The next addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Brave New World, is set to reach theatres on February 14, 2025 – and this Captain America adventure sees Anthony Mackie’s character Sam Wilson, formerly known as Falcon, carrying the shield now that his pal Steve Rogers is retired. One of the villains he’ll be going up against is the Leader, a.k.a. Samuel Sterns, with Tim Blake Nelson reprising the character he previously played in The Incredible Hulk way back in 2008. Sterns will look a bit different than he did before – in the comics, the Leader character is known to have green skin and a deformed head. During an interview with Empire, Nelson revealed that he requested practical effects be used to create his character’s head.

Here’s the official information on Captain America: Brave New World, straight from Marvel: Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. Harrison Ford makes his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as newly-elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, a role originated by the late William Hurt. Ross and Sam have a bit of a history: In his previous role as Secretary of State, Ross was responsible for arresting Sam and his fellow Avengers during the events of Captain America: Civil War. Now as president, Ross is eager to work with Sam, hoping to make Captain America an official military position. But that tentative alliance is jeopardized when Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident, with friend and retired super-soldier Isaiah Bradley (Carl Lumbly) as the prime suspect. Sam’s investigation send him on a dangerous chase, and (leading to) a deadly showdown and a tease of the menacing Red Hulk. Danny Ramirez returns as former Air Force lieutenant Joaquin Torres, who’s picked up Sam’s old wings and taken on the role of Falcon. Tim Blake Nelson is also back as Samuel Sterns, AKA The Leader, appearing in the MCU for the first time since 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. New to the cast is Shira Haas, who joins as Ruth Bat-Seraph. A former Black Widow, Ruth is now a high-ranking U.S. government official who has the trust of President Ross. Giancarlo Esposito, Liv Tyler, and Xosha Roquemore also star. The film is directed by Julius Onah and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore. Louis D’Esposito and Charles Newirth serve as executive producers.

During his Empire interview, Nelson confirmed that we’ll be seeing the Leader’s colossal cranium in the authentically green, distended flesh. He said, “I requested that we do what we were going to do, practically. Which was a huge help, because I liked being able to feel the weight of the deformation on my head, rather than just wearing dots.“

Producer Nate Moore, had this to say about bringing the Leader into this story, along with Liv Tyler’s Betty Ross (also previously seen in The Incredible Hulk) and the character of Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford replaces the late William Hurt in that role): “When I was a kid, I always loved it when there were unexpected characters intersecting. We felt that this was a really interesting time to revisit [these characters.] And it didn’t feel like we’d be wedging it in. It actually felt like we could really explore it.“

Are you looking forward to seeing Tim Blake Nelson play the Leader, practical FX head and all, in Captain America: Brave New World? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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Well, here’s something I wasn’t expecting to see: Valve has finally revealed what Team Fortress 2‘s Spy looks like under his mask. And it turns out he looks pretty dang handsome!

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Well, here’s something I wasn’t expecting to see: Valve has finally revealed what Team Fortress 2‘s Spy looks like under his mask. And it turns out he looks pretty dang handsome!

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We had heard that director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers were planning to create a cinematic universe with the Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey films and other horror movies inspired by children’s stories, like Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, Bambi: The Reckoning, and Pinocchio Unstrung. Then, Jagged Edge Productions and ITN Studios officially announced that this cinematic universe, which is being referred to as The Twisted Childhood Universe, is building up to the crossover movie Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble, which will be released in 2025. Now, JoBlo’s own Tyler Nichols has had the chance to talk to Chambers about their plans for Poohniverse – and during their conversation, Chambers revealed that one of the classic children’s story characters who will be added into the mix with this movie, which sounds like it’s going to be a total bloodbath, is Mary Poppins!

Mary Poppins was created by writer P. L. Travers, who wrote about the character in a series of eight novels. Walt Disney released a musical Mary Poppins film in 1964 that starred Julie Andrews as the character, and in 2018 she was played by Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns.

