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Yearly Archives: 2020

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Will We See J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in the Next Spider-Man Movie?

One of the great surprises in Spider-Man: Far From Home came right at the end, mid-credits, when actor J.K. Simmons -- who played J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, along with voicing the character in various Marvel animated series and Sony's Spider-Man video game -- portrayed ol' flat-top once more as an official part of the MCU. In Far From Home, Jameson was the host of an online crackpot conspiracy show called The Daily Bugle, who believed Quentin Beck's lies hook, line, and sinker - claiming that Mysterio was the greatest superhero of all time. In a recent edition of PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, Simmons was asked if fans should expect to see Jameson again in the next Spider-Man film. Simmons made it clear that while he'd signed on for sequels, it was up for the studio to decide if the character was returning or not. "I don't know if I would use the word expect," he said, as a way of tempering the anticipation. "It's great to have the opportunity, as these things evolve," he added, "to be one of the holdovers from the previous version." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=marvel-phase-4-official-lineup&captions=true"] Simmons also thought back to his first time auditioning for Raimi's first Spider-Man film, which is something he had to do despite having worked with Raimi on two other films (For Love of the Game, The Gift). Simmons described the process as "nerve-wracking." "The producers and the people at Sony, they needed to be convinced," he said, "because obviously, there were a lot of much more high-profile actors that they had in mind that would help with the box office." Plus, Simmons audition was the scene where the Green Goblin busted through the wall of Jameson's Daily Bugle office and choked him, lifting him up in the air. "I'm holding the script pages," Simmons remembered, "reading the scene on the audition, but then at the same time, trying to...[choking noises]...pretending I'm being lifted by the neck and choked." You can actually check out Simmons' screen test here, as part of one of our recent Time Capsules. The video also includes a shirtless and shredded Tobey Maguire kicking some bad guy butt. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/30/hbo-max-streaming-service-review"] Check out this updated look at Sony's slate of upcoming films -- including the Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2, Venom 2, and Morbius. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
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Suicide Squad Director Says His Film Became a ‘Comedy’ Because of Deadpool

This past week, following a notable uptick in “#ReleaseTheAyerCut online movement, Suicide Squad director David Ayer said that a director’s cut of the film would be “easy to complete.” This news came on the heels of Warner Bros. spending a reported $20 - $30 million to complete Zack Snyder's “Snyder Cut” of Justice League - which is set to release in 2021 on HBO Max. Ayer is back on Twitter this weekend, answering fans' queries about his original cut of Suicide Squad. Particularly, the choice to beat it "into a comedy" following the mixed reception of Batman v Superman and the blockbuster status of Deadpool. Check it out... Ayer was responding to a compliment regarding the original teaser for Suicide Squad, explaining that it accurately reflected his vision of the film which was "Methodical. Layered. Complex, beautiful and sad." In an earlier tweet, Ayer mentioned how the reshoots were meant to course correct the movie for being "too dark" while also praising the performances of Jared Leto and Margot Robbie... Ayer, soon after, praised Warner Bros. now, tweeting that "The studio is in a great place today and encouraging filmmakers to make their vision"... In related news, James Gunn's reboot of the Suicide Squad is still headed our way, as Gunn said there's no reason for his film to be delayed due to COVID-19 since it wrapped filming earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-actor-and-character-confirmed-for-dcs-the-suicide-squad&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Posted in Uncategorized

Suicide Squad Director Says His Film Became a ‘Comedy’ Because of Deadpool

This past week, following a notable uptick in “#ReleaseTheAyerCut online movement, Suicide Squad director David Ayer said that a director’s cut of the film would be “easy to complete.” This news came on the heels of Warner Bros. spending a reported $20 - $30 million to complete Zack Snyder's “Snyder Cut” of Justice League - which is set to release in 2021 on HBO Max. Ayer is back on Twitter this weekend, answering fans' queries about his original cut of Suicide Squad. Particularly, the choice to beat it "into a comedy" following the mixed reception of Batman v Superman and the blockbuster status of Deadpool. Check it out... Ayer was responding to a compliment regarding the original teaser for Suicide Squad, explaining that it accurately reflected his vision of the film which was "Methodical. Layered. Complex, beautiful and sad." In an earlier tweet, Ayer mentioned how the reshoots were meant to course correct the movie for being "too dark" while also praising the performances of Jared Leto and Margot Robbie... Ayer, soon after, praised Warner Bros. now, tweeting that "The studio is in a great place today and encouraging filmmakers to make their vision"... In related news, James Gunn's reboot of the Suicide Squad is still headed our way, as Gunn said there's no reason for his film to be delayed due to COVID-19 since it wrapped filming earlier this year. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-actor-and-character-confirmed-for-dcs-the-suicide-squad&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
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Chris Evans Thinks a Captain America Return Would Be Too ‘Risky’

