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  • First Look at Blumhouse’s ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Hints at Familiar Storyline

    First Look at Blumhouse’s ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Hints at Familiar Storyline

    Five Nights at Freddy’s was a project that everyone was keeping a close eye on. It was trapped in production hell for quite some time, as creator Scott Cawthon seemingly couldn’t really find the right script for this project. Yet, that all changed when it finally started filming in February.

    Only a few months later, they confirmed that the film will already arrive later this year on October 27th. Not just that, but it’ll be a simultaneous release; something we thought forgotten in the COVID era of cinematic releases. Five Nights at Freddy’s is going to release in theaters and also streamed on Peacock for those excited to check out their favorite horror franchise in live-action.

    Not just that, we also got a first look at the series, which includes the animatronic of the iconic bear with a young child in his arm staring at the Pizza restaurant that is seemingly falling apart. Curiously though, this imagery hints that the storyline of the first entry might be quite similar to that of the recent game release Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, where a Freddy animatronic helped out a young child with the others trying to eat him.

    They definitely have some big plans for the franchise, as one of its stars, Matthew Lillard, has confirmed he’s signed on for three films. Rumors have it that he’s going to play its main antagonist, who is best known as Purple Man and they might be taking elements from multiple games and scattering them across the trilogy. With an October release, we might expect a trailer in the coming months to give us a better hint at what they have planned for us.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Warpinig Towards $195M+ 5-Day Opening Weekend

    ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Warpinig Towards $195M+ 5-Day Opening Weekend

    It looks like early estimates have been quite off for The Super Mario Bros. Movie, as the biggest Nintendo adaptation of one of their most popular characters is on its way to ending its five-day domestic run at $195M. There’s a chance it might even go beyond the $200M mark but either way, it is already far ahead of its initial expectations.

    As such, it’ll also beat up Finding Dory‘s $135.1M three-day opening as it’s set to land at around $137M and will be the second-biggest opening for an animated film just behind Incredibles 2. Its initial expectations had it at around $127.5M and it’s now only a question of time before they announce a sequel.

    While critics weren’t too kind to the film, families are loving it and it even managed to pull in an A CinemaScore. It also makes the biggest opening for Illumination and is likely to become the second-biggest 5-day release since the first Transformers film.

    That Easter release was a clever timing to get this film out as it’s mainly getting its boost from the generation that grew up with these games; giving git that boosts that family audience would lack on their own with past releases this year.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter

  • SWCE: Lars Mikkelsen Returns as Grand Admiral Thrawn in ‘Ahsoka’

    SWCE: Lars Mikkelsen Returns as Grand Admiral Thrawn in ‘Ahsoka’

    There have been quite a few theories online on who might take on the iconic role of Admiral Thrawn in live-action. Many hoped that Lars Mikkelsen would once again play him after bringing him to life in the animated Star Wars Rebels series but many thought they might head into a completely new direction as they did with Ahsoka, who is now played by Rosario Dawson.

    Theories have ranged quite a bit with even Robert Downey Jr. at one point rumored to potentially take on the role. On the first day of the Star Wars Celebration, we got a tease of Thrawn in the live-action trailer for Ahsoka, but only his back. Instead of letting us wait until these series releases in August, the second day they just flat-out confirmed during the Ahsoka panel that Mikkelsen will indeed reprise the iconic role.

    Source. Twitter

  • SWCA: David Tennant to Reprise Huyang Role in ‘Ahsoka’

    SWCA: David Tennant to Reprise Huyang Role in ‘Ahsoka’

    The second day of the Star Wars Celebration has kicked off with its first big panel all about Star Wars‘ next major release, Ahsoka. The Disney+ series will seemingly act as a direct sequel to the original Star Wars Rebels animated series, as many iconic characters like Sabine and Hera are set to return. Now, it seems that we also have the confirmation that Huyang will once again be voiced by David Tennant.

    While no details have been shared on how he’ll factor into the story or if we’ll see a lot more of Huyang, the panel did at least share with us a first look at the character who looks quite true to his animated counterpart. Of course, it is easier to bring a CG droid into live-action than an alien that requires a real person behind it. Still, it’s great to know he’ll be back and hearing Tennant voicing the character is always a joy.

