Why Superhero Movies Are So Popular, According To The Shazam! Filmmakers

Why Superhero Movies Are So Popular, According To The Shazam! Filmmakers

Whether you love superhero movies or your name is James Cameron and you're waiting for "Avenger fatigue" to set in, there's no question superhero movies are more popular than ever. Sure, they can fail sometimes, just ask Fantastic Four. But more often than not, superheroes win and they win big. DC's Shazam! just joined the ranks of the winners with a solid #1 opening weekend at the box office.

Shazam! follows the $1 billion success of DC's Aquaman and the $1 billion success of Marvel's Captain Marvel, and precedes the probably $2+ billion success of Avengers: Endgame -- which itself follows the $2 billion success of Avengers: Infinity War. Phew! If you follow the money, it leads right to Marvel and DC.

But why? Why are comic book superheroes so popular right now? It's a question many have been asking, and Shazam! director David F. Sandberg and producer Peter Safran shared their takes:

David F. Sandberg: Partly I think it's the wish fulfillment. And that's why I love Shazam! so much, because it's kind of the ultimate wish fulfillment with this kid getting to be a superhero.

Peter Safran: And I think it's really about the great characters that populate a lot of the superhero movies. Each superhero movie is different than the other superhero movies. It's a large genre, but within it you have heist movies, you have comedies, you have pure action. So I think there's a lot of room.

I especially like Peter Safran's take to Collider. Because it's true, it's almost like Superhero has become its own genre like Comedy or Drama and there are subgenres within that go in many different directions. I also think good superhero movies inspire and elevate others -- competition is good for the market (until it isn't).

Hollywood is notorious for wanting to just copy what works, and right now superhero movies just work -- they not only make tons of money, they tend to be crowd and sometimes even critic pleasers. That leads to repeat viewing in theaters and also at home, which brings even more money.

David F. Sandberg has a background in horror, and CinemaBlend's own Mike Reyes recently asked him why he thinks horror directors make such good superhero films. After all, Shazam! is following in the footsteps of The Conjuring king James Wan's Aquaman, which is the highest-grossing DC Comics film yet. Sandberg had a pretty good answer on that.

Not everyone is thrilled with superhero movies flooding theaters, often pushing away anything that isn't Marvel or DC related. That could be an issue in the next couple of months, especially when theaters are going to want to have as many showings of Avenges: Endgame as possible.

What will that mean for any film not named Avengers: Endgame? Hopefully there's room for everyone, from superhero movies and other action blockbuster sequels (Star Wars: Episode IX, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, John Wick 3) to Disney's 9 million live-action remakes (see you soon, The Lion King and Aladdin) right down to original non-sequel movies. Like Us.

Speaking of horror directors and superhero movies, though, is there any way to drag Jordan Peele into the DC or Marvel universes? Or would it be better if steered clear?

For more Shazam! points to ponder, listen to ReelBlend's recent interview with David F. Sandberg and Peter Safran. The DCEU movie is now playing in theaters as one of the many movies to try and keep up with in 2019.

Captain Marvel Doesn't Necessarily Disprove A Popular Phase 4 Theory

Captain Marvel Doesn't Necessarily Disprove A Popular Phase 4 Theory

Warning! SPOILERS ahead. Read at your own risk!

As viewers experience Captain Marvel for the first time, no doubt they're analyzing the character's story and wondering how it will play into the future of the MCU. Carol Danvers is already confirmed to be an important player in Avengers: Endgame, but some might assume that other theories proposed ahead of the film are now invalid after seeing Captain Marvel. Specifically, we're referring to the representation of Skrulls as villains in the Marvel universe.

It's easy to think otherwise after watching, as the species was portrayed to be nothing more than frightened refugees seeking safety from the vigilant Kree and their desire to eradicate the species. The Skrulls weren't the bad guys this time around, but that doesn't mean the MCU isn't planning on working in the Skrulls to be major aggressors in Phase 4. There are some clues that point to Captain Marvel's Skrulls being outliers as opposed to the norm.