As the MCU's Phase 4 finds itself a bit delayed - with Black Widow being postponed until November and Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier still needing to finish production -- Chris Evans recently nixed the idea of possibly returning to his role as Captain America after the character was given a grand send-off in Avengers: Endgame. Appearing on the U.K.'s The Graham Norton Show, Evans was asked if his time as Cap was truly over. "Yes, I think it is," Evans responded. "It was a great run and we went out on such a high note that it would be risky to revisit it in my opinion," he continued. "It was such a good experience and I think it's better left that way." Obviously, it would be difficult to bring Steve Rogers back to the MCU at this point given how the character opted, at the finish of Endgame, to travel back in time to live a life with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter. Difficult, but not impossible. This is why "never say never" is often the prevailing message when it comes to Hollywood. "It's not a hard no," Evans added, "but it's not an eager yes either. I think Cap had such a tricky act to stick the landing, and I think they did a really nice job letting him complete his journey." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/07/mcu-phase-4-theory-black-widow-is-setting-up-an-avengers-level-villain-ign-now"] If you're looking for a deeper dive into Black Widow, here's a closer look at Florence Pugh's character Yelena Belova and our theory about how the film might be setting up a new Avengers-level villain that's not Taskmaster. Also, if you're trying to keep track of everything, check out the new MCU: Phase 4 release schedule. Meanwhile, a superfan mapped out every scene in the MCU's first three phases in chronological order. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-plot-thread-the-mcu-abandoned&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Posted in Uncategorized

Chris Evans Thinks a Captain America Return Would Be Too ‘Risky’

As the MCU's Phase 4 finds itself a bit delayed - with Black Widow being postponed until November and Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier still needing to finish production -- Chris Evans recently nixed the idea of possibly returning to his role as Captain America after the character was given a grand send-off in Avengers: Endgame. Appearing on the U.K.'s The Graham Norton Show, Evans was asked if his time as Cap was truly over. "Yes, I think it is," Evans responded. "It was a great run and we went out on such a high note that it would be risky to revisit it in my opinion," he continued. "It was such a good experience and I think it's better left that way." Obviously, it would be difficult to bring Steve Rogers back to the MCU at this point given how the character opted, at the finish of Endgame, to travel back in time to live a life with Hayley Atwell's Peggy Carter. Difficult, but not impossible. This is why "never say never" is often the prevailing message when it comes to Hollywood. "It's not a hard no," Evans added, "but it's not an eager yes either. I think Cap had such a tricky act to stick the landing, and I think they did a really nice job letting him complete his journey." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/04/07/mcu-phase-4-theory-black-widow-is-setting-up-an-avengers-level-villain-ign-now"] If you're looking for a deeper dive into Black Widow, here's a closer look at Florence Pugh's character Yelena Belova and our theory about how the film might be setting up a new Avengers-level villain that's not Taskmaster. Also, if you're trying to keep track of everything, check out the new MCU: Phase 4 release schedule. Meanwhile, a superfan mapped out every scene in the MCU's first three phases in chronological order. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=every-plot-thread-the-mcu-abandoned&captions=true"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association. Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBFowler.
Posted in Uncategorized

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Review – Friendship Never Ends

When the credits roll at the end of Mortal Kombat 11's excellent story mode, the slate has been wiped clean. After a variety of entertaining time-travelling hijinks, everyone's second-favourite Shaolin monk, Liu Kang, has ascended into godhood and is ready to begin writing an all-new chapter in Mortal Kombat history. It's as close to a perfect ending as you can get to the almost 30 years of convoluted lore this series has. But now, there's Aftermath, Mortal Kombat 11's optional expansion that tacks on a handful of new chapters to that narrative. And while the idea of a story-focussed add-on to this fighting game is an exciting prospect--and it certainly has its high moments--when the credits roll for the second time there isn't that same sense of gratification.

At the beginning of Aftermath, which immediately follows the end of Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang is interrupted by the nefarious sorcerer Shang Tsung. Along with the righteous wind god Fujin and badass indigenous shaman Nightwolf, the trio stops Liu Kang from proceeding with his rebuilding plans with the warning that they need to go back in time, again, to retrieve a MacGuffin in order to stop the process from going to shit. Over five chapters and a cinema-appropriate two-and-a-half-hour running time, the five Mortal Kombat characters that have now been introduced to MK11 as post-release content get to make their mark in the story. The chapters cover the hijinks of Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and the banshee queen Sindel from the Fighters Pack 1 DLC, as well as two characters newly introduced in Aftermath: Fujin and the four-armed Sheeva.

