In theaters on August 29th is ‘The Roses’, the new adaptation of Warren Adler’s 1981 novel about a married couple whose relationship descends into frustration, deception and all-out war.
Jay Roach and ‘The Favourite’s writer Tony McNamara go a different route for ‘The Roses’, which for much of its running time is a portrait of a seemingly blissful couple whose public façade hides simmering resentments, but is more cold war until it truly ignites in the third act.
McNamara has long shown a talent for writing believably toxic relationships with enough of a farcical edge to keep it all from being too brutal –– except when it needs to be. His screenplay for ‘The Roses’ is the perfect fodder for two British stars (American audiences may sometimes react the way their marriage counsellor does in the first scene, taken aback by the sheer comic vitriol on display) to trade barbs like consummate pros.
And Roach, who has blended comedy and drama to winning effect (but also knows how to make farce serve story), was a solid choice to make this, keeping out of the cast’s way and working with them to develop the dynamics in very funny, sharp ways.
While you do sometimes wonder whether the film would have been better set in the UK, the disconnect between the leads and their American friends/co-workers does add some spice to the story.
This one really works because of its firecracker central pair; Cumberbatch and Colman may not totally convince as a couple deep in the throes of love and family, but when it comes to subversive, scathing dialogue, they are experts.
As Cumberbatch’s character sees his professional architect career (and ego) crumble even as his wife’s chef ambitions flourish, they craft excellent performances, bouncing off one another.
There is a deep bench of comedy performers backing them up, but the standouts here are certainly Andy Samberg and Kate McKinnon as Amy and Barry, friends of the couple whose own marriage has seen better days. Credit also to Allison Janney, who pops up for one scene as Colman’s ruthless divorce lawyer, stealing every moment she’s on screen.
‘The Roses’ may be more a skirmish than a war, but it is also a reboot that justifies its existence with a very different type of caustic relationship clash and superlative performances from its leads.
It may not always be a feel-good movie, but that’s not the intent. And it’ll certainly make you laugh.
Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Ivy (Olivia Colman) and Theo (Benedict Cumberbatch): successful careers, a loving marriage, great kids.
But beneath the façade of their supposed ideal life, a storm is brewing –– as Theo’s career nosedives while Ivy’s own ambitions take off, a tinderbox of fierce competition and hidden resentment ignites.
It’s fair to say that the Marvel movies, specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe releases, have reached “cultural event” status. And there’s a strong case to be made that the MCU is a currently a pop culture juggernaut, the likes of which we haven’t since the original ‘Star Wars‘ trilogy hit theaters for the first time.
It is a great time to watch the Marvel movies in order now and you can watch them all on Disney Plus in 4K format. You can even plan virtual Marvel movie nights with your friends using Disney+ GroupWatch feature.
(L to R) Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
During World War II, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is a sickly man from Brooklyn who’s transformed into super-soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Rogers must stop the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) – Adolf Hitler’s ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of an organization that intends to use a mysterious device of untold powers for world domination.
The story follows Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races. Set in the 1990s, Captain Marvel is an all-new adventure from a previously unseen period in the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
After being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.
Scientist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) scours the planet for an antidote to the unbridled force of rage within him: the Hulk. But when the military masterminds who dream of exploiting his powers force him back to civilization, he finds himself coming face to face with a new, deadly foe.
With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the government, the press and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies.
Against his father Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) will, The Mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) – a powerful but arrogant warrior god – recklessly reignites an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
When an unexpected enemy emerges and threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins!
When Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.
Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos… but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.
(L to R) Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson in ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
After the cataclysmic events in New York with ‘The Avengers’, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), aka Captain America is living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie). However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.
Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser.
When Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are put to the ultimate test as the fate of the planet hangs in the balance. As the villainous Ultron (James Spader) emerges, it is up to The Avengers to stop him from enacting his terrible plans, and soon uneasy alliances and unexpected action pave the way for an epic and unique global adventure.
Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) must embrace his inner-hero and help his mentor, Doctor Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant-Man suit from a new generation of towering threats. Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Following the events of ‘Age of Ultron’, the collective governments of the world pass an act designed to regulate all superhuman activity. This polarizes opinion amongst the Avengers, causing two factions to side with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) or Captain America (Chris Evans), which causes an epic battle between former allies.
Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.
Following the events of ‘Captain America: Civil War’, Peter Parker (Tom Holland), with the help of his mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture (Michael Keaton), emerges.
Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’
King T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader. However, T’Challa soon finds that he is challenged for the throne by factions within his own country as well as without. Using powers reserved to Wakandan kings, T’Challa assumes the Black Panther mantle to join with ex-girlfriend Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), the queen-mother, his princess-kid sister, members of the Dora Milaje (the Wakandan ‘special forces’) and an American secret agent, to prevent Wakanda from being dragged into a world war.
After his career is destroyed, a brilliant but arrogant surgeon (Benedict Cumberbatch) gets a new lease on life when a sorcerer takes him under her wing and trains him to defend the world against evil.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett).
Just when his time under house arrest is about to end, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) once again puts his freedom at risk to help Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) dive into the quantum realm and try to accomplish, against time and any chance of success, a very dangerous rescue mission.
As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos (Josh Brolin). A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain.
After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War, the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos (Josh Brolin). With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe once and for all, no matter what consequences may be in store.
Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization and his father, Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung).
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest – Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.
Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home.’ Photo: Marvel Studios.
Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is unmasked and no longer able to separate his normal life from the high-stakes of being a super-hero. When he asks for help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) the stakes become even more dangerous, forcing him to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man. Teaming with other Multiverse Spider-Men (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield), they must now work together to take out the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), Electro (Jamie Foxx) and other Spider-Man villains from around the multiverse.
