While the reaction to their HBO series Westworld has been split, there’s no denying that Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan are one of the hottest duos around on the small screen. While they’ve each found individual successes, Nolan often writing alongside his brother Christopher Nolan on films including The Dark Knight and Interstellar, Joy on TV shows such as Burn Notice, as a pair they’re only making their first major splash on the big screen. Reminiscence, a sci-fi film set in a flooded future Miami, looks like the kind of head trip we’ve come to expect from them.
Hugh Jackman stars as a mind detective (ooooh trippy) who must investigate the disappearance of a client he has started to become obsessed with, all in a future Miami sunken by the rising seas.
The film marks a reunion between The Greatest Showman stars Hugh Jackman and Rebecca Ferguson, who are joined by Westworld’s Thandie Newton along with Angela Sarafyan, Daniel Wu, Cliff Curtis, Brett Cullen, Nico Parker, Natalie Martinez, and more.
Joy will be making her feature directing debut after helming every episode of Westworld, which is no small feat.
Reminiscence opens in theaters and HBO Max on September 3rd!
Nick Bannister (Hugh Jackman), a private investigator of the mind, navigates the darkly alluring world of the past by helping his clients access lost memories. Living on the fringes of the sunken Miami coast, his life is forever changed when he takes on a new client, Mae (Rebecca Ferguson). A simple matter of lost and found becomes a dangerous obsession. As Bannister fights to find the truth about Mae’s disappearance, he uncovers a violent conspiracy and must ultimately answer the question: how far would you go to hold on to the ones you love?
Jupiter’s Legacy turned out to be short-lived. Netflix and creator Mark Millar have confirmed the superhero series is done after just one season. The series starred Josh Duhamel, Leslie Bibb, Ben Daniels, and more as a family of superheroes dealing with the burden of their gifts, and passing the torch to a younger generation. All of the show’s stars have been let go from their contracts, which had left the door open to multiple seasons. So much for that.
In its place will be another series based on a Mark Millar comic, Supercrooks, about a rag-tag group of supervillains pulling off the ultimate heist. The story is set in the same universe as Jupiter’s Legacy (which also had a small heist component at one point), but it’s unclear if there will be some familiar faces.
This is just the latest in Netflix’s deal to produce multiple adaptations of Millarworld comics. American Jesus, Empress, Prodigy, Sharkey the Bounty Hunter, and others are in various stages of development right now.
I wanted to like Jupiter’s Legacy. The first episode was a rush with that big, bloody battle at the end. But then they let too much backstory and exposition intrude on telling an entertaining story. Every time they flashed back to The Utopian’s quest I got bored, and finally I quit when one episode was just unwatchably dull.
Some big news from us on what's coming up next in live-action from Millarworld, peeps! pic.twitter.com/usEuwVNHei
Now that the end of the pandemic seems to be in sight, blockbuster movies are starting production again. This includes the fifth installment in the Indiana Jones franchise. According to Deadline, the now unnamed sequel is set to start filming next week at Pinewood Studios in the UK.
Professor Jones himself is already across pond, with Harrison Ford being photographed near an expected shooting location. Joining him are Mads Mikkelsen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Boyd Holbrook, Shaunette Renée Wilson and Thomas Kretschmann. Director James Mangold (Logan) is taking over for Steven Spielberg, who is staying on-board as an advisor and producer.
Indiana Jones 5’s plot details have not been disclosed but we don’t have too long to wait. The expected release date is July 29, 2022.
If you’re looking for more of Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) traipsing around haunted housed, you’ll get that in The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. But this isn’t quite the same spook-fest as the previous films in the wildly successful horror franchise. In what looks to be the third and possibly final entry, the married demonologists are more detectives than ghostbusters in a case that imagines an entire fiction around a landmark murder trial. Being “based on a true story” has been the conceit from the start, and we know from history to give the side-eye to any movie claiming it. The result is decidedly mixed here, even if our love for the Warrens’ unique blend of religiosity and paranormal investigating holds firm against the devil’s whispers.
The film begins in exhilerating fashion, with the sort of demon-possession madness that has made these movies such a frightening thrill. Some malevolent spirit has taken hold of young David Glatzel (Julian Hilliard), leading to some bonkers body horror of the Linda Blair variety and a lot of smashing of things in the family’s Connecticut home. Who ya gonna call? Ed and Lorraine Warren, of course! Along with a musty old priest (my first instinct was he looks ripe for a demon-induced heart attack), they battle the evil entity but are overmatched by its power. It takes a selfless act by Arne Johnson (Ruairi O’Connor), the boyfriend of David’s sister (Sarah Catherine Hook), to save the day. He invites the spirit to take him over instead, which it gladly does. But there is a cost.
Ed, who was preyed upon viciously by the demon, suffers a massive heart attack and is a shell of his old, virile self. Patrick Wilson always does virile quite well, so it’s interesting to see him so frail throughout most of the film, with Farmiga really picking up the physical slack. The demon, now possessiong Arne who is apparently just okay with all of this, eventually succumbs to its influence and murders their drunken landlord.
