ALL THE SUPERHERO MOVIES COMING IN 2017

2017 is going to be a hell of a year at the movies, with a lot of options being available to the general moviegoing public. But if you're more interested in superhero films than anything else, then the options can be quite overwhelming when trying to pick out your most important flicks of the year. We've decided to provide you with a cheat sheet solely made of the superhero films that will be released in 2017.

So if you're uber selective with the films you're looking to partake in during 2017, you may want to bookmark this listing. Keep in mind, release dates are subject to change, though as is the nature with these sorts of films, their tentpole status leaves them more than likely anchored in their spots. Time to stop crime and save the world with the following super-powered films heading to our screens throughout next year.

The Lego Batman Movie

Starting the superhero season of 2017 is none other than Warner Bros'The Lego Batman Movie. A more comedic turn on the Batman mythos, this film owes part of its existence to the success of The Lego Movie, and the other part to the enduring popularity of Batman. With Will Arnett reprising his role as the Caped Crusader, Michael Cera and Ralph Fiennes playing Robin and Alfred respectively, and Zach Galifianakis bringing up the rear as The Joker, you can tell that this is going to be no ordinary Bat-film... and we're excited for that.

Release Date: 02/10/17

Logan

After years of scheming, dreaming, and hoping, Logan is going to deliver on a long awaited dream that Wolverine fans have had for some time: Logan's gonna get R-rated on some villainous ass. Unfortunately, it comes at a cost, as it's the last X-Men film that will feature Hugh Jackman in the titular role, with Patrick Stewart keeping him company as Professor X. Still, if a poignant and gritty superhero film is the one to close out their tenure in Fox's Marvel Universe, then you can't blame them for saving the (potential) best for last.

Release Date: 03/03/17

Power Rangers

While not a traditional superhero project, Saban's Power Rangers are in fact super-powered heroes. So, by technicality, they belong on this list. While faithful fans of the 90's incarnation of the project may blanch at the prospect of a more modern reboot, it is a good chance for old school fans to connect with the next generation. Not to mention Elizabeth Banks, Bryan Cranston, and Bill Hader are all involved in this modern retelling, so how bad could it really be?

Release Date: 03/24/17

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

You've been waiting for this movie since the closing credits ofGuardians of the Galaxy ran through your eyes in 2014, so puttingGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on your watchlist is as easy as breathing. With Star Lord (Chris Pratt) and his intergalactic family being complemented by some new additions to the team, James Gunn looks ready to rock and roll through another battle between good and evil throughout the stars. Start dreaming up your picks for what's going to be on "Awesome Mix Vol. 2," accordingly, because we are hooked on this feeling.

Release Date: 05/05/17

Wonder Woman

DC Comics and Warner Bros have been having a bit of a problem with their cinematic universe, as bothBatman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad have basically been acknowledged as flawed products that purposely trimmed themselves for "extended cuts" of varying effectiveness. Yet there's still some hope that next summer's Wonder Woman could be the film that gets the DCU on track again at the movies. Time to cross all of our fingers, toes, and eyes as we'll be hoping for quite some time, just to make sure the job gets done.

Release Date: 06/02/17

Spider-Man: Homecoming

If you thought Marvel was without its own problems in the superhero movie business, you've probably forgotten about the two Amazing Spider-Man movies that Sony put into theaters. Should that be the case, we're sorry to have opened old wounds, however the imminent arrival of Spider-Man: Homecomingshould more than ease the pain. With Tom Holland already proving himself worthy of the web with his introduction in Captain America: Civil War, this film's not only a no-brainer, it's one more step towards a unified Marvel universe, as Spidey finally swings into the MCU.

Release Date: 07/07/17

Inhumans

While Inhumans is more of a television project than a film franchise, the fact that it's being co-financed and screened in IMAX has its place on this list secured. For those of you fans who were worried about Marvel's removal of this film off of their cinematic universe schedule, your fears were unfounded. Also, if you've been looking for another fix of Marvel TV after Agent Carter's untimely cancellation, this is your chance to scratch that itch. Though whether Vin Diesel will be involved or not is another story.

Release Date: 09/01/17

Thor: Ragnarok

It's surprising how many superhero projects in 2017 come from broken or flawed franchises. Thor: Ragnarokis certainly part of that train of thought, as a case could be made that the adventures of the Odinson could be considered the most problematic Marvel franchise that's got a sequel to its name. Yet the dream team of director Taika Watitiand Chris Hemsworth inspires more than enough confidence that the third outing in the series could be the one that really gives this outstanding character his due in a solo film.

Release Date: 11/03/17

Justice League

If there's one superhero film that fans are afraid of, it's more than likely going to be Zack Snyder's Justice League team-up. With an increasingly long list of characters, which reminds fans of the overstuffed Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, we can't help but share those fears. Still, Ezra Miller's Flash and Jason Momoa's Aquaman do go a long way to quelling some of these worries, and that Comic Con trailer did look pretty impressive. So count us in with a cautious level of optimism.

Release Date: 11/17/17

FENCES (2016)

Although a small flood of awards season hopeful films are going to be pouring into theaters over the final month of 2016, most of them won’t be going into a wide theatrical release in the U.S. until 2017. One buzzed-about movie that is going into general release in December (on Christmas Day, no less) is Fences, the big screen adaptation of the late August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1987 play of the same name. Denzel Washington and Viola Davis won Tony awards for their performances in a 2010 revival of Wilson’s play and reprise their respective roles in the film version; with Washington also calling the shots as director.

