Industrial Light & Magic animation supervisor, Kevin Martel, has confirmed that post-production on the long-awaited Space Jam: A New Legacy has been completed. A follow-up to the Michael Jordan-led 1996 hit, the story will center on NBA champion, LeBron James, as he partners up with the Looney Tunes to defeat rogue A.I. Al-G Rhythm to save the world and bring him and his son back together. Alongside James, the cast for the film includes Don Cheadle, Sonequa Martin-Green, Zendaya, Gabriel Iglesias and Cedric Joe. Development on a Space Jam sequel first began shortly after the release of the original with Joe Pytka set to return alongside Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone, but eventually fell through due to Jordan's refusal to come back for another outing. After years spent in development hell, during which spinoffs starring Jeff Gordon, Tiger Woods and Tony Hawk were discussed, the sequel finally gained ground again in 2014 when James signed on to star in the sequel. Though it went through another bumpy few years with directors coming and going, as well as a number of script rewrites, filming finally got underway from June to September 2019. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Space Jam 2: How Every Looney Tunes Character Compares To The Original Martel took to Twitter to announce that post-production on the long-in-development project had finally completed. With just two months left to go and many still working from home due to the ongoing pandemic, Martel thanked his ILM team for their efforts in bringing the movie to life. Martel's cheeky wrap announcement can be viewed below: It may come as a shock to some that the animation process went all the way up until just two months were left to the film's release, but the varying circumstances do make sense. With most animators having worked from home for the past year on the project, their home offices may not have the same technology or the quickest access to editors, supervisors and such. As multiple triple A-level video games, namely CD Projekt Red's infamous Cyberpunk 2077, showed last year, bringing new and fantastical worlds to life from home is no easy feat. Adding those factors into the vision of blending both traditional, hand-drawn animation, and CGI also makes for a bit of an extra challenge for the teams of animators working on the film. Owned by Lucasfilm Ltd. and The Walt Disney Company, ILM has been behind some of the biggest blockbusters of the past decade, consistently showing their dedication to their art. With an equally-dedicated team behind the wheel of Space Jam: A New Legacy, fans are sure to be in for a visual treat when the long-awaited sequel hits theaters and HBO Max in July.

Black Widow star, David Harbour, has hinted the film could introduce the Winter Guard, Russia's version of the Avengers. The MCU is gradually revealing that superhumans have always been part of its world, with Falcon & Winter Soldier introducing Isaiah Bradley, a Captain America who served during the Korean War. The evidence is building that Black Widow will play a key role in continuing these revisions to world history. Official character profiles for Harbour's Red Guardian have confirmed his character is a super-soldier created during the Cold War to be Russia's answer to Captain America. This suggests that, in the MCU, the Cold War was a superhero arms race in which the Soviet Union and the U.S.A. competed to develop superhuman champions. This has naturally led to speculation that Black Widow could further flesh out the history of the MCU's Cold War, and even introduce other superhumans who served as part of it. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Black Widow Could Explain Natasha's Loki Scene In The Avengers Harbour has just added fuel to the fire in an Instagram post celebrating the upcoming release of Black Widow. In the comics, the Winter Guard are Russia's answer to the Avengers, and most of the characters he names in the caption of his post have all been associated with different incarnations of the team; Ursa Major, the two Black Widows, Crimson Dynamo, and Sputnik. Check out Harbour's post below: The mention of Ursa Major is particularly interesting. In the comics, Ursa Major is a mutant who possesses the ability to morph into a giant bear; there's already been speculation Ursa Major could be in Black Widow, perhaps with Dutch strongman, Olivier Richters, playing the part. In a quirk of timing that may well be no coincidence, Hasbro recently confirmed one of their popular Marvel Legends action figure ranges will include an Ursa Major Build-A-Figure. If Ursa Major does indeed appear in Black Widow, then he would potentially be the MCU's first identifiable mutant. He may well not have been a Fox property, though, simply because he's commonly associated with the Avengers, not the X-Men; it's likely his rights were shared, in a similar manner to Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch. Still, with mutants now being back with Marvel Studios, Marvel should be able to play Ursa Major straight. Harbour's reference to "CD" is also exciting, because that's Crimson Dynamo - a classic Iron Man villain. In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark insisted it would be years before anybody managed to duplicate Iron Man technology, but it's possible that Russia had managed to do so by 2016 - and had created Crimson Dynamo. Marvel recently published a book called The Wakanda Files that revealed Russia possesses palladium, which powered Stark's original arc reactor, hinting that country may be able to create first-generation Iron Man armors. Black Widow could therefore be setting up the MCU's upcoming Armor Wars TV series on Disney+, with War Machine attempting to take down people who have duplicated and stolen Stark tech in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame. Harbour's comment is smart marketing, sure to make viewers very curious indeed about how Black Widow could affect the MCU going forward. As things stand, it's difficult to understand why Marvel considers this the right time for a Black Widow movie, given Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff sacrificed herself in Avengers: Endgame, forcing this to be something of a prequel. But if the film introduces the Winter Guard, then it adds some thrilling new concepts into the MCU, weaves them into the shared universe's rich history, and perhaps even introduces the MCU's first mutant to boot. Black Widow may be a lot more important than many think.

Director Zack Snyder addresses the status of the Restore the SnyderVerse movement months after the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League. Immediately after the Snyder Cut was released after more than three years of waiting, a brand new public campaign started, this time, demanding the continuation of Snyder's vision for the DCEU. Months have passed since it all started, and the filmmaker is now offering his hopes on the matter. Snyder originally mapped out a five-part arc for the DCEU that would supposedly wrap up with Justice League 3. But after the divisive response to Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, plans were changed. Justice League, which is its direct sequel was heavily altered after principal photography when Snyder was no longer involved and had been replaced by Joss Whedon. Extensive reshoots essentially left much of Snyder's footage unused, resulting in a very different story from what it was originally going to be. The Snyder Cut, although not canon, reveals what could have been, and fans of the filmmaker want more. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: WB Is Wasting DCEU Hype By Not Capitalizing On The Snyder Cut During an interview with Jake's Takes, as Snyder promotes his new project, Netflix's Army of the Dead, the director was asked what he can tell those who are still holding out hope that the SnyderVerse will indeed be restored. He hopes that despite Warner Bros supposedly being "aggressively anti-Snyder," they will realize that there's a massive clamor for his version of the DCEU. Read what Snyder said below: Warner Bros. has been aggressively anti-Snyder if you will. What can I say? Clearly, they're not interested in my take. But I would also say that they certainly weren't interested in — I would have said originally — in my take on Justice League. They certainly made decisions about that." I love the characters, and I love the worlds, and I think it's an amazing place to make a movie. It's glorious IP. So there's that. I don't know what could be done as you go forward other than I think the fan movement is so strong, and the fan community, [their] intention is so pure, and I really have this huge respect for it. I would hope that cooler heads would prevail with [the studio] and they would see that there's this massive fandom that wants more of that. But who knows what they'll do? Initially, Snyder downplayed hopes for the SnyderVerse being restored; before the release of the Snyder Cut on HBO Max, he told his fans that he has no plans of continuing the arc. However, considering how Zack Snyder's Justice League very clearly sets up a sequel, even ending in a cliffhanger of sorts, it's understandable that those who liked its story would want more. As for HBO, they're maintaining that Snyder's trilogy is already complete with his latest four-hour HBO Max project despite it obviously not being the case. At this point, fans are approaching the matter the way they did with the Release the Snyder Cut movement — with unrelenting effort, consistently campaigning on social media for the SnyderVerse. Only time will tell if this new endeavor will succeed the way its predecessor did. It's worth noting that in the DCEU, the theatrical version of the ensemble superhero blockbuster is deemed canon. So outside of Zack Snyder's Justice League, the studio is developing stories and planning on introducing new characters. If HBO and Warner Bros listened to the Restore the SnyderVerse campaign, Snyder's film series can simply just exist in a bubble of its own; after all, the franchise is already exploring the Multiverse anyway.

