In a surprising twist of fate at the often fickle box office, the exceedingly well-reviewed The Wild Robot is opening way ahead of expectations. Deadline has the film now opening at about $35 million, which is about $10 million more than even the most optimistic industry estimates and $20 million or so ahead of my own predictions. Good for Dreamworks, as this really is one of the best movies they’ve ever made (check out Steve Seigh’s rave review right here). In the meantime, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is moving down to second place, with $15.5 million, which will easily put it past the $250 million domestic mark.
Sadly, Transformers One, despite excellent word-of-mouth, is crashing and burning at the box office, posting a huge 59% decline in week two for a $10 million weekend. With a $39 million domestic total, this one will be lucky to cross the $55 million mark by the end of its run, which is disastrous for the franchise. That’s too bad, as it’s actually a good movie! It seems this is one franchise that has maybe run its course, even if Paramount is still planning that crossover movie with G.I Joe.
Meanwhile, Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis is already being dubbed Megaflopulous online after being beaten Friday night by the Indian Telugu-language flick, Devara Part 1 (which stars RRR’s N.T. Rama Rao Jr.), with Deadline having a hard time pegging the final number. They say it may total anywhere between $3.2-5 million, but either way, that’s a disastrous start for Coppola’s passion project. Truth be told, while I didn’t like the movie (at all – and you can see from my review) it makes me sad that the movie is collapsing so completely at the box office, as even if I didn’t like it – I still kinda think people should see it.
Some cliche somewhere said that ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ This has proven to be the case for me and especially when it comes to fan art. I have always sought out great fan art and have wanted to share it with as many people as possible. “Awesome Art We’ve Found Around The Net” is the outlet for that passion. In this column, I will showcase the kick-ass artwork of some great artists, with the hopes that these artists get the attention they deserve. That’s the aim. If you have any questions or comments, or even suggestions of art or other great artists, feel free to contact me at any time at theodorebond@joblo.com.
Chucky’s reign of terror has sadly come to an end. It’s been announced that Chucky has been cancelled after three seasons, which aired on both USA Network and Syfy.
“I’m heartbroken over the news that ‘Chucky’ won’t be coming back for a fourth season, but am so grateful for the killer three years we did have,” said series creator Don Mancini in a statement. “I’d like to thank UCP/SYFY/Peacock/Eat the Cat, our awesome cast and Toronto-based crew (the best in the business), and finally, to our amazing fans, a big bloody hug. Your incredible #RenewChucky campaign really warmed Chucky’s cold heart. Chucky will return! He ALWAYS come back.”
The third (and now final) season of Chucky concluded in May, and at the time, the fate of the series was still undecided. Although there was reportedly talk of an abbreviated fourth and final season or a potential wrap-up movie, the series ultimately got the axe.
Before the third season came to an end, Mancini said that he had already pitched a fourth season to the network. “There’s very little I can say about that. I can’t tell you my idea for Season 4, but I’m really excited about it. I already pitched it to the network,” Mancini said. “So fingers crossed because it’s something I really like to do. I think it’s really fun, new, and again, another left turn in terms of what we’ve been doing so far. We don’t know the status of the show yet. So again, fingers crossed that we will get picked up, right?” D’oh!
As Mancini mentioned in his statement, Chucky always comes back. He revealed earlier this year that he was in the “early stages” of working on the new Chucky movie that was being designed to “work in tandem with the TV show.” Now that the series has been cancelled, that connectivity may change, but you should never bet against Chucky. Even Brad Dourif, who told us that he considers himself retired, has said that he will always return for Chucky.
This morning, it was revealed that Dame Maggie Smith had died at the age of 89. While we’re still deeply saddened by the news, it’s been heartwarming to see tributes to the iconic actress pouring in from across Hollywood. Daniel Radcliffe, who starred alongside Maggie Smith in David Copperfield and the Harry Potter franchise, posted his own tribute, praising the actress as a “fierce intellect” with a “gloriously sharp tongue.“
“The first time I met Maggie Smith I was 9 years old and we were reading through scenes for ‘David Copperfield,’ which was my first job. I knew virtually nothing about her other than that my parents were awestruck at the fact that I would be working with her,” Radcliffe said in a statement. “The other thing I knew about her was that she was a Dame, so the first thing I asked her when we met was ‘would you like me to call you Dame?’ at which she laughed and said something to the effect of ‘don’t be ridiculous!’ I remember feeling nervous to meet her and then her putting me immediately at ease. She was incredibly kind to me on that shoot, and then I was lucky enough to go on working with her for another 10 years on the ‘Harry Potter’ films.”
