J.K. Rowling, George Lucas And 4 Other Creators Who Retconned Movies After They Were Released

J.K. Rowling, George Lucas And 4 Other Creators Who Retconned Movies After They Were Released

Warning: spoilers for several properties, like the Fantastic Beasts and Avengers franchises, are in play.

Telling a basic story requires three things: a beginning, a middle, and an end. Sounds pretty simple, but it’s the characters we meet, the relationships they form, and the events they live through or partake in that really put the meat in the sandwich we call a story. And much like a sandwich artist, it takes the right amount of skill to know when you’ve finished your masterpiece, or when it needs a little more work.

However, there have been times when story creators made pretty big reversals to stuff they’d established earlier in their respective canons. We’ve seen it a lot with J.K. Rowling lately, as she’s expanded the lore of her Wizarding World on whims as of late. She’s not the first, and nor will she be the last person to revisit their own worlds of fiction, with a red pen and some big ideas in mind, as you’ll see in the following list of hugest shifts made to pre-existing material, and the folks behind them.

Let's start with the writer who got this list off the ground...

J.K. Rowling

We didn't know a ton about Professor Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series of novels and films, but we did know he had two siblings, a friend named Gellert Grindelwald, and a life full of adventures from his younger years. Slowly but surely, J.K. Rowling has started filling in more of that story, with some rather interesting and contradictory results.

Not only was Dumbledore outed as being gay once the series of books had been completed, with nary a hint or trace of any sort of romance for the venerable Hogwarts headmaster existing in those books, but it was then decided that Grindelwald was the intense object of his affection. That intensity is another change that Rowling has made in the wake of the latest film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. Though it should be noted that film had its fair share of surprises, as it decided to throw another Dumbledore sibling into the works, and we'll see how that storyline plays out in Fantastic Beasts 3.

The Russo Brothers

Alongside writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, Joe and Anthony Russo have had the run of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and plotted its fate up to their final film in the universe, Avengers: Endgame. But the details that came out after the film had dropped, as well as within the film itself, have made some of the most recent history of the series feel a little weird. Most importantly is the whole plot twist that now instead of Captain America and Sharon Carter being a cute one-off romance that now seems like a creepy moment between uncle and niece.

Not to mention, that Hulk’s damage to his arm is permanent, despite no further mention of it being made throughout the rest of Avengers: Endgame whatsoever. (I guess we're just supposed to compare' Hulk's damage to Thanos'?) Most revealing of all these off screen changes was the fact that in between the release of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, major characters like Shuri and Aunt May were dusted off screen.

There was always bound to be some random, off camera folks who were sent away in Thanos’ Decimation, but with characters so notable suffering that very fate, it was a bit of a shock to find out that those we thought were safe turned out to be dusted through interviews and trailers released after the fact.

Sylvester Stallone

Looking to end the Rocky series on a high note, creator/star Sylvester Stallone cooked up the scenario to end all scenarios with Rocky V. Taking one last fight, the underdog-turned-champion Rocky Balboa would risk his whole life on this final bout, as he was diagnosed with permanent brain damage and advised never to fight again.

And yet, despite making that decision to take Rocky out of the ring, it would only take 16 years for it to be undone in the name of progress. With 2006’s Rocky Balboa, Stallone basically said that with the medical advancements that had taken place between the films, Rocky was eventually cleared to box again and it wasn’t that serious in the first place.

Though if we’re being honest, Sylvester Stallone’s own version of the perfect Rocky franchise continuity sees only Rocky and Rocky Balboa still standing, as he believed the films to be perfect bookends to one another. So that’s another thing to keep in mind when untangling the twisty nature of the Rocky franchise.

Sam Raimi

With his interpretation of the Spider-Man mythos, and David Koepp’s pen helping do the lifting on the story end, director Sam Raimi’s 2002 debut of Peter Parker’s big screen adventures set the tone for his career as a crimefighter. And it included one of the saddest moments of his entire life: the death of his uncle Ben.

In the version of events we saw in Spider-Man, a random thug holds up a wrestling promoter that Peter found himself cheated by. But as Peter didn’t stop this thug from getting away, they eventually tried to steal Uncle Ben’s car, killing him in the process. However Sam Raimi, along with co-writers Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent, changed one of the most crucial moments in Peter Parker’s genesis as a superhero, when it came time to write the story for Spider-Man 3.

