Fantastic Four Director Just Keeps Trashing His Movie

Fantastic Four Director Just Keeps Trashing His Movie

Sometimes a reboot manages to successfully bring a superhero back onto the big screen and portray them in a new light while still staying true to the source material. And then there’s Fantastic Four, which was a critical and commercial bomb to the point that it killed 20th Century Fox’s future plans for this iteration of Marvel’s First Family. Four years after Fantastic Four’s release, director Josh Trank has no issue with trashing his own movie, as evidenced by this latest tweet.

This past weekend saw the release of Jordan Peele’s Us, and like many moviegoers, Josh Trank decided to check it out. Unlike most moviegoers, though, Trank has a movie that was not well-received by the public, and evidently the passage of time has allowed him to poke fun at his time helming Fantastic Four, as he’s quite comfortable declaring on Twitter that Us is the complete opposite of his 2015 movie. That’s not saying much, although Us has indeed been met with critical acclaim and made over $174 million worldwide so far. If you have a choice of watching one of these two movies, it’s pretty clear which one you should pick.

This comment follows a couple of weeks after Josh Trank responded “hold my beer” to a tweet declaring that no superhero movie fails. It is true that for the most part nowadays, superhero movies are usually at least commercially successful, with a good portion of them also doing well among critics. Fantastic Four was not one of those movies, and while much of the blame was placed at Trank’s feet for its poor performance, the director wrote in a tweet deleted shortly thereafter that the final cut of the movie was not the one he’d planned on giving to audiences, indicating studio interference. In any case, Trank appears to have made peace with Fantastic Four and doesn't have a problem making fun of himself for it, though it doesn’t sound like we should expect more self-deprecating comments from him anytime soon.

Originally the plan was for Fantastic Four to kick off a new film series, with the sequel coming out in June 2017. However, following the movie’s disappointing performance, Fantastic Four 2 was later removed from the calendar and eventually cancelled. While Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley has been working on a Doctor Doom movie, with Fox now under the Disney banner, it’s unclear if that project will still move forward or if Marvel will put its own Fantastic Four movie into development that better fits within the Marvel Cinematic Universe mythology. As for Josh Trank, his next movie is Fonzo, which stars Tom Hardy as Al Capone as he wrestles with dementia following his stint in prison.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for any major updates concerning the next chapter of the Fantastic Four film franchise, but in the meantime, you can look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what’s coming down the pipeline in Phase 4, as well as our 2019 release schedule to plan your trips to the theater later this year accordingly.

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Danny DeVito Teased Michael Keaton About Dumbo's Batman Returns Role Reversal

Danny DeVito Teased Michael Keaton About Dumbo's Batman Returns Role Reversal

For Tim Burton’s remake of the 1941 Disney classic Dumbo, the prolific filmmaker reassembled his Dark Knight and Penguin from Batman Returns to play alongside the soaring circus elephant. 27 years later, Burton opted to give Michael Keaton and Danny DeVito a different roles in his film to play this time around. Looks like DeVito couldn’t get enough of the role-reversal, per his recent words:

In Batman, [Keaton] plays the good guy. Now in Dumbo, I play the good guy and he plays the bad guy. I needle him about it all the time.

Insert DeVito’s penguin chuckle here. The character actor is well-known for playing a signature baddie, especially in 1992’s Batman Returns, alongside Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, along with his other iconic roles of Mr. Wormwood in Matilda and his longtime mischief as Frank on It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. He loved the idea of going back to playing a character of a softer, kind-hearted nature with Disney’s Dumbo, especially since Keaton would now be the one he gets to steal the good guy glory from.

In the family-friendly flick, Danny DeVito plays Max Medici, a ringmaster of a financially struggling circus who is approached by Michael Keaton’s V. A. Vandevere, a powerful entrepreneur who has bigger plans and dollar signs in his eyes for his popular spectacle Dumbo soon becomes.

