John Wick 3: Is There More To That Ending Twist Than Meets The Eye?

John Wick 3: Is There More To That Ending Twist Than Meets The Eye?

It goes without saying, but there are SPOILERS for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum ahead!

Following immediately after the events of John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum saw Keanu Reeves’ character without access to nearly all of his underworld resources and on the run from assassins after the $14 million bounty on his head. John had few opportunities to catch his breath during the movie, and as per usual, whether he was in New York or Morocco, he left a trail of bodies in his wake. He even chopped off his ring finger to prove his commitment to The Elder, although that didn’t last long.

But arguably the biggest shock in John Wick: Chapter 3 was after the shootout at the New York Continental had concluded and manager Winston, played by Ian McShane, offered penance to The High Table. In order to stay in the organization’s good graces, Winston shot John until he fell off the roof of The Continental. Luckily for John, he was retrieved by The Tick Tock Man and delivered to The Bowery King underground, and both of them are pretty “pissed off” at The High Table now.

This laid the groundwork for what’s to come in 2021’s John Wick: Chapter 4, but one thing isn’t fully resolved when John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum ends is Winston’s true allegiances. Did he really screw over John or did he merely pretend to in order to secure John’s safety? That’s what we’re here to hash out.

Did Winston Truly Betray John Wick?

The world of John Wick is a dangerous place, and only the toughest and most ruthless end up on top. Clearly Winston fits that criteria and has done well for himself if he’s mangling the New York branch of The Continental.

It’s highly unlikely that The High Table would give that job to just anyone, and Winston mentions he’s been of loyal service for over 40 years. Clearly looking after this “kingdom,” as he refers to it to Santino D’Antonio in John Wick: Chapter 2, means a lot to him.

Winston has been John Wick’s most frequent ally since the first movie, whether it’s by offering simple guidance, passing along important information or even labeling John as excommunicado rather than having him executed. However, regarding that latter one and the following battle at the Continental, Winston declared that this had all been a show of strength, indicating that he wasn’t so much interested in helping John, but wanted to show The High Table he’s still not to be trifled with.

Even if Winston is more fond of John Wick than most people in this colorful underworld, he might not be willing to risk this friendship if it means losing The Continental. So when it came down to choosing one or the other, he chose keeping control of his hotel, and that meant John had to go. And even though Winston, Charon and The Adjudicator know that John’s body is now gone, with The High Table backing him, Winston should have plenty of backup if/when John comes back to his doorstep.

Now for the alternative theory.

Did Winston Actually Help John Wick?

We’ve already been over how Winston is fond of John Wick, so there’s no need to explore that again as evidence that he didn’t truly want John to die. Fortunately, there are a few other tidbits of information that support this idea.

For one thing, Winston could easily eliminated John by shooting him in the head, but instead he shot him several times where he was protected by his bulletproof suit. Of course, then John fell off a building, and in the real world, all that would result in immediate death. But this is John Wick we’re talking about; the man can survive anything that would put any mere mortal down for good.

Let’s also not forget that after John Wick fell off the roof, Charon looked down and uttered “Well played.” He could be referring to how Winston suddenly betrayed John to cover his ass, or he might have been referring to how Winston cleverly (and violently) got John out of that messiness.

Plus, when The Adjudicator came back into The Continental to inform Winston that John’s body was missing, Winston was remarkably unfazed. With how well he knows John, if Winston had truly betrayed John, you’d think he’d at least a little visibly worried about him showing back up to exact vengeance.

Finally, one of the first official John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum pictures that was released showed Winston and The Bowery King together atop the latter’s roof, as seen above. Those two never shared screen time in the movie, so clearly this was part of a cut scene.

Considering that both Winston and The Bowery King were both being targeted by The High Table for helping John in Chapter 2, it’s plausible that before Bowery King was cut up, he and Winston met and formulated a plan to get John out of trouble when the time came that The High Table wanted him gone once and for all, hence why Tick Tock Man was on site to retrieve John after he fell of the building.

The Verdict

The ending of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is reminiscent of the Thor: Ragnarok scene when Loki passes by the Tesseract in the Asgardian vault on his way to retrieve the Crown of Surtur. We didn’t see the God of Mischief take the cube-encased Space Stone, but we logically assumed that he did, and sure enough, it was confirmed at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War he had snatched it. I suspect we’re dealing with a similar situation regarding Winston and what he did to John.

Going off the evidence available so far, it appears more likely that Winston was trying to help John rather than betray him, but because they were being closely watched, he couldn’t clue John in on what was going to happen. As things stand now, John is under the impression that Winston is no longer on his side, and since he’s pretty angry, you can easily imagine him coming for Winston’s head when the opportunity arises.

