The Black Widow Movie Is Eyeing A Favourite Star

The Black Widow Movie Is Eyeing A Favourite Star

There must be something in the water over at Marvel Studios, as the Black Widow film has been rapidly filling out its cast as of late. With Fighting With My Family’s Florence Pugh and Stranger Things’ David Harbour both jumping on board as of late, Scarlett Johansson’s solo flight in the MCU is looking to have quite a formidable roster of potential heroes and villains. And that team is about to get a little more interesting, as Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz is the latest name to be brought into consideration for a spot on the bench.

No contracts have been signed yet, so Rachel Weisz’s potential hiring is still a bit up in the air. But sources that have information on the possibility say that both camps are pretty sweet on the deal. At this point, it sounds like the only thing that could possibly derail this prospect are those old favorites: scheduling conflicts and terms of the agreement. In the face of such expectations, I'm pretty damned excited to see this happening.

Of course, there’s no insight into who Black Widow has in mind for Rachel Weisz to play, merely that it’s a “key role.” Whether that position involves a villainous protagonist that dogs Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff throughout this long awaited adventure, or if it’s more of an advising presence that supports her journey in various parts of her journey, is left unknown. Still, casting Weisz is a wonderfully bold move to begin with.

Fresh off of her recent Academy Award nomination for The Favourite, Rachel Weisz has the type of resume that screams Marvel greatness. Be it her performances in popcorn films like Stephen Sommers’ first two Mummy films with Brendan Fraser, or in thought provoking independent films like Disobedience, Weisz has played a wide field of material. So bringing her on board for an entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Variety has apparently sniffed out, would only be beneficial to Black Widow’s chances at success.

Other key talent for Black Widow includes writer Jac Schaeffer, who provided the intial draft, as well as writer Ned Benson, who was recently hired to give that draft some rewrites. Director Cate Shortland, best known for her work on Showtime’s SMILF and last year’s thriller Berlin Syndrome, is on deck to direct this film that looks to be coming down the pipe at some point in Phase 4. As this project is currently in the earlier stages of development, information is scarce as to plot and character info. But even in the face of such uncertainty, it should be known that this casting is a very Weisz choice.

Black Widow is currently without a release date, but when it does land a slot for debut, you can bet it’ll find its way into our Phase 4 calendar for upcoming Marvel movies. In the meantime, you can see Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha doing whatever it takes to help out in Avengers: Endgame, on April 26th; provided you were lucky enough to get tickets for that weekend.

Ford V Ferrari First Look: Matt Damon And Christian Bale Are Off To The Races

Ford V Ferrari First Look: Matt Damon And Christian Bale Are Off To The Races

Later this year, Christian Bale and Matt Damon will be teaming up for a film that looks sure to be a frontrunner during awards season. The two Oscar-winners will be co-starring in Ford v Ferrari, which is directed by James Mangold (Logan). The actors are already promoting the movie, and now we finally have a few more details, including the first photos from the film. Check them out in the gallery below.

Set during 1966, Ford v Ferrari tells the story of two men who attempt to give Ford a competitive advantage over racing champion Ferrari during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Christian Bale plays English racer Ken Miles, who teams up with American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) to create the revolutionary car that will give Ford a run for its money.

The film is described as a "David vs Goliath vs Goliath" story that focuses on the men who had their boots on the ground while the titanic corporations duked it out. While the film is based on true events, it's not really about those events, James Mangold told Entertainment Weekly. It's really about two men who overcome challenges to create something they are passionate about.

Considering the talents of Matt Damon and Christian Bale, this is likely a movie to keep an eye on when it comes time to vote for Best Actor. For what it's worth, the two actors seem to share a pretty fun chemistry. Bale and Damon appeared as the honorary starters for the Indy 500 this weekend. Bale was asked how the Batmobile would do in the race, and Damon had a fun add-on.

Another big thing that we are sure to hear a lot about once press for this film heats up is that it had a focus on practical effects. These aren't CGI cars racing around a track. James Mangold was insistent that real racing be utilized for the film. The director minimized the CGI use in Logan as much as he could, and he feels it ultimately makes for a much better film as it allows more room for the characters.

