‘Hope Gap’ Trailer: Annette Bening And Bill Nighy Have A Divorce Story To Tell

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January 16, 2020

It’s the season of murder mysteries and divorce stories, apparently. Hope Gap, a drama starring Annette Bening and Bill Nighy, two of our greats, is all about the latter as they play a couple looking to end their marriage after nearly three decades.

The film is written and directed by William Nicholson (Gladiator), and centers on the crumbling marriage of Grace and Edward, which forces their son, played by The Crown‘s Josh O’Connor, who has returned home from university, to choose between them. Nicholson adapted his own stageplay, Retreat from Moscow, which was nominated for three Tony Awards, so we know the source material is strong.

SYNOPSIS: The intimate, intense and loving story of “Hope Gap” charts the life of Grace, shocked to learn her husband is leaving her for another after 29 years of marriage, and the ensuing emotional fallout the dissolution has on their only grown son. Unraveled and feeling displaced in her small seaside town, Grace ultimately regains her footing and discovers a new, powerful voice.

Also starring Aiysha Hart, Ryan McKen, and Rose Keegan, Hope Gap opens March 6th.

Giveaway: Win Disney’s ‘Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil’ On Digital!

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

We’re happy to offer our readers the chance to win Maleficent: Mistress of Evil on digital! The Disney sequel stars Angelina Jolie, Elle Fanning, and Michelle Pfeiffer!

SYNOPSIS: Directed by Joachim Rønning, “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil” carries on the story of Disney’s most iconic villain. The years have been kind to Maleficent and Aurora. Their relationship, born of heartbreak, revenge and ultimately love, has flourished. Yet hatred between man and the fairies still exists. Aurora’s impending marriage to Prince Philip is cause for celebration as the wedding serves to unite the Kingdom of Ulstead and the neighboring Moors. But, when an unexpected encounter introduces a powerful new alliance, Maleficent and Aurora are pulled apart to opposing sides in a Great War, testing their loyalties and causing them to question whether they can truly be a family.

To enter to win one of five digital copies we’re giving away, use the Rafflecopter contest form below. Winners will be chosen on Monday, January 20th and notified by email. Good luck!

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is available now on DVD, Bluray, and Digital!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Netflix Puts David Fincher’s ‘Mindhunter’ On Indefinite Hold As Cast Contracts Expire

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

It’s a sad day for fans of David Fincher’s crime series, Mindhunter. Netflix has put season 3 on indefinite hold while Fincher deals with his other projects. That could be seen as a short-term problem, but further steps taken by the network suggest that’s not the case.

Not only is Mindhunter‘s third season on hold, but Netflix has allowed the contract options of stars Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany and Anna Torv to expire. So even if the show returns sometime down the line, it’s unclear if the principle characters will be involved.

So what’s Fincher doing that’s put Mindhunter in jeopardy? He’s currently working on his first Netflix film, Mank, a biographical drama about Citizen Kane screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz. Fincher is also an exec-producer on the animated Love & Robots series. Deadline adds that Fincher “was not particularly thrilled to do another lengthy location shoot (Mindhunter films in Pittsburgh) and was looking to raise the series’ production value with a bigger budget”, but has made no real attempt to communicate anything with Netflix or the cast.

Mindhunter is one of those shows that helped build Netflix into the giant it is now, and it would be a shame to see it go after only a couple of seasons. They could always hand over the reins to another showrunner, perhaps someone of Fincher’s choosing? Doubtful its fans would tolerate anybody who wasn’t handpicked by Fincher himself.

‘Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina’ Part 3 Trailer: Sabrina Goes On A Hellish Rescue Mission

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

Because that witchy music video for Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Part 3 simply wasn’t enough, Netflix has dropped a proper trailer for the supernatural Archie spinoff. The previous “season” saw Sabrina, played by former Mad Men star Kiernan Shipka, embracing her darker side while still trying to keep to a normal teenage life. That proved difficult when it was revealed her father is Lucifer himself.

In Part 3, we find Sabrina venturing to Hell to rescue her boyfriend, Nick Scratch, who sacrificed himself to save her life. The series has followed a creative path very similar to Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The first season was fairly light in tone, following a “creature of the week” framework that was easy to get into. But as time went along, storylines have matured in a way that has removed some of the fun. It’s a difficult balance being walked by creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, but he’s got a tremendous cast of young stars helping him to pull it off.

