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  • ‘Eternals’ Early Box Office Predictions Soften, Now Eyeing $96M Opening Weekend

    ‘Eternals’ Early Box Office Predictions Soften, Now Eyeing $96M Opening Weekend

    All eyes were on Eternals after the first critic reviews found their way online. It was met with a positive to mixed reception, which sometimes may hamper the early predictions. Well, it seems that it may do exactly that as early predictions have softened in the last few days. Earlier this month, it was eyeing around 110M at the highest. It was shortly after the film managed to outsell Black Widow and Shang-Chi on its first day, which put it on a trajectory for a large opening weekend. Now, the numbers are still strong but there’s a question mark if it’ll pass the $100M mark.

    As of now, the three-day prognosis has the film heading towards a box office opening bewteen $67M and $92M. It’s dropped by around 12% since the last prediction. They highlight that the mixed critical reception is why they revised the model and could lead to a potential slowdown in pre-sales. Yet, the film had a strong early push which could potentially make up for it.

    One could also argue that the first Marvel Studios film to not become an instant critical darling may garner quite an audience. Even Box Office Pro highlights that the MCU as a brand might be review-proof at this point. So, the first film to go against the grain might garner quite a bit of additional attention by fans and viewers. Eternals also is quite a different take on a classic Marvel film which may caught some wanting more from the previously-released Dune. If you are interested, you can check our review of the film here.

    Source: Box Office Pro

  • ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Merch Offers First Look at Villains, Key Allies

    ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ Merch Offers First Look at Villains, Key Allies

    Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness saw its release date pushed back from March to May of 2022 recently in order to allow for another round of additional photography to be completed. As is always the case with the big world of Marvel Studios, however, even when a project is delayed, the big merch machine usually doesn’t slow down. To that end, a couple of items have made their way into online storefronts for pre-order, including a puzzle that gives fans a look at one of the film’s main villains and a coloring book that shows off America Chavez’s star-shaped, multiversal portal! For those of you looking to avoid some first act spoilers, turn back now.

    America (America Chavez) In Comics Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel

    Twitter user @starwarsmcu tipped us off this morning to a couple of products that showed up on several online storefronts. The 1,000-piece puzzle, available for pre-order through Booktopia, shows Doctor Strange in battle with the multiversal monster Shuma-Gorath. Shuma-Gorath is an ancient demon with enormous power; it has been rumored since the earliest days of production on Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that Shuma-Gorath would be in pursuit of America Chavez and that pursuit would lead him into the Sacred Timeline where he’d do battle with Doctor Strange. The puzzle also shows an updated look to Strange’s costume, which now sports the classic blue symbol. It’ll be interesting to see how accurate this is to Stephen’s look in the film.

    In addition to the puzzle, there’s also a coloring book in the set. While the image on Booktopia is extremely low-quality, Strange, America, Wong (?) and the Scarlet Witch can be seen. The coloring book cover looks the same as an image that was seen earlier this year and showcased America’s star-shaped portal. America’s abilities to hop through the multiverse are a key plot point to the sequel.

    The puzzle and coloring book combo go on sale in April and can also be found for pre-order at Wheeler’s and Scholastic. With additional photography underway the next two months, time will tell how accurately this puzzle depicts the events of the film.

  • ‘Eternals’ Barry Keoghan Teases Druig’s Darker Side

    ‘Eternals’ Barry Keoghan Teases Druig’s Darker Side

    Eternals is set to take a new stab at what it means to be a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. In it, we’ll meet the titular alien race and its many members. With ten new characters taking center stage, there are bound to be some members that might break conventions. Among them is the character of Druig, who is played by Barry Keoghan, who has quite a dark history in the comics. ComicBookMovies.com got the chance to sit down with the actor to discuss his potential darker future. In a way, he teased we might get a glimpse of that side in the upcoming film.

    Yeah, I think so. I don’t want to put any ideas out there. I definitely think he’ll take a stand. He finds it hard not to interfere and stuff. It’s for the right reasons. He has some valid points to interfere and he’s doing it for good reasons, but yeah, maybe he does. Maybe he does. I’ve got no idea!

    Barry Keoghan

    In the comics, Druig has gone by many names since his introduction in 1977. He even was called Satan by some, as each member of the Eternals becomes representative or confused with deities of old. At one point, he even worked for the KGB where he learned to love torturing people. So, it wouldn’t be too surprised if we learn he had a hand in some of the darker moments of history.

    The trailers also highlight that the Eternals are not allowed to influence human history after they give them the initial push to evolve. We get a few teases of Druig’s role in the film and the shots do give him a sinister “watcher” vibe as what looks like Pompeii is burning. There’s also the strange village he is in, which might have a deeper meaning as the story continues. I doubt he’s truly an antagonist but he may represent a darker side of this group. He also highlights he’d love a Loki team-up, which adds to the darker future of the character.

