Author: Christopher Marc

Posted on in Film News

Björk Officially Returns To Acting Playing A Witch In Robert Eggers’ Viking Epic ‘The Northman’

Vikings actor Eric Higgins has revealed on social media that singer Björk has come out of retirement to take the role of a “The Slav Witch” in Robert Eggers’ third film The Northman. The main cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Alexander Skarsgard, Bill Skarsgard, Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and Claes Bang.

It will be a viking revenge epic that is set in Iceland.

The post was captured by fan account Björk Brasil.

Robert Eggers’ The Witch and The Lighthouse were certainly influenced by an Icelandic witch movie that starred Björk called The Juniper Tree, so having her play a witch in a Icelandic setting isn’t shocking.

Björk had retired from acting after the media attention she got from the musical drama Dancer In The Dark and recently revealed she had been sexually harassed by director Lars von Trier during the production. She won best actress at Cannes and the film went on to win Palme d’Or.

Her song for the film I’ve Seen It All with Radiohead’s Thom Yorke was nominated for an Academy Award, which led to a lot of the media ridicule for her swan dress.

SOURCE: ERIC HIGGINS

Posted on in Film News

‘The Batman’ Might Resume Production Next Month In The UK – DC FanDome To Include New Footage

In a brief report from Variety they state that Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson will resume production on The Batman starting early next month at Warner Bros. Studios Leavedsen.

Although, they point out the studio hasn’t confirmed the restart.

Shooting on the Batman reboot was taking place in England and Scotland when the pandemic led to a pause in global film production.

The cast led by Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne aka Batman also includes Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano as Edward Nashton aka The Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro as Carmine Falcone, Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson, Jayme Lawson as mayoral candidate Bella Reál, Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot aka The Penguin.

This will be the first installment in a new trilogy.

Director Matt Reeves also revealed in a new promo video for DC FanDome they will be showing fans new footage from the film, as we’ve only had some quick test footage of the suit released officially previously.

The Batman‘s new release date is set for October 1st, 2021.

SOURCE: VARIETY & WARNERMEDIA

Posted on in Film News

Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz, David Bradley, Ron Perlman, John Turturro, and Others Join Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’ Movie

Today, the bulk of the voice cast for Guillermo del Toro’s animated Pinocchio film for Netflix has been finally announced. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the casting additions but their website is currently having technical issues.

A handful of actors have previously worked with del Toro but there are also plenty of newcomers as well. Ewan McGregor had previously outed himself for the project months back during an interview.

This version of the classic Carlo Collodi tale will take more of a grim setting than the Disney counterpart as it will take place during the rise of fascism in Mussolini’s Italy.

Here is the full cast list for the stop-motion animation feature film.

  • Gregory Mann as Pinocchio
  • Ewan McGregor (Kenobi, Doctor Sleep) as Cricket
  • David Bradley (Harry Potter franchise, Game of Thrones) as Geppetto
  • Tilda Swinton (Snowpiercer)
  • Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds, Django Unchained)
  • Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, IT, Ghostbusters: Afterlife)
  • Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley, Thor: Ragnarok)
  • John Turturro (The Batman)
  • Ron Perlman (Nightmare Alley, Hellboy)
  • Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen)
  • Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim, Game of Thrones)

Production on Pinocchio started last fall at ShadowMachine’s studio in Portland, Oregon with Mark Gustafson co-directing alongside del Toro from a script penned by Guillermo and Patrick McHale.

Alexandre Desplat will be handling the film’s music and score.

Guillermo is expected to resume production on his thriller Nightmare Alley on September 16th in Toronto and complete principal photography by late November.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News

RUMOR: WB Considering Alexander Skarsgard For Hawkman In ‘Black Adam’ Movie?

Black Adam is one of the upcoming big DC Comics projects that will getting hyped-up at their event DC FanDome and there are some expectations that some casting/details will be revealed.

The Illuminerdi is now posting a rumor that New Line Cinema/Warner Bros. is “interested” in casting Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard in the role of Carter Hall aka Hawkman.

It’s worth noting that the Skarsgard Family has an established working relationship with Warner Bros. over the last couple of years.

