Brad Pitt confirmed for Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD!

Quentin Tarantino’s potentially penultimate film is firming up. We learned a few months ago that the KILL BILL filmmaker had finished a new script and was aiming high in casting a story tangentially connected to the murder of Sharon Tate. Plot details trickled out here and there, but Sony Pictures tonight announced a title, synopsis, and initial cast for the movie, giving us some official info in one neat batch.

Leonardo DiCaprio is firmed up in the lead role, and Brad Pitt will be co-starring alongside him in ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. That’s the title of the new Quentin Tarantino movie, and the logline is as follows:

Tarantino describes it as “a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don’t recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor…Sharon Tate.”

While earlier reports had Tom Cruise eyed for a role, he’s not mentioned in this press release. It’s unclear if Cruise ultimately passed on the project, or if negotiations are still ongoing. Margot Robbie is reportedly being eyed to play Tate, Cruise may or may not have been pegged to play a prosecutor, and Tarantino has also reportedly written a supporting role with Al Pacino in mind.

There was some question over whether this movie would proceed with this ideal cast in the wake of revelations from Uma Thurman, who recounted some troubling stories from her time on the set of KILL BILL where she was put in harm’s way during a stunt gone wrong. The actress subsequently clarified her story to lessen the blame on Tarantino himself, and he also gave a separate interview where he took responsibility, but it certainly brought up some unsettling issues.

DiCaprio and Pitt are both reuniting with Tarantino here after working with the filmmaker on DJANGO UNCHAINED and INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, respectively. This casting is kind of perfect—I can definitely see Pitt as DiCaprio’s stunt double—and I’m curious to see how the rest of the ensemble fills out. DiCaprio is famously picky about his roles and hasn’t worked since THE REVENANT, which finally won him an Oscar. Pitt, meanwhile, most recently wrapped James Gray’s sci-fi film AD ASTRA and may or may not be reteaming with David Fincher on WORLD WAR Z 2.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD marks a different kind of first for Tarantino: It’s his first movie without Harvey Weinstein. Indeed, after the revelations about Weinstein’s abhorrent behavior, Tarantino dropped the producer and after being wooed by various studios around town, is making ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD with Sony Pictures.

The filmmaker revealed in the press release that he’s been working on this script for five years (so he started it right after DJANGO UNCHAINED) and notes that he’s been living in Los Angeles for most of his life. “I’m very excited to tell this story of an LA and a Hollywood that don’t exist anymore,” noted Tarantino, adding “And I couldn’t be happier about the dynamic teaming of DiCaprio & Pitt as Rick & Cliff.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD hits theaters on August 9, 2019.

WONDER WOMAN II: Kristen Wiig in talks to play villainess Cheetah!

Kristen Wiig is best known for her comedy chops, but as any fan of THE SKELETON TWINS (there are dozens of us) can tell you, the actress has no problem going dark when the role calls for it. Which is good news for WONDER WOMAN fans, because the BRIDESMAIDS star and former SNL cast member is in talks to take on the villain role in WONDER WOMAN II.

Per Variety, Wiig is the top choice to play the villainous role of Cheetah in the highly-anticipated sequel to WB’s superhero hit, which will reportedly pick up with Gal Gadot‘s Diana Prince in the 1980s during the Cold War. It took a while for Patty Jenkins to close her momentous deal to return for WONDER WOMAN II, but the pieces finally fell into place and Jenkins is officially set to direct the sequel.

Jenkins also crafted the story with Geoff Johns and co-wrote the screenplay with Johns and writer David Callaham (THE EXPENDABLES). Word has it Jenkins always had Wiig high on her list for the villain part and expressed an interest to the actress before she left to location scout the sequel. “While it is currently unknown if Wiig is completely on board for the role,” the report notes, “a recent meeting between Wiig and top execs began to move things in the right direction.”

Cheetah is an OG Wonder Woman villain, created by William Moulton Marston in 1943 when she debuted in Wonder Woman #6. A number of comic book characters have taken the mantle of the villainous role in the comics, including Priscilla Rich, Deborah Domaine, and most recently, Barbara Anne Minerva. According to The Hashtag Show, who reported just days ago that WONDER WOMAN II would feature Cheetah as the primary villain, the film will focus on the latter, an archeologist and heiress who leads an expedition into Africa where she stumbles onto a ritual that gives her the powers of a cheetah good.

Wiig is certainly an unexpected pick to take on the part, but an intriguing one. As I hinted at earlier, she’s fantastic in her sympathetically twisted turn in THE SKELETON TWINS and she’s got the easy, endearing charm that so often makes for a good supervillain. The idea of a female villain is certainly exciting, giving WONDER WOMAN II the opportunity to break new ground again as the first superhero movie to feature a female hero and villain in the lead roles. You gotta love a film franchise that continues to set new precedent for on-screen and behind-the-camera representation.

