Three years have gone by since it was announced that Edgar Wright was coming on board to direct a new take on the novel The Running Man, which was written by Stephen King under his Richard Bachman pen name. The Running Man was, of course, previously turned into a film back in 1987 that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger – and even though that movie was very different from the source material, Schwarzenegger is still a tough act to follow. But now we know who’s brave enough to take on the challenge. Paramount has announced that Edgar Wright’s The Running Man is set to star Glen Powell of Top Gun: Maverick!

Wright is producing the film with Nira Park and Simon Kinberg.

King’s novel has the following description: It was the ultimate death game in a nightmare future America. The year is 2025 and reality TV has grown to the point where people are willing to wager their lives for a chance at a billion-dollar jackpot. Ben Richards is desperate – he needs money to treat his daughter’s illness. His last chance is entering a game show called The Running Man where the goal is to avoid capture by Hunters who are employed to kill him. Surviving this month-long chase is another issue when everyone else on the planet is watching – and willing to turn him in for the reward.

During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast last year, Wright said he was drawn to The Running Man because, “I like the film but I like the book more, and they didn’t really adapt the book. Even as a teenager when I saw the Schwarzenegger film I was like, ‘Oh, this isn’t like the book at all!’ And I think, ‘Nobody’s [done] that book.’ So when that came up, I was thinking, and Simon Kinberg says, ‘Do you have any interest in The Running Man?’ I said, ‘You know what? I’ve often thought that that book is something crying out to be adapted.’ Now, that doesn’t mean that it’s easy! [Laughs] But it’s something that we are working on, yes.”

In addition to Top Gun: Maverick, Glen Powell’s credits include Anyone But You, Hidden Figures, Scream Queens, Everybody Wants Some!!, Ride Along 2, The Expendables 3, and the upcoming films Twisters and Hit Man.

What do you think of Glen Powell being cast in Edgar Wright’s The Running Man? Share your thoughts on this news by leaving a comment below.

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There’s more than meets the eye at CinemaCon this year, with Paramount rolling out new footage for Transformers One, the animated film starring Chris Hemsworth as the voice of Optimus Prime. The movie opens nationwide on September 12, 2024, with Josh Cooley directing from a script by Andrew Barrer, Steve Desmond, and Gabriel Ferrari. Focusing on an origin story set on Cybertron, Transformers One revolves around the relationship and rivalry of Autobot Optimus Prime (Chris Hemsworth) and the Decepticon Megatron (Brian Tyree Henry). Other stars joining the cast include Scarlett Johansson as Elita, Keegan-Michael Key as Bumblebee, Jon Hamm as Sentinel Prime, and Laurence Fishburne as Alpha Trion.

During today’s Paramount panel at CinemaCon, Scarlett Johansson (in a video from New York) introduced Chris Hemsworth. After paying tribute to the late Peter Cullen, Hemsworth said he was honored to share the part of Optimus Prime with Cullen and become a part of the character’s legacy.

Bryan Tyree Henry took the stage and said the movie is about Optimus Prime and Megatron’s transformation from brothers in arms to sworn enemies. Keegan-Michael Key plays Bumblebee, with Johansson as Akita.

JoBlo’s editor-in-chief, Chris Bumbray, says the footage for Transformers One is amazing and feels on the level of last year’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. There are many comedic beats, with Optimus and Megatron having a buddy/buddy chemistry. The film looks visually spellbinding, with robots getting wicked transformation scenes. Chris says the comedic tone could rub some fans wrong, but at least they’re taking a swing. Additionally, it’s not like there aren’t plenty of Transformers movies out in the world.

Paramount then showed the CinemaCon crowd a 3D sequence from the film featuring Bumblebee, Prime, and Megatron hijacking a train on the surface of Cybertron only to be caught by Akira. A massive fight scene ensues, and the crowd goes wild!

In May 2023, Transformers franchise producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura shared details about the epic animated prequel, saying, “I could tell you really important parts of this story, which is more than a tease. This is something we were trying to do; we debated a lot about it in live action, and it just was financially impossible to do, which is, the origin story of young Megatron and young Optimus. If you know the origin, they started as friends, and over time things devolved for them and they ended up on two sides. So we’re telling the young Optimus and the young Megatron story. We really are telling the origin story of all Transformers, both what they were at the beginning of it, to how they grow, to how they grow apart.”

