Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Sequel The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Is Finally In Production

Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Sequel The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Is Finally In Production

We’re only two films in to Samuel L. Jackson’s especially stacked 2019 and the prolific actor is already hard at work making sure he’ll be lighting up the silver screen for years to come. In 2020, the actor will star in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, the sequel to the 2017 action-comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard, which starred Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds. Now, the busy actor has confirmed The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is finally in production. Take a look:

This image confirms The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is now in production and shooting in Croatia, the European country where Game of Thrones spent so much time and that also served as Canto Bight in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It may technically be work, but as you can see from Samuel L. Jackson’s Instagram photos, the picturesque country on the Adriatic Sea is lovely and definitely not a bad place to be filming a fun action movie.

Croatia won’t be the only place The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard shoots though. The sequel will also be filming in London and Italy, giving the action sequel even more international, European flavor after the first film shot in London, The Netherlands and Bulgaria. Ryan Reynolds’ Michael Bryce and Samuel L. Jackson’s Darius Kincaid won’t just be sightseeing or going on a vacation in Europe, they’ll actually be trying to save it.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will find Michael Bryce attempting to live a peaceful life after the events in the last film where notorious hitman Darius Kincaid and his wife, Salma Hayek’s Sonia, drag him in to their mission to cause chaos on Italy’s Amalfi Coast that is somehow meant to help save Europe. Needless to say, Ryan Reynolds’ character will once again find himself with a difficult job and even more difficult clients.

The first Hitman’s Bodyguard earned $176.6 million worldwide back in 2017, sitting atop the domestic box office for three straight weeks from August to early September. On a modest $30 million budget, that made it a big enough of a hit to warrant a sequel, a sequel that looks to be upping the ante by putting together an impressive cast.

In addition to the delightful returning cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Richard E. Grant, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will also star Antonio Banderas, Frank Grillo and, in his first ever film with Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman. The sequel also recently added Tom Hopper, who you may know from Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, Starz’ Black Sails or as the riotously named Dickon Tarly in Game of Thrones.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is expected to arrive in theaters in 2020. There’s plenty to see before then though and you can check it all out in our 2019 release schedule. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest movie news.

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The Key Ways Greta’s Script Changed To Make Isabelle Huppert A Perfect Fit

The Key Ways Greta’s Script Changed To Make Isabelle Huppert A Perfect Fit

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

Over the course of Neil Jordan’s Greta, Isabelle Huppert’s titular character evolves quite a bit. When we first meet her, through the eyes of Chloe Moretz’s Francis she appears to be a lonely old woman with a lot of love to give and nobody to give it to, but developments in the plot reveal that to only be a fraction of the real story. It makes for a fun performance from a veteran star, and it should surprise few to learn that it was tailor made for Huppert – as I recently learned from the film’s writer director:

When Isabelle [Huppert] read it, and Chloe [Moretz] read it, they liked it, and we began to have a serious prospect of making it as a movie. I got out my pen and I rewrote the part for Isabelle. In the initial script she was an older Hungarian woman. And I said to Miss Huppert that we would develop all sorts of dimensions to this character.

Earlier this month I sat down with Neil Jordan during the domestic press day for Greta in Los Angeles, and one of the earliest subjects discussed during the interview was the film’s evolution. Jordan told me that he had a lot of appreciation for Ray Wright’s script when he first read it, particularly the story about a female stalker and its approach to what he called “familiar” material, but when Isabelle Huppert started to express interest he started to produce new drafts of the movie that had her very much in mind for the antagonist.

One of the key ways that Greta changed is that she became a Hungarian woman who pretends that she is French – playing specifically to Isabelle Huppert’s natural accent – but that was only the start. Based on Neil Jordan’s description, the character was originally going to be considerably older, and appear to be a lot more helpless. Having Huppert interested brought Greta’s age down, but Jordan’s version also gave her a bit more flair and charisma. He explained,

We gave her a French persona that she presents to the world. We gave her sophistication, we gave her a piano. We'd give her all sorts of stories about our life, which turn out not to be true - made her considerably younger, and gave her an elegance.

From the outside Greta appears to be an innocent woman in need of good company, but as we witness as the story unfolds that’s not really the case. Francis first meets her when she discovers Greta’s “lost” bag on the subway, and the two quickly begin a mother-daughter-esque relationship as Francis tries to help her (and it doesn’t hurt that Francis just recently lost her mom and has only just moved to New York City). Before too long, however, she realizes that the bag was planted to try and lure her in, and Greta’s obsessive personality starts to become excessively disturbing.

The key to everything in Greta is the relationship between Francis and Greta, and Neil Jordan stressed how changing the latter in new drafts of the script significantly altered their dynamic. While Ray Wright’s script had Francis primarily motivated by sympathy and a level of benevolence, the alterations that Jordan made had it so that Francis was almost entranced by the woman, and wanted to spend more time with her:

In the first script, Francis' relationship to Greta was one of the pity really. She pitied this apparently helpless woman. But in this iteration of it, Francis was kind of seduced by Greta. She's seduced by her piano playing, by her elegance, by her offer of friendship.

It’s pretty easy to imagine anyone falling into that same trap, but after watching the nightmarish results that play out in Greta, audiences may be a bit more wary.

Greta, which stars Maika Monroe, Colm Feore, and Stephen Rea in addition to Isabelle Huppert and Chloe Moretz, is now playing in theaters nationwide.

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The 14 Best Horror Movies Based On A True Story

The 14 Best Horror Movies Based On A True Story

I know what you're thinking: Horror movies that are "based on a true story" are bologna. Well, of course, Hollywood has a way of stretching the truth, especially when scaring audiences is involved, but that does not mean the claim is always a lie either.

Some of the best horror movies of all time have fact-based origins. For instance, the creepy child's plaything from Annabelle Comes Home, the latest upcoming entry in The Conjuring Universe, was inspired by an allegedly possessed Raggedy Ann doll. That is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to art imitating bizarre, disturbing reality.

But of these films that sport the "inspired by true events" claim, which can also claim to be the best horror movies around? I have chosen 14 of some of the best films that made a scary movie-going experience out of a true disturbing event.

The Strangers (2008)

Let me clear this up for you right off the bat: No, The Strangers is not based on a specific, true story of a young married couple teasingly stalked and killed by masked assailants.

While many have speculated what famous murder cases could have inspired this gorefest starring Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman, director Bryan Bertino claims the inspiration was a group of mysterious strangers who knocked on the door of his childhood home in Texas, who turned out to be looking for empty houses to rob.

Bryan Bertino decided to flip that idea on its head by making the thieves masked serial killers and changing the purpose of their shocking, gory visit into, as what is now regarded as one of the best horror movie quotes in recent memory reveals, “because you were home.” So, it's based on a true story, perhaps just not what you would guess.

