Moviefone Editorial

Tag: doug-jones

  • ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ Interview: Simon Rex

    Simon Rex as “Danny” in the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    Simon Rex as “Danny” in the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    Opening in theaters on February 27th is the new science fiction comedy ‘Operation Taco Gary’s‘, which marks the directorial debut of Michael Kvamme, and stars Simon Rex (‘Red Rocket’), Dustin Milligan (‘Schitt’s Creek’), Brenda Song (‘The Social Network’), Tony Cavalero (‘The Righteous Gemstones’), Arturo Castro (‘Road House’), Jason Biggs (‘American Pie’), and Doug Jones (‘The Shape of Water’).

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    Moviefone recently had an opportunity to attend Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles, where actor Simon Rex was handing out food at the Tacos 1986 truck in promotion of ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’.

    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for 'Operation Taco Gary's'. Photo: Michelle Felix.
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’. Photo: Michelle Felix.

    We had a chance to speak with the actor about his new film, his first reaction to the screenplay, working with Dustin Milligan and Jason Biggs, crazy conspiracy theories, and collaborating with director Michael Kvamme on set, as well as working with Oscar nominee Rose Byrne and director Stephanie Laing on their upcoming film ‘Tow’, which opens in theaters on March 20th.

    Related Article: Jason Biggs and Meaghan Rath Talk ‘Untitled Home Invasion Romance’

    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for 'Operation Taco Gary's'. Photo: Courtesy of Jami Philbrick.
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’. Photo: Courtesy of Jami Philbrick.

    Moviefone: To begin with, this is a wild movie, what was your first reaction to the screenplay and why did you want to be part of this project both as an actor and a producer?

    Simon Rex: Well, I laughed out loud every page, which was a good sign. Me and my agent and my manager, after reading it, were like, “This is the funniest script we’ve read in a long time.” There’s not a lot of comedies being made. If they are being made, they’re not that funny lately. I feel like that genre is gone and we need it back. So, when I read this, I knew I had to do it, and my agent and manager were like, “We have to roll the dice and go for it on this one.” Sometimes working with a first-time director, you don’t know what you’re getting into, but I trusted Michael because I knew how smart he was from the script and his background at ‘Funny or Die’ and working with Will Ferrell. He’s just gets it, and I knew he could pull it off. I was happy that he did, obviously.

    (L to R) Simon Rex as “Danny” and Dustin Milligan as “Luke” in the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    (L to R) Simon Rex as “Danny” and Dustin Milligan as “Luke” in the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: Can you talk about the brotherly relationship between Danny and Luke and creating that relationship on screen with Dustin Milligan?

    SR: So, in the casting process, which was new for me, I usually am the one who’s coming in for what they call a chemistry read to see if you are of the essence of the other actor’s brother or friend or partner. So, we had it down to like five actors, and Dustin was one of them, and when he came in and read, it was just obvious that it worked. He was very grounded and pragmatic. I’m very over the top, and insane, and that’s the odd couple chemistry that you need for it to work. I’ve seen him in ‘Schitt’s Creek’ and I saw him in another movie, the name escapes me right now, but I was a fan of his. I’m like, this dude’s great, you know? He gets comedy, he nailed it, and that’s how we got him. We just cast him old school, in the room, which doesn’t happen anymore, usually it’s self-tapes.

    Jason Biggs as “self” in the comedy 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    Jason Biggs as “self” in the comedy ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: Jason Biggs plays a crazy and exaggerated version of himself, was he a good sport about doing that?

    SR: Well, that takes a lot of courage and a lot of self-deprecating, self-awareness, and a lot of actors won’t do that. I love that he would because he’s the perfect chef’s kiss for this role, because he’s sort of a throwback to the era of what this movie feels like. It’s like the ‘American Pie’ era. It’s, ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’, ‘Harold & Kumar’, and those fun, lighthearted, wholesome comedies that we don’t make any more in this town. He was perfect in that universe to be synonymous with that era. He’s hilarious, and he’s Jason Biggs. Everyone knows him. He’s a familiar name, so it was perfect. We’re very happy with him. There was a lot of people we were exploring, and some actors wouldn’t be willing to laugh at themselves. I’m just glad he did.

    Doug Jones as “Elder” in the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    Doug Jones as “Elder” in the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: Your character in the movie is a conspiracy theorist. What is your favorite conspiracy theory, not necessarily one you believe in, but one you think is interesting like Stanley Kubrick shooting the Moon landing?

    SR: That’s a good one. There are some very strange parallels there. It’s that thing where I got friends who are conspiracy theorists and they’re like, “There are no coincidences.” I don’t agree with that, but there are some things lately that have been coming to light that have proved me wrong. But my favorite one to answer your question is the “flat Earth” theory because I love how those guys go so crazy. They’ll fly to Antarctica, and they’ll do the measurements, and they’ll be proven wrong, and they’ll still be like, “No, it’s flat.” They just can’t accept the science. That one’s very entertaining, so that’s my favorite one.

