This week was a slower week in movie news, but there were still a few noteworthy stories. Check out the newest developments below:
Brian K. Vaughn to Pen Live-Action ‘Gundam’ Movie
Comic book writer Brian K. Vaughn, the man behind hit comic book series Saga and Y: The Last Man (the latter of which getting its own TV series on FX) - is set to pen a live-action Gundam movie. Based on the popular anime series that has seen multiple incarnations, Gundam focused on an era in which people moved into space colonies because of a growing population on Earth, which leads to a war between Earth and the colonies, with the battles being fought in robotic mobile suits. The movie will be produced by Legendary Entertainment. While Vaughn has yet to be involved in a movie project that has seen release - his only other film project is penning a Silver Surfer movie still in development - he’s already seen success in the TV world, having written numerous episodes for Lost and developed Under the Dome. Additionally, his comic book writing has been critically acclaimed, so there’s little doubt he’ll have trouble pulling off a successful live-action anime adaptation.
Brian Cox to Voice Death in ‘Good Omens’ Series
The cast of Amazon’s Good Omens keeps getting bigger, with the announcement that Brian Cox has signed on as the voice of Death. Based on the novel of the same name, the series is set to be released on Amazon and developed by co-author of the novel, Neil Gaiman. Cox already has extensive work playing sinister or evil characters in films such as X2 and Manhunter, so this role seems like a perfect fit for the actor. Cox joins an already stacked cast that includes David Tennant, Frances McDormand, Jon Hamm, Michael Sheen, Nick Offerman, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Satan.
Will Smith to Play Serena and Venus Williams’ Father
King Richard - the biopic about Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard - has found its title character in Will Smith. The film will center on Richard as he overcomes his own hardships and lack of tennis background as he guides his two daughters into becoming tennis stars. While the casting of Smith has generated some controversy as the actor has been deemed “too light” for the role, Smith is still an incredibly charismatic actor who can really keep an audience engaged - as long as it’s the right screenplay. And it seems this should be a good fit for the actor to shine. The screenplay, written by Zach Baylin, was the runner-up on the 2018 Black List of Unproduced Screenplays, and the film will be produced by Star Thrower Entertainment, which has produced other hits such as The Post and Ingrid Goes West. Smith will also produce under his own Overbrook Entertainment company. No one has signed on to direct yet.
‘Wedding Crashers’ Director Reuniting with Will Ferrell for Netflix Movie
Will Ferrell is set to star in a new movie for Netflix titled Eurovision. Based on an internationally popular music competition show The Eurovision Song Contest, the film will see Ferrell reunite with Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin. While Dobkin’s filmography has been extremely hit and miss - with other credits that include Fred Claus and The Judge - Wedding Crashers was still a big hit for the director, and contained one of Ferrell’s funniest performances, even if it was just a cameo. This is one to be approached with a bit of trepidation but hopefully Ferrell and Dobkin can bring the same energy they brought to the big screen almost fifteen years ago.
Rock Hudson Biopic in the Works From Greg Berlanti
Rock Hudson, the iconic film actor whose death from AIDS brought mainstream attention to the crisis, is getting a biopic. Based on the biography “All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson,” by Mark Griffin, the film will be directed by Greg Berlanti. While there are very little other details known about this one, this is definitely high on the radar. Berlanti has become a powerhouse in the television world, producing and/or developing hit series such as the CW Arrowverse, Riverdale, You, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. After an eight-year break from directing movies, he also returned to the big screen last year with Love, Simon, a sweet, crowd-pleasing teen comedy-drama that received a fair amount of critical acclaim. Considering Berlanti’s been on a hot streak these last few years, this one should definitely leave a mark once it sees the light of day.
Idris Elba to Replace Will Smith in ‘Suicide Squad’ Sequel
Due to scheduling conflicts, Will Smith will not return as Deadshot in DC’s Suicide Squad sequel, set to be written and directed by former Marvel director James Gunn, signaling yet even further distance placed from the DCEU started up by Zack Snyder in 2013. However, DC has tapped another Marvel veteran to replace Smith, with Idris Elba taking over the role. While as I previously mentioned, Smith is an incredibly charismatic actor, Elba is arguably even more charismatic, having won critical acclaim for his role as Stringer Bell on The Wire and the titular character in Luther, and has also been acclaimed for his work in Star Trek Beyond, Molly’s Game, and his voice work in The Jungle Book and Finding Dory, among other projects. Elba already has some other high-profile projects coming up, including the Fast and Furious spinoff Hobbs & Shaw, Cats, and the Netflix series Turn Up Charlie.
Comments