Moviefone Editorial

Tag: phoebe waller-bridge

  • Star Wars Celebration Day 1: Film Presentation

    Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daisy Ridley at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    (L to R) Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daisy Ridley at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    Star Wars Celebration is happening now at the Excel Center in London, so of course the announcements are coming thick and fast about that galaxy far, far away.

    Yet, following a fallow period after ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ that featured any number of big, exciting promises but nothing in the way of actual movies, it’s hard not to view the news with a slightly cynical eye –– how many times have must we be told about something Rian Johnson is cooking up, or Taika Waititi’s planned film –– before we start to cross our arms as a fandom and say, “we’ll believe it when we see it!”

    Our patience (young Padawans) might yet be rewarded, as Kathleen Kennedy and the Lucasfilm team took to the stage to confirm a new trio of films that hopefully have a lot more chance of coming to fruition (though, of course, we all said that about Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’, still yet to leave the development hangar and waiting for a slot on the roster.)

    So what did get announced today?

    Director James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    (L to R) Director James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    What is Dave Filoni working on?

    Dave Filoni, of course, is one of the masterminds (alongside Jon Favreau) of the current run of small screen ‘Star Wars’ that has helped to keep the flame alive for fans including ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ and the upcoming likes of ‘Ahsoka’ and ‘Skeleton Crew’.

    But Filoni, whose province has been on the small screen for years now, is being rewarded with a shot at the big one.

    He will direct a big-screen adventure tying in to ‘The Mandalorian’, a “cinematic event” that tells a vital part of the “escalating war between the Imperial remnant and the New Republic.” It’ll continue to flesh out the time between ‘Return of the Jedi’ and ‘The Force Awakens’ –– though it’s currently unknown whether it’ll mark a final chapter in the wider ‘Mando-verse’ story, or whether Filoni and Jon Favreau’s epic yarn will continue beyond the big-screen tale.

    Also unknown at this point? The title or any specific details on which characters might appear. But we’d put serious credits on a certain green, big eared charmer showing up in some capacity.

    Dave Filoni, Daisy Ridley and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    (L to R) Dave Filoni, Daisy Ridley and director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    Related Article: ‘Spencer’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’ Writer Steven Knight Taking Over Damon Lindelof’s ‘Star Wars’ Script

    What is Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film?

    Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, the Pakistani documentary maker who was welcomed into the wider Disney family thanks to her work on episodes of ‘Ms. Marvel’, has been attached to a mysterious new ‘Star Wars’ movie since at least 2022.

    It has been through some development wrinkles –– ‘The Leftovers’ and ‘Watchmen’s Damon Lindelof was reportedly co-writing the script at one point, but that job seems to have switched more recently to ‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight.

    This one sounds most likely to thrill fans of the ongoing Skywalker storyline, since it’ll see the return of a big part of the sequel trilogy.

    The will take place at the furthest end of the ‘Star Wars’ timeline, moving 15 years beyond ‘The Rise of Skywalker’. Her film, set in an era described as the New Jedi Order, will be all about establishing a bountiful new age of Force-users in the wake of the Skywalker Saga. And the Jedi building that future? None other than Rey herself, with Daisy Ridley confirmed to return in the role she originated. “My heart is pounding,” Ridley stated as she took to the Celebration stage, to huge cheers from the audience.

    Director James Mangold, and Dave Filoni at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    (L to R) Director James Mangold, and Dave Filoni at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    James Mangold to direct a Star Wars Movie

    Finally, there is news of a third movie to be directed by another filmmaker drafted in from a different corner of the Lucasfilm empire.

    James Mangold, who has been busy on ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (more on that in a moment) is also headed for ‘Star Wars’.

    For his film, he’s going right back to the beginning –– exploring “the first Jedi to wield the Force” as he explained on stage. It goes back to the earliest part of the newly-updated set of Star Wars eras, the Dawn Of The Jedi.

    Here’s what Mangold later told Empire about the movie,

    “It takes place 25,000 years before Episode IV, and it’s about the discovery of the Force,” he explains. His influences extend to historical theological epics. “I told Kathy [Kennedy] I wanted to make a kind of Bible movie, a kind of ‘Ten Commandments‘ of ‘Star Wars’ –– kind of a Cecil B. DeMille film about the arrival of the Force, and that’s what I’ve been pecking away at between press events. That’s the idea.”

