Moviefone Editorial

Tag: oscar isaac

Marvel, Star Wars, & Pixar Updates from the Disney+ Day Announcements

On Friday, November 12th, Disney+ celebrated its second anniversary with Disney+ Day, where they announced literally dozens of upcoming series from Marvel, Lucasfilm, Pixar and more. The presentations, which include some new clips, first looks, and upcoming announcements, can currently be viewed on Disney+, but Moviefone is here to break it all down for you.

MARVEL

The Marvel video presentation, which is now available on Disney+, begins with recaps of all the 2021 Marvel series that have been released so far including ‘WandaVision,’ ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,’ ‘Loki,’ and ‘What If…?’ Then we get an extended trailer for ‘Hawkeye,’ which drops on November 24th. We also got to see a full scene from the show, which involves Jeremey Renner’s Hawkeye and Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop stealing a car and then getting into a chase while Hawkeye teaches Kate how to use his trick arrows. The sequence is one continuous shot, ending with the two heroes swinging off of a bridge on to a moving train.

The official synopsis for the series confirms that it is set in a post-blip New York City and follows Clint Barton on a seemingly simple mission to get back to his family for Christmas. But when a threat from his past shows up, Hawkeye reluctantly teams up with 22-year-old skilled archer Kate Bishop to unravel a criminal conspiracy. In addition to Renner and Stanfield, the series also features Vera Farmiga (‘The Departed’), Brian d’Arcy James (‘Spotlight’) and Florence Pugh reprising her ‘Black Widow’ role as Yelena Belova.

The video presentation also includes fans first look at Oscar Isaac in ‘Moon Knight.’ The series will follow the story of this complex vigilante who suffers from dissociative identity disorder. The multiple identities that live inside him find themselves thrusted into a deadly war of the Gods against the backdrop of modern and ancient Egypt. The clips basically show Isaac’s Marc Spencer being tortured by his dreams, with the character’s voice-over explaining that to the audience. We only get very quick glimpses of Isaac in the Moon Knight outfit, but the presentation ends with him in full costume jumping off of rooftops with the Moon lit full behind him. Actor Ethan Hawke is also set to appear as the show’s big bad.

We also got new footage from the upcoming series, ‘She-Hulk.’ The teaser is narrated by Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk, as she explains that she is a lawyer but also, something else. There is a quick body shot of Jennifer fully-green with her comic book accurate costume, although it cuts away before we see She-Hulk’s face. We also get two glimpses of Mark Ruffalo, who returns as Jennifer’s cousin, Bruce Banner/Hulk.

The first scene shows Bruce experimenting on Jennifer when she is just a child, presumably in a flashback, but what is interesting is that he is Smart Hulk in this scene. Since ‘Shang-Chi’ gave us an end-credit scene that revealed that at some point after the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ Smart Hulk reverted back to Bruce, it makes you wonder if this scene takes place between ‘Endgame’ and ‘Shang-Chi.’ If that is the case, and Jennifer was a child during that time period, it makes you wonder if the bulk of the series itself will make a time jump and take place decades after ‘Endgame’? We also get a clip that looks more like a commercial, with Jennifer and Bruce dressed in retro clothes and Jennifer saying, “”Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry,” which is clearly a nod to the 1970’s series, The Incredible Hulk.

The last series to get new footage in the video presentation was ‘Ms. Marvel,’ which stars Iman Vellani as 16-year-old Kamala Khan. A Pakistani American and a fan-girl of the Avengers, Kamala is overjoyed when she discovers she has superpowers, and now must use them to find her place in the world. The footage shows her revealing her iconic mask for the first time and ends with Kamala standing on a New Jersey rooftop wearing a Captain Marvel Halloween Costume and preparing to use her powers to fly for the first time. Vellani is set to reprise her role, along with Teyonah Parris from ‘WandaVision’ and Brie Larson, in the upcoming feature film, ‘The Marvels.’

But that’s not it! Marvel also announced a slew of new upcoming shows, some of which had been rumored, and also confirmed that ‘Loki’ and ‘What If…?’ will be getting second seasons. In fact, ‘What If…?’ will also be getting a spinoff with the new animated series ‘Marvel Zombies,’ which imagines a world where Marvel’s heroes have been turned into the undead. Staying with animation, Disney+ also announced a sequel to the classic 90’s animated X-Men series entitled ‘X-Men ’97,’ as well as ‘Spider-Man: Freshman Year,’ which will look at Peter Parker’s first year in high school, and ‘I Am Groot,’ a series of original shorts starring everyone’s favorite sentient tree.

