Marvel Studios mastermind Kevin Feige says they’re trying to crack the Blade movie and want to be sure they’re making the right Blade story
The fact that there was going to be a Blade reboot as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Mashershala Ali in the title role, came as a huge surprise when the announcement was made at the San Diego Comic-Con back in July of 2019… but now we’ve reached the five year anniversary of that announcement, and we still haven’t seen a new Blade movie. The closest we’ve gotten is Ali making a vocal cameo as the character at the end of Eternals back in 2021. Marvel Studios producer Kevin Feige is currently doing the press rounds for the latest addition to the MCU, Deadpool & Wolverine, and while speaking with BlackTreeTV, Feige said they’re taking their time on this project to make sure they’re making the right Blade movie.
Feige was asked, “Now that Deadpool & Wolverine is going R-rated, does it change how you can make Blade (at Disney), as opposed to when you first decided to start developing it?” He answered, “I think that’s right. I mean, for the last few years as we’ve been trying to crack that movie, the most important thing for us is not rushing it and making sure we are making the right Blade movie. Because there were some great Blade movies years ago, and they were all rated R. So I think that’s, like Deadpool, inherent with the character of Blade.“
Director Yann Demange was attached to direct Blade for a while, and confirmed last November that the film will be rated R. Demange recently stepped away from the project, but it sounds like the movie will be rated R even without Demange at the helm. He was the second director to sign on for Blade and then drop it, following in the footsteps of Bassam Tariq. We’re still waiting to hear who’s going to replace Demange.
We recently heard a rumor that Mahershala Ali is getting “increasingly frustrated” with the long development process on this one. Delroy Lindo and Aaron Pierre have been cast alongside Ali as the years have gone by, but are no longer involved, as their characters have apparently been written out. Co-star Mia Goth, who is rumored to be playing the villainous Lilith, is still attached – and she’s fine with the delays, because it shows that Marvel really cares about the project.
What do you think of Marvel taking so long to figure out the new Blade movie? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
Among all the storm activity in the new film, Twisters, the two leads display romantic tension that doesn’t necessarily pay off for some people.
SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE TWISTERS AHEAD
While it was estimated that Twisters would be off to a good start as a formidable summer hit, when the movie touched down, it would actually take the box office by storm with an incredible $80.5 million opening. This would make the new Daisy Edgar-Jones/Glen Powell disaster film one of the year’s biggest hits alongside Inside Out 2 and Dune: Part Two. And while all the storm chasing rocked the theaters, audiences would also get caught up in the romantic tension between the two leads as Edgar-Jones’ Kate and Powell’s Tyler would do the usual romantic tango of being rivals, then friends, then maybe something more.
One thing that didn’t pay off for audiences was the grand moment in the end when the two finally embraced with a kiss. The ending sets up a very rom-com moment as Kate heads off to New York and Tyler pursues her at the airport terminal. Then, the moment doesn’t actually happen. Deadline reports that the film’s director, Lee Issac Chung, explained why he didn’t include the moment of gratification when it was, in fact, filmed. Chung stated,
I feel like audiences are in a different place now in terms of wanting a kiss or not wanting a kiss. I actually tried the kiss, and it was very polarizing — and it’s not because of their performance of the kiss. This [no-kiss shot] was the other option that I had filmed on the day, and I got to say, I like it better. I think it’s a better ending.”
Powell would joke that he was “taking a little offense” to the decision to take it out as he assumed that it was “just my abilities” as an actor that ruined the scene, but Chung wanted to make Kate’s ending more purposeful. The director also explained, “If it ends on the kiss, then it makes it seem as though that’s what Kate’s journey was all about — to end up with a kiss. But instead, it’s better that it ends with her being able to continue doing what she’s doing with a smile on her face.”
Jones would be inclined to agree with Chung’s decision to cut the moment out. She stated, “It felt nice and refreshing to not have to end up on that beat because what you’re ending it on is two individuals who are so equal in their love and interest and intelligence and understanding of weather.”
