Posted on in Film News

Jason Blum Optimistic About Marvel Studios Tackling Horror With ‘Blade’ Reboot – “Never Bet Against Marvel”

Another nifty quote from horror guru Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions during his interview with Inverse is his take on Marvel Studios finally tackling horror with their Blade reboot and the Doctor Strange sequel (originally announced as a scary film back at SDCC 2019), asking if Jason believes Marvel can make scary movies.

BLUM: “I’m of two minds. I would never bet against Marvel. They have a relatively good track record — that’s a joke, they have one of the best track records ever, right? I also think it’s a challenge to do horror at big budgets, but if anyone can do it, it’s Marvel.”

Inverse seems to be unaware that the scary/horror side of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness might be getting trimmed potentially due to the Multiverse aspect (likely making this more like an event film), something that was likely part of the reason director Scott Derrickson exited and was replaced with Spider-Man’s Sam Raimi.

However, it’s worth mentioning that Blade would most likely skew more in horror realm since the lead character is a vampire hunter and vampire hybrid himself. I think we’re all still curious how the action and violence will influence the film’s rating, given the original three movies are R-rated and given how the MPAA feels about blood/gore having tame vampires in your Blade film would certainly rub fans the wrong way.

When acquiring 21st Century Fox, former Disney CEO Bob Iger said they were open to the idea of keeping Deadpool R-rated which was seemingly echoed by studio heads Alan Horn and Kevin Feige. Blade is certainly a character that could be an experiment being produced by Marvel Studios then possibly released by 20th Century Studios under a Marvel Max or Marvel Knights banner, as not to confuse parents with the Disney side of the MCU.

It’s worth mentioning that Kevin Feige previously produced Blade Trinity (New Line Cinema) and Punisher: War Zone (Lionsgate) for Marvel, both R-rated films but the latter used the Marvel Knights banner.

There are certainly characters that should be set aside for their own mature films.

Marvel is reportedly now seeking black screenwriters to tackle Blade’s script which should tell you how in the development process they are at the moment. The project was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 with two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Alita: Battle Angel) playing Eric Brooks in the reboot. Ali revealed recently he met with the studio years ago after the release of the Netflix series Luke Cage to see if he could nab the Blade role.

BLADE – A half-mortal, half-immortal is out to avenge his mother’s death and rid the world of vampires. The modern-day technologically advanced vampires he is going after are in search of his special blood type needed to summon an evil god who plays a key role in their plan to execute the human race.

SOURCE: INVERSE

Posted on in Film News

Producer Jason Blum Promises ‘Spawn’ Remake Will Be “Very Edgy” Compared To The Original Movie

It’s been ages since we’ve had any real update concerning Blumhouse’s new remake of the Image Comics character Spawn, the feature film coming from comic book creator Todd Todd McFarlane who originally planned on writing and directing.

Producer Jason Blum gave a brief update to Inverse stating they’re still working on the story and will be making a much more edgy version compared the original live-action film released back in 1997.

BLUM: “It’s gonna be very different, it’s gonna be very edgy. What excited me about it is that Spawn is kind of the last great unexploited comic. So that seemed like an amazing opportunity. It’s taken longer than I hoped it would have to get the story right, but we’re still working on it.”

The version of Spawn seen in both the comics and the excellent HBO animated series as considered “edgy”. If you’re unfamiliar with Spawn, Al Simmons is a government assassin that murdered by his handlers then sent to hell. There he is given a chance to return to Earth to see his wife Wanda one more time if he leads hell’s army as the Hellspawn. As the Hellspawn, he decides to rebuff the offer and becomes a violent crime fighter going after mobsters, assassins, crooked cops, and a pedophile serial killer named Billy Kincaid.

From some of the comments made by Todd McFarlane he was going to attempt something that vastly deviated from his original version of Spawn which, to me, sounded like it would turn off a lot of fans of the franchise. Seemingly focusing on Twitch’s perspective and making Spawn more of a boogeyman figure. A concept that sounded like it was based on securing a smaller than normal budget so that Todd could keep creative control and direct.

The character made waves because at the time there weren’t too many popular African-American superheroes at the level of Spawn, the character and merchandise was everywhere before the ridiculous feature film make him a bit of a joke. A slight issue with the rights to Spawn is that Todd and Blumhouse can’t use franchise characters like mob boss Tony Twist (due to civil suit), Angela (sold to Marvel by creator Neil Gaiman), and Chapel (owned by Rob Liefeld via Youngblood).

Spawn got a little bit of a cultural revival recently thanks to joining the DLC character lineup of Mortal Kombat 11, voiced by Keith David, who played Spawn on the HBO series.

At one time, Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained, Baby Driver, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Miami Vice) was announced to play Al Simmons aka Spawn with Jeremy Renner (Hurt Locker, The Avengers) to play an incarnation of Detective Maximilian “Twitch” Williams. Both are currently busy with Marvel Cinematic Universe projects as Foxx will be playing a version of villain Electro in Jon Watt’s Spider-Man 3 and Renner is reprising the Clint Barton role in a Hawkeye series for Disney+.