On the live-action side, ‘Secret Invasion’ was confirmed, which is based on the popular Marvel Comics series. The show will bring Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos back together to fight a faction of shape-shifting Skrulls who have been infiltrating Earth for years. Also confirmed were ‘Echo,’ which will star Alaqua Cox as Maya Lopez, who will be introduced in ‘Hawkeye,’ and James Gunn will write and direct ‘The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special.’

Marvel also announced two new series based on the Iron Man franchise. First is ‘Armor Wars,’ which will star Don Cheadle reprising his role as War Machine. The second is ‘Ironheart,’ a series that will star Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams, a genius inventor who creates the most advanced suit of armor since Iron Man. Finally, Marvel confirmed the recent rumor that Kathryn Hahn will reprise her ‘WandaVision’ role as Agatha Harkness in her own series, which will be called ‘Agatha: House of Harkness.’

LUCASFILM

While there was no new footage included, fans got their first look at the making of the upcoming Star Wars series, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’ The video is narrated by director Debbie Chow and actor Ewan McGregor and explains what fans can expect from the new series. “For this character to come back, the fans have been waiting long enough,” said McGregor. Chow explained that this is a “dark time,” for Kenobi and that it is “not safe” for him with “Jedi hunters” on the rise. McGregor said that his character has one task, which is “to keep Luke safe,” but Chow explained how that is just a starting point for the series.

“The most beautiful thing of all is that it has brought me back together with Hayden,” McGregor said about the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. “We couldn’t tell the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi without addressing Anakin or Darth Vader,” added Chow. We are then given some behind the scenes shots of McGregor at rehearsal practicing his lightsaber skills. “To have another swing at each other, might be quite satisfying for everybody,” the actor teased in closing.

Disney+ also released a Boba Fett documentary called ‘Under the Helmet: The Legacy of Boba Fett.’ It is mostly a “history of the character” video and does not include any new footage from the upcoming series ‘The Book of Boba Fett,’ which premieres on December 29th.

Finally, the presentation included a video from the set of the new series ‘Willow,’ which is based on the 1988 Ron Howard-directed and George Lucas-produced movie. The film’s star, Warwick Davis returns as the title character, and introduced the cast that includes Ruby Cruz (‘Mare of Easttown’), Erin Kellyman (‘The Falcon and The Winter Soldier’), and Tony Revolori (‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’). The video was done “tongue in cheek” with Davis playing a version of his arrogant ‘Life’s Too Short’ character and getting upset when the younger cast can’t remember the original film and begin to question why anyone would want a sequel series!

PIXAR

Unfortunately, Pixar did not have a lot to announce outside of a Cars-based animated series called ‘Cars on the Road,’ which will feature Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their roles as Lightning McQueen and Mater, respectively. Other announcements from the animation company included behind the scenes documentaries for the upcoming feature films ‘Turning Red’ and ‘Lightyear,’ as well as a new series called ‘Win or Lose,’ which is an animated show that will highlight the perspectives of different characters as a middle school coed softball team prepares for their championship game.

DISNEY STUDIOS AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

On the Disney Studios side, a remake of ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ was announced, which will star Gabrielle Union (‘Bad Boys II’) and Zach Braff (‘Oz the Great and Powerful’) and is set to premiere in March 2022. ‘Enchanted’ fans will be happy to learn that the long-awaited sequel, ‘Disenchanted’ will hit the streaming network in the fall of 2022 and once again star Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. It was also announced that comedians John Mulaney and Andy Samberg will star in the new live-action/CG animation film entitled ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers,’ which is based on Disney’s popular chipmunk characters and will premiere in the spring of 2022.

Director Robert Zemeckis’ ‘Pinocchio,’ based on the Disney animated classic, will bow in the fall of 2022 as well, and stars Tom Hanks, Cynthia Erivo, and Luke Evans, with the voices of Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Keegan-Michael Key and Lorraine Bracco. Also premiering in the fall of 2022, just in time for Halloween, is ‘Hocus Pocus 2,’ which is a sequel to the cult classic 1990’s movie. Returning stars Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are all set to reprise their roles as the Sanderson sisters in the new sequel. A new clip from Peter Jackson’s upcoming documentary, ‘The Beatles: Get Back’ was also released featuring the legendary band performing “I Got a Feeling” in rare behind the scenes footage. The three-part documentary launches on Disney+ November 25th.

