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Tag: joseph-quinn

Ringo Starr Says Barry Keoghan will Play Him in New Beatles Biopic(s)
(Left) Barry Keoghan in ‘Masters of the Air,’ premiering January 26, 2024 on Apple TV+. (Right) Ringo Starr in ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. Photo: United Artists.

Preview:
- Ringo Starr says Barry Keoghan will play him for director Sam Mendes’ ambitious multi-biopic plan
- He’ll make one film about each member’s time in the iconic band.
- Apple Corps and the band have granted full life rights.
Back in February, news first broke that Sam Mendes, the director behind movies such as ‘American Beauty,’ ‘Skyfall’ and most recently ‘Empire of Light’ had hatched an ambitious plan to make a biopic of legendary music group The Beatles.

In fact, his idea was not to simply make one about the Liverpool-based supergroup whose music has dominated corners of the public consciousness for years, but four –– one each for members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison, their stories intertwining to produce a fuller picture of their rise to pop and rock stardom in the 1960s.

Naturally, there has been feverish speculation about which rising stars or establish actors might be cast to play the four Beatles (not to mention those who were in the group before they hit it big and any appropriate partners etc.)

Nothing has been officially announced yet, though now we have Ringo Starr saying he’s heard that ‘Saltburn’ and ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’s Barry Keoghan is in line to play him.

Here’s what Starr told Entertainment Tonight about the potential casting:

“I think it’s great. I believe he’s somewhere taking drum lessons, and I hope not too many.”

Yep, Ringo’s got jokes.

What’s the plan for Sam Mendes’ Beatles films?

(L to R) George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and John Lennon in ‘The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years.’

With the backing of Sony Pictures Classics –– not to mention being granted full life story and music rights by Beatles holding company Apple Corps Ltd. (no, not the company behind the Mac), surviving members McCartney and Starr and the families of deceased colleagues Lennon and Harrison –– Mendes will make four different biopics, covering each Beatles’ experiences during the band’s rise to massive popularity.

A strict time period for what the movies will cover has yet to be announced.

Here’s what Mendes had to say about the project:

“I’m honored to be telling the story of the greatest rock band of all time, and excited to challenge the notion of what constitutes a trip to the movies.”

And this is the statement from Mendes’ Neal Street Productions partner Pippa Harris:

“We intend this to be a uniquely thrilling, and epic cinematic experience: four films, told from four different perspectives which tell a single story about the most celebrated band of all time. To have The Beatles’ and Apple Corps’ blessing to do this is an immense privilege. From our first meeting with [Sony execs] Tom Rothman and Elizabeth Gabler, it was clear that they shared both our passion and ambition for this project, and we can’t think of a more perfect home than Sony Pictures.”

Related Article: Sam Mendes Has Ambitious Plans For A Biopic About Each of The Beatles

Who else has been rumored for Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

At this point, we can only imagine the size of the casting net Mendes and his producers have been throwing for the project, not to mention the clamoring of agents to get their clients either a meeting or an audition.

As for the other main Beatles, the rumors so far have swirled around ‘Gladiator II’s Paul Mescal circling the role of Paul McCartney, ‘The Iron Claw’s Harris Dickinson linked to John Lennon, and Mescal’s fellow ‘Gladiator II’ actor Joseph Quinn (who will also be appearing in next year’s ‘Fantastic Four’ movie for Marvel) to portray George Harrison.

Essentially, it’s been a who’s who of who’s hot. Mendes, of course, will make his choice in due time (assuming he hasn’t already) and we’ll have to wait for a big announcement to see who actually ends up on screen.

Mendes’ movies will be highly anticipated, and not just for the scope of their ambition –– you need to find a way to stand out in the music biopic business; just look at the upcoming film on the life of Robbie Williams, which sees the pop star brought to life as a CG ape.

The Beatles, of course, are on a whole other level.

And interest in them continues to be high –– we’ve only just seen the latest documentary about the group, ‘Beatles ‘64’, which blends previously-shown footage with some new interviews.
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When will Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics hit theaters?

(L to R) Olivia Colman and Sam Mendes on set of the film ‘Empire of the Light.’ Photo by Parisa Taghizadeh, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

Given the scope of the movies, the current aim is to have the movies in theaters by 2027, with the plan for their release dates still to be announced. Will we see them release a month apart? Spread out across the years? It’s too early to tell.

But here’s what Sony chief Tom Rothman told The Hollywood Reporter about his plans:

“You have to match the boldness of the idea with a bold release strategy. There hasn’t been an enterprise like this before, and you can’t think about it in traditional releasing terms.”

(L to R) Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon in ‘The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert.’

Other Movies Similar to The Beatles Biopic:
- ‘Sid and Nancy‘ (1986)
- ‘The Doors‘ (1991)
- ‘Ray‘ (2004)
- ‘Walk the Line‘ (2005)
- ‘I’m Not There‘ (2007)
- ‘Control‘ (2007)
- ‘Nowhere Boy‘ (2010)
- ‘The Runaways‘ (2010)
- ‘Get on Up‘ (2014)
- ‘Love & Mercy‘ (2015)
- ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘The Dirt‘ (2019)
- ‘Elvis‘ (2022)
- ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody‘ (2022)
- ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story‘ (2022)
- ‘Bob Marley: One Love‘ (2024)
- ‘Back to Black‘ (2024)
- ‘A Complete Unknown‘ (2024)
Buy Sam Mendes Movies on Amazon
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December 5, 2024
Movie Review: ‘Gladiator II’
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Opening in theaters on November 22nd, ‘Gladiator II’ marks Ridley Scott’s long-awaited return to the political machinations and violence-filled arena of his 2000 hit, which helped make Russell Crowe a star.

The new movie naturally doesn’t feature Crowe’s Maximus, but his legacy and imprint is all over the sequel much in the way that ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ called back to its own original film.

