Author: Christopher Marc

Posted on in Film News

Michael B. Jordan Officially Making Directorial Debut With ‘Creed III’ – MGM Sets Release For November 23rd, 2022

Yesterday, MGM announced via Variety that Michael B. Jordan will make his feature film directorial debut with Creed III. Jordan playing Adonis Creed in the previous two films will reprise the role with Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad expected to return as well.

Jordan stars in the boxing franchise as Adonis “Creed” Johnson, son of the fallen boxing champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) — Rocky Balboa’s (Sylvester Stallone) former foe turned friend, who was killed in a match versus Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV.

The script comes from Keenan Coogler (Space Jam: A New Legacy) and Zack Baylin (King Richard) that is based on an outline from producer Ryan Coogler.

MGM has given Creed III a release date of November 23rd, 2022 which would suggest a fall or winter production start.

CREED II – In 1985, Russian boxer Ivan Drago killed former U.S. champion Apollo Creed in a tragic match that stunned the world. Against the wishes of trainer Rocky Balboa, Apollo’s son Adonis Johnson accepts a challenge from Drago’s son — another dangerous fighter. Under guidance from Rocky, Adonis trains for the showdown of his life — a date with destiny that soon becomes his obsession. Now, Johnson and Balboa must confront their shared legacy as the past comes back to haunt each man.

SOURCE: VARIETY

Posted on in Film News

‘Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’ Working Title Is ‘Dust Bunny’

Production Weekly has listed the working title of Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania as Goat Rodeo, a slang term meant to be used when things go really bad aka a shitshow. Fitting given that Jonathan Majors will be playing the Marvel Comics villain Kang The Conqueror.

UPDATE: Production Weekly seemingly got their wires-crossed as Goat Rodeo is Captain Marvel 2 and Dust Bunny is the working title of the Ant-Man sequel.

A goat rodeo is a slang term for something going totally, unbelievably, disastrously wrong, and there’s nothing left to do but to sit back and watch the trainwreck. In other words, a goat rodeo is a chaotic situation, fiasco, or, more vulgarly, a shitshow.

Filming according to actress Evangeline Lilly, will begin sometime this summer.

We can confirm that production is mainly taking place in England and they’ve hired production designer Will Htay (Andor).

Other recent working titles for the Marvel Studio films include Blue Bayou (Black Widow), Sack Lunch (Eternals), Steamboat (Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings), The November Project (Spider-Man: No Way Home), Stellar Vortex (Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness), and The Big Salad (Thor: Love & Thunder).

Peyton Reed returns to direct after tackling two episodes of The Mandalorian in it’s second season including it’s finale that featured a de-aged Luke Skywalker.

Marvel/Disney has yet to give the sequel an official release date, even if it’s said to be aiming a for date in 2022.

SOURCE: PRODUCTION WEEKLY

Posted on in Film News

‘John Wick’ Director Chad Stahelski Developing New Hybrid Action Movie ‘Classified’ – ‘Die Hard’ Meets ‘Indiana Jones’

Deadline reports that New Line Cinema has landed a new action movie, titled Classified, that will see John Wick’s Chad Shahelski attached to direct. A hybrid genre film that combines elements of isolated location similar to Die Hard with the dangerous relics of Indiana Jones.

It’s script will be penned by Andrew Deutschman and Jason Pagan, who previously worked on Project Almanac and Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension.

The project is a high octane thriller that was shopped as Die Hard meets Indiana Jones. It is set inside a top secret government bunker, the kind that ends Raiders of the Lost Ark. That bunker contains relics covertly recovered during World War II, and they turn out to be more powerful and dangerous than ever imagined.

Chad is a busy bee, he recently helped consult on The Matrix 4 and is set to direct both John Wick: Chapter 4 and John Wick: Chapter 5 for Lionsgate. He had also been developing a reboot of the Highlander franchise and a car-centric action project for Paramount Pictures. Also, Stahelski is producing a spinoff film Ballerina directed by Len Wiseman, set within the world of John Wick’s hierarchy of assassins.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Working With Director Sam Raimi On ‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness’

Filming on Marvel’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness has been underway in the United Kingdom since late last year and Collider was able to speak with it’s star Benedict Cumberbatch about working with director Sam Raimi.

CUMBERBATCH: “Sam, amazing. He’s so collaborative. God, he comes with the baggage of an icon. He’s an incredible force, especially in this genre. But he’s so humble, he’s so nice, he’s so appreciative, you really wanna serve him. And boy, when he’s happy, you know you’ve done something right. He’s so good at getting you there and getting it there. It’s been a very, very collaborative process, this one. Our origin stories, I guess, and obviously the beasts that were the Avengers films to be a part of were a thrill, but you’re kind of just along for the ride. You do the best with what you’ve already got given to do. The second time around, there’s a bit more of, ‘So, what do you want to do, and how do we go about solving this?’ So it feels very creative. Scarily so, sometimes.”

