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Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Avengers: Endgame Writer Is Teasing Big Changes After Phase Three

Avengers: Endgame Writer Is Teasing Big Changes After Phase Three
Chris Evans as Captain America in Avengers: Endgame

While Avengers: Endgame is barely over a month away, we still have no idea what's going to happen to the Marvel Cinematic Universe after it's over. Yes, we're going to get a Spider-Man movie, but how will the events of Endgame change the characters and stories we're going to get in Phase Four of the MCU? We don't really know the answer yet, but one of Avengers: Endgame's writers wants us all to know those changes are going to be real and they're going to be big. According to Christopher Markus...



The MCU continues to exist. What happens to be in it is a fluid and evolving thing where, because it's all connected, you can't reboot one. All the parts have to work together. Things continue, but like life, losses are real, and change is real.



We have some expectations of what some of the big changes that are coming will be. Certain actors are set to leave the MCU and as such those characters may die or be written off in some other way. Maybe the hero and the costume will live on being worn by another, maybe not. However, if you were expecting things to largely go back to something resembling "normal" once these few changes happen, Christopher Markus' statement would seem to discount that idea.




The Marvel Cinematic Universe was an attempt to take the long term continuity and crossover aspects of the comic book world into the cinema. In the comics, while each character is largely left to their own devices most of the time, things do happen in one part of the world that can have repercussions on others. The MCU, because there are far fewer movies than there are issues of comic books, feels these changes in a much greater way.


However, Markus' comments to Empire would seem to spotlight one major place where the MCU and comics differ. It's an area I had wondered about myself previously. In the comics, while things do go through major upheaval from time to time, the world always returns to the status quo eventually. Steve Rogers has died and lost his powers at different points and others have taken up the shield, but eventually Steve Rogers is Captain America once again. That's not going to happen in the MCU.


Whatever changes we see at the end of Phase Three, as Christopher Markus says, will be real. If Steve Rogers dies in Avengers: Endgame, he's almost certainly going to stay dead. If Robert Downey Jr. is too expensive to keep in the MCU now, that's not going to change in the future. And at some point these actors will simply not want to return to these roles, even if they're offered all the money in the world. Eventually, these characters will change for good and there will be no return to the status quo.




While this is, on the one hand, going to be frustrating for those that lose their favorite heroes, it's also incredibly exciting. Major, real change in a persistent universe is something that Marvel has never really tried in the comics. How well will it all work? What new exciting characters or major changes to existing ones could happen that will take stories in entirely new directions? We'll begin to find out very soon.

Marvel's The Eternals Is Adding Angelina Jolie

Marvel's The Eternals Is Adding Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie is no stranger to big action movie roles, with Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Wanted being some of the most significant titles on her resume, and it looks like she is now ready to join her first superhero franchise - specifically the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to new reports, the actress is now in talks to join the cast of The Eternals, albeit in an unknown role.


This news comes to us from The Hollywood Reporter, which sadly doesn't have a ton of info about the film beyond the fact that Angelina Jolie is now signing up to be a part of it. The project is set up to be directed by Chloe Zhao (The Rider), and it is said that the story will be a centuries-spanning romance that centers on the titular near-immortal beings and their monstrous genetic relatives, the Deviants. The two lead characters will be the cosmic energy-powered Ikaris, and the powerful sorceress Sersi - though it's unclear if either of these roles will ultimately belong to Jolie.


Given her stature in the movie industry both as an actor and as a director, rumors have been swirling around for years connecting Angelina Jolie to superhero film projects. One of the most prominent stories that stuck around for a while was the idea that she was on the short list to potentially helm Captain Marvel, but obviously that gig wound up going to Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. We'll just have to wait and see what it was about The Eternals that made Jolie want to be a part of the franchise.




What adds yet another layer of mystique to this development is the fact that Angelina Jolie doesn't really do a ton of live-action performing anymore. Later this year we will get to see her back up on the big screen in the sequel Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil, but it will be the first time we've seen her in the medium since 2015's By The Sea. Her career has been much more focused on the directing side of things, so it makes one wonder about the particular allure of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (assuming that it's more than money). She does have six children between the ages of 10 and 17, so it's entirely possible that The Eternals is a film she wants to make because her kids are fans of the brand.