Frake-Waterfield will be directing Poohniverse from a screenplay he wrote with Chambers. It was previously confirmed that the cast will include Chambers as Christopher Robin, Megan Plactio as Wendy Darling, Roxanne Mckee as Xana, Lewis Santer as Tigger, and Martin Portlock as Peter Pan. Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare and Bambi: The Reckoning are set to receive theatrical releases in the first quarter of 2025, with Pinocchio Unstrung likely to follow later in the year, so we’ll be introduced to those horrific characters well before Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble makes it to screens.

Frake-Waterfield explains, “It will be complete carnage. We are heavily influenced by Freddy vs. Jason and The Avengers. We would love to see a horror movie where the villains group together and are going after their survivors. We have some incredible set pieces in mind and some sequences I think will truly shock people. The movies we are working on now as stand alones are all building towards Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.“

Chambers added, “Similar to The Avengers, we will follow Pooh, Tigger, Rabbit, Owl, Piglet, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Bambi, The Mad Hatter, Peter Pan, and Tinkerbell joining forces to wreak havoc. We are working with a larger scale budget on this one and are excited for what the future will hold. When you see the stand alone movies you will see the easter eggs hinting toward the crossover. Some of the villains also will not see eye to eye, which will allow for some carnage within the group in some epic sequences of monster vs. monster.“

Speaking with Tyler, Chambers revealed, “You’re gonna get Mary Poppins. I just decided she’s gonna be in the mix. So she’s gonna be a nightmare in there. And also, just don’t expect anyone to survive. I love that Avengers [Infinity War] where they all die at the end, like Spider-Man and all that. Typically I don’t like those films. And I got dragged to the cinema, and when they all died, I was like, ‘Oh, I love it now, I want to watch the next one.’ But then, when they all got resurrected, I was like, [motions dismissively]. But in ours, truly, I want you to kind of, hopefully, like these characters. Like when you have your introductory films like Pinocchio, that you love the lead characters, and same with Peter Pan. But I’m going to destroy them in universe, and no one’s… like, it’s gonna be like you can count on a hand who’s going to survive it.“

Are you looking forward to Poohniverse, and are you glad to hear that it’s going to be a bloodbath with Mary Poppins in the mix? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.

The post Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble will include Mary Poppins – and it’s going to be a bloodbath appeared first on JoBlo.

The line between success and failure can get blurred under a deluge of criticism, especially when it starts affecting your real life. That appears to be what Jesse Eisenberg has been secretly dealing with for nearly a decade. Deadline reports that in a recent chat on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Eisenberg…

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The line between success and failure can get blurred under a deluge of criticism, especially when it starts affecting your real life. That appears to be what Jesse Eisenberg has been secretly dealing with for nearly a decade. Deadline reports that in a recent chat on Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert podcast, Eisenberg…

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It sounds like everyone’s favorite chompy boy, Jeff the Land Shark, is getting his own project at Marvel Studios! The increasingly popular Marvel character created by Kelly Thompson and Daniele di Nicuolo could be the focus of a new film or television series, at least if Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios’ Head of Streaming, TV, and Animation, has anything to say about it.

Speaking with Brandon Davis about What If… Season 3, Winderbaum hinted that a Jeff the Land Shark project is more than likely to happen. The adorable, dog-like shark recently made a splash in the studio’s hero shooter video game Marvel Rivals, alerting the masses to his overwhelming appeal. In Marvel Rivals, players controlling Jeff can quickly swim around the level (Jaws-style) to reach teammates in need of healing. Jeff uses a powerful stream of water, floating bubbles, and chip-damage attacks to save compatriots or eliminate foes. If you wait long enough or perform well in the game, Jeff can unleash an ultimate attack that sees him creating a whirlpool that sucks players into its vortex for a devastating attack. Jeff the Land Shark is one of my favorite characters in Marvel Rivals, alongside Squirrel Girl, Punisher, Hela, and Luna Snow.