It does make sense that The Strangers is really just inspired by a plausible concept based on something that happened to the director, because I cannot imagine a trio of killers preying on two helpless victims in a cabin in the middle of nowhere taking that long to finish the job.

The Entity (1982)

In The Entity, single mother of four Carol Moran (Insidious star Barbara Hershey) is a victim of sexual assault. As if that could be any worse than it already is, her attacker is an invisible apparition of great evil and unstoppable strength.

Fusing a very real and prevelanet horrific crime with supernatural elements is creepy enough, but what makes the story of The Entity even more shocking is that it is inspired by the case of Doris Bither, who in 1974 claimed she suffered physical attacks from not one, but three ghosts that also attacked her children.

Without considering the bizarre origins of the story, The Entity remains a shocking and thought-provoking story, as the best horror movies tend to be, about a woman’s struggle to prove that the terrifying, violent offenses committed onto her are real.

Fire in the Sky (1993)

Say what you want about UFOs and alien abductions, according to Travis Walton, it happened to him.

The 1993 film Fire In The Sky is based on the memoir of the same name and recounts the most famous and best-documented alien abduction in history. In 1975, Arizona logger Travis Walton went missing for five days. When he returned, he claimed that he was taken by extraterrestrials.

D.B. Sweeney portrays Walton in the film, which does not take the concept of alien abduction lightly. It shows in graphic detail the torturous experience Walton alleges that he endured in traumatically graphic detail. It just barely earns its PG-13 rating.

The Girl Next Door (2007)

Not to be confused with the 2004 comedy about a high schooler in love with an adult film star, The Girl Next Door is based on Jack Ketchum’s novel, which was inspired by the tragic story of Sylvia Likens.

In 1965 in the state of Indiana, Likens was subjected to almost three months of abuse, neglect, humiliation, and torture by her sociopathic caregiver. She eventually succumbed to her injuries and died at just 16.

The events depicted in the The Girl Next Door are just as unsettling and unspeakable as the original shockingly sadistic case. While a fan of the genre would say that is a key point of acclaim for the best horror movies, I would say you may be better off reading about it than seeing it. It is not for the faint of heart.

The Amityville Horror (1979)

One of the most prolific cases of supernatural haunting comes from one now legendary house in New York.

It inspired the 1977 novel The Amityville Horror, which was made into a film two years later, starring James Brolin and Margot Kidder as George and Kathy Lutz, who find a great deal on a house after a man murdered his family in it years earlier. Soon, they begin to conspire that the crime was influenced by a demonic presence in the house and worry they will fall victim to it next.

While there is truth to the story of a man murdering his family in the infamous Amityville house, there is no real evidence to support an actual haunting occurred there. Yet, that has not stopped Hollywood for continuing to use the story as franchise material.

The original film, however, still pops into conversation as one of the best horror movies, mostly by those who still believe in its ghostly legend.

Child’s Play (1988)

Before there was Annabelle, there was Chucky. However, did you know that both of these fearful playthings are inspired by alleged fact?

In Child’s Play, regarded as one of the best horror films of all time, serial killer Charles Lee Ray (Brad Dourif) inserts his soul into a cute, red headed doll to continue his murderous tirade after death. The inspiration was a doll of unnerving design named Robert, owned by then six-year-old Gene Otto in 1906.

Robert the Doll was made for Gene by his family’s Bahamian servant, who happened to be skilled in voodoo. Her skills apparently proved effective as Robert would take enjoyment in taunting children and mutilating Gene’s other toys, among other unexplainable phenomena.

With the technophobic Child’s Play remake on the horizon, I now wonder what is scarier: stuffed doll possessed by evil or robotic doll with fatally faulty programming?

Wolf Creek (2005)

While Crocodile Dundee was a film that greatly helped the tourism industry in Australia, Greg McLean’s 2005 cult slasher film was the film that could have come close to ruining it.

Wolf Creek, about three travelers terrorized by a crazed pig hunter, claimed to be based on true events when first released. While not entirely a lie, the real Australia-based hitchhiker murders that inspired the film occurred far from the scenic national park the title borrows from… and misspells (Wolfe Creek).

Nevertheless, the film has earned acclaim as one of the best horror movies of its kind for its ultra realistic depictions of violence and, especially, for its sinister antagonist, Mick Taylor (John Jarratt).

The Conjuring (2013)

Famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren’s most famous case is, most likely, the case that inspired The Amityville Horror.

Of course, no confirmed evidence of that haunting exists (as I have mentioned) and the story has already been done to death in Hollywood. Thus, James Wan thankfully chose the Warrens’ 1971 investigation of the Perron Family’s house as inspiration for The Conjuring.

Featuring interviews with the actual Perron Family in the film’s marketing is what helped convince audiences to buy into its “based on a true story” claims and made it one of the highest-grossing horror movies of all time.

The Conjuring would spin off its own universe, which has gone on for some time. However, the one that started it all is still regarded as one of the best horror movies in recent memory.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Wes Craven was smart to not market his slasher-fantasy hit as inspired by true events because no one would have believed that a badly burned, clawed, wisecracking boogeyman would be real.

That being said, claiming it to be based on true events still, technically, would not have been a lie.

Wes Craven wrote the script for A Nightmare on Elm Street after reading an L.A. Times article about a teenage boy suffering from nightmares that kept him desperate to stay awake, until he eventually died in his sleep.

Craven took the concept of a fatal nightmare, added villain Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) as an antagonist, and one of the best horror movies of all time was born.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

A large part of the appeal of the late Tobe Hooper’s breakout hit was the claim in the marketing and in the film’s opening narration that the events depicted in the movie actually happened. No, there is no record of a massacre involving a chainsaw that took place in Texas in the early 1970s.

Instead, Tobe Hooper’s initial inspiration came from the cruel and gross crimes of Ed Gein, who has inspired several antagonists on film. Yet, Leatherface may be the killer’s most iconic cinematic counterpart due to his weapon of choice.

So, where did the chainsaw element in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre come from? Tobe Hooper and his wife were in a crowded department store when he saw the bladed tool on a shelf and thought to himself, I bet I could use that to get through this crowd a lot easier.

Jaws (1975)

Steven Spielberg’s masterful creature feature (and the first blockbuster) was inspired by Peter Benchley’s novel, Jaws. But even Benchley needed inspiration from somewhere.

Benchley stated in the introduction of his man vs. shark novel that his initial inspiration was a 1964 newspaper article about a fisherman who caught a 4,500-pound great white off Long Island. The story got him to wonder what would happen if such an animal became a more local nuisance.