WONDER WOMAN II is scheduled to arrive in theaters on November 1, 2019.

DOPE’s Rick Famuyiwa to develop graphic novel adaptation BLACK HOLE!

The long (seriously long) developed film adaptation of BLACK HOLE has found new life! DOPE director Rick Famuyiwa has signed on to write and direct a movie based on the beloved graphic novel by Charles Burns about a group of teens in the 1970s who contract a sexually transmitted disease known as “the Bug” that manifests in grotesque mutations, exploring the perils of sexual awakening and teenage and high school alienation in surreal, challenging imagery.

A film adaptation of the 12-issue graphic novel has been in the works on and off since 2005, when Alexandre Aja was attached. In the years since Neil Gaiman and PULP FICTION co-writer Roger Avery took a swing at the script a few times and David Fincher was attached to the project for years at Paramount before he dropped out in 2010. Despite reports that Fincher was still interested, the film has languished in development hell for years. Per THR, Plan B and New Regency have now teamed to bring the project back to life.

BLACK HOLE earned a heaping of critical acclaim and a cult following in the 10 years Burns spent writing it, along with receiving a Harvey Award, an Ignatz Award, and an Eisner Award. As for Famuyiwa, the director earned his own heap of buzz after his Sundance breakout DOPE and was attached to direct Warner Bros’ troubled THE FLASH movie for a time before becoming one of the many filmmakers to depart from the project.

Here’s the official synopsis, via Penguin Random House:

The setting: suburban Seattle, the mid-1970s. We learn from the outset that a strange plague has descended upon the area’s teenagers, transmitted by sexual contact. The disease is manifested in any number of ways — from the hideously grotesque to the subtle (and concealable) — but once you’ve got it, that’s it. There’s no turning back.

As we inhabit the heads of several key characters — some kids who have it, some who don’t, some who are about to get it — what unfolds isn’t the expected battle to fight the plague, or bring heightened awareness to it , or even to treat it. What we become witness to instead is a fascinating and eerie portrait of the nature of high school alienation itself — the savagery, the cruelty, the relentless anxiety and ennui, the longing for escape.

And then the murders start.

Chris Hemsworth in talks to lead MEN IN BLACK reboot, new details revealed!

Sony Pictures is forging ahead on that MEN IN BLACK reboot, and it appears casting is now underway. After developing different ideas on how to proceed with the franchise, including a potential crossover with the JUMP STREET series, the studio settled on a hard reboot and enlisted THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS filmmaker F. Gary Gray to take the helm earlier this month.

Now, per THR, Chris Hemsworth is in early negotiations to star in the sci-fi action-comedy spinoff. This new story, which has a script by IRON MAN writers Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, involves a white character, a black woman, and an older man and is set in London. Hemsworth, who showcased his comedic chops tremendously well in THOR: RAGNAROK, would presumably fill the “white character” role, but it’s unclear how these characters relate to each other or what kind of story is being told.

This movie is taking the JURASSIC WORLD route and rebooting the franchise with new characters, while not ignoring the history of the previous three films. Hemsworth has just come to an end to his lengthy Marvel Studios deal, in which he will have played Thor in a total of seven films. That deal concludes with May 2019’s AVENGERS 4, and while a deal for MEN IN BLACK is far from closed, it’s clear the actor isn’t averse to leading new franchises outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Hemsworth actually hedged his bets with 2012’s SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, reprising his role in 2016’s THE HUNTSMAN: WINTER’S WAR. He was also announced as returning as Captain Kirk in a STAR TREK BEYOND sequel involving time travel, but the tepid box office performance of that TREK sequel has put a fourth movie in doubt. Quentin Tarantino is now working on an original TREK film with producer J.J. Abrams that sounds like it would supersede that Hemsworth/Chris Pine version.

The deal for MEN IN BLACK is far from closed but it’s clear this movie is now actually happening, barreling towards a June 14, 2019 release date.

Trailer for WRECK-IT RALPH 2 breaks into the Internet, film due November 21, 2018!

We didn’t get one in 2017, but the wait for a new Walt Disney Animation Disney animation studios film is almost over, and so is the even longer wait for the WRECK-IT RALPH sequel. In 2012, the animated hit introduced the world to John C. Reilly‘s title character, an old-school video game hero who quite literally broke out of his mold and made his way to modern games before finding his place in the broad tapestry of video game entertainment. Now, the sequel RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET: WRECK-IT RALPH 2 (okay, that’s two titles and I refuse to write both of them down everytime) teases what’s to come for Reilly & Co. when they take on the wild world of the world wide web.