Now, instead of a random thug, the man who killed Uncle Ben was Flint Marko, better known as the villainous Sandman. Only, Sandman wasn’t too much of a villain, as he was only stealing to support his sick daughter, and Uncle Ben’s death was a total accident. While it doesn’t alter Peter’s character all that much, it’s still one of those things that consciously undoes the pre-existing lore so much, you can see how much disarray the franchise was already in with its third of a proposed seven entry series.

Chris Morgan

While the Fast and Furious series has never been known for its economy of story, there is one event that was so pivotal to a fan-favorite character that it had to be shuffled down the timeline into later films. Killing Han Lue may have felt like the right story beat for Chris Morgan’s script to The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift to undertake, but in order for actor Sung Kang’s character to have more adventures with the Torretto crime family, a lot of explaining would need to be done.

In particular, that film’s slot as the third film in the chronological release order is betrayed by the fact the film’s events were eventually rewritten by Chris Morgan to take place between Fast and Furious 6 and Furious 7. Even more baffling is how instead of the Yakuza (or a rival racer) killing Han, Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw was the person behind that heinous murder.

Were Deckard to have stayed a villain in the Fast and Furious series, this might not have been a problem.  With this character being turned into such a hero his whole entire family has been spun off into a new franchise, there are some who are less than forgiving for Chris Morgan’s big switcharoo; which may explain one reason he’s no longer the main writer on the series’ next installment, Fast 9.

George Lucas

It really feels like there’s a precedent with retconning characters named Han. Though out of these two instances, it’s no question that George Lucas’ massive change to the Star Wars universe is the one with the greater impact.

While the original trilogy’s theatrical version saw Han Solo shoot rival Greedo before he had the chance to get the drop on him, the special editions of the film’s 20th anniversary played out rather differently. This time around, the pivotal moment that proved Han to be a badass without remorse saw his murder of Greedo as a result of the luck of the draw, as they both shot simultaneously.

There were plenty more changes that Lucas would implement through not only the special editions of 1997, but also the prequel trilogy he would eventually embark on as a result. Yet out of everything that would change as a result of George Lucas revisiting the Star Wars galaxy, Han Solo’s status as a rogue being reduced to a lucky bastard is one the fans still have a problem accepting to this very day.

They may not be pretty, but these examples of creators retconning their creations into something different than initially intended are prime reminders that any fictional canon can be meddled with at any time. Nothing is ever final, until those who have the power to say so let them be. Remember that the next time you see an ending, whether you agree with it or not, and take comfort that fans and creators both can interpret events in their own special way, with neither owing any fealty to the other.

8 Best Ryan Reynolds Movies And The 4 Worst

8 Best Ryan Reynolds Movies And The 4 Worst

Ryan Reynolds has put a lot of Hollywood content out into the universe. Some of the actor's big screen work is good and some of it is not so good. We'll be able to decide on his latest this weekend, as Reynolds will be heard on the big screen again with his newest film, Detective Pikachu, which will either be his latest franchise-starter or his newest non-starter, depending on how the box office reception goes for this blockbuster.

Early reviews for Detective Pikachu are generally strong, which is both surprising and comforting given that A) it's a video game movie (which, admittedly, don't have great track records, critically-speaking) and B) it's the newest film starring Ryan Reynolds, an actor who has seen his fair-share of critical darlings and commercial failures throughout the actor's variety career. In this list, we'll look back on some of those triumphs and overlooked gems on the big screen, as well as a few of his regrettable failures.

Now, it should be noted there are some Ryan Reynolds films which have their loyal fans that didn't make the cut here. For instance, Waiting ... and The Proposal. Also, a few of Reynolds' most savaged movies, including Blade: Trinity and The Amityville Horror remake, were not picked-apart this time around, but easily could have been. There is also Just Friends, which didn't garner glowing reviews but a lot of people still have a passion for. And we mean they really love it.

Even though these particular movies weren't put on either list, you should know they were not forgotten — for better and for worse. And that shouldn't diminish your feelings towards them, whether passionate or rage-inducing. With that said, without further ado, here is a list of some of Ryan Reynolds' best and worst movies to date.

Deadpool

Because how could we include a list about Ryan Reynolds without mentioning Deadpool? The surprising 2016 hit is not without its detractors. But at its core, it represents the rise and fall and rise again of Reynolds' constantly wavering career. And though it took a long time to get it on the big screen justly, Deadpool proved everyone wrong by becoming a gleeful, cheeky middle-finger to the other superhero movies before it, while still falling in line with their heartfelt spirit.

