Moviefone Editorial

Tag: way-of-the-warrior-kid

  • McG to direct KISS Biopic ‘Shout It Out Loud’

    (Left) Director McG at the premiere of 'Terminator Salvation'. (Right) Kiss in 'Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park'. Photo: Hanna-Barbera Productions.
    (Left) Director McG at the premiere of ‘Terminator Salvation’. (Right) Kiss in ‘Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park’. Photo: Hanna-Barbera Productions.

    Preview:

    • McG is setting a deal to direct ‘Shout It Out Loud,’ a biopic of glam supergroup KISS.
    • Details on what the movie will exactly cover are unknown.
    • STX Entertainment is producing the new film.

    Music biopics continue to be popular, with a handful at different stages of production or development right now, including films about Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell to name but a few.

    And a movie about iconic glam rockers KISS is something that at least one company –– that would be Netflix, which had ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ and ‘Young Woman and the Sea’ director Joachim Rønning attached back in 2021, before the project fell into turnaround.

    Now STX has moved to nab the rights from Polygram Entertainment, and director McG –– who has YA sci-fi thriller ‘Uglies’ hitting Netflix –– is locking down a deal to direct.

    The most recent draft of the script is written by Darren Lemke, is based on a prior screenplay by Ole Sanders.

    Related Article: Marisa Abela and Director Sam Taylor-Johnson Talk ‘Back to Black’

    Who are KISS?

    Kiss with the cast of 'Detroit Rock City'. Photo: New Line Cinema.
    Kiss with the cast of ‘Detroit Rock City’. Photo: New Line Cinema.

    Should you not already be aware of the glam-rockers, here’s a little history lesson…

    KISS was formed in New York City by Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in 1973. Known for their signature kabuki-style face paint and larger-than-life, pyrotechnic-filled performances, the band broke out with the 1975 live album “Alive!” which featured the anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite” and solidified their status as one of the era’s top acts.

    The band’s most successful albums include “Destroyer,” “Love Gun,” “Alive II” and “Dynasty,” which produced hits including “Beth,” “Detroit Rock City” and “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”

    Frehley and Criss departed KISS decades ago, leaving Simmons and Stanley as the lone original members. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, the band spent four years on the road for their farewell “End of the Road” World Tour, officially retiring after their final concert at Madison Square Garden in December.

    Yet despite leaving the stage themselves, they’ve set up digital avatars which will continue to play virtual concert sets. And the group sold their music catalog, name, image and likeness to the Sweden-based Pophouse Entertainment in April, in a deal reportedly worth more than $300 million.

    As for whether the movie will go the full story route or focus on one chunk? That remains to be seen.

    What else is McG working on?

    (L to R) Clayne Crawford and director McG on the set of 'Lethal Weapon'. Photo: Richard Foreman/Fox.
    (L to R) Clayne Crawford and director McG on the set of ‘Lethal Weapon’. Photo: Richard Foreman/Fox.

    Currently, the director is in production on ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’, the adaptation of Jocko Willink’s book about a self-doubting, bullied boy who learns to find his inner warrior with the help of his Navy SEAL uncle.

    Chris Pratt, Jude Hill and Linda Cardellini are starring in the new movie, which is being produced by Apple and Skydance.

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    When will ‘Shout It Out Loud’? be in theaters?

    There is no word on a release date just yet.

    Kiss in 'Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery'. Photo: Warner Home Video.
    Kiss in ‘Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery’. Photo: Warner Home Video.

    Other McG Movies:

    Buy McG Movies on Amazon

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  • Chris Pratt Starring in ‘Way Of The Warrior Kid’

    Chris Pratt from 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.'
    Chris Pratt from ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.’

    Preview:

    • Chris Pratt will star in and produce ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’.
    • McG is aboard to direct the movie.
    • The film will be looking for a distribution at the Cannes Market.

    Outside of his Amazon series work, Chris Pratt may still be looking to prove that he can carry projects beyond his Marvel and other franchise gigs. ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ was certainly a big hit last year, though that was powered more by video game nostalgia than his name. And he’ll be heard rather than seen in the upcoming ‘The Garfield Movie’, which focuses on the comic strip cat brought to CG life on screens.

    According to Deadline, he’s part of a new movie package that looks to find success (specifically, a buyer) at this year’s Cannes Market. Pratt is attached to star in ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’, which will adapt retired Navy SEAL Jock Willink’s book.

    With McG aboard to direct, the new film looks to target audiences who want a story of youth empowerment without a fantasy angle.

    What’s the story of ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’?

    Chris Pratt in Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List’
    Chris Pratt in Prime Video’s ‘The Terminal List’

    Willink drew on his experiences and training to write the book about Marc, a self-doubting kid who gets bullied and is hard pressed to complete a single pullup. That’s until his uncle Jake, an elite Navy SEAL, is injured on a mission and moves in with his sister for rehab. When he discovers his 11 year old nephew Marc is struggling academically, socially and physically, Jake takes on a new mission: using his SEAL Team training over three months of summer to help the youth find his inner warrior.

    Here’s what Willink says about the book, which has since spawned various follow-ups and spin-offs, including merchandise:

    “I spent my adult life in the military. I was in the SEAL Teams, deployed all over the place, went up through the chain of command, and was lucky to have had a blessed career. That whole time, I also had a wife and four kids. I wanted to read them books and I would go to the store or to the library and I just couldn’t find any that I liked. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a pirate book. And it was filled with the weakest, most pathetic pirates I’d ever heard of in my life.”

    Related Article: Director James Gunn and Chris Pratt Talk ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’

    Who is making ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’?

    Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu in director McG's 'Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle'.
    (L to R) Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu in director McG’s ‘Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

    Aside from Pratt and McG, the project has ‘Without Remorse’ scribe Will Staples writing the script, which UTA Independent Film Group and FilmNation will be putting on the market in France.

    This is what Pratt said of the project:

    “Will Staples’ screenplay is incredible. I’ve known Jocko Willink for a couple of years, so I was eager to read the script based on his series of children’s books. I believe in the power of storytelling and felt particularly called to the material. I have faith this film will help to shape today’s youth, putting them on the right path. Our young people need this movie, and I hope this story will help bridge the growing divide and inspire the next generation to learn valuable lessons about discipline, self-reliance, strength, and compassion. This is the kind of movie that can define a generation, like ‘Karate Kid’ or ‘Rocky’. This is the kind of movie I want to show my kids. So, with the help of an incredible creative team and the right partner, we’re gonna make it.”

    When will ‘Way of the Warrior Kid’ be in theaters?

    With no distributor attached as of yet, there is zero information on whether this one will hit theaters, let alone a release date. But given the star power of Pratt and the confidence-building kid angle (that will appeal to a big audience), we’d expect this one to be moving forward before too long.

    Chris Pratt, Edwin Hodge and Sam Richardson star in 'The Tomorrow War.'
    (L to R) Chris Pratt, Edwin Hodge and Sam Richardson star in ‘The Tomorrow War.’ Property of Amazon Prime Video.

    Other McG Movies:

    Buy Chris Pratt Movies on Amazon

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