We know that the sequel will include The Multiverse and WandaVision ended with Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff becoming the Scarlet Witch along with getting her hands on the Darkhold, a dark magic spell book in Marvel Comics that could lead to multiple evil characters coming into their dimension.

Newcomer Xochitl Gomez will be playing Young Avengers member America Chavez aka Miss America as confirmed by Marvel back in December.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness will be released on Mach 25th, 2022.

SOURCE: COLLIDER

Posted on in Television News

Netflix’s Samurai Anime Series ‘Yasuke’ Drops April 29th – LaKeith Stanfield Lending His Voice & Music From Flying Lotus

It was announced this week by Netflix that their upcoming anime six-episode series Yasuke from LeSean Thomas and Japanese anime studio MAPPA will be released on April 29th. The series is a remaining of the real-life story about Yasuke aka The Black Samurai, who became one of the first and only foreigners to obtain the rank of samurai in feudal Japan.

Yasuke was a native of Portuguese Mozambique who was brought to Japan as a slave to Jesuit missionaries. The first black man to set foot on Japanese soil, Yasuke’s arrival aroused the interest of Nobunaga, a ruthless warlord seeking to unite the fractured country under his banner. A complex relationship developed between the two men as Yasuke earned Nobunaga’s friendship, respect — and ultimately, the honor, swords and title of samurai.

LaKeith Stanfield will be voicing Yasuke with music from Flying Lotus.

Here is the official synopsis from Netflix.

Yasuke is a six-episode anime series created by LeSean Thomas, set in alternate fantastical Japan during the feudal era. The story follows a samurai warrior of African descent who must return to his life of sword-fighting and violence in order to protect a mysterious girl from dark forces. The story, just like the passionate creative team, transcends borders, cultures and languages and is one that we’re so proud to tell at Netflix and share with the world.

In a war-torn feudal Japan filled with mechs and magic, the greatest ronin never known, Yasuke, struggles to maintain a peaceful existence after a past life of violence. But when a local village becomes the center of social upheaval between warring daimyo, Yasuke must take up his sword and transport a mysterious child who is the target of dark forces and bloodthirsty warlords. 

A live-action feature film version had been in the works with Chadwick Boseman attached to star before the actor passed due to his battle with colon cancer.

SOURCE: NETFLIX

Posted on in Film News

‘Black Widow’: Disney CEO Bob Chapek Reaffirms May Theatrical Release

Yesterday, Disney had a shareholders meeting and CEO Bob Chapek said again that Marvel’s Black Widow solo film is sticking to it’s May 7th release date. Never mentioning a hybrid release on Disney+ for the Marvel Studios flick, something fans have been hoping since a full year ago.

The film directed by Cate Shortland takes place between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War before the death of Natasha in Avengers: Endgame, the idea is that the Black Widow mantle is going to be handed down for future films and shows. Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova is also returning for the Hawkeye series set to begin airing on Disney+ in late 2021 but the size of her role hasn’t been confirmed.

BLACK WIDOW – Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

SOURCE: DISNEY

Posted on in Television News

‘WandaVision’s Paul Bettany & Kathryn Hahn Keen To Return At Some Point To The MCU

While their future fates in the Marvel Cinematic Universe seem to be up-in-the-air, WandaVision actors Paul Bettany and Kathryn Hahn are willing to return if eventually called upon by Marvel Studios.

Kathryn recently spoke with The New York Times, revealing she is indeed open to the idea of Agatha’s return but hasn’t heard anything from the studio.

Will we see more of Agatha Harkness in the Marvel universe?

HAHN: “I have no idea. They keep it really tight.“

Well if it’s something you want, I hope you get that opportunity.

HAHN: “Oh, me too. I want to. Now that I have a taste of it, I’m like, ahh. I really, really love it.”

Paul Bettany was a little more blunt when asked by Esquire if he’d be willing to play Vision forever.

Are you going to play Vision forever?

BETTANY: “I love Vision. Yes, I’m in.”

Spoilers ahead.

The Disney+ series ultimately ended with Hahn’s Agatha Harkness being stuck in her nosy neighbor role Agnes in Westview, New Jersey. Bettany’s Vision was erased when the Hex came down and Hayward/S.W.O.R.D.’s reanimated version of Vision (white version) simply flew into the clouds, his return seems extremely likely given he didn’t get a conclusion and Wanda might attempt to resurrect her family via The Multiverse.

