Sonic The Hedgehog’s Director Promises That Design Changes Are Coming

Sonic The Hedgehog’s Director Promises That Design Changes Are Coming

Two days ago, the first trailer for the Sonic the Hedgehog movie was released, and the reception has… not been stellar, to put it lightly. Most of the backlash has been directed towards Sonic himself, as the Ben Schwartz-voiced version of the Sega character looks radically different than how he’s been traditionally depicted.

Well, don’t let it be said that fan complaints have never resulted in a movie being changed. Sonic the Hedgehog director Jeff Fowler has seen and heard the negative reactions towards the upcoming video game movie, and he’s promised that improvements are on the way. Here’s what Fowler announced to the world:

While I’m usually not a fan of audiences having a say in how an upcoming movie should look or flow, it is rather refreshing to see a creative mind recognize criticism and, rather than continue on full-stream ahead with the original plan, is willing to make adjustments. For Sonic the Hedgehog, one would think that things can only improve from here, although hopefully this doesn’t result in a slippery slope where filmmakers are caving to the demands of the public more often.

It was always going to be a difficult creative endeavor adapting the cartoonish Sonic into a CGI character who looks like he belongs in the “real world,” but it’s safe to say that most people are not digging his humanoid look for the upcoming movie. His human teeth are especially unsettling, but at least Ben Schwartz’s voice is still a good fit for the super fast extraterrestrial rodent.

There’s only six months to go until Sonic the Hedgehog’s release, so it will be interesting to see how much the eponymous character’s design can be changed in that time. It’s doubtful this will be a total overhaul, otherwise the movie would likely need to be pushed back. Ideally whenever the next Sonic the Hedgehog trailer drops, some, if not all of these changes will be noticeable.

If Jeff Fowler and his team are looking for inspiration on how to improve Sonic the Hedgehog’s design, there’s no shortage of fan creations to be found online. For example, here’s one from Twitter user Edward Pun that’s making the rounds:

For his first movie, Sonic finds himself on Earth trying to collect his rings (just like in the video games), evade being captured by the U.S. government and defeat the maniacal Dr. Ivo Robotnik, a.k.a. Dr. Eggman, played by Jim Carrey. Sonic will be aided by James Marsden’s Tom Wachowski, a former officer from the San Francisco Police Department who is now Sheriff of Green Hills, Montana. The movie’s cast also includes Tika Sumpter, Adam Pally and Neal McDonough.

Sonic the Hedgehog races into theaters on November 8, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. As for what else is coming out this year, check out our 2019 release schedule.

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Chris Hemsworth Is Definitely Interested In Making Thor An Asgardian Of The Galaxy

Chris Hemsworth Is Definitely Interested In Making Thor An Asgardian Of The Galaxy

While Joe and Anthony Russo’s Avengers: Endgame provided fantastic endings for characters like Iron Man and Captain America, Chris Hemsworth’s Thor was left in a much different position by the end of the film – specifically with a new beginning. His entire life had previously been dedicated to the protection of his homeworld, Asgard, and his people, the Asgardians, but the latest Marvel blockbuster offered him the opportunity to leave that life behind and start a new one.

This was allowed to happen particularly because of his new friendship with the Guardians of the Galaxy, who offered him a ride off the planet after the God of Thunder named Valkyrie as the new King of Asgard, but it also left fans with a major pressing question: will Thor be joining the roughneck team on their further adventures around the cosmos? The definitive answer is still uncertain, but what can be confirmed is that it’s a big screen future in which Chris Hemsworth is interested.

Earlier today I had the wonderful pleasure of sitting down with the Australian actor during the London press day for the upcoming Men In Black International, and at the end of the interview I took the opportunity to ask him about his potential future with Marvel Studios. Specifically, I inquired if he’s had the opportunity to sit down and talk with writer/director James Gunn, who is back at the helm of Guardians of the Galaxy 3, and while Hemsworth noted that he hasn’t had any conversations with the filmmaker, it’s a project to which he’d love to contribute:

I'd play that character again. I love it so much - especially if there's something unique to do again with it. I felt like the last three films were very, very different each time. It really felt like a totally different character. And I don't even know when or if they're shooting [Guardians of the Galaxy 3]. After the Avengers press tour I kind of went and buried my head in the sand.

I followed up with my own personal feelings on the matter, noting that the idea of “Asgardians Of The Galaxy” is a fantastic setup for a another chapter in Thor’s story, and Chris Hemsworth definitely agreed, saying:

I'll work with any of those guys. Asgardians Of The Galaxy. That's actually great. You might've just got me my next job. Thank you, man.

It's worth noting that the concept of Asgardians of the Galaxy does have precedent in the world of Marvel, even on beyond the line delivered by Chris Hemsworth's Thor at the end of Avengers: Endgame. Marvel Comics launched an ongoing series with that title back in the fall of 2018 - though its lineup was very different than what the movie version would be. While the big screen team would presumably include Thor, Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Nebula, Mantis, and Groot, the series created by Cullen Bunn and Matteo Lolli had a roster including Valkyrie, Executioner, Throg, Angela, Thunderstrike, and The Destroyer - controlled by Kid Loki.

Of course, this would be far from the first time that Marvel has taken a concept from the page and totally changed it for the movies – with James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy being a perfect example.

With James Gunn currently working in the DC Extended Universe, namely preparing Suicide Squad 2/The Suicide Squad for release in 2021, it may be a minute before we start hearing firm details about Guardians of the Galaxy 3, but Chris Hemsworth’s excitement about his potential involvement only increases our own anticipation for the film. Stay tuned for more updates about the movie, and more from my interview with the actor in the run-up to the release of Men In Black International – which hits theaters on June 14th!

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Shazam's DVD Release Should Have A Ton Of Extra Footage That Was Cut From The Movie

Shazam's DVD Release Should Have A Ton Of Extra Footage That Was Cut From The Movie

Warning: Shazam! SPOILERS are ahead!

Not everything shot for a movie is going to make it into the final cut, but thanks to DVDs, Blu-rays and digital purchases, people can oftentimes watch some, if not most of a production’s deleted scenes. Shazam! will be no exception, because according to Michel Aller, the editor of the sixth DC Extended Universe movie, the home release of Billy Batson’s origin story will be packed with a lot of deleted scenes, including potentially one involving Asher Angel’s Billy and Grace Fulton’s Mary Bromfield. Aller explained:

We had a lot of material. When you buy the DVD, you’ll be able to see, I think we have 20-24 minutes of deleted scenes. And one of the scenes that regretfully we had to pull out was a scene between young Billy and Mary, when he’s about to sneak out. It’s just a really touching scene, but it came so early in the movie, and we were trying to get to get to the Shazam character, that we couldn’t put everything that we liked at the front of the movie. So that was one scene that we pulled out. I’m glad there are DVDs out there so we can show these great scenes.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Michel Aller about Shazam!, and among the topics we discussed was just how much material was cut out of the finished movie. Sure enough, like many other superhero movies before it, Shazam! will have a solid amount of deleted scenes as part of its special feature offerings, and it appear that like there’s a good chance this scene between Billy and Mary will be among them.

Billy Batson and Mary Bromfield have always been siblings in the comics, but as opposed to going the biological route as was the case for decades, the Shazam! movie pulled from Shazam’s New 52 origin story and had her, Freddy Freeman, Eugene Choi, Darla Dudley and Pedro Pena be Billy’s adoptive siblings at the Vasquez household. While Shazam! spent a decent amount of time introducing these new people in Billy’s life, it also had to move relatively quickly to actually bring in Billy’s Shazam persona, and whatever moment Billy and Mary had before the former began his superhero journey ended up on the cutting room floor.

