As everyone knows, the otherwise untouchable Marvel Studios had a particularly rough 2023. The disappointment of “Ant-Man: Quantumania,” the box office flop of “The Marvels,” and the critically reviled Disney+ series, “Secret Invasion,” severely put the studio on the ropes for the first time ever. But the studio is seemingly getting its house back in order. After a strong late 2023/early 2024 with the animated series, “What If…?,” the live-action series, “Echo” and the adored animated revival, “X-Men: 97,” and the promise of a reduced output, leaving fans wanting more, Marvel only has one film for 2024, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and they seem to be totally ok with that.

Continue reading Marvel Execs Acknowledge “Rough” 2023, But Say Studio Has “Learned Their Lesson” With Rethink Approach at The Playlist.

After two “Extraction” films, both hits for Netflix, it’s clear that Sam Hargrave is one of the best action filmmakers working today. So, even though the idea of a “Matchbox” film seems silly, you have to give it the benefit of the doubt with Hargrave attached.

That’s right, according to Deadline, Sam Hargrave has been hired by Mattel and Skydance to direct a “Matchbox” film based on the collectible car brand.

Continue reading ‘Matchbox’: Sam Hargrave To Direct Film Based On Toy Car Brand at The Playlist.

Sometimes, a film project comes together really quickly. That seems to be the case with the forthcoming “28 Years Later.” Prior to a few months ago, the film was more theoretical. Wouldn’t it be cool if it happened? Now, not only is it happening, but it’s the start of a new trilogy, we have two major directors attached, and the cast is really incredible, thus far. Now, “28 Years Later” might be one of our most anticipated films.

Continue reading ’28 Years Later’: Jack O’Connell Joins The Cast Of Danny Boyle’s Sequel at The Playlist.

Harmony Korine is definitely a filmmaker who marches to the beat of his own drum. His films are often wild and subversive, toying with audience’s expectations of what the medium is capable of. And his newest film, “AGGRO DR1FT” is no different. In fact, it is easily his most unique film yet.

READ MORE: ‘Aggro Dr1ft’ Review: Harmony Korine Goes Sicko Mode In A Visually Stunning Journey Through Miami Thug Life  [Venice]

As seen in the trailer, “AGGRO DR1FT” tells the story of a hitman with a family, as he tries to balance his life as a father and as a hired killer.

Continue reading ‘AGGRO DR1FT’ Trailer: Harmony Korine’s Infrared Thriller Hits Theaters This Week at The Playlist.

There are not many franchises that have a steeper drop off in quality than “Speed.” The first film is a fun, somewhat silly romp that boosted the star power of both Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. The second film, “Speed 2: Cruise Control,” is, well, not good. Worse than that, it’s often used as a cautionary tale about what not to do with a sequel.

Continue reading Keanu Reeves Wants To Team With Sandra Bullock For Another ‘Speed’: “We’d Freakin’ Knock It Out Of The Park” at The Playlist.

George Miller might have done it again. Nearly a decade after the Oscar-winning “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the director has returned to his post-apocalyptic world for “Furiosa,” and according to the early social media reactions, Miller delivers another incredible film. That said, perhaps not as great as ‘Fury Road.’

Now, before we get to sharing some of the reactions, it’s always important to preface this by saying social media reactions are not reviews.

Continue reading ‘Furiosa’ Reactions Call George Miller’s Prequel “Epic” & “Powerhouse Action Filmmaking” at The Playlist.

Fans of the “Dune” novel series were not shocked by much in Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation. However, even if you read the original book, you were probably shocked to see the inclusion of Anya Taylor-Joy in the film. Not only was her cameo a secret, but playing the unborn Alia Atreides is something no one predicted. However, she showed up and surprised audiences. And if Denis Villeneuve has anything to say about it, Taylor-Joy’s time in Arrakis is just beginning.

Continue reading ‘Dune: Messiah’: Denis Villeneuve “Can’t Wait” To Work With Anya Taylor-Joy Again On The Sequel at The Playlist.

Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland is one of the greats. A three-time Academy Award nominee—1990’s “Europa Europa,” 1993’s “Angry Harvest” and the Holocaust drama “In Darkness”— Holland is also known for her celebrated prestige TV work, particularly on the David Simon series’ “The Wire,” and “Treme” and shows like “The Killing,” and “House Of Cards.” But her best-known feature work has always leaned towards social justice and socially-conscious dramas, which brings us to her latest, “Green Border,” an bracing portrait of Europe’s refugee crisis that has been hailed as a “humanitarian masterpiece.”

READ MORE: ‘Green Border’ Review: Agnieszka Holland Won’t Let You Turn A Blind Eye To Suffering In Devastating Refugee Drama [TIFF]

Our review of the film described “Green Border” as “devastating” and “nightmarish.” “Holland has made a righteous, masterful work, arguably her best since ‘Europa Europa,’ but it’s not for the faint of heart or those inclined to turn a blind eye to suffering,” our review wrote.

Continue reading ‘Green Border’ Trailer: Agnieszka Holland’s Urgent New European Refugee Crisis Drama Arrives in June at The Playlist.