Fences features Washington (back) in the role of Troy Maxson, a former professional baseball player-turned garbage collector who lives in Pittsburgh (circa the 1950s) with his wife Rose (Davis), their son Cory (Jovan Adepo) and Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson): Troy’s younger brother, who suffered psychological damage from a head injury that he sustained during combat in WWII. Wilson’s play and Washington’s movie alike revolve around the day to day experiences of Troy and his family as they struggle with race relations, personal demons from their past and Troy coming to terms with where his life has led him so far.

The first trailer released for Fencesteases all that, while focusing in particular on a heated exchange between Troy and his son. Paramount Pictures has now released a second fenced trailer  that focuses more on the film’s story beats in general, as well as Troy’s various relationships with the people in his life; including not only Cory and Rose, but also Troy’s best friend Bono, as played by respected character actor Stephen Henderson (who also appears in another of this year’s big awards season contenders, Manchester By the Sea).

The first wave of reviews for Fenceshave already made their way online and, after 10 reviews, the film is at a 90% Fresh rating on Rotten tomatoes (with an average score of 7.5/10). To see what critics are saying thus far, check out the review excerpts below (and click on the corresponding links for the full reviews):

The Wrap – Robert Abele

Can you tell [‘Fences’ was] a play? Absolutely. Does that mean a damn thing? Not when the writing is this richly evocative, and the cast so often soars with it. It’s not just Washington in home-run form, but Viola Davis, too… Together they bring to vivid life the complexities and contradictions in an 18-year marriage built on a sense of duty neither realized was as fragile as it was. It’s a safe bet these in-the-moment powerhouses will be in plenty of accolade-centric conversations for the rest of the season.

THR – Todd McCarthy

Firefly & Barney Miller Actor Ron Glass Passes Away at 71

We regret to bring the news that Ron Glass has passed away, at the age of 71. A spokesperson for the movie/TV actor has confirmed the news of his death to multiple outlets – but at the time of writing this, no additional details have been made available to the general public.

Born Ronald E. Glass in Evansville, Indiana, in the year 1945, Glass made his small screen debut in the early 1970s, having acted onstage at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis prior to that. Glass appeared in episodes of such classic ’70s TV shows as All in the Family, Sanford and Son and Hawaii Five-O, prior to landing a recurring role as Detective Ron Harris on Barney Miller in 1975 (a role he would go on to play for the next seven years on the cop comedy/drama series).

Glass became an icon in the geek community in the early 2000s when he played the role of Shepherd Derrial Book in Joss Whedon’s short-lived cult western-flavored sci-fi TV series, Firefly. The actor reprised his role as Shepherd Book in Serenity, Whedon’s 2005 movie adaptation of Firefly. The actor appeared on too many TV series to list here over the course of his forty year (plus some) career, including such cult and/or geek TV shows as The Twilight Zone, Star Trek: Voyager and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (which Whedon co-created).

Glass’ peers have begun to share their condolences over his passing, with his Firefly and Serenity costars Alan Tudyk and Sean Maher having posted on their Twitter accounts. Tudyk praised Glass for his “beyond infectious” laugh and for being the sort of “sassy smart ass” that Tudyk admires most of all, while Maher posted the following:

“Ron Glass. What an honor it was to know you, to work beside you and to have called you my friend. You will be missed. I love you sir.”

Ron Glass on Barney Miller

In addition to his live-action work, Glass lent his voice to a number of noteworthy animated TV series over the years; among them, Rugrats, Disney’s Aladdin, Superman: The Animated Series and The Proud Family. Glass also voiced a character in the cartoon TV show-turned animated movie Recess: School’s Out in 2001 and appeared in such films as Deep Space, Houseguest, Lakeview Terrace and Death at a Funeral (2010), among others, over the course of his acting career.

Whether they knew him best for his work on Barney Miller and/or Firefly (or another TV show/movie altogether), Glass’ fans no doubt appreciated him for his good-natured wit and kindly presence, as well as the overall sense of decency and wisdom that Glass exuded through his acting work. That extended to his life offscreen too, as Glass was himself a member of the Soka Gakkai International: a worldwide Buddhist organization that is dedicated to serving the purpose of “peace, education, and cultural exchange.”

R.I.P. Ronald E. Glass: July 10th, 1945 – November 25th, 2016

Sicario Writer Explains Why Emily Blunt Won’t Be In the Sequel

In 2015, Denis Villeneuve’s drug-war thriller Sicario roared into theaters with nothing more than a few enticing trailers and some film festival hype. But the film soon became an instantclassic with critics, despite it never drawing in huge audiences. There were few other films that year that hadSicario’s extremely tense, nail-biting thrills. Sadly, the film ended up with just a modest box office haul of $84 million and three unsuccessful Oscar nominations. It seemed like all hope was dead for thriller to have any sort of shelf life.

A chance came, however, back in June when Lionsgate announced that asequel titled Soldado was in the works, with a third “anthology” movie already in development. This came as very exciting yet confusing news for fans. While Sicario had seen a rise in popularity via home media and streaming platforms, the reasoning to green light a sequel sounded a little strange. What’s even more peculiar is that Sicario wrapped up most of its story threads pretty well. It left just enough mystery to linger in audiences’ minds while also injecting an eerily satisfying climax. But the film’s producers felt that Sicario‘s concepthad a malleable quality to it. So the idea to do standalone sequels came to fruition. One might think that the film’s troubled protagonist, FBI agent Kate Mercer (Emily Blunt), would return too – but screenwriter Taylor Sheridan feels otherwise.

In a recent interview with The Wrap, Sheridan revealed that he just can’t find a way to logically write Mercer’s character into the sequel. He expressed his genuine sadness in knowing that this creative choice means not working with Blunt again:

“Look what she went through. It was a difficult role. Here I write this lead character and then I use her as a surrogate for the audience. I make her completely passive against her own will so the audience feels the same impotence that a lot of law enforcement officers feel, I drag her through hell, and betray her in the end. It was an arduous journey for the character, and for Emily. That character had arc.”