While we didn’t get to see Mary confront Billy as he snuck out during his first night with his new family, Shazam! did still give us a touching moment between the two, albeit with Zachary Levi playing Billy instead, when Shazam saved her from being hit by a truck and tried to console her because she was upset about potentially having to leave her family behind to attend college. And, of course, in the climactic battle, Mary and the other kids were able to also become adult superheroes when Billy shared his power with them.

We’ll have to wait to learn if the Billy/Mary scene will indeed be included on the Shazam! home media release, but another deleted scene Michel Aller expects to be shown is how Sivana originally unleashed the power of the Seven Deadly Sins. Originally he went on his murder spree at a Christmas party being held at his mansion, but during the Shazam! reshoots, the location was changed to a boardroom at Sivana industries. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more information on Shazam! deleted scenes.

Shazam! is still playing in theaters, and if you haven’t already, be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of the movie. You can also plan your moviegoing visits later this year accordingly by checking out our 2019 release schedule.

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Willem Dafoe Has A Great Take On Robert Pattinson As Batman

Willem Dafoe Has A Great Take On Robert Pattinson As Batman

What does it take to play Batman? Early word has Robert Pattinson cast as the younger Caped Crusader for Matt Reeves' The Batman. While that hasn't been confirmed, it also hasn't stopped movie fans from commenting on Pattinson's merits. Most of the conversation has followed his acting in various films, with detractors often (but not always) mentioning Twilight, and his supporters pointing out the many other roles he's played.

But what about his physical features? To Willem Dafoe, Robert Pattinson has the key attribute on that front.

Right now, Robert Pattison is co-starring with Willem Dafoe in The Lighthouse, a black-and-white horror film that just opened to raves and awards at the Cannes Film Festival. While Dafoe was interviewed about the movie, he was asked to react to the idea of Pattinson as the new Batman. Here's Dafoe's take:

Listen, sure, why not? Why not? He's got a strong chin. That's a part of it. Can you imagine anyone with a weak chin ever playing Batman? I don't think so!

Sold! But seriously, is that the main criteria to be a good Batman -- a strong chin?

Looking back at past Batmans from Adam West and Michael Keaton to Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, and Ben Affleck -- they do seem to have good chins. A certain jawline does seem to be required, since the cowl covers everything but your mouth and chin. I would also argue that the Batman voice is essential. I'm not down for an overly growly Batman voice, if the actor does not naturally have a voice that low. Don't force it or you sound cartoonish.

Speaking of Willem Dafoe, though, the man knows from superhero movies. He's a great example for Robert Pattinson in how to balance indie films like The Lighthouse and superhero movies like Spider-Man (Norman Osborn) and Aquaman (Vulko).

During the rest of his talk with Variety, Willem Dafoe mentioned that he and "Rob" Pattinson work and rehearse very differently, which may have led to some creative tension on The Lighthouse set. No personal tension, he emphasized, but they didn't hang out or anything.

The Lighthouse sounds like it was an intense shoot in general, and Robert Pattinson said he came the closest he ever had to punching a director when filming a particularly drenching scene. Pattinson seems to approach his roles with a lot of intensity, and that should help if he does end up playing Bruce Wayne in The Batman.

So far, The Lighthouse has earned rave reviews, with a current rating of 100% from 31 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. There's no release date yet, beyond the recent Cannes premiere, but it's another intriguing project for Robert Pattinson's eclectic filmography, which may or may not also include The Batman in 2021.

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Captain Marvel’s Powers Explained

Captain Marvel’s Powers Explained

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Captain Marvel are ahead!

We’ve met a lot of superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, each with their own unique powers and/or skill set. This weekend marks the introduction of one of the mightiest yet: Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel. Teased last year at the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Carol is being primed to be one of the new leading protagonists in the MCU going forward, and the Captain Marvel movie turns the clock back to 1995 to tell her origin story. Lest you think that’s the last we’ll see of her this year, Carol will be return at the end of April to help out the surviving Avengers in Avengers: Endgame.

Captain Marvel is a heavy hitter in the Marvel Comics universe, and for years it’s been promised that she’ll be incredibly powerful; perhaps the most powerful of the Marvel protagonists. But what exactly are Carol Danvers’ powers? What is she able to do after absorbing the Tesseract’s energy and being turned into a human/Kree hybrid that makes her such a formidable opponent and a key ally in the upcoming rematch with Thanos? Let’s go over the special abilities she shows off in the Captain Marvel movie to get the full scope of what she’s capable of (and no, traveling through time is not one of those things).

Super Strength

When Carol Danvers was brought back to the Kree homeworld Hala after the Light-Speed engine was destroyed, she was given a transfusion of Yon-Rogg’s blood. As a result, Carol, a.k.a. Vers during her amnesiac days, has the enhanced physiology that all Kree have, thus making her faster, more durable and agile than your average human. However, perhaps the biggest advantage of having Kree DNA is the super strength. Even before her powers kicked up several notches in Captain Marvel’s climax, Carol was throwing punches that would send opponents flying across the room and bent a steel bar around some door handles to delay some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from capturing her and Nick Fury. Even when her hands were handcuffed so she couldn’t use her energy powers (more on that soon), Carol managed to fight off a squad of Skrulls.

After her powers kicked up several notches, Carol’s strength increased far past what you’d expect from a normal Kree, allowing her to stop one of the missiles Ronan the Accuser launched at Earth and send it back to the other missiles. But even that strength boost is just the tip of the iceberg, as Brie Larson said last year that Carol is able to move planets, a feat only Thanos has previously been able to accomplish with the help of some Infinity Stones. Someone’s clearly been eating their Wheaties.

Energy Manipulation

Manipulating energy is definitely the most visual of Carol Danvers’ powers, although she was led to believe during her time as Vers that this ability was a gift from the Supreme Intelligence, and one that could be taken away. This placed limits on Carol was initially able to do with this gift, but she nonetheless put it to good use, mainly through the use of photon blasts, which she could either use as projecting force or to enhance her already impressive strength. Carol was also able to generate enough energy to melt through steel doors and walls, as well those Skrull power-dampening cuffs after several minutes of effort.

When Carol’s memories returned and she learned that her energy powers actually came from absorbing the energy emitted from the Tesseract when she blew up the light-speed engine on Earth, that was just the key to awakening her full potential. After destroying the device on her neck that had actually been inhibiting these powers rather than giving them to her, Carol’s photon blasts were powerful enough to easily knock down numerous Starforce operatives and once and shoot down several Kree ships. This cosmic energy Carol can unleash is arguably what distinguishes her most from the other Marvel heroes, and it could be the key to finally defeating Thanos, particularly since, just as was the case with Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, this power came from an Infinity Stone.

Flight

Originally, like any other normal human and Kree, Carol Danvers was earth-bound. When the escape ship she used to get off the exploding Skrull ship in the beginning portion of Captain Marvel was destroyed, she helplessly fell to Earth, and it’s only because of her Kree physiology and whatever energy reserves she could draw on that she survived that crash into the Blockbuster store. She also had to travel with Nick Fury, Talos, Maria Rambeau and Goose to reach Mar-Vell’s hidden base aboard that enhanced aircraft. But once that Kree inhibitor device was gone, Carol was given free reign to the sky and space.

During Captain Marvel’s climactic conflict, once again, Carol found herself crashing to Earth, but at the last minute, she stopped her fall and began floating. From there, it was easy enough for her to fly back into space to stop the Kree attack on Earth. But Carol’s isn’t just flying at ‘normal’ speed; as a result of her cosmic powers fully awakening, Carol can now fly at the speed of light, as she accompanied the Skrull refugees on their journey to find a new home. Mar-Vell indirectly succeeded in creating light-speed travel, it just wasn’t a ship that received that capability, it was a person.

