A ‘Happy Ending’ For John Wick? Keanu Reeves And His Director Have Thoughts

A ‘Happy Ending’ For John Wick? Keanu Reeves And His Director Have Thoughts

Warning: SPOILERS for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, consider this message your head start. Bookmark this story, and come back once you’ve closed the contract.

The John Wick series is known for its spectacular stunt work, its neo-noir storytelling sensibilities and its usage of star Keanu Reeves as the ultimate angel of death. But what the series, now entering its third time at the box office with this weekend’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, hasn’t been known for is its happy endings.

If anything, the ending for the first John Wick movie represents the closest thing to an upbeat curtain call, with John busting his current pet companion out of the pound. But in terms of the last two chapters, the endings have made things more complicated for John and his navigation of the underworld ruled by The High Table. With such stakes, could there ever be hope for a happy ending in John’s eventual future?

That was one of the questions that CinemaBlend got to ask both Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski during the press day for John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and both of their answers pointed towards a similar direction. Starting with Stahelski’s answer to the question of whether or not the John Wick series is working towards a finite end feels like a good launching point, as he had the following point blank response to that question:

Honestly, we kind of took the whole idea of the John Wick universe from Greek mythology, and a more fable-istic kind of telling. I don’t think John will ever really have a happy ending.

Frankly, not only has the mythological influence on John Wick’s franchise been pretty solid, it’s set the table for that very sort of ending with each passing installment. Were the series to have been a one-and-done quest for revenge, the ending of that first film could have served as the emotionally upbeat, but still dour coda to John’s bloodlust.

That being said, how many Greek myths do you know of that have a happy ending? Much like any hero worth their legend, John Wick’s enduring reputation still makes him a target to some, a valuable asset to others and a huge liability to the likes of the mythical High Table that rule the world he operates in.

So it’s obviously going to be very hard to get John Wick out of the life he impossibly escaped from previously, and no one understands that better than the man himself, Keanu Reeves. He said as much during his turn to answer the question of where John’s fate may take him, even after John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum put him through the ringer, as he provided the following thoughts:

A happy ending? You know, I’ve never seen that one. And whenever I think about it, it doesn’t go… I mean, it either goes to dying or being alone. But I guess that happens to everybody.

Hearing Keanu Reeves himself say that he can’t really think of an ending for John Wick that doesn’t conclude in death or isolation may sound like a bummer on the outset. Obviously death isn’t the most ideal circumstance for John, as his vengeance has been had for some time now, and the only real threat to him is an escalating set of circumstances that make it harder for him to make it through the day.

But if you’ve read the actor’s previous thoughts on just what should happen with his action powerhouse of a character and really look into what he’s saying, there’s a chance for happiness yet. In another recent interview, Keanu Reeves mentioned that his ideal ending for John Wick’s story would, in fact, see him alive and victorious as he can still live in the memory of his beloved wife, Helen.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that he has to be surrounded by friends in the end, as John’s survival will more than likely take out as many allies as it will enemies. Ultimately, the simplest and happiest ending for John might be to just walk away from the wreckage and settle down to a more normal life away from it all.

You can watch Keanu Reeves and his John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum director Chad Stahelski discuss their individual answers, in the video from our interviews below:

The end point of the John Wick universe isn’t written yet, and if this weekend’s release of the third chapter has anything to say about it, that ending won’t be happening until a couple installments have come and gone. We’ll see where things go from here, but for now, you can enjoy John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum at a local theater near you.

Moana Soundtrack Vs Frozen Soundtrack: Which Disney Movie Has Better Songs And Lyrics

Moana Soundtrack Vs Frozen Soundtrack: Which Disney Movie Has Better Songs And Lyrics

While Disney animation has had more than its share of hits over the years, there's been nothing quite like Frozen. It's the highest-grossing animated movie around the world the studio has ever had. While a great deal of that success comes from the film's story, which subverts many of Disney's own tropes, you can't overlook the importance of the music in Frozen either.

