Minions Sequel Gets A Title, May Actually Be An Origin Story

Minions Sequel Gets A Title, May Actually Be An Origin Story

The Despicable Me movies have always been a hit with fans and brought in serious box office dollars, but the first film in the franchise to cross the $1 billion mark was actually the spinoff title, Minions, which focused on the little yellow creatures that work as henchman for Despicable Me's Gru.

It looks like the forthcoming sequel to Minions, will bring things around full circle and also act as an origin story for the Steve Carell voiced "bad guy", as, according to Deadline, the movie now has an official title, Minions: The Rise of Gru.

The first Minions movie ended with the yellow freak shows first being introduced to a much younger Gru. Since Minions apparently live to serve bad guys, they decide that Gru is the leader they need. It appears, based strictly on the title, that the new movie will pick up right where the last one left off and watch Gru grow from small time thug to moon stealing supervillain.

It seems the idea here is for the new film to be both a Minions sequel as well as a Despicable Me prequel, though one assumes that this one will be told from the perspective of the Minions.

Based on the title, one assumes Steve Carell will be returning to voice Gru in what will be a significant part, though it's possible he could spend most of the movie in the background and the story will instead focus on what the Minions are doing behind the scenes into order to make Gru a success.

Based on the box office success of the franchise as a whole, and the first Minions movie specifically, it's actually the highest grossing animated film franchise ever, it would seem that there is an audience that is going to be very excited for this new movie.

Beyond the title we know essentially nothing about what the new movie will actually be about. The project was easily green lit following the stellar box office success of the first film, but this is the first real news we've received about it.

Illumination is about to drop another sequel to a popular franchise. The Secret Life of Pets 2 will hit next month. Once that happens, one assumes we'll start to get more info about the Minions sequel as Minions: The Rse of Gru is the animation studio's next project, set for a July 3, 2020 opening. A sequel to Sing is also one the way a year after that.

It's even possible we could see a teaser trailer for the movie in front of Pets 2. With the film being just over a year away there is probably enough work done to put something together to start to get fans excited.

I'd by lying if I said I was one of the people who was excited for Minions: The Rise of Gru. I've never found the franchise to be particularly engaging, but there are certainly those that feel differently and good for them. I'm glad they're happy that we'll be up to our neck in Minions come next July.

Johnny Depp Allegedly Asked Warner Bros. Boss To Fire Amber Heard From Aquaman

Johnny Depp Allegedly Asked Warner Bros. Boss To Fire Amber Heard From Aquaman

Johnny Depp's $50 million defamation suit against Amber Heard alleged her words got him fired from the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. Now a completely separate lawsuit from Depp against his former lawyer alleges Depp tried to get Heard fired from Aquaman.

Johnny Depp is alleged to have personally asked former Warner Bros. chairman Kevin Tsujihara to remove Amber Heard from her role as Mera in DC's Aquaman, and also block her from getting other WB projects.

What's interesting is that Kevin Tsujihara is the one who was recently ousted, although he did get to resign, after a casting couch sexual misconduct scandal.

Johnny Depp filed this initial lawsuit against former attorney Jake Bloom in 2017, THR reports, claiming Bloom collected more than $30 million in fees without a signed contract. Bloom countersued, and Amber Heard only got her name brought in when Bloom's attorney, Bryan Freedman, brought up how Depp's team had started to accuse Bloom's side of "malpractice in connection with Depp's divorce from Amber Heard."

In part, Johnny Depp's lawsuit claimed that Jake Bloom gave Depp bad advice regarding the actor's split with Amber Heard. But Bloom reportedly isn't the only one who advised Depp to settle with Heard, just the only one being sued right now, which is apparently why so many of Depp's former advisors and lawyers were just asked to testify.

Johnny Depp's current lawyer, Adam Waldman, shared a statement with THR calling it bewildering that the Bloom side claims they've been accused of malpractice related to Amber Heard. They don't understand what evidence Heard's ex-boyfriend Elon Musk or former Warner Bros. boss Kevin Tsujihara could possibly present related to their $30 million legal malpractice suit.

