Moviefone Editorial

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  • ’Air’ Press Conference with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

    Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air.'
    (L to R) Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in ‘Air.’ Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Biopics of well-known figures often struggle with condensing the lives of their subjects. But part of the brilliance of the very entertaining ‘Air,’ which reunites director-star Ben Affleck and good friend Matt Damon on screen, is the manner in which it smartly sidles up to a legendary figure — in this case basketball star and all-around icon Michael Jordan — and tells a very specific story that manages to illuminate not only an important time period in his life, but a broader moment in American culture.

    You see, ’Air’ tells an origin story, of sorts. Instead of a caped superhero, though, it’s about the unlikely genesis of Air Jordans — the shoe line which would come to dominate not only hoops culture but global business at large, presently racking up more than $5 billion in annual sales.

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    Based on the true tale of Nike’s attempts to woo Jordan to sign an exclusive shoe contract before he’s ever suited up and played a game of professional basketball, the movie stars Damon as Sonny Vaccaro, the sports marketing executive and longtime hoops scout who pushes Nike chairman and CEO Phil Knight (Affleck) to abandon the standard practice of spreading around endorsement deals, and instead put all their effort into signing one player he believes has the potential to be a star. Viola Davis and real-life husband Julius Tennon portray Deloris and James Jordan, the hoops legend’s loving parents.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of attending a pair of virtual press conferences for ’Air,’ along with several other outlets. In attendance in one interview session were Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker, Chris Messina, and Matthew Maher, while the second session of the double-tilt featured Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Julius Tennon, Marlon Wayans, and screenwriter Alex Convery.

    Here are 10 things we learned from the ’Air’ press conference, edited for clarity and length.

    Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in 'Air.'
    Ben Affleck as Phil Knight in ‘Air.’ Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    1. Ben Affleck Was Going to Walk Away From the Film If Michael Jordan Asked Him To

    Ben Affleck is a Golden Globe Best Director winner, so his commitment behind the camera would be enough to get movies of a certain budget made. But his commitment to ‘Air’ wasn’t absolute.

    Ben Affleck: I went to speak to Michael, because I’ve been lucky enough to run across him a few times. I’m not gonna act like me and him are friends. I just like idolized the guy, and every now and again I’ve had a chance to spend time with him. It’s been very memorable for me, though probably he’s forgotten it. But I had at least enough of an in to say, “Hey, can I come see you and just run this past you?” Because to be honest, from a point-of-view of respect for him, his family, who he is, and what he means, the stupidest thing in the world would be to go make a movie that, (even though) he doesn’t appear in, nonetheless invokes his name and tells a part of his story, if he was opposed to. So if he said don’t do it, I just was gonna not do it. That would be that. And I was very, very prepared for that to be the result of (our conversation), because I had no reason to think he would be open to it or that he would welcome it. However, what I found was that he was very gracious when I said, look, this is not historically accurate, in the sense that I can’t dot every I and cross every T — this is gonna have to be something of a fable, a parable, an inspiring story. So I’m gonna take liberties in order to make it an hour and 30 or 40 minutes, but I don’t wanna violate anything that’s fundamentally important or true to you. So if you would please tell me what those things are, I promise you they’ll be sacrosanct. And I think it was telling that he wasn’t somebody who was like, “Whoa, we gotta talk about when I did this, and I did that,” (because) there are people who take that approach. He only talked about other people. He wanted to make sure that other people who were meaningful were included in the story. George Raveling was one of them. Then he also said Howard White is integral to this too.

    Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in Air.'
    Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro in Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

    2. Screenwriter Alex Convery Watched ’The Last Dance’ Just Like You

    The 10-episode Netflix docu-series ‘The Last Dance’ was a huge hit during the early months of the COVID pandemic. And in fact it birthed the idea for ‘Air.’

    Alex Convery: I’m a ’90s Chicago kid, which is where the Bulls and Michael Jordan and my connection comes from. But like everyone else, I was locked up during those first couple of months of quarantine, watching ‘The Last Dance.’ There’s a little five-minute clip about Nike and just how Air Jordans came together. And I was at a point in my career where, you know, you’re trying to write a script that gets noticed. So when you can explain the movie in one sentence — it’s a story of how Nike got Michael Jordan — it has that ability, you know? It goes to the top of the pile, and maybe people will give it a bit more of a chance. But like everything, it comes down to characters, right? So the question was, who can be the protagonist and the engine of this movie? And finding both Sonny and Deloris was really, to me, what elevated it above just a movie about a shoe and Michael Jordan. It’s finding the human elements in a very big movie. I call them “big little movies.” The little (part) being, this is just a movie about a shoe deal, right? It takes place over a week or so, and it’s small in scope, but the big part is when you say it’s about Nike and Michael Jordan. You could talk to 100 people on the street, and all 100 of them are going to know who Michael Jordan is and what Nike is. And to me, that’s what kind of elevates it above just a movie about a shoe.

    Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air.'
    Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in ‘Air.’ Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    3. Michael Jordan Asked For Viola Davis To Play His Mother

    The hoops G.O.A.T. had some casting advice for Ben Affleck, rooted in his strong relationship to his mother Deloris.

    Ben Affleck: (Michael) said, “You know, I didn’t wanna go to Portland. I would’ve signed my shoe rights away for life for a red Mercedes. My mom told me to go to Beaverton.” And when I saw how he talked about his mother — the regard and esteem in which he held her, the reverence and respect and adoration and love when he talked about his mother — it just shocked me, and shame on me for not kind of assuming this was the case. But when I heard it, I realized right away this is the story — and a beautiful story. It’s a story about Deloris Jordan and what she means to Michael, and that she’s emblematic of what so many mothers must have meant to so many athletes and entertainers and people in this business who are oftentimes very young and thrust into a world of fame and money that can be confusing, and must require enormous amounts of guidance. So I thought, actually this is brilliant. This is what the story is. This is beautiful, and this is the protagonist. And I said offhandedly (to Michael), who do you think should play your mom? And he said it has to be Viola Davis. I was like, okay. That’s kind of like saying, “Can I get a basketball team together? Sure. It has to (have) Michael Jordan.” You’re like, well, all right. (laughs) But then I thought, you know, this is very typical of who this guy is. Like, it has to be the very best, absolutely. So I knew that it was incumbent on us to create a role that was worthy of Viola, and we tried to do that.

    Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in 'Air.'
    Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan in ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

    4. Viola Davis Found Her Character In a Preternatural Steadiness

    Michael Jordan is famously one of the most competitive and intense athletes of all time. His mother Deloris, though, had a different defining characteristic.

    Viola Davis: Stepping into the role, if you watch videos, Deloris Jordan is a study in Zen neutrality. The woman is very, very steady and quiet, you know? I mean, I would imagine that even when she gets mad, she’s probably very, very, very steady. (laughs) So to really just envelope that spirit and everything was a challenge for me, because I’m the woman who always has a chip on her shoulder. I go in bombastic, you know? So it was both flattering, challenging, and then just a joy to work with Matt and Ben and all these terrific actors. Me and Julius still talk about it to this day, as just one of the greatest experiences.

    Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in 'Air.'
    (L to R) Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Matt Damon as Sonny Vaccaro and Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser in ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballosa. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    Related Article: Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Team up for Nike Movie

    5. As With a Lot of Interesting Stories, ’Air’ Surprisingly Reframes a Known Character or Entity

    With annual revenue in excess of $45 billion, Nike is the undisputed giant of the footwear and athletic apparel industry. But not in ‘Air.’

    Matt Damon: We were really trying to capture the spirit of these people in this time more than anything — not exactly who said what at exactly what moment. All of these people on the Nike side, independent of one another, have talked about this time with such nostalgia. And that’s what we were trying to create and remind people about, you know? They were the underdog, which is such a weird way to think of Nike now. But before this incredible deal, they really were these renegades, and kind of outsiders. And so it really is one of those stories that comes along and you go, “Wow, this is really for everybody.” We used to call them feel-good movies. You should leave the theater with, like, a skip in your step.

    Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan and Julius Tennon as James Jordan in 'Air.'
    (L to R) Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan and Julius Tennon as James Jordan in ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

    6. The Sensitivity Modeled in Deloris and James Jordan’s Relationship Mirrors Viola Davis’ Real-Life Relationship

    In real life, James Jordan modeled a quiet strength, preferring to let his wife Deloris handle most of the talking. But he stood by her fiercely. For Davis, parts of the relationship mirrored her own marriage with Julius Tennon.

    Viola Davis: That is our dynamic in real life. You know, Julius has told me since we got together, he said, “Vee [phonetic], now when you come home and it’s late at night, you make sure you don’t get out of that car until the gates close. And if someone’s following you, you lay on that horn and I’m gonna come out with my baseball bat, and I’ll put it on their ass.” (laughs) And, you know, I laid on the horn once by accident after coming home at three o’clock in the morning, and I counted to five. Julius came out with the baseball bat, and I knew — I was like, “That’s it, I’m gonna marry him. This is my dude.”

    Chris Messina as David Falk in 'Air.'
    Chris Messina as David Falk in ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

    7. Chris Messina Enjoyed His Character’s Angry Phone Calls

    Chris Messina co-stars as David Falk, Michael Jordan’s famously hot-tempered agent. But for scenes in which he has heated phone calls, he wasn’t just yelling by himself.

    Chris Messina: When Ben calls you up, you don’t even need to read the script, because I’ve gotten to work with him now three times and it’s always an amazing experience. It’s always surrounded by great artists in front of the camera and behind the camera. So when I read it, I loved it, but I was like, “Oh shit, these are a lot of phone calls.” (laughs) But Ben did something that I’ve never done in my career, and I’ve done a lot of phone calls. Usually you call the other actor, the phone disconnects, or a script supervisor does it with you. But Matt and I were actually down the hallway from each other. We each had three cameras on us, and Ben would go back and forth from room to room, we’d all get together and we had a blast doing it. The script was amazing, but we could play, we could overlap, we could improvise.

    Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in 'Air.'
    Marlon Wayans as George Raveling in ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

    8. Marlon Wayans Used YouTube For Research, But Wasn’t Aiming For an Impression

    In basketball circles, George Raveling is a well-known figure — and, as Marlon Mayans learned, one with other connections to history at large. But neither Wayans nor Affleck wanted an impersonation.

    Marlon Wayans: I did a crash course on YouTube, and I learned a lot about George Raveling. I learned he was a fantastic man. And when I read the monologue (in the movie), and the fact that that was real, and that he still has (the original copy of Martin Luther King’s) “I Have a Dream” speech in his possession, I just thought that it was an amazing character to play. And usually, the more you research, the better you can do in terms of your performance. But what I love was when we went on set, Ben was like, you know, “We’re not impersonating. You can bring you to it.” And for an actor that’s always the best thing you can do: when I can mix that person with my emotions and what you bring. The script was already written so beautifully, but also we got to play. Then I could get out of my head and really have fun. And that’s what it was. When I left the set, I just felt like if every day on that set felt like the first day, that’s going to be a magical movie.

    Chris Tucker as Howard White in 'Air.'
    Chris Tucker as Howard White in ‘Air.’ Photo: Courtesy of Amazon Studios. © Amazon Content Services LLC.

    9. Ben Affleck Has Always Wanted to Work with Chris Tucker

    Everyone knows about Ben Affleck’s longtime friendship with Matt Damon. But ‘Air’ checked some other boxes for the multi-hyphenate, too.

    Ben Affleck: This is a group of people who either I had known for a long, long time, (many) of whom I’ve worked with multiple times and know well and adore and admire, and then people who have been my sort of life’s goal to work with, in Viola Davis and Chris Tucker. In fact, I think Chris can attest the number of times I’ve harassed him — he passed me by in a hotel lobby and I’m like, “Chris, Chris, Chris, I wanna do a movie with you!” (laughs) I feel like humor is the highest form of intelligence, you know what I mean? So I feel like guys like Chris are the smartest, most interesting people you can meet. People to find the humor and the joy in life is just a magic that I wanna be around. Like, a few times I’ve made him laugh and I take a secret pride in that. I’m like, “He just laughed at my joke!”

