Deadline is now reporting that Dance will play Christopher Dent, the imposing (and, if lore holds, abusive) father to Harvey Dent, who will be brought to screens this time by Sebastian Stan.
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And we now also know that Scarlett Johansson, whose part until recently has been a mystery, will be Dent’s wife.
Little is known officially about what Pattinson’s Caped Crusader will tackle, but we do know that Farrell is back as Oz Cobb, the villainous gangster nicknamed “The Penguin” while Jeffrey Wright (James Gordon) is also predicted to be back.
We can probably expect to see Batman tackle another menace from his rogues’ gallery, with Barry Keoghan teased as a potential Joker at the end of the original movie, but nothing confirmed about him actually playing the role.
When will ‘The Batman: Part II’ be in theaters?
Following a variety of release date shifts as Reeves and co-writer Mattson Tomlin honed the script, the movie is currently set to land on screens on October 1, 2027.
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Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lena Headey about her work on ‘Ballistic’, her first reaction to the screenplay, the grief her character is experiencing after the loss of her son, why she blames herself, preparing emotionally for the role, working with actor and director Chad Faust, and having fun destroying a car on screen.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Headey, and director Chad Faust.
Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to Chad Faust’s screenplay and why you wanted to be part of this project and play this character?
Lena Headey: Well, I loved his screenplay. I’ve known Chad for a million years, and he’s just a gorgeous human. I loved what he’d written. Initially, I think he’d written it as a father-son story. Then he was like, “I kind of started thinking about a mother.” So, from the jump, I was just fully in.
MF: Can you talk about the grief character is feeling after the loss of her son and was it challenging to bring that intensity to the set every day?
LH: Here’s the thing. I think challenging is a funny word when it comes to acting. That’s why we do it because it’s challenging. It’s delightful. For me, you get a script that’s kind of expositional, that’s challenging because you must find something to drive your interest and drive your emotional investment and curiosity. When you get a script like this, it’s just exciting. You just can’t wait to go to work every day because it’s all there. I just show up, be present, be courageous and vulnerable. That’s the joy but in the most enjoyable way. I think we’re all probably tiny sadists, but there’s nothing better than walking away from a day and feeling like you gave it. You gave it in the best way, and it’s up to somebody to do what they’re going to do with it afterwards. So, sort of feeling exhausted but high is, for me, the driver, and I guess for a lot of actors.
(L to R) Jordan Kronis and Lena Headey in ‘Ballistic’. Photo: Brainstorm Media.
MF: Can you talk about why Nance blames herself for her son’s death?
LH: Obviously, the loss of a child for any parent is the living nightmare, and I think it just hits Nance on every human level. Her deep desire for it not to be anything to do with her, to find someone else to put the blame on, but she’s ultimately carrying it. As we see during the movie, her discovery of the bullet and the ammo, and the fact that she is connected to all of this, unknowingly, unwillingly, is devastating. She is looking for someone to blame until there is nobody. Until the answers are, “This is life. This is what happens. He signed up to all those things.” Which, nobody wants to hear, and ultimately, it’s about war.
MF: What was it like working with Chad Faust as both an actor and director?
LH: He’s a wonderful actor too, which pretty much always makes a great director. He’s wonderful. He’s collaborative and present and doesn’t over direct any moment. He just lets it be. Then, he’s this kind of soft backbone to hold up everything. So, it’s a wonderful pre-experimental safe place to just be.
‘Ballistic’ director Chad Faust.
MF: Was there any one direction that he gave you on set that really helped you with a scene?
LH: No. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I’m a parent, and I also write and direct. So, we were kind of 50/50. I would bounce things off him. I think being a mother is very powerful, especially in something like this. So, all the things were just deeply instinctive. I don’t think we discussed a huge amount. He would just let me go.
MF: Finally, there is a scene in the film where you destroy an expensive sportscar with a crowbar. Was that a fun scene to shoot and did you only have one take to get it right?
LH: It was fun. I think that was half our budget, that car. So, they were like, “Don’t mess it up.” Yes, it was obviously really good fun, and much harder than it looks. Those early ’90s cars were made tougher than today’s cars.
‘Ballistic’ opens in theaters on April 17th.
What is the plot of ‘Ballistic’?
