Tag: Movie Features

Recast, Reboot, Retire or Reprise: What’s the Right Choice for Other Marvel Netflix Characters
With Vincent D’Onofrio and Charlie Cox reprising their respective roles as Kingpin and Matt Murdock this week and rumors swirling that other cast members from the Netflix Defenders-verse series might join them, we decided to take a look at who should come back and who should be left behind. Note that this is not all-encompassing and that there’s no real metric here, much less any consistency. Sometimes we want the actor and not the role; other times we want the role but not the actor; other times we want neither. To make it easy, we cast a verdict on each character: recast the role, reboot the character with the same actor, retire the character or have the same actor reprise the same role. Because the world is hard, sometimes had to pick more than one.

The Big 4

Each of the following actors led at least 2 seasons of a solo series on Netflix as well as popping up in either Defenders or another series.
- Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle
  Whether or not Marvel Studios plans on using the Punisher in the near future is certainly a great topic for debate, but that debate is for another day. The topic here is whether or not Bernthal is the man for the job should they chose to bring the character into the MCU and, fortunately, there’s not much of debate to be had. As he almost always does, Bernthal inhabited the role of Castle in a way that many actors just couldn’t do. If we are going to see the Punisher again, it has to be Bernthal.
  Verdict: Reprise
- Mike Colter as Luke Cage
  Colter is a case of Netflix missing the mark on why they cast the character. Colter is a solid actor. His work on CBS’s Evil has been excellent; however, he seems to be, in general, more comfortable in roles that require a more subdued persona and, to me, that’s just not Luke Cage. If Cage is coming back, the actor has to have BIG energy and charisma. The man lead the New Avengers and as much as I love Colter, I can’t see him effectively convincing Dr. Strange, Spider-Man and Captain Marvel that they should be following his orders.
  Verdict: Recast
- Finn Jones as Danny Rand
  In a shared universe that includes Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, there’s simply no place for Jones as the Iron Fist. While part of the problem with the character was the way he was written (Rand should be able to kick multiple asses all the time without ever having to use the Iron Fist), it’s impossible to give Jones a pass. He notably didn’t want to train and he’s also just not that great of an actor. If they give Rand another chance, it has to be with another actor.
  Verdict: Recast
- Krysten Ritter as Jessica Jones
  Ritter’s situation is nearly the opposite of Colter’s in that the role of Jones fits her specific talents incredibly well. She looks the part and believably acts the part. While the series ended on a really poor note, Ritter’s time as the character would make it incredibly hard to imagine someone else in the role.
  Verdict: Reprise
The Supporting Cast

