Tag: Movie News

Kathleen Kennedy Discusses Star Wars Hiatus From Theatrical Releases

The Star Wars franchise is in the midst of its relaunch into cultural prominence with the upcoming release of Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney Plus the next big step. In an interview with Vanity Fair, President of Lucasfilm Kathleen Kennedy discussed the turning point for how the company managed their franchise with a mass hiatus from films in 2019 after the release of The Rise of Skywalker.

We all recognized, every single one of us, that this was a new chapter for the company and that we needed to all work together to create the architecture for where we were going.
Kathleen Kennedy

Before the hiatus, Star Wars was in an era of releasing annual big blockbuster films such as the sequel trilogy in addition to spin-off films Rogue One and Solo. While it was reaping Lucasfilm with some strong financial benefits at the box office, this time served as some of the most critically divisive for the franchise. Kennedy felt that a reset was in order to recalibrate the future of the franchise. In addition to creating a new architecture, a focus on committing to the franchise was firmly established.

Anyone who comes into the Star Wars universe needs to know that it’s a three-, four-, five-year commitment. That’s what it takes. You can’t step in for a year and shoot something and then walk away…. It requires that kind of nurturing.
Kathleen Kennedy

This is certainly in reference to some of the issues pertaining to the sequel trilogy that lacked a singular direction throughout its run in flip-flopping the director chair between JJ Abrams and Rian Johnson. At least on a surface level, it appears Lucasfilm is prepared to learn from past mistakes when it comes to further establishing this universe. With the hiatus past them, it will be a story worth following whether or not this reset ended up being fruitful for the future of the Star Wars franchise.

Source: Vanity Fair

May 17, 2022
Lucasfilm Decided to No Longer Recast Characters After ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’

Here’s an odd statement, but it looks like Lucasfilm may have learned the wrong lessons from 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. The film was generally positively reviewed and people highlighted the casting of Alden Ehrenreich as a highlight of the film. It sadly didn’t perform like other entries in the franchise, but still pulled in a respectable $393M worldwide.

Yet, it seems that something was missing for Lucasfilm and it is the reason they didn’t recast Mark Hamill‘s Luke Skywalker in The Mandalorian‘s second season finale. In the new Vanity Fair piece, Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy had the following to say on what they’ve learned from that film:

There should be moments along the way when you learn things. Now it does seem so abundantly clear that we can’t do that.
Kathleen Kennedy

It seems they believed that Ehrenreich didn’t quite capture the “swagger” that made Harrison Ford‘s take on the character stand out as much as it did throughout the years. Yet, one could argue that there were other factors that had a negative influence on the film’s performance and it’s strange to focus on the recasting.

While it’s special to see Mark Hamill return to the role of Skywalker, the technology still has its limitations, especially with a smaller budget than film production. It still had many excited when he arrived in The Mandalorian, but there were still some aspects that may feel like it’s part of the uncanny valley. Plus, it also highly restricts what stories they can tell with characters that would otherwise have lived during that era.

Source: Vanity Fair, Rotten Tomatoes

May 17, 2022
Patty Jenkins’ ‘Rogue Squadron’ Delayed After All With Taika Waititi’s Untitled ‘Star Wars’ Film to Arrive First

While Star Wars has been pushing forward on its Disney+ expansion, there has been a bit of a dry spell when it came to its cinematic releases. Rise of Skywalker was the last film that we saw in theaters all the way back in 2019, but it looks like we’re still going to have to wait a bit longer. In a new feature by Vanity Fair, they offered an update on when we might expect their next cinematic installments.

As expected, Patty Jenkins‘ Rogue Squadron is delayed indefinitely after all, as now the Star Wars film by Taika Waititi and screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns are set to arrive ahead of the Wonder Woman director’s film. He’s still been busy on Thor: Love and Thunder and if they haven’t started work on both productions, it seems very unlikely that Rogue Squadron will hit its initial 2023 release schedule. It’s only described as “further off” in the Vanity Fair piece.

President Kathleen Kennedy does promise though that they “have a road map.” When asked if there’s an update on Kevin Feige‘s Star Wars film, which is being written by Michael Waldron, she couldn’t offer any clear updates on that either. The only statement she shared on the matter is the following:

I would love to see what movie he might come up with. But right now, no, there isn’t anything specifically.
Kathleen Kennedy

Of course, there’s a chance they are trying to keep some updates for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration that’ll take place later this month. They also confirmed that Rian Johnson’s work on the Knives Out films has also delayed work on his trilogy, which has been announced quite some time ago but hasn’t seen any further development since.

Source: Vanity Fair

May 17, 2022
RUMOR: Live-Action ‘Captain Carter’ Project in Development

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has given us a plethora of cameos that gave us a window into a different reality where the Avengers never formed but rather the Illuminati. Amongst its members were some heavy hitters from Marvel comics history, such as Black Bolt, Charles Xavier, and Mr. Fantastic. Yet, we also got the return of Captain Carter, a Variant we were first introduced to in What If…? with Haley Atwell returning to the role. While she pretty much headlined the first animated Marvel Studios animated series, it seems she might get a series or film of her own.

