Looks Like Indiana Jones 5 Has Switched Writers

Looks Like Indiana Jones 5 Has Switched Writers

While Lucasfilm has been very focused on Star Wars since Disney purchased the studio, it's never completely forgotten about its other big property, Indiana Jones. A fifth installment was rumored for years before finally being confirmed by Disney, but the fifth installment keeps getting delayed, and now one wonders if the release date may get pushed once again, as the project is now in the hands of yet another writer.

When Indiana Jones 5 was first confirmed, David Koepp, the screenwriter behind the previous Indy adventure Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, was brought on pen the script. Then, a little less than a year ago the word was that Solo: A Star Wars Story co-writer Jonathan Kasdan was taking a crack at the story.

Now, Making Star Wars is reporting that Dan Fogelman, the writer of This is Us as well as other Disney films like Tangled and Cars, has now been handed the script. It appears Fogelman is starting over from scratch and won't be building on any of the previous scripts.

It's unclear what the central focus of Fogelman's script is, or will be, though based on the fact that he's not using Jonathan Kasdan's idea, it seems there's one premise we know Indiana Jones 5 won't be about.

MSW reports Kasdan's script focused on the Wa?brzych Gold Train legend which claims that a train full of gold and valuables was buried by the Nazis in a series of mines in Poland.

Whatever the new writer brings to the table, there's clearly been something about the previous script attempts that has been lacking. On the one hand, it's good to know that everybody involved want to make sure they start this process with a good story. On the other hand, at some point one begins to wonder if Indiana Jones 5 is ever actually going to happen.

Currently Indiana Jones 5 has a release date set for July 9, 2021, but that date has been pushed back before as developments, like the previous change in writer, have forced things to be delayed. There's clearly still plenty of time to get a working script before Indiana Jones 5 would need to go into production, but that assumes that the new writer finds a working idea.

Harrison Ford will turn 77 years old later this year, which means he'll be nearly 80 by the time the new movie comes out if it makes its current date. The man is still in remarkable health and physical shape, there's no question about that, but at some point it will simply be too late to make this movie, and it really feels like we're coming quite close to that point.

Of course, we all want a new Indiana Jones movie. When they're good, they're some of the greatest adventures ever put on screen. Hopefully the new writer will be the key to solving the mystery of the script and Indiana Jones can get to solving a mystery of his own very soon.

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Men In Black's 10 Most Iconic Aliens

Men In Black's 10 Most Iconic Aliens

They are a rumor, recognized only as deja vu and dismissed just as quickly. They are the Men In Black, an organization specializing in protecting the identities of and defending the earth from extraterrestrials. This June, the MIB will return in Men In Black: International, the fourth entry of the franchise once headlined by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, starring Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson. Thor and Valkyrie fighting aliens - yeah, that checks out.

What we are most excited to see in F. Gary Gray's reboot of the science fiction and comedy hit is what every Men In Black sequel does best: give us some new otherworldly creatures to gush over, if you find aliens particularly gush-worthy. The thing is, creating new aliens that are just as memorable as what the franchise has already introduced is going to be a challenge, as the creatures we have already been introduced to have been nothing short of unforgettable. But which creatures holds the most lasting memories with Men In Black fans?

We take a look back at 1997's Men In Black, its two sequels, and even a few references to its animated series, and rank the top 10 biggest, baddest, funniest, and most iconic aliens in the universe.

10. Ballchinian

This species earns a spot on our list purely for being, just about, the funniest joke in Men in Black II.

The Ballchinian made its first and last very brief appearance shortly after K regained his previously neuralyzed memory. J is in trouble, fighting a losing battle against a gang of various alien species. As soon as K comes to his senses about his MIB training, he bursts into the assault, taking down the different aliens one by one with J’s suggestions based on each species’ weaknesses.

The final alien K takes down in Men in Black II is, at first, resistant to each strike he lays down, until J reminds him of the creatures namesake. He pulls away his scarf, revealing what can only be described as the most anatomically correct appearance of a “ballchin” ever witnessed. K promptly grasps the low-hanging facial appendage and, with a forceful tug, defeats the perpetrator, giving the audience a much-needed laugh.

