When Michael turned out to be a box office hit, you better believe that a sequel was greenlit almost immediately. I mean, you could tell that the studio was banking on success just by the way we're told that “His story continues” at the end of the first movie, which really isn’t all that subtle when it comes to hinting at a sequel.

And, we’re getting one. However, the first movie, which the fans loved, but the critics weren’t so hot on, kind of played it safe. Yes, we did see a tyrannical Joe Jackson, and it did touch upon Michael’s vitiligo, but it definitely wasn’t the in-depth biopic that I was hoping for, and focused entirely on Jackson’s mostly scandal-free early career.

The sequel, however, would likely tackle Jackson during his most controversial era. This could make the sequel far darker than the first movie, but I don’t think that's the way things will go. Here’s why.

First, I Don't Think They’re Going To Delve That Deeply Into The Sexual Allegations (If At All)

Believe it or not, the first movie initially had a third act that addressed the sexual allegations against Michael Jackson, but it wasn't until after the fact that all involved realized the footage couldn't be used, so the whole third act had to be changed. Fine and good.

Now, I know a lot of people grumbled that the first movie handled Jackson with kid gloves because it didn't get into all of the allegations, but the studio was literally not allowed to touch that subject as it concerned allegations concerning a 13-year-old named Jordan Chandler, and the Jackson estate made a pledge to never “dramatize” his story.

To that end, I think the sequel will take a similar approach. Judging by the audience's 97% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes, it appears as if most of Jackson's fans are perfectly content with a film that focuses more on the music than aspects that might be viewed as more questionable.

As somebody who grew up following Jackson's career, I feel in a lot of ways like it's kind of impossible to not go into the allegations, because how how weighed down the latter half of Jackson's career was by sexual accusations. That said, even though some people wonder where the backlash is in the biopic I think the studio will wisely moonwalk around that touchy subject as much as possible, since the fan response doesn't seem to want a movie that gets into stuff like that.

In fact, if anything, I think the allegations (if they’re in the sequel at all) will be way in the background, because even though Joe Jackson was undeniably the main antagonist in the first movie, I think the second film will have a different “big bad.”

In Fact, I Think The Main Antagonist This Time Around Will Be The Media

If the first movie was anything, it was a love letter to Michael Jackson. Michael seemed like somebody who had to stand up against his father to become his own man, and as far as movie narratives go, that's a fine one.

However, later in Jackson's career, his biggest antagonist seemed to be the media itself, which hounded him until the end of his life. And, I think the media makes for an interesting “villain” if that's the direction the sequel might go in. Journalists used to dog him on his lightened skin tone (which I'll get into later), which would definitely be a good counterpoint to how important it was for him to succeed as a Black artist in the first film. The idea that the media used to call his race into question could be a good portion of the story.

I also think that the sexual allegations could be touched upon (but mostly avoided since the “ugliest” chapters of his life can't be shown, as per his estate), but I do think his marriages could be brought up, and how the media handled them. This could be another aspect where the audience could rally behind Michael and the media could be viewed as antagonistic to his journey.

Do I think this is the best approach? It depends. Watching old interviews with Michael, it does often seem like he was constantly doing his best to be polite to extremely personal questions, but I don't just want the media to be viewed as one-dimensional, either. We'll see if the sequel takes this approach at all, though.

I Also Think His Skin-Tone Transition Will Be A Major Storyline This Time

While I do theorize the media will be a major antagonistic force in this sequel, I also think MJ's skin transition and surgeries will be another major aspect of this film. In the first movie, his vitiligo is touched upon, and he’s seen covering it up with make-up. Well, I surmise that this will be the storyline that will replace the sexual allegations as it in itself could provide a sort of internal and external conflict for Michael.

I would say that this is a safer course to approach since it makes Michael look sympathetic. When he was interviewed by Oprah, it definitely looked painful for Michael to discuss the change in his pigmentation, and to address why he was now “white.”

Or, and I really don’t think they want to go there (especially since Jermaine Jackson’s son, Jaafar, PLAYS Michael), but they could also go into how Michael’s own family questioned Michael’s cosmetic changes, as heard in Jermaine Jackson’s diss track, “Word to the Badd!”

Now, as you can see, none of this is really “dark” material like child molestation allegations. It’s petty, sure, and it paints Michael as a victim, absolutely, but none of it puts Michael in a negative light. And, if the first film is any indication of how the Jackson estate wants Michael’s legacy to be remembered, I think this would likely be the course to go. But, I haven’t even mentioned the music yet!

There's Also Plenty Of Other Music And Major Events To Cover Here To Mirror The First Film

Spoiler alert, but the first film ends with Michael having his first solo tour in 1988. This puts him right at the Bad album. However, in the ‘90s, Jackson released Dangerous, which was a departure from his previous three albums since he didn’t work with Quincy Jones.

This in itself is worth a whole movie, as it will be interesting to see Michael moving to more socially conscious music that splits from the more poppy sound of Quincy Jones. Jackson also went on his Dangerous World Tour, which would be a great place to start the movie.

We’d also get to see his amazing Super Bowl Halftime Show in ‘93, where he literally just stands there for minutes, and I’d love to see a making of video for “Black or White” (which would play into the vitiligo subplot I’ve cooked up in my head) like we got with videos in the first movie.

Honestly, there’s SO much music to cover, it actually makes me wonder…

Are We Sure There Won’t Be A Part Three?

It sounds like there was a lot cut from the first movie that will be in the sequel, but I’m just wondering–will there be a part three?

Because I don’t see how they could JUST cover the ‘90s, because I feel they would have to also go into the whole story of Invincible in the 2000s, and his spat with Sony and Tommy Mottola.

Honestly, I don’t see how this sequel could be the last movie, and I think there are a lot more obstacles that Michael could face in a third film. I don’t feel that hypothetical film would be dark, either, and I doubt his death will be incorporated into it.

But, what do you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The thing about Michael is when you’re watching it, it feels like Michael Jackson is in front of you. No wonder it’s gone on to become one of the biggest 2026 movies so far, continuing to make bank at the box office this past weekend. If you're like me, you probably wondered how much of the music in the film features the legend’s actual voice and how much comes from the actors playing him. Before anyone goes jumping off the wall, we have an answer for you.

When CinemaBlend spoke to director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King about the making of Michael, the filmmakers revealed to us a bunch of things like how Jaafar Jackson debuted his moonwalk to them and what it was like to shoot those immersive concert scenes. Here’s what King said about the role of Michael Jackson’s voice in the movie:

It sounds like both Michael actors definitely have the vocal chops to pass for MJ, but as it is ultimately a movie celebrating the King of Pop, it just wouldn’t be right to not have his voice in there at all. The young Michael Jackson was played by Juliano Krue Valdi, who is currently twelve years old. He'd been a fan of the legend since the age of 5, when he was first shown Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” music video from Moonwalker.

Then, with the approval from his family, he started recreating Michael Jackson routines online to a viral reaction, leading to him being cast in Michael at the age of 9. Fuqua told us there was a “magic about him” that led to any of the other auditions for the role to fade away. And when it comes to the man behind adult Michael Jackson, the movie cast MJ’s nephew Jaafar, who even lived in the same house Michael does in the movie. Jackson also said this to Today about the vocals in the movie:

Jaafar also learned every move and recreated every moment in his uncle’s life the movie chose to tell in his early life. The actor also has said he lived at the Hayvenhurst property in Encino while filming and made a “research room” for himself while making it to connect with the late King of Pop.

Michael has been such a smash success that there’s already talk of Jafaar coming back for a sequel, but nothing has been confirmed just yet. You can check out Michael in theaters now.

The Michael Jackson biopic has been blowing up the box office since it hit the 2026 movie schedule. While some critics have called out the film for sidestepping the more complicated parts of Jackson’s story, there’s been growing chatter that a sequel could go there. So, should we expect another chapter? One exec is weighing in on whether “more story can” and should be told.

Speaking with Business Insider, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson said he’d be open to a Michael sequel if director Antoine Fuqua and writer John Logan decide to continue the story, potentially tackling the more controversial aspects of Jackson’s life. He told the outlet:

Right now, it sounds like any potential sequel isn’t just a creative decision, it’s a business one. If audiences keep showing up, the door stays open. Given how Michael has performed so far, it’s not hard to see why the studio might be interested in exploring a follow-up. At the same time, the conversation about a sequel is directly tied to what the first film left out.

The absence of Jackson’s sexual abuse allegations has been one of the most talked-about aspects of the movie, especially since that wasn’t originally the plan. As Fuqua has recently shared, the production had to pivot late in the process, undergoing extensive reshoots to avoid violating the terms of a 1993 settlement between Jackson and Jordan Chandler, who accused him at the time.

That legal restriction essentially drew a line around what the film could and couldn’t depict. And it’s a big part of why the movie focuses so heavily on Jackson’s early life, his rise to fame, and the pressures that shaped him, rather than diving into the allegations that would later define much of the public conversation around him.

Which brings us back to the sequel question. If Michael is laying the groundwork, a follow-up could pick up where the first film leaves off and move into the later chapters of Jackson’s life, territory the initial installment couldn’t fully explore. Antoine Fuqua has even hinted in other interviews that there’s more story already mapped out, suggesting this may not have been designed as a one-and-done.

The bigger question is tone. Telling a more complete version of Jackson’s story means stepping into some very sensitive territory, and how a sequel handles that will likely shape its reception just as much as its box office. Right now, much of Michael’s momentum is driven by nostalgia, fans showing up to relive the music and the iconic moments on the big screen. A sequel that leans into darker material, especially the allegations, could shift that dynamic in a big way.

For now, nothing is official. But between the film’s strong performance, the studio’s openness, and the curiosity around what comes next, it’s clear this story isn’t finished yet.

Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson, the real-life nephew of Jackson, is now playing in theaters. Be sure to check your local listings for showtimes.

The Michael Jackson biopic recreates several iconic moments from the late pop star’s run in the ’70s and ’80s, so fans are already experiencing déjà vu as they watch it unfold on the 2026 movie calendar. That feeling wasn’t just coming from what’s on screen, but also what happened behind the scenes. Director Antoine Fuqua found himself dealing with a different kind of whiplash, the kind that had nothing to do with choreography or recreating "Thriller". As he explains, directing Michael came at a very unfortunate time, as it was practically a repeat of what he faced after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock ahead of his last film, Emancipation.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Fuqua opened up about one of the toughest moments during production on Michael and how it mirrors what he went through while finishing his previous film, Emancipation, starring Smith. As he tells it, when he found out there would be legal ramifications if they got into the 1993 allegations against Jackson, it was the "exact same situation" he'd been in before.

The fallout from the 2022 Academy Awards slap incident dominated headlines for weeks, inevitably overshadowing Emancipation, available to stream with an Apple TV subscription. The historical drama arrived under a cloud it didn’t create, and the conversation around it shifted almost overnight. So to find himself in a nearly identical moment while finishing Michael? Yeah, you can see why he calls it a gut punch.

This time around, the issue wasn’t a viral moment on live television, but a major behind-the-scenes complication. The film had to undergo significant reshoots after it was discovered that certain real-life allegations tied to Michael Jackson couldn’t legally be depicted, forcing the production to rethink where it wrapped in the timeline and shell out for extensive reshoots. The movie ultimately ended with a "story continues" card, leaving the door open for more to be told, maybe, one day.

That kind of last-minute pivot would throw any production off balance, and for a while, it did. Fuqua continued:

Instead of trying to tackle everything at once, Fuqua and his team refocused the film around the core of the story: Michael Jackson himself. The performer and the person. It’s a shift that, in hindsight, sounds obvious, but in the middle of a production scramble, it’s not always that easy. Especially when you’re dealing with a figure as complex and polarizing as Jackson.

The film ultimately moved forward with that approach, leaning into the earlier parts of his life and career while setting up the more controversial chapters for potential future installments. Despite the turbulence, it paid off. Michael went on to post a massive opening weekend, proving there’s still a huge audience for the King of Pop’s story.

Twice now, Fuqua has found himself at the exact same stage of the filmmaking process, handing in a director’s cut, only to have something completely outside of what he made threaten to reshape how the project is received. Most directors deal with production headaches, but not all of them have to deal with déjà vu like that.

Michael is currently in theaters as part of the April 2026 release schedule.

The Michael Jackson movie recreates tons of iconic moments from the late pop star's career during the 1970s and 1980s, but perhaps the most standout sequence throughout its runtime comes during the “Thriller” music video. When CinemaBlend spoke to director Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King about shooting the sequence, they shared an almost unbelievable story about how it all came together on set.

The “Thriller” music video was shot across Los Angeles, California, under the direction of John Landis, who famously helmed classic movies like The Blues Brothers, An American Werewolf In London, Clue and Coming To America. Here’s what happened with the actor who was hired to play the filmmaker per Fuqua:

What are the chances that your actor would have to quit, and there’d be the perfect replacement already on set? Pretty spooky stuff, but then again, King also said they could feel “Michael’s spirit” on the shoot as well. Check out what Fuqua also had to say about recreating “Thriller”:

As you can imagine, there was a lot of pressure on these filmmakers to bring “Thriller” back to life, which is credited with transforming music videos into mini-movies and is often thought of as the most famous work from the medium.

Jaafar Jackson is the nephew of Michael Jackson, who actually even grew up in the same home as Michael did in Encino, California. The 29-year-old newcomer to acting fully immersed himself in the role of Michael by consuming all the videos, interviews and more of his uncle, along with creating a “research room” full of helpful factoids about the singer and the time period the movie is set. But, of course, he also had to nail the dance moves and physicality of Michael, too. As King also added during our interview:

The “Thriller” music video is definitely close enough to the original to give any fan goosebumps. You can check out the original here:

CinemaBlend also talked to Antoine Fuqua and Graham King about the first time they saw Jafaar Jackson moonwalk along with how they decided to shoot the stadium sequences where Michael is playing for large audiences. So far, fans have had some really positive reactions to the movie, and Michael is heading toward being one of the most successful music biopics ever.

Check out our thoughts on whether there could be a Michael sequel or extended cut, and you can stay updated on what other 2026 movie releases are on the way here on CinemaBlend.

In recent years, we’ve seen an influx of biopics about famous names in music such as Queen, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Elton John and Whitney Houston. Now, the latest, Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson movie, is here! Since it’s a movie that makes a distinct choice about where to leave the audience when the credits roll (with twenty years of his life unexplored), naturally, we need to talk about how Michael ends and what it could mean for a follow-up.

Once you watch the ending of Michael, there’s an open-endedness to it that has us thinking, could we get a sequel – or maybe an extended cut? Let’s take a look at the “Man In The Mirror” and get into what its finale means.

How Michael Ends

The story of Michael is essentially about the artist finding his own way in music and breaking away from his allegedly abusive father, whilst being a huge pop star. It concludes with Michael at the end of The Victory Tour with his brothers, marking that he was officially going on his own path. It also starts and ends with Jackson performing at Wembley Stadium during the Bad Tour back in 1988, in a time jump that sees him successful and thriving on his own. But before the movie is officially over, this washes over the screen:

If you felt the ending was a bit abrupt or confusing, you’re absolutely not alone. But, the reason for this title card is a bit more complicated than an Avengers movie saying something like “Iron Man will return in Avengers: Doomsday”. There’s allegedly a bit of a messy backstory behind it, and some unanswered questions about what it could mean going forward for another Michael biopic.

How Reshoots That Allegedly Changed Michael

The first thing to note about the Michael ending is that it was originally different. The movie was reportedly going to address the 1993 allegation that Michael Jackson molested 13-year-old Jordan Chandler in the third act of the biopic. However, after the movie had already been filmed, Michael underwent reshoots that apparently cost around $10 to $15 million for 22 additional days of photography (per Variety). The Michael Jackson estate allegedly covered the cost for the reshoots.

Why? Apparently, the estate found a clause in a settlement with Jordan Chandler that wouldn’t allow the movie to mention him in “any movie.” So, rather than Michael getting into the singer’s molestation allegations, they chose to end the movie on a different note. The reshoots allegedly included a new third act and allowed the production to flesh out other scenes from earlier in the film. This is one reason why Michael ends the way it does. Without the movie going into the 90s, it can gloss over the fact that he was publicly accused of child sexual abuse in August 1993 and the additional allegations and investigations that took place from then to 2005, when he was acquitted of all criminal charges.

Could There Be A Sequel?

Here’s another thing to consider, too. There’s also talk of a second Michael film. Check out what Lionsgate film chair Adam Fogelson told The Hollywood Reporter at the movie’s premiere:

Michael producer Graham King has previously specified that he would like to make a second film in order to cover the other albums in Jackson’s career like Dangerous and Invincible, along with the purchase and construction of the Neverland Ranch and his passion for animals. Colman Domingo, who plays Michael’s dad in the movie, also said this on Today:

As usual, when it comes to Hollywood movies, what will help determine whether a Michael sequel happens is how the movie is received by audiences. Projections for its global box office performance have the movie expected to break some box office records, with reports saying it could get the biggest music biopic debut ever, per Gold Derby.

