Todd McFarlane’s Spawn. Photo Courtesy of Todd McFarlane’s Facebook page.
The development process for the new movie based on Todd McFarlane’s Spawn character has been pretty hellish so far.
Created in 1992 for Image Comics, the character is a former black-ops agent who makes a deal with a demon after being betrayed and killed. The demon allows him to return to Earth, but when he returns, five years have passed, his wife has moved on, and he roams Earth as a disfigured spawn of hell.
Spawn – AKA Al Simmons – has been the subject of a successful animated series and a movie in 1997 that didn’t score with critics or audiences and barely made its money back.
At the San Diego Comic-Con in 2017, McFarlane confirmed that he’d partnered with the Blumhouse team to make an R-rated new movie adaptation.
Yet ever since then, it has been a stream of announcements countered with delays, one-step-forward-two-steps-back momentum and no sign of bigger studio backing.
Jamie Foxx and Jeremy Renner were cast in the lead role of Al Simmons and Twitch Williams, but elsewhere there was talk of endless script re-writes and McFarlane getting frustrated with the process.
Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewid/Netflix.
Now, in news from The Hollywood Reporter, the script is being handed over to a new group. ‘Joker’s co-writer Scott Silver, ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Malcolm Spellman and rising writer Matt Mixon are going to share the job of cranking out fresh drafts.
And according to McFarlane – who for a long time has been saying that he’ll direct – is appearing ready to step back and let others take over for that gig as well. “If we’ve got an A-list actor, A-list producers, A-list writers, then do you want to shoot for A-list directors, A-list cinematographers?” McFarlane says. “The answer is, ‘of course.’ Let’s keep the momentum going.”
For Spellman, at least, this is a dream job. “I grew up in Berkeley, which is a comic book city. Todd McFarlane’s ‘Spawn’ character was always one of my favorites — a Black superhero that was no bullshit, he was cool and dealt with modern issues,” he says in a statement. “Myself, Matt Mixon, and Scott Silver are pledged to honoring what Todd started and what ‘Spawn’ is at its core, delivering something that’s relevant and edgy and unlike any other superhero movie out there.”
Apparently, McFarlane was surprised he managed to secure Silver and everyone else. “It was a complete hail Mary,” he admits. Sometimes timing is everything.”
And he appears hopeful that, while he’d been looking at having to shoot this thing for lower budget, the addition of well-known writers might help any potential studio open its wallet and offer a bigger fund to draw from.
Right now, Foxx (who has been a vocal supporter of the new movie) remains attached to star, but Renner’s status is a little less clear. It’s a waiting game as to whether this latest step helps get the new film made at last.
Of all the various shows and movies teased by Netflix as part of its big “TUDUM” virtual event this weekend, perhaps one of the most unexpected – and certainly the wackiest – was the pulpy, pointed mystery caper ‘They Cloned Tyrone’, which stars John Boyega, ‘WandaVision’s Teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx.
They’re starring in the new movie, which tells the story of Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), Slick (Jamie Foxx), and Fontaine (John Boyega), three unlikely friends who are brought together by their shared discovery of a massive, secret governmental surveillance plan to monitor the lives of Black people before disappearing them and replacing them with clones.
It’s hard to tell from the trailer just what the end goal of snatching people up is, or how three conspiracy theorists are supposed to take down that sort of operation on their own. But they’re going to give it a shot.
This first look at the movie proves it’s certainly going for a 1980s vibe, and a campy one (check out Foxx and Parris duetting on a funky number in an elevator, using their guns as microphones) though with definite hints that there’s some serious social commentary lurking a few layers deeper.
(L to R) Teyonah Parris as YO-YO, Jamie Foxx (Producer) as Slick Charles, and John Boyega as Fontaine in ‘They Cloned Tyrone.’ Photo: Parrish Lewis/Netflix.
‘They Cloned Tyrone’ is directed by ‘Creed II’ and ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy‘ scriptwriter Juel Taylor, who makes his directorial debut and shares a writing credit on this with Tony Rettenmaier.
Boyega’s having a good year so far – between ‘The Woman King’ and ‘Breaking’, he’s been scoring praise for his work, even if he did end up departing another Netflix project, ‘Rebel Ridge’, in 2021. And outside of the streamer, he has fans excited by gearing up to finally appear in a sequel to cult sci-fi pic ‘Attack the Block’ with director Joe Cornish.
Foxx, meanwhile, has been on a run of collaborations with the streaming service – he’s been a conflicted action hero for 2020’s ‘Power Project’ and took down vampires in this year’s thriller ‘Day Shift’. He’s scheduled to be seen next year opposite an “un-retired” Cameron Diaz in action comedy ‘Back in Action’.
