Jumanji 3 Evolves Karen Gillan's Character In A Kickass Way, Jack Black Teases

Jumanji 3 Evolves Karen Gillan's Character In A Kickass Way, Jack Black Teases

Jumanji 3, or the direct sequel to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle -- whatever you prefer to call it -- is now filming for its December 2019 release. The 2017 stars are back for the new as-yet-untitled movie. During a break from filming, and still in their characters' avatar outfits, Jack Black (Professor Sheldon Oberon) had co-star Karen Gillan (Ruby Roundhouse) on his Jablinski Games YouTube channel. Gillan played Crash Bandicoot while Black failed to get her to spill Avengers: Endgame spoilers. After she mentioned the game she was playing felt a little like Jumanji, Black offered some praise for Gillan's role in the new movie:

Also, I should say that Karen is kicking ass in the new Jumanji. Your character has evolved and now you've got more stuff and rad stuff to do this time. I can't say what, because that would be spoiler alerts.

Karen Gillan was flattered by the praise, and did some Britney Spears singing -- which you should watch in the video -- but she wasn't so flattered that she was willing to share Avengers: Endgame spoilers on what Nebula does next.

It's good to hear Karen Gillan's game avatar Ruby Roundhouse will have more to do in Jumanji 3. How does she evolve? Is there like a game upgrade that gives her more powers? Does she take over as leader of the group? It doesn't look like she gets a new outfit. Both Gillan and Jack Black were in the clothes we're used to seeing from their first movie. Kevin Hart also showed off a look from set showing his usual attire:

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has also been keeping fans updated on the Jumanji shoot, sharing set photos from the end of a week's filming:

We don't know the plot of Jumanji 3 at this point, but it's bringing back most of the cast from Welcome to the Jungle. That includes Nick Jonas, plus the actors who played the high school kids. This sequel has also added Awkwafina, Danny DeVito, Danny Glover, and Dania Ramirez (so far) in mystery roles.

This is considered the third Jumanji movie because it continues the thread started with the Robin Williams Jumanji movie in 1995. His character was referenced in Welcome to the Jungle. The third movie is meant to be more tied to the second movie than the original, but they are all part of the same universe.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle took on Star Wars: The Last Jedi in 2017 and made some major money in the process. So Jumanji 3 appears to be trying for the same trick -- it's currently scheduled to open December 19, just a few days before Star Wars: Episode IX. Here's what else is headed to theaters in busy 2019.

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Aladdin Hit A Box Office Milestone After Dethroning An X-Men Movie

Aladdin Hit A Box Office Milestone After Dethroning An X-Men Movie

Mister Aladdin, sir, your wish came true! After the full four-day results came in, the 2019 Aladdin movie was confirmed to have cracked the top 5 Memorial Day weekend box office openings.

From Friday through Memorial Day, Aladdin made $116,805,962. That put it well past the previous #5 on the list, X-Men: Days of Future Past, which had a four-day opening of $110,576,604 in 2014. That also put Aladdin just a hair behind Fast & Furious 6. However, it was nowhere near the top three names on the Memorial Day weekend box office board -- X-Men: The Last Stand, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and #1, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Here are all of their opening weekend details.

Disney must be sighing with relief over Aladdin, which has already made close to $300 million worldwide without even counting this weekend's grosses. The 2019 Dumbo remake had a slower start, but Aladdin hit big out of the gate. Granted, it's not #1 in its second weekend. That honor is going to Godzilla: King of the Monsters. But even with competition from other new films, Aladdin is still expected to take second place over the May 31-June 2 weekend. Box Office Mojo predicts Aladdin will make about $38 million at the domestic box office this weekend, putting it at #2 ahead of Rocketman, Ma, and the #1 titles of a few weeks ago, John Wick 3 and Avengers: Endgame.

The original animated Aladdin came out in 1992, when movie prices were a lot different. But even with cheaper tickets, that movie made $504,050,219 worldwide -- split almost equally between the domestic box office and the foreign markets. The new Aladdin still has a long way to go if it wants to even come close to that take.

But fans have really embraced the 2019 Aladdin, which was not a given, enjoying new songs like Jasmine's "Speechless":

When it comes to the top Memorial Day weekends, X-Men: Days of Future Past might've lost its spot in the top 5, but X-Men: The Last Stand is still at #3, and X-Men Apocalypse is down at #12. Thanks to that track record of success, X-Men movies tend to like to open over Memorial Day weekend. X-Men: Dark Phoenix is something of an exception this year, albeit just by a couple of weeks. That movie opens this coming Friday, June 7.

Moving forward from Aladdin, Disney still has some massive potential hits ahead in 2019, including The Lion King remake, which could break the 2017 Beauty and the Beast's record for a remake opening. Stay tuned, and keep up with all of the release dates with our handy 2019 guide.

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9 MCU Movies to Rewatch Before Avengers: Endgame

9 MCU Movies to Rewatch Before Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame is almost upon us, and it's highly likely that some fans are undergoing a rewatch of the MCU in preparation for what has been teased as the culmination of 11 years of storytelling. It's a momentous occasion, but marathoning 21 films can be a little daunting. Even watching just one a day takes some commitment. Thankfully, you don't really need to rewatch every single movie to get psyched and ready for Endgame.

If you aren't up for a 60 hour marathon, there's a much easier way to bone up on your MCU knowledge before watching Endgame later this month. There are only really nine films to watch to get up to speed. Nine is still a lot of movies, but these films are important to Endgame either because they introduce important characters, set up storylines and themes, or directly lead into Endgame. We don't know what will happen in Endgame, but these are the films to watch before this pop culture phenomenon.

Iron Man

What better place to start than at the very beginning? While Iron Man doesn't tease anything about Mad Titans, Infinity Stones, or any sort of cosmic adventures, the film is an incredibly important step. It's the foundation of the whole MCU and it introduces the franchise's flagship character, Tony Stark. Stark's journey throughout the MCU has been one of a man slowly learning to become a hero, and we'll likely see the completion of that arc in Endgame as he works with the Avengers to stop Thanos once and for all. Plus, Iron Man teases the scope and ambition of a cinematic universe in a post-credits scene with something called the Avengers Initiative.

The Avengers

After years of buildup and introducing each of the core members in their own films, Marvel's grand experiment finally paid off in The Avengers. The movie went on to break a ton of box office records and change the landscape of how studios create franchises. The film teams up Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, Black Widow, and Hawkeye for the first time as they combat an alien invasion. It's no coincidence that these six original members are all alive after Avengers: Infinity War, and they almost certainly have big roles to play in Endgame. However, The Avengers was also our introduction to Thanos and the overarching story that would guide the MCU for the next several years.