Michael Keaton recently pulled off another villainous role in Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, so it’s not a big surprise for audiences. Danny DeVito’s recent comments to Entertainment Weekly seem to indicate a fondness for how the tables have turned since their last movie together. Although, there’s another reason why he was attracted to taking on a more friendly role in Dumbo. In his words:

Sometimes I embarrass my kids. On Sunny, I do a lot of crazy things. Sometimes I cringe when I think about how this is gonna play with my kids. In Dumbo, I think they were all pretty happy. I’m in good shape with my kids.

In recent years, Danny Devito has been seen seldom on the big screen due to his hilarious 13 season stint as Frank on his FX comedy series, where the actor will do or say just about anything for a good bit. As you can imagine, the often twisted humor that’s a regular on the show doesn’t always play well with his children.

It’s certainly nice to see Danny DeVito back in a movie, and with Michael Keaton as they take on opposite dynamics from their Batman Returns roles. DeVito will also star in more family-friendly faire in the upcoming Jumanji sequel alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black coming in December.

As far as Batman and Penguin go, the upcoming new iteration of the character from Matt Reeves is rumored to feature the two adversaries facing off once again, following Tim Burton’s 1992 take.

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Looks Like The Oscars Might Stay Hostless For A While

Looks Like The Oscars Might Stay Hostless For A While

Nobody knew quite what to expect going into this year's Academy Awards telecast as the show would be going without a host for the first time in years. However, most would probably agree that the show went pretty well, all things considered, and a significant ratings jump for the show would seem to indicate the audience was into the idea. Now it looks like the hostless show worked out so well, that the Oscars could end up sticking with that format for the foreseeable future.

The head of ABC Entertainment Karey Burke, the network that has the deal to broadcast the show until 2028, tells Deadline that the network was happy with this year's show, and has no interest in changing next year's show. According to Burke...

I believe we will not mess with that format to the best of our ability. We're extremely proud of how the show turned out creatively.

Going without a host for this year's Oscars was never the intention, but after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made the decision to remove Kevin Hart as host amid controversy, it seems the Oscars organization was simply unable to find a replacement. The lack of host was a necessity, but one that ended up working out largely in the show's favor.

Of course, just because ABC is ok with there not being a host doesn't mean for certain that's the way things will go. The host is actually hired by the Academy, and while ABC certainly has some influence over how the show goes, the Academy doesn't have to listen. The word is ABC was the force behind some of the recently  proposed changes, like a new "popular film" Oscar, and while that idea was not implemented this year, it doesn't mean it might not be incorporated in the future.

This year's Oscars received a 12% increase in viewership over the previous telecast which hit an all-time low in the ratings. While it's hard to know for sure exactly why more people tuned in for this year's show, it's certainly understandable that ABC would be afraid to change anything for fear of losing that ratings boost.

Of course, at the same time, it's unlikely that we'll simply be getting a carbon copy of this year's Oscars over and over again into the future. While this year might have seen a much needed ratings bump, it doesn't mean this year's ratings were all that impressive. ABC is going to want to build on the success, not simply let it ride.

I'm certainly in the camp of people who wouldn't mind seeing the show stay without a host. As a movie fan, I'm there for the awards and anything that helps to keep them front and center is a good thing. I'd rather the winners be given every possible second of time to give their speeches. While there's nothing wrong with having a host, this year's show did make it clear that one isn't needed, which at least leaves that option open if the right host isn't available.

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Detective Pikachu Had One Job To Do And It Nailed It

Detective Pikachu Had One Job To Do And It Nailed It

Going into Pokemon: Detective Pikachu this past weekend, there was a lot of anticipation as to how the first live-action entry in the Pokemon canon was going to pull off what seemed impossible. Indeed, there was one job that this film had to do, and it needed to get it done properly. That task was to create a world where people and Pokemon could live together in a way that was believable on film.

After seeing the film twice this past weekend, I was struck with the same feeling in each viewing of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu: the world of Pokemon was absolutely nailed in the film. What’s better is, this monumental achievement was accomplished thanks to several components the film incorporated into its whole.

