Oscar Isaac Says Star Wars: Episode IX Will Blow Fans Away

Oscar Isaac Says Star Wars: Episode IX Will Blow Fans Away

The absence of news, a trailer or even a title, combined with the current focus on this year’s superhero films, means that we are in a bit of a lull as far as Star Wars: Episode IX hype is concerned. Fear not, though, because J.J. Abrams’ film is coming and the hype training is coming along with it. To get that train rolling, Poe Dameron actor Oscar Isaac has spoken about the production and what fans can expect. He said:

It was the most fun it's been. There was just an energy and a looseness and excitement to the whole production. And knowing that this was the conclusion of not only our time there but the nine stories, these nine episodes of the Skywalker Saga, it's incredible. And I think people are gonna be just blown away.

Wow, way to keep the expectations manageable, Oscar. You would naturally expect an actor to speak well of a project that they are involved with, but there is a difference between saying "I think fans are really going to like it" and saying that people are going to be "blown away." That’s a much stronger pitch and definitely adds to the hype and the hope that Star War: Episode IX will deliver in spectacular fashion.

There are obviously huge expectations that Star Wars: Episode IX is able to do that because, as Oscar Isaac told the Associated Press, this is the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga and a nine-film journey that began in 1977. This Saga needs to go out on top and with a bang, and if it blows us away as Oscar Isaac has predicted, it will do just that.

Oscar Isaac’s sentiments also tie in well with director J.J. Abrams’ recent comments that the one thing he wants fans to walk away from Episode IX feeling is "satisfied." So everyone is saying all the right things right now to get us excited about this anticipated and incredibly important movie.

Despite all the weighty significance Star Wars: Episode IX holds as the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, it doesn’t sound like that added pressure created a stressful environment on set. You might think that given the recent chinks in Star Wars’ armor, like the divisiveness of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the financial disappointment of Solo: A Star Wars Story, that on top of everything else there would be some anxiety about getting this film right.

Instead it sounds like the production of Star Wars: Episode IX was more like senior year, with everyone enjoying themselves and having the best time they have had on any of the sequel trilogy movies, knowing this was their last hurrah together. That ideally means that everything was just clicking and the production was firing on all cylinders. When everything is working, there’s less to worry about and you can have some fun.

Star Wars: Episode IX is set to (hopefully) blow us all away on December 20. Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all the movies you can look forward to before year’s end, and for the latest movie news, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

Turns Out The Emperor's Laugh In The Rise Of Skywalker Trailer Was Old Footage

Turns Out The Emperor's Laugh In The Rise Of Skywalker Trailer Was Old Footage

Last week, fans were finally treated to the first trailer for Star Wars: Episode IX at the Star Wars Celebration in Chicago, and were clued into some exciting news – the return of Emperor Palpatine to the franchise. At the end of the teaser for the over-40-year saga's final film, titled The Rise of Skywalker, an iconic maniacal laugh flooded the convention room floor. Right after that, Darth Sidious himself, Ian McDiarmid, took the stage to confirm his involvement and say "roll it again" to the uproarious fans at the event and watching at home.

But apparently Emperor Palpatine’s grand re-entrance to Star Wars was not an exclusive bit he helped bring to life for the new trailer (and movie?). Check out what Ian McDiarmid recently said:

That particular laugh was not specially recorded. They found it somewhere, probably from one of the old movies or in a digital vault, or maybe George’s iPhone, I don’t know.

I don’t know about you, but this bit of information is conflicting to me. If Palpatine is in the movie, why would they dig up an old laugh track of the actor’s voice from George Lucas' movies? Was the inclusion of the moment purely to inject that nostalgia in our veins – wait, will Ian McDiarmid even be in Rise of Skywalker at all?

Once I give this a bit more thought, my guess is: Yes, Emperor Palpatine will be back. (How can he not after that teaser reveal?) But maybe the inclusion of that specific laugh was just a means of getting the fans to identify the character’s return. The recycled laugh could still be a component of the movie, or maybe Palpatine isn’t quite as chipper in the upcoming Star Wars installment. In fact we don’t even know if he’ll actually be alive or not in the film.

Empire Magazine writer James Dyer, who was at SWCC, did take to Twitter to seemingly confirm that Ian McDiarmid was physically on the set of Rise of Skywalker. He confirmed the return via an interview with director J.J. Abrams, per this post:

During Ian McDiarmid’s interview at the Star Wars Celebration Chicago, the actor discussed why he particularly loved the trailer he got to be part of revealing:

What I liked about it, though, that’s why I think it is a real tease. I mean, the new title The Rise of Skywalker is wonderful, and then from the past, maybe from Hell a laughter comes, which sort of implies 'yeah right.' So in other words, Skywalkers’ rising? I don’t think so.

