The Mustang's Jason Mitchell Overcame A Very Real Phobia By Making The Film

The Mustang's Jason Mitchell Overcame A Very Real Phobia By Making The Film

There are surely many attractive things about being a professional actor, but high on the list must be the ability to have a wide variety of experiences, and acquire assorted skills. A good example of this is the role that Jason Mitchell plays in the new drama The Mustang, where he portrays an expert horse trainer – a part that required learning new abilities so that his turn would seem authentic. In this he is very successful, as you entirely believe in his character’s proficiency, but what adds a whole extra layer to the situation is the fact that Mitchell went into the production with a deep-rotted case of Equinophobia: a fear of horses.

You’d think that being afraid of a film’s titular animal would drive an actor away from a potential project, but with Jason Mitchell and The Mustang it was a case of the opposite being true. When I sat down with the actor earlier this week during the new movie’s Los Angeles press day, he explained that he actually saw his very real hesitance as a motivator to be a part of the production – hoping to both grow as a performer and a person. Said Mitchell,

When I looked at this script, of course, there's the obvious: the horses, right? I was super terrified of horses. I had a bad experience as a kid, and I was like, 'You know, maybe this will not only move the needle for me as an actor, but move the needle for me as a man.’ Like in my own life. I can get some skills that I can take home and they can't take back!

Going further, he explained that stepping away from himself to such a great degree is an important aspect of his career choices – feeling that the extra challenge pushes him to work harder. Of course, as Jason Mitchell noted, it very much helps to be surrounded by supportive co-stars and a good animal partner:

This is somebody who I'm really not, you know what I mean? A great horse trainer? Completely terrified of horses. The scale is crazy. So it was good. I had a bunch of great co-stars and I had a great horse who was a great co-star - shout out to Soldier. He was good.

Directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, The Mustang tells the story of Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a violent, anger-filled convict who enters a rehabilitation therapy program training wild mustangs. Though there is some skepticism from Myles (Bruce Dern), who runs the program, Henry (Jason Mitchell), a fellow prisoner and veteran of the program, tries to take Roman under his wing and calm his rage.

It’s a charismatic and authentic turn from Jason Mitchell, and the work he put into the production very much shines on the screen. Knowing that he was starting from behind on the movie given his fears, he told me that he did his best to work harder than anyone else on the film, and really committed even when the cameras weren’t rolling.

I had to go that extra mile because I was actually working when I found out about this project. I didn't have very much time to learn about horses or to really break that fear. So I just had to kind of grab it by the balls and just go. But I went the extra mile every day. I was that guy who was actually cleaning the horse stables, and actually holding conversation with my horse, and just really learning how to ride, and try to go that extra mile. Because I was like, 'I want this to feel real!' I don't want them to have to pull up my stunt double every time. And I think I got pretty far. Both Matthias [Schoenaerts] and I were like, you know, the first day he was like, 'Okay, this is not for me.' But then as you get into it you really gain a bond.

You can watch my full interview with Jason Mitchell by clicking play on the video below – which also includes further discussion about more skills he’d love to acquire in the future, and new mountains he’d like to climb with his project choices:

Also starring Gideon Adlon, Josh Stewart, and Connie Britton, The Mustang premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, and will be getting a limited release in theaters this Friday, March 15th.

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Captain Marvel Just Crossed Another Box Office Milestone

Captain Marvel Just Crossed Another Box Office Milestone

When Captain Marvel hit theaters, it was far from a shock that the movie made money. That's pretty standard for Marvel Studios at this point. However, exactly how much money it was going to make, nobody could be quite sure. Nearly two months later, the answer is, quite a lot.

In its seventh weekend of release Captain Marvel hit another major box office milestone by breaking the $400 million mark in domestic box office totals. When combined with the nearly $700 million the movie has made overseas, that brings its global number to just short of $1.1 billion.

Captain Marvel actually made more money this past weekend than it did the weekend previous, even though it was on 300 fewer screens, coming in at over $9 million. It also jumped up to being the fourth highest grossing movie of the weekend. It's never been lower than the sixth spot since it opened.

Basically, Marvel has owned the box office for the last two months, and that's not going to stop with Avengers: Endgame set to debut this Friday.

Considering how strongly Captain Marvel is still performing, it will be interesting to see how the movie performs next weekend. Many of those who have been going to see Captain Marvel may be doing so to make sure they're caught up on the MCU before Endgame hits. Once it does, all attention will probably shift there.

It makes one wonder if Marvel Studios is currently wishing it had released Captain Marvel earlier in the year so that it could have made even more money before Endgame came out. The movie is only $12 million short of overtaking Wonder Woman at the domestic box office. It might have had an easier time doing that without another Marvel movie to compete against.

While Captain Marvel hasn't done nearly as well as Black Panther did domestically last year, the newer film has a slight edge over Panther internationally. Either way, both movies have been tremendous hits. Captain Marvel is the highest grossing movie of the year both domestically and internationally by a wide margin. While that will almost certainly change over the next couple of weeks, Marvel will be more than happy to see its current number one replaced by its new number one.

The fact that Captain Marvel not only started strong but has had legs that have kept it going for the last two months is great news for Marvel. While we still have no idea what's in store for us in the next phase of the MCU, the expectation is that Captain Marvel as a character will be a big part of the future, the fact that the movie has done so well is an indication that the audience is on board with that idea.

And since Captain Marvel as a character will still be a part of Avengers: Endgame, the character will be at the center of the two highest grossing movies of the year very soon.

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Avengers: Endgame Has A Deep-Cut Iron Man 3 Reference That's Surprising Fans

Avengers: Endgame Has A Deep-Cut Iron Man 3 Reference That's Surprising Fans

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for Avengers: Endgame are ahead!

Tony Stark has been one of the most important characters in the go since it launched, but let’s not forget that it’s been six years since his solo film series wrapped up. Iron Man 3 marked the last time Tony embarked on a standalone journey on screen, and while that movie wasn’t nearly as important as other past MCU entries in the now-released Avengers: Endgame, the Phase 3 capper did reference Iron Man’s last solo outing through one of the characters it introduced: Harley Keener.

As some Marvel fans guessed in the lead-up to Avengers: Endgame, the movie saw Tony Stark being killed, as he was mortally wounded when harnessing the power of the Infinity Stones to turn Thanos and his forces to dust. Tony’s funeral was held soon after, and Ty Simpkins’ Harley Keener was one of the people in attendance.

Unlike most of the other familiar faces in that crowd, Harley Keener only had the one Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance under his belt. That, plus the fact that it’s been six years since we last saw the character (within the MCU timeline, around a decade has passed) and he’s grown up a lot, and one couldn’t be faulted for not recognizing that Harley was back to honor Tony.

It is worth pointing out that if you followed the development of Avengers: Endgame closely, Harley Keener’s appearance might not come as a total shock. Back in October 2017, it was reported that Ty Simpkins, who has since appeared in movies like Jurassic World and The Nice Guys, would reprise the role. So that ultimately came to fruition.

