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Tag: david-jonsson

  • ‘Wasteman’ Interview: David Jonsson and Tom Blyth

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    Opening in US theaters on April 17th is the new prison drama ‘Wasteman’, which was directed by Cal McMau and stars David Jonsson (‘Alien: Romulus’ and ‘The Long Walk’) and Tom Blyth (‘Billy the Kid’ and ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’).

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    (L to R) David Jonsson and Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) David Jonsson and Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Jonsson and Tom Blyth about their work on ‘Wasteman’, Jonsson’s first reaction to the screenplay, Blyth’s approach to his character, shooting the riot sequence and filming in a real former prison.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews.

    Related Article: Tom Blyth Talks ‘Billy the Kid’ Season 2 Part 2 and Making a Western

    David Jonsson in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    David Jonsson in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Moviefone: To begin with, David, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and why you wanted to help tell this story and play this character?

    David Jonsson: Well, I guess my first reaction to reading this screenplay was the feeling that this is real. I love films and making films is such a special process. But there’s very rare times when you’re working on something that has a root source material. So, I feel like that was in the script. The process of taking it from there to where it is now was very long. Making movies is heroic because nine times out of ten films fall apart, which is what happened with this film. Before either of us came aboard it, it fell apart and then years after it started to gain some momentum again. So, I’m grateful that we got to make this film not just because it feels like a special project, but because of what we were able to give to it, which I think was inherently quite deep.

    Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Tom, can you talk about the research you did for this role and how it shaped your approach and informed your performance?

    Tom Blyth: I started as I always do by reading and there’s a lot that goes into it, but I won’t bore the pants of you. I did some reading and listened to podcasts, and you listen, and you absorb as much as you can about the world that you’re living in. But then the main thing, honestly, was we had this charity on board called Switchback, who are a UK prison charity where they help recent prison parolees get back on their feet and get into work and accommodations and just have a place to go. They came on board as consultants, but very quickly became such an integral part of the film process that about 70% of the supporting cast are recent prison parolees who were involved in the charity. So, it gave the film this gritty realism, but at the same time it meant that we had this incredible living resource all around us. If at any minute we felt the “BS barometer” creeping up, you could turn to someone and go, “Is this feeling real to you? Would I be able to do this?” He’d turn around and say, “You know, maybe this way instead of that way. Or maybe you wouldn’t have that in your cell, so I’d get rid of that if I were you.” It just meant it was breathing the entire time and the whole thing felt rich and real.

    Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Tom, can you talk about shooting the riot sequence? Did you rehearse that scene or just go for it?

    TB: Most of the fight scenes were well planned and rehearsed, but that one was less so. That was one where they really did bring in six people with riot shields and riot gear and just threw them against us. Lorenzo (Levrini) our DP was amongst it with the camera, trying not to get hit. But there were gas canisters going off, like fake tear gas, and you couldn’t see a thing. You got all the guys playing in the background up above shouting and throwing water on us. It was chaos. It was absolute chaos and I ended up with a big gash in my hand and was bleeding all over the riot shields and you couldn’t quite tell what my blood was and what was the makeup blood. But the adrenaline was just so high, you just keep going and by the end, I was burned out. But it adds to the sense that you’re living it and it’s real.

    David Jonsson in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    David Jonsson in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    MF: Finally, David, I understand that you shot the movie in a real former prison. What were the vibes like in there and do you think it added to the tone and mood of the movie?

    DJ: Oh, it was spooky. There were spooky vibes all around. You know, your environment informs a lot of what you do, which is why films try to go to the right place. But this film, filming in a natural prison just gave us everything that we needed. In my opinion, I think it adds to the pressure cooker of this film because I do think it is a pressure cooker. I think it’s based in that, as Tom said, gritty reality. So, shooting in an actual prison, I think it’s like, you couldn’t write it. It’s exactly what’s meant to be.

    'Wasteman' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Wasteman’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    What is the plot of ‘Wasteman’?

    Taylor’s (David Jonsson) hopes for a fresh start post-parole are jeopardized by cellmate Dee’s (Tom Blyth) arrival. As Dee takes Taylor under his wing, a vicious attack tests their bond, forcing Taylor to choose between protecting Dee and his own chances at freedom.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Wasteman’?

