Britt Hayes
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What’s Expiring From Netflix: October 2017
By now you’ve probably heard that 30 Rock is leaving Netflix Instant, and if you’re anything like me, you are distraught. Inconsolable, even. The good news is that we still have Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Parks and Recreation, so there’s that, at least. Anyway, 30 Rock isn’t the only title expiring from Netflix in October, so let’s commence the mourning, shall we?
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New Netflix Instant Releases: October 2017
Let’s just get this out of the way up front: Yes, the highly-anticipated second season of Stranger Things is coming to Netflix in October...
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‘Wonder Woman 2’ to Be Co-Written by ‘The Expendables’ Scribe Dave Callaham
In a move that’s sure to elicit at least a few eye rolls, Warner Bros. has tapped a male screenwriter to collaborate with Patty Jenkins on the Wonder Woman sequel. But before you roll your eyes too hard, Dave Callaham has an existing working relationship with Jenkins: The pair were developing a mystery thriller together before Jenkins took the Wonder Woman gig.
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Yes, Harrison Ford Punched Ryan Gosling in the Face But It Was Ryan Gosling’s Fault
Last fall, Ryan Gosling revealed that Harrison Ford punched him in the face — like, legit punched him in the face — on the set of Blade Runner 2049. It was for a scene they were filming in Denis Villeneuve’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic, of course. Still, the thought of iconic curmudgeon Harrison Ford punching iconic pretty boy Ryan Gosling in the kisser is just so delightful. In a new interview, Ford responds to Gosling’s face-punching allegation by suggesting his younger co-star should be “grateful” it only happened once. That sound you hear is the firing of shots from Ford’s general vicinity.
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Ben Affleck’s ‘Batman’ Script Was Reportedly Inspired By David Fincher’s ‘The Game’
That headline is probably the most unlikely (and totally bonkers) series of words you’ll read this week. (Hopefully. It’s only Wednesday.) Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of The Game; to celebrate, we ran a feature on what is perhaps David Fincher’s most underrated film. As it turns out, that film reportedly inspired Ben Affleck’s screenplay for The Batman, which Matt Reeves tossed out when he replaced Affleck as director of the Dark Knight’s upcoming solo adventure.
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‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Pushed Back to December 2019
And in other, totally unsurprising Star Wars: Episode IX news… Following this morning’s announcement that J.J. Abrams is returning to direct (and co-write) the trilogy finale comes word that the release date has been pushed back seven months from May 24, 2019 to December 20. Meanwhile, despite a change in directors and Ron Howard’s ongoing reshoots, the Han Solo spinoff weirdly remains the one Star Wars property that won’t be released in December.
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Liam Neeson Is Officially Retiring From Making Liam Neeson Action Thrillers
Liam Neeson has a particular set of skills, a set of skills has acquired over a very long career. In recent years, those skills have frequently been put to use in films where Neeson plays fathers and former government professionals burdened by personal demons, who wear leather jackets and yell at bad guys over cell phones. But Liam Neeson is, in his own words, “sixty-f—ing-five,” and it appears that he is officially getting too old for this s—.
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J.J. Abrams Officially Returning for ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’
We knew it wouldn’t take Lucasfilm long to find a new director for Star Wars: Episode IX. When Colin Trevorrow parted ways with the studio last week, it seemed obvious that there would be two names at the top of their list: Rian Johnson, director of The Last Jedi, and J.J. Abrams, Star Wars executive producer and director of The Force Awakens. Johnson took his name out of the running pretty early on, and now it seems as though Abrams is stepping up to the plate.
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‘IT’ Director Spills Details on ‘Chapter Two’ and the Future of the Losers Club
Although Warner Bros. and New Line have yet to formally greenlight IT: Chapter Two, director Andy Muschietti and his producing partner (and sister) Barbara are already developing the follow-up to one of this year’s biggest hits. With a record-breaking opening weekend and screenwriter Gary Dauberman reportedly on board for the sequel, it shouldn’t be long before WB gives the go-ahead. Until then, Muschietti is spilling the beans on his plans for Chapter Two and how the young cast factors into the story, which is set 27 years after the first film.
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Joseph Gordon-Levitt Also Has a Cameo in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
While a handful of cameos in The Last Jedi remain rumored, director Rian Johnson has confirmed at least one actor to look (or listen) out for in the upcoming Star Wars sequel. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who appeared in Johnson’s three previous films, will also appear in The Last Jedi. News of the actor’s cameo comes not long after John Boyega (jokingly?) confirmed three others, including Tom Hardy and a pair of particularly notable princes.
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Rocket Raccoon’s ‘Horrible’ Origins to Be Explored in Future Marvel Film(s)
Although Rocket Raccoon’s origins have been discussed and hinted at in both Guardians of the Galaxy movies, we still don’t know too much about his past — and given what we do know, that seems okay. It’s not as if fans need a Marvel movie with an entire sequence devoted to the torturous circumstances that led to Rocket’s creation. This isn’t the DCEU, after all. But according to James Gunn, that’s about to change.
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James Franco, Seth Rogen and More Surprise High School Students by Starring in Their Short Film
Seth Rogen and longtime partner Evan Goldberg recently launched And Action!, a new high school program that offers young, aspiring filmmakers the chance to learn the business by making a short film. But it probably never occurred to 17-year-old director Eduardo Cho and his creative collaborator, 16-year-old Kimberly Carrillo, that Rogen himself would actually show up to set — and bring several of his famous friends with him to star in Cho’s short.
