Moviefone Editorial

Tag: gran-turismo

  • Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay Driven to ‘OutRun’

    (Left) Sydney Sweeney at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Michael Bay attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures' 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die' at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.
    (Left) Sydney Sweeney at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas. Photo: Lionsgate. (Right) Michael Bay attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’ at the TCL Chinese Theater on May 30, 2024 in Hollywood, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Sony Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay are teaming up for an ‘OutRun’ adaptation.
    • It’ll be drawn from the popular 1980s arcade/video game franchise.
    • Jayson Rothwell will write the script.

    Here’s what we’d describe as both a surprising and yet understandable combo of talent and subject.

    While we’re not certain we had Sydney Sweeney and Michael Bay teaming up on our 2025 bingo card, the idea that they’d be coming together to work on a video game adaptation might top that for its unlikely quality.

    Still, given that Sweeney has been increasingly getting into the producing side of movie-making and Bay has a little bit of experience with action, maybe we should all have seen their collaboration on an adaptation of classic 1980s Sega title ‘OutRun’ heading our way –– at least, potentially.

    According to Deadline, Bay will direct the new movie for Universal, with Sweeney –– at least so far –– only aboard to produce rather than making a deal to star. Of course, if the script takes a shape she’s interested in, expect her to take a role, even if it’s supporting part, to get this one made.

    Toru Nakahara (who worked on the likes of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog) will also produce for Sega, while the company’s president and COO Shuji Utsumi will oversee development.

    Related Article: Sydney Sweeney in Negotiations to Star in Legendary’s ‘Gundam’ Movie

    What’s the story of ‘OutRun’?

    'OutRun' video game. Photo: Youtube.
    ‘OutRun’ video game. Photo: Youtube.

    With video games enjoying a huge moment on screens big and small (‘Minecraft’ continues to build at the box office, while ‘The Last of Us’ returned to HBO and Max with a bang a couple of weeks ago, and just released its most impactful episode so far), it’s hardly surprising that other companies would be rooting through titles to find possibilities.

    Universal itself has already seen success in the sphere with ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and ‘Five Nights at Freddie’s both launching film franchises.

    The initial struggle with ‘OutRun’ is that it features no traditional narrative: this is a pseudo-3D driving video game in which the player controls a Ferrari Testarossa convertible from a third-person rear perspective. The object of the game is to reach the finish line against a timer.

    Still ‘OutRun,’ which Sega debuted in arcade cabinet form back in 1986 and saw become its most successful arcade title of the decade, has enjoyed a long-running embrace by game fans since being ported to variety of consoles and systems, spawning a franchise.

    Jayson Rothwell, whose credits include Netflix thriller ‘Polar,’ comedy horror mystery ‘Silent Night’ [2012] and 2004 horror thriller ‘Blessed’ is the scriptwriter who will be figuring out how it works as a movie.

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    There have been different approaches to titles such as this in the past –– the more recent ‘Gran Turismo’ took the novel idea of focusing on a real-life player of the game becoming a driver, while the less successful (in every sense) 2014 effort ‘Need for Speed’ looked to put a crime thriller coat on the racing action.

    And let’s not forget that “Bayhem” isn’t a term by accident (except for the many spectacular vehicular collisions he’s brought to screens on purpose); the director knows how to stage a set piece with real momentum.

    What else is Sydney Sweeney working on?

    (L to R) Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in 'Anyone But You. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
    (L to R) Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney in ‘Anyone But You. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    Sweeney’s current schedule is as packed as anyone’s in Hollywood.

    Last year included the continued success of hit rom-com ‘Anyone But You’ opposite fellow rising star Glen Powell and Neon horror thriller ‘Immaculate.’

    She followed those up with one that she might wish to vanish from her resume, misfiring Spider-Man spin-off ‘Madame Web.’

    The actor also filmed the Ron Howard-directed thriller ‘Eden’ about a society of people who opt to start a new life in the Galapagos islands, only for things to wrong. That one should be in theaters this year.

    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Lionsgate.
    (L to R) Brandon Sklenar, Amanda Seyfried, Sydney Sweeney and director Paul Feig at the Lionsgate presentation at CinemaCon 2025 in Las Vegas.Photo: Lionsgate.

    She has shot the Lionsgate adaptation of the novel ‘The Housemaid,’ which has Paul Feige in the director’s chair, and has worked on two other movies, ‘Echo Valley’ about a woman (played by Julianne Moore) whose life is turned upside down when her daughter (Sweeney) shows up covered in someone else’s blood, and a biopic of real-life boxer Christy Martin, with Sweeney in the lead role (not to mention it’s another movie she produced).

    Still to come is a starring role in Colman Domingo’s film ‘Scandalous!,’ which will see her playing Kim Novak in the story of the actor’s controversial relationship with Sammy Davis Jr. (played by ‘Alien: Romulus’ David Jonsson).

    And that list doesn’t even include the potential movies to which she is attached: that list includes a remake of sci-fi comedy ‘Barbarella,’ thriller ‘The Caretaker’ and a drama called ‘The Registration.’

    More recently, she was linked to the attempt to make a live-action ‘Gundam’ movie.

    Finally, we have HBO series ‘Euphoria,’ whose much-delayed third season which is finally filming now for a 2026 release.

    What else is Michael Bay working on?

    Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures 'Ambulance' Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022.
    (L to R) Producer Brad Fischer, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Director/Producer Michael Bay, Eiza González and Jake Gyllenhaal attend Universal Pictures ‘Ambulance’ Premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, CA on Monday, April 4, 2022. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    Bay, who has been working as a filmmaker longer than his new collaborator has been alive, is busy as both a director and a producer.

    While his most recent feature directorial gig was 2022 action thriller ‘Ambulance,’ he’s got parkour documentary ‘We Are Storror,’ which follows the daring and successful Parkour team, who have amassed a huge following on YouTube. The doc premiered at SXSW on March 8th.

