by admin | Aug 2, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Few films have managed to make an impression on the movie-loving public than Sinners. Ryan Coogler’s 2025 movie release not only did solid business at the box office, but it also dominated conversations across social media. An aspect of the film that’s been praised is the ensemble cast, which is led by Michael B. Jordan. Interestingly, it now seems that rapper MGK (formerly known as Machine Gun Kelly) was granted the opportunity to audition for the film, though he apparently passed it up for one key reason.
MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, has played roles in films like Bird Box, Project Power and Midnight in the Switchgrass. He also starred in, wrote, directed and produced his own film, 2022’s Good Mourning. The recording artist recently appeared on an episode of The Pat McAfee Show, during which he discussed his new music and whether he wants to keep acting. Baker eventually claimed he’s turned down a number of films and, in terms of Ryan Coogler’s film, Baker didn’t audition due to having to say a racial slur:
YouTube), have not been verified by Ryan Coogler or any other producers on the film. Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to hear him say that he was in contention for a role. Based on the “Cliché” performer’s description of the character, it sounds like he was in the running for Bert, who was ultimately played by Peter Dreimanis of the rock band July Talk.
played by Jack O’Connell in Sinners. A role in the vampire epic may have been a serious notch in Colson Baker’s acting belt. However, it seems the star was adamant about sticking with his principles on this particular matter.
It honestly would’ve been incredibly on brand for MGK to play a vampire, considering the sometimes eerie aesthetic he’s committed to over the years. He and former fiancé Megan Fox even confirmed that they would drink a few drops of each other’s blood. Fox attributed that practice to ritualistic purposes, and that’s, of course, in stark contrast to Remmick’s reason, which is to create an army of like-minded followers.
Ryan Coogler’s critically acclaimed Sinners is great for several reasons, but one of them is the nuanced way in which it utilizes vampires. These southern blood-suckers aren’t just around to cause mischief and terror but to serve as a metaphor for unbreakable cycles and lasting legacies. It’s interesting to think about how MGK would’ve approached playing one of those nocturnal creatures but, at this point, he seems at peace with not having taken part.
Whether you’ve yet to check out Sinners for yourself or just want to rewatch it for the umpteenth time, grab an HBO Max subscription to stream it.
by admin | Aug 2, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
I was very skeptical of the new Naked Gun, starring Liam Neeson, when it was announced as part of the 2025 movie schedule. I grew up a child of the ‘80s, and the original Naked Gun series, especially the first one, was right in my wheelhouse. I’m tired of Gen X nostalgia, so I didn’t think I’d bother even watching this new re-imagining of the classic franchise.
Luckily, I have now seen it and all my worries were set aside. The Naked Gun is really funny, and smartly, the filmmakers didn’t try to compete with the original in the sheer number of jokes being thrown at the audience. It’s the smartest thing they could have done.
The Original Naked Gun Is Jokes On Top Of Jokes On Top Of Jokes
layering jokes on top of jokes. Every scene in their original movie is crammed with multiple jokes, often at the same time, and they all work together brilliantly. It’s something that is incredibly difficult to get right, and they nailed it far more often than they didn’t. It wasn’t enough to have a funny line of dialogue; there also had to be a sight gag going on, and another sight gag happening in the background.
I’ve never counted the jokes in the original, but there have to be well over 150 in just under 90 minutes. The new film on the other hand, doesn’t try to go toe-to-toe on sheer volume, and it works really well.
Liam Neeson is the perfect choice as Frank Drebin, Jr. There are tons of jokes and gags (plus some wonderful homages to the original), and they all match the tone of the predecessor perfectly. What there isn’t, is nearly as many layers of jokes. There are a few, but the filmmakers behind the new one really pick and chose when to ratchet up the joke density. This was the best decision they could have made when mapping out the movie.
