Why Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Needs To Work As A Standalone Movie, According To J.J. Abrams

Why Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Needs To Work As A Standalone Movie, According To J.J. Abrams

The past few years have been very exciting for Star Wars fans, as new and exciting projects have been released in theaters. The galaxy far, far away only continues to grow, including standalone films and an upcoming live-action TV series. But all eyes are currently on the main franchise, as J.J. Abrams' The Rise of Skywalker will conclude the current trilogy, as well as the nine movie narrative that started with A New Hope.

Episode IX will end the Skywalker Saga forever, so there is a ton of pressure regarding what J.J. Abrams will include in the upcoming blockbuster. But while The Rise of Skywalker is the final installment in a long running franchise, the director also took care to craft an independent story that stands on its own. As he recently explained at Star Wars Celebration:

Also, this movie, in addition to being the end of three trilogies, also needs to work as its own movie. That’s been part of the fun of it, part of the challenge of it. This movie is about this new generation and what they’ve inherited: the light and the dark. And asking the question as they face the greatest evil: Are they prepared? Are they ready? It’s been really incredible to look at this thing George has created and bring it to a close in this way.

J.J. Abrams may understand the pressure of wrapping up the Star Wars franchise as we know it, but he also wanted to create a contained, satisfying movie. That balance is going to be important going into The Rise of Skywalker, so it's good to see that Abrams is cognizant of it all.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker might be the final movie in a decades spanning franchise, but it's also going to be focused on the trio of new characters that J.J. Abrams created for The Force Awakens. So while Leia, Lando, and Luke will factor into the story, smart money says the primary focus will be on the new class, and their continued battle against The First Order.

During the same conversation at Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy spoke to the challenge of wrapping up the entire franchise so far, ending a narrative that was started decades ago when A New Hope premiered in 1977. As Kennedy put it,

What’s really fascinating is it’s over 40 years. So, the context George is working with is forty years later. To keep this relevant and meaningful to the characters and to the people experiencing this story, it has to feel like it’s of its time. I think that what we’ve done is taken to heart everything that inspired George and then I think the inspiration J.J. has brought to this has given it even more depth.

It looks like everyone involved in The Rise of Skywalker understood the dual role the film had to play. Yes, the Skywalker Saga must be given an appropriate ending, but the movie also has to function as a standalone film, with its own themes and story. The pressure is on, so we'll just have to wait and see what J.J. Abrams churns out with his second foray into the beloved space opera.

All will be revealed when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Seth Rogen Says The Lion King Footage Makes Him ‘Weep Uncontrollably’

Seth Rogen Says The Lion King Footage Makes Him ‘Weep Uncontrollably’

Disney is obviously a massive filmmaking presence, which is always finding ways to enthrall audiences (and make tons of money in the process). Over the past few years, the House of Mouse has capitalized on the trend of nostalgia, adapting classic animated blockbusters into live-action. This all started with Maleficent, and the next big Disney remake is coming down the line is Jon Favreau's The Lion King.

Anticipation for The Lion King has been steadily building over the past few years, after Jon Favreau revealed the all-star cast assembled to popular Pride Rock. One of the brilliant casting choices is Seth Rogen as Pumbaa the warthog, pairing the comedian with fellow funny man Billy Eichner as Timon. But Rogen can barely get through watching footage without breaking out into hysterics. When explaining the pressure of giving The Lion King new life, the 37 year-old actor said:

I once heard it referred to as the crown jewel of the Disney movies, and for me at least, it’s for sure the one that hit me the hardest, that taught me the most lessons about life and death and many things in between. Whenever Jon has shown me [footage], I weep uncontrollably because it does just hit a raw nerve in some ways and taps directly into these feelings from my childhood, but updates them with a scope that is heavily impactful to me as an adult.

Same, Seth Rogen. Because while he's privy to way more information and content than the general public, the brief Lion King trailers have overwhelmed moviegoers with nostalgic feels. So he's not the only one who needs a tissue.

Seth Rogen's comments to EW show how everyone involved in The Lion King understands what an important story is being told. The 1994 original animated blockbuster was an insane success, making tons of money at the box office and earning two Oscars in the process. It has a special place in the hearts of countless families, and showed what the Disney Renaissance was truly capable of.

