Transformers: Steve Jablonsky Has Started Scoring The Last Knight
01 November, 2016


While we can hope director Michael Bay brings some fresh ideas to Transformers: The Last Knight, there are some things that don’t change. Yes, for whatever reason, the film will feature the presence of King Arthur and Nazis, but you can also expect many returning actors, Transformers characters and much of the same filmmaking team to provide what audiences have come to expect from these movies. This also means hearing some familiar sounds.

A whole new writing team may have been put together in an attempt to move forward on a Transformers cinematic universe, but for this upcoming Bay film, there is still a place for his regular composter. Steve Jablonsky has scored the previous four Transformers films and while his involvement with The Last Knight is not surprising, his followers on Twitter just got an update.

Based on an image from Jablonsky’s Twitter feed, seen below, it appears the composer is now hard at work in putting a new score together. This includes what could be a new iteration of the theme for Optimus Prime (or the Primes in general), judging by the composition title seen in the image.

https://mobile.twitter.com/jablonsky_steve/status/792507664307748864

As mentioned, Jablonsky has largely been a regular for Michael Bay. Since 2005’s The Island, Jablonsky has scored all of Bay’s film, in addition to a number of films produced by Bay’s production company, Platium Dunes. Jablonsky is also known for his work on Desperate Housewives, numerous video games, including Gears of War 3, and other films for directors including Peter Berg, most notably. Whatever Jablonsky has going on currently for The Last Knight, it may not be too far from what has been previously heard.

This essentially means a score will do what it can to capture these giant robots in action once again, but without too much fanfare. Hopefully Jablonsky (or Bay) has some ideas of how to bring some freshness to the music of these films. Transformers 1-3 were notable for featuring songs from rock band Linkin Park and incorporating their sound into the feature. The second film, Revenge of the Fallen even gave the band a music credit for helping to score that film. This doesn’t necessarily go a long way in improving the quality of these movies, but that was a fun aspect to go along with making the Transformers series stand out in its own way.

Of course, it only matters so much when looking at the excess of this series. It will be hard to say this fifth entry could be the one that really works for everyone, quality-wise, but if there is more of an attempt to keep large ideas in check, perhaps audiences can take notice of things such as a score that tries to be more engrossing. It’s not a lot to hope for, but given the many involved in making films like this, it would be nice to see the work payoff.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Transformers 5/Transformers: The Last Knight release date: Jun 23, 2017

New Wonder Woman Trailer To Play in Theaters With Doctor Strange
01 November, 2016


The latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Doctor Strange, is set to arrive on North American screens this weekend, with positive early word of mouth and high expectations. Meanwhile, the next film in the rival DCEU, Wonder Woman, is scheduled to arrive next June, giving a full showcase to Gal Gadot’s interpretation of the superhero character.

The two separate rival universes may represent the product of different corporations, different movie studios, different comic book publishers, and very different core cinematic styles. But despite all that, Marvel and DC film releases do tend to play the same movie theaters. And now, the latest blockbuster movie of one will be advertised prior to the other.

The new trailer for Wonder Woman, which was recently classified, will debut this week ahead of showings of Doctor Strange, the website Trailer Track reported this week, citing a trailer schedule from Deluxe Digital Cinema. Speculation had earlier suggested that the Wonder Woman trailer would arrive along with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, another Warner Bros. film scheduled for release later in November, but apparently we’ll be seeing the new advertisement earlier than that.


According to the report, the new trailer is 2 minutes and 24 seconds. There’s not much to say about what to expect from the new look at the film, but a few leaked images from the trailer last month suggest there will be plenty of action. The first trailer for Wonder Woman     debuted at San Diego Comic-Con back in July, and was probably the most talked-about trailer release at that event.

DCEU’s releasing 2016, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, were hits at the box office, but struggled to gain positive reviews from critics. That situation has led many to ponder whether Wonder Woman will be able to break the cycle and be welcomed by both audiences and critics. That goal certainly seems possible, as Gal Gadot’s debut as the character in Dawn of Justice was one of the more positively received aspects of the film.