While it was one job that needed to be done, to make the world of Pokemon believable on screen, several components needed to be in place in order for total success. And here’s our list of what those components were and how they benefitted the film’s overall goal of bringing these Pocket Monsters to life in a believable manner.

Pokemon Have Been Translated Perfectly To Live Action

With creatures as unique-looking as Pokemon are, there was obviously a need to get their appearance correct in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. And if there was any component that this world would need to build the rest of its strategy upon, it’d be the fact that if you don’t have Pokemon that look comparatively believable in a world full of flesh and blood humans, your movie’s not going to make it very far.

Lucky for director Rob Letterman and the rest of the folks involved in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, the actual creatures that populate this film's universe are absolutely stunning. In particular, the look of Detective Pikachu himself, with very wavy and texture fur covering every inch of his person, is a firm example of how getting the design of a Pokemon is so crucial to correctly conveying the entire enterprise this film represents.

Detective Pikachu Showed That A Parent/Child Friendly Tone Can Be Struck

Ryan Reynolds has basically admitted that if Warner Bros and The Pokemon Company really wanted to, they could release a separate, more mature cut of Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. While that isn’t a surprise, it’s also equally unsurprising that the finished product released into theaters this past weekend played exceedingly well for children and parents, with two levels of humor present in one package.

For the children, the physical antics involving all of the characters present throughout Pokemon: Detective Pikachu, as well as some good natured humor, are easy to enjoy while watching the Pokemon of this universe do their thing. Meanwhile, there was some subtle, line-toeing innuendos that slid into the script for parents to get some sly chuckles out of, such as Detective Pikachu’s off-handed comment about people putting their fingers in him. All in all, everyone could have a laugh, and no one had to be any wiser about the fun stuff that snuck in for older viewers.

The Movie Created A Fantastic Story Out Of An Open Ended Game Universe

When you’re trying to craft a universe as spectacular as Pokemon: Detective Pikachu in a live-action film, another key component is using the source material to your advantage. And as it turns out, Pokemon has a storied history of telling a narrative in the open-ended universe of the original games. But even with that history, this film’s story exceeded expectations.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu not only plays around with the usual story of Pokemon and their place in a world of humans that's also been explored in animated TV shows and movies, it also dug into a story of a son dealing with his feelings towards his father. With Justice Smith’s Tim trying to sort out his feelings of his presumed dead father, while solving a case with his Pikachu partner, married a very emotional story with the usual message of co-existence between the species that Pokemon has always tried to advance.

It Proved That People Still Want To See A Pokemon Movie

You can make a movie look, sound and feel as fantastic as Pokemon: Detective Pikachu all you want, but if people aren’t interested in the content, any potential cinematic universe will fall flat on its face. Getting the world of Pokemon itself was a big step, but the greatest thing this movie did was prove the fact that people are still very much invested in the property’s fate.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu managed to not only make itself a movie that was worth seeing, but it also attracted fans of the franchise and newbies to flock to theaters and see what it had. If anyone was wondering if what Pokemon would look like in a live-action adventure, all they have to do now is go see this film and they’ll find out. The ultimate sign that Warner Bros nailed Pokemon on the big screen is the fact that so many people have already gone to see it in its first weekend, with more weekends ahead to show just how well the idea holds up.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu’s one important job was to convince the world that Pokemon could believably exist alongside humans, be it in the fictional confines of Ryme City or the world of our modern blockbuster box office. Through the factors described above, that job was absolutely nailed, and a promising new cinematic universe was born.

We’ll have to wait and see what the future for Pokemon looks like, as Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is still in its first week of release. But if the results are as promising as the film itself, we might not have seen the last of these lovable creatures, or the stories they can tell. Here’s hoping we get a chance to catch them all.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is in theaters now. If you haven’t seen it yet, whether you’re a Pokemon fan or not, you owe it to yourself to experience the wonder first hand.