About the Author
E.J. is a News Editor at JoBlo, as well as a Video Editor, Writer, and Narrator for some of the movie retrospectives on our JoBlo Originals YouTube channel, including Reel Action, Revisited and some of the Top 10 lists. He is a graduate of the film program at Missouri Western State University with concentrations in performance, writing, editing and directing.
Sean Astin, Ali Larter, Brec Bassinger, Madison Wolfe, and more star in the true crime-inspired thriller The Man in the White Van
Relativity Media has picked up the North American distribution rights to director Warren Skeels’ true crime thriller The Man in the White Van from Garrison Film and Legion M, Deadline reports, and their plan is to give the film a wide theatrical release on October 11th. With that plan in place, it shouldn’t be long before they release a trailer for the film – but in the meantime, they have unveiled a first look image, which you can check out at the top of this article. Deadline also notes that the filmmakers are going to host a curated panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, with cast members in attendance.
Inspired by a series of crimes that shook the nation in the 1970s, The Man in the White Van was written by Skeels (who makes his narrative feature directorial debut here) and Sharon Y. Cobb. The story is said to delve into the harrowing experiences of Annie Williams, a spirited family girl, whose carefree existence is turned upside down as she finds herself stalked by an ominous man in a white van. Prone to exaggeration, her parents’ disbelief in her tales of being followed leads to a terrifying Halloween nightmare.
Madison Wolfe (The Conjuring 2) plays Annie Williams. Wolfe is joined in the cast by Sean Astin (Stranger Things), Ali Larter (The Rookie), Brec Bassinger (Stargirl), Gavin Warren (Night Swim), Skai Jackson (Jessie), and Julianne Arrieta (Freelance).
Skeels produced the film with Terri Lubaroff, Anne Marie Gillen, Michael Nole, and Paul Scanlan, while Astin and Larter served as executive producers alongside Gary Kompothecras, Lawrence Najem, Jeff Annison, David Baxter, Michael Arrieta, Marc Danon, Lex Miron, and David Robbins.
Arrieta, Chief Operating Officer at Relativity Media, provided the following statement: “The Man in the White Van is a flat-out frightening story with an incredible ensemble cast, and the teams behind it have produced a film that’s both visceral and topical. Watching this in a crowded theater is truly the best way for viewers to experience this tension-packed thrill ride as realized by Warren and his talented crew.“
Legion M’s co-founder and CEO Scanlan added: “We are beyond excited to team up with Relativity to bring this film to theaters nationwide, where every suspense-filled moment and heart-pounding scare is magnified by the collective experience. Our Legion M community craves theatrical experiences and this film delivers on all fronts.“
The Man in the White Van sounds interesting to me and it has a great cast, so I look forward to checking this one out.
Does The Man in the White Van sound like a movie you’d like to catch on the big screen this October? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Scarlett Johansson charms in this lighthearted flick about the moon landing that will make you question what REALLY happened.
PLOT: Marketing maven Kelly Jones wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up.
REVIEW: The 1969 space landing was often the subject of various conspiracy theories. Did we really go to the moon? Did Stanley Kubrick direct a fake moon landing? Why is physics a bit loopy in the video footage? These questions have inspired countless movies and TV shows, so it’s not a shocker that yet another one has been produced. Fly Me To The Moon tells the story of a marketing guru who has been given the task of promoting the Apollo program. The end goal is to get to space before Russia and declare American superiority on a national level. It’s not a shocker that this is a 4th of July release. However, you need to settle your expectations if you’re expecting a truthful tale.
Scarlett Johansson carries the film as Kelly Jones, a marketing genius and con man who uses her unique set of skills to help sell the Apollo to the American public. There’s a fun quick-witted nature to her that really helps to sell her “never sit still” demeanor. Her romance with Channing Tatum’s Cole Davis is well done and makes the story feel like it’s constantly progressing towards something. Though I’m convinced she could have chemistry with a rock at this point. I also enjoyed Woody Harrelson‘s slimey Moe Berkus, a government employee who forces Jones to film a fake version of the moon landing. The film is packed with recognizable faces, the funniest moment being been Johansson’s own husband, Colin Jost appearing as a senator.