Each of these characters played a major, supporting role in at least one season of the Defenders-verse series.
- Vondie Curtis-Hall as Ben Urich
  After giving one of the best performances in Season 1 of Daredevil, Curtis-Hall didn’t get a chance to come back in the role because, well, Kingpin killed off the character. One of the best cases we can make for why the Netflix series should not be canon is so Curtis-Hall can return in a role that could expand beyond Daredevil’s stories and into the greater MCU.
  Verdict: Reprise
- Rosario Dawson as Clarie Temple
  Keep the actress, ditch the character. Dawson is lights out in pretty much everything she does. Fans would love to see her jump into a bigger role like Mahershala Ali, who starred in Luke Cage, was able to do. Sorry, Claire, you stay behind, but bring Rosario into the MCU in a new role.
  Verdict: Retire
- Scott Glenn as Stick
  One of the most unforgivable offenses made by Netflix over the course of their Defenders-verse series was their portrayal of the Hand. As Charles V. has said over and over again, “it’s really hard to screw up undead ninjas”, but they did it. If there’s one Daredevil-centric thing they could fix that would really spice up the whole MCU, it’s the Hand. And if the Hand is back, Stick should be back and if we’re getting Stick, it’s gotta be Scott Glenn.
  Verdict: Reboot
- Elden Henson as Foggy Nelson
  Foggy is such an important part of the story of Matt Murdock that he absolutely must be involved in whatever stories are told going forward. Henson, however, never seemed the right fit and it’s almost certain a recast would land better with fans.
  Verdict: Recast
- Jessica Henwick as Colleen Wing
  Henwick was one of the brightest stars over the two seasons of Iron Fist. It was recently revealed that she had to pass on a role in Shang-Chi in order to land her role in the upcoming Matrix sequel, so obviously Marvel Studios is keen to work with her again. Henwick should absolutely be in the MCU. Whether that’s as Collen Wing or in another role is the question. Should she enter into the MCU in another role, that would really make it hard to consider Iron Fist “canon”, however. There is certainly a great Daughters of the Dragon story to be tole with Wing and Misty Kinght, should they want to keep Henwick in a version of the same role.
  Verdict: Reprise
- Simone Missick as Misty Knight
  Speaking of…Missick was dynamite as Misty Knight, bringing some of the charisma to Luke Cage that Colter did not. Seeing Missick return as Knight, perhaps to team up with Sam Wilson as she has recently in the comics would be fantastic.
  Verdict: Reprise
- Debra Ann Woll as Karen Page
  The vote here is no, but not for the reasons you might think. Woll was great as Karen Page. She was better than great. But as the story of Matt Murdock/Daredevil moves on, Marvel Studios would be wise to move away from the dark, Frank Miller inspired arcs that we integral to the Netflix series and adapt some other authors’ work. Modern day runs by Charles Soule and Mark Waid would top the list and wouldn’t require more of Page, a character whose continued story would only continue to drag Matt through Hell.
  Verdict: Retire
- Elodie Yung as Elektra
  Yung checked all the boxes as Elektra: sleek, sexy, dangerous and talented. If they should choose to do another story with the Hand or just with Elektra, it’d be hard to find someone who both looked and played the part as well as Yung. Bring her back!
  Verdict: Reprise
The Villains
- Wilson Bethel as Bullseye
  Bethel’s time as Bullseye was just getting started when the plug was pulled on the Defenders-verse. He gave a great portrayal and would be fully capable of holding his own on screen again with Cox. Bring back Bullseye and bring back Bethel.
  Verdict: Reprise
- Alice Eve as Typhoid Mary
  Eve seemed like an out of place casting at the time, but she did fine in the role. Moving forward, however, it seems appropriate to have an entirely different version of the character and I don’t think anyone would be upset to see a new actress in the role.
  Verdict: Reboot and Recast
- Bob Gunton as Leland Owlsley
  Love Gunton, but he was playing the comic book Owl in the same way that Fra Fee is playing comic book Kazi, which is to say not at all. There is certainly room for the Owl in this newly carved out corner of organized crime in the MCU, but not for this version. A younger actor and totally different characterization are in order.
  Verdict: Reboot and Recast
- Theo Rossi as “Shades” Alvarez
  You might think that with all the characters and actors we didn’t include on the list, that Rossi is a surprise. He might be but his son, Victor Alvarez, could join the MCU’s other young heroes down the road. Rossi was creepy and slimy in the role. It would only be a bit part if he came back, so let’s see him back so we can get to his much more important offspring.
  Verdict: Reprise
- David Tennant as Purple Man
  Tennant joins D’Onofrio and Ali in the trinity of great Defender-verse performances as villains. Ali has moved into the MCU in larger role as Blade. D’Onofrio is back. It might be a stretch to bring Purple Man into the current MCU unless the want to do the big Breakout arc from New Avengers, but getting Tennant back on board in that role or any other would be fantastic.
  Verdict: Reprise
- Wil Traval as Nuke
  Nope. Give us a real Nuke in a future Cap movie. Scrap the actor and forget the character ever existed.
  Verdict: Reboot and Recast
- Ayelet Zurer as Vanessa Marianna
  Zurer was fire as Vanessa. Both the actress and the character were amazing. However, the MCU’s Kingpin isn’t going to have 13 hours of time to tell a bunch of personal stories, so unfortunately, unless we get a Kingpin series, neither Zurer or Vanessa need to make the jump.
  Verdict: Retire
Make sure to sound off in the comments on who you’d like to see reprise their roles and who you think should be left behind.
December 16, 2021
How To Fix ‘Eternals’

With a framework spanning the cosmos, a source material that would rival any Hugo Award-winning novel, and an ambitious visionary helming the project, Eternals should have been a critical homerun for Marvel Studios. Yet, one look at its Metacritic and Rotten Tomatoes scores will show how the film has been anything but. The film has been described as a mixed bag that’s neither artsy enough to please director Chloe Zhao’s fans nor is it native to the MCU magic fans have been accustomed to for a decade.