  • First Details Emerge on James Mangold’s Star Wars Film

    First Details Emerge on James Mangold’s Star Wars Film

    One of the great surprises of Star Wars Celebration 2023 was the news that James Mangold had signed on the direct a movie set in the all-new Dawn of the Jedi era. Little about the film was revealed during Lucasilm’s Showcase other than it would be set in “the deep past, telling the tale of the first Jedi to wield the Force and harness it as a liberating power in an era of chaos and oppression.” However, in a pair of trade interviews, Mangold has reveales more details about the upcoming untitled film.

    Set 25,000 years before A New Hope, Mangold says the film, which he calls “Star Wars Zero”, will feature “all-new characters in an all-new era.” Despite it being set in the “deep past”, don’t expect it to be full of sticks and stones. While there may not be lightsabers since the main character will be the first Jedi, Mangold says the film, which he’s also writing, will not be “pre-tech.” It might be ancient history but it’s the ancient history of a galaxy far, far away.

    LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: James Mangold and Dave Filoni onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)

    While it’s unclear at the moment if the film will tell the story of the Prime Jedi, a canonical character who debuted a part of a mosaic in the Jedi temple on Ahch-To in The Rise of Skywalker, Mangold says the project is “a chance to tell the entire story of its own: the birth of the Force.” Mangold said he pitched the film to Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy as “a kind of Ben-Hur or The 10 Commandments about the birth of the Force.”

    “The Force has become a kind of religious legend that soans through all these movies,” said Mangold. “But where didn’t come from? How is it found? Who was the first Jedi?” asked Mangold, causing legions of Star Wars fans to wonder if midichlorians will make an appearance in the film.

    Those are questions that fans will have to wait to have answered. While there are Star Wars films slated for theaters in 2025 and 2027, no date was given for Mangold’s project.

    Source: The Wrap, Variety

  • Untitled Dawn of the Jedi Movie

    Untitled Dawn of the Jedi Movie

    Premiere: TBD

    Set to be directed by James Mangold, the untitled Dawn of the Jedi movie was one of three films announced to be in development at Star Wars Celebration 2023.

    Mangold’s film will be set some 25,000 years before the events of the original trilogy and will explore “the tale of the first Jedi to wield the Force and harness it as a liberating power in an era of chaos and oppression.” Mangold has referred to the film as a “biblical epic” and “a kind of Ben-Hur or The 10 Commandments about the birth of the Force” that allows him “a chance to tell the entire story of its own: the birth of the Force.”

    Cast

  • Untitled New Republic Movie

    Untitled New Republic Movie

    Premiere: TBD

    Rumored to be in development ahead of Star Wars Celebration 2023, a Dave Filoni-directed New Republic-era event film was announced on April 7, 2023 as one of three brand new Star Wars films.

    The untitled film will tell the story of “the escalating war between the Imperial Remnant and the fledgling New Republic” and “bring together many of the threads” of the New Republic era series such as The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew.

    Cast

  • The Bad Batch Season 3

    The Bad Batch Season 3

    Premiere: February 21, 2024

    During Star Wars Celebration Europe in April 2023, Lucasfilm revealed that The Bad Batch had been renewed for a third and final season. Though no specific release window was given, the animated series will stream on Disney Plus in 2024.

    In January 2024, it was revealed that the final season of The Bad Batch was set to debut with a 3-episode premiere on February 21st. The 15-episode season will wrap up on May 1, 2024.

    Cast

    • Dee Bradley Baker as Clone Force 99 / The Bad Batch
    • Michelle Ang as Omega
    • Keisha Castle-Hughes as Emerie Karr
    • Jimmi Simpson as Doctor Royce Hemlock
    • Nika Futterman as Asajj Ventress
    • Noshir Dalal as Vice Admiral Rampart
    • Wanda Sykes as Phee Genoa
  • New Star Wars Timeline Explained

    New Star Wars Timeline Explained

    Lucasfilm rolled out a brand new timeline at Star Wars Celebration 2023 and within it were not only two new eras set to be explored in upcoming films but also an old fan favorite that has so far been absent from Lucasfilm’s live-action projects. What does it all mean?

    Following their exciting presentation at Star Wars Celebration 2023, Lucasfilm shared a new look at the timeline via a press release. Nine different eras are now open for canonical stories to be told through animated and live-action projects. Let’s take a look at each era…

    Dawn of the Jedi (?-25,000 ABY)

    One of the new eras introduced during Star Wars Celebration 2023, the Dawn of the Jedi era stretches back some 25,000 years before the “present day” events of The Mandalorian and the New Republic. As of now, the only project known to be set during the Dawn of the Jedi is the James Mangold film that will tell “the tale of the first Jedi to wield the Force and harness it as a liberating power in an era of chaos and oppression.” It could tell the tale of the Prime Jedi who created the first Jedi temple on Ahch-To seen in The Last Jedi.

