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  • Adam Driver Pitched a Ben Solo ‘Star Wars’ Pic to Lucasfilm

    (Left) Adam Driver in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'. Photo: Lucasfilm. (Right) Oscar® nominee Steven Soderbergh arrives on the red carpet of The 93rd Oscars® at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, April 25, 2021. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
    (Left) Adam Driver in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’. Photo: Lucasfilm. (Right) Oscar® nominee Steven Soderbergh arrives on the red carpet of The 93rd Oscars® at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, April 25, 2021. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

    Preview:

    • Adam Driver and Steven Soderbergh pitched the idea for a Ben Solo ‘Star Wars’ spin-off.
    • It was to have followed his character after ‘The Rise of Skywalker’.
    • Lucasfilm liked the idea; Disney didn’t want to make it.

    While it has been quite the wait for new ‘Star Wars’ cinematic offerings since 2019’s ‘The Rise of Skywalker’, it’s not for want of Adam Driver and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh trying.

    In a new interview with the AP, Driver revealed that he and his ‘Logan Lucky’ director worked together (alongside writers Scott Z. Burns and Rebecca Blunt) to create ‘Star Wars’ spin-off ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’.

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    The movie would have been Ben (AKA Kylo Ren) secretly surviving the events of ‘Skywalker’ and going on a quest for redemption.

    Here’s what Driver said about a potential return:

    “I always was interested in doing another ‘Star Wars.’ I had been talking about doing another one since 2021. Kathleen Kennedy had reached out. I always said: ‘With a great director and a great story, I’d be there in a second.’ I loved that character and loved playing him.”

    Related Article: Star Wars: Starfighter’ Adds ‘House of the Dragon’s Matt Smith to Cast

    So, what happened with ‘The Hunt for Ben Solo’?

    (L to R) Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley in 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.' Photo: Lucasfilm.
    (L to R) Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley in ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.’ Photo: Lucasfilm.

    As Driver tells it, he, Soderbergh, Blunt (who helped rough out the story) and Burns (who wrote a draft) came up with the idea –– no word on how Solo survives after seemingly dying in ‘Skywalker,’ but if Palpatine can return, who knows? –– and took it to Kennedy, Dave Filoni and Carrie Beck at Lucasfilm, who all loved the idea.

    But the space-buck doesn’t stop with them, and the group then had to sell Disney on the idea.

    Here’s Driver on how that went:

    “We took it to Bob Iger and Alan Bergman, and they said no. They didn’t see how Ben Solo was alive. And that was that.”

    And this is what Soderbergh told the AP of his regrets for the unmade movie:

    “I really enjoyed making the movie in my head. I’m just sorry the fans won’t get to see it.”

    What’s next for ‘Star Wars’ in theaters?

    (L to R) Grogu and Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm's 'The Mandalorian & Grogu'. Photo courtesy of Lucasfilm. © 2025 Lucasfilm Ltd™. All Rights Reserved.
    (L to R) Grogu and Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm’s ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu’. Photo courtesy of Lucasfilm. © 2025 Lucasfilm Ltd™. All Rights Reserved.

    The actual next film will be ‘The Mandalorian and Grogu,’ which has Jon Favreau in the director’s chair and flies on to screens on May 22 next year.

    That’s followed by ‘Star Wars: Starfighter,’ starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Shawn Levy, due to arrive May 28, 2027.

    (L to R): Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray on the set of 'Star Wars: Starfighter'. Photo: Shawn Levy/Instagram.
    (L to R): Ryan Gosling and Flynn Gray on the set of ‘Star Wars: Starfighter’. Photo: Shawn Levy/Instagram.

    List of ‘Star Wars’ Movies and TV Shows:

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  • David Fincher on His Unmade ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ Movie

    (Left) David Fincher on the set of 'Mank'. Photo: Gisele Schmidt/Netflix. (Right) '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'. Photo: Buena Vista Distribution.
    (Left) David Fincher on the set of ‘Mank’. Photo: Gisele Schmidt/Netflix. (Right) ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’. Photo: Buena Vista Distribution.

    Preview:

    • David Fincher has opened up about his stalled adaptation of ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.’
    • He tried for a while to float a Disney-produced take on the Jules Verne story.
    • Currently, the film is still in limbo.

    David Fincher is one of those accomplished directors whose career is littered with “near miss” projects that fans are eager to see but somehow or other just don’t make it through the studio system.

    One of the biggest in recent memory is his aim to craft a new take on Jules Verne’s 1870 adventure/sci-fi novel ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.’ It was in development for a few years via Disney, but ultimately didn’t set sail.

