Star Wars' Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill And More React To Peter Mayhew's Death

Star Wars' Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill And More React To Peter Mayhew's Death

Today, it was announced that Peter Mayhew, who played Chewbacca across five Star Wars movies and numerous other projects, had died earlier this week of a heart attack, just shy of his 75th birthday. This marks yet another passing of a Star Wars icon, and while it’s sad that Mayhew is no longer among us, it’s also touching to see those who worked alongside him paying tribute to the man.

First off, we have Harrison Ford, who acted alongside Peter Mayhew as Han Solo, Chewbacca’s longtime partner, in the original Star Wars trilogy and The Force Awakens. In his statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Ford honored Mayhew not only was a work partner, but as a true friend in real life.

Next, we have Mark Hamill, who also spent a lot of time alongside Peter Mayhew when he was playing Luke Skywalker in the first three Star Wars movies. Hamill said the following:

Then there’s Billy Dee Williams, who joined the Star Wars franchise as Lando Calrissian in The Empire Strikes Back and performed alongside Peter Mayhew in that movie and Return of the Jedi. Williams posted:

Following The Force Awakens, Peter Mayhew retired from playing Chewbacca, and Joonas Suotamo, who shared the role with Mayhew in the first installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, has been playing the trusty Wookiee full time ever since. Here’s how Suotamo paid respects to his mentor:

Of course, there wouldn’t be a Star Wars franchise without George Lucas, who discovered Peter Mayhew and personally selected him to play Chewbacca. Lucas paid tribute to Mayhew with the following statement to ABC News:

Then there’s The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson, who never worked with Peter Mayhew, but was nonetheless inspired by his work ethic, saying:

Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy recognized Peter Mayhew’s impact on the Star Wars franchise thusly:

Finally, Disney CEO Bob Iger mourned Peter Mayhew’s passing with these words:

These are just some of the many reactions you’ll find about Peter Mayhew’s death, both from well-known figures and regular Star Wars fans. While he’s no longer with us, his presence in the Star Wars franchise will continue to be felt for many years to come. Mayhew also acted in projects like Dark Towers, Dragonball GT: A Hero’s Legacy and Comic Book: The Movie, and along with being a regular on the convention circuit, he opened the Peter Mayhew Foundation, which aids in numerous charitable causes.

Be sure to share your thoughts about Peter Mayhew in the comments below. The Star Wars film series continues later this year with the release of The Rise of Skywalker on December 20. You can also look through our 2019 release schedule to learn what movies not set in a galaxy far, far away are coming soon.

First Look At Billy Dee Williams Back As Lando Calrissian In Star Wars: Episode IX

First Look At Billy Dee Williams Back As Lando Calrissian In Star Wars: Episode IX

Although we recently reunited with Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story, that was with Donald Glover playing a younger version of the future Cloud City administrator. As far as Billy Dee Williams’ version is concerned, it’s been almost 40 years since we last saw him on the big screen in Return of the Jedi, but that finally changes later this year in Star Wars: Episode IX. Now we finally have our first look at Williams’ Lando back in action. Check it out!

As you can see, rather than wear the same kind of duds he wore in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Billy Dee Williams’ Lando Calrissian has pulled from his Solo: A Star Wars Story wardrobe, donning a yellow shirt like the one Donald Glover wore. However, if there’s one consistent thing we can expect from any iteration from Lando, it’s a cape, and Williams looks great wearing one of those again.

As for Lando Calrissian’s location in this Star Wars: Episode IX picture, while I originally thought it was the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon, the ship that belonged to him before Han Solo won it in a game of sabacc, it’s also possible this is simply someone’s humble abode somewhere in a galaxy far, far away. Either way, Lando’s doing a spectacular job of brightening the room.

Although Billy Dee Williams vocally reprised Lando Calrissian a few years back for two episodes of Star Wars Rebels, there’s nothing like seeing Williams in person inhabiting the role again after all this time. And while Mark Hamill will be back as Luke Skywalker (undoubtedly as a Force ghost) and unused footage of Carrie Fisher from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi will allow Leia Organa to have a presence, it’s nice to have another member of the Original Trilogy guard participate in Episode IX, especially with this being the final installment of this trilogy.

While it’s nice to have this picture of Billy Dee Williams back as Lando Calrissian, the character’s specific role in Star Wars: Episode IX is still being kept under wraps, which is par for the course with this franchise, as it’s ridiculously careful not to divulge too many plot details. But here’s what Williams had to say about reprising Lando after all these years:

I didn’t expect to be in this adventure, but I got lucky. I ended up working for someone I have a tremendous regard for J.J. Abrams. He’s a beautiful man. I’ve been doing this for a long time, 60 years… but I regard this as a real highlight, a true, genuine highlight.

Billy Dee Williams also added that it wasn’t hard to get back into character, as Lando Calrissian never “left” him. However Lando ends up fitting into Episode IX, it’ll be good not just to see him back in action, but also interacting with the protagonists who have lead the charge in this current Star Wars trilogy.

Star Wars: Episode IX, or as it’s now officially known, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, opens in theaters on December 20. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates, and check out our 2019 release schedule to learn when this year’s other movies are coming out.

Shazam's DVD Release Should Have A Ton Of Extra Footage That Was Cut From The Movie

Shazam's DVD Release Should Have A Ton Of Extra Footage That Was Cut From The Movie

Warning: Shazam! SPOILERS are ahead!

Not everything shot for a movie is going to make it into the final cut, but thanks to DVDs, Blu-rays and digital purchases, people can oftentimes watch some, if not most of a production’s deleted scenes. Shazam! will be no exception, because according to Michel Aller, the editor of the sixth DC Extended Universe movie, the home release of Billy Batson’s origin story will be packed with a lot of deleted scenes, including potentially one involving Asher Angel’s Billy and Grace Fulton’s Mary Bromfield. Aller explained:

We had a lot of material. When you buy the DVD, you’ll be able to see, I think we have 20-24 minutes of deleted scenes. And one of the scenes that regretfully we had to pull out was a scene between young Billy and Mary, when he’s about to sneak out. It’s just a really touching scene, but it came so early in the movie, and we were trying to get to get to the Shazam character, that we couldn’t put everything that we liked at the front of the movie. So that was one scene that we pulled out. I’m glad there are DVDs out there so we can show these great scenes.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michel Aller about Shazam!, and among the topics we discussed was just how much material was cut out of the finished movie. Sure enough, like many other superhero movies before it, Shazam! will have a solid amount of deleted scenes as part of its special feature offerings, and it appear that like there’s a good chance this scene between Billy and Mary will be among them.

Billy Batson and Mary Bromfield have always been siblings in the comics, but as opposed to going the biological route as was the case for decades, the Shazam! movie pulled from Shazam’s New 52 origin story and had her, Freddy Freeman, Eugene Choi, Darla Dudley and Pedro Pena be Billy’s adoptive siblings at the Vasquez household. While Shazam! spent a decent amount of time introducing these new people in Billy’s life, it also had to move relatively quickly to actually bring in Billy’s Shazam persona, and whatever moment Billy and Mary had before the former began his superhero journey ended up on the cutting room floor.

While we didn’t get to see Mary confront Billy as he snuck out during his first night with his new family, Shazam! did still give us a touching moment between the two, albeit with Zachary Levi playing Billy instead, when Shazam saved her from being hit by a truck and tried to console her because she was upset about potentially having to leave her family behind to attend college. And, of course, in the climactic battle, Mary and the other kids were able to also become adult superheroes when Billy shared his power with them.

We’ll have to wait to learn if the Billy/Mary scene will indeed be included on the Shazam! home media release, but another deleted scene Michel Aller expects to be shown is how Sivana originally unleashed the power of the Seven Deadly Sins. Originally he went on his murder spree at a Christmas party being held at his mansion, but during the Shazam! reshoots, the location was changed to a boardroom at Sivana industries. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more information on Shazam! deleted scenes.

