Why Quentin Tarantino Turned The Hateful Eight Into A Miniseries For Netflix

Why Quentin Tarantino Turned The Hateful Eight Into A Miniseries For Netflix

It’s been almost three and a half years since Quentin Tarantino’s last movie, The Hateful Eight, was released in theaters. Like a lot of movies nowadays, it’s been available to stream now and then, and can currently be watched on Netflix.

However, it was announced a month ago that an extended version of The Hateful Eight would also be hitting Netflix in April, only rather than it being the Roadshow Cut that had a limited theatrical release, the story is instead told as a four-episode miniseries.

Now Quentin Tarantino has opened up about how The Hateful Eight miniseries came to be, revealing that Netflix approached him about adding extra footage into the original version of the movie so that it could be divided up as episodes. Tarantino thought this would be an “intriguing” creative endeavor and was willing to give it a shot. He recalled:

And so about a year after it’s released, maybe a little less, me and my editor, Fred Raskin, we got together and then we worked real hard. We edited the film down into 50 minute bits, and we very easily got four episodes out of it. We didn’t re-edit the whole thing from scratch, but we did a whole lot of re-editing, and it plays differently. Some sequences are more similar than others compared to the film, but it has a different feeling. It has a different feeling that I actually really like a lot. And there was a literary aspect to the film anyway, so it definitely has this ‘chapters unfolding’ quality.

Quentin Tarantino never felt the need to release The Hateful Eight’s Roadshow Cut because it was its own thing that was specifically intended for 70mm screenings. But with the miniseries, he found a compelling enough reason to revisit his creation and sprinkle in extra footage in a different way.

And speaking of extra footage, Quentin Tarantino also commented on the inaccurate and “frustrating” claim online that there’s no new content in The Hateful Eight miniseries. Continuing in his interview with Slashfilm, he noted that there’s approximately 25 minutes of additional material in the miniseries, and that results in certain sequences playing “very different.”

The director provided an example for how The Hateful Eight miniseries flows differently from the original movie, saying:

Well, the way it’s in the [original] movie is, instead of me saying, ‘But then when John Ruth and Daisy arrived…’, that’s when we cut out of that sequence, and go back….What we’re able to do in this version, is John Ruth and Daisy now enter the place, and you see the entire sequence again. John Ruth and Daisy enter Minnie’s Haberdashery, except now it’s not told from John Ruth and Daisy’s perspective. It’s told from the killers’ perspective…We know what they’ve done, and we know how they set up, and we know Daisy knows who they are…So we see how Tim Roth and how Michael Madsen and how Daisy are reacting to each other, while John Ruth is oblivious.

It’s up to the individual viewer to decide whether The Hateful Eight miniseries is superior or inferior to the movie, but at least Quentin Tarantino enthusiasts now have the opportunity to compare the two versions. And since Tarantino put this miniseries together at Netflix’s request, that almost certainly means the streaming service will be its exclusive home, as opposed to also being made available on Blu-ray.

The Hateful Eight, which took place a little over a decade after the American Civil War and followed eight strangers who were stuck together in a cabin during a blizzard, featured an ensemble cast that included Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Demian Bichir, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen and Bruce Dern. Although it only made over $155 million worldwide, it collected numerous accolades, including one Oscar win and two nominations.

Quentin Tarantino’s next movie, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, opens in theaters on July 26. If you’re curious about what other movies are opening later this year, head to our 2019 release schedule.

IT Chapter Two Will Include Controversial Scene Cut From The Miniseries

IT Chapter Two Will Include Controversial Scene Cut From The Miniseries

IT is one of Stephen King's biggest novels, literally. Depending on the edition you read the novel clocks in at well over 1,000 pages, so clearly, not everything that takes place in the book will ever be in any version of the story adapted for the screen. The television miniseries from 1990 had to choose to leave some things out, but the upcoming sequel on the big screen will be including one major moment left out of the previous version.