    The Old Republic (Around 25,000 BBY-1000 BBY)

    The addition of the Old Republic era to the official timeline should be thrilling news for long time fans of the expanded Star Wars universe. The founding of the Republic, the Sith Wars and the tales of Knights of the Old Republic all take place over a 7,000 year span in the non-canon Legends content. Characters like Tenebrae, Revan, Satele Shan and Darth Malgus are beloved by fans and could be folded into Star Wars canon via projects told in this era.

    The High Republic (500 BBY-82 BBY)

    An era that so far has only been explored through novels and comic books, the High Republic explores the glory days of the Republic and its expansion into the Outer Rim. The Acolyte, which streams in 2024, is the first live-action project set during this era. Lucasfilm gave an updated synopsis of The Acoltye which “will take viewers into a galaxy of shadowy secrets and emerging dark-side powers in the final days of the High Republic era. A former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes but discovers the forces they confront are more sinister than they ever anticipated.”

    Fall of the Jedi (32 BBY-19 BBY)

    As revealed in Star Wars comics, the Fall of the Jedi era is essentially the “prequel era.” The events of The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, The Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith all take place during this era.

    Reign of the Empire (19 BBY-9 BBY)

    An era that has only recently begun to be explored more thoroughly, the Reign of the Empire is a relatively short period of time between the beginning of Palpatine’s reign and the formation of the rebellion. The animated series The Bad Batch, Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Disney Plus streaming series Obi-Wan Kenobi all take place during the Reign of the Empire.

    Age of Rebellion (5 BBY-0 BBY)

    The original “era”, Age of Rebellion has also been further explored with some of the best Star Wars content created since Disney bought Lucasfilm. The animated series Rebels, Disney Plus’s streaming series Andor, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi fill up the Age of Rebellion.

    The New Republic (9 ABY-?)

    The present-day of Star Wars content, the New Republic is, essentially, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni’s Mando-verse. So far, what we know about the New Republic has come from three seasons of The Mandalorian and one season of The Book of Boba Fett. While it seems that Ahsoka won’t be told linearly, it is believed that at least part of the series will be set during the New Republic era. Additionally, Dave Filoni is directing a film that Lucasfilm explains “will orchestrate the escalating war between the Imperial Remnant and the fledgling New Republic. Alongside producer Jon Favreau, they will bring together many of the threads of the “Star Wars” original series in a cinematic event.“

    Rise of the First Order (33ish ABY-35 ABY)

    The sequel era. Rise of the First Order has been, so far, told through the animated series Resistance, and the sequel trilogy of The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. There are currently no known plans to further explore this era.

    New Jedi Order (50 ABY-?)

    The second brand new era added to the Star Wars timeline, the New Jedi Order era will be defined, at first, by Rey’s efforts to create, well, a new Jedi Order 15 years after the event of The Rise of Skywalker. The era’s storytelling will be broken in by director Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy, whose film “will tell the story of rebuilding the New Jedi Order and the powers that rise to tear it down.”

  • New Information Seems to Indicate a Fall Release for Marvel Studios ‘Echo’

    New Information Seems to Indicate a Fall Release for Marvel Studios ‘Echo’

    Marvel Studios Disney Plus streaming series Echo has been the subject of rumors for quite some time. The project, which follows the character of Maya Lopez who was introduced in Hawkeye, was rumored to have a troubled production and every option from it being totally reshot to it being scrapped entirely seemed to follow it. As it turns out, Marvel Studios chose neither of those options and now it seems that it’s headed for release on Disney Plus later this year.

    The Man Without Fear Twitter account caught sight of a change made to the publication date of a collection of Echo’s Marvel Comics stories called Echo: The Saga of Maya Lopez. The book, is marketed as “The stunning and lushly illustrated comic debut of Marvel’s next screen sensation, Echo!” was originally set for a mid-2023 release before being pushed all the way until February of 2024. It seems that date has changed again and the book will now hit stores on October 31, 2023.

    While it’s certainly not confirmation of a release date, the most recent rumors we’ve heard about the Echo streaming series indicate that it is currently on track for a November release on Disney Plus. The move of this book, which is clearly meant to coincide with the release of the streaming series, is just another interesting piece of data to track until Marvel Studios releases an updated slate.

    Source: Man Without Fear, Barnes and Noble