The first trailer for Venom: Let There Be Carnage already revealed the movie's secret Stan Lee Easter egg. Sony launched their attempt for a Spider-Man spinoff universe in 2018 with Tom Hardy's Venom. Although the movie received a mixed reception, the film was a massive box office hit and gave the studio confidence to pursue Venom 2. The sequel sees Tom Hardy return as Eddie Brock and Woody Harrelson playing Cletus Kasidy aka Carnage after having a cameo at the end of the last movie. It is under the direction of Andy Serkis that Venom: Let There Be Carnage looks to top what came before. Fans waited a long time to see the first Venom: Let There Be Carnage trailer and the footage included several Easter eggs for fans to catch. There are continued references to the larger Spider-Man world and a possible reference to the Avengers - although the movie is not confirmed to take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe continuity. The Venom 2 trailer also shows a further commitment to the goofy dynamic between Eddie and Venom, and it also provided the first look at Carnage's symbiotic form. But, there is also a nod to the late great Stan Lee. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Is Venom 2'S Daily Bugle An MCU Plot Hole? The legendary Marvel Comics creator became a staple of Marvel movies by making cameos in just about every film released during the 2000s. Sadly, Stan Lee passed away in 2018. His last Marvel movie appearance came in Avengers: Endgame. Since Venom: Let There Be Carnage didn't begin filming until long after Lee's death, there was no chance for him to film a cameo for the sequel. However, the Venom 2 trailer confirms he'll still be featured as an Easter egg. When Eddie is shown walking into a convenience store, Stan Lee's face is briefly featured on the cover of a magazine that Eddie passes. You can see him in the bottom right of the photo below: This Stan Lee Easter egg in Venom: Let There Be Carnage allows the movie to still pay respect to Lee. Even though he did not create Eddie Brock or Venom, Lee already appeared in the original movie. His cameo came near the end of Venom and had him talk to Eddie after he said goodbye to Anne Weying. Stan Lee's character seemed to know that Eddie and Venom are one being, and the scene was a fun surprise for viewers at the end of the movie. Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the latest Marvel movie to include Stan Lee's face in some fashion as an Easter egg to fans after his passing. Deadpool 2 included a Stan Lee cameo with the icon's face on the side of a building as a giant mural, but Spider-Man: Far From Home and Dark Phoenix are among the Marvel movies to not feature a tribute. The approach Venom 2 is taking is quite similar to what several Marvel TV shows did actually. As unfortunate as it is that Stan Lee can't make an actual cameo in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, this is as good of an Easter egg as fans could hope for.

A24 has released a brand new trailer for The Green Knight starring Dev Patel. Directed by David Lowery, who previously worked with the arthouse studio on A Ghost Story, The Green Knight will tell the story of Sir Gawain (Patel), King Arthur's nephew, who is sent on a quest to confront the titular, green-skinned giant. Joel Edgerton, Alicia Vikander, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Kate Dickie, Barry Keoghan, and Erin Kellyman round out the cast. The movie itself is based on a 14th century poem titled "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight," but Lowery set out to update the tale for modern audiences. Originally, The Green Knight was set to release in theaters on May 29, 2020 after premiering at South by Southwest. Like most movies in 2020, The Green Knight was pulled from the release calendar. To many, the film seemed prime for a PVOD or streaming release, with A24 likely to pick up a decent amount of money for the film. The studio held on to the film, though, releasing only one teaser. Recently, in addition to the teaser, The Green Knight received a slew of character posters showing off the cast of the film. RELATED:2020'S Best Movie Trailers With the studio gearing up to release the film in just a few short months, The Green Knight's promotional cycle is in full swing. A24 has released a new trailer for the film that previews Sir Gawain's quest. Lowery's fantasy world is on full display in the trailer, from giant figures roaming a rocky field to a talking fox companion, all of which Gawain encounters on his way to meet the Green Knight once again. Check out the clip below: Lowery's take on the Arthurian legend is moody and atmospheric, akin to his previous work on the aforementioned A Ghost Story. The dark, ominous tone is more in line with A24's horror slate than a typical fantasy film, but it works for Patel's journey, one filled with danger and mystery. Along the way, Sir Gawain will encounter thieves, ghosts, and various other threats that will make it that much harder for him to to reach the mythical figure he is searching for. Gawain is historically headstrong and, in the clip shown, Patel is steadfast in his quest. While most audiences may be starving for blockbuster fare this summer (of which there will be plenty), The Green Knight will serve as an interesting alternative. A24 is known for their non-mainstream fare, even if it has made the studio somewhat mainstream in the process, but The Green Knight looks to be just weird and wild enough to counteract most of what's coming to screens this summer and should be an exciting addition to the theatrical slate.

