Those Pulp Fiction Nods In Captain Marvel Might Not Have Been Intentional

Those Pulp Fiction Nods In Captain Marvel Might Not Have Been Intentional

Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Carol Danvers' origin story!

While journeying back to the 1990s in the MCU’s Captain Marvel, some eagle-eyed fans noticed that the film contained what appeared to be a few nods to one of that decade’s most iconic films, Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. A shot of Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos sipping a shake through a straw was reminiscent of hitman Jules menacingly washing down Brett’s Big Kahuna Burger with a Sprite. And shots of Nick Fury and Phil Coulson in their car looked very similar to shots of Jules and John Travolta’s Vincent Vega driving through the Valley in a Chevy Nova.

Given that Captain Marvel is set in the 90s and Samuel L. Jackson is in both films, these Pulp Fiction nods seemed intentional. But that might not be the case. Speaking exclusively with CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast, Captain Marvel cinematographer Ben Davis addressed the apparent Pulp Fiction nods:

I think those are more coincidences. I mean the fact that Sam [Jackson] is driving the car [laughs] may be a reason why — There’s only so many places you can put a camera to cover a car scene. And a young Samuel L. Jackson’s driving the car, I think that’s purely coincidence. Ben [Mendelsohn] drinking the shake, I think that was pure Ben. And, you’ll have to ask him that question, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he wasn’t riffing on that idea.

Ben Davis seems to think that it is perhaps the coincidence of seeing Samuel L. Jackson driving the car and looking younger that creates a natural association in your head with one of the prolific actor’s most iconic roles. And as Ben Davis told ReelBlend, there are only so many places you can put a camera to film a shot of two people in a car, so the similar framing is more a product of practicality than anything else.

You could probably find shots from a dozen other movies that look just like the one in Pulp Fiction, but they didn’t have a young Samuel L. Jackson driving a car so the possible reference wasn’t noticed. As far as Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos drinking the shake in Maria Rambeau’s home, Ben Davis suspects that action was purely the product of Ben Mendelsohn, who was a highlight of the film as the Skrull Talos.

Ben Mendelsohn may have had that iconic Pulp Fiction scene in mind but if so he wasn’t made aware of it. Though Ben Davis concedes that these nods may have been intentional:

No, there are — well there may have been between Ben, and Anna [Boden] and Ryan [Fleck]. That may well have happened, that conversation, but not that I was aware of. But it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

If there was a conscious effort to pay homage to Pulp Fiction, it seems that Captain Marvel’s cinematographer wasn’t let in on it. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t the case though. As Ben Davis said, the framing for the car scene was one of a limited number of setups you can do but it is possible that directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck gave Ben Mendelsohn the direction to emulate Jules from Pulp Fiction.

You can listen to Captain Marvel cinematographer Ben Davis’ entire conversation with ReelBlend below.

If intentional, this wouldn’t be the first Pulp Fiction reference in an MCU movie either. In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Nick Fury’s tombstone has part of the quote from Ezekiel 25:17 that Pulp Fiction’s Jules recites before putting a cap in someone and philosophizes about at the end of the film.

Ultimately, even if there was no plan to reference Pulp Fiction, the shots now stand as a happy little accident, evoking a 1994 classic in a film set in 1995. But if Carol Danvers shows up in Avengers: Endgame and shoves a needle full of adrenaline into someone’s heart, you know someone at Marvel is probably stoked to see Once Upon a Time In Hollywood.

Captain Marvel is now playing. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest movies and to continue to follow the path of the righteous man by staying tuned to CinemaBlend for all your movie news.

How Scarlett Johansson Got Fit To Play Black Widow In Avengers: Endgame

How Scarlett Johansson Got Fit To Play Black Widow In Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame has just reached one full week in theaters, and is making an insane amount of money both domestically and overseas. With so many characters turned to dust at the end of Infinity War, The Russo Brothers were able to take special care and give focus to the original members of the team. This includes Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, who made her whopping seventh appearance in the MCU (aside from a few cameos).

Natasha Romanoff had a very strong showing in Avengers: Endgame, with Scarlett Johansson bringing a layered performance to the OG female Avenger. Paying Black Widow requires plenty of action sequences and physical work for the actress, and now Johansson is revealing how she got into superhero shape for Endgame.

