Plotting with all the tactics of a military campaign, the Marvel team has been drip-feeding information about its upcoming Disney+ series ‘Secret Invasion’, which sees the full return of Samuel L. Jackson’s eyepatch-sporting (though not always here, more on that below) tough nut and former S.H.I.E.L.D. boss.
The new series catches us up with not only Fury but also the Skrull aliens we met in ‘Captain Marvel’, primarily led by Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos.
Originally believed to be a threat, they were actually revealed as refugees from a catastrophic war with the more dangerous race known as the Kree (for whom Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers initially fought before realizing their less friendly nature and helping Fury fight them alongside Talos).
Yet decades later, the Skrulls haven’t received what humanity promised –– access to a new homeworld of their own and real help –– so there is now a faction dedicated to taking what they’re owed, but duplicity or force.
Led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), the group uses their shape-changing powers to wreak havoc. And among their number is someone close to Talos (spoiler alert: it’s his daughter, G’iah, played by ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Emilia Clarke.)
To combat this threat, Fury turns not to his Avengers-level super-friends (the trailer makes a point of that, so perhaps the series will explain his thinking) but to some more down-to-Earth associates, including Talos, loyal lieutenant Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman).
And sitting squarely in between the two sides of the conflict we have Olivia Colman’s character, Special Agent Sonya Falsworth, a high-ranking member of Britain’s intelligence service MI6 (think the real-world organization that employs James Bond in a whole other fictional universe). She’s apparently been both friend and foe to Nick Fury in the past.
Casting-wise, we’ll also see Carmen Ejogo, Christopher McDonald, and Marvel veteran Don Cheadle, back as James Rhodes, here in more of a political capability than his usual War Machine style (though we’d be shocked if he didn’t suit up at some point).
Oh, and talking of a changed style, Fury also has an altered look at times –– he’s not always wearing his trademark eyepatch, which covers a damaged eye.
“He just doesn’t wear the patch. The patch is part of who the strong Nick Fury was. It’s part of his vulnerability now. You can look at it and see he’s not this perfectly indestructible person. He doesn’t feel like that guy.”
The series promises to be more of a global political spy thriller, albeit with the alien overtones and of course healthy dollops of MCU lore. But it’ll be a personal mission for Fury, who has been off-planet since the events of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and realizes that he’s been out of touch in more ways than one. And kicking some scheming alien butt might just be his way to make contact again.
Here’s what executive producer executive producer Jonathan Schwartz says about Fury:
“Sins from his past start to haunt him once again. We often see Nick Fury doing the right thing. We don’t always see him doing it in a perfectly morally correct way. All of those things have ramifications. Without getting too specific, the things that Nick Fury’s had to do to protect the Earth have costs.”
And here’s more from Jackson:
“Nick had a whole Skrull spy network because they could shape-shift and go places that people couldn’t go. They kept their word. They worked for him, but he hasn’t done what he said he was going to do. They want a home. They want to live. They want to live like they are. They want to live in their skin. They don’t want to live in ours.”
‘Secret Invasion’ kicks off on Disney+ on June 21st.
Marvel Studios’ ‘Secret Invasion.’
In other Marvel news, there has been another change behind the scenes on the movie front.
While Kaplan and Springer are more known for comedy writing, Josh Friedman has some big sci-fi bona fides.
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What has Josh Friedman worked on?
Most recently, Friedman was part of James Cameron’s writing team for the ‘Avatar’ sequels (he has a story credit on ‘The Way of Water’). He’s also worked on the script for next year’s ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’.
Also on the small screen, he’s run or been part of the development for ‘Foundation’ and ‘Snowpiercer’.
Whether this means a complete re-write or beefing up the sci-fi side of things remains to be seen, but ‘Fantastic Four’ is still currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on February 14th, 2025.
The title might be ‘Secret Invasion’ and it might hail from Marvel –– notoriously a company that likes to keep details of its movies and series under wraps –– but we’re finally learning more about the next MCU series to arrive on Disney+.
‘Secret Invasion’ will see Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury and Ben Mendelsohn’s Skrull Talos facing off a brand new threat from a splinter group of the latter’s alien race.
Ben Mendelsohn as Talos in Marvel Studios’ ‘Captain Marvel.’
When did we first meet the Skrulls?
A longtime enemy in the comics, the Skrulls were given a fresh twist by 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel’, as it was revealed that the Skrulls were actually alien refugees of a devastating conflict with fellow extraterrestrials the Kree.
