Category: News

Posted on in News, Television News

‘Cowboy Bebop’: Multiple First Look Images From Netflix’s Live-Action Series Coming November 19

Netflix has released a fleet of first look images from their live-action Cowboy Bebop series giving us some excellent glimpses at the upcoming show based on the beloved anime series.

Based on the worldwide phenomenon from Sunrise Inc., Cowboy Bebop is the jazz-inspired, genre-bending story of Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine and Radical Ed: a rag-tag crew of bounty hunters on the run from their pasts as they hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals. They’ll even save the world…for the right price.

The cast of Cowboy Bebop includes John Cho as Spike Spiegel, Mustafa Shakir as Jet Black, Daniella Pineda as Faye Valentine, Alex Hassell as Vicious, Elena Satine as Julia, Geoff Stults (Little Fires Everywhere, 12 Strong), Tamara Tunie (Black Earth Rising, Dietland), Mason Alexander Park (Hedwig and the Angry Inch National Broadway Tour), Rachel House (Thor Ragnarok, Soul), Ann Truong (Strikeback!, Hard Target 2), and Hoa Xuande (Ronny Chieng: International Student, Top of the Lake).

Filming had been taking place in Auckland, New Zealand alongside Amazon’s Lord of The Rings series (recently moving production to United Kingdom). There were production delays when John Cho got injured on set and were able to complete filming during the pandemic last year.

Netflix is also behind a live-action series based on Avatar: The Last Airbender, but would be aiming for a younger audience. However, this could lead to the streaming service tackling more live-action adaptations of anime/manga projects. I’ll keep my fingers crossed they’re able to make a series based on Ninja Scroll with Appian Way Productions (rights holders).

A series trailer for Cowboy Bebop is likely around the corner, but these images should hold fans over until that happens. The sci-fi adventure show will debut November 19 on Netflix.

Are you excited to finally get your hands on Cowboy Bebop?

SOURCE: NETFLIX

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Dune’: Denis Villeneuve Would Consider Adapting ‘Dune Messiah’ For A Trilogy & Confirms Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen Won’t Appear In First Movie

While director Denis Villeneuve is already in the scripting phase of Dune: Part Two and mentioning a potential fall 2022 production start, assumed to take place in Budapest again. He’s started talking up his desire for a third Dune movie to round-out a trilogy, as he mentioned to Radio Canada (spotted by The Playlist) he could see Frank Hebert’s Dune Messiah (the second installment) making an “extraordinary film.”

“There is ‘Dune’s second book, The Messiah of Dune, which could make an extraordinary film. I always saw that there could be a trilogy; after that, we’ll see. It’s years of work; I can’t think of going further than that.”

Below is a rundown of the second book.

“Dune Messiah continues the story of Paul Atreides, better known–and feared–as the man christened Muad’Dib. As Emperor of the Known Universe, he possesses more power than a single man was ever meant to wield. Worshipped as a religious icon by the fanatical Fremens, Paul faces the enmity of the political houses he displaced when he assumed the throne–and a conspiracy conducted within his own sphere of influence. And even as House Atreides begins to crumble around him from the machinations of his enemies, the true threat to Paul comes to his lover, Chani, and the unborn heir to his family’s dynasty…”

The director also confirmed that Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen won’t be showing up in Dune during his lengthy interview with Total Film. Feyd is the nephew of Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard) and pretty much takes the role of Paul’s rival in the space opera.

“The book is so rich. There are so many fantastic details about the different cultures. In order to preserve and have the time to bring that to the screen, we had to make important choices. It was a powerful image, that jockstrap.”

Dune is still set to be released on October 22 in theaters and HBO Max.

DUNE – A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

SOURCE: RADIO CANADA & TOTAL FILM

Posted on in News, Television News

‘Armor Wars’: Marvel Enlists Don Cheadle’s ‘Black Monday’ Co-Star Yassir Lester As Head Writer

Marvel Studios announced back in December that they would be moving forward with a War Machine series led by Don Cheadle. Armor Wars would be directly inspired by the classic Iron Man comic book story that sees a heap of armor suited villains coming out of the woodwork.

On Friday, it was revealed by The Hollywood Reporter that the series has finally landed a head writer with Black Monday writer/producer/actor Yassir Lester landing the gig. Cheadle leads Black Monday, which is a comedic take on the world of Wall Street and the show is essentially of the more bonkers things on television.

Lester could also land a supporting role given his acting career, but that remains to be seen and it’s interesting that Cheadle will be reuniting with a creative from Black Monday, will they pursue directors as well?