Shazam! is still playing in theaters, and if you haven’t already, be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of the movie. You can also plan your moviegoing visits later this year accordingly by checking out our 2019 release schedule.

Spawn: What We Know So Far About The Reboot

Spawn: What We Know So Far About The Reboot

Even though Marvel and DC have the market cornered when it comes to comic book movies, every now and then moviegoers are treated to a cinematic tale that hails from a different company. Over in the Image Comics realm, arguably its most popular character, Spawn, is still leading his own comic book series after more than two decades, but his first theatrical outing back in 1997 was not received well, to put it lightly. Fortunately for fans of Spawn, he will soon be getting some much needed cinematic redemption.

It was announced at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con that the long-awaited Spawn reboot is finally moving forward at Blumhouse Productions, and since then we've slowly learned how this movie will differentiate itself from the first Spawn movie. With that in mind, here's everything that's been revealed so far about the new Spawn.

What Is Spawn's Release Date?

Currently, Spawn doesn't have a release date assigned, but it sounds like we won't have to wait several years for it to come out. Before the reboot's main star had been cast, it had been reported that production was aiming to begin in August. Now that we know who's playing this new Spawn (we'll get to him later), that likely means we'll soon find out who else is rounding out the cast. That means there's a good chance that Spawn will meet that August production start, and since this reboot is working with a lower budget (like most Blumhouse productions), it's not like the post-production process is going to be extremely lengthy. Therefore, Spawn will probably be ready for release in 2019, and if I were a betting man, I'd say it will come out in either late September or October to fit in with all the spookiness of that time of year.

What Is Spawn's Rating?

Technically, Spawn hasn't been rated by the MPAA yet, but it's practically guaranteed that it will walk away with an R rating. First off, look at the source material. With all the violence and demonic elements in the Spawn comic books, you wouldn't be able to pull off a proper cinematic adaptation within the confines of a PG-13 rating. This is, undoubtedly, one of the reasons why the 1997 Spawn movie failed to be a critical hit, as it tried to appeal to both adults and moviegoers on the younger side of the spectrum (although an R-rated director's cut was later released). Rather than repeat that mistake, the Spawn reboot will waste no effort in aiming for an R rating. Spawn is a scary property, and with Blumhouse Productions having a good track record with horror and thriller movies, that, ideally, bodes well for Spawn finally being adapted properly for the big screen.

Who Is Spawn's Director?

Rather than let someone else handle his creation again, Todd McFarlane will oversee the Spawn reboot's production. That's right, the man who brought Spawn to the Image Comics pages more than 25 years ago wrote the script for the new Spawn movie and will also direct it. In addition to creating Spawn, McFarlane's other notable comic book credits include illustrating The Amazing Spider-Man series at Marvel (during which time he co-created Venom alongside writer David Michelinie) and being one of the illustrators on Batman: Year Two over at DC Comics. Although McFarlane does have some experience working in the television realm (more on that later), the Spawn reboot will mark his first major foray into the world of film, which includes this serving as his directorial debut. Another notable comic book creator who directed a film based on his own creation was Frank Miller with the Sin City movies, although he co-helmed them with Robert Rodriguez, while McFarlane is going at it solo. However, Miller also went on to write and direct The Spirit (created by Will Eisner) by himself, only for that to be a critical and commercial failure. So, here's hoping that McFarlane has better luck with Spawn.

What Is Spawn About?

So far no specific details about the Spawn reboot have come out yet, but some tidbits have come out regarding how this movie will differ from its predecessor. First off, rather than show Al Simmons being turned into this demonic antihero while in Hell and tossed back to Earth, the new movie will not be an origin story. When we first see Spawn in this tale, he'll have already been this way for some time. In fact, who knows how much, if any, of Spawn's past will be explored. And despite the name of the movie and the character's prominence in the story, Spawn also won't technically be the main character. Instead, we'll follow along with two main human characters, who will serve as the audience's eyes, so to speak. Beyond that, it's unclear what villain or threat Spawn and these human characters will be dealing with, but whatever demonic craziness goes down, it'll happen in New York City (even though, by Todd McFarlane's admission, the movie's main shoot will end up happening in places like Detroit, Cleveland or Toronto).

Spawn

Before he was running around in a cape and looking all kinds of ugly, the entity we know as Spawn was Al Simmons, a Marine who was recruited into a black ops CIA program. When Al started questioning the morality of the CIA's operations, Jason Wynn, the head of the United States Security Group, tasked Bruce Stinson, a.k.a. Chapel, Al's friend and partner, with killing Al. Because he had assassinated so many people during his life, Al was sent to Hell. However, in exchange for giving up his soul and becoming a Hellspawn, Al was able to return to Earth. Unfortunately for him, on top of now being a caped demon, Al came back five years after his death, and during that time Al's wife, Wanda Blake, had married Al's best friend, Terry Fitzgerald, and together they had a daughter named Cyan. Al was also brought back as an amnesiac, though he soon regained his memories. As Spawn, Al boasts numerous special powers, which include super strength, immortality, a healing factor, shapeshifting, phasing and harnessing necroplasmic energy.

As mentioned earlier, the Spawn reboot won't be an origin story, so even if we do see snippet of a human-looking Al, don't expect this particular story to shed a lot of light on his past. As for who will occupy the eponymous role, that honor belongs to Jamie Foxx, who already has some comic book experience under his belt from playing Max Dillon, a.k.a. Electro, in 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Foxx is still one of Hollywood's biggest stars, so for him to be leading Spawn is a major score for Todd McFarlane and Blumhouse. That said, Foxx has also been interested in playing Spawn since 2013, so he'll bringing a lot of enthusiasm to the role. One especially interesting thing to note is that Foxx's Spawn will not say a word during the movie, though McFarlane has clarified that the character will communicate in a special way.

Twitch Williams

The only other established character who's been confirmed for the Spawn reboot so far is Detective Maximillian "Twitch" Williams, who has been part of the Spawn mythology since the beginning. In the comics, Twitch is paired with Detective Sam Burke, with Sam serving as the brawn and Twitch serving as the brains. Although Sam and Twitch are best known as supporting characters in the Spawn comic book, the NYPD duo became popular enough to lead their own series for a few years.

The Spawn reboot's version of Twitch hasn't been cast yet, but unlike his printed page counterpart, he won't be paired with Sam. Well, not at first. Todd McFarlane said that instead Twitch will be paired with a different partner who's "quasi-Sam." The only other thing we know about the cinematic Twitch is he will be the main human character of the movie, so we'll get to know him quite well. There's no word yet on who will play Twitch, but if production is beginning relatively soon, we shouldn't have to wait much longer to learn the actor's identity.

What Other Characters Might Appear In Spawn

Along with Spawn and Twitch, Todd McFarlane has said that the Spawn reboot will feature a female lead who's "not a love interest or any of the typical movie tropes," but he wouldn't identify who she is. So, for now, that's all we have to work with cast-wise. However, at over 286 issues and counting (and that's not including spinoff series), the Spawn mythology is one of the most rich across the comic book genre, so there's definitely no shortage of characters that this movie could throw in. Though, if Spawn's origin isn't going to be deeply explored, that probably rules out folks like Wanda Blake, Terry Fitzgerald and Jason Flynn from appearing.

There are three characters in particular I suspect stand a decent chance of appearing in the reboot, though I wouldn't expect all three of them to be participating together. First, we have Malebolgia, the entity responsible for creating Spawn. Malebolgia is one of the many rulers of Hell (he hails from its Eighth Circle), and while he initially assumed the transformed Al Simmons would be one of his many minions, eventually Spawn was the one who decapitated him (although Malebolgia was later resurrected). Even if we don't learn the details about Spawn's past in the movie, I wouldn't be surprised if Malebolgia is the threat that our hero is working to neutralize from the shadows.