What didn’t pan out was a separate rumor that claimed that Harley Keener would appear alongside Tony Stark as he used his B.A.R.F. (Binarily Augmented Retro-Framing) technology to study the Battle of New York. B.A.R.F., which was first shown in Captain America: Civil War, didn’t appear at all in Endgame, as the heroes were revisiting key moments in MCU history through actual time travel.

Tony Stark and Harley Keener crossed paths in Iron Man 3 when the former was transported to Tennessee by J.A.R.V.I.S. after the Stark mansion was destroyed by The Mandarin’s minions. With Harley’s help, Tony learned about Extremis, and at the end of the movie, Harley came back to his garage filled various mechanical and robotic presents from Tony, a.k.a. The Mechanic.

There was potential for Harley to become Tony Stark’s protege down the line, but that role was eventually filled by Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man. Still, it was nice that Avengers: Endgame brought Harley back for a cameo to remind us of an earlier era in the MCU and in Tony’s life. Who knows, even though Iron Man is dead, perhaps Harley could pop up in a different corner of this franchise in the coming years.

Don’t forget to read CinemaBlend’s review of Avengers: Endgame, and stay tuned for more updates about the future of the MCU. Those of you interested in what other movies are coming out later this year can find that information in our 2019 release schedule.

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Jurassic World 3: What We Know So Far

Jurassic World 3: What We Know So Far

It's only been a week since Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom captivated the imaginations of the entire planet, with big box office numbers and an ending that got everybody talking. And yet before any of his landed on fan's mental doorsteps, there was another sequel waiting in the wings, ready to take the stage once those closing moments played out. So naturally, now is the perfect time to start talking about the future installment in the series, Jurassic World 3. While not everything is known at this moment, there's a good amount of information we do know, which we'll share here. But be warned, there will be some speculation based on the ending to Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and as soon as we have updated information, this guide will be refreshed to reflect it. For now though, let's dive into the future of Jurassic World 3.

When Will Jurassic World 3 Be Released?

Before Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom was even released into the wild, a date was set for Jurassic World 3 to take its place on the world stage. The film will be released theatrically on June 11, 2021, competing against an untitled Disney live-action film opening the week before it on May 28th, and an untitled Pixar film opening on June 18th. That's a pretty special date too, considering it's also the exact day that Jurassic Park opened in 1993, making this film the perfect 28th anniversary present for dinosaur fans.

What Will Jurassic World 3 Be Rated?

It's most likely that Jurassic World 3 will be rated PG-13, as the whole series has followed that pattern. The precedent goes all the way back to Steven Spielberg's original film, which balanced the heart of a family friendly blockbuster with the fierce nature of Michael Crichton's harsher, more terrifying source material. Both films in the series, Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, were rated PG-13 for "intense sequences of science-fiction violence and peril." So unless the peril and violence become either scaled back, or more intense, expect more of the same.

Who Is Writing Jurassic World 3?

With such a quick release window approaching, Jurassic World 3 obviously needs a story written before cameras can start shooting in the near future. As luck would have it, the film's script will be written by two writers. The first is Emily Carmichael, whose recent credits saw her name listed in connection to this year's Pacific Rim: Uprising, as well as a past re-write on Disney's remake of The Black Hole. The second is not a surprise, considering he's been working on the franchise since day one: Colin Trevorrow. After his indie success with Safety Not Guaranteed, Trevorrow was hired to direct and co-write Jurassic World with writing partner Derek Connolly. The two reteamed for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but now the team is broken in the name of progress. But Emily Carmichael will also be involved, adding another perspective.

Who Is Directing Jurassic World 3?

In keeping with the latest trend to bring back your first director to close out a trilogy, Colin Trevorrow, the director of Jurassic World, and co-writer both that film and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, is back in the director's chair for Jurassic World 3. This is mostly because of his dismissal from the director's chair / writing room on Star Wars: Episode IX which, along with his work on The Book of Henry, prevented him from returning to the series. Trevorrow didn't remain a complete stranger to the franchise though, as he not only co-wrote the sequel to his first effort, he also helped approve the hiring of J.A. Bayona on they film as well.

What Will Jurassic World 3 Be About?

While there are a lot of questions that are left open at the end of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, we're not sure which ones would be a priority when it comes to providing any answers in Jurassic Park 3's story. However, it can be assumed that this third, and possibly final, film in the Jurassic World franchise deals with rounding up the surviving dinosaurs scattered across the world. It's even a good bet to think that Claire and Owen will be trying to recover and relocate all of those creatures on the island that Eli Mills originally pitched as the supposed dinosaur sanctuary at the beginning of Fallen Kingdom. Most importantly, this should be the defining chapter of the story between Owen and Blue the Velociraptor, as her escape into the wild left the door wide open for a reunion in the future.

Though as far as Colin Trevorrow is concerned, the following angle will be important to Jurassic World 3, per an interview with EW:

I think we've built enough of a popcorn empire that for the third film we can really start addressing some themes and ideas and laying out some clear facts to make sure kids recognize that science is real and dinosaurs are real and we didn't make this stuff up.

Will There Be A New Hybrid Dinosaur In Jurassic World 3?

As both Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom have used hybrid dinosaurs as their showstopping creations / partial antagonists, a third go 'round must have some audience members asking, 'how the hell are they going to top the Indominous Rex and Indoraptor creations?' Thankfully, whether that question was asked with a serious or derisive tone, an answer has already been made apparent. There will be no hybrid dinosaur in Jurassic World 3, per Colin Trevorrow's wishes to get back to basics with the dinos of the series, which is probably the best decision. Not only does this mean that folks will not be given the chance to get tired of hybrid dinosaurs, it fits perfectly with the ending in which all of the "pure" dinosaurs were let into the wild. At this point, the series doesn't need more species, especially if this film is supposed to wrap things up.

Owen Grady

A Navy vet turned animal behaviorist, Owen Grady was a crucial part of Jurassic World's operations, as he trained Blue and her Raptor Squad siblings for the park's benefit. Losing all but one of those Raptors in the events of the previous film, Grady took to building himself a cabin and living a quiet life. Then the events of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom happened, and once again, Owen was thrown into a nightmarish clash of dinosaurs, as he helped track, and eventually save, the dinosaurs of Isla Nublar. By the end of the new film, Owen is presumably reunited with his ex-girlfriend, Claire Dearing, and on good terms once more. Even more surprising is the fact that the two of them now have a child to watch after: Maisie Lockwood, the genetic clone of Benjamin Lockwood's daughter.