Because IT the novel jumps back and forth in time, we see both the "present day" Derry and the one from the past both at the beginning of the story. In the present day timeline, the first vision of Pennywise the clown comes after a gay man named Adrian Mellon has just been the victim of a serious hate crime, a beating by three teenagers. While the TV version of IT left the moment out, the new film, IT Chapter Two, will include it. Screenwriter Gary Dauberman says the scene isn't just memorable, but it's also important...

It is an iconic scene in the book and one we wanted to include in the movie. It is the first attack in present-day Derry and sets the stage for what Derry has become. It is the influence of Pennywise even while he is hibernating, and it’s pure evil what happens to Adrian. These bullies working through Pennywise was important for us to show.

Gary Dauberman's description of the scene to THR might indicate a slight difference between the version on the screen and the version in the book. Dauberman says that Pennywise is hibernating, which would indicate he's not actually part of the scene, but that his evil influence is simply being felt by those in the town.

However, in the novel, Pennywise is there. While the clown does not take an active part in the attack on Adrian Mellon, after his body is pushed from a bridge, Pennywise, or if we're being specific, a clown, is seen with the bloody body in his arms.

It will be interesting to see how else the scene changes due to the way time has passed. One of the interesting things that the film version of IT has done is shift the time period, so the 1980s, which was the modern day for the novel, is when the first film took place, the sequel will see the main characters grown up in our modern day.

This moment is the very first scene in the modern timeline so it certainly does set the stage for what follows as Gary Dauberman said. It's somewhat understandable that the TV version would leave it out, it would be hard to do the moment justice without showing it in all its violence, something television would have trouble doing now, never mind in 1990. The R-rated IT Chapter Two won't have that issue.

The first trailer for IT Chapter Two was released yesterday, and it focuses on one scene, but a very different one. It's not vicious and violent, but it's creepy as hell. Check it out.

IT Chapter Two will hit theaters in September.

6 Questions We Have After Watching Shazam!

6 Questions We Have After Watching Shazam!

Shazam! is officially out, and while those who have seen it now know a whole lot about DC's latest superhero adventure, they may have some questions after the film. That's understandable given there are quite a few crazy things that happen throughout the flick, many of which could be addressed in a sequel or another DC film down the line. In no particular order, here are some of the thoughts I had after the credits rolled that have stuck with me as the days have passed. Take a look.

Can The Rest Of The Kids Change On Command?

Billy can switch between his normal and champion self simply by saying "shazam," but is that the case with his foster siblings? We see the rest of the Shazam Family go hero mode in the final scenes of the film, but the circumstances of how their powers work are a bit confusing. Can they change on command like Billy, or do their powers rely on using the staff?

It's a question the movie didn't really get a chance to answer, but one I'd like to know more about. The comics have allowed the kids to change by saying "shazam" as well, but audiences only saw the children change when holding the staff with Billy. It would be nice to have some clarity on how this whole thing works in a future movie and whether or not it is similar to the comics.

Are The Powers Of The Shazam Family The Same?

As I alluded to in the previous question, the Shazam Family is similar to the characters shown in the comics, although I'm not entirely sure if the characters will be portrayed quite like their comic book counterparts. For example, Darla has the enhanced super speed like in the comics, and it seemed remarkably clear she was a good deal faster than the rest of the siblings.

Then there's Pedro who was strong enough to stop a ferris wheel, and is supposed to be the strongest of the Shazam Family. No offense to Pedro, but that didn't seem like something Billy couldn't do, especially when Shazam is typically portrayed to have a level of strength akin to Superman. Also, Eugene is supposed to have the power to control technology, although seemed to just be a lightning expert. Hopefully another movie makes their skill-sets a bit clearer.

Is Shazam! Connected To The Justice League?

Shazam's final scene before the credits has a pretty spectacular cameo, but does the Man of Steel's brief appearance confirm Billy will get an adventure with another Justice League hero in the future? It's hard to say, as we're all well aware DC isn't too keen on a shared universe for its hero films right now. Also, Henry Cavill didn't even actually appear for the cameo, lending credence to those Henry Cavill rumors.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see Billy team up with another DC hero, although the introduction of the Shazam Family really makes this a franchise that can do ensemble films more organically on its own. Plus, I can't imagine DC would want to lug the whole family around for adventures, so any appearance by Billy would have to justify or possibly explain where the rest of the family is. That doesn't seem ideal.