    Now, in a new interview with Letterboxd, Fincher is opening up as to why.

    What’s the story of ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas’?

    '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'. Photo: Buena Vista Distribution.
    ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’. Photo: Buena Vista Distribution.

    Verne’s novel was previously brought to life by Disney in 1954 in a film starring James Mason and Kirk Douglas and in 1997 for an ABC mini-series starring Michael Caine and Patrick Dempsey.

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    It follows a group of scientists and whalers sent out into the open seas to take down a massive sea creature that’s been attacking ships.

    They soon come to discover that the creature is not a monster at all, but a submarine designed by the emotionally damaged Captain Nemo.

    What happened to Fincher’s adaptation?

    '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'. Photo: Buena Vista Distribution.
    ‘20,000 Leagues Under the Sea’. Photo: Buena Vista Distribution.

    Fincher had the likes of ‘Contagion’s Scott Z. Burns and ‘Se7en’s Andrew Kevin Walker work up drafts of the script. He aimed to have sometime collaborator Brad Pitt in a featured role, but Pitt passed on the script.

    Disney suggested Chris Hemsworth, while Fincher countered with Channing Tatum.

    As it turns out, Disney was –– to little surprise –– looking for more of a blockbuster take than the brooding, political version Fincher had in mind. According to the filmmaker:

    “You can’t make people be excited about the risks that you’re excited about. Disney was in a place where they were saying, ‘We need to know that there’s a thing that we know how to exploit snout to tail, and you’re going to have to check these boxes for us.’ And I was like, ‘You’ve read Jules Verne, right?’ ”

    And, as it turns out, it was tone that really scuppered the collaboration. In the original novel and its follow-up, it is revealed that Nemo is in fact royalty who participated in the real-life Indian Rebellion of 1857, an act which led to the death of his family and him fleeing to the seas. Fincher wanted to focus on these details and make it a serious film, but Disney didn’t want it to distract from the fun, action/adventure piece they were hoping to produce.

    As Fincher explains:

    “This is a story about an Indian prince who has real issues with white imperialism, and that’s what we want to do. And they were like, ‘Yeah, yeah, fine. As long as there’s a lot less of that in it.’ So you get to a point where you go, ‘Look, I can’t fudge this, and I don’t want you to discover at the premiere what it is that you’ve financed. It doesn’t make any sense because it’s just going to be pulling teeth for the next two years.’ And I don’t want to do that. I mean, life’s too short.”

    Fincher went on to employ the “really kind of gross and cool and wet and steampunk,” interpretation he had for the movie on an episode of the Netflix series ‘Love, Death Robots’ he oversees called ‘Bad Travelling.’

    And it’s quietly ironic that Disney recently bought from AMC and released –– at least on Disney+ in the UK –– an adaptation of the Verne novel that does keep the politics and Nemo’s grudge in place.

    What is David Fincher currently working on?

    (L to R) Gary Oldman and David Fincher on the set of 'Mank'. Photo: Miles Crist/Netflix.
    (L to R) Gary Oldman and David Fincher on the set of ‘Mank’. Photo: Miles Crist/Netflix.

    With various projects as ever on the go waiting for corporate overlords to give the greenlight, Fincher seems closer on a couple of potential next gigs than others on his list.

    First off, there is the Western script ‘Bitterroot,’ written by Michael Gilio, which concerns an elderly rancher whose life savings have been stolen.

    He sets out to get his money back by robbing banks and hunting down the thieves — all while being pursued by his son… who is the sheriff.

    Comparisons have been made to Clint Eastwood classic ‘Unforgiven,’ so even with the riskier marketplace, this is a script that will surely be produced at some point. And it’s perhaps not surprising that given its long lifespan in the Hollywood marketplace, there has been at least one previous attempt to bring it to screens. Blind Wink Productions and Aversano Films were working on it with Gilio on board to both write and direct and Gore Verbinski to produce back in 2011.

    Netflix owns the rights to the script, and Fincher has a long relationship with the company, but it has yet to confirm anything concrete about it.

    And the hurdles faced by Kevin Costner’s ‘Horizon: An American Saga’ are likely giving pause. Still, the streaming service has violent frontier limited series ‘American Primeval’ coming out on January 9th, so perhaps it will see how that does before making a decision.

    A scene from 'Squid Game' season 2.
    A scene from ‘Squid Game’ season 2. Photo: Netflix.

    Yet the Western faces some serious competition on Fincher’s To Do list, as the filmmaker has also been developing an American version of giant Netflix hit ‘Squid Game.’