    None of the movies have a release date or name announced yet, though with Disney/Lucasfilm targeting a December 2025 slot for a new ‘Star Wars’ movie, there’s a chance one of them could fill it. And at least it sounds like they have a plan –– now we wait and see if it works out.

    Director James Mangold, Mads Mikkelsen, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge from 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny' at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    (L to R) Director James Mangold, Mads Mikkelsen, and Phoebe Waller-Bridge from ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    PJpnUFWr6IUm179ciHgZl5

    A new Indiana Jones trailer

    Talking of Mangold, Team Lucasfilm also revealed the latest look at ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’, the fifth and likely final outing for Harrison Ford’s artifact-hunting adventurer.

    With the story (aside from a prologue set in the 1940s at the peak of Indy’s adventures and featuring some impressively de-aged shots of Ford) now taking place in the late 1960s, an older and wiser––debatably––Dr. Jones is more content to lecture than to put his life at risk to find some mythical treasure. It’s not the years, as he once reminded us, it’s the mileage.

    But when he’s contacted by his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), he realizes that he can’t escape his past entirely. The title gadget is being sought by a Nazi sleeper cell (including Mads Mikkelsen’s Voller) who plan to use it to correct Hitler’s “mistakes” and see the Reich restored.

    Teddy (Ethann Isidore), Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) in Lucasfilm's 'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.'
    (L to R) Teddy (Ethann Isidore), Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) in Lucasfilm’s ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.’ ©2023 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

    They discovered it, Jones took it from them way back when and now –– as this new footage reveals –– Helena takes it from him, since she’s found a bidder willing to pay richly for it. Cue another adventure for our hero.

    The new trailer, which stylishly blends the Rolling Stones’ ‘Sympathy for the Devil’ with the classic Indy theme is sure to get fans excited.

    Following a premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the next Indy movie is due in theaters on June 30th.

    WaGG2jAi
    President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    Other ‘Star Wars’ Movies:

    Buy ‘Star Wars’ Movies On Amazon

    'Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny's Harrison Ford via Zoom at Star Wars Celebration 2023.
    ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’s Harrison Ford via Zoom at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    Other ‘Indiana Jones’ Movies:

    Buy ‘Indiana Jones’ Movies On Amazon

  • Amazon Plans ‘Tomb Raider’ Universe

    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018's 'Tomb Raider.'
    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’

    Having seen success––at least in terms of buzz––with the likes of ‘The Rings of Power’ and ‘The Boys’, Amazon is breaking open its (admittedly huge) piggy bank for a new potential franchise.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, the company has struck a deal with Dmitri M. Johnson’s dj2 Entertainment for the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ game series.

    Launched in 1996 on Sony’s PlayStation console, the ‘Tomb Raider’ series has gone on to be a huge selling title across various platforms, earning more than $95 million by last year and spawning a massive amount of merchandising.

    The series gives the player control of fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artifacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins.

    Lara Croft from the 'Tomb Raider' video game.
    Lara Croft from the ‘Tomb Raider’ video game.

    It has been adapted a few times for movies––2001’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’ and 2003’s ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life’, both of which starred Angelina Jolie as the title character, and 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider’, which rebooted the series, with Roar Uthaug in the director’s chair and Alicia Vikander as Croft.

    That most recent title came from MGM and Warner Bros., but there has been talk of a sequel, with first ‘Meg 2: The Trench’s Ben Wheatley and then ‘Lovecraft Country’s Misha Green attached to make it, development stalled.

    Amazon, of course, bought MGM last year, but the rights to the ‘Tomb Raider’ games had already lapsed from the studio because of the lack of forward movement on the new movie.

    With the rights in Amazon’s grip, the plans have now shifted to building out an interconnected Lara Croft universe boasting a new game release and what will probably be another movie reboot.

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge on BBC Studios' 'Fleabag.'
    Phoebe Waller-Bridge on BBC Studios’ ‘Fleabag.’

    Perhaps most intriguingly, the new universe also features a potential Prime Video TV series from ‘Fleabag’ creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who recently renewed her deal with Amazon. While we might not have expected Waller-Bridge to be all in on a ‘Tomb Raider’ title, she’s apparently a fan of the games. and has had experience with action on the likes of ‘Killing Eve’ and recent Bond outing ‘No Time to Die’ (for which she provided script polishes).