Right now the state of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's future is a bit hazy, as Marvel Studios isn't announcing any official plans until this summer. That being said, it's been reported that The Eternals could be going into production some time later this year, meaning that it could wind up with one of the three 2020 release dates that the franchise currently has carved out. If that's the case, it's very likely that we will be hearing more casting reports soon, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for all the latest updates.

Avatar 2 Cast List: All The Confirmed Heroes And Villains

Avatar 2 Cast List: All The Confirmed Heroes And Villains
Sigourney Weaver

For the longest time, it seemed as if those Avatar sequels were going to be the sorts of movies that languished in development hell forever. However, over the last few months the wheels have begun to actually turn, and now it appears that these movies may actually happen.


Part of the reason this now seems real is because of all the actors that have signed on to the project. Several members of the first film's cast are returning, and even more new characters have also been announced by director James Cameron and his producers. Where do we currently stand? Here's a look at everybody who has a confirmed appearance in Avatar 2. On to Pandora!


Sigourney Weaver/Dr. Grace Augustine


It's not exactly clear how Sigourney Weaver will appear in Avatar 2, as her character of Dr. Grace Augustine died during the events of the first film. Whether Grace will somehow come back, likely in her Na'vi avatar body, or will exist as some other entity isn't entirely clear. Her consciousness may still exist inside the Tree of Souls, even though we were led to believe that process failed. However it will work, Weaver has been attached to this one since back when we still weren't sure if this movie was going to happen.




Sam Worthington/Jake Sully


Once upon a time, Sam Worthington looked to be the next big thing in action movies with roles in films like Terminator Salvation and the Clash of the Titans remake. While those franchises have faded away, Avatar is still here, and thus, Worthington will be back on the big screen in a big way. Once human, but now existing entirely inside his Na'vi Avatar, every indication is that Jake Sully will be our lead character once again. While the plot of the new film is still mostly unknown, we know that Avatar 2 will see Sully and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) with children.


Zoe Saldana/Neytiri


Neytiri was the primary member of the Na'vi that the first Avatar focused on. She became the love interest for Jake and was the one responsible for showing him the ways of the Na'vi. Saldana's star was on the rise when the first Avatar came out, much like Worthington, but unlike him, she has become a serious movie star in the ensuing years. Still, Saldana clearly loves her work on Avatar and seems to be excited to be going back for the sequel. Much like Sigourney Weaver, she's been talking about going back ever since the sequels were first rumored.


Stephen Lang/Colonel Miles Quaritch


Another member of the "dead, but apparently not" club. Stephen Lang's Colonel Miles Quaritch seemingly perished in the battle of Pandora at the end of the first film, and yet, he's apparently set to be the primary antagonist of the story going forward, as the word is he will be in all the forthcoming sequels. All. Of. Them. Lang is a great actor and so we don't really have a problem with his return, as long as it makes some sort of justifiable sense. Apparently, even Lang didn't originally believe James Cameron's concept for bringing him back




Kate Winslet/Ronal


The most recent addition to the Avatar 2 cast is a name familiar to James Cameron fans, as he'll be reuniting with Kate Winslet (Titanic) for at least one movie. We know the name of her character is Ronal, but that's about the extent of it. Whether she plays a human or Na'vi, or whether that Na'vi is from the jungle or the reef, is unknown. Still, we're certainly looking forward to seeing these two Hollywood greats work together again.


Joel David Moore/Norm Spellman


Joel David Moore played the role of Norm Spellman, who became Jake Sully's friend, after previously being friends with his deceased twin brother Tom, and who ended up fighting alongside Jake in an Avatar at the end of the film. Eventually, Spellman lost the link to his Avatar but was allowed to stay on Pandora after all the other humans were kicked off the planet. This possibly makes him one of the few 100% human characters who will even be in this movie, as most everybody else who is confirmed is going to be big and blue.