Second is The Violator, who's known in his human form simply as Clown. The oldest of five demon siblings known as the Phlebiac Brother, he was was initially charged with training fresh Hellspawn so they could lead Hell's armies, but ever since he first looked after Al Simmons, he's continually tried to prove that demons are far superior to Hellspawn for this task. Violator has been the most recurring villain in the Spawn mythos, continually manipulating and toying with the protagonist. Like Malebolgia, Violator could easily work as Spawn's main antagonist, although it might be wiser to use him as a supporting baddie in this movie and have him graduate to the big villain in a sequel.

Finally, there's Cogliostro. Initially, he was Spawn's mentor, as he too was a Hellspawn who had escaped Malebolgia's grasp. Initially presenting himself as a homeless man, Cogliostro has used what little necroplasmic energy he had left to stay alive for centuries on Earth, but upon crossing paths with Spawn, he began advising him on how to use his powers for good rather than in the service of evil. However, it was later revealed that Cogliostro was Cain. Yes, the same Cain from The Bible. It turns out that all his time he had been working to become the new ruler of Hell, and he ultimately succeeded. For the sake of the Spawn reboot, it would probably be best just to keep him as the mentor figure, and if he returned for another movie, then his past could slowly be revealed. Of course, if Cogliostro were to appear in the Spawn reboot, an arrangement would need to be worked out with Neil Gaiman, as he owns 50% of the character.

It's worth a reminder that like other Blumhouse films, Spawn isn't working with a large budget, and who knows how much money it will cost to make the eponymous character look realistic and terrifying. So, while there's a good chance that at least one or a few other mystical characters will show up, don't expect the visual effects in this movie to be as crazy as what you'd see in a Marvel or DC movie. That being said, there's that old saying, "A little goes a long way," so maybe Blumhouse will still be able to work visual magic with its smaller budget.

Previous Spawn Depictions

As mentioned earlier, Blumhouse's Spawn movie isn't the first time the character has appeared outside of the comics. Only five years after his printed page debut, Spawn starred in his own blockbuster movie, with Michael Jai White in the title role and the supporting cast including John Leguizamo, Martin Sheen, Theresa Randle, Nicol Williamson and D.B. Sweeney. The movie was a straightforward origin story, but it only made $87.8 million worldwide and was met with a lot of negative reviews. Fortunately, from what's been revealed so far, it sounds like this reboot will feel significantly different from its predecessor, akin to the tonal differences between Batman Begins and the Tim Burton/Joel Schumacher Batman movies. Spawn also cameoed earlier this year in Ready Player One during the climactic conflict in the OASIS.

Away from the silver screen, Spawn led his own animated series on HBO, which aired three seasons of six episodes each from 1997 to 1999. Featuring Keith David as the voice of Spawn, this series earned a much better critical reception than the first Spawn movie, and it's available on HBO's streaming platforms for anyone who wishes to check it out. Spawn also starred in several video games between 1995 and 2003, which included being a guest character on the Xbox version of Soulcaliber II. It's also worth mentioning that there is a Sam and Twitch TV series has been in development for BBC America since 2017. Spawn himself isn't expected to show up, but if it's like the duo's comic book series, it would be a procedural mixed with supernatural elements.

Captain Marvel Almost Had A Different Final Shot

Captain Marvel Almost Had A Different Final Shot

Spoilers ahead for Carol Danvers' origin story.

Captain Marvel has been in theaters for a week, and a mass of moviegoers have headed to theaters to meet Carol Danvers for the very first time. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's blockbuster was a long time coming, as development and Brie Larson's casting happened many years before she finally hit theaters. But the movie is going faster, higher, further at the box office, with the title character also popping up in the final Avengers: Endgame trailer.

Marvel fans and cinephiles are already dissecting every frame of Captain Marvel, eager for an indication of the character's future, and her crossover in Endgame. And it turns out, the film's ending was changed quite a bit before hitting theaters. Marvel editor Debbie Berman previously worked on Spider-Man: Homecoming and Black Panther before turning her talents toward Captain Marvel. Berman recently revealed the original ending for the film, saying:

I did actually suggest some tweaks to the ending of this film. It used to end with Carol flying off into space alone, and I found that a bit jarring. Like, where exactly was she going? And what was she doing? It felt like we needed a stronger visual to assert a more specific justification for her leaving and disappearing for so many years. So we added Talos and his family in their spaceship waiting for her, and they all fly off together. It gave her more of a sense of purpose and made it easier to believe that she left her newfound life on Earth because she was with a friend we knew she cared about, and for a more specific mission. It gave more resonance and closure to her final moment in the film.

That's quite the change, and it sounds like the folks involved with Captain Marvel ultimately made the right choice. Carol Danvers left her solo movie with a mission, possibly explaining her long absence until Avengers: Endgame.

Debbie Berman's comments to ET show how collaborative things appeared to be on Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck's Marvel debut. Editors are an extremely important aspect of the filmmaking process, and Marvel Studios appears to be a place that really internalizes critiques, and is always attempting to improve.

Captain Marvel surprise audiences with its handling of the Kree/Skrull war, especially the latter shapeshifting aliens. While the trailers and comics set the Skrull up to be villains, they were revealed to be sympathetic refugees trying to flee from the Kree. Carol ultimately realizes the truth, and vows to help the Skrull find a home, while also sending Yon-Rogg back with a warning to The Supreme Intelligence. The ending solidified her relationship with Ben Mendelsohn's Talos, rather than Captain Marvel flying into space as a lone wolf.

You can catch Captain Marvel's ending in theaters now, and the character will return to the MCU when Avengers: Endgame arrives on April 26th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

John Wick's National Puppy Day Trailer Shoots Right To The Heart

John Wick's National Puppy Day Trailer Shoots Right To The Heart

Saturday, March 23 is National Puppy Day 2019, which is basically a John Wick holiday. So the account for the upcoming movie John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum issued a new trailer - rated "GB for Good Boy" - re-cutting scenes from the franchise to focus on the tender love story between a man and his dogs.

Sniff. I love that the preview was "approved for dog enthusiasts everywhere" and warned of "some intense barking." The trailer, with its soft piano music, told "A tale of two strays finding their way. A story of friendship that knows no bounds."

You'd never know the scenes came from three films about an assassin getting extremely violent revenge.

The most recent John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum trailer ended with Anjelica Huston's line "All of this over what? Because of a puppy?" Keanu Reeves' John Wick replied, "It wasn't just a puppy." Damn right.

John Wick started with the death of the former hitman's wife Helen. Helen had gifted John a Beagle puppy, named Daisy, to help him in his grief. Then Russian gangsters showed up demanding to buy John's car. Mr. Wick refused to sell, so they caught him off guard at night, knocked him out, stole the car and -- deep breath -- killed little Daisy. Killing the puppy crossed a red line for John Wick, and he returned to his life of crime to get revenge.

John Wick also got himself a new puppy at the end of the first movie, adopting a pitbull who would've otherwise been put down. Now John Wick and his new dog are on the run, as the third movie -- out in theaters May 17 -- finds John with a global contract out on his head. In the movie, he reconnects with Halle Berry's character Sofia, who knew John in the past and has two dogs of her own. Those dogs are basically her action scene sidekicks, so John Wick 3 may turn out to be The Revenge of the Dogs.

Keanu Reeves just said he had two specific things he wanted for John Wick in this third movie, and obviously he got them both. Who is going to say no to Mr. Wick, also Neo, also Ted, also Duke Caboom in the new Toy Story 4 movie?

Fun fact: Chad Stahelski, who directs these John Wick movies, was Keanu Reeves' stunt double as Neo in The Matrix movies. That's how they met, and now here they are, offering puppy videos to the internet on national holidays.

John Wick 3 opens in theaters May 17, as one of the many films -- especially animal-focused films -- worth looking forward to on the big screen in 2019.