Claire Dearing

Once a corporate figure in the pecking order at Jurassic World, Claire Dearing went from being a Masrani Global stooge obsessed with investors and attractions to a full blown dino supporter. Working with the Dinosaur Protection League in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Claire actually cares about the creatures she once profited off of, though in the end, she obviously knew that releasing dinosaurs into the wild was a bad idea. Unfortunately for her, Maisie Lockwood had other plans, as she hit the button to release the dinos into our world. With her new improvised family unit, comprising of she, Owen Grady, and Maisie, they will be venturing off into a world of dinosaur peril, and whatever else meets their path.

Maisie Lockwood

A mysterious child who roamed the estate of her supposed grandfather, Benjamin Lockwood, Maisie turned out to be someone completely different. She was revealed to be the cloned copy of Lockwood's daughter, created after her genetic sources' untimely death in a car crash. Coming to terms with who she is, it was she that decided to release the dinosaurs into the wild, as Maisie felt that they deserved to live as much as she did. While there may be more secrets hiding in the shadows, the present seems peaceful as she's with Owen and Claire at the end of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and is presumed to be their responsibility still in Jurassic World 3.

Dr. Henry Wu

One of the connective threads between the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World franchises is expert geneticist Dr. Henry Wu. Initially hired to help John Hammond realize the park of his dreams, Dr. Wu eventually became part of InGen and then Masrani Global's efforts to create the second, more successful bid at a viable theme park. And through each instance of dinosaur laden mayhem he's orbited, he's survived the fallout without a problem. That tradition still stands post Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, as the character portrayed by B.D. Wong doesn't die in the finale, and Colin Trevorrow has even stated in interviews that he feels the character's story isn't finished. In fact, he could always turn back to the side of good again, after witnessing what happened when he threw his lot in with inGen during Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. What's more, after reading that Wong sees the character as a non-villainous presence, there's a chance for redemption, even after Dr. Wu's turncoat past.

Blue

Bred in captivity and part of the Raptor Squad that resided in Jurassic World, Blue the velociraptor retreated to the wilds of Isla Nublar when all was said and done with the Indominous Rex. Years later, through Owen Grady's assistance, the mercenaries hired by InGen eventually captured her for the purpose of using her DNA to refine the Indoraptor prototype, and give it a mother to raise it. After being set loose, and helping kill the Indoraptor prototype in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Blue ran off into the wild again, seemingly upset that she would wind up in a cage and taken somewhere unfamiliar yet again. We last saw her stumble on a housing development in the desert, so Jurassic World 3 undoubtedly will see our favorite velociraptor possibly running into new and exciting humans in the near future.

Potentially Returning Characters From The Jurassic Park Series

Besides Dr. Henry Wu, who returned in 2015's Jurassic World, no other original trilogy characters have returned besides Jeff Goldblum's Dr. Ian Malcolm. However, with Jurassic World 3 opening the field of play in such a manner that anyone could possibly come back, we might see some more Jurassic Park characters making their on screen returns. One name that was explicitly mentioned was Laura Dern, who played Dr. Ellie Sattler in Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, and was alluded to as a possible returning cast member by Goldblum in press before Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. Though you can't mention Ellie without mentioning her potentially ex-boyfriend Dr. Alan Grant, played by Sam Neill. While we don't know anything yet, it'd be foolish not to admit that getting the gang back together would be the perfect capper to the Jurassic World trilogy - something that even Colin Trevorrow seems to be on the same page with.

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The Curse Of La Llorona Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

The Curse Of La Llorona Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Grown organically out of James Wan’s 2013 film The Conjuring, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema’s Conjuring Universe has become a major force and box office success during horror's ongoing boom period. The supernatural series has grossed $1.57 billion worldwide and it is still growing. The newest film in the franchise, although it isn’t really being advertised as such, is this weekend’s The Curse of La Llorona.

From future director of The Conjuring 3 Michael Chaves, The Curse of La Llorona dives into Mexican folklore for a tale of a mother trying to protect her children from a deadly spirit. Reviews for the film are up, so is The Curse of La Llorona a worthy entry in The Conjuring Universe? CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell gave it 2 out of 5 stars in his review, lamenting that it didn’t live up its potential or the universe it’s a part of. Sean said:

While La Llorona has a stimulating premise and a creepy spirit who is realized with impressive practical effects, the overall execution is tepid and uninspired, putting this chapter below the level of chills we’ve come to expect from the better Conjuring movies.

Sean found some things to like in The Curse of La Llorona, but ultimately it was a disappointment, especially in light of the potential of its premise. The Chicago Sun Times’ Richard Roeper, who gave The Curse of La Llorona 1.5 stars, echoed Sean’s sentiments in his review, saying:

The Curse of La Llorona is the sixth entry in the Conjuring Universe, but it sucks as a stand-alone film, despite a promising set-up.

This was a common thread in the reviews. The rich folklore of La Llorona, or the Weeping Woman, deserved better than the film it got. That disappointment was expressed in Peter Travers’ 1.5 out of 5 star review for Rolling Stone. He addressed how this film arrives at a time when horror is hot at the box office right now, saying:

Still, that’s no excuse for a lazy cash-in like The Curse of La Llorona, which plays too timid for terror and is too lazily constructed to haunt anyone’s dreams.

It isn’t all negative though. While some have dinged The Curse of La Llorona for being far too clichéd and formulaic for anyone who has ever seen a horror movie, the New York Times’ Manohla Dargis found that formula effective. She said in her review:

The scares are plentiful and sometimes ticklishly funny in The Curse of La Llorona, an enjoyably old-fashioned ghost story.

So it sounds like easy to please horror fans will find some scares and some laughs in this film as long as they aren’t expecting much else. The Hollywood Reporter’s John DeFore was hoping for more though and was somewhat bored by the flick. He said:

Curse of La Llorona is a ho-hum horror flick that seems highly unlikely to join producer James Wan's earlier projects into thriller-franchise Valhalla

That The Curse of La Llorona is part of Jame Wan’s Conjuring Universe should be a stamp of relative quality, but this forced connection may actually be to the film’s detriment. Slashfilm’s Meredith Borders called the film “half-baked and lazy” and said:

So many of La Llorona‘s narrative choices feel made by committee for the crassest possible reasons, forfeiting sensible storytelling in favor of in-jokes, flashbacks and Easter eggs. The Curse of La Llorona fails on the most basic level: it never manages to tell a logical story in a compelling way.

Yikes. Clearly The Curse of La Llorona is not for everyone. But with a 35% on Rotten Tomatoes, it is still not the worst-reviewed film in The Conjuring Universe and certainly not the worst-reviewed horror movie out there. So if you’re a franchise completionist or you just want a fun horror film and aren’t expecting a masterpiece, you could have a good time with The Curse of La Llorona.

The Curse of La Llorona opens this weekend. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all the movies on the way in the rapidly approaching summer movie season.

