While Jennifer's Body isn't the best horror movie of all time, it's amassed a cult following over the years, with some marking it as one of Megan Fox's best movies. It's popular enough that a sequel is in the works, and the actress decided to show up for a recent screening in a flesh-colored corset that was totally on-brand.

The 38-year-old actress was present for a recent screening at the Academy Museum of Jennifer's Body, and rocking a Halloween-approved fashion-forward look that shows how she's remained an icon over the years. Check out the look below, via a screencap of one of Fox's stories of her arriving for the screening:

I mean, she's definitely ready for the sequel based on that look. That said, I am curious about the details as to how Jennifer Check is going to come back from the dead, as she was killed by her best friend Needy at the film's end. That said, if there's any genre that is great at bringing back characters from the dead with little to no explanation required, it's horror.

Right now, there aren't a lot of details about the sequel to Jennifer's Body. Director Karyn Kusama talked about the movie and how writer Diablo Cody is working on the sequel. She shared what she knew about it, which isn't much:

While CinemaBlend's review of Jennifer's Body wasn't glowing, it got an above-average score and was deemed a solid enough movie. Unfortunately, middling reviews at the time weren't enough to move the needle at the box office, which is why the movie was considered a flop when it came out. That only helped the movie become a fan-favorite in the years since.

Megan Fox will return to the horror genre even before the sequel to Jennifer's Body goes into production, as she was recently revealed to have joined the cast of Five Night's At Freddy's 2. Fox will voice Toy Chica. I can't say the character looks nearly as scary as Jennifer Check, but I weirdly feel like both characters give off the same vibe, which may factor into why Fox landed both roles.

Outside of the film world, Megan Fox continues to make headlines due to fans' interest in what's going on in her relationship with singer Machine Gun Kelly. The duo are allegedly hanging out a lot as of late, with rumors stating they're living like a couple without putting an explicit label on it. Does this mean we could get MGK involved in the sequel? I'm hoping so, even if I don't necessarily want to see him in a similarly decorated corset.

The sequel to Jennifer's Body is in development, and the original can be streamed right now over on Tubi. It's been a long time since I've watched it in full, so I'm considering a rewatch of that or one of Megan Fox's other best movies.

Jennifer’s Body is one of those movies that started as a box office flop before becoming a classic of the 2000s that many fans revisit year after year – especially during the Halloween season. In recent years, there’s been some chatter about writer Diablo Cody wanting to make a sequel, which, of course, we’d hope Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried would star in again. Thankfully, the first movie’s director just offered an exciting update on the progress of it.

Karyn Kusama recently reflected on Jennifer’s Body to Deadline ahead of screening the movie with Megan Fox at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Check out what she had to say about what’s going on with the sequel:

Now, there’s currently no word about whether Kusama would take the helm again, or if Cody is working directly with 20th Century Studios yet. However, we’d imagine once she’s finished writing the script, we’ll hear more about movement of the project, casting and such. It certainly sounds like Kusama is in the loop about what Diablo Cody has up her sleeves for the next storyline, and her comments about it being “fun and crazy like the first film” is definitely inspiring some hope over what could be to come. Hopefully Kusama will return to direct!

When Jennifer’s Body hit theaters back in September 2009, it’s now well-documented that 20th Century Fox mismarketed the movie to appeal to young straight men rather than the female demographic the movie itself gears more towards. Fortunately, over the years, Jennifer’s Body found the right audiences and has become a beloved and important film to so many people – especially queer women.

Talk about a Jennifer’s Body sequel felt like it started up again recently when Diablo Cody reflected on the movie a lot (including to CinemaBlend) while promoting her latest project, Lisa Frankenstein in early 2024. During that time, Cody said she wanted to do a sequel, but just needed to “partner with people who believe in it” as much as she does. Over the summer, Amanda Seyfried said she’d been approached by producer Mason Novick about doing the sequel. The actress shared she’d be interested in doing it only if Fox was on board, and tried to convince Adam Brody to join.

Kusama’s recent comments are definitely a step in the right direction for another Jennifer’s Body movie to join upcoming horror movies, and we’re so curious how Cody plans to continue the story.

When it was announced back in 2018 that 9 to 5 was getting a sequel, I honestly had mixed opinions. On one hand, creative backing with names like Jennifer Aniston was exciting, and I was interested to see how sexism in the workplace could be portrayed in a modern-day setting. On the other hand, the original film is one of the best movies of the 80s, featuring once-in-a-generation talents Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda. Part of me wished Hollywood would let it be. But, now, a reboot is in the works, and screenwriter Diablo Cody's comments about the storytelling updates she hopes to include in the flick are starting to win me over.

The scribe -- who's known for her work on Jennifer's Body, Juno and more -- recently spoke with Entertainment Weekly. It was during that conversation that Diablo Cody revealed she has finally completed her script for the upcoming 9 to 5 reboot. While the film is still in early stages of development, the Oscar winner did disclose the concept for it, and it has to do with intergenerational differences:

This dynamic is definitely relevant right now, especially as political correctness criteria has changed as well as the way we speak to each other. The Internet age has drawn hard lines between generations more than ever, yet workplaces require these generations to interact and reach common ground on a daily basis. This concept could totally work for a movie and could even be as revolutionary as 9 to 5 was in its own time. Maybe even a clever title change to something like 9 to 8 could be maybe a deeper reflection on the work life balance that's seemingly disappearing in the modern American workplace.

Even though the topics Diablo Cody seeks to explore are rather poignant, the writer still plans for the upcoming film to be a comedy. This is also a good idea, considering the comedic sensibilities of the original cast is what makes 9 to 5 worth checking out all these years later. Cody continued to explain her concept, saying:

I’m really starting to see the vision and slowly getting on board with this project. Part of me still wishes that Diablo Cody’s workplace comedy can exist separately from the 9 to 5 legacy, but I understand that in today’s Hollywood, IP and name recognition are sometimes essential to getting a project off the ground. Plus, maybe the “boomer generation” representation in this new film could be a fun way to bring back 9 to 5 stars like Parton, Fonda, and Tomlin. OG cast cameos in reboots are always fun fan service, and seeing these ladies back on screen together in some capacity would be a real treat. Recent reports say they have passed on the project, but I’m still hoping they can be convinced.

The 9 to 5 reboot is still in the early stages of the production process, so it may be a while before we see Diablo Cody's project on the big screen. After hearing Cody's comments, I'm intrigued to hear more. In the meantime, you can check out the beloved original 9 to 5, which is currently available to stream with a Philo package. Also, for more information on other exciting titles heading to cinemas and streaming in the near future, make sure to consult our 2024 movie release schedule.

The horror genre has been experiencing a renaissance for years now, and is showing no signs of slowing down. While some of the best horror movies returned to theaters with sequels, we've also been treated to some wholly unique projects. One of the horror movies of the year is Lisa Frankenstein, which put a campy '80s spin on Mary Shelley's classic tale. The movie is now streaming with a Peacock subscription, and as a huge Jennifer's Body fan, I wish I hadn't taken so long to finally watch it.

