Samuel L. Jackson Fought To Balance Comedy With Action In The New Shaft

Samuel L. Jackson Fought To Balance Comedy With Action In The New Shaft

When thinking about the Shaft franchise of films, comedy isn’t something that really springs to mind in the forefront of possibilities. But with the legendary bad mother heading back to screens later this month, in the second reboot to carry the Shaft name, it’s readily apparent that the smooth action will be balanced by a comedic tone that the series will be new to.

It’s a prospect that could scare both fans of the original and anyone new trying to get into the Shaft series with the fresh start offered by Tim Story’s reboot. But those concerns were put to ease to a certain extent, based on what Samuel L. Jackson told CinemaBlend and a selected group of journalists, during a set visit that took place early last year. In particular, Jackson provided the following commentary on how he fought to keep the balance between the jokes and the action:

The previous Shaft was a little more serious, I guess, in terms of what was going on between me and Peoples (Jeffrey Wright’s villain). The level of danger in this changes, because they want it to be light, and there was a conversation about it. The first script was a ‘ha, ha, ha, ha, ha’ script, and I’m like ‘Wait a minute, you really can’t do that because Shaft means something to us, iconically, historically, and mythologically.’ So we can show the lighter side of who he is, in terms of what his attitude is, but the level of danger, of what’s going on in the script, has to be the same thing. So when it’s serious, it has to be very serious.

Shaft certainly isn’t the first reboot to take a storied franchise and inject it with a sense of humor that wasn’t previously there. But as we’ve seen in the past, that experiment doesn’t always work, and sometimes can be kind of embarrassing. So it’s noteworthy and important when someone like Samuel L. Jackson, who is a fixture of the franchise since his turn in the John Singelton-directed 2000 movie, raises concerns as to how to make a leap into more comedic waters believable.

Samuel L. Jackson’s efforts seem to have worked pretty well, as in addition to the remarks he provided above, all on hand were shown a sizzle reel for the film, put together from raw footage of what Shaft had filmed up to that point. And from that early footage, the mixture of swagger and laughter seemed pretty balanced.

In one moment, Shaft is mocking his own son for his more modern sensibilities, and in the next he’s breaking a man’s arm for information. It’s something so legit, it was included in the film’s trailer; and that particular well of humor was something that Jackson also spoke towards during the Shaft set visit.

Complimenting what Samuel L. Jackson said about honoring the character and franchise that John Shaft and his descendants are at the heart of, Jackson discussed how the story of Jessie T. Usher’s JJ learning to become a true Shaft plays into the humor of the film. Which, according to Samuel L. Jackson, involves the following:

And to take a kid that [his mother] molded into what he is now: an I.T. graduate who’s an FBI agent, that has no real street sense, he’s a suburban kid who has the name Shaft. And now he’s in an environment that he has to live up to in a specific way. Because of who Richard [Roundtree] was, because of who I am, because of what he needs to be. So when people say, ‘That’s a Shaft,’ they have to see a Shaft. So he’s learning to be a Shaft against everything he’s been taught him.

The generation gap in the Shaft family is something that’s been played well in the marketing campaign for the film, so at least in that respect, the comedy/action mix looks to really be working. Three generations of complicated men, with no one to understand them but each other and the women in their lives, is something that assuredly lends itself to a fair amount of humor.

And as we’ve seen in the reactions to the looks at Richard Roundtree, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jessie T. Usher in action, the fans are ready to see this family team up to solve crime on the streets of any city they choose to hit. If everything else can line up in the constellation of jokes and jabs, this just might be the sleeper summer hit that Warner Bros. is hoping for the film to be.

Shaft opens in theaters on June 14, and if you’re interested in more content pertaining to the film’s release, stay tuned to CinemaBlend as we’ll have more coverage in the coming weeks.

Liam Neeson Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Making Action Movies

Liam Neeson Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Making Action Movies

There was a time when the name Liam Neeson was synonymous with high caliber dramatic films and period pieces, movies like Schindler's List, Michael Collins, and Rob Roy. However, these days Neeson spends much more time making "one man versus an army" action movies. His most recent in the genre was 2018's The Commuter, and now he's heading back in to make yet another with a new film called The Minuteman.

