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Tag: Movie News

  • ‘Death Stranding’ Film in the Works From Hammerstone Studios, Kojima Productions

    ‘Death Stranding’ Film in the Works From Hammerstone Studios, Kojima Productions

    Death Stranding is coming to the big screen. Following the news that a sequel to the game is in the works, Deadline has revealed a movie based on the first game is in the works. Hideo Kojima’s Kojima Productions has partnered with Barbarian executive producer Alex Lebovici’s Hammerstone Studios to develop and produce an adaptation of the game.

    Death Stranding launched in 2019 and went on to sell over 10 million units. It features an all-star cast including Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Guillermo del Toro and Margaret Qualley. It focuses on Reedus’ character, Sam Bridges, as he is forced to embark on a mission to deliver hope to humanity by connecting the last survivors of a decimated America all while carrying humanity’s future in his hands. The movie is expected to introduce new elements and characters within the Death Stranding universe.

    Regarding the partnership between the studios, Kojima expressed his excitement in what he calls a “pivotal moment” for the franchise. “I couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with Hammerstone Studio. This is a pivotal moment for the franchise and I’m really looking forward to collaborating with them in bringing DEATH STRANDING to the big screen.”

    While Lebovici explained that Death Stranding will be a different type of video game adaptation. It’ll still be a big-budget tentpole, of course, but the producer notes it’ll be far more intimate and grounded than others we’ve seen before. “We are thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with brilliant and iconic Hideo Kojima on his first film adaptation,” he said. “Unlike other big budget tentpole video game adaptations, this will be something far more intimate and grounded. Our goal is to redefine what a video game adaptation could be when you have creative and artistic freedom. This film will be an authentic “Hideo Kojima” production.”

    As of now, there is no writer attached to the project, however, it’s reported the project will now be fast-tracked so that news can change soon.

    Source: Deadline.

  • James Gunn Raised the Stakes for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    James Gunn Raised the Stakes for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’

    James Gunn almost didn’t get to finish his Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, but given the chance to do so, the director made sure it would be memorable. In an interview with EW, Gunn laid out the goals he has in mind for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and none of them are small in scale.

    Gunn hasn’t been shy in sharing that this film will be the last hurrah for this group of characters and that Rocket and his horrific origins will be at its center. “To me, Rocket has always been the secret protagonist of the Guardians movies,” said Gunn. “From the beginning, it has been rooted in who he is as a character. I think he exemplifies a lot of the traits of all the Guardians. They’ve had all these traumas, and it brings them together. I just think that his is more extreme than others. One of the reasons why I came back to [make] this movie” said Gunn of his decision to return after being let go, “was because I felt like I needed to tell Rocket’s story. I would’ve been very sad not to complete the trilogy for many reasons, but I just feel very connected to Rocket. I feel like nobody would be able to tell his full story if it wasn’t me.“

    Telling Rocket’s origins means the team will cross paths with Chukwudi Iwuji‘s High Evolutionary, who is responsible for the experiments that turned Rocket from an animal into the gruff and brilliant strategist fans know and love. “He was just fine being an animal, and he was transformed into something else he didn’t want to be,” Gunn said of Rocket. “I think that transformation itself was extremely painful, but I also think it made him feel incredibly alienated from everyone else. In Vol. 3, we learn a lot about his past — where he came from, who he is, and what he’s been through. It’s been a difficult road for the little animal.“

    It’s Rocket’s ties to the High Evolutionary that will drive the entire plot of the film, and put the Guardians in a precarious position and fans shouldn’t expect everyone to make it out alive. “This is the big one,” says Gunn of the finale. “This is where things really happen. This is where we get to know the truth about who these characters are, and we face the biggest stakes.” Who walks away and what comes next are certainly part of audiences’ fascination with the film, but the emotional first trailer for the project reminds fans to sit back and enjoy the ride and let the future take care of itself.

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 hits theaters on May 5th, 2023.

    Source: EW

  • Melissa McCarthy Headlining New Peacock Christmas Film

    Melissa McCarthy Headlining New Peacock Christmas Film

    Tis’ the season for Christmas movie announcements! According to an exclusive from Deadline, Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat) will star in a currently untitled Christmas-in-New York film that will be written by none other than Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral). Sam Boyd (Love Life, Tell Me Lies) will direct the film which will stream on Peacock.

    The currently untitled holiday hopeful is described as a fairy-tale comedy about a work-obsessed man who enlists help from a magical genie to help win his family back before Christmas. Sounds like a mixture of Enchanted and Aladdin with a dash of Elf in there, with the similarity of the Walter Hobbs-esque workaholic father. Since the film is just in early development now, we can expect this film to be released probably in time for Christmas 2023. There is no word yet on who McCarthy will play in the movie.

