‘Supergirl’ Actor Carl Lumbly Joins ‘Falcon And The Winter Soldier’, Possibly As Isaiah Bradley?

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February 20, 2020

If you believe, as I do, that Marvel’s Disney+ shows are a way of introducing the Young Avengers, then this news will be very interesting. Deadline reports Supergirl alum and Doctor Sleep actor Carl Lumbly has landed a role in Falcon and the Winter Soldier, with speculation he could be playing Isaiah Bradley.

If you don’t know Isaiah Bradley, he’s commonly referred to as the “black Captain America”. The character was introduced in the seminal comic book series Truth: Red, White & Black as an early test subject in attempts to re-create the Super Soldier serum that gave Captain America Steve Rogers his powers. Think the cruel Tuskegee experiments with a super-powered twists. Bradley did gain similar powers as Steve Rogers and led a number of top secret missions against the Germans, becoming an underground legend in the black superhero community. Bradley’s DNA was used to create his genetic son, Josiah X, and he is also the grandfather to Elijah Bradley aka the Young Avenger known as Patriot.

I believe we will see casting for Patriot at some point soon, as this particular series seems to be gathering together all of the patriotic heroes with ties to Captain America together. Anthony Mackie returns as Falcon, who is grappling with whether he is up to carrying the shield given him by Steve Rogers. Sebastian Stan is back as Bucky, who is Captain America’s longtime best friend could also have a claim.

Of course, Lumbly could be playing someone entirely different. We’ll find out when Falcon and the Winter Soldier debuts this August.

Paul Rudd To Take Over Will Ferrell’s Life In Comedy Series ‘The Shrink Next Door’

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John Nolan

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February 20, 2020

Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell are together again. The Anchorman duo are reuniting, this time on the small screen, in a limited comedy series titled The Shrink Next Door, and you can bet the networks will be slugging it out to buy it.

There’s nearly as much talent behind the scenes as in front of the camera. Directing will be Michael Showalter, whose previous credits include The Big Sick, Hello My Name is Doris, and Wet Hot American Summer. The script is by Veep and Succession writer, Georgia Pritchett, who will also exec-produce.

Inspired by real events captured in a true crime podcast, the series will find Rudd as celebrity psychiatrist Dr. Ike who forms an unusual relationship with his client, Marty (Ferrell), even going so far as to move into his home. From there he uses his charm to take over Marty’s life and his business.

Ferrell can be seen in theaters now in Downhill, and has the Netflix comedy Eurovision coming up. Rudd has a big summer blockbuster in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Showalter’s next film is The Lovebirds, featuring Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae. [Deadline]

Jennifer Lawrence To Star In Adam McKay’s Netflix Comedy ‘Don’t Look Up’

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

It’s a busy time for Adam McKay right now, with a couple of HBO projects in the works including his much-talked-about series version of Parasite. On the big screen side, he had been planning to work with Jennifer Lawrence on Bad Blood, a biopic that would’ve seen her star as infamous tech charlatan Elizabeth Holmes. That film appears to be on the shelf now, but the partnership between McKay and Lawrence is still on.

THR reports Lawrence will star in McKay’s comedy, Don’t Look Up, which he will both write and direct. The film centers on two scientists who learn of a meteor’s impending collision with Earth in six months, with the potential to utterly wipe out humanity. But as they attempt to warn the world, they find that nobody wants to listen.

Swooping in to finance and distribute is Netflix, after Paramount balked at the $75M price tag. The plan is to fast track it for an April start, so as to be ready by the end of the year and a likely awards season push. Netflix is already stacking up their contenders.

Giveaway: Win Disney’s ‘Frozen 2’ On Digital!

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

We’re happy to offer our readers the chance to win one of five copies of Disney’s Frozen 2 on digital! The magical, hit sequel reunites the voices of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad, and Jonathan Groff, with music by Oscar-winning songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. The film is available now digitally, February 25th on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™ and DVD.

SYNOPSIS: In “Frozen 2,” the answer to why Elsa was born with magical powers is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she sets out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In the highly anticipated sequel, she must hope they are enough. From the Academy Award®-winning team—directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, producer Peter Del Vecho and songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez—“Frozen 2” features the voices of Idina Menzel, Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad.

