Why Us Kicks Off With That Hands Across America Ad

Why Us Kicks Off With That Hands Across America Ad

The following contains spoilers for Us.

Three's a lot of odd, strange, and bizarre stuff going on in Jordan Peele's new film Us. However, one of the strangest things has to be the movie's opening scene. The film opens on a little girl watching television in the 1980s. Specifically, she views a commercial for the 1986 fundraising event Hands Across America. The ad isn't entirely random, as the event has a part to play in the larger story of Us. In fact, it sort of sets the tone for the entire movie, which is apparently why Jordan Peele decided to open the movie with it.

In addition to the Hands Across America commercial being important to the plot of Us, it also mirrors the film itself, because while the ad wants to be full of hope and optimism, Jordan Peele actually had a very different reaction to it. It seems that ultimately, it was the commercial which helped the writer and director figure out what he wanted to do with the movie, which is why he decided to open the film with it. According to Peele...

Old creepy commercials also come up in both, ones from the ’80s. In conceiving this movie, I arrived at the Hands Across America commercial from one of these moments of feeling as opposed to thinking. I found a real Hands Across America commercial — I don’t know what I was searching to find it, but I just had this feeling of dread watching the amusing, bright optimism on display. It took me back to a time where I was also afraid and young and vulnerable, and didn’t really know what was going on. So I probably said, ‘what if this was the first scene in the movie?’ And that began to answer questions about what I was working towards.

I'm old enough to remember the actual Hands Across America, but I'm never going to be able to think about it the same way again thanks to Us. The unwavering optimism of it all is almost terrifying, which is part of the point. Everything looks good but there's a feeling of something wrong underneath, which is exactly was Us is trying to say.

The first part of Us takes place in 1986, the same year that Hands Across America took place, but as we learn later in the movie, the commercial wasn't simply set to help set the time and place. The actual event has a part to play. Based on what Jordan Peele tells Polygon, it sounds like connecting his story to Hands Across America helped him figure out where to take the characters in his script, as he'd still had some questions previously.

It was certainly a unique and interesting way to open a movie, not to mention effective. The choice to use the commercial makes the audience wonder just what they're seeing and why, throwing them a little off balance for the story that is to come.

Us is in theaters now.

5 Facts You Didn't Know About The Original Aladdin Movie

5 Facts You Didn't Know About The Original Aladdin Movie

Before it was announced, it seemed inevitable that Walt Disney Pictures would add its Aladdin movie to its dossier of live-action updates. On May 24th, audiences will bear witness to Guy Ritchie’s new vision of the magical rags-to-riches story featuring a big, blue Will Smith assuming the iconic role of Genie.

The beloved, 1992 original animated hit is regarded by many fans as untouchable, especially due to its Academy Award-winning music by Alan Menken and Robin Williams’ incomparable performance as the voice of Genie.

While fans are entitled to their opinions regarding a remake to such a lightning-in-a-bottle movie, the classic still clearly holds up. But how well do you really know  know the original Aladdin movie?

Let’s revisit the kingdom of Agrabah and take a deeper look behind the bright-colored veil to uncover a few facts about Aladdin that you may not have known before.

Robin Williams Recorded Enough Material As Genie For More Movies

The Genie in Aladdin is considered by many as the greatest of Disney’s classic animated characters. Much of the credit goes to future Academy Award-winner Robin Williams, whom the filmmakers allowed to go hog wild with the role, given that they had already written the character with him in mind.

Williams went much deeper into the role than the rest of the Aladdin cast, and so much that his time spent in the recording studio ended up resulting in almost 16 hours of potentially usable material, although a clause in his will says Disney can't use it until 25 years after his death. Aladdin is a mere 90 minutes. Imagine trying to cut down a gold mine to just one brick!

Additionally, Robin Williams’ improvisational performance style when voicing Genie actually proved somewhat problematic to the film’s Oscar potential. So much of his dialogue was ad-libbed that it cost Aladdin an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Thankfully, Alan Menken’s original score and song “A Whole New World” saved the Aladdin movie from leaving awards season empty-handed.

The Real Deal With The Street Peddler Who Introduces Aladdin

Aladdin begins with the now-controversial song “Arabian Nights” (more on that later) sung by a character known as The Peddler. The Peddler struggles to sell his merchandise to the audience, until he presents a lamp that he claims is nothing ordinary.

He uses the lamp as a segue into the main story of the Aladdin movie. Then, for the rest of the film, he is never seen or mentioned again. So, what was his point to the story anyway, other than providing an introduction?

Considering the Peddler was voiced by Robin Williams, fans have speculated  the character is actually a post-freedom Genie in disguise. In a 2015 interview to promote the Aladdin Blu-ray release, co-director Ron Clements revealed the truth behind the fan theory stating:

That's true! That was the whole intention, originally. We even had that at the end of the movie, where he would reveal himself to be the Genie, and of course Robin did the voice of The Peddler. Just through story changes and some editing, we lost the reveal at the end. So, that's an urban legend that actually is true.

Huzzah! A Disney animated movie fan theory finally confirmed! Now, I’ll just wait patiently for someone to admit that Aladdin really does tell Jasmine’s tiger to take its clothes off.

Jafar Almost Sounded Like A Certain Star Trek Character

Aladdin’s ruthless, power-hungry villain (and one of the best Disney movie villains ever) Jafar was voiced by Jonathan Freeman.

Jonathan Freeman is one of the few members of the Aladdin cast to reprise his original role in multiple spin-off projects, including a Broadway rendition of the film. His unforgettable portrayal has remained one of the most endurable aspects of the film. But can you imagine Jafar in the voice of, say, Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain Jean-Luc Picard?

One of Disney’s first choices for the voice of Jafar was world-renowned actor Patrick Stewart. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts with his role on Star Trek, he was forced to turn the role down. Following the Aladdin movie’s $504 million international success story, Stewart has gone onto state in interviews that turning down Jafar is one of the greatest regrets of his career.

I imagine he would have been dynamite for that Broadway show, too.

Princess Jasmine Was Almost Completely Different

Jasmine, the royal romantic interest of Aladdin’s title character played by Linda Larkin, is arguably one of the better female role models among Disney’s animated character creations. However, her character's original concept is nothing like what Aladdin movie fans remember, for better or for worse.

For one, Jasmine was initially meant to have a more active role in the story.

Instead of breaking down and crying over her forced engagement to Jafar, she was supposed to angrily confront her father: a sequence that got nixed to save time on animation designs. Instead of needing Aladdin to rescue her from Jafar’s giant hourglass, she was originally going to free herself using a jewel in her headpiece.

I would call these missed opportunities, but they are ultimately forgiven by Disney’s decision to not go with Jasmine’s original personality design.

Instead of the bored, kindhearted princess longing for a more normal life, Jasmine was going to be a total brat who only wanted to marry the richest prince available. A song was written, intended to be her defining theme, called “Call Me a Princess.” Only when she falls in love with Aladdin would she learn humility and change into a sweeter version of herself.