Logan put James Mangold on the map, and nothing more really needs to be said about the acting chops of Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The film also stars Caitriona Balfe (Outlander), Tracy Letts (Lady Bird), Josh Lucas (Sweet Home Alabama), and Jon Bernthal (The Punisher).

You can expect to see Ford v Ferrari race into theaters on the very awards friendly date of November 15, 2019. That's still a whole summer away, so keep up to date on everything hitting theaters this year with our 2019 movie release guide. For more movie news and updates, keep it right here at CinemaBlend and we'll post new information as soon as it is available.

Zazie Beetz Says Deadpool 2 And Joker Sets Felt Very Different

Zazie Beetz Says Deadpool 2 And Joker Sets Felt Very Different

Over the past few years, superhero movies have started totally dominating the filmmaking world. Comic book adaptations have proven to be the most popular genre in the biz, leading to plenty of studios attempting to start their own cinematic universe. And with so many of these properties hitting theaters, quite a few actors have played multiple comic book characters.

Take Atlanta actress Zazie Beetz for example. Beetz recently made her superheroic debut in Deadpool 2, playing the ultra lucky mutant Domino. While she's expected to reprise that role in the Deadpool 3 or the X-Force movie, Beetz has another comic book project hitting theaters shortly: Todd Phillips' Joker. The 27-year-old actress recently explained how different these two sets feel, saying:

I mean, the whole vibe of the set is very different because Deadpool is about the comedy and landing the joke and the physicality of it, whereas Joker is more emotional and is a darker tone. It's not the same type of goofing off that happens on the Deadpool set, in a way. Even though that also was a lot of work too. Joaquin is just a really honest person and a really genuine person. It's really nice as an actor to be working with somebody like that, to really be able to exchange emotionally.

Despite being comic book movies focused on two over the top protagonists, Deadpool 2 and Joker don't have a ton in common. And according to Zazie Beetz, Joker was a far more serious set to be apart of. But considering how both movies have been marketed, this juxtaposition makes a great deal of sense.

Zazie Beetz' comments to CineXpress might not be that much of a surprise, considering that the actress' inclusion may be the only similarity between the Deadpool franchise and Todd Phillips' upcoming origin story, Joker. After all, the protagonists come from different ends of the comic book spectrum, with the latter being DC-based, and Deadpool focusing on Marvel comics characters.

Related: Zazie Beetz Had A Real Love-Hate Relationship With Training For Deadpool 2

Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool franchise focuses primarily on comedy, with Wade Wilson often breaking the fourth wall and making references to other comic book movies. It's a formula that has really resonated with audiences, and Zazie Beetz was able to keep up with Reynolds' comedic chops in their scenes together during the massively successful sequel.

Meanwhile, Joker will be a far more toned down movie, and made on a minimal budget. Joaquin Phoenix is playing the title character, and Todd Phillips has teased that the upcoming release will be an intimate look at a mentally ill man. We shouldn't expect any comic book villainy or clashes with Batman. And there definitely won't be nearly as many jokes as the Deadpool franchise... if at all.

While the set of Joker wasn't nearly as light as Deadpool 2, Zazie Beetz still seems thrilled with the opportunity to work on the upcoming villain-centric movie. Specifically, she had a great time working with the movie's star Joaquin Phoenix. Joining them to round up the impressive cast are Robert De Niro, Frances Conroy, and Marc Maron.

While it's unclear when Zazie Beetz will return as Domino, Joker will arrive in theaters on October 4, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee was a very different sort of Transformers movie, and while it didn't put up Michael Bay like numbers at the box office, it was much better received by critics and others who had been more critical of the more explosion-heavy entries in the series. While more Transformers movies are certainly coming, we have little idea what they will actually be. However, if anybody is looking for ideas, they should ask Bumblebee director Travis Knight, because he's apparently already got several potential movies mapped out in his head.

The word on the street is that development has begin on a direct sequel to Bumblebee, and if that's the case, and the studio wants to bring director Travis Knight back to make it, it sounds like he would love to return and he could also give that development some direction. According to Knight...

In my mind, I have all kinds of ideas for where Charlie goes from here; where Bumblebee goes from here; where Optimus Prime goes from here. In my mind, I’ve already made those movies on some level. If the stars align, would I tell another story in this universe? I mean, I love these characters, so it’d be a thrill to be able to tell a different kind of story in this universe. Time will tell.