9. Beatbox Alien

It probably does not sound too implausible to assume that rapper Biz Markie of “Just A Friend” fame is a creature not of this earth. That must be why the producers of the 2002 Men In Black follow-up decided to cast him as an otherworldly creature with a unique language.

In Men In Black II, Will Smith’s Agent J has proven successful as one of the Men In Black’s best agents, but faces a threat that only the retired and neuralyzed Agent K can help him defeat. J finds K (now Kevin) working as a postman and, in an effort to jog his memory, proves to him that most post office employees are not human. The first alien he exposes is this mail sorter, played by Markee, whom he communicates with through the art of beatboxing, as you can see in all its glory in the clip below.

We have no idea what J and the Beatbox Alien said to each other, but it is one of the most engaging moments of Men In Black II, due to the fun surprise cameo and the opportunity it gives Will Smith to show off his beatboxing skills, as previously demonstrated during his days on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. What is especially fascinating about the scene is that Markee’s beatboxing requires no special audio modification. That’s just Biz in action, doing what no human could. That’s just perfect casting.

8. Boris The Animal

If there is one thing we can say about Men In Black 3 in terms of improvement over Men In Black II it was the villain in that movie. We went from a huge, malevolent, monstrous bug in the first Men In Black to Serleena: an emotionless, shapeshifting alien plant queen disguised as a lingerie model. Where she succeeded in merciless commitment to world domination, she lacked in personality. Which is why we are thankful that, 10 years later, we met Boris.

Brought to life by an enthusiastic performance by Flight of the Conchords’ Jemaine Clement (as well as heavy prosthetics), Boris The Animal is the ruthless, short-tempered sole member of the Boglodite race who hates human beings as much as he hates his nickname. Men In Black 3, opens with his escape from an outer space maximum prison with an intent to seek vengeance on his sworn enemy, Agent K. He achieves his mission by going back in time and killing a younger version of K (played to perfection by Josh Brolin) in 1969, forcing J to travel to the past and team up with young K to prevent his murder and save the world again.

Boris’ presence in Men In Black 3 is the main source of the film’s fun. He is dripping with intriguing -- and often chilling -- character traits, such as having goggle lenses for eyes, razor sharp teeth, and a missing arm (which he blames K for), not to mention the shockingly lethal, spider-like pet Weasel that resides in a hollow part of his hand. Boris is a stone cold killer who treats the galaxy as his personal playpen of carnage. We’re too afraid not to include him on this list.

7. Squid

From battling carnivorous beasts in flying saucers to finding tiny green men residing in the head of rotting corpses, being an MIB agent sounds like the scariest, most revoting job in the galaxy. However, as a key moment in the first Men In Black demonstrates, it does have its more lighthearted perks.

On Agent J’s first official outing as a newly recruited member of the MIB, he and K pull over Redgick, an alien with Earth citizenship looking to seek refuge for him and his pregnant wife, who is visibly in the late stages of labor. J is put to the task of “catching” the approaching newborn. Enduring a visibly rocky process, J successfully delivers a baby “squid,” which he mentions is actually quite cute, right before it pukes on him.

It is a moment that still carries the same danger that makes this a tough job, but concludes with the revelation that not all alien creatures are the vicious kind we fear. In fact, we agree with J: the squid is really cute.

6. Jack Jeebs

Part of the fun of watching the Men In Black movies is keeping a close eye on the random human bystanders in the background, trying to spot who might be here from another world. The idea of extraterrestrials walking in plain sight among us was never fully ingrained into our psyche until we met pawn shop owner Jack Jeebs.

Jeebs (played by Tony Shalhoub) seems (almost) perfectly human at first, until he tests K’s patience enough to promptly blow his head clean off with one shot. At first we, and pre-MIB recruitment J, think K has killed him, but apparently this is not the first head K has ruined for that because Jeebs’ head begins to grow back while he mutters, “You have any idea how much that stings?”

Jeebs returned in Men In Black II for a few more head-losing hijinks, but without much else to bring to the table. While Shalhoub would be more than welcome by us to reprise his role in Men In Black: International, this decidedly one hit wonder’s main joke is in danger of stretching too thin.

