The release of Spiral: From the Book of Saw has breathed some new life into the Saw franchise, and director Darren Bousman says it could be the start of an MCU-style cinematic universe. Spiral stars Chris Rock and Samuel L. Jackson in a horrifying story in the style of, but separate from, the Saw movies of the past. The film currently holds a dismal 38% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes (18% among “Top Critics”), but some have praised Spiral for attempting to tell a different kind of Saw story.

When the original Saw was released in 2004, it instantly became one of the biggest names in the horror genre. The film grossed over $100 million on a reported budget of just $1.2 million, spawning a box office behemoth of a franchise released in theaters annually for years. Over time, the low-budget body horror and nihilistic serial killer storylines began to lose their appeal with the audience, and the franchise faded into an extended hiatus. 2017’s Jigsaw sought to revive the franchise, but it failed to inspire much new excitement.

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RELATED: When Spiral Fits Into The Saw Timeline

Spiral has brought some more significant change to the old Saw formula, and the result is a film that, according to director Darren Bousman, could be the start of a new cinematic universe. In a recent interview with Bloody Disgusting, Bousman discussed his hopes for future Saw projects and where he sees the franchise going in the future. “There’s a lot more to tell and a lot more I’d want to tell,” Bousman said before opening up about the possibility of an expansive Saw universe.

“Just because Spiral exists does not mean there will never be a Saw 9. This is a diversion… this is a different path. You’re not done seeing Tobin Bell at all. What I think will happen, if this is successful, is you’ll see Spiral 2, and then you’ll see Saw 9. And then you’ll see Spiral 3, you’ll see Saw 10. You might see a TV series. So I think you’ll be seeing the MarvelVerse of the Saw franchise, where there are different storylines taking place. And I think that that’s what it’s going to be.

“It’ll exist in the same universe, and there will be different storylines taking place.”

Rumors of both a tenth Saw film and a TV series have circulated for years, and both could certainly become realities down the line. Part of the franchise’s appeal from a business standpoint has always been its relatively cheap production cost. Spiral has continued that trend, being made on a reported budget of around $20 million.

Of course, the real question is whether Spiral has earned such a large-scale reboot of the franchise. While it has certainly received praise from fans of the genre and several critics, the overall critical consensus isn’t too far removed from what Saw has faced before – a gory story that succeeds on violence and shock value in lieu of having anything truly impactful to say. Spiral has attempted to change that narrative with some commentary on police brutality and racial violence, but many still believe it falls short where it matters.

Director James Wan explained how he approaches creating the horror franchises he has built a name for himself on. Wan may be known for blockbusters like Aquaman and Furious 7, but his approach to the horror genre has led to much success for the director. His directorial debut, Saw, led to a nine film franchise, the most recent of which released in theaters this past weekend. Those films have grossed nearly $1 billion worldwide. After Saw, Wan went on to direct Dead Silence in 2007 before launching the Insidious franchise three years later.

With four currently released films and two in the works, the Insidious franchise remains strong. Wan's most successful franchise may be The Conjuring films, though. With three in the main branch of the series, including the upcoming The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, and four spinoffs with more in the works, Wan's impact on the horror genre is undeniable. The Conjuring franchise has grossed almost $2 billion worldwide and the third upcoming film will only add to that total. So how does Wan do it?

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RELATED:Every Horror Movie Coming In Summer 2021

At a press conference, the director explained how he goes about crafting these mega successful franchises, saying that, first and foremost, he finds stories he wants to tell. By finding characters he can relate to and putting himself in the audience's shoes, Wan says it gives him insight into what could lead to success. The director cites both Insidious and The Conjuring as two examples in which audiences have main characters that they can root for, something he believes is key to pleasing viewers. Wan says that having the audience be able to put themselves in the perspective of these characters allows for the biggest thrills and chills.

I just want to tell the stories I want to tell. I want to tell the stories that I want to watch as an audience. If I have to put my finger on something, it's telling stories with characters that people can relate to. I believe that's why whether it's Insidious or The Conjuring with Ed and Lorraine, it's creating these characters that are really beloved. They're real people - I mean, definitely in the case of Ed and Lorraine, which are based on real people. And so, the more grounded you can make it, the more the horror scenes or the kind of scares you put these characters into play more fearfully. And so, I think, that is the most important piece or ingredient is to let the audience be in the shoes of these characters, then you can take them on the craziest, scariest ride.

Wan is set to launch another potential horror franchise with Malignant, also releasing this year. If his previous track record is any indication, it's more than likely going to be a success and, alongside The Conjuring 3, that could give Wan a perfect 2021 track record. Although the director stepped into the producer role for the third film, he's still actively involved in the franchise, having decided to focus on the characters this time around instead of introducing the franchise's next big ghoul in The Devil Made Me Do It.

After The Conjuring 3 bows, though, all eyes will be on Malignant. The film is currently shrouded in mystery ahead of its release this September, with nary a trailer or a first look clip having been released yet. Even details about the film's plot remain under wraps. It's possible a teaser for Malignant could appear ahead of The Conjuring 3, but one thing is sure: the horror genre is all the better thanks to James Wan's contributions to it.

The MCU's potential Thunderbolts cast assembles in a piece of dark fan art. Going into Phase 4 and beyond, the Marvel Cinematic Universe appears to be laying the groundwork for some big comic book teams. While the Avengers are still around (albeit looking different from how they began) and the Guardians of the Galaxy are poised for a few more onscreen appearances, the superhero franchise is gradually assembling members of other teams. On the more heroic side is the Young Avengers, made up of those like Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) and America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez). On the other end of the spectrum are the Thunderbolts.

In Marvel comics, the Thunderbolts are a group of seemingly reformed supervillains. They are initially led by Baron Zemo (Daniel Brühl), an aristocratic bad guy who first made his big screen debut in 2016's Captain America: Civil War. Zemo's recent return in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier prompted theories that he would create the MCU's Thunderbolts, particularly since a few members have already appeared in the franchise. Sadly, however, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier never intended to set up the Thunderbolts, leaving any potential future for the team unclear.

RELATED: Where The Wakandans Took Zemo & How It Sets Up Thunderbolts

Still, there are many who would like to see the Thunderbolts appear in the MCU. Artist Gaurav777Algo created a piece depicting the Thunderbolts as they would appear with the members who have already made MCU debuts. They're, of course, led by Zemo, and include familiar faces like Punisher, U.S. Agent, Red Hulk, Ghost Rider, Taskmaster, and Ghost. Check it out below.

All of the characters included in the above fan art have been featured in some form in the MCU, though those like Punisher and Ghost Rider have only technically appeared via past Marvel TV shows (Daredevil/The Punisher and Agents of SHIELD, respectively). When looking at the Thunderbolts lineup, it looks like it would be relatively easy for the MCU to properly form the team if it wished to. However, it remains to be seen if that will ever happen.

