What Marvel Should Do With The Fantastic Four And The X-Men, According To Matthew Vaughn

What Marvel Should Do With The Fantastic Four And The X-Men, According To Matthew Vaughn

Matthew Vaughn’s filmmaking resume is packed with comic book adaptations. He kicked off this part of his career with 2010’s Kick-Ass, and in recent years he’s been the driving force behind the Kingsman film series. But Vaughn also has some experience working in the Marvel realm by directing X-Men: First Class and producing the Fantastic Four reboot.

Thanks to Disney’s purchase of 21st Century Fox, both properties now reside under Marvel Studios and are expected to be incorporated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe at some point. With that in mind, Matthew Vaughn suggested that Marvel bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU as soon as possible, but not to rush featuring the X-Men in this franchise. He explained:

As the man that produced the last terrible Fantastic Four - and I will say that because I said it from day one, but no one listened to me -- I think Fan Four is, for me, it’s the live action version of The Incredibles. It’s probably the most, I think, commercially viable Marvel Comic. Kevin Feige will get ahold of that and probably make a masterpiece. And the X-Men world, I imagine that might get put on ice for a little bit. I think it needs a little bit of breathing room. They made a hell of a lot since First Class, if you think about it. Fan Four would be the thing I'd like to see them do next. Disney and Fan Four and Marvel is a really potent combination.

Matthew Vaughn has a point. Critically speaking, the Fantastic Four movies have never been hits, with the 2015 reboot being almost universally panned and bombing at the box office, which resulted in the sequel being scrapped. The X-Men franchise, on the other hand, has been going steadily since 2000, with next month’s Dark Phoenix wrapping up the main film series and The New Mutants finally arriving next year.

The Fantastic Four haven’t had the opportunity to shine like the X-Men have, so if one must be prioritized over the other, Matthew Vaughn's call of introducing the Fantastic Four first seems reasonable. It’s only a matter of time before the X-Men are brought in too, but considering that the Fox era of X-Men movies is will soon finish, it’s not a bad idea to let that property sit on the proverbial shelf for a bit before reintroducing these characters to the public.

During his appearance on the ReelBlend podcast, Matthew Vaughn also talked about how well making a period piece Fantastic Four movie would work, specifically one set in the 1960s, as Marvel’s First Family and many of the comic book company’s most famous characters were introduced that decade. In Vaughn’s words:

That’s what I did with the X-Men, though. These ideas were born -- sort of the Fan Four and the nuclear family and the dysfunctional family and science -- it's an easier time. I mean, superhero films in the modern world … everything in the modern world, it's harder and harder to do. Because you know, the technology, it's all out there. You know, Iron Man’s suit doesn't seem that far away anymore. It’s sort of odd. The Iron Man suit when Iron Man came out [in the comics] was awesome. That was probably late sixties, early seventies. Iron Man, I don't know when that came out. It's easier because everything was sort of black and white, everything was more bad versus good. You knew what was what was what by then because there were boundaries and clearer horizons. So yeah, I love a period piece. I've just done another period movie [in the Kingsmen prequel]. It's really good fun.

The MCU has dabbled in period pieces with the 1940s-set Captain America: The First Avenger and the 1990s-set Captain Marvel, plus various flashbacks, so it’s not like a 1960-set Fantastic Four movie would be dismissed right out the gate. That being said, obviously whatever creative team is working on such a story would need to find a way to bring Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing and The Human Torch to the present day so they can interact with all the other MCU heroes.

You can listen to Matthew Vaughn’s full ReelBlend appearance below:

As things stand now, there are no official plans for an MCU-set Fantastic Four or X-Men movie, but rest assured, when a concrete announcement about either of the two is made, we here at CinemaBlend will let you know about it. For now, there are plenty of other upcoming MCU movies to look forward to, from Black Widow and The Eternals to Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and Black Panther 2, as well as the various Disney+ series in development.

Matthew Vaughn’s next directorial effort, Kingsman: The Great Game, will be released on February 14, 2020, but he also produced the Elton John-focused musical Rocketman, which hits theaters tomorrow, May 31.

Game Of Thrones’ Richard Madden May Be Joining Marvel’s The Eternals

Game Of Thrones’ Richard Madden May Be Joining Marvel’s The Eternals

Two of the biggest pop culture topics of conversation right now are Marvel and Game of Thrones, thanks to the former delivering Avengers: Endgame and the latter airing its final season. Richard Madden was part of Game of Thrones once upon a time as Robb Stark, and now it’s looking like he could lend his talent to Marvel as well via The Eternals.

