Lionsgate’s John Wick franchise introduced an aspect of the plot that could make it challenging to continue the series, but since when has a bump in the road kept Hollywood from keeping the money train on the tracks? Lionsgate executives recently got a first look at Ballerina, the John Wick spinoff starring Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Anjelica Huston, and the late Lance Reddick. With optimism in the air, creatives wonder how long they can keep the franchise going after Ballerina, and the John Wick prequel series, The Continental, take center stage. According to The Continental producer Basil Iwanyk, we’ll know more by September. Still, that won’t keep him from commenting on where the franchise could go after the shocking finale of John Wick: Chapter 4.

While drinking bottles of whiskey in Japan, Iwanyk, Stahelski, and Reeves discussed what lies ahead for the John Wick Universe and if the franchise could continue without its title character. “Once they get through their hangovers, if Keanu and Chad have figured out something cool, if they’ve an organic way back in that doesn’t feel like bullshit, then there will be a John Wick 5.”

“The challenge of doing a TV show from John Wick is people think this is based on some underlying IP,” said Iwanyk. “It’s an original idea that was never meant to be a franchise, and we’ve been making it up as we’ve gone along. The issue we had with television was how are we going to create a John Wick offshoot without cannibalizing ourselves or feeling like we’ve stripped mined the franchise.”

During a one-on-one with Deadline, The Continental producer and director Albert Hughes spilled more than blood and bullets about the three-part series focusing on the Gotham-based hotel for assassins. Hughes directs the first and third episodes of The Continental, which “follows Winston through the underworld of ’70s New York, where he will battle demons from his past as he attempts to seize control of the iconic hotel – a hotel that serves as a meeting point for the world’s most dangerous criminals.”

When asked about establishing connective tissue between the films and the prequel series, Hughes explains how inspiration comes from all corners of the Wick world.

“I just love what Chad Stahelski did with those movies, the way they looked. It’s not necessarily the kind of style I would do, but I love watching someone do that stuff,” Hughes explained to Deadline. “Noir, Greek mythology, and he’s very much influenced by Bob Fosse dance movies. He talked to me about his influences when I got asked to do this by the producers. I said, what do you guys want from this? Give me three things. One was to open up more of the mythology but keep it grounded. Chad was very supportive and said, do your own thing. Make it yours.”

“Then it became what do I have that’s mine, that I can bring like Chad brought to the movies, with all that gun-fu, stunt background and visual flair? I started with, I love ’70s music and got to explore the two sides of my culture. I grew up in a house with a white mother, and a black father. He’s playing James Brown and Parliament, and she’s playing Jimi Hendrix, Credence and Pink Floyd. I got a wonderfully done script and completely connected with Kirk Ward.”

While The Continental does not feature Keanu Reeves’ John Wick, the series includes other beloved characters from the action franchise, including Colin Woodell as a young Winston, Ayomide Adegun as Charon, and the hotel’s manager, Cormac, played by Mel Gibson.

Talking about the diversity of The Continental and how the haven for criminals is a melting pot of unsavory sorts, Hughes said, “Winston had been established by the writers before I came on. It was a good take, we see how Winston and Charon became who they are, and how their weird, mysterious partnership formed. As it hashed out in drafts, it was the old 48 Hours or The Defiant Ones, the Black and White guy partnership with two cultures coming together. What was also interesting about the script was a multicultural feel that wasn’t cynical. You’ve got powerful women of different ethnic backgrounds, and that’s what’s great about New York. Chad did this in the films. They’ll have a non-binary character, an Asian character, a Black character, a powerful female, and they’re all in this world of baddies. It becomes by degrees how bad they are to determine who is our true protagonist.”

Hughes thinks Gibson’s Cormac will rock many boats when The Continental premieres. His character is rough around the edges and lacks the dignity and grace of someone like McShane’s Winston. Hughes says Cormac is a cross between Joel Silver and Donald Trump. He will stand out among even the worst of New York’s criminal element.

“The showrunner Kirk Ward and I talked in detail about it. Kirk is a massive action movie fan, and his references are 48 Hours, Lethal Weapon, The Warriors, stuff like that,” said Hughes. “With Mel, Kirk and I decided he should be a little shabby on the edges. His organization skills aren’t as tight as Winston’s are later on. It feels a little cheap. Then I started coming up with my own motivations for the character, that was a cross between Joel Silver and Donald Trump.”