A mother (Lena Headey) who works in a munitions factory discovers her son was killed in combat from a bullet made in her own factory.
(Left) Peter Dinklage stars in ‘Roofman’. Photo: Paramount Pictures. (Right) FX’s ‘Alien: Earth’. Photo: FX and Hulu.
Preview:
Peter Dinklage will be part of the cast for ‘Alien: Earth’s second season.
Noah Hawley created the show.
The new season will start shooting next month in London.
With ‘Alien: Earth’, the TV spin-off of the xenomorph-heavy sci-fi movie franchise, Noah Hawley proved he has a knack for creating shows based on movies, following his work on ‘Fargo’.
FX’s ‘Alien: Earth’. Pictured: Sydney Chandler as Wendy. Photo: Patrick Brown/FX.
The first season kicked off with the mysterious deep space research vessel USCSS Maginot crash-landing on Earth, and introduced us to Wendy (Chandler), among the first group of a new breed of synthetic humans who make a fateful discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet’s greatest threat.
As the finale dawned, Wendy was more in control of her abilities, but the wider story included the various powerful corporations battling it out for control of the new species that the ship brought to our world.
Hawley and co. will kick off filming the new season next month at London’s Pinewood Studios (where the 1979 original ‘Alien’ was shot), a switch from the first run of episodes’ Thailand locations.
Where else can we see Peter Dinklage?
Dinklage has roles in the movies ‘Wicker’ (which has yet to lock in a release date) and ‘Idiots’, which will be on cinema screens on August 28.
Peter Dinklage at the San Diego Comic-Con panel for ‘The Toxic Avenger’, in July 2025.
(L to R) Sadie Sink, Noah Schapp, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Caleb McLaughlin in Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things.’
When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one strange little girl (Millie Bobby Brown).
Jeffrey Dean Morgan in ‘The Walking Dead’. Photo: AMC Studios.
Sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) awakens from a coma to find a post-apocalyptic world dominated by flesh-eating zombies. He sets out to find his family and encounters many other survivors along the way.
(L to R) Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey in ’30 Rock’. Photo: NBC.
Liz Lemon (Tina Fey), the head writer for a late-night TV variety show in New York, tries to juggle all the egos around her while chasing her own dream.
(L to R) Evan Rachel Wood and James Marsden in ‘Westworld.’ Photo: HBO.
A dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, it explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged.
Antony Starr as John Gillman / Homelander in Prime Video’s ‘The Boys’ season 4. Copyright: Amazon Studios.
A group of vigilantes known informally as “The Boys” set out to take down corrupt superheroes with no more than blue-collar grit and a willingness to fight dirty.
A character drama based on the 2001 Elmore Leonard short story “Fire in the Hole.” Leonard’s tale centers around U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) of Kentucky, a quiet but strong-willed official of the law. The tale covers his high-stakes job, as well as his strained relationships with his ex-wife and father.
(L to R) Charlie Hunnam and Tommy Flanagan in ‘Sons of Anarchy’. Photo: FX Productions.
The Sons of Anarchy (SOA) are an outlaw motorcycle club with many charters in the United States and overseas. The show focused on the original and founding charter, Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, often referred to by the acronym SAMCRO, Sam Crow, or simply Redwood Charter. The charter operates both legal and illegal businesses in the small town of Charming, California. They combine gun-running and a garage, and involvement in porn film industry. Clay (Ron Perlman), the charter president, likes it old school and violent; while Jax (Charlie Hunnam), his stepson and the club’s VP, has thoughts about changing the way things are done. Their conflict has effects on both the club and their personal relationship, especially when Jax goes on a personal quest to cleanse the SAMCRO name and image.
(L to R) Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, and David Ramsey in ‘Arrow’. Photo: Warner Bros. Television.
Spoiled billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) is missing and presumed dead when his yacht is lost at sea. He returns five years later a changed man, determined to clean up the city as a hooded vigilante armed with a bow.
(L to R) J.K. Simmons and Krya Sedgwick in ‘The Closer’. Photo: Warner Bros. Television.
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick) transfers from Atlanta to LA to head up a special unit of the LAPD that handles sensitive, high-profile murder cases. Johnson’s quirky personality and hard-nosed approach often rubs her colleagues the wrong way, but her reputation as one of the world’s best interrogator eventually wins over even her toughest critics.
