Paul Walter Hauser. Photo: Major League Wrestling.
Preview:
Paul Walter Hauser is taking part in a wrestling competition.
The actor has been announced for Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI
It’s described as a mash-up of a battle royale and anything goes street fight.
Just when you thought Paul Walter Hauser –– one of the most in-demand actors of the moment –– couldn’t possibly add anything else to an already packed schedule, along comes a curveball so out of left field it almost sounds like viral marketing for a future role.
And while we’re still not entirely convinced it isn’t, news has now broken that the actor –– known for roles in movies such as ‘I, Tonya’ and ‘Richard Jewell’ (and his award-winning turn in Apple’s limited drama series ‘Black Bird’) –– is going to compete in Major League Wrestling’s Battle Riot VI.
Paul Walter Hauser in ‘Battle Riot VI’. Photo: Major League Wrestling.
Described as a mash-up of a battle royale and anything goes street fight, this super-sized main event will feature 40 of the fiercest wrestlers on the planet with new participants entering the ring every 60 seconds.
And in truth, this isn’t perhaps as surprising as it might seem, since Hauser has quietly been building a pro-wrestling career even as his acting work has also taken off.
In the new event, he’ll one of the competitors with other names including UFC stand-out Matt Riddle, Mexico’s biggest box-office draw Místico, multiple global champion Bobby Fish, “Death Machine” Sami Callihan, WCW legend and Karate Hall of Famer Ernest “The Cat” Miller and former MLW World Tag Team Champion Matthew Justice.
Paul Walter Hauser and Wrestling: The Actor Speaks
(L to R) Matt Cardona vs. Paul Walter Hauser. Photo: Major League Wrestling.
Here’s what Hauser had to say:
“I’m so excited to take part in Major League Wrestling’s 6th Annual Battle Riot. While some could misconstrue this to be an actor making a cameo in wrestling, or a fan checking off some bucket list or wish fulfillment –– don’t get it twisted. I am entering to prove myself worthy of a spot in the world of wrestling, as well as a shot at Satoshi Kojima’s World Heavyweight Title.”
And here’s MLW’s founder and CEO Court Bauer:
“Paul is building something special with a two-track career driven by his passion and an unrelenting quality that separates the pretenders from the contenders. I don’t think there is anything Paul wants more than to put MLW gold next to his Golden Globe and Emmy. Now he will get his chance of making that happen at MLW Battle Riot VI.”
What else is Paul Walter Hauser Attached To?
Paul Walter Hauser stars in ‘Black Bird,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.
Hauser has been at the center of several casting stories of late, including landing a role in Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’, playing Captain Ed in the new ‘Naked Gun’ movie, a biopic of comedian and actor Chris Farley and a true-life tale from the world of quiz game ‘Press Your Luck’. And that’s without mentioning he’s one of the voices in Pixar’s ‘Inside Out 2’, due in theaters on June 14th.
When will Battle Riot VI be Available to Watch?
Battle Riot VI streamed live, for free for the first time ever on YouTube on Saturday, June 1 from Center Stage in Atlanta. You can find more details at this link.
(L to R) Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” and Joseph Quinn as “Eric” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Preview:
Paramount revealed a lot of news on future movies at its CinemaCon Presentation.
Other movies highlighted included ‘Transformers One’ and ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’.
Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator 2’ provided the big finish.
Paramount had a solid if uninspiring 2023, including a disappointing result for the oft-delayed ‘Mission: Impossible –– Dead Reckoning Part 1’ (which suffered in competition, particularly for IMAX screens, against ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’). But’s best not to bet against Tom Cruise, who will no doubt be doing something to promote the next ‘Mission’ (odds are good we’ll learn the new title). Still, the more recent likes of ‘Mean Girls’ and ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ were reasons to be grateful, even as talk of the studio being up for sale continues to swirl.
Even before the presentation proper kicked off, there was news of new movies in the works. The studio is developing a reboot of the ‘Scary Movie’ spoof franchise to shoot this year for release next year via Paramount’s Miramax subsidiary.
And while a sequel to last year’s family friendly ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’ is moving forward, the company also intends to go in a more grown-up direction with a new live-action ‘Turtles’ offering called ‘The Last Ronin’ that will adapt a dark comic book tale set in a totalitarian New York where Shredder’s grandson has employed artificial ninjas to slaughter all but one of the Turtles. The lone survivor swears vengeance. So… yes, definitely a less kid-centric take on the characters, and one that feels even closer to the black and white origins of the story. That one will be produced by former DC movie boss Walter Hamada, who has a multi-year deal with Paramount and ‘Boy Kills World’ writer Tyler Burton Smith is on script duty.
(L to R) April O’Neil, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo in Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies in a Point Grey Production ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.’
After a glitch with the opening reel (effectively a tour of the Paramount lot), the presentation commenced with another highlighting Paramount’s considerable movie history and spotlighting successes such as ‘Sonic’, ‘Mean Girls’ and ‘TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’.
