Apparently Goose Had Some Trouble On The Captain Marvel Set Filming Around Skrulls

Apparently Goose Had Some Trouble On The Captain Marvel Set Filming Around Skrulls

Captain Marvel? More like Goose: A Love Story. The latest MCU origin story featured a Flerken named Goose; he was quite the scene-stealer and we all can’t stop raving about all the cuteness the character brought to the superhero blockbuster. Goose was portrayed by four cats (Reggie, Archie, Rizzo and Gonzo) who interacted with just about every one of the film’s stars, some of whom reportedly spooked the cats a bit at first, per their trainer, Ursula Brauner of Boone’s Animals for Hollywood. In her words:

I think maybe it was probably the Skrull costumes. That was one of our challenges because they look so different from people. Ben Mendelsohn was so amazing getting the cats used to the costume and makeup, though. He showed them how he moved and sounded, and he was just really great getting the cats to like him.

Wouldn’t we like to know what goes through the minds of the cats who found themselves working with the green alien race of Captain Marvel? The trainer explained it was a challenge at first, but thanks to the patience of Ben Mendelsohn, who plays Talos, the cat actors warmed up to working with the Skrulls.

In Ursula Brauner’s interview with Vulture, she continued with a sweet anecdote about how the filmmakers helped make one animal star at ease with him on set, with these words:

I remember being in the quad-jet set in a very tight space, and Ben doesn’t look anything like a human being in his costume. Reggie was a little unfurled. [Captain Marvel directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck] took the time to say, “Let’s stop what we’re doing and get the cat comfortable.” We had Reggie sitting on a chair, and Ben was sitting in the chair next to him, and we let Reggie go to him and explore on his own volition, and pretty soon, he realized Ben was just like us, but he just looked different. It’s about taking the time to stop. And it shows onscreen.

The cats portraying Goose in Captain Marvel certainly look comfortable on screen, as they just about own every moment they’re in, including some especially memorable ones with Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury. The actor has given some mixed signals about his time working with the cats on set, telling us that “always a good day” when Goose was there and other outlets "I am not a cat person."

Brauner did set the record straight in regards to Jackson, noting he was one of the best people for the cats to work with on the film. She said they loved him and would go right up to the actor. Of the four cats, Reggie was the star cat actor, who probably is in 70% of the scenes seen on screen, according the his trainer.

In the Captain Marvel comic books, Carol Danvers does hang with a Flerken, though his name is famously Chewie. The filmmakers decided to go with Goose instead to match the film’s roots in the ‘90s and pay tribute to the fellow Air Force film character.

Goose has been treated like just about every other human star in Captain Marvel, as the character has been seen in massive banners in his own character poster everywhere and even walked the red carpet at the movie’s premiere. You can gush over the cat actors in Captain Marvel, in theaters now.

The Important Role Monarch Will Play In Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

The Important Role Monarch Will Play In Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

Naturally the main reason one goes to a Godzilla movie is to see the eponymous creature fight other monsters, but it’s also important to have human characters involved to anchor the story. In the MonsterVerse franchise, most of those humans are part of or affiliated with Monarch, which has studied these Titans for nearly three-quarters of a century.

While 2014’s Godzilla and 2017’s Kong: Skull Island provided some information on Monarch, this month’s Godzilla: King of the Monsters pulling the curtain back even further on this organization. I recently interviewed King of the Monsters production designer Scott Chambliss, and he explained that Monarch’s headquarters is representative of the clash between man and nature in the movie. Speaking about the inspiration for designing these headquarters, Chambliss said:

Our story boiled down to its most essential archetype is one of man vs. nature, and the Monarch HQ was the perfect environment in which to visually express this. Located deep in the heart of an oceanic mountain miles below the water’s surface, Monarch brought together all the human and technological engineering firepower conceivable to house its monumental and labyrinthine HQ within an utterly hostile environment...one that didn’t even exist until they created the initial negative void itself.

Although Kong: Skull Island’s post-credits scenes showed Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson’s characters being held inside one of Monarch’s interrogation rooms, that’s hardly a good look into the kind of work space the agency’s employees operate in. Fortunately, Godzilla: King of the Monsters will not have that issue, and clearly Monarch is not lacking for funds if it can set up its headquarters within an underwater mountain.

More importantly, though, is how Godzilla: King of the Monsters reflects the core archetype through both the artificial elements making up Monrach’s base and its natural home. Scott Chambliss provided additional details about what to expect from the headquarters, saying:

Within the compound you see evidence of both: the technologically advanced monitoring, scientific, and manufacturing floors expressed in the language of advanced fortified architecture within the larger and very visible raw volcanic rock volume that houses it. This isn’t the kind of metaphoric visualizing that is intended to be showily theatrical. It is instead a presentation of starkly contrasting ingredients- raw, powerful nature and utterly refined human engineering- which is by itself an interpretation of our archetype. I’m very curious to see if this translates into the final film in any meaningful way.

In the present day MonsterVerse, the two main representatives of Monarch have been Ken Watanabe’s Ishiro Serizawa and Sally Hawkins’ Vivienne Graham. Both will be back for Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and in addition to meeting some of their other coworkers, we finally get to see the kind of environment they’re in when not doing fieldwork.

Scott Chambliss also confirmed that it was incredibly difficult to put together the Monarch headquarters set. As he put it:

The great volume of Monarch HQ made it by far the most demanding build of our movie. All the scenic and technical arts of set creation were employed here, down to robotic set dressing components. A large number of complicated parts working together comprised our final Monarch HQ world.

It’s hard to say just how much time Godzilla: King of the Monsters is spending inside the Monarch headquarters, and obviously the main draw of this latest MonsterVerse tale is witnessing Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra and King Ghidorah collide out in the open. Still, considering how little we’ve learned about the organization, it’s cool to see Monarch will have a bigger presence for this third entry.

Along with Ken Watanabe and Sally Hawkins reprising their roles, Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ main cast includes Millie Bobby Brown, Vera Farmiga, g, Bradley Whitford, Charles Dance, Thomas Middleditch, Aisha Hinds, O’Shea Jackson, David Strathairn and Zhang Ziyi. Michael Dougherty directed and co-wrote the script with Zach Shields.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters rampages into theaters on May 31, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage. In the meantime, head to our 2019 release schedule to find out what movies are coming out later in the year.

John Boyega Is Super Psyched For Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

John Boyega Is Super Psyched For Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

It's a very exciting time for Star Wars fans, as we're just a series of months away from the release of The Rise of Skywalker. J.J. Abram's highly anticipated blockbuster will end the Skywalker Saga forever. And all eyes are on how the nine-film narrative will finally be wrapped up. And aside from Episode IX's upcoming arrival, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will also open to immerse generations of fans into the beloved space opera.

We're just days away from the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, and the fans are eager to see what the theme park will include, and how it'll help to expand the galaxy far, far away. But the cast of the franchise is also excited to for the park's opening-- especially John Boyega. The Finn actor recently posted about his excitement on social media, check it out:

While John Boyega might not be at the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the 27-year old actor is excited for fans to meet the cast that's been assembled to bring the theme park to life. What's more, it looks like his character Finn will have a role in one of the highly anticipated new rides.