The soundtrack to Frozen became the first soundtrack album to accumulate one million downloads. It's incredibly successful, but is it actually the best Disney soundtrack?

A couple of years after Frozen, Disney's next "princess" would debut on the big screen in Moana. While Moana would not set the records that Frozen did, it still became an incredibly popular film, in large part because of its music. Let's take a look at the soundtracks and see which one truly is the best.

Frozen Soundtrack

Let It Go: You can't talk about Frozen without discussing "Let it Go." The song is far and away the biggest hit in either movie from a popularity standpoint. There's a reason for that: it's really, really good. Elsa sings the song after leaving home as she decides that she's going to embrace her magic rather than hide it. It's an anthem and it's an inspiring song as any song of this ilk should be.

Do You Want To Build A Snowman?: One of the earliest songs heard in Frozen, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" is the song the movie uses to jump us forward in time. After Elsa has been sequestered away, Anna sings it as she tries to reconnect with her sister. It's an interesting song because what starts out as the fun and lighthearted romp from a child transforms over the course of the song into an absolutely melancholy tune sung be a young woman. The question, "do you want to build a snowman?" starts out as a joyous invitation and becomes a tearful plea.

For The First Time In Forever: Every great animated Disney movie, and most musicals in general, have what's called the "I Want" song. The song in which the protagonist sings about their dreams which will drive the plot of the story. In Frozen, that song is "For the First Time in Forever." It's mostly sung by Anna as she revels in the excitement of seeing the castle gates opened for the first time in years. However, it also shows us what Elsa wants, which is for all this to just end, showing how the sisters will conflict later in the story.

Love Is An Open Door: Sung by Anna and her new beau Hans, "Love is Open Door" is one of the more interesting pieces of music in Frozen because it fulfills two roles that we normally see songs have in Disney movies. First, it's the love song, as the pair sing about how they're falling in love with each other. However, it's also the villain song. Disney villains almost always get great songs to sing and if you pay attention to the lyrics, you realize that what Hans is really saying is that Anna's love is an opportunity that he can take advantage of.

In Summer: Whether you like or loath "In Summer" is going to depend entirely on how you feel about Olaf the Snowman as a character. Olaf's childlike innocence might not work for everybody, but for those who would like to give Olaf a warm hug, the song is great. The boundless enthusiasm Olaf has for something he knows nothing about, the heat of summer, is hilarious and the tune has the wittiest lyrics of any song on the Frozen soundtrack.

Fixer Upper: The final song to appear in Frozen is sung by the side characters the trolls. It sort of works like a secondary love song, though it's played exclusively for laughs rather than to build romance in any meaningful way. It's a cute tune with some funny lines, but it's probably not anybody's favorite song.

Frozen Heart: The first song in Frozen is an underrated tune because it's the one that actually sets the tone for the entire movie. "Frozen Heart" opens the entire movie as a group of men sing while they work harvesting ice. The booming male voices off set the female voices that dominate the rest of the film. And the song's repeated title line "beware the frozen heart" hints at the larger conflicts that will come later in the movie.

For The First Time In Forever (Reprise): The reprise of "For the First Time in Forever" is the moment when Anna realizes that her sister truly needs her help. Elsa only wants Anna to go away, continuing to believe that's the only way to keep her safe. It's a brief interlude but an interesting juxtaposition on the previous version of the song.

Reindeer(s) Are Better Than People: It's brief and its silly, but it's also fun. Frozen doesn't have talking animals the way many Disney movies do, so when it comes to Sven, Kristoff speaks for him. Kristoff performs the song as entertainment for himself and his reindeer while they find a place to sleep for the night.