The relatively brief running time of the whole thing allows it to be mostly filled with great moments. The blockbuster flair present in the original story mode is again in full force, as is the excellent fight choreography that makes you want to leap out of your chair. There's still that weird disconnect when an extravagant fight cinematic transitions into the more rigid nature of the game's actual one-on-one fights, but there are some good moments that lie in the gameplay portions too, like the handful of battles where you have an assist character to call on.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
Posted in Uncategorized

Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath Review – Friendship Never Ends

When the credits roll at the end of Mortal Kombat 11's excellent story mode, the slate has been wiped clean. After a variety of entertaining time-travelling hijinks, everyone's second-favourite Shaolin monk, Liu Kang, has ascended into godhood and is ready to begin writing an all-new chapter in Mortal Kombat history. It's as close to a perfect ending as you can get to the almost 30 years of convoluted lore this series has. But now, there's Aftermath, Mortal Kombat 11's optional expansion that tacks on a handful of new chapters to that narrative. And while the idea of a story-focussed add-on to this fighting game is an exciting prospect--and it certainly has its high moments--when the credits roll for the second time there isn't that same sense of gratification.

At the beginning of Aftermath, which immediately follows the end of Mortal Kombat 11, Liu Kang is interrupted by the nefarious sorcerer Shang Tsung. Along with the righteous wind god Fujin and badass indigenous shaman Nightwolf, the trio stops Liu Kang from proceeding with his rebuilding plans with the warning that they need to go back in time, again, to retrieve a MacGuffin in order to stop the process from going to shit. Over five chapters and a cinema-appropriate two-and-a-half-hour running time, the five Mortal Kombat characters that have now been introduced to MK11 as post-release content get to make their mark in the story. The chapters cover the hijinks of Shang Tsung, Nightwolf, and the banshee queen Sindel from the Fighters Pack 1 DLC, as well as two characters newly introduced in Aftermath: Fujin and the four-armed Sheeva.

The relatively brief running time of the whole thing allows it to be mostly filled with great moments. The blockbuster flair present in the original story mode is again in full force, as is the excellent fight choreography that makes you want to leap out of your chair. There's still that weird disconnect when an extravagant fight cinematic transitions into the more rigid nature of the game's actual one-on-one fights, but there are some good moments that lie in the gameplay portions too, like the handful of battles where you have an assist character to call on.

Continue Reading at GameSpot
Posted in Uncategorized

Planet of the Apes Director to Fans: ‘You’re in Good Hands’

Given how beloved Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes trilogy is, fans may be a little wary now that a new Apes movie is in the works at Disney. But director Wes Ball is seeking to reassure fans that the series remains "in good hands" and will honor the legacy of that trilogy. Ball teased the new Planet of the Apes movie with Discussing Film, reiterating earlier comments that the movie isn't a reboot, but is set within the same universe as 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels. In fact, many of the same writers and crew members from the previous movies have carried over to the Disney project. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-quickest-movie-franchise-reboots&captions=true"] Ball said, "We were using the same material, the same kind of technology, we were using a lot of the same people involved – I had asked Andy Serkis to join Mouse Guard [Bell's previous film, which wound up being a casualty of the Disney/Fox merger]. So it was kind of [a] natural fit. I understand where it came from and my big thing was: what do you do for a Planet of the Apes sequel? One, those last three movies are one of the great trilogies we have in modern movie history. They are just so well done. They honored the original movies they sprang from, the Charlton Heston movies, but they grounded it in a modern sensibility and it just worked. Caesar is one of the great movie characters that we’ll have throughout time. So what do you do to follow that up, right? At the same time, I wasn’t interested in doing a part four either. We want to also do our own thing." Ball elaborated on what sets the new movie apart from the Apes trilogy, saying, "We have a take. We have a way of staying in the universe that was created before us, but we’re also opening ourselves up in being able to do some really cool new stuff. ... I’m trying to be careful here. I’ll say this, for fans of the original three don’t worry – you’re in good hands. The original writers and producers that came up with Rise and Dawn, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, they’re also on board with this. Josh Friedman is writing this thing, a lot of the same crew is kind of involved. We will feel like we’re part of that original trilogy, but at the same time we’re able to do some really cool new stuff. It will be really exciting to see on the biggest screen possible." As you might expect, Ball is unsure when exactly filming will begin given the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he seems optimistic the film will continue taking shape in the months to come. If anything, the series' continued reliance on motion capture and computer effects may be an asset in 2020. "Planet of the Apes is moving forward and we have a giant art team cranking away on some incredible concept art," Ball said. "We’ve got the screenplay continuing to move forward, that will take the time that it takes and so that’s all good. Planet of the Apes is moving forward baby! Not only that, but we could actually be in virtual production relatively soon because it’s largely a CG movie." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/15/craziest-planet-of-the-apes-twist-endings"] It was first rumored in December that Ball would be directing a new Planet of the Apes movie. The filmmaker confirmed that news via Twitter that same day and said, "I would only do this if I felt I could offer something special while still honoring what’s come before." While the last Planet of the Apes movie hit theaters in 2017, the franchise has seen plenty of life elsewhere. There's been a cinematic adventure game, "an often infuriating VR game," and a graphic novel based on Rod Serling's early screenplay drafts of the original movie. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Posted in Uncategorized