Related: Seth Rogen Is Seriously Psyched About His Lion King Role

As such, seeing the iconic characters (including Pumbaa) brought to live through cutting edge visual affects is an emotional experience. Shots from the first trailers instantly bring you back to childhood, as Jon Fravreau pays tribute to the Academy Award winning original. But he's still finding ways to surprise the audience, so it won't be a shot-for-shot remake of the animated classic.

As a reminder you can check out the first full trailer for The Lion King, and find yourself transported back to the 1990's in the process.

I'm not crying, you're crying. Actually, Seth Rogen is probably crying.

While the nostalgic feels are already strong for The Lion King, one can imagine that it's an even more emotional experience if you're actually in the cast. Hearing his voice come out of Pumbaa's CGI mouth must be jarring, as he was clearly touched by the original film. Now Rogen has the chance to have the same magical affects on the younger generation, while also paying tribute to the original with older moviegoers.

Very little has been shown of The Lion King, but Seth Rogen is expected to sing out, Louise when it comes time to the classic tune "Hakuna Matata". The trailer is relatively short in length, showing the beautiful world created by Jon Favreau and his animators. But since the new adaptation will arrive in theaters in a few months, we should expect Disney to reveal more shortly.

Seth Rogen's trepidation over The Lion King does make sense, because everyone in the cast has some big (albeit animal) shoes to fill. Disney's original Lion King is one of the most beloved movies in the entire vault, with gorgeous animation and music by Elton John. Movies like The Lion King and Beauty and The Beast helped establish that animated movies could be award contenders, and now we've got an annual category for said film at the Academy Awards.

In the 1994 classic, Pumbaa the gassy warthog is voiced by Broadway talent Ernie Sabella. Sabella had great chemistry with OG Timon, the incomparable Nathan Lane. It's their give and take that made the two comic relief become beloved parts of kids' childhoods. Luckily for Seth Rogen, he was given a solid scene partner in Difficult People's Billy Eichner. Both actors are filmmakers in their own rights, although audiences aren't familiar with their singing voices.

Not much has been seen from Timon and Pumbaa in the new Lion King yet. But there's only been a limited amount of footage offered the generations of fans ahead of the film's release. The duo were seen in the closing moments of the first full trailer, singing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" as the screen went to black. It's just a tease of what we should expect, and Seth Rogen's signature growl seems like a great choice to play Pumbaa. And it's not like fart jokes are unfamiliar territory to the comedy megastar.

Director Jon Favreau actually shared a new glimpse at the dynamic duo of Lion King characters today on social media. Check it out below, and prepare for your heart to be full.

After a long day of no worries and eating bugs, sometimes you have to cuddle up for some shut eye. The above image shows Simba (Donald Glover) in his adult form, avoiding his problems with his two best buddies. But you can see some longing in the character's eyes, likely because he knows he must return to Pride Rock. All he needs is a certain pop star lioness to get him back into shape.

Fans are eager to see how the new Lion King movie differs from the original, and which iconic beats end up staying in the movie. There are new characters being introduced, as well as music from the long running Broadway show. But the trailers show a real reverence for the first movie, and some shots that are nearly identical.

The Lion King will arrive in theaters on July 19th, with Seth Rogen in tow. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Joker Director Todd Phillips Says Perceptions Of The Movie Are Mostly Wrong

Joker Director Todd Phillips Says Perceptions Of The Movie Are Mostly Wrong

Joker has been teasing out a lot of images over the past several months, leading anticipation to be on the high side. Not only is it a comic book movie from a beloved property, but it also stars Joaquin Phoenix, who seems to be going all out to play the iconic character. And The Hangover Todd Phillips is at the helm. While we know all of this, The Joker largely still remains a secret and, according to what Phillips said at CinemaCon 2019, most of what we know about the movie may not be correct.

I don’t have a lot to say about the filming because it’s still taking shape, but also I want it to be a surprise. That said, there’s been a lot of chatter about what this film is and isn’t and most of it hasn’t been very accurate. But I suppose that’s to be expected when you set out to make an origin story about a beloved character that basically has no definitive origin.

From what we've heard about Joker so far, the movie will be framed differently than other DC properties. Joaquin Phoenix will be playing Arthur Fleck and we’ve seen the character in full makeup already ahead of the first trailer. Warner Bros. has previously called the movie “a cautionary tale” and “a gritty character study" about a man who has been “disregarded by society.”

