The darkly comedic thriller Wrong Reasons, executive produced by Kevin Smith, is set for a digital and physical media release in August

MVD Entertainment Group has picked up the North American distribution rights to the darkly comedic thriller Wrong Reasons, which was executive produced by and features Kevin Smith. The company is planning to give Wrong Reasons a digital, VOD, Blu-ray, and DVD release on August 15th.

Coming our way from AntiCurrent Productions, the film marks the feature writing and directorial debut of Josh Roush, who has been working for Smith’s company Smodco for the last decade. The story Roush crafted for his film begins as an ambiguously intentioned masked man kidnaps a drug addicted punk rock singer and triggers a police investigation headed by Detective Charles Dobsonas well as a media circus.

The punk rock singer is played by Liv Roush (Holidays), who also produced the film. James Parks (From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money) is the masked man and Ralph Garman (Ted) is Detective Dobsonas. Their co-stars include Teresa Ruiz (Narcos: Mexico), Daniel Roebuck (The Munsters), Donita Sparks (Serial Mom), Harley Quinn Smith (Cruel Summer), John Enick (Walker), Darren Hayes (Going Dark), Keith Coogan (Adventures in Babysitting), Matthew Passmore (The Glades), Vernon Wells (The Road Warrior), Kym Wilson (Flirting), David Koechner (Final Destination 5), and, as mentioned, Kevin Smith (Clerks). Since this is described as being a “punk rock feature”, we should also mention that the soundtrack features Tim Armstrong, Bi-Product, Black Flag, Channel 3, L7, The Unseen, The Wipers, and William Elliott Whitmore.

Kevin Smith provided the following statement to Deadline: “Few first films are as accomplished as Wrong Reasons. This punk rock thriller by Josh Roush reminded me of why I got into filmmaking in the first place, and seeing what he accomplished on a next-to-nothing budget even inspired me to go equally indie-as-f**k on my next feature.“

Wrong Reasons had its world premiere at Smith’s first annual Smodcastle Film Festival last fall.

The trailer for Wrong Reasons can be seen at the top of this article. Does this movie sound interesting to you, and will you be watching it when it’s released in August? Let us know by leaving a comment below. I will be checking it out for sure.

Stanley Tucci reveals that he tried to talk his way out of playing serial killer George Harvey in Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones.

It’s been over a decade since I watched Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones and I don’t remember a heck of a lot about it… but what I do remember is the deeply unnerving performance of Stanley Tucci as serial killer George Harvey.

Based on Alice Sebold’s 2002 novel of the same name, The Lovely Bones starred Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon, a young girl who is murdered by a serial killer and watches over her family from the “In-Between” as they deal with her death. As great as Stanley Tucci’s performance was, it was a role he tried to get out of playing. “I tried to get out of playing the role, which is crazy because I needed a job,” Tucci explained while speaking with Entertainment Tonight. “But I was like, ‘Why do you want me?’ And [Peter Jackson] said, ‘Because you’re funny.’ And I thought, ‘OK.’ But I understand what he was saying.” Tucci continued, “I think what he meant was that I wouldn’t be too — not that I wouldn’t be serious about it, but that I wouldn’t be overly dramatic about it. That I would throw it away a bit. Which is what you have to do when you’re playing somebody who’s that awful, right?“

“I would not play George Harvey again in The Lovely Bones, that was horrible,” Stanley Tucci said. “It’s a wonderful movie, but it was a tough experience simply because of the role.” I may just have to watch The Lovely Bones again.

Stanley Tucci will next be seen starring alongside Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Prime Video’s pricey spy series Citadel. “Eight years ago, Citadel fell. The independent global spy agency—tasked to uphold the safety and security of all people—was destroyed by operatives of Manticore, a powerful syndicate manipulating the world from the shadows,” reads the official synopsis. “With Citadel’s fall, elite agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra Jonas) had their memories wiped as they narrowly escaped with their lives. They’ve remained hidden ever since, building new lives under new identities, unaware of their pasts. Until one night, when Mason is tracked down by his former Citadel colleague, Bernard Orlick (Stanley Tucci), who desperately needs his help to prevent Manticore from establishing a new world order. Mason seeks out his former partner, Nadia, and the two spies embark on a mission that takes them around the world in an effort to stop Manticore, all while contending with a relationship built on secrets, lies, and a dangerous-yet-undying love.”

Citadel premieres on Prime Video on April 28th with the first two episodes, with weekly episodes to follow until the finale on May 26th.

With Evil Dead Rise now playing in theaters, why not let JoBlo know what you thought of the latest installment of the franchise.