Disney also announced a new series based on the beloved best-selling novels ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles,’ as well as animated spinoff series from some of their most popular films, including Baymax from ‘Big Hero Six,’ Tiana from ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ and’ Zootopia+,’ which opens up the world of ‘Zootopia.’ They also announced ‘The Ice Age Adventures of Buck Wild,’ which will star Simon Pegg as his ‘Ice Age: Collision Course’ character.

Finally, National Geographic announced a new six-part series for 2022 called ‘Limitless’ with Chris Hemsworth. The series will follow the ‘Thor’ actor as he helps viewers discover the full potential of the human body. Nat Geo also announced a series called ‘Welcome to Earth,’ which is set to premiere on Disney+ next month. The series will be hosted by Will Smith as he encounters Earth’s greatest wonders.

November 14, 2021
Best Oscar Isaac Movies to Watch

Beyond being “the Internet’s boyfriend,” Oscar Isaac is a performer who you can’t help but be fascinated by. Every performance feels special and unique — the work of an artist honing and refining his craft. There are no two performances that are ever alike, even if they’re part of the same franchise.

‘Body of Lies‘ (2008)

In 2008, Isaac’s career was finally starting to gain some steam, thanks to collaborations with Steven Soderbergh, Alejandro Amenabar, and, with “Body of Lies,” Ridley Scott. In “Lies,” he plays a character who assists Leonardo DiCaprio‘s morally compromised intelligence operative in the Middle East. While there isn’t much character on the page, Isaac is able to give the role shading and texture.

It helps that “Body of Lies” is one of Scott’s most lively and underrated movies. Sadly, the two would reteam for the much more forgettable “Robin Hood.” Although the fact that Isaac went from playing a Middle Easterner to John, King of England, speaks to his versatility and range.
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‘Sucker Punch‘ (2011)

One of his most colorful performances ever can be found in Zack Snyder‘s candy-colored, nearly incomprehensible “Sucker Punch,” a kind of Alice in Wonderland by way of comic books, Japanese animated films, and whatever pervy obsession was crossing Snyder’s mind at the time.

Isaac plays an administrator at a home for wayward girls who, in the movie’s glossy alternate reality, serves as a pimp/nightclub owner. Isaac is clearly going for high camp and it’s a testament to his abilities as a performer that even his attempts at kitsch come across as earnest.
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‘Drive‘ (2011)

You’ll be forgiven for not remembering that Isaac was even in Nicolas Winding Refn‘s blood-soaked caper; he totally disappears into the role of Standard Gabriel, a recently released con who talks Ryan Gosling‘s driver into doing a very questionable job. In “Drive,” Refn allows Isaac to be charming and suspicious at the same time. He’s a criminal, for sure, but one that you could see yourself being dazzled by.

By this time in his career, however, Isaac had gained the attention of Hollywood. He was this close to being cast as Matt Damon‘s replacement in “The Bourne Legacy,” a highly publicized spin-off (he wound up with a smaller role instead.)
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‘Inside Llewyn Davis‘ (2013)

Isaac achieved nearly universal acclaim for his role as the titular character in “Inside Llewyn Davis,” the CoenBrothers’ ode to the folk scene in Greenwich Village.

As Davis, who perpetually comes up short and always chases a dream that seems to be slightly out of reach, he was a typical Coens character: endlessly bullied and brutalized on a cosmic level. But he also was warmer, more sincere and more openly and recognizably human. By the time the movie reaches its loopy conclusion, you’re ready to watch Isaac’s performance all over again.
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‘A Most Violent Year‘ (2014)

Weirdly released at the very end of 2014, “A Most Violent Year” is undoubtedly the best Oscar Issac movie you’ve never even heard of. (It also stars Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, and Albert Brooks, making its anonymity even more baffling.) Isaac plays a man who runs an oil company, maneuvering as best he can in a New York City besieged by crime and opportunistic bloodletting.