There’s a lot to like with the film; its scope is so propulsively cosmic that it ticks all the boxes for every deep-cut comic nerd; the Dragon Ball action sequences are exhilarating to watch; certain characters make for nice additions in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite the good things it has, the film is held back from reaching the MCU’s apex by some creative decisions. Here are some fixes we think would make Eternals a better film.

A GOOD CENTRAL PROTAGONIST

Eternals is hamstrung by its lack of a good central protagonist. The film’s de facto protagonist, Sersi, just isn’t likable enough for MCU audiences to latch onto. Gemma Chan’s stoic ho-hum performance certainly doesn’t help Sersi’s arc and her millennia-long romance with Ikaris, played by an equally wooden Richard Madden, is as cold as a long winter. What you get is an ensemble whose parts are greater than its sum, made worthwhile by the smaller supporting characters.

Not the least of those greater parts is Lia McHugh’s criminally underused Sprite, an Eternal whose arc is the most interesting one in the entire film. As an immortal being trapped in a child’s body, Sprite is a character whose pathos runs deep within the confines of the film’s framework. Central to the film’s emotional core are the lives of these immortals and their struggles fitting into a world that’s meant to die before them. The notion of a child standing in the face of eternity is fascinating to explore. The movie only mildly alludes to her painful journey living thousands of years as a child with no semblance of maturity and it ends up feeling like a missed opportunity.

Making Sprite the protagonist makes for inherently complex storytelling. Not the least of which, the MCU ends up having its first child protagonist pre- Ms. Marvel. Hugh’s role in the job is mostly thankless but she ends up drawing eyes towards Sprite and a brief exploration of her journey.

JUST SET IT IN THE PAST

Other than using the Snap as the starting point of the plot, Eternals really has no business being set in the present. By far the most beautiful moments in the movie take place in the past as we not only see these gods find their humanity in ushering new civilizations but we also see them lose faith in their purpose as they watch worlds fall. So much of their journey takes place in the past that’s almost baffling to see them posit the crux of the film in the present day. In the present day, their arcs feel so distant and detached from where they came from and it hurts the way audiences engage with them. Having the film set in the past puts the characters’ arcs into focus and makes it more tangible.

It’s not hard to imagine a version of this script where the same story takes place completely in the past. You can take the exact same premise – the world-ending threat of the Celestial egg hatching – set it centuries back and have the same exact outcome. The only loss would be the film’s heavy expositional idea of billions of people suddenly reappearing triggering the Celestial awakening but even from a micro perspective, it’s a tangential connection at most. The catalyst for the awakening could be rewritten into something more relevant to the past, be it a historic calamity or some MCU mumbo jumbo.

GIVE KRO SOMETHING TO DO

Like Black Widow before it, Eternals is another Phase 4 project to do an awful job in handling its antagonists. Even the spin they give Ikaris doesn’t hit as well as they spend little time justifying his villainous turn by not exploring his pathos. The de facto villains of the piece, Kro and the Deviants, get the shorter end of the stick.

The Deviants are first treated as mindless cannon fodders, made more artificial by shoddy CGI that would make Steppenwolf and Parademons look like breakthroughs in VFX. They pose as superficial threats to the ensemble with Kro being the sole exception. When Kro transforms himself into a thinking being, the mindlessness that originally defined them is undone brilliantly. It’s a pivotal moment that establishes there might be more to these cannon fodders than meets the eye.

But there isn’t, even though there should be. The film eventually reveals that the Deviants were just as manipulated and used by the Celestials, putting them on the same path as the main Eternals. But Kro’s evolution into a thinking being doesn’t hold weight when all he does right until the end is just trade punches with the main characters, who are keen on fighting the Celestial that ruined the Eternals and Deviants.

Not giving Kro a shred of narrative dignity is what ultimately ruins the character. If they had allowed the character space to interact with the protagonists in a meaningful way, the film would’ve had an interesting approach to villains. Perhaps they could team up to fight Ikaris. Perhaps the Eternals would’ve been able to find a way to evolve them from being predators. The whole ethos of the team is ensuring the survivability of a race of beings. To be able to rehabilitate these creatures would be to fulfill their original destiny in much more meaningful ways.

Eternals hits Disney Plus on Jan. 12, 2022.