5. Twins (Idikiukup and Bob)

We know you have heard the names of each half of MIB’s resident tentacled computer technicians, but we bet you had no idea how to spell Idikiukup. Yeah, we actually had to look it up too.

“The Twins,” Idikiukup and Bob, were introduced in Men In Black during Agent J’s first tour of the headquarters after accepting recruitment as K shows them managing the observation bay. With the push of a few buttons, they reveal that J’s theory about having an extraterrestrial for a third grade teacher turned out to be right.

The Twins were not the biggest talkers and, sadly, did not return in Men In Black II or Men In Black III, but their importance to the fate of the world should not be understated. Using those tentacles to pull off what just our 10 human fingers could never do with a computer, they scan every corner of the galaxy with expert precision to make sure nothing is out of place. I see a standing ovation in order if they make their return in Men In Black: International.

4. Mikey

This one is especially memorable as he can be credited with introducing us to the curious, bizarre world of Men In Black.

In the opening scene of the first MIB film, INS agents pull over a van holding illegal immigrants. Shortly after, Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K and his original partner Dee (Richard Hamilton) show up posing as the blatantly made up Division 6 of the INS to instigate and discover that one of these “aliens” is from much farther away than south of the border. K pulls away the disguise, simply a large fur coat and an anatomically correct head on a stick, to reveal a familiar face -- to him at least.

Mikey, as K immediately greets him as, is an amphibious creature with six arms and flippers posing as a human immigrant to escape from jail. When one of the INS agents catches a glimpse of K and Dee’s interrogation of Mikey, the alien uses his independent eye to look back at the agent and angrily charge toward him, until K fires at him, disposing him to blue liquid. In just four minutes, we learn everything we need to know about who these mysterious, well-dressed men are all about.

As being the first alien we see in Men In Black, Mikey earns a firm, lasting position in the franchise’s iconography.

3. Frank

Humans are not the only species worth being suspicious about in the Men in Black world. J was even surprised to discover the alien he and K were looking to gain information from was not the creepy, gray-skinned newspaper stand attendant, but the talking dog sitting next to him.

Frank (voiced by Tim Blaney in the films) is a member of the Remoolian species, but lives among earthlings as a cute little pug, a disguise that renders him sensitive to ridicule. Through all of his appearances in the Men In Black franchise, he has proven himself to be an irritating-yet-helpful ally, alerting K and J on the way to learning the location of the Arquilian Galaxy in the first film, becoming J’s temporary partner in Men In Black II, and assisting K and J against alien terrorists in the animated series as well.

Given his absence in Men In Black 3, unless you count the framed photo of him on the wall of Agent J’s apartment bedroom, it does not seem likely that Frank will return to assist in any further intergalactic intrigue in Men In Black: International. Nevertheless, we will never forget him as one of the most endearing extraterrestrial canines in film history.

2. Orthopterous Exomorphs (Bugs)

"Imagine a giant cockroach with unlimited strength, a massive inferiority complex, and a real short temper is tear-assing around Manhattan island in a brand new Edgar suit."

That is how K chooses to describe the Orthopterous Exomorph (or commonly referred to as a “Bug”) to J in Men In Black, when they discover the enemy they are forced to take on to defend the Arquilian Galaxy is going to be tough nut to crack.

The Bug is initially introduced to us in the form of its less-than-convincing disguise, inhabiting the skin of New York famer Edgar (Vincent D’Onofrio). Once the skin comes off in the final act, the creature reveals his true form as a frightening, slimy, multi-legged nightmare worthy of taking the crown in the insect kingdom.

Fortunately, J, being the clever, no-nonsense NYPD cop he is, is able to figure out that the Bug has a soft spot for his earthbound family members. Coming across a small village of cockroaches in a nearby dumpster, J unapologetically stomps on them one by one, successfully tugging at the Bug’s heartstrings and distracting him from carrying out his mission. That, essentially, is what makes Edgar the Bug such an impressive villain: he has a multi-layered persona with a rough, gross exterior, but a sensitive inside.