For those who haven’t checked outSicario yet, the thriller follows Mercer on a special government mission along the America-Mexico border after a failed drug bust. The team’s mission is to take down the infamous drug boss Manuel Diaz, who has a total monopoly over all the trafficking in the region. Her task force is led by the charismatic but mysterious Matt Reeves (Josh Brolin). Accompanying them is the razor-sharpAlejandro Gillick (Benicio Del Toro), a prosecutor turned mercenary that has a personal vendetta against Diaz. Because Mercer was the (relatively) innocent one in all this, she became the fish out of water, so to speak. That said, it’s odd to think she will not be returning for Soldado. The fortunate part of this new development is thatSicario focused just as much on Mercer as it did on Gillick. That means that the sequel will have plenty of room to explore his character, even though he will not be chaperoning Mercer in the process.

It’s a true godsend that Lionsgate has given Sicario this opportunity. But in the big scheme of things, it is a little bittersweet. The studio wantedVilleneuve to come back for the sequel, but he is currently busy doing Blade Runner 2049. Adding on that Mercer’s morally sound mind will not be present could make fans that much more skeptical about Soldado. The good part is that the anthology style of the sequel will allow for some interesting detours into the drug world. Let’s hope these changes are for the better.

Soldado and Sicario 3 are currently without release dates, but we will keep you updated as these projects develop.

Source: The Wrap

Game of Thrones: Ellie Kendrick Talks Bran & Meera in Season 7

Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, Game of Thrones has throughout its six seasons to-date become one of the most-loved and talked-about television series in the world. Infamous for its brutality and shocking story twists, the 60 episodes which have aired so far haven’t been without their controversy, but the solid and loyal fan base come back each and every year to see more.

A pair of characters who may be deserving of a little more love in the show however, are Bran Stark (Isaac Hempstead Wright) and Meera Reed (Ellie Kendrick). The journey the two are taking has always been the subject of much criticism and they were evenexcluded from the fifth season – though the sixth season did see a peak in interest when Hodor’s (Kristian Nairn) origin story was revealed and the extent of Bran’s powers were explored.

Now – in a new interview with MTV – Kendrick has spoken about Bran and Meera, along with where we may see the pair’s relationship and journey head in the upcoming seventh season:

“[Bran is] a little tiny boy who gets plunged into this political chaos, and he’s got this stranger in the form of Meera looking after him, dragging him around. I love the story line he has because he’s this kid who’s been forgotten, but he has these incredible powers to unleash. It makes me think ofStranger Things a bit. He looks small and weak, and yet he’s got this immense strength and capability of mind. That’s going to be one of the most exciting things in the coming episodes because he can reveal all of the past and the future.”

“Meera’s main job is the protector. She’s not going to storm in there and tell everyone what to do. She’s the bodyguard. She’s the one who’s got Bran’s back, and she’s making sure that he gets to the places he needs to get to. She sees this as her duty to carry out this mission for him. It’s in her blood; the Reeds are fiercely loyal to the Starks, and she’ll give everything that it takes to protect Bran.”

It’s great to hear that Kendrick has such a strong handle on her character and exactly where she’ll be taking her moving forward. The fact she’s also passionate about the characters of those actors she’s spending most of her time with on the show is also a great sign, ensuring she’ll be thoroughly dedicated to the series until its final moments.

Saying that, with all of the details given here, Kendrick may have revealed a little too much. If Meera’s path really is as plain and simple as she describes, writers are going to have to do a brilliant job to ensure fans keep caring about the character and everything going on around her. Luckily if there’s one thing the Game of Thrones team have shown in the past, it’s that they’re willing to put everything into their work.

Game of Thrones season 7 airs on HBO in Summer 2017.

Source: MTV [via Watchers on the Wall]

Michael Fassbender Contrasts Assassin’s Creed & Star Wars

In a little under a month, Assassin’s Creed, Fox’s adaptation of the video game of the same name, hits theaters. The film, which stars Michael Fassbender as Callum Lynch, boasts a stellar supporting cast that includes Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, and Michael K. Williams. Assassin’s Creed will face stiff competition at the box office as it opens the same week as the Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence vehicle, Passengers, as well as Illumination’s animated movie Sing. The video game adaptation will also be going up against an undoubtedly strong second weekend from the first Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Video game adaptations have traditionally been disappointments at the box office, with only two such films ever crossing $100 million at the domestically (those being Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and The Angry Birds Movie). Fox is certainly hoping that Assassin’s Creed bucks the trend after shelling out a production budget reported to be over $130 million and assembling all the previously noted stars. While the competition for viewers will be tough this holiday,Assassin’s Creed does boast an interesting plot that mixes elements of futuristic science fiction with historical action (sort of like Westworld at first glance). Furthermore, the film’s characters may be more complex than those in the competition.

Michael Fassbander recently spoke with Empire, where he describe his character’s morality as not so black and white. “It’s not like Star Wars, where you’ve got the light side and the dark side,” Fassbender explains, before adding:

“This is very ambiguous morally. Both of these parties – the Templars and the Assassins – are hypocritical at certain points. There are not clear-cut good and bad characters. I think it’s a little more provocative for an audience to see that. You know, ‘Should I be feeling that? Should I be backing this character?’ That’s always fun.”

While there are probably not that many people that were expecting Assassin’s Creed to be anything like Star Wars, the morally ambiguous characters could make for exciting drama within the action adventure film. And Fassbender is not wrong, viewers tend to get behind characters that are not squeaky clean – Dexter Morgan and Walter White are two from television. As for playing something of an anti-hero, Fassbender has some experience in that realm. The actor may be best known for his turn as Charles Xavier’s on-again, off-again friend, Magneto, in the X-Men prequel trilogy.