CCH Pounder/Mo'at


Mo'at was the Na'vi spiritual leader in the first Avatar and was one of the key characters in Na'vi society that we met along with Neytiri's father who was the village chief. As the keeper of the Tree of Souls, Mo'at will probably have plenty to do, what with all the dead people who somehow still have roles in this movie. Since everything we know says the sequel will take us to new places on the planet, there's a good chance Mo'at's knowledge will lead the way. CCH Pounder was perfectly cast in the role before so it's great to know she's coming back.




Jamie Flatters/Neteyam


Jamie Flatters is one of a whole collection of young actors who will be bringing entirely new characters to life in Avatar 2, and, one assumes, all the sequels. Flatters will play Neteyam, the firstborn son of Jake and Neytiri. At this point, that's about all we know about the character, but the fact that Neteyam is the oldest of several children of the pair shows that quite some time will have passed since the first film when Avatar 2 picks up. The fact that so many young actors will be in the movie at all tells us they'll likely be important.


Britain Dalton/Lo'ak


Jake and Neytiri's second child is named Lo'ak and will be played by the young Britain Dalton. Dalton will be known to viewers of the Amazon series Goliath, starring Billy Bob Thornton, but he may also sound familiar to fans of the Uncharted video game series as he voiced the young Nathan Drake in the most recent title, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. We have no details about this character beyond his birth order and his name. While Lo'ak is the second of three children, he is the youngest son.


Trinity Bliss/Tuktirey


Jake and Neytiri's youngest child is their only daughter, Tuktirey. Tuk (as she is often called) will be played by Trinity Bliss. Bliss will be making her screen debut in Avatar 2, which means that we know more about the character she'll be playing than we do the actress herself. Of course, "youngest child of the Sully family" is all we know about the character, so we're at a loss either way. Tuk is one of only two girls among the currently announced child actors, which could indicate a bond between her and the other one.




Cliff Curtis/Tonowari


The first big name added to the cast of Avatar 2 and its following sequels was Fear the Walking Dead's Cliff Curtis. He will play the role of Tonowari, the leader of Pandora's reef people. Pandora's oceans are expected to play a major part in the new film, though whether the reef people, called the Metkayina, are entirely friend or foe is not clear. Curtis is reportedly signed for all the sequels, so we're guessing they'll be allies eventually joining forces against Colonel Quaritch. Tonowari and Jake Sully will have some things in common as they both have kids in this movie.


Filip Geljo/Aonung


The Metkayina people have a collection of young actors joining their cast as well. Those with small children might recognize Filip Gejio as a member of the PBS children's series The Odd Squad, but in Avatar 2 he'll take the role of Aonung, a young hunter and free diver, and also the son of the Metkayina clan leader, which would seem to make him the son of Cliff Curtis' Tonowari, unless there's more than one clan among the reef people of Pandora. We'd expect Aonung will probably interact a lot with the Sully kids, as they all have fairly important parents.


Bailey Bass/Tsireya


The next actor joining the cast as a young member of the Metkayina is Bailey Bass (front and center in the image above), in the role of Tsireya. Reya, as she'll apparently be known, is described as a graceful and strong free diver, a skill which seems to be key to the Metkayina way of life, as every young actor who has been cast has the same skill. This will only be Bass' second film role to date, so she's made quite a leap from relative obscurity to one of the biggest film franchises ever.




Duane Evans Jr./Roxto


Duane Evans Jr. will play, the last of our six new roles, another young hunter and free diver of the Metkayina, named Roxto. Evans will be recognizable to residents of New Zealand for his recurring role on the primetime soap opera Shortland Street, but this will most certainly be his debut to the rest of the world. Beyond Roxto's skills as a hunter and diver, we don't know much about him. But there's plenty of time to discover who all these kids are before the film comes out.


Matt Gerald/Corporal Lyle Wainfleet


And then there's the third actor who's character died in the first Avatar and yet will somehow return for all the sequels. You'd be forgiven for not remembering Corporal Lyle Wainfleet from the first movie. He wasn't given a great deal of focus the first time around, until he was trampled to death by native Pandoran wildlife. And yet, somehow, he'll be back. We're sure whatever method allows him to be alive is similar to how everybody else will return who was once dead. If only we knew what that was.