The Eternals are a team of ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. When an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows, they are forced to reunite against mankind’s most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.
After his retirement is interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods, Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg, and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who now wields Mjolnir as the Mighty Thor. Together they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher’s vengeance and stop him before it’s too late.
On a dark and somber night, a secret cabal of monster hunters emerge from the shadows and gather at the foreboding Bloodstone Temple following the death of their leader. In a strange and macabre memorial to the leader’s life, the attendees are thrust into a mysterious and deadly competition for a powerful relic—a hunt that will ultimately bring them face to face with a dangerous monster.
Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.
On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present. The special follows Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) as they set out to give Quill the best Christmas ever, after discovering that Yondu (Michael Rooker) ruined the holiday for him as a child.
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) , and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible and pits them against Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), aka Captain Marvel, has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol’s estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Together, this unlikely trio must team up and learn to work in concert to save the universe.
After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford), Sam (Anthony Mackie) finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, seven disillusioned castoffs must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
Against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel’s First Family is forced to balance their roles as heroes with the strength of their family bond, while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
Sharon Stone in ‘Basic Instinct’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
Preview:
‘Basic Instinct’ writer Joe Eszterhas is back to craft a reboot.
United Artists and Amazon MGM Studios have put together a new deal.
Star Sharon Stone could potentially return.
We’re seeing a rising trend of remakes and reboots as studios grab for titles from back catalogues that still have name recognition and look to dust them off for new movies and TV.
We can now add pulpy 1992 erotic serial killer thriller ‘Basic Instinct’ to the list.
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According to The Wrap, Scott Stuber’s United Artists banner and Amazon MGM Studios are cranking open their wallets for a hefty $4 billion deal for a reboot of the thriller that would include original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas back to write a new script.
(Lto R) Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas in ‘Basic Instinct’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
In the 1992 original, directed by Paul Verhoeven from Eszterhas’ script, former rock star and San Francisco nightclub owner Johnny Boz (Bill Cable) is found murdered in his bed. Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) is assigned to the case; he has a history of alcoholism and drug abuse although he is clean now.
The prime suspect is Catherine Tramell (Stone), an attractive and manipulative novelist who had been seeing Boz for a while. Police psychiatrist Beth Gardner (Jeanne Tripplehorn), who happens to be Nick’s ex-girlfriend, is brought in on the case when it is discovered that Boz’s murder was copied directly from one of Catherine’s novels. Nick starts to get too involved and everyone seems to be a suspect…
Eszterhas was paid a then-record $3 million for his spec script, at a time when such deals were more common.
The movie itself became a hit (earning $353 million globally), not least because of its infamous interrogation scene, where Trammell uncrosses and crosses her legs as power move, showing that she isn’t wearing underwear. Stone later said the footage was captured without her consent.
She still returned for a belated, much-maligned sequel, ‘Basic Instinct 2’ in 2006. And according to The Wrap, there’s a chance she’ll be back for the reboot in some capacity.
‘Basic Instinct’ reboot: Joe Eszterhas speaks
(Lto R) Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas in ‘Basic Instinct’. Photo: TriStar Pictures.
But it appears he’s back, offering up the following statement:
“To those who question what an 80-year-old man is doing writing a sexy, erotic thriller: the rumors of my cinematic impotence are exaggerated and ageist. I call my writing partner the TWISTED LITTLE MAN and he lives somewhere deep inside me. He was born 29 and he will die 29 and he tells me he is ‘sky high up’ to write this piece and provide viewers with a wild and orgasmic ride. That makes me very happy.”
The new movie is reportedly going to be “anti-woke”, which will be a surprise to anyone who has watched the decidedly non-“woke” original!
When will the new ‘Basic Instinct’ be on our screens?
Amazon MGM Studios has yet to say anything about the movie officially in development, let alone a release date.
Sharon Stone in 2006’s ‘Basic Instinct 2.’ Photo: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Jack Nicholson in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. Photo: United Artists.
Preview:
A ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ TV adaptation is in development.
It’ll focus on the character of the Chief from the 1975 Oscar winner.
Producer Paul Zaentz, one of the rights holders, is behind the new project.
There are always concerns when a spin-off of a classic movie is announced. Will it tarnish the legacy of the original? Will it go off in some random direction and end up far less entertaining than the movie from which it derives?
In the case of 1975’s multiple Oscar-winning drama ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’, there is plenty of reason to worry. But with the rights in the hands of producer Paul Zaentz –– nephew of ‘Cuckoo’ producer Saul Zaentz –– it appears the forward movement on a TV take on the story is proceeding with all due caution and respect.
What was the story of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’?
Jack Nicholson in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. Photo: United Artists.
The movie, directed by Milos Forman, was written by Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman, and adapted both Ken Kesey’s book and the play created from it by Dale Wasserman.
It follows a unruly convict Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), who is sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation in 1963 Oregon, and encourages his docile companions to take more control of their lives and defy the tyrannical head nurse.
Chief Bromden (played in the movie by Will Sampson) is the towering half-Native American patient who pretends to be deaf and mute. Over time, the antics of protagonist McMurphy coax him out of his disguise and he becomes a symbol of powerful resistance and emancipation. The book focuses more on Bromden.
Kesey famously didn’t like the film, feeling that it deviated too far from the source.
While he might not have approved of the adaptation, audiences and critics certainly did; it earned $109 million worldwide on a $3 million budget, and won five Academy Awards from eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor for Nicholson, Best Actress for Fletcher and Best Director for Forman.