    Tom Blyth in 'Wasteman'. Photo: Lionsgate.
    Tom Blyth in ‘Wasteman’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Movies and TV Shows Featuring Tom Blyth:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Wasteman’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Tom Blyth Movies and TV on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘The Long Walk’

    (L to R) Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch, Garrett Wareing as Stebbins, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, David Jonsson as McVries, Ben Wang as Olson, Tut Nyuot as Baker, and Joshua Odjick as Parker in 'The Long Walk'. Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch, Garrett Wareing as Stebbins, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, David Jonsson as McVries, Ben Wang as Olson, Tut Nyuot as Baker, and Joshua Odjick as Parker in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo: Murray Close/Lionsgate.

    Opening in theaters September 12 is ‘The Long Walk,’ directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Cooper Hoffman, David Jonsson, Garrett Wareing, Tut Nyuot, Charlie Plummer, Ben Wang, Joshua Odjick, Roman Griffin Davis, Josh Hamilton, Judy Greer, and Mark Hamill.

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    Related article: 19 Best Stephen King Movie Adaptations in Honor of ‘The Long Walk’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Joshua Odjick as Parker, Jordan Gonzalez as Harkness, David Jonsson as McVries, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, and Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Joshua Odjick as Parker, Jordan Gonzalez as Harkness, David Jonsson as McVries, Cooper Hoffman as Garraty, and Charlie Plummer as Barkovitch in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.

    Stephen King began writing ‘The Long Walk’ in 1966, at the age of 19, while a student at the University of Maine, and eventually published it 13 years later under the pseudonym Richard Bachman. Rediscovered after his Bachman cover was blown in 1984, ‘The Long Walk’ has since been acclaimed as one of King’s finest early novels and a frightening depiction of a totalitarian future in which citizens are mere fodder for the regime (at the time King wrote it, it was an allegory for the Vietnam War).

    A film version has long been in development, but has now finally arrived from director Francis Lawrence, who has been traversing similar territory with his adaptations of the ‘Hunger Games’ books (which owe a clear debt to this and King’s other early dystopian work, ‘The Running Man’). We’re pleased to report that ‘The Long Walk’ is easily one of the finest King-based films ever, capturing the harrowing intensity of the narrative as well as the camaraderie that develops between its characters, especially the warm friendship between its two leads that gives the story a powerful emotional gut punch.

    Story and Direction

    (L to R) Mark Hamill as The Major and Director Francis Lawrence in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
    (L to R) Mark Hamill as The Major and Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.

    At some point in the indeterminate (but not too distant) future, the United States has been taken over by a totalitarian regime that annually stages a contest called the Long Walk, in which 50 young men must walk from Maine to Florida without stopping. If you stop for any reason or fall below the required pace of three miles per hour, you are given a warning. If you reach three warnings and do not resume walking at the correct speed, you are executed. The last walker alive wins, and is given a lifetime of freedom, riches, and opportunities.

    ‘The Long Walk’ focuses in particular on two of the boys thrust into this hellish marathon: Ray Garraty (Cooper Hoffman) and Peter McVries (David Jonsson), who quickly forge a friendship that McVries in particular extends to a number of the other contestants. Even as others on the Walk try to sabotage them, and despite the malevolent presence of the Major (Mark Hamill), the mysterious figurehead who presides over the Walk, a group of the boys manage to keep each other going – all while the Walk takes a horrific and increasingly fatal physical toll.

    In theory, ‘The Long Walk’ might not work onscreen, given the straightforward nature of the narrative and the ever-tightening if repetitive cycle of death as more and more contestants succumb to their doom. But Lawrence and screenwriter JT Mollner (‘Strange Darling’) keep the focus squarely on the characters, particularly Garraty and McVries, as we learn more about them and watch them turn from frightened, uncertain pawns into something resembling, of all things, a resistance.

    Roman Griffin Davis as Curly in 'The Long Walk'. Photo: Murray Close.
    Roman Griffin Davis as Curly in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo: Murray Close.

    It’s the human element that powers ‘The Long Walk,’ although the horror of the situation is never far away. And while we don’t gain very much knowledge about this version of the U.S., the bleak, decrepit, empty homes and storefronts we see along the way – along with the scattered, hollow-eyed observers on the side of the road – tell us all we need to know about a dying nation ruled by cruelty and distraction. Lawrence and Mollner make some cosmetic changes to the material – and alter the book’s ambiguous ending in a way that we’re not sure is totally successful – but capture the tone of King’s work perfectly.