Other than that, there have been some wild rumors out there from plot to casting, most of which Todd Phillips said at CinemaCon are not true.

He’s loathe to give away any real details about the movie. (In fact, I saw some early footage of the movie and I’m still not totally sure where it’s headed or what ground it will exactly cover.) However, Todd Phillips did reveal the marketing department at Warners made him give them something. So, he gave Warner Bros. the genre, noting:

When the marketing department at Warners asked me the other day to describe the movie, I said, ‘I can’t.’ They said, ‘Well, at least tell us the genre.’ And I thought about it for a minute and I said, ‘It’s a tragedy.’ And I think if the brilliant Joaquin Phoenix was here with me he would agree.

There have been a lot of Batman properties featuring the Joker over the years. He’s been played by Mark Hamill, Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto, Micheal Emerson, Zach Galifianakis and I could go on and on if I delved really deeply into Batman lore here. But a comics movie focusing on the world of the bad guys is still pretty novel.

Sure, we got Suicide Squad, but that’s not exactly the same ballpark, given the villains save the day. I’m not sure Thanos winning counts exactly either, since Infinity War is still more of a movie about the heroes. But even if you count stuff like this in with Joker, there are still a slew of movies released for heroes and villain narratives are rare birds.

So, there’s excitement around Todd Phillips’ Joker from that perspective and from the perspective that details are secret and apparently at least partially wrong. Footage is dropping shortly, so you’ll be able to catch the movie and decide if it’s exactly what you’re hoping for very soon.

Joker hits theaters on October 4, 2019. Take a look at its comics competition with our full movies schedule.

I’m A Female Critic, And To Be Honest, I Didn’t Love Captain Marvel

I’m A Female Critic, And To Be Honest, I Didn’t Love Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel hits theaters this weekend, and although a huge faction of people have not caught the movie yet, there’s already been a lot of the conversation around the movie, specifically about gender and movie criticism.

From people trolling the film on Rotten Tomatoes to conversations about representation to worries from some (who haven’t even seen the movie) that it would perhaps have too much of a social agenda, the chatter around Captain Marvel has seemingly been about everything other than the movie itself. In fact, it has even sparked conversations about whether all or at least half of the reviews on Rotten Tomatoes should be from female critics.

At the time of this writing, Captain Marvel is currently running at an 83% in critical reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. Although the film hasn’t achieved the heights of say Black Panther (97%), Thor: Ragnarok (92%) or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1 (91%), that’s a very respectable score, with both positive and negative reviews coming from both men and women—although just counting the first page of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, there were 16 men to 4 women represented.

It’s a refrain we’ve actually heard from celebrities before. Most notably in recent memory, the cast of Ocean’s Eight coming out to discuss the fact they felt the movie wasn’t made for men and that perhaps male critics didn’t get it. There's a thought that perhaps only women should be responsible for reviews for movies starring women.

To be honest, however, I’m a female critic and I didn’t really love Captain Marvel.

I think Captain Marvel does a fine enough job of setting up the character’s origin story. The de-aging wasn’t half bad either, and there were some laughs to be had. It’s a totally acceptable movie and I would have said that in my review.

But I didn’t review Captain Marvel for CinemaBlend. In fact, our reviewer, who is male, thought the movie was delightful. He didn’t have the problems with the weak jokes, the unidentifiable tone and even the music that I had. He enjoyed the origin story and really admired the digital work that Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck put in, noting it’s “absolutely a blockbuster to which the industry should look as it's doing its part to try and reinvent the wheel.”

To me, however, Marvel has set the bar high with its movies. Avengers: Infinity War was astonishing and had such a shocking and spry script that capably showcased a wide variety of characters. The wonder of Wakanda and even the rhinos bought to life an incredible new world in Black Panther. Thor and The Guardians and even Ant-Man have separated themselves out by having fun and tonally different takes than anything else in the MCU or in other blockbuster flicks.

Captain Marvel is missing a lot of those different types of sparks and for me it didn’t offer anything on its own terms that is new or exceptional or necessary to see on the big screen. It’s a fine enough movie, but especially because I think the expectations were so high with Marvel’s first lead superheroine, I do think some people will be disappointed. I was.

