Kevin Feige Explains What’s Happening With The Skrulls After Captain Marvel

Kevin Feige Explains What’s Happening With The Skrulls After Captain Marvel

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains massive spoilers for Captain Marvel. If you have not yet seen the film, read on at your own risk!

There are many surprises featured within the runtime of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s Captain Marvel, but there is nothing more shocking than the turn that the film makes with the Skrulls. Given the history of the shapeshifting aliens in the pages of Marvel Comics, it was widely assumed going in that they would be the antagonists of the new blockbuster, but everything changes about half way through the film when it’s revealed that Ben Mendelsohn’s Talos and his compatriots are seeking home and security – not invasion and war.

Because of this significant move, there has been a lot of exciting chatter about what the future may hold for the Skrulls in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Specifically, does this mean that all Skrulls are good, and simply at the mercy of the all-powerful Kree? Fortunately, I recently had the chance to discuss that topic with the man who holds all of the answers: Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige.

I sat down with the filmmaker/executive one-on-one during the Los Angeles press day for Captain Marvel, and I wasted zero time diving into spoiler territory and asking about the role of the Skrulls in the film as my first question. Acknowledging that the green, pointy-eared extraterrestrials have basically always been “bad guys” in the comics, I inquired about how the movie chose to approach them. Feige explained that it was a concept that was developed early in the creative process with the intention of fans who think they have everything figured out even before they’ve sat down to watch the film. He explained,

I think subverting expectations is always fun, and I think breathing reality and life and emotion and pathos into characters you wouldn't expect to have those attributes is also fun, and a good way of storytelling... I think '90s and Fury, of course, Carol Danvers, of course the Kelly Sue [DeConnick] run, and Goose, sort of came together, and then the notion of [good Skrulls]. Because this whole movie is about who can be a hero. Who should be a hero? What does a hero look like? What does it mean to be a hero? And it felt like additive to that theme to do what we did with Talos. And Ben Mendelsohn's the greatest.

In Captain Marvel, the Skrulls definitely do appear to be the villains for the first half of the story – ambushing and capturing Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) during a Starforce mission, and then chasing her to Earth after her escape. She eventually learns the truth about Talos and his crew, however, understanding that they used to work directly with Mar-Vell (Annette Bening), a Kree living on Earth developing a light speed engine with the hope of helping the Skrulls establish a new homeworld. After that point, the objective totally changes for the heroine, and Carol finds herself teaming with the shapeshifters and on a quest to end an intergalactic war.

As noted by Kevin Feige, the change-up works because you never see “Good Skrulls” coming, but on a larger level it was also stressed that a big part of the move was disrupting generalization and absolutes. Part of any conflict is the fact that there are shades of grey, and there are always going to be members of opposing forces with philosophies and ideologies that both compare and contrast in surprising ways. The presence of the Skrulls in Captain Marvel is a perfect example, as while Talos and his crew are just looking for safety, Feige also explained there are plenty out there that don’t have the same kind of peaceful intentions and goals:

People have asked, 'Oh, so are they all good?' And I'm like, 'Is anybody all good?' So that's part of becoming dimensionalized characters. [The capacity for them to be bad is still very much out there], as it is - for better, for worse - for all of us.

So while the end of the blockbuster has Carol Danvers supporting a group that definitely deserves help, you shouldn’t count out the possibility that we still could see some nefarious Skrull plots play out in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For example, there has been a lot of speculation about potentially one day seeing an adaptation of the 2008 comic book crossover arc Secret Invasion, and there is nothing in Captain Marvel that disrupts the idea of that happening one day. There is also the fact that the Fantastic Four will soon be a part of the franchise, thanks to the still-developing Disney-Fox merger, and that is a team that has done a whole lot of clashing with the Skrulls over the last 60 years (including fights with the Super-Skrull, who is a Skrull imbued with the powers of all the members of the Fantastic Four).

Of course, for right now the future of the Skrulls is as mysterious as any aspect of the developing Marvel Cinematic Universe, with everything happening past the release of Jon Watt’s Spider-Man: Far From Home this summer being maintained as a question mark. That being said, you can be sure that there will be fans globally excited to see more of the paranoia-inducing invaders, and it’s hard to imagine Marvel Studios only using them for this one blockbuster and then never utilizing them ever again.