Many also cite the infamous 1916 shark attack off of Jersey Shore. While the incident is mentioned in both the book and movie, Peter Benchley has said that the mere reference of the event should is not to be taken as a sign that it inspired the plot of Jaws.

Or, perhaps, he and Steven Spielberg would rather one of the best horror movies of all time, and one of their most iconic creations, not be linked to tragedy. That is quite challenging for a shark movie.

Psycho (1960)

Leatherface is not the only killer on our list to be inspired by Ed Gein. The prolific murdered also paved the way for Alfred Hitchcock’s most iconic creation.

Much like Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins’ bone chilling role in Psycho), Ed Gein was very close to his mother Augusta, who sealed him off from the rest of the world for much of his life. After she died, leaving him a state of crippling loneliness, he eventually began identifying as a woman, taking up cross dressing and skinning female victims to create a bodysuit to help assume his gender of choice.

All I can say, in regards to the life of Ed Gein AND the plot of Psycho, mothers, please be careful how you raise your children. They may end up inspiring some of the best horror movies of all time.

Nosferatu (1922)

You may recognize Count Orlok from Nosferatu by his brief cameo in a SpongeBob Squarepants episode, or by the name of his original source material: Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Believe it or not, Count Dracula was an actual person: a Romanian prince named Vlad who took on the name Dracula, which meant “son of Dracul,” his father. Of course, he was Drac was not an undead creature of night, but he apparently did have a taste for human blood.

F.W. Murnau, unable to obtain the rights to the name Dracula, adapted Stoker’s novel into the 1922 silent film Nosferatu, which I still believe is one of the best horror of all time and my top pick for vampire movies.

The Exorcist (1973)

Director William Friedkin never regarded his Oscar-nominated adaptation of William Peter Blatty’s novel as a horror film, despite being regarded now as one of the best horror movies ever.

What interested Friedkin about The Exorcist, inspired by the actual exorcism of 14-year-old boy Roland Doe in a St. Louis hospital, was the unique opportunity he saw in it. He wanted to use the fictionalized take of the St. Louis possession (changed to a 12-year-old girl played by Linda Blair) and make a film that commented on the mystery of faith.

Perhaps that unique approach to the thriller, as well as its fact-based origin, is what has kept audiences intrigued and in fear more than 40 years since The Exorcist was first released.

What do you think of our list? Can you think of more horror movies "based on a true story" that deserve a spot? There are plenty more out there, but hopefully this provides a few for you to choose from.

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How Much Money Dumbo Could Make During Its Opening Weekend

How Much Money Dumbo Could Make During Its Opening Weekend

Disney has several live action reimaginings heading into theaters in 2019. Ahead of Aladdin, The Lion King and Maleficent 2, the studio will be putting out Tim Burton’s live action take on Dumbo. Now, tracking is in for the late March release and it looks like Dumbo should do well on opening weekend, although it may not be a record breaker for the House of Mouse.

Early estimates have Dumbo making around $50 million on opening weekend. That’s domestically, of course, and numbers from theaters worldwide should beef up that number. THR also notes the new live action flick could make as much as $60 million if all goes well. This is close to the long-range forecasting, which previously had Dumbo in a range of $45-$65 million.

If the numbers hold, that would not be a gigantic opening for this type of movie. So far, the highest opening weekend for a live action Disney film went to Beauty and the Beast, which came out back in 2017 and made roughly $170 million domestically opening weekend. The Jungle Book also had a large opening total, surprising with a little over $103 million domestically when it hit theaters in 2016.

If Dumbo opens in the range it is expected to, it will land ahead of movies like Alice Through The Looking Glass ($26.8 million opening) and Pete’s Dragon ($21.5 million opening), but behind other live action remake earners like Maleficent ($69 million opening) and Cinderella ($67.9 million opening).

Most of Disney’s live action movies have had budgets in the $100 million+ range and movies like Maleficent have been closer to $180 million (although Pete’s Dragon was reportedly made for much less than $100 million). Ultimately, whether a $50 or $60 million opener will be enough to propel Dumbo to a box office win depends on a lot of factors: How much was the budget? Are people seeing the movie elsewhere in the world? Can it stay competitive for several weeks as April releases start coming out?

Of course, box office estimates aren’t an exact science, either. We’re always hopeful for surprises of the positive variety at CinemaBlend and if Dumbo ends up doing more than $60 million it could be a great start for live action remakes this year. Likewise, if the flick doesn’t strike gold, Disney has three more shots at huge moneymakers in that category alone this year.

That may not be why the studio has so many movies primed to come out in 2019, however. Previously, it looked as if Disney could beat its own domestic box office record this year and now that Maleficent 2 has been thrown in, it’s looking even more likely.

Ultimately, Disney has a lot of live action reimaginings of classics coming out in the next nine months, specifically now that the studio has swapped Maleficent 2’s date from 2020 to 2019. It will be interesting to see whether or not there’s an appetite for that many remakes in one year, or if we’ll have a Solo type of story on our hands with one or two of them.

Of course, stay tuned to Weekend Box Office to see how Dumbo and other big spring movies do.

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Could Captain Marvel Hit A Billion Dollars This Weekend?

Could Captain Marvel Hit A Billion Dollars This Weekend?

Captain Marvel has gone higher, further and faster than many of Marvel’s other superheroes, at least where box office is involved. The movie is already well over the $900 million week after hitting theaters earlier this month, but will it be able to hit 1 billion this weekend? It’ll be close.

First and foremost, as of March 25, Captain Marvel has already pulled in a whopping $914 million dollars worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). Box office numbers typically slow down earlier in the way and pick up closer to the weekend, so once Monday and Tuesday’s numbers are official, I’d expect it to add to the tally but not get us close to the billion dollar mark yet.

Which brings us to this weekend. Domestically, Captain Marvel is facing the behemoth that is Jordan Peele’s Us. Disney itself will also enter a bit of competition into the fold this weekend with its live action Dumbo remake spearheaded by director Tim Burton.

If you’d like to see the full list of releases so far in 2019, we have you covered.

Last weekend, Captain Marvel earned $35 million domestically, which was definitely enough for second place, but earned well below Us, which opened to $70.3 million. It’s likely that Captain Marvel’s numbers will drop domestically again, although it should do well enough that it should make a few million to add to that over $900 million total.

The worldwide box office has contributed much of the box office intake for Captain Marvel and that likely will continue into the weekend. However, Captain Marvel has already previously opened in most major markets, including China.

It has also opened in Mexico, South Korea, The UK, Brazil, France and other markets, so there’s not a lot of room for the movie to continue to squeeze out top dollar overseas. Just like the domestic market, as new and exciting movies hit theaters, the audience for older movies wanes.

