Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee was a very different sort of Transformers movie, and while it didn't put up Michael Bay like numbers at the box office, it was much better received by critics and others who had been more critical of the more explosion-heavy entries in the series. While more Transformers movies are certainly coming, we have little idea what they will actually be. However, if anybody is looking for ideas, they should ask Bumblebee director Travis Knight, because he's apparently already got several potential movies mapped out in his head.

The word on the street is that development has begin on a direct sequel to Bumblebee, and if that's the case, and the studio wants to bring director Travis Knight back to make it, it sounds like he would love to return and he could also give that development some direction. According to Knight...

In my mind, I have all kinds of ideas for where Charlie goes from here; where Bumblebee goes from here; where Optimus Prime goes from here. In my mind, I’ve already made those movies on some level. If the stars align, would I tell another story in this universe? I mean, I love these characters, so it’d be a thrill to be able to tell a different kind of story in this universe. Time will tell.

Bumblebee told the story of the popular Autobot's arrival on Earth where he befriends a teenage girl named Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The movie ends with Charlie and Bumblebee parting ways, as Bumblebee reunites with Optimus Prime. However, it sounds like, based on what he tells, THR, if Travis Knight gets his way, all of these characters would come together for a sequel. Steinfeld had previously told me in an interview that she would be up for a sequel, as would John Cena if the option was there, so it sounds like all the necessary humans are ready and willing.

We were expecting a new proper sequel to the main Transformers franchise to hit this year but the film was pulled from the release schedule last year and we haven't heard much about it since. Franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has previously stated that the next Transformers movie will aim to combine elements of the main series and Bumblebee, something that has the more emotional character story of Bumblebee while still having plenty of "Bayhem" for those who love the city-destroying action sequences the series is known for.

As one of those people who preferred Bumblebee to any other Transformers movie, and was also a big fan of Kubo and the Two Strings, I would love to see Travis Knight return to make another Bumblebee movie. Whether or not it will happen we'll need to wait and see, but we can be sure that something new will happen with the Transformers movies before too long.

The Comic Character The Directors Almost Included in Captain Marvel

The Comic Character The Directors Almost Included in Captain Marvel

From inception to release, Marvel films go through a ton of reworks, leading to some characters originally intended to debut on screen to be cut by the time the movie hits theaters. And Captain Marvel is no exception. In my recent interview with the movie’s directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, I asked them about this. Here’s what Boden said:

We were always kind of obsessed with Helen Cobb and she didn’t make it into the movie. I think we thought about her a lot in terms of when we were trying to develop the story.

Interesting! For those unfamiliar with the Captain Marvel character, Helen Cobb is a famous pilot that inspired Carol Danvers to pursue her career in the Air Force and holds the highest-record for flight, which she wishes to break. In one story, Carol travels back in time (in a time-traveling plane, because she cannot time travel on her own), meets her, and joins the Banshee Squadron-- an all-female fighting unit in World War II.

When Helen Cobb dies of old age back in her timeline, Carol is given her airplane. The character exemplifies the importance of female role models, so it’s no wonder the directors considered her during the development of Captain Marvel. Check out the directors talking about it below:

While Helen Cobb was in the running, she didn’t make it past script development, as Kevin Feige recently confirmed with ComicBook.com. Here’s what the Marvel chief said about Helen Cobb:

She was in some drafts… But ultimately, the story is about Carol Danvers, so everything had to focus and funnel through her.

There are certainly tons of exciting characters found in between the pages of Captain Marvel comics who would have been an exciting addition to the big-screen origin story of Carol Danvers. In the end, the filmmakers had to focus on telling her story first and foremost, which left out room for Helen Cobb.

While Helen Cobb won’t be seen in Captain Marvel, she would be a fantastic addition for a potential sequel. It would allow for more of Carol’s roots and inspirations to be delved and seeing the hero join the Banshee Squadron in WWII sounds badass. This also opens the window for Captain Marvel to run into some other characters in the MCU from the past and fill in some more gaps in the universe that have yet to be explored!

But wait… we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You’ll have to first check out Captain Marvel in theaters on March 8. The origin story follows Brie Larson as Carol Danvers as a Starforce officer who falls to Earth in 1995 and teams up with Nick Fury, in his first intergalactic mission and amidst a war between the Kree and Skrull races.

DC's Zachary Levi Shows Off His Shazam! Muscles In 'Thirst Trappy' Video

DC's Zachary Levi Shows Off His Shazam! Muscles In 'Thirst Trappy' Video

Someone better tell Henry Cavill he has some Instagram muscle shot competition out there from a fellow DC Comics superhero. Shazam! is still picking up money at the box office, even in a post-Endgame world, and Zachary Levi is doing his part to keep the attention on DC (or at least himself) as Marvel takes over the globe.

Zachary Levi recently posted a pretty shameless plug for his Flow Supplements brand -- and I say shameless because he knew he was getting his Shazam! fans in a tizzy with his shirtless workout video. He added a note at the end of his caption acknowledging "Also, fine, maybe the video is a little 'thirst-trappy', so sue me." Judge for yourself:

Chuck alum Zachary Levi had plenty of fans before Shazam! but he is an outright superstar now, and the fan comments on his post are hilarious. One fan wrote "NSFW, dude! A little warning would be nice next time."

Normally I say leave the intense workout videos to The Rock and Chris Hemsworth, but Zachary Levi was basically posting an ad for his supplements, and that directly relates to working out. So he has an excuse.

As you might imagine, Zachary Levi had to spend a lot of time at the gym to train for Shazam! with that costume showing off the usual amounts of superhero bod. At least he got to eat a lot, though, to build muscle mass -- saying he was at the gym 5-6 days a week and ate 3,500-3,700 calories a day. But they had to be "clean calories," not leftover Easter candy or ice cream.

Zachary Levi likes to keep in touch with Shazam! fans by posting messages and answering questions. Several months ago, he answered a fan's question on eating broccoli for breakfast while making Shazam! He said he basically ate the same macros all day long -- a combination of meat and veggies five times a day. Apparently he used to eat a lot of eggs but gave them up due to an intolerance of some kind.

He may have to return to that diet and exercise routine fairly soon. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will be joining the Shazam! world as Black Adam and he said he thought they'd start filming the Black Adam movie in about a year. Due to the ages of the younger Shazam! stars, the producers said they might move into sequel production sooner rather than later so the "kids" don't start looking older than Zachary Levi.

It is Superhero Season at the box office, with the MCU's Captain Marvel and DC's Shazam! followed now by Marvel's Avengers: Endgame. Those costumes show every flaw, so stars work hard to make it look like their human physiques are as superheroic as the characters they play (even though many of the stars are now above 50). After working so hard, I can't really blame them too much for wanting to show off the results on Instagram. If I had a personal trainer getting me in shape, or if I bothered getting myself in shape, I might show it off too.

Keep up with everything heading to theaters this year with our 2019 movie schedule guide.

New Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Trailer Intimidates With Bright Lights, Explosions, and Fight Scenes

New Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Trailer Intimidates With Bright Lights, Explosions, and Fight Scenes

We're only about two months out from Godzilla: King of the Monsters giving audiences a showdown they're likely to never forget. Pitting the king himself against the various other MUTO in the MonsterVerse, the sequel to 2014's smash hit is going to need to pack quite a punch to match up to that previous success. Judging by the clip shown below, it looks like Godzilla will have no problem delivering the goods:

The bulk of the new footage in this look at director Michael Dougherty's Godzilla: King of the Monsters seems to take place at an underwater observation post for the cryptozoological organization known as Monarch. With the returning faces of Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins, alongside franchise newbies Kyle Chandler and Thomas Middleditch, we see Godzilla engaging in an intimidation display for all aboard to see.