December 12, 2021
Deep Thoughts: One Hypothetical Timeline for the Second Spider-Man Trilogy

In just over 2 weeks, Marvel Studios and Sony’s Spider-Man trilogy will conclude in Spider-Man: No Way Home. By the time it’s all said and done, Tom Holland’s iteration of Spider-Man/Peter Parker will have appeared in 6 MCU films stretching all the way back to 2016’s Captain America: Civil War; however, thanks to Amy Pascal, we now know this isn’t the end of the road for Holland as the Web-Slinger’s time in the MCU as Sony and Marvel Studios have extended their deal to collaborate on the character’s solo films. With Pascal indicating the two studios will now be working on another trilogy, its seems like a good time to look ahead and think about when we might see those new solo Spidey films in theaters.

Spider-Man 4: Fall/Winter 2023

Part of the original deal with Marvel Studios and Sony revolved around a solo Spidey film being in theaters every 2 years. This meant that Holland spent a whole lot of time in spandex from 2015 through 2020, but that’s the life of an actor! Sony is scheduled to kick of the 2023 superhero slate with Kraven the Hunter in January and Marvel Studios currently has The Marvels, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania spread out from February through late-July with an as yet unannounced film on the slate for November 3rd. That won’t be Spidey 4 because Sony picks those dates, but December of 2023 is currently unclaimed by Marvel Studios, Star Wars or DC. A December 2023 date would mean Spidey 4 wouldn’t need to start filming until late 2022, giving the studio plenty of time to get a script together (if they haven’t already started) and give Holland some time to do some other work as well.

Spider-Man 5: Summer 2025

The first two MCU Spidey films hit theaters in July and 2025 provides the opportunity to do just that, assuming they keep the 2 year gap between films. Marvel Studios hasn’t announced any plans for 2025 as yet, but Lucasfilm currently has a Star Wars film on the books for December of 2025. So, back to summer it goes for Spidey 5.

Spider-Man 6: Summer 2027

It’s hard to fathom talking about a film that could take place in 2027, but here we are. Again, assuming a 2-year gap, we’re looking at Spidey 6 concluding the second trilogy in the Summer of 2027.

Of course, at this point we don’t know much at all about how this will ACTUALLY play out. According to a trade report, the deal Pascal talked about isn’t even finalized yet and as we’ve seen in the past, there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip when it comes to these things. However, it’s sure fun to think about.

November 30, 2021
Things We’d Like to See in an ‘Eternals’ Sequel

Marvel Studios Eternals is just over one-third of the way through its 45-day theatrical run and as divisive as the film has proven to be with critics and audiences, it introduced some massive ideas and left the door open to a potential sequel. Should Marvel Studios chose to further explore these characters through an direct sequel, there are plenty of intriguing, comic-based possibilities for Eternals 2.

Eternals: The Fourth Host

The ending of Eternals saw Arishem return to Earth and scoop up its remaining Eternals (Sersi, Kingo and Phastos) in order to use their memories to judge whether or not the lives of the humans they protected were worth the life of Tiamut. This was, of course, a debate even among the Eternals themselves, with some taking the side of the Celestial. The idea of Arishem judging the fitness and survival of the inhabitants of Earth is actually part of the grand Celestial plan in the comics and seems a certainty to be explored in the sequel. In the comics, after the Celestials have finished genetically engineering the species of a planet, they return over time for a series of four tests, called Hosts. The Fourth Host is the final test and is followed by a judgement. A direct sequel could deal with the aftermath of the decisions of Sersi’s factions of Eternals and see the heroes and gods that protect Earth gear up for war against the massive Celestials. It would be a spectacle, no doubt, but one that’s perhaps best saved for another larger-than-a-planet sized threat.

Eternals: Casus Belli

Key to the plot of Eternals is that the Eternals have been on countless missions before and had their memories wiped by their creators, the Celestials. When we see the World Forge, we get the idea that there are legions of other Eternals we don’t meet in this film. We also discover that the Eternals were designed to replace the Deviants after the latter evolved beyond the control of the Celestials. What we don’t know, however, is how many attempts the Celestials needed to create the current model of Eternals and what could have gone wrong in the meantime. We already know that Arishem isn’t a reliable narrator, so there’s no reason to believe he’s told us everything. There ARE other Eternals out there and, as Starfox indicated, they might not all be the type of characters our heroes want to find.