So far, the results are split between critics and casual moviegoers. On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has a 39 percent “rotten” score from over 150 reviews and a very positive response from the audience-geared Popcornmeter with a 95 percent. The big complaints are regarding the movie feeling like “damage control” and “afraid to navigate the singer’s anxieties, traumas, and frustrations”. Other, more positive first reactions have said it was “recreated to perfection” and “one of the best music biopics”.

All that being said, the question still stands on how the next Michael movie would discuss the controversies around the King of Pop, especially in the 1990s and 2000s. Will audiences embrace Michael enough without mention of his allegations for a second movie? Perhaps a sequel could be made that’s even more concert-focused?

What About An Extended Cut?

One more element of this is that Michael reportedly covered so much that its runtime was closer to four hours than two hours. Could an extended cut come out, should the movie become a hit? When CinemaBlend spoke to Antoine Fuqua about it, here’s what the director had to say:

So, there are a few ways “the story continues…” can and will be translated based on how Michael is received, but for now, perhaps it’s best to consider it as a reminder that there’s more to Michael Jackson’s life than what the confines of a glamorous biopic can fit in a single moviegoing experience.

So, I saw the new Michael biopic last night ahead of its release on the 2026 movie calendar and had a blast. Honestly, it was like a two-hour non-stop rundown of greatest hits, but the film stops at an unexpected place, so I wasn't surprised when the critics had strong opinions about the way the biopic makes them feel. I was surprised, though, about what exactly the complaints mostly centered on.

While I thought people would have been complaining more about the timeline — Antoine Fuqua's movie takes the pop icon’s career only into the late '80s — the real complaints had far more to do with how the movie dove into Michael Jackson himself. There’s a lot that works, The Wrap’s William Bibbiani writes, but with no mention of the sexual abuse allegations he faced, the movie presents an incomplete and inaccurate narrative. The critic writes:

Michael focuses on the period of the singer’s life from his first performances with The Jackson 5 through the late ‘80s, and an acknowledgement at the end of the movie that there’s more to Michael’s story makes it unclear if a second film might be able to fill in those gaps.

The original Michael ending addressed allegations of abuse against 13-year-old Jordan Chandler; however, due to an agreement between the Jackson and Chandler families to never dramatize those events, that ending was deemed “unusable.” Director Antoine Fuqua reportedly spent a lot of money to reshoot the ending that audiences will see.

Robert Daniels of RogerEbert says while making no mention of Michael Jackson’s legal troubles doesn’t help the movie, its biggest sin is a lack of complex interest in Michael himself. Daniels gives it just 1 star out of 4, saying Michael isn’t a movie — it’s a playlist. He continues:

Siddhant Adlakha of IGN rates the upcoming music biopic an “Awful” 3 out of 10 and calls it a “frictionless, flat, paper-thin story” that does what should be impossible when speaking about Michael Jackson by making him utterly boring. Adlakha’s review reads:

However, Pete Hammond of Deadline says Michael Jackson fans are sure to eat up this feel-good biopic. Jaafar Jackson channels his uncle in uncanny ways, making us believe the King of Pop is with here with us once again. Hammond writes:

David Rooney of THR says this may appear on the surface to be your run-of-the-mill music bio-drama — Michael being the sanitized, fan-friendly, family-sanctioned film that it is — but Rooney finds the project actually quite thoughtful and intimate. It’s a portrait of a damaged man, the critic says, “whose sharp professional instincts seemed at odds with his gentle demeanor.” He concludes:

I would have expected more critics to be upset that Michael cuts off before reaching the point in the late artist’s life that could explore his reclusiveness, his relationships, cosmetic surgeries and, of course, the sexual assault allegations. I suppose the tease of a possible second movie is enough to allay those concerns for now.

If you want to see what Jaafar Jackson has to offer as the King of Pop, be sure to get your tickets to Michael when it hits the big screen on Friday, April 24.

Many who've already seen Michael have shared some stellar reactions to Jaafar Jackson’s performance as his late uncle. Jaafar's work is arguably one of the big reasons so many are exited or curious about the release of the Michael Jackson movie directed by Antoine Fuqua. While I think the movie is sure to stir up a range of thoughts amongst moviegoers, one detail that’s undeniable about the movie is how Jaafar embodies the King of Pop, and his electric moonwalk is just one aspect of his performance worth celebrating. So, let’s talk about the cool way he debuted it.

When CinemaBlend spoke with Antoine Fuqua and producer Graham King, I asked the filmmakers about the first time they saw their Michael Jackson complete the iconic move. Here’s what King recalled:

Look, I expected the auditions of Michael would require every actor to moonwalk in and out of the casting office but, apparently, the creative team trust that Jackson would already have the move down upon being cast. It’s pretty wild as is how Fuqua, King and co. didn't see Jackson do the dance until he was hired, but I think what’s even more impressive is Jaafar taking on the move in the actual home of Michael Jackson. I wonder if the up-and-coming actor felt spending more time there during rehearsals would help him embody his uncle?

Also, the home we’re talking about is Hayvenhurst, which is a two-acre estate in Encino, California initially purchased by Michael Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, back in 1971 and later bought out by Michael. There’s a lot of history within those walls, and it's allegedly the place where the King of Pop developed his own moonwalk before debuting it during the taping of the TV special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever in 1983.

Hayvenhurst remains under the ownership of the Michael Jackson estate, so it’s not odd that Jaafar Jackson was there. Still, it's definitely poetic that the home is can now be marked as location of Jaafar's moonwalk debut. Ahead of Michael, you can check out Jaafar nailing the moonwalk, along with the presence of Michael Jackson, as part of a recreation of that Motown special:

Jaafar Jackson recreates a lot of famous Michael Jackson moments as seen in the Michael trailer. And, if you’re curious which of his hits are in the movie, the soundtrack’s list of songs has been revealed. So, with all of that in mind, know that the moonwalk, performed to "Billie Jean" is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the great music in Fuqua's film.

Michael opens in theaters nationwide on April 24 amid the 2026 movie schedule. Fans can also read up on other upcoming music biopics in the meantime.

If you’ve ever wished you could see the late Michael Jackson in concert, one of the upcoming 2026 movies, Michael, will get you close to the experience thanks to Jaafar Jackson’s incredible performance as the King of Pop and the production’s commitment to recreating his presence. When CinemaBlend talked to the filmmakers of the Michael movie, they told us about what it was like to film stadium concert scenes in front of hundreds of extras.

Jaafar Jackson is the nephew of Michael Jackson, and has already been receiving high praise from the movie’s first audiences for a “flawless” performance. Here’s what director Antoine Fuqua said about what it was like to film the Michael Jackson concert scenes with 400+ extras and a full band on stage with him:

Oh, and this was on Jaafar’s first day on the production by the way! While the job of extras is basically to act in a background capacity, as the Michael director told us, there was zero need for the extras to play off anything. They were genuinely reacting to his performance. As Fuqua added that he thinks the extras didn’t know “what to expect” from Jaafar, along with these words:

The first performance that was filmed for Michael was “Bad”, which you’ll find later in the movie, since the movie covers his career from childhood through to the 1980s. This story really speaks to how much work Jaafar Jackson and the production put into making people feel like they were really seeing the late pop star. The filmmakers even told us that they didn’t necessarily seek out Michael Jackson fans when casting the extras either. As producer Graham King also told us:

Talk about a great first day at work for Jaafar Jackson. The Michael movie covers a ton of famous songs from Jackson’s career as shown by the movie’s soundtrack track list and the Michael trailer teases how audiences will get to see iconic moments recreated like the Jackson 5 days, Thriller music video and more. You can also check out an awesome clip from the movie that shows off Jaafar Jackson’s fancy footwork.

Michael also stars Colman Domingo as Michael Jackson’s father Joe, Nia Long as his mom Katherine and Miles Teller as his manager John Branca. You can see it in theaters on April 24.

Now that April is in full swing, the anticipation for the Michael Jackson biopic is standing out among the 2026 movie releases. The movie, which hits theaters in a couple of weeks, just premiered in Berlin, Germany, and the first reactions that have been published online have a lot of good things to say about Antoine Fuqua’s Michael.

There have been a lot of music biopics over the years, with mixed results. Based on the first comments on Michael, this one might be a winner. Check out what @LiamTCrowley of ScreenRant had to say:

Colman Domingo plays Michael Jackson’s father, Joe, who pushed his sons in the direction of music careers starting with forming the Jackson 5, but was allegedly physically abusive with them. Along with big praise for his supporting performance, there’s a lot of love for Jaafar Jackson as Michael. As @AndrewJ626 of Discussing Film wrote on X:

Jaafar Jackson is the 29-year-old nephew of Michael Jackson. As you’ll see, he’s consistently named as the highlight of the biopic, which covers the King of Pop’s early life and success through to the 1980s, as the soundtrack has revealed. The Michael trailer offers a good preview of the newcomer’s look and mannerisms as the “Thriller” singer. Check out what @HunterBVideo wrote:

While there’s definitely a lot of positive comments, so far we’ve heard a few nitpicks – “pacing woes” and the above comment suggests the ending is another weak spot. That being said, That Hashtag Show’s @JuniorFett couldn’t rave enough about it with these words:

This next reaction from @therealsupes is particularly excitable about the biopic. Take a look:

Michael has long been in the works from Lionsgate, and recently it was reported that the movie underwent huge reshoots after the original ending was deemed “unusable.” This is due to legal issues with the movie depicting a subject of sexual allegations against Michael Jackson. It sounds like the overhaul might pay off given the first reactions to the movie. Here’s one more comment from @ShowbizSimon:

Michael is helmed by Antoine Fuqua, who famously directed films like Training Day and The Equalizer trilogy. The movie’s script comes from John Logan, who penned the likes of Gladiator, The Aviator, Hugo, Skyfall and Spectre. It’s also produced by Graham King, who previously was behind the Queen movie Bohemian Rhapsody, along with the Michael Jackson estate being involved. You can check it out yourself on April 24.

Despite some red tape holding up the movie earlier this year, we finally have the first trailer and release date for Michael. We get some great glimpses into how the film will portray moments from the late Michael Jackson's career, but my biggest takeaway is just how much his nephew, Jaafar Jackson, resembles the King of Pop.

After nearly falling apart due to legal problems with the third act, it looks like Michael is going to hit on all the high points of Jackson's career. Based on the trailer, it appears that the movie will cover Jackson's rise to prominence in the Jackson 5, as well as his peak success as the world's biggest pop recording artist.

Jaafar Jackson Looks Just Like Michael Jackson

The highlight of the footage for me is Jaafar Jackson, the son of Michael's brother Jermaine. I'm glad the movie went the Straight Outta Compton route, and I make this comparison because to me, this is as spot on as when O'Shea Jackson Jr. played his father, Ice Cube. Michael wouldn't work if the lead actor didn't resemble one of the biggest celebrities Earth has ever seen, and it likely would've held the movie back, especially during the pre-release where social media responses can make or break a project.

Is The Scope Of The Movie Too Ambitious?

CinemaBlend saw footage of Michael a long time ago at CinemaCon, and one valid concern about the movie also arose with the Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody. This appears to be an attempt to encapsulate Jackson's entire career in a single movie, and given that he was famous for decades, that seems like an impossible task.

The movie appears to cover the highlights of Jackson's career, but it remains to be seen how much of the less savory aspects will be addressed. We do know for sure that the movie's third act, which initially involved the allegations of "sexual offense contacts" with 13-year-old Jordan Chandler, had to be removed due to a legal agreement with the family never to dramatize that event.

It's also worth noting that Jackson's daughter, Paris Jackson, announced she had distanced herself from the movie in September. The pop star's daughter said that she provided notes about aspects of the script that didn't sit right with her, and when they were ignored, she decided to move on. Jackson did note, however, that the movie will likely be loved by his dedicated fandom, which still lives in the "fantasy" of what his career was like. It's an interesting perspective, and one that almost makes me want to see the movie more to get an idea of what she's talking about.

I'm thrilled to see Michael when it arrives in theaters on April 24th. We'll see if the final cut of the film lives up to the hype in this trailer, and has us bumping the late pop singer's hits all over again.

As it currently stands, director Antoine Fuqua’s blockbuster biopic Michael is set to debut on the 2025 movie schedule, in an October 3rd release date. Save for one prior delay that pushed the film from its originally intended April 18th bow, we seemed to know what to expect from the Jaafar Jackson-starring musical.

But when rumored legal issues involving Michael’s third-act were invoked, that debut was called into question. While the latest rumor doesn’t confirm or deny a new move, Michael Jackson’s life story may try to replicate the success of Wicked in a novel way.

Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Might Be Splitting Into Two Parts

Monitoring the progress of this year’s CinemaCon, there were two high profile absences from Tuesday’s Lionsgate panel: the supposedly scrapped Saw XI and the Training Day helmer’s historical drama. Seeing as Michael’s current release date is set for October 3rd, that’s a bit concerning. However, chatter out of Deadline suggests that the first cut of the picture clocked in at about four hours.

So since Wicked’s expansion of a known musical quantity has already made box office gold, there are now rumblings that Michael could be split into two parts itself. That move feels sound when it comes to trying to get Jackson’s life and times into a comprehensive, but viewable package. And if the supposed legal challenge that would require a massive reshoot/redraft of the final act is true, that substantial problem could be more easily handled.

Lionsgate’s Potential Two-Part Split For Michael Makes Sense, Even If The Rumors Are Debunked

We know that Michael finished shooting earlier this year, which paired with the buzz from 2024’s CinemaCon footage had people hotly anticipating its debut. Depending on who you talk to, the rumored cause for this potential delay is due to how Jordan Chandler’s sexual abuse allegations against Jackson were legally prohibited from being depicted in any form.

The supposed problem lies in further claims noting that director Antoine Fuqua and writer John Logan’s movie reportedly banks its entire final act on that event, and the effects it had on the King of Pop. In a scenario where these claims are proven to be accurate, there would need to be a lot of work to right the ship. So having half a movie that’s finished and teasing the rest of the story would be a great compromise that allows such changes.

At the same time, if those claims are false and Lionsgate is really just retooling for a new cinematic event, then Michael being split in two still stands to be a potential double win. The dramatic tension that’d come from leaving off on one of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits is something that you could see hyping fans up for the next round.

Not to mention, between doubling the awards season plays for this picture and riding the wave of audiences that continue to flock to Broadway’s MJ: The Musical, this hypothetical scenario starts to make a lot more sense. At least until you start to wonder what will happen if the proposed Michael: Part One doesn’t hit as anticipated.

We’ll be waiting for updates as this story develops, but for now Michael is set to debut as a singular motion picture, starting October 3rd. As for Wicked: For Good, we’ll see Elphaba and Glinda reunite on November 21st, as scheduled.

There are a lot of moving pieces that go into making something as massive as director Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic. Unfortunately for all involved in this 2025 movie, what could be considered the greatest stumbling block for the picture has cropped up after the project has wrapped shooting. What we know about Michael has gotten a bit more complicated, as this massive issue not only leaves the film with an “unusable” ending, it could potentially sink the entire project.

The third act is where these problems come into play, as Puck (via The Independent) has reported that a good portion of writer John Logan’s script will now need to be rewritten and reshot. In the report, the cause for these woes are supposedly due to Michael’s depiction of the allegations involving “sexual offensive contacts” with 13 year old Jordan Chandler.

As it turns out, the Michael Jackson estate made an agreement with the Chandler family to never “dramatize” those events. The Lionsgate film slated for release on October 3rd apparently does just that, and in the following manner that’s cited in the report:

Complicating matters even further, there’s a bit of a fork in the road for Michael’s journey to the big screen. With an estimated $155 million production spend already on the books, and filming wrapped as of May 2024, retooling the Jaafar Jackson-led film is going to be complicated. Though sources are “confident” that an agreement will be reached, failure to do so would be a serious problem.

It may still be early days for this movie’s promotion cycle, but it wasn’t too early for Michael’s 2024 CinemaCon footage to start wowing people last spring. While reshoots and rewrites are common in the world of film production, the challenges facing this project are rather unique.

To reiterate: an entire version of this movie was written, and filmed, depicting real life events that need to be handled with the utmost sensitivity. With further details involving Michael’s third act and “traumatizing strip searches” conducted on Michael Jackson, that sentiment cannot be understated.

A fine line needs to be walked to overhaul the ending to Michael, but at the moment, it's still in play for its October 3, 2025 debut. Further updates on the matter will tell if this release date holds up, or if the upcoming music biopic is released at all. With a year ahead that has at least one more major entry in that subgenre, thanks to everything we know about the Bruce Springsteen biopic, the clock continues to tick on this hotly anticipated motion picture.

One of Denzel Washington’s most iconic movies, which truly shows his superb acting chops, is easily Training Day. The crime thriller film tells the story of a movie cop who doesn’t exactly follow the rules while training a rookie (played by Ethan Hawke) to be an L.A. narcotics officer. Today, the film is highly regarded as a classic by a number of cinephiles. But, if you can believe it, the movie's director, Antoine Fuqua, says test audiences “were pissed” over the movie. There, is however, an understandable explanation for that.