An interesting element of the comic book run of Armor Wars is that Justin Hammer is part of the story and would allow Marvel to bring back Sam Rockwell.

We’ll likely have to wait a little longer to know when Marvel Studios plans to announce a target release date or cast members/characters that will appear. I think there is a good shot we’ll see Iron Man baddies such as Crimson Dynamo, Titanium Man, and many others finally getting their live-action adaptation.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Sharon Carter/The Power Broker and Riri Williams/Ironheart showing up in the project.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Shang-Chi’: Tony Leung Talks Reinventing The Mandarin & Kevin Feige Disavows Fu Manchu Connection

‘Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings” will usher in a brand new MCU superhero, Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi, and makes him their very first leading Asian hero. However, it’s not the only thing to be championing about the upcoming film as Marvel wanted to tackle a new incarnation of legacy villain The Mandarin with Tony Leung’s Wenwu, the father of Shang-Chi.

The Mandarin was originally a primary villain of Tony Stark’s Iron Man and founding member of the Masters of Evil, a supervillain team that combated The Avengers in sixth issue alongside Zemo, Nathan Garrett/Black Knight (Dane’s Whitman’s uncle), and Chen Lu/Radioactive Man.

Tony Leung recently spoke with Elle Singapore (via Slash Film) and revealed the creative process alongside how he was able to reinvention of The Mandarin for modern audiences.

“When [Marvel] offered me the role, what they wanted was for me to create a brand new Mandarin, so I got to develop my character along with the filming. I’ve never approached Wenwu from a villain’s standpoint. Rather, I tried to explore the reasons that led him to become who he is. He’s a man with a history, who craves to be loved. He is also human, and he has a family. As I read [the script], I began to consider the many reasons why he’d turn out the way he is — a sociopath, a narcissist, a bigot.”

“When director Destin Daniel Cretton first described the role to me, he said there are many layers to the antagonist role, and hoped that I could come on board. I accepted it because of the director. It just felt right. Plus, this is something I’ve never done before, to play an Asian supervillain. A chance to do something for Asia. I thought, why not?”

Shang-Chi and The Mandarin do have a racist history as multiple Asian stereotypes were infused into their comic book counterparts, but, thankfully, Marvel Studios and Marvel Comics have taken different approaches over the years.

Marvel’s Kevin Feige spoke towards those racist origins by disavowing Fu Manchu, Shang-Chi’s original comic book father. As Feige points out to Chinese outlet Sina Weibo (via Variety) it’s a character Marvel has had zero connection with for ages.

“Fu Manchu is not a Marvel character. Fu Manchu is not a character we own or would ever want to own. And that was changed in the comics many, many years ago. And we never had any intention of doing that in this movie. Fu Manchu is not in this movie in any way, shape, or form…. He was such an offensive figure and was never anything we had any interest in doing. We want heroes that look like all our fans around the world and heroes that our fans can look up to and feel that wish fulfillment to be a part of. And it’s about inviting people into our world, not keeping people out of it or keeping people separate from it. So, definitively, Fu Manchu is not in this movie, is not Shang-Chi’s father, has not been for decades. And again, is not even a Marvel character.”

Feige also said the following about Tony Leung’s Wenwu, who is one of the key elements of the film that is getting a lot of buzz.

“This is a very unique character that you can almost, almost not even call a villain. This is a story of love between a father and a son, but misunderstanding and conflict, and that’s what we’re anxious for people to see in the movie.”

‘Shang-Chi’ will hit theaters exclusively on September 3.

SOURCE: ELLE SINGAPORE & SINA WEIBO

Posted on in News, Television News

EXCLUSIVE: Guillermo del Toro’s Longtime Cinematographer Guillermo Navarro Joins ’12 After Midnight’ Directing Team

Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley) is behind a new horror anthology series at Netflix called Guillermo del Toro Presents 12 After Midnight (formerly 10 After Midnight), where he’ll write, produce, and even direct alongside others.

In this new genre-defining anthology series, acclaimed Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will present a collection of personally curated stories, that are both equally sophisticated and horrific. Creator and executive producer del Toro will bring his own visionary style as both a writer and director to certain episodes. In addition, he will handpick a team of the genre’s best writers and exciting new filmmakers to bring his selection of stories to life.

The Oscar-winning director is assembling a team of directors to work on the show and we’ve learned about a new addition to the directing team that already officially includes del Toro and Jennifer Kent (The Babadook, The Nightingale).

The Ronin can exclusively reveal that Guillermo Navarro (Godfather of Harlem, Cocaine Godmother, Narcos, Hannibal, Preacher, Luke Cage) has joined the growing group of handpicked directors working on the horror anthology series.