Related Article: Director Ridley Scott Says He has Ideas For a Third ‘Gladiator’ Movie

Will ‘Gladiator II’ Echo Through Eternity?

(L to R) Pedro Pascal plays General Acacius and Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

It was surprising that, given the cultural impact, box office success and Oscar success of the 2000 film, Paramount didn’t simply try to capitalize with a sequel. Part of that might be explained by Ridley Scott trying to find a good reason and the right story (after all, his main character, soldier-turned-gladiator Maximus, played by Russell Crowe –– spoiler alert –– dies at the end).

Scott has finally found something he’s happy with, setting the narrative 16 years after the events of the original, yet featuring plenty of links to that movie. In fact, there are some elements that are embedded as deeply as a trident in flesh.

It’s welcome that the director waited and made sure he was truly ready to return to this world and has rustled up an effective cast to carry on the legacy (a word that hangs heavy over this film) and can deploy even more spectacular moments in the arena.

Script and Direction

(L to R) Pedro Pascal, Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Following a long process of development, with a lot of writers trying their hand at a new screenplay, the director has worked with David Scarpa, who scripted previous movies such as ‘Napoleon’ and ‘All the Money in the World’ for Scott. With a story credit for Peter Craig, the new screenplay is robust and meaty, full of political maneuvering and the sort of big speeches about honor and victory that you might expect from a ‘Gladiator’ movie.

Does it lean a little too heavily on the first film at times, whole sequences feeling like callbacks to it? Yes, but that doesn’t detract from the overall power of the new entry. There are the heroic central characters, sneery villains and one standout role that will have people talking.

Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

As for Scott’s direction, the 86-year-old filmmaker shows no sign of slowing down and invests the new movie will plenty of panache. In fact, this is one of his best films in years, balancing tone and battles far more assuredly than ‘Napoleon’ ever managed.

He and his team have also managed to conjure up some fine fights, making this the rare sequel that can stand alongside the original, while not quite reaching the same quality threshold.

‘Gladiator II’: Performances

Paul Mescal as Lucius

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Mescal, whose star has been rising fast on the back of performances in shows such as ‘Normal People’ and movies including ‘Aftersun’ and ‘All of Us Strangers’ is solid as Lucius –– the grown up version of the young character we met in the original.

He’s suitably fiery in the role, driven by rage and vengeance, but a measured leader of men much like Crowe, and indeed a very similar character. While Lucius is perhaps not as memorable as Maximus (partly because he’s a similar well-used heroic type), Mescal entirely convincing in the role and very able in the fight scenes.

Denzel Washington as Macrinus

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

If there is a standout in this film, it’s Washington, who steals every scene he so much as wanders into and eats scenery like it’s a fine steak dinner. Macrinus is an excellent fit for the actor, and between his superb outfits and wily attitude, he seems certain to be in consideration for a supporting actor Oscar this year.

Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla

Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Taking on the sneery ruler role (the original film’s version was Commodus, played by Joaquin Phoenix), Quinn and Hechinger make a great double act. Pasty-faced and cruel, they bring different shades to the twin emperors.

Quinn is, initially at least, the more ambitious of the pair, with little regard for the people. But it’s Hechinger who ends up making the bigger impact with his combo of Salacious Crumb-style cackles while watching gladiators fight and his monkey sidekick (another scene-stealer).

Connie Nielsen as Lucilla

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Nielsen reprises her role as Lucius’ mother, here given more depth since the grown version of her son is bitter and resentful since she packed him off to Africa years ago to protect him. She’s just as powerful in the role in the past, even if she also has to be as passive given her position in society.

Supporting cast

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Pedro Pascal does good work as Marcus Acacius, the general dispatched to conquer the city where Lucius is living, which brings them into each other’s orbit. There is more to him than the trailers and other publicity might suggest, and Pascal gives it his all.

And shout out to the supporting likes of Derek Jacobi (also reprising his senatorial role from the original) and Peter Mensah as the leader of the city where Lucius has been living and a commander in its army.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Scott has certainly put a lot of work into the new ‘Gladiator’ and though it occasionally falls short of his original film, with beats and the odd action scene that feel like “what if that bit from ‘Gladiator’ but with slightly different elements?” it’s still a great example of a legacy sequel.

Will you be entertained? Most certainly.

‘Gladiator II’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

‘Gladiator II’ continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist.

With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

Who stars in ‘Gladiator II?
- Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus
- Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius
- Connie Nielsen as Lucilla
- Denzel Washington as Macrinus
- Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta
- Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla
- Derek Jacobi as Senator Gracchus
- Tim McInnerny as Thraex
- Alexander Karim as Ravi
- Rory McCann as Tegula
- Alec Utgoff as Darius
- Yuval Gonen as Arishat
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies and TV Shows Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Ben-Hur‘ (1969)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘Rome‘ (2005 – 2007)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘Ben-Hur‘ (2016)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
- ‘Those About to Die‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Gladiator II’ Movie Showtimes

Buy ‘Gladiator’ Movies On Amazon
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November 11, 2024
Ridley Scott Says Ideas for ‘Gladiator III’ are in the Works
(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- ‘Gladiator II’ director Ridley Scott says he has ideas for a third.
- There are no concrete plans just yet.
- The ‘Gladiator’ sequel launches in theaters in November.
Even though ‘Gladiator II’, the much-buzzed about sequel to his 2000 epic ‘Gladiator’ is still two months away from release, director Ridley Scott is saying that he’s already throwing around ideas for a third movie, one he intends to wrap up the story as a trilogy.

And according to the filmmaker, he’s got some interesting inspiration…

Related Article: ‘Gladiator II’: Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal Feature in First Images

What has happened with ‘Gladiator III’ so far?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

While a third ‘Gladiator’ movie is strictly at the discussion stage right now, Scott told France’s Premiere magazine that he’s considering ideas for it.