For now, audiences everywhere can still enjoy the first ever big screen appearance of the Skrulls, as Captain Marvel is now playing in theaters worldwide – starring not only the aforementioned Brie Larson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Annette Bening, but also Samuel L. Jackson, Lashana Lynch, Clark Gregg, Jude Law, Djimon Hounsou, and Lee Pace. And be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend, as we still have plenty more coming from my sit down with Kevin Feige, discussing not only the new blockbuster, but also looking ahead to what’s in the future of his franchise. So stay tuned!

How Much Annabelle Comes Home Could Make Opening Weekend

How Much Annabelle Comes Home Could Make Opening Weekend

It may be barely May but the summer movie season essentially started two weeks ago with the release of Avengers: Endgame. This is the time of year when nearly every major release is looking to bring in major box office dollars, especially major franchise players. This includes the Conjuring franchise, as the newest installment of the series, Annabelle Comes Home is looking to bring in something in the neighborhood of $40 million domestic during its opening weekend.

While a $40 million domestic opening might not seem like a great deal, especially now that Avengers: Endgame has completely thrown perspective out of wack by bringing in over $600 million domestically in barely over a week, for Annabelle Comes Home, it's a solid number.

Box Office Pro is projecting a number between $35-$45 million domestic which is a number on par with what most of the films in the Conjuring franchise have done. In fact, the two previous Annabelle movies opened at $35 million and $37 million respectively, so the new movie is actually tracking to do slightly better than the previous films in that particular series.

This is especially good news because horror movies will not be in short supply as we go into the summer. The remake of Child's Play will be hitting theaters only the weekend before Annabelle Comes Home, and the Octavia Spencer-led Ma comes out at the end of May. It's possible horror movie fans might have had their fill before Annabelle Comes Home is released, but based on the numbers, that won't be the case.

This means the new movie will likely also finish up where many of the other Conjuring movies have, which means it has a good shot at breaking the $100 million domestic box office mark. Only the first Annabelle movie was unable to hit that number within the franchise, unless you count The Curse of La Llorona as being part of the series, and the jury is still sort of out on whether or not that one counts.

Of course, considering even those two films had budgets of under $10 million, they were still quite successful financially.

One reason Annabelle Comes Home may do better than other Conjuring movies, beyond the main entries, is that Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, the stars of the main entries, are set to appear in the new film. This means that fans that maybe haven't been all in on the spinoffs might still give this one a chance.

With The Conjuring 3 still on the horizon, fans may not want to miss this entry in the franchise in case it has bearing on the next movie. This is, after all, how cinematic universes work, and The Conjuring universe is one of the few outside of Marvel to be truly successful.

Elton John Reveals Most Studios Didn’t Want 'Sex And Drugs' In R-Rated Rocketman

Elton John Reveals Most Studios Didn’t Want 'Sex And Drugs' In R-Rated Rocketman

This weekend the story of Elton John takes the big screen in the form of the massive musical adventure Rocketman. The film is sort of an anomoly, as it's a big budget musical, but it's also rated-R. Those two things don't often go together, but since Elton John himself is something of a unique combination, it probably shouldn't be too surprising.

It turns out, that not every studio was quite on board with this particular combination however. Elton John says that many studios wanted to tone down the story in order to achieve the broader audience friendly PG-13 rating, but John says such a decision wouldn't have made sense because it wouldn't have fit his life. According to Sir Elton...

Some studios wanted to tone down the sex and drugs so the film would get a PG-13 rating. But I just haven’t led a PG-13 rated life. I didn’t want a film packed with drugs and sex, but equally, everyone knows I had quite a lot of both during the ‘70s and ‘80s, so there didn’t seem to be much point in making a movie that implied that after every gig, I’d quietly gone back to my hotel room with only a glass of warm milk and the Gideon’s Bible for company.

No biographical film is 100% accurate when it comes to what actually happened. Things will always be modified in some way for dramatic effect. However, there is a general feeling that a movie must be accurate enough to capture the essence of the person, and as Elton John himself says, you can't really do that with him without including sex and drugs.