In addition, the standalone nature of the film means it’s likely to avoid the too-many-characters pitfall of Suicide Squad, X-Men: Apocalypse and other recent films of the genre. Will the second trailer for Wonder Woman give us a better idea of its potential? We’ll find out this weekend.

Doctor Strange is set for North American release on Friday, November 4. Wonder Woman comes out on June 2, 2017.

Star Wars 8: Luke Skywalker Costume Description Emerges
01 November, 2016


In the opening crawl for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, viewers read that Luke Skywalker had vanished. By the time that film ended, the old Jedi Master was found by Rey on the planet Ahch-To in apparent self-imposed isolation, being asked to take his old lightsaber and rejoin the fight. The Lucasfilm story group has not revealed much of what Luke has been up to since Return of the Jedi, which makes the character’s appearance in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VIII all the more anticipated. So many questions remain that need answering, and luckily fans don’t have that long to wait until the film’s December 2017 premiere.

Until then, moviegoers will have to make do with the rumor mill, which has overall been short on Star Wars 8 speculation, but still has provided some tantalizing possibilities for the next chapter in the saga. One of the more compelling bits was a description of an action sequence involving Luke and the Knights of Ren. Skywalker’s costume has also been a topic of conversation, with reports indicating that he sports an entirely different outfit when compared to his Force Awakens attire. Now, more details about his new look have surfaced online.

Making Star Wars reached out to Twitter user Lumberjack Nick to do a drawing of Luke’s costume based on their previous description. As was indicated back in April, Luke is dressed in all-black, similar to his garb from Jedi. Since Making Star Wars was unable to tell if Skywalker’s mechanical hand was covered, the artist’s rendition does not include a glove. The picture (which you can see on their site) is a depiction from a scene where Rey has become frustrated with Luke’s teachings. The elder Jedi has a stern expression, but that could simply be Lumberjack Nick’s interpretation rather than how the sequence was written. It’s said that the costume is dirty most of the time and only gets filthier as the movie goes on.


Luke Skywalker’s Episode 8 costume is similar to his Return of the Jedi look

The biggest reveal here is that Luke did not appear to have a lightsaber on him, and the drawing does not include a belt for the weapon. Instead, Luke is holding “either a thin spear, thin walking stick, or a piece of junk” in his hand. This raises questions about whether or not Skywalker will use a lightsaber during Episode VIII, which would be somewhat surprising. Since it’s been theorized that Luke will take on the Knights of Ren at some point, it was expected his sword would be required. On the other hand, this would be a refreshing change-of-pace. Having Luke take on his enemies with nothing but the Force could potentially be an amazing way to show how strong the character has grown in his abilities, and illustrate to Rey that there is some virtue to be gained by learning from Skywalker. The Force Awakens showed off some new Force skills (Kylo freezing the blaster bolt), so it would be interesting to see what a fully trained user would be capable of.

While costume descriptions aren’t the most compelling updates about a film, this one does include some some tantalizing points of discussion; more items for the growing list of rumors about Luke. Those hoping for some clarity on the matter may remain in the shadows for a bit, since Lucasfilm may be wary to begin Episode VIII promotion until after Rogue One: A Star Wars Story opens. There’s always the possibility a teaser makes its way to the public in December, but with the spinoff being the top priority, Disney may not want to overshadow it right now.

Ghostbusters Director Paul Feig Wants to Make a Sequel
01 November, 2016

Regardless of how you felt about Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters, the chances for a sequel to the film aren’t looking great. Despite mostly positive reviews from critics, its box-office numbers were lower than expected. Does that mean hope is lost for the fans who fell in love with the new, all-female team of Ghostbusters? While a decision regarding the fate of a sequel is still officially up in the air, Feig himself is hopeful he’ll get the chance to helm another ghost-busting adventure.

In a recent interview, the director spoke on the reaction — both negative and positive — to his vision of Ghostbusters, while offering praise for his stars, both on screen and off. With so much online vitriol directed toward the film, no one would blame Feig if he wanted to wash his hands of the franchise altogether. Instead, he spoke about why he wants to return to the world of Ghostbusters.