Here’s what Scott had to say:

“I’m already playing with the idea of ‘Gladiator III’ “No, seriously! I lit the fuse… The ending of ‘Gladiator II’ evokes that of ‘The Godfather,’ with Michael Corleone finding himself with a job he didn’t want and wondering, ‘And now, Father, What am I doing?’ So, the next film will be about a man who doesn’t want to be where he is.”

That concept points to a return for Paul Mescal, who plays main character Lucius (more on that below).

In a follow-up interview with the magazine, the actor admitted that he’d spoken to Scott about a potential next outing.

This is what Mescal had to say:

“Yes, Ridley spoke to me about it, but only yesterday! So I’m waiting to see what will happen, but it interests me, of course. But we must not rush anything: the story must hold together.”

Whether it interests Mescal or not is only part of the issue here; ‘Gladiator II’ is a big, expensive bet by Paramount (to the tune of, according to different reports, of between $200 and $300 million), so it will need to make some serious profit to trigger spending on another sequel.

But let’s be honest here, if any director can wrangle studios to his will, it’s Scott.

What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Scott’s sequel is set decades after the original film. Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) dispatched Lucius (who in adult form is played by ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’s Mescal) to the African region of Numidia, where he has grown up feeling resentful of his mother for sending him away.

Her reasons were to secure his safety –– Numidia is beyond the grasp of Rome. But as Lucius has raised his own family, his relatively safety is put under threat when Rome decides to invade Numidia.

Returned to his birthplace as a slave and then a gladiator, Lucius must confront his past and secure his future.

Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

The movie also features Pedro Pascal as Acacius, the Roman General who leads the assault on Numidia, and who ends up clashing with Lucius back in Rome –– oh, and he’s also in love with Lucilla.

Denzel Washington, who worked with Scott on ‘American Gangster’, is Macrinus, an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, including wine and oil and makes steel, spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. He is a very wealthy man who rides a golden chariot.

Then we have Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, two relatively young brothers who rule the crumbling Roman Empire and are described as damaged goods from birth, cruel and vain.
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When will ‘Gladiator II’ be in theaters?

‘Gladiator II’ is scheduled for release on November 22nd.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
Buy Ridley Scott Movies On Amazon
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September 23, 2024
‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ Digital Release Interview
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Available to purchase on digital June 30th and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, DVD, and in a collectible 4K Ultra HD SteelBook on October 8th is the box office hit ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ which is a prequel to John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place’ and was directed by Michael Sarnoski (‘Pig’).

The film stars Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o (‘Black Panther’), Joseph Quinn (‘Stranger Things’), Alex Wolff (‘Oppenheimer’), and reprising his role from ‘A Quiet Place Part II’, Djimon Hounsou.

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ writer and director Michael Sarnoski.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with writer and director Michael Sarnoski about his work on ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, taking on the franchise, the challenge of directing a movie with little to no dialogue, showing the aliens, Lupita Nyong’o’s performance, Sam and Eric’s friendship, Djimon Hounsou’s return, recreating and destroying New York City, and what it’s like to direct a cat.

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

(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Moviefone: To begin with, coming off the success of ‘Pig’, can you talk about taking on a big franchise like this and developing the screenplay based on a story you created with John Krasinski?

Michael Sarnoski: Initially, ‘Pig’ was well received. That was very exciting. It was a very small movie, it very much felt like a piece of my soul, and I think there was a part of me that was like, I don’t want to do the whole jump into a franchise studio project. I want to be very cautious about that. But then this came along. John had loved ‘Pig’ and he really was asking, “Hey, can you bring some of that ‘Pig’ feeling to the ‘Quiet Place’ universe?” He gave me just a lot of freedom to be like, “All we need is New York on day one. What characters do you want? What story do you want? Make this your own.” So, it just felt like a unique opportunity to play in this big sandbox but do it with my own voice. It was kind of scary to jump into something like that, but it seemed like a unique opportunity and something that I would really love. Thankfully, it really worked out and I count myself very lucky. But it was intimidating and exciting and all those things.

(L to R) Alex Wolff as “Reuben”, Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira”, Producer John Krasinski, and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: This is of course a prequel to the first two movies, but in release order is the third in the franchise. In the first movie, Krasinski was careful to not show the aliens too early in the film, but you show them in full very early in ‘Day One’. Did you feel like you had the freedom to do that because as an audience we already know what they look like from the other two movies?

MS: It was a balance that we were always talking about, because even with things like the rules and all of that, everyone knows all the rules already, so you need to show them a little bit, but if you suddenly make that a huge part of the story, it’s just going to be like, “We’ve seen all of this twice before.” So, finding that right balance of feeling like you’re seeing fresh stuff and your expanding things was important. We still tried to space out the aliens properly so that initially, you’re not seeing too much, and then it gradually as it builds and builds, you’re seeing more and more, and part of that comes with this scope of this New York invasion. This isn’t in the farmland with a couple of creatures wandering around. This is a hotbed of where the aliens landed, so you need to carry a heft of that. But we still tried to do it in ways that wasn’t too in your face. I liked this idea of these creature stampedes that just made the ground shake and you’re not as focused on specific things, it’s just these passing shadows. So, we tried to find ways to keep it exciting and keep it feeling like there was a progression to the reveals of these creatures, but you do still have to give a little more because of the scale and because of it being the third movie in the franchise. But it was just always something we were talking about and playing with.

Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: As a filmmaker, can you talk about the challenges of making a movie with little to no dialogue? Was it restraining or freeing in a sense?

