Murphy's Multiverse

Tag: Lionsgate

  • ‘Twilight’ TV Series in the Works

    ‘Twilight’ TV Series in the Works

    Lionsgate is looking to return to Forks, Washington. The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that Lionsgate Television is in early development on a Twilight television series. Summit Entertainment, which is owned by Lionsgate, helped to bring author Stephenie Meyer’s incredibly popular book series to the big screen back in 2008. Now, the studio is looking to revisit the series and try to reignite the sparkle of the film franchise.

    Per THR, as the project is still in the early stages, there isn’t a writer or television studio yet attached to the project. Lionsgate Television is hoping to lead the development of the project before it begins to shop the package around. The studio is currently on the hunt for a writer to help lead the project. Meyer, who penned the book series, will be involved with the development of the series. While Wyck Godfrey and former Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erik Feig are set to serve as executive producers.

    News of the Twilight television series comes on the heels of Max’s news that it was looking to bring Harry Potter to the small screen. Twilight, of course, kicked off its franchise run just as Harry Potter was preparing to say goodbye. Both franchises — along with The Hunger Games — proved to be hugely successful and sent Hollywood on the hunt for the next big YA adaptation. To date, the Twilight movie franchise has pulled in an impressive $3.4 billion worldwide and helped to further propel the careers of leads, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson.

    Source: THR.

  • Lionsgate Developing ‘Streets of Rage’ Movie

    Lionsgate Developing ‘Streets of Rage’ Movie

    Lionsgate is developing a Streets of Rage movie. The news comes courtesy of Deadline with the outlet reporting that the studio has set John Wick franchise creator and scribe Derek Kolstad as the film’s writer. News that a Streets of Rage film was in development was first announced in April, although no studio was attached at the time of the announcement.

    “When Dmitri first mentioned the idea of cracking a Streets of Rage movie, I was so immediately freaking in. And to play with Sega? The 10-year-old me is still grinning.”

    Kolstad

    Following the news that Lionsgate has boarded the project, Erin Westerman, President of Production at Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said, “The game has a rich world and narrative, and we’re thrilled to be reuniting with Derek to bring it to life.”

    Streets of Rage was a hugely popular video game franchise from Sega in the 90s. Between 1991 and 1994, the franchise released three games, with a fourth game finally being released in 2020. As of now, no further details are known about the project and a director has yet to be announced.

    Brady Fujikawa and Jon Humphrey will head the project for Lionsgate, while Shuji Utsumi and Toru Nakahara will oversee the movie for Sega. Kolstad will produce the movie alongside Sega’s Nakahara, dj2 Entertainment’s Dmitri M. Johnson, Timothy I. Stevenson and Dan Jevons.

    Source: Deadline.

  • ‘Riverdale’ Actress Madelaine Petch To Lead ‘The Strangers’ Remake Trilogy From Lionsgate

    ‘Riverdale’ Actress Madelaine Petch To Lead ‘The Strangers’ Remake Trilogy From Lionsgate

    As reported by Deadline, Madelaine Petsch (Riverdale), Froy Gutierrez (Cruel Summer), and Gabriel Basso (Hillbilly Elegy) have been cast in the Lionsgate remake of The Strangers, which has begun production in Slovakia. Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger) is directing the first installment of a trilogy and has already signed on to direct the second and third installments.

    The original The Strangers was a home invasion film written and directed by Bryan Bertino in his feature debut, starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman. It was a sleeper hit when it was released in May 2008 by Universal Pictures and became a cult classic in the years since, with the sequel The Strangers: Prey at Night being released in March 2018.

    Producer Courtney Soloman described why the remake was being tackled:

    When setting out to remake The Strangers, we felt there was a bigger story to be told, which could be as powerful, chilling, and terrifying as the original and could really expand that world. Shooting this story as a trilogy allows us to create a hyperreal and terrifying character study. We’re fortunate to be joining forces with Madelaine Petsch, an amazing talent whose character is the driving force of this story.

    Courtney Soloman

    The new Strangers movie will follow Petsch’s character as she drives across the country with her longtime boyfriend to start a new life in the Pacific Northwest. When their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon, they are forced to spend the night in a remote Airbnb, where they are terrorized by three masked strangers from dusk to dawn. Lionsgate intends to expand the story in novel and unexpected ways with its sequels.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel ‘The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes’ Hitting Theaters Next Year

    ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel ‘The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes’ Hitting Theaters Next Year

    Ever since the Hunger Games films came to an end, Lionsgate has been vocal about wanting to return to the franchise. So, it isn’t entirely surprising that the studio announced The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is coming to the big screen.

    During Lionsgate’s presentation at CinemaCon on Thursday, the studio revealed the Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is headed to the big screen on Nov. 17, 2023. The film is based on the book of the same name by author Suzanne Collins. It tells the story of Coriolanus Snow at the age of eighteen as he prepares to enter the Hunger Games. Francis Lawrence, who helmed the three sequels to The Hunger Games, returns to direct the prequel. He directs from a script by Collins, Michael Arndt (Catching Fire), and Michael Lesslie.

