The Rise Of Skywalker Trailer Has Been Watched A Record-Breaking Number Of Times

The Rise Of Skywalker Trailer Has Been Watched A Record-Breaking Number Of Times

For months Star Wars fans waited for the first footage from what we then simply knew as Episode IX to drop, and on Friday, April 12, their wish was finally granted. The teaser trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premiered at Star Wars Celebration and was made available to the public immediately after. Nearly two weeks later, word’s come in that this trailer collected more views in its first 24 hours than The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi’s first trailers did.

In its first day of availability, the first Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer was watched more than 111 million times. That’s 20 million more views than what The Last Jedi’s teaser trailer and more than double the views that The Force Awakens’ teaser trailer got in its first 24 hours back in late November of 2014.

Now if you look at some other recent trailers for blockbusters that also hail from Disney, like last year’s Avengers: Infinity War, this weekend’s Avengers: Endgame and this summer’s The Lion King, that 111 million views doesn’t look all that impressive. But it’s important to remember that this year, Star Wars Celebration streamed its Episode IX panel live to the world, which included showing the teaser at the very end. This is in contrast to Marvel’s traditional method of dropping a trailer ‘cold,’ i.e. not during a live-streamed event.

In terms of how the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer has been faring overall since it premiered, it received 87 million views through YouTube views alone from various channels, which outpaces Rogue One’s 87 million, but still lags behind The Force Awakens’ 103 million and The Last Jedi’s 119 million. There isn’t any data on how it’s done on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram views, but Deadline’s report also mentions that even if you just look at the YouTube performance, the preview is going viral “like crazy.”

Let’s not kid ourselves, Star Wars is still an incredibly lucrative and popular franchise, so it was expected that a lot of people would check out the first trailer for The Rise of Skywalker, not the least of which is because this preview is where the movie’s title was finally revealed. Still, it’s intriguing to hear that this teaser trailer has outperformed its predecessors. I imagine word of mouth factored heavily into its success, particularly for that surprise Emperor Palpatine reveal.

Aside from being the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga and taking place approximately a year after The Last Jedi, no specific plot details for The Rise of Skywalker have been revealed yet. Along with familiar faces like Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams and Ian McDiarmid all returning to a galaxy far, far away, new faces like Naomi Ackie, Keri Russell, Richard E. Grant and Dominic Monaghan have also been brought aboard.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens in theaters on December 20, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. In the meantime, look through our 2019 release schedule to lear what other major motion pictures are coming out this year.

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Dark Phoenix’s Alexandra Shipp Doesn’t Want A Storm And Black Panther Romance In The MCU

Dark Phoenix’s Alexandra Shipp Doesn’t Want A Storm And Black Panther Romance In The MCU

Since the Disney-Fox merger finally became official as of a couple weeks ago, the mutants of X-Men could join the ranks of the MCU someday. Among the many potential pairings that have been suggested among fans between Avengers and X-Men is the striking romance between Black Panther and Storm but according to Dark Phoenix’s Storm actress, Alexandra Shipp, just because Disney can now make this happen, it doesn’t mean they should. In her words:

No! No, I don’t think Storm needs T’Challa, and I think she needs her own movie! It doesn’t have to be me, it just needs to be made. A woman does not need a man in order to give her validity and she has also been around longer than him.

Looks like Chadwick Boseman T’Challa is getting the cold shoulder from the X-Men actress, but for a valid, industry-forward reason. During a roundtable interview at WonderCon (via LRM Online,) Alexandra Shipp showed her distaste with her character’s future plotline to revolve around a romance between Storm and Black Panther because she thinks the weather-controlling hero needs her own movie. Though it should be noted that Black Panther has been around since 1966, and Storm debuted on the printed page nine years later.

It’s a tiresome plotline for the women of Marvel Comics to be consistently defined as the men in their lives, one that Captain Marvel recently made a conscience effort to steer away from. Alexandra Shipp previously echoed this statement last year when asked about her ideas for a spinoff for the powerful mutant character with these comments:

I just want there to be a message of ‘this woman doesn’t need a man.’ Just one movie where a woman doesn’t need a man, really.

However, with a the addition of the X-Men to the MCU imminent, T’Challa and Ororo’s romance would be an intriguing way for the two teams to intersect and form an alliance. In the comic books, the two meet as children when Storm flees Cairo following her parents’ deaths and comes across Wakanda. Storm rescues T’Challa from being kidnapped and a love story ignites. When they are older, the pair get married with both the X-Men and Avengers in attendance though it’s a short-lived union.

Six years into it, they were put at odds for the Avengers vs. X-Men event. When her team of mutants do damage to Wakanda, Black Panther blames her for it and they get a divorce. Seeing some of this drama play out would certainly be interesting as the hero becomes more prevalent in the MCU and the possibility of the addition of X-Men in the MCU will likely be tinkered with.

Us’ Evan Alex even recently volunteered himself up to play the son of Black Panther and Ororo in a Black Panther sequel to Vulture after playing the son to Black Panther’s M’Baku, Winston Duke, in the Jordan Peele horror film. To Alexandra Shipp, Storm’s addition to the MCU would just place her even farther into the background then she already is in the current X-Men franchise. Here’s what she said:

I would and I wouldn’t (like it), because Storm barely has anything to say as it is. I don’t know about you all (other actors) but like we never talk. So it would be really nice if we weren’t piled into yet another jam packed cast, in which you only see me in the back of the shot like fucking sasquatch.

The actress certainly isn’t afraid to tell it like it is but she’s right. As is, the upcoming Avengers: Endgame film looks so packed with characters that some will likely have one or two lines. Add in a crew of mutants and there would be so many heroes on the big screen that there just wouldn’t be a way to do each of the characters justice.

At WonderCon, 20 minutes of X-Men: Dark Phoenix footage was also showcased ahead of the film’s release on June 7. What do you think about Alexandra Shipp’s comments? Would you like to see a Storm solo flick or her romance with T’Challa on screen? What about how the Avengers and X-Men could share the big screen? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

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J.K. Rowling Always Knew Nagini Used To Be Human In Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling Always Knew Nagini Used To Be Human In Harry Potter

For serious fans of the Harry Potter franchise, the Fantastic Beasts movies have been a welcome addition to the canon. They have filled in a lot of backstory for different characters and events only referenced in the original novels. However, one character who has become surprisingly important in the prequel films is Nagini, a character we knew only as a snake from the main series, but we learned was actually human in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. While this revelation was a surprise to many, J.K. Rowling says it should not have been because the information was always there. According to the author...

These movies have given me the chance to tell a story that I knew all along about Nagini, who appears only as a snake in Potter. Now, there were always hints that she had been human. In her name — because the Naga are, in mythology, a race of snake beings. So the name was an allusion to the fact that she may herself once have been human.

The Naga is a mythological being that is actually half human and half cobra, not one that transforms between the two states as the character does in Fantastic Beasts, but the connection is still obvious. Nagini would be the feminine version of the word, telling us the gender of the snake that stayed by the side of Lord Voldemort.

J.K. Rowling has built a reputation over the past few years of dropping some interesting information about various characters in Harry Potter that is never stated in the text, but according to her has always been part of the official back story. This particular item, which was reveled in one of the Blu-ray extras attached to Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (via the Insider) seems to be a little more on the level then some of the revelations we've been given.

The connection certainly makes sense. Anybody who was familiar with the etymology of the name Nagini could have potentially made the connection on their own, some probably did. While it doesn't guarantee that J.K. Rowling had always seen Nagini as formerly human, she even says herself that the allusion was meant to imply she "may" have been human, it certainly left the door open to the idea if the need for such a plot point were ever to surface.

Of course, now that we have met the human version of the character, we have a lot more questions. Nagini appears to be one of the good guys following the events of The Crimes of Grindelwald, certainly more so than some others who have aligned themselves with Johnny Depp's dark wizard character. However, we know where this character will ultimately end up, so quite a bit will be changing over the course of the planned three remaining movies.

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Josh Brolin Preps For Dune Filming With Intense Shirtless Photo

Josh Brolin Preps For Dune Filming With Intense Shirtless Photo

Denis Villeneuve's 2020 Dune movie has officially started filming. Josh Brolin is one of the many, many -- seriously, so many -- major stars of the film adapting Frank Herbert's novel. Brolin plays Gurney Halleck, weapons master for House Atreides, who teaches young Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Brolin got into battle mode with his usual intensity, staring into the camera for a photo he posted with a caption quoting the Dune author:

Fear is the mind-killer. It's clear Josh Brolin is not afraid to strip himself down to the basics and #cowboyup for his role. Since filming just started, it looks like Brolin is getting in on the early action, possibly for some training scenes with young Paul.

Patrick Stewart played Gurney Halleck in David Lynch's 1984 Dune. Denis Villeneuve has his own very different plans for the story, which is also meant to carry across more than one film. Just the physicality of Josh Brolin alone hints in a different direction, not that SirPatStew isn't boss in his own right.

Dune is filming on location in Budapest, Hungary, and Jordan, so those countries can look forward to seeing many famous faces in the next few months.

So far, Denis Villeneuve's Dune cast includes Rebecca Ferguson as Jessica Atreides; Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto; Zendaya as Chani; Javier Bardem as Stilgar; Dave Bautista as Glossu Rabban; Stellan Skarsgård as Vladimir Harkonnen; Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam; Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho; David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries; and Chang Chen as Dr. Wellington Yueh.

No wonder Stellan Skarsgard compared that cast to the Avengers. Get more details on each star and character with our cast list.

Here's the film's official synopsis, from Warner Bros. and Legendary:

A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) is not only directing the film, he also co-wrote the screenplay (with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts) and he's one of the film's producers. Dune is currently scheduled for worldwide release on November 20, 2020.

Meanwhile, Josh Brolin -- no stranger to major films, from Deadpool 2 to Avengers: Infinity War -- will soon be seen back in action as Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. That movie opens April 26, 2019 as one of the many films hitting the big screen this year.

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Samuel L. Jackson Shares Photo From Spider-Man: Far From Home Reshoots

Samuel L. Jackson Shares Photo From Spider-Man: Far From Home Reshoots

It's currently a very exciting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After a long year of waiting, Avengers: Endgame will finally arrive in theaters this week, picking up the narrative from last year's Infinity War. While all eyes are on how the survivors will face off against Thanos again, another Marvel blockbuster will arrive shortly after. Spider-Man: Far From Home will bring Tom Holland's Peter Parker to Europe, and have him interact with Marvel favorites like Happy Hogan, Maria Hill, and Nick Fury.

Spider-Man: Far From Home will mark Samuel L. Jackson's whopping 11th appearance as Nick Fury, with ranging from major roles to quick cameos. Fans are eager to see how he interacts with Peter Parker, as well as Jake Gyllenhaal's Mysterio. Jackson is currently in the midst of reshoots for the upcoming sequel, and posted a photo from the set. Check it out.

Samuel L. Jackson may have been able to discard the eyepatch for much of Captain Marvel, but it looks like he's back to his regular cycloptic appearance in order to film Spider-Man: Far From Home.

This behind the scenes glimpse comes from Samuel L. Jackson's personal Instagram page. It seems the 70 year old actor has been very busy lately, reprising his role as Nick Fury while also working on the Hitman's Bodyguard sequel. He's sure to plug both of these projects in the post, although all eyes (pun intended) are on what's next for Fury in the MCU.

The image doesn't show much, but the presence of Nick Fury's eyepatch shows that Sam Jackson is once again back in character as the S.H.I.E.L.D. legend. Fury's first appearance teased a much bigger world for Tony Stark, and his words proved to be true throughout the last decade of filmmaking. Now he'll get to team up with the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, and see if the newest Avenger is up to snuff.

Per the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer, it looks like Europe is seeing a bunch of enhanced beings cause a ruckus. This is likely what brings Nick Fury and Maria Hill into the action, and why he eventually recruits Spider-Man to join their efforts. Fury's ultra seriousness and Peter Parker's naivety should foil each other interestingly in the upcoming movie, and it should be interesting to see how the MCU continues after the events of Endgame.

Related: Samuel L. Jackson Really Wanted To Be In Black Panther

The stakes for Spider-Man: Far From Home seemingly got higher recently, as Kevin Feige recently revealed Jon Watts' upcoming sequel is actually the last installment in Phase Three, not Endgame. As such, it may have a closer connection to The Russo Brothers' massive blockbuster. It's going to take some creative storytelling to bring Peter, Fury, and Hill back from the dead. So perhaps Spider-Man's sequel will help get things back on track after Thanos' attack on the galaxy.

Kevin Feige's revelation also means that Spider-Man got his first two solo flick in Phase Three, in addition to his role in Captain America: Civil War and the Avengers movies. It looks like the web crawler will only continue becoming a bigger presence in the shared universe, as we watch Peter Parker mature as a hero and teenager.

Nick Fury has had a long tenure in the MCU, and it doesn't look like it's coming to an end anytime soon. But Samuel L. Jackson was noticeably missing for the majority of Phase Three, despite being an OG member of the shared universe. He wasn't seen in Captain America: Civil War, and was also absent from the events of Black Panther, both of which displeased the actor.

But Nick Fury is getting his time to shine during the final installments of this phase, starting with his post-credits scene in Avengers: Infinity War. Following that cameo, he had notable role in Captain Marvel. The origin story was set in the 1990's, with Samuel L. Jackson being digitally de-aged to play a less experienced version of Fury. The S.H.I.E.L.D. director will next set his eye on your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, who has an upcoming role in aiding Europe from elemental antagonists.

Before Samuel L. Jackson's signature Marvel character flies to Europe and meets the web crawler, he'll presumably be revived sometime during Avengers: Endgame. Nick Fury was one of the many Marvel characters who faded to dust as a result of Thanos uniting the Infinity Stones, alongside Maria Hill. Spider-Man also perished on Titan after losing to Thanos, in Infinity War's most heartbreaking death scene.

It's unclear how the dusted characters will return to life, although the most recent Avengers: Endgame trailers indicate that the survivors will attempt to unite the Infinity Stone and reverse Thanos' extermination. This should be a difficult task, and Thor is probably the most likely candidate to rock the Infinity Gauntlet. But it's also been teased that the Quantum Realm and time travel might also factor into the mysterious story.

It should be interesting to see how Nick Fury continues factoring into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as there should presumably be a seismic shift when Phase Three finally concludes. Many of the original Avengers actors are coming to the end of their contracts, and the newer superheroes will presumably need to step up and take on leading roles.

If a new group of Avengers are keeping the team together, they may look to Nick Fury for some guidance. With cosmic and local threats, Earth's Mightiest Heroes will be all the more necessary. Fury has always been known to prepare for the worst, so he may be the perfect character to unite a new team.

Since Captain Marvel finally arrived in theaters, Nick Fury's role in the future of the MCU seems all the more important. Kevin Feige has been quoted saying Carol Danvers will help lead the next phase of Marvel movies, and Fury's relationship with Captain Marvel precedes her long awaited arrival in Avengers: Endgame. Perhaps he'll also be a supporting character in the inevitable Captain Marvel sequel.

Avengers: Endgame will arrive in theaters on April 26th, and Spider-Man: Far From Home will follow shortly on June 2nd. In the meantime, fill out CinemaBlend's Endgame death pool, and check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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6 Classic Disney Cartoons That Should Get The Live-Action Treatment After Rescue Rangers

6 Classic Disney Cartoons That Should Get The Live-Action Treatment After Rescue Rangers

It's taken five years since we first heard it was a possibility, but the feature film adaptation of Disney’s classic 1989-1990 television series Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers has finally landed a director in The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer. The live-action/CG hybrid from the Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping co-director could be bound for theater screens or Disney’s upcoming Disney+ streaming service.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about Disney and  Mandeville Films’ Rescue Rangers movie, but according to THR, it will not be an origin story or a detective agency story like the cartoon. It is instead described as something meta and self-referential. While we’ll have to wait and see what that means and how well the Rescue Rangers movie appeals to fans of the cartoon, its very existence shows that Disney’s classic cartoons are on the table for adaptation.

Disney will eventually run out of animated classics to remake and its classic animated series are another option to fill out its theatrical and future streaming calendars. Series like Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers also carry with them major nostalgic sentiment for millennial audiences, a valuable trait in today’s marketplace.

With all of that in mind, here are 6 classic Disney cartoons that should get the live-action treatment after Rescue Rangers.

Disney’s Adventures Of The Gummi Bears

The very first animated production by Walt Disney Animation Television, Adventures of the Gummi Bears is one of the most obvious candidates for a live-action/CG hybrid akin to what Rescue Rangers is getting. Adventures of the Gummi Bears tells the story of a group of humanoid bears belonging to an ancient, magical and technologically advanced race. In the medieval kingdom of Dunwyn, the bears, along with a small group of friendly humans, go on adventures to discover their history while battling the evil Duke Igthorn and his ogres.

Gummi Bears has deeper mythology than you might expect for a cartoon. Given the magical elements and the medieval fantasy setting, a live-action feature film adaptation would have greater potential in terms of scale than some of the other titles on this list. And as Detective Pikachu recently showed, there is no need to force realism. If done well, the Gummi Bears can be just as cartoony and fantastical as their animated counterparts and still look right alongside human actors. They are magical bears after all.

Talespin

Photo-realistic CGI talking animals were one of those gambles that could have really turned people off, but based on the success of Disney’s live-action remake of The Jungle Book and what we’ve seen of The Lion King, audiences will buy in. So why not take another risk and throw some clothes on Bill Murray’s Baloo and turn him into a 1930s Pacific Islands bush pilot for a live-action adaptation of Talespin? Talespin ran for 65 episodes in the early '90s. In it, Baloo is an air-delivery pilot who, along with business owner Rebecca and orphan navigator Kit, must keep the business flying while evading nefarious air pirates.

The show had a classic action-adventure feel, reminiscent of movies like The Rocketeer, Indiana Jones and with a touch of Casablanca. The period-piece aspect is part of what would make a Talespin movie feel super unique in today’s landscape and I have no doubt such a film would be a blast. Admittedly, this one seems less likely given the cost rendering such a film would require, especially for a property without the name recognition of The Jungle Book.

Darkwing Duck

Anecdotally, Darkwing Duck, which aired in the early '90s as part of The Disney Afternoon slate, seems to be one of Disney’s more beloved classic cartoons (in no small part thanks to a great theme song). The tale of mild-mannered duck Drake Mallard and his superhero alter ego Darkwing Duck was a goofy and action-packed series that also had plenty of heart with Drake’s adopted daughter Gosalyn. The series acted as something of a parody of superheroes like Batman and The Shadow with the bumbling Darkwing Duck mirroring those grim and serious crimefighters.

Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles series already plays with some of the superhero tropes, but a Darkwing Duck movie could really lean into that while also making fun of spy movies and noir films. Such a film could be the detective story the Rescue Rangers movie supposedly isn’t, and more than that property, Darkwing Duck seems ripe with meta, self-referential potential. I’m not sure how exactly how well it would translate to “live-action,” but I’m interested to see it happen. Come on, let’s get dangerous.

Gargoyles

Of all the classic Disney cartoons that have live-action feature film potential, Gargoyles is the most obvious. It’s so ripe for adaptation it’s kind of baffling a Gargoyles movie hasn’t happened yet, especially considering that Jordan Peele supposedly wanted to make one. Gargoyles ran in the mid-nineties and told the story of a clan of creatures of the night who turned to stone by day and protected New York City once the sun goes down.

Gargoyles was notable for being much darker than many of its contemporaries, with complex stories and rich characters that made the show ahead of its time and an eventual cult classic. Modern CGI could finally do Gargoyles justice in live-action on the big screen and I think such an adaptation, that really took the property seriously, would have real blockbuster franchise potential. It’s got action, magic, mythology and a modern setting. It would also be completely different from both Disney’s other offerings and those from other studios and that sort of unique quality makes it worth pursuing.

Bonkers

A spinoff of the earlier Raw Toonage TV series, Bonkers bears a lot of similarities to the classic live-action/animated hybrid comedy Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Bonkers, an anthropomorphic bobcat, is a former cartoon star who has seen his fortunes fade a la BoJack Horseman and now works as a cop in Hollywood. Like Roger Rabbit, cartoons in the world of the TV show live, work and interact with human beings, including Bonkers’ partner Lucky Piquel, who hates toons, a hatred only exacerbated by Bonkers’ antics.

A Bonkers feature could be live-action with very cartoony cartoon characters populating the world and interacting with the human actors. Such a Roger Rabbit-esque approach wouldn’t require realism and would play in to the slapstick-y nature of the TV show. I don’t necessarily see this as a theatrical tentpole for Disney in the way the Gargoyles could be, but it would be ideal as a younger-skewing movie released on Disney+.

