by admin | Jun 21, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(Left) Tom Holland in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’. Photo: Marvel Studios. (Right) Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher.’ Photo: Netflix.
Preview:
- Jon Bernthal is boarding ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’.
- Destin Daniel Cretton is directing.
- Tom Holland is returning to star as the titular web-crawler.
Is Spider-Man about to suffer some punishment?
We’ll have to wait and see what this latest casting story for ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ means, but The Hollywood Reporter has now confirmed what John Rocha and his Hot Mic podcast learned a while ago –– Jon Bernthal’s Punisher is headed to movie screens for the next Spidey outing.
The new film, which sees ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ director Destin Daniel Cretton inheriting the Spider-mantle from Jon Watts (who has been off doing other projects), will see Tom Holland back as Peter Parker/Spider-Man following three of the character’s own movies and a sprinkling of appearances elsewhere.
The fourth installment in the MCU Spider-Man franchise. Plot TBA. Read the Plot
This casting is a happy full circle moment for Holland and Bernthal; the duo were working on the 2017 movie Pilgrimage when preparing to audition for their Marvel roles, and helped each other with their audition tapes.
Related Article: Jon Bernthal’s The Punisher to Feature in New Marvel TV Special
What’s the story of ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Destin Daniel Cretton (director, ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Given that ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ changed things in a huge way for Peter Parker –– as you’ll likely recall, it ended with a spell that wiped everyone’s memory of him so as to protect the people he loves –– the storyline going forward is naturally something of a mystery.
Here’s what Holland said to The Hollywood Reporter about the movie:
“The first few meetings were about, ‘Why would we do this again?’ And I think we found the reason why.”
What is that reason? It’s only known to those involved with the movie right now and soon to anyone who talks to Tom Holland if his talent for divulging spoilers accidentally continues to hold.
We do at least know that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, who contributed to or wrote the previous three Spider-outings, are back on board for this one.
Who else will appear in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’?
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in ‘Stranger Things’. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2022.
Even with the spell affecting Peter, MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) are still likely to return.
Yet with ‘Stranger Things’Sadie Sink’s casting earlier this year, that throws an interesting wrinkle in –– what if the plan is for MJ and Ned to have smaller roles while a new supporting cast rises to importance in Peter’s life?
Sink’s role is a mystery, one that Marvel and Sony will look to keep that way as long as possible.
But speculation has already begun, with a few potentials floating out there.
Sink could be playing Jean Grey, the hugely powerful mutant character from the ‘X-Men’ comics who has enjoyed a variety of storylines in the pages and on screens, including the memorable “Dark Phoenix” arc.
The X-Men, are, of course, the next big group for Marvel to incorporate into the MCU and we’ve already seen examples of them in the dimension-spanning likes of ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,’‘The Marvels’ and ‘Deadpool & Wolverine,’ though none have been pointed up as the official versions of the characters to make the leap to Earth-616.
Using the new ‘Spider-Man’ movie to introduce one or more characters could work, as the Marvel team has a history of seeding new recruits in other movies.
But if the focus is more on Peter’s story, there’s a chance that Sink might be Gwen Stacey, another famous love interest for our hero, who has appeared in other Spider-stories. Another option is Felicia Hardy, AKA Black Cat.
And, of course, Sink’s red hair could make her a natural fit for classic Peter partner Mary Jane Watson, but with Zendaya’s MJ (albeit not using the same name) filling that role, it seems unlikely.
Elsewhere, ‘The Bear’s Liza Colón-Zayas has also scored a role in the movie, but her character is a mystery for now.
The Punisher: a quick history
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel Television’s ‘Daredevil’ on Disney+. Photo: Giovanni Rufino. © 2025 Marvel.
Bernthal has been the small-screen version of Marvel’s Frank Castle –– AKA vigilante character The Punisher –– since he showed up on the Netflix version of ‘Daredevil’ back in 2016.
Since then, he’s appeared in his own eponymous spin-off show, which ran on the streaming service between 2017 and 2019, then came a break until he was brought back in to the fold for this year’s Disney+ continuation series ‘Daredevil: Born Again.’