    (L to R) Dustin Milligan and director/writer Mikey K on the set of the comedy, 'Operation Taco Gary's', a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.
    (L to R) Dustin Milligan and director/writer Mikey K on the set of the comedy, ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’, a Chroma release. Photo courtesy of Chroma.

    MF: What was it like collaborating with director Michael Kvamme on set to find the right tone for the movie?

    SR: I mean, again, he just gets it. I think people who are that funny are usually very smart in my experience, the funniest people that I’ve worked with are usually intelligent. I think that humor is also a part of being smart and I just knew because of his background, who he’s worked with, and the script that he wrote that his instinct was really on point. That’s a lot of it too, his instinct. It’s just one of those things that you go with your gut. When I met with him and I read the script, it just felt right, and then I’m happy to say that while we were filming, that he knew exactly what he wanted. He showed up prepared, and when you have a director that knows what they want, it makes everything else fall into place. I’ve done jobs where the director is sort of lost. You’re like, “Uh oh, the captain of the ship doesn’t know what’s going on.” This was the opposite. He was extremely on point with everything he wanted and how it would look, and he did all the preparation and he nailed it.

    (L to R) Simon Rex and Rose Byrne in 'Tow.' Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.
    (L to R) Simon Rex and Rose Byrne in ‘Tow.’ Photo: Courtesy of Roadside Attractions.

    MF: Finally, you also have the movie ‘Tow’ opening in March with Rose Byrne, which is based on a real story. What was it like working with Rose and director Stephanie Laing to bring Amanda Ogle’s story to the big screen?

    SR: It was cool. It’s a great wholesome heartwarming movie. I got to meet Amanda. She was on set with her daughter and working with Rose, she might be the most down to earth, normal, big female actor I’ve ever worked with. She was just extremely sweet and generous and I’m happy for this moment she’s having. I’m rooting for her to win the Oscar. I mean, she won the Golden Globe. She could walk away at this point a winner, but I want her to win it all. Obviously, it helps ‘Tow’ if she does. Working with Stephanie Laing, she’s so calm and I’ve never worked with a director that was this mellow, but in a good way where she was so chill. We shot that movie in 19 days, which is insane and ambitious to shoot a whole movie in 19 days with that cast. We got it, and the movie came out great, and it was a great experience. I want to work with Stephanie more and hopefully I will.

    'Operation Taco Gary's' opens in theaters February 27th.
    ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ opens in theaters February 27th.

    What is the plot of ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’?

    Two brothers uncover an alien invasion hidden inside a fast-food chain and must save Earth.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’?

    • Simon Rex as Danny
    • Dustin Milligan as Luke
    • Brenda Song as Allison
    • Tony Cavalero as Kyle
    • Jason Biggs as himself
    • Doug Jones as Elder
    • Arturo Castro as Tiago
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for 'Operation Taco Gary's'. Photo: Michelle Felix.
    Simon Rex attends Smorgasburg LA in downtown Los Angeles at the Tacos 1986 truck for ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’. Photo: Michelle Felix.

    List of Simon Rex Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Operation Taco Gary’s’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Simon Rex Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Interview: Sam Richardson and Doug Jones

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    Premiering on Disney+ beginning September 30th is the sequel to the 1993 hit film ‘Hocus Pocus,’ which is aptly entitled ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ and was directed by Anne Fletcher (‘The Proposal’).

    Set twenty-nine years after the original in present day, the Sanderson sisters, including Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy), and Sarah (Sarah Jessica Parker) are back and causing havoc in Salem, Massachusetts.

    Now, three young girls, Becca (Whitney Peak), Cassie (Lilia Buckingham), and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), must team with Gilbert (Sam Richardson), a magic store owner, and Winnie’s former lover, Billy Butcherson (Doug Jones) in order to stop the Sanderson Sisters from killing the Mayor of Salem (Tony Hale), who is also Cassie’s dad.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Sam Richardson and Doug Jones about their work on ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ Richardson’s love for the original, what it was like for Jones to reprise his role, working with the witches, the challenges of playing a headless character, and how Gilbert betrays his friends’ trust.

    Sam Richardson and Doug Jones star in Disney+'s 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    (L to R) Sam Richardson and Doug Jones star in Disney+’s ‘Hocus Pocus 2.’

    Moviefone: To begin with, Sam, were you a fan of the original movie, and what was it like for you to share the screen with the Sanderson sisters?

    Sam Richardson: I wouldn’t say that I was a fan of the original, I would say that I was an uberfan and a true obsessed maniac for this movie. So, to get to work with them as a fan, it was a constant struggle to make sure that I was acting and not just being myself talking to these ladies. But it was such a treat. Luckily, Gilbert is a fan, so to wear that layer, about half the work was done for me over the course of 30 years.