As shared in The DisInsider Show‘s Rumor of the Week segment, Derek Cornell has unveiled some details regarding a potential Captain Carter series or film. While they seem to believe heavily in the former, they don’t rule out that a film could also result from her appearance in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Hot off of Doctor Strange 2 and What If…?, we are hearing not for sure if it’s a series, but we’re hearing a Captain Carter live-action series. Series or movie, but something is in the works, live-action will be coming.
Derek Cornell

If you’re wondering how she would return given she’s only half the woman she was before, it’s very likely they’d revisit the concept in another part of the multiverse. The animated version isn’t the same one we saw in Multiverse of Madness. As such, there are a lot of opportunities to revisit these characters in different versions across the multiverse, even if it might become quite confusing for viewers.

Source: YouTube

May 17, 2022
Rian Johnson’s ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy Put On Indefinite Hold

Rian Johnson divided the entire Star Wars fandom when he released Star Wars: The Last Jedi a couple of years ago. The film, celebrated and loathed by many circles, took the mythology in new directions, which Lucasfilm was quick to avoid when JJ Abrams returned to direct the finale. Not long after the film’s release, Lucasfilm nonetheless announced a brand new trilogy written by the Knives Out director.

And now that trilogy has been put on indefinite hold. In an interview with Vanity Fair, producer Kathleen Kennedy revealed that the trilogy has been put on the back burner due to Johnson’s current commitments with Netflix.

And the trilogy from The Last Jedi’s Rian Johnson that was announced five years ago? Back-burnered. “Rian has been unbelievably busy with Knives Out and the deal that he made at Netflix for multiple movies.”
Kathleen Kennedy

The in-depth interview with Vanity Fair outlines the company’s future plans with the franchise beyond the announced properties. With so much on their plate, it’s not surprising to see them shelve Johnson’s trilogy for the meantime. There’s no telling if they’ll ever revisit the project as Lucasfilm has historically been known to put long-gestating projects to rest. Johnson was one of the more interesting directors to ever helm a Star Wars film so it’ll be a shame if none of it ever comes to fruition.

Source: Vanity Fair

May 17, 2022
New ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ Image May Have Offered a First Look at ‘Black Panther’s Bast

A new image has been making its way through the Internet featuring a new look at King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Mighty Thor (Natalie Portman). It’s unclear where they are but it does seem like some kind of meeting is taking place. What stands out, however, is a third character is included in the image. Everyone is sitting on a throne of some kind with our two main heroines sitting on one that seems to reflect where they are from. The Egyptian-inspired design and the cat ears on their helmet may be a signifier that this is our first look at the Goddess Bast, who we first met in Black Panther’s iconic opening as a giant panther.

There was a leak that the character would be played by an actress named Akosia Sabet on Showcase. So, there’s a high chance that she might appear, especially if Gorr the God Butcher is making his god butchering grand tour. Still, it’s not a definite confirmation and only the design is a real hint at who this character might be. There’s a chance it could be someone completely different, but there are enough hints to make the connection. She’s had a humanoid form in the comics as well, and it wouldn’t be too surprising she could change between that and her giant Panther form in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as well.

The Egyptian design also hints at the connection due to Bast actually being part of the Egyptian pantheon. We’ve never fully explored her history and how she came in contact with the first man to become Black Panther and who would eventually found Wakanda. Perhaps we get a tease in the film in a conversation between her and Valkyrie. For now, it’s still speculation but it’s certainly interesting if she was indeed accidentally revealed with this new image. There’s also the question if this segment or shot makes it into the final cut.

May 16, 2022
Tom Blyth Cast as Coriolanus Snow in ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel

In what will serve as a return to the Hunger Games franchise, Tom Blyth has been cast as Coriolanus Snow in the upcoming prequel film The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The role of Snow was originally played by Donald Sutherland in the original franchise. Blyth is best known for starring in the Epix’s recent Billy the Kid series as the titular character. Francis Lawrence, who served as director for all three sequel films in the franchise, will be returning to helm this new project.

The film, based on the prequel novel by author Suzanne Collins, is set to follow the narrative of Coriolanus Snow, the main antagonist of the original Hunger Games novels and film adaptations, as he struggles to navigate the political sphere of Panem and the franchise’s titular competition as a young man. He will be paired with a character named Lucy Gray Baird, a tribute from District 12 as she takes part in the 10th annual Hunger Games.

When discussing the upcoming film, director Francis Lawrence gave a background into Snow’s character and how they feel Tom Blyth became the ideal choice for the role.

Coriolanus Snow is many things — a survivor, a loyal friend, a cutthroat, a kid quick to fall in love, and a young man ambitious to his core. Tom’s take on the character showed us all the complex ambiguities of this young man as he transforms into the tyrant he would become.
Francis Lawrence

It will be not able to follow if this film helps in elevating their career for Blyth, much like the Hunger Games franchise did for the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam Hemsworth.