Castle will be back in Season 2 of ‘Born Again’ and there is also a Marvel “Special Episode” (a TV movie along the lines of ‘Werewolf by Night’) on the way, co-written by Bernthal and filmmaker Reinaldo Marcus Green, with the latter directing the one-off.
The story is under wraps for now, here’s what Brad Winderbaum, head of Marvel Television, told EW about it:
“It’s like a shotgun blast of a story, but also has all the pathos and emotion that you want out of a Frank Castle story. It’s so exciting.”
A bigger question for The Punisher in the world of Spider-Man is how his grittier, more violent tone will fit with the family friendlier feel of Spidey and co.
When will ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ be in theaters?
‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ will swing into theaters on July 31st, 2026.
Thanks to some recent release date shuffles, the movie will be the next MCU entry to follow ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’, which lands on July 25th.
Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle in Marvel’s ‘The Punisher.’ Photo: Netflix.
Movies and TV Shows Featuring Spider-Man Characters:
Buy Jon Bernthal Movies On Amazon
by admin | Jun 20, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(Left) Glenn Close arrives at the 14th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton / @ A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Billy Porter arrives on the red carpet of The 91st Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre in Hollywood, CA on Sunday, February 24, 2019. Credit/Provider: Phil McCarten / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.
Preview:
- Glenn Close and Billy Porter are the latest addition to the new ‘Hunger Games’ prequel.
- Jhaleil Swaby is also aboard, playing the character of Panache.
- Francis Lawrence is again directing the movie.
While the cameras are now rolling on the new ‘Hunger Games’ franchise entry, prequel offering ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, you might think that the stream of casting would dry up. You’d be mistaken!
Two more big names and more of a rising star are the latest people to be announced, as Deadline reports that Glenn Close will be Drusilla Sickle, Billy Porter has the role of Magno Stift and Jhaleil Swaby (‘The Lake’) will play Panache.
Return to the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games for the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Read the Plot
Here’s ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ producer Nina Jacobson on Close’s casting:
“Glenn Close is a dream Drusilla. She brings so much of her intellect and imagination to each role, creating characters who are unforgettable and iconic. I think Glenn and Francis will have a ball bringing Drusilla from the page to the screen.”
And regarding Porter:
“Billy is one of those rare performers who can dazzle and devastate in equal measure on stage and screen. He made an indelible impression on me when we worked together on Pose, both as an actor and a human being. Casting this show has felt like winning the lottery every time one of our idols said yes to us.”
Related Article: Ralph Fiennes, Maya Hawke and More on for Latest ‘Hunger Games’ Prequel
What’s the story of ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is scheduled for release on November 20, 2026. Photo: Lionsgate.
While the previous prequel took place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ is set 24 years before that trio of Jennifer Lawrence films in the world of Panem, commencing on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Those games are an important event in the canon as the victor was Haymitch Abernathy, the only winner from District 12 before Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen and Josh Hutcherson’s Peeta Mellark’s tie win. Haymitch continues on to become a mentor, a character in the original movies played by Woody Harrelson.
Who else has been cast in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’?
(Left) Joseph Zada to star as Haymitch Abernathy in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo credit: Hugh Stewart. (Right) Whitney Peak to star as Lenore Dove Bard in ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’. Photo: Kate Whyte.
The cast also includes Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak, who will play Haymitch Abernathy and the woman he loves, Lenore Dove Baird.
Ralph Fiennes is the latest actor to play the calculating Coriolanus Snow, who we meet as a younger man in previous prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ there played by Tom Blyth and was most famously portrayed by Donald Sutherland as President Snow in the original four movies.
Maya Hawke, most recently seen in ‘Maestro’ and ‘The Kill Room’ and who provided the voice of Anxiety in ‘Inside Out 2,’ will be Wiress, former Hunger Games champion–turned–District 12 mentor.
Lili Taylor, as Deadline has learned, will be Mags, another former champion who is now a mentor for one of the District 12 tributes. And Ben Wang, who broke out in Disney+ series ‘American Born Chinese’ and will be one of the leads of ‘Karate Kid: Legends,’ has landed the role of District 12 Tribute Wyatt Callow.