    Matthew Maher as Peter Moore in Air.'
    Matthew Maher as Peter Moore in Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

    10. Matthew Maher Located a Similarity Between His Character, the Designer of the Iconic Air Jordans, and Athletes

    Of course, everyone knows Michael Jordan, too. But to hardcore sneaker-heads, designer Peter Moore is also a celebrity — and he even wore it like an athlete.

    Matthew Maher: Weirdly, Peter Moore just passed away like a week before I was offered the movie. And I definitely did dive in (for research), I read a lot of blogs and I watched documentaries where he was featured. But what shocked me was looking at his designs and his ideas, which were so amazing and ahead of their time, where he’s talking and he’s just like a regular guy, you know? He’s talking and he says, “Yeah, there was too much red and then we decided to just leave it that way.” He was very like direct (in all his descriptions). And I thought the biggest parallel was listening to how pro athletes talk about what they do, which is like, “Well, we just kept at it,” even though they’re doing these amazing things (that others can’t). A genius doesn’t always express himself very well when he’s talking about his (own) genius acts.

    Director Ben Affleck on the set of 'Air.'
    Director Ben Affleck on the set of ‘Air.’ Photo: Ana Carballos. © Amazon Content Servoces LLC.

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    ‘Air’ is produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, and Jason Michael Berman. It is set to release exclusive in theaters on April 5, 2023.

  • James Gunn Outlines Initial DCU Plan

    James Gunn and fellow DC Studios CEO Peter Safran have been teasing for a while what we can expect from the movies, shows and video games that will form part of their planned 8-10 year reboot of the DC onscreen universe. Gunn took to twitter today to make the initial announcement, one which includes new versions of Batman, Superman, Supergirl, Green Lantern and more.

    Gunn confirmed that the existing DC movies still to be released––‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods,’ ‘The Flash’, ‘Blue Beetle’ and ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’––are all still on track for release, with the Flash outing and its universe-rebooting nature key to helping to usher in the new shows and movies.

    Those films will then lead into what Gunn and Safran are calling ‘Gods and Monsters’, which is a major part (but not all) of the first “Chapter” in their plans. “The one thing that we can promise is that everything from our first project forward will be canon and will be connected,” says Gunn. “We’re using some actors from the past, we’re not using other actors from the past, but everything from that moment forward will be connected and consistent.” It’ll be a mix of TV (both animated and live action) and movies, with games tying in as needed.

    Writer, director, co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn.
    Writer, director, co-chairmen and co-CEO of DC Studios, James Gunn. Photo courtesy of James Gunn’s Twitter account.

    “DC has had great individual movies over the years, but we think that what the audience really appreciates and needs is a connected universe,” adds Safran. “It minimizes audience confusion and it maximizes their connectivity to it across all the platforms.”

    Gunn talked up 10 initial titles. For TV, first up will be the animated ‘Creature Commandos’, which looks to include the likes of Weasel (as seen in Gunn’s move ‘The Suicide Squad’). Gunn has written the first batch of episodes and the plan is for characters to cross between animated and live-action, and for the same actor to both voice and play the role where possible.

    There was also confirmation of ‘Peacemaker’ spin-off series ‘Waller’, with Viola Davis reprising her role as the tough wrangler of Task Force X, interacting with some characters from ‘Peacemaker’ (and one from ‘Creature Commandos’). That show will be overseen by Christal Henry, who was a writer on the TV’s ‘Watchmen,’ and Jeremy Carver who created ‘Doom Patrol’. The series will sit between the first and second seasons of ‘Peacemaker’.

    Viola Davis as Amanda Waller i
    Viola Davis as Amanda Waller in 2016’s ‘Suicide Squad.’

    Those are what Gunn is calling an amuse bouche for the main DCU launch, which will officially start via one of DC’s heavy hitters: Superman. ‘Superman: Legacy’. As he’s previously said, Gunn is writing the new take on the hero, and there is the hope he’ll also direct (though that hasn’t been confirmed yet). And it has a locked in release date of July 11th, 2025. “With our stories, we want to take it away from good guy vs. bad guy,” Gunn says. “There are really good—almost saintly—people and Superman is among them. There are really terrible villains like Gorilla Grodd or the Joker. And then there’s everybody in between them, so there are all these shades of gray which allow us to tell complex stories.”

    That will be followed by ‘Lanterns’, which is the latest iteration of the series that has been in development at HBO Max for a while now. It’ll be an Earth-set series featuring Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart (with others popping up) and is described as ‘True Detective’ with a “terrifying mystery” that ties into the wider universe.

    On the movie front again, ‘The Authority’ will utilize characters from the WildStorm Comics Imprint that DC bought. Says Gunn, “It’s a very different kind of superhero story. They are basically good-intentioned, but they think that the world is completely broken and the only way to fix it is to take things into their own hands, whether that means killing people, destroying heads of state, changing governments—basically, whatever they want to do to make the world better. We’ll see how that journey goes for them.”

    Wonder Woman fans are getting ‘Paradise Lost,’ a show set on Themyscira, the birthplace of Princess Diana, and described as ‘Game Of Thrones’ with the Amazons. “It’s an origin story of how this society of women came about. What does it mean? What are their politics like? What are their rules? Who’s in charge? What are the games that they play with each other to get to the top?,” Gunn enthuses. “I think it’s really exciting.” It’s set before Diana is born.

    DC Comics' Damian Wayne/Robin.
    DC Comics’ Damian Wayne/Robin. Photo courtesy of DC.com.

    Batman will be all new in the main DCU via movie ‘The Brave And The Bold’, adapting Grant Morrison‘s run, and featuring yet another Bruce Wayne who tries to keep his son, Damien Wayne, in line as Robin. This will launch the “Bat-family” into the movie universe.