What will the ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ TV series focus on?
(L to R) Will Sampson and Jack Nicholson in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. Photo: United Artists.
Here’s what Paul Zaentz told the podcast about the show:
“I’ve signed an agreement with Ken Kesey’s widow to develop a TV series which we’ll make through the point of view of the Chief for the first season. Following the first season, we’ll see what happens to the Chief after he escapes [from the psychiatric hospital].”
Beyond that, details are scarce on this one –– Zaentz has yet to reveal who might be writing the show, or whether he has a studio involved.
And it’s not the first time someone has approached him and the other rights holders about a remake or spin-off.
Michael Douglas, who was also among the producers on the original, told Deadline as part of a retrospective earlier this year, that the team has been careful in what they agree to:
“[Paul] has been very selective and I think that was the only time they’ve done one, which is good because so much gets remade these days…as for the series, it was ok, just ok. I wasn’t very much involved, to be honest.”
The “series” in question was 2020’s Ryan Murphy-produced Netflix series ‘Ratched,’ which charted the earlier days of the title character.
With Sarah Paulson in the lead, ‘Ratched’ is set in in 1947, when Mildred Ratched begins working as a nurse at a leading psychiatric hospital. But beneath her stylish exterior lurks a growing darkness.
The show received mixed-positive reviews but hasn’t progressed past its original season. Paul Zaentz was involved as a producer.
In the podcast interview, he’s clear that he doesn’t think that targeting classic movies for remakes in the traditional theatrical sense is worth it, but that TV can be a place for more nuance and character development, offering the chance to do something fresh.
When will the ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ TV series be on screens?
With no creative team, cast or even production company/network or streamer involved yet, it’s far too early to guess when this might arrive.
Still, Netflix –– which backed ‘Ratched’ and has also been behind TV adaptations of movies such as ‘Ripley’ –– might well be a leading candidate to take this on.
(L to R) Jack Nicholson and Will Sampson in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’. Photo: United Artists.
Steven Soderbergh is one of the most prolific and celebrated filmmakers of his generation.
The director’s breakthrough movie, 1989’s ‘sex, lies, and videotape‘, gave birth to the independent film movement of the 1990’s. Soderbergh would go on to helm such acclaimed films as ‘Out of Sight‘, ‘Erin Brockovich‘, and ‘Traffic‘, which earned him an Oscar for Best Director, before going on to make the popular ‘Ocean’s Eleven‘ and ‘Magic Mike‘ franchises.
Soderbergh has two movies releasing in 2025, the experimental supernatural film ‘Presence‘, which opened in theaters on January 24th, and the spy thriller ‘Black Bag‘, which stars Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett, and is scheduled for release on March 14th.
In honor of the upcoming release of ‘Black Bag’, Moviefone is counting down every film Steven Soderbergh has ever directed, including TV movies, documentaries, anthology films, and his latest.
Matt Damon in ‘The Informant!’. Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures.
A rising star at agri-industry giant Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon) suddenly turns whistleblower. Even as he exposes his company’s multi-national price-fixing conspiracy to the FBI, Whitacre envisions himself being hailed as a hero of the common man and handed a promotion.
From the first time he performed ‘Swimming to Cambodia‘ – the one-man account of his experience of making the 1984 film ‘The Killing Fields‘ – Spalding Gray made the art of the monologue his own. Drawing unstintingly on the most intimate aspects of his own life, his shows were vibrant, hilarious and moving. His death came tragically early, in 2004; this compilation of interview and performance footage nails his idiosyncratic and irreplaceable brilliance.
A celebrated author (Meryl Streep) takes a journey with some old friends to have some fun and heal old wounds. Her nephew (Lucas Hedges) comes along to wrangle the ladies and finds himself involved with a young literary agent (Gemma Chan).
A recovering gambling addict (Peter Gallagher) attempts to reconcile with his family and friends but finds trouble and temptation when caught between feelings for his ex-wife (Alison Elliott) and her dangerous hoodlum boyfriend (William Fichtner).
Mike Lane (Channing Tatum) takes to the stage again after a lengthy hiatus, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. For what he hopes will be one last hurrah, Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite (Salma Hayek Pinault) who lures him with an offer he can’t refuse… and an agenda all her own. With everything on the line, once Mike discovers what she truly has in mind, will he—and the roster of hot new dancers he’ll have to whip into shape—be able to pull it off?
The film documents, in an often dramatic and humorous fashion, Spalding Gray’s investigations into alternative medicine for an eye condition (Macular pucker) he had developed.
Based on the Depression-era bildungsroman memoir of writer A. E. Hotchner, the film follows the story of a boy (Jesse Bradford) struggling to survive on his own in a hotel in St. Louis after his mother is committed to a sanatorium with tuberculosis. His father, a German immigrant and traveling salesman working for the Hamilton Watch Company, is off on long trips from which the boy cannot be certain he will return.
Chelsea (Sasha Grey) is an in-demand call girl whose $2,000 an hour price tag allows her to live in New York’s lap of luxury. Besides her beauty and sexual skill, Chelsea offers her clients companionship and conversation, or, as she dubs it, “the girlfriend experience.” With her successful business and a devoted, live-in boyfriend, Chelsea thinks she has it made… until a new client rocks her world.
A tech worker (Zoë Kravitz) with agoraphobia discovers recorded evidence of a violent crime but is met with resistance when she tries to report it. Seeking justice, she must do the thing she fears the most: leave her apartment.
