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Category: News

  • Two Other Rising Directors Were Approached for ‘Fantastic Four’

    Two Other Rising Directors Were Approached for ‘Fantastic Four’

    It has been a notable day for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with further confirmation that WandaVision‘s Matt Shakman has entered talks to direct Fantastic Four. This has come after a long and detailed search from Marvel Studios since the departure of Jon Watts earlier this year. With the announcement of Shakman, comes further information about the exhausting process to find the right director to helm Marvel’s first family. According to Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter, Michael Matthews of Love and Monsters fame was the runner-up in the Fantastic Four sweepstakes.

    In addition to Matthews, it’s further been revealed that Reid Carolin was another name that met with Marvel Studios to pitch his vision of Fantastic Four. Carolin is arguably best known for his work directing the Channing Tatum-led Dog from earlier this year.

    While interesting to compare and contrast the credentials of these two names with that of Matt Shakman, it’s certainly a futile gesture as audiences don’t have any clear understanding of what creative direction is being taken for Fantastic Four and how a different director would make some sort of difference. Nonetheless, this will remain as a type of “what if” scenario to envision how the previous works of Matthews and Carolin would’ve influenced a take on the Fantastic Four team.

    In terms of Shakman, this certainly is a major score for the career of the director on the theatrical scale. While having a robust career as a director in television, Shakman has only had one feature film to his name previously. Though his work on the likes of luminary television programs such as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Fargo, and Game of Thrones should assure audiences of his qualifications. And most especially, his time directing WandaVision should especially make fans excited for what could be in store for Fantastic Four.

    Source: Twitter.

  • Alessandro Nivola on Playing the Villain in Sony’s ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Film

    Alessandro Nivola on Playing the Villain in Sony’s ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Film

    As Sony looks to continue moving forward with their cinematic universe of characters within the lore of Spider-Man (without the titular character present), one film that has piqued the curiosity of some is 2023’s Kraven the Hunter. As the film approaches its January premiere, Alessandro Nivola sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss his involvement as the main antagonist. Nivola focused on his excitement about reuniting with director J.C. Chandor after having worked with him on A Most Violent Year. Alongside this, the actor described the more practical nature of this film as opposed to others in the superhero genre.

    These movies all have a certain formula to them, but J.C. said that he wanted to shoot all on location. The physical ability of the characters in the movie is also more grounded in reality. People aren’t flying around or anything. J.C. described it as the most incredible Olympic athlete you’ve ever seen. Moreover, the role, which I’m not yet allowed to disclose, was just a real acting opportunity for me.

    Alessandro Nivola

    Kraven the Hunter has been confirmed to have been shot on location in predominantly Iceland. That bit of news has the potential to draw in more interest as most superhero flicks are filmed with the help of greenscreens. Nivola also talked about the enjoyment he had in playing an antagonist with pathos and complexity while avoiding general stereotypes of actors working within the realm of superheroics. The actor also gave some teases towards specific facets of his character and the film at large.

    It’s just a great character part, and I didn’t have to do any CGI. I didn’t have to do any green screen. I only transform, physically, in the final moments of the movie, so it’s just a classic villain role. It had a really interesting, complex psychology and personal history to draw on, and the movie has a time jump in it, so the character changes a lot from the way he is in the beginning of the film. It was as much of an acting opportunity as any other film I’ve done, and I didn’t have to contend with wearing a spandex outfit or anything like that.

    Alessandro Nivola

    If what Alessandro Nivola talks about here is able to be translated onto the screen, then there is a chance that Kraven the Hunter can become a relative surprise hit within the genre. And Sony should certainly be hoping for that if they want to maintain success in this attempt at a cinematic universe following the unmitigated flop of Morbius earlier this year.

    Kraven the Hunter stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the titular role and is currently scheduled to open in theaters on January 13, 2023.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ Won’t Return for Season 2

    Netflix’s ‘Resident Evil’ Won’t Return for Season 2

    Netflix has decided not to move forward with its Resident Evil series, which will end with only one season that was made available back on July 14th. The series hasn’t had a strong following as the streamer hoped for, as it wasn’t dominating its Top 10 category and it seems that the viewing numbers just weren’t there either. To be fair, the idea of releasing anything after the monolith that is Stranger Things also didn’t help and undercut the project’s release which hit a decent 72.7M hours viewed at the #2 spot. It didn’t quite get the word-of-mouth they may have hoped as it dropped in its second weekend and was no longer in the Top 10 after three weeks.

    Netflix’s model isn’t very friendly to new projects starting out, as their expectations are extremely high for any project, and the higher the budget, the more retention it needs to show. Even The Sandman which has had one of the slowest drops for any series may not get a renewal simply for how high the expectations are for this project. There is still quite a bit out there for those looking for their fill, but keep that in mind that binging the show and keeping it high is important to keep it going. Wednesday, One Piece, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more are good contenders for more IP-based offerings with growing potential.