The romance between Kelly and Cole makes this feel very “rom-comy” at times. Their chemistry helps make it charming but it’s hard not to feel like it’s a bit cliche. Unfortunately in trying to tell a romance story along with this very conspiracy-laden space mission, the film can feel a bit disjointed. The movie’s first half is essentially about funding the project and making the general public care. Then the second half is about the conspiracy theory regarding filming a fake moon landing. Because of this, it feels like the main plot doesn’t actually start progressing until almost an hour in. There are merits in both halves of the film, but the crux of the story resides in the second half, so I’m not sure why it wasn’t more built around that. At times, it feels like it could have had 30 minutes cut, while also having enough going on that this could have easily been a miniseries.
At its core, Fly Me To The Moon is about truth. It’s about the line we walk between transparency and our ultimate goal. Because as much as we’d like to think that astronauts like Buzz Aldrin or Neil Armstrong would have been legends regardless, this film shows the importance of marketing. You can have a great product/event but if no one knows about it, then it may as well not exist. The perception of an event is almost as important as the event itself, especially when NASA was struggling for funding (though honestly, when aren’t they?). And by following fictional characters based on real people, the dramatic stakes can be a bit more layered.
I thought it was interesting for them to frame the events against the war in Vietnam. Because yes, as the general public, it’d be really hard to care about sending a few people into space when we had our men dying every day on the other side of the planet. Though, they just kind of gloss over this point, and it’s never really focused on. I loved the usage of old footage, interspersed with new. They did a great job of blending the two and it gives a bit more texture to the film. By the time the rocket launches into space, it’s easy to stare at it in absolute wonder, much like those in the 1960s.
Fly Me To The Moon is ultimately a very light and fun experience. Anyone with even a cursory knowledge of the subject isn’t likly to glean anything new, but it’s nice to humanize so many folks who have been lost to time (even if many of them and the story are fictional). Their accomplishments can live on in celluloid. Plus, it’s not so bad to say that you were portrayed by Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. Much like the UFO files, one has to wonder if we’ll eventually find more about what really happened once they’re declassified. Till then, we have this light-hearted approach with some of Hollywood’s best.
FLY ME TO THE MOON IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON JULY 12TH, 2024.
DC Universe shares a new image for the upcoming animated series Creature Commandos ahead of San Diego Comic-Con.
I was working in the lab one night when my eyes beheld an eerie sight. The Creature Commandos began to rise, and suddenly, to my surprise, a new look at the upcoming DC Universe animation attacked my eyes. Ahead of the show’s presence at San Diego Comic-Con, DC is giving fans a new and frighteningly fantastic look at Creature Commandos, the first television series in the rebooted DC Universe from DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn.
In addition to David Harbour as Frankenstein, the cast of Creature Commandos includes Frank Grillo as Rick Flag Sr., Indira Varma as The Bride, Maria Bakalova as Princess Ilana Rostovic, Alan Tudyk as Dr. Phosphorus, Zoe Chao as Nina Mazursky, Steve Agee as John Economos, Sean Gunn as Weasel, and James Gunn as the mechanical soldier G.I. Robot.
Plot details for Creature Commandos remain a mystery. Still, we know the series events occur after Peacemaker, which is moving into a second season as part of the upcoming DC Universe slate. Viola Davis is also featured in Creature Commandos as the formidable Amanda Waller. Waller keeps her distance while pulling the Creature Commandos’ strings after the disastrous results of her failed Task Force X project. Instead of risking human lives, Waller instructs the group of monsters to continue pushing her agenda from the shadows.
The first chapter of the DCU is titled Gods and Monsters. On the slate, co-head of DC Studios Peter Safran noted in 2023, “As we craft the plan for DC Studios, we are thrilled to share with fans the first 10 stories they can expect from the unified DC Universe featuring some of our most well-known characters as well as the next generation of marquee characters.” He added: “Chapter 1 tells cohesive stories that highlight love, compassion, and the innate goodness of the human spirit, all designed to minimize audience confusion and maximize audience engagement across platforms.” Creature Commandos shambles onto Max in December.
