Creed II Originally Brought Back Apollo As A Ghost

Creed II Originally Brought Back Apollo As A Ghost

Creed II was about facing up to the ghosts of one's past, but it seems that at one point there may have been a plan to include an actual ghost. Dolph Lundgren recently revealed that in an early script of Creed II there was apparently a plan for the story to include Apollo Creed himself. Lundgren much prefers the decision to bring back another Rocky IV co-star, Brigitte Nielsen, instead. According to Lundgren...

It was a great idea I thought [to bring Nielsen back]. In the original first draft it was Apollo came back. Or like his ghost or something. It was a little hokey, you know. So I think it was much better to bring Brigitte back.

Unfortunately, Dolph Lundgren doesn't elaborate on his comments, which he made during a Q&A at Monster-Mania Con 42 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey over this past weekend. That means we have no idea exactly how this idea of Apollo Creed returning in Creed II was originally supposed to be handled.

Sylvester Stallone has recently stated that he now feels the decision to kill Apollo Creed in Rocky IV may have been the wrong one, if only because he so enjoyed working with actor Carl Weathers. Perhaps that led Stallone, who co-wrote the screenplay for Creed II, to try and find a way to include him.

Obviously, it seems unlikely that the actual plan had been to include Apollo Creed's ghost. Perhaps there would have been a dream sequence of some kind where either Rocky or Adonis Creed finds himself across from Apollo. Of course, just creating a "ghost" version of Apollo would have been one of the more complicated things in the movie. Creed II isn't exactly a visusal effects blockbuster but a lot of that would have been necessary to bring Apollo Creed back.

However you look at it, it feels awkward, which is probably why the scene never made it into the final film. Still, the desire to include Apollo, and Carl Weathers, in the movie in some way certainly makes sense. It's understandable that people would want to try. There's just no good way to do it.

And at the same time, if Apollo Creed doesn't die in Rocky IV, then Creed II, really the entire Creed franchise becomes an entirely different pair of films. Apollo's death in Rocky IV is one of the iconic moments of the entire series.

In the end, bringing Brigitte Nielsen back for Creed II was clearly something that was much easier to do. And it was certainly impactful as well. Nielsen's return helps put the story of Ivan Drago into a context that we never got to see in Rocky IV. It makes the villain of the earlier movie a much more sympathetic character in the sequel.

While bringing Apollo back in any way would have been a nice nod, it would not have meant as much to the actual story. And who knows. There's always Creed III.

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Apparently, The New Charlie’s Angels Movie Is Actually A Sequel

Apparently, The New Charlie’s Angels Movie Is Actually A Sequel

These days it seems as if just about every major blockbuster stems from a previous iteration, leaving audiences perpetually making comparisons to the originals they know and love, or hoping the newer versions will do previously wronged characters justice. For Elizabeth Banks’ upcoming Charlie’s Angels retelling, it looks like the action flick won’t be ignoring the roots of the ‘70s television series or flashy McG films from the early ‘00s.

Elizabeth Banks, who is director, co-writer of Charlie’s Angels script (and one of three Bosleys) recently said the upcoming movie is more of a “continuation” of the franchise than a reboot, and will implement elements from the television show and movies. Since it’s now been over forty years since the agency of Angels started, the organization has only expanded and the titular Charlie is now a “gazillionaire.” Banks explained further with these words:

If you were rich in 1976, you only got richer. Charles Townsend is richer than ever, so he’s grown the business into a global spy agency.

Unlike the original series, the new Charlie’s Angels will show off an operation that is much larger than a trio of badass crime-fighters, with a network of Angels around the world. The film will still primarily focus on three leading angels played by Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska and Aladdin’s Naomi Scott. Stewart’s character Sabina Wilson is described as a adept partier and group leader, Balinska’s Jane Kano as a skilled ex-MI6 agent and Scott’s Elena Houghlin as a scientist who is the “heart of the movie”.

Elizabeth Banks told Entertainment Weekly she is going for a more grounded approach to the action sequences in Charlie’s Angels, with the dynamics between the team inspired by the team in the new Mission: Impossible films. The movie will take place in locations around the world including Istanbul, Berlin and Hamburg and be centralized on the theme of women working together over romantic entanglements and such.

Elizabeth Banks has decided to make the name of Bosley be a rank within the Charlie’s Angels organization this time around. The role previously played by David Doyle, Bill Murray and Bernie Mac will be played by Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart and Djimon Hounsou this time around.