    Resident Evil was created by Andrew Dabb and takes place 14 years after the virus hit. We explore Jade’s story, the daughter of Albert Wesker, as she uncovers the connections between her father and the Umbrella Corporation. While the series had some creative elements, it didn’t quite go viral as The Sandman did with most people pointing out the random dancing sequence, which ended up getting shared on social media platforms like Tik Tok. It also shows that an IP name doesn’t ensure success for these projects.

    Source: Deadline

  • Ezra Miller Met With Warner Bros. Executives to Ensure ‘The Flash’ Isn’t Scrapped

    Ezra Miller Met With Warner Bros. Executives to Ensure ‘The Flash’ Isn’t Scrapped

    DC and Warner Bros. Discovery are in the headlines for many different reasons. While mostly the reception to whatever WB is currently up to has been quite negative, the drama surrounding Ezra Miller wasn’t helping. After scandals started piling on, many feared or wondered what exactly the future has in store for the long-in-development The Flash film. As it turns out, Miller has now had a sit-down with the studio executives to discuss everything that has been going on.

    There are no exact details on what was discussed in the meeting, but given the recent circumstances, it’s not hard to imagine. They sat down with executives Pam Abdy and Michael De Luca joined by their agent, who recently took over the motion picture division from Toby Emmerich. As many different issues are coming together and a project with a massive budget of $250M is on the line, there’s a lot to ensure.

    It seems that the potential scrapping of the project has also pushed Miller to seek help, which is a good sign and shows how committed they are to the character. It seems this was the first time they’ve talked since they took over the division especially as the film is still in its post-production stage. Warner Bros. Discovery believes in the project as it has tested as high as Christopher Nolan‘s Batman films, which is definitely something they are striving to ensure makes its way into theaters. So, here’s hoping everything works out moving forward.

    Source: Hollywood Reporter

  • Danny Huston Joins ‘The Crow’ Reboot

    Danny Huston Joins ‘The Crow’ Reboot

    The long-in-the-works The Crow reboot is finally in production. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Danny Huston is the latest to join the cast of the reboot. He’ll join the previously announced Bill Skarsgard and FKA Twigs. The reboot is described as a modern reimagining of James O’Barr’s popular graphic novel, with Skarsgard playing the titular character. Details surrounding Huston’s role are currently unknown.

    Director Rupert Sanders is directing the film, which is reportedly weeks into production in the Czech Republic. This marks a return to blockbuster filmmaking for Sanders who found himself in the midst of controversy after Snow White and the Huntsman. He’s directing The Crow from a script by Zach Bayli.

    Huston has built up a rather impressive resume throughout his long-standing career. He’s appeared in films such as The Aviator, 30 Days of Night, and Marie Antoinette. On the small screen, he’s starred in shows like Magic City, American Horror Story, Yellowstone and Succession. Comic book fans, however, might know him best for his appearance as Stryker in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

    As of now, The Crow reboot does not have a release date.

    Source: THR.

  • Amanda Fix & Avan Jogia Board AMC’s ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’

    Amanda Fix & Avan Jogia Board AMC’s ‘Orphan Black: Echoes’

    Amanda Fix and Avan Jogia have been cast in lead roles opposite Krysten Ritter for AMC’s Orphan Black sequel series, Orphan Black: Echoes. The news comes courtesy of Deadline with the outlet reporting that Fix will play Jules, a salty teen trying to find herself. She’s a newly adopted daughter of a wealthy couple and is described as being both reckless and brutally smart. While Jogia will portray Lucy’s (Ritter) boyfriend Jack; the character has devoted his life to his daughter, and soon finds the woman he loves is withholding a life-changing secret.

    Like in the original Orphan Black, the series will tackle cloning as it focuses on a near future where science has allowed for the manipulation of human existence. Echoes will see a group of women – two of which are played by Ritter and Fix – as they “weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey, unraveling the mystery of their identity and uncovering a wrenching story of love and betrayal.” The 10-episode series is being produced and distributed globally by Boat Rocker and is slated for a 2023 release on AMC Networks’ digital platform AMC+.

    Orphan Black: Echoes hails from creator, writer, showrunner, and executive producer Anna Fishko. She’ll co-showun the series with Orphan Black‘s co-creator, John Fawcett, who will also serve as a director and executive producer on Echoes. David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, who executive produced Orphan Black, will also produce Echoes for Boat Rocker.