The new movie will see Liam Neeson as a retired Vietnam veteran who finds himself protecting a young boy that's being hunted by a cartel. The project will be directed by Robert Lorenz, a longtime producing partner of Clint Eastwood, who previously directed Eastwood's Trouble with the Curve.

Liam Neeson starred in Taken back in 2008 and the movie was such a huge hit that it not only spawned a pair of sequels, but also an entire new genre for Neeson to get involved in. While none of Neeson's action films have been able to quite replicate the success of the original taken, the films' modest budgets tend to mean that they do well enough at the box office even that if they don't break the bank, they are still considered successful.

Liam Neeson is 66 years old and as such he wouldn't necessarily be your first thought when it comes to major action heroes, but it really can't be argued that he''s able to make it work. He's somehow believable even at that age, something not everybody can pull off.

Even Neeson himself has said that eventually he feels like audiences will stop buying him in the role of action star at some point, but he seems to enjoy making the movies and that means he'll continue to make them until he stops getting the roles.

It should also be said that at least part of the reason Liam Neeson seems to be getting so many of these roles is that he has more success with them than others. Other aging actors from Mel Gibson to Sean Penn have tried their hands at the older action hero genre, but none have done as well with it as Neeson.

Details on The Minuteman are light from THR, but it seems certain that Liam Neeson will be beating the hell out of cartel members for most of the runtime. The lack of detail means it's impossible to tell if there's much to set this story apart or if it will be just another film like Non-Stop or A Walk Among the Tombstones, that have already been largely forgotten among the litany of action films Neeson has made in recent years.

Still, if you're a fan of action star Liam Neeson, the fact that another project is on the way is good news however you look at it.

Don't Call It Suicide Squad 2, James Gunn Film Is A 'Total Reboot,' Producer Says

Don't Call It Suicide Squad 2, James Gunn Film Is A 'Total Reboot,' Producer Says

As of Friday, James Gunn is helming upcoming movie projects for both Marvel and DC -- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Suicide Squad. His opportunity to write and direct for the latter came after Disney fired him from the former. Disney just pulled a 180 on Guardians, but The Suicide Squad will have priority over Peter Quill and his unlikely space friends’ next adventure.

The filmmaker’s next Suicide Squad looks to be moving further away from what was established in David Ayer's 2016 movie than one might have expected. Just check out what DCEU producer Peter Safran recently teased in an interview with JoBlo Movie Network:

First of all, we don’t call it Suicide Squad 2 'cause it’s a total reboot, so it's The Suicide Squad and I think people should be extremely excited about it. It’s everything you would hope from a James Gunn script and I think that says a lot and that promises a lot and I know that we will deliver a lot.

These words shouldn’t be a complete surprise to DCEU fans following information that has come so far for The Suicide Squad. Upon the official announcement of the movie, it was described as a "relaunch" of the franchise with a unique vision from James Gunn and "mostly all-new cast of characters and actors."

For many, this still left potential for the franchise to draw from some elements of the 2016 movie, such as bringing back some of the cast, but Peter Safran’s words make it sound like James Gunn goes back to the drawing board for the project.

Idris Elba has already been cast as Deadshot to replace Will Smith’s past role. Smith has a packed schedule ahead of him, but that may not be the only reason he will not reprise the role if the studio is opting for a clean slate for the group of misfits. Another actor in question is Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. Recent reports indicate the fan favorite will likely return to the franchise, since she also will star in Birds of Prey and was key to the initial success of Suicide Squad.

Would it really be a "total reboot" if Margot Robbie came back for The Suicide Squad as a key player? It certainly could be done -- and the character is an important enough asset to the universe to run through some sticky continuity red tape -- but Safran's words beg the question.

So let’s stop calling The Suicide Squad a sequel, because it most certainly is not one. The film is expected to begin production this year and has a release date of August 6, 2021. As for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? James Gunn’s deal with Disney was made around his plans for The Suicide Squad and will pick up after he’s finished up with the DC film and perhaps not come to theaters until 2023, per our calculations.