After years of false starts and unfulfilled potential, both for the actor and the character, Deadpool felt like a breath of fresh air. Yes, it didn't exactly change superhero movies forever. It still falls in line with your typical origin story, just with some more four-letter words thrown into the mix. Still, it gave Ryan Reynolds the chance to prove his strengths as a comedic actor, dramatic actor and a romantic lead, and it showcases the talent and promise that only seen in minor indie movies and overlooked dramedies before it. Deadpool is a winner, and it's a well-deserved one for Ryan Reynolds too.

Mississippi Grind

While Ryan Reynolds and directors/screenwriters Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel) are perhaps best known for their new superhero movies, their first (and, to date, only) team-up came before their biggest blockbusters. And their collaboration had absolutely nothing to do with super-heroics. The sorely overlooked 2015 character drama Mississippi Grind is the film that quietly snuck its way to select theaters before the aforementioned Marvel movie smashed records everywhere, and it's a low-down, no-good shame, since it's some of their best work.

Working alongside a career-best performance from his co-star Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds puts his talents for fast-moving confidence and weighted gravitas to excellent use in the role of Curtis Vaughn, a hard-drinking, smooth-talking card player who winds up in a state-crossing gambling spree with his new acquaintance. Appropriately (and/or ironically) addictive in its gritty, hard-nosed approach, this indie flew under the radar before Ryan Reynolds made it big with Deadpool and Anna Fleck & Ryan Boden worked their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's well-worth a watch if you're a fan. It's anything but a grind. I'll guarantee that.

Van Wilder

For many folks, Van Wilder served as their first introduction to Ryan Reynolds. The actor was playing a veteran, party-loving super senior who had no ambitions or prospects of graduating from college anytime soon. But it's a frat-boy comedy with heart, particularly as Reynolds begins to form a relationship with a bookish, headstrong Tara Reid during the course of the film. It's a simple premise, told with no shortage of crass and coarse humor, that could've gone nowhere if it weren't for Ryan Reynolds.

Beyond the gross-out humor, the sex jokes and the general raunchiness on display here, Van Wilder is able to work because Ryan Reynolds commits wholeheartedly to the crass, jubilant title role. It was an early showcase for his talents as an actor, and it lead the young performer into superstardom. And while it is no longer his most famous role, it is definitely one that holds a soft spot for many viewers out there.

Buried

To captivate an audience for 95 minutes, particularly while trapped inside a box, you have to be one hell of a good actor. That's certainly not an easy feat to accomplish. While Ryan Reynolds has endeared himself to audiences through in his various films, Buried is one of those underground masterworks (you see what I did there?) that shamefully tends to get overlooked in the broad overview of the actor's diverse, accomplished career. Nevertheless, despite its small-scale reputation, it towers over some of his other films.

A claustrophobic nightmare to the nth degree, Buried is centered around a terrifying prospect: What if you woke one day and you were buried alive, under totally mysterious circumstances, with only a cell phone with limited service and a dying phone battery as your fleeting connection to the above world. In addition to being a logistical struggle for any filmmaker to shoot, it relies a lot on your actor to make this enclosed movie both captivating and commanding — especially as the tension ratchets up and you feel your own air supply starting to dwindle. With Ryan Reynolds as the only actor on-screen for the whole length of the film, it puts all the attention on him. Thankfully, he shines in this dark, underseen little thriller.

The Nines

Until a certain point in time, Ryan Reynolds was liked but not fully respected as an actor. With people still seeing him as the guy from Van Wilder or Waiting..., it was hard for audiences to take him seriously. Sure enough, in true comedic actor fashion, there came a time when Ryan Reynolds decided he wanted to become a dramatic actor. It's a risky proposition for a lot of comedic performers, with the success rate being varied-at-best. With Ryan Reynolds, however, he proved himself enormously with the compelling, heartbreaking indie drama, The Nines.

Joined alongside Hope Davis and a pre-fame Melissa McCarthy, both of whom are also fantastic in this movie, The Nines finds Ryan Reynolds taking on a variety of different roles throughout the course of this twist-heavy drama. As a result, audiences who sought out this indie title got a chance to see the early potential of the actor, and how he proved himself through a wealth of layered and dynamic roles and performances. He really takes it, yes, to the nines. It's not the movie that people often think about when they put together their list of favorite Ryan Reynolds movies, but that just means more people should seek it out.

Adventureland

While Ryan Reynolds has often been at the forefront of his movies of late, he has also proven himself exceptionally verstaile in supporting roles. The actor bleeds charisma and charm, and when he's the side character who is hanging around throwing jokes willy-nilly, it really plays to his strengths. Sure enough, while Adventureland might not be considered your typical "Ryan Reynolds movie," his appearances in the romantic coming-of-age dramedy certainly play a big role in audience's affections for this sweetheart movie.

