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  • ‘Genius: MLK/X’ Interview: Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre

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    Premiering February 1st on National Geographic, and streaming February 2nd on Disney+ and Hulu, with the first episode also airing on ABC February 1st is the fourth season of the anthology series ‘Genius,’ which is entitled ‘Genius: MLK/X’ and follows the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, played by Kelvin Harrison Jr. (‘Chevalier’) and Aaron Pierre (‘Old’), respectively.

    Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre talk 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    (L to R) Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre talk ‘Genius: MLK/X.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Aaron Pierre about their work on ‘Genius: MLK/X,’ taking on the iconic roles, their approach, their research, and exploring their characters’ private lives.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Harrison Jr., Pierre, Weruche Opia, Jayme Lawson, and executive producers Gina Prince-Bythewood and Reggie Rock Bythewood.

    Related Article: Kelvin Harrison Jr. Talks ‘Chevalier’ and Director Stephen Williams

    Martin Luther King Jr., played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., preaches in 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    Martin Luther King Jr., played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., preaches in ‘Genius: MLK/X.’ Photo: National Geographic/Richard DuCree.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Kelvin, can you talk about your approach to playing this character and how do you prepare to play someone as iconic as Martin Luther King Jr.?

    Kelvin Harrison Jr.: I think it starts with, at least for me, I started looking at interviews, and I just wanted to get a sense of his energy, how he spoke and anything I was picking up now that I was paying a different attention to it. We watch it as a viewer and we watch it as a citizen of America, as a young black man and that’s one thing, but as someone that’s about to embark on this experience to internalize what this man’s existence is, is a completely different thing so that was my first thing. Then the next step was reading his autobiography, reading all the books he wrote, while also traveling to Memphis and Birmingham and Atlanta and his hometown and D.C., and any place I can get my hands on in the little amount of time I had to prepare. After that, it became an investigation of myself, what it meant to be all these different ages, what it meant to deal with anxiety, imposter syndrome, fear, love, and fathers. That’s a whole thing and I love to explore the dynamics between a father and a son, that’s specific. I just took it all in and saw what came out of me. Obviously, there’s the technical stuff, seeing work and dialect coaching but that’s the boring stuff.

    Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre, is escorted from Temple in 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre, is escorted from Temple in ‘Genius: MLK/X.’ Photo: National Geographic/Richard DuCree.

    MF: Aaron, how did you prepare to play Malcolm X and did you learn anything during your research that really informed your performance?

    Aaron Pierre: Similarly, to what Kelvin said just here, it was step one as it was the extensive research. It was reading, again, the autobiography, reading ‘The Sword and the Shield’ by Peniel E. Joseph, reading Dr. Betty Shabazz‘s perspective, watching the documentary, watching the footage we have of him on panels, interviews and speeches. That was particularly important for me because I feel like arguably there is a lot of misinformation about Malcolm X, and I wanted to find information that was as close to the source as possible. What I mean by that is I wanted to hear from him himself in his autobiography, dictated to Alex Haley. I wanted to hear from those closest to him. I wanted to hear from his community first. Then, again, the same way Kelvin experienced going to these different states that meant something particular to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, I was in New York, I was in Harlem, and I was in Washington Heights. I love New York, I love Harlem, and I love Washington Heights. I loved having the opportunity, the privilege to walk around there, to breathe that air, to experience that experience and it informed me so greatly and deeply. I felt empowered by going to these beautiful places and inspired to do my best to portray Malcolm X to the very best of my capabilities and serve his story, and serve his legacy.

    Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre, preaches in 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre, preaches in ‘Genius: MLK/X.’ Photo: National Geographic/Richard DuCree.

    MF: To follow up, Aaron can you give one example of a misconception about Malcolm X that you wanted to set straight with this movie?

    AP: I think for me, this is of course subjective, this is my personal viewpoint, but I think a common misconception is that he led with violence. The reality is that he led with love, and he led with light. The physical aspect of his dialect and his approach was in direct response to your personal wellbeing, livelihood and safety being directly threatened physically. He was advocating for protecting that, he was advocating for preserving that, he was advocating for safeguarding the dignity and the integrity of that. It wasn’t actively seeking violence and actively seeking physical engagement. It was, God forbid should that present itself, we have the right to defend that. That came from a deep love for his people and his community. I think that’s something that I hope people will gain insight to and after that take the lead to do deeper research themselves into. There’s only so much we can explore in this series, but I’m hopeful that this will inspire people to go and do their own research and get a deeper understanding.

    Martin Luther King Jr., played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Coretta Scott King, played by Weruche Opia, in 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    (L to R) Martin Luther King Jr., played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Coretta Scott King, played by Weruche Opia, in ‘Genius: MLK/X.’ Photo: National Geographic/Richard DuCree.

    MF: Finally, Kelvin, can you talk about how the series also explores the private lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and examines their marriages?

    KH Jr.: I mean, listen, these men would’ve been nothing really without these women. Their intelligence is equal to these men’s intelligence. Their passion, their commitment, their integrity for this calling for the people and humanity is huge. I use the example a lot of Vietnam because I think that’s one that’s so clear is Coretta (Scott King) was the one. She was like, “We’re humanitarians and yet in our own country, there is an injustice happening with this Vietnam War. What are we going to do? How do we say we want equality and justice for all people, and we want everyone to be safe and to be taken care of, yet we’re allowing this atrocity to kind of take place?” So, she does that, she speaks out and this inspired him. She supports him even when he’s put in hot water because of it. She redirects his path every step of the way, she re-inspires him, and she holds him accountable for what he said he’s set out to do. I think it’s such a beautiful opportunity for us to give a little backstory into who they were as well as how they got to meet these men, how they built their strength and who are the people surrounding them that put this fire inside them to do what this moment, why are we even making this show right now. It would be an injustice to not speak about them. In some ways, it’s kind of like this show is about them. The reason, once again, that we’re talking about them today is because 60 years ago was the March on Washington, and we’re still talking about it because they led those legacies on and on. They’ve been keeping it alive. For twice their lifetime, these men. You know what I mean? We’re talking about men who died. I mean, that’s one of the beautiful things about the show, and that’s one of the things I’m most proud of, that we get to be a part of.

    Martin Luther King Jr., played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ralph Abernathy, played by Hubert Point-Du Jour, in 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    (L to R) Martin Luther King Jr., played by Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ralph Abernathy, played by Hubert Point-Du Jour, in ‘Genius: MLK/X.’ Photo: National Geographic/Richard DuCree.

    What is the Plot of ‘Genius: MLK/X’?

    The series explores simultaneously the formative years, pioneering accomplishments, dueling philosophies and key personal relationships of both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and Malcolm X (Aaron Pierre). While King advanced racial equality through nonviolent activism, X advocated for Black empowerment, identity and self-determination. The eight-part series also brings their wives, Coretta Scott King (Weruche Opia) and Betty Shabazz (Jayme Lawson), to the forefront and shows them as formidable equals of the Movement. While King and X met only once and often challenged each other’s views, the two visionaries, with their wives leading by their sides, ultimately rose to pioneer a movement that lives on today.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘Genius: MLK/X’?

    Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre, preaches in 'Genius: MLK/X.'
    Malcolm X, played by Aaron Pierre, preaches in ‘Genius: MLK/X.’ Photo: National Geographic/Richard DuCree.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘Genius: MLK/X’:

    Buy Kelvin Harrison Jr. Movies on Amazon

  • TV Review: ‘Echo’

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' exclusively on Disney+.
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Launching on both Disney+ and Hulu on January 9th, ‘Echo’ sees Marvel looking to assuage claims that it can only ever produce stories that are intrinsically linked to the wider cinematic universe.

    So even though this is spun off from 2021’s ‘Hawkeye’ (where Alaqua Cox was introduced as deaf criminal enforcer Maya “Echo” Lopez), the new show looks to stand on its own for the most part. Even if the studio known for its sprawling storytelling can’t help but sprinkle in at least one cameo from another Marvel stalwart.

    What ‘Echo’ really has to prove, however, is that it’s worthy of existing at all, especially at such a crucially tough point for Marvel (the company had a dreadful 2023 and faces a new year with a reduced number of shows and movies to rely on), and in the wake of rumors that it was heavily re-worked after early cuts were met with dissatisfaction by studio bosses.

    Like Maya Lopez herself, this proves to be a scrappy, violent piece of work that often finds itself with its back up against the wall, but often with a smart solutions. Or, failing that, some nifty fighting skills.

    Does ‘Echo’ Resonate?

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Marvel only provided critics with the first three episodes (of five) and the fact that it’s all dropping in one go as opposed to the usual weekly release the company has established for its Disney+ output also carries with it the faint whiff of something that the studio is looking to push out (in January, no less) and move on from.

    Yet while this is a far from perfect example of Marvel storytelling, it does at least take some interesting swings and layers in plenty of Native American (specifically Choctaw Nation) detail in an attempt to have this stand out from the typical bout of superpowered fisticuffs.

    Advertised as the first of the new “Marvel Spotlight” label (the destination for stories that don’t have to move the wider MCU story forward), this is a darker and more vicious take on the character, especially in the wake of the more lighthearted ‘Hawkeye’.

    ‘Echo’: Script and Direction

    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin and Darnell Besaw as young Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    (L to R) Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin and Darnell Besaw as young Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 Marvel.

    With Sydney Freedland as lead director and executive producer, strides have been made to have ‘Echo’ offer real Native American representation, featuring plenty of flashbacks to the Choctaw Nation’s past and Maya herself seeming to channel ancestors (or at least have visions of them) at certain points.

    In reality, though, it still somewhat comes across as window dressing more than, say a series such as ‘Reservation Dogs’, which fully embraces its native nature and has real use for it. Still, there are enough layers here that you appreciate the attempt.

    Story-wise, the majority of the initial episode spends its time catching the audience up on what has happened before with the character and exploring her origin –– including how she lost part of one leg and learned of her family’s criminal links. Some of it is welcome world-building (and when you have actors such as Graham Greene and Zahn McClarnon in the roles, you know it’ll be worthwhile), while other scenes can feel like the show dragging its feet.

    The look of the show is a real mixed bag –– while the focus is on a grittier, grounded and more realistic feel than some of the other MCU TV series, when the show does look to expand its focus, the visuals can sometimes devolve into a plastic-y, inauthentic-feeling mish-mash of styles, such as in an otherwise effective train sequence.

    And though the show does not live and die on its fight scenes as, say the ‘Daredevil’ series did, what is here is also a toss-up. Some, including one that boasts Charlie Cox’s character himself, are extremely effective and well shot, whereas others just don’t work as well.

    Related Article: Marvel’s ‘Echo’ Promises a Darker, Grittier and more Violent Direction for the ‘Hawkeye’ Spin-Off

    ‘Echo’: Performances

    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Cox brings the same blend of intensity and vulnerability as in ‘Hawkeye’, making Maya a character you’re happy to follow along with. The writers this time around have given her an entertaining knack for “MacGyvering” up solutions when she’s trapped, such as when she’s being held in the back room of a roller-skating rink.

    And there is, of course, Vincent D’Onofrio, who brinks typically hulking menace to Wilson Fisk, AKA the Kingpin. He’s been bringing this character to life for years and while (in the episodes we were sent) he doesn’t have much to do besides seem dangerous, he always brings a noble ferocity to the role.

    The new characters (though we glimpsed McClarnon as Maya’s father briefly in ‘Hawkeye’) are largely native color or feel like they come from some version of ‘Fargo’ or ‘Justified’ but add solid presence to the show so it’s not just Maya being badass. The likes of Devery Jacobs (a ‘Reservation Dogs’ veteran) as Maya’s cousin Bonnie all make the character’s hometown feel like something she would want to protect, even if she has been away from them for two decades.

    ‘Echo’: Final Thoughts

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    It never quite escapes the feeling that this was a patch-job for a series that doesn’t quite function the way it should, but ‘Echo’ is certainly better than many feared it might be.

    Cox’s scowly anti-hero seems unlikely to show up elsewhere within the MCU, but you’ll have a decent time following her exploits here.

    ‘Echo’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' exclusively on Disney+.
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

    What’s the story of ‘Echo’?

    Following the events chronicled in 2021’s ‘Hawkeye’, ‘Echo’ catches up with Maya Lopez (Alaqua Cox) as she is pursued by Wilson Fisk’s (Vincent D’Onofrio) criminal empire.

    When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy.

    Who is in ‘Echo’?

    The series also stars Chaske Spencer, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon and Cody Lightning.

    Marvel Studios' 'Echo.'
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo.’

    Other Projects Similar to ‘Echo’:

    Buy Marvel Movies On Amazon

  • ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ Interview: Clive Owen

    Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    The new miniseries ‘A Murder at the End of the World,’ which was created by actress Brit Marling and director Zal Batmanglij (‘Sound of My Voice,’ ‘The East’), and stars Emma Corrin (‘Deadpool 3’) and Clive Owen (‘Children of Men’), will premiere on FX beginning November 14th.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Clive Owen about his work on ‘A Murder at the End of the World,’ his character, Marling and Batmanglij’s pitch for the series, working with the filmmaking duo, and his love for mysteries.

    Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    Moviefone: To begin with, how would you describe your character Andy Ronson, in your own words?

    Clive Owen: I play a character who’s a tech billionaire who used to have these regular retreats where he invites particular people who are at the forefront of the world, particularly in tech, and then brings them together for a gathering, and he has flown everyone to this very remote location in Iceland. Then it starts to turn into a very fresh take on a murder mystery where you’ve got a whole group of people who are captive, and things start to go wrong. Then we realize the situation, and that’s how it develops.

    A scene from FX's 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    A scene from FX’s ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    MF: How did Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij pitch the character to you when you were first in discussions for the role?