Both Jennifer's Body and Lisa Frankenstein where written by the great Diablo Cody, and they definitely share some connective tissue as a result. In fact, Cody claimed they were set in the same universe... even if there was no references to this in the new movie. And after seeing the delightful mix of horror and comedy in Lisa Frankenstein, I'm definitely ready for the Diablo Cody cinematic universe.

Lisa Frankenstein's reviews also praised Cody's horror comeback, so I'm not the only one who is loving this return to form. The writer has a unique way of blending teen movie tropes with bloody gore, all while there are plenty of laughs along the way. And in a time where filmmakers are focused on gritty adaptations, this type of whimsy within the horror genre is a breathe of fresh air. And seeing the mix of comedy and horror in a theater with other fans would no doubt have made it an even better viewing experience. 

There were plenty of hilarious moments in Lisa Frankenstein, including the kills that happened at the hands of Cole Sprouse's Creature. It was such a blast that I was mad I didn't get to see it in theaters. Then again, plenty of moviegoers streamed Lisa Frankenstein on Peacock, and are sounding off about their love for the movie online. So clearly I'm not alone in this.

Aside from the bloody kills and sweet love story at the heart of Lisa Frankenstein, it also continues Jennifer's Body legacy by seeing Kathryn Newton's title character get revenge on those who have wronged her. Known colloquially online as the "good for her" genre, moviegoers like myself love to see girls in scream queens step into their power and take out their enemies. Jennifer and Lisa both grapple with the terrors of sexual assault, before making their attackers pay big time. 

Prior to Lisa Frankenstein, Diablo Cody had been staying busy recently with projects like 2018's Tully and the Broadway musical Jagged Little Pill, which is based off of Alanis Morissette's album of the same name. But it should be interesting to see if Lisa Frankenstein's reception inspires to her create more horror-comedy projects. As previously mentioned, I'd like to see a full cinematic universe formed. 

Lisa Frankenstein is streaming now on Peacock. Be sure to check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next trip to the movies. 

Over the last decade plus, Jennifer’s Body has built a major cult following. However, in 2009, it was considered a major flop. It only made a humble 16 million on a 32 million budget, critics had mixed reactions to it, and it became a joke before it was even given a chance. By Hollywood standards, it bombed in every way. This makes its resurgence and new appreciation a sweet treat for the cast and crew. Megan Fox, Diablo Cody, and Karyn Kusama are finally receiving the praise they deserve.

Not every great film finds its audience during its initial release. Sometimes it's criminally misunderstood by critics and the target audience. Jennifer’s Body isn’t the first cult classic to become popular after its initial release, but the film offers an interesting look at what happens when the studio wants the film to appeal to the wrong audience and doesn’t understand the film’s purpose. Its new cult status is vindication for Cody, Fox, and Kusama.

They tried to create a smart feminist movie for girls, but the studio wouldn’t listen. 

Warning: Jennifer’s Body spoilers ahead. Proceed with caution.

The Studio Marketed Jennifer's Body To The Wrong Audience 

Having a big studio behind a film can often propel it to success. The company invests so much time and money into marketing campaigns, so you would assume that they would use those dollars wisely. However, major studios aren’t always a blessing, and this was a curse for Jennifer’s Body. In a Buzzfeed interview, screenwriter Diablo Cody and director Karyn Kusama shared the studio’s horrific marketing campaign. It leaned heavily into Fox’s sex appeal to attract young straight men. This meant sexually suggestive posters and questionable promotional ideas, including the idea to have Fox host an amateur porn site. 

The studio seemingly ignored the script and Cody’s intention of attracting teen girls, ones like main characters Jennifer (Megan Fox) and Needy (Amanda Seyfried). Therefore, sexualizing Fox — the opposite of the film's message — made zero sense. Sadly, there seemed to be a lack of interest in pushing the film to the right audience.

In a Variety interview, Cody shared that the promotional team used a focus group full of young men for suggestions on improving the movie. This was just one of their many misguided marketing tactics. 

In the Buzzfeed interview, Cody expressed frustration at targeting boys because clearly, this set up Jennifer’s Body for failure. Boys were being ripped to pieces and murdered in the film, after all. Cody said:

The marketing team thought the best way to market Jennifer’s Body was to target young men who may have been fantasizing about Fox since her Transformers appearance. These strategies missed the mark and failed to give the horror movie the right publicity for it to succeed.  

The Popularity Of Streaming Services And Social Media Helped It Find Its Audience 

There are many problems with the streaming service model, especially when it comes to its negative effects on actors and writers. However, these platforms have made it easier for films and TV shows to find an audience who can appreciate it, even decades after its release. More people have discovered Jennifer’s Body because they can stream it on their favorite platform. 

Gifs of popular scenes, TikTok discussions, viral sound clips, and more build interest that turns into streams and purchases. Such social engagement can resurrect forgotten films. This has partly helped the Jennifer’s Body rebirth.

The Me Too Movement Allowed People To See Jennifer's Body's Purpose 

The title basically states it all: Her body is the centerpiece, but not in the way the marketing may have suggested. Jennifer’s Body is about Jennifer losing autonomy over her body. A demon is forced inside her without her control or consent. The film isn’t even a little subtle in what it’s trying to say. Plus, Jennifer’s death scene echoes the nature and tone of a sexual assault. Her scared look as she enters a van with creepy dudes says a lot without yelling at you to understand. 

Jennifer’s death results in her preying on men. It’s a great revenge movie, but not in the traditional sense. It’s revenge on the idea of men who abuse or devalue women. Though most of Jennifer’s victims have done nothing wrong that we know of, it’s about just feeding on men the way some devour women in the worst ways. Needy, however, by the end, does get some revenge in honor of Jennifer. With the Me Too Movement, a lot of people began to discuss and engage with media that added to the conversations surrounding it. More people started to watch and respect Jennifer's Body for its feminist lens and purposeful plot. 

The main character’s traumatic murder by a group of men makes a statement on violence against women. The men in this band are ruthless with a lack of remorse. They only value whether Jennifer has or hasn’t engaged in sexual activity. She’s just something to help them gain success. In the same Buzzfeed interview, Fox released a statement to add to the conversation on the film. She believed it came out at a time when the world wasn’t ready for it:

Now with the world a bit more feminist and more open to these discussions, the film has been able to find its audience.

The Queer Lens Of The Story  

2009 was more progressive than the decades before it, but it was nowhere near the level of openness and tolerance of today. Times are still not perfect, and prejudice and close-minded individuals and ideology still exist, but things have progressed a lot since Jennifer’s Body, especially with the support for queerness. More great LGBTQ+ movies and TV shows are being produced than in past decades. People are also more willing to embrace gay and queer content of the past.

Jennifer’s Body has some queer aspects that are key to the story. Needy and Jennifer are attracted to each other. Their exact sexuality isn’t really defined, but it’s definitely not hetero. Jennifer even delivers her famous line about going both ways. Needy seems to, as well, because she appears to be into both Jennifer and Chip (Johnny Simmons). Cody and Kusama expressed frustration on how people misinterpreted the kiss. Some saw it as exploitative. However, Cody envisioned it as communicating the women’s feelings for each other:

With the evolution of how people engage with queer context, people can more easily understand that this is the story of a complicated friendship. Some of that complication comes from the unspoken attraction to each other and romantic feelings.  