Kevin Feige confirmed not too long ago they don’t have current plans to give WandaVision a second season, so we would have to assume the pair might show up in the films down the line.

We know that Wanda’s journey as the Scarlet Witch will be continued into Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, which is currently filming in the United Kingdom at Longcross Studios.

SOURCE: ESQUIRE & THE NEW YORK TIMES

Posted on in Film News

‘Avatar’ Getting A Re-Release In China & Might Regain Box Office Record From ‘Avengers: Endgame’

James Cameron’s Avatar released back in 2009 was a huge phenomenon and became the biggest box office release globally at $2.79 billion, but eventually lost that spot when Avengers: Endgame took the record away earning $2.797 billion. Now, there is word from The Hollywood Reporter that China has approved a re-release of Avatar later this week.

China’s Film Bureau has approved a surprise plan for the director’s 2009 sci-fi epic Avatar to get a wide re-release in the country on Friday, according to two sources at Chinese movie theater companies, which were informed of the arrangements. The technologically trailblazing blockbuster will be made available to exhibitors for a nationwide release in both Imax 3D and ordinary 3D.

They point-out if Avatar earns $7.4 million it will regain the box office record.

Bringing the film back to China is a good way to prime a new generation for the upcoming sequels and reminding previous audiences about the franchise, since many likely haven’t seen it or haven’t watched it over the last ten-plus years.

James Cameron has been shooting Avatar 2, Avatar 3, and parts of Avatar 4 between California and Wellington, New Zealand. The first sequel, Avatar 2, is set to be released on December 16th, 2022.

AVATAR – On the lush alien world of Pandora live the Na’vi, beings who appear primitive but are highly evolved. Because the planet’s environment is poisonous, human/Na’vi hybrids, called Avatars, must link to human minds to allow for free movement on Pandora. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), a paralyzed former Marine, becomes mobile again through one such Avatar and falls in love with a Na’vi woman (Zoe Saldana). As a bond with her grows, he is drawn into a battle for the survival of her world.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News

James Gunn Confirms London Shoot For ‘Guardians of The Galaxy 3’ Later This Year & Debunks Old Adam Warlock Casting Rumor

Yesterday, a rumor was making the rounds that casting for the role of Adam Warlock was already happening for Guardians of The Galaxy 3 with a “Zac Efron-type” and James Gunn took to Twitter to debunk that claim rather quickly. The filmmaker is currently shooting his HBO Max series Peacemaker in Vancouver and clarifies there isn’t any casting underway, which makes sense since he’s on WarnerMedia’s dime at the moment.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1369445293733912577
https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1369502723289219076

This actually isn’t the first time James Gunn has addressed this Zac Efron/Adam Warlock rumor on social media as he debunked this exact thing on Instagram back in 2019. Suggesting that Adam Warlock wasn’t even going to be in the film as this rumor seemed to originally come from artist Boss Logic, about three years ago.

He did have a more fun update, as Gunn confirmed that filming on the sequel would be taking place later this year in London. While the filmmaker shot The Suicide Squad and Guardians of The Galaxy Vol.2 in Atlanta, the original Guardians film was shot in the United Kingdom. Ant-Man 3 and Captain Marvel 2 are also expected to shoot in the United Kingdom in 2021.

https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1369427359170957320

Marvel/Disney hasn’t given Guardians 3 an official release date but is said to be out sometime in 2023.

SOURCE: JAMES GUNN

Posted on in Television News

EXCLUSIVE: Emmy-Winning Production Designer of ‘The Mandalorian’ Is Working On ‘The Book of Boba Fett’

The Ronin can confirm that Andrew Jones, the production designer of The Mandalorian Season 1-2 will be returning to the Star Wars universe for The Book of Boba Fett. The series is said to be currently filming in California and according to Lucasfilm/Disney, will be debut this December on Disney+.

Jones won an Emmy last year for his work on the first season of The Mandalorian.

Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, and Robert Rodriguez are executive producing the series that stars Tamuera Morrison as Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand. It’s expected the trio of producers will also be directing episodes.

The Book of Boba Fett will be set within the timeline of The Mandalorian and star Temuera Morrison as the titular bounty hunter, along with Ming-Na Wen as Fennec Shand. Robert Rodriguez — who directed Chapter 14 of The Mandalorian, a thrilling installment that reintroduced Boba Fett to the Star Wars galaxy — joins Favreau and Dave Filoni as executive producer.

We’ll be excited to see what the cast ends up looking like.