Are you excited about Creature Commandos? Do you think DC plans to share a preview of the show at San Diego Comic-Con? If you want a taste of Creature Commando action, I recommend reading Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. (2011-2013) by Jeff Lemire. The comic series doesn’t feature the same team as Gunn’s upcoming animation, but it has a similar concept and vibe.
About the Author
Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He’s also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You’ll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.
Channing Tatum and Gemma Chan star in Josephine, the new, recently wrapped film from Soft & Quiet director Beth de Araujo
After crafting short films for a decade, director Beth de Araujo made her feature debut with the one-take thriller Soft & Quiet in 2022. Now SFGate reports that she has wrapped production on her second feature, Josephine, which shot under the radar in San Francisco from April through June. They were also able to unearth the information that Josephine, which stars Channing Tatum (21 Jump Street) and Gemma Chan (Eternals) was inspired by a childhood experience of de Araujo’s that she recounted at a The Moth storytelling event in 2019.
According to SFGate, “When she was 8 years old, de Araujo and her father drove to a remote part of the park to play baseball. When her father turned off the car, they heard screams for help. Her father chased off the assailant, leaving de Araujo alone in the car. Eventually, she got scared, went looking for her father and came face to face with a sobbing woman. When she and her father got home, they didn’t discuss what had transpired. De Araujo recalled becoming hypervigilant in the ensuing months, then years, requiring friends to stand outside the bathroom, and being unable to sleep without her father in the house.“
Only one scene from Josephine is said to mirror this childhood memory, with the story going off in a different direction from there. Here’s the synopsis: After witnessing a brutal attack in Golden Gate Park, eight-year-old Josephine is plunged into a maelstrom of fear and paranoia. She acts out with increasing violence looking for any way to regain control of her own safety.
Tatum and Chan play Josephine’s parents, while the title character is played by newcomer Mason Reeves.
Josephine is a project de Araujo has been hoping to get into production for about a decade, with Chan having been attached to star in the film for several years. Since Soft & Quiet was much smaller, de Araujo was able to get that one off the ground first – and it’s good to hear that the positive response to that film finally enabled her to make Josephine.
Have you seen Soft & Quiet, and does Josephine sound interesting to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
To mark the fact that his Superman movie is exactly one year away from being released, James Gunn released the movie’s official logo.
Up, Up, and Away! Truth, Justice, and The American Way. These immediately cause comic fans to conjure up one specific character, The Big Blue Boy Scout. Superman. Heralded as the one that started the superhero boom in comics way back in 1938, there have been a lot of live-action versions over the years. Last year’s Flash movie highlighted some of the more popular ones and even one that had never actually been put on film. With James Gunn taking over the DCU and using a new Superman film as the starting line, what can we expect from the upcoming film?
Who’s In It?
It’s always interesting to see who will get the chance to put on the suit. Will they go more for the look of Superman, or will they find an actor who can convey the wholesomeness of the character? Sometimes, they get both. The characters surrounding him are just as crucial as the Man of Steel himself. Something past films have failed to nail. So, who is playing our favorite characters?
Clark Kent/Superman – David Corenswet
Corenswet will be donning the S this time around. Most film fans will have seen him in such films as Pearl and the upcoming Twisters. He made a quick stop for one episode of House Of Cards. Hopefully, he didn’t run afoul of Kevin Spacey’s diva behavior. With Superman, Corenswet will be pushed into the Hollywood spotlight. Fans online had pointed out his resemblance to the last actor to play the character on the big screen. When asked about possibly playing the character before he was confirmed for the role, he stated, ” I would love to see somebody do an upbeat, throwback [take on Superman].” Here’s hoping he gets his wish.