Longer Life Span

I’ve already discussed how durable Carol Danvers is after becoming a human/Kree hybrid, and this enhanced physiology also means she heals faster from the wounds she does receive. That said, Carol also now ages more slowly compared to the average human. This was shown in Captain Marvel’s mid-credits scene when she suddenly appeared at the New Avengers base after Nick Fury’s pager was activated and she looked exactly the same as she did over two decades ago.

Most aliens in the MCU have much longer lifespans than humans, and now we can count Carol among them. Similar to when Steve Rogers was awakened after almost 70 years on ice, it will be interesting to see Carol back on Earth both reuniting with people from her past who are now much older and acclimating to how times have changed since she was last home, although I doubt this will be explored in-depth during Avengers: Endgame since that movie has a lot on its plate. Unlike Steve, though, if the MCU ever decides to release a movie set decades or even centuries in the future, there’s the potential for Carol to appear and either still look the same or only slightly older. She may not live as long as someone like Thor, but Carol could continue leaving a big impact on this superhero universe when most of the other heroes around now have passed.

Be sure to read CinemaBlend’s review of Captain Marvel and stay tuned for more updates on Carol Danvers’ future. As for what else is coming down the MCU pipeline, look through our handy guide for that information.

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Why Avengers: Endgame Made Tilda Swinton Reshoot Everything A Year Later

Why Avengers: Endgame Made Tilda Swinton Reshoot Everything A Year Later

Time travel is of massive importance to Avengers: Endgame, but it's not always an easy thing to explain. To help lay down the rules of the MCU's version of time travel, Tilda Swinton reprises her role as the Ancient One. She explains the damaging effects of messing with time to Bruce Banner, but apparently, this scene changed a bit over the course of filmmaking. Swinton recently revealed that she was called in to reshoot the scene a year after she originally filmed it.

In their journey to collect the Infinity Stones from across space and time, the Avengers travel to New York City during the events of The Avengers in 2012. Smart Hulk goes to the Sanctum Sanctorum and confronts the Ancient One to get the Time Stone.

This scene provided some vital exposition on the rules of time travel in the film, but apparently the filmmakers didn't quite nail it on the first try. Speaking about her surprise cameo, Swinton told IndieWire that she had to film the scene twice with a one year in between.

It was a surprise to me, too! And it was a pleasure. But what was a real surprise was, we shot it one summer day, and then over a year later, I went back to reshoot it because a couple of lines had been changed, a couple of plot points had been changed. And there was a tweaking of my costume.

Specifically, the changes were a "plot thing" revolving around some key information that the Ancient One delivers to Bruce Banner, Tilda Swinton said. The Ancient One needed to explain what happens to the timeline when an Infinity Stone is removed, and how it creates a dark branched reality, while utilizing some nice visual representation with her magic.

The scene helps to set the stakes for the Avengers, who are not only risking their own lives, but the lives of an infinite amount of people across multiple realities. If they don't bring the stones back to precisely the point that they were taken, then that timeline will splinter off with some nasty consequences.

The time travel elements of the film have been a subject of debate amongst fans, as no one can really quite agree on how it all works. I would argue that the rules of time travel aren't necessarily important in this film as they are just a gateway to have some fun, but it's tough to picture how much more confusing everything would have been had they not reshot that Ancient One scene.

Are you still interested in seeing Avengers: Endgame? Well, it's still in theaters, so go check it out if you aren't super interested in seeing Aladdin instead. For all other movies in theaters, here's our 2019 movie release guide.

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Josh Brolin Just Shared A Ridiculous Story About Getting In Trouble For Spoiling Dune

Josh Brolin Just Shared A Ridiculous Story About Getting In Trouble For Spoiling Dune

Nobody likes to have a movie spoiled for them before it comes out, but studios have become incredibly afraid of details of new movies being leaked early on. While this is certainly understandable, it's possible it's all getting slightly out of hand, as Josh Brolin recently got in trouble for "spoiling" some details about the shooting location for the new version of Dune. He let people know he was in the desert.

Josh Brolin recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live as part of the promotion of Avengers: Endgame but talk eventually shifted to one of Brolin's upcoming movies, Denis Villenueve's remake of Dune. During one of Brolin's off days from the production, he posted some video of himself in Jordan, enjoying the impressive and vast desert scenery...

So, I was in Jordan and we were in the sand and I was on a little vacation, I had a few days off. I went around… anyway, I put it on my Stories and I had never done that before. I was apparently bored even though it was kind of historically amazing. So I was filming myself—which I don’t understand. I was in the middle of nowhere and there was internet! That was the first weird thing.

The clip in question appears to be the one below, which Josh Brolin filmed from the back of a camel.

While the video seems pretty innocuous, apparently it upset some people at the studio. Josh Brolin tells Jimmy Kimmel that he then got a call telling him that he was violating social media guidelines by revealing information about where Dune was filming, something which struck him as odd considering the movie is called Dune. According to Brolin...

Then I did this whole Story on it and then someone called me eventually and they said, ‘Hey listen, we have guidelines.’ That’s a word I don’t deal with very well. They said, ‘We have guidelines, there’s been some red flags. So, I had a conversation; I just didn’t deal with it very well. It was like, Jason Momoa doing Aquaman and telling him when he’s off he can’t take a picture of himself in water anywhere else. I was like, ‘It’s sand! It’s called Dune. Everybody knows.'

It's completely understandable that studios would want to keep details of movies secret. There's a feeling, regardless of how true, that if people know too much about a movie before it comes out they're less likely to see it. Of course, in the case of Dune, there's an entire novel that will basically give away the whole story right now.

On top of that, It's not like Josh Brolin was taking pictures of the actual set. He took pictures of sand. As he says, it's in the title, nobody should be all that shocked.

Brolin then took to Instagram again following his conversation and shared more pictures of sand. This might be the part where he says he didn't deal with it very well. He's clearly angry about the whole thing.

It does seem like getting mad at Josh Brolin for pictures of sand was more than a little over the top. Dune is one of those stories that one would think most people have a basic understanding of even if they've never read the book or seen the David Lynch movie. Knowing that the movie filmed in Jordan doesn't really tell anybody anything by itself.

Having social media guidelines is great, but implementing them with some logic wouldn't hurt. Even if Brolin technically violated them, this seems like the sort of thing you can just let go. Also, he's Josh Brolin.

Check out Josh Brolin's complete comments on Jimmy Kimmel Live in the clip below.

Denis Villenueve's Dune, which will follow the first half of the original Frank Herbert novel, is set for release in November 2020.

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Why Shazam! Works So Well As A Crowdpleaser, According To The Cast

Why Shazam! Works So Well As A Crowdpleaser, According To The Cast

The DC Comics brand of films has been on the mend, with its most recent efforts in the world of comic adaptations gaining a lot of attention and affection from fans. That trend looks like it’s continuing with the theatrical release of Shazam! set to take the public by storm this weekend, with early reactions trending in the film’s favor. Even the cast of the film knows how latest DC adaptation that makes it a bona fide crowd pleaser, and they weren’t afraid to share their thoughts. While the answers may differ slightly, all roads lead to two key elements; fun and heart.

During the recent press day for the film, CinemaBlend got to sit down with the cast of Shazam! to discuss how this superpowered adventure gives the people what they want. And starting off with Dr. Silvana himself, the always solid Mark Strong, the film’s appeal is very easy to see. In particular, Strong pointed out the following elements that really brought the film together:

It’s just so irreverent, and so much fun. The notion now that we’ve seen a lot of superhero movies in which the superheroes are really capable, and now suddenly we see one who has no idea how to use his powers, is really funny. So I think people will enjoy the humor of that. I hope they also then enjoy, conversely, quite how dark and weird and creepy the bad guy story is as well. And then, of course, there’s the family theme at the heart of it all; which is quite moving, I think.