Of course, Ian McDiarmid can’t say anything about his role in the trailer and movie and has to play a little dumb during an interview such as this one. He does perhaps reiterate how the heroes in the new film may have to face Palpatine and of course The Dark Side. Since Snoke was killed off in The Last Jedi, and Kylo Ren has been struggling with his place as either a hero with a redemption story or the new trilogy’s main villain, it makes sense for Palpatine’s comeback to take place in a big way. Although the Star Wars actor is playing a villain with a quote like this one:

The headline of that whole panel and the trailer is the word 'tease.' So don’t take it too seriously - in fact, have a laugh about it.

How dare you tell us to laugh, Ian McDiarmid! Star Wars is serious business and not at all for our entertainment! If you need a refresher on the villain, check out our guide to everything you need to know about him. Start the countdown, as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters on December 20, 2019.

Looks Like Dark Phoenix Might Have The Smallest Opening Of The X-Men Franchise

Looks Like Dark Phoenix Might Have The Smallest Opening Of The X-Men Franchise

As the final entry in the recent run of X-Men films, Dark Phoenix has been an interesting case study when it comes to what sort of opening to expect. With several release date bumps to the film’s name, it’s hard to tell if Fox is being protective of the film’s chances in theaters, or if they’re just trying to find a good spot for it to take its lumps and move on.

In either case, it looks like we have our first big indicator of whether Dark Phoenix will rise from the ashes, or be reduced to embers. The opening weekend for the film is estimated to land between $40 – 55 million, and if this holds, there’s a good chance that director Simon Kinberg’s film will have the smallest opening of the entire X-Men franchise.

Spanning back to the year 2000, the X-Men series has had peaks and troughs when mapping its box office history. Starting with $54.5 million opening in the first July of this millennium, the series would climb to its highest opening ever with 2006’s X-Men: The Last Stand, which weighed in with a $102.7 mil opening.

Before these estimates for Dark Phoenix came in pegging the film with a $40 – 55 million range, the low water mark stood at 2011’s X-Men: First Class, which brought in $55.1 million in one of the few openings in the franchise taking place outside of its typical May time frame.

So in order to avoid this outcome, Dark Phoenix needs to not only stay on the high end of the opening range estimated by Box Office Pro, it needs to bury the needle and go above and beyond those numbers. It wouldn’t have to be a huge jump past the high water mark, but the more it can surpass these numbers, the better Dark Phoenix’s chances would be of recouping its rumored budget. Though the whispers of a monetary spend upwards of $200 million don’t exactly bode well.

Counter to the typical picture of comic book box office success, the X-Men series has been less consistent in its increases, but more consistent in its cyclical nature. Looking at the pattern as it stands, Dark Phoenix’s intended end of the current phase of mutant powered films couldn’t have come at a better time.

Should this new crater in the X-Men box office time line occur, there is a silver lining that’s currently presented as a con. There’d be nowhere to go but up when the X-Men franchise eventually makes to return to the box office as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Revitalizing this classic fan favorite property, with the hype of a fresh MCU coat of paint, is exactly the blockbuster that everyone will be waiting for.

For now though, we’ll have to wait and see if Dark Phoenix makes or breaks this round of fate in the X-Men universe, and if that final impressive trailer makes any difference in the matter, when the movie debuts on June 7th.

Charlie Hunnam Still Doesn't Regret Quitting Fifty Shades Of Grey

Charlie Hunnam Still Doesn't Regret Quitting Fifty Shades Of Grey

One notorious casting that ultimately led to an actor leaving a popular movie occurred just before Fifty Shades of Grey started shooting. The role was supposed to have gone to Triple Frontier actor Charlie Hunnam; however, Hunnam left the project and Jamie Dornan was signed on in his stead.

Since news broke that it could have been Charlie Hunnam who played Christian Grey, there’s been sort of a fascination in terms of the “what if” factor. Ultimately, however, Hunnam still doesn’t regret quitting the role. He said in a recent interview:

I don’t see myself in that role at all because it would have been totally different. I think what acting is, is trying to create a character and you put half of yourself into it, [a] bit more than half. So that’s Jamie Dornan’s character, you know? I haven’t seen them but I’m sure he did an excellent job.

According to Charlie Hunnam, the actor has no interest in watching Fifty Shades of Grey or its two follow-ups, also revealing he really doesn’t “want to have an opinion” on Jamie Dornan’s performance or how the movie turned out during his interview with Newsweek. I don’t really blame him, considering more than a year after the final movie in the franchise came out he’s still getting asked about the decision.