    ‘Booster Gold’ is touted as an HBO series. “I think of it as basically the story of a superhero’s imposter syndrome,” says Gunn. “How do you deal with that? It follows how he tries to use this future technology to be loved by the people of today and what is really at the base of that. It’s a character story that’s going to be a very different type of show, and we’re talking to an actor about it now.”

    ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow’ will be a big-scale sci-fi film based on Tom King and Bilquis Evely’s comic run. It features a “darker, harsher” version of Kara Zor-El raised on a surviving chunk of Krypton who sees everyone around her die.

    DC Comics' Supergirl from writer Tom King's 'Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.'
    DC Comics’ Supergirl from writer Tom King’s ‘Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow.’ Photo courtesy of DC.com.

    Finally, a new ‘Swamp Thing’ movie will be a horror-inflected origin story for the creature, one that still intersects with the rest of the DCU.

    What, then, does all this mean for the likes of Matt Reeves’ ‘Batman‘ or Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker’ sequel? They will fall under the umbrella title ‘Elseworlds’. “The bar for an Elseworlds tale is going to be higher than the bar for a movie within the DCU,” says Gunn. “Not that we’re not always going to have a high bar, but it’s got to be something really special for us to tell that story outside of our regular continuity and to spend the money to make it.”

    “We are actually developing a few other things as well, but for one reason or another, we can’t say them,” Gunn concludes. This is the first batch of stuff, but there may be a couple of surprises to come.”

    It’s certainly an ambitious plan. Now we wait and see whether it truly comes to fruition––as previous DC regimes have made bold statements, but haven’t always lasted to see their ideas realized…

    DC Comics' Booster Gold.
    DC Comics’ Booster Gold. Photo courtesy of DC.com.
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  • Movie Review: ‘Black ‘Adam’

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    DC Comics attempt at replicating the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the DC Extended Universe has had some missteps. For every ‘Wonder Woman’ or ‘Aquaman,’ there has been a ‘Suicide Squad’ or ‘Justice League.’

    But that will all change on October 21st when ‘Black Adam’ which stars Dwayne Johnson and was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (‘Jungle Cruise’) hits theaters. The new movie brilliantly adapts the source material without ever watering down the brutality of the character and absolutely elevates the DCEU in the process.

    In the new movie, Johnson plays Teth-Adam, a slave from the ancient city of Kahndaq who is given powers by the Wizard Shazam (Djimon Hounsou reprising his role from ‘Shazam!’) transforming him into the anti-hero Black Adam. But after saving his people he is imprisoned for five thousand years and is finally released in present day by university professor and Kahndaq resistance fighter Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi).

    Black Adam soon attracts the attention of U.S. Government Agent Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), who dispatches the Justice Society of America to take Black Adam down before he becomes a threat. But once Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo) arrive in Kahndaq, Adam does not take well to their warning.

    Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate and Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    (L to R) Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate and Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    But when the leader of a terrorist organization known as Intergang seizes control of the ancient demon Sabbac, Adrianna must convince Black Adam and the Justice Society to put their differences aside and fight together as a team to save the world.

    It was only a matter of time before Dwayne Johnson starred in a live-action super hero movie, and I’m sure he has been offered other super hero roles to play over the years. In fact, rumor is he was given the choice between playing Shazam or Black Adam and chose the latter. That always seemed like an odd choice to me as Black Adam is Shazam’s archenemy in the comics, and Johnson is such a huge star and likable person, you’d think he’d want to play the hero?

    My biggest fear was that because Johnson was cast in the role, Black Adam would be made into a more heroic character, like we’ve seen with the ‘Venom’ movies. However, as DC Comics fans know, there was a brief arc in the late 90s and early 2000s where Black Adam did become a hero and joined the Justice Society. Even very recently in the comics, he had become good again and joined the ranks of the Justice League, so at least the idea of making him an anti-hero is not too far off from the source material.

    Director Jaume Collet-Serra skillfully pulls off the balancing act of having Black Adam be both the hero and villain at the same time. Adam’s origin story unfolds mysteriously throughout the film in flashbacks allowing the audience to learn about him as the other characters do. He is depicted as violent and brutal, but he also believes in justice and is willing to do anything to protect those that he loves, just like in the comics.

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    While Johnson plays the character more of a misguided hero than the true villain he is in the comics, the actor gives one of his best performances and is truly the only actor alive that could have pulled off this role physically. Just one look at him and you know he is a real threat for the Justice Society.

    Johnson’s performance reminded me of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s work in ‘The Terminator’ and ‘T2.’ Say what you will about Arnold’s acting abilities, but he was born to play that robot, and did so much with very little movement. Johnson does the same thing, communicating his emotions with very little movement or dialogue.

    The movie also reinforces the idea that the DCEU is still alive and well. While it’s no longer the dark “Snyderverse” that director Zach Snyder created with his trilogy (‘Man of Steel,’ ‘Batman v Superman,’ ‘Justice League’), those characters and events still exist. One of the early criticisms I’ve heard about the movie is that Collet-Serra tries too hard to recreate Snyder’s signature slow-motion fight scenes, and I actually didn’t see it that way.

    Yes, Collet-Serra does use slow-motion quite a bit, but I would compare it more to the use of slow-motion in the Quicksilver scenes from ‘X-Men: Days of Future Past.’ The slow-motion is not used for arbitrary reasons, but rather to highlight how fast Black Adam is moving, Dr. Fate’s magic, or how powerful Cyclone’s tornados are. I liked the use of slow-motion and thought it added to the action rather than distracting. Kudos to the editing team of John Lee and Michael L. Sale, who make all the action sequences pop.

    Aldis Hodge as Hawkman in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Aldis Hodge as Hawkman in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    The Justice Society is a great added attraction for DC fans but having them work for Amanda Waller felt a bit off. We last saw her own team stage a rebellion against her in ‘The Suicide Squad’ and it doesn’t make a lot of sense that the JSA is now taking orders from her, but it doesn’t really affect the plot, although sending Task Force-X, especially after the events of ‘Peacemaker,’ would have made more sense.