Richard Madden is currently in talks for a major role in The Eternals. The Wrap, which broke the news, didn’t provide any details about who Madden would play, but THR has heard that he’s being eyed to bring Ikaris to life. Since the Eternals were introduced to the pages of Marvel Comics in 1976, Ikaris has been one of the principal players of that property, so if Madden is cast in that role, he’ll certainly have a lot to do.

The former Game of Thrones star, who more recently starred in The Bodyguard and can be seen in Rocketman later this month, is the fourth actor to be associated with The Eternals. Angelina Jolie has reportedly been confirmed to play Sersei, Train to Busan actor Ma Dong-seok has boarded and Kumail Nanjiani has been in talks to join the cast.

Marvel didn’t comment on Richard Madden being in consideration, nor has it provided any official plot details about The Eternals yet. However, supposedly the movie will follow the love story between Ikaris and Sersei, meaning we’d be seeing Madden and Angelina Jolie getting quite cozy with one another.

Like the other Eternals, Ikaris is long-lived and boasts incredible power. His life force is augmented by cosmic energy, allowing him total control over his physical form, to the point he’s able to regenerate tissue, levitate, shoot cosmic beams and psychically scan minds less evolved then his own, among numerous other abilities. Outside of the comics, Ikaris’ only appearance has been in the video game Marvel Heroes, but if The Eternals is anything like Guardians of the Galaxy, then he and his fellow Eternals will skyrocket in popularity once their movie is out.

Although we’re still in the dark about what The Eternals will specifically be about, earlier this year, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige talked about how the movie could stretch across many millennia, just like the original Jack Kirby stories did. It could also give us more insight into Thanos’ background, and if some, if not most of The Eternals is set in the past, maybe the Mad Titan could even pop in!

Directed by Chloe Zhao, The Eternals doesn’t have an assigned release date yet, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for that information and more updates on its development. For now, you can look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what else the MCU has coming down the pipeline.

The Marvel Cameos We Never Expected to See in Avengers: Endgame

The Marvel Cameos We Never Expected to See in Avengers: Endgame

Warning: Spoilers for Marvel's latest are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, use the Time Stone to rewind and see the film before reading this piece. And if you have seen the film, please make sure not to spoil the Endgame for those who haven’t made it out yet.

Amidst all of the madness, time travel, and heroic sacrifice that makes Avengers: Endgame this year's blockbuster to beat, there are a lot of surprising faces that made their way back into frame in the MCU. Much like Red Skull’s return to the fold in Avengers: Infinity War, there are some head-turning cameos that we, quite frankly, never saw coming.

Which is why we’re providing this list of the cameos from Avengers: Endgame so insanely out of left field, they made us smile after pulling a double take. There’s even one that’s so surprising, we had to see the film again to make sure we’d seen what we thought we saw. How surprised were you when you saw the following faces make their appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest megahit?

Korg And Miek

It’s not that Thor: Ragnarok’s twin comic reliefs were unwelcomed in Avengers: Endgame, as both Korg and Miek were welcome additions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But at the same time, we really didn’t expect to see them on Earth, or even in a film for that matter, as their fate weren’t exactly clear after the Asgardian wreck we saw at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War.

But thankfully, when Thor was revealed to be in New Asgard, acting like Norse Mythology’s answer to The Dude, Korg and Miek (and Valkyrie) were there to help lighten the mood. Though Korg may have been going a little too far calling Thor in to shout down Fortnite user N00bKiller69. That’s what the dabbing emoji is for, Korg.

Alexander Pierce

When you have a villain like Alexander Pierce make such a big impact in the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you kind of never expect them to rear their heads again; despite the fact that we really wanted him to. But the fact that said Captain America: The Winter Soldier baddie was played by esteemed actor Robert Redford had us severely convinced that he’d never pop up in future films. And yet, here we are.

During the big time heist at the center of Avengers: Endgame, we’re treated to one mass cluster of cameos as the Battle of New York winds down, and one of them happens to be Pierce who was on hand to recover the Tesseract and Loki’s scepter when it all went down. Add some comedic confusion, and a little bit of bureaucratic dancing, and you’ve got a pretty hilarious return to the screen. Of course, he wasn’t the only dirty S.H.I.E.L.D. operative on hand that day.

Brock Rumlow and the S.H.I.E.L.D. Strike Team

Going back to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the infamous elevator fight scene is one of the most iconic moments that ever took place in the action-packed world of the MCU. Captain America taking on an enclosed room full of opponents, including Brock Rumlow (aka Crossbones) was pretty damned impressive, and made a mark in such an early phase of the universe’s development.