MS: It’s a little bit of both. I love dialogue. I love a long dialogue scene where you really get to understand these characters and their nuances, but then at the same time, I think you rely on having really good actors like Joe and Lupita, but just watching these two people navigate silently together and their expressions also brings out a ton of stuff that in some ways, you wouldn’t be focused on as much in a more dialogue heavy movie. So, you’re just trading one tool for another. You do have to lean on your actors a lot more to be able to convey these characters and convey these moments, but I was lucky to have amazing actors.

(L to R) Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: Can you talk about centering the movie on the character of Sam, and what Lupita Nyong’o brought to the role?

MS: I think Lupita brings a lot to every role she does. She’s incredible. She’s extremely intelligent, she’s very thoughtful and is willing to dive in and talk about these characters and figure out what’s driving them, what their history is. All of the nuances of these characters, she spends a lot of time on, and I think Sam, on paper, she’s kind of prickly and standoffish and has separated herself from her past life, and to be able to play that character in a way that doesn’t alienate the audience but actually makes the audience lean in is really difficult, and she did an amazing job with that. You get that she’s got a chip on her shoulder, but it makes you care about her more, and you want to know more how this story is going to play out for her and how she’s going to develop. I think that just comes from creating a very full, realized character that she does so beautifully.

(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: Can you also talk about Sam and Eric’s unusual friendship, and Lupita and Joseph Quinn’s onscreen chemistry?

MS: I think we really lucked out with both together because Joe’s wonderful, and I think there was something about it being such a silent film with not a lot of dialogue, that the two of them really had to lean in and engage with each other. So, they’re watching each other’s performances a lot. They really connected on a silent but beautiful level, and I think it made a dynamic that you just felt like these two people were really seeing each other and really trying to understand each other because that’s what they were doing on set every day. I think it came across on screen better than I could have hoped.

Djimon Hounsou as “Henri” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: Can you talk about the decision to bring back Djimon Hounsou’s Henri from ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ and flesh out that character’s backstory?

MS: He’s an incredible actor and he’s so easy and fun to work with, and so, A, I’m just happy I did that, but B, I liked the idea of in the second one, we see a glimpse into his stable society that he’s helped create, and I wanted to explore the difficult decisions that were made in order to get to that place and hint at this wasn’t all happy living on an island stuff. He must have made some really hard decisions to protect his family and to lead this group of people. So, I wanted to glimpse that, but then I also wanted to use that as a, okay, this is his story and he’s going to go off and live that story, and this is where Sam diverges from that. So, it’s also used as a foil to her personal journey, going to get pizza story, and he’s going to escape the island and try and survive in this apocalyptic world. So, I use it as something to just compare her story, so we understand, that’s not what she’s engaged with. He was wonderful.

Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: Can you talk about New York City as a character in the film?

MS: When I first got this project and when I was working on the script, I rented an apartment in New York for a month, just to steep myself in this place because I knew that that needed to be a part of it. This was a New York day one invasion movie, which we’ve seen a lot of, and I felt like if I was going to do it, I wanted to do it right with New York City. I think the thing I ended up landing on was exploring the different meanings of New York City to different characters, and for Sam, she’s someone that was raised here but then had to leave it behind. For Eric, he’s someone that came here with dreams. He’s the classic immigrant story to New York, and they all mean different things, but we all have this common understanding and cultural meaning of New York. So, I wanted that to just be felt so that we could all relate to that, but then also understand the kind of nuanced differences between each character’s relationship with the city. I just spent a lot of time wandering around New York, reading books about New York, and just thinking about what it meant to these characters. I think as a society, we have a very charged relationship with this city, and especially the idea of the destruction of this city. Without putting too fine a point on it, I wanted to tap into that so that people could feel like they were there with these characters, and they recognize these images and these ideas and these feelings.

Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

MF: Finally, how difficult is it directing a cat?

MS: It is impossible. You’re not directing a cat, you just are casting your wishes to the winds and hoping for the best. Once you get the hang of it, after a couple of weeks of shooting, then you know, okay, this is what the cat can do. This is what the animal trainers can help us with, and these are the things that we can aim for, and you adjust certain actions based on that. So, it’s like once you have an understanding with the cat and the trainers, then it becomes a lot easier. But I think that initial sniffing out period of like, okay, so he’s not going to want to do this action, and if we want him to do this, there’s going to have to be food involved or something like that, and then you just start figuring out creative compromises and solutions to all that stuff. So it wasn’t that hard. I think it’s telling that by the end of the movie, the cast and crew all adored Nico and Schnitzel who played Frodo, whereas if it had been a real pain, everyone would’ve been like, “Thank God Nico and Schnitzel aren’t on set anymore.” I think it really worked out wonderfully.
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What is the plot of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’?

On the first day of an invasion by aliens that hunt living things by sound, a woman dying of cancer (Lupita Nyong’o ) tries to make her way uptown in Manhattan while befriending a fellow survivor (Joseph Quinn) who’s lost and alone as the world crashes down around them.

Who is in the cast of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’?
- Lupita Nyong’o as Samira
- Joseph Quinn as Eric
- Alex Wolff as Reuben
- Djimon Hounsou as Henri
- Elaine Umuhire as Zena
(L to R) Director Michael Sarnoski and Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies in the ‘A Quiet Place’ Franchise:
- ‘A Quiet Place‘ (2018)
- ‘A Quiet Place Part II‘ (2021)
Buy ‘A Quiet Place’ Movies On Amazon
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July 31, 2024
Pedro Pascal Offers First Look at ‘Fantastic Four’ Cast
(L to R) Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach star in Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four’. Photo: Pedro Pascal’s Instagram Account.

Preview:
- Pedro Pascal gathered his ‘Fantastic Four’ co-stars for a first group pic.
- Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bacharach and Joseph Quinn squeezed into the image with him.
- ‘The Fantastic Four’ will be in theaters one year from today.
While most eyes might be on Marvel’s current effort, the meta-tastic, R-rated ‘Deadpool and Wolverine’ looking to score big at this weekend’s box office, there is at least some pointed towards the future, and specifically the company’s attempt to bring iconic “First Family” ‘The Fantastic Four‘ into its Cinematic Universe.