Alexander recently led a Tarzan reboot for them a few years back along with roles on HBO shows True Blood and Big Little Lies. His younger Bill Skarsgard playing Pennywise in New Line’s IT and IT: Chapter Two. Their father Stellan Skarsgard is playing the villain Baron Harkonnen in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune, which is being distributed by Warner Bros.

There have been plenty of fan speculation concerning the casting of the Hawkman role and a handful of shady rumors as well. Still, take with a pinch of salt as with all casting rumors.

They also mention they’re considering Scottish Sam Heughan (Bloodshot, Outlander) actor for the part as well.

Skarsgard plays the villain of the CBS All Access series The Stand from New Mutants director Josh Boone, based on the Stephen King novel.

Dwayne Johnson is set to play the titular Black Adam with Noah Centineo reportedly playing Atom Smasher.

Jaume Collet-Serra is directing from a script penned by Adam Sztykiel.

The film’s release date has been announced for December 22nd, 2021 but could easily be pushed to 2022 because of the production delays.

SOURCE: ILLUMINERDI

Posted on in Film News

‘New Mutants’ Director Says He Approached Sasha Baron Cohen To Play Warlock

In a new interview with Nerdist, writer/director Josh Boone revealed that Warlock was almost going to be in early versions of The New Mutants and they even went as far to look at actors, revealing that comedian Sasha Baron Cohen was eyed for the part.

Josh going on to say that he spoke with Sasha about the role but ultimately 20th Century Fox had him pick between having Demon Bear or Warlock in the film, he ended up picking the former.

He also had plans on using Warlock in the sequel alongside casting Antonio Banderas as Sunspot’s father.

Despite all odds, the film is indeed being released in theaters this month as tickets went on sale today with an expectation it will be released on August 28th.

NEW MUTANTS – Set in an isolated hospital where a group of young mutants is being held for psychiatric monitoring. When strange occurrences begin to take place, both their new mutant abilities and their friendships will be tested as they battle to try and make it out alive.

SOURCE: NERDIST

Posted on in Film News

Reboot of ‘The Exorcist’ Reportedly In The Works At Morgan Creek Entertainment

Buried in a recent report from Deadline about a new series based on David Cronenberg’s thriller Dead Ringers, has revealed that Morgan Creek Entertainment is apparently developing a reboot of the classic William Friedkin horror film The Exorcist, considered to be one of the best horror films ever made.

Below is the brief mention of the project.

Current Morgan Creek projects include Stay Tuned at AMC, with a planned theatrical reboot of The Exorcist in the works for 2021.

I’m sure horror fans are going to be little shocked anyone would attempt a reboot, despite the multiple sequels and prequels the original 1973 film spawned.

The original was a breakthrough for the genre and included a massive amount of practical special effects and makeup. Max von Sydow had impressive old-age make that added decades to the actor.

THE EXORCIST – One of the most profitable horror movies ever made, this tale of an exorcism is based loosely on actual events. When young Regan (Linda Blair) starts acting odd — levitating, speaking in tongues — her worried mother (Ellen Burstyn) seeks medical help, only to hit a dead end. A local priest (Jason Miller), however, thinks the girl may be seized by the devil. The priest makes a request to perform an exorcism, and the church sends in an expert (Max von Sydow) to help with the difficult job.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Daniel Dae Kim and Randall Park Reunite For Untitled Heist Flick At Amazon Studios

Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Randall Park were previously seen in Netflix’s Always Be My Maybe as romantic rivals, but the pair will be leading an untitled heist movie for Amazon Studios written by Yung Il Kim (Billions).

Plot details for the film are scarce but here is what the report said and seems to skew in the realm of comedy.

Loosely focused on a reunion of high school friends who come together in a nod to the classic, fun ensemble heist films.

Park recently returned the role of Ant-Man & The Wasp‘s Jimmy Woo in the Disney+ series Loki which is expected to resume production soon and begin airing on the streaming service in 2021.