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Finally, when asked what fans can expect when The Continental comes to Peacock in September, Hughes avoids specifics but teases an expansion to the John Wick mythology we haven’t seen before.

“I wouldn’t say anything specific, but the whole point was to explore the mythology more, the secrets of the hotel through the characters Winston and Charon, and play with the intersecting characters and storylines. There’s this wild cast of new characters that come in and out of that world… I’d say they can expect the high style that the John Wick films give. But different, because we’re in the ’70s. It’s good eye candy, escapism and fun.”

Check out Deadline‘s full interview with Albert Hughes about The Continental, his influences, the pressure of contributing to a beloved franchise, and more.

Are you excited about The Continental? Do you think Stahelski and the teams behind the John Wick franchise will find a way to continue the story after the events of John Wick: Chapter 4? Please feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Waxwork Records will be releasing classic horror soundtracks under the Rob Zombie Presents banner, starting with White Zombie

Rob Zombie and Waxwork Records have collaborated multiple times in the past, and now they’re working together on a cool new project: a collection of classic horror movie soundtracks that will be released under the banner of “Rob Zombie Presents”! This line of never-before-released soundtracks, personally selected by Zombie, will include Spider Baby, Carnival of Souls, The Last Man on Earth, The House on Haunted Hill, Island of Lost Souls, plus many selections from the Hammer film library… and it all starts with the release of the soundtrack for the 1932 classic White Zombie. Of course it would start with White Zombie.

This 180 gram vinyl release comes in deluxe packaging, with new artwork by Graham Humphreys and liner notes and interviews by Rob Zombie. You can take a look at the White Zombie package at the bottom of this article.

The press release notes: Starring Bela Lugosi, 1932’s White Zombie is considered the first zombie movie. It was also filmed on Universal Studio’s lot, using several props from other horror films of that time. Starring Madge Bellamy, Robert W. Frazer, and John Harron, the film follows the cast as they navigate zombies, love, obsession, and treachery. Initially slammed by critics upon its release, the movie has been reevaluated and praised by recent critics for its classic horror production. The film has gone on to influence mainstream media, even influencing the band name of White Zombie. Rob Zombie has said of the film, “It’s a great film that not a lot of people know about. It amazes me that a film that is so readily available can be so lost.”

Zombie and Waxwork Records have worked on the release of the soundtracks for his films House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, 3 from Hell, The Lords of Salem, Halloween, Halloween II, and The Munsters. Now, with Rob Zombie Presents, they’re unearthing, re-mastering, and releasing soundtracks to classic horror films Zombie has been a life-long fan of.

Zombie provided the following statement: “I have always been a huge fan of movie soundtracks. So I jumped at the opportunity to work with Waxwork on this project. I can’t wait to release these albums. So many of these films are greatly under appreciated and, they all contain such great music. So, to be able to release these deluxe packages is a dream come true.“

Are you a vinyl collector, and are you looking forward to the Rob Zombie Presents line of soundtracks? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The White Zombie soundtrack can be purchased at THIS LINK and goes for the price of $32.

Willem Dafoe has joined Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Jenna Ortega, Monica Bellucci, and Justin Theroux in Beetlejuice 2

It’s been a long wait, but director Tim Burton is finally heading into production on a sequel to his 1988 classic Beetlejuice (watch it HERE) – and he’s assembling a cast that looks to guarantee that Beetlejuice 2 is going to be worth the wait. Not only is Michael Keaton reprising the role of the titular ghoul and Winona Ryder returning to play the “strange and unusual” Lydia Deetz, with Catherine O’Hara back as Lydia’s stepmother Delia, but new additions include Jenna Ortega as Lydia’s daughter, Monica Bellucci as Beetlejuice’s wife, and Justin Theroux in an unspecified role. Now The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Willem Dafoe has joined the cast and will be playing a law enforcement officer in the afterlife.

We’re still waiting to hear whether or not the rumor that Jean-Claude Van Damme is going to play a ghost in this movie will turn out to be true.