One dangling plot thread from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier could point to the assembly of the Thunderbolts. U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell) ended the series by aligning himself with the mysterious Contessa Valentina Allegra de la Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), who appears to be forming some kind of team. While it could be the Dark Avengers, the Thunderbolts are also a possibility since she referred to Zemo as a friend. All of that is to say, the Thunderbolts could be on their way to the MCU. Fans just might have to wait a bit to see them.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is set to use the same filming technology that The Mandalorian uses. Peyton Reed, the director of the Ant-Man films at Marvel, also directed two episodes of The Mandalorian's second season: "Chapter 10: The Passenger" and "Chapter 16: The Rescue." On the set of The Mandalorian, Reed used ILM's state-of-the-art virtual production technology known as StageCraft, which allows the filmmakers to project a computer-generated background to capture in camera and gives the actors the feeling of working on an actual set in an environment known as the Volume.

Reed has been in pre-production on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania with filming set to begin in summer 2021. The film has already cast Jonathan Majors as the villain Kang the Conqueror and Freaky star Kathryn Netwon has been cast in the role of Cassie Lang, a role previously played by Abby Ryder Forston in the first two Ant-Man films and Emma Fuhrmann in Avengers: Endgame. Marvel announced the film as part of Phase 4 and set its release date for February 17, 2023.

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RELATED: Ant-Man 3’S Villain Shows Scott Lang Has The MCU’s Weirdest Story

Peyton Reed tweeted out a photo of prep work being done on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania from Pinewood Studios. The caption reads "Welcome to the Volume," referring to the massive, curved LED screens that make up the StageCraft environment. In the photo, Reed appears to be on a snowy mountain, but it is unknown if this is a tease of a location in the plot or just a test environment.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still taking place in parts of the world, ILM's StageCraft Volume technology allows filmmakers to get their productions underway in safely closed sets while not having to sacrifice impressive visuals and backgrounds. Reed isn't the only Marvel director implementing this technology. Taika Waititi, who directed the season 1 finale of The Mandalorian, is using the same technology on the set of Thor: Love and Thunder, which is currently filming in Australia.

StageCraft will also allow Reed to incorporate his actors into vastly different environments and make it easier for them to react in an immersive space. One of the largest benefits of StageCraft technology is it allows actors to see and react to their environment, as opposed to having to imagine everything when working against a green screen. Reed could be using the technology to bring the Quantum Realm to life or to showcase various points in time and space that Kang the Conqueror may rule or otherwise exist in.  The various Ant-Man films have highlighted a unique aspect of the character's powerset, with the first film putting heavy emphasis on ants and the sequel focusing a lot of jokes and visuals on the various size-changing aspects of the characters. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania will likely delve deeper into the Quantum technology and the various worlds of the Quantum Realm, which seems like a perfect use for the new filming technology Reed showed off in his image.

Harry Potter star, Evanna Lynch, (Luna Lovegood) has revealed what moments she wishes made it into the movies. Lynch played the eccentric and often dazed looking witch in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling's beloved books. Before landing the life-changing role, Lynch was a diehard fan of the series, even sending fan mail to Rowling. To her surprise, Rowling responded again and again.

Lynch and Rowling became penpals, of sorts, with the prolific writer helping Lynch through a tough time in her adolescence. As fate would have it, in 2006, the Irish talent came across Harry Potter's open casting call for the films and booked the role out of nearly 15,000 girls. Of course, the rest is history. While stepping into Luna's colorful mindset was a dream come true for Lynch, she remained a fan of the series first and foremost throughout the experience.

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RELATED: What Happened To Hermione Granger After Harry Potter Ended

Lynch told Insider that many of her favorite moments from the novels didn't make it to the big screen. From her character's standpoint, she wishes a beat in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince where Harry and Luna have a lovely exchange on the Hogwarts Express was written in. Lynch elaborated on the scene's importance, saying:

Luna says something like, 'Oh, people don't expect you to be friends with us, they expect you to have cooler friends. And Harry's like, 'You are cool,' and she's like 'Oh, thank you, that's really nice. I think that was an important moment... she is someone who's so at peace with herself and accepts herself no matter what, but she really cares about her friends. She's got a really tender heart.

The star went on to mention another Hogwarts Express scene she would've loved to do. In the book version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Ron Weasley jokes about teaching goon Goyle a lesson by forcing him to write: "I must not look like a baboon's backside." Luna laughs hysterically at this, an action Lynch would've loved to see onscreen, because it further celebrated the role's awkward tendencies. In general, the actress wishes Ron and Luna's relationship had been developed further. She calls the pair "quite intriguing" with Ron constantly poking fun at Luna and then occasionally supporting her. In a perfect wizarding world, Lynch also would've liked to see Luna take over the reigns from Hogwarts' seasoned quidditch commentator, Lee Jordan. The films originally intended to stay true to the book series with this, but ultimately it got cut from the screenplay. "I would have loved that," Lynch said. "I find sports quite boring so I loved Luna's commentary, I loved the color she brought to it."

Above all, there was one scene that Lynch said she fought fiercely for: Dumbledore's funeral. Rowling wrote a magical send-off to the headmaster in Half-Blood Prince, complete with mermaids and centaurs. At the end of the day, producer David Heyman said it was simply too expensive. Considering how much money the franchise went on to make, perhaps production can withdraw some from Gringotts Wizarding Bank and use a Time-Turner to put more money in the budget. Otherwise, the scene will only exist where Rowling intended it to in the first place, readers' imaginations.

Yara Shahidi explains how her Tinkerbell will be different in Disney's upcoming Peter Pan & Wendy. Disney has spent the past several years looking back on their animated classics and retooling them as live-action movies. The latest, Emma Stone's Cruella, is set to premiere in just a few weeks; it comes on the heels of those like Mulan, The Lion King, and Aladdin. Peter Pan & Wendy will serve as a new look at the 1953 animated movie, which was in turn inspired by J.M. Barrie's iconic novel. Directed by David Lowery, Peter Pan & Wendy will be released sometime in 2022 as a Disney+ exclusive.

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Officially titled in January 2020, Peter Pan & Wendy has steadily assembled an impressive cast for its new tale. While initial reports suggested those like Joaquin Phoenix and Margot Robbie would board the film, the movie will actually star Jude Law as dastardly Captain Hook and Grown-ish's Shahidi as Tinkerbell. Relative newcomers Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson (Black Widow) will play the title characters, respectively, while Alyssa Wapanatâhk is Tiger Lily. Jim Gaffigan helps round out the cast as Smee. Production on Peter Pan & Wendy got underway earlier this year.

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Shahidi appeared at the MTV Movie & TV Awards last night, where she dropped some new hints about her Tinkerbell. She spoke to Variety on the red carpet about what she loves about this version of the character: Her newfound agency. Shahidi said:

"Tinkerbell is really fun. I think what I like most about this take is that Tinkerbell is coming with a lot of agency, you know? She may be a famous sidekick, but I love the fact that she is driven and motivated in her own ways. I don't want to give too much up, but I'm really looking forward to this adaptation."

Shahidi was also pressed for information about how her Tinkerbell will look, to which she of course replied, "I can't say!" However, she did confirm she wore her costume recently. So far, only Law as Captain Hook has been spotted on the Peter Pan & Wendy set; it seems unlikely that Disney will release official photos of the cast until much later in the production process. Filming isn't expected to conclude until next month, and with a 2022 premiere date set, Peter Pan & Wendy is still a decent ways away.