1. Worms (Annelids)

If there are any fan favorites we are praying to see return in Men In Black: International, it’s this group of pint-sized, nicotine-addicted laugh riots known for making a mean morning brew.

Neeble, Geeble, Sleeble, and Mannix are an alien species called Annelids (better known around MIB headquarters as the “Worms”) who have been a prominent part of the Men In Black franchise (even showing up in the animated series) since they appeared in the first film as the first undisguised aliens Will Smith’s J lays eyes on.

They also keep things interesting around headquarters with a sense of humor that is sure to keep you laughing with them, despite their often indecipherable language, and shamelessly taking part in the vices forbidden on their planet Takwella, most notably coffee. A Men In Black movie without the Worms just would not feel complete.

What do you think of our list? Was it the Men In Black nostalgia trip you were looking for, or even increase your excitement for Men In Black: International? If so, be sure check for more updates here on Cinemablend.

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Looks Like The Shazam! Cast Could Be Back For Quite A Few More Sequels

Looks Like The Shazam! Cast Could Be Back For Quite A Few More Sequels

The following contains spoilers for Shazam!

DC has found another big comic book hit thanks to the success of DC's Shazam! The movie has been at the top of the box office for the last two weekends and has been largely celebrated by critics and fans alike. We know that a sequel is already in very early stages, but there may be far more than one new movie on the way.

Michelle Borth is the woman who plays Mary Marvel, the adult version of Grace Fulton's Mary Bromfield in Shazam! In a new interview, the actress reveals that she got the part thanks to a single audition when she didn't even know what she was auditioning for, but the biggest piece of information, is that she's now signed to a five-picture deal. According to Borth...

It was tears of joy, but it was just so overwhelming. I had never gotten a role from one taped audition, let alone a five-picture deal with Warner Bros. from a one-tape audition. You always have to go through a really long process. There’s a fight to get there, so it was a really incredible moment. That’s all I can say.

If Michelle Borth was signed to a five-picture deal with Warner Bros. it's safe to assume that the same is true for the rest of the Shazam! family. Both the adult and child versions of all the characters are likely signed to the same deal. Star Zachary Levi and his kid version, played by Asher Angel, might even be signed to longer deals than that as they may have more crossover opportunities.

The fact that everybody is on board for five movies doesn't necessarily mean that there's a specific plan for those five films. While it's possible that the DC film universe, of which Shazam! is a part, has been mapped out and there are five specific movies that DC and WB know they want Mary Marvel to appear in, it's more likely that the studio just wants to be sure the actors are under contract if and when they're needed.

It's also possible, though less likely, that the five picture deal isn't specific to playing Mary Marvel. It's possible Warner Bros. just sees potential in Michelle Borth and wanted her under contract.

Regardless, it is remarkable that Borth has found such success from a single audition. It's even more impressive when you learn from her Parade interview that, in order to keep the secret of what she was auditioning for, the actual audition wasn't running lines, but doing a dance. According to the actress...

It was one of those really magical moments of, ‘Oh, my God. You hear about this sometimes. Every now and then, this happens,’ and that was mine. I did a great dance, an interpretive dance, and had a lot of fun with it, and then forgot, and that was it.

Whatever else actually happens, a direct sequel to Shazam! is a virtual guarantee at this point. We only actually got to see a small amount of Mary Marvel and the other members of the Shazam Family, so a sequel will likely let these characters gain a bit more depth and let actors like Michelle Borth stretch their wings a bit more.

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New Avengers: Endgame Trailer Goes In On Spoilery Content

New Avengers: Endgame Trailer Goes In On Spoilery Content

Massive spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame. If you haven't seen the movie yet, look away!

Avengers: Endgame is going into its third weekend in theaters, and just continues to make insane box office numbers. The blockbuster has surpassed the gross of Titanic, and is currently the second highest earning movie in history. Endgame is showing no signs of slowing down, as the dense narrative warrants multiple viewings, especially from the hardcore fandom.