Guardians of the Galaxy

This was the film that truly proved Marvel could make almost any comic property a blockbuster sensation. Guardians of the Galaxy made household names out of D-list characters, in part thanks to the unique tone of director James Gunn and his catchy soundtracks. The movie is our first introduction to Rocket Raccoon and Nebula, two characters who are all over the marketing for Endgame. While the team dynamic is the core of the film, it does a lot of legwork for the MCU's future. The movie introduces Nebula and Gamora's complicated family history, explains the backstory of the Infinity Stones, and give the very first look at Josh Brolin as Thanos. The latter wasn't earthshaking, but Marvel had a couple more years to get it right.

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron didn't quite live up to the hype, but any Avengers movie is important enough to rewatch. The film is an important step for Tony Stark as his guilt and fear pushes him to create Ultron, who nearly makes humankind extinct. Thanks to some visions from Scarlet Witch, we get brief teases into the future, perhaps the most important of which is the Avengers lying dead while an alien army advances toward Earth. We also get a big info dump on the Infinity Stones and the coming threat of Thanos courtesy of Thor's hot tub visions. Additionally, Age of Ultron sets in motion events that would shatter the Avengers after the destruction of Sokovia.

Captain America: Civil War

The Russo Bros. themselves said that that this was one of the two most important movies to watch before Endgame and it's easy to see why. Captain America: Civil War would have long-lasting consequences for Marvel's superheroes as a feud between Tony Stark and Steve Rogers drives the Avengers apart. The disbandment of the Avengers is the crucial takeaway as it played a key factor in the heroes losing against Thanos. Endgame will almost certainly see Stark and Rogers finally settle their beef, making the moment that the Avengers unite once again all the sweeter. Civil War was also something of field test for how many characters could fit into one movie as it added Ant-Man to the ranks and introduced viewers to two important characters: Black Panther and Spider-Man.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

The big draw of the Ant-Man franchise is that it's a light, low-stakes comedy, so it might be surprising to learn that it's an essential piece to the Endgame puzzle. While nothing in the film's actually plot will likely be important in Endgame, the sequel does further showcase the Quantum Realm, which is heavily rumored to be vital in the upcoming blockbuster. In fact, Ant-Man and the Wasp might have set up the first real tease of time travel in the MCU, which also has a million Endgame rumors. Additionally, Scott Lang is left trapped in the Quantum Realm after the movie, setting up his involvement in Endgame and how he escaped the Decimation.

Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok is as stand alone as it gets. It takes place in the middle of space, far away from all that Earth drama, but it still ends up leading directly into Avengers: Infinity War. The comedic sequel finds Thor and the remaining Asgardians heading towards Earth, only to be confronted by the massive ship of Thanos. The immediate aftermath of that encounter kicks off Infinity War. Ragnarok is also crucial for both Thor and Bruce Banner, setting up their arcs for the next two movies. Thor loses his entire family and that grief and anger drives him, ultimately leading to his inability to kill Thanos. Meanwhile, this film was the beginning of Banner's three part character arc dealing with the Hulk that will conclude in Endgame.

Avengers: Infinity War

This is a no-brainer. Endgame is a direct sequel to Infinity War, so of course it needs to be on the rewatch list. Pretty much everything in this film is important to Endgame. Infinity War sets up the major conflict of Endgame, which is the Avengers coming together to defeat Thanos and somehow undo the damage he's done to the entire universe. The movie left Tony Stark and Nebula on an alien planet far from Earth, Thanos reveling in his victory, half of the cast annihilated in a fit of cosmic genocide, and the survivors grieving over their loss. Endgame can be considered Part II of the story that Infinity War began, and we'll finally learn how it all concludes later this month.

Captain Marvel

At the end of Infinity War, Nick Fury sent out a distress signal right before turning to dust. That signal went out to Captain Marvel, the MCU's newest hero. Marvel has been hyping up the appearance of Captain Marvel for years, and she finally made her debut in her stand alone film in March. The film showed the origins of the hero, how she met Fury, and why exactly he turned to her as his last resort. Captain Marvel is the most powerful hero in the MCU, and she might be the only character who can defeat Thanos. Her solo movie certainly makes that argument as she plows through space ships like tissue paper. Captain Marvel officially joins the anti-Thanos team in Endgame, and we'll learn how she stacks up against the Mad Titan.

It's tough to say exactly what films will end up being crucial to Endgame because we know so little about the movie. Maybe The Incredible Hulk will end up being the most important piece of the puzzle after all! But these nine films are the best guess based on what we do know and it just goes to show the work that Marvel put in over this past decade to get us all the way to this epic finale. There's still plenty of time to get that one last marathon done before April 26, so check out these nine films and have a walk down memory lane. If you're feeling brave and want to tackle more than just the list above, check out our Marvel Movies Timeline and watch all the films from beginning to Endgame.

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18 Popular Cult Classic Movies That Are Perfect For Movie Night

18 Popular Cult Classic Movies That Are Perfect For Movie Night

It’s movie night, the shades are drawn, the popcorn is ready and your feet are up, now all you have to decide is what to watch. You could check out the latest streaming movie or see what new releases are out, or you could be a bit more adventurous and check out a cult classic movie that you haven’t seen before or need to revisit.

Cult classics are named such because they have gained a dedicated and passionate following over the years. These are films that fans know by heart, and have stood the test of time. Their popularity and cult status gives some level of guarantee that they are worth your time. Fortunately, cinematic history is full of cult classics for you to discover and ones that fit every type of movie night, no matter the mood you’re in or who you are watching with.

So here are 18 popular cult classics that are perfect for movie night.

Date Night

Part of the fun of being in a relationship is sharing interests and discovering things together. That’s why going to the movies is such a staple of date night for new couples, and those who have been together a long time. Many of the cult classics on this list could work for date night, but if you want something with a bit of romance for you and your significant other, these titles might do the trick and add some chill to your movie night.

Romeo + Juliet

The ending might be a bit of a downer, but there’s a reason William Shakespeare’s tragic tale of star-crossed lovers has been around since the 16th century, it works. Yet despite the countless retellings, few are as unique and memorable as Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Romeo + Juliet eschews Shakespearean stuffiness in favor of a modern setting with a fun soundtrack, colorful aesthetic, guns instead of swords and plenty of humor. It oozes with a style made for the MTV generation, anchored by the magical chemistry of the two leads.