I’m paid to live, breathe and opine movies, to be moved by them, to take joy in all kinds of visual wonders and funny moments, to immerse myself in gripping dialogue and action. I spend a lot of time in front of a screen and I see a lot of bad movies as well as good ones. Sometimes I agree with the consensus. Sometimes I don’t.

But what I would really hate would be to be to be told that I don’t deserve to have an opinion on Creed II because boxing movies are not really in my wheelhouse. Or that I don’t get to feel lukewarm about Ocean’s Eight because I’m a woman.

A long time ago, people were familiar with their neighborhood movie critics. They might know if action or rom-coms were not in that critic’s wheelhouse and take those opinions with a little bit of salt based on their own personal taste.

In the vastness of the Internet, one person’s voice may not matter as much as the collective whole, but they should still all be shared.

I think at the end of the day, what we all really want is probably the same thing. Diversity in movie criticism is only going to grow our understanding of what works and doesn’t in movies by leaps and bounds. It could even lead to different movies finding success or Hollywood tackling different projects.

But only half of getting to that place is opportunity. The other half is respectfully allowing everyone to have a voice, whether or not it’s the “right type” of movie for that person.

Rumor: Marvel's The Eternals Is Trying To Cast Keanu Reeves

Rumor: Marvel's The Eternals Is Trying To Cast Keanu Reeves

I mean, if I ever make a movie I'm going to try to cast Keanu Reeves too. Doesn't mean it's going to happen, and it doesn't mean he'll be cast for the new Marvel Cinematic Universe movie The Eternals. But there's a new rumor on the MCU street saying Keanu is being sought for a role in The Eternals, with negotiations said to already be under way.

If true -- and, personally, I hope it is -- "negotiations" can just mean someone called Keanu Reeves' rep and he's weighing it over. The scoop came from MCU Cosmic, with the site admitting it's all still early and there was no news on what part Keanu would even be considering. He has not signed anything at this point.

It's not out of the question to think Keanu Reeves would join a Marvel movie. We've been here before. Remember when he was almost in Captain Marvel? He reportedly missed that train because of a John Wick 3 conflict, not for lack of interest. Keanu even talked about having interest in the role of Wolverine, another Marvel character. So, on the face of it, I both like and can believe the idea of Keanu in the MCU. But let's see how this plays out.

Most of The Eternals casting intel we've seen so far has come from sites like The Hollywood Reporter and The Wrap, which gave us the news on Angelina Jolie signing on (reportedly as Sersei) with Richard Madden in talks (possibly as Ikaris), and Kumail Nanjiani also said to be in the mix.

Chloe Zhao is directing The Eternals, which will reportedly begin production in Atlanta in August. That's per Production Weekly (via ComicBook) which also listed a general description for The Eternals:

The story of The Eternals is set millions of years ago when the cosmic beings known as the Celestials genetically experimented on humans, creating the super-powered individuals as well as more villainous off-shoots known as the Deviants. The two groups went on to battle each other throughout history to see which would eventually become the ultimate race. The story involves the love story between Ikaris, a man fueled by cosmic energy, and Sersi, who relishes in moving amongst humans.

The MCU's Phase 4 is still pretty mysterious, but after Spider-Man: Far From Home, we know we have the Black Widow movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Doctor Strange 2, Black Panther 2, Shang-Chi, and The Eternals. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige will update us with more when he's good and ready. Keep up with all things MCU in our handy guide.

Keanu Reeves, though. Man, is he having a good season. John Wick 3 is the biggest hit of the franchise so far, and that franchise is still continuing from here. Reeves is also voicing a major new role in Toy Story 4, and he's currently rocking a fantastic cameo in the Netflix romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe. After this, he'll be seen in the new Bill & Ted movie. He can do anything, so it's very believable that he could also slay in a Marvel movie. What do you think of the idea?

Final Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Trailer Teases A Ton Of Destruction

Final Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Trailer Teases A Ton Of Destruction

We’ve been pretty talkative about that whole Avengers: Endgame movie here, and for good reason. It looks like an all-out spectacle that’ll take our breath away and make us believe in magic at the movies. But it might also bring some extra special wonder for the month ahead, as we’ve just gotten a hold of a new trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and it looks absolutely stunning. Watch the destruction yourself, below:

So this time out, Godzilla: King of the Monsters has treated us to a new cover of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” that totally compliments the action and adventure being shown in this clip. And with that new music, comes a new tune for the story to follow: the quest for an alpha kaiju.

