Tag: Disney

Posted on in Film News

‘Ready Player One’ Production Designer Adam Stockhausen Confirmed For ‘Indiana Jones 5’

The Ronin has been able to verify that production designer Adam Stockhausen has indeed joined the crew for Lucasfilm’s Indiana Jones 5 which will star Harrison Ford as the titular hero one more time as the new film will be a continuation rather than a reboot, as reaffirmed by studio head Kathleen Kennedy back in 2020.

Adam is a frequent collaborator with directors Wes Anderson and Steven Spielberg as his credits include films such as The Grand Budapest Hotel, Ready Player One, Bridge of Spies, The French Dispatch, Isle of Dogs, Moonrise Kingdom, Widows, and West Side Story.

He earned an Oscar for his work on Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Logan and Ford v Ferrari director James Mangold last year took over for Steven Spielberg when the filmmaker exited the project and is also rewriting the script for the sequel. James recently hinted on Twitter that the fifth installment might take place in the 1960’s.

Concrete plot details for Indiana Jones 5 are being kept under lock-and-key.

One thing we can likely rely on is that Shia LaBeouf won’t be returning as Indy’s estranged son Mutt given the recent allegations of abuse made by an ex-girlfriend making the idea of having him return a PR nightmare for the studio and headache they can avoid.

Disney has given the untitled Indy film a release date of July 29th, 2022 and suggested back in December production could begin shooting in late spring.

Posted on in Television News

‘Shang-Chi’ Star Simu Liu Wants To Appear On A Jimmy Woo Spinoff Series – ‘Agents of Atlas’ Crossover In The Cards?

After someone on Twitter suggested that Marvel Studios consider giving Randall Park‘s Agent Jimmy Woo his own X-Files-type series as Woo returned in WandaVision, Shang-Chi & The Legend of The Ten Rings star Simu Liu wants in on the hypothetical pitch for a spinoff series and says he’d like to cameo on it.

Jimmy Woo and The Agents of Atlas

Jimmy Woo isn’t the regular side-character as he predates a bulk of Marvel superheroes debuting back in 1956 from Atlas Comics (precursor to Marvel Comics) and eventually became the team leader of the Agents of Atlas, a team that feature a bunch of obscure heroes such as Gorilla-Man, Human Robot, Venus, The Uranian, and Namor’s cousin Namora.

The more recent incarnation of the team includes Simu’s Shang-Chi alongside other Asian superheroes. There has been speculation that we’ll see the upcoming solo film plant seeds for Agents of Atlas as Shang-Chi, The Mandarin, and Jimmy Woo are expected to have direct ties to Atlas Empire/Atlas Foundation which in the comics has it’s headquarters located underneath San Francisco, California. A location that ties Shang-Chi to Park’s Ant-Man franchise.

In theory, there is a place for Jimmy in the MCU to lead his own team as it has been established in the comics.

Simu Liu isn’t a stranger to television since once he finished work on his Marvel movie in Australia he returned to Toronto to shoot the CBC sitcom Kim’s Convenience. Liu’s co-star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is already part of the Disney+ family as he played Captain Carson Teva in Season 2 of The Mandalorian and most likely will appear in the spinoff series Rangers of The New Republic. The Shang-Chi star has also been hinting he’d like to join the Star Wars universe as well.

While a Jimmy Woo series is possible, there is a better chance that he’ll join the ranks of S.W.O.R.D. to potentially have a supporting role in things like the Secret Invasion series and Captain Marvel 2 as both are expected to have a heavy S.W.O.R.D. presence. Woo having a larger role within the MCU as a crossover character feels like the right move and it could eventually lead to a project like Agents of Atlas, something that could be worthwhile as a feature film franchise given the multiple untapped superheroes on it’s roster and not just a Disney+ series.

Also, given the title Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been previously used, I wouldn’t be shocked if Marvel Studios just referred to the team as simply Atlas, if and when they bring them into the MCU.

Posted on in Television News

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’: Ewan McGregor Says Production Begins Late Spring In Los Angeles

Despite rumblings that Lucasfilm has started shooting Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Disney+ series star Ewan McGregor while chatting with comedian Eddie Izzard for a charity streaming event revealed that production won’t be taking place until “late spring” and that the production location is actually going to be Los Angeles, California and not the United Kingdom as previously rumored.

