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  • ‘Lorne’ Exclusive Interview: Director Morgan Neville

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    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary from Oscar winning filmmaker Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) called ‘Lorne’, which chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Morgan Neville about his work on ‘Lorne’, the style of the documentary, making it funny, his unprecedented access to ‘Saturday Night Live’, the show’s darkest period, conducting the interviews, what he learned about Lorne from making the movie, and the future of the long running show.

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

    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Moviefone: To begin with, the film plays almost like an ‘SNL’ parody of a celebrity biopic with animated sequences and Chris Parnell’s narration. Was that what you set out to do from the beginning or did you have to pivot when you realized you might not get what you need from Lorne Michaels himself?

    Morgan Neville: I think my intent in the beginning was, I want this to be funny. I didn’t know how exactly. But beyond that, I don’t entirely have a plan about what the film is going to be. I know it had all these great ingredients. I know Lorne’s story is interesting. He’s a fascinating character who rarely does interviews or shows people into his life. I know the show is fascinating. I knew there were lots of interesting things, but I didn’t know how it would fit together. When we started shooting, what you see in the beginning of the film is my first day of shooting, where the cameras come out, and then Lorne vanishes. I felt like one of the themes of the film is basically the theme of me making the film. You go from somebody who really doesn’t seem like he wants a film made about him to somebody who has made his peace with it and is willing to give us a glimpse inside. That was my experience of making the film. So, the idea of bringing Chris Parnell in is a way of channeling ‘SNL’, but also the ‘TV Funhouse’. I mean, it’s also something that I’ve done with a lot of my films. I want the subject of the film to help me decide how to tell the story, so it feels like the telling of it is related to the subject. So, I just kept thinking, well, what is the ‘SNL’ version of a documentary about Lorne? Not to say that because it’s funny that there’s no substance there. Because one thing I’m also proud of is how the emotion sneaks into the film quietly, in a way you’re not expecting. Lorne, in the beginning, is like, “Why is this guy even here? Why is he torturing this poor crew?” But then you understand a lot more about what makes him tick and he opens in that way.

    MF: The movie is very funny. Can you set out to make a funny documentary, or is that a result of the subject you are focusing on?

    MN: I think humor is one of the great under discussed things in documentary film. I think some of my favorite documentaries are funny in different ways. That could be anything from the films that inspired me to make documentaries, like ‘Sherman’s March’, ‘Roger & Me’, and ‘The Atomic Cafe’. I mean, all the documentaries that got me excited, that are funny in different ways. Even in films I’ve made, like, ‘Best of Enemies’ or ‘Won’t you be my Neighbor?’ There are some big laughs in those films, too. But I think humor is such a great way of letting the audience exhale and open themselves up in a way if they’re laughing. They’re way more receptive to what you might want to share with them. So, I love that, and why can’t documentaries be comedies sometimes? So, this was me intentionally in the beginning saying, “I do want this to be a funny film.” Because it’s a film, most people who are going to watch it are comedy fans. I’ve seen a lot of documentaries about comedy that are really depressing. There are a lot of dark stories in comedy. But I always wanted to remember the comedy part of it, too. ‘Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces’ was the first comedy documentary I did that was purely comedy, and this is the second. With both, I tried to balance the funny with some weight or gravitas at the same time.

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    MF: Can you talk about the unprecedented access that you had to Lorne and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and what did you learn about him as a person from your access?

    MN: I think people think of Lorne as sitting on a throne, deciding who makes it in comedy and who doesn’t make it, and that he is just sitting there, flipping his finger, and deciding the fate of people. I think Lorne sees himself as beleaguered, in the trenches, and worrying about next week’s show and making 100 phone calls to sponsors, network people, affiliates, agents, studios, and cast members to just keep all the plates in the air. So, it’s funny that everybody thinks Lorne is just sitting pretty. I think Lorne feels like he’s just barely making it, because I asked everybody in the film, “At what point do you think Saturday Night Live became a show that was not going to disappear?” Some people said, “Well, when the show reinvented itself after 1995 with Will Ferrell and that amazing cast, or maybe after 9/11, when it became a place where people came together and mourned and laughed together for the first time.” I asked Lorne that question, and he said, “Maybe this year.” You know, fifty years in! So, I think Lorne’s the last person to pat himself on the back and feel like, job well done, we don’t have to worry anymore. I think Lorne is thinking about, “When this cast gels, where’s it going to be in two years?” He’s thinking about things like that. “Oh, this writer I have who might want to leave, maybe I can get him to work on a TV show, and I can get him a development deal.” He’s constantly pulling levers to keep everything kind of bubbling along and that’s something, People don’t see him sweat, but I think he feels like he’s in the thick of it. I think it’s maybe part of why he made the film, is for people to understand that producing is a real job. It’s not just sitting back and collecting checks. It’s a lot of invisible things that people just don’t understand.

    MF: You mention in the film that the closest Lorne came to losing control of the show was in the mid- ‘90s, which culminated in the firing of Norm MacDonald. In discussing it with Lorne, did he express any regret in how that went down and being unable to protect Norm in the same way he has protected so many ‘SNL’ performers before and after?

    MN: I don’t think so. I love Norm’s comedy. But, let’s face it, Norm was asking for it and in the funniest way possible. Norm was warned again and again and again. So, I think Norm enjoyed poking the bear, and I don’t think Norm felt like Lorne was to blame for any of that. I think the other person in that equation was Jim Downey, the legendary writer who started in season two, and was on and off the show for decades, who I interviewed in the documentary. Jim, at that time, was running ‘Weekend Update’ with Norm, and the two of them were thick as thieves, and they were the ones who were enjoying poking the bear. When Norm got fired, Jim got fired too, but Lorne quietly got Jim back the next year. I think Lorne both felt a loyalty to Jim, and really wanted to protect Jim. Norm was going to be fine. Lorne told the bosses, “Okay, I’ll let them go,” and then quietly rehired Jim, and helped Norm land his next thing. Again, it’s something that made Lorne incredibly unhappy to have to go through, but he is the king of the long game. You may lose the battles, but he always wins the war.

    John Mulaney in 'John Mulaney: Baby J' Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney in ‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ Photo: Netflix.

    MF: Of all the interviews you conducted, who had the most insight into Lorne and was there anyone you wanted to interview but were unable to?

