Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 director James Gunn has pulled no punches as he’s transitioned from Marvel Studios to his new gig atop DC Studios hierarchy. Through his career, Gunn has repeatedly shown a sens of loyalty to various actors. Nathan Fillion and Michael Rooker, for instance, have found themselves in more than one of Gunn’s films over the years, even if only in minor roles. As Gunn’s Marvel tenure comes to an end, the shepherd of the Guardians films is continuing the trend.
Gunn has openly stated that since hisove to DC, he’s courted talent from his time at Marvel Studios in hopes that they would follow him. Now, in an interview during the World Premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Klementieff revealed that Gunn has opened the door to a DCU role.
When asked if she had conversations with Finn about a DC Studios role, Klementieff, who reprises her role as Mantis in Vol. 3, held nothing back.
I’m not gonna tell you guys but we’ve had conversations and we’re like making plans already but nothing is confirmed yet.
Pom Klementieff
When pressed further about who that character might be, Klementieff didn’t hesitate to shut down the line of questioning.
There would be one specific character but I can’t tell you now.
Pom Klementieff
While Klementieff stayed clear of revealing who she might end up playing, she did share one last detail about the character. “I mean, I knew about the character, yeah, and I thought the character was fucking cool,” said Klementieff.
Time will tell how “cool” Klementieff’s character is and how big of a part she plays in James Gunn‘s all-new, all-different DCU when Superman:Legacy hits theaters in 2025
The Late Late Show with James Corden is coming to an end, which had quite a line-up of celebrities. Among them was Mila Kunis, who has recently been the focus of various curious and even surprising rumors for the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Fantastic Four. Of course, Corden used the chance to ask her about it and she reflected on when the first rumors started, a shot of her with director Matt Shakman.
We went out to a deli and had lunch together and the next day I was somehow in Fantastic Four.
Mila Kunis
She goes on to confirm that she is not playing anyone in Fantastic Four, but in a curious twist, she highlights that she knows “who is” in the project. Of course, she doesn’t go on to confirm anything
I am not in Fantastic Four, but I know who is. But I don’t want to get in trouble with The Mouse, so none of you will find out.
Mila Kunis
Of course, there have been quite a few times when Marvel actors denied any involvement with upcoming projects. So, there’s always that slight chance that Kunis might have a role after all, but it’s definitely interesting that she’d tease knowing who might be appearing. So, it further implies that they may have finally cast the characters that we’ve been waiting for quite some time. So, perhaps the wait isn’t that much longer.
After releasing two posters back in January, Netflix has gone its usual cold turkey approach to promoting the live-action One Piece series. To be fair, we’ve had far more news than the live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender which hasn’t even had a bit of news since production started. Yet, the One Piece fans have been quite proactive in trying to get their hands on any bit of news they can, even if it’s the smallest role.
@OP_Netflix_Fan has seemingly shared the news that One Piece has added composers Sonya Belousova, who was heavily rumored last year, and Giona Ostinelli. Both have worked on Netflix’s other series, The Witcher, which even led to Belousova winning the BMI Streaming Series Award. They were both also nominated for Best Main Title Theme for a TV Show or Limited Series by the Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
Sonya Belousova and Giona Ostinelli are the Composers for One Piece Live Action. They previously worked with Netflix on 'The Witcher'. pic.twitter.com/uQrguAOmof
— ONE PIECE NETFLIX FAN (@OP_Netflix_Fan) April 29, 2023
Joseph Trapanese went on to take over the second season and it is unclear how long they’ve been involved with the series. This has yet to be announced officially by anyone, but a short piece shared by Belousova on her personal Instagram account sparked a lot of theories that it was part of the future soundtrack. We also had a Japanese commercial for the series during TUDUM, which had some speculation if it’s from the series as well.
As we’re still waiting for an official look at the series, it would be great to hear the music alongside the trailer rather than the usual popular hit song that most trailers use. Luckily, Netflix has seemingly avoided that trope in its fantasy trailers and it would be great to see if that piece teased so long ago is actually in the series. There’s also the fun question if the classic pirate instrument, the Hurdy-Gurdy gets used.
Production on Marvel Studios’ Wonder Man kicked off earlier this month in Atlanta, with set photos providing fans their first look at Ben Kingsley on set. The project, which is being produced by Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton, is set to star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man. While Marvel Studios has been relatively quiet regarding the project thus far, we also know that Ed Harris, Lauren Glazier, Werner Herzog, Demetrius Grosse and Bob Odenkirk are set to appear in the series. However, it seems yet another big name is being added to the big cast as reporter Jeff Sneider has reported he’s heard that actor Josh Gad has joined the cast.