Lorenzo also teases that the events of Transformers One will prime a “natural trilogy” for fans to enjoy, provided the series continues. He’s already planned the other films, hoping to tell an emotional tale about brothers-in-arms divided and fighting for the world’s fate.

“We’re hoping that there is enough emotional construct to that, that would lead to a trilogy of it because, personally, I think there’s a natural trilogy. I’m not always looking to do multiple movies, but there’s a natural trilogy around their relationship. So, you’re going to see Cybertron in a way you’ve never seen it, that no one’s ever seen it before. Because we’re doing an animation, we’re allowed to really go all out. If you tried to make this live-action, it would probably be a billion-dollar movie or something.”

Are you excited about Transformers One? What do you think about Chris Hemsworth being the voice of Optimus Prime? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Eleven years have gone by since the release of a new entry in the Scary Movie horror parody series – but the franchise isn’t going to remain dormant for much longer. Deadline reports that the Miramax label at Paramount, which is now operating under new boss Jonathan Glickman, has given the greenlight to a new Scary Movie sequel (which would be Scary Movie 6, if they continue putting numbers in the titles), with the plan being to get the film into theatres sometime in 2025. If any writers or a director are attached to the project, they weren’t named in this announcement.

Directed by In Living Color creator Keenen Ivory Wayans from a screenplay written by a bunch of people (Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Buddy Johnson, Phil Beauman, Jason Friedberg, and Aaron Seltzer), the first Scary Movie was released by Dimension Films back in 2000. Scary Movie 2 was released in 2001, and the Wayans remained at the head of the creative team for that one. Keenen Ivory Wayans directed it from a screenplay credited to Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Alyson Fouse, Greg Grabianski, Dave Polsky, Michael Anthony Snowden, and Craig Wayans.

There was a shake-up behind the scenes on 2003’s Scary Movie 3, as Dimension hired Airplane and The Naked Gun director David Zucker to take the helm. Zucker directed that film from a screenplay by Craig Mazin and Pat Proft. That trio returned for Scary Movie 4 in 2006, with Jim Abrahams also receiving a writing credit. Seven years later, Pat Proft and David Zucker came back to write Scary Movie 5, which was directed by Undercover Brother‘s Malcolm D. Lee.

The first Scary Movie was made on a budget of $19 million and earned $278 million at the box office, so the budgets increased for most of the sequels. Scary Movie 2 cost $45 million and made $141 million, Scary Movie 3 cost $48 million and made almost $221 million, and Scary Movie 4 was made for $40 million and earned $178 million at the box office. After the lengthy break between movies, Scary Movie 5 got a lower budget, dropping back down to $20 million. That was a good decision, because the film only made $78 million at the box office.

Scary Movie 5 was the only film in the franchise not to feature Anna Faris and Regina Hall as their characters Cindy Campbell and Brenda Meeks. In a 2022 interview, Faris said she would be willing to return for another sequel if the price was right (and she thought Hall would, too).

Are you a fan of the Scary Movie franchise, and are you glad to hear that Scary Movie 6 is in the works? Who would you like to see write and/or direct this film? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

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After the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Paramount Pictures is greenlighting a live-action, R-rated adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin! Are you freaking out right now? Because I’m freaking out!

According to The Hollywood Reporter‘s exclusive article, Tyler Burton Smith, who co-wrote the upcoming action film Boy Kills World, is writing the script for The Last Ronin, which former head of DC Films Walter Hamada is producing via his 18hz studio. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is based on the limited comic book series by TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz. The story is inspired by an older story written by Eastman and Peter Laird. The limited run includes Esau and Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop, and Eastman artwork.

Here’s a synopsis for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin courtesy of Amazon:

A New York Times Bestseller! Who is the Last Ronin? In a future, battle-ravaged New York City, a lone surviving Turtle embarks on a seemingly hopeless mission seeking justice for the family he lost. From legendary TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, get ready for the final story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles three decades in the making!

What terrible events destroyed his family and left New York a crumbling, post-apocalyptic nightmare? All will be revealed in this climactic Turtle tale that sees longtime friends becoming enemies and new allies emerging in the most unexpected places. Can the surviving Turtle triumph?