Or did he? The Warrens are brought in again to make the movie title relevant, marking the first time in U.S. legal history that a defendant pleaded not guilty by way of demonic possession. Good luck proving that in a court of law, or as the defense attorney rightfully asks before being introduce to the possessed doll Annabelle: “How can you convince a jury when you can’t even convince me?”
Whether you believe the real-life Warrens were actually in touch with the supernatural or not, the cinematic versions believe in this stuff wholeheartedly. That puts this film in a unique position to the prior Conjurings, where they have to prove more than whether the presence of the devil is real, but whether it caused someone to do evil. That speaks to a side of human frailty that the previous films have never had to touch on before. We also see that highlighted by Ed’s fragile state. The Warrens have never seemed more like real, flesh and blood people, facing a force that is anything but human. Of course, being human also gives the Warrens a strength that helps them endure, and endears us to them even more.
A problem with such unshakeable faith is that it presents something of a missed opportunity. We see the posession from David’s perspective, all grisly monsters and jump scares and eerie visions, so there’s no question he’s under the control of an evil force. Casting a little uncertainty would have served the film well, especially since we are dealing with a case that is grounded in the legal system. David faces the very real threat of being put on Death Row. Is he truly worthy of the Warrens’ dedication?
While James Wan has directed the first two installments, he steps aside in favor of filmmaker Michael Chaves. Chaves’ cred comes from The Curse of La Llorona, a Conjuring spinoff with Latin flavor that proved divisive enough that some no longer consider it part of the same universe. He gets the nuts and bolts of it, but goes the extra mile with a heinous-looking bloated corpse, some gross ratplay in a crawlspace (nothing good EVER comes out of the crawlspace), and a near-drowning experience on a waterbed. What’s missing are Wan’s craft for nailing the period aesthetics. The film is set in 1981 but it doesn’t really feel like it. Wan, who has directed action movies such as Aquaman and Furious 7, could turn that energy into menacing tension better than almost any director around. Chaves doesn’t quite have that gift; his skills are efficient and do the job to make a satisfying Conjuring movie.
But none of this matters without Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson as Lorraine and Ed. Considering the ghosts and gore they dabble in, there’s something so pure about them that breaks through the darkness. We see more of their meet cute origin story, and it’s every bit as “aw shucks” wholesome as expected, and only serves to ground them further as the Ozzie & Harriet of the occult. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is rooted in love between the Warrens that helps them triumph over the unholy, a fitting way to bring their do-gooding days to a close.
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It opens in theaters and HBO Max on June 4th.
Haven’t done a round-up like this in a while. Let’s get it!
Jodie Turner-Smith continues her hot streak by joining the cast of White Noise, Noah Baumbach’s upcoming film starring Adam Driver and Greta Gerwig. Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola, and May Nivola are also in the cast. The adaptation of Don DeLillo’s novel follows a Hitler studies professor, his wife, and their four children. Always bound by their love an fear of death, the couple meet it head-on after an industrial event unleashes a toxic black cloud over their lives. Turner-Smith was recently seen in Without Remorse opposite Michael B. Jordan, and will play Anne Boleyn in an upcoming period drama series. [Deadline]
Meanwhile, Kate Beckinsale will star in Prisoner’s Daughter, a new family drama from Lords of Dogtown director Catherine Hardwicke. Penned by Marc Bacci, the story follows “a tough but proud ex-con who’s struggling to find a way to reconnect with his only daughter and grandson; once he begins an attempt at reconciliation, his violent past once again catches up to him.” Beckinsale was last seen in the British drama film Farming, and 2017’s The Only Living Boy in New York. Hardwicke’s latest was a remake of Mexican thriller Miss Bala. [Deadline]
Katherine Waterston has booked a trip to Babylon. The Inherent Vice actress has joined Damien Chazelle’s 1920s Hollywood drama starring Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Diego Calva, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li. The film takes place during the time when studios were transitioning away from silent movies and into “talkies”. Waterston was recently seen in the acclaimed drama The World to Come. Babylon opens on December 25th 2022 before going wide on January 6th 2023, because this clearly has Oscar aspirations.
Back away from Ryan Kiera Armstrong or you’re likely to get burned! The American Horror Story actress has landed the lead role in Blumhouse’s remake of Stephen King’s Firestarter, and we’ve got the first look at her as Charlie, the dangerous pyrokinetic.
Blumhouse broke the news of Armstrong’s casting with this debut image, and I’m getting serious Drew Barrymore vibes here. Barrymore had one of her biggest early roles in the original 1984 film, playing Charlie, a young kid who develops the ability to control fire and see the future. This does not go well for anybody, especially the secret organization seeking to control her fiery gifts.
The new version of Firestarter is directed by Keith Thomas (The Vigil) from a script by Scott Teems (Halloween Kills). Armstrong joins the previously-cast Zac Efron and Michael Greyeyes, but there are still a lot of roles we haven’t heard much about.
Man, I can’t wait to see how they spin this into the Obamas making a radical attack on America.
Barack and Michelle Obama continue to spend their time after the White House to educate and entertain. Their Higher Ground production label has already delivered the documentaries Becoming, Oscar winner American Factory, and Oscar nominee Crip Camp, and now they’re back with We The People, which is basically Schoolhouse Rock for a new generation.