Which means that when that exact same strike team gets walked in on by Cap during the retrieval of the Tesseract and the scepter in Avengers: Endgame, a lot of people thought a rematch would be in order. And yet, being the good time traveler that he was, Steve Rogers conned that entire group to make the hand off with two words: “Hail Hydra.”

Agent Jasper Sitwell

Naturally, you can’t have a HYDRA reunion from Captain America: The Winter Soldier without including some more of the bureaucratic faces that weren’t named Alexander Pierce in the proceedings. The Battle of New York was a large enough happening that a lot of S.H.I.E.L.D. movers and shakers were present, so obviously seeing someone like Agent Jasper Sitwell popping in to help wasn’t a total surprise.

But at the same time, much like that surprise panning shot of Brock Rumlow getting off the elevator, we didn’t see Jasper’s return to the fold coming. All told, the huge reunion of traitors to S.H.I.E.L.D. made our timeline’s Steve Rogers’ job a lot harder, and made our enjoyment of his actual triumph all the more hysterical. Seriously, getting him to pretend to be HYDRA in front of those guys checked a lot of boxes.

Frigga

One of the most bittersweet cameos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was that of Thor’s dearly departed mother, Frigga. Played by Rene Russo in both Thor and Thor: The Dark World, the kindly queen of Asgard was sadly taken during an enemy assault on Asgard in the latter film’s crucial moments. But since those moments were on the list of events to burgle through time, they were slightly altered.

That alteration included a moment where a much bigger Thor spoke with his mother, who clearly saw that not all was well with her son. But on top of that, Frigga knew that the future would hold her death, and warned her son to let it happen as intended. It added an emotional beat for Thor’s story, and gave us a little more time with a character that definitely deserved the screen time.

Jane Foster

Yes, this one seemed pretty much like it happened merely through the magic of digital footage, but we actually saw Jane Foster appear in Avengers: Endgame through the time heist’s segment taking place during the events of Thor: The Dark World. It was still quite a bit of surprise seeing Natalie Portman’s face show up in a Marvel movie again.

While Jane really didn’t do anything or get many lines, we still saw her carrying the essence of the Aether in her, which counted for the Reality Stone in need of heisting. Something Rocket Raccoon did off screen, with an extractor. Seeing as Portman and Marvel aren’t as at odds as they used to be, what with her presence at the Hollywood premiere for Avengers: Endgame, this kind of feels like a proper burying of the hatchet. Not to mention, it’s a key to closing off Thor’s story in the event he doesn’t return to theater screens.

Howard Stark

While Hank Pym’s cameo in Avengers: Endgame wasn’t exactly under the circumstances people predicted it would be, Pym still showed up. And with his return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe fold, it was decided that another very important figure in the world of MCU science show up for some closure: huge industrialist and father of Tony, Howard Stark. During a time travel mission to 1970, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers try to steal the Tessaract out of that point in space time, leaving them both very important pieces in the same objective.

While Tony steals the actual Infinity Stone itself, he runs into his own father, expecting his infant self to be born any day now. After a talk about having kids, and the excitement and terror that follows, Howard says goodbye to the man he thinks is named “Howard Potts,” and starts to ask some serious questions about why that man looks familiar.

Edwin Jarvis

History was made with a very important cameo that was not only a surprise, it was the first time a character specifically created for Marvel’s TV shows came into the cinematic world. Edwin Jarvis, Howard Stark and Peggy Carter’s loyal friend and often co-conspirator, was seen for the first time since Agent Carter went off the air, and he was seen with Howard Stark.

In the record-breaking hit of this past weekend, Jarvis pops up as Howard is about to climb into his car to leave Camp Lehigh, wondering where he’s seen the man he’s been chatting with for several minutes of Avengers: Endgame’s runtime. Jarvis hasn’t a clue, but we already know that Howard was really talking to his own son. So it’s nice to see Edwin, possibly for the last time, doing what he does best: being as helpful as possible.

Howard The Duck

Now here’s a cameo audiences had to look really closely for, as somehow, Howard The Duck joined the battle for good in Avengers: Endgame in a small, but still pretty awesome manner. Basically, while he hasn’t shown up since Guardians of the Galaxy’s end credits stinger, Howard was seen in Endgame’s climactic battle in the third act.

There are specific directions as to where you could find him in the film, but it’s pretty much a given. This basically confirms that everyone we ever wanted to see from the MCU appears in Endgame. The Bingo card is full. Except Darcy. Poor Darcy.

Harley Keener

Quite possibly the deepest cut when it comes to Marvel Cinematic Universe cameos, Tony Stark’s funeral saw a nearly unrecognizable young man standing among the ranks of the mourning. While thoughts may have turned to questioning if some new character was joining the MCU in a sneaky cameo, it was actually a heartbreaking callback.