Co-directors The Russo Brothers officially lifted the Avengers: Endgame spoiler ban this week, after the film had two full weekends of showings. As such, the cast and crew have gotten a bit more chatty about their experience on set. And a new TV spot for Endgame is going ham on spoiler content, revealing tons of clips from the epic final battle. Check it out.

Holy HD footage. To this point, the only way you could watch Endgame's insane final battle against Thanos at the theaters. But this new TV spot will likely get tons of views, as it offers brief glimpses at the biggest battle in Marvel history.

The new Avengers: Endgame TV spot boast the film's wild success and killer reviews. As praise for The Russo Brothers' (final?) Marvel movie is shown in big letters, the audience is treated to exclusive footage from the lat conflict with Thanos. It's a scene that brought every character imaginable, and some of the epic new team-ups appear in the new TV spot.

This latest Endgame commercial starts with familiar footage: we see the Avengers in their Quantum Suits, and assembled around a table at the Compound. But then the new clips start arriving, and they seriously deliver. To start, we see a clip from the moment where Marvel's most badass female characters teamed up on the field. It's a mind-blowing moment in the film, one that has erupted more than a few theaters into thunderous applause.

There's also some brief shots from Avengers: Endgame's time heist. The survivors' quest to assemble the Infinity Stones by stealing them throughout the MCU's timeline was super ambitious, and one of the most fun and cameo-laden moments in the movie. Specifically, the new Endgame trailer shows some footage of the team who traveled back to the Battle of New York. We see Hulk's confrontation with Tilda Swinton's The Ancient One, as well as the two Captain Americas facing off. Luckily, they both have America's ass.

Related: The Story Behind Captain America’s Butt In Avengers: Endgame

The latest Avengers: Endgame TV spot also includes some of the most epic shots of the entire film. After the dusted heroes are revived and joined the Avengers on the field, there's an insane few moments of Earth's forces running toward Thanos' army. That shot and the battle itself are a big selling point in this new trailer, encouraging moviegoers to see it on the big screen one more time.

You can catch Avengers: Endgame in theaters now, and help it gain even more box office success. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movie.

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Vin Diesel's Fast And Furious 9 Video Highlights 'The Dom Shrine'

Vin Diesel's Fast And Furious 9 Video Highlights 'The Dom Shrine'

Vin Diesel is busy preparing to film Fast and Furious 9, updating fans every step of the way. He's been posting photos of his impressive muscles, in case we forget he's a badass, but even tough guys need a quiet place to reflect. Apparently Diesel's space for Fast 9 is called The Dom Shrine, in honor of his character, Dominic "Dom" Toretto. Here's Diesel giving a glimpse of The Dom Shrine:

As Vin Diesel noted in his Instagram video, one of the Fast movies is always playing in the background of the shrine to keep him in the right mindset:

It's kind of a sanctuary that I go to, to prepare for the next chapter. We created it before I went to London for pre-production in February. So it's been a real blessing to have this quiet space to reflect on the task at hand, and the monumental opportunity to do this next chapter.

Vin Diesel has been posting some thoughts on Fast 9 via social media, but in general we don't know too much about the ninth movie in the franchise. Fast 9 will reportedly start filming in late June at Warner Bros. Studios in Leavesden outside London. Justin Lin is said to be returning as director.

Fast and Furious 9 is currently scheduled to open May 22, 2020, with a 10th movie behind it marking the final film in the series. Jordana Brewster (Mia Toretto) is confirmed to return for Fast 9, but last we heard Michelle Rodriguez (Letty Ortiz) wasn't sure she was coming back, it depended on the script. So official cast and plot updates are waiting in the wings.

For now, we have some deep thought reflections from Vin Diesel, including this look back with Paul Walker (Brian O'Conner), who started the franchise with Diesel in 2001 in The Fast and the Furious.

Sadly, as you know, we lost Paul Walker in 2013 after a horrible car crash. He wasn't finished filming Furious 7 at the time, but his brothers helped as stand-ins to complete Walker's final scenes as Brian.