In addition to the two leads, we also now know that McKenna Grace, who has appeared in the recent ‘Ghostbusters’ movies, will be in the movie as Maysilee Donner, Haymitch’s fellow District 12 Tribute, while Jesse Plemons has the role of Plutarch Heavensbee, as brought to life by Philip Seymour Hoffman in the original movies.
Kieran Culkin accepts the award for Male Supporting Actor – Motion Picture at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards, airing live from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California on Sunday, January 5, 2025, at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT, on CBS and streaming on Paramount+. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Finally, recent Academy Award winner Kieran Culkin is to play Caesar Flickerman (the eccentric host character played in the first film series by Stanley Tucci).
As for the new additions?
Close’s Sickle is the cruel escort to the District 12 Tributes, while Porter’s Stift is her estranged husband and the Tributes’ uninspired designer.
Swaby’s Panache, meanwhile is a crude and aggressive career tribute from District 1, known for his arrogance and ruthlessness.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’: Collins and the filmmakers talk
Director Francis Lawrence in ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ Photo Credit: Murray Close.
Here’s Suzanne Collins’ statement on the new book and movie:
“With ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few… The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative. The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day. From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the ‘Hunger Games’ franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026.”
And here’s Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Chair Adam Fogelson:
“Suzanne Collins is a master storyteller and our creative north star. We couldn’t be more fortunate than to be guided and trusted by a collaborator whose talent and imagination are so consistently brilliant. We know ‘Hunger Games’ fans worldwide will be spellbound by where Suzanne has focused this next extraordinary story. The Second Quarter Quell is legendary and looms large over the history of the Games, even into the time of Katniss Everdeen a quarter-century later. Like fans around the globe, we are eagerly anticipating this exciting return to Panem.”
When will ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ be in theaters?
Lionsgate will have the new movie in theaters on November 20th, 2026.
‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ opens in theaters on November 20, 2026.
Other Movies in ‘The Hunger Games’ Franchise:
Buy ‘The Hunger Games’ Movies On Amazon
by admin | Jun 20, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
Dermot Mulroney as “Sage Parker” in the action/thriller, ‘Lights Out,’ a Quiver Distribution release. Photo courtesy of Quiver Distribution.
Streaming on digital platforms now is ‘Killing Mary Sue’ from writer and director James Sunshine.
The movie stars Dermot Mulroney as a corrupt senator arranges for the murder of his biggest liability, his erratic burnout step-daughter Mary Sue (Sierra McCormick), only for her to unwittingly discover her natural talent as an untouchable killer.
Related Article: Dermot Mulroney Talks ‘Gone in the Night’ and Working with Winona Ryder
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking to Mulroney about his work on ‘Killing Mary Sue,’ as well as his own directorial efforts, and his interior monologue acting skills.
Dermot Mulroney appears in ‘Killing Mary Sue’.
Moviefone: How did you react when you got the script for the first time? Because this is a really bonkers movie.
Dermot Mulroney: I was so thrilled when I read it. I just loved the script. I thought it was, bonkers is a great word for it. My first thought being, ‘gosh, who makes movies like this anymore? Let’s go.’ High concept, murderous, bloody dead bodies, comedy, backstabbing. I mean, it’s really unique.
MF: For those who don’t know, what is a Mary Sue in fiction?
DM: Mary Sue represents that sort of super girl image that’s kind of comics, kind of movies, kind of nineties TV shows where they can do anything. They get out of every sticky situation. So she is named Mary Sue, but it’s a play on itself on a thing that I didn’t even know how to name. So I was that guy from this generation catching up to the world!
Sierra McCormick in ‘Killing Mary Sue.’ Photo: Samuel Goldwyn Films.
MF: How was James K. Sunshine to work with as a director?