    As a producer, his Platinum Dunes company has backed a number of recent movies, including ‘Drop,’ ‘Transformers One’ and ‘A Quiet Place: Day One.’

    And as usual, he has a vast array of projects in development under both sides of his output, including the long-gestating ‘Robopocalypse,’ a crossover between the ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ properties and a third main ‘A Quiet Place’ outing.

    When will ‘OutRun’ be in theaters?

    Universal has yet to announce anything close to a release date for this one, so we’ll have to be patient for now. Cool your engines, people!

    Sydney Sweeney in 'Euphoria.'
    Sydney Sweeney in ‘Euphoria.’ Photograph by Eddy Chen/HBO.

    Sydney Sweeney Movies and TV Shows:

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  • Neill Blomkamp to Make New ‘Starship Troopers’

    (Left) Neill Blomkamp director of 'Gran Turismo.' (Right) 1997's 'Starship Troopers'. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
    (Left) Neill Blomkamp director of ‘Gran Turismo.’ (Right) 1997’s ‘Starship Troopers’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.

    Preview:

    • Neill Blomkamp is tackling ‘Starship Troopers.’
    • He’ll adapt Robert Heinlein’s battle-happy 1959 novel.
    • The story sees humanity threatened but insectoid aliens.

    While fans of South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp might prefer him to keep working on a follow-up to cult hit ‘District 9,’ the director has other ideas.

    Having pumped out other projects and spent a frustrating period trying to get his chance at an ‘Alien’ movie, Blomkamp has now zeroed in on a new concept. Or rather, a new take on a previously-adapted book.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, his target now is Robert Heinlein’s novel about a huge, galaxy-spanning battle between humans and arachnid alien creatures, a story first brought to screens by ‘RoboCop’ director Paul Verhoeven back in 1997 and titled ‘Starship Troopers‘.

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    Sony’s Columbia Pictures label has Blomkamp making his own version of the story instead of a remake of the 1997 movie. He’ll write and direct, producing the movie alongside Terri Tatchell, his partner and wife who co-wrote ‘District 9’ and 2015 outing ‘Chappie.’

    Most recently, Blomkamp brought us the racing game adaptation ‘Gran Turismo,’ which was a success for Sony.

    Given that Blomkamp’s work –– particularly ‘District 9,’ which dealt with the aftermath of aliens landing in South Africa –– often touches on political and moral themes, ‘Starship Troopers’ feels like something he can get his teeth into, and we’ll have to wait and see how he tackle’s the novel’s complicated themes.

    What do we mean by complicated? Do you want to know more? Read on…

    What’s the story of the original ‘Starship Troopers’ novel?

    1997's 'Starship Troopers'. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
    1997’s ‘Starship Troopers’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.

    Published in 1959, Heinlein’s book is set in a future society ruled by a human interstellar government called the Terran Federation, dominated by a military elite.

    Under the Terran Federation, only veterans of Federal Service (including, but not limited to, military service) enjoy full citizenship, such as the right to vote. The narrative follows Juan “Johnny” Rico, a young man of Filipino descent, through his military service in the Mobile Infantry.

    He progresses from recruit to officer against the backdrop of an interstellar war between humans and an alien species known as “Arachnids” or “Bugs.” Interspersed with the primary plot are classroom scenes in which Rico and others discuss philosophical and moral issues, including aspects of suffrage, civic virtue, juvenile delinquency, and war; these discussions have been described as sharing Heinlein’s own political views.

    ‘Starship Troopers’ has been identified with a tradition of militarism in US science fiction, and draws parallels between the conflict between humans and the Bugs, and the Cold War. It also uses a coming of age framework to criticize the US society of the 1950s, arguing that a lack of discipline had led to a moral decline, and advocates corporal and capital punishment.

    While the book won a Hugo Award for best novel and has been quite influential in sci-fi literature, some quarters described the book as fascist, and it is certainly viewed as problematic by today’s standards.

    Related Article: Director Neill Blomkamp Talks ‘Gran Turismo’ and Jann Mardenborough’s Story

    What about the first movie adaptation of ‘Starship Troopers’?

    1997's 'Starship Troopers'. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
    1997’s ‘Starship Troopers’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.

    Dutch director Verhoeven, working from a script by Edward Neumeier, took a more satirical approach to the novel in his bombastic 1997 sci-fi movie adaptation.

    Verhoeven was over-the-top in his depiction of the military jingoism and propaganda, fetishized costumes, and highlighted Nazi influences.

    With Casper Van Dien as Rico, leading a cast that also included Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Ironside, the movie was not initially a success, and some critics accused Verhoeven of putting a positive spin on fascism. But it has since developed a reappraisal and a cult following.

    While it earned just $121 million on a $105 million budget, it spawned two movie spin-offs, ‘Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation,’ directed by Phil Tippett, and ‘Starship Troopers 3: Marauder,’ which saw Neumeier take over directorial duties (he also scripted both follow-up). Both were straight to home entertainment.

    2008's 'Starship Troopers 3: Marauder'. Photo: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
    2008’s ‘Starship Troopers 3: Marauder’. Photo: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

    The franchise expanded to the small screen to include animated entries ‘Starship Troopers: Invasion’ and ‘Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars,’ while there was also the series ‘Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles.’

    In 2011, ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise producer Neal H. Moritz announced the first stab at a new ‘Troopers’ movie, with ‘Baywatch’ film writing duo Mark Swift and Damian Shannon aboard to script. But it seemingly stalled in development.

    Another version, pushed by producer Toby Jaffe looked to take its own approach, as he told Empire:

    “Verhoeven took Robert Heinlein’s 1959 novel from one extreme and made it almost comical, whereas our job is to be a little more faithful to the book, and ground it a little more.”

    But again, that attempt didn’t seem to take off. Perhaps Blomkamp will have more luck…

    When will the new ‘Starship Troopers’ movie be on screens?