SYNOPSIS: Part Three finds Sabrina reeling from the harrowing events of Part Two. Though she defeated her father Lucifer, the Dark Lord remains trapped within the human prison of her beloved boyfriend, Nicholas Scratch. Sabrina can’t live with herself, knowing that Nick made the ultimate sacrifice and is suffering, burning in Hell under Madam Satan’s watchful eye. So with an assist from her mortal friends, “The Fright Club” (consisting of Harvey, Rosalind, and Theo), Sabrina makes it her mission to free him from eternal damnation and bring him back into her arms. However, the Dark Lord’s unseating has sent shockwaves through the realms—and, with no one on the throne, Sabrina must assume the title of “Queen” to defend it against a challenger, the handsome Prince of Hell Caliban. Meanwhile, in Greendale, a mysterious carnival rolls into town, bringing with it a threat to the Spellmans and the coven: A tribe of pagans looking to resurrect an ancient evil…

Also starring Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Miranda Otto, Gavin Leatherwood, Chance Perdomo, Jaz Sinclair, Lachlan Watson, Michelle Gomez, Richard Coyle, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Abigail Cowen and Lachlan Watson, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina returns to Netflix on January 24th.

‘The Lovebirds’ Trailer: Kumail Nanjiani And Issa Rae’s Night Out Goes Very Wrong

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae are two of the funniest people around, so expecting a traditional romance from them? Out of the question. In the new comedy The Lovebirds, which debuted its first image just yesterday, Nanjiani and Rae are a romantic couple who find their relationship tested when they are embroiled in a murder mystery.

The film reunites Nanjiani with The Big Sick director Michael Showalter, who previously worked on comedy classic Wet Hot American Summer. Also in the cast are Pitch Perfect‘s Anna Camp, Paul Sparks, and Kyle Bornheimer.

SYNOPSIS: A couple (Issa Rae & Kumail Nanjiani) experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme – and hilarious – circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

The Lovebirds hits theaters on April 3rd, but will premiere at SXSW in March.

The Next James Bond Might Be A Person Of Color, But Definitely Won’t Be A Woman

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

When No Time to Die is finished, and Daniel Craig hangs up his suit as 007, the James Bond producers have some hard decisions to make. There’s been a clamor to see the iconic character portrayed differently, either by casting a person of color, with Idris Elba leading many fan polls, or by casting a woman. There’s a chance one of those might actually happen, but one is definitely off the table.

Speaking with Variety, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson said that casting for the next 007 is still a ways off, but when they do expect them to be looking at dudes only…

“He can be of any color, but he is male,” Broccoli said. “I believe we should be creating new characters for women – strong female characters. I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”

I think she makes a very valid point. Take a look at Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust in the Mission: Impossible movies. She’s become incredibly popular and a mainstay of the franchise who could probably carry her own movie at some point. All it would take is some investment in a long-term female character for Bond to have the same.

So while a woman won’t be the next Bond, a person of color is a definite possibility. He just needs to be British…

“You think of him as being from Britain or the Commonwealth, but Britain is a very diverse place,” Wilson added

No Time to Die opens April 10th, and will reportedly feature Lashana Lynch as the first female spy designated as 007. A step in the right direction, I’d say, but probably about as far as it’s going to go.

‘Stargirl’ Trailer: Grace VanderWaal Makes Her Acting Debut In A Quirky Disney+ Movie

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

America’s Got Talent winner Grace VanderWaal makes her acting debut in Stargirl, a Disney+ adaptation of the bestselling novel by Jerry Spinelli. Try not to get it mixed up with the other Stargirl, the CW’s Arrowverse series which also dropped a trailer on the same day. It’s like they’re deliberately trying to mix people up with two seemingly-impossible young female leads.

The Stargirl of Disney’s upcoming movie is Stargirl Caraway, a bold, unconventional, outgoing new kid at school whose quirks attract the attention of the introverted Leo Borlock (Graham Verchere), threatening to break him out of his shell. Who doesn’t love a girl who plays the ukelele? She looks like the classic Manic Pixie Dreamgirl, which I guess is fine because why should we expect anything different with a name like that?

As far as coming-of-age films go, this looks lighter than most but is probably just right for the Disney+ audience. Interestingly, it’s directed and co-written by Julia Hart, whose super-powered drama Fast Color made quite a splash last year. The cast includes Giancarlo Esposito who keeps popping up where he’s least expected, plus Karan Brar, Darby Stanchfield, and Maximiliano Hernandez.

