Amazon is nearing a deal to buy Hollywood Studio MGM Holdings for almost $9 billion, according to reports. In the decade since its declared bankruptcy, MGM has been owned by a collection of hedge funds and holding companies, and began exploring a sale in December. Potential buyers have been wary of the movie and TV studio’s asking price over the years, but talks with Amazon have been growing since the start of the year. MGM has evolved in a number of directions since its founding in 1924 and houses an impressive number of assets as a result of the diversification of the company’s projects. The movie studio behind titles such as James Bond, Fargo, and The Handmaid's Tale holds an attractive catalog for streaming services vying for beloved branded content in their library. However, due to complications involved with rights to some films being shared or split, the sale of MGM doesn’t come down to a simple acquisition of a single studio. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: 007: What Happens To James Bond Movies If MGM Sells According to The Wall Street Journal, talks between Amazon and MGM Holdings have escalated this week, making it probable that the tech giant will buy the Hollywood studio for close to $9 billion. Although there is not yet a guarantee of the sale, people close to the situation have provided some insight into the deals that have taken place behind closed doors, including the fact that the MGM board was briefed on the matter on Sunday night. Check out The Wall Street Journal's tweet below: [embed]https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/1396895990238560259[/embed] Not only would the acquisition of MGM by Amazon be a major foray by a tech company in Hollywood, the deal would mark Amazon’s second largest purchase in company history, only behind Whole Foods in 2017. The deal comes after a number of pandemic-related factors that have changed the game for MGM. In 2018, the company ousted their Chief Executive, Gary Barber, for having unsanctioned conversations with Apple, leading to a drop in the price of shares. Yet, although production took a hit at the onset of the pandemic, MGM’s already-established library proved to be in demand for people bored at home. It is no surprise that the uptick in earnings has generated new interest for potential buyers, including Amazon. Hollywood has seen a rapid rise in media consolidation this year, and the acquisition of MGM by Amazon would be another in a growing list that includes the negotiations between AT&T and Discovery, which were announced last week. These private discussions and deals make it impossible to anticipate how the media landscape is going to continue to change in upcoming years, even blindsiding individuals who are directly affected by the deals. MGM has been in unsteady hands for years, and as companies that were once on the sidelines now enter the race, the deal with Amazon has the potential to affect how people consume media forever.

A newly released image from Black Widow shows Natasha Romanoff in danger. The highly anticipated Black Widow film is set to premiere this July. The film is set after the events of Captain America: Civil War and will be released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney Plus after months of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The movie's production team was led by women, with Cate Shortland as director and WandaVision's showrunner, Jac Schaeffer, serving as co-writer for the Black Widow script. Although the overall plot of Black Widow has been kept under wraps, the main premise features Natasha Romanoff confronting her past before facing her destiny in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. One definitive part of Black Widow's plot will include Natasha reuniting with her unofficially adoptive Russian family, including Yelena Bolova (Florence Pugh), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz.) The official Black Widow trailer featured Natasha saying,"We have unfinished business," while also including teasers of Taskmaster, a mysterious villain who has the dangerous ability to copy their opponent's fighting style, and Natasha confronting Melina about the past. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:Why Black Widow's New Release Date Delay Is Good For The MCU A 2021 summer movie preview from Fandango included an image of Natasha in presumable peril, looking determined and distressed on the side of a building. The image coincides with a scene from the trailer in which the mysterious Taskmaster attacks Natasha, and they both plummet from said building. Check out the full image below: The image eerily appears to foreshadow Natasha's heroic sacrifice on Vormir during Endgame's time heist. Of course, it's reassuring to know that Natasha will survive the moment in the image above, as she faces off against the Taskmaster. This is the second image that features Natasha preparing to fight the Taskmaster. Although the newest Marvel villain has been heavily teased in Black Widow promotional material, the main conflict of the film still appears to be Black Widow forcing herself to face her past mistakes in order to finally move forward and be at peace with herself. To say that Black Widow is highly anticipated by fans is an understatement. Although Marvel has released two streaming series on Disney Plus this year, Black Widow will be the first Marvel film in theaters since Spider Man: Far From Home back in June 2019. Black Widow has not been changed in anyway despite the delays, and has remained fully finished for a year now. It will be exciting to finally get to watch Natasha Romanoff take center stage in a solo movie she deserves.

Sony has explained its plan to turn its PlayStation properties into films. Video game movie adaptions have been around for a long time, dating back to 1993's Super Mario Bros. film. Unfortunately, most of them are not considered very good, either as a compelling movie or faithful adaption. However, Detective Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog showed the genre could be successful. In 2019, Sony announced PlayStation Productions to adapt its video game franchises for both film and television. Sony's PlayStation properties are some of the most critically acclaimed in the industry. 2013's The Last of Us forever left an impact on players, and many enjoyed Nathan Drake's journey across the Uncharted saga. Sony is also home to the colorful Ratchet & Clank series, which is getting a new installment later this year. Interestingly, there haven't been many films based on PlayStation's characters. However, that is changing. An HBO series based on The Last of Us is currently in development, and the Uncharted film will finally be released in February 2022. Sony revealed a Ghost of Tsushima adaption two months ago. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:Every Upcoming PlayStation Movie & TV Show PlayStation Productions' Asad Qizilbash (via NY Times) says "it's a question of balance" for satisfying audiences comprised of players and non-fans. Michael Johnathan, who is working on the Twisted Metal TV series, says it's "not just about adapting the story," but about "adapting how you feel when you play the game." According to Qizilbash, the collaboration between Sony Pictures and Sony Interactive "is a win for everyone." "We have three objectives. Grow audience size for games. Bring product to Sony Pictures. Showcase collaboration." Qiziblbash notes the riskiness involved if a film falters and affects the franchise. But, Qizilbash thinks success is achievable. Sony indeed appears to have big ambitions for video game adaptions. Although previous movies based on PlayStation properties, the Ratchet & Clank animated film and the CGI Heavenly Sword film, weren't hits, the collaboration should ensure quality. Although delays and director changes have likely made fans concerned, hopefully, the Tom Holland-starring Uncharted will herald an array of quality Sony video game films. With many characters and unique worlds from over the years, PlayStation Productions has the potential to craft some cinematic and TV hits. Giving the HBO treatment to The Last of Us could be a sound move, considering the high budget of HBO's programming. Meanwhile, if Uncharted contains the high octane action sequences of the games while also featuring the fun dynamic between Drake and Sully, an enjoyable film awaits. Many PlayStation fans are likely hoping to see God of War adapted as well, although Sony says it's not in the plans. Of course, with superheroes being popular, an adaption of the inFamous series could be significant hits with audiences. Time will tell if PlayStation Productions will adapt these properties.

A new image from James Gunn's The Suicide Squad has been revealed showing Bloodsport, King Shark, Peacemaker, and Polka-Dot Man arriving at a mysterious beach location at night. Following the events of the 2016 box office hit, the film centers on the titular squad of villains, including several new members, as they are sent to the fictional island of Corto Maltese to destroy a Nazi-era prison and laboratory and face off against the forces at the heart of it. The ensemble cast includes Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Viola Davis, Joel Kinnaman, Jai Courtney, David Dastmalchian, Daniela Melchior, Peter Capaldi, and Sylvester Stallone. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW David Ayer's 2016 predecessor alienated critics and most audiences but its box office success sparked Warner Bros.' interest to keep the franchise going with multiple spin-offs and sequels. While multiple fell through, including a Joker and a Harley Quinn spin-off with Robbie and Jared Leto reprising their roles, the Robbie-led Birds of Prey did get off the ground to critical success and Gunn was finally tapped to write and direct a proper Suicide Squad follow-up. Though no sequel is currently in the works for Birds of Prey, Gunn is already establishing a potential future for himself in the DC Extended Universe with the Cena-starring Peacemaker HBO Max series and a possible future Harley project. RELATED: Why Suicide Squad's Amanda Waller Could Be The Nick Fury Of The DCEU As part of Fandango's Summer 2021 Movie Preview, a new image was revealed for the latest installment in the DCEU showing a handful of the Task Force X members arriving on a beach at night. Though the exact location of the image is currently unknown, the story is set on the island of Corto Maltese. The new still can be viewed below: The new image may not offer audiences much in the way of what they can expect from the story, but it does offer a few hints of threads that can be drawn from past stills and trailers. With Starro as one of the central villains for the film, it's pretty clear at this point there will be plenty of oceanside action happening throughout the film, but with nighttime footage showing all team members alive and fighting, the new image seems to point towards it coming early in the film. But, with certain stills showing Peacemaker, Bloodsport, Polka-Dot Man, and Ratcatcher 2 together without King Shark, this image does seem to indicate that the fish-human hybrid may become separated or venture off from his group, though why he would is anyone's guess. While fans may have a number of questions racing through their mind about the image and the film itself, the only real question on everyone's minds is just who will survive. Gunn has gotten a real kick out of keeping viewers guess as to who will meet their maker by the end of The Suicide Squad and with every new bit of footage showing certain characters less and less, his promise of almost every character dying seems to be true. Fans will have to wait and see when the film finally hits theaters and HBO Max in August.

Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead shows that he would've been perfect for Suicide Squad - and he does what the 2016 movie failed to do. The Netflix zombie movie is Snyder's second big movie of 2021, following on from Zack Snyder's Justice League, and yet in a sense it's the first he's been able to oversee from start to finish in several years. The director's output over the last decade has all been focused on Warner Bros. and the DCEU, with plenty of studio interference, but Army of the Dead is pure Snyder (who wrote, produced, and even did his own cinematography as well as directing). Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW Snyder's future seems to lie outside the DCEU now, but Army of the Dead does raise a fascinating what if regarding Suicide Squad. When that movie arrived in 2016, it was something of an outlier from what Snyder had built: with a whole different tone and color palette, this was well removed from the grandiosity of Snyder's own DC movies. David Ayer's version was itself subject to several changes by the studio, many of which drastically altered the story, tone, and overall quality as WB attempted to shift gears. Army of the Dead, then, is a good example of what Suicide Squad could have been. RELATED: Army Of The Dead: Every Easter Egg For Other Zack Snyder Movies While Snyder's movie is not set in the DC universe, it does contain some similarities to Suicide Squad. This features a crew of misfits who are brought together for a mission that will, quite probably, result in the deaths of many of them. Backed with some bold visuals, stylized action, funny quips, and a standout soundtrack, Army of the Dead isn't only an entertaining popcorn action movie, but also highlights some of what Suicide Squad tried to do and didn't pull off (be it because of interference or otherwise). The approach to its setup and characters, as well as its tone that blends some much darker moments with levity, all feel like it has the framework for a great Suicide Squad film, had Snyder directed it. Suicide Squad very much fits with the best - or rather, least divisive - pieces of Snyder's work. His DC movies have all caused various degrees of controversy, while he has shone brightest in the zombie genre, with Dawn of the Dead and Army of the Dead two of his strongest efforts. While there are various factors for Snyder's DC movies being divisive, there is a sense that his attempts at making epic pieces of work and trying to deconstruct the genre lead to issues with the storytelling and pacing, or at least elements that aren't for everyone. But he is a director with a real sense of style who can construct thrilling set pieces, and so by putting him in an area that - while it does have meaning and commentary - focuses more on those exciting aspects highlight his biggest strengths. Doing it with Army of the Dead suggests he could have done something similar with Suicide Squad, and perhaps something a little closer to what James Gunn is doing with The Suicide Squad. To that end, Army of the Dead also does one key thing that Suicide Squad failed to do, which is kill off its characters. Almost all of the heist crew ends up dead, and of the two survivors one - Vanderohe - is turning into a zombie. This was a big issue with Ayer's movie, which failed to live up to its title and premise by not having enough deaths. Whether Snyder would've done that with DC characters, or what leeway he would've had, is very much an unknown. He did continue the franchise on in a way, adding Jared Leto's Joker to the Snyder Cut but utilizing him in a very different way, which itself proved more popular. All of that suggests that, while there's no notion he may have made one, he could've made a great Suicide Squad movie if given the chance.

Sony and Columbia Pictures have unveiled the first-look images at the forthcoming Escape Room horror sequel as well as its new subtitle, Tournament of Champions, and plot details. The film is a follow-up to the 2019 box office hit thriller centered on six people who receive mysterious invites to participate in an escape room experience, only to find themselves trapped in a game with deadly consequences. The original cast included Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Jay Ellis, Tyler Labine, and Nik Dodani. Though receiving mixed reviews from critics for not taking full advantage of the film's premise, it still was generally better reviewed than the similar Saw franchise and grossed over $155 million against its $9 million budget. A month after its release, the studio confirmed a sequel to be in active development with director Adam Robitel and writing duo Bragi Schut and Maria Melnik returning. After seeing numerous release delays due to an elongated production and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the sequel is finally coming to theaters this July, just over two-and-a-half years after the original. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Everything We Know So Far About Escape Room 2 Sony has revealed the official synopsis for the upcoming sequel teasing the arrival of the film's new characters and their previous involvement with the mysterious Minos organization behind the games. In addition, the studio unveiled new images giving a look at said characters, namely Indya Moore's Brianna and Holland Roden's Rachel. The official synopsis reads as follows: "Escape Room: Tournament of Champions is the sequel to the box office hit psychological thriller that terrified audiences around the world. In this installment, six people unwittingly find themselves locked in another series of escape rooms, slowly uncovering what they have in common to survive… and discovering they’ve all played the game before." While the first Escape Room wasn't exactly the breath of fresh air its trap-based subgenre needed, it was a nice change of pace when looking at Saw, the only other franchise really known to audiences. Its cliffhanger ending certainly pointed towards the potential of an exciting follow-up, but the concept of a tournament of champions being forced to once again play Minos' game is an intriguing way to shake up the formula from both the first film and Saw franchise. Unfortunately, the images are still keeping most of the exciting new traps hidden, but from the electrified subway setting to a larger, city street locale, it does appear to be upping the ante from the fairly contained rooms of its predecessor. Given Chris Rock's Spiral didn't quite take off the way critics or audiences were hoping this month, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions could look to learn from its predecessor's mistakes and deliver a more well-crafted and thrilling effort. While Robitel's purposeful changing of the first film's ending seemingly forced this sequel to life, the time taken to develop and film the sequel should hopefully better close the book for Russell and Miller's characters while also leaving the door open for potential follow-ups. For the time being, fans can look forward to the first trailer dropping for the film on Wednesday.

Emily Blunt picks up right where things left off in a new image from A Quiet Place Part II. When 2018's A Quiet Place proved to be a breakout success, it seemed inevitable that more stories would emerge from the horror series. Directed by John Krasinski, the original film imagines a world where monsters with enhanced hearing prey on those who dare to make even the tiniest sound. A Quiet Place Part II looks to expand upon this universe as strong-willed mother Evelyn Abbott (Blunt) ventures out into the unknown with her children (Noah Jupe and Millicent Simmonds). A Quiet Place Part II was once slated to premiere in March of last year. However, the coronavirus pandemic forced Paramount to delay it mere weeks before its debut; after a few more adjustments, A Quiet Place Part II will now finally arrive in theaters this Friday. The film has so far earned glowing reviews, currently holding a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes at the time of this writing. It seems like Krasinski, who will appear onscreen in a reduced capacity, has a hit on his hands once again. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: A Quiet Place 2 Theory: Cillian Murphy's Character Was Forced To Kill [SPOILER] As part of Fandango's summer movie preview, a new image from A Quiet Place Part II has arrived online. The picture shows Blunt's Evelyn reaching toward the camera, armed and ready to run. Those familiar with the first movie will recognize this as picking up from the final moments of A Quiet Place, perhaps after Evelyn dealt with the incoming monsters. Check it out below. Before a sequel was confirmed to be in development, A Quiet Place had a pretty satisfying ending. It wasn't a neat one, instead leaving the fates of the remaining Abbotts up in the air. Evelyn was bracing for a fight, and that was where the movie ended. It's clear that A Quiet Place Part II will pick up from that moment, though only after showing a flashback to the day the monsters first arrived. In that sense, A Quiet Place Part II really won't be wasting any time as it dives right into the next chapter of the family's story. A lot of attention is being heaped on A Quiet Place Part II, and not just because it's a sequel to a well-liked movie. It will be the biggest movie to debut without the backing of a streaming release since Tenet in September, so many are curious to see how it will perform. The early buzz is so far favorable, and each new peek at the film - such as the one above - has stirred up even more excitement. All signs point to A Quiet Place Part II being another thrill ride, so audiences better buckle in if they intend to take Blunt's hand and follow her onward.

Four new clips from The Conjuring 3 preview an exorcism gone wrong and a whole lot more. Officially titled The Devil Made Me Do It, the film is the third in a series that began in 2013. Directed by James Wan, The Conjuring marked the cinematic debut of real-life couple Ed and Lorraine Warren, two paranormal investigators portrayed by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. The franchise’s first installment was met with widespread acclaim and massive box office totals compared to the film’s small $20 million production budget. Since 2013, Wan’s horror hit has seen various spinoffs, including 2014’s Annabelle, followed by two sequels in 2017 and 2019. Other spin-offs set in The Conjuring universe include The Nun and The Curse of La Llorona. Wan returned for a sequel to The Conjuring in 2016, which saw the Warrens investigate the Amityville murders and the Enfield poltergeist case. The Conjuring 3 will also chronicle an actual case the Warrens investigated, the trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson in 1981, also known as the "Devil Made Me Do It" case. The film’s promotional campaign is in full swing ahead of its release next month, and it appears the Warrens might be in for their darkest case yet. RELATED:Michael Chaves Interview: The Conjuring 3 Now, four new clips from The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do provide a few different looks at the Warren's quest to prove Arne Johnson innocent on the basis of demonic possession. The first clip shows a full-blown exorcism gone wrong, while a second clip shows the demonically-possessed Arne Johnson wandering down the street covered in blood. Another clip shows the Warrens arguing there were mitigating circumstances at play, while the last clip sees Lorraine utilizing her powers as a medium. Watch the new Conjuring 3 clips below, courtesy of Bloody Disgusting: While Wan did not return to direct the threequel, fans of the franchise can rest easy knowing Michael Chaves comes highly recommended after helming The Curse of la Llorona. In addition, Wan is credited for the sequel's story alongside his frequent collaborator David Leslie Johnson while he also oversaw the project as a producer. Based on these clips, it appears The Devil Made Me Do It will ratchet up the suspense and horror the franchise is now known for, which is in line with early reactions to the film. The latest installment moves away from the haunted house format and aims for something grander in scale to keep the series fresh. Whether or not this pays off for The Conjuring 3 remains to be seen.