The Deadites are back, baby! Evil Dead Rise is now playing in theaters and ready to scare the pants off you. Arriving a decade after the last movie, the newest installment of the franchise has already gotten off to a great start after snagging $2.5 million in Thursday night preview screenings at the domestic box office.

“A road-weary Beth pays an overdue visit to her older sister Ellie, who is raising three kids on her own in a cramped L.A apartment,” reads the official synopsis. “The sisters’ reunion is cut short by the discovery of a mysterious book deep in the bowels of Ellie’s building, giving rise to flesh-possessing demons, and thrusting Beth into a primal battle for survival as she is faced with the most nightmarish version of motherhood imaginable.” Written and directed by Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise stars Lily Sullivan and Alyssa Sutherland as the two estranged sisters, with Morgan Davies, Gabrielle Echols, and Nell Fisher playing Ellie’s young children.

Our own Jessica Dwyer loved Evil Dead Rise, giving it a glowing 9/10 in her review. “Evil Dead Rise manages to introduce and give you the history of the main characters fairly quickly and does it well,” Dwyer wrote. “But it doesn’t waste a lot of time getting to the nitty gritty and once it starts it doesn’t let up.  The film is a brisk 97 minutes and it GOES.  No one is safe either once mom Ellie is transformed into one of the most disturbing and terrifying female monsters I’ve seen in a while.  Actress Alyssa Sutherland is fantastic in this and she worked with Cronin and his team to create not only parts of Ellie’s look but also her movements.  It’s extremely effective and I feel like a lot of fans are going to love it.” You can check out the rest of Dwyer’s review right here.

Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another ten years for our next Evil Dead movie, as Bruce Campbell has said that they’re hoping to make a new sequel every two or three years. “I think the stories will progress a little more now,” Campbell said. “We’re going to try and do them more like every two or three years rather than every 10 years. It’s also the first time Sam is working with his brother Ivan to create an overall Bible that will give future writers and directors an idea of where this thing should go next to potentially tie in some of these stories. So I think it’s going to get a little more tied in as the years go by. But because it’s all about the books. It could be a book in the past, a book in the future. It’s yet to be determined.” I suppose that all depends on how successful the new movie is.

Evil Dead Rise is currently sitting at 85% on Rotten Tomatoes. Let us know what you thought of the movie in the comments below!

Disney+ has canceled National Treasure: Edge of History after one season, bringing the small-screen spinoff series to an end.

The globe-trotting treasure hunt has come to an end. Deadline reports that Disney+ has canceled National Treasure: Edge of History after one season.

National Treasure: Edge of History revolved around Jess (Lisette Olivera), a brilliant and resourceful DREAMer who embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover the truth about her family’s mysterious past and save a lost Pan-American treasure.

The series also starred Zuri Reed (Flatbush Misdemeanors) as Tasha, Jess’ ride-or-die friend who joins the treasure hunt but is forced to reevaluate her belief system to help her best friend; Antonio Cipriano (Jagged Little Pill) as Oren, a lovable but self-obsessed goofball with an encyclopedic knowledge of conspiracy theories that attempts to win back Tasha’s affections; Jordan Rodrigues (Lady Bird) as Ethan, Jess’ childhood best friend who has loved her since the day they met; Jake Austin Walker (Rectify) as Liam, a swoon-worthy struggling musician, with a permanent chip on his shoulder, who comes from a long line of treasure hunters; Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago) as Billie, a badass billionaire, black-market antiquities expert and treasure hunter who lives by her own code; and Lyndon Smith (Parenthood) as FBI Agent Ross, a dogged investigator who begins to realize there’s a greater conspiracy at hand. 

Edge of History also included a couple of nods to the movie franchise, as Justin Bartha reprised his character of Riley Poole in a guest-starring role. Poole appeared in the two National Treasure movies as a computer expert and a friend to Nicolas Cage’s Benjamin Gates. Harvey Keitel also briefly returned as FBI Special Agent Peter Sadusky.

Unfortunately, National Treasure: Edge of History didn’t receive the best reviews, so it’s understandable why it was canceled. In his review of the series, our own Alex Maidy said, “National Treasure: Edge of History tries to deliver some of the same goofy dialogue and charming puzzle-solving antics, but with the stakes scaled down significantly, this ends up feeling more like director Mira Nair never had a chance to elevate this material beyond a bland exercise in maintaining IP.” Maybe now we can finally get National Treasure 3 moving forward.

Bruce Campbell joins Julie Bowen and Anna Camp in Hysteria!, an upcoming satanic panic series coming to the Peacock streaming service.

Bruce Campbell is no stranger to dealing with the supernatural, so it’s no surprise that Variety has reported that he’s joined the cast of Hysteria!, Peacock’s satanic panic series.