Still, it will be quite exciting to finally see Shahidi in costume as Tinkerbell. Peter's jealousy-plagued fairy friend has factored into many stories over the years, but Shahidi's version from Peter Pan & Wendy promises to take Tink in a new direction. When it comes to Disney's many live-action remakes, they're usually better when they find new arcs to inject into the well-known tales; by giving Tinkerbell at bit more agency, Peter Pan & Wendy can put a new, positive spin on the overall story. Whether other characters will see some changes to their development remains to be seen, but Shahidi's update so far sounds promising.

G.I. Joe is coming back to the big screen in 2021 with the release of Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins, a prequel film for the eponymous black-clad ninja. After the relatively poor receptions to G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the reboot has a chance to properly revitalize the live-action arm of the franchise. And fortunately for fans, it won’t be too long before Snake Eyes releases in theaters.

Though G.I. Joe has existed as a major name in the toy world since the 1960s, the modern era of Joe began in 1982 when the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero line effectively relaunched the brand. The new toys were accompanied by a successful Marvel Comics series and the famous cartoon of the same name, which began airing in 1983. A Real American Hero shifted the franchise to a less realistic, more character-oriented model, introducing major elements like the evil Cobra organization and the Joes’ sci-fi weapons and vehicles.

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RELATED: G.I. Joe: Retaliation - Killing Duke Was The Movie's Best (& Worst) Decision

Since then, G.I. Joe has gradually dropped off in mainstream pop culture. The franchise has continued in various forms over the years, but it’s failed to find the kind of widespread modern appeal that Transformers has had. The Snake Eyes movies is G.I. Joe’s latest effort to reintroduce itself, rebooting the film series with one of the most popular G.I. Joe characters leading the way. Here’s everything we know so far about Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Release Date

Snake Eyes was originally meant to premiere on March 27, 2020, but it was delayed after the initial wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. A series of additional delays pushed the film’s intended launch through the year and eventually into 2021. Currently, Snake Eyes is scheduled to release in theaters on July 23, 2021 – a date that seems likely to hold. It’s also likely that the movie will become available for streaming on Paramount+ 45 days after its theatrical release, as that has been the official model for many of Paramount’s major films since launching the streaming platform. That would make Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins available for streaming in early September.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Cast

Henry Golding leads the Snake Eyes cast as the eponymous ninja. Andrew Koji will costar as Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes’ lifelong rival. The rest of the cast includes Úrsula Corberó as the evil Cobra agent Baroness, Samara Weaving as G.I. Joe operative Scarlett, Haruka Abe as Akiko, Takehiro Hira as Kenta, Iko Uwais as Hard Master, and Peter Mensah as Blind Master. Steven Allerick will also appear in Snake Eyes in a currently unknown role.

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Story Details

As the name implies, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins will be an origin story for the titular ninja, showing his training, early life, and (theoretically) his eventually recruitment into the ranks of G.I. Joe. The Storm Shadow rivalry will be a major storyline in the film. Given Baroness and Scarlett’s significant roles in the movie, it seems that the conflict between Joe and Cobra is already in full swing. Since Snake Eyes is also a reboot for the franchise, it’s probable that a number of other plotlines – likely involving more classic characters form the cartoon – will be set up for future films to continue.

RELATED: G.I. Joe: Rise Of Cobra - Brendan Fraser's Sgt. Stone Cameo Explained

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins Trailer

The first official trailer for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins has released, teasing all the action to come in the final film. In it, Snake Eyes is seen training and preparing for his heroic future, with several allusions to his feud with Storm Shadow and look at his signature black mask. Baroness and Scarlett also feature in the trailer, where they’re seen facing off in battle. The action is stylish, Golding looks like a great fit for the part, and overall, the Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins trailer is a promising look at what could be a big revitalization for the franchise.

Actor Dave Bautista has responded to a fan's criticism of the recent WWE Backlash fight featuring zombies as part of a cross-promotion effort between the company and streaming platform Netflix for Army of the Dead. The former wrestler stars in the Zack Snyder film as the leader of a mercenary group heading into Las Vegas to pull off a casino heist in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. The WrestleMania match saw Damian Priest and The Miz forced to face off against both one another and a horde of the undead surrounding the ring.

Army of the Dead languished in development hell for nearly 15 years before finally getting picked up by Netflix in 2019 and fast-tracked to production. Having finally hit theaters in mid-May, the film has received generally positive reviews from critics for Snyder's direction, the cast, and the action sequences while still critiquing its extended runtime and attempts at emotional storytelling. Though the box office numbers for the film are a little lower than originally expected, the universe is already set to expand with a prequel film and anime series.

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RELATED: Army Of The Dead: Zombie Apocalypse Backstory And Heist Timeline Explained

After a fan took to Twitter to call out the former wrestler for the cross-promotion fight between the WWE and Netflix, Bautista responded by noting he has no involvement on that end of the business and was on an airplane at the time of the show. The 52-year-old actor also pointed out that if the fan is truly upset, there's a much better person to direct their frustrations to. See what Bautista had to say below:

Bautista has never been afraid to speak his mind on any subject, be it politics, wrestling, or his future as Drax in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While some might find Bautista's reaction to be a little extreme, the fact of the matter is he's got every right to be a little upset given his wrestling past. From being booed by the crowd after winning the Royal Rumble in his 2014 return to being a villain in the ring and retiring two years ago, he's done enough to put that past behind him and forge a new path for himself. The last thing he needs after all that is for fans to accuse him of doing something "insulting" when he likely had little to do with the promotion.

No matter how the promoted fight was handled or Bautista's reaction to the backlash, the crossover should at least be applauded for the two brands showing synergy. Given Bautista's retirement from WWE, the company could've just as easily supported the film internally or with TV spots during ad breaks, but to see them showing some solidarity with the future Hall-of-Famer by drumming up extra interest in the film is a positive show of force. Where the Backlash battle may have failed to resonate with audiences, time is still to tell whether Army of the Dead can become Snyder's next hit when it arrives on Netflix on Friday.

New behind-the-scenes photos from Spider-Man: No Way Home show Peter Parker is having a rough time back at school. Arguably the most anticipated upcoming MCU film, the Tom Holland led Spidey sequel has more speculation surrounding it than most blockbusters. From the rumored, but oft denied, return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their respective Peter Parkers and the confirmed return of Alfred Molina and Jamie Foxx as Doc Ock and Electro, it seems like the Multiverse may be broken up in a big way this December.

All of this hype surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home has made more of the the everyday plot elements seem small in comparison, but Peter Parker will still have his normal life to contend with in the new film now that his identity has been revealed. This is sure to include more adventures with best friend Ned Leeds and girlfriend MJ, the pair of whom could be joining Peter Parker in the Sanctum Sanctorum. First, though, they're going back to high school.

