What You Need To Know About Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

What You Need To Know About Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic

Although things are slowing down on the theatrical front for a bit, there is still a ton of Star Wars headed our way in the future. There are multiple films from both David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and Rian Johnson on the way after this year’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker wraps up the Skywalker Saga.

That may not be all though, because if a new report is accurate, a movie based on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game is also in the works. According to the report, Laeta Kalogridis, co-writer of Alita: Battle Angel and creator of Netflix’s Altered Carbon, is close to finishing the first script of a potential Knights of the Old Republic trilogy.

A Knights of the Old Republic trilogy is huge news because the Old Republic is something die-hard Star Wars fans have been calling for since Disney took over Lucasfilm and started making new movies set in a galaxy far, far away. But not everyone played the Knights of the Old Republic video game or is familiar with Star Wars stories outside the films, and thus have no idea why this is exciting news.

So here is a rundown of what you need to know about Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

The Games (And Comics)

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic was released on the original Xbox and PC in 2003. The role-playing game from BioWare and LucasArts is a 40-hour epic written by Drew Karpyshyn, who also wrote Mass Effect as well as five Star Wars novels, including the Darth Bane trilogy. KOTOR received universal acclaim and is considered to be the best Star Wars game ever made. It’s also seen as one of the best role-playing games ever and one of the best video games of all time. Basically, there is a ton of love out there for Knights of the Old Republic.

Obsidian Entertainment teamed up with LucasArts to handle the sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords, which was released in 2004. A third game, the massively multiplayer online RPG Star Wars: The Old Republic was released in 2011 that was set 300 years after the original games, but was impacted by those events and was still during the Old Republic time period.

There was also the Dark Horse comic series that ran for 50 issues from 2006-2010 and was set eight years prior to the first Knights of the Old Republic game. Additionally, there is the Star Wars: The Old Republic novel series, two titles of which were written by KOTOR’s Drew Karpyshyn. This is all to say that there are plenty of sources and ancillary materials for Laeta Kalogridis and Lucasfilm to draw upon for a Knights of the Old Republic movie.

The Story

The story of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is its biggest claim to fame and why so many want to see it on the big screen. Set 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire and the events of the Skywalker Saga, KOTOR tells a story of Jedi and Sith when both are powerful forces in the galaxy with many in their ranks (this is before the Sith’s Rule of Two).

The opening crawl warns that the Republic is on the verge of collapse and under attack from Darth Malak, a Sith Lord and last surviving apprentice of the notoriously evil Darth Revan. Malak has released an armada against the Republic and countless Jedi are falling in battle, with some even falling to the Dark Side.

We learn that prior to the events of the game, Darth Malak and Darth Revan were both Jedi Knights who abandoned the Order to fight for the Republic in the Mandalorian Wars. The two became heroes, but following the end of those wars, they went into the Unknown Regions where they fell under the influence of the leader of the Sith Empire. The two returned as Sith and battled the Jedi and the Republic, but eventually Darth Malak turned on his master, firing upon his ship and usurping Revan’s position.

The game begins with the player assuming the role of a soldier of the Galactic Republic who wakes up aboard the Endar Spire, a ship in the Outer Rim, as it comes under attack. The player eventually crosses paths with Bastila Shan, the Jedi Knight sent to capture Malak and Revan when they returned from the Unknown Regions.

Alongside Bastila Shan, the player seeks to put together a star map that can lead them to Darth Malak and the Star Forge, a superweapon speculated to be the source of much of his power. It’s a 40-hour game, so a lot happens, but the player travels to multiple planets like Tatooine, Dantooine, Kashyyyk, Manaan and Korriban, coming into contact with a wide cast of characters in the fight to stop Darth Malak and save the galaxy.

The Twist

Part of what makes the story of Knights of the Old Republic so special is a twist that ranks up there in Star Wars storytelling with the “No, I am your father” moment from The Empire Strikes Back. Spoilers for a 16-year-old game ahead! During the course of the game, the player learns that his or her true identity is none other than Darth Revan, the Dark Lord presumed dead when Darth Malak fired upon his master’s ship.

Bastila Shan and her strike team were on Revan’s ship to capture him when Malak fired upon the ship, trying to kill his friend and master. Darth Malak almost succeeded as Revan was gravely wounded. But Bastila Shan saved him and took him to the Jedi Council on Dantooine. There, Revan’s memories were wiped and he was brainwashed into believing that he was a Republic soldier. The hope being that eventually, through the Force bond Bastila and Revan shared after she saved his life, they could use him to discover the location of the Star Forge and help destroy the Sith.

It’s a huge reveal that sets up a forking path for Revan. Should the player choose Dark Side choices, he or she will usurp Malak at game's end and reclaim the title of Dark Lord of the Sith, seeking new dominion over the galaxy. If the player remains in the light, he or she will destroy the Star Forge, defeat Darth Malak and be hailed as a hero and welcomed back into the Jedi Order as the Prodigal Knight.

The Characters

A major aspect of Knights of the Old Republic’s compelling story is that it is following a rich, diverse cast of fun characters that the player cares about. Revan, a human male, is a fascinatingly complex character in the Star Wars mythos because he has lived on both sides of the Dark/Light spectrum and everywhere in between. There is a reason he remains a fan favorite despite no longer being part of official canon.

Darth Malak is merciless and powerful, everything you could want in a Sith Lord. Bastila Shan is one of Star Wars’ great female characters, a confident and skilled Jedi Knight with the incredible Force power of Battle Meditation. The power allows her to boost the morale, stamina and courage of her allies, helping them to act as one, quickly and efficiently, while simultaneously demoralizing and striking fear in the hearts of the enemy.

Other characters include the skilled Republic pilot Carth Onasi, the Mandalorian mercenary Canderous Ordo, the cheery Twi’lek teen Mission Vao, the Wookie Zaalbar, the Gray Jedi Jolee Bindo and the fan favorite, and K-2SO predecessor for droid snark, the assassin droid HK-47. They are all great characters that put faces to the galaxy’s conflicts and make the universe feel bigger.

Possibilities For The Film

What all of this means for the movie it is too early to say. I think the biggest question is whether or not this is a real adaptation of the Knights of the Republic video game. The initial report said that Laeta Kalogridis was writing a script based on that game, but the cynic in me thinks that leaves a lot of wiggle room for a Knights of the Old Republic movie to have a different story.

As evidenced by the jettisoning of the Expanded Universe, Lucasfilm under Disney has shown a reticence to adapt existing material, instead choosing to tell entirely new stories where all audiences are on an even footing knowledge-wise and no one knows the story in advance. So I could totally see a Knights of the Old Republic movie simply being a story set during the Old Republic time period that takes inspiration from KOTOR, but not one that has the same story of Revan and Darth Malak.