8 End Of The World Movies That Will Help You Prepare For The Apocalypse

8 End Of The World Movies That Will Help You Prepare For The Apocalypse

Everyone loves a good end-of-the-world movie! The genre goes back, well, to the beginning of storytelling probably and it’s been a part of Hollywood since the beginning too.

Classics like The Day The Earth Stood Still in 1951 and Night Of The Living Dead in 1968 have become firmly entrenched in the zeitgeist of American movie culture. As this list shows, the reasons and results of the end of the world or the impending apocalypse can be as varied as any other trope in Hollywood.  In fact, while the films don’t always work,  when they do, they often become instant classics.

So, of course we've decided to compile some of these classic movies. Please note: all are pretty different from each other, but have common themes – either mankind causes the end of the world, or another force does, like mother nature or even aliens. The first one on the list is the latter.

War Of The Worlds (1953)

War Of The Worlds, originally a book published in the 19th century by sci-fi legend H. G. Wells, has been brought to life in almost every form of media in the 20th and 21st centuries. There is, of course, the famous radio broadcast by Orson Welles in 1938. There was the Tom Cruise movie in 2005 and there was even a short-lived TV show in the '80s.

Still, the best is the 1953 movie that, even for its age, is still pretty darn scary. If you aren’t familiar, in the flick the world is invaded by aliens that destroy pretty much everything in their wake and earth’s weapons -- including a nuclear bomb! -- do nothing to stop them. As they maraud their way through America, the main characters are chased from location to location before finally being saved by… mother nature.

Does the world actually end? It doesn’t. Eventually the aliens don’t succumb to the fighting will of humans, but to the treachery of biology. They are not immune to Earth’s bacteria.

Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World (2012)

Proving the subject of the end of the world can work in any genre, even rom-coms, there is Seeking A Friend For The End Of World. The movie stars Steve Carell and Keira Knightley as neighbors who break up with their respective significant others and end up falling in love with each other as an asteroid rapidly approaches earth.

It doesn’t seem like it should, but somehow, Seeking A Friend For The End Of World works, both as an end-of-the-world movie and as a slightly corny, but still sweet romantic comedy. It’s actually a fairly plausible story, and the encounters that Steve Carell and Keira Knightley’s characters have as they make their trek “home” are also pretty believable, like the orgy in a diner scene. You have to assume that people could easily react like that to the end of the world, right?

Does the world actually end? It does. Or we can assume it does, as the last scene features the two leads lying in bed, lamenting the short time they had together as (we can guess) the world ends when the asteroid strikes it. Yet, we can feel good about it, because these two love birds found each other before the end.

Dr. Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worry And Love The Bomb (1964)

Back in the Cold War days, many people were convinced that a man-made atomic apocalypse was going to happen at any moment. This was never truer than it was in the early and mid-sixties. The Soviets had the bomb and they were putting missiles in Cuba. The end was near and Stanley Kubrick was all over it with the farcical and brilliant Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned To Stop Worry And Love The Bomb.

With an all-star cast that included Slim Pickens, George C. Scott, and Peter Sellers playing three different roles, Dr. Strangelove is disturbingly hilarious. It’s as harrowing as any other movie set during the end of the world, with the world on the brink of nuclear destruction and no one seemingly competent enough to stop it (and not wanting to stop it). Peter Sellers' brilliance is on full display, playing three different and messed up characters, including the diabolical Dr. Strangelove and the straight forward and dour President Merkin Muffley.

Does the world end? We can assume it does, yes. The final scene, after Slim Pickens rides his nuke to destruction over the Soviet Union, is a classic movie moment, and the men in the war room know the end is near and have made plans. The movie ends with dozens of mushroom clouds rising around the world, meaning certain destruction.

The Wandering Earth (2019)

Did you know that the third highest grossing movie of 2019 is a movie The Wandering Earth? Only The Avengers: Endgame and Captain Marvel have made more. It’s a pretty astonishing feat, considered it wasn’t made by Hollywood and it only made about $5 million at the box office in the United States. It made an incredible $690 million in China though, where it was made.

The Wandering Earth is also pretty good as this genre goes, though like many movies set during the end of the world, the plot is completely ridiculous. Set in 2061, the sun is dying and about to explode and mankind, led by the Chinese, of course, come together to build giant engines that will push Earth out of the solar system and safely away from the sun. So, yeah, you need to suspend reality completely and just let the CGI flow over you.

Does the world end? We’re not going to spoil it, but the major drama occurs when earthquakes take out most of the engines pushing the earth as it approaches Jupiter, which the earth must whip around to gain the momentum out of the solar system. Will Earth make it or will it collide with Jupiter? The Wandering Earth is on Netflix, so check it out!

28 Days Later… (2002)

The zombie apocalypse is one of the most popular tropes in end of the world movies. 28 Days Later… is no different, but it does it better than any of the previous zombie movies. Danny Boyle’s classic 28 Days Later... is dark and scary and filled with dread, like any good end-of-the-world movie should be. It has set the standard for all zombie stories since.

Like many others, the end of the world in 28 Days Later… is caused by humans, when eco-terrorists unleash a virus that spreads rapidly through Great Britain, turning victims into zombies while the military tries to instill marshal law.

Does the world end? No, it doesn’t but that doesn’t mean this isn’t on the bleakest movies on the subject. The deep foreboding mood overwhelms viewers and sucks them into the story right from the start. 28 Days Later… is scary and tense and one of the best of the best in the genre.

This Is The End (2013)

This Is The End turns the genre completely on its head by making it all seem hysterically over the top. The cast is made up of a who’s who in Hollywood, all playing themselves, - over-the-top versions of themselves – that are attending a party at James Franco’s house when the rapture occurs. The cast includes Franco, Seth Rogan, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Emma Watson, Kevin Hart, Raul Rudd, Craig Robinson, Rihanna, Jason Segal and many, many more.

The movie is filled with laugh-out-loud moments from the unbelievable cast, all of whom show a willingness to make fun of themselves and everyone else in the movie. Is there anything funnier (or grosser) than Danny McBride’s big moment in the movie? It’ll have you in tears.

Does the world end? Yep, it sure does, but don’t worry, it ends happily with the Backstreet Boys entertaining everyone in heaven.

The Road (2009)

On the complete other end of the spectrum is one of the bleakest movies ever made, based on one of the bleakest books ever written by Cormac McCarthy. The Road follows a man, played by Viggo Mortensen, and his son as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world after an undefined disaster. They face all kinds of threads in the dark, cloud-covered world where everything is basically just a shade of grey.

The movie’s modest budget but first rate cast, including Mortensen, Charlize Theron as his deceased wife, Guy Pearce, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Robert Duvall is a testament to how powerful the material the film was based on is. There is almost no hope throughout the movie, except for a brief moment at the end, and even then, it’s left very ambiguously.

Does the world end? Well, it basically has already ended and there is little evidence to suggest things won’t completely die off in the future. There are still some people still slogging through the bleak life, but it sure doesn’t seem like any of them will last very long. There is the possible hope at the end, but given how bleak the movie is overall, it’s hard to have much faith in that hope.

Children Of Men (2006)

Alfonso Cuarón doesn’t direct a lot of movies, but when he does, they are almost always brilliant. His shelf is filled with awards for movies like Gravity, Y Tu Mama Tambien, and Roma. Because of that impressive resume of films, his end of the world movie, Children Of Men, is often overlooked. That is a big mistake.

Set 18 years in the future, Children Of Men stars Clive Owen, who leads a cast that includes Michael Caine, Julianne Moore, Charlie Hunnam, and Chiwetel Ejiofor in a future where it’s been 18 years since an woman has become pregnant due to a pandemic that struck humankind. While there are people hoping to reverse the situation, mankind seems doomed without a way prorogate the future. Kee, played Clare-Hope Ashitey becomes the first woman on earth to become pregnant and it becomes a race to escape the Great Britain and find people that can help her and possibly all of mankind by saving her and her baby.

