Two years ago, Universal Pictures teamed with producers David Leitch and Kelly McCormick of 87North Productions and director Tommy Wirkola to bring us the highly entertaining, R-rated holiday thriller Violent Night (read our 8/10 review at THIS LINK)… and now, Violent Night 2 appears to be heading toward production. Star David Harbour was spotted with the script in his hand earlier this month, and during an interview with Collider, screenwriters Patrick Casey and Josh Miller assured that they know what fans are hoping to see in the sequel.

While Casey and Miller have stayed busy in recent years by writing each film in the Sonic the Hedgehog trilogy, they have taken the occasional break from scripting Sonic action to write about Santa Claus taking on bad guys. Violent Night showed what happens when a team of elite mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage. But the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

Miller told Collider, “The Violent Night movies are not as big budget as the Sonic movies, but we still want this one to feel bigger than the first one. And you don’t want Santa just trapped in a mansion again.” Casey added, “Santa’s gonna take his shirt off even more in this one. We know what the people want. We know people are hungry for more of his Viking backstory. David is especially excited about that stuff.“

Miller also told Syfy Wire, “The first one obviously lived in a Die Hard space. We can’t tease too much (about Violent Night 2), other than we’re trying to bring in a little Western influence.” Casey mentioned that they have thought about giving the sequel the subtitle Massacre on 34th Street.

Harbour, who described Violent Night as “a hardcore Christmas action movie,” was joined in the cast of the first film by John Leguizamo (Land of the Dead), Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation), Alexis Louder (Copshop), Cam Gigandet (Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse), André Eriksen (Norsemen), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), and newcomer Alex Haskell.

There’s no word on when Violent Night 2 might begin filming. There has been a lot of talk about Mrs. Claus needing to be brought into the action for the sequel, with Charlize Theron and Noomi Rapace being mentioned as contenders for the role, but we don’t know if that’s going to happen. Harbour told CinemaBlend, “My dream, she’ll never do it, but my dream would be Charlize Theron. I feel like she’s such a badass, I remember her in those (Atomic Blonde) fight scenes being so incredible. That would be my dream casting, but whoever plays it, if it happens, is going to be wonderful.“

Are you looking forward to Violent Night 2, and do you think it should be called Violent Night 2: Massacre on 34th Street? Who would you like to see play Mrs. Claus in the sequel? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Violent Night 2 writers: “We know what the people want.” appeared first on JoBlo.

Will Ferrell is aware of what a rough year it’s been. While some celebrities refuse to relinquish their mask during the holiday season, smiling for the cameras despite personal hardships and world-weariness, the former Saturday Night Live performer takes a different approach to summoning his Christmas spirit. On December 29, Ferrell dressed as Buddy the Elf (from Jon Favreau’s 2003 Christmas comedy Elf) while attending a hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers. However, instead of screaming through New York streets and eating cotton balls by the fistful, Ferrell is sporting a wicked scowl and a five o’clock shadow as an unlit cigarette dangles from his mouth.

While speaking with Ferrell, a Los Angeles Kings fan, he told FanDuel Sports Network broadcaster Carrlyn Bathe that “it was a tough holiday season” and he’s “looking for a King’s win.” Thankfully, the Kings defeated the Flyers with a final score of 4-5, granting Ferrell a post-Christmas present worth getting excited about.

Jon Favreau’s Elf stars Will Ferrell as Buddy the Elf, an oversized worker in Santa’s workshop who travels from the North Pole to New York City to meet his biological father, Walter Hobbs (James Caan). Walter is unaware of Buddy’s existence and isn’t the biggest fan of Christmas. When Buddy and Walter meet, the jolly elf teaches his dad about the magic of Christmas as their bond grows.