Be that as it may, Elon Musk and Kevin Tsujihara are among the many who've been dragged into this and asked to give testimony.

Kevin Tsujihara will reportedly be asked to testify under oath on whether or not he played a role in trying to blacklist Amber Heard at Warner Bros. As THR noted, there's been no evidence presented yet that he tried to do so, and it would've been tough for even the studio chief to remove Heard from the role of Mera, since she already played it in Justice League. (They could've always recast the role, though, just like they could recast Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts if they wanted to.)

Amber Heard did previously allege that, following her split with Johnny Depp, "I lost a part for a movie in which I had already been cast." And she wrote in her op-ed piece -- the one Depp later sued her over -- that she was worried about being blacklisted.

Johnny Depp was also back in headlines recently when unnamed sources claimed Warner Bros. execs were worried about Depp continuing in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. That was in reaction to his other major lawsuit -- the $50 million defamation suit Depp filed against Amber Heard. He alleged her abuse allegations against him were a hoax.

Amber Heard recently responded to that defamation lawsuit with court documents describing the alleged abuse in graphic detail. The back-and-forth from the lawsuits is reportedly worrying to Warner Bros. execs, who manage both the Fantastic Beasts and DC/Aquaman franchises.

Johnny Depp previously sued his former business managers at The Management Group for more than $25 million, accusing them of fraud and negligence in mishandling his money; TMG then responded with a cross-complaint claiming that Depp's own overspending was the real problem. That lawsuit was reportedly settled in summer 2018.

Meanwhile, Amber Heard seems to be continuing on as Aquaman's (Jason Momoa) lady love Mera wherever Aquaman goes after the billion dollar success of the James Wan movie. She also has a role in the movie Gully, which is expected to premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27. Johnny Depp appears to be continuing on as Gellert Grindelwald in the Fantastic Beasts franchise, which is filming Fantastic Beasts 3 in late fall, for a currently unknown release date.

Star Wars’ Admiral Ackbar Is Not Happy About His Death In The Last Jedi

Star Wars’ Admiral Ackbar Is Not Happy About His Death In The Last Jedi

The Star Wars franchise has been on a hot streak over the last few years, ever since Disney acquired the rights to Lucasfilm. A ton of new and exciting additions to the beloved space opera have already been made, and the property is showing no signs of slowing down. The sequel trilogy will end with The Rise of Skywalker, and J.J. Abrams' return to the franchise will also complete the nine-film narrative that started with A New Hope.

The current trilogy brought back plenty of familiar faces, including Rebel leader Admiral Ackbar. While fans were delighted to see him have a bit part in The Force Awakens, he was unceremoniously killed off in The Last Jedi, when Leia's bridge was attacked by a TIE Fighter. Actor Tom Kane has voiced Ackbar since the death of Erik Bauersfeld, and recently revealed his dismay with the character's fate, saying:

I’ve been Ackbar for about six years... and I was not really thrilled about how they blew him out the side of the ship. I’m like, ‘Who is this Holdo woman? Nobody knows her, no one’s invested in her — who is she? Why is she saving the fleet?’ If anyone was gonna save the fleet it’d be Ackbar.

It looks like Tom Kane would have preferred for Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo to have been excluded from The Last Jedi, in favor of giving Ackbar the big heroic death sequence. Unfortunately, he perished in the shocking opening sequence.

Tom Kane's comments from his recent appearance at Star Wars Celebration (via Comic Book) seem to echo some of the fan complaints for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Director Rian Johnson purposefully subverted fan expectations, and provided surprise after surprise in his divisive sequel. That was shown early during the movie's runtime, as the Resistance Leaders were pulled into the vacuum of space after being hit by a TIE Fighter.