With regard to a sequel, Feig told The Daily Beast:

“That’s up to the studio because they have to pay for it. Nobody’s called me. But I love those characters and I know they are now heroes and mean a lot to a lot of people, so in a perfect world it would be great if we could see them bust more ghosts, kick more ass, and be awesome again.”


While the movie’s box office numbers suggest an uphill climb for Ghostbusters 2 becoming a reality, the film has done fairly well since hitting the home video and VOD market earlier this month. This has added to the contingent of vocal fans on social media who continue to praise the film — a fact that hasn’t been lost on Feig.

“Now that the movie’s kind of past all that stuff and we’re out on DVD and streaming on digital, I get contacted all day long over social media by women thanking me for the movie, and girls and young women sending me pictures of themselves in their modern-day Ghostbusters costumes. I even get tweets from women saying, ‘If this movie was around when I was younger I’d maybe be an engineer now, because I see these cool women who are scientists.’ So I hope the world will go, wow, we got upset over something that we really didn’t need to get upset over. I’m hoping that time will rehabilitate us.”

It’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility that Ghostbusters 2 might be a go after all is said and done with the home video numbers. Feig did set up a sequel in a post-credits sequence, which foretold the return of Zuul, the primary antagonist from the first film in the 80s. Even outside of Zuul, however, there is still plenty of room for Feig to craft the continuing adventures of his cast.

It would take a lot of work, certainly, to convince Sony to dip their toes back in these waters once more. But if the fan base continues to grow over the coming weeks and months, following the home video release, it’s possible that Feig’s sequel may come to fruition after all. The prospects might be slim, but it doesn’t seem as though the door is shut just yet.

The Flash Movie Loses Director Rick Famuyiwa
01 November, 2016


The last few weeks have been tough on directors of upcoming superhero movies. Fox recently lost director Tim Miller for Deadpool 2 due to creative differences, and now Warner Bros. has met a similar speed bump in the next phase of its extended universe. Although things have been looking good with DC thanks to Wonder Woman, Justice League, and Ben Affleck’s upcoming solo film The Batman, the fastest hero alive is having a tough time getting his solo film off the starting block.

Dope director Rick Famuyiwa joined The Flash earlier this year after the project parted ways with previous director Seth Grahame-Smith. The announcement was met with general praise, and all signs pointed towards the production moving full steam ahead. Now it looks as though The Flash is back to square one.

THR reports that Famuyiwa has left the project over “creative differences” with Warner Bros. The loss at this stage in pre-production will reportedly delay the entire project for some time, as the search for his replacement begins. Famuyiwa gave the following statement to THR regarding the reasoning he left:

“When I was approached by Warner Bros and DC about the possibility of directing The Flash, I was excited about the opportunity to enter this amazing world of characters that I loved growing up, and still do to this day. I was also excited to work with Ezra Miller, who is a phenomenal young actor. I pitched a version of the film in line with my voice, humor, and heart. While it’s disappointing that we couldn’t come together creatively on the project, I remain grateful for the opportunity. I will continue to look for opportunities to tell stories that speak to a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view. I wish Warner Brothers, DC, Jon Berg, Geoff Johns, and Ezra Miller all the best as they continue their journey into the speed force.”


Losing Famuyiwa at this stage is obviously a big step back for the project, and could put other potential elements of the film into question as well. With the impending release date change and Famuyiwa’s involvement with the casting of Keirsey Clemons as Iris West, it will be interesting to see if she will be able to (or is interested in) staying with the project. Billy Crudup was also onboard as Barry’s father Henry Allen, but again, his involvement could change after this news.

As for the future of The Flash movie itself, Famuyiwa says he pitched a film that speaks to “a fresh generational, topical, and multicultural point of view.” THR‘s report says his version would have “more edge,” which leads to questions as to the type of film Warner Bros. is hoping to make.

Potentially the most concerning part of this departure and delay could be related to the DCEU at large. The Flash was reportedly set to be the first post-Justice League film, and with that likely no longer being the case, it could alter the release schedule of other upcoming DCEU films. Warner Bros. will now be retooling the concept around The Flash to figure out their version and a director that fits that vision. In the meantime, Aquaman and The Batman will be the next two DC films to start production. Hopefully this does not have a substantial impact on either movie, but it will be interesting to see how the studio adjusts following this news.