Fast 8, The Fate of the Furious, ended up getting a lot of attention for the behind-the-scenes beefs. Now we're at Fast 9, and apparently Vin Diesel has fatherhood on his mind. He hinted as much in this photo which he tagged for #Fast9:

Speaking of fatherhood, Vin Diesel seems to be ready to pass his love of fast cars on to the next generation:

Since Fast 9 is still in pre-production, we may have to wait a month or two for more official updates before the start of filming. Here's what we know so far about the movie. In the meantime, we'll keep looking to Vin Diesel to share updates behind-the-scenes. Fast franchise fans can also look forward to the spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, starring The Rock and Jason Statham, which opens in theaters August 2.

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12 Actors Who Almost Played James Bond Over The Years

12 Actors Who Almost Played James Bond Over The Years

To be offered the part of James Bond is, to some, one of the most sought after gigs ever to hit a casting call. Others, past and present, have seen that offer as either a typecasting nightmare or a public relations struggle, thus making it a poison pill... figuratively speaking. Either way, if your name comes up in reference to a role so huge as 007, it tends to make the rounds whether you take it or not.

And out of the history of the men who would be Bond, there are 12 actors who are surprise choices, as well as some prime targets, that all would have brought something different to the role. But in the case of this batch of a dozen candidates, none of them were issued that infamous license to kill.

Cary Grant

Right from the beginning of recorded franchise history, there was a surprise candidate on the shortlist to play 007 that would have changed the history of the character forever. Hollywood legend Cary Grant was offered the role as casting for Dr. No was underway, thanks to the fact that he was a personal friend/best man to the producer running the show, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli. While their friendship was strong, the British born, but American citizen Grant turned down the role for one important reason that was mentioned in The Guardian’s confirmation of this iconic story: at 58 years old, Cary Grant thought he had aged out of the part. Sean Connery was then cast, and the rest became history.

Dick Van Dyke

When Sean Connery left the role of James Bond for the first time, after 1967’s You Only Live Twice, a lot of candidates were vetted to take over the role, including a young Timothy Dalton. But while Dalton’s youth seemed to be the stumbling block that prevented him from taking the job, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star Dick Van Dyke didn’t get the leading role in another Ian Fleming adaptation because of his controversial English accent. According to knowledge that came out of an appearance on Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, via Yahoo, Van Dyke’s work on that very film was what interested Albert Broccoli in asking him if he’d wanted the role. But that offer quickly passed, as Dick Van Dyke asked him if he’d remembered his accent from Mary Poppins, and the offer was rescinded as quickly as it was made. Though, at the very least, Van Dyke did eventually apologize at the BAFTAs for the whole accent situation.

Clint Eastwood

If there was an American who could have taken the mantle of James Bond and been believable in the process, Clint Eastwood is one of the few who could have done it. During the hunt that eventually delivered George Lazenby into the lead for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Eastwood’s name came up in the proceedings as his lawyer also represented series mastermind Broccoli. Even in the face of an offer that gave him the hottest ticket in town, and, according to The Telegraph, a pretty lucrative pay day, the acting/directing powerhouse couldn’t bring himself to accept because it didn’t feel right. Considering how unforgettable Sean Connery was in the role, even to Clint Eastwood himself in that very moment, one can’t fault him for passing.

Burt Reynolds

Just as Burt Reynolds admitted in his autobiography that Sally Field was the one that got away in his romantic life, the Smokey and The Bandit actor fully admits that he also let his chance to be 007 slip through his fingers as well. Though, via USA Today’s coverage of that book, But Enough About Me, the late actor admitted that he passed up on the role merely because he didn’t think the moviegoing public would believe him as Bond, James Bond. Being offered the role around the time he played detective Dan August on TV, Reynolds turned down the chance to play the lead in Diamonds Are Forever. While this eventually allowed Sean Connery to return a second and final time to the franchise proper, Burt Reynolds felt that in retrospect, he could have done a hell of a job in the position.