Bumblebee told the story of the popular Autobot's arrival on Earth where he befriends a teenage girl named Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The movie ends with Charlie and Bumblebee parting ways, as Bumblebee reunites with Optimus Prime. However, it sounds like, based on what he tells, THR, if Travis Knight gets his way, all of these characters would come together for a sequel. Steinfeld had previously told me in an interview that she would be up for a sequel, as would John Cena if the option was there, so it sounds like all the necessary humans are ready and willing.

We were expecting a new proper sequel to the main Transformers franchise to hit this year but the film was pulled from the release schedule last year and we haven't heard much about it since. Franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has previously stated that the next Transformers movie will aim to combine elements of the main series and Bumblebee, something that has the more emotional character story of Bumblebee while still having plenty of "Bayhem" for those who love the city-destroying action sequences the series is known for.

As one of those people who preferred Bumblebee to any other Transformers movie, and was also a big fan of Kubo and the Two Strings, I would love to see Travis Knight return to make another Bumblebee movie. Whether or not it will happen we'll need to wait and see, but we can be sure that something new will happen with the Transformers movies before too long.

The Comic Character The Directors Almost Included in Captain Marvel

The Comic Character The Directors Almost Included in Captain Marvel

From inception to release, Marvel films go through a ton of reworks, leading to some characters originally intended to debut on screen to be cut by the time the movie hits theaters. And Captain Marvel is no exception. In my recent interview with the movie’s directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, I asked them about this. Here’s what Boden said:

We were always kind of obsessed with Helen Cobb and she didn’t make it into the movie. I think we thought about her a lot in terms of when we were trying to develop the story.

Interesting! For those unfamiliar with the Captain Marvel character, Helen Cobb is a famous pilot that inspired Carol Danvers to pursue her career in the Air Force and holds the highest-record for flight, which she wishes to break. In one story, Carol travels back in time (in a time-traveling plane, because she cannot time travel on her own), meets her, and joins the Banshee Squadron-- an all-female fighting unit in World War II.

When Helen Cobb dies of old age back in her timeline, Carol is given her airplane. The character exemplifies the importance of female role models, so it’s no wonder the directors considered her during the development of Captain Marvel. Check out the directors talking about it below:

While Helen Cobb was in the running, she didn’t make it past script development, as Kevin Feige recently confirmed with ComicBook.com. Here’s what the Marvel chief said about Helen Cobb:

She was in some drafts… But ultimately, the story is about Carol Danvers, so everything had to focus and funnel through her.

There are certainly tons of exciting characters found in between the pages of Captain Marvel comics who would have been an exciting addition to the big-screen origin story of Carol Danvers. In the end, the filmmakers had to focus on telling her story first and foremost, which left out room for Helen Cobb.

While Helen Cobb won’t be seen in Captain Marvel, she would be a fantastic addition for a potential sequel. It would allow for more of Carol’s roots and inspirations to be delved and seeing the hero join the Banshee Squadron in WWII sounds badass. This also opens the window for Captain Marvel to run into some other characters in the MCU from the past and fill in some more gaps in the universe that have yet to be explored!

But wait… we’re getting ahead of ourselves. You’ll have to first check out Captain Marvel in theaters on March 8. The origin story follows Brie Larson as Carol Danvers as a Starforce officer who falls to Earth in 1995 and teams up with Nick Fury, in his first intergalactic mission and amidst a war between the Kree and Skrull races.

DC's Zachary Levi Shows Off His Shazam! Muscles In 'Thirst Trappy' Video

DC's Zachary Levi Shows Off His Shazam! Muscles In 'Thirst Trappy' Video

Someone better tell Henry Cavill he has some Instagram muscle shot competition out there from a fellow DC Comics superhero. Shazam! is still picking up money at the box office, even in a post-Endgame world, and Zachary Levi is doing his part to keep the attention on DC (or at least himself) as Marvel takes over the globe.

Zachary Levi recently posted a pretty shameless plug for his Flow Supplements brand -- and I say shameless because he knew he was getting his Shazam! fans in a tizzy with his shirtless workout video. He added a note at the end of his caption acknowledging "Also, fine, maybe the video is a little 'thirst-trappy', so sue me." Judge for yourself:

Chuck alum Zachary Levi had plenty of fans before Shazam! but he is an outright superstar now, and the fan comments on his post are hilarious. One fan wrote "NSFW, dude! A little warning would be nice next time."