Though Skrulls such as Talos and his team used their shape-shifting abilities (they can mimic any person) to push their agenda, they soon let Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) and Fury know the true nature of their struggle.
At the end of the movie, Fury promised to help the Skrulls find a new home, but since ‘Captain Marvel’ was set in the 1990s and there has been little progress since then, the story has taken another turn.
There is a facet of Skrulls, unhappy with the situation, who are now taking matters into their own hands.
Led by Gravik (Kingsley Ben-Adir), this splinter group has become radicalized, and aims to get what they believe they’re owed by stealth or by force.
Among Gravik’s followers is someone very close to Talos, his daughter G’iah, played by ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Clarke.
Here’s what Clarke says about the situation:
“These people promised a lot of stuff a long time ago, and not a lot has happened. So understandably, a certain amount of resentment has been built. There’s a lot of emotions that live within her, and there’s a lot of confrontational aspects to her character that have come from circumstance. You understand why she has the feelings that she does.”
And here’s what Clarke says about her character:
“There’s a kind of punk feeling that you get from this girl. She’s a refugee kid who’s had Talos for a dad, you know what I mean? Maybe the fact that we didn’t know he had a kid up until this point tells you everything you need to know about their relationship.”
On the other side of the conflict, we have Olivia Colman’s character, a high-ranking member of Britain’s intelligence service MI6 (think the real-world organization that employs James Bond in a whole other fictional universe). She’s apparently been both friend and foe to Nick Fury in the past.
Says Jackson of Colman’s character,
“It’s somebody that you’ve never seen her play before. She’s cold-blooded and just relishes being that person.”
The cast for the series, which reportedly, though it has yet to be officially confirmed, kicks off on Disney+ on June 21st, also includes returning MCU veterans Cobie Smulders, Martin Freeman and Don Cheadle.
Michael Cera as “Hank” and Samuel L. Jackson as “Jimbo” in ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.
The movie stars Michael Cera (‘Superbad’) as Hank, a troubled dog who is trained to be a samurai by his mentor, a cat named Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson). Now, in order to protect a village of cats, Hank and Jimbo must battle with the evil Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais).
The result is an uninspired animated movie that tries to recreate the best moments from ‘Blazing Saddles’ but never makes the jokes its own and relies too heavily on the original source material without building on the actual characters and their journey.
The film begins by introducing us to a young Hank (Cera), whose life is saved by a Samurai cat named Jimbo (Jackson). Years later, when a warmongering cat named Ika Chu (Gervais) threatens to destroy the peaceful cat village where Jimbo lives, Hank arrives to help. Unsure of his own abilities, Hank trains with Jimbo in the ways of the samurai to defeat Ika Chu and save the village.
(L to R) Gabriel Iglesias as “Chuck” and Aasif Mandvi as “Ichiro” in ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.
Since the animated movie is loosely based on ‘Blazing Saddles,’ the plot points are about the same, following an outcast samurai who saves a small town, instead of an outcast cowboy.
Michael Cera basically plays the Cleavon Little role, with Samuel L. Jackson playing the Gene Wilder surrogate. Ricky Gervais’s Ika Chu stands-in for Harvey Korman, while Mel Brooks himself makes a voice appearance, playing a similar role to his part in the original, as the ruler of Kakamucho and Ika Chu’s boss.
But even the involvement of Mr. Brooks is not enough to make this movie work. Although, I did appreciate that the filmmakers included all of ‘Blazing Saddles’ original writers in the credits including Brooks, Andrew Bergman and Richard Pryor, giving them the credit they deserve for the original work.
For those that don’t know, ‘Blazing Saddles’ is one of the funniest movies ever made and included a now famous sequence of fart jokes. So, adapting it to an animated film for kids actually makes sense, but besides the flatulent humor, a lot of the movie’s jokes and character development lands flat and doesn’t inspire interest from the audience.
Of the cast, Ricky Gervais is clearly having the most fun and is really funny, adding a lot of his own public persona to the role. He plays the character as an ego-maniacal, insecure, know-it-all, not unlike his David Brent character from ‘The Office.’ Gervais is also a well-known cat lover in real life, which adds to the humor of his character as well.
(L to R) Ricky Gervais as “Ika Chu” and George Takei as “Ohga” in ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.
Michael Cera has mastered his persona of playing a youthful, innocent, and naïve young man, which works well with the character of Hank. Cera’s performance certainly makes Hank lovable, but unfortunately the screenplay doesn’t allow enough time for the character to grow and mature.