Ironically enough, one such Eternal, Uranos, is making his return to the pages of Kieron Gillen’s current run on Eternals. Uranos (now called Uranos the Undying) wanted to defy the orders of his Celestial makers and use his power to rule over the humans rather than protect them. As an antagonist in the sequel, he would make for not only a worthy foe for the Eternals of the present day, but also allow Chloe Zhao to continue to tell expand what fans know about the history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His wish to defy his orders put him at odds with his “brother”, Kronos, and set off an Eternal Civil War that lead to Eternals colonizing other areas of the galaxy. Uranos’ story could serve as a perfect bridge between what we already know (including how Eternals came to inhabit Titan) and what else we need to know.

Eternals: Schism

Speaking of Titan, introducing Eros, a son of Titan in the film’s mid-credit scene could be the first step in us heading back to there in a sequel. Of course, Titan is in pretty rough shape so much like the original film or like the pitch above, part of this film would have to take place in the past. However, heading back to Titan could resolve one of the problems people had with the first film: the Eternals being artificial beings.

During what was known as the Second Age of the Eternals, a great rift formed between the “sons” of one of the oldest and most powerful Eternals, Kronos. Those sons, Zuras and A’lars, both became leaders of factions of their society with very different beliefs. Zuras and his followers held fast to their beliefs that they would do the jobs given to them by the Celestials and that, despite their power and ability to do so, no new Eternals should ever be created. A’lars and his followers believed that simply because they had the ability to do so, they should continue to create new Eternals, both biologically and artificially. This schism caused another great war which A’lars lost; however, A’lars was allowed by his brother to relocate and continue his experiments. A’lars chose Titan, where he met another Eternals, Sui-San. The two successfully reproduced two children: Eros and Thanos. And the rest is history.

A sequel following this plot could tell the story of Titan through flashbacks while also introducing the sentient supercomputer I.S.A.A.C. and the artificial Titans he created at A’lars will: Elysius, Stellarax, Dionysys and Lord Gaea. These character could serve as primary antagonists for the modern day Eternals while also revealing more about A’lars progeny, including the Mad Titan.

November 23, 2021
The Aftermath of ‘Eternals’ May Lead Into ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Marvel Studios continues to expand in new and creative ways. We’ve seen the MCU’s version of Earth changing in ways we never thought possible, such as now a giant Celestial sticking out like marble from the ground. Tiamut the Sleeper has now become a fixture within the MCU after the release of Eternals and his awakening might have led to some curious ripples across the world. With rumors hinting at Atlantis and Namor playing an integral role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, there’s a good chance this event might cause the unearthing of Atlantis.

In Eternals, we learn that Earth is actually an egg. The otherworldly Celestials are born when planets reach a certain level of population and then bring entire galaxies to life as a result. Tiamut would’ve joined their ranks if the Eternals (which a little help from the Celestial himself) kept him from, well, hatching. The build-up to that moment was in the form of countless earthquakes hinting at the arrival of the event known as The Emergence. The fact that his hand and head start popping out of the planet will certainly leave behind cracks in the planet. So, if Atlantis was hidden away for so long, there’s a chance his awakening might’ve opened up the crack that kept the underwater city hidden.

Of course, if there’s an Earth-altering event that may change the ecosystem we know and love, any scientist is going to explore the aftermath to make sure our planet isn’t falling apart. This might become the catalyst that unleashes the Atlanteans, most notably Namor, out into the world. They are no longer safe from outsiders. Who knows how the Emergence may have also affected their city, as most of the earthquakes seemed to be underwater. Desperation will push anyone to a darker path and if they hint at a Vibranium connection, a conflict is inevitable.

November 19, 2021
New ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer Reveals the Origin of Doc Ock’s Stark Tech Upgrade

The latest Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer has finally arrived. It offered a clearer look at the returning villains from across the multiverse that’ll make the life of Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker a living hell. Alfred Molina‘s Doc Ock took most of the focus in the earlier promotion and we even had a tease that he might get an upgrade to his iconic arms at some point. Well, the latest trailer may have given us a clear insight into how he got his hands on it and it’s actually been in our voice the entire time.

When we first saw the upgrade, its red and golden lighting made everyone make the connection to Tony Stark’s Iron Man. So, we thought that perhaps he stole technology from Stark Technologies, but the answer may have been simpler than we assumed. It actually was in our face the entire time since the first trailer’s release. When Peter faces off against Doc Ock, he is wearing his Iron Spider suit from Avengers: Infinity War.

