Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Bullet Train

  • ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Star Turned Down a Role in ‘Deadpool 2’

    ‘Kraven the Hunter’ Star Turned Down a Role in ‘Deadpool 2’

    Aaron Taylor-Johnson has his fingerprints all over the comic book movie genre. The actor had his breakthrough playing the lead in 2010’s Kick-Ass, an adaptation of Mark Millar’s popular Image comic series, and it’s 2013 sequel, before quickly moving on to portray the speedster Pietro Maximoff in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. While Taylor-Johnson has yet to reprise that role, he is set to bring the title character to life in next year’s Kraven the Hunter, marking his fourth overall foray into the genre and putting him on a possible collision course with Spider-Man himself. If all that wasn’t enough, the actor recently revealed that he also had an opportunity to join Fox’s now-defunct X-Men universe in 2018.

    Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in support of his new film Bullet Train, Taylor-Johnson admitted he landed his new role partly because he was already familiar with director David Leitch. The filmmaker had previously helmed Deadpool 2, and supposedly, had once reached out to Taylor-Johnson in hopes he’d join the cast. THR got the surprising scoop while the action star was explaining why he wanted to work on Bullet Train:

    Well, I don’t think it’s autopilot by any means, so I do believe in a bit of fate and luck. I feel fortunate and lucky that we were able to make this movie during a pandemic. I’ve always wanted to work with Brad Pitt. I’ve always wanted to make a movie on a Los Angeles soundstage. This was yet another movie I fought for. This was one of those hot scripts around town, and David Leitch actually asked me to be in ‘Deadpool 2’ ages ago.

    While he never gave any indication of which character he might have been up for, he did state that it was ultimately his decision not to do the acclaimed sequel. Comically, Taylor-Johnson also adds that the meeting with Leitch wasn’t enough to book his Bullet Train role, but it did get him a spot in the line to audition. He explained:

    So I met him, but I didn’t do that. So when this came around, I was like, “Hey, do you remember me?” And he was like, “Of course. I like you as an actor.” So I was like, “Cool, what about this character?” And he was like, “Get in line, buddy. There’s like ten other actors who want this job and they’ve got a bigger name than you do.” (Laughs.) So I don’t expect these roles to be handed out, and I’m willing to fight for them, which is what I had to do for this. So I think I’m in the driver’s seat because I’m working hard. I also try to manifest what I feel, and sometimes, the universe brings it back my way. But you still have to actively go out and get it.

    Taylor-Johnson’s celebrity is on the rise, so expect to see a lot more of the former Godzilla star in the years to come. Bullet Train is now in theaters, while Kraven the Hunter is scheduled to release on January 13, 2023.

    Source: THR

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Retains the Top Spot at the Box Office for Second Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Retains the Top Spot at the Box Office for Second Weekend

    After opening with $30 million last weekend, Sony’s Bullet Train managed to retain the top spot at the box office for its second weekend. The Brad Pitt-led film secured $3.865 million on Friday and is on track to pull in $13 million in its second outing as it remains the largest release stateside with 4,357 locations. Should the estimates hold that would give Bullet Train a 56% drop from its opening weekend.

    Bullet Train managed to fend off new releases like Fall, Mack and Rita and Bodies Bodies Bodies which expanded into wide release this weekend. Bodies Bodies Bodies is eyeing a $3 million haul after expanding into 1,275 theaters, which would give it a $2,361 per location average. While both Fall and Mack and Rita are expected to open between $1-$2 million each. With little hitting theaters this weekend, holdovers like Nope, DC League of Super-Pets and Top Gun: Maverick are expected to remain in the top five. More impressive, though, Maverick has a chance at taking the second spot in its twelfth weekend.

    Bullet Train is an adaptation of Kōtarō Isaka‘s novel of the same name. The film has seen plenty of controversy leading up to its release, with many frustrated that the film didn’t cast Japanese actors. Despite the less than stellar reviews and controversy, Bullet Train is expected to hit $54 million stateside by Sunday. With a $90 million production budget, Bullet Train still has an uphill battle, but with little competition in the coming weeks, it’s possible the film could show legs in the coming weeks.

    Source: Variety.

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing a Decent $30M Domestic Opening Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing a Decent $30M Domestic Opening Weekend

    It’s a soft opening for the new Bullet Train film that has received quite the mixed reception with a B+ AudienceScore and stands at a lower 41% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. While expectations weren’t the biggest for its box office run, it does seem like the latest film is going to wrap up the weekend with $30M as it pulled in $12.6M from 4,357 theaters on Friday. While not going to break any records, it definitely is a strong performance as a non-franchise opener.

    the only challenge the film will have is that it’ll have a long road ahead to make up its $90M production budget and word-of-mouth will have to play in its favor. The B+ CinemaScore, as we’ve seen in the past with Thor: Love and Thunder, The Northman, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, does not equate to a “dead on arrival” release as even Lightyear couldn’t keep up at the box office even with an A- score.

    The B+ score could reflect a reactionary aspect with the violence and comedy at play in the film, but only future weekends will show if it has a surprising stronghold or not. Brad Pitt is spearheading the project that was directed by David Leitch, who has made quite a few promising entries and with its simple premise could offer something for those looking for a more grounded action flick as the summer box office slowly winds down.

    Source: Variety

  • ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing $30 Million Opening Weekend

    ‘Bullet Train’ Eyeing $30 Million Opening Weekend

    Brad Pitt’s latest film, Bullet Train, is heading toward a slow start. The action flick opens in 4,300 theaters across North America this Friday, but box office experts don’t seem to have high hopes for it. As of now, Bullet Train is eyeing $30 million – or more – in its opening weekend.

    Reviews for the film hit today and they seem to be mixed. Bullet Train currently has a 60% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics noting the Pitt-led film feels flat and lacks steam. While a $30 million opening would be enough to lead the domestic box office over the weekend, it’s a lower projection than anticipated given the film is an action-packed thriller aimed at adult men. The R-rated film was costly to produce – around $90 million – so it’ll be interesting to see how the box office plays in the coming weeks. Poor word of mouth, though, could take down the film before it ever gets a chance to speed off. Bullet Train could also potentially see competition from Jo Koy‘s Easter Sunday which opens on Friday, too.

    Bullet Train has also been the subject of controversy which could hinder its box office potential. Based on a book of the same name by Kōtarō Isaka which features primarily Japanese characters. Rather than cast a primarily Asian cast, Sony and those involved with the project used the “fictional people” argument to justify the decision not to bring in Japanese actors. Just a few days ago, director David Leitch argued that the characters are “not real people, and maybe they’re not even Japanese.” While Isaka is okay with the casting decisions made regarding Bullet Train, it’s likely the controversy will ultimately impact the movie’s overall potential when all is said and done.

    Bullet Train hits theaters on Friday.

    Source: Variety.