It's not entirely uncommon for a movie to wallpaper over the darker parts of a true story. Especially when the subject is still alive, there's a natural inclination to focus on the more positive elements of a life story. Elton John could have wanted to see that happen here, but that wasn't what happened. In a piece he wrote himself for the Guardian, he says while he did work with producers and make a couple of "yea or nea" decisions (he doesn't specify what those were) about the film, but for the most part he kept himself away from the production, intentionally wanting to avoid casting his shadow over things.

Quite the contrary, Elton John clearly wanted his struggles with alcohol and drugs to be part of the film. He takes full responsibility for them, and says for that reason those elements aren't even difficult for him to watch. He knows they were his fault and is at peace with the decisions he made.

Based on the early critical reaction, it seems that the decisions that Rocketman made may be the right ones. The film is getting very positive reviews overall. The rest of the world will get to see it this Friday.

Where Did Uma Thurman Go After Her Quentin Tarantino Movies?

Where Did Uma Thurman Go After Her Quentin Tarantino Movies?

Uma Thurman had been around Hollywood in solid roles nearly a decade prior to appearing in Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction, although it feels that film is really where it all started. That pattern's continued with Thurman's career since, as the actress found high acclaim for her starring role in Kill Bill. Since then, Thurman might have dropped off the face of the earth as far as some are concerned, but that's not the case.

So what's Uma Thurman been up to since her last appearance in a Quentin Tarantino film? Quite a lot actually, and this list is here to highlight some of the films the actress has appeared in since 2004. Listed in chronological order, here are some of her bigger movies since then audiences eager to see more can check out.

Be Cool (2005)

Just a year removed from Kill Bill, Uma Thurman found herself as one of the key actors in a star-studded comedy that also stars John Travolta and features folks like Danny DeVito, Andre 3000, The Rock, and Vince Vaughn. Be Cool was a sequel to Get Shorty, with Travolta's Chili attempting to break into the music business. Thurman plays Edie Athens, the widow of Chili's friend and on the hook for money owed by the record label.

The film was far less popular with critics than Get Shorty. Director F. Gary Gray has since said part of that was due to him entering the film thinking he was making an R-rated feature, only to be told just ahead of production the goal was for the sequel to be PG-13. Gray told Deadline the film needed edge with its gangsta rap characters and mobsters, and keeping things safe hurt its quality.

The Producers (2005)

Ironically enough, Be Cool wouldn't be the only film Uma Thurman starred in that year with a plot involving a flop. Thurman played the role of Ulla in the 2005 remake adaptation of the successful Mel Brooks movie-turned-play The Producers. Thurman plays Swedish actress Ulla, who manages to get become a part of the show's production even before casting has officially begun. She and Leo eventually elope, and all's well that ends well, for the most part.

The Producers did better than Be Cool in the eyes of critics, but still received middling scores. None of that was due to Thurman's performance, but rather the thought that a lot of the film in general was better suited to the stage than the film world in general. With that said, the movie did go on to get four Golden Globe nominations, so it's not as though it was looked down on by everyone.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006)

Superheroes have insane, unique abilities that make them close to gods in terms of power, but they have the same desires as average humans. My Super Ex-Girlfriend examines this somewhat, as Uma Thurman plays a super-heroine smitten by Luke Wilson's Matt who "saves" her from a purse snatcher. The two become the equivalent of Lois Lane and Superman... that is, until things start to get tense.

The two split, and Uma Thurman's G-Girl proceeds to make Matt's life a living hell for breaking up with her. It falls in the genre of superhero comedy, although it may not quite have the tone or action of other films like Thor: Ragnarok or Guardians of the Galaxy. It's a much goofier take, but still features a solid performance from Thurman even if the film isn't quite a cinematic masterpiece.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)

2010 featured a rare appearance by Uma Thurman in a genre she's not seen in all that often: fantasy. Thurman played Medusa in Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. It's a rather short cameo, which isn't all that bad because seeing Thurman with snake hair is quite a frightening visual!

Thurman's short-lived cameo was almost as short as the prospect of a Percy Jackson film franchise. The franchise had one more film following the first one called Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Sea Of Monsters, and things more or less flat-lined after that. There's been no talk of rebooting it since, although one would think it won't be too long before the idea surfaces given the rich source material to draw from.

Nymphomaniac (2013)

For those looking for a darker performance from Uma Thurman, this is the one to hit up. Lars Von Trier's Nymphomaniac features a supporting role from the actress, as she plays a distressed wife upset at finding her husband has left her for another lover. It's hard to describe the scene without outright spoiling it, but suffice to say it's a powerful emotional performance from Thurman that is only seen in some of her best work.