The chat taking place during Izzard’s marathon Run For Hope and the clip with Ewan was posted on Reddit.

MCGREGOR: “We start making it in the late spring and we’re going to be shooting it here in [Los Angeles].”

He also took some grabs at the inaccurate tabloid reporting on the upcoming production and were it would be taking place stating it had always been planned for a shoot in California, not Boston or the United Kingdom.

My former website Omega Underground actually had talked about Obi-Wan Kenobi possibly shooting in California back in 2017, when the project was still being considered as a feature film at Lucasfilm and we pointed out the state being a strong contender for it’s production for a multitude of reasons.

A late spring shoot would suggest they might not begin until around May-June, given that most projects are being delayed due to COVID-19 seeing them push back from a March start wouldn’t be all that shocking. According to Deadline, The Book of Boba Fett is currently shooting in the California facility which might also have something to do with it.

There is also an interesting production crew report from a South Korean site Cine21 (spotted by Star Wars News Net) that Oldboy cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung has been tapped for the series, however, this has yet to be confirmed by Disney/Lucasfilm. His other credits include IT, The Handmaiden, Uncharted, and Edgar Wright’s Last Night In Soho.

What we do know is that Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian) is directing with Hayden Christensen officially singed-on to reprise the role of Darth Vader. We should also expected to start hearing casting news in the very near future as we get closer to the Star Wars show’s production start.

SOURCE: EDDIE IZZARD/RUN FOR HOPE

Posted on in Television News

Ryan Coogler Alludes To Working With Marvel Studios On Multiple Shows For Disney+

Following-up to the Deadline report that Black Panther director Ryan Coolger is making a Wakanda series with Marvel Studios for Disney+ as part of his new development deal between Disney and his production company Proximity Media, we might be getting more Marvel shows from Coogler.

In an official press release from Marvel Studios that was also cited in the Deadline report, Ryan reveals he’ll be working on “select MCU Shows” giving us the impression we’ll see him involved with more than just one show. However, they stopped short from revealing what those projects could be.

COOGLER: “It’s an honor to be partnering with The Walt Disney Company. Working with them on Black Panther was a dream come true. As avid consumers of television, we couldn’t be happier to be launching our television business with Bob Iger, Dana Walden and all the amazing studios under the Disney umbrella. We look forward to learning, growing, and building a relationship with audiences all over the world through the Disney platforms. We are especially excited that we will be taking our first leap with Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso and their partners at Marvel Studios where we will be working closely with them on select MCU shows for Disney+. We’re already in the mix on some projects that we can’t wait to share.”

There is a good chance that he could be exploring characters outside of the Black Panther/Wakanda franchise.

Ryan is said to be getting ready to shoot Black Panther 2 this summer in Atlanta.

SOURCE: MARVEL

Posted on in Television News

‘Black Panther 2’ Director Ryan Coogler Developing Wakanda Series For Disney+ As Part of An Overall TV Deal With Disney

Deadline has breaking news that Ryan Coogler has secured a five-year overall television deal with Disney and that he’s already going to develop Black Panther spinoff series for Disney+ that will take place within the Kingdom of Wakanda.

However, there are no current details about who that show will be focusing on.

Disney has made a five-year overall exclusive television deal with Coogler’s Proximity Media, which he runs with principals Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis and Peter Nicks. Coogler, who is working on the Black Panther feature sequel he will direct this year, will develop new television series for the studio. The first one will delight Black Panther fans: a drama based in the Kingdom of Wakanda for Disney+. The deal also enables Proximity to develop television for other divisions of the Company.

Coogler is currently prepping and writing Black Panther 2, which Marvel Studios is hoping to begin filming this summer in Atlanta, Georgia. Marvel has gone the record multiple times they will not be recasting the T’Challa role after the death of Chadwick Boseman and are not exploring a digital double either.

Will we see the adventures of The Dora Milaje or The Jabari Tribe?

This looks to be part of a push from Marvel Studios to cement their commitments to having a stronger presence of black characters in their growing cinematic universe which has been mostly seen on the television side of the MCU thanks to new Disney+ shows. The three big new series announcements revealed back in December included Samuel L. Jackson’s Secret Invasion, Don Cheadle’s Armor Wars, and newcomer Dominique Thorne playing engineering wiz-kid Riri Williams in Ironheart.