    No details have yet emerged on what Waller-Bridge’s show might look like (she doesn’t plan to appear, just write and produce) or how it might connect to any potential movie (or movies, you know Amazon will want to get their money’s worth). But it’s certainly interesting to ponder the idea of a Lara Croft with the writer’s trademark snappy dialogue.

    Yet Amazon is not the only company with an interest in Croft––this will no doubt be disheartening for Netflix, which already has a ‘Tomb Raider’ anime series in the works following a two-series order. Or perhaps it’ll drive up interest in all things Lara?

    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018's 'Tomb Raider.'
    Alicia Vikander as Lara Croft in 2018’s ‘Tomb Raider.’
    20085628 HW0dWaeT

  • Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones Will Be De-Aged For New Movie’s Opening

    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'
    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’

    Though the next Indiana Jones movie will find the adventurous archaeologist back in action while pondering his own mortality in the late 1960s, director James Mangold is also promising a thrilling throwback to the days of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ and Indy in his prime.

    Talking to Empire for the magazine’s latest issue, Mangold revealed that the new movie (whose title has yet to be revealed) will open with a set piece that dials the clock back to 1944, set in a castle swarming with Nazis. And, as we all know, Indy hates those guys.

    “I wanted the chance to dive into this kind of full-on George-and-Steven old picture and give the audience an adrenaline blast,” Mangold says. “And then we fall out, and you find yourself in 1969. So that the audience doesn’t experience the change between the ‘40s and ‘60s as an intellectual conceit, but literally experiences the buccaneering spirit of those early days… and then the beginning of now.”

    Using a combination of techniques, including some fancy new ILM software that pulls imagery from archived material of star Harrison Ford, the effects team took years off of the actor, while stunt and photo doubles were also utilized. For the man himself, the results were impressive.

    “This is the first time I’ve seen it where I believe it,” Ford says. “It’s a little spooky. I don’t think I even want to know how it works, but it works. Doesn’t make me want to be young, though. I’m glad to have earned my age.”

    But in case you were thinking the nefarious Nazis are confined to the 1940s… think again. Their threat has remained through the next couple of decades, and Indy encounters them once again in 1969. And the biggest menace comes from a man named Voller, played by Mads Mikkelsen. Loosely inspired by former Nazi rocket scientist-turned-NASA icon Wernher von Braun, he’ll be causing trouble particularly during the Apollo 11 ticker tape parade in New York.

    Mads Mikkelsen as Voller in Lucsafilm's 'Untitled fifth Indiana Jones film.'
    Mads Mikkelsen as Voller in Lucsafilm’s ‘Untitled fifth Indiana Jones film.’ Photo courtesy of Empire Magazine.

    “He’s a man who would like to correct some of the mistakes of the past,” Mikkelsen tells Empire of Voller. “There is something that could make the world a much better place to live in. He would love to get his hands on it. Indiana Jones wants to get his hands on it as well. And so, we have a story.”

    Also on the side of the villains? Boyd Holbrook, who plays Klaber, Voller’s henchman. Because what is a James Mangold genre movie without Holbrook as a villain after ‘Logan’s Pierce?

    Finally on the side of the goodies – or possibly her own side – we have Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Indy’s Goddaughter Helena. Helena Brody, in fact (as in Denholm Elliott’s Brody from the original movie). And she’s described as a “grifter” by Mangold.

    For Waller-Bridge, who had worked with Lucasfilm on ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’, she came on board after a request from producer Kathleen Kennedy. “Kathy was in London and asked to have dinner with me, and casually mentioned this,” recalls the actor. “I immediately ordered ten bottles of wine. Then it was the fastest I’ve ever read a script; I came out of a sort of haze afterwards. I just couldn’t believe how much fun I had and how moved I was by it. And then I had a Zoom and screamed, ‘YES!’ at them all.”

    (L to R) Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, and Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Lucasfilm's 'Untitled fifth Indiana Jones film.'
    (L to R) Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena, and Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Lucasfilm’s ‘Untitled fifth Indiana Jones film.’ Photo courtesy of Empire Magazine.

    The next Indiana Jones movie will be in theaters from June 30th, 2023.

    PJpnUFWr6IUm179ciHgZl5 QTBPj5oP

  • First Image of New Indiana Jones Movie

    Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones in the next ‘Indiana Jones’ movie, which will be in theaters on June 30th, 2023.
    Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones in the next ‘Indiana Jones’ movie, which will be in theaters on June 30th, 2023.