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The Avengers: Endgame Premiere Didn’t Reveal If There Will Be A Post-Credits Scene

The Avengers: Endgame Premiere Didn’t Reveal If There Will Be A Post-Credits Scene

The Marvel Cinematic Universe changed the game for film franchises, most memorably with the standard inclusion of post credits scenes that would set up a future installment once the action of the current film had ended. So naturally, with the clock ticking down towards the release of Avengers: Endgame this weekend, there’s a pretty big question looming in the air: will there be an ending tag for the end of the Infinity Saga? The answer, at the moment, is, maybe?

We say this because after last night’s big Hollywood premiere of Avengers: Endgame, the credits were actually cut off. Instead of running those customary names of people that worked on the film, and their respective roles, the cast and directors went up to the stage of the Los Angeles Convention Center and delivered some heartfelt speeches.

Admittedly, that’s not the answer that fans want to hear involving whether or not Avengers: Endgame ties up its 11 year journey of learning and betterment of oneself will have that last surprise. However, it’s not the first time that this sort of strategy was used.

In fact, going back as far as The Avengers in 2012, that film was shown at its very premiere without a post credits stinger. This left the audience, already primed to expect one or two extra moments, with the very same question we are asking today. So while no footage has been seen of any sort of coda to Avengers: Endgame, we’re totally thinking that it’s going to be in there. It’s just behind a Marvel Studios secrecy wall that we haven’t seen past yet.

CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg was at the Hollywood premiere of Avengers: Endgame last night, on hand to take in the splendor himself for the film’s big night. Not only can he confirm that there was no post-credits scene, but he also gave the following reaction to the film on Twitter:

As for what to expect in this hypothetical, but still possibly absent, post credits scene to Avengers: Endgame? Well, there’s a lot of ways it could go. We could see Peter Parker’s first words after being restored to life in time to have his adventure in Phase 3’s big finale, Spider-Man: Far From Home. Or, there might be some tease as to where Captain Marvel may go next in her adventures.

Perhaps Kevin Feige had someone shoot a Shang Chi teaser with their iPhone and a special lens, with that footage being tweaked in the editing bay as we speak. The big point is, we don’t know. But that’s part of the fun with going to see a Marvel Cinematic Universe film on opening weekend, as when any story’s door closes it tends to open the window to the future. We don’t have long to wait, as Avengers: Endgame lands on our collective cinematic doorstep on Thursday night. So there’s still time for you get a couple of the vital films to watch before heading out into your schedule.

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How Linda Cardellini Got A Funny Scooby-Doo Reference Into The Curse Of La Llorona

How Linda Cardellini Got A Funny Scooby-Doo Reference Into The Curse Of La Llorona

As Warner Bros.’ The Curse of La Llorona works its way to theaters this weekend, fans of The Conjuring universe will be scouring the backgrounds of scene looking for references and Easter Eggs to the larger story at hand. (And they are there, trust us.) But while paying attention to the background details in director Michael Chaves’ horror-thriller, we spotted a different reference that made us laugh, and we had to ask the cast about it.

The Curse of La Llorona takes place in the 1970s, where a social worker (Linda Cardellini) who is concerned about the welfare of some small children begins to investigate the mother’s claims that they are haunted by La Llorona. More on that myth in a moment, but in the background of a scene, kids are watching Scooby-Doo on a TV set. Makes sense. The animated show was huge in the 1970s. But there’s also a subtle gag there in that Linda Cardellini also played Velma in two live-action Scooby-Doo movies, and she told us it was her idea to get that animated reference in. She tells CinemaBlend:

Actually, it was a discussion too, when we were talking about it. And I was like… because it was a different Hanna-Barbera cartoon that we had in one version, and I was like, ‘What if they’re watching Scooby-Doo?’ And we just had a laugh about it. It was sort of like a little Easter Egg, I think.

These self-aware nods are hilarious to film lovers. Going into the movie, it’s fun to know that Linda Cardellini established her range on a popular family comedy like Scooby-Doo before switching gears, time and again, to show exactly what she is capable of as an actress. Sure she played Velma. But since then, Cardellini has impressed critics and crowds with roles in Brokeback Mountain, E.R., Mad Men, the Avengers movies, and most recently on the Netflix drama Bloodline.

As she elaborated in the Scooby-Doo nod, she explained how that movie helped her switch gears and challenger herself as an actress. Cardellini told us:

That was, to me, I had just come off of Freaks and Geeks, and so doing something like Scooby-Doo seemed like a crazy departure, playing Velma. And [this] was like, I had just come off of Daddy’s Home and then I decided to do this film. I just love that about acting, so it was fun for me.

Audiences will see a new side of Linda Cardellini in The Curse of La Llorona, as she plays a caring social worker who gets pulled into a terrifying mystery. She also, as a result, has to protect her own children from the threat of La Llorona, and Cardellini displays a ferocious Mama Bear side that we hadn’t seen from her before. Here she is discussing the movie, and Scooby-Doo:

Check out The Curse of La Llorona when it hits theater screens starting this Thursday.

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Final Avengers: Endgame Trailer Is Here To Blow You Away

Final Avengers: Endgame Trailer Is Here To Blow You Away

Most of us assumed that after a Super Bowl spot and a short teaser, Marvel Studios would be done showing off footage from the upcoming Avengers: Endgame. Well, we've never been happier to be wrong. Here's the final full trailer for Avengers: Endgame. It's better than you could have hoped:

OK, so, am I the only one that screamed “YES!” at the top of my lungs for so long that my throat has gone scratchy? Yeah, I didn’t think so. Even though this trailer recycles some of the footage that we already have seen before, it peppers in (no pun intended) more than enough new reveals to get us super pumped for the retaliation the surviving members of The Avengers plan to bring to Thanos’ doorstep.

The trailer for Avengers: Endgame also leans heavily on two pillars of the MCU, and that’s Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). There’s a lot of time dedicated in this clip to their history, with Tony literally talking about how much has happened since he clawed himself out of that cave in his initial, prototype Iron Man armor.

And then there’s an equal amount of time spent on Cap’s journey, from rail-thin cadet in the armed services to dedicated hero, willing to risk his life again and again in service of his pure ideals. There are enough hints to the lost love of his life, Peggy Carter, to suggest that Avengers: Endgame will have closure for that plot line. But that could just be me being super hopeful.

Here are the survivors, all adorning the movie’s official poster.

I screamed “YES!” at the screen because the trailer confirms something seriously important, and that’s the fact that Tony Stark will return from space and reunite with his team… to basically head back into space and, we assume, take the fight to Thanos (Josh Brolin). We get that awesome sequence of the reassembled Avengers walking in their new suits, and Tony is with them, where he belongs. We also get a glimpse of Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) in the post-title tag, where she shows off her bravery by barely batting an eye as Thor (Chris Hemsworth) summons his weapon.

That’s all we need. No more footage. We’re in. We see the team preparing a counterstrike. There are still plenty of secrets for Joe and Anthony Russo to reveal in the full cut of Avengers: Endgame. And the movie’s almost here, so let’s hope the marketing stops. The movie opens on April 26. You’re going, right?

