Moviefone Editorial

Tag: ridley-scott

Ridley Scott Says Ideas for ‘Gladiator III’ are in the Works
(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Paul Mescal on the set of ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

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

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

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

What has happened with ‘Gladiator III’ so far?

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

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

Here’s what Scott had to say:

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

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

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

This is what Mescal had to say:

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

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

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

What’s the story of ‘Gladiator II’?

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

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

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

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

Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
Buy Ridley Scott Movies On Amazon
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September 23, 2024
Denzel Washington Hints He May be Retiring from Acting
Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

Preview:
- Denzel Washington says he has “few films” left he’s interested in.
- He may opt to retire from acting and instead focus on directing.
- That said, he still has ‘Gladiator II’ and Spike Lee’s ‘High & Low’ headed our way.
Is Denzel Washington looking to close the curtain on the time in front of the camera? He’s certainly hinting at that.

In a new interview with Empire, Washington talked up the fact that, “There are very few films left for me to make that I’m interested in, and I have to be inspired by the filmmaker.”

Which all points to the fact that he’s starting to feel he’s said all he can in front of the camera and isn’t looking to keep that side of his career forever.

Of course, actors (and directors) talk about retirement, but frequently go back to work –– for every Gene Hackman (who hasn’t acted in years), there’s a Steven Soderbergh (who announced he was stepping back from directing movies but soon returned).

Related Article: 45 Best Denzel Washington Movies of All Time

What’s happening with Denzel Washington?

Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall in Columbia Pictures ‘The Equalizer 3.’ Photo by: Stefano Montesi.

With Denzel, it’s a little less clear.

Back in June at the American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, Washington talked up the likelihood that he could wrap up the acting side and focus on directing, where he’s had success with movies such as ‘Fences’ and ‘The Great Debaters.’

This was Washington’s statement at the time:

“The things that are going on for me professionally behind the camera are as important to me now as in front of the camera. I think there’s less and less time I’ll be spending in front of the camera.”

What does Denzel Washington have coming up?

(L to R) Denzel Washington and Spike Lee in ‘Malcolm X.’ Photo: Warner Bros.

Despite all the retirement talk, he’s still booked and busy.

Next up for the actor in the release schedule is Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’.

The new outing, set 20 years after the events of the original, follows Paul Mescal’s Lucius (the character was a child in the first film) as he himself becomes a gladiator in the arena.
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Washington plays Macrinus, a wealthy arms dealer who wants to be Emperor and he’s willing to do anything to get there.

He was clearly happy with his latest collaboration with Scott:

“We had a great go-round the first go-round and here we are. He’s engaged. He’s excited about life and his next film. He’s an inspiration. We should all want to feel like that at 86.”

‘Gladiator’ 2 will be in theaters on November 22.

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

And also in the can? A reunion with even more regular collaborator Spike Lee, with whom he’s made crime drama ‘High and Low’.

Beyond those two? A potential movie about the warrior Hannibal, which has Antoine Fuqua directing, and a stack of scripts he’s attached to as a producer.

Denzel Washington in ‘Man on Fire’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

List of Denzel Washington Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘St. Elsewhere‘ (1982 – 1988)
- ‘Cry Freedom‘ (1987)
- ‘The Mighty Quinn‘ (1989)
- ‘Glory‘ (1990)
- ‘Mo’ Better Blues‘ (1990)
- ‘Ricochet‘ (1991)
- ‘Malcolm X‘ (1992)
- ‘The Pelican Brief‘ (1993)
- ‘Philadelphia‘ (1994)
- ‘Crimson Tide‘ (1995)
- ‘Virtuosity‘ (1995)
- ‘Devil in a Blue Dress‘ (1995)
- ‘Courage Under Fire‘ (1996)
- ‘He Got Game‘ (1998)
- ‘The Siege‘ (1998)
- ‘Fallen‘ (1998)
- ‘The Bone Collector‘ (1999)
- ‘The Hurricane‘ (1999)
- ‘Remember the Titans‘ (2000)
- ‘John Q‘ (2002)
- ‘Antwone Fisher‘ (2003)
- ‘Out of Time‘ (2003)
- ‘Man on Fire‘ (2004)
- ‘The Manchurian Candidate‘ (2004)
- ‘Déjà Vu‘ (2006)
- ‘Inside Man‘ (2006)
- ‘American Gangster‘ (2007)
- ‘The Great Debaters‘ (2007)
- ‘The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3‘ (2009)
- ‘The Book of Eli‘ (2010)
- ‘Unstoppable‘ (2010)
- ‘Safe House‘ (2012)
- ‘Flight‘ (2012)
- ‘2 Guns‘ (2013)
- ‘The Equalizer‘ (2014)
- ‘Fences‘ (2016)
- ‘The Magnificent Seven‘ (2016)
- ‘Roman J. Israel, Esq.‘ (2017)
- ‘The Equalizer 2‘ (2018)
- ‘The Little Things‘ (2021)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
- ‘A Journal for Jordan‘ (2021)
- ‘The Equalizer 3‘ (2023)
- ‘Gladiator II‘ (2024)
Buy Denzel Washington Movies on Amazon
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August 26, 2024
Every ‘Alien’ Movie, Ranked

Xenomorph in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Director Ridley Scott‘s 1979 film ‘Alien,’ which featured Sigourney Weaver‘s first appearance as series hero Ripley, spawned one of the most successful and durable science-fiction franchises in cinema history.

The series continued in 1986 with director James Cameron‘s sequel, ‘Aliens,’ which once again starred Weaver as Ripley. Weaver would return for two more outings, ‘Alien³‘ and ‘Alien Resurrection‘ before the franchise would be merged with the ‘Predator‘ series with ‘AVP: Alien vs. Predator‘ and ‘Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem‘.

Scott would return to the franchise to direct two prequels, ‘Prometheus‘ and ‘Alien: Covenant,’ and now is a producer on the latest installment, ‘Alien: Romulus,’ which was directed by Fede Álvarez and opens in theaters on August 16th.

In honor of the new release, Moviefone is counting down every ‘Alien’ movie ever made, including the ‘AVP’ movies and ‘Romulus’.

Let’s begin!

9. ‘Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem‘ (2007)

2007’s ‘Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

After a horrifying PredAlien crash-lands near a small Colorado town, killing everyone it encounters and producing countless Alien offspring, a lone Predator arrives to “clean up” the infestation.
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8. ‘Alien: Covenant‘ (2017)

(L to R) Katherine Waterston and Michael Fassbender in ‘Alien: Covenant’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise but is actually a dark, dangerous world.
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7. ‘Alien³‘ (1992)

Sigourney Weaver in ‘Alien³’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

After escaping with Newt (Carrie Henn) and Hicks (Michael Biehn) from the alien planet, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) crash lands on Fiorina 161, a prison planet and host to a correctional facility. Unfortunately, although Newt and Hicks do not survive the crash, a more unwelcome visitor does. The prison does not allow weapons of any kind, and with aid being a long time away, the prisoners must simply survive in any way they can.
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6. ‘AVP: Alien vs. Predator‘ (2004)

2004’s ‘AVP: Alien vs. Predator’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

When scientists discover something near Antarctica that appears to be a buried Pyramid, they send a research team out to investigate. Little do they know that they are about to step into a hunting ground where Aliens are grown as sport for the Predator race.
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5. ‘Prometheus‘ (2012)

Michael Fassbender in ‘Prometheus’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
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4. ‘Alien: Romulus‘ (2024)

Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
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3. ‘Alien Resurrection‘ (1997)

(L to R) Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Sigourney Weaver and Winona Ryder in ‘Alien Resurrection’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Two hundred years after Lt. Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) died, a group of scientists clone her, hoping to breed the ultimate weapon. But the new Ripley is full of surprises … as are the new aliens. Ripley must team with a band of smugglers to keep the creatures from reaching Earth.
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2. ‘Alien‘ (1979)

(L to R) Ian Holm, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt and John Hurt in ‘Alien’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

During its return to the earth, commercial spaceship Nostromo intercepts a distress signal from a distant planet. When a three-member team of the crew discovers a chamber containing thousands of eggs on the planet, a creature inside one of the eggs attacks an explorer. The entire crew is unaware of the impending nightmare set to descend upon them when the alien parasite planted inside its unfortunate host (John Hurt) is birthed.
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1. ‘Aliens‘ (1986)

(L to R) Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn in ‘Aliens’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.

Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor of the Nostromo’s deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.
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August 16, 2024
Comic-Con 2024: ‘Alien: Romulus’ Panel
(L to R) Spike Fearn, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, director Fede Álvarez and Archie Renaux at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

Preview:
- ‘Alien: Romulus’ brought terror to the San Diego Comic-Con.
- Director Fede Alvarez and his cast were in attendance.
- The movie’s team brought Facehuggers to the presentation.
It’s always a challenge to stand out at a panel at the San Diego Comic-Con; but when you have the compelling terror of an ‘Alien’ movie and the resources of 20th Century Studios, you can afford to put on a show.

With journalists previously teased by a VHS tape begging up the idea of the panel weeks before, the Con event itself proved to be memorable, launched with flashing red lights and red smoke piercing the pre-show gloom and closing with a planted audience member stumbling on stage, attacked by a Facehugger (AKA the larval stage of the xenomorph aliens we love to hate), others of the creature scuttling across the stage and another person having an alien burst from his chest with a spray of fake blood.

You can get a flavor of the live experience here:
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What’s the story of ‘Alien: Romulus’?

Cailee Spaeny as Rain Carradine in 20th Century Studios’ ‘Alien: Romulus.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2024 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

‘Alien: Romulus’ takes place between the events of ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’.

While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
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Who is in ‘Alien: Romulus’?

(L to R) David Jonsson, Cailee Spaeny, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Cailee Spaeny, and Spike Fearn at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, and Spike Fearn are among the main cast for the movie, and they were all present for the Comic-Con panel.

The actors talked about their roles and the experience shooting the movie, which blended practical and physical effects –– Fearn talked about not having to shoot “with tennis balls”, while Spaeny enthused about being enveloped by the huge practical sets.

Related Article: Fede Alvarez’s ‘Alien’ Movie Gets Seal Of Approval From Ridley Scott

What did we learn at the ‘Alien: Romulus’ Comic-Con panel?

(L to R) Director Fede Álvarez, Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Isabela Merced, Archie Renaux and Spike Fearn at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

Director Fede Alvarez, who wrote the script with regular collaborator Rodo Sayagues, answered the lion’s share of the questions, including those submitted by the likes of Ridley Scott (director of the original 1979 ‘Alien’ and a couple of more recent spin-offs, who is a producer on ‘Romulus’), Dan Trachtenberg (director of Predator movie ‘Prey’) and Guillermo del Toro (a filmmaker who surely needs little introduction).

Asked by del Toro about his approach to leading the design for the latest take on the xenomorph creature, he admitted it included lots of reading and looking through old films to make sure they honored what came before. “If you love it, it’s hard to f*** it up,” he said.

Trachtenberg asked who would win between a Predator and a Xenomorph, with Alvarez and his cast clear that the Xenomorphs would triumph.

Cailee Spaeny at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

Scott got two questions –– one about the themes of the new movie (“It’s called ‘Romulus’ because it’s really a story about siblinghood,” Alvarez said, explaining that he wants to explore more human connections in a way the original movies didn’t.

The other Scott query could almost have come from the fan Q&A section, grilling Alvarez on his favorite ‘Alien’ movie, with the proviso that he directed the original –– which Alvarez confirmed he loved the most (well, it wouldn’t do to be fired at this point).

Dotted through the panel was footage from the movie, including a chestburster scene that the director explained upfront had been edited differently to the final film version so as to preclude some spoilers. All the scenes shown from the movie had the audience screaming and cheering in equal measure.

When will ‘Alien: Romulus’ be in theaters?

The movie itself is due to unleash horror in cinemas on August 16th.

(Right) Director Fede Álvarez at the San Diego Comic-Con 2024 ‘Alien: Romulus’ panel. Photo: Disney.

Movies in the ‘Alien’ Franchise:
- ‘Alien‘ (1979)
- ‘Aliens‘ (1986)
- ‘Alien³‘ (1992)
- ‘Alien Resurrection‘ (1997)
- ‘Alien vs Predator‘ (2022)
- ‘Aliens vs Predator: Requiem‘ (2007)
- ‘Prometheus‘ (2012)
- ‘Alien: Covenant‘ (2017)
- ‘Alien: Romulus‘ (2024)
Buy ‘Alien’ Movies On Amazon
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July 27, 2024
First Images from Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator II’
Paul Mescal plays Lucius in ‘Gladiator II’ from Paramount Pictures.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who else is in ‘Gladiator II’?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘Gladiator II’: Paul Mescal talks the story

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

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

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

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

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

Nielsen enthused about the director:

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

When will ‘Gladiator II’ be in theaters?

Paramount will release the sequel on November 22nd.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Other Movies Similar to ‘Gladiator II’:
- ‘Spartacus‘ (1960)
- ‘Excalibur‘ (1981)
- ‘Braveheart‘ (1995)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘Troy‘ (2004)
- ‘Kingdom of Heaven‘ (2005)
- ‘300‘ (2007)
- ‘Centurion‘ (2010)
- ‘The Eagle‘ (2011)
- ‘Pompeii‘ (2014)
- ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth‘ (2021)
Buy Ridley Scott Movies On Amazon
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July 8, 2024
Michelle Yeoh to Appear in ‘Blade Runner 2099’
(Left) Michelle Yeoh at the 95th Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023. The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT. (Right) 1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. Photo: Warner Bros.

Preview:
- Michelle Yeoh is set to star in ‘Blade Runner 2099’.
- She’s the first announced cast member for the series.
- Ridley Scott is producing the show, though won’t be actively involved.
Is there a competition going on between Giancarlo Esposito and Michelle Yeoh as to who can appear in the most pop culture universes? Yeoh, who already has the likes of Bond, the modern ‘Star Trek’ series, ‘Transformers’ and the MCU under her belt, is adding one more.

She’s now on to star in the new ‘Blade Runner’ series.
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What’s the story of ‘Blade Runner 2099’?

1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. Photo: Warner Bros.

‘Blade Runner 2099’ follows on from 1982’s ‘Blade Runner’, the Ridley Scott movie that introduced us to the world of rogue artificial lifeforms known as Replicants, and the enforcers who track them down (Harrison Ford played the most notable example, Rick Deckard). It meditated on existence and reality, and though it didn’t launch well at the box office, it has long since become a cult classic.

In 2017, Warner Bros. gave Denis Villeneuve the opportunity to create a sequel, ‘Blade Runner 2049’, with Ford returning as Deckard and Ryan Gosling starring as ‘K’, a replicant who works as a Blade Runner. It explored some of the mysteries of Deckard’s story and some new angles, but also didn’t really soar at the box office.

Since then, we’ve had video games and an anime take, but ‘Blade Runner 2099’ is the first new live-action attempt.

Prime Video has revealed zero official plot details about the show, but scooper Daniel Richtman has tracked down what is reportedly the basic synopsis for the show.

Given that this is from an unofficial source, prepare a grain of salt, but otherwise, read on:

“In Los Angeles 2099, Cora lived her entire life on the run, a chameleon forced to adopt numerous identities. To secure a stable future for her brother, she assumes one final identity and is forced to partner with Olwen (our best guess for Yeoh’s character), a Blade Runner who’s confronting the end of her life. The two are pulled into a widening conspiracy that poses an existential threat to a city that’s fighting to be reborn.”

Who is making ‘Blade Runner 2099’

1982’s ‘Blade Runner’. Photo: Warner Bros.

While Ridley Scott has an executive producer credit, he won’t be directly involved. Instead, Silka Luisa of ‘Shining Girls’ is showrunner and ‘Shogun’s Jonathan van Tulleken as its primary director.

The show, once planned to film in Belfast, Ireland, has since relocated to Prague.

Related Article: Ridley Scott is Spearheading a Live-Action Blade Runner TV Series Set in 2099

Where else will we see Michelle Yeoh?

Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou on Paramount+’s ‘Star Trek: Discovery.’

As we mentioned at the beginning of the story, Oscar winner Yeoh has lined up yet more genre work in the future –– she’ll be Madame Morrible in the two ‘Wicked’ movies (the first is due on November 27th this year), has a role in the next couple of ‘Avatar’ films (‘Avatar 3’ will be with us on December 19th, 2025) and, continuing her association with ‘Star Trek’, has been working on spin-off movie ‘Star Trek: Section 31’.

