the heart of the franchise?
JG: I’ve always thought of Rocket as sort of the heart of the ‘Guardian’s story. In a lot of ways he’s the least mature of the characters, he’s just been a very angry guy. I think that throughout the series we see characters do heroic things. Rocket does heroic things, but it’s only been for himself or for his friends. He doesn’t really have a sense of empathy for anyone beyond that, and this is a movie about how he became that way. We go back to where he was born, how he came about, how he was created by the High Evolutionary, and we learn everything about him and his tragic past.
(L to R) Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
MF: Finally, Chris, can you talk about your ‘Guardians’ experience, what playing Star-Lord, working on this franchise, and creating friendships with the cast and James has meant to you?
CP: It’s just now starting to hit me how grateful I am to have had a friend in James. It’s been amazing. He’s made my life. He’s changed my life. He’s changed the life of me and my family, my children, and probably their children. He took me by the hand. He found a working actor who had already at that point done way better than most people who come out to town. I wasn’t a waiter any longer, I was a series regular on a show. I was getting recognition. He brought me to a whole new level that ultimately changed the entire way the industry saw me. I no longer was auditioning. That was the last audition I ever had. So he changed my life.
(L to R) Writer and director James Gunn and Chris Pratt from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’
Other Movies Similar to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:’
Witten and directed by James Gunn, the Sci-Fi action adventure comedy ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is scheduled for release from Marvel Studios on May 5th 2023.
(L to R) Karen Gillan as Nebula, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
After an attack from Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) injures Rocket, the Guardians learn of his origins and confront his creator, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). Meanwhile, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still coming to terms with the “new” Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), who is now a Ravager. In order to save their friend, the Guardians must go on a dangerous mission that could lead to the team dissolving if they fail.
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Who is in the cast of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?’
While it’s not a perfect movie, James Gunn finishes his trilogy off with a heartfelt love letter to the franchise, in a character-driven movie that ties up loose ends and brings many arcs to a close. The actors are given room to explore their characters, and the villain is strong, but make no mistakes … this is Rocket’s movie!
Writer and director James Gunn at Los Angeles premiere of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’
Story, Direction and Visual Effects
Full disclosure: I love the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movies, in fact, they’re both in my top ten of MCU movies. But ‘Guardians 3’ is different than the previous films, its somber, character-driven, and darker, while still having James Gunn’s signature weirdness, humor, and music. The story ties up all the loose ends of the trilogy, including Quill and Gamora’s relationship, but really takes time to explore all the core characters, especially Rocket.
Obviously a lot of time is spent on Quill, Gamora, and Rocket, but Drax, Mantis, Nebula, Groot, and even Kraglin are all given their time to shine. The movie starts off slow and somber, and drags a bit in the middle, but has a very touching and action-packed third act. James Gunn clearly has an affection for this trilogy and these actors, and it shows in the film which is really a love letter to them.
For the most part, the visual effects work, and the colorful costumes and creatures are interesting and fun. But I do question the odd flesh-colored uniforms that the guards (including Nathan Fillion) wear at the High Evolutionary’s headquarters. They were just a little too weird and goofy for me, and distracted from the story.
Make no mistakes … this is Rocket’s movie! The film actually takes place in two timelines, flashing back throughout the movie to tell Rocket’s origin story. Over the course of the previous ‘Guardian’ movies and his appearances in ‘Infinity War’ and ‘Endgame,’ Rocket’s become my favorite Marvel character and his story arc here is extremely touching. He’s the heart of the movie, and exploring his past while saying something about animal cruelty was both smart and affective. Some of the creatures we meet in his past are very creepy, but again, the message is not lost. While it’s only a voice role, Bradley Cooper’s “Gilbert Gottfried meets Bill the Butcher” performance has brought the character to life and his work here is touching, emotional, funny and makes Rocket a stronger character.