As for Parris, she’ll be back as ‘WandaVision’s Monica Rambeau for ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel ‘The Marvels’, sharing screen time with Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers who, of course, was best friends with her mother Maria (Lashana Lynch in that first film) and an inspiration for young Monica (played then by Akira Akbar).
Scheduled for release on July 28, 2023, ‘The Marvels’ will also see ‘Ms. Marvel’s Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) finally meeting her superhero idol.
Netflix has yet to confirm a release date for ‘They Cloned Tyrone’.
‘Day Shift,’ which debuted on Netflix August 12th is the sort of movie that the streaming service seems to drop almost out of nowhere – which is surprising given the star power of Jamie Foxx. One trailer and then here we are.
It certainly hasn’t been treated to the same sort of rollout as, say, ‘The Gray Man’, but then ‘Day Shift’ didn’t cost $200 million to make. But that’s no slight on the new vampire hunting movie, which generates plenty of goofy action fun without needing to trot around the globe or blow up everything in sight.
Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, who makes his living cleaning pools in the San Fernando Valley. At least, that’s what he tells his family. His real job is tracking down and dispatching vampires.
In the movie’s mythology, the toothy terrors have existed for millennia alongside humans and, back in the day, were worshipped as gods (a temple under Los Angeles plays a role later in the plot).
Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewid/Netflix.
Yet as time marched on, humanity began to realize that the genetic mutations were actually more of a threat than a religion and turned on them. Since then, there has been an understanding – vampires prey in darkness and those still among the fully living have organized to hunt them.
Bud used to be among those ranks, a fully paid-up member of the union that authorizes gun- and stake-toting fighters to execute vampires, claiming their fangs as evidence for payout. The older the Drac-pack member, the bigger the cash reward. But thanks to some “violations” (violently killing a vampire in a house with a kids’ party happening next door), he’s been on the outs for years.
Yet when his estranged wife Jocelyn (Meagan Good) announces she’s taking their daughter Paige (Zion Broadnax) to Florida for a new financial opportunity, Bud knows he’ll need to start earning more to prevent that happening.
Oh yes, and there’s an ambitious vampire (Karla Souza’s Audrey San Fernando) looking to take over the Valley’s undead action, and who is first glimpsed burying a rival “alive” in the freshly poured foundations of a house.
Bud will need to call on the help of old pal – and legendary vampire hunter – Big John Elliott (a typically chill Snoop Dogg) to get himself official again. And that comes with big condition… Bud will have to put up with union clerk Seth (Dave Franco) monitoring his missions.
More normally used to spending his time behind a desk, and with little inclination to do anything else, Seth soon grows more useful, but it’s not an easy match at first, since Seth’s all about following the rules and Bud is, as anyone could guess… not.
That’s a familiar dynamic for a movie such as this, and writers Tyler Tice (this is his first produced script) and Shay Hatten (‘Army of the Dead’) don’t bring too much that is fresh to the mismatched buddy cop formula. Yet Foxx and Franco find a vibe that works.
Whether it’s Seth peeing his pants in initial fear at confronting a vampire in the field or the pair arguing about ‘Twilight’ movies, they’re often the funniest part of the movie.
Director J.J. Perry is a graduate of the 87Eleven school of stunt work. Training with the likes of David Leitch and Chad Stahelski and working as a stuntman then a stunt coordinator, he’s since moved up to second unit work and makes his full directorial debut with ‘Day Shift.’
It’s perhaps no surprise then, that besides the cast, the set-pieces are the star here. From an initial rumble between Foxx’s Bud and an old woman who turns out to be both A) undead and B) a key part of the plot going forward to the various clashes between humans and the fang club, this is an all-action romp.
Perry and cinematographer Tobi Oliver know how to stage and shoot an effective fight scene, and they make good use of some talented stunt folk to bring those moments to life. Whether it’s a battle in an abandoned mall (highlighted by Snoop’s Big John arriving with a hulking minigun called “Big Bertha” and laying waste to many enemies) or a match-up between three vampires, the conflicts go for the jugular even more than the villains.
There is, perhaps, an occasional leaning too hard on one specific move (clambering over someone’s head and flipping them, as Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow often used to do in Marvel movies), but otherwise the stunt work is lean and entertaining.
When the jokes are as sharp as the vampire’s teeth, the movie truly entertains, but that doesn’t happen enough to carry the rest of what shapes up to be a fairly standard example of the genre. There are lots of elements here pulled from the shelf that are rarely customized to the degree that they seem fresh.
