Tag: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Posted on in Film News

‘Furiosa’: George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Prequel Releases June 23, 2023

It was announced not too long ago via Warner Bros. that they are indeed moving forward with the Mad Max: Fury Road prequel dating it for June 23, 2023. They also confirmed the official title is simply Furiosa with director George Miller co-writing the film alongside Doug Mitchell. A summer 2023 release date suggests they might expect filming to begin sometime in 2022.

Here is an excerpt from the studio press release that confirms that the prequel’s lead actors will include Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.

Up first in the lineup will be writer/director/producer George Miller’s “Furiosa,” a prequel to his hit “Mad Max: Fury Road” that introduced the wildly popular character.  Set for June 23, 2023, it will star Anya Taylor-Joy in the title role, alongside Chris Hemsworth and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.  Miller penned the script and produces alongside his longtime partner, Oscar-nominated producer Doug Mitchell (“Mad Max: Fury Road,” “Babe”).

George Miller is currently busy shooting in Australia with his fantasy film titled Three Thousand Years of Longing that had been delayed earlier in the year when the film’s main lead Idris Elba got COVID-19 and documented his experience on social media leading to a hiatus. Filming recently resumed down under with Elba and co-star Tilda Swinton.

Despite Furiosa being a “prequel”, all four movies have been considered standalone features in the franchise which could mean, technically, another version of Max could appear in the film. Charlize Theron originally played the role but was recast with Anya because Miller wasn’t thrilled with the digital de-aging visual effects technology.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) leads the despot’s five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), a loner and former captive. Fortified in the massive, armored truck the War Rig, they try to outrun the ruthless warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the Wasteland.

SOURCE: WARNER BROS.

Posted on in Film News

‘Matrix 4’ Actress Jessica Henwick Praises Director Lana Wachowski – “I Think She’s Going To Change The Industry Again With This Film”

Matrix 4 is going to be a brand new installment in the Matrix mythology and trade reports stated that actress Jessica Henwick (Game of Thrones, Iron Fist, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Godzilla vs Kong) would be playing a Neo-type character in the film with her potentially becoming the next “One”.

While speaking recently with Comic Book, Jessica had nothing but praise for director Lana Wachowski and highlighted how the technical side of the project could again have a huge impact on the film industry. As the original film did help to shift the mature factor of storytelling alongside well-crafted action scenes with proper use of CGI and practical effects.

HENWICK: “There are definitely moment on set where Yahya [Abdul-Mateen II] and I look at each other and we just go, ‘Matrix 4’. Those pinch me moments. Yeah, Lana is doing some really interesting things on a technical level in the same way that you know, she created a style back then. I think she’s going to change the industry again with this film. There’s some camera rigs that I’ve never seen before that we’re using. That’s probably all I can say for that.”

This seems to echo other stuff we’ve heard previously heard about how gung ho Lana has been with this shoot as she has been directing the bulk of second unit action sequences which is normally handled by the stunt coordinator as it can be the more dangerous shots in the film.

The sequel’s cast also includes Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith, Daniel Bernhardt, Priyanka Chopra, Ibarra, Neil Patrick Harris, Toby Onwumere, Brian J. Smith, Eréndira Ibarra, Andrew Caldwell, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Ellen Hollman.

Fans like myself are hoping it’s a return to form as the two sequels didn’t have the same impact as the original and there is an expectation that Matrix 4 will be the start of a brand new trilogy possibly led by new actors like Jessica Henwwick with the original cast passing the torch.

While there has been some plenty of release date delays as the studio has moved up the release of Matrix 4 from April 1st, 2022, to December 22nd, 2021.

THE MATRIX – Neo (Keanu Reeves) believes that Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne), an elusive figure considered to be the most dangerous man alive, can answer his question — What is the Matrix? Neo is contacted by Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss), a beautiful stranger who leads him into an underworld where he meets Morpheus. They fight a brutal battle for their lives against a cadre of viciously intelligent secret agents. It is a truth that could cost Neo something more precious than his life.


SOURCE: COMIC BOOK

Posted on in Film News

George Miller’s ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ Prequel ‘Furiosa’ Moving Forward At WB Officially Starring Anya Taylor-Joy, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Chris Hemworth

Warner Bros. has announced via trades such as Deadline that they are indeed moving forward with their Mad Max: Fury Road prequel spinoff Furiosa written and directed by George Miller.