Oona Chaplain/Varang


Game of Thrones fans will recognize Oona Chaplain as the wife of Rob Stark, but for her next big role, she'll probably live longer, as the actress has been cast in the role of Varang in all of the Avatar sequels. Who is Varang? She's a "strong and vibrant central character" according to sources, but who the heck knows what that means. The fact that she only has one name would indicate she'll be Na'vi, but beyond that? The wife of the Metkayina chief perhaps? Hopefully, she won't attend any weddings.




Jack Champion/Javier 'Spider' Socorro


Finally, we have the last of our young actors, Jack Champion in the role of Javier 'Spider' Socorro. Champion's role is unique for several reasons. Not the least of which being that he plays a human being. He plays a human born at Hell's Gate, but one who prefers his time spent in the rainforests of Pandora. At this point, Spider is the only new human character that we have entirely confirmed, which at least promises that there will be some in the new film.


Jemaine Clement/Dr. Ian Garvin


In May of 2019 the newest addition to the cast of the Avatar sequels was announced. Flight of the Conchords' Jemaine Clement was revealed to be playing a character by the name of Dr. Ian Garvin. Garvin is a marine biologist, which makes sense since we know that Avatar 2 is a movie that will focus on the oceans of the alien planet. It also appears, based on the phrasing of the announcement, that Clement will be around for all of the sequels as well.

Monday, December 9, 2019

How Godzilla: King Of Monsters Is Different Than Other Movies In The Franchise

How Godzilla: King Of Monsters Is Different Than Other Movies In The Franchise
Millie Bobby Brown and Vera Farmiga in Godzilla: King of the Monsters

After traveling back to 1973 to tell King Kong’s take in Kong: Skull Island, the MonsterVerse is jumping back to the present day this summer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters. Due to the events of 2014’s Godzilla, the public now aware of the Titans’ existence, and King of the Monsters will see more of these giant beasts awakening to wreak havoc on the world. But monsters are just one half of the equation in these kaiju movies. There are also the human players directly involved, and according to King of the Monsters star Vera Farmiga, a big way this sequel distinguishes itself from its predecessors is that it places a mother/daughter relationship front and center. In Farmiga’s words:



The previous Godzilla really focused on the relationship of a father and a son. At the heart of our film is this relationship between a mother and daughter.



Obviously the main draw of these types of movies is to see monsters battling one another, but the human stories also help keep the narrative grounded, so to speak. In Godzilla, the relationship between Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Ford Brody and his father Joe, played by Bryan Cranston, was explored during the first half of the movie, and for the sequel, we get to see Vera Farmiga’s Dr. Emma Russell interacting with her daughter Madison, played by Millie Bobby Brown. Emma’s ex-husband and Madison’s father, Kyle Chandler’s Dr. Mark Russell, will also appear in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, but as Farmiga told Syfy Wire, it’s Emma and Madison’s relationship will get a lot of attention.





Godzilla didn’t have much time to focus on Ford and Joe Brody’s dynamic since Joe died after the awakening of the first MUTO, but it doesn’t look like Godzilla: King of the Monsters will repeat that formula. The sequel sees Emma and Madison Russell being kidnapped by a mysterious organization, presumably due to Emma’s work on communicating with and possibly controlling the Titans. Strangely, though, the first King of the Monsters trailer framed Emma as a seemingly willing participant in whatever this group has planned, and both Madison and Mark expressing disappointment and disgust at her actions, although admittedly, it could just look that way thanks to how the preview was edited.


Either way, Emma and Madison will be among the main human characters getting the spotlight in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and since the previous MonsterVerse movies, let alone most monsters movies, don’t highlighted mother/daughter relationships, this makes for a nice change of pace. That said, while both Millie Bobby Brown and Kyle Chandler are confirmed to appear in Godzilla vs. Kong, Vera Farmiga has not been announced as part of that cast. It’s possible that Farmiga’s involvement either hasn’t been cemented or she’ll have a smaller role in the fourth MonsterVerse entry, but perhaps, just like how Ford Brody lost his father, Madison will lose her mother during King of the Monsters. That’d be tragic, but in the MonsterVerse, tragedy comes in large supply.


