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  • Rian Johnson Still Hoping to Work on His ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy

    Rian Johnson Still Hoping to Work on His ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy

    When Rian Johnson worked on The Last Jedi, it was revealed that he’d be developing his own Star Wars trilogy. There were no details revealed on just how exactly it was going to tie into the greater mythos or even the direction. Yet, the fan reception of his Star Wars project can still be felt to today but that has seemingly not deterred the director from hoping to tackle this project.

    In an interview with Empire, while promoting his upcoming Knives Out sequel, Glass Onion, he reveals that he still actively is in talks with Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy and that he’s definitely hoping to adapt his trilogy eventually; even if schedules are continuing to postpone this project indefinitely.

    I’ve stayed close to Kathleen [Kennedy] and we get together often and talk about it. It’s just at this point a matter of schedule and when it can happen. It would break my heart if I were finished, if I couldn’t get back in that sandbox at some point.

    Rian Johnson

    It’s great to know that he’s still working on his trilogy and Star Wars is still expanding with its new Disny+ series. So, while the cinematic aspect of the franchise is currently on ice, there’s hope that once Johnson wraps up his work on the Knives Out sequels for Netflix, he might potentially start work on his take on a galaxy far, far away.

    Source: Empire

  • Ludacris, Lil Rel Howery and Teyonah Parris Join Disney’s ‘Dashing Through The Snow’

    Ludacris, Lil Rel Howery and Teyonah Parris Join Disney’s ‘Dashing Through The Snow’

    Disney’s latest holiday film has added a trio of stars to its cast. Deadline has announced that Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Lil Rel Howery, and Teyonah Parris have all signed on star in to Dashing Through the Snow. Production is currently underway in Atlanta, with Tim Story (Fantastic Four) directing from a script by Scott Rosenberg.

    Dashing Through the Snow tells the story of a divorced social worker for the Atlanta police department who loathes Christmas due to a memory from his childhood. While with his daughter on Christmas Eve, he finds himself sent on a call that will lead to him evoking the wrath of a local politician before meeting a man who will ultimately help him understand the magic of Christmas.

    Joining Bridges, Howery and Parris are Oscar Nunez (The Office), Mary Lynn Rajskub (24), Ravi Patel, Marcus Lewis, and Madison Skye Validum (Ivy & Bean). Producing the holiday flick are Will Packer through his Will Packer Productions and John Jacobs through his Smart Entertainment. While Story will executive produce alongside Johanna Byer, Ross Fanger and Zac Unterman.

    Dashing Through the Snow will debut on Disney+ next year in time for the holidays.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Michael Jackson Wanted to Play Morpheus in ‘The Sandman’

    Michael Jackson Wanted to Play Morpheus in ‘The Sandman’

    Michael Jackson is, without a doubt, one of the most famous people to ever live. Yet, with all his success, there also came a hefty amount of failure. The pop icon was best known for his career in music, but also famously attempted to make a name for himself in the world of acting. While Jackson did land a few roles during his lifetime, in films like The Wiz and Men in Black II, his on-screen filmography has quickly become more well-known for the projects he couldn’t make happen. Legend tells of numerous occasions when the Thriller star tried using his fame and fortune to cast himself as characters that creatives didn’t necessarily see as a good fit. This includes the time he thought of purchasing Marvel so he could wear Spider-Man’s mask, and when he told George Lucas he wanted to play Jar Jar Binks in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

    Now, over a decade after Jackson‘s death, writer Neil Gaiman has revealed the singer also made a play for the lead role in an early attempt at adapting The Sandman. Speaking with Josh Horowitz on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Gaiman explained that a live-action television series based on his acclaimed graphic novel was being developed in the late 1990’s, and Jackson wanted in:

    By 1996, I was being taken to Warners, where the then-president of Warner Bros sat me down and told me that Michael Jackson had phoned him the day before and asked him if he could star as Morpheus in ‘The Sandman’. So, there was a lot of interest in this, and they knew that it was one of the Crown Jewels, and what did I think? And I was like, ‘Ooh.’

    Neil Gaiman

    Obviously, this version of the show never came to fruition, and it would take almost another 30 years before The Sandman saw the light of day. Tom Sturridge would ultimately be the one to bring Morpheus, Dream of the Endless, to life on screen, as the series finally found a home on Netflix earlier this month. Jackson ending up away from the role might have been best for the project as well, as the musician was arrested on charges of child molestation only a few years after his bid for Morpheus ended. Despite an eventual acquittal, the accusations against him never quite went away, and a career in film and television went completely down the drain.