A big, nasty vampire plan? Seen it. The hero’s family in danger? Yup. A grungy dealer in vampire death payouts who keeps a hidden base behind a mundane pawn shop front – and who ends up a victim? Present. And even though he’s played by Peter Stormare, it doesn’t quite raise the level up above average.
Netflix has been on a run of vampire stories of late – between the likes of ‘Night Teeth’ and the YA-centric ‘First Kill’, the streaming service can’t get enough of the fanged ones and/or the people who slay them. ‘Day Shift’ ranks more highly than some, mostly thanks to Foxx’s charisma, Franco’s throwing himself into the comedy, and the stunt work.
If you’re craving some fang club action and you haven’t had your bloodlust slated by the many vampire movies already out there in the world, ‘Day Shift’ offers a solid bite even if it’s not the greatest example of the genre.
Netflix has certainly tapped into the vampire vein as one of its prime source materials for movies and TV shows, including recent examples such as ‘First Kill’ and ‘Night Teeth’.
The company is upping the star power for its latest example, as the likes of Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dog, Dave Franco and more are part of the cast of ‘Day Shift’.
Foxx plays Bud Jablonski, a man whose unassuming day job as a San Fernando Valley pool cleaner is a cover for how he really makes money – in a world where vampires are everywhere (and are mostly monstrous murderers), there’s cash to be had “cutting necks and cashing checks”, as Bud explains.
Yet with a few “incidents” on his record, Bud has been drummed out of the international Union of Vampire Hunters, and now he’s facing the prospect of his wife (Meagan Good) and daughter (Zion Broadnax) moving to Florida for a better life.
With the help of his pal and fellow hunter (Snoop Dogg), Bud has to wrangle his way back into the union to keep the cash flow going, and make sure he saves his own neck. Mostly, though, the story looks like an excuse for lots of crazy vamp action.
Jamie Foxx as Bud Jablonski in ‘Day Shift.’ Photo: Parrish Lewid/Netflix.
Not to mention Dave Franco as a guy who has his first vampire encounter and reacts… well, how you might expect. And, of course, there are jokes about other vampire fiction, including the ‘Twilight’ movies.
This new movie is directed by J.J. Perry, who has cut his teeth as a stuntman, stunt coordinator and second unit director on big titles such as ‘John Wick’ and more than one ‘Fast & Furious’ movie. And the ‘Wick’ connection continues thanks to co-writer Shay Hatten (a veteran of a couple of those movies, plus a lot of work with Zack Snyder, including ‘Army of the Dead’ and the upcoming ‘Rebel Moon’.)
Then we have Chad Stahelski, who has co-directed or directed all the ‘Wick’ movies so far and serves as a producer here. It’s perhaps not surprising that the trailer makes ‘Day Shift’ look chock full of inventive action moments.
And the horror aspect means plenty of crazy vampire moments – the creatures here have a twisty-limbed style that would probably put a smile on the face of fans of the work of John Carpenter or ‘Train to Busan’.
With Bud finding all manner of ways to put an end to undead creatures, we can also expect lots of inventive kills, while Snoop shows up at one point touting a minigun to kill as many vamps as possible.
After appearing in 2014’s ‘Annie’, Cameron Diaz largely stepped back from acting, and in 2018 announced that she was officially retired from acting. Well, as has happened with other Hollywood “retirements”, it appears that it didn’t stick and she’s coming back for a new movie.
Diaz will join her ‘Annie; co-star Jamie Foxx in the fittingly-titled ‘Back in Action’, which is a new Netflix action-comedy. There are no plot details available for the movie yet, but we do know that ‘Horrible Bosses’ Seth Gordon will direct from a script he wrote with ‘Neighbors’ Brendan O’Brien, while Beau Bauman is producing.
Foxx announced the movie and Diaz’ return in a funny Twitter post that included a phone call between the pair where Diaz relates her concerns about coming back. Foxx then adds NFL superstar Tom Brady – a man who knows a little something about “un-retiring” – who offers some advice about coming back to work.
Cameron I hope you aren’t mad I recorded this, but no turning back now. Had to call in the GOAT to bring back another GOAT. @CameronDiaz and I are BACK IN ACTION – our new movie with @NetflixFilm. Production starting later this year!! 🦊🐐 pic.twitter.com/vyaGrUmbWb
Filming is due to start on the new action-comedy later this year, but no release date is on the books yet.