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Upcoming Harry Potter Books, Movies And More: What's Ahead In J.K. Rowling's Magical Universe

Upcoming Harry Potter Books, Movies And More: What's Ahead In J.K. Rowling's Magical Universe

When it comes to the Harry Potter universe, J.K. Rowling can't stop, won't stop, and we're not complaining. While the author may be content to leave Harry Potter's story be for now, there's still plenty for Harry Potter fans to look forward to. In an effort to keep it all straight, we've put together this handy guide of what's out and what's coming up for Harry Potter fans.

Upcoming Harry Potter-Related Books

When Harry Potter and the Cursed Child made its official premiere in London's West End, J.K. Rowling said she that "Harry is done now," following the character's reappearance in Cursed Child. While she may be ready to put Harry's story to rest, it's unlikely that she has any intention of abandoning the universe entirely. Her involvement in the Fantastic Beasts spinoff and the sequels that are lined up for the years to come are evidence of that.

In the meantime, new versions of the original Harry Potter books do occasionally find their way onto shelves...

Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets House Edition

In anticipation of the 20th anniversary of the publishing of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Pottermore announced that a House Edition of the second book in the Harry Potter series will be hitting shelves Summer 2018. As you may recall, a similar edition was released to celebrate Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone's anniversary. Those sorted Harry Potter fans can celebrate their house pride by picking up one of the four House Editions of Chamber of Secrets, each with a colored cover matching the house colors for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. It hits shelves July 2, but you can pre-order it at Bloomsbury now.

Unlike the Philosopher Stone's editions, which included the house crests on each cover, it looks like Chamber of Secret's House Edition will feature the same snaky illustration on its cover, likely a nod to the titular chamber (#SlytherinPride?), with a variation on the frame around the snake illustration to match the respective house. In addition to the colorful cover makeover, Pottermore says the new edition will also include an illustration of your chosen house's common room by artist Levi Pinfold as well as a written introduction to that house. We'll also get a mini-feature on house-elves. if you recall, Chamber of Secrets introduced the being to the series in the form of non other than Harry Potter enthusiast himself, Dobby.

Harry Potter and the Goblet Of Fire Illustrated Edition

The illustrated edition for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has not yet been officially announced, however, assuming Bloomsbury continues to release one a year, as they have so far with the first three books, we expect to see Book 4 arrive in all its illustrated glory in or around October 2018. We'll be sure to update once we have confirmation and details on pre-ordering.

Upcoming Harry Potter Movies

Fantastic Beasts was originally discussed as a planned trilogy, but then in November 2016, J.K. Rowling announced that the story would be spread out over five films. Producer David Heyman confirmed to us that they're aiming to release one film for the series every two years.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 2

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 2 -- titled Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald -- is slated to arrive in theaters November 16, 2018. From what we know about the film, the sequel will take Newt Scamander back to the United Kingdom, as well as to Paris, France. (More spoilery information related to the first film ahead!) Newt, Tina, Queenie and Jacob are expected to return, though an official cast list has not been revealed. We're also expecting to see a comeback for Ezra Miller's character Credence. Depp's Grindelwald will obviously make an appearance, and we also know we'll be seeing a relatively young Albus Dumbledore, with Jude Law set to fill the eventual headmaster's shoes. Get more info about the movie here.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Stage Production

The West End stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is currently showing at the Palace Theatre in London, though tickets are typically hard to come by and should be bought ahead of time, unless you want to try your luck at the lottery.

It was announced in 2017 that Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be making its way to Australia at Melbourne's Princess Theatre in early 2019. And Wizards, witches and no-majes stateside who aren't able to get to London to see the show will only have to go as far as New York to catch the production when it arrives on Broadway in 2018...

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York City

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is expected to open at the newly-renovated Lyric Theatre on April 22, 2018. The Broadway theater is being completely redesigned for the production. The original trio of stars -- Jamie Parker (Harry Potter), Noma Dumezweni (Hermione Granger), and Paul Thornley (Ron Weasley) -- will reprise their roles for the show.

In October 2017, registration opened for tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's Broadway production. Fans are required to register over the five-day window, for a chance to receive an access code to purchase tickets on October 18, 2017.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Movie?