The Post-Film Success Of Amanda Seyfried, Megan Fox, And Other Cast Members 

The fame of the Jennifer’s Body cast may have also helped more people watch the movie. Fox was on the rise at the time. However, she has become even more famous since the movie’s release. Seyfried has become a household name and even received critical acclaim and awards. The cast also includes Chris Pratt and, J.K. Simmons, who are also now two extremely popular and successful actors.

Fans tend to explore movies and TV shows featuring their favorite actors, and as people become more popular, new fans tend to watch their past projects. New fans of these stars may have just discovered the movie.

Discovering films and TV shows of the past and making them popular again is a constant media cycle. New cult classics are born each day. However, Jennifer’s Body is a cautionary tale on how bad marketing can wrong a good movie. 

Stream Jennifer’s Body on Max.

As this weekend brings Lisa Frankenstein, one of the first upcoming horror movies of 2024, one might wonder just how far down a bloody path the new release will take fans of the genre. As one of the early viewers of Lisa Frankenstein, I can attest Diablo Cody’s return to horror is not at all afraid to go there. When CinemaBlend spoke to the filmmakers about this unique spin on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, they discussed the movie’s MPAA rating. 

As I told writer Diablo Cody and director Zelda Williams during our interview, I actually had to look up the rating of Lisa Frankenstein after its release because it walked a really nice line between PG-13 and R-rated horror film to me. Here’s what Cody shared about how they decided upon PG-13: 

As Cody shared, she and Zelda Williams (and we imagine the movie’s studio) had numerous conversations regarding what rating they would go for Lisa Frankenstein. Ultimately they decided the movie, which is about a teen girl named Lisa played by Kathryn Newton, would be best served if audiences under 17 could go out and see it. Zelda Williams also said this: 

Once you see the horror movie in theaters this weekend, you’ll know what the filmmakers and I mean. Lisa Frankenstein is packed with gory kills. along with having a comedic edge that elevates them too. It’s a rather mature PG-13 movie, but definitely walks that delicate line nicely enough to be a great edgy film for teens to enjoy. 

Lisa Frankenstein is Diablo Cody’s first horror movie since 2009’s Jennifer’s Body, which received an R-rating itself and ended up flopping at the box office. That movie famously didn’t do well after the studio’s marketing team failed to advertise it to its intended audience. Perhaps Cody’s experience with Jennifer’s Body also played a part in making Lisa Frankenstein more accessible, as well? 

During our talk with the filmmakers, Cody also told us that the 2009 movie “shattered” her confidence at the time. But after Jennifer's Body started to gain a cult following in recent years, she got excited about writing for the genre again. Cody has also shared that she believes the two horror movies of hers are in the same universe as each other. 

Next, you can check out CinemaBlend’s Lisa Frankenstein review and stay tuned with what other 2024 movies are coming up next as the year continues to unfold. 

Anybody who grew up in the ‘80s or ‘90s is likely aware of the brightly colored stickers and school supplies designed by Lisa Frank. So it’s pretty easy to assume that there’s some nostalgia-fueled intrigue for the upcoming horror comedy Lisa Frankenstein. This movie with the clever portmanteau title puts an ‘80s twist on a classic monster flick and is set to hit theaters on February 9, but critics have already had a chance to screen the movie, and some definitely liked the effort better than others. 

Diablo Cody, writer of Juno and Jennifer’s Body, returns to horror with Lisa Frankenstein, and Robin Williams’ daughter Zelda Williams makes her feature film directorial debut with the story of teenager Lisa (Kathryn Newton) reanimating a Victorian Era corpse (Cole Sprouse) in hopes of creating the perfect boyfriend. In CinemaBlend’s review of Lisa Frankenstein, Sarah El-Mahmoud calls the film “plenty playful” and “deliciously gory.” She rates the upcoming horror movie 3.5 stars out of 5, writing: 

Taylor Gates of Collider rates it 7 out of 10, calling Lisa Frankenstein “a bloody good time,” thanks to the actors’ performances, a rich script and Zelda Williams’ direction. It doesn’t do much to further the horror comedy genre, but it’s “delightful” nonetheless. Gates continues: 

Sophia Ciminello of AwardsWatch likes that the movie is endearing and unafraid of its strangeness, but it doesn’t quite find the balance between horror, comedy and revenge fantasy. The critic grades it a B-, saying: 

Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times shares this view, scoring Lisa Frankenstein at 2 out of 4 stars. Hopping from horror spoof to survivor story to high school comedy camp, the movie can’t seem to decide which genre to land on. Roeper says: 

David Rooney of THR says the movie fails in its attempt to be a celebration of a defiant teenage weirdo and instead is a “painful” reminder of all the bad ‘80s horror comedies that never lived up to titles like Ghostbusters and Beetlejuice. Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse are more appealing than their characters deserve to be, Rooney says, writing: 

While many of the critics praised the lead actors, they didn’t find common ground on the movie’s success overall. However, after reading these assessments, if Lisa Frankenstein sounds like a teen horror comedy that’s right up your alley despite any faults, you can catch it on the big screen starting Friday, February 9 — just in time to snuggle up to a loved one for a gothic pre-Valentine’s Day date. Be sure to also check out our 2024 movie calendar to see what else is coming to theaters soon. 

“Hell is a teenage girl.” Those now famous words were written by Diablo Cody and were the first words to be spoken in the 2009 movie Jennifer’s Body, starring Megan Fox. Fifteen years later, Cody has returned to the horror genre for the first time since then with Lisa Frankenstein, and those words still ring true for a new blood-soaked protagonist. But this time, Hell is a teenage boy, too… especially when it comes to one from Victorian times literally rising from the grave to help one teenage girl exact revenge on those who’ve wronged her. 

That is the premise of Lisa Frankenstein, which stars Marvel’s Kathryn Newton as Lisa: a high-schooler who is grappling with a tragic death of a family member by spending her days at a creepy grave site reading stories to the dead. She’s especially fond of hanging out beside the site of one deceased man (Cole Sprouse) who was apparently around her age when he died many generations prior. But of course, she never imagines he would rise from the dead and make his way to her doorstep. Romantic, huh? 

Penned by Diablo Cody and helmed by Zelda Williams (the daughter of the late, great Robin Williams) in her feature film debut, Lisa Frankenstein is a fun time for horror fans who also love a classic John Hughes movie. The February release isn’t afraid to contort itself into creepy corners whilst simultaneously living in a dreamy, cotton-candy ‘80s world where grief and lust are explored with twisted passion. It’s a Frankenstein flick where the wheel isn't being invented, but it’s a great time nonetheless. 

Lisa Frankenstein is a great followup for Diablo Cody after modern cult favorite Jennifer’s Body.

Diablo Cody is the writer behind Juno, Young Adult and Tully, but Jennifer’s Body is one of those special horror films that was ahead of its time when it hit theaters. While it’s too early to tell if lightning struck twice on the cult-following front (even if there’s quite literaly lightning strikes in Lisa Frankenstein), especially in terms of her latest instantly earning comparisons to Jennifer’s Body, but in the spirit of the filmmaker's previous effort in the horror genre, Lisa Frankenstein takes some more bold swings. It also aspires to shock and surprise just as much as touching one’s soul with the messages that are boiling underneath. 