    Sony’s Columbia Pictures arm has yet to announce when this one might see the inside of theaters, but it sounds like it won’t be ready until late 2026 at the earliest.

    Director Neill Blomkamp (center) and the real Jann Mardenborough (right) with additional crew on the set of Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo. Photo: Gordon Timpen.
    Director Neill Blomkamp (center) and the real Jann Mardenborough (right) with additional crew on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo. Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    List of Neill Blomkamp Movies:

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  • Movie Review: ‘Red Right Hand’

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    In theaters and on VOD February 23rd is ‘Red Right Hand,’ starring Orlando Bloom, Scott Haze, Andie MacDowell, Garret Dillahunt, Brian Geraghty, and Chapel Oaks.

    Related Article: Garret Dillahunt Talks ‘Red Right Hand’ and Working with Orlando Bloom

    Initial Thoughts

    Directing duo Ian and Eshom Nelms’ previous outing, ‘Fatman,’ was a flawed yet original – and often amusing – reinvention of the Santa Claus myth, shot through with humor and cynicism. The Nelms play it straight this time around, telling a grim story of a family fighting to stay alive in a town overrun and corrupted by a psychotic drug lord. The movie overcomes its ‘direct-to-VOD’ imprimatur by being both surprisingly heartfelt and anchored by a strong performance from Orlando Bloom.

    Story and Direction

    Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, co-directors of 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms, co-directors of ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Cash (Orlando Bloom) is a former criminal who has worked to escape that life while also staying sober and taking care of his recently widowed, still-grieving brother Finney (Scott Haze) and his niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks). The three live quietly on Finney’s late wife’s farm, which Finney has unfortunately kept afloat by taking a loan from Big Cat (Andie MacDowell), a ruthless local drug lord.

    Big Cat has an iron grip on their rural Kentucky community, including its banks and law enforcement, as well as the meth labs buried deep in the woods around the area. She’s also Cash’s former employer, and in an attempt to settle Finney’s account before Cat comes after the farm and his family, Cash agrees to perform three tasks for Cat that pull him back into his previous life. But Cash also knows that Cat won’t stop there, and he’s forced to make his own plans to save the farm and his family without raising Cat’s suspicions.

    ‘Red Right Hand’ spins out this tight if somewhat predictable story in lean, economical fashion, and directors Ian and Eshom Nelms (‘Small Town Crime’) manage to pull off both some strikingly lovely images of the landscape in which the story is set – where natural beauty sits right next to grinding poverty – as well as a steadily building sense of dread. You know where this story is going for the most part, but the Nelms still tighten the screws in suspenseful fashion and add a few unpredictable wrinkles to the story that raise the stakes even higher.

    Garret Dillahunt in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Garret Dillahunt in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    We’ve seen the story before – reformed bad guy gets pulled back into his old life against his wishes, with his soul in the balance – but there is enough detail about Cash and his family, and the community in which they live, to make one care about what happens and make the violent payoff feel earned. While one could question the morality of seemingly pious if troubled folks like Cash, his family, and a surprise ally – whose third-act involvement in the proceedings, to be fair, feels a bit forced and out of the blue – engaging in vigilante justice, that’s an argument for another movie.

    ‘Red Right Hand’ touches on that idea, and also touches on the social conditions that set up rural communities like this for destruction at the hands of the drug trade, but only glancingly. This is a B-movie crime thriller, a bit of a throwback to movies like this that proliferated in the ‘70s, and on that level it works pretty well.

    Playing Against Type

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Whatever happened to Orlando Bloom? Coming off ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ franchises in the 2000s, he was being positioned as the next big action star and dream hunk at the same time. But his career has sputtered since, exemplified by a disappointingly stiff turn in last year’s ‘Gran Turismo.’

    ‘Red Right Hand,’ however, is another matter. From his accent to his grizzled appearance, the British actor pulls off a character that could have been a Southern stereotype but ends up showing more range and depth of feeling than a movie like this usually provides. The boyish charm of his Legolas is long gone, and Cash’s conflicted nature – he knows what will happen once he gets mixed up with Cat again but is resigned to do what he must do – is believably portrayed. Bloom also sells the action scenes quite well, fighting with rugged determination yet still vulnerable to pain and injury.

    Andie MacDowell in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Andie MacDowell in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    While Bloom’s work is more subtle than one might expect, Andie MacDowell – long a presence in rom-coms and ensemble dramas – goes for all-out villainy here with a big performance that borders on camp, and occasionally dips into it. But she also provides a wildly sinister complement to the more grounded work done by Bloom, Scott Haze as Finney, and the remarkable Chapel Oaks as Savannah. The tone of her performance sometimes clashes with the overall atmosphere of the movie, but she also brings a malevolent, sadistic, and even seductive streak that keeps Big Cat unpredictable and dangerous.

    Final Thoughts

    Orlando Bloom in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    Orlando Bloom in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Let’s make no mistake: ‘Red Right Hand’ is very much what they used to call a B-movie, and is now the kind of picture that may get a cursory, limited theatrical release before showing up on your favorite VOD and streaming platforms. But there’s no shame in that: films cut from the same cloth, like ‘Rolling Thunder’ or ‘Walking Tall,’ became cult classics long after they played the drive-in circuits of the 1970s.

    And ‘Red Right Hand’ is as earnest as it can be, even if its mix of family values and vigilante violence doesn’t always sit well. You come to care about Orlando Bloom’s Cash and his family, and there’s a real sense of the stakes as they go up against Big Cat and her organization. The film may hurtle too quickly toward its conclusion and end on a pat note, but ‘Red Right Hand’ is an effective thriller nevertheless.

    ‘Red Right Hand’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.

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    What is the Plot of ‘Red Right Hand’?

