The Little Mermaid is already proving its box office mettle as the latest successful live-action remake from Disney, but there are more on the way. Not only that, but there are more set on the high seas. Recently, we learned that Dwayne Johnson was spearheading a new live-action Moana, which will also see him return as the demigod Maui. And now we know who the director who will be charged with bringing this recent classic back to the big screen.
According to THR, Thomas Kail will direct the new Moana. Kail is probably best known as the director of Hamilton, the filmed version released to Disney+. He’s also the filmmaker behind the acclaimed Fosse/Verdon miniseries on FX. Musical choreography is the connection between these projects, and now Kail will get to show what he can do in the biggest musical of his career.
Moana centers on a young Polynesian woman who is chosen by the ocean itself to retrieve an ancient relic that will save her island from a deadly blight. In this journey she is joined by the legendary, pec-popping demigod Maui.
Original Moana voice actress Auli‘i Cravalho won’t play the character again, but will return as an exec-producer. Jared Bush wrote the 2016 movie and returns, joined by co-writer Dana Ledoux Miller.
These remakes have been hit-or-miss for Disney, but it seems like Disney really throws everything into the big ones. Moana definitely qualifies in that regard, so expect some high-profile names to be added to the cast soon.
Everybody needs a best friend, but can any friendship last when you’re the last two human beings on Earth? In the new comedy Biosphere, Sterling K. Brown and Mark Duplass are best pals trapped in a biodome to protect them from the outside world during the apocalypse. It doesn’t go well, especially as supplies begin to dwindle.
As seen in the new trailer, Brown’s character Ray is a brilliant scientist and inventor of the biodome that saves his life, and that of his best pal, Billy, who is a salt-of-the-earth kinda dude.
The film is co-written by Duplass and director Mel Eslyn, who also produces as president of Duplass Brothers Productions. She has worked on numerous Duplass projects including The One I Love, Your Sister’s Sister, and Humpday.
Here’s the synopsis: In the not-too-distant future, Billy (Mark Duplass) and Ray (Sterling K. Brown) are lifelong best friends, brothers from another mother—they also happen to be the last two men on earth. Their survival is largely due to Ray, a brilliant scientist who designed the custom biosphere they call home, outfitting it with both creature comforts and the necessities to sustain life on a doomed planet. When the population of their fishpond—which supplies essential protein—begins waning, the men find themselves facing an ominous future. But life may yet find a way… Uproarious and tender in equal measure, this TIFF favorite and directorial debut from long-time Duplass producer Mel Eslyn explores the human capacity for change.
Biosphere opens in theaters and VOD on July 7th courtesy of IFC Films.
The most difficult challenge in adapting Dreamworks’ beloved How to Train Your Dragon into live-action isn’t the amazing array of dragons. It’s finding the right actors to star as the series’ two main human characters, Hiccup and Astrid. Well, that challenge has been met as Universal has named Mason Thames and Nico Parker as the two Viking lovebirds.
Deadline confirms the news of Thames and Parker’s casting in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon. Neither is a household name, but they are both rising stars with impressive recent credits. Thames’ breakout role came opposite a villainous Ethan Hawke in The Black Phone, a small-budget thriller that earned a whopping $161M in 2021.
Parker, who happens to be the daughter of actress Thandiwe Newton (and a dead ringer for her momma) and Best Exotic Marigold Hotel director Ol Parker, impressed as Pedro Pascal’s doomed daughter Sarah in the debut episode of The Last of Us. She also appeared alongsid her mother in Reminiscence and had a lead part in Tim Burton’s Dumbo.
How to Train Your Dragon will be directed by Dean DeBlois, who helmed the animated trilogy to tremendous acclaim and over $1 billion worldwide. Thames will find himself as timid young Viking warrior, Hiccup, in a world where man and dragon live as enemies. But Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he befriends a dragon he names Toothless. It’s an act that threatens everything he has ever known, made more difficult by the fact that Hiccup’s father is the king and greatest dragon slayer of all.
Universal plans to release How to Train Your Dragon into theaters on March 14th 2025.
James Wan has never had trouble spinning off his horror hits and building them into franchises. Just look at all he’s been able to accomplish with The Conjuring Universe. Well, why not try the same thing with Insidious? Deadline reports that’s exactly what Wan will do with Thread: An Insidious Tale, and the two stars looking to get terrorized by evil have already been found.