Han Solo Movie Cinematographer Say the Film Will ‘Break Some Rules’
01 November, 2016


Disney and Lucasfilm are busy preparing for the theatrical release of this December’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; a film that will “test” the Star Wars brand in new ways, being the first live-action film in the franchise that isn’t part of the core Episode narrative. Rogue One also mixes things up by including main characters who are all either new additions to the Star Wars galaxy (special guest appearances from Darth Vader aside) or established players that only hardcore Star Wars fans will be familiar with (see Forest Whitaker as a live-action version of the animated Clone Wars TV show character, Saw Gerrera).

The second Star Wars “anthology” film that’s currently in development must deal with the opposite of that challenge now facing Rogue One – in the sense that it features protagonists whom the filmgoing public knows all too well. Said Star Wars movie is going to be about the early life and times of Han Solo (as played by Hail, Caesar! standout Alden Ehrenreich) and will include such beloved characters as young(er) Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover) and Chewbacca (casting TBA) in substantial roles too. Meanwhile, operating behind the camera on the project will be such acclaimed talents as The LEGO Movie directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller, as well as the equally-acclaimed cinematographer, Bradford Young.

Young started his career as a cinematographer by working primarily on short films and documentaries during the mid-2000s, but has more recently become better known for his work on prestigious drama fare. The Han Solo movie admittedly reads as something of an odd choice for Young based on his output of late; a resume that includes the Civil Rights drama Selma, the Bobby Fisher biopic Pawn Sacrifice and the upcoming cerebral alien contact drama Arrival. Young addressed that very matter during an interview with Collider, where he discussed his involvement with the Star Wars spinoff film:

“It’s funny, here’s the thing about Phil Lord and Chris Miller: don’t let their track record fool you. Don’t put those guys in a box because they have a vision, they know exactly what they want. They have no hidden agenda, but they do have an agenda; they have a way of seeing that’s very special, and their collaboration is genuinely unique. So I have to say I had to get converted into that. I respect their work, I respect them as filmmakers, but I wasn’t quite sure if there would be a good marriage between what I’m trying to pursue and the work that I’m doing and what they’re doing, but they helped make that real clear to me early on by expressing some real interesting story [and] photographic ideas that really resonated with me. So once they started really pulling me into that world, I realized how much these cats have come from the same pedagogy of filmmaking—in the visual sense for sure, and definitely from an approach in terms of how we want to make movies, they come from the same school.”


  

Bradford Young is serving as the  cinematographer on the Han Solo movie.

One needs look no further than Lord and Miller’s own previous directorial efforts, for proof of what Young is saying about the dangers of “putting them in a box.” The duo kicked off their feature-length filmmaking career with an unexpectedly clever (visually and thematically) exercise in self-reflexive storytelling with the animated film, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Lord and Miller started to become even more ambitious with their subsequent work on the 21 Jump Street films and The LEGO Movie; projects that deconstruct the very concepts of sequels and brands in Hollywood, at the same time delivering funny (and surprisingly heartfelt) narratives, on the surface. There are very clear visions behind all of these movies too and Young assured Collider that Lord and Miller have a similarly distinct, rule-breaking plan in mind for how to make a quality movie about the (mis)adventures of a young Han Solo:

“We’re doing our own thing, that’s why we’re there. Phil and Chris are there to bring what they bring to their films, their very unique vision, their perspective on story and they asked me to come bring what I bring, and so just for that it won’t feel like any of the other films. And nobody at Lucasfilm is asking us to betray that, they’re saying ‘We’re in full support of what you do and we wanna make sure that we’re able to help you do it in the best way.’ It’s gonna feel like a Star Wars film, but we’re definitely gonna break some rules, and we’re encouraged to do that. Visually, narratively that’s a good mandate. They really are about, from what I’ve seen so far, supporting up and coming artists, artists who have a strong vision and voice and perspective, and they really wanna permeate the films with those kinds of voices. So it’s interesting, very interesting. Not what I thought it would be, that’s for sure. I’m pleasantly encouraged and pleasantly surprised.”