All credit to Marvel Studios for subverting hardcore fan expectations, as using Talos was a perfect way to throw them off the trail. He's one of the more brutal and notable Skrull characters in Marvel Comics, so it was easy to expect that even if the Kree weren't the "heroes" Carol assumed they were, the Skrulls were just as nasty, if not a little worse.

The lack of evil wasn't the only thing different about Talos either, as the character was also known for being a Skrull who lacked the ability to shape shift. Talos touted himself in Captain Marvel as being one of the best at shapeshifting, which stuck out to me as an oddly specific line given the character's origin. Talos might be a great shape-shifter in the '90s, but could he have lost his ability in the years since?

If that happened, it may have been the result of an incident that's changed his attitude on many things since. It's one of those things that screams as a catalyst into making a likable character a villain, and also making him closer to the version in Marvel's canon. Plus seeing Talos transition from grateful ally of Captain Marvel to fearsome foe would be quite the story arc.

That's just one character, however, and as many know, the Marvel universe is not lacking for evil Skrulls. Just because Talos and his crew were good doesn't mean there aren't some other Skrulls lurking about intent on infiltrating cultures and dominating societies. After all, every species in the MCU has a few bad eggs. It would be weird if the Skrulls were the sole exception to that rule.

Again, imagine all the things that could've happened in the last 20 years. The Skrulls could've found a new home, re-grew its numbers and could be seeking revenge on the Kree, especially now that adversaries like Ronan The Accuser are gone. It's also possible there were some Skrulls on Earth unaffiliated with Talos and his crew, and are slowly working their way up the chain of power to make a big play on behalf of Skrulls everywhere.

In typical Skrull fashion, this could be done by disguising themselves as authority figures. People like Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross, who have bounced back into the MCU like nothing happened after being gone for so long. Captain Marvel showed the perks of a Skrull positioning themselves in a position of power, and Ross has been in a pretty sweet power position threatening heroes with the power of the United States government. I'm not saying Ross is for sure a Skrull in disguise, but I won't be surprised if he is.

Plus, it doesn't seem like Marvel Studios to go to such lengths to introduce the Skrulls, and then immediately erase any chance for a "Secret Invasion" adaptation. Skrulls slowly taking over the identities of notable heroes was an exciting event in the comics, and could make for some really mind-blowing twists in the MCU in Phase 4. It's a story line that could slowly develop during Avengers: Endgame and serve as an explanation behind some actors' high profile exits.

It's also a big MCU event substantial enough to shoulder another major Marvel ensemble feature, which is something the studio will need going forward. After Thanos' defeat, the bar has been set to work towards the next major threat to the universe. Sure, Galactus, Annihilus and Cronus might be more intimidating, but what the Skrulls lack in god-like powers, they more than make up for with their ability to surprise audiences again and again.

Let's be honest, if putting the most powerful villain available as the head of a major feature was always the right call, X-Men: Apocalypse would've been a slam dunk. Marvel may not have the vision to tackle massive foes like Galactus just yet, and could use a Skrull invasion in the meantime without doing a massive amount of work to explain why that could happen.

Of course a secret invasion wouldn't exactly be easy, but Captain Marvel already got a bulk of the exposition on Skrulls out of the way. We know they can shape shift to make themselves look like anyone, and can only retain recent memories. That's more than enough to start laying some eggs, and it's enough even for Carol to potentially out an Avengers character as a secret Skrull during Avengers: Endgame.

Put simply, a few good Skrulls doesn't mean the race won't be a major player in Phase 4 and an aggressor towards a future lineup of heroes. Whether it's The Avengers, Guardians, or some other upcoming hero group that will be introduced in Phase 4, we shouldn't assume the MCU will keep the Skrulls as a race solely comprised of pacifists. With that said, things might be a little bit easier on Earth's Mightiest Heroes if they stay that way.