Mark Strong is certainly not new to the DC Comics rodeo, as his performance in Green Lantern with Ryan Reynolds introduced him as Sinestro, the would-be baddie of that corner of the DC universe. So seeing his thoughts on how Shazam! works as a film come from not only a place of experience, but also of genuinely constructive criticism.

Also, Mark Strong nails it on the head when he mentions the fact that director David F. Sandberg’s film is a great mixture of the fun and the family, with a nice sprinkling of the scary on top. Which also works, considering a big part of the demographic for Shazam! just happens to be kids and teenagers who will be flocking to their local theaters this weekend to partake in the joys this film has to offer.

It helps that there were some kids on hand during the Shazam! press day that could confirm those thoughts are, in fact accurate. With Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer on hand for the festivities, we also got to speak to them about what audiences should expect when seeing Warner Bros’ new comic book movie. And judging by their reaction, and the quotes below, fun is a huge part of the crowd-pleasing energy Shazam! has going for it:

Grazer: ‘They should expect some noise, some laughter, some constant applause because this movie is so damned good. It’s really really fun. When we went to the movie theater to watch it with the fans, they were all over the place. They were ecstatic, they were laughing…’

Angel: ‘They were jumping up and down in their seats.’

Grazer: ‘...on their toes. Yeah, it was great.’

As they were answering the question as to what makes Shazam! such a crowdpleaser, there was this current of energy that filled the room. Both being young, up-and-coming actors, Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer are clearly excited to see this movie about to take off. It sounds like they had a lot of fun watching it with a crowd during one of the several public screenings that have been conducted to really hype up the movie.

But, of course, how can you talk about Shazam! without roping in the man in the suit himself: certified crowdpleaser Zachary Levi. When it came his turn to answer the question of just what makes his big superhero debut in the DC universe something you can watch in a theater, surrounded by fans of the source material, he knew exactly what makes this film work in front of a crowd. The first part of Levi’s answer went as follows:

The everything. It’s got everything, guys. It’s wish fulfillment on the purest level. It’s the little kid in all of us who’s always dreamt about being a superhero, and now can say a magic word and become a superhero. That’s like the most cool, iconic archetype of the hero story I can think of. Plus, it’s layered with so much heart, and so much fun and [it’s] funny. I mean, there’s so much comedy, and some creepy stuff as well, you know.

The fun that shines through in Shazam! is undeniable, and you can literally see it on Zachary Levi’s face, throughout our interview and other venues during the film’s press tour. But the best part is, the fun that went into making the film as thrilling as it turned out to be in the finished product certainly doesn’t betray the message it’s trying to put across.

That fact isn’t lost on Zachary Levi either, as when he continued to answer the question of what makes Shazam! a singular experience as a film, he hit on a couple of points closer to the emotional heart of the film, which find themselves integrated rather well alongside the more spectacular elements. Levi continued by mentioning the following:

I think a lot of people will see themselves represented on screen, particularly people that might not feel as represented on screen, and I think that’s really beautiful. The family dynamic speaks to a lot. We get to tell a story about foster kids. There are 450,000, or so, kids in the United States right now in the foster system, and I love that they have themselves to look up to. To be empowered by, to shine that light, even in a small way, is a very powerful thing.

The DC Comics film franchise has come a long way from the days of people debating its depiction of Superman, as well as the question of whether or not the series on the whole really understood the comics to begin with. Shazam! definitely proves itself to be a course correction in line with the whimsy of Aquaman and the empowerment of Wonder Woman, and it’s going to be particularly interesting seeing the public reaction to the film as it opens wide. In the meantime, check out the reactions of the cast of Shazam!, in regards to their own film, in the clip from our interview shown below.

Shazam! says the magic word on April 5th; but if you’re curious about what’s coming down the pike after you’ve enjoyed this magic powered romp, you can take a look at the 2019 release schedule and choose your next adventure accordingly!

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That James Wan Produced Mortal Kombat Movie Is Really Happening

That James Wan Produced Mortal Kombat Movie Is Really Happening

Not too long ago, a new Mortal Kombat reboot was announced that would bring the franchise into theaters once again. As New Line Cinema is still the force of studio nature that will be making the film, and James Wan is producing the film with his steady hands of action and horror, fans have undoubtedly been excited for things to get going on the film’s production.

But even with the initial whisperings surrounding the project, the consensus was it wasn’t going to happen for a while. Well, the wait is closer to being over, as Mortal Kombat just rang the bell on pre-production, putting the film in the process of making its move for big screen glory.

The project’s status update came from an announcement made by several South Australian government officials, including premier Steven Marshall. Mortal Kombat is a huge prospect for the region’s film industry, and one that producer James Wan is happy to see being brought to life in the country where he made his last huge hit, Aquaman.

What’s even more interesting about this new Mortal Kombat movie is its choice in directing talent. Making his feature film debut, and still signed on after almost two years of development hell, is Australian director Simon McQuoid, who up until now has been known for his commercial work. However, looking at his resume in that field, one can see how and why he got the gig.

Having directed commercials for such franchises as Halo and Call of Duty, as well as ads for Playstation and Duracell, McQuoid has shown a slick visual flare that just happens to pair well with geek friendly properties. Especially when that Duracell ad just happened to be one that saw Star Wars, and the power of imagination, in the middle of the action.

With Simon McQuoid’s resume boasting such material, it cannot be stated enough that Mortal Kombat is a good fit for the man’s talents. What's also interesting is that thanks to the details that Variety has reported on the project, it sounds like the film will be the largest to ever shoot in South Australia when it finally kicks into high gear.

Unfortunately, the good news of Mortal Kombat’s pre-production start within the month comes with some uncertainty about what the film’s story will cover. Previously, there were two different concepts being talked about: one in which a brand new character would be created for the story to follow, and one in which we’d see the return of Christopher Lambert’s Raiden, as well as some dimensional portal hopping. Seeing as the former draft has been searching for a 14-year-old to play the thunder god of the Mortal Kombat realm, it doesn’t seem likely these two concepts will be folded together.

Still, in a world where Pokemon has drawn successfully from the nostalgia well, Mortal Kombat seems primed to deliver a very similar result. And if the world building holds up as well as Pokemon: Detective Pikachu's did, there's no telling where the world of this gruesome action spectacle might go with the public.

While Mortal Kombat may not have a release date to speak of, that doesn’t mean the theaters are empty. Head over to our 2019 release schedule, and see what’s waiting for your hard earned movie money today!

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4 Shots In The Avengers: Endgame Trailer That Will Break Your Heart

4 Shots In The Avengers: Endgame Trailer That Will Break Your Heart

Tension and stakes within The Marvel Cinematic Universe are at an all-time high, with Avengers: Endgame finally arriving in theaters in a matter of weeks. 21 movies and ten years of filmmaking will come to a head in the blockbuster, picking up the narrative after the heartbreaking twist ending of Infinity War. Josh Brolin's Thanos succeeded in wiping out half of all life in the galaxy, and the survivors and moviegoers alike are eager to get back into the fray after the year-long wait between installments.

Endgame is nearly upon us, and Marvel Studios has been methodically revealing footage ahead of the film's upcoming release. While still keepings clips short and the movie's contents a mystery, the trailers show how dark things have gotten since The Decimation. A new trailer hit today as pre-sale tickets became available, and it had some seriously heartbreaking shots for the fandom. Here's my picks for the top 4.

Tony And Pepper Reunite

If there's one love story that has been the MCU's signature coupling, it's Tony Stark and Pepper Potts. Starting back with 2007's Iron Man, it was clear that the character had emotional feelings for his assistant, and moviegoers watched their relationship ebb and flow over the last ten years. The two got back together around the time of Spider-Man: Homecoming, and were revealed to be engaged in Infinity War. But The Decimation left Iron Man stranded on Titan with Nebula, and it was unclear if/how he'd return home.