Physical trainer Eric Johnson has been working with Scarlett Johansson since before she made her MCU debut as Black Widow in Iron Man 2. And now Johnson has spoken about the intense regiment he had the 34 year-old actress. Since ScarJo is playing someone larger than life, she had to train like a superhero. As Johnson puts it:

What is the Black Widow able to do? Lift 500 pounds. We're trying to create this crazy comic book hero in real life with somebody who's normal.

Well, that's certainly one way of looking at it. And while Scarlet Johansson wasn't expected to have the same physical capabilities and sharpshooting of Black Widow, there is a full body transformation that goes into inhabiting the character onscreen. And it's an intense one.

Eric Johnson and Scarlett Johansson spoke to THR about her physical journey toward becoming Black Widow, with the actress going so far as to call it "one of the best parts about working for Marvel." Giant blockbusters are a good reason to get healthy, and it seems like Johansson has welcomed the training she's gone through over the years.

In the expose, it was also revealed that Scarlett Johansson's fitness journey as Black Widow isn't about a number weight or body fat percentage. She's trying to become as strong as possible, and be able to roll with the punches and stunts that Natasha requires of her. And that comes with a ton of exercise and a strict meal plan. In fact, it's all in THR's article.

Related: The 25 Most Emotional Moments In Avengers: Endgame

The Black Widow diet is hardcore and includes some intermittent fasting. The food plan was laid out in full, including lots of lean protein and actually nothing fun. But Scarlett Johansson is also able to bring a physicality and presence in the role, which seems to be the goal for the actress and her trainer.

Smart money says Scarlett Johansson will continue collaborating with Eric Johnson, as she's set to produce and star in her own solo movie sometime in Phase Four. A cast has been assembled, and given the events of Endgame, the fandom will be eager to see what comes next for the fan favorite character.

You can catch Scarlett Johansson in Avengers: Endgame in theaters now. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

How Will Disney+ Impact The MCU?

How Will Disney+ Impact The MCU?

The following contains SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame**, but not until the last paragraph.**

Avengers: Endgame is here, and with it comes the closing of many stories that began as many as 11 years ago. While we know that Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is on its way, we have very little detail regarding what it will look like, what movies will be part of it or what order we'll see them in.

We actually might know more about the new MCU projects coming to Disney's streaming service, Disney+, than we do about the future of theatrical releases. Three different series projects have been confirmed (four if you include the What If? animated series) and others are being rumored. Marvel Studios clearly has a lot planned for Disney+, as studio head Kevin Feige said during the Disney+ reveal event that the service would be a key part of the future of the MCU:

A post-Endgame MCU will be extremely different and extremely focused on Disney+ tying into our future movies.

Considering how much more we know about the Disney+ than we do about the future of the films, one has to wonder if, at least at first, Disney+ might actually become more important than the theatrical films.

Could the MCU Take A Break On the Big Screen?

Shortly after the official unveiling of Disney+, Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed what many had been suspecting: that the Star Wars franchise would be taking a "hiatus" from the big screen following the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

This came as little shock because if we were going to get a new Star Wars movie in 2020, as had been previously stated, that movie would need to be in pre-production and on its way to begin shooting very soon.

The good news for Star Wars fans is that they won't be starving for new material. because we know that new Star Wars series are coming to Disney+. The Mandalorian will actually debut before The Rise of Skywalker, and that series will be followed by the Rogue One prequel series with Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk. It's set to begin shooting later this year, which means that right around the time fans might might begin jonesing for Star Wars, a new series will arrive to scratch the itch.

One has to wonder if something similar is planned for the MCU. None of the three announced Marvel series, WandaVision, Falcon and Winter Soldier or the Loki series, have been announced as launch products for this fall. However, one of them could certainly be ready with a few episodes by say, this time next year.

Marvel currently still has a theatrical release date being held for May 1, 2020, but at this point, no movie has been put in that slot, even though it's only a year away. Unless Marvel has been filming something in secret, it's highly unlikely the studio could still hit that date even if something began shooting right now. This will be the first time the MCU hasn't seen an April or May release since 2009.