Moana Soundtrack

How Far I'll Go: "How Far I'll Go" is Moana's "I want" song. It's all about the call the young Moana feels pulling toward the ocean. What makes this song a bit more unique in Disney history is that Moana is more torn than the usual Disney heroine. She knows she has responsibilities at home and she wants to live up to those responsibilities. She doesn't want to leave her life behind, she wants both, and she's not sure how to make that happen. She almost wishes she didn't feel the need to voyage, but she just can't help it.

You're Welcome: Who would ever guess that one of the catchiest Disney songs in recent memory would come from The Rock? And yet, Maui's one solo tune in Moana, "You're Welcome" is the biggest ear worm on the Moana soundtrack. It's got a great tune and punchy lyrics, and isn't short on ego, so of course it works for The Rock.

Shiny: Moana doesn't have a traditional villain that our heroes battle and defeat at the end of the story, so the closest thing to a villain song comes from the giant crab Tamatoa voiced by Flight of the Conchord's Jemaine Clement. It's the biggest musical number in the film and Clement owns the performance, going full glam rock with it.

Where You Are: "Where You Are" is the Moana song that gives you all the backstory you need to understand the story. In just a few minutes you have a complete understanding of Moana's life on the island. We learn what is expected of her, and begin to see that she's conflicted about it. It's got a great melody, too. Similar to one of Frozen's songs, it take us through multiple time periods, and emotions, from the beginning to the end.

We Know the Way: Sung by the great Opetaia Foa'i and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who co-wrote much of the Moana soundtrack, the song comes in two parts. One part is a combination of Samoan and Tokelauan, and the other half is written in English. It's a great piece that uses native languages of the South Pacific in order to properly set the story. It's a wide, sweeping, and open song that feels like you're traveling the wide open ocean.

How Far I'll Go (Reprise): While the original rendition of the song is girl conflicted about what the right choice is, the reprise to "How Far I'll Go" is a woman who has made her choice. She's both excited to be setting off on her journey and determined due to its nature. There's no turning back from this moment and you can feel it in the way Moana sings.

I Am Moana (Song of the Ancestors): At her darkest point, Moana is visited by the spirit of her grandmother. Finally, Moana's torn soul -- that wants to help her and also travel the sea -- finds peace by realizing that she can do both. She understands who she is now, and she chooses to continue her journey. It's an incredible song that will stir something inside you every time you hear it.

We Know the Way (Finale): Moana's finale piece is a return to the voice of Lin-Manuel Miranda in a triumphant finale song that seems Moana and her family traveling the oceans looking for new islands to settle. Moana's people have entered a new era in their lives and Moana is the reason.

An Innocent Warrior: "An Innocent Warrior" probably isn't a song you're going to sing in the car unless you're fluent in several polynesian languages, but the fact that you don't know the words doesn't make the song any less beautiful. Played as Moana has her first encounter with the ocean as a living entity, we see the baby Moana having fun playing with the water, but while she is playing the lyrics of the song tell us about the journey that stands in front of the girl and how important it will be.

Logo Te Pate: Another song you can't sing along to unless you speak Tokelauan, "Logo Te Pate" is the montage song that plays over a collection of scenes that shows Maui training Moana to become a wayfinder. It's an upbeat number and the lyrics, even if you don't understand them, give you a feeling of excitement. We know things are looking better for our heroes.

Know Who You Are: All of Moana is about the title character finding out who she is. In the end, success in her quest comes from helping somebody else find themselves. Te Fiti, whose heart Moana needs to restore, is also the monster who has been blocking Moana's path. The young girl finally realizes this and we get a soulful song that's liable to bring a tear to your eye.

Tulou Tagaloa: The first song of Moana is only played over the opening Disney logos, and isn't technically part of the movie, but it is part of the soundtrack, and it's a lovely (albeit brief) tune. Translated from Samoan, the lyrics are about welcoming you so that you may witness and understand how beautiful this world is, make this song the perfect way to start the story of Moana.

Which One Is Better?

This certainly is a tough call. With Frozen you have one of the most iconic songs that Disney has ever produced in "Let it Go" and if we were judging based on which soundtrack at the best single song, that would determine our winner.