    Cash (Orlando Bloom) is trying to live an honest and quiet life taking care of his recently orphaned niece Savannah (Chapel Oaks) in the Appalachian town of Odim County. When the sadistic kingpin Big Cat (Andie MacDowell) who runs the town forces him back into her services, Cash learns he’s capable of anything – even killing – to protect the town and the only family he has left. As the journey gets harder, Cash is drawn into a nightmare that blurs the lines between good and evil.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Red Right Hand’?

    • Orlando Bloom as Cash
    • Andie MacDowell as Big Cat
    • Scott Haze as Finney
    • Garret Dillahunt as Wilder
    • Mo McRae as Deputy Duke Parks
    • Brian Geraghty as Sheriff Hollister
    • Chapel Oaks as Savannah
    • Kenneth Miller as The Buck
    • Nicholas Logan as The Doe
    Andie MacDowell and Brian Geraghty in 'Red Right Hand,' a Magnolia Pictures release.
    (L to R) Andie MacDowell and Brian Geraghty in ‘Red Right Hand,’ a Magnolia Pictures release. © Red Right Hand Productions LLC, Steve Squall. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

    Other Orlando Bloom Movies:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Red Right Hand’ Movie Showtimes

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  • ‘Barbie’ Becoming WB’s Biggest Hit

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Barbie’ might have been knocked down to second place again at the domestic box office this weekend by ‘Gran Turismo’, which managed to take the top spot (yet only for the three-day weekend and only by $200,000, with final figures possibly changing that), but Greta Gerwig’s movie is now on track to surpass yet another record.

    As of Monday, the movie had made $1.34 billion, which means it is $1 million from overtaking ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2’, the previous global champ. Of course, all of this has to be qualified with the usual “adjusted for inflation” argument, since ‘Deathly Hallows’ came out in 2011, when tickets prices were cheaper.

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    Barbie: the story so far

    Greta Gerwig attends the 'Barbie' Press Tour, Sydney Australia 2023.
    Greta Gerwig attends the ‘Barbie’ Press Tour, Sydney Australia 2023. Photography by Caroline McCredie for Warner Bros/NBC Universal. Contact: jade.perry@nbcuni.com.

    Directed by Gerwig, the film –– for anyone who has yet to see it –– brings the world of the iconic toy to life as Margot Robbie plays a Barbie living in “Barbie Land”, a place where variants of the character live happily: until she starts to realize she’s just not feeling the same way. Cue a trip to the real world…

    ‘Barbie’s success is all the more impressive because it has clearly connected beyond the initial rush of memes and jokes around the first couple of trailers. The movie has captured the public imagination, and alongside Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, has become one of the movie events of the year.

    It just keeps on breaking records, including non-holiday weekend earnings and low drops in subsequent weeks.

    The film, which also stars Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Simu Liu and Will Ferrell, had a budget of roughly $100 million, and while it had an extensive promotional campaign, word of mouth and a clutch of positive reviews have carried it to big money.

    Could it hit $2 billion? Anything is possible at this point, though with the state of the theatrical business post-Covid, it’s more unlikely than before the pandemic. Still, it continues to bring in audiences.

    Related Article: ‘Barbie’ Breaks More Records as Greta Gerwig Becomes the Highest-Grossing Female Filmmaker

    Will there be a ‘Barbie’ sequel?

    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While backers/rights holders Mattel have naturally hinted at a whole world of follow-ups and spin-offs, there are no current and official announced plans.

    Still Greta Gerwig, despite saying she had no ideas for a sequel, did say this to ‘People’ before the movie hit the billion mark:

    “There’s a tone and a humor and a joy, and obviously the world is so beautiful. I want to go back to Barbie Land.”

    Elsewhere at the Box Office

    Sang Heon Lee, Darren Barnet, Archie Madekwe, Emelia Hartford and Pepe Barroso Silva are GT Academy drivers in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    (L to R) Sang Heon Lee, Darren Barnet, Archie Madekwe, Emelia Hartford and Pepe Barroso Silva are GT Academy drivers in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    The other buzzy film of the summer, Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’, is barreling towards the $800 million mark at the worldwide box office after earning $29.1 million from 7,555 screens in 82 territories. Nolan’s film, a biopic of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the creation of the atomic bomb has enjoyed a massive $777 million worldwide gross — an astonishing figure for a somber, R-rated drama. And the money may well keep rolling, in since its debut in China is coming soon.

    ‘Gran Turismo’ added $11 million to bring its global haul to just over $53 million. The racing film will still need to put the pedal to the metal if it hopes to turn a profit.

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    Elsewhere in Warner Bros. stable, ‘Meg 2: The Trench’ added $15.2 million from 16,224 screens in 77 offshore markets. That brings its global gross to $352.5 million.

    And unlike other Hollywood releases, which have struggled in China lately, the giant shark movie has gotten a big boost from that market, earning $112.9 million

    Then there is ‘Blue Beetle.’ The superhero origin story earned an estimated $10 million for the weekend in 71 international markets and on 10,421 screens. Globally, the picture has earned $81.8 million, a disappointing result for a movie that cost more than $100 million to produce.

    Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 'Barbie,' a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
    (L to R) Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Barbie:’

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  • National Cinema Day 2023 is August 27th

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    Whether you’re in the mood to check out a brand-new release (this week’s ‘Gran Turismo’, say), finally learn what everyone has been talking about with ‘Barbenheimer’ or enjoy a classic on re-release, get ready to celebrate.

    National Cinema Day is back, and this year’s event will happen on August 27th.

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    What is National Cinema Day?

    National Cinema Day 2023 is August 27th.
    National Cinema Day 2023 is August 27th.

    Following the success of last year’s inaugural version, the Cinema Foundation is calling on film fans across the country to gather for a national day to celebrate the magic of the movies on the big screen.

    The second annual National Cinema Day celebrates the power of movies to bring us all together, and discounted admissions for all movies at participating U.S. theaters in all formats (including Premium Large Format screens such as IMAX) will be no more than $4.

    More than 3,000 locations — with approximately 30,000 available screens — are expected to take part in the one-day event.