The question really isn’t if Captain Marvel will be able to hit $1 billion worldwide, but when. There’s a chance the Marvel flick flies to that record this weekend, which would mean the movie has hit that box office milestone before it has even been in theaters for a whole month. However, it’s going to be close, and I think it may fall short over the weekend.

The good news is that once Captain Marvel hits a billion, it will actually be the seventh Marvel flick to achieve that massive number, so it will be big news when it happens. It should also be the start of a giant box office tally for Marvel in 2019, as the studio also has Avengers: Endgame coming. That movie should open high and could go on to make over $2 billion for Disney. Spider-Man: Far From Home and it's complicated infrastructure with Sony and Disney will also be released in 2019.

If you’d like to see the movie get there sooner rather than later, you can always catch it in theaters this weekend, perhaps even for a second or third time.

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AMC Adds Some Round The Clock Showings Of Avengers: Endgame

AMC Adds Some Round The Clock Showings Of Avengers: Endgame

As many of you dear readers would know, the blitz to get tickets for Avengers: Endgame was so great it stopped the box office world for a beat. Ticket apps crashed, which eventually lead to some fans being unable to get tickets as early as others. The initial wave of tickets were eventually sold out, which lead to a healthy resellers’ market of overinflated pricing.

It looked like if you wanted to see this movie this weekend, much as the Russo Brothers intended, you were out of luck. But now, it seems like hope is on the horizon, as AMC Theatres is adding even more showings of Avengers: Endgame to its calendar for opening weekend, with some locations staying open round the clock for the entire weekend.

Before you get too excited though, you’re going to want to check your local showtimes really carefully. We say this, because that “round the clock” business isn’t applicable at all AMC locations. As a matter of fact, it looks like most of the round the clock operations will be during the Thursday/Friday timeframe, with 29 AMC theaters being open through those two specific days.

Meanwhile, 18 locations will be open between Thursday and Saturday or Friday through Sunday, again with around the clock service for Avengers: Endgame fans. Finally, 17 AMC Theaters locations will be open from Thursday through Sunday, in full 24 hour shifts.

What’s even more interesting about this influx of tickets to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s grand finale to its Infinity Saga is the fact that this is only applicable to the AMC Theatres chain. Now this could mean that other chains, both major and independent, would be forced to compete in a similar manner, leading to other businesses adding showtimes to their locations much like AMC did in this recent report from THR. This massive push to keep movie fans happy promises to make this massive record-breaking weekend for Avengers: Endgame even more of an event, especially in the face of updated estimates for this weekend that have put the film within possible striking distance of a $300 million opening in the domestic marketplace alone.

So if you’re thinking of seeing Avengers: Endgame this weekend, and AMC isn’t an option due to locations and ticket availability, don’t lose hope just yet. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates, and again, be sure to check your local listings extra carefully. Good luck out there, True Believers, and may you see the Endgame in due time.

Avengers: Endgame starts its conquest of the box office market on Thursday night, and if you’re lucky, you might just get a ticket to see the movie that’ll be on everyone’s lips throughout the summer. But if you don’t find yourself with tickets, and want to see something anyway, head over to the 2019 release schedule to see some of the films already in theaters, ready for you to give them a shot.

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Check Out The Brand New Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker Stills Shared At Star Wars Celebration

Check Out The Brand New Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker Stills Shared At Star Wars Celebration

It's a very exciting time for the generations of Star Wars fans out there. The annual Star Wars Celebration is currently going full force, and the festivities brought the first information regarding J.J. Abrams' Episode IX. The upcoming blockbuster's title was revealed to be The Rise of Skywalker, and it should be an epic story that wraps up the last eight movies of Star Wars flicks. The title was revealed during the final moments of the first teaser trailer, which teased the epic conclusion to the Skywalker Saga.

Prior to debuting the first trailer, the Episode IX panel at Star Wars Celebration brought out the cast and crew, with host Stephen Colbert inquiring about what The Rise of Skywalker might entail. During the presentation, still were revealed of each of the characters, and they didn't disappoint. Let's dive into what we were shown.

Poe's New Look

Poe Dameron is the ace pilot of the current trilogy, and one of the main protagonists alongside Rey and Finn. Poe usually functions in his own story, separate from his co-stars. But J.J. Abrams teased that The Rise of Skywalker will have the full group going on an adventure, and they're shown in the trailer wearing some fancy duds. Just check out Poe, who is in new casual gear to traverse an unknown desert planet. Actor Oscar Isaac commented on his affinity for Poe's scarf, so let's hope that Finn doesn't end up borrowing that item of clothing as well.

Supreme Leader Kylo Ren

Adam Driver may have been absent from Star Wars Celebration, but that doesn't mean Kylo Ren was. In addition to his brief appearances in the first The Rise of Skywalker trailer, fans were also treated to the first still of Ben Solo. After killing Snoke in The Last Jedi, Kylo is officially at the head of The First Order. The image shows him looking a bit rough for the wear, so perhaps the weight of his leadership is crushing him. Is there hope for Ben, as Rey thought in the last movie? We'll have to wait and see.

Resistance Leader Finn

Finn's journey from Stormtrooper to Rebel leader started with The Force Awakens, and broke new ground for the Star Wars franchise. After getting himself accidentally involved in the galactic conflict, Finn had a bit of an existential crisis in The Last Jedi. Was he meant to join The Resistance, or was it safer to run? In the end, he affirmed his position as a rebel, reuniting with Rey in the process. The first images from The Rise of Skywalker show Finn as his own person, rocking a new hairstyle and clothes in the process. It looks like being a leader suits him.

The Debut Of Jannah

While Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker has the pressure of wrapping up nine movies and servicing a variety of beloved characters, we should still expect some newcomers. Case in point: Jannah, played by Naomi Ackie. Not much is known about Ackie's mysterious character, but we got our first glimpse of Jannah during the panel presentation for Episode IX. She looks totally unique to any of the other characters, and it should be interesting to see how she affects the narrative of the upcoming blockbuster. Some fans are theorizing she could be Lando Calrissian's daughter, although the actress sidestepped the question by Stephen Colbert.

Rey's Classic Appearance

Daisy Ridley's Rey is the hero of the current Star Wars trilogy, and the first two movies have already shown her tremendous growth and Force Abilities. But this new still showed Rey in her classic signature costume, looking pretty consistent to her other appearances. And despite her Force Abilities and skill with a lightsaber, the image shows her still using a crude stick as a weapon. What's more, it's not even her signature staff. So many questions, so little time.

Finn And Poe Laughing

There's plenty of comedy in the current Star Wars trilogy, and some of the best moments have come from Poe Dameron. From his very first scene in The Force Awakens, Oscar Isaac's character was cracking jokes in the face of danger. The character's penchant for jokes was a major talking point for Isaac during the Episode IX panel, and this delightful photo was briefly shown. Despite the high stakes, it looks like Finn and Poe will find time to enjoy themselves in The Rise of Skywalker. And given all the fan rumors about the duo, this will only add fuel to the fire about a Poe/Finn romance.

