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  • Peyton Reed Teases Bill Murray’s “Crucial Role” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Peyton Reed Teases Bill Murray’s “Crucial Role” in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ Sequel

    Ant-Man and the Wasp is back in style as they’re about to face the Quantum Realm in Quantumania. Not only its natural dangers are going to be in their path but also some new and familiar enemies. We finally get our first look at Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror; only met a Variant previously; as well as some new additions. SDCC already confirmed that MODOK, the Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, will have a role in the film but we also know that Bill Murray has a big role.

    In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, director Peyton Reed finally got a chance to hype up his upcoming February release by sharing some details on what his next film has in store for us. In it, he also got the chance to talk about Bill Murray‘s character, who leaked that he’s a “bad guy” all the way back in January of this year. Now, Reed got a chance to confirm he has a “crucial role” in the story and how he connects to the overarching storyline.

    Bill Murray plays a character from Janet van Dyne’s. It’s a crucial role. A big theme in this movie is the things that parents and kids don’t say to each other, the secrets that they keep in families. In the last movie, when Hank and Hope rescue Janet, Evangeline Lilly’s character had this idea of: Oh, I’m going to be reunited with my mom, this is going to be great, we’re going to talk about everything. But what happens if the other person, in this case Janet, puts up a wall and maybe is not comfortable talking about certain things and doesn’t reveal certain things about her past? As we know from great stories, you can put the past behind you, but the past will always find a way to show up again. Bill’s character represents that in this movie.

    Peyton Reed

    It’s definitely going to make for an interesting storyline on how our parents have their own secrets, which also adds the question of how this’ll connect back to Scott and Cassie Lang. The Ant-Man film shave been the more family-focused of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and taking a darker twist on that type of storyline will definitely make this an interesting addition to the franchise.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Blumhouse’s ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Movie Adds Matthew Lillard and Josh Hutcherson

    Blumhouse’s ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Movie Adds Matthew Lillard and Josh Hutcherson

    Ruh Roh Freddy, it seems that the upcoming Blumhouse adaptation of Five Nights at Freddy’s is finally moving forward. After countless delays over script issues with the creator Scott Cawthon, they are finally moving forward with the project. They have no added two starts with production set to start in New Orleans in February. Long-time Shaggy voice actor Matthew Lillard has joined alongside Josh Hutcherson, who is well known for his performances in The Hunger Games.

    They’re definitely an interesting addition and there’s no details on who exactly they might end up playing. To be fair, the FNAF franchise isn’t well-known for its cast but rather the creepy animatronics that haunt the Pizza restaurants named after Freddy Fazbear. Though, Lillard would make for a great phone guy if that staple character will make an appearance or they simply have Cawthon cameo in the role.

    Five Nights at Freddy’s is a simple concept but the lore that has build around the franchise with each new entry offers a lot. The only question is if Cawthon‘s perchance for cryptic storytelling will translate well into live-action cinema. He may try to sneak in details and build up a franchise that barely gets going if the story doesn’t hit those same emotional beats you’d expect from a film. The recent PlayStation exclusive game Security Breach faced a similar issue in trying to bring the gaming franchise into a quasi open world format.

    Source: Deadline

  • Peyton Reed Says Jonathan Majors is Kang…With a Twist

    Peyton Reed Says Jonathan Majors is Kang…With a Twist

    Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania director Peyton Reed has a lifelong love affair with Marvel Comics. The mind behind Marvel Studios’ Ant-Man franchise has never been shy about his affinity for the comics and the characters found on their pages and once upon a time pitched a Fantastic Four movie to the execs at Fox. Reed’s first two Ant-Man projects were released following major event films and, as such, were fairly mild in terms of their impact on the greater MCU. In both cases, that meant that the film’s villains definitely weren’t on anyone’s top ten bad guys lists. That’s all about to change with Quantumania.

