Marvel Boss Admits Company Released Too Many Movies And TV Shows
Marvel Studios co-president Louis D’Esposito has owned up to releasing too much content, too fast, and has vowed that the company is now shifting gears.
Speaking to Empire, D’Esposito said, “It’s been a rough time,” before adding that he believes this July’s Deadpool and Wolverine could help Marvel find its footing again.
“If we just stayed on top, that would have been the worst thing that could have happened to us. We took a little hit, we’re coming back strong,” he said. “Maybe when you do too much, you dilute yourself a little bit. We’re not going to do that anymore. We learned our lesson. Maybe two to three films a year and one or two shows, as opposed to doing four films and four shows.”
That’s the same range that Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned on an earnings call when he was discussing Marvel’s output going forward.
Marvel’s Kevin Feige is also quoted in the piece, and he remarked that he feels “much more comfortable being the underdog.” Most would agree Marvel Studios as a movie company is very far from being an underdog given the size and scale of its operation, but Feige said Marvel’s struggles in 2023 might set the company up for success in 2024 and to “exceed expectations.”
“You’d have to live under a rock not to know that the last few Marvel movies have failed to ignite the world in the way that so many did,” he said.
Before this, Iger pushed back against the idea that so-called superhero fatigue led to Marvel’s movies coming up short at the box office recently. Instead, Iger admitted that Marvel’s latest films were simply not good enough to convince people to go see them.
Deadpool and Wolverine releases on July 26. It’s directed by Shawn Levy and features a long list of cameos, including potentially Taylor Swift as Dazzler.
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Bandai Namco’s Next Mecha Figure Is A Transforming Rubiks Cube
The Rubik’s Cube toy is a classic, but if it does have one major design flaw, it’s that you can’t transform it into a giant robot. Fortunately, this upcoming official Rubik’s Cube robot collectible from Bandai Namco addresses that glaring issue as you’ll be able to unleash the machine lying within this unassuming multicolor cube. It’ll probably be much easier than figuring out how to solve a Rubik’s Cube as well. It won’t be out for quite a while–it launches January 30, 2025–but you can secure a preorder at Amazon and get the cute robot in disguise for $90.
The figure will be a new addition to Bandai Namco’s Soul of Chogokin and Tamashii Nations lines. Soul of Chogokin figures are almost exclusively famous anime, manga, and tokusatsu robots from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. The line aims to be a high-end reproduction of nostalgic mecha and robot designs like Voltron, Mecha Godzilla, Mazinger Z, and more. You can check out many of the other figures in the Soul of Chogokin collection at Amazon. For this transforming Rubik’s Cube robot, you can expect high-quality parts, vibrant colors, and a display stand to pose the little fella on.
If you’d prefer a regular Rubik’s Cube, these are readily available. An officially licensed Rubik’s Cube with its signature 3 x 3 designs is $10 at Amazon, and if you’d like some tips on solving one, you can pick up a Rubik’s Cube guide for just $8.
Or if you want to solve one of these puzzles in mere seconds, Rust-Oleum spray paint is easy to come by. There’s nothing in the Rubik’s rulebook that says you can’t solve one with a little bit of lateral thinking.
Preorder This Slick New 4K Steelbook For One of Tom Cruise’s Best Movies
Tom Cruise is one of Hollywood’s choosier stars–you’re not going to discover a huge pile of crappy direct-to-TV movies hidden in the middle of his filmography like some other well-known actors. The guy has made a lot of really quality flicks, so it’s no small praise to say that Michael Mann’s Collateral is one of the best movies in Cruise’s filmography–and it may also be Mann’s best movie, for that matter. So it’s only fitting that a film of this quality would be getting a new 4K steelbook edition later this year, which you can preorder now.
This new Collateral steelbook release will land in stores on August 6, exactly 20 years to the day since its original theatrical release–a lot of movies get anniversary re-releases on home video, but most of them aren’t this exact about it. The studio hasn’t yet detailed what special features will be included, so it’s likely safe to assume that some of the extra features from past Collateral releases will be re-used here. Beyond that, you’ll get a 4K Blu-ray, a standard Blu-ray, and a Movies Anywhere digital copy with this set.
Right now you can order at Amazon for $31, or Walmart for $25. With months before this set actually comes out, you can expect the prices will come down a bit.
If you don’t want to wait and don’t need that steelbook packaging, there’s a current 4K edition of Collateral that had previously been released that you can buy right now and have in your home in no time.
Collateral, for those who haven’t seen it, tells the story of a random LA cab driver (Jamie Foxx) who is unwittingly pulled into a complicated assassination plan by a mysterious hitman (Cruise), who wants to use the driver as a scapegoat. The film was shot with a digital handicam that gives the flick a very gritty and real-ish look–this was the movie that established Mann’s glorious modern aesthetic. And now you can appreciate the visuals even more thanks to this new 4K steelbook release.