But Pepper and Tony will reunite in Endgame, after he somehow ends up back on Earth. This shot may cut down fan theories that Pepper would suit up and save Tony herself, taking on the mantle of Rescue in the process. Fans will still be hoping that Pepper suits up sometime during the events of Endgame, as she's been known to kick ass and kill villains in the past. And considering how dire things are in the MCU after The Decimation, it doesn't seem out of the question that she might get into the action, one way or another. Gwyneth Paltrow was given her own character poster for Endgame, so we should expect Pepper to have more to do than her last few appearances.

Regardless, it's great to see Tony and Pepper back together. Let's just hope they both survive the upcoming rematch with Thanos.

Rocket And Nebula Connect

The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is unique to the rest of the MCU, with zany characters and over-the-top comedy. But the motley crew have darkness and trauma they're grappling with as well. The Guardians were hit hard by Thanos' assault in Infinity War, starting with Thanos' murder of Gamora to acquire the Soul Stone. And once the snap happened, audiences were left to watch in horror as Mantis, Drax, Star-Lord, and Groot all faded to dust.

Nebula and Rocket are the sole survivors of the Guardians, and are arguably the most damaged members of the crew. While they didn't share scenes in Infinity War, that should change with the upcoming blockbuster. The new Endgame trailer showed the two characters connecting in their grief, with Rocket taking Nebula's hand in a rare moment of empathy. The loss of Gamora and Groot should be hitting them both hard, so perhaps the two biggest outcasts in the Guardians franchise will share a deep connection in the upcoming threequel.

Of course, we're still not sure how Gamora actually gets to Earth, as she's stranded with Tony Stark in space following the Battle on Titan. Could Rocket be the one who rescues them, thanks to his pre-existing relationship with both the ship and Nebula? Fans are eager to know how that rescue mission is completed, and Rocket does have the most experience in space.

Tony Mourning Peter Parker

Thanos' finger snap of death was an iconic and emotionally devastating scene, as countless characters perished before our eyes. But there was one death that took the cake for the most heartbreaking: Tom Holland's Peter Parker. Spider-Man became an official Avenger during Infinity War, and joined Iron Man and Doctor Strange on their journey to Titan. His spider-sense caught onto The Snap before it the dusting began, and he begged for his life to Tony Stark, before apologizing for failing his mentor.

It's a truly gut wrenching scene, and one that highlighted how horrifying The Decimation is. The guilt seems to be weighing hard on Tony during Avengers: Endgame, as he united the survivors to once again battle the Mad Titan. Peter's death will no doubt be a major motivation, and it should be interesting to see if/how he's eventually resurrected ahead of Spider-Man: Far From Home starting Phase Four.

Speaking of Far From Home, there's already been a trailer released for the project, even if Peter is still dust at the moment. Peter will be interacting with Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Happy Hogan in the upcoming blockbuster. But Tony is noticeably missing, leading some to believe Iron Man may perish in Endgame. If that's the case, Spider-Man will be out of a mentor, and the Earth will be out of one of its biggest defenders.

Iron Man and Captain America Reunite

Phase Three of the MCU was kickstarted with Captain America: Civil War, proving how The Russo Brothers could balance a massive cast of iconic heroes. The Sokovia Accords split Earth's Mightiest Heroes, as they took either Cap or Tony's side on the argument. The battle lines were eventually drawn in the epic tarmac battle, while the duo of Avengers had another conflict with Bucky, ending their friendship and the Avengers as we knew it.

Iron Man and Captain America haven't shared any scenes yet, and were stationed on different locations during the conflict with Thanos in Infinity War. But they both survived The Snap, and will have to bury the hatchet in order to unite against Thanos in Endgame. The new trailer shows them doing just that, with Steve telling Tony he trusts him again. Cue the tears.

We'll get context for these shots once Avengers: Endgame arrives in theaters on April 26th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Avengers Writers Reveal The Two Most Difficult Plot Points To Map Out For Infinity War And Endgame

Avengers Writers Reveal The Two Most Difficult Plot Points To Map Out For Infinity War And Endgame

Warning: SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

Although Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame didn’t end up being two halves of the same story, as was originally the plan, the movies were nonetheless closely tied to one another. That meant that writers Christoper Markus and Stephen McFeely had to pen these movies to both stand on their own and still ensure that they flowed smoothly together.

That’s no easy feat, and now that Avengers: Endgame is playing in theaters, Christoper Markus and Stephen McFeely have revealed that it was particularly difficult to map out where the now-infamous Snap and its reversal would be placed over these two movies. Regarding Thanos’ Snap, which occurred at the end of Avengers: Infinity War when the Mad Titan finally obtained the six Infinity Stones, Markus explained:

The biggest point was probably the Snap. And we realized fairly early on that if we didn’t do it at the end of the first movie, the first movie wasn’t going to have an end. And if we did it too early in the first movie, it would be a bit of an anticlimax after you’ve killed half the universe to have them stumbling around for half an hour.

Given that Avengers: Infinity War revolved around Thanos’ quest for the Infinity Stones, to the point that he basically served as the movie’s main character, it was a wise course of action to have him fulfill this goal at the end. It delivered a kind of shocking ending that the MCU has never delivered before, and had Thanos filled all the slots in his Infinity Gauntlet too early, then that would have infringed on Avengers: Endgame’s territory too much.

Instead, because the Snap that wiped out half of all life in the universe wrapped up the insanity that was Avengers: Infinity War, fans had to sit with that for a year, with Ant-Man and the Wasp and Captain Marvel providing no clues about how this genocide would be undone. Which brings us to Avengers: Endgame, which has been breaking box office records left and right.

As was expected, Avengers: Endgame saw those who were dusted in Avengers: Infinity War being brought back to life, and this emotional restoration occurred at the beginning of Endgame’s third act. Regarding how he and his writing partner decided when to have this occur, Stephen McFeely told The New York Times:

Another big plot point is when everyone comes back. So the question is, is it early in the second movie? Late in the second movie? You notice the players left on the board are the O.G. Avengers [Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye], and let’s give them their due. It meant that we were likely going to bring people back late. So that if you were a big fan of Doctor Strange or Black Panther or Bucky [the Winter Soldier] or Sam [the Falcon], you’re only going to get a little brief window on them. It can’t be all things to all people.

Avengers: Endgame picked up a few weeks after Avengers: Infinity War, and although the surviving MCU heroes were eventually able to track down Thanos’ location, the Mad Titan had already used the power of the six Infinity Stones to destroy them, ensuring that his work couldn’t be undone. Beheading Thanos may have been cathartic for Thor, but it didn’t bring his friends back.

Five years later, thanks to Scott Lang’s return, these heroes went on a time heist through the Quantum Realm to retrieve the Infinity Stones at different points in the past, bring them back to 2023 and harness their power for themselves using a nanotech-powered Infinity Gauntlet Tony Stark designed. Hulk put on the Gauntlet, snapped his fingers and undid The Decimation, although it was a while until the un-dusted characters resurfaced to help turn the tide of the battle against past Thanos and his forces.

Although Avengers: Endgame featured some newer heroes like Ant-Man and Captain Marvel, as Stephen McFeely noted, it primarily highlighted the original six of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, who haven’t been all together since Avengers: Age of Ultron. With Endgame serving as the penultimate installment of Phase 3 and the conclusion of the Infinity Saga, it was important that these characters reunite one last time, as it was expected there wouldn’t be another opportunity to do so.

Sure enough, both Iron Man and Black Widow died during Avengers: Endgame, and while the latter has her own standalone movie on the way, given these latest events, the reports about it being a prequel appear right on the money. So while it is intriguing to imagine what it would have looked like if the dusted heroes had returned earlier in Endgame, their late arrival in the final version was warranted.