    MF: Doug, can you talk about returning to the franchise and reprising your role as Billy Butcherson, and what are the challenges physically of playing a headless character?

    Doug Jones: Well, returning to the franchise was something I had hoped for but never thought possible. You never know. But as the fandom grew over the years to a point now where it is a part of everyone’s Halloween, our original fans have kids of their own that are now fans of the movie. So, it’s just grown and grown and grown, and because of that, and petitions online, they’re like, “We need a sequel.” Thank heaven for the fans that made this sequel happen.

    And being headless is a part of the deal for Billy Butcherson, unfortunately. He’s strung together with dust, he can’t help himself and he’s been dead for 300 years. I’m surprised he’s even walking. So, you’ll see more things come apart on Billy in the sequel. It won’t let you down.

    Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson in 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson in ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, Sam, can you talk about Gilbert’s friendship with Becca, Cassie, and Izzy, and how he betrays their trust?

    SR: Gilbert owns the magic shop, which is the witches’ original home. Gilbert’s magic shop is the place where the girls frequent, and he’s sort of a mentor to them in the magical arts and such. So, he’s a person that they trust, but then Gilbert surreptitiously uses their love of magic to bring these witches back. That betrayal is something he immediately regrets, seeing what he’s wrought upon the world, but also, he’s trying to fix this thing and sort apologize to the girls, and then to apologize to Billy.

    DJ: He betrayed me, too. Let’s be honest.

    SR: He’s in over his head, no pun intended. He’s just always at the back on his heels from the start of the movie on. It was a fun thing to play with in this movie.

    Sam Richardson as Gilbert in Disney's live-action 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    Sam Richardson as Gilbert in Disney’s live-action ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • Movie Review: ‘Hocus Pocus 2’

    Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney's live-action 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    (L to R) Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney’s live-action ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Releasing on Disney+ September 30th, ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ is aiming to work on several fronts: as a sequel to Disney’s 1993 fantasy comedy and as a family-friendly entry in a Halloween movie marathon.

    It is admirably successful in both efforts.

    The original ‘Hocus Pocus’, directed by Kenny Ortega, spun the yarn of the Sanderson sisters – Bette Midler’s sarcastic Winifred, Kathy Najimy’s goofy Mary and Sarah Jessica Parker’s ditzy Sarah – who, legend tells, were hung in the town of Salem as witches. Swearing that they will return for retribution, they cast a curse upon Salem.

    Accidentally resurrected through use of a black flame candle, they end up causing fresh chaos in the town for one night in 1993 before the coming sunrise banishes them once more.

    That film wasn’t exactly beloved by critics and didn’t cast that much of a spell at the box office. Yet despite that, it has grown into a cult favorite in the years since, regularly finding a slot on Halloween re-watches largely because it’s the sort of supernatural fantasy that works, boosted by the playing-to-the-back-of-the-theater gusto of Midler in particular.

    Sam Richardson as Gilbert in Disney's live-action 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    Sam Richardson as Gilbert in Disney’s live-action ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    With Anne Fletcher in the director’s chair this time around, the story is set in the present day, when Salem still goes big for Halloween, and the legend of the Sanderson sisters lingers on through costumes and magic shop owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson), who loves to tell their story on the small makeshift stage in his store.

    Yet the initial focus is on teens Becca (Whitney Peak) and Izzy (Belissa Escobedo), who are planning their annual ritual for the former’s birthday. Normally involving a movie marathon and “witchy stuff” (according to a mocking classmate) their celebrations are muted by cooling relations with the third member of their friendship trio, Cassie (Lilia Buckingham), who nabbed herself a cool boyfriend and seems less interested in hanging with her old pals.

    When Gilbert gifts Becca a black flame candle, she and Izzy head to the local woods to light it and enact their usual ceremony – but you can guess what happens. With the Sandersons back in town (and determined not to be undone by pesky teenagers or sunlight this time around), their plan is to gather the items they need to cast a powerful spell that will grant them ultimate witchy power.

    Becca and Izzy, then, must try to stop them, with an assist from Billy Butcherson (a returning Doug Jones), the zombified remains of Winifred’s one true love, though he argues they shared “but one kiss”.

    Belissa Escobedo as Izzy, Whitney Peak as Becca, and Lilia Buckingham as Cassie in Disney's live-action 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    (L-R): Belissa Escobedo as Izzy, Whitney Peak as Becca, and Lilia Buckingham as Cassie in Disney’s live-action ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    And before any of this happens, there is a charming prologue set in 1653 featuring younger versions of the Sandersons (Taylor Henderson, Nina Kitchen and Juju Journey Brener) first embracing their supernatural destiny with the help of a scene-stealing Hannah Waddingham (best known for playing Rebecca Welton on ‘Ted Lasso’), who is honestly so entertaining in her brief role that you almost wish the screenplay had found some way for her to appear more.