Radcliffe continued, “She was a fierce intellect, a gloriously sharp tongue, could intimidate and charm in the same instant and was, as everyone will tell you, extremely funny. I will always consider myself amazingly lucky to have been able to work with her, and to spend time around her on set. The word legend is overused but if it applies to anyone in our industry then it applies to her. Thank you Maggie.“
Bonnie Wright, who played Ginny Weasley in the franchise, also paid tribute to Smith. “You will be so missed by the Harry Potter community. My favorite scene with Maggie was when we were all learning to dance for the Yule Ball,” Wright wrote on social media. “She embodied that perfect balance of sass and loving care that McGonagall has. She kept Gryffindors on their toes. My deepest condolences to Maggie’s family at this time.“
Smith’s performance as Professor McGonagall is cemented in the minds of fans who grew up with the movies. Much like Smith herself, McGonagall was a stern yet loving figure with a dry sense of humour. It’s a tough loss, but her work in Harry Potter (not to mention all her other wonderful projects) will live on for a new generation.
DC loves spotlighting its villains, and THR reports that another villain-centric project is in the works. The outlet has heard that DC Studios is developing a movie that will unite Bane and Deathstroke. Matthew Orton, who worked on Captain America: Brave New World, has penned the script but no director is attached to the project.
DC has always excelled at highlighting villains, with the recently released Penguin series starring Colin Farrell as an example. We’ve also got Joker: Folie à Deux coming next week. I’ll confess that I’m not a big comic-book guy, so Deathstroke and Bane seem like a random pairing, but I’m sure the more comic-literate among you will be able to set me right. Maybe they’re good buds.
Bane has made the leap to live-action on several occasions. He was portrayed by Robert Swenson and Michael Reid MacKay in Batman & Robin, by Shane West in Gotham, and by Tom Hardy in The Dark Knight Rises. As for Deathstroke, we’ve seen several incarnations of the character in live-action, including Antonio Sabàto Jr. in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Michael Hogan in Smallville, Manu Bennett in Arrow, and Esai Morales in Titans.
Joe Manganiello played the character in the post-credit scene of Justice League. He was intended to continue the role as the main villain in Ben Affleck’s standalone movie. “There were similarities to [David Fincher’s] The Game,” Manganiello previously explained, adding that the original pitch would have found Deathstroke systematically destroying Bruce Wayne’s life piece by piece. “It was a really dark story in which Deathstroke was like a shark or a horror movie villain that was dismantling Bruce’s life from the inside out. It was this systemic thing: He killed everyone close to Bruce and destroyed his life to try and make him suffer because he felt that Bruce was responsible for something that happened to him.” As we know, that project fell apart when Affleck exited. Matt Reeves took it over and elected to make the project a relaunch of the character starring Robert Pattinson.
What do you think of this potential Deathstroke, Bane movie?
It was announced last year that Hideo Kojima would team up with A24 for a live-action movie adaptation of Death Stranding. While speaking with Variety, Kojima gave an update on the project and whether or not he will direct it himself.
“I have only ever thought of ‘Death Stranding’ as a game. People tell me it feels like a movie, but I made it as a game – the direction, the settings, the story. So, I don’t intend to look back at it and try to see it from a movie perspective. Those works are my babies, and I love movies, so I want it to be something that movie fans will really enjoy!” Kojima said. “I’ll supervise the plot and help them make it, but I won’t direct it. I can’t right now with three on-going projects! I’ll help by communicating with a director I really trust.“
Kojima added that there are “several Death Stranding adaptation projects currently underway, but there is a different story I’ve written that’s intended for a movie. But I don’t have the time to direct it, so I won’t.“
In a statement last year, Kojima explained that the Death Stranding movie would not be a direct adaptation of the game. “There are a lot of ‘game adaptation films’ out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game. The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a ‘Death Stranding’ universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born.“
Death Stranding was originally released in 2019 on PlayStation 4 and found players taking control of Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), a courier who brings resources to isolated colonies and reconnects them via a wireless communications network. The film featured an all-star cast, which included Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, and more, who also lent their likenesses to the characters.
