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Tag: Movie News

  • Sony Considering a ‘VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE’ and ‘HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA’ Delay

    Sony Considering a ‘VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE’ and ‘HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA: TRANSFORMANIA’ Delay

    It looks like Sony is having quite a bit of trouble with their upcoming cinematic releases. According to Deadline, they are considering pushing Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Hotel Transylvania: Transformania back. There has been no final decision been made, but current developments surrounding the Delta Variant have the production company weighing out their options moving forward. It seems they are considering a delay for the Venom sequel into October 15th, which would align with the recent New Zealand release. The article also states they have even considered a January as a potential new date, which would mean Morbius gets pushed back again.

    Of course, the bigger aspect of these potential delays is that it’ll also affect Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is currently eyeing a release in December. If they continue to delay their releases, it may also join 2022. The studio is currently considering putting the fourth entry in their Hotel Transylvania film on a streaming service, which would be difficult for their other projects. Right now, it seems that all eyes are on the theatre-only release of Free Guy to get a feeling if the market will sustain non-digital releases moving forward.

    They might be mapping out multiple delay dates just in case the earliest can’t be met. So, the January one seems unlikely for now but it’s not unsurprising that they’re considering it. The only thing that is still up in the air is if they’ll push Morbius back by multiple months as well. So, only the coming months will give us an inkling what the future holds for cinemas.

    Source: Deadline

  • Gabriel Iglesias Calls His ‘Space Jam’ Speedy Gonzales Casting a “Big Brown Shield”

    Gabriel Iglesias Calls His ‘Space Jam’ Speedy Gonzales Casting a “Big Brown Shield”

    Space Jam: A New Legacy brought back an iconic franchise that saw the Looney Tunes reunite with a famous basketball player. While Michael Jordan didn’t return, LeBron James took center stage and played a game with the famous cartoon characters against a group of unlikely foes. In the case of the Loony Tunes, they did continue the classic voices of many characters, with Eric Bauza continuing to voice characters like Bugs Bunny.

    LeBron James und Bugs Bunny im Basketballfilm: Warum „Space Jam 2“ kaum zu ertragen ist - Kultur - Tagesspiegel

    Yet, they did end up recasting some members such as Zendaya taking over the role of Lola, which recently got reinvented by Kristen Wiig on The Looney Tunes Show. Another new casting was in the form of famous comedian Gabriel Iglesias as Speedy Gonzales. He recently appeared on The Late Show and discussed his role in the film with Stephen Colbert, where he revealed some curious decisions made for his casting as the iconic character. First off, he didn’t have to audition for the role, and they offered him to change the iconic voice of the character.

    I thought that was pretty awesome that they would give me that power. And I said ‘No. When people think of Speedy Gonzales, I don’t want them to think of me, I want them to think of Speedy Gonzales.’

    Gabriel Iglesias

    He goes on to reveal that even though he was already cast as the character, they weren’t sure if he could to an impression of him. It was a rather surprising inquiry as he already got the part before someone revealed that:

    The question was asked, ‘Can you do Speedy Gonzales?’ And I’m like, ‘How did I get the part? Oh, they needed a big brown shield.’

    Gabriel Iglesias
    Gabriel Iglesias Tickets | Event Dates & Schedule | Ticketmaster.com

    It’s a curious way for Warner Bros. to handle the casting, but there have been many controversies surrounding the character and the stereotypes he portrayed. Iglesias did go on to make the joke after they loved his performance that “I have been Mexican a long time.” before he showed off his vocal performances on the show. He also highlighted the fact that he and his family loved growing up with the character.

    If you are interested, you can check out the original interview here:

    Source: Complex, YouTube via Hollywood Reporter

  • Taika Waititi Talks Putting the Love in ‘THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER’

    Taika Waititi Talks Putting the Love in ‘THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER’

    Taika Waititi made quite the splash with the release of Thor: Ragnarok. The third entry in the franchise offered a unique take on the God of Thunder that stood out from many of its Marvel contemporaries. His announced return was an exciting day, as Thor will be the first MCU hero to get a fourth entry in his franchise and he’ll continue the vision he started with the previous entry that took inspiration from space operas like Flash Gordon.

     

    The Entire Thor MCU Story Finally Explained

     

    When the title dropped, the subtitle of Love and Thunder stood out for the director taking another unique direction for the franchise. The official return of Natalie Portman‘s Jane Foster added more fuel to the fire on how they might approach this unlikely romance. In an interview with Wired, Waititi shared the inspiration for taking the romantic direction for the sequel.

    What I wanted to do from the beginning was to ask: ‘What are people expecting the least from this franchise?’ Oh, I know – a full-blown love story.