    MN: I mean, the only person I really wanted to interview who said no was Dan Aykroyd, and he had said he was just talked out from doing documentary interviews, which is fine. I get it. But at the same time, for a film like this, you could interview so many people, and I interviewed even more than I normally like to. I normally don’t like to interview a ton of people for a film because I want there to be a smaller chorus of voices. But even here, I could have interviewed another fifty people for this film easily. So, I wanted people from different chapters of his life, people like Howard Shore, who he met at camp as a 14-year-old to Rosie Shuster, his first wife he met in high school who became one of the original writers on ‘Saturday Night Live’. But one of my favorites was John Mulaney because he is both, such a great talker, but also a real student of Lorne’s. They’re friends, but I think John has studied Lorne, and I think when they’re together, John constantly peppers Lorne with questions, and he’s collecting as much information about Lorne as he can. So, I think he was ready to talk. I think he loved talking about Lorne. I think we did, like, a two-hour interview, and I said, “Well, I think that’s good,” and he was like, “Well, let’s keep going.” So we went for another hour, and then when we did the round table, he said, “Oh, I want to do that.” So, I got him together with Bill Hader, Andy Samberg, and Fred Armisen. But I think Mulaney was probably the MVP of talking about Lorne.

    MF: Finally, I get the sense from the film that Lorne Michaels is ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Saturday Night Live’ is Lorne Michaels, and that there is no retiring for him. He’ll leave the show when he must and it may go on for a while, but that will be the end of the show as we currently know it. What is your sense of the future of the series and how long do you think it will go on without Lorne Michaels at the helm?

    MN: I think Lorne is not going to run the show for another fifty years, but he wants it to continue, and I think it will continue, just because, for no other reason, the IP of ‘SNL’ is very valuable, and people still watch and will continue to watch. It’s one of the last places where we come together to watch things. You know, it’s like sports and ‘Saturday Night Live’. There aren’t a lot of places where we all come together to watch things. So, I think there are a lot of reasons why it will continue. I just don’t think it’ll be the same, because, in part, Lorne’s not doing it, but also because I can’t imagine it continuing to be as wasteful as it is. I mean, Lorne says that in the film. It’s made wastefully, but that’s because by being wasteful, you get to discover more things. He’s producing way more than he needs for a week. So, if you’re able to throw out a third of all your work every week and just pick the best two thirds, it makes it better. But it’s also kind of crazy to know you’re going to throw out a third of all your work every week. I also don’t think there’s one person to fill Lorne’s shoes, which are impossible to fill. But I think the thing about Lorne is he’s managing two different ways. He’s managing down, which is him with the writers and the cast, and all of that, which he’s great at. You hear all those stories of how he works with cast members. But the other part of his job is he’s managing up. So, dealing with the network people, and the sponsors, and affiliates, and studios, and all of that, in a way that is invisible, and is a very different skill than dealing with writers. So, you know, part of me feels like it would take at least two people to do his job.

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • Movie Review: ‘Lorne’

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    Opening in theaters on April 17th is the new documentary ‘Lorne’, which was directed by Morgan Neville (‘Man on the Run’) and chronicles the life and career of ‘Saturday Night Live’ creator Lorne Michaels.

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    Related Article: Morgan Neville Talks Paul McCartney Documentary ‘Man on the Run’

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.
    (L to R) Erik Kenward, Steve Higgins and Lorne Michaels in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All rights reserved.

    Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville accomplishes the near impossible by capturing the illusive Lorne Michaels in the new film ‘Lorne’. The documentary, which is very funny, is almost an ‘SNL’ parody of celebrity biopics with pitch perfect narration from alum Chris Parnell and TV Funhouse style animation.

    Neville was given unprecedented behind the scenes access to Michaels and ‘Saturday Night Live’ and lifts the curtain to show how the sausage is really made. With interviews from ‘SNL’ alum like Tina Fey, John Mulaney, Kristen Wiig and Mike Myers, the movie explores Michaels’ career, the history of the show, and how ‘SNL’ is really made.

    Story and Direction

    'Saturday Night Live's Studio 8H.
    ‘Saturday Night Live’s Studio 8H. Photo: NBC.

    Director Morgan Neville is no stranger to documenting famous people, as his last film, ‘Man on the Run’ was centered on Paul McCartney. But the opening scene of ‘Lorne’ makes one think that Neville has finally met his match in Lorne Michaels. The ‘SNL’ creator seems surprised and annoyed that he even agreed to having a documentary crew follow him around, and virtually disappears once the movie begins.

    This forces Neville to pivot quickly and results in a movie that is closer to an ‘SNL’ parody of a documentary, which makes for a very funny movie. Some of the techniques that Neville uses to offset the loss of his subject include focusing on interviews with ‘SNL’ cast and alum instead and incorporating cartoons and narration. Those choices, whether out of desperation or not, transform the film from a standard celebrity documentary to a truly funny and entertaining experience on its own terms.

    But despite his best efforts, the film eventually does breakdown Michaels’ defenses and gives an honest and in-depth look behind the curtain at the man that created a comedic industry. In fact, Neville’s access to ‘Saturday Night Live’ was astounding and gives a rare never-before-seen look at exactly how the show is really made with glimpses into the writer’s room, pitch meetings, guest meetings, rehearsals, and finally choosing the sketches for that episode.

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    In addition to chronicling how the show is made week to week, the film also goes through Michaels’ personal history, the beginnings of his career, how he created the show, ‘SNL’s ups and downs including his exit in 1980, his return in 1985, almost losing the show in the 90s, and the various cast changes, as well as his film career, which includes writing ‘Three Amigos’ and producing ‘Wayne’s World’.

    Morgan Neville is the best documentarian working today and has made some of the finest documentaries in recent years including the Oscar winning ‘20 Feet from Stardom’, ‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’, and ‘Man on the Run’. But ‘Lorne’ might be his best work yet, cracking the code on one of the most important figures in entertainment history.

    Celebrity Interviews

    John Mulaney and Tina Fey at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney and Tina Fey at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    While reluctant at first, Lorne Michaels does eventually sit down for several interviews and is surprisingly open, despite his reputation for being guarded. However, his insight into his past and the inner workings of the show are delivered cryptically and in a very Lorne Michaels way. But we do get a rare look at his lakeside hideaway retreat in an undisclosed area of Maine, as well as his rigorous late-night schedule.

    You really come to understand that Michaels is a creature of habit, basically living the same schedule for fifty years, even eating at the same handful of New York restaurants and ordering the same meals for decades. People often wonder why ‘SNL’ has such a strange schedule, working late into the night and into the early morning most days. It’s because of Lorne, that’s his schedule, the show just adopted it.

    Neville assembles a fantastic group of Lorne’s friends and former ‘SNL’ cast members including Steve Martin, Paul Simon, John Mulaney, Tina Fey, Conan O’Brien, Seth Meyers, Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, and Mike Myers.

    John Mulaney had the most insight about Lorne, while Tina Fey acted like she didn’t really know him at all. But the most fascinating exchange was watching an intimate dinner between Michaels and friend Steve Martin.