Beetlejuice 2 was in development hell for decades. In 1990, Jonathan Gems was hired to write a sequel that was going to be titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian. Burton considered having Daniel Waters rewrite that script, Pamela Norris did rewrite it, and Warner Bros. offered Kevin Smith the chance to do another rewrite. He turned it down. Seth Grahame-Smith was hired to write and produce a new version of a sequel in 2011. Mike Vukadinovich was brought on to rewrite his script in 2017.

Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, co-creators and co-showrunners of Netflix’s hit series Wednesday (which stars Ortega as the title character), have written the screenplay for Beetlejuice 2 that is actually going to be filmed. Plot details are being kept under wraps.

Brad Pitt’s Plan B is producing the sequel, which will be filming in London this summer.

Written by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren from a story McDowell crafted with Larry Wilson, the original Beetlejuice has the following synopsis: What’s a yuppie ghost couple to do when their quaint New England home is overrun by trendy New Yorkers? They hire a freelance ‘bio-exorcist’ to spook the intruders. And everyone gets more than he, she or it bargained for! Director Tim Burton teams with Michael Keaton. The result? ‘Keaton’s Beetlejuice is one of the biggest, baddest wolves a ghost movie has ever unleashed, a polter-gas’ (The Village Voice). He’s a juggernaut of jokes, jolts and jive who hurls one-liners, spins into grotesque forms, gobbles insects and can’t leave ladies (living or dead) alone. So exorcise your right to fun. Say the ‘B’ word three times and have a wonderful Day-O! 

Beetlejuice 2 is heading toward a September 6, 2024 theatrical release. Are you looking forward to the film? What do you think of Willem Dafoe joining the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

At the world premiere for Faxt X, Vin Diesel teased there could be another Fast X sequel in the works at Universal.

Fasten your seatbelts, folks! There could be another Fast & Furious sequel on the way! That’s right, grease monkeys! While attending Fast X‘s world premiere in Rome, Vin Diesel said the finale could expand into three films! Fast 12, baby! Let’s go!

The core Fast & Furious franchise finale is already a two-part event. Still, Universal might not be pulling an “ejecto seato” on the Fast family’s high-octane adventures yet.

“Going into making this movie, the studio asked if this could be a two-parter,” Diesel said. “And after the studio saw this one, they said, ‘Could you make “Fast X,” the finale, a trilogy?’”

“It’s three acts in any story,” Michelle Rodriguez added, who was walking the red carpet alongside Diesel.

When asked if they were confirming another Fast & Furious sequel, Diesel pumped the breaks by saying, “You’re gonna get me in trouble here.”

“Over many missions and against impossible odds, Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his family have outsmarted, out-nerved and outdriven every foe in their path. Now, they confront the most lethal opponent they’ve ever faced: A terrifying threat emerging from the shadows of the past who’s fueled by blood revenge, and who is determined to shatter this family and destroy everything—and everyone—that Dom loves, forever,” reads the official Fast X description. “In 2011’s Fast Five, Dom and his crew took out nefarious Brazilian drug kingpin Hernan Reyes and decapitated his empire on a bridge in Rio De Janeiro. What they didn’t know was that Reyes’ son, Dante, witnessed it all and has spent the last 12 years masterminding a plan to make Dom pay the ultimate price. Dante’s plot will scatter Dom’s family from Los Angeles to the catacombs of Rome, from Brazil to London and from Portugal to Antarctica. New allies will be forged and old enemies will resurface. But everything changes when Dom discovers that his own 8-year-old son is the ultimate target of Dante’s vengeance.”

Fast X stars Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster, Sung Kang, Jason Statham, John Cena, Scott Eastwood, Helen, Mirren, and Charlize Theron. The cast has expanded even more with the addition of Brie Larson as Tess, a rogue representative from the Agency; Alan Ritchson as Aimes, the new head of the agency who doesn’t hold the same fondness for Dom’s crew as his predecessor; Daniela Melchior as a Brazilian street racer with a powerful tie to Dom’s past; and Rita Moreno as Dom and Mia’s Abuelita Toretto.

Rodriguez is doing her best not to spoil the events of Fast X. She wants fans to know they’ll be “shocked” by where the upcoming film cuts off, but wants everyone to know there’s a master plan for future events. “You’re going to feel so cheated in a way, but then so gratified and excited about what’s to come,” Rodriguez added.