Godzilla: King of the Monsters rampages into theaters on May 31, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. Don’t forget to look through our 2019 release schedule to learn what other movies are coming out this year.




Anthony Russo Is 'Almost Disappointed' About One Aspect Of Avengers: Endgame’s Opening Weekend

Anthony Russo Is 'Almost Disappointed' About One Aspect Of Avengers: Endgame’s Opening Weekend
Thor in Avengers: Endgame

Can a comic book movie be too successful? The simple answer is probably, “No.” Especially if you happen to be a studio executive. And yet, for Joe and Anthony Russo, they did reflect on the recent historic run enjoyed by their new movie Avengers: Endgame and find one small reason to be disappointed. This came up when the brothers sat down with CinemaBlend’s own ReelBlend podcast, where Anthony Russo admitted:



I have to be honest with you. I'm almost disappointed that the movie did so well, because it's like, the box office story is literally dominating the conversation and it’s not the most interesting part of the story.



We imagine all of that will change once the unofficial Spoiler Embargo on Avengers: Endgame lifts on Monday, May 6, and fans are able to speak openly about the massive swings that occur in this recent Avengers movie.




But Joe and Anthony Russo also understand fully why box office became the focal point of the discussion in the days following Avengers: Endgame, because their blockbuster was behaving in ways we’d never seen before – and may never see again. The movie earned more than $1.2 billion globally in its first five days of release. BoxOfficeMojo notes that the movie is heading into its second weekend looking to surpass the domestic grosses of the original The Avengers movie, which needed 154 days to pass $623.6 million. Endgame might reach that figure in 10 days.


Anthony Russo talked to the ReelBlend podcast about the box office performance of the movie, and their expectations for opening weekend. He elaborated:



When you're charged with writing the final chapter of the book, and executing it, our hope was that -- with any favorite story, you always want the end to be the best part of the story. So that was really what we were hoping to do. Even if we got anywhere close to that, that was our aspiration. And it seems like, at least for some people on some levels, that we delivered an ending that seems satisfying.





While Joe Russo took it from a business standpoint, adding:



It’s always about the narrative, too, of these movies in the marketplace. How did it do? Did it break a record? Did it beat the last one? That stuff is really critical to the life of a movie. And of course, we were hoping that it was going to break the international record. Because that's a story, right? And then you're hoping and praying that it beats the domestic, which was set by Infinity War last year. Otherwise, frankly, [for] some people looks like a failure. It's crazy that a movie like this has these kinds of demands on it.



And yet, Avengers: Endgame is meeting those demands. And now we’re excited to see what the sequel can do in its second weekend. The goal, for most, is to see it surpass Avatar as the highest grossing global film. It has a while to go, but the record seems feasible.




Listen to the full, non-spoiler conversation with the Russo Brothers as part of this week’s ReelBlend podcast:


And if you haven’t yet, check out Avengers: Endgame, in theaters as we speak.

Avengers: Endgame Sold Five Times As Many Advance Tickets As Infinity War In First Week

Avengers: Endgame Sold Five Times As Many Advance Tickets As Infinity War In First Week
Robert Downey Jr. Tony Stark Avengers Infinity War Marvel MCU

Long story short, Avengers: Endgame is already breaking all kinds of records. It sold a stupid number of tickets in the first week of presales. That's not surprising -- even if it's good to hear people managed to actually buy tickets after all of the site crashes. No one should be surprised to hear Endgame is setting new ticket sale records. It already did so within 24 hours of ticket availability.


What's surprising, to me, is the sheer volume we're talking about.


For Fandango, Avengers: Endgame sold five times as many tickets in its first week as Avengers: Infinity War sold in its first seven days of presales.




For Atom Tickets, per CNBC, Avengers: Endgame sold nearly twice as many tickets in its first week as Aquaman, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Avengers: Infinity War, and Captain Marvel combined. Nearly twice as many -- combined! All of those other films made at least $1 billion at the box office, with Infinity War doubling that.


