Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Film

  • Netflix Adds Edward Norton to ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    Netflix Adds Edward Norton to ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    The first Knives Out film was a smash hit, sporting an all-star cast that includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana De Armas, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Don Johnson, Chris Evans, and Michael Shannon. The film grossed over $300M, and it seemed like a sure thing it’ll get a sequel. A while back, Netflix announced that they closed a $400M deal acquiring the rights to two more installments in the Knives Out franchise. The follow-up films would see the return of Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc. Rian Johnson will also return as writer and director on the project.

    Yesterday, we received news that the Destroyer, Dave Bautista, will join the project in an unknown capacity. It looks like it was just the beginning, as we’ve learned that Edward Norton, best known for his roles in films such as Fight Club and Birdman, will also have a role in the upcoming film. It looks like it’ll be another star-studded cast.

    Plot details for the upcoming film remain under wraps as production on the film aims for a summer start in Greece. It’ll be interesting to see how Johnson shifts the story this time, as the first film did such a great job of reinventing the classic Whodunnit. Perhaps the most intriguing part of the film is its new setting. The first film found us set within an old family home filled with bickering relatives. Now it seems we will be taken to a new and much more exotic location, as the world becomes Johnson‘s sandbox.

    Source: THR

  • Closer Look at Chris Pratt and Omar Sy on ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Set Released

    Closer Look at Chris Pratt and Omar Sy on ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Set Released

    It hasn’t been easy for anyone during the pandemic. Out of nowhere, our daily activities just ended or were postponed what seems to be indefinite. The film industry felt that especially, as productions were forced to suddenly shut down and reopen while working around new safety regulations. One of those films affected was Jurassic World: Dominion. Alongside the release of a brand new image featuring Chris Pratt and Omar Sy on the film’s set, director Colin Trevorrow shared some insight into how the film was affected by the pandemic.

     

     

    On the very last day we were shooting, I didn’t find out officially that we were going to shut down until about three hours before we wrapped. We were shooting in this old, industrial barn. [Producers] Alexandra Derbyshire and Pat Crowley and I had a phone call with Universal, and all of us agreed it was the right thing to do. But I still had a shoot day to finish. Whispers had begun, but we didn’t want to compromise that moment in the movie by having it be fraught in any way. So we captured it and then we went home for three months. And that day is in the movie. We didn’t go back and reshoot it.

     

    It should also be noted that Dominion was one of the first films to re-enter production during the quarantine and become the first test case of the new COVID restrictions. Hollywood was keeping a close eye on the production, as it would determine if others could return. The gamble paid off, as many others would follow suit even s the pandemic continued throughout the world. Now that Godzilla vs. Kong was able to revive cinemas, it’ll be interesting to see if

    Source: Empire

  • Dave Bautista Joins Netflix’s ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    Dave Bautista Joins Netflix’s ‘Knives Out’ Sequel

    It looks like Rian Johnson has finally found his first major casting, as Deadline has just revealed that Guardians of the Galaxy‘s Dave Bautista has joined the production. He will join Daniel Craig, who returns as Benoit Blanc in the upcoming sequel. Johson is working not the script alongside Ram Bergman, which is eyeing a production start in Greece by June 28th.  Around a month ago, the franchise was purchased by Netflix in a record-breaking deal.

    Of course, plot details still remain under wraps. Benoist will return to solve another mystery with a potentially large cast. His exact role is also uncertain. Bautista is adding another major project to his belt, as he’ll also be joining the upcoming Netflix film by Zack Snyder, Army of The Dead. We also can’t talk about Bautista without mentioning his brief appearance in Blade Runner 2049 with his iconic tiny glasses. He also had a rather significant role throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Drax the Destroyer.

    Now, it’ll be interesting to see how Johnson aims to reinvent his approach to a sequel.  Knives Out approach to mixing genres kept people on their toes. We even were given a clear indication of the story early on before they twisted it on its head. Now, he might not take the same steps as he did before, as we might see another genre find its way into the sequel that’ll keep viewers on their toes. At this point, we might not even have a classic murder mystery once the film releases but something entirely fresh that pushes Benoist into an unlikely direction.

    Source: Deadline

  • Gail Simone Confirms Involvement in Millenium’s ‘Red Sonja’ Film

    Gail Simone Confirms Involvement in Millenium’s ‘Red Sonja’ Film

    Development on the upcoming reboot of Red Sonja has begun with the project recently casting its lead in Hannah John-Kamen. Kamen joins director and co-writer Joel Soloway and writer Tasha Huo. Story details on the project have remained scarce but will most likely follow the origin of Sonja and how she came to be the sword-wielding heroine. Red Sonja has been a popular comic character since her inception, created by Roy Thomas, she first appeared alongside Conan The Barbarian in Conan The Barbarian #23. The character was later brought back to life by Gail Simone, most known for her work on Batgirl and Birds of Prey.