At this point, after five films in the “Despicable Me” universe, we know what to expect from these movies. Basically, it’s Minions and more Minions. And the new trailer for “Despicable Me 4” puts a heavy emphasis on the little yellow creatures.

READ MORE: ‘The Boys’ Season 4 Trailer: The Bloody & Brutal Comic Book Adaptation Returns To Prime Video In June

As seen in the trailer, the Minions are front and center as they get turned into Mega Minions, aka superpowered Minions, who are out to stop the latest villain in the franchise.

Continue reading ‘Despicable Me 4’ Trailer: Mega Minions Are Here To Save The Day at The Playlist.

Up until now, many just assumed that “Deadpool 3,” aka “Deadpool & Wolverine,” was always going to be a team-up story with the two massively popular heroes. Well, apparently that wasn’t the case. And if Hugh Jackman hadn’t had an “epiphany,” fans might have been left with a very different superhero sequel.

READ MORE: Kevin Feige Says He Once Urged Hugh Jackman To Not “Undo” ‘Logan’ Ending Or Return As Wolverine

Speaking to EW, filmmaker Shawn Levy talked about “Deadpool & Wolverine,” and he dove into what might have happened if Hugh Jackman didn’t agree to star in the film.

Continue reading ‘Deadpool 3’ Was “Changed Radically” When Hugh Jackman Asked To Join The Film at The Playlist.

Michelle Yeoh has never been afraid of working on a TV show. Just in the last couple of years, she’s starred in series such as “American Born Chinese,” “The Brothers Sun,” and “Ark: The Animated Series.” And for her next big project, the award-winning actor is set to lead the cast of the upcoming “Blade Runner 2099.”

READ MORE: ‘Blade Runner 2099’: ‘Shogun’s’ Jonathan Van Tulleken New Limited Series Director

According to Deadline, Michelle Yeoh has signed on for a secretive role in the forthcoming Prime Video series, “Blade Runner 2099.” The series, as the title suggests, is the latest sequel in the “Blade Runner” franchise, taking place 50 years after the most recent film, “Blade Runner 2049.” Not many details are known about the show right now, other than filming is currently underway in Europe and at least two episodes are directed by “Shogun” helmer Jonathan van Tulleken.

Continue reading ‘Blade Runner 2099’: Michelle Yeoh Cast In Prime Video’s New Series at The Playlist.

Well, it wouldn’t be a family road trip without a few breakdowns, right? That’s the central premise of “Treasure,” a new ‘90s-set father/daughter road trip dramedy that stars the inspired pair of Stephen Fry (“Gosford Park,” “V For Vendetta”) and Lena Dunham, the star, writer and creator of “Girls” among many other shows and films.

Continue reading ‘Treasure’ Trailer:  Lena Dunham & Stephen Frey’s Comedic Father/Daughter Road Trip Begins in June at The Playlist.

When James Gunn announced the ambitious DC Studios film slate that he and co-CEO Peter Safran were working on, people were largely not shocked to find out it was more of a full reboot. A new Superman, a new Batman, etc… For fans and people who keep up with superhero film universes, this made sense. But for Chris Pine, who starred in the “Wonder Woman” franchise under the previous regime at Warner Bros.

Continue reading ‘Wonder Woman’: Chris Pine Is “Stunned” James Gunn Isn’t Continuing The Superhero Franchise at The Playlist.

It’s not really news to say that Disney CEO Bob Iger is going to be a bit more hands-on with Marvel Studios in the future. The executive has made several comments in the past about reducing the number of projects the studio releases, as well as making sure the films and TV series that are released are of the best quality. But up to now, that’s all soundbites and rhetoric.

Continue reading Disney CEO Says Marvel Will Reduce Output To 3 Films & 2 Shows Max Per Year at The Playlist.

One of the most unexpected new franchises is, without a doubt, the “X” film series from writer-director Ti West. Beginning with “X” and continuing with “Pearl” less than a year later, the filmmaker wowed audiences with his fresh take on the horror genre. Now, everyone is eagerly attempting his trilogy capper, “MaXXXine,” which arrives in July. Many have just assumed this will be the end of the low budget franchise, but according to the filmmaker, there might be at least one more story to tell.

Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’: Ti West Has “One Idea” For How To Continue ‘X’ Franchise After The Upcoming Film at The Playlist.

Nicolas Cage has a knack for picking interesting films lately. Even if the final product isn’t so great, there’s no denying Cage likes to perform in films that are unique. And his latest, titled ‘The Carpenter’s Son” looks to be no different.

READ MORE: ‘Arcadian’ Review: Nic Cage-Led Monster Movie Manages Heart & Horror in Equal Measure

According to Deadline, Nicolas Cage is set to star opposite FKA Twigs, Noah Jupe, and Souheila Yacoub in the upcoming supernatural horror film, “The Carpenter’s Son.” The film, directed by Lotfy Nathan takes inspiration from the Bible and Jesus’ childhood to tell the story of a boy who discovers he has powers after rebelling against his guardian.