Despite its Valentine’s Day season release, it’s certainly more comedy than romance. From the animated black and white opening sequence reminiscent of a Tim Burton movie to its rather dark final moments, this one is for the emo kids. There’s certainly enough black mascara for it to be, too. 

Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse are a great duo in Lisa Frankenstein. 

At the gooey center of Lisa Frankenstein is the solid pairing of Kathryn Newton and Cole Sprouse as two oddballs from different times just hoping to feel something in a cruel world. Kathryn Newton particularly brings the charm as an angsty teen who doesn’t fit into school but finds a new stride when Sprouse’s Creature comes into her life. She starts to sprout at school and at home once his dark influence enters the fold, and it's a blast to witness. Sprouse balances a comical performance with one of softness and intrigue as his lanky character grunts rather than speaks and undergoes a slow makeover at the hand of Lisa. 

While the narrative structure could have led to far too many familiar fish-out-of-water moments between the Creature, Lisa and its very ‘80s setting, the filmmakers balance it all with blood and guts of it all as the pair become partners in crime. Lisa Frankenstein isn’t afraid to take some wild hard left into sexual innuendos and a lot of severed body parts, whilst also keeping the hand it has left steady on providing a light but rather twisted sense of humor. Its PG-13 rating certainly drives to the edge of R, making it friendly viewing to a teen audience, but not so uptight to its place as a coming-of-age story. 

Another particular highlight in terms of casting is Carla Gugino as Lisa’s stepmother, Janet. The actress, who has been comfortably in the niche of horror as of late, most notably with a slew of Mike Flanagan projects, adds a great color to Lisa Frankenstein as a central character.

Zelda Williams’ directorial debut is a dreamy gothic horror romance, with a fun rough edge. 

ISure, it’s great to see a new Diablo Cody come to life and to see Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein inspire yet another original storyline, but perhaps the centerpiece of the whole thing that helps bring together Lisa Frankenstein in such an inspired way is through the directorial debut of Zelda Williams. There’s a lush dreaminess about the production design, costumes and overall rhythm of the movie that is a joy to see play out on the big screen. It’s plenty playful and lighthearted, but Williams’ direction also brings an underlying melancholy, cerebral (sometimes cartoonish) quality to the narrative all as well. Perhaps it could have gone a step or two further, but it knows it wants to be accessible, and that's OK too. 

In the renaissance of horror, Lisa Frankenstein may be more of a mixtape of awesome genre-blending than anything else, but Diablo Cody’s feminine gaze continues to impress inside the constructs of this sweet, yet deliciously gory romantic comedy. 

Almost 15 years ago, Diablo Cody’s follow-up to her debut feature script Juno, Jennifer’s Body hit theaters to a disappointing run. The movie starring Megan Fox was a box office failure and flop with critics when it initially came out, but in recent years audiences have warmed up to the movie big time. Nowadays the horror flick is thought of as a modern cult classic and that success has led to Cody’s first movie from the genre since, Lisa Frankenstein. 

When CinemaBlend spoke to Diablo Cody and Lisa Frankenstein director Zelda Williams about Lisa Frankenstein, Cody talked about how the 2009 movie connected to her return to horror. In her words: 

During our interview, Cody shared that Jennifer’s Body definitely inspired Lisa Frankenstein, but it couldn’t have happened without the resurgence of the movie. When the film initially wasn’t received well in 2009, the writer recalls her confidence being shot, and she decided to pack up her horror ideas because she felt she didn’t “have any business” writing for it anymore. Thankfully, she came back around for Lisa Frankenstein! 

Over the years, Diablo Cody and the cast of Jennifer’s Body have opened up about how the movie’s marketing did not speak to the audience it was made for. Megan Fox previously recalled being “vilified” as she was doing press for it, and her co-star Kyle Gallner remembers Fox being objectified as the movie hit theaters. I can speak for myself, as someone who loved the movie when I revisited it in recent years, but initially, it didn't appeal to me due to the trailers and other ways it was being marketed.  

While talking about the 2009 film elsewhere to the press, Cody has also shared her hopes to make a Jennifer’s Body sequel. Since the movie has gained traction, Cody has shared that she’s honestly felt “a little bit salty” at times regarding the audience not being there up front because back when the movie was released she felt “humiliated” by the “rough experience.” And these days she’s “just happy” to see Jennifer’s Body getting all the love it has received.  

Lisa Frankenstein stars Marvel’s Kathryn Newton as a teenage girl dealing with the loss of her mother when a living corpse appears on her doorstep. The horror romance is on the 2024 movie schedule to hit theaters this Friday, February 9. Go give it some love by seeing it on the big screen!! 

Unappreciated at the time of its release, despite being one of the best horror movies of the 2000s, Jennifer’s Body has become a cult classic in the world of horror movies. The screenwriter of the Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried-led horror-comedy Diablo Cody has returned to the genre with a new film called Lisa Frankenstein. Surprisingly enough, she says that Fox's film takes place in the same universe as her latest work, and my mind is blown.

The 2009 horror comedy that Diablo Cody wrote follows a high school student who becomes demonically possessed following a sacrifice and subsequently kills her classmates and eats their flesh in order to survive. While promoting Lisa Frankenstein, the acclaimed screenwriter told Deadline that while there might not be any “overt” references to the cult classic in her latest movie, they take place in the same shared universe. As she tells it:

The upcoming horror movie Lisa Frankenstein puts a fresh, goth twist on Mary Shelley's 1818 iconic novel. It stars Kathryn Newton as a teen who zaps a Victorian corpse (Cole Sprouse) back to life, with the aim to DIY her dream guy. It's so interesting to think that it could take place in the same world where Jennifer Check created all of that carnage. This is a weird (and dangerous) fictional universe, to say the least, but one that could be quite fascinating.

While chatting up her latest flick, Diablo Cody has actually been getting asked questions regarding a Jennifer’s Body sequel or reboot, and she has seemed hyped over the prospect. She's banking on the hype to kickstart that dream into gear, she continued:

As great as it would be to see another installment that would theoretically expand this supposed shared universe, the comments are a bit surprising. I can't help but wonder why the Juno writer would return to the genre, considering she, Megan Fox, and her castmates received a lot of flak when Jennifer’s Body was released. The scribe expounded on her decision to return to the genre: 

My questions aside, I certainly can't deny that it would be pretty exciting to see a crossover of the two cinematic horror worlds if a follow-up to the Megan Fox's cult classic flick materializes. However, seeing as how the 2009 production is technically a Disney movie following their purchase of 20th Century Fox and Lisa Frankenstein is owned by NBC Universal, it might not be a team-up that's in the cards. But, then again, stranger things have happened. If anything though, I just remain enthused by the knowledge that Diablo Cody sees these flicks as occurring in a single world.

Lisa Frankenstein hits theaters on February 9 as part of the 2024 movie release schedule. Also, you can revisit Jennifer’s Body, which is streaming. All you need is a Max subscription. 