The Return Of Rose Tico

Rose Tico was a new addition to the cast in The Last Jedi, and the rebel maintenance worker will likely have a significant role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The character was the subject of much controversy, as actress Kelly Marie Tran was a victim of intense online harassment and hate, eventually leaving social media altogether. She got a standing ovation at Star Wars Celebration, and it seems the fandom is eager to see how Rose factors into Episode IX. Looks like she's out of that coma, and is seen sharing a scene with Rey in her first still.

As a reminder, you can check out the first Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer below. While it may be relatively short, there's enough reason for a re-watch. I've probably done it about 6 times already today.

These stills and the first trailer will come into context when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Pet Sematary Director Explains Why The Film’s Ending Was Changed

Pet Sematary Director Explains Why The Film’s Ending Was Changed

Warning: SPOILERS for Pet Sematary are discussed in this article. If you haven’t seen the film yet and want to stay unspoiled, please bookmark and come back once you’re current.

In the 2019 remake of Pet Sematary, there’s a pretty big change to how the famed Stephen King story ends. It arrives off the back of a lot of smaller changes that build up to the big finale, with the end result being something so pitch black that it hits harder than the entire third act of the 1983 novel. And as it turns out, there was another ending that was shot and audience tested, which would have been even bleaker, according to the film’s directors.

When speaking in a recent interview about the film, directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer talked about a lot of material that was cut from Pet Sematary’s final cut. Amidst remarks about deleted content that fleshed out the relationships between Louis and Jud, as well as Louis and his daughter Ellie, an entire alternate ending was shot for the film; an ending that, according to Dennis Widmyer’s remarks below, was pretty hard to cut:

That [alternate] ending we shot first, and then we decided, you know, to have this other ending – so the studio could test two different endings…We [edited] them both and both endings [test] scored pretty equally. They’re both disturbing and dark. [But] I would say that the current ending [in the final film] sends off the audience with a smile on its face, while at the same time though, [they’re saying] ‘That was that was messed up!’ Whereas the other one, I don’t think anyone would be smiling. The other one has more of a bleak, kind of sad tone to it.

While we’ve covered the ending of Pet Sematary’s 2019 in depth, here's the short version: Ellie turns out to be the kid who dies in this version, and she comes back to life with a bit of an agenda. That agenda includes killing and resurrecting her mother, who then kills and resurrects her husband. The final shot of the film sees Ellie and her parents returning home, with Church in tow, in order to retrieve the youngest member of their family, Gage.

It can be understood that the filmmakers and studio heads behind Pet Sematary didn’t want to send fans out of the theater with a sense of horrible unease. The subject matter is pretty grim, no matter which version you partake in, and being completely honest, the implication of that ending’s darkness kind of does put a smile on your face in the way that Widmyer specified while speaking to Slashfilm. But if that’s the ending that turned out to be the lighter of the two, what the hell is the other ending supposed to contain?

Frankly, our guess is that it’s ether a slightly extended ending where we see Gage being carried off by his undead family, or it’s something so horrific we haven’t even thought of it yet. If there’s any justice, this curiosity worthy of killing the cat just might lead to the satisfaction of an alternate Blu-ray cut of the film, including all the other content that was hinted at by the directors. But at the very least, the facts that the deleted material is already being teased as being part of the home video release, with the ending hitting the internet shortly before then, is something that does make us happy about this particularly grizzly scenario.

Pet Sematary is in theaters now, with a home video release hinted at some point in July.

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21 Bridges Trailer: Chadwick Boseman's New Movie Has Him Playing A Cop After Cop Killers

21 Bridges Trailer: Chadwick Boseman's New Movie Has Him Playing A Cop After Cop Killers

Most people are probably getting ready to check out Avengers: Endgame this weekend and are curious what the ultimate fate of Black Panther is going to be. Whatever happens, to the Marvel hero, Chadwick Boseman knows where he's going next, and now so do we, as the first trailer for the thriller 21 Bridges is here. Check it out below.

Chadwick Boseman plays a cop who saw his father killed in the line of duty as a child, and as such has no love for criminals who kill other cops. When exactly that happens, Boseman's character is called in to hunt down those responsible. He goes to extremes to get the fugitives, including shutting down every possible route out of Manhattan. That includes closing all 21 bridges, from which the film gets its name.

Of course, what the trailer also makes clear is that there's more going on in this story. This isn't just as simple as a couple of thugs shooting cops. Even the criminals on the run appear to have found themselves involved in something they were never looking for.

While the story of 21 Bridges might be pretty far removed from that of Black Panther, behind the camera things are a little closer to home. The film is actually being produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of this weekend's Avengers: Endgame.

The story is written by Matthew Michael Carnahan, who wrote Deepwater Horizon and World War Z, along with Adam Mervis for whom this is only his second feature writing credit. 21 Bridges is directed by Brian Kirk, who is primarily known as a television director, where he has worked on episodes of Game of Thrones, Penny Dreadful, and Luther among many others.

21 Bridges isn't quite the star studded action blockbuster that we would expect to see releasing in July, but the fact that it is shows a certain amount of confidence that the film will be able to hold its own against those tentpole releases. 21 Bridges is currently slotted into July 12, which is the weekend after Spider-Man: Far From Home comes out and the weekend before the remake of The Lion King makes its bow.

The movie's only direct competition of any note will be the action-comedy Stuber starring Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista. It will be interesting to see how these two Marvel alumni do against each other, as well as how they both do against the hold over business for the final chapter of the current phase of the MCU.

Of course, with Black Panther officially missing in action as far as Avengers: Endgame goes, it's entirely possible that 21 Bridges is going to be the only place to see Chadwick Boseman on the big screen this year.

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Chris Hemsworth's Blunt Reason For Turning Down Star Trek 4

Chris Hemsworth's Blunt Reason For Turning Down Star Trek 4

J.J. Abrams' Star Trek came out 10 years ago this spring. It was not only a huge hit, spawning two sequels, it introduced Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk, father of Chris Pine's James T. Kirk. George was killed on his ship at the start of the movie, so that was the last we saw of him. Fast-forward to today, and Star Trek 4 was supposed to bring back both Chrises as both Kirks. That didn't happen, and the movie is now reportedly shelved.

The rumored reason for both Chrises dropping out was money, with both high profile superhero stars reportedly wanting more than what Paramount was willing to pay after the relative disappointment of Star Trek Beyond.

However, if you ask Chris Hemsworth, he turned down the next Star Trek sequel because he wasn't into the script and he's gotten more selective over time:

I didn’t feel like we landed on a reason to revisit that yet. I didn’t want to be underwhelmed by what I was going to bring to the table.