    As it stands, while production is underway, no casting has been announced for the film.

    The Hunger Games franchise was a massive success for Lionsgate, earning an astounding $3 billion at the worldwide box office across four films. While The Hunger Games novel also appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 260 consecutive weeks.

    Source: Variety.

  • Clancy Brown Joins ‘John Wick 4’

    Clancy Brown Joins ‘John Wick 4’

    The cast of John Wick: Chapter 4 just keeps impressing. Deadline is reporting that veteran cool guy Clancy Brown has been added to the cast of the upcoming fourth entry. It’s unknown who the actor will play, but he will join a group that already consists of Donnie Yen, Lance Reddick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ian McShane, and Rina Sawayama. Of course, Keanu Reeves will return as the titular assassin. The film’s director, Chad Stahelski, provided some commentary on the casting:

    I have been a fan of Clancy Brown’s since I can remember. To have him be a part of this project is an honor. He will make a perfect addition to the World of John Wick!

    Brown is best known for his supporting roles in a long list of films like Starship Troopers, Highlander, and The Shawshank Redemption. However, he’s probably most iconic for his extensive body of voice acting credentials. The character actor is celebrated for his performances as Mr. Krabs on Spongebob Squarepants, Lex Luthor on Superman: The Animated Series, and Savage Opress on Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Recently, he voiced Surtur in Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok.

    John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to follow up on a wildly successful action trilogy from Lionsgate. The ending of the last film, Parabellum, saw our hero at the lowest point of his life, but it seems likely the next chapter will show Wick coming back with a vengeance (again). The film was written by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch, and has been filming in multiple countries, such as Japan, Germany, and France.

    Source: Deadline, IMDb

  • REPORT: ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘The Continental’ To Feature Familiar Faces and Family Drama

    REPORT: ‘John Wick’ Spin-Off ‘The Continental’ To Feature Familiar Faces and Family Drama

    The Continental will finally enter production with director Albert Hughes on board. Instead of an ongoing series, it’ll be a three-episode event that explores the history of a young Winston at the iconic hotel of the John Wick series. There has been no casting yet, but the Illuminerdi may have gotten their hands on some details regarding the show’s cast. It confirms that young Winston won’t be alone, as Charon, the famous concierge of the Continental, also has a role in the series. Still, some other characters may hint at the overarching story.

    In a world full of hitmen, it isn’t too surprising that some new faces from the underworld will join the show. There’s mention of a Vietnam War veteran and his sister who run their father’s dojo and are gun runners. There’s also the mob boss Cormack. He will work closely with Winston’s brother, Frankie, and his Vietnamese wife, Yen. We’ll also meet Winston’s investor’s Mr. and Mrs. Davonport. There’s also the mention of the cleaner Charlie. He will act as a mentor for Winston and his brother.

    The big highlight is that the show will reveal a mysteriously dark past of Winston throughout the series run. As we never meet his family, their future might be part of it. There’s a hint that Frankie’s actions will put his brother and wife’s life at risk. So, it won’t be easy for him to leave the mob life. It’ll be curious to see if we get a brief glimpse or hint at John Wick’s past in the show. Outside of this Baba Yaga name, we know very little about his past. Perhaps Winston is keeping some secrets very close to the chest.

    Source: Illuminerdi, SlashFilm

  • ‘John Wick’ Prequel ‘The Continental’ Taking a ‘Sherlock’ Episode Structure Approach

    ‘John Wick’ Prequel ‘The Continental’ Taking a ‘Sherlock’ Episode Structure Approach

    It looks like we finally got some information on the long-awaited John Wick spin-off, The Continental. While story tidbits remain tightly under wraps, Hollywood Reporoters’ Heat Vision revealed that Albert Hughes, one half behind Menace II Society and The Book of Eli, will direct three episodes. The series will only consist of those three episodes, as they will get a movie budget and length. The article also confirms that it will be a limited series. So, we shouldn’t expect any future seasons.

    This reveal is quite interesting, as it is taking the same direction that the famous BBC Sherlock series did. It ran from 2010 until 2017, with each season consisting of three episodes that were individual cases loosely connected. Unlike Continental, it ran for four seasons and even had a special Christmas episode in 2016. The shortened episode count allows for some creative ways to tackle stories, and the spin-off will primarily act as a prequel to the Keanu Reeves’ led franchise.

    So, this could imply that the limited run will include three unique stories that might tie into the overarching world of this franchise. We did get glimpses into how the Continental hotels work through the films but probably only scratched the surface. There is a chance that Winston might be the focal point before he became the man we know from the films. Hopefully, we’ll get more hints at the story direction and how it connects to the John Wick franchise.

