Category: Film News

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New Liverpool Set Photos From ‘The Batman’ Include Colin Farrell’s Penguin and More Evidence That The Film Is Inspired By ‘Batman: The Long Halloween’

Filming on The Batman has resumed in Liverpool, England after Robert Pattinson’s positive COVID-19 test and brand new set photos have made their way online, which seems to reveal exterior shots for a funeral scene. 

In the new batch of set pics, we get images of Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne, Paul Dano’s Edward Nash aka The Riddler, Barry Keoghan as Officer Stanley Merkel, and new shots of Colin Farrell in his Penguin makeup. 

One of the set photos included Zoe Kravitz’s Selina Kyle standing/walking with John Turturro’s Gotham mafia boss Carmine Falcone. This image might suggest Selina could be the daughter of Carmine in The Batman, like in Batman: The Long Halloween, either legitimately or illegitimately in this version. 

You can check out those images here. 

There had already been hints to the film taking cues from Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale’s Batman: The Long Halloween with what seems to be a serial killer plot featuring the Riddler murdering people and in the teaser trailer leaves a Halloween card as a clue for Batman. Many fans had jumped to the conclusion that the Halloween card in the trailer was directly related to the villainous group called The Court of Owls, but in reality was more likely a nod to The Long Halloween given all the other elements we’re starting to see from it. 

The Batman has been recently delayed from a release date of October 1st, 2021 to March 4th, 2022 as Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction fantasy epic Dune has landed that October spot next year. 

The film takes place around two years into Bruce Wayne’s time as Batman in Gotham City and the HBO Max series focused on the Gotham Police Department will take place in Year One. 

SOURCE: JUST JARED & GETTY IMAGES

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Patty Jenkins and Gal Gadot Reunite For Paramount’s ‘Cleopatra’ Movie – Written By ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Screenwriter Laeta Kalogridis

Deadline has some interesting news this weekend as Wonder Woman duo of director Patty Jenkins and actress Gal Gadot are set to reunite on a Cleopatra biopic film written by Laeta Kalogridis (Avatar, Alita: Battle Angel, Altered Carbon, Shutter Island) for Paramount Pictures. The studio won a biding war that included contenders such as Warner Bros., Netflix, Universal, and Apple.

It most recently had Dune and Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve attached for a time before it eventually moved to Jenkins.

Cleopatra is the daughter of Ptolemy, ancestor of the leader of Alexander the Great’s army. When Rome’s ruler Julius Caesar’s mentor-turned-rival Pompey fled to Egypt after a brutal war for control of the empire, Egypt became a fixation of Roman rulers. Two siblings battled for the throne of Egypt. After winning that internal struggle by appealing personally to Caesar, Cleopatra had a complicated relationship with Rome, becoming the lover of Caesar and later Marc Antony. The latter alliance would become the undoing of both Antony and Cleopatra.

While Jenkins is currently known for directing Wonder Woman and the upcoming Wonder Woman 1984, she has tackled mostly serious features including the serial killer film Monster that earned Charlize Theron a Best Actress Oscar.

Laeta Kalogridis’ background in the action genre would suggest that the film could be more than strictly a period drama.

When filming is expected to begin is a little unclear at the moment as Gal is currently shooting Netflix’s Red Notice and has other projects in the works as well.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

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‘No Time To Die’ Director Cary Joji Fukunaga Interested In Making More Movies With The Next James Bond – Producers Also Keen For Reunion

While the final installment of the final Daniel Craig film in his era of the James Bond franchise with No Time To Die won’t be released until April 2nd, 2021, there is some possibly good news about director Cary Joji Fukunaga potentially returning in the future.

In the Wall Street Journal’s new No Time To Die coverage they were able to get some indication from both Cary and franchise producers that his return in the future could very well happen. They also mention he was courted by Disney for Marvel and Star Wars films.

Hypothetically speaking, Fukunaga would be interested in reuniting on another Bond film, or perhaps a series of films introducing the new 007.

In reality, though, Fukunaga’s future with Bond will depend on the film’s reception. 

FUKUNAGA: “I have never been able to predict how people react to something I’ve made. It could fly or completely fall. It doesn’t change how I view the film.”

Franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson also had kind words for Cary suggesting they’d like to work with him again.

BROCCOLI: “He’s a perfectionist, but that’s what you want. He far exceeded anyone’s expectations. He’s made probably one of the best Bond films ever…. He’s delivered a film on an epic scale, but it also has a tremendous, tremendous intimacy…. It’s a classic Bond movie but also a Cary Fukunaga film.”

WILSON: “He’s certainly someone we’ll work with again.”

This wouldn’t be a strange concept as Martin Campbell directed both GoldenEye and Casino Royale, covering two eras of Bond.

Bond 26 is indeed in development as Phoebe Waller-Bridge was previously linked as writing the script after tackling rewrites on No Time To Die. There have been plenty of rumors concerning the next James Bond actor but nothing has been made official and remain to be rumor/speculation until producers make an announcement. It means we’ll have to endure many more casting rumors for the foreseeable future.