In a brief sequence, we see the suit’s nanotech reveal his face. It turns out the reasoning is simple, part of his chest piece was ripped out. So, just like with Iron Man’s suit, it had to adapt, or else he would’ve broken more than just a few ribs. There’s also a great detail of his tie also hanging out as we know he was wearing a suit before he put on the armor.

The way it also spreads in the trailer hints at the fact that it is the same nano-technology. It’s unclear how exactly he manages to take over the technology so the suit adapts to him, but we get a hint that his arms have regained their sentience. So, they might’ve “hacked” into the suit and managed to steal some elements while Peter was wrapped by his arms, which we saw in some of the promotional material. It’ll be interesting to see how his upgrade might tie into the film’s overarching narrative.

Source: YouTube

November 17, 2021
What Was Missing From the Latest ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Trailer

The Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer arrived last night and what was NOT in the trailer is probably as noteworthy as what is. Yes, we got a great look at the film’s villain, including looks at upgraded Electro, Green Goblin and Doc Ock costumes. What we didn’t see, however, is probably just as big of a story. Notably absent from a trailer that featured the villains from previous big screen iterations of Spidey were the Spideys from those iterations.

Fans were hoping Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire would show up not only in the trailer but, perhaps, in person at the trailer event. Neither of those things happened for either of those actors, unfortunately. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock didn’t show up either and so it looks like we’ll spend the next month continuing the debate as to whether or not these characters are actually going to appear in the film.

While having that debate, make sure to analyze a ridiculous piece of footage that Sony CHOSE to include in the trailer. In the footage, seen below, Tom Holland’s Spidey jumps into action against 3 villains: Electro, the Lizard and Sandman.

https://twitter.com/OwenWithoutFear/status/1460785265694363654?t=eNcHh9b5bT4CqHUhZYP-FA&s=19

In the U.S. version ,as @owenwithoutfear so deftly points out, bro, it’s clear enough that while Spidey is jumping out, not all the villains are reacting to him. It seems incredibly likely that, in this clip, a couple of other characters may have been edited out to be saved for the film as a “surprise.”

But wait, there’s more. To make matters worse, Sony chose to keep an EXTENDED version of the same scene in an international version of the trailer. In the extended clip, Lizard clearly reacts as if being struck in the face.

https://twitter.com/CrisMovieCorner/status/1460785646964989960

Much like we can only infer the presence of a black hole by how it effects the matter around it, we can infer that Lizard just got hit in the mouth. Was it Hawkeye? Was it Ant-Man? It is far more likely that what we see here is a scene in which 3 Spidey villains take on 3 Spider-Men and one of them swings out and punches or kicks Lizard in his newly designed mouth.

Of course the absence of something cannot be considered evidence of something, so fans are going to keep on debating whether or not Garfield and Maguire will show in the film. Fortunately, we don’t have much longer to have to find out for certain.

November 17, 2021
What to Expect From ‘Dune: Part Two’
Dune was only a prelude to a grander and much more complex story in the world created by Frank Herbert. As the film only adapted approximately two-thirds of the first book, many fans were hoping for a sequel to be confirmed sooner rather than later. Especially because of many unfinished plot lines left by director Denis Villeneuve and Chani’s words at the end of the film – “This is only the beginning.” With the second part of Dune officially announced, let’s look ahead to three things we can expect in the sequel.

New Faces

Dune: Part Two will introduce several new characters who will play significant roles in the story. Without a doubt, the biggest addition will be Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen – the brother of Beast Rabann and nephew of Baron Harkonnen. Feyd is a young man, just a year older than Paul, who is being prepared to be the Baron’s successor and who is also part of the genetic plan mentioned by Gaius Helen Mohiam. The filmmakers will have an opportunity to highlight the parallels between Feyd and Paul, who grew up in very different circumstances and have quite a few things in common.

Another character will be, of course, be Emperor Shadam IV who was mentioned a couple of times in Dune: Part One. The sequence on Selusa Secundus itself gave us a bit of a taste of what kind of character the Emperor might be. He’s not another Palpatine, but a slightly more nuanced character who got caught up in the Bene Gesserit and had a lot of doubts about his actions.

Speaking of the Emperor, we have to mention his eldest daughter – Princess Irulan being a Bene Gesserit, who is a very important character in Paul’s story. She is a chronicler, and it’s her words that open the story of Dune. The sequel should also introduce Hasimir and Margot Fenring in the film. Hasimir is the Emperor’s best friend who has been sent to Giedi Prime to look into Feyd-Rautha as well as confront Baron’s plans. Out of the other major characters, we’ll also get to see Alia Atreides – Paul’s sister, whom he saw in one of his visions.