    While some of Lawrence’s movies have left us cold in the past – particularly the later ‘Hunger Games’ entries – ‘The Long Walk’ is suffused with a sense of sadness and loss, coupled with the utter brutality of the regime and the way it mercilessly dispatches the walkers who can’t go the distance. But there’s also the warmth of friends and the bond of a shared experience, brought achingly to life by the cast.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close.
    (L to R) Cooper Hoffman as Garraty and David Jonsson as McVries in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close.

    David Jonsson has been on viewers’ radars thanks primarily to his main role on ‘Industry’ and his standout work as the android Andy in last year’s ‘Alien: Romulus,’ but he comes fully into his own here as McVries. His mix of optimism, cynicism, courage, and bravado makes the character incredibly appealing and watchable, and his performance is moving enough to be awards-worthy down the line.

    Cooper Hoffman has only a handful of credits since making his debut in 2021’s ‘Licorice Pizza,’ but ‘The Long Walk’ may also represent his finest work so far. Garraty is the critical character in the sense that he’s the protagonist who changes the most over the course of the Walk – prodded along by McVries. But his naturalism as Garraty and the chemistry that he and Jonsson share is the engine of the story.

    The rest of the cast, almost to a man, step up even when they have little more than an agonizing death scene. But standouts include Garrett Wareing as the villainous Stebbins, Charlie Plummer as the dissolute Barkovich, Ben Wang as the irritating (but heartbreaking) Hank Olson, and Joshua Odjick as the noble Collie Parker. Judy Greer is excellent in her relatively small screen time as Garraty’s mom, and while we appreciate Mark Hamill showing up in his second King movie of the year (after ‘The Life of Chuck’), we wish his work as the Major was a bit more subdued in its menace than over-the-top.

    Final Thoughts

    Mark Hamill at The Major in 'The Long Walk'.
    Mark Hamill at The Major in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo: Lionsgate.

    Stephen King is having a banner year on screen: with the acidic ‘The Monkey’ and the excellent ‘The Life of Chuck’ already released and Edgar Wright’s version of ‘The Running Man’ due out in November, ‘The Long Walk’ will nevertheless be difficult to beat. It may well be one of the best movies of 2025, in addition to being possibly the best King adaptation of the year.

    Francis Lawrence and JT Mollner have not forgotten that King’s work is not just about the scares or the premise, but the people. ‘The Long Walk’ poignantly chronicles how human beings can find hope and comfort in each other in the darkest of circumstances, a theme that’s even more bracing and timely now as the United States slips terrifyingly toward the kind of scenario postulated in the film. Even as it doesn’t provide answers, it does offer a glimpse of a light in the darkness – and what people will endure to keep walking toward that light.

    ‘The Long Walk’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.

    Judy Greer as Ginny Garraty in 'The Long Walk'. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.
    Judy Greer as Ginny Garraty in ‘The Long Walk’. Photo Credit: Murray Close/Lionsgate.

    What is the plot of ‘The Long Walk’?

    In a dystopian United States ruled by a totalitarian regime, a group of young men enter an annual walking contest in which they must maintain a speed of at least three miles per hour or risk execution. The contest ends when only one walker remains alive.

    Who is in the cast of ‘The Long Walk’?

    • Cooper Hoffman as Raymond Garraty
    • David Jonsson as Peter McVries
    • Garrett Wareing as Stebbins
    • Joshua Odjick as Collie Parker
    • Tut Nyuot as Arthur Baker
    • Charlie Plummer as Gary Barkovitch
    • Ben Wang as Hank Olson
    • Roman Griffin Davis as Thomas Curley
    • Judy Greer as Mrs. Garraty
    • Josh Hamilton as Mr. Garraty
    • Mark Hamill as The Major
    'The Long Walk' opens in theaters on September 12th.
    ‘The Long Walk’ opens in theaters on September 12th.