John Boyega's Instagram post shows the crew of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, assembled before the droves of theme park denizens descend to see everything the attraction is capable of. The new park looks cool enough to get any self-respecting Star Wars fan excited-- complete with a massive Millennium Falcon. And with just a few months left before The Rise of Skywalker hits theaters, Galaxy's Edge is the perfect way to satiate fans while they patiently wait for the franchise's return to theaters.

It should be interesting to see how much of a presence Finn has in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, especially since we don't know how the former Stormtrooper ends up during The Rise of Skywalker. John Boyega teased he had a role in one of the upcoming rides, and the most likely is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The upcoming attraction will focus on the battle against the First Order, which is something that Finn knows a thing or two about as a protagonist of the current trilogy.

But the other ride, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run doesn't seem out of the question for a Finn appearance. The character has spent plenty of time aboard the iconic vessel, especially in The Force Awakens. And with the heroes teased to stay together during the events of Episode IX, smart money says Finn will be boarding the Falcon before too long.

Related: Rian Johnson Praises 'Freakin Unbelievable' Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge (And Its Delicious Green Milk)

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will no doubt make a ton of money, and attract countless theme park visitors to its attractions. And with The Rise of Skywalker arriving so shortly after its release, smart money says the park will go through changes following the blockbuster's release. But considering how closely the property guards its secrets, there's no telling what might go down in the next release.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge will officially open in Disneyland on May 31st, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker will arrive in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

All The Franchises Idris Elba Is In, (Plus 5 More We'd Love To See)

All The Franchises Idris Elba Is In, (Plus 5 More We'd Love To See)

With a fresh Coachella set, a Netflix original series and a slew of films on the way, it's a good time to be Idris Elba. The actor is doing a lot these days, so much so that it may be hard to keep track of every franchise he has a hand in at the moment. For that reason, we've compiled a list that highlights what all he has a hand in, and some of the things we'd like to see from him in the future.

Franchises Idris Elba IS In

Let's start off with all the major franchises he's already appeared in or officially has lined up for the future, like this first entry.

The DCEU

Idris Elba has joined the DCEU via James Gunn's The Suicide Squad, and was originally slated to replace Will Smith and play Deadshot. That plan has since changed, and Elba will be playing a different character, although we can only guess who. Hopefully whoever is picked has some crossover potential into other projects, and maybe the ability to get Elba his own spinoff movie.

The MCU

Idris Elba entered The MCU via Thor in the role of Heimdall. After heroically sacrificing his life in Avengers: Infinity War, one would assume his time in the franchise is over, but who can ever know when it comes to superhero features. With that said, Elba's had his complaints about the role as far back as Thor: The Dark World, so don't be surprised if his death tends to stick in the events following Avengers: Endgame.

Pacific Rim

In the role of Stacker Pentacost, Idris Elba delivered one hell of a speech that solidified Pacific Rim's status as a cult classic. Unfortunately, his death meant no future appearances in a sequel, but there are opportunities for Stacker to return should the Pacific Rim franchise venture into the prequel territory. That's a possibility given the amount of source material on the events before Pacific Rim, so fingers crossed Elba's feeling the urge to kick some kaiju ass again.

Disney/Pixar

While it's not necessarily as specific of a franchise as other entries, Idris Elba has done a decent amount of work for Disney and Pixar. Outside of his MCU work, he's exclusively played an animal in The Jungle Book, Finding Dory and Zootopia. That's a crazy coincidence, although maybe not given how many Disney films tend to revolve around animals in general. We're always down to see him in more projects. Perhaps next time in a live-action feature?

Star Trek

For Star Trek Beyond, the third adventure featuring the Kelvin timeline version of the original USS Enterprise crew, Idris Elba hopped in as Krall, an alien warlord who sicced his minions on Captain Kirk’s crew, destroyed their ship and stranded them on his planet. Later revealed to be a Starfleet captain from more than a century ago, Krall nearly succeeded in carrying out his revenge against the organization, but he was defeated and killed before that could happen. So one can logically surmise Elba won’t be popping back up in this franchise.

Fast & Furious

Soon, the world will get to see Idris Elba in the world of Fast & Furious, although probably not in a way some would've thought. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw features Elba as a villain who has been genetically enhanced and basically has super powers. Somehow we've reached a point where this franchise isn't about fast cars, although there's few people complaining. After seeing Elba in action, it isn't hard to see why.

Alien

This is one of the only roles in which Idris Elba played a character that shared his first name, as the actor portrayed Idris Janek in Prometheus. It was a one and done role, and surprisingly, ended in the way similar to Pacific Rim. Given his character's death and the Alien franchise's massive aversion to Prometheus, it's pretty safe to say that we shouldn't expect any more appearances from Elba in this franchise.

Honorable Mention: Ghost Rider: Spirit Of Vengeance

The Ghost Rider movies aren't considered part of the MCU, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the other Marvel character he played before the MCU really got legs. Idris Elba played Moreau, who offered to remove the "Spirit of Vengeance" curse from Johnny Blaze. He ended up being unable to fulfill the promise, and ended up dying at the hands of Blackout.

Franchises We'd Love To See Idris Elba In

That concludes the current franchises Idris Elba is/has been involved in, although we're sure he'll be a part of some in the future. With that in mind, here are a handful of film franchises the actor has yet to join that it'd be great to see him in.

James Bond

Was there any doubt this would be on the list? Folks have called for Idris Elba to be cast as James Bond for ages, and his name floated around quite a bit following Daniel Craig's confirmation that he was leaving as Bond. Unfortunately, Elba has been pretty adamant that he won't be replacing him, but there's still hope he could join one day as another character. He'd make a killer Bond villain!

Star Wars

Idris Elba is a bit late to the game to be a part of the Skywalker saga, but there's still a chance he could appear in a Star Wars film in the future. Personally, I think he'd be a great fit for the Game of Thrones showrunners' trilogy, which is rumored to involve The Old Republic. Imagine Elba playing an ancient Jedi, Sith or bounty hunter in an era before the Empire!

Fantastic Beasts

The Harry Potter spinoff series is still rolling strong despite less than favorable reviews of the last film, and why shouldn't it? It'll take more than one bad movie to turn fans off to this franchise, and bringing in someone like Idris Elba could make some forget all about how The Crimes of Grindelwald was a bit of a letdown outside of that one twist. He'd make a great villain or Auror.

Austin Powers

Idris Elba's comedic prowess is a highly underrated aspect of his acting, and one that could really shine in the Austin Powers franchise. With Mike Myers interested in getting a fourth movie made, Elba could appear in a comedic role for some spy-filled adventure. This may be the closest we'll ever get to seeing him play James Bond, so producers should try to get him involved if Austin Powers 4 actually has a shot at happening.

Pirates Of The Caribbean

As Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean reboot continues development, they're going to need a few big names to convince audiences to jump back into this franchise so soon after the the original run. Idris Elba is a name that can put butts in seats, and considering he's already ingratiated within the Disney family, getting in touch with him shouldn't be too hard to do.

Those with other wishes for franchises they'd like to see Idris Elba join can share their thoughts in the comments below. Stick with CinemaBlend for updates on the actor, his films and other goings on in the entertainment world.