10 Things I Hate About You

Arriving in the glorious 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You is a loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, set in a modern American high school. The romantic dramedy stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cameron, a new student at who wants to date Bianca, played by Larisa Oleynik (Alex Mack!). The only catch is, according to her father’s rules, Bianca’s older sister, the ill-tempered Katarina has to date first, so Cameron enlists Heath Ledger’s rebellious Patrick to woo her. 10 Things is a classic high school movie filled with great characters that feel real and not like an adult’s version of what adolescence is like.

The Princess Bride

Romance, comedy, action and adventure, you get all of that in this 1987 fantasy film from director Rob Reiner and writer William Goldman, based on the latter’s novel. The film tells a love story in a renaissance world populated with delightful characters played by talented actors. The Princess Bride was unremarkable upon its release but found new life on VHS, and more recently it has provided great fodder for the internet thanks to its endlessly quotable lines. Even if you haven’t seen this movie, an inconceivable position, you’ve seen and heard a lot from it, even if you didn’t know it.

Scary Movie Night

Whether it’s Halloween time or not, anytime is a good time to gather friends and family together to shut out the lights and watch a scary movie. The horror genre is enjoying a renaissance on the big screen right now, but its illustrious past is full of popular cult films worth revisiting or discovering for the first time. Films that frighten, disturb and sometimes even make you laugh.

Army of Darkness

What started as a pure horror film with Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead eventually became a time-traveling horror/comedy with Army of Darkness, a film that cemented Bruce Campbell’s Ash as a true horror icon. The fantasy horror flick tells the story of Ash Williams, a man who is accidentally transported to the Middle Ages where he must battle an army of the dead called ‘Deadites’ and retrieve the Necronomicon to get back to his time. With the one-liner spouting Ash, Army of Darkness isn’t a particularly scary scary movie, but it is entertaining and funny as hell. It’s also the kind of movie that would have a hard time getting made today, so go enjoy this cult classic.

The Lost Boys

Joel Schumacher’s 1987 teen vampire movie did sexy vampires long before Twilight gave the creatures of the night sparkles. The Lost Boys is dark and violent, but also campy and fun. It is not only a cult classic, but The Lost Boys is also considered to be among the best modern vampire movies. The film follows two brothers who move to a new town and discover that it is a haven for a gang of young, brutal vampires. With a new TV series reboot recently green-lit, there’s no better time to check out the original cult classic.

Videodrome

If you are in the mood to have some gnarly nightmares, you couldn’t do much better than watching Videodrome on scary movie night. David Cronenberg’s 1983 science fiction body horror film is a surreal story about the sleazy CEO of a UHF TV station, played by James Woods, who discovers a signal broadcasting gruesome violence and torture. Videodrome was amazingly prescient about how the horror genre would develop, but also about many aspects of modern society, from reality TV to social media to virtual reality. For terrifying horror that messes with your head, Videodrome is a classic every film fan should check out.

Family Night

Not every cult classic is suitable for children (see above), so as beloved as Kevin Smith’s films are, sometimes you need something the whole family can enjoy. These movies may not be as widely watched as Disney and Pixar titles, but they are unique and charming and they are just as enjoyable for adults as they are for kids.

The Goonies

The Goonies is one of those cult classics that it feels like everyone has seen and loves, but that doesn’t make it any less essential or perfect for a movie night. Alongside films like E.T. and Stand By Me, The Goonies is a pillar of childhood adventure movies. The film from Richard Donner, Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus follows a group of kids who call themselves ‘the Goonies’ who are facing the foreclosure of their homes. They discover a treasure map and set out to save their homes and what follows is a grand adventure. Goonies never say die, and this film’s cult status continues to gain new converts year after year.

Matilda

This forgotten Roald Dahl adaptation from director Danny DeVito has a fanbase as loyal, if not as large as Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (there was even a viral #MatildaChallenge last year). Matilda is a genius bookworm who is ignored by her family like cupboard Harry Potter, but has telekinetic powers like the X-Men’s Jean Grey. The elementary schooler uses her powers to fight back against her ignorant parents and the downright sinister principal Trunchbull. Matilda gets dark at times, but it is also full of whimsy and honest emotion and teaches that being smart is a good thing. Netflix’s Roald Dahl event series will have a lot to live up to if it wants to compare.

The Last Unicorn

Based on the novel by Peter S. Beagle, The Last Unicorn is much darker and stranger than many animated kids movies. It can be disturbing and scary (it’s been called nightmare fuel) but it also tells an incredibly beautiful story. The deeply melancholy tale of a unicorn searching for the rest of her kind, chased off long ago by the Red Bull, deals with heavy themes for a kids movie. But the generation that grew up with it have turned it into a cult classic, so it must not have messed them up too much. It also features a stunning voice cast including Alan Arkin, Mia Farrow, Jeff Bridges, Christopher Lee and Angela Lansbury. It baffles me this hasn’t been remade in live-action yet.

Cult Comedy Night

There is no shortage of great cult comedies that have found second-lives on home video long after they disappeared from cinema screens. Movies like The Big Lebowski, Clerks and Monty Python and the Holy Grail all have loyal and deserved followings. They’re not the only cult classics that are infinitely quotable and completely hilarious. If you’re looking for laughs on movie night, you can’t go wrong with these titles.

Beerfest

The Broken Lizard gang may be best known for Super Troopers, which finally spawned a sequel last year, but that’s not their only cult film as the 2006 comedy Beerfest also has a devoted legion of ‘not that drunk’ followers. The film follows two brothers who, while visiting Germany, stumble upon an underground, international beer-drinking competition. They return home to put together an American team and hilarity ensues. It’s silly and raunchy in all the best ways, and if you went to a party in the years following its release, you’ve definitely seen it referenced. If you’re ever training for a drinking competition remember “maybe training alone on a rooftop drinking ram piss isn’t the way to go.”

Office Space

Mike Judge’s Office Space just celebrated its 20th anniversary last month. so there is no better time to revisit the hilarious and incisive satire of an office workplace that gave us the term ‘ass clown’. Pretty much anyone who has ever worked at a place can relate to the story of three office drones that decide to rebel against the dehumanizing software company they work at, as well as the desire to unleash your wrath on a perpetually jammed printer. This film’s cult status began on DVD and cable TV, but it has only grown thanks to its meme-worthiness. It is a true cult classic so if you could go ahead and watch Office Space that would be great.

Grandma’s Boy

A stoner comedy that is also a great movie about gaming, Grandma’s Boy remains one of the most memorable and rewatchable movies from Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions. The story of a 35-year-old video game tester who has to move in with his grandmother and her roommates and the personal and professional struggles he goes through is inclusive and sweet and completely hilarious, even if you’re sober. Sure, it’s lowbrow and I wouldn’t expect to see it on the AFI top 100, but if your desire is to have a movie night where you can just relax and laugh, you can’t go wrong with Grandma’s Boy.