    My one critique is I do wish Neville had interviewed more of the earlier cast members, as there seemed to be a focus on only cast members from the last 25 years. Where was Chevy Chase and Bill Murray? Where was Dana Carvey and Adam Sandler? What about Will Ferrell? But this may just be a result of who was available and not by design.

    Final Thoughts

    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville's documentary 'Lorne', a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.
    Lorne Michaels stars in director Morgan Neville’s documentary ‘Lorne’, a Focus Features release. Credit: Courtesy of Focus Features. © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

    ‘Lorne’ is a brilliant documentary that delivers a rare look at an almost mythic figure in popular culture and gives true insight without damaging the myth. At the same time, for fans of ‘Saturday Night Live’ or comedy in general, the movie is a must see that really dissects how the series became an institution and why it is still going strong after fifty years.

    ‘Lorne’ receives a score of 90 out of 100.

    'Lorne' opens in theaters on April 17th.
    ‘Lorne’ opens in theaters on April 17th.

    What is the story of ‘Lorne’?

    ‘Lorne’ is an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers.

    Who appears in ‘Lorne’?

    • Lorne Michaels as Himself
    • Tina Fey as Herself
    • Maya Rudolph as Herself
    • John Mulaney as Himself
    • Andy Samberg as Himself
    • Bill Hader as Himself
    • Fred Armisen as Himself
    • Conan O’Brien as Himself
    • Chris Rock as Himself
    • Jimmy Fallon as Himself
    • Seth Meyers as Himself
    • Kristen Wiig as Herself
    • Mike Myers as Himself
    • Steve Martin as Himself
    • Paul Simon as Himself
    'Lorne' director Morgan Neville.
    ‘Lorne’ director Morgan Neville.

    List of Morgan Neville Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Lorne’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Morgan Neville Movies on Amazon

     

  • Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney and Sienna Miller join ‘Madden’

    (Left) Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) in Marvel Television's 'Agatha All Along', exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2024 Marvel. (Center) John Mulaney at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix. (Right) Sienna Miller as Frances Kittredge in New Line Cinema's Western drama 'Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1', a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Richard Foreman. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    (Left) Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) in Marvel Television’s ‘Agatha All Along’, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2024 Marvel. (Center) John Mulaney at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix. (Right) Sienna Miller as Frances Kittredge in New Line Cinema’s Western drama ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’, a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Richard Foreman. Copyright: © 2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    Preview:

    • Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney and Sienna Miller are the latest recruits for ‘Madden.’
    • David O. Russell wrote the script and will direct.
    • Nicolas Cage is playing the football icon.

    We learned in August last year that Nicolas Cage would be making an unusual move for him, and stepping up to play NFL coaching (and TV/video game) legend John Madden for a new movie from ‘American Hustle’s David O. Russell.

    And, as seems typical with Russell’s projects, he’s now gathered a starry ensemble to support Cage in the film.

    Per Deadline, Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney and Sienna Miller are the latest additions to the movie.

    And the site’s story confirms word from reporter Jeff Sneider that Christian Bale, a perennial Russell performer, is also aboard the movie.

    Related Article: Nicolas Cage Playing Football and Broadcasting Icon John Madden in ‘Madden’

    What’s the story of ‘Madden’?

    John Madden. Photo: NFL.com.
    John Madden. Photo: NFL.com.

    With a script by Russell (based on earlier work from Cambron Clark), the exact details of what ‘Madden’ will cover remain a little indistinct at the moment.

    But there is certainly a lot to choose from. Madden was a star player in high school, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958, only for injury to curtail his rookie season.

    Instead, he went on to earn a degree in teaching and put his skills/experience to good use as a coach, going on to lead the Oakland Raiders to the Super Bowl and a win in 1977.

    Madden became known as one of the best coaches in the sport’s history, but his all-consuming passion and commitment wore on him, and he retired for health reasons.

    Still, a hugely successful second chapter dawned as courted by the fledgling gaming company Electronic Arts to be the front man for its Madden NFL multi-player video game. Madden had never played a video game, but it turned into an outlet where he could lend his knowledge and help the masses better understand the gridiron.

    The game has long been a sensation –– even with its inspiration dying in 2021, it continues to this day as a favorite of players and fans.

    And beyond even that, Madden also became famous as a beloved commentator on the game he loved so much, his enthusiasm pouring from the screen, and his habit of scribbling on the screen making him a firm favorite among viewers.

    Who are the new recruits playing?

    John Mulaney in 'John Mulaney: Baby J' Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney in ‘John Mulaney: Baby J’ Photo: Netflix.

    Bale is playing late Raiders owner Al Davis, while Mulaney has the role of Trip Hawkins, who founded EA Sports and was a driving force in behind the Madden NFL video games.

    Hahn will be Madden’s wife, Virginia; and Miller is on board to be Davis’ wife, Carol.

    With the casting process in full swing, Russell is preparing to start shooting next month in Atlanta.

    ‘Madden’: David O. Russell talks Nicolas Cage

    David O. Russell on the set of 'American Hustle'. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing/Francois Duhamel
    David O. Russell on the set of ‘American Hustle’. Courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing/Francois Duhamel. Copyright: © 2013 Annapurna Productions LLC All Rights Reserved.

    Here’s what Russell said about the casting news in a statement:

    “Nicolas Cage, one of our greatest and most original actors, will portray the best of the American spirit of originality, fun, and determination in which anything is possible as beloved national legend John Madden. Together with the ferocious style, focus, and inspired individualism of Al Davis, owner of the underdog Oakland Raiders, the feature will be about the joy, humanity and genius that was John Madden in a wildly inventive, cool world of the 1970s.”

    Russell himself is something of a controversial figure, his successful directing career also marked by criticisms of his attitude to women and other groups. He’s also been known for his mercurial behavior on set, infamously clashing with George Clooney on ‘Three Kings’ and Lily Tomlin on ‘I Heart Huckabees‘.

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    Bale, of course, clearly has no such issues, since he has worked with the director several times before, on ‘Amsterdam,’ ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Fighter,’ which won him his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

    Where else have we seen Kathryn Hahn, John Mulaney and Sienna Miller?

    (L to R) Kathryn Hahn and Chase Sui Wonders in 'The Studio,' premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Kathryn Hahn and Chase Sui Wonders in ‘The Studio,’ premiering March 26, 2025 on Apple TV+.

    Hahn has been busy lately with Disney+ and Marvel series ‘Agatha All Along,’ which has played well since it premiered in the fall. She can also be seen in the Apple TV+ series ‘The Studio,’ which has been a success for that streaming service.

    On the movie front, she lent her voice to animated canine comedy ‘Fixed,’ directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, which has been in limbo until it was picked up by Netflix for release in August.