Young’s contributions to the Han Solo movie – written by Force Awakens co-writer Lawrence Kasdan with his son, Jon Kasdan – will help ensure that the film has a visual style that sets it apart from not only the main Star Wars Episode movies, but also the comparatively gritty and grounded aesthetic of director Gareth Edwards’ approach on Rogue One. Where Rogue One feels like a military drama/thriller more than any previous movie in the Star Wars franchise, the Han Solo movie might explore brand-new genre territory for the series; namely, a buddy action/comedy (possibly in the vein of Lord and Miller’s Jump Street movies) that revolves around Han, Chewie and/or Lando. For these reasons and more, it makes sense that Young would choose this project to serve as his first-time swimming in the pool that is the world of Hollywood blockbusters.

KEY RELEASE DATES
Star Wars 8 / Star Wars: Episode VIII release date: Dec 15, 2017
Untitled Han Solo Star Wars Anthology Film release date: May 25, 2018
Star Wars: Rogue One / Rogue One: A Star Wars Story release date: Dec 16, 2016

James Cameron Pushing For Glasses-Free 3D With Avatar Sequels
01 November, 2016


James Cameron is a director known for pushing the limits of moviemaking technology to realize his vision. Whether he’s ushering in CGI with the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day or ringing in the new era of 3D with Avatar, it’s always interesting to watch Cameron challenge himself as he tries to pull off something unprecedented. It’s because of that trait that many viewers are fascinated to see his four Avatar sequels, the first of which is said to explore the world of Pandora further by taking audiences underwater – which should be a visual treat when seen through Cameron’s lens.

The Oscar winner has spent the last few months detailing the writing process for Avatar 2 and its followups, as well as the narrative approach the team is going for, but Cameron’s filmography is known more for its spectacle than complex storytelling. Cameron has already expressed his desire to film the sequels in a high-frame rate, but his goals are characteristically more ambitious than that. He eventually wants to get to the point where 3D is changed forever.

While accepting membership into the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (hat tip IndieWire), Cameron discussed how he wants technology to evolve down the road:

“I’m going to push. Not only for better tools, workflow, high dynamic range (HDR) and high frame rates (HFR) — the things we are working toward. I’m still very bullish on 3D, but we need brighter projection, and ultimately I think it can happen — with no glasses. We’ll get there.”


Cameron should be commended for not simply resting on his laurels and looking for ways to revolutionize the industry, but there is some concern that the technological advancements could usurp the actual plots of the films. A common criticism of the first Avatar was that despite the jaw-dropping special effects, the story it told was very basic and run-of-the-mill, which contributed to the property not having much of a cultural footprint in the years since 2009. In particular, the HFR could be an issue for moviegoers, since the use of that in the Hobbit films and this fall’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk was widely panned. Certain viewers would probably prefer Cameron focus on making the Avatar sequels the best movies they can be instead of toying with something many are not a fan of.

Still, the Avatar writing group has some fascinating concepts to work with. Cameron has said the sequels are a “family saga” about Jake Sully, Neytiri, and their children’s dynamic with the humans, and Stephan Lang’s villainous Colonel Quaritch (one of the highlights of the original) has an important role to play in all three films. The hope here is that the Avatar franchise can morph into something reminiscent of the modern Planet of the Apes movies starring Andy Serkis as Caesar; well-made sci-fi pieces that dive into relevant themes via a tale of the Na’vi trying to co-exist with human beings. Interestingly enough, Rise of the Planet of the Apes writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver are penning the script for Avatar 2, so that is a positive sign.

The argument can be made that the decision to make all four Avatar sequels as one giant production is something of a risk, but people have doubted Cameron before only to be proven wrong. At this point, the director has earned the benefit of the doubt, and viewers know they’re getting an experience unlike any other when they sit down to watch one of his films. Time will tell if Avatar can be as popular as it was when it first came out, but chances are Cameron’s innovations will make the followups must-see on the big screen. From the sound of it, Avatar 2 should have more substance than its predecessor, which will only complement the tremendous style its creator is going for.

Avatar 2 is expected to reach theaters in December 2018, followed by Avatar 3 in December 2020, Avatar 4 in December 2022, and Avatar 5 in December 2023.