    Source: ComicBookMovie

  • Marvel Studios Wanted to “Take Some Chances” With ‘Eternals’

    Marvel Studios Wanted to “Take Some Chances” With ‘Eternals’

    Marvel Studios’ upcoming film Eternals will explore a new aspect of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. For the first time, we’ll start at its beginnings and explore how the universe we’ve come to love sparked into existence. Indie director Chloé Zhao took over the reins of this ambitious project and it looks like they’ve tried their hands at a project unlike any other. In an interview with Toronto Sun, Marvel Studios producer Nate Moore highlighted this very fact, as he pointed out:

    It’s our most ambitious first film. Because of that we wanted to take a big swing. We wanted to take some chances and give audiences something that feels completely new

    Nate Moore

    It certainly is an ambitious project if you consider it introduces an ensemble cast of ten aliens that explore 7,000 years of MCU history. Of course, the ambition to break their own norm may also reflect in the highly debated Rotten Tomatoes score, which currently sits lower than that of Thor: The Dark World with 60%. It’s not uncommon for new ventures like these to become controversial due to their “love it or hate it” nature.

    In a way, the galactic direction for director Zhao also creates a new approach. Her work on The Rider and Nomadland showed a more down-to-earth approach to storytelling. It’s great to see Marvel Studios take a unique approach and even if it’s not a critic pleaser, there’s a chance the project will garner quite a bit of love from viewers for trying out something new.

    Source: Toronto Sun, Rotten Tomatoes

  • ‘Eternals’ Sequels Not a Guarantee for Marvel Studios

    ‘Eternals’ Sequels Not a Guarantee for Marvel Studios

    Marvel Studios has built up a collection of trilogies with their iconic heroes. Some ended their runs long before the Infinity Saga ended while others are only just continuing. Thor: Love and Thunder is their first attempt at going beyond the classic trilogy concept. So, with new entries on the horizon, it seemed like a logical next step is to build new franchises.

    Recent rumors already hinted at a Shang-Chi sequel, but there’s also the upcoming Eternals film. With a cast of ten main characters that spans 7,000 years of Marvel Cinematic Universe history, it seems like it’s made for a sequel. Yet. producer Nate Moore hints that there’s no guarantee we’ll get any sequels.

    It’s not something that is a must-have. Obviously, we have ideas of where we could go, but there isn’t a hard and fast rule where we have to have three of these things and this is the first.

    Nate Moore

    While some may make a connection with the recent discussions surrounding its Rotten Tomatoes score, it’s most likely a question of if the Eternals as such are going to have their own franchise or live on through others. Plus, it’s great for Marvel Studios to also give some films their unique voice and let them stand on their own. Not every new entry requires a trilogy or full franchise. Especially a project with 10+ protagonists that could expand into their own storylines separate from the group. It may become like an Avengers project in reverse, where we then continue our stories with the various members.

    Source: Toronto Sun

  • Hall of Murphy: Episode 8 – All Things DC FanDome

    Hall of Murphy: Episode 8 – All Things DC FanDome

    The DC FanDome podcast episode has arrived. John and Joe discuss their personal highs and lows from the event, as well as take a deep dive into the new The Batman trailer.

  • ‘Hocus Pocus’ Sequel Eyeing Fall 2022 Release on Disney+ as it Rounds Out its Cast

    ‘Hocus Pocus’ Sequel Eyeing Fall 2022 Release on Disney+ as it Rounds Out its Cast

    Disney has long wanted to bring back the iconic Hocus Pocus film. A staple for many people’s Halloween, it was surprising that the House of Mouse waited this long before they’d greenlight a sequel. After all this time, it has finally happened as we got our first tease for the upcoming second entry and a confirmation that the Sanderson sisters will make a return. Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy will return in their iconic roles.

    Of course, they’ll get joined by some familiar faces which include Whitney Peak, Lilia Buckingham, Belissa Escobedo, Tony Hale, Hannah Waddingham, Juju Brener, Froy Guiterrez, Taylor Henderson, and Nina Kitchen. Doug Jones is also set to return as Billy Butcherson in the upcoming sequel. The new entry is eyeing a Fall 2022 release on Disney’s streaming service. While I mentioned previously it’s surprising they didn’t create a sequel, it was a box office bomb at the time. Millenials revived the franchise later on as it skyrocketed in popularity.

