Issa Rae Is Spider-Woman In ‘Into The Spider-Verse 2’

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June 5, 2021

There’s a new Spider-Woman on the block, and she’ll be voiced by Insecure‘s Issa Rae! In pretty cool news, Rae will play Jessica Drew in Sony’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse sequel, joining returning stars Shameik Moore as Miles Morales and Hailee Steinfeld as Spider-Gwen.

That’s a lot of Spider-people, but still not quite as many as the original movie. It begs the question how many versions of Spidey will we see this time around? And what does the casting of Spider-Woman suggest about the sequel? Perhaps she’ll take on a mentor role to Gwen the way Peter Parker did for Miles?

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 opens on October 7th 2022 with Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson directing from a script by Phil Lord, Chris Miller, and Dave Callaham. [THR]

‘Emergency Contact’: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II And Dwayne Johnson Team Up For Austin Music Scene Action Flick

By

Travis Hopson

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June 4, 2021

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II to star in Netflix's CLIFF BOOTH film

How’s this for a powerhouse pairing? Watchmen and Aquaman star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will team up with fellow DCEU alum Dwayne Johnson for a new action movie titled Emergency Contact. Details on the film are being kept under wraps, but it’s described by THR as a “high-concept, high-octane action film set in the underground music scene of Austin, Texas.”

Abdul-Mateen will star and exec-produce, while Johnson will produce through his Seven Bucks label. So far it doesn’t appear that Johnson is taking a role for himself, but things could change especially if it helps get the movie made.

The story comes from writing duo Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani, best known for the recent legal drama The Mauritanian.

Abdul-Mateen is on one Hell of a roll. Coming off his Emmy-winning performance as Dr. Manhattan in HBO’s Watchmen, he gained acclaim for his role as Bobby Seale in The Trial of the Chicago 7. Coming up next are the Candyman reboot, a role in Mad Max: Fury Road prequel Furiosa, the long-awaited The Matrix 4, and a return as Black Manta in Aquaman 2. Damn, son.

‘Infinite’ Final Trailer: Paramount Really Doesn’t Want You To Forget Mark Wahlberg’s Sci-Fi Thriller

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Travis Hopson

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June 4, 2021

Sooooo Paramount really needs Infinite to be a big hit. It’s their first real shot at a blockbuster film exclusive for Paramount+, and with Mark Wahlberg starring for director Antoine Fuqua it has the cred to draw in subscribers. And how do you know Paramount is desperate to keep this movie fresh in your mind? Because it hasn’t even been a week since the trailer dropped and already they’ve dumped a “final” one on us.

The sci-fi thriller stars Wahlberg as Evan McCauley, who has gained skills he never learned and holds memories from past lives he never lived. He soon learns that he is part of a secret group known as the “Infinites”, and must use their abilities gained from having lived multiple lives to save the world.

Also in the cast are Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, Jason Mantzoukas, Rupert Friend, Liz Carr, with Toby Jones and Dylan O’Brien.

Infinite had been due to open in theaters last year but was delayed due to COVID-19, but will now hit Paramount+ exclusively on June 10th.

For Evan McCauley (Mark Wahlberg), skills he has never learned and memories of places he has never visited haunt his daily life. Self-medicated and on the brink of a mental breakdown, Evan is sought by a secret group that call themselves “Infinites,” revealing to him that his memories may be real—but they are from multiple past lives.

‘John Wick 4’ Casts Donnie Yen To Fight Alongside Keanu Reeves

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Travis Hopson

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June 4, 2021

Oh damn, now here’s a fight I never thought I’d want to see. It could potentially be Keanu Reeves vs. Donnie Yen in John Wick 4, as the martial arts superstar has joined the sequel’s cast according to Deadline.

According to the report, Yen will be playing an old friend to John Wick, with the two sharing many of the same enemies. Of course, this being the world of killers, no friendship lasts forever which is why I speculate we could see Reeves and Yen throw down.

Yen joins a cast that also includes pop star Rina Sawayama, so this John Wick is going to have quite the international flavor.

You could argue that Yen is right up there with Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat, and Jackie Chan as actors from the China to really make it big in Hollywood. He’s known for the Ip Man movies, Rogue One, Disney’s live-action Mulan, and many more.

John Wick 4 hits theaters on May 27th 2022.

‘The Flash’ Director Teases Michael Keaton’s Bloody Batman Suit, And Perhaps A ‘Watchmen’ Tie-In?