Given The Bowery King’s his flair for theatricality, you can bet this is a man who thrives on drama. But hopefully, if Bowery King and Winston are in cahoots, he’ll table that love and form John about this secret alliance as soon as possible.

That said, even though Winston has, at least on the surface, buried the hatchet with The High Table, you can bet those crime lords will still be watching him closely. So when the time comes that John, Bowery King and their allies finally wage open war against The High Table, it’ll be incredibly difficult, if not just impossible, for Winston to assist them.

It’s also worth mentioning that whether Winston really screwed over John or not, it might not matter either way. At the end of John Wick: Chapter 2, Winston gave John a marker for “down the road,” and along with not conducting business on Continental grounds (unless it’s been deconsecrated), the other main rule among these criminals is that a Marker must always be honored.

Winston may find himself in a position in Chapter 4 where he and John are face to face with each other again, and John gives the Marker back to him, meaning that no matter what, Winston will have to go along with whatever John asks of him or face the consequences. Fortunately, if Winston is still on John’s side, he’ll almost certainly be willing to fulfill this request purely out of respect.

We’ll find out for sure what’s going on when John Wick: Chapter 4 is released in theaters on May 21, 2021. For now, find out what’s arriving in theaters later this year with our 2019 release schedule.

Aquaman 2: What We Know So Far

Aquaman 2: What We Know So Far

In 2018, James Wan’s Aquaman became a remarkably surprising smash hit. Nobody really knew what to expect from it for multiple reasons, given that it was following the disappointing release of Justice League; centered on a character who had never had his own live-action solo movie; and was facing stiff competition at the box office in the form of Mary Poppins Returns, Bumblebee, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. To everyone’s shock, however, the film not only became a billion dollar hit, but now stands as the biggest worldwide earner in the history of DC Comics adaptations.

Naturally, the excitement that the project generated immediately led Warner Bros. to solidify a future for the franchise, and within a few weeks of Aquaman’s release we learned about their plans to develop an Aquaman 2. But what will the project be about? Who will be making it? When will we actually get to see it? These are all major questions that we’re here to discuss.

In this latest edition of our What We Know So Far guides, we’re going to break down all of the information that’s currently available about Aquaman 2, and provide you with all of the most recent news that we’ve heard about the project. So, without further ado, let’s dive in!

What Is The Aquaman 2 Release Date?

It’s typical for Hollywood studios to try and produce sequels as quickly as they possibly can. After all, they don’t want to let the heat of a burgeoning franchise die down, and the more time that passes means there’s more opportunities for audiences to be distracted by other big properties. That being said, Aquaman 2 is taking an extra minute to find its way to theaters, as Warner Bros. has announced that the blockbuster follow-up is currently scheduled to be released on December 22, 2022.

So, why is Aquaman 2 coming out about four years after its predecessor? For starters, producer Peter Safran has noted that the filmmakers behind the movie don’t feel the need to rush the project, believing that giving the sequel the most development time possible will ultimately be beneficial for the final product. But that’s not the only reason. Not only is the film going to need some legitimate time to actually get made from a logistics standpoint (it’s not super easy creating those underwater environments), but there are also many other DC Extended Universe titles in the works that the studio is developing between now and December 2022.

Arguably, the biggest of these is Wonder Woman 1984, which will be coming out in summer 2020, but they are also in the midst of making Cathy Yan’s Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), Matt Reeves’ The Batman, and James Gunn’s Suicide Squad 2. All of those blockbusters are set to come out between now and December 2022, and will deserve their own special attention from WB.

What Is The Aquaman 2 Rating?

The world of comic book movies has changed a great deal over the years. For the longest time, the concept of an R-rated superhero blockbuster seemed absolutely insane, as just by the nature of the rating a project would presumably be dismissing what was seen as a massively important demographic: teenagers. Then Tim Miller’s Deadpool came along and completely shattered that notion forever by making nearly $800 million worldwide. After that, the entire concept became much more acceptable, and we have seen multiple examples since.

That being said, audiences shouldn’t expect Aquaman 2 to receive any rating other than a PG-13 when it finally hits theaters.

Admittedly, final decisions in this arena aren’t typically made until the film is near completion and the MPAA gets a look at the product that’s heading to theaters, but it’s basically impossible to believe at this point that Aquaman 2 will be made with anything other than a PG-13 rating in mind. After all, it’s not really a character who is known for R-rated behavior in the comics, and the first movie functioned perfectly fine without any kind of extreme violence, overt sexuality, or adult language. So while there isn’t really any kind of official word available in this arena, it’s still pretty obvious what direction the project will go in.