Kojima has also been developing a Death Stranding sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. The game will be released on PlayStation 5 in 2025.
The upcoming horror film Ghost Game is coming our way from quite an interesting creative team. It was directed by Jill Gevargizian, who was previously at the helm of The Stylist, from a screenplay by Adam Cesare (the author of the popular Clown in a Cornfield series of novels, and co-writer of the horror film Last Night at Terrace Lanes), and has The Blair Witch Project co-creator Eduardo Sánchez serving as an executive producer. Epic Pictures’ DREAD will be giving Ghost Game a limited theatrical release on October 18th, with a VOD release to follow on October 22nd, and with those dates swiftly approaching, a trailer for the movie has made its way online. You can check it out in the embed above.
Ghost Game has the following synopsis: After discovering his girlfriend Laura’s involvement in an internet challenge to secretly live alongside unsuspecting residents, Vin persuades her to take him on her next adventure. They target Halton House, a notoriously haunted manor recently purchased by a new family. Upon entering, the thrill-seeking couple experiences chilling, unexplained phenomena. It quickly becomes clear they are not the only ones haunting the manor. As the new owner descends into madness and threatens the family, what began as a game turns deadly, forcing Laura and Vin to fight for their survival.
The film stars Kia Dorsey (The Neighbor Who Saw Too Much), newcomer Zaen Haidar, Aidan Hughes (My One and Only), Vienna Maas (Mister K’s Clubhouse), Emily Bennett (Alone with You), Sam Lukowski (The Jester), Carlo Glorioso (Getting Hal), newcomer Luca Glorioso, Stella Glorioso (Stinky Summer), Sharrie McCain (For My Man), Anita Sharma (The Resident), Jesse L. Green (Killer Campout), and The Blair Witch Project’s Michael C. Williams.
Patrick Ewald, Carlo Glorioso, Jamie Nash, and Cory Okouchi produced Ghost Game, with Sánchez executive producing alongside Mary Beth McAndrews. Anita Sharma was co-producer.
What did you think of the Ghost Game trailer? Does this look like a movie you’ll be watching next month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Speaking of Clown in a Cornfield, Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil and Little Evil director Eli Craig has made a film based on Cesare’s novel that recently earned an R rating for bloody horror violence.
We are but mere days away from October, and that’s when the video game industry is going to start dropping some big games. Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are just a few of the big releases coming out next month. Luckily, things are a little…
We are but mere days away from October, and that’s when the video game industry is going to start dropping some big games. Metaphor: ReFantazio, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 are just a few of the big releases coming out next month. Luckily, things are a little…
PLOT: A series of heinous crimes have unsettled a small community. Detective Lois Tryon feels these crimes are eerily personal, as if someone—or something—is taunting her. At home, Lois grapples with a strained relationship with her daughter, a husband in long-term hospital care and her own inner demons. With no leads and unsure of where to turn, she accepts the help of Sister Megan, a nun and journalist with the Catholic Guardian. Sister Megan, with her own difficult past, has seen the worst of humanity, yet she still believes in its capacity for good. Lois, on the other hand, fears the world is succumbing to evil. As Lois and Sister Megan string together clues, they find themselves ensnared in a sinister web that only seems to raise more questions than answers.
REVIEW: Think about the worst thing you could never unsee boiling in a pot. This line of dialogue spoken by Niecy Nash-Betts in the first episode of Grotesquerie perfectly sums up Ryan Murphy’s latest FX series. The third new production from Murphy in as many weeks, following Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story on Netflix and American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez on FX (with a fourth, Doctor Odyssey, premiering this week as well), Grotesquerie takes viewers back to the wholly fictional scary stories the talented showrunner started with on American Horror Story. While Murphy’s flagship horror series tells scary stories with a decidedly supernatural bend, Grotesquerie blends the frightening with the realistic in a combination of police procedural and thriller that echoes The Silence of the Lambs and David Fincher’s Seven for what may be the writer/producer’s best effort in years.