    Source: The Hollywood Reporter, IMDb

  • ‘John Wick 4’: Keanu Reeves to Face Off Against Marko Zaror

    ‘John Wick 4’: Keanu Reeves to Face Off Against Marko Zaror

    It looks like we finally know who the main antagonist will be for John Wick 4. We’ve seen a variety of castings over the course of a few weeks, which included legends like Donnie Yen. Yet, there was no confirmation on who exactly would be Wick’s main foil throughout the film. According to Deadline, Marko Zaror is in negotiations to join the film that started filming not too long ago. He would join a stellar cast that includes Rina Sawayama, Scott Adkins, Lance Reddic, and many more.

    It will be based on a screenplay by Shay Hatten and Michael Finch. We’ll find out what happened to Wick after he got betrayed by Winston and maps out his next vengeance. They won’t disclose which role Zaror has in the film, but the martial artist will offer an interesting adversary. He’s known for his work on Alita: Battle Angel, and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series. Marvel fans might recognize him as Shaft from Marvel’s The Defenders.

    John Wick‘s use of choreography makes it stand out among many iconic action franchises. The combination of Reeve’s subtle performance and creative action has put the next installment on everyone’s radar as Wick continues to get screwed over. At his point, it makes you wonder if he’ll ever escape his life as Babayaga. The man wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet with the last memories of his wife. One fatal mistake set the man on a path of vengeance that seems almost endless at this point. We’ll see how long he can pull it through moving forward.

    Source: Deadline, IMDb

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’s Hiroyuki Sanada Joins ‘John Wick 4’

    ‘Mortal Kombat’s Hiroyuki Sanada Joins ‘John Wick 4’

    The next installment of John Wick has been adding name after name and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. In a report from collider, Army of the Dead and Mortal Kombat star Hiroyuki Sanada is the next to join. Not much is known about Sanada’s character. all we know is that he’ll go by the name Watanabe, which confirms earlier reports about a character that was teased by writer Michael Finch. Sanada will join a sprawling cast of stars, which includes Rina Sawayama, Bill Skarsgard, Shamier Anderson, and Donnie Yen.

    The fourth installment in the Wick franchise will begin filming this summer in France, Japan, and Germany. Chad Stahelski takes over as director and will produce alongside Basil Iwanyk and Erica Lee. Keanu Reeves will serve on the project as executive producer alongside Louise Rosner. Michael Finch and Shay Hatten, who previously worked on Army of The Dead, wrote the script for the upcoming film. Stahelski shared his enthusiasm on the casting of Sanada:

    Having long admired Hiroyuki as both actor and action performer, I’m thrilled and honored to welcome him to the John Wick family.

    The actor is currently set to star in David Leitch’s upcoming action-thriller Bullet Train, who originally directed the first three installments in the Wick Franchise. This will be the first film in the franchise without David Leitch directing and Derek Kolstad writing on the project, so it’ll be interesting to see how they handle the franchise going forward. The cast certainly seems promising, as they continue to add one iconic action star after another. If John Wick is known for anything, it is certainly stellar action sequences and it looks like we can expect more of that in the fourth entry.

    Source: Collider

  • UPDATE: ‘BLADE’ Star Wesley Snipes No Longer In Talks For ‘JOHN WICK 4’

    UPDATE: ‘BLADE’ Star Wesley Snipes No Longer In Talks For ‘JOHN WICK 4’

    UPDATE: It seems that there was some truth to the Wesley Snipes rumors. Sadly, it also looks like negotiations didn’t end well, as Borys Kit took to Twitter to reveal that while there were discussions between the actor and Lionsgate, it didn#t work out in the end.

     

     

    Source: Twitter

     

    The John Wick franchise is adding an action legend to its already impressive cast. According to a new report from The Illuminerdi, Wesley Snipes is currently in negotiations to join the tentatively titled John Wick 4. The actor, who is best known for his starring role as Eric Brooks in the original Blade trilogy, supposedly will play a supporting role in the upcoming sequel as an experienced swordsman. He would join an ensemble that is rumored to include the fellow legend, and Rogue One standout, Donnie Yen. He’ll play an old friend of Keanu Reeves’ titular character. Bill Skarsgard, of It fame, Laurence Fishburne, and pop star Rina Sawayama are also set to play roles in the film.

    An appearance in John Wick 4 would mark Snipes’ return to big-budget action flicks, with the actor’s legal troubles keeping him away from the spotlight for quite some time. He has not participated in a project of this magnitude since 2014’s The Expendables 3. Nevertheless, the past couple of years, and a friendship with Eddie Murphy, have helped the once mega-star make a comeback, as he had supporting roles in both Dolemite Is My Name and Coming 2 America. 

    If this rumor turns out to be true, Snipes will find himself working with one of modern cinema’s best action directors in Chad Stahelski, who returns to the Wick franchise for the fourth time. Long-time series writer Derek Kolstad will not come back for the latest entry, and will instead be replaced by the capable duo of Michael Finch and Shay Hatten.

    Source: The Illuminerdi