His relationship with Jimbo is the most interesting, but again, the two characters are not given enough to do. The training sequences steal from ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Kung Fu Panda,’ and don’t feel fresh or new. Samuel L. Jackson was great casting for Jimbo, but I would have liked the character to have a more pivotal role.
‘Star Trek’ legend George Takei is always a welcomed addition to any project, and hearing his voice in this movie was a nice surprise. Takei plays Ika Chu’s henchman Ohga, and has great chemistry playing off of Gervais. While his role is somewhat limited too, the filmmakers did find time to have him say his signature line, “Oh, my.”
Director Rob Minkoff is no stranger to animation having directed one of the greatest animated films of all-time, ‘The Lion King.’ But ‘Paws of Fury’ lacks any of the gravitas or character development of his past work, and even the animation itself leaves little to be desired.
In the end, ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ is both a disappointment to ‘Blazing Saddles’ fans hoping for one last great movie from the mind of Mel Brooks, and also a disappointment to parents hoping to find a fun animated movie to take their kids to this summer.
(L to R) Kylie Kuioka as “Emiko” and Michelle Yeoh as “Yuki” in ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.
Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ receives 1.5 out of 5 stars.
Directed by Rob Minkoff (‘The Lion King’), the movie focuses on Hank (Michael Cera), a down-on-his-luck dog who is trained to be a samurai by his mentor, a cat named Jimbo (Samuel L. Jackson). Now, Hank and Jimbo must protect a village of cats from the evil Ika Chu (Ricky Gervais) who wants to wage war on them.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Cera about his work on Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank,’ meeting Mel Brooks, whether he is a dog or cat person, and working with Samuel L. Jackson and director Rob Minkoff.
Michael Cera plays Hank in Paramount’s ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.’
You can read our full interview with Michael Cera below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Cera, George Takei, Aasif Mandvi, Cathy Shim, Kylie Kuioka, and director Rob Minkoff.
Moviefone: To begin with, what was your reaction when you heard they were making an animated movie loosely based on Mel Brooks’ classic ‘Blazing Saddles?’
Michael Cera: It sounded great to me, and the whole team just sounded great. I felt like it was a very lucky thing to be a part of.
MF: Did you get a chance to meet Mel Brooks?
MC: Not on this project. I have not overlapped with him at all, but I did get to meet him in his office several years ago. It must have been 10 years ago now on the Culver City lot in Los Angeles.
I just went over and paid him a visit in his office, and we got to sit with him for a half an hour and chat. That was just an amazing thing for me. He was so sweet, and it was a great half hour of my life.
MF: In your own words, how would you describe Hank and how did you find the voice for the character?
MC: He’s a dog that has a very strong sense of his destiny and his dream, and he’s fully committed to that. His heart is completely behind that, and he’s willing to go through whatever hardship is thrown his way to achieve it. I like that about him. I think that’s an admirable quality about the character.
Finding the voice, I think came from just understanding the character slowly and kind of working with the creative team on bringing him to life. It just kind of comes through osmosis, through trying things, I guess.
Michael Cera as “Hank” and Samuel L. Jackson as “Jimbo” in ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank’ from Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon Movies, Align, and Aniventure.
MF: Can you talk about Hank’s friendship with Jimbo, who is played by Samuel L. Jackson?
MC: Well, Jimbo is the reason that Hank wants to be a Samurai, even though he doesn’t realize that when he meets him because Jimbo came to Hank’s rescue when he was a little puppy.
So, there’s sort of a troubled relationship between them because Jimbo’s this inspiring figure to Hank who’s turned into such a shell of his former self. But Hank revives the old fire in him and kind of help each other in that way.
MF: Can you talk about the recording process and working with director Rob Minkoff?
MC: Working with Rob was amazing. Rob is an incredible guy, he’s got an incredible career and he even came up under (legendary animator) Chuck Jones. We were talking about Chuck Jones last time I saw him.
So, he’s just kind of from this world of legendary animators. Having a guy like that to collaborate with is exciting because they just know this space so well, and the fundamentals of it and of character and of bringing all the emotions forward. So, it was great. It was very educational and very fun.
MF: Finally, are you a dog or cat person?
MC: I really couldn’t say because I really love all cats and dogs, and I’ve had great experiences all around with them. So, I wouldn’t exclude any from my life.
Michael Cera plays Hank in Paramount’s ‘Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.’
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The movie stars Kevin Hart as Teddy, an unsuccessful entrepreneur who is confused for a dangerous assassin known only as the “Man from Toronto,” played by Woody Harrelson. Now, Teddy must team-up with the hitman in order to help the FBI take down a ruthless drug dealer (Alejandro De Hoyos).
