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  • ‘Final Destination 6’ in the Works with ‘Freaks’ Directors

    ‘Final Destination 6’ in the Works with ‘Freaks’ Directors

    The Final Destination franchise is alive and kicking. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Final Destination 6 is officially in the works at New Line with the directors of 2018’s Freaks, Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, on board to direct.

    The search for a director – or in this case, directors – has been ongoing for months now, with the outlet reporting over two hundred candidates were submitted for the gig. And while Lipovsky and Stein had been in the official running for the gig, it wasn’t until their last Zoom call with New Line executives and producers that they nabbed the highly sought-after gig. It’s said that the duo used a mixture of pre-recorded footage and visual effects to create a death-scene reminiscent of the Final Destination films in which it appeared one of the filmmakers had been decapitated. It was the gag that sold all parties involved having shown their enthusiasm for the project.

    Jon Watts, who directed the most recent Spider-Man trilogy, is on board as a producer for the reboot. He is also said to have penned the script. Specific plot points are unknown, however, like with Final Destination titles before it, the film will center on a character that has a premonition of a horrific and deadly event, causing them to cheat their own death and save others in the process. However, Death soon becomes an unstoppable force, coming for the survivors one-by-one until they’re all dead.

    As of now, the sixth Final Destination film does not have a release date.

    Source: THR.

  • ‘Werewolf By Night’ Runtime Revealed

    ‘Werewolf By Night’ Runtime Revealed

    Next month sees the release of Marvel Studios’ first special presentation on Disney+ with Werewolf By Night. Not too long after that, the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special will follow suit. Marvel Studios’ dive into special TV presentations has long been a point of interest among fans with many wondering just how long these specials will be. Fortunately, we may have an idea based on how long Werewolf By Night is.

    https://twitter.com/bigscreenleaks/status/1573344790338740225

    Given James Gunn‘s comments on the Holiday Special’s runtime and this confirmation of Werewolf By Night’s own runtime, it’s safe to say that future MCU D+ Specials won’t reach the lengths of the infamous 2-hour Star Wars Holiday Special. Nonetheless, an hour’s worth of schlocky black-and-white horror content in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is hard to complain about. If anything, the MCU could use more one-off presentations like this.

  • REVIEW: ‘Lou’ Turns Allison Janney into an Action Star

    REVIEW: ‘Lou’ Turns Allison Janney into an Action Star

    Allison Janney might’ve kicked off her career back in 1989, but her star has only continued to rise in recent years thanks to roles like Bonnie in Mom and Margaret Scully in Masters of Sex. And now, Netflix’s Lou looks to let Janney shine in brand new ways, turning the usually comedic actress into an action hero in her own right.

    Lou tells the story of Janney’s Lou, a mysterious woman who spends her days with her dog, Jax, hunting in the nearby woods and renting out a nearby property to a single mom named Hannah (Jurnee Smollett). Very little is known about Lou at first. In fact, it isn’t about until the half-hour mark that the mysterious layers of Lou begin to be unraveled. She’s a tough as nails woman who doesn’t mince her words. Outside of Jax, she seems incapable of caring about anything or anyone, but when Hannah’s daughter mysteriously disappears during a major storm, Lou steps in to help without little to no questions asked. What soon unfolds is a story of troubled pasts and how far people are willing to go to right their wrongs.

    Lou is a character that, had she been written poorly, could’ve easily been one-note, but Janney excels in tackling this multi-layered character. She’s flawed and doesn’t shy away from her mistakes, but she’s also driven by guilt and love. Her actions might be unorthodox, but she always succeeds in doing what is right, no matter the cost. Janney is perfect casting and her on-screen chemistry with Smollett is fascinating. The two characters could not be more difficult from one another, and yet, the moments they share on screen are some of the best in the film. More impressive is how well the ladies work off of Logan Marshall-Green, who delivers yet another terrifying performance as the mysterious Peter. It’s such a small cast for such a massive story, and the three actors help to sell this action flick with such ease. From the emotional moments to the big action moments, Janney, Smollett and Marshall-Green are a top-notch cast that deliver a hell of a film.