Old Friends Night

We love Stranger Things because it has a nostalgic quality to it that reminds us of the power and importance of the friendships in our lives. Old Friends Movie Night is much the same idea, movies that have great friendships at their center we look back fondly upon. It helps if you grew up with these movies and shared them with friends, but even if you didn’t invite some friends over and give them a watch.

Dazed And Confused

You need a cult classic to watch on movie night? Alright, alright, alright. Richard Linklater’s 1993 comedy flopped at the box office, only to now be recognized as a classic coming of age film. Set on the last day of school in 1976, Dazed and Confused follows various groups of suburban teenagers as the summer begins and they do their best to get stoned, get laid, party and survive the challenges of adolescence. Dazed and Confused has an unbelievable ensemble cast of future stars including Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Joey Lauren Adams, Renée Zellweger, Jason London, Cole Houser and Parker Posey.

Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion

This 1997 comedy about two inseparable friends who hit the road together for their high school reunion and the strife that causes between them is not for everybody, but people who love it really love it. Romy and Michele is goofy and kind of weird at points, but it features a heartwarming and genuine female friendship between Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino’s characters. The comedy is super witty and the message of not giving “a flying fuck” what other people think is empowering and timeless. Plus it has that iconic dance sequence with Alan Cumming. Romy and Michele is a great movie to watch with friends old and new.

Empire Records

It’s fascinating how a movie that barely cracked a quarter million at the box office can go on to be so adored years later, by generations that lived through the era it depicts and those that didn’t. Empire Records is a cult classic in every sense of the word, a coming of age dramedy that tells the story of a group of friends and record store employees who over the course of a day, try to prevent their store from being swallowed up by a large, overly-sanitized chain. The teen misfits and their relationships still resonate in a film that could be called The Breakfast Club of the 90’s.

Action Night

Sometimes, or let’s be honest, lots of times, you just want to see things go ‘boom’ and people get punched. That’s where action movies come in. And if you want use movie night to try out a new surround sound system, there is no substitute for a great action movie. The following cult classics are the kind of movies that have more than earned their cult status, offering entertaining characters, fun action and clever stories.

The Fifth Element

George Lucas couldn’t make Flash Gordon so he made Star Wars. And Luc Besson couldn’t make Valerian (yet) so he made The Fifth Element. Both of those situations worked out pretty well I’d say. One of the hallmarks of a cult classic is that fans quote the film’s dialogue and if you’ve ever heard “Chicken… good,” “I am a meat Popsicle,” or “Mul-ti-pass” that’s The Fifth Element. Hilarious and action packed, with a kickass heroine and one of Bruce Willis’ best roles, this colorful sc-fi adventure is perfect for action night or really anytime it happens to be on TV.

The Warriors

“Warriors, come out to play-ay-ayy!” Walter Hill’s action-thriller is set in a near-future NYC that is overrun with gangs. When a gang leader named Cyrus bids to unite the gangs to take over the city, he is killed and the Warriors are blamed for it. They must outrun all of the city’s gangs and make it back home if they are to survive. The Warriors is incredibly stylish and a bit cheesy and is the definition of a cult classic film that was critically panned and later developed a massive following. The Warriors was supposed to be getting a Hulu series from the Russo Brothers, but we haven’t heard much on that in a while.

Starship Troopers

Paul Verhoeven, director of Robocop again used sci-fi action film to say something with his adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s book; it just took a while for people to catch on to what that was. On the surface,Starship Troopers is a typical sci-fi action movie, with a fun group of pretty heroes fighting an intergalactic war against a race of alien bugs. This meta film is considered to be a scathing indictment of fascism, colonialism and the military industrial complex, but if you just want to turn your brain off and have fun, it works on that level too and the action and special effects are great.

This is just a small sampling of the popular cult classics out there that are perfect for movie night or really any time. Give them a watch to see what all the fuss is about and let us know in the comments what your favorite cult classics are.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see all the biggest movies headed to theaters this year and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all your movie news.

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Mark Hamill Is Still Upset That Han, Luke, And Leia Never Reunited In The New Star Wars Trilogy

Mark Hamill Is Still Upset That Han, Luke, And Leia Never Reunited In The New Star Wars Trilogy

The past few years have been a very exciting for Star Wars fans. Once Disney acquired Lucasfilm, the galaxy far, far away began to expand at impressive rates. The House of Mouse has released one Star Wars movie every year, starting with The Force Awakens. The current trilogy has brought back the trio of original heroes alongside the new cast, but Mark Hamill has one issue in the way this all went down: Han, Luke, and Leia never reunited.

The sequel trilogy includes OG cast members, but it's largely focused on the new class of heroes in Rey, Finn, and Poe. Instead, Han, Luke, and Leia were each scheduled to get their own big movie, which prevented them from actually sharing scenes together. When speaking about Han's death in The Force Awakens, Mark Hamill made his opinions known, saying:

I just thought, Luke’s never going to see his best friend again. You look at it in a self-centered way. I said that it was a big mistake that those three people would never reunite in any way. I guess I was wrong, because nobody seems to care! I have to stipulate that I care, but it didn’t really seem to affect the larger audience. Luke, Han and Leia will never be together again, and I’ll probably never get to work with Harrison again.

I'm not crying, you're crying. While the Star Wars franchise is taking big risks and churning out a ton of content, Mark Hamill doesn't approve of every change. When it comes to keeping the trio of heroes separate, that's one choice he couldn't vibe with.

Mark Hamill's comments to Den Of Geek make a great deal of sense, especially when it came to the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. Han was a major presence in The Force Awakens, while Luke was noticeably absent until the blockbuster's final moments. Leia was able to share scenes with both her partner and brother, but Han and Luke weren't so lucky. And as such, Mark Hamill didn't get to work with Harrison Ford again in the franchise that launched their careers into space.

In fact, Luke's friendship with Han was totally lacking from The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. The audience didn't get to watch Luke grieve over Han's death, while Han never expressed how much he missed his best friend. So you can't help but empathize with Mark Hamill's feelings. After all, he's both the main hero and biggest cheerleader of the epic space opera.

But Disney has been pushing boundaries and expanding the Star Wars franchise in brave ways. Rian Johnson's The Last Jedi was extremely subversive and went against all the expectations of the sequel. It should be fascinating to see how the Skywalker Saga and current trilogy are wrapped up with J.J. Abrams' mysterious Episode IX.