In addition to Hart and Harrelson, the cast also includes Kaley Cuoco (‘The Big Bang Theory’), Pierson Fode (‘Supergirl’), and Ellen Barkin (‘Ocean’s Thirteen’).
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with director Patrick Hughes about ‘The Man from Toronto,’ working with Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson, the possibility of a sequel, the status of a third ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard,’ and wanting to make a crossover film between both franchises.
Moviefone: To begin with, you clearly have a love for the “buddy-action-comedy” genre having made ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard’ movies and now ‘The Man from Toronto.’ When did that love for this genre begin, and what are some of the “buddy-action-comedies” from the past that inspired you while making this film?
Patrick Hughes: I certainly think it was growing up. I’m this huge John Hughes fan. I’d like to say I’m related to him, but I’m not. But just watching his films growing up, I think the thing that really shone true for me was the heart and soul that those films have. As funny as they are, there’s always inherently, a human tragedy behind it and there’s a truth behind it. I think there’s a genuine sort of heartbreak. When you look at ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles,’ and ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ they’re outrageously funny, but there is always that human condition that is explored.
I think I would say ‘Midnight Run’ was a massive influence on me, still to this day. I think it’s in my absolute favorite. I read that script once a year just because I think it’s one of the most beautifully crafted screenplays. You get to page 50 and you can’t help but cry when the truth is revealed because someone’s harboring hurt. I think it’s all fear based. We all wear our shells in life, and life tends to beat us all down.
I think the thing about the action-comedy that really inspires me is that it’s the imperfections. That’s where the fun and games happen because you’re allowed moments that are not perfect. We’d all love to be living in the James Bond world where everything’s cool and sophisticated. The reality has always been very different.
MF: After making the ‘Hitman’s Bodyguard’ movies, was there anything you learned about the genre that you wanted to apply to this film, and anything specifically that you wanted to do differently?
PH: I’m very open to improv. I mean, we put a lot of work into developing the script and then we get that into a position. So, by the time you get on set, you’ve done all that legwork in pre-production. Because pre-production, not a lot of people talk about it in the filmmaking process, but that’s where I would say a good chunk of the hard work goes as a director is in the pre-production. Once you get there, it’s like, “I’ve already scouted this location 15 times. I’ve already previewed all this action a billion times over. I’ve already done all these tech scouts and worked everything out.”
So now, your role as director once you’re on set, it’s like everyone’s aware of what we’re doing. Now it’s just working with the actors. That, to me, feels like, “Well, that’s the sandbox. Now we’ve got the parameters.” Now we’re very open and I love creating that collaborative environment where if someone’s got a great idea, I say, “Throw it. Bring it. I will steal it.” Especially if it’s a good one, I will steal it and I will take credit for it because that’s how Hollywood works.
MF: Can you talk about pairing Kevin Hart and Woody Harrelson together and the chemistry they had on and off screen?
PH: I really love working with actors and I love having that banter with them. That’s a process that starts very early on during pre-production. I would say with every film, I always end up with these text chains between all these actors individually and you’re bouncing ideas back and forward. I like to have a very collaborative environment.
I’m constantly having ideas and pitching, and then they’re pitching ideas back. That’s throughout pre-production and then you get there on set and I think the biggest unknown is in your mind. You can say, “Well, I think Kevin and Woody will have a chemistry on set together,” but you never know until you’re standing on set.
So that for me is really such a tense moment. I remember we’d been shooting with Woody for a week before we had Kevin on set. So, all his scenes isolated. They’re pretty dark. I was like, “Are we even making a comedy at this point?” Then we had Kevin on set. It’s not until you call action with the two of them there and then you let it roll that you’ll know it works.
It was a huge sigh of relief because that chemistry is definitely there. It can be really challenging because if it’s not there, then you’re going to try and force it for the rest of the four months that you’re shooting. But those two really hit it off. It was the same with Sam Jackson and Ryan Reynolds. So, it’s just a lot of fun to be working in this genre. I love it.
MF: Obviously, Woody is known for his intense dramatic work, but I think people forget that he started his career on the sitcom ‘Cheers.’ Were you surprised at how well he worked off of Kevin within the comedic moments?
PH: Well, no. He’s a very funny guy and he’s got such a wonderful personality. I feel like when you’re with Woody you’re sitting with an old soul. You can tell he has got that spiritual grounding. Unlike Kevin and I, who have ADHD kind of vibes. I mean, I thought I had ADD, and then I met Kevin Hart. He claims it’s the other way around.