    McCarthy has most recently been featured on television, right back where she got her breakout role as Sookie St. James in Gilmore Girls. Over the last couple of years, McCarthy has starred in Hulu’s drama, Nine Perfect Strangers before re-teaming with her husband, Ben Falcone in the Netflix comedy, God’s Favorite Idiot. She’ll next be seen as the despicable villainess sea monster, Ursula in the live-action take of The Little Mermaid in 2023. She just wrapped filming, Unfrosted, Jerry Seinfeld‘s directorial debut which follows the real-life battle between Kellogg’s and Post to create the perfect breakfast cake, the Pop-Tart.

    Source: Deadline

  • ‘Avatar’ Producer Explains the Plan for the Franchise’s Many Sequels

    ‘Avatar’ Producer Explains the Plan for the Franchise’s Many Sequels

    James Cameron certainly understands how to toe the line between idealism and pragmatism when it comes to his Avatar franchise. Though the director says he has enough ideas to build out a total of 7 Avatar films, he’s also willing to let audience response to Avatar: The Way of Water inform his decision on the future of the franchise. Early word on the sequel, which opens in theaters across the globe on December 16th, indicates it might be another Cameron classic, giving Cameron the boost he needs to move ahead with the franchise.

    Given Cameron’s undeniable success as a director (the man has directed two of the top 3 highest-grossing films of all time in Avatar and Titanic), his patience and humility in regards to the Avatar franchise is noteworthy. As Cameron noted, the key to moving forward with the franchise is figuring out if fans “give a shit” about what’s next. In an interview with i09, Avatar producer Jon Landau detailed how he and Cameron hope to keep audiences engaged long enough to tell what could be a 7-film long-form story. Unsurprisingly, part of that is simply sticking with what worked so well in 2009’s Avatar.

    I think right now we want each movie to do exactly what the first movie did. We want [audiences] to go, ‘Wow. Where else could they go? They just showed us everything on Pandora.’ Then you go, ‘Holy cow. They’re going to the oceans. Wow. The oceans are amazing.’ Okay, that’s over. Where can it go? Same thing from an emotional story. We end the movie [Avatar] with Jake and this transformation. But we’ve suffered the loss of Grace, and we’ve suffered other things. We want people to come out of this movie with an emotional resolution that both calls for a yearning to go back to those characters and to the world.

    Jon Landau

    Landau’s explanation goes a long way in understanding why he’s called each film in the series “standalone” despite them very much being part of a shared narrative. For Landau and Cameron, each film in the series needs to both wow and satisfy audiences and the subsequent films then need to find ways to up the ante while connecting to the audience’s love of what came before. As other long-standing franchises such as James Bond and Star Wars have proven, that’s not always easy. However, Avatar has one advantage that those franchises have not had and that’s the consistent presence of Cameron from film to film.

    Source: i09

  • DC Studios New Slate Coming Together Ahead of an Early 2023 First Look

    DC Studios New Slate Coming Together Ahead of an Early 2023 First Look

    New year, new DC. In the weeks since James Gunn and Peter Safran have been transitioning into their new roles as co-heads of DC Studios, fans have had a front-row seat to the death of the Snyderverse as Man of Steel 2 and Wonder Woman 3 have been scrapped, then end of Dwayne Johnson‘s brief tenure as the self-appointed man in charge and the announcement of a brand new direction for Superman that does not include Henry Cavill. It’s been a busy time for Gunn and Safran and quite a roller coaster for fans but it looks like it’s just getting started.

    As part of a Twitter thread in which he announced his involvement with DC Studios’ new Superman film, Gunn indicated that he and Safran, who were expected to pitch their new slate to Warner Bros. Discovery recently, will kick off 2023 by rolling out at least a bit of what fans can expect from the future of DC Studios.

    Just what that might mean outside of Superman is completely unknown at the moment, though in recent social media responses, Gunn has potentially given some clues as to what characters and stories might be part of what’s next. As fans wait to hear what the long-term plan is, the immediate future includes the 2023 releases of Shazam! Fury of the Gods, The Flash and Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom, the 2024 release of Joker: Folie à Deux and several projects set within Matt Reeves‘ Gotham-verse, including a sequel to The Batman and a streaming series focused on Colin Farrell‘s Oswald Cobblepot.

  • Ben Affleck in Talks to Direct a DC Movie

    Ben Affleck in Talks to Direct a DC Movie

    Ben Affleck is back. The actor and director is said to be in talks to direct a movie for DC Studios. The news was revealed by Deadline on Wednesday evening following the news that James Gunn was penning a new Superman movie, which will not star Henry Cavill as the Man of Steel. Deadline reports that Affleck is currently in talks with Gunn and Peter Safran about potentially helming a future film.

    Unfortunately, it’s unknown what project Affleck is in talks to direct. While Superman is the first to officially be announced for DC Studios, it’s unknown if Superman will be the project Affleck will direct. More details regarding DC Studios’ future are expected to be revealed in January, however, Gunn and Safran are said to be meeting with various talent as they seek to firm up their plans.