What's Next For Doctor Sivana?

Shazam!'s villain Doctor Sivana started off strong, but was stripped of the demons within him and a bulk of the powers that made him a viable threat to Billy. The post-credits scene showed it's likely not the last we've seen of the villain, and that he'll likely team up with Mr. Mind for more evil plots. That's all well and good, but what use is Sivana without the power of the demons?

That's for a future film to answer, although we know that Sivana is still a highly intelligent individual even without powers. He also knows some of the mysterious spell language, which in the comics, keeps him from ever being held in any prison for too long. The character will probably see his freedom, but after that what other use does Mr. Mind have for Dr. Sivana? Will he reclaim the Eye of Sin and go for Round 2 against Billy?

Will Billy's Father Appear?

In one of Shazam's saddest scenes, Billy's mother makes it known in so many words that her prolonged absence in his life was intentional. We also learned that Billy's father is alive and in prison, although he never expressed a desire to be a father. Was that a way of saying he'd never appear, or was the mention the start of what could be a wildly different take on William Batson?

It's impossible to say, of course, although it is worth mentioning that Billy's family dynamic was one of the biggest changes in Shazam! Seeing William Batson come back into Billy's life would create some interesting tension, and another way to showcase Billy's difficult feelings in processing all of that. Or, the film could introduce William as a villain which, again, is great fodder for a wild story arc that could have a huge emotional pay off.

When Will Black Adam Appear?

Shazam! has a brief mention of Black Adam, which more or less sets the stage for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's anti-hero to appear down the stretch. Now the question is, will we ever see Black Adam appear as a foe to Billy Batson? The fact that he wasn't featured in either post-credit scene doesn't seem like there are immediate plans to use him, despite him originally being in the mix to appear.

With that said, Dwayne Johnson has revived many fans' hopes for a standalone film with an announcement on Instagram that filming on Black Adam's solo film could start as early as next year. That probably means a film that features both characters won't come until after that, although that's not always the case. Still, if DC does still intend to make Black Adam, it might be best to tell his story there before bringing him into the Shazam! franchise proper.

Shazam! is currently in theaters, and CinemaBlend is the place to be for any viewer who wants all the answers and analysis following the superhero film. For more content like that, be sure to check out how the film did at the box office during its opening weekend. (Spoiler alert: It did well.)

Bryce Dallas Howard Discovered Harsh Truths About Elton John’s Mother While Researching For Rocketman

Bryce Dallas Howard Discovered Harsh Truths About Elton John’s Mother While Researching For Rocketman

Memorable art often is born from pain. Could be a broken heart. Could be a broken home. But art that stands the test of time too often can be traced back to an inspirational source of tragedy, and that has been proven time and again over the years.

Elton John can attest to this notion. In the new film Rocketman, it’s made clear that the piano prodigy’s home life as a child was a struggle, with his parents Stanley (Steven Mackintosh) and Sheila (Bryce Dallas Howard) being less than accepting of his talents and musical aspirations. It only got worse as the singer/songwriters’ career flourished.

Seeing as how Bryce Dallas Howard comes from a show business family, we wondered if she had a hard time connecting with a parental figure who didn’t support the fantastic dreams of a gifted child. And during a recent Rocketman press day in London, Howard told CinemaBlend:

I not only struggled to connect, I questioned it. A lot. … I had a lot of questions for production, but what I was interested in was hearing about Sheila from people who were not involved in the production. So I had a lot of confidential conversations, and again and again and again, heard stories where I realized that it was actually worse than what it was on the [script] page. It’s not that it tipped over into abuse. But it was absolutely chronic cruelty. It was an incredibly toxic, dysfunctional relationship.

Elton John, according to Rocketman, didn’t necessarily rebel against his strict parenting, but he did seek out new relationships through music. After studying at a sophisticated music academy, he gravitated to rock and roll, and eventually found a spiritual and artistic kinship with lyricist Bernie Taupin (Jaime Bell). Their collaborations span a lifetime, and still produce hits to this day.

In fact, when I pointed out to Bryce Dallas Howard that Elton John’s gift prevailed through the emotional hardship put upon him by his misguided mother, the actress wisely clarified:

He was able to overcome that. I feel like he had that gift within him always. For me, I’m still like, ‘Gosh, what could it have been if she hadn’t have treated him like that?’ What more… he always would have been extraordinary. But he would have been happier earlier.

She’s right. Sir Elton John has achieved perhaps the highest level of success in his chosen field. But there’s no telling how smoother his path might have been if he had received the support that he craved from Day One. Then again, without those hardships, we might never have a dramatic musical like Rocketman to appreciate in theaters.

Here’s Bryce Dallas Howard, talking about her preparation to play Sheila Eileen Dwight in Rocketman.

Dexter Fletcher directs the musical biopic Rocketman, which is carried by a breathtaking lead performance by Taron Egerton. The movie roars into theaters on Thursday night, and if you can’t tell, we think you need to check it out.

Sandra Bullock Was Offered The Role Of Neo In The Matrix

Sandra Bullock Was Offered The Role Of Neo In The Matrix

In the realm of sci-fi action movies, Keanu Reeves' Neo is considered a modern icon. Sure, the second and third Matrix movies didn't live up to expectations, however, the first remains a certified classic. Because of this, it's always strange to hear about actors who could have played the lead role in the film, as the end result might have been totally different. In the past we've heard stories about Will Smith and Brad Pitt, but apparently another name on the shortlist for the part was would-be Oscar winner and Reeves' Speed co-star, Sandra Bullock.

It's been previously reported that Bullock was one of the actresses up for the role of Trinity in The Matrix - a part that eventually went to Carrie-Anne Moss - but in a recent interview with The Wrap producer Lorenzo Di Bonaventura revealed that the female lead wasn't always the role that the project had in mind for the star. According to him, there was a point where it was considered that the hero be gender swapped so that it could be played by the star of Hope Floats. Said Di Bonaventura,

We went out to so many people I don’t remember. We were getting desperate. We went to Sandy Bullock and said ‘We’ll change Neo to a girl.’ [Producer] Joel Silver and I worked with Sandy on Demolition Man and she was and continues to be a very good friend of mine. It was pretty simple. We sent her the script to see if she was interested in it. And if she was interested in it we would try to make the change. It just wasn’t something for her at the time. So really it didn’t go anywhere.

Instead of making The Matrix, Sandra Bullock instead took on Forces Of Nature as her big film for 1999 - and while that may have been the right choice for her at the time, the box office suggests it might not have been the right call. The comedy co-starring Ben Affleck went on to get a tepid critical response, and a box office haul of $93 million; while the sci-fi blockbuster wound up being a cultural phenomenon and made nearly $500 million by the time it was done with its global theatrical run.

To go back to what was said at the start, however, it's hard to even know if The Matrix would have been the same film without Keanu Reeves as its lead. While there were some at the time who didn't think much of his acting skills at the time, he proved to have the absolutely perfect stoic charisma that was needed for the Wachowski film. Just like Ted from Bill & Ted and John Wick from the John Wick movies, the star made the role his own, and the fantastic results speak for themselves.

And obviously Sandra Bullock clearly didn't see her career end after turning The Matrix down. About one year after the release of The Matrix she starred in what was at the time her biggest hit as a front-and-center lead (2000's Miss Congeniality), and since then she has been a part of many $100 million-plus hits, including The Proposal, Gravity, and The Blind Side (a performance that also won her an Academy Award).

This is a fun year for The Matrix stories, as we are soon going to be celebrating the blockbuster's 20th anniversary (which, specifically, will be on March 31, 2019). You'll probably be seeing a lot more floating around, so stay tuned here on CinemaBlend, as we'll be collecting the best stuff we can find.