    Mulaney, meanwhile, has been spending his time on Netflix talk show ‘Everyone’s Live with John Mulaney,’ and he’ll be back as Spider-Ham for ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse,’ though that won’t be on screens until 2027.

    He’s also a voice (and a producer) on animated coming-of-age comedy series ‘Big Mouth‘, which launches its final season on Netflix on May 23rd. ‘Madden’ marks one of his rare forays into bigger movie roles.

    As for Miller, she was most recently seen in Kevin Costner’s Western ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ and assuming the second part moseys its way to theaters after the box office stumble of the first, she’ll be back in her role as Frances Kittredge.

    Coming up, she’s back as Cathy Ryan for the ‘Jack Ryan’ movie, based on the John Krasinski-starring series that has been shooting and will likely be in theaters next year.

    When will the new David O. Russell/Nicolas Cage movie ‘Madden’ be in theaters?

    Amazon/MGM Studios is backing the drama, but it has yet to schedule a release date.

    Nicolas Cage presents a nominee for Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    Nicolas Cage presents a nominee for Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 96th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    List of Football Movies:

    Buy Nicolas Cage Movies On Amazon

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  • Next on Netflix 2025 Live-Action Film and TV Presentation

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    Preview:

    • Moviefone attends Netflix’s 2025 film and TV preview.
    • Appearing in-person were Ben Affleck, Tina Fey, John Mulaney, and The Duffer Brothers.
    • Guillermo del Toro sent a video message and a first look at ‘Frankenstein’.
    • Netflix announced several new movies and TV shows, as well as their release dates.
    (L to R) Ben Affleck, CM Punk, Tina Fey, Netflix's Bela Bajaria, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Rhea Ripley and John Mulaney at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Ben Affleck, CM Punk, Tina Fey, Netflix’s Bela Bajaria, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Rhea Ripley and John Mulaney at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    On Wednesday January 29th, in Hollywood, Netflix held their 2025 Next on Netflix film and TV Preview where they presented many of their upcoming movies and TV series.

    The event included in-person presentations from Ben Affleck (‘RIP‘), Tina Fey (‘The Four Seasons‘), John Mulaney (‘Everybody’s Live in L.A. with John Mulaney’), The Duffer Brothers (‘Stranger Things‘), and director Guillermo del Toro, who sent a video message and a sneak peak of ‘Frankenstein‘, as well as many other announcements and first look photos and footage from movies like ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ and ‘Happy Gilmore 2‘.

    Adam Sandler in 'Happy Gilmore 2'. Photo: Netflix.
    Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’. Photo: Netflix.

    Moviefone had the pleasure of attending the event, along with other members of the press.

    Related Article: Next on Netflix Animation Preview Announces Upcoming Movies and TV Shows

    What did Netflix Announce?

    Eddie Murphy in the documentary 'Eddie'. Photo: Netflix.
    Eddie Murphy in the documentary ‘Eddie’. Photo: Netflix.

    There were several announcements made including a creative partnership with Lena Dunham, the previously untiled Noah Baumbach film and Eddie Murphy documentary now have titles, ‘Jay Kelly‘ and ‘Eddie’, respectively, and several first look photos and footage.

    You can read the full list below:

    Announcements:

    • Creative partnership forged with Lena Dunham
    • TUDUM the global fan event will live stream on Netflix on May 31 from the Kia Forum, in LA

    New Title Announcements:

    • Tyler Perry’s ‘Madea’s Destination Wedding’ (Film) and ‘Tyler Perry’s She The People’ (Series)
    • ‘Eddie’ (Documentary Film)

    Previously Untitled Film:

    Additional Date/Timing Announcements:

    • ‘Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney’ (Live Series) – Weekly on Netflix starting March 12th
    • ‘Adolescence’ (Series) – On Netflix March 13
    • ‘Nonnas’ (Film) – On Netflix May 9
    • ‘Ginny & Georgia’ S3 (Series) – On Netflix June 5
    • ‘The Old Guard 2’ (Film) – On Netflix July 2
    • ‘Havoc’ (Film) – On Netflix Spring 2025
    • ‘Fear Street: Prom Queen’ (Film) – On Netflix Summer 2025
    • ‘Frankenstein’ (Film) – On Netflix November 2025
    • ‘A Merry Little Ex-Christmas’ (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
    • ‘Jay Kelly’ (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
    • ‘RIP’ (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
    • ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
    • ‘Untitled Kathryn Bigelow Movie’ (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
    • ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ (Film) – On Netflix Fall 2025
    Daniel Craig in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’. Photo: Netflix.
    Daniel Craig in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’. Photo: Netflix.

    Netflix Movies:

    ‘RIP’

    Ben Affleck at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    Ben Affleck at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    After a sizzle reel of upcoming movies, which included The Russo Brothers‘ ‘The Electric State‘, Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Gilmore 2’, and Rian Johnson‘s ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’, Oscar winner Ben Affleck took the stage to discuss his new crime thriller ‘RIP’.

    Set in Miami and based on true events, the film re-teams Affleck with his ‘Air‘ co-star Matt Damon, and his ‘Smokin’ Aces‘ director Joe Carnahan. Affleck explained that a “RIP” is when cops keep the money that they find at a crime scene and the movie looks at what people will do for money.

    (L to R) Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Ben Affleck as Det Sergeant JD Byrne in 'RIP'. Cr. Claire Folger/Netflix © 2024.
    (L to R) Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars and Ben Affleck as Det Sergeant JD Byrne in ‘RIP’. Cr. Claire Folger/Netflix © 2024.

    “When I talked to Joe Carnahan, who directed it, he said this is going to be like ‘Heat’ meets ‘Training Day’. So, I said, “Kind of like ‘The Town‘?” But he really outdid himself and it’s spectacular. He co-wrote it; he directed it and he really wanted to make this a genre classic like ‘Se7en’ or ‘The French Connection’. A fun, engaging ride that keeps you guessing. It’s a compelling, complicated human drama that also hues to these elements of cinema that people have loved forever.”

    Affleck also discussed his continued collaborations with Damon.

    “It’s the seventh movie that Matt Damon and my company, Artists Equity, has made and it really is, in a lot of ways, the most important for us because we’ve found some really exciting partners who are really interested in not just what has been but what could be at Netflix.”

    Affleck concluded by showing a brief scene from the movie that involved Affleck and Damon’s cop characters discovering millions of dollars’ worth of hidden cash during a bust and must decide how to proceed.

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    ‘Frankenstein’

    Oscar Isaacs in 'Frankenstein'. Photo: Netflix.
    Oscar Isaacs in ‘Frankenstein’. Photo: Netflix.