    Aldis Hodge is very strong as Hawkman and brings the stubbornness of the character from the comics. Pierce Brosnan was also a wonderful casting choice and has the right level of likability and gravitas for the role. Quintessa Swindell is a nice addition as Cyclone, but much of her backstory seemed cut from the film and unfortunately, she did not have a lot to do. The same could be said for Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, who is probably the weakest link in the cast, and isn’t given enough screen time to make an impact.

    Rounding out the cast is also a very good performance from Sarah Shahi as Adrianna Tomaz, who is the only person that can truly get through to Black Adam. The actress has very good chemistry with Johnson, and perhaps will be back in sequels as her comic book super hero alter-ego, Isis.

    I will say that there is a mid-credit scene that you will not want to miss which welcomes back a former DCEU actor and character. I don’t want to give it away, even though Johnson basically has while promoting the movie, but I will say that it promises an epic fight in the future of the franchise that is very exciting for DC fans.

    Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    At the end of the day, ‘Black Adam’ pulls it off and delivers what it promised, a no-holds-barred approach to the popular DC character. While tweaking with the tone at times, the movie does stay true to the source material, and features a commanding star-turn from Dwayne Johnson. Watch out Marvel … DC is back!

    ‘Black Adam’ receives 4.5 out of 5 stars.

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Frank Masi. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • ‘Black Adam’ Interview: Dwayne Johnson

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    Opening in theaters on October 21st is the new ‘Black Adam,’ which is based on characters from DC Comics and was directed by Jaume Collet-Serra (‘Jungle Cruise’).

    The new movies stars Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, an anti-hero from the ancient city of Kahndaq who awakens in present day after five thousand years of imprisonment.

    He soon draws the attention of the Justice Society of America including Hawkman (Aldis Hodge) and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan) and must team-up with them in order to stop a threat more powerful than Adam himself.

    In addition to Johnson, Hodge and Brosnan, the cast also includes Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, Viola Davis as Amanda Waller, and Sarah Shahi as Adrianna Tomaz.

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Dwayne Johnson in-person to talk about his work on ‘Black Adam,’ why fans should be excited for the movie, and why Black Adam was the right super hero for him to play.

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    You can read our full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Dwayne Johnson, Aldis Hodge, Pierce Brosnan, Noah Centineo, Quintessa Swindell, Sarah Shahi, Mohammed Amer.

    Moviefone: To begin with, what would you say to your fans and DC Comics fans to get them pumped-up and ready to see this movie?

    Dwayne Johnson: Oh, get ready because we are going to deliver something I think that you are already anticipating. I think right now they are hearing rumblings that the movie is pretty good.

    They’re hearing rumblings about some other things that might be happening in the movie. They’re hearing rumblings about maybe somebody is joining us in this movie. They’re hearing a lot of rumblings.

    So, I would say get your popcorn, get to the theater, the biggest, most immersive theater you can, but also know this because we as actors, we sell our movies. Get to the movies, you got to see it on the biggest screen.

    I put all I had into this movie, and this has been a 10 plus year push, fight and journey to get it to this place where we could take something that I love, and I love the DC universe. I like Marvel and all those guys are my buddies.

    But I love DC and this opportunity that we have to expand the DC Universe, introduce five new beloved superheroes, or four and one anti-hero, it’s just a great opportunity. So, I hope that fans, when going to their theater, I hope they feel the passion and the fight that went into this in ‘Black Adam.’

    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam'
    Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    MF: Finally, I know it took a long time for you to get this movie made, and I’m sure you have been offered other super heroes to play over the years. Why was Black Adam the right character for you to portray on screen?

    DJ: Because he represented so many characteristics that I have. Now, what I mean by that because that’s a tough one for me to say, is just that I have reached a point in my life right now as I sit and talk to you where I’m confident in who I am.

    No one can tell me, “Hey, you can’t be like that. You have to walk like this, talk like this. Don’t call yourself “The Rock.” You can’t talk about pro wrestling. You’re too big, go lose weight.” All this stuff that I heard when I first got to Hollywood.

    So, I’m at a point now in my life where I feel so confident about my steps, and I feel so present with everyone I talk to, like you and anyone. And Black Adam is that way. He’s lived a life. He is confident. He steps with purpose and with passion, deep passion.

    Also, he does have great empathy and he does care about people who he loves, like I do. Now, if you mess with him, that’s a problem. You mess with me, that’s a problem. I’ll handle it. I might smile a little bit before I handle it, but it’s a difference.

    Dwayne Johnson stars as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure 'Black Adam.'
    Dwayne Johnson stars as Black Adam in New Line Cinema’s action adventure ‘Black Adam.’
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  • Movie Review: ‘The Woman King’

    Viola Davis stars in 'The Woman King.'
    Viola Davis stars in ‘The Woman King.’

    Releasing in theaters on September 16th, ‘The Woman King’ feels like a throwback to the sort of historical drama that is rarely made by studios these days.

    And, indeed, one that has almost never been made by and about people who look like Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim and the vast majority of the cast for the film itself.

    Gina Prince Bythewood, who last directed ‘The Old Guard‘ (a more fantastical tale of an immortal female warrior leading her similarly long-lived squad), here brings real power and emotion to the based-on-truth story of an African kingdom in the 19th century that could serve as the template for a more progressive and egalitarian society today.

    Davis stars as Nanisca, the Miganon, or general of the Agojie, the fearsome, all-female unit of warriors who defended the Kingdom of Dahomey (an area of the African continent now known as Benin) and its ruler, the freshly installed King Ghezo (John Boyega).

    Viola Davis and John Boyega star in 'The Woman King.'
    (L to R) Viola Davis and John Boyega star in ‘The Woman King.’

    This is a time when the slave trade is at its height, European cultures running their economies on the back of trading humans. And Dahomey is not innocent in that – the kingdom has seen its own financial wellbeing dependent on selling the prisoners it captures in battle. Nanisca, though, the scars of her own imprisonment from years ago still clear in body and mind, is pushing for change, arguing that their society can benefit more from the trade in palm oil and other goods than human lives.