A new image from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shows the lead character with his estranged sister. The upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe movie is currently set to release in theaters on September 3, 2021 following multiple delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The film will introduce audiences to Simu Liu's Shang-Chi, a talented martial artist wrestling with his past in the Ten Rings organization. They got to see him in action in the first trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings that teased an exciting Phase 4 story. The Marvel movie also stars Awkwafina as Katy, a friend of Shang Chi's who doesn't know about his history with the Ten Rings. Other cast members include Tony Leung as Wenwu/The Mandarin. Wenwu is both Shang-Chi's father and the head of the Ten Rings, making for a complicated dynamic between the two. Michelle Yeoh plays Jiang Nan, but details about her character and several others from Shang-Chi largely remain a mystery. Luckily, there's a little more information out there about Meng'er Zhang's Xialing, who is Wenwu's daughter and Shang-Chi's estranged sister. However, based on a new image, it seems the siblings join forces at some point during the movie. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Everything We Know About Shang-Chi & The Legend Of The Ten Rings As part of Fandango's 2021 Summer Movie Preview, the site released several images from upcoming blockbusters. The image from Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings shows the main character alongside both Katy and Xialing. Take a look at the new image below: Though the image doesn't reveal any major plot points from the movie, it does highlight the way Shang-Chi is caught between worlds, with his sister representing his past and Katy his current life in San Francisco. Based on what's known about the film so far, the new Marvel hero will have to find a way to reconcile his connections to both parts of his identity and find a happy medium, a classic struggle for many MCU characters. With the promotional campaign for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings now heating up, hopefully more information about Xialing and the movie's other characters is revealed soon. At this point, audiences have been waiting far longer than they initially thought they would for the film, but the images and trailer released so far have made it look like Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings will be worth the wait. Moviegoers will find out for sure when the movie releases this fall.

Spyglass and David Bruckner's film reboot of Clive Barker's Hellraiser is skipping theaters and will be heading straight to Hulu. Plot details are still unknown, but the film will be based on Barker's iconic novella The Hellbound Heart and the 1987 film adaptation. The series generally centers around Pinhead and his group of extra-dimensional, sadomasochistic beings known as the Cenobites as they unleash mayhem upon those unfortunate enough to come across a puzzle box known as the Lemarchand Configuration. On the heels of the critically-derided attempts at adapting Rawhead Rex and Underworld, Barker took it upon himself to step into the director's chair to bring Hellraiser to life, and the result was initially mixed critically but a commercial success, growing over $14 million against its $1 million budget. This success spawned nine sequels, all of which received progressively lower reviews and lower box office returns until shifting to direct-to-video releases beginning with the fifth installment. Following the success of the Halloween reboot, the feature reboot of Hellraiser was announced, followed shortly after by the reveal that David Gordon Green was developing a series adaptation with HBO alongside Mark Verheiden and Michael Dougherty. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Everything We Know About The Hellraiser Movie Reboot After first announcing the project's development in early 2020, Bloody Disgusting has brought word that Bruckner's Hellraiser film reboot will be coming directly to Hulu instead of heading to theaters. While its new home has been confirmed, details regarding the film's plot and production cycle are still unknown as of this time. Now that the project has a set studio outside of Spyglass, funding will likely come swiftly, and everything else falls into place in the coming months. Though some audiences might be disappointed at not seeing the latest franchise entry on the big screen, Hulu actually could be a perfect home for the next Hellraiser. While Books of Blood might not have been a masterpiece, it did show the streaming platform's willingness to explore Barker's source material in a terrifying and uncensored fashion. New plot details would undoubtedly help illuminate some semblance of the film's vision for Barker's material. Still, with Hulu seeming to allow creators a lot of freedom to tell their stories (even darker ones) alongside a revitalized Spyglass, there shouldn't be too many concerns about the project. Not to mention the creative trio of Bruckner and screenwriters Ben Collins and Luke Piotrowski at the helm, whose previous efforts of Super Dark Times and the forthcoming The Night House have indicated a firm grip on the genre at the very least. The most significant vote of confidence about the Hellraiser reboot will come from Barker himself, who hasn't been afraid to express his displeasure for a number of the sequels. Audiences will have to sit back and wait to see how the golden puzzle box aligns in the coming months.

Disney and Fox’s Predator 5 reportedly casts Legion star Amber Midthunder. 1987’s man-versus-alien movie Predator was a memorable action vehicle for Arnold Schwarzenegger and is now considered a classic. Unfortunately none of that movie’s various sequels, spinoffs and reboots have managed to capture the magic of the original. The last time someone tried bringing the Predator series back was of course in 2018, but Shane Black’s reboot entitled The Predator proved to be a disappointment, grossing just $160 million worldwide. The future of the Predator franchise became doubtful after that failure, but last November it was revealed that a new Predator is in fact coming courtesy of the Disney-owned 20th Century Studios. 10 Cloverfield Lane director Dan Trachtenberg is heading up this latest effort to make a Predator follow-up that’s worthy of the original. Nothing has been confirmed about the plot, but reports surfaced a few months ago saying the movie is set in the past, and involves a Comanche warrior woman squaring off against an alien from the Predator’s species. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: The Predator Plot Hole That Makes The 1987 Movie Better A new casting report about Trachtenberg’s Predator reboot indeed seemingly confirms everything that’s been revealed thus far about the movie’s plot and main character. As reported by Discussing Film, Legion star Midthunder has been cast in the movie’s lead role, the warrior woman Kee. Midthunder is of course herself Native American. The character of Kee has been described in prior reports as a woman who goes against gender norms to become a warrior. The story also involves Kee’s brother Taabe, who is being groomed as the leader of the tribe. The movie takes place long before Europeans have arrived in North America. The film is set to go before cameras soon in Calgary, Alberta. Midthunder is perhaps best known for playing Kerry Loudermilk, a mutant who shares a body with her twin brother scientist Cary Loudermilk, in the FX Marvel series Legion. She’s also appeared on the series Roswell, New Mexico, The Originals, Longmire and Banshee. Her movie credits include the upcoming Liam Neeson Netflix thriller The Ice Road, as well as Sunshine Cleaning, Spare Parts, Hell or High Water and this year’s other Liam Neeson movie The Marksman. Needless to say, landing the lead role in a Predator reboot launches Midthunder into another level as an actress. Now it remains to be seen what Trachtenberg has in store for his attempt at rebooting Predator. At first glance, his new take on the franchise sounds like a fascinating twist, as it heads to a completely new environment and involves people who won’t have the benefit of modern technology as they go to war against at least one alien invader. It’s of course easy to see how an allegory about European encroachment upon indigenous lands can be built upon this premise. But the main agenda for any Predator movie is action, and the new film now has a lead who thanks to Legion has proven she’s good at on-screen fighting. Everything so far points to Trachtenberg’s Predator 5 being a refreshing switch from Black’s The Predator, which stumbled in every imaginable way.

A new Eternals poster has revealed the eponymous heroes’ spaceship and the film’s official cast order. Directed by Oscar-winner Chloé Zhao, the upcoming MCU movie stars an ensemble including Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lia McHugh, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Don Lee, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. Eternals is scheduled for release on November 5, 2021. Created by comic book legend Jack Kirby in the 1970s, the Eternals are an ancient and essentially immortal alien race that split off humanity’s evolutionary path thousands of years ago. Their stories are mostly spent battling a rival alien race called the deviants, often protecting Earth and humanity as a sort of guardian protectorate. That story seems to be getting translated pretty directly into the new film, introducing many new characters for MCU Phase 4 and beyond. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: MCU Characters Who Could Already Know The Eternals In-Universe A new poster for Eternals shows the team in silhouette, striding beneath a striking sunset and their rune-laden spaceship. The poster also includes an official cast order for the film’s ensemble, with Gemma Chan taking top billing. It’s a gorgeous image and a promising tease of what’s sure to be one of the MCU’s most stylish entries yet. Check out the Eternals poster below. Eternals, which features characters only familiar to dedicated comic book fans, will be something of a risk for Marvel Studios, similar to how Guardians of the Galaxy was years ago. Over time, Disney has done an excellent job of bringing more and more ancillary comic book characters into the film universe, like Ant-Man, Vision, and U.S. Agent. Still, the Eternals present a unique challenge in both the number of characters and their overall lack of public fame. However, in the hands of a skilled director like Zhao, that lesser-known factor could be a great boon to Eternals. It may allow a level of expanded creative freedom to create a new MCU story that feels wholly different from what’s come before. Zhao has cited sci-fi, fantasy, manga, and anime as all having influenced her approach to the movie and Jack Kirby’s original, epic comics. That combination, brought to life by the film’s star-studded ensemble cast, looks incredibly promising so far. Marvel fans will have a chance to judge the finished product for themselves when Eternals releases to the public on November 5, 2021.