We won't know for sure what's happening with the Skrulls until Avengers: Endgame at the earliest, so keep checking with CinemaBlend in the weeks leading up to and after its release for more details. For more on Captain Marvel, read up on its box office debut and how it's killing it in its first week.

In The Heights Movie, An Updated Cast List

In The Heights Movie, An Updated Cast List

Movie musicals have always been a tried and true genre in the film world, and there have been quite a few major hits over the years. It's a genre with a penchant for awards attention, with movies like Chicago, La La Land, and Les Miserables all able to pick up Oscars. In the world of musical theater, there's currently no name quite as famous as Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the writer/actor is currently developing the film adaptation of his first Broadway hit, In The Heights.

In The Heights broke new ground by bringing hip hop to Broadway, and a movie has been slowly developing for a number of years. But things appear to be moving forward, as Lin-Manuel Miranda and company have begun assembling the movie adaptation's cast. And there's some impressive talent attached.

Anthony Ramos (Usnavi)

Hamilton star Anthony Ramos is playing the lead role of Usnavi in In The Heights, after taking a run as the character in the Kennedy Center Production. Following the wild success of Hamilton, Ramos began getting more film work, and you might recognize his face from certain high profile projects. After starring in Spike Lee's Netflix series She's Gotta Have It and a recurring role in Will & Grace, Ramos co-starred alongside Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born as Ally's best friend Ramon.

Jimmy Smits (Kevin Rosario)

Another big name attached to In the Heights is Jimmy Smits, who has had a long career in film and TV. Smits is known for his roles in Dexter, Star Wars, as well as Sons of Anarchy. Smits is playing Kevin Rosario in the In The Heights movie, the patriarch of the Rosario family. Smits isn't necessarily known for his singing, and it should be interesting to see if he ends up getting belt out Kevin's big number "Inútil".

Daphne Rubin-Vega (Carla)

While not exactly a household name for her work in film, Daphne Rubin-Vega is a name that any self-respecting Broadway fan knows well. Rubin-Vega originated the role of Mimi in RENT on Broadway, and can be heard on the cast recording. She's one of two original cast members didn't appear in the film version, with Rosario Dawson taking on the mantle of Mimi. Aside from her continued work on the stage, Rubin-Vega was seen in NBC's Smash, and the Sex and the City movie. She'll play Carla, owner of the neighborhood salon.

Corey Hawkins (Benny)

Corey Hawkins' star power has been growing over the past few years, due to his work in both television and movies. On the small screen, he had brief stint on The Walking Dead, he lead the ill-fated 24 reboot. And in movies, Hawkins had roles in BlackKklansman and Straight Outta Compton. Hawkins is playing Benny, one of the few non-latin characters in the cast. He's got In the Heights' main love story on his shoulders, and should be belting out a variety of iconic songs.

Dascha Polanco (Cuca)

Dascha Polanco is best known for her leading role as Daya in Netflix's Orange is the New Black. She's also had roles in Joy and American Crime Story, but In The Heights should be a major moment for her career. There's just one question: who is she playing? Polanco was announced to be playing Cuca, but she's not a character in the stage play. Will she work in Carla's salon? We'll just have to wait for more information.

Olga Merediz (Abuela Claudia)

Olga Merediz is another In The Heights cast member who audiences should recognize, but might not be able to figure out where. She's also another Orange is the New Black alum, as Merediz has a recurring character in Lourdes, Gloria Mendoza's Aunt. Merediz will be playing Abuela Claudia, the adoptive grandmother of not only Anthony Ramos' Usnavi, but the entire barrio.

Stephanie Beatriz (Carla)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Stephanie Beatriz is heading back to theaters with In The Heights, and should be lending her speaking and singing voice to the role of Carla. Beatriz has played Rosa Diaz in B99 for a whopping 130 episodes, and clearly has the comedic chops and experience to play Carla. In the stage version of In The Heights, Carla is Daniela's dimwitted best friend who has a passion for neighborhood gossip.