Kumail Nanjiani and Mandy Moore will star in Thread: An Insidious Tale, officially the sixth movie in the Insidious franchise. There’s no overt connection to the previous movies. Rather, it will follow a husband and wife who use a spell to travel back in time and save the life of their daughter. The repercussions of this action are catastrophic, of course.
Interestingly, the film will be written and directed by Jeremy Slater, who Marvel fans will recognize from his work on Moon Knight. This will be his feature directorial debut. Blumhouse and James Wan’s Atomic Monster label are producing.
Insidious has always been a low-budget boon for Blumhouse. The four previous movies have earned $542M worldwide at a cost of just $26M combined. That’s ridiculous. The fifth movie, Insidious: The Red Door, opens in July directed by franchise star Patrick Wilson.
Is there anyone who doesn’t love Rebecca Ferguson? The Mission: Impossible scene-stealer has been a genre favorite, starring in Dune, Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep, and the hit sci-fi series Silo among many others. And now she’s set to join Deadpool director Tim Miller for fantasy revenge flick Best Served Cold, based on the book series by author Joe Abercrombie.
Best Served Cold is an adaptation of the fourth book in Abercrombie’s The First Law series centered on legendary mercenary leader Monza Murcatto and her quest for vengeance after a betrayal. The stories are set in a fictional fantasy world in a constant state of war, reminiscent of early Renaissance-era Europe.
Abercrombie adapted the screenplay, reuniting with Miller who he worked with on a segment of Love, Death + Robots.
Miller last directed 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate, which was a box office dud that he has been quite vocal about. Actually, Miller has had issues on both films that he’s directed, which could explain why he’s not more active. He did produce the two recent Sonic the Hedgehog movies, too.
Ferguson can be seen now in the Apple TV+ series, Silo, and has Mission: Impossible-Dead Reckoning coming up, along with Dune: Part Two. [Deadline]
Ever since the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuted in 1984, there have been many different versions of the half-shell heroes. From dark and ultra-violent stories meant for mature audiences to the afternoon cartoon meant for kids, to the live-action movie, there has been something for everybody who is a fan of the TMNT. WithTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Seth Rogen brings his stoner humor to the Turtles, joined by an all-star voice cast.
Directed by Jeff Rowe (The Mitchells vs. the Machines) and produced by Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film features an amazing voice cast of Micah Abbey as Donatello, Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo, Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo, and Brady Noon as Raphael, plus Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog, Rose Byrne as Leatherhead, John Cena as Rocksteady, Jackie Chan as Master Splinter, Ice Cube as Superfly, Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut, Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil, Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman, Post Malone as Ray Fillet, Rogen as Bebop, Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko, and Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom.
The latest trailer shows off a kinetic new style of animation for the franchise. Paramount Pictures is loaded with confidence, too, and are already promising multiple animated films following this one.
Here’s the synopsis: In ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem,’ after years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers through heroic acts. Their new friend April O’Neil helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem opens in theaters on August 4th.
Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor. Leaving our screening of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, I was hit by the overwhelming feeling that I had just witnessed something truly special. Like, the first time you saw Star Wars kind of special. It’s an appropriate comparison, as this, a sequel to 2018’s incredible, Oscar-winning Into the Spider-Verse, is very much the webslinger’s Empire Strikes Back. Far beyond just being “dark” or “gritty”, it takes everything we know about what makes Spider-Man, in all of his various incarnations, a great hero, and turns it inside out in an epic story told from the perspectives of two kindred spirits from different universes.
Across the Spider-Verse is almost too much good stuff all at once. But credit to the entire creative team, which includes fan-favorites Phil Lord & Chris Miller, for a fearless sequel that goes bigger and accomplishes more than its awesome predecessor. They have created perhaps the single best Spider-Man story ever brought to the big screen, and I say that with all the love in my heart to Spider-Man 2.
The first twenty minutes are a full course meal of emotions as we are reintroduced to Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), rockin’ out with her band to cover up her pain. Pain from a secretive home life that finds a wedge driven between her and her father Captain Stacy (Shea Whigham), but also from the loneliness of being away from her one true friend, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), from a different dimension. But it wasn’t always this way. Gwen had a life before she met Miles, and in true Spider-Man form, it was a life full of sacrifice and tragedy.