Sony has debunked recent rumors that it’s developing a God of War movie or TV adaptation. The company has announced extensive plans to bring some of its popular PlayStation video game franchises to the big and small screen, including Uncharted, The Last of Us, and Ghost of Tsushima. Those plans have sparked speculation from fans as to what other properties might be getting the film treatment, and God of War has been a popular pick. God of War tells the story of Kratos, a Spartan warrior/demigod from Ancient Greece who went on a murderous vengeance quest against the gods of Olympus across the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. More recently, Kratos ventured to the realm of Norse mythology in a soft reboot of the God of War series for the PlayStation 4, which released to widespread critical acclaim. God of War has been one of Sony’s most prominent and bestselling first-party game series for more than 15 years, so it makes sense why some fans have been hoping for a film adaptation. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Every Upcoming Sony Movie Coming To Netflix First In 2022 (& Beyond) According to a new report from The New York Times, however, there is currently no such God of War movie or TV show in development. The report references several projects Sony has confirmed, including the HBO Last of Us series, the upcoming Tom Holland-led Uncharted movie, and a TV series based on the Twisted Metal car combat games. Unfortunately for Kratos stans, though, the God of War adaptation has been officially debunked by a Sony spokesperson cited by the Times. Does that mean a God of War movie won’t ever happen? Of course not. Sony’s game-to-movie pipeline is a relatively new initiative, and the company can only choose so many properties to start off. If Uncharted, the Ghost of Tsushima movie, and others perform well, God of War could certainly be up for consideration in the coming years. For now, though, Kratos’ live-action debut will have to wait. Overall, it’s refreshing for game fans to finally see some quality adaptations starting to roll out. Video game movies have historically been (rightfully) panned by both critics and audiences, but that trend has started to change in recent years with movies like Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pikachu and shows like Netflix’s Castlevania anime. Sony has plenty of great franchises that could be fun on the big screen, so it should be exciting to see how the coming projects turn out. God of War, however, will have to wait for its moment in the Hollywood spotlight.

Actress Jessica McNamee opened up about her desire to return for the in-development The Meg 2 and recalled the fun she had making the first film. Loosely based on Steve Alten's 1997 novel, the story centers on a rescue diver recruited to help a group of scientists, including his ex-wife, combat a megalodon shark that has emerged from the deepest section of the Mariana Trench. Jason Statham led the ensemble cast for the film alongside Li Bingbing, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Winston Chao, Page Kennedy, and McNamee. Attempts to get an adaptation of Alten's novel off the ground can be traced back to when Disney's Hollywood Pictures acquired the rights in 1996. After a few years of languishing in development hell, the rights reverted to Alten, and development began anew at New Line Cinema in 2005. Sadly, that version also struggled to get off the ground and the movie once again never happened. It was Warner Bros. studios who were finally able to move the project past its development phase. Originally slated to see Eli Roth step into the director's chair, the horror filmmaker departed due to creative differences and was replaced by Jon Turteltaub. Statham signed on to star shortly after. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: The Meg: The Shark Movie's Biggest Mistakes (& How The Sequel Can Fix Them) In an interview with Collider, McNamee revealed that she had not heard a word about the possibility of her return for the sequel, which Statham recently announced would begin production in January 2022. Despite this, she confirmed she is interested in reprising her role of Lori Taylor for the next blockbuster venture and even hinted at the potential filming location for it. Read what McNamee had to say below: “I don’t even know! I’m not across it. I should be. I’m a terrible person. I mean, that would be the dream. I would love to be involved. I had such a blast filming that movie. Jason’s great and the whole process was so fun. We got to shoot in New Zealand. I also heard they’re potentially shooting it in Australia, which would be amazing. It’s the only way I could get back into the damn country at this point!” While the creature feature genre is still on the hunt for the next Jaws, with Love and Monsters and Underwater coming relatively close to achieving this success, there was undoubtedly a good amount of thrills in the first Meg movie. One of its critical flaws was never finding the right tone between terrifying and pulpy, but hopes are high that the sequel will be bigger, bolder, and darker than its predecessor. The Meg 2 may even be R-rated, something Statham previously said the original approached but ultimately decided against, releasing instead as a PG-13 movie. Given the first film's departures from its source material, namely in the fate of McNamee's character, a return from Lori is not entirely out of the question. With the original film taking 20 years to reach the screen finally, a rush for The Meg 2's arrival is not inherently something fans should hope for. But with a more experimental filmmaker in the director's chair and a script already complete, the wait should not only prove less painful but also hopefully point towards an improved second outing in the sea.

Timothée Chalamet has officially been cast as the lead in Warner Bros.' Wonka, the prequel to the beloved Roald Dahl story. Dahl's 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has seen its fair share of big screen adaptations, first being turned into the 1971 classic Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Gene Wilder's performance remains beloved to this day. Then, the story and Wonka's characterization received a deeper dive in 2005 with Tim Burton's take on the book, with Johnny Depp playing the eccentric candy maker. Currently, Netflix is even at work on developing animated shows about Wonka's world, with Taika Waititi attached as writer-director. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW On top of all that is Wonka, Warner Bros.' origin story for the character. This project has been in development since 2016, when it was announced that Harry Potter producer David Heyman was producing a standalone prequel. Paul King (Paddington) is attached to direct, and Wonka officially received a March 2023 release date earlier this year. At the time, the casting shortlist for the role of Willy Wonka named Chalamet and Tom Holland as potential contenders. Now, only one has proved triumphant. RELATED: Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory Is A Gateway Horror Movie For Kids According to Deadline, Chalamet has officially been cast as Willy Wonka for the upcoming prequel. It's said he's long been the top choice for the role, but scheduling was a major obstacle before he was able to sign on. Sources report there will be musical numbers in Wonka, so Chalamet will be singing and dancing in this project. Most plot details are still being kept under wraps, but it will definitely be an origin story focused on young Willy and his adventures prior to opening the world's most famous chocolate factory. For Chalamet, this is just the latest major project he can add to his filmography. Chalamet first broke out in 2017's Call Me by Your Name, a role that nabbed him an Oscar nomination. Since then, he's appeared in additional awards fare like Lady Bird and Little Women. Later this year, he will finally take center stage in Denis Villeneuve's Dune, which was originally scheduled for 2020. Dune was already new territory for Chalamet, and with Wonka, he's continuing to diversify his cinematic roles. With Chalamet on board, Wonka can continue to move forward toward production. As the movie isn't scheduled for release until 2023 and the pre-production work will include dance training for Chalamet, it seems likely that Wonka is still a ways away from starting filming. Save for a project that might reteam him with his Call Me by Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, Bones & All, Chalamet isn't attached to any other projects. That means Wonka can enter pre-production soon and perhaps kick off filming by the end of the year.