Per this new information, we can potentially expect some nods and winks to the classic television show and movie franchise starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu and will have the new Angels continuing what they started with their own flair on the franchise. It will be interesting to see how this new version implements the franchise’s past and sets itself apart from them as well.

Charlie’s Angels will come to theaters on November 15, 2019 alongside James Mangold’s action flick starring Christian Bale, Matt Damon and Jon Bernthal, Ford v. Ferrari and Paul Feig’s holiday rom-com Last Christmas starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh. Check out more exciting releases hitting theaters this year with our 2019 movie release schedule.

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Dave Bautista Is ‘Still Processing’ Avengers: Endgame

Dave Bautista Is ‘Still Processing’ Avengers: Endgame

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame. If you haven't seen it yet, check out one of our other stories!

It's been nearly a week since Avengers: Endgame arrived in theaters, and moviegoers are still recovering from the movie's unpredictable events. The Russo Brothers crafted a complicated story that was truly the cumulation of the last 21 movies, rewarding the hardcore fandom for consistently running to theaters and shelling out cash for each new release.

The Russo Brothers threw everything and the kitchen sink into Avengers: Endgame, so there's plenty to unpack from the action-packed blockbuster. While moviegoers' heads are understandably still spinning, that's a feeling that extends to even the cast and crew. Guardians of the Galaxy standout Dave Bautista took to social media following Endgame's release, check it out:

Same, Dave. Same.

Dave Bautista's Tweet makes a great deal of sense, especially considering he was probably kept in the dark regarding quite a bit of Avengers: Endgame's contents. Drax was largely absent from the blockbuster, after he and most of the Guardians faded to dust as a result of Thanos' finger snap of death. So while he was privy for the final battle and the Guardians' ultimate fate, Bautista was likely just as delighted and surprised over Endgame's contents as the rest of us.

The Guardians of the Galaxy were hit hard by Thanos' assault in Infinity War, with only Rocket and Nebula managing to survive the snap. Luckily, the dusted Guardians popped back up in Endgame's final battle with Thanos. After Hulk managed to snap everyone back into existence, all of the galaxy's forces untied against Thanos and his army. Drax and Mantis were one of the first Guardians to appear, and they were a sight for sore eyes.

The Russo Brothers crammed so much into Avengers: Endgame, that the blockbuster is basically begging or a rewatch. This might be exactly what Dave Bautista needs, as he's processing the events of the movie as well. And in the end, Endgame did seem to tease the future of his team of intergalactic heroes.

Related: Why Thor Changed So Much In Avengers: Endgame, According To The Writers

Once reassembled, the Guardians of the Galaxy ended up heading back to space in Endgame, with Thor in toe. Star-Lord is shown searching for the 2014 version of Gamora, who joined the final battle against Thanos before vanishing. The search for Gamora will likely be a major plot point for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and it should be interesting to see if Thor ends up actually joining the team. It's a character pairing that worked great in Infinity War, but Chris Hemsworth has also come to the end of his Marvel Studios contract.

Avengers: Endgame is currently in theaters now, and Guardians 3 is rumored to begin filming in 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Will Avengers: Endgame Save 2019 From A Massive Box Office Slump?

Will Avengers: Endgame Save 2019 From A Massive Box Office Slump?

Although there are some very big movies on the radar for this year, so far the 2019 box office has not had an incredible run. While titles like Shazam!, Glass, Captain Marvel and How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World have done well for theaters, so far the box office is down from its great heights over the last couple of years.

Unfortunately in 2019, the box office is in its worst slump at this point in the year since 2013. Yes, six years ago. Through the weekend, the box office domestically is at $2.74 billion. Any number that begins with a “b” probably sounds pretty good, but actually it's not a great number compared to previous years.

However, what is arguably the biggest movie in a decade is coming out this month in Avengers: Endgame. Will the new Marvel movie be able to save the box office from a massive slump?

So far, early box office predictions have Avengers: Endgame making $200 million to $250 million domestically during opening weekend. That’s a large total. Most estimates have the movie breaking $2 billion and some estimates have it hitting closer to $2.5 billion.

If Avengers: Endgame doesn’t reach at least the minimum of the heights expected of it, it will be a bit of a shock. Ticket pre-sales have already been insane for the movie, hitting records. Allegedly people are even trying to resell tickets for inflated prices for prime showings, which is just wild to think about.

Suffice to say, if Avengers: Endgame doesn’t “save” the box office from a slump in 2019, it certainly won’t hurt.