Do you think Universal will green light Fast X – Part 3? Feel free to let us know in the comments section.

Fast X will hit theaters on May 19, with Fast X – Part 2 hitting in 2025.

Mel Gibson returns to the director’s chair for the first time since Hacksaw Ridge to direct Flight Risk, a thriller starring Mark Wahlberg.

It’s been seven years since Mel Gibson last helmed a feature film, but Deadline reports that he’ll be returning to the director’s chair with Flight Risk, a thriller starring Mark Wahlberg.

Flight Risk is being developed for Lionsgate, who released Mel Gibson’s last movie, Hacksaw Ridge. Plot details for Gibson’s new project are being kept under wraps, but it’s said that Mark Wahlberg will be playing a pilot who must transport a dangerous criminal for trial. Wahlberg and Gibson have worked together several times before, including on Daddy’s Home 2 and Father Stu.

“We love the undeniable electric pairing of Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg,” said Lionsgate movie chairman Joe Drake. “These world-class talents combining for this dynamic, character-driven film will make Flight Risk one of the most suspense-filled, must-see events of the year.“

Mel Gibson has only directed five movies throughout his long career. He made his directorial debut with The Man Without a Face, before receiving critical acclaim (and the Academy Award for Best Director) with Braveheart. He also directed The Passion of the Christ, Apocalypto, and Hacksaw Ridge. In addition to Flight Risk, Gibson has a few other projects that he may direct, including Lethal Weapon 5 and the long-rumoured Passion of the Christ sequel.

Mark Wahlberg recently finished shooting The Union with Halle Berry. The action thriller follows a construction worker who is roped into the espionage world by his former high school girlfriend. It will be released on Netflix but doesn’t have an official release date yet. As for Mel Gibson, he will next be seen in the upcoming John Wick prequel series, The Continental. He plays Cormac, the current manager of the hotel. “The showrunner Kirk Ward and I talked in detail about it. Kirk is a massive action movie fan, and his references are 48 Hours, Lethal Weapon, The Warriors, stuff like that,” said director Albert Hughes. “With Mel, Kirk and I decided he should be a little shabby on the edges. His organization skills aren’t as tight as Winston’s are later on. It feels a little cheap. Then I started coming up with my own motivations for the character, that was a cross between Joel Silver and Donald Trump.“

Idris Elba will star in, produce, and direct Infernus, an action thriller in development for Millennium Media.

According to Deadline, Idris Elba is set to pull triple duty on Infernus. In addition to starring in the action thriller, Elba will also produce and direct the project for Millennium Media.

Idris Elba will star in Infernus as Donovan Kamara, “a U.N. human rights activist sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a U.S. black site prison. A seemingly simple task turns deadly when the world’s most dangerous inmates break free. Kamara must work to safely extricate the refugees, all while going head-to-head with a brilliant criminal mastermind.” Robert Mark Kamen wrote the screenplay based on a story by Tom Boyle. Production is expected to start in London on October 9th.

Idris Elba made his feature directorial debut with Yardie, a crime drama which debuted at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. “I’m excited to be back in the director’s chair, partnering with Millennium Media. Infernus is a gripping thriller with a relevant and intimate human story at its core,” Elba said in a statement. “Thanks to the brilliant writing of Robert and Tom, we have some exceptional characters. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity both in front and behind the camera, filming across Europe, as well as bringing our production to Africa, which has an emerging film community that we are proud to be supporting.“

Jeffrey Greenstein, President at Millennium Media, added, “It’s with great pleasure that we have the opportunity to create an entertaining and action-packed film alongside Idris, who in addition to being incredibly talented, is such a genuine and profound individual. We look forward to delivering a high-octane popcorn film that has character and soul, as well as an underlying message about the call for higher standards for mankind.” Most of the filming on Infernus will take place in London, but the production will also shoot in Ghana at the new TD Akuna Studios which was developed by Idris Elba, Tony Tagoe, and Danny Damah.

Idris Elba was recently seen starring in Luther: The Fallen Sun on Netflix. He’s also set to reprise his role of Knuckles in the Sonic the Hedgehog spin-off TV series as well as Sonic the Hedgehog 3.