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RELATED:Why Marvel's Trailer Didn't Reveal Any New Spider-Man: No Way Home Footage

Ned Leeds actor Jacob Batalon took to Instagram to share some behind-the-scenes photos of him and Holland on the set of Spider-Man: No Way Home. In two photos, Holland can be seen wearing Peter Parker's Midtown High School hoodie. One of the photos is in what looks to be a gymnasium setting while the other looks to be in a classroom. The first photo, though, shows Batalon beaming while Holland looks less than thrilled with a bruised and scraped up face. Check out the photos below:

How Peter Parker will return to school is just one of many of Spider-Man: No Way Home's mysteries. Peter has never had an easy go of it at school, but with his cover as the web-slinger blown, he'll likely face even more scrutiny now. Add on the alleged murder of Mysterio AKA Quentin Beck and Peter Parker will become Midtown High School's most popular student and not in a good way.

Fortunately, Peter will have Ned and MJ to back him up and they'll be along for the ride. What that ride will look like is up in the air, though, and how much time the film will truly spend in the high school setting is unclear. With a lot of other things on the table, including the appearance of Doctor Strange and the opening of the Multiverse, Spider-Man: No Way Home has a lot to follow through on. With the film sticking to its high school roots, though, it will still be a quintessential Peter Parker adventure.

A brand new featurette for Fast & Furious 9 celebrates The Fast Saga by looking at its history. Following multiple delays, the upcoming installment from the car-centric franchise is finally set to release in June and with that, Universal is restarting their efforts to market the movie. The blockbuster is directed by Justin Lin who returns to the series after several years and will see Dom's gang banding back together for a new mission.

F9 will kick-off the final trilogy for The Fast Saga with the next two films also directed by Lin. In the upcoming film, however, Dom will face off against potentially the most dangerous adversary he's ever faced in his own brother — Jakob, who's hell-bent on seeking revenge against him. It's uncertain how the pair's falling out came to be, but the movie itself is set to explain that with expected flashbacks. What makes the estranged Toretto sibling so much more dangerous is that he's backed up by Fate of the Furious villain, Cipher. Elsewhere, Han's return from his presumed death is also a major plot point. While both primary storylines tied The Fast Saga's past, it makes sense that the franchise's history will play a part in its story.

RELATED: The Fast And The Furious Franchise Has Way Better Titles In Japan

With that, Universal reveals a brand new featurette tracing back the Fast & Furious universe's full history starting with the first film that came out in 2001. The clip includes footage from the installments themselves, as well as, old interviews and commentaries from the cast evoking a sense of nostalgia as F9's release nears. Watch the video below:

Looking back at the original The Fast and the Furious, the series has clearly gone a long way. In the featurette, the cast talked about the street racing culture at the cent of Rob Cohen's project. Over the years, it has outgrown that and become a full action-adventure fare. Marketing for F9 has been really learning towards highlighting The Fast Saga's history and that makes sense considering the franchise is starting its culmination with the upcoming blockbuster. But, this could also mean that characters from the past films might pop up in the latest installment and its two sequels just to further emphasize that there's an overall cohesive story throughout its two-decade-long run. For starters, F9 is already bringing back the rest of The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift crew aside from Han, given this, it won't be surprising to see other characters such as Gisele at least make a cameo. Meanwhile Luke Hobbs, Deckard Shaw, and other players from the spin-off film, Hobbs & Shaw can also appear moving forward.

Overall, expect new revelations in Fast & Furious 9 that will ultimately connect to previous films in The Fast Saga. While Jakob is just about to be introduced, it's not outside the realm of possibility that he's involved in some of Dom's previous adventures in a subtle way. Vin Diesel did say that Lin's blockbuster will defy expectations, and although it typically does in terms of action, it might also be applicable to the upcoming story

The trailer for Hotel Transylvania 4, Transformania, has arrived. The Hotel Transylvania franchise has been a big hit for Sony Pictures Animation since the first movie came out in 2012. The series offers a lighter, more kid-friendly take on classic monsters like Count Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Invisible Man. Created by Todd Durham, the franchise now boasts four movies, three short films, graphic novels, video games, and a Disney Channel TV series. Despite its success, Hotel Transylvania 4 will be the final installment in the film series.

In April 2021, the upcoming movie received the Transformania subtitle, as well as a new release date of July 23. Not much is known about the film's story at this time, though many cast members from previous movies in the franchise are returning. One exception is Adam Sandler, who voiced Dracula in the first three films. The character will still play a role in Hotel Transylvania 4, but he'll be voiced by Brian Hull instead. Sony recently shared a teaser for the movie, though that too didn't reveal too much about its plot.

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Now, however, audiences have a better idea of what to expect from the movie thanks to its trailer shared by Sony Pictures Animation. It reveals Andy Samberg's Johnny Loughran becoming a monster while Dracula transforms into a human, explaining the movie's Transformania title. Check out the look at the final film in the Hotel Transylvania franchise below:

Based on this trailer, it seems like the long-running series is going out with a bang. A Freaky Friday homage suits the light-hearted franchise perfectly, and it will be fun to see Johnny and Drac's antics in the film as they acclimate to essentially trading places. Though it seems likely the status quo will be restored by the time Hotel Transylvania 4 ends, it should be a fun ride for audiences.

The trailer also gives more insight into Hull's performance as Dracula. It seems like it will be a pretty seamless transition that shouldn't affect the movie too much. It helps that Hull has experience in the role; he also voiced Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania short film Monster Pets earlier in 2021. Though Sandler left behind some big shoes to fill after his departure, Hull seems like he's more than up for the challenge.

Hopefully, Hotel Transylvania 4 brings the franchise to a satisfying conclusion. There's a lot of pressure on the last film in a series to deliver. In this case, audiences are likely hoping for more of the humor, heart, and entertaining adventures that made the first three movies a success. After watching the trailer, that seems likely to happen.

Army of the Dead producer Deborah Snyder reveals that 200 film extras attended “Zombie School” during production. Directed by Zack Snyder, the action horror movie follows a group of soldiers as they infiltrate a Las Vegas casino infested with zombies. With the city completely quarantined and facing a nuclear strike, the mercenaries must work quickly to finish their mission. The film features a star-studded cast, including Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Anna de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, and Garrett Dillahunt. Currently playing in select theaters, the movie will begin streaming on Netflix this Friday.

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For Snyder, Army of the Dead is not his first time embracing the genre of the undead. The director notably made his feature film debut with his 2004 remake of Dawn of the Dead. In this story, a few survivors of the zombie apocalypse seek haven at an abandoned shopping mall. Like the characters in Army of the Dead, they must navigate an emotionally fraught and dangerous situation in close quarters, with a swarm of zombies threatening their safety at every turn. With his new film, Snyder returns to his horror roots.

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While speaking to the Boston Herald, the Snyders described the process of making Army of the Dead. During this interview, Deborah Snyder shared the reality of having to train the extras for the film:

 “For the hordes of zombies we had Zombie School, where the stunt team, who already knew how to move like a zombie, would teach 200 extras. They didn’t have the training that the stunt people did, so we had to train them how to move and act like a zombie.”

This is far from the first time that background actors have had to prepare for a role as a flesh-eating zombie. In the wildly popular horror series The Walking Dead, extras have had to similarly prove their abilities as a member of the undead before making it to set. Many of these actors had to attend “zombie seminars” to learn how, exactly, to emulate a walking corpse. When it comes to the horror genre, this type of training indeed takes work. As mentioned above, Snyder has experience with this genre thanks to Dawn of the Dead, so he understands the importance of proper training.