Marvel Studio’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Chris Pratt is given a lot more emotional work to do with Quill this time around, and handles it well, especially his scenes with Gamora. Zoe Saldaña returns as the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ version of Gamora, allowing the actress to play a new character, in a sense. When the original Gamora died in ‘Infinity War,’ I was really sad to see her go because she had grown so much since the original film and I loved her relationship with Quill, but the new Gamora had really grown on me by the end of this film, thanks to Saldaña’s layered performance.
In a movie with so many characters, it’s easy for some to get lost in the shuffle and not get the screen time they deserve, but the movie balances the characters well and gives them all a moment to shine. Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, and even Sean Gunn, are all given time to explore their characters and grow through the course of the movie. As for Groot, he’s not a kid anymore and like Rocket, also has a great arc over the course of the trilogy, and surprisingly, Vin Diesel gets to do a little more in this movie than just say: “I Am Groot.”
Chukwudi Iwuji plays the High Evolutionary and is actually a pretty good Marvel villain. I found the performance menacing and effective, even though his ultimate evil plan is confusing at times. But his motivations and hubris made the character believable, and Iwuji gives a fun, if not over-the-top at times, performance.
Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Is Adam Warlock a Good Guy?
Yes and no. He’s an unwilling villain in the beginning, but has a change of heart over the course of the film, which I must say is paced well and is ultimately effective. But to be honest, I didn’t like the way the character was depicted, and didn’t care for Will Poulter’s performance, although it’s through no fault of his own. In the film, the character is the son of ‘Guardians Vol. 2’ baddie Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), and is depicted as a brainless, bratty mama’s boy, and while the characterization gets a few laughs, it didn’t work for me knowing the character’s importance in the comics. Poulter physically transformed to play the role, and looks great, but for me, the character and performance just didn’t work.
(L to R) Will Poulter as Adam Warlock and Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Are There End-Credit Scenes in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3?’
Yes. There are two in fact. The first sets up a possible future for the franchise, beyond the current lineup, and the second would set up a spinoff of sorts for one of the main characters. Both scenes are ‘Guardians’ centric and do not hint to any other upcoming MCU projects.
Will There Be a ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 4?’
That’s hard to say at this time. James Gunn certainly is saying goodbye to the franchise, as he’ll be busy in the near future working on ‘Superman: Legacy’ and running DC Studios. As previously mentioned, the first end-credit scene does hint at a possible future installment, and the team teased for that is incredibly intriguing. As is the possibility of the spinoff teased in the other end-credit scene, with a character that is strong enough to carry their own film franchise, or at least a Disney+ series. Whether or not we will see any of the other Guardians in future Marvel projects, is anyone’s guess.
Vin Diesel as Groot in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Final Thoughts
In the end, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ is not a perfect film, and in some ways is not quite as fun as the previous two movies, but is a very loving sendoff to the current team and a dark and emotional look at these beloved characters.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Marvel Studio’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’ Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Other Movies Similar to ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3:’
Witten and directed by James Gunn, the Sci-Fi action adventure comedy ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is scheduled for release from Marvel Studios on May 5th 2023.
The trailer for the film certainly did its job of putting the audience at unease as four strangers stroll up to the remote vacation cabin of Eric (Jonathan Groff), Andrew (Ben Aldridge), and Wen (Kristen Cui), holding them hostage while asking them to make an unthinkable and difficult decision in order to save the world from its end.
The official synopsis for ‘Knock At The Cabin’ is below:
“While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.”
While The Rotten Tomatoes scores from both critics and audiences sit around 65% (67% from critics and 63% from the audience), the one thing everyone can agree on is the performance by Dave Bautista. The wrestler-turned-actor is known for portraying Drax The Destroyer in Marvel’s ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and can be seen been many titles such as ‘Spectre’, ‘Army of the Dead’, ‘Dune’, ‘Glass Onion’, and more. Bautista plays Leonard in the film, the leader of the group of strangers who arrives at Eric and Andrew’s remote cabin. Quite opposite from Drax, Leonard’s character is pensive and quiet, and Bautista’s captivating performance is definitely something to watch for in this film.
