ReelBlend #70: Talking Rocketman, Kingsmen And X-Men With Matthew Vaughn

ReelBlend #70: Talking Rocketman, Kingsmen And X-Men With Matthew Vaughn

Another episode, another week where ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton is in England.

This time, Jake’s on his own, covering the new Danny Boyle film Yesterday, but he still found time to join Sean for episode #70 of the ReelBlend podcast.

It’s just two of the guys this week, as Kevin’s on vacation on a remote island somewhere. So Sean and Jake dove into the news of the week, starting with that trailer for Terminator: Dark Fate. Have you seen it yet? It looks like this:

Staying on the theme of old sci-fi properties getting resuscitated, Jake and Sean shift to the story of Sir Ridley Scott entertaining the notion of continuing his Alien franchise now that Fox is over at Disney. Jake’s all for it, while Sean is done with that saga, completely.

Sean saw Aladdin over the Memorial Day weekend, and gives his review of Guy Ritchie’s live-action musical. The guys both saw Netflix’s The Perfection, and they weigh in on that, as well.

But the big get for Episode #70 was a candid conversation with Rocketman producer Matthew Vaughn, who helped get Taron Egerton cast as Elton John and also kind of helped seal the movie’s deal because of the friendship he made with Sir Elton while collaborating with him on Kingsman: The Golden Circle. The prolific producer opens up with ReelBlend about the making of Rocketman, the future of his own Kingsmen universe, and his thoughts on Marvel now owning X-Men and the Fantastic Four.

Give this week’s episode a listen right now!

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I've Got Two Issues With J.K. Rowling's Comments About Dumbledore And Grindelwald

I've Got Two Issues With J.K. Rowling's Comments About Dumbledore And Grindelwald

J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World began back with the first Harry Potter novel, and has continued to expand in the years since the Boy Who Lived first entranced audiences. Rowling has continued to grow the brand through the Pottermore website, Cursed Child plays, and theme parks. But all eyes are currently fixated on the Fantastic Beasts franchise, which has been planned to span five blockbusters over the next few years. The most recent addition to the property was The Crimes of Grindelwald, which brought Johnny Depp's titular villain and Jude Law's young Albus Dumbledore to theaters.

The relationship between Grindelwald and Dumbledore is one that's expected to be fleshed out in the coming movies, as J.K. Rowling had previously revealed that its at least partly romantic in nature. But The Crimes of Grindelwald didn't get into that at all, at least until Rowling recorded her director's commentary for the home release. In it, she spoke about their relationship, saying:

Their relationship was incredibly intense. It was passionate, and it was a love relationship. But as happens in any relationship, gay or straight or whatever label we want to put on it, one never knows really what the other person is feeling. You can’t know, you can believe you know. So I’m less interested in the sexual side – though I believe there is a sexual dimension to this relationship – than I am in the sense of the emotions they felt for each other, which ultimately is the most fascinating thing about all human relationships.

This quote has sparked some big reactions online and resulted in an endless supply of memes and X-rated twitter responses. There's some anger being directed at J.K. Rowling for reasons she doesn't deserve, although I do have a few issues with these recent revelations. Because there is a way to handle this complex relationship properly.

One problem I have with J.K. Rowling's commentary is that she is telling us about Dumbledore and Grindelwald's relationship after the fact. The two didn't share any real scenes in The Crimes of Grindelwald, which prevented their love/hate dynamic from being properly fleshed out. While she may have wanted to keep that reunion for a later movie, neither of the characters explained their relationship through exposition. In fact, you could have watched the sequel in its entirety without realizing that the hatred between Dumbledore and Grindelwald also comes with feelings of love.

If the two wizard's ill-fated love was so integral to the story, J.K. Rowling should have taken the time to directly address it in The Crimes of Grindelwald. Instead, it was expanded in the film's commentary, after its long run in theaters. In fact, the writer revealed Dumbledore's sexuality in a similar fashion, after the narrative of the original novels wrapped.

Then there's the comments about the intense 'sexual dimension' to Grindelwald and Dumbledore's relationship. While claiming she's less interested in that facet of their dynamic, it was odd that she mentioned sex at all. Harry Potter is not a franchise that focuses on sexuality much. Sure, the kids snog a bit in the novels, but it never gets past that. As such, fans (including myself) were perplexed that Dumbledore and Grindelwald's sex life was addressed so directly. We don't know basically anything about them as a couple thanks to their lack of screen time, and yet the fandom is now aware of how the beloved Headmaster gets down in the magical sheets.