    List of Stephen King Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Long Walk’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Stephen King Movies On Amazon

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  • Sydney Sweeney Starring in Colman Domingo’s ‘Scandalous’

    (left) Oscar® nominee Colman Domingo arrives on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Center) Sydney Sweeney talks 'Immaculate.' (Left) David Jonsson at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel. Photo: Disney.
    (left) Oscar® nominee Colman Domingo arrives on the red carpet of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Mike Baker / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Center) Sydney Sweeney talks ‘Immaculate.’ (Left) David Jonsson at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    Preview:

    • Sydney Sweeney will play Kim Novak in ‘Scandalous.’
    • David Jonsson is on board to co-star as Sammy Davis Jr.
    • Colman Domingo is directing the drama.

    Colman Domingo’s career has been developing in leaps and bounds in the last few years, driven by work on the likes of ‘Euphoria’ and his Oscar-nominated film performances such as ‘Rustin.’

    The actor has also turned his hand to directing, shooting three episodes of ‘Fear the Walking Dead.’ And he’s spinning that experience behind the camera into feature work, with one movie in development (more on that below) and now, via Deadline, an exciting new project with ‘Euphoria’ co-star Sydney Sweeney.

    ‘Scandalous,’ which focuses on the love affair between Kim Novak and Sammy Davis Jr., began life with producer Jon Glickman (who is currently CEO of Miramax), has now become a movie that Sweeney is pushing forward alongside producers Tani Cohen and Bobby Roth.

    Domingo is looking to kick off directing in Los Angeles next year, and while Sweeney would play Novak, ‘Alien Romulus’ David Jonsson is aboard to play Davis Jr.

    Related Article: Colman Domingo to Join Steven Spielberg’s New, Untitled UFO Movie

    What’s the story of ‘Scandalous’?

    (L to R) Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford in 'Salt and Pepper'. Photo: United Artists.
    (L to R) Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford in ‘Salt and Pepper’. Photo: United Artists.

    Featuring a script by Matthew Fantaci, ‘Scandalous’ will chart what happened when movie Novak (known for the likes of ‘Vertigo’ and ‘Pal Joey’) met Rat Pack member Davis Jr. while guests on ‘The Steve Allen Show.’

    They fell in love, but as rumors spread, the rampant racism in America threatened to derail their careers. Novak saw the ire of Harry Cohn, the Columbia Pictures chief who had the actress under contract. Their covert affair became big news when a Chicago gossip columnist in early 1958 wrote a detailed account of their relationship, including their plans to marry.

    Their publicists and the stars themselves denied the news and nine days later, Davis Jr. married a Black chorus girl named Loray White.

    What else is Colman Domingo developing?

    Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo to portray Jackson Family Patriarch Joe Jackson in Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International's Michael Jackson biopic 'Michael.'
    Oscar-nominated actor Colman Domingo to portray Jackson Family Patriarch Joe Jackson in Lionsgate and Universal Pictures International’s Michael Jackson biopic ‘Michael.’

    Domingo is overseeing the move of stage production ‘Lights Out: Nat King Cole,’ which he wrote with director Patricia McGregor, to New York. And talking of the legendary singer, Domingo also has a film about him in the works, with plans to star and direct.

    On the acting front, he’s working on Tina Fey’s TV version of ‘The Four Seasons’ for Netflix. Next up, he’ll be seen in the streamer’s new mystery thriller limited series ‘The Madness,’ (landing November 28th) and is appearing as Michael Jackson’s father Joe in ‘Michael’, the biopic of the pop icon, which is in theaters on April 18th next year.

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    When will ‘Scandalous’ be on screens?

    Given that Domingo and Sweeney are waiting until they finish work on the next season of ‘Euphoria’ (which isn’t scheduled to shoot until January 2025 at the earliest), we’ll likely be in for wait for this one.

    Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in 'Rustin.' Photo: David Lee/Netflix.
    Colman Domingo as Bayard Rustin in ‘Rustin.’ Photo: David Lee/Netflix.

    Other Colman Domingo Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Colman Domingo Movies on Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Alien: Romulus’

    (L to R) Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine and David Jonsson as Andy in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine and David Jonsson as Andy in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on August 16th is ‘Alien: Romulus,’ which was directed by Fede Álvarez and stars Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, and Aileen Wu.