Of course, what good is an intimidation display of glowing light if it isn't followed up by Godzilla swimming too close for comfort? As you see in the dialogue presented in the scene, that message is more than gladly received. This triggers some quick shots of Rodan being released from a volcano, King Ghidorah spewing fire breath from all three heads, and tons of property destruction. All in the name of crowning the true king of the monsters.

Now there's something interesting to note in this new look at footage from Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and it's all to do with Vera Farmiga's Dr. Emma Russell. In the latest trailer, there's a brief moment where Dr. Russell is looking rather distressed, and either injured and/or dying.

As the rain hits her face, and she gazes at something off camera, she says, “Long live the king,” much as Charles Dance did in the first look at the film. While some might think that pertains to Godzilla himself, there could be another interpretation.

For instance, Dr. Russell could be cheering on King Ghidorah, who seems to be the MUTO head honcho squaring off against Godzilla's sort of rogue agent of balance in the world. After all, it's her band of rogue scientists that seem to be deliberately releasing the would be Titans from their prisons around the globe.

This is far from confirmed, but just something to think about in the run up to Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and the implications it might have for the film.

Despite whatever this footage from Godzilla: King of the Monsters means in the long run, the short term effect is that we're just that much more anxious to see the film. And if this sort of action doesn't get your heart going, then there's plenty of other fish in the sea. Just make sure they steer clear of Godzilla and his challengers when the big fight goes off.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters smashes into theaters on May 10th. But if you're looking for some big ticket, destructive action before then, you can head on over to our 2019 release schedule to plan something in the more immediate future.

What We Want To See From The Star Wars: Episode IX Trailer

What We Want To See From The Star Wars: Episode IX Trailer

It has been roughly 1 year and 4 months since Star Wars: The Last Jedi, the last film in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, hit theaters. In all that time we have yet to see so much as a single frame from the next and final film in the trilogy, J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode IX. Fortunately, that long wait will soon be at an end.

Star Wars Celebration begins this week in Chicago, and with a Star Wars: Episode IX panel featuring director J.J. Abrams and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy scheduled for Friday, April 12, the prevailing wisdom and expectation is that is when we will finally get the trailer for the film. A trailer for a new Star Wars film would be eagerly anticipated regardless, but this one has even more riding on it.

This trailer, which is for the final movie in the Skywalker Saga, comes after the bumpy patch of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Those factors mean that this trailer has to deliver. So what do we want from the Star Wars: Episode IX trailer to make it worth the wait? Here are a few things we’d like to see.

A Title

This one is obvious and pretty much a given (how weird would it be if we got a trailer but no full title?) but that doesn’t diminish the fact that we want to know what this movie is called. This will be the latest we have found out the title of any movie in the Sequel Trilogy and while the title doesn’t matter insofar as the quality of the film is concerned, on a macro level, it is important. This is the end of the Skywalker Saga and an over 40-year journey, the concluding chapter title is more than a point of speculation. It should have weight and meaning and sound cool.

In our long wait for the title reveal, there have been a ton of rumored and potential contenders thrown out there, from Son of Darkness and The New Order to Balance of the Force and Skywalkers. We’ll soon find out if any of these guesses were right. I expect that this title reveal will be done as it was for Avengers 4, with the title being revealed at the end of the trailer. If it’s a banger, it will be a heck of a way to close out the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX and send fans into a frenzy.

The Knights Of Ren

Glimpsed in the first full trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Rey’s lightsaber vision in the film) and talked about in both Episode VII and Episode VIII, we still have yet to see the enigmatic Knights of Ren in person in the sequel trilogy. Rumors have indicated that Kylo Ren’s coterie of force-wielders will finally show up in Star Wars: Episode IX and if that’s true, they need to be in the trailer.

At this point, the villains are just Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, General Hux, and a bunch of faceless First Order soldiers. The Star Wars: Episode IX trailer could up the stakes and the threat level in a major way by giving us a group of badass darksiders showcasing some serious skills and powers or doing something menacing. J.J. Abrams introduced the idea of the Knights of Ren all the way back in 2015’s The Force Awakens, its time to finally deliver and that should happen starting with the Episode IX trailer.

The Original Trilogy Characters

In the official Star Wars: Episode IX casting announcement, Lucasfilm let us know that Mark Hamill would be reprising his role as Luke Skywalker, Billy Dee Williams would be returning to the franchise as Lando Calrissian, and the late Carrie Fisher would appear as Leia Organa thanks to unused footage from the previous two films. Although the focus of this film will likely be on the new characters like Rey, Finn, and Kylo, the trailer for Episode IX, the end of the Skywalker Saga, should honor its history by showing these Original Trilogy characters.

Lucasfilm made the bold decision to reveal that Luke Skywalker would be back (in some form) in Episode IX, choosing not to keep it a secret despite his death in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. With Luke returning being public knowledge, we should see him in the trailer. With regards to Leia, without knowing how much footage they had to work with, I wouldn’t want too much revealed ahead of time, but just a shot or two would be enough. And Donald Glover’s Lando stole the show in the Solo trailers, and just seeing Billy Dee Williams as Lando again in the Episode IX trailer would be great.

Lightsaber Moments

There are few inventions in fiction as cool and beloved as the lightsaber, and seeing an awesome lightsaber ignite or some signature lightsaber combat is a great way to have people freaking out over a trailer. Just think back to the trailer for Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace when you saw Darth Maul whip out a double-bladed lightsaber or in the teaser for The Force Awakens when Kylo Ren pulled his jagged crossguard lightsaber. The trailer for Episode IX should have a similar ‘Holy Shit!’ lightsaber moment.

I know Rey’s/Anakin’s blue saber is/was broken and I’m not saying we need to see a new kind of lightsaber in the trailer, but it feels like we do need to see some kind of lightsaber moment that surprises you and has you pumping your fist. The Last Jedi didn’t feature any lightsaber on lightsaber battles but I hope and expect J.J. Abrams to give us plenty of that in this film. If we could see some of that in the trailer it would help get everyone back on board with this saga and hyped about this film.

The New Characters

Star Wars: Episode IX may be the last film in this trilogy and the Skywalker Saga at large, but there are still new faces that will be introduced. Richard E. Grant, Keri Russell, Dominic Monaghan, and Naomi Ackie are all joining the cast in roles that are yet to be officially revealed. There is also still something of an open question whether or not Matt Smith is in this movie. Exciting new characters interacting with our faves and doing cool things is a good way to build the hype for the film and hopefully the Episode IX trailer does just that by showing them.

That said, there is a caveat to this wish list item; if any of the new characters or their roles in the film are meant to be a surprise, like Yoda in The Last Jedi, I’m fine with omitting them from the trailer, as I don’t think any of us want major plot beats spoiled. But we should be able to see at least some of these new characters in the trailer, if only enough to whet our appetites and give us something to speculate over until December.

An Idea Of The Story

Generally speaking, I’m a huge advocate of trailers that go light on plot details and heavy on establishing the tone of a film, and while that latter part is also important, I think that the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX needs to really give us an idea of what the story is. This isn’t a teaser that’s arriving a year before the film releases, this is a trailer that’s giving us our first anything from this film a mere eight months before its release.

Unlike The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi didn’t leave us with a cliffhanger or a ton of huge questions in need of answering, so the story feels wide open with where it could go in Episode IX. This trailer needs to give us some idea of where it is going, what’s at stake in this film and what the characters will be up to. Obviously it will be a battle between The First Order and the Resistance, but what’s the current dynamic between those forces after the time jump? What are the characters up to and what’s going on with Kylo and Rey? Is there a new enemy or a quest that must be completed? I feel like tone alone isn’t enough; we need at least a few plot details (nothing too spoilery, of course).

These are just a few of the things that we’d like to see in the Star Wars: Episode IX trailer. The wait alone for this trailer has built up a ton of anticipation and that means expectations are sky high. This is the last time we'll ever see the first trailer from a Skywalker Saga film for the first time. That's momentous and the trailer should convey that.