In fact, depending on how you feel about the movie in general, you could argue that in his scenes, he arguably steals the movie away from the main leads: Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart, respectively. We're not here to make it a debate. We just wanted to recognize Ryan Reynolds' talents as a supporting actor in attention to his commendable and varied work in lead roles throughout nearly two decades of filmmaking.

Definitely, Maybe

While Ryan Reynolds is no stranger to the romantic comedy genre, there are only a select few who became both critical and audience successes. Namely, Definitely, Maybe. The 2008 rom-comedy, written and directed by Adam Brooks, is a time-hopping New York City story that follows Ryan Reynolds and his on-screen 11-year-old daughter, as they do a sort of How I Met Your Mother-esque flashback to his previous relationships in order to explain why he is getting divorced to the girl's mother, and how they got married in the first place.

Though it was well-liked upon release, it has earned a bigger cult following for those romantic types who are looking for something comforting and sweet during a date night on the couch, while still offering something a little different than your garden variety romantic comedy. Sure enough, Ryan Reynolds is typically at his best when he makes something that's at least a little subversive, while still hitting on the hallmarks of a given genre. That is definitely true for Deadpool and (hopefully) Detective Pikachu, and that's certainly the case for this lovable, sweet and good-hearted romantic comedy.

The Voices

Another dark comedy that came out in 2015, just a year before Ryan Reynolds hit it big again with Deadpool, The Voices was another brilliant showcase for Ryan Reynolds' talents as a comedic and dramatic performer. A bittersweet horror comedy that centers around a timid and unhinged factory worker who starts to hear voices from his animals (also voiced by Reynolds) telling him to kill other people, it is definitely not a film with wide audience appeal, particularly as the film grows more violent and disturbing. But it is not only a credit to the vibrant and commendable direction from Marjane Satrapi, but Ryan Reynolds' unlikely performance that really makes this movie sell.

The Voices is a disturbing and twisted movie that is given nuance, depth and surprising tenderness from Ryan Reynolds' remarkable performance. It is a hard sell of a movie, and it would be a difficult movie to appreciate if it weren't for Reynolds work here, as he showcases the light and the darkness of his character in stark depictions, inviting us into this character's twisted mindset while also sympathizing with his despicable actions. It is a very difficult balance, and it's only that works thanks in large part to Reynolds' triumphant acting.

Now that we mentioned Ryan Reynolds' Best Films, let's switch things up. It's time to divert ourselves to Ryan Reynolds' better movies to his less-than-favorable flicks.

Green Lantern

Thankfully, Ryan Reynolds is doing pretty well these days in the superhero genre. His raunchy, foul-mouthed take/redo on Merc With A Mouth earned a number of renewed fans, and the actor's bumpy career has seen a resurgence in the wake of that R-rated film's surprise success. But it was a rough start for Ryan Reynolds. Beyond the bad decisions made to his original take on Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Reynolds was the butt of many jokes (more than a few, of course, he made at his own expense) for his infamously terrible appearance in Green Lantern.

Granted, it worked out in the end. It provided the actor with a good blueprint (or, rather, green-print) for what not to do with a origin story (you can't just copy Iron Man's homework). It also introduced Ryan Reynolds to his lovely wife and the mother of his kids, Blake Lively, and it obviously gave him great self-deprecating material later on. But that doesn't make the movie any better. This awkward, ugly, clunky and creatively bankrupt movie is an absolute mess. Reynolds tried his best, but it wasn't meant to be. Thankfully, while the rejection stung for years, the A-lister licked his wounds and he moved on nicely.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Everyone has to start somewhere. Ryan Reynolds eventually made a name for himself in the superhero genre, but the road that took him there was a very bumpy, windy road. In addition to the aforementioned Green Lantern, there was also X-Men Origins: Wolverine, an ill-fated spin-off film centered around Hugh Jackman's excellent portrayal of the long-standing, muscle-bound comic book character. And what was meant to introduce Deadpool into Fox's X-Men franchise turned very, very bad in a very, very quick fashion.

