Movie/TV News (4 Viewers)

[dragon53]

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18

PROJECT HAIL MARY---trailer released for the sci fi movie starring Ryan Gosling.

LINK:

MOANA---trailer released for the Disney live-action remake of the 2016 animated movie.

LINK:

MAGELLAN---trailer released for the Ferdinand Magellan biomovie starring Gael Garcia Bernal.

LINK:

MAN OF TOMORROW---Nexus Point News reports the movie will have a "new female hero", "Sources tell Nexus Point News that a new female hero is being cast for the film. She’s described as being in her late twenties and having an edge to her. What’s interesting is there’s a height requirement for this character and they’re looking for taller actresses. In addition, the character is being described as being a warrior and having a strong physique. All details point to this character being Wonder Woman, a character that has been highly requested by fans to make her DCU debut. Other potential candidates for this mystery character could be Big Barda or Black Canary."

AVENGERS: SECRET WAR---Sadie Sink (SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY) has reportedly joined the SECRET WAR cast in an undisclosed role.

HEAT 2---Christian Bale is reportedly in negotiations to co-star with Leonardo DiCaprio in the prequel to the 1995 heist movie that starred Robert De Niro and Al Pacino.

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU---Jon Favreau said the movie will include Zeb Orrelios, “Now we get to really have fun with him. He’s such a compelling character, even if you’ve never seen Rebels, between the voice, the swagger, and the physical ability.”

ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL---James Cameron commented on a possible sequel to the 2019 movie, “I appreciate the loyalty of the ALITA fans. Robert Rodriguez and I have sworn a blood oath to do at least one more ALITA movie. In fact, we’re thinking of an architecture that bridges to a third film, but we’ll be satisfied if we can make one more. And we’re making progress on that. Now that I have a home in Austin, Texas, about three miles from [Robert’s] place, I think we’ll probably get more serious about that as soon as I wrap the mix here in a few weeks.”

DCU---Jamess Gunn commented on the report that the Jimmy Olsen tv series is titled DC CRIME, “There has never been a project titled DC CRIME in development, not even as a working title. I don’t know where that came from, but it’s weird… and no, that doesn’t mean all of the rest of the story is false. The story is from five days ago, and I’ve had a few people come up to me IRL and say, ‘I can’t wait for DC Crime! I was confused to say the last!”
Gunn also commented on Pierce Brosnan saying, “I’ve heard that Doctor Fate was going to have his own show, or his own movie. I’ve heard that he’s going to be in the next Superman" with Gunn posting that he has “never heard a Dr Fate rumor”.

GOOD SAMARITAN---Daisy Ridley will star in the movie whose synopsis says,“When successful entrepreneur Dr. Rosalind Carver (Ridley) and her husband Matt rescue a wounded man drifting off the coast of Indonesia, they believe they’re saving a life – not stepping into a deadly conspiracy. Within hours, their yacht vanishes, Matt is abducted, and paradise turns into a trap. Hunted by pirates and imprisoned by corrupt officials, Rosalind’s only hope lies in Sean Fuller, a private military contractor whose motives are as mysterious as his past. Together, they must navigate a maze of deceit and violence in a land where no one can be trusted.“

SOBER HOUSE---Tyler Posey is the star/co-writer of the movie about three drug addicts who travel to a remote sober house to clean up and where another attendee is a serial killer who is relapsing.

TRIVIA---in 2009, Hungarian art historian Gergely Barki and his three-year old daughter were watching the movie STUART LITTLE when he recognized the "lost" Robert Pereny painting "Sleeping Lady with a Black Vase" was used in the movie as a prop. The 1927 painting disappeared during World War II. After two years of trying to track the painting down, he got a reply from the movie's assistant set designer who did not know of the painting's significance when she bought it for the Sony Pictures movie at a Pasadena antique shop for $500. She later bought the painting from Sony Pictures, where it was on display in her house. After she was told about its true history by Barki, she put it up for auction where it sold for $285,700 in 2014.

 

[dragon53]

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19

WE BURY THE DEAD---trailer released for the zombie movie starring Daisy Ridley.

LINK:

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S 2---featurette released for the sequel.

LINK:

TOY STORY 5---sequel photo shows a crate of Buzz Lightyears on a deserted island where they attempt to make contact with Star Command. Tim Allen, Tom Hanks, Joan Cusack and Ernie Hudson star.

STARGATE---Amazon Prime Video is developing a new tv series based on the 1994 movie that starred Kurt Russell and James Spader. Creator Martin Gero said, "Twenty years ago, my first real job in television was as a Story Editor on STARGATE: ATLANTIS. I spent five years at the franchise working across all three series, STARGATE taught me everything about making television — it's written into my DNA. I'm beyond thrilled that Amazon MGM Studios has entrusted me with guiding this incredible franchise into its next phase. For those who've kept the gate active through conventions, rewatches, and unwavering faith — this one's for you. And for those that are new to our world — I promise you're in for something extraordinary.”

THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL---Netflix miniseries underway based on the Ira Levin novel about Nazi Dr. Josef Mengele's young clones of Adolf Hitler. The cast includes Jeremy Strong, Daniel Bruhl, Gillian Anderson, Lizzy Caplan and August Diehl. The 1978 movie starred Gregory Peck, Laurence Olivier and James Mason. The synopsis says, “Set across three decades from the immediate aftermath of World War II through the political turbulence of the 1970s, the series follows Holocaust survivor and Nazi hunter Yakov Liebermann in his lifelong crusade to bring Nazi fugitives to justice, a crusade that has cost him nearly everything. When one of his young protégées, undercover in Brazil, learns of a shocking Nazi plan, Liebermann is in a race against time to expose an unimaginable truth: Meinhardt, a sadistic Nazi scientist he believed long dead, is alive and orchestrating a diabolical project to spark the rise of a Fourth Reich.”