    The Sandman is now streaming on Netflix.

    Source: Variety

  • Ben Kingsley to Reprise Role of Trevor Slattery in ‘Wonder Man’

    Ben Kingsley to Reprise Role of Trevor Slattery in ‘Wonder Man’

    After serving as a surprise return in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Ben Kingsley is officially slated to make another return to the character of Trevor Slattery in the future. The actor has been announced via Variety to be returning for the Disney+ series Wonder Man. Not much is currently known about what this series will entail, but his return is logical as Destin Daniel Cretton, the director of Shang-Chi, will serve as co-creator and executive producer on the series.

    The inclusion of Kingsley in this series plays into rumors that Wonder Man will serve as a satirical look into the Hollywood lifestyle. Being as Simon Williams is a character that has had comic experience as an actor and stuntman, it would make sense for him to interact with a character best known for his oblivious performance as the mysterious Mandarin in Iron Man 3. This plot thread was continued in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in being further established as a Shakespearean-esque actor caught in the high intensity of the plot. It is currently unknown how much of a role Kingsley will have in the series. Both Marvel Studios and Ben Kingsley‘s representation declined to comment on the story.

    The character of Simon Williams a.k.a. Wonder Man has a storied history within the lore of the Marvel Universe. Between being a nemesis for Tony Stark on the business and superheroics front, a member of the Masters of Evil, and ultimately a reformed member of the Avengers, there is a large swath of ground that Marvel Studios could choose to cover for a Wonder Man series. Though as mentioned above, the inclusion of Trevor Slattery lends credence that the Disney+ series will lean more towards his era as being based out of Hollywood.

    Wonder Man is set to have Andrew Guest of 30 Rock and Community fame serve as the head writer. Meanwhile, this series serves as part of Destin Daniel Cretton‘s overall deal with Marvel Studios that includes Wonder Man, the sequel to Shang-Chi, and his direction of 2025’s Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.

    Source: Variety

  • Xochitl Gomez & Mary Elizabeth Winstead Join ‘Ursa Major’

    Xochitl Gomez & Mary Elizabeth Winstead Join ‘Ursa Major’

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness breakout Xochitl Gomez has landed her next role. The young actress will join Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Scott Pilgrim, Birds of Prey) in Ursa Major for directing duo The Baker Brothers.

    The news comes courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter, with the outlet stating that Winstead and Gomez will play mother and daughter in the film. Charlie (Winstead) and Natalie (Gomez) will find themselves fighting for survival on what is described as an Earth-like planet, as they hide from a group of relentless hunters as a deadly storm approaches. As a teenager, though, Natalie will come to question her mother’s actions, the explanation behind who they are, why they got there and what they need in order to survive.

    The Baker Brothers, Jonathan and Josh Baker, are directing the film from a script by Patrick Somerville (Station Eleven), Colleen O’Brien and Katie French. Somerville will produce the film with David Eisenberg via Tractor Beam. James Hoppe and Jack Byrnes will executive produce the project in association with XYZ Films, with the latter looking to attract buyers to the project during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which kicks off next week.

    The Baker Brothers are relatively new to Hollywood. They made their directorial debut with 2018’s Kin, which was an adaptation of their 2015 short film titled Bag Man. As for Gomez, prior to co-headling Multiverse of Madness, the young actress starred in The Babysitter’s Club for Netflix. While Winstead is perhaps best known for her role in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and her recent portrayal as Huntress in Birds of Prey.

    Source: THR.

  • Jordan Peele Hints at ‘Nope’ Sequel

    Jordan Peele Hints at ‘Nope’ Sequel

    Jordan Peele’s Nope took audiences by storm when it hit theaters earlier this summer. Full of unexpected plot twists and rich thematic elements, many fans are still trying to dissect and figure out the details of the film a month after its release. One such mystery, which has become a fixation of many online theorists, is the true identity of Michael Busch’s “Nobody.” The unnamed character appears in the movie’s trailers, shown walking calmly in the opposite direction of the panicking crowd, but does not appear in Nope’s final cut. “Nobody,” the character’s moniker, comes from the actor’s IMDb listing.

    In a new interview with Variety, Peele explains that there’s still plenty of story to tell regarding Busch’s Nobody. The writer and director suggests there will be some answers provided in the future.