The sequel sees the return of director Rich Moore, who co-directed the smash hit ZOOTOPIA in between WRECK-IT RALPH movies, alongside co-director Phil Johnston. WRECK-IT RALPH 2 will also see Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) and Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) adventuring into the digital age.

WRECK-IT RALPH 2 arrives in theaters just in time for the holidays on November 21, 2018.\

Fox continues development of DOCTOR DOOM, X-FORCE, SILVER SURFER despite Disney merger

With a “business-friendly” administration and a President who adores Rupert Murdoch, the government isn’t going to stand in the way of the upcoming Disney-Fox merger. However, 20th Century Fox has to act prudently and carry on with business as usual. That means continuing to crank out a bunch of superhero properties even if those franchises may get upended or rebooted once the characters land in the hands of Marvel Studios.

THR reports that the studio isn’t slowing down on its superhero properties. There’s the untitled KITTY PRYDE movie Tim Miller is set to direct with Brian Michael Bendis writing the script; there’s the previously reported DOCTOR DOOM movie from ‘Legion’ showrunner Noah Hawley; and THR adds that acclaimed comic book writer Brian K. Vaughan (‘Y: The Last Man’) is working on a script for a SILVER SURFER movie. Additionally, a search is underway for a new GAMBIT director with a new script expected by March, and THE NEW MUTANTS will take on reshoots this summer that will add a new character, but the film is still slated for February 22, 2019.

Then there’s X-FORCE, which could be huge for Fox. Drew Goddard is still on board to direct, and THR reports that DEADPOOL 2 stars Ryan Reynolds and Josh Brolin are expected to star in the picture, which is aiming to start filming in October. All in all, the studio is planning three Marvel movies for 2019 and another three for 2020.

Even if the Fox-Marvel deal is approved this year, it makes sense for Fox to proceed with these movies since Kevin Feige has his own plans for the time being. I have little doubt that he’ll want to eventually integrate the X-Men into the MCU, but for the time being, and given the production schedules for blockbuster films, it makes sense for Fox to proceed as they would even if the merger wasn’t happening. That may mean that DOCTOR DOOM and SILVER SURFER movies may not see the light of day, but it’s a smart move to at least have them in the scripting stage.

WRECK-IT RALPH 2 motion poster reveals who broke the Internet, film due November 21, 2018

He did it ↘️⬇️↙️ #RalphBreakstheInternet pic.twitter.com/VBheFBzc2R

— Ralph Breaks the Internet (@wreckitralph) February 26, 2018

Disney has released a new teaser poster for the upcoming sequel WRECK-IT RALPH 2, as well as a motion poster that adds some spice to the minimalist design. The follow-up finds Rich Moore returning to the director’s chair alongside co-director Phil Johnston as Ralph and Vanellope leave Litwak’s video arcade behind to find a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game Sugar Rush. Where else to find this missing part than on the world wide web? Indeed, the crux of the sequel follows Ralph and Vanellope as the venture into the internet in search of this puzzle piece, while Ralph seemingly wreaks havoc along the way.

2012’s WRECK-IT RALPH marked a turning point of sorts for Walt Disney Animation Studios, which had played second-fiddle to Pixar throughout the early 2000s. 2010’s Tangled was a step in the right direction, but WRECK-IT RALPH proved that Disney could go toe-to-toe with Pixar in terms of quality and cutting-edge technology, and ironically enough 2012 saw Pixar releasing its first Disney-esque fairy tale in BRAVE.

Pixar lost some of its pristine track record over those ensuing years, but Disney Animation flourished as WRECK-IT RALPH was followed by the smash-hit FROZEN the following year, and the well-liked BIG HERO 6 in 2014. That, of course, was then followed by the one-two punch of ZOOTOPIA and MOANA, two of the best Disney movies in history, and while the studio took 2017 off, it looks like they’re back in fine form with this year’s WRECK-IT RALPH 2.

It’ll be interesting to see what avenues the film’s story explores, and visually speaking the possibilities are endless. This WRECK-IT RALPH 2 poster is very much just a teaser, but hopefully we don’t have to wait too long to see a trailer for this thing. WRECK-IT RALPH 2 opens in theaters on November 21st and features the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Taraji P. Henson, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch.

READY PLAYER ONE promo video unveils Anorak’s Challenge, film arrives March 29, 2018!

From filmmaker Steven Spielberg comes the science fiction action adventure Ready Player One, based on Ernest Cline’s bestseller of the same name. The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality- bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.

READY PLAYER ONE begins on March 29, 2018.