As we hear in various voice-overs throughout this trailer, the Titans are returning, and they all answer to one dominant creature in their ranks. King Ghidorah is the current alpha, but with 17 Titans confirmed as active, there’s a lot of competition that could unseat his reign. Given the title of the film is Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and the legendary Toho creation is usually the horse to back in these scenarios, we’re going to put our money on the lizard that breathes atomic fire.

But at the heart of this exploration of socio-political dealings in the Titan world is a family story, which sees Vera Farmiga’s Monarch operative trying to loose these Titans upon the Earth, and Kyle Chandler as her estranged, anti-Titan husband. Both parties are trying to do what’s best for their daughter, played by Millie Bobby Brown, who seems to be sharing a special connection with some of these larger than life beasts.

It’s true that Godzilla: King of the Monsters is going to be a destructive thrill ride, with some gorgeous scenery and wisecracks courtesy of Bradley Whitford. But there’s obviously a big beating heart that’s going to be at work at the center of director Michael Dougherty’s follow-up to 2014’s Godzilla. And if you don’t believe that, go back and take a look of that shot with Ken Watanabe having a Dr. Grant from Jurassic Park moment with Godzilla himself.

Avengers: Endgame is going to leave a huge crater in its wake, with very few films able to make their way through the dust and into the light. Godzilla: King of the Monsters keeps looking like one of those winners with every moment it’s shown us, and we can’t wait to see the finished product in the near future. Let them fight again, for the crown.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters stomps into theaters with a look in its eye, and danger on its mind, on May 31st. And if you’re an HBO subscriber, you can check out an exclusive clip with some more fantastic action involving Titans, set to the tune of “Nessun Dorma.”

Spider-Man: Far From Home’s Tom Holland And Jake Gyllenhaal Got Along So Well It Ruined Takes

Spider-Man: Far From Home’s Tom Holland And Jake Gyllenhaal Got Along So Well It Ruined Takes

To state the obvious, when making movies it definitely helps if everybody on set gets along. Acrimony can cause tension and uncomfortability during a production, which can impact the atmosphere and ultimately cause creative problems. It's much better if people are happy and congenial... but as the folks on the set of Spider-Man: Far From Home learned during filming, friendship can have its negatives too.

Sometimes having too much fun can cause its own kind of issues, and this was apparently something that director Jon Watts had to deal with while working with Tom Holland and Jake Gyllenhaal on the set of the 23rd Marvel Studios blockbuster. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker explained that the two got along so well while making the new Spider-Man movie that they became a bit of a disruption at time. He told the magazine,

Sometimes they would crack each other up, and we could not get through takes occasionally. It was a problem!

In Spider-Man: Far From Home, Tom Holland returns as Peter Parker, and Jake Gyllenhaal plays Quentin Beck a.k.a Mysterio - but the two actors apparently didn't have the same kind of contentious relationship making the movie that the two characters have on the pages of Marvel Comics. Rather than fighting and arguing, the two got along so well that they would constantly make each other laugh, and that became a bit of an issue when they were trying to shoot scenes that didn't involve them both busting a gut.

It's entirely possible that part of the reason they got along so well is because Tom Holland was so incredibly excited to work with his co-star. Also speaking with EW, Holland noted that he's been wanting to work with Jake Gyllenhaal for a while now, and he was beyond thrilled to get the opportunity to do so in the making of Spider-Man: Far From Home. Per the actor, there were some initial nerves involved, but they eventually got along swimmingly:

If you look at any interview I’ve ever done prior to this movie and someone asked me, ‘Who would you work with if you could work with any actor?’ I would’ve said Jake Gyllenhaal. And when I found out it was him, I was stoked, but also really nervous. But Jake absolutely was more than I ever could have expected.

So if you're watching Spider-Man: Far From Home later this year and see a smile start to crack on the faces of either Tom Holland or Jake Gyllenhaal, you can feel free to wonder if the grin may have eventually turned into a full-on fit of laughter that ruined a take.

With Avengers: Endgame landing in theaters this weekend, Spider-Man: Far From Home is the next big Marvel Studios release, and fans will be able to see it at their local cinema starting on July 2nd. Also starring Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Martin Starr, and Marisa Tomei, the movie is one of our most anticipated releases of the summer, and we'll have plenty more updates coming your way here on CinemaBlend.