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George R.R. Martin Has A New ‘Game Of Thrones’ Story Coming…To Broadway

I’m sorry, Game of Thrones fans, but you’re never getting any of the books you’ve been waiting for. Not only has George R.R. Martin inked a new HBO deal that’ll keep him locked up on TV shows for the next few years, but the new story he is making? It’ll be on stage. Whomp whomp.

THR reports Martin is developing a Broadway show on a previously-untold Game of Thrones story featuring younger versions of characters you know and love, such as Ned and Lyanna Stark. It’ll actually center on the Great Tourney at Harrenhal, the greatest tournament in Westerosi history and also the most scandalous.

Here’s the play’s official description: “The play will for the first time take audiences deeper behind the scenes of a landmark event that previously was shrouded in mystery. Featuring many of the most iconic and well-known characters from the series, the production will boast a story centered around love, vengeance, madness and the dangers of dealing in prophecy, in the process revealing secrets and lies that have only been hinted at until now.”

On board the play are producers Simon Painter and Tim Lawson, with Martin writing the script alongside award-winning playwright Duncan MacMillan. The play will be directed by Dominic Cooke, known for his films On Chesil Beach and The Courier, which is out right now. While HBO isn’t involved, it’s possible they could in the future. Perhaps a filmed version of the play, similar to what Disney did with Hamilton?

“The seeds of war are often planted in times of peace,” Martin said. “Few in Westeros knew the carnage to come when highborn and smallfolk alike gathered at Harrenhal to watch the finest knights of the realm compete in a great tourney, during the Year of the False Spring. It is a tourney oft referred during HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones,’ and in my novels, ‘A Song of Ice & Fire’ … and now, at last, we can tell the whole story… on the stage.”

“An amazing team has been assembled to tell the tale, starting with producers Simon Painter, Tim Lawson and Jonathan Sanford. Their knowledge and love of my world and characters has impressed me from the very first, and their plans for this production blew me away since the first time we met. Dominic Cooke, our director, is a former artistic director of London’s Royal Court Theatre, who brought Shakespeare’s dramas of the War of the Roses to television, and our playwright, Duncan Macmillan, has previously adapted George Orwell and Henrik Ibsen, among others. Working with them (back before the pandemic, when we could actually get together) has been a treat, and I am eager for our collaboration to resume. Our dream is to bring Westeros to Broadway, to the West End, to Australia… and eventually, to a stage near you … It ought to be spectacular.”

‘Star Wars: The Bad Batch’ Trailer Has The Elite Clones Going Rogue

My friends and I watched Star Wars endlessly, and we would argue about the things we considered “non-Star Wars”, meaning they didn’t feel like they belonged. That’s the vibe I get from the upcoming animated series, The Bad Batch, and I’m hoping Dave Filoni can change my mind about it.

The Bad Batch is a spinoff of The Clone Wars and centers on an experimental team of clones with enhanced skills. Basically, they’re outsiders among outsiders in an ever-evolving Galaxy. The series was created by Filoni, who is basically the Man right now for his work on Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and of course, The Mandalorian.

But it just doesn’t seem like something that should be in Star Wars. A unit like this would’ve had a drastic impact on the Clone Wars and asking us to believe they’ve been around this entire time just doesn’t sit right with me. I trust in Filoni, though, and this trailer reintroduces Grand Moff Tarking so he’s off to a good start.

The Bad Batch comes to Disney+ on May 4th.

“Star Wars: The Bad Batch” follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch (first introduced in “The Clone Wars”) as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone War. Members of Bad Batch—a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army—each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew.

 

‘Spiral: From The Book Of Saw’ Trailer Has Chris Rock And Samuel L. Jackson Facing A New Jigsaw Killer

There’s already been one attempted reboot of the Saw franchise, 2017’s Jigsaw, and while it did very well, earning $103M for the low-budget horror, it just didn’t spark much audience interest beyond that. But of course, no brand IP as successful as Saw is going to sit idle for long, especially when Chris Rock comes up with a way to keep it going.

And so here we are with Spiral: From the Book of Saw, based on a story by Rock who also stars in the film alongside Samuel L. Jackson and Max Minghella. Today brings the first trailer and this looks as grim and grotesque as ever, except with more of an emphasis on the detectives investigating the latest series of Jigsaw-inspired killings.

The film is directed by Saw veteran Darren Lynn Bousman, helmer of three previous chapters in the franchise. Also in the cast are Marisol Nichols and Zoie Palmer.

Spiral: From the Book of Saw opens May 14th. It’s bounced around the calendar a bit because of COVID-19 and other factors, but was recently moved up to accommodate the reopening of theaters.

A sadistic mastermind unleashes a twisted form of justice in SPIRAL, the terrifying new chapter from the book of SAW. Working in the shadow of an esteemed police veteran (Samuel L. Jackson), brash Detective Ezekiel “Zeke” Banks (Chris Rock) and his rookie partner (Max Minghella) take charge of a grisly investigation into murders that are eerily reminiscent of the city’s gruesome past. Unwittingly entrapped in a deepening mystery, Zeke finds himself at the center of the killer’s morbid game.