The video game series on which Assassin’s Creed is based, is one of the highest selling gaming franchises, ever. Of course, as previously noted, this fact alone has never translated to massive success at the box office. Other high selling franchises like Speed Racer, Tomb Raider, and Prince of Persia all had trouble translating their success to the big screen. Still, with the ever growing international box office and, perhaps, more layered characters, Assassin’s Creed could defy history.

Source: Empire

Guardians of the Galaxy 2: Will The Ravagers Rebel?

Now that Marvel Studios has closed out its 2016 slate by introducing audiences everywhere to Benedict Cumberbatch as the Sorcerer Supreme in Doctor Strange, all eyes can now turn toward the future. 2017 is a big year for the studio; there will be three films hitting theaters with only one of them,Spider-Man: Homecoming offering fans an entirely terrestrial adventure. The other two, Thor: Ragnarok and the movie that will kick things off,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, will take viewers on a pair of intergalactic adventures to explore the outer reaches of the MCU.

The latter film has been repositioned from its role as a risky outlier in Marvel’s production schedule to what is now presumed to be a surefire hit, hence why it will be the studio’s first cinematic offering of the new year. But for all the anticipation, and all that’s known about the new additions to the core Guardians roster – including Manta and, in a curious reversal of character, Karen Gillan’s Nebula – details about other returning characters remain a mystery. For example, just where do the Ravagers and their leader Yondu fit into the story, especially after the events of the first film saw Peter Quill pulling a fast one on his intergalactic abductors/adoptive family?

Well, as it turns out, all is not well amongst the space pirates, and actor Sean Gunn, who plays Kraglin in bothGuardians films, recently offered to shed some light as to why. In an interview with Comicbook.com (viaCBR), Gunn establishes the growing inner strife threatening to tear the group apart. Gunn said:

“… It’s only a couple of months after the first movie. The Ravagers have not gone hard after Peter Quill after he double-crossed them with the Infinity Stone… There’s a little rumbling amongst the Ravagers, like, ‘Where does Yondu’s allegiance lay here? Is he going soft on Quill?’ So, the Ravagers have to make a decision of what they’re gonna do about Yondu and I think [my character] Kraglin is a key part of that.”

                  

From what Gunn says, it sounds as though there’s a mutiny afoot. If that’s the case, will Yondu be joining the Star-Lord and his crew aboard the Milano for this adventure? Seeing Yondu displaced from his leadership position would make for an interesting subplot to explore, and it would also afford an interesting opportunity for some intergalactic family conflict, as it has already been revealed part of the film’s storyline revolves around Quill discovering the truth about his father. Throw the aggressive Yondu in the mix as Star-Lord’s primary father figure and role model, and tensions aboard the Milano are bound to be high.

That seems to be in line with Gunn’s thinking, as he reiterates what the film’s director wants Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 to be about.

“I’ve heard my brother [director James Gunn] say that the first movie was about creating a family. The second movie is moreabout being a family and the struggle of maintaining that. I think that’s spot on and I hope that’s what resonates with people.”

The struggle to maintain family seems it will extend far beyond Peter Quill and his newly formed family unit, as the Ravagers may very well have their own kinfolk-oriented discord to deal with. It will be interesting to see how this potential insubordination plays out when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters next year.

Amityville Horror House Sold to New Owner

The concept of basing horror films on so-called true events has grown to become something of a trend over the years. Though not a new method for increasing the terror of a film (both The Exorcist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre were promoted in this manner), the concept frequently results in huge box office revenue – as has been the case with The Conjuringfranchise and a variety of other films like Annabelle, The Possession and Wolf Creek.

Though the actual “true events” that a film is based on often play a very minor role in the fictionalized plot created around them, sometimes those events merit the claim. The Amityville Horror, for example, took its plot directly from a series of tragic events that unfolded at a real Long Island, New York home in 1975 to the Lutz family. The family’s stay in the house where Ronald Defeo Jr killed his entire family has since spawned 17 films (with an 18th on the way this January) as well as nine different books.

The Wrap is now reporting that the very house on which the films and books are based has now been sold. Originally bought in 2010 for $950,000 (the original asking price was $1.15 million), the seller put the house back on the market last June, asking for $850,000. Apparently for someone, the appeal of the 5,000 square foot Dutch Colonial home with its five-bedroom, three and a half bathrooms and boathouse outweighs its horrific past. The new owner has not been publicly named.

After murdering all six members of his family while most of them slept on a November night in 1974, Ronald Defeo Jr was arrested and sentenced to six concurrent sentences of 25 years to life in prison. It was the Lutz family who bought the house a mere 13 months after the murders had been committed and upon whom The Amityville Horror is based. After moving into the house, the family began to experience a series of disturbing incidences including terrifying visions, unknown voices, damage to the home’s locks, windows and doors and even a strange, green slime protruding from the walls.  Twenty-eight days after moving into the house, the Lutz family moved out, never to return.

Much has been said about the Amityville house over the years, with its history being linked to Satanist John Ketcham having once lived there as well as the home being located on a former Native American burial ground. To date, no evidence proves Ketcham ever lived at the home and local Shinnecock leaders have rejected the claim that the land was used as a burial site. In fact, many of the claims that the Lutz family made about the home have been called into question over the years. The only thing about the Lutz’s story that has proven true is that their time at the home has been quite lucrative for them ever since.

The Amityville house has had a steady stream of inhabitants since the terrible events of 1974, but no owner has remained in the home for more than ten years before selling. Hopefully these latest homeowners will find everything to their liking, but as far as homes with a dark history go, this is certainly one of the more infamous ones out there.