    Mostly, though, she’s busy commanding Dahomey’s forces, protecting its citizens from the forces of neighboring tribes, who have forged their own ties with slavers.

    Yet our way into this powerful fighting force – and the story itself – is via Mbedu’s Nawi, a forthright and headstrong young woman whose father has given up all hope of marrying off (particularly after she puts her latest, rude, wealthy suitor squarely in his place) and decides to hand her over to the king.

    Nawi, fascinated by the Agojie, instead opts to become a recruit, looking to show she has what it takes to join this elite force. Which means she’s soon under the tutelage of Izogie (Lynch), a chief lieutenant whose stern sergeant major manner belies a witty, caring side.

    Viola Davis and Lashana Lynch with young recruits in 'The Woman King.'
    (L to R) Viola Davis and Lashana Lynch with young recruits in ‘The Woman King.’

    Davis is, as befits her career to date and her Oscar-winning status, is magnetic and stern in her role, but, in combination with Bythewood and Dana Stevens’ script, finds real vulnerability in her role. There’s more to Nanisca than simply scowling and fighting, coming across as a rounded woman dealing with the challenges of her time period.

    But right there with her are Lynch, Mbedu and Sheila Atim, the other key figures of the movie, whose characters are all well-rounded. Lynch, best known for ‘Captain Marvel’ and as the sly new 007 in ‘No Time To Die’ is excellent as Izogie, a woman with no time for weakness and a love for whiskey, but who also shows other sides of herself.

    Carrying her fair share of the dramatic weight, Mbedu (a veteran of Barry Jenkins’ ‘The Underground Railroad’) also shines, making sure that her character never comes across as instantly perfect at everything she does – it’s a hard road from wide-eyed newcomer to battle-hardened warrior.

    Then you have Atim, who got so little to do in films such as ‘Pinocchio’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ really getting her teeth into the role of Amenza, Nanisca’s closest friend, aide and spiritual adviser, the person who can truly confront her when necessary. She’s far from the stock character of this sort in historical drama, making Amenza feel alive and human.

    Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and Shelia Atim in 'The Woman King.'
    (L to R) Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and Shelia Atim in ‘The Woman King.’

    John Boyega has less to do as the King, but he’s entertaining in his scenes, proving to be commanding when the role requires and thoughtful at other times.

    Bythewood infuses almost every scene with verve and energy, though she can’t quite make all the elements work. A half-baked, non-starter of a romantic connection between Mbedu and Jordan Bolger’s Malik, born to a Dahomey mother and a white father who grew up in Europe and returns in the company of his best friend Santo (Hero Fiennes Tiffin), who has inherited a slave operation and is learning how to run it. That subplot ultimately ties into the rest of the story but never feels as authentic as the rest, more a Hollywood concoction than something drawn from truth.

    More effective (but still not up to quite the standard of the movie as a whole) is a surprise revelation for two of the characters that we won’t spoil. But suffice to say it’s soapier than it might have needed to be.

    Viola Davis stars in 'The Woman King.'
    Viola Davis stars in ‘The Woman King.’

    The movie really comes alive when Davis and co. are in battle, the clashes pushing the PG-13 rating to its limit (though still more bloodless than the violent stabbing, slashing and shooting might suggest), and the cast fully commit to the action, working alongside some extremely adept stunt performers to make sure that Nanisca, Izogie and the rest are exactly as brutal and efficient on the battlefield as you might expect.

    Nanisca has some demons she needs to confront, literally in one case when she faces off against Jimmy Odukoya’s misogynistic and cruel Oba Ade, commander of the forces from the nearby Oyo Empire, who is her nemesis and one of the only people who can actually stand up to her in battle. Odukoya is a vital, dangerous force in the film, more than just a simple villain.

    Vibrant and full of passion, ‘The Woman King’ might not have the same multimedia appeal of, say, ‘Black Panther’, but it deserves to do well, telling a story that many people won’t have heard and bringing a unique aspect to the genre.

    ‘The Woman King’ receives 4 out of 5 stars.

    Lashana Lynch, Viola Davis, Shelia Atim, Sisipho Mbopa, Lone Motsomi, Chioma Umeala in 'The Woman King.'
    (L to R) Lashana Lynch, Viola Davis, Shelia Atim, Sisipho Mbopa, Lone Motsomi, Chioma Umeala in ‘The Woman King.’
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  • ‘The Woman King’ Interviews: Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu

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    Opening in theaters on September 16th is the new historical epic ‘The Woman King,’ from director Gina Prince-Bythewood (‘The Old Guard’).

    The film is set in the West African kingdom of Dahomey during the 1820s and follows the Agojie, an all-female group of warriors who protect the kingdom. Their leader, General Nanisca (Viola Davis) is training a new generation of warriors to fight against an enemy who wants to destroy their way of life.

    In addition to Oscar winner Viola Davis (‘The Suicide Squad’) the cast also includes Thuso Mbedu (‘The Underground Railroad’), Lashana Lynch (‘Captain Marvel’), John Boyega (‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘), Sheila Atim (‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’) and Hero Fiennes Tiffin (‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince’).

    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu about their work on ‘The Woman King,’ and creating their complex characters.

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    You can read the interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Davis, Mbedu, John Boyega, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, producer Cathy Schulman, and director Gina Prince-Bythewood.

    Moviefone: To begin with, Viola, as an actress, what was it like for you to step into this role, both internally and externally?

    Viola Davis: To be honest, I’m one of those actors that when I do a role and the movie is done, I’m done. I don’t think about it. I don’t want to think about it. I forget the lines. I forget everything. But then there’s some times, characters do stay with you because they help you. We become “people whisperers.” We invite these human beings into our lives for as long as we’re doing the movie and we’re researching the movie. Then they sit with us, and sometimes they become the best therapist and healers for us.

    Naniska taught me to be brave. She did. There’s a lot of times in my life that when I walk in the room, everything is a fight. As an actor, as a Black actor, as a Black female actor, everything is a fight. Sometimes I need a sword, I really do. I need to believe that I can walk in the room and I can slay. Especially being shy, and being introverted, which I am. That’s what Naniska taught me. She shifted me.