(L to R) Daniel Breaker as Roger “Scooter” Dunbar, Corey Stoll as Mike Prince, Toney Goins as Philip Charyn, Damian Lewis as Bobby “Axe” Axelrod, Asia Kate Dillon as Taylor Mason, David Costabile as Mike ‘Wags’ Wagner, Paul Giamatti as Chuck Rhoades, Maggie Siff as Wendy Rhoades, Sakina Jaffrey as Daevisha ‘Dave’ Mahar, Dola Rashad as Kate Sacker and Jeffrey DeMunn as Chuck Rhoades, Sr. in ‘Billions’ Season 7. Photo Credit: Mark Seliger/Showtime.
A complex drama about power politics in the world of New York high finance. Shrewd, savvy U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades (Paul Giamatti) and the brilliant, ambitious hedge fund king Bobby “Axe” Axelrod (Damian Lewis) are on an explosive collision course, with each using all of his considerable smarts, power and influence to outmaneuver the other. The stakes are in the billions in this timely, provocative series.
Jon Hamm in ‘Made Men’. Photo: Lionsgate Television.
Set in 1960-1970 New York, this sexy, stylized and provocative drama follows the lives of the ruthlessly competitive men and women of Madison Avenue advertising.
Kevin Costner as John Dutton III in Paramount Network’s ‘Yellowstone’ season 5. Credit: Paramount Network.
Follow the violent world of the Dutton family, who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Led by their patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner), the family defends their property against constant attack by land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first National Park.
Emilia Clarke in HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones.’ Photo: HBO.
Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night’s Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond.
Bryan Cranston in ‘Breaking Bad’. Photo: Sony Pictures Television.
Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a New Mexico chemistry teacher, is diagnosed with Stage III cancer and given a prognosis of only two years left to live. He becomes filled with a sense of fearlessness and an unrelenting desire to secure his family’s financial future at any cost as he enters the dangerous world of drugs and crime.
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11. ‘Succession’ (2018-2023)
Brian Cox in season 4 of HBO’s ‘Succession.’ Photograph by Macall Polay/HBO.
Follow the lives of the Roy family as they contemplate their future once their aging father begins to step back from the media and entertainment conglomerate they control.
(L to R) Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Wentworth Miller, Peter Stormare and Dominic Purcell in ‘Prison Break’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Due to a political conspiracy, an innocent man (Dominic Purcell) is sent to death row and his only hope is his brother (Wentworth Miller), who makes it his mission to deliberately get himself sent to the same prison in order to break the both of them out, from the inside out.
The cast of ‘Battlestar Galactica’. Photo: Universal Media Studios.
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet – the last of humanity – as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth.
The cast of ‘The Shield’. Photo: Sony Pictures Television.
The story of an inner-city Los Angeles police precinct where some of the cops aren’t above breaking the rules or working against their associates to both keep the streets safe and their self-interests intact.
(L to R) Wendell Pierce and Dominic West in ‘The Wire’. Photo: HBO.
Told from the points of view of both the Baltimore homicide and narcotics detectives and their targets, the series captures a universe in which the national war on drugs has become a permanent, self-sustaining bureaucracy, and distinctions between good and evil are routinely obliterated.
Idris Elba in ‘Luther’. Photo:BBC Studios Drama Productions.
A dark psychological crime drama starring Idris Elba as Luther, a man struggling with his own terrible demons, who might be as dangerous as the depraved murderers he hunts.
(L to R) Sarah Shahi and Damian Lewis in ‘Life’. Photo: Universal Media Studios.
Complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) returns to the force after serving time in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Crews’ new lease on life has provided him with a Zen-like outlook, peace of mind and no need for vengeance, an attitude which can be challenging to maintain when someone he cares about is threatened — or when he is investigating the mystery surrounding the murder he was falsely accused of.
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in ’24’. Photo: 20th Century Fox Television.
Counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) fights the bad guys of the world, a day at a time. With each week’s episode unfolding in real-time, “24” covers a single day in the life of Bauer each season.
