Sunday, January 18, 2015

Weekend Movie News 1-16-15 to 1-18-15

        Hello ladies and gentlemen, here is some movie news with some of my thoughts and opinions (which will be in BOLD print). So without further ado...


(NOTE: All of these stories come from comingsoon.net)


        It’s not exactly a surprise given what we know so far about Bryan Singer’s upcoming X-Men: Apocalypse, but Patrick Stewart confirmed today that neither he nor Ian McKellen would be reprising their respective roles as Charles Xavier or Erik Lehnsherr in the forthcoming mutant ensemble. “I was learning quite a lot more about it last night,” Stewart tells Larry King (via Yahoo! Movies), hinting that he’s still maintaining a close connection to the franchise. “It is going to be looking very much at the earlier lives of all our characters. And so I don’t think we’ll be making an appearance.” Confirmed to star James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Oscar Isaac and Nicholas Hoult (with more names expected to be confirmed shortly), X-Men: Apocalypse is scripted by Simon Kinberg, Mike Dougherty and Dan Harris. Said to be the conclusion of a trilogy started with X-Men: First Class and continued with X-Men: Days of Future Past, cameras will start rolling on the next adventure in Montreal beginning April, 2015 for a May 27, 2016 release.

        This is pretty sad news to hear. Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen are to huge staples in the X-Men Franchise and after seeing them on-screen together again in  X-Men: Days of Future Past not getting to see them possibly ever again is just depressing. These two men are very talented actors and they will be missed in the X-Men franchise (eventhough they may come back in a film).



        At the BAFTA Tea Party, Henry Cavill was asked several times about Warner Bros. Pictures’ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, coming to theaters on March 25, 2016. Speaking to The Daily Mail (via Henry Cavill News), Cavill was asked what we can expect from the anticipated movie. “It’s Zack Snyder, so it’s going to be a visual spectacle, and it’s cinematic history,” he said. “We’re doing Batman and we’re doing Superman and it’s all happening at the same time. So fingers crossed it turns out to be as exciting as I think it is.” He was asked if he offered up any advice to Ben Affleck after having played Superman in Man of Steel already. “We’re talking about Ben Affleck here. I don’t need to give him any advice. The guy’s a legend, the guy does his own thing. He’s great. He’s fantastic.”

        These are not surprising comments. Zack Snyder is known for making visually stunning films (300, Watchmen, Sucker Punch and Man of Steel) and this film will be no different. I'm really excited to see how Snyder handles Batman and in all honesty I wouldn't want another director to direct this film.  



        Production is going to be starting soon on Universal Pictures’ Untitled Snow White and the Huntsman spinoff, although the project is now in need of a director. The Hollywood Reporter today brings word that Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Mist) is no longer attached to helm. Things are looking up on the casting side of things, however, as the outlet reports that Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada, Looper) is eyeing a role as the film’s villain. Chris Hemsworth will headline the film with Charlize Theron expected to reprise her role as Ravenna in a story that aims to expand the fantastical world of director Rupert Sanders’ 2012 global hit, revealing how the fates of the Huntsman, Eric, and Ravenna intersected before they met Snow White. Kristen Stewart’s Snow White, however, is said to not be a part of the story. Blunt starred last year in Edge of Tomorrow opposite Tom Cruise and is in theaters now as part of the ensemble Broadway musical adaptation Into the Woods. She can be seen coming up in Denis Villeneuve’s (Prisoners, Enemy) Sicario opposite Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. A new director is expected to be announced shortly and you can expect additional casting to be trickling in as well as the film is still targeting its April 22, 2016 release date. It is currently the only major release scheduled for that weekend.

        This is pretty great news. Emily Blunt is an amazing actress and this will be a very different role for her as we've never seen her as a villain (other than a small one in The Devil Wears Prada) and I think this is a great film for her. I didn't like Snow White and the Huntsman, but the parts included Charlize Theron and Chris Hemsworth and I can't wait to see this film.



        Five weeks into shooting, Summit Entertainment has revealed (via Fandango) a first look at the cast of Now You See Me: The Second Act. From left to right are Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe (“Harry Potter” films) and Michael Caine. Radcliffe is playing Caine’s son in the sequel. Isla Fisher was unable to reprise her role of Henley Reeves due to her pregnancy, so Caplan was cast as a new character named Lula. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their mind-bending spectacles, the Four Horsemen resurface in Now You See Me: The Second Act only to find themselves face to face with a new enemy who enlists them to pull off their most dangerous heist yet. The Jon M. Chu-directed film is scheduled to hit theaters on June 10, 2016.

Now You See Me 2 set photo
(courtesy of Fandango and Summit Entertainment)

        I really like this photo. I'm a huge fan of cast photos because it confirms a lot of casting rumors and plus it sort or wets the proverbial appetite. I really enjoyed the first film and this one is sounding to be really good, I'm just disappointed that Isla Fisher isn't coming back for the sequel. 



        The Weinstein Company has today released the domestic trailer for the upcoming animated adventure Underdogs, which, in its domestic release, is set to feature the voices of Matthew Morrison (“Glee,” What to Expect When You’re Expecting), Ariana Grande (“Sam & Cat,” “Victorious”), Nicolas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Warm Bodies), Bella Thorne (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Blended), Katie Holmes (Batman Begins, The Giver) and John Leguizamo (Chef, John Wick) and you can check it out in the player below. From Academy Award-winning director Juan Jose Campanella (The Secret in Their Eyes), Underdogs follows Jake (Morrison), a shy, but talented, foosball player. His passion for the game is rivaled only by his love for free-spirited Laura (Grande). With her encouragement, he beats the town bully, Ace (Hoult), in a foosball game. But everything changes when Ace becomes the world’s best soccer player and returns years later to turn their village into a new sports stadium. He starts to destroy everything and kidnaps Laura in the process. Just when it looks like all hope is lost, the toy figures from Jake’s foosball table come to life. He and the players embark on a wild adventure to save Laura and reclaim their village. With the help of his team, his town, and a little bit of magic, Jake will try to save the day. Underdogs gets a domestic release from The Weinstein Company on April 10, 2015.



        This was a really funny trailer. This is a pretty interesting concept, but we've seen this type of film before, but with a little (no pun intended) twist. I laughed quite about it during the trailer and I'm looking forward to seeing how it does. I'm just not that excited about the voice cast in the film.

        So there you have it ladies and gentlemen, which of these stories peaked your interest or was there another story that interested you? Let me know in the comments section below and let your voice be heard.

                                                                                                                                       Jonah Sparks 

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