It’s a nimble performance that, true to form, isn’t in the least bit showy despite Isaac’s command of each and every scene he’s in (which is almost each and every scene in the movie). You can feel the struggle within, which isn’t exactly an easy thing to dramatize. Years from now this movie will be rediscovered and critics will say, “Why didn’t people rally around this?” We tried.
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‘Ex Machina‘ (2015)

Alex Garland‘s pared down sci-fi thriller is a triangle between a genius tech billionaire (Isaac), a low-level employee (Domhnall Gleason), and a seductive robot that longs to join humanity (Alicia Vikander). From this relatively simple set-up, Garland is able to craft a thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat, alternately questioning your existence, debating the morality of a human-like robot, and, thanks to Isaac, laughing uproariously.

In “Ex Machina,” Isaac’s character is deep and fully layered and, in one unforgettable sequence, gets to cut a rug. Rarely has he been this charming and creepy — often at the same time.
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‘Mojave‘ (2015)

Let’s get this out of the way: “Mojave” is, in no objective sense, a “good movie.” It’s an odd doodle by a prolific screenwriter (William Moynahan), a passion project that somehow found itself materializing (in a few theaters over a long weekend).

All that said, Isaac is really something else here, playing a rare full-on villain, who meets Garrett Hedlund in the California desert and then follows him home. There isn’t much that “Mojave” adds to the home invasion/stalker sub-genre, but Isaac — with a snaggletooth, mess of stringy hair, and odd vocal tic that causes him to say “brother” every few word — is totally electrifying.
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‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi‘ (2017)

The most underrated movie to ever gross $1.3 billion, “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is an embarrassment of riches, anchored by a glittery jewel of an Oscar Isaac performance. As Poe Dameron, the hot shot Resistance pilot introduced in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Isaac’s performance was deeper and richer in the follow-up, allowing for more moments of smart-ass comedy (like the highly contested “prank call”) and profound emotion (everything involving Princess Leia).

This is a movie largely about (and defined by) failure and Poe’s prolonged screw-up is the movie’s centerpiece (bye bye, black X-Wing). Thankfully, there’s nobody nobler in defeat than Isaac.
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‘Annihilation‘ (2018)

Isaac reteamed with Garland for his adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer’s blockbuster novel, “Annihilation.” As Kane, a survivor (or is he?) of a doomed military operation inside a phantasmagorical space called Area X, he serves as the movie’s (numb) emotional backbone, especially once his beleaguered wife (Natalie Portman) decides to make the same trip.

Through flashbacks and wraparound sequences, Portman and Isaac are able to fully dramatize the highs and lows of a marriage. It is through these moments that the audience is given something to believe in, root for, and hold onto — which is essential, given how weird the movie gets.
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‘Triple Frontier‘ (2019)

Struggling to make ends meet, former special ops soldiers reunite for a high-stakes heist: stealing $75 million from a South American drug lord.
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‘The Card Counter‘ (2021)

Oscar Isaac’s new movie is coming out on Sep 10th, 2021. Executive producer Martin Scorsese presents a thrilling movie directed by Paul Schrader. Willem Dafoe is starring in the movie as Col. John Gordo.
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September 7, 2021
Watch Timothée Chalamet in the trailer for Denis Villeneuve’s upcoming adaptation of the sci-fi epic ‘Dune’

This December, director Denis Villeneuve’s vision of Dune, Frank Herbert’s science fiction epic, will hit the big screen.

Here’s the official synopsis from Warner Bros:

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Oscar nominee Timothée Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, and the supporting cast includes Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.

As you may know, this isn’t the first ‘Dune’ adaptation. In the mid 70s, filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky worked on putting the story on screen, but the project ultimately fell apart (the doc ‘Jodorowsky’s Dune‘ provides a fascinating history of the failed production). David Lynch’s film adaptation hit theaters in 1984, and although the film is widely considered a flop, author Frank Herbert was quoted as being pretty satisfied with Lynch’s version. And in 2000, the Sci-Fi Channel aired a three-part miniseries titled ‘Frank Herbert’s Dune,’ which was then followed up in 2003 with another sequel mini-series, ‘Frank Herbert’s Children of Dune.’

‘Dune’ is slated to open in theaters on December 18, 2020.
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September 9, 2020
Get ready for the ‘End’ of the Skywalker saga with this ‘Rise of Skywalker’ TV spot.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, and Oscar Isaac star in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’

In this latest TV spot from Lucasfilm we get a couple of title cards that ominously tell us that “The Saga will end.” That shouldn’t be too big a surprise; you can only have three movies in a trilogy, right?