But yeah, Woody’s such a wonderful actor and he’s got such a breadth and depth of work. It goes back so far. He’s just so in tune with the comedy too. I think the challenge for him, and he had the biggest, was not cracking up on set. Usually it’s me that cracks up the most on set. It was definitely Woody this time. That was hard. Trying to keep a straight face in front of Kevin is pretty hard. I’ll give him that.
MF: Kevin hasn’t had a lot of experience doing action sequences, what was he like to work with in the more physical scenes?
PH: Well, he’s so down for it. He loved it. He loved putting on the front that he’s a big tough guy. We had a really incredible stunt team on this. But Kevin is super fit. So is Woody actually. That was really surprising. He’s so nimble and fit. And he’s very healthy and does a lot of yoga and stuff. So, he is very sort of flexible. They both put a lot of work in.
There’s a lot of big fight sequences involved that does require the prep work. You can’t just walk up as an actor and expect to know the moves or replicate them on the day. That actually does require training and rehearsal time. I’m always blessed when those actors are willing to put in the hard work.
MF: Can you talk about what these two different characters learn from each other through the course of the movie?
PH: I think at the end of the day, Teddy is someone that life’s trodden down and he’s lost his way. He’s lost his mojo. I guess he’s lost the ability to stand on his own two feet and go after what he really wants. Then you’ve got the “Man from Toronto” who’s got so much control in his life that he’s too controlling, so to speak. His life’s so structured and he’s built such a tough exterior shell. He resolves all his conflicts with physical acts of violence, quite often just punching people in the face, whereas Teddy’s trying to resolve his conflicts with talking. Really at its simplest form, that’s reflecting in Teddy talking too much and the “Man from Toronto” doesn’t talk enough.
I guess what the “Man from Toronto” learns is that potentially there’s another way to resolve conflicts. Maybe that’s by sharing emotions. That’s not such a bad thing to have a touch of vulnerability. Likewise, Teddy learns that you need to stand up for yourself and go after what you want because if it’s worth fighting for, then you should. So, there’s universal things in there. I think it’s the human condition and we all go through that, and I think we can also lose our way in this world. It’s a tough world that we all live in and it can beat you down if you let it. I think they both find their way to stand on their own two feet at the end.
MF: There is a long fight sequence in a gym towards the end of the film, similar to the fight scene in the hardware store in ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard.’ Can you talk about shooting that scene, and is the long-choreographed fight sequence kind of your signature directorial move now? Will you include that in all your movies?
PH: You’re very quick to be calling that one out. Well done to you. My other signature is literally someone being hit by a car. I remember actually, after we finished shooting that scene in ‘The Man from Toronto,’ I texted Ryan Reynolds. I texted him and I said, “I think I just outdid our hardware fight sequence.” He was upset by that because this one in the gym was pretty off the chain.
But I really love the idea of having that sort of sustained action because it really puts you in the panic. Because at the end of the day, Kevin’s just an everyman trying to find his way through this very dark, scary world. He should not be in this movie. You know? That was my pitch from the beginning, “Let’s just make a straight action thriller about FBI and Homeland Security threats.”
Then it’s like Kevin’s just walked on the wrong film set. He should not be in this movie. There’s sort of a terror to that. I think that was something that was aligned with Ryan Reynold’s character in the ‘Hitman’ franchise was that he’s vulnerable like Kevin. Both actors were very open to showing vulnerability, which is a rarity. I think that’s why audiences love them so much because they see themselves in them.
But they’re not here to play the straight tough guy that’s going to stand and fight. I remember when I was doing that fight sequence with Ryan in the first ‘Hitman.’ We didn’t call it a fight sequence. We called it a chase sequence because it wasn’t a fight. It’s like, “I’m just trying to stay alive and I’m trying to run away from this, but I can’t because they’re chasing me.” So, I think that there are similar connotations to the gym fight in this film.
MF: Finally, do you have ideas for ‘The Man from Toronto 2,’ and can you give us an update on the status of ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard 3?’
PH: I wrote the script for ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard 3’ earlier this year. That was one of the writing gigs I was on. I cannot reveal the title of that film, but it’s the most ridiculous title that will ever go on screen. I love the possibility of a sequel because you can’t help but want to see where the potential of these two characters end up in ‘The Man from Toronto.’