 

‘ThunderCats’ Movie Leaps Forward With ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’ Director Adam Wingard

Wherever evil exists, Mumm-ra and movie franchises live!! A ThunderCats movie has been in the works for what seems like forever, and rumors have persisted about it, even that Michael Bay’s 6 Underground was really just a working cover for one. Well, obviously that wasn’t true, and now an actual ThunderCats film is moving forward with Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard.

I guess having proven himself capable of gigantic blockbuster action with fighting animals, Wingard has been set to direct the ThunderCats movie, based on the popular ’80s toys and cartoon series.

The cool thing is, Wingard is a HUGE ThunderCats fan, as evidenced by this recent Deadline interview where he says…

“I’m in a place where Godzilla vs. Kong has gone well with Warner Bros. They love the movie, as we were wrapping it. I heard there was a ThunderCats script out there and it happened to be set up with some of my producers on Death Note. I asked them, I want to rewrite this script with my friend Simon Barrett. This is a huge passion thing for me. Nobody on this planet knows or has thought as much about ThunderCats as I have. They gave me the reins. I saw this as an opportunity to do a new type of fantasy sci-fi spectacle film that people have never seen before. It’s got a rich mythology; the characters are fantastic. The colors. I want to do a ThunderCats film that takes you back to that ‘80s aesthetic. I don’t want to reinvent the way they look; I want them to look like ThunderCats. I don’t want to do it live action, either. I don’t want it to look like Cats, I don’t want those kinds of issues — no disrespect to that director, whom I don’t mean to throw under the bus any more than everyone else has. I want to do a movie you’ve never seen before. A hybrid CGI film that has a hyper real look and somehow bridges the gap between cartoon and CGI. That’s the starting point, and Simon Barrett and I are getting into the script now.”

Well, damn. There you go. ThunderCats takes place on Third Earth, where humanoids known as the ThunderCats are engaged in seemingly endless battle against the eternal evil known as Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living. The team consists of leader Lion-O, the powerful Panthro, wisened Tygra, the agile Cheetara, Lion-O’s protector Snarf, and the kids Wilykit and Wilykat.

Now, my only question is when can we get moving on a Silverhawks movie?

‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’ Moves Up To Kick-Off The Muthaf***in’ Summer

Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds are together again for The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, and you’ll be able to see it two months earlier. Lionsgate has announced the sequel to 2017’s The Hitman’s Bodyguard will open on June 16th, right at the beginning of summer. The film had previously been set for August 20th.

Originally due to open last year on August 28th but delayed because of COVID-19, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is a major film for Lionsgate as they look to create a hit homegrown franchise. The Hitman’s Bodyguard was an unexpected R-rated smash, earning $176M worldwide as people flocked to hear Jackson and Reynolds launch a fusillade of expletives.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard finds bodyguard Michael Bryce (Reynolds) and hitman Darius Kincaid (Jackson) remaining friends as they try to save Darius’ con-artist wife Sonia (Salma Hayek) from a powerful new threat, played by Antonio Banderas.  Also in the cast are Frank Grillo, Richard E. Grant, Tom Hopper, Morgan Freeman, and Gabriella Wright.

Once again behind the camera is Patrick Hughes, from a script co-written by Tom O’Connor, who also penned the first movie.

 

‘Shiva Baby’: Tensions Heat Up In “Trashy” New R-Rated Trailer

Mothers’ talking about vibrators is not usual conversation for a wake/shiva but Shiva Baby is not your average coming of age film. In the very new, very hectic and very claustrophobic “trashy” trailer, our protagonist Danielle (Rachel Sennott) is navigating this shiva, seeing her sugar daddy, a past girlfriend, her mother’s mild bi-phobia, and lots and lots of yelling.

The official synopsis is as follows:

A near college graduate, Danielle, gets paid by her sugar daddy and rushes to meet her neurotic parents at a family shiva. Upon arrival, she is accosted by various estranged relatives about her appearance and lack of post-grad plans, while her confident ex-girlfriend, Maya, is applauded by everyone for getting into law school. Danielle’s day takes an unexpected turn when her sugar daddy, Max, arrives at the shiva with his accomplished wife, Kim, and crying baby. As the day unfolds, Danielle struggles to keep up different versions of herself, fend off pressures from her family and confront her insecurities without completely losing it.

Writer and director Emma Seligman adapted this film festival darling from a film school short film she made. Dianna Agron (Glee) pops up as Danielle’s sugar daddy’s wife, complicating matters and bringing Danielle a different kind of grief at the shiva. Molly Gordon (Booksmart), Fred Melamed (Wandavision, In A World…), Polly Draper (Obvious Child), and Jackie Hoffman (Feud: Bette and Joan) also star.