It'll be interesting to see how the story of the Fantastic Beasts franchise continues its life on screen, as J.K. Rowling has quite a few balls in the air, narratively. And with all this controversy surrounding Dumbledore and Grindelwald's past, the iconic writer may have to adjust her approach to their relationship.

It's currently unclear when Fantastic Beasts 3 will arrive in theaters, but CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all the details as they're released. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Is Dave Bautista Really Heading To James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad?

Is Dave Bautista Really Heading To James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad?

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating life in theaters, full of highs and lows. But Warner Bros. seems to have hit some momentum, as it's currently surfing the massive success of James Wan's Aquaman. The first screenings of Shazam! have also arrived, and the early buzz is overwhelmingly positive for the upcoming blockbuster. There's also a ton of exciting projects coming down the pipeline, including James Gunn's DC debut The Suicide Squad.

After being fired from the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise over offensive tweets from a decade ago, the writer/director pivoted over to the competitor. He eventually signed on to bring a Suicide Squad sequel to life, and is making liberal changes to the cast and titular group of villains. Guardians actor Dave Bautista has expressed interest in joining the DC project, and a new report indicates that Gunn maybe looking at him to play DC hero Peacemaker.

While not quite as iconic as Batman or Deadshot, Peacemaker has had a long history on the page. And if James Gunn has a starring role for Dave Bautista in The Suicide Squad, it seems only a matter of time before he official signs on to the developing ensemble project. Of course, Bautista is also contracted with Marvel Studios, so it's unclear how the legality of it all would work. But with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 on indefinite hold, the wrestler turned actor should have the availability in his schedule.

Peacemaker is actually more of a hero than a villain, and would presumably be doing some chaperoning of his more insidious teammates. In fact, Peacemaker (real name Christopher Smith) is actually a pacifist, but eventually gears up and becomes a superhero to make peace happen on his own terms. He's equipped with high-tech weaponry like body armor, a jetpack, and awesome helmet. On top of that, he's in peak physical shape (no stretch for Dave Bautista), and is an expert hand to hand fighter.

News of Dave Bautista's possible role in The Suicide Squad comes to us from Collider. The publication is apparently privy to insider information, and also had a list of the characters James Gunn is reportedly focusing on during his soft reboot of the franchise. Other names included are Flash villain King Shark and Gotham City rogues Polka-Dot Man and Ratcatcher. Its a group of arguably less iconic characters, which may allow Gunn to make them household names, the way he did with the Guardians.

Of course, none of this information has been confirmed by Warner Bros., so fans will have to wait to find out if Dave Bautista and/or Peacemaker will actually make it into The Suicide Squad. Luckily, development seems to be moving forward.

The Suicide Squad is currently set to arrive in theaters on August 6th, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Sylvester Stallone Met The Most Adorable Rocky Fan While Editing Rambo 5

Sylvester Stallone Met The Most Adorable Rocky Fan While Editing Rambo 5

Sylvester Stallone's franchises recently collided in the sweetest way. Right now, he's busy editing Rambo V: Last Blood for the movie's release this September. But while at work, he had a visit from some Rocky fans. He shared a video meeting one young fan who was only 9-years-old, but loved Rocky. Her family told Sly she adored him -- he was truly meeting his biggest fan. Sly, age 72, was understandably both confused and very moved by that news.

The young Rocky fan asked Sylvester Stallone how he became such a good actor and a star. Here's his fantastic response:

A lot of critics would debate that! Certain characters you just feel they're part of you. It's like, playing Rocky is like breathing, I just feel it. Whereas another character I may not. But that particular one, I just believe everything the character says and what I say. That's why I like to write it. It comes from deep inside. But some other characters, it's not quite the same. But that one's just [special].

Watch the conversation play out:

How sweet is that? Also, how can people just drop by the Rambo 5 editing bay? Asking for a friend.

Sylvester Stallone's Instagram is a treasure trove for fans of both Rocky and Rambo (and also The Expendables, but we'll get there in a minute). He recently gave fans an update on Rambo V: Last Blood editing, saying sometimes editing a film is like pulling teeth, but the fifth John Rambo movie was coming together "beautifully." He also teased a battle to the end, with an "unexpected" ending.

For Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone had suggested he was done playing the role after Creed II. However, he still has a lot of love for the character, as you can tell in his answer to his biggest fan, and also because he's been promoting his upcoming documentary on 40 years of Rocky. The first Rocky movie came out in 1976 and won the Oscar for Best Picture; Sly was also nominated for Best Actor and for Best Original Screenplay, since he wrote the script.

Creed II came out in 2018 and Rambo V is scheduled to be released this September 20. Sylvester Stallone also has Escape Plan: The Extractors set for release this year, but so far it looks like only Russia has announced a theatrical release date of June 20. Not sure what's going on there.

What about The Expendables 4? That's my big question. Sylvester Stallone got fans excited with a recent throwback photo to the second movie in that franchise. Last we heard, the fourth movie was back on, and we're hoping the core gang will get back together soon for filming -- once Rambo 5 is done, of course.

As we wait for more updates, keep up with everything headed to the big screen this year with our handy 2019 movie schedule.

Toy Story 4 Is Adding Some Comedy Legends

Toy Story 4 Is Adding Some Comedy Legends

Toy Story 4 already had a stacked cast, from Tom Hanks and Tim Allen obviously reprising Woody and Buzz Lightyear, respectively, to newcomers like Keanu Reeves and Christina Hendricks jumping in as new toys the main characters meet during their latest adventure. But with less than two weeks to go until Toy Story 4 hits theaters, it’s been revealed that comedy icons Mel Brooks, Betty White, Carl Reiner and Carol Burnett will also be lending their talents to the latest Pixar movie.

So how are these legends participating in Toy Story 4? Well, as it most often the case with this franchise, they’ll be voicing toys, specifically ones belonging to Bonnie, just like Woody, Buzz and the gang. However, in the case of this quartet, while they were Bonnie’s favorite toys when she was a baby, as the girl’s gotten older, they’ve fallen out of favor, which is what’s happened to Woody at the start of the movie.

These already sound like worthwhile characters to bring in, but what makes them even better is their punny names. Mel Brooks is voicing a blue elephant named Melephant Brooks, Betty White is voicing an orange tiger named Bitey White, Carl Reiner is voicing a pink rhino named Carl Reineroceros and Carol Burnett is voicing a green chair named Chairol Burnett. All these toys also have a “natural personality” fitting the actor voicing them.

Here’s what director Josh Cooley told USA Today how these characters fit into Toy Story 4:

They’ve done their job and are just kind of waiting around for what happens next. And now that Woody's in there, they're accepting him into their circle and he's already pushing against that. Sometimes toys fall in and out of favor. I look at my own kid and stuff that was the favorite toy yesterday is now in the closet. We wanted to show that Woody's new life in this bedroom is not exactly what he thought it was going to be.

Josh Cooley also mentioned that he recorded Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner’s lines while the two longtime friends were together in Reiner’s living room, which the director described as “so surreal and so awesome.” He added that Brooks and Reiner did an excellent job riffing off each other, and Brooks humorously reminded Cooley that he’s directed films too.

Toy Story 3 explored people outgrowing their toys with Andy having left his playthings in the toy chest years earlier and him going to college marking his first steps into adulthood. Now, through Mel Brooks, Betty White, Carl Reiner and Carol Burnett’s characters, Toy Story 4 offers a look at the toys we leave behind even as we’re still young and our tastes change.

Since it looks like Toy Story 4 could be the last film entry in this franchise, it’s great to hear that all four of these comedy talents were able to lend their voices to it, though we’ll have to wait and see how much screen time they have. It’s also worth mentioning that Mel Brooks was good friends with Don Rickles, who passed away in 2017, but will still be heard as Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 4 thanks to archival audio.

Toy Story 4 opens on June 14, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage. Don’t forget to also visit our 2019 release schedule to find out what other movies come out later this year.

Toy Story 4 Is Breaking Pre-Sale Records For Animated Blockbusters

Toy Story 4 Is Breaking Pre-Sale Records For Animated Blockbusters

Pixar’s upcoming Toy Story film will bring back a lovable ensemble characters and wrap up the long-running franchise with an emotional conclusion. Wait… is Toy Story 4 the Avengers: Endgame of animation? Signs point to yes (box-office wise anyway). The movie recently broke some records for the best first day pre-sale tickets for an animated movie ever. Woody and friends will not be collecting dust this summer, that’s for sure.

