‘Rangers Of The New Republic’: Spinoff Of ‘The Mandalorian’ Is No Longer In Development

By

-

May 24, 2021

Some would like to tell you that Disney “canceled” Gina Carano. That isn’t true. They just didn’t renew her deal. However, the Star Wars show many expected her to lead, Rangers of the New Republic, HAS been canceled before it ever got started. Variety reports the series is no longer in development, news which comes as The Mandalorian creator Dave Filoni has been elevated to Executive Creative Director at Lucasfilm.

Announced late last year as one of a slew of upcoming Star Wars shows, Rangers of the New Republic was seen as a spinoff of The Mandalorian. Considering Carano’s character, Cara Dune, had just been named a ranger towards the end of the show’s second season, the presumption was she would lead this new series, set after Return of the Jedi.

While Carano was never made officially a part of Rangers of the New Republic, her exit and the show’s subsequent cancellation says a lot.

It’s not as if there’s a short of Star Wars content coming to Disney+. Ewan McGregor is returning for an Obi-Wan Kenobi series, along with Diego Luna returning for Rogue One prequel Andor. There’s also Ahsoka Tano with Rosario Dawson back and hunting down Grand Admiral Thrawn, not to mention The Book of Boba Fett following the criminal underworld. Along with all of that there’s The Acolyte from director Leslye Headland, and Justin Simien’s upcoming Lando Calrissian series which many hope will star Donald Glover.

Oh yeah, and The Mandalorian season three. Sorry, Gina, all of this is why they could afford to dump you.

Marvel’s First ‘Eternals’ Teaser Reveals Chloe Zhao’s Film Starring Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, And More

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 24, 2021

It’s safe to say Eternals arrives with more gravitas than any other Marvel Studios film before it. Following on the heels of Chloe Zhao’s multiple Academy Awards for Nomadland, including Best Director and Best Picture, she brings a level of criticical anticipation the likes of which you don’t get from a typical superhero movie.

Kevin Feige has said that all of Zhao’s sensibilities would be felt in Eternals, and you can see that in this teaser, which boasts a naturalistic look similar to Nomadland and The Rider before it.

What we get is a look at the impact the Eternals, an immortal alien race that has been living among humanity for thousands of years, have had on the world. They’ve never interfered in anything until now, in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, when the world comes under threat by their evil cousins, the Deviants. It’s worth noting that Thanos was a member of the Deviants, which may explain why the Eternals are jumping into action. We also see the group gathered at a dinner table discussing who will be the next Avengers leader, with Richard Madden’s Ikaris tossing his name into the hat.

Eternals boasts a huge, star-studded ensemble that includes Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh,Don Lee, Barry Keoghan, Kit Harington, and Angelina Jolie. The film opens in theaters on November 5th.

“Marvel Studios’ “Eternals” welcomes an exciting new team of Super Heroes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The epic story, spanning thousands of years, features a group of immortal heroes forced out of the shadows to reunite against mankind’s oldest enemy, The Deviants. The outstanding ensemble cast includes Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena. Kit Harington plays Dane Whitman.”

Kevin Spacey Is Making A Comeback In Franco Nero’s Upcoming Film

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 24, 2021

Kevin Spacey is back behind the camera, and thankfully not as Frank Underwood again.

Well, damn. Maybe those super weird “Let Me Be Frank” videos Kevin Spacey does around the holidays actually are working? Because the disgraced actor is on the verge of a comeback, his first since his career came to a sudden halt due to multiple allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct.

Spacey will reportedly have a role in an upcoming Italian film from legendary filmmaker Franco Nero. Variety says Spacey will have a cameo in L’uomo Che Disegnò Dio, a “low budget indie” that may also include an appearance by Nero’s wife, Vanessa Redgrave.

The news comes as Spacey is seeing a bit of daylight in one of the major allegations against him. If the accuser who filed a lawsuit doesn’t reveal his identity, the case could be dropped.