So what if, instead of releasing a new movie 12 months from now, the MCU dropped one of these announced series on Disney+?

Disney wants everybody and their sister to subscribe to the new service, and that means every Star Wars and Marvel fan the company already has. That's why these new original series exist. Let's just say it's a fairly odd coincidence that Star Wars will be taking a break from the big screen just as these new streaming series are debuting. Lucasfilm may truly be taking time to re-calibrate and find a new direction for the franchise, but the fact that fans looking for more Star Wars will need to subscribe to Disney+ is no coincidence.

Something very similar could be happening with Marvel. If we don't get a new movie in 12 months, but we do get a series, then people who are used to watching a new movie every May will need to drop the Disney+ subscription fee to get the next story in the franchise. It's one thing if Disney+ feels like it's an addition to the existing MCU, but if, instead, it feels like a partial replacement, then the content could feel that much more necessary to fans.

Could We See Fewer MCU Movies?

Currently, the MCU only has two dates carved out for new films in 2020, in May and November. However, in 2021 and 2022, they go back up three movies a year, with both years seeing releases in February, May, and November. Since all of the new Disney+ series are being produced by Marvel Studios, all that work is on top of the film schedule. That seems like a lot.

Two films, one in May (or earlier) and one in November, makes a lot of sense. That put the films about six months apart so we get a steady stream of regular content. The various Marvel series could be placed in between these dates, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of these Marvel movie dates fall off the calendar entirely and are replaced by series.

Seeing three MCU movies plus, say, one eight-ten episode series run per year is a lot of content. If the events of the series are going to be important for a future movie, those things have to be released with enough time to give audiences enough time to watch the series before the film comes out. You don't want fans to stay home from opening weekend because they haven't finished their binge yet.

These issues certainly can be overcome, but the more time given between films and series, the easier they will be to deal with and the easier it will be to handle any problems that arise if one project or another gets delayed.

This also creates time for these shows to be released and for Marvel Studios to be able to focus on them and promote them to the fans that want to see them. The series can get the same promotional push that a film would get, which would make sense considering the series are all supposed to be just as important a part of the franchise.

What's certainly clear is that for fans who want to follow the entire MCU going forward, you'll need a subscription to Disney+. Characters from the films will have entire stories on the service that could change them significantly before we ever see them again on the big screen. New characters could be introduced on Disney+ before they ever appear in theaters.

And of course, on top of that, it's likely not a coincidence that all three of the announced Disney+ series involve characters who have seen major changes happen between Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. Vision and Loki are both dead within the main MCU timeline. Sam Wilson is no longer simply Falcon, but apparently the new Captain America. How will these facts impact the new series? Clearly, you'll need to watch them to find out.

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Has Original Tracks From Bear McCreary And System Of A Down's Serj

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Has Original Tracks From Bear McCreary And System Of A Down's Serj

Few cinematic events call for music to rock out to more than giant monsters destroying cities and fighting each other. The upcoming Godzilla: King of the Monsters will have a lot of giant monsters battling for supremacy, and it needs a soundtrack worthy of that level of wild destruction. Fortunately, the soundtrack for Godzilla: King of the Monsters has enlisted some top tier talent to do just that.

Bear McCreary, who has scored all manner of genre properties, from 10 Cloverfield Lane to The Walking Dead to the most recent God of War game, is composing the soundtrack for the sequel film. For one particularly special track, he teamed up with System of a Down’s frontman Serj Tankian.

The two joined forces for a cover of Blue Öyster Cult’s classic “Godzilla” from the band’s fifth album, 1977’s Spectres. The playful and campy hard-rock tribute to the king of the monsters became one of Blue Öyster Cult’s biggest hits, and bands like Fu Manchu and The Smashing Pumpkins have covered it over the years. The song now stands as a fun piece of Godzilla’s history.