    “I grew up a real Marvel comics nerd,” Reed told EW, “and there are a handful of antagonists in the Marvel comics universe who are all-timers. Loki, obviously. Doctor Doom from the Fantastic Four. And Kang the Conqueror.” The last name on that list will make his MCU debut in Quantumania and as can be gleaned from the trailer for the film, he means business.

    via EW

    According to Reed, bringing in a major villain and changing peoples’ perspectives on what an Ant-Man movie can have always been on his mind. “In conversations with Kevin Feige and Marvel, it was like, I want to put Ant-Man and Wasp up against a really formidable villain in this movie,” said the director, “and so we’re doing Kang the Conqueror.”

    Even the hardest of the hardcore Marvel Comics fans might have a hard time explaining the totality of Kang to a newbie. He’s just a complicated dude with a lot of time travel stories that make his character hard to follow…because he’s many different characters depending on when he is. While the MCU version will still have some of those qualities, Reed hints that this version of Kang isn’t exactly ripped right from the pages of the comics.

    In the comics, Kang has dominion over time, he’s a time traveler. His situation is a little bit different in this movie, which I won’t spoil for you, but he’s someone who, [while] we live very linear lives, from childhood to death, Kang doesn’t exist that way. It struck me as interesting to take the tiniest Avengers — in some people’s minds maybe the least powerful Avengers — and put them up against the most powerful force in the multiverse.

    Peyton Reed

    As for what that means, fans will have to wait just a couple more months to find out for themselves; however, get used to see Majors and Kang and Majors as not-quite-Kang for the next few years.

    Source: EW

  • UPDATED: Newly Spotted DC Studios Logo Debunked

    UPDATED: Newly Spotted DC Studios Logo Debunked

    UPDATED: Earlier today, we’ve shared a post from producer Patrick Schumacker that had a curious DC Studios logo. What caught everyone’s attention was that he deleted the post quite swiftly which made many think that perhaps there’s more to this image. Now, The Wrap’s Umberto Gonzalez has shared that the logo may have the title on it but it’s simply a holiday gift that was handed out.

    Source: Twitter

    Well, here’s a sudden surprise but it seems like producer Patrick Schumacker, who has worked on the DC series Harley Quinn and Powerless, has shared an interesting new post on Social Media before swiftly taking it offline. That action has sparked quite a bit of interest as @FlashFilmNews was fast enough to get their hands on the image that reveals DC Studios new logo. As the division is new, formerly known as just DC Films, we’ve long wondered if they’d unveil one in the near future. It seems it may have found its way online faster than anyone may have expected.

    What makes this logo stand out is that it’s taking cues from Jim Lee‘s redesign as part of the New 52. The fact it includes Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and The Flash may also be our first look at what could be the slate. Though, we still have to say that perhaps its not the official logo and just one version they played around with but why would there be a sweater printed? It could also be something he purchased as a fan but DC Studios didn’t exist before James Gunn and Peter Safran took over as co-CEOs, as it was always known as DC Films under Walter Hamada.

    We still can’t say this is the final design but the fact that Schumacker swiftly deleted it before it went online is a bit telling. Perhaps a reveal was planned for today and he just accidentally scheduled it for the wrong time, but with James Gunn teasing a slate reveal in January, perhaps a logo reveal is something they want to offer as a little holiday gift. We’ll see if something follows in the coming days.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Avatar 2’ Opens to $17M Domestically, Already Passes $50M Worldwide

    ‘Avatar 2’ Opens to $17M Domestically, Already Passes $50M Worldwide

    Not a person in the world would’ve denied that the release of Avatar: The Way of Water would draw in an audience, but the question was always just how big the film might go. It could follow the Marvel box office formula with a massive opening but not have the same legs as its original. The film was set to make up to $170M according to analysts, and it does seem like it’s still on track towards at least $150M with it having pulled in a strong $17M in early previews.

    It would put it on pace to become one of the highest opening films of the year, but will likely not dehtrone either dominating Marvel Studios’ productions that pulled in over $180M. Though, early critical reception is very positive and could give it a much bigger boost than anyone might be expecting at this point. Still, the $17M are lower than Jurassic World: Dominion that opened to $18M and with an international push managed to get past a billion. The original had some massive legs and projections also have it making upwards of $350M in its Chinese run, something Marvel hasn’t had the privilege to in a while.