Who Is Writing And Directing Aquaman 2?

Since breaking out in 2004, director James Wan has become one of the industry’s most significant franchise masterminds. After all, his career not only started with the launching of the Saw movies, but since then he has also brought to life the terror featured in the worlds of Insidious and The Conjuring (not to mention the fact that he also directed Furious 7). The filmmaker is no stranger to sequels at this point, and is definitely going to be involved with Aquaman 2 as a producer at the very least, but what’s not 100% clear yet is if he’s also going to be working on the film as a director.

While James Wan may be great at starting new series, he typically doesn’t stick around for too long in the director’s chair, as he’s only actually helmed two direct sequels to his movies: Insidious: Chapter 2 and The Conjuring 2. To his credit, he seems to prefer creating new worlds over repeatedly revisiting them. That being said, the idea of him directing Aquaman 2 isn’t off the table yet, and one can imagine that Warner Bros. is doing everything in their power to bring him back.

We’re still waiting for final decisions on the director front, but at the very least Aquaman 2 does have a writer set who's working on the script. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick, who was a co-writer on the first Aquaman, has been hired to pen the script for the sequel. The filmmaker has a bit of sequel experience on his resume already, having written Wrath Of The Titans, The Conjuring 2, and the upcoming The Conjuring 3, and it seems that Warner Bros. trusts him with the responsibility of structuring a proper follow-up to the biggest DC Comics adaptation ever.

Arthur Curry a.k.a. Aquaman

Jason Momoa has had many ups and downs over the course of his career – from playing Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones to his disastrous Conan The Barbarian remake – but now he’s found some real stability courtesy of the DC Extended Universe. He first won a lot of people over with his charismatic turn as Arthur Curry a.k.a. Aquaman in Justice League, but the solo movie was really his show, and now the actor is a bona fide blockbuster star.

Aquaman, of course, went through some major changes in the 2018 movie, and it will be fascinating to see how he develops as a character through the events that play out in Aquaman 2. Initially the guy was seriously rough around the edges, being a part of two very different worlds, but belonging to neither of them, but he became a very different hero by the end of the debut solo movie.

Not only did he finally begin understanding his place in the world, but he also found himself declared as the king of the seven underwater kingdoms – including Atlantis. But what kind of ruler will he actually be? Will he have what it takes to make the hard decisions that are required in the job? Will he be able to forge peace during threats of war? These are all big, lingering questions that will surely be addressed in the upcoming follow-up.

Mera

One could make a very strong argument that Arthur Curry would never have been able to ascend to the throne of Atlantis without the assistance of Mera in Aquaman, as she was there to support him every step of the way. She was the one who first got him involved in the fight against Orm in order to save the world; she saved his life multiple times; and all throughout the story provided crucial information that allowed Arthur to find the Trident of Neptune and solidify his claim. She was absolutely vital to the events of the blockbuster, and one can imagine that won’t change in the slightest when it comes to the sequel.

While there hasn’t been official word just yet, Amber Heard is expected to reprise her role as Mera in Aquaman 2, presumably working closely with the new king of Atlantis and making sure that he makes not only the right calls, but operates as a just and righteous leader. Exactly what her story will entail beyond the relationship is currently a mystery, but, hopefully, we’ll get more information on that front as more details come out about the development of the project.

Black Manta

One of the biggest question marks going into the making of the first Aquaman was in regard to how the film would treat one of the heroes’ most iconic villains: Black Manta. After all, while comic book fans have loved the look of the undersea antagonist for decades, it was unknown if the character would actually properly translate to the big screen (particularly his large, wide helmet). As it turned out, however, Black Manta, as played by the awesome Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, was one of the best parts of James Wan’s 2018 blockbuster. And, while his role was ultimately fairly limited in terms of screen time, that should change a lot in the upcoming Aquaman 2.