Episode IX will arrive in theaters on December 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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How Much Did Robert Downey Jr., Chris Pratt, Scarlett Johansson And The Other Cast Members Make From Avengers: Endgame

How Much Did Robert Downey Jr., Chris Pratt, Scarlett Johansson And The Other Cast Members Make From Avengers: Endgame

There is a very good chance that you've seen Avengers: Endgame by now. The mega-blockbuster is smashing box office records left and right, and it's well on its way to becoming the highest grossing movie of all-time —domestically and globally — even though it has been in theaters for only a little over two weeks now. It is the cumulation of 22 movies-and-counting inside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Phase Three will continue in earnest with July's Spider-Man: Far From Home. In short, the Marvel brand is a money-making machine, and Endgame's payday won't slow down soon.

Now the dust is starting to settle (no unfortunate pun intended, Thanos), and the movie is currently playing in thousands of theaters all around the world, it's time to reflect on the series as a whole and evaluate the star power of some of the franchise's most distinctive actors and actresses, including the likes of Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson and Chris Pratt. The whole Avengers series is winding down, at least as far as we know it, and the folks who have seen the film can attest the franchise wouldn't be the same now that the credits have rolled on Avengers: Endgame. Nevertheless, with this humungous movie making all kinds of cash at the box office, let's take a look at the paydays for some of its primary performers, and how they were wrestled the amount of money they made through their work.

Also, it should be noted that we were very cautious to not dive our toes into serious spoiler territory. However, if you haven't seen the film yet and you are fearful for anything being revealed in this article (especially with the Russo brothers declaring that the ban on spoilers has been lifted), you should know that there might be a few minor spoilers to be found in this article. So, check out the film already, and learn more about the business side below.

How Much Did Robert Downey Jr. Make For Playing Iron Man?

Having started the whole enterprise with 2008's Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has been at the root of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the very beginning -- the very first scene of the franchise, in fact. And with his star-renewing role in that acclaimed film, Downey Jr. found himself with a second career in the superhero franchise, leading to nine film appearances in total throughout the past 11 years. (Ten, in fact, if you count his brief cameo in 2008's The Incredible Hulk.) In many respects, Robert Downey Jr. became the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And with his final cinematic appearance in the MCU, Robert Downey Jr. made sure that he received a whole lot of moolah for his work in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

According to estimations from THR, Robert Downey Jr. is believed to have made somewhere in the ballpark of $75 million for his final appearance as Tony Stark. That appears to be counting backends and specifically-worded phrasing in his contracts, but it's clear the A-list actor took full advantage of his clout and notoriety in this extensive franchise when it came time to say goodbye to his most famous role. It's only fitting that Robert Downey Jr. would make a hell of a lot of money for playing billionaire Tony Stark in this franchise-spanning character, particularly given the early risk with the role. He signed onto Iron Man without knowing what would become of the project. The whole thing was a crapshoot when he first agreed to play the part, and it was only when that first movie exploded that he had lawyers renew his contracts and make the whole thing more beneficial for his bank account. The Marvel Cinematic Universe wouldn't be the same without him, and he drained out every penny he could make from this series when it came time for his triumphant end.

How Much Did Chris Pratt Make For Playing Star Lord?

Once merely known as "The Guy From Parks and Recreation," Chris Pratt became a bonafide movie star when he first appeared in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy. Easily among the most profitable installments in the extended franchise, and a more sizable box office hit than most people anticipated, there was no denying that Chris Pratt was now in the big leagues thanks to his endearing performance as Star-Lord. And when it came to his work in Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, you can bet that the funny man was laughing all the way to the bank with his paycheck.

While his exact budget for the movie is a bit murky, it's believed that Chris Pratt probably made upwards of eight figures for his work in the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe team-up films. Though some reports claim that it might've been closer to $5 million. The actor reportedly made $1.5 million for his work on Guardians of the Galaxy, and while he is certainly a big movie star, his appearance in Avengers: Endgame was definitely minor. Most of his screen time was found in Avengers: Infinity War. While he definitely had a few scenes, it wasn't necessarily his movie in many respects. Nevertheless, Chris Pratt will return to the MCU with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which should begin production in the next couple years and should theoretically be the actor's most lucrative MCU project to date.

How Much Did Scarlett Johansson Make For Playing Black Widow?

Since her first appearance in Iron Man 2, Scarlett Johansson has continued to boost her star power by appearing as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actress is a bonafide superstar in her own right, but she never quite rose through the ranks as much as some of her fellow co-stars. She doesn't have her own solo movie (yet!), and most of her work in the franchise is found in other actor's films, including Captain America: The Winter Solider. With that noted, while her salary for the Marvel movie isn't known exactly, it's believed that she earned less than her co-stars for her work in Avengers: Endgame.

While Scarlett Johansson's salary isn't quite as high as some people would hope it would be, it appears the actress will make up for the shortage with her own movie, Black Widow, which is expected to hit production within the next year or two. According to early reports from THR, Johansson is expected to make $20 million on the solo feature, which is equal to what Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans earned for their respective appearances in last year's Avengers: Infinity War. So, even though she didn't make as much as her co-stars in Endgame, she'll definitely be getting a big payout soon.

How Much Did Chris Evans Make For Playing Captain America?

Essentially the leader of The Avengers, Captain America has a lot of responsibilities inside the core superhero group. While he didn't have a lot of screen time in Avengers: Infinity War (to the disappointment of beard-lovers everywhere), Captain America played a significant role in this new film. It was his last curtain call in the part, and the final time we are expected to see the actor play the patriotic day-saver — at least, in any major respect.

Sure enough, as arguably the lead of Endgame, the actor was expected to make a lot of money for his work in the latest two Avengers-based films. It was reported that Chris Evans' contract allowed the actor to make upwards of $15-20 million for his appearances in his final two Avengers movies. That's a great deal of cash, but it was probably to be expected. Similar to Robert Downey Jr, it was Cap's last hurrah, and it was expected even before the release of Avengers: Endgame that it would be the very last time we'd see Captain America in the iteration we've come to know and love. The role has grown to be the actor's most famous to date, and while he wasn't able to wrangle as much cash in his contract as Downey Jr., he certainly made a hefty amount of money.

How Much Did Chris Hemsworth Make For Playing Thor?

Among the first actors to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chris Hemsworth first played the part of Thor in the 2011 film of the same name. And since then, he has become a staple of the Avengers series. While there were a few rough spots (notably, 2013's Thor: The Dark World), the actor found himself on top in the end with his well-received work in Thor: Ragnarok and The Avengers films — including, most notably, Avengers: Endgame, in which he plays a very memorable part of the proceedings.