Cary is a busy gent as it was recently announced he will direct three episodes of the Apple TV+ series Maters of The Air, the WWII show produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.

SOURCE: WALL STREET JOURNAL

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‘Kenobi’ Writer Joby Harold Developing A ‘Space Mountain’ Movie For Disney

It looks like Disney is starting to run out of animated films to remake into live-action.

Yesterday, it was revealed by The Hollywood Reporter by that Disney is now returning to it’s theme parks for inspiration for new film ideas and are now working on a live-action feature film based on their sci-fi themed indoor rollercoaster Space Mountain.

Logline details are being kept hidden amidst the rings of Saturn but it is described as a family adventure.

Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster with a space-theme. The ride was first introduced in Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort in 1975, followed by installations in California’s Disneyland in 1977.

Joby Harold has been assigned to write the screenplay, who is best known for Army of The Dead, King Arthur: The Legend of The Sword, and most recently joined the Kenobi series to do some rewrites for the show. He’s also working on a Transformers film for Paramount.

Harold did uncredited writing on Edge of Tomorrow and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum that earned him producing credits.

Disney is developing two different Pirates of The Caribbean films and a new version of The Haunted Mansion. They are also releasing a feature film in 2021 based on the Jungle Cruise ride starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

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‘Get Out’ Actress Allison Williams To Star In Robot Horror Flick ‘M3GAN’ From Blumhouse and James Wan

Deadline reports that Get Out star Allison Williams will be reuniting with Blumhouse for a new technology horror film titled M3GAN. Williams will star as the lead character, Gemma, a brilliant robotics scientist.

She will produce alongside James Wan’s Atomic Monster as well.

Williams plays Gemma, a brilliant roboticist at a toy company. She uses artificial intelligence to develop M3GAN, a life-like doll programmed to be a kid’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. After unexpectedly gaining custody of her orphaned niece, Gemma enlists the help of the M3GAN prototype – a decision that has unimaginable consequences.

The project sounds interesting with a script penned by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2, Luke Cage) based on a story by James Wan and will be directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound).

SOURCE: DEADLINE

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Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange Reportedly Joins ‘Spider-Man 3’ – Should Help Fuel Multiverse Speculation

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Benedict Cumberbatch has joined the case of Spider-Man 3 reprising his role as Doctor Strange. However, they’re not clear when he’ll shoot his Spider-Man 3 scenes as Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness will begin shooting soon in London, while the Spidey sequel is expected to shoot in stateside in Atlanta, Georgia.

This is a crossover that really shouldn’t surprise fans as the two Steve Ditko superheroes have been interacting with each other and teaming up against villains for many decades in the pages of Marvel Comics.

I seemingly predicted the crossover news back in 2016 with this cheeky tweet stating a crossover would happen in 2020, I also do lottery numbers on request.

There has been plenty of rumblings of Spider-Man 3 tackling The Multiverse/Spider-Verse after the casting news of Jamie Foxx reprising the Electro role and the addition of Doctor Strange into the mix would certainly support that narrative. The problem becomes does Marvel go all-in with focusing on various Multiverse characters/cameos or are getting a superhero film focused on an actual plot.

As THR points out there still seems to be a scheduling issue with the two competing Marvel sequels will productions filming in two different countries at the same time. It is possible that they shoot scenes when there is a break in their schedules or do them at a later date once both films shoot most of their scenes.

I’m slightly curious if Spider-Man will now show up in the Doctor Strange sequel as that could be when theses Spider-Man 3 scenes are shot. This could be exactly how Marvel Studios finishes out the recent contract with Sony Pictures as they get one more film with Holland’s Spider-Man before it expires again.

What could be happening is that Spider-Man 3 is part one of this big Multiverse cinematic event with Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness being the final climax, possibly the final time we see Tom Holland’s Spider-Man in the MCU.

It would also give Sam Raimi another hot at directing Spider-Man again.

Jon Watts returns to direct with a release date of December 17th, 2021 (subject to change).

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

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Natalie Portman Suggests Jane Foster’s Cancer Journey May Be Explored In ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ – “She’s Going Through Cancer Treatment”

With filming for Thor: Love & Thunder expected to begin around January-February at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, we haven’t really had much of an update on the project until now.

While speaking with Yahoo! Life, franchise actress Natalie Portman briefly suggested that we might indeed be seeing Jane Foster’s going through cancer treatment in the film just like her comic book counterpart.

PORTMAN: “I can’t tell you that much. I’m really excited. I’m starting to train, to get muscles. If there can be all these female superheroes, the more of them they are, the better it is. I’m trying to think — it’s based on the graphic novel of the Mighty Thor. She’s going through cancer treatment and is a superhero on the side.”

Portman could be simply relaying plot points about the Mighty Thor story, but I don’t really see Marvel removing that important element of the hero.