    It’ll be interesting to see how they revive this franchise and stick to the set-up from the original. There’s always a chance that they’ll try to twist some of our understanding from the original franchise to add something unique to the story. Disney+ has become the home to various returning franchises such as Turner and Hooch, as well as the upcoming release of a new Home Alone entry. It’ll be interesting to see what other iconic franchises may make a return at some point.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Superman and Lois’ Showrunner Teases Season 2’s Villain

    ‘Superman and Lois’ Showrunner Teases Season 2’s Villain

    Superman and Lois‘ first season reinvented the way we see stories around the Man of Steel. This time around, Clark Kent is faced with the biggest challenge ever, raising two sons alongside his love Lois Lane. He did face off against some new foes like Adam Rayner‘s Tal-Rho. Of course, it opened up the question of what other villains he might face off against in the upcoming second season. Luckily, showrunner Todd Helbing offered a small tease when he was asked if we’ve heard of the next villain he’ll face.

    You have, yes. The only tease I will say is, in the same way that we took Morgan Edge and twisted the mythology a little bit—made him Clark’s brother and ultimately the Eradicator—we’re trying to go into the comic books to find lesser-known villains and reinvent them. We can introduce them and people can then go read the versions in the comics.

    Todd Helbing

    In the same interview, he also highlights that we haven’t seen the last of Tal-Rho either. So, it’ll be interesting to see how many villains he might end up facing in the upcoming second season. It’s great that they want to explore smaller villains that normally wouldn’t get a chance on the silver screen or generally in live-action. It’ll be interesting to see how they tackle it. Helbing also revealed that they recently pitched the second season to the studio. So, they are still in the early stages of getting the ball rolling on the project. So, we might not see any new updates for some time until they start entering production.

    Source: Sci-Fi & Fantasy Special Collector’s Issue via TV Insider

  • ‘Dune’ and ‘Halloween Kills’ Fend Off Newcomers at the Box Office

    ‘Dune’ and ‘Halloween Kills’ Fend Off Newcomers at the Box Office

    There was little to no competition for Dune and Halloween Kills this weekend.

    Denis Villeneueve’s Dune retained it’s top spot at the box office after pulling in another $15.5 million during the slow Halloween weekend – a 62% dip from last weekend. That is enough to bring the film’s domestic haul to $69.4 million after 10 days in release. The film also did well internationally, bringing in $21.4 million from 75 markets, including $33 from China. To date, Dune has earned $292.1 million at the worldwide box office.

    Halloween Kills came in second, pulling in $8.5 million during its third outing. So far, the film has earned $85.6 million domestically. Coming in third place is the James Bond film, No Time to Die, which took in another $7.8 million. The latest James Bond film has now surpassed $600 million at the worldwide box office after opening to $28.2 million in China.

    The biggest surprise of the weekend, however, didn’t come from one of the big titles. FUNimation’s My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission surprised everyone with $6 million from just 1,600 locations. (By comparison, Halloween Kills was still playing in 3,616 locations this weekend.)

    The biggest new release this week was Edgar Wright‘s The Last Night in Soho, which faltered at the box office with just  $4.2 million from 3,016 theaters. That is well below the $8 million box office experts estimated going into the weekend.

    Source: THR

  • Matthias Schweighöfer Was a Favorite During Test-Screenings as ‘Army of Thieves’ Was Already in Pre-Production

    Matthias Schweighöfer Was a Favorite During Test-Screenings as ‘Army of Thieves’ Was Already in Pre-Production

    Zack Snyder moved on from his DC franchise to establish a new universe over at Netflix. Taking another stab at the zombie genre, he twisted it in creative ways through Army of the Dead. The story explored an unlikely group of mercenaries that are pulling off a casino heist during a zombie apocalypse. In that team is the German named Ludwig Dieter played by long-time German star Matthias Schweighöfer.

    He’s made quite the name in the German-speaking market but now he had his big time to shine in the States when he joined Snyder’s new film and was going to lead its first prequel, Army of Thieves. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he talks about the scene where he tried his best to prove he’s part of the big leagues now.

    It was a ten-minute scene in the original version. It was huge. There was one moment where I knew, ‘OK, I’m in this film. It’s when Dave touches the blueprint, and I say, ‘Take your sausage fingers away, Mr. Big Hand.’ Dave started laughing. Zack started laughing. And I knew, ‘OK, welcome to the show.’

    Matthias Schweighöfer

    It seems he didn’t have much time, as he just met the director before this scene and had to perform to confirm his place in this new film. His character even became quite the popular character for many viewers. So, Schweighöfer’s casting was one of Snyder’s best moves yet he does confirm it was one of the more difficult roles to cast. THR’s Aaron Couch added on Twitter that he became a fan-favorite during test screenings just as Army of Thieves was already in pre-production.

    When Schweighöfer found out they were looking for a director, he threw his hat in the ring fresh off of his experience in the Amazon series You Are Wanted. The Snyders took a gander at it and it helped convince them he was the man for the job. So, once they got the green light, they gave him the call. The rest, as they say, is history.

    Source: Twitter, Hollywood Reporter