Obviously the first movie was primarily dedicated to establishing the “origin story” of its titular superhero, but fans also got to see how Black Manta became Black Manta in the DC Extended Universe. Initially we meet him as a mercenary pirate pulling jobs with his father (Michael Beach), but he sees his life get turned upside down during a job gone wrong. Aquaman not only manages to stop a hijacking mission that he’s on, but also watches his dad die as the Atlantian refuses to help him. He swears vengeance against Arthur Curry, and we expect to see a lot more of that vendetta in Aquaman 2, especially because he’s getting help from a key ally…

Dr. Stephen Shin

Only being added to the film during reshoots, Randall Park’s Dr. Stephen Shin didn’t exactly have an extensive role in the first Aquaman, but he definitely made an impression – living up to the expectations of his comic book counterpart. Dr. Shin is a scientist who is obsessed with the existence of Atlantis, and while he has a tremendously hard time convincing anybody that he is right, he also never wavers in his commitment to his theory. Unfortunately, his passion may take him to some pretty dark places in Aquaman 2, as he will, apparently, be teaming up with Black Manta as part of the movie’s plot.

We know about this team-up courtesy of the end credits scene in Aquaman, which primarily centered on Dr. Shin and Black Manta. Beginning in the follow-up to the battle in Sicily, Italy, Shin rescues the laser-shooting antagonist as he is injured and floating in the ocean, and brings him back to his private lab. After healing Manta, Shin proffers a deal: if the former promises to help prove the existence of Atlantis, the latter will do what he can to support the mission of vengeance against Aquaman.

Vulko

Played by Willem Dafoe, Vulko was introduced to audiences as one of the most influential people in the life of Arthur Curry, as he was the one who taught the future Aquaman about Atlantis when he was a kid, and even went as far as to actually train him to use his abilities. They were estranged for many years afterward, but through all that time Vulko remained loyal to the heir to the throne, and even when it potentially would cost him everything, he did what he could to support Arthur through the events of Aquaman.

It’s not currently known if Willem Dafoe will return to reprise his role as Vulko in Aquaman 2, but it’s probably a safe bet. After all, he not only survived the events of the 2018 blockbuster, but he will also likely be a key advisor to Arthur as he tries to figure out what kind of king he is going to be. Hopefully we’ll get more specifics as we get closer to the film getting made.

Orm

James Wan and Patrick Wilson clearly enjoy working together, as Aquaman was actually their fifth collaboration as director and actor – with the star playing the movie’s principal antagonist, Orm. It was perhaps because of this relationship that the blockbuster made the decision to not kill off the former king of Atlantis, also known as Ocean Master, and instead have him imprisoned for his actions. Obviously this means that he’s still alive in the DC Extended Universe, and could potentially be back for Aquaman 2, but exactly what his role would be is unclear at this point.

Based on the information mentioned above, it definitely seems like Black Manta and Dr. Stephen Shin are being set up as the primary villains in the sequel, but that doesn’t mean that Orm won’t have some kind of role to play in the action. Patrick Wilson has gone on the record saying that he doesn’t expect that he will be the big bad of Aquaman 2, but also noted that he’d be happy to reprise the role should James Wan make the request. We’ll just have to wait and see as more information about the blockbuster comes to light.

We’ll keep updating this feature as we get closer and closer to Aquaman 2, so be sure to occasionally come back, and stay tuned for all of the latest updates about the production here on CinemaBlend!

J.K. Simmons Is Still Hoping To Play Commissioner Gordon Again

J.K. Simmons Is Still Hoping To Play Commissioner Gordon Again

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating tenure in theaters, full of both highs and lows. Warner Bros. seems to have recovered nicely, surfing on the success Aquaman and the anticipation for Shazam! But it wasn't long ago that things were looking bleak, as Batman v Superman and Justice League failed to perform critically. The latter was also a box office disappointment, which had the potential to put the entire shared universe in jeopardy.

Ultimately, the DCEU pivoted away from serialized storytelling, allowing filmmakers to have more capsulated and controlled projects. Ben Affleck has departed his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman, with Matt Reeves needing to recast for his long developing movie, The Batman. But what does that mean for J.K. Simmons' Commissioner Gordon? Simmons had a brief role in Justice League, which was meant to expand before things changed at the studio. But the Oscar-winning actor still wants to play the character again, recently saying:

I wish I had something to offer, although, if I actually did know more than I do, they probably would shoot me if I told you. I know nothing. I know that I signed up to do three movies, potentially, and I hope there are gonna be two more. It has been in and around and through, whether it be Batman or Justice League or another Suicide Squad, or where Commissioner Gordon might end up appearing again, I'm open to it. I'm not sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring in the meantime, but I hope there's more of that in the future.

Is anyone else's FOMO going through the roof? J.K. Simmons has the interest and contract to bring him back to the role of Commissioner Gordon, although it's unclear if he'll be asked to return for a future installment in the DC live-action universe. Fingers crossed.