Box Office: BLACK PANTHER’s reign continues with a $108M second weekend!

There’s no way to underplay just how much money Marvel’s latest blockbuster is making at this moment. By the end of today, BLACK PANTHER will likely cross the $400 million mark domestically and take in some $304 million internationally, adding up to $704 million globally. To put that in perspective, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR made $408 million from its total domestic run, which lasted most of the 2016 summer season. It will have taken a little over two weeks for BLACK PANTHER to make that up. By the time next weekend ends, it’s entirely possible that Ryan Coogler‘s smash hit will be the second most lucrative Marvel movie domestically in the history of the MCU behind THE AVENGERS, the only other MCU title to break the $100 million barrier in its second weekend.

That such a high-grossing movie is also one of the most substantial movies that will likely be released this year is worth celebrating. In fact, the only downside to BLACK PANTHER‘s boundless ascension is that it has rendered all other new releases moot. The biggest new release of the weekend, GAME NIGHT, brought in $16.6 million to land at second whereas ANNIHILATION, Alex Garland‘s follow-up to EX MACHINA, took fourth with $11 million flat. Both movies are worth seeing and Garland’s movie is uniquely terrifying and enveloping in its rambunctious world-building. Still, ANNIHILATION wasn’t able to get enough audiences to beat out the oddly controversial PEYER RABBIY, which came in at third with $12.5 million.

That just leaves FIFTY SHADES FREED in fifth with $6.9 million, pushing the domestic gross toward $90 million in its third frame. The arrival of the spy film RED SPARROW and Eli Roth‘s DEATH WISH remake next weekend suggests that this will likely be the last weekend that FIFTY SHADES is in the top five. The same can essentially be said for ANNIHILATION. It’s sad to see a worthwhile movie essentially plowed over by either diversion or disinterest but such is the way of the beast that is the box office. And when stacked up against a groundbreaker like BLACK PANTHER making essentially every other MCU and DCEU title look like a messy child’s painting, the loss in popularity for Garland’s film feels miniscule.

Here’s your estimated top five for the weekend:

1. ‘Black Panther’ $108.04M
2. ’Game Night’ $16.6M
3. ‘Peter Rabbit’ $12.54M
4. ‘Annihilation’ $11M
5. ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ $6.91M

Latest DCEU Problem: Joss Whedon drops out of his own BATGIRL film!

The Joss Whedon BATGIRL movie is over before it begins. News broke last spring that Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment had wooed Marvel’s THE AVENGERS and AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON filmmaker to write and direct a BATGIRL movie for DC, which was greeted with glee and anticipation from fans. The other shoe dropped when it was revealed, a couple months later, that Whedon was taking over for director Zack Snyder on JUSTICE LEAGUE, which occupied his time for much of 2017 as he oversaw reshoots and post-production on the disappointing DCEU team-up film.

Now, with JUSTICE LEAGUE in the rearview, Whedon is departing BATGIRL altogether. Speaking with THR, Whedon says he had trouble cracking what the story for a Batgirl movie could be and threw in the towel:

“Batgirl is such an exciting project, and Warners/DC such collaborative and supportive partners, that it took me months to realize I really didn’t have a story. I’m grateful to [DC president] Geoff [Johns] and [Warner Bros. Picture Group President] Toby [Emmerich] and everyone who was so welcoming when I arrived, and so understanding when I… uh, is there a sexier word for ‘failed’?”

Sources tell THR that after a year of working on the script, Whedon “couldn’t crack the code” for what a BATGIRL movie should be. Moreover, in the wake of WONDER WOMAN, other industry sources note that Whedon and WB may have faced scrutiny if BATGIRL was brought to the screen by a male filmmaker rather than giving that opportunity to a woman. Which is probably true, and while I still would’ve been interested to see what Whedon would do with this character on the big screen, it’s clear he worked hard to no avail.

Reports swirled earlier this week that BATGIRL is likely on the immediate docket for the next round of DCEU movies, so either that report was wrong or Warner Bros. intends to forge ahead and keep BATGIRL a priority as they search for a new filmmaker. The latter would seem to be a better option, and given how positive WB’s relationship with Patty Jenkins seems to have been on WONDER WOMAN, to such stellar results, one hopes they’ll focus on finding a female filmmaker to bring a unique creative vision for BAGIRL to the screen.

As for Whedon, it’s unclear if he’ll remain in the DC fold or if he’ll move on to other projects. He was toiling away on his own original scripts when WB put up the JUSTICE LEAGUE batsignal for Whedon, so perhaps he’ll indeed be taking that superhero movie break that he intended post-AGE OF ULTRON after all.