Sounds Like Die Hard 6 Is Up In The Air After Disney Deal

Sounds Like Die Hard 6 Is Up In The Air After Disney Deal

The Disney/Fox deal has left plenty of questions on the table. One question that hasn't come up as often as, say, Will The X-Men Join The MCU? is What Will Happen With Die Hard 6? The movie got as far as a title, McClane, and early news that Bruce Willis would return, along with a new actor playing a younger John McClane.

The first five Die Hard movies were distributed by 20th Century Fox. Now Fox titles are owned by Disney. So when Die Hard 6 producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura was asked if they had a start date yet for McClane, he added Disney to his answer:

I wish, not yet. I don’t know what’s going to happen there. It’s really up to them because obviously now they’re owned by Disney. My sense is that we won’t know much about it for a while while they debate whatever they’re debating. I don’t know enough about their plans really to have any point of view. They like our script.

"They" like the script -- that's a good sign, even if the specifics of "they" weren't discussed in his chat with /FILM. There's been a lot of talk about the script in the past year. Bruce Willis talked about checking out the script a year ago. Shortly after that, reports came out claiming The Conjuring writers Chad and Carey Hayes were hired to write the next Die Hard script.

In September, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura told Empire the movie's title would be McClane, saying "We want you to get invested in John McClane more than ever before." At the time, he confirmed McClane would bounce back and forth between older present day McClane, played by Bruce Willis, and a younger McClane to be cast in his 20s. The film was previously being eyed as Die Hard: Year One.

In late January, Film Stories UK talked to Lorenzo Di Bonaventura and he told the site McClane was still moving forward with Len Wiseman (Live Free or Die Hard) attached to direct. But as of March 20, 21st Century Fox is part of The Walt Disney Company. There's a lot to sort through in the transition, including layoffs and release date changes.

Hope is not lost for Die Hard 6/McClane, but it just seems to be in limbo, along with many other films. It was already in limbo as the script was developed. Based on Lorenzo Di Bonaventura's latest comments, it sounds like they've landed on a script they like, it's just a matter of who is now in charge of moving the project forward and deciding what stays and what goes. As he hinted, we may not know much about it for a while as The Powers That Be sift through the many Disney/Fox projects in development.

As we wait to see whether Mickey Mouse kills off John McClane or helps get him back on screen soon, keep up with what we do know is coming to theaters this year with our 2019 movie release date schedule.

Jeremy Renner Shares Video Right Before Getting His Avengers: Endgame Mohawk

Jeremy Renner Shares Video Right Before Getting His Avengers: Endgame Mohawk

It's been two long weeks since Avengers: Endgame arrived in theaters, and the fandom is still recovering from the film's myriad twists. The Russo Brothers meticulously crafted the blockbuster, connecting the story to myriad other installments and giving the original Avengers lineup significantly more screen time. This includes Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, who returned from his Infinity War absence with a fresh new haircut and penchant for murder.

Ahead of Endgame's release, there was a ton of talk about Hawkeye's new mohawk. Play on words aside, Clint Barton's new do has been turned into countless memes, and is already iconic in its own right. Now Jeremy Renner has shared a video from the movie's set, revealing the moments before his mohawk was born. Check it out.

Way to cut out the big ending, Renner. This video shows Hawkeye moments before the new mohawk arrived. If only the actor knew how many jokes would come out of Twitter.

This new video, which comes to us from Jeremy Renner's official Instagram, is a peak behind the curtain of Marvel Studios' top secret process. Since the MCU is such a well-oiled machine at this point, it's easy for the public to forget that the franchise is just full of regular people doing their job. This includes the hair and makeup team, who are tasked with creating each characters' signature look. Cue the Hawkeye fade.

The contents of Avengers: Endgame were kept under wraps until the film's release, with both the studio and Russo Brothers doing everything they could in order to guard the myriad twists. This means the cast must follow strict guidelines, with many actors not given full scripts or the details of scenes before filming. And videos needed to be kept under lock and key for years.