While Leia would manifest her Force abilities and get to safety, Admiral Ackbar wasn't so lucky. And it was his loss that ultimately made way for Laura Dern's Vice Admiral Holdo to take control of The Resistance while Leia recovered. If Ackbar had survived, Holdo's conflict with Poe would have never occurred. What's more, she wouldn't have gotten that iconic moment of self sacrifice during The Last Jedi's third act.

Holdo's big sacrifice, which Tom Kane seems to take umbrage with, brought the most sensory moment of The Last Jedi. As the movies' various conflicts came to a head, the Resistance leader turned on her ship's hyperdrive and used it to ram through the First Order forces, including the massive ship Supremacy. The movie was suddenly silent, as a flash of light showed her destructive power in Holdo's final moments.

You can't blame Tom Kane for wanting Admiral Ackbar to get that already iconic Star Wars moment. Ackbar has been with the franchise for a long time, and his "It's a trap!" line has been the subject of countless memes. But he was less of a presence in The Force Awakens, and ultimately perished without much fanfare during The Last Jedi's first big battle scene.

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.

How Captain America Holds Back Thanos In Avengers: Infinity War

How Captain America Holds Back Thanos In Avengers: Infinity War

Some SPOILERS for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame to follow.

In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos beats the brakes off of the Hulk in hand-to-hand combat and, with an assist from Peter Quill, defeats the Guardians of the Galaxy and members of the Avengers in the battle on Titan. Yet, towards the end of the film, in a scene from the trailers that at the time seemed to herald his death, Captain America holds back Thanos’ gauntleted hand.

Not to take anything away from Steve Rogers, but no amount of Super Soldier Serum should have made him able to physically withstand Thanos to that degree, especially after the feats we had already seen the Mad Titan pull off. But there is an explanation for how Captain America holds Thanos back in Avengers: Infinity War, as screenwriter Christopher Markus explained:

I think in that moment, Thanos is impressed by Steve's will. He's like, 'I can't believe this guy who apparently has no powers is trying this.' He's almost like, 'Really? Really?'

Steve Rogers is giving his all in that moment, and he has always shown an ability to punch above his weight and ‘do this all day’, but that does not account for what happens in this moment in Infinity War. Instead, holding back Thanos is more the result of Thanos not going all out than Cap being any sort of physical match for him.

As Christopher Markus told The Hollywood Reporter, in that moment, Thanos is impressed by the display of will and courage from Captain America. The fact that a puny human, devoid of any cosmic-level powers would challenge him in such a way catches Thanos off guard and that results in him kind of taking things slowly and pondering Cap for a moment.

You can see this in Josh Brolin’s Thanos performance too. When Cap first holds back Thanos, the Mad Titan appears surprised and curious. He is impressed with Captain America’s strength of will, and given his conversation with Tony Stark on Titan, we know that Thanos appreciates and respects those who put up a good fight against him.

Eventually Thanos gets over being flabbergasted by Cap and tires of him. He then actually exerts some force and easily overpowers Cap before knocking him out. So, as strong as he is, it was never a case of Captain America truly matching Thanos in a game of strength. But just the mere fact that Cap’s will impressed Thanos, he of “the hardest choices require the strongest wills,” says a lot about Steve Rogers.

Cap’s resistance against Thanos is also not an instance of the Infinity Gauntlet in some way sensing Cap is worthy to wield it and tempering its power. The Infinity Gauntlet is not Mjolnir, which evaluates a person and judges them worthy or not. As we saw in Avengers: Endgame, you either can withstand its power or you can’t.

You can see Cap’s rematch with Thanos in Avengers: Endgame, now playing. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of summer’s biggest movies and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest news from the MCU.

To 3D Or Not To 3D: Buy The Right Aladdin Ticket

To 3D Or Not To 3D: Buy The Right Aladdin Ticket

A whole new world awaits fans of Aladdin, as the Guy Ritchie directed remake is now in theaters. Disney’s latest live-action pet project has taken the story of Agrabah’s favorite street rat with a friend of infinite cosmic powers, and turned it into a spectacular musical of proportions it’s never known before. Which means it’s a good time to throw in a 3D conversion for good measure, asking that time tested question: to 3D, or not to 3D?