With production about starting now on the movie, we have the first image –– beyond the comic book-styled pic that served as Marvel’s big casting announcement –– of Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, as Pascal gathered them (not in costume, of course) for a group picture to mark the shoot’s kick-off.

Check it out…

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Who are the Fantastic Four?

Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing are key players in the pages of Marvel comics, and introduced in 1961. They are among most anticipated characters (alongside the X-Men) to be included in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe.

They’re canonically exposed to galactic radiation and end up cursed/blessed (depending on how you view it) with strange abilities. Reed can stretch his body in a variety of ways, Sue can turn invisible and generate forcefields, Johnny’s body becomes engulfed in flame (and he can fly), while Grimm becomes a rock-covered, incredibly strong creature.

And to be clear here, Pascal will be Reed, Kirby’s playing Sue, Quinn is taking the role of Johnny and Moss-Bachrach will be Ben.

They’ve been brought to screens before –– an unauthorized Roger Corman version floats around the internet after being traded on bootleg videos years ago, and then there were the Fox efforts, 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ and 2007 sequel ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’. They were followed by the dark, gritty and unsuccessful reboot in 2015.
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Who else is in ‘The Fantastic Four’?

Ralph Ineson as Father Brennan in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The First Omen’. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Alongside the leads, we will see Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal, a female version of The Silver Surfer, Ralph Ineson as powerful planet-gobbling being Galactus and Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich and Natasha Lyonne in unspecified roles.

Related Article: John Malkovich and ‘The Witch’s Ralph Ineson Join Marvel’s “Fantastic Four’

Who is making ‘The Fantastic Four’?

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman. Photo: Apple TV+.

Matt Shakman, one of the key directors on ‘WandaVision’, is overseeing the new film.

This one has been in development for a long time now, with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer among those who have worked on drafts of the script. ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ co-writer Josh Friedman is crafting the latest version.

We don’t yet know the story, but the first image and more recent comments from Marvel boss have pointed to them initially existing in a variant universe, and in the past.

Here’s what Kevin Feige said on the Official Marvel Podcast:

“There was another piece of art we released with Johnny Storm flying in the air making a ‘4’ symbol and there was a cityscape in the corner of that image. There were a lot of smart people who noticed that that cityscape didn’t look exactly like the New York that we know, or the New York that existed in the ‘60s in our world. Those are smart observations, I’ll say.”

When will ‘Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?

Disney and Marvel have planted a flag in July 25th, 2025, for ‘The Fantastic Four’, so it’s a good thing filming is now finally underway.

Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

List of ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1967 – 1968)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1978)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1994 – 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
Buy ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies on Amazon
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July 25, 2024
First Images from Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- The first pictures from ‘Gladiator II’ are online.
- Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Connie Nielsen are among the cast.
- Ridley Scott directed the sequel to his 2000 epic.
Though we’ve gotten used to legacy sequels landing years, sometimes decades after the original movie (Netflix’s ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ is one recent example), it’s less common for the original director to return 24 years later. But few directors are as driven or influential as Ridley Scott, who at 86 is still making giant movies at an impressive rate.

And that brings us to ‘Gladiator II’, which follows up the swords and sandals epic of 2000. While the original starred Russell Crowe as Maximus, a general who is betrayed by a scheming emperor’s son (Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus) when the ruler favors Maximus as his heir.

Maximus ends up a gladiator in the arena, fighting for his life. A fateful showdown with Commodus sees both men dead by the end of the movie.

Yet writer David Scarpa and Scott have found a way to continue the story through Commodus’ sister Lucilla (with Connie Nielsen reprising her role) and her son Lucius.
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What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Scott’s sequel is set decades after the original film. Lucilla dispatched Lucius (who in adult form is played by ‘Normal People’ and ‘Aftersun’s Paul Mescal) to the African region of Numidia, where he has grown up feeling resentful of his mother for sending him away.

Her reasons were to secure his safety –– Numidia is beyond the grasp of Rome. But as Lucius has raised his own family, his safety is put under threat when Rome decides to invade Numidia.

Returned to his birthplace as a slave and then a gladiator, Lucius must confront his past and secure his future.

Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’?

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

The movie also features Pedro Pascal as Acacius, the Roman General who leads the assault on Numidia, and who ends up clashing with Lucius back in Rome –– oh, and he’s also in love with Lucilla.

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Denzel Washington, who worked with Scott on ‘American Gangster’, is Macrinus, an arms dealer who supplies food for the armies in Europe, including wine and oil and makes steel, spears, weapons, cannons, and catapults. He is a very wealthy man who rides a golden chariot.

Fred Hechinger plays Emperor Caracalla in Gladiator II from Paramount Pictures.

Then we have Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla and Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, two relatively young brothers who rule the crumbling Roman Empire and are described as damaged goods from birth, cruel and vain.

Related Article: Pedro Pascal is Ridley Scott’s Latest Recruit for the ‘Gladiator’ Sequel

‘Gladiator II’: Paul Mescal talks the story

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Here’s what Mescal told Vanity Fair about the themes of the movie:

“What human beings will do to survive, but also what human beings will do to win. We see that in the arena, but also in the political struggle that’s going on outside of my character’s storyline, where you see there’s other characters striving and pulling for power. Where’s the space for humanity? Where’s the space for love, familial connection? And ultimately, will those things overcome this kind of greed and power? Those things are oftentimes directly in conflict with each other.”

‘Gladiator II’: Connie Nielsen on reuniting with Ridley Scott

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Nielsen enthused about the director:

“Ridley’s process tends to be extremely collaborative. “He is extremely open to suggestions and ideas, which is what makes him a dream director in that way. He hears you, he sees you, and I, for one, come up every morning with my list of ideas that I run by him. He will go, ‘Yes, interesting…okay.…no, that’s way too much.…yep.’ I know that I’ll get some things through. And then there are things where he follows his instinct about the movie that he’s wanting to make.”