Disney, believing audiences would not like that interpretation of her, decided to change Jasmine into the humble character she is admired as today. Good thing the creative team was able to make the change before Aladdin’s theatrical movie release, unlike a different mistake.

One Aladdin Song Sparked Controversy

The opening song of Aladdin is "Arabian Nights," sang by Bruce Adler, who served as The Peddler’s singing voice. The song is meant to set the tone of the story and inform the audience of its setting.

Among Alan Menken’s many memorable, award-winning songs in Aladdin, “Arabian Nights” is not one that has gotten much love. Those who saw the film in its initial theatrical run may understand why.

There is a lyric right before the line, “It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home,” that says, “Where it’s flat and immense and the heat is intense.” Those are not the original words, however. The original lyric said, “Where they cut off your ear if they don't like your face.”

This sparked major controversy from Arab-American groups who claimed the mention of cutting off ears was racist. Disney and Alan Menken agreed to change the lines for Aladdin’s home video release.

What do you think of our Aladdin facts? Do they make "a whole new world" of difference? Catch the live action version of the movie when it hits theaters this weekend, and be sure to check out more of what's coming this summer with our full schedule.

The Addams Family First Trailer Has A Classic IT Joke

The Addams Family First Trailer Has A Classic IT Joke

We’ve known for a while now that The Addams Family would be coming back to the big screen in 2019. Now that we’ve gotten the first look at the upcoming animated venture, I can confirm they’re still creepy and they’re kooky, plus they’re absolutely mysterious and spooky. But you don’t need to take my word for it. You can catch the first preview of the new movie, below.

The Addams Family trailer takes great pains to let us know this isn’t your average family. In fact, there’s a whole section at the beginning filled with stick figures to explain how the Addams differ from other people you’ve met in your lifetime.

My favorite moment, however, features Wednesday Addams and a red balloon. She walks into a room her parents are currently occupying with said red balloon and her mother Morticia declares, “Strange there’s usually a murderous clown attached to the other end of these.” Nods to IT are pretty timely right now, given the popularity of the Andy Muschietti venture.

Theme music is present in every corner of this first trailer for The Addams Family and Wednesday is as gloomy as ever in the first look at the computer animated 3D movie, which comes from MGM Pictures and Cinesite.

As for the cast, sometimes with animated movies it can be hard to tell exactly who is involved in all of the voicework, so we'll break it down for you here. Oscar Isaac is on board as Gomez Addams and his lovely wife Morticia (she of the IT jokes) will be voiced by Charlize Theron. Their kids, Wednesday and Pugsley, will be voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz and Finn Wolfhard--the latter is actually in IT: Chapter One and IT: Chapter Two, so that reference in the trailer has an added layer. Nick Kroll will voice Uncle Fester in this iteration of The Addams Family. Bette Midler will voice Grandma and Allison Janney will voice a reality TV host in the upcoming movie.

Related: Take A Look At The The Addams Family Cast

The whole animated venture has two directors in Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan, who also worked together on the R-rated animated flick Sausage Party. Matt Lieberman wrote the script for the new movie. This project actually took a long time to come together, as we were already writing about an animated Addams Family venture back in 2013.

Hopefully, the final project will be worth the wait. We'll be able to see for ourselves when The Addams Family hits theaters on October 11, 2019 -- just in time for a family-friendly Halloween. To take a look at what else is hitting theaters later this year, take a look at our full release schedule. And be sure to stay tuned to CinemaBlend as a longer trailer should be forthcoming.

Keri Russell's Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Character Finally Revealed In New Image

Keri Russell's Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Character Finally Revealed In New Image

While we’re still pretty much in the dark when it comes to details on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’s plot, there’s plenty of other information that’s slowly being put out into the universe. Today brings one of the most beautiful traditions linked to the modern era of Star Wars film’s: the Vanity Fair spread.

Among the new character reveals that took place in this latest version of that time-honored happening is our first look at Keri Russell’s new Star Wars character, Zorri Bliss. As you’ll see in the photo below, she was absolutely right to say that she had the coolest costume in the film:

This first look at Zorri and her costume has us thinking that Keri Russell is playing a bounty hunter character, or at least someone who swims in the same dark circles as Boba Fett. Then again, if anyone shows up in the Star Wars universe with weapons and a helmet obscuring their face, it’s not a hard stretch to think that this person would be looking to apprehend any person, object, or information for the right price.

With a gold helmet that looks like The Rocketeer joined Daft Punk, and a crimson/purple jumpsuit that complements further gold and bronze accents, Zorri is definitely ready for action. The inclusion of her dual pistols only makes us want to hang out with her more, knowing that at any given moment, a fight could break out and Zorri Bliss would end it just as quickly.

Not only was the first look at Zorri’s costume shared by Vanity Fair, but some details about Zorri’s character were also given. Sure enough, we’re not the only people that see a smooth criminal in the Star Wars galaxy, as their write up mentions that the fresh war raging throughout the new trilogy has continued to allow the criminal underworld to flourish. Which certainly explains the fancy threads on Zorri Bliss.

As Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is set up to conclude the Skywalker Saga, the two trilogies of stand-alone films that won’t deal with that particular corner of the storied universe are on the horizon, and will need new characters to play around with. Which means that between Rian Johnson’s new films, and those being undertaken by Game of Thrones’ masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, there’s a chance that Zorri Bliss could appear again down the line.

That's speculation, of course, but should Keri Russell’s new character make a big enough impression, this just might be the future we’re looking at. We’ll have to wait until Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker arrives in our galaxy on December 20th to find out. In the meantime, you can take a look at what all we know about the upcoming flick so far.

Rian Johnson Is Still Defending The Last Jedi As New Star Wars Trilogy Rumors Spread

Rian Johnson Is Still Defending The Last Jedi As New Star Wars Trilogy Rumors Spread

It has been a year and a half since Star Wars: The Last Jedi came out, and writer/director Rian Johnson is still engaging with fans and critics on social media. In that respect, he is very different from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. And yet both Johnson and the tag team of D&D are working on their own Star Wars trilogies.

Disney recently announced release dates for three new Star Wars movies -- 2022, 2024, and 2026. There were no details on whether those dates were for Rian Johnson's trilogy, the Game of Thrones showrunners' trilogy, or what. It's almost like Lucasfilm purposely dangled out a troll carrot.

ABC (owned by Disney, like Lucasfilm) correspondent Clayton Sandell reiterated there's no official confirmation on who is making the newly dated Star Wars films:

However, that hasn't stopped another rumor from spreading that Rian Johnson's trilogy was cancelled. That is not based on anything substantial, but it is feeding the hopes of non-fans. Just a few months ago, Johnson addressed a rumor that he was stepping away from his trilogy by saying it wasn't true, he was still working on it.