Titus Welliver in season 4 of ‘Bosch’. Photo: Aaron Epstein. Copyright: Amazon Studios
Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver), an LAPD homicide detective, stands trial for the fatal shooting of a serial murder suspect. A cold case involving the remains of a missing boy forces Bosch to confront his past. As daring recruit Julia Brasher (Annie Wersching) catches his eye and departmental politics heat up, Bosch will pursue justice at all costs.
Rory McCann is joining the cast of ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka.’
He’ll inherit the role of Baylan Skoll from the late Ray Stevenson.
Rosario Dawson plays the title role.
Fans of genre actors and anyone who enjoyed the work of charismatic Northern Irish actor Ray Stevenson were stunned at his untimely death last year at the age of 58.
Stevenson, who appeared in movies such as ‘Punisher: War Zone’ and the first three ‘Thor’ outings, had been busy promoting his role as former Jedi Baylan Skoll in ‘Star Wars: Ahsoka,’ including an appearance at Star Wars Celebration in April that year.
His role as Baylan Skoll went on to receive great acclaim, the praise tinged with sadness that he wouldn’t be able to return should ‘Ahsoka’ score a second season.
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Executive producer Dave Filoni said this about Stevenson’s role:
“I think he would’ve been over the moon. The big regret here is that he didn’t get to experience that. I’m glad he was at Star Wars Celebration with us, that he got to see the trailer and get a taste of that from the fans. And they’ve been nothing but wonderful about Ray and the character.”
‘Ahsoka’ was indeed renewed for a second batch of episodes and naturally, speculation has been whether Skoll –– who had been set up to play a key role in the story going forward would be re-cast, or if some way would be found to change the plotline.
Now, according to reporter Jeff Sneider, the plan is for someone to step into the role. That someone is ‘Game of Thrones’ actor Rory McCann, who became known for playing the hulking Sandor Clegane (AKA the Hound), one of Westeros’ most lethal fighters.
Though McCann stands three inches taller than Stevenson did, it’s not hard to imagine him playing the role of the conflicted, ambitious warrior.
What else is in development for ‘Star Wars’ on big and small screens?
(L to R) Director James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
While ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’ movie is flying into first position, we do know that Dave Filoni is still putting the pieces together for his own film, while one that continues the story of Rey (Daisy Ridley) is in development from director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy but appears to keep hitting stumbling blocks and has been removed from the schedule for now.
And then there’s James Mangold’s film, which explores the origins of the Jedi and early force users and is awaiting a release date.
“The Star Wars movie would be taking place 25,000 years before any known ‘Star Wars’ movies takes [sic] place. It’s an area and a playground that I’ve always [wanted to explore] and that I was inspired by as a teenager. I’m not that interested in being handcuffed by so much lore at this point that it’s almost immovable, and you can’t please anybody.”
We’d guess that while Filoni (who promoted earlier this year to Chief Creative Officer at Lucasfilm) is still going full speed ahead on his movie, he’s also been busy figuring out this second season of ‘Ahsoka.’
Here’s what he said about that:
“I’m so well into that as well… I’ve been writing it, and I’m still the single writer on it, and so I’ve been enjoying doing that, but it’s a challenge, of course, and working some of these arcs through has been a challenge and making sure it’s all going to come out in a way that I think is exciting for fans. I know that they’re interested in where some of the things I developed in Season One. I’m pretty happy with it… Love working with Rosario [Dawson], so I can’t wait to get back to that.”
Two new trailers have landed for ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel series ‘House of the Dragon’s second season.
Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke and Matt Smith are among the returning actors.
The new season launches on June 16th on HBO and Max.
Have you chosen your side yet? No, not in the elections for later this year, this is for something far more important: the civil war that has ripped House Targaryen asunder in ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel series ‘House of the Dragon’.
HBO has been making sure that we’re all aware that the new season of ‘Dragon’ is headed our way atop a roaring, fire-breathing dragon this coming June (so now might be a good time to buy a flame-retardant TV).
The new season of the show, which chronicles the internecine chaos that befalls the powerful house years before we meet the ‘Thrones’ characters, promises to be even more full of war and big character speeches than the first.