(R to L) Ben Aldridge, Kristen Cui, Jonathan Groff and Dave Bautista in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Don’t Expect The Usual Shyamalan Twist In This Movie
Many Shyamalan thrillers have often ended with an unexpected twist that’ll get a huge reaction from audiences, becoming the hot topic in conversations for weeks after the film, such as ‘The Sixth Sense’ or ‘The Village.’ Now, it is almost expected from an M Night Shyamalan title. While the screen adaptation for ‘Knock At The Cabin’ diverted in parts from the novel, the end still plays out similarly. Therefore, don’t expect the signature Shyamalan twist in ‘Knock At The Cabin’
Where Can I Watch ‘Knock at the Cabin’?
The film premiered on February 3rd, 2023. It opened at $14.2 million and has grossed $35.3 million since. You can still experience the horror-thriller in theaters. Be sure to check your local listings and Moviefone for showtimes in your area. ‘Knock At The Cabin’ has a total runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Watch the official trailers for Knock At The Cabin’ below:
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When Will It Be Available To Stream Online?
The movie became available for PVOD on February 2. You can rent the title for $19.99 or purchase the digital copy for $24.99 on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and Direct TV.
And great news for Peacock subscribers, who can stream the movie starting March 24th.
Prefer the own the physical copy? ‘Knock At The Cabin’ will be available to purchase on DVD and Blu-Ray on May 9th with over 40 minutes of bonus features, deleted scenes, and featurettes as listed below:
Chowblaster Infomercial – Enjoy an extended cut of the TV infomercial from the film that features an appearance by M. Night Shyamalan himself.
Choosing Wisely: Behind the Scenes of Knock at the Cabin – Examine what drew M. Night Shyamalan to adapt this terrifying story, and how the relationships between characters were unlike any this ensemble cast had ever played before.
Tools of the Apocalypse – Explore the creation of some of the film’s most terrifying props and learn why they play such an important role in the story
Drawing a Picture – See how M. Night Shyamalan envisions his shots in advance of ever turning on the camera, through his extensive use of storyboards.
Whether fighting alongside the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ as Drax the Destroyer or as the ever-intimidating Glossu “Beast” Rabban Harkonnen in the upcoming ‘Dune: Part Two’, Dave Bautista has proven that he is a multi-facet actor with a promising career:
But unlike most of those, ‘My Spy’ is actually getting a sequel, with casting now announced for ‘My Spy: The Eternal City’. Anna Faris, Craig Robinson and Flula Borg are among the new faces joining the ensemble.
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What happened in ‘My Spy’
The first ‘My Spy’ –– which had been intended for theatrical release by STX Entertainment but was moved to Amazon when the pandemic closed cinemas –– starred Bautista as JJ, a CIA agent who is assigned on an undercover mission to surveil and potentially protect Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley) and daughter Sophie (Chloe Coleman) when the former arms dealer partner of Kate’s dead husband suspects he may have smuggled the plans for a weapon back to his unsuspecting wife.
But while JJ and tech specialist Bobbi (Kristen Schaal) set up their operation in Kate and Sophie’s building, the precocious nine-year-old girl figures out exactly what JJ is up to and makes a deal –– if he’ll teach her spy craft, she won’t blow his cover.
JJ reluctantly agrees, and finds himself bonding with Sophie, and eventually falling for her mother, as the threats mount.
(L to R) Chloe Coleman and Dave Bautista in 2020’s ‘My Spy.’
The follow-up concerns a now teenage Sophie convincing JJ to chaperone her school choir trip to Italy where they both unwittingly end up pawns in an international terrorist plot targeting CIA chief David Kim (Ken Jeong) and his son, Collin –– who’s also Sophie’s best friend.
Schaal and Jeong are back for the new movie, while Nicola Correia-Damude, Noah Dalton Danby and Devere Rogers are all reprising their roles.