    Yet the big selling point remains Midler and co. camping it up as the witchy trio, clearly having a blast returning to their roles. The script by Jen D’Angelo gives them plenty to get their teeth into (a plus when you consider the choppers on Winifred), keeping the characters in line with how people remember them but given them new things to do.

    Whether it’s finding new things to use as brooms to fly upon (Sarah grabs a Swiffer WetJet, Mary a pair of misbehaving Roombas) or figuring that an Alexa is really a women trapped in a box), they’re a constant, campy delight, infecting the rest of the cast with that sense of wacky joy.

    Peak and Escobedo are likeable, down-to-earth leads who play well off the bigger performances of the witches as they desperately try to fix the havoc that has been caused.

    Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson in 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    (L-R): Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson in ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Amusing set-pieces such as an early one set in a Walgreens (where Becca and Izzy try to convince the trio that they don’t need to consume young souls to stay youthful, because make-up products in modern-day America are bursting with the essence of babies) and one at the local Halloween carnival (with the sisters once again given a chance to sing).

    Most smartly, the film has assembled a top-notch comedy cast to support the stars – Richardson is a lively and funny Gilbert while Tony Hale throws himself into the dual role of the witch-hunting Reverend Traske (in the prologue) and his descendent, the fun-loving Mayor Traske (who naturally factors into the Sandersons’ plan in the present day).

    Jones, meanwhile, gets to wheel out his faux British accent as Billy, this time handed more of a backstory and allowed plenty of space for the actor’s spot-on physical comedy chops.

    It’s another fairly straight-forward story, of course, but underpinned by a healthy emotional arc for Midler, particularly near the end as the true consequences of her achieving ultimate power are revealed.

    Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson in 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    Doug Jones as Billy Butcherson in ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Matt Kennedy. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Effects-wise, it was never going to challenge big screen efforts in terms of quality, but that just adds to the kitsch value and helps make the movie feel more of a piece with the original.

    This is the refreshing legacy sequel that doesn’t try to remake the original and, while it naturally goes down a similar route, finds enough fresh magic to sprinkle across the story. Fans of the first film will enjoy the callbacks (which are used sparingly and well) and those who’ve never seen that movie can enjoy this one without needing to have caught up.

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ is cheesy, silly and straightforwardly funny in a way that both honors and, at times, bests the original.

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.

    Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker
    (L to R) Kathy Najimy, Bette Midler, and Sarah Jessica Parker in ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ which will cast a spell on Disney+ on September 30th.
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  • D23 Expo 2022: Disney Studios Presentation

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    Walt Disney Studios kicked off the first day of D23 Expo 2022 in style today with tons of advance looks at what the House of Mouse has in store for fans in the coming days, months, and years. You can watch Moviefone‘s exclusive backstage interviews by clicking on the video player above.

    The first D23 Expo in three years began with the president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture Production, Sean Bailey, revealing the first-ever footage from ‘Hocus Pocus 2’.

    Bailey was joined by the wacky Sanderson Sisters themselves – stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy – who appeared via video to show how their characters are back for the first time since 1993 for more soul-stealing Halloween action.

    Battling them this time around are aspiring witch Becca (Whitney Peak) and magic shop owner Gilbert (Sam Richardson).

    But the audience’s biggest applause went to the original film’s Billy Butcherson (‘The Shape of Water’s Doug Jones) upon his return from the grave. ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ hits Disney+ on September 30th. The trailer is in the video player above.

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    Next up on the panel was another eagerly anticipated sequel, ‘Disenchanted’. Returning stars Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and James Marsden took the stage, alongside Maya Rudolph, the film’s new villain. ‘Disenchanted’ finds Adams’ Giselle and hubby Dempsey moving to the suburbs with their infant and teenage children.

    “I was a huge fan of the original,” said Rudolph. “I can’t believe I got to be part of this… It’s not easy being mean to Amy Adams.” The new teaser trailer for the sequel is in the video player above.

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    As far as live-action remakes of Disney animated classics go, ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’ was the first on deck today: with star Jude Law (Captain Hook) flanked by newcomers Alexander Molony (Peter Pan), Ever Gabo Anderson (Wendy), and Alyssa Wapanatâhk (Tiger Lily).

    Expect more empowered female characters this time around, including at least one Lost Girl among Peter’s Lost Boys.

    “Disney has worked very hard to give her more depth and a lot more character,” said Anderson of Wendy. “She and Peter are equals in this film.”

    Law added that Hook and Pan’s prior relationship is also fleshed out. “We got to mine their back story a little bit more. You get to understand their past,” he said, hinting that the two were once friends.