    The event comes as the summer box office is 16.6% ahead of 2022 but 5.4% below 2019, according to Comscore. Approximately 8.1million moviegoers turned out for last year’s inaugural National Cinema Day and resulted in the highest-attended day of 2022, according to the National Association of Theater Owners.

    Here’s what Jackie Brenneman, president of the Cinema Foundation had to say:

    “Following the rousing success of the first annual National Cinema Day, we welcome everyone to join us for the communal experience of one of America’s favorite pastimes — moviegoing. We look forward to gathering at the movies and celebrating an exciting slate of new releases and classics, from beloved family favorites and outrageous comedies to thought-provoking dramas and thrilling adventures. There’s something for everyone.”

    And here’s enthusiasm from Michael O’Leary, president and CEO of the National Association of Theatre Owners:

    “Movies have the power to bring us together to share in the joy, the thrill and the magic of a great story told on the big screen. National Cinema Day is a celebration of movie fandom and of the uniting role that movie theaters play in our communities.”

    Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Gran Turismo’

    What movies will be available?

    Helen Mirren in Bleecker Street/ShivHans Pictures' 'Golda.'
    Helen Mirren in Bleecker Street/ShivHans Pictures’ ‘Golda.’ Credit: Sean Gleason, Courtesy of Bleecker Street/ShivHans Pictures.

    The offer includes all movies on release on Sunday, including new titles such as ‘Golda’ (a biopic starring Helen Mirren), a new sports drama called ‘The Hill’ (starring Dennis Quaid), the current blockbuster champions including ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer,’ plus special events such as Disney’s sing-along version of the new ‘The Little Mermaid’ and a fresh re-release of ‘Jurassic Park’.

    Where can I find more information?

    You can get all the details, including how to get tickets, at the National Cinema Day site or via your favorite movie theater’s site.

    National Cinema Day 2023 is August 27th.
    National Cinema Day 2023 is August 27th.

    Movies in Theaters this Weekend:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Gran Turismo’ Movie Showtimes

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  • ‘Gran Turismo’ Interview: Director Neill Blomkamp

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    Opening in theaters on August 25th is the biographical sports drama and video game adaption ‘Gran Turismo,’ which was directed by Neill Blomkamp (‘District 9’).

    What is the plot of ‘Gran Turismo’?

    Based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won him a series of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions to become an actual professional race car driver.

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    Who is in the cast of ‘Gran Turismo’?

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Neill Blomkamp about his work on ‘Gran Turismo,’ adapting the video game while telling Jann Mardenborough real life story, why Archie Madekwe was the right actor to play Mardenborough, the VFX he used to simulate the game, and shooting the race car driving scenes.

    Neill Blomkamp director of 'Gran Turismo.'
    Neill Blomkamp director of ‘Gran Turismo.’

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Blomkamp, Archie Madekwe and Jann Mardenborough.

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about the idea of adapting the ‘Gran Turismo’ video game by telling Jan Mardenborough’s real life story. Was that the key for you in making this movie?

    Neill Blomkamp: Yeah, totally. I mean, the thing about the movie that I thought was unique and a different way to approach video game films was this totally unusual approach of it being a biography. His life is very interesting and this combination of real world racing and the drama of the real world where we’re not in the narrative of a video game, but the video game is so integral to his journey and to the movie. I thought that was a really cool and unusual way of approaching a video game movie.

    The real Jann Mardenborough on the set of Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story.'
    The real Jann Mardenborough on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    MF: Why was Archie Madekwe the right actor to play Jann Mardenborough and bring his real life story to the big screen?

    NB: I mean, there’s a host of different factors that make Archie perfect. One of the things that we spoke about a lot was just that Jann is a very grounded and sort of warm person. He’s like a really good guy. There’s something in Archie that naturally seems grounded and similar to him. They’re very similar in terms of charisma, but they’re physically totally different. Archie’s 6’6, or some crazy height and he’s not optimal for being a race car jockey, that has to be squeezed into small, lightweight race cars. So physically, he’s cool in the movie, because he kind of lurches over everyone, but he’s very different to Jann in that respect. But I met so many actors for this role and even the first time that I had a Zoom with him, I could just tell that he was the right person. Then I went to London and I met him in person and I just totally loved him. I loved working with him as well. I loved his performance and I also loved the process of actually working with him.

    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in 'Gran Turismo.'
    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in ‘Gran Turismo.’

    MF: Can you talk about the VFX you used to simulate the game within the movie?

    NB: Yeah, I mean that idea came from this concept that in the PlayStation or any video game computational device, that it’s running some kind of game engine. It’s calculating in 3D space everything correctly. So when you’re driving it, it’s projecting an approximation onto a screen of roughly what the track looks like. But in reality, it’s genuinely computing like an eight-kilometer long track where the size of the car is correct, all of the mathematics are in fact correct. I wanted to just project that in 3D space and let the audience see what the PlayStation is actually computing. Visually, I thought it was interesting, but the real thing about it that’s cool is, it’s kind of how a real professional sim driver experiences and sees Gran Turismo. So it felt very personal to Jann, even though it’s a cool visual motif, it’s actually how he sees the world. So any place that I could put it that didn’t feel gratuitous or too much of a gimmick, I wanted to include it.

    A race from Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    A race from Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about the challenges of shooting the race car driving sequences and making those seem as authentic as possible?

    NB: I mean the goal with the race sequences was to make it as much of an experiential thing as I could. I wanted to put the cameras in positions that really let you feel like you were on the track, feeling it in a visceral way, almost like you were there as much as I could. A huge portion of that was sound design and also how the sound design would change depending on where the camera’s placed. Then also showing the internal mechanics of the car and the idea with that was, if this is how all the mechanics work, then there’s sort of a G-force or physical stress that’s applied to the driver. It all came back to this idea of trying to feel it through the screen. Then the other thing was for everything to just be real as opposed to using tricks or visual effects. I don’t really want to say visual effects, because we used visual effects, but we used visual effects to amplify what was real. So the basis for everything was always real. Anytime you see one of the actors in the cockpit, they’re really on the track doing that. None of that is fake. It’s a hundred percent real.