Whatever it includes or doesn’t, this trailer has a lot of work to do to get everyone excited and on board for a new Star Wars film after the past two entries haven’t been universally beloved. The Episode IX trailer can do that by delivering on some of these elements, feeling epic and maybe even including a surprise or two.

Star Wars: Episode IX blasts into theaters on December 20. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule for all of this year’s biggest movies. We’ll keep you updated on all the latest Star Wars news as it drops and let us know in the comments below what you want to see in the Episode IX trailer.

George Lucas Writes Sweet Tribute To Peter Mayhew

George Lucas Writes Sweet Tribute To Peter Mayhew

Star Wars fans were saddened to learn about the recent death of Peter Mayhew, the man who brought the Wookie Chewbacca to life for the majority of the franchise. Friends and colleagues have been sharing their thoughts on the iconic actor. George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars has penned his own tribute to the man where he talks about how Mayhew was discovered and placed in the film that would define his career.

According to George Lucas, finding somebody to play Chewbacca was actually quite complicated. While all Lucas was really looking for was somebody tall enough to play the part, finding that proved difficult. Eventually however, a hospital attendant named Peter Mayhew was found and Lucas cast him as soon as he saw how tall the man was. According to Lucas...

Peter was a wonderful, wonderful man. He kept his job in the hospital through the first three movies. But he fell in love with the character. And then as Star Wars grew in fame, and he started doing more festivals and public appearances, he realized he could actually make a living just off the personal appearances. He was very gentle, very sweet, very easy to get along with. He was more like a Wookie than I originally imagined a Wookie to be. Originally, I envisioned Chewie as some big ferocious beast, but Peter's Chewie wasn't really ferocious. No matter how hard he tried, he wasn't ferocious. He would be your best friend until he got angry, then stand back. He was a gentle giant.

The idea that Peter Mayhew kept his job working at a hospital while also being in the biggest movie franchise of all-time is just adorable and hilarious.

While Mayhew would have a handful of other acting jobs over the course of his career, he really did just make a living being Chewbacca for the most part. It's clear he truly loved playing the character.

Mayhew hasn't played Chewbacca at all in the last couple films, with the costume being handled by Joonas Suotamo in both Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Solo: A Star Wars Story. Mayhew hadn't been in the best health of late, so his passing wasn't necessarily a shock, but it was still sad news.

George Lucas' comments in THR are a wonderful tribute from the man who created Chewbacca and found the perfect person to give him life. While Lucas says he initially envisioned Chewbacca as a ferocious beast, it was Mayhew who turned him into the lovable giant he became. It's impossible to think of Chewbacca as anything else now.

Chewbacca will live on. Joonas Suotamo is set to bring the character back in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. While Mayhew may never inhabit the suit again, his contribution will certainly never be forgotten.

A Popular Walt Disney World Attraction Is Making Its Way To Disneyland Resort

A Popular Walt Disney World Attraction Is Making Its Way To Disneyland Resort

While there are many great attractions that exist at both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World, there are also those that you can only experience if you visit one park or the other. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride hasn't been at Walt Disney World in a long time and the only remaining Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in North America is at Walt Disney World. Since 2003, if you wanted to experience the 3D film Mickey's PhilharMagic, you had to go to the east coast, or another country, but that's about to change, as the popular attraction will be making its debut at Disney California Adventure next month.

The show will open soon at the Sunset Showcase Theater in Hollywood Land. The location was the former home of Muppet*Vision 3D before being replaced by a Frozen Sing-Along Celebration in 2014. Since 2016 however, the location has been a theater without a theme that has been primarily used to show previews of upcoming Disney theatrical releases.

According to the Disney Parks Blog, Mickey's PhilharMagic will take place at the Sunset Showcase Theater, not replace it. This would seem to imply that this means the show will only be a limited engagement, rather than a new permanent attraction, though no official opening or closing date have been announced, so that's not clear.

The show is making the move during a year long celebration of Mickey Mouse, called Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration, so if I were a betting man, I'd expect to see PhilharMagic hang around for the rest of this year at least.

While the name of the attraction is Mickey's PhilharMagic, the real star of the show is Donald Duck. All of your favorite classic Disney characters, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy are preparing a concert for the audience. Donald, while getting the orchestra ready to perform, picks up Mickey's sorcerer's hat from Fantasia, which results in a lot of magical chaos and ends up throwing the duck through a number of musical moments in classic Disney animated movies like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

In addition to the 3D film, a number of "4-D" effects, like water being sprayed at the audience, and various scents being pumped into the theater help deepen the immersion of the experience. The Muppet Theater was outfitted for at least some of these, so it's likely they'll make the jump to California.

Of the various 3D shows that have appeared at Disney Parks over the years, Mickey's PhilharMagic is absolutely one of the better shows, so seeing it be added to Disney California Adventure, in what has been a criminally underutilized space in recent years, is very nice. Hopefully, the show will hang around until something more permanent is created for the theater. The show may be 15 years old, but a decades old show is a better use of the theater than glorified movie trailers.

Images courtesy WDWnews.com/Disney

Ava DuVernay Totally Wants To Direct A John Wick Movie

Ava DuVernay Totally Wants To Direct A John Wick Movie

Ava DuVernay has become one of the most prominent and well known directors in Hollywood today. She has a strong following on socaia media and has helmed films from the Oscar winning Selma to Disney's adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. However, there is one particular area of Hollywood, the tentpole action blockbuster, which Duvernay says she has yet to get an opportunity to make, and she's very interested.

Specifically, the director of the upcoming Netflix miniseries, When They See Us, says that if she'd been offered John Wick Chapter 3, she would have been all over that. According to Duvernay...

I don’t get offered a lot, and what I do get offered is usually historical or something to do with women and black people. Like, I’m not getting John Wick 3, even though I’d love to make it. I have a good friend who directed second unit on Star Wars and is kicking ass. I have a friend who’s on Westworld right now. Are there enough of us? No. Certainly not for a lack of women being interested in or capable.

All three John Wick movies to date have been directed by Chad Stahelski, (the first was a co-directing effort with an uncredited David Leitch). Following three successful films in the franchise, and Stahelski's own comment that he's happy to keep making the films as long as people keep wanting to watch them, it seems unlikely that anybody will be taking over that director's chair anytime soon.

Having said that, Ava DuVernay's broader point, that she's not being offered many movies at all, and especially not of the genre's that tend to have broader audience appeal, is a point well taken. It seems that because DuVernay has made her name thanks to historical biopics and stories about Black people, those are the projects she's being offered.

There have been some exceptions of course. DuVernay made history becoming the first woman of color to direct a movie with a budget over $100 million with A Wrinkle in Time. She's also signed on to direct her first comic book movie with DC's New Gods. Still one would think that with DuVernay's track record there would be studios lining up to offering her work.

As she points out to The Guardian, the number of women and women of color who are working in prominent directing positions is an unfortunately small list. She does mention, Victoria Mahoney, who is the second unit director on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, so there are steps forward being taken.

While we might not see Ava DuVernay direct a John Wick movie, hopefully someday she'll get a shot a big budget action movie. She could certainly bring a new perspective to the genre that it's never seen before, which might be just the sort of thing that Hollywood needs.

Meagan Good Loves A Very Specific Part About Her Top Secret Shazam Role

Meagan Good Loves A Very Specific Part About Her Top Secret Shazam Role

Warning: This story contains major SPOILERS for Shazam!

In one of the best kept superhero movie secrets in recent memory, the end of Shazam! saw Billy Batson transform his foster siblings into the Shazam Family to help him defeat Doctor Sivana. This necessitated adult actors to play the grown up, superhero versions of the kids. Among them was Meagan Good, who plays the superhero version of Faithe Herman’s Darla Dudley.