Spider-Man: Far From Home Hopes The Elementals Will Raise The Stakes

Spider-Man: Far From Home Hopes The Elementals Will Raise The Stakes

It’s no secret that the classic Spider-Man villain Mysterio will be turned on his head – er, fish bowl – when Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: Far From Home opens in theaters later this year. We have been told that Mysterio will be an ally to Spidey, hired by Nick Fury to respond to a new threat. And in the latest trailer for Far From Home, it was revealed that Quentin Beck (Jake Gyllenhaal) will hail from an alternate Earth, opening up the doors to a Multiverse in the MCU.

So if Mysterio isn’t this film’s major villain, than who is? Well, when CinemaBlend visited the London set of Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: Far From Home last year, we first learned about the switch Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios planned to introduce with Mysterio. And we started to hear more about The Elementals, creatures inspired by the natural elements that will spring up around the globe.

We have seen traces of these creatures in the early marketing for Spider-Man: Far From Home, and the creative team confirmed to us that these threats are based on villains Spidey has faced off in his comic books over the years. More on those in a moment. For starters, Jon Watts opened up to us about introducing the Elementals, explaining:

Because Mysterio is playing a hero in this story, we needed real antagonists that could put Peter in danger. And for me, I wanted to really raise the action stakes from the last movie. With the Vulture, it's a one-on-one fight [against] a mechanized villain. But with Spider-Man, you have the ability to do so much more. We've seen him fight much larger villains and have spectacular set pieces, and I felt like the way to do that would be to bring in -- I mean, you say B-level heroes, but I've always loved Hydro-Man and Molten Man and this ability to have a giant, Elemental kind of creature for Spider-Man to fight against. Anything that makes things more difficult for him and opens up visual opportunities for me, I'll run at that.

Spider-Man definitely does seem to be out of his element (sorry, I had to do that) in this story. First, he’s out of New York City, and needing to fight in European locations he’s never seen before. The sequel will stage battles in Venice, Prague and London, with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) encountering this universe’s version of Sandman in Mexico City.

Of course, there’s a theory running around, which we can not confirm, that these Elementals are illusions controlled by Mysterio. The character from the comics is supposed to be a master of illusions, and we could see Quentin Beck conjuring these beasts to fight so that he can win over the trust of people who have just lost some key Avengers. Is that really Mysterio’s dubious plan?

As for Spider-Man himself, Tom Holland tells us that he was just happy to have these antagonists in the sequel because he felt it gives him better opportunities to see Spidey in fight mode. The new trailers did show off Peter Parker taking down enemies in his Iron Spider suit, his Stealth Suit, and a new suit he appears to wear in London. On the action, Holland told CinemaBlend:

At the end of the day, it's always about saving people and doing the right thing. The world is at risk in this film. I feel like the Vulture was sort of low-level crime. It was sort of under the radar. Not many people know about it. But this is a worldwide event. So the stakes are much higher for him, and I think he understands that. Meaning, he has to really show up and bring his A game. But at the heart of the film, Peter Parker just wants to tell the girl he really likes that he loves her, and have a nice holiday.

Will he be able to? It’s going to be difficult, but we have learned through the years never to bet against Spider-Man.

Sony’s Spider-Man: Far From Home swings into theaters on July 2. We have plenty more content from the set coming to CinemaBlend, so stay tuned.

It’ll Reportedly Be Years Before The X-Men Make Their Way To The MCU

It’ll Reportedly Be Years Before The X-Men Make Their Way To The MCU

It's no secret that superhero movies are everywhere. The comic book genre is arguably the most profitable one in the filmmaking world, leading to a variety of studios producing their own installments, and vying for box office supremacy. 20th Century Fox's X-Men franchise was there through it all, starting with Bryan Singer's original 2000 movie. But now that series of films may be coming to an end, as Disney has officially acquired Fox and its various properties.

Marvel fans seem mostly excited about the merger, as it will give the X-Men (and hopefully The Fantastic Four) the opportunity to finally join the massive Marvel Cinematic Universe. But it's unclear when this transition might occur, especially with Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants both in the can. And a new report indicates that the mutants wont join the shared universe for a number of years.