However, when taken as a complete soundtrack, the edge has to go to Moana over Frozen. Everything on the Frozen soundtrack feels like something that would belong at home on the Broadway stage, and of course, Frozen is now a successful Broadway show as well as a movie, and while that's not a bad thing by itself, Moana's soundtrack just has more variety.

In addition, the fact that the lyrics to many of Moana's songs include actual Polynesian lyrics, gives the songs a better sense of place. No matter when or how you hear the soundtrack to Moana, you feel like you've been transported back to the movie when you hear somebody sing in Tokelauan.

Both Frozen Moana have soundtracks that will undoubtedly stand the test of time. But in my opinion, Moana's is ever-so-slightly better.

Has The Black Widow Movie Started Filming?

Has The Black Widow Movie Started Filming?

It's a very exciting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers: Endgame is getting deep into its theatrical run, breaking box office left and right. The blockbuster was an epic adventure that was deeply connected to the previous 21 movies, and it essentially wrapped up the Infinity Saga forever.

The MCU is showing no signs of slowing down, although its plans for the future are currently unclear. Spider-Man: Far From Home is the only upcoming movie with a release date, although there are a variety of projects developing at the studio. Chief among them is the Black Widow solo movie, which will finally give Scarlett Johansson's signature Avenger the spotlight she deserves.

Fans have been eagerly anticipating Black Widow, especially as a strong cast was assembled to join Scarlett Johansson. Now it looks like that movie might already be in production, as a Twitter user revealed a potential shooting location outside Pinewood Studios in Atlanta. So should we expect the solo flick to be one of the first installments in Phase Four?

The future of the MCU is largely a mystery, as Phase Four's slate of films haven't been revealed to the general public. This was done in an effort to guard the secrets of Infinity War and Endgame, a task that grew increasingly difficult in the days leading to their respective releases. But now that Endgame's secrets are out and the spoiler ban has been listed, fans are looking to the future.

Of course, it's important to note that the possible shooting location is not a guarantee that Black Widow is currently filming. In fact, David Harbour previously thought the movie would begin filming in June. So we'll have to wait for an official confirmation.

Related: 10 Times Black Widow Proved Why She Deserves Her Own Solo Movie

The Black Widow movie has been a long time coming, so news that it might be in production is going to make the generations of Marvel fans very happy. Widow has been a supporting character in a whopping seven movie, Natasha Romanoff will finally take center stage in her own flick. But given the events of Endgame, it should be interesting to see how Marvel Studios approaches this project.

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame. If you haven't seen it yet, look away!

Black Widow had a strong outing in Avengers: Endgame. Following the time jump, it was revealed that Scarlet Johansson's character was keeping Earth's surviving heroes in communication. She helps devise the plan for the Time Heist after Ant-Man returns from the Quantum Realm, traveling to Vormir with Hawkeye to procure the Soul Stone. Natasha ultimately sacrifices herself to get the Stone, knowing she'll help to bring back the dusted characters back to life.

Widow's death was an emotional gut punch in Endgame, and it should be interesting to see exactly how Black Widow will acknowledge that, and continue the character's story. Smart money says the movie will be a prequel, showing some of the title characters' mysterious backstory and dark life as an assassin. Although since the multi-verse and time travel are also on the table, it seems like anything is possible.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Black Widow, and you can see her in Avengers: Endgame-- in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

5 Stephen King Easter Eggs Hidden In Pet Sematary

5 Stephen King Easter Eggs Hidden In Pet Sematary

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains massive spoilers for Pet Sematary. If you haven’t seen the film yet, read on at your own risk.