    The story of that character has yet to be told, I can tell you that. Which is another frustrating way of saying, I’m glad people are paying attention. I do think they will get more answers on some of these things in the future. We’re not over telling all of these stories.

    Jordan Peele

    Peele has not yet announced what his next film will be, but this quote makes it sound like a sequel to Nope could be in the cards. The end of the film may wrap up nicely, but there are still plenty of questions that could be answered within the world it established. At the very least, it sounds like Peele could have plans for something set in the same universe – like a spin-off or epilogue. Other popular directors, namely Quentin Tarantino, have made similar moves in the past, crafting entirely separate stories that still manage to reference each other whenever possible. Maybe when Peele unveils his fourth opus, it will continue his trend of succinct titles and use a familiar name – Nobody.

    Nope is now playing in theaters. It’s also now available to rent through On Demand.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 2

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ From Page to Screen: Episode 2

    Welcome back to another installment of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law From Page to Screen. Last week, we looked at the differences between the comics’ and series’ versions of Jennifer Walters becoming She-Hulk as seen in the first episode. In Episode 2, viewers got a live-action introduction to Jen’s new legal job, taken straight out of Dan Slott’s and Juan Bobillo’s 2004 She-Hulk run—Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway (GLK&H).

    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)

    The Hiring/Firing

    Both She-Hulk #1 (2004) and She-Hulk Episode 2 feature a specific moment. In the comics, Jen is hired by Holden Holliway in a bar. There, she transformed back into Jen from She-Hulk after drinking and was immediately drunk. The live-action series adapted this moment, though not when she was being hired. Instead, Jen explains her “different metabolism” when drunkenly being fired from her job at the District Attorney’s Office.

    The series also interestingly reversed Jen’s presence in the GLK&H office. In the series, Holliway asks her to be in She-Hulk form to be the face of the division. Jen is upset because she feels more comfortable in her human form. In the comics, however, Jen is much more comfortable in She-Hulk form, but Holliway asks that she always be in Jen form for work. It makes sense that the series would want to spend more time with She-Hulk herself, so the reverse of the comics’ situation suits where Jen’s story is currently at.

    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)

    Superhuman Law Division

    The most important aspect of GLK&H in all media is, of course, the fact that the firm has a superhuman law division. While it will likely change over the course of She-Hulk, a difference between the comics and the series is obvious through Jen’s first tour of the firm. In She-Hulk #1 (2004), GLK&H’s superhuman division has been flourishing for some time. Doctor Strange is involved in negotiations while Jen starts her first day. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s history with superhumans in society is much shorter than the comics’. She-Hulk seems to be actively moving the live-action world forward, but for the time being, GLK&H’s superhuman law division is relatively empty of superhumans. But Jen’s meeting with Emil Blonsky, aka The Abomination, is already showing the series’ potential to get as absurd as the comics.

    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    ‘She-Hulk #1 (2004)
    ‘She-Hulk #1 (2004)

    Another GLK&H superhuman law division component appears on the page and screen. In Episode 2, Augustus “Pug” Pugliese introduces himself by walking in the door. Pug is a character directly from She-Hulk (2004), and he also introduced himself while walking into the room there too. It’s a minor detail, but nonetheless, something the mediums shared. Pug is another lawyer in Jen’s division at GLK&H, and has been a neighbor and roommate to her in the comics. It has yet to be seen how large of a role Pug will play in She-Hulk, but he becomes a close friend (and one-way love interest) during his comics story.

    Marvel Studios ‘She-Hulk: Attorney at Law’ Episode 2
    ‘She-Hulk’ #1 (2004)

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is now streaming on Disney+.

  • REVIEW: ‘House of the Dragon’ Episode 2

    REVIEW: ‘House of the Dragon’ Episode 2

    TWISTS! TWISTS! TWISTS!

    Twist of the episode, and the series so far, is that Viserys chose Alicent to be his new queen, instead of Laena Velaryon. Viserys’ reasoning, besides trying to spite Corlys, is that Laena is “too old.” Yeah, let’s go with the 15-year-old instead of the 12-year-old! The plot is showcasing some other motivations other than age and spite. Otto, the Hand and father to Alicent, tries to alienate Viserys from other players. For example, when Viserys brings up Corlys’ and Rhaenys’ marriage proposal, he immediately says that this is an overstep and should have been brought up to the council directly. Viserys is showing signs that he’s recognizing the overreach with his reply that “that’s what I am doing presently.” That still doesn’t stop Viserys from choosing Alicent, who was prodded to comfort the king by her father. Another motivation by Viserys for choosing an older wife would be that these Iron Throne cut wounds aren’t healing. Time may be short for King Viserys.