Overall, it certainly makes sense why Army of the Dead would invest in “zombie training.” In these horror films, a commitment to the ruthless and bloody story at hand is crucial. To incite true fear and surprise, viewers need to believe the uncanny strangeness and violence of the zombies onscreen in order to up the ante. As more horror fans head to theaters, it will be interesting to hear what they have to say about Snyder’s take on the beloved genre.

Marvel actors Elizabeth Olsen and Anthony Mackie reunite at the recently-concluded MTV Movie and TV Awards. After the Infinity Saga, the MCU moves forward with a full slate of new projects. But while traditional theatrical releases have been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, the franchise is relying on its Disney+ pocket to get the ball rolling with Phase 4.

Kicking off this new wave of storytelling for Marvel Studios are WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier which were spearheaded by Olsen and Mackie respectively. Phase 4 began with the self-contained narrative tackling Wanda's grief and overall mental health as she properly dealt with the trauma in her life, including Vision's tragic death in Avengers: Infinity War. Sam Wilson, on the other hand, grappled with the pressure of being Steve Rogers' chosen successor as Captain America. Bucky provided support throughout the whole ordeal as they tracked down the new group Flag-Smashers, who were willing to wreak havoc just so its message was spread out.

RELATED: Civil War Set Up (& Explained) Bucky’s List In Falcon & Winter Soldier

Coming off from the success of their MCU shows, Olsen and Mackie found themselves both at the MTV Movie and TV Awards where WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier were up for different accolades. They eventually won their respective nominations, but before that, they bumped into each other at the show's red carpet. Watch the video below:

Olsen and Mackie's MCU journeys have few similarities. For starters, both boarded the franchise at the height of Phase 2, after the original Avengers lineup was established and Marvel Studios was expanding their roster of characters. Wanda and Sam are also part of the second wave of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, established at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Despite that, however, they've been mostly relegated as supporting characters, whose arcs play out off-screen while the main spotlight shone on its founding heroes. As the Infinity Saga wrapped up, however, and some of those players retired, they are among the up-and-coming new faces of the universe.

Now, expect Olsen, Mackie, and the rest of the primary cast of both WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to spearhead this new era of storytelling for Marvel. While both Wanda and Sam have headlined streaming projects for Disney+ thus far, they're expected to return to the big screen with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and the rumored Captain America 4 movie with the new Star-Spangled Avenger. No word yet when the aforementioned heroes will reunite in the MCU as the franchise puts its focus on standalone projects, but it's safe to say that they eventually will come together once the Avengers inevitably re-assembles.

Hot off the release of a new trailer, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins has released a new featurette taking fans behind the scenes. The film stars Henry Golding as the fan-favorite character Snake Eyes in a feature-length origin story that is set to reboot the G.I. Joe film franchise. At one point set to come out in October 2o21, Paramount bumped up the release date of the film to July 23, 2021.

Now with only two months until Snake Eyes opens in theaters, the studio has started to ramp up the movie's marketing efforts to let audiences know the film is coming to theaters soon. First came new images which were then followed by an official poster for the film. The first trailer for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins debuted during the MTV Movie & TV Awards.

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In addition to the trailer, Paramount Pictures also released a featurette titled "5 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Snake Eyes (2021 Movie)" taking audiences behind the scenes of the upcoming film. The featurette showcases Larry Hama, who wrote the series G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero for Marvel Comics, as well as his contributions to G.I. Joe and what he brought to the series. It also showcases shooting in Japan, how Snake Eyes will show audiences the story before the title character lost his voice, and how it will build to the larger G.I. Joe universe. Check out the full clip below:

It's clear from this clip Snake Eyes will honor the character as audiences know him while also bringing something new to the table. It sounds like authenticity was key between the filming location and the way the movie intends to pay homage to the comics. The featurette also highlights Snake Eyes' action sequences, which should be exciting to see up close on the big screen.

Snake Eyes will be facing stiff competition in July as it opens two weeks after Black Widow, a week after Space Jam: A New Legacy, and will open the same weekend as Hotel Transylvania: Transformania and M. Night Shyamalan's Old. With more movie theaters opening back up after over a year of being shut-down, Paramount is hoping audiences' eagerness will get them out to see a new take on the G.I. Joe franchise, one that hasn't had a movie in theaters in over eight years with the release of G.I. Joe: Retaliation in 2013.

Paramount and Hasbro's attempt with Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins is very similar to Bumblebee from 2018. Both films focus on a single fan-favorite character's origin story with hope to be a springboard for future films by sprinkling characters from the larger story in. Bumblebee featured appearances by Optimus Prime and cameo appearances from Soundwave and Shockwave, and Snake Eyes will feature Storm Shadow, The Baroness, and Scarlett. Both films also coincidently focus on characters who lose their voice. While Bumblebee was the lowest-grossing film in the franchise history, its critical reception and audience response was enough to get more Transformers films in development. Paramount is likely hoping Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins can do the same for their other Hasbro brand.

A new clip from In the Heights highlights the movie's impressive cast. The upcoming film comes from director Jon M. Chu and is based on the musical of the same name by Quiara Alegría Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Set in New York City's Washington Heights, it follows bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos) as he dreams for a better life. The original musical, which made its Broadway debut in 2008, won multiple Tonys and other prestigious awards. Many are eager to see how the beloved production makes the jump to the big screen.

The movie has been in the works since 2008 as well, so it's been a long road to the adaptation actually coming to fruition. Chu has been involved with the In the Heights film since 2016, but the project didn't really pick up steam until Warner Bros. acquired the rights. Filming began in the summer of 2019, with the movie previously scheduled to release on June 26, 2020. It's now set to debut in theaters and on HBO Max June 11. In addition to Ramos, the In the Heights movie stars Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Jimmy Smits, and many more. Miranda plays the role of Piraguero, the Piragua Guy, in a fun bit of casting for those who enjoy the original musical.

RELATED: Everything We Know About The In The Heights Movie

A new clip released during the MTV Movie & TV Awards showcases several members of In the Heights' main cast, as well as the film's impressive scope. Though the video initially centers on Usnavi, it soon gives way to a thrilling group number. Check it out below:

With In the Heights' release date fast approaching, this new clip should only increase anticipation for the movie. The footage revealed so far suggests the film will maintain the same energetic sprit as the original musical, and this video is no exemption. Since the In the Heights movie has been in the works for so long, there's a lot of pressure on it to deliver. However, it looks like the film is more than up to the challenge.

It's hard to imagine In the Heights underperforming considering the incredible amount of talent involved in the project both behind and in front of the camera. That's evident in a video like this one, where it's clear everyone involved is giving it their all. The In the Heights movie seems primed to provide the much-needed joy moviegoers are seeking at this particular time. Hopefully, that's exactly what happens when the film releases in June.

The Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins trailer is finally here, giving fans a look at the franchise’s live action return. Rather than continue the story from G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, the new film will reboot the story with a new cast led by Henry Golding and including Andrew Koji, Iko Uwais, Úrsula Corberó, Samara Weaving, and Peter Mensah. Snake Eyes is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 23, 2021.