Stephen King adaptations have been popular in Hollywood for decades, but there have been few times in the last 50 years when his name has carried as much heat as it does right now. Andres Muschietti’s IT really helped kickstart the wave in the fall of 2017, and in the time since we’ve seen some impressive stuff come out – including movies like Gerald’s Game and 1922, and television shows like Castle Rock. The most recent title to contribute to the trend is Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer’s Pet Sematary – but more than just adapting one of King’s most iconic books, the new film also pays tribute to the author’s incredible legacy.

How so? In addition to featuring specific callbacks to the novel on which its based, Pet Sematary is also littered with Easter eggs big and small that will put a smile on the face of any Stephen King fan. As proof, we’ve highlighted five of them below, and we’ll start with one that is featured toward the very beginning of the movie…

Lewis Is Tired Of Working Late Hours

When the Creed family moves to Ludlow, Maine, it’s seen by Lewis (Jason Clarke) and Rachel (Amy Seimetz) as an opportunity for a fresh start. After all, the former has a great new job at the local university, working normal hours at campus infirmary instead of at a big, busy hospital. Lewis even makes a specific point about how happy he is that he’s no longer working the “Graveyard Shift” – and while in context he means assigned work in the small hours of the morning, it’s a bit of dialogue in the film that also happens to be a callback to one of Stephen King’s early short stories.

First published in Cavalier magazine in 1970 before being collected in the 1978 short story collection Night Shift, Graveyard Shift is a quick horror tale about a group of middle class workers hired for a cleanup job in a decrepit textile mill. It's pretty horrible work, as there is a heavy infestation of rats that plague the job, but the tiny rodents turn out to be the least of the team’s worries. This is because the creatures have actually managed to evolve while trapped in the building, turning into huge, monstrous, mutated creatures. Obviously we don’t see any of that featured in Pet Sematary, but the nod is clearly there.

The Rabid St. Bernard Story

Typically you wouldn’t think that a story about a violent, rabid dog would be appropriate fodder for a child’s birthday party, and yet it’s that kind of tale that Jud Crandall (John Lithgow) chooses to share off-screen with an unidentified party guest during Ellie’s big day. It’s conversation basically included as background noise, and you’ll only catch it if you’re really listening to it. But those who do will easily catch the reference that is being tossed out, as it’s clear that the canine in question here is none other than the notorious Cujo, and an allusion to Stephen King’s hit 1981 novel.

In the book, Cujo is a St. Bernard who has the unfortunate fate of being bitten on the nose by a rabid bat while running around chasing rabbits, causing him to contract the disease and go feral. This turns out to be extremely bad for every person that encounters him, including a mother and son who he winds up trapping in a car on a viciously hot day. The story was previously adapted as a film in 1983, so it already has its own cinematic legacy, but now Pet Sematary has done its part to extended it.

A Familiar Pair In Rachel’s Parents House

Thanks to her history with her sister, Rachel doesn’t feel a great deal of comfort when she goes home to stay with her parents for a spell following the death of her daughter. It’s a place of genuine nightmares for her, as she is haunted by memories of her sick, cruel sibling and the nature of her horrific death. Those memories alone make the whole place feel sickeningly inhospitable, but definitely not helping matters is the fact that there is also what appears to be a painting of the Grady Sisters from The Shining hanging on the wall.

It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Easter egg, but if you know to look for it you can easily spot the famous blue dresses in a portrait that Rachel steps past while walking through her parents’ house at night. Surely included because their sisterly relationship mirrors that of Rachel and Zelda’s, the Gradys are the daughters of the former caretaker of the Overlook Hotel, Delbert Grady, and were murdered by their father when he was driven to madness. It’s not the only reference to The Shining in Pet Sematary (we’ll get there in a minute), but it’s definitely the best hidden one.

An Ominous Sign

There are many classic author trademarks found in the works of Stephen King, but one of the most blatant is his frequent use of his home state as a setting. King clearly loves Maine, and as a result a significant number of his stories take place within its borders. There are some locations he uses more frequently than others, such as Castle Rock, Jerusalem’s Lot, and even Ludlow, but arguably the most sinister of them all is the township of Derry – which gets a very brief shout out late in Pet Sematary via a highway road sign.