Gregory Diaz (Sonny)

Lin-Manuel Miranda is presumably going to make some changes to the characters and plot of In The Heights, to best adapt the Tony Award winning musical onto the silver screen. One of these changes can be seen with the casting of Gregory Diaz as Sonny. Sonny is Usnavi's younger cousin, although he's usually at least high school aged, and helping to run the convenience store with Usnavi. But he's going to be much younger in the movie version, and it should be interesting to see how Diaz balances Sonny's comedic beats with his penchant or social justice.

Melissa Barrera (Vanessa)

Vanessa is the subject of Usnavi's affection, and should be equal parts ambitious bombshell and caring member of the community. The In The Heights movie has cast Melissa Barrera in the role. Barrera is best known for starring in Starz's LatinX drama Vida, which is set to debut it second season shortly. Vanessa also belts out some crazy high notes, so the actress should probably start warming up now.

Leslie Grace (Nina Rosario)

Nina and Benny have the main love story of In The Heights, so casting for the ingenue was very important. Ultimately Lin-Manuel Miranda and company landed on Leslie Grace to play the college student who returns home for hard lesson. While not a film star, Grace is a recording artist who is also a New York City native. Starring in the In The Heights movie has the potential to be a major moment in Grace's career, and possibly herald in a film career. One thing is clear: she's not going to have any problem singing.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's In The Heights cast is coming together, making the upcoming movie finally feel real. And while Hamilton may be a bigger title at this point, bringing Usnavi and The Barrio to the silver screen will allow casual fans who appreciate his other Broadway musical. In The Heights was no sleeper hit either, as it won the Tony for Best Musical, and was even nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Aladdin Toy Seemingly Reveals Princess Jasmine's Brand New Song

Aladdin Toy Seemingly Reveals Princess Jasmine's Brand New Song

We’ve finally gotten a look at the whole new world in the live action Aladdin. We’ve seen blue genies and heard a bit of the classic music that will be reinvented for the 2019 movie onscreen. However, what we hadn’t really heard was any new music from the upcoming flick. That all seems to have changed this weekend thanks to –did you guess it?—a toy leak. Take a listen.

Please note, if you are having trouble hearing the music, you may need to turn the volume up considerably.

The voice on the track certainly sounds like Naomi Scott, the actress who is voicing Princess Jasmine in Aladdin. We’ve known for a while that Aladdin would be getting new music. In particular, Princess Jasmine will get her own song “Speechless,” which was written by Pasek and Paul (Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who just so happen to have written music for La La Land) and the lyrics indicate this should be how her solo song sounds.

The doll was found in a store and recorded, so it’s certainly not as solid or booming as it will likely be in theaters, but if you are wanting a snippet of what new content you should be getting with Aladdin, it more than does the trick.

Naomi Scott previously said about “Speechless” that it was about giving the character more of a voice as a leader, noting,

I mean, how timely is that? [Jasmine's] not perfect. She doesn't get it right all the time. It's just showcasing that she gets to a point where, 'It's not going to be easy and I may lose this fight, but I need to step up. Of course I'm incredibly connected to it, but I really do feel like it's going to touch upon some things and hopefully speak to young girls out there. That's my aim, always.’

If you’ve caught the latest trailer for Disney’s Aladdin, you should already have heard a bit of Will Smith’s rendition of “Friend Like Me,” not to mention Aladdin and Jasmine singing the sweeping ballad “A Whole New World.” If you haven’t taken a look at the full trailer yet, be sure to check it out.

Toy leaks often reveal big and minor things about upcoming movies. When it’s a movie that is as high profile as Aladdin and it’s a movie that is bound to have a ton of merchandise being made available ahead of release, it’s not real surprise that things like musical moments might get spoiled.

In this case, however, it just makes me more excited to hear a better quality version of “Speechless.” If you feel the same way, you won’t have too long to wait. The new musical live action film will be hitting theaters on May 24.

It’s only one of several live action Disney films hitting theaters this year. You can take a look at the full list of all the projects in the works with our updated guide.