    While Oscar winning director Guillermo del Toro was unable to attend, he did send a video message shot at his “mancave” in Los Angeles called Bleak House. The director introduced footage from his upcoming film ‘Frankenstein’ and was fittingly surrounded by his vast collection of Frankenstein memorabilia.

    Guillermo Del Toro had this to say before screening the footage:

    “I wanted to introduce a small taste, a teaser, for my film ‘Frankenstein’. This film has been on my mind since I was a child, for fifty years. I’ve been trying to make it for 20-25 years. In fact, some people may even think I am a little bit obsessed with Frankenstein. They probably would be right. You see, over the decades, the character has fused with my soul in a way that it has become an autobiography. It doesn’t get more personal than this. I hope you enjoy this small look at ‘Frankenstein’.”

    The footage included several scenes, and we were given our first look at Oscar Isaac as Dr. Frankenstein and Jacob Elordi as the monster.

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    New Netflix TV Series:

    ‘The Four Seasons’

    Tina Fey at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    Tina Fey at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    Tina Fey was on hand to present a short scene from her new series ‘The Four Seasons’, which is an adaption of the 1981 film starring Alan Alda and the actress confessed her love for the original.

    “In 1981, when I was eleven years old, I saw a movie that really shaped my idea of what my future, grown-up life could be like. It was written and directed by the great Alan Alda, and it’s called ‘The Four Seasons’. If you’ve never seen the original movie, it has a very simple premise. It follows a group of old friends, three couples, over four vacations. We never see them at home. We never see them at work, we just see how their lives change over a year by hanging out with them on vacation.”

    Fey explained that she had received Alda’s permission to adapt the film and then talked about the cast that she assembled for the new series.

    “All that was left to do was to assemble a cast of beloved comedy actors that could create the same warm, human vibe of the original. I’m proud to say our cast is very cozy. They’re not just my old friends, they’re yours as well. Steve Carell, Will Forte, me, Kerri Kinney-Silver, the beautiful Italian actor Marco Calvani, Broadway’s Erika Henningsen and Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo.”

    We then screened a short scene from the series featuring Fey, Will Forte and Steve Carrell.

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    ‘Everybody’s Live in L.A. with John Mulaney’

    John Mulaney at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    John Mulaney at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    During last year’s Netflix is a Joke Festival, comedian John Mulaney hosted a weeklong talk show titled ‘Everybody’s in L.A. with John Mulaney‘. The series was so popular that Netflix is bringing it back starting March 12th with a new episode dropping once a week for 12 consecutive weeks.

    Mulaney explained how the new series came together.

    “So, Netflix and I discussed this summer not being done with the show and I was thrilled to do that. It was a total blast, and it was one of those shows that neither Netflix nor I really needed to do. I never wanted to host a talk show and they were getting out of the talk show game. So, it was the perfect moment to do this.”

    Mulaney’s sidekick on the series is veteran character actor Richard Kind, and the host explained how that came to be.

    “Richard Kind will be joining me again for this series. Richard and I met through a real-life ‘Baby Reindeer’ scenario. He kept showing up where I worked, and I decided to incorporate him into my life.”

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    Other New Shows

    (L to R) McKinley Belcher III as Carl Otieno, Mozhan Navabi as Melissa Kornblau, Robert De Niro as George Mullen, Jesse Plemons as Roger Carlson and Connie Britton as Valerie Whitesell in 'Zero Day'. Photo: Courtesy of Jojo Whilden/Netflix © 2024.
    (L to R) McKinley Belcher III as Carl Otieno, Mozhan Navabi as Melissa Kornblau, Robert De Niro as George Mullen, Jesse Plemons as Roger Carlson and Connie Britton as Valerie Whitesell in ‘Zero Day’. Photo: Courtesy of Jojo Whilden/Netflix © 2024.

    ‘Zero Day’ stars Robert De Niro as a former US President, alongside Angela Bassett, Joan Allen and Jesse Plemons.

    The audience screened a brief scene from the new series that saw De Niro’s character brutally interrogating a suspected terrorist. We were also given a glimpse of Angela Bassett, who appears to play the current President.

    Also coming in 2025 is ‘Black Rabbit’, which stars Jason Bateman and Jude Law as estranged brothers. The audience screened footage from the series, which sees Law’s character thriving as a bar owner, only to have his brother’s (Bateman) return send his perfect life spinning out of control.

    Returning Netflix TV Series

    ‘Squid Game’ Season 3

    Netflix's Bela Bajaria at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    Netflix’s Bela Bajaria at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    Netflix announced the long-awaited season 3 of ‘Squid Games’ will premiere June 27th. In addition to new photos, the audience also screened a scene from the upcoming season that involved a game where contestants pick a ball out of a machine that is either blue or red. Once you have collected your ball, the contestants are separated into two different groups, but they don’t know why.

    Lee Byung-hun as Front man in 'Squid Game' season 3. Photo: Netflix.
    Lee Byung-hun as Front man in ‘Squid Game’ season 3. Photo: Netflix.

    ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5

    (L to R) Directors Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Directors Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

    Finally, after screening some behind-the-scenes footage from the making of season 5 of ‘Stranger Things’, creators Matt and Ross Duffer took to the stage to discuss the upcoming final season of the groundbreaking series.

    Ross Duffer: “That was the world’s very first behind-the-scenes look at the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. We spent a full year filming this season. By the end, we’d captured over 650 hours of footage. So, this is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. It’s like eight blockbuster movies. It’s insane.”

    Matt Duffer: “At the same time, we think it’s our most personal story. It was super intense and emotional to film for us and for our actors. We’ve been making this show together for almost ten years. There was a lot of crying. There was so much crying. The show means so much to all of us, and everyone put their hearts and souls into it. We hope and believe that passion will translate to the screen.”

    But ‘Stranger Things’ fans should not be too sad that the series is ending, as Matt Duffer did hint at a possible future for the franchise.

    “But while this might be the end of the story for Mike, Hopper, Dustin, Lucas, Eleven, and the others, it’s not goodbye for ‘Stranger Things’. There are many more stories to tell.”

    (L to R) Ross Duffer, Ben Affleck and Matt Duffer at Netflix's Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.
    (L to R) Ross Duffer, Ben Affleck and Matt Duffer at Netflix’s Next on Netflix event. Photo: Netflix.

  • Conan O’Brien to Host the 97th Oscars

    Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Oscar ceremony. Photo: Team Coco.
    Conan O’Brien will host the 2025 Oscar ceremony. Photo: Team Coco.

    Preview:

    • Conan O’Brien will host next year’s Oscars ceremony.
    • The announcement comes after a lengthy search.
    • O’Brien has experience with shows such as ‘The Simpsons’ and his own late night output.