    Simone‘s work on the character began with Red Sonja: Queen of Plagues. It would continue with the character with Art of Blood and Fire, The Forgiving of Monsters, and an anthology series surrounding the character, properly titled Legends of Red Sonja. From the announcement of the film, Simone expressed immediate interest in the project, immediately taking to Twitter with eagerness.

    With the film recently moving closer and closer to starting production, fans immediately took to Twitter asking Simone what her thoughts on the upcoming project were. Upon the waves of comments and questions, Simone casually revealed that she’d been a consultant on the project since “almost day one!”

    Simone‘s involvement in the film is definitely a great addition to the project considering her runs on the character are some of the most beloved by fans. The project currently has no release date and has yet to add any additional members to its cast.

    Source: Twitter

  • Hannah John-Kamen Will Become Millenium’s ‘Red Sonja’

    Hannah John-Kamen Will Become Millenium’s ‘Red Sonja’

    For a while now, Millenium Entertainment has been itching to get their Red Sonja reboot off the ground. They’ve faced multiple delays and issues with development since it was first announced. The film is finally beginning to find its footing with Joel Soloway set to direct the project, while also co-writing the script alongside Tasha Huo. The project has taken yet another leap forward as the project has found its leading lady. Ant-Man and The Wasp actress Hannah John-Kamen will lead the upcoming film as the titular hero, Red Sonja. Soloway gave the following statement:

    Hannah is a very talented actress who we’ve been following for years and she IS Red Sonja, Her range, sensibilities, and strength are all qualities we have been looking for and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on this journey together.

    For those unfamiliar with the character, she was created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor and first appeared in Marvel Comics’ Conan The Barbarian #23 back in 1973. Sonja lived with her family in the Western Hyrkanian Steppes, where a group of mercenaries would pillage and destroy Sonja’s homes. They’d end up killing her father, mother, and two brothers. In a final plea for help, the red goddess Scathach appeared, gifting her incredible abilities such as expert level swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat. It’ll be interesting to see how they adapt the character into live-action, as she has already been brought to the silver screen back in 1985.

    Source: THR

  • Eli Roth’s ‘Borderlands’ Adds Janina Gavankar as Commander Knoxx

    Eli Roth’s ‘Borderlands’ Adds Janina Gavankar as Commander Knoxx

    It looks like the cast of the upcoming Borderlands adaptation continues to grow. Deadline has just learned that Janina Gavankar has joined Eli Roth‘s attempt at bringing the gaming franchise to life on the silver screen. The Indian actress will play the character of Commander Knoxx, who is a new key character being introduced to the franchise. It is interesting they are calling this character new, as there exists a Knoxx in the games.

    General Knoxx was introduced in the third DLC for the first Borderlands game. Now, the interesting thing is that she could be playing his daughter and they are setting up the character for a future appearance. Borderlands has franchising potential. So, it wouldn’t be too surprising if they are leaving some hints at other game characters for later down the line. Now, they could also be adapting the character to fit the story. It is just odd that they describe her as playing a character who is being introduced to the franchise.

    The actress has recently finished production on Invasion, where she starred opposite Riz Ahmed and Octavia Spencer. She is joining a stacked cast list that includes Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ariana Greenblatt, Florian Munteanu, Edgar Ramirez, Haley Bennett, Olivier Richters, and Jack Black. We’ll see a plethora of familiar characters from the gaming franchise who might get a unique spin. It’ll focus on Blanchett‘s Lilith as she returns to her home planet Pandora and joins a ragtag team of unlikely heroes to face a planet overtaken by aliens.

    Source: Deadline

  • New Untitled ‘Star Trek’ Film Announced for 2023

    New Untitled ‘Star Trek’ Film Announced for 2023

    It looks like the Star Trek franchise is finally heading back to cinemas, as Paramount has just scheduled a brand new film to release June 2023. It is uncertain if this will be an attempt at a new reboot or if it will continue where 2016’s Star Trek Beyond left off. This reveal comes in the wake of a massive reshuffling of 2021 and 2022’s film line-up. Top Gun: Maverick moved to November 19th while Mission: Impossible 7 was postponed into May 2022. As of now, the new Star Trek film remains untitled and will potentially go up against two unknown films by 20th Century Studios and Universal. So, there is a chance it might get postpone once those are revealed.