    CO: I mean, it was pitched as a very modern take on a on a murder mystery. I read a couple of descriptions and then jumped on another long zoom with them, and they started to talk about the potential of where it was going to go. What I loved about it is that I feel that they’re very exciting filmmakers, the two of them. They’re very ambitious. They’re trying to discuss things that are hugely relevant in an original way. Although it is a murder mystery, I’ve certainly never seen a character like Darby take us through a story like this. I was very excited by that, and it helps that Emma Corrin is fantastic in it. But you know a young, very smart, feisty person is not often at the center of stories like this. You realize that that’s something that you know needs to change and hopefully, this is the beginning of that.

    Related Article: Emma Corrin Talks ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ and Filming in Iceland

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    MF: Did you take inspiration for Andy from any real-life tech billionaires, or did you just draw your inspiration for the character from how he was written on the page?

    CO: Only from what I discussed with them. We had some long Zooms where we talked about it, and I didn’t want to go off and, you know, home in on one person. This is going to be my take on it. It was very much script led, and it was very much led by Brit and Zal. They gave me a whole back story very early on, and thoughts about where he came from and his background. We wrestled with that and brought things into play. Sometimes you still go outside, and you find somebody to home in on and think about. But this was very much script led.

    Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (Right) Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    MF: What was your experience like working with both Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij on this series?

    CO: It was refreshingly and seamless. You know they are a real partnership in terms of they do everything, and they really see the story through together. Then, on this one, Brit was also a director, and she was super impressive in terms of you could act with her in a scene, and then she would go and check the monitor. The rhythm never got held up. She was very on top of what she was trying to achieve, both as a director and as an actress, and it felt like a natural flow. She was crossing between acting and directing very easy and smooth.

    Clive Owen, Brit Marling and Emma Corrin in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Clive Owen, Brit Marling and Emma Corrin in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    MF: Can you talk about the dynamics between Andy and the character Brit Marling plays, Lee Anderson? Did you have rehearsal time or discuss their relationship before you began filming?

    CO: We talked about everything. I think it’s always super important to fully from an act to understand the intentions of what you know they were trying to do. We had plenty of Zooms and plenty of conversations about it. You know, what they were trying to achieve with it, and I think that’s kind of enough. If you over rehearse, you can sort of lose something. But it’s important to really nail everybody’s intentions. Their intentions as writers and directors, and what they want to get out of the actors, and we did. We did an awful lot of you prep before we shot.

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Christopher Saunders/FX.

    MF: Finally, the show is really a mystery series. Are you a fan of that genre?

    CO: I mean, back in the day I did a movie with Robert Atman called ‘Gosford Park.’ That’s the classic, you know, everybody brought together in one location, something goes wrong, and we must find out who’s responsible. This was a very fresh take on that kind of story.

    Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (Center) Clive Owen as Andy Ronson in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    What’s the plot of ‘A Murder at the End of the World?

    ‘A Murder at the end of the World’ sees Gen Z amateur sleuth and tech-savvy hacker Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) and eight other guests invited by a reclusive billionaire (Clive Owen) to participate in a retreat at a remote and dazzling location.

    When one of the other guests is found dead, Darby must use all of her skills to prove it was murder against a tide of competing interests and before the killer takes another life. She’ll gave to deal with both the human element and the complicated technology that runs the facility.

    Who is in the cast of ‘A Murder at the End of the World’?

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Lilja Jons/FX.

    Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling Movies:

    Buy Clive Owen Movies On Amazon

     

     

  • ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ Interview: Emma Corrin

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    Premiering on FX on Hulu beginning November 14th is the new series ‘A Murder at the End of the World,’ which was created by actress Brit Marling and director Zal Batmanglij (‘Sound of My Voice,’ ‘The East’) and stars Emma Corrin (‘Deadpool 3’) and Clive Owen (‘Children of Men’).

    Emma Corrin stars in FX's 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Emma Corrin stars in FX’s ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Emma Corrin about their work on ‘A Murder at the End of the World,’ discovering their character, collaborating with series creators Brit Marling and director Zal Batmanglij, and shooting in Iceland.

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Corrin, Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij.

    Moviefone: To begin with, how did Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij pitch the character of Darby to you when you were first in discussions for the role?

    Emma Corrin: It came about in a quite strange but beautiful way where I was sent the script ahead of meeting them. I love reading scripts and you must do it a lot for this job. But sometimes I do find it hard to fully get lost in them. I don’t think I’ve ever read a script and not been able to put it down, just because of the format of it and the way that all works. I honestly couldn’t put these down. I was tearing through them, and I finished three and I was like, “Please, will they send me more?” They were like, “We don’t know if we should.” I was like, “Please, I need to know.” That was an amazing feeling. So immediately I felt so connected to the character. I felt compelled by her. I found her really refreshing. I just thought it was incredibly clever storytelling. So then when I met Brit and Zal on a Zoom, we just talked about storytelling. We talked about childhood, play, writing stories, what stories mean for us, why we tell them, why Darby tells them, and who she is and how that informs her. After that, they offered me the role. We hadn’t done the normal thing of going through scenes or reading through them. We’d really talked about her and her spirit, and that felt beautiful in some way to be offered it off the basis of that.

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Christopher Saunders/FX.

    MF: How did you personally connect to the character of Darby?

    EC: I think her look, and I think what really helped inform me was exploring the younger Darby and the older Darby, and doing work on how those people are different. I think with any character, even if a younger version of them isn’t in the piece you’re doing, I think that it’s what you explore. How has what this person has been through, even if it’s not in the script or in the story, how has it informed who they are today? I think it was a real gift to be able to have that person scripted, have that youthful part of her scripted, and be able to talk to Brit and Zal about that. Obviously, it’s a unique upbringing. Her dad’s a coroner. She’s grown up on crime scenes. There was a lot to explore there.

    Related Article: TV Review: ‘A Murder at the End of the World’

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Lilja Jons/FX.

    MF: Finally, what was the most difficult aspect of shooting on location in Iceland?

    EC: Shooting in that environment is so challenging because it is freezing and I’m not good in cold temperatures. I have terrible circulation and it was really demanding. But also, I found that incredibly rewarding because you feel like you’re working hard, and you feel like you deserve your bed at the end of the day. You know that feeling? It was a beautiful place to shoot. Even if you were absolutely freezing and thought you were going to die of hypothermia, you looked around and it was just breathtaking. So, it was sort of a double-sided thing. I honestly found the shoot in New Jersey hard on the stages. It’s a really demanding series. I’m in every single frame. I think that’s one of the things that excited me when I read the script. But then in actuality it was insane, and amazing. I was so supported by an incredible cast and an incredible crew who were always there for me when it got hard. But they built this hotel in the stages, and I was rattling around there every day for about four or five months. I really felt like I was starting to get mad by the end of it.

    Harris Dickinson as Bill, Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Harris Dickinson as Bill, Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Eric Liebowitz/FX.

    What’s the Plot of ‘A Murder at the End of the World?

    ‘A Murder at the end of the World’ sees Gen Z amateur sleuth and tech-savvy hacker Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) and eight other guests invited by a reclusive billionaire (Clive Owen) to participate in a retreat at a remote and dazzling location.

    When one of the other guests is found dead, Darby must use all of her skills to prove it was murder against a tide of competing interests and before the killer takes another life. She’ll gave to deal with both the human element and the complicated technology that runs the facility.

    Who is in the Cast of ‘A Murder at the End of the World’?

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Alice Braga as Sian in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Alice Braga as Sian in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Eric Liebowitz/FX.

    Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling Movies:

    Buy Emma Corrin Movies On Amazon

     

  • TV Review: ‘A Murder at the End of the World’

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Harris Dickinson as Bill in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Christopher Saunders/FX.

    Launching on FX on Hulu on November 14th with two episodes, ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ sees the much-anticipated return to TV of writer/directors Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, who last brought us the twisty, complicated series ‘The OA’ on Netflix.

    Their new series doesn’t dig into quite as strange themes, but there is plenty on the creators’ minds, exploring concepts of trust, technology, love and, as the title suggests, murder.

    ‘A Murder at the End of the World’: Overview

    Harris Dickinson as Bill and Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Harris Dickinson as Bill and Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    In their movie work, Batmanglij have always explored fascinating ideas, though sometimes concept has trumped character. There is some of that for sure in their new limited series, though at least it has the chance to come to a proper conclusion (unlike ‘The OA’, which Netflix cancelled before the story was fully told, leaving fans frustrated).

    Here, they’ve cooked up a chilly take on the likes of Poirot and even ‘True Detective’ (the flashback subplot featuring Emma Corrin‘s Darby and Harris Dickinson’s Bill on a mission to unmask a suburban serial killer feels very much in the latter’s gritty wheelhouse).

    It’s a solid piece of entertainment if you’re a fan of the mystery genre, though the intertwining stories don’t always mesh as well as they might (and the flashbacks are less watchable than the main plot, sometimes serving as distraction more than background).

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    ‘A Murder at the End of the World’: Script and Direction

    Harris Dickinson as Bill, Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Harris Dickinson as Bill, Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Eric Liebowitz/FX.

    The creative pair has long proved they know how to create compelling worlds, and ‘Murder’ is no exception.

    Utilizing voiceover and some of the other tropes of the mystery genre, the series cooks up a variety of potential suspects for Darby to investigate, all with their own motivations and interests, though they’re naturally not all as well drawn as she is.

    As a setting for the show, the high-tech, stylish hotel facility is both interesting visually and able to push the story forward, not least because the idea of surveillance and how the point of view can be shifted subconsciously is one that the series explores well.

    It must be said, though, despite the clearly decent budget, a few moments are very obviously greenscreen, such as when the cast are out and about in the freezing Icelandic wastes. A few shots are embarrassingly amateur for such a stylish series.

    How Are the Performances in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’?

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Alice Braga as Sian in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Emma Corrin as Darby Hart and Alice Braga as Sian in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Eric Liebowitz/FX.

    Corrin, of course, anchors every scene, but unlike ‘The Crown’ where she found the perfect tones and attitude as Princess Diana, her turn as Darby is held back somewhat by having to adopt the accent and mood of the hacker.

    Darby’s an awkward character, whose low key style and troubled past edge her into cliché, though she is at least an effective detective.

    It’s Clive Owen who shines more here, playing the mysterious tech maven Andy Ronson with shades of Elon Musk (though less annoying) who has plans to save the world from a climate crisis and has gathered a group of friends and experts to bear witness to some of his amazing new ideas.

    Owen brings plenty to the table as Ronson, peeling away his layers as the story moves on, and showing his troubled relationship with wife Lee (Marling). The actor/writer/director has given herself enough to chew on as Lee, who keeps her own secrets close but finds a kinship in Darby.

    And the third tentpole of the show is Harris Dickinson as Darby’s former partner/love Bill Farrah, who accompanies her on a murder mystery in the flashbacks and then shows up at the retreat after years of estrangement. Dickinson brings Bill to life with subtlety and weird charm even as the character erects big boundaries as an agitprop hacker-turned-Banksy type.

    Elsewhere, most of the other characters are treated like plot devices more than people, with only a few making a real impression, such as Joan Chen playing Lu Mei, a wealthy contemporary of Andy who designs smart cities and Edoardo Ballerini as Ray, the ever-present AI who controls the facility and acts as a very advanced version of Alexa.

    ‘A Murder at the End of the World’: Final Thoughts

    Harris Dickinson as Bill in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Harris Dickinson as Bill in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    The new show won’t completely fill the void for those missing ‘The OA’, but ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ does at least represent Batmanglij and Marling given relatively free reign to indulge themselves. Though the storyline is a little more conventional, there are enough touches to make this work on different levels.

    If the ambition sometimes expands beyond their reach, the show still offers a tricky mystery to keep you guessing.

    ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Chris Saunders/FX.

    What’s the story of ‘A Murder at the End of the World?

    ‘A Murder at the end of the World’ sees Gen Z amateur sleuth and tech-savvy hacker Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) and eight other guests invited by a reclusive billionaire (Clive Owen) to participate in a retreat at a remote and dazzling location.

    When one of the other guests is found dead, Darby must use all of her skills to prove it was murder against a tide of competing interests and before the killer takes another life. She’ll gave to deal with both the human element and the complicated technology that runs the facility.

    Who else is in ‘A Murder at the End of the World’?

    The show’s ensemble also includes Harris Dickinson, Brit Marling, Alice Braga, Joan Chen, Raúl Esparza, Jermaine Fowler, Ryan J. Haddad, Pegah Ferydoni, Javed Khan, Louis Cancelmi, Edoardo Ballerini, Britian Seibert, Christopher Gurr, Kellan Tetlow, Daniel Olson and Neal Huff.

    Harris Dickinson as Bill, Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in 'A Murder at the End of the World.'
    (L to R) Harris Dickinson as Bill, Emma Corrin as Darby Hart in ‘A Murder at the End of the World.’ Photo: Eric Liebowitz/FX.

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  • ‘Black Cake’ Interview: Series Creator Marissa Jo Cerar

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    Premiering on Hulu beginning November 1st is the new series ‘Black Cake,’ which is based on the popular novel by author Charmaine Wilkerson and was created by Marissa Jo Cerar (‘The Handmaid’s Tale’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with series creator Marissa Jo Cerar about her work on ‘Black Cake,’ adapting the novel, discovering family secrets, working in the writer’s room, casting, collaborating with directors, and her responsibilities as a showrunner.

    'Black Cake' director Natalia Leite, Executive Producer and Showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar and Byron (Ashley Thomas).
    (L to R) ‘Black Cake’ director Natalia Leite, Executive Producer and Showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar and Byron (Ashley Thomas). Photo: James Van Evers/Hulu.

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

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about adapting the novel for this series?

    Marissa Jo Cerar: When I read it, I just immediately saw it. That’s why I had to do it because it just spoke to me and I saw the series, I saw the structure. I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I took the book; I read it fifty times and then wrote a pitch. The way I wanted to structure it, make it non-linear and have different characters points of view, and returning to the night of the murder multiple times. So, it spoke to me, I think. It wasn’t challenging to map that out and get the bible done. Then once we sold it and had to staff the writer’s room to write episodes two through eight, it was presenting them with all the things that I had done and then coming in with new voices, new stories and new perspectives, and how to expand all of that and add all the details and the texture to the map that I had created for everybody. The map that I had created, in addition to the book that existed.

    MF: What was the process like for you in the writer’s room working with the other writers to complete the scripts?

    MJC: I do a lot of prep for the writer’s room because I’ve been a writer in so many other rooms before I got my own show. So, I’ve learned what I think works best. For me, it’s just coming in with as much work as done as you can and then making it deeper, richer, more exciting, more surprising, and more interesting. Then bringing these new voices of people who have new perspectives and walk different paths than you. I tell them, “I don’t want you just to agree with me”, or to say, “This is great because I did it.” That’s a complete waste of time. Let’s just be honest and respectful, obviously, because it can break your heart when people tell you that what you’ve just worked so hard on for months is not good. But it’s just being as honest as possible with all of us having the same goal, make an amazing series with great characters.

    Mia Isaac in 'Black Cake.'
    Mia Isaac in ‘Black Cake.’ Photo: James Van Evers/Hulu.

    MF: Did you already have certain actors in mind during the writing process?

    MJC: I didn’t. For Benny, I absolutely did because I was working on my first show, ‘Women of the Movement’ with Adrienne Warren. She was starring in it, so I was hearing her because I was literally hearing her on set every day and working with her, and then editing and seeing her every day. So, I heard her as Benny, and I just thought it would be an amazing different kind of character that she hasn’t played before. So, I heard her. Then everybody else, they came on screen, and I suddenly saw them. Like Mia Isaac who plays Covey. Covey was born when I looked on my computer screen and saw her casting tape. I was like, “Okay, Covey was born.” When I saw Ashley Thomas who plays Byron, when I met him for the first time on Zoom, I was like, “Oh, you are Byron.” Nobody else is Byron. So, it gradually happened through these magical actors who just brought it and they showed us things that we didn’t even know existed, and they really brought these characters to life.

    MF: Can you talk about the symbolism of the Black Cake in the series?

    MJC: As it was in the book, it’s this marriage of cultures. The colonizers brought it to the islands and then it was adapted for the people of that community, and they made it their own. ‘Black Cake,’ the series, it’s all these characters and these cultures from all over the world, from multiple timelines, all coming together to tell the story, which all begins in Jamaica. They’re all connected by this one character, and the event of the murder is the big turning point, but they don’t know it fifty-six years later that it was a turning point in their lives too, until they hear Eleanor reflecting on it as she’s dying to find out who she is. So, it’s really about the marriage of cultures and how we’re all connected.

    Related Article: Kerry Washington and Delroy Lindo Talk ‘UnPrisoned’ and Working Together

    Benny (Adrienne Warren) and Byron (Ashley Thomas) in 'Black Cake.'
    (L to R) Benny (Adrienne Warren) and Byron (Ashley Thomas) in ‘Black Cake.’ Photo: James Van Evers/Hulu.

    MF: Byron and Benny learn some shocking secrets about their family, was that difficult for you to imagine as a writer?

    MJC: I couldn’t, and that’s why we talked about it a lot and we wanted to be truthful in that portrayal. This is an earth-shaking discovery by these adult siblings, that you find out you’ve been living your life a certain way and suddenly you find out that it was a lie. “My mom was not telling me all this stuff that happened to her, who she was before she was my mom? She was lying. We thought she was an orphan. She wasn’t an orphan.” I can’t imagine it. I wanted to make sure we capture that with Byron and Benny’s relationship and their scenes because to feel honest, like a truthful portrayal of this discovery, it’s not something you’ve just learned. You’re like, “Okay, let’s listen to these recordings and figure it out.” You’re like, “Wait, I don’t know if I can listen right now.” Then you listen a little bit and you’re like, “I can’t, I have to stop”, because it’s too much and you don’t know what it means. They must take a full journey. Season one is just the beginning of that journey for them.

    MF: Can you talk about your responsibilities as a showrunner and what that entails?

    MJC: Everything. It’s hard to explain. I try to explain to my parents what my job is, and it depends where we are. In the beginning stages, this was a book that I read, and I brought to the studio where I have a deal, Capital Entertainment, and I said, “I want this to be my next project.” So, then we take it out. It wasn’t like it was sent to me like, “Hey, what’s your take, your pitch?” It was like, “No, let’s take this out.” So, at that point, it’s like, “Okay, crafting an amazing pitch.” Then when you sell it, and I write my script. I staff a writer’s room. So, staffing a room, reading dozens and dozens of scripts, finding the people to fill up the room and tell the story. I’d already had a Bible written before I staffed the room. Then it’s in the writer’s room every day, breaking the stories, reading the outlines, writing them, and rewriting them. Then when you’re casting, it’s doing all of that and casting at the same time. Watching casting tapes, sending your selects. Then when you’re in pre-production and scouting locations, hiring costume designers and production designers. Then it’s filming, and you’re on set. Usually my experience, this is my second show as showrunner, it’s writing, filming, and editing all at the same time and casting all at the same time, because you’re still casting later episodes when you’re filming the early episodes. So, it is me approving, meeting, adjusting, and rewriting for several reasons at the last minute because we lost a location, or an actor dropped out and can’t be in this episode. So, we must rewrite the episode. It’s everything. Being a showrunner, it’s being the creative last word before you deliver a script and outline an episode to the studio, the production company, and the network.

    'Black Cake' director Natalia Leite and executive producer and Showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar.
    (L to R) ‘Black Cake’ director Natalia Leite and executive producer and Showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar. Photo: James Van Evers/Hulu.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about collaborating with series directors?

    MJC: On television, sometimes the director does all the episodes. Sometimes you only have two. We had four. It’s just making sure it’s a collaboration. But so much work is done before the director. In this instance, before the directors come on, because writing all the episodes, breaking all the story, there was a book. It’s just making sure you’re creatively on the same wavelength and tonally, you understand it’s the type of show that you both want to make. Then when the director is on set and running set, it’s just having communication that works for both of you and never stepping into their role. It’s a delicate dance and it’s a case-by-case basis. But I just like working and collaborating with people. We just want to make something cool and great, and I also want people to show me a new idea, something I didn’t think of. A writer, a director, an editor, a composer. That’s the beauty of doing television. It’s so collaborative. They are running the ship. They are, but in TV, it’s still a little different with the showrunner because we’re with the episodes for long after the directors are.