Continue reading ‘The Carpenter’s Son’: Nicolas Cage, FKA Twigs & More Star In Horror Film Inspired By Jesus’ Childhood at The Playlist.

There are plenty of films and TV shows telling stories about the power of art to save people’s lives. But you don’t often see one of these stories shine the light on a middle-aged construction worker. That’s exactly what happens in the new film, “Ghostlight.”

READ MORE: ‘Ghostlight’ Review: A Family Finds Solace In Community Theater [Sundance]

In the trailer for “Ghostlight,” we get to see how the film focuses on Dan, a construction worker who is having issues with his teen daughter.

Continue reading ‘Ghostlight’ Trailer: A Construction Worker Reconnects With His Daughter In Acclaimed Sundance Drama at The Playlist.

Kristen Stewart is nothing if not a person with strong convictions. This is a woman who could have easily taken her fame and fortune from “Twilight” and become the biggest actor on the planet. Instead, she turned her star power into a tool to help elevate filmmakers she truly believes in, leading to a string of amazing performances in a number of films that many normal filmgoers might not have seen.

Continue reading Kristen Stewart Believes Industry Is “Phony” For Only Supporting “Four” Female Filmmakers at The Playlist.

There have to be fans of Vin Diesel’s ‘Riddick’ franchise out there, right? Surely they’re a growing fandom considering today’s news that the fourth (yes, there have been three already) ‘Riddick’ film has confirmed production will begin in August.

READ MORE: Vin Diesel Confirms Next ‘Fast & Furious’ Is Final Film In The Saga

According to the company Rocket Science, “Riddick: Furya” is set to begin production in August, ensuring we will get a fourth film in the franchise.

Continue reading ‘Riddick: Furya’: Vin Diesel’s Next Entry In His Sci-Fi Franchise Begins Production In August at The Playlist.

He’s going to wear the underwear on the outside, after all, huh? One of the biggest questions about the new “Superman” film from director James Gunn has finally been answered as the filmmaker has released the first official look at David Corenswet as the Man of Steel.

Obviously, this image is going to be dissected by the fandom immediately, but for those who are just curious what Corenswet will look like as Superman, the image gives us a good idea.

Continue reading ‘Superman’: James Gunn Shares First Look At David Corenswet As The Man Of Steel at The Playlist.

When it debuted last year, “Gen V” seemingly continued the strong success of “The Boys” franchise on Prime Video. The series quickly was given a Season 2 pickup and everything seemed to be coming up roses for the cast and crew. That all changed tragically, when news broke of actor Chance Perdomo’s death just a couple of months ago. Now, the series has to commence filming on Season 2 with a lot more questions than the producers anticipated.

Continue reading ‘Gen V’: ‘The Boys’ Spinoff Won’t Recast Chance Perdomo’s Role After Actor’s Tragic Death at The Playlist.

How did Lollapalooza make music history? The new docuseries “Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza” explores the influential festival and its impact on an entire generation. Jane’s Addiction and Porno for Pyros frontman Perry Farrell created a tour that featured up-and-coming bands — many of whom would become synonymous with the decade. The event proved to be more than just another concert for audiences and performers.

Continue reading ‘Lolla: The Story Of Lollapalooza’ Trailer: Sundance Docuseries About The Influential Concert Debuts This Month at The Playlist.

Comic book universes can venture far from their core storylines in a bid to attract more viewers (*cough* Marvel) despite producing content that grows increasingly less relevant.  Creators expect an audience to continually binge on the newest adaptation or sequel to get the slightest morsel of a new character or narrative twist that may or may not ever materialize later on. Thankfully “The Boys” showrunner Eric Kripke is well aware of that when talking about the upcoming season of the hit series.

Continue reading ‘The Boys’ Season 4 Trailer: The Bloody & Brutal Comic Book Adaptation Returns To Prime Video In June at The Playlist.

The unofficial start to Summer Box Office season kicked off with a massive action film, “The Fall Guy,” this past weekend. Unfortunately, the beginning of summer is more of a whimper than a bang, as “The Fall Guy” opened with an estimated $28.5 million over the three-day weekend. That’s not a huge number for a film that is said to have a production cost between $130 million and $150 million. Obviously, the film can’t be called a bomb yet–it could still have amazing legs and turn into a sleeper hit.

Continue reading Ryan Gosling Says A ‘Fall Guy’ Sequel Is Already Written: “The Sequel Sort Of Wrote Itself” at The Playlist.

Oscar season is a marathon whether you win or lose. Ryuske Hamaguchi was lucky enough to be on the winning end when “Drive My Car” won the International Film Oscar two years ago. In so doing, the filmmaker became just the fifth Japanese director to win the honor and the first since Yōjirō Takita triumphed in 2009 for “Departures.” It also became the first Japanese film nominated for Best Picture, a landmark achievement for a nation with a legacy of auteur filmmakers.

Continue reading Ryusuke Hamaguchi Takes An Unexpected Turn With ‘Evil Does Not Exit’ [Interview] at The Playlist.