Planet of the Apes Director to Fans: ‘You’re in Good Hands’

Given how beloved Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves' Planet of the Apes trilogy is, fans may be a little wary now that a new Apes movie is in the works at Disney. But director Wes Ball is seeking to reassure fans that the series remains "in good hands" and will honor the legacy of that trilogy. Ball teased the new Planet of the Apes movie with Discussing Film, reiterating earlier comments that the movie isn't a reboot, but is set within the same universe as 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes and its two sequels. In fact, many of the same writers and crew members from the previous movies have carried over to the Disney project. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-quickest-movie-franchise-reboots&captions=true"] Ball said, "We were using the same material, the same kind of technology, we were using a lot of the same people involved – I had asked Andy Serkis to join Mouse Guard [Bell's previous film, which wound up being a casualty of the Disney/Fox merger]. So it was kind of [a] natural fit. I understand where it came from and my big thing was: what do you do for a Planet of the Apes sequel? One, those last three movies are one of the great trilogies we have in modern movie history. They are just so well done. They honored the original movies they sprang from, the Charlton Heston movies, but they grounded it in a modern sensibility and it just worked. Caesar is one of the great movie characters that we’ll have throughout time. So what do you do to follow that up, right? At the same time, I wasn’t interested in doing a part four either. We want to also do our own thing." Ball elaborated on what sets the new movie apart from the Apes trilogy, saying, "We have a take. We have a way of staying in the universe that was created before us, but we’re also opening ourselves up in being able to do some really cool new stuff. ... I’m trying to be careful here. I’ll say this, for fans of the original three don’t worry – you’re in good hands. The original writers and producers that came up with Rise and Dawn, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, they’re also on board with this. Josh Friedman is writing this thing, a lot of the same crew is kind of involved. We will feel like we’re part of that original trilogy, but at the same time we’re able to do some really cool new stuff. It will be really exciting to see on the biggest screen possible." As you might expect, Ball is unsure when exactly filming will begin given the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he seems optimistic the film will continue taking shape in the months to come. If anything, the series' continued reliance on motion capture and computer effects may be an asset in 2020. "Planet of the Apes is moving forward and we have a giant art team cranking away on some incredible concept art," Ball said. "We’ve got the screenplay continuing to move forward, that will take the time that it takes and so that’s all good. Planet of the Apes is moving forward baby! Not only that, but we could actually be in virtual production relatively soon because it’s largely a CG movie." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2017/07/15/craziest-planet-of-the-apes-twist-endings"] It was first rumored in December that Ball would be directing a new Planet of the Apes movie. The filmmaker confirmed that news via Twitter that same day and said, "I would only do this if I felt I could offer something special while still honoring what’s come before." While the last Planet of the Apes movie hit theaters in 2017, the franchise has seen plenty of life elsewhere. There's been a cinematic adventure game, "an often infuriating VR game," and a graphic novel based on Rod Serling's early screenplay drafts of the original movie. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.
Posted in Uncategorized

Ryan Gosling Is Universal’s New Wolfman

Blade Runner 2049 star Ryan Gosling is reportedly in talks to star in Universal's upcoming reimagining of the horror classic, Wolfman, which is being written by Orange Is the New Black's Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo. Per Variety, Universal has been meeting with potential directors for the project and a decision could be made soon. Variety goes on to say that one of the filmmakers in contention for the job is Cory Finley, who recently directed HBO's Bad Education starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney. It's important to note that while Gosling originally pitched the idea for this new Wolfman tale, he has not officially closed a deal with the studio. At present, Gosling's next role will be in Phil Lord and Chris Miller's adaptation of Martian author Andy Weir's upcoming novel, which is due for publication in Spring 2021. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=the-25-best-horror-movies&captions=true"] Universal's first attempt at launching its very own Monsterverse (dubbed "The Dark Universe") did not go according to plan after 2017's The Mummy starring Tom Cruise failed to make a lasting impact at the box office. However, the studio has recently found success with The Invisible Man starring Elizabeth Moss, which earned an impressive $98.3 million on a budget of only $7 million. For more on Universal's upcoming monsters movies, there's a new Dracula film that will be directed by Destroyer's Karyn Kusama, and find out what Brendan Fraser had to say about the possibility of returning for another Mummy movie. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/02/25/the-invisible-man-review"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] David Griffin still watches DuckTales in his pajamas with a cereal bowl in hand. He's also the TV Editor for IGN. Say hi on Twitter.
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