Once Avengers: Endgame kickstarts the box office into gear, it should hopefully get much easier from here on out. Disney kicked off with Dumbo but has three more live action adventures coming in 2019. The long-awaited Episode IX is also coming from that studio as well.

Then, there are crowd pleasers such as Hobbs and Shaw, The Secret Life of Pets 2, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and even outside-the-box titles like Rocketman still coming in 2019. It’s a little early to get too concerned about the entire year’s box office total yet.

Why is the box office down? Titles like Hellboy and Missing Link have actively bombed. Other titles have failed to do as well as expected, including The LEGO Movie 2, which made less than half of what its predecessor The LEGO Movie made worldwide.

Even expected hits like Happy Death Day 2U were sluggish. Although that movie was made for $9 million and went on to make over $64 million worldwide, the original Happy Death Day was reportedly made for $4.5 million and made $125 million+ worldwide. Franchises such as those have definitely been a case of law of diminishing returns.

Previously industry experts have not seemed concerned with the slow start to the box office. The last few years have seen boosts early on from titles like Black Panther, Beauty and the Beast, Logan and Deadpool, so there is not necessarily a reason to worry because a flick like Shazam! or Dumbo isn’t reaching the exact same heights.

Related: Shazam! Box Office – The DC Hit Repeats And Bests All Newcomers

Still, the last couple of years, the movie theater box office has been pretty incredible, breaking records for overall totals ($11.9 billion domestically in 2018) and for individual studios. It’s been helped in part by the convenience of early ticketing, the addition of movie subscriptions like Stubs A-List or Cinemark Movie Club, and a general wealth of movies hitting broad swaths of audiences.

Still, services like MoviePass have faltered and it may also be true that people are less excited about frequenting the movies as they were when these types of subscriptions were brand spanking new.

I suppose there is a future where titles like Hobbs and Shaw or Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker also don’t do as well as expected, provided Avengers: Endgame is everything the box office has anticipated, the movie theater business should still be in good if not great shape this year.

If you want to get in on the fun ahead of the release of Avengers: Endgame on April 26, join our Marvel death pool.

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Captain Marvel’s Powers Explained

Captain Marvel’s Powers Explained

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Captain Marvel are ahead!

We’ve met a lot of superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, each with their own unique powers and/or skill set. This weekend marks the introduction of one of the mightiest yet: Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel. Teased last year at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Carol is being primed to be one of the new leading protagonists in the MCU going forward, and the Captain Marvel movie turns the clock back to 1995 to tell her origin story. Lest you think that’s the last we’ll see of her this year, Carol will be return at the end of April to help out the surviving Avengers in Avengers: Endgame.

Captain Marvel is a heavy hitter in the Marvel Comics universe, and for years it’s been promised that she’ll be incredibly powerful; perhaps the most powerful of the Marvel protagonists. But what exactly are Carol Danvers’ powers? What is she able to do after absorbing the Tesseract’s energy and being turned into a human/Kree hybrid that makes her such a formidable opponent and a key ally in the upcoming rematch with Thanos? Let’s go over the special abilities she shows off in the Captain Marvel movie to get the full scope of what she’s capable of (and no, traveling through time is not one of those things).

Super Strength

When Carol Danvers was brought back to the Kree homeworld Hala after the Light-Speed engine was destroyed, she was given a transfusion of Yon-Rogg’s blood. As a result, Carol, a.k.a. Vers during her amnesiac days, has the enhanced physiology that all Kree have, thus making her faster, more durable and agile than your average human. However, perhaps the biggest advantage of having Kree DNA is the super strength. Even before her powers kicked up several notches in Captain Marvel’s climax, Carol was throwing punches that would send opponents flying across the room and bent a steel bar around some door handles to delay some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from capturing her and Nick Fury. Even when her hands were handcuffed so she couldn’t use her energy powers (more on that soon), Carol managed to fight off a squad of Skrulls.

After her powers kicked up several notches, Carol’s strength increased far past what you’d expect from a normal Kree, allowing her to stop one of the missiles Ronan the Accuser launched at Earth and send it back to the other missiles. But even that strength boost is just the tip of the iceberg, as Brie Larson said last year that Carol is able to move planets, a feat only Thanos has previously been able to accomplish with the help of some Infinity Stones. Someone’s clearly been eating their Wheaties.