Harley Keener, the young man Tony befriended and gifted an entire lab to in Iron Man 3, was standing at the lakeside ceremony that saw the dearly departed Avenger honored with a weep worthy sendoff. Whether it be a hint that maybe someone else could take up the mantle of Iron Man in the future, or just someone who Tony happened to touch paying his respects, it snuck up on audiences and is just now nailing in that last bit of heartbreak into the total package.

While Marvel cameos have been a pretty recurring thread through the MCU, these particular appearances made Endgame stand out even more above the films that had preceded it. We may never even see this big of a happening in the history of Marvel Studios again, so it’s even more of a feat to behold while we can.

Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now, making one hell of a racket towards possibly becoming the biggest movie in history. We’ll see if it can go the distance, but we’d like to think that it can be done.

That Time Paul Rudd Asked People To Punch Him In The Ant-Man Suit To Scratch An Itch

That Time Paul Rudd Asked People To Punch Him In The Ant-Man Suit To Scratch An Itch

Having an itch you can’t scratch is one of the great struggles of our species. It's a plight universally understood and maddeningly frustrating. Even superheroes, or at least the actors who play them, are not immune from this plague. In fact, their costumes can sometimes make matters worse. Such was the case for Ant-Man actor Paul Rudd, who had to get creative and ask people to punch him when suffering an itch on the Avengers: Endgame set. As he tells it:

One of the things I didn’t like about my costume is that the leather and everything else make it really hard if I have an itch on my back [laughs] and want to scratch it. I remember having to go around to people and have them punch me in the back really hard to get rid of an itch. With the kind of suit I had, I couldn’t do it. And it gets hot. We are sometimes shooting outside. The suit material doesn’t breathe very well.

Desperate itches call for desperate measures, and when it’s a choice between getting punched and enduring the misery of an itch you can’t scratch, Paul Rudd knows the choice is easy. As he told Inquirer, the leather of the Ant-Man costume made it impossible for him to scratch an itch. Whether that was because of how it limited his mobility, that the material was too thick for a scratch to get through or both, he knew he had to seek outside help.

So the actor asked people to punch him in the back in the hopes that the force of the punch would get through the leather Ant-Man suit and vanquish the itch that beset him. It sounds like he went to multiple people for help too, but unfortunately he didn't reveal which ones. No disrespect to anyone’s strength, but I expect getting punched in the back by Tom Holland isn’t quite the same as getting punched by Chris Hemsworth.

I like to think that this was a combined effort that, like defeating Thanos, required the might of all the Avengers to accomplish. If he really had the powers of Ant-Man, Paul Rudd could have just told one of the ants to take care of it, but alas, in lieu of functional Pym tech, he had to rely on more primitive methods.

Unscratchable itches are just one of the many trials and tribulations actors who play big screen superheroes face due to their costumes. The suits are often heavy and uncomfortable. Some restrict your movement and feel claustrophobic. We’ve heard complaints about superhero suits being very hot, a sentiment Paul Rudd echoes, and smelling bad. They’re also not the most accommodating when you have to go to the bathroom.

Sometimes the hardest choices require the strongest wills and we are all grateful that these actors choose to endure miserable suits and unscratchable itches to entertain us. Avengers: Endgame is set to reap the rewards of those sacrifices as it has already broken records for advance ticket sales.

Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters on April 26. It’s three hours long, so make sure you wear scratch-friendly clothing and stay frosty, because there are spoilers out there. Check out the biggest questions we still have about the movie and our 2019 Release Schedule for everything else headed your way this year.

Upcoming Marvel Movies: Release Dates For Phase 3 And 4

Upcoming Marvel Movies: Release Dates For Phase 3 And 4

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has big plans for the future. To keep it all straight, we've laid out the next few years' worth of Marvel Studios films, which will take you through all of the official titles announced for Phase 3 and Phase 4.

Spider-Man: Far From Home - July 5, 2019

Closing out Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be Spider-Man: Far From Home, and it's expected to reflect something that has to do with Peter Parker's (Tom Holland) Junior year of high school - specifically as he travels to Europe on a summer vacation trip. Marvel President Kevin Feige has confirmed that we will see the ramifications of Avengers: Endgame through Peter's eyes, which by itself sounds fascinating. Jake Gyllenhaal will be playing the role of Mysterio - becoming the first person to portray the character in live action. Beyond that, the film is a mystery, though we expect plenty of details to drop in due time.

