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  • ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Becomes 10th Highest-Grossing Film of All Time Domestically

    ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Becomes 10th Highest-Grossing Film of All Time Domestically

    Ride into the danger zone, because Top Gun: Maverick has become the 10th highest-grossing film of all time domestically. The critically acclaimed sequel, directed by Joseph Kosinski, has officially beaten out 2017’s Star Wars: The Last Jedi to earn a place on the historic list. It does so with a current domestic total of $622 million at the box office, just passing the $620.2 million brought in by the eighth entry in The Skywalker Saga. Maverick joins a coveted group that also includes Spider-Man: No Way Home, Titanic, Jurassic World, and Avatar.

    The film is the second installment in a franchise that started back in 1986, with Tony Scott‘s original Top Gun. The only returning cast members from the first film are Tom Cruise, whose character headlines the sequel, and Val Kilmer, who appears in what could be one of his final film credits. Miles Teller co-stars as “Rooster,” the son of Anthony Edwards‘ deceased “Goose”, alongside Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm, Monica Barbaro, and Lewis Pullman. The plot of Maverick sees Cruise‘s titular rogue pilot brought back to the Top Gun academy as a reluctant instructor, charged with prepping a new generation of graduates for a near-impossible mission.

    Top Gun: Maverick has been somewhat of a saving grace for the film industry, bringing audiences back to cinemas in droves after a dreary few years. The movie’s success also came as a bit of a surprise, with few people expecting the legacy sequel to compete with the likes of Marvel Studios and Hollywood’s other heavy-hitting franchise films. Its popularity can be attributed to a genuinely great final product, combined with the star power of Cruise, nostalgia for the iconic first adventure, and a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Everything, Everywhere All At Once’ Receiving Theatrical Re-Release With Extra Footage

    ‘Everything, Everywhere All At Once’ Receiving Theatrical Re-Release With Extra Footage

    Everything, Everywhere All At Once will, once again, be coming to a theater near you. The hit indie film, directed by creative duo Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, is set to receive a theatrical re-release on July 29th. According to a report from Deadline, heading back out to cinemas for another go-around will earn audiences an exclusive new introduction from the filmmakers along with a full eight minutes of outtakes, presumably played at the end of the movie.

    The re-release of Everything, Everywhere All At Once is likely part of A24’s awards campaign for the film, which currently has a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It will also increase the already-impressive box office haul attained by the project, which is A24’s highest-grossing ever at $94 million globally.

    Everything, Everywhere All At Once stars Michelle Yeoh as a struggling laundromat owner who discovers the answers to her problems either lie somewhere in the vast plains of the multiverse, or deep within her own heart. The movie also features Ke Huy Quan, in his first major American film role since 1992’s Encino Man, as well as Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, and Jamie Lee Curtis. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenny Slate round out the cast in supporting roles. This will be the second time A24 has re-released one of its films with a slightly longer cut, following Midsommar‘s second turn in theaters in the summer of 2019. The next major release from the studio will be Bodies, Bodies, Bodies, a horror comedy starring Pete Davidson and Amandla Stenberg, on August 5th.

    Source: Deadline

  • Kurt and Wyatt Russell Cast in Apple TV+ and Legendary’s ‘Godzilla’ Spinoff Series

    Kurt and Wyatt Russell Cast in Apple TV+ and Legendary’s ‘Godzilla’ Spinoff Series

    Apple TV+ and Legendary Television’s untitled Godzilla series is adding to its cast. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kurt and Wyatt Russell have joined the cast of the monster series, tentatively titled Hourglass. The series is set in the aftermath of the battle between Godzilla and the Titans in San Francisco. It follows a family’s journey to uncover its buried secrets that link them to the secret organization, Monarch. It will also directly connect to Legendary’s Monsterverse.

    While details on their roles are unknown, the father and son join a cast that already includes Anna Sawai (Pachinko), Ren Watabe, Kiersey Clemons (Transparent, Zack Snyder’s Justice League), Joe Tippett (Mare of Easttown), and Elisa Lasowski (Versailles). The series will also be the first time that Kurt and Wyatt Russell have acted in the same project in over 2 decades. In the 1998 film Soldier, Wyatt played a young version of his father’s character. The Russells have also been featured in (separate) projects in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kurt played Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, while his son portrayed John Walker, a.k.a. the U.S. Agent in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on Disney+.

    Matt Shakman, who directed Marvel Studios’ WandaVision for Disney+, is set to direct the first two episodes of the series. Shakman will also serve as an executive producer on the series. The still-untitled series hails from Chris Black (Outcast, Star Trek: Enterprise) and Matt Fraction (Hawkeye), who co-created the series. Black will also serve as the showrunner of the series.