Sure enough, Chris Hemsworth is one of the highest-paid actors in Avengers: Endgame. It's believed that he made roughly the same amount of money as Chris Evans, in fact. His salary is believed to be between $13-15 million, and that's pretty impressive considering how his time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is hopefully going to continue following the events of Endgame. Nevertheless, he's a core member of the MCU, and that commitment to the franchise earned the actor a healthy payday at the end of the day.

How Much Did Bradley Cooper Make For Playing Rocket?

While Bradley Cooper has proven himself in many different respects outside of his work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it can be easy to forget that he plays such a crucial role in the expansive universe. In fact, he's so good at embodying the character of Rocket there is a good chance some people don't even know it's his voice! While some folks were weary about his participation in Guardians of the Galaxy when it was first announced that Bradley Cooper was taking on the role, it didn't take long before people grew endeared to the character, and it's safe to say that in many respects, he's the film's beating heart.

In Avengers: Endgame, Rocket Raccoon plays a much more significant part than his fellow Guardians of the Galaxy. Still, despite Bradley Cooper's popularity and the character's primary position in the new film, his salary appears to be less than you would expect for such a high-grade actor, which may have to do with the fact his work is via voice work only and not live action. In any case, Bradley Cooper continues to impress in the role, as he does in many respects throughout his career, and he is a very welcomed and memorable addition to the Avengers team.

How Much Did Tom Holland Make For Playing Spider-Man?

The friendly neighborhood Spider-Man can often seem like the most humble of the group. He is a fresh-faced newcomer who is still left in awe of his fellow world-saving Avengers whenever he makes contact with them, and his plucky spirit and good morality make him a fun, enjoyable and surprisingly fresh screen presence, considering that Tom Holland is now the third actor to play the role in a significant fashion these past 20 years.

When it comes to his earnings for these new Avengers movies, Tom Holland is believed to have made a reported $3 million for his work in Infinity War, and he is expected to make around the same amount of money for his work in Endgame. The actor is certainly on the up-and-up. He made a good impression on folks in Captain America: Civil War, and his first leading role in Spider-Man: Homecoming was a comfortably free and fun-loving performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With this summer's Spider-Man: Far From Home serving as the official wrap-up for Phase Three, the actor will likely only continue to rise in status in the MCU. And we should expect him to make more money in the future, especially if he's expected to replace Iron Man in a few respects later on down the road.

There was little doubt that Avengers: Endgame would be a monster success at the box office. And with a lot of money spent in this expansive finale-of-sorts, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that many of the primary actors involved wanted to get their fair share of the pie. While it's safe to say that some actors were compensated way more than others, at the end of the day, they are all making a ton of money — either now or at a later date.

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How The Avengers Team Wants Fans To View Marvel Films 30 Years From Now

How The Avengers Team Wants Fans To View Marvel Films 30 Years From Now

On the eve of the release of Avengers: Endgame, there has been a lot of looking back at the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over the last 11 years and 22 movies Marvel Studios has done something nobody has ever done before, bringing the cross-title continuity of comic books onto the silver screen. In addition to simply succeeding in that effort, the movies have been incredibly successful. But how will history judge this incredible accomplishment? The original six Avengers and Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige were recently asked that question and they had a lot of feelings on the topic. Jeremy Renner, for one, wonders how the MCU's success could potentially change the industry decades down the road...

I wonder what the ripple effect of it will be in 30 years. 'Look what Feige’s done!' How do you do a series of films? Twenty-two films! How do you do that?

It's very likely that we will see a ripple effect down the line, considering that we largely already have. Following the beginning of the MCU, we saw Warner Bros. and DC follow suit with their own collection of comic book heroes. We've also seen a cinematic universe spring up around Godzilla and King Kong and an attempt at launching one around Universal's classic movie monsters, who arguably invented the concept back in the 1940s.

While other cinematic universes have met with varying degrees of success, and none have been as successful as Marvel, it seems unlikely that nobody else will ever try to launch one again. The opportunity for gain is simply too great. The cinematic universe gives the impression that otherwise unconnected stories need to be seen by fans who don't want to miss any elements of the larger storyline. This means that even when two and three films a year are released, fans are off to see them in the theaters, even if they don't necessarily focus on characters that fans care about.

Of course, just because other studios will almost certainly continue to try to emulate the success of the MCU, doesn't mean they will be successful. Chris Evans tells EW that what Kevin Feige and Marvel have done is something that nobody will be able to do again.

I’m always amazed with the ability that Kevin has had to house this giant tapestry of all these woven plotlines. I just don’t think it’s ever going to happen again. I don’t think anyone has the ability to launch all these different rockets, and then years down the road have them all explode at once. It’s just the planning and the care and the subtlety to it.

That's really the question. Can something like this happen again? Can even Marvel Studios do it again? While Marvel movies will continue after Avengers: Endgame, we have no idea what they will look like. Endgame is designed to be and endpoint of sorts. How much of the story will continue, how much the focus will shift to other characters or stories we still don't know. The MCU won't be starting at zero but it may very well be starting fresh, meaning even Marvel may have difficulty emulating its own success.

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Horror Legend John Carpenter Is Ready To Step Back Into The Director’s Chair

Horror Legend John Carpenter Is Ready To Step Back Into The Director’s Chair

Though it’s been almost a decade since John Carpenter has directed a feature film, with 2010's The Woods holding that distinction, the prospect of returning to the chair has always been on his mind. And while he’s certainly produced and guided some projects here and there, he hasn’t landed into a directing gig that’s given him the chance just yet.

However, when talking to the press during his attendance at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, one of the horror genre’s masters said some things that sound like that could change at any moment. Specifically, John Carpenter had the following remarks to make:

I don’t have one scheduled but I’m working on things. I made a lot of movies and I got burned out and I had to stop for a while. I have to have a life. Circumstance would have to be correct for me to do it again. I’d love to make a little horror film… that would be great. Or a big adventure film. It would be a project that I like that’s budgeted correctly. Nowadays they make these young directors do movies for $2 million when the movie is written for $10 million. So you have to squeeze it all in there and I don’t want to do that anymore.

So while John Carpenter isn’t signed up for any specific project just yet, it looks like he has some irons in the fire that could poke out a monster or two, if need be. Though should he return to the directing game, it sounds like it’s all or nothing for the man who brought us such visionary hits as Halloween, The Thing and They Live.

Without a question, John Carpenter isn’t interested in revisiting his old stuff, so a remake job is out of the question. And looking at his comments about budgeting above, he’s going to need a figure that properly reflects how he sees the movie on the page coming to life. Meaning, as he mentioned above in his discussion with Collider, if it’s a $10 million movie, he’s going to need that full $10 million to make it.