Shiva Baby streams On Demand and in theaters April 2nd.

 

 

Cinema Royale: Talking ‘Nobody’, ‘Falcon And The Winter Soldier’, ‘The Suicide Squad’ Trailer, & More

Two parts ass-kicking and one part hilarity this week on Cinema Royale as the guys look at Bob Odenkirk as an elite assassin in Nobody. Then a check-in with Eric Andre in Bad Trip before diving into the first two episodes of Disney+’s new series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Oh, and make sure to stay to the end as we dissect the amazing trailer for James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad (spoiler alert: King Shark steals the show!)

All this and more! You can subscribe to Cinema Royale wherever you get your podcasts! Follow the Punch Drunk Critics and Cinema Royale!

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‘Thor: Love & Thunder’ Adds Russell Crowe In Cameo Role

Russell Crowe joins Henry Cavill in Chad Stahelski's HIGHLANDER reboot

The cast of Thor: Love & Thunder just got even more of an A-list boost. Russell Crowe is the latest to join the Marvel sequel, in a role that is being kept secret. Is it possible he’s due for a funny cameo alongside Matt Damon, Sam Neill, Luke Hemsworth, and Melissa McCarthy, who appear to be playing stage actors recreating scenes from Thor: Ragnarok?

That’s just speculation on my part. It’s always possible Crowe is taking on a significant Marvel character, although who that would be is unclear.  Deadline confirms the news of his casting, after the actor had been spotted all over Australia with the rest of the cast. So much for keeping his appearance a secret!

Crowe joins Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale, Chris Pratt, Jaimie Alexander, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, and director Taika Waititi himself who will return to voice the lovable Korg.

This obviously isn’t Crowe’s first go ’round in superhero movies, having played Jor-El in Man of Steel.

Thor: Love & Thunder opens May 6th 2022.

‘Sputnik’: Matt Reeves To Produce English-Language Remake Of The Russian Sci-Fi Film

When the Russian sci-fi film Sputnik was released last year, I, like many, assumed it was just another Alien ripoff. But after reading our writer’s review it became clear there was a lot more going on…

“Gratefully though, this is a surprisingly serious film that touches on themes of grief and fear. It shows us how going through a traumatic experience can change somebody for worse and how it can eat us alive.”

Oh shit, aiight then. Well, apparently we’re not alone in thinking there’s more to Sputnik than meets the eye, because The Batman and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves is on board to produce an English-language remake.

Deadline has the news of Reeves’ 6th & Idaho production label teaming with Village Roadshow on an American version of Sputnik. Set in the 1980s, the Russian film centered on a doctor who is assigned to assess a cosmonaut returned to Earth and may or may not have an alien creature living inside of him.

The original film was directed by Egor Abramenko but there’s no word on who will be handling this newer take on it.

Sputnik became a huge hit on digital platforms during the COVID-19 lockdown, ranking high among the most-rented movies on Apple TV. Fedor Bondarchuk, who produced and starred in the Russian film, notes that as one of the reasons there’s been such continued interest…

“‘Sputnik’ was the first big Russian release to go straight to digital platforms during the lockdown, everyone was staying at home and an unprecedented amount of people watched it, the release created a lot of buzz both in Russia and globally. I’m very proud that ‘Sputnik’ now is a rare Russian film to get an English language remake.”

 

‘The Night House’ Trailer: Rebecca Hall Uncovers Nightmarish Secrets In New Sundance Standout

Excuse me for thinking The Night House had already been released, but I remember it from the 2020 Sundance Film Festival where it received some pretty good buzz. Led by Rebecca Hall (in this week’s Godzilla vs. Kong) and directed by David Bruckner (The Ritual), horror film has been on ice ever since but now Searchlight Pictures is ready to release it this summer, where it can creep out genre fans who haven’t had a good theatrical scare in ages.

As the title suggests, an ominous lakeside home is the setting for The Night House, with Hall as a woman who experiences disturbing visions as she uncovers secrets left behind by her dead husband. The cast includes Stacy Martin (Nymphomaniac), Sarah Goldberg (The Report), Vondie Curtis Hall (Die Hard 2), and Evan Jonigkeit (Together Together).

I don’t normally comment on the effectiveness of trailers, but I wish they had sold Hall’s performance a bit more, as that was the main thing people were talking about in Park City.

The Night House opens July 16th which is when I’ll finally catch up with it.

Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep it together – but then nightmares come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house calling to her, beckoning her with a ghostly allure. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into her husband’s belongings, yearning for answers. What she finds are secrets both strange and disturbing – a mystery she’s determined to unravel. THE NIGHT HOUSE stars Rebecca Hall (HOLMES & WATSON, CHRISTINE), Sarah Goldberg (Barry, Elementary), Vondie Curtis Hall (DIE HARD 2, EVE’S BAYOU), Evan Jonigkeit (Togetherish, Sweetbitter), and Stacy Martin (VOX LUX, NYMPHOMANIAC).