    Related Article: The ‘Alien: Romulus’ Comic-Con Panel Brings Footage and Facehuggers to Hall H

    Initial Thoughts

    Isabela Merced as Kay in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Isabela Merced as Kay in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The ‘Alien’ franchise has gotten especially convoluted in the 21st century, with spinoffs (‘Alien vs. Predator’), origin stories (‘Prometheus’) and sequels to prequels (‘Alien: Covenant’) clogging up the trajectory of what started out as something simple and elegant: a haunted house movie set in space. ‘Alien: Romulus,’ directed by Fede Álvarez, works hard to bring the brand back to the basics. And in many ways, Álvarez succeeds: working off a script he co-wrote with Rodo Sayagues, Álvarez has created a mostly tense, atmospheric, and to-the-point monster movie that – much like the first ‘Alien’ – has a terrific central character at its core.

    But Álvarez also makes the mistake of leaning too heavily on nostalgia, with ‘Alien: Romulus’ – particularly in its second half – playing like the franchise equivalent of a greatest hits package and showing a decided lack of imagination in its callbacks to not just the first ‘Alien,’ but ‘Aliens,’ ‘Alien: Resurrection,’ and even the controversial ‘Prometheus.’ And one creative choice in particular is not only incredibly distracting and jarring, but bordering on unethical – and also a spoiler.

    Story and Direction

    Director Fede Álvarez at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel.
    Director Fede Álvarez at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    ‘Alien: Romulus,’ we find out fairly early on, is set around 20 years after the events of the first ‘Alien.’ It opens on a mining colony on a brutal, storm-tossed world where it’s hard enough for humans to survive, let alone work. Rain Carradine (Cailee Spaeny) works for, of course, the ever-present Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and gets the bad news that her contract – more like indentured servitude – has been extended another six years without her knowledge.

    Devastated by the news that she cannot get herself and her child-like (because he’s been damaged in the past) android “brother” Andy (David Jonsson) off the planet, Rain joins a group of four other young co-workers who have detected an abandoned space station drifting above the planet. Their plan: fly their own ship up to the derelict, break in and load its cryosleep pods into their vessel, and fly off to the distant planet Yvaga, where life is presumably more pleasant and one can actually see a sunrise instead of round-the-clock darkness.

    We’ve already glimpsed that space station in a brief prologue, and it’s no spoiler to tell you that our young friends find out the hard way that while there is no crew in sight, the spacecraft is definitely inhabited. The initial buildup of the story is brief, with the six colonists getting up to the station in relatively short order. The exploration of its darkened, abandoned corridors is one of the highlights of the film and most reminiscent in spirit of both the original ‘Alien’ and the space Marines’ foray into the deserted colony on LV-426 in ‘Aliens’ (although why no one else seems to know this rather large space station is floating above the colony is a mystery that the film never answers).

    Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    The pace continues to pick up as our friends make their first contact with Xenomorphs (come on, it’s right in the trailer) in their facehugger form, ending in a bad way for one of their number. There are other revelations to come as well, including how a Xenomorph first got on the station, what the station’s purpose was, and how the seemingly innocent Andy undergoes an upgrade that suddenly has Rain wondering if her adopted mechanical sibling can be trusted even to save her life.

    A lot of exposition comes courtesy of a plot device we won’t discuss in detail here, but is the one that audiences – ‘Alien’ fans in particular, but also people with a conscience in general – may find difficult to reckon with. Yes, that’s the one we mention above that’s distracting and frankly ghoulish; we can only hope the right people got paid well for it, but even then it may set a terrible precedent. That in turn opens the floodgates for a series of callbacks to various other ‘Alien’ movies as Rain, Andy, and their dwindling band try to escape the growing infestation of Xenomorphs and the station itself, which in time-honored ‘Alien’ tradition is on a path to destruction in less than the two hours it takes to watch ‘Alien: Romulus.’

    Some of the homages are subtle and kind of neat, like a reference to the events of ‘Prometheus’ that works in context. Others, however, approach ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ levels of inanity and over-slavish fan service, while another climactic reveal channels the last plot turn you’d expect from one of the less popular entries in the series.

    In fairness, Álvarez – who has covered this kind of territory before with his underrated 2013 ‘Evil Dead’ remake – keeps the action moving, the shocks visceral, and the atmosphere grimy and bleak, aided by Galo Olivares’ excellent cinematography and Benjamin Wallfisch’s score. Both effortlessly channel the vibe and tone of the early ‘Alien’ movies. In many respects, this is the most intense and effective film in the series since the first two, which makes the decision to lean hard into blatant nostalgia bait down the stretch all the more irritating.