In 2009, the horror movie Jennifer's Body was released, but it was sadly a critical and financial failure. Not only did its star, Megan Fox, and her castmates receive a lot of flak for the flick, but so did its writer, Diablo Cody. However, over time, the movie has gained a cult following. And though there are many reasons to revisit Fox's film, one of the primary reasons is its feminist and female empowerment themes. Recently, Cody shared some thoughts on whether there could be a sequel and recalled the movie's "failure" at the box office.

The acclaimed Juno screenwriter returns to the spooky genre with her upcoming horror movie Lisa Frankenstein, which is directed by first-time feature helmer Zelda Williams. Diablo Cody appeared on the Bloody Disgusting's Boo Crew Podcast to talk about her new project, but the conversation got really interesting when she expressed interest in returning to the world of female rage and revenge. She explained:

This is such exciting news to hear, and it really does make sense. Given the film's current popularity, there would surely be more people eager to line up to see a follow-up. Of course, the financial logistics must definitely be taken into consideration. I would imagine that a studio would probably be eager to greenlight a sequel now, especially if Megan Fox herself were willing to sign on for it.

The Young Adult screenwriter had more to say about the flick as well. She was candid about her initial feelings towards the cult status of the movie. Although many regard the film as one of the best horror movies of the 2000s now, the scribe revealed that she was initially a little resentful. She went on to say:

Unfortunately, the filmmakers and stars of the movie faced severe criticism upon the initial release. One of the main reasons for the backlash could be the confusion in marketing. The movie's promotion primarily focused on Megan Fox's sex appeal, using posters featuring her dressed in revealing outfits such as a schoolgirl uniform or cheerleading attire. This approach overshadowed the film's underlying dark humor and social commentary. Diablo Cody also added:

If I were in her shoes, I'd certainly be pleased as well due to the love the movie now receives. A follow-up honestly feels like a bit of a pipe dream at this point, though, despite the positive vibes that surround the OG film at this point. Still, legacy sequels continue to be big, so I'd say the odds of it happening aren't all that slim.

More immediately though, the One Mississippi writer is focused on promoting Lisa Frankenstein another horror comedy. The film stars Ant-Man 3’s Kathryn Newton as a teenager who brings a corpse back to life—the two journey to find love, happiness, and murderous mayhem. I honestly can’t wait to see this movie! I only hope this one gets the proper respect it deserves when it's released and doesn't have to wait 15 years to be appreciated like Jennifer’s Body. 

If a sequel to Megan Fox's film ever materializes, CinemaBlend will be the first to update you. Until then, maybe it's time to rewatch the movie if you haven't seen it in a while. It's available to stream now with a Max subscription. And Diablo Cody and Zelda Williams' Lisa Frankenstein, is set to hit theaters on February 9 as part of the 2024 movie release schedule.

Academy Award winning screenwriter Diablo Cody isn’t one to comment on her own projects very often. She’s mostly put her work out there and let people interpret it however they might, but when it comes to her most famous movie, Juno, she’s ready to push back against one false narrative. Since the film’s release in 2007, which follows a teenage girl who gets pregnant and wrestles with what to do, many have either criticized or celebrated the movie for being anti-choice. She would like to make it clear, like others in Hollywood have after the Supreme Court’s recent overturning of Roe V Wade, that she is pro choice and did not write the movie intending for it to come across as anything else.

The writer sat with The Hollywood Reporter for a lengthy interview about the film and how it’s been interpreted over the years. During the chat, Diablo Cody said she “wasn’t super cognizant” of the conversation around the film when it first came out because she was adjusting to the realities of suddenly becoming a celebrity, but she’s now much more aware of what people took out of the movie. She also understands why people may take things out of it she didn’t intend. Here’s a portion of her quote…

Interestingly, Cody says most of the criticism she’s heard from younger people/ Gen Z hasn’t had anything to do with the abortion storyline in Juno at all. Instead, it has been largely concentrated around the “ethics of private adoption.” In the film, Juno comes from a family that is largely supportive and at least means well, but not everyone who gets pregnant at a vulnerable age has such a network.

There have apparently been a lot of TikToks discussing that portrayal, which some arguing many who give their children up for private adoptions are “coerced.” You can read some of Cody’s thoughts on that below…

In addition to Juno, Diablo Cody has written a variety of other projects including the acclaimed films Young Adult and the extremely interesting Tully. She also created the Showtime comedy The United States Of Tara and wrote the forever fun Jennifer's Body. She’s currently involved in four upcoming projects including a Madonna biopic and a movie about a high school girl who accidentally reanimates a corpse using a broken tanning bed. It's called Lisa Frankenstein. It has its own website, and I want to see it.

When Jennifer’s Body hit theaters in September 2009, the horror comedy passed quietly and deadly into the night. It was the least successful new release of the weekend that included animated comedy Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Steven Soderbergh’s The Informant! and rom-com Love Happens and whimpered against poor reviews and audience reception. It was dead on arrival. Yet over a decade later, the Megan Fox flick is a beloved cult classic. If you’ve yet to dive back into this campy bloodbath, it’s time to add it to this year’s Halloween season watchlist because its revival is totally earned. 

Jennifer’s Body stars Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried as best friends Jennifer and Needy with different social statuses at their high school, but still inseparable. Fox’s Jennifer is a flirty high school cheerleader who calls herself “not even a backdoor-virgin anymore.” A more bumbling Needy tags along to see an indie band Jennifer’s been following. However the pair get separated when an inebriated Jennifer gets into the band’s van and Needy is left concerned for her. What follows is a hilariously clever horror movie that you should definitely revisit. 

You’ll Get Why It’s Been Hailed A Cult Classic

Even though it originally flopped, if you look closer at Jennifer’s Body itself, it had all the makings of being a favorite. The movie was written by Juno’s Diablo Cody and directed by Karyn Kusama, who has since gone on to make another underrated horror film, 2015’s The Invitation. It’s one of the few studio horror films out there to not only have two women behind it, but two talents with distinct voices who delivered something completely original at the time, yet was overlooked. And to put the movie in context, 2009 was an interesting year for horror, with a couple more gems like Zombieland and Orphan, but the narrative around the genre was more so linked to a number of tired franchise failures for Saw, Final Destination and Friday the 13th as well. 

So at the time, the general feelings about a movie like Jennifer’s Body, just from a genre point of view, even before giving it a chance was exhaustion for movie fans. We’d seen too many flimsy slashers and that’s what it looked like it was. But nowadays, horror is coveted again. There’s a lot of different, more elevated horror movies, including fun campy horror comedies like Happy Death Day, Ready or Not or The Babysitter that make a movie like Jennifer’s Body cool again because they pulled off what it did years prior. And over ten years later, Jennifer’s Body is very much up to par with these offbeat slashers that have since been released and become popular in the past five years.

It’s Megan Fox’s Favorite Role Yet (And Her Best) 

Megan Fox has been seeing a bit of an exciting resurgence as of late, between being couple goals with Machine Gun Kelly or signing up for a number of projects including the next Expendables movie and a Netflix vampire comedy. Amidst all that, it’s all about Jennifer’s Body more so nowadays than before whenever her name is dropped. Earlier this year, the actress shared how “surprised” she is with how much the movie’s popularity has grown as of late to WhoWhatWear. She said it’s still her “favorite project” she’s ever worked on. 