    Chipo Chung in 'Black Cake.'
    Chipo Chung in ‘Black Cake.’ Photo: Beth Dubber/Hulu.

    What is the plot of ‘Black Cake’?

    In the late 1960s, a runaway bride named Covey (Mia Isaac) disappears into the surf off the coast of Jamaica and is feared drowned or a fugitive on the run for her husband’s murder. Fifty years later in California, a widow named Eleanor Bennett (Chipo Chung), loses her battle with cancer, leaving her two estranged children, Byron (Ashley Thomas) and Benny (Lashay Anderson), a flash drive that holds previously untold stories of her journey from the Caribbean to America. These stories, narrated by Eleanor, shock her children and challenge everything they thought they knew about their family’s origin.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Black Cake?’

    'Black Cake' Executive Producer and Showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar and Author Charmaine Wilkerson.
    (L to R) ‘Black Cake’ Executive Producer and Showrunner Marissa Jo Cerar and Author Charmaine Wilkerson. Photo: James Van Evers/Hulu.

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  • ‘The Bear’ Renewed for Season 3

    Jeremy Allen White in 'The Bear.'
    Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.

    Preview

    • ‘The Bear’ has been a big success for FX
    • FX and Hulu have renewed the show for a third season.
    • Production should hopefully start once the actors can return to work.

    One of the clear breakout hits of 2022 was ‘The Bear’, which starred Jeremy Allen White as Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto, a trained chef struggling to adapt to life running his family’s chaotic Chicago sandwich joint.

    It drew a big audience, was even bigger in Season 2 and saw and plenty of buzz, with awards following for both its cast and the show.

    No surprise, then, at the news that FX and Hulu are renewing the series for a third season.

    What’s the story of ‘The Bear’?

    Jeremy Allen White in 'The Bear.'
    Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.

    The first season follows Carmy (White), a young chef from the fine-dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after his brother’s suicide. Carmy must balance the realities of small-business ownership, his strong-willed and recalcitrant kitchen staff and his strained familial relationships, all while grappling with the impact of his brother’s death.

    Season two follows the gang as they transform their grimy sandwich joint into a next-level spot. As they stripped the restaurant down to its bones, the crew undertook transformational journeys of their own, each forced to confront the past and reckon with who they want to be in the future.

    Related Article: Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Recruits ‘The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri

    Who else is in ‘The Bear’?

    Alo Edebiri in 'The Bear.'
    Alo Edebiri in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.

    Alongside White, the cast includes Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce and Liza Colón-Zayas. Matty Matheson was also upped for season 2, while Edwin Lee Gibson, Corey Hendrix, Oliver Platt, and Jon Bernthal.

    In terms of recurring cast, José Cervantes, Richard Esteras, Carmen Christopher, Chris Witaske, Joel McHale, Jamie Lee Curtis, Gillian Jacobs, Robert Townsend, Molly Gordon, Alex Moffat, Ricky Staffieri, Mitra Jouhari and Maura Kidwell have all appeared in more than one episode.

    And in a casting coup alongside Curtis, a flashback episode of Season 2 also featured Bob Odenkirk, while Will Poulter and Olivia Colman appeared in other episodes.

    ‘The Bear’ has been so successful because it blends the chaos and tension involved in the culinary world with some well-crafted character comedy and some delicious looking food items with every detail painstakingly researched.

    Executive talks ‘The Bear’ renewal

    Jeremy Allen White in 'The Bear.'
    Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.

    Here’s what FX president Nick Grad had to say on the news:

    “‘The Bear’, which wowed audiences in its first season only to achieve even greater heights in season two, has become a cultural phenomenon. We’re so proud to partner with Christopher Storer, Joanna Calo, Josh Senior, and the rest of the creative team, as well as the brilliant cast led by Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. What they and the crew have done is truly remarkable, and we and our partners at Hulu join fans in looking forward to the next chapter in the story of ‘The Bear’”.

    Jeremy Allen White in 'The Bear.'
    Jeremy Allen White in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX.

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  • First Trailer for Marvel’s ‘Echo’

    Preview:

    • The new trailer for ‘Echo’ has landed.
    • It continues the story of the vengeful Maya Lopez from ‘Hawkeye’.
    • The show will launch in one batch on both Disney+ and Hulu.

    Looking to put reports of production issues behind it, Disney and Marvel have released the first trailer for ‘Echo’, the series that spins off the Maya Lopez character (played by Alaqua Cox) from 2021’s ‘Hawkeye’.

    And from the looks of this initial footage, the tone for the show will be quite distinct from its parent series or, indeed the rest of Marvel’s Disney+ output to date. There is violence almost from the get-go, including Wilson “Kingpin” Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) putting the hurt on an ice cream seller who dismisses a young Maya because he doesn’t understand that she’s deaf.

    And the differences don’t end there –– the series will debut on both Disney+ and Hulu, with a TV-MA age restriction (the trailer makes it clear that D+ uses will have to tweak their age settings if they’ve been using it in family mode) and all five episodes will be available at once, as opposed to the company’s previous policy of weekly releases.

    What’s the story of ‘Echo’?

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    Following the events in the ‘Hawkeye’ finale (where Maya shot Wilson Fisk in the face), we catch up to the main character as she is pursued by his criminal empire.

    When the journey brings her home, she must confront her own family and legacy.

    Who appears in ‘Echo’?

    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    Vincent D’Onofrio as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

    Alongside Cox and D’Onofrio, the cast includes Chaske Spencer, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal, Devery Jacobs, Zahn McClarnon, Cody Lightning and, as the trailer hints, at least a cameo from Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil.

    Related Article: First Look at ‘Hawkeye’ Spin-Off Series ‘Echo’ as Shooting Starts

    ‘Echo’s tone: the creators speak

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios' 'Echo,' releasing on Hulu and Disney+.
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Marvel Studios’ ‘Echo,’ releasing on Hulu and Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2023. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Echo’ comes from director/showrunner Sydney Freeland and is partly overseen by Marvel’s head of streaming, television and animation Brad Winderbaum.

    Here’s what Winderbaum told The Hollywood Reporter about the show’s feel:

    “It’s a little on the grittier side for Marvel and shows the breadth of what Marvel is capable of. It is sort of a new direction for the brand, especially for Disney+.”

    And here’s Freedland on the impact of the series:

    “People on our show — they bleed. They die. They get killed and there are real world consequences.”

    The trailer certainly gives that impression, and the show itself looks to be even more of a departure than we all thought. Perhaps this (along with the tone of the Netflix) shows is informing what Marvel wants to do with ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ (which recently brought a new creative team aboard).

    This is also the first show to feature a deaf Native American as its title character, albeit one who has special powers. Just don’t expect the comic book version.

    As Freedland tells Variety:

    “Her power in the comic books is that she can copy anything, any movement, any whatever. It’s kind of lame. I will say, that is not her power. I’ll just kind of leave it at that.”

    When and where can I watch ‘Echo’?

    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Disney+'s 'Echo.'
    Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez in Disney+’s ‘Echo.’