RUMOR: I hear @JoshGad is going to appear in Marvel's WONDER MAN.
No further details were provided, unfortunately, so it’s unclear who Gad could be playing in the series. It’s also unknown if Gad’s role is a starring role or a recurring role.
Stella Meghie and James Ponsoldt are on board as directors for Wonder Man, although it’s currently unknown how many episodes each will helm. As of now, Wonder Man does not yet have a release date.
After being announced at SDCC ’19, Marvel Studios Blade reboot went through some turbulent times. Though star Mahershala Ali was on board, the project went through a few different iterations of creative teams before seeming to settle into a groove with writer Michael Starrbury and director Yann Demange. Now, another new scribe has been added to the mix .
According to THR, writer Nic Pizzolato has come aboard. Pizzolato, who created True Detective where he worked with Ali, has been brought on board to sharpen up Starrbury’s draft for the project. According to the report, Pizzolato has been working with the draft for a period of a few weeks.
Despite the new writer being added to the mix, Blade remains on track to kick off production in Atlanta sometime in May. That should easily keep the film, which fans have been eagerly awaiting for nearly four years, on track for its September 6th, 2024 release.
After the red carpet premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in Los Angeles last night, the review embargo for the latest MCU installment has expired and the first reviews of the film have been shared. It’s still very early in the process but so far the film seems to be continuing the recent trend of Phase 4 and 5 films not living up to the expectations of critics.
While some critics are hailing the film as a fitting conclusion to the Guardians trilogy (including our own Michael T. Ford III), others are seeing the film through a very different lens. Flickering Myth’s EJ Moreno called the film “a tonal mess that relies on Disney-style emotional manipulation” while Vanity Fair’s Richard Lawson called Vol. 3 “an odd, lumbering patchwork of a film, occasionally fascinating but otherwise bloated and aimless” and an “awkward franchise finale.”
The very mixed and disparate reviews for the film are reminiscent of many of the studio’s post-Endgame films which have rarely been universally hailed as successes. Marvel Studios most recent theatrical release–and its first Phase 5 offereing–, Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania compiled a franchise-worst 47% Rotten Tomatoes score and of the Phase 4 releases, only Spider-Man: No Way Home and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings resonated with critics in a way that the pre-Phase 4 releases did.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 84% Thor: Love and Thunder 63% Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 74% Spider-Man: No Way Home 93% Eternals 47% Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings 91% Black Widow 79%
That said, it’s still very early in the game and Vol. 3’s score could still move quite a bit. While it’s unlikely to end up as high as 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy‘s 92%, it could end up comparing favorably to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2‘s 85%.
With an Awesome Mix of humor, heart, action, drama, and off-the-wall imagination, James Gunn delivers the long-awaited conclusion to the cosmic trilogy that reminded us that We Are Groot. And like the familiar tree guy, this franchise has branched in unpredictable yet fascinating ways but has always remained rooted in themes of found family, redemption, and reinvention.
In this third film, Gunn feels particularly confident and audacious as a filmmaker, pushing forward with a propulsive plot that knows when to release the tension with comedy and quirky character beats, as well as when to shift gears from heart-wrenching drama to awesome action and sci-fi space opera. There are some really fun set pieces and sequences, and only a couple of instances where things get a little too messy and chaotic. But overall, it’s a thrill ride visually.
Much like he did in the first two entries, Gunn deftly employs his signature needle drops to guide us through the varying emotional beats and tonal shifts. In the center of the story is Rocket’s journey from raccoon to rogue, as we learn his origin, and that of his first found family of misfits, through a series of flashbacks. The film invites us to peer behind his tragic eyes, and from his perspective, we experience the longing, love, and loss that coalesces into regret, before finally coming to understand that Rocket’s emotional scars truly are as lasting as his physical ones. It is within these flashbacks that we also meet The High Evolutionary, a villain with the kind of god complex his name would suggest, and the capacity to make Rocket’s old wounds fresh.
If you’re familiar with the comics, then you have a pretty good idea of what The High Evolutionary’s goals are, what lengths he’s willing to go through to achieve them, and just how many people he’s willing to kill or make suffer along the way (Hint: It’s all of them). And Chukwudi Iwuji performs the role to a T, knowing when to strike the notes of cold calculation, when to soften, and when to unleash his wrath. He’s not really an antagonist you root for in any fashion, and the movie never lets him off the hook, so by the time the bill comes due, the catharsis is earned.