    The latest incarnation of the team was part of the Kelvin-verse, which introduced us to a brand new timeline with the iconic team led by Chris Pine‘s James T. Kirk. Since Beyond, the franchise has focused more on its streaming ventures. Star Trek Discovery followed the crew of the USS Discovery, which recently ended its third season with a bold new direction. The franchise has also expanded into animated comedy with Star Trek: The Lower Decks. Amazon also continued the story of Next Generation‘s Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the aptly named series Picard. It saw the return of Patrick Stewart in the role he made iconic all those years ago. It will be interesting to see how the new untitled film might tie into the existing series, or if it will explore new parts of the endless galaxy.

    Source: Star Trek, Deadline

  • Steven Caple Jr.’s ‘Transformers’ Film Eyeing Anthony Ramos

    Steven Caple Jr.’s ‘Transformers’ Film Eyeing Anthony Ramos

    It looks like Paramount is already keeping an eye out for its future Transformers‘ star. The Steven Caple Jr.-helmed project is actively looking for their lead and Collider revealed that the studio is currently eyeing Anthony Ramos. The actor’s latest project, In the Heights, will release this summer and has garnered him a lot of attention in the industry. It seems he will portray a flawed and vulnerable hero who is trying to redeem himself by aiding Optimus Prime in his quest. They couldn’t offer any further details, and Paramount did not comment on the casting.

    Ramos has recently booked a lead role alongside Aladdin‘s Naomi Scott in the sci-fi film, Distant. He has appeared in various films, such as A Star Is Born, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Monsters and Men. After the release of his latest film, he certailny will become a hot commodity for major franchises. So, Paramount is making a smart move by trying to recruit him now for their next entry.

    Paramount has been refocusing its efforts with the Transformers franchise. As Collider points out, it is one of their most successful properties. It’s been strangely absent since the release of Bumblebee in 2018 as the studio tried to refocus. The original films by Michael Bay were massive Box Office successes but weren’t the most critically loved films out there. So, they might be trying to find a perfect balance to build upon the franchise’s previous success while adding some new flair to keep its longevity.

    Source: Collider

  • ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Adam Wingard Adapting ‘ThunderCats’

    ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’s Adam Wingard Adapting ‘ThunderCats’

    Adam Wingard’s latest film, Godzilla vs. Kong, hasn’t even hit theaters or HBO Max, but he is already eyeing his next major project. According to Deadline, the director is now deadset on adapting the 1985 Rankin Bass animated series, ThunderCats. In previous interviews, he has been open about his passions regarding adapting the animated classic. So, it is great to see him get the chance to make his dreams a reality.

    The report states that he will use the animated series as a jumping-off point for his adaptation. It will not be a live-action adaptation but rather a hybrid of CGI and classic animation. It had already been developed by Rideback’s Dan Lin and Vertigo’s Roy Lee for some time. A script was prepared by David Coggeshall, which Wingard will rewrite. It will still take some time before we see anything from the upcoming film.

    The original series focused on an alien race, which looked like humanoid cats. Their home planet Thundera was dying. So, they flee their homeworld and end up in a battle with the Mutants of Plun-Darr. Their goal was to capture the mystic Sword of Omens, which is in the possession of the ThunderCat’s leader, Lion-O. They crash-land on a planet known as Third Earth, where they fight the evil overlord Mumm-Ra. The series has seen a few revivals in the past years, such as Cartoon Network’s ThunderCats Roar. It’ll be interesting to see how Wingard wants to adapt to this iconic franchise.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Charm City King’s Angel Manuel Soto Directing a ‘Transformers’ Film

    ‘Charm City King’s Angel Manuel Soto Directing a ‘Transformers’ Film

    It is time to roll out more Transformer‘s films. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount Pictures has signed up a blind script commitment for a new entry in the popular Hasbro franchise. The showrunner of Netflix’s The Defenders series, Marco Ramirez, has been signed on for the project. It will be directed by Charm City Kings‘ director, Angel Manuel Soto. Their report also states that this will not be part of the mainline universe, which originally started in 2007. Its seventh entry is still in development by Creed II‘s Stephen Caple Jr.

    So far, the franchise consisted of five Michael Bay films and Travis Knight‘s Bumblebee spin-off. Caple Jr.’s film is still kept under wraps, but Illumerdi was able to uncover some details on the film’s development. It is being produced under the working title Beast Alliance, which explores our favorite Autobots time transforming into more animalistic designs, such as the Beast Wars series.

    There are no details on Angel‘s film, as it is in early development. There is no producer attached, but Lorenzo di Bonaventura is expected to return. Paramount has been eager to turn Transformers into an ever-expanding franchise like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They might also be looking into developing a spin-off series that could air on their newly rebooted streaming service, Paramount+. They also are showing their choice

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter