The True Story Behind This Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker 'Wrap' Photo

The True Story Behind This Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker 'Wrap' Photo

Since today is Star Wars Day, it seems fitting to gather round the cantina for the true story of that instantly iconic "wrap" photo from the set of Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker. Director J.J. Abrams shared the image on February 15, back when we had no idea what the title of the film would be. He announced that filming had wrapped on Episode IX, meaning filming had wrapped for the entire Skywalker Saga. Abrams posted an emotional group hug photo of new trilogy stars Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), and Oscar Isaac (Poe):

Turns out, though, that photo was not from when they wrapped filming. It was just a beautiful set photo taken from earlier in the shoot, and showed how much the stars appreciated each moment filming the final chapter in this saga.

The three stars in question explained the real situation behind the photo in interviews with Yahoo. Here's Daily Ridley's answer when asked about the "wrap" hug photo:

That wasn't when we wrapped, that's how much we love each other. The day of wrap we were in London, and John wrapped just before me. And I was a hot mess. 'Cause it's like, the character and everything, but the group of people I've been able to work with, I've been so lucky. I said to them this morning, ‘Imagine if we didn't like each other?’

Oscar Isaac expressed a similar sentiment on the non-wrap photo, and revealed that he was happy his character Poe got to spend more time with John Boyega's Finn in The Rise of Skywalker (something that has already been teased in the first trailer):

That was towards the end of filming in the desert, we still had a bit to go back in London. I just think that's an example of how close we got, and how much we genuinely love each other. For me, one of the great things about this film is I got to work so much more with John Boyega, and I just really love him deeply as a person. So I think that comes across. It will come across in the film.

Yeah, of out of everyone, Oscar Isaac seems the most emotional in the photo. It did leave fans reading into their expressions, trying to figure out what might've just happened before this shot. John Boyega talked about it just being an ordinary moment in extraordinary circumstances:

An ordinary moment just goes to show every day just felt emotional. I guess there was a sense throughout the whole film that this was the last one. So we'd hug each other after a long day when we struggled and we achieved a lot.

J.J. Abrams also talked a bit more about wrapping The Rise of Skywalker, comparing that last day to his last day filming Episode VII - The Force Awakens. As you can imagine, there was more emotion in finishing Episode IX, because everyone was very much aware that it was the final film in this story. It's the end of the nine-film Skywalker Saga. Not that Abrams has finished making the film -- as director, when filming is finished, he heads straight into post-production with editing and visual effects work.

Since the movie is ultimately called The Rise of Skywalker, that has led to a lot of speculation as well. Are there any Skywalkers in that photo above, which J.J. Abrams used to mark the end of filming? As far as we know, no, but there may be twists ahead. Luke Skywalker himself, played by Mark Hamill, is meant to return despite dying in The Last Jedi, and Emperor Palpatine appears to be rising as well, despite being killed in the original trilogy.

Prepare for plenty of surprises, and probably a lot of emotion, when Episode IX arrives in theaters December 20. Here's everything we know so far about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

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John Cena's 5 Best Movie Roles, Ranked

John Cena's 5 Best Movie Roles, Ranked

Both physically and professionally, John Cena has been a big man for a very long time. But these past few years have been huge for the professional WWE wrestler-turned-Hollywood actor. In less than five years, John Cena went from being a popular athlete on television to one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood at the moment. Not everyone can say they've done that before — or, at least, that they've done it well as Cena has these past couple years.

Indeed, John Cena's fame is ballooning just like his biceps, and it doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon. Particularly with hot roles coming up soon in major studio properties, including his forthcoming part in The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle and his rumored role in The Suicide Squad. With that, we're taking a moment to celebrate the five roles that prove John Cena has become a fun, versatile, committed and commendable rising actor.

Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, it should be noted that I'm ranking these performances according to personal preference from least to greatest, with the first one being my least favorite of the favorites, while the last one here is my favorite of the favorites from the John Cena movies lineup. Hopefully that makes sense. In any case, each of these roles showcase a wealth of promise for the veteran professional WWE wrestler to make his way into the world of film acting.

John Cena has already amassed more credits than muscles at this point, and that's certainly no small feat. There's a good chance that we'll be seeing more of John Cena, the big-time actor, in the years to come. For now, however, here's my ranking of John Cena's best performances to date.

Bumblebee

In the Transformers series, the larger-than-life characters are often the giant anamorphic alien robots who turn into assorted trucks and vehicles. But John Cena give those Autobots and Decepticons a run for their money in the role of Agent Jack Burns, a grizzled, vengeance-focused colonel who sees Bumblebee has a threat that must be eliminated as soon as humanly possible. But while he is one of the main antagonist of the film, that doesn't mean that he puts his movie star charms aside and reside too deeply into the internal anguish of the character.

Often, John Cena's Agent Burns provides the film's funniest lines, particularly through his dry delivery. And yet, his wholehearted commitment to the film's goofy premise helps to sell the film's earnest '80s-esque sense of wonder, giving it the right sense of charm and captivation that was typically lost in the other Transformers sequels. While Cena doesn't quite match the size of his title co-star, his larger-than-life demeanor makes a good impression.

The Wall

As you'll see in this list, John Cena has collected a variety of comedic roles. However, as an actor hoping to prove himself throughout a variety of different roles and films, Cena has also expanded into some serious-minded territory as well. The results have ultimately been more mixed, but he did find a win with The Wall, Doug Liman's intense, visceral war thriller which finds an Iraq War sniper (Cena) and a spotter (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) fighting for their lives when a mission does dramatically (and deathly) wrong.

As U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Shane Matthews, John Cena showcases his comedy chops briefly in the movie's opening moments. But it doesn't take long before shots are fired and violence ensues, and Cena's role in the film becomes a whole lot more dramatic. As a rare opportunity to prove himself beyond his action and comedy skills, Cena proves that he has the potential to expand himself as an actor and elevate himself beyond the short-sighted aspirations of a few casting directors out there in Hollywood. As a result, John Cena's work in The Wall should hopefully allow him to expand as a dramatic actor, much in the same way that Trainwreck allowed John Cena to become the comedy mainstay he has been these past several years.

Sisters

In 2015, John Cena was best known for his memorable work in Trainwreck (more on that soon). But there was another R-rated comedy where his large-and-in-charge comedy stylings proved to be very beneficial. Specifically, that film was Sisters, the Tina Fey-Amy Poehler studio comedy which imagined two party-loving siblings throwing a hell of a rager when their parents suggest they sell their childhood home. In the midst of the party festivities seen on-screen is Pazuzu, a heavily tattooed drug dealer who is invited to bring some weed to the partying.

In the film, John Cena is expected to play it straight more than he normally does in studio comedies, often portraying a silent, menacing type who lets his imposing physicality speak for him. As a drug dealer with an inconceivably high amount of drugs (no pun intended) as his disposal, his presence in the film definitely heightens things, though not in the way it does in the other R-rated comedies mentioned in this article. Nevertheless, through another solid and often-funny role in a major studio comedy, John Cena continued to prove himself as a flexible, yet dependable, big-time comedic presence.

Blockers

Only a few years after the success of Trainwreck, John Cena was once again able to stretch his comedy capabilities in a major studio comedy. It also helped that the actor was given a bigger, more prominent role in the film as well. That movie in question is Blockers, a charming, heartfelt R-rated comedy that is centered around a trio of helicopter parents (Ike Barinholtz, Leslie Mann and Cena, of course), who dedicate to sabotage their teenage daughters' prom night in order to prevent them from losing their virginities. It's a pretty bonkers premise, and one that was definitely heightened by Cena.

As Mitchell Mannes, the beefy softie of the group, John Cena played into the tropes of your typical sports-loving overprotective parent who is so caught up in keeping his daughter's child-like innocence that he is ignoring the realities of your children growing up and becoming functioning adults. By having John Cena in the film in one of the lead roles, there's inherently something outright silly about the film. Because really, how many suburban dads look like him? But to the actor's credit, he really leans into that silliness, playing the film's premise up to the full extent while never making it too goofy or ludicrous for its own good. The result, particularly towards the emotional third act, is a film with a big heart as well as some hearty gaffs.

Trainwreck

While John Cena had already proven himself to be a muscle-bound, charismatic television personality with almost two whole decades of professional wrestling experience under his WWE heavyweight championship belt back in 2015, his acting skills were still left into question a mere few years ago. The actor had tried — and failed — to expand himself into action superstar status with misfire efforts like The Marine and 12 Rounds, and it wasn't crystal clear if audiences would be seeing more of John Cena on the big screen. Well, that certainly changed when Cena proved his big comedy chops in Trainwreck.

In Judd Apatow's sharp, appealing romantic comedy, Trainwreck, John Cena only appeared in a supporting role as Steven, Amy Schumer's muscular, high-strung casual boyfriend. But in his limited screen-time, much like fellow scene-stealer LeBron James, Cena proved to be surprisingly dedicated to the film's raunchy comedy, while also showcasing a surprise knack for improvisation. The result was an impressive and winsome performance which helped paved the way for more roles in future comedies.

While John Cena is in his 40s by now, his acting career remains relatively young. His future roles suggest that his aspirations will be pushed into more blockbusters in the vein of Bumblebee than the smaller-scale comedies and dramas that he has been accustomed to thus far. Hopefully, that transition into bigger and better things proves to be beneficial. If not, there are always comedies out there that could use his skills, his talents and his dedication.

It should also be noted that in addition to the upcoming roles mentioned earlier, we can also look forward to seeing John Cena in Project X-Traction, which is an action-adventure-thriller, also starring Jackie Chan, that's expected to come out later this year. Furthermore, Cena won't be too far from the small-screen either, as he will become the new host of Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?, which begin its revamped run on Nickelodeon in June.

As for what else is in store for his career, there are some murmurs that he might be involved with the new Fast & Furious movie. That's not confirmed, but it's not hard to see Cena lending his larger-than-life muscle-bound talents to those already-ludicrous action flicks. It would probably be one of the best showcases in Hollywood, truth be told, assuming that John Cena would be given a chance to play up the silliness well-established in the series.

But no matter what is in store for John Cena, we'll be sure to keep you posted on all the latest news, updates and more right here at CinemaBlend.

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Aladdin Live Action Movie: Here's What We Know

Aladdin Live Action Movie: Here's What We Know

After successfully owning the world of animation, Disney has found a remarkable way to take a second bite at the apple, by remaking all their most popular animated movies in live-action. Following on the success of The Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast, Disney now has their sights set on the 1990s hit Aladdin. While we expect the movie to be a more or less straight forward remake of the animated classic, not every Disney remake has been done that way, and there's enough going on here to make us wonder.

Aladdin is one of Disney's most popular films but part of the reason for that is the iconic performance by Robin Williams, something the remake will have to do without. Will the new film be able to put the pieces together to make yet another memorable movie? Here's everything that we do, in fact, know about Disney's upcoming live-action Aladdin.

What Have We Seen From Aladdin?

A few different teasers and trailers have been revealed which have given us a decent taste of the new film. The first gave us a brief look at Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, but little else. The second sneak peek, viewable above, gave us a bit more, a few glimpses at different shots that will look familiar if you know the animated Aladdin well. The biggest thing that we have seen, however, comes at the end of the second teaser, as we get to see Will Smith as the big blue Genie in all his CGI glory.

What Is The Live Action Aladdin Release Date?

Aladdin will arrive in theaters May 24, 2019. This makes it the big Memorial Day weekend release for the year. It will have some competition that weekend going up against the James Gunn produced superhero horror movie Brightburn. The date also makes Aladdin the second of three major Disney remakes coming out in 2019. It will be preceded by Tim Burton's Dumbo in March and followed by The Lion King in July.

What Is The Live Action Aladdin Rating?

While PG-13 tends to be the goal rating for most of Disney's subsidiary brands, like Star Wars and Marvel, the House of Mouse is still all about the family experience. All of the live-action remakes that Disney has made so far have been rated PG and now we know that Aladdin officially has the same rating.

Even if it is directed by the guy who made Snatch, Aladdin isn't particularly violent or scary and while the transition from animated characters to real people certainly adds an element of reality to the proceedings, it clearly didn't push the material past a PG rating. And, it sounds like a smart move to keep the movie there, and make sure that as many families as possible can head out to theaters to see Aladdin during the holiday weekend.

The Director

Oh, did we mention that part yet? In a move that is either the most brilliant, or utterly insane, decision made by Disney in recent memory, Guy Ritchie has been tapped to direct the live-action Aladdin. The thing is, if you filed the serial numbers off of the plot, there's a lot that would make a good argument for Ritchie to direct this. The main character is a streetwise orphan who has to outwit the local police in order to survive, before stumbling on a plan to impersonate a prince in order to win his dream girl. The plot is made for Ritchie's signature style. He loves "street rat" characters, and as long as they don't make Aladdin swear a lot, this could work

While Guy Ritchie strikes us as an unusual choice, Ritchie himself has said that with his five kids, he knows as much, or more, about kids' movies as he does any other type of movie. He seems to be fully on board working with Disney and he's familiar with the product, so we can't wait to see what the creative director will do with Aladdin.

The Writers

The screenplay for the live action version is a team effort between Guy Ritchie and John August. This will be August's second Disney script, following up his work on Tim Burton's stop-motion feature version of Frankenweenie. In fact, August is a frequent Tim Burton collaborator, having worked on the scripts for Big Fish, Corpse Bride, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. John August has certainly written some creative stories, which is good for a Disney property, although this is his first screenplay since 2012.

What Is The Live Action Aladdin Story?

For the most part, we know what the plot of the live-action Aladdin will be, as it will, more or less, follow the plot of the animated original. "Street Rat" Aladdin gets chosen by Jafar to enter the Cave of Wonders to retrieve a magic lamp, but instead, Aladdin takes the lamp and uses it to become a prince in an attempt to woo Princess Jasmine. The Princess, on the other hand, is dealing with a parade of princely suitors, none of which she's much interested in because she wants to marry for love, not political reasons. Shenanigans ensue.

Of course, how closely Disney's remakes actually stay to the previous version has varied across films. While Beauty and the Beast was an incredibly faithful remake, Cinderella added a great deal of new material and character development to the hero. The Jungle Book contained some of the animated versions' original music while Beauty and the Beast was a full musical. The success of Beauty and the Beast might lead Disney toward a more faithful remake, yet we just can't see Guy Ritchie making an entirely traditional Disney movie. Several details that we do have indicate there will be at least some differences to set the live-action Aladdin apart from its predecessor.

The Music

One way in which the live-action Aladdin is expected to follow in the footsteps of Beauty and the Beast is by adding music. Early word from the Aladdin casting process was that they were having some difficulty casting the lead roles of Aladdin and Jasmine because it was difficult to find actors who met all of their requirements. One of those requirements was the ability to sing. This would certainly seem to confirm that the new Aladdin will include all the musical numbers that the original version did.

Beauty and the Beast also included new music, and we've found out that Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the songwriters behind The Greatest Showman and La La Land, have collaborated with Alan Menken on two new songs for the film. There's also the possibility that music from the Broadway production could also make its way into the movie.

The Genie

The movie may be called Aladdin, but when you think about Disney's animated movie, you think first of the Genie, voiced to perfection by the great Robin Williams. There's no replacing Williams in the role, so Guy Ritchie and Disney have apparently decided the best way to cast the role is to go for something totally different. Will Smith is on board to play the Genie in the live-action remake. This could be an utterly brilliant decision as Smith is an actor with endless amounts of personality, while at the same time, that personality is completely different from that of Williams.

We actually found out at CinemaCon 2018 that this version of the character is being described as "a little Fresh Prince, a little Hitch, and a whole lot of attitude," which makes sense, considering who's playing him. This movie might not be about the Genie, be he's the character that's going to hold the film together, so let's hope that characterization works with everything else they have planned.

Our first look at the blue Genie was met by a lot of questions from fans, as most people were not over the moon for the design. Having said that, pictures of Will Smith that appeared shortly after, plus new teases of the movie, show the Genie looking exactly like a human, which would seem to imply he will spend a lot of time in disguise, something the animated Genie never did.

Aladdin

The title role in Aladdin will be played by Mena Massoud. While not strictly a newcomer to Hollywood, he's not a household name by any means. Massoud has primarily been a TV actor up to this point, and he's been seen in Amazon's Jack Ryan series. Indications had been that filmmakers were looking for an unknown actor for the role and so it appears that Massoud might be exactly what they need, an actor who's not recognizable from any other role, but who has a significant amount of experience.

As far as we can tell, Massoud has no significant singing experience, which could mean he has natural talent that he's never explored, or it could mean he spent pre-production working with a voice coach.

Jasmine

Aladdin's better half will be played by the slightly better known Naomi Scott. Scott most recently introduced herself to film audiences in the role of Kimberly, the Pink Ranger, in the Power Rangers movie. Scott's name was long rumored to be in consideration and at the most recent D23 Expo in 2017, it was confirmed that she'd be in the one in the role. Scott got her start with singing before she was an actress so she has the musical ability the role will require. Scott will also be seen this year in Elizabeth Banks highly anticipated Charlie's Angels film.

Jafar

If there's one thing Disney animated films almost always get right, it's the villain, and Aladdin's Jafar is one of the all-time greats. Marwan Kenzari will take on the role of the Sultan's Grand Vizir. Recently, Kenzari has had significant roles in movies like The Mummy and The Promise, but playing the big bad in a Disney movie will almost certainly be the actor's big debut for mass audiences. We just hope he's practicing his evil laugh. Also probably his singing, as we can't tell if he's ever really done that before.

The Sultan

Jasmine's father, the Sultan of Agrabah, isn't necessarily a starring role, but it is an important one. In the live-action adaptation, Navid Negahban will play the part. In the animated film the character was something of a clueless buffoon. Negahban doesn't tend to play that sort of character, which makes me think the Sultan will be a bit smarter this time around.

The Animal Characters

While the vast majority of Aladdin characters are human or humanoid, some of them fall into the classic Disney category of talking animals. Disney proved with The Jungle Book that they were capable of creating CGI animals that interact realistically with people, but it appears the plan for Aladdin is just to use actual animals for the parts. In the original Aladdin Jasmine's tiger Rajah and Aladdin's pet monkey Abu were little more than animals that they appeared to be. They could communicate wit humans but could not speak. Jafar's parrot Iago was a different sort of creature, capable of full speech humans could understand. As far as we can tell from the trailers, Iago will be in the film along with Abu and Rajah, but they'll just be animals.

New Characters

In addition to all of the old characters who will be back, we do know that the live-action Aladdin will introduce a trio of new characters. Former Saturday Night Live alum Nasim Pedrad has been cast in the new role of Mara. Mara is described as a handmade and friend of Princess Jasmine. The role is being called a comedic supporting role, which seems perfect given Pedrad's previous work. It's also a welcome addition considering that the original animated film really only had the one female role.

In addition, Numan Acar has been cast in the role of Hakim, the chief of the guards who is described as the right-hand man of Jafar. This could indicate that since Iago will not be Jafar's partner in crime, Hakim could be taking on the position of Jafar's go-to subordinate. Overall, the role sounds to be very much like the animated film's character named Razoul, who was the head of Agrabah's guard, but had no particular love for Jafar in that version.

Lastly, actor Billy Magnussen, who showed off his singing chops in Into the Woods as well as appearing in Game Night, Ingrid Goes West and American Crime Story, has signed on to play the role of Prince Anders. Right now, we don't know anything about this character or how he'll fit into the narrative, but it's possible that he'll end up being one of the many potential suitors for Princess Jasmine.

We're only a couple of days away from Aladdin's debut in theaters, so be sure to keep an eye on this guide for the latest updates!

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Christopher Nolan's New Movie Tenet Is Putting Together A Fantastic Cast

Christopher Nolan's New Movie Tenet Is Putting Together A Fantastic Cast

Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker who, even at his most generous, loves to keep the public in the dark about what he's working on until the last possible moment. His latest film, slated for release next summer, is certainly no exception, as it has just recently unveiled its title, Tenet, on this the first day of shooting. Plot details are also sparse, as the recently provided description of “North By Northwest meets Inception” was dismissed as quickly as it had arrived, though the film being "an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage" remains the premise.

With such a diverse and dangerous setting comes a cast of impressive actors taking on the task of working with Nolan himself. So fresh off the back of Tenet getting a title, and a few new members to its' cast, now is a good time to run down the line and see who's on board for this would be blockbuster of summer 2020! We'll start with Mr. John David Washington himself!

John David Washington

The first lead cast in Christopher Nolan's Tenet, John David Washington will be adding this sought after role on top of a year that's brought him a lot of notice. His role in the HBO series Ballers saw its fourth year of action in 2018, with his lead role in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman netting him several prestigious award nominations in that very same year. Washington's recent credits also include Monsters and Men, as well as The Old Man and The Gun.

Robert Pattinson

Initial reports have mentioned that Christopher Nolan's latest film is to have two male leads, with a female lead around the same age range. Robert Pattinson is the most recently cast male out of the two, with his credits of late being represented in the sci-fi drama High Life, and the western/comedy Damsel. His casting in Tenet seemed sure to set off the rumor mill, as Pattinson's name has been come up as the all but confirmed as a successor to Ben Affleck in the role of Batman. Which makes Robert Pattinson's collaboration with the director of the still highly regarded Dark Knight Trilogy practically kismet.

Elizabeth Debicki

Also part of the previously known cast for Christopher Nolan's Tenet is none other than rising star Elizabeth Debicki. 2018 was also good for Debicki, as Steve McQueen's Widows saw her impressing the hell out of critics and fans alike, as one of the titular stars alongside Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo. Previously, Debicki was seen in franchise sequels The Cloverfield Paradox and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, as well as the Guy Ritchie feature film adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Dimple Kapadia

Primarily known for her work in the Indian film world, actor Dimple Kapadia has been added to the cast of Tenet in the film’s most recent run up to production. Kapadia has been a fixture since the 1980’s, most recently starring in Welcome Back, alongside fellow Indian actor/crossover star Anil Kapoor. Tenet marks Dimple Kapadia’s first Hollywood film.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Best known for his roles as both Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the lead in Mark Millar’s comic adaptation Kick-Ass, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is another one of Tenet’s latest additions to the cast. Most recently seen in Netflix’s Outlaw King, Taylor-Johnson will also be seen in the Kingsman: The Great Game, which will see the famed spy organization’s origins in the 1900’s.

Clémence Poésy

If you’re struggling to remember where you’ve seen Clémence Poésy before, we’ll go ahead and tell you that you most likely recognize her from her role of Fleur Delacour in the Harry Potter film franchise. You may even remember her from films like In Bruges and 127 Hours. But lately, this Tenet star has been seen in TV shows like National Geographic’s Genius: Picasso, where she played French icon Françoise Gilot, as well as the British/French TV procedural, The Tunnel.

Michael Caine

Known quite well as the lucky charm to Christopher Nolan, as well as an actor of great distinction and honor, Michael Caine makes his return to appearing on camera for Nolan with Tenet. Previously, Caine made an uncredited cameo as the voice of Fortis Leader, guiding Tom Hardy and his air squadron in Dunkirk. Caine’s notable credits in the cast range from classics like Alfie and The Italian Job to more recent films like Now You See Me 2.

Kenneth Branagh

In what looks like his addition to the Christopher Nolan repertory company, Kenneth Branagh is the last and latest addition to the Tenet cast. Much like Michael Caine, Branagh was also part of the massive cast that made Nolan’s Dunkirk come to life. More recently, Branagh starred and directed in the Shakespeare biopic All Is Well, and has Artemis Foul ready to go for release next summer through Disney.

As the cast for Tenet continues to form up, and more details besides those provided previously are made known, we'll update this list to reflect the new changes. But until then, know that this newly titled Christopher Nolan event film will be released in conventional and IMAX theaters on July 17, 2020. So, it's probably best you find some movies throughout the rest of 2019's release schedule to pass the time in-between.

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Ford V Ferrari First Look: Matt Damon And Christian Bale Are Off To The Races

Ford V Ferrari First Look: Matt Damon And Christian Bale Are Off To The Races

Later this year, Christian Bale and Matt Damon will be teaming up for a film that looks sure to be a frontrunner during awards season. The two Oscar-winners will be co-starring in Ford v Ferrari, which is directed by James Mangold (Logan). The actors are already promoting the movie, and now we finally have a few more details, including the first photos from the film. Check them out in the gallery below.

Set during 1966, Ford v Ferrari tells the story of two men who attempt to give Ford a competitive advantage over racing champion Ferrari during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Christian Bale plays English racer Ken Miles, who teams up with American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) to create the revolutionary car that will give Ford a run for its money.

The film is described as a "David vs Goliath vs Goliath" story that focuses on the men who had their boots on the ground while the titanic corporations duked it out. While the film is based on true events, it's not really about those events, James Mangold told Entertainment Weekly. It's really about two men who overcome challenges to create something they are passionate about.

Considering the talents of Matt Damon and Christian Bale, this is likely a movie to keep an eye on when it comes time to vote for Best Actor. For what it's worth, the two actors seem to share a pretty fun chemistry. Bale and Damon appeared as the honorary starters for the Indy 500 this weekend. Bale was asked how the Batmobile would do in the race, and Damon had a fun add-on.

Another big thing that we are sure to hear a lot about once press for this film heats up is that it had a focus on practical effects. These aren't CGI cars racing around a track. James Mangold was insistent that real racing be utilized for the film. The director minimized the CGI use in Logan as much as he could, and he feels it ultimately makes for a much better film as it allows more room for the characters.

Logan put James Mangold on the map, and nothing more really needs to be said about the acting chops of Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The film also stars Caitriona Balfe (Outlander), Tracy Letts (Lady Bird), Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama), and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher).

You can expect to see Ford v Ferrari race into theaters on the very awards friendly date of November 15, 2019. That's still a whole summer away, so keep up to date on everything hitting theaters this year with our 2019 movie release guide. For more movie news and updates, keep it right here at CinemaBlend and we'll post new information as soon as it is available.

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Will Goose The Cat Be In Avengers: Endgame? Captain Marvel Hero Is Everywhere Else

Will Goose The Cat Be In Avengers: Endgame? Captain Marvel Hero Is Everywhere Else

We have tons of burning questions in anticipation of Avengers: Endgame next month, but an unexpected one has recently been considered by fans of the MCU. Will Captain Marvel scene-stealer Goose the cat make a comeback in the upcoming film? The adorable Flerken did prove himself to have a "high threat level" in the recent release, and the universe could probably use all the help it can get after Thanos' snap.

Goose was already stealing hearts prior to the Captain Marvel release, as he showed his star power on massive character posters in movie theaters and billboards just about everywhere. Since the movie opened, the Flerken has been the talk of the film and Twitter town too, as the character received infectious smiles and "awws" during showings.

Goose turned out to be quite important to Captain Marvel as well. SPOILER ALERT Not only is the Flerken feline responsible for Nick Fury donning his iconic eyepatch in the future, but Goose also kept the Tesseract safe from harm in his mouth in the final act of the movie, before coughing it up on Fury’s desk during the end credits scene.

Goose has led fans to place the cat in Endgame themselves. Take a look at this marvelous piece of Photoshop work from Twitter user @andyvenom which has gone viral:

There he is looking cute as ever, replacing all the faces of the Avengers stars in the most recent Endgame poster. Cats have quite the track record of playing well on the internet, so Goose being the star of memes following his introduction to the MCU isn't too surprising. But following Nick Fury's hilarious eye reveal, fans aren’t discounting the Flerken’s potential impact in Endgame if he does return.

Will he take on Thanos in Endgame? Maybe…. Here’s an idea from Twitter user @209Andres_:

This is some startling evidence, Marvel fans. Could it be? Do Thanos and Goose have a history? It would certainly be hilarious if Marvel decided to give Goose a larger role or backstory like this in the established universe. Since Captain Marvel is set to lead the MCU moving forward, why wouldn’t her Flerken friend also make some big moves? Here’s another gem from Twitter concerning Goose and Endgame:

Marvel Studios is even highlighting Goose in their marketing for the movie, still in theaters. Check it out:

What could be telling is the studio’s decision to use the quote "Goose deserves a franchise." Will they cash in on giving audiences what they are publicizing that the cat deserves? Hopefully the character will at least get a spinoff (animated?) series in the future, perhaps on the upcoming Disney+ streaming service.

Goose is a character from the Captain Marvel comics named Chewie, though the filmmakers decided to change it to feel more distinctly from the ‘90s era. Flerkens can devour prey with their tentacle-like open mouths, which also contain pocket dimensions.

Do you think Goose will have a role in Avengers: Endgame to meet the rest of the team? Tell us in the comments below.

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Rian Johnson Reveals When He’ll Start Working On His Star Wars Trilogy

Rian Johnson Reveals When He’ll Start Working On His Star Wars Trilogy

The past few years have been very exciting for Star Wars fans. After Disney acquired the rights to the property from Lucasfilm, the generations of moviegoers have been brought a variety of new and exciting content from the galaxy far, far away. This includes both main installments and standalone films, and the beloved space opera isn't slowing down anytime soon.

All eyes are currently on how J.J Abrams will wrap up the Skywalker Saga forever with Episode IX, there are also two sets of movies being developed. One of which is a trilogy by The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, and now we've got an idea regarding when he'll get to work. Johnson recently presented his upcoming movie Knives Out at CinemaCon, and revealed he'd be going back to the galaxy after that film is released.

This update comes to us from Twitter, and will no doubt excite the generations of Star Wars fans who are eager for information about the franchise after Episode IX. J.J Abrams' still untitled movie will arrive this holiday season, but Disney hasn't shared its future plans with the public. It's currently unclear if any more standalone films are on the way, or when Rian Johnson's trilogy might first arrive in theaters.

The Star Wars franchise has been pumping out new releases every year, so any gaps in time before new content is going to feel excruciating to moviegoers. But Rian Johnson will craft three separate movies, which proves that Lucasfilm was happy with his work on The Last Jedi. So while the project may have subverted fan expectations and received some hate from moviegoers, Johnson is being given even more freedom to put his stamp on the galaxy far far away.

Of course, Rian Johnson isn't the only filmmaker curating new movies for the Star Wars franchise. Game of Thrones creators D.B. Weiss and David Benioff are also developing their own Star Wars flicks, although it's unclear exactly how many we should expect. But considering the work the duo has done in Westeros, it's an exciting development. We're days away from Season 8's premiere, with the upcoming series finale presumably freeing up Weiss and Benioff's schedule to focus on The Force.

It should be fascinating to see what Rian Johnson does with his trilogy of movies, especially considering how many shocking moments were in The Last Jedi. Johnson made liberal changes to the canon with his blockbuster, which is why some fans took umbrage with the risks he took. He made the franchise hero into a jaded recluse, finally gave Leia force abilities, and purposefully cut down various fan theories. By killing Snoke and revealing Rey's parentage, he freed up Episode IX to go into new and exciting places, so it feels like anything could happen with his upcoming movies.

First Rian Johnson will focus on Knives Out, which will arrive in theaters on November 27th. Episode IX will follow shortly thereafter, debuting on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release to plan your next trip to the movies.

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