As the title suggests, Snake Eyes centers on G.I. Joe’s most famous ninja – the black-clad, silent warrior known for roughing up the evil agents of Cobra. The movie will show Snake Eyes’ early days, before he ever donned the iconic helmet. The film will also feature Storm Shadow, Snake Eyes’ longtime rival who ends up joining the forces of Cobra. With luck, that means some exciting battles between the two when Snake Eyes comes to theaters.

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Thanks to the first Snake Eyes trailer, fans can finally get a glimpse at those coming battles. Hopefully the film can live up to the hype of the trailer and succeed where past live-action G.I. Joe movies fell short. Watch the new Snake Eyes trailer below.

Though the trailer is relatively short, it still includes a bunch of fun teases for what’s to come in the final film. Golding’s Snake Eyes is being set up for a full-blown origin story, and the action in the trailer – both from Snake Eyes and the other ninjas, and from other Joe characters like Baroness and Scarlett – is fast and stylish. There’s even a fun tease of Snake Eyes’ signature visored helmet from the cartoon, which Golding will surely put on by the end of the movie. As with any origin story, a big part of the fun will be seeing the hero put on their classic costume and fully transform into the character fans know and love.

Of course, after the lukewarm reactions to G.I. Joe’s last two cinematic outings, Snake Eyes has a lot to prove. The titular character featured heavily in Rise of Cobra, but he wasn’t enough to save that film from negative reviews. Will putting him centerstage in the franchise’s live-action reboot yield better results? Only time will tell, but if Henry Golding’s past work and the flashy action of the trailer are any indication, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins could finally be a movie fans can be proud of.

A brand new sneak peek for Black Widow has been revealed. Scarlett Johansson's standalone MCU film has long been overdue, but it was further delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Originally set to hit theaters in May 2020, the movie was pushed back several times; now it's set to release simultaneously in cinemas and on Disney+ this July. With that, Marvel Studios is re-starting its efforts to promote the project.

Working around Natasha Romanoff's controversial death in Avengers: Endgame, the events of Black Widow take place in the two years between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. The film will see the titular character reconnect with her roots as a way to properly cap off her personal story in the MCU. Introducing several new characters who played pivotal roles in her life before she became a S.H.I.E.L.D. operative and eventual Avenger, Nat will reunite with her first family of David Harbour's Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova, and Rachel Weisz's Melina Vostokoff. It's still uncertain what is the mission that sees them team up for a common goal, but they'll find themselves going up against the mysterious villain, Taskmaster.

RELATED: How Black Widow Can Repeat GOTG 2'S Original Team Tease (& Make It Better)

A brand new clip from Black Widow debuted during the MTV Movie and TV Awards. Watch it below:

Piecing this clip with other footage released by Marvel Studios for the film, this is in the immediate aftermath of Nat's reunion with Yelena Belova. It's currently uncertain what exactly prompted the Avenger to reunite with her Russian family, but in previous trailers, it's heavily hinted that it has something to do with their collective past. While this action set piece features a female antagonist on a bike chasing the sisters, Taskmaster is also going to be involved in this car chase so it's safe to say that that the mysterious character is connected to the pair's original adversary.

Aside from the thrill of the action sequence, the short clip also highlights the dynamic between Nat and Yelena. Marvel Studios' promotional campaign for Black Widow has teased what kind of relationship the pair has had — from their intense initial reunion that led into a one-on-one fight to more heartfelt moments as they begin this family mission. Not much has been revealed about what their relationship was before Nat left and joined S.H.I.E.L.D., but it seems like it's more complicated than meets the eye so it's curious where the film will leave them, especially since Yelena is tipped to be the MCU's next Black Widow.

With a little over a month before it hits theaters, it's curious of Marvel Studios is still planning to release a final proper trailer for Black Widow. Its marketing has been significantly stretched out that there's really nothing else left but to release the blockbuster. Instead, the studio can simply roll out TV spots which will effectively keep the conversation going until the film debuts.

When asked about the Guardians' role in Thor: Love and Thunder, Drax actor Dave Bautista played it very coy. Much has been made about the cosmic team-up between the God of Thunder and the Guardians of the Galaxy after their fan-favorite dynamic in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. At the end of that saga, Thor was last seen leaving earth with the Guardians to places unknown and most of the team is expected to show up in his fourth solo outing. How big their role will be has remained an open question as production winds down on the film.

Practically all of the Guardians, sans Zoe Saldana's Gamora, were seen quarantining in Australia where Thor: Love and Thunder is filming. In addition to their involvement, though, the film has a lot on its plate. Natalie Portman will be returning as Jane Foster and the film will track her transformation into Mighty Thor. Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher will also serve as antagonist of the film. Several other characters will also be returning, including Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, Jamie Alexander's Lady Sif, and Matt Damon as Fake Loki.

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Still, much of the attention has been paid to where the Guardians will fit in and those hoping for a clear answer shouldn't look to Bautista. The actor appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show and gave a vague answer as to their involvement in the film that basically amounted to nothing being revealed. Bautista says that he was on a jet with his cast members before quarantining and leaving Australia together. Gunn retweeted his answer, laughing at the vagueness of it all.

At this point, it seems safe to assume that the Guardians won't be factoring into Thor: Love and Thunder in a big way time-wise. Considering that they were last seen leaving earth with Thor, it's possible they could appear in the beginning of the film and help set up the God of Thunder's journey before going their separate ways. This would be in line with the various stories that were at play in Thor: Ragnarok, including the extended intro that saw the titular character face off against the fire demon Surtur before returning to Asgard.

Luckily, no matter how small of a presence they have, the Guardians are sure to leave an impression. Even in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame's stacked cast, they managed to standout as one of the highlights of that film alongside Thor. There's also the possibility that Thor goes on to show up in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which takes place after Thor: Love and Thunder. Either way, the chance to see them all together onscreen again is one that will not go unappreciated.

Nathan Drake game actor Nolan North has nothing but good things to say about Tom Holland, including his stunt work on Uncharted. The upcoming Sony adaptation has been in the works in some form since 2008. Various directors have been involved with the movie over the years, with Ruben Fleischer finally confirmed to lead the project in early 2020. Filming started soon after but was quickly halted due to the pandemic. Production on Uncharted eventually concluded later that year, with the film set to release on February 18, 2022.

The movie will focus on a younger version of Nathan Drake than what's seen in the games, paving the way for Holland's casting. A few images from Uncharted have already been released, including several teasing a hunt for artifacts in Africa. Audiences have also gotten a look at Holland as Nathan Drake, as well as one image of the star talking with North on set. At the time, North said he was "proud" to have Holland "continuing the Drake legacy." Based on new comments by the game actor, he remains happy with Holland's casting, speaking highly of what he brings to the role.

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RELATED: Every Upcoming Tom Holland Movie

Appearing on the podcast Good Game Nice Try (via ComicBook), North spoke about Holland and praised his enthusiasm for the project. He also discussed Holland's stunt work on Uncharted. Read North's comments below:

He's a super nice kid. Big fan of [Uncharted]. He's enthusiastic. He's so athletic. He's an amazing dancer. He actually did a lot of, with safety harnesses, he did a lot of the stunts. His physical intelligence is off the chain, the way he moves.