James Brolin

This is the closest we’ve ever come to having an American playing the role of James Bond, as The Amityville Horror star James Brolin was pretty much cast as James Bond during a crucial phase in his 1980s history. The actor was screen tested for 1983’s Octopussy, when Roger Moore looked to be exiting the series in favor of new opportunities, and pretty much had the part. However, as Den Of Geek pointed out, the production of a rival Bond remake starring Sean Connery, and the recent financial woes MGM and United Artists ran into, both influenced the studio to win Moore back to his record setting job. So just as Brolin was getting ready to relocate to England full time, it all fell apart, leaving him to move onto one of his most famous roles: Peter McDermott, the general manager of the St. Gregory hotel, on the popular TV series Hotel.

Mel Gibson

While 1983’s Octopussy brought Roger Moore back to the table for two more James Bond films, 1985’s A View to a Kill would eventually mark the man’s official departure from the role. And around that time in movie history, a young Australian actor by the name of Mel Gibson was making a name for himself by starring in the Mad Max series of films. His work in that trilogy undoubtedly helped MGM come around to offering him the role, just in time for The Living Daylights to get underway, but Gibson was unphased by this potential job offering. Per coverage of an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, via Express, the man who would eventually shift over to films like Lethal Weapon said he rejected the idea because he wasn’t at all interested. Which was better off for the studio, because Albert Broccoli was not convinced he’d be a good fit, and the role eventually opened up for Timothy Dalton to finally claim it.

Sam Neill

Getting Timothy Dalton into the role of James Bond wasn’t as easy or certain as you’d think, as not only did he have to wait a while after first turning down starring in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (he felt he was too young for the role at the time), but he also was a part of a pretty wide net cast for The Living Daylights. That net not only included Mel Gibson, but also Jurassic Park’s Sam Neill, who was apparently bullied into screen testing for the film by his agent. At least, that’s what his remarks to The Telegraph said at the time he admitted to it. The screen test footage did eventually see the light of day, but not until after the settlement of a mini-crisis involving that clip not being fully cleared for usage before being included on the initial DVD release of The Living Daylights.

Ralph Fiennes

As the legal battle over the James Bond series flared up yet again in the late '80s, the delay between License To Kill and what would have been Timothy Dalton’s third Bond film eventually lead to the actor’s contract expiring without any attempt at renewal. Once the dust had settled and it was time to bring 007 into a post-Cold War world, Goldeneye was the name of the film that would make an actor the lucky spy to update the series. Believe it or not, we almost had actor Ralph Fiennes playing the role, as he admitted in an interview in Seven Magazine, via The Telegraph, that he was approached by the series’ producers. Ultimately, Fiennes wasn’t up to committing to a franchise, and he felt that the people in charge of the series were more stuck on Pierce Brosnan than anyone else. While he wasn’t too attached to Bond, Ralph Fiennes would eventually land a role that he’s still covetous of to this very day, Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise. Still, he is the current M in the Daniel Craig era of films, so you could say that this was fate.

Ewan McGregor

If there’s anything the James Bond series has taught fans, it’s that if you don’t retire from the role, a big rift in history will do the job for you. That’s how Pierce Brosnan ended up vacating the franchise, as once Die Another Day was released, he would eventually find himself replaced, with a new round of recasting up and running. And a lot of names were considered to be James Bond in the run-up to Casino Royale, with Ewan McGregor factoring in pretty chiefly among them. Of course, were it not for his performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars universe, he might not have felt typecast and would have taken the role. Though in more recent times, McGregor has admitted that if he were to ever be considered again, he’d be more inclined to take the part and run.

Hugh Jackman

Another pretty big name in the Casino Royale derby was the incomparable Hugh Jackman, of X-Men and The Greatest Showman fame. As the story he told Variety goes, his agent asked him if he’d want to be considered for the role, which was being recast around the same time that X-Men 2: X-Men United was about to go into production. Not a fan of the stories the James Bond series was running at the time, Jackman passed because he felt something edgier would have been his bag, and having another involved franchise on his plate would have complicated his schedule even more. So before it got too hot, Hugh Jackman politely declined, ironically just as the Bond series was about to reboot itself in that dark and edgy tone he probably would have said yes to.