Does the world end? Unknown. The movie, after a series of scary and forbidding events, does end with hope, so maybe Kee and her baby live and the knowledge learned from studying them saves the world. Of maybe it doesn’t, the film doesn’t give a definitive answer.

Of course, we could go on and on here, there will likely never be a shortage of end of the world films, but these are the cream of the crop as they stand today. What do you think? Let us know in the comments and vote for your favorite below!

The 'Crowd Pleaser' Character Toy Story 4 Cut From Its Final Version

The 'Crowd Pleaser' Character Toy Story 4 Cut From Its Final Version

Pixar movies undergo a lot of changes over the course of their development. In the case of Toy Story 4, nearly the entire movie underwent significant story changes. While these sorts of changes are always made in an attempt to make the overall movie better, sometimes story beats and even entire characters that the movie makers love end up getting cut out as a result. Toy Story 4 was no exception.

Last month, when I had a chance to talk to Toy Story 4 director Josh Cooley and producers Jonas Rivera and Mark Nielsen, I asked them if they had any particular elements of Toy Story 4 that didn't make the final version of the film that they missed. All three were in total agreement, that one character they all wish they could have kept was a dancing Santa Claus. According to Cooley...

Dancing Santa was pretty great, he was a character [who] didn’t make it. He was in the antique store and was kind of able, in a very unique way, he was kind of an expert on where to go. and the way things were at the [antiques] mall.

If you've seen the trailers for Toy Story 4 then you'll have seen the antiques store location. It's a major new setting for the film where a lot of the action takes place. We also meet a lot of new characters there, like Christina Hendricks' Gabby Gabby and Keanu Reeves' Duke Caboom.

However, one character that we unfortunately won't be meeting is a talking, dancing, Santa Claus character. The idea was clearly a favorite among many at Pixar. In addition to Josh Cooley and the producers, Toy Story production designer Bob Pauley and global technology supervisor Bill Reeves, who have been part of the franchise since the beginning, also mentioned to me that the Santa was a favorite lost character of theirs as well.

Josh Cooley explained what the scene was originally going to look like...

He’s kinda like an informant in a seedy alley. [Bo and Woody] were talking about, ‘Man, it’s dark in this antiques store. It’s pretty intense, everybody seems so desperate.’ And they’d hear, ‘Tis the season for desperation’ and they’d turn around and there’s one of these Santas there. He’s got a little candle that’s up lighting on him. And Woody’s like, ‘Look Santa, we’d need some help’ and all of the sudden he’d start dancing. Jingle Bell Rock is playing. ‘Ah, you set off my motion detector.’ And then he’d go back into, ‘Anyway, like I was saying...’ and there’s still Jungle Bell Rock playing [in the background]. It was a crowd pleaser for sure.

It's clear that the reason everybody liked the Santa was because the jokes were funny, but ultimately, Pixar always wants to focus on the story that is being told, and if a gag gets in the way of that, the gag has to go, no matter how funny it is. Bob Pauly explained to me that this was the problem with the dancing Santa:

It got cut, which is the right thing, because that was a moment when they had it where it was kind of an emotional moment in the movie, where it's about Bo and Woody. Trust [me], it needed to go, it didn't support that.

The good news is that it sounds like enough of the dancing Santa survives that we'll get to see him as part of the deleted scenes on the eventual Toy Story 4 Blu-ray. Until then, we can see the final version of Toy Story 4 on June 21. Tickets for the summer sequel are on sale as we speak, so make sure that you grab your seats to opening weekend, so you'll see the latest adventure with Buzz, Woody and the gang.

Frozen 2 Will Feel Like A Superhero Movie, According To Idina Menzel

Frozen 2 Will Feel Like A Superhero Movie, According To Idina Menzel

We’re only months away from the release of Disney’s Frozen 2, and yet the details on how the new film will follow up its blockbuster predecessor are still pretty scarce. Even with a teaser trailer available to the public, there’s still a lot of questions about what this film will be about, and fans are still openly speculating in the absence of actual information.

But we now have a little more to go on in terms of how Frozen 2 will continue the story, as Queen Elsa herself, Idina Menzel, gave a little taste of what’s to come in a recent interview. Specifically, Menzel had this to say:

It's a real girl power, badass kind of superhero type of movie. They're really strong, the two sisters, and it's exciting. The music is beautiful.

So those folks that took the Frozen 2 teaser trailer released a couple months ago and redubbed it to Alan Silvestri’s theme from The Avengers were kind of onto something there. In fact, this plays into a theory that some Disney aficionados were discussing recently, in which the plot of this new film would not only see Elsa and Anna searching for their parents, but also would see an expansion of powers for the Queen of Arendelle.

Then again, there’s the possibility that Anna might have some powers, metaphorical or physical, to be discovered in Frozen 2 herself. We have seen her show familiarity with a blade in our first look at the film, so she could be a skilled fighter. And then there’s always the possibility that much like her sister, she could have powers over the elements herself.

Other than the remaining remark that the music Academy Award winners and Frozen stalwarts Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopez will be providing is going to be “beautiful,” there’s not much more that Idina Menzel has told The Hollywood Reporter about Frozen 2. Though fans are probably thankful for that, as they wouldn’t want anything spoiled before getting their next look at just what Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Olaf are going to be up to this next time out.

It’s pretty much a given that Frozen 2 will be a box office juggernaut, much like its predecessor. Those who latched onto that first film just haven’t let it go, and their response to the ensuing shorts, Frozen Fever and Olaf’s Frozen Adventure, is only further evidence that once the sled starts rolling on Frozen 2, it’s going to be hard to stop it. One even has to wonder, if Frozen 2 is a superhero movie experience, could it put up superhero numbers upon release?

We’ll find out soon enough, when Frozen 2 thaws the hearts of its audience on November 24. If you’re looking for more of the animated offerings 2019 will bring, our release date schedule for the rest of the year is up for grabs. Also, if you’re wondering what Disney Animation is going to be providing down the line, for 2019 and beyond, check out our Upcoming Disney Animated Movies schedule as well.

Yes, Seth Rogen Is Always High When Filming Movies

Yes, Seth Rogen Is Always High When Filming Movies

Seth Rogen is pretty busy in 2019. He’s set to star in this weekend’s Long Shot opposite Charlize Theron and he’s set to voice Pumbaa in The Lion King. Plus he’s producing a slew of projects like the aforementioned Long Shot and Good Boys. Still, there’s one thing he consistently finds time for and it’s weed. Notably, he even likes to work while high.

During a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the late night host point blank asked him whether or not he liked to work stoned, to which Rogen confirmed “there’s 100%” chance he’s high when the audience is watching him in movies, elaborating,

Yeah, I smoke weed all day, every day of my life. For the last twenty years, exclusively [I’ve worked high]. … I do actually enjoy weed in my personal life and on film.

Stephen Colbert related a story about how one time he tried to do improv high, which is like the equivalent of telling a regular marathon runner you ran a mile once. It’s pretty adorable.

Meanwhile, Rogen also related a story on The Late Show about how he would be filming Long Shot and watching Charlize Theron, only to realize she’s a way better actor than he is. The story goes into detail about filming the scene, and it certainly sounds like he was in his head a lot while filming Long Shot.

This has nothing to do with the weed story, but also it might have everything to do with the weed. You can watch the full interview, below.

Marijuana crops up in a lot of Seth Rogen’s movies, including Pineapple Express, which is all about pot. In addition, the actor has been open about smoking while he works, previously revealing that he likes to smoke pot while writing.

I smoke a lot of weed when I write, generally speaking. I don't know if it helps me write. It makes me not mind that I'm writing. And I don't know if it makes me work better, but it makes me not care that I'm working. Who wants to work? But if you're stoned, it doesn't seem like work.