    The film has opened in 44 international markets and pulled in $50.4M excluding China, where it pulled in $18.5M. With a $100M opening in China it does have a chance to potentially dehtrone Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness as the highest opening film of the year. Word-of-mouth might be what pushes this film forward even if it’s unclear just how far the film might go. The Way of Water only has the caveat that it needs to make a lot of money to end up profitable for James Cameron‘s vision of multiple films to come true.

    Source: Twitter, Variety

  • ‘Quantumania’ Director Says Cassie Lang is Central to Film

    ‘Quantumania’ Director Says Cassie Lang is Central to Film

    Cassie Lang has been among the biggest talking points of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania since it was first announced. The 2020 reveal that a third Ant-Man project was in development also brought the news that up-and-coming Freaky star Kathryn Newton would become the third actress to bring the character to life, following Abby Ryder Fortson‘s turn as the child version of Cassie in the first two films and Emma Fuhrmann‘s teenage take in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. This sudden recasting caused some controversy among those who hoped to see Fuhrmann continue in the role, but director Peyton Reed is confident Newton‘s performance will help carry Quantumania to new heights.

    Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker explained Cassie and the relationship she has to her family will be central to the story of the upcoming Ant-Man threequel. The film’s trailer hinted the youngest Lang would be largely responsible for the chaos that ensues throughout, and Reed all but confirms this in his exclusive interview, stating fans will be able to see Cassie in a brand new light:

    One of the single most intriguing things that I was excited to do in this movie was progress the Scott-Cassie relationship. It’s been central to all the Ant-Man movies, the big difference here being that, as a result of Endgame, Cassie is now a young woman. She has become a scientific mind in her own right. She’s been going through Hank Pym’s old journals and notebooks, and has really latched on to this idea of quantum science and quantum technology.

    Peyton Reed

    In the comics, Cassie grows up to become a size-changing superhero much like her father. Initially known as Stature, and later as Stinger, she is known as a founding member of the Young Avengers and an important figure in the Marvel mythos. Newton can be seen wearing a fairly comic-accurate suit in the promotion for Quantumania, indicating the movie might also portray her turn to superhuman status.

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters February 17th, 2023.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • Peyton Reed Promises ‘Quantumania’ Won’t Be “Palate Cleanser”

    Peyton Reed Promises ‘Quantumania’ Won’t Be “Palate Cleanser”

    Ant-Man and the Wasp are going big. The traditionally tiny heroes have a long track record of being an afterthought among fans, with their films often viewed as simple Avengers epilogues or “smaller”, less important entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Paul Rudd‘s large supporting role in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame went a long way in solidifying the size-changer and his cohorts as major Marvel players, but it didn’t do much to change the reputation of his solo franchise. According to director Peyton Reed, this will change with the series’ third film, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.

    Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Reed promised that the movie will not be another “palate cleanser” for the MCU. Instead, the film, which kicks off Phase 5, will match the expectations set by large-scale team-up projects like Captain America: Civil War and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Describing his attitude towards Quantumania, the filmmaker explained:

    People felt like, ‘Oh, these are fun little palate cleansers after a gigantic Avengers movie’. For this third one, I said, ‘I don’t want to be the palate cleanser anymore. I want to be the big Avengers movie.’

    Peyton Reed
    via EW

    Reed went on to say he “metaphorically kicked in Kevin Feige’s door” to demand the third Ant-Man adventure be considered very important to the greater MCU. If fans of the legacy character were worried Marvel Studios wasn’t taking him seriously, they can take comfort in knowing Reed is on their side. The director also described how the exciting new setting helps change the tone of the movie and create more “epic“:

    In the first one, we introduced the idea of the Quantum Realm, we kind of dipped our toe into it, and then even more so in the second one. But we obviously left a lot of unanswered questions. We wanted to go in a different direction, and create an epic movie where the bulk of it takes place in the Quantum Realm. For me, it was really exciting, because the other two films take place in San Francisco, and this one, we were creating this incredibly complex subatomic world, and all the environments and ecosystems and creatures and beings that inhabit that world.

    Peyton Reed

    Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania hits theaters on February 17th, 2023.