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This trailer definitely plays up the idea of things coming to a close. Not only do we hear Mark Hamill talking about destiny, we also hear Threepio say something about looking at his friends “one last time.” That might mean this is the last ride for the fussy protocol droid. On the other hand, the trailers for ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’ were pretty good at using misdirection to subvert our expectations, so it won’t be too surprising to see that happening here. In any event, all will be revealed in less than a month when ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ opens on December 20.

November 23, 2019
New ‘Addams Family’ Trailer Is a Kooky, Spooky Riot

MGM

They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky … it’s “The Addams Family”!

MGM has released a new full-length trailer for the upcoming animated take on the classic creepy characters. Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac voice ghoulish couple Morticia and Gomez, who encourage their kids Wednesday (Chloe Grace Moretz) and Pugsley (Finn Wolfhard) to be as uniquely themselves as possible.

And we can’t forget the delightfully out-there antics of Uncle Fester (Nick Kroll) and Grandma (Bette Midler)!

In the movie, the family moves to the wilds of New Jersey, but run into trouble with neighbor and reality TV host Margaux Needler. She’s not thrilled by their penchant to play Battleship with real explosives and reanimating dead frogs in science class. She is “consumed with a desire for absolute suburban pastel perfection.” What a weirdo.

This is the fourth feature film version of the Addams Family, and the first to be animated.

“The Addams Family” opens in theaters October 11.

August 7, 2019
Everything We Learned About ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ from the Star Wars Celebration Panel

Lucasfilm

Earlier today, at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, we were served a deep-dish slice of brand new details about the highly-anticipated sequel, one that supposedly closes out the Skywalker “saga” films for good. The lively Episode IX panel, hosted by none other than Stephen Colbert (who has been a fan “three weeks longer than any of you,” thanks to him attending an early screening of the original film back in 1977), featured co-writer/director J.J. Abrams, producer Kathleen Kennedy, and stars Anthony Daniels, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie Tran, Joonas Suotamo, Billy Dee Williams and new kid on the block Naomi Ackie (more on her in a minute). It was conversational and fun and we learned a lot about the new movie, including …

(We should probably propose a mild spoiler warning to those who want to go into “Episode IX” completely free of knowledge.)

The Title of the Movie

At the very end of the panel, the trailer for the movie ran (a very, very good trailer that you have undoubtedly watched 10,000 times already) and at the end of that trailer, words we had never seen before appeared: “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” What that means, exactly, is somewhat unclear. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver, a no-show today) is obviously a Skywakler but an intriguing fan theory has already emerged: that Skywalker is the new name for anyone who does good with their Force connectivity. After all, Luke was the last Jedi, but something always rises in its place. Something … like Skywalker.

The Emperor is Back

The insidious laugh at the end of the trailer belongs to none other than Emperor Palpatine, the big bad of the original trilogy and the titular “Phantom Menace” of the prequels. He is once again played by English actor Ian McDiarmid, who was on hand at Celebration to inform the control booth to run the trailer “one more time.” It’s fascinating that McDiarmid has played the character in so many formats for so many years (he’s now 74), when the character was originally visualized thanks to the help of a woman in heavy prosthetic make-up and a chimpanzee. (Seriously, look it up.)

Lucasfilm

The Movie Had to Be About Many Things

Before the cast even took to the stage, Abrams said how important the movie was, on a number of levels. “This movie, in addition to being the end of three trilogy, it has to work as its own movie,” Abrams explained to Colbert (and the thousands of audience members in attendance). “That’s been part of the fun of it, part of the challenge of it. But it’s about this new generation and what they’ve inherited, as they face the greatest evil, are they prepared? It’s amazing to look at this thing George created and bring it to a close.” When the trailer ran, everything he was alluding to became somewhat clearer, as our new characters are left to deal with unresolved issues, the hollowed-out remains of the Death Star (don’t know which one yet) and, of course, the Emperor.

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The Use of Carrie Fisher Material Was Emotional for Everyone

Abrams, who is deep into the editing process of the movie (Christmas will be here before you know it, pal!), spoke about the use of Carrie Fisher footage that was shot for “The Force Awakens,” never used, and is being incorporated into the new movie to finish Princess (General?) Leia’s arc. (You can see some of this footage in the trailer.) “The crazy thing is, I say this emotionally, every day it hits me that she’s not here but it’s so surreal because we’re working with her still. She’s in scenes,” Abrams said. “And the craziest part is how not crazy it feels. She’s there in these scenes, in some scenes with her daughter. Princess Leia lives in this film in a way that is mind-blowing to me.”