Plus, Seth Rogen recently unveiled his own cannabis company, Houseplant, which is currently selling product in British Columbia.

In Long Shot, Rogen plays a journalist who recently quit his gig due to a corporation taking over. He eventually catches the eye of a presidential hopeful played by Charlize Theron, who was his babysitter as a kid. He starts speechwriting for her and they develop a bond that turns into an unlikely romantic entanglement. And yes, it seems Seth Rogen was stoned while filming it, which is pretty fitting for the character, Fred Flarsky, he plays in the film.

Long Shot hits theaters this Friday, May 3 and could act as the perfect counterprogramming for Avengers: Endgame. See what else is being released in May with our full movie guide.

Apparently, The New Charlie’s Angels Movie Is Actually A Sequel

Apparently, The New Charlie’s Angels Movie Is Actually A Sequel

These days it seems as if just about every major blockbuster stems from a previous iteration, leaving audiences perpetually making comparisons to the originals they know and love, or hoping the newer versions will do previously wronged characters justice. For Elizabeth Banks’ upcoming Charlie’s Angels retelling, it looks like the action flick won’t be ignoring the roots of the ‘70s television series or flashy McG films from the early ‘00s.

Elizabeth Banks, who is director, co-writer of Charlie’s Angels script (and one of three Bosleys) recently said the upcoming movie is more of a “continuation” of the franchise than a reboot, and will implement elements from the television show and movies. Since it’s now been over forty years since the agency of Angels started, the organization has only expanded and the titular Charlie is now a “gazillionaire.” Banks explained further with these words:

If you were rich in 1976, you only got richer. Charles Townsend is richer than ever, so he’s grown the business into a global spy agency.

Unlike the original series, the new Charlie’s Angels will show off an operation that is much larger than a trio of badass crime-fighters, with a network of Angels around the world. The film will still primarily focus on three leading angels played by Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska and Aladdin’s Naomi Scott. Stewart’s character Sabina Wilson is described as a adept partier and group leader, Balinska’s Jane Kano as a skilled ex-MI6 agent and Scott’s Elena Houghlin as a scientist who is the “heart of the movie”.

Elizabeth Banks told Entertainment Weekly she is going for a more grounded approach to the action sequences in Charlie’s Angels, with the dynamics between the team inspired by the team in the new Mission: Impossible films. The movie will take place in locations around the world including Istanbul, Berlin and Hamburg and be centralized on the theme of women working together over romantic entanglements and such.

Elizabeth Banks has decided to make the name of Bosley be a rank within the Charlie’s Angels organization this time around. The role previously played by David Doyle, Bill Murray and Bernie Mac will be played by Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart and Djimon Hounsou this time around.

Per this new information, we can potentially expect some nods and winks to the classic television show and movie franchise starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu and will have the new Angels continuing what they started with their own flair on the franchise. It will be interesting to see how this new version implements the franchise’s past and sets itself apart from them as well.

Charlie’s Angels will come to theaters on November 15, 2019 alongside James Mangold’s action flick starring Christian Bale, Matt Damon and Jon Bernthal, Ford v. Ferrari and Paul Feig’s holiday rom-com Last Christmas starring Emilia Clarke, Henry Golding, Emma Thompson and Michelle Yeoh. Check out more exciting releases hitting theaters this year with our 2019 movie release schedule.

Captain Marvel Originally Featured Even More Music

Captain Marvel Originally Featured Even More Music

Thanks to movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther, we are increasingly seeing more attention being paid to the soundtracks in Marvel movies. With the franchise's latest entry, Captain Marvel, set in the 1990s, that provided an opportunity for the film to incorporate a bunch of classic songs to evoke that decade, and the film did just that. But Captain Marvel originally featured more music, as the film’s editor Debbie Berman explained:

I think almost every single scene originally featured a different song! It’s part of the process to try a variety of options, and see what was true to the era, but also what resonates the most in that moment -- be it emotionally, tonally or comedically. It’s through a lot of trial and error, and it took us, as a team, quite a while to get to the place where it ultimately landed, but I feel really happy with the end result.

With an entire musical era to pull from, the filmmakers Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, and editor Debbie Berman, tried way more songs out than ultimately ended up in the final cut. You might think that some of the more obvious choices were decided on from the start, but it sounds like almost every scene went through a change in song choice during the editing process.

So there are whole musically different versions of Captain Marvel that existed at one point before things were switched up. As far as why different songs were cut or replaced, Debbie Berman said that they wanted to evoke the era and add to the feel of Captain Marvel as a 9'0s film, but the songs also had to inform the story and what a particular scene was going for, be it establishing tone, conveying an emotion or adding comedic effect.

This also shows what a daunting task the filmmakers and Debbie Berman faced when editing this film together. The embarrassment of riches of '90s music must have been both a blessing and curse. There are so many great songs to choose from, but the songs couldn’t just be someone’s Spotify playlist of favorite '90s songs, no matter how tempting it was, because they had to work for Carol’s story and the intent of the film.

As Debbie Berman told ET, that meant a lot of trial and error to see how each and every option worked. That was quite the time consuming process and I imagine some favorite songs had to get nixed along the way. One song might work on one level, but not on another. Or it might fit better somewhere else or not fit with the adjacent scenes. Even song choices that seemed perfect could get axed when they tried another song that was even better.

It sounds like an arduous endeavor, but hey, at least they got to listen to a bunch of great '90s music along the way. However, Captain Marvel was missing an epic theme and I'd argue some of the song choices were a bit on the nose, but it sounds like the music really resonated with people, or at least made audiences want to hear more.

According to Billboard, the 13 songs featured in the film saw a 464% gain in sales in the U.S. from March 7-10, Captain Marvel’s opening weekend. Songs like Hole’s “Celebrity Skin,” Nirvana’s “Come As You Are,” and No Doubt’s “Just a Girl” all saw jumps in sales coinciding with the film’s release.

Captain Marvel is now playing. Check out where we rank it in the MCU and what questions we still have about the character before Avengers: Endgame.

Apparently Robert Downey Jr. Didn’t Want To Do Tony Stark’s Last Big Line In Avengers: Endgame

Apparently Robert Downey Jr. Didn’t Want To Do Tony Stark’s Last Big Line In Avengers: Endgame

The following story contains massive spoilers for Avengers: Endgame. Stop reading now if you haven’t yet seen the movie.

It was the very last scene that Joe and Anthony Russo shot for Avengers: Endgame. For all that they know, it might go down as the last thing they ever filmed in the MCU. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), staring at Thanos (Josh Brolin) and snapping his fingers, reducing the Mad Titan and all of his minions to dust.

It was a reshoot. And according to the brothers, it almost didn’t happen. During a recent conversation the ReelBlend podcast had with Joe and Anthony Russo about the making of Avengers: Endgame, they revealed how the pivotal shot came about … and how it almost didn’t happen. Let’s start with Joe Russo, who told ReelBlend:

It’s an interesting story. I had dinner with [Robert Downey Jr.] like two weeks before we were supposed to shoot it. And he was like, ‘I don’t know. I don’t really want to go back and get into that emotional state. It’ll take… it’s hard.’ And crazily enough, Joel Silver, the producer, was at the dinner. He’s an old buddy of Robert’s. And Joel jumps in and he’s like, ‘Robert, what are you talking about? That’s the greatest line I’ve ever heard! You gotta say this line! You have to do this!’ So thank God that Joel Silver was at dinner, because he helped us talk Robert into doing that line.

That’s incredible that the sequence of Tony’s snap, and the perfect line delivery, is a reshoot that the brothers didn’t originally have during the initial production. They always knew they needed a reply to Thanos. But it took them a few tries before they landed on the right reply. As the brother recalled to ReelBlend:

Anthony Russo: Originally when he snapped, he didn’t say, ‘I am Iron Man.’ The idea came up while we were in post production. Our editor, Jeff Ford…

Joe Russo: We were sitting on our editorial, and we were reworking that sequence, and Thanos says ‘I am inevitable.’ And we were like, ‘We need a response to that. What is the response to that?’ And our editor said, ‘What about I am Iron Man?’ And we were like, ‘That’s it!’