Back in 2020, Diaz told Gwyneth Paltrow why she decided to step back from her career. “I had gone so hard for so long, working, making films. And it’s such a grind,” Diaz said. “And I didn’t really make any space for my personal life. And then I decided to stop making movies and really focus on my personal life, my personal relationships, my family, my friends, and then Benj [Madden] and I met each other and we got married pretty much immediately, because we both knew we had to do it.”
“I stopped, I really looked at my life and I saw what I had been — because when you’re making a movie, it’s the perfect excuse,” she added. “They own you. You’re there 12 hours a day for months on end. You have no time for anything else. And I realized I handed off parts of my life to all these other people, and they took it. And I had to basically take it back and take responsibility for my life. That’s my job. There’s lots of things I had to iron out and a lot of relationships I had to repair. A lot of relationships I had to build, that I was absent in my life.”
Diaz joins a list of actors and other filmmakers who have announced their retirement from the business. Some, like Steven Soderbergh, have since returned to their careers. Others, such as Jack Nicholson and Gene Hackman, have stayed enjoying their time away from the spotlight.
It’s not yet clear whether Diaz will be returning full time after ‘Back in Action’ – perhaps her experience making the movie and any subsequent press tour will inform her decision either way.
Cameron Diaz in 1998’s ‘There’s Something About Mary.’
2009’s crime thriller ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ clearly has its fans. And among them? Star Gerard Butler, who appears ready to bring more of the story to screens. But the twist is, he probably won’t be in front of the cameras this time.
Should you need your memory refreshed, here’s the basics for the movie: it
starred Butler and Jamie Foxx and was directed by F. Gary Gray. The story follows assistant district attorney Nick Rice’s (Foxx) pursuit of Clyde Shelton (Butler), a frustrated father who implements an elaborate and twisted plan to bring down the entire judicial system in Philadelphia after a plea bargain by Rice sets free the man who murdered Shelton’s wife and daughter.
Part of the reason for the sequel being thrown into more active development? The fact that the original landed on Netflix last December, and quickly became one of the most popular movies on the service, along with ‘Red Notice’ and ‘The Unforgivable’.
Story details for the new movie are under wraps for now, but while Butler is certainly one of the producers, he’s yet to make a deal to return as an actor for the new movie – which is not all that surprising since (spoiler alert) his character dies at the end of the first “Citizen”. It appears more likely that it could continue the story of Foxx’s Rice, the crusading ADA whose life was impacted by his and Shelton’s actions. Or it’ll be a completely fresh tale.
Jamie Foxx and Brice McGill in 2009’s ‘Law Abiding Citizen.’
What we do know is that writer/producer Kurt Wimmer will be back alongside fellow producer Lucas Foster. Rivulet Films’ Rob Paris and Mike Witherill are producing alongside Foster and Wimmer, plus Village Roadshow Pictures’ Tristen Tuckfield and Jillian Apfelbaum, who will be executive producers.
As for who could direct the movie? It’s far too early for that sort of talk, though the team could tempt Gray to return. And if he doesn’t, Wimmer also has directorial experience.
As a writer, Wimmer most recently created original screenplay ‘The Beekeeper’ which is being turned into a new action thriller for David Ayer to direct and Jason Statham set to star.
“I am delighted to partner with Rob, Mike, and Village Roadshow Pictures, together with my frequent creative partner Kurt Wimmer, to revisit these great characters and this compelling topic which seems even more relevant today than when we made the original film,” says Foster. “We’re going to blow your mind… again.”
The business of Gerard Butler sequels is a busy one of late – he’s back for a ‘Den of Thieves’ follow-up and ‘Greenland: Migration’ is in pre-production, while a forth ‘Olympus has Fallen’ follow-up, ‘Night has Fallen’ sits at the pitch stage.
Gerard Butler in 2009’s ‘Law Abiding Citizen.’
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Dave Chappelle in the Netflix Special ‘Sticks and Stones.’
Controversial comedian Dave Chappelle was reportedly accosted by a man wielding a plastic replica gun containing a knife while on stage at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival on Tuesday night.
23-year-old Isiah Lee allegedly stormed on stage and tussled with Chappelle, who was initially taken aback, but managed to free himself before security grabbed the assailant.
Chappelle – who has caused fury for making jokes about trans and LGBTQ+ rights in recent stand-up specials – joked that his attacker was “a trans man.”
Jamie Foxx, who was attending the show, also took the stage to help security subdue the alleged assailant. Chapelle thanked him by quipping, “Whenever you’re in trouble, Jamie Foxx will show up in a sheriff’s hat.”