    It’s honestly a bit frustrating that Lou is going straight to Netflix because this is the type of film that deserves to be seen on a large screen. It’s fast-paced and action-packed, and will surely keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Yet, despite the film being a blast, the cinematography in Lou is hit or miss. More often than not, it leaves something to be desired. While the island is meant to be dreary and dull, the imagery doesn’t always match the tone of what is occurring onscreen. Thankfully, this is a very minor problem and during the action sequences, the fights are shot with a skilled eye which makes them more enjoyable.

    Honestly, the only bad thing about Lou is the film’s name. It’s not really memorable, nor does it really offer much intrigue for those unsure whether to give the film a chance. It’s all the more frustrating because this is clearly meant to be the start of a potential franchise. Lou isn’t a catchy name compared to the likes of John Wick or even Atomic Blonde.

    All in all, Lou is a thrilling action movie that is worthy of a watch.

  • ‘Avatar’ Rerelease Includes Surprise Footage From Sequel 

    ‘Avatar’ Rerelease Includes Surprise Footage From Sequel 

    Avatar is back in theaters, and apparently, it now includes an early look at its upcoming sequel. The film, directed by famed visionary James Cameron, was originally released in 2009 to critical acclaim and one of the largest box office accumulations in worldwide history. It’s once again showing on the big screen in anticipation of Avatar: The Way of Water, the long-awaited second installment of the franchise, which is set to drop in theaters on December 16th. While the new edition of Avatar is not yet available in North America, it has already released in Korea and France, and fans who’ve gone to see it claim they were treated to a surprise taste of scenes from The Way of Water after the credits began to roll.

    Perhaps most interesting is that not all showings of the film featured the same exclusive footage. The tweets revealing the unexpected tags indicated different theaters had different sneak peeks at the sequel, meaning not everyone has seen the same content. However, nearly all the reactions were positive, giving those who’ve yet to see anything a lot of hope for a quality Avatar follow-up. It’s unknown if every theatrical market will include the exciting post-credits footage, but it does seem likely that Disney will want to increase discussion surrounding the big-budget blockbuster in as many places as they can.

    Avatar: The Way of Water has been in production for years and was also directed by Cameron. Most of the first film’s cast, including Zoë Saldana and Sam Worthington, will return, alongside newcomers like Jemaine Clement and Michelle Yeoh.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Reservation Dogs’ Renewed for Season 3

    ‘Reservation Dogs’ Renewed for Season 3

    The Reservation Dogs are set to return for another season.

    The critically acclaimed FX series has been renewed for a third season. The series hails from Sterlin Harjo, who co-created the series alongside Taika Waititi. It focuses on four Indigenous teenagers – Elora Danan played by Devery Jacobs, Bear Smallhill played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Willie Jack played by Paulina Alexis, and Cheese played by Lane Factor – and their lives within rural Oklahoma.

    FX’s President of Original Programming, Nick Grad, expressed excitement over getting the chance to bring Reservation Dogs for yet another season. He went on to call it one of the most “original, engaging, and funny shows” currently airing on television.

    “Reservation Dogs continues its remarkable run with critics, fans, and awards all recognizing the singular brilliance of the series created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. FX is proud to join with our partners at Hulu to order a third season featuring the amazing cast and all of the artists who deliver one of the most original, engaging, and funny shows on television.”

    Nick Grad, President, Original Programming, FX.

    While Harjo, who serves as the showrunner, showcased his disbelief over an idea talked about with Waititi becoming such a highly loved series.

    “I couldn’t be more proud of this show that I created with my friend Taika Waititi. It was born out of a conversation in Taika’s kitchen and has now made its way into the lives of people across the world. The love for season 2 has been outstanding. Thank you to FX for ordering season 3, excited to bring you more laughter and love from the Rez. Ahoooo!”