Elf became a Christmas classic after banking $220 million worldwide in 2003. Interestingly, Ferrell denied an offer of $29 million to reprise the jolly role for an Elf sequel. While audiences won’t find a silver-screen sequel under the tree anytime soon, Elf is now a Broadway musical. Tony Award nominee Grey Henson plays Buddy the Elf in the stage version written by David Berenbaum, with Time Out calling the production a “slickly irresistible and fizzily enjoyable confection of a show.”

What do you think of Will Ferrell’s disgruntled Buddy the Elf? Is seeing such a firecracker cracker looking disillusioned by the holidays strange? Do you believe Ferrell’s demeanor changed when the Kings won the game? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The post Will Ferrell returns as Buddy the Elf to spread holiday cheer during a “tough holiday season” appeared first on JoBlo.

Jason Momoa is going from the ocean deep to the galactic highway when he steps into Lobo’s boots for Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow. Momoa has wanted to play Lobo for years, and his dream is finally coming true. Lobo, created by Roger Slifer and Keith Giffen, debuted in Omega Men #3 circa 1983. Lobo is a Czarnian bounty hunter who rides a motorcycle through the cosmos in search of his marks. Inspired by characters like Punisher and Wolverine, Lobo became DC’s poster boy for violence as fans warmed to his reckless nature and “rude dude” attitude.

Updating…

The post Jason Momoa to play DC’s Main Man, Lobo, in Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow appeared first on JoBlo.

The chess world is never short on scandals, and the latest one is incredibly on brand. Top-ranked former world champion Magnus Carlsen recently showed up to a tournament in jeans, refused to change, got fined, and then threatened to back out of the event altogether. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) then…

Read more…

The chess world is never short on scandals, and the latest one is incredibly on brand. Top-ranked former world champion Magnus Carlsen recently showed up to a tournament in jeans, refused to change, got fined, and then threatened to back out of the event altogether. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) then…

Read more…

As the streaming wars continue with Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Paramount+ and Apple TV+ all vying for viewership supremacy, Apple TV+ is treating audiences in the New Year with a free preview weekend. According to a post on their official social media, Apple TV says, “This weekend, see for yourself. Stream for free Jan 4-5.” The post also features a video that showcases the streamer’s acclaimed original content, including shows like Severance, The Morning Show, Ted Lasso and Shrinking.

Shrinking just wrapped up its second season on Christmas. The first season, from Ted Lasso creator Bill Lawrence, had already been nominated for a bevy of awards, from the Golden Globes to the Emmys. Our Alex Maidy gave the second season a perfect 10 in his review, saying, “Shrinking continues to thrive as a comedy that is about feeling good as much as it is about just feeling. Emotions and mental health are not always easy topics to handle, and while Ted Lasso found a unique way to deliver positivity through the lens of sports and team camaraderie, Shrinking is a more direct look at the licensed mental health experts in our lives and how their own personal networks of friends and family can help them cope with their own ups and downs. Shrinking is once again one of the year’s best shows, thanks to Jason Segel and Harrison Ford fronting an ensemble that does not have a single weak spot. It is impossible not to like this show or these characters because they reflect our real lives, albeit much funnier.”

The streamer’s sci-fi thriller series, Silo, has also been gaining many accolades and has recently announced that it will be continuing for two more seasons, which will conclude after the fourth. Silo follows the last 10,000 people on Earth as they navigate life in their mile-deep underground home protecting them from the toxic outside world. The catch? No one knows when or why the silo was built and anyone who goes snooping for answers faces fatal consequences. The series has an impressive cast that includes Ferguson (Doctor Sleep), Tim Robbins (The Shawshank Redemption), David Oyelowo (Selma), Common (John Wick: Chapter 2), and Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation). Our Alex Maidy also enjoyed this outing, saying, “I found the expanded scope of this season to be as entertaining as it is sinisterly thrilling. Thanks to a finite endgame in sight for where this story will lead, fans can enjoy this middle chapter as the saga of Silo builds the tension to a breaking point. I expect that by the time everyone reaches this season’s finale, they will eagerly await what comes next. Packed with great turns from Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Robbins, Common, and the entire cast, this sophomore season of Silo is a solid continuation.”