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Travis Hopson

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June 4, 2021

Uh oh, could something terrible be about to happen to Michael Keaton’s Batman when he returns for The Flash? That was what director Andy Muschietti teased on Instagram, which gives a bloody look at the classic Batman costume that Keaton wore in the 1989 Tim Burton movie. I mean, it’s damn unmistakable!

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A post shared by Andy Muschietti (@andy_muschietti)

It’s still pretty wild to think that Keaton is back in the Bat-suit again. His return for The Flash was confirmed last year, although the actor decided to quibble about it for a while. We first saw a tease of the classic gear at DC Fandome, but this at leat gives us some context as to what this older mentor version of Bruce Wayne could be facing.

The slightly conspiratorial part of me also looks at this image and can’t help but see a resemblance to the iconic Watchmen logo. Since we know The Flash will be dealing with many alternate realities, I’m wondering if perhaps Batman will encounter someone from that Alan Moore classic. Jeffrey Dean Morgan has been begging to get back in the DCEU fold after playing Thomas Wayne years ago. Could he perhaps reprise his role as The Comedian? The Watchmen characters have been fully integrated into DC Comics thanks to the Doomsday Clock storyline, so if it were going to happen now would be the time.

The Flash opens November 4th 2022 and stars Ezra Miller, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, Michael Keaton, Kiersey Clemons, Maribel Verdú, and Ron Livingston.

Review: ‘Under The Stadium Lights’
Milo Gibson And Laurence Fishburne Quarterback A Mediocre Football Drama

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Jake Sokolsky
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In West Texas, football is life and Abilene is no exception. In 2008 the Abilene Eagles were heavy championship favorites. Their season came to a crashing halt when they lost a heartbreaker in the first round of the playoffs. Under the Stadium Lights is the true story of the 2009 Eagles team. With so many prominent players graduating, the 2009 team was overlooked with championship aspirations being long gone. However, quarterback Ronnell Sims (Carter Redwood), his cousin running back Herschel Sims (Acoryé White) and linebacker Boo (Germain Arroyo) have a different idea in mind. After the team gets off to a quick start, they have a chance to make this vision a reality. The only thing standing in their way is rival Cedar Hill, a championship contender in their own right.

In addition to the comradery from their teammates, the players also have support from various adults in the community. Coach Warren (Glenn Morshower) tries to teach the players valuable lessons about hope and moving forward. Team chaplain/police officer/pastor Chad Mitchell (Milo Gibson – Mel’s son) is always there when anyone needs him and establishes an open culture within the team. Harold Christian (Laurence Fishburne) is the local BBQ restaurant owner that might be the Eagles number 1 fan. Football is an escape for most of the players. They have numerous familial hardships weighing on them, but the love and support of their teammates lifts them up.

Under the Stadium Lights is written by John Collins and Hamid Torabpour based on the book Brother’s Keeper by Al Pickett and the aforementioned Chad Mitchell. The film is also the feature length debut for director Todd Randall. Randall tries to keep things fresh with little cinematic gimmicks popping up on screen and upbeat music. With Mitchell’s book being the source material for the film, it’s no surprise that he has a prominent role. Randall struggles with keeping focus throughout the film. At times the players and their stories take center stage before being dethroned by football, even without proper closure. Once the big game arrives, everything else goes out the window. After having spent a majority of the film on character development and attempting to have the audience care for these players, we are robbed of a fitting conclusion to their individual stories.

With a film being titled Under the Stadium Lights I expected more of it to actually take place under stadium lights. While there are multiple instances where old game film is provided, the audience has no context of what they are watching. Die hard Abilene fans may recognize plays and moments, but the rest of us aren’t so lucky. Under the Stadium Lights feels disjointed, hopping from one scene to another with no real continuity. This hurts the flow of the film and progression of the story. Under the Stadium Lights has the feel of a straight to television film. It lacks the excitement of sports movies that have come before it and true drama that pulls you in. Well before the final whistle blows, it is clear that Under the Stadium Lights is not worth a watch.

Tiffany Haddish Races To Play Olympian Florence Griffith Joyner In Upcoming Biopic

By

Travis Hopson

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June 4, 2021

She ready! Tiffany Haddish is ready to leap over the hurdles and take on the role of Olympic medalist and record holder Florence Griffith Joyner in an upcoming biopic.

Deadline reports Haddish will get to play her hero Florence Griffith Joyner in an untitled film about the track and field superstar, winner of multiple gold medals at the 1988 Olympic Games. The story will follow Flo-Jo’s historic career, remarkable life, and untimely death at the young age of 38 due to an epileptic seizure.