DM: James saw the whole thing in his head and it was completely unconventional, even some of the filming. It was sometimes challenging because he’d skip parts of the scene because he knew he wasn’t going to see that, and I’m fine with all that, but on each of those terms, I had to say, well, I’ve worked with a lot of young filmmakers. I’m, ‘you sure you don’t want that part in the middle in case for the edit?’ But the way he put together is exactly how he saw it. And I love the creation of it. It’s high color, it’s high-paced, it’s weird, it’s got graphics on it, it tells the story out of time.
MF: You’ve directed in the past. Does that change how you interact with directors going forward?
DM: No, my approach to directors of any sort has blossomed over the years. I’m a well-seasoned actor who really wants to deliver for whatever the director wants, and in this case, it turned out great. Honestly, I’m frank about it. If I was younger or less experienced, I might be questioning that more. And so, now I really want to embrace the voice of the filmmaker. I’ve learned a lot from the greatest directors of the 20th century, and yet, I still don’t want to try to impose that on somebody else.
‘Killing Mary Sue’ opens in theaters on June 20th.
MF: There are a couple of moments in ‘Killing Mary Sue’ where you have an internal monologue going and you’ve got to react. How does that work? And do you have a particular trick to internal monologue acting?
DM: No. I was so thrilled to do the internal monologue acting! I remember recording it, and it is what they used, but we recorded that in the closet. Or I would say, it was in the mansion from the movie, so the closet is really about the size of a room anyway, great place to record sound. I didn’t have to do that in ADR, so I’d have the person on set, and I think that’s how we did it. I can hear how I might say it if I was having my inner monologue so that my facial expressions, which obviously I used to the thickest extent in this performance, really over the top, so that they matched what I was thinking.
MF: What did you do to try and get into the head of Bradley Weiner? Or was it just, ‘I’m going to have so much fun playing this, I don’t need to do a deep acting dive on him?’
DM: The way I describe it is sometimes the character overtakes you. I’ve had characters overtake me and I’ve been wrong about it. But I know some of the parts that I did the best on that have lived the longest were very peculiar. And really, I didn’t plan to play Dirty Steve in ‘Young Guns’. I didn’t plan to play him that way. He just came to life within me. I won’t take special credit for that, but I can really attest to when that happens it can be magic too for film actors.
What is the plot of ‘Killing Mary Sue’?
A corrupt senator arranges for the murder of his biggest liability, his erratic burnout step-daughter Mary Sue, only for her to unwittingly discover her natural talent as an untouchable killer.
Who is in the cast of ‘Killing Mary Sue’?
‘Killing Mary Sue’ opens in theaters on June 20th.
List of Movies and TV Shows Featuring Dermot Mulroney:
Buy Dermot Mulroney Movies on Amazon
by admin | Jun 20, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
Gerard Butler in ‘How to Train Your Dragon’. Photo: Universal Pictures.
Gerard Butler is one of the most popular actors working today.
He helped launch the career of director Zack Snyder with his work on ‘300,’ and created popular franchises from film’s like ‘Olympus Has Fallen’, ‘Den of Thieves’, and ‘How to Train Your Dragon,’ with an upcoming sequel for ‘Law Abiding Citizen’ and a follow up to ‘Plane’ in the works.
In his latest film, Butler reprises his role as Stoick the Vast in the live-action version of ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, which opens in theaters on June 13th.
In honor of the new remake, Moviefone has compiled a list of the 25 best Gerard Butler movies of all-time, including his latest.
Let’s begin!
25. ‘Gamer’ (2009)
Gerard Butler in ‘Gamer’. Photo: Lionsgate.
Mind-control technology has taken society by a storm, a multiplayer on-line game called “Slayers” allows players to control human prisoners in mass-scale. Simon (Logan Lerman) controls Kable (Butler), the online champion of the game. Kable’s ultimate challenge becomes regaining his identity and independence by defeating the game’s mastermind (Michael C. Hall).
“In the near future, you don’t live to play… you’ll play to live.”
Captain Glass (Butler) of the USS Arkansas discovers that a coup d’état is taking place in Russia, so he and his crew join an elite group working on the ground to prevent a war.
Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) ventures to an underwater temple in search of the mythological Pandora’s Box but, after securing it, it is promptly stolen by the villainous leader of a Chinese crime syndicate. Lara must recover the box before the syndicate’s evil mastermind (Ciarán Hinds) uses it to construct a weapon of catastrophic capabilities.
In post-apocalyptic England, an American volunteer (Matthew McConaughey) and a British survivor (Christian Bale) team up to fight off a brood of fire-breathing dragons seeking to return to global dominance after centuries of rest underground. The Brit — leading a clan of survivors to hunt down the King of the Dragons — has much at stake: His mother was killed by a dragon, but his love (Izabella Scorupco) is still alive.
“They’re extremely intelligent. Highly evolved. And they don’t like sharing the planet.”
A group of archaeological students (Butler, Paul Walker, and Frances O’Connor) become trapped in the past when they go there to retrieve their professor (Billy Connolly). The group must survive in 14th century France long enough to be rescued.
“They had to travel into the past to save the future”
(L to R) Gerard Butler and Morena Baccarin in ‘Greenland’. Photo: STXfilms.
John Garrity (Butler), his estranged wife (Morena Baccarin) and their young son embark on a perilous journey to find sanctuary as a planet-killing comet hurtles toward Earth. Amid terrifying accounts of cities getting leveled, the Garritys experience the best and worst in humanity. As the countdown to the global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven.
“It’s the end of the world as we know it.”
A revered bounty hunter’s (Butler) latest gig is rather satisfying, as his bail-skipper is his ex-wife (Jennifer Aniston), who has no intention of getting nabbed without a fight.
“It’s a Job. It Isn’t Personal. Well, Maybe a Little…”
Deformed since birth, a bitter man known only as the Phantom (Butler) lives in the sewers underneath the Paris Opera House. He falls in love with the obscure chorus singer Christine (Emmy Rossum), and privately tutors her while terrorizing the rest of the opera house and demanding Christine be given lead roles. Things get worse when Christine meets back up with her childhood acquaintance Raoul (Patrick Wilson) and the two fall in love.
“Her voice became his passion. Her love became his obsession. Her refusal became his rage…”
After an unprecedented series of natural disasters threatened the planet, the world’s leaders came together to create an intricate network of satellites to control the global climate and keep everyone safe. But now, something has gone wrong: the system built to protect Earth is attacking it, and it becomes a race against the clock to uncover the real threat before a worldwide geostorm wipes out everything and everyone along with it.
“Some things were never meant to be controlled.”
After a treacherous attack, Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Butler) is charged with attempting to assassinate President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman). Chased by his own colleagues and the FBI (Jada Pinkett Smith), Banning begins a race against the clock to clear his name.
Gerard Butler in ‘Machine Gun Preacher’. Photo: Relativity Media.
The true story of Sam Childers (Butler), a former drug-dealing biker who finds God and became a crusader for hundreds of Sudanese children who’ve been kidnapped and pressed into duty as soldiers.
“Hope is the greatest weapon of all”
On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist (Frank Grillo) devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station. However, when the hit man (Butler) turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop (Alexis Louder) finds herself caught in the crosshairs.
“Someone’s gotta take the hit.”
Five years have passed since Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and Toothless (Randy Thom) united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting unmapped territories. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons — and a mysterious dragon rider who turns out to be Hiccup’s mother, Valka (Cate Blanchett). Hiccup and Toothless then find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior named Drago (Djimon Hounsou).
Caius Martius, aka Coriolanus (Ralph Fiennes), is an arrogant and fearsome general who has built a career on protecting Rome from its enemies. Pushed by his ambitious mother (Vanessa Redgrave) to seek the position of consul, Coriolanus is at odds with the masses and unpopular with certain colleagues. When a riot results in his expulsion from Rome, Coriolanus seeks out his sworn enemy, Tullus Aufidius (Butler). Together, the pair vow to destroy the great city.
“Nature teaches beasts to know their friends.”
Surfer Jay Moriarity (Jonny Weston) sets out to ride the Northern California break known as Mavericks.
“Legends start somewhere.”
Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action ‘How to Train Your Dragon’, written and directed by Dean DeBlois. Photo: Universal Pictures.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames) stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon. Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society.