    Director Neill Blomkamp (center) and the real Jann Mardenborough (right) with additional crew on the set of Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.
    Director Neill Blomkamp (center) and the real Jann Mardenborough (right) with additional crew on the set of Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo. Photo: Gordon Timpen.

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    ‘Gran Turismo’ is produced by PlayStation Productions, 2.0 Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on August 11th, 2023.

  • Movie Review: ‘Gran Turismo’

    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in 'Gran Turismo.'
    Archie Madekwe as Jann Mardenborough in ‘Gran Turismo.’

    Opening in limited release in theaters on August 11th and wide on August 25th, ‘Gran Turismo’ is the latest attempt to bring a video game –– sorry, driving simulator as the movie’s characters are at pains to remind us –– to screens. And it’s a mostly successful effort, partly because it has a compelling true story/underdog tale to tell rather than trying to force a narrative onto a title that doesn’t have one.

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    What’s the story of ‘Gran Turismo’?

    Archie Madekwe stars in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    Archie Madekwe stars in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen. ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Gran Turismo is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

    The movie follows Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a gamer living in the UK who is obsessed with the PlayStation-based driving simulation ‘Gran Turismo’. He’s become a highly proficient driver, rising up the ranks of top players and saving money to buy new gaming equipment even as his parents –– particularly former professional footballer Steve (Djimon Hounsou) –– don’t understand his ambitions.

    Jann’s life changes forever when he wins an invite-only GT race, gaining him entry to an exclusive academy set up primarily as a marketing deal between Nissan (driven by ambitious PR executive Danny Moore, played by Orlando Bloom) and Sony. Whoever succeeds at the academy will score a contract –– subject to also securing a racing license by finishing at least fourth in one race –– to drive in Nissan’s professional team for races in Europe and the United Arab Emirates.

    After making it through as the champ, Jann faces the toughest test of his life… since racing with trained drivers who have been behind the wheel of real vehicles for years is no mean feat. And he faces snobbish backlash from both pit crews and the drivers he’s competing against. Aided by former driver-turned-mentor Jack Salter (David Harbour), Jann will have to prove he has what it takes on actual tracks such as the legendary Le Mans in France.

    Related Article: Orlando Bloom Joins David Harbour in the ‘Gran Turismo’ Movie

    Who else is in ‘Gran Turismo?’

    David Harbour stars in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    David Harbour stars in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen. ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Gran Turismo is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

    ‘Gran Turismo’s cast also includes Geri Horner, Darren Barnet, Takehiro Hira, Joshua Stradowski, Daniel Puig, Maeve Courtier-Lilley, Pepe Barroso, Thomas Kretschmann and Lindsay Pattison.

    Does ‘Gran Turismo’ make the winners’ circle?

    A scene from director Neill Blomkamp's 'Gran Turismo.'
    A scene from director Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Gran Turismo.’

    In a world where video game adaptations have finally started to see real success (e.g., ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ and ‘Mortal Kombat’), the pressure is on for new titles to stand out. ‘Gran Turismo’, which has been in development for years (at one point, ‘Top Gun: Maverick’s Joseph Kosinski was in the directing driver’s seat), has an advantage thanks to its hooky roots in Mardenborough’s real-life story, which means it doesn’t have to go the ‘Need for Speed’ route and try to layer a fictional idea over a game that doesn’t have a narrative.

    The result is much more effective than that benighted 2014 movie, though it still suffers from a few issues.

    Neill Blomkamp was an interesting choice to direct: he’s more known for the sci-fi likes of ‘District 9’, ‘Elysium’ and ‘Chappie’ and more recently took a side-step into shorts and horror. He certainly has a grasp on how to meld the effects with real-world footage seamlessly, aside from the moments where he actually wants to call attention to them (such as Jann’s car breaking apart to put him back in his bedroom before reforming all in one shot to show him channeling his virtual racing experience in a key moment during an actual event), and he knows how to shoot a kinetic racing scene.

    Madekwe, previously seen in movies such as ‘Midsommar and ‘Voyagers’ does a decent job of bringing Jann to life, the script from ‘American Sniper’s Jason Hall and ‘King Richard’s Zach Baylin, portraying him as quietly confident but never overly cocky (there’s a stock American fellow driver for that purpose). He’s believably a young man still looking for his place in the world when he discovers this extension to his obsessions.

    Yet the person truly deserving of a place on the acting podium is David Harbour, who has spent years perfecting the grumpy veteran dealing with a bunch of younger people on ‘Stranger Things’. His Jack is a highlight of the movie, a former racer himself tinged with tragedy who is grimly unconvinced that any of these “sim” kids can cut it in an actual car before Jann proves he has real potential, and a bond begins to form. Harbour is also the anchor for an amusing montage where Jack washes out one simulator candidate after another.

    Oh, and this is likely to be the only video game/sports movie where the hero chills out to Enya and Kenny G.

    Where does the movie lose traction?

    'Gran Turismo' video game from PlayStation.
    ‘Gran Turismo’ video game from PlayStation.

    Which isn’t to say ‘Gran Turismo’ is totally free of issues. Despite the pacey racing scenes, no amount of sweeping drone/helicopter shots and camera positions near wheels can help the fact that an awful lot of what happens on the track is repetitive. There are several moments where Jann is trying to get past his competition, only for them to swerve to block him. It makes for less excitement more checking of the watch as you wonder if there is ever going to be anything else happening.

    And even when Jann suffers an accident that shakes him to the core, the fallout seems less than realistic, him refusing to see his mother and father when you know any real parent would have rushed to the young person’s side, no matter their feelings.

    In fact, emotion is a big issue for a film as a whole, coldly bringing the story to life with little in the way of heartfelt human reactions. Again, only Madekwe and Harbour moving the needle in any real direction on that front.