Reviews have begun to roll in for Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead. The director's first film outside of the DCEU since 2011's Sucker Punch represents a return to the zombie genre for Snyder. He first broke onto the scene in 2004 with a remake of George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, a movie some consider to be one of his best. Snyder has made it clear, though, that Army of the Dead is a drastic departure from that film, one that looks to be infusing his distinct visual aesthetic with the blockbuster flare he's started to employ during the intermittent years. Early reactions for Army of the Dead leaned positive, with many praising the zombie epic as a rollicking good time. These reactions are good news for Netflix as the streamer looks to be building a zombie universe with Snyder at the helm. This will include an already shot prequel film, titled Army of Thieves, about the group of mercenaries at the center of the upcoming film. Snyder is also working on anime-style animated prequel series that will premiere on the streamer. First up, though, is Army of the Dead, which will run in select theaters beginning May 14 ahead of its May 21 premiere on Netflix. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:Army Of The Dead Character Names And Roles Explained Now, reviews for Army of the Dead have begun rolling in ahead of its theatrical release. So far, critics seem much more divided than the early reactions that were revealed yesterday. While many praise the scale and ambition of the film, Army of the Dead's overly long runtime and various lofty ideas seem to puncture what could've been a tightly wound zombie epic. Check out some critics' thoughts below: Molly Freeman, SR Instead of the prototypical zombie flick about an outbreak, Snyder uses the backdrop of an undead-infested Las Vegas for a heist movie that combines action and horror in equal measure. But while the director is aiming for something like Ocean's 11 meets Dawn of the Dead, the film is neither a skillfully crafted heist plot, nor does it employ its zombies to offer much, if any social commentary on the state of the world like Romero's original. Instead, it takes the most basic entertainment value from the respective genres to craft this new type of zombie thriller. Snyder's Army of the Dead delivers some compelling action and shocking visuals, but isn't clever or fun enough to be more than a shallow zombie flick. Brian Tallerico, Roger Ebert Despite its remarkable length, Army of the Dead is a pretty deliberate, lean movie that effectively blends the heist genre with the zombie one. Snyder’s co-written script has just enough new in both departments, although I wish there was a bit more to the heist itself than the direct line from A to Z(ombie) and trying to get back to A again. It sometimes feels like the plot of Army of the Dead is merely a skeleton on which to hang the action scenes instead of something inherently clever on its own. I kept waiting for a twist or a surprise that never really came. Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian Army of the Dead arguably has a gonzo excess, and a certain kind of end-of-the-world spectacle, maybe borrowed from Planet of the Apes; that could be down to the famous Vegas scale-replica of the Statue of Liberty. But there is something weirdly and oppressively uninspired in this CGI world; a continuous two-and-a-half hour splurge of generic zombie content which itself feels a bit zombie-ish. David Rooney, THR At 2½ hours, this is a lot of furious flesh-eating for one meal. But the screenplay by Snyder, Shay Hatten and Joby Harold strikes a satisfying balance between accelerated action — fountains of blood, splatter, gore and punishing fight sequences — and quieter character-driven interludes that succeed in making us care about the motley crew tackling the zombie menace. Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times It’d be overstating the movie’s qualities to call it a return to Dawn of the Dead basics for Snyder, given its more elaborate zombie mythology and its inflated budget and running time. But in contrast with the heavy, self-admiring sheen that has weighed down Snyder’s imagery since 300, the filmmaking here feels nimbler, grittier, more energized. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture Army of the Dead — which, let me reiterate, is a Vegas heist flick set during a zombie apocalypse — should be a lot more fun than it is. Or maybe more accurately, it should be as fun in the middle and toward the end as it is at the beginning. It starts off great. But then it goes on. And on. And on. And takes itself ever more seriously at each turn. Jamie Graham, Games Radar Army of the Dead is too long while still leaving much unexplained – animated series Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas and prequel movie Army of Thieves will take care of that – and it only touches upon the intriguing idea of the government using the zombie plague to strip away civil liberties. But it’s plenty fun, whether changing up the established rules of the Z-movie or offering set-pieces, gung-ho in slo-mo, choreographed to covers of Elvis’ "Viva Las Vegas", The Doors’ "The End" and an acoustic version of The Cranberries’ "Zombie". Heather Wixson, Daily Dead And even though I think that Army of the Dead could have probably used one more pass on its script that would have really benefited Snyder’s ambitious vision that’s on display here, there are still plenty of aspects that work well in Army of the Dead, making it an engrossing and a truly unexpected thrill ride that dares to mix things up with the tried-and-true zombie formula we’re all too familiar with these days. A'bidah Zaid, Geek Culture In all, Army of the Dead is the breath of fresh air this overdone zombie genre needs. Beautifully presenting new ideas and great acting by Dave Bautista all at once with an incredible soundtrack, this zombie movie is as good as it gets, and we can’t wait to see the prequel and animated series up next. Hannah Strong, Little White Lies It’s a shame that Army of Dead falls so flat, because the concept of a zombie heist movie is undeniably intriguing, particularly at a time when we all need a little escapism. It’s not even that zombie films can’t be political (Romero’s filmography attests to that), but if you are aiming to make a statement then mere glancing in the direction of social injustice isn’t going to cut it. Snyder’s enthusiasm always comes across in interviews, but it rarely translates to the screen, and Army of the Dead ends up as a bloated jumble of slo-mo violence and misjudged attempts at emotional resonance. Courtney Howard, Fresh Fiction Snyder and company may not have delivered a perfect film, or even one on par with his unassailable, killer remake Dawn of the Dead, but it’s entertaining enough, featuring great kills and a solid, vulnerable performance from a talented leading man deserving of a longer time basking in the spotlight. Alonso Duralde, The Wrap There’s enough gore, mayhem, and decay in Army of the Dead to make for a satisfying zombie-movie experience, and while it’s the best film Snyder has made since his last “of the Dead,” it’s also one that continually hints at the more satisfying work it might have been. The director goes all-in on spectacle, but his script is a pair of threes. John Nugent, Empire Magazine Army Of The Dead is best when Snyder leans into the fun, and allows himself moments of pure silliness. When he aims for more emotional territory — like the rather trite guilt-to-redemption arc between Scott and his estranged daughter, played capably by Ella Purnell — we start to feel the weight of that running time. Drilled down, there’s not much going on under the bonnet, either; as in his take on Dawn, the satirical edge of Romero’s zombies has been blunted. But when the bullets start flying and the zombie flesh starts exploding, it feels like Snyder is doing exactly what he wants, and that early 2004 promise comes right back into focus. A.A. Down, AV Club In a way, this B-movie on an A budget gets closer to the values of George Romero, the godfather of zombie cinema, than Snyder’s actual, hyper-adrenalized remake of Romero’s masterpiece. Turning Vegas into a fallen kingdom, its towers of glamour and vice emptied out, at least superficially recalls the satiric function of the multi-tiered shopping mall of Dawn Of The Dead, even if Snyder doesn’t pull hard enough on that thread. Eric Kohn, Indiewire Discerning viewers may have more than a few questions as the movie heads toward a cliffhanger that promises the franchise around the corner, but the bulk of Army of the Dead is self-explanatory. It’s a blockbuster that funnels the appeal of big-budget action and horror with an almost sacred reverence for the material. That’s absurd, but Snyder’s a true believer in go-for-broke escapism and at its best, the mayhem in Army of the Dead is an infectious zombie bite of its own. Although the reviews are decidedly mixed, they certainly seem to agree that Army of the Dead has moments where it shines. This is likely thanks to Snyder's ability to craft engaging blockbusters comes in, even if they tend to falter when it comes to the plot. While the director hasn't necessarily mastered narrative, his visual style is perfect for the kind of fun, bombastic movies that he makes. One thing is clear from all these reviews, though: this isn't anything like Dawn of the Dead. Snyder already made clear that Army of the Dead isn't a continuation of what he began in his very first film, but it seems that's true in more ways than one. The director is staring down the pipe at a massive zombie franchise at Netflix as evidenced by the various mentions of cliffhangers and world-building in critics' reviews. Army of the Dead is just the beginning of that universe and it sounds like it's a solid, if shaky start to what could be a huge venture for the director and Netflix.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage director Andy Serkis explains the new look for Woody Harrelson's Cletus Kasady aka Carnage. The character was introduced in a mid-credits scene for the movie Venom, which hit theaters in 2018. Now that a trailer for the sequel, Venom: Let There Be Carnage has finally dropped, anticipation is even higher for the followup. The sequel was originally supposed to be released in 2020, but was delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Now, Venom: Let There Be Carnage is set to premiere this September. The film will take place over a year after the events of the Venom. Venom stars Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a down-on-his-luck journalist who becomes bonded to the titular symbiote Venom and eventually teams up with the creature to help protect the earth. Harrelson's Cletus Kasady only appears in a mid credit scene, but in that scene his character is set up to be the main antagonist of the sequel. The scene sees Brock going to visit San Quentin Prison in order to interview serial killer Cletus Kasady, refered to as "Red" by one of the guards. Kasady's unkept red curls nearly cover his eyes as he says, "When I get out of here, and I will, there's gonna be carnage." Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:Is Venom 2'S Daily Bugle An MCU Plot Hole? In Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Kasady has a much different look. The killer no longer dons a straight jacket and untamed curls but instead appears in a blue prison uniform with shorter, more clean-cut hair. The trailer also goes on to show Kasady as the subject of human experimentation before finally revealing him in his symbiote form. Speaking with IGN, Serkis opened up about why they changed Harrelson's appearance: “We wanted to give a sense that he's been in there for some time and that he's gone through various changes. ... so that we could really [see] what's going on with the darkness of the character." In this trailer break down, Serkis also goes on to explain the similarities between Brock and Kasady, aside from the obvious fact that they both end up bonded to alien symbiotes. Serkis explains that both Brock and Kasady had strange upbringings and relationships with their families and therefore an "inherent loneliness that they both recognize in each other." In the mid-credit scene where Kasady first appears, it is even made clear that he will only talk to Brock. It's possible that Kasady's new look also mirrors the way that Brock presents himself: with a short, basic haircut that complements his overall messy but manageable look. There is also the possibility that the shorter hair is simply the way Kasady prefers to keep it. In one of the many blink and you'll miss it hidden details of the trailer, a copy of the Daily Bugle shows an image of Kasady's mug shot, with his hair looking much shorter and straighter than it was in Venom. As all good trailers do, this first look as Venom: Let There Be Carnage leaves fans with more questions than it answers. Hopefully, most or all of those questions will be answered this September when the movie finally hits theaters after the multiple delays it has faced. The trailer sets viewers up for all the chaos and fun of the first film, diving even deeper into the dark world of Eddie Brock and Venom. For now, fans are set to analyze every detail of the trailer and wait for more sneak peaks and information about the film to surface.