Paul and Chani’s Journey
In one of his interviews for the Italian magazine Il Venerdì di Repubblica, Villeneuve mentioned that Chani, played by Zendaya, would be the protagonist of the story in Part Two. This statement outraged many people, but there’s a reason why Chani will be so important in the second part. As Paul moves further and further away from humanity and dives deeper and deeper into his (anti)messianic figure for the Fremen, Chani will be the person who will be his anchor in the present. Through her, Paul will stay in touch with humanity and Chani will act as a beacon of light.

The first part made us step into the shoes of Paul Atreides, and together we began to discover Arrakis and his inner nature. However, Paul’s journey is not a typical Cambellian pattern of the protagonist’s journey. Herbert broke out of that pattern, and Paul is a certain deconstruction of that trope. In the first film, we saw Paul’s potential future, leading to a bloody holy war in his name. Paul himself will want to escape this, but the further into the woods he gets, the more he solidifies that he has fallen into a messiah trap where fanatics have blindly followed his words. It was already evident in Part One how the Fremen had ingrained the fable of Lisan al-Gaib into their culture, which Paul incidentally used to survive. What will be important in this context is the perspective of those around Paul, who will face a persona that is nothing like his father.

Fremen’s society

The sight of a Fremen riding a sandworm in the final scene in Dune certainly sparked the imagination of many viewers as to what might await us next. We’ve only been given a glimpse of Fremen culture, and the second part will only expand that corner of the world. Together with Paul, we will delve into the huge Fremen sietches which can accommodate thousands of people. We will learn about their beliefs and customs, and the second film should open with an extremely psychedelic scene involving the water of life. We should also be introduced to the Fremen’s ecological plan to terraform Arrakis into a green paradise, which is an extremely important theme throughout the series. Villeneuve has shown that he can emphasize the monumentalism and scale of the world, and the second part has much more to offer.

Dune: Part One is currently in theaters.
November 14, 2021
EXCLUSIVE: Ally Maki and Director Dan Mazer on Making ‘Home Sweet Home Alone’

Home Sweet Home Alone is finally now out on Disney+. A pseudo-sequel to the Macaulay Culkin duology, the film presents a familiar concept in a contemporary manner. We spoke to stars Ally Maki and director Dan Mazer on the process of bringing a classic franchise back to life and what it was like to work with up-and-comer Archie Yates.

According to Maki, Mazer played a crucial part in fostering a working environment that allowed the cast to go crazy with improv.

Ellie and Rob just led that set with such warmth and hilarity. And I think having Dan Mazer as our director, who did Borat and Ali G., he really created such a fun atmosphere where he let us do a lot of what we wanted and that created the bond we have as a cast. It was so much fun.

There was so much improv. Something I would be like, “Wow! He’s really letting us go on and on.” There was some stuff that didn’t make the movie. I feel like Tim and I could have our own Home Alone short just because of all the scenes we filmed. We had so much fun.

Dan Mazer is a writer known for some of the raunchiest, and as he put in our conversation with him, filthiest comedy films of the past two decades. He elaborated on his process as a comedic filmmaker and how he incorporated it with the cast he had for the film.

In my casting process in whatever project I do, I like to make sure that the people I cast are funny in their own right that if we ever throw away the script, they can be brilliant. And obviously, in the stuff I’ve done with Sacha Baron Cohen, there’s so much improvisation. That’s the excitement of filmmaking; seeing what you can come up with on the day. And when you have Pete Holmes, Ally Maki, Kenan Thompson, Chris Parnell, as your supporting characters, not to mention Rob Delaney and Ellie Kemper, as a comic director it’s like having a toy box.

Archie Yates stars as Max Mercer, the Kevin McAllister analogue of Home Sweet Home Alone. Yates previously wowed audiences with his supporting role in the Oscar-winning Jojo Rabbit. Mazer revealed what it was like to work with Yates on his first big starring role.

We were in the middle of our search looking for Max Mercer. I auditioned lots of really talented kids. And then I saw Jojo Rabbit and had a thunderous moment where I fell in love with Archie Yates. It was like he was born to be on a film set. He walks on with absolute authority and total confidence. He slipped into the role effortlessly and made it his own. He was a treat to work with.