For his side of things, Foxx was more serious: “Listen, I just want to say…this man is an absolute genius. We’ve got to make sure we protect him at all times,” he said. “For every comedian who comes out here, this means everything. You’re a genius. You’re a legend, and we’re not going to let nothing happen to you.”
Chris Rock presents the Oscar® for Documentary Feature during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.
Lee is being held on $30,000 bail as per a statement from to LAPD Public Information Officer Mendez on Wednesday morning. According to the statement, Lee was transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the altercation leading to his arrested. After receiving medical treatment and being cleared for booking, Lee was booked for felony Assault with a Deadly Weapon. It’s unclear what motivated Lee to run onto the stage, or how he managed to enter the venue with the weapon.
Chappelle’s team released the following statement, downplaying the incident: “Dave Chappelle celebrated four nights of comedy and music, setting record-breaking sales for a comedian at the Hollywood Bowl. This run ties Chappelle with Monty Python for the most headlined shows by any comedian at the Hollywood Bowl, reaching 70k fans of diverse backgrounds during the first Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival, and he refuses to allow last night’s incident to overshadow the magic of this historic moment.”
The statement continues: “As unfortunate and unsettling as the incident was, Chappelle went on with the show. Jamie Foxx and Chris Rock helped calm the crowd with humor before Chappelle introduced the last and featured musical guests for the evening, hip-hop artists Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli, a.k.a. Black Star, who performed music from their new album – the first in nearly 24 years – which was released on Luminary.”
Netflix released its own statement about the event: “We care deeply about the safety of creators, and we strongly defend the right of stand-up comedians to perform on stage without fear of violence.”
(L to R) Dave Chappelle and Jerry Seinfeld on Netflix’s ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.’ Special ‘Sticks and Stones.’
Tom Holland and Zendaya in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
The wait is finally over as the most anticipated film of 2021, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ is now in theaters. Much has been said about this film, who will be in it and who will not, but now audiences will be able to see for themselves, and they will not be disappointed. The film marks the third solo outing for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, as the hero finds his secret identity exposed in public and asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help. But when Strange’s spell goes wrong, and Spider-Man villains from other universes begin to invade our Earth, Peter Parker and his friends must find a way to stop them before they destroy our world.
In addition to Holland and Cumberbatch, the movie also stars several other MCU actors including Zendaya as MJ, Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds, Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan, and Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei as May Parker. The film also features actors from other Spider-Man movies reprising their roles like Willem Dafoe as Green Goblin from ‘Spider-Man,’ Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus from ‘Spider-Man 2,’ Thomas Haden Church as Sandman from ‘Spider-Man 3,’ Rhys Ifans as Lizard from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man,’ and Jamie Foxx as Electro from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ The result is a well-crafted and extremely entertaining love letter to Spider-Man fans that completely lives up to all of its outrageous expectations and is one of the best Spider-Man movies of all-time.
The film begins almost exactly where “Spider-Man: Far from Home’ left off, with Peter Parker (Holland) being outed publicly by Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) as both Spider-Man and a murderer. The news completely changes Peter, his family and his friends’ lives, and in order to “fix it,” he asks Doctor Strange (Cumberbatch) to cast a spell so the world forgets he is Spider-Man. But while casting the spell, Peter tries to change it so his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya), his Aunt May (Tomei), and best friend Ned (Batalon) don’t forget, and creates a chain of events that sees Spider-Man villains from the multiverse ascending on our Earth. To right their wrongs, and stop the multiverse from being destroyed, Strange tasks Peter, MJ, and Ned with collecting the villains and sending them back to their own world, where they will ultimately die. Peter can’t stand the idea of essentially sending these villains to their death, and after encouragement from Aunt May, he defies Strange’s wishes and vows to find a way to save the multiverse without killing his enemies.
If you have been following the production of ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ for the last year or so, then you know there have been dozens of rumors about which former Spider-Man movie actors and actresses might appear in the film, and I will neither confirm nor deny any of them. But since Sony wisely revealed the five former Spider-Man movie villains that appear in the movie before its release, I feel it’s safe to talk about them. Obviously, Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina get the most screen time as they are clearly the most beloved of the five villains included, and both actors returned to their roles exceedingly well. They both have the opportunity to play with elements of their characters that were not developed as much in their previous incarnations, especially Dafoe, whose “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” complex is better explained this time around. While Molina has a chance to play with the “Am I a villain or not?” aspect of his character that was only touched upon in the final moments of “Spider-Man 2.”