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Deadpool Is Already Featured On Disney’s Website

Deadpool Is Already Featured On Disney’s Website

It's far too early for us to see a lot of changes in the Walt Disney Company now that the merger with Fox is complete, it's not even lunchtime in Burbank yet. However, one place that has already seen a significant change now that the merger is finally done is the Walt Disney Company website. The company's homepage now has a brand new banner which, in addition to giving us expected character from the likes of Star Wars and Pixar, now includes images of Deadpool, The Simpsons, and Avatar among others. Check it out.

Of the 14 images that make up the new homepage banner, fully half of them are new to The Walt Disney Company as of this morning. The Shape of Water was a former Best Picture winner distributed by Fox Searchlight. While Disney had previously made a deal with James Cameron to include the world of Avatar in the company's theme parks, they only own the rights to the films as of now. The Simpsons come courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television.

The little monkey is likely a reference to the National Geographic cable channel that is now part of Disney. The cricket player is probably there because Disney now owns Star India, a conglomerate of Indian cable channels that spotlight the popular sport. Then you have Deadpool representing 20th Century Fox's film arm, and Donald Glover, who's show Atlanta is a hit on the FX cable channel.

While the website change doesn't necessarily mean anything on its own, it would certainly seem to be an indication of what Disney finds most important of its new acquisitions. There'd be no interest in drawing attention to Deadpool if there were no plans to make new movies under the Disney regime. We know that Avatar is going to continue forward with new films, a couple of them are in production right now, and The Simpsons is showing no sign of ever stopping. It may make new episodes until the heat death of the universe.

National Geographic content is going to be quite important to Disney going forward. The cable channel's library is set to be a major pillar of the content available when Disney+ launches later this year.

Seeing all these popular characters, from Deadpool to Elsa to Bart Simpson, on the same homepage is almost surreal. All of these popular characters now exist in one place. If nothing else, it opens up near endless possibilities for Disney's theme park business. The number of new attractions that could be created to sit alongside the existing ones seems almost limitless.

Over the next several months and years we'll begin to see how this massive pop culture juggernaut actually moves forward with all these properties, but the work has already begun.

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Why Watching Detective Pikachu Makes Ryan Reynolds ‘Sea Sick'

Why Watching Detective Pikachu Makes Ryan Reynolds ‘Sea Sick'

It's no secret that Ryan Reynolds' career as at an all-time high. His work on the Deadpool franchise broke new ground for the superhero genre, proving that an R-rating isn't a death sentence at the box office. But before Deadpool 3 or X-Force arrives in theaters, Reynolds is lending his signature voice and comedic chops to another iconic property: Pokemon.

Ryan Reynolds is playing the title character of Detective Pikachu, which is getting some serious buzz ahead of its official release. Reynolds is finally giving the beloved mascot a voice, and the trailers are inducing nostalgia among the generations of Poke-fans. But it turns out that seeing footage elicits a more negative experience for the actor. As he recently explained:

When I see Pikachu, I see all my micro facial expressions and the most subtle facial expressions they’ve learned how to map on to this so I have this… weird seasick feeling sometimes when I stare at Pikachu, because I’m seeing me, but not me.

Well, I didn't expect this to be his reaction. But it looks like watching the motion capture of Detective Pikachu can be a bit jarring for Ryan Reynolds. Because he's on screen, but not. Looks like Pikachu got hit with confusion attack

Ryan Reynolds' comments to Extra make a great deal of sense, because motion capture technology is really reaching the peak of its possibilities. This opens up filmmaking possibilities, especially when it comes to genre work. Avengers: Infinity War brought Josh Brolin's massive Thanos to life, while Detective Pikachu will focus on a distinctly smaller CGI protagonist.

Related: Ryan Reynolds Has A Colorful Way Of Describing His Detective Pikachu Character

The Detective Pikachu footage may give Ryan Reynolds a feeling of seasickness, but it's delighting moviegoers who are anxiously awaiting the ambitious movie's arrival in theaters. The trailers are essentially a 90's kid dream, as the pocket monsters that became a pop culture phenomenon are brought to life, and added to the real world. There's already been a ton of Pokemon shown from various generations of the games, and the world-building has been one of the aspects of Detective Pikachu that has been most celebrated from its early screenings.

On top of feeling seasick, Ryan Reynolds might not be able to fully enjoy the nostalgic appeal of Detective Pikachu. In the same interview with Extra, he revealed the film helped introduced him to the property, saying:

Then I was first approached by them, I admittedly didn’t know much about Pokémon… they sent me a fully rendered Pikachu paired to my voice — they used some dialogue from Deadpool 1 — That sold me, I said yes. I read the script. It was amazing, it was this great mystery wrapped in kind of the universal themes of love and loss and home and family.

Indeed, it looks like Ryan Reynolds is bringing the same wise cracking energy from Deadpool, and applying to his role in Detective Pikachu. Reynolds' comedic chops have been on display for his entire career, and it should be interesting to see him reel things back and keep Detective Pikachu family friendly. But he managed to make Deadpool 2 PG-13 through Once Upon A Deadpool, so just about anything is possible.

Detective Pikachu will arrive in theaters on May 10, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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No, Disney's Controversial Song Of The South Won't Be Available On Disney+

No, Disney's Controversial Song Of The South Won't Be Available On Disney+

Do you remember when we heard that Disney was opening up its vault and would put its entire motion picture library on its upcoming Disney+ streaming service? Yeah, about that... It turns out that there will be one notable, obvious and predictable omission from the digital home of all things Disney: the controversial film Song of the South won’t be available on Disney+.

Despite Disney letting its other titles out of the vault for good, the 1946 film Song of the South will remain locked away. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Disney has no plans to make the title available alongside the rest of the company’s offerings on Disney+.

Song of the South won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah,” and actor James Baskett won an honorary Oscar for his portrayal of Uncle Remus. Despite that initial acclaim, Song of the South is very controversial viewed from a modern lens, in particular for its portrayal of African-Americans.

For those reasons, it has never been released on home video in the U.S.; not on DVD, not on VHS, nothing. In 2011, Bob Iger indicated that bringing the movie back wouldn’t be in the best interests of the company’s shareholders. Therefore, Song of the South not making the jump to Disney+ should come as no surprise as Disney is just carrying over its previous policy regarding the film to the company’s new platform.

So unless you want to source an old copy of the film from overseas, the closest you’ll get to seeing Song of the South anytime soon is riding Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World, which takes its inspiration from the film’s animated sequences.

Song of the South won’t be the only omission from Disney’s catalog on Disney+. The 1941 Disney film Dumbo, which recently got a live-action remake, will be on Disney+, but it will not include the controversial crow scene. The scene features a crow named Jim Crow, which is a reference to the name of the blackface character that was later appropriated as a term for laws that enforced segregation after Reconstruction. Tim Burton’s Dumbo obviously didn’t include this scene.