This new film would be Spacey’s first since 2018 when he starred in a little film nobody saw called Billionaire Boys Club. It was shot before the most public allegations (there had been whispers before that) surfaced. When that happened, Spacey saw his key performance in Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World cut and replaced by Christopher Plummer.

I don’t know if doing this movie will translate to Spacey getting back in Hollywood’s good graces. That’s doubtful. But if there’s anything we know from the likes of Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, and others, it’s that they are perceived very differently in other countries. Spacey might be able to build something new for himself overseas.

‘False Positive’ Teaser: Ilana Glazer And Pierce Brosnan Star In Hulu’s ‘Rosemary’s Baby’-esque Horror

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 23, 2021

Broad City’s Ilana Glazer is probably the last one we’d expect to star in a Rosemary’s Baby-style horror, but with the upcoming Hulu film False Positive she’s ditching her comic side. Well, maybe.

Because when watching this brief teaser for False Positive, it does seem to have a silly edge to it. That could just be how the footage was cut, though, perhaps playing into Glazer’s fans’ expectations?

The film stars Glazer, who along with Justin Theroux (recently of Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast) are a couple who find the perfect fertility doctor, played by Pierce Brosnan. She finally gets pregnant, only to then see something sinister in the physician.

Also in the cast and glimpsed in this teaser are Sophia Bush and Gretchen Mol. John Lee, who has worked on episodes of Broad City and directed Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday, is behind the camera.

False Positive hits Hulu on June 25th.

After months of trying and failing to get pregnant, Lucy (Ilana Glazer) and Adrian (Justin Theroux) finally find their dream fertility doctor in the illustrious Dr. Hindle (Pierce Brosnan). But after becoming pregnant with a healthy baby girl, Lucy begins to notice something sinister through Hindle’s gleaming charm, and she sets out to uncover the unsettling truth about him, and her own “birth story.” As if getting pregnant weren’t complicated enough…

Edgar Wright Teases Psychological Thriller ‘Last Night In Soho’ Ahead Of Tuesday’s Trailer

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 23, 2021

While it may have seemed easy at one point to predict Edgar Wright’s career trajectory, now it’s not so simple. With films as varied as Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, and Baby Driver, Wright has proven himself one of the most versatile directors around. And now with Last Night in Soho he’s giving us something completely different from the rest: a psychological thriller.

With the trailer arriving on Tuesday, the first brief footage from Last Night in Soho is here to tease us with its 1960s London style and neon-lit colors. The film stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Thomasin McKenzie, two of the best young actresses around, in what Wright has often compared to Nicolas Roeg’s Don’t Look Now and Roman Polanski’s Repulsion.

Here’s the synopsis: A young girl, who is passionate about fashion design, mysteriously enters the 1960s, where she encounters her idol, a dazzling wannabe singer. But 1960s London is not what it seems, and time seems to fall apart with shady consequences.

Wright also co-wrote the film with acclaimed 1917 writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns. The cast includes Matt Smith, Diana Rigg, Terence Stamp, Michael Ajao, Synnøve Karlsen,and Rita Tushingham.

Last Night in Soho opens October 22nd.

‘Predator 5’ Rumored To Star ‘Legion’ Actress Amber Midthunder

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 22, 2021

Last year we learned that Disney was looking to move forward on one of their newly acquired Fox franchises, Predator, with a fifth movie led by 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg. And now we may have news on the first cast member, although I would say this is more of a rumor than anything else.

Coming out of Discussing Film and something called The Ronin (?) is a story claiming Predator 5 will star Legion actress Amber Midthunder in the lead role. Midthunder, who is Native American and can be seen in the upcoming Liam Neeson film The Ice Road, would be playing “Kee, a Comanche woman who “goes against gender norms and traditions to become a warrior.”

That description of Kee comes from a casting call sheet leaked a few months ago. The story would focus on Native Americans before American settlers took over the territories, making this a vastly different era and locale than we’ve seen in previous Predator films, but would also make sense.