Energy Manipulation

Manipulating energy is definitely the most visual of Carol Danvers’ powers, although she was led to believe during her time as Vers that this ability was a gift from the Supreme Intelligence, and one that could be taken away. This placed limits on Carol was initially able to do with this gift, but she nonetheless put it to good use, mainly through the use of photon blasts, which she could either use as projecting force or to enhance her already impressive strength. Carol was also able to generate enough energy to melt through steel doors and walls, as well those Skrull power-dampening cuffs after several minutes of effort.

When Carol’s memories returned and she learned that her energy powers actually came from absorbing the energy emitted from the Tesseract when she blew up the light-speed engine on Earth, that was just the key to awakening her full potential. After destroying the device on her neck that had actually been inhibiting these powers rather than giving them to her, Carol’s photon blasts were powerful enough to easily knock down numerous Starforce operatives and once and shoot down several Kree ships. This cosmic energy Carol can unleash is arguably what distinguishes her most from the other Marvel heroes, and it could be the key to finally defeating Thanos, particularly since, just as was the case with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, this power came from an Infinity Stone.

Flight

Originally, like any other normal human and Kree, Carol Danvers was earth-bound. When the escape ship she used to get off the exploding Skrull ship in the beginning portion of Captain Marvel was destroyed, she helplessly fell to Earth, and it’s only because of her Kree physiology and whatever energy reserves she could draw on that she survived that crash into the Blockbuster store. She also had to travel with Nick Fury, Talos, Maria Rambeau and Goose to reach Mar-Vell’s hidden base aboard that enhanced aircraft. But once that Kree inhibitor device was gone, Carol was given free reign to the sky and space.

During Captain Marvel’s climactic conflict, once again, Carol found herself crashing to Earth, but at the last minute, she stopped her fall and began floating. From there, it was easy enough for her to fly back into space to stop the Kree attack on Earth. But Carol’s isn’t just flying at ‘normal’ speed; as a result of her cosmic powers fully awakening, Carol can now fly at the speed of light, as she accompanied the Skrull refugees on their journey to find a new home. Mar-Vell indirectly succeeded in creating light-speed travel, it just wasn’t a ship that received that capability, it was a person.

Longer Life Span

I’ve already discussed how durable Carol Danvers is after becoming a human/Kree hybrid, and this enhanced physiology also means she heals faster from the wounds she does receive. That said, Carol also now ages more slowly compared to the average human. This was shown in Captain Marvel’s mid-credits scene when she suddenly appeared at the New Avengers base after Nick Fury’s pager was activated and she looked exactly the same as she did over two decades ago.

Most aliens in the MCU have much longer lifespans than humans, and now we can count Carol among them. Similar to when Steve Rogers was awakened after almost 70 years on ice, it will be interesting to see Carol back on Earth both reuniting with people from her past who are now much older and acclimating to how times have changed since she was last home, although I doubt this will be explored in-depth during Avengers: Endgame since that movie has a lot on its plate. Unlike Steve, though, if the MCU ever decides to release a movie set decades or even centuries in the future, there’s the potential for Carol to appear and either still look the same or only slightly older. She may not live as long as someone like Thor, but Carol could continue leaving a big impact on this superhero universe when most of the other heroes around now have passed.

Be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of Captain Marvel and stay tuned for more updates on Carol Danvers’ future. As for what else is coming down the MCU pipeline, look through our handy guide for that information.

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Just Proved He's Still Got Conan The Barbarian Moves

Arnold Schwarzenegger Just Proved He's Still Got Conan The Barbarian Moves

If that third Conan movie ever actually happens, Arnold Schwarzenegger will be ready for it -- even at age 71.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has had a fascinating life so far. He started as a bodybuilder -- becoming the youngest-ever Mr. Universe with his first win at age 20 -- before becoming a Hollywood movie star, and even later governor of California. He's still active with bodybuilding, including in the annual Arnold Sports Festival. Schwarzenegger is currently at the Arnold Sports South America event, and showed that he's still got those Conan the Barbarian moves he first showed off in 1982:

Nice. Let's hope his 1980s self doesn't sniff at that and insist he would've hit the bullseye.

If you're curious to see more of the Arnold Sports action -- and Arnold's reaction to the action -- check out @ArnoldSports to watch more inspiring clips like this:

Arnold Schwarzenegger still has a big heart for the warriors of the world.

Conan the Barbarian was one of Arnold Schwarzenegger's first major film roles. But his first lead was as Hercules in the 1969 film Hercules in New York. After playing Conan in the 1982 movie, he returned to that role for the 1984 sequel Conan the Destroyer. And then ... no third movie. Yet?