Where does one begin with X-Men Origins: Wolverine? Let's just mention Deadpool. It has been said a million times before, but you really thought it was a good idea to sew the Merc with a Mouth's literal mouth shut? In all the boardroom meetings, script rewrites, pitch meetings, what-have-you, that was always thought to be the best decision for this character? Seriously?! But I digress. Beyond this bone-headed decision, Ryan Reynolds plays a very minor part in this film, and he really ever gets beyond a moment or two to shine. Thankfully, he fought hard for a spinoff movie that was more in the vein of the character's self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking comic book origin. Before we got the movie that gave the character justice, however, we were stuck with this unfortunate stinker of a X-Men movie. At least we got a nod in Deadpool 2...

R.I.P.D.

Before Deadpool exploded its way onto the big screen and following the fallout of the utterly laughable Green Lantern, Ryan Reynolds had another comic book adaptation up his sleeve. Sure enough, he tried to bring Peter M. Lenkov's graphic novel Rest in Peace Department from the page-to-screen and provide another starring vehicle for the not-very-consistent career he's held these last few years. It was a clear attempt to have the actor headline a new Men In Black-style action-comedy for the new decade and generation. Suffice to say, it did not work out.

Hindered by bad special effects, a muddled story, some sweet-and-sour chemistry between Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges and a weird lack of pulpy fun (despite the movie's laborious attempts at goofiness), R.I.P.D. doesn't carry Ryan Reynolds' charm and charisma, offering only a poor substitute for other, better movies in a similar vein, despite its strong, promising outer-worldly premise. This troubled movie was in development hell for a long time before it stumbled its way into theaters. Sometimes, things are better left dead.

The Change-Up

Ryan Reynolds has great comedic chops. Most people can agree on that point. The famous actor is funny, charming, likable and affable the right roles and characters. There's no doubt that he should be at the forefront of a few raunchy comedies. Obviously, his success as Deadpool proved that he knows how to make people laugh. But as we've noted in this article, the road to Reynolds' most winning roles was not without its fair share of struggles. Sure enough, The Change-Up isn't one of Reynolds' finer works. That's putting it mildly.

Starring alongside Jason Bateman in a body-switching comedy that would've felt dated back in the '80s, this attempt to rejuvenate a tired premise with bad jokes and lackluster character development was not worth the hassle. While Ryan Reynolds got to play a little bit out-of-type when Bateman's timid persona embodied him (and visa versa for Jason Bateman), there is little heart or endearing humor to be found in this ribald comedy. It's better forgotten in the scheme of things. Thankfully, when it came to his career, Ryan Reynolds decided to change things up.

So, here are my picks on Ryan Reynold's best and worse. Doubtless, some of you would have chosen a little differently. (My editor even felt burned about The Proposal not making the cut.) All in all, though, this just means that Ryan Reynolds has made a lot of likable, exciting and re-watchable movies -- and maybe a few more duds than he'd like to admit. Do you prefer some of Ryan Reynold's other titles?

Pet Sematary Has Screened, Here Are The Early Reactions

Pet Sematary Has Screened, Here Are The Early Reactions

Sometimes dead is better, but not better than getting an early chance to see the new Pet Sematary movie. The 2019 Stephen King adaptation premiered Saturday night, March 16 at South by Southwest, giving lucky critics and fans a first look at the horror movie before it opens wide in the U.S. on April 5.

So far, it sounds like Pet Sematary is a big win. The film highly impressed many viewers, including CinemaBlend's own Sean O'Connell, although he admitted he missed a few little things from Stephen King's original story:

Collier's Perri Nemiroff absolutely raved about the movie, praising directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer, along with young star Jeté Laurence as Ellie Creed.

Erik Davis of Fandango praised the film, adding that it should please fans of Stephen King's novel. He also pushed Captain Marvel's Goose out of the way to make room for Pet Sematary's Church -- as if what we really need isn't a buddy movie starring both cats.

Take me to Church! Chris Evangelista of /Film also noted that Pet Sematary isn't 100% faithful to Stephen King's novel, but that didn't damage his opinion of the movie at all. He called it one of the best King adaptations to date.

(The Ramones have a song called "Pet Sematary," if you didn't know.)

Some fans at home -- myself included, I'll admit -- have worried the Pet Sematary trailers may have given away the entire story. Critics like Heather Wixson of Daily Dead tried to put those fears to rest, adding expectations of some major twists.

Since we're talking about a horror film, Meredith Borders of Fangoria emphasized that it delivers on one major requirement -- scares.

Stephen King published Pet Sematary in 1983, and a horror movie adaptation was first released in 1989. We already know from the trailers that this film makes one semi-big change to the source material, but apparently there are more changes ahead.