1982’s ‘Blade Runner’ Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

Other Movies in the ‘Blade Runner’ Franchise:
- ‘Blade Runner‘ (1982)
- ‘Blade Runner 2049‘ (2017)
Buy ‘Blade Runner’ Movies On Amazon
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May 8, 2024
Ridley Scott in Talks to Make Bee Gees Biopic
(Left) Ridley Scott attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. (Left) The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

Preview:
- Ridley Scott’s in talks for a Bee Gees biopic.
- Paramount has been developing the movie for a few years.
- The script comes from ‘Gladiator’ scribe John Logan.
As ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ –– the movie about the reggae music superstar –– performs well at the box office following its Valentine’s Day midweek release ($17.9 million and counting), Paramount is looking to give a long-gestating other film in the genre a boost.

The studio has had a movie chronicling the extraordinary story of the Bee Gees in the works since at least 2019 but has seen it burn through a couple of directors already (that would be Kenneth Branagh and John Carney).

Now, as his schedule starts to open up again, Ridley Scott is the studio’s target to get the Bee Gees project to screens.
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Who are the Bee Gees?

The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

If you know the name, but don’t know the story of sibling musicians Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb, just say, lay it on me.

The group enjoyed worldwide sales of more than 220 million records, cementing them as one of the biggest-selling groups of all time. While the brothers first began performing together in the late 1950s with folk and soft rock, their popularity mushroomed after they wrote songs for ‘Saturday Night Fever’ that boosted the popularity of disco and led to one of the top-selling albums ever, winning five Grammys including Album of the Year.

Even though the soaring success made them world famous, rich and an indelible part of the ’70s zeitgeist, their position as the symbol of disco put them unexpectedly on their heels when there was an eventual backlash to the whole vibe. When Maurice Gibb died suddenly in January 2003 at the age of 53, the remaining brothers retired the group’s name after 45 years of work. They re-formed in 2009, but Robin died three years later at age 62 and that has left Barry to maintain the band’s legacy.

Paramount has John Logan –– who incidentally wrote both ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Alien: Covenant’ for Scott, at work on the script, while biopic specialist Graham King (who worked on the Oscar-winning ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and is in production on Michael Jackson film ‘Michael‘) is also aboard.

What is happening with Ridley Scott?

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix behind-the-scenes of ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

Scott is in post-production on his ‘Gladiator’ sequel, which continues the story of his 2000 epic set a few years later, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Joseph Quinn.

It’s just his latest project, and he has plenty of other potential movies in development, but the studio is hoping he’ll set the Bee Gees film as a priority. Scott actually has a connection to the group, as he was offered the chance to direct a movie called ‘Castle Accident’ starring the brothers way back in the 1970s, but it never came together.

Related Article: Every Ridley Scott Movie, Ranked!

When will the biopic be in theaters?

The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

The film is not yet at a point where it can schedule a release date –– even with modern studio policies of assigning a date before most of the creative elements are in place. But if Scott does agree to make it, we can expect him to have it moving quickly.

Next up for the director is the aforementioned ‘Gladiator’ sequel, which is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 22nd.

The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.

Other Musician Biopics:
- ‘Sid and Nancy‘ (1986)
- ‘The Doors‘ (1991)
- ‘Ray‘ (2004)
- ‘Walk the Line‘ (2005)
- ‘I’m Not There‘ (2007)
- ‘Control‘ (2007)
- ‘Nowhere Boy‘ (2010)
- ‘The Runaways‘ (2010)
- ‘Get on Up‘ (2014)
- ‘Love & Mercy‘ (2015)
- ‘Bohemian Rhapsody‘ (2018)
- ‘Rocketman‘ (2019)
- ‘The Dirt‘ (2019)
- ‘Elvis‘ (2022)
- ‘Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody‘ (2022)
- ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story‘ (2022)
- ‘Bob Marley: One Love‘ (2024)
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February 16, 2024
Where To Watch Ridley Scott’s War Drama ‘Napoleon’
Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon.’ Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ and Columbia Pictures.

A notable historical figure, Napoleon Bonaparte is considered to be one of the greatest generals in military history. Through Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon,’ we see his ruthless tactics on the battlefield, his rise to become the first Emperor of France, his relationship with Josephine, and the decisive battle that led to Napleon’s downfall.

This film reunited Academy Award winning director Ridley Scott with Joaquin Phoenix since their collaboration on ‘Gladiator’, which was released over 20 years ago in 2000.
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Where Can I Watch ‘Napoleon’?

Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

The movie held its premiere at Salle Pleyel in Paris on November 14, 2023. Although the film is set for an Apple TV+ debut later this year, it was released exclusively in theaters on November 22nd for a limited run.

Buy Tickets: ‘Napoleon’ Movie Showtimes

With the film’s runtime of 2 hours and 38 minutes, some viewers may want to enjoy ‘Napoleon’ from the comfort of their homes. Luckily, the historical war epic is now available to rent or purchase on VOD platforms such as Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu. Prices range from $19.99 for rental or $24.99 for purchase.

There is no confirmed date for when ‘Napoleon’ will stream on Apple TV+.

Where to Watch: ‘Napoleon’ Online

Recreating the Battle Scenes

‘Napoleon’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

To recreate the battle scenes, Ridley Scott worked with long time collaborator and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (‘The Last Duel’, ‘House of Gucci’). Crafting epic battle scenes such as the Battle of Austerlitz and the Battle of Waterloo required extensive planning and coordinating on many fronts.

“You’re basically creating a huge event. You have army personnel, you have extras trained to behave like soldiers from the 19th century, you have horse people, then we have armor, you have professional effects people, explosions, then you have main characters. You basically design the whole battle,” said Wolski.

While some CGI was utilized, the majority of the battle scenes used practical effects such as large soldier formations, cavalry runs, and canons without lethal ammunition rounds. Scenes are shot with over eight cameras simultaneously.

Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Napoleon’

Napoleon and Josephine

(L to R) Vanessa Kirby and Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

This may be a war epic, but for Ridley Scott, it was also important to show the curious and often times, volatile relationship between Napoleon and his long-time love, Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). Napoleon may be relentless and confident on the battlefield, but when it comes to his relationship with Josephine, he is insecure and awkward.

Opposite Napoleon, Josephine was quiet and observant, alluring and flirtatious. Their dynamic shifted constantly. Prior to filming, Kirby traveled to Josephine’s home in Malmaison as a part of her extensive research. In an interview with Deadline, she spoke about the fear of taking on the role initially:

“I love most taking on things that scare me. This was scary just because it’s hard to play a real person, and it’s a different kind of process. You’re not inventing their history, their lives, their childhood, their background, and their psyche. You are trying to accurately embody someone that really has lived, and lived such an extraordinary life that’s really, really far from any of ours or anything that I could relate it to personally.”

Four Hour Director’s Cut

(L to R) Director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix behind-the-scenes of ‘Napoleon,’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

The movie sits at a hefty 2 hours and 38 minutes, but there’s a chance we’ll see a four hours and 10 minutes Director’s Cut once the film is released on streaming. During an interview with Total Film, Scott mentions the extended cut will head to Apple TV+:

“I’m working on it. It was four [hours] 10 [minutes] this morning. And so what will happen is, we’ll screen [the theatrical cut] first with Sony, and then it has its run, and then the perfect thing is that [the director’s cut] goes to streaming, and we have four hours 10 minutes.”

Buy ‘Napoleon’ On Amazon

Watch the official trailers for ‘Napoleon’ below:
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The official synopsis for ‘Napoleon’ is below:

‘Napoleon’ is a spectacle-filled action epic that details the checkered rise and fall of the iconic French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, played by Oscar winner Joaquin Phoenix. Against a stunning backdrop of large-scale filmmaking orchestrated by legendary director Ridley Scott, the film captures Bonaparte’s relentless journey to power through the prism of his addictive, volatile relationship with his one true love, Josephine, showcasing his visionary military and political tactics against some of the most dynamic practical battle sequences ever filmed.

(Center) Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon.’ Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ and Columbia Pictures.

Other Movies Similar to ‘Napoleon’:
- ‘Napoleon‘ (1927)
- ‘Désirée‘ (1954)
- ‘The Story of Mankind‘ (1957)
- ‘War and Peace‘ (1968)
- ‘Waterloo‘ (1970)
- ‘Love and Death‘ (1975)
- ‘Alien‘ (1979)
- ‘Time Bandits‘ (1981)
- ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure‘ (1989)
- ‘Gladiator‘ (2000)
- ‘The Count of Monte Cristo‘ (2002)
- ‘Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian‘ (2009)
- ‘Joker‘ (2019)
January 26, 2024
Timothy Olyphant Joins the ‘Alien’ TV Series
(Left) Timothy Olyphant in FX’s ‘Justified.’ (Right) 2012’s ‘Prometheus.’