Karl Urban

New Zealand native Karl Urban falls into a boat similar to that of American candidate James Brolin before him, as fate had other ideas when it came to his consideration for the role of James Bond. Only this time, as Urban told Nine.com, it was because of a prior engagement that he didn’t land the role of Casino Royale. While he met with the producers of the series, and things went rather well in that respect, all that was missing was one final screen test to seal the deal. And that deal was definitely not sealed, because Karl Urban’s filming schedule at the time prevented that screen test from happening. But as surprising as Urban’s name is on the short list, there’s one pretty big name that got to the final four, only to see Daniel Craig win out overall.

Henry Cavill

Still a couple years out from his career boosting role on Showtime’s The Tudors, as well as playing a very Bond-like figure in The Man From U.N.C.L.E., a then-22-year-old Henry Cavill was part of the final screen tests that would decide who got to star in Casino Royale back in 2005. Listed among Daniel Craig, Goran Visnjic and Sam Worthington in the BBC’s coverage of the event, Cavill’s rejection story is quite simple when compared to all the others that we’ve covered previously. He simply wasn’t selected in the field that included Craig’s candidacy, which left him open for other opportunities in franchise like the DC Extended Universe and the Mission: Impossible series. Though another lesson that we’ve learned from the Bond franchise is, quite simply, never say never.

Henry Cavill has expressed interest and enthusiasm about potentially becoming James Bond, while cooly rounding off the rumors that continue to dog him as saying he doesn’t know what’s in store for the series after Daniel Craig’s departure. He certainly wouldn’t be the first person to get a second bite at the apple, with the potential to win overall, so we won’t count him out of the race just yet.

For now though, we’ll have Daniel Craig’s supposedly final James Bond film to look forward to, as Bond 25 is currently in production and set for an April 8, 2020 release date.

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Really, Chucky? Child's Play Celebrated 4/20 In A Wacky Way

Really, Chucky? Child's Play Celebrated 4/20 In A Wacky Way

Earlier this week, fans got a new trailer for the upcoming Child’s Play, with the infamous Chucky recently announced to be played by none other than Mark Hamill. So it’s safe to say the anticipation for the horror remake is high. So high, in fact, that the murderous doll has taken to Twitter to celebrate 4/20 with a weed-themed fashion statement and puff of smoke. Check it out:

Yep… they went there. As the holiday’s hashtag trends on Twitter for the day, fans have come across this advertisement referencing Chucky’s 420-friendly past -- with reactions emitting a whole lot of “yikes” toward Child Play’s marketing strategy.

User @ImperialMince noted the franchise may be trying a bit too hard to relate to the young'uns. Take a look:

Amidst all the reactions showing their cringey feelings toward the posting, @xVeHeMeNcEx took it back to 1998’s Bride of Chucky, when Chucky smokes a joint. The image of an embroidered marijuana plant on his overalls with a “bud” pun to go with the “he’s your best friend” tagline for the film seemed a bit too spot on. Check it out:

Is the advertisement a tease for Chucky blazing it in the upcoming Child’s Play? The film will reportedly be receiving an R-rating, and with Mark Hamill on board to frolic around as the mischievous doll, who knows what kind of antics are coming our way in the new flick.

The reboot has an altogether different spin on the origin of Chucky, so it is interesting the marketing for it includes a little nod to its past films. If anything, the post may be seeking to mix in a bit of nostalgia for the boldness of Bride of Chucky back in the day, and also get fans intrigued for what we may see this time.

Instead of Chucky being the spirit of a serial killer, this time around he will be an A.I. toy designed to sync up into other smart home tech in the house of a mother (Aubrey Plaza) and son (Gabriel Bateman) who have just moved to a new town. So far, we’ve seen a bit of Chucky using his iconic chef’s knife to wreak havoc on the neighbor, along with Christmas lights in one scene in the newest trailer.

However, the teasers have shown little of Chucky’s actual performance, except for the line “goodnight Andy” at the end. Mark Hamill reportedly went above and beyond to voice the character, as he marathoned all the films, took notes, and crafted a few voices on his first day in the recording booth. We can’t wait to see what is in store for us in Child’s Play when it comes to theaters on June 21, although that cringey 420 ad looks to be swaying fans in the other direction today.

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