Before being cast in Training Day, Denzel Washington had already been solidifying his position as one of the greatest actors of his generation via movies like Glory, Malcolm X and Remember the Titans. Antoine Fuqua told Collider that when test audiences watched his crime drama, they had a very emotional response to a massive scene in the movie, which affected how the test screening scores:

I can understand why audiences wouldn’t want to see the beloved actor die on screen, even if his character was a boss who got what was coming to him. With this acclaimed film, viewers see in a 24-hour period a rookie cop training with Denzel Washington’s Alonzo who’s a highly decorated narcotics officer. The problem rises when it's revealed that Alonzo being just as corrupt as the people he busts. The character also uses his power as a cop to get away with theft, drug use, assault and murder. Alonzo meets his demise when he tries to flee from the Russian mob he owes money to, only for them to stop him in his tracks and gun him down in his car.

Even if the characters downfall was inevitable, it’s still heartbreaking to see a beloved actor like Denzel Washington have to be the one to die on camera. While test audiences didn’t like seeing Washington get shot, an interesting BTS fact of Training Day is that it was actually the Philadelphia actor’s idea to end the movie that way. Originally, Alonzo was supposed to live, but Washington fought to change the ending once recalling, “I was not having it.”

The star's role in the movie panned out, as it won him his second Oscar. Considering Antoine Fuqua felt like he caught lightning in a bottle getting to work when working with the leading man, they continued their collaboration with the Equalizer movies and The Magnificent Seven.

It's still somewhat funny to think that viewers were "pissed" over the fact that Denzel Washington’s character died at the end of the movie. What can probably be gathered from that, though, is that Washington is just such an endearing actor that he can charm audiences in any role -- even one as twisted as a corrupt, murderous cop.

Anyone who'd like to revisit Training Day or watch it for the first time should know that it's available now on Tubi. You'll also be able to catch Antoine Fuqua's critically praised film when it becomes streamable with a Paramount+ subscription, starting on August 1st.

Where does one even begin when trying to tell the story of Michael Jackson? It’s a question being posed by producer Graham King (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Aviator) as he took to the stage in Las Vegas to tease Michael as part of Lionsgate’s presentation at CinemaCon 2024. The studio saved Michael for last – partly because the movie will not be coming out until 2025, but also because it’s very clearly an important component of the upcoming Lionsgate slate. On a panel that rolled out the first look at the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, a better look at both The Crow and Borderlands, and news about Blumhouse tackling The Blair Witch, Michael closed the show. And while the footage was impressive, it did raise an important question that I still need answered. 

This was the world’s first official look at Michael, and it showcased the physicality and prowess of Jaafar Jackson, who has been cast in the role. But Jackson, Michael’s nephew, will only play the King of Pop in the later stages of his career, as Michael has also cast Juliano Krue Valdi to play Jackson 5 era Michael. The film is going to cover a massive span. Just how much? That’s a big part of my question. 

Michael Jackson, arguably, was one of our most famous celebrities, ever. He was famous from a young age, and had a global career that spanned decades. The footage that we saw stretched all the way back to the Jackson family’s beginnings in Indiana, and seemed to cover the Jackson 5 days. Then, we ran through a montage of moments set to some of Jackson’s greatest hits. Man in the Mirror. Beat It. Bad. The Way You Make Me Feel. Some biopics focus on a moment in an artist’s career. Michael appears to be attempting to devour the entirety of his accomplishments, and I’m just not sure how possible that is. 

My major concern, though, is the way that Bohemian Rhapsody handled Freddie Mercury’s (and Queen’s) rock legacy with kid gloves. The approach made the band uncomfortable initially, and they realized that they had to be involved to make sure the story got told right. But that meant spotlighting the highlights, and glossing over the controversies. Can one even do that with Michael Jackson? 

As prolific of an artist as he was (and no one is questioning his musical genius), Jackson came with a lot of off-stage baggage. And while Graham King assured attendees from the CinemaCon stage that the movie won’t shy away from the controversial moments in Jackson’s life, I remain genuinely curious how deep into those dark corners Michael will go. Our own Rich Knight broke down elements of Michael’s life that he does (and does not) want to see in this movie. I remain curious about how many will make it in. Is this movie a celebration, or an examination? The trailer suggested the former… which is fine. But you can’t ignore the latter completely. 

Hollywood walks that line all the time, from Elvis to… well, Walk the Line. We will continue to track the progress of Michael to see what kind of story Antonie Fuqua is setting out to tell. The movie hits theaters, for now, on April 18, 2025.

The next music biopic coming out of Hollywood is Michael, from director Antoine Fuqua. There is no need even to explain who "Michael" is, right? We all know there is only one Michael, it could be—the legendary Michael Jackson. The movie has been years in the making, and we're finally going to see it as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

The movie is set to be released soon, so here is everything we know about the upcoming biopic, including the film's full trailer, the cast, and when you'll be able to see it.

What Is The Michael Release Date?

Michael will be released on April 24th, 2026. Though it original scheduled for late 2025, by early in the year, it was clear that the movie was not going to hit its original scheduled release date and required some extensive (and expensive) reshoots. This was the second time the release had been delayed, as it was initially planned for Spring 2025. So we're finally getting it about a year later than we thought we would.

The Michael Cast

The cast for Michael is great, including some well-known stars and some exciting newcomers, like Jaafar Jackson, who is playing Jacko himself.

Jaafar Jackson as Michael Jackson

Variety confirmed in January 2023 that Michael Jackson's nephew, Jaafar Jackson, will portray the iconic singer in Michael.

The actor is the son of Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson's oldest brother, and a part of the Jackson 5, which started Michael on the road to super fame in the first place. Jaafar shared his excitement for the role on Twitter, saying he was "humbled and honored" to be playing his uncle.

After watching the trailers and some of the behind-the-scenes footage that has been released, there is no question that Antoine Fuqua was correct when he commented on Jaafar Jackson's casting in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in August 2023. Jackson is the spitting image of his uncle in every way, as Fuqua said:

This will be Jaafar Jackson's first movie, which is remarkable enough in and of itself. Such high praise from Fuqua sets a bar to meet, but after seeing the teaser, which was released in November, it looks like he'll pull it off. The full trailer, which was released in February 2026, confirms it.

Colman Domingo as Joe Jackson

In late January 2024, it was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter that Colman Domingo had signed on to play Joe Jackson, the famous patriarch of the Jackson Family. Domingo has had an incredible run over the last few years. He's been nominated for Best Actor at the last two Oscars, first for 2023's Rustin, and then last year for Sing Sing. He has yet to take home the trophy, but that seems like a matter of time.

A complicated role like Joe Jackson, who was a controversial figure to say the least, might just be the exact kind of role to make that win happen.

Nia Long as Katherine Jackson

In late January 2024, Deadline announced that Nia Long would take on the role of Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother. She starred as Lisa on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and had a leading role in Empire. And, of course, her many film roles in movies like the '90s stoner classic Friday, Soul Food, and one of the legendary and controversial Boyz n the Hood.

Long spoke to People about how much playing Katherine has meant to her:

Katherine, who will turn 96 not long after the film is released, was a huge figure in Michael Jackson's life, and there is no question that this will be an important piece in the puzzle that is Michael.

Miles Teller as John Branca

Judging by the one quick shot of Miles Teller as John Branca in the Michael trailer, he looks a lot different than we'd usually expect. With long black hair, he does look a lot like the real-life Branca, who served as Jackson's lawyer and manager for years, and continues to administer the late King of Pop's estate.

Teller isn't a stranger to music movies, having crushed his role as a drummer in Whiplash in 2014, nor is he unfamiliar with playing real-life people, as he showed in The Offer, which you can watch with a Paramount+ subscription.

The Other Four Members Of The Jackson 5

Jayden Harville, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Judah Edwards, and Nathaniel Logan McIntyre will play Jermaine, Marlon, Tito, and Jackie, respectively, in their younger years. The older versions of the brothers will be played by Jamal R. Henderson, Tre Horton, Rhyan Hill, and Joseph David-Jones, respectively.

Additional Cast Members

There have been some other actors confirmed for the film, including:

• Kendrick Sampson as Quincy Jones
• Jessica Sula as La Toya Jackson
• Derek Luke as Johnnie Cochran
• Kevin Shinick as Dick Clark
• Kat Graham as Diana Ross
• Larenz Tate as Berry Gordy
• Liv Symone as Gladys Knight
• KeiLyn Durrel Jones as Bill Bray

One name you might be wondering why it isn't on the list is Janet Jackson. Michael's sister, and perhaps the second most-famous member of the family, won't appear as a character in the movie, according to Variety.

Additionally, two of Michael Jackson's three children, Paris and Bigi (who was once called "Blanket"), were not involved in the production at all. His oldest, Prince, was, however, though he is not expected to appear as a character.

What Michael Will Be About

Michael Jackson has a heck of a history, from his time as a young child star in the Jackson 5 to his vast career as a solo artist, releasing some of the most famous albums of all time. He's also had a lot of legal trouble as well, and several allegations thrown his way, even more than a decade after his death. Though most of the controversy will not be included here.

As reported by Variety, the story will follow the star's life, from his rise to fame to the complicated life he faced as a result. It will include some of the "personal struggles" fame brought. In March 2024, in a statement to Variety, Graham King, one of the producers on the movie, talked about how the film will take an unbiased look into the pop star’s life, and that while Jackson was a “complicated” person, he still had a legacy “worth exploring.”

While the film may be unbiased, we now know that the more controversial aspects of Michael Jackson's life won't be included in this big-screen story. The story will focus on his origins in Gary, Indiana, and follow his path to global domination as a pop star in the 1980s. The major controversies that followed in the '90s and beyond will not be portrayed here.

That will likely (understandably) upset some people, but when a movie like this is made with the full cooperation of the people who are in charge of a deceased star's legacy, it's hardly unexpected. Will that make the movie still worthwhile? I think so, yes.

Antoine Fuqua Directed

As discussed above, Antoine Fuqua will be directing Michael. The director has been behind many popular franchises, including The Equalizer trilogy. Some of his other movies you might have heard of include King Arthur, The Guilty, The Magnificent Seven, Brooklyn's Finest, and Emancipation.

Fuqua has also worked as a producer on other films, such as Infinite and Bullet Train, so he's been all over the place regarding genre. But I feel he'll be great with Michael just from how he talks about the film in his interviews.

John Logan Wrote The Script

Something else that we know from the Variety article regarding the release date is that John Logan wrote the script for Michael.

The screenwriter is known for his writing credits on several critically acclaimed and blockbuster movies, such as Gladiator, Hugo, The Aviator, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and two James Bond movies, Skyfall and Spectre.

With a resume like that, it's hard to imagine Michael not being a great story.

Michael Will Be Using Michael Jackson's Music

When Deadline confirmed that the movie was happening in November 2019, it was also confirmed that the Michael Jackson estate gave Graham King (one of the producers) the rights to use Jackson's music in the film and permitted him to make the film overall.

This is a significant deal when it comes to biopics about music stars. The most prominent example I can think of is when the Elvis estate slammed the new Priscilla movie regarding the portrayal of Elvis Presley. It's rarely a seamless process when an adaptation is made regarding these famous stars, but to hear that the estate gave the studio the rights to use the music and produce the film is great. It was even confirmed at CinemaCon 2024 that there are going to be “more than 30 songs” from Jackson’s career used in the film (via The Hollywood Reporter), so get prepared to dance.

I’ve wanted a Michael Jackson movie ever since the King of Pop passed away in 2009, and we’re finally getting one in 2025 by Antoine Fuqua. Not only that, but Michael Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar, will be playing the lead role.   

And you know what? I’m thrilled about the news. I’ve been an MJ fan my entire life (though his movie, Moonwalker, scarred me as a child), and I can’t wait to see a detailed look into the man’s beautiful (and yet controversial) life.    

However, there are certain things that I do want to see in this upcoming movie, and things that I don’t want to see. Here are just a few. 

Do Want To See: Michael Jackson's Struggle On The Way To His Breakthrough, Off The Wall  

Did you know that Michael Jackson has a few solo albums that predate Off the Wall? Got to Be There, Ben, Music & Me, and Forever, Michael, all came out before Jackson’s breakthrough album, Off the Wall, and I want to see that period of uncertainty in his life.

What I mainly want to see is the struggle, though. A lot of people typically think of young Michael in the Jackson 5, and then his work on Off the Wall and everything afterward. But, I really want to see him in that period where he didn’t know if he’d be a megawatt star on his own. 

For example, Forever, Michael, which was the album that came out right before Off the Wall, came in at number 101 on the Billboard charts (though, it came in at number 10 in Soul albums). Not only that, but it didn’t even chart in other countries.  

I mean, can you imagine how heartbroken he must have been to see that his career seemed to be flagging at that point? A great part of why his other albums didn’t seem to be hitting was because they sounded too much like his work with the Jackson 5, and Off the Wall was his first collaboration with Quincy Jones (who had a hand in a lot of different up-and-comers). So, this struggle would be really awesome to see. However, speaking of the Jackson 5…   

Don’t Want To See: Too Much Time With The Jackson Five 

I know. How can you have a Michael Jackson movie that doesn’t feature a whole section dedicated to the Jackson 5? But, let me explain. I like biopics, but I don’t typically love them. For example, take a movie like Ray. It’s great, don’t get me wrong, and I enjoy it. 

But, the part that I don’t really care for is when we see Ray Charles’ childhood, brief as it is. The same goes for Walk the Line, which, you know, is another great movie, but I don’t like that we see Johnny Cash’s childhood, even though I know it impacts him much later in life.      

However, I don’t feel like I need to see that for Jackson. I also don’t really want to see how abusive his upbringing tended to be. 

Now, I’m not saying that this movie should ignore all of those things, but I honestly want this biopic to be similar to something like Selma, which I consider one of the greatest biopics and social justice movies of all time.  

What makes Selma so effective is that it doesn’t so much focus on MLK, as it focuses on a specific event that MLK was involved with, which makes sense, because the movie is titled Selma, not Martin Luther King, Jr.  

In that way, I would like this upcoming movie to focus more on a single, important moment in his career, rather than from his childhood all the way to his untimely demise. And even though I know his brothers will appear as characters in the film at some point (they’ve even already casted a young Michael Jackson), I’m actually more interested in his sisters, namely one in particular.    

Do Want To See: His Relationship With Janet, Especially When She Was Getting Big  

While we’ve definitely seen Janet Jackson in movies, like the Tyler Perry flick, Why Did I Get Married? (which was fine), we haven’t gotten a Janet Jackson movie that’s actually about her life. I’m not saying that this biopic should be the Michael and Janet movie, I do often wonder how Michael felt when his younger sister, Janet, was blowing up on the charts.    

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I’d love to see this movie in a specific time period, with that period being just before Off the Wall, to somewhere around when the siblings recorded “Scream.” I think that would encompass a large portion of his career, from megastardom, to the point where he was kind of falling off in relevance, but hadn’t fallen off completely yet. 

That’s the Michael Jackson biopic that I want to see. But, I’ll tell you what else I don’t want to see in this time period.  

Don’t Want To See: His Romantic Relationships  

I’ll tell you what. If you look in the dictionary for the word “cringe,” there will be a picture of Michael Jackson kissing Lisa Marie Presley at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. All jokes aside though, I honestly do not want to see that again, or really any of Jackson’s romantic relationships. 

It’s not because I don’t want to see a more human and vulnerable side of MJ, because I do. I definitely do. But, there are some things about his life that are still a little mysterious, even today, and I think his relationships should be one of them. Like, I don’t want to see him scoping out some “good fish back there."  I’m sorry, but I just don’t.    

Do Want To See: His Struggles With His Skin Condition 

One thing that I always tire of hearing is people saying, “I liked MJ better when he was Black.” And I still hear that. Constantly. Some people say it for different reasons. For some, they mean they liked his music better when he was younger. For others, they mean they thought Michael Jackson changed when he started using skin-bleaching creams and make-ups to mask his vitiligo. 

But, I always found those comments to be super insensitive. For whatever reason, Jackson decided to alter his skin tone and get plastic surgery, and that was really up to him alone. But, I would definitely want to see that aspect in the movie, as I want to know more about how it made him feel to get such criticism and attention, outside of his music. 

We see glimpses of this when he had his interview with Oprah, and she broached the topic of his skin, but I would definitely want to see more about how it must have affected him mentally when he was getting all of that backlash.    

However, that’s as far as I want to see the movie go when it comes to the darker side of Michael. Because Jackson’s family is involved, it probably won’t get into the child molestation allegations, and if it doesn’t, there’s already a whole HBO documentary about that, so it’s not like that information isn’t already out there.    

Don’t Want To See: His Death  

I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Michael Jackson died. I was in a car with my then-girlfriend-now-wife on the way to Boston. It was a long trip, and we heard on the radio that actress Farrah Fawcett had just died. I remember thinking, “Wow. She had cancer, didn’t she? That’s sad.”  