Even if you want to see Song of the South get some type of modern release, either on Blu-ray or be made available for streaming or digital purchase/rental, you can understand why Disney doesn’t want it on Disney+. Disney’s streaming service is being positioned as a family-friendly offering in keeping with the brand’s reputation, and having Song of the South and Dumbo’s Jim Crow scene don’t exactly comport with that.

We’ll keep you updated on all the latest Disney+ news as we approach its November 12 launch date. In the meantime, check out our 2019 Release Schedule to see everything headed to theaters this summer.

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Sylvester Stallone Says Rambo 5 Caused 'A Lot Of Damage' To His Body During Filming

Sylvester Stallone Says Rambo 5 Caused 'A Lot Of Damage' To His Body During Filming

Legendary cinematic soldier John Rambo is equally as lethal whether he is wielding a knife, a bow and arrow, a gun or his bare hands, and he has used those skills to rack up a triple-digit kill count. Being that much of a badass is hard work though and it takes a toll, even on someone as rugged and fit as Sylvester Stallone. The actor recently spoke about the physical cost of Rambo 5: Last Blood, saying:

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the gym because I’ve been out there doing Rambo, which caused a lot of damage. So now I’ve got to fix things.

In his Instagram video, Sylvester Stallone was back in the gym after taking a hiatus from pumping iron to film Rambo 5: Last Blood. Rambo is a physically taxing role. By the sound of it, that last ride as the Vietnam War veteran was not an easy one, and it took a major physical toll on the 72-year-old actor's body. Just hearing the emphasis he puts on ‘damage’ implies that Sly really took a beating making this movie.

It may be easy to lose sight of the physically challenging nature of the Rambo role, and the fact that, despite his youthful energy and exuberance, Sylvester Stallone is not the same actor who was in his 30s when he filmed First Blood in 1982. You don’t bounce back quite as quickly when you’re older. In many ways, that makes his return to the Rambo franchise all the more impressive.

So after having his body broken down during filming, Sylvester Stallone is doing something about it. Rambo 5: Last Blood has wrapped filming and the actor is back in the gym working out again and building his body back up, knowing that weight training is one of the best things for injury prevention. Check out the video below to see Sly espouse his admirable and motivating ethos:

Sylvester Stallone is banged up and knows that it would be easier to just chill out and relax. It takes an a great amount of will to do what you should do and not what’s easy, and that’s what he is talking about here: advocating for the importance of self-motivation and constant self-improvement. No wonder Adonis Creed sought out Rocky, he’s a hell of coach.

Given the damage he says he took on Rambo 5: Last Blood, it’s probably a good thing that Sylvester Stallone is closing the chapter on this character as well as his time as Rocky Balboa. Still though, in a way it adds a layer of realism to Last Blood. Like Sly, Rambo is not young and war is a young man’s game that he will still have to wage to rescue his friend’s daughter in the film. The old soldier going in to battle one last time has something of an Old Man Logan/Unforgiven vibe to it.

Rambo 5: Last Blood opens in theaters on September 20. Check out our 2019 release schedule to keep track of all of this year’s biggest movies.

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Yesterday Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Yesterday Reviews Are Up, See What Critics Are Saying

Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle has been praised over the years for his films, including Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours and Trainspotting. What happens when he teams up with legendary writer of Love Actually, Notting Hill and About Time, Richard Curtis, for a fantasy musical comedy about a struggling musician who wakes up one morning as the only man in the world who remembers the Beatles?

Yesterday premiered at Tribeca Film Festival in New York City over the weekend, which means critics have how seen it ahead of its summer release. Do they recommend a ticket to ride this release? Their reactions are mixed among them, as they waver between glowing and dissatisfying. Let’s take a look at some of their thoughts starting with CinemaBlend’s own Mike Reyes, who absolutely loved it. In his review, he awarded the movie with a near-perfect score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Here’s a bit of what he had to say:

Yesterday is an uplifting triumph of heartfelt comedy, believable drama, and just the right amount of quirk to remove this film from any sort of mundane reality. In its own way, it even ponders how successful The Beatles's material would be, and the challenges it would face, if it were coming up in the modern music industry; which only adds to the film's sly thoughtfulness.

The film is framed around Jack Malik, played by Himesh Patel, who gets into a bus accident during a global blackout and finds he alone who knows the words to “All You Need is Love” among the Fab Four’s iconic discography. Reyes felt the bizarre premise worked - all while charming him with an exciting story with a mix of romance, lightness and drama. He also enjoyed how Yesterday uniquely presented the Beatles music in a refreshing way.

Empire’s Helen O’Hara also raved about this aspect of Yesterday in her 4 out of 5 star review. There’s been an uptick of musical films lately, and she felt this movie did it right where others have left something to be desired. Here’s what she said:

There’s something profoundly disturbing about the idea of a world without The Beatles, whether you’re a die-hard fan or someone known to drunkenly chant the “la la” bit of ‘Hey Jude’, and that’s true even if the world’s loss is our hero’s gain. So while Danny Boyle’s new film is still a largely warm and frequently surprising affair, its unusual premise gives it an edge that other jukebox hits – Bohemian Rhapsody, for example – have lacked.

O’Hara thinks just about everyone can enjoy this flick, even those unfamiliar with the band’s significance. This is a noteworthy positive for David Crow of Den of Geek who said the following about Yesterday:

His film is a crash course in remembering the importance of the Beatles’ legacy. That might sound trite, but the movie finds a much more creative and earnest way to honor a pop star act than the myriad of empty-headed musical biopics we’ve been inundated with for decades.

Yesterday will follow the success of Bohemian Rhapsody and upcoming release of Rocketman, and thankfully it has something else going for it, since it will follow a modern-day premise of Jack using his knowledge of Beatles’ songs to create a successful career for himself today. However, not all critics were impressed with it. The Verge’s Adi Robertson had these comments for example:

Boyle and Curtis are making an alternate history film that’s not primarily about alternate history, which is a completely valid choice. But the film’s central romance is badly underwritten, and its slapdash, joke-driven worldbuilding pokes holes in a plot that was fantastical to start with. Yesterday is a story about the pure and timeless nature of music — but it often comes off as more rote than heartfelt.

It’s understandable that while some would be able to swim in the fantasy of Yesterday’s quirky premise, others will be put off by it and Robertson wasn’t alone in the problems she found through her review. Take a look at a bit of Owen Gleiberman’s review for Variety:

In “Yesterday,” the greatness of the Beatles is like a trump card that Jack, and the filmmakers, keep playing. Yet the greatness of the Beatles is never something the film invites us to discover. The songs, to be fair, are iconic — but that said, some Beatles songs are more iconic than others. And “Yesterday” features nothing but the Beatles tracks that you would put on a “12 All-Time Greatest Songs of the Beatles!” collection.