So, we’ll see what happens, but it’s definitely going to be called ‘The Men from Toronto.’ And who knows? I’m also thinking about a crossover because I’d like to see Ryan, Sam, Woody, and Kevin on screen together. I know that 90% of my budget would be going to paying the talent. I control both those universes. So, it’s me just being greedy. I’m not sharing it with anyone. It’s just me just expanding my own universe.
(L to R) Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in director Patrick Hughes’ ‘The Hitman’s Bodyguard.’
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Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center
Star Wars Celebration got off with a bang on Thursday May 25th as thousands of fans gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center for the first day of the big event.
After the montage, a full choir dressed in black surrounded by smoke appeared to sing the Darth Vader theme (aka ‘The Imperial March’) live, while Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen took the stage together for the first time in decades to a standing ovation. “Hello everyone, we are back,” said Christensen. President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy, ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ director Deborah Chow, Moses Ingram and Rupert Friend took the stage to discuss the new Disney+ series which drops its first two episodes on May 27th.
(L-R) Rupert Friend, Moses Ingram, Deborah Chow, Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, Ewan McGregor, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Hayden Christensen attend the studio showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration for “Obi-Wan Kenobi” in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022. The series streams exclusively on Disney+. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).
After Kennedy addressed the crowd teasing what fans will experience over the next few days, McGregor talked about the new show and returning to the character. “It was really special to come back and play him with Deborah, and our brilliant cast,” he said. “In the last few years, we’ve really felt the love from you for the prequels we made. That has meant a lot to us, and me personally. It made the whole experience a lovely thing. It was fun to take the Obi-Wan that we all know and take him to a darker and more broken place. It was a great challenge in a way.”
Hayden Christensen also talked about returning to play Darth Vader. “Thank you so much, It’s been an amazing thing to return to ‘Star Wars’ and pick up a lightsaber again. It’s been incredible.” Rupert Friend, who plays one of the show’s villains discussed his character’s lightsaber. “Mine is double ended, and it’s very hard not to make the noise all the time.”
McGregor then invited everyone in the hall to return this evening to watch the first two episodes of ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ with the cast at the Anaheim convention center, a few hours before it premieres around the rest of the world.
Disney
Kennedy introduced a teaser for ‘Andor,’ which will premiere on Disney+ this summer, then Diego Luna, who plays Cassian Andor from ‘Rogue One’ took to the stage along with other members of the cast. The series will be 12 episodes long and take place five years before ‘Rogue One.’ It will be a two season show, with the second season ending right before ‘Rogue One’ begins.
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Luna discussed returning to his ‘Rogue One’ role. “It feels amazing. When I made the film, I lived everyday like it was the last. I did not know this was possible. I love what he represents. He is of the people, and this story is about the power we have and the awakening we deserve.”
Genevieve O’Reilly returns as Mon Mothma and the actress discussed reprising her role. “It is such a gift to come back to this role. I first played this woman almost 17 years ago, so to continue to play her now, I feel so lucky.” It was also announced that ‘Dune’ actor Stellan Skarsgård will be playing a Rebel leader in the series.
Luna then revealed the official teaser poster for ‘Andor,’ as well as a teaser trailer for the new show. The footage began with a village of people ringing a warning bell as the Empire attacks. We get our first look at Skarsgård’s new character, as well as Mon Mothma, and Cassian piloting a starship. The series will launch on August 31st with a two-episode premiere.
Disney original series ‘Willow’
The presentation then transcended the ‘Star Wars’ world to give a sneak peek at another George Lucas-created property, ‘Willow.’ Original film director Ron Howard appeared to present the upcoming Disney+ series based on the 80’s film. “I’ve had a lot of great experiences throughout my career but nothing like making ‘Solo,’” Howard said. Then he welcomed on stage “Willow” himself, Warwick Davis. “I’m back playing the character and it is something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s a dream come true. Making the movie was one of the best experiences of my life, and I’ve been in ‘Star Wars’,” said Davis.
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Joanne Whalley was also announced to return from the original movie for the new series and then appeared to address the crowd. “It’s incredible to be back and have her sword in my hand again,” said Whalley. The new series will take place 25 years after the original and feature all new characters in addition to the return of Davis and Whalley. It was also announced that Davis’ real-life daughter will play Willow’s daughter in the new series, while his son is his stunt double. The presentation ended with footage from the new show
Kennedy, who left the stage to put on a cowboy hat, then introduced ‘The Mandalorian’ team of Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni. Favreau began by complimenting Kennedy on being the “best producer in the business.” The two filmmakers are also working on the upcoming ‘Ahsoka’ series, as well as ‘The Mandalorian’ season three.