For the cover of “Godzilla” on the Godzilla: King of the Monsters soundtrack, System of a Down’s Serj Tankian provides the vocals for the song, singing lyrics like “Go, go, Godzilla” and "He picks up a bus and he throws it back down." Also contributing to the track are the members of Metalocalypse's Dethklok, Gene Hoglan and Brendon Small. The cover also incorporates a Japanese taiko drumming group, a full orchestra, chanting, kick drums and a heavy metal rhythm section. Add in Serj Tankian’s vocals, and Bear McCreary told Rolling Stone that his “Godzilla” cover is “complete musical madness.”

That sounds exactly like what you would want from a soundtrack for this movie because judging by the trailers, Godzilla: King of the Monsters is complete cinematic madness. Also, for a franchise as old and storied as Godzilla, it’s nice to see new titles recognize the franchise’s history. And while Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla” isn’t an official part of the canon, it is an important part of the pop culture history of the giant monster.

You can listen to “Godzilla” off the Godzilla: King of the Monsters soundtrack in the video below

Bear McCreary and Serj Tankian’s cover of “Godzilla” won’t be the only way the soundtrack honors the history of the character though. Beyond the cover, the King of the Monsters soundtrack features 25 tracks of score music by Bear McCreary that are influenced by and incorporate elements from the music in the original Godzilla movies.

The Godzilla: King of the Monsters soundtrack drops on May 24 in advance of the film’s opening day on May 31. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all the movies headed your way in a packed summer season.

Rian Johnson Praises 'Freakin Unbelievable' Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (And Its Delicious Green Milk)

Rian Johnson Praises 'Freakin Unbelievable' Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (And Its Delicious Green Milk)

The Force flowing through me right now is envy of everyone who gets to go to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge any time in the next [checks bank balance] decade or so. Disneyland's new land opens May 31, with no reservations required starting June 24. Several lucky people have already checked the place out, including Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson. He tweeted some reactions to the experience, and made special note of a certain tasty beverage:

Ah yes, Luke Skywalker would approve.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is going to sell both the blue milk Luke drank in the original 1977 Star Wars and the green milk Luke drank after milking a Thala-Siren in The Last Jedi. Here's what's in the milk they sell, if you're curious. Apparently the milk will cost $7.99, which does sound like a lot but it's nothing compared to everything else.

Rian Johnson also tweeted some answers to fans' questions, whether serious or just silly. One fan asked about another The Last Jedi addition:

What's a 2019 Star Wars attraction without Porgs? It would be like leaving out the Ewoks. (Don't you dare say anything bad about Ewoks. I grew up loving them and they will forever stay beloved.)

FYI, Disney Parks Blog posted that it will be hosting a #DisneyParksLIVE stream covering Disneyland's dedication ceremony of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge on May 29 at 8:20 p.m. PDT/11:20 p.m. EDT. That's when you can get a good look at this new land, at least from afar.

Here's everything we know so far about Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. We're still waiting on official word about Rian Johnson's own next Star Wars movies. Disney said the Game of Thrones showrunners are doing the next movie after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but that doesn't mean Johnson isn't still working on his own previously announced trilogy. Just keep yourself hydrated with expensive milk and stay tuned for updates.

Ryan Reynolds Has Hilarious R-Rated Ideas For Detective Pikachu

Ryan Reynolds Has Hilarious R-Rated Ideas For Detective Pikachu

Although Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is looking to appeal to as many demographics as possible (after all, the folks who enjoyed Pokemon when the franchise first hit the scene are all adults), naturally the movie is primarily being marketed towards younger moviegoers, hence why it has a PG rating. However, if churning out an R-rated Detective Pikachu movie was on the table, Ryan Reynolds has some ideas for such adult-oriented content. Reynolds said:

I think if you could remake a Pikachu version of Mean Streets, that might be kind of fun. Or Goodfellas.

Martin Scorsese-inspired Pokemon movies would definitely raise some eyebrows and get people’s attention. If the world of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is anything like the Pokemon video game and anime worlds, then Team Rocket is running rampant, so it’s not that much of a leap to imagine them sending their Pocket Monsters to ensure their rivals are sleeping with the Magikarp.