The Marvel Cameos We Never Expected To See In Avengers: Endgame

Fortunately, it’s not like we won’t be seeing any more of these particular heroes in the coming years. Spider-Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy all have more movies on the way, and it’s a good bet that Captain Marvel and Ant-Man and the Wasp will get follow-ups as well.

Then there are the TV shows being lined up for Disney+, which include Loki, WandaVision, Falcon and Winter Soldier and Hawkeye. Avengers: Endgame arguably set the stage for Falcon and Winter Soldier’s upcoming adventures the best, as an elderly Steve Rogers, who stayed in the past to live his life with Peggy Carter after returning the Infinity Stones to their proper places in time, passed the Captain America mantle onto Falcon, a.k.a. Sam Wilson.

There were a lot of moving pieces to Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and maybe when the latter is released on home media later this year, we’ll get a better idea of what could have been. Still, given the positive critical reception both movies received, it seems like Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely made the right call with plotting out the biggest plot points.

Don’t forget to read CinemaBlend’s review of Avengers: Endgame and keep checking back for more news about the movie. Those of you already looking to the MCU’s future can learn what’s coming up in our handy Marvel movies guide, or you can learn what other movies are opening later this year in our 2019 release schedule.

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Now There Are Petitions To Pull Game Of Thrones Showrunners From Star Wars Movie

Now There Are Petitions To Pull Game Of Thrones Showrunners From Star Wars Movie

You could start a petition to end petitions, but if it's as successful as any of the other recent petitions, I'd say don't bother. Game of Thrones critics launched a petition to remake Season 8 with "competent writers," a clear shot at showrunners/writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss. That petition has more than 1.5 million signatures and counting, even though Game of Thrones is now over and HBO has no intention of remaking anything.

Fans are signing to make the point. And now some of the same fans may be making the same point for Star Wars.

While Game of Thrones' controversial final season was airing, Disney boss Bob Iger confirmed the next Star Wars movie after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker would be from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. That was great news to Rian Johnson critics, but bad news to D&D critics. (Everyone's a critic!)

Since petitions are the new normal -- and more about gathering like-minded people to vent shared frustrations rather than an actual expectation for change -- you can now find several petitions to stop the Game of Thrones showrunners from making the next Star Wars film. Some of the petitions may be competing with each other for attention -- I see at least two over at Change.org, one has nearly 11,000 signatures and the other only 616 so far -- and nobody has picked up viral steam at this point. I was minding my own business when Care2 sent me an email about a fan's new petition specifically to Disney CEO Bob Igner, asking Disney to choose someone else to do the next Star Wars movie. So far, that petition has close to 5,000 signatures.

Most petitions don't get the attention of that Game of Thrones one. Even the one to Disney to rehire James Gunn, which you could consider to be a success even if it didn't play a direct role in his rehiring, didn't have THIS many signatures. You have to admit the timing is a bit awkward for that incredibly popular petition to be followed by the Star Wars movie announcement. Then again, with the GoT showrunners and Rian Johnson in contention for the next Star Wars movie, there was no Option B -- the choice was going to be controversial. At least Rian Johnson critics are happy with the choice of D&D for the next Star Wars movie. They seem to have few major complaints about the final season of Game of Thrones vs. the continued airing of grievances over Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

There's a 0.0% chance fans won't have major criticisms on how Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ends the Skywalker Saga. The more people care about something, the more passionate the pro and con reactions. It's actually kind of amazing there wasn't more criticism for Avengers: Endgame. Not to say fans didn't speak up, and some are still debating the logistics of the time travel elements, but there was no massive backlash. Usually something so popular has a correlating backlash to balance, at least these days, but it's rare and wonderful when the majority of fans are content.

As the sun now stands, we don't know if David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are making all three Star Wars movies that were recently scheduled, or just the first one. It could be those dates are being held for their potential trilogy. Or their movie could still be followed by something from Rian Johnson. Nothing has been confirmed on that front yet, and there's a lot of time for things to move around the schedule.

In the meantime, the first live-action Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, is set to debut on Disney+ in November, followed by Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker in theaters in December. Keep up with all of the Star Wars release dates with our handy guide.

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That Moviepass Competitor Sinemia Is Shutting Down

That Moviepass Competitor Sinemia Is Shutting Down

There was a time, not all that long ago, when it looked like the movie subscription service was the wave of the future. While MoviePass was the first service to grab headlines, they weren't the only game in town, and when MoviePass began to falter, Sinemia came in to try and pick up the pieces by offering an alternative to movie lovers. However, that alternative is now no more as Sinemia has announced they are ceasing operations within the U.S.

MoviePass became the hottest thing at the theater a couple years ago when the price of it's unlimited viewing option dropped to $9.95 a month in price. Subscription numbers went through the roof. However, eventually the users that took advantage of the service to an extreme degree began to be a drain on the service. This led to changes in the plan that ran the gamut from movie blackouts to price increases to limitations on the number of screenings you could view in a given time period.

When that happened, the people who signed up for the original plan began to get upset and Sinemia tried to pick up those customers. While Sinemia did not have the same unlimited plan at the time, it would come later, it did have options, including choices that included 3D and large format screens, something MoviePass didn't offer at the time.

However, as Sinemia began to grow, it began to have growing pains of its own. The service saw outages that frustrated customers and they also dealt with other customers service issues that came from the service's increase in popularity.

More recently, Sinemia was hit on two fronts by a pair of lawsuits, one came from MoviePass and claimed patent infringement. The other came in the form of a class action suit from customers with a litany of complaints including hidden fees and cancellations without refunds.

In a letter posted on Sinemia's homepage, the site admits that the company simply doesn't have the money necessary to both meet increased operations costs and the current legal issues the company is facing.

The U.S. isn't the only country Sinemia currently does business in. You can also use the service in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Turkey, where the company is based. The letter only states that Sinemia is ending U.S. operations, so it's possible the company will continue forward in other countries.

While Sinemia tried to be an alternative to MoviePass, it has now folded and MoviePass, while the company has certainly been through many trials and tribulations itself, still stands.

Many of the major theater chains in the U.S. like AMC and Cinemark have instituted their own subscription system, which largely appear to be successful.

There is clearly consumer interest in the subscription idea, but there are just as clearly some significant hurdles to making it work, at least for third party companies. Where there is interest, you can be sure there will be attempts to capture that market. Will MoviePass, or somebody else, ever figure out how to make money while still giving consumers the value they need?

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Fantastic Four’s Box Office Bomb Contributed To Gambit’s Delays

Fantastic Four’s Box Office Bomb Contributed To Gambit’s Delays

Before superhero movies were everywhere, 20th Century Fox and Bryan Singer brought X-Men to theaters back in the year 2000. That franchise is still going strong today, with Dark Phoenix and The New Mutants set to arrive in theaters, despite Fox's upcoming merger with Disney. But Fox has had some missteps along the way, including Josh Trank's already infamous Fantastic Four movie. The comic book adaptation was a critical and financial flop, barely recouping its budget while being panned by audiences and critics alike.

While Fox has let the Deadpool franchise flourish and continued the main X-Men franchise, there is a certain flick that has sat in development hell for years: Channing Tatum's Gambit movie. The fan favorite character's solo movie has been pushed back a number of times, and the Fox/Disney merger makes its fate all the more precarious. Rupert Wyatt was poised to direct the project at one point, but he recently revealed that the failure of The Fantastic Four negatively affected the film's potential budget. As he put it:

I was very close with Channing Tatum and his producing partner Reid Carolin, and I was on the script with him and Josh Zetumer as a writer. We were close, I believe 10 weeks away. It simply came down to budget. There was not enough. You know all too well about the politics of the business. Fantastic Four had been released by Fox a month before and had not gone well for them, so our budget was slashed quite considerably.