Meanwhile, Rian Johnson recently had another debate with a Star Wars critic. It started with Johnson re-posting a Mary Sue joke, and a non-fan replied with "omg look at me, I ignore criticism of story and only point to ridiculous examples." Johnson kept it light with jokes, but he did try to make a counter-point about The Last Jedi criticism over Snoke's death vs. the lack of similar criticism over the Emperor's death in the original trilogy:

Rian Johnson has no problem getting into debates with Star Wars: The Last Jedi fans, critics, haters, or people somewhere in between. He's passionate about the stories and he's a fan himself.

Over on the other side, the Game of Thrones showrunners don't engage at all. That's not a criticism, it might be the better way to go. Depends on your perspective. It's not like Game of Thrones hasn't seen its share of criticism, though, and the final season in particular has been met with many complaints. (And not just because that random coffee cup error distracted attention from other major events. They let Ed Sheeran do the same thing a couple of years ago.)

The Game of Thrones showrunners literally plan to go into hiding on finale night, turning off their phones. I can't imagine Rian Johnson doing that. Again, that's not a judgment on which trilogy should move forward first. It's also not a zero sum game -- that whoever gets this trio of release dates wins and the other team loses and their Star Wars project dies. I don't have a clue what Lucasfilm has planned on that front.

I don't have a favorite in this race either, since we don't know enough about the proposed plots yet. It's not clear what's coming to the big screen after the Skywalker Saga ends this December with The Rise of Skywalker. We know some Star Wars stories will be told on Disney+, including The Mandalorian, but nothing has been said yet about either Rian Johnson or the GoT guys' projects moving to the streaming service.

What about you? Would you rather the newly dated Star Wars trilogy be from Rian Johnson or the Game of Thrones showrunners? I don't know that there's a third option besides maybe a mix from both, but go ahead and suggest it anyway.

John Wick 3 Is Killing With Fans, Earning Highest Scores Of The Franchise

John Wick 3 Is Killing With Fans, Earning Highest Scores Of The Franchise

Looks like if it was up to fans, John Wick would just keep thinkin' he's back forever. Each John Wick film has gotten progressively higher scores from fans and, in many cases, critics. That's not easy for a franchise to do.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum just opened in theaters yesterday, which means today we get to look at the CinemaScore from moviegoers polled on opening night. We can also check out the Rotten Tomatoes Audience Scores. All told, it looks great for John Wick. The box office is also looking like a franchise best, and maybe even enough to kill off Avengers: Endgame's weekend winning streak.

Seems to me like we can pencil in John Wick 4 for 2021 or 2022, but maybe I'm getting too pushy.

Here are some score comparisons, keeping in mind that John Wick 3's RT Audience Scores will fluctuate after the early rush of opening weekend. But either way, I don't see them going down so much that they don't stay the best of the franchise to date.

JOHN WICK (2014)

RT Audience Score - 80%

RT Critics Score - 86%

CinemaScore - B

Box office - $88,761,661 worldwide

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2 (2017)

RT Audience Score - 85%

RT Critics Score - 89%

CinemaScore - A-

Box office - $171,539,887 worldwide

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (2019)

RT Audience Score (so far) - 93%

RT Critics Score - 88%

CinemaScore - A-

Box office - Stay tuned!

As you can see, John Wick 3 is the only film in the franchise to date that has a higher RT Audience Score than a critics score. It also tied Chapter 2 with an A- CinemaScore. Looking at the first movie, I'm grateful we even got a second one, since a B CinemaScore and less than $100 million worldwide wouldn't inspire everyone to say "Yeah, I think we should keep going." Then again, that first film was made on a super slim production budget of roughly $20 million.

At any rate, John Wick 3 is already on target to top the previous two grosses. It had a very strong opening night at the box office, and the revised opening weekend projections are much higher than the early estimates of $30-40 million. The weekend isn't over yet, but Parabellum is even being eyed as the first to dethrone Avengers: Endgame as #1 at the domestic box office.

John Wick is a very violent franchise, but Keanu Reeves seems like such a chill dude and he's easy to root for. He's already had blockbuster after blockbuster in his career, and it's cool to think that in his mid-50s he's found himself at the top of another career-defining role. He and director Chad Stahelski have talked about being more than willing to come back for more, and John Wick 3 reactions would suggest fans are ready for more as well.

Have you seen John Wick 3 yet? If so, here's more on the ending and where the franchise could go from here. Also, why not add your score/grade to the list by voting in our poll below?

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.

Viral Avengers: Endgame Theory Involves Ant-Man And Thanos’ Purple Butt

Viral Avengers: Endgame Theory Involves Ant-Man And Thanos’ Purple Butt

Marvel fans, we’ve almost made it! Avengers: Endgame is officially under a month away from release.... and, real talk: I think the deliriousness has finally started to set in regarding the upcoming culmination of the MCU thus far, as we are now about to discuss a totally hysterical theory that brings new meaning to the latest trailer’s iconic line, “Whatever it takes.”

Let me set the scene for this one. Imagine you’re in the theater on opening day, and you’re watching Endgame when this becomes the plan the remainder of the Avengers decide on: Ant-Man shrinking to a teenie-tiny size (as he does) and crawling up Thanos’ purple ass just before switching into his giant size inside of the villian, thus exploding him out of existence. Just...imagine.

According to a Vox explainer on “Thanus Theory,” the idea was born on a Reddit thread titled “Worst ways to stop Thanos” where one user suggested that Hulk borrow the Ant-Man suit and go from zero to hero by passing through Thanos’ mouth and straight down to his manhood before Hulking out and saving the world! One commenter replied with “holy shit you’re a genius,” and I would be lying if I said I didn’t agree. The theory has, of course, gone absolutely viral and inspired a ton of memes. Take a look:

Don’t wipe away those cry-laughing tears just yet. There’s a lot more where that came from. The meme theory was applied to the recent Avengers: Endgame character posters with an edit on Twitter as well. Check it out:

There are honestly so many hilarious memes regarding this theory. This writer is even a bit overwhelmed with it all. Of course, the question is… could it happen? Twitter user @sapphic_tracer considered the possibility with this point:

This is a valid note! I never would have guessed that the reason for Nick Fury’s eye-patch look was due to an adorable feline flerken named Goose, but here we are. Marvel isn’t a stranger to loosening up some of their plotlines in service of a good joke. However, if Deadpool was part of the Avengers, I would certainly be more convinced that the theory is possible, since something like this would absolutely be more on-brand for Wade Wilson.

The theory is over a year old, which means Paul Rudd was actually confronted by the theory back when he was doing press for Ant-Man and the Wasp. Take a look:

The Ant-Man actor actually looks rather uncomfortable and a bit thrown off addressing this theory, which could be a sign that the internet is on to something, or (much more likely) way, way off. I guess we’ll find out on April 26!! Start placing your bets now. Is “Thanus Theory” actually fact?

How The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Creates Harry's Patronus In The Sky

How The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter Creates Harry's Patronus In The Sky

Earlier this year, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood debuted a new nighttime show called Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle. The 8-minute show uses projection mapping onto the castle to tell a story dedicated to the darker side of magic, the kind they won’t teach you at Hogwarts. The grand finale of the show sees Harry Potter’s stag Patronus light up the night sky in a beautiful display that seems like magic.