And to keep that in our minds, we’re all being asked which side we support by watching one of two new trailers for the show, which feature footage either focused on Olivia Cooke’s Queen Alicent or Emma D’Arcy’s Princess Rhaenyra, both of whom have claims to the throne. Don’t worry; you can watch both if you want to get the full effect.
What’s the story of ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2?
Tom Glynn-Carney in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.
Continuing the story adapted from George R. R. Martin’s prequel novel, ‘Fire & Blood’, the show is set 200 years before the events of ‘Game of Thrones,’ tells the violent story of House Targaryen.
Season 2 picks up after the fateful events of the first as Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D’Arcy) and Alicent Hightower’s (Olivia Cooke) forces go head to head — well, dragon to dragon.
Alicent believes her son, Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney), born of the recently deceased King Aegon is the rightful heir to the big chair. Not so Rhaenyra, who is firmly of the opinion that her late father meant for her to take his place and bring order to Westeros.
Who else is in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2?
(L to R) Bethany Antonia and Phoebe Campbell in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.
When will ‘House of the Dragon’ Season 2 be on screens?
The show touches down for its second season premiere on HBO (and streaming service Max) on June 16th.
Matt Smith in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Theo Whitman/HBO.(L to R) Harry Collett, Emma D’Arcy, and Oscar Eskinazi in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Theo Whitman/HBO.Olivia Cooke in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.Phia Saban in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.Sonoya Mizuno in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.(L to R) Fabien Frankel and Ewan Mitchell in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.(L to R) Steve Toussaint and Eve Best in ‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.‘House of the Dragon’ season 2. Photograph Courtesy of HBO.
Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool 3.’
Given how much of the ‘Deadpool’ movies have been written on the fly, you might have expected the latest –– ‘Deadpool 3’ to shut down when the Writers Guild of America went out on strike earlier this year. And yet… it kept going, with no official explanation other than the fact that the script had already been written.
But now, as SAG-AFTRA –– the union that represents actors –– joins the writers on the picket line, ‘Deadpool 3’ is among the productions shutting down.
The third ‘Deadpool’, which also features Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine, had been shooting in the UK, and it’s clear the strike is having a global impact as other productions, such as the ‘Mortal Kombat’ sequel, which had been filming in Australia, are also shutting down.
Many movies and shows had already been delayed by the writers’ strike, and the actors’ action promises to affect output even further. This represents the first time in decades that two branches of filmmaking unions have been on strike at the same time.
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What’s happening with the actors’ strike?
SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.
Much like the Writers’ Guild, the actors’ unions had been negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to secure a new contract. Actors have long been unhappy with reduced residuals brought about by streaming services and are displeased by studios claiming they can’t pay more while company CEOs earn millions.
Here’s SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher on the strike announcement:
“The gravity of this move is not lost on me or our negotiating committee or our board members who have voted unanimously to proceed with a strike. It’s a very serious thing that impacts thousands, if not millions, of people all across this country and around the world.”
Another key issue has been studios’ concerning efforts to bring in new technology to replace physical performers. When the strike was called yesterday, SAG-AFTRA revealed one pertinent detail of a studio offer –– digitizing the likeness of background players (or extras), paying them for one day’s work but then being able to use their image in perpetuity and however they please with no other payment.
The AMPTP replied to that with the following statement:
“The claim made today by SAG-AFTRA leadership that the digital replicas of background actors may be used in perpetuity with no consent or compensation is false. In fact, the current AMPTP proposal only permits a company to use the digital replica of a background actor in the motion picture for which the background actor is employed. Any other use requires the background actor’s consent and bargaining for the use, subject to a minimum payment.”
Loopholes
(L to R) Emma D’Arcy as “Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen” and Matt Smith as “Prince Daemon Targaryen” in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.
Not everything that had been shooting is shutting down, however –– some productions have been able to keep going through the writers’ strike (which started on May 2nd) because their scripts are complete. That includes HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off ‘House of the Dragon’, which is continuing to shoot through even through the actors’ strike as much of its cast is British and covered by the Equity actors’ union. And while some Equity members have promised to abide by the strike in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA, they have no legal protection if they end up fined or fired by companies they’re working for.
Welcome, then, to the summer of strikes…
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.