    And while the cars are running on gas, the film’s plot –– real as it might be –– is solely powered by cliches. There are the family misunderstandings, the wilder sportier brother (played by Daniel Puig, who ironically looks more like the real-life Mardenborough), the rivalry on the track and the snobbish professionals, one of whom drives a gold car. There’s also an entirely unnecessary subplot about Jann’s flirtation/relationship with a girl from his hometown who he follows on Instagram that adds nothing to the story and could have been excised, shortening the bloated 2hr and 15-minute running time.

    Yet ‘Gran Turismo’, while it might not be in pole position, has enough entertainment value and certainly skirts around some of the bigger potholes of game adaptations past.

    ‘Gran Turismo’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

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    Orlando Bloom stars in Columbia Pictures 'Gran Turismo.'
    Orlando Bloom stars in Columbia Pictures ‘Gran Turismo.’ Photo: Gordon Timpen. ©2023 CTMG. All Rights Reserved. Gran Turismo is a trademark of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.

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    ‘Gran Turismo’ is produced by PlayStation Productions, 2.0 Entertainment, and Columbia Pictures. The movie is scheduled to release in theaters on August 11th, 2023.

  • CinemaCon 2023: Sony Pictures Presentation

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.

    With audiences returning to theaters properly and box office returns climbing out of the trough of COVID, it was only natural that studio bosses were going to be bullish at this year’s CinemaCon event in Las Vegas.

    First out of the gate this time was Sony, whose chairman Tom Rothman was in an upbeat, triumphant mood. “For the past three years, as the punditocracy pissed on your business, we at Sony held fast,” Rothman boasted. “We are the only studio that held entirely to theatrical. We were sure that movies in theaters would not only survive but triumph. Well, whaddaya know?”

    Sony remains on the theatrical train, with several big releases planned.

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    ‘The Equalizer 3’

    Among the biggest is ‘The Equalizer 3’, which represents that unusual franchise where the star –– in this case, Denzel Washington –– is actually bigger than the property. In an age of superheroes and ‘Star Wars’ selling seats, he’s an outlier.

    The studio had Washington and co-star Dakota Fanning on stage to thank cinema executives for their support and, perhaps more crucially, to highlight the fact that it represents a reunion for the ‘Man on Fire’ stars. And a trailer played, which went online today…

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    ‘The Equalizer 3’ catches up with Washington’s government assassin-turned-kick-ass-do-gooder Robert McCall in Italy, where he’s trying to enjoy some downtime on the picturesque Amalfi coast and not be asked to take on villains.

    Sadly, for McCall, that’s not the way his life goes, and he’s soon caught up helping some locals with Mafia goons and violence. Which means McCall has to break out his particular set of skills and lay the smack down on members of the criminal clan known as the Camorra (think an even more dangerous offshoot of the Mafia).

    And while there are some very wild, violent thugs looking to tackle McCall, none of them are quite ready for what he brings to the table. Literally in one case, as we witness him applying nerve pressure to one of the enforcers. “That’s level three”, he tells the anguished henchman. “If “If it goes to level four, you will shit on yourself.” Thanks Denz!

    But the highlight, as mentioned above, is in the reunion between Washington and Fanning. The latter was just 10 when she shared the screen with Washington ‘Man on Fire’ in 2004. Now, for ‘The Equalizer 3’, she’s playing a young CIA agent drawn to the village because of all the reports of violence.

    And the two actors’ connection was clear, since they have stayed friends all these years. “She’s like a daughter to him, he loves her,” Antoine Fuqua told Empire of the off-screen dynamic between Washington and Fanning. “It was so beautiful to watch them together on the set, just talking, laughing. And they’re both so talented, they just get into it, they didn’t skip a beat. What was weird for me looking through the lens and seeing Dakota as a grown-up! She’s fantastic and watching them together was a joy because she’s a samurai. She knows it, she’s there, she’s pleasant, she does her thing. And it was a bonus her relationship with Denzel. She’s friends with his kids. It was very easy with those two.”

    ‘The Equalizer 3’ will be in theaters on September 1st.

    Denzel Washington in 'The Equalizer 3.'
    Denzel Washington in ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures.

    ‘Bad Boys 4’

    While ‘Bad Boys for Life’ represented one of the few hits as the pandemic began to bite, Sony was naturally excited to roll out word of the next movie. The movie is now filming (with ‘For Life’ directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah returning) but isn’t yet at a stage where the studio can show a trailer. Still, it had stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence ebullient in a video introduction.

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    ‘Gran Turismo’

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.

    Related Article: Sony Wants Neill Blomkamp to Direct a ‘Gran Turismo’ Movie

    ‘Gran Turismo’, adapted from the Sony racing game is much further along, though while the trailer played to the presentation audience, it has yet to head online.

    The film will tell the story of Jann Mardenborough ( ‘Midsommar’s Archie Madekwe), a British teenager who in 2011 entered GT Academy, an esports tournament created to find ‘Gran Turismo’ players who were good enough at the game to be able to competitively drive real-life race cars. Mardenborough was victorious in the GT Academy competition and became a race car driver for Nissan, competing in the Dubai 24 Hour endurance race.

    In the trailer, we see Jann arriving with other GT Academy contestants and being put through the wringer by racing trainer Jack Salter (David Harbour) who puts them through a rigorous boot camp to get them in shape. It’s one thing to know how to hit every corner on a world-class racetrack and to overtake in a simulation of a Nissan GT-R LM, but as Jann finds out, it’s hard to do it when the g-forces and hot temperatures of an actual race car are bearing down on you.

    “If you miss a racing line in a game you can reset,” warns Jack. “If you miss it in a real race, you could die.”

    ‘Gran Turismo’ drives into theaters on August 11th.

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    ‘No Hard Feelings’

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.