When will ‘Gladiator II’ be in theaters?

Paramount will release the sequel on November 22nd.

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

(L to R) Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Alexander Karim plays Ravi in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

(L to R) Paul Mescal plays Lucius and Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
Buy Ridley Scott Movies On Amazon
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July 8, 2024
Movie Review: ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’
(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Opening in theaters June 28 is ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ directed by Michael Sarnoski and starring Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, and Djimon Hounsou.

Related Article: ‘Black Panther’s Lupita Nyong’o to Star in ‘A Quiet Place’ Spin-Off ‘Day One’

Initial Thoughts

Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Although ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ already documented the arrival of the first movie’s vicious aliens via opening flashbacks, this prequel makes the choice to tell more or less the same story again, only on a bigger canvas. ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ is set in New York City, as opposed to the quiet rural town of John Krasinski’s first two films, giving new director and writer Michael Sarnoski a much wider field to play on.

Sarnoski made a bracing debut in 2021 with ‘Pig,’ an affecting study of loss and love hiding within a crime thriller, anchored by a brilliant Nicolas Cage performance. Although he’s thrust into blockbuster territory with ‘Day One,’ the movie’s quieter moments are what work best, providing brief moments of human empathy amidst the otherwise familiar mechanics of the alien invasion we’ve seen in the two previous ‘A Quiet Place’ entries.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” and Director Michael Sarnoski in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Opening on a bird’s-eye view of New York City (with a title card telling us that the city constantly generates 90 decibels of noise), Sarnoski zeroes in on Samira (Lupita Nyong’o), a bitter young woman ravaged by cancer and living out her last days in a hospice. Her caregiver, Reuben (Alex Wolff), encourages her to come with him and the other patients into Manhattan to see a show – but boy did they pick the wrong day, even if Samira is enticed by the promise of pizza and being allowed to bring her faithful cat, Frodo (get it, Sam and Frodo?) along with her.

Not long after the show – and in case the jet fighters that buzzed the city earlier and the helicopters whizzing overhead at this point didn’t tip it off enough — the sky is suddenly full of meteorites streaking down to Earth, carrying our hideous extraterrestrial pals from the first two films, who can’t see for beans but track everything – including the scores of hapless humans they pick off within minutes of landing – by sound.

As everything on the streets goes to hell, the group bus is caught in an explosion. Samira stumbles out, covered in chalk-white dust – filmmakers are still reaching back for that 9/11 imagery, some 23 years later – and watching in horror as people around her are picked off one by one. Another explosion sends her through a storefront and knocks her out. She wakes up sometime later, back in the theater with other survivors that include Frodo, Reuben, and a man named Henri – played by Djimon Hounsou in what is essentially an origin story for the character he played in ‘A Quiet Place Part II.’

Sam and Frodo eventually leave the theater, with Sam still determined to get to Harlem for pizza at a place called Patsy’s. Why she thinks that Patsy’s will be open and serving as New York City crumbles into smoking ruins is one of the more inexplicable aspects of the narrative here. Along the way, she comes across a young Englishman named Eric (Joseph Quinn, soon to be seen as the Human Torch in ‘The Fantastic Four’), who’s prone to panic attacks and doesn’t want to be alone, so Sam grudgingly lets him accompany her.

(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

The burgeoning friendship between Sam and Eric is probably the best part of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One,’ with Nyong’o and Quinn doing a lot of the heavy lifting to make one feel something for two otherwise thinly written characters. All we know about Nyong’o is that she has cancer, is a poet, and wants pizza; we know even less about her companion, but the longish second act does allow their relationship to breathe a bit.

That’s where this movie works: in developing a relationship where there was none before. After all, the first two movies were about a family; the dynamics and love were already there. If ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ is good at one thing, it’s showing us that unimaginable tragedy and horror can bring total strangers together to help each other as well.

The rest of the movie – that is, the action sequences between the Sam/Eric stuff – is on rinse/repeat cycle: monsters attack, everyone gets quiet, someone accidentally makes a noise, monsters attack again. Refreshingly, we’re not given a whole lot of exposition again about how the creatures operate via sound alone; on the other hand, everyone seems to learn this rather quickly. Also, where exactly do eight million people in New York City go in the space of a day? What is the government response other than a few helicopters flying overhead and knocking out the bridges? And why does Frodo the cat – who arguably steals the movie – never meow or hiss once?

The Cast

(L to R) Joseph Quinn as “Eric” and Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Lupita Nyong’o is a transformational actor. She looks totally different here from her turn in the ‘Black Panther’ movies, which look just as different from her work in ’12 Years a Slave.’ As mentioned above, Sam is not a particularly well-fleshed-out character when we meet her, but Nyong’o has a way of bringing out pain, warmth, and humanity all at the same time.

Joseph Quinn is not quite on her level, but he’s equally empathetic and often humorous – a young man who’s totally lost and alone in a different way than Sam. He’s afraid, and he almost gives into panic, but he is able to muster himself up and even make good decisions along the way. We haven’t seen his work as Eddie Munson on ‘Stranger Things,’ but we’re convinced Quinn will be a terrific Johnny Storm (as long as he gets the American accent down).

That’s pretty much it – Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou get very little to do (Hounsou setting up a movie that’s already three years old aside), so this is largely a two-hander for most of its running time. Thankfully, Nyong’o and Quinn are up to the task.

Final Thoughts

Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

We went into this with low expectations: first, because it’s a prequel and they are always problematic from a narrative point of view, and second, because we weren’t big fans of the two popular previous ‘A Quiet Place’ entries to begin with. But we liked ‘Day One’ a hell of a lot more than ‘Part II,’ if only because our main characters here don’t make as many dumb mistakes, and we may even like it best of the three.