Per the official description, “When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the ‘Satanic Panic’ of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported ‘supernatural activity’ triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.” Sounds… interesting. Bruce Campbell will play Chief Dandridge in Hysteria!, who is described as “a small-town police chief whose understanding of his community is put to the test after a disturbing series of murders, disappearances, and unexplained phenomena.”

Bruce Campbell joins previously announced cast members Anna Camp, Julie Bowen, Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, Kezii Curtis, and Nikki Hahn. Bowen is playing Linda Campbell, “the mother of a teenage outcast. Linda experiences a series of supernatural disturbances that force her to question everything she knows about her son, as well as the growing threat of Satanism in their small Midwestern town.” Camp plays Tracy Whitehead, “a crusading Midwestern mother who has been the laughingstock of her community for years due to her extreme religious beliefs, but after a string of occult crimes and disturbances, she becomes a dangerous and unlikely leader of her small town.“

Bruce Campbell serves as an executive producer on Evil Dead Rise, the latest installment of the horror franchise which is now playing in theaters. The actor recently said that they’re hoping to make a new Evil Dead sequel every two or three years. “I think the stories will progress a little more now,” Campbell said. “We’re going to try and do them more like every two or three years rather than every 10 years. It’s also the first time Sam is working with his brother Ivan to create an overall Bible that will give future writers and directors an idea of where this thing should go next to potentially tie in some of these stories. So I think it’s going to get a little more tied in as the years go by. But because it’s all about the books. It could be a book in the past, a book in the future. It’s yet to be determined.” You can check out a review of Evil Dead Rise from our own Jessica Dwyer right here, and be sure to let us know what you thought of the movie as well.

Nicholas Hoult doesn’t think that he would have done as good of a job as Robert Pattinson had he won the leading role in The Batman.

Like many young actors, Nicholas Hoult was in the running for the lead role of Matt Reeves’ The Batman. He got pretty close to landing the role, even meeting with Reeves and doing a screen test in costume, but at the end of the day, Robert Pattinson was cast. Although he wanted the role, Hoult doesn’t have any regrets, as he told GQ that he thinks Pattinson was clearly the right person for the role.

“I think Matt Reeves’ ideas were fantastic and he made a brilliant movie,” Nicholas Hoult said of The Batman. “And I also think that Rob [Pattinson] did an amazing job with the character, and I loved seeing him in it.” Hoult added, “I don’t think I would have done as good a job as him, ultimately. I don’t think I could have fit as well into the world that Matt created as Rob did.“

While some actors may not be able to watch the movies they didn’t get, Nicholas Hoult doesn’t have that problem. “When they tell you for the first time that it’s not you, it’s painful, but then you have to accept it as normality,” Hoult explained. “I think that’s probably a strength of mine as an actor as well. I can accept that they didn’t cast me pretty well and when I see the chosen actor doing a great job, and I enjoy it, and it’s good, I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, they made the right choice. They knew what they were doing.’ It’s not like I’m sitting there like, ‘Oh, I’m not going to watch it now.’ It’s a good movie and Rob is brilliant in it.“

Nicholas Hoult can currently be seen starring alongside Nicolas Cage in Renfield, and his next project will also be a vampire movie. He’s currently shooting Robert Eggers’ Nosteratu, which he has said could be a “really special” movie. “Rob has wanted to make Nosferatu since he was eight years old and he did a play of it as well when he was in high school, so it’s been a passion project of his for a long time,” Hoult said. “Honestly, I wasn’t looking to go back into the vampire world again, but his style and tone are just so completely the opposite of (Renfield), and I’m such a fan of his work that I’m excited to be in his world and watching him and learning from him. I think the film could be really special, so I’m excited for people to see it.“

Renfield is now playing in theaters, so be sure to check out a review from our own David Arroyo right here. Do you think Nicholas Hoult would have made a good Batman?

The novel Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus will give us a look at the life of Eddie Munson two years before Stranger Things season 4

Fans of the Netflix series Stranger Things really fell for the Eddie Munson character over the course of the show’s fourth season, and when he started playing Metallica on his guitar while in the Upside Down, it instantly ranked up there as one of the most iconic moments in the entire series. Unfortunately, Eddie didn’t make it out of the season alive… but we don’t know his whole story. Entertainment Weekly got the exclusive first look at the cover for an upcoming novel called Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus, which tells an Eddie Munson story that takes place two years before the events of season 4. You can take a look at the cover at the bottom of this article.

Penguin Random House will be publishing Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus on Halloween, October 31st. The novel was written by Caitlin Schneiderhan, who served as an assistant to Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers during seasons 2 and 3 of the show, then joined the writing staff for season 4.

Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus has the following description:

Hawkins, Indiana — for most, it’s simply another idyllic, manicured all-American town. But for Eddie Munson it’s like living in a perpetual Tomb of Horrors. Luckily, he only has a few more months to survive at Hawkins High. And what is senior year, really, but just killing time between Dungeons & Dragons sessions with the Hellfire Club and gigs with his band?

It’s at the worst dive bar in town that Eddie meets Paige, someone who has pulled off a freaking miracle. She escaped Hawkins and built a wickedly cool life for herself working for a record producer out in Los Angeles. Not only is she the definition of a badass — with a killer taste in music — she might be the only person that actually appreciates him as the bard he is instead of the devil incarnate. But the best thing? She’s offering a chance for him to make something of himself, and all he needs is to get her a demo tape of Corroded Coffin’s best songs.

Just one problem: Recording costs money. Money Eddie doesn’t have. But he’s willing to do whatever it takes: even if that means relying on his old man, Al Munson. His dad just stumbled back into his life, with another dubious scheme up his sleeve, and yet Eddie knows this is his only option to make enough dough in enough time. It’s a risk, but if it pays off he will finally have a one-way ticket out of Hawkins.

Eddie can feel it: 1984 is going to be his year.

Schneiderhan had this to say about the novel: “The Eddie Munson we meet at the beginning of Stranger Things 4 is the protective shepherd to the nerdy lost sheep of Hawkins High. But taking on that mantle wasn’t such a cut-and-dry decision. I’m so excited for fans to go with him on his journey towards becoming a hero, to experience the messy and uncomfortable decisions that led him to become the brave misfit we all know and love. Eddie is a person who is unfailingly, unapologetically himself, which is irresistible enough on its own. But add on the fact that he encourages the people around him to be the same? Who wouldn’t want to be friends with that guy? Meeting the characters from Eddie’s past who — for better or worse — had a part in shaping who he is was one of the most rewarding parts of exploring this story, and I can’t wait for the fans to meet them, too! Eddie, this is for you!“

Does Stranger Things: Flight of Icarus sound like a novel you would like to read? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below. For me, some of the appeal of Eddie Munson will be lost in this book, as it will be different than watching Joseph Quinn‘s performance as the character. But it could be interesting to hear (read) his story.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid featurette finds the cast and crew of Rob Marshall’s live action adventure diving deep into the new film.

Disney‘s The Little Mermaid swims into theaters on May 26, and today, the studio is proud to present a behind-the-scenes look at the live-action magic that will soon bubble to the surface in cinemas. The Little Mermaid featurette takes audiences into the studio to witness Halle Bailey’s transformation into Ariel, a mermaid with big dreams of living above ocean depths. In the video, Bailey talks about growing up with Ariel and how her story inspired her and millions of other children worldwide. Bailey says Ariel’s journey is deeply personal, and she’s looking forward to putting a new spin on the classic fairy tale.

The Little Mermaid featurette also includes commentary from the film’s director, Rob Marshall, who says he wants fans to have a good experience with the new version. “I think The Little Mermaid is an iconic and powerful story,” Marshall says in the footage. “It was important to expand and make it a fuller experience.”

The Little Mermaid featurette shares new footage from the upcoming film, including an extended look at Melissa McCarthy’s villainous sea witch Ursula. “She’s so dishy and conniving,” McCarthy says about Ursula’s wicked ways.

Composer Alan Menken features in the video and talks about scoring the live-action adventure after writing music for the animated original. “The Little Mermaid is the first film I ever scored. It’s especially emotional coming back and with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is so brilliant. The songs we’ve written expand what The Little Mermaid is.”

In Disney’s The Little Mermaid trailer, the studio takes audiences into the depths for a breathtaking look at an alien world filled with wonder, mystery, and whozits and whatzits galore.

The youngest of King Triton’s daughters and the most defiant, Ariel longs to learn more about the world beyond the sea and falls for the dashing Prince Eric while visiting the surface. While mermaids are forbidden to interact with humans, Ariel must follow her heart. She strikes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, which gives her a chance to experience life on land but ultimately places her life – and her father’s crown – in jeopardy.

Written by two-time Oscar nominee David Magee, with a live-action story adaptation by Magee, Marshall, and two-time Emmy winner John DeLuca, The Little Mermaid, is inspired by the short story by Hans Christian Andersen and the Disney animated classic by Ron Clements and John Musker.

What do you think about The Little Mermaid featurette? Will you dive into a theater to see Disney’s latest live-action recreation of an animated classic? Please sound off in the comments and let us know.