Normally I say leave the intense workout videos to The Rock and Chris Hemsworth, but Zachary Levi was basically posting an ad for his supplements, and that directly relates to working out. So he has an excuse.

As you might imagine, Zachary Levi had to spend a lot of time at the gym to train for Shazam! with that costume showing off the usual amounts of superhero bod. At least he got to eat a lot, though, to build muscle mass -- saying he was at the gym 5-6 days a week and ate 3,500-3,700 calories a day. But they had to be "clean calories," not leftover Easter candy or ice cream.

Zachary Levi likes to keep in touch with Shazam! fans by posting messages and answering questions. Several months ago, he answered a fan's question on eating broccoli for breakfast while making Shazam! He said he basically ate the same macros all day long -- a combination of meat and veggies five times a day. Apparently he used to eat a lot of eggs but gave them up due to an intolerance of some kind.

He may have to return to that diet and exercise routine fairly soon. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson will be joining the Shazam! world as Black Adam and he said he thought they'd start filming the Black Adam movie in about a year. Due to the ages of the younger Shazam! stars, the producers said they might move into sequel production sooner rather than later so the "kids" don't start looking older than Zachary Levi.

It is Superhero Season at the box office, with the MCU's Captain Marvel and DC's Shazam! followed now by Marvel's Avengers: Endgame. Those costumes show every flaw, so stars work hard to make it look like their human physiques are as superheroic as the characters they play (even though many of the stars are now above 50). After working so hard, I can't really blame them too much for wanting to show off the results on Instagram. If I had a personal trainer getting me in shape, or if I bothered getting myself in shape, I might show it off too.

Keep up with everything heading to theaters this year with our 2019 movie schedule guide.

New Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Trailer Intimidates With Bright Lights, Explosions, and Fight Scenes

New Godzilla: King Of The Monsters Trailer Intimidates With Bright Lights, Explosions, and Fight Scenes

We're only about two months out from Godzilla: King of the Monsters giving audiences a showdown they're likely to never forget. Pitting the king himself against the various other MUTO in the MonsterVerse, the sequel to 2014's smash hit is going to need to pack quite a punch to match up to that previous success. Judging by the clip shown below, it looks like Godzilla will have no problem delivering the goods:

The bulk of the new footage in this look at director Michael Dougherty's Godzilla: King of the Monsters seems to take place at an underwater observation post for the cryptozoological organization known as Monarch. With the returning faces of Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins, alongside franchise newbies Kyle Chandler and Thomas Middleditch, we see Godzilla engaging in an intimidation display for all aboard to see.

Of course, what good is an intimidation display of glowing light if it isn't followed up by Godzilla swimming too close for comfort? As you see in the dialogue presented in the scene, that message is more than gladly received. This triggers some quick shots of Rodan being released from a volcano, King Ghidorah spewing fire breath from all three heads, and tons of property destruction. All in the name of crowning the true king of the monsters.

Now there's something interesting to note in this new look at footage from Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and it's all to do with Vera Farmiga's Dr. Emma Russell. In the latest trailer, there's a brief moment where Dr. Russell is looking rather distressed, and either injured and/or dying.

As the rain hits her face, and she gazes at something off camera, she says, “Long live the king,” much as Charles Dance did in the first look at the film. While some might think that pertains to Godzilla himself, there could be another interpretation.

For instance, Dr. Russell could be cheering on King Ghidorah, who seems to be the MUTO head honcho squaring off against Godzilla's sort of rogue agent of balance in the world. After all, it's her band of rogue scientists that seem to be deliberately releasing the would be Titans from their prisons around the globe.

This is far from confirmed, but just something to think about in the run up to Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and the implications it might have for the film.

Despite whatever this footage from Godzilla: King of the Monsters means in the long run, the short term effect is that we're just that much more anxious to see the film. And if this sort of action doesn't get your heart going, then there's plenty of other fish in the sea. Just make sure they steer clear of Godzilla and his challengers when the big fight goes off.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters smashes into theaters on May 10th. But if you're looking for some big ticket, destructive action before then, you can head on over to our 2019 release schedule to plan something in the more immediate future.