    The Cast

    20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Following her recent sterling work in ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Civil War,’ Cailee Spaeny is a bit flat here as Rain. Like the rest of the cast, she seems a bit too young to have been laboring for years already under Weyland-Yutani, although the future’s child labor laws may have started her in the field at a young age. She’s clearly meant to continue the time-honored ‘Alien’ tradition started by Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley, but her character isn’t given enough development early on and her line readings tend to veer toward monotone. Spaeny does handle her eventual (and expected) transformation into action-oriented warrior well, and she’s still an engaging screen presence.

    Even though Spaeny is top-billed, the movie belongs to David Jonsson as Andy. It’s also been a feature of the ‘Alien’ films that its synthetic characters are among its best, and Andy follows in the tradition laid down by Ash, Bishop, and David. But he’s also his own unique creation: found “in the trash” by Rain’s late father and adopted as a sort of little brother with intellectual disabilities that she must take care of, Andy undergoes the best, most fully realized (and arguably only) character arc in the film, an arc that creates its own narrative tension and makes for the most compelling parts of the story. Jonsson is spectacular throughout, handling Andy’s transformation with nuance, mystery, and a mix of empathy and unease. It’s also interesting to see more of the ‘Alien’ universe here, in terms of how synthetics are perceived and treated, which opens up all kinds of possibilities should the series continue.

    David Jonsson as Andy in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    David Jonsson as Andy in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    As for the rest of the small cast, they also unfortunately follow a time-honored ‘Alien’ tradition of simply being Xenomorph fodder. But while previous installments were often peppered with seasoned character actors who could make something out of nothing (Harry Dean Stanton, Jenette Goldstein, and many others say hello), this crew is largely forgettable, as hard as they try and as fully as they commit.

    On the other hand, special props should go to the actors and operators behind the practical and animatronic Xenomorph manifestations – it’s refreshing to see Álvarez return to physical creations on set, which also keeps ‘Romulus’ in line with the franchise’s initial, classic entries.

    Final Thoughts

    Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus'. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    As we said earlier, as so many legacy sequels and franchises are prone to do, Álvarez’s film feels the need to rely on obvious and even silly callbacks in the name of fan service. Like so many filmmakers nowadays, he seems to worry that the fan base may not be perceptive enough to handle new ideas without reassuring them that he’s not straying too far. This, along with that one unsettling element we mentioned earlier, hurts ‘Alien: Romulus,’ but not fatally.

    Yet there is a lot to like in the movie too; in a series that’s yielded far more disappointments and squandered opportunities than not, it’s nice to see an entry fashioned by a filmmaker who’s clearly passionate about this mythology and legacy. ‘Alien: Romulus’ is an often exciting, suspenseful, and gruesome crowd-pleaser that fits well into the existing canon and works hard – almost too hard – to recreate the experience of watching the saga’s best films.

    ‘Alien: Romulus’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the plot of ‘Alien: Romulus’?

    A group of young space colonists hatch a plan to salvage technology from an abandoned space station and inadvertently come face to face with an incredibly dangerous life form that threatens all their lives.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Alien: Romulus’?

    • Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine
    • David Jonsson as Andy
    • Archie Renaux as Tyler
    • Isabela Merced as Kay
    • Spike Fearn as Bjorn
    • Aileen Wu as Navarro
    20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
    20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Movies in the ‘Alien’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Alien’ Movies On Amazon

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  • Comic-Con 2024: ‘Alien: Romulus’ Panel

    Spike Fearn, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, director Fede Álvarez and Archie Renaux at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel.
    (L to R) Spike Fearn, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, director Fede Álvarez and Archie Renaux at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    Preview: 

    • ‘Alien: Romulus’ brought terror to the San Diego Comic-Con.
    • Director Fede Alvarez and his cast were in attendance.
    • The movie’s team brought Facehuggers to the presentation.

    It’s always a challenge to stand out at a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con; but when you have the compelling terror of an ‘Alien’ movie and the resources of 20th Century Studios, you can afford to put on a show.

    With journalists previously teased by a VHS tape begging up the idea of the panel weeks before, the Con event itself proved to be memorable, launched with flashing red lights and red smoke piercing the pre-show gloom and closing with a planted audience member stumbling on stage, attacked by a Facehugger (AKA the larval stage of the xenomorph aliens we love to hate), others of the creature scuttling across the stage and another person having an alien burst from his chest with a spray of fake blood.