We’ll see if this pans out or not, but I do like the sound of it. The Predator franchise has hit some speed bumps since the 1987 classic with Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Danny Glover-led sequel was a completely different thing and it took some getting used to, but has really grown on me. Nimroad Antal’s Predators is vastly underrated in my book, and Shane Black’s The Predator is a good, if flawed effort that probably deserves a rewatch.

Review: ‘Drunk Bus’
An Unlikely Coming-Of-Age Comedy And The Perfect Vehicle To Launch Pineapple Tangaroa's Career

By
Cortland Jacoby
-

Drunk Bus is an unlikely coming of age story. Still hung up on his ex-girlfriend and working as bus driver at his alma mater, Michael’s life (Charlie Tahan) is at a stand still. Seemingly content doing the same routine day in and day out, the recent college grad spends his nights driving the night route on the “drunk bus,” i.e. the bus that takes drunk college students to the bars, parties and back to their dorms.

When a few accidents cause his employer to hire an American-Samoan man to work security on his route, named Pineapple (Pineapple Tangaroa), Michael is first against working with the intimidating and heavily tattooed man. Encouraged by Pineapple to stand up for himself, the two bond over doing donuts in abandoned parking lots and hanging out with some of the bus’s riders. As the two bond, Michael starts to question his current reality and sees that participating in life is worth it.

The relationship between Pineapple and Michael is where Drunk Bus gets its appeal. Tangaroa’s performance is oozing with natural charm and a real-life older brother quality. Though his character’s entire arc is to bolster Michael on his journey to take ownership over his life, Tangaroa makes it work stealing the show. Kara Hayward, who you may remember from Moonrise Kingdom, gives a likeable and believable girl next door performance as Kat, a frequent bus patron. Will Forte pops up frequently as the uncredited voice of Michael’s supervisor, making fart jokes and inappropriate quips over the radio. It’s a delightful voice performance that unfortunately goes too far in one scene.

As a lead, Charlie Tahan’s performance is pretty straight forward and grounded. While he suits the painfully awkward Micheal, he lacks the nuance to successfully navigate the character through the plot’s more questionably problematic moments. However, watching him work with Tangaroa makes you forget some of Drunk Bus’s more cringey moments.

While this film is a feel good ride and genuinely funny, there are a few plot points that take Drunk Bus off course, especially in it’s final act. There’s a sex scene where a woman gives consent while sleep-talking, where the ethics of the interaction become a little questionable. There’s another plot twist towards the end that upon hindsight needed to happen, but was executed awkwardly. While it’s a comedy’s job to push the envelope of what’s acceptable, Chris Molinaro’s script straddles that line to the point where you question how the film is going age.

A surprisingly tender, cringe inducing comedy, Drunk Bus’s charm overrides its problems. With Charlie Tahan and Pineapple Tangaroa’s chemistry guiding the way, the film is ultimately worth the ride.

Drunk Bus is available on demand. Watch the trailer below.

Dwayne Johnson Joins ‘DC League Of Super-Pets’ As Krypto The Superdog

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 22, 2021

Dwayne Johnson has found his next DC Comics superhero flick, and before you get all excited it being a Black Adam/Shazam crossover, just chill. It’s not that. Instead, Johnson will be voicing Krypto the Superdog in the animated DC League of Super-Pets movie.

What? Is this not the Kryptonian you hoped Johnson would play?

Variety has the news on Johnson voicing Krypto in the upcoming DC League of Super-Pets (formerly just DC Super Pets), a film that will bring together all of the superheroic animal friends of the DC Universe. So expect to see Krypto fighting crime alongside Streaky the Supercat and others.

The film will be co-written and co-directed by Jared Stern (The Lego Batman Movie) and Sam Levine. This will mark the first big screen movie for Krypto, although he had a Cartoon Network series and always causes a splash when he appears in the pages of Superman comics.

Johnson is the first voice actor named, but the search is on for other big stars to play the other furry heroes and villains. Otherwise, we don’t know all that much about it, and the only imagery we’ve seen was from last year’ DC Fandome event. This seems like a very long development period, and I wouldn’t be surprised if things have changed considerably. We migh see more when Fandome returns in a few months.