The 2019 adaptation stars Jason Clarke as Louis Creed, Amy Seimetz as Rachel Creed, John Lithgow as Jud Crandall, Jeté Laurence as Ellie Creed, and both young Hugo Lavoie and Lucas Lavoie as Gage Creed.

Pet Sematary opens opposite DC's Shazam!, which will be some serious competition at the box office. Early estimates put Pet Sematary's opening anywhere from $20 million to $30 million at the domestic North American market. The movie could skew higher after all of these rave reviews -- including promises of secrets not revealed in the trailers -- driving more curious fans to the theater.

Watch Pet Sematary in theaters starting April 5, as one of the many films to keep an eye on with our 2019 movie release date schedule.

Why Jai Courtney Signed On For His Alita: Battle Angel Cameo

Why Jai Courtney Signed On For His Alita: Battle Angel Cameo

Alita: Battle Angel was a movie with a lot of ambition. It was a grand film with a huge budget that was designed very much to be the first film in a franchise. It was a movie so big that some of the film's biggest names had little more than cameo roles. One of those cameos was played by Jai Courtney. The role is so small that you'd be forgiven for missing it entirely, but the actor says that he was happy to do it simply because Robert Rodriguez was the man who asked him. According to the actor, he agreed to do it after getting a call from the director who told him...

There's this role, it's a little small on paper, but if this thing blows up, I'll need someone who I can rely on when we revisit it. And I was like, 'Fuck man, of course!' For Robert Rodriguez, I'm going to go down there and do it.

It seems that Jai Courtney had read for a couple of different roles in Alita: Battle Angel but, while he and Rodriguez wanted to work together, it seemed Alita wasn't quite the right time. However, Rodriguez then turned to Courtney when he needed somebody to fill the role of Motorball star Jashugan.

It seems that while Courtney's role was tiny in Alita: Battle Angel, the idea is that there is more to the character that we would see when and if sequels to the movie ever happen.

Of course, at this point, it's difficult to tell if a sequel is a real possibility or not. Alita struggled domestically, only bringing in about $85 million, but it did much better overseas and has a total gross of just over $400 million.

That a solid total number, but due to the film's fairly expensive budget, it's been suggested the movie needed to hit $500 million to be profitable, and it's clearly well below that mark. There's clearly an audience who got behind Alita, but it just may not be quite big enough. Although, one assumes that sequels could potentially be less expensive to produce since much of the technical groundwork has been done, so perhaps follow ups are possible.

Although, the other issue is that the first movie was a Fox production, which means that any subsequent movies would have to get the green light by Disney, which means convincing an entirely new set of executives to make your movie.

Courtney tells Business Insider that he has no clue what the future might hold for Alita and that he has zero expectations in that regard. It seems he didn't take the role for the sequel potential, but just to work with Robert Rodriguez, though one assumes if the sequel does happen he'll be even happier to have the chance to work with Rodriguez again.

Jai Courtney wasn't the only brief cameo that clearly was inserted because of future potential. Edward Norton also appeared in the film, as the man one assumes will be the main antagonist of any future movies.

In the modern movie landscape the franchise is king, and so a project like Alita was clearly always meant to be the first of many. Having said that, the movie practically requires a sequel simply because of the way it ended. It didn't simply leave the possibility of more story open, it left its own story before it was over.

It will be interesting to see if these cameos will ever get a chance to be fulfilled, or if these appearances in Alita: Battle Angel will just be interesting moments of trivia in a franchise that never happened.

Avengers: Endgame TV Spot Gives First Look At Valkyrie

Avengers: Endgame TV Spot Gives First Look At Valkyrie

Thor's friend from work is back! Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie debuted in Thor: Ragnarok but was not seen in Avengers: Infinity War. It was later confirmed by the Russo Brothers that she escaped with other surviving Asgardians. Apparently she survived The Decimation, too. She got her own Avengers: Endgame poster, and it was in color like the other lucky 50%.

And now one of the many new Avengers: Endgame TV spots has given us a very quick glimpse of Valkyrie, live and in color. She's actually the first one we see in the promo:

Nice! Looking forward to seeing more of her role in Avengers 4. It was suspected that she would return, especially when she was spotted with Ragnarok (and Men in Black: International) co-star Chris Hemsworth in September 2018, joining him when he flew to Atlanta for Avengers 4 reshoots.

Of course, since we're talking about the Russos and the MCU, we have to leave room for misdirection. It would be cruel to give Valkyrie fans that glimpse of her in the new TV spot and only learn that it was another mislead. But it does sound like she'll be back in some fashion, and Marvel did give her a new Endgame poster. Maybe we'll also see the return of the rest of the Asgardians. Will they join the fight against Thanos?