But, on the same car ride, somebody came on the radio and said that there were reports that Jackson may have died, and I couldn’t believe it. I just seriously couldn’t. I asked my girlfriend to stop the car, and when she pulled to the side of the road, we just sat there, waiting to hear if the reports were true. And, of course they were. 

That’s why I don’t want to see anything related to that in the movie. We all know he died, and we don’t need to see it. So, if there’s any one thing I definitely don’t want to see in this movie, it’s his death. I don’t think I could stomach it again.

Are you excited for this film? For more news on all things MJ-related, be sure to swing by here often!  

Since Training Day, Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua have proven to be a winning team. They scored another box office success with the threequel The Equalizer 3. Now the successful duo is gearing up for another movie collaboration. As awesome as the project sounds, it’s a blow to fellow Hollywood A-lister Vin Diesel, who’s been trying to get a project about the same character off the ground for years.

Denzel Washington Is Finally Gearing Up For An Epic Biopic 

It was previously announced the two-time Oscar winner landed his next movie role as notable Carthaginian general Hannibal the Conqueror. Washington will executive produce the biopic war epic with Fuqua, who will direct the film for Netflix. The untitled drama will follow the notorious military commander as he battled the Roman Empire during the Second Punic War. Gladiator and Aviator scribe John Logan will pen the script. Telling Hannibal’s story has been a dream project for the Training Day star for 20 years, with the biopic originally being set up at 20th Century Fox. Considering the actors strike has concluded, it is currently unknown when the film will start production or when it will arrive to viewers’ Netflix subscriptions.

While Hannibal has been a dream project for the Hollywood A-lister, Washington has experienced trouble trying to bring his life to the big screen. His take on the commander’s life has always faced poor timing and other obligations as his film slate remained booked and busy. The Equalizer 3 star was also raising his family, so spending a long period away from them was out of the question when they were younger. Of course, now his children are grown with their respective Hollywood careers (I'm looking at you, John David), and Washington has the time to do the long-term epic despite talks of his acting career winding down for more directing and producing.

Vin Diesel Wants To Bring Hannibal To The Big Screen, Too

However, the epic biopic wasn’t just Denzel Washington’s dream project. Vin Diesel has been eyeing Hannibal the Conqueror for the big screen for years. According to a report (via ScreenRant), the Dom Toretto actor wanted to turn the legendary general’s life into a war epic trilogy. Over the years, Diesel has not only been set to star in the biopic, but also direct and produce it. In a strange twist, the Hollywood actor wanted Washington to play the conqueror’s respected leader father, Hamilcar Barca. It seemed Washington might’ve beat the Guardians of the Galaxy star to the point where his project might be done.

Vin Diesel’s Hannibal project has faced similar hurdles to Washington’s version. Timing has not been on his side, as he starred in multiple franchises, like Fast & Furious, Guardians of the Galaxy and Riddick. So steering the former has taken up most of his time. The Fast X star has given hints at his proposed trilogy for a decade, implying the series was still on his mind in 2021. In the meantime, he’s also been growing his family and creating more projects.

At this point, it would be fun to see Denzel Washington and Vin Diesel come together to bring Hannibal the Conqueror’s life to the screen. Maybe they’ll fulfill Diesel’s request to act alongside the two-time Oscar winner. It might be some time before Washington’s biopic hits screens though, as he joined Gladiator 2, which will resume filming at some point. After taking over the 2023 movie schedule with Fast X and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Diesel is gearing up for several projects, including Fast X: Part 2.

A few months back, Denzel Washington’s contribution to the 2023 movie release calendar, The Equalizer 3, opened in theaters. This marked the actor’s fourth collaboration with director Antoine Fuqua, whom he first worked with on 2001’s Training Day. While this threquel ended the Equalizer film series, that doesn’t mean Washington and Fuqua are done teaming up, as the two have signed on for their fifth movie together.

Netflix announced that Washington has signed on to play Hannibal in a historical epic that will chronicle the great military commander’s battles against the Roman Empire in the Second Punic War. Fuqua will direct this upcoming movie for Netflix subscribers, and John Logan of Gladiator and The Aviator fame is writing the script. Washington and Fuqua are also producing this untitled drama (the latter through his production Company Hill District Media, which has a first-look deal with the streamer) alongside Erik Olsen and Adam Goldworm, and Jeremy Lott and Frank Moll are executive producing. 

As noted by Deadline, Denzel Washington has been wanting to play Hannibal for over 20 years, back when the project was originally set up at 20th Century Fox. However, that was also at a time when the Malcolm X star didn’t want to be away from his kids for a long time, so it never got off the ground at what’s now called 20th Century Studios and under the Disney banner. Instead, two decades, later, Netflix is breathing life into this Hannibal movie, and gives Washington and Fuqua their second opportunity to tackle a non-Equalizer-focused story together.

This marks yet another movie tied to the Roman Empire that Denzel Washington has coming up, as he’s also a member of Gladiator 2’s cast alongside people like Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal. Additionally, he’s producing a film adaptation of The Piano Lesson that will star his son John David Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, and has also been set up at Netflix. Besides The Equalizer 3, Washington’s other recent onscreen film credits include The Little Things and The Tragedy of Macbeth.

Meanwhile, prior to The Equalizer 3, Antoine Fuqua teamed with Will Smith on Emancipation, which, like The Tragedy of Macbeth, can be streamed with an Apple TV+ subscription. He also worked on the Chris Pratt-led TV series The Terminal List, which Amazon Prime Video subscribers can check out, as an executive producer and director of the first episode. Looking ahead, along with Netflix’s Hannibal project, Fuqua is helming a movie about Michael Jackson that will star Jaafar Jackson as his late uncle.

While we wait for more details about Denzel Washington’s Hannibal movie and the first looks at him in character, remember that there are plenty of offerings on the Netflix movie schedule to look forward to in the remainder of 2023 and going into 2024.

Following the massive success of Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody in 2018, one of its producers, Graham King, secured the rights to tell the story of Michael Jackson in an upcoming movie. Titled Michael, the movie will tell the late King of Pop’s life story, warts and all, and Training Day filmmaker Antoine Fuqua will direct it. Following Jackson’s own nephew, Jaafar Jackson, nabbing the part, Fuqua has shared his thoughts on the casting move. 

Jaafar Jackson, who is the 27-year-old son of Michael Jackson’s brother, Jermaine Jackson, was cast in the role of Michael Jackson back in January 2023. Antoine Fuqua had this to say to Entertainment Weekly about casting him: 

Jaafar’s father Jermaine was one of the members of the Jackson 5 with Michael Jackson. The young man has been singing and dancing since he was 12 and received the approval of Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, who shared that he “embodies” her late son. Michael will serve as Jaafar Jackson’s movie debut. 

The script for Michael is being written by John Logan of beloved movies like The Aviator, Skyfall and Gladiator, though its development is currently on hold alongside a host of other Hollywood movies as the 2023 WGA writers strike continues to have writers on the picket line protesting how studios compensate their work. Fuqua also said this about making Michael: 

After it was announced that a Michael Jackson movie was being made, the director of the 2019 documentary Leaving Neverland blasted the biopic and criticized the “total absence of outrage” surrounding the movie’s announcement. Based on Fuqua’s comments on Michael, the biopic will tell multiple dimensions of the Michael Jackson story and not steer clear of his child sexual abuse allegations, which he went on trial for in 2005 ahead of his death in 2009 from cardiac arrest caused by a drug overdose. 

Fuqua was just behind one of 2023 new movie releases with The Equalizer 3. The movie starring Denzel Washington rounded off a trilogy of action movies about a former U.S. Marine and DIA officer who reluctantly becomes a vigilante. Fuqua actually got his start making music videos for artists including Toni Braxton and Stevie Wonder before making movies including Shooter, Southpaw and last year’s Emancipation. 

While it will be sometime before we see Michael, Antoine Fuqua sounds confident in his star. We’ll keep you updated here on CinemaBlend as the movie continues to move through development. 

Warning: minor SPOILERS for The Equalizer 3 are ahead!

While the first two Equalizer movies saw Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall primarily taking down bad guys in the United States, The Equalizer 3, one of the more recently 2023 new movie releases, takes place in Italy. The movie kicks off with Robert carrying out a mission in Sicily, and then he retires to a nearby coastal town while recovering from injuries. While there, he builds a friendly rapport with its inhabitants, including Gaia Scoldellaro’s Aminah. As it turns out though, The Equalizer 3 director Antoine Fuqua revealed an idea for those two to form a deeper relationship, but an early audience thought this was a “betrayal,” and honestly, I’m glad it was left out of the final product.

Robert and Aminah, a waitress at one of the town’s cafés, certainly grow close during their time together in The Equalizer 3, which included sharing an evening stroll. However, these two stop short of getting romantic with one another, but that wasn’t originally the plan. As Fuqua informed NME:

Robert McCall’s wife, Vivienne, died prior to the events of the The Equalizer, but prior to her passing, he promised that he would retire from as a DIA operative, and carried that out by faking his own death. While he technically never broke that promise, he nonetheless found himself using his violent set of skills to protect innocent people who crossed his path in various locations. He even befriended a few along the way, but nothing in the way of romance ever developed for Robert during the first two Equalizer movies.

Had The Equalizer 3 come together as originally planned, we would have seen a hint of Robert and Aminah’s relationship grow into something bigger, but once it was clear that test audience wasn’t into even a slight hint of this happening, Antonine Fuqua and his team decided to remove this element from the movie. The filmmaker explained:

While I’m not against the idea of someone finding love again after their previous partner has passed away, in Robert McCall’s case, I’m glad that he and Aminah didn’t become romantically involved. Like Fuqua noted, there’s an idea of perfection surrounding Vivienne, and Robert’s heart will always belong to his late wife. That’s not to say he can’t form friendly attachments to other women,  but anything beyond that would have felt too weird. This is one of those cases where opinions from a test audience guided a movie in a better direction.

In addition to The Equalizer 3 earning fairly positive critical reception, Denzel Washington’s latest movie also got off to a strong start at the box office. However, as of this writing, it’s made $133 million worldwide, which is a far cry from the $192.3 million and $190.4 million its two predecessors respectively pulled in. Still, considering that Antoine Fuqua sees The Equalizer 3 as “the end” of this film series, all things considered, he and his team managed to bring this action saga to an effective conclusion.

The Equalizer 3 is still playing in theaters, and we’ll let you know when it’s released on home media and finds a streaming home. Until then, see what we’ve picked as the best action movies of all time.

Equalizer fans got a nice treat as Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning reunited for The Equalizer 3, two decades after first co-starring in Man on Fire. The reunion paid off as the threequel posted strong opening weekend numbers over Labor Day weekend. Now, amid the pair's big on-screen reunion, the threequel’s director recalls the super funny way Washington would acknowledge his reunion with Fanning while on set.

Equalizer 3 director Antoine Fuqua spilled to People that he orchestrated the decades-long reunion early in the film’s development. Fanning reached out early leading Washington to push for her after finding out she was available. Fuqua mentioned that it was “fun for me to just watch” recalling the duo’s onscreen chemistry. The director then spoke about seeing Fanning’s growth from Man on Fire to The Equalizer 3, recalling a funny story about how Washington reacted to working with her on set all these years later:

Denzel Washington spoke like a true dad finally seeing his daughter as a full-grown adult, and I can't help but chuckle about it. Before co-starring in the threequel, the two-time Oscar winner played the bodyguard trying to rescue a young Dakota Fanning in 2004’s Man on Fire. At the time, Fanning and Washington were two of Hollywood’s go-to stars with successes like Uptown Girls and Out of Time. However, the then-rising star held her own against the Hollywood A-lister. Fast forward decades later, the co-stars are on much more equal footing as the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star has grown as an actor since the 2004 action thriller.

Overall, the actor's shocked response from the set makes sense, because the first time they worked together was nearly 20 years ago. However, there's also no denying how funny it is that he yelled about her being "a grown woman now!" on set, because, of course, she is. Fanning is 29 years old, and she's been an adult for a long time, it's not surprising. However, I totally get Washington's surprise to seeing her work as a grown-up.

However, the time between projects hasn’t lessened Dakota Fanning and Denzel Washington’s bond. Fanning has spoken openly about her decades-long friendship with her onscreen partner. The actress has kept Washington and his family close as she is friends with one of his daughters. So, he’s seen Fanning grow up to be the star she is today.

It was nice to know the Oscar winner continued to play a major role in her life following the 2004 movie. Their close mentor-mentee dynamic can be seen in Robert McCall and Emma’s relationship throughout The Equalizer 3.

Getting a Fanning/Washington reunion was a great sign-off as The Equalizer series ends with the threequel. The Equalizer 3 is currently in movie theaters. Of course, Antoine Fuqua is open to revisiting the franchise in the future if the opportunity arises. Until then, Denzel Washington will be seen next in Gladiator 2, which arrives in cinemas on November 22, 2024. Dakota Fanning will return to the big screen in The Watchers, which will hit theaters on June 7, 2024. In the meantime, find out what new movies are coming to theaters by checking out our 2023 movie schedule.

Much like just about every actor in Hollywood is involved in one superhero franchise or another, just about every actor in Hollywood has a “one man takes on the world” action franchise. Denzel Washington recently took center stage in The Equalizer 3 which is set to be his final go-round as former special agent Robert McCall. However, it sounds like director Antoine Fuqua might be up for bringing it all back if a team-up with John Wick was on the table.

Speaking with CBR, Fuqua was asked which of the other great solo action heroes he would like to see Robert McCall team up with. He chose Keanu Reeves’ John Wick because he thinks the pair have very complementary skills when it comes to beating the hell out of a large number of people at one time. He explained…

Certainly, both Robert McCall and John Wick have shown they are more than capable of killing a lot of people in just about every conceivable way. John Wick has both “pencil” and “book” among the tools of death we’ve seen him use, but each one of them certainly has their strengths. Wick is clearly more comfortable with a gun than without one, while Robert McCall has a skill for setting traps and is even more dangerous if he can get a hold of you with his hands.

Honestly, this sounds like an awesome crossover that I now need to see. While I’m not sure that former government agent McCall would be a big fan of former contract assassin Wick, the two men would likely find themselves on the same side of whatever conflict presented itself to them now. And the fact that each man is all but killable alone would make them an absolutely incredible team. 

If there’s a downside to the team-up, it’s that any movie that actually gave us that would probably be a bit lacking in the tension department. How do you even make a story that would put John Wick and Robert McCall in any sort of jeopardy? They would be so unbeatable they’d just kill everybody and go home.

Of course, there’s also the problem that, at this point, it doesn’t look like we’re likely to see any more movies in either franchise. We were told Equalizer 3 would be the end even before it was released. While it’s not entirely clear if the John Wick franchise is over, there was set to be a John Wick: Chapter 5 at one time, the John Wick: Chapter 4 ending certainly leaves the story in a good place to close. This team-up is something we’ll almost certainly never see, but it would have been fun to watch.  

Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua have maintained a strong working relationship for over 20 years at this point. The actor and filmmaker first had the chance to collaborate in the making of the Oscar-winning crime thriller Training Day back in 2001, and in the 22 years since then they have worked together to make a full Equalizer trilogy and the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven. It’s clear that both men feel they are part of a productive partnership, and Fuqua recently explained that their conversations about their projects together don’t stop on the final day of production.

Interviewing the filmmaker last month during the virtual press day for The Equalizer 3, I asked about the influence that Denzel Washington had on the movie in post-production – given the fact that he is not only plays the lead but is also one of the film’s producers. The director told me that Washington doesn’t make a habit of being personally involved and present when one of their collaborations is being cut together, but they do arrange a private preview screening for him so that he can offer his thoughts. Said Fuqua,

Denzel Washington, of course, is not just one of the most acclaimed and well-regarded actors of his generation (if not all time). He is also an experienced filmmaker, having made his directorial debut with Antoine Fisher the year after he first worked with Antoine Fuqua on Training Day. He surely has more thoughts to give on any of his films beyond his own personal contributions, so it’s understandable that Fuqua would value his input.

Expanding on how Washington watches the movies that they’ve made together, the director noted that he gets a proper big screen experience, and his screening is followed by a conversation where he offers his opinions. Fuqua explained that it’s valuable in part just because the actor comes to the feature with fresher eyes than his own:

Featuring a cast that also includes Dakota Fanning (a special Man on Fire reunion), David Denman, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Remo Girone, Gaia Scodellaro, Andrea Scarduzio, and Andrea Dodero, The Equalizer 3 is now playing in theaters everywhere – with many critics calling it the best in the trilogy.

Purposefully or not, Antoine Fuqua has done a nice job in recent years reteaming Denzel Washington with some of his best co-stars of the past. In 2016, the director reunited Washington and Ethan Hawke in The Magnificent Seven, the two actors having previously done phenomenal work together in Fuqua’s 2001 film Training Day, and now The Equalizer 3 is arriving in theaters with the two-time Oscar winner working opposite Man On Fire’s Dakota Fanning for the second time.