    Peter Pan & Wendy poster
    © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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    Another reworking of a Disney classic comes with March 10th’s ‘Haunted Mansion’, directed by ‘Dear White People’ creator Justin Simien. Today’s first look showcased stars Rosario Dawson and LaKeith Stanfield exploring the titular house with a priest played by Owen Wilson and a historian played by Danny DeVito.

    “I got to make sure all the little details, all the Easter eggs are there. Because I’m a nerd,” confessed Simien. He then joined another of the film’s stars – scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis – in a Doom Buggy rolling across the D23 Expo stage.

    Haunted Mansion
    © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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    Few Disney films are so beloved as 1994’s ‘The Lion King’. And fans will get more of the film’s animal kingdom in the 2024 prequel ‘Mufasa: The Lion King’.

    Director Barry Jenkins appeared to explain how “Mufasa is the origin story of one of the greatest kings of the Pride Land… It’s the real story of how Mufasa found his place in the circle of life. What you learn is that Mufasa is great because of the family and the friends he has with him.”

    Of course Disney Studios wouldn’t exist without its very first animated classic, 1937’s ‘Snow White’.

    Director Marc Webb is tackling the live-action 2024 remake, featuring Gal Gadot as the Wicked Queen and Rachel Zegler as its eponymous heroine. The two were touched by the warm response they received as they presented a first look at their characters.

    “Just your reaction means the world to us,” said Gadot.
    A visibly moved Zegler explained that, “Snow White is the girl you remember, but she’s definitely made for the modern age,” stating the film redefines what it means to be the fairest of them all.

    Rachel Zegler and Gal GAdot at Disney D23 Expo
    Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot at Disney D23 Expo 2022 Getty Images
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    While ‘Snow White’ is Disney’s first animated feature, 1989’s ‘The Little Mermaid’ is responsible for the studio’s renaissance. As well as its renewed dedication to musicals, as Rob Marshall, director of May 2023’s live-action adaptation, reminded fans today.

    “It was very important for us to honor the original. We went to Alan Menken, who was divine to work with, and also our dear friend Lin-Manuel Miranda. They had never worked together before… There are four new songs. We still retain the beauty of the original score, written by the late great Howard Ashman as well.”

    Fans were treated to the film’s entire “Part of Your World” number, featuring a note-perfect Halle Bailey, who appeared on stage with Marshall.

    “Three days of filming ‘Part of Your World,’” said Bailey, “that was the most beautiful experience of my life. Just getting to sing a song I’ve loved since I was a child was so exciting.”

    “The camera loves you,” Marshall told Bailey. “But it’s more than that. [It] loves what’s inside. [It] loves what you bring.”

    The two then unveiled a teaser that recalled ‘Finding Nemo’ in the color and detail of its underwater world. You can find a teaser version of the clip in the video player at the top of the page.

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    Elemental
    Pixar’s Elemental © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    It was then time for Pixar Animation Studios’ turn in the spotlight, with chief creative officer Pete Docter introducing next summer’s ‘Elemental’.

    Director Peter Sohn spoke of how the film’s Element City was inspired by the culturally mixed New York of his childhood. Footage shown depicted the star-crossed romance of its fire-based heroine Ember (Leah Lewis) and her watery boyfriend Wade (Mamoudou Athie).

    Pixar also unveiled its first original long-form series in the form of ‘Win or Lose’, each episode of which follows the perspective of a different character connected to a co-ed softball team, the Pickles.

    With this year’s ‘Lightyear’, Pixar returned to the science fiction of ‘Wall-E’. Expect more in this vein soon, starting with ‘Elio’.

    Announced today at D23 with star America Ferrera on stage, the film’s title character is an 11-year-old boy who doesn’t feel like he fits in his world. His mom (Ferrera) runs a top-secret military project, which inadvertently results in Elio making first contact with alien life and becoming our planet’s ambassador to the rest of the universe. It’s due out in spring 2024.

    Last but by no means least on the Pixar slate – ‘Inside Out’ star Amy Poehler made a surprise appearance alongside Docter to announce ‘Inside Out 2’.

    Inside Out 2 logo
    Pixar’s Inside Out 2 logo. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

    “Joy and the emotions are back for an all new adventure inside Riley’s head,” said a fittingly ebullient Poehler. “Only this time she’s a teenager!”

    New emotions will also appear in the film, as Kelsey Mann takes over the directing chores from Docter, with Meg LeFauve returning to write the summer 2024 release.

    To cap off the panel, Disney Animation’s chief creative officer (and Oscar-winning ‘Frozen’ director) Jennifer Lee greeted the D23 Expo audience to show what’s in store for the studio’s 100th anniversary next year.

    But first, Disney’s fan-favorite 2016 ‘Zootopia’ will get a spin-off series this November on Disney+. And attendees got an advance look at the aptly titled ‘Zootopia+’, consisting of six short ‘Zootopia’-style spoofs of everything from ‘The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ to ‘The Godfather Part II’.