In the wake of her viral live-tweeting session regarding Zack Snyder's Justice League, Leslie Jones expressed that she should definitely be cast in the popular director's next film. Starting out as a stand-up comedian back in the 1980s, Jones ultimately came to widespread prominence via Saturday Night Live. Facilitated by Chris Rock, she secured a successful audition and debuted in 2014. Despite some early controversies, she ultimately became a featured player — writing and performing sketches until 2019. After garnering some Emmy nominations along the way, Jones transitioned firmly into movies. Recent turns have this year included Eddie Murphy's much-belated sequel: Coming 2 America. Jones hasn't just received attention for her own movies, however. In the recent past, she has taken to live-tweeting along to several blockbuster franchises. Those included Avengers: Infinity War — which drew responses from MCU actors Chris Evans, Brie Larson, and Paul Bettany. The upcoming MTV Movie and TV Awards host even narrated episodes of Game of Thrones season 8. In March, upon its release via HBO Max, she extended those efforts to all four hours of the famed Snyder Cut of Justice League. The move earned much love from Snyder and even the nickname of "the official ZSJL Whisperer". During a talk show appearance, however, Jones put forward that he should gift her a more substantial reward. RELATED:Why Barry Isn't Called The Flash In Zack Snyder's Justice League Interviewed via video conference, host Jimmy Fallon reminded her of the aforementioned thread and the attention it received. "That's cool," Fallon stated. Jones immediately agreed but followed up that "it's gonna be even cooler when he puts me in the next one." Amid cheers from the crowd, and while making herself laugh, Jones went even further and added: "I better be in the next one. I live-tweeted for four hours. I better damn well be the star of the next one." Fallon leaped on the idea, wondering what kind of role she would play. "I want to be a villain. I wanna be a villain...and I wanna be the WORST villain. I wanna be the villain that people be like, 'somebody kill this b*tch!'" The full moment was shared via the official twitter account for The Tonight Show. Check it out below: The storied history of Zack Snyder's Justice League will be one more than familiar to anybody even remotely interested in movies. After a campaign that spanned multiple years, it ultimately came to fruition. The movie earned considerable more praise than the 2017 theatrical release and a passionate response on social media has persisted to this day. Regardless, Warner Bros. has expressed zero interest in following up on the threads that were left hanging. Equally, Snyder seemingly moved on — instead focusing on his Netflix deal and the rapidly upcoming Army of the Dead. Despite that, he has continued to elaborate on what his plans would have been and what villains he would have used in subsequent movies. Which villain fans can envision Jones playing - be it one of those roles or another one entirely - will no doubt be the subject of much debate. Similarly, it wasn't entirely clear whether she was specifically talking a Justice League follow-up or a Snyder-helmed film in general. Given the nature of the preceeding context, however, many could assume that Jones is as invested in restoring the Snyderverse as campaigning fans. After all, playing a comics character remains the Hollywood dream for many. Then again, she may simply have followed the lead of Dave Bautista (and others) who simply want to work with a director that's frequently beloved of his peers. Whatever the case, with Snyder constantly lining up new projects, people will have to merely wait and see whether Jones' dream eventually comes true.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage introduces Marvel's version of Arkham Asylum, the Ravencroft Institute. Sony is pressing ahead with its Spider-Man spinoff movies, buoyed by Venom's strong box office performance. The first film served to establish some of the main characters, focusing on Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock, and it looks as though the sequel will expand the franchise's world. The Venom 2 trailer has already established some key aspects of Spider-Man lore are part of this world, with several sequences set at the Daily Bugle - apparently a newspaper in this timeline, with the same masthead as the one seen in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, a nice Easter egg. But the trailer also confirms the presence of another important Spider-Man location; it unveils the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, which essentially serves as Marvel's version of Arkham Asylum. That's a promising addition, and although Ravencroft is shown burning down, that hardly means it's gone for good - it gets destroyed with amusing frequency in the comics. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Venom 2 Trailer Breakdown: 28 Story Reveals & Secrets Marvel established the history of the Ravencroft Institute back in 2020, in a number of fantastic one-shots and miniseries by Frank Tieri. The land the Ravencroft Institute was built upon has been cursed for generations, with cultists based there dedicated to dark gods ranging from Knull Shuma-Gorath. The original Captain America died on these grounds during the American Civil War, and in the 1890s a Skrull invasion took this as their staging ground. Finally, toward the end of the 19th century Dr. Jonas Ravencroft founded a maximum-security facility for the criminally insane, and it earned a dark reputation right from the start. Staff secretly included the likes of the X-Men villain Mr. Sinister, who used Ravencroft as an opportunity to advance his studies in genetic manipulation. During the Second World War, Ravencroft was taken over by a clandestine government department working with Count Dracula in an attempt to weaponize vampies in order to work for the Allies. The Ravencroft Institute's twisted history really is more insane than any of its inmates. The Ravencroft Institute was first established in the Spider-Man franchise back in the '90s, when the Spider-Man books became dark and gritty in keeping with the style that was popular at the time. Countless major Spider-Man villains wound up sent to the Ravencroft Institute, and the wall-crawler befriended a scientist who worked there, Dr. Ashley Kafka. Its most dangerous inmate was, of course, Cletus Kasady - the serial killer who bonded with a symbiote and became the monstrous Carnage. But Spider-Man himself wound up there on occasion, and in one notable story he was put on trial at Ravencroft by Dr. Judas Traveller, a powerful being who used Ravencroft and its inmates as part of a dark agenda to understand the nature of evil. Because the Ravencroft Institute houses villains of such power, it has been destroyed with remarkable frequency. Ravencroft's current director is Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, who's using it as a power base and - like Mr. Sinister before him - a center of experimentation. The Venom 2 trailer may show Ravencroft destroyed, but it could easily be rebuilt for future Sony films, for it would be a welcome addition to this universe.

The first 15 minutes of Zack Snyder’s upcoming zombie heist film Army of the Dead will release next week, according to a new video. The movie stars an ensemble cast including Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Matthias Schweighöfer, Theo Rossi Hiroyuki Sanada, Nora Arnezeder, and Tig Notaro. Army of the Dead is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on May 14, followed by a Netflix streaming release on May 21. With Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder is returning to his zombie-infected roots. The director originally gained fame for his lauded remake of George A. Romero’s classic horror flick Dawn of the Dead, but he’s since built a career primarily based on comic book adaptations like Watchmen, 300, and Justice League. Though Army of the Dead isn’t tied in any direct narrative way to Dawn of the Dead, it’s still fun to see Snyder going back to the genre that shot him to stardom. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Army Of The Dead Character Names And Roles Explained Though the film doesn’t release on Netflix for another two weeks, fans won’t have to wait that long to get an extended look at the movie. According to a video posted by Netflix and retweeted by Snyder, the first 15 minutes of Army of the Dead will be revealed next week during a YouTube livestreaming event. The stream is set to go live on Thursday, May 13 – one day before the film’s theatrical premiere – at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. The practice of releasing a significant chunk of an upcoming film ahead of the premiere date isn’t new. The Warner Bros. hit Mortal Kombat recently did the same thing, posting its opening sequence online for all to watch leading up to the film’s release. In a time when streaming/theatrical hybrid launches are becoming the norm, it’s not so unusual to see films trying different promotional approaches. Army of the Dead is already benefitting in some ways off the name of its director alone, who was thrown into one of the biggest Hollywood spotlights in recent memory last year when it was announced that his cut of Justice League would be officially released on HBO Max. The Snyder Cut ended up garnering far more favorable reviews than the original theatrical version of the movie, sparking renewed interest in Zack Snyder’s other upcoming projects. Army of the Dead is a good deal different in scope and tone than Justice League, but hopefully it will deliver an entertaining experience of its own sort when it releases later this month.

Magazine covers promoting Mission: Impossible 7 tease Tom Cruise's latest motorcycle stunt. Paramount's popular action franchise has built up an expectation that each new entry will put Cruise's Ethan Hunt in increasingly dangerous scenarios. Cruise is more than up to this challenge and continues to surprise audiences with the stunts he performs. After scaling the world's tallest building in Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, clinging to the side of an airplane in Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, or flying and dangling from helicopters in Mission: Impossible - Fallout, fans are excited to see what comes next. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW Under the original plan for Mission: Impossible 7, the entire world would be very close to seeing the stunt play out on the big screen. The movie, which is once again directed by Christopher McQuarrie, originally received a July 2021 release date. However, COVID-19 forced a delay to November 2021 and a second delay to May 2022. Mission: Impossible 7 is now more than a year away from hitting theaters, which has left fans eager to see anything from the movie. There have been set photos and teases from McQuarrie of what the movie contains, but now an official glimpse at one stunt has arrived. RELATED: Mission Impossible 7: Every Tom Cruise Stunt Revealed By Set Photos Empire Magazine revealed its covers for the May issue and they have a tease of Tom Cruise performing a motorcycle stunt in Mission: Impossible 7. The first cover shows Cruise in action as Ethan Hunt leaping through the air on his bike. The second cover is a photo taken by McQuarrie that likely shows the lead up to the previous jump. Hunt is wearing all black clothes and possibly even a parachute. This isn't the first sign of Mission: Impossible 7 including an action scene with Hunt on a motorcycle. Set photos revealed a massive ramp built for Cruise to race off of during the production. The behind-the-scenes looks at that stunt seemingly match what is happening here. It is possible that this high-speed setpiece begins in normal terrain as Hunt races through a country road before reaching an improbable jump. What happens after Mission: Impossible 7's motorcycle cliff jump remains to be seen. With Mission: Impossible 7's early marketing materials already highlighting this scene, it is possible this could be the movie's show-stopper. There have also been teases of stunts involving trains and cars, but Cruise has spent a lot of time on bikes throughout the Mission: Impossible franchise. The second, fifth, and sixth films have extended motorcycle chases, with Mission: Impossible III's becoming somewhat more ridiculous. McQuarrie has kept his previous bike-related action scenes relatively grounded, so it will be fascinating to see how far he pushes this motorcycle sequence in Mission: Imposible 7