The movie doesn’t look to convince everyone that the Beatles’ music would be as popular today, in the way that Yesterday showcases anyway. Dan Callahan with The Wrap similarly bashed the movie for its delivery of its plot with these words:

If you’re going to make a film with a plot like “Yesterday,” the least you can do is probe it somewhat and push it as far as it will go. But Curtis and Boyle offer up pretty much what you would expect given this premise, which basically amounts to Patel doing passable karaoke versions of these famous songs and very little else.

Finally, let’s go to Digital Spy’s Ian Sandwell who gave the film 4 stars out of 5 and brings to attention what element in the movie sold him despite some oddity in the film’s idea. Check it out:

A large part of this is down to the engaging performances of Himesh Patel (in his first big-screen role) and Lily James, who share great chemistry. You're fully behind their friendship and feel all the heartbreak. Neither of them are the cool kids, and their endearing characters help sell the outrageous concept.

The story between the two core characters was enough for him to fall in love with Yesterday. Despite some mixed reviews from critics, the movie looks to charm music fans, especially of the Beatles if you can push aside some of the particulars of the concept.

Will you be checking out Yesterday on June 28? Let us know in the comments.

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The Guardians Of The Galaxy Cameo You Probably Missed In Avengers: Endgame

The Guardians Of The Galaxy Cameo You Probably Missed In Avengers: Endgame

Warning! The following contains spoilers for Avengers: Endgame. Read at your own risk!

Avengers: Endgame's battle sequence at the end was massive. So massive, that if an unexpected character happened to help out, many in the audience may have missed it. Fortunately there were some who happened to catch an entirely unexpected Guardians of the Galaxy cameo, as a character from the movie popped in to lend a hand in the Avengers' time of need. Howard the Duck, of all people, showed up to fight for the world alongside the universe's mightiest heroes.

For those attending another showing in the near future, Howard can be spotted amongst the many warriors showing up when Doctor Strange, Wong, and the rest of the sorcerers start opening portals. When Hope Van Dyne is spotted, viewers should move their eyes to the blueish alien to her right, and then follow that character's gun downward. There's Howard, in the distance, looking a lot like he did in his cameo scene following Guardians of the Galaxy.

Howard's packing heat in lieu of a drink this time around, and he's looking poised to kick some Earth invader ass when the signal is given. His contributions beyond that are unknown, as he doesn't get a big action sequence to show what he's up to like other key characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Apparently, the Russos didn't find it pertinent to zero in on what one of the MCU's most bizarre characters was up to.

Here's the good news: There's still a chance we may learn what role Howard played in the battle. That's all thanks to an upcoming Howard The Duck television series which will feature the Marvel hero trapped on Earth. Provided this series takes place post-Avengers: Endgame, there's certainly an opportunity for the series to show that scene from Howard's perspective, or have him recall something from the event. Hell, this may even be the event that strands him on earth!

Whatever the case regarding the future series, it's been known that the Russos have wanted to include Howard in the action since Avengers: Infinity War. According to Joe Russo, the original idea was to have Peter Quill go to Howard and ask him about the whereabouts of an Infinity Stone while he was in the midst of a poker game. That would've been great to see, although one could argue this is better.

The real question now is, what was Howard The Duck up to before his arrival? The Russos confirmed he survived the snap, so there could be some deleted scene or one shot in the future that outlines what Howard was up to in the time between Infinity War and Endgame. If not, at least it's good to see him alongside the rest of the good guys, and possibly making a case to become a future Avenger?

Stick with CinemaBlend for more Avengers: Endgame analysis, and news on what is becoming a monumental box office run.

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X-Men: Dark Phoenix International Trailer Finally Shows Us Some Cool Space Action

X-Men: Dark Phoenix International Trailer Finally Shows Us Some Cool Space Action

Thus far, the marketing for Simon Kinberg's Dark Phoenix hasn't exactly been top notch. Only two domestic trailers have been released so far, and more than anything they've brought back unfortunate memories of X-Men: The Last Stand (a.k.a. the last time this storyline was adapted). Not much has been done to show the unique elements of the new release, but fortunately we have this fresh international package filled with new footage:

It's not uncommon for there to be differences between domestic and international trailers, as we just saw another example of this a couple months ago with Jon Watt's Spider-Man: Far From Home. The difference here is that this look at Dark Phoenix is way better than the previous trailers we've seen. This is partially because of certain small details that are included, but primarily because this actually gives us a legitimate look at the X-Men's first big screen space adventure.

Previous previews have given us dribs and drabs of what to expect when the X-Men travel beyond Earth's atmosphere, but this is the first Dark Phoenix trailer to actually dedicate a significant chunk of time to the subject. Everyone aware of the movie knows it's coming, and it's expected that the incident will happen in the first act, and now we finally have a better idea of what to expect. There is a 20 second stretch in this new look that sums the whole thing up rather nicely: the X-Men travel into space to help during an emergency, however, things don't go exactly as planned, and Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) gets left behind after all of the astronauts from a space station are rescued. There is a massive burst of cosmic energy that Jean seems to absorb, and while she should be dead, she instead is able to travel with the team back down to Earth. It looks surprisingly great, and it has us wondering why the marketing has kept it hidden for the most part so far.

Alongside the extended space material, this Dark Phoenix international trailer also offers some familiar stuff - such as the incident with young Jean Grey and her parents, as well as the big train lift at the end, but there is also some other cool stuff peppered in as well. For example, we're apparently getting some form of new Quicksilver sequence, as Evan Peter's character can be seen charging at Phoenix in "slow motion," and there's a bit more of Jessica Chastain's mystery character doing her very best to manipulate the extraordinarily powerful titular mutant. There is also once again heavy suggestion that the film will be the end of the line for Jennifer Lawrence's Mystique - but it's actually less obvious here than it is in the spot from last week.

This is arguably our most intriguing look at Dark Phoenix, and despite numerous past delays, we are now getting legitimately close to actually seeing the thing. Co-starring James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, Alexandra Shipp, and Kodi Smit-McPhee in addition to all the names mentioned earlier, the film will be arriving in theaters on June 7th.

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Looks Like Netflix Won't Be At Cannes Again This Year

Looks Like Netflix Won't Be At Cannes Again This Year

The friction between Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival came to a head last year when the streaming service skipped out on the festival entirely because Netflix movies are ineligible to compete for the Palme d’Or. That meant that acclaimed films from big name filmmakers like Roma and The Other Side of the Wind did not premiere at the illustrious festival where so many beloved films got their start. Now, a year later, it again looks like Netflix will be skipping Cannes.

According to Variety, Netflix will be absent from the French festival for the second year in a row, with no new movie premieres either in or out of competition. This is a result of the existing issues between the two parties, which have yet to be sorted out. And, even if Netflix and Cannes had come up with an agreeable solution, the movies that Netflix would theoretically premiere at Cannes simply aren’t ready yet.