    Sterlin Harjo

    Reservation Dogs first debuted on Aug. 9th, 2021 and quickly garnered acclaim from both critics and fans. The series won TV Program of the Year at the AFI Awards, Best New Scripted Series at the Film Independent Spirit Awards, and Breakthrough Series – Shortform at the Gotham Awards. The show has also been nominated by the Golden Globes, the Television Critics Association Awards, Writers Guild of America and the Hollywood Critics Association Television Awards.

    The second season of Reservation Dogs is currently airing on Hulu, with the season finale slated to air on Sept. 29th. Season 3, which is not yet in production, is expected to hit Hulu sometime in 2023.

    Source: Deadline.

  • REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 6

    REVIEW: ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 6

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has now revealed two-thirds of its nine-episode season. While Episode 6 was a proclaimed “self-contained wedding episode,” it was actually one of the most significant episodes in the series’ second act in terms of moving the ball. Albeit through teases, the serious end game of She-Hulk is becoming somewhat more clear despite the insistence that each week is unique to itself. The sixth episode was strong in the same areas the show has been strong: humor, absurdity, and Tatiana Maslany. But its ending cannot help but signpost that the series’ third act may be drastically different from what we have seen.

    First, the wedding plot was enjoyable, and it managed to incorporate several different unrelated elements into one space. Of course, Jen’s delicate relationship to herself as She-Hulk is prominent, but her dating life, professional success, and feelings of not being recognized or valued enough all play a major role. On top of that, Titania manages to stay involved, fan-favorite cousin Ched gets more screentime, and Patti Harrison is just a general gift in pretty much any project.

    What was perhaps most interesting about the wedding stems from the fact that it remained noticeably vague and we have not seen it end. Of course, the mysterious guy Jen connects with seems to be a prime candidate for Thunderball, the member of the Wrecking Crew we met in Episode 3. The fact that he seems to know the wedding party raises interesting questions as to who else in Jen’s life is in on the ultimate scheme to get her blood. The actual groom of the wedding was never revealed or shown, so it seems like there is a strong chance that the reveal could be significant. Still, if it is a “self-contained” episode, that would imply the wedding plot does not have much more to it, but yet it absolutely seems as though several major villains are lurking (or, in Titania’s case, very openly present) in the event.

    Given that it seems obvious that getting Jen’s blood is the goal of the mysterious “super” villain behind the scenes of She-Hulk, Titania is shaping up to be quite the assistant for the more scientifically-associated (“Science Villain”) teased villain. Titania has her own personal grudge against Jen (and their battle was almost comics-worthy), but her presence at the suspicious wedding suggests that she may also be in on a larger plot. It is in Titania’s comic book nature to work with other villains, including the Wrecking Crew. In her comic book origin story, she was more or less created by Dr. Doom. Perhaps the Science Villain is who gave her her superstrength in the first place. And if, as the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to hint at, the Science Villain is all about hulks, what is to say Titania is not a result of related experiments?

    The speculation of who the Science Villain could be at this point is relatively mundane given the eventual return of Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader in Captain America: New World Order, but She-Hulk could always surprise. Of course, fans are still anxiously awaiting Daredevil’s arrival, and how he will fit in is still somewhat mysterious. Will he be mostly in a legal plot, or will he be a major force in helping Jen take on the final threat? It could be both, but one thing is certain—Charlie Cox is not in this episode. In any event, despite some posturing, it is hard to imagine that She-Hulk does not have significant ramifications on the wider universe after the end of the series. Even just the fact that Jen leaves a voicemail for space Bruce is making a point about other huge stories going on in this series’ orbit.

    Outside of the main agenda, the B-plot with Mr. Immortal was the type of charming that only She-Hulk can deliver. It gave Nikki and Mallory more time to shine in their own rights, and Nikki as a character seems to consistently deliver more each episode. The series is able to tap into strange, funny, and out-of-pocket concepts from the comics without having to make a major statement on the MCU. In another project, the introduction of Mr. Immortal might have had greater ramifications. Here, it was a way to send a teasing love note to the type of source material that mostly does not make it into live-action. Still, the amount of superhumans occupying Earth-616 is clearly vastly more than anyone would have guessed before She-Hulk, and that may still have at least indirect implications going into Phases 5 and 6.