Recess

As evidenced by movies like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Stand By Me and Goonies, the childhood adventure story is a recipe for cinematic magic. Disney’s Recess may not have the supernatural elements of something like Stranger Things, but it delivers the great characters and relationships that are essential to making these stories work. The jock Vince, the leader T.J., the tomboy Spinelli, the genius Gretchen, the gentle giant Mikey and shy new kid Gus navigate the political battlefield of elementary school recess, while learning important lessons and forming meaningful friendships along the way.

Recess was wildly original and clever and seems like it would be an easy thing to adapt into live-action for a feature film for Disney+. Such a film could really have the childhood adventure quality of something like Goonies, while doing something unique with the mythology inherent to the Recess series. Recess already received a theatrical animated film in 2001 with Recess: School’s Out, which grossed $44.4 million worldwide on a $23 million budget. There is nostalgia and love for this property and it would really whomp if it never came back in some form.

Okay, so where is Ducktales? Well, Ducktales is currently back on the air with a new animated series starring the voice of David Tennant, so a live-action movie seems unnecessary at this point. And Goof Troop? I think Goofy is best served by staying in the fully animated realm as a jump to live-action of any sort could result in the kind of nightmare fuel that would give Pennywise bad dreams.

Disney has classic, beloved cartoons, with name recognition and strong nostalgia capital in its stable that could be brought back to life in wonderful fashion with live-action adaptations. Chip ‘n’ Dale Rescue Rangers may be the first, but it is hopefully not the last.

Check out our 2019 release schedule to see all the biggest movies heading to theaters this year and let us know in the poll below which classic Disney cartoon you think should get the live-action treatment.

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Watch Keanu Reeves Recap The First Two John Wick Movies Ahead Of Parabellum

Watch Keanu Reeves Recap The First Two John Wick Movies Ahead Of Parabellum

Among the many summer movies to look forward to in the coming months is John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which is finally arriving a little over two years after its predecessor. But what if you haven’t seen the first two John Wick movies. Well, the first course of option is to actually watch them, but if you find yourself strapped for time, not to worry. Keanu Reeves has provided the following minute-long recap of what has already happened to his assassin character.

Talk about cutting to the chase! Keanu Reeves does a great job summarizing the events of 2014’s John Wick and 2017’s John Wick: Chapter 2, from how this all kicked off when the idiotic son of a mobster stole his car and killed his dog, to how John is now on the run after killing someone on Continental grounds, which is a big no-no. In just a minute, folks who’ve never seen these movies are caught up to speed, and those who only saw them once will have their memories refreshed.

Of course, there’s obviously a lot that this video didn’t cover, like John’s relationship to Willem Dafoe’s Marcus in the first movie to his short-lived conflict with Santino D’Antonio’s second-in-command, Ruby Rose’s Ares, in Chapter 2. Nevertheless, if all you’re looking for is a bare-bones summarization of the John Wick franchise thus far, then watching this video is your best bet. You’ll definitely be able to follow along with John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum’s overall story, even if some of the subtler character dynamics are foreign.

Which brings us to John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which picks up immediately after the events of Chapter 2 with John on the run with no access to his underworld resources and a $14 million bounty on his head going live in one hour. John is no stranger to fighting off assassins, but this is unquestionably his biggest fight yet, as it’s the High Table, the council of crime lords that are the ultimate authority in the underworld, that wants his head.

John’s main goal will be to escape New York City at the start of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and the previews have shown that he manages to this since he’s also seen walking through a desert. Beyond that, we don’t know what specifically is in store for John, though you can count on him leaving a trail of bodies wherever he goes.

Along with Keanu Reeves obviously being back for a third round of bullet-riddled action, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum also sees the return of Ian McShane’s Winston, Lance Reddick’s Charon, John Leguizamo’s Aurelio and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King. As for new faces, they include Halle Berry’s Sofia, Angelica Huston’s The Director, Asia Kate Dillon’s The Adjudicator, Mark Dacascos’ Zero, Robin Lord Taylor’s The Administrator and Jason Mantzoukas’ Tick Tock Man.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum hits theaters on May 17, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage on the threequel and our review. In the meantime, you can scan through our 2019 release schedule to plan your moviegoing trips later this year accordingly.

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