According to THR, the X-Men probably won't appear in the MCU until 2021 or later. If Kevin Feige doesn't already have a completed script for the mutant group, then it should take some time to develop a project for the titular team to star in. Marvel blockbusters don't happen over the night, so 2021 might even be a bit generous. After all, we're already waist deep into 2019, and there's been a ton of attention paid to releases like Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.

With the Fox and Disney deal in ink, the House of Mouse is seemingly moving forward with its plans-- including certain characters previous owned by Fox. While the future of the X-Men is currently unclear, Walt Disney Studios has already prominently featured Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool on its website. It looks like the Merc With A Mouth is going to be left to his own devices, but that probably won't extend to the current X-Men franchise.

There's a ton of star power associated with X-Men movies, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe likely won't want to foot the bill such A-list actors. James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, and Sophie Turner no doubt require some serious cash for their services. Instead, it seems more likely that Marvel Studios will start fresh, and assemble a new cast of X-Men.

Additionally, most of the starring X-Men cast has been with the franchise since 2011's X-Men: First Class. The actors' star power have grown considerably, and Dark Phoenix will mark the fourth film for the OG cast members who are still on board. As such, they might want to switch it up, and be released from their contracts with the franchise. Jennifer Lawrence has been slowly headed toward the door for years, and it looks like she's being killed off early in Dark Phoenix.

If the current cast of X-Men is let go so Marvel Studios can start fresh, it'll probably be a disappointment for some of the newer additions, including Sophie Turner, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. Those actors are returning to play their respective X-Men characters in Dark Phoenix, but that upcoming blockbuster might also end up being their swan song.

While ideally Marvel Studios would adopt the X-Men cast, it would be a confusing experience for the fandom, and would seriously break the timelines. There's no reason for the world to hate mutants when The Avengers are celebrated and given great power. Furthermore, it doesn't make sense that the team would have sat out major events like The Battle of New York.

As such, it makes more sense to start fresh, whenever the X-Men finally join the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has a particular way of introducing new heroes, as the ranks of The Avengers were methodically filled out across the past decade of filmmaking. It doesn't make sense throwing an entire group of characters who have their own four movies of history. But that unfortunately means that the X-Men franchise as we know it will likely come to an end with either Dark Phoenix or The New Mutants.

It should be interesting to see how Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios ultimately approach the X-Men. Is it possible that the various members will be given origin stories, before colliding in an Avengers-esque crossover film? With so many of the OG Avengers coming to the end of their contracts, the MCU will need number to fill out its ranks.

Then again, the X-Men work because they're a team who count on each other. As such, the MCU may take a note from James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, and figure out a way to bring the motley crew of superpowered individuals together. But the question is: who will make the team?

Wiping the X-Men slate clean also gives Marvel the chance to bring the most beloved character of them all back: Wolverine. Hugh Jackman retired from his iconic clawed role after completing James Mangold's Logan. The project even earned an Academy Award Nomination for Best Screenplay, with Jackman leaving on a serious high note. The X-Men franchise hasn't recast the role, but it's clear that the fans are hoping he'll return sooner than later. In fact, plenty of fan lists and art have hit the internet regarding who should take on the mantle.

If Disney starts a brand new X-Men cast, they can also find a new Wolverine for the group as well. While there will be endless comparisons to Hugh Jackman's long run as the character, the same can also be said for any potential new actors. After all, the X-Men franchise has been going strong for nearly 20 years. So the comparisons are going to happen regardless.

Aside from the X-Men, Marvel fans are also hoping that the Fantastic Four eventually make their way to the MCU. The last movie was a bit of a disaster, so it should be relatively easy to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. And with the cosmic side of the shared universe becoming a more important setting, it could be the perfect time to bring that quartet of heroes back to theaters.

Dark Phoenix will arrive in theaters (after a few delays) on June 7th. CinemaBlend will keep you updated on the X-Men's inclusion in the MCU as details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.