When Toy Story 4 pre-sale tickets went on sale on Tuesday, Fandango reported that movie outpaced the current record-holder: 2018’s Incredibles 2, which became the highest-grossing animated movie of all time during the same weekend last summer. What's more, the upcoming sequel also broke the same records for Fandango's competitor Atom.

The Pixar’s superhero sequel earned $182 million during its 3-day weekend opening and went on to make $608 million domestically and $1.2 billion worldwide. Toy Story 4 may now be on track to beat out these numbers, perhaps scoring a potential $200 million during opening weekend. This would place the flick well over last month’s tracking of $105 to $130 million previously predicted.

Toy Story 4 also brought in higher presale figures than 2016’s Finding Dory, the live-action Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 on Fandango. And the Toy Story sequel also sold nearly 50% more tickets on Atom than the site’s top 3 animated titles combined (Incredibles 2, Ralph Breaks the Internet and Hotel Transylvania) in a 24-hour period.

If Toy Story 4 delivers on these expectations, it will easily be the most successful opening weekend for the franchise. It has been nine years since Andy’s toys graced the big screen. 2010’s third installment made $110 million during its debut and over $1 billion worldwide by the end of its run. It was 2010’s biggest movie of the year. NowToy Story 4 likely won’t top Endgame opening weekend but it has a strong chance to become the second best opening of 2019 since the MCU culmination.

Depending on how popular Frozen II fares in earnings later this year, Toy Story 4 could also become the highest-grossing animated film of the year. The first Frozen didn’t earn a huge first weekend, but became popular on the big screen as world of mouth caught on. This lead to a $1.2 million global gross, making it the most-successful animated worldwide release. On the domestic front, Toy Story 3 beat out Frozen by just $15 million, so it could be a close race to the top.

After Pixar has offered up a dizzying amount of sequels in recent years, it’s been said the studio will soon be going back to making original animated films after Toy Story 4, starting with Onward coming in 2020.

Toy Story 4 comes to theaters on June 21 and will see the return of classic characters such as Tom Hank’s Woody and a handful of new one’s such as Tony Hale’s Forky and Keanu Reeves’ Duke Caboom.

Man Reportedly Beaten Outside Cinema For Shouting Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

Man Reportedly Beaten Outside Cinema For Shouting Avengers: Endgame Spoilers

It's been a long wait and Avengers: Endgame is finally here. Fans are packing theaters to see this movie, but not everyone is going to be able to see the blockbuster opening weekend. As such, fans are taking precautions to avoid spoilers at all costs, and even the filmmakers have taken steps to make sure that the plot is as secretive as possible. However, one man in Hong Kong apparently didn't get the memo and was reportedly beaten up for for shouting Endgame spoilers.

Part of what has made Endgame such a unique film is that Marvel Studios has taken extra precautions to keep the film as secretive as possible. Trailers have revealed little information, and the Russo Bros. made it their mission to make sure that people would have an authentic, surprising experience at the theater.

Sadly, in the age of the internet, that's just not really possible. Endgame leaked online ahead of the premiere and hours later, the Russos released a statement asking people to keep all spoilers to themselves. After all, it's one thing to seek spoilers for yourself, but it's wrong to force them on people who don't.

One man decided to take the direct approach with spoilers. According to Deadline, a man reportedly shouted Endgame spoilers to a crowd waiting in line to see the movie. Taiwanese media did not identify the man, but reported that he was left bloodied after the crowd attacked him for the spoilers.

A photo of the man bleeding out of his head and sitting on the street has been circulating the internet.

It's increasingly difficult to avoid spoilers in the age of the internet. A person could see a spoiler just from browsing YouTube and seeing a revealing thumbnail. However, it seems that there are consequences for those who choose to spoil without the anonymity of the internet.

Sometimes you just can't avoid spoilers. My friend had the ending of Endgame spoiled for him a day before he saw the film. Someone he didn't know sent him a direct message on Reddit telling him how the film ends. We determined that the guy was ultimately lying, but he had turned out to be partly correct by accident.

To say that people are excited to see Endgame is an understatement. In China alone -- where this alleged beating took place -- the film is projected to make close to $330 million by the end of the weekend. It's already grossed almost as much as the entire run of the top three films in China.

You can see Avengers: Endgame in theaters right now. After you've seen the film be sure to check back with CinemaBlend for more Marvel coverage, such as our spoiler-filled questions about Endgame or the latest box office numbers.