Michael B. Jordan explains why Creed 3 is the perfect project to serve as his directorial debut. Back in 2015, Jordan teamed up with star Sylvester Stallone and director Ryan Coogler for the first Creed movie, which brought the Rocky franchise back to prominence. Shifting the focus to Jordan's character Adonis Johnson, Apollo Creed's son, Creed was a critical and box office success, netting a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Stallone. 2018's Creed II was also a big hit, paving the way for a third installment. Creed 3 is set for a November 2022 release. Stallone has already confirmed Rocky Balboa won't be returning in Creed 3, as he has now passed the torch to Jordan moving forward. Another way Jordan is following in Stallone's footsteps on the movie is the fact he's directing. Stallone helmed several of the original Rocky installments, and now Jordan is moving behind the camera for his debut. He's excited to take what he's learned over the course of his career and bring it to Creed 3. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:Why You Shouldn't Rule Out A Creed 3 Rocky Cameo Just Yet Speaking with Esquire, Jordan opened up about why he feels Creed 3 is the best film for his first directorial effort. He discussed his history with the series as well as helpful tips he's learned from others in the industry: "It’s the only character that I’m coming back to play three times. It’s a world that I know. I know the process to shoot these movies. I know the character. And I have a clear vision of where I want the world to go. Everything kind of panned out for me to step behind the camera on this one, so I’m running towards it. And definitely a lot of knowledge and a lot of gems of wisdom and tips from everybody—from most recently Denzel [Washington], to Ryan, to David O. Russell, Ben Affleck, Stefano. I’ve been slowly learning. I’m a sponge, so I’m always learning from project to project, and it’s all been slowly preparing me for this moment." Jordan's personal connection to Creed and the Rocky universe certainly makes him a good fit for the directing job. He understands the characters and world better than most having been involved with the franchise for so long, so it will be exciting to see what he brings to the table on Creed 3. The previous two films were known for balancing genuine character drama with well-crafted fight scenes, and it'll be up to Jordan to keep that forward momentum going. In the past, Jordan's mentioned he'd be interested in making more Creed movies as long as they're good, meaning Creed 3 could be the first of many he calls the shots on. Recently, Jordan's expanded his horizons by producing a variety of projects, such as Without Remorse and Creed II, experiences that helped him prepare for directing. It's encouraging to hear Jordan's been "slowly learning" about working behind-the-scenes, indicating he isn't rushing into something he isn't ready for. Obviously, directing and starring in the same movie is a monumental task, but it sounds like Jordan took his time and didn't decide to make that jump until the right opportunity presented itself. Even if he was just acting in Creed 3, it's a project he is very passionate about, and that enthusiasm should translate onscreen. Ideally, Creed 3 will join the ranks of the best directorial debuts when it comes out next year.

Ludacris says F9's director Justin Lin thinks it's the best movie in the Fast & Furious franchise. Fast & Furious has become one of the biggest franchises in the world over the last decade. It all started with a simple street racing heist movie in 2001 but the popularity and extreme stunts continued to grow over time. The series evolved and found a large fan base under the direction of Justin Lin, who directed four consecutive installments between Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast & Furious 6. He's now back involved with the franchise after missing the last two entries. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW With any franchise as massive and popular as Fast & Furious, there is always the debate about which movie is best. Although there are different opinions within the fandom, there are three movies that routinely are mentioned as the best. Justin Lin is responsible for two of them, Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift and Fast Five. James Wan's Furious 7 is also widely considered to be one of the franchise's best movies, especially for how it handled Brian O'Connor's story following the sudden passing of Paul Walker. But, it appears Lin thinks he's topped the franchise with F9. RELATED: Fast & Furious Movies Ranked Worst To Best (Including Hobbs & Shaw) During a recent interview with EW, Ludacris revealed that Lin repeatedly told him that he thinks F9 is the franchise's best movie. The director isn't known for saying overly hyperbolic statements like this, which is why it stood out so much to Ludacris when he said it. Justin doesn't just say stuff like this, but this'll be good when you guys talk to him. Sometimes people will just say cliché things. Not with this movie. I'm saying in general. They'll be like, "Yo, this is my best album," because you're trying to promote that album, and you want it to sell. Justin looked me in my eye twice, and said, "Fast 9 is the best out of the entire franchise." Since this quote doesn't come directly from Lin, there was no chance for him to elaborate on why this is the case. Ludacris hasn't seen F9 either so he couldn't say whether or not he agrees with Lin. Instead, Ludacris sides with many viewers and believes that Fast Five is the best Fast & Furious movie. As the press tour for F9 continues to heat up, there is a good chance that Lin will be asked about this statement. Of course, it might not be until after the movie is released that he can reveal the details behind why this is his opinion. Determining what the best Fast & Furious movie is will always be a matter of opinion, so there isn't a right answer. However, the odds of Lin delivering one of the franchise's best installments shouldn't be too much of a surprise. His prior movies do an excellent job at balancing the characters and action to give each a chance to shine. With F9 set to explore more of Dominic Toretto's backstory, introduce his secret brother Jakob, and bring back Han, there's plenty of opportunities for a great story. Meanwhile, the teases of going to space and giant magnets can give the movie unique action set pieces too. The debate about whether or not F9 is the best Fast & Furious movie will really begin once it hits theaters this summer

Co-writer/director Edgar Wright has confirmed that a new 4K Ultra HD release of the cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is currently in the works. Based on Bryan Lee O'Malley's graphic novels of the same name, the story centers on the titular slacker musician as he faces off against the League of Evil Exes for the right to date the mysterious and alluring Ramona Flowers. Michael Cera leads an ensemble cast that includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jason Schwartzman, Brandon Routh, Chris Evans, Kieran Culkin, Anna Kendrick, Ellen Wong, and Brie Larson. After getting his hands on a pre-release copy of the first novel in the series, Wright became interested in developing an adaptation and was hired by Universal to do so on the heels of Shaun of the Dead's international success. Production commenced from March-August 2009, though the film underwent reshoots three months ahead of its release when O'Malley and Wright elected to change the film's ending. Test audience reactions were divided, so the duo changed it to better fit the ending of the graphic novels. Released in summer 2019, the romantic action-comedy scored rave reviews from critics and audiences alike but was a box office disappointment, only bringing in $49 million against its $60 million budget, but it has maintained a large cult following in the years since its release. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: All 8 Comic Book Characters Chris Evans Has Played After a decade of amassing more fans, Universal planned to bring Scott Pilgrim back to theaters for a special 4K Dolby re-release last August to coincide with the film's 10th anniversary, only to delay those plans due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The 4k remaster finally hit theaters with Dolby Vision on April 30, and Wright revealed that the film screenings would extend to AMC Theaters and other chains this weekend. When asked whether a new 4K UHD home release would come to fruition following the re-release, Wright responded to a fan on Twitter that something is in the works but couldn't give details at this time. Though it's received a few different Blu-ray releases over the past decade, fans have yet to be able to get their hands on a proper 4K version of the film they can watch at home, marking this an exciting possible development. One of the biggest areas of praise from both critics and audiences alike over the years has been Wright's directorial style and the visual effects in the film. Given that some people are still hesitant to head to theaters right now, it would be a nice treat for both longtime fans and those curious about the film to get to see that crisp remaster from the comfort of their couches. With the remaster currently in theaters, chances are fans will have to wait a bit for details about the home media release. But with Wright remaining an attentive communicator with fans on social media and frequently announcing news for his projects on Twitter, fans can certainly trust when he says details will be coming soon. For now, audiences can at least head back to their local theater and catch the brilliance that is Scott Pilgrim vs. The World this weekend.