“The legend is real.”
Showtimes & Tickets
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup stands apart, defying centuries of tradition when he befriends… Read the Plot
Big Nick (Butler) is back on the hunt in Europe and closing in on Donnie (O’Shea Jackson), who is embroiled in the treacherous and unpredictable world of diamond thieves and the infamous Panther mafia, as they plot a massive heist of the world’s largest diamond exchange.
“The score isn’t settled.”
In London for the Prime Minister’s funeral, Mike Banning (Butler) discovers a plot to assassinate all the attending world leaders.
“The world’s leaders have assembled. So have their enemies.”
When a Russian mobster (Karel Roden) sets up a real estate scam that generates millions of pounds, various members of London’s criminal underworld pursue their share of the fortune. Various shady characters, including Mr One-Two (Butler), Stella the accountant (Thandiwe Newton), and Johnny Quid (Toby Kebbell), a druggie rock-star, try to claim their slice.
“A story of sex, thugs and rock ‘n roll.”
6. ‘Plane’ (2023)
After a heroic job of successfully landing his storm-damaged aircraft in a war zone, a fearless pilot (Butler) finds himself between the agendas of multiple militias planning to take the plane and its passengers hostage.
“Survive together or die alone.”
5. ‘300’ (2007)
Gerard Butler in ‘300’. Photo: Warner Bros.
Based on Frank Miller’s graphic novel and directed by Zack Snyder, ‘300’ is very loosely based the 480 B.C. Battle of Thermopylae, where the King of Sparta (Butler) led his army against the advancing Persians; the battle is said to have inspired all of Greece to band together against the Persians, and helped usher in the world’s first democracy.
As the son of a Viking leader on the cusp of manhood, shy Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (Jay Baruchel) faces a rite of passage: he must kill a dragon to prove his warrior mettle. But after downing a feared dragon, he realizes that he no longer wants to destroy it, and instead befriends the beast – which he names Toothless (Randy Thom) – much to the chagrin of his warrior father (Butler).
When the White House (Secret Service Code: “Olympus”) is captured by a terrorist mastermind and the President (Aaron Eckhart) is kidnapped, disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning (Butler) finds himself trapped within the building. As the national security team scrambles to respond, they are forced to rely on Banning’s inside knowledge to help retake the White House, save the President and avert an even bigger disaster.
“When our flag falls our nation will rise.”
A frustrated man (Butler) decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family’s killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney (Jamie Foxx) and others involved in the deal.
(L to R) Maurice Compte and Gerard Butler in ‘Den of Thieves’. Photo: STXfilms.
A gritty crime saga which follows the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff’s Dept. and the state’s most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.
“Cops without limits. Thieves without fear.”
by admin | Jun 19, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(Left) Dwayne Johnson attends the World Premiere of Netflix’s ‘Red Notice’ at Regal LA Live. Photo: Kevin Mazur. (Right) Darren Aronofsky (director, ‘Caught Stealing’) at CinemaCon 2025 for Sony Pictures at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on March 31, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo by Stewart Cook/Sony Pictures via Getty Images.
Preview:
- Director Darren Aronofsky is circling the new thriller ‘Breakthrough’.
- Dwayne Johnson is taking a role in the movie.
- A24 is backing this one.
Earlier this month, the news broke that Dwayne Johnson was looking to add another dark drama to his To Do list, after once again dipping his toe in edgier waters with the upcoming A24 MMA biopic ‘The Smashing Machine.’
Johnson is taking a supporting role in the company’s new thriller ‘Breakthrough.’
“The unforgettable true story of a UFC legend.”
MMA fighter Mark Kerr struggles with addiction, winning and love during his peak era in the UFC. Read the Plot
Now, via Deadline, comes word that Darren Aronofsky, no stranger to such darker fare, is in early conversations to direct it.
Assuming a deal goes through, it would mean a reunion for the filmmaker and the studio, for which he made ‘The Whale’, which saw Brendan Fraser win an Oscar.
Related Article: Dwayne Johnson Will be a Guru in Psychological Thriller ‘Breakthrough’
What’s the story of ‘Breakthrough’?