As for why he quit Fifty Shades of Grey, Charlie Hunnam said:

I started to realize that my, my vision of who that guy was, was not everybody else’s vision. You can’t get into a film, let alone three films, totally at odds with the rest of the filmmaking community or the creative community involved in something because it’s just going to be [a] miserable experience... it was better for me just to extract myself from the process, but no regrets.

Previously, Charlie Hunnam has had varying accounts for why he quit Fifty Shades of Grey. This time, he’s saying the character fans love from the books was at odds with how he wanted to play it. He’s also said that he is aware he would be a “lot wealthier” if he had said yes to the gig that eventually went to Jamie Dornan, noting,

Well, I'd be a lot wealthier. I'd be a lot wealthier. I was gonna get paid a fortune. So much.

He’s said before he was just really busy at the time the first movie was going to start filming, revealing he was also doing Crimson Peak and Sons of Anarchy and it all just felt like a lot at the time.

And I was going to shoot that film, wrap that on the Wednesday and the following Monday I was going to start shooting Crimson Peak in Toronto. I just had like ... frankly, something of a nervous breakdown.

So, it sounds as if there were myriad reasons to say no and the money wasn’t enough to say yes. (Although, he really did give up on quite a bit of money.) Interestingly, Charlie Hunnam is known for intense workouts and even being shirtless on both the big and small screen. That's something that Jamie Dornan has come out and really worked on after he wasn't able to get super into shape for the first movie, given the limitations of the timeline after he was cast in Fifty Shades of Grey.

In fact, in some ways Charlie Hunnam may have dodged a bullet. Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson have had to really work to take on different types of roles in the wake of the popular franchise movie. (Although they likely increased their visibility as well.) In addition, while filming Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed seemingly went off without too much of a hitch, filming Fifty Shades of Grey ultimately ended up being a bit of a different situation. Specifically, the director of that movie Sam Taylor-Johnson has come out and said that things were so bad she wouldn’t do it again.

With the benefit of hindsight would I go through it again? Of course I wouldn't. I'd be mad. It was a struggle and there were lots of onset tête-à-têtes, with me trying to bat it into the [right] place. I like everyone -- and I get really confused when they don't like me. I was so confused by E.L. James. I don't understand when I can't navigate a person, when there's no synergy.

She also ultimately left the franchise, leaving leads Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson to navigate the rest of the franchise with new director James Foley. All in all, though, fans of E.L. James’ books seem at least fairly satisfied with how the movies played out on the big screen.

While we have no real gauge for how Charlie Hunnam would have played Christian Grey, it’s still fun to think about how the universe would have been with a totally different actor in the role. Ultimately, it made Jamie Dornan a household name and went on to be a financial success with that actor.

You can catch Charlie Hunnam in the new Netflix movie Triple Frontier, which has already hit the streaming service. Or take a look at what else Netflix has coming this month with our full guide.

Everything Chris Hemsworth And Tessa Thompson Could Tell Us About Their Men In Black International Agents

Everything Chris Hemsworth And Tessa Thompson Could Tell Us About Their Men In Black International Agents

Why have audiences flocked to Men In Black movies over the years? Some come for the comedy. Others want to see creative alien species, potentially living among us in our over-populated cities. But most want to enjoy the yin-yang chemistry of the lead agents, which was on full display when Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones wore the signature suits and sunglasses of the MiB.

The dynamic will change later this summer when Men In Black International casts Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson as the lead agents on a massive new case. So CinemaBlend traveled to London to visit the set of International and find out exactly how these two Thor: Ragnarok veterans will blend on this new adventure. Hemsworth began by describing his own arrogant agent, Agent H, and explained:

My character certainly kind of does things his own way. He’s pretty reckless in his approach, and... he doesn’t take advice from others. He works alone, usually. And then in this particular instance, [my character and Tessa’s character] sort of teamed up together, I think outside of either of their first choice I think. They’d prefer… she’d probably rather be saddled with someone a little more [laughs] on book. But, as I said it gives us somewhere to go and gives us a nice arc.

Tessa Thompson, in trying to nail down their approach to the partnership, referenced back to the relationship built by Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the first three Men In Black movies. She elaborated:

[Our characters] both misunderstand each other and one thing that we’ve talked about a lot, Chris and I, is this idea of what do they teach each other? I think that was something that was so touching about Will and Tommy’s dynamic for the course of the three films is you felt like they really offered each other something. They were able to just be better men, frankly, from being in the company of each other, that they made each other stretch and grow in a way. And that’s played with the easiness that this franchise has, but that it’s inherent. And so, we were talking about that and obviously because, you know... there’s also some other layers of dynamics between it because we’re--he’s a guy and I’m a girl and...and you know. [laughs].