There are certainly a number of threads that can be picked up by this Spider-Man sequel. Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) knows her nephew's secret identity, and Peter... well, he died. How will they rebound? We'll find out this summer. Find the most recent updates on Spider-Man: Far From Home HERE.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3

The road to making Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 has been an odd one so far. Initially it looked like the film was going to be one of the earliest titles released as part of Marvel Phase 4, but then all hell broke loose when James Gunn lost the directing gig thanks to offensive Tweets he wrote nearly a decade ago. After that whole ordeal the filmmaker decided to make a move over to the DC Extended Universe - agreeing to script and helm the upcoming The Suicide Squad - but now everything appears to be back on track, as Gunn has been reinstated and is once again set to make the conclusion to his Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy.

James Gunn has always said that the next sequel in the Guardians franchise will bring an end to the story of THIS version of the Guardians team. which includes Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Groot (Vin Diesel), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff). It's not entirely clear how the tale will be concluded, and the project has been pushed back until after Gunn can complete work on The Suicide Squad, but to say that our excitement is at maximum about the project's latest developments would be an understatement.

Black Widow

Fans spent years calling for Marvel Studios' first female-led superhero movie, and for the longest time it seemed like a Black Widow solo film would be the perfect solution to the request - what with Scarlett Johansson's character's being arguably the most popular heroine in the franchise. That didn't wind up happening, as both Evangeline Lilly's Hope van Dyne and Brie Larson's Carol Danvers broke the glass ceiling respectively with Ant-Man & The Wasp and Captain Marvel - but that doesn't mean a Black Widow movie isn't happening. In fact, it's currently set up to be one of the titles in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four.

For a long time it was hard to tell what information was real and what was spurious in regards to this project, but it's been confirmed that the project is happening. In July 2018 it was revealed that Cate Shorthand has signed on to direct the feature, her previous work including the period drama Lore and the horror movie Berlin Syndrome. At this time there are no official details about the story that the movie will tell, but we should have a much clearer idea of where things are going soon. Casting has already begun, and in addition to Scarlett Johansson, the movie will also feature Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz.

The Eternals

When it comes to the cosmic side of Marvel Comics, the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have only scratched the surface. Sure, we've seen a few Thor and Guardians of the Galaxy movies, but there are millions of beings out in the cosmos that have yet to make their live-action debut. The Eternals is a tremendous step in that direction, as while we've already met one member of the titular race - Thanos - there is a whole world created by Jack Kirby that should make for tremendous cinematic exploration.

Chloe Zhao was previously in the running to take the helm of the Black Widow movie, and while she didn't get that job, Marvel Studios decided they wanted her to stick around for The Eternals. The comics tell the story of a race of beings created from proto-humans by god-like aliens known as Celestials, and it's been said that romance will be at the center of the intergalactic story - specifically the relationship between Ikaris and Sersi. The cast is starting to come together, with Angelina Jolie and Kumail Nanjiani attached to star.

Doctor Strange 2

As they have since pretty much the beginning, Marvel's plans moving forward will include mixing things up between sequels and original projects. After all, while the latter allow things to constantly feel fresh and new, the former lets us see a lot more of the characters we've previously fallen in love with. This most definitely extends to Doctor Strange, as Marvel President Kevin Feige confirmed to CinemaBlend in summer 2018 that a Doctor Strange 2 is currently in development.

Unfortunately, Kevin Feige's statement also noted that the sequel would arrive "a number of years from the first," so this is a project we potentially won't see until the back half of Phase 4. It has not yet been officially announced who will be directing the movie, but the smart money is on Scott Derrickson, who helmed 2016's Doctor Strange and received both positive praise from critics and saw great box office success.

Black Panther 2

Is anyone in the world even remotely surprised that Black Panther is getting a sequel? Sure, we don't know exactly when we can expect it, but there was no way that Marvel Studios wasn't going to take full advantage of what currently stands as its most successful feature release. The first movie did an amazing job establishing the world of Wakanda, eventually seeing it open up to the world, and Black Panther 2 will offer the amazing opportunity to fully explore what the presence of the country means for the entire planet.

Ryan Coogler has not yet officially signed on to take the helm of Black Panther 2, but one can certainly imagine Marvel making him an offer so big that it would be impossible for him to refuse. Given the very real appetite that audiences clearly have for this character and his homeland, it would make all the sense in the world for the MCU to launch the title within the first half of Phase 4.

Shang-Chi

We've seen the Marvel Cinematic Universe explore a wide number of genres over the years, from the conspiracy thriller that was Captain America: The Winter Solider to the noir roots of Iron Man 3, but in Phase 4 Marvel Studios will make their first kung fu film. Specifically, they are currently developing a solo movie for the hero Shang-Chi, a master of martial arts that was introduced into the pages of Marvel Comics back in 1973.

