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Friday, December 20, 2019

Venom 2 May Be Getting A New Director

Venom 2 May Be Getting A New Director
Venom in his final scene

It's no secret that superhero movies are everywhere, as multiple studios duke it out for box office supremacy. As such, there is the fear of superhero fatigue, where the genre becomes to oversaturated that the blockbusters all mold together, essentially cancelling themselves out. If any superhero movie had the potential to fade into the background last year, it was Ruben Fleischer's Venom. Fans weren't sure how the movie would function without Spider-Man's inclusion, but Venom ended up making a surprising amount of money at the box office, allowing a sequel to be green-lit by Sony.


Venom's sequel is currently in active development, and will likely focus on Woody Harrelson's Carnage, who was introduced during the film's credits scene. But now it looks like director Ruben Fleischer won't be involved in the next installment in the burgeoning franchise. While writer Kelly Marcel will reportedly return to work on the screenplay alongside Tom Hardy, Sony is apparently searching for a new director to helm the upcoming sequel.


This news comes to us from Variety, which reports that Ruben Fleischer will be too busy with other directing projects to return for Venom 2. Instead, Sony will find new talent to helm the follow up film, and hopefully capture the same unique tone. Venom had a dark sense of humor and self-awareness that set it apart from the rest of the genre, so the new director will have to find a way to inhabit the same space in order to please all the moviegoers the first film won over.





Prior to its release, the cards were stacked again Venom from being the success it ended up being in theaters. As previously mentioned, it had the lofty goal of making a Spider-Man character movie without the web slinger, as Sony's deal with Marvel has Tom Holland's Peter Parker operating within the Marvel Shared Universe. Venom's first trailer gave the fandom particular pause for concern, as it was completely lacking the titular antihero at all, instead coming off as more of an adventure for Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock. The film got even more flack when Jenny Slate's character mispronounced the word symbiote in the trailer, as audiences grew more concerned.


But Venom ultimately vibrated on its unique frequency, having a closer relation to Fox's Deadpool franchise than the MCU. The visual affects may have left something to be desired, but Venom was delightfully snarky and crude, while also setting up the ground work for a larger franchise. It still remains to be seen whether Spider-Man will ever make an appearance, but some big concepts were introduced that will hopefully take bloom with its mysterious sequel.


Venom is currently available for home purchase. CinemaBlend will keep you updated on the developing sequel as more details become public. In the meantime, be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.




Thursday, December 19, 2019

Joe Russo's Daughter Has A 'Secret Role' In Avengers: Endgame

Joe Russo's Daughter Has A 'Secret Role' In Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame poster

Joe Russo has been known to give himself a little cameo in the various Marvel movies that he and his brother Anthony have directed. Now, it looks like the family business is expanding, as the director has now revealed that his daughter Ava has a cameo of her own somewhere in Avengers: Endgame, though he's not revealing anything else about the role.


While the main cameo that fans are waiting for in Avengers: Endgame is that of Stan Lee, it's not surprising that others will be getting in on the action of this film that is bringing a major chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to a close.


Joe Russo revealed the cameo while on the red carpet of Captain Marvel (via ComicBook.com). His daughter walked the red carpet with him and Russo confirmed that the cameo was happening, though he he's making it sound like the role itself is some sort of spoiler by making it clear no details about the role are going to be revealed, at least not yet.





This is my daughter Ava, who's actually playing a secret role in Avengers: Endgame. We're not talking about what it is yet. That's it and that's all you're going to know.



It's certainly a little interesting that Joe Russo would announce his daughter's cameo at all, something he certainly didn't have to do, and then refer to it as a "secret role." Russo certainly wants fans to get curious about it, which makes one wonder why.


Of course, as expected, fans have begun to speculate about what the cameo might be. Many have suggested that we may have already seen the cameo, as the newest Avengers: Endgame trailer includes a shot of Hawkeye teaching archery to one of his daughters, and it's been suggested this is Ava Russo.




The brief image is far from clear, we only ever get the character in profile, comparing the character to pictures of Ava Russo, this certainly could be her, but it's not definitive one way or the other.


The intentional secrecy with which Russo announces the cameo certainly makes it sound like this might be more than a simple cameo, but that's just speculation. Joe Russo included himself in a cameo role in Avengers: Infinity War as a paparazzi photographer trying to get shots of Tony Stark in a scene that was ultimately cut from the film, so it's not like Russo's own cameos are that important. He could have just as easily given his daughter a similarly minor part. It's not like the Russo brothers don't enjoy messing with the fans.