Amityville: The Awakening opens in U.S. theaters on January 6th, 2017.

Source: The Wrap

Black Panther: Angela Bassett Cast as T’Challa’s Mother

As the Marvel Cinematic Universe moves forward, Marvel has continued to add to the growing and impressive list of actors that play a part in that universe. Big names such as Michael Keaton, Sigourney Weaver, Kurt Russell and Forest Whitaker have joined the MCU in recent years, with the latter being one of the newest names to join the cast of Black Panther. That film’s cast also includes Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, and more – but with pre-production winding down, the cast is only going to continue to grow.

During Captain America: Civil War, audiences got the chance to meet T’Challa’s father, but with his solo movie taking the focus back to Wakanda, the opportunity is there to explore more of T’Challa’s lineage. It appears the movie will do just that, with Marvel having now added yet another well-known actress to the MCU, to play Black Panther’s mother.

Marvel has confirmed that Angela Bassett has joined the cast of Black Panther as the hero’s mother, Ramonda. With T’Challa reigning over the fictional country by the time the film picks up, his mother’s advice will surely be something that he will seek. Bassett is an Academy Award-nominee and has recently appeared on multiple seasons of American Horror Story.

With Marvel already casting the bigger supporting characters around T’Challa, the addition of Bassett is the first step in them branching out his family tree. Previous castings have been for villains, elders, or members of his personal body guards the Dora Milaje, and now we can include T’Challa’s mother as part of the cast.

Ramonda is actually his stepmother in the comics, after his biological mother N’Yami died during childbirth. It will be interesting to see if there is any reference to this staying true for the big screen version of the character. Either way, Ramonda and T’Challa should have a close relationship throughout the film as they figure out how to rule of Wakanda in the aftermath of T’Chaka’s death.

Since Ramonda is the first member of T’Challa’s family to get cast, it opens up the door for more family members to join in roles of various sides. One of the highly requested roles for the film is T’Challa’s stepsister Shuri, who is the daughter of Ramonda and T’Chaka. Shuri has taken on the Black Panther mantle in the comics before and would be another strong and powerful female character for the film to add. It was initially thought that Nyong’o could have this role, but with her playing Nakia, the role of Shuri is still available. There has yet to be any direct reference to Shuri having a role in Black Panther, but with Bassett now on board as their mother, it is one step closer to happening.

Source: Marvel

Pacific Rim 2 Set Photos: John Boyega Heads to The Drift

Having spent a good chunk of the past few years in development limbo, Pacific Rim: Maelstrom – the sequel to writer/director Guillermo del Toro’s 2013 film – has finally begun filming. Contrary to the initial plans, however, del Toro is not directing the sequel and is instead handing the reigns over to former Daredevil showrunner, Steven S. DeKnight; who after spending multiple years establishing himself in the television world, is set to make his feature directorial debut with the blockbuster project. Much to DeKnight’s credit as well, he’s managed to wrangle quite an impressive cast together for the anticipated sequel.

John Boyega is set to lead the cast, as well as executive produce the film, and will be playing the son of Idris Elba’s Stacker Pentecost, following his breakout role in last year’s Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens. Now, we’ve finally gotten our first look at Boyega in the character from the film too.

The images come from a new set of photos taken by Daily Telegraph of the film’s Sydney production, showing Boyega sporting a ragged set of clothes and running through what looks to be a possible den of makeshift shelters for the homeless. He’s even sporting a few cuts and bruises for good measure. Take a look at the photos for yourself below:

Not much is known currently about the plot of Maelstrom, or if any of del Toro’s original plans still remain in the film, after DeKnight having taken over as director and Jurassic World co-writer Derek Connolly performing a rewrite of the script. We do know that Charlie Hunnam isn’t returning as Raleigh Bracket (due to scheduling conflicts), but Rinko Kikuchi’s return as Mako Mori is still up in the air. Boyega will for sure be joined by Scott Eastwood, Cailee Spaeny, Jian Tian, Levi Meaden, Adria Arjona, and Nick Tarabay in the sequel, giving the film a nice diverse ensemble, filled with several talented up-and-comers.

Despite underwhelming domestic box office numbers upon its release, Pacific Rim has amassed a dedicated fanbase both in the U.S. and international markets – which, coupled with the new blood in the sequel, gives Maelstrom a better shot at making a larger impact upon its own release in early 2018. DeKnight has more than his fair share of credentials in the fan community through his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Smallville, Spartacus, and the previously-mentioned first season of Marvel’s Daredevil, making him more of an acceptable replacement for del Toro with fans. Casting one of the lead stars of the new Star Wars trilogy isn’t a bad first step in ensuring that kind of success, either.

Source: Daily Telegraph

Spider-Man: Homecoming – Zendaya Confirms She’s Not Playing Mary Jane

Spider-Man recently began his new journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and so far his new home has brought out a few new qualities to the character. Marvel and Sony went very young with casting Tom Holland in order to keep Peter Parker in high school for an extended period of time, and they quickly laid the foundation for Tony Stark to act as his mentor. The studio will also pit him against Vulture for the first time on the big screen, but when it comes to a love interest for the young hero, the studio has yet to play its cards.

When Zendaya initially joined Spider-Man: Homecoming, she was reported to be playing fellow high school student Michelle. Then, one report revealed that she is secretly playing Mary Jane Watson, Spider-Man’s longtime love in the comics. After months of fan discussion over the rumored casting, Zendaya herself said she is not playing the love interest and is has once again publicly stated she is not M.J.