It's easy to imagine Holland tackling a lot of stunts himself in Uncharted. As North mentions, he's shown himself to be an agile performer, most notably in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man movies. While Uncharted likely required some different movements, both are stunt-heavy projects where athleticism comes in handy.

It sounds like North is confident Holland was the right pick for Uncharted. Though it must be strange to see someone else in the role of Nathan Drake, it seems Holland brings an exciting energy to the part. It's also nice to hear Holland is a big fan of the games, which likely helped him inhabit the leading role. As of now, audiences have yet to really see Holland in action as Nathan Drake. Hopefully, a teaser or even full trailer releases soon so viewers can see some of the physicality Holland brings to the adaptation. Though, with the movie's release date still several months away, it might be awhile yet until Sony unveils the first footage. In the meantime, it's good to hear North speak so highly of Holland's performance in Uncharted.

Anthony Mackie playfully calls for a parade to celebrate his new role as the MCU's Captain America. Mackie joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2014, playing Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Throughout his next MCU appearances, Sam continued to be a vital supporting player in Steve Rogers' (Chris Evans) story, and it wasn't until Steve took his final bow that Sam's future became clear. Steve decided to hand the Captain America shield and title to Sam in the final moments of Avengers: Endgame, thus paving the way for Sam to take on new responsibilities.

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Of course, it couldn't be a completely simple transition, and Sam's journey to officially becoming the MCU's new Cap was charted across the six-episode run of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. That Disney+ series began in mid-March and came to an end a few weeks ago, concluding with Sam suiting up with the shield. From this point forward, Mackie will play Captain America for the franchise, though where he will pop up next remains to be seen. The likeliest candidate? Captain America 4, confirmed to be in development on the same day The Falcon and the Winter Soldier ended.

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Mackie has been making the rounds with the press following the Falcon and the Winter Soldier finale, and he recently spoke to EW about becoming Captain America. In terms of how he'd like to celebrate the occasion, Mackie declared he wants a proper New Orleans parade. "It's funny 'cause, in New Orleans we have a parade for everything. I want a parade," Mackie said. "I want a Captain America parade. I want beads, I want charbroiled oysters, I want a celebration." Nothing of the sort has happened just yet, though Mackie admitted he got a cake on set.

As Sam Wilson does become Captain America in the comics, one might say fans have been waiting ever since The Winter Soldier for this moment. Even aside from the enormity of a Black man taking on the mantle of Captain America, this is an exciting milestone for Mackie as someone who has largely remained a supporting player in the MCU up until this point. Now he's one of the franchise's biggest heroes. With that in mind, maybe he really should get a parade!

Mackie isn't yet confirmed to be in Captain America 4, though all signs so far point to him once again strapping on the wings and shield. It would be silly for Sam to finally become Captain America at the very end of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and then never return again. However, as that project was just announced recently, it might be a while before more specifics are released. Still, don't be surprised to see Mackie's Captain America taking to the big screen at least once before his tenure is over.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods director David F. Sandberg explains the film's new temporary logo. Released in 2019, the first Shazam! starred Zachary Levi as the titular superhero and alter ego of teenage orphan Billy Batson (Asher Angel). With the help of his foster brother Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), Billy must discover his new superpowers to defeat the evil Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong) and the Seven Deadly Sins, who gave Sivana his powers. Directed by David F. Sandberg, Shazam! was a surprise success following a pattern of box office failures for the DCEU, particularly for its blend of humor and heart.

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Shazam!'s final battle showed Billy's foster siblings transforming into adult superheroes, establishing them as the Shazam family, and setting the film up for a sequel. The Shazam! sequel has faced multiple delays due to the coronavirus pandemic. Initially scheduled to be released in April 2022, it has since been pushed to November 2022 and now finally has an official release of June 2, 2023. While plot details for Shazam! Fury of the Gods have been kept largely under wraps, it's been said that the film will further explore the family's new superhero personas. The sequel will see Levi and Angel return as the adult and teenage Billy, respectively, as well as the rest of the core cast returning to their roles as Billy's foster brothers and sisters. Sandberg will also be returning as director. It was announced earlier this year that Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu have joined the cast as the film's villains. Filming on the sequel began earlier this month, with the cast and director giving updates on production.

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Sandberg took to Twitter Friday to clarify that the new logo for Shazam! Fury of the Gods is just temporary. When a fan asked Sandberg to explain the movie logo that had been seen online, Sandberg explained that it was just a logo used for production, and that unlike the previous film, a code name was not being used for this movie. See Sandberg's tweet in the space below:

While there is very little that the director or cast has been able to talk about for this movie, they are certainly being less secretive than they were when filming the first movie, for which a code name had to be used. While Sandberg was at first declining to reveal who exactly the 'Gods' are that are referenced in the title, it has since been revealed that Liu will play Kalypso, daughter of the Greek god Atlas and sister to Mirren’s Hespera. The two are expected to join forces as the sequel's main villains.

Sandberg has declined to comment on many other details surrounding the film, including other casting rumors. While the film still has some time to go before its release, fans are eager for the sequel to come out, especially considering recent films in the DCEU have not been quite as well-received. Hopefully fans will get to see the real logo for Shazam! Fury of the Gods soon.

Mad Men actress Christina Hendricks explained how her hand ended up on the poster for 1999's American Beauty. The Oscar winning film is known for its stirring performance from Annette Bening and Sam Mendes' masterful direction, but its reputation has been clouded in recent years because of the star at its center. American Beauty follows Kevin Spacey's Lester Burnham, a middle-aged suburban dad bored with his life. Lester becomes attracted to one of his daughter's high school-aged friends, played by Mena Suvari, and this takes up the bulk of the film's plot.

The allegations of sexual assault against Spacey have led to a reexamination of American Beauty's merits and the plot at its center. For many, it's hard to separate the film from what has transpired with its leading actor in the years since its release. Some have even said that praise of the film was rather overrated at the time. Still, one thing that remains somewhat untainted from the film is its iconic poster and Hendricks explained how that poster came to be.

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During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Hendricks revealed that the poster was just another gig that she went to while looking for work as a model. The actress says that she had no idea what the film was at the time, but that her gigs as a hand model led her to land the position. Hendricks says that her and another model simply posed in differing variations of what ended up on the poster before they settled on her hand over model and actress Chloe Hunter's stomach. It wasn't until she finally saw the poster for American Beauty that she realized it was her hand that ended up being chosen.

I used to be a model, and one of the gigs I got was to go and shoot a movie poster. I had no idea what the film was. There were two models, myself and one other. And we did different versions of her hand and her stomach, and my stomach and her hand, and my hand and both. My hand made it in and her stomach made it in.

I did a few gigs where I did some hand modeling. I was a ballet dancer, so I guess I know how to move my hands in an elegant fashion. It was just a plain, ol' gig. I probably got paid a hundred bucks or something. I was just thrilled to have a job. I didn't know what American Beauty was going to be. And then I finally saw it and was like, 'Hey, that's my hand!'