They’ve also announced that the cast will indeed include Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, The Northman, The New Mutants, Last Night In Soho), Yahya Abdul Mateen II (Watchmen, Matrix 4, Aquaman), and Thor/Avengers actor Chris Hemsworth. All three names had been circulating for the lead roles before today’s confirmation.

It had been suggested that Hemsworth could be playing the film’s villain.

Miller’s production team will include cinematographer John Seale, production designer Colin Gibson, and stunt coordinator Guy Norris.

When filming begins is a little unclear as Miller is busy with Three Thousand Years of Longing and his cast is busy themselves at the moment with Hemworth set to begin shooting Marvel’s Thor: Love & Thunder in early 2021 at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Anya is currently shooting Robert Eggers’ Viking epic The Northman in Belfast, Northern Ireland and recent Emmy-Winner Yahya Abdul Mateen II is finishing up Matrix 4 in Berlin, Germany.

Warner Bros. hasn’t given the film an official release date.

The film will focus on the Mad Max: Fury Road character Furiosa originally played by Charlize Theron.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD – Years after the collapse of civilization, the tyrannical Immortan Joe enslaves apocalypse survivors inside the desert fortress the Citadel. When the warrior Imperator Furiosa (Charlize Theron) leads the despot’s five wives in a daring escape, she forges an alliance with Max Rockatansky (Tom Hardy), a loner and former captive. Fortified in the massive, armored truck the War Rig, they try to outrun the ruthless warlord and his henchmen in a deadly high-speed chase through the Wasteland.

SOURCE: DEADLINE

Posted on in Television News

Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Win Emmys For Their Performance In HBO’s ‘Watchmen’ – Series Nabbed A Total of 11 Primetime Emmys

HBO’s Watchmen did extremely well at the Primetime Emmy Awards this year which saw it win an impressive 11 Emmys including for Best Limited Series. 

The key prizes were that Regina King won Best Actress In A Limited Series or Movie and her co-star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II landing Supporting Actor In A Limited Series or Movie. Along with Damon Lindelof and Cord Jefferson winning for Best Writing In A Limited Series or Movie. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross also won for Best Score which has them now inching the pair closer to earn an EGOT. 

Other awards the show earned included Sci-Fi/Fantasy Costumes, Cinematographer (Limited Series), Casting (Limited Series), Single-Camera Picture Editing (Limited Series), Sound Mixing (Limited Series), and Sound Editing (Limited Series). 

Damon Lindelof has been adamant about not returning for a second season which may end up not end up moving forward at all without him, but only time will tell. 

I loved the series and it was extremely prescient despite the unwarranted backlash for the infusion of race and politics, I mean, Alan Moore did the exact thing with his original graphic novel. 

WATCHMEN – From Damon Lindelof and set in an alternate history where “superheroes” are treated as outlaws, this drama series embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own. The cast includes Regina King, Jeremy Irons, Don Johnson, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hong Chau, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, and James Wolk. 

Posted on in Film News

Netflix Acquiring Domestic Rights To Aaron Sorkin Drama ‘The Trial of The Chicago 7’

Variety reports that Netflix is about to buy another high-profile awards contender with Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of The Chicago Seven. The streaming service is negotiating to secure the domestic rights from Paramount Pictures and Cross Creek Productions.

The Chicago Seven, a group of seven activists who were charged by the federal government with conspiracy, inciting to riot and other charges stemming from anti-Vietnam War protests that broke out during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. It’s a hot-button story, one that is sure to resonate in a presidential election year and at a time when protests over racial injustice are breaking out across the country.

Aaron Sorkin previously made his directorial debut with the Jessica Chastain film Molly’s Game. His screenwriting credits includes A Few Good Men, Charlie Wilson’s War, The Social Network, Moneyball, and Steve Jobs.

The film’s impressive cast includes Sacha Baron Cohen, Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Strong, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Frank Langella, William Hurt, Michael Keaton, and Mark Rylance. 

They had luckily wrapped production on The Chicago 7 before the pandemic hit and was originally set to be released on October 16th, 2020. It’s said to be aiming to get a release before the election in November.

SOURCE: VARIETY