Superhero movies may be the most profitable genre in the film world, but they also require the biggest budgets. As such, each new release is a major gamble. Fantastic Four failed to perform at the box office, so it seems Fox kept its purse strings a bit tighter, and didn't want to give Gambit the same type of cash money. Poor Remy Lebeau.

Rupert Wyatt's comments to Comics Beat help to illuminate the myriad delays that have hit Gambit since the potential blockbuster was announced. Channing Tatum has been signed to the project since May of 2014, so moviegoers have been waiting quite a bit of time for the fan favorite X-Man to reappear on the silver screen. Wyatt isn't the only director who has been attached to the project, as Doug Liman also left due to script concerns. The script was presumably being worked on, before the project's development was put officially on hold.

It's unclear if Disney has any interest in bringing Gambit into the MCU, with the House of Mouse expected to acquire the rival studio in a matter of weeks. This puts the fate of Gambit up in the air, as well as where/when exactly The New Mutants will be completed and released. This is a series of events the public has grown accustomed to, although The Fantastic Four's affect on Gambit's budget is an interesting development in the potential film's story.

Gambit has been delayed for years, with three different directors brought on, before eventually departing the ill-fated blockbuster. In addition to Rupert Wyatt and Doug Liman, The Ring director Gore Verbinski was the most recent addition to the trio. Verbinski was set to direct Channing Tatum when Gambit was going to get a December 14th, 2019 release date. The project would be somewhat romantic comedy inspired, and the casting process had even began before Verbinski departed Gambit due to scheduling and creative differences.

From there, Gambit's fate remained unclear. The project got pushed back a number of times since then, although Channing Tatum seemed determined to play the New Orleans mutant one way or another. Most recently, reports indicated Tatum had interest in both directing and starring in the project. Unfortunately, the news stopped there, as Fox's potential projects were put on hold due to the company's impending merger with Disney.

Gambit might never make it to theaters, which will no doubt be a point of contention with the rabid comic book fandom. Gambit became a household name due to the X-Men animated series, and his generations of fans are eager to see the card thrower on the big screen.

Of course, Gambit did appear in live-action once before, although it's a memory the fandom is likely trying to forget. Taylor Kitsch played Remy LeBeau in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, the first spinoff in the X-Men franchise. While playing a supporting role and aligning with Hugh Jackman's Logan, the character (and movie) wasn't received well by the fans. As such, Channing Tatum's possible movie offers a welcomed alternative to that characterization. If it ever makes it to theaters, that is.

Overall, it's unclear exactly what Disney is planning to do with Fox's X-Men franchise, once the merger is finalized at last. While the House of Mouse will likely let Ryan Reynolds' Deadpool franchise operate independently, the rest of the mutants likely won't fare the same. Comic fans are eager to see the X-Men finally appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, although it seems unlikely that the same cast will be brought onto the payroll. Dark Phoenix has the potential to be the final installment in the long-running franchise, so potential projects like Gambit are probably the least of the studio's concerns at the moment.

Still, a superhero movie starring Channing Tatum as a fan favorite hero seems like money in the bank, who Disney might end up getting yet another director and moving forward with Gambit. Focusing on one X-Man at a time may help ease them into the MCU, rather than bringing an entire team of characters to an already crowded shared universe. At this point, it's anyone's guess.

Comic book fans are also hoping the Fantastic Four will get their own reboot within the MCU, as that's another team that has been noticeably missing from the larger shared universe. But considering how recently Josh Trank's version was in theaters, it may take moviegoers more time to get the taste of that flop out of their mouths.

The next installment in Fox's X-Men franchise will be Dark Phoenix on June 7th, and Gambit's release date was last set on March 13th, 2020. Be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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Avengers: Endgame Had An Awesome Easter Egg For Another Marvel Character

Avengers: Endgame Had An Awesome Easter Egg For Another Marvel Character

Warning: SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are in play. If you’re worried about spoiling the fun, bookmark this piece and come back once you’ve experienced the magic for yourself.

While a movie like Avengers: Endgame is designed to wrap up a lot of history in a neat and tidy package, the expectation is also set for that same film to drop some hints towards the future. And if some eagle-eyed, or rather eagle-eared, moviegoers are right, a pretty big clue towards another hero’s debut may have been woven into the film’s narrative. And that hero just might be Captain Britain himself, Brian Braddock.

As the story goes, during the 1970 section of the big time heist in Avengers: Endgame, Steve Rogers hides in what he finds out is Peggy Carter’s office as the S.H.I.E.L.D. director at Camp Lehigh. While seeing the love of his life in her prime, we overhear something about how an operative named Braddock hasn’t checked in.

This small reference doesn’t come up again in Avengers: Endgame, but some fans think that this particular name drop means that Captain Britain might be on his way to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Looking into the history of the character’s existence in reality, as well as the timeline of this particular scene, just might tell us what this could mean for the MCU.

Debuting in 1976, Captain Britain’s origin story involved Brian Braddock’s isolated, but well-off, beginnings, which eventually saw him gaining superpowers after being visited by Merlin himself. Captain Britain would later go on to work for the U.K.’s version of S.H.I.E.L.D., names S.T.R.I.K.E. This connection is interesting, considering it furthers the connection between Captain Britain and the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Should this reference picked out by ComicBookMovie.com be true, and Captain Britain is being seeded into the MCU, then the S.T.R.I.K.E. team, introduced with Brock Rumlow and his associates in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, could be that very same team. So not only could Captain Britain become another entry in Marvel’s cinematic canon, whether it be in Phase 4 or beyond, there’s a chance we could see another period piece fleshing out the backstory of this very universe.

Considering we’ve seen several rounds of speculation and backtracking around the fact that Simon Pegg once said he’d want to play Captain Britain, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to possibly start sniffing around a scenario that would see Pegg brought on to bring this legendary hero to life.

Maybe this could even be the project that would act as the ultimate mea culpa to director Edgar Wright. With full creative control possibly being granted to the man who was once set to direct Ant-Man, before circumstances spun out of control, we might see a new age of filmmakers being brought into Marvel Studios history.

For now though, all we have is a fun reference that could pan out into a future round of fun. With everything else that’s already in the works for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s not like the company is hurting for options. But at the same time, if the hypothetical scenario we described is the best chance for this reference to pay off, then we’re going to cross our fingers and let the wishing begin!

Avengers: Endgame is currently in theaters now, ready for you to experience for the first or fifth time.

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Woody Harrelson Is Having A Great Time With Zombieland: Double Tap

Woody Harrelson Is Having A Great Time With Zombieland: Double Tap

Fans are certainly hoping to enjoy the upcoming Zombieland sequel. Woody Harrelson is way ahead of us. The actor, who is currently in production on Zombieland: Double Tap, has nothing but good things to say so far. Not only does Harrelson say that the movie itself looks good, but he also adds he's personally just having a lot of fun making it. According to the actor...

What we’ve shot so far, I’m really impressed with. Getting to hang out with these guys — Emma, and Abbie, and Jesse, and Ruben — I feel so lucky, really, really lucky. You know, it’s literally laughing all day long, and that’s your job. Like, my job is, I laugh all day long? It seems unbelievable. So, I feel really lucky right now.

It often seems like actors just have the best job in the world already, but regardless of what your job is, if you don't enjoy it, it can still be a slog. Also, when people enjoy their work, the work itself tends to end up better. Based on that idea, it would seem that Zombieland: Double Tap is already shaping up to be a great movie.

Jesse Eisenberg had previously said the cast was working extra hard to make sure the movie was everything that fans have been waiting for. If they're both working hard and laughing all day, what more can you ask for?