Thurman has just a small part of Nymphomaniac which, as the name suggests, isn't a film for everybody. Of course, those who enjoyed her in films like Pulp Fiction or Kill Bill probably won't have a problem with the subject matter, but Lars von Trier does tend to push things quite a bit. It's a film about sex, so just be prepared to see that explored quite a bit.

Burnt (2015)

Uma Thurman is in another supporting role in Burnt, playing a famous restaurant critic named Simone that Bradley Cooper's Adam convinces to review his new restaurant. Thurman has a British accent in this role, and she pulls it off well enough one might be encouraged to double check her birthplace and make sure she wasn't doing an American accent this whole time. For the record, Thurman was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

Overall, Burnt has been sort of a mixed bag in regards to how audiences received it. Many praise Bradley Cooper's performance as one of the high points, but overall the film is thought to be fairly mediocre in terms of plot and dialogue. It's not that it's bad, but more or less a story folks have seen some version of before.

Uma Thurman's done a few things on the independent film circuit since then, and is due to appear in Netflix's upcoming supernatural drama Chambers. Fans will be able to check her out there soon enough, and can share their thoughts on Thurman's best performances outside of a Quentin Tarantino picture in the comments below. For more on Thurman, read up on the major movie opportunity she got some time ago that she now regrets turning down.

Suprisingly Good Adam Sandler Movies That Remind Us Why He's So Popular

Suprisingly Good Adam Sandler Movies That Remind Us Why He's So Popular

Adam Sandler is a name synonymous with comedy, and few other comedians have led a career quite like his. That paired with the acclaim of his work taking somewhat of a dive in recent years may cause some to take for granted just how many great things he's been in over the years. This list chronicles the best of the best when it comes to Sandler, and should serve as a reminder as to why he's still so popular today. We're dividing these movies up into categories that best represent what Sandler has delivered to audiences over his long career: the '90s, the 2000s, his more dramatic movies, his animated work, his Netflix offerings and a few of his underrated projects.

The '90s

We begin with what many would consider Adam Sandler's peak era, the '90s. When people say they love Sandler, these are the movies that are often referenced, and rightly so because they remain some of the best he's performed in during his career.

Billy Madison

The premise of an adult man repeating kindergarten through 12th grade in order to gain control of his father's business is an admittedly ridiculous premise, but Sandler just makes it so fun the whole way through. The one-liners that can be quoted throughout this movie are endless, and will still get laughs even after multiple re-watches. Much like the O'Doyle family, this film rules.

Happy Gilmore

Happy Gilmore fundamentally changed the game of golf, even if it wasn't for the best. This movie is the reason driving ranges ask that golfers not take a "running start" on golf drives and possibly why some younger kids become interested in golfing to begin with. Let's also not forget the iconic "Endless Love" scene that balances romance and comedy in a way Sandler's films have mastered.

The Wedding Singer

A lot of Adam Sandler's iconic films of the '90s had a tinge of romance, but The Wedding Singer is definitely one of the few of this era where romance came before the comedy. While Sandler's performance as Robbie Hart was great, apparently audiences really responded to the dynamic Sandler shared with Drew Barrymore. At least, that's what we're assuming seeing as they were in another romantic comedy together years later.

The Waterboy

One of the best things about Adam Sandler movies is there are some ideas that wouldn't work for anyone else but him. You don't believe me? Try to imagine anyone else playing the role of Bobby Boucher, the all-star college football athlete primarily driven by his rage. This one has plenty of belly laughs, a great performance by Henry Winkler and a notable message that mama doesn't always know what's best.

Big Daddy

Adam Sandler plays an adult man child who essentially adopts a child to win a woman back. Of course, it becomes more than that as the story progresses, and soon his character Sandy has trouble imagining his life without the boy. For older Sandler fans trying to get their teens to get into Sandler's older films, just casually bring up that Cole Sprouse (from Riverdale) tag teams the role of Julian with his twin brother Dylan.

The 2000s

We're now at the 2000s, which was still a good time to be Adam Sandler. This era started off with more of the same comedy projects audiences expected from the actor, but slowly evolved throughout the decade into something entirely different. Enough with the cryptic sentences, let's get back into things.