To enter, simply complete the Rafflecopter contest form below. Winners will be selected on Tuesday, February 25th and notified by email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

‘Endings, Beginnings’ Trailer: Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan, & Sebastian Stan Make A Beautiful But Toxic Love Triangle

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

Drake Doremus has explored complicated relationships in many forms: long distance (Like Crazy), extramarital (Breathe In), futuristic (Equals, Zoe), and over social media (Newness), but with his new film he’s trying something a little different. Endings, Beginnings stars the gorgeous trio of Shailene Woodley, Sebastian Stan, and Jamie Dornan who find themselves in a love triangle that gets out of control.

Woodley plays a Los Angeles woman recovering from a tough breakup, who lucks into meeting two very handsome young men who help her rebound. And what better way to get over an ex than to get all tangled up with a couple of dudes who look like Dornan and Stan? You can hardly blame her.

The film played at TIFF and the buzz has been extremely quiet, which has been the case for Doremus’ movies of late. I don’t recall any of them making much noise since Equals, and that was largely due to the presence of Kristen Stewart. Hopefully, this will be a rebound for him as much as it is for Woodley’s character.

SYNOPSIS: In present day Los Angeles, Daphne (Woodley), a thirty something woman, navigates love and heartbreak over the course of one year. Daphne becomes intertwined with friends Jack (Dornan) and Frank (Stan) after meeting them at a party. During that time, she will unlock the secrets to her life in a sudden turn of events and in the most surprising of places.

Endings, Beginnings opens May 1st.

‘Doc Savage’ Breaks From Development Hell And Heads For The Small Screen

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

The Shadow, Buck Rogers, The Phantom, Doc Savage….if you recognized more then 1 of those four names, congratulations, you are what we call a cultured nerd. These are all characters from the pulp era of heroes, before Marvel and DC. Their adventures were told in cheap dime store novels and on one of those radios that could double as a support beam for your house. They lead the way for the likes of Superman and Captain America, but the poor old chaps haven’t really gotten the respect they deserve. Buck Rogers had a bit of a renisaance in the 70s, The Shadow and The Phantom both failed spectacularly during their attempted reboots in the 90’s and poor Doc Savage hasn’t even made it that far, stuck in the dreaded development hell for….well, forever.

Most recently it was rumored that the role was attached to Dwayne “Box Office” Johnson, but he’s since left the project. All was quite on the Savage front until Deadline broke the story today that Sony Pictures is working with Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film to bring the alpha hero to TV. No word yet on a platform, date, or cast but hey, movement is movement right?

So that brings us to the most important question that I’m sure is on all of your minds….who the F$*k is Doc Savage? Wikipedia to the rescue!

Doc Savage’s real name is Clark Savage, Jr. He is a physician, scientist, adventurer, detective, inventor, explorer, researcher, and, as revealed in The Polar Treasure, a musician. A team of scientists assembled by his father deliberately trained his mind and body to near-superhuman abilities almost from birth, giving him great strength and endurance, a photographic memory, a mastery of the martial arts, and vast knowledge of the sciences. Doc is also a master of disguise and an excellent imitator of voices. “He rights wrongs and punishes evildoers.” Dent described the hero as a mix of Sherlock Holmes’ deductive abilities, Tarzan’s outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy’s scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln’s goodness. He also described Doc Savage as manifesting “Christliness.” Doc’s character and world-view is displayed in his oath

Disney Sets Blu-Ray and Digital Release Date For ‘Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker’

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

Officially closing out that new car smell on the latest installment of the Star Wars franchise Disney has released it’s in-store and on-demand date for the AMAZING but underappreciated (fact) closing chapter in the Skywalker Saga. Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker will be available on digital March 17th, followed later that month by the Blu-Ray release on March 31st. I’m one of those who LOVES physical media, but even I have stopped buying ‘new blu’s’ so I’m a bit surprised by the time and effort put into the release, with Target, Best Buy, and Walmart all releasing different “exclusive” sets, but hey…it’s Star Wars so you gotta go big.

Best Buy Exclusive Set

Target Exclusive Set

Walmart Exclusive Set

Not to miss a chance to drop cool stuff (*ahem cash in) Disney is also releasing a super-mega pack of the entire Skywalker Saga, all nine films in 4K UHD for the first time. I’m not going to lie…this pack does look pretty damn awesome. The Skywalker Saga collection hits shelves on March 31st alongside the stand-alone release of ‘Rise of Skywalker’

Ben Affleck Opens Up About His Exit From ‘The Batman’

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

The journey for The Batman has been a long and winding one, but let’s not forget where it started. That was with Ben Affleck, who had debuted as the character during Batman v Superman, which disappointed creatively and at the box office, followed by Justice League which did even worse. And throughout all of that, Affleck looked positively miserable. Sure, the Internet had a field day making fun of him during this stretch (I couldn’t get over his phony cheerleading at the Justice League panel at Comic-Con) but it was clear something was wrong.