Toy Story 4 Confirms A Character That Won't Be Included

Toy Story 4 Confirms A Character That Won't Be Included

The toybox is getting quite full with the fourth Toy Story movie. After getting to know all of Andy's toys in the first two Toy Story movies, Woody, Buzz and the gang joined the collection of toys already owned by young Bonnie in the third film. Now, with Toy Story 4, we'll be meeting even more toy characters, including Bonnie's new favorite, Forky.

It seems that, with so many characters, the fourth film wasn't able to find a place for everybody who had appeared in previous films, as the production team behind Toy Story 4 has revealed that Michael Keaton's Ken doll won't be appearing. During a press conference during my recent trip to Pixar, director Josh Cooley confirmed that Ken is still at Bonnie day care, a place the new film does not go.

Ken is not in this film. He's back at Sunnyside.

While Barbie is a character who appears in earlier Toy Story films, we don't meet Ken until the crew finds themselves at Sunnyside Day Care in the third movie. There, Ken and Barbie meet, and while the rest of Andy's toys go on to live with Bonnie, Barbie stays behind with Ken where they live together in apparent happiness.

Check out our introduction to Ken in the clip below.

If you were hoping that Toy Story 4 was taking a trip to Sunnyside, then I'm sad to report that's not the case. Since the story won't be going there, characters like Ken or Big Baby won't be appearing.

The opening few minutes of Toy Story 4 have screened in a few places and it's been revealed that as part of that Bonnie will be starting Kindergarten. Considering that, it's not too shocking to learn that Bonnie's day care won't be important to the story.

Instead, we know that Toy Story 4 will have two primary locations, an antiques store where Woody will be reunited with Bo Peep, and a carnival where Buzz Lightyear meets a pair of stuffed animals voiced by Key and Peele.

While I'm sure some fans will be sad to learn that Ken is not back, based on what I've seen of the film, there will be entirely new groups of fans excited by the new characters that are being introduced. And then, of course, there is the one big returning character of Bo Peep who was entirely absent from the last movie, but will be back in the new film, but with a very different attitude.

The producers admit that they also loved Michael Keaton's Ken, but Pixar is always very clear that the story is the thing that leads the production of a Pixar film, and the story just didn't take Toy Story 4 back to Ken and Barbie.

Toy Story 4 hits theaters June 21.

Zoe Saldana Almost Played Lois Lane In Man Of Steel

Zoe Saldana Almost Played Lois Lane In Man Of Steel

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating tenure in theaters, full of both peaks and valleys. Zack Snyder was the architect of the franchise's beginning stages, starting with 2013's Man of Steel, and eventually expanding with Batman v Superman and Justice League. While he's since stepped down from the DCEU, you can't deny his vision helped kickstart the entire shared universe.

Man of Steel started it all, and took a major departure from Superman's comic book persona, allowing him to kill the villainous General Zodd during the film's conclusion. The movie also started Amy Adams' tenure as Lois Lane, although Zack Snyder recently revealed that there was another actress in the mix originally: Zoe Saldana. As Snyder recently revealed:

At a time, it was between her and Zoe Saldana. They’re totally different, but their presence is super strong.

Well, this is an exciting concept. While Amy Adams put her typical acting talent into the role the iconic reporter/love interest, it's intriguing to hear that Zoe Saldana could have filled the role at one point.

Zack Snyder's comments to Comic Book Debate might come as a surprise to some fans, as Amy Adams has become fairly synonymous with the role of Lois Lane. Still, Zoe Saldana has already proven herself to be the queen of sci-fi, so what's another major franchise to add to her schedule? Although her involvement with DC might have had the potential to exclude her from playing Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Related: Why Playing Lois Lane Is Tricky, According To Amy Adams

If Zoe Saldana somehow managed to to get the job in Man of Steel, that be a whopping fourth major franchises for the actress to play the female lead in. At that point, she'd already nabbed the role of Neytiri in Avatar, as well as playing Uhura in the Star Trek movies. Plus we can't forget her role as Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in both the Guardians and Avengers movies.

Of course, Amy Adams did great as Lois Lane, playing a more badass version of the character than we'd previously seen on the silver screen. Following Man of Steel, Adams would reprise her role in Batman v Superman and Justice League. Although it's currently unclear if her tenure in the CEU has come to an end.

Following the poor box office and critical performance of Justice League, the DC Universe has seemingly taken a step away from serialized storytelling, instead allowing directors more autonomy over capsulated blockbusters. But that change has also brought the end to the OG DCEU characters like Ben Affleck's Batman.

Ben Affleck has officially hung up the cowl as Batman, and Superman actor Henry Cavill has been long rumored to be done with his superpowered role forever. Amy Adams doesn't appear to have any plans to return to the DCEU, so fans may have also seen the last of her Lois Lane as well.

While she might not have gotten the role of Lois Lane, it should be interesting to see what's coming down the pipeline for Zoe Saldana. Her reign as the current sci-fi queen doesn't seem to be stopping soon-- at least where two of her iconic roles are concerned. Plus there's no guarantee that she won't eventually jump to the DC side of things for another role in the DC Extended Universe.

Zoe Saldana will return to theaters with either Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 or Avatar 2. Because Marvel Studios hasn't revealed its plans for Phase Four (yet), it's unclear when the highly anticipated Guardians threequel will be released, once again allowing Saldana to play the fiercest woman in the galaxy-- Gamora.

Guardians 3 was originally going to be one of the first installments in Phase Four of the MCU, but production was put on indefinite hold after director James Gunn was fired by Disney last July. This put the future of the Guardians franchise in jeopardy for a number of months, although Gunn has since been reinstated to his directing role.

Spoilers ahead for Avengers: Endgame.

Narratively, Zoe Saldana should be able to take her signature Marvel character to new places with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Gamora as we knew her died in Infinity War, murdered by Thanos so he could procure the Soul Stone. But she was revived in Endgame through some tricky storytelling-- specifically time travel.

By the end of Endgame, 2014 Gamora had joined the good guys, and was last seen on the battlefield of the final fight. Her fate was left unclear, although the Guardians (Asguardians?) are seemingly on a mission to track the green girl down.

Zoe Saldana will finally reprise her Avatar role in the upcoming sequel, which has been pushed back innumerable times by James Cameron. The original film is the highest grossing movie in history, and Saldana played Na'vi royalty Neytiri through motion capture and stunning visual affects. The public has been waiting over a decade for Cameron's sequels, and his leading actress has the chance to star in yet another big money blockbuster.

The gap in time between the Avatar movies might have the potential to hamper its ticket sales, although the franchise's attraction at Disney parks has kept the conversation going. We'll just have to wait and see what James Cameron is planning, and how many Avatar movies actually get the green light from the studio-- especially now that Disney has the rights to the property.

Then there's the Star Trek franchise, and Zoe Saldana's role as Uhura. 2016's Star Trek Beyond wasn't the success the studio had been hoping for, and the cast is unclear whether or not they'll get another installment. Add in the death of Anton Yelchin, and the current Star Trek series is left totally in the air.

The next installment in the DCEU is Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) on February 7, 2020. And you can check out Zoe Saldana in Avengers: Endgame now. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The Trick To Getting The Marvel Audience Excited For What’s Next, According To Joe Russo

The Trick To Getting The Marvel Audience Excited For What’s Next, According To Joe Russo

Modern blockbuster filmmaking can be tricky, particularly if you are working within the confines of a franchise. At a recent CinemaCon event featuring Elizabeth Banks, Anthony and Joe Russo, Dexter Fletcher and Olivia Wilde, the directors were talking about what the real trick is to keeping people excited for what’s coming next.