So who should be next? Fuqua has a couple ideas.

I interviewed the filmmaker earlier this month during the virtual press day for The Equalizer 3, and it was after discussing his take on the future of the franchise that I asked about more Denzel Washington collaborations he would like to orchestrate. After some thought, the director not only pitched one of Washington’s co-stars from The Magnificent Seven, but also another performer who he’d like to see work opposite the Tragedy Of Macbeth star for the first time. Said Fuqua,

With their trademark on-screen energies, Denzel Washington and Benicio del Toro could be incredible together in the right project – and it actually seems somewhat crazy that they’ve never collaborated together just because of their overlapping decades of work in the industry. As for Vincent D’Onofrio, he and Washington had the chance to share some scenes as part of the titular team in Antoine Fuqua’s remake of The Magnificent Seven, and it seems the filmmaker would like to see even more of the two actors in front of a camera together.

Putting my own two cents out there, my suggestion to Antoine Fuqua was reuniting Denzel Washington with Don Cheadle – the two actors having previously done some of the best work of their respective careers together in director Carl Franklin’s fantastic neo-noir mystery Devil In A Blue Dress. It was an idea met with enthusiasm by Fuqua, who responded,

While we wait to see who Denzel Washington may reteam with next – be it Vincent D’Onofrio, Don Cheadle, Julia Roberts, or Morgan Freeman – fans everywhere will be able to see the star back in action with Dakota Fanning tomorrow, as The Equalizer 3 arrives in theaters everywhere on Friday. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Antoine Fuqua, and get a look ahead at all the films arriving in theaters in what remains of the year with our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.

The five-year wait for the next Equalizer movie is almost over, with The Equalizer 3 being among 2023 new movie releases to hit theaters this weekend. However, the film’s director, Antoine Fuqua, has just been hit by a lawsuit from an alleged collaborator on the action thriller. Paul Lozada, who previously served as a police consultant on four of Fuqua’s previous films, claims that the filmmaker refused to pay or credit him for his contributions on The Equalizer 3. 

Per a lawsuit that was filed to the Los Angeles Superior Court on Monday (via The Hollywood Reporter), Paul Lozada alleges that his expertise offered a “treasure trove of information” to the action film starring Denzel Washington, yet he was not credited, following being blown off by Fuqua regarding being paid for his contributions. Lozada is a former San Francisco Police Department officer who worked with the filmmaker on Training Day, Tears of the Sun, Brooklyn’s Finest and the first Equalizer film. 

In the lawsuit filing, Lozada detailed that he offered up information about European organized crime, weapons and fight choreography that therein improved the authenticity of The Equalizer 3. Lozada provided this information after Fuqua reportedly reached out to Lozada to gather some information, which the former police officer gave to the filmmaker. 

Lozada alleges that Fuqua used many of his ideas in The Equalizer 3, but when the time came to receive credit and compensation for his contributions, the director denied he helped the production, writing in an email that “not one thing in Equalizer had anything to do with you,” along with Fuqua alleging, “I wanted you involved somehow. To help you. Not me.”

Lozada made the filing with a series of text message exchanges between himself and Fuqua, along with one instance where the former police officer claims that the filmmaker at one point responded to Lozada’s request by sharing that The Equalizer 3's production had been shut down due to COVID-19 protocols within its first week of filming, and it was costing the movie $1 million. During the exchange, Fuqua apparently was not open to discussing Lozada’s consulting position, perhaps due to the setbacks on the movie. 

Following the filing being made known, we don’t currently know how Sony or Fuqua will respond to these claims, as they have not made statements in response just yet. As the lawsuit moves through the Los Angeles Superior Court, The Equalizer 3 is set to hit theaters this weekend following its time being filmed across Italy in late 2022 and early 2023. 

The Equalizer 3 cast list reunites Denzel Washington with Dakota Fanning, who first worked with each other on 2003’s Man On Fire, and have apparently remained friends for years ever since. According to Washington, the movie will mark the ending of The Equalizer franchise. Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more coverage.

Robert McCall is back for one more action-packed adventure to close out a summer of blockbusters. The Equalizer 3 will see the ex-DIA officer once again exacting his violent brand of vigilante justice — this time upon the Sicilian mafia — before potentially bringing the series to an end. Antoine Fuqua is back at the helm to complete the trilogy, which is set to hit theaters on September 1. Critics have already seen Denzel Washington’s latest project, and they’re here to share what they know about The Equalizer 3.

In addition to Denzel Washington in the leading role, The Equalizer 3 cast includes Gaia Scodellaro, David Denman, Sonia Amma, and more, while reuniting Washington with decades-long friend Dakota Fanning. Let’s see what the critics have to say, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of The Equalizer 3. Our own Eric Eisenberg rates the threequel 3 stars out of 5, saying that if you enjoyed the first two movies, you’ll probably like this one too, because it’s more of the same. He continues: 

Emily Garbutt of GamesRadar also rates the movie 3 out of 5 stars, calling it an “uneven sendoff” for Robert McCall. The reunion between Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning isn’t as satisfying as it could have been, according to the critic, who writes:  

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence says in terms of violence, The Equalizer 3 definitely earns its R-rating, but isn’t quite as intense as the John Wick series. Don’t worry if you’re new to the Denzel Washington franchise either, Miller says. She grades the movie a B, writing: 

Fran Hoepfner of The Wrap says while the first two Equalizer films were drab, dire affairs, the third offering allows Denzel Washington to let loose a little. The movie still falls victim to some of the series’ worst instincts, including lackluster villains. However, Hoepfner continues: 

For all the middling opinions, however, Chris Bumbray of JoBlo is all in for the straight-forward action thriller and considers it the perfect way to close the book on Robert McCall’s story, should this actually be the final movie. Bumbray gives The Equalizer 3 a “Great” 8 out of 10, noting that Antoine Fuqua really ups the ante in terms of gore in this one: 

While it doesn’t seem like The Equalizer 3 is breaking any new ground in the vigilante action genre, any fans of Denzel Washington’s movies playing Robert McCall should be satisfied with this supposed ending to the trilogy. In fact, even those who haven’t partaken in the 2014 and 2018 blockbusters will be apparently just fine purchasing a ticket to this one when it hits theaters Friday, September 1. Be sure to also check out our 2023 movie release schedule to see what else is coming soon. 

At this point in the franchise, you pretty much know what you’re going to get with director Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer movies. Through the first two films, we’ve gotten to know Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall as a charming protagonist who likes good people and has a serious problem with bad ones – an attitude that more often than not leads him to execute grisly violence. Audiences clearly appreciate it, with the 2014 and 2018 installments both being blockbuster hits, and if you enjoyed those, the chances are high that you’ll enjoy The Equalizer 3, which is built to serve up more of what its predecessors have already delivered.

This is not a movie with a great deal of ambition. It’s not constructed to significantly build on the existing continuity (in the sense of utilizing the canon or playing to loyal fans who are paying close attention to details), and it doesn’t try to do anything radical with its characters to purposefully change things up just because it’s a second sequel. Whether or not it’s purposeful, The Equalizer 3 is reflective of the series’ source material in that it has the vibe of an episodic/syndicated TV show – it just takes the hero and drops him into a new location surrounded by new faces and conflicts. It’s built to be understand by fans and newcomers alike, and it’s… fine.

Just like Antoine Fuqua and Denzel Washington, screenwriter Richard Wenk is back for The Equalizer 3, and this time around he starts the action with Robert McCall taking his goodwill activities to Sicily, Italy and finding himself in a showdown with a powerful crime organization. The ex-Marine/retired DIA officer succeeds in killing everyone and retrieving money for one of his “clients,” but he ends up being shot in the back and nearly dying. The only reason he doesn’t die is because he is found passed out on the side of the road in a car by Gio (Eugenio Mastrandrea), a police officer who takes him to a local doctor named Enzo (Remo Girone) for medical assistance.

As he recovers from his near-fatal injury, Robert quickly becomes enamored with the small Italian village where Enzo lives and ingratiates himself in the tight-knit community. He makes friends with the locals, and as a result, he can’t just sit back and do nothing when he recognizes that a pair of brothers with ties to the Sicilian Mafia (Andrea Scarduzio, Andrea Dodero) are threatening people and shaking them down for protection money. The protagonist recognizes that there is a bigger operation in play and calls in the help of the CIA – specifically one Agent Emma Collins (Dakota Fanning) – but he also takes personal responsibility to ensure that no more innocent people are hurt.

The Equalizer 3 doesn’t rewrite the series playbook, and that gets the results you’d expect.

While I typically try to revisit franchise films prior to the arrival of a new sequel, I wasn’t able to do that for The Equalizer 3 – but I think that only helped my appreciation for the film because it’s basically just another riff on all of the same basics as The Equalizer and The Equalizer 2. Denzel Washington’s all-powerful charisma is in full effect as Robert heals and gets acclimated to his new Italian home, projecting the character’s deep love for salt-of-the-earth, moral citizens, but then there is the other side of the coin. The villains aren’t just corrupt and awful, but cruel and vicious, making it all the more satisfying when Robert slips into badass mode and takes care of business.

It’s simple and effective (in that the movie genuinely makes you want to see Robert dish out his signature form of justice against the central group of wretched assholes in the plot), but it also can’t really be said to be particularly satisfying. Nice as it is to see Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning back together nearly 20 years after Tony Scott’s Man On Fire, the actors ultimately don’t get enough time together, and everything with the CIA feels tacked on and lacking stakes because it feels detached from the main story and all of the biggest moments center on the main character. The Equalizer 3 also functions with an escalation problem, as most of the movie sees Robert squaring off with one of the Sicilian mafia siblings and mostly saves his brother for the third act (which feels backwards and has a negative impact on emotional investment in the action).

Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall is so brutal at times that it actually takes away some entertainment value.

Said action is a mixed bag and appreciation of it will be determined by personal sensibilities – and once again it’s a case where if you liked it the previous two times, you’ll probably like it in this one. Antoine Fuqua once again leans hard into the freedom that comes with an R-rating, but it’s also missing that drop of cartoonish-ness that is so effectively pulled off in the John Wick movies – rarely allowing The Equalizer 3 to feel “fun” as a blockbuster. Between Denzel Washington’s gravitas, the black-and-white morality, and the brutal, visceral violence, it all feels very much about serious justice, and while that certainly has cinematic merit, the tone doesn’t allow the film to hit its maximum entertainment potential.

At the very least, The Equalizer 3 does feel like a conclusion for the series, and it satisfies in that respect.

The Equalizer 3 is uneven and at times a bit too simple for its own good, but one significant element it has in its corner is a satisfying denouement following its underwhelming climax. After a summer featuring multiple “Part 1s” and during a time in Hollywood when franchises just keep running until the money dries up, the Denzel Washington-led action film offers up a real ending for the main character’s arc and the timing feels right to do so. It’s a positive note that reflects well on the experience as a whole, but also doesn’t totally mask the blockbuster’s issues.

When it comes to film series, the number three stands out for a reason: you have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Obviously there are plenty of franchises that go beyond that number, but trilogies are a basic staple of Hollywood. As such, the release of any second sequel leads to questions about it being a firm conclusion – and in the case of The Equalizer 3, director Antoine Fuqua thinks that’s what he has with the latest Denzel Washington movie.

I interviewed Fuqua earlier this month during the virtual press day for the latest big screen chapter in the Equalizer series, and one of the things I inquired about was his view on the new film being an ending of what is now a complete trilogy. His response was admittedly couched in a “never say never” apprehension, but he told me that he does see Equalizer 3 as “the end.” In his words:

Movie-goers first got to meet Denzel Washington as Robert McCall back in 2014 – the R-rated action blockbuster based on the television series of the same name seeing the protagonist in a one-man war against a group of Russian gangsters. In 2018’s The Equalizer 2, he was called back into action to investigate the murder of a friend, and in The Equalizer 3 he seeks peace in a small town in Southern Italy, but finds his calm world disrupted by the racketeering efforts of a violent local crime family. All three films have starred Washington, been directed by Antoine Fuqua, and been written by Richard Wenk – which is not something you see a whole lot of in this day and age.

So what could keep the door open for an Equalizer 4 and beyond? If we’re looking at the question from a romantic perspective, perhaps the filmmakers will imagine a story that they just have to tell with Robert McCall, and it’s such a great idea that it brings everyone back together. More realistically, however, it will be about money. The Equalizer movies don’t cost an exorbitant amount of money to produce (The Numbers pins the first film at $55 million and the first sequel at $77 million), and they have combined earned $383.3 million at the box office. If The Equalizer 3 makes as much or more than its predecessors, Sony Pictures is surely going to want to keep the train rolling.

As for the perspective of fans on whether or not this should be the end, we’ll find out this weekend. Starring Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, and more, The Equalizer 3 will be in theaters everywhere on September 1. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Antoine Fuqua, and get a look at all of the films set to come out between now and the end of the year with our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.

The Equalizer 3 is set to be the end of the Denzel Washington action franchise. But at first glance it would be easy to think that the movie was supposed to be a different sort of sequel. Dakota Fanning co-stars in the film alongside Washington, just as she did in Man on Fire almost 20 years ago. Director Antoine Fuqua says that in some ways he sees the new film as a sort of sequel to both franchises.

Back in 2004, Denzel Washington starred in Man on Fire, a film about a former CIA agent with a difficult past who goes on a rampage after the young girl he was assigned to bodyguard is kidnapped. In The Equalizer 3 Washington again plays a former government agent, who is having difficulty coming to terms with the events of his past. Dakota Fanning, now much older, is part of the Equalizer 3 cast and will again appear as somebody Washington’s character will try to protect. The similarities between the two stories were not lost on director Antoine Fuqua who tells comicbook.com that while Man on Fire was never actively discussed on set, he was very aware of it the whole time. He explained…

The characters that Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning play in Equalizer 3 clearly aren’t quite close enough to their Man on Fire characters that it would work to imply they were somehow the same people. At the same time, based on the Equalizer 3 details we know, it does sound like they are close enough that fans of Man on Fire are going to get serious vibes from the new movie reminding them of that one.

Man on Fire is something of a cult classic. It wasn’t a massive box office hit or critical darling. What it was, was an absolutely brutal action movie fueled by rage. It came out four years prior to Taken creating an entire subgenre of angry dads murdering every bad guy in sight but absolutely belongs in that category. Washington and Fanning have remained close since making the film together, so reuniting certainly makes this a sequel for them.

There were the occasional rumblings of a Man on Fire 2 from time to time, despite the fact that the film’s ending made such things largely impossible. But for fans who would have loved to have seen that movie, it looks like Equalizer 3 will be the next best thing when it hits theaters on September 1.

Over the last several years we have seen CGI technology progress to the point that it can do a remarkably good job making actors look significantly younger than they actually are. We tend to see the tech used in big blockbuster movies that already have a lot of digital effects, but it turns out that director Antoine Fuqua has been considering using the technology on Denzel Washington for the Equalizer franchise.

We meet Denzel Washington’s character Robert McCall in the first Equalizer movie after he has already retired from his professional life. While we get some information about who he was when he was younger, there’s still a lot that we don’t know about how he became the man he is. With The Equalizer 3 release date set for September, we're set to know how the story will end, but what about the beginning? Antoine Fuqua recently told NME that he is curious about McCall’s past, and he has even had conversations with the franchise screenwriter about what that story might be. He explained…

Antoine Fuqua specifically talks about this idea as it pertains to using CGI to de-age the character, so he’s not considering hiring a younger actor to play a young McCall in a prequel movie. It’s actually a bit unclear just how Fuqua is considering using the tech. He says he “thought” about using the technology a lot, seemingly a reference to maybe using it in Equalizer 3, but he also says the idea is something he’s never discussed with Denzel Washington, which makes it sound like it might be an idea he’s considering for the future.

Of course, if Fuqua is actually considering an origin story movie, that’s quite a tall order. Such a project would likely mean de-aging Denzel Washington in every shot of the film, which is something we haven’t really seen before. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny de-aged Harrison Ford for a significant amount of the film's runtime, but even that was a small part of the total movie.

Whatever the director is thinking about, it’s clear that Antoine Fuqua doesn’t think that the de-aging technology is quite there yet. However, he’s clearly intrigued by the whole thing and says he is paying attention to where it all goes, so while we might not be there yet, maybe we will be soon. Fuqua continued…

The Equalizer 3 is supposed to be the end of this particular franchise. Having said that, if the movie makes a lot of money, there will almost certainly be a studio that would be happy to see more movies coming. So between that and improving technology maybe that origin story will happen one day. 

Over 20 years ago, Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke teamed up for Training Day, the crime thriller about a rookie LAPD officer who learns over the course of a day how corrupt his senior partner is. One of this flick’s most memorable scenes (and SPOILER alert for those who haven’t seen one of the best movies of the 2000s) is when Washington’s character, Alonzo Harris, angrily exclaims “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” while threatening the inhabitants of a neighborhood that he’d once controlled, but have now turned their backs on him. While recalling shooting that iconic scene, director Antoine Fuqua shared the major concern he had about it on his end of the filmmaking process.