    Though Disney and Lucasfilm offered the first poster-based look at Harrison Ford’s return to the hat and whip as Indiana Jones for the fifth – and still untitled to the general public – movie featuring the archeologist adventurer.

    Today, though (at least outside of set pics), we have our first proper look at Dr. Jones in person, via an exclusive carried by Empire magazine.

    It’s been a long journey for the latest Indy movie, which has been in the works for quite some time. Through different versions and script drafts, it has evolved into an adventure that is mostly a secret for now, but it does seem to feature Indy in the 1960s.

    Most notably, it’ll be the first without Steven Spielberg as director, ‘Logan’s James Mangold instead filling the big chair, and working on a script that has also seen work from Jez and John-Henry Butterworth.

    And Ford, who has said that this will represent his final time playing the character, seems to be happy with the result.

    Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones in the next ‘Indiana Jones’ movie, which will be in theaters on June 30th, 2023. Photo courtesy of Disney and Empire Magazine.
    Harrison Ford stars as Indiana Jones in the next ‘Indiana Jones’ movie, which will be in theaters on June 30th, 2023. Photo courtesy of Disney and Empire Magazine.

    “It’s full of adventure, full of laughs, full of real emotion. And it’s complex and it’s sneaky,” Ford tells Empire, even if he admits that it was a big challenge. “The shooting of it was tough and long and arduous,” he says. “But I’m very happy with the film that we have.”

    And more importantly, since he was ready to step away, the 80-year-old actor knew he wanted a sense of finality to this new outing. “I just thought it would be nice to see one where Indiana Jones was at the end of his journey,” Ford explains. “If a script came along that I felt gave me a way to extend the character.”

    For Mangold, that was also the aim, while still staying true to what audiences have loved about these movies for decades. “It became really important to me to figure out how to make this a movie about a hero at sunset,” he says. “The issues I brought up about Indy’s age were not things I thought were being addressed in the material being developed at the time. There were ‘old’ jokes, but the material itself wasn’t about it. To me, whatever you greatest liability, you should fly straight towards that. If you try to pretend it’s not there, you end up getting slings and arrows the whole way.”

    The cast for the new movie also includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Boyd Holbrook, Thomas Kretschmann, Toby Jones and Antonio Banderas.

    Whatever its final title, the next ‘Indiana Jones’ movies will be in theaters on June 30th, 2023.

    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'
    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’
    PJpnUFWr6IUm179ciHgZl5 zVSRbWYM

  • Indiana Jones TV Spin-Off in Early Development

    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'
    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’

    Disney+ has been a place for the company to extend the already wide-reaching tentacles of the various franchises under its umbrella.

    We’ve had a bevy of ‘Star Wars’ shows (which continues with the likes of ‘The Acolyte’, now in production under the leadership of Leslye Headland), a raft of Marvel TV series introducing new characters to the MCU or continuing the adventures of some such as Hawkeye and all sorts of other offerings for family audiences from Pixar, Disney Animation and others.

    One notable exception – at least so far – has been Lucasfilm’s ‘Indiana Jones’, which in recent years, been confined to the big screen.

    That, it would appear, is set to change. According to Variety, Disney and Lucasfilm are in the very early stages of exploring a new series set in the world of Dr. Jones, though given that they are only now meeting with writers to explore concepts, nothing is known about what this could be.

    Given how much use Disney tends to get out of its various titles, it’s not out of the question that other writers and directors could re-cast Indy, even though that would meet with plenty of online backlash – as with the rumors that Chris Pratt could be taking over the role. He’s since said he won’t do it.

    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'
    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’

    It would seem nigh-on impossible for any series to be built around Harrison Ford as Indy, since the actor has firmly stated that he’s done slapping on the famous fedora and handling the whip. So, we are once again facing the possibility that someone else will play Indiana Jones.

    It has happened in the past on TV – ‘The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’, which ran for two seasons between 1992 and 1993 saw Sean Patrick Flanery playing, as the title suggests, a young Indy. The shows were retooled into TV movies later.

    But the history of the franchise stretches back to the late 1970s, when George Lucas and Steven Spielberg hatched an idea for a movie about an adventurer inspired by the radio and movie series they loved when younger.

    The result was the second iconic movie character for Ford after ‘Star Wars’ Han Solo. ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, directed by Spielberg, debuted in 1981 and was a big success. Spielberg followed it with ‘Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom’ in 1984, ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ in 1989 and ‘Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull’ in 2008.