CinemaBlend got to speak with Meagan Good in St. Louis while she was promoting her new film The Intruder. During the conversation, the actress spoke about the very specific part she loved about her top secret Shazam! role. She said:

More action. More action, more fighting. I also love, because I definitely wanted to do the action and be kick-ass, but I love that I get to be a little girl. I love that I get to show the goofy side of myself because I don’t get to show that in most of the characters that I play, so it’s kind of like the best of two worlds.

Like most actors it seems, Meagan Good was thrilled to do all of the fun action and fighting that her superhero role required, but the part that she really loved was that her character was a kid. Although Superhero Darla may look like an adult on the outside, on the inside she was still just the sweet and precocious little girl that we had seen throughout the film.

The nature of the role allowed Meagan Good to let her inner kid come out, have fun with her performance and act goofy. As she said, her goofiness is not the kind of thing that she usually gets to show in most of her roles, and certainly not in something like The Intruder, which is a thriller that pits her against an insane Dennis Quaid.

You see that goofiness in Meagan Good’s performance in Shazam! and it really sells the fact that this is a little girl that has suddenly found herself with incredible powers in an adult superhero body.

So the actress loved her secret cameo as Superhero Darla in Shazam! because it gave her something different to do than what she generally does from an acting perspective, while also allowing her to express herself and show a side of her personality that people don’t often get to see.

Combine that with the opportunity to do a bunch of kick-ass action, and it really made Shazam! a rewarding experience for Meagan Good. Hopefully that experience gets to continue and play an even bigger part of the story in Shazam! 2. Although a sequel hasn’t been confirmed as of yet, there are some signs that it is in the works and it would be a shame if we didn’t get to see more after one of the DCEU’s best films to date.

You can listen to Meagan Good speak to CinemaBlend about her top secret role in Shazam! in the video below:

While we don’t know when you’ll be able to see Meagan Good back in the superhero realm, you can still catch the actress on the big screen now in The Intruder. Next year she stars in the video game adaptation Monster Hunter. For everything heading to theaters this year, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.

One Thing Captain Marvel Is Seriously Missing

One Thing Captain Marvel Is Seriously Missing

This past weekend saw the release of Captain Marvel, and based on the weekend’s box office, a lot of people wanted to see this movie. Professional reviews were complimentary, if not glowing, and overall I really enjoyed it. However, as I walked out of the theater last week, I must admit I felt like there was one thing missing from Captain Marvel. The music. Don’t get me wrong, Captain Marvel had music. It had good music, but the music that you remember coming out of the theater is the 1990s pop soundtrack, not the score that was composed for the film. Captain Marvel had some epic moments, but it was short on an epic theme.

A lot of comparison has been made between Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman. Both are recent solo superhero movies starring female leads. However, when I compare my emotional impressions of these characters to each other, Wonder Woman comes out on top quite easily. The reason, I think, is that when I think of Wonder Woman, I think of Hans Zimmer’s powerful theme that he created in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. You know what I mean. It's the one moment in the film that everyone agrees was great.

That music simply isn’t there when I think of Captain Marvel, and the character suffers because of it.

To be fair, the problem of a less than memorable score is not exclusive to Captain Marvel. It’s a problem the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe suffers from. The music isn’t bad and nothing is wrong with it, but there’s nothing quite like a memorable character theme, and few Marvel movies have them. Captain Marvel does have a theme, and it’s actually pretty decent, but I had to play the soundtrack on Spotify to hear it. I couldn’t tell you when in the movie it gets played. I don't recall hearing it at all, and that's part of the problem.

If you listen to Pinar Toprak's Captain Marvel score in its entirety, you'll hear that it's actually really good. The problem is the way it's mixed into the film. It's designed to fall into the background. It's designed to have you not notice it. It makes one wonder why the studio bothers to score so much of the movie if they don't want you to hear the music.

Marvel hasn't seemed as if it wanted us to care about the music for years. If the studio did, the music would be more consistent across films. Iron Man has three different themes in three different solo films, more if you count songs by AC/DC. Captain America has an actually pretty great theme in The First Avenger, which is then barely used in The Winter Soldier and utterly forgotten after that. Instead, Cap has a new theme in that movie, one you still never hear again. While Marvel has done a stellar job of making sure that its films have continuity of story, there is none in the music.

Some of this may be because nearly every Marvel movie is handled by a different composer, and clearly those composers want to make their own music, but it's not like the Harry Potter films forgot the theme John Williams wrote after he stopped scoring the movies.

Superhero themes can be some of the best pieces of music in modern films. John Williams’ theme for Superman and Danny Elfman’s Batman theme are classics. One Marvel theme, the Avengers theme, is a key part of the single most memorable moment in all of the MCU.

That moment would not have been nearly so memorable without that piece of music. It’s one of the few pieces of music that has been carried over from one film to another. It even shows up in Captain Marvel. It was at that point when I heard it that I realized that the movie had no noticeable theme for the main character the movie was actually about.

Of the 20+ movies and 10 + years that make up the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there are only a few themes worthy of note. If you look back at Avengers: Infinity War, a movie that contains basically every character who has ever appeared in the MCU, the only pieces of music you might recognize are the Avengers theme, which gets used twice, and the Wakanda theme from Black Panther.

And if we're being honest, one of those uses is totally wrong. The second time we hear the Avengers theme in Infinity War is when Thor, Groot, and Rocket arrive during the battle of Wakanda and help turn the tide. Only one of those characters is an actual Avenger. That moment would have been the perfect place for Thor's theme, an epic piece of music that told you the Asgardian was once again ready to fight with a new weapon by his side.

The problem is, if that piece of music had played, nobody would have recognized it because nobody can hum Thor's theme. Does Thor even have a theme? He has two actually. The movie needed a piece of music that conveyed to the audience all of that same information, and the Avengers theme is the only piece of music the audience knows well enough to be able to do that.

In the case of Captain Marvel, there is at least something of a reason why the score was downplayed. The focus, musically speaking, was on the '90s era music that made up the bulk of the soundtrack. The movie wants you to hear No Doubt more than it does the orchestral themes.

Still, we don't have to only pick one. The Guardians of the Galaxy movies make their '70s pop soundtrack not simply part of the movie, but part of the plot, and that didn't stop James Gunn and Tyler Bates from giving the team a solid theme that was used well in both Guardians of the Galaxy movies.

I loved almost everything about Captain Marvel. Everything on the screen was great, and yet, somehow I found something was lacking. What was missing was what I didn't hear. I hope that when Captain Marvel returns in Avengers: Endgame, her theme will be given some room to breathe. I hope some attention is given to it, because it will only make the character stronger.

Jordan Peele Wasn't Sure He Could Make A Whole Movie In A Year

Jordan Peele Wasn't Sure He Could Make A Whole Movie In A Year

This past weekend, Jordan Peele conquered the sophomore slump with the launch of an incredible success. More than two years removed from the launch of Get Out, the filmmaker has now absolutely horrified audiences everywhere with Us, and it's proven both a critical and box office hit. It's pretty incredible when you think about it, however, because the movie was actually made start-to-finish in about a year - and the writer/director behind it wasn't entirely confident going in that it could be done properly within that time frame.

Following the theatrical release of Get Out, Jordan Peele could really just move directly into his next project, primarily because of his directorial debut's success. The quality of the feature kept him fully invested in it and discussing it for more than a year, and it meant that he wasn't able to get to work on Us in earnest until early 2018. This was actually a serious concern for the filmmaker, who revealed his thoughts on the matter during an interview with Polygon:

When I was doing the Oscar campaign for Get Out, it sort of took me out of the creative process for several months. Us really got creatively going in full after that, last March, about a year ago. It turns out I can make a movie from start to finish in about a year, although a lifetime of imagery was tapped for it.