Haddish will also produce the film, joined by Flo-Jo’s widower and former coach, Al Joyner, who will produce and consult.

“I am looking forward to telling Flo-Jo’s story the way it should be told,” said Haddish. “My goal with this film is making sure that younger generations know my ‘she-ro’ Flo-Jo, the fastest woman in the world to this day, existed.”

No word on who will write or direct as this is clearly in the early stages. Haddish has been taking on more dramatic roles to go along with her award-winning comedy. She was most recently seen opposite Billy Crystal in dramedy Here Today.

Review: ‘Spirit Untamed’
A Girl And Her Horse Ride Free In A De Facto Remake of The Netflix TV Show

By
Khalil Johnson
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It’s kinda crazy that Dreamwork’s Spirit franchise has been going strong for 19 years! When first introduced in 2002, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron was considered a classic. Centering on a wild horse’s perspective, the OG film followed the titular character as he and his pack resist capture from horse wranglers. $122 million later, it has spun into a lucrative franchise for Dreamworks. Thanks to their partnership with Netflix, 3 separate spin-off television series have been produced. Sprit: Riding Free lasted more than 8 seasons, Riding Free: Pony Tales had two seasons, and Riding Free: Riding Academy has had two seasons as well. In addition, there has been a Christmas special on Netflix as well as an interactive special as well. Based on the sheer volume of movies and TV shows based on the original movie, we should be tired of it… right? Well, think again as Dreamworks did a reimagining/remake of Spirit: Riding Free in their new feature film Sprit Untamed.

If you haven’t watched the Netflix series, Spirit Untamed focuses on Fortuna Esperanza “Lucky” Prescot (Isabela Merced), a young girl who was orphaned at a young age due to a horse-riding accident that killed her mother and then alienated her father. Spending most of her life with her aunt Cora (Julianne Moore), Lucky has not necessarily been lucky. Her grandfather is a “somebody,” and given his political life, she can’t enjoy the simple things a young girl her age takes for granted. After yet another fiasco she inadvertently creates for her family, her aunt Cora escorts her across the country to go spend the summer with her father Jim (Jake Gyllenhaal), who she hasn’t seen for 10 years.

On the train ride heading to her father, she notices a group of wild horses roaming the countryside that capture her awe and fascination. After causing yet another escapade on the train in her excitement, she has found something that actually captivates her interest, especially when she arrives in town as pretty much the entire town’s culture is horse-based. After a brief period of getting to know her dad she hasn’t seen in ages, she befriends people around town. She takes a liking to Pru (Marsai Martin), Abigail (Mckenna Grace), and she befriends the same wild horse she saw on the train. It takes her a while, but soon enough, she and the horse (that, of course, she names “Spirit”) build a rapport.

At the same time, there a group of horse wranglers led by Hendricks (Walton Goggins once again playing Walton Goggins) who are capturing wild horses for overseas sales. The wrangling group is at first there with Pru’s father Al’s (Andre Braugher) blessing helping to tame Spirit and a few other wild horses, but after he sees how they are mistreating the horses they catch, he kicks them off his ranch. Later on, Lucky finds Spirit out in the wild and finds all of his pack. Unfortunately, the wrangling gang also finds them.

This leads Lucky to team up with Sprit, and her friends to go out and rescue the captured horses. The plot is a fairly predictable paint-by-numbers story onward as the trio get on their horses and go on the adventure to rescue the horses and outsmart the bad guys. Unfortunately, if you have seen any of the infinite number of episodes of the Netflix series, you pretty much are already familiar with how the story goes, so it’s not necessarily reinventing the wheel.

But there are some bright spots in Sprit Untamed. The animation is beautiful, exactly what you would expect from Dreamworks after all these years. While there is a large amount of stunt voicework with big-name actors (who all do a great job, especially Jake Gyllenhaal), the story focuses primarily on Lucky and her newfound friends, so the extra famous folks don’t overshadow Isabela Merced, Marsai Martin, and Mckenna Grace as they go through their adventures. While the original film was told from the perspective of Spirit the horse complete with inner monologues, that doesn’t mean in this iteration the silent version of the animal doesn’t have his own version of charm and character moments. Ultimately, this will be a hit with kids and parents will just have to grit their teeth at theaters and enjoy Sprit Untamed for what they can get out of it as well.

Sprit Untamed is currently available in theaters nationwide.

