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Tag: Paramount

  • New CG Animated ‘Transformers’ Film and TV Series in Development

    New CG Animated ‘Transformers’ Film and TV Series in Development

    Paramount is going crazy, as they are announcing one project after another. We’ve known for some time that they are working on reviving the live-action Transformers franchise with the upcoming Rise of the Beasts film, which we even got some looks from behind-the-scenes, but it looks like they aren’t quite done yet. During their Earnings Call, they have revealed they are working on a CG animated feature-length film eyeing a 2024 release alongside a new TV series a year earlier.

    There’s no word what exactly the series or film will be about, and if they might even be connected. It’s surprising that with all these spinoff announcements for various projects they didn’t talk about any additional live-action projects outside of Rise of the Beasts setting up a new trilogy. They may also not have finalized any plans which is why they haven’t announced anything and are looking to evolve the series. Of course, given its roots an animated film and series makes sense to prioritize especially as they continue to grow the brand, but it is a curious observation.

    Source: Twitter

  • Paramount’s ‘Harbinger’ Adaptation Adds Director Wes Ball

    Paramount’s ‘Harbinger’ Adaptation Adds Director Wes Ball

    It looks like a project that has been in development hell for some time has finally picked up some steam, as Deadline just reported that Maze Runner filmmaker Wes Ball has joined the adaptation of Harbinger. Paramount Pictures is eyeing an adaptation of the Valiant Comic of the same name that follows a group of teenagers with powers and their conflict with a corporation exploiting their abilities. The script will be written by Andrew Lanham, who recently worked on Marvel Studios’ Shang-Chi. It’s part of Ball’s first-look deal with Paramount and his production company Oddball Entertainment.

    For some time, the project was being developed by Sony with Dylan O’Brien and Noah Centineo being targeted for titular roles. Yet, it seems that there is currently no talent involved with the projects. It’s unclear when Ball may tackle this project, as he is currently busy developing a reboot of Planet of the Apes for Disney, but the script is being worked on with Josh Friedman involved.

    Originally, our own Charles Murphy broke the news on Sony’s original plans for the project back in 2018, where Justin Tipping was eyed to helm the project. It was part of a five-picture deal with Neil Moritz’s Original Film Studio that was eyeing the adaptation of Valiant Comics. So far, the only one realized is still Vin Diesel‘s luke-warm adaptation of Bloodshot. Here’s hoping the project can finally pick up the pace to bring the David Lapham and Jim Shooter series that started back in 1992 for 41 issues. We’ll keep an eye out for further updates.

    Source: Deadline, That Hashtag Show

  • ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Gets the Green Light

    ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5 Gets the Green Light

    Given its growing ratings and cultural relevance, a renewal of the Paramount streaming series Yellowstone for a fifth season seemed more like a “when” than an “if.” Just a couple of weeks ago, executive producer David Glasser confirmed that the studio was already hard at work on the fifth season with hopes to start filming this summer and now, Paramount has made it official: the Duttons are coming back for another go around.

    The fourth season of the series, which concluded its run just over a month ago, saw a significant increase in viewers and social media buzz. While the fourth season ended on less of a bang than its predecessor, it did move along long-gestating feud between Beth and estranged adopted son Jamie. In the official announcement from parent company ViacomCBS Media Network, Glasser had the following to say:

    We are honored to be able to bring audiences another season of Yellowstone. The continued growth in viewership and the recent recognition from the guilds bolsters our commitment to continue to bring groundbreaking entertainment to audiences.

    Production on Season 5 is tentatively scheduled to begin this May with a late-2022 premiere date in mind.

    Source: Variety

  • Paramount’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ to Release a Week Early, Animated ‘Transformers’ Eyeing 2024 Release

    Paramount’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ to Release a Week Early, Animated ‘Transformers’ Eyeing 2024 Release

    Paramount has shifted many of its upcoming releases, including a few of its highly anticipated animated films from well-loved IPs. Luckily, unlike the recent Mission: Impossible delays, we’ll be getting the projects earlier than initially expected, something we haven’t seen much lately in the countless delays from production studios during the pandemic. Not all news from Paramount is just about changes in release schedules, as we also have also gotten a release date for their animated adaptation of Transformers.

    After some movement in the Paramount release schedules, we have news that the animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film will now release on August 4, 2023, instead of the original date of August 11. It’s nice to get an earlier release for once, likely in an effort to move things around to better fit the newly delayed Mission: Impossible movies into the seemingly crowded 2023 lineup. In other news, we also now know the release date of a new Transformers animated movie, which is expected to release on July 19, 2024. We do not currently know the title of the film or any official information about the plot for now.