There is no part of Us that feels like it was in any way a rushed production, and, in fact, the complete opposite is true. This is a movie that audiences are going to be digging into and rewatching for years to come, and films like that usually take years of delicate creation to fully create. The fact that Us was made in such a limited time frame truly only makes the finished product that much more impressive.

Obviously Jordan Peele isn't the first filmmaker to start and finish a movie in twelve months, and it's worth noting that Us isn't exactly a giant, CGI-filled blockbuster, but one has to keep in mind that every film is taxing experience to get made - no matter how big or how small. Peele clearly had to exude a ton of creative energy to get the work done, and it paid off in a huge way - but one also has to wonder if it's a pace he could or should keep up.

It really all comes down ultimately to Jordan Peele's comfort. If he feels that he can confidently make a movie every other year, giving himself 12 months for creation and 12 months for promotion, that's wonderful. If, however, that proves to be too much for him, hopefully he will get the opportunity to slow down and work at a more reasonable pace. The guy certainly has a lot on his plate (let's not forget he's producing the new Twilight Zone for CBS All Access, as well as a fresh take on Candyman), so if he needs to take some extra time to be the best filmmaker he can be, I can't imagine there is any fan out there who would hold it against him.

Jordan Peele has not yet given any clues as to what he's planning as his third feature, but you can be sure that we will be waiting for updates with bated breath. In the meantime, Us is now playing in theaters everywhere.

Black Widow’s Big Avengers: Endgame Scene Originally Went Down Differently

Black Widow’s Big Avengers: Endgame Scene Originally Went Down Differently

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame may have already been in theaters for weeks, but the public hasn't recovered from from the film's wild events. The Russo Brothers masterfully brought the blockbuster to theaters, in a story that balanced character-driven story with epic action. But Endgame went through quite a few changes before finally arriving theaters, including Black Widow's story.

Black Widow has been the soul of The Avengers since early in the group's formation, sharing an intimate bond with all of the OG members. So her sacrifice to procure the Soul Stone was fitting and emotional, as was the tension between she and Hawkeye as they tried to stop each other. But it turns out that the Soul Stone sequence in Endgame could have contained even more action, with Thanos and his forces arriving to stop the Avengers. Endgame editor Matthew Schmidt recently revealed this, saying:

On script and what we first shot was an excellent scene. Thanos and his soldiers show up on Vormir and a small battle ensues between them and Natasha and Clint. Natasha decides to run off the cliff. Clint tries to stop her while also fending off the attack.

Well, that's a different type of heartbreaking. Because while Natasha was always meant to sacrifice herself for the Soul Stone, the journey toward her death changed throughout the course of Endgame's development. In the theatrical cut, Hawkeye and Black Widow were left to ponder Red Skull's comments, and decide who should end up jumping in order to complete the Time Heist. But it originally included the duo being attacked by Thanos' forces, adding in an extra level of drama and action to the scene.

It may have been thrilling to see Black Widow and Hawkeye team-up in battle one more time in the scene described to Business Insider, but I think that the correct version of Endgame's Soul Stone scene was ultimately in the theatrical cut. Cutting out the threat of Thanos and his outriders allowed the scene to breathe, and for Clint and Natasha to have one last tender moment with each other. What's more, the two Avengers scuffling in order to try and sacrifice themselves was unique type of action for the blockbuster.

Related: Avengers: Endgame Originally Gave Black Widow A Heartbreaking New Job

Black Widow's death was the first big one in Avengers: Endgame, and showed what a massive arc the character had gone through within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She refers to the Avengers as her family to War Machine, and helped to regulate superheroic efforts in the wake of Thanos' snap. She was also the most determined to fight back and reverse the snap-- whatever it takes.

It should be interesting to see what comes next for Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow. While Hulk wasn't able to bring her back with his snap, the character will finally get her own solo movie in Phase Four. Smart money says it'll come in the form of a prequel, finally revealing Natasha's sordid past. ScarJo's contract with Marvel is also up with Endgame, so the actress should get a serious pay bump for another appearance.

You can watch Black Widow's sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame, in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

What Meagan Good Loved About Acting Opposite Dennis Quaid In The Intruder

What Meagan Good Loved About Acting Opposite Dennis Quaid In The Intruder

Acting can be a soul-baring exercise, with performers digging deep down into their honest emotional experiences to show off a piece of themselves as they build a character. In the best case scenario, they find an acting partner – and a compassionate director – who can help coax the strongest, most accurate performance that suits the material.

But can you imagine trying to act alongside an industry veteran who has achieved legendary status thanks to their previous credits? Or being as honest and upfront opposite an actor you have admired for years? This is the situation that Meagan Good found herself in when sharing scenes alongside Dennis Quaid for their new thriller The Intruder.

Good told CinemaBlend in an exclusive interview that she initially was intimidated. But in the end, she had no reason whatsoever to worry, as she explained how Quaid made her feel at ease, and part of the process. Meagan Good said:

One of the things I really loved about him is that he’s extremely collaborative. When you are talking to him, he’s listening to you, he’s looking you in the eye, he’s downloading your thoughts [and] processing them. We’re going back and forth and we’re figuring out how we’re going to make this gel together. That’s the best kind of experience to have with another actor. Yes, you are who you are, and you’ve been around for as long as you have, but you have mutual respect, as if we have been doing it for the same amount of time.

That’s the dream scenario. Even if, as it turns out, Dennis Quaid is playing a stalker who is ordered to make life very difficult for the younger couple who just bought his old home. That’s the premise behind The Intruder, which audiences got a look at in theaters last weekend.

However, Meagan Good also told us that she didn’t realize exactly how good her co-star was being in major scenes until she saw the finished product for herself. She went on to say to CinemaBlend:

On set, a lot of just the reacting… I honestly, a lot of things that he did, I didn’t see until I saw the movie. Because I’m just being Annie, and I’m responding and reacting to what I’m feeling. But when I saw the movie? I was like, ‘Yo, he is crazy!’ Like, it’s amazing, he’s so good in this.

Did you head out to see how good Dennis Quaid, Meagan Good and Michael Ealy are in The Intruder last weekend? Sure, a lot of people are still seeing Avengers: Endgame, and a handful of folks checked out Detective Pikachu. But this tense thriller pulled in $7.1 million in its second weekend, and has banked $21M to date. Not bad, for summer blockbuster counterprogramming.

The Intruder is still in theaters, so swing by and check it out while you still have time.

Sinister Serial Killer Movies Based On Real-Life Crimes

Sinister Serial Killer Movies Based On Real-Life Crimes

In recent years the true crime genre has experienced a surge in popularity across different forms of media. Be it the realm of podcasts with Serial, streaming docuseries like Making a Murderer and Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes or dramatic programs like Mindhunter, audiences can’t get enough of stories about real-life crimes.

Perhaps the true crime topic that most captivates people is that of serial killers. Something about our humanity is fascinated by the lack of it in the notorious and prolific killers who committed such heinous acts throughout history. For those who have exhausted all the books and documentaries or just want to see a dramatic interpretation, there are plenty of serial killer movies based on the real life crimes.

While stuff like Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Silence of the Lambs took varying degrees of inspiration from actual events, this list features movies that are more closely about the real life crimes and the real serial killers who perpetrated them, making them more unnerving than any work of pure fiction, even if some are fairly loose translations. Here are a few sinister serial killer movies based on real-life crimes.

Zodiac

In 1995, David Fincher created one of the most-discussed serial killer movies ever with Se7en. then, in 2007 he returned with another film about detectives chasing down an elusive and enigmatic serial killer, Zodiac. Starring a positively lights out cast led by Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr., Zodiac tells the story of the Zodiac Killer, a serial killer that operated in Northern California in the late '60s and early '70s, killing at least 5 people and sending taunting letters to the press.