Navarro is mainly known as a cinematographer with a heap of credits such as Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown, Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Four Rooms, and Spy Kids. He is the longtime cinematographer of del Toro working together on Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, and Pacific Rim.

We previously reported that director David Prior (The Empty Man) is also working on the series.

There is an expectation the more directors will be named at some point and we will update when more names are announced.

The production team includes seasoned production designer Tamara Deverell (Star Trek: Discovery), who had recently worked with del Toro on his latest feature film Nightmare Alley and his vampire series The Strain. Deverell will work alongside art director Brandt Gordon (Nightmare Alley, Crimson Peak, Total Recall, Suicide Squad, Shazam!)

Plot details on the shows are unknown but we should learn more once the streaming service releases some footage. There is an expectation that 12 After Midnight won’t be dropped on Netflix until sometime in 2022.

We know that Guillermo del Toro is busy on other projects including his next studio release Nightmare Alley this December by Searchlight Pictures and is co-directing a stop-motion animated film based on the classic fairy tale of Pinocchio for Netflix. It’ll be interesting to see if del Toro will continue his relationship with Netflix on future films and television projects.

Posted on in Film News, News

Paramount’s ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Movie Has Officially Wrapped Filming

Co-director John Francis Daley has officially announced on Twitter that filming on Paramount Pictures’ new Dungeons & Dragon movies has wrapped, after spending time shooting in Belfast, France, and Iceland.

Dungeons & Dragons is based on the beloved table top game that eventually incorporated various universes including elements from the Fafhrd & The Gray Mouser series of novels created by American fantasy author Fritz Leiber. It remains to be seen what Paramount’s angle will be with the new movie, if they’ll be setting it simply in a fantasy world or will be slightly inspired by the recent Jumanji film from Sony Pictures.

The beloved table-top fantasy game that recently got a resurgence with a new generation thanks to Netflix’s Stranger Things and it growing popularity again in the gaming community.

It originally had Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War, The Lego Batman Movie) attached to direct before Paramount pivoted to Game Night filmmakers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The duo, who previously wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming will tackle the script as well.

The Dungeons & Dragons cast members are Chris Pine (Star Trek, Wonder Woman, Hell of High Water), Michelle Rodriguez (Avatar, F9, Alita: Battle Angel), Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton, The Gray Man), Justice Smith (Detective Pikachu, Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom), Sophia Lillis (It), Chloe Coleman (Avatar 2, Gunpowder Milkshake), Daisy Head (Shadow & Bone), Hugh Grant (The Gentlemen, Five Eyes) is reportedly playing a villain.

Their production team consists of cinematographer Barry Peterson (Game Night), production designer Raymond Chan (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier), and stunt coordinator Brad Martin (Underworld, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier).

Paramount will unleash Dungeons & Dragons on March 3, 2023.

SOURCE: JOHN FRANCIS DALEY

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Black Panther 2’: Kevin Feige Confirms Dominique Thorne’s Riri Williams Will Debut In Sequel Before ‘Ironheart’ Series

After rumors from folks like Geeks Worldwide that Riri Williams would be making her debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel’s Kevin Feige has now confirmed this to Comic Book/Phase Zero and adding that actress Dominique Thorne has already started shooting scenes.

“We’re shooting Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, right now, and the character of Riri Williams, you will meet in Black Panther 2 first. She started shooting, I think, this week before her Ironheart series.”

Williams being introduced could have something to do with Wakanda investing in STEM programs as mentioned at the end of the original film. It’ll be interesting to see if Riri will have time to have a full origin explored or just teased leading into her solo series, Ironheart.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will hit theaters on July 8, 2022.

SOURCE: COMIC BOOK

Posted on in Film News, News

‘Aquaman 2’: James Wan Says Sequel “Heavily Inspired” By Mario Bava’s Classic Sci-Fi Horror Film ‘Planet Of The Vampires’

Production has been underway for a while now on Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in Watford, England. However, we don’t know a lot about the film outside of it focusing on Necrus (assumed to be the “lost kingdom”) and the DC Comics villain Mongo.

Director James Wan has mentioned a key film that will “heavily inspire” the Aquaman sequel. While speaking with Total Film, the filmmaker cited Mario Bava’s classic Italian sci-fi horror film Planet of The Vampires from 1965.

“Aquaman 2 is very heavily inspired by Planet of the Vampires. You can take the boy out of horror but you can never take the horror out the boy.”

It’s a little shocking given how goofy and colorful the original installment was, but Wan seemingly indicates they’ll be doing a little darker with Aquaman 2.

