No amount of chest compressions can save Sony‘s Madame Web from being labeled a total failure with fans and at the box office. Sony’s latest Spider-Man-less Spider-Verse movie is dead on arrival after a $26.2M launch, and the studio’s plans to launch a franchise with Dakota Johnson’s Cassandra Webb at its center will undoubtedly get scrapped. Despite earning $170 million at the box office, Sony’s Morbius was a disaster. Memed to death and still a go-to for how not to make a comic book action film, Morbius should have been a lesson learned for a studio struggling to make people care about its superhero movies not featuring Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. Then there’s Madame Web, which makes Morbius look like Citizen Kane.

According to an insider veteran (via The Hollywood Reporter), “We’re not going to see another Madame Web movie for another decade-plus.” Adding, “It failed. Sony tried to make a movie that was a different type of superhero movie.”

Sony’s Madame Web introduces a trio of Spider-Women (sort of), played by Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, and Sydney Sweeney. If Madame Web managed to ensnare enough fans and dollars, the idea was to launch a franchise with Johnson’s character as a guide for her clutter of Spider-Women. That’s no longer going to happen.

“We are in transition when it comes to superhero movies,” notes the insider. “I don’t know how big that transition is or what the other side looks like. It may be fewer movies, but bigger brands. Sony is willing to take some risk but also wants home runs — that’s good. And if [Sony’s upcoming Spider-Man Universe title] Kraven is a gigantic hit, the narrative could be completely different. So it’s too early to know the outcome.”

The problem with Madame Web isn’t the cast or how it’s aimed at female audiences. The problem is everything else. Morbid curiosity won out for me this weekend, and I subjected myself to Madame Web on Sunday. I went into the experience knowing it was ill-received but still hoped for the best, as I always do. I love superheroes, and I love superhero movies. If anyone’s going to find a silver lining in Madame Web, it’s me. Do you know what I found? Madame Web is an eventless slog that squanders the talents of several outstanding actors. The film’s list of failures is vast, from questionable direction to baffling edits, long stretches of cringe dialogue, and a one-dimensional villain that I would say is the worst in Marvel film history. It’s the first movie in ages I considered walking out of.

Our Editor-in-Chief, Chris Bumbray, was more even-handed about Madame Web than I am. You can read his full review here.

Madame Web could achieve cult status as an MST3K-style watch in the future. I’ll give it that much. However, I sincerely doubt that was Sony’s goal. If Sony wants people to show up for Kraven the Hunter, another risk at the box office, they might want to pivot their approach sooner rather than later.

The post Has an abysmal box office launch for Sony’s Madame Web doomed hopes for a new franchise? appeared first on JoBlo.

Alongside a worldwide vaccination program, PowerWash Simulator is the only reason humanity survived Covid. The 2022 release, inexplicably published by Square Enix, asked us simply to clean. Clean playgrounds, houses, flying saucers, all caked in a thick layer of mud and grime. It was, and still is, a zen-like source…

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Alongside a worldwide vaccination program, PowerWash Simulator is the only reason humanity survived Covid. The 2022 release, inexplicably published by Square Enix, asked us simply to clean. Clean playgrounds, houses, flying saucers, all caked in a thick layer of mud and grime. It was, and still is, a zen-like source…

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We’ve heard of directors banning cell phones and even producers from the set, but if you’re working on a Christopher Nolan movie, you better have the right footwear – that means no Uggs!

Appearing on The Late Show (via GQ), host Stephen Colbert asked Nolan – who is currently on the awards circuit trying to land Oppenheimer as many Oscars as possible – about the stories of him banning Uggs from the set. “Ah, the Uggs controversy…I try to minimize distractions…Even though we’re all engaged in this absurd process where this wall is real, but there’s lights and a guy with a microphone, you’re asking the actor to focus in on the reality. So everything you can do—like wearing the correct shoes, or, whatever, not changing your trousers… Anything we can do to keep that reality, that bubble, intact.” Nolan also brought up the so-called “Uggs controversy” on The View, saying it throws off the vibe if people come out wearing everything for their character’s wardrobe except the shoes. We have to assume that Christopher Nolan has a ban on Crocs as well…

Oppenheimer star Emily Blunt previously revealed that the Ugg ban is real, saying, “I’ve never known anyone to detest a pair of Uggs more than Chris Nolan…It’s a testament to how he wants everything on set to look as it would [in the period]. If there’s a plastic bottle in the shot, he’s like, ‘Ugh!’ He hates to even look at it. I would sometimes put on some Uggs and I’d just get this withering look down to my feet—it was like being in The Devil Wears Prada again.” So, sheepskin kicks and Aquafina bottles are out, but yes, you can still sit down.