Mr. Deeds

A good guy gets a lot of money and uses it to improve the lives of others; what's not to love? Mr. Deeds is the perfect combination of feel good and funny, and features great supporting performances from Winona Ryder and John Turturro. Also, it put the dream of putting Hawaiian Punch in water fountains out into the universe, which means there's a chance we too can one day experience that luxury.

50 First Dates

Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler get back together again for a film that, while increasingly improbable the longer one things about it, is still pretty great. Kick back, relax and only wonder how long that tape Lucy watches is after the credits roll!

Click

Click was one of those surprise films, mostly because it starts off as the typical Adam Sandler romp and then gets dark real quick. It's a real bummer for anyone looking for the standard comedy, but really great for those looking to be surprised by what becomes a film surprisingly deeper than it initially seems.

The More Dramatic Movies

Comedy is Adam Sandler's main strength, but as many of his fans know, he has a more serious side. While his serious endeavors aren't as celebrated as his typical romps, there are certainly a few gems that fans of the actor should check out. After all, some of these have double-to-triple the critical acclaim of some of his comedies.

Punch-Drunk Love

As stated before, Adam Sandler is good at the whole being funny, but romantic thing. It's worked for him in several films before, and it really peaked in Punch-Drunk Love. It's one of the darker films Sandler's done, and a form of comedy that explores the grim reality of battling loneliness in adulthood. It's a little heavy, but a great ride from start to finish.

Reign Over Me

Reign Over Me may not be the highest rated of the "serious Sandler" genre, but damn if it isn't one of the saddest. Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler do a fantastic job of telling the story of two friends who find themselves in need of each other for totally different reasons. It'll make you cry, even if the plot is a bit uneven throughout.

The Animated Work

Live-action is just one of the places Adam Sandler's taken his comedy, of course, as he's also done a handful of projects in the world of animation. Granted, he's done far less than some other actors and actresses, but there's a couple projects in his animated filmography certainly worth checking out.

Eight Crazy Nights

There aren't a ton of Hannukah movies in general, let alone ones that have a mainstream appeal. Eight Crazy Nights broke that mold, and while it isn't as iconic as some other films, it's certainly worth watching again and again. If 6th grade me was a part of The Academy back when this movie came out, "Bum Biddy" would've at least gotten a nod for Best Original Song.

Hotel Transylvania

Who would've thought a franchise about a Dracula and his daughter running a hotel would be so successful? Seriously, it would be surprising to learn even the most optimistic producer of these movies could've guessed we'd be talking about a fourth movie happening, at least in theaters. Adam Sandler's Dracula may not be the only factor in what makes these films special, but he certainly helps.

Netflix Movies

We're now at a modern era of Adam Sandler, which we like to dub as the Netflix Sandler. Adam Sandler's deal with Netflix has spawned quite a few films, and while most of them haven't been viewed in a positive light, the era is not without its merits. In all fairness, there is less to appreciate, but there are two in particular that shouldn't be missed.

The Meyerowitz Stories

For whatever reason, critics tend to love Adam Sandler the more sad the movie he's in is. The Meyerowitz Stories may have gotten Netflix booted from Cannes but the streaming service can hang its hat on being one of Sandler's most critically acclaimed films of all time and quite possibly the first to get legitimate Oscar buzz. Honestly, that's arguably worth more in bragging rights.

The Do-Over

David Spade and Adam Sandler have worked a lot with each other throughout their careers, but none of it tops their work together in The Do-Over. The chemistry these two have really makes one wonder why the '90s weren't full of these guys co-starring in lots of different movies. Those with a subscription should do themselves a favor, and watch this one immediately.

The Underrated Projects

We're close to the end, which means it's a perfect time to hit the Adam Sandler films that are still great, but have faded in popularity in the years since they hit theaters. Each of these were great at the time, and perhaps may be yet again if the world chooses to embrace them en masse once more.

Bulletproof

Bulletproof essentially solidified in Hollywood's eyes that Adam Sandler has no place in action films, even if it is a comedy. It's a real shame because the film is not nearly as bad as some say, and a rare collaboration between the actor and Damon Wayans. Provided one has low expectations going in, this is a great film from start to finish.