J.K. Rowling and Warner Bros have made it pretty clear that there are presently no plans for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to be made into a movie. And taking into account that tickets for the West End production are sold out through 2017, it seems unlikely that there would be plans to rush this story into cinemas anytime soon.

In early 2017, a rumor began circulating that there was a plan to make a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child movie years from now, when the original Harry Potter stars were close to the age of their respective characters in the 19-years-later setting of the play. Though the rumor seemed viable, given that it put plenty of distance between now and when this potential trilogy would take place, J.K. Rowling promptly shut down speculation on the idea, stating that it is "NO TRUTH" to the rumor. So that's that. (Again.)

It may also be fair to speculate that a Harry Potter and the Cursed Child stage production world tour would happen before a feature adaptation is made, and there hasn't been any official word of that happening anytime soon either (though Rowling did mention that if the demand is there, it'll tour). So for the time being, those who want to experience the magic that is the Cursed Child play -- and I'm almost convinced there are moments of actual magic taking place on stage because some of the special effects are pretty spectacular -- will have to get to London's Palace Theatre or New York City to see it.

Recently and Previously Released Harry Potter books

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them - Illustrated Edition

Those of us who already own about five copies of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them will soon have an excuse to buy one more. Hitting shelves November 7, 2017 is the fully illustrated edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. This is the (updated) text book on which the movie was loosely based, not the screenplay book. As there are quite a few beasts featured in the book that haven't made it to the screen yet, this new grab at Harry Potter fans' wallets will give us our first look at some of the magical beasts wandering the Harry Potter world. The color illustrations come from artist Olivia Lomenech Gill, and will use a variety of artistic techniques to depict the beasts. 10% of the proceeds from the suggested retail price ($34.99) of each copy sold will go to Comic Relief and J.K Rowling's Lumos Foundation. There will also apparently be a collector's edition available for a retail price of $175.00.

Get the Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Illustrated Edition here.

The British Library did a special exhibition in the U.K. called Harry Potter: A History of Magic. With it came the release of a book called Harry Potter: A Journey Through A History of Magic. Amazon offers both a kindle edition and a paperback. While this book isn't exactly the comprehensive History of Magic tome that hardcore Harry Potter fans have been clamoring for, it's a lovely, illustrated guide filled with oodles of information about J.K. Rowling's magical universe. The book hit shelves October 20, 2017.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated Edition

Harry Potter and the Prisoner Of Azkaban Illustrated Edition hit shelves October 3, 2017, and features 115 illustrations from artist Jim Kay. The third book in the series is (naturally) the third book to receive the illustrated edition treatment. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone arrived on shelves on October 6, 2015. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hit shelves October 4, 2016. So it seems Prisoner of Azkaban's release is right on schedule to Scholastic/Bloomsbury's one-a-year plan. We've previously gotten a glimpse of the illustrations for the new edition of Azkaban, including Jim Kay's excellent take on Severus Snape. Among the illustrations included in the book is an excellently creepy look at Sirius Black.

Maybe you've already got enough copies of Harry Potter to satisfying your magical cravings, but if you're looking for an excuse to buy the books again, these illustrated editions do not disappoint.

Get Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Illustrated Edition here.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (rerelease with new content)

The Harry Potter bonus book, Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, was re-released in the wake of the recent (loose) film adaptation. To be clear, this is the reference guide, which was originally released in 2001 and is formatted like a Hogwarts textbook, indexing and describing the various beasts in the Harry Potter universe. It is not a novel, though the introduction does include a few (somewhat spoilery) tidbits about the books author, Newt Scamander. The new edition arrived on March 14, 2017, and includes six additional magical beasts, as well as a forward by Fantastic Beasts author Newt Scamander. The book also include illustrations by Tomislav Tomic. Get it here.