It was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that Natalie Portman would be playing Lady Thor in the film giving her a strong reason to come back for the sequel and possibly allows her to play the Marvel Comics heroine for many years.

Having a superhero that is undergoing cancer treatment or is a cancer survivor can be extremely powerful to kids with cancer or in remission. I can speak from direct experience that kids really looked up to Deadpool when they discovered he has cancer in that first film.

I’m sure Chadwick Boseman, the man, will also have a huge impact on kids as well as an example of strength. In the wake of the revelation that actor Chadwick Boseman was secretly undergoing cancer treatment during the film of multiple films including Black Panther, it’s not that hard to imagine that a fictional character could juggle superhero duties while fighting cancer.

I’m sure fans will have opinions on this but I think if handled properly it could be an extremely powerful and important part of Marvel’s new direction of representation.

Joining Portman in the Thor sequel will be fellow cast members Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Taika Waititi, and Christian Bale, the latter reportedly playing a villain.

Thor: Love & Thunder is expected to be released on February 11th, 2022, unless there are further delays or shifts with the Marvel slate.

SOURCE: YAHOO! LIFE

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Josh Brolin Says Playing Cable In ‘Deadpool 2’ Was A “Business Transaction” Compared To Working With The Russo Brothers

While we’re still waiting on an official announcement concerning the fate of Deadpool 3 at Marvel Studios, Cabble actor Josh Brolin spoke to cinematographer Roger Deakins on his podcast Team Deakins (spotted by The Playlist) about the differences between working on Deadpool 2 in juxtapose to working with Marvel/The Russo Brothers on Avengers Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

BROLIN: “Deadpool was hard. Even though it was funny, it was harder. That was more of a business transaction, it was more, ‘We need to make this like this,’ which I didn’t feel that way with Avengers.”

“[The Russo Brothers] would constantly go back and reference Scarface or Dog Day Afternoon. Whether or not it was a manipulation, they knew what to throw out there to bring it back into something inspired.”

Josh’s comments here are terribly off-base as the Deadpool sequel underwent specific reshoots because producers/studio felt certain scenes didn’t test well and it’s possible that set had less of a creative environment than with The Russo Brothers.

There have been rumblings of Marvel considering a return for Brolin’s Thanos but that remains only rumor at this point. It’ll be interesting if they do end up moving forward with new Deadpool movies that if they’ll keep Brolin in the Nathan Summers aka Cable role as the only official carry-over from the Fox era is Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson.

Before the merger, the plan at 20th Century was to tackle an X-Force movie from writer/director Drew Goddard before a third solo installment.

Ryan confirmed back in December 2019 that Deadpool 3 was indeed in development at Marvel Studios but we really haven’t a solid update since.

SOURCE: TEAM DEAKINS

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Universal Pushes ‘Jurassic World: Dominion’ Release Date To June 10th, 2022

Yet another Universal Pictures film has been given an release delay as Jurassic World: Dominion has been pushed from June 11th, 2021 to June 10th, 2022.

Director Colin Trevorrow said the following about the release being pushed an entire year.

TREVORROW: “For the past three months, I’ve worked with an extraordinary cast and crew on a film we can’t wait to share with the world. Even though we’ll have to wait a bit longer, it will all be worth it. Let’s stay healthy and take care of each other until then.”

The studio also released new teaser poster.

Filming had been taking place in Vancouver, London, and Malta.

SOURCE: UNIVERSAL

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‘Resident Evil’ Reboot Cast Officially Includes Kaya Scodelario As Claire Redfield and Hannah John-Kamen As Jill Valentine – Will Be Set In 1998

Constantin Film has announced via Deadline that the cast of their upcoming Resident Evil film reboot which includes Kaya Scodelario (Crawl) as Claire Redfield alongside Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ready Player One) as Jill Valentine, Robbie Amell (Upload) as Chris Redfield, Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker, Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Leon S. Kennedy, and Neal McDonough (Yellowstone, Band of Brothers, Captain America: The First Avenger) as William Birkin.

Johannes Roberts will be directing and it’s been confirmed that it will be an origin story taking place at Raccoon City in 1998.

Instead of continuing the Alice story from the Paul W.S. Anderson films they will going to be taking more of a traditional horror angle with the characters from the Capcom video game leading the film as Alice was created for the films.

RESIDENT EVIL (1996) – Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, members of an elite task force known as S.T.A.R.S., as they investigate the outskirts of Raccoon City following the disappearance of their team members. They soon become trapped in a mansion infested with zombies and other monsters.

Filming is confirmed to take place in the Toronto/Greater Toronto Area aka GTA along with talk of a shoot in New Zealand.

Daniel Richtman first mentioned Kaya was in the mix and The Illuminerdi first mentioned that Hannah was up for the Jill Valentine role.

There had been speculation that Kaya was joining the cast of Amazon’s Lord of The Rings series which seems to be debunked with this announcement.

SOURCE: DEADLINE