Anyway, right after his second Conan movie, his Hollywood career really took off. He landed the role of T-800 in The Terminator and went from that to Red Sonja, Commando, Predator, The Running Man, Twins, Total Recall, Kindergarten Cop, T2, Last Action Hero, True Lies, Junior, Eraser, Jingle All the Way, Batman & Robin, End of Days, Collateral Damage, The Expendables, and now more Terminator in Terminator 6, Dark Fate.

Phew! He made a lot of movies around those titles, too, and somehow had time to do other things -- like run for office and even host The Apprentice, briefly, after Donald Trump left.

Age is just a number, and Arnold Schwarzenegger is still relatively young at 71. I'm excited to see him back for Terminator: Dark Fate this November, and also -- hopefully -- alongside his 72-year-old buddy Sylvester Stallone for The Expendables 4. As Sly recently posted with a photo of both Arnold and Bruce Willis, they are "the last of the breed."

Not everyone loves sequels, but Arnold Schwarzenegger has definitely embraced the franchise life -- from Terminator to The Expendables. He has been trying to get a third Conan movie -- or TV series -- off the ground for a while, and recently explained why that has been such a trial.

As we wait for Terminator 6 to arrive this fall, cross our fingers for The Expendables 4, and maybe just pray for Conan the Barbarian, keep up with everything headed to the big screen this year with our 2019 movie guide.

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Avengers: Endgame Writers Reveal If Captain America Could Wield The Infinity Gauntlet

Avengers: Endgame Writers Reveal If Captain America Could Wield The Infinity Gauntlet

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame. Seriously, look away if you haven't seen it.

It's been over two weeks since Avengers: Endgame arrived in theaters, and the fandom is still recovering from the wild ride. The Russo Brothers exceeded expectations and even Infinity War in regards to scope and character-driven story, delivering countless plot twists in the massive blockbuster. Chris Evans' Steve Rogers was the subject of more than one twist, although he never got to wield the Infinity Gauntlet himself.

Avengers: Endgame was largely focused on the surviving heroes, as they attempted an epic time heist to gather the Infinity Stones and reverse Thanos' snap. And throughout the movie's insane third act, both Hulk and Tony Stark himself used the Gauntlet to snap their fingers, to major physical harm. But could Captain America have withstood the power of the Gauntlet? Endgame co-writer Christopher Markus recently addressed this possibility, saying:

I think Steve would be toast.

Despite being worthy enough to wield Thor's hammer Mjolnir, it looks like Captain America isn't quite strong enough to handle the immense power of the Infinity Stones. So if he were to slip on the Gauntlet and snap his fingers, Steve Rogers would have ended up thoroughly dead.

Christopher Markus' comments to THR may puzzle some hardcore Marvel fans, as Avengers: Endgame proved just how powerful Cap has been all along. He faced off against Thanos directly, despite not having the same abilities as Thor and Iron Man. And about halfway through their original scuffle with Thanos, Captain America wielded Thor's signature weapon, and laid the smack down to the Mad Titan.

But if he was the one to steal the Infinity Stones from Thanos in that battle, Cap would have been "toast" At least, according to the Avengers: Endgame's writer. Instead, that honor was given to both Iron Man and The Hulk, and it took a lot of both OG Avengers.

Related: Every Marvel Studios Movie, Ranked By The CinemaBlend Staff

Hulk was the first Avenger to wield the Infinity Gauntlet, or at least Tony Stark's version of it. Bruce Banner thought he was the best candidate to wield such power, as the radiation coming from the Stones was primarily Gamma. And he was right, although Hulk got severely injured in the process. His entire right arm was burnt and shrunken from the Gauntlet, a condition that should remain throughout his future in the MCU.

While Bruce Banner succeeded in snapping his fingers and reviving the fallen, the fight wasn't quite over. Thanos traveled through time with his armies, determined to lay waste to the planet. In order to stop him once and for all, Tony swiped the stoles from Thanos and snapped his fingers to reduce the Mad Titan's army to dust. But the power was too much for an average human, and it was a move that ultimately cost him his life.

On the flip side, Captain America was finally given the ending and happiness he deserved. It was a fitting conclusion to Chris Evans' tenure in the MCU, and one that Marvel fans didn't expect to see come to fruition. And if Cap ended up trying to snap Thanos out of existence himself, he'd never have gotten a chance to live out his life with Peggy Carter.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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