Little Nicky

Hot take, Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen has never had better advertising ever. Adam Sandler's odd tale about a son of the devil trying to take over the family business. The film bombed and was viewed as a commercial failure, but it's well worth the price of admission if found on a streaming service or in a bargain bin.

Anger Management

Adam Sandler has had many iconic acting team ups over the course of his career, with some actors and actresses appearing in his films again and again. Jack Nicholson was not one of them, but it really should've happened again after Anger Management. The way these two go at each other throughout the movie is hilarious, and there are so many quotable lines from this one that make it so easy to watch again and again.

Those who think their favorite Adam Sandler movie was unfairly left off the list can state their case in the comments below. For more on Sandler and his fans, read up on the dude who managed to watch one of the actor's films every day for a year straight.

Upcoming Star Wars Movies: List Of Titles And Release Dates

Upcoming Star Wars Movies: List Of Titles And Release Dates

Following the release of the prequel trilogy, the Star Wars franchise stayed mostly dormant on the big screen for years... but now we may never see a dormant period for the franchise ever again. The brand was revitalized when the Walt Disney Company purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012, and nothing has been the same since the release of J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: The Force Awakens in December 2015. That billion dollar blockbuster kicked off a string of stories created by the studio, one coming out every year since, and it appears that the future will see many opportunities for inventive storytellers to play in this particular sandbox. And while the latest trio of saga features may soon be coming to an end, there is still a lot of new stuff being developed - including new trilogies and so-called Star Wars Stories.

But what exactly are these projects that are currently in the works? How long do we have to wait for them? We've built this guide to specifically answer all of those questions and more, so read on and discover everything that we know so far about the Star Wars films that are in the pipeline.

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker

The hotly-anticipated Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker has undergone some significant behind the scenes shakeups. Initially the script for the film was written by Star Wars: The Last Jedi writer/director Rian Johnson, and Colin Trevorrow was attached to direct... but that was before the death of Carrie Fisher. That tragic event unfortunately forced the filmmakers to scrap what they had been working on, and it was decided that Trevorrow would step away from the helm. Lucasfilm then hired Star Wars: The Force Awakens director J.J. Abrams to replace him, and he then co-wrote a new script from the end of the sequel trilogy with Chris Terrio.

As is the case with all developing Star Wars projects, details about the plot and events we can expect to unfold are being kept under extreme wraps - though we certainly can infer a few things from where Star Wars: The Last Jedi ended. In their battle against the First Order, The Resistance nearly faced defeat in the last adventure, but thanks to an inspirational appearance from the legendary Luke Skywalker everything changed. Rey is now very much on her way towards full Jedi status, and Kylo Ren is the new leader of the fascist galactic system following the death of Supreme Leader Snoke. It's also been confirmed that the thought-dead Emperor Palpatine will have a certain amount of influence on the way things go down, but that's basically only because of the laugh that can be heard at the end of the film's debut trailer.

New generation stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Kelly Marie-Tran, Domhnall Gleeson and Lupita Nyong'o are all reprising their respective roles, and we'll also be seeing the return of Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, Ian McDiarmid, Anthony Daniels, and Carrie Fisher (whose performance will be created with the use of archive footage and visual effects). New additions to the franchise include characters played by Keri Russell, Richard E. Grant, Naomi Ackie. Get the latest on Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker HERE.

Release Date: December 20, 2019

The Benioff-Weiss Star Wars Trilogy

As J.J. Abrams prepares to conclude the sequel trilogy and the legendary Star Wars saga, two new trilogies will be starting up to further expand the beloved sci-fi universe. The first of these will be the brainchild of Game of Thrones producer/writers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss - who are working on the new set of blockbusters now that their hugely popular HBO series has come to an end. Nothing has been revealed in regards to what kind of story we can expect to be told in this set of features, or even what period of the vast timeline will be explored, but at the very least we do know when we will be seeing the first installment.

It has been confirmed by Disney and Lucasfilm that the debut chapter of the Benioff-Weiss Star Wars Trilogy will be the first to hit theaters following the release of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. That being said, we're still going to have to wait a minute for it, as the production of features in this franchise will be slowing down in the coming years. Not only will we no longer be seeing annual Star Wars movies, but the first of this particular branch won't be released until December 2022. From that point forward films from the universe will only be released biennially - and it hasn't been made clear if the franchise will be going back and forth between the two developing trilogies, or if one will get to play out entirely before the start of the next. Speaking of which...