The hits keep coming for Marvel –– and in this case, it’s not a success like the box office launch of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’. The company has had a real struggle getting its planned ‘Blade’ movie to screens and is facing yet another delay.
This time, the issue is the Writers Guild of America strike. The union’s members downed tools and began picketing on May 2nd after failing to work out a new contract with the studios and other companies such as Netflix.
Under the terms of the strike, writers in the union cannot work on movies and TV series that are signatories to its contract –– and that includes both Disney and Marvel.
So, according to The Hollywood Reporter, team Marvel has chosen to press pause on production of the movie, which had been due to begin next month in Atlanta.
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Blade: the story so far
Despite all the excitement over the announcement that Oscar winner Mahershala Ali would play the character during Marvel’s 2019 Comic-Con panel, the progress has been slow.
‘Mogul Mowgli’ director Bassam Tariq was hired to make the movie, only to depart over scheduling issues –– and given a shift in writers to Michael Starrbury, also seemed to indicate problems with the script.
‘White Boy Rick’s Yann Demage came aboard in November last year, but Pizzolatto’s hiring signaled that the movie was still having issues –– mostly, apparently, with tone. ‘Blade’ was never going to be quite the usual Marvel quip-fest, choosing instead to go a slightly grittier route.
But treading that line has apparently been trickier than anyone imagined.
Blade from Marvel Comics. Photo courtesy of Marvel.com.
Originally crafted by Gene Colan and Marv Wolfman as a human who was immune to vampire bites, he was later changed to Eric Cross Brooks, whose mother is murdered by the bloodsucker Deacon Frost as she gives birth. The attack passes on vampire enzymes to her child, who becomes a Dhampir – a mix of both human and vampire.
Gifted with speed, strength, and the ability to walk in the daylight (hence his other name, the Daywalker), his mission is to hunt down and destroy vampires. In his time, he’s crossed paths with many notable Marvel characters in the comics, including Spider-Man and the Avengers. He’s also battled living vampire Morbius, who had his own movie out earlier this year, starring Jared Leto.
Yet Blade is probably most famous for the trilogy of movies released by New Line in 1998, 2002 and 2004, starring Wesley Snipes as the gruff, sword-swinging character.
Marvel had targeted a September 6th, 2024, release date, but that is all but certain to shift.
‘Blade’ is just one of the projects being affected by the industrial action. While most of the movies for this year and into next are either shot or in the middle of work, it’ll impact both big screen and small screen work beyond that –– the likes of ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight’ –– and the next season of ‘Stranger Things’ have both paused their writing rooms, with the ‘Things’ team putting out a social media post explaining the situation and supporting the strike.
Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong
Fabien Frankel as Ser Criston Cole in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Gary Moyes/HBO.
‘Game of Thrones’ was aways one of the shows big enough to break through to the massive Hall H at the San Diego Comic-Con.
So it was not surprising that prequel series ‘House of the Dragon’ came roaring to the con to fill the same cavernous space.
‘House of the Dragon’, like its progenitor, is also based on George R.R. Martin’s books, this time the 2018 novel ‘Fire & Blood’, which chronicled the history of House Targaryen, the family seen via Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Thrones’. The series itself comes from Martin, ‘Colony’ co-creator Ryan Condal and ‘Thrones’ show veteran Miguel Sapochnik, who is an executive producer and director.
The setting here is 200 years before the events chronicled in the original series.
(L to R) Emma D’Arcy as “Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen” and Matt Smith as “Prince Daemon Targaryen” in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.
‘Dragon’s team kicked things off with some footage (it doesn’t do to show up at the Con with nothing) and then the panel got into full swing.
One of the highlights of the panel was the presence of several Brits among the cast, which meant that, like the ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ and ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ panels, there were some good jokes flying around.
Asked what he wanted as a set memento, Paddy Considine had a quick answer. “My knife. I wanted to keep it,” he told the crowd. “Trying to nick one was hard. I thought they’d give me it at the end. If anyone from HBO is listening, give me the fucking knife!”
Paddy Considine as King Viserys Targaryen in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.
He went on to admit he did take something, but wouldn’t specify, since no one had noticed it missing yet. If anyone sees a dragon in the vicinity of Paddy Considine’s house, please call the ASPD (the American Society for the Protection of Dragons).