    It certainly sounds like a Waititi approach to first make sure that he’ll do something we wouldn’t expect, and he was right. Foster will get her hands on Mjolnir, which was last seen in Ragnarok in pieces, and turn into the Mighty Thor. They’ve been good at keeping the plot under wraps. So, we don’t know how Thor will end up back on Earth and if he’ll be aware of Foster’s identity throughout the film. It would be ironic if he meets her as Mighty Thor and falls in love with her. Who knew that he and Loki had a lot more in common.

    Source: Wired

  • ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’: Idris Elba to Voice Knuckles the Echidna

    ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2’: Idris Elba to Voice Knuckles the Echidna

    It looks like the rumors are false and it isn’t Jason Momoa who will voice Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Idris Elba took to Twitter to unveil his involvement alongside our first tease at the echidna’s classic knuckled fists. It’s also our first look at the film’s design which is only a small tease. So, perhaps we’ll get a full look at the trio in the near future.

    https://twitter.com/idriselba/status/1425174698007138305?s=21

    It’s amazing to see the details put into the design of the glove. We even see the lining and small details. We sadly never get a chance to see how detailed these characters are designed in the film, but it shows how much work the animators put into these projects. We know that he’ll join Sonic and Tails, who was briefly introduced in the post-credit sequence of the first film, in a new adventure. Yet, his role is still uncertain.

    In the original gaming franchise, Knuckles starts off as an antagonist. He believes Sonic is out to steal his Master Emerald before he joins their efforts to stop the evil Dr. Robotnik. There’s a good chance they might follow this original dynamic and they end up working together at the end of the film.

    Yet, we don’t know who will be the main antagonist. While I would love to see Chaos make his live-action debut, there’s a good chance that Jim Carrey‘s Robotnik will find his way back into the human-filled dimension. We’ll also get to hopefully explore his connection to the echidna’s we briefly saw in the first film’s opening. He might have been sent by them to hunt down Sonic before finding out he isn’t that bad after all.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Mortal Kombat’ Sequel Could Become an HBO Max Exclusive

    ‘Mortal Kombat’ Sequel Could Become an HBO Max Exclusive

    2021 has been an interesting year for Warner Bros. They’ve tested out their new strategy of releasing films in theaters and on their HBO Max streaming service. It included the likes of Godzilla vs. Kong, Mortal Kombat, and recently The Suicide Squad. We sadly have little insight into how these projects perform on the streaming service. It’s a hotly debated topic as the usual Box Office performances aren’t the best metric to get a feel for a project’s success.

    One of the surprises is how well Mortal Kombat seems to be performing on the streaming service. The gaming adaptation is reportedly the best performing weekend release on the service and according to analysts Samba TV, it also dominated the second quarter in US households with 6M watching it on the service. It was far ahead of Those Who Wish Me Dead, Disney+’s Cruella, or The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

    Reportedly, The Suicide Squad took the second spot of most-watched film on the streaming service, which might hint at a strong performance for R-rated projects. It also performed decently during the first recovery months of the Box Office, as it took the top spot with $22.5M. Yet, its streaming dominance could be an indicator for Warner Bros. to build upon its success and release a sequel for HBO Max exclusively.

    There still has been no official renewal for a sequel, but it seems likely as any film currently faces Box Office troubles during the pandemic. Still, we know the service is looking into creating exclusive films for the service base don DC properties. Batgirl and Blue Beetle are already confirmed. It wouldn’t be too surprised if they’d consider adding Mortal Kombat to the list. Perhaps they’d even explore a TV series instead to give the many characters more character.

    Source: Twitter

  • Leaked ‘Black Widow’ Deleted Scene Reveals Alternate Ending

    Leaked ‘Black Widow’ Deleted Scene Reveals Alternate Ending

    It looks like one of the deleted scenes from Black Widow have found their way online. Not just any scene, but what seems like an alternative ending where Natasha witnesses a group of kids playing Avengers in her old Ohio neighborhood where she grew up. It’s quite a different take on the ending, as the current version pretty much sets up her storyline in Avengers: Infinity War. We still get her iconic blonde hair in this sequence with Yelena’s green vest. So, it would’ve served the same function but also give her a stronger emotional ending realizing she has done well for the world. The leaked footage comes courtesy of @CosmicMedia_.

     

     

    In a way, this ending matches the post-credit sequence even better. As the original set her up for her next appearance, which was in theaters years before the film was released, only to cut to her grave after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Her outfit gives away the connective tissue, and there wasn’t much of a need to explain where they got their Helicarrier from. This emotional ending matches her story throughout the franchise much better.

    Plus, seeing a girl free to pretend she is Black Widow also adds some relevance to the actions she undertook in the film. There’s a reason they went with the ending that was released in theaters and on Disney+, but it’s always great to get a look at what almost made its way into the film. It’s neve ran easy decision to figure out what leaves the cutting room floor, but luckily physical releases still offer glimpses into what could’ve been.