“With great power comes great responsibility.” We all know the creed by which every Spider-Man strives to uphold. But what does that saying mean in a multiversal sense? What does it mean when stretched across cultures, genders, alternate universes? One thing that remains true is that being Spider-Man is a sacrifice. There will be loss. In a physical sense that means the death of a loved one, like an uncle Ben or in Miles’ case, his uncle Aaron. In another sense, it means pushing away the people you love and who know you best. As we are reunited with Miles, he is still very much the innercity Blacktino kid trying to be the hero Brooklyn needs him to be, but also the young man his parents (voiced again by Brian Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Velez) expect him to be. And of course, he fails at that more often than not, mostly because of his Spider-Man secret. Events from the previous film continue to weigh him down, just as they do Gwen. He longs to see his friend again, the one person who truly understands what he’s going through.
This is all pretty heavy stuff, and it’s only just the beginning. A good thing that a comical villain like The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) is around to lighten things up. Decked out like a walking Rorschach mask, the goofy, awkard baddie is able to create portals, or holes, to access just about anywhere he wants to go. In true comic book fashion, he uses this incredible gift for petty crime. That is until he encounters Miles, and a dark origin story is revealed that sets off a cataclysmic chain of events that could destroy all of reality.
That whole “great power, great responsibility” thing is a Hell of a burden. We see how Miles and Gwen internalize it to their detriment, leaning on it as an emotional support crutch to escape the loneliness they feel, or the confusion of their home lives. This idea is expanded on with the introduction of an entire multiverse of Spider-heroes, gathered to save the multiverse from being obliterated. The team is led by Miguel O’Hara aka Spider-Man 2099 (Oscar Isaac), a ferocious, brooding grouch who rejects Miles’ place in the overall scheme of things. Others in the group include Jessica Drew (Issa Rae), with her afro-puff hair, badass motorcyle, and very big belly, this mother-to-be is also like the team matriarch. Making incredible use of the vast array of Spider-Man heroes, we are also introduced to the magical Pavitr Prabhakar aka Spider-Man India, who watches over the people of Mumbattan; and the anarchistic Hobie Brown aka Spider-Punk (Daniel Kaluuya) who rocks out rather than shoots webs.
Literally hundreds of different Spider-Man characters (Andy Samberg’s histrionic Scarlet Spider is a real treat) populate the screen at any one time, including a lot of old favorites and more than a few surprises. You could watch Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse a dozen times and not catch all of the surprises and Easter Eggs. There’s so much going on that it can be overwhelming to the senses. Not only do you have tons of characters to keep track of, but the visual style is constantly changing. This is the most stunning animated movie I’ve ever seen, combining so many stylistic flourishes that never feel out of place. The ethnic diversity of Miles’ Brooklyn is a colorful, kinetic place with animation that largely reflects the previous film. The vibrant aesthetics never stop and reflect the personalities of each character; the darkened, sketchy inks of Miguel’s scenes give way to a supernova of colors in Gwen’s reality. Other skips through the multiverse reveal an even more imaginative palette, some mimicking the art of the greatest Spider-Man pencilers ever, and others that bring more of a meta flavor. It’s truly extraordinary how good this film looks. There’s never been anything like it before.
Action has been pumped up to another level, as well. The dizzying array of effects is on full display during an incredible chase involving dozens of heroes (and one Spider-Horse) at a time, while the slugfests pack an even greater impact because everyone has something to lose. Defeat isn’t just a loss, it’s a failure. And failure means people die. It’s easy to see how bearing that much weight can create an endless loop of self-destruction.
Once again, there’s a perfect balancing of stakes. Cosmic level threat is matched by deeply intimate moments that strike at the core of what Spider-Man is meant to be. Miles and Gwen continue to be the perfect match; a love story without the puppy dog, high school angst b.s. When they are reunited and go swinging through the city, no words need to be shared between them. It’s all romantic tension and passion and that need for human connection. There’s so much heart to go around that you probably need more than one movie to contain it all.
Good thing there’s a sequel, Beyond the Spider-Verse, coming up in 2024. Because this is just the first chapter in a two-parter, the cliffhanger ending might leave some wanting more. Well, that’s sorta the point. I want the sequel RIGHT NOW. I literally can’t wait for it to get here. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is such an enormous film it threatens to leap off the screen and into your lap. While it can be overwhelming, as well, it’s all worth it in service a truly astonishing experience that will be hard to match. How can the sequel possibly ever live up to this incredibly high standard? Well, we never would’ve thought this one would surpass Into the Spider-Verse, and yet it does by leaps and bounds.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse opens in theaters on June 2nd.