A Quiet Place Part II stars John Krasinski and Emily Blunt are battling Paramount over their pay due to the studio shortening the theatrical run. Paramount had one of the surprise box office hits of 2018 when A Quiet Place arrived. The movie made $341 million worldwide and was a massive hit for all involved thanks to its low budget. It didn't take long for conversations to begin about a possible sequel, with Krasinski confirmed to write and direct the follow-up with Blunt once again starring in early 2019. Paramount originally gave A Quiet Place 2 a March 2020 release date and was just about to release the movie when COVID-19 shut down theaters around the world. This forced the movie to be delayed multiple times. It was previously pegged to be one of 2020's biggest box office hits too. Now, more than a year after its intended release, premiere, and junkets, A Quiet Place 2 is receiving a very different rollout due to how studios now view theatrical and streaming. This has led to a dispute over pay between the movie's stars and producers with Paramount. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: A Quiet Place Part II Final Trailer Breakdown: 20 Story Reveals & Secrets It was previously announced by Paramount that A Quiet Place 2's theatrical run will only last 45 days, instead of the usual 90 days, before the movie is available on Paramount+ for all subscribers. According to a report from Bloomberg, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, and others are asking for greater compensation from the studio. Krasinski and Blunt's contracts for A Quiet Place 2 include bonuses based on the film's box office performance. Since Paramount has cut the theatrical run in half and is releasing the movie at a time when the theaters that are open are operating under limited capacities, Krasinski and Blunt believe they deserve more money for a release strategy that limits the film's box office longevity. These discussions are reportedly still ongoing, but Paramount has so far not agreed to further compensation. The dispute between Paramount and A Quiet Place 2's stars could be the first of many for the studio. During the ViacomCBS Investor Day call in February 20201, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish said all of the studio's films will head to Paramount+ between 30-45 days after their theatrical debuts. Contract bonuses based on box office are quite common for stars of Krasinski and Blunt's stature, so others are likely closely monitoring what Paramount does for them. Mark Wahlberg's Infinite is now a Paramount+ exclusive and Tom Cruise has Top Gun: Maverick and two Mission: Impossible films on the horizon. They'll both want the biggest possible paydays, so Krasinski and Blunt could help set a precedent for what Paramount will do for the industry at large. Assuming Paramount eventually agrees to pay Krasinski and Blunt more for A Quiet Place 2, the stars could really cash in regardless of how well the movie does at the box office. Warner Bros. had to strike similar deals with stars and directors after announcing their HBO Max release plans. Recent projections estimate that A Quiet Place 2 could open on par with the original domestically, though. Godzilla vs. Kong proved there is still a path to box office success in this marketplace, so now we'll have to wait and see if A Quiet Place Part II becomes the latest movie to hit big.

Space Jam 2 fans are making dark jokes after a cryptic tweet from LeBron James. Releasing this summer in theaters and on HBO Max, Space Jam 2 is the long-awaited and highly-anticipated followup to the 1996 sensation starring NBA great Michael Jordan. The original Space Jam helped cement Jordan’s status as a global icon who transcends basketball, and LeBron is looking to do the same when he and the Tune Squad take the court in Space Jam: A New Legacy. Early on, LeBron said Space Jam 2 would be a movie centered around family, differentiating it from the first film, which was mostly about Jordan teaming up with the Looney Tunes to defeat the Monstars on the court. Produced by Black Panther director Ryan Coogler and helmed by Malcolm D. Lee (Girls Trip), A New Legacy centers around LeBron struggling to relate to his teenage son Dom (Cedric Joe), who wants to be a video game developer. After Dom catches the eye of a CGI humanoid Al-G Rhythm (Don Cheadle), LeBron and son are sucked into his virtual reality and their only hope for escape is to assemble the Looney Tunes and defeat the formidable Goon Squad on the court. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:10 Movies To Watch To Get Excited For Space Jam 2 LeBron James has shown he is not afraid to make controversial statements on Twitter regarding politics and police brutality, but the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is now making waves for a cryptic tweet that appears to be Space Jam related. The tweet reads, “It’s all fun and games until the [rabbit] got the gun!” Twitter users familiar with Space Jam quickly jumped on the mysterious nature of LeBron’s tweet and began making dark jokes. Check out LeBron’s tweet and some funny responses below: LeBron’s tweet appears to be a riff on the popular meme, “Ain't no fun when the rabbit got the gun,” which originated as saying that basically means “the shoe’s on the other foot.” In the case of Space Jam, it likely refers to a role reversal between Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, a recurring Looney Tunes villain who hunts rabbits with a double-barreled rifle. Whether or not this tweet is even related to the plot of Space Jam 2 is unclear. Maybe LeBron is just bored or blowing off some steam after sitting out a month due to a high ankle sprain only to reinjure it in his return last week. Hopefully, LeBron’s tweet will make some more sense when Space Jam 2 debuts in theaters and on HBO Max on July 16th.

Mark Wahlberg has revealed new shirtless photos revealing his weight gain transformation for the long-in-development faith-based drama, Stu. Written and directed by Rosalind Ross, plot details are being kept under wraps for the film but is said to center on fighter-turned-actor, Father Stuart Long. Wahlberg will star in the film alongside Oscar nominee, Jacki Weaver. Wahlberg has been quietly developing the project for years now, finding the story close to his heart and inspiring him to take on the role. A previous attempt to get the film off the ground came in 2016 when Wahlberg announced that he and David O. Russell, with whom he previously collaborated on Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees and The Fighter, were developing the script together for the film. After the film seemingly lingered in development hell for five years, it was announced earlier this year that it was gaining steam as the Oscar nominee officially signed on to star and Rosalind Ross landed the writing and directing gigs in her feature debut. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Wahl Street Vs Entourage: How Mark Wahlberg's Real Life Inspired The Show Nearly two months after the film was first announced to be in the works, Wahlberg took to Instagram to reveal the physical transformations he is already undergoing for the film. In an interview with E! Online, personal chef, Lawrence Duran, has revealed details on how Wahlberg has gone about his 20-pound transformation, which includes eating eight meals a day with 7,000 calories and having his mornings start as early as 3 a.m. Though keeping a strict regimen during this time, Duran assured Wahlberg is allowing himself a cheat meal one day a week and is doing nothing the actor hasn't done before, especially with the weight loss he will soon have to undergo. Check out the photo and read what Duran said below: For him, he can drop it pretty quick. Within a few weeks you'll probably see a drastic change. But he's been doing this his whole life, whereas for the average person, it may take months on end. Not everyone's body is the same and his meal plan may not work for you or I. As Duran indicated, Wahlberg has been going through these weight changes his whole career, frequently putting on additional muscle or trimming down to sleeker builds. Some of Wahlberg's most notable transformations were seen in Michael Bay's Pain & Gain and Russell's The Fighter, though his turn in the former was certainly a more shocking appearance for co-star, Anthony Mackie, as they looked to properly portray their real-life counterparts and stack up to fellow co-star, Dwayne Johnson. That being said, this does seem like the first major weight transformation he's undergone since his role in The Gambler remake, for which he lost over 60 pounds. Dramatic changes in weight have long been a concern of fans when it comes to their favorite performers, and some stars have been vocal about the dangers that could come from it, namely Tom Hardy and Christian Bale. For those who worry Wahlberg may be moving a little too fast for his work on Stu, it does appear he's at least remaining vigilant about sticking with a healthy path forward. Fans should also gear up for the first looks at Wahlberg's appearance in the sci-fi action thriller, Infinite, given its recent shit to a Paramount+ debut this June.

New My Policeman set photos were just released showing Harry Styles and The Crown's Emma Corrin at the beach. My Policeman is an Amazon Original movie based on the book of the same name by Bethan Roberts. The story takes place in 1950s Great Britain when being gay was largely frowned upon. Two men, Tom (Styles) and Patrick (played by David Dawson) work to keep their hidden love affair a secret. Meanwhile, Tom stays married to a woman named Marrion (Corrin) who is determined to make their relationship work. Styles has been building an incredible portfolio of movies lately. His first serious acting role was in Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk where he had a small ensemble role. Styles took a break from acting for a while to focus on his music. However, he signed up for several new movies last year while his tour was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Most notably, he will be starring opposite Florence Pugh in Olivia Wilde's next film, Don't Worry Darling. This is said to be a '50s psychological thriller and will be Style's first major leading role. There are also rumors of him making a cameo appearance in Marvel's upcoming Eternals film. Likewise, Corrin is coming hot off of her role as Princess Diana in the latest season of The Crown. Her performance in the show quickly stole the hearts and attention of the viewers. She even won an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her performance, which is a major deal for any up-and-coming actress. RELATED:House, M.D.: What Olivia Wilde Has Done Since The Show Given the high-profile nature of its cast, it is no wonder that My Policeman has been receiving a lot of attention lately, with a flurry of set pictures hitting the internet and setting social media ablaze. The most recent set pictures from US Weekly show Styles and Corrin playing on the beach in full '50s attire. The duo seems to be having a lot of fun on set as they laugh and play on the beach. Check out the photos below: The movie could be a big hit for Amazon given its all-star cast. Styles has a huge fan following and Corrin is quickly developing one of her own. There were reports that the producers had to install extra security to keep the actors safe from fans rushing on to set. If this movie is a hit then this could help solidify both Styles's and Corrin's movie careers. This would be especially impressive given how hard it is for musicians and television stars to break into the film industry. All eyes are on My Policeman to see what more Corrin and Styles are capable of doing. Both of them have already shown how talented they are, now it's their time to prove why they deserve to be leading movie stars. Given their previous performances, it would be hard to bet against them.