Ah yes, the inevitable romance question. It remains to be seen if Men In Black International will pair Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson that way. That certainly would be a departure from what we’ve seen in this series to date. But Thompson connected the chemistry shared between her and Hemsworth to more iconic duos in Hollywood history. She told CinemaBlend:

These characters, there’s some like Princess Leia/Han Solo in there. There’s Hepburn and Tracy, you know there’s... there’s real sort of texture, and to me, when we’re really singing, it reminds me of some of those iconic duos. And I think with a lot of those, there’s this undercurrent of emotion, but there are so many directions in which the relationship can go and the thing that really is the most exciting about those relationships, I think, is a true meeting of mind and of wit, and a sort of back and forth with that. That creates tension.

The Men In Black International creative team wasn’t done making comparisons to classic on-screen duos as they spoke about the bind being formed by Hemsworth and Thompson. When CinemaBlend got the chance to speak with producer Walter Parkes about this continuation, he compared his leads to the two main characters from James L. Brooks’ classic comedy Broadcast News, and that certainly got our attention. He said:

You know, Holly Hunter was so like, hyper-rational and Bill Hurt was so kind of at ease with the world and sort of bigger than the world and smaller than the world at the same time, and the way they connected was certainly an inspiration for understanding what this character relationship might be.

You can see some of this in action in the main Men In Black International trailer, which we’re happy to share below:

Men In Black International looks to take the action of the series away from New York City (where it primarily rested for three movies) and through several other different global locations. The sequel co-stars Hemsworth and Thompson, though they will be joined by Rafe Spall, Rebecca Ferguson, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson, reprising her role as Agent O.

The movie hits theaters on June 14. Stay tuned for even more coverage from our visit to the London set up the upcoming blockbuster.

Christopher Nolan's New Movie Tenet Is Putting Together A Fantastic Cast

Christopher Nolan's New Movie Tenet Is Putting Together A Fantastic Cast

Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker who, even at his most generous, loves to keep the public in the dark about what he's working on until the last possible moment. His latest film, slated for release next summer, is certainly no exception, as it has just recently unveiled its title, Tenet, on this the first day of shooting. Plot details are also sparse, as the recently provided description of “North By Northwest meets Inception” was dismissed as quickly as it had arrived, though the film being "an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage" remains the premise.

With such a diverse and dangerous setting comes a cast of impressive actors taking on the task of working with Nolan himself. So fresh off the back of Tenet getting a title, and a few new members to its' cast, now is a good time to run down the line and see who's on board for this would be blockbuster of summer 2020! We'll start with Mr. John David Washington himself!

John David Washington

The first lead cast in Christopher Nolan's Tenet, John David Washington will be adding this sought after role on top of a year that's brought him a lot of notice. His role in the HBO series Ballers saw its fourth year of action in 2018, with his lead role in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman netting him several prestigious award nominations in that very same year. Washington's recent credits also include Monsters and Men, as well as The Old Man and The Gun.

Robert Pattinson

Initial reports have mentioned that Christopher Nolan's latest film is to have two male leads, with a female lead around the same age range. Robert Pattinson is the most recently cast male out of the two, with his credits of late being represented in the sci-fi drama High Life, and the western/comedy Damsel. His casting in Tenet seemed sure to set off the rumor mill, as Pattinson's name has been come up as the all but confirmed as a successor to Ben Affleck in the role of Batman. Which makes Robert Pattinson's collaboration with the director of the still highly regarded Dark Knight Trilogy practically kismet.

Elizabeth Debicki

Also part of the previously known cast for Christopher Nolan's Tenet is none other than rising star Elizabeth Debicki. 2018 was also good for Debicki, as Steve McQueen's Widows saw her impressing the hell out of critics and fans alike, as one of the titular stars alongside Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Cynthia Erivo. Previously, Debicki was seen in franchise sequels The Cloverfield Paradox and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, as well as the Guy Ritchie feature film adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Dimple Kapadia

Primarily known for her work in the Indian film world, actor Dimple Kapadia has been added to the cast of Tenet in the film’s most recent run up to production. Kapadia has been a fixture since the 1980’s, most recently starring in Welcome Back, alongside fellow Indian actor/crossover star Anil Kapoor. Tenet marks Dimple Kapadia’s first Hollywood film.