It is obviously (and sadly) not real magic though. It is actually achieved thanks to the magic of technology, specifically dozens of drones that emit the bright lights that makeup Harry’s brilliant stag Patronus. According to Forbes, Universal Studios Hollywood partnered with the Intel Drone Group, which had experience putting on drone light shows, with the express purpose of lighting up the sky with the stag Patronus that Harry Potter shared with his father James.

You can’t just go to the local electronics store, buy a bunch of drones and hope you can make them form a pattern in the sky though, and that’s why Universal Studios reached out to Intel in the first place. There are a lot of variables and calculations that have to be made to get the desired effect and have it be as magical as possible.

In addition to getting approval to use the airspace where the drones would be flying, Intel Drone Group also needed to account for the environment, where the drones would launch from and what the animation is that they would have to perform. It’s an involved process that can take months to realize and undoubtedly part of why Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle was in development for over two years.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s Senior Director of Entertainment Production Stephen Siercks wouldn’t divulge the specifics of exactly how they pull off the show’s phenomenal Patronus finale, but did say that it is a “really complex program that blends both technology and choreography.”

While the technical side of such spectacles is always fascinating, it is sometimes cool to not know how it works and just suspend your disbelief as much as possible and allow yourself to be immersed in a fantastical world. Although I imagine a video doesn’t do this justice, you can check out Harry’s Patronus in the sky in the video below.

Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle ran for 15 days earlier this year and returned to the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood for Memorial Day weekend. The show next returns to the park on June 22 and will run through August 11. Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle is also coming to Universal Studios Orlando, but dates have not yet been announced.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see what movies will be creating magic on the big screen this year and let us know what your Patronus is in the comments below.

California Avengers: Endgame Screening May Have Exposed Moviegoers To Measles

California Avengers: Endgame Screening May Have Exposed Moviegoers To Measles

The United States is currently dealing with the worst outbreak of measles since the disease was considered eradicated in the nation back in 2000. The outbreak has hit 22 states and has recently made headlines for being detected in Southern California.The large population there already makes the possibility for widespread infection significant, but the timing is also unfortunate. A woman infected with the disease may have infected a large number of people when she attended one of the first screenings of Avengers: Endgame last week.

According to NBC 7 in San Diego, the woman attended the AMC Theater in Fullerton on Thursday, April 25 for a midnight screening. People who were in that theater beginning at 11:00 PM that evening are being asked to contact their health provides as they may have been exposed.

Measles is an incredibly infectious disease, and so places like movie theaters where large numbers of people are in very close proximity to each other, are perfect for the spread of the disease. The fact that the biggest movie in years, that's drawn record numbers of people to theaters over the last week, has been released in the middle of this outbreak, is simply the worst kind of luck.

The woman in question apparently had just returned from a trip abroad, so it's being implied that she may have contracted the disease elsewhere in the world, rather than getting it from another person during this recent domestic outbreak.

Because of the infectious nature of the disease people who have been diagnosed are being put in quarantine or being asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves. It doesn't appear the woman knew she was carrying the disease when she went to the theater, as people can be infections before symptoms even begin to present.

The majority of the cases come from those who were unvaccinated.

Certainly, nobody who was going to check out a midnight showing of Avengers: Endgame was expecting to have to deal with a serious disease. Those in the theater for the midnight screening that the infected woman was in certainly run the greatest risk but anybody in the building could have been infected and even those who arrived after the woman left could have contracted the disease simply by touching the wrong thing.

Because some AMC theaters were running later than usual screenings of Avengers: Endgame in order to deal with the high demand, even more people than usual could have potentially been exposed.

Hopefully, this infection will run its course and the herd immunity of vaccination will help prevent it from spreading to those who are unable to get vaccinated. While no movies as big as Avengers: Endgame are likely to come out this summer, this is the season for theaters to be full of people, and with that comes increased risks that could potentially last all summer.

Shazam!’s Director Wants To Return For A Sequel

Shazam!’s Director Wants To Return For A Sequel

The next DCEU film may not have hit theaters just yet, but it looks like the filmmakers had such a blast working on the movie that they would say yes to making a sequel in a Shazam! Director David F. Sandberg and producer Peter Safran have confirmed their interest in continuing Billy Batson’s story past his upcoming superhero origin story, so stay tuned!

There’s still a couple of weeks before Shazam! hits theaters, but the movie has already received some early positive buzz from critics and will follow the DCEU hype after the recent massive success of Aquaman. So, whispers of sequels may not be completely beating the studio to the punch.

During an interview with ComicBook, Sandberg and Safran were asked if they were ready to take on a second Shazam! The producer jumped in first with an enthusiastic “Absolutely!” before turning to the Shazam! director, who said “Let’s do it!” How the movie is received when it makes its way to theaters does have quite the pull, so if you’re already excited for a sequel go see Shazam! On the big screen!

Early tracking estimates that the superhero flick will makes around $50 million during its opening weekend, as Stephen King remake, Pet Sematary treads closely behind with at around $40 to $45 million. In comparison, Aquaman nabbed $67 million during its first weekend alongside other big new openers Mary Poppins and Bumblebee and went on to become an over $1.1 billion hit. On the other hand, Aquaman wasn’t sandwiched between Captain Marvel and Avengers: Endgame.

Shazam! will also follow the releases of Disney’s live-action Dumbo and Jordan Peele’s second film after his buzzy Get Out debut. How will this change how much attention the next DCEU film gets in the midst of so many exciting releases? Only time will tell.

The movie starring Zachary Levi has been getting a warm reception so far, as early audiences have called it delightful, funny, heartwarming and a sweet call back to classics such as Big, The Goonies and Superman. Shazam! is unique from other superhero films because it is told from the perspective of kids and also looks to feature tons of DCEU jokes with jabs at Batman and Aquaman.

Shazam! follows Billy Batson (Asher Angel) and Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), a pair of foster kids, as Billy obtains the ability to transform into an adult hero with superpowers (Zachary Levi). While the teenagers start off having a fun time playing around with his abilities, Billy must learn to become an actual superhero and take on a formidable foe named Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong).

The DCEU has had a mix of successes and disappointments, but from the looks of it, Shazam! has the makings of starting a hot streak for the franchise that could call for a sequel. Check out Shazam! on April 5 and maybe David F. Sandberg and Peter Safran will get their wish after all.

5 Reasons Godzilla (2014) Is Better Than You Probably Remember

5 Reasons Godzilla (2014) Is Better Than You Probably Remember

With Godzilla: King of the Monsters stomping, hopping, smashing and crashing its way into theaters around the world this week, I have a confession to make: I like Godzilla (2014). I like it a lot, in fact, and I don't think it deserves the flack it gets.