Fox’s love for Jennifer’s Body makes so much sense, because to this day it’s her best role. The movie’s narrative around the treatment of young women goes hand-in-hand with the treatment of the actress since starring in Transformers at the age of 21. She’s always been craved and envied for her appearance, but Jennifer’s Body allowed the actress to tell a story through female eyes and with a purpose of calling out our own society’s tendency toward sexualization. Fox perfectly balances some comedic beats, with her effortlessly cool confidence with a character that runs much deeper than her bold fashion choices. 

The Entire Jennifer’s Body Cast Is A Dream

Also, we have to take a minute and look at the supporting cast alongside Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. The OC’s Adam Brody takes on the villainous role of the lead singer of the indie band Low Shoulder, Amy Sedaris steals her few scenes as Needy’s mother, J.K. Simmons plays one of their high school teachers. A yet-to-be-famous Chris Pratt can be found in the dive bar sequence early in the film. It’s a blast to see these actors take on these roles and they were expertly cast. 

Jennifer’s Body Was Scary Ahead Of Its Time

Not only was Jennifer’s Body not treasured back in 2009 due to where the genre was, it was also discussing themes that were completely out of left field back then and misunderstood in the context of the larger culture. In the movie, Jennifer is abducted by a group of men for a satanic ritual to forward their own goals and as a result becomes a succubus who must hunt down boys at school to keep her body alive. It was very much tackling misogyny and rape culture at a time when Hollywood had yet to really be challenged for the male gaze. It would be years before big-budget genre films like The Hunger Games, Star Wars: The Force Awakens or Wonder Woman would change the tide and redefine the female protagonist as more than a sexualized action star like Charlie’s Angels, Lara Croft or Resident Evil of the early ‘00s. 

Also, it’s rooted in a relationship that has spoken to LGBTQ+ culture these days, between two women, a subject that had very little nuance or really any mainstream conversations going on. Jennifer and Needy are not a couple in the film or in love by any means, but the movie plays with sexuality between women in a headstrong way that may be applauded today but was very misunderstood during its release. In 2009, Megan Fox saying “I go both ways” as she comes at Amanda Seyfried was part of the trailer and played to laughs, discomfort or at the whims of male sexual fantasies rather than what it was actually playing at, which is a rare and unique moment of queer representation away from the cliché. 

The Movie’s Marketing May Have Altered Your Perception

Aside from 2009 not being the best year for Jennifer’s Body to be embraced, the marketing didn’t help. Coming off of the success of Transformers, 20th Century Fox reportedly decided to market the film to men who were crushing on the actress, even though the core audience for the movie was young women. Megan Fox was being objectified at the time for being a sex symbol in Hollywood and the studio used that to reel in that fanbase, with one tagline reading “she’s got a taste for bad boys.” As Karyn Kusama reflected to Buzzfeed: 

Diablo Cody said she wrote it for “girls” and more importantly the “toxic friendships between girls” and how they can “get distorted and corrupted by the patriarchy.” It’s a valid conversation to have in a movie, but when played to young men specifically at the time through its marketing, no wonder the perception of it was ruined for so long. All that being said, Jennifer's Body is a super fun horror movie and without its prior baggage upon its release, it's an especially great pick to revisit this Halloween season. 

For more fresh spooky movie picks, stay updated on what upcoming horror movies are next here on CinemaBlend. 

Note: We're about to get into major spoilers for Jason Reitman's new film Tully. If you haven't seen the flick, yet, please check out one of our other lovely articles.

Tully isn't the movie that I expected before plunking my butt down on a comfy movie seat chair and checking it out. I knew it was a movie where Charlize Theron had gained weight after having three children, and was dealing with depression after popping out her third child. Ultimately, Tully is about a mother who is sacrificing everything to take care of her children and give her husband free time, plus work a full-time job on top of the other things she is responsible for. It is a role that would exhaust anyone, and in the character of Marlo's case, it takes a mental toll. The twist that Diablo Cody wrote into the story, that Marlo is saved when the younger version of herself, Tully, starts popping up to make her life easier, was something the writer foresaw at the very beginning, and she actually pitched the idea to director Jason Reitman in two simple sentences. The director revealed the two sentences in a recent interview, noting,

This point of view that Jason Reitman is describing is pretty unexpected in Tully. At the beginning of the movie we see Marlo and her husband, Drew (played by Ron Livingston), hint at former bouts with postpartum depression just as their third kid is about to arrive. Marlo's wealthy brother, Craig (Mark Duplass), offers a night nanny to help, and for most of the movie, it seems as if Marlo takes him up on the offer. Tully (Mackenzie Davis) shows up, she helps Marlo to clean the house and get the laundry done; she stays up with the baby and even makes cupcakes. One night, she reveals she's quitting while she and Marlo take a brief jaunt into the city. Marlo is devastated and drunk-ish; she gets in a car accident on the way home. As for the twist? Tully never existed. Tully was Marlo's maiden name. The person Marlo was spending time with was a hallucination of her younger self. Marlo was doing the cooking and cleaning and cupcake baking, all while suffering from mentally exhausting depression. (Also shoutout to nineties fashion being trendy again or this twist would probably have been a lot more noticeable early on.)

Jason Reitman went on in his interview with Uproxx to explain that Tully is sort of like his version of The Sixth Sense, and while he was kidding around, the comparison is kind of apt. Unlike M. Night Shyamalan, twist endings are not his and Diablo Cody's forte, and the end of this movie is an outside-the-box ending and effective. It also should have shock value for most viewers, although some hints are peppered throughout the film.

It's a place a lot of other mothers have been in, although I'm not sure how many of them hallucinate a night nanny to help and I'd assume that percentage is low. Still, the story is effective and affecting, from the moment we see an already-exhausted Marlo push out a baby -- her third baby---to moments where her kids tell her her body looks terrible. The people in her life aren't cutting her a break, not her brother, who wants her to be fun like she used to be her, her husband, who literally does nothing to help out, and even the school, who has found her son too challenging. Watching this movie was exhausting; I can't imagine living it.

Diablo Cody has collaborated with Jason Reitman on two other movies, Young Adult and Juno. This time around, it only took two sentences for Reitman to get excited about the story. If you are still reading this and haven't seen the movie yet, why did you spoil yourself?! Go see it, anyway. To take a look at what other movies are coming up, check out our full schedule.

Between glamorous stars and high production values, real life can sometimes get lost in Hollywood -- and depictions of motherhood are a good example. From giving birth to creating a work/life balance, elements are prettified, dramatized, and idealized to such an extent that they border the hyper-realities of comic book movies. It can get laughably ridiculous at times - but then you have titles like director Jason Reitman's Tully that successfully pull things back to Earth.

In contrast to the norm, Tully presents the uglier side of motherhood -- which is to say, the side that doesn't have time to put on makeup in the morning because the newborn crying all night prevents any sleep from being had -- and it's both a refreshing and provoking experience. Featuring a powerhouse performance from star Charlize Theron, and some wonderful and legitimately surprising twists and turns, it's a fantastic bit of summer blockbuster counterprogramming, but also a title that very well may pop its head up again late in the year as we get into awards season.