J.K. Simmons' comments to ET should excite the hardcore DC fans out there, as well as moviegoers who appreciate his small role in Justice League. Gordon is one of Batman's most loyal allies, and it's a character that's been adapted into live-action a number of times, including Gary Oldman in Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy. Simmons has attitude, talent, and massive biceps to play the Gotham City lawman, so hopefully Warner Bros. decides to bring him back for a larger role in the future.

Justice League had a rocky road to theaters. Zack Snyder departed during filming due to a family tragedy, leading Joss Whedon to step in and complete the project. But their conflicting visions resulted in a film that failed to resonate with audiences, and ultimately underperformed at the box office. Ben Affleck ultimately dropped out of the director's chair and eventually the role of the protagonist in the Batman solo movie, which J.K. Simmons was expected to appear in.

The Batman has sat in development hell, but Matt Reeves is still attached as director, and occasionally updates the public on its writing process. In fact, The Batman even has a tentative release date in June of 2021. But production is going to have to amp up, including the recasting of Batman, and the assembling of his rogues gallery. Let's just hope that J.K. Simmons will be included as Commissioner Gordon, and get another go at the beloved supporting character.

J.K. Simmons might not have had an especially meaty role in Justice League, but it was an aspect to the ill-fated blockbuster that audiences seem to have responded to. Simmons has considerable star power, and he seemed like an inspiring choice to take the mantle of Commissioner Gordon. Plus, take a look at that guy's mustache. He played Gordon with humor and heart, and was able to roll with the punches once The League assembled.

Of course, comic book fans know and love J.K. Simmons from his tenure as J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Saimi's Spider-Man trilogy. He was appropriately campy and despicable, with a performance that was ripped straight from the page. Moviegoers delighted to see his cigar-chomping egomaniac, especially when the comedic supporting character was put into the heart of the superhero drama.

Getting another few superhero movies from J.K. Simmons was a dream for the fandom, but it looks like his future in the DC live-action universe is still unclear. As Simmons said, he's contracted for another two appearances in the franchise, and hasn't the slightest idea if/when that could happen. It's also entirely possible that the actor could be let go from his contract, and hang up Gordon's hat before he could really get a feel for it.

The recasting of Bruce Wayne in The Batman is one factor that may be preventing J.K. Simmons from appearing in Matt Reeves' developing blockbuster. Reeves is reportedly basing his story on a younger version of Bruce Wayne, who is greener than the jaded and experienced version Ben Affleck brought to theaters. If we're getting a younger Batman, then one would think a younger Jim Gordon may be a supporting character. If only because Simmons' involvement in both timelines would be a confusing.

But with the DC universe branching out with director-driven projects, perhaps Matt Reeves will ignore the rules and bring in J.K. Simmons as planned. He's an extremely accomplished actor, and recently won the Oscar for his performance in Whiplash. Since Warner Bros. has him contracted for two more potential appearances, it seems foolish to move on to another actor. But it all depends on what Reeves vision is, and if The Batman ever finally makes it to theaters.

If J.K. Simmons isn't included in The Batman, he could potentially pop up in another DC project set in the present. Gotham City is becoming a major setting in the shared universe with projects like Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). If the Gotham City Sirens movie also gets off the ground, that might be the perfect time to bring Commissioner Gordon back onto the silver screen. With Renee Montoya appearing in Birds of Prey, the GCPD could potentially become a larger presence in the universe as well.

The Batman is currently set to arrive in theaters on June 25th, 2021. In the meantime, be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Oscar-Winning Bohemian Rhapsody Editor Wishes He Could Recut Mocked Meeting Scene

Oscar-Winning Bohemian Rhapsody Editor Wishes He Could Recut Mocked Meeting Scene

Bohemian Rhapsody has found incredible success as the highest-earning music biopic worldwide, and as a four-time Oscar winner. The movie centering around Queen’s history as a band swept most of the technical categories at the Academy Awards, including Best Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Film Editing. The latter has been most heavily criticized online for its win, especially for the cut of the band’s first meeting with manager John Reid, which became a viral example of Oscar "injustice" on Twitter.

John Ottman, who was Bohemian Rhapsody’s editor, received a ton of honors during awards season. He was recently told of a viral video specifically criticizing the editing of that band meeting scene. Here was his reaction:

Oh my God! Wow. I didn’t know about that, but I know why that’s out there. Whenever I see [the scene], I want to put a bag over my head. Because that’s not my aesthetic. If there’s ever an extended version of the film where I can put a couple scenes back, I will recut that scene!