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them Audiobook

Well, this is new. In addition to a re-release of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, an audiobook edition for the textbook is was released the same day the new edition of the book came out. Eddie Redmayne narrates the book. Normally, I would've hoped that Jim Dale -- narrator of the U.S. versions of the Harry Potter books -- would be back for this, but having the textbook narrated by Newt Scamander himself is far too perfect to complain. Based on Audible's page, it looks like the whole recording is about two hours long. Get it here.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Hogwarts House Editions

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the original publication of the first Harry Potter book in the U.K, Bloomsbury -- the publishing house for the books in the United Kingdom -- re-released Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with special house covers. So those Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Slytherins out there can celebrate their house pride with a special edition of the book. Expect to see the respective house crest on each cover, as well as sprayed edges in the house colors. These special editions also include fact files and character profiles, as well as line illustrations exclusive to that house. The Hogwarts House Editions hit shelves on June 1, 2017, and are available on Amazon.co.uk, as well as directly through Bloomsbury.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them Screenplay Book

Not to be confused with the reference guide by which the film Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is loosely inspired, Fantastic Beast and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay includes the shooting script for Fantastic Beasts. Those hoping for a novel will be disappointed, but the book is actually a really great bonus to the film, as it includes some descriptions and insights to certain scenes that are really left to interpretation in the actual movie. Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Original Screenplay hit shelves the day the film arrived in theaters (November 18), and can be purchased in hardcover and ebook.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Illustrated edition.

In 2015, a new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone) was released in hardcover. Last October, a hardcover version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets hit shelves. For those who love these books enough to buy them more than once, Jim Kay's incredible illustrations are well worth the reasonable price tag. Amazon currently has Chamber of Secrets available for purchase for $23.99.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book

Following the debut of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a script book for the play was published, allowing Harry Potter fans to read both parts of the play. To be clear, this book is not a novel, however it does contain the full play, for those who aren't able to get to London to see it, or for those who want to relive the theatrical magic in script form.

Pottermore Essays and eBooks

J.K. Rowling occasionally drops new writings on Pottermore.com, and hopefully that won't cease anytime soon. Also, the Harry Potter site recently released a series of ebooks, which include essays from J.K. Rowling, some new, some previously published on Pottermore.com. Those are out now, and include:

Short Stories from Hogwarts of Power, Politics and Pesky Poltergeists

Hogwarts: An Incomplete and Unreliable Guide

Short Stories from Hogwarts of Heroism, Hardship and Dangerous Hobbies

There are currently no movies directly related to the lead characters featured in the original Harry Potter books, however, Warner Bros. has reignited Harry Potter fans' appetite for magic on the big screen with the debut of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a film that joins the Potterverse franchise, and is launching a new series of movies.

Previously Released Movie: Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them arrived in theaters on November 18, 2016. The film is both a spinoff and a prequel to the Harry Potter stories. It centers on Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the wizard and magizoologist responsible for penning the titular textbook that would go on to be studied by Harry, Ron and Hermione, not to mention countless other Hogwarts students. The story is set in the 1920s, seventy years before Harry Potter attended Hogwarts. Fantastic Beasts follows Newt as he visits New York for what's supposed to be a short stay, but ends up stuck there for longer when his collection of beasts gets loose in the city. (Vague spoilers ahead!)

Magic and mayhem ensue, as do the introduction of numerous key characters, including former MACUSA auror Tina (Katherine Waterston), her legilimens sister Queenie (Alison Sudol), No-maj Jacob (Dan Fogler), MACUSA auror Percival Graves (Colin Farrell) and Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller). The film also features a crucial appearance by Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp).

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them is now available on home video, and streaming on HBO Now.

Warner Bros. has released all eight movies together in 4K Ultra HD. Check out the blu-ray box set here.

And More...

Beyond books and movies, there are other ways for Harry Potter fans to get in on the magic. Pottermore.com, the official Harry Potter website, allows fans to register to get sorted into a Hogwarts house, be assigned their wand, and be sorted into their Ilvermorny house (for those aspiring witches and wizards who want to know where they'd be sorted in the North American wizarding school). The most recent addition to Pottermore was the highly (massively, hugely) anticipated Patronus test, which allows fans to take a quiz that will determine their Patronus. J.K. Rowling mentioned on Twitter that she created that test herself, so it's about as official as it gets, short of real magic. You must be logged in to take the test.