    The Korean drama series about the twisted and frequently lethal competition recently released its second season and is racking up huge viewership once more.

    Much like ‘Bitterroot,’ we’re still waiting for anything approaching official comment from Netflix about a potential Fincher version, but it certainly feels like a solid match for filmmaker and topic.

    A dark, satirical series where morality is questioned, and death lurks around every corner? Surely something he can do well.

    Still, we’ll have to wait and see whether it actually surfaces.

    The third season of the Korean original, meanwhile, seems set to arrive in a few months, as per a recent “leak” from the company which pointed to a June 27th date. But stay tuned for an official date.

    Related Article: ‘The Killer’s David Fincher May Direct New Netflix Western Drama ‘Bitterroot’

    (L to R) David Fincher and Gary Oldman on the set of 'Mank'. Photo: Miles Crist/Netflix.
    (L to R) David Fincher and Gary Oldman on the set of ‘Mank’. Photo: Miles Crist/Netflix.

    List of David Fincher Movies and TV Shows:

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  • Luca Guadagnino To Direct New ‘American Psycho’ Movie

    (Left) Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ 'Challengers' at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios. (Right) Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.' Photo: Lionsgate Films.
    (Left) Director Luca Guadagnino attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios. (Right) Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in ‘American Psycho.’ Photo: Lionsgate Films.

    Preview:

    • ‘Challengers’ director Luca Guadagnino is aboard a new adaptation of ‘American Psycho.’
    • ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’s Scott Z. Burns is writing the script.
    • Christian Bale starred in the 2002 adaptation.

    While he has brought us several outstanding original movies (most recently the successful ‘Challengers,’) Italian director Luca Guadagnino has also tried his hand at adapting novels or remaking classic films with a new spin.

    And while the newly-announced plan to tackle a fresh take on Bret Easton Ellis’ novel ‘American Psycho’ could fall into both categories, it sounds, according to Deadline as though Guadagnino is aiming to take a new crack at the book rather than going the remake route.

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    What’s the story of ‘American Psycho’?

    Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.' Photo: Lionsgate Films.
    Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in ‘American Psycho.’ Photo: Lionsgate Films.

    Ellis’ novel, which was published back in 1991, ‘American Psycho’ is set during the Wall Street boom of the late 1980s.

    It follows wealthy young investment banker Patrick Bateman. In his mid-20s when the story begins, Bateman narrates his everyday activities, from his grooming routine, his recreational life among the Wall Street elite of New York… and his forays into murder by night.

    Because, as the title suggests, Bateman is a serial killer, one who has been offing rivals, colleagues and women, his murder spree becoming increasingly brutal and sadistic.

    The book was a sensation in its day but fueled huge debate over its grisly violence and misogynistic attitudes –– even with a satirical bent.

    Co-writer/director Mary Harron adapted the book in 2000 with Christian Bale as Bateman, which became something of a divisive cult hit itself. A sequel, ‘American Psycho II: All American Girl’ was quickly pumped out featuring none of the same creative team but couldn’t match the impact.

    Who else is working on the new ‘American Psycho’?

    Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in 'American Psycho.' Photo: Lionsgate Films.
    Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman in ‘American Psycho.’ Photo: Lionsgate Films.

    With Lionsgate long wanting to take a new stab at adapting the novel, it also has Sam Pressman, the son of Edward R. Pressman, producer of the original film, aboard.

    Scott Z. Burns, who wrote the likes of ‘Contagion,’ ‘Side Effects,’ and ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’ (and most recently created Apple TV+ series ‘Extrapolations,’) is writing the script.

    Related Article: Lionsgate Has a New Version of ‘American Psycho’ in Development

    What other movies does Guadagnino have on the way?

    Director Luca Guadagnino on the set of 'Challengers', a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    Director Luca Guadagnino on the set of ‘Challengers’, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Credit: Niko Tavernise / Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures. © 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The director’s next film to be released, ‘Queer’ (adapted from the William S. Burroughs novel), stars Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey, and will be in theaters on December 13th after receiving plenty of plaudits on the festival circuit.

    The prolific Guadagnino has also recently worked on ‘After the Hunt,’ which stars Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield, and is in post-production.

    When would the new ‘American Psycho’ movie be on screens?

    With no casting or shoot date in place yet, we’re going to have to wait to find out when this one will be released.

    (L to R) Director Luca Guadagnino and producer Amy Pascal attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ 'Challengers' at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.
    (L to R) Director Luca Guadagnino and producer Amy Pascal attend the Los Angeles Premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Challengers’ at Regency Village Theatre on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images for Amazon MGM Studios.