    Each year –– aside from when a previous host such as Jimmy Kimmel agrees to return –– there is the seemingly long slog for the team behind the Academy Awards in finding a suitable host for the televised ceremony of handing out trophies to some of the best movies and performances of the past year.

    Now we finally know who has the job: Conan O’Brien, a man who is best known for his comedy career, his relatively short-lived stint in primetime late-night TV and his resurgence after that.

    Conan began his late-night hosting career in 1993, taking over for David Letterman on NBC’s ‘Late Night.’ After an ill-fated, year-long tenure at ‘The Tonight Show’ after replacing Jay Leno in 2009, O’Brien later moved to TBS for ‘Conan,’ which he hosted from 2011 to 2021.

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    In recent years, he transitioned from anchoring a late night talk show to hosting a hit podcast, ‘Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,’ and presiding over a podcasting empire under the banner of Team Coco.

    A former writer on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘The Simpsons,’ he has garnered 31 Emmy nominations, five of which resulted in wins.

    He’s an interesting choice –– certainly a proven talent in both writing and performing, but perhaps not as well-known as some previous hosts. Still, his job will be to make some initial jokes and keep the ceremony moving and we’re fascinated to see what he comes up with.

    Related Article: Oscars 2024: Ryan Gosling Sings, Emma Stone Surprises, and John Cena Naked

    Who else was considered for this year’s Oscar ceremony?

    Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman attend the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios' 'Deadpool & Wolverine' at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024.
    (L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman attend the UK Fan Event of Marvel Studios’ ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ at Eventim Apollo, London on July 11th, 2024. Photo by StillMoving.Net for The Walt Disney Company Limited.

    While the search for a new host is private, there are always leaks and speculation about who might take the stage, following a legacy that has included the likes of Kimmel, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Lewis, Hugh Jackman and Bob Hope.

    This year, while Kimmel was offered the chance to return, he turned it down, and comedian John Mulaney also reportedly passed on the job. There was also talk of Jackman coming back, this time alongside ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ co-star/pal Ryan Reynolds, but that has not worked out.

    AcaConan O’Brien as Oscars host: Conan and the Producers Speak

    Conan O’Brien in 'Conan. Photo: TBS.
    Conan O’Brien in ‘Conan. Photo: TBS.

    In his own, inimitable, self-deprecating style, O’Brien had this to say about the choice:

    “America demanded it and now it’s happening: Taco Bell’s new Cheesy Chalupa Supreme. In other news, I’m hosting the Oscars.”

    Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang were more straightforward in their own press release:

    “We are thrilled and honored to have the incomparable Conan O’Brien host the Oscars this year. He is the perfect person to help lead our global celebration of film with his brilliant humor, his love of movies, and his live TV expertise. His remarkable ability to connect with audiences will bring viewers together to do what the Oscars do best –– honor the spectacular films and filmmakers of this year.”

    Disney Television Group President Craig Erwich had this to say:

    “Conan is a preeminent comedic voice, whose decades-long success is marked by his distinctive humor and perspective. He joins an iconic roster of comedy greats who have served in this role, and we are so lucky to have him center stage for the Oscars.”

    Finally, this was the comment from Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan:

    “Conan has all the qualities of a great Oscars host –– he is incredibly witty, charismatic and funny and has proven himself to be a master of live event television. We are so looking forward to working with him to deliver a fresh, exciting and celebratory show for Hollywood’s biggest night.”

    When will the 97th Oscars be on TV?

    The 97th Academy Awards are set to air live on ABC on March 2nd next year, starting at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

    The 2025 Oscar ceremony will take place on March 2nd. Photo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
    The 2025 Oscar ceremony will take place on March 2nd. Photo: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

    List of Conan O’Brien Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Conan O’Brien Movies On Amazon

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  • Movie Review: ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    Debuting in theaters on December 21st, ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ reunites audiences with the dashing, daring feline hero who got his start in the ‘Shrek’ movies to humorous effect.

    With 12 years between ‘Puss in Boots’ entries, you might be forgiven for thinking that DreamWorks Animation had decided to close the door on movies based on its ‘Shrek’ universe altogether, outside of occasional straight-to-streaming spin-offs.

    Yet here comes Puss, riding back with a full theatrical release and leaving hints that we’ll be revisiting the wider ‘Shrek’-verse before too long.

    Judged on its own merits, however, ‘The Last Wish’ is a worthy, funny follow-up to the 2011 movie, which gives a little extra depth to the charismatic hero, who has little time for rules or regulations.

    Puss in Boots
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    A quick burst of exposition catches us up with what Puss (Antonio Banderas, on enthusiastic vocal form as always) has been up to and provides a handy sketch for those who have not watched one of his appearances before.

    Which is all to say: Puss has been being Puss––drinking lots of milk, pulling off daring feats, annoying local authorities and hosting raucous parties (the initial scene features a combination of all three).

    But after his latest scrape, he realizes that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll: Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives. An early highlight is a flashback clip showing how the others were lost, the character falling afoul of canons, weightlifting accidents, and falls from great heights.

    Worried that he’s on borrowed time, he initially decides to retire, heading for Mama Luna’s (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), a home for stray cats. Initially rebellious, he soon falls into a routine of eating with the others and using the litter tray like a regular moggy.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    A chance encounter with thieves who come looking for something at the house reveals the existence of the titular last wish––a star that could help him restore his spent lives. And along for the quest will be his former flame, Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) and new friend/annoyance Perro (Harvey Guillén), a pug who longs to find his place in the world and who had been hiding out at Mama Luna’s disguised as a cat.

    Puss isn’t the only one looking for the star, though. He and his friends will have to stay one step ahead of Goldi (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family, and Jack Horner (John Mulaney), a rich, spoiled brat who is constantly trying to shake his reputation as “Little” Jack Horner.

    Plus, Puss is being pursued by a mysterious bounty hunter, the Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura), who appears to be more supernatural than your usual tracker. Could this be death on Puss’ trail given his lack of lives?

    ‘The Last Wish’ certainly stands as a solid sequel to ‘Puss in Boots’, and boasts an attractive, imaginative animation style that, like ‘The Bad Guys’ before it, owes a debt to ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ for its blend of techniques that give the movie a painterly quality and the feeling of anime at different points.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish' opens in theaters on December 21st.
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures.

    It’s certainly a shift from the standard look of the previous movie and other ‘Shrek’ entries, and makes for a frenetic, yet clear visual palette. If the teams behind these films are going to keep experimenting and finding new ways to present these movies, it’s something to be encouraged.

    Story-wise, this remains your basic quest mixed with pop culture references (though the latter side has been toned down some). Wacky villains are brought to life by a fine cast of voices beyond those we’ve already listed, including Olivia Colman as Mama Bear and Ray Winstone as Papa Bear.