BREAKDOWN: 1975---Netflix documentary about the rebel filmmakers of the 1970s. The synopsis says, “In 1975, as America faced social and political upheaval, filmmakers turned chaos into art. This documentary explores how a turbulent era gave rise to iconic movies like TAXI DRIVER, ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST and NETWORK.”

UNITED---Kevin Costner is in negotiations to star as Bill Clinton in the tv series about UN relief efforts in East Timor in 1999. Costner and Leonardo DiCaprio are the co-producers.

DEXTER: RESURRECTION---the villain for Season 2 will be the New York Ripper.

TWISTED METAL---Peacock renewed the series for Season 3.

TRIVIA---Jack Lemmon's son, Chris, said his father bought the movie rights to the novel COOL HAND LUKE with the intention of playing Luke Jackson and hired Donn Pearce to write the screenplay. After Lemmon read the screenplay, he decided he was wrong for the part.
Producer Gordon Carroll wanted Telly Savalas to play Luke Jackson, but Savalas was filming THE DIRTY DOZEN in England. Savalas would be finished filming THE DIRTY DOZEN and could return to the US by airliner, but he was afraid of flying and wanted to return by ocean liner. Carroll could not wait for Savalas, so he gave the role to Paul Newman.

The COOL HAND LUKE producer Gordon Carroll wanted Telly Savalas to play Luke Jackson, but Savalas was filming THE DIRTY DOZEN in England.

Savalas could return to the US by ocean liner to play Luke Jackson because he was afraid of flying, but Carroll could not wait and gave the role to Paul Newman.

 

[dragon53]

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20

THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING---trailer released for the prequel.

LINK:

THE MOMENT---trailer released for the musical movie starring Charli XCX.

LINK:

THE ODYSSEY---photos from the Christopher Nolan Greek mythology movie show Matt Damon as Odysseus, Zendaya as Aphrodite and Robert Pattinson as Antinous.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY---photo from the film set shows Spider-Man in a face-off with The Punisher.

JUMANJI 3---Sony Pictures released a photo from the last sequel of Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart and Jack Black.

JAMES BOND---director Martin Campbell (GOLDENEYE, CASINO ROYALE) offered some advice to Denis Villeneuve about directing the new James Bond movie, “Don’t break what isn’t broken. It doesn’t need to be a reboot — it just needs to be a bloody good Bond film!“
He added, “If we released GOLDENEYE or CASINO ROYALE again next week, they’d feel just as potent. So don’t f–-k with it, basically. There’s a lot of fertile ground for Bond, particularly the way the world is at the moment. I just hope that they don’t break what’s not broken!“

MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE---an actor wearing the full capture-motion suit of Beast Man was seen on the London film set.

SMALLVILLE---Michael Rosenbaum commented on the status of a revival series, “We did some artwork and Al Gough and Miles Miller, who created SMALLVILLE, they’re attached. And Tom Welling and I wanna do it, but it’s gotta be the right time, when you pitch.”
He added, “You have to make sure that the studio is wanting to do something like that right now.”

HBO MAX---HBO Max renewed HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS, TASK, THE CHAIR COMPANY and I LOVE LA.

TRIVIA---the 2011 movie TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY was based on the John le Carre novel in which British agent George Smiley searches for a Russian mole in British intelligence. The movie starred Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hardy and le Carre has a cameo in the Christmas party scene.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY was based on the John le Carre novel and starred Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, Benedict Cumberbatch and Tom Hardy.

John le Carre (right) has a cameo in the Christmas party scene.

 

[dragon53]

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21

HOPPERS---trailer released for the animated sci fi movie.

LINK:

RETURN TO SILENT HILL---trailer released for the horror sequel.

LINK:

THE ODYSSEY---photo from the Christopher Nolan Greek mythology movie shows the fall of Troy. Also, it was confirmed that Jon Bernthal will play King Menelaus.

WERWULF---photo from the Robert Eggers (NOSFERATU) werewolf film set in England shows a blood-covered Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

THE MUMMY 4---Brendan Fraser commented on the new sequel with Rachel Weisz returning, “The one I wanted to make was never made. The third one was a model of … how can I say this to the AP reporter? NBC had the rights to broadcast the Olympics that year. So they put two together and we went to China.
Working in Shanghai, an incredible experience. I’m proud of the third one because I think it’s a good standalone movie. We picked up and did what we do with a different crew on deck and gave it our best shot.
But the one I wanted to make is forthcoming. And I’ve been waiting 20 years for this call. Sometimes it was loud, sometimes it was a faint telegraph. Now? It’s time to give the fans what they want.”
Fraser also commented on the movie industry after BATGIRL was cancelled, “A whole movie. There were four floors of production in Glasgow. I was sneaking into the art department just to geek out...The product — I’m sorry, ‘content’ — is being commodified to the extent that it’s more valuable to burn it down and get the insurance on it than to give it a shot in the marketplace.” He also noted the impact on audiences, stating, “There’s a generation of little girls who don’t have a heroine to look up to and go, ‘She looks like me.’”
He added, “With respect, we could blight itself...We’re still chopping our way through the tall grass of AI and all this stuff. The industry needs a real B-12 or something.”

PLURIBUS---the Vince Gilligan sci fi tv series is Apple TV+ most-viewed drama premiere of all time with 6.4 million hours.

WEAPONS---Zach Cregger commented on the Aunt Gladys prequel movie, “We’re still kind of in the deal-making process, so I don’t think there’s much that I am allowed to say at this point, but… the story is what I am pretty excited about."

SLEEPAWAY CAMP---Robert Hiltzik, writer of the cut classic 1983 slasher movie, posted about the status of the remake, “Attention campers, our script has arrived. Please meet us at the waterfront after the social for a table read. Any questions comments or concerns please comment below. Casting notices coming soon follow @sleepawaycampmovie to win a chance to come to set!”