Things Don’t Pick Up Right Where They Left Off

The time between “The Force Awakens” and “The Last Jedi” is relatively short; Finn doesn’t even wake up from the wounds he suffered at the end of the first movie until after the big introductory set piece. But that isn’t the case this time around. Abrams revealed that “the movie doesn’t pick up immediately after.” This sentiment was echoed by Daisy Ridley later in the panel. There seems to have been an evolution, or at least a maturation, between the movies, which is pretty exciting.

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The Gang’s Together This Time

One of the more shocking things about re-watching “The Last Jedi” is the scene at the end when Poe (one of the main characters of the so-called “sequel trilogy”) introduces himself to Rey. They only meet at the very end of the second movie! That’s insane. Happily, Abrams said that the new film can be described as “an adventure that the group goes on together.” Whew!

Anthony Daniels’ Book Title Got Rejected

The uncontested star of the first part of the panel was undoubtedly Anthony Daniels, who was clearly having the time of his life holding court in front of such a large audience. At one point he started talking about his new memoir, which will be unveiled tomorrow, and how the original title of the memoir was rejected by his publisher. The name he proposed, he said? “Telling the Odds.”

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Billy Dee Never Left

It was a hoot to see Billy Dee Williams, just as smooth as ever, get up on stage and talk about his love and admiration for the cast and crew, and in particular JJ (at various times he called the filmmaker “a beautiful young man” and “extraordinary”). When Colbert asked him what it was like getting back into the Lando groove again, Williams perfectly shot back, “How did I find Lando again? Lando never left me.” Abrams then went on to describe Williams’ first day on set (“everyone went quiet”). “It was honestly an emotional thing,” Abrams said. At the end of his section of the presentation, Williams also defended Lando’s position in the original trilogy. Hilariously, he became animated, saying, “I’m sick and tired of being accused of betraying Han Solo!” He went on: “He was up against Darth Vader! He had to figure something out! Did anybody die? Nobody died! I had to prevent the complete demise of my friend and his friends.” It was truly amazing. And Williams was life: Lando never left.

Naomi Ackie’s Character May or May Not Be Lando’s Daughter

When introducing her new character Jannah to the “Star Wars” universe, Ackie deftly avoided saying whether or not she was Lando’s daughter, even when asked, point blank, by Colbert (apparently she helps the central characters during their journey). “Lando is a very charming man so he could have children all over the universe,” she demurred. Given that she was interviewed right after Williams and her character’s considerable amount of swag, all things point to yes on that particular paternity issue.

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Finn is Now Fully Part of the Resistance

John Boyega spoke about the journey of his character Finn, who started off as a Stormtrooper, became more shaded and complex in “The Last Jedi,” and is now fully on board with the Resistance. He said that, “Finn has just found he’s got his identity in the Resistance.” Part of that identity, Boyega said, was that he finally got an iconic costume. He said that when he saw his new blue pants, he exclaimed, “I’m in Star Wars!” (Again, we’re assuming.)

Phasma is Maybe Dead Probably?

Boyega was pretty dodgy when it came to answering questions about whether or not we’ll see a rematch with his chief antagonist, Captain Phasma. When Colbert asked if that relationship has found closure, he said, “Emotional closure, sure,” without saying whether or not she’d be returning. Reading his body language and the way he was answering his questions, either she is really dead or Boyega has gotten a lot better at evading pressing “Star Wars”-related questions.

The Messy Love Triangle Remains

During his section of the panel, Boyega joked that Finn is “single and ready to mingle.” Later on, he remarked that wartime is “a very distracted place to fall in love.” And during Kelly Marie Tran’s section, all she said was that Finn is “a very eligible bachelor.” So we say yes, the Jedi might be gone but the triangle remains.

Lucasfilm

Oscar Isaac Thinks Poe is a More Versatile Pilot Than Han

When Colbert asked if Poe was a better pilot than Han Solo, Oscar Isaac squirmed. “There was so much goodwill a second ago,” the actor said. He then couched his answer: “No one can fly the Millennium Falcon like Han. However, Poe can literally anything.” He then joked that Poe would be “the better Uber driver.”