    Perhaps Disney’s most unique offering at the Expo was ‘Iwaju’. Coming this year to Disney+, it finds the animation studio partnering for the first time in its long history with an overseas animation studio – Africa’s Kugali. Its three founders appeared today, describing their Afrofuturism fable and its characters as a love letter to their hometown of Lagos, Nigeria.

    Iwaju
    Disney’s Iwaju. © 2022 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

    More sci-fi arrived with a new look at ‘Strange World’, described by Lee as “a film about family, legacy, and what we leave behind for the generations that follow.” Director Don Hall explained how the film chronicles three generations coming together on an alien planet in order to save their world.

    Stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, and Lucy Liu introduced a rip-snorting clip of an exciting chase through ‘Strange World’s creature-packed planet.

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    The Disney Animation segment, and indeed entire panel, concluded with the revelation of the studio’s 100th anniversary feature film – ‘Wish’. The tale of the star upon which so many Disney characters have wished throughout the past century, ‘Wish’ is co-directed by the attending team of Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn.

    Buck, who co-wrote the film with Lee, explained how ‘Wish’ explores a kingdom of wishes, in which wishes can literally come true. Offering a lush, animated watercolor style coupled with CG animation, it stars newly minted Oscar winner Ariana DeBose as 17-year-old Asha, who pleas to the heavens for help, and gets an actual star from the sky, named Star, who communicates through pantomime.

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    Disney “good luck charm,” actor Alan Tudyk appeared with footage of his character, a goat named Valentino who wishes to communicate with people. Finally, DeBose saw fans off with a sizzling live performance of “More for Us,” one of the film’s songs by Grammy winner Julia Michaels.

    Wish
    Disney’s Wish. © 2022 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

  • It’s a Witchy Return for the ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Trailer

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    Lock up your children! The Sanderson sisters are back! Yes, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, who last played the witchy siblings back in 1993’s ‘Hocus Pocus’, have officially returned to cause more mayhem, as the first teaser trailer reveals.

    Here’s the story: It’s been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow’s Eve.

    As mentioned, the story focus on the teens who unwittingly bring the sisters back – Whitney Peak’s Becca, Belissa Escobedo’s Izzy and Lilia Buckingham’s Cassie – who discover the candle and light it as part of Becca’s birthday ritual, hoping to activate witchy powers and getting far more than they bargained for. They probably should have just stuck with watching scary movies.

    The new ‘Hocus Pocus’ also stars Sam Richardson, Doug Jones (who reprises his role from the original as Billy Butcherson), Hannah Waddingham, Froyan Gutierrez and Tony Hale. Anne Fletcher is in the director’s chair, with the script by Jen D’Angelo.

    Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney's live-action 'Hocus Pocus 2.'
    (L-R): Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, and Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson in Disney’s live-action ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disney Enterprises, Inc. © 2022 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    For Richardson, recently seen in ‘The Tomorrow War’ and ‘The Afterparty’, it was a dream come true to act with the original ‘Hocus’ cast. I’m an absolute super fan of the original,” he told ET Online. “I grew up watching that movie. Being in the sequel is so surreal and incredible. To work with the ladies is so… I don’t want to use the word surreal again but I’m outside of myself when I’m doing these scenes. I’m like, ‘This is them!’ They are the characters. The Sanderson sisters, you know, are like there, doing their spells and I have a grin on my face!”

    There has been talk of a sequel for years now, with rumors and speculation flying faster than a witch on a broom. But it only really took a step into reality at Disney’s Investor Day in 2020. Though Midler, Jessica Parker and Najimy did slip back into character for a virtual charity event in October that year.

    Adam Shankman was attached at one point, though his duties on another Disney sequel, ‘Disenchanted’, kept him from taking part. “As heartbroken as I am that I won’t be able to direct my friends Bette, Sarah Jessica and Kathy in what is sure to be nothing short of a major event for Disney+ due to scheduling conflicts, I couldn’t be more pleased to be handing over the reins to Anne, who has brought so much laughter and joy into people’s lives with her previous work,” Shankman said in a statement at the time. “I am still grateful and proud to help shepherd this ingenious project as executive producer.

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ will arrive on Disney+ on September 30th, just in time for the prime Halloween viewing period.

    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ will arrive on Disney+ on September 30th.
    ‘Hocus Pocus 2’ will arrive on Disney+ on September 30th.
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  • 12 Things You Never Knew About ‘Hellboy’ On its 15th Anniversary

    12 Things You Never Knew About ‘Hellboy’ On its 15th Anniversary

    Columbia Pictures

    It’s now been 15 years since “Hellboy” blasted its way into theaters and introduced moviegoers to a very different breed of superhero. While you wait for the character to return to the big screen in the upcoming “Hellboy” reboot, here are some fun facts you might not know about the original movie.