Faris, Billy Barratt, Taeho K, Borg and Robinson are new to the story, but Amazon has yet to reveal the roles they’ll play.
Pete Segal, who directed the first movie, is back behind the camera, having worked on the script alongside writing duo Jon and Erich Hoeber. The cameras will be rolling this month.
“We were so delighted with the success of ‘My Spy.’ It is an absolute privilege to reunite with Pete Segal, Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, and the rest of the talented cast and filmmakers–along with some very exciting additions,” Amazon and MGM Studios head Jennifer Salke said in a statement. “With the sequel, our Prime Video customers are in store for another dynamic story, complete with twists, hilarious performances, and even a little romance.”
(L to R) Chloe Coleman, Parisa Fitz-Henley and Dave Bautista in 2020’s ‘My Spy.’
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To say too much about the plot would give away some of the very satisfying twists and turns, but it basically follows married couple Eric (‘Frozen’s Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (‘Spoiler Alert’s Ben Aldridge), along with their adopted daughter Wen (newcomer Kristen Cui) as they vacation at a remote cabin in the woods.
Trouble begins when four strangers, Leonard (Dave Bautista), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Adriane (Abby Quinn) and Redmond (Rupert Grint), arrive at the cabin with an extraordinary request for the family … either sacrifice one of your own or everyone on Earth will die.
(R to L) Ben Aldridge, Kristen Cui, Jonathan Groff and Dave Bautista in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
The result is a captivating and thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller that plays off the expectations audiences have when watching a Shyamalan movie and features very good performances from Dave Bautista, Ben Aldridge, and newcomer Kristen Cui.
While I’ve always enjoyed M. Night Shyamalan as a filmmaker and storyteller, for me his films can be hit or miss. For every ‘Sixth Sense’ or ‘Unbreakable’ there is an ‘After Earth‘ or ‘The Happening.’ ‘Knock at the Cabin’ is in the former category, and I would put it right up there with some of the director’s best movies including ‘Signs’ and ‘The Village.’
But of course, audiences are aware by now of Shyamalan’s work and the twists, turns, and the surprise endings that he is famous for. However, in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ Shyamalan plays off of the audiences own expectations, which is the real twist. I spent half of the movie wondering what the twist would be, are the characters all really dead, or is everything just happening in someone’s backyard? But the true twist of the movie is that there is no twist at all! Everything is exactly as it is presented, and that is the real surprise, which is absolutely brilliant!
Dave Bautista in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Of all the professional wrestlers turned actors, which includes Dwayne Johnson and John Cena, I’ve always thought Dave Bautista was the best actual actor of the bunch, and more concerned with the craft of acting than being a movie star. He’s pushed his range in recent years, from playing physically imposing characters like in ‘Spectre’ or ‘Blade Runner 2049,’ or more humorous roles like in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movies or the recent ‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.’ In ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ while still physically imposing, Bautista has an opportunity to show his quieter, more emotional side and is very good in his dramatic scenes.
Also outstanding in the new film is actor Ben Aldridge, who plays Andrew. I first noticed Aldridge last year in the movie ‘Spoiler Alert,’ where he also gave an excellent performance. The actor does it again here, playing a loving character with some deep anger issues. Andrew is reluctant to believe what the four visitors are selling, and the complexity of his ultimate choice is heartbreaking. I think Aldridge is an actor you will be seeing a lot more of in the future, and could easily start getting the type of high profile roles that actors like Luke Evans or Matthew Rhys are often cast in.
But the true breakout star of the film is Kristen Cui, who plays Eric and Andrew’s young daughter, Wen. The actress is excellent in the role, and hard to take your eyes off of in her scenes. She is asked to do a lot for a young actress, and absolutely nails the role. She has great chemistry with Aldridge and Groff, but is especially great in her intimidating scenes with Bautista. Shyamalan also wisely uses flashbacks throughout the film to illustrate how Andrew and Eric met, the challenges of their relationship, and how they came to adopt Wen, which helps to flesh out the characters before their ultimate decision.