    As mentioned, all five episodes of ‘Echo’ will debut at once on Disney+ and Hulu on 10 January.

    Marvel Studios and Disney+'s 'Echo.'
    Marvel Studios and Disney+’s ‘Echo.’

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  • ‘Moonlighting’ Heading to Hulu

    Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in 'Moonlighting.'
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in ‘Moonlighting.’ Photo courtesy of Glen Caron’s X (Twitter) account.

    Depending on your age, the news that classic TV detective dramedy ‘Moonlighting’ is finally headed to streaming will either elicit a response of, “yay!” or “What-lighting?”

    Yet given the show’s stars –– Bruce Willis in his TV breakout, pre-movie stardom era and Cybill Shepherd –– you’ve probably at least heard of it in passing even if you didn’t grow up in the 1980s and obsessively watched it (or dressed as one of the characters in school).

    Thanks in part to the efforts of original creator Glenn Gordon Caron, all five seasons of the show will be available to watch on Hulu from October 10th, the first time the series has been available on streaming (at least, legally).

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    What’s the story of ‘Moonlighting’?

    Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in 'Moonlighting.'
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in ‘Moonlighting.’ Photo courtesy of Glen Caron’s X (Twitter) account.

    Shepherd plays Maddie Hayes, a former model who loses most of her financial assets due to her accountant’s embezzlement but unexpectedly finds that she owns a detective agency.

    She teams up with cocky, chauvinistic investigator David Addison (Willis) to run the agency and becomes embroiled in various unusual cases, with the show blending drama, comedy and romance, often breaking the fourth wall and incorporating flights of fantasy.

    ‘Moonlighting’ was a massive ratings success for a big part of its five-year run on ABC. It was a success immediately when it debuted in midseason spring 1985, and then entered Nielsen’s top 10 during its first full season.

    It stayed in the top 20 through season four but faded fast during its fifth season after ABC moved the show opposite CBS’ ‘Murder, She Wrote’ (never underestimate the power of Angela Lansbury solving crime!)

    And it wasn’t just the ratings competition that sank things –– Shepherd and Willis’ on-screen chemistry masked a well-documented curdling on-set, their clashes overshadowing the series’ success.

    It wasn’t helped by the fact that Willis, who won an Emmy for the show during its run, was itching to become a big movie star, and with ‘Die Hard’ released shortly before the final season, he was essentially one bare foot (watch out for glass) out the door towards the end.

    And Caron was pushing to spend more time and money on the show, arguing that it deserved the effort to make it look as good as possible.

    Though he was proved right by the era of HBO and other shows that would follow, the budget and time overages began to creep into the series’ schedule.

    Related Article: 10 Best Bruce Willis Performances

    Return or reboot?

    Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in 'Moonlighting.'
    (L to R) Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in ‘Moonlighting.’ Photo courtesy of Glen Caron’s X (Twitter) account.

    The series has long been one that fans have wanted to see hit streaming, and Caron dropped hints that he had something in the works a year ago, when he dropped word on social media that he and Disney had come up with a plan.

    Speculation mounted that it meant the show would finally arrive on streaming, or that –– horror of horrors –– they might be planning a reboot. But he cleared things up with this tweet:

    And now we have the fruits of that work, including all the music you remember in place. So, if you’ve never seen the show, or need a nostalgia hit, you’ll be able to head back to the offices of the Blue Moon detective agency on October 10th.

    Bruce Willis in 'Moonlighting.'
    Bruce Willis in ‘Moonlighting.’ Photo courtesy of Glen Caron’s X (Twitter) account.

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  • ‘Vacation Friends 2’ Interview: Director Clay Tarver

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    Premiering on Hulu beginning August 25th is ‘Vacation Friends 2,’ which is a sequel to 2021’s ‘Vacation Friends’ and was once again directed by Clay Tarver (‘Joy Ride’).

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    What is the plot of ‘Vacation Friends 2’?

    Picking up a few months after the conclusion of ‘Vacation Friends,’ the sequel finds newly married couple Marcus (Lil Rel Howery) and Emily (Yvonne Orji) inviting their uninhibited besties Ron (John Cena) and Kyla (Meredith Hagner), who are also newly married and have a baby, to join them for a vacation when Marcus lands an all-expenses-paid trip to a Caribbean resort. His reason for traveling there in the first place is to meet with the owners of the resort to bid on a construction contract for a hotel they own in Chicago. But when Kyla’s incarcerated father Reese (Steve Buscemi) is released from San Quentin and shows up at the resort unannounced at the worst possible moment, things get out of control, upending Marcus’ best laid plans and turning the vacation friends’ perfect trip into total chaos.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Vacation Friends 2’?

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Clay Tarver about his work on ‘Vacation Friends 2,’ bringing the characters back together for a sequel, how their friendship has grown since the first film, why John Cena and Lil Rel Howery are so funny together, Meredith Hagner’s wild performance, introducing Steve Buscemi as Kyla’s shady father, and the rest of the supporting cast.

    Director Clay Tarver on the set of 'Vacation Friends 2.'
    (Center) Director Clay Tarver on the set of ‘Vacation Friends 2.’ Photo credit: Katrina Marcinowski.

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

    Moviefone: To begin with, can you talk about creating an organic reason for these characters to reunite together on another vacation in this sequel?

    Clay Tarver: It was really interesting to bring everyone back together physically because I think we all knew that we had a really special sense of chemistry, because ultimately this movie, like the first one, was about friendship. I think we all together wanted to do something that was about where the friendship went, and how it grew in unexpected ways with new developments in their lives. They know each other now, so what could go wrong? A lot does. The challenge is when you’re directing and trying to tackle something like this, for me, I didn’t want to make it feel like it was just a repeat of the first movie. But it needed to change a little bit, and it is different. The first movie, you didn’t really know who Ron and Kyla were, and so that was the thing that held the story together was that you kept waiting for the other shoe to drop with them. Who are they? Are they crazy? Are they drug dealers? Are they con artists? It was a refreshing end to the first one when they were none of that. They were just nice people who were a mess. So I found the storyline interesting about, “Oh, they have a baby now. How does that change them? Marcus and Emily are thinking about having a baby now. Well, what does that mean for them?” Everyone’s lives have taken another step. I think as a longtime fan of comedies and sequels, I want it to go to someplace new, but I don’t want the core characters to change so much that they’re not recognizable, they’re not the people I fell in love with. But I wanted to take it to someplace new. I think we all did, and it was important to us to not just retread the first movie, but take a risk a little bit and try to take it in a new direction.

    MF: Can you talk about the idea of introducing Steve Buscemi as Kyla’s shady father?