    Now, Corlys and Rhaenys do have another son named Laenor, of similar age to Rhaenyra. Perhaps Viserys could make amends with his Velaryon cousins with a betrothal between those two?

    SEEDS OF WAR

    Alicent and Otto don’t plan for the new queen to just be a happy wife to Viserys, right? Marriage leads to children, and how are these kids going to feel about being after a woman, Rhaenyra, in the line of succession? The show is keeping these kiddos hidden very well, especially with the time jump that is coming to age them up. Rhaenyra wasn’t exactly thrilled about Alicent being chosen as queen, especially with them growing up as childhood friends.

    DRAGONSTONE

    Daemon and Mysaria caused some ruckus on Dragonstone, and it turned out to all be for nothing! Daemon drew some Valyrian steel and ended up handing over the dragon egg he stole without a hitch. In the books, Mysaria actually was pregnant and was forced by Viserys to send Mysaria and her unborn child across the Narrow Sea. The ship hit a storm, Mysaria lost her child, and Daemon was angry with his brother for a long, long time. The big change is that she’s just chilling with him and her only want is to be liberated from fear.

    STEPSTONES

    Time to see some more Dragonfire third-degree burns! Corlys will lead the navy, while Daemon will fight from the skies on Caraxes. If you remember, the first season of Game of Thrones didn’t include any major battles on screen; in fact, Tyrion was knocked out and missed what would have been the biggest one. That was due to budgetary concerns, which House of the Dragon does not have. Expect a full spectacle on this. Crab man is living on borrowed time.

    Two episodes in and we still haven’t even touched the actual timeline where the Dance of the Dragons takes place. House of the Dragon is taking its time and, in doing so, has put together two killer episodes.

  • ‘House of the Dragon’s Viewership Grew With Episode 2

    ‘House of the Dragon’s Viewership Grew With Episode 2

    Now this isn’t something you see every day but it looks like the second episode of House of the Dragon has seen an increase from its processor. That isn’t something you usually see with ongoing TV shows; the norm is normally for them to start losing viewership as the season goes on. To top it off, the increase follows HBO and HBO Max’s biggest debut ever which stood at 10M. It even went on to grow to 20M according to the network.

    The difference isn’t a large one, as it’s a 2% increase from the premiere episode but it is still 10.2M viewers. To put that into comparison, the Game of Thrones premiere was at 4.2M back in 2011 and highlights just how big this franchise has become over time. It’s not quite close to the Season 8 viewership which stood at 17.9M when it first premiered but that was also after the show continued to build up momentum going into its final season.

    That did see a decrease down to 10.3M in its second episode. So, an actual increase shows that viewers are quite happy with House of the Dragon so far. It’ll actually be interesting to see if that viewership number continues to grow over time, especially once we near the season finale. The series has already received an early season 2 renewal which isn’t a surprise given just how large its debut was but no matter what, it looks like more Game of Thrones is a sure thing moving forward.

    Source: Variety

  • Marvel Studios Has a Supervisor for the MCU Timeline

    Marvel Studios Has a Supervisor for the MCU Timeline

    There’s an ongoing curiosity about what exactly the timeline looks like for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There was always the question of someone responsible for keeping an overview on how exactly every new entry fits into the timeline, especially with the newly added Disney+ series adding even more new heroes and possible timeline windows. Well, She-Hulk head writer Jessica Gao has revealed that they do have someone who keeps the timeline in check.

    In an interview with The Direct, Gao reveals that there is someone who is responsible for tracing the timeline of the MCU. It seems that they had to repeatedly check in with them to ensure where exactly their show takes place, which she reveals is a few years after Avengers. Endgame.

    It’s definitely after– post-Endgame. There actually is a Marvel person whose job it is to trace the timeline of everything. And we checked with him a lot about where the timing is. And so it’s like… the show is a few years after Endgame.

    Jessica Gao

    It’s definitely a curious reveal and great to know that Marvel Studios are keeping a close eye on how exactly these projects fit on their timeline. With the expansion into the multiverse, it seems their job must’ve gotten quite a bit more complicated but sadly it seems unlikely we’ll ever get to see it. Spider-Man director Jon Watts has also pointed out that he was presented with a scroll. Maybe one day we’ll get to see it as well.

    Source: The Direct