If you’re looking for more 4K Blu-ray steelbook editions to add to your collection, Amazon’s massive 4K Blu-ray sale includes a deal that gets you three 4K Blu-rays for just $33 total. You can also preorder the 4K Blu-ray steelbook edition of the latest Studio Ghibli film, The Boy and the Heron, for just $35 (down from $45) at multiple online retailers.
Bad Boys: Ride Or Die’s Final Trailer Puts A Bounty On Mike and Marcus
When Captain Conrad Howard (Joe Pantoliano) was killed off in Bad Boys for Life in 2020, few could have predicted that his death would be pivotal in the next sequel, Bad Boys: Ride or Die. But when Howard is posthumously accused of being a dirty cop, neither Mike Lowrey (Will Smith) nor Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) are going to stop before proving his innocence. But as seen in the final trailer for Bad Boys: Ride or Die, pursuing this case is only going to put targets on the backs of Mike and Marcus, as well as everyone that they love.
Poking around for answers has apparently gotten Mike and Marcus too close to the truth. So the man behind the conspiracy, Banker (Eric Dane), orders an ambush on the two before framing them for the same crimes that tarnished the legacy of their captain. On top of that, Banker has put a large bounty on Mike and Marcus’ heads that’s going to draw too much attention from the drug cartels, gangs, and even other cops. To turn up the heat even higher, the bad guys are going after Marcus and Mike’s families as well.
Fortunately, Mike and Marcus still have some friends inside the department, including Kelly (Vanessa Hudgens) and Dorn (Alexander Ludwig). However, the real wild card in their favor may be Mike’s son, Armando Aretas (Jacob Scipio), who was briefly glimpsed in the trailer. Armando was the man who pulled the trigger on Captain Howard in the last film, and it’s possible that he may have information that could lead Mike and Marcus back to Banker. Mike and Armando are also overdue for some father-and-son bonding, especially after Armando expressed his desire to redeem himself in the previous movie.
Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah directed the film from a script by Chris Bremner and Will Beall. Bad Boys: Ride or Die will hit theaters on June 7.
New Silent Hill Movie’s Pyramid Head Revealed At Cannes Film Festival
Silent Hill 2‘s legendary antagonist, Pyramid Head, is finally headed back to the big screen, and audiences caught their first glimpse of the geometric monstrosity this week when the film previewed at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Directed by Christophe Gans (who also directed the first Silent Hill film back in 2006), Return To Silent Hill is the third film in the Silent Hill franchise, and is also considered to be a reboot of sorts. The first two films drew inspiration from various Silent Hill games and included some of the series’ most well-known characters. However, neither 2006’s Silent Hill nor 2012’s Silent Hill: Revelation were true adaptations of one specific Silent Hill game, but rather amalgamations of them. Return To Silent Hill, on the other hand, is aiming to be a faithful adaptation of Konami’s 2001 horror masterpiece, Silent Hill 2.
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“There is a clear idea from Christophe to make it modern, but also very true to the video game… Christophe is really somebody that respects the work that has been done, but that also has his own vision,” said Victor Hadida, who served as a producer on the first two Silent Hill films.
Jeremy Irvine stars as protagonist James Sunderland, a tortured man who returns to Silent Hill–the site of his honeymoon–after receiving a letter from his wife, Mary, requesting he meet her there. There’s just one problem: Mary has been dead for three years. In the 2001 game, Pyramid Head appears as a monstrous representation of James’ guilty conscience, and based on a still from the upcoming film (via Variety), Gans’ interpretation of the enigmatic horror stays true to its source material. Pyramid Head can be seen standing behind the rusted, bent bars of a metal door, lugging a sword so enormous, even Cloud Strife would blush.
The “Silent Hill” film franchise continues with “Return to Silent Hill,” the latest adaptation of the hit horror anthology video game series. Variety has the first look at the famed monster Pyramid Head in the Christophe Gans-directed film. https://t.co/emiQJVtj8q
— Variety (@Variety) May 16, 2024
This is exactly how players first meet Pyramid Head in the original Silent Hill 2 game–during his first appearance, the metal barricade mercifully keeps him at a safe distance from James, but the encounter is a harrowing one nonetheless, and the metal bars certainly don’t keep the menacing creature at bay after the initial encounter.
Fans will likely be pleased to know that Gans is aiming for accuracy with the new film, but the real litmus test for the film’s authenticity may be the opinion of Masahiro Ito, the original art director for Team Silent and creator of Pyramid Head’s frightening design. While promoting the 2006 film, Gans claimed that Pyramid Head is “one of the executioners in the original history of the town,” adding that “There is not one particular or exclusive manifestation of him as an entity.”
Ito, however, strongly disagreed, taking issue with the first two films’ use of Pyramid Head as an all-purpose boogeyman who can terrorize any character he pleases.