Lois Lane – Rachel Brosnahan
Lois is always a tough character to cast. She has to be tough as nails but still soft enough to fall for Superman. Margot Kidder hit it out of the park in the 1978 film, and everyone else has been trying to play catch up ever since. With Rachel Brosnahan, they may have a winner on their hands. Her turn onThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel shows she can portray someone who can hold her own but knows when she can’t do it alone. I’m excited to see what she brings to the role.
Lex Luthor – Nicholas Hoult
Many fans say that no one has really nailed the comic book version of Lex Luthor. Those of us who grew up in the 80s still have a soft spot for the Gene Hackman version, but they may be right. The closest version we may have gotten was with Michael Rosenbaum on Smallville, but he had a lot more time to develop the character than most. Hopefully, Nicholas Hoult will give us what we’ve been wanting. He’s no stranger to comic book films after playing Beast in the throwback X-Men films starting with First Class. He even talked with Rosenbaum on his podcast about playing the character. Here’s hoping we get a great version of Luthor this time around. We should be okay if he’s not the sniveling version of Snyder’s Luthor.
Others
Gunn has filled out some of the other characters with some interesting choices. Jimmy Olson will be played by Skyler Gisondo, who will be pretty spot-on. Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince will play Ma and Pa Kent. That last one seems to be a head-scratcher, but we’ll have to see what Gunn has in mind. Playing Perry White will be Wendell Pierce. He is a good choice, as many have enjoyed his turns in shows like The Wire and Treme.
Interestingly, we already know the film will have more superheroes than just Superman. Some confirmed characters are Guy Gardner, played by regular Gunn collaborator Nathan Fillion, and Kara Zor-El is being played by Milly Alcock. Edi Gathegi is listed as playing Mister Terrific, which is a pretty deep pull for casual moviegoers. Barry’s Anthony Carrigan will be playing Metamorpho, which is a great casting choice. Then there’s Isabela Merced as Hawkgirl, Wendell Pierce as Perry White, and Skyler Gisondo as Jimmy Olsen. We’ll have to see what other surprises the film will have in store.
What’s It About?
Of course, we don’t know yet. With superheroes being big money makers at the box office, they tend to get pretty tightlipped about the films’ plots until they get closer to release. As long as it’s not about Lex Luthor trying to pull off a real estate scheme or another origin story. We have gotten both done over and over again in the past. Even Brandon Routh’s Superman Returns ended up with Luthor creating an entire island of Kryptonite. When will that guy have enough land?
For years, comic fans have been clamoring to see Lex Luthor in his battle armor and for Brainiac to make an appearance. Both have happened in the TV shows that were on the CW for years, but maybe it’s finally time to happen in James Gunn’s Superman. Hopefully, James Gunn will listen, as both things are way overdue. The recent photo of David Corenswet in the new Superman suit shows something big happening in the background that could indicate a Braniac appearance.
The hope for the film is to show that Superman’s old-school morals are still relevant to a modern audience. One thing Snyder’s Man Of Steel was dinged for was throwing out his old values for a contemporary sensibility. He even kills Zod at the end. Many said his old values didn’t work anymore, but Marvel then showed that was false in Captain America: Winter Soldier. I hope Gunn keeps this in mind and brings us a throwback to what Superman used to stand for.
The Suit
An interesting thing about the new Superman suit is the biggest reappearance in the franchise. The red trunks are back! As time passed, DC Comics started to phase out the trunks of their characters. They said it was from a bygone era that had been irrelevant for decades. Strong Men in the circus were shown to wear trunks over their tights, and the characters’ original designs used this. Most don’t even know why that was a thing, and they were eliminated across the board. They have come back in the comics for Superman, and now it looks like they are back in James Gunn’s Superman.
The set photos
Of course, James Gunn’s Superman hasn’t been without controversy. Shortly after production began, the internet started getting flooded with unofficial pictures taken on-set. While some didn’t like the way Corenswet’s supersuit looked, the most controversial aspect – by far – is how Nathan Fillion’s Green Lantern looks:
FIRST LOOK SPOILER ALERT: The Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) joins Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi), Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced) and Superman (David Corenswet) for a high-flying scene in downtown Cleveland. Photos: John Kuntz, pic.twitter.com/vvcXtuBIWG
Fan reaction on Twitter got pretty heated, but many also thought those who are skeptical about how the character looks should give James Gunn the benefit of the doubt considering how well he did with the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy.