Jeff the Land Shark debuted in Kelly Thompson’s West Coast Avengers #7 as Gwen Poole’s adopted pet. When he’s not hanging out with Gwenpool, he’s mixing it up with Kate Bishop or starring in his own collection of one-shot comics under the name It’s Jeff…

While Jeff frustrates some Marvel Rivals players, others embrace his adorable antics and Saturday Morning Cartoon vibes. Winderbaum does not say what kind of project Marvel Studios has in mind for the character, though a series of shorts on Disney+ feels like the right approach. I’m picturing something akin to Marvel’s I am Groot series, but way better. It will probably be a while before we hear anything more about a project featuring Jeff the Land Shark. Still, it’s nice to know Marvel Studios is aware of his increasing popularity and hopes to capitalize on it with a new film or television project.

The post A Jeff the Land Shark project is circling the waters at Marvel Studios appeared first on JoBlo.

Santa Claus won’t be the only thing coming down the chimney this Christmas Eve, as director Justin Kurzel’s (Macbeth, True History of the Kelly Gang, Ellis Park) FBI thriller The Order comes to On Demand. In the film, a string of violent robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads a veteran FBI agent into a domestic terrorist plot to overthrow the federal government. Nothing says Christmas like violence and corruption! Who’s bringing the spiked eggnog?

Here’s the official synopsis for The Order:

“For over a year, a series of bold daylight bank robberies and armored car heists leaves law enforcement baffled and the public panicked throughout the Pacific Northwest. As the attacks become increasingly violent, FBI agent Terry Husk (Jude Law) becomes convinced that the robberies are the work of a domestic terrorist gang that plans to use the loot to finance an armed uprising against the U.S. government.

Based on a true story, The Order follows Husk and his team into the tangled world of white supremacists to try to head off a violent uprising that could shatter the nation. As the militia builds a war chest of over $4 million, Husk pursues the malevolent racist Bob Mathews to a final bloody standoff that will go down in U.S. history.”

Law plays “a lone FBI agent stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, who believes the crimes were not the work of traditional criminals. He thinks the disturbance is the work of domestic terrorists with a charismatic leader (Hoult).” Alison Oliver, Odessa Young, Sebastian Pigott, George Tchortov, Victor Slezak, and Marc Maron star as primary cast members.

Our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Bumbray, reviewed The Order, saying Justin Kurzel’s film is a “pretty slick thriller” with “several impressive action sequences.” Chris says The Order feels like a ’90s action flick in all the best ways, with everyone giving solid performances against one of Kurzel’s best directorial efforts.

Typically, Christmas Eve is reserved for family-friendly holiday fare like Elf, A Christmas Story, and Ernest Saves Christmas. However, if your family is anything like mine, movies like Die Hard, The Long Kiss Goodnight, and Violent Night make it into the mix. Maybe we’ll add The Order to the list this year, maybe after the kids go to bed. Will you watch The Order via On Demand this Christmas Eve? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post The Order: On Demand hangs Jude Law’s compelling FBI thriller by the chimney with care this Christmas Eve for a digital release appeared first on JoBlo.

At the end of September, JoBlo Media and Octane Multimedia teamed up to launch a new YouTube channel named JoBlo TV, which hosts multiple feature films to watch for free throughout the week. The genres we’ll be focusing on at JoBlo TV are Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Thrillers – and the free movies we shared this week covered action, sci-fi, and thriller territory, with some mystery and comedy thrown into the mix as well.

This week’s line-up consisted of the sci-fi action movie Assassin’s Game, the comedic mystery thriller All in the Family, and the sci-fi action movie Robot Riot. Here’s some information on each of them:

Directed by Keith Collins II, who also wrote the screenplay with Porche Robinson, Assassin’s Game has the following synopsis: A group of assassin known as the Shadows are placed in a “Battle Royale” against each other in a fight to the death. Max, one of the Shadows, must fight off a team of mercenaries, his friends, and try and maintain his sanity as the twisted game unfolds. The film stars B.J. Halsall, Vernard Adams, Demond Ballou, Jassen Bruegman, Ember Burns, George Comer, John Dannug, James Eckstein, Shalanda Fresh, Ben Garton, Thomas H.F. Gassaway, Carol Germano, Sal Germano, Stephen Haas, Ernest Jam, and more.