Capitalizing on Niecy Nash-Betts’ acclaimed performance in Dahmer, Ryan Murphy has cast her in the lead role of Lois Tryon, a veteran police detective with a drinking problem. While Lois struggles with a morbidly obese daughter, Merritt (Raven Goodwin), and a comatose husband, Marshall (Courtney B. Vance), she is called in to investigate a crime scene that is beyond shocking. With Grotesquerie airing on FX and Hulu, I expected the visuals to be somewhat toned down. Still, the graphic first murder scene involves children, blood, and intentional staging that immediately brings to mind NBC’s Hannibal and the beauty hidden within the disturbing. Lois is taken aback by what she sees and even more so when a nun, Sister Megan (Micaela Diamond), arrives to report on the heinous deaths for a Catholic newspaper. Lois detects something slightly off about the kooky nun, but their partnership immediately develops as the crimes pile up.
Within the first two episodes of Grotesquerie, we witness four different crime scenes, all of which are successively more elaborate than the previous. Lois recedes into her liquor while Sister Megan is appalled and attracted to the crimes. Sister Megan confides in her editor, Father Charlie (Nicholas Alexander Chavez, most recently seen as Lyle Menendez in Murphy’s Monsters), who is fascinated with the macabre and some secret fetishes. Lois tries to contend with what she has seen while also dealing with a sexually voracious healthcare worker, Nurse Redd (Lesley Manville), who may or may not be taking advantage of Lois’ comatose husband. The crimes and Lois’ home life collide often as Grotesquerie, the self-named serial killer, seems to form a bond with the cop hunting them down. The series is structured to make us question whether any protagonists could be serial killers or just wacky players, as we have come to expect from Ryan Murphy productions.
Niecy Nash-Betts once again proves she is an underrated actress with her performance as Lois Tryon. Having worked for decades in comedy roles, including Reno 911! and The Bernie Mac Show, Nash-Betts only recently has been able to showcase her dramatic chops, including a lead role in The Rookie: Feds and Dahmer. This character feels tailor-made for the actress who runs the gamut in emotional range in these first episodes while never feeling miscast in the least. Equally good is Micaela Diamond, best known for her stage work as a singer and actress, who gives Sister Megan just enough quirkiness to keep us wondering if she is altogether sane. It may be too early in Grotesquerie to judge how the series will balance elements of dark humor with the deeply serious subject matter, but so far, it feels like this series is aiming for a unique tone about American Horror Story and American Crime Story. We have yet to see how Travis Kelce factors into the story this season, but any time you can get an acclaimed British actor like Lesley Manville to play a character as surreal and broad as this, you must have some tricks up your sleeve.
I have watched each and every Ryan Murphy series since Popular and Nip/Tuck. Grotesquerie feels distinct from the super-producer’s last dozen or so projects. Co-created with Jon Robin Baitz, Murphy’s collaborator on Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and Doctor Odyssey, and Joe Baken, Grotesquerie has the signature Murphy look and subject matter but handles it differently. This story could have been a season of American Horror Story, but the campiness is virtually non-existent in this show so far. Murphy’s recent forays into procedurals and true crime stories have certainly impacted the flow of his new projects. Still, the absence of his repertory players from this cast helps the series feel fresher. Murphy brings back multiple talented directors from prior projects, including Max Winkler. Winkler has helmed entries in American Horror Story, American Horror Stories, The Wathcer, Feud: Capote vs. The Swans, and Monster: The Lyle and Erik Menedez Story, and directs half of the ten-episode season of Grotesquerie. The other episodes come from Elegance Bratton and Alexis Martin Woodall, who bring to life the scripts written entirely by Murphy, Baitz, and Baken.
Grotesquerie has a cohesiveness that has been missing from recent Murphy products, which are rectified by the co-creators writing the entire series. I went in with pre-conceived notions that this would fit alongside any number of Murphy’s prior projects, but instead, it draws from them all while forging a voice that sets it apart. Grotesquerie is disturbing but not yet scary, and yet I am drawn to it because I want to know who the killer is as much as I want to learn more about Loius Tryon. Niecy Nash-Betts is a formidable presence on screen but also a deeply human performer who can be funny and brash when she needs to be but never ceases to make this character feel real. One of Ryan Murphy’s biggest issues in his fictional series is the ability to make the characters seem real rather than larger-than-life, and he and his colleagues may have finally done it with Grotesquerie. It is early to make a final judgment on this one, but I am invested in this series in a way I have not felt with a Ryan Murphy project since the early days of American Horror Story.
Grotesquerie debuts two episodes weekly on FX beginning September 25th.