Gareth Edwards' assured, commanding sophomore film is a fire-breather of a Godzilla movie, one that surprisingly isn't afraid to bide its time and make the monster movie beats worth the while. It's a carefully-crafted B-movie with A-grade special effects, an expensive genre beauty that fills the big screen at choice moments. It produces a loud, roaring triumph of Spielbergian craftsmanship, complimented beautifully by its boisterous score, with a diligent desire to make the explosive finale a towering inferno of epic-ness. In short, it's a lot of fun, and it's a lot better than people give it credit.

The film does have its flaws — many of them, in fact. For instance, Aaron Taylor-Johnson's character is a soggy bread of a protagonist, lacking any real depth or nuance to make him worthy of being our central human character. The story structure can be a bit haphazard, favoring set pieces over a firm narrative streamline, and the lack of monster fights in the first two-thirds can be odd — to say the least — for a major American studio Godzilla movie. But its strengths far outshine its weaknesses, in my view, and I believe there's a lot worth celebrating in this big-budget remake. Here's my reasoning.

Godzilla Has Excellent Use Of Build-Up

Perhaps the biggest — and, in my view, most rewarding — surprise found in Godzilla (2014) is that it is an unexpectedly patient film. With Hollywood blockbusters, particularly in an era of massive superhero movies, we're used to seeing a lot of whizz-bang early and often. Blockbusters will jam-pack as many action beats as possible to keep easily-distracted eyeballs focused squarely on the big screen in front of them. You need to bring the masses, and the masses want something that keeps their attention spans stimulated, even if — or especially if — their brain is left unrewarded in the process.

There is nothing wrong with a good popcorn flick. I love them as much as the next guy. But Godzilla (2014) accomplishes something that is a little more dexterous in terms of its plotting and execution. It intentionally teases the audience, keeping the title character at a distance until it's time for the big, famous kaiju monster to make a hell of an impression. The result is a Godzilla movie with fewer action beats than you might anticipate, but one that is, nevertheless, deeply satisfying because the pay-off is so explosively enjoyable that you feel rewarded for being strung along for the last hour or so.

Godzilla Has Amazing Special Effects

With blockbusters today, we often take the wizardry of special effects for granted. Nearly every blockbuster released in theaters this weekend is filled with spectacles galore, often the work of computer animators trying to meet tight deadlines and massive expectations. Nevertheless, the VFX effects in Godzilla (2014) are truly incredible, not merely for a big-scale Godzilla movie (particularly with other Godzilla movies relying on people in rubber suits to do the job), but for a major Hollywood blockbuster such as this one.

Gareth Edwards made a beautiful looking movie, one that is complimented throughout with strong cinematography and commendable direction. But it is the lavish special effects from the movie's heavy $160 million budget that really make the visual pops in this action flick. Particularly with the very dated special effects found in Roland Emmerich's ill-fated 1998 Godzilla remake, Godzilla (2014) is the first time the big mean radioactive monster was given the proper Hollywood treatment. And he is as beautiful as he's ugly — if that makes sense.

Impressively massive and commendably fleshed-out, Godzilla looks more believable and photorealistic than he's ever looked before, and the reptilian badass is truly a sight to behold. It's a damn shame that Godzilla (2014) didn't even get a nomination for Best Visual Effects. Quite an egregious snub.

Godzilla Has Nice Set Pieces

While people are often quick to lament about the lack of monster-based action sequences in Godzilla (2014), the blockbuster does contain a wide array of impressive set pieces. Whether it's Hawaii, Las Vegas, San Francisco or the Philippines, Godzilla gets around in this new movie, and we follow him through a nice assortment of different scenic backdrops. Though Godzilla is a big, imposing, menacing dude, the skyscraper-sized creature sure knows how to get around the world in a short amount of time.

As a result, Godzilla (2014) is as expansive as it is expensive, providing audiences with a glorious blockbuster with the budget and means to jump from location-to-location. It provides moviegoers with a chance to see all kinds of locations, even if many — if not all — of them fall victim to widespread destruction in the grasp of Godzilla's fire-breathing reign. Gareth Edwards' first film, the micro-budgeted Monsters, showcased a rising filmmaker with a knack for making the most out of sparse and/or visually-dynamic locations. That filmmaking tradition continued with his next film, Godzilla (2014).

Godzilla Has A Great Sense Of Perspective

One thing that really makes Godzilla (2014) exceptional is that this major movie tends to prefer the small opposed to the big. While the film is filled with major overtures in the right key moments, it's a film that like to keep the focus on the ground floor. Picking up from the tradition of 2008's Cloverfield, it imagines the citywide destruction and global mayhem of the kaiju attacks from a view that is often closer to the floor than the sky. The result is a huge, gigantic motion picture that knows how to dish out action in a human level — even if it's human characters can often, unfortunately, be a bit lacking.

It's hard to say that Aaron Taylor-Johnson brings a lot to the lead role. And it's even harder to remember much of anything about his character or personality. But through his eyes, we are often witnessing the chaos that springs worldwide in these monsters' wake. The result is a movie that knows how to bring perspective in the fold, and one that constantly keeps the action investing by never being afraid to reveal its hand too early into the game.

The Cast Is Notable

Now, listen, I won't say the humans in Godzilla are richly fleshed-out, three-dimensional characters with rich backgrounds and layered personalities. You'd be hard-pressed to find many Godzilla-focused movies with the same high pedigree of actors. Bryan Cranston and Ken Watanabe are excellent in in their supporting roles, while Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche, David Stratharian and Elizabeth Olsen are always dependable talents. Unfortunately, most of the cast is given little to work with, as the humans are often a means to the end, and that end is monster-on-monster action.

Nevertheless, while most of these actors aren't given awards-caliber performances, there are only a few truly underwhelming performances. Everyone is doing the best they can with their often paper-thin characters, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson often gets the worst of it. He's a talented actor who has proven his talents in a variety of different films, including Kick-Ass, Nowhere Boy and Nocturnal Animals, to name a few noteworthy examples of late.

Sadly, however, like I said in the introduction, his character in this film is a wet blanket who isn't as much fun as his title co-star. Nevertheless, most of these actors do commendable work to sell the gravitas in this otherwise campy genre exercise, and their hard work and talents can be under-appreciated.

Will I call Godzilla (2014) a perfect movie? No. Because it's not. Like I said, it has its flaws, and it has its shortcomings. While Godzilla: King of the Monsters seems like it will be providing the non-stop, wall-to-wall monster action that hungry fans were expecting from this much-anticipated remake, I don't think it's fair to give this Godzilla movie the cold shoulder in the process.

On its own merits, Gareth Edwards made a well-crafted, exhilarating monster movie with Godzilla (2014), one that should be admired much more than it is. And I hope I provided some compelling reasons for why that should be the case.

There's A Fun Avengers: Endgame Cameo No One's Really Talking About

There's A Fun Avengers: Endgame Cameo No One's Really Talking About

Warning: spoilers for Avengers: Endgame are in play. If you’re looking to stay

For all of the special appearances that were had by folks just passing through Avengers: Endgame, there’s one that’s such a deep cut, no one’s really talking about it. That is, unless you’re a fantasy football player, and you happen to be a huge fan of ESPN. In which case, internet expert/sports fiend Matthew Berry’s cameo during the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest adventure at the movies.