Dwayne Johnson in ‘Superpowered: The DC Story.’ Photograph by Courtesy of Max/Warner Bros.
The new script comes courtesy of up-and-coming talent Zeke Goodman.
Set in turn-of-the-millennium Southern California, the movie follows an alienated young man who comes under the influence of a motivational guru, whose intoxicating charm masks his morally questionable methods of manipulation and his own concealed darkness.
Johnson will play the role of the guru, with casting still underway for the lead role and other characters.
Goodman’s CV includes acting work on series such as ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer,’‘Cruel Intentions’ and ‘The Hunting Party.’ He’s also worked as a writer, director, producer and actor on a number of short films, and will be seen in upcoming mystery comedy movie ‘All That Glisters.’
A24 is financing the movie, while Stacey Sher’s Shiny Penny Productions will produce alongside Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions.
What else has Darren Aronofsky worked on?
Director Darren Aronofsky on the set of ‘The Whale’ from A24.
Aronofsky is known for the likes of ‘Pi’, ‘The Wrestler’, ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Requiem for a Dream,’ as well as the aforementioned ‘The Whale.’
The filmmaker will next release ‘Caught Stealing’, which stars Austin Butler as ex-baseball player Hank Thompson, who unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a dangerous struggle for survival amidst the criminal underbelly of 1990s New York City, forced to navigate a treacherous underworld he never imagined.
‘Caught Stealing’ will hit theaters on August 25th.
When will ‘Breakthrough’ be on screens?
Even assuming Aronofsky agrees to direct, it might take a while to come together given the time needed to get the movie into production (and Johnson’s ever-busy schedule, though his taking a supporting role and not the lead will likely help with that).
A24 hasn’t yet slotted this one on its schedule.
Dwayne Johnson in ‘The Smashing Machine’. Photo: A24.
List of Darren Aronofsky Movies:
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by admin | Jun 19, 2025 | Moviephone News, News
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Shirley Henderson in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
‘Elio’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on June 20th is ‘Elio’ which is the latest animated adventure from Pixar.
Directed by Adrian Molina (‘Coco’), Madeline Sharafian (‘Onward’) and Domee Shi (‘Turning Red’), the film features the voices of Yonas Kibreab (‘Sweet Tooth’), Zoe Saldaña (‘Avatar’), Remy Edgerly (‘Sing 2’), Brad Garrett (‘Everybody Loves Raymond’), Jameela Jamil (‘The Good Place’) and Brendan Hunt (‘Ted Lasso’).
Related Article: Movie Review: ‘Inside Out 2’
Initial Thoughts
Yonas Kibreab in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky and dreamed of life that exists on worlds beyond our own? That’s the basic concept that Pixar’s latest movie takes as the jumping off point for the story of a young man who feels he doesn’t fit in, and longs for extraterrestrials to whisk him away.
‘Elio’ finds the animation studio on solid form, but does it compete with the best that the company has to offer, especially in the wake of giant box office success with ‘Inside Out 2’?
Script and Direction
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
‘Elio,’ as with many animated movies, features a batch of writers, including all three directors plus Julia Cho, Mark Hammer, Mike Jones, Jesse Andrews and Hannah Friedman. Yet for all the worries you might have about scripting by committee, the film has a remarkable coherent feel –– again, not too shocking from Pixar.
There are some conventions in place here –– Elio is an orphan (well, Pixar is an arm of Disney, after all!) and the lessons he learns are relatively basic, going from alienated loner to alien-aided more rounded individual. But as with any movie of this type, it’s how you get there. And this one certainly has an interesting, welcome journey.
Several lovely touches make it all work well –– this is catnip for space enthusiasts, including nods to the Voyager space craft and clips of astronomer Carl Sagan talking about Earth reaching out to the stars. And one or two clever riffs on the likes of ‘Alien’ and other sci-fi classics.