Like all of the other features mentioned in this section, this project is close to becoming a reality thanks to the fact that Marvel has hired a director to start sculpting a vision for what the blockbuster can be. In March 2019 the studio hired Daniel Cretton to take the helm of the project, making it as his first blockbuster. Like many other filmmakers before entering this universe, he doesn't have a ton of experience on his resume, but he definitely has some standout titles - namely the brilliant 2013 indie film Short Term 12.

Phase 4 Release Dates

May 1, 2020

November 6, 2020

February 12, 2021

May 7, 2021

November 5, 2021

February 18, 2022

May 6, 2022

July 29, 2022

Iron Man (2008)

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Thor (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

The Avengers (2012)

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)

The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Ant-Man (2015)

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Doctor Strange (2016)

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Black Panther (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Ant-Man And The Wasp (2018)

Captain Marvel (2019)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

What The Live-Action Aladdin Does Better Than The Original

What The Live-Action Aladdin Does Better Than The Original

When we first caught a glimpse of Disney’s double take at Aladdin, I would have thought only wishes out of a magic lamp would have lead us here. Since the movie was released, many Disney fans have expressed their love for the House of Mouse’s latest live-action remake. As someone who has grown quite weary of Mouse House's attempts to revisit its animated classics, I found it to be a nice surprise how much I enjoyed it!

There are quite a few aspects to the new Aladdin that make it a win for the studio besides all the money it’s already making. Hear me out ‘die hards’: parts of the 2019 film actually tell the story better than the classic animated movie we’ve loved and cherished over the past 27 years… even though this movie is clearly borrowing from the animated version. Time to break them down:

Jasmine Is An Empowering Princess

Disney Princesses have always served as role models for the young girls they are catered to, and Jasmine was certainly a ‘90s icon. From her fashion sense to her badass tiger pet Rajah, and her “screw the system” mentality, she was one high quality princesses at the time. When you compare her company, of course, which includes a mermaid trading in her life for a man she met yesterday and a bookworm who fell in love with her captor.

No offense cartoon Jaz, but Naomi Scott’s Jasmine left me speechless. Not only does she finally get her own song (that was kept in the movie this time), but it’s a powerful one. It’s the best part of the movie. The new Aladdin uses the original story to benefit a more modern and improved take on the character. Instead of feeling helpless about her suitors because she’s looking for true love - her central problem is that she is the perfect person to rule Agrabah. The trouble is misogyny is stopping her from achieving her dreams.

How crazy relatable is this to women!?!?! To feel society’s grasp on your place in the world and to actively push against it. I assure you, just about every woman in the world has dealt with this. 2019’s Aladdin updates Jasmine in the best way and heightens her character for the better. That by itself makes it a worthy remake. But let’s keep going!

The Music Better Reflects The Aladdin Story

Aladdin’s original soundtrack and score definitely still hold up, and the new album won’t replace Alan Menken’s first version. However, the new film does do something interesting with the music: it really goes for it when expressing the flavor of the cultures being depicted on screen. Even if it may look like a slight alteration to some, it makes a world of difference for those with personal roots in the region.

The music does go back and forth between borrowing from Indian and Arab influences, but this choice is apparently a deliberate choice to make the fictional city of Agrabah be a meeting point of Asian cultures as it’s an important trading port. Disney’s many animated classics have pulled from famous folktales from all around the world for decades. It's when they delve into the identities of the cultures that they really work the best (think Moana and Coco) and this Aladdin is no exception.

The use of traditional instruments like oud and doumbeks, such as in the scene-setting "Arabian Nights" opening, shows a attention to detail and greater celebration of culture that was original lacked. The music sequences also benefits from the live-action too! Seeing "Prince Ali" is effectively grand and watching Aladdin and Jasmine's thrilling ride on the magic carpet ride is captivating to see the actors express.

It’s Not Just The Genie Show

When we think back to the original Aladdin, it’s all about Robin Williams’ performance. That’s not to say there aren’t some other great ones to go around from the cast. But it doesn’t end up coming off as an “ensemble” musical or comedy, because Robin’s Genie is just so memorably good. This movie is an ensemble musical comedy!

There’s a balanced role for all the key characters to play, and Aladdin and Jasmine (which the story is really supposed to be about) have a story arc that’s just as interesting as Will Smith’s Genie performance is. The cast compliment one another and feed off one another in this version, and the movie is better for it. If Guy Ritchie had gone into it leaning on Will Smith to run the show, it would not have worked and it’s great that they didn’t try that approach.