    Incoming is a fourth entry, this time directed by James Mangold. It has yet to announce a title or plotline. But we do know it’ll feature Ford in what is likely to be his final appearance in the role (unless tempted back by a good offer to cameo in any possible series) and also stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Kretschmann, Boyd Holbrook, Toby Jones, Antonio Banderas and John Rhys-Davies, who returns to his role as Sallah from both ‘Raiders’ and ‘Last Crusade’.

    The new movie will be in theaters on June 30th next year.

    PJpnUFWr6IUm179ciHgZl5 zVSRbWYM

  • Chris Pratt Says He Won’t Play Indiana Jones

    Chris Pratt in Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List’
    Chris Pratt in Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List’

    There was a time when Chris Pratt was rumored to be taking on a wide variety of roles.

    That time was during his peak career moment, around the first ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ movie and ‘Jurassic World’, where he’d successfully made the leap from character actor and TV sitcom star to bona fide action hero.

    One of the biggest rumors was a Deadline story that had Pratt under consideration by Disney to take over playing Indiana Jones were Harrison Ford to decide he didn’t want the job going forward. The rumors persisted, though cooled off more recently after Pratt’s clout began to wane slightly.

    Add to that, the general reaction online to anyone – but Pratt in particular – picking up the whip was negative, which probably didn’t help move anything along.

    Now, in an interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Pratt has shot down the idea of playing Indy – but for an unexpected reason.

    Asked about the concept, Pratt initially brushed it off with a joke about never having talked to one of the main people who would be making the decision as to the next fedora wearing hero.

    “I don’t even know who Steven Spielberg is. Who? Steven Who?” laughed the actor. “No, aren’t they doing Indiana Jones with Harrison Ford?” (Given his role in the ‘Jurassic’ movies, we’re fairly sure he has Spielberg’s phone number, since the latter is one of the producers).

    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.'
    Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark.’

    “All I know,” Pratt adds, “is once I saw a quote from Harrison Ford and I don’t even know if it was really him but it was enough to scare me, that was like, ‘When I die, Indiana Jones dies.’ And I’m like, am I gonna get haunted by the ghost of Harrison Ford one day when he dies if I play… ?”

    Ford – who just turned 80 this week – is still going strong, so Pratt seems not to have to worry too much about that for the moment. Though we have seen him in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ as a Force Ghost, so perhaps there’s something to this.

    And Ford, of course (with the help of a stunt team and other filmmaking techniques) is still playing Dr. Jones – the next ‘Indiana Jones’ film, the fifth in the franchise has wrapped shooting.

    The first not to be directed by Steven Spielberg, the new movie is in fact from James Mangold.

    Much about the next movie is still unknown, including the adventure that Indy will be going on, or what it’ll even be titled. Still, we do at least have confirmation that legendary composer John Williams is writing the score again.

    And the cast around Ford includes Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Kretschmann, Boyd Holbrook, Antonio Banderas and Toby Jones.

    Whatever it ends up being called, the next ‘Indiana Jones’ movie will be in theaters on June 30th next year.

    PJpnUFWr6IUm179ciHgZl5

  • Steve Carell Reuniting with John Krasinski for ‘IF’

    Steve Carrell in 'Welcome to Marwen'
    Steve Carrell in ‘Welcome to Marwen’

    It’s been years since Steve Carell and John Krasinski were co-stars on the hugely successful sitcom ‘The Office’, and while the pair has teamed up from time to time on other things, they haven’t made a movie together before. Krasinski is looking to change that with new fantasy comedy ‘IF’.

    The film, which Krasinski is planning to write, direct, produce and appear in (like he did for both ‘A Quiet Place’ movies), already has Ryan Reynolds in the lead. ‘IF’ – then called ‘Imaginary Friends’ – was first announced back in 2019.

    Based on an idea by Krasinski, the story has officially been listed as “a child’s journey to rediscover their imagination”, and reportedly follows a man (Reynolds) who can see and communicate with other peoples’ imaginary friends, who, it turns out, are not so imaginary. He befriends those who have been forgotten or discarded, but some become irretrievably evil, and he must find a way to stop them.

    It all sounds like a cross between 1991’s Phoebe Cates comedy ‘Drop Dead Fred’ and the ‘Doctor Dolittle’ concept (though he could talk to animals, not fantasy friends). Will it also manage to make us all cry like Bing Bong in Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’?