    Fix is a relative newcomer to Hollywood, having appeared in the CW’s Kung Fu and Prime Video’s Daisy Jones & The Six. While Jogia is best known for Twisted and Victorious. He also starred in the film reboot of Resident Evil, titled Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘WandaVision’ Director Matt Shakman in Talks to Helm ‘Fantastic Four’

    ‘WandaVision’ Director Matt Shakman in Talks to Helm ‘Fantastic Four’

    After weeks of rumors, Deadline has confirmed that WandaVision director Matt Shakman is in talks to direct Fantastic Four for Marvel Studios. According to the outlet, talks are still early between the two, however, Shakman is the choice for the job following Jon Watts‘ exit back in April. A formal offer has not yet been made for the gig, however, Deadline believes talks are moving in that direction.

    Watts ended up exiting Fantastic Four in April due to simply needing a break. Watts, of course, was the man behind all three Spider-Man films set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the director expected to return for a fourth installment, it was thought he simply wanted a break from superheroes before Spider-Man 4. The director would later sign on to direct a Star Wars series for Lucasfilm starring Jude Law. Since his exit, the studio has been looking at potential hires, with Shakman reportedly having been the one to beat early on because of his work on WandaVision.

    While talks are still early, it’s possible we’ll have confirmation of his hiring relatively soon. After all, D23 is around the corner, and it’s entirely possible Marvel Studios will confirm Shakman has landed Fantastic Four during its presentation.

    Fantastic Four will hit theaters on Nov. 8th, 2024, kicking off Phase 6 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘House of the Dragon’ Lands Early Season 2 Renewal

    ‘House of the Dragon’ Lands Early Season 2 Renewal

    It would seem the dragons will reign over Westeros for a little while longer. House of the Dragon, HBO’s first spinoff in the Game of Thrones franchise, has officially been renewed for a second season. The series debuted earlier this week to staggering viewership, drawing in nearly 10 million viewers across all platforms. It quickly became the biggest premiere in HBO’s entire history, with numbers already nearing the impressive 19.3 million viewers who tuned in for Game of Thrones’ series finale in 2019.

    House of the Dragon is a prequel series based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood. Set over a century before the events of its predecessor, the show chronicles the lives of the Targaryan family as they rule over Westeros with a fiery fist. It stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Olivia Cooke, Rhys Ifans, Steve Toussaint, and Eve Best among many others in an ensemble cast.

    The fact it gets renewed after just one episode already showcases just how much they believe in this project. Fantasy has reached a whole new level with viewers, but there is something special about the Game of Thrones franchise. Not only did it become the first true “blockbuster” television show when it premiered but its build-up was quite a bit something special. Though the last few seasons had people scratching their heads and may have also brought in a whole new audience curious about where House of the Dragon would land. Going by its critical and fan reception, it’s definitely a show to keep an eye on.

    Source: Twitter

  • The Morning After Huddle: August 26, 2022

    The Morning After Huddle: August 26, 2022

    Welcome to the Morning After Huddle. It’s Friday, but things are far from fabulous. The Buffalo Bills have a situation on their hands.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • To start, Bills punter Matt Araiza is popping up all over news cycles as details unfold about a civil suit related to a potential sexual assault. The Los Angeles Times released a blistering article about an October 2021 incident that allegedly involved Araiza and several other players from San Diego State. The Bills are aware of the lawsuit but are refraining from commenting at this time.
    • Next on the docket, FanDuel is launching its own network. FanDuel TV includes a linear cable network and a platform, FanDuel+, that is free to download by FanDuel users. The network is pulling in some major stars like Kay Adams, Pat McAfee and Bill Simmons.
    • Finally, your Key Signings and Trades Roundup:

    Thanks for choosing us today for your most important updates. Catch up on Saturday, with your coffee, for more news you want to know!

  • RUMOR: Amazon May Have Purchased Electronic Arts

    RUMOR: Amazon May Have Purchased Electronic Arts

    Here’s a shocker if it turns out to be true. According to GLHF (via USA Today), Electronic Arts may have been purchased by Amazon. Supposedly, the announcement would follow at some point today, which is perfect timing given how future games are being discussed during GamesCom throughout the week. There are no exact details yet but rumors have been making the rounds for some time that EA was looking for a buyer with Apple and Disney as other alternative buyers.

    Amazon has long been trying to move into the gaming market with a stronger dominance and game adaptations have turned out quite successful for one of its main competitors, Netflix. The Witcher and Arcane are iconic franchises brought to life and EA’s library may open up plenty more opportunities for them to do the same. It also continues the trend of media markets being way more streamlined as even larger companies are facing quite a few troubles in the modern landscape.

    Right now, there’s no confirmation that this purchase has taken place but it would definitely be a big move similar to how Microsoft recently purchased Bethesda for $7.5 billion. Investments are all the rage right now as many races to get their hands on the next major intellectual property. We’ll have to see how this potentially also influences EA’s future releases, especially their big titles like Madden, FIFA, Apex Legends, and more.

    Source: USA Today