The Bohemian Rhapsody editor told The Washington Post that the restaurant scene was one of the few scenes shot by Dexter Fletcher shortly after previous director Bryan Singer was fired from the film. Some of the storyline was reordered, leading to a reshoot of the meeting between the band and their manager outside a London pub. Check out the scene found all over Twitter after the Oscars in all of its glory below:

Feeling that whiplash? The flashy cut switches in this scene in particular caused an outcry over the internet, all questioning how the movie won an Oscar for Best Editing. John Ottman said he was under pressure to get the first act of Bohemian Rhapsody moving quickly, so some scenes ended up looking this way.

Later, when the movie was screened for test audiences, their feedback indicated they enjoyed learning about the band in their early years. So Ottman went back over those scenes and slowed them down. However, due to time constraints, he didn't get to do the same for the now much-mocked meeting scene. The editor certainly seems to regret it now looking back, per his recent words.

A recent video by Thomas Flight breaks down just why the Bohemian Rhapsody restaurant scene in question, and many of the other dialogue scenes, have terrible editing. Take a look:

You know there’s something wrong when a simple dialogue scene has 60 cuts in under two minutes – more than an action sequence in Transformers: The Last Knight. The video breaks down some major problems with the editing in Bohemian Rhapsody, along with why it may have been recognized for it by the Academy – because it’s noticeable. Though the YouTuber notes great movie editing is often not easy to detect.

The 2019 Best Film Editing honor isn’t the only Oscar winner that has been criticized this year. Best Picture going to Green Book has also perplexed moviegoers, along with First Man over Avengers: Infinity War for Best Visual Effects.

Did you notice Bohemian Rhapsody’s flashy editing and did it bother you when you watched it? Sound off in the comments below!

The Suicide Squad Is In Pre-Production, And James Gunn Is 'Enormously Excited'

The Suicide Squad Is In Pre-Production, And James Gunn Is 'Enormously Excited'

Director James Gunn has had an eventful year, with controversy that harkens back to last July. When controversial tweets from a decade ago resurfaced, Gunn was unceremoniously fired from his Guardians of the Galaxy franchise by Disney. And while he's been reinstated to complete the trilogy, the gap in his schedule allowed for him to switch to the DC side of things, and pick up a gig with The Suicide Squad.

Information regarding The Suicide Squad has been slowly coming out, as the cast is assembled. But now James Gunn has finally opened up about the development process of his DC semi reboot, recently saying:

I am in pre-production on The Suicide Squad, which I am enormously excited about.

While not exactly a mind-blowing update, it's exciting to see James Gunn finally commenting on his highly anticipated DCEU gig. And it's ultimately a blockbuster that will arrive before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 ever hits theaters.

James Gunn's comments to EW are enough to get his fans exciting for The Suicide Squad, and what the director/writer's vision will bring to the titular team of villains. While David Ayer's original film teased a colorful and motley crew in its Queen-fueled trailer, the final product failed to really connect with audiences. It still managed to make a ton of money and even pick up on Oscar, but it wasn't the rowdy and quirky movie fans were hoping for.

But The Suicide Squad might be the opportunity for the franchise to get back on track, and James Gunn seems like the perfect filmmaker to do it. Gunn did the impossible with his work in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The group of zany characters weren't exactly household names, and it was a challenge to assemble cast members like Chris Pratt. But the first two movies were massive successes, and the Guardians quickly became some of the most popular characters in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Related: The Suicide Squad: Who Should And Shouldn’t Return

If James Gunn is able to put as much vision into The Suicide Squad as he did for Guardians, the property could end up becoming one of DC's most vital. Following the disappointing performance of Justice League and Batman v Superman, Warner Bros. seems to be moving away from serialized storytelling. Instead, projects are not crossover-heavy, allowing directors to have more creative freedom over their individual movie. It's a method that worked for Aquaman and Shazam!, and will hopefully do wonders for Gunn's process as well.

Not much is known about The Suicide Squad, but there will be a mixture of familiar faces and new talent. James Gunn was reportedly approaching the movie as a reboot, although the inclusion of returning characters like Captain Boomerang and Amanda Waller seem to contradict those reports. We'll just have to wait for more official information from Gunn himself.

The Suicide Squad is currently set to arrive in theaters on August 6th, 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Marvel's Phase 4 Is Already Stacked With Incredible Actors

Marvel's Phase 4 Is Already Stacked With Incredible Actors

In its near 11-year existence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has grown into a vast big screen tapestry populated with great actors, from burgeoning stars to esteemed character actors to some of the most honored names in the industry. The number of Oscar winners and nominees that have been drawn to this comic book movie franchise numbers in the dozens. In short, the MCU has no problem attracting talent, and those actors paired with amazing characters have been a big part of the MCU’s success.