A three-part anthology film about love and sexuality: a menage-a-trois between a couple and a young woman on the coast of Tuscany; an advertising executive under enormous pressure at work, who, during visits to his psychiatrist, is pulled to delve into the possible reasons why his stress seems to manifest itself in a recurring erotic dream; and a story of unrequited love about a beautiful, 1960s high-end call girl in an impossible affair with her young tailor.
An American journalist (George Clooney) arrives in Berlin just after the end of World War Two. He becomes involved in a murder mystery surrounding a dead GI who washes up at a lakeside mansion during the Potsdam negotiations between the Allied powers. Soon his investigation connects with his search for his married pre-war German lover (Cate Blanchett).
After the Cuban Revolution, Che (Benicio del Toro) is at the height of his fame and power. Then he disappears, re-emerging incognito in Bolivia, where he organizes a small group of Cuban comrades and Bolivian recruits to start the great Latin American Revolution. Through this story, we come to understand how Che remains a symbol of idealism and heroism that lives in the hearts of people around the world.
When a widow (Meryl Streep) gets swindled out of insurance money, her search for answers leads to two cunning lawyers (Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas) in Panama who hide cash for the superrich.
André Holland in ‘High Flying Bird’. Photo: Netflix.
During an NBA lockout, a sports agent, Ray Burke (André Holland), presents his rookie client, Erick Scott (Melvin Gregg), with an intriguing and controversial business opportunity.
A woman (Rooney Mara) turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband’s (Channing Tatum) upcoming release from prison.
The Argentine, begins as Che (Benicio del Toro) and a band of Cuban exiles (led by Fidel Castro (Demián Bichir)) reach the Cuban shore from Mexico in 1956. Within two years, they mobilized popular support and an army and toppled the U.S.-friendly regime of dictator Fulgencio Batista.
Based on the autobiographical novel, the tempestuous 6-year relationship between Liberace (Michael Douglas) and his (much younger) lover, Scott Thorson (Matt Damon), is recounted.
A group of criminals are brought together under mysterious circumstances and have to work together to uncover what’s really going on when their simple job goes completely sideways.
Danny Ocean’s (George Clooney) team of criminals are back and composing a plan more personal than ever. When ruthless casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) doublecrosses Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould), causing a heart attack, Danny Ocean vows that he and his team will do anything to bring down Willy Bank along with everything he’s got. Even if it means asking for help from an enemy.
Kafka (Jeremy Irons), an insurance worker gets embroiled in an underground group after a co-worker is murdered. The underground group is responsible for bombings all over town, attempting to thwart a secret organization that controls the major events in society. He eventually penetrates the secret organization and must confront them.
Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean (George Clooney) is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny’s hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess (Julia Roberts).
(L to R) Channing Tatum, Riley Keough and Adam Driver in ‘Lucky Logan’. Photo: Bleecker Street.
Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy (Channing Tatum) and Clyde Logan (Adam Driver) set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Mike (Channing Tatum), an experienced stripper, takes a younger performer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.
As an epidemic of a lethal airborne virus – that kills within days – rapidly grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself.
Danny Ocean (George Clooney) reunites with his old flame and the rest of his merry band of thieves in carrying out three huge heists in Rome, Paris and Amsterdam – but a Europol agent is hot on their heels.
Ann (Andie MacDowell), a frustrated wife, enters into counseling due to a troubled marriage. Unbeknownst to her, her husband John (Peter Gallagher) has begun an affair with her sister. When John’s best friend Graham (James Spader) arrives, his penchant for interviewing women about their sex lives forever changes John and Ann’s rocky marriage.
‘Black Bag’ is a gripping spy drama about legendary intelligence agents George Woodhouse (Michael Fassbender) and his beloved wife Kathryn (Cate Blanchett). When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test – loyalty to his marriage or his country.
A twice-divorced mother (Julia Roberts) of three who sees an injustice, takes on the bad guy and wins — with a little help from her push-up bra. Erin goes to work for an attorney and comes across medical records describing illnesses clustered in one nearby town. She starts investigating and soon exposes a monumental cover-up.
Meet Jack Foley (George Clooney), a smooth criminal who bends the law and is determined to make one last heist. Karen Sisco (Jennifer Lopez) is a federal marshal who chooses all the right moves … and all the wrong guys. Now they’re willing to risk it all to find out if there’s more between them than just the law.
An exploration of the United States of America’s war on drugs from multiple perspectives. For the new head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (Michael Douglas), the war becomes personal when he discovers his well-educated daughter (Erika Christensen) is abusing cocaine within their comfortable suburban home. In Mexico, a flawed, but noble policeman (Benicio del Toro) agrees to testify against a powerful general in league with a cartel, and in San Diego, a drug kingpin’s sheltered trophy wife (Catherine Zeta-Jones) must learn her husband’s ruthless business after he is arrested, endangering her luxurious lifestyle.
(L to R) Luis Guzmán and Terence Stamp in ‘The Limey’. Photo: Artisan Entertainment.
The Limey follows Wilson (Terence Stamp), a tough English ex-con who travels to Los Angeles to avenge his daughter’s death. Upon arrival, Wilson goes to task battling Valentine (Peter Fonda) and an army of L.A.’s toughest criminals, hoping to find clues and piece together what happened. After surviving a near-death beating, getting thrown from a building and being chased down a dangerous mountain road, the Englishman decides to dole out some bodily harm of his own.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman will star in and produce ‘The Roses’.
Jay Roach is directing the new take on 1989 comedy thriller ‘The War of the Roses’
‘Poor Things’ Tony McNamara is aboard to adapt the William Adler novel.