It was actually Elizabeth Banks who hit the nail on the head when she mentioned she makes sure “there’s a surprise built-in somewhere for the audience” particularly noting for people “who think they knew who this person was but there’s another layer, something more.”

Riffing off of Banks’ initial comments based on her work in Pitch Perfect 2 and Charlie’s Angels, Avengers: Endgame director Joe Russo revealed Banks hit the nail on the head. That is, in fact, exactly what he and Anthony Russo try to do to keep Marvel audiences excited. He elaborated:

I think that’s actually the critical kind of a something [Anthony] and I talk about all the time is that, in the age of social media the job of storyteller is to surprise because that’s what generates conversation. And I think just looking at the work we do on these Marvel films, the choices that we make, at the end of each film there’s something dramatic that happens to surprise the audience and then generates an incredible amount of excitement as they wait for the next movie.

At a CinemaCon luncheon, Joe Russo mentioned generating a conversation is key to keeping a narrative alive in the age of social media, but I also think this factor is important for keeping a conversation alive when there are more films coming in a franchise.

While Avengers: Endgame is being billed as the culmination of a 22-film narrative, certainly the Russo Brothers’ other films with Marvel have had to continue a through storyline in the franchise, and even Marvel as we know it won’t be just completely ending after Endgame. Instead, it'll likely just look a little different with a focus on different characters moving forward.

Joe Russo also admitted the whole goal is to start a conversation about what just happened so that the fans can engage with the storytelling as they wait for the next chapter.

They can discuss it and argue about it. It’s a really critical factor in modern storytelling, this notion of surprise.

I don’t think anywhere has this concept been clearer than in the final minutes in Avengers: Infinity War in which our heroes almost defeat Thanos only to lose. In those minutes, Marvel fans worldwide saw many of their heroes disappear into dust and it’s an idea and a surprise we’ve been chewing on for a year as we wait for Avengers: Endgame.

Luckily, that wait is nearly over. Avengers: Endgame will be out on April 26 and we’ve already seen a full scene from the upcoming film, which also dropped during CinemaCon this year.

Now, the only question is: What surprise will the Russo Brothers have in store for us this time?

The Conjuring Inspiration Lorraine Warren Has Died At 92

The Conjuring Inspiration Lorraine Warren Has Died At 92

Since the spine-chilling release of 2013’s The Conjuring, a successful franchise of sequels and spinoffs has ruled the horror genre. The interconnected universe is inspired by the lifelong work of Lorraine and Ed Warren (portrayed by Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson in the Conjuring films), who have investigated high-profile hauntings and chronicled supernatural phenomena. At 92, Lorraine passed away in her sleep on Thursday night.

The Warren’s own New England Society of Psychic Research announced the news Friday morning (via Fox 61). Lorraine was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1927 and was a self-proclaimed clairvoyant and light trance medium. She and her husband founded the society in 1952 and conducted investigations into reports of paranormal activity, such as the Lindley Street poltergeist, West Point ghost and Amityville Horrors (which spawned 17 films).

The couple wrote 10 books together and traveled across the world lecturing on their findings. Ed Warren passed away in 2009 at 79 years old. One of their early cases was for Annabelle in 1968, a Raggedy Ann doll that was reportedly possessed by the spirit of a child named Annabelle Higgins. It inspired the Annabelle movies, which will continue with Annabelle Comes Home this summer. The upcoming film will see the first appearance of the Warren’s in the spinoff series, thus making it a homecoming for the Conjuring universe.

The Conjuring is based on their assistance to the Perron family in 1971, who experience frightening paranormal sighting in their farm home in Rhode Island. Lorraine Warren served as a consultant for the first movie and even had a cameo in it. She seemed to have bonded with the actress who has portrayed her for the past six years, as Vera Farmiga took to Twitter this morning to honor her following the news of her passing. Take a look:

The couple looked to be the gritty real-life Ghostbusters who certainly made a mark on the subject matter for many belovedly scary horror movies and various supernatural and psychic phenomena. The Warren’s also inspired the The Nun spinoff which became the highest-earning Conjuring film in 2018 when it racked up over $365 million worldwide. A sequel for The Nun is on the way, along with The Conjuring 3 and The Crooked Man.

Lorraine Warren’s death also comes on the same day of the release of The Curse of La Llorona, the first Conjuring spinoff film that does not tie to the couple’s paranormal investigations, though it finds itself in the universe’s timeline between the two Conjuring films.

Although Lorraine Warren was not a filmmaker herself, she will have a lasting impact on Hollywood as her experiences continue to capture the interest of audiences and be immortalized through the dramatic portrayal of her by Vera Farmiga, who will play Warren again in Annabelle Comes Home, coming to theaters on June 28.

Us’ Music Was Started Before Filming Even Began

Us’ Music Was Started Before Filming Even Began

The horror genre has been in a serious renaissance over the pat few years, partly due to releases that came from Blumhouse Productions. Rather than stale or overly gory sequels, new and exciting properties have been brought to theaters, making tons of money in the process. Perhaps the most notable is Jordan Peele's Get Out, which won an Oscar and showed the vision and directorial talent he had.

Jordan Peele followed up Get Out with Us, which was met with similar box office and critical success. Us was scarier than its predecessor, and relied more on horror tropes than thriller instincts. The music was a major part of the movie, especially ahead of its release. The tethered cover of "I Got Five On It" is bone chilling, and composer Michael Abels recently revealed the film's score was being worked on even before filming began. As he put it:

Jordan had me read the script before he had shot any of the film. This was a similar process to Get Out in that respect. Then, he is very conscious of the power of music and film, and particularly in suspense and horror. So, he’ll tell me the type of music that he’s thinking of, and, in the case of Us, he said, ‘Clearly, the whole story is about duality in both the mirror image and yet the alternate image, so why don’t you try experimenting with some sounds that don’t go together, a couple of deliberately unconventional choices, and see what happens.’ I did that and I came up with some demos, some examples of me just experimenting with things that I wouldn’t have otherwise experimented with if he hadn’t told me to go and play in that sandbox.

Once again, Jordan Peele is proven to be a methodical filmmaker, which is why both of his first two movies have resonated with audiences. There's special care taken to each frame, and that includes the music and sounds that accompany Us and its predecessor.

Michael Abels' comment to Uproxx shine a light on the creative process of Us, which pre-dates its principal photography and editing steps. Sound is a major aspect of horror production, which Jordan Peele definitely seems to understand. Music can set the tone of each scene, and elevate the terrifying and bizarre parts of the movie. Us does just that with its creep score, which buoys the tension of the movie as things descend (literally) into madness.

Get Out also used music in interesting ways, with a score that included Swahili music, as well as a suspenseful score. Meanwhile, Us used hip hop, and distorted the iconic track into a terrifying musical theme. Smart money says Michael Abels is brought on Jordan Peele's third movie, whenever and whatever that might be.