    And Carell is only one of the new cast members that Krasinski has rounded up to co-star in the movie. There’s also Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator and star of comedy series ‘Fleabag’ who also adapted and ran the first season of ‘Killing Eve.’ Fiona Shaw, one of the stars of ‘Killing Eve’, is also joining ‘IF’, along with young ‘Minari’ breakout Alan Kim and veteran actor Louis Gossett Jr., probably best known for movies such as ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’ and ‘Enemy Mine’ in the 1980s.

    Becoming Pikachu still
    Ryan Reynolds/YouTube

    Finally, young actress Cailey Fleming is part of the cast, having been seen in ‘The Walking Dead’ and as young Rey in ‘Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker’.

    Carell, of course, is no stranger to screens – though ‘The Office’ boosted his profile even higher than it already was, he’s since gone on to movies including the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise (with a new entry due this summer), ‘The Big Short’ and ‘Vice’, both for director Adam McKay.

    Krasinski has increasingly been working as a director and producer, though he also still stars in the ‘Jack Ryan’ TV series for Amazon and will be heard on cinema screens this year in the animated ‘DC League Of Super-Pets’, playing Superman. He’s also developing a third ‘Quiet Place’ movie, though he won’t direct that one.

    Paramount Pictures is making the new movie, and both Krasinski’s Sunday Night and Reynolds’ Maximum Effort production companies have deals there.

    The movie is scheduled for release on November 17, 2023.

    tUc4k3Ly4OpDKsVemNP1V

     

  • ‘SNL’ Reveals Early Season 45 Lineup, Featuring Eddie Murphy, David Harbour, Taylor Swift

    ‘SNL’ Reveals Early Season 45 Lineup, Featuring Eddie Murphy, David Harbour, Taylor Swift

    NBC

    Season 45 of “Saturday Night Live” is starting with a bang, featuring a star-studded lineup of hosts and musical guests, led by the unexpected — and sure to be triumphant — return of one of the show’s most famous alums.

    On Monday, “SNL” revealed a partial lineup for the first half of the upcoming season, which will kick off on September 28 with Woody Harrelson hosting, alongside musical guest Billie Eilish.

    That duo will be followed by “Bond 25” screenwriter (and Emmy-nominated “Fleabag” star) Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Taylor Swift on October 5; David Harbour and Camila Cabello on October 12; and Kristen Stewart (musical guest TBA) on November 2.

    But it’s the final emcee of 2019 that had fans buzzing those most on Monday: None other than Eddie Murphy is set to headline the December 21 episode, marking his first time hosting in more than 35 years. No musical guest has been announced yet.

    Murphy shot to superstardom on “SNL,” where he was a cast member from 1980 until 1984. The comedian is credited with revitalizing the series during that time period, and remains one of the show’s most beloved former stars.

    But since his departure from the series, Murphy has been almost entirely absent from Studio 8H, returning only for a brief, awkward appearance at the SNL 40 celebration in 2015. He was also slated to pop up in a sketch that evening, but ultimately bailed; if Murphy keeps his date with “SNL” in December, the episode will mark his first time actually performing on the show in more than three decades.

    Our fingers are crossed for an epic evening. We can’t wait for season 45 to start.

  • Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Polish ‘Bond 25’ Script Per Daniel Craig’s Request: Report

    Phoebe Waller-Bridge to Polish ‘Bond 25’ Script Per Daniel Craig’s Request: Report

    Amazon

    James Bond has never been considered the funniest guy around, but that may change in “Bond 25.”

    Star Daniel Craig has reportedly requested that Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator of “Fleabag” and “Killing Eve,” be brought in to “liven up” the script, according to The Observer.

    Craig wants some of the offbeat wit and style that Waller-Bridge has become known for. The actor’s wife, Rachel Weisz, is reportedly a big fan of both shows.

    “Bond 25,” which is still untitled, has experienced a rough journey in development. Original director Danny Boyle left the project with just weeks to go before shooting, and he was eventually replaced by Cary Fukunaga.

    In February, “The Bourne Ultimatum” writer Scott Z. Burns was hired to rewrite the screenplay by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade (who had already reworked “Trainspotting” writer John Hodge’s screenplay).

    With all the changes and reworking, “Bond 25” is now scheduled to open in April 2020.