We'll have to keep our eyes out when Avengers: Endgame hits theaters next month. In addition to Ava Russo's cameo, there's a decent chance her dad will show up in the movie as well, they might even be in the same scene.



The Greatest Showman Soundtrack Was The Best Selling Album In The World In 2018

The Greatest Showman Soundtrack Was The Best Selling Album In The World In 2018
The Greatest Showman

If Kidz Bop proved anything, it’s that you can never underestimate the power and appeal of music you can sing along to. The Greatest Showman released in theaters all the way back in December of 2017 and the musical’s powerful earworms held sway over the charts all of last year. So much so that The Greatest Showman Soundtrack was the best selling album in the world in 2018.


The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, an organization that represents the recorded music industry worldwide, tracks the sales of both physical and digital albums to rank the best-selling albums of the year. According to Billboard, the IFPI has announced that with 3.5 million units sold, The Greatest Showman Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was the best-selling album in the world in 2018.


The Atlantic Records release topped the charts in Japan and the English-speaking countries of the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, where the soundtrack spent 28 straight weeks at No. 1 on the albums chart. Even now, 63 weeks later, The Greatest Showman (OST) is still at No. 4 in the U.K. The soundtrack also managed to hit No. 1 on iTunes in more than 77 countries, showing the worldwide appeal of the film’s music and message.





This level of success defied expectations and was a pleasant surprise according to the CEO of recorded music at Warner Music Group, who cited the soundtrack’s success as a triumph of the music, the marketing, and the fans. The Greatest Showman soundtrack also bucked the trend with, in this streaming and digital download age, about half of its sales coming from physical formats.


To land at No. 1 on IFPI’s charts, The Greatest Showman soundtrack beat out two albums from K-Pop supergroup BTS as well as the likes of Johnny Halladay, Ed Sheeran and Eminem. The Greatest Showman soundtrack wasn’t the only feature film soundtrack to crack the top 10 though.


Sitting at No. 4 with 1.9 million units sold is superstar Lady Gaga’s soundtrack for A Star is Born. Bohemian Rhapsody was the most successful musical film of last year and Queen’s album for the mega-hit also landed on IFPI’s chart at No. 7 with 1.2 million units sold. Rounding out the top 10 was the soundtrack for Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again with 900K sold.





We had already heard that the soundtrack for The Greatest Showman was the best-selling album of the year domestically but this latest news shows that the appeal of that film and its music was truly global. The incredible success of the soundtrack for The Greatest Showman is reflective of the success of the film itself. Despite never hitting No. 1 at the box office, The Greatest Showman sung and danced its way to around $435 million worldwide. It even had special sing-a-long screenings and a cover album.


Clearly this music connected with people in a major way to the point that they not only wanted to listen to it, they wanted to own it. And in an era where you have an all-you-can-eat musical buffet with streaming, that is saying something.


Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest movie news you can dance to and check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see the biggest movies headed to theaters this year.




Vanessa Hudgens Is Doing Another Netflix Christmas Movie And This One Has Time Travel

Vanessa Hudgens Is Doing Another Netflix Christmas Movie And This One Has Time Travel
the princess switch netflix vanessa hudgens

While it's true that most people think of the Hallmark Channel when it comes time to binge brand new Christmas movies every year, Netflix has slowly been stepping things up in that warm-feeling inducing genre for the past few holiday seasons. Last year, in fact, the streamer brought us the Vanessa Hudgens (and Vanessa Hudgens) led The Princess Switch, which featured the Hudges playing a duchess and a baker from Chicago who realize they look identical and decide to switch places during the Christmas season. Well, it would seem that Hudgens and Netlfix enjoyed being in business together, because she's just boarded another holiday film for the company, The Knight Before Christmas. And, this time, there's time travel.


As if a pleasant Christmas movie where two beautiful people fall quickly in love weren't enough, The Knight Before Christmas will add in the oh-so-familiar magic component which is common to many holiday films. The movie will focus on, you guessed it, a brave English knight who is forced to seek out his true quest when a sorceress accidentally sends him to the modern day from their medieval era. In our time, he, of course, discovers that he's falling into deep romantic love with a kind high school science teacher, who just so happens to be disenchanted by the whole idea of falling in love.


I don't know about you, but to me this already sounds like a curl up with a cozy blanket and a warm (possibly spiked) beverage holiday movie home run. For real, can I add this to my queue right now?