    While the live-action Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films left a lot to be desired for fans of the franchise, maybe a return to animation will be a welcome change and get both franchises back on track. There still is a live-action Transformers film in development as well. So, we’ll see how they’ll try to make the animated one stand out from that as well. These franchises are near and dear to many people’s hearts. Hopefully, this leads to a future more exciting than what we have had over the last few years.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘Pig’s Michael Sarnoski In Talks to Tackle ‘A Quiet Place’ Spinoff

    ‘Pig’s Michael Sarnoski In Talks to Tackle ‘A Quiet Place’ Spinoff

    There was quite some uproar when Jeff Nichols left A Quiet Place spinoff project, but that hasn’t deterred Paramount Pictures from finding a replacement. It looks like their search has finally come to an end, as hot off of his success with the Nicolas Cage-led film Pig, director Michael Sarnoski is in negotiations to take over the project. It’s still a mystery what the project will be about, as it’s mainly based on an idea from John Krasinski that won’t continue the storyline from the previous two entries.

    Currently, Paramount Pictures is hopeful that this new entry in the franchise might expand a new cinematic universe in the vein of the Marvel Cinematic Universe or the DC Extended Universe. They also hint that Emily Blunt and Krasinski are set to return, which hints at this storyline potentially acting as a prequel to the events that kicked off the franchise’s main storyline.

    It’ll be interesting if they have enough to work with to create an entire universe, especially with the limiting concept that defines the reason it has its name. Though, it would be funny if we start getting spinoffs with different titles that change out the “quiet” in A Quiet Place. With a director in final negotiations, it hopefully means we might get some information in the near future.

    Source: Deadline

  • Paramount Delays ‘Transformers’ and ‘Star Trek’ Films

    Paramount Delays ‘Transformers’ and ‘Star Trek’ Films

    As the pandemic continues to impact the movie industry, we’re seeing a constant shifting of release dates. This is partly due to studios wanting to maximize profits by releasing a film at a better time. This had caused many studios to vacate release dates claimed years ago, as profits have diminished significantly due to COVID-19. The latest studio to make a massive shift in release dates is Paramount.

    On Tuesday, Paramount shifted both Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and an unnamed Star Trek film back on its release calendar. Transformers, which stars In The Heights star Anthony Ramos and Judas and the Black Messiah star Dominique Fishback, has been moved a full year from June 24, 2022, to June 9th, 2023. It is now set to go head-to-head with an unknown Sony/Marvel film, and serve as both Ramos and Fishback’s next salvo in their ascension into the upper ranks of the best actors of their generation. 

    The unnamed Star Trek film vacated the June 9th date now held by Transformers, and will now release on Dec. 22, 2023. Interestingly enough, the move comes after it was recently announced director Patty Jenkins‘ Star Wars movie, Rogue Squadron has been delayed. Rogue Squadron was originally set to hit theaters on Dec. 22, 2023. While Jenkins’ film still retains its 2023 release date, is not expected to enter production in 2022, indicating the film will move on Disney’s calendar in the coming months.

    Source: Variety

  • Paramount’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Film Adds ‘SNL’s Colin and Casey Jost as Writers

    Paramount’s ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Film Adds ‘SNL’s Colin and Casey Jost as Writers

    It looks like the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film has found its writers, as Deadline just shared that Saturday Night Live’s Colin Jost and his brother Casey will tackle the project.  This project is separate from Seth Rogen’s new animated TV series, as it’ll be produced by Michael Bay, Andrew Form, Brad Fuller, Scott Mednick, and Galen Walker. Plot details remain under wraps, but it’ll feature the popular brothers of pizza-eating mutated turtles.

    There’s no word if this will be a live-action adaptation of the popular franchise, or if they will tackle an animated adaptation once more. We do know that Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures’ will adapt the turtles with a full-fledged CG reboot. Gravity Falls director Jeff Rowe is attached to the project, with Brendan O’Brien working on the screenplay. The last we heard of the project was around four months ago when Illuminerdi released character descriptions.

     

     

    What is curious about this movie is not only that nickelodeon and Paramount are fast-tracking the project, it’s also Jost’s first major franchise. He did write Worst Man for Universal and starred in Tom & Jerry, but he is slated to return for the next SNL season. The IP is a high priority, and it seems that their pitch for the film might’ve convinced them to tackle it on the silver screen once more.