That would be a shame though, because as Game of Thrones showed, you can adapt material where some of the audience already knows the story beats and still have success. If anything, the experience of watching that show was enhanced because some audience members knew what was coming in advance, making Ned’s death and the Red Wedding all the more fun. The same could be true for the truth about Revan.

Lucasfilm has cherry-picked non-canon elements from the EU before (like Grand Admiral Thrawn appearing in Star Wars Rebels), so maybe that’s possible here. Hopefully it does more than cherry-pick though, because Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most beloved Star Wars tales for a reason and it has all the necessary ingredients to make for a awesome big screen trilogy.

We’ll keep you updated on all the various Star Wars trilogies in the works as we hear about them. You can next revisit a galaxy far, far away when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters on December 20. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest movies.

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That Time Scarlett Johansson Had To Pick Up Guys While Filming A Movie

That Time Scarlett Johansson Had To Pick Up Guys While Filming A Movie

2013’s Under the Skin was certainly one of the most bizarre roles to date for Scarlett Johansson. The actress played an alien masquerading as an alluring woman who scours the streets of Glasgow for men, entices them to have sex with her and then murders them in cold blood. As it turns out, during the making of Under the Skin Johansson had quite the unconventional experience with several of the men playing opposite of her. Here’s what she said:

A remarkable aspect of Under the Skin is that a lot of the people who appear in it aren’t actors. They’re normal people – who happen to be walking down a road minding their own business when a pretty lady pulls up in a van alongside them and offers them a lift to Tesco and then a film crew clutching disclaimers leaps out of the back.

Wait… what? Many of the men featured in Under the Skin were actually picked up by Scarlett Johansson herself, whilst she was in character in short black hair. In an interview with The Guardian, she was asked at what point did director Jonathan Glazer tell her they didn’t have other actors and the plan was to drift through the streets and find some during the making of the 2013 sci-fi drama? Her answer:

That happened later on. And none of us knew how it was going to work. We toyed with lots of different things like prosthetics, teeth, all kinds of things that would change my face but only slightly, when in fact there was no need to do any of that.

Under the Skin was an indie film with just a $13 million budget, which explains the lack of actors in the film. It was unclear if this method would actually work though. Would they recognize the actress? It seemed to work out in the film’s favor and lean into the realism of the experience.

Daily Mail spoke with one of the men who was approached by the famous actress. 29-year-old Kevin McAlinden stopped him while in her car, rolled down the window and asked “Are you single? What are you doing tonight?” He didn’t recognize her as Scarlett Johansson, but noticed the actress’ undeniable beauty had recently split with his partner. He thought he won the jackpot. In his words:

I thought, 'Yes! This is unbelievable!' I’d been having quite a tough time in my personal life, so this was like a lucky break. I should have known it was too good to be true.

When he got into the car, he of course was told he was being recruited for a movie role. Can you imagine? That’s Black Widow, man? Duh! She’s only the most successful actresses in the world. Either way this is a crazy story about the behind-the-scenes of Under the Skin and certainly calls for a second-viewing after learning this about it.

You can see Scarlett Johansson next in Avengers: Endgame starting April 26.

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The Hellboy Reboot Will Surprise A Lot Of People, Ian McShane Says

The Hellboy Reboot Will Surprise A Lot Of People, Ian McShane Says

It's no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. Comic book adaptations have been proven the most profitable and popular genre in the business, with plenty of studios making their own attempts at box office supremacy. Guillermo del Toro adapted the Hellboy comics back in the early 2000's, and now a reboot is heading to theaters starring Stranger Things' David Harbour as the title character.

Joining David Harbour in the new Hellboy cast is Ian McShane, who has been seen in the John Wick and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, as well as Game of Thrones. McShane is taking on the role of Hellboy's father figure Trevor Bruttenholm, which was played in the original Hellboy movies by John Hurt. According to the 76 year-old actor, the new movie is going to pack plenty of surprises. He recently said:

Hellboy, yeah! I think that’s going to surprise a lot of people. David [Harbour of Stranger Things] is a marvelous actor. He just fills out the role. It was nice and bittersweet taking over [Professor Bruttenholm] from a dear old friend of mine, John Hurt. But it’s not Part 3. It’s a complete reboot of [Guillermo del Toro’s] Hellboy, and I think they picked the right guy in David. It was a pleasure to work with him and be in Bulgaria for three weeks, a country I’ve never been to before. Greatest fresh vegetables I’ve ever tasted. And the scripts are funny and smart and bright, and the action is fantastic, and I have grandkids who love all that. They can’t wait.

It looks like Hellboy is going to be a blockbuster that somewhat defies genre, at least according to Ian McShane's description of the project. The script will feature comedy and brightness, while the R-rated reboot will also be far more violent and bloody than Guillermo del Toro's set of films. So basically, there's no telling what's coming down the pipeline.

Ian McShane's comments to the New York Times are sure to excite fans of Hellboy, as well as moviegoers who are curious about the new adaptation. Comic fans are always looking to how accurately the work on the page will be adapted for the silver screen. Guillermo del Toro brought the colorful world to life through his movies, but the PG-13 rating prevented them from being as brutal as the title character is wont to be. So that'll likely be one big way the upcoming movie will surprise audiences.

But Ian McShane also referenced how comedic and light Hellboy will be at the same time. The trailers showed how much attitude David Harbour will have as the big red guy, and it'll be fascinating to see how "funny and smart and bright" the bloody superhero adaptation ends up being.

All will be revealed when Hellboy arrives in theaters on April 12, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Watch Aladdin’s Will Smith Belt Out ‘Prince Ali’ In New Clip

Watch Aladdin’s Will Smith Belt Out ‘Prince Ali’ In New Clip

Ahead of Disney’s next live-action remake stomping into theaters next weekend, a clip featuring Will Smith’s Genie as gives a disguised Aladdin a grand entrance in the memorable big number from the 1992 animated musical has been released. Make way for Prince Ali and take a look:

Ring bells! Bang the drums! Are you gonna love this guy? The new clip gives fans a look into the new “Prince Ali” sequence, though it doesn’t feature the entire song, it starts midway through the epic number and leaves the grand finale to the imagination.

The new clip from IGN does offer up a bit of Will Smith’s own take on Genie, previously and belovedly played by Robin Williams. Smith’s spin unsurprisingly denotes a more hip-hop flavor to the Disney classic, though the actor is actually singing rather than rapping for much of the sequence.

The main difference is instead of comedic quips on the side such as “don’t they look lovely June” or magically turning into other forms such as tiger or child as the animated movie does. Instead, it focuses more on the song, dance and CGI animals. The massive scene featuring 1000 dancers and extras has the eyes of the city of Agrabah taking notice, namely Naomi Scott’s Jasmine and Nasim Pedrad’s new character, Jasmine’s handmaiden. The latter looks a lot more impressed by the entrance then the princess Aladdin has his sights on.