This Aladdin offers some funny improv moments between the actors. These live-action remakes can feel stuffy and by the book, but the addition of this loosens up the audience. There’s also a real chemistry and energy between the cast that the original didn't have (mainly because of the animation). These elements make the new Aladdin a crowd pleaser! It stops being about the legacy of these characters and more about living in each scene with this approach.

The Message Shimmers Brighter

The original Aladdin’s message can be found in a key scene that’s stuck with me since childhood. It’s right before Aladdin is going to show Jasmine a whole new world and is struggling with how to talk to her. Genie gives him two pieces of advice “tell her the truth” and “bee yourself” (yes, as he’s disguised as a bee).

The new Aladdin really shows us this message and it has a better payoff. We get to see Aladdin and Jasmine’s chemistry as a couple more before he turns into Aladdin, so seeing how off his game he is as the Prince really hits home. The awkwardness Aladdin faces as he tries to woo her as a prince is more painfully obvious through the new scenes and has viewers rooting for them more intently. It makes many of us want to scream these mantras at the screen.

Genie is also a bit wiser this time around and Aladdin has more responsibility for his actions. In the original, he has his sights set on Jasmine and then once he gets her he has to somehow figure out how to be Sultan… that’s concerning! In the new version, he’s the reason and supporter that leads to Jasmine and her father coming to the decision that she should rule. This ending matters a lot more and makes the titular character earn his top billing!

I’m not saying one Aladdin movie is better than the other. The animated version will always have a special place in many of our hearts and is a monumental achievement for the studio. This remake did make some good choices that improved upon what we’ve seen already from the story and it was a satisfying take on a classic that has seldom been done.

Keanu Reeves Movies That Prove He's More Than An Action Star

Keanu Reeves Movies That Prove He's More Than An Action Star

Keanu Reeves is returning for another round of chasing, shooting, knife-throwing and butt-whooping in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the much-anticipated third installment in what has become an underdog success story of sorts (no unfortunate pun intended). The 54-year-old action star is spry and still kicks ass and takes names better than most people half his age can. Keanu Reeves has proven he has chops time and time again in nearly three decades of action flicks, including (but not limited to): Speed, The Matrix movies, Point Break and more.

However, to suggest that Keanu Reeves is solely an action man would sell him short.

While the actor has been mocked heavily throughout the years for his dry delivery, Keanu Reeves has shown himself to be a resilient and ever-evolving actor; he has worked through multiple different genres throughout his career, in a wide array of films — both big and small. So, we've decided tol take a look at Keanu Reeves' other films beyond his action movies, showcasing an actor who has gone on to be one of the most dedicated and commendable performers in the film business.

Keanu Reeves In Comedies

Before he made a name for himself as an action star in the '90s and early '00s, Keanu Reeves was best known for his comedic chops. Most notably, playing the latter half of the title duo in 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and 1991's Bill & Ted's Bogus Adventure, respectively. As Ted, working alongside Alex Winter's Bill, Keanu Reeves played up his laid-back vibes to perfectly goofy effect. He had easy and winning chemistry with his on-screen friend, providing audiences everywhere with an endearing daffy slacker persona with loads of charm and heart to boot.

Surprisingly, Keanu Reeves' comedies have been few-and-far between since then. But he didn't leave the genre behind entirely. Keanu Reeves would still make appearances in the occasional comedy. Some examples include, but aren't limited to, his work in 1993's Even Cowgirls Get The Blues, 2001's The Replacements and a nice supporting turn in 2003's Something's Gotta Give. For the most part, Reeves left comedy on the back-burner to continue his action career. The actor would only dip his toes into funny territory (or, at least, intentionally funny territory) periodically for awhile, notably with his turn in 2005's little-seen indie Thumbsucker and 2015's divisive dark comedy, Knock Knock.

For my money, Keanue Reeves provided one of his best and most underrated turns in recent years in last year's winningly mean-spirited romantic comedy Destination Wedding, where he worked wonders with his sharp chemistry with Winona Ryder. Thankfully, Keanu Reeves has a new comedy lined up in the future, and it's one that has long been promised. Specifically, Reeves is set to reprise his role as Ted Logan in 2020's sequel, Bill & Ted Face the Music. Excellent!

Keanu Reeves In Suspenseful Thrillers

While the actor has often channeled his cool energy into playing the good guys, the actor has showcased a great talent for playing an opposing bad guy as well. As anyone who faced against John Wick would know, you don't want to get on the guy's bad side. Particularly when he's playing the villain, that adds a whole new layer to his capabilities as an actor. In fact, I'd argue that some of his best roles in recent years have been on the antagonist side.