Us is still in theaters now. In the meantime, be sure to check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Avengers: Endgame And Infinity War Shot A Whopping 900 Hours Of Footage

Avengers: Endgame And Infinity War Shot A Whopping 900 Hours Of Footage

An achievement in filmmaking, comic book adaptation and blockbuster franchise work in general, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame brought eager audiences almost 6 hours worth of story to close out the first saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But if you thought that was a mammoth undertaking, just wait until you dive into the fact that this trim and svelte package came from 900 hours of footage cultivated through the film’s back-to-back shoots.

This wonderful nugget of information comes from Jeffrey Ford, the co-editor of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, who, alongside fellow co-editor Matthew Schmidt, was tasked to help directors Joe and Anthony Russo craft their unique vision for the grand finale of the original Avengers lineup. And alongside that figure, Ford provided the following commentary for just why there was so much footage at the end of the day:

We were cutting every day, we were refining, we were figuring out what we were going to reshoot, figuring out what we had to finish. It was a constant state of pre-production, production and postproduction all at the same time for almost a year straight.

It kind of makes even more sense that when we interviewed the Russo Brothers about the production of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, they had no problem confirming that the production of one film right after the other was one of their big regrets. Just imagining all of the shooting and editing on Infinity War running into pre-production, and eventually the shooting and editing of Endgame, is enough to potentially drive any civilian mad.

Jeffrey Ford confirmed as much when he spoke to Business Insider, as he continued to talk about that process in the following details:

And then when we finished that year of insanity we went right into an absolutely hellish, almost impossible postproduction period that lasted from January to April when we delivered Infinity War, and that was one of the most intense periods of filmmaking I ever experienced, and I have worked on some crazy movies.

Looking at how Ford has edited or co-edited each Avengers film, the entire Captain America trilogy and Iron Man 3 since 2012, those claims are as water tight as the work that’s come out of the editing rooms at Marvel Studios. It should be noted that the figure of 900 hours’ worth of footage, while daunting, should have some caveats attached to its existence.

This is probably counting multiple takes of certain scenes and even moments where scenes are being set up and broken down. However, that also means that with the reshoots and retooling we’ve heard about with Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, there are moments we haven’t seen hidden in the fray.

Those moments include Tony’s daughter Morgan appearing to him in the post-snap afterlife, or that alternate battle that Black Widow and Hawkeye engaged in on Vormir in Avengers: Endgame. Add in other moments, like the Hulk being present in the line-up on Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War, or other moments created specifically for trailer fodder, and you can see some potential for this treasure trove of footage.

Namely, if Disney+ really wanted to give themselves a killer edge over the competition, not only could they offer the theatrical cuts of both films, they could provide alternate versions that fans will not be able to find anywhere else. And with this much footage available, it might be easy to smooth out some of the edges and provide a whole new experience fans didn’t know they wanted.

Still, even if that 900 hours of footage is just sitting somewhere in the Marvel Studios vault, it’s good to know that out of that massive wall of movie came two spectacular halves to an event we’ll be lucky to see as many times as we want in our lifetimes. And it’s all thanks to the efforts of Jeffrey Ford and Matthew Schmidt.

Avengers: Infinity War is available on Netflix for streaming, as well as Digital HD and home video release, while Avengers: Endgame is currently in theaters now, and will be on Disney+ as of December 11.

The Best Netflix Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now

The Best Netflix Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now

Movies where one can shut their brain off and enjoy are great, but sometimes the mind needs to be engaged. Documentaries are perfect for that, and Netflix is a great place to go for diving down the proverbial rabbit hole and coming out a well-informed viewer of whatever subject they just watched. For those looking to do that sometime in the near future, check out some of the best documentaries to stream right now below. Let's start with the Netflix-exclusive ones, i.e. you won't find them anywhere else.

Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond

There are plenty of documentaries on various topics worth checking out, but we'd be remiss not to give a nod to one of the better movie documentaries out there at the moment. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond is a documentary in which Jim Carrey gives interviews of his making of Man On The Moon 20 years later. It's paired with never-before-seen footage of Carrey on the set, completely in character as Andy Kaufman.

The documentary is a fantastic examination of two different comedians and a fascinating show of the pain and sacrifice that can go into a theatrical performance. Perhaps the most amazing thing is how a documentary about two funny men gets so deep and introspective. I guess that's kind of the point of the documentary genre, so mission accomplished.

Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened

We're not the first people to tell you to watch Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, and we certainly won't be the last. The documentary goes from one crazy story to the next, with several high profile figures appearing in and out of various scenes all throughout. It all culminates to the disaster that made several headlines throughout 2018, and how people were affected by its failure.

The best part about the whole thing is that knowing what happened only enhances the tale. Everything else is just icing on the cake, and stories like the promoter prepared to perform fellatio to get water into the country is just one example of how decorative this cake can get. Those who think the stories can't get any crazier than that just need to strap in for this one and check back after the viewing.

ReMastered: Tricky Dick And The Man In Black

Netflix's ReMastered documentaries highlight the music world and interesting stories surrounding musicians throughout the years. One of the best the collection has to offer is Tricky Dick And The Man In Black, which chronicles Johnny Cash's invitation to the White House by Richard Nixon. The President is hoping the grassroots singer will strengthen the support of his base and gain him additional support, but what's in it for Cash?

That's what the documentary covers, as Johnny Cash undergoes some personal reflection as the days tick down. As a true blue American, will he respect the honor of playing at the White House or will he use his platform to talk about the issues he thinks are relevant? Folks can probably guess which route he goes, but that doesn't make the story any less riveting.

13th

Ana DuVernay partnered with Netflix to shed some light on America's incarceration problem. As the beginning of the film states, America is home to 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prison population. As the title implies, DuVernay argues the current prison problem is, in part, tied to the 13th Amendment, and has created a widespread issue in American society. It's heavy stuff for sure, and definitely a topic that doesn't end when the credits roll.

13th received strong critical acclaim, Emmys and an Oscar nomination for its presentation of a subject others might have balked at. The fact that it won a few Emmys and had a shot at an Oscar should be proof it's one worth checking out, and one of Netflix's best original documentaries to date.

Gaga: Five Foot Two

Hot off her latest batch of award show glory, now is the perfect time to watch Lady Gaga's Netflix documentary. Gaga: Five Foot Two follows the singer along the making of her album Joanne and ends with her iconic halftime show performance during Super Bowl LI. It's also a look behind the struggles of touring, life on the road, and how much one sacrifices for the amount of fame she's celebrated.

Those who watch will even notice the doc features Gaga discussing talks she had with Bradley Cooper, and a movie they're planning that later became A Star Is Born. This is perfect for those who appreciated her work in the movie and want to see more of her as the artist removed from the various Hollywood performances and shock art over the years. The whole thing skews positive, but it's not like Gaga's image was suffering prior to its release.

Now that we've gone over the Netflix-exclusive documentaries, let's look at the ones that didn't start out on the streaming platform, but can easily be accessed there.

Abducted In Plain Sight

Abducted In Plain Sight has gotten a lot of buzz lately, as parents continue to fear for their children's safety in an ever-expanding world. This story is quite unlike anything folks may expect, however, as the man responsible for one family's misery is someone they loved deeply and all considered a close friend. If you can't trust those closest to you, who can you trust?