At one point, it was expected that Netflix’s most prestigious original 2019 movie, Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman would be ready for, and an ideal participant in, the May festival, but the arduous task of digitally de-aging the cast for half of the film will require more time. So The Irishman wouldn’t be ready for Cannes, regardless, and will likely premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September instead.

Another possible candidate for Cannes was The Laundromat, Steven Soderbergh’s new film about the Panama Papers starring Meryl Streep and Gary Oldman. David Michôd’s The King starring Timothée Chalamet would have also been an obvious choice for Netflix to enter in the festival. Alas, the issues aren’t sorted and these movies aren’t quite ready, either.

The issues between Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival first came to the fore in 2017 when Netflix movies Okja and The Meyerowitz Stories were accepted into the festival in the competition lineup. This resulted in backlash from French theater owners, because in France there is a 36-month minimum window between a film’s theatrical release and when it can show up on a streaming platform.

Cannes gave in and required that movies could not compete unless they would eventually be released in French theaters. So Netflix pulled out of the festival last year. In the time since, Netflix and the Cannes Film Festival have been quietly negotiating in friendly talks to try to work out their differences and find a way for the streaming service’s films to come back to the festival, but as of yet those issues are still unresolved.

Although Netflix will not be premiering any of its big 2019 movies at Cannes, it does still plan to send an acquisition team to France, so the streaming service may be opening its wallet even if it isn’t bringing anything to show itself.

Even without Netflix bringing its heavy-hitters to Cannes, there are still plenty of reasons to pay attention to May’s festival. Among them are James Gray’s Ad Astra and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which are both expected to be in competition.

We’ll keep you updated on all the latest as the industry’s various elements continue to try and adapt to the elephant in the room known as Netflix. For all of this year’s biggest theatrical releases, check out our 2019 premiere guide.

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James Marsden Reveals Dark Phoenix's Cyclops Actor Sent Him A Lovely Letter When He Took Over

James Marsden Reveals Dark Phoenix's Cyclops Actor Sent Him A Lovely Letter When He Took Over

It's no secret that superhero movie are everywhere. Over the past few years, the comic book genre has become the most profitable of the film world, with various studios creating shared universes in an attempt to cash in. But before the MCU introduced serialized storytelling to the masses, there was Fox's X-Men franchise. Hitting theaters back beginning in 2000, a trio of movies was released in theaters before a new class of actors was introduced to reboot the property.

James Marsden was the first actor to bring Scott Summers/Cyclops to life in live-action, and played the character in the original X-Men trilogy (in addition to a quick cameo in Days of Future Past). Since then, two other actors have played younger version of the mutant, with Ready Player One's Tye Sheridan reprising his role in Dark Phoenix. And it turns out that Sheridan wrote his predecessor a sweet message when he was cast. As Marsden recently revealed:

He wrote me a handwritten letter when he took over the role. A lovely young man. They’re giving [the storyline] the justice it deserves.

Well, this is heart warming. While some actors might have a hard time seeing young talent take on their iconic roles, it seems that James Marsden is happy to see Tye Sheridan playing Cyclops in the silver screen. And that may be partly because the 22 year-old reached out to his predecessor in such a way.

The X-Men franchise is fascinating, thanks to its multiple timelines and just how many decades the property has covered. X-Men: The Last Stand was the finale of the original trilogy-- at least until Days of Future Past brought both generations of mutants together into one ambitious crossover movie. So when the character was eventually recast for movies like X-Men: Apocalypse, it's not like James Marsden was still that connected to the role.

Related: Does Marvel's 5-Year Plan Include The X-Men? Here's What Kevin Feige Says

Rather than being recast just to get a bigger name, Tye Sheridan's time as Cyclops is simply due to how time is being utilized in the franchise. The new Cyclops entered the narrative in X-Men: Apocalypse, as mutant who was new to both Xavier's School and superheroics. He ultimately stepped up to battle Oscar Isaac's title character, and audiences will catch up with a more experienced version of the hero in Dark Phoenix.

In his same conversation with Variety, James Marsden addressed Dark Phoenix's upcoming release, and expressed how excited he is to see that beloved comic book plot be adapted for the silver screen. As he put it:

I obviously know the Dark Phoenix story — the saga was close to me because my character is closest with Jean. It’s cool to see Sophie Turner up there kicking ass as the young version of Jean.

What a class act. Despite leaving the role of Cyclops behind years ago, James Marsden is still a fan of the X-Men, and eager to see the iconic Jean Grey plot line on the silver screen in Dark Phoenix. And he's not the only one.

Tye Sheridan made a strong first outing as Scott Summers in X-Men: Apocalypse. Audiences watched as he blossomed with his abilities, and saw he and Sophie Turner's Jean Grey fall in love as young students. Scott didn't get his signature visor until Apocalypse's coda in the Danger Room, so we should expect Cyclops to be a much more capable fighter when he pops back up in Dark Phoenix.

While Cyclops was a supporting character in Apocalypse, it looks like the fan favorite mutant will have a larger focus when Dark Phoenix finally arrives in theaters. Once Jean goes out of control thanks the Phoenix Force, the other characters will be split regarding what they should do. But Scott should presumably always be on Jean's side, and will no doubt help fight for her humanity.

Tye Sheridan's letter to James Marsden seem to have went over really well for the Westworld actor, but not all of the new class of X-Men were quite so lucky. Alexandra Shipp took on the role of Storm in Apocalypse, and reached out to Halle Berry ahead of her debut. But her e-mail might have made her seem a bit too eager, and it doesn't look like Berry actually responded. Halle Berry is still hoping the character will someday get a spinoff, so perhaps the Oscar winner is hoping her Storm-ing days aren't over.

Dark Phoenix has a ton of pressure associated with it, as it may be the final installment of the X-Men franchise as we know it. Aside from capping off the last four movies' overarching narrative, the movie will also be the second attempt at adapting the beloved Dark Phoenix saga onto film. While the comic book story is far more complicated and involves the Hellfire Club, the fans are anxiously awaiting to see if 20th Century Fox got it right the second time.

X-Men: The Last Stand was the first live-action go at the Dark Phoenix Saga, and it left much to be desired. Jean's powers didn't come from the cosmic Phoenix Force, but were dormant in her from childhood. She rose from her watery grave at Alkali Lake, and unceremoniously kills off James Marsden's Cyclops and Professor X. She was ultimately manipulated by Magneto, before being killed by Wolverine in the film's final battle.

The Dark Phoenix trailers seems to tease a more comic book accurate version of the plot line, although the movie's various delays have given the fandom some pause. What's more, the upcoming blockbuster has the added pressure of being the grande finale in the larger franchise, as 20th Century Fox was officially acquired by Disney. So the pressure is certainly on to bring a satisfying conclusion to the larger narrative, as well as service Jean's story in a proper way.

Cyclops will return to the big screen when Dark Phoenix arrives in theaters on June 7th. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

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