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES---producer Neal H. Moritz is in negotiations with Paramount Pictures to reboot the movie franchise. Paramount cancelled the animated tv series TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES in the middle of production.

PARADISE: DISTURBED---Holt McCallany will star in the serial killer movie whose synopsis says, "When a series of ritualistic murders begins targeting a tight-knit golf group, retired OSI investigator Ron Lee (McCallany) is forced to confront a brilliant and taunting killer—while his partner Tim Pond fights to keep him from unraveling."

TRIVIA---in THE LONGEST YARD, Burt Reynolds played ex-NFL star Paul Crewe, whose pro football career ended after a point-shaving scandal. After stealing and destroying his wealthy girlfriend's expensive car, he is sent to a Florida prison where the corrupt prison warden forces him to quarterback the prison football team, the "Mean Machine", against the warden's semi-pro team of prison guards. The warden blackmails Crewe to lose to the guards team, but Crewe defies the warden and finds redemption when he scores the winning touchdown against the guards.
Ironically, the Academy Award-nominated Reynolds' career as one of Hollywood's sexiest actor began when he played football at Florida State. In FSU's game against North Carolina State in 1957, Reynolds was covering NC State halfback Dick Christy, who may have ran out of bounds behind the FSU bench, came back in bounds and caught the winning touchdown with the final score being 7-0. FSU Coach Tom Nugent and Reynolds' teammates blamed him for the NC State victory. Unhappy with being the scapegoat, Reynolds left the team after the loss and decided he wanted to be an actor.
In 2006, Reynolds commented on the play, “My side of the story is that, first, he ran out of bounds. Secondly, I think he ran behind our bench and came back on the field. He just disappeared out of my line of sight and was behind me. The ball player that played against Dick Christy was not the same ball player I was as a freshman. That’s not to say that he wouldn’t have gotten behind me anyway. He was a great, great ball player, and the person responsible for starting my acting career. After that game, I am going off to become a movie star.”

In THE LONGEST YARD, ex-NFL star Paul Crewe defies being blackmailed by the sadistic prison warden and finds redemption by scoring the winning touchdown against the warden's semi-pro guards team (player #65 is Burt Reynolds' adopted brother, James Hook Reynolds, who also played football at FSU).

Burt Reynolds decided to become an actor after quitting the Florida State football team when Coach Tom Nugent and his teammates blamed him for allowing North Carolina State halfback Dick Christy to score the winning touchdown in the 7-0 loss to NC State.

 

[dragon53]

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24

STRANGER THINGS---trailer released for Volume 1.

LINK:

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY---photos from the film set show armed police knocking down a woman wearing a green and yellow jacket, similar to the jacket Sadie Sink was seen wearing on the set earlier, and then she is placed on a gurney. Some sources claim Sink is playing Shathra.

GUNDAM---Noah Centineo is in reportedly in negotiations to co-star with Sydney Sweeney in the movie based on the anime.

WICKED FOR GOOD---the sequel made $226 million worldwide for its premiere which surpasses the original movie's $164 million worldwide premiere.

ANDOR---FORBES reports that Disney's budget for ANDOR's two seasons was $698.3 million.

DISNEY---Disney head Bob Iger commented on the studio's recent box office bombs including SNOW WHITE, TRON: ARES and THUNDERBOLTS*, “Obviously, not every film works. We know that. We’ve been around long enough to understand that. But if you look back at the year and you look at the fact that we’ve already crossed a substantial global box office level, we feel that we had some real strength.”

WOLVERINE---Hugh Jackman commented on if he will return after making earlier comments that he would not return, “Maybe. I am never saying ‘never’ ever again.”

NETFLIX---Netflix cancelled TWILIGHT OF THE GODS, EXPLODING KITTENS and GOOD TIMES.

JUNGLE CRUISE 2---Dwayne Johnson was asked if the sequel is still underway, “I don’t think so. I think when Disney came under new leadership, they just shifted coming out of COVID. COVID shifted our business in a lot of ways. I think they looked at that property and thought, we did it once, not sure if we should revisit it again. Despite whether or not our chemistry was great.”

THE BEATLES---Harry Lloyd (GAME OF THRONES) will play producer George Martin the Sam Mendes movies.

INVINCIBLES---Aaron Paul said he is not returning as the voice of Powerplex in Season 4, “I did a couple of episodes, and then they asked me to come back for the next season, but I’ve got to tell you… that show, I’m such a fan of. I watch every episode. I love. But it was just way too grueling on my psyche.”

TRIVIA---Martine Beswick co-starred in two Hammer Film monster movies in which the male and female actors married each other. Beswick co-starred in Hammer's Ray Harryhausen dinosaur movie ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. in which she played cavewoman Nupondi and John Richardson played her ex-lover, caveman Turnak. Beswick and Richardson fell in love during filming and were married after the movie was released.
Beswick-co-starred in Hammer's DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE in which Ralph Bates played Dr. Jekyll, who experiments with an elixir of life which turns him into his murderous alter ego, Mrs. Hyde, played by Beswick. While filming the movie, Bates fell in love with Virginia Wetherell, who played Betsy, and they later married.

In ONE MILLION YEARS B.C., Martine Beswick played cavewoman Nupondi and John Richardson played her ex-lover, caveman Turnak. Richardson and Beswick fell in love during the filming and were married after the movie's release.

Turnak battles Ray Harryhausen's Allosaurus.

In DR. JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE, Ralph Bates played Dr. Jekyll and Beswick played his murderous alter ego, Mrs. Hyde.

Bates and Virginia Wetherell (center), who played Betsy, fell in love during filming, and they later married.

 

[dragon53]

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25

DEAD MAN'S WIRE---trailer released for the kidnap movie starring Bill Skarsgard.

LINK:

HOW TO MAKE A KILLING---trailer released for the revenge movie starring Glen Powell.

LINK:

THE EXORCIST---Scarlett Johansson will star in the Mike Flanagan relaunch of the franchise based on the 1973 horror movie.