Marvel's Eternals trailer introduces viewers to the next group of MCU superheroes - and here's our full breakdown of the trailer, exploring all the story details and character moments. It's easy to forget that, when Marvel launched the MCU back in 2008, they didn't have any of their most famous or popular brands. Iron Man and Captain America were far from household names, with the film rights for Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four sitting with Fox. Marvel learned an important lesson; it doesn't matter how famous a superhero character already is, or how well-established they are in the public consciousness already. If you make a good enough movie, they'll become a hit. As a result, the MCU's Phase 4 will introduce an unlikely group of super-powered beings, the Eternals, who have never exactly been A-listers in the comics and have been reinvented by award-winning director Chloé Zhao for the MCU. Now, at last, Marvel has released the first Eternals trailer, and for most viewers this will be their introduction to the group. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: MCU Characters Who Could Already Know The Eternals In-Universe As a result, the Eternals trailer is mainly focused on establishing the high-level concept and showing off some of the Eternals' powers. There are only hints at the overarching story, and the trailer provides only a glimpse of Kit Harington's Black Knight, who is also set to make his MCU debut in Eternals. So here are the major takeaways and reveals. 25. The Arrival Of The Eternals In the comics, the Eternals are an evolutionary offshoot of humanity created by a cosmic race of aliens known as the Celestials. The MCU appears to have rewritten their origin story, however, instead portraying them as a group of ancient aliens who were sent to Earth to serve as shepherds and guides for human civilization. Speaking at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, actor Kumail Nanjiani discussed the Eternals' origin in a little more detail; "We were sent to Earth thousands of years ago to protect Earth from these monsters, the Deviants," he explained. "By this point, we've been on Earth for a long time." That's abundantly clear in the trailer's stunning opening shot, which sees the Eternals' ship decloak over a group of fishermen and farmers thousands of years ago. This ship may serve as the Eternals' base of operations, allowing the Eternals to interact with different human civilizations across the planet; set photos have shown everywhere from Babylon to the Aztec "City of the Space Gods" from Jack Kirby's original Eternals run. Its ability to cloak means it could still be hidden in the present day. 24. Eternals' Opening Music The opening song in the Eternals trailer is unusual, but potentially significant. Skeeter Davis' "The End of the World" was released in 1962, a sad song written after the end of a romantic relationship. It's a perfect song-choice for Eternals, because it blends the theme of romance - believed to be central to the film - with the literal threat of the end of the world. Amusingly, it also has links to Angelina Jolie - it was used in the award-winning Girl, Interrupted, albeit in a very different way. 23. Sersi & Ikaris Look Down At Earth Two of the Eternals are shown looking down at the Earth; Gemma Chan's Sersi and Richard Madden's Ikaris, who are set up as the main characters in this first Eternals trailer. In the comics, Sersi is the member of the Eternals who has traditionally interacted with humanity the most, even becoming a member of the Avengers during the '90s. It's fitting that she falls in love with the Earth the moment she sees the planet, dedicating herself to its defense on an emotional level. Ikaris, the leader of the Eternals, seems rather less impressed. RELATED: Is Millie Bobby Brown In Eternals? Casting Rumors Explained 22. Angelina Jolie's Thena Angelina Jolie is making her MCU debut as Thena, an Eternal warrior who has often served as a diplomat for the Eternals, helping them find common ground with other cultures and civilizations. The Eternals trailer gives viewers their first look at Thena in costume, and the design is gorgeous, perfectly complementing the flares of circular cosmic energy surrounding her. The introduction of such cosmic energy is important in its own right, because the Power Cosmic sets up the likes of the Fantastic Four and Galactus. "Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation," defined as "relic radiation dating back to the Big Bang," was also referenced in WandaVision. 21. Ajak, The Spiritual Leader Of The Eternals The Eternals trailer moves on to introducing Salma Hayek's character, Ajak, who's been gender-swapped from the comics. Ajak is believed to serve as the Eternals' spiritual leader, and according to leaked Eternals merchandise her wisdom has guided the team from their arrival on Earth to the present day. She possesses the power of physical healing, which she can use to heal humans and Eternals alike, and intriguingly the merchandise teased she possesses the unique ability to communicate with the Celestials. 20. Phastos Manipulates Cosmic Energy Next up is Phastos, the Eternals' inventor, played by Brian Tyree Henry. Merchandise suggests this character has operated from the shadows, secretly helping humanity develop technologically. The Eternals trailer shows him manipulating cosmic energy in an unknown way, and it's unclear precisely what he is attempting to do. The flares of cosmic energy are beautiful, evocative of the creative designs of Jack Kirby. 19. The Eternals' Role In MCU History Explained The Eternals trailer features both a voice-over and a number of scenes explaining just what role the Eternals have played in the development of human civilization. They have presented themselves as passive observers but, for all their claims, in truth they have served to direct humanity by helping people progress as a culture. Their actions have led to the Eternals being treated as gods; in the comics, their creator Jack Kirby intended them to be the inspiration for the legends of the Greek gods in particular, explaining the origin of their individual names (Thena being linked to Athena, for example, and Ikaris to the legend of Icarus). Amusingly, Russell Crowe will play the Greek god Zeus in Thor: Love & Thunder, perhaps meaning the Greek Pantheon will be drawn from two sources in the MCU mythology. 18. Sersi Helping Irrigate A Desert True to the comics, Sersi appears to have interacted with humanity to a greater degree than other Eternals. One shot shows her using her power of matter transmutation to create water, effectively irrigating a desert environment. It's easy to see why the Eternals are worshiped as gods; many of the earliest gods worshiped by humans were associated with fertility, with rivers flowing in the deserts. There is most definitely a sense of the divine about Sersi's demonstration of benevolent power. She's later shown integrating with a human family, getting her hair platted by a girl. 17. Thena Showing Off Her Combat Skills Angelina Jolie's character, Thena, looks set to be one of the stand-out characters in Eternals. According to leaked Eternals merchandise, in the MCU Thena is able to reshape cosmic energy in order to create any weapon she can imagine. Her favorite weapon in the comics is a staff, so it's safe to assume the trailer shows her wielding the MCU version of that, which she has forged using her powers. RELATED: MCU's Eternals Footage Suggests A Major Comic Book Story Change 16. The Eternals At Babylon The Eternals are shown at the Gates of Babylon, with the voice-over hinting they may well have been linked to all seven of the ancient "Wonders of the World." Babylon is a key location in Eternals lore in the comics, because it was there Thena began her long and controversial romance with the Deviant warlord Kro, who's been confirmed to appear in Eternals by tie-in merchandise. What's more, the Eternal Gilgamesh is tied to Babylon as well; his very name comes from an ancient Babylonian poem, while one comic book story saw a time traveling Captain America team up with Gilgamesh in order to defend Babylon from an alien army. It's interesting to note the shots in Babylon seem to suggest the Eternals have revealed themselves to the people of the city, in marked contrast with the voice-over claiming they never interfere. 15. Makkari Speed-Reading The Eternals trailer moves on to show Lauren Ridloff's Makkari, the fastest woman in the universe and the MCU's first deaf superhero. Makkari is another character who has been gender-swapped, and her precise role is a mystery, because merchandise has suggested she's typically a herald of the Celestials - and yet she's definitely seen in historic shots in the trailer too. Makkari is seen here in the Eternals' ship, flipping through books at super-speed. Clearly the Eternals have collected items from every civilization they've interacted with, and it's interesting to note Medieval British armor, perhaps a first hint of a connection with Camelot and the Black Knight. Not all the mementos are important, though; attentive viewers have spotted a pack of Pop Tarts. 14. Time Passes For The Eternals Eternals may span thousands of years, but the trailer stresses that the bulk of the action takes place in the present day. Sersi is shown walking through ancient Babylon, and then in the present; interestingly, she seems more than a little confused. It's possible some of the Eternals have been absorbed into human civilization, forgetting who they really are, and that they learn the truth through a number of visions. That particular idea would be lifted from Neil Gaiman's iconic Eternals run, and it would explain why the Eternals didn't help against Thanos. 13. The Fall Of Babylon The Eternals trailer shows what appears to be another shot from the past, the fall of Babylon. It's a brutal moment, and it serves to remind viewers that - for all the Eternals have inspired human progress - they have stood by and watched many tragedies and atrocities over the millennia. That in itself raises the disturbing question of just why they have chosen to step out of the shadows now; whatever threat humanity is facing must be a horror on a far greater scale than any we have seen before. 12. A Brief Glimpse Of Sprite At last the Eternals trailer gives a shot of one of the most exciting characters in the film, Lia McHugh's Sprite. This Eternal is permanently trapped in the form of a young child, something that - in the comics - they ultimately came to resent. This particular gender-swap has become canon in the comics, where it's it's been revealed the Eternals are gender-fluid, with Sprite becoming a girl. Sprite is traditionally one of the most dangerous Eternals, infinitely more malevolent than her kin; indeed, Sprite once robbed all the Eternals of their memories as part of a mad plan to avenge herself upon the beings who had trapped her in a child's body. 11. Introducing Druig - Another Ominous Eternal The Eternals trailer also reveals Druig, played by Barry Keoghan. According to merchandise, he has retreated from the rest of the Eternals because he disagrees with the extent of their influence on humanity. Druig possesses the power to manipulate the minds of others, and the trailer teases that he may well have become some sort of cult leader. It's possible he doesn't disagree so much with the idea of influencing the human race, as with the direction the Eternals have pursued. 10. The Eternals Unite Individually, the Eternals are powerful. But their greatest ability is to unite their minds into a single consciousness, a so-called "Uni-Mind" infinitely greater than any one of the Eternals. The Eternals trailer shows a brief glimpse of the heroes combining their powers in what may be the MCU's version of the ritual to create the Uni-Mind. It will be interesting to see whether the MCU follows Jack Kirby's original idea, in which only the Prime Eternal could initiate a Uni-Mind, or whether it follows more recent stories where any Eternals can bond together - but the Uni-Mind increases in power as others are added. The latter would be a smart approach, because it would allow Eternals to set up the idea of Eternals combining their power ahead of this dramatic shot. 9. Thena's Blade The stand-out moment in the first Eternals footage was a shot of Angelina Jolie's Thena wielding a shimmering golden blade, likely one she has summoned into being using her cosmic powers. This shot is reproduced in the Eternals trailer, which makes sense given the strength of people's reactions to it. It's unclear when this event takes place; some set photos have suggested Thena will somehow be tied to Medieval England, perhaps meaning she's been woven into the sword-and-sorcery adventures that led to the creation of the Ebony Blade. 8. The Romance Between Ikaris And Sersi Marvel's Eternals movie has been described as the MCU's first romance, and the trailer focuses on the love between Ikaris and Sersi. According to leaked Eternals merchandise, Sersi has been in love with Ikaris for centuries and uses their relationship to persuade him to bring the Eternals back together for one last mission. But, although the love between these two Eternals may have burned for centuries, it may well turn out to be a doomed romance. In the comics, Sersi winds up becoming the lover of the Black Knight, and set photos have shown Gemma Chan's Sersi and Kit Harington's Black Knight kissing. 7. Welcome To Bollywood Kumail Nanjiani plays the Eternal Kingo, who has come to enjoy a life of celebrity and fame in the present day as a Bollywood star. In December 2019, lucky attendees of Brazil's CCXP got to see some first-look footage of the film, which featured an actual Bollywood sequence. The Eternals trailer includes a couple of brief shots from this scene, with Nanjiani in full Bollywood garb. 6. A Volcanic Eruption - The Fall Of Atlantis? Eternals spans thousands of years, and the main characters do not change or age, so it's difficult to say how some shots in the trailer fit into the film's overarching narrative. One of the most intriguing shots shows a volcanic eruption, which may be tied to the legend of Atlantis. In the comics, the ancient war between the Eternals and the Deviants came to a climax 10,000 years ago on the continent of Lemuria, which was ruled over by the advanced race known as the Atlanteans. The King of Atlantis turned the city's magma pits into a weapon to be used against the invading Deviants, but unwittingly triggered a devastating earthquake. This coincided with a Deviant attack upon the Celestials themselves, and the entire continent of Lemuria sank beneath the waves. Only a few Atlanteans survived in cities protected by great domes, and they were transformed by the blessing of the gods into an aquatic race. There have already been signs of Atlantis' existence in the MCU; Iron Man 2 featured a SHIELD hotspot in the Atlantic Ocean, and Avengers: Endgame referenced a submarine earthquake that could be linked to the Atlanteans. It would be fantastic to see Eternals build upon this. RELATED: Every Upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe Movie 5. Sprite Seems To Have Gone On A Rampage There's a brief shot of Sprite on a plane, and it looks as though she's performing a karaoke. This may seem bizarre at first glance, but notice the "K" logo on the door; that suggests this is the private plane of Kingo, the Eternals' Bollywood star. Disturbingly, Sprite appears to be performing in front of dead bodies, suggesting she's just been on a rampage. It is possible that, just as in Neil Gaiman's Eternals comic book run, Sprite is the real villain of the film. 4. Kit Harington's Black Knight & Sersi The Eternals trailer shows a brief, blink-and-you'll-miss-it glimpse of Kit Harington's Black Knight standing alongside Sersi. In the comics, Dane Whitman is a scientist who was swept up into a world of sword-and-sorcery adventures when he inherited the cursed Ebony Blade, a weapon that dates back to the time of King Arthur and Camelot. The Black Knight's role in Eternals is still unclear, and this first trailer is focused on setting up the ancient aliens rather than the Black Knight himself. 3. A Storm Is Coming - Is This The Celestials? As the Eternals trailer builds to a climax, a storm is seen brewing in the skies. This kind of effect is traditionally associated with the arrival of the Celestials themselves in the comics, who have returned to Earth on numerous occasions in order to judge humanity. The Celestials are believed extinct in the MCU, with Ego the last of his kind in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but it's possible that belief is incorrect - and that the Celestials have come to Earth. This could well be the cosmic event that forces the Eternals out of hiding, because they know the entire world could potentially be destroyed if the Celestials find humanity wanting. 2. The Eternals Assemble It looks as though the Eternals put their differences behind them in order to stand against this mysterious threat, because the trailer shows them standing united - all wearing their traditional costumes. This is the first time viewers have been able to see these beautiful, Kirby-esque designs. Meanwhile, note the natural light surrounding them; Eternals has a completely different DNA to other Marvel movies, shot mostly on location. 1. Who's Going To Lead The Avengers? The Eternals trailer ends on a lighter note, with the Eternals discussing who will lead the Avengers now that Iron Man and "Captain Rogers" are gone. While this is pitched as nothing more than a moment of levity, it's actually crucial in reminding viewers this film is part of the same shared universe - and it definitively positions Eternals in the MCU timeline. It's interesting to note the Eternals refer to Captain America as "Captain Rogers," perhaps indicating a past connection to the star-spangled man with a plan; perhaps they even crossed his path briefly during World War II.