ET Online interviewed Zendaya and asked her about these reports, but the actress is doing the best she can to put a stop to these rumors. Here is what she said:

“Well, I’m not Mary Jane unfortunately, but I am in the movie which is exciting. My character’s name is Michelle, if that’s what everybody wants to think. I’m gonna let people think whatever they want to think.”

There are a few ways to look at Zendaya’s comments. First and foremost, her continued statements denying these rumors make it seem more likely that she is actually just Michelle. Should this be the case, it could still point to her having a prominent role in Homecoming and future Spider-Man films, but as Peter’s friend and not girlfriend.

On the flip side, while Zendaya is saying the right things, she continued to wink at the camera during her statements, which only raises even more questions. Such small gestures seem destined to raise questions. However, director Jon Watts has also said that Zendaya is playing Michelle, and that name was also listed on all the call sheets.

Keeping the identity of who the actor is playing is a risky game, one that Hollywood learned a lesson on with J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness, which insisted time and again that Benedict Cumberbatch wasn’t playing Kahn. Such secrecy didn’t do the film any favors and the project would have likely been better off simply confirming the appearance of the character up front. This may not be the case with Spider-Man: Homecoming, but fans will have to wait until the first trailer is released to know for sure.

Source: ET Online

Fantastic Beasts Producer on Colin Farrell’s Future in the Franchise

[SPOILERS for those who haven’t seenFantastic Beasts ahead.]

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Based on the opening weekend return, Warner Bros. has successfully brought audiences back to the world of Harry Potter, but this time with a prequel. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them received a solid $75 million opening in the U.S. following mostly positive reviews, which should give the studio faith in their new franchise. With Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and his beasts front and center throughout most of the film, the secondary story for audiences to follow centered on Colin Farrell’s mysterious Percival Graves.

Farrell’s character played an important role in the search the Obscurus, which kept him in close contact with Ezra Miller‘s equally mysterious character Credence. As it turns out, both characters were involved in two of the film’s major twists, one that will certainly play a part in the franchise moving forward, as it introducedJohnny Depp as Grindelwald. And while Depp has officially walked through he door into the rest of the series, the question now is: Is that same door open for Farrell and Percival Graves?

The film’s producer David Heyman spoke to Snitch Seeker about Graves’ purpose in the film, and his comments suggest that purpose has been served for the time being. While the explanation he offered up for Grindelwald’s connection to Graves technically leaves the door open for the latter character’s return, it likely won’t be for a while, if at all. Heyman said:

“There’s no plans to bring Colin back for the sequel.”

Colin Farrell as Percival Graves and Ezra Miller as Credence Barebone in Fantastic Beasts

While that may not please fans of the actor, or those who think Graves could play a significant role in the story that has yet to unfold, there is precedence for this in previous Harry Potter films. Plenty of characters made a very limited or one-and-done appearance throughout the franchise, which in some way helped make them more memorable. Considering the size of Farrell’s role in Fantastic Beasts and the part he plays in one of the film’s most shocking moments, it’s certain that both the actor and the character of Percival Graves will be remembered throughout the series.

And that may be for the best, as the focus of the franchise is said to be shifting towards Grindelwald and a young Dumbledore, leaving little room for the Graves character moving forward. That said, with five films planned, there is always the potential for the producers to change their minds, and fans may see Farrell yet again.

Source: Snitch Seeker

Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer Reportedly Attached to Rogue One

Once Sony and Marvel Studios worked out a deal to bring the Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, interest peaked in how this new relationship would work. If there were any doubts as to how Spidey would be properly introduced into this universe, his small but memorable role in Captain America: Civil War quickly washed them away. Tom Holland made audiences once again eager to see more of the wall-crawling teenager, which is what has helped make Spider-Man: Homecoming one of the most anticipated movies of next year.

Director Jon Watts continues to tease a John Hughes-esque tone for his first superhero film, which is exactly what attendees at San Diego Comic-Con appeared to get. Since the teaser has not yet been released, those who did not attend the Marvel presentation in Hall H have had to wait to see what the movie will be like. Now it appears fans won’t have to wait much longer.

Comicbook is reporting that the first trailer for Spider-Man: Homecoming will be attached to Disney’s upcoming potential blockbuster Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. If true, then it is highly probable the trailer will be released online in the days leading up to the premiere of Rogue One. However, even if it does come a week or more before the film, it appears that Rogue One will be the first chance for audiences to see the trailer on the big screen.

Now that everyone has an idea of when the first trailer for Homecoming will be, the question is now: What will audience see? There’s a good chance it will be similar to what was shown at SDCC, though given the amount of time that’s passed, there might be some newer stuff in there as well. Based on the descriptions of this footage, there will be a heavy focus on Peter Parker as a kid trying to figure out how to be a better superhero.

While the aformentioned footage only teased the look of Vulture, showing a full shot of his suit in action could help get everyone on board for him as the villain. They have drastically changed his look to better fit within this universe, and with Michael Keaton playing the part, it would be slightly disappointing if his role was not teased.

One interesting thing to note outside of the trailer for Homecoming is when the first real trailer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will debut. Since Guardians comes out two months before, it would be logical for the marketing of that film to start earlier. If that is Disney’s intention, the studio may have potentially prepared that trailer to be attached to Moana over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Source: Comicbook

KEY RELEASE DATES
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 release date: May 5, 2017
Spider-Man: Homecoming release date: Jul 7, 2017
Thor: Ragnarok release date: Nov 3, 2017
Black Panther release date: Feb 16, 2018
The Avengers: Infinity War release date: May 4, 2018
Ant-Man & The Wasp release date: Jul 6, 2018
Captain Marvel release date: Mar 8, 2019
The Avengers 4 / Untitled Avengers Movie
release date: May 3, 2019

Underworld: Blood Wars

The Underworld franchise may never have produced the most well-reviewed blockbusters in Hollywood, but the series has endured for over a decade with impressive fortitude. Additionally, the films have built up a fiercely loyal fanbase thanks to a strong commitment to its surprisingly deep backstory and mythology. The mythos imagines a centuries-spanning war between rival clans of vampires and werewolves (here called “Lycans”) and a onetime vampire enforcer named Selene (Kate Beckinsale) caught between loyalties when she uncovers the secret truth behind her own origins.