They had once planned on shooting the Spawn in Toronto, but it remains to be seen if they’ll stick with that location if cameras ever start rolling on the remake. Makeup and special effects artist Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead, Watchmen, Preacher) was also expected to work on the film, something I first reported in the summer of 2018.

SOURCE: INVERSE

Posted on in Television News

Katee Sackhoff Says Bo-Katan Is “Important” To The Story and Future of ‘The Mandalorian’ Series – Game For A Spinoff

Last Friday, Star Wars fans finally got to see the live-action version of Bo-Katan played by voice actress Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and it seemed to be setting up the character for bigger things given her connection to the Darksaber that is currently in the hands of Moff Gideon. Not to mention her own journey could be explored further.

Katee stat down with Entertainment Tonight (via The Playlist) for her first interview about The Mandalorian and revealed that Bo-Katan is expected to be important to the future of the series.

SACKOFF: “She’s been such a pivotal character in this world and she’s so important to this story in The Mandalorian and where it’s going.”

Although, she seems to allude that she won’t have scenes with Rosario Dawson’s Ahsoka Tano or even confirm that casting. Tano is the next person that Mando will have to track down in upcoming episodes. But this could be something to through people off the scent of what’s to come.

SACKHOFF: “I’ve never met Rosario [Dawson], so I don’t know anything about [her role]. I love the character from Clone Wars and Rebels, so I’d love to see [Ahsoka].”

Katee points out she isn’t into spoil things for the fans and likely isn’t looking to ruin things for people.

Not to say anything is sure but it’s possible that the series could be handed-off to a new leading Mandalorian character like Bo-Katan either getting her own spinoff (a rumor that was debunked by Deadline) or taking the lead role from Din Djarin in future seasons of The Mandolarian.

Katee can’t confirm spinoff plans but says she would be interested in continuing the character as long as they want her.

SACKHOFF: “That’s what is so great about the Star Wars Universe there are so many stories…I have no idea but I would love to play this character as long as she has a story.”

I guess we’ll have to wait and see how much more Bo-Katan we’ll be getting in Season 2.

SOURCE: ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT

Posted on in Film News

Paramount In Talks With ‘Creed 2’ Director Steven Caple Jr. For Next ‘Transformers’ Film Penned By ‘Kenobi’ Writer

After months of searching Paramount Pictures and Hasbro Studios has found a director for their next Transformers film. Deadline reports that Creed 2 director Steven Caple Jr. has been tapped by the studio for the upcoming blockbuster gig that will see him tackle a new film in the newly soft-reboot of the franchise that started with Bumblebee.

They point out that negotiations haven’t begun with the director.

This will be based on the script that screenwriter Joby Harold (Kenobi, Army of The Dead) developed.

This news would likely explain why Steven wasn’t being considered for Creed 3 with star Michael B. Jordan mulling over making his directorial debut on the Rocky spinoff sequel.

Hasbro Studios is also behind G.I. Joe Origins: Snake Eyes and a new Power Rangers film.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Four-Time Oscar Nominee Saoirse Ronan Would Like A Crack At Playing A ‘Bond’ Villain

With Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond coming to end in April, there are plenty interested to see who will end up playing the new 007 after producers confirmed they haven’t even started searching for a new actor despite rumors.

What’s always equally nice hearing is who wants to nab a Bond villain role playing opposite to the iconic MI6 Agent. Irish actress and four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan (Brooklyn, Little Women, Atonement, Lady Bird) has thrown her hat in the ring to play a Bond villain if the opportunity ever came her way while speaking with MTV News.

RONAN: “I would love to do a Bond. What I really want to is like, I want to play a villain in a Bond film or something like that. That’d be incredible but I’d love to do something really fucking big.”

It also sounds like she’d love to be involved with a large blockbuster in general.

At one point, during the development of Skyfall, there was consideration to have a leading female villain with Craig’s current wife Rachel Weisz (Black Widow, The Favourite) reportedly wanted for the part in one of the early incarnations. Oddly enough, while producers have been open to giving female characters a larger presence in MI6 they still haven’t recently made the main big-bad a female which isn’t a little crazy given all the female villains that occupied the franchise.

It’s also worth noting that Ronan has previously doubled with the spy genre with her Joe Wright-directed thriller Hanna co-starring with Eric Bana and Cate Blanchette.

When Bond 26 will begin shooting or casting is unclear but No Time To Die co-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge is said to be currently working on the script.

No Time To Die is expected to drop on April 2nd, 2021 barring anymore release hiccups.

NO TIME TO DIE – Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology. 

SOURCE: MTV NEWS

Posted on in Film News

Sly Stallone Officially Joins James Gunn’s ‘The Suicide Squad’ In Mystery Role

Today, Sly Stallone has announced via Instagram that he’ll be part of the cast of James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad in an undisclosed role. Which could be voice work for a CGI character like King Shark, villain Starro is another option, or possibly he’s just doing some ADR for whatever the cameo is.