We’re also starting to see Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau in WandaVision becoming an integral part of the MCU before joining fellow cosmic heroines Carol Danvers and Kamala Khan in Captain Marvel 2.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

‘Willow’: Lucasfilm Hires ‘Power Rangers’ Director Jonathan Entwistle To Helm Disney+ Series

Lucasfilm has finally found their replacement for Jon M. Chu on their sequel series Willow on Disney+. This news from The Hollywood Reporter comes after the Crazy Rich Asians director announced his exit from the project citing an upcoming baby as the reasoning behind leaving directing duties on the fantasy show’s pilot.

The studio has now reportedly hired Jonathan Entwistle for the pilot but it’s unknown who else will be directing episodes.

Jonathan is likely best known for the series End of The F***ing World, and he was recently hired to tackle the latest feature film reboot of the Power Rangers as Hasbro has big plans for the franchise after acquiring the property. 

The cast includes Warwick Davis reprising the role of Willow Ufgood, Erin Kellyman (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Green Knight) is said to be up for the role of Jade, Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Bad Times At The El Royale) playing Kit, English actress Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals) as Dove, and Tony Revolori in talks for a role.

According to Lucasfilm, production on Willow is set to begin this March in Wales.

WILLOW – Enter the world of Willow. Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.

SOURCE: THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Posted on in Television News

‘Willow’: ‘Spider-Man 3’ Actor Tony Revolori In Talks To Join Lucasfilm’s Fantasy Series

Deadline is reporting that Spider-Man franchise actor Tony Revolori is now in talks with Lucasfilm to take an unknown role in their Disney+ series Willow. A direct sequel to the 1988 film directed by Ron Howard, who will executive produce the series and will see the return of Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood.

Tony is currently working Marvel’s Spider-Man 3 and will be seen next in Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch.

Others starring in the series include Erin Kellyman (The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Green Knight) is said to be up for the role of Jade, Cailee Spaeny (Pacific Rim: Uprising, Bad Times At The El Royale) playing Kit and English actress Ellie Bamber (Nocturnal Animals) as Dove.

According to circulated casting information for the series, it revolves around a group on a mission to save a kidnapped prince. The members of the team include Dove (Bamber), whose backstory resembles that of Willow from the movie. Dove is an unassuming kitchen maid who proves that she is the “chosen one” as she embarks on the journey. She is joined by Kit (Spaeny), the princess whose twin brother was abducted. She is destined to be a leader and ultimately the queen. Kellyman plays Jade, a servant who is Kit’s best friend and moral compass. She is on her way to becoming the best young warrior in the kingdom. Also part of the group is a guy who echoes Val Kilmer’s character in the movie. A thief and liar, he joins the quest in exchange for getting out of prison.

Filming was supposed to begin this March in Wales before they lost director Jon M. Chu.

WILLOW – Enter the world of “Willow.” Journey to the far corners of your imagination, to a land of myth and magic, where dream and reality live side by side … to a place that never existed, a time that never was. It is a world where a young man named Willow lives out an adventure that explodes beyond the boundaries of his own hopes and fears.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

‘The Falcon & The Winter Soldier’: Anthony Mackie Says A New Captain America Will Be Revealed By The End of Series

So, is Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson not the shoe-in to become the next Captain American we originally thought?

Some new comments made but the actor while speaking on The Rich Eisen Show seems to reinforce previous statements made by Anthony Mackie that The Falcon & The Winter Soldier will reveal who ultimately becomes the next Captain America, but stops short from giving the impression that Falcon aka Sam Wilson is going to be that “right person” for the job.

MACKIE: “At the end of [Avengers: Endgame], Sam didn’t accept the shield. If you remember he told Steve ‘it doesn’t feel right because this shield is your’s’. So, you know, the show is a long way of figuring around who is going to be Captain America and where the shield is going to end up. And if Captain America, if that moniker come back and somebody is going to hold that moniker again.”

You can listen to that exchange here.

Traditionally, Sebastian Stan’s Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier took over that mantle but there had been hints that wouldn’t be case. As fans would know that in the recent comics Sam took that spot on a new Avengers lineup. We also clearly saw in footage and set photos that Wyatt Russell’s John Walker aka U.S. Agent will have his hands on the shield or version of it.