That's what Abducted In Plain Sight covers, as it travels back through various encounters that the family should've seen as red flags at the time. It's chilling and from an era that shows that while the internet presents a fresh set of problems for today's kids, danger can still exist very close to home.

Michael Jackson's This Is It

The mystery of Michael Jackson continues to be unraveled to this day, and while some details regarding his personal life are up in the air, his passion as a performer cannot be denied. This Is It chronicles Jackson's big concert tour that never was, as the singer died a little over two weeks prior to its beginning.

Michael Jackson fans are treated to his final performance just before his death. It's a great swan song to a legendary professional career, and the perfect movie for any Jackson fan. Even those only casually familiar will appreciate the amount of hard work that goes into putting together a massive tour, and the hours performers and crew put in to make it happen.

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From A Mythical Man

Bill Murray is an interesting dude who's only gotten more interesting in his older age. He's made a habit of getting into some weird situations, but really they're only weird because he's injected himself into them. The Bill Murray Stories chronicles some of these events from the people who were there, and tells the story from their perspective.

Which is way more fascinating than it sounds, at least from an audience perspective. It's like hearing a friend recall a story of some crazy encounter, but if that encounter involved Bill Murray doing the types of things Bill Murray could only do without anyone getting upset. Seriously, who else could wave a tambourine in a cop's face and get away with it?

Studio 54

It's not often that old nightclubs get movies and documentaries made about them, but when they do, it's Studio 54. This documentary looks at it from the perspective of co-owner Ian Schrager, and offers a different perspective on one of the most famous nightclubs of all time.

After watching the documentary, it isn't hard to see why this place is still talked about to this day. It's one of those unique places that came around at the right place and right time, and nothing like it will ever happen again. If it does, let's hope we get an invite!

Harold Shipman: Driven To Kill

It wouldn't be a documentary list without highlighting at least one serial killer, and who better than one of Britain's most prolific murderers to date. Harold Shipman is believed to have killed around 250 people all whilst serving the public as a doctor for years. Harold Shipman: Driven To Kill highlights his childhood and the early adult years of the physician who would hurt far more than he would ever heal.

It's one of those documentaries that can make a person question everything. If someone can get away with killing that many people before being caught, are there other people in our own lives who have done the same?

Documentary lovers with suggestions or opinions to add on the above picks feel free to share their thoughts in the comments below. For more on documentaries, read up on the latest buzzworthy docuementary Leaving Neverland, and why Macaulay Culkin was not asked to participate in it.

Is Poms' Box Office Failure Tied To Yikes Reviews?

Is Poms' Box Office Failure Tied To Yikes Reviews?

If the box office is perfectly balanced, as all things should be, that means that while Avengers: Endgame is breaking records, something else has to be failing spectacularly, and that something is the comedy Poms. The story of a group of women who start a cheerleading squad at their retirement community is the worst box office flop of the year so far for a film with a wide release on over 2,700 screens.

Poms debuted in 6th place, earning just $5.3 million against a $10 million budget over Mother’s Day weekend. Whenever a movie fails like this, it is worth doing a post-mortem and asking what happened. One of the first things worth wondering about are the yikes reviews Poms received, which certainly didn’t do it any favors. CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg highlighted the film’s lack of originality in his review, saying:

There is hardly a single underdog sports movie cliché that isn’t employed at some point, and it’s difficult to feel entirely engaged with the story when you know exactly how every single scene is going to begin and end.

Yikes indeed. Audiences need to be sold to spend their hard-earned money to come to the theater, and when the reviews warn of a cliché-ridden film that people have the impression they’ve seen before 1000 times, there is no incentive to go see it.

But maybe you’re okay with a clichéd and simple story, and you just want to laugh and have a good time. Sadly, Poms comes up short in that regard, according to the Associated Press’s Lindsey Bahr, who in her review said:

It’s fine to make a film that’s just supposed to make an audience smile but this film doesn’t even get close to that level of joy.

You can definitely see how potential audiences who read that review might have been reticent to spend money to see a movie where even the hope of cracking a smile is in doubt. And if a comedy can’t make you laugh, that’s a problem and that is definitely the case here according to IndieWire’s Jude Dry, who gave the film a “D” and said:

Poms is the first narrative feature from documentarian Zara Hayes, who wrote the script with Shane Atkinson, making his feature debut. Neither have much background in comedy, and it shows.

One of the theoretical selling points of Poms is its cast of legendary actresses, including Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Celia Weston, Rhea Perlman and Pam Grier. However, a common thread among the reviews for the film was lament that the actresses aren’t given quality roles in a well-written film to work with. In her review, The Hollywood Reporter’s Beandrea July said:

Poms is equal parts boring and infuriating, especially when you consider the actresses made to perform caricatures of old age.

By many accounts, Poms doesn’t treat its elderly characters with much respect, which is made even more galling considering the pure talent involved. That lends a sad quality to the film that may have turned off audiences. The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee, gave Poms 1 star out of 5, and if you read his review, you probably wouldn’t spend your money to see the movie either. He said:

It’s easy to praise the mere existence of Poms as a rare wide-releasing comedy populated by women over the age of 70 but rather than feeling inspired, I left the cinema feeling depressed… The women in Poms deserve better and so do we.

‘I left feeling depressed’ is not the blurb you want for an ostensibly feel-good Mother’s Day movie. And while it might be great that this movie got made and received a wide release, general audiences aren’t in the business of voting with their dollar at the box office to advance the cause of older actresses in the industry.

Poms currently has a 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning that the reviews weren’t all bad, and opening night audiences gave the film a “B+” CinemaScore, indicating those who saw it generally liked it. So is Poms' box office failure tied to the bad reviews?

It’s tough to say, but the reviews certainly couldn’t have helped. It’s difficult to know how much reviews truly influence audience’s moviegoing decisions. Plenty of horribly reviewed blockbusters make bank at the box office and countless critically acclaimed smaller films struggle to scrape together a few pennies.

I tend to think that reviews only influence audiences to an extent and that most people make up their minds before they see the reviews. It’s only when the consensus is drastically in one direction or the other that their choice can change. I also don’t know what the level or quality of the marketing across the country was for Poms.

If Poms was beloved and the reviews helped spur great word of mouth, maybe it wouldn’t have flopped in this way, but it was probably never going to really deliver. These kinds of smaller movies, rightly or wrongly, are a dying breed as blockbusters dominate the theatrical calendar. Counter-programming can be successful, and perhaps that, as well as coinciding with the Mother’s Day holiday was the strategy, but everything, including reviews, has to click, and that wasn’t the case here.

I can’t help but feel like in the current marketplace, Poms was far better suited to be released on a streaming service like Netflix. Perhaps when it arrives on a streaming service down the line, it will get a second life.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see everything headed to theater this summer and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest box office news.

Yesterday Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Yesterday Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle has been praised over the years for his films, including Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours and Trainspotting. What happens when he teams up with legendary writer of Love Actually, Notting Hill and About Time, Richard Curtis, for a fantasy musical comedy about a struggling musician who wakes up one morning as the only man in the world who remembers the Beatles?