Now, check out a new clip featuring Selene’s return in the long-awaited fifth installment, Underworld: Blood Wars.

In the clip released by GamesRadar, Selene is shown to be resistant to a call back to action by vampire compatriot James (Theo James) who reveals that an army of vengeful lycans has mobilized in search of her and her daughter, whose blood is the key to granting their leader Marius (Tobias Menzies) extraordinary powers. Whereas the first three Underworldmovies took place alternately in the present and medieval times, the fourth film found Selene waking up in a dystopian future where humanity had declared war on both species via a new breed of scientifically-enhanced lycans with extra abilities.

Blood Wars evidently picks up from that point. However, it’s yet unclear whether or not the film intends to include Scott Speedman as Selene’s missing lover Michael, a superhuman vampire/lycan hybrid whose existence drove the plot of the original two films and who was implied to still be alive at the end ofUnderworld: Awakening. The full plot of the latest installment has not been revealed, though trailers feature Selene receiving a power-upgrade of her own from a group of white-haired vampires (or something else?) with Flash-like super-speed powers.

In the broader Underworld mythos, vampires and werewolves descend from a pair of twins from antiquity who inherited mutated genes from their immortal genetic engineer father and were subsequently bitten by a wolf and a bat (respectively). Beckinsale’s Selene has appeared in each installment of the Underworld films, though only as a brief cameo (via recycled footage) in the third film, which was a prequel set in the medieval era outlining how the lycans went from an enslaved race to a rival faction of their own. The film featured Rhona Mitra and Michael Sheen as a pair of star-crossed vampire/lycan lovers whose forbidden relationship lead to the ongoing open war depicted in the first two films.

Source: GamesRadar

American Horror Story May Have Teased Nautical Terror in Season 7

American Horror Story just wrapped the final chapter of its sixth season, an ultra gruesome, twist-packed dive into the haunted lost colony of Roanoke. Not only did AHS mastermind Ryan Murphy fill its 10-episode run with several big surprises, but the network famously kept its promotion more mysterious than the actual show. As its premiere date drew closer, they released a series of teasers dubbed “misdirects.” Of the handful of clips released, only one revealed the true theme, and fans were left in the dark right up until the season’s kick-off.

When FX renewed the series in October, Murphy quickly assured viewers that season 7’s lead up won’t follow suit. In fact, Murphy revealed thepremise would be announced in the spring of 2017, and that it wouldn’t be as secretive as season 6. Now, Murphy already seems to be making good on his promise.

Only one day after My Roanoke Nightmare’s finale, a potential season 7 teaser has already popped up on AHS’ official Twitter. The tweet is hashtagged #AHSRoanoke and plainly reads “The monsters are all gone,” so it’s possible the video is a simple kiss-off to the show’s latest season, but AHSrarely does anything without intention.

The seven-second clip features a close-up of crashing waves and the tagline “Sweet Dreams.” This could hint at any number of plot lines, but a nautical terror would certainly be a new direction for the AHS team. When paired with the Roanoke finale, the evidence gets stronger. Toward the end of the episode, a team of paranormal investigators revisit the Roanoke house, where they uncover a big, old, dusty wooden ship. Fans had tossed around the idea of a cruise or shipwreck as the season 7 theme, and at least one videopointed to a confirmation. Is it possible some of the “misdirects” were actually stories Murphy was already plotting?

The showrunner has already begun dropping more concrete clues for season 7; he also revealed the next installment would include several returning characters from season 4’sFreak Show. While AHS has always made reference to its previous seasons, it seems Murphy is ramping up his efforts to connect them. In Hotel, Gabourey Sidibe’s Queenie fromCoven made a guest appearance at the ghost-ridden Hotel Cortez, and the link between the pig man in both Roanokeand Murder House seems too obvious to be a coincidence. Along with the recent news of an eventual Coven andMurder House crossover, it’s safe to say season 7 will continue to flesh out AHS’ broader backstory — and exporting the cast to sea could be fascinating.

American Horror Story will return to FX in 2017.

Source: American Horror Story/Twitter

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Review

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM IS A SOLID HARRY POTTERSERIES MOVIE BUT OFTEN PRIORITIZES SETUP OVER MEMORABLE DRAMA OR SPELLBINDING ACTION.

Prior to publishing the Wizarding World’s go-to Magizoology textbook,Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Newt Scamander traveled the world in search of magical animals – to educate himself and the wizarding community as well as protect his creatures from humans (both malicious and oblivious, alike). Along his travels, Newt heads to New York City in 1926 to aid a rare beast in need of his assistance – only to lose his enchanted suitcase (a portable zoo), resulting in the escape of several mischievous critters who proceed to run amok in the Big Apple. Newt’s not-so-subtle efforts to find his missing beasts comes at the worst time possible for the magic community in New York City – as a conflict with malevolent wizards, tired of living in the shadows, threatens to reveal the Wizarding World to America.

Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

With tensions high, Newt attracts the attention of disgraced Auror Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), aspiring bakery owner and No-Maj, Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), and the Director of Magical Security within the Magical Congress of the United States of America, Percival Graves (Colin Farrell), all of whom become entangled in the search for an exceptionally dangerous (albeit fantastic) beast – a creature the MACUSA believed extinct, capable of not only harming human and magical beings but, in the wrong hands, could shatter the Wizarding World from within.