    Banderas is still the beating, comical heart of the film, but combined with the updated animation, Puss really does seem to have a new life in this story. He’s always been one of the more entertaining characters from this fairy tale-spoofing cinematic universe (and deserving of spin-off films), and ‘The Last Wish’ earns its place in the canon.

    Hayek, meanwhile, is still a delight as Kitty, every bit Puss’ equal on the action front and even more cunning when the moment calls for it. And though some of the others don’t get as much to do (Colman, Winstone and Samson Kayo as the bears are rarely handled the best material, though Mulaney’s vocal style makes Jack work on a level he might not otherwise), this is more visually dynamic than vocal.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures

    The nods to classic stories are smart and feed into the plot, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado, along with writers Tommy Swerdlow and Paul Fisher keeping the whole affair light on its feet (as is befitting a crafty cat). And the jokes come thick and fast––if some don’t land, another is on the way to make up for it a few seconds later. It’s fast and fun.

    And yes, there are of course callbacks to past Puss stories, including the deployment of nuclear-level cute faces from both Puss and Kitty (Perro trying his own with, let’s charitably call them, “mixed” results).

    It’s never going to challenge the minutely crafted likes of ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ or ‘Marcel the Shell with Shoes On’, but it’s far from a pumped-out moneymaking exercise. But unlike ‘Pinocchio’ it features little––aside, perhaps from a couple of moments with the wolf––likely to traumatize the youngest in the audience.

    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ receives 3.5 out of 5 stars.

    'Puss in Boots: The Last Wish'
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ opens in theaters on December 21st. © Universal Pictures
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  • New Trailer for ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’

    Puss in Boots
    Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ directed by Joel Crawford.

    Our first look at the latest ‘Shrek’ fantasy universe spin-off – a new adventure for swashbuckling feline hero Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) – arrived via the first trailer back in March.

    Now here’s the second trailer, which fills in a few more details.

    The story of ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ is a relatively simple one: Puss, the crusading, heroic, flamboyant hero/musician is still happy to pull off daring feats and strum a few catchy tunes. But all his adventuring has started to catch up with him. After an unfortunate run-in with a falling bell during his latest gig – in both senses of the word, since he was playing music and battling a giant – leads to him losing his eighth life, he begins to realize that he only has one left.

    Yet while on-again-off-again girlfriend Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek) tries to convince him – using all her cute-face superpowers that outrank his own – that having one life to live makes it even more special, Puss is not ready to admit defeat, and he heads out to find a way to get more life before death.

    In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided — against their better judgment — by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perro (Harvey Guillén). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears Crime Family (Ray Winstone’s gravelly tones are behind Papa Bear), “Big” Jack Horner (John Mulaney) and terrifying bounty hunter, The Big Bad Wolf (Wagner Moura).

    The cast also includes Samson Kayo, Anthony Mendez, and Olivia Colman.

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    In this latest trailer, we also see where Puss is advised to head when he first learns of his conundrum – a quieter, “safer” life with Mama Luna (voiced by Da’Vine Joy Randolph), who has quite the collection of felines already (none of which are particularly happy to see the new arrival).

    An existence of filthy litter boxes, knitted booties, and a new name (Pickles) would seem to beckon, but while Pus tries to make the best of it, his past catches up with him.

    Mama Luna’s is also where he meets Perro, who, it turns out is a therapy dog. Oh, and unless we’re mistaken, that’s former DreamWorks staff member (and ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ co-director) Bob Persichetti popping up as the “Ohhh Cat” among Mama Luna’s feline charges.

    The animation style appears to be slightly shifted away from the original movie’s look – there’s a more painterly feel to it, more along the lines of DreamWorks’ recent ‘The Bad Guys’.

    Joel Crawford, who directed ‘The Croods 2: A New Age’ is behind the new ‘toon, working alongside Januel Mercado, who also worked on the prehistoric sequel, with a script from Paul Fisher.

    And the movie also marks a small point of DreamWorks history – it’s the first sequel derived from a spin-off movie.

    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.

    Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas)
    Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,’ directed by Joel Crawford.
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.
    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.
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  • Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman and Harvey Guillén join ‘Puss in Boots’ Sequel

    Puss in Boots, Kitty Soft Paws and Perro
    (L to R) Kitty Soft Paws (Salma Hayek), Perro (Harvey Guillén), Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss In Boots: The Last Wish’.

    We’ve known for a while that Antonio Banderas will be bringing his vocal stylings once more to the charismatic, sword-swinging feline for DreamWorks Animation sequel ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’. News arrives today that Salma Hayek will be back as Kitty Softpaws, while a host of new casting has also been announced.

    Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Harvey Guillén, Wagner Moura, Ray Winstone, John Mulaney, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Anthony Mendez and Samson Kayo are all now part of the team for this next outing, according to Deadline.

    The story for the new movie is set two months after the events of the first film, when Puss discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: He has burned through eight of his nine lives, leaving him with only one left. He sets out on an epic journey to find the mystical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

    So far, the only person with a named character on that list of new voices is ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ Guillén, who is playing Perro, a scruffy dog that is friends with our heroes. And Hayek’s Softpaws, of course, will be back as Puss’ great love, albeit one who keeps him on his toes. Well.. toe beans?

    Puss as a character was introduced back in 2004’s ‘Shrek 2’, where he quickly became an audience favorite. His eponymous spin-off movie, however, didn’t appear until 2011 and the road to a sequel has taken even longer.

    Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots
    Antonio Banderas in DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Puss In Boots.’

    Chatter about a potential follow-up first started in 2012, when Guillermo del Toro (who was consulting as a producer for the DreamWorks team) announced that one was in the early stages. Banderas followed that up in 2014, saying in April of that year that work had already begun.

    DreamWorks went on to announce the title – ‘Puss in Boots: Nine Lives and Forty Thieves’ in June 2014, setting a November 2018 release date. A mere two months later, the warning signs began as it was delayed to December 2018.

    Fast-forward to January 2015, and the sequel was yanked from the schedules amidst corporate and creative restructuring before Banderas was back in March talking about script re-writes.

    Finally, in 2021, the movie re-emerged properly with its new title and a release date set for this year. There had been talk during its earlier development that Mike Myers might show up as Shrek, whose own franchise is still somewhat up in the air. Despite plenty of stories about a potential fifth film, and possibly a reboot, nothing concrete has emerged yet.

    Joel Crawford, who directed ‘The Croods 2: A New Age’ will direct this one, alongside Januel Mercado, who also worked on the prehistoric sequel. And the movie also makes a small point of DreamWorks history – it’s the first sequel derived from a spin-off movie.

    ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ will be in theaters on September 23.