My body is ready! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is a gritty, brutal, and tragic tale set in a world where only one member of the TMNT brotherhood remains. Haunting and surreal, the turtle brother finds members of his fallen kin shadowing his quest for revenge, making him doubt his mission and contemplate ending it all before the vendetta is satisfied. The Last Ronin is my favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles story outside the core comic book series.

Are you excited about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin? How far do you think Paramount will take the R rating? Let us know in the comments section below.

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PLOT:  Dan Lawson, a Chicago detective, travels to Scotland to link up with Scottish Det. Boyd, following the resurgence of a serial killer whose crimes match an unsolved case that he looked into 5 years previous in Chicago.

REVIEW: Ever since David Fincher’s Se7en, I’ve been a fan of the simple premise of a detective hunting down a serial killer. This game of cat and mouse allows for just the right amount of mystery and intrigue that will keep you guessing until the end. I’d argue the big reveal at the end is nearly as synonymous with crime thrillers as cops and criminals. If there’s one thing a good mystery needs, it’s something unexpected. And Damaged certainly has that.

The story follows Detective Lawson (Samuel L. Jackson) as he travels to Scotland to help with a case. Someone is recreating the murders that Lawson investigated back in Chicago five years prior, so he’s been asked to help. It’s nice to see Jackson in a lead role after mostly being relegated to side roles in Marvel Cinema for years. But I’d argue that the filmmakers are still being a bit deceptive as it’s more of Gianni Capaldi’s movie. Also, do not be fooled by Vincent Cassell’s high billing and prominent placement on the poster. He has a fairly small role that only really comes into play in the second half.

Jackson inhabits a role that really clashes with his Nick Fury persona, so that’s a breath of fresh air. He’s an alcoholic who has clearly let the world get the best of him. It’s not to the quality of his Tarantino work, but seeing him get a bit grittier is nice. Funnily enough, this almost feels like an extension of his character from Spiral. And shoutout to John Hannah, who shows up in a brief but memorable role.

I enjoy Terry McDonough’s work on TV, but it doesn’t translate well in this instance. The main issue is that it simply looks like a television show. There were many times that I felt like I was watching an episode of some CBS crime drama. The action feels very limited and lacking in energy. Conversely, I felt the more serial killer-focused elements were handled with a little more grace. Even if they did involve murder. Though, according to this movie, Scottish women cannot open the door to strangers in the middle of the night.

There’s not much in the way of hope either, as the police prove to be hilariously inept at even the simplest of tasks. They set a trap and then seem completely flummoxed when it doesn’t go perfectly to plan. It was interesting to see Detective Boyd pursue the bad guy with guidance from a drone. It’s a neat concept that provides some of the only unique action in the film. But most of the cop stuff is on the absurd side.

The ending featured a twist I did not see coming, as I thought they’d be taking a different approach. In fact, the ending is twist after twist. I could hardly catch my breath. And as a fan of Saw, I love a ridiculous twist ending, no matter how convoluted. And this one has fun with it. In fact, it made me rethink most of the film as it felt like Bond villain, and it clashed tremendously with the rest. However, I still question whether any of it was particularly good.

Damaged was a very strange experience overall. Sam Jackson is chewing so much scenery it makes me worried for his teeth, and I always love an appearance by Vincent Gallo. Unfortunately, the movie is too preoccupied with setting up twists so it doesn’t think about how it reflects upon the characters. Instead, they just end up comically stupid or maniacally smart. There’s not much of an in-between. I ended up enjoying it in a “so bad it’s good” kind of way, but I’m not sure others will feel the same.

DAMAGED IS STREAMING DIGITALLY ON APRIL 11TH, 2024.

damaged

AVERAGE

6

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Video game adaptations come in two flavors: crap and brilliance. For a long time, games were considered cash grabs that did not take advantage of the brilliant concepts and stories they told in a different medium. In recent years, that perspective has changed as producers have found creative homes for properties to tell everything from big-screen epics to animated fare and long-form series storytelling. The latest addition to the growing genre is Fallout. Adapted from the three-decade-old franchise, Fallout exists within the world of video games but expands into a fully original story with all new characters. With the full season streaming on Prime Video, audiences are finding this new series is the real deal.