If you’re curious how we felt about the movie itself, you can read our Aladdin review and find out. Otherwise, it’s time to find out if this round of Disney magic is worth the extra 3D ticket money, or if you’re better off saving that money for a bus out to the Cave of Wonders. Let’s see if Aladdin’s 3D is a diamond in the rough worth mining.

With a magical genie that can conjure any and everything your heart desires, Aladdin feels like the sort of movie that would be a perfect fit for 3D magic. As a live-action adaptation of a Disney movie, the business model basically builds the possibility right in at the ground floor, so seeing a film such as this take advantage of a 3D double dip isn’t surprising. In fact, it’s expected, with the intention of making the action all the more immersive in the best case scenario.

For a film that should easily lend itself to a high level of 3D spectacle, Aladdin doesn’t do as good of a job as it should in conveying the third dimensional thrills it could have. The quotient of eye popping thrills isn’t near as impressive as the depth of picture draw in the film’s backgrounds. And even in terms of the depths that Aladdin engages in, there’s still some holding back in that regard. Not to mention, there’s some problems with the brightness, and a couple pieces that mess with the audience’s eyes. In short, there’s something missing from each of Aladdin’s key 3D factors.

When Aladdin chooses to use its ability to poke through the 3D window, it can be beautiful to look at. So if the movie had taken more opportunities to push through the window that separates the viewer from the material, it would have been more on par with a satisfactory 3D experience. That's not what happens in Aladdin though, as the only moments that really jump out at the audience are some sequences with Will Smith's Genie. And even then, those shots are rare enough that the third dimensional enhancements aren't being used to their full potential.

The same problems that plague items projecting out of the screen also hamper the depths of Aladdin's picture. Though, it's not as bad when it comes to this particular factor, as there's crisp separations between characters and environments, as well as each other. But past that spatial reasoning, the depth of the backgrounds only goes so far, as there's never a feeling of infinite distance hiding behind any particular scene.

Between proper maintenance of an individual theater's equipment, and the tinting of the glasses used in a 3D showing, a colorful film like Aladdin has the potential to be washed out and dimmed in its appearance. While your mileage may vary because of those factors, this film was seen in a trusted 3D projection theater, and it still fell short. The film's subdued, yet vibrant color palette is dimmed out a little too much. Though on the bright side, nighttime scenes aren't washed out to the point where they're unwatchable. You can see this film clearly, but the colors are diminished in the process.

The blur of a 3D image can dictate how well the depth and projection of a 3D picture is created. And in the case of Aladdin, there's a decent level of blurred imagery that occupies the screen. So should your eyes get tired from the dimness of the screen, or the hectic motions that some of the film's cuts induce, you'll be able to see a good level of blur once you remove your glasses. There are moments where 2D anchor points seem to dominate the scene, but subtle levels of blur to come into view, making things a little more 3D friendly.

As if the dimness of the picture wasn't enough to stimy the audience's eyes in Aladdin, there is a mixture of frequent and quick cuts in a scene that mess with the 3D effects being presented on the screen. Not to mention, some of the Genie's special magical effects and transporting effects flash by so fast, it barely has time to register in 3D, leaving the eyes confused. By the end of this experience, there was a fair amount of eyestrain experienced by the viewer.

Aladdin is an ok 3D experience, but definitely not required by any stretch of the imagination. The end product isn't as exciting or thrilling as it should be, leaving the audience watching the same old world from the same old point of view. If you're going to see this film in 3D, seek out a theater you trust to maintain their experience at the correct level of enjoyment. But even then, you're probably better off going to a premium format experience.

Be sure to visit our full To 3D Or Not To 3D Archive.