Wil Wheaton has revealed that his acting in Stand By Me was inspired by the emotional abuse he suffered from his parents. The 1986 film, Stand By Me is a touching coming of age drama directed by Rob Reiner and starring Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, and Kiefer Sutherland. Based off a Stephen King novel, the films follows four troubled boys who embark on an adventure to find the body of a missing boy. The film boasted many stellar performances, especially from Wheaton and Feldman, who portrayed Gordie Lachance and Teddy Duchamp, respectively. Gordie and Teddy are arguably the most complex characters of the film. Gordie is a neglected child whose parents are too wrapped up in the grief of losing his older brother to notice him, while Teddy is the angry son of a mentally ill father. The actors and director brought the film to life in a way that was heartfelt and touching, immortalizing it as a classic. As Stand By Me's 35th anniversary and re-release approaches, Wheaton is opening up about his portrayal of Gordie. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Recasting Stand By Me In 2021 (Every Major Character) In a statement to Yahoo Entertainment, Wheaton revealed that his portrayal of Gordie was influenced by his own parents' emotional abuse. Wheaton believes that he gave life to the role of Gordie so well because, in many ways, he was Gordie. As a child, he wasn't interested in acting, but was forced into it by his manipulative and exploitative actress mother. As the scapegoat of the family, living in shadows of his golden-child brother, Wheaton also suffered severe emotional abuse from his medical specialist father. The parallels between Wheaton and Gordie are hard to miss, something that Reiner definitely caught onto when casting him. Read Wheaton's statement below: “I didn’t want to be an actor when I was a kid. My parents forced me to do it, my mother made me do it. My mother coached me to go into her agency and tell the children’s agent, ‘I want to do what mommy does.' And through a combination of incredible emotional abuse from my father and a lot of manipulation, using me, from my mother, it really put me in that place. [It] put me in exactly the right place to play Gordie. Because Gordie’s experience very much reflected my experience. We’re both invisible in our homes. We both have a brother who is the golden child. We’re both the scapegoat in the family. So when I watch Stand by Me now, I cannot ignore the unbelievable sadness in my eyes. And I cannot ignore the reality that it was that sadness, that isolation that I think gave me what Gordie needed to come to life and I think Rob Reiner saw that.” Wheaton acknowledges that Stand By Me's success and the way it was brought to life, was the result of Reiner's impeccable casting choices. Essentially, all four of the main actors bore striking similarities to their characters - Wheaton had the sadness and pain of Gordie, Feldman the fiery rage of Teddy, Phoenix the intellect of Chris, and O'Connell the innocence of Vern. Despite the pain he was in at the time, Wheaton did enjoy the experiences he had with his castmates and the lasting legacy of Stand By Me. Today, he is estranged from his parents and mainly writes (much like Gordie), narrates audio books, and hosts a Star Trek after-show, The Ready Room. It is inspiring to hear Wheaton's reflection on his role as Gordie, as he speaks out about his parents abuse. His role in Stand By Me demonstrates the immense emotional weight that films can hold when they create realistic characters that the actors/actress can relate to. In addition to this, it is inspiring to the many other victims of child abuse. The fact that Wheaton took his pain and released it in such a manner that he brought a character and film to life in a way that touched many people, shows that victims have a certain power about them. When victims release their pain, many do so in the form of artistic expressions (e.g. acting, writing, singing) and their works tend to be extremely powerful and emotional, especially to other survivors. Hopefully, as other victims of abuse hear Wheaton's story, they realize they are not any less because of their experiences, but, on the contrary, they have incredible power in their words, actions, and expressions and their stories of survival are immensely inspiring.

Sony unveils a new still from the long-in-development adaptation of Uncharted seeing Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg as Nathan Drake and Sully. Based on Naughty Dog's adventure video game franchise of the same, the story centers on young fortune hunter Drake as he becomes the famed explorer. The film will star Holland in the lead role alongside Wahlberg as his father figure Sully, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Taylor Ali as love interest Chloe Frazer and Tati Gabrielle. Development on an Uncharted film has been underway since 2008 when producer Avi Arad first began working with Sony to bring the games to life on the big screen. After languishing for years with a number of directors and screenwriters coming and going, including David O. Russell, Neil Burger, Seth Gordon, Shawn Levy, Dan Trachtenberg and Travis Knight, the movie eventually landed with Ruben Fleischer. Wahlberg, who was previously cast as Drake, would be shifted to take on the part of Sully while the current Spider-Man star signed on for the central role in early 2017. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Every Upcoming Sony Movie Coming To Netflix First In 2022 (& Beyond) In a New York Times article discussing Hollywood's latest efforts to adapt video games for the big screen, a new image from the Holland-fronted Uncharted was revealed. Though not offering much in the way of its story, the still offers fans a new look at Holland and Wahlberg's takes on Drake and his partner Sully from the forthcoming blockbuster. The image can be viewed below: It's unbelievable to think that it's been almost 15 years since the Uncharted film first started its development process, but while there's still just over six months left until its arrival, it's nice for audiences to get a new look at the project. The first image of Holland's Drake last year displayed a faithful adaptation of his iconic outfit from the franchise's inaugural title, but to finally see a glimpse of Wahlberg's Sully really helps establish the early nature of the film's story. Given the character is generally known for having more silver in his hair, keeping Wahlberg's locks to his usual style certainly points to it being early in their relationship and adventures together. Though some might be disappointed to see Wahlberg's Sully lacking his iconic mustache, the actor's previous videos from set at least point towards him sporting it at some point in the film, more than likely at its conclusion as the duo become closer to the timeline of their video game counterparts. With filming on Uncharted having wrapped in October, enough time has passed for post-production that a trailer should hopefully arrive soon to give viewers a better glimpse at what can be expected from the film. Between the long-in-development adaptation and highly-anticipated Spider-Man: No Way Home, fans will have an exciting few months of Holland on the big screen beginning in December.