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SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE - Official Trailer (HD)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CRt4Eewe0U
CR: Sony Pictures
Believe it or not, The Flash is just a couple of weeks away. Hard to believe for anyone who has followed the many ups-and-downs this production has gone through, and even after it was mostly finished, problems continued to threaten it being tossed in a garbage can somewhere. Of course, the biggest scandal of late has to do with star Ezra Miller and the many allegations that continue to dog them. While their future in James Gunn’s DCU remains uncertain, for director Andy Muschietti, there can be only one Flash.
Andy Muschietti along with his sister and producing partner Barbara Muschietti spoke on The Discourse podcast about The Flash and Ezra Miller in particular. While praising the actor to the moon, they also said that if there’s a sequel the only one they want Miller as Barry Allen. Nobody else can fill that role like he can.
“If [a sequel] happens, yes,” Andy Muschietti said about Miller returning as Flash. “I don’t think there’s anyone that can play that character as well as they did. The other depictions of the character are great, but this particular vision of the character, they just excelled in doing it. And, as you said, the two Barrys – it feels like a character that was made for them.”
Barbara Muschietti added, “In principal photography, Ezra was brilliant and the most committed and the most professional [actor]. Ezra gave everything for this role – physically, creatively, emotionally. They were absolutely supreme.”
Any hope of Ezra returning will depend on how well the movie performs, but also fan reaction. Speaking with a lot of my friends, some of them have already set their minds against seeing the film because of the disturbing things Ezra has been accused of, and they are refusing to see all Warner Bros. projects, too. Others are more concerned about whether the movie is any good, so this could be interesting to see play out.
Early buzz on The Flash is that it’s really good, and Ezra is fantastic in it. We’ll find out when the film opens on June 16th.
You know how when you come back to your old high school after years of being away, the place looks so much smaller than you remember? Well, coming back to the things we used to know rarely turns out how we expect. And Michael Cera is confronted with that face in the upcoming film, The Adults, which is headed to Tribeca.
Ahead of the film’s Tribeca premiere, the first trailer has arrived and follows Cera as Eric, who returns to his old stomping grounds after leaving years earlier. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned, as the carefully-constructed lie he’s told about his life begins to fall apart, he has to deal with reuniting with his estranged sisters, and other relationship conflicts.
Cera is joined in the cast by Sophia Lillis, fresh off Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Tesla actress Hannah Gross. The film is written and directed by Dustin Guy Defa, who previously worked with Cera on 2017’s Person to Person.
The Adults had its world premiere in Berlin, and following Tribeca it will hit theaters on August 18th.
“THE ADULTS” follows Eric (Cera) as he returns home for a short visit and finds himself caught between reuniting with his sisters and chasing a victory with his old poker group. As the trip extends, Eric finds it increasingly difficult to avoid confrontations and revelations as his carefully constructed façade of his adulthood gives way to old childhood conflicts. While Maggie (Lillis) attempts to recreate the intimate world the three of them once shared, Eric and Rachel (Gross) are faced with the divide between their childhood selves and the adults they are now.
How does one go about following-up such an outrageous directorial debut as Sorry to Bother You? Well, for Boots Riley, what you do is push things even further, only in a serialized format. His upcoming show I’m a Virgohas been intriguing right from the start, with its bizarre premise of a 13-foot-tall Black man, played by Jharrel Jerrome, as he enters the outside world for the first time. Crazy right? But as we see in the new trailer, Collins isn’t stopping there as he has even bigger ideas at play.
Described from the beginning as a coming-of-age story, I’m a Virgo stars Jerrome as a 13-foot-tall California kid named Cootie, who experiences the world for the very first time. But what we didn’t know about this series going in is that it also includes a superhero, known as The Hero, who is Cootie’s idol. And…well, they say one should never meet their heroes.
So this is a superhero series? Leave it to Riley to throw us a curveball! Joining Jerrome in the cast are Walton Goggins, Brett Gray, Kara Young, Allius Barnes, Olivia Washington, Mike Epps, and Carmen Ejogo.
I’m a Virgo hits Prime Video on June 23rd.
I’m A Virgo is a darkly comedic fantastical coming-of-age joyride about Cootie (Jerome), a 13-foot-tall young Black man in Oakland, California. Having grown up hidden away, passing time on a diet of comic books and TV shows, he escapes to experience the beauty and contradictions of the real world. He forms friendships, finds love, navigates awkward situations, and encounters his idol, a real-life superhero named The Hero, played by Walton Goggins (The Hateful Eight, The Righteous Gemstones). I’m A Virgo is a mythical odyssey that questions the purpose of the mythical odyssey.