Looks Like The Candyman Reboot Is Taking The Character To New Places

Looks Like The Candyman Reboot Is Taking The Character To New Places

1992’s Candyman was a tale about folk legends returning in the modern world, as Tony Todd’s legendary boogeyman had been seen in the crumbling slums of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects. So when a reboot was announced, with Us mastermind Jordan Peele as a co-writer and producer, people were wondering just how this new take would differ from the previous version. While there isn't any specific knowledge of how much things will change this go around, it sounds like whatever is planned is being kept underwraps because of how fresh and new it's going to be.

According to recent reports, the magic word of “gentrification” has now been thrown into the Candyman mix, as it looks like he’s back in his old stomping grounds. And rather than operate as merely a reboot of the iconic character, director Nia DaCosta, who has a deeply rooted love of the character much like Peele himself, has reinforced that that this new film is a “spiritual sequel” to the original film; with a strategy she's not ready to reveal yet.

However, Nia DaCosta's hand was forced just a little bit, as she had to go on the record as stating that the previously cast Yahya Abdul-Mateen II isn’t quite the new face of Candyman himself. When discussing the film with Collider, the director clarified that point thusly:

Well, it’s been slightly misreported. I can’t say what’s happening in the film because we want it to be a surprise, but he’s not replacing Tony Todd. That’s been reported, and I was just like, ‘I don’t know what to say about this. This is not right.’

So whatever is happening with this new Candyman film, it sounds like not only is it something so off the beaten path that it needs secrecy. But it’s so secret that we don’t even know what Abdul-Mateen II ‘s exact role will be. Fresh off of his role as Black Manta in James Wan’s Aquaman, the moment that Yahya Abdul-Mateen II was announced as being connected to Candyman, it felt pretty natural that he’d be the new inhabitant of the Clive Barker created character. But now, with DaCosta making these recent remarks, it sounds like there’s room for Tony Todd to return as of yet.

Much like the talk surrounding Peter Weller and a potential return to the Robocop franchise, Todd seems to quite possibly be in the mix for this modern refresh. While the actor has previously talked about how a potential reboot would be a welcomed, if not bittersweet, prospect, the labeling of this new Candyman film as a pseudo-sequel just might have been the ticket to get Tony Todd onboard. Fans are eager to see him slip back on the fur coat that made him the intimidating force that made the rounds through two additional sequels.

Seeing Tony Todd potentially come back as Candyman would only be beat by the prospect of seeing him also return to the Final Destination franchise – a series that also looks to be undergoing a reboot of sorts in the near future. It’s all speculation at this point, but with Candyman’s new lease on life being able to hook into the previous history of the character, should it choose to, is something all too exciting not to push for.

Candyman brings sweets to the sweet once again on June 12, 2020. However, that’s over a year away, and 2019 still has plenty of delights to send your way in the coming year. So visit our release schedule, and get a load of what’s headed your way.

Why Zatanna Needs To Be The Next DC Extended Universe Star

Why Zatanna Needs To Be The Next DC Extended Universe Star

DC has hit strides as of late in making some movies that are successful both critically and financially, but there's still a way to go before they hit MCU status. Part of that road includes finding new franchises to kick off, and new heroes to rally behind as ideas with others collapse. I think DC's resident magician Zatanna is the perfect heroine for DC to rally behind as it looks to the future. Here are some reasons why.

Female Superheroes Are In

Female superheroes are a hot commodity in superhero films right now, and those who don't believe that need only refer to the stellar box office numbers of Captain Marvel as evidence. DC has a good thing going with Wonder Woman and has Birds of Prey in the pipeline, but there's no rule that says it needs to cap the amount of female-led films in development.

The climate is right for audiences to embrace a Zatanna film, and if DC does right by the character, there's a potential to deliver a good number of films from the magician heroine given her numerous villains and adventures she's had over the years. That's the kind of security the studio should be looking for, especially now that it's more focused on individual characters and not ensemble features.