The remaining three villains, Electro, Lizard and Sandman, are all somewhat polarizing characters from former Spider-Man movies that didn’t quite work in their previous incarnations. But in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ they are redeemed and allowed to be closer representations of their comic book counterparts. Jamie Foxx’s Electro is probably the best example, as fans hated his unusual blue form in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ While it is referenced in this film, the character quickly becomes something new, which is closer to the Electro from the source material, and you can tell Foxx is enjoying his second chance at getting the role right.
Oscar-nominee Thomas Hayden Church as Flint Marko/Sandman was not the problem with ‘Spider-Man 3,’ an over-bloated script with too many characters was, so it was nice to see him return as well. The filmmakers chose to keep Marko in his Sandman form through most of the film, which really works, and the CGI is fairly flawless. Unfortunately, Rhys Ifans’ Lizard gets the least amount of screen time, and while it is difficult to relate to a character that is basically a monster, the actor is given a few moments to shine. That being said, the returning villains all get better treatment this time around, and while technically they are the “Sinister Five” and not the comic book team known as the “Sinister Six,” this is certainly the closest we’ve ever gotten to seeing the infamous group of Spider-Man villains all on screen together in live-action fighting Spidey at the same time.
At the risk of giving away spoilers, I will just say that there are some very cool “unexpected” appearances in the film, and with the exception of only one, they are much more than just cameos. The actors or actresses in question are allowed to really develop their characters and are integral to the plot and are not just in the movie as fan-service. I’m not denying that the film utilizes a lot of fan-service, but it is always in line with the story they are telling, and never feels forced or cheap. Yes, there is a mid-credit scene, while I won’t tell you what it is, I will say that it ties up loose ends from another popular mid-credit scene. There is also an end-credit tag, which is more than just a scene, and sets up a future MCU movie. Think the ‘Avengers’ trailer that ran at the end of ‘Captain America: The First Avenger.’
But for all the multiverse shenanigans and other franchise actor appearances, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ works best as a coming-of-age love story between Peter Parker and MJ. Building on their previous MCU outings, the relationship between Peter and MJ, and to a lesser degree Peter and Ned, is really at the heart of the movie. Even though the plot is somewhat outlandish, it is always grounded by those simple relationships in Peter’s life, including his bond with Aunt May. As MJ, Zendaya embodies the modern-day superhero girlfriend, not a woman who stands on the sidelines waiting to be saved, but a heroine in her own right, in the thick of the battle with her hero boyfriend. She also happens to have some of the best lines in the film. But it’s Tom Holland who has really brought Peter Parker and Spider-Man back to his roots, playing the character as a young man trying to find his way through the world, even with amazing powers. Holland is charming, loveable, and sympathetic all at the same time and will be the one true Spider-Man for generations to come.
Fans who have been waiting for the MCU to adapt certain elements of the Spider-Man mythos that have yet to be utilized will be very happy with this film, as the “With great power comes great responsibility” speech and other iconic moments from the source material are captured in the movie. For obvious reasons, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ feels like a live-action ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ but is so much more than just that one gimmick and in many ways feels like the most authentic Spider-Man movie yet. The film really sticks to the ideals that comic book legends Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created in the comic books all those decades ago. In the end, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is an entertaining and exhilarating movie that delivers on all its outrageous promises and expectations while building on the MCU’s Spider-Man by paying homage to all that has come before it. Not only is ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ the best of the solo Tom Holland movies, it is one of the best MCU films, and possibly even the best live-action Spider-Man movie ever made.
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home” receives 5 out of 5 stars.
On Tuesday, November 16th, Sony and Disney released the final trailer for ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ which opens in theaters on December 17th. With just a month to go until the release, promotion is kicking into high-gear, as they released the first poster last week, and a second this week that adds Benedict Cumberbatch to the background. The new trailer expands on the film’s plot, which we knew very little about previously other than that Peter Parker will go to Doctor Strange and ask him to make the world forget he is Spider-Man, and that opens up all kinds of Multiverse trouble. The trailer also features more footage of the villains, as well as our first look at Oscar winner Jamie Foxx reprising his role as Electro from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ Unfortunately, Tobey McGuire and Andrew Garfield do not appear in the final trailer, as many fans had hoped, and there is no confirmation that they will ultimately appear in the movie at all.
The trailer begins with Peter Parker explaining to MJ that since he was bitten by that spider, he’s only had one good week, and that was the week he told her the truth about who he is. We then cut to the Sanctum Sanctorum, where Doctor Strange explains that ever since Peter made him “botch that spell” to have everyone forget that he is Spider-Man, they’ve been “getting some visitors from every universe.” We then cut to the action scene on the bridge, and get our first look at the Green Goblin flying out of a cloud of smoke above Spider-Man. We then see Spider-Man in his black costume dodging yellow lightning, followed by Doctor Octopus’ introduction on the bridge where Alfred Molina’s character unmasks Spider-Man and says, “You’re not Peter Parker.”