First Film Release Date: December 16, 2022

Rian Johnson's Star Wars Trilogy

As mentioned above, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker won't be using the script that was originally written by Rian Johnson, but franchise is far from done with him. Prior to the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Lucasfilm announced that their collaboration with Johnson will continue with the development of an entire new trilogy of movies. Like the case with the Benioff-Weiss Star Wars Trilogy, it is entirely unclear at this time what this set of blockbusters will be about, when it will be set in regards to the Star Wars stories that we know, if/how it will connect to the classic films, or if it will include characters with whom we are already familiar. What we do know is that we will surely be hearing a lot more about these movies in the years to come.

When it comes to the release date, that is another major mystery. As noted below, Disney/Lucasfilm have carved out three release dates for future Star Wars movies between now and the end of 2026. And as mentioned above, what's unclear is if the plan is to have fans experience a new movie from each trilogy every other year, or if Rian Johnson's next contributions won't start until after the Benioff-Weiss films are done. It may be a minute before we have final confirmation about this, but you can be sure we'll have all of the latest details for you as they arrive here on CinemaBlend.

First Film Release Date: Unknown

December 16, 2022

December 20, 2024

December 18, 2026

Harley Quinn: 6 Things You Need To Know About The Suicide Squad Character

Harley Quinn: 6 Things You Need To Know About The Suicide Squad Character

Suicide Squad has been out for nearly three years now, and there were a a lot of colorful characters we followed along with during that tale. One of those was Harley Quinn, played by Margot Robbie. Other than The Joker and Batman, Harley was arguably the most recognizable DC character who was featured in the movie.

Now over the two and a half decade mark, the character has enjoyed immense popularity over her lifetime, appearing in numerous TV shows, video games and on apparel. Corrupted by The Joker (played in the movie by Jared Leto), she’s more jovial and quippy than most supervillains, but this lighthearted demeanor doesn’t mask how insane and dangerous she truly is. Just as the first two Suicide Squad trailers indicated, she was quite the scene stealer.

With Suicide Squad being a tremendous commercial success for Warner Bros and DC, and Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn having a bright future ahead of her, we’ve gone ahead and provided you with all the important details about Harley Quinn. From how she got her criminal start to what she’s up to now in the comics, this is everything you need to know in case you’re in need of a Harley brush-up… though if she starts talking about the voices in her head, run!

She Didn’t Debut In The Comics

As you would expect, most of DC Comics’ characters are created for the printed page, but Harley is one of the few that got her start in another form. Her first appearance was in the beloved 1990s show Batman: The Animated Series, where she was voiced by Arleen Sorkin. Producer Paul Dini was inspired to create Harley after seeing Sorkin dressed like a jester on the soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Originally, Harley was just supposed to have a "walk on" role in "Joker’s Favor," but she was included in more episodes, and, well, the rest is history. It’s true that other comic book characters have been introduced on TV first, but Harley is one of the few that’s truly been propelled to popularity, to the point that even a lot of non-comic book fans have heard of her. It wasn’t until the 1999 storyline "No Man’s Land" that she made her first appearance in the main DC Comics continuity.

She Was Originally A Psychiatrist

Harleen Quinzel’s dream job as a child wasn’t to become a red-and-white garbed criminal clown. No, before she became a member of Batman’s rogues gallery, Harleen was a psychiatrist at Arkham Asylum. When she discovered The Joker, she immediately grew obsessed with him and immediately began conducting sessions to analyze him. Seeing how enamored she was, Joker began sweet talking her and lying about his past so she would sympathize with him.

Eventually Harleen fell in love with Joker, donned a jester costume and broke him out of custody, happy to now be sharing a crime-filled life with her "Mistah J" (though she would soon be treated like an abused spouse). The New 52 also added him throwing her into the same vat of chemicals that altered his appearance, which was also shown in the movie, except Margot Robbie's version fell in willingly and Joker dove in after her. The comics later expanded on Harley’s background and showed that she had issues before she met The Joker, but the Clown Prince of Crime's manipulation was the the straw that broke the camel’s back

She Has Unique Talents

If Harley was merely a regular woman who dressed like a clown, she wouldn’t be that useful out in the field. Fortunately, she has a particular skill set for taking on opponents. While she doesn’t have any natural superpowers, she is a talented gymnast, so whenever she’s delivering a beatdown, it’s usually while jumping or doing backflips. Then there’s her arsenal. Although she’ll occasionally use standard firearms (there’s a brief shot of her using dual pistols in one of the Suicide Squad trailers), she prefers wielding more absurd-looking weapons, including her oversized mallet, a comically large pistol that shoots a cork, and that graffitied baseball bat she’s using in Suicide Squad.