    As She-Hulk finishes its second act, it is only clear that its own universe is expanding rapidly. While it still at times feels inconsistent or choppier than needed given the episodic structure, it delivers a unique charm and experience that no other MCU project has, and it does so through its overall tone but also its little details. Enjoying comicbook-y material, having multiple developed women characters, diving into humor a bit off-kilter than the MCU is used to, and taking an incredibly fun and bold swing at the series all pay off for She-Hulk. Those elements are as present in Episode 6 as ever. Still, it is a disservice to not call out the “self-contained wedding episode” as being one of the most plot-fluid episodes yet. The real villains are about to appear, and the superhero part of this MCU show is surely about to take off with it.

  • Bang The Table: Week Three

    Bang The Table: Week Three

    Player Of The Week:

    Quarterback Trey Lance, of the 49ers, needs some love. Lance fractured his fibula and suffered damage to the tendon in his ankle in last week’s win against Seattle. He’s now out for the season. You absolutely feel for the guy. This is his team and he’s now not there to lead it. I’m banging the table for Lance to heal and come back stronger. He showed promise and needs the space to continue developing.

    Team Of The Week:

    This week, I’m asking the Indianapolis Colts to wake up. I’m banging the table LOUDLY. (Actually, I’ve knocked the table over.) The football we’ve seen in the first two weeks is egregious. Outside of one quarter in the Texans game, the Colts look like a very unserious football team. Injuries, poor scheming, and slow starts have unraveled the team. Not to mention, the offensive line and wide receivers are a liability. With the Chiefs in town this week, will the team show up? I’m putting the responsibility on Head Coach Frank Reich and General Manager Chris Ballard to find a way.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘Captain America: New World Order’ Connection Explained

    ‘She-Hulk’ and ‘Captain America: New World Order’ Connection Explained

    Episode 6 of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law pulled back the curtain on the series’ one ongoing mystery just enough to send theory-loving fans scurrying on a search for answers as to just who is orchestrating the attacks on Jen. The episode name-dropped a pretty impressive group of villains from the Marvel Comics and linked them directly to the quest to get Jen’s blood. Was it just an Easter egg mean to set fans on a wild goose chase, or did Marvel Studios just give fans their first hint at the plot of 2024’s Captain America: New World Order?

    That name which was so casually dropped is Intelligencia. In the MCU, it’s a website run by “manbabies”, but in the pages of Marvel Comics, it’s a loose-knit group of some of the most brilliant and terrible minds to ever oppose Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Geniuses such as Egghead, M.O.D.O.K., the Mad Thinker and, most relevant to this line of thought, The Leader were among the masterminds who chose to team up to share knowledge, build some cool stuff and, interestingly enough, engineer a way to turn General Thunderbolt Ross into the Red Hulk as a means to combat Hulk when he returned to Earth in the pages of World War Hulk.

    With rumors of a World War Hulk movie in development at Marvel Studios and the return of Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader in Captain America: New World Order, the episode’s reveal of the Intelligencia’s HulkKing working with the still mysterious people behind the Wrecking Crew’s attempt to get Jen’s blood seems fairly significant. Is The Leader the HulkKing? Or is the HulkKing someone more familiar to the series? One potential candidate is clearly slimeball Todd Phelps, who is incredibly interested in Jen’s abilities. Todd certainly is not The Leader, but could he be another member of the Intelligencia that was known to have an alias or two in his time? It would make for an interesting twist if Todd turned out to be The Mad Thinker, a Fantastic Four villain who came up against She-Hulk many times and whose creation, the Awesome Android, eventually became a staple of She-Hulk comics.

    Whoever these people behind the curtain turn out to be, it seems that as the final third of the season of She-Hulk gets underway next week, fans will need to pay much closer attention. Will The Leader make an appearance in She-Hulk? Maybe a name drop? What state of mind will Bruce be in when he returns from his trip to Sakaar and what will he have learned while he’s there? And, most importantly, with the series wrapping up in nine episodes, where will these stories be picked up? Right now, it certainly seems like the connection to the Intelligencia makes Captain America: New World Order the prime candidate to continue the story. Perhaps it’s a World War Hulk movie in disguise. Of course, given She-Hulk’s irreverent tone and disregard for sticking to the comics when it comes to bringing characters to the MCU (the Wrecking Crew, Mr. Immortal and Titania are all far cries from their comic book counterparts), it remains possible that the MCU’s Intelligencia are truly just a bunch of manbabies of little significance.