    Affleck has had a rocky past with DC on the big screen. After appearing as Batman in Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, and Justice League (both cuts), the actor is next set to portray the caped crusader in next summer’s Flash. The actor was originally set to star in and direct a solo Batman film but eventually dropped off the project as the director before opting to leave the role as a whole shortly thereafter.

    Source: Deadline.

  • Henry Cavill Comments on ‘Superman’ News: “This News Isn’t The Easiest”

    Henry Cavill Comments on ‘Superman’ News: “This News Isn’t The Easiest”

    Following the news that DC Studios is developing a new Superman movie with James Gunn penning the script, Henry Cavill has taken to social media to comment on the matter. In an Instagram post shared late Wednesday evening, Cavill confirmed that he will not be returning as Superman, despite being given the okay to announce his return a month earlier.

    “I have just had a meeting with James Gunn and Peter Safran and it’s sad news, everyone,” he wrote. “I will, after all, not be returning as Superman. After being told by the studio to announce my return back in October, prior to their hire, this news isn’t the easiest, but that’s life. The changing of the guard is something that happens. I respect that. James and Peter have a universe to build. I wish them and all involved with the new universe the best of luck, and the happiest of fortunes.”

    News that Cavill wouldn’t be returning as Superman first came courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter last week. Since then, the actor has been noticeably quiet, more than likely awaiting more information from the studio. Unfortunately, though, it simply wasn’t meant to be.

    The actor is said to have been given the option to re-join the DC Universe as a different character down the line. It is unknown, however, whether or not he’ll choose to do so as of this time.

    Source: Instagram.

  • James Gunn to Pen New ‘Superman’ Movie, Won’t Star Cavill

    James Gunn to Pen New ‘Superman’ Movie, Won’t Star Cavill

    Last week, reports suggested that Warner Bros. Discovery was no longer looking to make Man of Steel 2 with Henry Cavill returning as the Man of Steel. The news came just weeks after the actor excitedly announced his return as Superman on the big screen. Unfortunately, those reports appear to be true. James Gunn, who is now in charge of DC Studios alongside Peter Safran, recently tweeted out that Superman was a priority for DC Studios, but never fully addressed Cavill’s future as the character as plans were still being worked out. Now, it appears the decision has been made to cast a new actor in the role.

    The news was announced on Wednesday evening. The latest Superman film will focus on a younger Clark Kent, which led to the decision not to bring back Cavill. Both Gunn and Safran sat down with the actor recently to discuss their decision with him. While he won’t return as Superman anytime soon, they seemingly offered him a potential chance to return to the DC Universe on screen as a different character down the line.

    Source: THR.

  • James Gunn Quickly Debunks Battinson Rumors

    James Gunn Quickly Debunks Battinson Rumors

    James Gunn is nothing if not consistent. Much to the fear of online leakers and scoopers, Gunn never hesitates to correct misinformation about his projects. Now that he is co-chair of DC Studios, a lot of projects have become “his projects” as he now oversees what he hopes to build into a massive inter-connected cinematic universe.

    True to form, Gunn took to social media just hours after a report from Variety indicated that he and co-chair Peter Safran were considering making Robert Pattinson’s Batman and Matt Reeves‘ Gotham-verse part of that larger connected cinematic universe. Gunn wasted no time in dismissing the report, calling it “entirely untrue.”

    The debunk by Gunn comes as a bit of a relief as it means Reeves won’t have to compromise his vision of the character in order to fit other characters into his growing universe. It also means that as Gunn and Safran start the process of building a new DC Universe, presumably, from scratch, they’ll have a chance to bring creators in who won’t feel the need to match Reeves’ vision. It’s a win-win.

  • ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ Said to Have a $205 Million Budget

    ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ Said to Have a $205 Million Budget

    As DC Studios continues to set its plan for the future of DC across all media, more reports continue to surface about the studio’s future and the upcoming DC titles releasing before then. One of those projects is Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. The sequel to 2018’s Aquaman, is set to release next year and will see director James Wan return behind the camera. While the first film was a surprise hit for Warner Bros. and DC, earning over $1 billion at the box office, it looks like the sequel is having some issues behind the scenes.

    In a new report from Variety, it’s rumored that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will have a hefty price tag. The outlet revealed that, ahead of James Gunn and Peter Safran coming aboard DC Studios, Warner Bros. co-chief Pam Abdy had to tell Wan to reduce his budget for reshoots on the film as the movie’s budget has already expanded to over $205 million during production.

    Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is expected to be Jason Momoa‘s last turn as Aquaman. Previous reports suggested the actor might get to tackle the DC Comics character he has longed to portray, Lobo, but as of now, those reports have yet to be confirmed. More concrete details surrounding the future of DC Studios and the current DC films line-up are expected to be unveiled in the coming months.

    Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will hit movie theaters on Dec. 25th, 2023.

    Source: Variety.