Matt Smith, meanwhile, complained about his long, blond wig. “It looks great but it’s a pain in the arse to put on. It takes an hour and a half,” he said. “I’d decree they could dye their hair.”
With fan questions talking up coffee cups (following the infamous incident where one appeared on screen during ‘Thrones’ final season), Smith assured everyone that they were not banned from set.
Martin was also god value, owning up to his inspirations – “‘Game of Thrones’ was based on the War of the Roses, this is based on an earlier period called the Anarchy. I pilfer freely from history,” he quipped – while admitting that he had yet to make a cameo on the new show because he’s been a bit busy working on a certain book. “It’s a little late,” he admits of the latest ‘Thrones’ novel.
Though the new footage screened at the Con hasn’t shown up online, we don’t have too long to wait – ‘House of the Dragon’ launches on HBO on August 21st.
Olivia Cooke as Alicent Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.Rhys Ifans as Otto Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.Sonoya Mizuno as Mysaria in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.(L to R) Milly Alcock as Young Rhaenyra, and Emily Carey as Young Alicent in ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.
If you were a big fan of ‘Game of Thrones’ but spent your time watching it hoping for more dragons, ‘House of the Dragon’ is looking to fill your needs.
And, of course, it’ll also feature lots of the political infighting (and literal fighting) we’ve come to expect from ‘Thrones’ – especially since it sees a civil war kick off.
House of the Dragon’, like its progenitor, is also based on George R.R. Martin’s books, this time the 2018 novel ‘Fire & Blood’, which chronicled the history of House Targaryen, the family seen via Emilia Clarke’s Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Thrones’. The series itself comes from Martin, ‘Colony’ co-creator Ryan Condal and ‘Thrones’ show veteran Miguel Sapochnik, who is an executive producer and director.
The setting here is 200 years before the events chronicled in the original series.
Paddy Considine stars as King Viserys Targaryen, chosen by the lords of Westeros to succeed the Old King, Jaehaerys Targaryen. A warm, kind, and decent man, Viserys only wishes to carry forward his grandfather’s legacy. But good men do not necessarily make for great kings.
Matt Smith, most recently seen in ‘Morbius’, is Prince Daemon Targaryen, younger brother to King Viserys and heir to the throne. A peerless warrior and a dragonrider, Daemon possesses the true blood of the dragon.
Matt Smith as Prince Daemon Targaryen in HBO Max’s ‘House of the Dragon.’
Eve Best has the role of Princess Rhaenys Targaryen, a dragonrider and wife to Lord Corlys Velaryon, “The Queen Who Never Was” was passed over as heir to the throne at the Great Council because the realm favored her cousin, Viserys, simply for being male.
Rhys Ifans plays Otto Hightower. The Hand of the King, Ser Otto loyally and faithfully serves both his king and his realm. As the Hand sees it, the greatest threat to the realm is the king’s brother, Daemon, and his position as heir to the throne.
Olivia Cooke appears as Alicent Hightower, Otto’s daughter, and the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. She was raised in the Red Keep, close to the king and his innermost circle; she possesses both a courtly grace… and a keen political acumen.
Emma D’Arcy’s Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the king’s first-born child, is of pure Valyrian blood, and a dragonrider. Many would say that Rhaenyra was born with everything… but she was not born a man, which is a disadvantage in the patriarchal world of ‘Thrones’ and even more so in ‘Dragon’. We’ve a feeling she’ll still be powerful, though.
Steve Toussaint’s Velaryon is “The Sea Snake.” Lord of House Velaryon, a Valyrian bloodline as old as House Targaryen. As the most famed nautical adventurer in the history of Westeros, Lord Corlys built his house into a powerful seat that is even richer than the Lannisters and that claims the largest navy in the world.
Sonoya Mizuno plays Mysaria, who came to Westeros with nothing, sold more times than she can recall. She could have wilted… but instead she rose to become the most trusted – and most unlikely – ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen, the heir to the throne.
This new trailer is full of action, throne-envy and, of course, dragons. ‘House of the Dragon’ will be on HBO from August 21st. Before that, the series will have a panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, so keep an eye out for our coverage.
HBO Max’s ‘House of the Dragon.’ Photograph by Courtesy of HBO.
