5-2-16 Movie News

        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)

        For a long time now, rumors have taken the internet by storm that LeBron James would star in a Space Jam 2, following the athlete’s own admission of interest in the project. Now it seems that the forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers will be taking the trip down the rabbit hole. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that director Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast & Furious 6) is in talks to direct the film with James, who inked a deal with WB last summer, attached to star. Andrew Dodge is in negotiations to write the screenplay for the film. James was previously seen on the big screen in the Amy Schumer comedy Trainwreck, playing a version of himself. Justin Lin’s next film, Star Trek Beyond, is slated to hit theaters on July 22. Released in 1996, the original Space Jam starred Michael Jordan and saw him teaming up with the Looney Tunes as they played a game of basketball in an intergalactic arena. Though not much of a success critically, the film brought in $230 million worldwide and remains the highest-grossing basketball movie of all time.

        I'm actually really ok with the news. Look I understand some people are upset that LeBron is the star of the film over guys like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant or even Kobe Bryant, but let's be honest, when Jordan did it he was in his prime and right now Lebron is in his prime. Had the film been made 10 years ago then Kobe would've be the best one for the role. Stephen is just now starting to peak and i they make a third film then it'll either be him or possibly Anthony Davis. Some other questions is who will be the villains and will they steal other NBA players powers and who they will be stealing them from. Those are questions they I'm sure we'll find out soon, but I'm really excited for the film and the fact that they were able to get a guy like Justin Lin to direct the film says a lot and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do with the property. 



        Jeremy Irons will be returning as Alfred in the Zack Snyder-directed Justice League: Part One, the actor told Showbiz 411. Irons can currently be seen in theaters as Alfred in Warner Bros. Pictures‘ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which has earned over $856 million worldwide. Production is already underway for Justice League in London. Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot are reprising their roles as the DC Trinity, Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, in the film, with Jason Mamoa appearing as Aquaman, Ray Fisher as Cyborg, and Ezra Miller as The Flash. Amber Heard is set to play Queen Mera in the film as well before moving to the solo Aquaman movie in 2018, Willem Dafoe is appearing in a mystery role, and J.K. Simmons is playing Commissioner Gordon. Justice League will debut in theaters on November 10, 2017. While we’ll have to wait and see how big his role is in that film, Irons’ Alfred will undoubtedly have a lot of screen time in the upcoming Ben Affleck-directed, and co-written, untitled solo Batman movie.

        I'm really glad to hear this news. Jeremy Irons is a fantastic choice and the decision to make him be Alfred is quite possibly one of the top greatest castings of all-time. He knocked it out of the park in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice as Alfred and some people are saying that he is already the best Alfred and I'll have to see him a couple of more times before I can definitively say that. It's also no surprise that he is going to be in the film because Batman is going to be in it and you can't have Batman in a film without Alfred. I think Jeremy Irons is going to be a great Alfred after a couple of films and I'm excited to see how much more he'll develop the character down the line. 



        Production on 20th Century Fox‘s Maze Runner: The Death Cure has been delayed indefinitely today to allow leading man Dylan O’Brien to make a full recovery from the injuries he sustained during a tragic on set accident last month. Thankfully, the star appears to be on the road to a full recovery but it is expected to take somewhat longer than the initial six-week estimate. As such, the planned February 17, 2017 release for Death Cure has been cancelled with a new release date expected to be announced shortly. “The resumption of principal photography on ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure’ has been further delayed to allow Dylan O’Brien more time to fully recover from his injuries,” reads the official statement. “We wish Dylan a speedy recovery and look forward to restarting production as soon as possible.” “He’s healing very well,” costar Giancarlo Esposito recently told E!. “He got put together a couple of weeks ago… He’s one tough cookie. He got his bell rung. I would imagine many who witnessed thought that was it… [But] he’s a survivor. The one good thing about Dylan that I think is going to help him get back on schedule with us very soon is he has a great attitude.” As with the previous two movies in the franchise, Maze Runner: The Death Cure is directed by Wes Ball from a screenplay by T.S. Nowlin, adapting the YA novels of James Dashner. It follows the events of 2014’s The Maze Runner and 2015’s Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and co-stars Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Rosa Salazar, Ki Hong Lee and Dexter Darden.

        This is really sad news to hear. Dylan O'Brien is a terrific young actor and he has a bright future ahead of him, but this is a pretty big setback for his career. He's got another film he is working on besides this and that film may have to move on without him if his injury takes longer than expected to recover from. I like that the people over at Fox are letting him recover and are not trying to rush him back too soon. I think this film will probably get a late 2017 release date, possibly around September just like the previous tow films. I'm hoping this doesn't hurt O'Brien's career too much and I'm praying for a speedy recovery. 

        STX Entertainment has revealed the first Bad Moms trailer with both green and red band versions. There’s also a new poster for the summer comedy, which you can check out in the gallery viewer below. It features the principal trio of Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn along with rival trio of Christina Applegate, Jada Pinkett Smith and Annie Mumolo. In the new comedy from the writers of The Hangover, Amy has a seemingly perfect life – a great marriage, over-achieving kids, beautiful home and a career. However she’s over-worked, over-committed and exhausted to the point that she’s about to snap. Fed up, she joins forces with two other over-stressed moms on a quest to liberate themselves from conventional responsibilities – going on a wild, un-mom-like binge of long overdue freedom, fun and self-indulgence – putting them on a collision course with PTA Queen Bee Gwendolyn and her clique of devoted perfect moms. Written and directed by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore (The Hangover, 21 and Over), Bad Moms is set to open in theaters on July 29, 2016.



        This was a pretty funny trailer. I think the film is going to be really cliched, but the jokes were pretty funny and this could be a fun film to watch. I just hope there are more jokes to come and that they keep the marketing down a little bit to where not every joke is shown. I think Mila Kunis is a terrific actress and this is really her first film being the main star of the film and I think this is going to be a good showcase for her comedic skills.         



        The Orchard has released the latest poster for the outrageous comedy Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which is the new film from What We Do in the Shadows and Thor: Ragnarok director Taika Waititi. Check out the Hunt for the Wilderpeople poster below. Raised on hip-hop and foster care, defiant city kid Ricky gets a fresh start in the New Zealand countryside. He quickly finds himself at home with his new foster family: the loving Aunt Bella, the cantankerous Uncle Hec, and dog Tupac. When a tragedy strikes that threatens to ship Ricky to another home, both he and Hec go on the run in the bush. As a national manhunt ensues, the newly branded outlaws must face their options: go out in a blaze of glory or overcome their differences and survive as a family. Hunt for the Wilderpeople stars Julian Dennison, Sam Neill, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Oscar Kightley, Rhys Darby, Stan Walker, Cohen Holloway, Mike Minogue, Troy Kingi and Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne. The film is scheduled to open in US theaters on June 24, with a digital release set for September 20.



        This is a pretty decent poster. I mean it doesn't really give much away about the film, but it does make the film a little intriguing because when you see the poster it makes you want to check out the film to see what they mystery is. However the synopsis is pretty darn funny and the trailer that was a released a few days ago was insane and I'm actually very curious to see this film and how it turns out.

        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