Stories such as these present some fun behind-the-scenes anecdotes that most of us would never have heard about; they also give us a glimpse into our favorite filmmakers far removed from the surface. We can completely understand why Quentin Tarantino would ban cell phones on a set, but to find out that Christopher Nolan can’t bear the sight of Uggs while he’s making a movie about the Manhattan Project? That’s taking focus to another level.

What do you think of Christopher Nolan’s ban on Uggs? Is it sensible or a little too dictatorial?

The post Christopher Nolan has banned Uggs from his sets appeared first on JoBlo.

Third-person shooter sensation Helldivers 2 reached an extraordinary 409,337 concurrent players over the weekend. That makes it the fifth most popular game on Steam, a fact made all the more impressive when you factor in that three of those five games are free, compared to Helldivers 2’s $40 pricetag.

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Third-person shooter sensation Helldivers 2 reached an extraordinary 409,337 concurrent players over the weekend. That makes it the fifth most popular game on Steam, a fact made all the more impressive when you factor in that three of those five games are free, compared to Helldivers 2’s $40 pricetag.

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Almost four years have gone by since it was announced that CJ ENM, the production company behind Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, was teaming with Ari Aster’s Square Peg to produce an English language remake of the 2003 South Korean cult film Save the Green Planet. The original film was directed by Joon-hwan Jang, and at the time it was said that Jang would be at the helm of the new take on the concept as well. But now Variety reports that the project has a new director: Yorgos Lanthimos, whose film Poor Things is nominated for 11 Oscars and just won five BAFTAs. With Lanthimos signed on, the Save the Green Planet remake is now expected to head into production this summer, with filming locations in New York and the U.K.

Described as an eccentric black comedy, the original Save the Green Planet followed a disillusioned young man who captures and tortures a businessman whom he believes to be part of an alien invasion. A battle of wits ensues between the captor, his devoted girlfriend, the businessman and a private detective.

Here’s a longer synopsis: Joon-hwan Jang imagines the fate of the human race hinging on Byun-gu, a bitter, paranoid and eccentric beekeeper who, with the help of his tightrope walker girlfriend, Sooni, kidnaps a powerful and successful businessman, Man-sik. Byun-gu believes that Man-sik is an alien from the planet Andromeda, one of many hiding among us and plotting to destroy the Earth in a few days. Amphetamine-popping Byun-gu sees himself as the planet’s last hope, and sets about torturing Man-sik with relish, trying to convince him to contact the “Royal Prince” and call off Armageddon. A battle of wits and wills ensues, with Man-sik trying to convince his captors that he’s human and attempting to escape. Man-sik recognizes Byun-gu as a disgruntled former employee whose comatose mother suffers from a mysterious illness. It begins to seem that Byun-gu’s true motivation may be personal, but he’s still ruthlessly determined to get Man-sik to confess and cooperate, even if he has to risk killing him. Meanwhile, a dishevelled detective, Chu, and his young acolyte, Inspector Kim, discover that the person who kidnapped Man-sik may have struck several times before, always with deadly results.

When the Save the Green Planet remake was first announced, it was said that the screenplay was being written by Will Tracy, a writer on HBO’s Succession and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Since that announcement, Tracy has also co-written the genre film The Menu.

Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe at Element Pictures are producing the new film alongside CJ ENM and Square Peg.

Are you interested in the Save the Green Planet remake? Have you seen the original film, and what do you think of Yorgos Lanthimos directing the new one? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The post Yorgos Lanthimos directing remake of Korean film Save the Green Planet for producer Ari Aster appeared first on JoBlo.

If you’ve finished Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and are craving my technological mystery and action, Apple TV+ is developing a series for you. According to industry insider Daniel Richtman, Apple TV+ is reportedly bringing a futuristic drama series based on the novel Neuromancer by William Gibson to the streaming platform. Skydance TV is the production company, with Graham Roland serving as the project’s writer and showrunner. JD Dillard (The Outsider, Devotion, Utopia) directs from Roland’s screenplay, with filming taking place in Europe, possibly Spain and London.

Here’s the plot summary according to Richtman’s Patreon post:

“Neuromancer” follows Case, a former data thief who is recruited for a dangerous mission by a mysterious employer; in a world where cyberspace and reality merge, Case must navigate through perilous encounters with the help of Molly, a skilled street samurai with a penchant for danger. Together, they embark on a journey that will test their limits and challenge the very nature of reality itself.

If you’re curious about the characters, here’s a breakdown of the leading players:

Case (Lead): A male aged 25-35. Case is a skilled hacker with a troubled past. His expertise in the technological underground makes him the perfect candidate for the mission, but his journey is fraught with danger and uncertainty.