And, as suspected, the world of ‘Gladiator’ is a focus, as Roman soldiers stride on to the stage to shepherd the executives. Will those who backed unsuccessful movies have to battle lions? Doubt it, but… would watch.
First up to tout two very different movies is one John Krasinski, who is appearing via video from London. He talks first about…
(L to R) Cailey Fleming and Blue star in Paramount Pictures’ ‘IF.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
As Krasinski (who wrote and directed this one) explains, ‘IF’ posits a world where everything kinds imagine is real –– and some imaginary friends are looking to find their humans again (or be connected with new ones).
It has Ryan Reynolds starring, a stacked celebrity voice cast and leans heavily into the Pixar style of movie making.
He cues up the final trailer for the film, which you can see here:
DwFJGNjz
‘IF’ is in theaters May 17th.
KIPeeXzs3ztnna8SBSoyD1
Krasinski also mentioned ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’, but more on that later…
Paramount Presentation: Other News
The Bee Gees in ‘The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.’ Photo: HBO.
In between teases for this year’s releases, there were more news announcements, including confirmation of a ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe’ crossover movie, Edgar Wright landing Glen Powell to star in his new take on Stephen King’s ‘The Running Man’, Ridley Scott officially boarding the Bee Gees musical biopic and Damien Chazelle seemingly handed a second chance after the floptastic ‘Babylon’, getting ready to shoot his next movie this year for the studio, with a release planned for 2025.
Also touted? ‘South Park’ duo Trey Parker and Matt Stone are working on a new, live-action comedy musical with Kendrick Lamar, which will debut on July 4 next year.
With the title very much back in the public consciousness thanks to the Netflix live-action show, Paramount has the likes of Dave Bautista and Eric Nam lending their voices to what is currently title ‘Aang: The Last Airbender’, with Bautista playing a villain. The movie will be in theaters on October 10th next year.
In fact, lots of future slate info dropped, including that the next ‘Star Trek’ movie (whichever it might be from the various options) and the new, Seth MacFarlane produced ‘Naked Gun’ with Liam Neeson starring, will both also arrive next year.
Oh, and if you, like us, had “next Mission movie title announcement” on your bingo card, no scratching it off –– there was a mention of it, but zero footage and no word on title.
Following a video introduction from Johansson, Hemsworth (who, if we’re honest, was already in Vegas because of the Warners presentation) arrived on stage to talk up the film. He voices Optimus Prime, with Brian Tyree Henry (who joined him at the event) as Megatron.
From the looks of the footage, the tone is aiming for more of a family adventure style, leaning closer to comedy than the live-action/CG movies. And it’s an origin story for many of the characters we love, with Keegan-Michael Key voicing Bumblebee.
Along with a trailer, a first clip screened –– in 3D, no less –– to wide approval for its epic scale and comedy value.
(L to R) Lupita Nyong’o as “Samira” and Djimon Hounsou as “Henri” in ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ from Paramount Pictures. Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Stars Lupita Nyong’o and Joseph Quinn were on hand to debut an extended trailer for the thriller prequel showing how the scary creatures first arrived and began to terrorize New York. As the previous trailer hinted, this one will see devastation, fear and, ultimately… quiet.
‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ heads to theaters on June 28th.
Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
Given that Sonic and pals have become one of the biggest recent franchises for the studio (even extending to the upcoming ‘Knuckles’ series), it’s almost surprising how low key the talk of the new movie was.
The studio team just showed a trailer, which went heavily on Jim Carrey’s villainous, maniacal Dr. Robotnik and introduced Shadow the Hedgehog.
‘Sonic The Hedgehog 3’ is racing into theaters on December 20th.
Caitlin Stasey in Paramount Pictures Presents in Association with Paramount Players A Temple Hill Production ‘Smile.’
A follow-up to the 2022 horror sleeper hit, the new movie will see a Lady Gaga-esque pop star confronted by smile-affected people around a concert venue.
(Right) Russell Crowe in director Ridley Scott’s ‘Gladiator.’
Sir Ridley Scott appears on screen from London (where he’s still finishing post-production on the movie), to hype his return to the world of ‘Gladiator’.
It might be unfinished, but that didn’t stop Scott unleashing a five-minute look at the movie.
“I remember that day. I never forgot it. That a slave could take revenge against an emperor,” says Paul Mescal’s Lucius. A boat battle is seen taking place in the Colosseum. Paul Mescal and other Gladiators fight vicious monkeys. “Rage is your gift,” Denzel Washington tells Mescal. Washington and Pedro Pascal watch on as Mescal fights a rhinoceros. The footage ends with a brutal fight between Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal.
Are we not entertained? Yes, we were entertained. Though animal rights activists and worried Pedro Pascal fans might think differently.
‘Gladiator II’ returns to the theatrical arena on November 22nd.
CJVuNFCKxFBq4IsG555O72
Director John Krasinski on the set of Paramount Pictures’ ‘IF.’ Photo: Paramount Pictures.