Affleck was initially set to write and direct The Batman, but reports began to surface that his screenplay was being thrown out. Then came word that he may simply star in the film, and finally he was off it altogether and was finished as the Dark Knight. Professionally, that was one Hell of a downward spiral, and it coincided with some very tough shit going on in Affleck’s personal life that ultimately drove him from making the movie.

Speaking with The New York Times, Affleck opened up about his reasons for leaving The Batman, which includes a bout of alcoholism, his turbulent family life, and more.

“I showed somebody ‘The Batman’ script,” Affleck said. “They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went through again.’”

Suffice it to say, this was not a “creative differences” situation. You have to remember that Affleck’s directorial passion project, Live by Night, also bombed during this time and it was suggested his attention being split on Batman played a role.

Affleck has bounced back. He has Dee Rees’ The Last Thing He Wanted opening on Netflix this week, followed by the redemption drama The Way Back. Later this year he’ll star opposite Ana de Armas in Deep Water, plus he co-writes and stars in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel. It’s probably worth noting that he hasn’t lined up anything to direct, though, which could mean nothing or a lot given what he’s gone through.

‘Dream Horse’ Trailer: Toni Collette Raises A Champion Racehorse In The Sundance Crowd-Pleaser

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John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

The feel-good comedy Dream Horse premiered just a few weeks ago at Sundance, and I remember weighing whether or not to attend it. On the one hand, it featured the always-reliable, especially at Sundance, presence of Toni Collette. But at the same time, it also looked like one of those easy festival darlings meant to lure in paying crowds at public screenings, but not necessarily to challenge audiences. So I skipped it. I never heard anybody say two words about the movie, so I’m guessing my prediction was right.

That’s not to say Dream Horse is a bad movie. Quite the contrary, it looks pretty good and may very well be a crowd-pleasing sleeper. The story centers on a barmaid who joins with others in her small-town village to breed and train the champion racehorse, Dream Alliance. Collette is joined in the cast by Damian Lewis, Owen Teale, Joanna Page, Karl Johnson, Steffan Rhodri, Anthony O’Donnell with Nicholas Farrell and Sian Phillips, with Euros Lyn behind the camera.

SYNOPSIS: The film tells the inspiring true story of Dream Alliance, an unlikely racehorse bred by small-town Welsh bartender, Jan Vokes (Academy Award® nominee Toni Collette). With very little money and no experience, Jan convinces her neighbors to chip in their meager earnings to help raise Dream in the hopes he can compete with the racing elites. The group’s investment pays off as Dream rises through the ranks with grit and determination and goes on to race in the Welsh Grand National showing the heart of a true champion.

Dream Horse opens on May 1st.

Wes Ball Says New ‘Planet Of The Apes’ Film Is No Reboot

By

John Nolan

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February 19, 2020

Of the many properties Disney acquired from Fox, Planet of the Apes may have the most potential. Following a wildly successful trilogy that began with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes and concluded with 2017’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, reports surfaced that Disney had hired The Maze Runner‘s Wes Ball to direct a new film. While it was never made clear whether it would be a sequel or reboot, some sites jumped into assuming the latter without any evidence.

Ball, frustrated by the continued reporting that says his movie will be a reboot, took to Twitter to clear things up.

“It’s never been easier for film journalists to actually get in touch with the actual people who actually know… but maybe it’s the point to NOT fact-check these days?

Regardless. Don’t worry. I won’t ruin the surprises, but it’s safe to say Caesar’s legacy will continue…”

That sounds like a continuation, or a sequel, rather than a complete relaunch of the franchise. Fans of those films, which saw the final two directed by Matt Reeves, will undoubtedly be happy to see that Caesar’s story won’t be ignored. The future leader of ape-kind was portrayed with such tremendous ability and force by Andy Serkis it had some arguing he should be nominated for Best Actor, or that the Academy should create a special Oscar for his motion-capture performance.

On the other hand, I find it hard to believe that Disney doesn’t want to put their own unique stamp on Planet of the Apes. There’s more to this than Ball is letting on.