    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures' 'The Woman King.' Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures’ ‘The Woman King.’ Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.

    MF: Finally, Thuso, Nawi goes through a big transformation from the beginning of the movie to the end. What was it like for you as an actress to have an opportunity to develop such a complex character?

    Thuso Mbedu: It was a lot of fun. Nawi, I think, is different to me in a lot of ways. So, finding her, playing with her, growing with her was a lot of fun, in conversation with Gina (Prince-Bythewood) at all times. Gina has this swagger about her that she really wanted Nawi to have.

    She would constantly remind me on set. “Don’t forget the swagger.” I was like, okay, I have to sit into that confidence that Nawi has. Live your life in such a way where the death of your dream is not an option. That is who Nawi is. I enjoyed playing her.

    Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu star in 'The Woman King.'
    (L to R) Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu star in ‘The Woman King.’ Copyright: © 2021 CTMG, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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  • First Look at ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel

    Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird and Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow in 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.'
    (L to R) Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird and Tom Blyth as Coriolanus Snow in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.

    After spending the last few months announcing the various people who make up director Francis Lawrence’s return to the ‘Hunger Games’ movie universe with prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ we now have our first look at the film.

    Stars Rachel Zegler and Tom Blyth are shown in character in what looks like a surprisingly relaxed moment for a ‘Hunger Games’ movie, which usually busy themselves with showing young people battling in a post-apocalyptic environment.

    ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is set 64 years before the story of Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen. In this throwback to an earlier era of the Hunger Games, the new narrative follows 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Blyth) long before he’s the cunning president of post-apocalyptic nation Panem.

    Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.

    But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird and a snake.”

    Rachel Zegler to star as Lucy Gray Baird in Lionsgate's 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.'
    Rachel Zegler to star as Lucy Gray Baird in Lionsgate’s ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo credit: Nathan Johnson.

    It’s all adapted from ‘Hunger Games’ novelist Suzanne Collins’ 2020 prequel book, and the film, written by Michael Lesslie (working from initial drafts by Collins and Michael Arndt) does promise to be quite different from the other films – while still feeling of a piece.

    “It’s completely different stylistically, in terms of design, character, and point of view,” producer Nina Jacobson tells Vanity Fair. “To be able to show a different side of Panem at a different time in its history has been really exciting.”

    “This is very much a story about love,” Lawrence says. “It’s this kind of love story set in a different kind of a world in a different time. A very intimate love story.”

    But fans of the original book trilogy and the four movies that it spawned won’t be let down in terms of callbacks.

    “Suzanne has done such a great job of going back into the mythology and telling a story about the creation of the world,” adds Lawrence. “You get a little background of Katniss. You will obviously get a lot of the background of Snow, the history of the Games, the history of some of the music, where songs like ‘The Hanging Tree’ actually come from.”

    The cast also includes Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Ashley Liao, Sofia Sanchez, Mackenzie Lansing, Zoe Renee, George Somner, Isobel Jesper Jones, Lilly Maria Cooper, Max Raphael, Dakota Shapiro, Vaughan Reilly, Nick Benson, Knox Gibson, Amélie Hoeferle and Cooper Dillon.

    ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ will be in theaters on November 17th, 2023.

    ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’
    ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ will be in theaters on November 17th, 2023.
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  • Viola Davis Joins the ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel

    Viola Davis Joins the cast of ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ which is scheduled for release in theaters on November 17th, 2023.
    Viola Davis Joins the cast of ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ which is scheduled for release in theaters on November 17th, 2023.

    While Viola Davis is more usually seen as a heroic or good-hearted character, we have seen her channel a darker side in the past: ‘Suicide Squad’s Amanda Waller, for example. Or the crafty Annalise Keating on TV’s ‘How to Get Away with Murder’.

    It’s that side of her performance that will be on display in the ‘Hunger Games’ prequel movie ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’. Davis has joined the in-production movie as Dr. Volumnia Gaul.

    ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is set years before the story of Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen. In this throwback to an earlier era of the Hunger Games, the new narrative follows 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) long before he’s the cunning president of post-apocalyptic nation Panem.

    Snow is the last hope for his fading lineage, a once-proud family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With the 10th annual Hunger Games fast approaching, the young Snow is alarmed when he is assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), the girl tribute from impoverished District 12.

    But, after Lucy Gray commands all of Panem’s attention by defiantly singing during the reaping ceremony, Snow thinks he might be able to turn the odds in their favor. Uniting their instincts for showmanship and newfound political savvy, Snow and Lucy’s race against time to survive will ultimately reveal who is a songbird and a snake.”

    Rachel Zegler to star as Lucy Gray Baird in Lionsgate's 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.'
    Rachel Zegler to star as Lucy Gray Baird in Lionsgate’s ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo credit: Nathan Johnson.

    Dr. Gaul will serve as the main antagonist for the movie, a games-maker who designs the 10th annual games.

    Francis Lawrence is directing the movie now from a script by Michael Lesslie. The ever-expanding cast also includes Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Hunter Schafer, Josh Andrés Rivera, Ashley Liao, Sofia Sanchez, Mackenzie Lansing, Zoe Renee, George Somner, Isobel Jesper Jones, Lilly Maria Cooper, Max Raphael, Dakota Shapiro, Vaughan Reilly, Nick Benson, Knox Gibson, Amélie Hoeferle and Cooper Dillon.

    “The ‘Hunger Games’ films have always been elevated by their exceptional casting, and we are thrilled to be continuing that tradition with Viola Davis as Volumnia Gaul,” says Lionsgate motion picture group president Nathan Kahane. “Her formidable and powerful presence will add layers of complexity and menace to this story.”

    “From the beginning, Viola has been our dream for Dr. Gaul because of the finely layered intelligence and emotion she brings to every role,” comments franchise producer Nina Jacobson. “A brilliant and eccentric strategist, Gaul is instrumental in shaping a young Coriolanus Snow into the man he will become. We are incredibly fortunate to have an actor with Viola’s extraordinary range and presence to play this pivotal role.”