As Marvel moves to its next Phase post-Avengers: Endgame, the assumption is that we will be losing at least some, if not many, of the actors that have been the faces of this universe. We are still in the dark about who that will be, as we are about what the future holds in Phase 4 and beyond. But needless to say it is a sad prospect to lose the actors and characters that we’ve fallen in love with over the years.

Fortunately, Marvel has already begun casting for its future films, and past is proving to be prologue as Marvel is going after incredible actors to populate its universe in the years to come. Take a look below to see some of the top-tier talent that is either attached or in talks to join the MCU in Phase 4.

Jake Gyllenhaal

He’s been rumored to be in the running to don Batman’s cowl over the years, but regardless of whether that happens, Jake Gyllenhaal will soon be donning Mysterio’s fishbowl in this summer’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. The acclaimed actor and Oscar nominee for his role in Brokeback Mountain plays Mysterio, real name Quentin Beck, who appears to have some serious powers in the sequel film.

Yet, while the character is traditionally part of Spider-Man’s iconic rogues gallery, Jake Gyllenhaal’s Mysterio appears to be a good guy in the trailer for Far From Home, helping fight off the Elementals. Of course, as a master of illusion, trickery and misdirection, he may be the villain behind the curtain. Either way it should give Jake Gyllenhaal plenty to chew on. If anyone is up to the challenge of following Michael Keaton’s menacing Vulture, it’s the actor from Nightcrawler.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh just made a splash as Paige in Fighting with My Family and will continue her breakout 2019 with roles in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and in writer-director Ari Aster’s Hereditary follow-up Midsommar. This rising star will follow that up when she stars opposite Scarlett Johansson in the long-awaited Black Widow movie.

According to some reports, the spy action thriller will see Florence Pugh play a spy on the same level as Scarlett Johansson’s character and likely her moral opposite. We’re used to seeing Black Widow punching above her weight against aliens and such, so it will be cool to see her facing someone who equals her in skill and is essentially her mirror. Florence Pugh showed she is up for a physical role in Fighting with My Family and Marvel was savvy to bring her into the MCU while she’s on the rise.

O-T Fagbenle

He’s best known for his work on TV, but O-T Fagbenle may be jumping in to the blockbuster pond in a big way because he is in talks to join the cast of the MCU’s Black Widow solo film, according to THR. Like the plot, O-T Fagbenle’s potential role is still being kept under wraps, but he would be another great addition to a cast that is already looking stacked.

Most audiences probably know O-T Fagbenle for his role as June/Offred’s husband Luke on The Handmaid’s Tale. He shared a SAG ensemble nomination with the rest of the cast of the Hulu show in both 2018 and 2019. He also had a role in HBO’s Looking and starred in the crime drama series The Interceptor, the latter of which saw him play a customs officer who joined a top-secret narcotics unit. That's solid prep for starring in a spy movie.

David Harbour

David Harbour is becoming a regular in comic book movies in recent years. After his role in Suicide Squad, David Harbour will next be seen this weekend rocking a pair of horns in the Hellboy reboot. It seems David Harbour is trying to hit for the comic book movie cycle because the fan favorite, Golden Globe-nominated star of Stranger Things is joining Marvel’s Black Widow movie (although he’s not saying much).

It’s a mystery who David Harbour will play in the film that will follow Scarlett Johansson’s KGB spy-turned-S.H.I.E.L.D. agent-turned-Avenger. Although he is best known as a good guy thanks to Stranger Things, David Harbour could also play a pretty menacing baddie. In Cinemax’s beautifully brutal and underrated Banshee, he had a small role as a mysterious and frightening handler and torturer. Whatever he plays in Black Widow, the movie is elevated with his presence.

Rachel Weisz

The last name attached to Black Widow is Oscar-winning actress Rachel Weisz, who was nominated at this past Academy Awards for her role in last year’s The Favourite. Although she isn’t signed on yet, signs are looking good that this talented actress could join the MCU in what has been described as a “key role.” That is very intriguing and raises the exciting possibility of seeing Rachel Weisz and Scarlett Johansson playing off one another.

Whatever that role is, Rachel Weisz is undoubtedly up to the task. The actress has played in serious fare like Disobedience and The Constant Gardener, and popcorn movies, like The Mummy films and the comic book adaptation Constantine. The idea of the actress who played the crafty Lady Sarah in The Favourite in a spy film is quite the prospect and will hopefully be more than a one-off MCU appearance.

