…With filming reportedly due to get underway next month, 20th Century Fox has officially confirmed that frequent X-Men writer and producer Simon Kinberg is set to make his directorial debut on X-Men: Dark Phoenix. As part of the announcement, Fox also revealed that Jessica Chastain is set to portray the film’s villain Lilandra alongside returning stars Michael Fassbender (Magneto), James McAvoy (Professor X), Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique), Nicholas Hoult (Beast), Alexandra Shipp (Storm), Sophie Turner (Jean Grey), Tye Sheridan (Cyclops) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler). Meanwhile, a rumoured list of supporting character descriptions also surfaced, along with reports that the film will take place in the year 1991…
…In other X-Men related news, Josh Brolin took to social media to tease his new haircut for his role as Cable in Deadpool 2, while Japanese actress Shioli Kutsuna (The Outsider) has become the latest addition to the cast, signing on for what is described as a “key role”. She joins returning stars Ryan Reynolds (Wade Wilson), Morena Baccarin (Vanessa), T.J. Miller (Weasel), Brianna Hildebrand (Negasonic Teenage Warhead), Stefan Kapicic (Colossus), Leslie Uggams (Blind Al) and Karan Soni (Dopinder) and new additions Brolin, Zazie Beetz as Domino, and Jack Kesy (The Strain) as the as-yet-unrevealed villain…
…With the Joss Whedon-directed reshoots on Justice League now underway in the UK, some set photos arrived online leading to speculation that the team’s iconic headquarters the Hall of Justice could be set to feature in the film [take a look at the set photos here]. Meanwhile, Kiersey Clemons confirmed she’ll be making a cameo appearance as Iris West ahead of The Flash solo movie, and it was also announced that Danny Elfman has been brought in to compose the score, replacing Junkie XL who took to social media to state that: “You haven’t made it in Hollywood as a composer until you get replaced on a project.” He adds: “It pains me to leave the project, but a big thanks to Zack for asking me to be part of his vision, and I wish Danny [Elfman], Joss [Whedon] and Warner Bros all the best with Justice League…”
…Wonder Woman is gearing up to push its box office haul beyond the $500 million mark this weekend, and Warner Bros. is already looking towards the film’s home entertainment release, unveiling the Limited Edition Blu-ray box set, which includes a collectible statue of Gal Gadot’s Amazon Princess. Meanwhile, director Patty Jenkins has shared her thoughts on the controversy over the women-only theatrical screening of the movie, while Elena Anaya has expressed her interest in reprising the role of Doctor Poison for the inevitable sequel…
…A few weeks ago Dwayne Johnson said he’d like to see Armie Hammer as Shazam, and Hammer has responded this week, stating that: “Dude, so Dwayne said that thing and literally blew up my social media,” said Hammer. “I couldn’t even open my Instagram. I thought my phone was gonna melt. But other than that no one’s said anything. Yeah… I’m keeping my options open.” Hammer also spoke about the repeated rumours linking him to the role of Hal Jordan, denying that he’s had any discussions with Warner Bros. about playing the Green Lantern…
…Much was made of the DC Extended Universe shifting direction following the mixed reception to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and DC Films’ Geoff Johns has stressed this week that the focus is now to “Get to the essence of the character and make the movies fun. Just make sure that the characters are the characters with heart, humor, hope, heroics, and optimism at the base…”
…Liam Hoofe has written a feature looking at nine potential actresses for the role of Batgirl in the Joss Whedon-directed solo movie, which you can read here, while Tai Freligh also spoke to The LEGO Batman Movie (and upcoming Nightwing) director Chris McKay, and you can read the exclusive interview here…
…John Lithgow has been chatting about passing on the opportunity to play The Joker in Tim Burton’s Batman, stating that: “My worst audition was for Tim Burton for Batman. I have never told anyone this story, but I tried to persuade him I was not right for the part, and I succeeded. I didn’t realize it was such a big deal. About a week later I heard they were going after Robin Williams and Jack Nicholson. I was doing M. Butterfly on Broadway and it was an exhausting show. It would have meant leaving that show and going right into a movie, and I said, ‘I just don’t think I can’. How about that for stupid? Actors are not necessarily smart people…”
…It’s taken 20 years, but Joel Schumacher has finally said sorry for Batman & Robin! In an interview this week, the filmmaker said: “Look, I apologize. I want to apologize to every fan that was disappointed because I think I owe them that. They obviously had very high expectations after Batman Forever. But perhaps it was the more innocent world in comparison, I don’t know. I just know that I’ll always go down over the nipples on Batman starting with Batman Forever.” You can read the rest of his comments about those controversial Bat-Nipples here…
…Following the sad passing of Adam West last weekend, Warner Bros. has confirmed that he had completed his voice work on Batman vs. Two-Face, the upcoming animated sequel to Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, which will reunite West for one final time with Burt Ward (Robin) as the Dynamic Duo battle William Shatner’s Harvey Dent. Meanwhile, DC has paid tribute to West with the release of a previously unaired episode of Powerless, titled ‘Win, Luthor, Draw’ featuring the Batman icon in a special guest role [watch it here], while Luke Owen revisited the Batman TV series to sing its praises…
…Valiant Entertainment is making a huge push to bring its roster of characters to the screen, and this week brought news that it has found a director and new screenwriter for its planned Shadowman movie in Reginald Hudlin (Marshall) and Adam Simon (Salem). Shadowman revolves around Jack Boniface, an African-American musician in New Orleans who gains supernatural abilities – or ‘Darque’ power – after being infected by a spirit. The movie adaptation is being developed in house, before being shopped out to prospective studios…
…Rounding up some DC TV news and Gotham’s executive producer John Stephens has revealed the title of the season four premiere episode, Billy Zane has been announced as a guest star for DC’s Legends of Tomorrow season three where he’ll play P.T. Barnum, and Black Lightning showrunner Salim Akil has revealed that he’d like to see Virgil Hawkins/Static making a guest appearance in the new show…
…And finally, Guillermo del Toro has offered up his first comments on Hellboy since it was announced that an R-rated reboot is in the works, with the filmmaker giving his blessing to Hellboy: Rise of the Blood Queen: “I don’t own Hellboy, Mike Mignola does. So, you know, he is the father of the character and if he wants to reboot it, it’s perfectly fine. I got to make two – that’s two more than I thought I would get to make … So you know, as far as I’m concerned god speed and god bless.”
Gary Collinson is a writer and lecturer from the North East of England. He is the editor-in-chief of FlickeringMyth.com and the author of Holy Franchise, Batman! Bringing the Caped Crusader to the Screen.