RUSH HOUR 4---Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker and director Brett Ratner will reportedly return for the latest sequel which will be released by Paramount Pictures. Paramount head David Ellison reportedly approved the sequel at the request of President Trump.

THE 100 BEST COMEDY MOVIES---VARIETY released its "The 100 Best Comedy Movies of All Time".

LINK: https://variety.com/lists/best-comedy-movies-all-time/bridget-joness-diary/

The Top 10 with the original THE NAKED GUN at the top.

1. THE NAKED GUN
2. SOME LIKE IT HOT
3. ANNIE HALL
4. THE GREAT DICTATOR
5. WAITING FOR GOFFMAN
6. MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL
7. DUCK SOUP
8. FARGO
9. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
10.GROUNDHOG DAY

WICKED 3---Universal Pictures chief marketing officer Michael Moses said a second sequel is being discussed, “Because of WICKED’s success but also the fanship, we have almost a responsibility to figure out how we can continue in this universe,” Moses said. “Have we figured it out yet? No. But there are things underway.”

THE THING EXPANDED---the makers of the upcoming documentary about John Carpenter's classic 1983 sci fi horror movie THE THING have started a petition to get imdb and Letterboxdvd to officially classify THE THING as a Christmas movie, although the movie is set in March. The petition states, "Snow. Isolation. Paranoia... isn't it time John Carpenter's The Thing took its rightful place as a Christmas movie?
Think about it: the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful (via flamethrowers). No one has a place to go (the chopper is a wreck). And it stars Santa Claus (kinda)!
With your help, we're aiming to collect 10,000 signatures for our petition which we'll be sending to IMDb and Letterboxd to request they reclassify The Thing as a Christmas movie."
They hope to get 10,000 signatures.

THE AUTOPSY OF ALBERT KEMPER---Alexandra Shipp, Eric Stoltz and David Howard Thornton star in the horror movie about a morgue assistant who discovers the body of a serial killer has come back to life.

TRIVIA---David Harbour encountered invading interdimensional creatures in STRANGER THINGS and he almost encountered invading outer space creatures in Steven Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS, but his scene with Tom Cruise was cut.
Harbour said, “I don’t know if you remember the movie, but [Cruise’s character] works nights and he gets off work at the dock and he goes and he’s late to pick up his kid. And that’s where the mom gets really mad at him for being a deadbeat dad sort of situation. Well, in the original screenplay, there was a scene where the reason why he’s late is he’s out drinking with his buddy at the bar after his shift at like eight in the morning. And his buddy at the bar was me. And we had a little scene in this bar and it was not a great scene. It was also not a necessary scene to the film at all…And we shot it and I remember thinking it was probably going to get cut, but Spielberg was there and it was so exciting to meet him. He cast me. And then, you know, it just got cut, just never wound up in the movie.”
He added, "It was not a great scene. It was also not a necessary scene to the film at all ... And we shot it, and I remember thinking it was probably going to get cut, but Spielberg was there and it was so exciting to meet him. He cast me. And then, you know, it just got cut, just never wound up in the movie."

David Harbour encountered invading interdimensional creatures in STRANGER THINGS.

Harbour almost encountered invading creatures from outer space in Steven Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS, but his scene with Tom Cruise was cut.

 

[dragon53]

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26

SCRUBS---trailer released for the reboot series.

LINK:

BABY BOOM---Amazon MGM Studios is developing a remake of the 1987 comedy movie that starred Diane Keaton, who played a successful New York executive who inherits a dead relative's baby girl.

AVATAR---James Cameron was asked if he is ready and willing to step away from AVATAR, “Absolutely… I’ve been in AVATAR land for 20 years, actually 30 years, because I wrote it in 1995, but I wasn’t working continuously on it for those first ten years. There was a brief flurry of interest in ’95, and then everybody said, ‘You’re out of your mind,’ and I shelved it for ten years. And then we got serious in 2005. Yeah, absolutely. Sure. If this is where it ends, cool.”
Cameron also commented on Netflix possibly buying Warner Bros. Discovery in an interview with Matt Belloni.

Cameron: "I think Paramount’s the best choice. Netflix would be a disaster. Sorry, Ted, but geez. Sarandos has gone on the record saying theatrical films are dead. ‘Theatrical is dead. Quote, unquote.’"
Belloni: "He’s now promising theaters if he buys Warner Bros."
Cameron: "It’s sucker bait. “We’ll put the movie out for a week or 10 days. We’ll qualify for Oscar consideration.” See, I think that’s fundamentally rotten to the core. A movie should be made as a movie for theatrical, and the Academy Awards mean nothing to me if they don’t mean theatrical. I think they’ve been co-opted, and I think it’s horrific."
Belloni: "You don’t think they should be allowed to compete for Oscars?"
Cameron: "They should be allowed to compete if they put the movie out for a meaningful release in 2,000 theaters for a month.”

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY---Sadie Sink commented on fans trying to determine what character she is playing and her red hair, "A lot of people forget that hair color can change, but yeah, I understand all of the theories. People will just have to wait and see. I’m excited for all of it to maybe be put to rest.”

CALL OF DUTY---a source claims the Peter Berg movie based on the video game will be set in modern time and “Berg [is] already eyeing some of his usual stars for roles.” This led to speculation of Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Kitsch and John Malkovich.

WEDNESDAY---Eva Green (CASINO ROYALE) will play Morticia Addams' sister, Aunt Ophelia, in Season 3.

HOME ALONE 3---Macaulay Culkin suggested a sequel idea to the 1990 Christmas movie, “I kind of had this idea. I’m either a widower or a divorcee. I’m raising a kid and all that stuff. I’m working really hard, and I’m not really paying enough attention, and the kid is kind of getting miffed at me, and then I get locked out. [Kevin’s son] won’t let me in… and he’s the one setting traps for me. The house is some sort of metaphor for our relationship. [Kevin has to] get let back into [his] son’s heart.”