Alfred Molina in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
The next shot shows Doctor Octopus captured in some kind of cell and surrounded by Peter, MJ, and Ned. Peter asks him his name, and he replies, “Doctor Otto Octavius.” The kids then laugh at him, and Peter says, “No, seriously, what’s your real name?” This is a callback to the joke between Peter and Doctor Strange in ‘Avengers: Infinity War.’ After another shot of Peter in the black costume, doing some sort of “Doctor Strange magic” with his wrist, we cut back to the Sanctum Sanctorum where Strange is yelling at Peter, MJ and Ned. He says, “There are others out there. We need to send them back, so, Scooby-Doo this crap!” After making the Mystery Gang reference, MJ is having none of it and replies, “You know, all of this is kind of your mess. I know a couple of magic words myself, starting with the word please.” To which Strange smiles and says, “Please… Scooby-Doo this crap!”
Jamie Foxx in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
After a shot of a sandstorm and yellow electricity flowing through the streets surrounding Oscar winner J.K. Simmons reprising his role as J. Jonah Jameson, we see Alfred Molina’s character say to Peter and his friends, “You’re flying out into the darkness to fight ghosts.” Peter asks him to explain what he means, and we cut to Strange saying that all the multiverse villains “die fighting Spider-Man” and that it is “their fate.” Not excepting that as the truth, Peter then steals a “magic box” from Strange and the two fight in the streets before taking their battle to on top of a moving train. Spider-Man says, “There must be another way,” and Strange shouts, “There isn’t. They are a danger to our universe.” We then get our first shot of Jamie Foxx reprising his role as Electro. He looks much more like his comic book counterpart this time around, with yellow lightning, not blue, and it forms around his head in pointed triangles, replicating the character’s original comic book costume. Electro is fighting Spider-Man, floating in the air and says, “You’ll never take this away from me,” before he shoots lightning at our hero.
Willem Dafoe in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
After a few more action shots of Spider-Man swinging through the air, we hear Willem Dafoe’s voice as the Green Goblin saying, “Peter, you’re struggling to have everything you want while the world tries to make you choose.” We then get a great shot of Green Goblin, who certainly looks like the Dafoe version, fighting Spider-Man at the Statue of Liberty. After an explosion, we see Electro in the same shot as the Lizard, at the Statue of Liberty with the Sandman’s giant head forming behind them. Then we cut to Peter and MJ, and he tells her, “This is all my fault. I can’t save everyone.” We cut back to the Statue of Liberty and Spider-Man starts to go to battle against Electro, Lizard and Sandman. The trailer ends with MJ falling off of the Statue of Liberty, and then Spider-Man diving after to save her.
Electro, Sandman, and The Lizard in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
It’s much clearer to me now as to what the basic premise of the story is and what the movie is really all about. We knew that Peter was going to ask Strange to cast a spell, so everyone would forget he’s Spider-Man, and that would lead to villains from other Spider-Man movies to appear through the multiverse, possibly creating a Sinister Six. While that is the setup, I think the plot will have more to do with Strange ordering Peter to “kill” these “variants,” and Spider-Man refusing to do it. This will also add drama to the trailer’s cliffhanger where MJ is falling to her death, which we know has happened with other versions of the character. Will Peter let MJ die, and would he sacrifice another life just to save hers? I think that may be the larger question that the film is dealing with, and multiverse villains is just the icing on the cake.
Zendaya and Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
But I still wouldn’t expect Tobey McGuire or Andrew Garfield to appear, and based on that trailer, I’m not even sure where you could fit them in. The only way I can think that you could have one or both of the former Spider-Man actors still appear is if they show up towards the end of the movie somehow and give Tom Holland’s Peter the confidence to save everyone, including the bad guys. What we do know is that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ will feature Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benedict Wong, Jon Favreau, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, and maybe Willem Dafoe, reprising their previous MCU and Spider-Man franchise roles, and it will be release in theaters on December 17th.
Spider-Man fans already had a lot of expectations for the upcoming ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ and thanks to the first official poster for the movie, which earlier this week, they now expect to see the Green Goblin return as well!
The new movie will deal with the aftermath of Peter’s secret identity going public at the end of ‘Spider-Man: Far from Home,’ thanks to Mysterio, and having Doctor Strange cast a spell so the world forgets who Spider-Man really is. However, we know from the recent trailer that things will go terribly wrong and tear a rift in the multiverse, allowing villains from the Sam Raimi and Marc Webb movies to also appear.