But why does Will Smith say the line “when it comes to exotic-type mammals” while riding an Ostrich… birds aren’t mammals? Anyways, fans took to Twitter to voice some strong feelings about the clip. Take a look at @Ameligatha’s comments:

These comparisons were bound to happen. Some fans will never be pleased with anything other than the original, yet her comments display an interest in the movie moving away to rapping to differentiate it from the source material. According the Will Smith, he will be rapping in the flick, we just have yet to see it in the film yet. On the flip side, @stacydtwit defended the clip below:

So far, the new Aladdin has sought to offer a mix of nostalgia for the original Disney flick and bring a whole new world to moviegoers as well. The addition of Will Smith in of itself will bring a different kind of Aladdin and apparently he did a bit of improv on the film with Mena Massoud.

First reactions for the new Aladdin have been fairly positive, as early viewers have called Smith’s Genie a lot of fun and not worth the concern brought on since his blue look was first revealed.You can check out Aladdin in theaters on May 24. Are you excited for the film after a look at this “Prince Ali” clip? Let us know in the comments below!

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Shazam! Box Office: DC's Latest Is Off To An Impressive Start

Shazam! Box Office: DC's Latest Is Off To An Impressive Start

Things weren't looking so good for the DC Extended Universe after the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League. Not only did it receive a rather serious thrashing from critics, but it also failed to meet box office expectations. Fortunately, however, the franchise has been on a much better path ever since. Released last December, James Wan's Aquaman has become the most successful DC Comics adaptation ever made, and now David F. Sandberg's Shazam! is off to a fantastic start as well. Check out its numbers, as well as the rest of the Top 10, below, and join me after for analysis!

The numbers aren't exactly record-shattering, but after its third day in wide release Shazam! is definitely in a good place, and Warner Bros. must surely be happy about the performance. Early estimates suggested that the film wouldn't only make $40-$50 million during its opening weekend, and it was able to not only clear that bar, but add a few extra million on top of it. Add in the fact that it's one of the less expensive modern day superhero blockbusters - made for a reported $100 million - and you have the makings of a legitimate winner in the DC Comics realm.

What surely helped in a major way with this one is just the buzz that the film has received. The studio clearly knew they had a winner with this one, and thanks to a whole lot of early screenings Shazam! has been riding high on positive word of mouth for quite a while now. It's received the second highest Rotten Tomatoes score of any DC Extended Universe title, with its 91% only just a little below the 93% earned by Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman back in 2017. On top of that, audiences are also showing some very real appreciation for it, as CinemaScore is reporting an "A" grade for the release - which makes a whole lot of sense when you consider what a crowd-pleaser the feature is.

Adding to the good news is that Shazam! is also off to a wonderful start in foreign territories as well. The movie is now out in most places, and ticket sales from abroad have already significantly bolstered the worldwide box office totals. To date it has made $102 million abroad, which brings its global total to $158.8 million. When you factor in publicity and advertising costs, it still probably has to make a bit more money before it gets to be called profitable, but this is a great place for the film to be after just three days. It's technically the slowest start for a DC Extended Universe title, but the previous film with that distinction was Aquaman, and we know how things turned out with that.

Perhaps part of the reason why Shazam! didn't open bigger is because it had some real competition at the box office, as Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer's Pet Sematary also put up some legitimate numbers this past weekend. Critics (61% on Rotten Tomatoes) and audiences ("C+" on CinemaScore) didn't respond to it quite as well as the big new superhero release, but the $25 million it brought it is nothing to shake a stick at. Not only did the horror film only cost $21 million to make, but it actually had the second best opening ever for a Stephen King adaptation - which is a pretty big deal when you consider how popular King is, and how many movies have been made based on his books. Obviously it came nowhere close to Andres Muschietti's IT, which pulled in a shocking $123.4 million during its first three days back in September 2017, but it made enough to take the second place spot away from Mikael Hafstrom's 1408, which made $20.6 million back in 2007. It's also doing pretty well in foreign territories, having made $17.3 million outside of North America so far.

Robin Bissell's The Best Of Enemies was the only other big title to hit theaters this weekend, though it had a relatively small wide release with only 1,705 theaters showing it. Still, with the star power of Taraji P. Henson and Sam Rockwell, and a powerful true story to tell, the movie managed to take sixth place over all, and make $4.5 million in its initial release. That's not too shabby when you consider the $10 million budget. It won't ultimately be as big as The Upside, which made $107.6 million for STX Entertainment earlier this year, but it may still wind up making some money for the studio.

Beyond the new releases, unfortunately, there wasn't a ton of good news for Hollywood this time around. After winning the box office last week with a disappointing $45 million take, Tim Burton's Dumbo fell by 60.4 percent in its second Friday-to-Saturday stretch. As of now it $213.7 million globally, which seems like a lot, but that number doesn't look so great when you consider that it was made with a $170 million budget. It's going to be seriously tough for the film to be ultimately considered profitable - but the good news for Disney is that they still have Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Captain Marvel performing exceptionally, having crossed the $1 billion milestone earlier this week.

Jordan Peele's Us is also starting to fade a bit, but at this point ever dollar the movie makes is pure profit. Made for just $20 million, the horror hit has already brought in $216.6 million worldwide, which is only just a big short of the $255.4 million that Get Out made when it was released in 2017. That's absolutely remarkable.

Next week we will once again be seeing a lot of variety hitting the big screen nationwide, with Neil Marshall's Hellboy, Tina Gordon Chism's Little, Laika's Missing Link, and Jenny Gage's After all arriving in wide release. Collectively they should all do a pretty nice job shaking up the Top 10, so be sure to tune in next Sunday to see how it all turns out.

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How Godzilla: King Of Monsters Is Different Than Other Movies In The Franchise

How Godzilla: King Of Monsters Is Different Than Other Movies In The Franchise

After traveling back to 1973 to tell King Kong’s take in Kong: Skull Island, the MonsterVerse is jumping back to the present day this summer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Due to the events of 2014’s Godzilla, the public now aware of the Titans’ existence, and King of the Monsters will see more of these giant beasts awakening to wreak havoc on the world. But monsters are just one half of the equation in these kaiju movies. There are also the human players directly involved, and according to King of the Monsters star Vera Farmiga, a big way this sequel distinguishes itself from its predecessors is that it places a mother/daughter relationship front and center. In Farmiga’s words:

The previous Godzilla really focused on the relationship of a father and a son. At the heart of our film is this relationship between a mother and daughter.

Obviously the main draw of these types of movies is to see monsters battling one another, but the human stories also help keep the narrative grounded, so to speak. In Godzilla, the relationship between Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Ford Brody and his father Joe, played by Bryan Cranston, was explored during the first half of the movie, and for the sequel, we get to see Vera Farmiga’s Dr. Emma Russell interacting with her daughter Madison, played by Millie Bobby Brown. Emma’s ex-husband and Madison’s father, Kyle Chandler’s Dr. Mark Russell, will also appear in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but as Farmiga told Syfy Wire, it’s Emma and Madison’s relationship will get a lot of attention.