REACHER---Lee Childs said he is leaving the franchise and his younger brother, Andrew, will take over, “It’s all his now."

BOSCH: START OF WATCH---author Michael Connelly commented on the prequel series starring Cameron Monaghan as rookie cop Harry Bosch in 1992 by saying filming starts in April with scripts already written, "we're well down the road in the writing room on that...coming along really good." START OF WATCH is directly connected to the tv series and not the novels.

TRIVIA---Thanksgiving movie trivia.
In the Thanksgiving movie PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, character actor George Petrie played the father of Neal Page (Steve Martin).
In the tv sitcoms LEAVE IT TO BEAVER and THE NEW LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, Petrie played the father of Eddie Haskell.

In the Thanksgiving movie PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES, character actor George Petrie (red sweater) played the father of Neal Page (Steve Martin).

In the tv sitcoms LEAVE IT TO BEAVER and THE NEW LEAVE IT TO BEAVER, Petrie played the father of Eddie Haskell.

 

[dragon53]

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1

RUN AWAY---trailer released for the Netflix mystery series based on the novel.

LINK:

STAR WARS: STARFIGHTER---Shawn Levy said STARFIGHTER's tone will be closer to RETURN OF THE JEDI than the other movies, “If I’m being honest, I know the cool answer would be EMPIRE, and sort of the inarguable answer would be A NEW HOPE, but it’s kinda JEDI. It’s JEDI because of the combination of theme, levity, adventure, heart, spectacle. Somehow that movie just got it right for me.”
He added he, "...saw that movie so many times in a theater, more times in a theater than NEW HOPE and EMPIRE, and it stuck with me. There are moments where I’m on set, and I feel like that kid is with me, in the director’s chair. Like I’m there making his dream come true. It’s absolutely incredible.”

STRANGER THINGS---Season 5's first four episodes led to Netflix crashing for about five minutes even though Netflix had increased bandwidth by 30% to prevent a crash. Netflix commented on the crash by posting a fan's comment, "STRANGER THINGS IS BACK EVERYONE STFU".

THE HUNGER GAMES---Quentin Tarantino commented on the Suzanne Collins novels that the movies are based on, “I do not understand how the Japanese writer didn’t sue Suzanne Collins for every f—ing thing she owns. They just ripped off the f—in’ book. Stupid book critics are not going to go watch a Japanese movie called BATTLE ROYALE so the stupid book critics never called her on it. They talked about how it was the most original f—in’ thing they’d ever read. As soon as the film critics saw the film, they said, ‘What the f—? This is just BATTLE ROYALE except PG!'”

MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS---Apple TV has reportedly approved a prequel tv series with Wyatt Russell returning as young Lee Shaw during the Cold War between the US and the USSR.

DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE---FORBES reported that the movie's budget was $534 million and made $1.34 billion in theaters, but after total productions costs were figured in, the movie barely made a profit in theaters.

FRED ASTAIRE---Fred Astaire's widow, Robyn Astaire, sent a letter to Sony Pictures in which she said the Fred Astaire estate does not approve of Sony's biomovie starring Tom Holland, “...was explicit in his Will that he did not want his life story to be depicted on screen”. Sources said Sony is basing the biomovie on an autobiography has owns the rights to.

WICKED---composer Stephen Schwartz commented on any future sequels, “I think that there will…I don’t know. I’m trying to think what I’m allowed to say. But let me just say, I think that a spinoff is not out of the question. Let me put it that way. Oz is a very rich territory. There are a lot of stories there, and possible stories. L. Frank Baum wrote many other odd stories besides that first book. So I think there may be some other visits to Oz in the future, and I might even be participating in one of them.”

JAMES BOND---a British tabloid claims Callum Turner (MASTERS OF THE AIR) is "strongly rumored" to be the lead candidate to be new James Bond.

TRIVIA---William Campbell is best known to sci fi fans for appearing in two STAR TREK episodes. Campbell played Klingon Koloth in the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles", and he played alien Trelane in the episode "The Squire of Gothos". Campbell's first wife was Judith Exner, the mistress of President John F. Kennedy and Chicago mobster Sam Giancana. In her autobiography MY STORY, Exner cliaims that in addition to being the mistress of the two men, she was their "Go-between" in which she relayed information between Kennedy and Giancana about CIA/mob plans to assassinate Cuban dictator Fidel Casto.

William Campbell is best known to sci fi fans for appearing in two STAR TREK episodes. Campbell played Klingon Koloth in the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles", and he played alien Trelane in the episode "The Squire of Gothos".

Campbell's first wife was Judith Exner, the mistress of President John F. Kennedy and Chicago mobster Sam Giancana.

 

[dragon53]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

SHELTER---trailer released for the Jason Statham action movie.

LINK:

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION---trailer released for the Netflix movie based on the novel.

LINK:

MOTHER MARY---trailer released for the movie starring Anne Hathaway.

LINK:

RETURN TO SILENT HILL---trailer released for the reboot horror movie.

LINK:

STAR TREK---Noah Hawley commented on his STAR TREK movie that was cancelled by Paramount Pictures, “I signed on, you know, after LUCY IN THE SKY; I thought, ‘Oh, I like this movie thing’. I’d like to do another one, but I think maybe I’d like to try something a little bigger. You know it’s all franchises, and I thought, yeah, but everything’s war, right? STAR WARS is war, and Marvel is war. But STAR TREK isn’t war. STAR TREK is exploration, right? It’s people solving problems by being smarter than the other guy.”
He added, “So I went in, I talked to Paramount, I sold them this original idea. It wasn’t Chris Pine, it wasn’t anything. I wrote it, they said, ‘We love it, let’s prep it.’ We were, you know, we were… I was going to move to Australia, we were booking stages, whatever…
And then, you know, as happens in Hollywood, Jim Gianopulos, who was running the studio at the time, he’s like, ‘I’m going to bring in somebody else under me, and they’re going to take over the film studio’.
And the first thing they did was kill the original ‘Star Trek’ movie because they said, ‘Well, how do we know people are going to like it?’ Like, you know, ‘Shouldn’t we do a transition movie from Chris Pine[’s cast], play it safe, you know, whatever?’ And so it kind of went away.”