    Source: Twitter, THR

  • ‘The Mandalorian’ Star Hints at Rick Famuyiwa Involved With Multiple Season 3 Episodes

    ‘The Mandalorian’ Star Hints at Rick Famuyiwa Involved With Multiple Season 3 Episodes

    While there have been many discussions surrounding the Disney+ shows since they started rolling out more, The Mandalorian still stands tall as the one to start it all. With a third season on the horizon, we’re still waiting for any details on the project. Luckily, Carl Weathers has us covered as he revealed in an interview with Big Gold Belt Media that director Rick Famuyiwa was involved with multiple episodes of The Mandalorian‘s upcoming Season 3.

    You got Rick [Famuyiwa] who’s here, who’s behind the camera, executive producing on our show, you know? Who directed me in a couple of episodes of The Mandalorian this season and I’m a huge fan.

    Carl Weathers

    It’s always great to see when an actor is excited about a director’s work on a project. Mandalorian‘s monster-of-the-week approach has been a standout among the many Disney+ shows released that seemingly follow a more cinematic format. Weathers also confirming he’ll be involved with multiple episodes could be a hint that his character will have a multiple story arc throughout.

    Of course, they could go a similar route to the second season, which saw various characters come together in the final episode to unite against a common threat. Famuiywa has been quite busy with his work on the Star Wars series, and here’s also hoping he’ll get a chance to potentially tackle another Disney project, maybe even something web-related.

    Source: Big Gold Belt Media via Bespin Bulletin

  • New Report Hints at MCU’s X-Men Project ‘The Mutants’

    New Report Hints at MCU’s X-Men Project ‘The Mutants’

    Here’s a rather surprising little reveal but a new report by Deadline may have given away one of the upcoming Marvel projects. In the latest piece exploring what the San Diego Comic-Con may have in store for us, they reveal that we can expect a variety of sneak peeks, most notably of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Yet, the report also may have hinted at Marvel Studios’ first X–Men-focused project.

    They theorize that we might get some updates on films like Mahershala Ali’s film, which they seemingly title The Blade this time around, and next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The big reveal however is that they mention The Mutants, which was a title hinted at for the project quite some time ago back in March of 2021. Of course, it could also just be speculation that it’s heading our way but the name used adds a few questions in regards to what it might mean.

    There’s still no real confirmation on what exactly we can expect from Marvel Studios’ take on the iconic mutants, especially with Ms. Marvel revealing that the franchise’s latest additions are also a member of it. So, it’ll b interesting to see if they make any announcements during SDCC, but likely could be keeping that surprise for D23 if it ends up true. Whatever may end up happening, we do know for sure that the X-Men and mutants are heading our way.

    Source: Deadline, Comic Book

  • ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode of ‘Assembed’ Gets a Streaming Date

    ‘Ms. Marvel’ Episode of ‘Assembed’ Gets a Streaming Date

    Marvel Studios has made good use of a self-owned streaming platform, finding some creative ways to extend the life of their streaming series and theatrical releases once the reach the platform. One such way is the behind-the-scenes documentary series, Assembled. Each episode has proven to be newsworthy and dissected by fans, extending the conversations around the projects as new details about why events played out how they did or what was left on the cutting room floor make their way online. With Ms. Marvel finishing its streaming run, it stepped into the on deck circle for its BTS episode and now fans can mark their calendars.

    According to Disney, Marvel Studios Assembled: Ms. Marvel will make its streaming debut on August 3rd. Read the official release below:

    This installment of ASSEMBLED takes us on the journey of bringing a long-awaited global phenomenon to life. Go behind-the-scenes every step of the way with immersive footage from the making of the series, along with insightful interviews on set from the cast and crew of Ms. Marvel as we watch Iman Vellani and her character, Kamala Khan, become the fan-favorite superhero right before our eyes.

    Marvel Studios most well-reviewed project to date, Ms. Marvel is now streaming in its entirety on Disney Plus.

  • Universal Television Adapting YA Novel Series ‘We Were Liars’

    Universal Television Adapting YA Novel Series ‘We Were Liars’

    Julie Plec and Universal Television are teaming up to adapt a trio of bestselling titles from author E. Lockhart. Per Deadline, Plec and Universal Television have acquired the rights to We Were Liars, Family of Liars and Again Again.

    We Were Liars is described as a tragic love story and amnesia thriller that is set on a privately owned island off the coast of Massachusetts. It features a “beautiful and distinguished family,” and a “brilliant, damaged girl” and a “passionate, political body.” The book has become a TikTok phenomenon and has been on the New York Times bestseller’s list for the past twenty-two months. 

    Family of Liars, one of the books optioned, is a prequel to We Were Liars. It brings readers back inside of the world crafted in We Were Liars and sees another generation during another summer, featuring brand new secrets that’ll haunt them for decades to come.