Now that Avengers: Endgame is going into its third weekend in theaters, the cast and crew are finally getting more chatty about the massive blockbuster's contents. Co-directors The Russo Brothers officially lifted the spoiler ban after Endgame's second weekend in theaters, so social media and regular water cooler talk has really stepped up in regards to the myriad plot twists of the 22nd MCU installment.

Related: The Avengers: Endgame Trailer Has Us Obsessing Over Everyone's Hair

With the spoiler ban lifted, cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe have been slowly revealing behind the scenes look at Avengers: Endgame. Jeremy Renner wasn't the only Avenger to snap videos from the set, with Chris Pratt posting clips from the film's epic final battle. Plus, we've seen photos from the all-female Marvel lunch, which was apparently thrown by Robert Downey Jr. himself. Overall, it looks like Endgame was a blast to make--despite the sky high anticipation and pressure coming from the fans.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

8 Things You Might Have Missed In The Joker Trailer

8 Things You Might Have Missed In The Joker Trailer

This morning, Warner Bros and DC Comics released their first look at the Todd Phillips directed Joker film, set to be released this October. While the project has always sounded like a very experimental prospect, seeing it in action just made us all the more aware of how exciting this film could be. Not only is it a period piece, but it’s also a version of the Joker we’ve never seen before; a man who we literally get to see crumble before our eyes.

And along the way through the Cliff’s Notes version that the trailer presented us of said downfall, there were some interesting nods and clues that show a very interesting first look at what the world of Joker is going to look and feel like. Some are quick references to history, others are interesting points of interest that have us thinking what they’ll mean in the long run. All are present in the first trailer for Joker, which you can watch below before we start to dive into the deeper details:

Now let’s take a look at some of the little things scattered through Joker’s trailer that caught our eye.

The Bob Kane Tribute

One of the legendary forces behind Batman’s creation, Bob Kane was one of the two men that made the Caped Crusader the man that he is. The same applies for his archnemesis, as The Joker was also one of Kane’s legendary creations. So throughout the Batman universe, it’s been a tradition to include his name among the various easter eggs that can be found through various mediums, and Joker gives up one pretty quickly. At the beginning of the trailer, if you look closely at the ID tag of the social worker that’s speaking with Arthur, you’ll see that her name is Debra Kane, undoubtedly a nod to the man who helped both Gotham’s greatest hero, and its biggest villain, come to living breathing life.

Wayne Hall

What would a movie taking place in Gotham be without having at least one reference to the richest, most visible family that lives in the city? Though judging by what we’ve read on Joker’s plot, as well as its cast of characters, it feels like the Waynes will make more than just cameo appearances in the film. Still, when the name “Wayne Hall” flashed up on the screen, it was something we’d totally have noticed without the gold letters and spotlights. Though judging by what we’ve heard about the incarnation of Thomas Wayne in this film, that was probably the only way to play this whole thing.

Modern Times

During the split second of Wayne Hall’s exterior being shown, it’s revealed that Charlie Chaplin’s classic film Modern Times is playing at the grand opening of that very event space in the fall. This is doubly interesting, first because Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur has a bit of a Charlie Chaplin-esque look about him when he’s dancing as a sign spinner towards the beginning. So one of his comedic influences is, undoubtedly, The Tramp himself. But even more surprising is the fact that Modern Times was a satire that drew attention to the economic hardship of the Great Depression era worker, which looks like something the Wayne family didn’t take into account when deciding to use it as their self-named hall’s opening event.

Thomas Wayne Gets Political

As if on cue at the thought of his very name, Thomas Wayne appears in the trailer for Joker. First coming in as a voiceover, but then showing his face through actor Brett Cullen, Thomas is afraid for Gotham City. He thinks it's lost its way, and that only a cold blooded coward in a mask could perpetrate the crime he's lamenting in this clip. It very well may be a murder, probably Arthur's first in a possible series. But even scarier is the fact that we've previously assumed that while Thomas isn't the same man he's portrayed to be in previous incarnations, his deadly fate might be just the same. In which case, this sort of taunting might not be wise in hindsight.