Yesterday premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City over the weekend, which means critics have how seen it ahead of its summer release. Do they recommend a ticket to ride this release? Their reactions are mixed among them, as they waver between glowing and dissatisfying. Let’s take a look at some of their thoughts starting with CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes, who absolutely loved it. In his review, he awarded the movie with a near-perfect score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here’s a bit of what he had to say:

Yesterday is an uplifting triumph of heartfelt comedy, believable drama, and just the right amount of quirk to remove this film from any sort of mundane reality. In its own way, it even ponders how successful The Beatles's material would be, and the challenges it would face, if it were coming up in the modern music industry; which only adds to the film's sly thoughtfulness.

The film is framed around Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel, who gets into a bus accident during a global blackout and finds he alone who knows the words to “All You Need is Love” among the Fab Four’s iconic discography. Reyes felt the bizarre premise worked - all while charming him with an exciting story with a mix of romance, lightness and drama. He also enjoyed how Yesterday uniquely presented the Beatles music in a refreshing way.

Empire’s Helen O’Hara also raved about this aspect of Yesterday in her 4 out of 5 star review. There’s been an uptick of musical films lately, and she felt this movie did it right where others have left something to be desired. Here’s what she said:

There’s something profoundly disturbing about the idea of a world without The Beatles, whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone known to drunkenly chant the “la la” bit of ‘Hey Jude’, and that’s true even if the world’s loss is our hero’s gain. So while Danny Boyle’s new film is still a largely warm and frequently surprising affair, its unusual premise gives it an edge that other jukebox hits – Bohemian Rhapsody, for example – have lacked.

O’Hara thinks just about everyone can enjoy this flick, even those unfamiliar with the band’s significance. This is a noteworthy positive for David Crow of Den of Geek who said the following about Yesterday:

His film is a crash course in remembering the importance of the Beatles’ legacy. That might sound trite, but the movie finds a much more creative and earnest way to honor a pop star act than the myriad of empty-headed musical biopics we’ve been inundated with for decades.

Yesterday will follow the success of Bohemian Rhapsody and upcoming release of Rocketman, and thankfully it has something else going for it, since it will follow a modern-day premise of Jack using his knowledge of Beatles’ songs to create a successful career for himself today. However, not all critics were impressed with it. The Verge’s Adi Robertson had these comments for example:

Boyle and Curtis are making an alternate history film that’s not primarily about alternate history, which is a completely valid choice. But the film’s central romance is badly underwritten, and its slapdash, joke-driven worldbuilding pokes holes in a plot that was fantastical to start with. Yesterday is a story about the pure and timeless nature of music — but it often comes off as more rote than heartfelt.

It’s understandable that while some would be able to swim in the fantasy of Yesterday’s quirky premise, others will be put off by it and Robertson wasn’t alone in the problems she found through her review. Take a look at a bit of Owen Gleiberman’s review for Variety:

In “Yesterday,” the greatness of the Beatles is like a trump card that Jack, and the filmmakers, keep playing. Yet the greatness of the Beatles is never something the film invites us to discover. The songs, to be fair, are iconic — but that said, some Beatles songs are more iconic than others. And “Yesterday” features nothing but the Beatles tracks that you would put on a “12 All-Time Greatest Songs of the Beatles!” collection.

The movie doesn’t look to convince everyone that the Beatles’ music would be as popular today, in the way that Yesterday showcases anyway. Dan Callahan with The Wrap similarly bashed the movie for its delivery of its plot with these words:

If you’re going to make a film with a plot like “Yesterday,” the least you can do is probe it somewhat and push it as far as it will go. But Curtis and Boyle offer up pretty much what you would expect given this premise, which basically amounts to Patel doing passable karaoke versions of these famous songs and very little else.

Finally, let’s go to Digital Spy’s Ian Sandwell who gave the film 4 stars out of 5 and brings to attention what element in the movie sold him despite some oddity in the film’s idea. Check it out:

A large part of this is down to the engaging performances of Himesh Patel (in his first big-screen role) and Lily James, who share great chemistry. You're fully behind their friendship and feel all the heartbreak. Neither of them are the cool kids, and their endearing characters help sell the outrageous concept.

The story between the two core characters was enough for him to fall in love with Yesterday. Despite some mixed reviews from critics, the movie looks to charm music fans, especially of the Beatles if you can push aside some of the particulars of the concept.

Will you be checking out Yesterday on June 28? Let us know in the comments.

Toy Story 4 Is Adding Some Comedy Legends

Toy Story 4 Is Adding Some Comedy Legends

Toy Story 4 already had a stacked cast, from Tom Hanks and Tim Allen obviously reprising Woody and Buzz Lightyear, respectively, to newcomers like Keanu Reeves and Christina Hendricks jumping in as new toys the main characters meet during their latest adventure. But with less than two weeks to go until Toy Story 4 hits theaters, it’s been revealed that comedy icons Mel Brooks, Betty White, Carl Reiner and Carol Burnett will also be lending their talents to the latest Pixar movie.

So how are these legends participating in Toy Story 4? Well, as it most often the case with this franchise, they’ll be voicing toys, specifically ones belonging to Bonnie, just like Woody, Buzz and the gang. However, in the case of this quartet, while they were Bonnie’s favorite toys when she was a baby, as the girl’s gotten older, they’ve fallen out of favor, which is what’s happened to Woody at the start of the movie.

These already sound like worthwhile characters to bring in, but what makes them even better is their punny names. Mel Brooks is voicing a blue elephant named Melephant Brooks, Betty White is voicing an orange tiger named Bitey White, Carl Reiner is voicing a pink rhino named Carl Reineroceros and Carol Burnett is voicing a green chair named Chairol Burnett. All these toys also have a “natural personality” fitting the actor voicing them.

Here’s what director Josh Cooley told USA Today how these characters fit into Toy Story 4:

They’ve done their job and are just kind of waiting around for what happens next. And now that Woody's in there, they're accepting him into their circle and he's already pushing against that. Sometimes toys fall in and out of favor. I look at my own kid and stuff that was the favorite toy yesterday is now in the closet. We wanted to show that Woody's new life in this bedroom is not exactly what he thought it was going to be.

Josh Cooley also mentioned that he recorded Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner’s lines while the two longtime friends were together in Reiner’s living room, which the director described as “so surreal and so awesome.” He added that Brooks and Reiner did an excellent job riffing off each other, and Brooks humorously reminded Cooley that he’s directed films too.

Toy Story 3 explored people outgrowing their toys with Andy having left his playthings in the toy chest years earlier and him going to college marking his first steps into adulthood. Now, through Mel Brooks, Betty White, Carl Reiner and Carol Burnett’s characters, Toy Story 4 offers a look at the toys we leave behind even as we’re still young and our tastes change.

Since it looks like Toy Story 4 could be the last film entry in this franchise, it’s great to hear that all four of these comedy talents were able to lend their voices to it, though we’ll have to wait and see how much screen time they have. It’s also worth mentioning that Mel Brooks was good friends with Don Rickles, who passed away in 2017, but will still be heard as Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story 4 thanks to archival audio.

Toy Story 4 opens on June 14, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage. Don’t forget to also visit our 2019 release schedule to find out what other movies come out later this year.