We the People sets out to educate kids on our democratic form of government, using music video, animation, and hosted by some of the biggest names in music including H.E.R., Adam Lambert, Cordae, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Daveed Diggs, Brittany Howard, Robert Lopez, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brandi Carlile, KYLE, Bebe Rexha, Andra Day, Janelle Monáe, and Amanda Gorman.
Only the Obamas can put a group like that together.
The series is created by Chris Nee, of the popular children’s series Doc McStuffins. Kenya Barris (black-ish) is on board as a producer.
We the People debuts, appropriately enough, on July 4th.
Combining music and animation to educate a new generation of young Americans about the power of the people, We the People is a series of 10 animated music videos that covers a range of basic U.S. civics lessons in not-so-basic ways. Set to original songs performed by artists such as H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Lambert, Cordae, Bebe Rexha, KYLE, Andra Day, and poet Amanda Gorman, with a groundbreaking mix of animated styles — each episode of We the People is an exuberant call to action for everyone to rethink civics as a living, breathing thing and to reframe their understanding of what government and citizenship mean in a modern world.
When The Last Black Man in San Francisco dropped a couple of years ago and earned accolades across the board, who would’ve thought it would lead to Jonathan Majors’ superstar rise? But he is definitely having quite the moment, starring in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods, and joining the MCU as Kang the Conqueror in Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania. And now he’s landed another major franchise role, slugging it out with Michael B. Jordan in Creed III.
Deadline reports Jonathan Majors is in talks to star in Creed III, joining Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, and 100% Sylvester Stallone free. Majors will be lacing up the gloves as the opponent to Adonis Creed, but we don’t know the circumstances of it yet. Is he the long-lost son of Clubber Lang? God, let’s hope not.
The film will mark Jordan’s directorial debut, and has a script by Zach Baylin and Keenan Coogler.
Also coming up for Majors is Netflix’s star-studed Black Western film The Harder They Fall, playing real-life cowboy Nat Love. He’ll also star in the war movie Devotion, alongside Serinda Swan as Elizabeth Taylor.
As the moviegoing experience begins to return to normalcy, it isn’t all blockbusters we have to look forward to. There are some films that cinephiles have been anticipating for a long time, and right at the top of the list is The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Not only does the story of televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker deserve the big-screen treatment, but the film stars Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield. Yes please.
People has delivered our first look at Chastain and Garfield in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, and they’re damn unrecognizable. The film centers on Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who became huge celebrities by preaching to the reglious masses on television. Of course, it was all one big scam, and Jim got wrapped up in an adultery scandal with Jessica Hahn. But it was Tammy Faye who took the most public scrutiny, becoming a punchline to comedians and the media.
“Here’s a woman that I had an idea of because of what I was fed about her,” Chastain said. “Even the thing about the mascara running down her face. There is not one picture of her with mascara running down her face in reality. But people were always making her into a clown and punishing her for the mistakes of her husband, which all throughout history women have been the victim of, atoning for the sins of men.”
The Eyes of Tammy Faye is directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) and based on the 2000 documentary. It arrives in theaters on September 17th.
Universal is doing their part to get the movie theater business rolling again with the release of F9 later this month, but let’s not forget the other hit franchise on the way. The Boss Baby: Family Business is the anticipated (???) sequel to 2017’s The Boss Baby, which made over $500M from folks who really want to hear Alec Baldwin voice a talking infant.
The sequel introduces a brand new boss baby, who is actually a super-spy, while Baldwin’s character is now an adult. Huh? Y’got me. The synopsis can explain this better than I ever could.
Tim (James Marsden) and his Boss Baby little bro Ted (Alec Baldwin) – have become adults and drifted away from each other. Tim is now a married dad. Ted is a hedge fund CEO. But a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach and a can-do attitude is about to bring them together again … and inspire a new family business. Tim and his super-mom wife Carol (Eva Longoria) live in the suburbs with their super-smart 7-year-old daughter Tabitha (Ariana Greenblatt), and super-cute new infant Tina (Amy Sedaris). Tabitha, who’s at the top of her class at the prestigious Acorn Center for Advanced Childhood, idolizes her Uncle Ted and wants to become like him, but Tim worries that she’s working too hard and is missing out on a normal childhood. When baby Tina reveals that she’s—ta-da!—a top-secret agent for BabyCorp on a mission to uncover the dark secrets behind Tabitha’s school and its mysterious founder, Dr. Erwin Armstrong (Jeff Goldblum), it will reunite the Templeton brothers in unexpected ways, leading them to re-evaluate the meaning of family and discover what truly matters.
Jimmy Kimmel and Lisa Kudrow also return to lend their voices. Tom McGrath is back behind the camera, as well.
The Boss Baby has launched an empire that the Boss Baby himself could appreciate. Beyond this sequel, there was also a Netflix special and television series that is in its fourth season. Apparently, people want more and they’re getting it.
The Boss Baby: Family Business hits theaters and Peacock on July 2nd.