Zodiac is considered to be one of the best serial killer movies ever, with incredible performances and some truly disturbing and frightening moments. It is made all the more chilling by the fact that just like in real life, the case goes unsolved and we never find out the identity of the Zodiac Killer. It is an incredible mystery with a true-to-life ending that offers no easy answers. Zodiac is also probably the most historically accurate film on this list.

Monster

Wonder Woman’s Patty Jenkins made her feature directorial debut with Monster, a 2003 film that won Charlize Theron a Best Actress Oscar for her unrecognizable portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos. It is based on the real life of Aileen Wuornos, one of America’s most famous female serial killers and known as “The Damsel of Death.” While working as a prostitute between 1989 and 1990, Aileen killed seven men, shooting them at point-blank range.

Although she claimed the men were trying to rape her and the murders were self-defense, Aileen Wuornos was found guilty of six of the murders and sentenced to death. Monster follows her from the first murder all the way through her trial. Whenever a serial killer movie focuses on the killer and not the investigation it runs the risk of being too sympathetic and making excuses for their crimes, but through Charlize Theron’s performance, Monster is able to strike a balance, showing the tragedy of Aileen’s life while still making her a horrifying creature befitting the film’s title.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

To many film fans, Michael Rooker might be Yondu from Guardians of the Galaxy, Merle from The Walking Dead or the unfortunate recipient of a chocolate-covered pretzel in Mallrats, but in 1986 he played a truly sinister serial killer. From the director of Wild Things, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is somewhat based on the crimes of Henry Lee Lucas, who operated in the 60s and 70s and was convicted for 11 murders.

What’s fascinating is that Henry Lee Lucas confessed to hundreds of murders, but authorities later believed most of those confessions to be false. This film is inspired by those false confessions though and Henry plays without much of a story, as it just follows Michael Rooker, in a deeply unnerving performance as he goes about his day and occasionally kills people. Although not necessarily gory by today’s standards, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is super dark and was at the time of its release in 1986 considered exploitative, which earned it an “X” rating from the MPAA.

The Snowtown Murders (Snowtown)

Before he directed Michael Fassbender in Macbeth and Assassin’s Creed, Australian director Justin Kurzel debuted with The Snowtown Murders, about one of the most publicized and heinous crimes in Australian history. Also known as the bodies-in-barrels murders, the Snowtown Murders were a series of murders that took place in the 1990s in South Australia. A group of men tortured and killed nearly a dozen people in the most brutal ways.

The Snowtown Murders depicts the events of these murders in an ultra-realistic and thus ultra-violent way. Justin Kurzel primarily used a cast of locals with no acting experience from the area where the murders occurred and filmed in some of the places where the murders happened as well. These killings are as sinister as they come and The Snowtown Murders is unflinching in its depiction of them. This is a highly disturbing, difficult watch, the kind of film that you can’t unsee; described by some as ‘snuff,' The Snowtown Murders is a captivating and intense film that stays with you if you have the stomach to sit through it.

Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer is one of history’s most deranged and infamous serial killers. From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Jeffrey Dahmer murdered 17 men and boys. Beyond just the killing, Dahmer would rape his victims, dismember them and after their death sometimes engage in necrophilic and cannibalistic acts with the bodies. He would even keep the skulls and body parts of his victims as trophies. In the little-known 2003 film Dahmer, none other than Hawkeye himself, Jeremy Renner, plays the serial killer.

While not a truly great movie by most metrics, like Monster, Dahmer is still worth checking out for if only for the lead performance. Jeremy Renner’s creepy and compelling portrayal of the unfeeling serial killer is truly unsettling and will show you the range of the affable actor. Dahmer is structured with two timelines with flashbacks to the killer’s troubled youth, leading up to his first kill. Those looking for more Jeffrey Dahmer and the making of the killer, can also check out 2017’s My Friend Dahmer, which is probably a better film but is more origin story than serial killer movie.

Wolf Creek

2005’s horror film Wolf Creek is a looser adaptation than most of the entries on this list, but the crimes it is based on were very real and very sinister. Between 1989 and 1993 in New South Wales, Australia, seven young people were murdered by Ivan Milat. Known as the Backpacker murders, these killings, as well as the murder of a backpacker by Bradley John Murdoch in 2001, served as the inspiration for Wolf Creek.

In the film John Jarratt plays Mick Taylor, a psychopath in the mold of Milat and with the look of Crocodile Dundee, who hunts down three young backpackers in the outback. Wolf Creek gets super gruesome and sadistic and has something of a grindhouse vibe. The Australian horror film from writer-director Greg McLean isn’t for everyone, but it has become something of a cult horror hit, spawning both a sequel film and a TV series where John Jarratt reprises his role as serial killer Mick Taylor.

The Frozen Ground

When it comes to despicable villains, they don’t get much worse than Ramsey Bolton on Game of Thrones, who hunted and tortured his victims. Sadly, Ramsey has something of a real life analog in Robert Christian Hansen, a serial killer who hunted his victims like animals. The man the media dubbed “Butcher Baker” confessed to raping 30 women and throughout the '70s and early '80s he hunted and killed 17 women in Alaska.

The Frozen Ground stars Nicolas Cage as a state trooper trying to capture the serial killer plaguing Anchorage. He partners with a young prostitute who escaped Hansen in order to help him. The young girl Cindy, played by Vanessa Hudgens gets a lot of the focus in the film, which also stars Breaking Bad’s Dean Norris, rapper 50 Cent and John Cusack as Robert Hansen. Although it received mixed reviews, Nicolas Cage was praised for his performance as the Alaska state trooper.

These are just a few of the serial killer movies based on real crimes that are out there to fascinate and repulse. Later this year the Ted Bundy film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, And Vile starring Zac Efron will release on Netflix and like some of the titles on this list and any dramatic depiction of real life trauma, it is already the subject of controversy.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all the biggest movies headed your way this year.

Latest Avengers: Endgame TV Spot Confirms Another Superhero Team Up From The Movie

Latest Avengers: Endgame TV Spot Confirms Another Superhero Team Up From The Movie

After a long year of waiting, Avengers: Endgame is nearly upon us. The Russo Brothers shocked hardcore fans and casual moviegoers alike by the events of Infinity War, which ended with Thanos' victory over the titular heroes. Fans are eager to see how The Avengers are grappling with life after Thanos' snap (aka The Decimation), and witness new character pairings from the surviving characters.

A new Avengers: Endgame TV spot teased just that, and it'll get fans very excited. Because alongside the footage that we've seen before, this new trailer shows Tony Stark flicking a mini Ant-Man off of his shoulder. You can check it out for yourself below.

In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, the new Avengers: Endgame trailer shows Tony Stark safe and sound back on earth, and working alongside Paul Rudd's Ant-Man. Scott Lang was noticeably absent from Infinity War, so fans are definitely eager to see him crossover with the rest of the heroes when the blockbuster arrives next week.

The new footage from this TV spot is super exciting, and teases the type of interesting team dynamic audiences will be privy to once Avengers: Endgame finally hits theaters. While Infinity War separated the massive cast of heroes into two distinct groups (Team Wakanda and Team Titan), Endgame looks like it'll unite the surviving heroes for one last stand against the Mad Titan. Ant-Man and Iron Man were on opposite sides during Captain America: Civil War, so it'll be great to see these two comedic technology-based heroes working together for Endgame.

Related: Even The Avengers: Infinity War Stars Are Wondering Where Ant-Man Is

In the brief shot of Tony Stark flicking Ant-Man off his shoulder, he's seen wearing a S.H.I.E.L.D. jumpsuit. This is a detail that has thrown fans for a loop, as it's unclear how Nick Fury's organization will come into play during Endgame. Despite being just a week left out of Endgame's arrival, there's still plenty of time for more fan theories. Personally, I think they might just have some S.H.I.E.L.D. gear in Avengers Facility, which appears to be a significant location in the upcoming blockbuster.