Zack Snyder breaks down the Army of the Dead trailer in a new behind-the-scenes video from Netflix. The movie tells the story of an elite team of soldiers, played by Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, and others, who attempt to rob a Las Vegas casino in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Army of the Dead is set to launch on Netflix on May 21, with a limited theatrical release planned for a week prior on May 14. Army of the Dead has gained a lot of attention as Zack Snyder’s first film since the release of his Justice League director’s cut. Though the film pays tribute in many ways to the zombie classics of the past – something Snyder has done before with his 2004 Dawn of the Dead remake – it puts a new spin on things by splicing together the horror, action, and heist genres into a bizarre and creative undead blockbuster. Netflix has already ordered a prequel film and spinoff animated series set in the Army of the Dead universe, which will build on the movie's unique zombie lore. RELATED: Army Of The Dead Character Names And Roles Explained Thanks to a new video from Netflix UK & Ireland, fans can get a look behind the scenes of the movie with the director himself. Snyder goes through the official Army of the Dead trailer shot by shot, explaining some of the technical processes and challenges that went into the various action sequences. Watch the video below. In the video, Snyder shares some interesting bits of lore about the film’s zombies, discussing their hierarchy and social systems. Army of the Dead features several different types of zombies, from ordinary shuffling undead to much more intelligent and deadly breeds. The hierarchy spawns from Zeus, the original zombie who escaped from Area 51 and started the outbreak. Any person Zeus infects becomes an elite alpha zombie, who can then create weaker zombies of their own. It’s an interesting take on a very familiar genre, which will hopefully breathe some new life into Army of the Dead. The era of undead overload that surrounded The Walking Dead’s breakout success over a decade ago has died down in recent years, but the zombie genre remains crowded. That makes it tough for any new franchise to build its own space and unique appeal, but Snyder and his team have done their best to create a fresh and exciting story that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Army of the Dead releases in theaters on May 14 and on Netflix on May 21.

The Shining now has a piece of artwork to replicate one of its famous, iconic moments. The 1980 horror film was adapted from the celebrated Stephen King novel of the same name released three years prior. Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers, and Danny Lloyd, the film centers around the Torrance family during a snowy winter season when the patriarch Jack is hired as a caretaker for the secluded Overlook Hotel, which has a suspicious and repeated history. While there are significant differences between the book and the movie that King mostly did not approve, The Shining is considered one of Kubrick's best works as it has been added to the National Film Registry and continues to be the subject of multiple film analyses and evaluations. While there are certainly many unforgettable moments in the film, most fans remember the image of when Jack peeks his face through the opening of the bathroom door after having used an axe to break it down, where his wife Wendy is inside shrieking and holding a knife. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Get Out: Every Classic Horror Movie Easter Egg Explained Now on the online shopping website, biggarden, fans can purchase a sculpture of Nicholson's character, Jack Torrance, during the climactic scene in the form of a bookend. The scene where Jack terrorizes his wife in the bathroom is known as the movie's "Here's Johnny" moment, a line improvised by Nicholson in tribute to the introduction of the late Johnny Carson, who was the host of The Tonight Show at the time. The face sculpture of Nicholson has a height of 18 centimeters and a length and width of 11 centimeters. The artwork, on which the pricing has drastically decreased, can be seen below: The sculpture certainly captures Nicholson's face in great detail, even getting down to the specific hair strands coming down on his forehead. The artwork greatly resembles the "Here's Johnny" moment and is a testament to the impact the film continues to have on viewers and filmmakers. Most notably, the scene has been nodded and reenacted multiple times in subsequent films and television shows, highlighting the admiration of that iconic moment, as well as Nicholson's eccentric acting performance. Ever since its mixed release, The Shining has continued to garner many fans due to its style, originality, and memorable scenes. The film stands out from being a standard typical horror film due to its gradual terror throughout the movie, rather than providing the viewer with immediate jump-scares. The Kubrick masterpiece clearly continues to stand the test of time and having Nicholson's scary face at the end of a row of books would just be another unconventional thing that would attribute with the irregularity that is The Shining.

Cinemark just signed a deal with Disney, Paramount and two other big motion picture studios in regards to the duration that their movies run in theaters. Cinemark is one of the main movie theater chains along with AMC and Regal Cinemas. All three chains were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic and are striving to find a way to regain their footing as the world and specifically, the entertainment industry, reopens. Variety confirms that Cinemark recently signed a deal with Paramount Pictures, The Walt Disney Company, The Warner Bros. Picture Group and Sony Pictures Entertainment. While the details of those deals have not been disclosed, the general premise is that movies will now have a shorter theatrical window. Essentially, movies won't need to run in theaters for as long before releasing to streaming platforms and Blu-Ray/DVD. Cinemark CEO, Mark Zoradi, is seemingly pleased with the terms of the contract, even though the deal would appear to be a loss to its theaters at a brief glance. RELATED: Oscars 2021: Biggest Snubs & Surprises The deal Cinemark signed with Sony, Paramount, Warner Bros. and Disney may mirror or be similar to a deal Cinemark signed with Universal in November. According to that deal, movies have a 17-day run in theaters before they can be released on streaming platforms. However, if the film makes $50 million or more, it must run in theaters for 31 days or five weekends before hitting streaming platforms. If this is the deal Cinemark struck with the other four motion picture studios, Zoradi would have some reason to celebrate.

Scott Eastwood has opened up about his poor audition for the role of romantic lead, Edward Cullen, in the film adaptation of Twilight. Based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name, the story centered on a teenage girl moving to a small Washington town to live with her father and finding herself falling for Edward, a vampire who must protect her from an evil coven of bloodsuckers. The cast for the film included Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke and Cam Gigadent. First entering development at Paramount Pictures and MTV Films in the early 2000s, a Twilight film lingered in development hell for three years before the rights were sold off to Summit Entertainment in 2007. Looking to spawn a franchise from it, a script was crunched out just prior to the Writers Guild of America strike by Melissa Rosenberg, who sought to deliver a faithful adaptation of the novel. Though receiving mixed reviews from critics, it would become a box office hit with over $407 million grossed on its $37 million budget and spawning four sequels that would bring in a total of $3.346 billion. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: What Twilight's Original Sequel Was About (& Why It Didn't Happen) In an interview with Variety to discuss his role in Guy Ritchie's latest action thriller, Wrath of Man, Eastwood recalled his audition for the teen romantic drama. Finding the project to be "such a YA movie", the 35-year-old actor elected to not try "all that hard" and to "go through the motions." The end result was a bombed audition and Eastwood looking back with a bit of regret given what came of the film. Read what Eastwood said below: Then the movie turns into seven movies and Robert Pattinson has made a quadrillion dollars [laughing]. Then I was thinking, ‘Ya may have wanted to try maybe just a little bit.’ Regretting bombing an audition for a film is a feeling many performers in the industry share, including Michael B. Jordan's Star Wars efforts. Even with the Twilight films having amassed over $3 billion, it was probably for the best that Eastwood avoided joining the YA series. Pattinson and Stewart have frequently opened up about their issues with their lives and careers since the first film came out, and box office numbers aside, the films were generally duds as critical reception remained low across all five installments. Though his Twilight audition might have been a bust for Eastwood, he has certainly not seen his career suffer in the years since. From starring in the DC Extended Universe with David Ayer's Suicide Squad and 2017's The Fate of the Furious, he's still getting his name in some high-profile projects. Plus, with roles set in films alongside A-list talent including Tyrese Gibson and Gina Rodriguez after Wrath of Man, Eastwood looks to have dodged the silver stake in not landing the role of Edward.