Finally, in the DC Animated Universe and the comics, Harley was given a potion by her best friend Poison Ivy that not only made her immune to all toxins, but also boosted her strength, speed, and agility. It doesn’t look like Harley will have any special abilities in Suicide Squad (we don’t even know if Poison Ivy will show up in the DCEU), but she’ll still be a force to be reckoned with.

She’s Appeared In Live Action Before

The majority of Harley Quinn’s appearances have been in animated form, be it another cartoon like The Batman or a video game like the Batman: Arkham series. While Suicide Squad will be her first cinematic role, it’s not the first time she’s been seen in live action. The first was in the short-lived TV series Birds of Prey, played by Mia Sara. In the show she served as the mastermind antagonist, and while she didn’t wear her jester costume, her outfits did have the same red, white, and black color schemes.

Harley Quinn also cameoed in the Arrow Season 2 episode "Suicide Squad" as one of A.R.G.U.S.’s many prisoners. We never saw her face, but her current voice actress, Tara Strong, provided her dialogue. Harley was also considered to be one of the antagonists in the abandoned Batman & Robin follow-up Batman: Unchained, where she would have been Joker’s daughter seeking revenge. There was also a character named Ecco on Fox's Gotham who assisted Jeremiah Valeska, that show's version of The Joker, and she was clearly to be a variation on Harley.

She Hasn’t Been A Suicide Squad Member As Long As Others

For most of her existence, Harley has either been The Joker’s main squeeze or been adventuring on her own. It was only when the New 52 kicked off in 2011 that she was added to the Suicide Squad. After being imprisoned in Belle Reve Prison, she was forced onto the Squad by Amanda Waller rather than joining willingly. Most of her teammates underestimated her on the first mission due to her ditzy personality, but she soon proved to them how dangerous she was.

When The Joker returned, she betrayed the team in an effort to find him, but when that didn’t go as planned, she rejoined. Despite only be affiliated with the Squad for a few years, she’s remained a consistent member, ranking next to Deadshot and Captain Boomerang, and still serves on the team to this day. Since much of the DCEU is inspired by the New 52, it’s no wonder the first movie decided to include her.

She’s Not Always A Bad Guy

Harley may have started out as a straightforward (albeit tragic) villain when she was introduced, but nowadays it wouldn’t be right to label her as a standard criminal. Anti-hero might be more appropriate in certain cases. In the solo co-written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, Harley tried to get a fresh start on life and has moved away from being closely connected with Batman and The Joker. Now she’s actively trying to help people, though this usually has disastrous results.

In many ways, she’s like Deadpool over at Marvel. They may try to do good, but often times it results in more chaos. The Injustice: Gods Among Us comic book prequel also showed that universe’s Harley working with Green Arrow and Black Canary, becoming a hero during Superman’s reign of terror. Given what's coming up with her in the DCEU, Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn looks like she'll be embarking down a similar anti-heroic path, but it's highly unlikely she'll make the transition to full-blown hero.

And there we have it: those are the main things you need to know about Harley Quinn. As mentioned earlier, Margot Robbie's version of the character isn't going anywhere. She returns on February 7, 2020 for Birds of Prey, where, after breaking up with The Joker, she'll team up with Huntress, Black Canary and Detective Renee Montoya to protect a young Cassandra Cain from Roman Sionis, a.k.a. Black Mask. Harley is also expected to return for The Suicide Squad, which comes out on August 5, 2021.

It's also worth mentioning that an adult-oriented Harley Quinn animated series is debuting on the DC Universe streaming service at the end of the year, with the character being voiced by The Big Bang Theory's Kaley Cuoco. That show won't focus on her being part of the Suicide Squad, but will instead chronicle her adventures after breaking up with The Joker, which includes her trying to join the Legion of Doom. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any other Harley-related updates.