The first collaboration between Jason Reitman, screenwriter Diablo Cody, and Charlize Theron since 2011's Young Adult, their latest stars the lead actress as Marlo, who begins the story about ready to pop with her third child. She has gone on maternity leave from her job while her husband, Drew (Ron Livingston), is still working and regularly traveling, and things are frequently overwhelming and chaotic as she tries to manage her household. Her wealthy brother, Craig (Mark Duplass), puts out an offer to hire a night nanny so that she can start getting some much-needed sleep, but it's a gift that Marlo initially rejects.

This changes, however, when Marlo actually has her baby, as she begins to struggle taking care of her newborn and her other young kids (including a son with an undiagnosed developmental disorder). Despite her deep fear of kick-starting the typical plot of a Lifetime Movie, Marlo breaks down and decides to go the night nanny route -- and it's a path that introduces Tully (Mackenzie Davis) into her life. Tully is a wide-eyed, philosophy-spouting, energetic young woman who immediately makes herself at home and works to lift the weight of motherhood off of our protagonist's shoulders. As she comes by each night, she not only takes care of the baby but takes care of Marlo, leading her to reflect on the past and who she used to be in contrast with who she has become.

Clearly the film has a very strong supporting cast, but there is no question who the star of the show is here, as Charlize Theron delivers what is unequivocally one of the greatest performances of her career -- and one that is as transformative as her work in Monster or Mad Max: Fury Road. There is an impeccably dull world-weariness to Marlo that she not-so-elegantly communicates, as you impressively get the impression that Theron stayed awake for six straight months in preparation for the part. At the same time, it's a remarkable thing to see her play that weariness in combination with the spark that Tully inspires in her, and it becomes something moving.

Charlize Theron's turn is an intimate and honest one -- and you sense a tremendous trust that exists between the performer and filmmakers (one forged from a previous collaboration). Tully's heart is a warts-and-all depiction of motherhood, and it's often unflinching -- painfully awkward as it may get. That's truly the key to its reality, however, and it never loses that, even as it moves into more "cinematic" narrative choices in the third act -- which is all one can say without saying too much.

Furthering that point, immense credit is due to Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody for making Tully as compelling as it is. There isn't a ton of story that comes packed with the high-concept idea presented, but with only the occasional dip, it remains arresting throughout. The aforementioned intimacy quickly forges a relationship between the audience and Marlo, and that hook stays in from beginning to end.

Between Young Adult and Tully, one can successfully argue that Diablo Cody and Charlize Theron bring out the best in Jason Reitman, as their two movies together represent the two best titles in his filmography (in my opinion). As mentioned, Tully is a strange summer release, and could get lost in the waves of sci-fi and action blockbusters, but it's not a film to ignore, and is worth searching out. At the very least, you'll find yourself in-the-know as Theron's work begins to inspire Oscar chatter.

It’s the most predictable thing to say in movies, but Meryl Streep kind of rocks. Even when she appears in lame dramas from John Wells, or as an over the top witch in a musical, she can’t help but get nominated for an Academy Award. Streep looks to embrace her rock ‘n’ roll spirit with her latest film, Ricki And The Flash, which sees the award-winning actress star as a musician looking to reconnect with her family. You can check out the film’s debut trailer below.

First things first: whoever created the debut trailer for Ricki And The Flash needs to be severely reprimanded, or at least heavily poked in the eyes, because not only does it give the entire plot away, but it’s drenched in melodrama that completely overwhelms the positive elements of the film.

Ricki And The Flash revolves around Streep’s titular musician, who abandoned her family in favour of attempting to become a world-famous rock star. That plan failed miserably, and after her daughter, Julie (Mamie Gummer), goes through a difficult divorce, she is beckoned back to Chicago by her ex-husband, Pete (Kevin Kline), to help her daughter overcome her strife.

Of course, the main attraction of Ricki And The Flash is Meryl Streep. It should be so easy to hate Streep. Everyone in the world adores her and lavishes her with praise to such a degree that it should be impossible for her to live up to, but time and time again she delivers groin-grabbingly transcendent performances that you can’t help but marvel at and fawn over.

Even in the hacky trailer for Ricki And The Flash she delivers some knockout lines that are heartfelt, layered, and infused with emotion and suspense in a way that no other actress could even fathom. Plus, she also talks about her pubes going grey, rocks out on stage to "Drift Away," is repeatedly lambasted for being an absentee parent, and shows off the most patriotic tattoo in movie history. Seriously, even Uncle Sam would wince at that.

Woeful trailer and Meryl Streep aside, there are two further reasons why Ricki And The Flash might be worth seeing: it’s directed by Silence Of The Lambs’ Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme and written by Juno’s Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody. Plus, Streep stars opposite her own daughter, Mamie Gummer. And who are we trying to kid, she’ll probably end up being nominated for another Oscar for her performance anyway. Ricki And The Flash sneaks into U.S. cinemas on August 7, 2015.

It's been nearly a full year since we last heard any kind of development on the upcoming Barbie movie... but you didn't think that would be enough to kill it, did you? Instead, Sony Pictures, Mattel and Parkes+MacDonald/Image Nation are still moving ahead with the project, and have even gone as far as to hire Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody to try and boost the in-the-works script.

Deadline has the scoop on Cody's new gig, saying that the Juno writer will be taking the pen from Jenny Bicks - whose credits include the movie What A Girl Wants and television shows like Sex and the City and The Big C. It's noted that the studio and producers hired Cody because of her "unconventionality," and the belief that she can help make Barbie with a proper, modern tone. As producer Walter Parkes put it in an official statement,

Since her big breakout with Juno in 2007, Diablo Cody's career has had its bits of ups and downs. Obviously her Oscar win was a rather big up; but the box office disappointment of her sophomore effort, Jennifer's Body, was a big down. She picked her self back up with successes like Young Adult and The United States of Tara, but didn't exactly get a good critical or box office response to her directorial debut, 2013's Paradise. Still, it's weirdly possible that Barbie could be the movie that puts her in the spotlight again.

As has been previously reported, the new movie will see her take on what's described as a Mary Poppins kind of role, using her wide variety of personal and professional skills to " step into the lives of others and improve them." Tonally, the direction that the project is looking for is something akin to what Phil Lord and Chris Miller did with The LEGO Movie -and that's honestly terrific to hear. There will surely be a lot of room to both respect the long history of the titular toy, while also backing it with self-referential, meta, and self-deprecating humor. There is a lot of potential for this to go horribly wrong, but it could also wind up being a surprising and amazing success.

Most recently, Diablo Cody wrote the script for Jonathan Demme's Ricki and the Flash, which stars Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Sebastian Stan, and that film will be arriving in theaters this August. As of now, there doesn't seem to be any kind of specific timetable for Barbie, but it's all the better if Sony and the producers want to take time to make sure that the project is 100 percent ready before starting production.

Diablo Cody's directorial debut Paradise popped up on our radar big time last week, and not exactly for the right reasons. The film, still scheduled for a theatrical release in October, will now be premiering on DirecTV… on Thursday. That's a sudden and under-the-radar debut for a film that by all rights should be massively anticipated, directed by the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno and starring up-and-comer Julianne Hough, Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer, Parks & Recreation's Nick Offerman, Holly friggin' Hunter, and Russell Brand, who continues to get work despite all logic. How can something so promising get caught in such a weird situation?