Rey Has Read the Books

At the end of “The Last Jedi,” it was revealed that Rey had stolen the sacred Jedi texts before Luke and Yoda burned down the tree that housed them. (That same kind of tree was in the backyard of a future Resistance all-star … Poe.) Ridley said that, “She may have gotten started,” noting that the long time in between movies would have given her plenty of opportunity to catch up.

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There Will Be New Force Powers

One of the more divisive elements of “The Last Jedi,” a movie seemingly comprised only of divisive moments, was the introduction of new or at least unseen Force powers, like the communication between Rey and Kylo Ren, Luke’s astral projection, and Leia’s deep space recovery. When Colbert asked if Rey had any new Force abilities, she kicked the question to JJ. After giving a lengthy shout-out to the movie’s unbelievable stunt team, he did acknowledged that, “Yes, there are some other things and you’ll see them soon.” Could he be referring to the superhuman jump that Rey does as Kylo’s TIE fighter tries to run her down?

Suotamo Has a Preferred Preparation for Porg

After a lovely appreciation of Peter Mayhew, the original actor to inhabit Chewbacca, and a cute story about his young child visiting set, Joonas Suotamo finally revealed what Chewbacca’s preferred method of porg-preparation is. “They taste best fried,” the actor said, in the most deadpan way possible.

There’s a New Creature…

One of the photos they showed was of Snap Wexley (Abrams’ old friend Greg Grunberg) standing next to a tall, slug-like creature named Klaude. Klaude is hilarious and adorable and we don’t know much else about him (including why might be voicing him). Abrams, at various points during the panel, stated how much of the movie he attempted to shoot on real locations with practical creatures and droids.

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… And a New Droid!

Another character introduced during the panel is a new droid! His name is “D-0” (pronounced “Dio”) and he kind of looks like an old timey megaphone on a unicycle. In other words: he is adorable. And he rolled out onto the stage and interacted with BB-8. The amount of Dios that are going to be under the Christmas tree this year cannot be overstated.

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” opens in your galaxy on December 20^th, 2019.

April 12, 2019
First ‘Addams Family’ Teaser Trailer Is a Ghoulish Good Time

MGM

Snap, snap — “The Addams Family” is back.

MGM has dropped the first teaser trailer for its upcoming animated take on the classic creepy characters. Charlize Theron and Oscar Isaac voice ghoulish couple Morticia and Gomez, who encourage their kids Wednesday and Pugsley to be as uniquely themselves as possible.

And we can’t forget the delightfully out-there antics of Uncle Fester and Grandma!

The Addamses are planning for a big family function, but run into trouble with neighbor and reality TV host Margaux Needler who is “consumed with a desire for absolute suburban pastel perfection.” What a weirdo.

This is the fourth feature film version of the Addams Family, and the first animated. It will have a lot to live up to in its 1991 predecessor starring Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia.

“The Addams Family” opens in theaters October 11.

April 9, 2019
Full ‘Dune’ Remake Cast Confirmed as Production Begins

Amazon Studios

After months of exciting reports about the ever-expanding all-star cast of the upcoming “Dune” remake, Warner Bros. has officially confirmed the lineup, and announced that filming on the sci-fi epic has begun.

The film, based on the classic novel by Frank Herbert, is being helmed by Denis Villeneuve, who also co-wrote the script with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts. The filmmaker previously revealed that he plans on splitting the project into two separate movies.

Leading the starry lineup of actors is Hollywood It Boy Timothée Chalamet, who will play the role of Paul Atreides. The rest of the impressive cast includes Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Zendaya, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, and Stephen Henderson.

Here’s the film’s official synopsis:

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

“Dune” is due in theaters on November 20, 2020.

[via: The Playlist]
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March 18, 2019
Oscar Isaac Says His Scenes With Carrie Fisher Are a Key Part of ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’

Lucasfilm

We now know that those extra scenes of Carrie Fisher that weren’t used in “The Force Awakens” — but will be in “Star Wars: Episode IX” — will involve Leia’s relationship with Poe Dameron.

Oscar Isaac, who plays rebel Poe, told Sirius XM Insight’s John Fugelsang in a new interview that the relationship between the hotshot pilot and the older, wiser general, is a big part of the film.

He says he’s glad that the scenes, which were shot before Fisher’s death in 2016, will be seen.

“I wasn’t surprised because … [Fisher] and I worked together so much. We would talk about the scenes, and we got very tight during the shooting of that. So it was a beautiful thing to see, and it gets carried over into the new film as well.”