    1. Early on in the film’s development, producers at Columbia suggested making various audience-friendly changes to the material, including having Hellboy be a normal human who transforms into a demon when he gets angry, a la the Hulk.

    2. Director Guillermo del Toro provided several voices in the movie, including the infant Hellboy, Ivan the Corpse and Kroenen.

    Columbia Pictures

    3. Following the success of “Blade II,” Del Toro was given a choice between directing “Blade: Trinity” or “Hellboy.” We’d say he chose wisely.

    4. “The Fast and the Furious” star Vin Diesel was considered for the parts of both Hellboy and Abe Sapien.

    Universal Pictures

    5. While largely based on several “Hellboy” comic storylines, the movie also makes some significant deviations from the source material. For example, Hellboy and Liz aren’t romantically involved in the comics.

    6. Makeup artist Matt Rose was able to reuse the life mask created for Ron Perlman for the 1987 “Beauty and the Beast” TV series, speeding up the creation of the Hellboy prosthetics.

    Columbia Pictures

    7. It took about four hours each day to apply Perlman’s makeup and prosthetics.  Abe Sapien actor Doug Jones had it even worse, as his process took seven hours.

    8. Abe Sapien’s voice was dubbed by “Frasier” star David Hyde Pierce. Pierce refused to be credited because he felt Jones was the one responsible for bringing the character to life and Jones replaced Pierce in the sequel.

    9. Jeffrey Tambor was a last-minute addition to the cast, as his predecessor didn’t show up for production.

    Columbia Pictures

    10. One of the tombstones in the Russian cemetery is labeled with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola‘s name and reads “Born in fire, died in fire” when translated into English.

    11. The Spear of Longinus in the movie is an exact replica of the artifact believed to be the actual spear that pierced Christ’s side during the crucifixion.

    12. The movie had to be renamed “Super Sapiens” in Malaysia because of a nationwide ban on movies containing the words “devil” or “hell.”

  • 14 Things You Never Knew About Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’

    With “The Shape of Water” poised to become an awards-season favorite, it’s worth looking back at the last time Guillermo del Toro was on this turf: during the run of 2006’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.”

    Like “Water,” “Labyrinth” was an original del Toro fantasy, set against the backdrop of traumatic recent real-world history. Both films also center on a relationship between an emotionally complex and vulnerable human female and an exotic creature played by frequent del Toro collaborator Doug Jones (albeit under pounds of latex makeup.)

    “Labyrinth’s” awards-circuit success bodes well for “Water.” The 2006 film cleaned up at the box office, doing very well for a Spanish language movie in subtitle-averse America, and it won several Oscars for realizing its imaginative vision. Indeed, it may represent del Toro’s finest work as a filmmaker.

    As much of a favorite of film critics and del Toro fanboys as “Pan’s Labyrinth” has become, there’s still much you may not know about the movie’s history. Read on to discover the mysteries hidden in del Toro’s maze.
    1. The movie’s Spanish title is “El laberinto del fauno,” meaning “The Labyrinth of the Faun,” a reference to both classical mythology and a short story of the same title by Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges.

    2. The faun isn’t specifically the demigod Pan, but marketers were worried that American viewers wouldn’t know what a faun is, so the English title references the more famous half-man/half-goat figure.
    3. Del Toro has called the story a spiritual sequel to “The Devil’s Backbone,” his horror/fantasy tale that’s also set among children in war-torn Fascist Spain. One inspiration was del Toro’s own recurring childhood dream of a faun who would emerge from his bedroom closet every night at midnight.

    4. The filmmaker developed the story and its visuals in the famous notebook he’s kept over the past several decades. He nearly lost the movie when he left the “Labyrinth” sketchbook in a London taxi, but the cab driver returned it two days later.
    5. Ivana Baquero (above) was 11 when she made the movie, well older than the 8- or 9-year-old girl that del Toro had envisioned Ofelia to be. But her audition made del Toro’s wife and the camera operator cry, so he rewrote the script to accommodate her.

    6. Del Toro turned down the chance to direct the first “Chronicles of Narnia” movie to direct “Labyrinth.”
    7. Usually, actors who play villains say they have to like some aspect of the character, to play him as if he doesn’t think of himself as a villain. But Sergi Lopez, who plays Captain Vidal, has called his character “a psychopath who is impossible to defend.” Del Toro cast Lopez, better known as a comic actor, despite warnings from other filmmakers that Lopez wouldn’t be able to deliver the terrifying performance he ultimately gave.

    8. Having worked with del Toro on “Mimic” and “Hellboy,” Doug Jones said he received an e-mail from the director urging him to star as the faun in “Pan’s Labyrinth.” In the email, GDT said: “You must be in this film. No one can play this part but you.”
    9. Jones ended up playing not only the faun but also the Pale Man, the silent, child-eating monster with eyeballs in the palms of his hands. The face had no eyes, so Jones could see only through the character’s nostrils.