    Jennifer Lawrence and ‘No Hard Feelings’ director Gene Stupnitsky swapped onstage banter before introducing a new clip from the raunchy comedy about two helicopter parents who hire a woman to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, so he doesn’t leave for college as a virgin. The comedy hits theaters on June 23.

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
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    ‘Kraven The Hunter’

    Also on display, Sony/Marvel Spider-adjacent superhero pic ‘Kraven The Hunter’, with star Aaron Taylor-Johnson playing the title character. He introduced the first look at the movie, enthusing that it’s Rated R.

    In the footage, Taylor-Johnson’s Kraven is a tactical stalker with a penchant for cropped leather vests and five-star hair. He shreds his victims viscerally, often with primitive claw-shaped weapons. Blood pours freely over the screen and, at one intense moment, Taylor-Johnson rips the flesh off a target’s neck with his teeth and spits it out. Definitely an R-rating, then.

    ‘Kraven the Hunter’ will be in theaters on October 26.

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    ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.

    But if Spider-movies are your thing, then ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ was surely the more exciting title.

    Co-director Kemp Powers was joined by voice stars Shameik Moore (who plays Miles Morales), and Hailee Steinfeld (Gwen Stacey), and new recruit Issa Rae (Jessica Drew) to show off 14 impressive minutes of footage from the sequel, which be followed by another movie in 2024.

    “It’s been over a year since the events of first movie and he’s still trying to learn to be a superhero,” Moore added, saying that this movie shows that “how you wear the mask is what makes you a hero.”

    ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ will swing into theaters on June 2nd this year, with ‘Beyond the Spider-Verse’ due next year.

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
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    ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Sequel

    There was also a video from Jason Reitman and the team making the sequel to ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ (on which Reitman and co-writer Gil Kenan have swapped jobs this time, Kenan directing while Reitman produces) confirming the story’s return to the New York haunts of the original 1984 ‘Ghostbusters’. The new film –– whatever its title –– hits theaters on December 20th.

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    ‘Napoleon’

    While ‘The Equalizer 3’ wrapped things up, there was also room for a big get by the Sony executives, who had scored the chance to release Ridley Scott’s Joaquin Phoenix-starring ‘Napoleon’ in partnership with Apple.

    “I know that he can do things cinematically that filmmakers half his age, can’t do,” Rothman said of the 85-year-old director.

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    The clip shown had Joaquin Phoenix’s title character commanding the French army in a foggy, blurry wintery epic battle with the Russian and Austrian forces. Napoleon knows it’s coming; he has invited the attack. Lots of bayonets slicing and soldiers falling in the icy water.

    ‘Napoleon’ should be in theaters this Thanksgiving, followed by its arrival on Apple TV+ after that.

    All in all, some big moves, and big movies from Sony.

    Sony's 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.
    Sony’s 2023 CinemaCon Presentation. Photos courtesy of Sony Pictures.

    Movies Presented at Sony Pictures 2023 CinemaCon Presentation:

    Buy Sony Pictures Movies On Amazon

  • Orlando Bloom Races To ‘Gran Turismo’ Adaptation

    Orlando Bloom in Prime Video's 'Carnival Row.'
    Orlando Bloom in Prime Video’s ‘Carnival Row.’ Photo: Jan Thijs. Copyright: Amazon Studios.

    News broke back in May that ‘District 9’ director Neill Blomkamp was in talks to direct a movie based on the long-running game franchise ‘Gran Turismo’.

    Given the checkered (and not as in flag) history for the development of this one – see more on that below – we cautioned to wait until there was further momentum. But this version certainly appears to be gearing up, as ‘Stranger Things’ David Harbour, ‘Midsommar’s Archie Madekwe and now ‘Lord of the Rings’ veteran Orlando Bloom are all aboard to star.

    The game itself doesn’t have a strict story, so the script from ‘American Sniper’s Jason Hall and ‘King Richard’s Zach Baylin isn’t set within its speedy world. Instead, as Deadline reports, it’ll chronicle the ultimate wish-fulfillment tale of a teenage Gran Turismo player whose gaming skills won a series of Nissan competitions to become an actual professional race car driver. Madekwe, we’d guess, will be the young driver, while Harbour is a retired wheelman who helps him master some finer techniques of driving. Bloom’s character has yet to be revealed.

    Created by Polyphony and Kazunori Yamauchi in 1997, ‘Gran Turismo’ was hailed as one of the most authentic driving simulators in its class for its focus on precise graphics, driving physics and attention to detail of its cars, which players would build and race. The series has sold more than 85 million copies, with the most recent edition, ‘Gran Turismo 7’, hitting shelves this past March for PS 4 and PS 5.

    David Harbour as Jim Hopper in 'Stranger Things.'
    David Harbour as Jim Hopper in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

    The idea of a movie based off ‘Gran Turismo’ is hardly a new concept. In fact, when ‘Need For Speed’ was headed towards screens in 2013, Sony saw an opportunity to drift off the potential demand for that movie and launch a competing car project.

    ‘Watchmen’ movie writer Alex Tse was the first person hired to start finding a way to turn the game – which is not based off a story and features no human characters – into a film. Yet ‘Need For Speed’ spun out at the box office following terrible reviews in 2014, and Sony hit the brakes on ‘Gran Turismo’. Yet it seemed to be gaining traction again in 2015 when Joseph Kosinski was brought on to develop a potential new take on the idea, before departing for other, and extremely successful work with planes (‘Top Gun: Maverick’) instead of cars.

    You can see why Sony might still be interested, even beyond the success of ‘Uncharted’. Video game adaptations are having a moment right now, what with ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’s sequel speeding to solid returns, the most recent ‘Mortal Kombat’ spawning its own follow-up and ‘Borderlands’ as just one title on the way.

    Sony is clearly feeling confident about this one at last, setting a release date for August 11th next year. Start your engines!

    'Gran Turismo' video game from PlayStation.
    ‘Gran Turismo’ video game from PlayStation.
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