Hudgens isn't content to just act in The Knight Before Christmas, either. According to Deadline she will also executive produce the movie, alongside Brad Krevoy (who also served as executive producer on The Princess Switch and has a resume filled with Christmas movies), Amanda Phillips Atkins, Lorenzo Nardini, Jimmy Townsend and Eric Jarboe. The feature will be directed by Monika Mitchell (Lifetime's The Christmas Contract), written by Cara Russell and will also star Josh Whitehouse (Poldark, the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel).


Aside from the fact that The Knight Before Christmas has some holiday movie pedigree working for it behind and in front of the camera, it's hard not to be excited about having yet another Netflix-based Christmas film to dive into in the holiday season ahead. And, any lover of these movies who also enjoys the fact that they frequently deal in magical coincidences / real life Santa Claus / other hints or outright evidence that the holidays are a special time of year, should be especially excited about the time travel aspect.


I can already see how some of this will play out. Our medieval hero will be shocked that Vanessa Hudgens' teacher is allowed to work and wasn't married off by the age of 13. He will be incredibly surprised by any building larger than four stories, flummoxed by cars, confused by cell phones and possibly daunted by the sheer amount of everything that is everywhere. But, and this will be a very important but, he'll be a steadfast believer in love and capable, even in all his modern day mystification, of leading our heroine to a place where she can let her guard down and fall into his hunky loving arms. The big question will be whether she goes back in time with him (bad idea) or he stays put in our time.





Seriously, you guys, if you're not convinced that Vanessa Hudgens, she of the High School Musical legacy, has made a perfect choice in deciding to tackle The Knight Before Christmas I'm convinced that your holiday season might just be a mostly joyless affair. While there's no debut date set for The Knight Before Christmas right now, it's set to begin filming this April and will likely be ready to stream on Netflix before you put your holiday decorations up.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Universal Studios Orlando Reveals First Look At Fluffy On Hagrid's New Ride

Universal Studios Orlando Reveals First Look At Fluffy On Hagrid's New Ride
Hagrid on his motorbike with Harry Potter in the movies

As Disneyland opens its gates to the highly-anticipated new land Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both American parks this summer, Universal Studios will also be expanding its Wizarding World with a brand new ride coming to Hogsmeade led by the lovable and huggable Hagrid. The roller coaster coming to Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure on June 13 that will take thrill seekers on journey through the Forbidden Forest with the fan-favorite is now offering an inside look on what creatures to look out for once the ride arrives.


This week, Universal Studios Orlando will be revealing another magical creature that will be featured on the immersive ride titled Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure. The new coaster will include an actual forest of more than 1,200 real trees passengers will ride through while discovering a variety of species both famous to the franchise and never seen before. Take a look at the first to be revealed by Universal below:


It’s Fluffy!! Looks like the three-headed dog who was pet to Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and protected the titular object in the first film can be spotted on the upcoming ride. The 8,000 pound doggo was the first to be featured on the Universal Orlando Blog on Monday. Pro tip: if you remember, Fluffy falls asleep to the sound of music. Maybe this will be vital to the passengers making it alive in Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure. Here’s another familiar creature to be found also:




Beware of the Cornish Pixies! These little electric blue monsters are mischievous and prone to grab people by their ears before throwing them off high heights. The blog indicates the Cornish Pixies will be found creating shenanigans on the Blue Car and over 20 of them can be spotted flying during the ride. The pixies were in Chamber of Secrets during Gilderoy Lockhart’s Defense Against the Dark Arts class session.


Next up, Universal is teasing a plan with constricting magical abilities that only tightens its grip as victims’ struggle. More details on it will be featured next on Wednesday morning at 11am EDT. After that, two other creatures will be revealed on the blog up until Friday, April 19.


In addition to Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, the theme park’s classic Jurassic Park ride is currently getting an upgrade to become Jurassic World - The Ride at both US locations to match the current franchise underway also set to open this summer after nearly a 25-year-old run as its original form. There will also be an attraction based on the animation blockbuster A Secret Life of Pets coming to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2020.




Excited for what the Wizarding World of Harry Potter has in store for park guests this summer with this new ride starring Hagrid? What creatures would you like to see on the ride? Feel free to comment with your thoughts below!

10 Great Movies Coming To Netflix In June 2019

10 Great Movies Coming To Netflix In June 2019
Dr. Seuss' The Grinch watching a monitor with his headset on

Every month brings its own share of treasure with the periodic updating of the Netflix streaming roster. But taking a look at what’s headed our way in June, it’s hard to think of a month that beats some of the stuff that’s headed our way. In particular, there’s 10 titles coming into view that have us looking to update our queues on a basis frequent enough to be considered addictive.