Kristen Cui in ‘Knock at the Cabin,’ directed by M. Night Shyamalan.
Groff does his best as Eric, but the character is not written as deeply as Andrew, and therefore seems one-dimensional at times, however Groff makes his final monologue really resonate. Speaking of one-dimensional characters, that is exactly what Rupert Grint was asked to play as Redmond. There is purposely not much nuance to the character, and Grint is more than satisfactory in his performance as the “evil redneck.”
Rounding out the four strangers is Nikki Amuka-Bird as Sabrina and Abby Quinn as Adriane. Amuka-Bird gives a very good and relatable performance as the reluctant Sabrina, while Quinn plays her role with a nervous, bubbly energy that adds a lot of humor to the otherwise nail-biting suspense thriller.
The movie touches on themes of religion, faith, and the environment, but really asks the question: Would you sacrifice your own love to save the world? It’s an interesting question, one that is explored in the movie, and lends itself well to the genre and Shyamalan’s form of filmmaking.
(L to R) M. Night Shyamalan and Ben Aldridge on the set ‘Knock at the Cabin.’
There are some visual effects in the later part of the movie, that for the most part are used sparingly and really work. However, eagle eye viewers may notice a few shots that look slightly unfinished. It’s so minor, it’s almost not worth mentioning, and the drama of the story and the performances help to mask those moments.
In the end, it may not be his best film ever, but ‘Knock at the Cabin’ is definitely one of M. Night Shyamalan’s better movies, and a return to form for the visionary writer and director, featuring powerful performances from Bautista, Aldridge and Cui.
Marvel Comics’ Adam Warlock. Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
If you’ve watched the moody trailer for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’, you’ll know that the third ‘Guardians’ outing, once again written and directed by James Gunn, promises to be an emotional capper to at least this incarnation of the team.
Though Gunn insists that it’s not some huge cull that will leave everyone permanently off the board (particularly as, thanks to their participation in the ‘Avengers’ movies, they’re important to the fabric of the MCU), it seems like we’ll be saying goodbye to more than one member (and comments by Dave Bautista about leaving Drax behind makes us suspect he could either die heroically or sail off somewhere else in the universe).
And one of the biggest issues that the Guardians––Bautista’s Drax, Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana’s Gamora, Karen Gillan’s Nebula and Pom Klementieff’s Mantis, plus CG characters Rocket Racoon (brought to life by Sean Gunn in performance capture and voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel)––will face is Adam Warlock, played by British actor Will Poulter.
Created by gold-hued Sovereign leader Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) after the Guardians double-crossed her in ‘Vol. 2’, Warlock promises that this prime example of the Sovereign race will destroy our morally changeable heroes. He’s a powerful warrior… But is he entirely a bad guy?
“It’s kind of more complicated than that,” Gunn tells Empire. “But he’s definitely not a good guy. What we’re seeing is the infant form of Warlock, newly out of the cocoon, and he does not understand life very well. He’s basically a baby.”
Will Poulter as Adam Warlock in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.’ Photo courtesy of Empire Magazine.
After a long search for the right actor to bring him to life, Gunn settled on Poulter, known for films such as the ‘Maze Runner’ movies and, more recently, horror title ‘Midsommar’.
“People online were saying, ‘Oh, Tom Cruise should be Adam Warlock,’” says Gunn. “I wanted somebody who was youthful, and I wanted the person who had the dramatic chops and the comedic chops, not only for this movie but for what Marvel will use Adam Warlock for in the future. He could become this really important character.”
Yes, in true Marvel style, Warlock looks to be hanging around the MCU for a while yet, and he’ll certainly be handy for the future of the Multiverse Saga, which is the overarching title for Phases four, five and six.
For now, though, we’ll have to wait and see how Warlock pans out in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’, which will also feature Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary, who promises to be even more of a problem for our heroes.