Back in 1989, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner starred as the Roses –– Oliver and Barbara –– who seemed to be living the perfect life. But, as it turned out to darkly comic effect, that wasn’t exactly the case in ‘The War of the Roses’ the movie directed by Danny DeVito.
That story –– which was adapted from William Adler’s 1981 novel –– is headed back to our screens in a new incarnation. And this time, British actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman are starring.
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What’s the Story of ‘The Roses’?
(L to R) Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in ‘The War of the Roses.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Here’s the official logline for the movie: “Life seems easy for picture-perfect couple Theo (Cumberbatch) and Ivy Rose (Colman): successful careers, great kids, an enviable sex life. But underneath the façade of the perfect family is a tinderbox of competition and resentments that’s ignited when Theo’s professional dreams come crashing down.”
With Colman and Cumberbatch on board to produce as well as taking the lead roles, the new movie will be directed by Jay Roach, best known for the ‘Austin Powers’ films, though more recently applauded for the politically-minded likes of ‘Bombshell’, ‘Recount’ and ‘Game Change’.
Tony McNamara, who most recently wrote ‘Poor Things’ for director Yorgos Lanthimos (and also penned the director’s ‘The Favourite’, which saw Colman scoop an Oscar for her performance), is aboard to adapt the book.
“The Roses is a wildly funny, bigger than life, and yet deeply human story. With Jay at the helm, and Benedict and Olivia and Tony, we have a dream team bringing it to life.”
And this was the statement from SunnyMarch, Cumberbatch’s production company:
“We are thrilled to be working on this very special film with such an incredible team. We have been long admirers of Jay’s work and his vision and passion to tell this story is incredibly inspiring.”
Finally, this was the comment from Colman’s team at South of the River:
“We have been cooking this up with our friends at SunnyMarch for some time, and it has been an absolute thrill to see it spring into life under Jay’s passionate and thoughtful guidance. He and Tony are a match made in cinematic comedy heaven.”
When Will ‘The Roses’ Be in Theaters?
‘The Roses’ is still in development, so it has yet to find a spot on the packed Disney release schedule. And given that both Cumberbatch and Colman are in-demand actors, it may have to wait until their availability opens up.
(L to R) Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner in ‘The War of the Roses.’ Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Landing on Disney+ daily across the next nine days, the second season of Marvel’s Disney+ animated series ‘What If…?’ has plenty of treats to deliver, including a smart, clever festive episode that is the highlight of the early run.
At a time when Marvel and Disney are feeling the pinch of superhero fatigue (witness the box office collapse of ‘The Marvels’ and complaints about the sheer amount of movies and shows one must have seen to keep up with the storyline), the return of ‘What If…?’ is a pleasant one, by design untethered from the complicated continuity (albeit often rewarding fans of the various movies).
Does ‘What If…?’ Season 2 work to keep expanding the MCU?
Whether the implications of this season will tie directly into any future live-action stories is not really worth worrying at this point (and not something we could talk about anyway given the embargoes in place): ‘What If…?’s second run is more about enjoying the parallel universe take on some familiar stories.
Once more, the peek at different versions of characters and encounters works well as wish-fulfilment entertainment, including a chance for supporting characters to get the spotlight.
And Marvel/Disney+ are certainly experimenting with the release schedule for this one, dropping one episode a day across the festive season between December 22 and 30. The best example? Putting the ‘Die Hard’-spoofing ‘What If… Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?’ on Christmas Eve.
With direction and writing from Bryan Andrews, Stephan Franck (directors), AC Bradley, Matthew Chauncey and Ryan Little (writer/producers), ‘What If…?’s new run will feel familiar to those who watched the first season. It’s a similar mix of different looks at characters and situations.
Disney provided press with all the episodes, but there are strict embargoes in place. What can we tell you? There is some stylish, witty writing to be found here –– if you ever wanted to see Karen Gillan’s Nebula as a member of the Nova Corps investigating a situation on Xandar that comes across as a Clint Eastwood cop story meets a hard-bitten private eye future noir that has some serious ‘Blade Runner’ overtones, you’ve come to the right place.
Is every story a winner? They’re not all to the quality of, say, the Happy Hogan festive episode, but there is a high watermark for Marvel fun here. And the various little references and touches (a cuddly raccoon toy here, a nod to Hawkeye there) are welcome color rather than overloaded easter eggs.
The animation style of the show will still get mixed responses from those who believe it’s not up to the levels of big-screen output, but it works well for the stories and has seen a slight upgrade from the first season, which itself was a perfectly solid style.
Employing the same mix of original MCU voice actors (it’s fun to hear the likes of Jon Favreau, Kat Dennings, Karen Gillan, Chris Hemsworth, Michael Douglas and more lend their vocal skills to versions of their characters) and replacements for those who chose not to return (or were perhaps too pricey), the show keeps the feel of Marvel’s sprawling universe intact.
This will be something of a repeating motif in the review, but the Happy Hogan episode is certainly among the highlights, though there’s certainly something to be said for hearing Douglas, Annette Bening, Kurt Russell and Sebastian Stan playing earlier versions of their characters in a story that pits a powered Peter Quill (as a child, rather than the grown-up Chris Pratt we know) against a version of the Avengers that hews closer to the comics than movie screens.
The vocal replacements are once again a mixed bag –– that’s certainly not Glenn Close in the Nebula episode –– but the likes of Mick Wingert and Lake Bell once again prove to be reasonable stand-ins for Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson without causing too much whiplash when their voices share the air with Mark Ruffalo and more.