  • ‘She-Hulk’ Case Files: Who is Mr.Immortal?

    ‘She-Hulk’ Case Files: Who is Mr.Immortal?

    Court is now in session and Jennifer Walters is here to represent the defendant in the matter of Superhuman law. She-Hulk: Attorney at Law has finally hit Disney+ as the next installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and seems to be one of the studio’s most unique projects yet. With it comes a whole slew of C-listers and D-Lister heroes and villains that have found themselves in legal trouble.

    The Prosecution Calls To The Stand: Mr. Immortal!

    Craig Hollis, better known as Mr. Immortal first appeared in July of 1989 in The West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #46 and was created by Marvel Comics legend John Byrne. Just moments after his birth, before the death of his mother, Craig Hollis was visited by Deathurge who promised to look after Craig after his mother passed. Deathurge would act as a sort of imaginary friend to Craig, encouraging him to do incredibly dangerous things that would result in the death of his father after setting his house on fire. Deathurge then abandoned Craig until the love of his life killed herself, returning only to promptly leave once more. Craig attempted to kill himself but when his attempts failed numerous times, realized that he was unkillable…perhaps even immortal.

    After realizing this, Craig adopted the mantle of Mr.Immortal and jumped into action to foil the plans of some nearby bank robbers, but was quickly shot up by said robbers and left behind. That debacle inspired Craig to put together a team, thus bringing about the Great Lakes Avengers, bringing characters like Flatman, Doorman, Dina Soar, Leather Boy, and Big Bertha to the pages of Marvel Comics.

    Mr. Immortal’s abilities are pretty straightforward but come with a catch: his healing factor only kicks in when he faces life-threatening injuries. Simple cuts, bruises, and broken bones heal at a normal rate compared to him being shot, stabbed, gutted, decapitated, drowned, crushed, or any other way to kill a man. On top of all that, his body does not age as normally as others. Upon revival, however, he’s filled with an incredible rage that is difficult to knock out of him.

  • EXCLUSIVE: ‘ANDOR’ Stars on Tony Gilroy’s Writing

    EXCLUSIVE: ‘ANDOR’ Stars on Tony Gilroy’s Writing

    This week’s release of Andor sees the Star Wars universe change in an unexpected way. The series strongly echoes the visuals and themes of Rogue One while presenting it in a darker tone. Murphy’s Multiverse sat down with a few of Andor’s stars and asked about the show’s script and Tony Gilroy‘s vision for a grittier Star Wars.

    Kyle Soller, who plays Syril Karn, said that the show’s unique tone was immediately present from the writing alone:

    I definitely felt it through the writing. When the script first came to me and I was talking to Tony Gilroy, I had the same exact reaction. It was not what I expected in the best possible way. It’s grittier. It’s more human. It’s very domestic. It’s a socio-political drama while also being a Star Wars epic. It built off the promise of what Rogue One was. This writing plus Tony Gilroy plus Diego Luna, it was just, “Wow!”

    The first three episodes of the series follow an intricate web of stories and complex characters. One of those characters is Cassian Andor’s close confidant Bix Caleen, a mechanic who may have ties to the Rebellion that Cassian has no clue about. Adria Arjona dished on Gilroy’s script and how it felt reading the story on the page:

    I think Tony is a brilliant writer. Tonally, when you read the script you realize how grounded it is and complex each and every character is and how interesting every storyline is and how they intertwine. It’s complicated and the characters are really going through something bigger than themselves. I think Tony did something beautiful where no one in this show lives in black or white. Everyone is in a grey area. There’s no such thing as good or bad and you get to explore ‘why’ in the intimacy of the character’s homes.