If you’re curious about the total incoming lineup for June, head on over to our complete rundown. Otherwise, it’s time to head into the future, and see the Netflix streaming titles we’re ready to watch at the push of a button.


Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse


Right out of the gate, June was going to be a winner the moment that Netflix announced Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse was going to become a part of their line-up. A film that has a legitimate claim to the title of “Best Spider-Man Film Ever,” the adventures of Miles Morales and a slew of other Spider-People blew everyone’s minds upon its release towards the end of last year. Now, after all of the awards and all of the hoopla has died down, it’s time to start it up again with an even wider audience to reach this time around.




A.I.: Artificial Intelligence


For years, Steven Spielberg refused to direct A.I.: Artificial Intelligence, a project that started with Stanley Kubrick’s vision of a robotic retelling of Pinocchio. With Kubrick conspiring with Spielberg to flesh out his vision for the story of Haley Joel Osment’s David, an automaton who could truly love, the idea would eventually become a reality once the legendary mind behind A Clockwork Orange passed away. The end result is a vision worth of Stanley Kubrick’s faith in Steven Spielberg being able to do the project, and remains one of his most underrated films in his canon.


Network


Some movies call the shot years, or even decades, before the events they predict come to be in reality. Network is one of those films, as writer Paddy Chayefsky’s biting satire of sensationalism in the news media seems more like a tragedy than a dark edged comedy in our trying times. With the Broadway adaptation starring Bryan Cranston being nominated for several Tony awards, and set to close its blockbuster run in the beginning of June, it feels like the right time to bring the film version of Howard Beale’s antics, with Peter Finch in the role he made famous, back to the world of streaming services.


Good Night, And Good Luck


While we’re on the subject of journalism, director George Clooney’s Good Night, and Good Luck will also be available on Netflix’s streaming library in June. Based on the true story of television news anchor Edward R. Murrow, and his team’s investigation into the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s, David Strathairn stars as Murrow in an all-star cast that includes Clooney, Jeff Daniels, Patricia Clarkson and Robert Downey Jr. A biopic that remains compelling all the way through, Good Night, and Good Luck is a firm reminded of how important the practice of journalism is, no matter what the era.




Small Soldiers


Joe Dante is one of those directors who has a stable of films so unique, they could only have been made by him. And in the fine tradition of Gremlins and The ‘Burbs, Small Soldiers is another one of those gems that stand out in his line of proudly weird films. With two factions of warring toys tearing apart a sleepy, suburban town, the film was one of Dreamworks’ earliest motion pictures in theaters, debuting shortly after its launch. But even with the late ‘90s era it incorporates into key moments of the film, Small Soldiers is still a ‘50s inspired sci-fi romp, much like most of the director’s other films.


The Dark Knight


It’s starting to feel like Netflix likes to add and subtract The Dark Knight from their lineup as often as people change their car’s air fresheners. And who can blame them? The second entry in the Christopher Nolan-directed Dark Knight Trilogy pits Christian Bale’s Batman against the late Heath Ledger’s Joker, with the soul of Gotham City at stake in their battle of wits. It’s been over a decade since it first debuted, and yet The Dark Knight still holds up to the test of time. Whether you watch it as a standalone experience or pair it with the also-returning Batman Begins, a perfectly good flashback is waiting for you in your own personal box office.


50/50


With Long Shot currently in theaters, moviegoers are enjoying director Jonathan Levine’s deft hand at portraying laughter and emotion in equal turn. And whether you’re already a fan of his work doing such feats, or have just become accustomed to them in your own time, 50/50 is another good reminder of how good he is at what he does. Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Long Shot co-star Seth Rogen, the film is modeled the true story of Will Reiser, who, much like his fictional surrogate played by Gordon-Levitt, was struck with cancer in his mid-20s. At times hysterical and at times devastating, the film is an entertaining ride that will require tissues, but rewards you with deeply felt jokes at the same time.




Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch


Illumination has tried its hand at adapting the works of the late, great Dr. Seuss in the past, with The Lorax being a previous claim to fame for the animation powerhouse. With last year’s Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, the studio was able to not only outdo its high water mark in the world of Seussian magic, it also put a pretty fresh spin on an old classic. With Benedict Cumberbatch’s Grinch, we not only get to see more of what turned him into such a sourpuss, but we also see more of an effective transformation than we’ve ever seen before. As cute as it is funny, Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch can still be enjoyed outside of the festive holiday time frame, as long as you keep an open mind.