Alas, Pokemon is a family-friendly franchise, so unless any of you are willing to write an R-rated fanfic of Detective Pikachu where bullets are flying just as much as lightning bolts are, we’re out of luck on the Mean Streets and Goodfellas-themed Pokemon movies that Ryan Reynolds suggested to Comicbook.com. However, that’s not to say that Pokemon: Detective Pikachu isn’t dipping its toes into more adult territory. You’ll recall that in one of the trailers, Reynolds’s Pikachu tells Justice Smith’s Tim Goodman to get him “the hell” out of his cage fight with a Charizard.

It’s also worth noting that after being hired onto Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, Ryan Reynolds considered taking the voice of his Pikachu in a different direction and offered to make the crime-solving Pokemon sound like an old-school, Columbo-style gumshoe. However, the Pokemon: Detective Pikachu politely shot Reynolds’ idea down, so instead Pikachu sounds just like the actor in everyday life, which the regular moviegoer can more easily recognize.

Of course, in a world full of creatures this powerful and humans calling the shots, naturally there’s still going to be crime and danger. The main story revolves around this deerstalker-wearing Pikachu and Tim Goodman (who is the only human who can understand this particular electrically-charged mouse-thing) investigating the disappearance of Tim’s father, Harry. Along the way, they’ll meet reporter Lucy Stevens (played by Kathryn Newton) and her Psyduck, and together they’ll uncover a conspiracy that threatens all the Pokemon in the world.

So far Pokemon: Detective Pikachu has earned a fair amount of positive reception, and box office estimates from March placed it at making between $75-$90 million opening weekend. Looking to the future, a Detective Pikachu sequel is already in the works and there’s the potential for this film series to evolve into a full-blown cinematic universe.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu blasts into theaters this Friday, May 10. If you’re curious about what other movies are coming out later in the year, look through our 2019 release schedule.

Looks Like Michael Rooker Will Not Play King Shark In Suicide Squad 2, Y'all

Looks Like Michael Rooker Will Not Play King Shark In Suicide Squad 2, Y'all

Last week, news broke that Michael Rooker (of Yondu fame) was in talks to play King Shark in Suicide Squad 2 a.k.a. The Suicide Squad. It was an exciting possibility that would see the actor reunite with his Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn. However, it looks as though Michael Rooker will not, in fact, be playing King Shark in Suicide Squad 2 as the actor recently took to social media to refute the report. Take a look:

Well, that certainly seems to be a pretty clear statement from Michael Rooker. By screenshotting the original report and captioning it as he did on his Instagram, Michael Rooker is essentially declaring that it is inaccurate and he is not in talks to play King Shark in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad. So, if anyone was working on some fan art for this casting, you may want to pump the brakes.

Now, it is worth asking some questions about what this refutation could mean, because from Slither to Super to the Guardians of the Galaxy films, Michael Rooker has acted in every feature film James Gunn has directed. Therefore, it would make sense for him to join the director once again for The Suicide Squad to keep that streak going.

Also, the original report about Michael Rooker being in talks to play King Shark in The Suicide Squad didn’t come from some random person on Reddit, it came from a legitimate publication. In addition, there was an earlier report that King Shark would indeed be one of the members of the new team in the film. So what gives?

It could just be the The Wrap got it wrong (it happens) and Michael Rooker is, as he indicated, not in talks to play King Shark in the film or maybe that talks fell apart. It’s also possible that Michael Rooker is fibbing, as we’ve seemingly seen recently with Matt Smith regarding Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Or, given their working relationship, Michael Rooker is reuniting with James Gunn for The Suicide Squad, but King Shark is not the character he will be playing. David Dastmalchian is reportedly cast as Polka-Dot Man and Daniela Melchior as Ratcatcher, and Idris Elba as not Deadshot, but there are presumably other characters Michael Rooker could take on in the movie.

At this point, given his fairly unambiguous social media response to news of his casting, I just wouldn’t expect Michael Rooker to play the humanoid shark in The Suicide Squad. The sequel, which has been described as something of a relaunch with only a handful of the original actors/characters returning is currently in pre-production so hopefully we’ll hear some more casting soon.

The Suicide Squad, with or without Michael Rooker, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on August 6, 2021. That’s a ways off, though, and you need to be entertained until then, so check out our 2019 release schedule to see all the movies you’ll want to check out this summer.