Fallout tells the story of Lucy Mclean (Ella Purnell), a Vaultie living in the post-apocalyptic wasteland that was the United States. When her father is abducted, Lucy ventures into the world where she must rescue her dad while exploring the surface world. Discovering that things are very different outside of the Vault, Lucy runs across Maximu (Aaron Moten), a knight of the Brotherhood of Steel, and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), an irradiated bounty hunter whose past goes back to the early days of the nuclear apocalypse. All three characters converge in a massive story that spans new environments and familiar ones for fans of the games.

I got the chance to discuss Fallout with the stars and creative talent behind the series. Showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet & Graham Wagner talked about how they found the humor to blend with the action in the great world of the video game while also creating an original tale. Ella Purnell talked about Lucy’s badass journey and Aaron Moten talked about the cool suit of armor he dons in the series. Michael Emerson discussed his pivotal role and a powerful scene he has with virtually no dialogue. Producer and director Jonathan Nolan discussed his visual approach to the series and how it connects to his work with his brother, Christopher Nolan. Check out the full interviews in the embed above and our review of the show HERE.

Fallout is now streaming on Prime Video.

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In the early 90s, producer Aaron Spelling and TV creator Darren Star struck primetime drama gold with the high school soap opera Beverly Hills 90210. The show laid the groundwork for some good old-fashioned scheduled viewing for homes waiting to see what kinds of trouble the kids at West Beverly would get into. While the series would get to put its characters in some compromising situations like Brandon’s gambling, Brenda‘s pregnancy scare, Dylan’s drug use or Donna Martin graduating, Spelling would explore more steamy stories with the spin-off Melrose Place. The show would crossover stars as Beverly’s Dylan and Kelly befriended Melrose resident Jake. And when Heather Locklear was added to the cast, the show’s popularity would skyrocket.

Among the bevy of shows that have returned in some fashion, Deadline is now reporting that Melrose Place will be getting a revival, and three of its stars are already attached to appear. Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton will be returning to the famous Los Angeles residence as CBS Studios is developing the new show and is shopping around for networks and streaming services. Lauren Gussis, the creator/executive producer of the Netflix/CBS Studios series Insatiable, will be writing for the revival. The pitch includes killing off one of the original show’s beloved characters from the start.

Per Deadline, “In the new installment, when one of their dearest friends dies suddenly, the OG residents of Melrose Place gather to honor the deceased. But the pressure cooker of a reunion soon uncovers old traumas, rekindles old romances, reignites old resentments, and reveals new secrets… throwing our characters into chaotic drama that’s reminiscent of the past, but with a much more modern perspective.”

Locklear, Leighton and Zuniga will naturally be reprising their roles as Amanda Woodward, Sydney Andrews and Jo Reynolds. Gussis, Leighton and Zuniga are also set to executive produce alongside Tiffany Grant and Jason Weinberg. The show will be a CBS Studios property as they own the Spelling library. The cast for the original show, like 90210, would evolve its cast of actors during its run. The revolving core cast over the years would feature names like Thomas Calabro, Josie Bissett, Doug Savant, Grant Show, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Rob Estes, Brooke Langton, Lisa Rinna, Kristin Davis and Alyssa Milano.

Do you think Melrose Place will secure a revival or not? And if so, will you enjoy it?

The post Melrose Place stars Heather Locklear, Daphne Zuniga and Laura Leighton are set to return to the steamy residential complex for a new revival appeared first on JoBlo.

Marlon Brando is filled with stories of eccentricities, outrageous behavior and schemes. One of my favorites is the time he wanted to power his house by filling his swimming pool with electric eels. But this one involves cold hard cash, something that the iconic actor also loved. No, this isn’t about Superman, but rather the Invisible Man.

According to writer/director Paul Schrader, Marlon Brando came up with a scheme to get as much money out of one of Hollywood’s biggest studios as he could. “Warner’s owed him some money, and he wanted to do a remake of Invisible Man. And Marlon called me up, and he was in Tahiti and wound up telling me the whole story about how he wanted to do it, The Invisible Man. And I listened to him and I talked to him, and we had another conversation, and I realized that Warner’s owed him $2 million. He figured one day, he’ll come in, put the [body] tape on in the morning, in the afternoon he’ll take the tape off, the next day he’ll do the voiceovers and that’s $2 million.”