Matthew Berry’s role as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent flanking Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce came about through some interesting circumstances, which he described as follows:

It happened through the grace of Joe Russo. He’s been reading my column for years and he’s a big fantasy football player. And about two years ago he gave me a call and said ‘Hey man, I got a part that I think is perfect for you if you want to be in the movie’. And I was like ‘Yeah of course,’ obviously.

Present during the scene where Avengers: Endgame revisited the Battle of New York, Matthew Berry’s character was seen in the segment of the Time Heist, with Tony Stark witnessing the previously untold story of how Alexander Pierce and his cronies on the STRIKE team tried to recover the Tesseract and Loki’s scepter for their own evil gains. Though, based on the details that Berry gave about his time shooting his cameo, that was something that even he didn’t know at the time.

As he spoke with io9, Matthew Berry gave the details on how even the few pages of the Avengers: Endgame script he was given were very confusing, as this scene was actually shot before Avengers: Infinity War was even released, much less seen by the public. So with a script that includes characters like Alexander Pierce, Captain America, and “Other Tony,” the words being provided were lacking more than a little context. Though, Berry’s lucky he wasn’t given a fake script to protect the secrets in his portion of the film.

Still, acting in a scene with Robert Redford, Chris Evans, and Robert Downey Jr. proved to be a dream for Matthew Berry. Though that dream was more of a nightmare when Berry had to bury the details of his involvement in his mind for two whole years, as he had to wait for Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame to be released before he said anything. And you thought waiting two weeks to share spoilers was hard!

It’s amazing how just as you think you’re getting over the unexpected cameos of a film like Avengers: Endgame, there are even more surprises that are waiting to be discovered. With Matthew Berry’s involvement now known, it’s easy to think about whether or not more figures of note are hidden somewhere in the film’s cast roster.

Just to be sure, we’ll probably head out to see Avengers: Endgame again, as it’s currently in theatrical release. However, if you’re curious as to what else is headed to theaters this weekend, feel free to read through our 2019 release schedule to find your next adventure.

New John Wick: Chapter 3 Clip Features John Asking Halle Berry For Help

New John Wick: Chapter 3 Clip Features John Asking Halle Berry For Help

Arguably the most famous actor joining the John Wick franchise for Chapter 3, a.k.a. Parabellum, is Halle Berry, who, like Keanu Reeves, is playing a dog-loving assassin. We’ve seen snippets of Berry’s Sofia in the John Wick: Chapter 3 trailers, but now there’s a new clip showing John asking for her help in the midst of his latest crisis.

John Wick: Chapter 3 picks up right after the events of Chapter 2, with the High Table about to send out a $14 million bounty on John’s head for killing Santino D’Antonio. It’s a good bet that by the time the above Chapter 3 scene occurs, assassins are already on the hunt for John, but as we’ve seen over two movies, he’s quite resourceful at avoiding being killed. Somehow he’s managed to seek refuge at the hotel being run by Sofia, who we already knew was an old friend of his.

However, times have changed since John and Sofia were last close, and she makes it clear to him that because she’s “management” now, she can’t go around shooting people like he’s been doing. John assures her he just wants to talk to her old boss for guidance. Sofia doubts this will work out, because even if John doesn’t kill this boss (Barada?), she suspects the boss will kill him and then her for allowing John to walk in.

As Sofia said in one of the John Wick: Chapter 3 previews, nothing is ever just a conversation with John, so even though he intends not to discharge a firearm for this meeting he wants, it’s a good bet bullets will start flying anyway. And when bullets start flying, bodies will inevitably drop, and John Wick has left a lot of carnage in his wake recently.

In any case, despite Sofia’s hesitance to help John out in this Chapter 3 clip, we know eventually she’ll cave and join him on his mission, although in another preview, she told him that after this, they are “less than even.” Still, at least it’ll be nice for John to finally have some backup, including Sofia’s vicious hounds.

Although Sofia isn’t particularly jazzed to be teaming up with John Wick in Chapter 3, Halle Berry is unquestionably a fan of this action franchise, as we learned in March that she asked director Chad Stahelski for a part in Chapter 3. The script for the threequel hadn’t even been written when Berry first approached Stahelski, but once it was completed, he got back in touch with her and she was still game to jump in.

John Wick 3’s Halle Berry Broke Three Ribs Trying To Keep Up With Keanu Reeves

Along with Halle Berry’s Sofia, John Wick: Chapter 3 is also introducing characters like Mark Dacascos’ Zero, Angelica Huston’s The Director, Asia Kate Dillon’s The Adjudicator, Jason Mantozoukas’ Tick Tock Man, Saïd Taghmaoui’s The Elder and Robin Lord Taylor’s The Administrator. As far as familiar faces go, Ian McShane’s Winston, Lance Reddick’s Charon, Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King and John Leguizamo’s Aurelio are all back.

John Wick: Chapter 3 opens in theaters on May 17, and those of you curious about what other movies are coming out later this year can find that information in our 2019 release schedule.

Avengers: Endgame Is Adding A Post-Credits Scene, And It's Not What You Think

Avengers: Endgame Is Adding A Post-Credits Scene, And It's Not What You Think

It goes without saying, but SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

If you’ve already seen Avengers: Endgame in theaters, you know that unlike every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie before it, it does not have a mid/post-credits scene attached. Instead, the noise of a hammer hitting iron is played, reminding audiences of when Tony Stark escaped that cave all those years ago in Iron Man. However, for its third weekend in theaters, Endgame tacking on extra footage to play after the credits, and while it’s not a scene in the conventional sense, it does show what’s to come.

At the beginning of the week, the second Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer was released, and unlike the teaser, it was packed with Avengers: Endgame spoilers. Now Deadline is reporting that folks who see Endgame this weekend will see a pre-film message from Peter Parker himself, Tom Holland, telling moviegoers to stick around after the credits to watch the latest Far From Home trailer.

It’s not often that you see a movie trailer tagged onto a movie after it’s finished playing. However, it does remind me how back when The Amazing Spider-Man 2 came out, a teaser scene from X-Men: Days of Future Past was shown due to a deal between director Marc Webb and 20th Century Fox. This is a more synergetic move given that Marvel Studios and Sony have partnered up for Spider-Man’s MCU exploits, and it makes even more sense to tack the trailer onto Avengers: Endgame given that while that movie was the last installment of the Infinity Saga, Spider-Man: Far From Home is the last movie of Phase 3.

The latest Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer has been a tremendous success for Sony, as it collected over 135 million views in its first 24 hours online. It was also distinctive for leading with a spoiler warning from Tom Holland, which is ironic given how many sensitive plot details he’s accidentally let slip over the years.

Although Marvel was originally firm on not divulging any specific and juicy details about Avengers: Endgame ahead of time in marketing, starting this week, the studio has opened the proverbial floodgates and gone all in on spoilery content, thus allowing for Spider-Man: Far From Home to address the aftermath of Endgame. Along with Peter Parker getting back into the swing of things after being gone for five years like every other person who was snapped away by Thanos, he’s also mourning the loss of his mentor and father figure, Tony Stark.