Conformation of this was given at the beginning of production when it was announced that Jamie Foxx would be reprising his role as Electro from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2.’ Then, earlier this year, actor Alfred Molina himself confirmed in an interview with Variety that he would also be reprising his role as Doctor Octopus from ‘Spider-Man 2.’ This led to countless rumors about the film, including that Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield may also return, playing their respective versions of Peter Parker.
Then, just last week, news hit that Empire Magazine was running an article on the film in their December issue that confirmed Rhys Ifans and Thomas Haden Church returning in ‘No Way Home’ as the Lizard and the Sandman, their characters from ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ and ‘Spider-Man 3,’ respectively. Not to mention, and Spoiler Alert for ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage,’ but Tom Hardy’s title character is also now running around in the MCU. Which leaves the Green Goblin, whose pumpkin bombs could be seen in the trailer, but who’s image has been kept secret until now.
If you zoom into the background of the new poster, you can see a small image that looks to be the Willem Dafoe version of the character from Spider-Man. While the Green Goblin’s voice can be heard in the trailer, it is difficult to know if it is really Dafoe or not. Although the new poster would indicate that this version of Norman Osborne will appear in the movie, there still has been no official confirmation from Sony or Marvel that the Oscar-nominated actor will be reprising his role. Fans will also notice that the new poster teases the other three previously announced returning franchise villains, with Doc Ock’s metal tentacles, yellow lightning to represent Electro, and a sandstorm for the Sandman featuring prominent in the poster.
But like a mirage, many online fans think that they have spotted other potential villains hidden in the poster. If you look at the Green Goblin image, there are two pieces of debris on either side of him, and some fans think that those tiny images are of James Franco and Dane DeHaan’s Green Goblins from ‘Spider-Man 3’ and ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2,’ respectively. When I zoomed in on the poster, it just looked like debris to me, and there is absolutely nothing indicating that Franco or DeHaan will be reprising their previous roles in the upcoming film.
But the online guessing game doesn’t stop there, as some people think that the debris in the background near the edge of Spider-Man’s right hand is the Vulture flying in the background. Some online have even said that the Lizard is hidden in the bottom right hand corner, and that Rhino’s horn can be seen just below Spider-Man’s knee, but I don’t buy that one as it just looks like a metal spike poking out of concrete. But the wildest online theory is that the metallic tentacle we see on the right hand side of the poster is not Alfred Molina’s character, but instead Kathryn Hahn’s Doctor Olivia Octavius from ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,’ which seems completely made-up if you ask me.
The poster was dropped on the film’s official Twitter account, which even encouraged fans to use their “Spidey Senses” to look for “details,” so they clearly want fans guessing. But I think with many fans trying to find out everything they can about the upcoming movie, they are beginning to see things that are just not there, which may be exactly what Disney wants. I can’t remember a time in the past when a simple poster for a movie has caused so much excitement and online debate. I only fear that fans now expect far too much from ‘No Way Home,’ and anything short of all three cinematic Spider-Man fighting off a multiverse version of the Sinister Six will leave hardcore viewers disappointed.
Now, assuming that Venom is not one of the Sinister Six, as he wasn’t in the comics, and also assuming that the Sinister Six is featured in the new movie at all, that still leaves one-member unknown. It likely won’t be Jared Leto’s Morbius, as his solo film is not set to release until January, but it could be Michael Keaton’s Vulture, who is also set to appear in Morbius. And let’s not forget Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio, although he apparently died in ‘Far From Home,’ the character is best known for his illusions, so anything is possible.
Vulture, or possibly Mysterio, would make the most sense to me to actually be the sixth member of the Sinister Six, if they do in fact appear. But if Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, Lizard, and Electro are in the movie, that would represent one villain from every non-MCU Spider-Man movie, and I would think that Marvel Studios would want at least one of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man villains from the MCU to appear as well.
With Benedict Cumberbatch and Benedict Wong already confirmed to reprise their Doctor Strange roles in ‘No Way Home,’ as well as Oscar winner J.K. Simmons returning as J. Jonah Jameson, the cast is already packed with other MCU characters. So, with the exception of Molina’s Doc Ock, and maybe the Green Goblin, I wouldn’t expect any of the villains from previous Spider-Man movies to have terribly large roles, as they will most likely appear as cameos towards the end of the movie, which is rumored to run well over two and a half hours.
Check out the new poster below, and ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is set to open in theaters on December 17th.