When Can We See It?
It’s going to be a while. Production started in March and won’t hit screens until July 11th, 2025. To mark the release date, Gunn unveiled the film’s official, retro-style Superman logo online:
This year, the only DC movie we are getting in the theater is the follow-up to the Joker film. If you’re craving superhero action, head to your favorite streaming service and rent the animated Crisis On Infinite Earths films. The three-part animated film has lots of Superman action and is a fun adaptation of the classic comic story.
Are you excited for James Gunn’s Superman? Let us know in the comments.
Andrew Bryniarski, best known for playing Leatherface in the 2003 and ’06 Chainsaw films, has launched a GoFundMe campaign
Best known for playing Leatherface in the 2003 remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and its prequel The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, Andrew Bryniarski has a screen acting career that stretches back more than thirty years, and his forty-plus non-Chainsaw credits include playing Butterfinger in Hudson Hawk, Wyatt Beaudry in Necessary Roughness, Chip in Batman Returns, Steve Lattimer in The Program, Zangief in Street Fighter, Knocko in Higher Learning, Patrick ‘Madman’ Kelly in Any Given Sunday, Joe the Boxer in Pearl Harbor, Halloran in Rollerball, and Count Dracula in Dracula’s Guest. Unfortunately, it’s been a few years since Bryniarski has had a prominent acting role and he has fallen on some hard times – so he’s seeking help from his fans through a GoFundMe campaign.
Bryniarski explains the situation he’s currently in: “Recently, wildfires forced me to evacuate my home in California, leaving me displaced and uncertain about the future. To compound matters, the house I was renting tried to illegally evict me and stole all my valuable belongings including those crucial to my livelihood, exacerbating my already dire situation. Now I have lawyer and attorney fees to deal with. Additionally, the motorcycle I rely on for transportation and work has unexpectedly blown its engine, adding another layer of difficulty. As if that isn’t enough, I have three separate surgeries that I need to schedule sooner than later and my insurance is minimal. The stress of these circumstances, including the mold for my new mask breaking and challenges in contacting my appearance agent, has significantly impacted my income. Navigating these setbacks alone has been overwhelming. I have a few good friends who I’ve leaned on too hard already and for the first time in my life, I’m now turning to you, my community, for support. Your generosity can make a tremendous difference as I work to rebuild and stabilize my life. Funds raised will go towards essential needs like temporary housing, covering basic living expenses, and repairing or replacing the motorcycle engine. Your contribution, no matter the size, will provide crucial relief and help me regain stability. I deeply appreciate any support you can offer, whether through a donation or simply by sharing this campaign with others who may be able to help.“
Bryniarski has set a $25,000 goal for his GoFundMe campaign, and as of this writing has raised $1,206.
Are you a fan of Andrew Bryniarski, and will you be lending a hand by contributing to his GoFundMe campaign? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Apple TV+ is so thrilled with the performance of its new legal drama Presumed Innocentthat it is renewing the Jake Gyllenhaal-led thriller for another season. Some creative forces behind the first season, David E. Kelly, J.J. Abrams, and Gyllenhaal, return as executive producers for Presumed Innocent Season 2, with author Scott Turow co-executive producing. Wait. Isn’t Presumed Innocent a one-and-done story? Not when money is waiting in the wings, my friends!
Presumed Innocent debuted on Apple TV+ one month ago and has been tearing up the charts since then. It’s the most-viewed drama ever on Apple TV+, with the final two episodes arriving on July 17 and July 24. While the story of Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich and Ruth Negga’s Barbara Sabitch is concluded, Presumed Innocent Season 2 will revolve “around a suspenseful, brand new case.” Apple won’t reveal casting for some time, though it’s possible characters from the first season will appear in the sequel season.