Godzilla didn’t have much time to focus on Ford and Joe Brody’s dynamic since Joe died after the awakening of the first MUTO, but it doesn’t look like Godzilla: King of the Monsters will repeat that formula. The sequel sees Emma and Madison Russell being kidnapped by a mysterious organization, presumably due to Emma’s work on communicating with and possibly controlling the Titans. Strangely, though, the first King of the Monsters trailer framed Emma as a seemingly willing participant in whatever this group has planned, and both Madison and Mark expressing disappointment and disgust at her actions, although admittedly, it could just look that way thanks to how the preview was edited.

Either way, Emma and Madison will be among the main human characters getting the spotlight in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and since the previous MonsterVerse movies, let alone most monsters movies, don’t highlighted mother/daughter relationships, this makes for a nice change of pace. That said, while both Millie Bobby Brown and Kyle Chandler are confirmed to appear in Godzilla vs. Kong, Vera Farmiga has not been announced as part of that cast. It’s possible that Farmiga’s involvement either hasn’t been cemented or she’ll have a smaller role in the fourth MonsterVerse entry, but perhaps, just like how Ford Brody lost his father, Madison will lose her mother during King of the Monsters. That’d be tragic, but in the MonsterVerse, tragedy comes in large supply.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters rampages into theaters on May 31, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. Don’t forget to look through our 2019 release schedule to learn what other movies are coming out this year.

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First Look At James McAvoy’s Bill Denbrough In IT Chapter 2

First Look At James McAvoy’s Bill Denbrough In IT Chapter 2

2017 brought us the first installment of director Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of Stephen King’s legendary novel IT. It also brought the suspense of having to wait for the second half of the story, as the doorstopping length of that source book inspired Muschietti to split the story into two parts.

The first chapter delivered the childhood portion of the story, and now with a brand new photo from the director himself, we have our first look at the adult form of Bill Denbrough in IT: Chapter 2, played by James McAvoy:

While it’s not a full-body shot of McAvoy’s adult incarnation of the character originated by Jaeden Lieberher in IT, it looks like we’re seeing Bill indulging in one of his old habits. As the posture of James McAvoy’s body in the photo suggests, it looks like Bill’s riding a bike, more than likely his childhood steed Silver.

Bill is certainly going to need that bike, and any other support from his childhood memories he can get, as he and the entire Loser’s Club gang are reuniting in Derry to take on the evil known as Pennywise The Clown once again. After thirty years of relative peace, with his group of friends being scattered all over, it’s going to take more than just a slingshot to defeat the greatest fears of Bill and the rest of the gang.

With Andy Muschietti previously confirming that a lot of detail went into finding actors that could look and feel like their childhood incarnations, we’re starting to see that work really pay off. See for yourself, by comparing the photo of James McAvoy above with this photo of Jaeden Martell’s version of Bill from IT:

While we’ll have to wait until later this year to see how McAvoy’s performance captures the essence of Lieberher in IT: Chapter 2, there’s certainly a strong resemblance between the two actors in this photo from Andy Muschietti’s Instagram. This isn’t the first we’ve seen when it comes to the adult versions of The Losers Club, as we were treated to some footage of another scene at this year’s CinemaCon.

Through the clips shown to us from IT: Chapter 2, it sounds like James McAvoy isn’t the only example of adult actors sticking the landing on their aged portrayals of their younger counterparts. With a lot of that particular look at the film showing us Jessica Chastain’s Bev, and a few snippets of other Losers being shown, it feels like the fires of hype surrounding this momentous finale are starting to be stoked higher than ever.

IT: Chapter 2 invades our dreams, nightmares, and local theaters, on September 6; but if you want to see what else is heading our way in the months prior to the return to Derry, head over to the 2019 release schedule for further information.

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Wonder Park's Opening Beat Expectations But It Could Still Lose A Lot Of Money

Wonder Park's Opening Beat Expectations But It Could Still Lose A Lot Of Money

Wonder Park just opened in theaters with no credited director. It took five years to get it to the big screen. It reportedly cost close to $100 million even before marketing and distribution. Critics ripped it, and moviegoers seemed to think it was just OK.

But at least they watched it!

Wonder Park was initially expected to make around $10 million for its opening weekend, per THR. Instead, it opened to $16 million. That's not one of the world's great success stories, but the PG film overperformed from projections.

Wonder Park made $16 million at the domestic box office and another $4.3 million in 19 international markets. So the current worldwide total is $20.3 million. The film clearly has a long way to go to recoup the $80M-$100M it reportedly cost to make the movie even before distribution. But it could've been worse! Just saying. Find those silver linings where you can.

Wonder Park managed to take second place at the March 15-17 box office, behind repeat winner Captain Marvel but ahead of fellow newcomer Five Feet Apart.

In other good news, Wonder Park has a B+ CinemaScore from moviegoers polled on opening night. In less good news, Wonder Park currently has a 30% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 42% rating from the audience. That 30% from critics is even lower than our own CinemaBlend projection.

In January 2018, when Wonder Park was still called Amusement Park, director Dylan Brown was fired from the movie. Multiple women accused him of "inappropriate and unwanted conduct" in the workplace. Paramount responded by saying they conducted a thorough investigation and Brown was no longer employed by the company.

No one else was hired as a director so the film opened on March 15, 2019 with no credited director.

Wonder Park features the all-star voice cast of Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, John Oliver, Mila Kunis, Kenan Thompson, Ken Jeong, and more. In the movie, a young girl named June (Brianna Denski) and her mother (Garner) dream up a magical amusement park run by animals, called Wonderland. June ends up transported from her room to a life-size version of the park.

André Nemec, a screenwriter and producer on the film, told EW about the plan for making the movie:

We thought it would be really fascinating to have that amusement park be a product of the girl’s imagination, to see when children are freed from the constraints of the everyday world around them and they get this opportunity to create and design. There’s this beautiful freedom to this idea that an amusement park on a life-size scale could be built in the image of a girl whose buildings blocks are the things we find at home, in the way that kids learn how to build.

Wonder Park is now playing in theaters as one of the many movies packing theaters in 2019. A Wonder Park television series based on the film is still expected on Nickelodeon in 2019.

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Meagan Good Loves A Very Specific Part About Her Top Secret Shazam Role

Meagan Good Loves A Very Specific Part About Her Top Secret Shazam Role

Warning: This story contains major SPOILERS for Shazam!

In one of the best kept superhero movie secrets in recent memory, the end of Shazam! saw Billy Batson transform his foster siblings into the Shazam Family to help him defeat Doctor Sivana. This necessitated adult actors to play the grown up, superhero versions of the kids. Among them was Meagan Good, who plays the superhero version of Faithe Herman’s Darla Dudley.