Accompanying this main Rocket-centric story is the Peter Quill story, where he can’t get over the fact that Gamora 2, pulled from the timeline in Avengers: Endgame, missed all of the Phase 3 films, and he just can’t bring her up to speed on what she missed. Both Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldaña do a great job here, Zoe in particular. In a lot of ways she represents the viewer who doesn’t “get” the Guardians and what makes them special, but like the viewer, despite herself, she too is eventually moved by the adventure and finds her own groove to jam to.
But all the Guardians have got moves. Mantis remains the most empathetic and intuitive, and Pom Klementieff‘s comedic chemistry with Dave Bautista‘s Drax remains as satisfying as it was in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. The juxtaposition between her emotional openness and Nebula’s cold precision and bluntness provides a different kind of energy, as their dramatic tension helps to balance the hijinks. Even newcomer Cosmo (voiced by Maria Bakalova) and the perennially underrated Kraglin (played by Sean Gunn) get their moments to shine. The family continues to grow, and though they may bicker, when it’s showtime, they find their harmony.
Another newcomer to the Guardians story is Adam Warlock, played with flourish by Will Poulter as an ultra-powerful yet childlike being, who wants to impress his Sovereign mother figure (the returning Elizabeth Debicki), but whose hot temper constantly gets the best of him. Hardcore comic fans might find him confounding when compared to the cosmic near deity from the page, but the story leaves him with more than enough room to evolve. Keeping with the theme, after all.
What sets this trilogy apart from the other Marvel Cinematic Universe trilogies is that across the three films, the stories really do come full circle. Our heroes acknowledge the painful pasts that forged them, but they each stop being defined by them, and their arcs conclude with them finally being able to define themselves. And their Guardians compatriots, that aforementioned found family, grow to love and accept them, regardless of their respective flaws and scars. It’s a feel-good tale with a hopeful message, and by the end, you’re rocking out, from Knowhere to wherever the Guardians story travels next.
Thus far, Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU have been polarizing, with very few projects leaving us with the “rah-rah” feeling that makes us want to sing its praises and go back for encores. But Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 reminds us why we love these movies and reminds us of way back when, we were first Hooked On A Feeling.
As James Gunn closes the door on his time at Marvel Studios, he’s already firmly entrenched in his new job at DC Studios and working hard on bringing the first chapter of the all-new, all-different DCU to life. A major part of that first chapter, Gods and Monsters, is Superman: Legacy, a film that’s being written and directed by Gunn and is slated to hit theaters in the Summer of 2025. Production on that film is reportedly kicking off in Atlanta in January and the search for the next actor to bring Kal-El to life is already underway. While at the world premiere of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Gunn was asked what he’s looking for in his new Superman.
It’s hard but we’re looking and we actually have some really great choices which I’m excited about. It has to be somebody who has all the humanity Superman has but he’s also an alien. It’s gotta be somebody who has the kindness and compassion that Superman has. And it has to be somebody that you want to give a hug. All the Supermen have been good and so we just have to add to that story.
James Gunn
Just in case that sounds like Gunn is describing Guardians star Chris Pratt, he was quick to confirm that’s not the case; in fact, it sounds increasingly more likely that Gunn will be looking to cast a relative newcomer as Kal-El, rather than an already established Hollywood star. It goes without saying that much of the success of the new DCU will rest on the shoulders of Superman: Legacy and the audience’s perception of the actor portraying the Man of Steel. As Gunn and co-chair Peter Safran took over the future of DC films for Warner Bros. Discovery, they moved on from much of the Snyderverse era of projects, including actor Henry Cavill who portrayed Superman in several of those projects. The new actor will have to live up to audiences’ perception of Cavill’s Superman in addition to Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh and others who have forged the live-action legacy of the character.
One of 2023’s most anticipated films, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, is just over a month away from hitting theaters and news is still emerging about its impressive voice cast. The sequel already boasts an impressive lineup of talent including Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Oscar Isaac, Issa Rae, and Daniel Kaluuya among its stars and now, another big name has been revealed to voice a key character.
According to One Take News, Andy Samberg provided the voice work for Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider in the upcoming film. An SNL vet and the star of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Samberg’s role in the film was apparently top secret until very recently while Reilly’s presence in the film has been know for some time.