Theme Parks

On the theme park side of things, the latest major development was the opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood. The California park gives U.S. residents and visitors a West Coast alternative to the Universal Studios Orlando location. There's also a Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Japan.

For those looking for an even more movies-centered experience, Warner Bros. offers a studio tour in Leavesden, which features various exhibits containing set pieces and props for the original Harry Potter movies. There's also a pretty incredible model of Hogwarts that needs to be seen.

For the gamers, Harry Potter joined the LEGO Dimensions universe. Players are now able to unlock Hogwarts, Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley among the LEGO Dimensions locations. You can also apparently build a flying Ford Anglia and Hogwarts Express, and play as Harry Potter or Lord Voldemort.

Don't see what you're looking for? Leave a comment and we'll do some digging to see what the latest news is on what's ahead for Harry Potter fans.

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Are The Spider-Man Movies Building To The Sinister Six?

Are The Spider-Man Movies Building To The Sinister Six?

Once upon a time, there was a plan. The Spider-Man movies being made by Sony were going to introduce a bunch of villains – including the Rhino (Paul Giamatti), a Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) and Electro (Jamie Foxx) – and eventually team them in a villain ensemble movie, The Sinister Six. Those plans changed when Sony shifted its Spider-Man to Marvel Studios, with Tom Holland taking over for Andrew Garfield.

But the idea of a Sinister Six movie still sounds incredibly intriguing, and there’s no shortage of bad guys at play in the MCU’s version of Spidey. Michael Keaton already has introduced The Vulture. Michael Mando briefly appeared as a possible Scorpion. And we saw two Shockers in Spider-Man: Homecoming. We’re about to meet a bunch of new villains in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Venom (Tom Hardy) now exists in the universe, so we wondered if The Sinister Six was somewhere on the radar.

While interviewing Spider-Man: Far From Home executive producer Eric Carroll on the film’s London set, we asked him about this idea, and he told us:

I don't know some of these plans for what's going forward. I do know that, obviously, getting someone like Jake [Gyllenhaal] to do a role like [Quentin] Beck is something we definitely think sets some really fun things up. But as to specifics, right now, I think everyone thinks we're dodging these questions -- and I especially don't want to speak to Sony's plans -- but we kind of take these movies one at a time. If we have that right idea, I think that's something audiences would love, for sure. I do think it's something people have been wanting for a long time. So, I can't imagine it's not somebody's dream project? But it's not something we're specifically building to at the moment.

That’s sad to hear, but somewhat understandable. If there was going to be a Sinister Six movie, we actually could see it taking shape on the Sony side of things, where the studio has successfully launched its own Spider-Universe with Venom and the in-production Morbius. There are plans underway for stories with Silver Sable and Black Cat, so if a Six feature were to form, it likely would be born from those collaborations.

That’s also a great excuse to bring Tom Holland over from his Marvel Studios duties and use him in a Sony Spider-Man movie. But this would happen way down the road, as these large ensemble pics take years to develop properly, and the way that Eric Carroll tells it, no plans currently are underway.

For now, Spidey fans can look forward to the young hero’s European vacation, which will take him away from New York City and pair him with Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) as they battle Elemental creatures from a multiverse dimension. Crazy!

Spider-Man: Far From Home opens in theaters on July 2.

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What Is Disney Movie Club? Is It Worth It?

What Is Disney Movie Club? Is It Worth It?

Disney has a lot going on at the movies right now. With Avengers: Endgame well on its way to becoming the highest-grossing film of all time, along with Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Frozen 2, and several more titles expected to make a whole lot moolah along the way, it is no surprise that Disney is finding more and more ways to allow movie-lovers to explore the ever-evolving archive of movies.

With a treasure trove of movies available under Disney's reliable name, there is no shortage of great movies available through Disney. With that in mind, would it be worth securing a membership to Disney Movie Club? Let's take a look at what the service offers.

How Does Disney Movie Club Work?