Molly (Lead): A female aged 30-45, Molly is a formidable mercenary known for her cruelty and combat skills. Operating in the physical realm, she serves as Case’s protector and ally on his mission.

Armitage (Lead): A male aged 45-55, Armitage is the enigmatic figure who hires Case for the mission. Former military and mysterious, he brings a sense of gravitas and intrigue to the story.

According to Richtman, several actors have passed up the lead role, including Oscar Isaac, Miles Teller, Jeremy Allen White, Nicholas Hoult, and Taron Egerton, with Robert Pattinson mulling over a recent offer. It’s clear that Dillard wants a high-profile actor to take the lead, and strangely, so many have passed. Then again, top-tier actors often have commitments to other projects in advance.

Are you familiar with William Gibson’s Neuromancer? Have you read the book? Will it make for an entertaining drama series? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

The post A data thief and a street samurai join forces in Apple’s series adaptation of William Gibson’s Neuromancer appeared first on JoBlo.

While two of Monty Python’s most famous former members, Eric Idle and John Cleese, are embroiled in a very public feud, it wasn’t always this way. In recent weeks, Idle has been vocal about how he feels the Monty Python estate is being handled, with him targeting Terry Gilliam and his daughter, Holly, who manages the rights, directly. John Cleese jumped to their aid, writing on X (perhaps in a tongue-in-cheek way) that (referring to Idle) “we always loathed and despised each other, but it’s only recently that the truth has begun to emerge.” 

Now, this might need to be taken with a grain of salt, as Cleese has a notoriously dry wit. Let’s not forget that he eulogized his best friend, Graham Chapman, by saying, “Good riddance to him, the freeloading bastard! I hope he fries.” That was lovingly tongue-in-cheek, although Idle and Cleese always seemed to have a frostier relationship than the others. But, it wasn’t always so, with Idle and Cleese once making a non-Python movie together called Splitting Heirs, that’s been somewhat lost to time.

That 1993 film was Idle’s attempt to break into the American market as a solo comedy star, similar to how Cleese had with A Fish Called Wanda. Indeed, Idle had a minor hit in 1990 with the memorably titled Nuns on the Run, but Splitting Heirs was to be more ambitious. It paired him with Rick Moranis, who was coming off the Honey I Shrunk the Kids movies at the time and was about two babies that got switched at birth. Rick Moranis is an American who finds out he’s a long-lost heir to a family of British aristocrats, but his best pal, who shares the same birthday as him, becomes convinced that he is, in fact, the heir. The friend – you guessed it – is played by Idle. 

In the film, Idle tries to recover his presumed birthright through a series of schemes, but he gets into trouble when he consults with a shady lawyer, played by John Cleese, who believes he wants Moranis dead – which is not so. The film is an amusingly old-fashioned romp, but it likely seemed dated in 1993 in a way A Fish Called Wanda had not, and it died quickly at the box office. It’s mostly known for being one of Catherine Zeta-Jones’s first movies, with the twenty-three-year-old actress being the girl both Idle and Moranis are fighting over.  One of the strangest things in the movie is that Idle is playing a character at least twenty years younger than he was at the time (he was fifty when this was made and is playing a guy in his late twenties- early thirties) and not too convincingly. One might say the whole movie is a tad ego-driven, with Idle’s two love interests being played by two of the sexiest twentysomethings in England at the time (Zeta-Jones and Sadie Frost), but then again Cleese got to romance Jamie Lee Curtis in A Fish Called Wanda, so who cares?

But again, the most notable thing is that Cleese co-stars (in a glorified but extended cameo), in a solo movie made by the one guy everyone assumed was his biggest rival. It’s interesting to see them work together in a non-Python film, and I imagine Cleese had a decent enough time making it, as he hired this film’s director, Robert Young, to make his Wanda follow-up, Fierce Creatures.

Indeed, it’s sad to see Idle and Cleese at odds, as both men are in their eighties, and one always likes to assume that by the time we reach that milestone, we’re beyond petty things such as money. Alas, that’s rarely the case, isn’t it?

If you want to see Splitting Heirs, you can buy it here, but at the moment, it’s not streaming anywhere. 

Have you ever seen this rather obscure romp? Let us know in the comments. 

The post Splitting Heirs: Before they were feuding, John Cleese and Eric Idle made an obscure 90s comedy appeared first on JoBlo.

If you, like me, are a child, you’ll regularly refresh the new releases on the official Pokémon store to see what madcap paraphernalia its selling today. With almost daily drops, these additions can be anything from a statue of Ditto eating Pewter Crunchies, to an entire range of wildly overpriced Pikachu-themed…

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