    Other Luca Guadagnino Movies:

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  • ‘Extrapolations’ Interview: Daveed Diggs Talks Apple TV+ Series

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    Premiering March 17th on Apple TV+ is the new series ‘’Extrapolations,’ which was created by Scott Z. Burns (‘Contagion’).

    What is the plot of ‘Extrapolations?’

    ‘Extrapolations’ is an anthology series that depicts the effects of climate change on the planet through various different points of view through interconnected stories.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Extrapolations?’

    ‘Extrapolations’ stars an all-star cast that includes Oscar winners Meryl Streep (‘The Devil Wears Prada‘), Marion Cotillard (‘The Dark Knight Rises‘), and Forest Whitaker (‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘), as well as Edward Norton (‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery‘), Sienna Miller (‘Foxcatcher‘), Kit Harrington (‘Eternals‘), Diane Lane (‘Man of Steel‘), Daveed Diggs (‘Hamilton‘), Matthew Rhys (‘Cocaine Bear‘), Gemma Chan (‘Crazy Rich Asians‘), David Schwimmer (‘Apt Pupil‘), Keri Russell (‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker‘), Eliza Gonzalez (‘Ambulance‘), Heather Graham (‘Boogie Nights‘), Cherry Jones (‘Motherless Brooklyn‘), Judd Hirsch (‘The Fabelmans‘), Indira Varma (‘Basic Instinct 2’), Tahar Rahim (‘Mary Magdalene’), Michael Gandolfini (‘The Many Saints of Newark‘), and Tobey Maguire (‘Babylon‘).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Daveed Diggs about his work on ‘’Extrapolations’,’ his character, the story and working with Scott Z. Burns.

    Daveed Diggs stars in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    Daveed Diggs stars in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch out interviews with Diggs, Indira Varma, Tahar Rahim, Scott Z. Burns and executive producers Michael Ellenberg and Dorthey Fortenberry.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what was your first reaction when you read Scott Z. Burns’ script for this series?

    Daveed Diggs: I mean, I was really invested in the character. I got sent the scripts, and I just thought he was awesome. Then understanding the totality of the series, the same thing. It does be making me Google things and I think that’s really an important aspect of it. I think we want something that’s entertaining enough that it sticks with you and then as it sticks with you, it starts to seep in. You can be like, what don’t I know about this that I should probably know? I think Marshall being part of the first third of this, there is that little hopeful element of we could actually not do this. We could not end up there. We just have to all decide. Actually, all of us have to decide that we don’t want to be there, which is a tricky ask.

    Meryl Streep in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    Meryl Streep in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    MF: Can you talk about how the events of the series change your character’s plans for the future?

    DD: He’s already 20 years down the road, but I think Marshall is hopeful. Ultimately, it’s about people. So the big question of it is, how could God do this to us? How could God allow this to happen? Those are the questions that this little girl is asking. He doesn’t have an answer to it until he comes to the realization that he already knew when he was younger, when he was an activist, which was like, actually we have to do it and God’s been saying that. He said that to Moses.

    Daveed Diggs in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    Daveed Diggs in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    Related Article: Vincent Cassel Talks Apple TV+’s ‘Liaison’ 

    MF: How would you describe your character, Marshall?

    DD: Marshall’s a rabbi, so he’s a faith leader. When we meet him, he is working in Israel and is a big activist on climate and a whole bunch of other things. Then we flash forward a bunch of years and we meet him again. He’s moved back to Miami and he is running the congregation there, and he’s become a little more apathetic despite still being a leader of faith and really passionate about his community. But in terms of his activism, he’s sort of fallen off. Then a little girl about to have her Bat Mitzvah comes in and starts challenging all of his apathy. It’s a good way to raise the stakes of a crisis of faith, to be actually met with the flood. It’s just good writing. It really, and that’s why I was attracted to it.

    Edward Norton and Mia Maestro in 'Extrapolations,' premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    (L to R) Edward Norton and Mia Maestro in ‘Extrapolations,’ premiering March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

    MF: Finally, how would you describe the series, in your own words?

    DD: I mean, it is sci-fi, I guess, that’s the closest thing, or climate fiction. That that’s a whole sub-genre, cli-fi is a whole thing. But I think speculative fiction is looking forward to a future that we are not yet in, but it is grounded in a lot of practical, as Scott’s work tends to be grounded in a lot of practical, real world contemporary science and the most current version of all of these things. So, that’s what makes it scary is that we know that this is a real possibility.

    'Extrapolations,' premieres March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.
    ‘Extrapolations,’ premieres March 17, 2023 on Apple TV+.

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