Trying to match Zucker, Abrahams, Zucker is a mistake that quite a few movies have attempted – and generally failed at – since the trio first started making hits in the late ‘70s. It’s like someone trying to be Mel Brooks. There is a special talent that they had that means trying to mimic it will only lead to failure. Instead, the new one has all the vibes that The Naked Gun had in 1988, but doesn’t collapse under the weight of the sheer volume of gags.
The new Naked Gun works really well, and it’s really funny, and it’s the restraint the filmmakers used that makes it both.
by admin | Aug 1, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
It’s been three years since Jason Momoa and Lisa Bonet got divorced, but when one door closed, another opened for the Aquaman actor. After going Instagram official with his new girlfriend, Adria Arjona, last year, we caught a cute glimpse of what Momoa’s new love life is like with motorcycles obviously involved.
Life is good for Jason Momoa. His latest series, Chief of War, just premiered (which is streaming on your Apple TV+ subscription), and the Hawaiian native just turned 46. But we can’t forget his new relationship with his Sweet Girl co-star, Adria Arjona, and they look like a picture-perfect couple. If you want to know how photogenic the pair is, the Hit Man actress posted a birthday carousel of Instagram pics of her and her BF. Naturally you’ll find motorcycles making a cameo in them:
Top Gun movies and Roman Holiday can make motorcycle outings look romantic, so can Momoa.
Even when the Fast X actor got into a motorcycle accident in 2022, his motorcycle obsession never died. As the two-wheeled vehicles have played a role in his friendship with Lenny Kravitz and spread his obsession onto actor Josh Brolin, it’s no surprise motorcycles would find their way into Jason Momoa’s new romance as well.
After Momoa’s marriage to Lisa Bonet deteriorated, the talented actor was trying to find love in new places. He was reportedly dating Eiza González after his split, but they apparently broke up with a source claiming, “they are in different life stages.” But as People’s insider put it, the two were allegedly not “very serious.” So maybe the Baywatch actor wasn’t in the right place at the time for a serious relationship. This time around, perhaps Adria Arjona could be the one.
Jason Momoa and Adria Arjona have been keeping their relationship private for the most part, but when they go public, you can’t help but gush. The pair looked like they had a lot of fun attending SNL’s 50th Anniversary and even made his scrunchie match his girlfriend’s dress when they were both at A Minecraft Movie’s premiere. Can they be any more adorable?
There’s nothing like Jason Momoa taking his new girlfriend out on a wild ride with a romantic motorcycle outing. I think the three could have something very beautiful together if the two-wheeler potentially contributes to many dates. Make sure to watch Momoa in Chief of War on your streaming schedule now.
by admin | Jul 31, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
San Diego Comic-Con might be most known to casuals for all the celebrities that attend its movie and television panels, but it’s also one of the most important weekends of the year for toy collectors. That’s because almost all of the major companies have extensive set-ups and reveal a lot of what’s upcoming. This year was no exception, and days later, I’m still fired up about a ton of upcoming toys we’re getting.
I couldn’t possibly touch on all the cool figures and spectacular sets that got shown off, but I would like to give a little shine to a few things I’m particularly excited about. So, here’s a quick roundup of my favorite toy reveals at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con.
The Upcoming Wave Of Walmart Exclusive WWE Superstars
WWE Superstars. They’re exclusive to Wal-Mart and the distribution is patchy at best. Some stores will inexplicably get ten boxes of a single wave and never get in the next one. It takes a lot of patience and hunting, but for my money, there’s no figure line that displays better than this one.
putting this up for preorder on September 9th for LEGO Insiders, and it’ll be available for everyone else on September 12th. I’d order quickly because even with the $299.99 price point, it’ll probably be gone quickly.
has been working with Marvel since 2023, but I’m particularly excited about this upcoming collaboration with Marvel Legends and more specifically, Spider-Man. On September 26th, Magic The Gathering is going to be dropping a Spider-Man tie-in that features promo cards from Peter Parker’s universe. Characters including Aunt May, Doc Ock, Gwen Stacy and Venom will be getting their own, and the samples look fantastic.