So Chris Hemsworth told Variety the fault was with the story/script/his role, not the budget. Maybe he didn't want to bring up money -- considering Forbes said he made $64.5 million last year. But he could've been honest about that and people would've understood his worth has gone way up since Star Trek. It's very possible the contract issues that made headlines weren't the full story and this note about the script is at the heart of things.

Back in 2016, Paramount officially announced Chris Hemsworth's return as George Kirk, saying the fourth movie in that franchise would be written by J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay. Here's what the studio said the movie would be about:

In the next installment of the epic space adventure, Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk will cross paths with a man he never had a chance to meet, but whose legacy has haunted him since the day he was born: his father. Chris Hemsworth, who appeared in 2009’s Star Trek, will return to the space saga as George Kirk to star alongside Pine.

On paper, I loved that idea. It's a way to get father and son together on screen, and also pair up two charismatic Chrises. But apparently something went wrong in the screenwriting phase, and/or Paramount wasn't willing to pay up after the under-performance of the third movie at the box office.

It's possible Chris Hemsworth was saying that if the story were stronger, he would've done Star Trek 4 for less money. Obviously he doesn't need the money. But if the script didn't impress him much and he was getting less than his usual amount? I can see him walking out. That's just speculation, but it would be a way to combine both the money reason -- which never came from either actor -- and the script reason coming from Hemsworth himself.

At least Quentin Tarantino still sounds into his mysterious Star Trek movie. And Chris Hemsworth has plenty of other projects to keep him busy, from Men in Black: International to whatever is next for Thor.

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Colin Farrell Loved The Dumbo Sets So Much He Spent Extra Time Just Wandering Around

Colin Farrell Loved The Dumbo Sets So Much He Spent Extra Time Just Wandering Around

Few auteurs have made as big an impact on modern cinema than Tim Burton. The filmmaker’s style is identifiable from a mile away, and it’s a specific aesthetic that has driven some of the most visually interesting features to be released in the last 35 years. His work possesses many charms, including a wonderful practicality, and it’s that particular element of Burton’s filmmaking process that really boggled the mind of Colin Farrell in the making of Dumbo.

Unlike many of the stars of the new Disney film (including Eva Green, Danny DeVito, and Michael Keaton), Colin Farrell didn’t have the experience of working with Tim Burton prior to the making of the new live-action adaptation, but that just meant that the entire experience was brand new to him. This was something that he very much reveled in during production, as he recently told me about how he would actually spend extra time on set when nobody was around, taking it all in. Discussing his expectations for working with Burton, Farrell explained,

I expected... My mind is not potent enough to have expected the degree of elaborateness that was present on the sets of this film. But I knew that it would be elaborate, and I knew that it would be big, and I knew that it would be beautiful, and colorful, and noisy. But I had no idea. And when I saw some of the sets, I mean they were just the most beautiful, you know? I'd find myself walking on to the sets when there was nobody there and just looking around.

Colin Farrell wore his appreciation for the beauty of Tim Burton’s Dumbo on his sleeve when I had the opportunity to sit down with him earlier this month during the new film’s Los Angeles press junket. During the interview he mentioned that he had met the director years before making the new movie – specifically they had a chat while drinking coffee poolside at the Roosevelt Hotel (don’t you just love Hollywood?) – but that meeting apparently didn’t fully prepare the actor for the experience of collaborating with the filmmaker. So when he arrived and saw the massive, practical, and colorful sets that had been built for the live-action adaptation of the Disney animated classic, he was really blown away.

There are some actors who can’t get off set fast enough when they are done with a day of production on a movie, but that most definitely wasn’t the case for Colin Farrell in the making of Dumbo. Instead, he found that the experience of being alone on the massive circus sets that had been built overwhelmed him with emotions – particularly a thankfulness that he has a life that allows him to be a part of beautiful art. Said Farrell,

And talk about moments of nostalgia! Even though I didn't have relationship with Dumbo or circuses, it's just honestly a lot of gratitude, actually, for living in such a beautiful world, and being a part of telling a story, albeit for a finite moment in time.

In Dumbo, Colin Farrell stars as Holt Farrier, a circus performer who we first meet at the start of the story when he returns from fighting in World War I. He is beyond elated to once again be with his two children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), but he’s also not quite the man he used to be, as an injury sustained during battle led to him losing his left arm. He does his best to try and return his life to what it was before he left, but finds challenges from his disability. It’s a scary and hard time, but optimism soon arrives in the form of a young elephant with ears so big that they allow it to fly.

The seventeenth film from Tim Burton, and also starring Alan Arkin in addition to all the names mentioned above, Dumbo will soon be arriving in theaters – scheduled to land on March 29th. Between now and then, be sure to stay tuned here on CinemaBlend, as we have plenty more coming from my interviews with the movie’s cast and filmmakers.

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Superman Vs. Thanos: How the Justice League Characters Would Handle Thanos

Superman Vs. Thanos: How the Justice League Characters Would Handle Thanos

With The Avengers doing battle with Thanos in theaters at this very moment, Avengers: Endgame is answering a lot of the questions about just how Earth’s mightiest heroes would defeat a mad Titan with all of the power in the universe. More than likely you’ve seen that fight take place for yourself, but even if you haven’t, you’re probably thinking, “What would it be like to see the Justice League take on Thanos in a battle for the universe?”

It’s a scenario so awesome and so fun to think out that we just had to tackle it. Using the line-up from the recent Justice League movie, we’ve come up with a scenario in which the team members you saw in DC’s big team-up film will challenge the greatest threat in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Using their powers and abilities, we’re about to see if the greatest team in DC Comics history can take down Thanos in their own way. But before we get to the main event, let’s take a look at what sort of scenario would lead to this all out conflict.

Why Would The Justice League Ever Challenge Thanos?

As we’ve learned in the new Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer, there’s a really good chance The Snap has torn the fabric of the multiverse, allowing all sorts of stuff to bleed through the edges of reality. So let’s just say that the actions of Thanos have not only opened a gate between worlds in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also the worlds of DC and Marvel.

This would, hypothetically, see this third version of Thanos, still crazy and mad for power as always, crossing over onto DC Comics’ home turf. With the full power of the Infinity Gauntlet in his grasp once more, he’s ready to conquer a new world that’s not so familiar with his ways. Which leaves the Justice League with a hell of a puzzle to solve.

Given their collective skill set, and the potential battleground of Metropolis/Gotham at their usage, the playing field just might be level enough for the Justice League to take on Thanos in an effective fashion. Which means it’s time to run through the team’s individual profiles, and how they fit into the fight.