    While Again Again is a story about a girl named Adelaide Buchwald who finds herself catapulted into a wild summer following a near-fatal family catastrophe. Like We Were Liars and Family of Liars, Again Again features plenty of secrets while also exploring the possibilities of love and the “grandiosity of the human mind.”

    “I’ve chased We Were Liars for years,” Plec said in a statement to Deadline. “It’s one of the best YA novels I’ve ever read, and I’ve read a lot. It’s mysterious, romantic and devastating — and Family of Liars showed me just how sprawling and multi-generational the series can be. Being able to adapt it for television is a career highlight for me — not to mention how thrilled I am to bring the lovely, intimate, emotional journey that is Again Again to life with Carina and the Emilys (Lockhart and Cummins).”

    Carina Adley MacKenzie, who worked with Plec on Roswell New Mexico and The Originals, will co-write the adaptation of Again Again with Lockhart. And while Plec is set to adapt both We Were Liars and Family of Liars, MacKenzie will serve as the showrunner on the series with Plec on board as an executive producer.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘She-Hulk: Attorney At Law’ Set to Premiere with a Single Episode

    ‘She-Hulk: Attorney At Law’ Set to Premiere with a Single Episode

    She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is the next Marvel Studios streaming series headed for Disney Plus, with its August 17th premiere just around the corner. Like Marvel Studios’ first streaming series, WandaVision, She-Hulk consists of nine episodes; unlike WandaVision, however, She-Hulk will not make its debut with multiple episodes.

    According to an official Disney release, She-Hulk will debut with a single episode on August 17th, meaning it will likely have a nine-week run that will conclude on October 12th. Other than WandaVision, only Hawkeye, which was released during the holiday season, has premiered to more than one episode.

    It is expected that their will be a heavy dose of She-Hulk at SDCC ’22, including a new trailer for the series and an appearance by several cast members. Tatiana Maslany leads the series as Jen Walters/She-Hulk, the cousin of Bruce Banner who gains some of the powers of the Hulk after a blood transfusion. Ginger Gonzaga, Jameela Jamil and Charlie Cox are among the supporting cast of the show, which will be a legal comedy reminiscent of Ally McBeal, among others

    Source: Disney

  • Rob Zombie’s ‘The Munsters’ to Release on Blu-Ray and Streaming Ahead of Netflix Debut

    Rob Zombie’s ‘The Munsters’ to Release on Blu-Ray and Streaming Ahead of Netflix Debut

    When the first trailer for Rob Zombie’s The Munsters reboot dropped, it left many viewers confused by its tone and visuals. At the time, the trailer simply teased a September release. Now, it looks like not only is the film skipping theaters for Netflix, but it’ll also hit digital and Blu-Ray ahead of its Netflix debut.

    Zombie’s The Munsters reboot will be available for digital purchase and Blu-Ray as of Sept. 27th. While no clear date has been announced as to when fans can expect it on Netflix, it is confirmed to be hitting the streaming service sometime later this year. The digital, Blu-Ray and DVD copies will include over an hour of Collector’s Edition bonus content that includes behind-the-scenes footage with Zombie and his cast, as well as commentary by Zombie.

    The Munsters is based on the ‘60s black-and-white sitcom of the same name. Zombie’s film reboot stars Jeff Daniel Phillips as Herman Munster, Sheri Moon Zombie as Lily Munster and Daniel Roebuck as Grandpa. Butch Patrick and Pat Priest, who were a part of the original series, also appear in the reboot. Fans can also expect an appearance by Cassandra Peterson, best known as Elvira, who will be playing a real estate agent named Barbara Carr.

    News of Zombie’s The Munsters reboot was first announced by our team here at Murphy’s Multiverse in March 2021. 

  • New Line Green Lights ‘Mortal Kombat 2’

    New Line Green Lights ‘Mortal Kombat 2’

    New Line is officially back in the Mortal Kombat game. In January, it was reported that Jeremy Slater would be returning to pen a sequel script to 2021’s Mortal Kombat. Deadline is now reporting that New Line has green-lit the sequel, and tapped Simon McQuoid to direct again.

    Many fans were left a bit puzzled after the first film, as it didn’t include the fabled tournament between realms that had been hyped up throughout the films. Fans were also left hanging on series’ favorite, Johnny Cage, who made no appearance in the film but was teased at the end as Cole Young went off to recruit more to join Earthrealm’s champions.

    In 2021 Warner Brothers made the unprecedented move to shift its entire theatrical slate to a day and date release on HBO Max. Mortal Kombat was among the company’s films that released in both theaters and on streaming and the film did incredibly well in both arenas, beating box office predictions and grossing around $84M and coming in as the most streamed film on the service that year, beating out Dune, Godzilla Vs Kong and Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

    It is currently unknown when the sequel will kick-off into production and no casting announcements have been made at this time, but we can only hope Johnny Cage is jumping into the fight.

    SOURCE: Deadline