In his downtime from feature directing, Carpenter hasn’t been a slouch. With a strong video game habit and a thriving musical career, the famed horror legend has been putting his art into the universe through other methods. And the world of film has been one of them, albeit in the way of a music video he filmed for his theme to Christine, which he dropped back in 2017. You can watch, and listen, to that particularly awesome track unfold below:

Considering his input on last year’s Halloween sequel led that film to a $254 million take internationally, on a $10 million production budget for director David Gordon Green, it’s fair to say that the John Carpenter touch is far from gone. His sabbatical has done him well, and under the right conditions, you could have a Carpenter-directed film yourself in the near future. So get to it, Hollywood!

Halloween (2018) is currently available on most streaming platforms for rent, with most of the original canon, including Carpenter’s classic original film, being available on Shudder.

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Green Book Just Passed An Impressive Box Office Milestone

Green Book Just Passed An Impressive Box Office Milestone

The Best Picture winner at this year’s Academy Awards Ceremony Green Book came out all the way back in the middle of November, but it is still playing in theaters nearly four months later. Not only that, but Green Book is enjoying a resurgence at the box office, riding a wave from its Oscar wins. Now, Green Book has another accolade to add to its list of accomplishments, passing the $200 million milestone.

The dramedy from director Peter Farrelly has crossed $200 million at the worldwide box office, and through Wednesday sits at $204.2 million according to The Hollywood Reporter. That breaks down to $77.3 million domestic and a sizable international haul of $126.9 million. That’s a heck of an accomplishment for a film that debuted in wide release in ninth place in North America and never cracked the top 3 at the box office domestically.

Green Book’s rise in success is due to two factors: a great debut in China as well as strong holds in other overseas markets and renewed interest in North America. The film opened in China on March 1 beating expectations to the tune of $17.1 and going on to $25 million by Wednesday. It now stands as the most successful Best Picture winner in China behind only Titanic.

How much is the title of Best Picture worth to a movie’s bottom line? It turns out it can be quite a lot actually, at least as far as Green Book is concerned. Over this past weekend, the first weekend since February’s Oscar ceremony and Green Book’s 16th in release, the film earned $4.7 million in North America, a number that was good enough for the 5 spot at the box office.

The Oscar bump is real and that weekend haul was over a 100% increase from the previous week. That was in part due to the renewed interest in the film, which saw it expand its theater count by 1,388 according to Box Office Mojo to 2,641.

For comparison, last year’s Best Picture winner The Shape of Water, only earned $2.3 million the weekend after the Oscars. To find a film that performed better than Green Book in the post-Oscars frame you’d have to go back to 2011 when The King’s Speech made $6.2 million following the Academy Awards.

It is an impressive run for a movie that only cost $23 million to make, and was dogged by controversy its entire awards season run. It does make you wonder if the backlash to Green Book’s Best Picture win actually did it a favor at the box office. Best Picture winners naturally receive a bump as audiences want to see the movie that earned the golden statue, but the backlash may have also made some others curious and feel like they had to see what all the fuss was about.

Whatever the case, Green Book has proven to be a worldwide hit that has had serious legs at the box office and caught its second wind after its big Best Picture win.

Green Book is now playing. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see the movies that will be vying for their own statues at next year’s awards.

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Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Sequel The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Is Finally In Production

Samuel L. Jackson Confirms Sequel The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard Is Finally In Production

We’re only two films in to Samuel L. Jackson’s especially stacked 2019 and the prolific actor is already hard at work making sure he’ll be lighting up the silver screen for years to come. In 2020, the actor will star in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, the sequel to the 2017 action-comedy The Hitman’s Bodyguard, which starred Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds. Now, the busy actor has confirmed The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is finally in production. Take a look:

This image confirms The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is now in production and shooting in Croatia, the European country where Game of Thrones spent so much time and that also served as Canto Bight in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It may technically be work, but as you can see from Samuel L. Jackson’s Instagram photos, the picturesque country on the Adriatic Sea is lovely and definitely not a bad place to be filming a fun action movie.

Croatia won’t be the only place The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard shoots though. The sequel will also be filming in London and Italy, giving the action sequel even more international, European flavor after the first film shot in London, The Netherlands and Bulgaria. Ryan Reynolds’ Michael Bryce and Samuel L. Jackson’s Darius Kincaid won’t just be sightseeing or going on a vacation in Europe, they’ll actually be trying to save it.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will find Michael Bryce attempting to live a peaceful life after the events in the last film where notorious hitman Darius Kincaid and his wife, Salma Hayek’s Sonia, drag him in to their mission to cause chaos on Italy’s Amalfi Coast that is somehow meant to help save Europe. Needless to say, Ryan Reynolds’ character will once again find himself with a difficult job and even more difficult clients.

The first Hitman’s Bodyguard earned $176.6 million worldwide back in 2017, sitting atop the domestic box office for three straight weeks from August to early September. On a modest $30 million budget, that made it a big enough of a hit to warrant a sequel, a sequel that looks to be upping the ante by putting together an impressive cast.

In addition to the delightful returning cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Richard E. Grant, The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard will also star Antonio Banderas, Frank Grillo and, in his first ever film with Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman. The sequel also recently added Tom Hopper, who you may know from Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy, Starz’ Black Sails or as the riotously named Dickon Tarly in Game of Thrones.

The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is expected to arrive in theaters in 2020. There’s plenty to see before then though and you can check it all out in our 2019 release schedule. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for all the latest movie news.

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Suicide Squad 2 Has Added An Ant-Man Star

Suicide Squad 2 Has Added An Ant-Man Star

Although Suicide Squad 2, alternatively known as The Suicide Squad, will see a few familiar faces returning from 2016’s Suicide Squad, most of the cast will be filled with brand-new characters. The latest of this new bunch has been announced, as Ant-Man actor David Dastmalchian has boarded the cast of the James Gunn-written and directed DC Extended Universe movie.

So who will David Dastmalchian be playing in Suicide Squad 2? He’ll be bringing to life the minor Batman villain known as Polka-Dot Man, who debuted in 1962’s Detective Comics #300 and was originally known as Mister Polka-Dot. Like many of the criminals in Gotham City, he adopted a gimmick for committing crimes, with the spots on his costume capable of turning into strange weapons and vehicles.

