REEL NEWS: APRIL 13TH-APRIL 20TH

This week in news; first-look at master filmmaker Denis Villeneuve's Dune, COVID delays/canellations, Dr Strange 2 director confirmed and more.

DUNE!

In some welcome news, Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic Dune has been given a first look, courtesy of Vanity Fair.

The images offer looks at the all-star line up including but not limited to; Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya Coleman, Oscar Issa, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Mamoa, Dave Bautista, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin.

Dune is set on the desert world of Arrakis, which is the battle ground between warring houses and the indigenous population over the valuable drug known as ‘spice’ found only on Arrakis. All seen through Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the son of one of the houses.

The previous adaptation in the 80s by surrealist and edge-lord, college student icon, David Lynch, has a cult-following but fails to cram 400+ words into a two-hour movie.

Director Denis Villeneuve said in the interview, “I would not agree to make this adaptation of the book with one single movie. The world is too complex. It’s a world that takes its power in details.”

Following the success of splitting Stephen King’s It into two-parts, Warner Bros. are hoping for the next ‘it’ property.

Combine one of the greatest directors working currently, with one of the most revered sci-fi novels and a cast for the ages and a general audience desperate to enter society again, and WB’s dream may come true.

Pixar New Releases

The latest victi-ah, poor choice of words. Ah, casualt-nope, not better. Um…

The most recent domino to fall, due to COVID-19, has been Pixar with the animation studio shifting the release of its upcoming Soul.

Soul will now be released on November 20th, 6 months back from its original June 19th release.

For those keeping track at home, at this point in time November will have: Black Widow, Soul, No Time To Die, and Godzilla vs Kong all being released.

Sam Raimi Confirmed for Dr Strange 2

Weeks after his rumoured involvement, Sam Raimi has confirmed he will be directing Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness.

The horror icon, know for Evil Dead, Drag Me To Hell and the Spider-Man trilogy replaces Scott Derickson, director of Dr. Strange, who ‘left’ due to “creative differences”.

Long-time Raimi collaborator, Bruce Campbell, as already asked for involvement on the project. Groovy. (For those that haven’t seen Evil Dead 2, that word is a reference to that movie, I don’t say that on a day to day basis. I’m not that weird)

Mandalorian Documentary

While fans eagerly await more meme-able Baby Yoda content in The Mandalorian Season 2, Disney+ will be releasing an eight-part documentary about Season 1.

Titled Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian, the first episode will be released on May 4th, a.k.a May the Fourth Be With You (Star Wars Day).

Show creator Jon Favreau said in a statement, “[The show] is an opportunity for fans of the show to take a look inside and get to see a different perspective, and perhaps a greater understanding, of how The Mandalorian came together and some of the incredibly talented contributors throughout Season 1”

Released weekly, like the show, the docu-series will go behind-the-scenes of each episode with cast and crew. Think of it like the ‘Special Features’ of old.

Josh Trank/Tom Hardy Capone Trailer

Didn’t see this one coming.

Josh Trank, director of Chronicle and Fant4stic (that’s…diverse), has teamed with Tom Hardy for an Al Capone biopic.

The film covers the final moments of notorious gangster Al Capone, and looks to be a frenetic crime bio-pic complete with Tom Hardy doing a weird voice, questionable prosthetics and the style of Martin Scorsese on crack.

The film could signal Josh Trank’s release from ‘Hollywood Prison’ following the disastrous Fant4stic production in 2015.

Capone will available for digital purchase May 12th.

JJ Abrams/HBO Max Deal

J.J. Abrams and his production company Bad Robot, has signed with Warner Bros. to develop a DC Comics TV series, for the upcoming HBO Max streaming service.

Abrams will produce a series based on the Justice League Dark, a supernatural team of heroes which include John Constantine, Zatanna, Deadman, Swamp Thing and other magical beings of the DC Universe.

There have been attempts for years to adapt JLD, with Guillermo Del Toro famously working on an eventually cancelled film way back in 2013.

No word as to whether this will connect with the movies, Arrowverse (The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman) or DC Universe service shows, like Titans or the presumptuously cancelled Swamp Thing.

Bad Robot will also create an original series called Duster, centred around a getaway driver and spinoff series related to The Shining story and set in the infamous Overlook Hotel.

SDCC Cancelled, No Postponement date

Finally, in an unsurprising yet still disappointing announcement, San Diego Comic Con 2020 has been cancelled, in what would’ve been its 50th anniversary.

There will be no postponement date, with the celebration of nerd/geek culture being cancelled for this year. I’ll give you 3 guesses as to why.

The Con has been a haven for nerds of all kinds to express themselves amongst other nerds and be treated to the recent trailers and big news announcements.