CinemaBlend got to speak with Meagan Good in St. Louis while she was promoting her new film The Intruder. During the conversation, the actress spoke about the very specific part she loved about her top secret Shazam! role. She said:

More action. More action, more fighting. I also love, because I definitely wanted to do the action and be kick-ass, but I love that I get to be a little girl. I love that I get to show the goofy side of myself because I don’t get to show that in most of the characters that I play, so it’s kind of like the best of two worlds.

Like most actors it seems, Meagan Good was thrilled to do all of the fun action and fighting that her superhero role required, but the part that she really loved was that her character was a kid. Although Superhero Darla may look like an adult on the outside, on the inside she was still just the sweet and precocious little girl that we had seen throughout the film.

The nature of the role allowed Meagan Good to let her inner kid come out, have fun with her performance and act goofy. As she said, her goofiness is not the kind of thing that she usually gets to show in most of her roles, and certainly not in something like The Intruder, which is a thriller that pits her against an insane Dennis Quaid.

You see that goofiness in Meagan Good’s performance in Shazam! and it really sells the fact that this is a little girl that has suddenly found herself with incredible powers in an adult superhero body.

So the actress loved her secret cameo as Superhero Darla in Shazam! because it gave her something different to do than what she generally does from an acting perspective, while also allowing her to express herself and show a side of her personality that people don’t often get to see.

Combine that with the opportunity to do a bunch of kick-ass action, and it really made Shazam! a rewarding experience for Meagan Good. Hopefully that experience gets to continue and play an even bigger part of the story in Shazam! 2. Although a sequel hasn’t been confirmed as of yet, there are some signs that it is in the works and it would be a shame if we didn’t get to see more after one of the DCEU’s best films to date.

You can listen to Meagan Good speak to CinemaBlend about her top secret role in Shazam! in the video below:

While we don’t know when you’ll be able to see Meagan Good back in the superhero realm, you can still catch the actress on the big screen now in The Intruder. Next year she stars in the video game adaptation Monster Hunter. For everything heading to theaters this year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

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Hotel Mumbai Wants To Leave Its Audience With A Message

Hotel Mumbai Wants To Leave Its Audience With A Message

In the wake of tragedies like the one that took place at the Taj Hotel in 2008, people start to ask questions surrounding the aftermath of such an event. The same is true for when people see those incidents depicted on film, much as Hotel Mumbai takes that very terrorist attack and commits it to the silver screen. The one question that tends to unite the two subjects is, of course, what can be learned through such atrocities, be it through their direct examination or their cinematic dissection. In that same spirit, I asked co-writer/director Anthony Maras what he wanted audiences to take away from his film, and he explained to CinemaBlend:

The one thing I think that’s important to try and get across to audiences is this idea that even in the darkest of times, we can find a common humanity that can get us through. Again, when you have people from all these different backgrounds coming together to survive, and find a common humanity, I think is important.

This question was among others CinemaBlend had asked him during the recent press day for Hotel Mumbai's theatrical release. In the case of Maras, the film's ultimate purpose is to show that even in the darkest of times, the recurring theme of common humanity mustn't be forgotten. While there were those who perpetrated such heinous acts on that fateful day in November 2008, there was also a heroic compliment of staff members at the Taj Hotel, as well as a number of guests, who banded together and worked to survive the unthinkable together.

Naturally, no matter how much a person can understand the survival instinct of the victims depicted in Hotel Mumbai, there's also another key component of the equation to understand: The actions of those who committed said acts. This is what one of the film's stars, Dev Patel, discussed with us. When asked to provide what he felt the film's big takeaway, he offered this:

I feel we’re in a society now where everything is so temporary, so fleeting. You know, you can read something or watch something on the news that is so horrific, and then maybe you might go to the extent of texting a friend about it. Then you’ll go, ‘alright, back to my breakfast then.’ To create a movie like this, and to make people actually simmer in a situation, actually force them to really be in it, and understand it, the nuts and bolts of the situation. To understand the sheer suffering that people went through, to see the blank look in those young teenagers’ eyes, wielding those AK-47s. It’s really important, I think, at the pace things are going at today.

What Patel describes above is certainly one of the reasons why Hotel Mumbai works as well as it does. Rather than just focusing on one particular side or facet of participants, the film takes a more robust look at both sides of the action. While we obviously see the hostages trying to survive throughout various parts of the hotel, we do also see those who carry out the acts of terrorism coming into Mumbai.

The film shows their ultimate motivation, as these young men take their actions as holy charges set upon them by their overseer; a man who encourages them to keep him on the phone so he can hear the screams and carnage take place. Digging into that portion of the subject a little deeper, Dev Patel, who also serves as an executive producer on Hotel Mumbai, had the following remarks to offer:

To put a microscope to those sorts of situations, because they once probably were a rarity, and now they’re not. It’s sad to say, but it feels like it’s a trend. And solving it is not gonna be getting more guns, it’s by understanding that the root of the cancer. We need education and things like that. I really hope that films like this can do that by shaking people from their core, electrifying them into action and discussion.

At its best, films can help educate the world and instill a sense of empathy for victims of historical events such as the attack on the Taj Hotel. It was with that intent that Anthony Maras and Dev Patel set off to make Hotel Mumbai the admirable film that it is, and it testifies to the power of understanding both sides of history when discussing such events. By feeling and processing this infamous series of events, people can begin to truly work through their recurrence, in hopes that one day it won't ever have to happen again. You can hear such a message resonate in the tones of both Maras and Patel's voices, as they speak through the video provided from our interviews below:

Hotel Mumbai opens in theaters on Friday.

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What We Want To See From The Star Wars: Episode IX Trailer

What We Want To See From The Star Wars: Episode IX Trailer

It has been roughly 1 year and 4 months since Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the last film in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, hit theaters. In all that time we have yet to see so much as a single frame from the next and final film in the trilogy, J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode IX. Fortunately, that long wait will soon be at an end.

Star Wars Celebration begins this week in Chicago, and with a Star Wars: Episode IX panel featuring director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy scheduled for Friday, April 12, the prevailing wisdom and expectation is that is when we will finally get the trailer for the film. A trailer for a new Star Wars film would be eagerly anticipated regardless, but this one has even more riding on it.

This trailer, which is for the final movie in the Skywalker Saga, comes after the bumpy patch of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Those factors mean that this trailer has to deliver. So what do we want from the Star Wars: Episode IX trailer to make it worth the wait? Here are a few things we’d like to see.

A Title

This one is obvious and pretty much a given (how weird would it be if we got a trailer but no full title?) but that doesn’t diminish the fact that we want to know what this movie is called. This will be the latest we have found out the title of any movie in the Sequel Trilogy and while the title doesn’t matter insofar as the quality of the film is concerned, on a macro level, it is important. This is the end of the Skywalker Saga and an over 40-year journey, the concluding chapter title is more than a point of speculation. It should have weight and meaning and sound cool.