The World Needs More Big Budget Magician Movies

There's nothing like a big budget magic film, but unfortunately there's not many of them to enjoy. Sure, we've been blessed to live in a timeline where someone adapted the Harry Potter series, but there's a big difference between wizards and stage magicians. Of course, Zatanna is a mixture of both, but it's fair to say her powers definitely look closer to stage magic than not.

Stage magic can look cool on the big screen, as evidenced by the Now You See Me heist films. Other movies like The Prestige show the allure of a magic movie that flirts with the supernatural. Granted, Zatanna would go deep into the world of the supernatural, with enemies like Brother Night and other demons gunning for her. Still, her side gig as a professional stage magician will allow for some high budget magic scenes that will mystify even those who know it's all Hollywood effects.

She Works Well With Just About Anyone

One of Zatanna's strongest attributes is her ability to be a team player, and she's teamed up with quite a few heroes over the years. Batman, Constantine, Black Canary, the Justice League, she's been a part of several heroes journeys in one way or another. Part of this is due to her versatility and the other bit is just her general likability and ability to get along well with others.

Obviously DC isn't too worried about combining film franchises, but should some minds be changed down the stretch, Zatanna is a great hero to have in the fold. Her character can work seamlessly into just about any adventure, and she can make a cameo appearance in any currently existing DC franchise without it feeling forced or out of place. DC could even tease her ahead of making a movie by having her appear in The Batman or Birds of Prey.

She's One Of DC's Most Unique Heroes

DC has a lot of heroes they've kept out of the movies, and it's a shame so many haven't had a chance to shine. This is especially true with Zatanna, who is arguably one of DC's most unique superheroes. She's a stage magician and one of the world's greatest magic users, what's not to love?

Folks could argue there are DC heroes more unique than Zatanna and they'd be right, although not in regards to selecting a hero who could shoulder their own film. I don't think a Doctor Fate standalone film is right for Hollywood, and we'll all be surprised if Animal Man ends up getting a cameo, let alone a movie to showcase all that weirdness. Outside of Blue Beetle, there's really isn't another hero who could carry a film like Zatanna.

Unknown Characters Often Lower Expectations

The more history a mainstream audience has with a hero, the higher the expectation. It's why folks are so critical of every rumored choice for the next Batman, and probably why Hollywood has struggled for decades to make a critically successful Superman film. Unless you're Brandon Routh, who's never had anyone diss Superman Returns to his face, you're probably aware the hero has struggled at the cinema.

Conversely, look at the tremendous run Guardians of the Galaxy had at the box office. In mainstream audiences' eyes, these heroes were nobodies, but now Star Lord, Gamora, Groot and the gang are household names and some of the most beloved characters of the MCU. Would they have been as big of a hit had it been the second or third time someone tried to reboot the franchise? We'll never know, but there's something to be said for unknown heroes in movies.

Vegas, Baby

A movie about a superhero magician is the perfect excuse to work the City of Sin, Las Vegas, into the DC Extended Universe. Imagine Zatanna flying through the main strip in a heated battle against The Royal Flush Gang. The neon flashing lights drenching everybody in different colors as fists and spells fly. It already looks so fantastic in my mind, and the right director could make it look even better on the big screen.

Let's also face facts, neither DC or Marvel is going to get a lot of organic opportunities to use Las Vegas as a back drop for a hero movie. Zatanna is the answer to that, as magic acts are one of the biggest things folks associate with Vegas. Plus, if the movie is a hit, just think of how long the hero would live on in the city as a legend. I can see her face on slot machines now!

I'm of the opinion that Zatanna is DC's best option for an awesome superhero franchise, but that's just one man's opinion. Others are free to share their thoughts on Zatanna, what a movie about her could focus on and/or what DC should be focusing on instead in the comments below. For more on what's happening with DC Movies, be sure to check out that hilarious and fake Aquaman 2 trailer that was released on April Fools Day.