    You can get a flavor of the live experience here:

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    What’s the story of ‘Alien: Romulus’?

    Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios' 'Alien: Romulus.'
    Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Alien: Romulus’ takes place between the events of ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’.

    While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.

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    Who is in ‘Alien: Romulus’?

    David Jonsson, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, and Spike Fearn at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel.
    (L to R) David Jonsson, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, and Spike Fearn at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, and Spike Fearn are among the main cast for the movie, and they were all present for the Comic-Con panel.

    The actors talked about their roles and the experience shooting the movie, which blended practical and physical effects –– Fearn talked about not having to shoot “with tennis balls”, while Spaeny enthused about being enveloped by the huge practical sets.

    Related Article: Fede Alvarez’s ‘Alien’ Movie Gets Seal Of Approval From Ridley Scott

    What did we learn at the ‘Alien: Romulus’ Comic-Con panel?

    Director Fede Álvarez, Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux and Spike Fearn at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel. Photo: Disney.
    (L to R) Director Fede Álvarez, Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux and Spike Fearn at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    Director Fede Alvarez, who wrote the script with regular collaborator Rodo Sayagues, answered the lion’s share of the questions, including those submitted by the likes of Ridley Scott (director of the original 1979 ‘Alien’ and a couple of more recent spin-offs, who is a producer on ‘Romulus’), Dan Trachtenberg (director of Predator movie ‘Prey’) and Guillermo del Toro (a filmmaker who surely needs little introduction).

    Asked by del Toro about his approach to leading the design for the latest take on the xenomorph creature, he admitted it included lots of reading and looking through old films to make sure they honored what came before. “If you love it, it’s hard to f*** it up,” he said.

    Trachtenberg asked who would win between a Predator and a Xenomorph, with Alvarez and his cast clear that the Xenomorphs would triumph.

    Cailee Spaeny at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel.
    Cailee Spaeny at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    Scott got two questions –– one about the themes of the new movie (“It’s called ‘Romulus’ because it’s really a story about siblinghood,” Alvarez said, explaining that he wants to explore more human connections in a way the original movies didn’t.

    The other Scott query could almost have come from the fan Q&A section, grilling Alvarez on his favorite ‘Alien’ movie, with the proviso that he directed the original –– which Alvarez confirmed he loved the most (well, it wouldn’t do to be fired at this point).

    Dotted through the panel was footage from the movie, including a chestburster scene that the director explained upfront had been edited differently to the final film version so as to preclude some spoilers. All the scenes shown from the movie had the audience screaming and cheering in equal measure.

    When will ‘Alien: Romulus’ be in theaters?

    The movie itself is due to unleash horror in cinemas on August 16th.

    Director Fede Álvarez at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 'Alien: Romulus' panel.
    (Right) Director Fede Álvarez at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

    Movies in the ‘Alien’ Franchise:

    Buy ‘Alien’ Movies On Amazon

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  • ‘Murder Is Easy’ Interview: David Jonsson and Morfydd Clark

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    Premiering on BritBox in North America on March 1st is Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder Is Easy,’ which is based on the popular author’s classic mystery and stars David Jonsson (‘Rye Lane’) and Morfydd Clark (‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’).

    The cast of 'Murder is Easy.'
    The cast of ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with David Jonsson and Morfydd Clark about their work on ‘Murder Is Easy,’ being part of an Agatha Christie mystery, their characters, the story, and changes that were made to the source material.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview.

    Related Article: Prime Video’s ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’ Cast Interviews

    Morfydd Clark and Tom Riley in 'Murder is Easy.'
    (L to R) Morfydd Clark and Tom Riley in ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Morfydd, were you an Agatha Christie fan before joining this project and what was it like for you to be in one of her mysteries?

    Morfydd Clark: Yeah, pretty much. I was so excited to be asked to be in an Agatha Christie. I’d grown up watching them, listened to lots of the books and just found the world she creates funny. I love a murder mystery that also isn’t too terrifying. I think that the way she writes people is brutal in that she really homes in on people’s flaws and weirdness. There’s nowhere to hide when an Agatha Christie detective is looking at you. You know Poirot, Miss Marple, Luke Fitzwilliam, they really see the core of people. That’s something that’s quite fascinating and can be quite confronting as well as a reader if you recognize yourself in certain wild behaviors. But also, they’re unrealistic in the fact because I mean, there’s serial killers in every kind of little English town in the Agatha Christie world, which is quite a high stress, and exciting way to live.