Preview:
- Timothy Olyphant will reunite with ‘Fargo’s Noah Hawley for his ‘Alien’ TV series.
- The show will resume filming early next year.
- On the big screen front, Cailee Spaeny has offered an update on Fede Alvarez’ ‘Alien’ movie.
Not content with ‘Fargo’ returning for a fifth season, Noah Hawley has been working on his ‘Alien’ prequel TV series for cable channel FX.

And it appears he’s recruited someone who has previously on the darkly comic crime series, as Timothy Olyphant is, according to Deadline, set to take one of the lead roles.

Olyphant, of course, appeared in Season 4 of ‘Fargo’, playing Dick ‘Deafy’ Wickware.

Related Article: Fede Alvarez’s ‘Alien’ Movie Gets Seal Of Approval From Ridley Scott

What’s the Story of the ‘Alien’ Series?

2012’s ‘Prometheus.’

So far, very few details have been revealed about the new show. We do know that it’ll factor into the main ‘Alien’ storyline (so has no connection to the ‘Alien Vs. Predator’ movies, which were set on Earth and closer to present day) but located on Earth and taking place roughly 70 years in the future.

Thanks to the Deadline story, we now know that Olyphant is reportedly playing Kirsh, a synth who acts as a mentor and trainer for Sydney Chandler’s Wendy who is a hybrid, a meta-human who has the brain and consciousness of a child but the body of an adult. We’d caution that no official confirmation has arrived for that.

Who Else is in the ‘Alien’ Series?

Timothy Olyphant in FX’s ‘Justified.’

Olyphant joins a cast that also includes Alex Lawther as a soldier named CJ, Samuel Blenkin as Boy Kavalier, a CEO, as well as Essie Davis as Dame Silvia, Adarsh Gourav as Slightly and Kit Young as Tootles.

And just now, Deadline also reported that fellow ‘Fargo’ veteran (albeit from the current fifth season) David Rysdahl is also aboard for an unknown role.

What’s Happening with the ‘Alien’ Series?

Ridley Scott on the set of 1979’s ‘Alien.’

With ‘Alien’ director (and franchise overseer) Ridley Scott giving his stamp of approval as executive producer, the series kicked off shooting in Thailand on July 19th, just four days into the actors’ strike.

It initially got around the SAG-AFTRA shutdown film utilizing members of the cast who are affiliated with the British actors’ union Equity. But after a little more than a month, it had to stop.

Now, Hawley and his team will apparently gear the cameras back up in early 2024.

‘Alien’ On the Big Screen

(L to R) Cailee Spaeny in ‘Priscilla.’ Credit: Sabrina Lantos.

Our TV screens are not the only places those crafty xenomorphs are invading. Fede Alvarez has been hard at work on ‘Alien: Romulus’, the latest movie in the franchise.

Now, according to lead Cailee Spaeny (who was back on the press circuit for ‘Priscilla’), we now know when the movie will take place.

Here’s what Spaeny told Variety:

“It’s supposed to slot in between the first movie and the second movie. They brought the same team from ‘Aliens,’ the James Cameron film. The same people who built those xenomorphs actually came on and built ours. So, getting to see the original design with the original people who have been working on these films for 45-plus years and has been so much of their life has been really incredible.”

‘Alien: Romulus’ will be in theaters on August 16 next year.
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Movies Similar to ‘Alien: Romulus’:
- ‘Alien‘ (1979)
- ‘Aliens‘ (1986)
- ‘Alien³‘ (1992)
- ‘Alien Resurrection‘ (1997)
- ‘Alien vs Predator‘ (2022)
- ‘Aliens vs Predator: Requiem‘ (2007)
- ‘Prometheus‘ (2012)
- ‘Alien: Covenant‘ (2017)
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November 30, 2023
‘The Hunger Games’ Prequel Wins Thanksgiving Box Office
(L to R) Honor Gillies as Barb Azure, Konstantin Taffet as Clerk Carmine and Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.