However, the biggest revelation in the Spider-Man: Far From Home trailer is that a hole has been torn in reality, and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Quentin Beck, a.k.a. Mysterio, claims to be from a different Earth. Given Mysterio’s penchant for illusions and trickery in the comics, we shouldn’t discount the possibility that he’s lying, but given how Avengers: Endgame explored different timelines, the MCU could indeed be setting the stage for a proper multiverse to be brought into the equation.

Avengers: Endgame isn’t leaving theaters anytime soon, and Spider-Man: Far From Home swings into theaters on July 2, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage about the sequel. For now, you can learn what else is coming down the MCU pipeline with our comprehensive guide.

Doctor Sleep: An Updated Cast List

Doctor Sleep: An Updated Cast List

The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep has wrapped production and it won't be long until the world gets to see the next chapter of a story that's been lauded with high acclaim over the years. The legacy of Stephen King's novel and its adaptation by Stanley Kubrick will ensure many eyes are on Doctor Sleep when it hits theaters.

Though audiences today seem to love a Stephen King adaptation, it's understandable if Doctor Sleep's development got lost among the sea of various projects currently in the works in Hollywood. For those who don't know, this movie has a cast to be excited about, so hop on down below and see who all is involved, and what roles they'll be playing in this latest adaptation. First up here's Danny!

Ewan McGregor As Danny Torrance

Iconic actor Ewan McGregor is stepping into the shoes of Danny Torrance decades after the events in The Shining. Danny is now Dan, and while he's survived his childhood, he's inherited some of his father's worst traits in adulthood. Dan eventually conquers his demons, and uses his regained psychic abilities to comfort patients. This earned him the nickname of "Doctor Sleep," and eventually intertwines his fate with that of a girl with powers similar to his.

Rebecca Ferguson As Rose The Hat

Mission: Impossible Fallout and The Girl On The Train actress Rebecca Ferguson is back in Doctor Sleep, and playing a very important role opposite of McGregor's Dan. Rose The Hat is the leader of a group called The True Knot, which is comprised of a group of individuals with unique abilities. Without getting too deep into spoilers, this group is bad news and will cause some problems for Danny boy in the movie.

Kyliegh Curran As Abra Stone

Kyliegh Curran is a relative newcomer to Hollywood set to take on a key role in Doctor Sleep. Curran plays Abra Stone, a young girl who psychically links with Dan and, unfortunately, becomes aware of The True Knot. With the group setting her in its crosshairs, Dan will do all he can in order to protect the girl? Will he succeed? Remember this is a Stephen King work, so the safety of children is never guaranteed.

Bruce Greenwood As Dr. John Dalton

Not long after he played a key supporting role in the Stephen King adaptation of Gerald's Game, Bruce Greenwood is again a part of the author's film universe in Doctor Sleep. Greenwood portrays Dr. John Dalton, one of the people in the novel to whom Dan first reveals his connection with Abra. The quiet intensity Greenwood can bring to roles is great for King works in general, so he should be an excellent addition to the cast.

Zahn McClarnon As Crow Daddy

Zahn McClarnon was a great enforcer in FX's Fargo, so it's no surprise he's found his way into Doctor Sleep as another dangerous man to look out for. McClarnon plays Crow Daddy, right hand man to Rose The Hand and lover in the novels. Given this work is supposed to be a faithful novel adaptation, there's no reason to believe that will change.

Emily Alyn Lind As Snakebite Andi

If that character name wasn't any indication, Emily Alyn Lind's Snakebite Andi is a member of the The True Knot who will cause some problems for Dan and Abra. Like them and other members of The True Knot, she has a unique ability she can use on others to lull them to sleep. With an ability like that, are we sure Danny is the one who should have that nickname?

Carl Lumbly As Dick Halloran

Prolific film and television actor Carl Lumbly is a part of Doctor Sleep, and will step into the shoes of another character that was around during The Shining. For those who don't recognize the name Dick Halloran, he was the Overlook's chef who also had abilities. Dick has actually appeared as a character in quite a few Stephen King works over the years, so it's possible other nods to King works could happen via him.

Alex Essoe As Wendy Torrance

Alex Essoe will play the role of Wendy Torrance, a role made iconic by Shelley Duvall. The actress is involved in Doctor Sleep's moments in the past, so she'll probably be seen with Dick Halloran. I'm assuming she'll be in scenes with a young Danny Torrance as well. Essoe bears a resemblance to Duvall, and I'd personally love to see one or two of The Shining's iconic scenes recreated in a dream or something just to compare the two performances.

Jocelin Donahue

Jocelin Donahue is no stranger to horror films, and has been in features such as Insidious: Chapter 2, The House of The Devil and others. Donahue's role has not been officially announced, although there are some sites out there listing her role as the mother of Abra, Lucy. Provided that's legitimate, that's a big character who will help bridge the gap between the original film and the sequel.

Jacob Tremblay

One of Hollywood's most in-demand and talented child actors is involved in Doctor Sleep, and will be playing a mystery role. Many have speculated Tremblay will play a young Danny Torrance, which wouldn't be surprising considering that's who 90% of Americans would cast in the role if we were fantasy casting for a reboot of The Shining. If Tremblay does end up playing Danny, let's hope he does at least one finger wag and "redrum" for nostalgia's sake.

*Zackary Momoh *

Seven Seconds standout Zackary Momoh has been added to Doctor Sleep in a role that has yet to be revealed. With his role undefined, there's really no clear guess as to who he may be playing. Whoever he's playing, expect an emotional performance and this role to potentially be the start of a much larger career in Hollywood.

*Carel Struycken *

Famous character actor Carel Struycken is a part of Doctor Sleep, with some outlets alleging he'll play the role of Grandpa Flick. In Doctor Sleep, Flick gets his nickname for being the oldest member of The True Knot. His presence more or less is the catalyst for the The True Knot to spring into action, although his role is ultimately not that large.

As mentioned, Doctor Sleep has wrapped production, and is expected in theaters November 8. For more on the film, be sure to read up on Ewan McGregor's thoughts on the project, and the one person he's hoping is pleased with he and the cast's effort.

Watch Keanu Reeves Recap The First Two John Wick Movies Ahead Of Parabellum

Watch Keanu Reeves Recap The First Two John Wick Movies Ahead Of Parabellum

Among the many summer movies to look forward to in the coming months is John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which is finally arriving a little over two years after its predecessor. But what if you haven’t seen the first two John Wick movies. Well, the first course of option is to actually watch them, but if you find yourself strapped for time, not to worry. Keanu Reeves has provided the following minute-long recap of what has already happened to his assassin character.

Talk about cutting to the chase! Keanu Reeves does a great job summarizing the events of 2014’s John Wick and 2017’s John Wick: Chapter 2, from how this all kicked off when the idiotic son of a mobster stole his car and killed his dog, to how John is now on the run after killing someone on Continental grounds, which is a big no-no. In just a minute, folks who’ve never seen these movies are caught up to speed, and those who only saw them once will have their memories refreshed.