But familiarity also breeds contempt, and ‘Day One’ certainly does nothing to advance the mythology of the entire franchise, especially with regards to the aliens. Aside from one brief, puzzling scene in what looks like an alien garden, we learn nothing new about these creatures or their purpose here. Even with a few tense set pieces, the attacks and chases take on a numbing sameness.

Sarnoski benefits from excellent sound, and gets some decent mileage out of his sets (England’s Leavesden Studios, home of ‘Harry Potter,’ stands in for the streets of New York), but even the post-apocalyptic urban milieu seems commonplace now. ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ does succeed in putting some heart into what could have been a fully generic cash grab, and Sarnoski again shows that he knows how to work with major actors while also displaying the confidence to make a film on a larger scale. But the quietly poignant half-movie that Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn star in is much more interesting that the monster movie noisily wrapped around it.

‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ receives 6.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’?

On the first day of an invasion by aliens that hunt living things by sound, a woman dying of cancer (Lupita Nyong’o ) tries to make her way uptown in Manhattan while befriending a fellow survivor (Joseph Quinn) who’s lost and alone as the world crashes down around them.

Who is in the cast of ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’?
- Lupita Nyong’o as Samira
- Joseph Quinn as Eric
- Alex Wolff as Reuben
- Djimon Hounsou as Henri
- Elaine Umuhire as Zena
Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures.

Other Movies in the ‘A Quiet Place’ Franchise:
- ‘A Quiet Place‘ (2018)
- ‘A Quiet Place Part II‘ (2021)
Buy ‘A Quiet Place’ Movies On Amazon
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June 27, 2024
Natasha Lyonne Joins ‘The Fantastic Four’
(Left) Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock. (Right) Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

Preview:
- Natasha Lyonne is the latest addition to ‘The Fantastic Four’.
- Her character is a mystery for now.
- The movie will be out in July 2025.
We’re always glad to see Natasha Lyonne show up in a movie or TV series –– her particular brand of crackly-voiced sarcasm usually helps make whatever it is better.

Marvel clearly feels that way, as according to Deadline, Lyonne is now joining ‘The Fantastic Four’, the company’s big chance to add its First Family to its Cinematic Universe. And Lyonne seems to fit right in with an eclectic ensemble that is already raising eyebrows –– and expectations.
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What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four’?

Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

The movie, which finally see Marvel’s most famous comic book superheroes (though X-Men fans might argue that) join the company’s sprawling Cinematic Universe, is mostly being kept under wraps.

Marvel has not said anything about the story, though its first imagery suggests a period setting.

Who is starring in ‘Fantastic Four’?

(Left) Pedro Pascal as Maxwell “Max Lord” Lorenzano in ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’ Photo: Warner Bros. (Center Left) Vanessa Kirby at the Netflix Original Series world premiere of ‘The Crown.’ November 1st 2016. London UK. (Center Right) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Rochard “Richie” Jerimovich in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX. (Right) Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

The main title characters are being played by Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bacharach (Ben Grimm/The Thing).

In addition to Lyonne, the eclectic ensemble for this one includes British actor Ralph Ineson (as planet eating troublemaker Galactus), ‘Ozark’s Julia Garner (as a version of the Silver Surfer), Paul Walter Hauser and John Malkovich (both of whom are without confirmed characters at this point).

As for who Lyonne’s playing? That has also not yet been revealed. So take your own guess! A gender-swapped Wilhelmina Lumpkin? Voicing H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot? (Probably not). Whatever it turns out to be, we’re interested.

Related Article: John Malkovich and ‘The Witch’s Ralph Ineson Join Marvel’s “Fantastic Four’

Who is making ‘The Fantastic Four’?

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman.

Matt Shakman, who worked on ‘WandaVision’, is directing the film, working from a script that has seen contributions from Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. And ‘WandaVision’s Peter Cameron did some work once Shakman boarded the project, also.

Where else can I see Lyonne?

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock.

The actor has been busy of late, and not just performing. She co-created and starred in brain-twisting Netflix series ‘Russian Doll’ and, more recently, was a producer and star of crime series ‘Poker Face’, in which she played a woman blessed/cursed with the ability to know when people are lying to her and uses that to solve crimes.

While ‘Russian Doll’ appears to be in limbo, ‘Poker Face’ will return for a second season. In addition to the shows, Lyonne is lending her voice to the animated ‘The Smurfs Musical’ (due February 14th next year), and has a role in Taika Waititi’s new film, sci-fi drama ‘Klara and the Sun’.

When will ‘The Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?

Disney and Marvel are aiming to have the movie in theaters on July 25th, 2025.

Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

List of ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1967 – 1968)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1978)
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (1994 – 1996)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
Buy ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies on Amazon
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May 16, 2024
John Malkovich and Ralph Ineson Join ‘Fantastic Four’
(Left) John Malkovich in ‘Burn After Reading’. Photo: Focus Features. (Right) Ralph Ineson in ‘The Last Victim.’

Preview:
- ‘Fantastic Four’ has added actors John Malkovich and Ralph Ineson.
- Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bacharach are among the leads.
- The movie will be on screens in 2025.
As it starts to really fill out its cast –– Paul Walter Hauser was the most recent addition –– details on Marvel’s new cinematic plans for its First Family are starting to come into focus.

And with two new casting additions, we have one big new chunk of information about the movie.

The latest recruits? John Malkovich and Ralph Ineson.
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What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four’?

Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

The movie, which finally see Marvel’s most famous comic book superheroes (though X-Men fans might argue that) join the company’s sprawling Cinematic Universe, is mostly being kept under wraps.

Marvel has not said anything about the story, though its first imagery suggests a period setting.