One of the most exciting things about Avengers: Endgame is the number of new characters working together. Even Avengers: Infinity War didn't cover every base. We have characters like Rhodey and Black Widow going to space for the first time, alongside Guardians Nebula and Rocket Raccoon, as Thor bonds with "new girl" Captain Marvel.

Speaking of Captain Marvel, actresses Brie Larson and Tessa Thompson are good friends off-screen, and they've been loving fans' social media posts pairing Valkyrie and Carol Danvers. So maybe fans can expect to see their characters at least meet on screen? Thompson has brought up the idea of Marvel women getting together to fight folks and hang out in space. Maybe she'll get her wish soon.

Continuing on that note, Marvel Studios also released another Endgame TV spot -- it's almost too much now! -- and this one was heavy on the foreshadowing of endings and goodbyes. It also focused a lot on Black Widow finding a family for the first time with the Avengers. She has her own movie coming up, but will it be after she loses her Avenger "family"?

Avengers: Endgame isn't quite the end of MCU Phase 3, as we initially thought, but it does seem to mark the endgames for some original stars and their characters. Chris Hemsworth may be on that boat, although he has said he'd be happy to return as Thor whenever they need him. If Valkyrie is in Endgame, she'd probably connect with Thor at some point. If the rest of the Asgardians return as well, will Thor want to leave to help start a new life with them, after they do whatever they do with Thanos? I have been avoiding any spoilers, so all speculation is valid to me.

Avengers: Endgame opens in theaters this Friday, April 26, as one of the many movies playing on the big screen through 2019.

Ma Is Hilarious, But That Probably Wasn't The Movie's Intent

Ma Is Hilarious, But That Probably Wasn't The Movie's Intent

Warning! The following contains spoilers regarding Ma. Read at your own risk!

As I drove to the theater for my screening of Ma, I was half regretting my decision to attend. Sunday nights are for relaxing, and seeing a horror movie in which a woman befriends and then torments teenagers didn't seem like a calm and relaxing way to prepare for the work week ahead.

As it turns out, I was completely wrong. Ma is the hardest I've laughed in a theater in some time, and though I still have yet to see Booksmart, it may be one of the funniest movies I've seen in 2019. Unfortunately, that's probably not really the point of the movie, which was billed and presented itself as a horror movie. So, why then was I laughing as opposed to jumping out of my theater seat? Let's dive in.

Ma Is An Objectively Hilarious Character

Ma does a solid job of making Sue Ann appear unhinged, and the story of how she got to where she is laid all that out perfectly. Where it struggles, however, is that her more manic moments in the film portray her less as a frightening sociopath and more of a somewhat hilarious individual. Whether she unexpectedly pulled a gun on a teen or karate kicked a pile of beer cans over, I was laughing.

For what it's worth, I think this is more a product of the film's tone and story than anything related to Octavia Spencer. She did bring an intensity to the role I haven't seen in her past work, but those scenes lack the music or build up of tension needed to make those moments legitimately scary. Instead, there might be a chuckle or two as Ma frequently comes out of left field with some actions that come out of nowhere!

The Gore In Ma Is More Cartoonish Than Frightening

Just to get this out of the way right now, Ma is not a movie I would consider to be excessively gory. Most of the violence happens in the latter part of the feature, but hoo boy, when it arrives it really makes an entrance. Fans see a pretty brutal death to kick things up, and things really escalate from that point on.

As the header states though, it's not at all scary. One death feels straight up like something out of a Final Destination movie, and the rest are weird, but almost cartoonish in how they go down. Those who haven't seen the movie need only wait until the final scenes of Ma to understand. It's necessarily as weird as the paint scene (you'll know when you watch), but just an odd display of violence when things seemed more grounded before.

The Teens In Ma Aren't Sympathetic And Make Terrible Decisions

One thing that makes Ma especially funny to me was the lack of emotion I felt towards the teenage cast, who also somehow fell below the standard for teens that make bad decisions in horror films. Like, it's one thing to do the stereotypical trope of running upstairs when being chased by a mass murderer, but these characters do that equivalent while adding "don't forget your knife!" on the way up.

Now, that situation doesn't literally happen, but it might as well have as it's pretty clear from the get go that Sue Ann is bad news. Yet they continue to show up at her house, which can certainly make the audience feel more like "well that's what you get" rather than, "oh poor kids." It also doesn't help that we only the smallest details about each character, which in turn could leave folks largely unaffected by what happens to them.