    10. The faun role required the American Jones to learn dialogue written in an archaic form of Spanish. And since it took Jones five hours a day in the makeup chair to transform into the goat-man (the horns alone weighed 10 pounds), he had plenty of time to learn to mouth the dialogue. His voice, however, was ultimately dubbed by a Spanish theater actor.
    11. Del Toro told Jones the faun should have the swagger of a rock star, “less David Bowie and more Mick Jagger.”

    12. “Pan’s Labyrinth” cost a reported $19 million to make. It returned $83 million worldwide, including $38 million from North American theaters. In the United States, it’s the most successful Spanish-language film ever released, and the fifth most lucrative foreign language film ever.
    13. The Academy nominated “Labyrinth” for six Oscars, including Original Screenplay, Original Score, and Foreign Language Film. (The movie was Mexico’s official submission to the Oscars in 2006.) It won the prizes for Cinematography, Art Direction, and Makeup.

    14. While making 2008’s “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” Del Toro said he was developing a follow-up to “Pan’s Labyrinth” that would have been the third movie in his trilogy of horror movies about the early Franco era in Spain. Called “3993,” it would have involved a narrative that jumped in time from 1993 to 1939. Alas, the film never got made.

  • Watch Guillermo del Toro and the Cast of ‘Shape of Water’ Unpack Its Mysteries

    Guillermo del Toro‘s “The Shape of Water” is one of the most enchanting and magical films of the year. Set in 1962, it concerns a mute janitor (Sally Hawkins) who works at a secret government lab, where she falls in love with an amphibious creature (Doug Jones) and evades detection by a nasty federal agent (Michael Shannon). Along with her coworker (Octavia Spencer) and best friend/neighbor (Richard Jenkins), they hatch a plan to free the creature — but at what cost?

    Watching “The Shape of Water,” you can’t help but swoon. Del Toro has created an intoxicating confection, equal parts love letter to classic Hollywood, bloody creature feature, and sweeping romance. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen or are ever likely to see.

    Which is why it was such a pleasure to sit down with the visionary del Toro and the peerless cast of “The Shape of Water.” Over the course of a sunny morning in Los Angeles, we talked about where the story came from, the parallels that you can draw to contemporary society, and even broke down the movie’s gorgeous poster.




    “The Shape of Water” is playing in limited release now and will expand each week. Check your local movie theaters for show times.

  • Guillermo del Toro Spins Gorgeous Fairy Tale in ‘Shape of Water’ Trailer

    Can two misfits find love and live happily ever after?

    Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” is being described as an “otherworldly fairy tale,” and the gorgeous, dreamy trailer certainly feels like it’s set in another world. The story is set in the Cold War era and centers on a mute woman named Elisa (Sally Hawkins), who works as a cleaning lady in a top-secret government lab.

    The lab’s big prize is a humanoid sea creature named Abe (Doug Jones), whom Elisa bonds with. But Abe’s life is in danger from a mad scientist (Michael Shannon) hellbent on dissecting him.

    The trailer blends dark themes and dangerous villains with lush visuals and quirky details, much like del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth.” And the fish man at the heart of it recalls to mind the director’s “Hellboy.”

    “The Shape of Water” also stars Octavia Spencer, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Richard Jenkins, and opens in theaters December 8.

  • Hot Movies of 2017, Hello ‘Bye Bye Man’: CAN’T WAIT! Podcast Ep. 8

    Hot Movies of 2017, Doug Jones Interview: CAN'T WAIT! Podcast Ep. 8Say hello to “The Bye Bye Man.”

    This week on CAN’T WAIT!, Tim Hayne, Tony Maccio, and Rachel Horner (we’re not sure what happened to Phil Pirrello, but we have to believe it’s “Star Trek”-related) take a stab at listing all the movies they can wait to see in 2017. It’s a lengthy list, because 2017 is, apparently, the year every studio decided to release their biggest tentpoles. Let’s hope they left something for 2018.

    What could get better than talking about the movies coming out in 2017? How about talking to someone who’s starring in two of them! Buffy the Vampire Slayer” ever, “Hush”; and so much more. Also, as promised, here’s “There’s Love: A Doug Jones Documentary,” in full, as mentioned by Jones himself (we’re still hunting down that Southwest Airlines commercial).We also introduce a new segment called First Things Last, in which we ask guests about some important firsts in their lives. You tell us if you like it.

    Per usual, we end the episode with a few recommendations to keep you busy until next time.

    CAN’T WAIT! A Movie Lover’s Podcast Episode 8Here’s the rundown:

    • Intro: 0:00 – 0:50
    • Movies we can’t wait to see in 2017: 0:50 – 21:42
    • Doug Jones interview: 21:42 – 51:46
    • Recommendations: 51:46 – 54:33

    Total runtime: 54:33

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