The feature debut of writer/director Holland Malone, All in the Family tells a story that takes place over the course of one night, with two African-American families convening to celebrate the engagement of their eldest sons. After the celebration takes an unexpectedly macabre turn, the night descends into one of deceit, blood, and betrayal. Thomas Elam, Caleb Gaddis, Makeala Hiner-Smith, Ansonia Jones, Mark Jones, Tasha Poullard, Alexcia Thompson, Krystal Uchem, Ray Walker, Donte Wright, George Wyche, Abril Jauregui, Joshua Herrera, Matthew Adams, and Andre Hankerson star.

Ryan Staples Scott directed Robot Riot and wrote the screenplay with Aaron Mirtes, crafting the following story: When unconscious soldiers are dropped into Mechwood, a once-peaceful, cutting-edge community, they quickly realize something is horribly wrong. Their memories have been wiped, and the machines that were once their allies are now weaponized killing machines on the hunt! As the soldiers struggle to survive, they uncover a shocking truth: these deadly machines aren’t just a threat to them—they’re a global danger. Sarah J. Bartholomew, Cait Brasel, Barrett D. Carroll, Jamie Costa, Justin France, Emily Hileman, Jason Leyva, Ryan Merriman, Brooks Ryan, Luke Wyckoff, and R.J. Wagner star.

To follow our JoBlo TV releases, click over to the YouTube channel and subscribe! We also recently launched a new page at JoBloYouTubeNetwork.com, where you can access all of our YouTube channels from one place. 

The post JoBlo TV roundup: This week’s free movies are Assassin’s Game, All in the Family, and Robot Riot appeared first on JoBlo.

It’s been nearly four years since Universal debuted No Time to Die, the last film featuring Daniel Craig’s James Bond. Considering the film’s ending, it is an opportunity to reinvent the character for a much-anticipated revival. However, an alleged feud between the producers of the James Bond franchise and Amazon is gumming up the works. According to The Wall Street Journal, there is a stalemate between Amazon MGM Studios and EON Productions, which maintained complete creative control over Ian Fleming’s legendary superspy. The outlet suggests “more than 20 people familiar with the Broccoli-Amazon feud, including executives, business partners and friends” are involved in the standstill, with a frustrated Barbara Broccoli saying,“these people are f**king morons.”

Problems around what to do with James Bond reportedly go back to when Amazon merged with MGM in 2022. The Wall Street Journal‘s report says people at Amazon pitched various 007 TV spinoffs, with all concerned eager to get the Bond train rolling as soon as possible. Still, with EON Productions holding all the martinis (shaken, not stirred), a divide emerged, with the studio remaining adamant about not letting the James Bond IP go sideways because of hasty decisions.

Another element of why 007’s return remains problematic is the high-pressure task of replacing Daniel Craig as James Bond. Allegedly, Amazon and EON Productions have different ideas about who the next James Bond could be. While EON is cool with casting an unknown actor in the role, Amazon-MGM wants someone more recognizable, with Bullet Train and The Fall Guy actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson possibly being eyed for the part.

It’s important to remember that the comments in WSJ‘s article come from unnamed sources, so take all of this with a grain of salt. With any luck, and likely a lot of bickering and red tape, Amazon-MGM and EON can agree about 007’s future, whether it concerns a new feature film or television spinoff series. It stands to reason that every moment the studios waste in locking horns is a missed opportunity to cash in on one of the most legendary characters in film and fiction.

Who would you cast as the next James Bond? Should the story occur after No Time to Die or introduce a new timeline? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

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