How Batman Would Fight Thanos

On the ground level, Batman would be the best hero to start out with in terms of the Justice League’s roster. Not only is Bruce Wayne’s alter ego not super-powered, and thus the most physically vulnerable, he’s also the best person to get the ball rolling.

Batman’s greatest resource is the fact that he’s the world’s best detective. He researches the hell of out a subject, finds it weaknesses, and uses them for his own gain. So much like he’s done with the Justice League itself in the past, Batman can dig deep into Thanos’s legend and origins, as well as the abilities of the Infinity Gauntlet and its individual stones.

Once he found the relevant information in this new world, Batman would then be able to provide strategic analysis to his team, possibly dream up some new gadgets (including a substitute gauntlet to put the stones into, should the original be destroyed) to help the team with their efforts, and help formulate the exact plan to back Thanos into a corner. And he could even use the help of a very valuable team member to create his strategy.

How Cyborg Would Fight Thanos

Victor Stone, also known as Cyborg to his Justice League teammates, is a genius of unparalleled ability. With a high IQ, and all the cybernetic enhancements one could require to use such an IQ to their advantage, Cyborg has an arsenal of weapons that could stand up against Thanos’s efforts, and he even has an ace up his robotic sleeve.

As far as Cyborg’s robotic arsenal goes, he has various gadgets that could slow down Thanos and whatever else he can throw at the Justice League. With a whole bunch of weapons built into his cybernetic body, most famously including a sonic canon, Cyborg could help clear the way for the rest of the team by using sonic waves to break apart objects that Thanos or his children might hurl at the group.

With his incredible smarts, as well as the cybernetic enhancements that Cybog has built into his person, he is also a very valuable tool in determining the strategy needed to take down Thanos. Team his cybernetic analysis abilities with Batman’s detective work, and you’ve got two pretty big brains looking to take out a Mad Titan. Of course, a lot of brawn is going to be needed to take down Thanos, which is where the next member of our team comes in.

How Aquaman Would Fight Thanos

There’s one particular scene in Avengers: Endgame that probably would make anyone, Avenger and audience member alike, wish that Arthur Curry was present to use his powers as Aquaman. While Doctor Strange did a pretty good job controlling the waters that threatened to flood the battle in the remains of the Avengers compound, one could imagine Aquaman doing even better, as controlling water is kind of his sweet spot.

But should this fight in the DC Universe take place in the waters between Metropolis and Gotham, as shown in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, all it would take is the Trident of Poseidon for Arthur to very easily change the state of play. Not only would he be able to control the waters, but he’d also be able to summon various sea creatures that could give Thanos a hard time in his efforts to stump the Justice League.

Of course, this would also mean that should he be able to summon them, and should they be agree to join the cause, Arthur Curry could summon the armies of his Atlantean kingdom to come to the surface and spank Thanos raw. Which has us thinking of another member of royalty in the Justice League that could bring their own army, as well as special skills, to help things along.

How Wonder Woman Would Fight Thanos

Now let’s say that between Batman and Cyborg’s intellect, there are still some questions that the Justice League needs answered regarding how to defeat Thanos. Even with the best laid plans, there’s bound to be something that goes wrong. Should there be any further questions that need to be answered in the heat of battle, Wonder Woman could help get those answers very easily.

Using her Lasso of Truth, Diana can rope Thanos or a compatriot into a position where they have to chill out and answer her questions truthfully. Through interrogation, Wonder Woman could question Thanos about his strategy to sack the universe, and see if there were any other weaknesses the team could use against him. Plus, much like Mantis in Avengers: Infinity War, this could provide a moment to try and remove that pesky Infinity Gauntlet from his hands.

If all else failed, there are two other things that Wonder Woman could provide in the fight against Thanos. With an Invisible Jet at her command, she could easily launch a sneak attack on ground forces, or even Thanos’s gigantic ship, and take some key pieces off the board. Finally, if all else failed, the Amazonian princess in the Justice League’s ranks could try to raise an army of her compatriots from Themyscira, ready to flood the field with rage and combat against Thanos’ own army.

How The Flash Would Fight Thanos

The Flash is probably one of the best heroes to have in the case of the Justice League fighting Thanos, as he has a key ability that also came in handy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: time travel. With his usage of speed, and his ability to travel back and forth through time, Barry Allen would have two very different ways to help out his fellow Justice League teammates.

Should things go according to whatever plans Batman and Cyborg have cooked up, or if the strategies added by Wonder Woman also pan out, then Barry could just use his abilities as The Flash to be incredibly fast on the battlefield, taking out as many of Thanos’s forces as he could through agility and extreme velocity. He could even sneak up on Thanos if he’s lassoed up by Wonder Woman, in an effort to remove the Gauntlet by force. But should things not go according to plan, there’s always Plan B.

While it’s obviously not something to count on as a major strategy, should the plans drawn up by the Justice League team fail, Barry can always use his speedster ability to go back in time and warn the team of what works and what doesn’t. Though he’ll want to take some really good notes as to just how exactly the team gets their asses handed to them, as that sort of option takes a lot of energy and effort.

How Superman Would Fight Thanos

Here it is: the moment you’ve all been waiting for. With all of the other core Justice League members plying their trades, and bringing the fight to Thanos, it’s time to talk about what Superman’s role would be in defeating the mad titan. Besides, of course, Superman’s ability to smash and bash Thanos around quite a bit, which still leaves him pretty ready to bring Thanos to his knees, and quite possibly finish him.

With both his heat vision and freezing breath, the last son of Krypton could do quite a number on Thanos to get the Infinity Gauntlet off of his hand. Weakening the gauntlet, there’s a chance that Superman could get it off of Thanos, either intact or by destroying the vessel holding the Infinity Stones and scooping them up.

With a suitable vessel, Superman could easily use any sort of Infinity Gauntlet to snap Thanos and his armies out of existence. As a Kryptonian, there’s a good chance that the Gamma radiation that the usage of the gauntlet puts out won’t affect him in an adverse way. He might get banged up, and he just might take a lot of damage when using the Infinity Gauntlet, but Superman would be able that gauntlet no problem and not have to die in the process.

Could The Justice League Handle Thanos Better Than The Avengers?

So with all of their collective abilities, one final query slips into the minds of audiences all over: Could the Justice League handle Thanos better than The Avengers did in Avengers: Endgame? Quite frankly, to me the answer feels like a resounding yes, and it’s because of the approaches of DC Heroes versus Marvel Heroes. Boiling it all down to the fact that the world of DC Comics has a lot of Gods or godlike creatures involved, you can see how the Justice League would have the upper hand in fighting Thanos.

With a super team that includes Wonder Woman and Superman amongst its ranks, that’s a huge part of the battle fought right there. But with the extraordinary abilities of Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman, plus the extra brain power of Batman slotted into the team, these six heroes have a good chance of getting the job done amongst themselves.