I’m particularly attracted to the art work and how much it pops within the traditional confines of a Magic The Gathering card. It’s a great visual look, and I think this set is going to go over really well with both traditional MTG players and Spider-Man fans who want to express their fandom in a different way. You can pre-order it now on Amazon.
The Rock as M Bison is also a standout, as is the packaging, which is made to look like a classic arcade game.
by admin | Jul 24, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
Such is the power of FNAF’s animatronics that not even M3GAN 2.0 could avoid references to the upcoming video game adaptation sequel in its own marketing. Now we finally know what the second coming of Freddy Fazbear will look like thanks to Blumhouse unleashing the first Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 trailer on an unsuspecting society. More than two years will have passed since Emma Corrin’s first film released, and I say with hopeful confidence that the wait will be worth it.
Because by and large, the FNAF 2 trailer makes it seem like game creator and screenwriter Scott Cawthon & Co. heard all of the nitpicks and gripes that non-gamers had about the first film, and that they tried to address at least some of them. It looks like we’ll be getting more characters, more lore, and most importantly, more scares and animatronic-related massacres. Check out the upcoming horror movie’s first trailer below.
Ghostbusters star McKenna Grace leading things. Of course, given that she’s the one that finds the music box, I don’t necessarily think she’ll be around from start to finish.
Though we don’t see any obvious shots of him during the trailer itself, the press release that went out with the video serves as full confirmation that Scream franchise vet Skeet Ulrich is involved, making it all the more possible that we’ll get to see him reunite with his fellow Ghostface killer Matthew Lillard, who is returning as a presumably undead William Afton.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is set to wreak music-box havoc on theaters starting on December 5, 2025.
by admin | Jul 24, 2025 | Articles, Cinemablend Articles
For as much as the 2025 movie Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is being hyped as the closing chapter of the series, some are having a hard time believing that’s true. It’s still the official line, even in light of the Downton finale’s latest trailer dropping some huge bombshells.
However, franchise star Elizabeth McGovern held fast in a recent interview, saying that the time has come for Cora Crawley and her family to say farewell. Though in the wake of such confirmation, the actor did mention a possible continuation she’d be eager to see realized – and I’ll back that call any day!
Elizabeth McGovern Doubles Down On Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Living Up To Its Name
Deadline’s Baz Bamigboye, she absolutely puts the fine china away for good in Julian Fellowes’ storied franchise. However, in her suggestion for a potential Downton continuation, included below, a prequel rumor I previously stumbled upon came up:
Peacock subscription.
Downton Abbey spinoff that needs to happen since the release of the first motion picture. Last summer, a cloud of speculation was sparked by a Daily Mail report, stating that such a project was a possibility, but without any concrete proof.
What’s more, the short list of House of the Dragon’s Emily Carey, Fallout’s Ella Purnell and The Crown’s Viola Prettejohn, was named as the field being considered for the central role. Of course, this speculation was never confirmed, but the juicy details of what it could cover are an attractive prospect to consider.
As for the plot, the romances between Maggie Smith’s iconic character and two past suitors – Marquis de Montmirail (who led to a significant part of Downton Abbey: A New Era’s plot) and Prince Igor Kuragin (featured prominently through Season 5, and played by Rade Šerbedžija). For the character/actor who some claim to be the glue of Downton Abbey, continuing the Dowager Countess’ story feels like a good follow-up to how The Grand Finale honors Maggie Smith.
If you wanted to trigger the desire to know more about the past, this is one surefire way to do it. (The other, of course, is stoking the fires around that potential Downton Abbey/The Gilded Age crossover.) Obviously this is a speculated avenue for Julian Fellowes to take with the ITV hit drama that led to a trilogy of well-regarded and anticipated films.
Those looking forward to seeing Elizabeth McGovern and the rest of the cast saying their goodbyes will have to wait a little longer though. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale won’t be in theaters until September 12th, with tickets now on sale for an earlier fan event screening two days earlier.