SYNOPSIS:
Leo Borlock (Graham Verchere) is an average student at Mica High School. He gets decent grades, is a member of the school’s marching band and has always been content flying under the radar. But all that changes when he meets Stargirl Caraway (Grace VanderWaal), a confident and colorful new student with a penchant for the ukulele, who stands out in a crowd. She is kind, finds magic in the mundane and touches the lives of others with the simplest of gestures. Her eccentricities and infectious personality charm Leo and the student body, and she quickly goes from being ignored and ridiculed to accepted and praised, then back again, sending Leo on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

Stargirl hits Disney+ on March 13th.

‘The Night Clerk’ Trailer: Tye Sheridan And Ana De Armas Find Themselves Ensnared In A Murder Mystery

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John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

The emergence of Knives Out star Ana de Armas continues. Just as we said with the recently-released trailer for Sergio, this is shaping up to be a gigantic year for her. Not only does she have her first James Bond movie with No Time to Die, but she returns to the murder mystery genre for The Night Clerk, a new thriller from actor/filmmaker Michael Cristofer.

Ready Player One‘s Tye Sheridan leads the way as a socially-awkward hotel clerk who witnesses a guest’s murder. It’s sorta looking as if de Armas is the one who gets offed, but let’s hope this new trailer is just messing with us. The clerk’s nervous demeanor catches the attention of the lead detective, played by John Leguizamo, who makes him the prime suspect. Also co-starring in the film is Helen Hunt in a rare big screen role.

Cristofer might be best known for the years he spent in front of the camera on Mr. Robot, but he also directed Angelina Jolie in Gia and 2001’s erotic thriller Original Sin, which happens to be his most recent directorial credit. But this movie is going to have added interest because of de Armas, so let’s hope she sticks around through it for the long haul.

The Night Clerk opens February 21st.

Greg Berlanti’s ‘Green Lantern’ TV Series Will “Span Several Decades”, Features Two GLs And Supervillain Sinestro

By

John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

The next live-action Green Lantern project won’t be on the big screen, it’ll be on HBO Max and spearheaded by Arrowverse creator, Greg Berlanti. We’ve known about his Green Lantern series since late last year, but new details have dropped as part of the TCA Winter press tour via HBO’s Head of Original Content, Sarah Aubrey.

According to Aubrey, Berlanti’s Green Lantern series “will span several decades and focus on the origin stories of two major Green Lanterns on Earth.” Also featured in the show will be supervillain and disgraced former ring-bearer Sinestro, with all storylines connected to him in some fashion.

It’s unclear which Green Lanterns the show will follow, but the expectation is obviously Hal Jordan and John Stewart, the two most popular versions. Personally, I’d prefer to see John Stewart and the hot-headed Guy Gardner, the latter best remembered for getting punched out by Batman.

Other projects in the works include a Green Lantern Corps movie, which is especially interesting after Ezra Miller’s cameo as The Flash in Arrowverse crossover Crisis On Infinite Earths. Fans might be looking to see the Film/TV sides interact more often now. Berlanti also has a Strange Adventures anthology series coming up, while Elizabeth Banks is developing DC Super Hero High, a live-action series with teenage versions of popular DC Comics superheroes. [TheWrap]

‘Guns Akimbo’ Trailer: Daniel Radcliffe Is A Gamer With Guns Bolted To His Hands

By

John Nolan

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January 16, 2020

If Swiss Army Man was the “Daniel Radcliffe as a corpse movie”, then Guns Akimbo is the “Daniel Radcliffe with gun hands movie”. I like the weird path his career has taken. Please keep it up.

Guns Akimbo is the delightfully oddball flick from writer/director Jason Lei Howden, and it stars Radcliffe as an asshole gamer who wakes up to find his hands now have guns literally bolted into them, and that he must fight to survive illegal death matches broadcast all over the Internet.

It’s like Twitch meets The Running Man. Yes, please. The energy here is off the charts, but I’m cautious because the early reviews have been mixed. Much like Swiss Army Man, a unique premise is rarely enough to carry a movie.

Ready or Not‘s Samara Weaving plays Radcliffe’s opponent. All the more reason to be hyped because she’s pretty awesome.

SYNOPSIS: Nerdy video game developer (Daniel Radcliffe) is a little too fond of stirring things up on the internet with his caustic, prodding, and antagonizing comments. One night, he makes the mistake of drunkenly dropping an inflammatory barb on a broadcast of Skizm, an illegal death-match fight club streamed live to the public. In response, Riktor (Ned Dennehy), the maniacal mastermind behind the channel, decides to force Miles’ hand (or hands, as it were) and have him join the “fun.” Miles wakes to find heavy pistols bolted into his bones, and learns Nix (Samara Weaving), the trigger-happy star of Skizm, is his first opponent.

Guns Akimbo opens February 28th.