While chatting with Fuqua about The Equalizer 3, his latest collaboration with Washington, ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton mentioned how the actor had told him in a prior interview that he ad-libbed King Kong line in Training Day. As such, Hamilton wanted to know what Fuqua’s reaction was all those years ago when Washington dropped that unscripted piece of gold, and the filmmaker responded:

Thank the cinema gods that the camera was properly focused when Denzel Washington shouted about King Kong, because as Antoine Fuqua stated, the star of movies like Philadelphia and Remember the Titans was only going to do one take of that particular moment. Granted, there are plenty of other notable elements from Training Day, but “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” has undoubtedly played a major role in it still being fondly remembered two decades later. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if it helped Washington secure the Best Actor Oscar at the 74th Academy Awards, so props to whoever was running the camera on the day. Here’s the scene below in case you need your memory jogged. 

Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke were joined in Training Day by actors like Eva Mendes, Scott Glenn and Cliff Curtis, while Antoine Fuqua was working off the script penned by future Suicide Squad writer/director David Ayer. In addition to being met with many positive reviews (it ranks at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes) and Ethan Hawke being nominated in the Best Supporting Actor Oscar category for his performance as Jake Hoyt, the movie made nearly $105 million worldwide off a reported budget of $45 million. If you’re now in the mood to watch Training Day, it can be streamed with a Max subscription.

As for Washington and Fuqua’s latest team-up, The Equalizer 3 begins playing in theaters on September 1. Don’t forget to see what other 2023 new movie releases are slated for the rest of the year, or get a jump on next year with the 2024 movie schedule.

Much was made earlier this week about the casting of Michael Jackson’s nephew to play the late singer in Lionsgate’s upcoming biopic. Fans and members of the media, as well as various celebrities, offered their thoughts on the choice, but if you ask the director of Leaving Neverland, that’s not the conversation we should be having. Filmmaker Dan Reed wants to know why more people aren’t outraged about the movie even being made.

Dan Reed rose to prominence as a Michael Jackson critic back in 2019 when he released the documentary Leaving Neverland. It chronicled the pop star’s long history of strange public behavior with young boys. It also explored the public accusations against him for child molestation, as well as the various settlements and deals he reportedly worked out with the families of additional alleged victims. It also featured extensive interviews with Wade Robson and James Safechuck, both of whom spent significant time with Jackson and said they were sexually abused. 

At the time, the documentary was given a lot of exposure. It ran on HBO and led many to ask questions about Jackson’s behavior and legacy, but in the four years since, the allegations against Jackson have gotten quieter and the focus on his music has returned to prominence. Reed doesn’t understand why. He published a first person editorial in The Guardian this week and asked fans to reconsider what’s happening around the movie. Here’s a portion of his quote…

Since the start of his career as a child in The Jackson 5, Michael Jackson sold more than 400 million albums. He won 15 Grammy Awards, had a top 10 single in five different decades and sold out concerts all over the world. He's widely considered to be one of the most famous and popular musicians in history, and when he died of an overdose, his funeral was watched by a reported two billion people.

He also turned his house into an amusement park, had many close relationships with boys decades younger than himself and was accused in 1993 and 2005 of child sexual abuse. Charges were never brought in the first case, and it was settled out of court. He was acquitted during the second trial. In the years since, several other victims have come forward with their own allegations. 

His defenders claim he was a strange child-like person who was victimized by false allegations and people trying to exploit his naivety. Those defenders also point to previous statements Robson and Safechuck made as kids and young adults in which they said they were never molested by the singer. 

In his editorial, Dan Reed called the lack of outrage around the project "a deafening silence." He asked why "in an era" of "full-throated outrage" about projects that are perceived as demeaning vulnerable groups that no one is talking about the problems with this one. He also asked the filmmakers directly in his op-ed how they will address Jackson's behavior with children in the movie. 

At this point, It’s unclear how the movie, which is being produced by Bohemian Rhapsody’s Graham King and directed by Antoine Fuqua, will address either those allegations or his close relationships with various children. The late singer’s estate is involved, which has led many to believe it won’t, but we likely won’t know until the movie finally comes out. No release date has been set, but it’s likely we’ll see it sometime in 2024.

The Michael Jackson biopic being produced by Bohemian Rhapsody’s Graham King has been steaming ahead into production. With the recent hiring of director Antoine Fuqua, a huge step had been taken towards getting this long developing project off the ground. 

While it's not quite a 2023 new movie releases contender, this year has seen the project getting even closer to camera ready. The latest development is potentially the most crucial, as this chronicle of moments in Jackson’s career has found its star, and he’s related to the late singer. 

Nephew Jaafar Jackson has been announced as playing the role of his uncle in the still untitled biopic. Lionsgate made the announcement today, through a press release containing the news. This choice has already nabbed some high praise from Antoine Fuqua and Graham King, but the most notable approval comes from Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine, who made the following statement: 

According to his bio on IMDb, 26 year-old Jaafar Jackson is the second youngest son of Jermaine Jackson, brother of Michael and fellow member of the Jackson 5. Through media appearances and music videos for his own projects, young Jaafar has been making waves in the family business of entertaining. 

Responding to his casting in the new Michael Jackson biopic, Jaafar posted an official photo from behind the scenes with a message of gratitude. Shown striking one of his uncle's signature poses, you can see that image, and Jackson's message, as follows:

This sort of news is encouraging, especially in the wake of Universal’s cancellation of the Madonna biopic, which was potentially set to start Ozark’s Julia Garner. As the 2023 Oscar nominations may hold some golden wins for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis, it only seems fitting that the King of Pop could be the next big musical biography to come after last year’s tribute to the King of Rock n’ Roll. Although this production has an advantage that could prevent another Austin Butler accent scenario from ever having to enter the picture. 

Casting Jaafar Jackson as his own uncle is naturally a narrative that sounds like a good start for the untitled Michael Jackson biopic. The resemblance is there in more ways than one, and people who’ve been following the young talent would know that already. You can see for yourself why this is such a good pick, when you watch the video for Jaafar's song "Got Me Singing," shown below:

It's still early days for this picture's development, and as we've seen above anything could happen before cameras start rolling. That being said, the enthusiasm and the family connections to this new Michael Jackson movie are already good signs that things are going well, with nowhere to go but up! 

With a screenplay from They/Them writer-director John Logan, the untitled Michael Jackson biopic is stated to start principal photography in 2023. There's currently no set date specified for production start or release, though it could be assumed that 2024 will be the year that Jaafar Jackson's performance as his uncle Michael will be revealed to the world. 

We are slowly approaching the one-year anniversary of Will Smith’s first Oscar win for his critically praised portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in King Richard. Of course, the actor’s win was overshadowed by the events between him and comedian Chris Rock. The actor is currently doing press for the Antoine Fuqua-directed film Emancipation. The movie is Smith’s first film to hit theaters since the infamous Oscar slap that sent the internet into a tizzy. And though Smith declined to respond to Variety’s questions regarding how the incident influenced the movie’s release, Fuqua was very candid about its impact.

The filmmaker sat down with Variety to discuss the shocking use of brutality and depictions of violence in his forthcoming Civil War set action thriller, Emancipation. Following the Will Smith and Chris Rock Academy Awards incident, it seemed unclear whether Emancipation would be released this year. When asked how he and the producers decided to move forward with the film’s release, the director said it was always a conversation with Apple. He revealed they were closely monitoring what people had to say about the Will Smith-led movie’s approaching release. Fuqua told Variety: 

Early screenings of Emancipation have been very positive–many calling it a powerful and must-see emotional film–and audiences’ positive reaction to the movie helped shape the filmmaker’s decision to release the film this year. Antoine Fuqua said he hopes four hundred years of slavery and brutality is more important to moviegoers than an “ugly” Hollywood moment. He also said he is grateful that the powers that be at Apple decided to move forward with the movie's release. The director continued: 

Emancipation marks Will Smith’s first collaboration with the Training Day and The Equalizer director. It was announced in June 2020 that the two would collaborate on the movie, but Smith’s image took a hit when the world watched him slap Chris Rock on live TV. Recently, while promoting the film on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Will Smith recalled an emotional interaction with his nine-year-old nephew. 

Though audience reaction to Emancipation seems strong, based on Academy Members’ feelings regarding Smith’s actions, it’s unclear if Fuqua’s film will be represented at the Academy Awards. Smith has shared his thoughts regarding the team behind the film not being recognized for their hard work due to his actions and his subsequent Academy banning. He told ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton:

Emancipation is based on a true story and sees Smith playing an enslaved man named Peter who escapes captivity and outwits cold-blooded hunters on his way to the North, where he joins the Union Army. The Antoine Fuqua-directed upcoming movie releases in theaters on December 2nd and comes to streaming on December 9th. All you need to be able to watch Emancipation comfortably at home is an Apple TV+ subscription. 

As the 2023 Oscar race starts to heat up, the discourse surrounding last year’s ceremony and the slap continue to be a major point of discussion, especially with Will Smith promoting his upcoming film on the 2023 film schedule Emancipation. Over the last few days, the actor has started talking more about what happened that night. He has also discussed how he feels about it now, and told a story about an emotional interaction he had with his 9-year-old nephew after the ceremony. 

While talking with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show Smith opened up about what happened after he slapped Chris Rock. Noah explained his take on the situation, and then Smith opened up about his own reaction at the moment, and how those close to him, like is young nephew, responded to it too, saying: 

Smith then pulled a tissue out of his pocket, and continued saying “it was a mess.” Clearly, the actor was impacted not only by his actions, but also by the emotional response from his young nephew who had watched the moment on TV. 

As for the rest of Smith's family, his kids Willow and Jaden Smith have not said much, but did seem to respond to the situation on social media.  Willow open up a bit recently though, saying she sees her "whole family as being human." 

Jada Pinkett Smith also spoke out about the slap, saying she hopes both her husband and Chris Rock have "an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile." 

The discourse surrounding Smith slapping Rock has gone on all year. With Emancipation coming out soon, there has been a lot of discussion about if the film will get nominated, and how the slap will impact the film's odds coming into the awards season. Based on Academy Members' thoughts on Smith’s actions and Emancipation, it’s unclear if the film will be represented at the Academy Awards. 

When it comes to the film getting nominated, Smith shared his thoughts on the criticism that Emancipation is coming out too soon. He explained to ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton that: 

Antoine Fuqua has also weighed in on how Emancipation will be received following the slap. He said that the movie “is bigger than that moment.” He also said he hopes people see the film and “be swept away” by Smith’s performance and “all the real hard work that the whole crew did.” 

The King Richard actor went on to tell Noah about what happened at the Oscars, saying it “was a horrific night.” He said there were “many nuances and complexities,” but in the end, he “just lost it.” Smith also talked about how you never know what someone is going through at a given moment and he “was going through something that night.” However, he also said “not that it justifies my behavior at all.” 

Smith said the fact that the people who worked on Emancipation might not get recognized for their work is “killing me dead.” Noah said no one deserves to be defined by one moment. 

In the last few days, Smith has opened up about the slap, and how bad it was. He’s also been open about how much he dislikes the fact that his actions could impact his latest film's chances during the upcoming awards season. This story about his nephew also provides a glimpse into how his family was impacted by the moment too. 

The last time we saw Will Smith in a cinematic setting was in King Richard, where he played Richard Williams, father of tennis icons Venus and Serena Williams. That role netted Smith the Academy Award for Best Actor earlier this year, but it was at that same awards ceremony where the actor scored more attention for slapping Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance. Smith is now out promoting his next movie, Emancipation, and its director, Antoine Fuqua, has reacted to the fans who are associating Emancipation with the Oscars slap.

There’s a little under a month to go until Apple TV+ subscribers can stream Emancipation, but the publicity campaign for the movie is in full swing. This includes Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua chatting with Vanity Fair, and while Smith declined to answer a question about his Oscars incident, Fuqua said the following to the outlet:

Emancipation marks Will Smith and Antoine Fuqua’s first collaboration, with the latter having helmed movies like Training Day, The Equalizer and Southpaw. The public learned in June 2020 that these two would team on Emancipation, but Smith’s image got quite the shakeup when people all over the world watched him slap Chris Rock on live TV. As far as Fuqua is concerned though, the Oscars moment shouldn’t have any bear on how people received Emancipation, both with regard to its subject matter and the hard work poured into the movie itself.

Antonine Fuqua’s comment arrives shortly after Will Smith’s Wild Wild West costar Bai Ling said that the actor deserves forgiveness for what he did, as well as Smith revealing that Floyd Mayweather called him for 10 days straight after the slap. For his part, Smith formally apologized to Chris Rock back in late July, but as of the following month, Rock reportedly had no interest in speaking with Smith. Even with the next round of Oscars festivities slowly approaching, it doesn’t seem like this topic will be dying down anytime soon (it was even made into a Halloween costume), but Antoine Fuqua is hoping this doesn’t impact how Emancipation is viewed/received by the masses.

Emancipation, which is based on a true story, sees Will Smith playing an enslaved man named Peter who escapes captivity, outwits cold-blooded hunters on his way to the North and then joins the Union Army. Smith is joined by Ben Foster, Steven Ogg, Charmaine Bingwa, Gilbert Our, Mustafa Shakir and Grant Harvey, among others. Check back with CinemaBlend for our review of the movie and more coverage on what’s going on with Smith professionally and personally

It’s been a little over four years since The Equalizer 2 came out, and for a long portion of that period, it was unclear if we’d ever see Denzel Washington play Robert McCall again. Then in January 2022, Washington revealed that The Equalizer 3 was moving forward. 10 months later, the threequel has begun filming, so naturally Washington and the rest of the cast and crew needed to commemorate the occasion.

Sony Pictures announced that The Equalizer 3 has begun principal photography on the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and Denzel Washington, director Antonie Fuqua and actors Dakota Fanning and Gaia Scodellaro took a little time out of their busy shooting schedule to pose for some photos in this beautiful location. Check them out!

With the first two Equalizer movies having primarily shot in various areas of Massachusetts, the fact that The Equalizer 3 team is shooting footage in Italy is an especially big deal! We learned Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning would be reuniting on The Equalizer 3 after previously working together on 2004’s Man on Fire, and Gaia Scodellaro’s involvement was revealed just several days ago by Deadline. There’s no word yet on who Fanning and Scodellaro are playing, but the actresses look like they’re having a good time with Denzel Washington and Antoine Fuqua on this 2023 movie release.

Loosely inspired by The Equalizer TV show from the 1980s, the Equalizer movies depict Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall as a former U.S. Marine-turned-DIA intelligence officer who retired from his life of service, but now uses his special set of skills to protect people in his community. Washington was joined in the first two movies by Bill Pullman’s Brian Plummer and Melissa Leo’s Susan Plummer, but the latter was killed in The Equalizer 2, setting Robert on a journey to exact revenge. It’s worth noting that while CBS is running its Equalizer TV series starring Queen Latifah, it is not tied to the film series.

The Equalizer and The Equalizer 2 both earned mixed critical reception, with the former bringing in $192.3 million worldwide and and the latter’s global total adding up to $190.4 million. In August 2018, shortly after The Equalizer 2 was released, Antoine Fuqua said “he’d love” for The Equalizer 3 to happen, and his wish eventually came true. As with the first two Equalizer movies, Richard Wenk returned to write the threequel.

As production chugs along, hopefully we’ll learn about some Equalizer 3 plot details and other actors who are taking part in the next installment. For now though, just remember that it’s hitting theaters on September 1, 2023. If you’re in the mood for some Denzel Washington right now, he most recently starred in The Tragedy of Macbeth, which can be streamed using your Apple TV+ subscription.

There are a lot of questions surrounding Will Smith’s new movie Emancipation, which is set to be released on Apple TV+. The film was one of many of the actor’s projects that saw setbacks following him slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in March, and therefore its release date remains unknown. It was also thought to be an awards contender, but that’s also been complicated after Smith’s slap incident. While there’s definitely a lot we don’t know, some more light is being shed on Emancipation, after the film’s screening at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's 51st annual Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., as those in attendance take to social media with their first reactions. 

Will Smith stars in the action thriller as Peter, a slave who escapes his Louisiana plantation and joins the Union Army to fight against his former captors. Emancipation is based on the true story of Gordon, or “Whipped Peter,” who was the subject of photos released in 1863 that showed extensive scars on his back from the abuse he’d endured as a slave. Let’s see what people are saying about Antoine Fuqua’s movie and about Smith’s role in it.