Carrie


If Tabitha King had never fished the manuscript for Carrie out of the trash, we’d never have gotten the best-selling novel from Stephen King’s hand. Nor would we have ever gotten the classic film adaptation that director Brian DePalma would eventually terrorize teenagers with in the ‘70s. Featuring young Sissy Spacek as the shy girl who would eventually become a psychokinetic terror, the slow burn of her transformation is something that horror fans still admire to this day. Also, if you’ve ever wanted to hear John Travolta shout, “Git ‘er done,” you’ve got that added bonus coming your way if you choose to watch Carrie.


Cabaret


Maybe it’s because FX’s Fosse/Verdon has been diving into the creation of director Bob Fosse’s most iconic works, alongside a dissection of his darkest demons in life. Maybe it’s even the sort of darkening clouds that our culture feels have been upon them for some time. Whatever the reason, having Netflix bring the film version of Cabaret to its streaming lineup sounds like a fantastic idea for this moment. A film that delivered Fosse his resurrection as a filmmaker, it’s a dark and glitzy musical that shows the rise of Nazism in early Germany, with an increasingly dismal tone. If you’re looking for a purely good time, steer clear of this story; but if you’re not afraid to go places most musicals won’t, Cabaret will greet you with a warm wilkommen.




While there’s plenty of fresh air and sunshine headed our way in the next month, consider these upcoming Netflix addtions as the best ways to spend those rainy days that keep you cooped up inside. Or they could even be fantastic distractions for a day when it’s perfectly fine outside, but you’re in that special mood of movie watching.


Keep in mind, these titles are subject to change, so you may need to double check the availability of these films periodically. Also, if you want to see what the best and brightest titles from May’s incoming lineup happened to be, head over to last month’s rundown and fill out your queue! We’ll see you here next month, when we look at the top tier titles from July’s fresh batch of films.

The Tomorrow Man Trailer: John Lithgow As An Obsessive Doomsday Prepper

The Tomorrow Man Trailer: John Lithgow As An Obsessive Doomsday Prepper

So often are romantic comedies about young love – all you need is Netflix’s heartthrob Noah Centineo and a fashionable “it” girl to star. Upcoming indie The Tomorrow Man instead focuses on the blossoming romance of two 70-somethings, played by the incredibly talented John Lithgow and Blythe Danner, as they start dating and learn each other of their skeletons in the closet. Thich includes Lithgow’s character having a doomsday bunker all set up, because it’s important to show your girl you’re prepared should the world end! Check out the trailer below:


Wow, anyone else getting some emotional Up flashbacks? The romance from Bleeker Street will be the debut feature-length film for writer/director Noble Jones, and features some seasoned talent from John Lithgow (who will soon star in the Pet Sematary remake) and Blythe Danner, who have not yet worked together until this film.


The Tomorrow Man trailer opens with Ronnie Meisner (Danner) catching the attention of Ed Hemsler (Lithgow) at a grocery store. Ed approaches the woman in the parking lot and drums up the courage to ask her out on a coffee date. As they start spending time with another, it looks like Ronnie is a bit of a matter-of-fact girlfriend who says it like it is. For instance she not shy about expressing her interest in her war documentaries.




During another one of their meetings Ed asks her if he can answer a question for her about himself, and she gives him a bit of a stand-offish “I don’t know what I want to know yet” But she’ll let him know when she does. It makes for a cute-but-awkward start to their romance. Things start to pick up in the trailer when Ed decides to show her his secret supply of Spam and all kinds of food and supplies, secretly locked away.


After that, the two seem to start really hitting it off. (Guess obsessive doomsday prepping was really her thing?) Ronnie has a “walk of shame” and Ed introduces her as his girlfriend to his son and his wife. We then find that Ed seems to be obsessed with preparing for the future where his doomsday supply can be of use and Ronnie is struck with the tragedy of her own daughter’s death.


The emotional core of the film that premiered at Sundance in January seems to lie in the intersection of the couple’s polar opposite focuses in life. Ed is looking toward tomorrow as Ronnie is always looking back at her treasured past when her daughter was alive and well. The highlight of the trailer is when Ronnie says “You only think about tomorrow but I’m here right now!” to him as he lays in a hospital bed.




The Tomorrow Man looks to be an emotional and eccentric romance. We’re certainly curious if Ed’s doomsday supply will factor into the film’s plot line. The movie will hit theaters on May 29.

 

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