Spirit

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Review: ‘Gully’
Kelvin Harrison Jr., Jonathan Majors, Amber Heard, And A Starry Cast Can't Escape This Wannabe Raw L.A. Street Drama

By
Travis Hopson
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Gully, the gritty debut feature from Austalian music video director Nabil Elderkin, would have been considered a groundbreaking arthouse film in the early 2000s. Its story of troubled, violent South L.A. teens coming-of-age in the midst of hopelessness is one that has been told to death, often with little actual insight into the factors that cause such desolation. Despite a tremendous cast from top to bottom, this film is no different from the others, except that it feels woefully outdated.

Ironically, Gully has been sitting on the shelf for a couple of years, first debuting at Tribeca in 2019 and generating little buzz despite the wealth of talent at Elderkin’s disposal. Supposedly set in a dystopian Los Angeles, although it looks more like an attempt to recreate Boyz n The Hood, the film centers on a trio of teens whose lives have been marred by familial violence, abuse, and poverty. Calvin (Jacob Latimore) is brilliant, philosophical, but also apparently schizophrenic or suffering from some other mental instability. His mother (Robin Givens) is lost with what to do with him, unable to even get him to take his medication. The silent Jesse (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) suffers from flashbacks of past trauma, while living with his “father” (John Corbett) whose abuses steer towards the grotesque. Nicky (Charlie Plummer) is the resident white trash of the neighborhood. He takes backlash from the residents for knocking up a black girl, and talks shit to his too-young mother (a wildly miscast Amber Heard) who has her own demons to deal with.

The trio run in a wolfpack of sorts. All very childlike in their own ways, they get off on violent GTA-style video games, which they then act out in brutal episodes of crime and chaos. As the police helicopters hover over the city like oppressive rulers, Calvin imagines gunning one down from the skies like a character in his favorite console games. While stomping out a couple of randoms just to jack their ride, they see themselves racking up high scores and upgrading their equipment. These scenes have all of the stylistic energy we expect from music video directors who transition to features. Once again, this would have meant something years ago but fails to stand out as anything unique today. When terrible acts of cruelty aren’t being committed, the film goes stagnant bordering on dull.

Screenwriter Marcus J. Guillory isn’t being subtle here with his analysis of what drives these characters; the problem is they don’t feel very real, either. Not very much in Gully does, despite Elderkin wanting us to see how very important and serious his movie is. It comes across as more of a joke than a worthwhile drama, with all of the swooning orchestral music to mark “key” moments. Cue in Terence Howard as the colorfully-named Mr. Christmas, a hobo who carts around the city dropping poetry and proverb like he’s the embodiment of every awful role Howard has ever taken. When Elderkin does stumble on something honest, like the plight of recently-released ex-con Greg (played by the great Jonathan Majors) as he tries to go straight, it isn’t given nearly enough time to make much impact. He sort of drifts in and out of the story without adding a lot, making you wish the focus could have been on him rather than the cardboard nihilists we get as protagonists. In Greg, we see how the weight of one’s past can burden the present, making the fight to better oneself more of a challenge, but also more worthwhile. For Black men this is especially true. Paying the debt for one’s sins is almost never satisfied.

The word “gully” used to get tossed around in hip-hop circles a lot. It means “from the gutter”, and rappers would use it to describe how gangsta they were. Of course, most of them were straight bullshit on any of that. Try as it might, Gully‘s attempts at a raw, unflinching look at growing up in the mean L.A. streets also feels like a front.

Gully opens in theaters on June 4th, followed by DVD on June 8th.

Zachary Levi Is In The Dark In New ‘Shazam: Fury Of The Gods’ Teaser

By

Travis Hopson

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June 4, 2021

Shazam: Fury of the Gods is still two years away, but that hasn’t stopped director David F. Sandberg from getting fans hyped for it early. While there’s no actual footage from the movie, it does feature star Zachary Levi in what appears to be Shazam’s new costume. Unfortunately, as Levi himself notes, it’s a little dark, though…

Coming soon…ish pic.twitter.com/JWWFsXn5ch

— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) June 3, 2021

In Sandberg’s tweet, he also promises that something will be “Coming soon…ish”. Presumably, he’s referring to an actual trailer that will show us the Shazam suit in full.

Levi is joined by the returning Asher Angel as Billy Batson, Jack Dylan Grazer as Freddy Freeman, along with other members of the Marvel Family. Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu are new additions as the villainous sisters Hespera and Kalypso, with Rachel Zegler as the third sibling.

Shazam: Fury of the Gods is set to hit theaters on June 2nd, 2023.