Falcon And Winter Soldier Limited Series In The Works For Disney’s Streaming Channel

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October 31, 2018

Anthony Mackie’s Falcon and Sebastian Stan’s Winter Soldier didn’t exactly get along in Captain America: Civil War, and their distinct lack of chemistry led to some truly funny moments. Fans really responded to them, and Marvel is always about giving the fans what they want. A limited series featuring Falcon and Bucky is in the works for Disney’s upcoming streaming service launching in 2019.

The series will be developed by Malcolm Spellman, a writer on FX’s hit series, Empire, and an exec-producer on HBO’s controversial Confederate that is probably never gonna happen. No other details are available but we can assume the buddy comedy dynamic will be back in play. I’m also going to assume this takes both characters out of the running to pick up the mantle of Captain America if need be after the events of Avengers 4. Or maybe this series will be part of helping to figure that out?

This is just the latest miniseries event announced, following news of a show for Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch and another for Tom Hiddleston as Loki. Perhaps most exciting, the six-to-eight episode shows won’t be overseen by Jeph Loeb over at Marvel TV, whose track record is sketchy at best. They will instead be run by Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, the architect of the MCU as we know it. So at least we know there will be a certain level of quality that some of the other Marvel TV shows have failed to attain. [Variety]

Naomi Watts To Lead HBO’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Prequel Series

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

Of all the weird and unexpected casting news to drop, this one takes the cake. Naomi Watts will star in HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series developed by George R.R. Martin and Jane Goldman, making her the first confirmed castmember.

There are a few Game of Thrones spinoffs being developed right now, but this is the one furthest along. There haven’t been a ton of plot details but we do know it will be set during the Age of Heroes, thousands of years before the Westeros we’ve come to know and love. It’s a time of fantastical myth and magic, but will eventually descend into darkness with the arrival of the White Walkers. Watts will play a “charismatic socialite hiding a dark secret,” which describes almost everybody in Game of Thrones, doesn’t it?

Watts has earned a pair of Oscar nominations for her performances in 21 Grams and The Impossible, but has been mixing in a lot more TV work of late. She recently had a role in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks revival, and starred in the short-lived series, Gypsy. Watts will also play Gretchen Carlson in Showtime’s upcoming Roger Ailes miniseries. Long considered one of our finest actresses, her addition to the cast is pretty huge.

As for when we might see this show? Who the heck knows? Maybe in 2020? Not until after the final season of Game of Thrones, and we don’t even know exactly when that will be yet. [THR]

Chloe Moretz And Jack O’Connell Are Bonnie & Clyde In Long-Developing ‘Love Is A Gun’

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

The story of iconic criminals Bonnie & Clyde has been told many times before, but for years there’s been an attempt to do something a little different. In 2012 Neil Burger was attached to direct an adaptation of Jeff Guinn’s book, Go Down Together: The True, Untold Story of Bonnie and Clyde. Untold. That means never been told before, right? Well it’s getting told now, with Chloe Grace Moretz and Jack O’Connell as the tragic lovers.

Moretz and O’Connell will star in Love is a Gun, and with Burger out the film will be directed by Spanish helmer Kike Maillo. Maillo won the Goya Award for Best New Director in 2011 for his film, Eva. Sheldon Turner (Up in the Air) and Johnny Newman’s script remains in play, “thrilling, gritty and emotional story of two of history’s most famous lovers, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow.” My recollection of the book is that it takes some of the shine off of their criminal careers, and goes into some of the troubling things they did before getting together.

No word on when shooting might begin. Moretz can be seen in theaters this weekend in Suspiria. O’Connell will be seen next opposite Kristen Stewart in Against All Enemies.

Eddie Redmayne Eyes Aaron Sorkin’s ‘The Trial Of The Chicago 7’

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

Now that Aaron Sorkin is confirmed to write and direct The Trial of the Chicago 7, a film he and Steven Spielberg have been developing for years, the cast is coming together rather quickly. With Sacha Baron Cohen already on board, Variety now reports Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne is in talks to join him.