DCU--- a fan posted a rumor about MAN OF TOMORROW, "Rumor: Steve Trevor is said to be on James Gunn's casting list for 'Man of Tomorrow'". Gunn replied, "Nope."
Gunn also said the top requests from fans is about Batman's suit, “The most requested thing would be the blue and grey [color scheme]. Then the yellow around the bat. And THEN the white eyes. But all of those things I find less important than the character himself, the writing, and the person who plays him. Individuals are making clear what they want to see. But even the most requested thing – the blue and grey – is split evenly with people who don’t want that. And the other two most requested things are also things just as many people say they don’t want to see. So you have to do what’s right by the specific film and story.”
Also, a fan posted a rumor about MAN OF TOMORROW, "Rumor" Steve Trevor is said to be on Jame Gunn's casting list for 'Man of Tomorrow'". Gunn replied, "Nope."

KILL BILL---Quentin Tarantino commented on any future KILL BILL projects, “I’ve got other things to do right now, but I had a whole KILL BILL idea in my mind when we were doing it, and then I was so wiped out from doing the movie. I like the idea of a Bill origin. A story of Bill, about how Bill became Bill and the three godfathers that made Bill: Esteban Vihaio, Pai Mei, and Hattori Hanzō. Will I live long enough to do that? That remains to be seen.”
He also is interested in animated projects, “I could see some world between this and Japanese anime that I could find some happy medium, or, you know, between the things that I couldn’t physically do, like say the Vega Brothers movie, or something like that."

BLADE---Mia Goth commented on the status of the Marvel Studios reboot movie, “I don’t know what’s going on with that. I think that they want to make it, and it’s such an important film for them that they’re taking their time with it. I really don’t have any information. I don’t know why it’s taken the time that it has. We will see. Yeah, we will see.”

MOSQUITO---Nicholas Hoult and Daisy Edgar-Jones will star in the Hulu comedy tv series whose plot is described as, "The series centers on Kate (Edgar-Jones) and Ed (Hoult), a recently married couple whose secrets begin to reveal as daily life chips away at the personas they present… all started by an intrusive mosquito."

TRIVIA---before Dana Carvey achieved stardom on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, he co-starred in the short-lived 1984 tv series BLUE THUNDER which was based on the 1983 action movie BLUE THUNDER which starred Roy Scheider as LAPD pilot Frank Murphy, who is assigned to fly a new high-tech attack helicopter.
In the tv series, Carvey played Flight Engineer Craig Wonderlove and his co-stars were James Farentino and NFL stars Dick Butkus and Bubba Smith. In the movie, Scheider's co-stars were Malcolm McDowell, Warren Oates and Daniel Stern.

 

[dragon53]

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3

28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE---trailer released for the zombie sequel.

LINK:

A PRIVATE LIFE---trailer released for the movie starring Jodie Foster.

LINK:

READY OR NOT 2: HERE I COME---trailer released for the horror sequel.

LINK:

IN COLD LIGHT---trailer released for the movie starring Helen Hunt.

LINK:

MAN OF TOMORROW---Nexus Point News said the three lead candidates to play Brainiac are Matt Smith, Claes Bang and Sam Rockwell, “Some of the names we have mentioned have not been independently verified fully, as casting remains ongoing and no offers have been made."

WERWULF---photos from the set of the Robert Eggers werewolf movie show Willem Dafoe and Lily-Rose Depp.

SUNNY---Angelina Jolie will star in the movie about a female gangster whose synopsis says, “[Jolie] fights to protect her sons — and herself — from an abusive drug kingpin. But when a devastating event occurs, she only has a matter of hours to plot their permanent escape."

SPARTACUS: HOUSE OF ASHUR---showrunner Steven S. DeKnight commented on the Starz spinoff series which includes a female gladiator, “This time in ancient Rome was a brutal, brutal time and hypersexual. I’m very thankful to Lionsgate and Starz that I have not gotten a note that said, ‘Whoa, can you pull it back?’”
DeKnight commented on possible concerns from parents advocacy groups, “I welcome a parents advisory out for blood.”

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY'S 2---director Emma Tammi commented on the fans liking the movie and the critics who do not like it, “This was who this movie was for. If it’s connecting with them, if they’re getting it, then we did a good job, and we did what we set out to do...I think, at the core, this movie wasn’t for the critics. I think you’ve just got to be able to let it go.”

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL---Leslie Odom, Jr. is the star/writer of the movie about Sammy Davis, Jr.'s connection with Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan.

THE BEAUTY---Evan Peters, Ashton Kutcher and Rebecca Hall star in the Hulu horror tv series whose synopsis says, "...two FBI agents tasked with solving the mystery behind the murders of several supermodels. Along the way, they discover that a virus is turning people into seemingly perfect specimens, but the repercussions are truly horrifying."

TRIVIA---Eddie Murphy had box office hits with BEVERLY HILLS COP, TRADING PLACES and 48 HRS. However, he regretted turning down starring in three other hits, "GHOSTBUSTERS, I was supposed to do GHOSTBUSTERS. Didn’t do that, and RUSH HOUR. Didn’t do that. Oh, and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT. Those are my big three ‘wish I would have done’ movies.”

 

[dragon53]

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4

THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE---trailer released for the movie starring Andrew Garfield that is based on the children's book.

LINK:

OBSESSION---trailer released for the horror movie.

LINK:

SLEEPWALKER---trailer released for the horror movie starring Hayden Panettiere.