An extension of the Harry Potter book and film series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them builds upon a relatively minor piece of Wizarding World lore in an effort to kick-off a new blockbuster film series. To revive the franchise, which had effectively been concluded in The Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Warner Bros. Pictures reenlisted director David Yates (helmer of the final four Harry Potter films) to lead theFantastic Beasts spinoff – from an original screenplay penned by creator J.K. Rowling. Yates meets the expectations for any Harry Potter franchise entry; yet, given that Warner Bros. hopes to extend the prequel series into several more films, the director’s latest film is often subverted by the studio’s interest in establishing new heroes, villains, and narrative through-lines. Ultimately, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is a solid Harry Potterseries movie but delivers more setup than standout drama or action.

Katherine Waterston as Tina Goldstein in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

The film is the first Harry Potter movie installment to be free of a published source novel storyline, allowing Rowling and Yates to drastically expand the scope of Wizarding World mythology. Where previous Harry Potterfilms were largely limited to the grounds of Hogwarts (and London),Fantastic Beasts focuses on magic users in post-World War 1 era New York City – providing a unique setting and viewpoint through which to explore how other countries and other people understood magic (both its responsibilities and its dangers). To that end, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them offers thought-provoking parallels to its predecessor series – where Harry Potter was a story about acceptance and nurturing those who are different, Fantastic Beasts is a more cautionary tale about the dangers of repression, rejection, and fear of the “other”.Fantastic Beasts sets its aim high but the film itself is stuck juggling several competing objectives – meaning that some, especially the movie’s villain, are underserved; instead, Yates lays a fertile platform on which he, or other directors, can continue to build and iterate. It’s a less rigid story – packed with clever world-building, Harry Potterfan service, stylish set pieces, laugh-out-loud gags, whimsical creatures, and likable new leads; though, the central mystery follows a meandering course onward to an underwhelming and underdeveloped final act confrontation and reveal. It’s not a bad through-line but Yates and Rowling lean heavily on flat caricatures (another abusive foster parent) and cliches (spiteful politicians) that audiences will have zero investment in – and are only present to establish corners of the franchise world and shape tangential characters for future movies rather than fortifying the story at hand.

Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller) in Fantastic Beasts

Fortunately, the “Fantastic Beasts” themselves (even if they’re a little too fantastical looking to bridge the uncanny valley) are a fun access point for audiences to experience uncharted elements of Harry Potter lore – as well as meet new hero, Newt Scamander. The film comes alive when relishing in Newt’s enthusiasm and knowledge of magical animals but, compared to the original Harry Potterprotagonists, Newt is (at this point) a pretty subdued lead – in spite of a likable performance from Eddie Redmayne. The talented actor crafts a sweet sketch of Newt; however, Fantastic Beasts is too dense to provide enough material that differentiates the character from other players in the Harry Potter series. He has potential but Yates and Redmayne only scratch the surface this round. Newt (and consequently Redmayne) is at his best when interacting with his beasts, which include several genuinely sweet scenes, but is regularly overshadowed by supporting characters with bolder personalities.

Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) is confined in a similar frame. She’s a charming part of Fantastic Beasts and the film provides Tina with some satisfying moments but Yates falls short in earning a meaningfulreturn on the heroine’s backstory, connections to current events, or interest in Newt. Like Redmayne, Waterston has the outline for a great Harry Potter Universecharacter in the long run but Fantastic Beasts underserves Tina in this story.

Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) and Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) in Fantastic Beasts

Conversely, Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol) outshine their headline counterparts throughout the movie. The pair repeatedly breathe life into scenes where Newt and Tina are stuck trading exposition – and, in the process, Jacob as well as Queenie reveal a surprising amount of nuance. While Jacob and Queenie could have been stock comic relief, Yates employs them in subtle ways that both develop their own characters as well as emphasize important aspects of Newt and Tina. Fans might root for Newt and Tina to save the day but they will also, without question, find that Jacob and Queenie are the heart of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

The cast also includes appearances from Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, and Jon Voight (not to mention Ron Perlman, among others) but the movie speeds past their respective contributions before they can make a significant impact. Farrell and Miller are afforded surface-level definition as Percival Graves and Credence Barebone, respectively; yet, by the end, both actors are underused, and while their characters leave a lasting mark on the Wizarding World, it is thoseactions (not the pair’s presence on-screen) that will leave a lasting impression on moviegoers. Credence, in particular, is a hapless casualty of a film that is trying to both relaunch a profitable franchise and tell a worthwhile standalone story. Miller brings sincerity to his role, and Credence is a rewarding counterpoint to themes viewers will have seen explored in the original Harry Potterseries but much of that depth is implied – rather than included.

The Niffler in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Themis also playing in 3D as well as 3D IMAX but, unlike some of the later Harry Potter movies, a premium ticket isn’t a requirement. Even though Yates makes use of bigger screens, better sound, and 3D visuals, his latest is smaller in scale than The Deathly Hallows. For viewers who prefer the best viewing experience possible, upgraded tickets might be worthwhile – but they’re not essential this time either.

While Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them isn’t the most impactfulHarry Potter story – or a fully-developed movie on its own, Yates delivers where it counts most: entertainment and fun. The magical creatures are enchanting and the director ensures Newt’s beasts aren’t an afterthought once the plot is in motion. It might not be a numbered Harry Potter installment but Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them provides the same blend of wonder, humor, and heart as J.K. Rowling’s original book series (and films). Hopefully, now that Warner Bros. has established a spin-off platform, future chapters will have more time to relish in the current story and flesh out this new batch of characters. Nevertheless, in the meantime, longtime fans and casual filmgoers both have good reason to rediscover the Wizarding World.