“I know I don’t get to do any of this without the support I get from fans and Lucasfilm. ‘Ahsoka’ is going great. We are lucky to have Rosario Dawson fronting this. She is not here because she is shooting scenes so you can see it soon.” Dawson in full costume appeared in a short video teasing the new series and saying, “Maybe I’ll see you next time.” ‘Ahsoka’ will premiere in 2023 according to Filoni.
Pivoting to season three of ‘The Mandalorian,’ Favreau announced that actress Katee Sackhoff will be returning as Bo Katana, and the actress was on hand to appear. Releasing in 2023, Favreau said that they have wrapped filming, and are now in the editing process. He then showed footage from the upcoming season.
Katee Sackhoff attends the studio showcase panel at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).
Opening with ‘The Mandalorian’ theme, Mando is told he is no longer a Mandalorian because he removed his helmet. We get many shots of Grogu, as well as Bo Katan and the return of Carl Weathers as Greef Karga. Mando then says that he is returning to Mandalore to be punished for his transgressions.
Favreau then introduced director Jon Watts, who is working on a secret new ‘Star Wars’/Disney+ show. “So, this is a show we have been working on for a long time. It is about a group of kids that get accidentally lost in the Star Wars world and are now trying to get home. It’s a story about kids, but it’s not just a show for kids,” he explained. Watts then revealed that it takes place in the same ‘Star Wars’ timeline as ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘Ahsoka.’ The series will be titled ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ and stars Jude Law. Watts said that they begin shooting soon, and that it will be released next year.
Finally, to celebrate the 90th birthday of ‘Star Wars’ composer John Williams, he took to the stage with a full orchestra to perform for the first time ever, the new theme to ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi.’
“Thank you all so much for being here. I know this is a ‘Star Wars’ convention, and this is not ‘Star Wars’, but you might know it,” said Williams before conducting the orchestra performing the “Indiana Jones Theme.” Then, Harrison Ford shocked the audience by walking on stage.
Harrison Ford of the upcoming fifth installment of the “Indiana Jones” franchise honors composer John Williams on his 90th birthday at Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, California on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney).
”It’s a great honor to be here and congratulate John on his 90th birthday. That music follows me everywhere I go, and I am happy about it,” said Ford. “What I’ve come to appreciate is the generosity of this man, and what a wonderful talent we are blessed with,” the actor said of Williams, fighting back tears. “We are looking forward to the next ‘Indian Jones.’ We had a great time working with James Mangold and I am very proud of the movie we have made. So, I will be seeing you around campus.”
Finally, Ford announced that the ‘Untitled Indiana Jones‘ will be released on June, 30th 2023, while Williams and the orchestra played “The Imperial March.”
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You can watch our exclusive red carpet interviews with the casts of ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi,’ ‘Andor,’ and ‘Willow’ by clicking on the vide player above.
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.’
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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.
Based on a manga of the same name written by Kazuo Koike and illustrated by Kazuo Kamimura, and a huge inspiration on Tarantino’s Kill Bill films, this Japanese classic stars Meiko Kaji as Yuki Kashima, aka Lady Snowblood. Told in a non-linear fashion, the film follows Yuki as she seeks vengeance on the gang of men who raped her mother and killed her father and brother. It was such a smash hit that the next year a sequel, ‘Love Song of Vengeance’, was released.
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Written and directed by Luc Besson (‘The 5th Element’), this film not only launched an English language remake and two television shows, but also reignited the subgenre of female assassin films. When a robbery goes awry, junkie Nikita (Anne Parillaud) kills a police officer, finding herself locked up for life. However, while in prison, her death is faked, and she’s forced to work as a sleeper agent for a secret government agency. And that’s just the beginning.
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Inspired by the Besson’s breakout hit, this American take on the story stars Bridget Fonda (‘Jackie Brown’) as Maggie, again a drug addict convicted of murder. After her death is faked, she finds herself working for a spy named Bob (Gabriel Byrne) and trained to be a ruthless assassin by a woman named Amanda (Anne Bancroft). Like in its French predecessor, Maggie fights against her new life towards freedom.
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Geena Davis as Charly in ‘The Long Kiss Goodnight’
From a screenplay by Shane Black (‘Lethal Weapon’, ‘Iron Man 3’), this cult film stars Geena Davis as amnesiac school teacher Samantha Caine who discovers she’s actually a deadly CIA assassin after a bump on the head brings all her memories flooding back. With the help of skeevy private eye Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), she slowly rediscovers her old life and finds herself in a deep and twisted conspiratorial web.