“Well, the first movie took a lot of people by surprise, right? And that’s partially because they were not familiar with the comic book, which deals in this very lurid, strange world. People were taken aback that I didn’t throw all that stuff away and make a dark, heavy film. But I didn’t feel that would have been right for it. So with the second film, I feel it will be easier for people to accept where we go because I’ve already laid the foundation.”

If you’re not familiar to the Italian sci-fi horror film check out a synopsis and trailer (alongside Joe Dante talking about the film for Trailers From hell) below.

PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES – In the near future the two spaceships Argos and Galliot are sent to investigate the mysterious planet Aura. As the Galliot lands on the planet her crew suddenly go berserk and attack each other. The strange event passes, but the crew soon discovers the crashed Argos – and learns that her crew died fighting each other! Investigating further, the explorers come to realize the existence of a race of bodiless aliens that seek to escape from their dying world.

Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom is set to hit theaters on December 16, 2022.

SOURCE: TOTAL FILM

Posted on in Film News, News

New ‘Eternals’ Trailer Gives Us First Looks At Black Knight, Kro, New Celestials & The Deviants

Marvel Studios is getting a lot of strong buzz for their next release, Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings, but they’re already kicking into gear the promotional campaign for Chloe Zhao’s Eternals.

The studio has just dropped a new Eternals trailer that mixes iconic Jack Kirby imagery with new takes on his character Kro along with fellow Deviants. It’s certainly visually striking and Marvel is leaning into Zhao’s recent Oscar win for Nomandland, which we all assumed would happen.

Patrick Burleigh (Power Rangers, Ant-Man & The Wasp) co-wrote the screenplay with Chloe Zhao.

Eternals is still set to be exclusively released in theaters on November 5.

The immortal heroes, the Eternals, came here 7,000 years ago, since the dawn of man, to “protect humans from the Deviants.”

Sersi reveals that she hasn’t seen some of the other Eternal teammates for centuries. With the monstrous creatures, the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, Ikaris decides that it’s time for them to “find the others” and defend humanity once again.

As the epic story unfolds, Sersi and Ikaris reunite with Kingo (played by Kumail Nanjiani), Sprite (played by Lia McHugh), Gilgamesh (played by Don Lee), Thena (played by Angelina Jolie), Makkari (played by Lauren Ridloff), Phastos (played by Brian Tyree Henry), and Druig (played by Barry Keoghan).

Chloé Zhao directs the film, and Kevin Feige and Nate Moore are the producers, with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Kevin de la Noy serving as executive producers. The story is by Ryan Firpo & Matthew K. Firpo, and the screenplay is by Chloé Zhao & Patrick Burleigh.

SOURCE: MARVEL

Posted on in Film News, News

Sly Stallone Says He’ll Shoot Jason Statham’s ‘Expendables’ Spinoff ‘Christmas Story’ In October

While we’ll likely have to wait a little longer to see The Expendables 4 finally get made, a spinoff is moving forward according to Sly Stallone.

Stallone took to Instagram to announce that he’ll be shooting in October the Lee Christmas spinoff, Christmas Story, focusing on Jason Statham’s character. The project has been in the works for ages, but looks like is actually happening now.

“Off to shoot the spinoff of Expendables (Temp. working title is Christmas Story) in Oct.”

Stallone is coming off a fun performance as King Shark in James Gunn’s DC Comics film The Suicide Squad, there had been rumors how Barney Ross would factor into the spinoff but hopefully things have changed. The actor has since retired iconic roles such as Rocky Balboa (won’t appear in Michael B. Jordan’s Creed III) and John Rambo, but seemingly will stick around to make Christmas Story and Expendables 4.

Jason Statham has been working a string of action flicks such as David Leitch’s Hobbs & Shaw, Guy Ritchie’s armored car thriller Wrath of Man, appeared in F9: The Fast Saga, and has wrapped on Ritchie’s spy flick formerly known as Five Eyes. There is also development on a sequel to Hobbs & Shaw, but remains to be seen when that will shoot.

We’ve seen three previous installments in The Expendables franchise, with the last installment pivoting from an R-rating to PG-13 in an attempt to boost box office only to become lowest earning film out of the three.

It’s unknown at this point if other familiar cast members will join the action pic.

THE EXPENDABLES – A group of mercenaries is double-crossed during a mission and are approached by Church to overthrow the ruthless dictator of a South American country. It isn’t long before the men realize things aren’t quite as they appear, finding themselves caught in a dangerous web of betrayal. Although their mission is compromised and an innocent is in danger, soldier of fortune Barney and his comrades decide to get the job done.

SOURCE: SLY STALLONE