Fandango reports that thousands of showtimes are already sold out across the country. You probably knew that at some point when you tried to get tickets yourself.


What's cool is the note that theaters have been adding new showtimes -- some as early as 4:00 am and 6:30 am Friday, April 26 -- to meet the fan demand to see the three-hour movie ASAP on opening day.




As you might expect, Endgame now holds Fandango's records for both the best first day and best first week of presales, knocking out Star Wars: The Force Awakens.


In terms of what this could mean for Avengers: Endgame's opening weekend, and ultimate box office total? Well, I've already put it on the record that I think this movie could rival Avatar. I know. That might be pushing it, even if we don't adjust for inflation. But look at these pre-sales -- and fans are probably going to watch the 3-hour movie multiple times, especially if Avengers 4 does say goodbye to some or all of The Original 6 Avengers.


For comparison, since Endgame just broke Star Wars: The Force Awakens' record for Fandango, The Force Awakens made $2,068,223,624 worldwide. Avengers: Infinity War made $2,048,359,754 worldwide. And Endgame just sold five times as many presale tickets in the same period of time as Infinity War.




We're definitely look at at a film in the 2 Billion Club. But how long will the movie leg out? Opening weekend anticipation for Endgame is so high because fans don't want to be spoiled on what happens. How do the Avengers beat Thanos and reverse or at least change Infinity War's Decimation? So it's not shocking that fans are rushing to see this movie opening night, even before opening night, or at least opening weekend.


Fandango Managing Editor Erik Davis even added this note about the April 26 demand:



I wouldn’t be surprised to see a record amount of fans reporting sick to work or taking the day off on Friday, April 26 because they’ll be attending opening day screenings of Avengers: Endgame.





Productivity is going to take a dive that day, with the exception of movie theater employees, who should be paid extra. So, on that note, please respond in the poll below if you plan to take work or school off in order to see Endgame. Don't worry, it's an anonymous poll...

ReelBlend #63: Our Shazam! Interview With David F. Sandberg And Peter Safran

ReelBlend #63: Our Shazam! Interview With David F. Sandberg And Peter Safran

Boy, we have been on a streak lately. ReelBlend has been getting some exciting guests, if we do say so ourselves. Hot on the heels of Kevin’s incredible Danny Elfman interview in last week’s episode, we’re joined this week by Shazam! filmmaker David F. Sandberg and uber-DC producer Peter Safran. You are going to want to listen!


Before they get to the interview, the guys have a lot to discuss. They plug the Chicago Meet Up, which is taking place on Saturday, April 13. That will be during Star Wars Celebration, which Jake and Sean plan to cover.


From there, the guys read an ACTUAL review from Kevin’s mom. She listened to the show, and shared her thoughts. It’s pure gold.




The guys then moved to the casting for Jason Reitman’s new Ghostbusters movie, which added Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard and McKenna Grace in pivotal roles. The movie remains a mystery of sorts, as we don’t even know if the original actors will be returning. We assume, because Reitman’s involved, that the Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson will return. But nothing has been confirmed.


You know what was confirmed? Mark Hamill voicing Chucky in the new Child’s Play. And that’s AWESOME.


Finally, Sean was able to share several key Avengers: Endgame details that he picked up from Anthony Russo on the phone last week. The information was embargoed, but now it can be shared. Hope you dig it.




Speaking of digging it, you will dig the interview that Kevin did with David F. Sandberg and Peter Safran on behalf of Shazam! Press play above and listen!


ReelBlend is a weekly podcast that we do on CinemaBlend. You can download the latest episode (and all of our past episodes) for FREE on our iTunes page! Visit. Subscribe. Like and comment. Review! Apple loves when you have star ratings and reviews, so if you listened, and you liked it (or even if you didn't), let us know. We also are on Spotify. And Google Play. And basically everywhere that you download podcasts. So download us.


Meanwhile, follow the guys on Social Media! We have an official Twitter feed for the show, so follow @ReelBlend. In addition, follow the guys at @Sean_OConnell, @JakesTakesand @KevinMcCarthyTV.



 

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