Hendricks first revealed her hand was on the American Beauty poster in 2019, a revelation that took many by surprise at the time. Plenty of Hendricks' co-stars and colleagues expressed their shock at the revelation when the actress revealed the information on her Instagram. Seeing as she had gone 20 years without revealing this tidbit of Hollywood trivia, it was a pleasant surprise for some, even with American Beauty's dimming reputation.

In spite of this souring, the poster remains an iconic image because of its simple, but evocative nature. Hendricks has made a name for herself since her hand modeling days, scoring six Emmy nominations for her role as Joan Holloway in Mad Men and earning critical acclaim for her performance in Ryan Gosling thriller Drive. Still, her role in Hollywood lore began long before that thanks to the American Beauty poster.

Seth Rogen is opening up about his memorable and often hilarious highlights as an actor, including one bizarre audition he did for the movie 8 Mile. Like most aspiring comedians, the 39-year-old started his acting career doing stand-up comedy. In 1999, he appeared in Judd Apatow's classic teen series, Freaks & Geeks. Before his remarkable performance in 2007's Knocked Up, Rogen had a string of minor roles and auditioned for bit parts in movies including 8 Mile.

Released in 2002, 8 Mile stars as Eminem as B-Rabbit, a white rapper who is trying to launch a career in the black-dominated genre of hip hop music. 8 Mile was a huge success in the box office and was praised by critics for its powerful storytelling. Its talented cast ensemble included Britanny Murphy, Kim Basinger, and Anthony Mackie.

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According to The Wrap, Rogen had the chance to be in the movie as Cheddar Bob, Eminem's rapper sidekick. The comedian detailed what he called was his "weirdest audition" in his new autobiography, Yearbook. According to Rogen, the film's casting director told him to bring a scene partner so he asked his friend and Freaks & Geeks costar, Jason Segel. As fate would have it, Segel was also auditioning for the same role. The two up-and-coming comedians rehearsed together and even slept at Rogen's apartment the night before. However, both of them found the difficult rap lines to be hilariously painful when it was their turn. "I started laughing hysterically, and so did Jason," Rogen wrote in his book.

"We literally couldn’t make it through the auditions. As soon as one of us started the scene, the other would lose it… It was so silly, we couldn’t finish. We just excused ourselves and saw ourselves out, tears streaming down our faces.”

In the end, Rogen and Segal's awkward audition did not land them a part in the movie. The role eventually went to Evan Jones and 8 Mile turned out to be a massive success. The movie earned multiple nominations and awards, including an Oscar for Best Original Song. Meanwhile, it would be years before Rogen would get his big break in Hollywood. However, he stated in his book that he had no regrets and admitted in retrospect that he was totally unsuited for the role.

Now, Rogen is an established presence in the industry and not just as an actor, but also as a writer, director, and producer. His long list of successful films includes Neighbors, This is the End, and Disney's 2019 remake of The Lion King. While it's difficult to imagine how Rogen's career would have turned out had he gotten the 8 Mile gig, it's very amusing to look back on at his early experiences in Hollywood.

Adam Shankman took to Instagram to tease some upcoming news about the highly anticipated Hocus Pocus 2. Little is known about the sequel to the 1993 Halloween classic, as very little updates have come out about the film since its initial announcement. Disney first confirmed Hocus Pocus 2 was in development in December. Although the original Hocus Pocus was released to middling critical reception and a low box office take upon its release, it slowly became a cult classic over the years and has since become a Halloween staple.

The original film starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson sisters, three witches from the town of Salem. The trio is brought back to life by an unwitting teenager who doesn't believe in magic and he must protect his little sister throughout the film from falling into their traps. As for the plot of Hocus Pocus 2, that's being kept under wraps, but that might change soon.

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RELATED:Why Hocus Pocus 2 Has Taken So Long To Make

Shankman revealed that Hocus Pocus 2 news is coming sometime this week. He describes the news as "huge" but did not hint as to what it could be. The director did say that "it's all REALLY REALLY good" and he expressed enthusiasm about the project alongside a picture of what could be a film set. Check it out below:

Right now, it's unclear if Shankman is directing the film or not. Reports surfaced in April that he was replaced by choreographer Anne Fletcher as Hocus Pocus 2's director, but he appears to still be involved in some capacity. What that means for the film or the news he is teasing is unclear, but it's likely to be an announcement that production has started, possibly alongside a release date. If filming begins soon enough, Hocus Pocus 2 could likely debut sometime around Halloween, the perfect time for the film to premiere.

The original Hocus Pocus' cult status is thanks, in part, to its association with that holiday. From movie marathons to making Salem, Massachusetts a tourism hotspot, the original film has become a bonafide classic and capitalizing on that by releasing the sequel during Halloween would be the perfect move. Whether or not Parker would be available to film so soon is up in the air - she still has the Sex and the City revival to contend with - but Disney will likely want to get the film out as soon as possible and Hocus Pocus 2 would be the perfect Halloween treat for fans of the original classic.

Disenchanted director Adam Shankman teases a huge update is coming this week. Disney's beloved 2007 live-action/animated hybrid Enchanted is finally getting a sequel, and anticipation is steadily building. The original movie starred Amy Adams as princess-to-be Giselle who, on the day of her wedding to Prince Edward (James Marsden), falls through a magical portal and lands in modern day New York City. Enchanted was a critical success, with many praising how it tackled Disney's typical fairytale formula, and it helped turn Adams into a bona fide movie star.

A sequel has been in the works for years now, but it's taken quite some time to come to fruition. Real progress finally kicked into gear late last year, when Enchanted 2 was formally announced and titled at Disney's Investor Day event. The film will be a Disney+ exclusive, and it will feature the returns of original stars Adams, Patrick Dempsey, Idina Menzel, and Marsden. Newcomers to the world of Andalasia/NYC include Maya Rudolph, Jayma Mays, and Yvette Nicole Brown.

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RELATED: Disney+: Every New Movie & TV Show Coming In May 2021

With Disenchanted, Shankman takes over from the first movie's Kevin Lima as director. This past weekend, Shankman posted a picture of himself on set and shared his enthusiasm for being back at work. Most excitingly, he wrote that there is "huge news coming this week on #disenchanted and #hocuspocus2 to discuss and we will lean into it all." While he couldn't say what said news will be, he added it's "all REALLY REALLY good." You can see Shankman's full post down below.

Dempsey had previously said Disenchanted was looking to film in the spring, and it looks like work is officially underway. As for what this week's news could be, there are many options. Footage from Disenchanted seems unlikely, but an official image of, say, Adams back in character as Giselle isn't out of the question. There could perhaps be additional casting news as well, or even a release date. Right now, Disenchanted doesn't have a time frame, but Disney might be willing to release something now that production has begun.

An Enchanted 2 has been a long time coming, but it's finally happening now. There are still many questions surrounding the project, such as whether any other familiar faces from Enchanted will return or what the plot will be. After years of virtual radio silence, it's actually refreshing to have several new updates arriving within the past few months, with another one on the way this week. Should it be a release date, fans might finally know exactly when they can expect to see this next chapter in Giselle's story. Provided production just started, Disenchanted might not get to premiere on Disney+ until early next year. In that case, fans will already have something to look forward to going into 2022. Stay tuned for more updates this week.