Billie Lourd Will Share Scenes With Mother Carrie Fisher In The Rise Of Skywalker

Billie Lourd Will Share Scenes With Mother Carrie Fisher In The Rise Of Skywalker

Star Wars is arguably the biggest franchise in the business, having spanned decades of filmmaking and accrued entire generations of rabid fans. And since Disney acquired Lucasfilm years back, plenty of new and exciting projects have helped expand the galaxy far, far away. But despite the standalone films and upcoming live-action series, all eyes are on what J.J. Abrams will do with Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.

The pressure is on for J.J. Abrams to not only conclude the current sequel trilogy, but the entire Skywalker Saga as a whole. What's more, he's also grappled with the challenge of bringing Carrie Fisher's Leia back to the screen through unused footage from the previous two movies. Abrams recently revealed that Fisher will be sharing more scenes with daughter Billie Lourd in the blockbuster. And while he originally wrote out Lourd from certain scenes to spare her emotions, she insisted. As Abrams revealed:

And so, there are moments where they’re talking; there are moments where they’re touching. There are moments in this movie where Carrie is there, and I really do feel there is an element of the uncanny, spiritual, you know, classic Carrie, that it would have happened this way, because somehow it worked. And I never thought it would.

Well, I've got chills. Seeing Carrie Fisher share scenes with her daughter Billie Lourd in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi was already an emotional experience, but things will be even more heightened in the wake of Fisher's death. Because it's like she'll be brought back to have final moments with Lourd's Lt. Connix on screen.

When Carrie Fisher passed away in December of 2016, shortly after wrapping her role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. So while Rian Johnson's sequel was able to use Leia as intended, it was unclear if/how the General would have a role in Episode IX. Luckily, there appears to be enough leftover footage from Fisher's last two appearances, which will be used to complete Leia's story once and for all.

Related: Billie Lourd’s Star Wars Excitement Makes Episode IX Sound Worth The Wait

Billie Lourd's role as Lt. Connix has been mostly tertiary, with the 26 year-old actress getting just one quick line in The Force Awakens. Connnix's role was eventually expanded in The Last Jedi, as she was instrumental to Finn's escape to Canto Bight and Poe's mutiny in the film's second act. And from J.J. Abrams' comments to Vanity Fair, it looks like she'll get more screen time in The Rise of Skywalker, even physically touching her late mother's character in the process.

Leia's role in The Rise of Skywalker will likely remain one of the most talked about aspects of the movie ahead of its release. The character had an unpredictable outing in The Last Jedi, so it seems like anything is possible for the final installment in the Skywalker Saga.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will arrive in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

There’s Already A Petition Against Robert Pattinson Playing Batman, Because Of Course

There’s Already A Petition Against Robert Pattinson Playing Batman, Because Of Course

It's only been about half a day since the news broke that Robert Pattinson is reportedly set to be the new Batman in Matt Reeves' upcoming film. That's plenty of time for the internet to organize into a mob of unstable rage monsters. Some are apparently already outraged with the decision to cast Pattinson in the iconic role of Bruce Wayne/Batman and so, the last bastion of the outraged, the online petition, has been broken out, and it asks Warner Bros. to reconsider the decision.

If you're wondering what the rationale behind the argument is, you might be surprised to learn that there really isn't one. The entire text of the petition is three sentences long and it simply asks WB to not make the "Batfleck mistake" again and to "stop trashing" the DC universe. There's no explanation of exactly why this casting decision would do that.

As of this writing the petition has only about 200 signatures on it. While that will certainly increase as the petition gains publicity, because, well, we're taking about it too, thus far it doesn't look like all that many people are seriously concerned with the choice as of yet.

And of course, it's entirely possible that all of this energy is being misplaced. While some reports claim that Robert Pattinson has earned the role of the next Batman, others are reporting that he's merely on the short list, alongside Nicholas Hoult as another potential dark knight.