    TMNT is a fascinating franchise that seems to get rebooted quite frequently by Nickelodeon. We’ve seen many iterations across the years that add a unique spin to the classic four turtles.

    Source: Deadline

     

  • Leaked ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Optimus Prime and Bumblebee

    Leaked ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Set Photos Offer First Look at Optimus Prime and Bumblebee

    It’s only been a few weeks since we got our first details on the Beast Wars-inspired Transformers film. Steven Caple Jr. is directing the film titled Transformers: Rise of the Beasts that will introduce moviegoers to a variety of new factions including the Maximals, Predacons, and Terrorcons. We did get the hint that Optimus Prime will return and some new leaked set photos to confirm exactly that alongside what is very likely Bumblebee.

    Yellow with two black stripes is his iconic look. The design also seems very similar to the one we see him transform into at the end of the Bumblebee film. So, it may be our first hint at it being a direct sequel rather than a full-on reboot of the franchise. We also get a good look at Optimus Prime, whose truck form seems strongly inspired by the IDW comics. The set photos were shared by Twitter user @3CFilm.

     

    It’s uncertain if the white truck next to Optimus Prime might also be another Autobot, but it might be likely. Of all the franchises, Transformers didn’t seem like the kind of film that would have set leaks, but car designs can say a lot about the film’s direction. Optimus Prime’s simpler design may be an optimistic hint that they will continue the more cartoon-accurate designs from Bumblebee. It’ll be interesting to see if they have practical Maximals on set as well. We are moving away from the classic designs with more animalistic base forms. Now that Michael Bay has left the franchise, there’s a great chance to redefine the story moving forward and these are some good hints that they are doing that exactly.

    Source: Twitter

  • ‘WandaVision’s Matt Shakman to Direct ‘Star Trek Beyond’s Sequel

    ‘WandaVision’s Matt Shakman to Direct ‘Star Trek Beyond’s Sequel

    It looks like Star Trek isn’t facing a new reboot after all on the silver screen. Deadline has just revealed that WandaVision‘s director Matt Shakman will direct the next installment in the Star Trek series, which is led by Chris Pine. As such, they will see the original cast return in their iconic roles to continue where 2016’s Star Trek Beyond left off. The script will be written by Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson.

    It’s a huge step for the director whose previous work was mainly on TV. Marvel Studios’ success is not only rooted in finding up-and-coming talent but also in how they catapult their careers. Deadline points out that he chose Star Trek among a long list of offers. The film is already eyeing a production start next spring.

    There have been various attempts at continuing the Star Trek film franchise. The Revenant‘s Mark L. Smith was working on a script for Quentin Tarantino. It’s uncertain if he still plans on directing a unique entry in the franchise. Fargo‘s Noah Hawley also was working on a script before and was even rumored to direct an entry.

    It seems like they might be expanding the franchise in new creative ways that premiere alongside Chris Pine‘s franchise. J.J. Abram’s reinterpretation takes place in an alternate reality of the original series. As their various shows have proven, there are many eras and possibilities to tell new stories within the iconic franchise. So, there might be a lot more Star Trek heading our way in the near future.

    Source: Deadline, IMDb

  • Ron Perlman Voicing Optimus Primal in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

    Ron Perlman Voicing Optimus Primal in ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’

    It looks like Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will change the status quo, as Collider has just revealed that Ron Perlman will voice Optimus Primal. He is taking over the voice from Garry Chalk, who many might remember from the CG animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers. The Maximals will be joined by the Predacons and Terrorcons. It’s uncertain how they’ll appear in the series and how they’ll interact alongside the classic Autobots and Decepticons. The series will take place in Brooklyn in the 1990s, which is the same year the original Beast Wars toyline was first released. The film will be directed by Steven Caple Jr. with Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback confirmed. It isn’t the only film of the franchise in development, as Angel Manuel Soto got hired to direct another entry which is in early development.

    There is still no official confirmation if this upcoming entry will continue the Michael Bay films, or act as a quasi reboot through the Bumblebee film. The new direction of introducing the Beast Wars concept will certainly make the next entry in the franchise stand out from the rest. They may also make this an unofficial reboot of the entire franchise, as Optimus Primal could take on the role of Optimus Prime moving forward. They aren’t the same character, as Primal is actually a descendant of the Autobot and took on his name. The smae rule applies to the Megatron during the Beast Wars era, who may also get cast in the near future.

    Source: Collider