‘What If…?’s second run is certainly worth checking out even if you are starting to feel the creep of superhero fatigue. It’s a fun, enjoyable dip into the MCU that doesn’t worry too much about the tapestry of everything weaving together –– it’s more a diverting dive into some fresh takes.
Comics fans will certainly appreciate the episodes that dive into versions of the characters more directly drawn from them as opposed to the adaptations (Douglas’ Hank Pym as Ant-Man, say), and of course the animated medium means that it can once more put on spectacles that even the healthily budgeted Marvel movies can only dream of.
Yet it doesn’t sacrifice character moments simply to blow stuff up or show off superpowers. While not every story works, there are enough winners (such as the big ‘Die Hard’ spoof) to make this a worthwhile watch.
‘What If…?’ Season 2 receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
Season 2 continues the journey as The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) guides viewers through the vast Multiverse, introducing brand-new and familiar faces from the MCU.
The series questions, revisits and twists classic Marvel Cinematic Universe moments with an incredible voice cast that includes a host of stars who reprise their iconic roles.
This new season features fan-favorite characters this season like Nebula, Hela and Happy Hogan.
Now available on digital, and available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning May 16th is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ which is the third film in the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise, and the first movie to be released in Marvel’s Phase 5.
What is the Plot of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?’
Who is in the Cast of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?’
The cast of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ includes returning MCU actors Paul Rudd (‘Avengers: Endgame’) as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly (‘Real Steel’) as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp, Michelle Pfeiffer (‘Batman Returns’) as Janet Van Dyne/Wasp, Michael Douglas (‘Basic Instinct’) as Dr. Hank Pym, and Randall Park (‘Aquaman’) as Jimmy Woo, as well as Kathryn Newton (‘Freaky’) joining the series as an older version of Cassie Lang, Jonathan Majors (‘Creed III’) as Kang the Conqueror – a variant of his ‘Loki’ character He Who Remains, Katy O’Brian (‘The Mandalorian’) as Jentorra, and Bill Murray (‘Ghostbusters’) as Krylar.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with actress Katy O’Brian about her work on ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ joining the MCU, creating her character, researching Jentorra in the comics, her deleted scene with Bill Murray, working with Paul Rudd, being directed by Peyton Reed, fighting Kang the Conqueror, and where in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Jentorra will appear next.
You can read the full transcript below or click on the video player above to watch the interview.
Moviefone: To begin with, you’ve appeared in a DC project with ‘Black Lightening,’ a ‘Star Wars’ project with ‘The Mandalorian,’ and even Marvel’s ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ but ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ marks your first time working in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so what was it like for you to officially join the MCU with this movie?
Katy O’Brian: I wanted to be in a Marvel movie. I think a lot of actors, that’s like a big goal. So the fact that I even got an audition I was excited about and having booked it just seemed completely unreal. Every moment was awesome. It’s huge scenery, and a huge project. It’s the end of the world every time and it was great. I felt like everyone was really welcoming coming in the third part of the franchise. Paul was super great to work with, really welcoming, just really unassuming and lets you drop your guard really quickly. It was just Peyton Reed, the director, he’s phenomenal. He’s so sweet. So it really just felt like I was walking onto the set, walking into a family basically, and they welcome you with open arms.
MF: Can you talk about creating Jentorra? She only appeared in a few comics, but did you research her Marvel history to give you a better understanding of her backstory?
KO: I mean, when I’d spoken to Peyton, he pretty much said it’s not really going the comic route at all for Jentorra. Just by appearance alone, it was pretty obvious, you know? I’m not green, and I’m not blonde. They don’t really bring much of her magic into it or anything like that. So right off the bat he was saying more barbarian, like ‘Red Sonja’, having a really strong, powerful presence. What I love to add to characters is give them a little something that isn’t your super stereotypical warrior person. So I wanted also to have someone who deeply cared, genuinely cared, on an emotional level, and wasn’t afraid to be emotional with her people. Up until I saw the full hair, makeup, wardrobe, my staff, I was questioning how I’m supposed to play this character. I’m like the only straight character in a comedic world. So I felt like really out of place, and I was so worried I’d be boring and all these other things. But the second I saw the uniform, got covered in the dirt, grime, sweat and goo, and then got the magic staff in my hand, just everything clicked and it just felt right.
MF: There are a few deleted scenes on the Blu-ray and DVD, but I understand that you also shot a deleted scene with Bill Murray that did not make the home entertainment release. Can you talk about shooting that and what happens in the scene?
KO: We had a whole section of, basically, it would’ve added quite a bit of time to the movie. But he didn’t originally get killed or whatever happened. We had a whole spaceship pursuit with him, and he wound up with Kang and M.O.D.O.K. (Corey Stoll) and then was taken to a cell as well. So when I was freeing the rest of my people, he was there, had some witty quips, and then we all go off together. So I mean, that was pretty much the majority of that. Just some cool jail time and maybe not as much respect for my character as he was pretending to have for himself. Then just other things that might have gotten deleted on my end. I just think a couple little fight clips and stuff. We had a moment at the end where I was fighting and the ants show up, and I have a very brief interaction with the ants and I’m just like, what in the world’s going on? So just some little things like that that I’m sure were just cut for time. I mean in reality it is a bunch of really big beefy stunt dudes in green suit running around tackling people. So it was really fun to be a part of.
MF: Can you talk about working with Paul Rudd on set?
KO: It’s interesting that my interactions with him generally, it was pretty serious all in all. That’s where he started to realize the situation that he wound up in. So there was some offset jokes and every now and then he would just carry a scene after we were done, or if someone messed up, just keep going with that. But honestly, the person it was hardest to keep a straight face with was Kathryn Newton because her character was supposed to be, I guess, in awe of my character. So every time her mouth is wide open, her eyes are wide open and just looks so ridiculous that I couldn’t keep a straight face.