Maleficent 2 Just Got Pushed Way Up In The Theatrical Schedule

Maleficent 2 Just Got Pushed Way Up In The Theatrical Schedule

It took a long time to get a sequel to Maleficent off the ground and while it's been half a year since the project wrapped filming, it was still going to be more than a year before the movie hit theaters, with the film set to release in May of 2020. However, this morning Disney revealed a few small pieces of very interesting information. One was the film's official title, and another was a brand new release date that moves the film way up the calendar. Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is now coming out this year, on October 18, 2019.

Why This Release Date Is A Big Change

When release dates for movies change, it's almost exclusively delays. When films do have their release pushed up, it might be by a couple of weeks, or at the most a couple of months. Seeing a movie jump more than a year up the calendar is unusual.

From a post-production stand point it's probably not an issue. The film is still coming out more than a year after filming wrapped. The bigger issue with the release date move is that Disney is moving Maleficent: Mistress of Evil into an already very crowded year, one that's been made crowded mostly by Disney itself.

This will make Maleficent: Mistress of Evil the fourth Disney live action remake -- or in this case, sequel to one -- coming out this year alone. Dumbo hits later this month, then Aladdin in May, The Lion King in July, and now Maleficent in October.

And that's just the movies based on previous animated material. 2019 is a huge year for Disney, from Captain Marvel arriving this week, to Avengers: Endgame to Frozen II to Star Wars: Episode IX, the House of Mouse is going to have no problem bringing in a massive box office this year, The studio didn't exactly need the help.

Having said all that, there is something of a gap in that schedule, as Disney didn't have anything on the calendar between August's Artemis Fowl and November's Frozen II so it's not like Disney will be cannibalizing its own box office here. And a pre-Halloween release date for Disney's biggest villain isn't the worst idea in the world. Nothing of note was set to release that weekend. Zombieland 2 and the animated Addams Family movie are set to hit the weekend before.

Maleficent 2 Also Got A First Look

In addition to the title and release date, a poster for the new film was also released. Check it out below.

The Title Calls Back To Sleeping Beauty

In Disney's original Sleeping Beauty Maleficent refers to herself as the "Mistress of All Evil." While the title calls back to that, don't expect Angelina Jolie's character to be too evil. She's not technically the villain of the story. That role is reportedly been taken by Ed Skrein.

Although, the use of the title with the new release date makes one wonder if the new movie will be something closer to horror than the original. It's certainly setting itself up to imply a very dark movie.

The success of the original Maleficent is largely responsible for the influx of live-action remakes that Disney has gone all-in on. The movie was a smash hit. The sequel will also be a return for Angelina Jolie who hasn't been on screen since the year after the original Maleficent came out. If fans are still hungry for the character or the actress then we could see yet another big hit in what is already going to be a year of big hits for Disney.

John Wick Chapter 3 Has Screened, See What People Are Saying

John Wick Chapter 3 Has Screened, See What People Are Saying

The John Wick franchise is one that has built up a lot of fans over the previous two films, and now those fans are excitedly looking forward to what one expects to be the end of a trilogy, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. While the rest of us pour bastards still have to wait a couple of weeks, the movie has screened for some critics, and they're now letting us know that if you were a fan of the first two films, you're probably going to like John Wick: Chapter 3.

CinemaBlend's own Mike Reyes was one of those lucky enough to get an early view of John Wick: Chapter 3, and he thought the film took its trademark stunts and highly stylized action to another level. It also, quite interestingly, still leaves the franchise in a place that it could go forward. According to Mike...

John Wick 3 is yet another round of kick assed action, and intriguing world building. Keanu Reeves continues to clean up & the stunt bar has been raised yet again. There are so many places this franchise could go from here, and all of them are exciting.

One of the most interesting parts of the John Wick films is the way the franchise has created its world of organized professional assassins, but done so with a limited amount of expository dialogue. Most of what we know about the world John Wick lives in, the Continental hotel, and the High Table all comes from watching these elements simply be introduced. We learn about them by the way characters react to them, rather than having them explained.

It seems that the world will still leave itself open to more stories, whether John Wick himself could be part of those stories, we'll have to wait and see.

One way that the franchise could potentially continue, apparently, is through the new character introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 that is played by Halle Berry. Erik Davis of Fandango thinks she needs her own film series. He also thinks the new film is the best of the trilogy.

Finally allowed to say that John Wick 3 is hands down the best of the three movies. Ridiculously inventive fight scenes, lots more world building & great villains. There is a knife fight in this movie that is aces. Also, Halle Berry’s character needs her own series.

In addition to the John Wick films creative world building, the franchise is also defined by its practical stunts and beautifully choreographed action sequences. Courtney Howard says that John Wick 3 elevates both elements.

John Wick 3: A eye-popping, jaw-dropping, show-stopping killer. Extends world-building dynamics beautifully, but also assigns meaningful resonance to character-driven action. Keanu Reeves is perfect, Asia Kate Dillon is magnetic & Halle Berry kicks ass.

Not bad for a franchise that was all started by a dog. The first film saw John Wick, a retired professional hitman, run afoul of some thugs who proceed to beat him up, steal his car, and kill his dog. This brings him out of retirement to hunt down those responsible.

However, his decision to come back results in him needing to make good on a marker he owed before going underground. John Wick: Chapter 2, follows Wick as he does this, but when Wick makes the decision to break the rules of the underworld that he lives in, he finds a price on his head and a lot of people trying to collect. That's where John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum picks up.

Assuming that the complete reviews come in as glowing as these social media reactions, John Wick will be the rare movie trilogy that sees its entire franchise getting stellar reviews. Scott Mendelson from Forbes is another who praises the new movie, though, unlike some, he doesn't necessarily think the third movie is the best.

Oh, and John Wick 3 is another gorgeous and inventive action extravaganza. I think JW2 is a "better" movie, but this one is completely entertaining and a living video game. Keanu Reeves is once again a force of nature. He actually looks his age, which adds to the pathos.

So basically, if there was any question, if you're looking forward to watching Keanu Reeves kick ass. John Wick 3 delivers. As Slashfilm's Hoai-Tran Bui, puts it, the movie rules.

Pure visceral cinema. After the dramatic world expansion of Chapter 2, Chapter 3 returns to a leaner, exhilarating story chock full of breathless, bone-crunching action and even a few laughs. I was sweating 30 minutes in. This movie RULES.

Is there anything wrong with John Wick 3? IGN's Terri Schwartz admits that some of the decisions perplexed her, but that the problems were far from big enough to impact her enjoyment of the film, saying...

Some of the storytelling and character decisions left me scratching my head and questioning motivations when I left the theater, but that won't stop me from going back for the inevitable John Wick: Chapter 4.

In addition, Mike Rougeau from IGN says that some of the additions to the mythology don't necessarily work, and some of it might actually be controversial for fans.

John Wick 3 continues to build on the series' mythology and has some of the coolest action and most memorable side characters of the entire series. I'm not sure about everything it adds, and certain things will be controversial.

Overall, it looks like John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is going to be everything that fans have been waiting for. Based on the fact that most movie franchises these days are trilogies, we certainly may have expected the story to end with Chapter 3, though based on some of these comments, it sounds like the franchise may not be quite through yet.

I for one am certainly looking forward to John Wick: Chapter 3, it's probably my favorite modern action franchise. I find both of the previous films endlessly rewatchable and if the new movie is added to that list so much the better.

John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum opens wide on Friday May 17.