Presumed Innocent fans likely know of Turow’s follow-up novel, The Burdon of Proof, set in the same Illinois locale and focusing on Sandy Stern, a character introduced in Presumed Innocent and played by Raul Julia in the original film. It’s unlikely that Season 2 of the show will follow Stern’s lead, considering that he’s not part of Apple’s hit series. Gabby Bean’s Mya fills the role of the defense attorney, so make of that what you will.
It’s worth noting that Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabitch is not a recurring character in Turow’s books, so it’s unlikely he’ll return. However, Presumed Innocent does have a direct sequel in 2011’s Innocent, pairing Rusty and Tommy Molto (played by Peter Sarsgaard in Apple’s series), 20 years after the death of Rusty’s wife. There’s also a chance Kelley will hit audiences with a shocking twist during the Presumed Innocent finale, leaving elements of the story open for Season 2.
Here’s the official synopsis for Presumed Innocent:
“Gyllenhaal is set to star as Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor whose world is upended when a close colleague is murdered — and the evidence begins to point to Rusty himself. The role would be his first ongoing part in a TV series. Presumed Innocent was previously adapted for a 1990 feature film that starred Harrison Ford as Sabich, along with Bonnie Bedelia and Raul Julia. Kelley’s version will be a reimagining of Turow’s novel that will explore, per the show’s logline, ‘obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.”
Inspired by the Alan J. Pakula-directed thriller of the same name, the original film starred Harrison Ford, Raul Julia, and Greta Scacchi. The newest version of Presumed Innocent comes from primetime TV veterans David E. Kelley (The Lincoln Lawyer, Big Shot, Goliath) and J.J. Abrams (Lost, Super 8, Star Trek). Presumed Innocent revolves around a vicious murder that sends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorneys’ office reeling when one of their representatives becomes a suspect in the crime. Kelley’s version is said to investigate themes of obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love as the accused fights to keep aspects of their life from falling apart.
Are you excited to hear that Presumed Innocent Season 2 is happening? Let us know in the comments section below.
Euphoria Season 3 gets a production start date, with principal cast members returning for more steamy seduction and impaired decision-making.
This summer just got much hotter as news about EuphoriaSeason 3 arrives to crank up the heat! After an extremely long wait between seasons and exhausting back-and-forth about the show’s fate, Euphoria heads into production in January, with principal cast members Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and Hunter Schafer returning.
“I am thrilled that we are ready to begin production on Euphoria in January,” said Francesca Orsi, executive VP of HBO programming and head of HBO drama series and films. “We could not be happier with our creative partnership with Sam [Levinson] and this incredible cast. We look forward to bringing this new season of Euphoria to life for the fans.”
While today’s update about Euphoria Season 3is exciting, fans may not be able to enjoy new episodes for a long time. If production starts in January and filming continues for a few months, the upcoming season may air in the following year. For those of you counting at home, that’s four years after the show’s Season 2 finale. Part of the reason for the lull rests on the dual writers and actors strike in 2023. The near-total shutdown of Hollywood gummed up the works for a lot of projects, with no work done for Euphoria Season 3 during that time. The team delayed filming for new episodes in March, giving Levinson more time to write scripts.
Can you imagine the headache of trying to get Zendaya, Sweeney, Elordi, and Schafer in the same place simultaneously? There isn’t enough Extra Strength Motrin for a scheduling feat of that magnitude. All the primary cast members are making waves throughout the film industry, with Zendaya and Sweeney being two of the hottest tickets in town after projects like Dune and Challengers (Zendaya) and Anyone But You and The White Lotus (Sweeney).
When it last aired, Euphoria was one of HBO’s most popular series. Can it recapture the excitement it once garnered, or have people moved on? Euphoria Season 3 is likely heading for a time jump when it returns to HBO, given the amount of time it’s been between seasons. What are your predictions for Euphoria‘s return? Let us know in the comments section below.
About the Author
Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He’s also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You’ll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.