Redmayne would take on the role of activist Tom Hadyen, co-founder of Students for a Democratic Society. He was among the seven anti-war protestors charged with conspiracy by the federal government due to their activities during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Cohen is set to play fellow activist Abbie Hoffman, and we can probably expect a cast of A-listers to fill out this ensemble. At one point Will Smith was considered for a lead role and I wouldn’t be surprised if they reach out to him again.

Next up for Redmayne is a little film called Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, which will be at a handful of art house theaters in the area.

‘Flash Gordon’ Reboot In The Works From ‘Overlord’ Director Julius Avery

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

With Queen about to rock theaters once again in Bohemian Rhapsody, a film that featured one of their most memorable tracks is about to find new life. Deadline reports a Flash Gordon reboot is in the works from Overlord director Julius Avery.

This is a major score for Avery, who would only be directing his second feature, one with potential to launch a franchise. The Flash Gordon character was first introduced in 1934, and centers on a football player who battles intergalactic villain Ming the Merciless on the planet Mongo. The story is best remembered by the super campy 1980 film starring Sam Jones and Max Von Sydow, and featuring an anthemic title track by Queen.

Flash Gordon is such a wide open character that Avery should be able to really cut loose and experiment. Hopefully he retains the cheesier elements and doesn’t go dark ‘n gritty or anything like that. Perhaps keep the rock opera soundtrack, too? And who in the world is going to play Flash Gordon? Safe to say Sam J. Jones, good as he looked in Ted 2, is a tad old for the role.

Matt Reeves Reportedly Nixed Ben Affleck’s Return For ‘The Batman’

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

At this point, nobody truly knows what is going on with Matt Reeves’ The Batman, but we can make at least one educated guess. Ben Affleck isn’t likely to return as the Dark Knight, as it’s been fairly clear from the start that Reeves wants to cast a younger actor. With a script that has now been turned in and production supposedly to begin next year, some concrete details should emerge soon. But first, a little more speculation.

According to Revenge of the Fans (judge accordingly), there was interest from Affleck and Warner Bros. in the actor returning to the role. However, it was Reeves who shot down the idea when approached with it. The plan would’ve been to have Affleck’s older version of Batman bookend the story, telling a tale from his youth, with a younger actor hired to play the earlier Batman. Reeves heard their idea and nixed it, thinking Affleck’s involvement would be a distraction.

Maybe he was right on that score, maybe not. I tend to think having a star like Affleck is a good thing. Anyway, this is all rumor, including the report’s claim that we might not see the movie until 2021, even if Warner Bros. gets it done next year. That just doesn’t ring true to me given the long wait and all of the problems. The sooner it gets out there in front of audiences the better.

‘Deadpool 2’ PG-13 Cut Will Feature New Scenes With Ryan Reynolds, Director David Leitch, And More

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

When it was announced a few weeks ago that Deadpool 2 would be getting a special PG-13 re-release this holiday season, I received more than a few emails and comments from readers expressing their unhappiness. Hey ya’ll, I don’t work for Fox, okay? Not my decision! Some of them called it a lazy cash grab…actually, all of them called it that in different ways. But is that really the case? According to writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick there may be more that’s new than we previously were aware.

Speaking with Slashfilm, Reese and Wernick confirmed that Ryan Reynolds, director David Leitch, and more came back to shoot entirely new scenes for the film. So while it isn’t a sequel or anything at least it’s not just a stripped-down version of a movie you already saw…

Wernick says, “We definitely shot new stuff. And recently too. After ‘Deadpool 2’ came out and we were all sitting around, we came to it less about the idea of let’s make a PG-13 movie and more, ‘Let’s talk a little bit about Deadpool.’ We were kicking around some ideas and then I think it was Ryan [Reynolds] who had the great framing device and we all got excited and went to the studio. They said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it. Fire up the cameras.’ About two months ago we were out on soundstages shooting again. Ryan was in the suit and the gang was back together, Dave Leitch and Ryan and us having a great time and laughing. It comes together great so we’re super excited about it.”

