‘Hellboy’ Reboot Sets Release For 2019

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December 1, 2017

The disappointment Hellboy fans felt over Guillermo Del Toro and Ron Perlman’s exit has long since faded, and now I think there’s a great deal of anticipation to see Stranger Things star David Harbour as the heroic red demon. But they’ll have to wait a little while, because Lionsgate has set the release date more than a year off.

The new Hellboy reboot has been dated for January 11th 2019. Neil Marshall (The Descent) will bring his horror chops to direct what should be a hard R-rated, very violent adaptation of the comic by creator and co-writer Mike Mignola. Despite early plans there are no connections to the two movies directed by Del Toro. This will be a completely different take that stands on its own.

Milla Jojovich is set to play the evil Blood Queen, Ian McShane is Hellboy’s adoptive father Professor Broom, Sasha Lane is Alice Monaghan, Daniel Dae Kim is Ben Damio, Penelope Mitchell is elder witch Ganeida, Brian Gleeson is the wizard Merlin, plus roles for Sophie Okenedo and Alistair Petrie.

Michael B. Jordan Sets ‘Just Mercy’ As Next Film After Move To Warner Bros.

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John Nolan

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December 1, 2017

Michael B. Jordan’s legal drama Just Mercy, which he joined earlier this year along with Short Term 12 director Destin Cretton, hit some turbulence fairly early on. Originally set up at Broad Green Pictures, the film was left homeless when the struggling studio (home to duds like Bad Santa 2 and Knight of Cups) closed its doors. Well a hero has come to the rescue and it’s Warner Bros., who have picked up the rights for what will be Jordan’s next movie.

It’s expected that Jordan and Cretton will shoot Just Mercy at the start of 2018, and I’m assuming the hope is to be done early enough for him to make the Black Panther press tour. Lawyer and Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson’s memoir serves as the basis for the story of his defense of the country’s most vulnerable and his fight for equal justice in a flawed legal system.

Once Jordan wraps on Just Mercy he’ll jump right into Sylvester Stallone’s Creed sequel. [Variety]

James Mangold To Direct Giant Cat Movie ‘Crenshaw’, Pierre Morel Heads To Survival Thriller ‘Sirius’

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John Nolan

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December 1, 2017

After taking Wolverine to some seriously dark places with Logan, director James Mangold is going in the completely opposite director for his latest project. He’ll direct Crenshaw, a family-friendly movie about a giant cat. Awwwwww. Based on the novel by award-winning “Animorphs” author Katherine Applegate, Crenshaw is about an imaginary cat who arrives to help a young boy whose family has fallen on hard times. Mangold is said to be working on a Logan spinoff centered on X-23, so who knows where this will fall onto his schedule. [THR]

Taken director Pierre Morel will next direct survival thriller Sirius, based on a spec script by Tony Mosher who previously penned Mechanic: Resurrection. The plot sounds perfect for a Jason Statham or Liam Neeson to star in, too, following “two members of a Danish special forces dog sled team — one a sage veteran and the other a bold new recruit — who become ensnared in an international incident while on a mission to one of the coldest and deadliest places on Earth. They face off not only against highly trained adversaries but also cruel forces of nature.” [Deadline]

David Goyer Has The Power, Will Direct ‘Masters Of The Universe’

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John Nolan

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December 1, 2017

Mattel’s He-Man and the Master of the Universe toy line has endured for decades, which is why it’s surprising there’s only been one movie to emerge from it. That was the awful 1987 live-action movie starring Dolph Lundgren and Frank Langella (!!!), although there have been attempts for years to launch an updated version. While a number of names have been attached to the project, the latest to give it a shot is Man of Steel and The Dark Knight writer David Goyer.

Goyer actually boarded the film as a screenwriter a few months ago just as director McG was on his way out. Now TheWrap says Goyer is in talks to direct the movie himself, which makes sense given his background. From his time writing JSA for DC Comics, to his directing of Blade: Trinity plus his connection to Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and DC Films, Goyer has been integral to some pretty big fanboy properties, and this would just be another.

Sony Pictures has set Masters of the Universe for December 18th 2019.

‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’: Benicio Del Toro Maxes Out As The Mysterious DJ

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Travis Hopson

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November 30, 2017

Does Benicio Del Toro ever play obvious characters anymore? I don’t know if we’d ever want him to. In Star Wars: The Last Jedi he plays the mysterious DJ, who sadly isn’t scratchin’ on the wheels of steel in some alien-infested cantina, he’s a “slicer” of dubious morals who gets mixed up with Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) in the gambling city of Canto Bight.

Del Toro has a little bit to say about DJ in the latest edition of Empire, which features the above image of DJ maxin’ out on the couch like he’s in the club VIP room. He doesn’t reveal much, but his descriptors for DJ are interesting nonetheless because they speak to the actor’s clear influences…

“This character could come straight out of a Bob Dylan or Tom Waites song, or even a Dostoyevsky novel. He’s like something out of Dickens; there have been characters like him in all kinds of literature.”

Ok, cool. So what’s that “slicer” label about? Del Toro says, “He’s like a knife: if you grab him by the blade, he’ll cut you. If you grab him by the handle, he can be very, very useful.”

Count me in. DJ might be the breakout character of Star Wars: The Last Jedi when it opens on December 15th.

‘Wonder Woman 2’: Patty Jenkins Teases A New “Love Story” for Diana

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Travis Hopson

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November 30, 2017

Warner Bros. probably can’t wait until 2019. That’s when they plan to release the sequel to Wonder Woman, the only film they’ve got that has been a complete success, both with audiences and with critics. Smartly, they locked in Patty Jenkins to return as director, and of course Gal Gadot to return for her fourth time in the role. While it’s still very early on in crafting the story details, Jenkins opened up on Variety’s podcast about her plans for the sequel, which may include a new love interest for Diana…

“It’s really still going to other values of hers, and a similar formula insofar as making a great, enjoyable fun movie but that ultimately in its third act turns some very big issues, and a very big experience that will aim to have slightly more weight and profundity than it has to have. Because that’s a formula that I really like, and I like the idea of taking somebody on a very solid, great journey but that arrives at a bigger question being answered. So it’s like that but because she is Wonder Woman and she’s here now and she’s fully developed, it’s got great fun from the start and great big superhero presence from the start, and is funny and a great love story again and a couple new unbelievable characters who I’m so excited about, who are very different than were in the last movie.”

I feel sorry for the guy who tries to step up after Steve Trevor (Chris Pine); you don’t want to be that guy. That’s like being the guy who replaced Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls after he retired (It was Pete Myers, by the way.); you simply can’t measure up. It’s even suggested in Justice League that Trevor was the only great love of Diana’s life, so whoever this next dude (Or woman?? She is an Amazon, after all) is probably won’t stick around long.

Or perhaps Jenkins is speaking more dramatically, and that love story is about Wonder Woman falling in love with humanity? It’s an emotional arc we know she needs to go on, right?

Anyway, Wonder Woman 2 opens November 1st 2019.

Sundance First Looks: Paul Rudd In ‘The Catcher Was A Spy’, Jon Hamm In ‘Beiruit’, And More

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Travis Hopson

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November 30, 2017

Yesterday the Sundance Film Festival revealed its full 2018 lineup, and as usual it’s an impressive assortment of indies and potential Oscar contenders. While I’ve touched on a few of the key movies in previous posts (which you can find here), I wanted to drop some first look images at just a few more that I will be scrambling to see in January. Check ’em out below:

I Think We’re Alone Now

Director: Reed Morano
Cast: Peter Dinklage, Elle Fanning
SYNOPSIS: The apocalypse proves a blessing in disguise for one lucky recluse – until a second survivor arrives with the threat of companionship.

Sorry To Bother You

Director: Boots Riley
Cast: Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Steven Yeun, Jermaine Fowler, Armie Hammer, Omari Hardwicke
SYNOPSIS: In a speculative and dystopian not-too-distant future, black telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success – which propels him into a macabre universe.

Beirut

Director: Brad Anderson, Writer: Tony Gilroy
Cast: Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, Shea Whigham, Dean Norris
SYNOPSIS: A U.S. diplomat flees Lebanon in 1972 after a tragic incident at his home. Ten years later, he is called back to war-torn Beirut by CIA operatives to negotiate for the life of a friend he left behind.