MF: What was it like being directed by Peyton Reed and walking on to the incredible Quantum Realm sets he created?
KO: He designed all of these wonderful sets, and it was like you didn’t really have to pretend you were transported into this world. Super small details were added. We had real dirt under our feet, and at certain times we had actual flames going up and had to dive around fire. It really felt larger than life and the set was massive. They’re just absolutely massive. So you had a lot of space to move around in, and I think Peyton did an amazing job bringing that world to life, but also showing how big it was, but just managing the time, using the space, taking the same space, and making it look completely different. It was awesome.
MF: Can you talk about Jentorra’s war against Kang the Conqueror?
KO: I don’t think that she acknowledges Kang as someone who runs the Quantum Realm. I think she acknowledges, he is basically using their energy source, their land and their people for his means, but against their best interests. I think it’s a pretty understandable point of view of you’ve destroyed my world, you’ve destroyed the world of all of these people and only for your specific gain. He has no friends. He has no equals. It’s a very, very selfish viewpoint. I don’t think they ever had a sit down and chat of like, “Hey, why are you doing this?” It was just very clearly, your reasons do not align with mine. So I think obviously he is a good villain in that sense that there’s no redemption to him. And you got M.O.D.O.K. who comes in and terrorizes the village. It’s funny because we had to be scared of him, but when you see him, he looks absolutely ridiculous. So I was just like, are you serious? I got to be afraid of this thing. But you think of something that just rolls through your village and kills half of them in one sweep. That’s pretty terrifying all in all. So she’s got a lot on her plate and a lot to overcome. But the thing with Jentorra, unlike Kang, is she’s got heart with her. She’s got people that actually care about the cause, their land, their friends and family. So I think she’s got a good backing because she’s not alone.
MF: Finally, where do you think Marvel fans will see Jentorra next?
KO: It’s so interesting because the thing about the Quantum Realm is that it is outside of space and time, so with the whole multiverse thing, I almost wonder the only way that she would really be able to interact is if they start pushing more people into the Quantum Realm, which she wouldn’t be too happy about and is probably now ruled by ants. Or maybe someone somehow pulled her out. Then I was joking on the internet that I think a great multiverse Jentorra would be Danny DeVito. I don’t know. I think it’d be really fun to see. But yeah, I just think anything’s possible. She could show up anywhere and I would love to see her come back again.
‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is produced by Marvel Studios, and Kevin Feige Productions. It is available now on digital, and available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD beginning May 16th.
Years after the events of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’, is not only known as a member of the Avengers who helped save the world, but a successful author of his memoir “Look Out For The Little Guy” and popular podcaster. Despite his happy life, Lang desperately tries to reconnect with his teenage daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) to make up for the years lost due to Thano’s snap. Meanwhile, Cassie has been building a device to communicate with the Quantum Realm with the help of Hank and Hope. This resulted in the Ant-family being pulled into the Quantum Realm and set off to battle a formidable opponent.
The official synopsis for ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is below:
“Super-Hero partners Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope’s parents Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), and Scott’s daughter Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton), the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought possible.”
Fans have long heard about the Quantum Realm since the first ‘Ant-Man’ movie. It’s always been depicted as dangerous and unpredictable, and it was further confirmed by Janet Van Dyne who refused to talk about it even to her own family members. Due to the mishap of Cassie’s communication device, the family got a firsthand experience at what the Quantum Realm is all about.
The world is vibrant and wild, filled with various lifeforms and citizens who are on the brink of a rebellion. This is where Janet’s backstory gets fully flushed out – giving a closer look at the years she’s spent in the Quantum Realm, how she survived, and how she meets the film’s ultimate baddie – Kang.
The audience also points out the similarities between the Quantum Realm and ‘Star Wars,’ especially in the bar scene and the use of practical creatures. After all these years of hearing about the Quantum Realm, it was a treat to see finally experience it on the big screen.
Upon the announcement that the next Avengers movie will be called ‘Avengers: Kang Dynasty’, fans have been curious and excited to see who will play Kang and how will his character will be portrayed on screen. Kang (Jonathan Major) was first introduced in season 1 of the Disney+ series ‘Loki’, but it’s not the same version as the Kang we meet in the movie. The Kang from ‘Loki’ calls himself He Who Remains and famously said to Loki and Sylvie: “If you think I’m evil, just wait till you meet my variants.” Enter Kang The Conqueror who we meet in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ – formidable and ruthless. And this is just the tip of the iceberg for multiple Kangs to come in the future of the MCU.
We also get to meet another popular villain in the movie, in the form of M.O.D.O.K aka Mental Organism Designed Only For Killing. This character deviates quite a bit from the comic books but connects directly to the first Ant-man film. Although MODOK creates some comedic moments in the movie, he also serves as quite the challenge for our heroes. Fans are split as to whether this iteration of MODOK worked or not.
Is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ still in theaters?
The film first premiered at the Regency Village Theater on February 2, 2023 and opened domestically on February 17, 2023. There might still be a chance to catch the movie on the big screen, check below for showtimes in your area, but do know it is very limited.
When Will ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ Be Available To Stream?
Lucky for us, we can watch our favorite tiny heroes from home via digital purchase starting April 18th. For those who prefers physical copies, you can purchase the movie on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD on May 16, 2023 (pre-order available). It is unclear when the Marvel flick will be available on Disney+.