When production will begin is a little unclear.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

‘John Wick’ Director Chad Stahelski Hired For Lionsgate’s ‘Arcana’ – Urban Fantasy Penned By ‘Predators’ Screenwriters

Lionsgate is really keen on keeping John Wick franchise director Chad Stahelski at the studio, as Deadline reports they’ve attached to him a direct a spec-script titled Arcana they just picked up from Predators screenwriters Michael Finch and Alex Litvak.

A gritty urban fantasy set in the hidden world of magical clans.

The project seems to be in the director’s wheelhouse as he has been developing a reboot of the sci-fi fantasy action franchise Highlander, which could materialize as either a film or television series.

Stahelski will produce via 87Eleven Entertainment.

Chad will be a little busy for the foreseeable future with Lionsgate hoping to shoot John Wick: Chapter 4 and John Wick: Chapter 5 back-to-back. The fourth installment is expected to begin production once Keanu Reeves completes his work on Matrix 4 possibly in 2021.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

Updates On Marvel Studios’ Disney+ Shows

The Ronin has caught-wind of some interesting developments concerning the releases of the first two Disney+ shows from Marvel Studios and the potential production order of the ones that haven’t started to begin shooting.

First, it seems like WandaVision may indeed be finished enough to debut before the end of the year. We know that the series is still planning to do some pick-up shots or reshoots but it doesn’t seem like it will be enough to hinder a 2020 release.

However, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier is expected to have been pushed back to 2021.

Disney has yet to make solid announcements recently about when either show will be released other than reaffirming that Season 2 of The Mandalorian will be ready to go in October.

One big reason for the delay might not even be related to The Falcon‘s production pause, as it’s been months since Disney+ content has been shot due to the pandemic and that will leave a content gap next year for many streaming services. This could see places being a little more reserved and Disney dropping two Marvel shows alongside The Mandalorian might be a little too much at once.

Loki was always set to be released in 2021, so that doesn’t seem to have changed in any major way.

Also, while this could change due to COVID-19 and location scheduling, below seems to be the current production order of the new shows that haven’t started shooting.

  • Hawkeye
  • Ms. Marvel
  • Moon Knight
  • She-Hulk

This does make sense since Hawkeye and Ms. Marvel are further along in the casting process. Then again, multiple Marvel shows were in production in Atlanta at the same time, so the start dates might not be as staggered as they are with the feature films.

She-Hulk might be done with their scripts but it’s possible that Mark Ruffalo’s schedule is a factor, if he has indeed signed-on as expected.

On the film side, release dates are influx as there is a very good shot that Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings might not make it’s May 7th, 2021 release because of the production delays in Australia shortening the post-production window.

It’s unknown if Black Widow will stick to it’s November 6th theatrical release date or will be bumped to Eternals‘ February 12th, 2021 spot instead. There has been plenty of fan speculation it’ll simply be dumped on Disney+’s Premier Access section like Mulan, but little evidence to support it.

It is a little upsetting that without San Diego Comic-Con Marvel hasn’t made any big announcements. Hopefully, they’ll give some updates in the very near future taking cues from the upcoming event DC FanDome and doing their own in-house version of it.

Posted on in Television News

‘Day of The Dead’ Series Adds ‘The Void’ Director Steven Kostanski

The Ronin has learned that the upcoming Day of The Dead series loosely based on the George A. Romero zombie flick has added director Steven Kostanski, best known for directing The Void. 

Production (fingers crossed) is expected to take place between September 14th and December 4th in Vancouver. There is a chance these dates can change or production pausing as the pandemic will make any future productions unpredictable and British Columbia has seen some recent upticks in new cases. 

It was announced in February that the series landed at SyFy and was aiming to begin airing in 2021. 

The horror series will be written and showrun by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas. 

The new incarnation of Day of the Dead is the intense story of six strangers trying to survive the first 24 hours of an undead invasion.

The third in the Romero Zombie Saga, the film focused on a group of survivors in a military facility and it’s one of the more action-packed out of the series. 

DAY OF THE DEAD – Trapped in a missile silo, a small team of scientists, civilians and trigger-happy soldiers battle desperately to ensure the survival of the human race, but tension inside the base is reaching breaking-point, and the zombies are gathering outside.