Ma Has A Good Deal Of Seemingly Intentional Humor

For all the moments in Ma that are unintentionally funny, there are some moments that were brought in, I'm assuming, to lighten the mood with some actual humor. At least, that's what we can assume when it comes to Allison Janney's Dr. Brown, whose sole purpose throughout the movie is to be on Sue Ann's ass whenever she's slacking off on the job.

Another bizarre character was Dominic Burgess' Stu, a relatively minor character with a performance that really sticks out and makes you think he has a larger part to play. Alas he doesn't, although the effort he put into the role really has me wondering if he maybe had more scenes that were cut later in development? Whatever the case, characters like this elevate the humor exponentially, but drastically reduce the creepiness and horror elements.

Ma's Ending Is Just So Damn Bizarre

Massive spoiler warning for those that don't want to know the ending of the movie. You've been warned! Sue Ann/Ma ends up drugging all the teens and keeping them in their basement, and after some unique punishments for most of the characters, Maggie's mom Erica arrives with Stu and the house goes up in flames. Maggie stabs Ma in order to rescue Ma's secret daughter (which is the twist I'm assuming promotions are touting).

Ma is stabbed and everybody else escapes and chills in the front yard in shock of what all happened. Meanwhile, Ma comes to in the burning house and casually watches everyone from the window of her living room. Again, the house is on fire, but she decides to head upstairs, curl up in bed with the dead man that orchestrated her sexual assault when she was younger and wait for the flames to take her. Fade to black, credits roll.

There's no resolution and no falling action; Ma just dips in its most pivotal scene like it has somewhere to be. It's arguably the most hilarious part of the movie, because we're left to wonder what the hell happens in the minutes that follow. Alas, it's an answer that may only come if Ma 2 gets made, which I'd honestly be on board with. Let Ma escape and bump the camp up even further in a sequel, and I'm 100% there.

Annabelle Comes Home Is Definitely Not A Horror Comedy, But It Will Have Funny Moments

Ma is currently in theaters right now for those who haven't seen it yet. Those that have can feel free to share their thoughts in the comments, and let us know if they'd be up for Ma 2.

That Moviepass Competitor Sinemia Is Shutting Down

That Moviepass Competitor Sinemia Is Shutting Down

There was a time, not all that long ago, when it looked like the movie subscription service was the wave of the future. While MoviePass was the first service to grab headlines, they weren't the only game in town, and when MoviePass began to falter, Sinemia came in to try and pick up the pieces by offering an alternative to movie lovers. However, that alternative is now no more as Sinemia has announced they are ceasing operations within the U.S.

MoviePass became the hottest thing at the theater a couple years ago when the price of it's unlimited viewing option dropped to $9.95 a month in price. Subscription numbers went through the roof. However, eventually the users that took advantage of the service to an extreme degree began to be a drain on the service. This led to changes in the plan that ran the gamut from movie blackouts to price increases to limitations on the number of screenings you could view in a given time period.

When that happened, the people who signed up for the original plan began to get upset and Sinemia tried to pick up those customers. While Sinemia did not have the same unlimited plan at the time, it would come later, it did have options, including choices that included 3D and large format screens, something MoviePass didn't offer at the time.

However, as Sinemia began to grow, it began to have growing pains of its own. The service saw outages that frustrated customers and they also dealt with other customers service issues that came from the service's increase in popularity.

More recently, Sinemia was hit on two fronts by a pair of lawsuits, one came from MoviePass and claimed patent infringement. The other came in the form of a class action suit from customers with a litany of complaints including hidden fees and cancellations without refunds.

In a letter posted on Sinemia's homepage, the site admits that the company simply doesn't have the money necessary to both meet increased operations costs and the current legal issues the company is facing.

The U.S. isn't the only country Sinemia currently does business in. You can also use the service in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Turkey, where the company is based. The letter only states that Sinemia is ending U.S. operations, so it's possible the company will continue forward in other countries.

While Sinemia tried to be an alternative to MoviePass, it has now folded and MoviePass, while the company has certainly been through many trials and tribulations itself, still stands.

Many of the major theater chains in the U.S. like AMC and Cinemark have instituted their own subscription system, which largely appear to be successful.

There is clearly consumer interest in the subscription idea, but there are just as clearly some significant hurdles to making it work, at least for third party companies. Where there is interest, you can be sure there will be attempts to capture that market. Will MoviePass, or somebody else, ever figure out how to make money while still giving consumers the value they need?