In our long wait for the title reveal, there have been a ton of rumored and potential contenders thrown out there, from Son of Darkness and The New Order to Balance of the Force and Skywalkers. We’ll soon find out if any of these guesses were right. I expect that this title reveal will be done as it was for Avengers 4, with the title being revealed at the end of the trailer. If it’s a banger, it will be a heck of a way to close out the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX and send fans into a frenzy.

The Knights Of Ren

Glimpsed in the first full trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Rey’s lightsaber vision in the film) and talked about in both Episode VII and Episode VIII, we still have yet to see the enigmatic Knights of Ren in person in the sequel trilogy. Rumors have indicated that Kylo Ren’s coterie of force-wielders will finally show up in Star Wars: Episode IX and if that’s true, they need to be in the trailer.

At this point, the villains are just Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, General Hux, and a bunch of faceless First Order soldiers. The Star Wars: Episode IX trailer could up the stakes and the threat level in a major way by giving us a group of badass darksiders showcasing some serious skills and powers or doing something menacing. J.J. Abrams introduced the idea of the Knights of Ren all the way back in 2015’s The Force Awakens, its time to finally deliver and that should happen starting with the Episode IX trailer.

The Original Trilogy Characters

In the official Star Wars: Episode IX casting announcement, Lucasfilm let us know that Mark Hamill would be reprising his role as Luke Skywalker, Billy Dee Williams would be returning to the franchise as Lando Calrissian, and the late Carrie Fisher would appear as Leia Organa thanks to unused footage from the previous two films. Although the focus of this film will likely be on the new characters like Rey, Finn, and Kylo, the trailer for Episode IX, the end of the Skywalker Saga, should honor its history by showing these Original Trilogy characters.

Lucasfilm made the bold decision to reveal that Luke Skywalker would be back (in some form) in Episode IX, choosing not to keep it a secret despite his death in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. With Luke returning being public knowledge, we should see him in the trailer. With regards to Leia, without knowing how much footage they had to work with, I wouldn’t want too much revealed ahead of time, but just a shot or two would be enough. And Donald Glover’s Lando stole the show in the Solo trailers, and just seeing Billy Dee Williams as Lando again in the Episode IX trailer would be great.

Lightsaber Moments

There are few inventions in fiction as cool and beloved as the lightsaber, and seeing an awesome lightsaber ignite or some signature lightsaber combat is a great way to have people freaking out over a trailer. Just think back to the trailer for Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace when you saw Darth Maul whip out a double-bladed lightsaber or in the teaser for The Force Awakens when Kylo Ren pulled his jagged crossguard lightsaber. The trailer for Episode IX should have a similar ‘Holy Shit!’ lightsaber moment.

I know Rey’s/Anakin’s blue saber is/was broken and I’m not saying we need to see a new kind of lightsaber in the trailer, but it feels like we do need to see some kind of lightsaber moment that surprises you and has you pumping your fist. The Last Jedi didn’t feature any lightsaber on lightsaber battles but I hope and expect J.J. Abrams to give us plenty of that in this film. If we could see some of that in the trailer it would help get everyone back on board with this saga and hyped about this film.

The New Characters

Star Wars: Episode IX may be the last film in this trilogy and the Skywalker Saga at large, but there are still new faces that will be introduced. Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Dominic Monaghan, and Naomi Ackie are all joining the cast in roles that are yet to be officially revealed. There is also still something of an open question whether or not Matt Smith is in this movie. Exciting new characters interacting with our faves and doing cool things is a good way to build the hype for the film and hopefully the Episode IX trailer does just that by showing them.

That said, there is a caveat to this wish list item; if any of the new characters or their roles in the film are meant to be a surprise, like Yoda in The Last Jedi, I’m fine with omitting them from the trailer, as I don’t think any of us want major plot beats spoiled. But we should be able to see at least some of these new characters in the trailer, if only enough to whet our appetites and give us something to speculate over until December.

An Idea Of The Story

Generally speaking, I’m a huge advocate of trailers that go light on plot details and heavy on establishing the tone of a film, and while that latter part is also important, I think that the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX needs to really give us an idea of what the story is. This isn’t a teaser that’s arriving a year before the film releases, this is a trailer that’s giving us our first anything from this film a mere eight months before its release.

Unlike The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi didn’t leave us with a cliffhanger or a ton of huge questions in need of answering, so the story feels wide open with where it could go in Episode IX. This trailer needs to give us some idea of where it is going, what’s at stake in this film and what the characters will be up to. Obviously it will be a battle between The First Order and the Resistance, but what’s the current dynamic between those forces after the time jump? What are the characters up to and what’s going on with Kylo and Rey? Is there a new enemy or a quest that must be completed? I feel like tone alone isn’t enough; we need at least a few plot details (nothing too spoilery, of course).

These are just a few of the things that we’d like to see in the Star Wars: Episode IX trailer. The wait alone for this trailer has built up a ton of anticipation and that means expectations are sky high. This is the last time we'll ever see the first trailer from a Skywalker Saga film for the first time. That's momentous and the trailer should convey that.

Whatever it includes or doesn’t, this trailer has a lot of work to do to get everyone excited and on board for a new Star Wars film after the past two entries haven’t been universally beloved. The Episode IX trailer can do that by delivering on some of these elements, feeling epic and maybe even including a surprise or two.

Star Wars: Episode IX blasts into theaters on December 20. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule for all of this year’s biggest movies. We’ll keep you updated on all the latest Star Wars news as it drops and let us know in the comments below what you want to see in the Episode IX trailer.

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Avengers: Endgame Marketing Puts Hawkeye Next To Urinals, And Jeremy Renner Is Having A Field Day

Avengers: Endgame Marketing Puts Hawkeye Next To Urinals, And Jeremy Renner Is Having A Field Day

The marketing for Avengers: Infinity War was a game of ‘Where’s Hawkeye?’ with us constantly looking for the team’s resident archer and him nowhere to be found. That is not the case with Avengers: Endgame, as Clint Barton is back in action with bow and sword in the trailers for the year’s biggest movie. He’s not just in the trailers though, the marketing for the film has also put Hawkeye in a very unexpected place: next to a urinal. And naturally, Jeremy Renner is having a field day with it. Take a look:

Jeremy Renner is right, marketing is different in Europe. But wow, this is something else entirely,and it's both weird and hilarious. Instead of having a poster for the film above the urinal for you to look at as you do your business, Europe apparently has Hawkeye with his eyes trained like a hawk on the urinal and accordingly, on you-- the user of said urinal.

I can’t imagine that Jeremy Renner knew or could have guessed when he signed his Marvel contract that his likeness would one day be intently watching European men as they peed, but here we are and the actor seems to find the whole situation quite amusing. Never known as the quippiest Avenger in the films, Jeremy Renner delivers the funny here in his Instagram post, with the punny hashtag #euro-peein’.