November 13, 2021
Updated: What to Expect From Marvel Studios’ Disney Plus Day Special Look and How To Watch It

We’ve believed for a long time that Marvel Studios news hits hard enough that the studio doesn’t need a convention. Last year’s Investor Day made that point clear, and it seems like the first Disney Plus Day is going to remind us all that Marvel Studios has plenty to share on its own terms.

Yesterday we learned that the inaugural Disney Plus Day, planned for November 12th, would feature special D+ exclusive programming that will include an “exciting look towards the future” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That look was described recently as one that would include the past, present and future of Marvel Studios on the streaming service full of first looks and new announcement. With that in mind, here are a few guesses as to what we can expect from Kevin Feige and company.

A ‘Ms. Marvel‘ Trailer

Last year’s Investor Day Fact Sheet had Ms. Marvel set for a 2021 release on the streaming service. Unfortunately, though, things change (especially during an ongoing health crisis) and we are now going to have to wait until the second half of 2022 for the series to introduce Kamala Khan to the MCU. We don’t have an exact date for Ms. Marvel yet, but it seems like it will be ready to go to kick off the new year. So a full trailer with a release date reveal would be in line.

A ‘Moon Knight‘ Sizzle Reel

Moon Knight has been a tough nut to crack. Any “leaks” have been trickles, with only one leaked photo of a costume hitting the web; at this point, we still don’t know who any of the series leads other than Oscar Isaac will be playing and there’s no plot information to be found. A sizzle reel showing off the costume, the physicality and Ethan Hawke’s villain, who many think might be Dracula, would give fans a lot to talk about.

A First Look at ‘She-Hulk‘

Unlike Moon Knight, info on Marvel’s legal comedy She-Hulk made its way into the world during production. We’ve seen a few glimpses at characters, learned who Jameela Jamil is playing and heard some other awesome rumors about the series that make it sound like it’ll be a blast (Skaar! Daredevil! Seriously?). With that in mind, it would be great for Marvel Studios to give us a first look at it whether it be a trailer or a sizzle reel to give fans a sense of just what’s in store tonally, especially from star Tatiana Maslany.

A Cast Update on ‘Secret Invasion’

Secret Invasion is set to begin filming shortly and while the trades have reported on castings outside of Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn, the project remains pretty…secretive. It would be great to get some more info on the project, including learning the roles of stars Emilia Clarke, Olivia Colman and Kingsley Ben-Adir (who I know is playing a Skrull).

An Official Announcement for Echo and Werewolf By Night

Among the more perplexing things about the slew of announcements made at 2020’s Disney Investor Day was the absence of a couple of projects from the Fact Sheet that, as it turns out, will go into production and probably stream BEFORE a few that were on there. Echo and Werewolf By Night are now both known to be happening, but Marvel Studios has remained quiet about them despite openly looking for cast members for at least one of them (Echo has been casting for some time). The D+ Day special would be a good time to update fans on them as they go into production early next year and are likely to be included in the 2022 slate.

An Update on ‘Loki’ Season 2

A recent production publication indicated that Loki Season 2 would start work in Atlanta in early 2022. While we have no idea if this is accurate, we might well find out tomorrow!

A Tease of Future D+ Projects

Marvel Studios has about a dozen or so streaming series in development. We know some are animated and some are live-action but we don’t know what any of them are. A little tease can go a long way here in hyping up fans for the future of the streaming service (what better way to get fans to buy a 3-year sub than to tease the awesome stuff they can see over the next 3 years!). The Untitled Wakanda project, Ghost Rider, Secret Warriors, Illuminati, Nomad and more could be among these teases. In fact, we still know very little about Ironheart and Armor Wars, which were announced almost one year ago and are expected to go into production next year.

When and Where to Watch Marvel Studios Presentation

According to Disney, fans are getting pre-recorded features rather than a livestream, so all of the features will be available on Disney Plus throughout the day. While Disney Plus Day officially kicks off at 9:00 AM ET, the Marvel Studios presentation won’t stream until 11:45 AM ET. The good news is that it’ll be available for fans all day, so if you’re not around at 11:45, you’ll be able to watch it at your convenience on your phone, tablet, laptop, desktop or TV. Of course, we’ll be covering all the major news from the event right here, so be sure to check back in with us tomorrow!

November 12, 2021