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  • 2019 Oscars Reveal More Presenters, Including ‘Black Panther’ Stars

    2019 Oscars Reveal More Presenters, Including ‘Black Panther’ Stars

    Marvel Studios

    The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is desperately trying to win back some public goodwill, after a disastrous few weeks of poor decision-making surrounding the Oscars telecast. And one way it’s hoping to mend some fences is by inviting a bunch of awesome people to serve as presenters at the ceremony.

    This week, the Academy revealed another round of stars who will hand out awards at the Oscars, which will air without a host for the first time in 30 years. It remains to be seen how that choice will affect the broadcast, but at least the banter between presenters should be pretty solid, if this lineup is any indication.

    The latest batch of presenters is:

    Elsie Fisher, Danai Gurira, Brian Tyree Henry, Michael B. Jordan, Michael Keaton, Helen Mirren, John Mulaney, Tyler Perry, Pharrell Williams, Krysten Ritter, Paul Rudd, and Michelle Yeoh.

    They join the previously announced group from round one:

    Awkwafina, Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Brie Larson, Jennifer Lopez, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Amandla Stenberg, Charlize Theron, Tessa Thompson, and Constance Wu.

    The group from round two:

    Javier Bardem, Angela Bassett, Chadwick Boseman, Emilia Clarke, Laura Dern, Samuel L. Jackson, Stephan James, Keegan-Michael Key, KiKi Layne, James McAvoy, Melissa McCarthy, Jason Momoa and Sarah Paulson.

    And the previously snubbed — but thankfully finally invited — acting winners from last year:

    Allison Janney, Frances McDormand, Gary Oldman, and Sam Rockwell.

    The 91st Annual Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 24. The show airs live on ABC.

    [via: Oscars.org]

  • ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Review: This Is Unlike Any Spider-Man Movie You Have Ever Seen

    ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Review: This Is Unlike Any Spider-Man Movie You Have Ever Seen

    Sony

    “Into the Spider-Verse” is unlike any “Spider-Man” movie or almost any superhero movie you’ve ever seen.

    Rendered like a four-color comic book and featuring spectacle that unfolds like the most abstract and boldest splash pages you’ve ever seen, and produced by “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” and “The LEGO Movie” filmmakers Phil Lord and Chris Miller, their latest feels like a celebration — and perhaps overdue reminder — of all of the things that made them such an refreshing, inventive presence to both animated and live-action filmmaking.

    Bolstered by voice performances from a uniquely eclectic cast against a backdrop that defies description (and may possibly induce a few seizures), “Spider-Verse” offers a welcome new chapter that intersects and beautifully expands the series — and cinematic mythology — of existing Spider-films.

    Shameik Moore plays Miles Morales, a mild-mannered teen reluctantly shuttled to a new high school for academically gifted teens after demonstrating an exceptional aptitude for science and math. His dad Jefferson (Bryan Tyree Henry), a police officer, doesn’t know quite how to connect with him, choosing rigid discipline over gentle encouragement. But Miles ne’er-do-well uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali) encourages his artistic impulses, even when they manifest themselves through graffiti and decidedly less legally suitable means of expression. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, Miles unexpectedly develops superhuman abilities, which he fails roundly to control, much less understand. But after his universe’s Spider-Man dies trying to save New York from Kingpin (Liev Schreiber), Miles decides to take up the hero’s alter ego and finish the task that he failed to complete.

    What Miles soon learns, however, is that Kingpin’s mysterious plan has brought multiple universes crashing together — including multiple versions of the superhero whose shoes he aspires to fill. There’s Spider-Man (Jake Johnson), a dumpy unmotivated divorcee; Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), a spunky teenage musician; Spider-Noir (Nic Cage), a hard-boiled detective; Peni Parker (Kimiko Glenn), a Japanese orphan with a mech-suit possessed by her father’s spirit; and Spider-Ham (John Mulaney), a spider who was bit by a radioactive pig.

    As Kingpin gets closer to achieving his fiendish goals, this unexpected and unwitting team of Spider-People reluctantly decide to team up to stop him before his device unlocks their parallel universes, crashing them down upon one another and destroying reality as everyone in each of them knows it.

    Sony

    “Spider-Verse” feels like it takes place inside a comic book — so much so, in fact, that the colors and shading of the artist’s pens feel like a part of each character’s personality. But writers Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman do more than pay homage to the storytellers and artists who brought their own unique spin to on generation of Spider-Man comics after another: They deconstruct the very nature of continuity, of multiple universes and storylines that create the cinematic continuities we slavishly examine as moviegoers and fans. There are no fewer than six different origin stories, one for each universe’s Spider-Man, and they’re all different only by a matter of degrees. These speak to the universality not only of the character’s journey, but to the elements that motivate their choices as heroes. That the movie acknowledges this openly only further enriches its smart, sophisticated look at timelines and connective tissue between not just various Spider-People but heroes in general — it’s that sameness that we recognize and which resonates when their stories hit individual speed bumps.

    At the same time, there’s a very specific and unique story at the heart of “Spider-Verse” between Miles, his father, and eventually, his uncle Aaron, two viewpoints that don’t seem equally appealing to a rule-breaking teenager, but he doesn’t yet recognize want the same things for him. He’s thrilled by the prospect of becoming a superhero, and recognizes the responsibility he’s inherited; but from whom does he learn how to use his powers? He soon discovers that it takes a village — a village of Spider-People, no less — as well as the values instilled by his family, and eventually, his own innate goodness and altruism. This reflexively gets rediscovered by some of his Spider-counterparts, in particular Johnson’s middle-aged Spider-Man, whose failed marriage and loneliness led him away from the sense of simple do-gooding that made him such an effective and beloved hero.

    All of this adds up to much more than a conventional comic book movie. Though it’s aimed at kids, the complexity of “Spider-Verse’s” world-building makes it enormously appealing to grown-up fans of superheroes, especially those familiar with even a few of the variations that pop up. The film’s animated format — which seems like the best way to describe it, given its live-action adjacent mythology, which references almost all of the Spider-films that preceded it — creates a canvas that not only afford the filmmakers unique visual opportunities, but virtually reimagines the language used for Spider-Man himself. That two different Spider-Men can have a discussion down one side of a building and up the adjacent one, filmed vertically, and have it not only make sense but communicate details about each’s abilities and personality —  is no small artistic triumph.

    But what eventually works best (and resonates most) about this superhero story is its deepest message –namely, that in the right circumstances, anyone could be Spider-Man. Though it sounds superficial, in a cinematic world where heroes are black, white, Asian, female, young, old and yes, even porcine, there’s something powerfully empowering about seeing them achieve on their own, and work together towards a common goal.

    That’s what makes “Into the Spider-Verse” so special — it recognizes that with great power comes great responsibility, and the filmmakers are able to wield both with sensitivity and precision.