It’s been considered a somewhat confounding decision by author Suzanne Collins to transition the franchise into the point of view of the franchise’s tyrannical antagonist. Though it will certainly be interesting to see what is done to make this a worthwhile endeavor back into the young adult franchise. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is currently scheduled to release on November 17, 2023.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

May 16, 2022
Amber Heard Confirms Her Role as Mera Was “Reduced a Bunch” in ‘Aquaman 2’

There’s been a lot of discussions surrounding Amber Heard‘s role in the upcoming Aquaman sequel. As Johnny Depp had to leave the Fantastic Beasts sequel as production started, many were surprised that Heard was still on board for Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. As it turns out, Warner Bros. didn’t want her on the production and she fought for joining.

During the proceedings of their lawsuit, she was asked about her involvement with the Aquaman sequel, where she confirmed that she had to fight “really hard to stay in the movie.”

I have. I fought really hard to stay in the movie. They didn’t want to include me in the film.
Amber Heard

While she managed to stay on board for the production, after all, it seems her role had been quite minimized. She goes on to highlight that her role was “very pared-down version” of the initial script as they reworked it throughout production.

I was given a script. Then given new versions of the script that had taken away scenes that had action in it, that depicted my character and another character, without giving spoilers away, two characters fighting with one another. They basically took a bunch out of my role. They just removed a bunch.
Amber Heard

It definitely sounds like Warner Bros. was in a no-win situation if she fought for remaining in the film even as they tried to take a step back from Heard due to the allegations, especially the PR and the current legal battle. We’ll see just how much of her role made it into the film and what that may mean for the Aquaman sequel.

Source: YouTube via Reddit

May 16, 2022
Ed Skrein To Replace Rupert Friend in ‘Rebel Moon’, Fra Free and More Join Cast

Zack Snyder has found himself quite a comfortable home at Netflix after his stint over in the DC Extended Universe. Just last year Snyder released his first project, Army of The Dead, with hopes that it could spawn a franchise for Netflix. Snyder isn’t sticking to just one franchise, as he is currently developing yet another film titled Rebel Moon with hopes that it could also lead to sequels and spin-offs later down the road.

Production on Rebel Moon has already begun but it seems some issues have led to the film having to recast its main antagonist. Rupert Friend was initially set to play the role of the tyrant Regent Balisarius, who’d set out to conquer a colony on the edge of the galaxy. The role now belongs to Deadpool actor Ed Skrein. Joining him on the project are Cleopatra Coleman, Fra Fee, and Rhian Rees whose roles in the film currently remain under wraps.

The film is set to follow a Seven Samurai-inspired story in which a young woman, played by Sofia Boutella, sets out to recruit warriors from neighboring planets so that they can band together and take a stand against the incoming invasion from Balisarius. Rebel Moon is sporting quite the impressive cast with Boutella and Skrein starring alongside Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll, Alfonso Herrera, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bar, Stuart Martin, and Michiel Huisman.

The film is set to be directed by Snyder who co-wrote the script alongside Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad. This is the first project to come from Snyder’s recent first-look deal with Netflix and will be produced under his production company Stone Quarry.

Source: Deadline

May 16, 2022
RUMOR: ‘Doctor Strange 2’ Almost Featured Ghost Rider, Magneto, and More

At this point, it’s hard to say who hasn’t been rumored to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While it has been pointed out in the past that some rumored cameos weren’t ever truly on the board outside of early talks, most notably Tom Cruise as Iron Man, a new rumor is adding some more fuel to the fire to what may have been left on the cutting room floor throughout the film#s production. The Weekly Planet podcast’s James Clement has reportedly shared a few more members of the Marvel multiverse that may have appeared.

So somebody sent me a list of five characters that were going to be in this movie that were cut… So apparently, yeah, the Wanda killing MCU Mordo, that was real. That was going to happen. Michael Fassbender was going to turn up as Magneto… I said [to my source], ‘Were any of these filmed?’ And this person said, ‘Filmed but ultimately cut from the theatrical version,’ which is what my source relates… Balder the Brave as mentioned, though not given a name… Ghost Rider, which is very interesting as a member of the Illuminati.
James Clement

He goes on to highlight that he was going to fight Wanda as well, but even he couldn’t truly survive the onslaught that is Wanda’s fury in Multiverse of Madness. There’s no word, however, if this would’ve been Nicolas Cage reprising his role as Ghost Rider. The mention of Balder the Great was hinted at being the role that Daniel Craig originally was going to tackle. He also goes on to highlight that Deadpool was going to be part of a post-credit sequence.

He was going to fight Wanda and probably die… and Deadpool was going to be in the post-credits scene.
James Clement

So, it’s a little hard to chew that they would film entire sequences but end up just leaving it on the cutting room floor, especially if they managed to get Michael Fassbender to film sequences as Magneto. It also seems unlikely that they would film these sequences and not include them, but the wording could hint at a bonus for the digital release, or perhaps even for an additional theatrical release to give the film the last push to reach a billion. For now, we’ll have to see if anything about this rumor is true.

Source: YouTube via The Direct

May 16, 2022