    Source: Entertainment Weekly

  • How to Watch ‘Black Adam’

    How to Watch ‘Black Adam’

    Dwayne Johnson‘s 15 years of dedication and passion to Black Adam didn’t result in the type of box office he or Warner Bros. Discovery hoped for and any of Johnson’s future plans for the character seem to have been blown to bits by the change in leadership at DC. However, if you didn’t catch the film in theaters and still want to see it, it’s now as easy as ever.

    Black Adam, which had previously been available on VUDU for a $24.99 rental, is now available on these platforms at these prices:

    • HBO Max: free with subscription
    • VUDU: buy for $19.99
    • Prime Video: buy for $19.99
    • Redbox: buy for $19.99

    The film was not well-received critically, compiling a 39% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 41 Metascore on Metacritic. Audiences seemed to enjoy it a bit more, giving it a B+ Cinemascore. If you already subscribe to HBO Max, you can enjoy what looks like Dwayne Johnson’s one and only DC film appearance for free starting today!

  • REPORT: James Cameron Has an Epic Cut of ‘Avatar 3’ in the Can

    REPORT: James Cameron Has an Epic Cut of ‘Avatar 3’ in the Can

    How long can James Cameron make Avatar 3? If a new report is to be believed, the director’s latest attempt would keep audiences in their seats for quite some time. While speaking on this week’s episode of his industry insider series The Hot Mic, Jeff Sneider dropped the wildly intriguing tidbit that Cameron recently handed in a cut of his untitled Na’vi threequel that spanned a whopping nine hours in length. If that wasn’t enough, the veteran filmmaker reportedly also wants to keep the cut and finish the entirety of it’s VFX before any effort is made to shorten it’s runtime in the editing room.

    The Avatar franchise has earned a reputation for producing long films, with 2009’s debut entry clocking in at two hours and forty-one minutes and this month’s Avatar: The Way of Water hitting three hours and twelve minutes. Amra Ekta Cinema Banabo (We Will Make A Cinema), a Bangladeshi project from 2019, holds the record for longest non-experimental film ever put in theaters at twenty-one hours and five minutes. While Avatar 3‘s nine hours are a far cry from that, they’re still probably a bit much for the average theatrical audience, and it should be expected that the movie will be cut down significantly. However, considering how confident Cameron is seemingly feeling about his full-length sequel, this report may indicate viewers are in for another three-plus hour experience in 2024.

    Avatar: The Way of Water is now in theaters, and Avatar 3 has – obviously – already been filmed. If both of these movies find success, Cameron has up to five more sequels conceptualized and ready to enter production. There is no report on how long Avatar 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 may be.

    Source: The Hot Mic

  • REPORT: Austin Butler Chasing Hot Marvel Studios Role

    REPORT: Austin Butler Chasing Hot Marvel Studios Role

    The breakout star of Baz Luhrmann‘s Elvis is reportedly ready to flame on. Austin Butler, the 31-year-old actor who burst onto the film scene this year after nearly two decades of steady work on television, is supposedly putting himself in contention to play Johnny Storm in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Fantastic Four. The film is one of the most anticipated superhero projects currently in development, and there have been no shortage of rumors swirling around its potential cast. This information comes from a recent episode of Jeff Sneider‘s The Hot Mic, in which the industry insider dropped the possible bombshell that Butler had spoken to his representation and his agents were in the process of “putting him up for Human Torch.”

    This does not mean that Butler is a front-runner for the role, or even that Kevin Feige and the folks at Marvel are genuinely interested in him as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future. If true, however, it might be another indicator of just how coveted roles in the Matt Shakman-directed blockbuster have become in Hollywood. The Fantastic Four are major players in the Marvel Universe, and landing a leading role in Shakman‘s project could mean several years of big money and bigger exposure to follow. As Sneider puts it in the same episode of his show, Fantastic Four is one of two “crown jewels” for Marvel’s next era in the MCU, and “all the actors in town want to be part” of it.

    The film, set to be released on February 14th, 2025, will be the fourth attempt at bringing the titular team to life on the big screen, and fans are hoping it will be better than what they’ve seen in the past. There are currently no actors officially attached to the cast.

    Source: The Direct