Raya and the Last Dragon star, Kelly Marie Tran, has opened up about starring in the film after she faced backlash for The Last Jedi. Raya and the Last Dragon released on Disney+ and in theaters in March, and viewers quickly took to Raya, who has quite a bit of potential as the next Disney princess. As the voice of Raya, Tran's performance was stellar and crucial to the movie, as she expertly brought the fiery, independent lone guardian to life in a way that no one else could. While Tran received positive feedback on her Raya role, not all of her acting experiences have been as pleasant as this one. Before she was Raya, she starred as Rose Tico in The Last Jedi, becoming the first Asian-American female to star in a major Star Wars role. Despite her major role and history-making, Tran faced intense backlash and harassment following the film's release. Individuals went far beyond thoughtful criticism and broached into all-out sexism and racism towards Tran, even causing her to delete all of her Instagram posts. To make matters worst The Rise of Skywalker subsequently snubbed Tran, with her character receiving less than 2-minutes of screen time. Now, Tran is reflecting on her experiences. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED: Why Raya Needs To Become The Next Official Disney Princess In an interview with Collider, Tran opened up about her role in Raya and the Last Dragon in the wake of The Last Jedi backlash. In regards to the harassment, Tran has revealed that she accepts the fact that she doesn't have control over the narrative. Her experience with Star Wars taught her to stifle her expectations and to simply live in the moment. She can't control how individuals will respond to her performance, so she is choosing to enjoy her journey instead. While she has gone through difficult times, she is choosing not to dwell on it and is instead focusing on the people who believe in her and support her. At the end of the day, she is immensely proud of herself for her growth as an actress. Read her statement below: “It’s hard. I think as an actor you don’t really have control over what is happening in a narrative, if that makes sense. And I think as an actor and as an individual, I always try to take my expectations out of the situation because I also want to, as much as possible, try and be present in the experience. I am really, really proud of the way that I’ve been able to show up for myself during this whole journey because, again, if we’re going through my journey and my career, I went from sketch comedy and doing improv and indie theater to then doing Star Wars and then from there doing [Raya]. It’s nonsensical. It’s miraculous, nonsensical, magical stuff that, for me, I just want people to know and believe that you might go through certain times in your life that are hard and difficult, but coming out on the other side of that and having your support group and being with people who believe in you, there’s nothing like it in the entire world. And I think for me, moving from the Star Wars experiences to then going to Raya has been absolutely miraculous. Raya for me is about celebrating the parts of myself that as a child I was taught that I should hide and what a poetic healing experience that has been.” While Tran didn't directly reference her Star Wars backlash, she did admit that moving from Star Wars to Raya was a miraculous experience for her. When she brought Raya to life she was able to use and celebrate parts of herself that had previously been subdued. It is comforting to see that Tran is healing and that she enjoyed her voice acting experience, especially since she is uncertain about returning to Star Wars as Rose. She has simply changed too much as an actress and as a person since Star Wars. Her role as Raya is the beginning of a new chapter in her journey that she very much needed after the Star Wars controversy. Celebrities facing harassment and bullying is not a new trend in Hollywood. In fact, Daisy Ridley faced backlash and harassment for her role in the franchise, as well. Minorities and females generally face the most backlash, though, as sexist and racist individuals vehemently target them on social media. Sadly, social media also has a strong bandwagon effect - when someone posts something negative, many more jump in and continue the trend until the user is forced off the platform altogether. Why it gives these users satisfaction to do such things is unknown, but many celebrities are refusing to be shot down by them, including Tran. She made an epic comeback with her role in Raya and the Last Dragon that will surely silence her haters and prove to them that their harassment is ineffective

Mark Wahlberg looks totally different as he was spotted on the set of his upcoming movie, Stu. The film is a faith-based biopic about Father Stuart Long, a professional heavyweight boxer who discovered God after a near-fatal accident. After the incident, Long quit his boxing career to become a priest. Wahlberg has been committed to the project since 2016 and also serves as one of the movie's producers. New set photos posted by Film Updates Media on Twitter show Wahlberg's dramatic transformation for his new role. In the images, the 49-year-old action star sports a cropped haircut and an overweight physique. Wahlberg also appears to be wearing a prosthetic chin and a fat suit to look more like the boxer-turned-priest. RELATED: Mark Wahlberg Was (Briefly) Part Of New Kids On The Block Early this month, Wahlberg took to Instagram to reveal that he has been working hard to shed his ripped figure and pack on more pounds. Within three weeks, he has gained at least 20 pounds and a noticeable rounder abdomen. According to his personal chef, the actor's weight gain was achieved by eating eight meals a day for a total daily intake of around 7,000 calories. While Wahlberg has been developing Stu for a number of years, it is only now that the movie is finally taking its shape. The film is written and directed by Rosalind Ross. Other cast members include Mel Gibson, Jacki Weaver, and Mexican actress Teresa Ruiz.

The first Eternals movie trailer reveals a new look at the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Based on the Marvel Comics characters of the same name, Eternals follows the ancient alien team of Celestials who have lived secretly on Earth for 7,000 years, but must reunite to protect the world from the villainous Deviants. The movie is directed by Chloé Zhao, who won Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards for Nomadland. Since Eternals is about a team of heroes, the Marvel film features an ensemble cast full of A-listers. Announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, Eternals stars Angelina Jolie as Thena, Salma Hayek as Ajak, Richard Madden as Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as Makkari, Lia McHugh as Sprite and Don Lee as Gilgamesh. Additional stars were announced later, including Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, Gemma Chan as Sersi and Barry Keoghan as Druig. Now, get a look at the characters in action in the first Eternals movie trailer. RELATED: When Is Eternals Set In The MCU Timeline? Marvel Studios debuted the Eternals movie trailer today, which follows the first official footage that was released in early May as part of the MCU Phase 4 teaser. The Eternals teaser trailer features all-new footage, including a first look at all the characters suited up in their superhero costumes. It also teases the story for the movie, though doesn't get into specifics. Check out the trailer below. The Eternals teaser trailer mainly offers a first real glimpse at the look and feel of Zhao's Marvel movie, showcasing many practical, real-world locations, giving the superhero film a more grounded feel. But there is still plenty of the classic Marvel action and special effects to be seen in the teaser, with the Eternals showing off their powers, indicated by the gold CGI effect. The teaser also shows that the Eternals characters arrive on Earth a very long time ago, then live among humans for thousands of years as society advances. A number of the characters are teased in this trailer, including Harington's Dane Whitman, who is seen in one shot. Considering Marvel has held back from divulging whether Dane becomes the Black Knight as in the comics, it's possible he may not appear too much in any of the trailers. The footage also teases an event that necessitates the Eternals getting involved in a conflict, though they have largely only guided humans from behind the scenes. The trailer even references the Avengers, with Sprite asking who they think will lead the superhero team in the absence of Captain Rogers and Iron Man. Her use of Steve Rogers' real name rather than calling him Captain America seemingly indicates that scene is set after the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, wherein Sam Wilson took on the mantle. It also shows that the Eternals have watched the MCU's superheroes closely, though what it means for the Avengers to see the ancient Celestials step out of the shadows remains to be seen. For now, the Eternals movie trailer offers a good first look at the upcoming Marvel Studios film, though more will surely be revealed in the next trailer.

Robbie Amell, one of the stars of the upcoming reboot Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, commented recently that the film is undergoing reshoots. The new film is meant to be the start of a new Resident Evil film franchise that is based on the long-running video game series. Previously, the series found its way to the big screen with writer-director Paul W.S. Anderson's 2002 Resident Evil film starring Milla Jovovich. Those Resident Evil films did well at the box office, but got mixed to negative reviews from critics. The Resident Evil film series is currently the highest-grossing film franchise based on a video game with $1.2 billion in worldwide revenue. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is said to adhere to the games and characters fans love more than Anderson's films did. It is directed by Johannes Roberts, whose previous films include 47 Meters Down and The Strangers: Prey at Night. Alongside Amell as Chris Redfield, fans will get to see other beloved characters such as Jill Valentine portrayed by Hannah John-Kamen, Lily Gao playing Ada Wong, Avan Jogia as Leon S. Kennedy, and Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker. The film will be set in 1998 and focus on the Spencer Mansion and Raccoon City. RELATED: Resident Evil Village Reveals Umbrella's Origin Story In a recent Twitch stream (via Comicbook), Amell took notice of a follower with Redfield in their username. This prompted him to quickly say, "I'm actually back in Toronto for Resident Evil reshoots, so I'm back in Chris Redfield mode." While it was a quick comment, Amell appeared to be happy when mentioning the film, and there wasn't any hesitation in his comment. While movies doing reshoots are a pretty standard part of Hollywood, most people assume it's a negative strike against the film. Some films do undergo extensive reshoots that alter entire scenes, characters, or even complete script acts, as seen with films like World War Z and Justice League. However, more often than not, reshoots are getting shots to make scenes flow better. This often includes adding dialogue, reshooting scenes that didn't cut together the way they hoped, or even simply adding in moments of levity if they felt the film was too dark in tone. So since most big productions are likely to have some reshoots, it doesn't mean Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City is in bad shape. Given the potentially lucrative nature of launching what could be a massive film franchise, reshoots should be expected, both by fans and the production. With Amell dropping the comment so casually, it would seem as if the reshoots more than likely have nothing to do with the overall quality and everything to do with simply putting the finishing touches on what was already shot when principal photography wrapped last December. With a release date tentatively scheduled for November 24, 2021, fans are likely to get a glimpse at the first footage in the coming months, and it will be exciting to see how loyal to the games Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City ends up being.