Those who recognize the name of the town probably felt a chill when the sign appears, as Derry is best known as the setting of IT, and is basically the town equivalent of a haunted house – festering with an evil that lives below the surface. Truly, though, this is an Easter egg that actually applies not just to the story of Pennywise The Dancing Clown, but to many of Stephen King’s works, as the municipality has also been featured in books including 1994’s Insomnia, 2001’s Dreamcatcher, and 2011’s 11/22/63.

Ellie Smashes The Bathroom Door

Remember how I said I would get back to The Shining? Well, here we are. This bit comes from the third act of Pet Sematary after Dead Ellie (Jeté Laurence) decides that she doesn’t want her mother to be alive anymore. The vicious nine year old starts attacking Rachel, and it’s shown that a bathroom door isn’t much of a defense against her. It’s a high tension moment, but it’s also easy to see the similarity between it and the part in The Shining when Wendy Torrance is trying to protect herself from her psychotic husband, Jack.

While Stephen King might not be a fan of the movie, Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of The Shining made this particular moment from the book iconic, and it was hard not to watch the ending of Pet Sematary and immediately conjure it to mind. It’s possible that there just aren’t that many ways to feature a character trying to break through a bathroom door, but we’re betting on the reference being intentional.

These are just the Stephen King nods that I caught in our first viewing of Pet Sematary – and we are sure that there are more that we missed. Did you catch any of them and want to make them known? Hit the comments section below with your findings!

Mouse Guard Isn't The Only Fox Film Disney Is Scrapping

Mouse Guard Isn't The Only Fox Film Disney Is Scrapping

As much fun as it is to get excited about how the X-Men and Fantastic Four will eventually be incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe following Disney’s purchase of 21st Century Fox, we can’t ignore that this merger has also resulted in some negative consequences. Last week, it was announced that Disney is dropping Mouse Guard, a Fox blockbuster project that was only weeks away from beginning production. Now we’ve learned about more Fox movies that are being evicted from the House of Mouse.

The Tom Hanks-led News of the World and the adaptation of the Angie Thomas book On the Come Up have both been removed from the Disney slate. However, unlike Mouse Guard, both have already found homes elsewhere, with News of the World (as revealed earlier this month) moving to Universal and On the Come Up moving to Paramount. The Woody Harrelson-led dramedey Fruit Loops is also reportedly poised to be given the heave-ho, although Disney hasn’t made that official yet.

These three movies came from the now-shuttered Fox 2000 division, and according to insiders who spoke with THR, this is Disney “simply culling the enormous influx of projects.” Regarding why On the Come Up was specifically cut, the last movie based on an Angie Thomas book, The Hate U Give, lost money despite being modestly budgeted, so presumably Disney wasn’t willing to take another risk like that. It was also noted that Mouse Guard was deemed to be too expensive for a non-franchise film.

So these mark the latest casualties of the Disney/Fox merger, but it’s also important to mention that there other projects that were given the green light by Fox president Emma Watts before the merger was finalized that will still move forward under the new regime. They include Kingsman: The Great Game, Fear Street, West Side Story, Free Guy, Death on the Nile and, of course, Avatar 2.

That said, apparently some of these movies are being met with “scrutiny,” with Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan Horn reportedly being concerned about the West Side Story remake showing young characters smoking. In terms of overall scope, the report states that Emma Watts and the Fox folks are not being asked to make lower-priced movies, but to aim for more “larger all-audience PG-13 and R films,” like The Ballad of Richard Jewell, which Clint Eastwood is being eyed to direct.

It was to be expected that there would be changes to the Fox release slate after Disney took control, but that doesn’t make it any easier when the people who are working on these movies learn that their work has been ejected. The best case scenario is that these projects move to other studios, the worst is that they never see the light of day. Either way, don’t be surprised if more Fox removals are revealed in the coming weeks/months.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates about the changing Fox landscape now that it’s part of Disney. For now, you can learn what movies are already on the calendar in our 2019 release schedule.