Anthony: We must shoot that, we have to shoot that!

I knew this story when I went back to see Avengers: Endgame for my third time. And sure enough, knowing this, it looks like a reshot scene, though you’d never know unless you knew to look out for it. It’s such a monumental moment of sacrifice, a tragic and heroic act that redefines the legacy of Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And it’s the idea callback to the final line of Jon Favreau’s first Iron Man movie.

As it turns out, though, the logistics of the reshoot also turned into an historic callback. As Anthony Russo elaborated to ReelBlend:

And we did that shot at a studio in Los Angeles called Raleigh Studios. And the stage that we shot that shot on was adjacent to the stage where Robert Downey Jr. screen tested for Iron Man.

Chills. Goosebumps. Nerd tears.

You have to listen to all of the amazing stories like this one, told by Joe and Anthony Russo on our ReelBlend podcast. This one is truly special, if you are a Marvel fans.

Having the Russos on ReelBlend was an amazing accomplishment for us, and we are thrilled that they took the time out of their incredibly busy schedule to talk about the making of the biggest film in our lifetimes. The movie continues to destroy at the box office, setting new records left and right. And now we know some incredible behind-the-scenes trivia facts about the making of, and we hope you enjoyed it.

ReelBlend is a weekly podcast hosted by Sean O’Connell, Kevin McCarthy and Jake Hamilton. Find it on your normal podcast portals, and give us a subscribe if you liked what you heard here today.

Ben Affleck Will Direct, Write, And Star In Ghost Army

Ben Affleck Will Direct, Write, And Star In Ghost Army

Earlier this year, Ben Affleck noted that while he wasn’t sure what project would be the next he’d attach his directorial stamp to, he was keen to get something up and running by the end of the year. Looks like that search is narrowing down pretty quickly, as Affleck’s name is in the news today as potentially directing, as well as writing and starring, in Universal’s long developing film Ghost Army.

Based on a book/documentary on a crucial piece to the World War II war effort, Ghost Army would be about a specific group of warfighters: namely, a squadron tasked with fooling the Axis armies into thinking that Allied forces were greater than they actually were. Through creative means of deception including inflatable tanks, convincing sound effects, and fake intelligence, it was a secret directive that recruited notables like designer Bill Blass and photographer Art Kane into its efforts.

The project sounds like a dream come true for Ben Affleck fans, as his skill set for telling true stories about diplomatic fakery was proven back in 2012, with the Best Picture winning film Argo. So if anything, Ghost Army feels like a spiritual prequel to that film, as it’s another case of the U.S. Government enlisting the best and brightest creative minds to turn the tide of an international conflict.

It would be a welcome return of Affleck’s writing/directing efforts, as he’s been out of action in those respects since 2017’s unfortunate flop Live By Night. But with his acting chops still moving along, most recently in Netflix’s Triple Frontier, one third of the equation is already raring to go with the challenges that Ghost Army will present.

It’s a moment that has been long awaited for Ben Affleck, as when Variety grabbed the scoop, they also reported that he’d been looking to set up camp with Ghost Army for quite some time. But now, it looks like his scheduling has timed out just right with Universal’s intent for the project, allowing all to move forward.

That being said, it’s still up in the air as to when exactly Ghost Army will start marching into production, as Affleck will still need to do some rewrite work on the film. This is after a script originated by Shazam! writer Henry Gayden, as well as a rewrite by True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto.

Seeing Ben Affleck come back to writing and directing with Ghost Army is something exciting for fans, as his recent departure from the DCEU felt like a bump in the road for his recent career. Now all that has to happen is for Kevin Smith to write a reunion between himself and one of the characters Affleck played in his View Askew-niverse, or for Warner Bros to greenlight The Accountant 2, and all will be right with the world.

Ghost Army has no production start date specified, or release date in mind. If you want to see what 2019 has on offer for eager moviegoers, you can take a look at our 2019 release schedule and find your next night at the movies!

The Avengers: Endgame Trailer Has Us Obsessing Over Everyone's Hair

The Avengers: Endgame Trailer Has Us Obsessing Over Everyone's Hair

The final trailer for Avengers: Endgame has arrived, and it definitely didn't disappoint. While most of the film's plot remains a mystery, Marvel Studios revealed new glimpses of the surviving heroes, and the world Thanos left behind after he snapped his fingers and wiped out half the galaxy's population. The final trailer actually answered a few long standing questions, while inspiring countless others. But it's various characters' hairstyles that I'm obsessing with, as they seem to be teasing a variety of exciting plot points. Let's break down all the biggest coiffures in Endgame.

Black Widow's hair is an extremely fascinating aspect of the the Avengers: Endgame marketing, and one that has puzzled the fandom since the first trailer arrived. Widow had a short cut in Infinity War, dyed blonde presumably to keep her under the radar as she traveled the world with Captain America and Falcon. But with Thanos winning and half of all life eradicated, the Endgame trailer reveals that Widow doesn't appear to be worrying much about her appearance.

The passage of time from Infinity War to Endgame can be seen through Natasha's hair, as it grows quite a few inches since the last time we saw her. What's more, her natural red hair is growing out, leaving only the tips of her hair remaining blonde. There was already some debate about whether or not her hair was CGI'd in the last trailer, so it should be interesting to see how the timeline(s) all shakes out when Endgame finally hits theaters.

Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton is rocking his own unique look, as he's seemingly left Hawkeye behind him, and taken on the new mantle of Ronin. Clint was noticeably missing during the events of Infinity War, as he and Scott Lang were put on house arrest after the events of Captain America: Civil War. It's currently unclear what happened to him to make him the far more deadly Ronin, but smart money says at least part of his family faded to dust.

It looks like Black Widow will be the one to track her old S.H.I.E.L.D. buddy down, and hopefully help him return to the light side of the force. The trailers for Endgame show him dispatching enemies with a sword, rather than Hawkeye's trick arrows. But he ultimately appears with a new suit along with the rest of the Avengers, so hopefully his crazy hair cut and murderous alter ego don't stick around for long.

Captain Marvel is the most recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, with her solo movie currently raking in the money at the box office. Fans have been eager to see how Carol Danvers will interact with the rest of The Avengers, and explain where TF she's been for the past few decades. Because Earth's Mightiest Heroes could have used the help during Infinity War, as well as conflicts in New York and Sokovia.

Brie Larson's character seems to have grown her hair out in the many years since she became Captain Marvel. While Carol Danvers hasn't aged a day, she seems to be rocking a new do and possibly some highlights. Her longer cut debuted in the Captain Marvel mid-credits scene, which was shot by the Russo Brothers and should appear in the final cut of Endgame.

As a reminder, you can check out the final Avengers: Endgame trailer below.

Does anyone else have chills? Moviegoers have been waiting a year since Avengers: Infinity War arrived in theaters, and shattered expectations and hearts with its devastating twist ending. Smart money says that the surviving characters will find a way to reverse Thanos' snap, although they might not all make it out of the conflict alive.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters April 26th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Aladdin Box Office: Disney Opens Big On Memorial Day As Brightburn And Booksmart Struggle

Aladdin Box Office: Disney Opens Big On Memorial Day As Brightburn And Booksmart Struggle

Dumbo, who? Disney rebounded from that movie's disappointing opening early this year, finding a whole new world of money with Aladdin. The 2019 live-action remake is making good use of Memorial Day weekend, and it's expected to make over $100 million just at the domestic box office alone by the time the four-day holiday is over. There wasn't much magic at the box office for anyone else, with Aladdin leaving everybody in the dust, including the three repeats just behind it -- John Wick 3, Avengers: Endgame, and Detective Pikachu. You have to head down to #5 to find the first other newcomer in Brightburn, followed by Booksmart.