This is awfully powerful marketing on the part of Avengers: Endgame. And weird, let’s not forget weird. You can’t change the channel or press mute, it’s right there, staring at you, catching you off guard with your pants literally down. Dread it, run from it, Hawkeye cannot be ignored, not unless you decide to go to a stall or hold it.

It’s as if Hawkeye, an expert marksman, is staring to intimidate you into aiming properly at the urinal, critiquing your accuracy with harsh judgment. An archer judging your aim, I guess this is what they mean when they talk about targeted marketing. I would love to hear the conversation and genesis of this from inception to execution.

In addition to a hashtag putting forth the obvious WTF question, Jeremy Renner promises that he isn’t looking at you as you pee. It certainly looks like he is though and not everyone has the Infinity Stones to perform under this kind of pressure, among them, Jeremy Renner’s MCU co-star, Star-Lord himself, Chris Pratt. The actor commented on Instagram, saying:

Dud…e I would get REAL bladder shy of Hawkeye was staring at my Hogeye.

You had to know that Chris Pratt would have something to say if he got wind of this and he gave a hilarious Andy Dwyer-esque response if ever there was one. Star-Lord has already proven himself to have some difficulties reacting prematurely and now you can add performance anxiety to the Guardian of the Galaxy’s many faults.

Indeed I expect some might experience a bit of stage fright with Hawkeye watching them pee, but whether you hit your mark or not, you leave that bathroom thinking about Avengers: Endgame.

I’m curious if Hawkeye is the only Avenger who gets the European bathroom advertisement treatment or if other characters have urinal adjacent posters as well. And if only Hawkeye gets them, is that an insult or a compliment? Given the gross viral theory about how Ant-Man will defeat Thanos, it might be a real missed opportunity if there aren't posters of a tiny Ant-Man in bathroom stalls.

Make sure your bladder is feeling confident in its abilities before you head off to see the potentially 3 hour Avengers: Endgame, opening April 26. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of this year’s biggest movies.

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Peter Jackson Turned Down Directing Aquaman More Than Once

Peter Jackson Turned Down Directing Aquaman More Than Once

When it was originally announced that James Wan was going to direct the first ever Aquaman movie, it actually made quite a bit of sense. The filmmaker not only had some tremendous success with the making and release of Furious 7 (his debut in the blockbuster realm), but also had established a great working relationship with Warner Bros. (specifically by launching The Conjuring Universe). That in mind, it may surprise you to learn that he apparently wasn't the studio's first choice for the gig, as Peter Jackson was originally pitched on the project... not once, but twice.

This revelation comes from the latest issue of Empire, though exactly how the subject came up in conversation with the filmmaker isn't entirely clear. The director apparently was pitched on the underwater superhero adventure by Former Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara - with whom he worked on theHobbit trilogy - and an attempt was apparently made twice because the executive seemingly forgot Peter Jackson's response the first time he was asked. Said the director,

[Former Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara] said, ‘Are you a fan of Aquaman?’ I said, ‘No.’ Six months later: ‘Peter, are you a fan of Aquaman?’ I said, ’No, Kevin, I already told you this’

One can understand why Kevin Tsujihara was interested in having Peter Jackson make the Aquaman movie, given the fact that the filmmaker both has a lot of experience with giant blockbusters, and because he has a lot of ambition when it comes to the realm of visual and special effects - both of which were definitely needed in the making of the DC Extended Universe title. But apparently it just wasn't a job that appealed to Jackson, to the point where he shut down the opportunity twice.

So why did he turn down the gig? Apparently stories about costumed vigilantes just aren't really his thing - though he obviously doesn't have anything against the comic medium at large. After all, he had a major hand in developing Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn as a producer. That, however, was very much a passion project for the New Zealand-born writer/director, and he simply didn't connect with the material that inspired Aquaman in the same way. He explained,

I’m not a superhero guy. I read Tintin… Look, films are hard. I only want to make something that I have a deep passion for.

As a result, things turned out quite well for James Wan, who did connect with the adventures of Arthur Curry and made a movie that reflects that. Aquaman not only ultimately got a warm reception from critics, but now stands as the highest grossing DC Comics adaptation of all time - making more than a billion dollars at the global box office.

So if he's not making superhero movies, what is Peter Jackson doing these days? Right now we can't say with any certainty what his next narrative feature will be, but a lot of his focus and attention as of late has been in the documentary realm. Last year we saw the release of They Shall Not Grow Old, which showcases immaculately restored footage from World War I, and right now he is working on a documentary about one of the greatest and most beloved bands in rock and roll history: The Beatles.

Being big fans of Peter Jackson's work , we here at CinemaBlend will update you with all the latest news about his developing projects - and also deliver the latest about what's happening with Aquaman on the big screen. So stay tuned!

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There’s A Star Wars Burlesque Parody, Check Out The Trailer

There’s A Star Wars Burlesque Parody, Check Out The Trailer

While the release of Star Wars: Episode IX may feel like a galaxy far, far away, fans of the franchise can once again see their favorite Star Wars characters in burlesque show The Empire Strips Back, which is heading back to the United States and Canada-- following a successful debut last year. That’s right, the blockbuster space opera has inspired a highly-successful erotic show tour full of female Stormtroopers, a fiery take on Boba Fett and of course bikini Leia and Jabba the Hutt. Check out the show’s teaser below:

The Star Wars Burlesque Parody show promises appearances from just about every character in the film’s lore, including Chewie, C3PO, R2D2, a female Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and the Emperor’s Royal Guard from The Last Jedi! The show’s trailer nudges at some sultry and seductive takes on the characters of the franchise, while also setting a comedic tone-- as Greedo sprays on some hairspray in a dressing room and a cover of David Bowie’s “Star Man” plays in the background. Don’t be fooled – this show is geared for 18 and over!

The Empire Strips Back originated in Australia in 2011 and made its way to the United States in 2018. This year’s tour expands the show to Canada for two shows in Toronto and Montreal for the first time. The 20-date tour starts at the Balboa Theatre in San Diego, California on March 30 and closes out on May 4 (a.k.a. Star Wars Day) at the Playstation Theatre in New York City. Tickets start at around $39, depending on the venue.

When the show first made its way to the US last year, it apparently went through some “red tape” but could be shown thanks to similar parody laws between Australia and the United States. The show’s website gives this description. Read below:

…be prepared for some seriously sexy Stormtroopers, a dangerously seductive Boba Fett, some tantalising Twi'leks, a delightfully luke-warm Taun Taun, a lady-like Skywalker, the Droids you are looking for and much, much more!

The show was met with sold out tickets and rave reviews last year and has included Han Solo dancing out of carbonite to Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal”, the Death Star coming on stage to the tune of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” and many more hilariously strange moments of undress and escapism during the show.

Star of Firefly and The Rookie Nathan Fillion reps the show on the site with the words: “The best episode of Star Wars I’ve ever seen…” Of course if you're not into burlesque, another upcoming Star Wars attraction is the recently moved up opening of Galaxy’s Edge in Disney World on August 29 and Disneyland May 31.