There is an expectation that whoever takes the mantle will continue to carry the shield into Captain America 4 as they wouldn’t spend all this time on Steve Rogers’ successor unless they planned on continuing the film franchise as well.

The Falcon & The Winter Soldier debuts on Disney+ on March 19th.

Following the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities—and their patience—in Marvel Studios’ “The Falcon and The Winter Soldier.” The all-new series is directed by Kari Skogland; Malcolm Spellman is the head writer. Streaming exclusively on Disney+.

SOURCE: THE RICH EISEN SHOW

Posted on in Film News

‘Indiana Jones 5’: Director James Mangold Teasing A 1960’s Setting?

We keep forgetting that Indiana Jones 5 is still indeed a movie that Lucasfilm is making and keep promising is a continuation with Harrison Ford (almost 80 years old) in the role of Indy, rather than rebooting with a younger actor.

Details about the film are scarce but when the film take place might be something the film’s director has now hinted to on Twitter. A recent tweet from director and writer James Mangold could be confirming that the film is taking place in the 1960’s revealing “all” his movies are taking place in that decade. This would make sense given that Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull was set in 1957.

MANGOLD: “Im mentally living in 60’s NYC right now cause that’s where all the movies I’m working on take place.”

The director is also working on a movie about musician Bob Dylan titled Going Electric starring Timothee Chalamet for Searchlight Pictures and a NYPD thriller The Force starring Matt Damon for 20th Century Studios.

Lucasfilm revealed last month that they hope to get filming underway in late spring and are keeping the July 2022 release date.

Lucasfilm is currently in pre-production on the next installment of the Indiana Jones franchise. At the helm is James Mangold, director of the Academy Award-winning Ford v Ferrari, and Indy himself, Harrison Ford, will be back to continue his iconic character’s journey. Indy will begin shooting late spring of 2021 and will arrive July 2022.

James Mangold took over the writing of Indiana Jones 5’s script after David Koepp and Jonathan Kasdan tried their hand at reworking it. The script’s troubled development led to director Steven Spielberg exiting the hiring of James. It certainly sounds like Lucasfilm is trying to make sure the script is solid before moving forward since it’s production has had multiple delays as Steven first announced it would begin shooting back in April 2019 but didn’t due to development hiccups, we’re now coming up to three years later and it might finally get made.

I’m curious if they’ll continue to have the Soviet Union as the antagonists.

SOURCE: JAMES MANGOLD

Posted on in Film News

‘The King’s Man’: Disney Bumps Release To August

Yesterday, there were more feature film delays announced by studios with The King’s Man, a prequel set in the Kingsman franchise, has been bumped to August 20th from March 12th. The action film directed by Matthew Vaughn is expected to be part of wave of sequels and spinoffs as Disney seemingly has plans double-down on the mature action franchise.

THE KING’S MAN – As a collection of history’s worst tyrants and criminal masterminds gather to plot a war to wipe out millions, one man must race against time to stop them. Discover the origins of the very first independent intelligence agency in The King’s Man.

Disney/20th Century Studios also announced that their animated flick Bob’s Burgers has been pulled from the schedule entirely after being etched-in for a release of April 9th and hasn’t been given a new spot. It’s possible that Disney is busy trying to determine where they want to place it with more switch-ups on the way.

This is expected to be the first of many Disney projects that they’ll moving around as their 2021 and 2022 slate is obviously going to be altered as other studios move their feature films out of the spring and summer. Black Widow and Shang-Chi are key Disney blockbusters that are likely going to get new dates.

Here’s a reminder of the recent date changes.

  • Godzilla vs. Kong – March 26th, 2021 (moved up)
  • Nobody – April 2nd, 2021
  • BIOS – August 13th, 2021
  • The King’s Man – August 20th, 2021
  • A Quiet Place Part II – September 17th, 2021
  • The Many Saints of Newark – September 24th, 2021
  • No Time To Die – October 8th, 2021
  • Last Night In Soho – October 22nd, 2021
  • Antlers – October 29th, 2021
  • Ghostbusters: Afterlife – November 11th, 2021
  • Nightmare Alley – December 3rd, 2021
  • Morbius – January 21st, 2022
  • Uncharted – February 11th, 2022
  • Ambulance – February 18th, 2022
  • Bob’s Burgers (TBA)

SOURCE: DISNEY/20TH CENTURY STUDIOS