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Black Mamba aka The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) in ‘Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2’ – 2003/2004
Uma Thurman as Beatrix Kiddo aka The Bride (Code Name: Black Mamba) in ‘Kill Bill Vol. 1’
Released in two volumes, Quentin Tarantino’s iconic homage to grindhouse cinema stars Uma Thurman as the Bride, who upon waking up from a comma goes on a revenge-fueled killing spree against the team of assassins (Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, and Vivica A. Fox) who tried to kill her and her unborn child. On the top of her revenge list is her old boss and one-time lover Bill (David Carradine). Filled to the brim with gore, this franchise was a worldwide box office success, and has since become a midnight movie staple.
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Angelina Jolie as Jane Smith in ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’
Spawning two TV remakes – the short-lived 2007 version starring Martin Henderson and Jordana Brewster, and an upcoming remake starring Donald Glover and Phoebe Waller-Bridge – it’s impossible to top the scorching chemistry of stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. While in the midst of marriage counseling, John and Jane Smith (Jolie & Pitt) discover that they are both actually deadly assassins working for rival companies. When they both botch the same job, they’re then assigned to kill each other. That’s certainly one way to add a spark back to a marriage!
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Angelina Jolie is no stranger to this genre (see also the spy thriller ‘Salt’), so you just have to include this visually bonkers adaptation of the comic series of the same name by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones. James McAvoy plays Wesley Gibson, an anxiety-ridden man in a dead-end job. One day, a mysterious woman named Fox (Jolie) informs him that his deceased father was a world-class assassin and that he’s in danger unless he trains with her and takes over his father’s legacy.
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Co-written and produced by Luc Besson, ‘Colombiana’ follows 9-year-old Cataleya Restrepo (Amandla Stenberg) from Colombia, who becomes an orphan when her family is killed by a drug lord. Avoiding the foster system, she tracks down her uncle (Cliff Curtis) in Chicago, who trains her to kill. 15 years later, grown up Cataleya (Zoe Saldana) is now an accomplished assassin, hellbent on seeking revenge against those who murdered her family.
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Later made into a TV series, this film stars Saoirse Ronan as the titular Hanna, whose father, ex-CIA operative Erik (Eric Bana), raises her as an assassin in the wilderness of northern Finland. When Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), also with the CIA, tracks them down, Hanna learns the truth about her origins.
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Mary Goodwin (Taraji P. Henson) in ‘Proud Mary’ – 2018
Taraji P. Henson as Mary Goodwin in ‘Proud Mary’
With nods to Blacksploitation classics like ‘Coffy’ and ‘Foxy Brown,’ Taraji P. Henson stars as Mary Goodwin, an assassin employed by the mob in Boston. After taking care of business one day, she notices her target has a young son named Danny (Jahi Di’Allo Winston). Mary watches over the boy from afar, but when he finds himself dragged into the underworld himself, she starts to question everything she thinks she knows about her employers.
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A rumor first began floating on Reddit that Jackson was seen filming on the movie’s set in Toronto, and Bloody Disgusting has confirmed that the inclusion of the Marvel star (most recently seen in “Spider-Man: Far From Home”).
The reboot was first announced in May. At the time, Rock said, “I’ve been a fan of ‘Saw’ since the first film in 2004. I am excited by the opportunity to take this to a really intense and twisted new place.”
The “Saw” movies revolve around John Kramer aka the Jigsaw Killer, who creates death traps for victims to test their moral characters.
The franchise has been extremely successful, generating $1 billion worldwide. The most recent installment was 2017’s “Jigsaw.”
Darren Lynn Bousman — who directed “Saw II,” “Saw III,” and “Saw IV” — returns behind the camera for the new installment. “Jigsaw” writers Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg penned the script.
The new project is described as a re-imagining and a spinoff and has a release date of October 23, 2020.
Have you ever thought to yourself, Grae Drake, aka Ms. Moviefone, certainly only has time to host her show on Moviefone.com–there’s no way she could book travel for people like the cast of ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home‘ at the same time. Oh you, you’re so silly.
Alongside her trusty spider BFF Penelope, Grae runs the Far From Home travel agency, and in this episode of The Ms. Moviefone Show, the cast shares their favorite travel stories. Tom Holland, Zendaya,Jacob Batalon, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jake Gyllenhaal all vie to impress Penelope. Watch and figure out who hears the sounds of eight hands clapping.