Though it also helps that the armies of both Wonder Woman and Aquaman would have the numbers to help soften up Thanos and his own forces. Even in that respect, without the powers of the six members of the Justice League put together, the fight is pretty much lost. So with huge military ranks to fight the ground battle, as well as a pretty fantastic team of six heroes with powers and tactics beyond compare, it’s fair to say that the Justice League would have a handle on beating Thanos; especially with The Flash being able to run the time travel play if need be.

Of course, there are all sorts of caveats, variants, and conditions that can be added into the argument in order to change the arguments of how the Justice League would take on Thanos. But as it stands, this is the strategy that I believe would best suit DC’s legendary super team, and their best chance of saving the day. Should you have any notes or factors that you think should be taken into account, changing the playbook of the Justice League being pitted against Thanos, we encourage you, the audience, to comment below.

Should you want to do some additional research to support or refute this case, Avengers: Endgame is currently in theaters, with Justice League being available on home video, in all formats.

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Robert Pattinson’s Casting As Batman Was Reportedly Super Quick

Robert Pattinson’s Casting As Batman Was Reportedly Super Quick

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating tenure in theaters, and continues to surprise the generations of fans out there. While Warner Bros.' shared universe has hit its stride with blockbusters like Aquaman and Shazam!, there's been some interesting developments when it comes to the handling of the Caped Crusader.

Ben Affleck has officially retired from playing Bruce Wayne/ Batman, and Twilight alum Robert Pattinson recently landed the role for Matt Reeves' The Batman. It's a casting decision that has resulted in the full gamut of emotions from DC fans, but it appears that the casting process was actually quite quick-- especially for such an iconic superhero role.

According to THR, who has an insider on production for The Batman, Robert Pattinson's audition and eventual landing of the role was much quicker than usual. This makes a great deal of sense, as there's a ton of pressure in casting superheroes for the big screen. Marvel Studios famously saw tons of actors for Spider-Man, before landing on Tom Holland as the iconic web crawler.

Since Batman is perhaps the most popular DC character in history, one would expect Warner Bros. and The Batman's Matt Reeves to take their time finding the right actor to don the cape and cowl. But rumors about Robert Pattinson were followed quickly with an official confirmation by the director, so it seems like a pretty brief process from the outside. And this new report confirms that Gotham's Knight was found quickly.

Conversation about who might replace Ben Affleck as Batman in the DCEU began before he even dropped out of the role. After he backed away from both directing and starring in The Batman, it was clear that Matt Reeves was going to need to find new talent to make the developing blockbuster a reality. And Robert Pattinson reportedly wasn't the only actor considered for the role.

Related: Why Now Is The Best Time For Robert Pattinson's Batman

After the first rumors about Robert Pattinson's possible tenure as Batman hit the internet, it was also reported that X-Men actor Nicholas Hoult was Pattinson's main competition. They both reportedly tested for the role, with the Twilight alum winning out, and officially replacing Ben Affleck as the next live-action Bruce Wayne.

This breakneck pace might be in an attempt to get The Batman out in theaters at its current release date. The movie has been developing for quite some time, and it's set to arrive in theaters on June 25th, 2021. Matt Reeves will need to start assembling the cast and crew in order to make this a reality, as the script has been the main focus of the film's long gestation period.

With Robert Pattinson officially attached as Batman, it should be interesting to see what other actors join him. Quite a few performers have been campaigning to play some of Batman's rogues, including Josh Gad and Vanessa Hudgens. We'll just have to see if the movie ends up being the villain-heavy ensemble project that was rumored months sago.

The Batman will arrive in theaters on June 25th, 2021. The next installment in the DCEU is Birds of Prey on February 7th 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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

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

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

The '90s

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

Billy Madison

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

Happy Gilmore

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

The Wedding Singer

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

The Waterboy

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

Big Daddy

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

The 2000s

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

Mr. Deeds

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

50 First Dates

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

Click

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

The More Dramatic Movies

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

Punch-Drunk Love

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

Reign Over Me

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

The Animated Work

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

Eight Crazy Nights

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

Hotel Transylvania

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

Netflix Movies

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

The Meyerowitz Stories

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

The Do-Over

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

The Underrated Projects

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

Bulletproof

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

Little Nicky

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

Anger Management

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

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

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Toy Story 4 Will Feature A Don Rickles Tribute

Toy Story 4 Will Feature A Don Rickles Tribute

In April 2017, Don Rickles, who voiced Mr. Potato Head for the Toy Story franchise, passed away. Rather than recast the role for Toy Story 4 since recording had not begun when Rickles died, it was announced earlier this year that he will still serve as the voice of Mr. Potato Head thanks to archived audio. It’s also been revealed that the next Pixar movie will feature a tribute to the stand-up comedian. In director Josh Cooley’s words:

Yes we're gonna have a tribute to him. We, you know we went through everything that could possibly, he's recorded so we went through all the past films, all the shorts, all the video games, all the theme park stuff, all the ice- capades all the toys. He's done a lot over the past 25 years. And you know he did sign on to be on this film before he passed and so we're very honored for that and we're also very honored that his family asked us to see if can create a performance.

CinemaBlend’s own Dirk Libbey visited Pixar Animation Studios to learn more about Toy Story 4, and Don Rickle’s presence in the movie was among the topics discussed. Considering that Mr. Potato Head is one of the main supporting characters in the Toy Story franchise, as well as the fact that these movies introduced Rickles to an entire generation, and it’s incredibly fitting that Toy Story 4 will pay tribute to the man.

Aside from Don Rickle’s voice being featured in Toy Story 4, it will be interesting to see how the folks at Pixar honored him for the movie. I can easily imagine a short message being displayed onscreen either before or after the credits roll, but perhaps there will be a more unique way that the tribute unfolds. In any case, since it looks like Toy Story 4 could really be the end of this film series, it’s all the more appropriate that Rickles is properly commemorated here.

This isn’t the first time the Toy Story franchise has had to deal with the loss of a main cast member. In 2000, only a few months after Toy Story 2’s release, Jim Varney, the original voice of Slinky Dog, passed away. When it came time to record Toy Story 3, Blake Clark was tapped as Varney’s successor. But in Mr. Potato Head’s case, there was so much audio from a variety of projects that recasting the character for Toy Story 4 wasn’t necessary.

Along with Don Rickles, Toy Story 4 will feature old favorites like Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger and Annie Potts all reprising their respective roles. The new cast members include Tony Hale, Jordan Peele, Keegan Michael-Key, Christina Hendricks and Keanu Reeves.

Toy Story 4 hits theaters on June 21, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release schedule to learn what other major motion pictures are opening later this year.

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