Matthew Monagle
Priyanka Chopra Says a Superhero Like ‘Batgirl’ Would Be Her ‘Dream Part’
With Marvel, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. each building out their respective superhero franchises over the past few years, we now expect every up-and-coming actor to eventually put on a pair of tights in a summer blockbuster. That’s led to plenty of arguments among fans and film critics about the superhero genre as a whole. Should we be worried that talented actors are locking themselves into a multi-movie contracts at the beginning of their careers? Are we losing out on original stories along the way? It’s an issue that everyone seems to have an opinion on, and certainly one that won’t go away anytime soon.
Neill Blomkamp Says His ‘Alien’ Sequel Is ‘Totally Dead’
Someday, I hope someone makes a documentary about Neill Blomkamp’s Alien 5. First the project was held up by Ridley Scott, then Blomkamp released concept art that kinda-sorta forced the studio’s hand, then Blomkamp’s Chappie bombed and 20th Century Fox started dragging its heels, and then Scott started saying that the project was never actually anything substantial to begin with. No Alien sequel, no matter how fun, could possibly match the twists and turns of Blomkamp’s real-life struggle to get the film made.
See the Magic Behind the Head Stabbin’ in the ‘Logan’ VFX Breakdown
If you’ve read any of the more mature X-Men comic books, then you know Wolverine’s go-to move is to stab people in the head. Oh, sure, he’ll slash some throats and cut off some limbs — he’s the best at what he does, after all, even if what he doesn’t isn’t very nice — but when push comes to shove, there’s no replacing a trio of claws to the noggin. That’s what made the violence in James Mangold’s R-rated Logan such a fun experience for fans. Here was the merciless killer they all loved, even if he is still nursing that secret heart of gold.
Edgar Wright Explains How ‘Baby Driver’ Is and Isn’t a Musical
While the first trailers for Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver have hinted at the relationship between music and action in the film, a few fans are probably still wondering why so many critics have referred to the film as a “car chase musical.” Do characters actually burst out into song in the middle of the film? Should we expect dance numbers in the middle of a bank robbery? The trailers for Baby Driver have been very good, of course, but they also hint at a more traditional care chase movie, albeit one with an Edgar Wright twist. What’s the real deal?
Acclaimed Documentary ‘King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters’ Is Getting a Musical Adaptation
While I’m sure Broadway purists probably turn their nose up at the musical adaptations of Hollywood films, I have to admit, I’ve always enjoyed seeing some of my favorite films get the musical treatment. Right this very moment, you can fly to New York City and catch a diverse group of stage adaptations like Groundhog Day, Kinky Boots, Waitress, Amelie, School of Rock, and A Bronx Tale, not to mention the predictable number of classic Disney animated movies. So the news that another movie adaptation is getting the musical treatment is not at all surprising, even if its source material is a little less traditional than most.
Peter Jackson Shares Concept Art From His Upcoming Fantasy Epic ‘Mortal Engines’
It’s been a quiet few years for New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson. After the director completed his (perhaps ill-advised) trilogy of movies based on the original The Hobbit novel, Jackson has mostly kept his focus on long-developing projects, including the sequel to 2011’s The Adventures of Tintin and his rumored adaptation of Philip Reeve’s beloved Predator Cities series. And earlier this week, Jackson shared a first look at some of the concept art from the latter film.
Charlie Sheen Apparently Has the ‘Major League’ Cast Lined Up for a Sequel
It’s been a few years since Charlie Sheen has appeared in a feature film of any type, but to hear the actor say it, he’s already lined up his big comeback project. For a while now, Sheen has been talking up the possibility of a Major League sequel that brings back the cast and crew of the original film. And now it sounds like the actor has put in the work and might be closer than ever to getting that film made with a bunch of familiar faces.
Weekend Box Office Report: ‘Pirates’ Plunders While ‘Baywatch’ Blunders
There was a time not so long ago when Memorial Day weekend was a big deal for Hollywood, but this weekend felt more like a bunch of under-performers gathering together and learning very little about life. Call it the anti-Breakfast Club, if you will. This certainly isn’t what Hollywood had in mind for most of the franchises, and while Johnny Depp’s latest pirate movie did OK, OK seems to be the operative word of the summer if you’re not a movie about superheroes or literate villagers. Here’s the weekend gross through Sunday afternoon:
‘Aquaman’ Producer Explains How His Film Will Fit Into the ‘Justice League’ Timeline
One of the odd concerns of opening your cinematic universe with two of its biggest crossover events — Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League — is deciding where to place the standalone movies. Take Wonder Woman, for example. Rather than move forward in the modern era, Wonder Woman circled back to World War I to introduce the character of Diana Prince and her family history. Do you do the same thing with movies like Aquaman and Flash? Walk audiences through their origin stories and get to know some of the supporting characters in their universe? Or do you move forward after the events of Justice League and pick people up along the way?
Things Get Awkward (and Sexy!) in the ‘Deadpool’ Gag Reel
Behold, the gag reel. Long a staple of the home video market, the gag reel was perhaps at its most popular in the 1990s, when Jackie Chan released a string of movies that included painful outtakes during the closing credits. When studios realized that they could package an entire DVD release around the special feature menu, the gag reel became a mainstay of any comedy releases over the last 15 years. And because Deadpool was one big improvised joke with enough physical humor to make Mel Brooks blush, it was a natural fit for the film’s Blu-ray release as well.