STALLONE: “I’m on my way to do a little work with a great director, James Gunn, on Suicide Squad 2 and I think it’s going to be a spectacular effort. I saw it and it’s unbelievable so I’m very proud to be included but I can’t tell you anything more about it because you’ll have to wait and see but it will be well worth the wait.”

Stallone last weekend wrapped on his superhero film Samaritan in Atlanta and his statement here would suggest that he’s only just joined the film after watching it which could suggest he’s recording some post/voice work for the film. It’s worth mentioning that James Gunn is currently in Canada quarantining and would suggest Sly will be interacting with the director via Zoom/Skype further supporting the idea it’s voice recording.

This news shouldn’t be confused with the Peacemaker series aka Scriptures that doesn’t begin to shoot until January of next year in Vancouver.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHlVfoypWmF/

The Suicide Squad is set to be released on August 6th, 2021 barring any studio hiccups.

SOURCE: SLY STALLONE

Posted on in Film News

Zazie Beetz Reunites With ‘Deadpool 2’ Director By Joining The Cast of Brad Pitt’s ‘Bullet Train’

Deadline reports that Joker actress Zazie Beetz has joined the cast of Sony’s Bullet Train, an action film about assassins set on a Japanese bullet train. She’ll be reunited with Deadpool 2 director David Leitch and actor Brad Pitt who played the Vanisher in a brief cameo.

Bullet Train’s cast also includes Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, and Andrew Koji.

Zazie also worked with Brian Tyree Henry on the FX series Atlanta.

Filming is said to be taking place in Los Angeles, California.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Film News

Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord Joins ‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ Character Lineup – Will Other Guardians Appear?

At the end of Avengers: Endgame, we saw Thor join the ranks of The Guardians of The Galaxy and that seemingly will be carrying over to Thor: Love & Thunder.

The Hollywood Reporter says that after Chris Pratt does some additional photography for The Tomorrow War he’ll join the production of Thor: Love & Thunder (working title The Big Salad) sometime next year in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Reprising the Peter Quill/Star-Lord role for the Thor sequel.

Love and Thunder is due to shoot in Australia in January, and Pratt will do a short round of additional photography for his sci-fi movie The Tomorrow War before heading to the land Down Under.

I have to assume the rest of the Guardians cast will being showing up as well.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Television News

‘The Mandalorian’ Chapter 11 Sees Mercedes Varando Play Koska Reeves and A Cameo From Titus Welliver

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR CHAPTER 11 AND CHAPTER 12 OF THE MANADLORIAN

In the latest episode of The Mandalorian directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, we learn that actress Mercedes Varando aka Sasha Banks isn’t playing Star Wars: Rebels character Sabine Wren after all (debunking the rumor). Instead, she is playing one of the members of Bo-Katan’s (played by Katee Sackoff) Nite Owls. The other two are called Axe Woves and Koska Reeves, the latter played by Banks.

Bo-Katan is on a mission to retrieve the Darksaber from Moff Gideon and this would suggest Mando will cross paths with the Nite Owls later on in the season as he’s also interested in The Child for unknown reasons.

She also mentions that Mando is part of a Mandalorian cult called The Children of Watch and taking off your helmet isn’t as required as he previously thought.

Chapter 12 seemingly will reveal the live-action version of Ahsoka Tano (played by Rosario Dawson) as Bo-Katan tells Mando that the Jedi can be found in city of Calodan on the planet Corvus.

Bosch actor Titus Welliver played an Imperial Captain in a cameo appearance.

Posted on in Television News

Marvel Studios Confirms The ‘Loki’ Series Has 4-5 Weeks Left of Filming

When asked by Clarin the production status of their upcoming Marvel series in a recent interview, Marvel Studios executive vice president Victoria Alonso confirms that both WandaVision and The Falcon & The Winter Soldier have indeed wrapped filming.

However, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki series has about four to five weeks left of shooting before they are finished.

ALONSO: “We finished filming The Falcon… and WandaVision , because it is almost, almost, almost finished. Loki  (with Tom Hiddleston) still have four or five weeks to go.”

Loki has resumed filming in Atlanta, Georgia and potentially could be all wrapped-up by end of the year depending if they’ll take breaks for the American holidays.

While WandaVision (January 15th) and The Falcon have been delayed until 2021, the Loki series was always planned to drop next year and likely won’t be pushed too far down the road because of the production delays caused by COVID-19. Disney+ has yet to give the Marvel series an official debut date.

Unconfirmed but possible rumblings have suggested that Loki will jump straight into Season 2 next year but this has yet to be announced by Marvel Studios, as the only series they’ve officially confirmed has a second season will be What If…?, an animated anthology show inspired by the comics of the same name.

There is an expectation that the Loki series will inform the plots of Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love & Thunder, and possibly even Ant-Man 3 given it will explore The Multiverse via The Time Variance Authority.

SOURCE: CLARIN