That said, fans shouldn’t get too excited. Wernick also says not much from the original has changed all that much, but it’s too soon to know exactly what they can talk about…

“We don’t want to mislead nor do we want to spoil. As we get closer, we’ll see what the studio will let us talk about. I wouldn’t reveal too much about it because it’ll ruin the fun for the audience.”

The new holiday Deadpool 2 arrives on December 21st.

‘Boy Erased’ Trailer: Joel Edgerton’s New Drama Takes On Gay Conversion Therapy

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

We may know Joel Edgerton for his powerful performances in everything from Animal Kingdom to Zero Dark Thirty, but we may be thinking of him as a director first pretty soon. Following on his surprise hit debut The Gift, Edgerton enters the awards season race with Boy Erased, a sobering drama led by three stars who are no strangers to this time of year: Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, and Russell Crowe.

Edgerton’s film is based on Garrard Conley’s memoir and stars Hedges as a Jared Eamons, a young gay man whose conservative parents convince him to undergo conversion therapy where he can “choose” to be straight. Of course, Jared doesn’t quite take to the program which causes problems with the staff (of which Edgerton plays its leader) and forces his parents to make a choice of their own. Do they accept their son for who he is, or exile him from the family and community he knows?

As the shocking statistics at the end of the trailer explain, this remains a very real issue and Edgerton looks to be making a statement while offering solutions.

Boy Erased also stars Cherry Jones, Flea, Xavier Dolan, Joe Alwyn, and Troye Sivan, who contributed an original song which you can check out below. The film opens on November 2nd and will expand in the coming weeks.

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@troyesivan singing his potential Best Original Song nominee Revelation and more for assembled press @focusfeatures @boyerased #troyesivan #boyerased #instagay #gay #livemusic #oscars #bestoriginalsong #revelation

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Action Flick ‘Waldo’ To Star Mel Gibson, Charlie Hunnam, And Eiza Gonzalez

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John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

Mel Gibson’s comeback continues, and we’ve now reached the point where he’s no longer being selective about the projects he chooses. Things have gone well enough after the successes of Hacksaw Ridge and Daddy’s Home 2 that he’s piling on upcoming projects, and now he can add the action flick Waldo to the list.

Gibson will star with Charlie Hunnam and Baby Driver‘s Eiza Gonzalez in Waldo, an adaptation of the book Last Looks by Howard Gould. The “action-packed thriller” will be directed Tim Kirby (Veep, Fleabag), and stars Hunnam as Charlie Waldo, a disgraced but brilliant former LAPD detective who leaves his life of minimalist seclusion to investigate the murder of an eccentric TV star’s wife. It would be pretty cool if Gibson were playing the TV star but it isn’t confirmed yet.

The book has a sequel titled Below the Line hitting shelves this summer. So if this goes well could we be talking franchise? Next up for Gibson is another action film, Dragged Across Concrete, while Hunnam has JC Chandor’s Triple Frontier. Gonzalez will appear next in Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel. [THR]

Live-Action ‘Attack On Titan’ Film Lands ‘It’ Director Andy Muschietti

By

John Nolan

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October 30, 2018

Andy Muschietti has filled the screen with his share of horrors as director of Mama and Stephen King’s It, but now he’s got much bigger scares on the way. Variety reports Muschietti will direct a live-action Attack on Titan film, based on the mega-popular manga and anime series.

If you’ve seen anything of Attack on Titan it’s probably of the giant, skeletal humanoids that roam the Earth, kept at bay by giant walls built by what remains of humanity. The manga series was created by Hajime Isayama and launched in 2009, becoming one of the highest selling manga of all-time. It was eventually developed into an anime TV series and later a Japanese two-part feature released in 2015.

Attack on Titan is a huge franchise with a devoted fanbase, and so it makes for a potentially lucrative opportunity. That said, manga and adaptations haven’t fared well here in the U.S., and one only needs look at last year’s Ghost in the Shell for an example. That may be why Muschietti was chosen as he has a proven track record of success. He is currently working on It: Chapter 2 which is expected match or exceed the $700M box office of its predecessor.