Ludacris has opened up about the circumstances of his last-minute audition for the role of Tej Parker in 2003's 2 Fast 2 Furious. The second installment in the action blockbuster franchise, the story centered on Paul Walker's Brian O'Connor as he teams up with Tyrese Gibson's Roman "Rome" Pearce and Eva Mendes' Monica Fuentes to help bring down drug lord, Carter Verone, in Miami. The film was directed by John Singleton and was the only film in the series not to feature franchise star and producer, Vin Diesel, as he was busy with The Chronicles of Riddick. With the first film having been a box office success, Universal Pictures looked to capitalize on the potential with a sequel right away, only able to draw Walker back with Singleton choosing to reunite with Gibson after previously working together on Baby Boy. Released in summer 2003, the film garnered generally mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and audiences but was still a box office hit, grossing over $236 million against its $76 million budget. Unable to get any of the original cast to return, the next installment would take the story to Japan with The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, which became the lowest-grossing in the series and would lead to the returns of the main cast in 2009's Fast & Furious. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: The Fast Saga's Future After Fast & Furious 10 Explained While chatting with EW for the forthcoming F9: The Fast Saga, Ludacris looked back at the 2003 sequel and how his role and audition for Tej Parker came about at the last minute. The studio originally looked to bring back Ja Rule as Edwin, only to have to change direction when he turned down a $500,000 offer. As he sat in his dressing room during his tour with Eminem, Ludacris got a call from his rep right before going on stage saying he had to do his audition right then and there if he wanted to get the part. Despite the "crunch situation," he realized he didn't "have too much time to even think about being nervous about reading these lines" and sent in the tape that would land him the role. Looking back at the character's first outing, the Grammy winner notes it was very close to his real persona and made it easier to portray him in his first major film role. Read what Ludacris said below: It's Ludacris in music and then Tej in the movie. But the good thing, humbly speaking, is that it wasn't too far of a stretch from my regular, everyday, ordinary personality. So I kind of was able to play Ludacris to a degree, because if it's my real first movie role, I think that's a great transition to not be able to go too far the first time. It's kind of like you're just learning the fundamentals of what's going on. So I'm not saying I was playing Ludacris in 2 Fast, but it wasn't too far of a f---ing stretch from it. Given how rushed the studio was in racing to get the sequel out while the iron was still hot, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Ludacris' audition came at the last minute. If anything, it only shows how impressive of a performer he is that he was able to deliver a strong tape under that crunch situation. Plus, for a first major film role, there are certainly worse places an aspiring actor can start than with Universal Pictures and the Fast & Furious franchise, even when it was still in its early, rocky stages. Though it may be low on many fans' rankings for the franchise, 2 Fast 2 Furious has continued to have some key implications for the rest of the series. From Brian and Mia's breakup coming around in Fast & Furious to Tej, Rome, and Monica's returns in Fast Five, the 2003 sequel was the last time audiences truly got to enjoy the street racing world with Brian and his friends before the story headed to Tokyo with a new crew and became a globe-trotting adventure in subsequent sequels. Plus, with Diesel's recent teases that Mendes' Monica may return in an upcoming sequel, chances are, defenders of the film may see some vindication in the near future.

Josh Hartnett has revealed that his character in Guy Ritchie's latest action thriller, Wrath of Man, was not in the original script for the film. A remake of the 2004 French film, Cash Truck, the story centers on the mysterious H as he is hired by a cash truck company as a guard, secretly utilizing the job to track down the robbers who murdered his son. Jason Statham leads an ensemble cast that includes Hartnett, Holt McCallany, Jeffrey Donovan, Laz Alonso, Scott Eastwood, Eddie Marsan, Post Malone and Andy Garcia. Development on the project was first announced in late 2019, with Ritchie set to write and direct the English-language remake and Statham signing on to star. The action thriller marks the fourth adaptation between Statham and Ritchie, going back to their debuts in the comedic crime thriller, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, followed by 2000's Snatch and 2005's Revolver. Much like a number of recent films, Wrath of Man saw its theatrical release shifted a few times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic before finally settling on its May 7 debut in the United States. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: All 8 Unmade Guy Ritchie Movies (& Why They Didn't Happen) In an interview with CinemaBlend, Hartnett revealed that his character of Boy Sweat Dave was not included in the original script, and his casting only came about after an actor who was set to play the role no longer was attached to the production. With Hartnett and his family living in England, Ritchie called him up with a part he wanted Hartnett "to think about and consider" and they would "make up as we go along." Being a big fan of Ritchie's films, Hartnett stepped up to the challenge of creating his character on the fly during production, including an entire backstory in which he wanted to be an actor or soldier and failed at both, leading to his armored car job, and thought his "little tutorial on how to improvise right on the spot" proved to be a great collaborative effort. Read what Hartnett said below: We basically inserted the character into a bunch of different scenes, and then sort of made him up, made up his interaction with the other characters as he went along. What was most fun about it was that it was a very dark, testosterone filled film, and I just wanted the character to be just such a try hard, and a character that had a very soft center, and was not. Always in over his head, always the butt of the joke, just to kind of counter-balance all that testosterone. So for me, it was the chance to pay something new. It's certainly not unheard of for a filmmaker and star to work together to help better flesh out a character or improvise ahead of production or during it on a low-budget title, but the idea of it happening across an entire production can be pretty off-putting or nerve-wracking for the filmmakers and performers. But should a collaborative partnership form as it sounds like the case was with Ritchie and Hartnett, it could result in some exciting things for fans and open doors for reunions in the future. With Ritchie already having a number of frequent collaborators under his belt and Hartnett partnering back up with him for the spy thriller, Five Eyes, fans could see a lot more of these great improvised efforts to come between the two. As reviews have also proven, Ritchie certainly is getting back into his groove of crowd-pleasing thrillers after dividing audiences and critics with his King Arthur and Aladdin adaptations before returning to the world of underground English crime in The Gentlemen. Though some fans may be disappointed his next feature won't be the long-desired RocknRolla sequel, the notion he's partnering with Statham again for back-to-back projects is certainly exciting. For now, fans can head to theaters and enjoy the latest pairing of the star and filmmaker with Wrath of Man now in theaters.

Disneyland's Avengers Campus has released photos of its cast members' uniforms. Disneyland, located in Anaheim, CA, opened in 1955 and was the only Disney theme park whose construction was overseen by Walt Disney himself. The Disneyland Resort includes two theme parks, Disneyland and Disney California Adventure, which opened in 2001. The parks include well-known rides seen at the Walt Disney Resort in Florida, like It's A Small World, Space Mountain, and Jungle Cruise, while also featuring attractions exclusive to the Disneyland Resort, like the Incredicoaster on Pixar Pier, Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Indiana Jones Adventure. The parks reopened on April 30, 2021, after closing for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW Disneyland's Avengers Campus is set to open on June 4 in Disney California Adventure. The Marvel-themed land will be built around the preexistent Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! While the area of the park already features meet-and-greets with Marvel characters like Spider-Man, Captain America, Thor, and Loki, Avengers Campus will bring in new attractions, dining options, and interactive opportunities. The land's feature attraction will be WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure, where guests will join Spider-Man in destroying a squadron of rogue Spider-Bots. Avengers Campus' premiere dining location will be Pym Test Kitchen, an innovative eatery themed after the Ant-Man franchise. RELATED: Disneyland Easter Egg Brings The Daily Bugle To The MCU Yesterday, Disney Parks revealed the uniforms for its cast members who will be stationed in Avengers Campus. Inspired by all different superheroes from the Marvel franchise, these unique uniforms were designed by Joe Kucharski, Disney Live Entertainment's Sr. Costume Designer. Kucharski collaborated with both Walt Disney Imagineering and Marvel Studios on the designs. Read what Kucharkski said about the uniforms and check out the photos from Collider below: I was inspired by the immersive design of Avengers Campus and the unique stories at each address. Our cast members play a unique part in the guest experience and these costumes are designed to help them embody their role in this epic story. Disneyland Resort's millions of guests have been extremely disappointed due to the parks' extended closure, especially those who held the now-defunct Annual Passports. However, the announcement of Avengers Campus' launch has come at the perfect time, giving guests the ability to explore new attractions in the park as well as the ones they missed. because Disneyland Resort is currently open to only California residents, the smaller guest pool and limited capacity will allow Avengers fans to experience everything the land has to offer with limited wait times. Avengers Campus will also appeal to those who have spent their quarantine binging Marvel TV shows like WandaVision and The Falcon And The Winter Soldier on Disney+. At the time of Disney California Adventure's opening in 2001, the park – designed as an homage to the state of California– lacked significant draw in its overall theme and attractions. However, with the re-theming of Paradise Pier as Pixar Pier and the addition of Cars Land, the park has captured a target audience and successfully redeemed itself – the addition of Avengers Campus will be no exception. After Disney's acquisition of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the company has unlocked a viable demographic of young-adult fans; while the attractions at Avengers Campus will be geared toward training a younger generation of superheroes, there is sure to be something for guests of all ages. Avengers Campus is likely to be success when it opens this June.