    “Dr. Gaul is as cruel as she is creative and as fearsome as she is formidable. Snow’s savvy as a political operator develops in no small part due to his experiences with her as the games’ most commanding figure,” enthuses Lawrence.

    ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ is scheduled for release in theaters on November 17th, 2023.

    ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’
    ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ will be in theaters on November 17th, 2023.
    U5NGv1rB0QpQgWj0tkBMm2

  • Viola Davis in First Trailer for ‘The Woman King’

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    Looking to upend what we have traditionally seen from historical action dramas – which, let’s be honest have often been focused on white dudes swinging swords to avenge their families or conquer other countries – director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s ‘The Woman King’ instead puts Viola Davis front and center as the general commanding an army.

    Inspired by true events, ‘The Woman King’ tells the story of the Agojie (AKA Amazons), the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen. This is the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.

    Looking like the sort of fighting force that inspired ‘Black Panther’s fearsome Dora Milaje, the Agojie are responsible for defending King Ghezo (John Boyega). Our way into the story, meanwhile, is via Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), who is a relatively new recruit and learns that there’s more to this fighting force than just being badasses.

    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures' 'The Woman King.' Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures’ ‘The Woman King.’ Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.

    “I’ve never had a role like this before. It’s transformative,” Davis tells Vanity Fair. “And to be a producer on it, and to know that I had a hand in bringing it to fruition…. There’s always a vision you have for your career, but there are very few roles as an actress of color. Dark skin with a wide nose and big lips. I’m just gonna continue to say it. Those stories are extraordinarily limited. I knew what it would mean to us as Black people. Something that has never been done before. And what it would mean for Black women sitting in that movie theater. The responsibility is really high.”

    For Prince-Bythewood, part of getting a handle on the movie’s impressive-looking action was also taking inspiration from her own past. “I grew up an athlete. The women around me were athletes,” she says. “There was a normalcy to how I thought about myself. You fight. Aggression is good. Leave it all out on the floor. And as I got older, it surprised me how few women had the advantage of growing up like that. That innate warrior that I believe we all have is dormant in so many women because it wasn’t encouraged or valued.”

    With a cast that also includes Lashana Lynch (no stranger to impressively mixing action and drama after ‘Captain Marvel’ and ‘No Time to Die’), Sheila Atim (who had a small role in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ but deserved more and should get that here), Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Jordan Bolger, Adrienne Warren, Jayme Lawson, Shaina West and Jimmy Odukoya. Dana Stevens wrote the initial drafts of the movie, while Prince-Bythewood added her own material once she came aboard.

    ‘The Woman King’ will march into theaters on September 16th.

    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures' 'The Woman King.' Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
    Viola Davis as Nanisca in TriStar Pictures’ ‘The Woman King.’ Photo: Ilze Kitshoff.
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  • ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ Sequel in the Works

    Gerard Butler in 2009's 'Law Abiding Citizen.'
    Gerard Butler in 2009’s ‘Law Abiding Citizen.’

    2009’s crime thriller ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ clearly has its fans. And among them? Star Gerard Butler, who appears ready to bring more of the story to screens. But the twist is, he probably won’t be in front of the cameras this time.

    Should you need your memory refreshed, here’s the basics for the movie: it
    starred Butler and Jamie Foxx and was directed by F. Gary Gray. The story follows assistant district attorney Nick Rice’s (Foxx) pursuit of Clyde Shelton (Butler), a frustrated father who implements an elaborate and twisted plan to bring down the entire judicial system in Philadelphia after a plea bargain by Rice sets free the man who murdered Shelton’s wife and daughter.

    The cast for this one also includes Colm Meaney, Bruce McGill, Leslie Bibb, Regina Hall, Gregory Itzin, Viola Davis, Roger Bart, and Michael Kelly. While the critical reaction to the movie was far from positive when ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ arrived in theaters, the audience response was more enthusiastic, and it ended up earning more than $130 million.

    Part of the reason for the sequel being thrown into more active development? The fact that the original landed on Netflix last December, and quickly became one of the most popular movies on the service, along with ‘Red Notice’ and ‘The Unforgivable’.

    Story details for the new movie are under wraps for now, but while Butler is certainly one of the producers, he’s yet to make a deal to return as an actor for the new movie – which is not all that surprising since (spoiler alert) his character dies at the end of the first “Citizen”. It appears more likely that it could continue the story of Foxx’s Rice, the crusading ADA whose life was impacted by his and Shelton’s actions. Or it’ll be a completely fresh tale.

    Jamie Foxx and Brice McGill in 2009's 'Law Abiding Citizen.'
    Jamie Foxx and Brice McGill in 2009’s ‘Law Abiding Citizen.’

    What we do know is that writer/producer Kurt Wimmer will be back alongside fellow producer Lucas Foster. Rivulet Films’ Rob Paris and Mike Witherill are producing alongside Foster and Wimmer, plus Village Roadshow Pictures’ Tristen Tuckfield and Jillian Apfelbaum, who will be executive producers.

    As for who could direct the movie? It’s far too early for that sort of talk, though the team could tempt Gray to return. And if he doesn’t, Wimmer also has directorial experience.

    As a writer, Wimmer most recently created original screenplay ‘The Beekeeper’ which is being turned into a new action thriller for David Ayer to direct and Jason Statham set to star.

    “I am delighted to partner with Rob, Mike, and Village Roadshow Pictures, together with my frequent creative partner Kurt Wimmer, to revisit these great characters and this compelling topic which seems even more relevant today than when we made the original film,” says Foster. “We’re going to blow your mind… again.”

    The business of Gerard Butler sequels is a busy one of late – he’s back for a ‘Den of Thieves’ follow-up and ‘Greenland: Migration’ is in pre-production, while a forth ‘Olympus has Fallen’ follow-up, ‘Night has Fallen’ sits at the pitch stage.

    Gerard Butler in 2009's 'Law Abiding Citizen.'
    Gerard Butler in 2009’s ‘Law Abiding Citizen.’
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