Related Article: Paul Walter Hauser Joining the Cast of Marvel’s ‘Fantastic Four’

Who is starring in ‘Fantastic Four’?

(Left) Pedro Pascal as Maxwell “Max Lord” Lorenzano in ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’ Photo: Warner Bros. (Center Left) Vanessa Kirby at the Netflix Original Series world premiere of ‘The Crown.’ November 1st 2016. London UK. (Center Right) Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Rochard “Richie” Jerimovich in ‘The Bear.’ Photo: Courtesy of FX. (Right) Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson in ‘Stranger Things.’ Photo Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

The main title characters are being played by Pedro Pascal (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic), Vanessa Kirby (Sue Storm/Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn (Johnny Storm/Human Torch) and Ebon Moss-Bacharach (Ben Grimm/The Thing).

Hauser’s character is unknown for now, but we did learn that Julia Garner has joined the cast as Shalla-Bal, a version of Silver Surfer.

And that connects directly to Ineson’s casting, as he’ll play Galactus, one of the more powerful character in Marvel lore. While he isn’t always a clear-cut villain (he has in the past, worked with both the Four and the Avengers in the comics), the fact that he consumes whole planets and everything on them usually means that he’s bad news for any hero team he comes into contact with. The Surfer is usually the herald of Galactus who scouts worlds for his next meal.

Marvel Comics’ Galactus. Photo: Marvel Comics.

Whether Ineson will be heading into a voice booth or showing up on set in a performance capture suit a la Thanos actor Josh Brolin may depend on how the movie is portraying the character. He’s often visualized as a giant in a suit and a helmet, though movies have previously chosen to go the weird cloud of energy route.

Ineson is probably best known to genre fans for several projects –– a British actor who played the obnoxious Finchy on the original, UK ‘The Office’, he’s had some choice movies, including in Robert Eggers’ ‘The Witch’, David Lowery’s ‘The Green Knight’ and, more recently in ‘The Creator’ and ‘The First Omen’. He’s reunited with Eggers for ‘Nosferatu’, which will be in theaters on December 25th.

As for Malkovich, we don’t yet know who he’ll be playing.

Who is making ‘The Fantastic Four’?

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman. Photo: Apple TV+.

Matt Shakman, who worked on ‘WandaVision’, is directing the film, working from a script that has seen contributions from Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. And ‘WandaVision’s Peter Cameron did some work once Shakman boarded the project, also.

When will ‘The Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?

Disney and Marvel are aiming to have the movie in theaters on July 25th, 2025.

Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Fantastic Four:’
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
Buy ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies on Amazon
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May 10, 2024
Julia Garner to Play ‘The Fantastic Four’s Silver Surfer
(Left) Julia Garner as Anna Delvery in ‘Inventing Anna.’ Photo: David Giesbrecht/Netflix © 2021. (Right) Marvel Comics’ Shalla-Bal. Photo: Marvel Comics.

Preview:
- Julia Garner is the latest addition to Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’.
- She’ll play the enigmatic, powerful character in the superhero pic.
- The latest adaption of the famous comic book title will be on screens in July next year.
Now that Marvel has, after years of speculation, finally locked down its main cast for ‘The Fantastic Four’, the company is assembling the cast around them.

Joining ‘The Last of Us’/‘Mandalorian’ star Pedro Pascal, ‘The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby, ‘Stranger Things’ Joseph Quinn and ‘The Bear’s Ebon Moss-Bachrach will be Julia Garner, an Emmy winner for shows such as ‘Ozark’ and known for movies including ‘The Royal Hotel’ and ‘The Assistant’.
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Who are the Fantastic Four?

Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.

Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/The Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing are key players in the pages of Marvel, known as the “First Family”, and introduced in 1961. They are among most anticipated characters (alongside the X-Men) to be included in the sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe.

They’re canonically exposed to galactic radiation and end up cursed/blessed (depending on how you view it) with strange abilities. Reed can stretch his body in a variety of ways, Sue can turn invisible and generate forcefields, Johnny’s body becomes engulfed in flame (and he can fly), while Grimm becomes a rock-covered, incredibly strong creature.

And to be clear here, Pascal will be Reed, Kirby’s playing Sue, Quinn is taking the role of Johnny and Moss-Bachrach will be Ben.

They’ve been brought to screens before –– an unauthorized Roger Corman version floats around the internet after being traded on bootleg videos years ago, and then there were the Fox efforts, 2005’s ‘Fantastic Four’ and 2007 sequel ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer’. They were followed by the dark, gritty and unsuccessful reboot in 2015.

Who is the Silver Surfer?

Marvel Comics’ Silver Surfer. Photo: Marvel Comics.

Before anyone starts complaining that they thought the Surfer was a dude, cool your jets. And also remember that the expansive universe of comic books makes for many variations of characters.

Though the character has often been seen in its Norrin Radd form (the original Silver Surfer), there exists a woman named Shalla-Bal, who was his love interest that ended up taking on the mantle of the Surfer.

Either way, the character usually serves as the herald for the god-like, planet-consuming villain Galactus, so there’s a chance he/it could show up to threaten our heroes.

Related Article: Pedro Pascal, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and More Confirmed For ‘Fantastic Four’

Who is making the ‘Fantastic Four’ movie?

‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman. Photo: Apple TV+.

Matt Shakman, one of the key directors on ‘WandaVision’, is overseeing the new film.

This one has been in development for a long time now, with Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer among those who have worked on drafts of the script. ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ co-writer Josh Friedman is crafting the latest version.

When will ‘Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?

‘Fantastic Four’ currently has a release date of July 25th, 2025.

Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’

Other Movies Similar to ‘Fantastic Four:’
- ‘The Fantastic Four‘ (1994)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2005)
- ‘Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer‘ (2007)
- ‘Fantastic Four‘ (2015)
Buy ‘Fantastic Four’ Movies on Amazon
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April 4, 2024