Of course, there’s obviously a lot that this video didn’t cover, like John’s relationship to Willem Dafoe’s Marcus in the first movie to his short-lived conflict with Santino D’Antonio’s second-in-command, Ruby Rose’s Ares, in Chapter 2. Nevertheless, if all you’re looking for is a bare-bones summarization of the John Wick franchise thus far, then watching this video is your best bet. You’ll definitely be able to follow along with John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum’s overall story, even if some of the subtler character dynamics are foreign.

Which brings us to John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, which picks up immediately after the events of Chapter 2 with John on the run with no access to his underworld resources and a $14 million bounty on his head going live in one hour. John is no stranger to fighting off assassins, but this is unquestionably his biggest fight yet, as it’s the High Table, the council of crime lords that are the ultimate authority in the underworld, that wants his head.

John’s main goal will be to escape New York City at the start of John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, and the previews have shown that he manages to this since he’s also seen walking through a desert. Beyond that, we don’t know what specifically is in store for John, though you can count on him leaving a trail of bodies wherever he goes.

Along with Keanu Reeves obviously being back for a third round of bullet-riddled action, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum also sees the return of Ian McShane’s Winston, Lance Reddick’s Charon, John Leguizamo’s Aurelio and Laurence Fishburne’s Bowery King. As for new faces, they include Halle Berry’s Sofia, Angelica Huston’s The Director, Asia Kate Dillon’s The Adjudicator, Mark Dacascos’ Zero, Robin Lord Taylor’s The Administrator and Jason Mantzoukas’ Tick Tock Man.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum hits theaters on May 17, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage on the threequel and our review. In the meantime, you can scan through our 2019 release schedule to plan your moviegoing trips later this year accordingly.

Netflix Rom-Com Star Noah Centineo May Play He-Man, And Fans Have Strong Feelings

Netflix Rom-Com Star Noah Centineo May Play He-Man, And Fans Have Strong Feelings

The upcoming Masters of the Universe film may enlist Noah Centineo to play He-Man in the planned Sony and Mattel Films movie. The heartthrob has already charmed Netflix users everywhere with his kind eyes and infectious smile, but what happens when he wields the Power Sword?

Noah Centineo is in talks to portray Prince Adam in an upcoming adaptation of the ‘80s toy icon previously played by Dolph Lundgren, per The Wrap. The character is known for his insanely-ripped physique and blond bob, and he's heir to the throne of Eternia. He-Man is being adapted for the big screen by directors Aaron and Adam Nee, and screenwriters of Iron Man Matt Holloway and Art Marcum.

The project has seen multiple script drafts and directors, and Twilight’s Kellan Lutz was also previously set to play He-Man at one point in time. The 22-year-old breakout To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before actor may now lead the project about the heir to the throne of planet Eternia who often fights off the evil wizard Skeletor and teams up with allies Teela, Man-at-Arms, Orko, and The Sorceress.

Since Noah Centineo doesn’t have the typical He-Man look, fans of the character have taken to Twitter to express their concerns for the Masters of the Universe choice. Check it out:

Looks like Noah Centineo is going to have to hit it pretty hard at the gym if he’s going to win the hearts of these fans, who have expressed the importance that He-Man be jacked in the upcoming adaptation of the character. It is true He-Man is largely known for his muscular body, and if Centineo approaches the character with his current look, he will not come off as believable to fans. Since he’s taking on the role, one would expect he’ll commit to looking the part and there certainly could be a massive transformation for the actor on the way.

Not all the online chatter is negative toward the recent casting news. @GeekVibesNation took to the platform to make a valid point about how while the casting of iconic roles in the past have initially angered fans, it doesn’t alway turn out as bad as they think it well. Take a look:

Good point! While many may have written off Michael Keaton as Batman and Heath Ledger as Joker, they’ve gone on to become iconic portrayals of the comic book roles. Actors are given parts for a reason, and Noah Centineo no doubt went through a cutthroat process before being named a frontrunner for the role. We also have no idea about the direction and vision the studios have for the toy line as of yet.

Mattel Films is following in the footsteps of Hasbro and working on numerous film projects based on their popular toys, such as a Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie. You can see Noah Centineo in his upcoming Netflix rom-com The Perfect Date in April and in the Charlie’s Angels reboot this fall.

Watch The Spider-Man: Far From Home Cast Surprise Disneyland Guests

Watch The Spider-Man: Far From Home Cast Surprise Disneyland Guests

One of the best things about Disneyland is that you can feel like you're inside the worlds of classic Disney animated movies, Star Wars, and Marvel Comics all at the same time. While most of the Marvel themed entertainment planned for Disneyland Resort is currently under construction, you can still get your picture taken with numerous Marvel heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man.

However, one group of kids got a bit more than they were expecting from the wall crawler yesterday when the cast of Spider-Man: Far From Home photobombed them. But that was nothing compared to what happened when Spider-Man removed his mask. Check it out.

A group of kids are simply having fun getting their picture taken with Spider-Man at Disney California Adventure. But then things get crazy when Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Jacob Batalon, show up and join the photo. Even Spider-Man himself looks surprised to see them and is getting the audience to give them a round of applause. Of course, even that is a set up as the big reveal is that the costumed character playing Spider-Man is the same guy who plays him on the big screen, Tom Holland.

Getting a picture with Spider-Man is cool. Getting a picture with the Spider-Man is something else entirety. You cab hear the crowd going nuts in the video from Disneyland Insiders, especially when Holland reveals himself.

While Marvel is the hottest thing in the world right now thanks to the fact that Avengers: Endgame has become the second highest grossing movie of all-time in only two weekends, many fans are already looking forward to the next chapter. The newest trailer for Spider-Man: Far From Home just dropped, something which almost certainly wasn't a coincidence considering the timing of this appearance, and that's got fans buzzing all over again.

The trailer drops the word "multiverse" into the conversation, which if true, is a game changer for the MCU. We've been told that the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be something quite different compared to what we're used to, and the fact that alternate realities could come into play would certainly qualify.

Tom Holland and company's appearance at Disneyland Resort is far from the first time we've seen celebrities invade an attraction related to their franchise. Johnny Depp has made appearances both in person and via screen to promote both Pirates of the Caribbeans films and the live-action Alice in Wonderland franchise. Mark Hamill has also dropped in on Star Tours.

Fans looking for even more Spider-Man at Disneyland won't have to wait too much longer. The new Marvel themed land that will opening only feet from where this clip was taken is set to debut in 2020 and we know it will include a Spider-Man themed attraction, though exactly how it will work remains clouded in Imagineering mystery.

Considering that the one existing Marvel attraction at Disney California Adventure, Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: Breakout, includes performances by the actors in the film franchise, it seems like there's a good chance Tom Holland could be part of the upcoming attraction, though that has yet to be confirmed.