“[The filmmakers] really misunderstood Pyramid Head,” Ito said of the film. “I designed that only for James.”
Ito later added that Pyramid Head’s background as an executioner was inspired by a background character from 1995’s Braveheart, and has been quite vocal about his distaste for Pyramid Head’s appearances in plotlines that do not include James Sunderland as a character. Ito has even gone as far as claiming that he regrets creating the character.
Return To Silent Hill does not yet have an official release date, but the film is set to release sometime in 2024. Similarly, a remake of the original Silent Hill 2 game is currently being developed by Bloober Team, and is also set to launch sometime this year, meaning Pyramid Head fans have plenty to look forward to.
Lego’s New Milky Way Galaxy Wall Art Set Looks Incredibly Cool
While most of us will never get to experience the majesty of space–unless you’ve got an absurd amount of cash gathering dust in your bank account–you can bring some of that magic to your home. Magic that you can spend an afternoon building with these lovely Lego sets. Lego Insiders can now purchase a wall art building kit of The Milky Way Galaxy and NASA’s Artemis Space Launch System, both of which feature over 3,000 pieces. Lego’s Insiders program is free to join, but if you’d rather wait, everyone else can start placing their orders on May 18.
Just keep in mind these two sets are exclusive to the Lego Store, so you won’t find them at major retailers. If you buy either of these sets before May 26, you’ll get a rather fitting freebie: the Alien Space Diner Lego set, which is a rather fitting bonus.
Lego The Milky Way Galaxy – 3,091 pieces
First up is this $200 artistic recreation of the Milky Way galaxy. We’re not talking about the chocolate here, but rather the collection of stars and planets orbiting a supermassive black hole that we call home in the universe. With over 3,000 pieces, you can bring the beauty of the universe to life with this stunning art project. Lego is aiming to make this a relaxing project to take part in, and you can scan a QR code to get a cool soundtrack to listen to while you build this piece. Lego’s wall art builds can feel more complicated than your average Lego set of this size, and the swirling design of the Milky Way looks like it could make this one particularly complex.
That said, it looks quite pretty and includes some neat flourishes: a tiny Gaia space telescope hidden in the portrait, the Crab Nebula floating amongst the interstellar remains of a star that went supernova, and a tiny plaque to show you where you are in the Milky Way galaxy. This will occupy a decently sized chunk of your wall once complete, as it has a width of 26 inches and a height of 16 inches.
Lego NASA Artemis Space Launch System – 3,601 pieces
Next on the list is the $260 NASA Artemis Space Launch System from the Lego Ideas line. There’s a certain magic to rocket launches, and this set is a replica of NASA’s ongoing Artemis campaign that serves as the next stage in human space exploration. A highly detailed set, there are 3,601 pieces here that come together to create a multi-stage rocket with two solid-fuel boosters, an Orion capsule, and a detailed mobile launch tower. You can also build the launch system, and this model will stand 28 inches tall once it has been fully assembled. The real-life rocket will generate a staggering 4 million KGs of thrust when it takes off.
If that’s not enough space-based fun for you, there are some other cool builds to check out, including Tales of the Space Age, which is on sale for over 30% off at Amazon.
Netflix Orders Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2
In 2022, Adam Sandler signaled that he was working a sequel to his 1996 comedy, Happy Gilmore. The film featured Sandler’s title character as he discovered that his hockey talents gave him an incredible edge on the golf course. With the help of his mentor, Derick “Chubbs” Peterson (Carl Weathers), Happy improved his golf game and quelled his violent temper. Now, Happy Gilmore is finally set to return in a new sequel from Netflix.
Via The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix announced Happy Gilmore 2 during its upfront presentation. The streamer subsequently shared the news online.
Sandler is writing the script with Tim Herlihy, but there’s no word about whether a director has already been attached to the film. It’s also unknown if any of the other actors from the previous movie will appear. Earlier this year, Christopher McDonald–who played Happy’s rival, Shooter McGavin–said that Sandler had shown him the first draft for the sequel. Sandler had previously told Variety that the sequel may pick up with Happy as a member of the PGA’s senior tour. Last month, Sandler appeared on The Dan Patrick Show and offered an update about where things stood.
“We’re working on it. Me and [Tim] Herlihy are diligently trying to make a good reason for everyone to come and watch and have a good time. Netflix is excited about it,” he said. “We’re working on it. We’ve got some good ideas. We have a million ideas already, we just have to make it a movie. We love Happy Gilmore. We don’t want to let anybody down. We’re gonna work hard and make sure it’s good.”
Sandler’s Happy Madison production company has had a multi-film deal in place with Netflix since 2016. Some of the projects that have emerged from that include The Ridiculous 6, Sandy Wexler, Murder Mystery and its sequel, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, and Spaceman. Sandler also made a standup comedy special for Netflix, Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh, with plans to make another one in the future.