Preview:
- ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ topped the Thanksgiving.
- Disney’s ‘Wish’ for success was not granted.
- Ridley Scott’s ‘Napoleon’ did well.
There was a time when the Walt Disney company was the box office behemoth –– in 2019, for example, seven of its releases earned more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office.

But on the evidence of this weekend’s Thanksgiving box office, those days are well and truly behind it as ‘Wish’, the latest animated fantasy –– one celebrating the studio’s legacy, no less –– earned a disappointing $19.5 million over the weekend and $31.7 million over five days, leaving it in third place behind ‘Hunger Games’ prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ and Ridley Scott’s latest historical effort, ‘Napoleon’.

‘The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ Bites the Competition

Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.

On its second weekend of release, the adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel to best-selling ‘Hunger Games’ book series (which were turned into a successful movie franchise of their own between 2012 and 2015), added $28.8 million over the weekend and $42 million since Wednesday. It has generated $98.3 million in North America and nearly $200 million globally.

It’s still a far cry from the success of that original four-movie set but given its (relatively) thrifty $100 million production budget, you just know the Lionsgate team will be hoping it can launch its own franchise.

Related Article: 10 Things We Learned At ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Press Conference

‘Wish’ Fails to Capture the Magic

SPINNING A YARN – In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Wish,” sharp-witted idealist Asha (voice of Ariana DeBose) makes a wish so powerful, it’s answered by a cosmic force—a little ball of boundless energy called Star. Asha’s new ally communicates in creative ways, making captivating use of a magenta ball of yarn. Helmed by Oscar®-winning director Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, “Wish” features original songs by Grammy®-nominated singer/songwriter Julia Michaels and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter/musician Benjamin Rice. The epic animated musical opens only in theaters on Nov. 22, 2023. © 2023 Disney. All Rights Reserved.

There will be much to consider going forward given ‘Wish’s poor third-place start. While not as catastrophic as, say, ‘Strange World’ it’s still a big disappointment.

The new movie was supposed to be Disney’s big animated return, a lavish musical littered with callbacks to the studio’s history, full of songs and magic. But with a reported $200 million budget (before marketing costs), it has a lot to earn back.

In reality, however, ‘Wish’ has turned into the latest flop for the studio, in a year when many of its movies have stumbled, even those from reliable hitmakers such as Marvel and Pixar.

Going forward, Disney will be pinning its hopes on the movie showing some sort of legs at the box office, repeating the slow-build success of Pixar’s ‘Elemental’, which had a slow start but has since found its footing at the box office and has been successful on Disney+.

And the streaming service has been both a boon and a problem for the studio’s movies, with audiences leaning into watching its output at home rather than going out to theaters, a fallout of the pandemic and the rise of at-home content.

‘Napoleon’ Sees a Small Victory

‘Napoleon’ premiering in theaters around the world on November 22, 2023.

Despite its long, 158-minute running time and adult-skewing subject matter, Ridley Scott’s latest historical epic, the Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby-starring ‘Napoleon’ has won out over ‘Wish’, scoring a second place finish over the Thanksgiving period.

‘Napoleon’ took in a better-than-expected $21 million over the weekend and $32.5 million in its first five days of release. Globally, “Napoleon” generated $78.8 million.

And while that isn’t the most successful opening for a movie which cost $200 million to make, Apple (which released it in partnership with Sony Pictures) isn’t likely all that worried, since it’ll drive people to check out the film when it eventually lands on Apple TV+.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes’ will be in theaters on November 17th.

Other Movies Similar to ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’:
- ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone‘ (2001)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets‘ (2002)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban‘ (2004)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire‘ (2005)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix‘ (2007)
- ‘Twilight‘ (2008)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince‘ (2009)
- ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon‘ (2009)
- ‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse‘ (2010)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1‘ (2010)
- ‘Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief‘ (2010)
- ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2’ (2011)
- ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1‘ (2011)
- ‘The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2‘ (2012)
- ‘The Hunger Games‘ (2012)
- ‘Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters‘ (2013)
- ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire‘ (2013)
- ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1‘ (2014)
- ‘Divergent‘ (2014)
- ‘Insurgent‘ (2015)
- ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2‘ (2015)
- ‘Allegiant‘ (2016)
- ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them‘ (2016)
- ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald‘ (2018)
- ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Movie Showtimes

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November 27, 2023