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Best known for his roles as both Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the lead in Mark Millar’s comic adaptation Kick-Ass, Aaron Taylor-Johnson is another one of Tenet’s latest additions to the cast. Most recently seen in Netflix’s Outlaw King, Taylor-Johnson will also be seen in the Kingsman: The Great Game, which will see the famed spy organization’s origins in the 1900’s.

Clémence Poésy

If you’re struggling to remember where you’ve seen Clémence Poésy before, we’ll go ahead and tell you that you most likely recognize her from her role of Fleur Delacour in the Harry Potter film franchise. You may even remember her from films like In Bruges and 127 Hours. But lately, this Tenet star has been seen in TV shows like National Geographic’s Genius: Picasso, where she played French icon Françoise Gilot, as well as the British/French TV procedural, The Tunnel.

Michael Caine

Known quite well as the lucky charm to Christopher Nolan, as well as an actor of great distinction and honor, Michael Caine makes his return to appearing on camera for Nolan with Tenet. Previously, Caine made an uncredited cameo as the voice of Fortis Leader, guiding Tom Hardy and his air squadron in Dunkirk. Caine’s notable credits in the cast range from classics like Alfie and The Italian Job to more recent films like Now You See Me 2.

Kenneth Branagh

In what looks like his addition to the Christopher Nolan repertory company, Kenneth Branagh is the last and latest addition to the Tenet cast. Much like Michael Caine, Branagh was also part of the massive cast that made Nolan’s Dunkirk come to life. More recently, Branagh starred and directed in the Shakespeare biopic All Is Well, and has Artemis Foul ready to go for release next summer through Disney.

As the cast for Tenet continues to form up, and more details besides those provided previously are made known, we'll update this list to reflect the new changes. But until then, know that this newly titled Christopher Nolan event film will be released in conventional and IMAX theaters on July 17, 2020. So, it's probably best you find some movies throughout the rest of 2019's release schedule to pass the time in-between.

Wesley Snipes Is Playing A Villain On Screen Again And We Have The Details

Wesley Snipes Is Playing A Villain On Screen Again And We Have The Details

During his decades-long acting career, Wesley Snipes has played a variety of characters, many of whom have been good guys. However, he has occasionally taken on villainous roles, most notably Simon Phoenix in Demolition Man. Now, over 25 years after that Marco Brambilla-directed movie came out, Snipes is returning to antagonist territory with his upcoming movie, Payline.

Written by Rob Robol and Jay S. Boyd, Payline is described as a casino heist story in the vein of “Oceans 11 meets Free Fire.” The movie is about a small-town casino that turns into a battleground after two groups of criminals try to rob it on the same night. In addition to performing on camera, Snipes will also executive produce Payline for Dawn’s Light Media and Maandi House Studios alongside Alexander Ferguson, while Allan Ungar (who worked on that Uncharted fan film Nathan Fillion starred in), Richard Switzer and Jason Cherubini (the latter two are from Dawn’s Light) are attached as producers.

No specific details were provided about who Wesley Snipes is specifically playing. If I had to guess, he’s either the leader of the gang that’s being framed as the “bad guys” in this heist or he’s the manager/owner of this casino these groups are breaking into. In any case, since this is Snipes’ first villain role since Demolition Man, this is surely a momentous occasion for him. Here’s what the actor had to say about Payline overall:

We at Maandi House Studios along with our sister companies and strategic partners are extremely excited to be working with Dawns Light Media on the kind of action film not seen in years. This is a vehicle to demonstrate the next generation of indie-film making in a 5G powered world. It is our goal to show how a 100% Certified Renewable Energy film production can show love for the environment, community and still produce a kick-ass popcorn movie.

Although he’s stretching his villainous muscles again for the first time in nearly three decades, Wesley Snipes will arguably always be best known for his time as a superhero, having played Eric Brooks, a.k.a. Blade, across three movies from 1998 to 2004. Snipes has expressed interest numerous times over the years in reprising Blade for a fourth movie, though there’s still no indication that will happen. In any case, Payline allows him to once again operate on the side of corruption rather than justice.

In recent years, Wesley Snipes has appeared in movies like The Expendables 3, Chi-Raq, Armed Response and The Recall, as well as the TV series The Player. Along with Payline, his other upcoming projects include the Netflix movie Dolemite Is My Name, where he’s playing D’Urville Martin alongside Eddie Murphy’s Rudy Ray Moore; the RZA drama Cut Throat City, which also stars Terrence Howard, T.I. and Eiza Gonzalez; and the TV series Paper Empire, which also stars Robert Davi, Denise Richards and Robert Knepper.

Payline’s release date hasn’t been announced yet, so stay tuned for that information. In the meantime, you can find out what movies are hitting theaters later this year in our 2019 release schedule.