Tonya J. Williams took to Twitter and called for Apple to release the film, after she witnessed the “gut-wrenching” portrayal of slavery:

Emancipation is a huge departure from Will Smith’s usual body of work, as the actor said he has avoided making movies about slavery throughout his career. Social justice advocate and political commentator Angela Rye seems to approve of his choice to take on this role, as she thanks Smith and director Antoine Fuqua for telling this “powerful” story:

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson echoes those sentiments, thanking the actor and director for this story “of adversity, of resilience, of love, and of triumph”: 

Former Democratic National Committee chairwoman Donna Brazile praises the depiction of Black people fighting for their freedom. She asks for a release date to be set: 

“Powerful” seems to be the word that all those in attendance keep coming back to, as Jotaka Eaddy was in agreement with the response to Antoine Fuqua’s story of resilience: 

Despite Apple winning a huge bidding war to release Emancipation on its streaming service, Amber Takahashi hopes to see the film see some sort of theatrical release: 

Attendees of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation event certainly seem to have been moved by the private showing of the movie, and hopefully a release date will come soon. As far as how things pan out for awards for Emancipation, that was made complicated when Will Smith voluntarily resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the aftermath of the Oscars fallout. The actor is also banned from attending the Academy Awards ceremony for 10 years.

While we wait for news on Emancipation, check out our 2022 movie release schedule to see what films are hitting theaters soon! 

When Will Smith slapped Chris Rock across the face at the Oscars this year it was a shocking moment of live television, but it’s hard to imagine anybody had any idea just how big a deal it would become. Apologies have been issued and blame has been laid in every conceivable direction, but the future of Will Smith’s career is in a strange state of limbo, with several of his films on hold. This includes the upcoming movie Emancipation, which has already been shot.

Emancipation tells the true story of a Civil War-era slave named Peter, played by Will Smith, who escapes to the North and joins the Union army to fight against his former captors. The movie was directed by Antoine Fuqua and is set to be an Apple TV+ release, one that was expected to compete for many awards, but now its future is somewhat uncertain.

It was initially expected the Emancipation would be released this fall as part of the general awards season push, but due to the fallout from the Oscars debacle, it seemed like Apple might be holding off on releasing the film. As Deadline points out, the movie was never given an official release date, so there technically isn’t a delay happening here. In addition, the trade says there’s still a good chance the movie could be released later this year, or early next year. If Emancipation does plan to compete for awards we could see a limited theatrical release at the end of 2022 before the movie hits Apple TV+ in early 2023.

Early buzz is very high, calling it one of Antoine Fuqua’s best films, and praise is being given to Will Smith’s performance as well. But then that’s part of the issue. Will Smith voluntarily relinquished his membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, and he’s been banned from attending the Oscars ceremony for the next decade. This makes any movie Smith is associated with, and he’s a producer on Emancipation as well as its star, a complicated Oscar contender at best.

Following Apple’s Oscar success with CODA, one can certainly imagine the company seeing Emancipation as a strong follow up. But what’s also clear is that the movie will likely struggle as an awards contender if it released now, regardless of how good it actually is. The longer the film can wait, the better the odds for success. At the same time, the money has been spent to make the film, and the longer it sits on the shelf the more expensive it gets for Apple.

If Emancipation is kept on the shelf for a while, it certainly wouldn’t be that surprising. Several other projects that Will Smith was going to be a part of have either been delayed or outright canceled in the last few months. While not all of those decisions can be traced directly back to the Oscars slap, it is clear that Hollywood in general and Will Smith specifically are trying to figure out how to move forward from the event. 

Having been featured on the big screen for three decades at this point, Jake Gyllenhaal has consistently proven that he can do anything. Regardless of genre or tone, his performances are always genuine and impressive – even in cases when he’s a part of projects that otherwise underwhelm. He’s not just one of the most reliable leads among actors working today, but the exact kind of performer you want starring in a locked room drama with only one primary character. That’s a theory that’s made absolute fact in Antoine Fuqua’s The Guilty, as Gyllenhaal successfully delivers a turn so exceptional that it successfully overshadows a somewhat predictable plot.

It’s not technically a one-man show, as the protagonist has colleagues to interact with, and the movie primarily unfolds through phone calls, but The Guilty is absolutely The Jake Gyllenhaal Show, and he stuns. It’s a tightrope walk of a performance for many reasons, but the actor proves so adept that he’s doing flips and cartwheels, and it’s more than gripping enough to make you completely forget that the drama doesn’t leave what one could estimate as a 200ft space.

Based on the 2018 Danish film of the same name (which I will admit that I haven’t seen), and written by Nic Pizzolatto, The Guilty stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Joe Baylor – a Los Angeles police officer awaiting trial who has been temporarily demoted to the 9-1-1 dispatch desk. The night before he is set to appear in court, he works a particularly stressful shift, as incidents related to spreading wildfires in the area keep the phones particularly jammed. However, there is one call he fields that steals his attention away from everything else that’s going on.

On the other end of the line is a young woman named Emily Lighton (Riley Keough), who calls 9-1-1 pretending that she is talking to her young daughter. What’s really going on, though, is that Emily has been taken into a van against her will by her ex-con boyfriend, Henry (Peter Sarsgaard), and they are driving to an unknown location. Joe struggles to keep her on the line, and he can’t leave his post, but he becomes fully devoted to her case because he has a young daughter of his own – one he has become distanced from because of the legal issues he has been going through.

In an effort to try and save Emily, Joe begins to coordinate calls, contacting the California Highway Patrol about the vehicle, and working to try and get officers to go to both Emily’s house to check on her children, and Henry’s place to learn about where he may be going. When he doesn’t get the immediate results he wants, he grows increasingly frustrated with the limitations of the dispatch desk, and he begins to venture beyond the permissions of his position so that he can try to save the day.

Jake Gyllenhaal manages to be both unlikable and magnetic in The Guilty.

What’s most impressive about Jake Gyllenhaal’s turn in The Guilty is the fact that he is one of the least likable characters that the actor has ever portrayed. We learn very early on that he has been indicted on a serious crime, which obviously doesn’t earn him any bonus points off the bat, but the man is riddled with personality issues. Even if you excuse him for the stress that he’s under, and recognize the urgency in the situation, he still comes across as an irascible, petulant jerk who is liable to blow his stack the moment he doesn’t get his way. And yet there is enough emotional complexity constantly strewn across Gyllenhaal’s face that keeps you wholly invested.

That investment is absolutely necessary given that The Guilty has him at the center of every scene, but the star carries that load like a half-empty backpack. Joe’s impotent rage may be off-putting, but his urgency is contagious. His methods are terrible, but his commitment makes an impression, and instills a curiosity about how things play out.

It’s not hard to figure out where The Guilty is going, but it’s still a thrilling ride.

The big caveat to that is that it’s not terribly hard to at least vaguely predict how things are going to play out. The aesthetic commitment to showing only Joe Baylor’s side of the action is well-executed, but it also has a strong influence on the audience’s perception of the story. In addition to having the character’s extreme aggressiveness causing you to question his actions, there is also a persistent voice in the back of your mind that reminds you that the movie is never delivering a full picture of what’s happening on the other end of the various phone calls.

The instinct to be suspicious of what The Guilty isn’t showing the audience is impossible to ignore, and it provides you with certain expectations of where things are going to go. As such, when the big turns hit, they don’t quite pack the wallop that they should. It’s a weakness in the structure – though there is still enough meat on the bones to provide a compelling and thrilling experience.

Antoine Fuqua delivers his best film since Training Day.

As an LAPD story that entirely transpires over the course of one day, there’s a degree to which one could look at The Guilty as a kind of spiritual sequel to Training Day – which is extra appropriate since it’s Antoine Fuqua’s best film since the 2001 Oscar-winning drama. Not only does he get a fantastic performance from Jake Gyllenhaal (something he was also able to do in the making of the 2015 underwhelming boxing feature Southpaw), but he also successfully maintains pressure and pacing with intense close-ups and smart camera movement. It’s a very different kind of swing for the filmmaker, who has been more focused on making action movies in the last decade, but in that context it’s an ambitious winner.

The kind of story that The Guilty sets up is exceptionally difficult to pull off, but that makes it all the more exciting when they succeed, and this is a great example. Led by a phenomenal and complex performance from Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s a thriller that grips you from the start and maintains it right through the satisfying and emotional conclusion.

2020 was a year where, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, if you wanted to make a movie, you could. Early projects like Songbird proved that assumption to be true, and the Netflix original film The Guilty helps to carry that torch further. Director Antoine Fuqua and star Jake Gyllenhaal put that notion to the test with an intense production that the director himself stated took place during “the height of COVID.” Part of that model had Gyllenhaal relying on Zoom, which itself presented wild new challenges for this single location thriller.

If The Guilty was just a typical movie made in a “normal” time of production, the technical obstacles might not have presented themselves as severely. Seeing as the film is a single location thriller, with most of its cast acting through audio, there still may have been chances for the execution to find unique ways of glitching out. But just as the story of Joe Baylor’s mysterious circumstances feels ripped from the headlines, the tales of how this movie was made have the same immediacy. No one knows about the freshness of Zoom more than Mr. Gyllenhaal himself, which he admitted during our interview on the film’s press day:

Jake Gyllenhaal’s response, as well as some further explanation from director Antoine Fuqua, came out of my inquiry about what luxuries both of these collaborators missed thanks to The Guilty’s tight shooting schedule. On top of shooting their film during the COVID-19 pandemic, the remake of the 2018 Danish film from director Gustav Möller was initially intended to be shot over the course of five days. That schedule stretched to 11 days, which saw Gyllenhaal looking to have 15-20 page chunks of dialogue memorized for each day. For a normal production, that’s already an intense experience, but for one that threw technology into the mix, it was even more stunning.

The plan originally laid out in The Guilty’s press notes sounded like a more traditional strategy to craft the 911 calls that make up Jake Gyllenhaal’s field of play as Joe Baylor. Originally Antoine Fuqua had intended on sending “special boxes” to the film’s vocal cast so they could capture their lines, with the playback being fed to Gyllenhaal on set. That plan, which sounds similar to how the Apple TV+ series Mythic Quest executed a huge Rube Goldberg gag for its quarantine episode, was never meant to be.

In came the technological marvel that the world has come to know as Zoom. With The Guilty assembling an impressive cast throughout the world, the virtual meeting platform that’s become shorthand for the very medium played an important part in Antoine Fuqua’s vision. This led to the forced rhythm that Jake Gyllenhaal discussed in our interview, which was in part thanks to the technical challenges that were inherent to this strategy. Mr. Fuqua explained those hurdles, and how they enhanced The Guilty’s finished product, thusly:

Through long takes and the rhythm and glitches of Zoom audio, as well as intense direction from a friend and colleague, Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Joe Baylor in The Guilty was shaped. With the movie providing a riveting showcase of his acting range, Gyllenhaal is one of those actors you’d absolutely want anchoring a single location film, especially when the story plays out almost exclusively around that person’s emotions and actions. As he further explained when discussing the subject of that rhythm, Gyllenhaal found room to be even more precise with his delivery in light of such limitations:

The Guilty is a lean and electrifying experience that brings out the best in Jake Gyllenhaal and Antoine Fuqua. Despite the obstacles that were presented to them, the two make a winning team and delivered a film that’s as intense as its production. So the next time you're on a Zoom call, just imagine how much worse it could be if you were pretending that the person on the other line was a life you were trying to save. You can catch The Guilty for yourself, in limited theatrical release, on September 25. But if you’re not ready to head back to the movies just yet, the Netflix original will debut on its home streaming platform starting October 1.

Cinematic experiences are amazing at what they can do, especially when the scope of the film in question is limited in an inventive fashion. Director Antoine Fuqua’s Netflix original The Guilty is one such film that audiences will finding themselves discussing, partially because Fuqua slickly directs the American adaptation of the 2018 Danish original, written by True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto. But what really holds this film together is the intense performance from Jake Gyllenhaal that completely riveted me throughout this single-location thriller.

Jake Gyllenhaal, re-teaming with friend and Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua, plays Joe Bayler, who serves as the main gateway into The Guilty’s close quarters potboiler. Temporarily demoted to 911 dispatch duty after an incident we slowly learn about through the unwinding story, we see Joe running through various emergency service calls while a wildfire rages across California. It doesn’t take long before a mysterious call draws him into an ongoing crisis that involves an abduction, and this is where Gyllenhaal’s chops start to really shine.

Throughout the first act of the lightning-fast running time The Guilty operates within, we’re given clues to Joe Bayler’s mysterious past, as well as what kind of man Joe really is, in how he handles 911 calls. As Jake Gyllenhaal’s character navigates through a world he’d rather not have anything to do with, we don’t see Joe Bayler change into a miraculously better person. We’re given a much more interesting possibility: a man who’s learned to care again through the act of trying to save a life.

However, that’s not through the typical car chases, shootouts or nighttime drives you’d expect in other law enforcement dramas. The Guilty is a single location drama that more or less focuses solely on Jake Gyllenhaal. We’re introduced to other characters and shown small glimpses of the events happening on the other end of the calls that Joe Bayler takes. But for almost the entire movie, we’re watching Gyllenhaal handle everything from his dispatch console, with his actions and reactions coloring our entire perception of The Guilty.

Various shades of restraint are exhibited by The Guilty’s would-be hero, and Jake Gyllenhaal gets to make the most of the role of Joe Bayler. It’s a far cry from the more exaggerated work that the actor has done through films like Nightcrawler and Velvet Buzzsaw. Though he may not be flying off the handle, Gyllenhaal is still providing an intensity on par with those earlier madmen he’s portrayed. It's just rather than engaging in villainous menace, Gyllenhaal's Joe Bayler is truly wrestling with matters that literally make him sick to his stomach, which allows for a couple of outbursts that display his trademark manic energy.

Shot in takes that run as long as possible without cutting, Antoine Fuqua understands just what makes Mr. Gyllenhaal one of the prime actors in the modern world of film. So when The Guilty called for cameras to be on his lead at all times, Fuqua obviously tackled the challenge with great gusto. The shorthand between director and collaborator is at its peak in this movie, especially considering Jake Gyllenhaal approached Antoine Fuqua with the script to The Guilty. Trusting each other in close quarters, Gyllenhaal fully accepts that the events presented are all about him, but he never shortchanges the other actors that come into play.

The Guilty is a pretty quick and focused thrill ride, with some very human questions asked and answered. And the greatest compliment that can be paid to Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Joe is the fact that he is the main reason this movie flies by. Even in scenes where you could take your eyes off him for a brief moment, you wouldn’t want to, as he disappears into another hallmark role on his resume.

After its recent showing at the Toronto International Film Festival, The Guilty will be headed to limited theatrical release on September 24. Netflix subscribers will get to enjoy the film in the comfort of their own homes when it heads to the streaming studio’s library on October 12. No matter how you enjoy the film, if you’re a Jake Gyllenhaal fan, The Guilty is something you’ll absolutely want to experience as freshly as possible.

With the new streaming service Paramount+ finding its footing among other big studios carving their own space for at-home viewing, it has made a brand new movie initially meant for theaters to subscribers this summer. That movie is Antione Fuqua’s Infinite, a sci-fi action film starring Mark Wahlberg that explores reincarnation. The movie based on the novel The Reincarnationist Papers takes audiences on a ride as Wahlberg’s character learns that there’s an important past life of his that the world depends on him remembering. Let’s get into the Infinite ending.

Major spoilers ahead about the ending of Infinite**!**

In the nearly two-hour thriller, a lot goes down. And when there’s a lot to talk about, it helps to do a bit of a debrief. Now in Infinite, we learned right off the bat that the story will revolve around people known as “infinites” who have perfect memories of all their past lives. The “infinites” are split up into two sides, one who wants to use their memories to protect the growth of humanity and another who believe it to be a curse and want to end all life on Earth. Let’s break down what happened at the end:

What Happened At The End Of Infinite

First off, Mark Wahlberg’s Evan McCauley is someone who has forgotten the past incarnations of his lives, but is somewhat haunted by unknown memories. He’s been diagnosed as a schizophrenic and is just trying to get by when he is approached by Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Bathurst. Bathurst represents the side of the infinites who wants to destroy civilization and he needs Evan to remember his past in order for him to do so.

Evan ends up being taken in by the good “infinites” who catch up with him on what’s going on in the world of infinites. He teams up with them to attempt to remember his last life (played by Dylan O’Brien) as Bathurst continues with his plan. In broad terms, Evan ends up embracing his role as an infinite and defeating Bathurst’s plans before drowning in the ocean and being reincarnated as the Asian boy that the movie follows at the end of the film.

The Villainous Plan Of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Bathurst

Bathurst is the main villain of Infinite and represents the nihilists of these eternal people who are tired of being reincarnated and remembering each of their lives. After being a good infinite for tons of lifetimes, for the last 300 years Bathurst has been looking for a way out from civilization and to find a way to stop reincarnating. In one scene, Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character shares how his “infinite” power has grown so much over the years that when he is reincarnated, all his memories come back while he is in the womb and he is a fully conscious man of many lives stuck in a tight space for months upon end. In other words, this can become really messed up.

So Bathurst has found a technology that has the power to destroy all life on Earth and he plans to do so. It attacks life by attacking DNA itself at the source. In the third act of the film, we see the device he plans to use as the circular device likened to a bomb that Evan fights him for via a sword fight on the aircraft just ahead of him launching it from the skies. Evan is able to kill Bathurst and stop his lives’ work, but he’ll reincarnate at some point and likely continue the cycle.