Sounds Like Marvel Studios Is Really Focusing On Diversity In Phase Four

Sounds Like Marvel Studios Is Really Focusing On Diversity In Phase Four

A lot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s fate in Phase 4 is unknown, past the fact that it will kick things off with Spider-Man: Far From Home. But there’s definitely some idea of what properties will make an appearance in the next stage of the evolution for the MCU, as confirmed by Avengers: Endgame producer Trinh Tran. While she was obviously vague about the specifics, the subject of diversity is the big focus for the next batch of films. In particular, Tran dropped the following hints:

All I can say is we have a ton of characters we haven’t explored, and I’d love to do them all. Especially given that with Captain Marvel’s success and the diversity that she brings with the female representation, and with Black Panther and that diversity, it would be great to get more of that out there. Because we have a lot of diverse characters in Marvel.

With both Captain Marvel and Black Panther raking in upwards of $1 billion in their theatrical releases, Marvel Studios has the track record to prove that audiences are definitely looking for better, more diverse representation at the multiplex. But on top of that marketable truth, the studio also has the properties to back up the current plans that Trinh Tran is hinting towards in Phase 4.

Obviously, sequels that follow both Carol Danvers and King T’Challa are going to be hot topics of discussion throughout the offices of Marvel Studios. That’s just for starters though, as the studio has also made announcements on other titles and casting that make for a more diverse MCU. One such title on the plate of the Marvel Studios creative team is the feature film adaptation of Shang-Chi, with Short Term 12 director Daniel Cretton directing, and the need for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first Asian-American lead to be cast.

Additionally, the Scarlet Johansson-led Black Widow solo film is gathering steam pretty fast, with a cast that seems to be constantly growing in recent weeks. That makes this particular project feel like more of a pressing matter for the near future, as all that needs to happen is for the project’s cast to fill out and a start date to be set. And that last concern seems to already be solved, as David Harbour has clued the world into a possible June start date.

Then there’s The Eternals, which is set to have Chloe Zhao directing a cast that will include not only Angelina Jolie and Kumail Nanjiani in its lineup, but also has a role open for an openly gay actor on this new Marvel cinematic super team. While most of these other projects weren’t mentioned by producer Trinh Tran during her talk with Screen Rant, they aren’t exactly surprises as they’ve been going concerns that for some time.

It shouldn’t be too long before Marvel Studios announces their official plans for Phase 4 and possibly beyond if the claim of a five year plan already drawn up is accurate. As it stands, we do know that Avengers: Endgame marks the beginning of the end, which will lead to a brand new beginning, on April 26.

Rian Johnson Doesn’t Mind If Star Wars: Episode IX Retcons The Last Jedi

Rian Johnson Doesn’t Mind If Star Wars: Episode IX Retcons The Last Jedi

Wherever you fall on Star Wars: The Last Jedi reception scale, there’s no question that it’s one of the most divisive films in the Star Wars franchises, if not at the top of the list. Building off what J.J. Abrams established in The Force Awakens, Rian Johnson was brought in to write and direct The Last Jedi, and many of his creative choices were met by controversy by portions of the Star Wars fanbase. With Abrams now overseeing Star Wars: Episode IX, Johnson is okay if this next movie ends up retconning portions of The Last Jedi, specifically Rey’s parentage.

One of the big questions regarding Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was who her parents were. Upon touching Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber at Maz Kanata’s cantina, Rey was bombarded by a flurry of Force visions, one of which showed her being left on Jakku as a child, and her family was never shown. For the next two years, fans wondered about the secrets of Rey’s past, like if she was related to the Skywalker family. Then came Star Wars: The Last Jedi, during which Kylo Ren told Rey to admit what she knew along: that her parents were “nobody,” with Ren saying that they were “filthy junk traders” who sold her for drinking money and were long dead in a pauper’s grave on Jakku.