While not stated outright, it seems clear that the Pattinson hate is due to the fact that several years ago the actor stared in a film franchise where he played a sparkly vampire. Of course, since then, Robert Pattinson has gone on to make a wide variety of films where he has received a great deal of acclaim. There's really no valid argument that the man isn't a good actor.

I find the swipe at Ben Affleck to be maybe the most curious part of the petition. A lot of people, even those who have their issues with the previous DCEU movies, would argue that Affleck's Batman was one of the high points of the existing franchise. It's certainly true that not everybody was convinced of that when he was cast, but he brought a lot of people around.

The same has happened with other roles in the history of the Batman franchise. A lot of very vocal people thought casting Heath Ledger as the Joker was the worst possible idea, and an Academy Award later we all know the truth about that.

Is it possible that the guy who once played a sparkly vampire could actually turn out to be an excellent Batman? Of course it is.

These online petitions never amount to anything beyond letting people vent, and this one won't be any different. If Robert Pattinson has indeed been cast as the new Batman, that's not going to change. I, for one, can't wait to see how Pattinson makes the role, that has been played by so many, feel like his own.

Matt Reeves The Batman is set for release June 25, 2021.

Apparently Quentin Tarantino Got Snippy When Asked About Margot Robbie's Limited Role As Sharon Tate

Apparently Quentin Tarantino Got Snippy When Asked About Margot Robbie's Limited Role As Sharon Tate

Quentin Tarantino’s eagerly anticipated and star-studded ninth film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival yesterday, alongside the release of a new trailer. On Wednesday morning, director Quentin Tarantino and stars Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Margot Robbie fielded questions about the film from reporters at the festival and that’s where things got a bit testy.

Quentin Tarantino got snippy about a question from a New York Times reporter about Margot Robbie’s role in the film, according to Variety. Specifically, the reporter mentioned Margot Robbie’s acting talents and reeled off the names of some of the acclaimed films she’s been in. They then mentioned that Robbie doesn’t get many lines as Sharon Tate in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and asked why that was, to which Quentin Tarantino responded:

Well, I just reject your hypothesis.

The auteur seemed none to thrilled at the question and left his answer at that. He didn’t bother to actually address why Margot Robbie didn’t have more lines in the film, instead limiting his response to a terse rebuke of the question’s very premise.

Quentin Tarantino was clearly unhappy and took issue with either the notion that Margot Robbie was underused in his film and/or the possible subtext of the question as to why an actress of her caliber had such a limited role.

The exchange and Quentin Tarantino’s snippy response appeared to make for quite the awkward press conference moment. The question was also directed at Margot Robbie and she got to cut the tension with her own, more verbose answer, saying:

I think the moments I was on screen gave a moment to honor Sharon… I think the tragedy was the loss of innocence. To show the wonderful sides of her could be done without speaking. I did feel like I got a lot of time to explore the character without dialogue, which is an interesting thing. Rarely do I get an opportunity to spend so much time on my own as a character.

Margot Robbie seems to be quite pleased with her experience filming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and framed her limited dialogue in the film as something of an acting challenge. The actress got to just live in the character on her own and convey Sharon Tate’s innocence and how wonderful she was in non-verbal ways.

The Oscar-nominated actress views the scenes she is in in the film as honoring Sharon Tate and serving the story, and if she did feel displeased with or underutilized in the role, she didn’t say so. It was deftly handled by Margot Robbie, who was basically being asked ‘Hey, should this guy sitting next to you, who cast you in his movie, have given you more lines?’ Like a true pro, she gave a good answer to diffuse an awkward moment.

Even if this wasn’t going to be one of the points of discussion around Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, it probably will now given Quentin Tarantino’s response. However, without having seen the film, it’s tough to evaluate the fairness and merit of the question or Margot Robbie’s role as Sharon Tate.

Those who have seen Once Upon a Time in Hollywood seemed to really enjoy it, with the early reactions out of Cannes highlighting the humor and the performance while also noting that it may be controversial.

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood opens in theaters on July 26. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of this summer's biggest movies.