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Bad Moms’ Grandmas Are Getting A Spinoff

Bad Moms’ Grandmas Are Getting A Spinoff

The movie Bad Moms was one of those comedies that studios love to see. Relatively inexpensive to make, only a budget of around $20 million, and a box office return approaching 10 timers that. It was no shock that a sequel was green lit quickly. Now another film in the franchise is on the way, though this one, titled Bad Moms' Moms will focus on, as the title suggests the mothers of the Bad Moms.

Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, and Cheryl Hines were introduced in A Bad Moms Christmas as the mothers of the three main characters played by Kathryn Hahn, Mila Kunis, and Kristen Bell. The characters were a hit with fans. The actresses made it clear back when the last film came out that they were interested in getting their own movie. Yesterday at CinemaCon, STX Films announced (via EW) that exactly that would be happening.

Little more than the fact that the movie will exist was announced at the industry trade show. This means we don't even have so much as a release window, much less a date. A Bad Moms Christmas came out in 2017, less than 18 months after the first film. At this point there's likely no hurry but the turn around time on a comedy isn't necessarily that long. If the movie is going into production this year we could see it hit screens next year without much problem. Even a release before the end of the year is possible if filming is starting soon.

I feel like appearances by the original Bad Moms are probably a strong possibility, though nothing in that regard was mentioned, and they likely won't be major characters in order to keep the focus on the title characters.

If nothing else, it's nice to see Bad Moms' Moms make it to the screen because Hollywood so frequently seems to forget that actors, and actresses especially, still have something to contribute when they're no longer considered "young." The characters played by Susan Sarandon, Cheryl Hines and Christine Baranski were hilarious in the last movie and they can absolutely lead their own story.

In it's own way, Bad Moms' Moms can even act as a sequel in its own right. For the most part, the three "Bad Grandmas" were basically older, amplified versions of the three Bad Moms. This movie will just show us who Katheryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, and Mila Kunis' characters are going to grow into when they become grandmothers themselves.

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Why David Dastmalchian Can’t Wait To Get Started Filming Dune

Why David Dastmalchian Can’t Wait To Get Started Filming Dune

Nearly 55 years after its publication, Dune remains an acclaimed piece of sci-fi literature. David Lynch adapted Frank Herbert’s novel for the big screen back in 1984, now Denis Villeneuve is putting his own stamp on the property. Among the many people attached to this Dune reboot is Ant-Man star David Dastmalchian, who is playing the dangerous Mentat known as Piter De Vries and is confident that Villeneuve has the skill to deliver a Dune movie that a lot of people will enjoy.

I recently had the opportunity to talk with David Dastmalchian about his new movie All Creatures Here Below, and when the conversation turned to Dune, he mentioned that he was leaving soon to do more prep work and then begin shooting his scenes. The actor continued:

I’m so grateful and excited to be a part of Denis’ vision. I think that he is one of the greatest filmmakers of our time and any time, and I believe what he’s going to do here, it’s just going to take people to a whole other place. He brings so much. When you think about Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 specifically, because those are the two science fiction films that he’s crafted, you see his gift for telling stories that are visually stunning, but that are also rooted in really complex ideas and really fascinating characters.

Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 definitely established Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi cred, with both earning positive reception and numerous accolades. So even though it will be a while before we see any footage from Villeneuve’s version of Dune, one can imagine it’s in safe hands given his resume. Dune also marks David Dastmalchian’s third time working with Villeneuve, having previously appeared in Prisoners and Blade Runner 2049.

Of course, if you’re performing in an adaption, it often helps if you’re already familiar with the source material, Fortunately for David Dastmalchian, he’d both read the Dune novel and watched the David Lynch movie, although he only relied on the former when preparing for his role in Denis Villeneuve’s Dune. Dastmalchian recalled:

I’d read the book and I’d seen the film. I’m a very big David Lynch fan, so there was so much about the film that I had loved, but to be quite honest, I had not seen the film since probably college. It had been a long time since I’d seen the film. Once I got cast in [Dune], I decided not to revisit the film. But I did go back and revisited the book because like I said, I love it. I’ve only read the book once, but I’ve gone back to it many times just to dip in and out and pull quotes. It’s just a fun and very dense piece of philosophical writing… It’s so exciting the thought that this level of maturity and complexity in Herbert’s writing is going to be put on a giant screen by Denis Villeneuve. And the cast that he’s put together, it’s so awesome.

Although David Lynch’s Dune was met with numerous negative reviews when it was initially released and ended up being a commercial failure, it’s morphed into a cult classic over the years. Nevertheless, from what’s been revealed thus far, Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is going to feel incredibly different from its theatrical predecessor, not the least of which is because the plan is to adapt the original novel across two movies rather than just one.

In terms of Dune’s cast, David Dastmalchian is correct that the lineup that Denis Villeneuve has assembled is impressive. He’s joined by Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Stellan Skarsgard, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Chang Chen and Stephen Henderson.

As for what we can expect from David Dastmalchian’s version of Piter De Vries, who serves the main antagonist, Stellan Skarsgard’s Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, the actor wasn’t willing to delve into specifics, but he’s hopeful that his interpretation and the rest of the Dune movie will strike the right chord with longtime fans of the book. As Dastmalchian put it:

The Piter De Vries that I’m playing I hope will resonate with and reflect the Piter de Vries that people who loved the books associate with. I can’t really discuss much about the script or the plot itself, but I can just tell you that that old phrase ‘True to the spirit’ or ‘honoring the spirit of’, and to be quite honest I haven’t even seen the most recent of the script, but in the way Denis has talked about the film and what I’ve seen, it’s absolutely true to and in honor of everything that Frank put into the novel. And translating something from novel form to cinema form requires a lot of mastery as storytellers go, and I think there’s no one better for that job than Denis. He’s just so fearless, man. He makes choices and then he goes into the places that we need right now as audiences.

David Dastmalchian is the third actor to bring Piter De Vries to life on screen; he was preceded by Brad Dourif in the 1984 Dune movie and Jan Unger in the 2000 Sci Fi channel Dune miniseries. As a Mentat, Piter has been trained to perform mental functions comparable to what a computer can accomplish, but he was also twisted into a sadist. Dastmalchian has played numerous villains over the years, so it will be interesting to see how his version of Piter looks and acts.

Just like the original story, Dune will take place in the far future, where Paul Atreides and his mother must flee for their lives after their family is betrayed by Baron Harkonnen, who seizes their the planet Arrakis from them, which is the only source of spice, the most valued substance in the universe. With the help of Arrakis’ native Fremen, Paul and Jessica will fight to take back what is rightfully theirs.

Dune will be released in theaters on November 20, 2020, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on how it’s coming along. In the meantime, you can keep up to date with what’s coming out later this year in our 2019 release schedule.

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