Through Disney Movie Club, you sign up to join a membership program that allows you to buy Disney movies on both DVD and Blu-ray at a discounted price. The general gist goes like this: Through the service, you get four movies for $1 each, plus free shipping. Sounds pretty sweet, right? From there, you will have two years to buy five more movies at regular price. Every four weeks, you'll be sent a feature Disney movie, which you are allowed to choose or skip according to your preferences.

When you sign up, you get the choice of whether you want to receive Blu-rays or DVDs. DVDs are typically priced around $19.95, while Blu-rays are often $29.95. It should be noted, when you sign up newer releases might not be included as "available" sections. Though they typically become available a few months after their original release date. Once they do become available, the new releases should be counted towards your commitment.

What Does Disney Movie Club Cost?

While there isn't exactly a set price for the Disney Movie Club, you can figure out what you're spending if you do a quick number crunch. As it was mentioned earlier, if you pay for a Blu-ray, that's roughly $30 for a title. Through Disney Movie Club, you're expected to get around nine movies before you can call it quits. So, you're looking to spend about $149.75 (plus taxes, most likely) for the service, at the very least. That's not counting the dollar you'd spend for the initial four-movie bundle you'll get when you start, of course.

What Is Disney Movie Club VIP?

After your commitment and your membership agreement has been fulfilled, you will automatically be enrolled in the Disney Movie Club VIP program. Through the VIP membership, you will be eligible for even more special deals, offers and discounts, including some benefits that are only available through this service. These deals will become known to the costumer in full once they become VIP members. But it should be noted that if you become a VIP member, you will still need to respond to Feature Title offers to accept and decline as you would through the normal membership.

Can You Cancel Disney Movie Club?

Yes. If you want to cancel your Disney Movie Club membership, what you need to do is call a Disney Movie Club cast member at the following number: 1-800-362-4587. From there, you would tell them that you wish to cancel your Disney Movie Club membership. There is a Disney movie cast member who will be able to help you between the hours of 9 AM to 9 PM Monday-through-Friday, Eastern Time.

And it should be noted that you will want to be as clear and concise as possible, to make sure it's known that cancelling your membership is your final decision. Also, be sure to save your confirmation that your membership is cancelled. There should be a letter sent in the mail that confirms that your membership has been terminated.

What Credit Card Payments Are Accepted For Disney Movie Club?

In order to pay for a membership through the phone or online, you must use a credit card. The service accepts all the following credit card companies: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card. Other credit card services are not likely to be accepted, though you can check with your local company or with a representative with Disney Movie Club to make sure that's the case.

Should You Get Disney Movie Club?

It's ultimately up-to-you, but if you're a Disney movie lover and you buy most of the studio's movies anyway, it's not a bad deal. If you're someone who only get a Disney title like, say, a Frozen DVD or Avengers: Infinity War on Blu-ray here-and-there, though, it might not be entirely worth your while. Regardless, if you have the disposal income to buy a lot of movies on DVD and Blu-ray, particularly if you pride yourself in your Disney collection and you're always making sure you fill your shelf space with the latest movie titles from the Mouse House, you would probably get a good deal out of this service, truth be told. Look into it.

Nevertheless, if you are a bargain hunter, and you want to get the best deals you can on these movies, you might want to give it a second look. As I mentioned earlier, if you're simply trying to get the best deal on The Lion King DVD or another one-off title, you'll be better off trying to find the movie elsewhere. This is a service that rewards you for spending full value on select titles, staying true to your brand commitment, and buying several titles from the Disney archive. Like we said earlier, it depends on what you want. If you buy a lot of Disney DVDs/Blu-rays, you might be getting a lot of bang for your buck. But if you just want to shop for some good deals on popular movie titles, there are certainly other alternatives.

It should also be noted there are a few Disney titles that appear to be available only through the Disney Movie Club, though it's unclear if that will change once Disney+ allows viewers to watch a number of different titles through the newfound streaming service. In any case, there are definitely advantages and disadvantages to getting Disney Movie Club. Weigh your options based and make the decision that works best for you. To learn more about Disney Movie Club, head here.

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