A Very Different Arkham

Arkham Asylum is one of those locations that undeniably anchors the Batman series in the consciousness of its fans. Usually depicted as a high tech facility with all the bells and whistles and an extremely gothic flavored decorative style, it’s where all of the baddies that Batman catches tend to go to. Before they break out into the world again, that is. But in Joker’s version of Arkham, it’s not even labeled as an asylum, as it’s known in this world as Arkham State Hospital. And rather than look like somewhere you’d expect The Riddler to be hatching his next, post-escape plan, it looks like the sort of run down mental facility you’d expect from the 1980’s lowest of lows. Gritty realism has found a new way to infiltrate the world of Gotham, and it’s super effective.

The Killing Joke

One of the plot aspects that’s been brought to mind with Joker is the fact that Arthur is trying to be a stand-up comedian during the course of the film. We see several shots of him going to Pogo’s Comedy Club, laughing it up, and eventually taking his own spot on the main stage. Which nails one particular Batman story right on it’s head: The Killing Joke. Part of The Joker’s origins in the Alan Moore penned story involved him being a frustrated wanna-be comedian, in the hopes of going pro and caring for his pregnant wife. While there’s no wife here, there is his mother. And as we see in some flashes of footage, it looks like he might make it to a certain point of stardom as a funnyman. Which leads us to one of the most surprising references in this entire trailer.

The King Of Comedy

Martin Scorsese’s underrated classic The King of Comedy told the story of, get this, a frustrated wanna-be comedian who would do anything to get his moment in the spotlight. That film’s protagonist was played by none other than Robert DeNiro, which was a fact that was not unseen when his casting in Joker was announced to be for the role of a TV host that drives Arthur mad. With Scorsese executive producing this film as well, it feels like Joker is a pseudo remake of that very film, with DeNiro playing a role similar to the one Jerry Lewis played against him in the original. Extra bonus points go towards the production designers for invoking the look of the 80’s era sets that Johnny Carson used during his tenure as the host of The Tonight Show.

Bruce Wayne Behind Bars

Just as I discussed the inclusion of the Wayne family in Joker, there was one pretty big piece of that puzzle dropped into place during a scene where Arthur befriends a little boy. That young lad seen in the trailer just happens to be none other than Bruce Wayne, as played by Dante Pereira-Olson. Separated by a gate with iron bars, Arthur tries to get his young friend to smile, albeit in a creepy, hands on sort of way. How this budding friendship will turn out is yet to be seen, but if our hunch is correct, it’s not going to last for long, if it gets to start at all.

We’ve still got some time between now and Joker’s debut in theaters, and a whole bunch of surprises are probably still waiting to be thrust upon the public at the right time. In fact, I could still be totally wrong about what we think is going to happen in the film. But what's been seen so far is promising, and definitely invoking the right spirit to become a socially subversive take on a classic comic villain. You could even say, it puts a smile right on our faces.

Joker takes the stage in theaters on October 4th. Though laughs aren’t that far off in the box office future, as you’ll see by consulting our 2019 release schedule. That's no joke!

Oscar Isaac Has A Great Response To Those Batman Rumors

Oscar Isaac Has A Great Response To Those Batman Rumors

It's a very exciting time in Oscar Isaac's career. The 40 year-old actor became a household name from his role in the Star Wars franchise, playing smart-mouthed Resistance pilot Poe Dameron. Since then, he's booked a ton of work, appearing in a multitude of movies every year. And with Episode IX ending the current trilogy and Skywalker Saga forever, it should be fascinating to see which projects Isaac signs on for, now that his schedule has opened up a bit.

Fanboy culture obviously has a soft spot for Oscar Isaac, given his role in Star Wars and the ill-fated X-Men: Apocalypse. As such, he's been put on fan lists to possible replace Ben Affleck as the DCEU's Batman. He's not the only name being floated around to play the lead in Matt Reeves' The Batman, and now Isaac has officially responded to the rumors, saying:

No. I have only read it online like everyone else. I haven’t had any conversations about Batman, unfortunately, but I am sure it is going to be great. Matt Reeves is such a great director. Yeah, he can get my number.