Angelina Jolie

She’s been in the video game-based Tomb Raider movies and in the comic book movie Wanted, and now action star and acclaimed actress Angelina Jolie is finally joining a superhero movie, Marvel’s The Eternals. The Oscar-winning actress hasn’t done a ton of onscreen acting in recent years, which could be a good sign for The Eternals that she was drawn to it. Angelina Jolie is a magnetic presence and huge asset to anything she is a part of.

The actress has proven her action chops many times. She can play serious and grounded roles and she also relishes the ‘out there’ characters like in Beowulf and Maleficent. I expect she may get to have fun doing the latter in The Eternals. We don’t know what role Jolie is in talks to play, but some suspect it could be the ultra-powerful Eternal Sersi (not to be confused with Cersei).

Kumail Nanjiani

Joining Angelina Jolie in The Eternals is Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani. The Oscar-nominated co-writer of The Big Sick is in negotiations to join Marvel’s next cosmic franchise in an undisclosed role that would without question be his most high-profile part yet. Kumail Nanjiani has proven a hilarious and entertaining presence in TV and movies, and I’m very curious to see what kind of role he plays in The Eternals.

The MCU’s cosmic films like Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Ragnarok have leaned heavily into the comedy, but the early word on The Eternals is that a millennia-spanning romance will be a big part of it. So it will be interesting to see what tone it takes and what role Kumail Nanjiani, best known for his comedy work, will play in it. Maybe his character will even cross paths with his Stuber co-star Dave Bautista’s Drax one day.

These are just seven actors from three films that may be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Phase 4 slate. Needless to say this is just the tip of the iceberg, as not only do these films need to fill out their casts, but we still have James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Doctor Strange 2, Black Panther 2 and Shang-Chi to look forward to. Given what we’ve seen so far, Marvel will continue populating its movies with incredible talent.

When we begin to learn more about what Phase 4 entails after Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, we will hopefully start to hear more casting announcements and we can begin fan casting for characters that we know are coming. This is a great start though and shows that Endgame is just the beginning.

Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest movies and let us know in the comments what actors you would like to see join the MCU in Phase 4.

E.L. James' New Book The Mister Has A Connection To Fifty Shades Of Grey

E.L. James' New Book The Mister Has A Connection To Fifty Shades Of Grey

E.L. James’ brand new book The Mister has only been on shelves for a few days now, but fans of the Fifty Shades of Grey book, its sequels and its movie counterparts have already cleverly spotted a reference connecting her new romance to her past trilogy.

The new book follows a modern fairytale romance between Maxim Trevelyan and Alessia Demachi, and one of those two lead characters in the novel has ties to the Fifty Shades universe.

If you are an eagle-eyed reader or Fifty Shades of Grey movie fan, you may already have noticed Maxim Trevelyan’s last name is the same as Christian Grey’s mother’s maiden name, his adopted mother that is.

So far, E.L. James has acknowledged the connection, but it mostly seems like she won’t be elaborating anytime soon, as she hasn’t wholly established that connection yet. She told EW:

There is a story behind it but it’s not one I want to talk about right now. I might talk about it later. But – there’s a connection, I don’t know what it is yet.

Of Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey, we know the woman is a pediatrician and the matriarch of a wealthy and connected family in Washington state. Her story isn’t fleshed out as much as Christian Grey’s is, although she is the person who meets four-year-old Christian after his biological mother is dead and he is found, hungry and abandoned.

Of Maxim Trevelyan, we know Maxim is a new Earl who falls in love with his housekeeper who has been trafficked into the country from Albania. Maxim is also a bit of a sex fiend and has other hobbies outside of being the thirteenth earl of his name. Unlike the Trevelyan matriarch in Washington, Maxim is an English aristocrat, and the action in The Mister is basically all in London, Cornwall and the Balkans rather than the U.S.

Because we don't know a lot about Grace's family history, we don't know when her family came to the United States or what connection they might still have with England.

Thus, the real question remains: Do Dr. Grace Trevelyan Grey and Maxim Trevelyan know one another? If yes, then would there be an opportunity for the characters from Fifty Shades to interact in this universe? The Mister is a contemporary tale, despite being about an Earl, so this is not as far-fetched as it might seem at first glance.

If The Mister does well—and it’s all over shelves at bookstores already and was no. 1 on the book charts—there could be more of an opportunity to expand the narrative, maybe even on the big screen and likely through a sequel. We’ll let you know if the studios have an appetite for Maxim and Alessia’s story. In the meantime, you can order your own copy now.