He added, “It was definitely an unusual thing, but I also think it was right to engage with her character, and not just let it be something that fades away.”

We’re just glad that the footage exists and that we’ll get to have some more time with Leia.

Isaac, who is currently costarring in the Netflix action thriller “Triple Frontier,” says that ‘Episode IX’ will give Fisher and Leia “a proper place of honor.”

Director J.J. Abrams, who directed both “Star Wars” films, secured the blessing of Fisher’s family and daughter Billie Lourd before using the footage. He had previously stated that he would never recast the role or use CGI to bring Leia back, as was done with the late Peter Cushing‘s Grand Moff Tarkin character in “Rogue One.”

Todd Fisher, Carrie’s brother, recently told “Good Morning America” that the footage is definitely not just outtakes: “This is unused, new content that could be woven into the storyline. That’s what’s going to give everybody such a great kick. It’s going to look like it was meant to be. Like it was shot yesterday… we’re thrilled at what’s been done.”

‘Episode IX,’ which doesn’t yet have a full title, opens December 20.

[Via EW, Indiewire]

March 15, 2019
The Long, Strange Journey of ‘Triple Frontier’

Netflix

There’s a reason why Hollywood coined the term “development hell” — namely, because even when there’s lots of interest in a project and motivation and big stars and distributors, the process of making a movie can be a protracted, painful experience. Since first garnering attention in 2010, “Triple Frontier” went through director and casting changes, studio shake-ups and more before finally getting released this week via Netflix, a distributor fast gaining a reputation for swooping in and supporting films that are obscure passion projects, underfunded or otherwise troubled. To commemorate its opening, we decided to look back at just a few of those stumbling blocks the filmmakers faced while attempting to get it to the screen.

When the project was first announced in October 2010, Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks were in talks to star in the film for director Kathryn Bigelow, still hot off of “The Hurt Locker.” Hanks was officially cast a month later and production was set to start early the next year. But some five years later, there was no movement on the project — Bigelow moved on to “Zero Dark Thirty,” and a project focusing on US soldier Bowe Bergdahl and his time as a prisoner in Afghanistan. After “All Is Lost” and “A Most Violent Year” made waves with critics groups, writer-director J.C. Chandor entered into talks in 2015 to direct the project from Mark Boal’s script for Paramount Pictures. He later signed on to direct the film in September of that year.

By then, Hanks’ commitment to the film was on shakier ground, though he and Will Smith were still negotiating the possibility of joining the film. Additionally, Depp’s name re-entered the picture as a potential star as Smith left the film due to scheduling conflicts for “Collateral Beauty.” But by January 2017, Depp and Hanks were out, and Channing Tatum and Tom Hardy were being considered for roles in the film, followed by Mahershala Ali, who was collecting accolades for his work in “Moonlight.” All three joined the production officially, but by April of that year, Paramount dropped the project altogether, and only Ali remained among the confirmed cast members, now joined by Adria Arjona (HBO’s “True Detective”).

One month later, Netflix began negotiating for the rights to the film, eyeing Ben Affleck and his brother Casey for the roles that were previously to be filled by Tatum and Hardy. Ben Affleck left the film a month later citing “personal reasons,” and Mark Wahlberg entered into talks to replace him. By July 2017, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund and Pedro Pascal had joined the film, even as Ali was forced to drop out due to production delays. And less than a year later, in March 2018, began production in Oahu, Hawaii, with Ben Affleck once again in the lead role.

In addition to Affleck, Hunnam, Hedlund and Pascal, Oscar Isaac also eventually joined the film — a big get for Chandor, who wanted to reunite with his “A Most Violent Year” star (timing originally prevented them from working together). Chandor, who is a writer or co-writer on all of his films, eventually received a co-writing credit alongside Mark Boal, who first conceived the story. At various stages, the film was also rumored to receive a name change to “Sleeping Dogs,” but clearly that idea didn’t take.

Nevertheless, Deadline’s Mike Fleming had it right back in March of 2018 when he considered the movie’s endurance a “study in how a worthy script can stay alive , despite setbacks that are often fatal.” “Triple Frontier” is not just a prestige project or star-studded, military-themed thriller, but a testament to the longevity of good ideas and the fortitude of producers and filmmakers committed to bringing them to the screen.
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March 13, 2019