While shutting down any possible rumors or reports of talks with Warner Bros., Oscar Isaac did make one thing clear: he'd love to work with Matt Reeves. So perhaps the director could end up giving Isaac the call to play the new Dark Knight after all.

Oscar Isaac's comments come from his interview with Metro, while the actor was on a press tour for his Netflix movie Triple Frontier. Interestingly enough, he's starring in the heist film alongside Ben Affleck himself. So if he ever gets approached to play Batman, he'd be taking on the mantle from a recent friend and colleague. Of course, he clarified that that process hasn't even begun, and there is no truth to rumors about Isaac's involvement in The Batman.

He may have shut down the rumors of his role, but Oscar Isaac's final comment in the statement above is going to get DC fans very excited. He doesn't seem to have ruled out the possibility of playing Batman, expressing his interest in working with Matt Reeves. So the excitement and rumors will likely keep swirling until Reeves finally revealed who is taking the title role in The Batman, now that Ben Affleck is officially out.

Realistically, Oscar Isaac seems like a less likely choice to play Batman, given what we've learned about Matt Reeves' still developing DC project. The Batman will reportedly focus on a younger version of Bruce Wayne, who is more green in his vigilante work. Oscar Isaac is only 6 years younger then 46 year-old Ben Affleck, so that might take him out of the running. Although most Star Wars fans would kill for a chance to see him behind the cowl. After saying goodbye to Poe this coming December, audiences will want another excuse to see him on the big screen.

Even if Oscar Isaac ends up taking the role of Batman, he's going to have some massive shoes to fill. The DC live-action universe had a solid Bruce Wayne with Ben Affleck's iteration, which brought something new to the character, unique from the myriad other adaptations. Skipping an origin story, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice debuted a Batman who was experienced, jaded, and surprisingly violent. He was arguably the best part of an uneven blockbuster, and comic book fans quickly got on board with Batfleck.

Ben Affleck eventually reprised his role in a quick few scenes in Suicide Squad, before taking on a larger role in Justice League. Unfortunately for the filmmaker, those two projects failed to resonate with critics and audiences alike. And after going viral for his Sad Affleck face regarding Dawn of Justice's reviews, Affleck eventually hung up his cowl and cape for good.

Now Matt Reeves has the lofty task of finding an actor to replace Ben Affleck in the DCEU. It's hard to enough to cast the Dark Knight in live-action, but it's especially challenging given the character's tenure in the shared universe. There are bound to be endless comparison to Batfleck, and the new Bruce Wayne will have to try doubly hard to bring something new to the beloved DC hero.

If the reports are to be believed, Matt Reeves will do this by focusing on a younger version of Gotham's Protector. This should be in stark juxtaposition to the last iteration, and there are plenty of moviegoers who would love to see Oscar Isaac step into the suit. Additionally, The Batman will also reportedly focusing on the detective side of the title character's life as a vigilante. This has been sorely missing in the previous iterations, especially considering Bats is known as the World's Greatest Detective.

As for Oscar Isaac's involvement, we probably shouldn't hold our breathe in hopes of him taking on the role of Batman. While he seems like a great candidate due to his star-power and status among the fandom, Matt Reeves' plans for The Batman don't necessarily fit Isaac's talents. But there were rumors that the director was looking for a big name to take on the role. And the Poe Dameron actor is that type of name.

It's also important to note that The Batman has already gone through a ton of changes during its long gestation period. Ben Affleck was originally attached to direct and star in the project, before dropping out of each of those roles on separate occasions. Matt Reeves eventually took over, but it seems like the script and story are still being worked on. So if they manage to bring Oscar Isaac into the fold, the younger Bruce Wayne idea could get the chop. We'll just have to wait and see.

You can catch Oscar Isaac in Triple Frontier streaming not on Netflix, and he will play Poe Dameron one last time in Episode IX on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.