Ambassador Mira (far left), Ambassador Helix (third from left), Ambassador Questa (center), Ambassador Tegman (third from right) and Ambassador Turais (second from right). Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
On the storytelling front, there are some familiar challenges for our young hero, who is looking for his place in the world (and the universe), and if the dynamic between Elio and young alien Glordon is using established ideas, but the interaction between the two is so watchable that you never mind that.
On the directing side, Molina (who proved his mettle with ‘Coco’), Sharafian (making her directorial debut after years at Pixar) and Shi (who last brought us the inventive, funny ‘Turning Red’) make the most of their galactic canvas, presenting some wonderful visuals all brought to life to a suitably sweeping score by Rob Simonsen.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Zoe Saldaña in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
As Elio, Yonas Kibreab carries the weight of the story, and he’s enthusiastic and full of life, coming across as a relatable kid with a big heart who is dealing with a lot in his world. Kibreab is able to handle all sides of the performance, including Elio’s excitement at meeting aliens and his worry when things aren’t going well.
Zoe Saldaña, no stranger to galactic adventures in live-action, is soulful and determined as Elio’s Aunt Olga, introduced having to deal with the newly orphaned boy and the impact on her own life. While you initially suspect she’ll be effectively left behind once he is taken into space, some clever story ideas keep her rooted in the narrative.
Remy Edgerly voices Glordan, a young alien creature that Elio befriends. Effectively a slug-like creature, he has his own family issues (indeed, the theme of expectation placed on young people sits heavily across the story, but is handled effectively), and makes for a great foil for our hero.
Brad Garrett is a repeat Pixar voice by this point, and here he’s on good form as Lord Grigon, a warlike creature who threatens the “Communiverse” who initially bring Elio to their colorful world. But this being a Pixar movie, he’s more than that, and has some fine moments.
(L to R) Ambassador Tegmen (voice of Matthias Schweighöfer), Ambassador Questa (voice of Jameela Jamil), Ambassador Helix (voice of Brandon Moon) and Ambassador Naos (voice of Atsuko Okatsuka) in ‘Elio’. Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ opens in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2025 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Around the main characters is a good collection of supporting voices, including the likes of Jameela Jamil, Brandon Moon and Matthias Schweighöfer as ambassadors of the Communiverse who bring their own comic value and emotional to the story.
Shirley Henderson has a small role as Ooooo, a supercomputer who proves very helpful to both Elio and the narrative. She doesn’t get lots to do, but is memorable.
Likewise Pixar veteran Bob Peterson –– who has voiced the likes of Dug in ‘Up’ and Mr. Ray in ‘Finding Nemo’ in addition to work as a director and story artist –– is excellent as a high-tech user manual who just wishes people would listen to him. Finally, credit to ‘Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt for making the small role of Gunther Melmac, an alien-obsessed tech genius who ends up being helpful to Elio and Olga, pop.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
Is ‘Elio’ going to trouble the top tier of Pixar output? Probably not, but it’s certainly no misfire from the studio.
Heartstrings will be plucked, funny bones tickled and there are some inventive alien creatures. What more could you want from family entertainment?
“They asked for our leader. They got… him.”
Showtimes & Tickets
Elio, a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with eccentric alien lifeforms, navigate a… Read the Plot
What’s the story of ‘Elio’?
Elio (Yonas Kibreab), a space fanatic with an active imagination, finds himself on a cosmic misadventure where he must form new bonds with alien lifeforms, navigate a crisis of intergalactic proportions and somehow discover who he is truly meant to be.
Who is in the cast of ‘Elio’?
- Yonas Kibreab as Elio
- Zoe Saldaña as Olga Solís
- Remy Edgerly as Glordon
- Brad Garrett as Lord Grigon
- Jameela Jamil as Ambassador Questa
- Young Dylan as Bryce
- Jake Getman as Caleb
- Brendan Hunt as Gunther Melmac
- Shirley Henderson as Ooooo
- Bob Peterson as Universal Users Manual
(L to R) Yonas Kibreab and Remy Edgerly in ‘Elio’. Directed by Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi and Adrian Molina, and produced by Mary Alice Drumm, Disney and Pixar’s ‘Elio’ releases in theaters June 20, 2025. © 2024 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.
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