The post Apple TV+ is offering a free preview of their service this weekend appeared first on JoBlo.

The term “pay to win” is typically attributed to competitive games with microtransactions that give players an edge in battle. An example would be an item you can buy that makes your character more powerful than that of someone who didn’t cough up real money. However, some Marvel Rivals fans are throwing the…

Read more…

The term “pay to win” is typically attributed to competitive games with microtransactions that give players an edge in battle. An example would be an item you can buy that makes your character more powerful than that of someone who didn’t cough up real money. However, some Marvel Rivals fans are throwing the…

Read more…

Last Updated on January 2, 2025

The Brutalist is the new and very ambitious feature from actor-turned-director Brady Corbet. It brings to life the story of an immigrant arriving in America in 1947. And speaking honestly, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about an over three-and-a-half-hour fictional tale about an architect. Especially since his Natalie Portman feature Vox Lux did not work for me. Yet stepping into The Brutalist in 70mm with a buddy of mine, we both were completely engaged in this stunning new work. Adrien Brody is exceptional once again, as is Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, and more. Brady’s latest is a bold interpretation of history, and an exceptional cinematic world if you are willing to take the journey.

I’ve spoken with Adrien Brody twice: once for Predators and once for Splice. Both are very different films from his latest. Yet when I mentioned Splice before the interview, he had high praise for the varied works. Yet those interviews were nothing compared to this. The love that clearly went into this impressive work is staggering. Brody discussed taking on the role and working with a director like Corbet. Just like his amazing talent, the actor offered a lot of insight for such a short interview. He is a genuinely kind and exceptional talent, a true pleasure to speak with. Honestly, his performance was so utterly compelling that I didn’t leave my seat once.

Next up, I had the honor of talking with the great Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce. While I’ve had the honor of speaking with Mr. Pearce before, this was my first with the lovely and wonderfully talented Jones. The two had a terrific conversation about working alongside the talent of Mr. Brody, as well as working with such a visionary story from a Corbet. The Brutalist is an impressive film, and you can check out what our own Chris Bumbray had to say about it here.

This holiday season, numerous films are well worth watching in a dark theatre. Let us know your thoughts on The Brutalist below.

The post Interview: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce Talk The Brutalist appeared first on JoBlo.

The Brutalist is the new and very ambitious feature from actor-turned-director Brady Corbet. It brings to life the story of an immigrant arriving in America in 1947. And speaking honestly, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about an over three-and-a-half-hour fictional tale about an architect. Especially since his Natalie Portman feature Vox Lux did not work for me. Yet stepping into The Brutalist in 70mm with a buddy of mine, we both were completely engaged in this stunning new work. Adrien Brody is exceptional once again, as is Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn, and more. Brady’s latest is a bold interpretation of history, and an exceptional cinematic world if you are willing to take the journey.

I’ve spoken with Adrien Brody twice: once for Predators and once for Splice. Both are very different films from his latest. Yet when I mentioned Splice before the interview, he had high praise for the varied works. Yet those interviews were nothing compared to this. The love that clearly went into this impressive work is staggering. Brody discussed taking on the role and working with a director like Corbet. Just like his amazing talent, the actor offered a lot of insight for such a short interview. He is a genuinely kind and exceptional talent, a true pleasure to speak with. Honestly, his performance was so utterly compelling that I didn’t leave my seat once.

Next up, I had the honor of talking with the great Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce. While I’ve had the honor of speaking with Mr. Pearce before, this was my first with the lovely and wonderfully talented Jones. The two had a terrific conversation about working alongside the talent of Mr. Brody, as well as working with such a visionary story from a Corbet. The Brutalist is an impressive film, and you can check out what our own Chris Bumbray had to say about it here.

This holiday season, numerous films are well worth watching in a dark theatre. Let us know your thoughts on The Brutalist below.

The post Interview: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce Talk The Brutalist appeared first on JoBlo.