The Catcher Was A Spy

Director: Ben Lewin
Cast: Paul Rudd, Mark Strong, Sienna Miller, Jeff Daniels, Guy Pearce, Paul Giamatti
SYNOPSIS: The true story of Moe Berg – professional baseball player, Ivy League graduate, attorney who spoke nine languages – and a top-secret spy for the OSS who helped the U.S. win the race against Germany to build the atomic bomb.

Blaxploitation Classic ‘Cleopatra Jones’ Is Getting A Reboot

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Travis Hopson

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November 30, 2017

How has there not been a reboot of Cleopatra Jones before now? The 1973 blaxploitation film is still remembered for those stunning posters featuring a gun-toting Tamara Dobson with her big, aggressive afro. Here’s hoping they find someone who can rock a fro as well as she did, because that reboot is happening.

Deadline reports that a Cleopatra Jones reboot is in the works, to be written and produced by Misha Green. Green is the co-creator, writer, and producer of the WGN historical drama series, Underground. The original film starred Dobson as a federal agent who kicks ass in her quest to defeat the drug queen known as Mommy, whose drugs were devastating the inner city. Shelley Winters, Bernie Casey, and Antonio Fargas co-starred.

The original movie was very much a vehicle for female empowerment, with Cleopatra Jones compared at the time to James Bond. That’s probably the target Warner Bros. will be shooting for with this revival, but a lot is going to depend on the director and star. Might I suggest Teyonah Parris?

NYFCC Awards ‘Lady Bird’ Best Picture Of 2017; Tiffany Haddish Surprise Winner For ‘Girls Trip’

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Travis Hopson

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November 30, 2017

If you’ve been online all day today then you may have seen the New York Film Critics Circle taking their sweet time announcing the winners of their 2017 awards. Well, here they are, and I can see why it took so long because there are some surprises.

Unsurprising was Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird taking Best Picture, and I’ve come to think there are legit Oscars hopes for her excellent coming of age drama. Saoirse Ronan also walked away with Best Actress, while Call Me By Your Name breakout Timothee Chalamet (who is also in Lady Bird, btw) won Best Actor. He’ll undoubtedly be an Oscar contender. Sean Baker won Best Director for one of my favorite movies of the year, The Florida Project, with Willem Dafoe getting a much-deserved Best Supporting Actor win . The biggest surprise, and possibly a sign of things to come, came when Tiffany Haddish won Best Supporting Actress for her hilarious turn in Girls Trip. Damn!! #sheready

Full list of winners is below!

Best Picture: “Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig

Best Director: Sean Baker, “The Florida Project”

Best Screenplay: Paul Thomas Anderson, “Phantom Thread”

Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan, “Lady Bird”

Best Actor: Timothee Chalamet, “Call Me By Your Name”

Best Supporting Actress: Tiffany Haddish, “Girls Trip”

Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe, “The Florida Project”

Best Cinematography: “Mudbound,” Rachel Morrison

Best Animated Film: “Coco,” Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina

Best Nonfiction Film: “Faces Places,” Agnes Varda

Best Foreign Language Film: “BPM (Beats Per Minute),” Robin Campillo

Best First Time Film: “Get Out,” Jordan Peele

Attend A Free DC Screening Of Woody Allen’s ‘Wonder Wheel’

By

John Nolan

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November 30, 2017

We’re happy to offer our DC readers the chance to attend a free early screening of Wonder Wheel, directed by Woody and starring Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Juno Temple, and Jim Belushi.

SYNOPSIS: WONDER WHEEL tells the story of four characters whose lives intertwine amid the hustle and bustle of the Coney Island amusement park in the 1950s: Ginny (Kate Winslet), an emotionally volatile former actress now working as a waitress in a clam house; Humpty (Jim Belushi), Ginny’s rough-hewn carousel operator husband; Mickey (Justin Timberlake), a handsome young lifeguard who dreams of becoming a playwright; and Carolina (Juno Temple), Humpty’s long-estranged daughter, who is now hiding out from gangsters at her father’s apartment. Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro captures a tale of passion, violence, and betrayal that plays out against the picturesque tableau of 1950s Coney Island.

The screening takes place on Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00pm at Landmark E Street. If you’d like to attend, simply register at the Amazon Studios ticketing site here and download one Admit-Two pass. Please remember that having passes does not guarantee entry. You’ll need to arrive early to ensure receiving a seat. Enjoy the show!

Wonder Wheel opens in DC on December 8th.