    CT: There’s one joke in the first movie, I think Kyla says, “Oh, I’m so sad my dad never got to meet Ron.” Then Emily says, “Oh my God, is he dead?” But she’s like, “No, it’s just that San Quentin is so far,” which I actually didn’t write. Someone else wrote that and I thought it was really funny. But there was always this looming, what are Kyla and Ron’s background? What do they have to deal with and what is in their lives beyond the people who we meet? For all of us, that seemed like a natural, interesting place to go. Then when I was lucky enough to get the honor to cast Sir Steve Buscemi, I feel like if we had knights in America, wouldn’t he be Sir Steve? He’s a national treasure. So I was thrilled when he came aboard because I’m going to tell you if you don’t know, he’s the nicest guy on earth. Having someone on set that was so well respected and beloved as Sir Steve was, it elevated the proceedings and everyone really just was thrilled to be around him. You cannot find a nicer guy and a more fantastic actor. After each scene, I would say, “Steve, it turns out you’re really good at acting. I think it’ll go okay for you.”

    John Cena as Ron, Steve Buscemi as Reese and Ronny Chieng as Yeon in 20th Century Studios’ 'Vacation Friends 2.' Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios.
    (L to R) John Cena as Ron, Steve Buscemi as Reese and Ronny Chieng as Yeon in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Vacation Friends 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Related Article: ‘Vacation Friends’ stars John Cena and Yvonne Orji talk about their new comedy

    MF: Can you talk about Marcus and Emily and Kyla and Ron’s friendship, and how that’s grown since the first film?

    CT: The first story was about new friendship and it was about people that you met on vacation and how weird that conversation is and how you cross boundaries too quickly over a week, some boundaries that you probably shouldn’t but you’re in the mood. What happens, and then how that can boomerang to echo back onto your real life, whether or not you’re really friends. Now I feel like what’s great about it is that they, and what was fun for all of us to explore was the idea of where does the friendship go and how do adult friendships mature? How much do you trust somebody? Because some friends you say you trust, but you don’t. You wouldn’t hand them the keys to your car. Ron and Kyla, all those things that make you love them so much are the same things that you are like, “Uh-oh, bad things could happen just because they’re around.” The first movie was really about these people who were ultimately harmless. I thought with the introduction of Steve, especially casting him, it was just interesting to see, “Oh, this is a guy where he’s not harmless. So what does that do to their friendship?” Ultimately they bicker, and I think that’s part of the fun is the conflict. I always love Marcus yelling at Ron because Lil Rel and John Cena are amazing together. Even though it stretches to the breaking point, it never does, and it’s really about friendships growing in unexpected ways.

    Lil Rel Howery as Marcus, Yvonne Orji as Emily, Meredith Hagner as Kyla, and John Cena as Ron in 2021's 'Vacation Friends.'
    (L to R) Lil Rel Howery as Marcus, Yvonne Orji as Emily, Meredith Hagner as Kyla, and John Cena as Ron in 2021’s ‘Vacation Friends.’ Photo: Jessica Miglio/20th Century Studios.

    MF: Did you have any idea how funny John Cena was when you cast him in the first film?

    CT: I was amazed. No, I didn’t know. When he first signed on to do the movie, I probably shouldn’t say this, but I will tell you this story. Ike Barinholtz who was in ‘Blockers,’ which was a movie I really loved, I’d never met him before, and somehow I got his number and I called him up to ask him how it was working with John Cena. He got quiet and then he almost got angry and he was like, “I think he might be the nicest person I’ve ever met.” He just sang his praises and he said, “He’s fantastic and you’re going to love working with him.” He was just so good. He does all of these things that are so hard to do so easily. He really listens and plays off other people, and there’s a lot of his improv in it. I was just amazed and felt blessed and lucky to have him around on set every day.

    Yvonne Orji as Emily and Lil Rel Howery as Marcus in 20th Century Studios' 'Vacation Friends 2.'
    (L to R) Yvonne Orji as Emily and Lil Rel Howery as Marcus in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Vacation Friends 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Lil Rel Howery is also a very funny comedic actor, but in this movie plays the straight man a lot. What was it like directing him in those scenes?

    CT: He’s a straight man who also, he’s really funny when he is back on his heels, when things get too chaotic and he loses it completely. So on the one hand, he is the straight guy, but he’s the guy that loses his mind quicker than anybody else. So just trying to embrace that and make sure there were moments where he would make some assumption and completely freak out and just play to all of those strengths with him. It was really fun to direct a movie with him a second time around, because I think the first movie we shot entirely, except for the first two weeks, through the pandemic. This time we just knew each other a lot better. He’s just an amazing person to do a movie with. Both of those guys are, and Yvonne and Meredith too, there’s just not a weak link in the cast. They’re all so good at what they do, and they all do completely different things.

    MF: Meredith Hagner, who plays Kyla, has really created a loveable cinematic character over the course of these two movies. What has your experience been like working with her and does she improvise a lot on set?

    CT: They all do improvisations. They all improv, I think I can say. She always makes it better. She will go left sometimes when the script says right. She just has this instinct for making everything lift up. She just adds life to it and makes scenes work. The same for Yvonne who just in a certain way has one of the hardest jobs as her character is the sensible center of this comedy. She is still so funny and so good at it, and just the way that she plays off of all of them together and off of each other, it’s a really difficult job and she’s just incredibly talented in that way.

    Meredith Hagner as Kyla and John Cena as Ron in 20th Century Studios' Vacation Friends 2.'
    (L to R) Meredith Hagner as Kyla and John Cena as Ron in 20th Century Studios’ Vacation Friends 2.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about Ron and Kyla’s parenting skills?

    CT: Well, I found it funny that at first you might think that they would be people who would be these ultra-protective parents. We all know people who are wild, and then once they become parents, they become these helicopter parents. But instead, they’re people who think they are and have not changed at all. So they’re still the wild people, but they talk as if they’re these careful parents. But at the same time, everything always works out for them. It always gets to the precipice and they get way too close to the edge that would make someone like me comfortable, and yet it always works out. As a parent myself, sometimes I think a lighter hand might be a good thing every once in a while. Maybe not as light as they do it, but I really enjoyed as a director playing around with them about their attitudes of parenting because I think they’re both characters that you don’t want to see them change. You don’t want to see them suddenly stop being who they are.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about filling out the supporting cast with excellent actors like Ronny Chieng, Jamie Hector and Carlos Santos?

    CT: Well, I was really blessed because all of them, I mean it when I say there was not a weak link in the bunch. They’re all so good from top to bottom and they all do really different things. Carlos was in maybe three scenes in the first movie, and he just came on and killed it. Everybody loved him. He made everyone on set laugh the entire time. He was just a joy to work with. Jamie Hector, I’d been a fan of many years from ‘The Wire’ and ‘Bosch,’ and it was just an honor to get to work with him. He’s also the world’s nicest guy, despite how scary he looks sometimes when he’s acting. Ronny, I’ve known for many years and been a huge fan of. I had actually written the part with him in mind and it was just a joy to get to work with him on something. I hope to work with all of them again.

    Director Clay Tarver on the set of 'Vacation Friends 2.'
    Director Clay Tarver on the set of ‘Vacation Friends 2.’ Photo credit: Katrina Marcinowski.

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