LINK:

THE BATMAN: PART II---Scarlett Johansson is in negotiations to co-star in the sequel in an undisclosed role. Fan speculation listed her role as possibly Phantasm, Andrea Beaumont, Vicky Vale, Poison Ivy and Julie Madison. Also, Zoe Kravitz is not returning as Catwoman.

HEAT 2---Leonardo DiCaprio confirmed he will co-star in HEAT 2, but he is not returning for David Fincher's THE ADVENTURES OF CLIFF BOOTH, the sequel to ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD.

TERMINATOR---James Cameron said he is starting to write the script for the new TERMINATOR sequel, “I’ll have some time to write and to consider my next projects and the order in which I do them and so on once we’re done with the marketing on this in a month or so. I’ve got a stack of notes this thick [holds fingers about three inches apart], which is how I start all my scripts, on what I want to do with a new Terminator film. I’m going to pour myself into that as a writer. It’s difficult. I have to tell you. Science fiction has caught up and is actually overwhelming us at this point. We’re living in a science fiction world, and we’re literally having to deal with problems that in the past only existed in science fiction books and movies. Now we’re living it for real. I’ll never be as prescient as I was back in 1984 of imagining this one because I don’t think anybody knows what’s going to be happening a year or two years from now. But I at least want to future-proof myself by being a couple years out.“

THERE WILL BE BLOOD---Quentin Tarantino said THERE WILL BE BLOOD is No. 5 on his list of the Top 10 Movies of the 21st Century and it would have been ranked higher if not for Paul Dano, “THERE WILL BE BLOOD would stand a good chance at being No.1 or No. 2 if it didn’t have a big, giant flaw in it … and the flaw is Paul Dano. Obviously, it’s supposed to be a two-hander, but it’s also drastically obvious that it’s not a two-hander. [Dano] is weak sauce, man. He is the weak sister. Austin Butler would have been wonderful in that role. He’s just such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy. The weakest f-cking actor in SAG.”

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY---new sequel is underway with Oren Peli and James Wan as co-producers.

DEVIANT---Tig Notaro said she is reuniting with her ARMY OF THE DEAD director Zack Snyder for a lesbian movie, "What if we just went for it and everyone’s a hot lesbian? He was like, 'Oh my God, yes, let’s make that movie.' And so who knows? It’s a Hollywood project. We’re in the process of putting the script together. Picture this poster: We have the name of the film, and then it says 'Hot Lesbian Action.' That’s how I sold him on the Zoom."

TEHRAN---Apple TV renewed the series for Season 4 and Hugh Laurie will play Eric Peterson, a South African nuclear inspector, in Season 3.

TRIVIA---Tom Selleck appeared in two sci fi movies written and directed by Michael Crichton. In COMA, Selleck played hospital patient Sean Murphy, who becomes a victim of a black market organ-harvesting conspiracy. In RUNAWAY, Selleck played police office Sgt. Jack Ramsay, who is assigned to track down dangerous runaway robots controlled by mad scientist Dr. Charles Luther (Gene Simmons).

In COMA, Selleck played hospital patient Sean Murphy, who becomes a victim of a black market organ-harvesting conspiracy.

In RUNAWAY, Selleck (shown with Michael Crichton and Kirstie Alley) played police office Sgt. Jack Ramsay, who is assigned to track down dangerous runaway robots controlled by mad scientist Dr. Charles Luther (Gene Simmons, shown with Anna-Marie Martin, Crichton's wife).

 

[dragon53]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5

A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS---trailer released for the spinoff series.

LINK:

BATMAN V SUPERMAN---Zack Snyder posted Gal Gadot's screen test for Wonder Woman.

LINK:

MEN IN BLACK---Sony Pictures has hired Chris Bremner to write the script for the next movie in the franchise. The script will be sent to Will Smith, who starred in Bremner's BAD BOYS FOR LIFE.

THE BATMAN: PART II---The InSneider said Emma Stone was the top choice to co-star in PART II, but because he wanted too much, the role went to Scarlett Johansson, “I know [Stone] wanted a big payday for Marvel’s Fantastic Four movie, and I imagine she’d want the same for The Batman Part II. As a two-time Oscar nominee, Johansson doesn’t exactly come cheap, but I’ve heard whispers that she may have taken a lower salary upfront for The Batman Part II in exchange for points on the backend, ultimately betting on the success of the sequel. It’s unclear whether Stone was willing to make a similar concession or if the role simply didn’t speak to her.”

ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS---Vin Diesel will write and star in the movie based on the Mattel toy line.

WARNER BROS.---Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. for $82.7 billion. Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. properties that include the THE LORD OF THE RINGS, DCU, HBO, THE SOPRANOS, HARRY POTTER, GAME OF THRONES, CASABLANCA, THE BIG BANG THEORY and many others.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER stated, “Warner Bros.’ studios are world-class, with Warner Bros. recognized as a leading supplier of television titles and filmed entertainment. HBO and HBO Max also provide a compelling, complementary offering for consumers. Netflix expects to maintain Warner Bros.’ current operations and build on its strengths, including theatrical releases for films.”

CLUE---Peacock tv series underway based on the 1985 movie that starred Tim Curry and Christopher Lloyd and the Hasbro board game.

COUNT MY LIES---Kit Harington, Shailene Woodley and Lindsay Lohan will star in the Hulu miniseries based on the novel. The synopsis says, When compulsive liar Sloane Caraway (Woodley) fibs her way into a nanny position for the gorgeous and charismatic Violet (Lohan) and Jay Lockhart (Harington), it seems she’s finally landed her dream job. But little does Sloane know, she’s just entered a household brimming with secrets that are about to explode — with potentially catastrophic consequences for all.”