A sequel to Zombieland has been one of those "maybe we'll get around to it" movies that fans have wanted, but never seemed to get much traction, since the original film came out a decade ago. However, it was a topic that screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick continued to be asked about and with each passing day it seemed like a sequel was slowly becoming a more likely idea. Then, last year, it was finally confirmed the sequel would actually happen.

The plot of Zombieland: Double Tap has not been officially revealed. Although, there have been rumors that it will focus on the team of Colombus (Jesse Eisenberg), Tallahassee (Harrelson), and Wichita (Emma Stone) chasing after Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) who has run away. Another rumor has indicated Bill Murray may actually reprise his popular cameo from the first film. He may also bring fellow Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd with him.

A number of new characters will join the returning squad. Rosario Dawson, Zoey Deutch, and Luke Wilson are joining the cast. Most of the details are still under wraps concerning who they are or how they'll fit in the plot.

The details are less important than the film as a whole, and Woody Harrelson's comments to EW make it sound that the movie is going to be just as much fun as the well loved original. Zombieland: Double Tap is set to hit theaters October 11.

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Roman Polanski’s Wife Isn’t Happy About Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Roman Polanski’s Wife Isn’t Happy About Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming directorial effort Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is his “love letter” to Los Angeles as he plays and tinkers with the city's happenings in 1969, with a focus on the film industry’s state and the infamous Manson Family murders. Roman Polanski is at the center of both these subjects. At the time, the director had just found success with his film Rosemary’s Baby when his pregnant wife Sharon Tate was brutally murdered by Manson’s cult following.

Roman Polanski will be portrayed in the film by Polish actor Rafal Zawierucha alongside Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate. The couple look to live next to fictional film star Rick Dalton, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Fact may be being mixed with fiction in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, but Polanski’s wife Emmanuelle Seigner has shown her discomfort with his presence in Tarantino’s flick. Check out her words, translated from French by THR:

I am just saying that it doesn’t bother them [in Hollywood] to make a film about Roman and his tragic story, and make money with it… while at the same time they have made him a pariah. And all without consulting him of course. How can you take advantage of someone's tragic life while trampling on them?

The French actress and model is angered by the inclusion of her husband’s personal life in the highly-anticipated Quentin Tarantino movie which recently premiered at Cannes to high applause.

Emmanuelle Seigner also touches on Hollywood’s making him into a “pariah”, likely a reference to the Academy kicking him out of the Academy last year for his 1977 rape charges. Roman Polanski fled the United States in 1978 after pleading guilty for drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, and hasn’t since returned to the states.

Seigner added that she is not attacking the film itself, but pointing out the “bothersome” move by Quentin Tarantino not to approach Polanski about his depiction in the film. Tarantino recently commented (prior to her words) that he is a huge fan of the director’s work, particularly Rosemary’s Baby.

Roman Polanski was briefly shown in the latest trailer for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The movie will also include portrayals of Bruce Lee, Steve McQueen, film producer Marvin Schwartz (played by Al Pacino) and so forth. Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate looks to be central to the story of the film, making Roman’s portrayal also important to the events Tarantino wanted to explore.

Emmanuelle Seigner’s words do spark a continuous debate between Hollywood and the people they’ve depicted over the years. Should the real figures being used as a source of entertainment be consulted or compensated in order for their appearance on screen to be allowed?

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood comes to theaters on July 26.

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John Wick: Chapter 4 Is Already Happening

John Wick: Chapter 4 Is Already Happening

Not only is John Wick skilled at killing people, his movies have also become increasingly better at killing it at the box office. The latest release, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, has pulled in over $93 million worldwide so far, and it kicked off Avengers: Endgame as the highest grossing domestic release this past weekend. Well, Lionsgate didn’t waste anytime giving the green light to John Wick: Chapter 4; we can expect it two years from now.

One of the ways John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum has been marketing itself is through texts from The Continental making those who subscribe to those texts feel like their an assassin being updated by the hotel. Well, today the message was sent out that John Wick: Chapter 4 is slated for release on May 21, 2021.

With all the money John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum has pulled in so far, as well as the positive critical reception it has received, it’s hardly shocking that Lionsgate wants to keep the story going. While Keanu Reeves is arguably still best known for the Bill & Ted and Matrix movies, the John Wick franchise is his latest big claim to fame, and the actor has said he’s game to keep playing the character as long as people are still interested in these tales. Now we can look forward to at least one more chapter in this intense, violent saga.

Warning: SPOILERS for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum are ahead!

Needless to say that John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum put John through all kinds of hell, just like its predecessors, from being hunted down by fellow assassins looking to collect the $14 million on his head to fighting off High Table operatives that invaded Winston’s branch of The Continental. He even cut off his own finger just to show commitment to The Elder, one of the High Table members, although that loyalty didn’t last long. Ultimately, the threequel ended with John in his worst state yet: being shot several times by Winston and falling off the roof of The Continental.

Fortunately for John, he was retrieved by the Tick Tock Man and deposited before The Bowery King, who had been severely injured earlier in Parabellum as punishment for helping John in Chapter 2. Forced underground, Bowery King informed John that he’s “pissed off” about what The High Table did to him and asked if John felt the same way, to which John simply responded, “Yeah.”

There weren’t any plot details accompanying the John Wick: Chapter 4 release date announcement, but we can reasonably assume that the next installment will see John, Bowery King and whatever allies they can scrounge up waging war against The High Table. Whether that conflict will be wrapped up at the end of Chapter 4 or if it will extend into a potential Chapter 5 remains to be seen, but at least fans of this franchise can take comfort knowing this has evolved from a trilogy to a longer film series.

As mentioned earlier, you can look forward to John Wick: Chapter 4 hitting theaters in late May 2021, and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage on its development. In the meantime, you can learn what’s coming to the silver screen this year in our 2019 release schedule.

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Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee Director Has Plans For A Potential Sequel

Bumblebee was a very different sort of Transformers movie, and while it didn't put up Michael Bay like numbers at the box office, it was much better received by critics and others who had been more critical of the more explosion-heavy entries in the series. While more Transformers movies are certainly coming, we have little idea what they will actually be. However, if anybody is looking for ideas, they should ask Bumblebee director Travis Knight, because he's apparently already got several potential movies mapped out in his head.

The word on the street is that development has begin on a direct sequel to Bumblebee, and if that's the case, and the studio wants to bring director Travis Knight back to make it, it sounds like he would love to return and he could also give that development some direction. According to Knight...

In my mind, I have all kinds of ideas for where Charlie goes from here; where Bumblebee goes from here; where Optimus Prime goes from here. In my mind, I’ve already made those movies on some level. If the stars align, would I tell another story in this universe? I mean, I love these characters, so it’d be a thrill to be able to tell a different kind of story in this universe. Time will tell.

Bumblebee told the story of the popular Autobot's arrival on Earth where he befriends a teenage girl named Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld. The movie ends with Charlie and Bumblebee parting ways, as Bumblebee reunites with Optimus Prime. However, it sounds like, based on what he tells, THR, if Travis Knight gets his way, all of these characters would come together for a sequel. Steinfeld had previously told me in an interview that she would be up for a sequel, as would John Cena if the option was there, so it sounds like all the necessary humans are ready and willing.

We were expecting a new proper sequel to the main Transformers franchise to hit this year but the film was pulled from the release schedule last year and we haven't heard much about it since. Franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura has previously stated that the next Transformers movie will aim to combine elements of the main series and Bumblebee, something that has the more emotional character story of Bumblebee while still having plenty of "Bayhem" for those who love the city-destroying action sequences the series is known for.

As one of those people who preferred Bumblebee to any other Transformers movie, and was also a big fan of Kubo and the Two Strings, I would love to see Travis Knight return to make another Bumblebee movie. Whether or not it will happen we'll need to wait and see, but we can be sure that something new will happen with the Transformers movies before too long.

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