More specifically, Keanu Reeves gave some of his best performances to date in a pair of controversial 2016 titles: The Neon Demon and The Bad Batch, respectively. While he doesn't have a ton of screen time in either movie, Reeves provides a menacing presence in both performances, allowing audiences to see a new side to the actor's capabilities. He can be calm and collected in an unsettling measure, and when you don't exactly know what his character is up to, it adds to the stakes enormously. Sure enough, when plays a mean, shadowy guy, you get to see more of the actor's potential.

Keanu Reeves In Dramas

While Keanu Reeves is primarily known for his genre films, the actor has found himself in a few dramas throughout the years. Notably, Reeves has found himself working with esteemed directors like Gus Van Sant, Francis Ford Coppola, Kenneth Branagh and Sam Raimi, to name a few, and his work in the dramatic arts has always been a bit wavering. Some of his best performances have been his dramatic ones. Some of his worst have been dramatic roles too, however.

His work in 1991's My Own Private Idaho was a respected departure from his established comedic work at the time. His performance in 1992's Bram Stoker's Dracula is often considered a low-point for the actor. Though the movie itself has its fans, Keanu Reeves was considered miscast in the prominent part. Luckily, it didn't deter the actor, and he continued to appear in drama films, including 1993's Shakespeare adaptation, Much Ado About Nothing, 1995's A Walk in the Clouds, 2000's The Gift and 2001's Sweet November.

Furthermore, Keanu Reeves received good notices in 2001's Hardball. While the film itself received tepid notices, his performance was praised, and it showcased a new emotional range for the actor. His last drama was 2017's Netflix film, To the Bone, which also starred Lily Collins.

Keanu Reeves in Romances

Like many of us, Keanu Reeves appears to be a romantic at heart. The actor can be the opposite of passionate in a few of his calmer or hard-edged performances. Yet, when you see the actor as the romantic love interest, you begin to see the softer, sweeter side of his persona. Some examples include 2006's The Lake House, which reunited Keanu Reeves with his Speed co-star Sandra Bullock. Prior to that, Keanu Reeves showcased his love for Cameron Diaz in 1996's Feeling Minnesota. He also showed his romantic side in 1997's drama The Last Time I Committed Suicide.

Furthermore, as mentioned earlier, Keanu Reeves appeared in Destination Wedding, though the film tends to pride itself on being a bit of an anti-romantic comedy until it's, you know, a traditional romantic comedy. But in both the romantic and unromantic sides of things, Keanu Reeves excels. When it comes time to stop making as many action flicks, it might be wise for the actor to consider more fluttering romances. Just a thought.

Keanu Reeves in Animation

Keanu Reeves has a very defined, distinctive voice. It's surprising to me that he hasn't done a lot of voiceover work, honestly. The actor's cool, commanding vocal chords can carry a lot of gravitas in the right role. That makes his rather limited voice-only appearances kinda confounding. Seems like untapped potential, if you ask me. Nevertheless, the actor has lent his pipes to a few animated projects throughout his varied career. Though notably, most of these VO parts are comedic in nature.

For instance, Keanu Reeves reprised his role as Ted Logan in 1990's short-lived animated series, Bill & Ted Excellent Adventures. The series, which only lasted 13 episodes, came out between the original film and its sequel, and it didn't make a big splash. Nevertheless, it was the first time Keanu Reeves dove into animation. It wasn't until Richard Linklater's underrated 2006 drama A Scanner Darkly that he worked in the medium again. Though the rotoscoped film is a bit of an exception, since the animation style was created by actors filming their parts on set and then being animated over in post-production through an elaborate roundabout process.

Since then, Keanu Reeves has remained in live-action, though that will change this summer. He will be playing the role of Duke Caboom in Pixar's upcoming Toy Story 4, which will be the actor's next high-profile sequel following John Wick: Chapter 3. Details about the part have been slowly creeping out before the film's release, but we should expect the part to be at least a little bit different than what we're used to getting from the actor. That's a pretty fitting way to finish up this particular piece.

In addition to the films listed above, Keanu Reeves has also proven himself in several other respects beyond his acting. He directed his first movie, the decent martial arts movie Man of Tai Chi, back in 2013. Additionally, Reeves has served as a producer on a number of films — many of which are upcoming — since 2010. He is also a musician. There's no doubt that his action career is only a small portion of his capabilities, even if it might be what he's known for best these days. Though it sounds like Keanu Reeves is willing to push himself into other projects outside of the action genre, particularly as he gets older. No matter what's next, we'll continue to keep an eye out for what's in store for Keanu Reeves.

John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum hits theaters on May 17th.