Well, this plot twist was among the many aspects of Star Wars: The Last Jedi that was met with mixed reactions, and some fans have questioned if J.J. Abrams will retcon this reveal in Star Wars: Episode IX and make Rey’s parents significant people. That remains to be seen, and Rian Johnson has largely remained out of the loop on Episode IX’s development, only having a couple of conversations with Abrams. However, when asked by MTV News if he’d be okay with Abrams retconning the lineage of Rey’s parents in Episode IX, Johnson responded:

I want to let go of all my expectations. I want to sit back. I want to be entertained. I want to be surprised. I want to be thrilled. I want [J.J. Abrams] to do stuff I wasn’t expecting him to do and just go along for the ride. For me, that’s why I go to the movies, you know?

Rey’s parents being turned from nobodies to important individuals would certainly qualify as a surprise. Shortly after Star Wars: The Last Jedi came out, Rian Johnson revealed that the reason he went that direction with Rey’s family was because every other idea he came up with her parents’ identities just didn’t work for him. This creative choice was also a sharp contrast from what we’ve seen from the Skywalker family over the years, with Rey’s impressive Force powers existing for some reason other than having a notable genealogy. That’s assuming, of course, that this sticks for Episode IX. After all, this is a franchise known for its surprises, and it wouldn’t be the first time someone learned that what they’d been told about their family was false.

No doubt changing Rey’s parents would please a portion of the Star Wars fanbase, although I do hope that Star Wars: Episode IX doesn’t go all out on retconning every element of Star Wars: The Last Jedi that was deemed controversial. At the very least, if Rey’s parents were actually identified and even declared to still be alive, she would at least have the opportunity to reunite with them, something she was desperate to do in The Force Awakens. On the other hand, The Last Jedi was about Rey proving her self-worth and skill, and how she didn’t need a notable family line to become a Jedi/Resistance hero, so reversing all that undercuts the message.

In any case, Rian Johnson’s time with this era of Star Wars movies is done, but once he’s finished making Knives Out, he’ll shift to his own Star Wars trilogy, which will focus on new characters and explore other corners of the galaxy far, far away. As far as Episode IX is concerned, he’ll watch it just as a normal fan would (though I suspect he’ll get to attend one of the earliest screenings), and if J.J. Abrams has retconned anything that Johnson set up in The Last Jedi, Johnson will be okay with it so long as he’s entertained and thrilled.

In addition to being the final installment of the current Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars: Episode IX will also be the final chapter of the entire Skywalker Saga, so there’s a lot of plates this movie has to spin. The only official plot detail revealed so far is that it will take place one year after The Last Jedi, which ended with The Resistance nearly being wiped out by The First Order, but the few survivors, including Rey, managing to escape to fight another day. Along with a swarm of familiar faces returning for Episode IX, including Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Mark Hamill and, for his first Star Wars movie appearance in nearly 40 years, Billy Dee Williams, the cast also includes newcomers like Keri Russell, Naomi Ackie, Richard E. Grant and Dominic Monaghan.

While there’s always the chance that Daisy Ridley and the other stars of the current Star Wars trilogy could perhaps return to this franchise several decades down the line, just like Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford did, since Episode IX is wrapping up the Skywalker saga, that means fans should go in assuming this will be the last time we see all these characters. Here’s hoping then that each of their stories concludes in a satisfactory manner, and that if Rey’s background is indeed altered, it at least blends nicely with her overall narrative arc and doesn’t come off as a haphazard switch meant to please folks who were angered by the reveal in The Last Jedi.

Star Wars: Episode IX will be released in theaters on December 20. As for what else is hitting the silver screen in the near future, look through our 2019 release schedule for that information, and Star Wars fans shouldn’t forget that The Mandalorian will also premiere on Disney+ in the near future, maybe even by the end of the year.