Schrader would somehow talk Marlon Brando out of that plot before the studio could even have the chance to show him the door. But imagining Brando pitching the idea and then going through with it (and spending that money on who knows what!) is a terrific picture. It certainly wouldn’t have been his most belittling cash grab ever…

Marlon Brando of course famously did get a huge paycheck for a small amount of work on Richard Donner’s Superman, receiving a $3.7 million salary for less than two weeks of work — which was pretty much spent reading cue cards anyway. He would also take home over 11% of the movie’s profits, allowing him to earn what’s commonly referred to in the industry as “I own my own island now” money. He would also net millions of dollars from Apocalypse Now, despite having no more than 15 minutes of screen time. Just another reason to respect the legend…

What is your favorite Marlon Brando story? Give us a good one in the comments section below.

The post Marlon Brando wanted Warner Bros. to pay him $2 million for two days of work appeared first on JoBlo.

Marlon Brando is filled with stories of eccentricities, outrageous behavior and schemes. One of my favorites is the time he wanted to power his house by filling his swimming pool with electric eels. But this one involves cold hard cash, something that the iconic actor also loved. No, this isn’t about Superman, but rather the Invisible Man.

According to writer/director Paul Schrader, Marlon Brando came up with a scheme to get as much money out of one of Hollywood’s biggest studios as he could. “Warner’s owed him some money, and he wanted to do a remake of Invisible Man. And Marlon called me up, and he was in Tahiti and wound up telling me the whole story about how he wanted to do it, The Invisible Man. And I listened to him and I talked to him, and we had another conversation, and I realized that Warner’s owed him $2 million. He figured one day, he’ll come in, put the [body] tape on in the morning, in the afternoon he’ll take the tape off, the next day he’ll do the voiceovers and that’s $2 million.”

Schrader would somehow talk Marlon Brando out of that plot before the studio could even have the chance to show him the door. But imagining Brando pitching the idea and then going through with it (and spending that money on who knows what!) is a terrific picture. It certainly wouldn’t have been his most belittling cash grab ever…

Marlon Brando of course famously did get a huge paycheck for a small amount of work on Richard Donner’s Superman, receiving a $3.7 million salary for less than two weeks of work — which was pretty much spent reading cue cards anyway. He would also take home over 11% of the movie’s profits, allowing him to earn what’s commonly referred to in the industry as “I own my own island now” money. He would also net millions of dollars from Apocalypse Now, despite having no more than 15 minutes of screen time. Just another reason to respect the legend…

What is your favorite Marlon Brando story? Give us a good one in the comments section below.

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O.J. Simpson, one of the most controversial figures of our time, is dead. His family broke the news on X, writing, “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.”

If you grew up in the 1990s, you likely remember where you were on June 17th during the infamous Bronco Chase, where Simpson became the subject of perhaps the lowest-speed police chase of all time. I was twelve years old and riveted. Even now, twenty years after the fact, the O.J. Simpson trial, which was dubbed by media as the “Trial of the Century,” is infamous, as in the belief of many, O.J. Simpson, a former football legend turned movie star, got away with murder. 

The trial was a hotbed of controversy, and it inspired two fascinating, long-form deep dives on TV. One was American Crime Story: The People Vs O.J. Simpson, and the other was an incredible documentary called O.J: Made in America. The latter really said it all in terms of O.J.’s place in pop culture at the time of the trial and why it was such a boiling point for many, with the documentary giving excellent context to the verdict and fallout. 

Before the trial, O.J. Simpson was an aspirational figure to many. Winner of the Heisman Trophy and an NFL player for eleven seasons, he parlayed his sports fame into a lucrative acting career, which included roles in the cult classic Capricorn One (check out our Best Movie You Never Saw on it) and the Naked Gun trilogy. The third film in the series, The Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, came out just a few months before Simpson was arrested for the murder of his former wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend Ron Goldman. 

The trial went on for eleven months and dominated the news cycle the whole time. Eventually, Simpson was acquitted in a highly controversial verdict, but three years later, he was found liable in a civil suit brought by the victim’s families and ordered to pay $33.5 million. Simpson later went to jail for nine years after being convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping. Since his release, he mostly laid low but was interviewed by Sacha Baron Cohen’s Gio Monaldo character on Who is America and was a frequent tweeter on X.

Indeed, O.J. Simpson’s death will no doubt inspire mixed feelings in many of our readers, so feel free to post your thoughts below. Did you watch the Bronco Chase or the verdict live? Share your memories with us. 

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