Check out the full top 10 chart from the domestic box office. The results below are just for the usual three-day Friday-to-Sunday tally, and more money will be made Monday to finish out Memorial Day weekend.

If Aladdin can reach $110 million on Monday, that will make it one of the top five Memorial Day openings ever, per Box Office Mojo stats. It seems to be trending toward the higher end of the initial estimates for its opening weekend box office. That said, there's no chance it will take the #1 Memorial Day weekend spot from the reigning champion, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, which nabbed $139 million in its four-day debut.

Aladdin has already made more than $120 million at the international box office, for a current worldwide total of $207.1 million. It should easily pass Dumbo, which only has a current domestic total of $112,701,413 and a worldwide total of $348,096,055.

Speaking of Dumbo, though, it got a boost from Aladdin's opening. It actually just missed the top 10, placing #11 with a $1.046 million weekend. That's a +238.2% jump over its 18th place finish last week. Sometimes it seems like Disney is stacking these releases too close together, but as we saw from Captain Marvel when Avengers: Endgame came out, the releases don't cannibalize each other so much as give the previous film a nice ticket boost.

John Wick 3 was the top dog last week, finally dethroning Avengers: Endgame as #1 title on the weekend charts. They are both still toward the top this weekend, along with Detective Pikachu, which left the indie newcomers struggling for air. Brightburn is a superhero movie, but not a big studio comic book movie. It was made on a shoestring budget, so that $7.5 million isn't exactly a failure, but does it bode ill for the potential to continue the story from here? Same with Booksmart, which is one of the best-reviewed films of the year. It's earning raves, but only $6.5 million at the box office.

It's always tough to be a small film out there, but especially around a big holiday weekend like this. Brave of them to even try to take on Aladdin, John Wick, and Endgame with some counter-programming. But would another time of year have been more advantageous?

Looking ahead, next week is going to be another monster at the box office -- literally, with Godzilla: King of the Monsters ready to take your money. Rocketman will also open to try and claim the non-blockbuster crowd.

Who took your money this weekend and why? Poll time.

Olivia Wilde ‘Stole’ An On-Set Rule From Martin Scorsese In The Making Of Booksmart

Olivia Wilde ‘Stole’ An On-Set Rule From Martin Scorsese In The Making Of Booksmart

When taking on an intimidating new endeavor, it’s always helpful to take inspiration from those who are the best at what they do. After all, their methodology clearly results in success, and mirroring that methodology theoretically should result in mirrored success. This is something that is regularly seen in the movie world when filmmakers are preparing to make their first feature, and it’s a tradition that Olivia Wilde continued in the making of her directorial debut, the upcoming comedy Booksmart.

Specifically, she took a page out of the playbook of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time: Martin Scorsese. The two had the opportunity to collaborate in recent years working on the HBO series Vinyl (which Scorsese co-created and Wilde starred in), and that experience proved to be motivating for the actress-cum-director in the making of Booksmart. Speaking during a Los Angeles press event earlier this week, Wilde revealed that she borrowed an on-set tactic from the Oscar-winner, which was that all scripts and sides were not made available to the stars during production. Said Wilde,

I stole that rule from Martin Scorsese. I worked for him, and I was blown away by what happens when actors are not allowed to bring sides on set because it means that they are free to create, and with a very short schedule - like we had 26 days to shoot the film - I needed them to be ready when they got there to just play.

A script can often function as a safety net for actors, as they can look back on the material to remember specific lines, or it can help them find the proper emotion for a given moment in a larger story – but Olivia Wilde apparently wasn’t interested in letting her stars have that backup system. Instead, she felt it was more important for the cast to exist in the moment while cameras were rolling, and while it almost certainly led to deviations from what had been written, she felt that the freedom the environment provided was ultimately more important.

What makes this particular situation a little extra special, though, is that while Booksmart does feature some veteran adult stars - including Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, and Jason Sudeikis – most of the ensemble is made up of younger actors (some of whom are making their feature film debuts). This in mind, you’d think that Olivia Wilde’s borrowed approach from Martin Scorsese might be seriously intimidating, but evidently that wasn’t the case.

Instead, as Wilde explained, they apparently weren’t flustered by that aspect of the experience at all – which came as a bit surprise to the first-time director:

What was amazing is this cast is so brilliant that that was no big deal. I think there's much more experienced actors who would've been terrified by that rule, and they were like, 'No problem; watch me work.' So I'm very, very proud. I think half of the brilliance you see in the movie, if you see it, it's because of the energy they brought that day, and they're looseness, and they're will to give it their all.

Based on a script by Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Susanna Fogel, and Katie Silberman, Booksmart centers on a pair of intelligent high school seniors (Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein) who start to feel a level of regret about their lack of high school partying when they realize that many of their more fun-oriented classmates still managed to get into good schools. They make the decision to subvert their reputations by attending an end-of-the-year blowout and letting loose for the first time in their lives – and it winds up leading to a fun adventure involving all kinds of strange roadblocks and weirdness along the way.

The film debuted earlier this year at the SXSW Film Festival, earning great reviews and heaps of buzz, and it won’t be long until audiences nationwide have the chance to see it for themselves. Booksmart will be heading into wide release next Friday, May 24th, so be sure to check it out, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more about the movie.

First Sonic The Hedgehog Trailer Gives Him Wild New Powers

First Sonic The Hedgehog Trailer Gives Him Wild New Powers

Studios have continued to try and crack the code of turning video games into movies the way they have with comic books and the result has been films with a lot of different looks and styles. Now, we have one of the most popular video game characters ever getting his first big screen adventure and it's...interesting, to say the least. Check out the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog and see what the blue speedster can do in a world of humans.

Of course, the movie starts showing off just how fast Sonic is, that's his whole gimmick, but here Sonic apparently can move so fast that he goes full Quicksilver in a sequence where the world around him appears to be standing still. Even Sonic doesn't usually go quite that fast.

In addition to that, we see a sequence where the famous gold rings that Sonic collects in the video game can apparently be used as portals that transport Sonic's human friends from on place to another. i guess now we know why he picks so many of them up.

Sonic is a character born in the 1990s and that vibe permeates the trailer. Possibly not more so than in seeing Jim Carrey's version of Dr. Robotnik, which is born from a very old school Jim Carrey performance. It feels like something out of an Ace Ventura movie and to be honest, I can get behind that. It's certainly not the version of Dr. Robotnik I was expecting, and I'm not sure what it means to the film as a whole, it may not really work, but if you're a fan of old school Jim Carrey, it's nice to see.

For those fans a little thrown off by Carrey's look, the end of the trailer gives us a version of Robotnik more in line with the classic video game version, though how one becomes the other we don't know.

For fans of the classic video game, there are plenty of fun references in the trailer. The Paramount logo is scene surrounded by gold rings. James Marsden's police officer is a resident of Green Hills, a reference to the first level of the original Sonic the Hedgehog video game. Even the film's tagline about every hero having a "Genesis," is a cute reference to the Sega video game console on which Sonic had his best adventures. Possibly his only good ones.

The plot of the film is a bit vague based on the trailer. Sonic needs to "save the planet" though it's not clear here from what. Robotnik appears to be chasing Sonic, not the source of whatever Sonic is trying to save us from so what that is we don't really know.

Sonic the Hedgehog fans were more than a little concerned when the first posters came out for the new film. The character's look was a little disconcerting. I'm not sure this trailer is going to alleviate anybody's fears. It's a little over the top and Sonic still looks, odd. Having said that, Sonic has been portrayed as being full of attitude in pretty much all of his incarnations so this isn't all that out of line even if it seems a bit much.

Sonic the Hedgehog hits theaters in November.