PEAKY BLINDERS: THE IMMORTAL MAN---the Netflix movie will star Cillian Murphy, Rebecca Ferguson, Tim Roth, Barry Keoghan and Stephen Graham. The synopsis says, "Birmingham, 1940. Amidst the chaos of WWII, Tommy Shelby is driven back from a self-imposed exile to face his most destructive reckoning yet. With the future of the family and the country at stake, Tommy must face his own demons, and choose whether to confront his legacy, or burn it to the ground. By order of the Peaky Blinders…"
Netflix also approved a sequel tv series whose synopsis says, “Britain, 1953. After being heavily bombed in WWII, Birmingham is building a better future out of concrete and steel. In a new era of Steven Knight’s Peaky Blinders, the race to own Birmingham’s massive reconstruction project becomes a brutal contest of mythical dimensions. This is a city of unprecedented opportunity and danger, with the Shelby family right at its blood-soaked heart.”

PLATONIC---Apple TV renewed the series for Season 3.

TRIVIA---THE TWILIGHT ZONE's 112th episode, "No Time Like the Past", starred Dana Andrews as scientist Paul Driscoll, who uses a time machine to travel back in time to prevent historical tragedies including trying to assassinate Adolf Hitler before World War II. The next week, the 113th episode, "Parallel", starred Dana Andrew's younger brother, Steve Forrest, as astronaut Maj. Robert Gaines, whose space ship enters a parallel universe.

THE TWILIGHT ZONE's 112th episode, "No Time Like the Past", starred Dana Andrews as scientist Paul Driscoll, who uses a time machine to travel back in time to prevent historical tragedies including trying to assassinate Adolf Hitler before World War II.

The next week, the 113th episode, "Parallel", starred Dana Andrew's younger brother, Steve Forrest, as astronaut Maj. Robert Gaines, whose space ship enters a parallel universe.

 

[marco55]

The "TWILIGHT ZONE" was great. Some great creative thinking back then. Now it's spinoffs and reboots.
Mark

 

[dragon53]

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8

SUPERGIRL---teaser trailer relased for the movie starring Milly Alcock.

LINK:

DC Studios also posted a photo of the suit worn by Alcock.

STAR TREK: STARFLEET ACADEMY---film clip and poster released from the Paramount+ series starring Holly Hunter.

LINK:

THE BOYS---trailer released for the last season.

LINK:

STAR WARS---Lucasfilm announced a new date for the 50th anniversary re-release of the “1977 original” movie which will be on February 19, 2027.

THE WOLF WILL TEAR YOUR IMMACULATE HANDS---Alexander Skarsgard will star in the gothic werewolf movie whose synopsis says, "a British widower in the 1880s Pacific Northwest, who hires a Native American governess, educated in a Christian mission school, to teach his two daughters. While preparing the eldest for an arranged marriage, a force within her begins to awaken, threatening everything she has been taught."

STEPS---Netflix animated Cinderella movie whose synopsis says, “...misunderstood Lilith is blamed for hijacking the Royal Ball with a stolen magic wand [and] accidentally turns her sister Margot into a frog and leaves the kingdom in the hands of a prince-obsessed mean girl. Now Lilith must team up with Cinderella (and a surprisingly dreamy troll) to save the kingdom, repair the fractured fairytale, and prove that even so-called villains deserve a shot at happily-ever-after."

QUENTIN TARANTINO---Quentin Tarantino commented on another actor he does not like, “I don’t care for Matthew Lillard”. Lillard replied, “Quentin Tarantino this week said he didn’t like me as an actor. Eh, whatever. Who gives a sh-t."
He added, “It hurts your feelings. It f-cking sucks. And you wouldn’t say that to Tom Cruise. You wouldn’t say that to somebody who’s a top-line actor in Hollywood.”

WONDER MAN---Byron Bowers will play Doorman.

HOLIDAY EVER AFTER: A DISNEY WORLD WISH COME TRUE---Lacey Chabert and Travis Van Winkle star in the Hallmark/Disney Christmas movie set at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The synopsis says, “Lindsey (Chabert) and her extended family head to Walt Disney World to spend a magical Christmas together. But the dream of a jolly holiday gets quickly dashed when Lindsey discovers her room is next door to Philip (Van Winkle), a disastrous first date she recently had, who’s also there on a family trip. As Lindsey and Philip’s paths cross throughout their stay, the frost starts to thaw as they learn they’re not so different from each other after all. Thanks to some Walt Disney World magic, the holiday wish Lindsey made in Cinderella Fountain just might turn their rivalry into romance.”

CBS---CBS renewed BOSTON BLUE and SHERIFF COUNTRY.

LANDMAN---Paramount+ renewed the series for Season 2.

CHAD POWERS----Hulu renewed the series for Season 2.

TRIVIA---December 7, 2025 was the 84th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which led to the United States entering World War II.
In the Pearl Harbor movie TORA! TORA! TORA!, two-time Academy Award-winner Jason Robards played Maj. Gen. Walter Short, commander of US Army forces in Hawaii.
In reality, Robards was a Navy radioman on the cruiser USS Northampton which was based at Pearl Harbor in 1941, but the cruiser was at sea during the attack and did not return until December 9. The Northampton saw combat in the invasion of Gaudalcanal, and during the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Northampton was sunk by torpedoes launched by Japanese destroyers. About 50 crewmen were killed, but Robards and the other survivors were rescued.
Robards later served on the cruiser USS Nashville which was struck by a Japanese kamikaze plane off the Philippines which killed 123 of its crew, but Robards was unscathed. While on the Nashville, read the Eugene O'Neill play "Strange Interlude" which inspired him to become an actor.

In the Pearl Harbor movie TORA! TORA! TORA!, two-time Academy Award-winner Jason Robards played Maj. Gen. Walter Short, commander of US Army forces in Hawaii.

Robards was a radioman on the cruiser USS Northampton, which was at sea during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and survived the sinking of the Northampton in the Battle of Tassafaronga.

Robards was also on the cruiser USS Nashville when it was struck by a Japanese kamikaze plane off the Philippines which killed 133 of its crew, but Robards was unscathed.