Outside of the comics, Polka-Dot Man appeared in Batman: The Brave and the Bold and The Lego Batman Movie, and he’s also a playable character in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham and Lego DC Super-Villains. Needless to say that Suicide Squad 2 will mark his biggest media appearance yet, and THR’s report says that David Dastmalchian’s version of the character will apparently “lean into his embarrassment of his ‘lame’ abilities.”

This marks just the latest comic book project that David Dastmalchian is adding to his resume. Along with portraying Kurt in both Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp, he also kicked off his film career playing Thomas Schiff in The Dark Knight. On TV, he played Dwight Pollard in two episodes of Gotham and Abra Kadabra in an episode of The Flash.

Outside the comic book realm, David Dastmalchian’s notable credits include The Belko Experiment, Bird Box, MacGyver and Twin Peaks. He’s also become a recurring collaborator with Denis Villeneuve, having worked with the director on Prisoners and Blade Runner 2049. They are reuniting for the upcoming Dune reboot, where Dastmalchian will play Piter De Vries.

David Dastmalchian is the second new actor to be joining Suicide Squad 2, following behind Idris Elba, who was originally lined up to take over Deadshot duties from Will Smith, but will now instead play a new character. John Cena is also reportedly being eyed to play Peacemaker, but there’s been no word yet on if he’s actually finalized a deal.

While Suicide Squad 2 won’t be a total reboot of the property, it has been repeatedly said that it will serve as more of a relaunch than a direct sequel to the previous Suicide Squad movie, Beyond that, no plot details have been revealed yet, but in addition to the previously mentioned people, Suicide Squad 2 is also bringing back Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jai Courtney as Captain Boomerang and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller.

Suicide Squad 2 is set to begin filming this September and will charge into theaters on August 5, 2021, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates. In the meantime, you can find out what other DC movies are in the works with our handy guide.

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Bird Box Is Getting A Sequel, But Not On Netflix

Bird Box Is Getting A Sequel, But Not On Netflix

Lots of movies have debuted on Netflix in the past several years, but not many inspired the kind of response that Bird Box did when it hit the streaming service right before Christmas last year. In just a few days, the post-apocalyptic film managed to set a massive viewing record for Netflix, with fans of the movie creating hundreds of memes dedicated to the film...which then led many others to watch the movie just to see what all the fuss was about. Of course, lots of people even took to blindfolding themselves to take on the so called "Bird Box challenge," with Netflix and public officials having to issue a statement that people, you know, just not do that, especially while driving.

With all the attention the movie, which stars Sandra Bullock as a woman trying to survive with her children in a world where people see their worst fears and then die, got, many people are wondering when we might get a follow up to the terrifying adventure. Fortunately, the answer is October 1, but, instead of coming by way of another Netflix movie, this new tale will be a sequel novel from Josh Malerman, who wrote the book of the same title that Bird Box was based on.

Josh Malerman's follow up to Bird Box is titled Malorie, and will, as indicated by the title, continue the story of Sandra Bullock's fierce, determined character as she continues to fight for survival. So, why did Malerman, who began working on Bird Box in 2006 and published his novel in 2014, decide to write a sequel? Here's what he had to say:

In the time between Bird Box coming out and the time since I’ve been writing Malorie, I’ve been asked a ton of times: people want to know what happened with Boy and Girl. But as much as I care about Boy and Girl, this isn’t their story. The Bird Box world is Malorie’s story, and I wanted to know more about her. I wanted to get to know her even better. At the end of the movie, I turned to my girl Allison and said, 'I want to know what happens next!' and she’s like, 'Well, you know, you could make that happen,' so it really was this warm feeling.

In his interview with Esquire, Josh Malerman revealed that some of his "warm feeling" has led to a story that will tell fans a lot more about Malorie and the creatures who have helped to decimate the population. The sequel will also pick up in a similar location to where the first story ended, with Malorie, her kids and a group of survivors "trying to make things work," but Malerman promises that the new story won't open "with them in paradise" so you can bet that there will be lots of challenges still ahead for Malorie and everyone she comes into contact with along the way.

Unfortunately, Malerman didn't have anything to say about plans for Netflix to adapt this new tale for streaming, but considering how wild people went for Bird Box, it's probably a pretty safe bet that those at the service will at least be paying attention to the reception that Malorie gets once it's released on October 1.

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Oscar Isaac Says Star Wars: Episode IX Will Blow Fans Away

Oscar Isaac Says Star Wars: Episode IX Will Blow Fans Away

The absence of news, a trailer or even a title, combined with the current focus on this year’s superhero films, means that we are in a bit of a lull as far as Star Wars: Episode IX hype is concerned. Fear not, though, because J.J. Abrams’ film is coming and the hype training is coming along with it. To get that train rolling, Poe Dameron actor Oscar Isaac has spoken about the production and what fans can expect. He said:

It was the most fun it's been. There was just an energy and a looseness and excitement to the whole production. And knowing that this was the conclusion of not only our time there but the nine stories, these nine episodes of the Skywalker Saga, it's incredible. And I think people are gonna be just blown away.

Wow, way to keep the expectations manageable, Oscar. You would naturally expect an actor to speak well of a project that they are involved with, but there is a difference between saying "I think fans are really going to like it" and saying that people are going to be "blown away." That’s a much stronger pitch and definitely adds to the hype and the hope that Star War: Episode IX will deliver in spectacular fashion.

There are obviously huge expectations that Star Wars: Episode IX is able to do that because, as Oscar Isaac told the Associated Press, this is the conclusion of the Skywalker Saga and a nine-film journey that began in 1977. This Saga needs to go out on top and with a bang, and if it blows us away as Oscar Isaac has predicted, it will do just that.

Oscar Isaac’s sentiments also tie in well with director J.J. Abrams’ recent comments that the one thing he wants fans to walk away from Episode IX feeling is "satisfied." So everyone is saying all the right things right now to get us excited about this anticipated and incredibly important movie.

Despite all the weighty significance Star Wars: Episode IX holds as the final chapter of the Skywalker Saga, it doesn’t sound like that added pressure created a stressful environment on set. You might think that given the recent chinks in Star Wars’ armor, like the divisiveness of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and the financial disappointment of Solo: A Star Wars Story, that on top of everything else there would be some anxiety about getting this film right.

Instead it sounds like the production of Star Wars: Episode IX was more like senior year, with everyone enjoying themselves and having the best time they have had on any of the sequel trilogy movies, knowing this was their last hurrah together. That ideally means that everything was just clicking and the production was firing on all cylinders. When everything is working, there’s less to worry about and you can have some fun.

Star Wars: Episode IX is set to (hopefully) blow us all away on December 20. Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all the movies you can look forward to before year’s end, and for the latest movie news, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

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