    Source: Twitter

  • New ‘The Suicide Squad’ Artwork Reveals Deathstroke Had Bloodsport’s Role

    New ‘The Suicide Squad’ Artwork Reveals Deathstroke Had Bloodsport’s Role

    The Suicide Squad has finally released in theaters and on HBO Max. Even with a lukewarm Box Office opening over the weekend, it’s proving quite popular on the streaming service. It introduces us to some new characters from the DC canon alongside some familiar faces from the previous entry. One of the highlights is the newly introduced character of Bloodsport, who is played by Idris Elba in the film.

    Yet, it looks like his role might’ve been very different at one point as Twitter user @DCversio1 shared an image from behind-the-scenes with various artwork in the background. Once you take a closer look you’ll notice that Bloodsport’s leading position is taken by the iconic DC anti-hero, Deathstroke. It’s possible they kept the artwork for production purposes but already realized the role would be perfect for Bloodsport.

    https://twitter.com/DCverso1/status/1425084579212406787

    James Gunn did reveal that the character almost made the cut into the film. Yet, we never got into any insight into what role he would’ve had and it seems he almost was the leading man of the original second team throughout the film. The other members, King Shark, Peacemaker, Polka-Dot Man, and Ratcatcher 2, are present in the visual.  We sadly don’t see the first team from the film, which might reveal its original line-up.

    Still, it’s a shame we didn’t get the return of Deathstroke, who only briefly returned in Zack Snyder’s Justice League for a brief appearance. He was played by Joe Manganiello in both versions of the film. It’s uncertain if he was up for the role, or Idris Elba would’ve taken on a new interpretation of the character. Still, Bloodsport’s unique weapons added a great visual flair to the film, and it hopefully is just the beginning of Elba‘s time in the DCEU.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Runtime Revealed

    ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Runtime Revealed

    It looks like we finally got an inclination on how long the upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be. It seems Cinemark has included the official runtime in its listing of 2 hours and 12 minutes. As such, the film will be the same length as the non-MCU film X-Men: First Class but longer than Doctor Strange by a few minutes. It’s still quite a few minutes shorter than the 2 hours and 14 minutes Black Widow ran in July. Black Panther and The Incredible Hulk are ahead by a minute in runtime.

    The film will follow Simu Liu‘s Shang-Chi, who is forced to return to the Ten Rings organization and face his father’s legacy. We got a glimpse of the confrontation between the two that’ll end up as a tug of war for the right on wielding the ten rings. On the way, it seems he’ll also face some unlikely and familiar foes.

    The runtime seems to be generally on par with most Marvel Studios and overall modern Hollywood films. It’ll be interesting to see how much time we really spend with Shang-Chi’s early childhood and time living in the United States before his past comes back to haunt him. Early trailers teased quite a bit of mythology getting explored in the film.

    It’s crazy to think we’re only a few weeks away from its release, as it originally planned for a February release. Of course, the production also got pushed back due to the pandemic. So, the team had more time to work on it. It got shifted back by a few months when Black Widow took its original July release. Here’s hoping current developments don’t mean that Eternals loses its November release slot.

    Source: Cinemark via Games Radar, Quora

  • 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

  • Marvel and DC Faces Controversy as Creators Speak Out on Lack of Compensation

    Marvel and DC Faces Controversy as Creators Speak Out on Lack of Compensation

    Marvel and DC films have been quite a success for the companies involved. Yet, the harsh reality unveils that it hasn’t been too kind for the creators of the characters, we’re seeing on the silver screen. In a very revealing piece by The Guardian, we get insight into how comic creators are facing the harsh restrictions set by frugal companies and their refusal to compensate their creators.

    We get quite a few examples of how contractual wordings are quite the slippery slope. Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons created the iconic Watchmen series that became the basis for a popular HBO series. They had a contractual share on merchandise profits, but they simply retitled it “promotional items” and refused to pay out the comic creators.

     

    Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons – Tommy Girard

     

    An anonymous Marvel creator had the following to say after his character’s appearance in the popular film franchise:

    I’ve been offered a [special character contract] that was really, really terrible, but it was that or nothing. And then instead of honouring it, they send a thank you note and are like, ‘Here’s some money we don’t owe you!’ and it’s five grand. And you’re like, ‘The movie made a billion dollars.

    It’s just a small glimpse into how contractual obligations are misconstrued. Harley Quinn’s Jimmy Palmiotti also recommended to lawyer up when you work with a comic book company. They also get a ticket to the premiere alongside the check, but there is no obligation to do so. The reason this practice is the norm is due to how comic creators work for the companies. Marvel seems to be quite infamous for its tight contracts and frugal approach. It’s not too surprising given the rumors surrounding their CEO Isaac Perlmutter.

    Still, it’s terrible to read how these creators of our childhood classics are being treated to this day and, hopefully, this is the necessary wake-up call to make due. If you’re interested in reading the full article on the controversy, you can check it out here.

    Source: The Guardian