The Key Past Life Of Mark Wahlberg’s Evan McCauley

The reason why Mark Wahlberg’s Evan is so important to the story is because he is the ancient old partner of Bathurst known as Treadway. Treadway and Bathurst used to be best friends, but over time they were the founders of this “infinite” split over time. With his life as Evan, he has lost his memories of all his past lives, with his immediate one before (O’Brien) containing an important secret that he took to the grave. So in order to jog his memory, the infinites have him undergo a specialized shock therapy along with major physical training.

When Evan remembers, he reveals that the thing that Bathurst is looking for, called “the egg” was hidden inside his previous body. Bathurst is able to get to the egg before Evan and the other infinites, but thankfully Evan ends up being able to embrace himself as Treadway and defeat Bathurst before he can unleash the evil plan on humanity.

Explaining The Reincarnation Message In Infinite

By the end of Infinite, Treadway has a new life, but it’s made clear to us that this time he very much remembers his past lives and is rebooted into the infinite he was before. During the final moments of the film, Mark Wahlberg’s character speaks about the act of reincarnating with a broader message to be said about humanity itself about “passing the sword” through each generation and continuing the legacies we begin. Infinite’s central message is “hope” as he blatantly says at the end, as the movie seeks to share this idea of each of our actions connecting to the world and what comes next.

Infinite seems to lean heavily in eastern Asian religions who believe in reincarnation, or the belief that our consciousness, mind and soul moves from one life form to the next after death. A common belief that goes hand in hand with that is the doctrine of “karma” which is a law of cause and effect that is about how the actions of one life will affect the next. In Hinduism, there is a way out of reincarnation when someone reaches “moksha” translating to “release” which is when one’s eternal core and their absolute reality are one.

The Paramount+ movie does not explore “moksha,” but perhaps if there was a second installment of the Infinite movie, Treadway and Bathurst finding a way to reconnect with their original friendship could be a good way to end the constant cycle and perhaps end their continuous reincarnation without you know… destroying humanity.

You can watch Infinite streaming now. And for more new movies coming out, check out our 2021 New Movie Release Schedule.

Antoine Fuqua’s Infinite doesn’t waste any time telling the audience exactly what kind of movie it is, and in doing so it throws up some major red flags. In the run-up to its opening action sequence, a Mark Wahlberg voice over plays that unleashes a big fat exposition dump on the audience – blatantly explaining to the audience the core sci-fi idea at the center of the plot. It’s not only an immediate warning that this is a production that is willing to cut corners in its storytelling, but it also screams that the blatant explanation was deemed necessary because the rest of the film fails to communicate its ideas coherently. As it turns out, both are true… and those are just two of many issues that make themselves apparent throughout, ranging from misguided to straight-up bad.

While it can be said that there are some exciting action beats to be found in the movie, the vast majority of it is over-the-top nonsense that borders on the ridiculous, all without ever demonstrating a sense of humor. It clearly has big franchise aspirations and it makes a go for being weird, but it coalesces as a convoluted and tired “chosen one” story that inspires an empty performance from Mark Wahlberg and some world-class scenery chewing from Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Infinite has the vibe of a bad comic book from the 1990s, but it’s actually loosely based on the novel The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz – adapted by Ian Shorr and Todd Stein. Fitting the aforementioned “chosen one” trope to perfection, Evan McCauley (Mark Wahlberg) is a down-and-out man who can’t get a job and is struggling to make ends meet – but then one day a beautiful woman (Sophie Cookson) arrives in a bulletproof car and informs him that he has a tremendous legacy of past lives and that he is essentially destined to save the world.

As is spelled out in the opening minutes by the voice-over narration, there are certain people on the planet who are known as Infinites: souls who have been reincarnated multiple times and can remember events from their past lives. It’s not a peaceful collective, however, as they are split into factions. The Believers try and use their ability for good and the benefit of humanity; while the Nihilists view it as a curse, and use that as motivation to try and end the world so that they can stop the endless cycle of their lives.

The tool for accomplishing the destruction of mankind, an egg, was hidden by Evan in a past life, and the Believers need him to help them find it before the leader of the Nihilists, Bathurst (Chiwetel Ejiofor), can find it first.

Infinite’s plot is bloated with details, but thin on actual substance.

If I were to tell you that the Nihilists possess technology-enhanced weapons that allow souls to be captured as digital data, stopping the reincarnation process, would you agree that the entire plot is rendered meaningless? It’s not a great thing when the entire plot of a movie can easily be solved by with the suggestion that the villain just kill himself with a magic bullet – but that’s but one of the many delicate threads that Infinite doesn’t want you to pull or think about too hard as you digest its story.

A shocking percentage of the movie is taken up by Evan being shown varieties of shiny, meaningless gadgets while remaining incredulous about the new world into which he’s been thrown, and Bathurst dramatically bemoaning his torturous existence. And it all just comes across as showy rubbish to inflate an overcomplicated and cliché-ridden narrative.

Chiwetel Ejiofor delivers too much while Mark Walhberg doesn’t deliver enough.

It was around this time last year that Chiwetel Ejiofor starred as an antagonist in another film with its own spin on the concept of immortality, but while Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Old Guard saw him play a nuanced character trapped in circumstance by his fascination with everlasting life, he is at a permanent 12 out of 10 in Infinite, and it’s not a good look. By the time it gets to a scene where Bathurst is shown willingly getting waterboarded as some kind of ceremony, you can’t help but be reminded of Eddie Redmayne’s notorious turn in Jupiter Ascending and wonder why nobody on set was questioning some of the choices being made.

At the very least one person who benefits is Mark Wahlberg. The star delivers a performance featuring none of the charisma he’s proven he’s capable of possessing, but at the very least one can’t describe his work as totally unhinged.

On some level you can admire the confidence that Infinite displays in its own coolness (there’s no other explanation for why it thinks it can get away with a final voice-over line like, “And next? Well, the possibilities are… infinite”), but that confidence is ultimately wholly unearned. If it at least had a sense of fun it would at least possess some entertainment value, but instead it’s just a messy slog that registers as a disappointing use of all the talent involved.

This summer is shaping up to be a different kind of movie season with various studios going different routes with their big releases, between classic theatrical releases, the new hybrid model found on HBO Max and Disney+ and more big-budget movies than ever finding first homes on streaming than ever before. Mark Wahlberg’s upcoming sci-fi action film Infinite is going right to Paramount+ in just a couple weeks and we have a first look at it.

It was just announced the other day that Training Day director Antoine Fuqua’s latest movie would hit the new streaming service instead of theaters. And now we have a release date along with the trailer for the epic filled with car stunts, star power and a story centered on reincarnation. Mark Wahlberg stars as a mysterious man who learns that his hallucinations are actually real memories from his past lives. Trippy, right?

The trailer opens with a bearded Chiwetel Ejiofor entering an interrogation room with Mark Wahlberg’s character of Evan Michaels and laying down a number of items on the table. Ejiofor pushes him to his limits asking him if the various items belong to him while pulling a gun on him with a single bullet in it. While Evan holds one of the items, he started to remember something, perhaps jogging his memory about one of his past lives.

Then Kingsman actress Sophie Cookson zooms in to grab Evan from wherever he’s being held, leading to a high-pursuit chase through a building. We then learn through the voice over that Mark Wahlberg’s character is what is called an “infinite,” who has apparently lived and died thousands of times before. It sounds like the plot revolves around Evan needing to understand who he was in his past lives in order to unlock something extraordinary.

Infinite is an adaptation of the 2009 novel The Reincarnationist Papers, which is about a “mind-bending” conspiracy that he gets tied up in following his visions from a past life. It also looks like Chiwetel Ejiofor’s character will have an interesting role in the film, as we see a wall of compartments with the names of people on them and him presumably hunting him down throughout the film. The actor also played the villain to some eternal beings in 2020’s big Netflix hit The Old Guard too.

Infinite was originally going to hit theaters back in summer 2020, but was then delayed to September of this year due to COVID-19. Paramount has now decided to abandon its theatrical release altogether and debut the film on its new streaming service in just two weeks, on June 10. The decision was likely made as the studio aims to reel in more subscribers since debuting back in March.

Other big movies heading to Paramount+ in the near future are A Quiet Place Part II and Top Gun: Maverick, except those movies will have a 45-day exclusive theatrical run before hitting the new streaming site. The swift release of Infinite is a bit out of left field, but with competition next to Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+ and so forth Paramount+ is definitely joining the streaming war this summer.

Chris Pratt has been a busy man in the midst of the ongoing pandemic. In the past year, he’s filmed Jurassic World: Dominion and has done work on Thor: Love and Thunder. So with two of the most anticipated films of 2022 under his belt, the star is now working on his upcoming Amazon Prime series, The Terminal List. We haven’t seen much from the production thus far, but Pratt has now provided a funny “exclusive” look at the show.

When it comes to highly anticipated projects, fans are always looking for sneak peeks and, once in a while, cast and/or crew will oblige them by sharing something. Chris Pratt seems to understand the value in sharing an “exclusive” with fans and posted one for The Terminal List through his Instagram stories. Although, it may not exactly be what fans were hoping for. Check out the image for yourself down below:

Well, at the very least, Chris Pratt’s photo is a behind the scenes look behind a chair, right? Fine, it’s not much, but it is nice to see Chris Pratt having a bit of fun with his fans as he works away on his latest production. Plus, none of us can say Pratt doesn’t find interesting ways to hype up the projects he works on.

Amazon’s The Terminal List is an action thriller based on the Jack Carr novel of the same name. The show sees Chris Pratt play James Reece, a Navy SEAL who must reckon with the memory of his platoon’s ambush (and his culpability) after he returns home. This later leads him to discover the dark forces working against him, which could do harm to both him and his loved ones.

As you would expect, Chris Pratt is surrounded by talent both on and off camera. The show also stars names like Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu and even Pratt’s brother-in-law Patrick Schwarzenegger. The series is also being helmed by director Antoine Fuqua, who’s more than familiar with tackling intense material.

It definitely appears that Chris Pratt is having fun while making The Terminal List, but he hasn’t just been using his time to joke around. In another recent social media, he paid tribute to the actual Navy SEALs who risk their lives to keep our country safe. Pratt posted a photo of himself and Antoine Fuqua with the real SEALs they’ve been working with during the project. The actor also paid them a high compliment in his caption, saying that when it comes to men, “there are none equal to the SEAL.”

With a strong cast and proven director, The Terminal List could turn out to be something special, especially since it sounds like Chris Pratt and his collaborators are taking the subject matter very seriously. There’s no telling when we might get our first official look at the show, but let’s hope that any teases we get in the meantime feature more than set chairs.

One of the most promising biographical projects actively in development has been Jamie Foxx's long-gestating Mike Tyson biopic, in which the Oscar-winning actor is set to play the boxing legend and marijuana enthusiast. As it turns out, though, a few changes took place behind the scenes, and that project is now set to become a TV show, and one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Martin Scorsese, is taking on a role in the creative team.

Jamie Foxx is officially set to lead the new project, simply dubbed Tyson, as both its star and as an executive producer. The limited TV series is set to cover the entirety of Mike Tyson's controversial life, so we can count on hearing about more casting news for whoever will play Tyson as a younger man. Any reports in that vein will no doubt give fans a better idea of what key moments from Tyson's career will make their way to the small screen. I'm guessing it'll gear pretty heavily towards his actual boxing career, and less so on his Comedy Central Roast hijinks.

But it's not like Mike Tyson became less interesting after he hung up his gloves, especially since he put those gloves back on in 2020 for an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr. and made a ton of money for his new company in the process. Tyson has also been hosting a popular podcast/video series interviewing celebs and athletes about all subjects under the sun, on top of making sporadic appearances on TV and in films here and there.

Jamie Foxx and Martin Scorsese will both serve as executive producers on Tyson, as will filmmaker Antoine Fuqua, who knows a bit about filming boxing scenes as the director of 2015's Southpaw. Fuqua will also take on directorial duties for the limited series, and Mike Tyson's partners at his company Legends Only League, Sophie Watts and John Ryan Jr., will also be executive producing. Tyson will be written by Colin Preston, who already penned the pilot and is now set to tackle the rest of the episodes.

Here's what Mike Tyson had to say about the new project in the official announcement.

With his voice heard by millions of people in the last year via Disney/Pixar's Soul, Jamie Foxx is already set to boost his TV career back up in the very near future with the Netflix comedy Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!, which is set to debut on April 14. He's also welcome to return for any capacity as part of ABC's Live in Front of a Studio Audience specials.

With no network or streaming service yet in place, Tyson will no doubt cause a bidding war before it eventually finds its home. Here's hoping the project will be a total knockout wherever it lands.

Jake Gyllenhaal has built a solid record when it comes to making films that debut exclusively on Netflix. It's still a new relationship, but it includes titles like Dan Gilroy's Velvet Buzzsaw, and Bong Joon ho's Okja (plus his bizarro turn as Mr. Music in the comedy special John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch). Now it appears that the star's filmography on the streaming service is set to grow once again, as the distributor has made a deal to acquire the upcoming thriller The Guilty.

News of this development comes to us from Deadline, which notes that the project marks a reunion between Jake Gyllenhaal and Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua. Five years later they're now working on a totally different project in a whole new genre. The project is based on director Gustav Möller's Danish film Den Skyldige, which had a Sundance premiere in January 2018.

The story is set over the course of a single morning (one is reminded of the contained sunup-to-sundown adventure in Antoine Fuqua's Training Day) and will star Jake Gyllenhaal as a police officer named Joe Bayler who is forced to work as a 9-1-1 operator following an incident in the line of duty. He receives a call and initially believes the individual is in serious trouble, but over time the situation proves to be far more complicated.

In addition to respectively acting and directing, Jake Gyllenhaal and Antoine Fuqua are both producers on The Guilty. The plan is for the movie to start rolling cameras before the end of the year, which both means that we should be hearing more casting announcements soon, and that it could be ready for release some time in the second half of next year.

The Guilty is one of many movies that Jake Gyllenhaal currently has in the works, with other standouts being the David Leitch-directed video game adaptation The Division, the Steven Knight-scripted mystery Rio, and the comic adaptation Snow Blind.

If The Guilty does actually come out in 2021, it will be one of two films directed by Antoine Fuqua released in the calendar year. This is because his next film, the thriller Infinite starring Mark Wahlberg, was originally supposed to come out this past August, but it has now been delayed to May 28, 2021. He is also developing a massive project called Emancipation with Will Smith, and working on a documentary for HBO Sports called The Day Sports Stood Still, which will analyze the shutdown of the professional athletics world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Netflix has a tendency to not announce release dates until they are just a few weeks away, but hopefully this isn't the last piece of exciting news that we hear about The Guilty. As ever, stay tuned for more Jake Gyllenhaal and Antoine Fuqua news here on CinemaBlend, and to see what feature landscape looks like at present, be sure to check out our 2021 Release Calendar.

Will Smith wants to stay in his action lane. Coming off of Bad Boys for Life (still the highest grossing movie of 2020) and last year’s Gemini Man (which sold at least 10 tickets, we think), the A-lister is circling a Civil War-era thriller that has ignited a bidding war between two interested studios. And it’s driving the asking price for Emancipation way, way up.

In the movie, Will Smith would play a real-life historical figure named Peter, a runaway slave who needed to work his way out of the South and to the North where he eventually joined the Union army and continued to fight for the freedom of his people. Deadline notes that Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) is down to direct Emancipation, and has the bidding war occurring between Warner Bros. and Apple.

The news is stemming out of a Virtual Cannes Market, which took place last week due to the fact that normal film festivals can’t really happen around the globe. As other studios dropped away because the cost of the film grew to large, Warner Bros. and Apple reportedly stayed in the mix, and as of Sunday evening, had driven the price of Emancipation in the range of $130 million, which Deadline notes would set a record for a Cannes sale.

Peter’s story is best remembered because of an iconic photograph that was taken once he finally reached the North. The lashes on his back were the first traces of proof that the Northern forces had regarding the mistreatment of slaves in the South.

Emancipation is a fascinating title for a number of reasons. If Apple is plunging into acquisitions of this size, it’s compelling to see them going head to head with one of the majors. Apple also has the Tom Hanks submarine thriller, Greyhound, coming to its streaming service on July 10 following the disheveled theatrical release calendar forced that film out of multiplexes. Adding talents like Smith and Hanks to its roster is incredibly impressive for a newcomer to the realm of film production (while still being, undoubtedly, a gigantic media corporation).

Emancipation also comes along at a time when the industry actively is trying to attract more stories from directors of color, and while Fuqua and Smith have been making movies on their own for decades, pairing them is almost as exciting as getting Denzel Washington in a new Fuqua joint. In fact, knowing that Washington has been in most of Fuqua’s last few movies, including two Equalizer films and his The Magnificent Seven remake, you have to believe there’s a part for him in this upcoming movie. We shall see.

As for now, negotiations are still underway, but when Emancipation sells, it’s going to establish a new record from the Cannes market, setting high expectations for the end result.