The latest episode of Screen Rant's Pitch Meeting series takes on Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead. Just two months after the Snyder Cut of Justice League took the world by storm, Snyder has returned with another buzz-worthy movie, albeit one that is drastically different from the previous. Army of the Dead debuted on Netflix on Friday and has ushered in a new type of zombie flick. This marks Snyder's latest foray into the undead genre, having made his directorial debut with Dawn of the Dead back in 2004. Army of the Dead follows a group of mercenaries who are sent on a mission into the zombie-filled quarantine zone of Las Vegas to retrieve $200 million lying underneath an abandoned casino. Dave Bautista's Scott Ward leads the intrepid group, which is comprised of colorful characters like saw-wielding Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick), safecracker Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer), and helicopter pilot Marianne Peters (Tig Notaro). Army of the Dead charts their journey into the hot zone as they encounter a slew of undead enemies, with the Alpha, Zeus (Richard Cetrone), standing as the most formidable. RELATED: Army Of The Dead: Zombie Apocalypse Backstory And Heist Timeline Explained With Army of the Dead now released out into the world, it's time for a Pitch Meeting. Screen Rant's own Ryan George imagines what must've happened in the Netflix offices when Army of the Dead was hatched, making for a funny conversation and more than a little bit of confusion on the executive's part. Naturally, there are spoilers in the video. Check it out down below. One of the appeals of Snyder's approach to Army of the Dead is his new take on zombies. As noted in the Pitch Meeting, Army of the Dead's undead aren't your typical mindless, brain-eating creatures (though there are still some of those). Snyder has created zombies that, apparently, dry out in the sun only to come back to life in the rain, a zombie hierarchy, and, much to the bafflement of the Pitch Meeting's executive, robot zombies. It's one of the things that sets Army of the Dead apart, though it also leaves some questions. Additionally, the Pitch Meeting ends with the reminder that Army of the Dead is poised to set up a proper franchise for Netflix. There are two projects already in the works: The animated prequel series Lost Vegas and the Dieter-centric prequel Army of Thieves. Whether there could be any direct sequels to Army of the Dead remains to be seen, but Vanderohe's final discovery certainly leaves the door open for future installments. As the Pitch Meeting highlights, executives love the idea of a franchise these days, so don't be surprised if Army of the Dead becomes a mainstay for Netflix. Only time will tell what the future holds.

Surprisingly, the cast and director of Disney’s next villain origin story, Cruella, says they took very little inspiration from the previous 101 Dalmatians films. Cruella seeks to tell the origin story of the classic villain Cruella de Vil who was popularized by both Disney’s 1961 animated film, 101 Dalmatians, and the 1996 live-action film adaptation of the same name. The film is set to premiere on May 28, both in theaters and as a Premiere Access release on Disney+. Cruella tells the story of Estella de Vil, an aspiring fashion designer who becomes Cruella, the vain, exotic fur-obsessed criminal that audiences have grown up watching. The 1996 film, which is the one this upcoming version most closely aligns with, starred Glenn Close as Cruella and spurred the sequel 102 Dalmatians. Close serves as an executive producer on this film along with Emma Stone, who replaces Close as the stylish villain audiences love to hate. Characters from previous films are involved in this movie's story including Cruella's evil henchman Jasper and Horace, although they are this time played by Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser respectively. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW RELATED:Why Cruella Needs To Use The Cartoon’s Secret Tragic Backstory In an interview with ComicBook, the stars of Cruella, along with director Craig Gillespie, revealed that not much is being pulled from previous 101 Dalmations movies. Gillespie revealed that he purposefully wanted to step away from Close’s interpretation of Cruella de Vil to allow Stone to create the character in her mind. Additionally, he divulged that he wanted to explore a specific punk era of London as an influence for the character and the world. The actors' and director's full quotes can be read below: Hauser: It's just funny because we went back and watched the animated feature and there's not a lot of meat on that bone. There's not much to take from. So I was ripping off Bob Hoskins' voice from the movie Hook. That was my inspiration for Horace, personally. Fry: Yeah. I didn't look back at any of those. I didn't try enough. I just thought about the thin arms and legs and the fact that Jasper didn't have much patience for Horace's talking, and that's kind of the bit from it really. That's how Joel feels about me as well, so it kind of worked. Gillespie: I didn't, I really didn't. I wanted to stay away from the Glenn Close version because Emma Stone has to create this character. And I felt like the fact that we're stars, I just wanted to be in it and not, I just stayed away from that. I knew for me, I really wanted to embrace this 1970s gritty London punk version of it, and so we were sort of starting with that and her character had to come out of that. And so we really had to sort of create new and create the tone of her. So I didn't look at that at all. And then the crazy thing with the101 Dalmatians, she's such a delight to watch, Cruella, and you love that she's got this humor and sort of narcissistic like biting tone to her, but we don't know anything about her. I mean, she went to school with Anita and that's about it. So in some ways it's remarkably liberating. Gillespie is known for his work on I, Tonya, Lars and the Real Girl, and the upcoming Hulu limited series Pam & Tommy starring Sebastian Stan and Lily Collins as ‘90s it-couple Tommy Lee and Pamela Anderson. In the interview, the director explained that he had free rein on I, Tonya to follow his instincts and “really go for it,” something he wanted to do for Cruella as well. He also credited Disney for giving him the opportunity to create his own version of Cruella de Vil within their world that already existed, adding that he didn’t want to disappoint the company. While it is surprising how little Cruella took from the previous films, it is not necessarily worrying. Adding to the franchise with something new, original, and full of life is a refreshing way to approach a live-action remake, especially since few of Disney’s live-action remakes have done this. The fact that everyone involved really attempted to make Cruella their own rather than copying something that has been done before is a very good sign for fans.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has shown off Black Adam’s massive set with a brand new image. The former WWE Champion is one of Hollywood’s biggest and most bankable stars, starring in successful franchises like Fast & Furious and Jumanji, but he will finally make his long-awaited superhero debut in the DCEU’s Black Adam. After being involved with the anti-hero project for over a decade and the coronavirus pandemic delaying Black Adam’s production start, Black Adam finally began filming last month. Not long before production was a go, Johnson also announced that the film would hit theaters in July 2022. Marking yet another summer release for Johnson and director Jaume Collet-Serra, as their Jungle Cruise will be releasing this July. Continue Scrolling To Keep ReadingClick the button below to start this article in quick view. START NOW Although not much is known about the story, the concept trailer at last year’s DC FanDome did reveal that Black Adam will be set in the modern DCEU timeline (5,000 years after his imprisonment), as well as exploring the destruction of his homeland, Kahndaq. In addition to Johnson’s Black Adam, the film will introduce the Justice Society of America with Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Hawkman (Aldis Hodge), Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), and Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan). The start of the film has provided plenty of teases and insight into his comic book project, such as a glimpse at his Black Adam costume under his regular clothing. Now, ‘The People’s Champion’ has given an inside peek into the film’s set. RELATED: DC FanDome 2021: What To Expect From Movies & TV Yesterday, Johnson posted a set photo on Instagram that highlights what a massive production Black Adam is. The photo shows an enormous set that has possibly felt the wrath of Black Adam’s powers, with broken bricks and objects scattered across the set. Of course, in the image, the crew can be seen hard at work with an impressive array of cameras and lights set up around the set. Alongside the image, Johnson writes: “Wanted to show you guys this cool shot of our enormous sound stages and massive production efforts and scale.” The superstar also notes that they are at the “midway point stride” and called the “A-Team” production crew “the best in our industry.” Of course, he closed the post with his now popular tagline: “The hierarchy of power in the DC UNIVERSE is about to change.” Full post can been seen below: It’s not entirely clear whether this a set built to show the destruction of Kahndaq, as certain parts do have an old-school feel to it. However, considering this a DCEU film with a powerful force like Black Adam, one would expect many impressive and large battles that result in destruction. So it could potentially represent many moments in the film. The photo offers yet another exciting look into the production, and Johnson’s encouraging words and his mentioning that they at the “midway point stride” inspires confidence after the many delays this film has faced. It’s also clear the film is well on its way to being ready for its release date next year, along with possibly releasing a more revealing teaser at this year’s DC FanDome. Johnson, who is known for going above and beyond in promoting his projects on social media, has been particularly active in showing glimpses from the set recently. Yesterday, he also posted a dark image of Black Adam, teasing his rage-fuelled backstory. The wrestler-turned-actor is effectively building the excitement for his DCEU film, and now with Johnson signing on to star in the animated DC Super-Pets, it’s clear that the Black Adam star is expected to be a big part of DC moving forward.