The trailers for Avengers: Endgame tease that Paul Rudd's Scott Lang will have a significant role in the battle to come. Fans were bummed when he was noticeably absent from Infinity War alongside Hawkeye. But both of those heroes will help fill in the ranks of The Avengers, now that so many heroes were reduced to ashes after the snap.

When we last saw Ant-Man, he was left stranded in The Quantum Realm after Hope, Janet, and Hank turned to dust. This setting may have a major role to play in Avengers: Endgame, and it should be fascinating to see exactly how Scott ends up at Avengers Facility as seen in the trailers. Luckily, we don't have much longer to wait.

Avengers: Endgame will arrive in theaters on April 26th. In the meantime fill out CinemaBlend's Endgame death pool, and check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Watch Tom Holland Go Full Love Actually Ahead Of Far From Home's Release

Watch Tom Holland Go Full Love Actually Ahead Of Far From Home's Release

2017's Spider-Man: Homecoming was inspired by John Hughes films like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and with Peter Parker taking a much-needed vacation to Europe in this year's Spider-Man: Far From Home, you can’t help but be reminded of the 2004 R-rated comedy EuroTrip. But it is another film from the early 2000s providing inspiration here. Take a look below to see Tom Holland, with hope and agenda, going full Love Actually ahead of Far From Home’s release.

I’m not sure what Love Actually has in common with Spider-Man: Far From Home beyond having scenes set in London, but unlike Andrew Lincoln’s unrequited love for Keira Knightley in the former film, Tom Holland’s grand gesture is one you’ll want to take him up on. That’s because this video from the actor’s Instagram brings awareness to a Spider-Man: Far From Home contest with a far better prize than a weird pity kiss from your best friend’s wife.

The contest offers one lucky winner and a guest a trip to the Los Angeles premiere of Spider-Man: Far From Home. The prize includes round-trip airfare from anywhere in the world, a swanky hotel stay, $1,000 in spending money and the chance to walk the red carpet at the premiere and take a photo with Tom Holland. The winner and their guest also get attend the premiere afterparty as Tom Holland’s guests.

What's perhaps most exciting of all, besides getting to see Spider-Man: Far From Home of course, is the opportunity to meet acclaimed actor Jake Jillenhal or is it Gylnhal? That spelling bit was easily the funniest part of this video, and as someone who has to write Jake Gyllenhaal’s name on occasion (and double check it every time), I sympathize completely. It’s the double ‘L’ and the double ‘A’ that makes it tricky.

Anyone who wants to enter this contest and have Tom Holland say ‘To me, you are perfect…ly the winner of this contest’ has to click on the link in his Instagram bio or head over to Crowdrise. That might have been too much work for the guy in the video, but once you do that, tickets to enter are only $10.

The contest will raise funds for The Brothers Trust charity that Tom Holland runs with his family. The Brothers Trust uses Tom Holland's celebrity and influence to help raise funds for various charities, with an eye towards those charities that get drowned out in the non-profit sector and those that most effectively use donations and funding. In other words, charities where the bulk of the money goes to those who need it and not towards administration of the charity itself.

Using the contest to raise money for charity is certainly in keeping with the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man’s efforts to do good, and at only $10 a ticket, it’s a great opportunity for MCU fans to get a chance to attend the premiere of the last Phase 3 movie and the concluding chapter of The Infinity Saga.

Spider-Man: Far From Home swings into theaters on July 2. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all the big movies headed your way this summer season.

Rocketman's Director Dismisses Nude Scene Controversy Rumor

Rocketman's Director Dismisses Nude Scene Controversy Rumor

There are certain film genres that always prove to entrance audiences, and chief among them is the biopic. Moviegoers delight in seeing celebrity's stories played out on screen, usually with a touch more drama for good measure. Most recently, Bohemian Rhapsody entranced moviegoers, as Freddie Mercury's life and music was portrayed onscreen. That project ultimately resulted in a ton of award nominations, taking home an impressive four Academy Awards in the process.

The next musical biopic coming down the line is Rocketman, which will tell the story of Elton John's career and personal life. Kingsman's Taron Egerton is highly anticipated as the starring role, although there have been some rumors about the film's editing process. Namely, that Paramount was trying to edit down the gay content and nudity. Now director Dexter Fletcher has addressed these reports on Twitter. Check it out.

Well, that seems to put the kabosh on those rumors. Rocketman will reportedly feature all the content that Dexter Fletcher wants. And this should hopefully include Elton John's same-sex relationships being shown honestly onscreen.

Dexter Fletcher's tweet should be a relief to the Elton John fans that took umbrage with reports of Rocketman's censoring. From the start, Rocketman has been billed a holds-no-bar approach to John's life and career. While the legend is a producer on the project, the upcoming biopic was supposed to show the less flattering side of his time in the public eye. And his sexuality will likely be a major aspect of that characterization.

Rocketman's inclusion of queer content and same-sex romance has been a selling point of the movie ahead of its release. Following insane performance of Bohemian Rhapsody, the Elton John biopoc is expected to build off the success film. For instance, Taron Egerton is singing all of the musical numbers from Elton John's catalogue. Meanwhile, Rami Malek's Oscar winning role as Freddie Mercury only required him to lip synch the music.

Bohemian Rhapsody also got some backlash for not including enough scenes related to Freddie Mercury's sexuality. Instead, Mercury's girlfriend Mary Austin was the subject of most of his attention and affection. So if Rocketman goes full tilt and offers are more authentic view into Elton John's coming out process and personal life, then it could succeed where Bryan Singer's massively successful movie stumbled.

Taron Egerton recently spoke to how Elton John's romantic life would be handled in the upcoming biopic. He told Variety:

The most significant gay relationship explored in the film is Elton’s relationship with John Reid, but if there is a love story in this film, it is the love story between Elton and Bernie Taupin, and the incredible music they have produced over the past 50 years.

Rocketman has been developing for a number of years, so there's a certain level of anticipation and excitement for the upcoming biopic. And with Elton John currently on his goodbye tour, the timing is perfect. Generations of fans already have their focus on the legendary singer, so moviegoers will likely rush to theaters to see Rocketman. At least, that's what Paramount Pictures and Dexter Fletcher are likely hoping.

All will be revealed when Rocketman arrives in theaters on May 31st. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

I Am Actually Scared To See Jordan Peele's Us

I Am Actually Scared To See Jordan Peele's Us

Jordan Peele surprised a lot of people with his directorial debut, Get Out. I was one of those people. While I had been a fan of Peele's comedy for a long time, I had no idea what to expect when I sat down to watch his first horror movie. Looking back, it's still the best movie I've seen since February 2017, when it was released. When it was announced that Peele was working on his next project, a movie simply called Us, I was certainly excited. Now here I stand on the eve of being able to finally watch Peele's new movie and I'm confronting a serious problem.

I'm actually a little scared to see this movie.

I still remember the first time i saw the trailer for Us. It was just before Christmas last year. We knew the trailer was imminent; in fact, it was expected to be released online on Christmas Day, so when I went to the theater to do a little end-of-the-year awards season maintenance and watch The Favourite, I certainly wasn't expecting to see that trailer, not yet and not ahead of that movie, but there it was. Jordan Peele's name came up before anything started to get weird in the trailer, so I knew what I was watching, and as I sat in a mostly empty theater I watched one of the scariest trailers I have ever seen unfold over two minutes. Then The Favourite started and I'd be lying if i said I gave the film the proper attention, at least at the start. The trailer was still on my mind.

If you somehow have made it this far without seeing the first look at Us, here's a reminder of what I'm talking about.

I haven't seen anything scarier than that trailer since. In fact, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I have simultaneously been looking forward to Us, possibly more than any other movie this year, while also being terrified to actually see it.