DC League of Super-Pets opens May 20th 2022.

Review: ‘New Order’
Brutal, Unflinching Class-Warfare Thriller Makes 'Parasite' Look Like A Picnic

By
Travis Hopson
-

Get ready for 80 minutes of brutal, unflinching, and raw dystopian fantasy that explores with extreme violence the class divide within Mexico. Although, really, Michel Franco’s New Order should be a warning shot across the bow for any society where the disparity between wealthy and poor is so wide that it becomes dehumanizing, a daily humiliation to be endured, and that includes us right here in the U.S. Take note: this movie is not for the faint of heart.

Franco’s tightly-focused, blistering effort centers on a hostile takeover within Mexico City. On their wedding day, Marianne (Naian González Norvind) and Alan (Dario Yazbek Bernal) have gathered their families and others of the elite and affluent to their home to celebrate. Just blocks away, the poor and darker-skinned folk have launched a massive protest against rich people just like them, dowsing everything and everyone in green paint, a symbol of the blood that is on their hands. Um, read the room, maybe? While her brother Daniel (Diego Boneta) is a pretentious prick with little care for the plight of others, Marianne is different. She braves the danger outdoors to aid a beloved former employee whose wife is in need of money for an emergency surgery.

Her altruism comes at a price, and nobody outside the walls of her family estate is going to give a damn. Protestors breach the walls, and in quick, lethal fashion strip everyone of their money, valuables, dignity, and in many cases, their lives. Franco holds nothing back, the camera catching every act of cruelty against the prosperous whites, as if getting retribution for generations of oppression in a single swoop. Those who die quickly may actually be better off, for being captured comes with altogether different acts of barbarity.

With Best Picture winner Parasite‘s rage for the marginalized still ringing in many of our ears, New Order takes the retribution angle to a much wider, darker degree. This is no simple fairy tale about an uprising against a ruling class. Franco expands it in ways that are frighteningly real. What would an already-corrupt government do with the kind of anger on display? How would they use it? Control it? It had me thinking of the way some of our own elected officials have fueled public outrage to serve their interests, either through fundraising our draconian legislation.

While it would’ve been easy for Franco to keep to the fringes, he finds a sadder emotional core in the story of Cristian (Fernando Cuautle) and Marta (Mónica Del Carmen), family employees who find themselves caught in the middle. When push comes to shove, or in this case when the gun is put in their faces, who will they serve? The employers whose privilege they acknowledge but don’t despise, or the attackers who use blackmail and murder as tools? If New Order wants us to come away with anything it’s that failing to choose a side is still a choice, and inaction will exact a very heavy price.

New Order is available in theaters now.

Henry Cavill Will Get Immortal In ‘Highlander’ Reboot From Chad Stahelski

By

Travis Hopson

-

May 21, 2021

While questions still swirl around Henry Cavill’s possible Superman return, the truth is he could probably move on and do anything he wanted. Certainly, another big franchise is in his future, and it may have already been found. Deadline reports Cavill is in talks to star in the upcoming Highlander reboot that Chad Stahelski (John Wick) is directing.

The report doesn’t add much except that Cavill would be taking one of the lead roles. The original 1986 Highlander film starred Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod and Sean Connery as Ramirez, centering on a race of warrior immortals destined to fight and kill each other because “there can be only one!” While a box office dud, the film became a cult classic and launched multiple sequels and a long-running TV series. You can understand why Lionsgate is keen on bringing it back.

A Highlander reboot has been in the works for a decade with various names including Ryan Reynolds, Justin Lin, Dave Bautista, and even Tom Cruise attached or sought for it.

Stahelski has a lot on his plate, including John Wick 4, so figuring out a start date is tough. Cavill is pretty busy, too, as star of Netflix’s hit The Witcher series. But if he were to wield the sword it would be hard to argue Cavill as a pretty badass MacLeod. He’s already got the sword-swinging experience! Just skip the Scottish accent, please.