    MF: David, what was your relationship to Christie’s work before becoming part of this project?

    David Jonsson: It’s more the fact that I think Agatha Christie is amazing. She’s a kind of a British institution. She’s an incredible writer who’s made an immense amount of great works, kind of like Shakespeare. But for me, the role is everything. So, it’s kind of got all the check marks and I think this one was scary in the way that I like it to be.

    David Jonsson in 'Murder is Easy.'
    David Jonsson in ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    MF: David, what were some of the aspects of this character that you were excited to explore on screen?

    DJ: Well, I guess on paper he’s a young black policeman who works in the force, and who comes over to solve a crime, I guess. That’s never happened in Agatha Christie history, playing the first black lead. So that comes with a big amount of responsibility, but also a big amount of invention and fun to be had. It was just about striking the balance between that and hopefully somewhere in the middle finding the truth, which was fun in the end.

    MF: Morfydd, is fun being in an Agatha Christie mystery?

    MC: Yeah, for sure. It feels like as an actor, your kind of stepping into a genre of itself. We are lucky, me and David, that we worked with lots of very funny actors. Also, we were lucky to work with people like Penelope Wilton. There’s a huge age range also in Agatha Christie, which is fascinating, and I love.

    Penelope Wilton and David Jonsson in 'Murder is Easy.'
    (L to R) Penelope Wilton and David Jonsson in ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    MF: David, your character takes over trying to solve the mystery when Miss Pinkerton is no longer able, can you talk about why he does that?

    DJ: Well, I think he’s just doing the right thing. I feel like Luke has got a very strong moral code, and that’s kind of sometimes alien, isn’t it? When a lot of people think about themselves. I think he’s quite selfless in that scenario, which kind of drives a lot of his character.

    MF: How does Luke’s friends feel about him going to this village and then once he gets there, how is he treated by the people there?

    DJ: Well, I guess it’s all in retrospect, isn’t it? On the way to the village, he’s only got one thing in mind, which is just to kind of help and report this murder. Then when he gets there, it’s a completely different thing, isn’t it? Which is I think a lot of the black experience generally. What I find quite incredible about this one is the parallels between 1950s Britain and today. A lot has changed, but we’ve still got a long way to go. I think that’s cool about this one, because it’s maybe a bit more polarized than some of the other Agatha Christie books.

    David Jonsson in 'Murder is Easy.'
    David Jonsson in ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    MF: Morfydd, can you talk about Bridget’s reaction to Luke when she first meets him?

    MC: Well, I think they kind of have quite an instant connection. They understand each other quite deeply, quite quickly on a certain level, but also in lots of ways, they are worlds apart. I think that Bridget, the rest of her life, she’ll have been a much better person having met him. I think she learns a lot during this state of murders and meeting Fitzwilliam.

    MF: Finally, Morfydd, how would you describe Bridget in your own words?

    MC: She’s no fool. She’s not wealthy, and she doesn’t have a huge number of prospects because she’s a woman in the ‘50s, the ‘60s haven’t happened yet. She’s limited, and so she finds herself a kind of tamable rich man. That’s the best option, and she does it well. Luke really kind of opens her eyes, I guess.

    Mark Bonnar and Mathew Baynton in 'Murder is Easy.'
    (L to R) Mark Bonnar and Mathew Baynton in ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    What is the Plot of ‘Murder Is Easy’?

    Luke Fitzwilliam (David Jonsson) is a Nigerian attaché on his way to Whitehall when he meets the mysterious Miss Pinkerton (Penelope Wilton) on a train. Pinkerton discusses with him that a series of deaths in the village of Wynchwood-Under-Ashe are not accidental and there’s a killer on the loose. Later, Miss Pinkerton is also found dead, and Fitzwilliam steels himself to discover the murderer before he strikes again.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Murder Is Easy’?

    Douglas Henshall in 'Murder is Easy.'
    Douglas Henshall in ‘Murder is Easy.’ Photo: BritBox.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Murder Is Easy’:

    Buy Agatha Christie Movies On Amazon