Currently playing in theaters is ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ which is the third film in the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise, and the first movie to be released in Marvel’s Phase 5.
What is the Plot of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?’
The plot ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ revolves around Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) and Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), along with Hope’s parents, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Lang’s daughter, Cassie (Kathryn Newton), going on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pits them against a new and powerful villain, Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors).
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Who is in the Cast of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania?’
One again directed by Peyton Reed, the cast of ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ includes returning MCU actors Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp, Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet Van Dyne/Wasp, Michael Douglas as Dr. Hank Pym, and Randall Park as Jimmy Woo, as well as Kathryn Newton joining the series as an older version of Cassie Lang, Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror – a variant of his ‘Loki’ character He Who Remains, and Bill Murray as a new character named Krylar.
Why Was Cassie Lang Recast?
With the five-year time jump that takes place between ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ and ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Marvel needed to cast an older version of Scott’s daughter Cassandra Lang for ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’. Actress Kathryn Newton (‘Freaky’) takes over the role from Abby Ryder Forston who played the younger version of Cassie Lang in the previous two movies.
Moviefone recently had the opportunity to speak with Kathryn Newton about her work on ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ the success of the film, working with Paul Rudd, and why making the movie was a dream come true for her.
Kathryn Newton stars in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quanumania.’
You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interview with Kathryn Newton about ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.’
Moviefone: To begin with, you recently said at the press conference for the film that you’ve dreamed of playing a Marvel superhero since you first saw ‘Iron Man.’ Now that you’ve done it, was the experience everything you dreamed it would be?
Kathryn Newton: Well, it really was a dream of mine ever since I saw ‘Iron Man.’ I was like, “I want to be Marvel’s biggest superhero of all time.” I had been acting since I was four. So my little eight-year-old mind thought, Marvel, that’s the real deal. And I still believe it’s the real deal. They have the greatest actors of all time in their movies, and I’ve just always wanted to be a part of the MCU.
I think it’s an honor to bring a comic book character to life, and I love the ‘Ant-Man’ franchise. I love Cassie Lang. I think she’s just like me, or I want to be like her. So it’s really an insane thing to be talking to you today, to have the number one movie in the world in theaters and I’m in the movie. It’s crazy. I know it’s corny, but dream big guys, and be specific because Cassie Lang grows 40-feet tall, so she just might be the biggest Marvel superhero of all time!
MF: Can you talk about Cassie and Scott’s father/daughter relationship in this movie?
KN: So Cassie Lang is a new version of this girl. She’s continuing the legacy of her father. She’s trying to be a hero just like him, and she has her own ideas about what’s right. She’s been away from him. So she had to make a choice. She was like, “My dad’s not here. But I’m going to be a good person.” I think that took a lot of bravery to do that, to be a good person.
Scott Lang and her are reconnecting and he’s got to kind of learn to accept this new version of his daughter, and it’s hard. She’s been keeping a lot of secrets, and trying to make him proud. I think you can feel that in the heart of this movie. She just cares about other people. But the one thing that’s kind of a problem is she’s a little bit impatient. She wants to be a hero right now. But he’s like, “No, no, not yet. You don’t know what you’re doing.” That’s kind of where we’re at in this movie.
MF: Is it difficult not laughing when you’re working with Paul Rudd?
KN: Yes. I can’t wait for you to see the gag reel. It’s hilarious. There’s these bits of Paul, and I’m just behind him trying so hard not to laugh, or just me blurting out laughing. I smiled so much making this movie, and in all the pictures of me on set, I’m smiling.
I’m really lucky that I got that opportunity because it was always a dream of mine. So I knew what a big deal it was to be a part of the MCU, but I never took it for granted that Paul Rudd was that incredible to work with. I mean, laughing every day is just a joy, and I promise you I had more fun and gave it everything I got. So I hope the audience can feel that.
KN: What was it like working with Jonathan Majors and watching his process creating the terrifying villain, Kang the Conqueror?
KN: It was really enlightening. He really brought everybody up. I think that he’s an incredible actor and an incredible Kang. I’m really excited for the next Phase 5 of Marvel, ‘The Kang Dynasty’ because they have Jonathan and he really cares. He’s not phoning it in. I’d meet him in the morning and he’s a ray of sunshine, and then he’d put his Kang cape on, and I didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
But he made me a better actor. He knew more about my character than I knew. At some points, that’s how it felt. I thought, “Why don’t I do that?” So for me, what I’m doing now is I took from Jonathan. I’m learning more about the other characters in the movie and then deciding who my character should be because it supports the story in a different way. Even the little bits I have with Kang in this movie, we talked about the characters, what Cassie was going through, who Kang is in this moment, and what he knows about Cassie Lang, their history and their future, just to play with, but not because we’re going to do anything about it.
But as an actor in Marvel, you have an encyclopedia of knowledge. You have so many comics and so many places that your character has been or could be going, but we don’t use any of that, right? We just think about it and then we do what’s on the page. But it was really fun to work with Jonathan because he goes that deep.
MF: Finally, do you know what is next for Cassie Lang in the MCU, and what would you like to see her doing in future Marvel movies?
KN: I have no idea. They don’t tell you anything. I don’t know if I’m ever going to be in another Marvel movie, but I will say that no matter what, even if I’m lucky enough, nothing will ever top this experience. Me and Paul Rudd running around laughing all day, making jokes. I had the time of my life and nothing will ever top it.
Witten by Jeff Loveness and directed by Peyton Reed, the sci-fi, action, adventure, comedy, mystery, thriller ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ is scheduled for release from Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures on February 17th 2023.