Reilly is a controversial character in comic book circles with his origin story being one of the more divisive Spidey stories of all time. It seems unlikely, however, that Across the Spider-Verse will delve too deeply into the Clone Saga as OTN’s report describes Scarlet Spider’s role in the sequel as that of a “secondary supporting character.” That said, there’s a chance the character returns for the third film in the franchise and or even in another animated or live-action film.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse hits theaters on June 2nd.
Peter Pan & Wendy joins the ranks of another live-action remake from Disney that debuted on Disney+. The former was Robert Zemeckis‘ Pinocchio remake from last year and 2019’s Lady and the Tramp. Yet, there’s something special this time with visionary director David Lowery at the helm after his work on The Green Knight creates a higher expectation of bringing Neverland to life in a whole new way. Does it live up to the original and can it change the experience some have had with recent live-action releases?
There’s an interesting dynamic at play with how Peter Pan & Wendy adapts the original Disney film from 1953. A lot of familiar elements are here and most of the opening pretty much just echoes the animated classic. In some ways, the only thing it does is further highlight the bond between Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson) and her mother (Molly Parker) that becomes the center of her story in the original. Also, it’s funny seeing Alan Tudyk in another Disney film in another minor side role as George Darling.
Her life is changed the moment Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) enters the picture and they are cast off into an adventure. It all feels so familiar and even drags on a tad bit, but that all suddenly changes the moment we travel to Neverland. The visuals kick off in such a beautiful manner that feels like something out of a surreal experience than just a bunch of kids using fairy dust in a long-forgotten realm. The sound design and visuals (with a cute little reference to the animated Peter with an iconic stance from the actor) just hit this tone that makes it feel like everything will be different from this point on.
On one side, there is a lot more in this story compared to others. Tiger Lily (Alyssa Wapanatahk) has a better role in the story and gets her time to shine early on and is among the more notable side characters. We still follow similar plot points from the original but unlike other live-action remakes the film doesn’t really spend too much time on things that aren’t truly necessary. Hook’s introduction is handled great and I was surprised to see his men sing classic songs as a sea chanty.
Speaking of, the biggest change this time around is in the way they handle Hook as well as his rivalry with Peter Pan. Jude Law gives quite a subdued performance for a character that was showcased as bumbling in the original animated series. There’s a beautiful balance at play highlighting his role in the story that has been changed to add more depth to his character and his ongoing battle with a child that refuses to grow up. This addition might be the second-best thing the film does besides casting Jim Gaffigan as an amazing Mr. Smee.
What stands out in this film is truly its beauty. The sets feel like they tell a story and the updated looks of the Lost Boys’ home or even just the pirate ship lend to this world feeling way more fleshed out than ever before. You can also see him returning to the magic that made his other live-action remake, Pete’s Dragon from 2016, stand out even from the original. Even as elements remain the same, it feels just that slightly bit more mature when it needs to be and childish when it wants to have fun.
The film embraces its own whimsy with the way it handles even the simplest scenes. There’s a fun irony of the most childish performances coming from the pirates that act a bit more unhinged unlike the children, who seemingly take things quite a bit more seriously. My only gripe would be Alexander Molony is a bit wooden in his performance. While you do get that arrogance you’d expect from Peter Pan, his character’s personal growth doesn’t truly feel reflected in his performance. He’s a great choice for the role but it just doesn’t quite come together here.
The performances overall are great; the pirates are especially some of the bits I looked forward to seeing the most. John and Michael Darling (Joshua Pickering and Jacobi Jupe) have some fun moments but are mostly sidelined with the story taking a stronger focus on Wendy’s plot that gets intertwined a bit more into that of Hook’s and Peter Pan’s rather than her just taking don’t he role the original set upon her. Ironically, in a way, the story feels like it has grown up quite a bit since we last saw it in 1953, but it didn’t forget that childish charm that made it so special.
At first, I was worried that this film would only retread familiar ground from the original but once we enter Neverland, it makes a story of my childhood feel new and fresh. There’s a lot more depth this time around that makes it stand out from others that simply feel like they are replicating the “feel” of the original and missed the heart of why we fell in love with these stories. The struggle of wanting to stay a child forever and growing up is a big conflict many of us go through even as we get lost in our work life. Sometimes we don’t truly leave that childishness behind and are a bit blind to the things that make us smile. You’ll cry, you’ll laugh and you’ll be astonished by some of the beautiful shots at play in Peter Pan and Wendy.
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