Horror movies are a strange sort of animal. It's the one genre of film that you sometimes hear movie fans seemingly discounting in its entirety. If you hear somebody claim they love movies, but don't watch dramas, you'd wonder what the hell was wrong with them; however, if somebody says that about horror movies, we just move on like it's expected and even makes sense.

Frequently, movies that should be classified as horror get called something else, if only to avoid the stigma that can come along with the genre title. Get Out itself was one of these movies. It didn't have a murderous slasher antagonist or a series of brutal murders of or by teenagers, so by certain definitions, maybe it didn't qualify as a horror movie. It was a horror movie, of course, but if calling it a "thriller" helped Get Out do better at the box office, so be it.

Of course, all that was part of why Get Out worked so well. Because it was absolutely a horror movie, but one that didn't necessarily look that way at first. The film found its horrific elements in other places beyond simply violence. We didn't get the visual horror that we expect from a traditional "slasher movie." However, the scenario was pure nightmare fuel even if the villains didn't wear hockey masks.

And that's part of why Us is feeling so scary to me now now. Based on the early responses by those that saw Us at SXSW, it's clear the movie has more to say than the trailers are letting on, in much the same way that Get Out did, yet in addition to that, the movie also has those elements of "traditional horror" that make this one feel like it's going to be bloody and violent.

I've seen more than my share of horror movies in recent years, it's sort of my job now, but when I was a kid I was certainly one of those people who "didn't do horror." It wasn't so much that I avoided the genre, I simply didn't seek it out. The idea of being uncomfortable while watching a movie just didn't appeal to me -- it wasn't what I went to the movies for. When I did see them, horror movies didn't necessarily scare me, but they always made me nervous that they might.

Horror movies still make me nervous and uncomfortable to some extent now. I mean, they're supposed to, but never has it been like this. I didn't feel like this when I went to see IT, another movie that was actually one of my favorites in 2017. I'm just as excited to see that sequel later this year, without any of the stomach-churning dread that comes with Us.

Also, it should be noted, that "jump scares" get me all the time. Every. Single. Time. Even a movie I've seen before has about a 40% chance of making me spill something with a jump scare. When I'm seeing a movie for the first time, popcorn flying into the aisle is virtually guaranteed.

Everything about the Us trailer makes me uncomfortable in a way that I haven't felt in a really long time. The dark versions of the main characters feel not simply evil, but wrong. The way they look, the way they move, it all feels off. These are scariest movie monsters I've ever encountered, and I've only made it as far as the trailer.

Of course, what might make Us so potentially terrifying is that I'm also so incredibly excited to see it. I'm throwing myself to the wolves with this one in a way that I haven't with any other recent horror movie. It makes me feel vulnerable in a way that I don't usually let myself get with any movie. Even if it wasn't my job to see Us, I would be seeing the new movie from the man that brought us Get Out this weekend.

I have no idea what's in store for me when I see Us this week, although I'm prepared to be terrified on multiple levels. I may have to skip out on bringing snacks due to the aforementioned fear of throwing them all over the aisles. I can't wait.

I Wasn't A Horror Fan But These Movies Have Won Me Over To The Genre

I Wasn't A Horror Fan But These Movies Have Won Me Over To The Genre

Being uninterested in horror was never about being scared of the dark. It was because bloody gore, unnecessarily grotesque creatures and one-dimensional scream queens seemed to rule the genre. It was the jump scares, me yelling at the television screen, asking them to (PLEASE) “find the damn light switch! It’s literally right behind you!” before shaking my head, burying it out of the view of the screen. It happens every time! They literally never learn. It’s stressful y’all. Don’t get me wrong, this is fun every once in a while but I’ve never been an opening-night-ticket-buying horror fan or one that really followed or cared about what was going on with the genre. (Like I would never have guessed there was anywhere close to 11 Halloween movies if my life depended on it.) Cut to today, in which I find myself absolutely geeking out about what the genre has to offer.

I don’t think this is about my own personal growth as a movie fan. I probably could have gone my whole life without seeing bugs infest a decapitated child (if you know, you know). There have been some really amazing entries in the horror genre that have successfully banded together and surrendered me into loving the genre. This horror newbie now has a lot of ground to cover and missed gems, franchises and remakes to start paying attention to, but let’s start with the movies that were my “gateway drugs” in a sense into the genre.

First up is 2017’s Get Out – yes, cliché maybe. The thing about Jordan Peele’s debut into horror is it wasn’t just a must see for the genre, it was a phenomenon that dominated a lot of different conversations about politics, race, Hollywood industry & diversity and was so many things in of itself; a comedy and “social thriller” so I ended up getting around to it. The movie showed me that horror wasn’t just about shock value, it could actually say something profound about the world we live in and in an incredibly smart way that has enticed discussion and theories were still talking about two years later.

Peele is all about intentional filmmaking: which we movie fans absolutely love to pick apart. I love the kind of movies that you can notice something new about with each viewing and you want to jump right back in again and watch immediately after the credits roll. Get Out filled a bit of a hole we forgot was possible to dig up in the movie-watching experience. There’s something beautiful about not having it all spelled out to you on-screen. Something that unravels a conversation much deeper than “Oh, it was pretty good! What did you think?” out of us.

So Get Out felt like a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime kind of horror spectacle but then I found myself intrigued by the idea of checking out A Quiet Place one weekend with a friend. To be honest, some of this was based on my interest in seeing Hollywood’s power couple John Krasinski and Emily Blunt finally share the screen. I’m still thanking myself for experiencing this movie in the theater because what a crazy experience. Krasinski (who was also the film’s director) did something special when he played around with silence. I found myself carefully chewing my popcorn and holding off on blurting expletives in service of the environment created so masterfully in A Quiet Place.

There are a ton of reasons why I love A Quiet Place such as the way it disguises itself as an incredibly loving family drama. Without having the genre on its side, it would not have played as well. It taught me a bit about why horror filmmaking can be such a cool and interesting type of movie. It’s all about manipulating the senses and being able to take hold of the audience so well that they are actually able to feel the fear the characters are experiencing. It doesn’t have to be about grossing me out or having a “gotcha moment” with a jump scare. Thus, my horror movie geek out continued.

There were a couple of other recent movies that cemented my interest into giving the genre a real shot. While I’m still confused to this day about what exactly went on in last year’s Annihilation, I loved how weird it was, and the “girl gang” cast featuring Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson. As a sci-fi fan the title spoke to me and the twists that leaned into the “horror” elements added to it and complemented the other, along with delivering a really intriguing message to contemplate.

While I initially ran into the other direction of the Happy Death Day franchise because there was an antagonist with a knife and mask and seemingly some more “2D” teens to unpack (the perfect recipe for typical lazy horror), it delighted me with its subversion of this cliche. Unlike most “horror” with its general description, the movies are made to portray teens as a college-set lighthearted movie would, it gave the main characters their own agency in the situation instead of simply surviving the masked killer. I certainly wouldn’t call the sequel of the “horror” genre but it’s definitely worth checking out!

Then came my “big girl” reintroduction into horror: Hereditary. While all my other picks so far genre-bend in their own rights, Ari Aster’s debut film is straight-up horror and wow was I blown away by what this film had to offer. A couple years ago, I wouldn’t have even given this title the time of day, but after these other movies paved the way into opening my mind to the genre, me, the ex-horror-hater was able to enjoy this very scary, gory, disturbing horror flick thanks to some newfound intrigue into the genre. I already need to see this again. Who am I? What have I become?!

I think horror is having a big-time resurgence and golden age right now as Jordan Peele’s Us  unmistakably strikes a chord with audiences (as shown by its huge opening weekend box office record), and remakes for Pet Sematary, Child’s Play and It soon making their way into theaters. In addition, the Hereditary filmmaker continues with Midsommar, while James Gunn mixes superheroes and horror for his executive-produced Brightburn. I’m ready for them all.