Sadly, this first trailer may help answer it. The story of a girl raised as an ultra-fundamentalist Christian, now on the Las Vegas strip to find herself, Paradise is being sold based on insights like "The world is not the Las Vegas strip," and punchlines like "In the next election, I may vote Democrat." You get some hints of Cody's trademark snappy dialogue, and I genuinely like the "L.L. Bean tote bag full of cash," but Hough is no Ellen Page, and seems even here to be stumbling a bit over the wiseacre dialogue she's handed. She's the girl most recently famous for starring in the Nicolas Sparks adaptation Safe Haven, and though she gets credit for shaking up her image so early into her career, it seems to be an awkward fit so far.

Bad trailers trip up good movies all the time-- remember how unpromising the bullet train sequence in The Wolverine looked, and how great it was in the The Wolverine?-- and viewers with DirecTV will have a chance to judge Paradise for themselves soon enough, so it's a little silly to toss off judgment based on two and a half minutes of hastily assembled footage. Coming off the acerbic brilliance of Young Adult, Cody seemed as smart and capable of strong storytelling as ever. Paradise may indeed have that… but this trailer does a mighty great job of hiding it.

As someone stuck with awful Time Warner Cable, I won't be able to see Paradise on Thursday. Do you have DirecTV? Come back and let us know how it is.

The directorial debut from Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno and creator of The United States of Tara, ought to be a big deal. So why is it going to slink on to your TV screens next Thursday with seemingly no fanfare whatsoever? Cody herself broke the news via Twitter that her film Paradise is making its way to the decidedly small screen much, much sooner than we figured:

The DirecTV won't replace a traditional theatrical release, though, which Cody promises is still on schedule for October:

The movie, which was shot last year, has kept a bizarrely low profile since then, even though it includes among its cast Octavia Spencer, Nick Offerman, Russell Brand and Julianne Hough, who stars as an Evangelical Christian girl who survives a plane crash, denounces God, and travels to Las Vegas to commit all the sins she's avoided all these years. A piece in USA Today a few weeks ago revealed more details about the film, along with some first-look images, including this one which transforms Offerman into… well, you just ought to see it for yourself:

Paradise was looking a little odd and quirky, and despite the plum October 18 release date probably not a mega Oscar contender the way Juno was (and that's OK!) But this early DirecTV drop, especially with so little advance warning, has us concerned. Is the distributor trying to find a way to gauge early buzz from the audience without paying for screenings? Did they sign some kind of crazy rights deal with DirecTV and get stuck with this bizarre release pattern? Is this TV debut a prelude to them giving up on the film entirely? That sure seemed to be what they were doing with the first poster, which popped up online via Film Drunk and is a genuine horror show. Take a look:

Listen, it's no easy thing to win an Oscar for your first screenplay, and then to forge a pretty successful career despite hundreds of people who want to write you off as the hamburger phone girl. Cody's career since Juno has been varied and had its share of misses (sorry, Jennifer's Body), but it's also been careful and true to her own voice. We expected exactly the same from Paradise and we still might get it, no matter what wonky release plan eventually makes that possible. Hopefully this weird DirecTV arrangement is just part of what allowed Cody to make exactly the movie she wanted to make. That's the only bright side I can hunt out of this muddled release strategy. Well, that and the fact that some lucky satellite subscribers get to see the film super early. If you wind up being one of them, come back on August 8 and let us know how the movie is.

Dancing with the Stars' Julianne Hough has branched out with her acting and music career in recent years, with roles in Rock of Ages and Footloose among her feature credits. And coming soon, she's starring in the currently untitled Diablo Cody Project, which will mark Cody's directorial debut. It seems Cody has plans for Hough beyond that film, as Hough is now attached to star in Time and a Half, a romantic dramedy written by Cody.

Variety shared the news today that Hough is set to play one of the leads in the Cody-scripted Time and a Half, which is set to be directed by Ol Parker. Hough will play "a recent college grad who takes a temp job at a trophy store where she runs into her sister's high school boyfriend with whom she had a one-night stand."

It sounds like the next challenge to be tackled is finding the woman who will play the part of Hough's sister in the film. They're casting that now, and from what Variety is reporting, they won't move forward on the film until they find "the right actress to compliment Hough."

Previously, Hough's recent film projects have been predominantly music focused, but it seems like she's inching away from that, with these two Cody-written projects (assuming neither of them have music themes we haven't heard about yet) and the upcoming Safe Haven, which is based on a Nicholas Sparks book.

It's also interesting to learn that Hough is moving on to another Cody-written project, as it makes me wonder if Cody had her in mind while she was writing the script for Time and a Half, similarly to how she was inspired to write Young Adult while working on the script for the Sweet Valley High movie. With Cody having the opportunity to direct Hough for her upcoming untitled movie, perhaps she shaped the Time and a Half character to suit the actor. Regardless, it sounds like Hough is a key piece to the project, and as a fan of Cody's writing, I'll be interested to see how she does in both movies.

Lily Collins is having a massive 2012. She’s set to play Snow White opposite Julia Roberts and Armie Hammer in Mirror Mirror. And now Bloody Digusting says she’s the first name added to the cast of Fede Alvarez’s The Evil Dead reboot.

The site says Collins, who most know for playing Sandra Bullock’s daughter in The Blind Side, will play Mia, one of the five friends stranded in a cabin in the woods who come across the Book of the Dead. One by one, each character is possessed by an evil force until only one survivor is left standing. Mia, according to the site, is recovering with sobriety after a recent drug overdose, which explains why the other four campers don’t believe her claims that strange things are attacking her in the woods.

Bloody says the characters in Rodo Sayagues and Diablo Cody’s screenplay are David, Natalie, Eric, Olivia, and Mia. (No Ash? WTF?!) The site says David is a mechanic. He’s engaged to Natalie, and the crew heads to the isolated cabin to help Mia detox. They speculate that Eric is the one who unleashes the centuries-old evil.

This is not to be confused with Drew Goddard’s anticipated The Cabin In the Woods, which has a similar plot but apparently goes in very, very different directions. As for Evil, I’m still getting used to the idea that they’re going to try and improve on Sam Raimi’s horror classic in the first place. But if they’re going to give it a whirl, they better commit to the trilogy, because we all know that Evil Dead 2 is the true masterpiece, and Army of Darkness could use a retouch. Oh, and more Bruce Campbell.

If you're tired of all the dour, inspirational, or serious end-of-the-year movies hoping for Oscar glory, Charlize Theron might have the solution to your problem. She's the magnetic, vicious heart of the first trailer for Young Adult, which makes another collaboration between Juno's director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody. The bleak Midwestern settings and bad fashion choices might feel familiar from Juno, but this movie is looking a lot less cuddly. The trailer premiered at Apple, where you can watch it in high-res, or you can also check it out embedded below.

I think we all expected Charlize Theron to really be going for it in this performance, playing a successful by slightly psychotic young adult author who returns to her hometown in order to woo her high school sweetheart. But I like the way she seems to be modulating things here, both unhinged and fearless but not over the top. And what's there really to say about Patton Oswalt as her childhood friend-- he's barely in the trailer, and maybe it's just because it's Patton Oswalt and we automatically love him, but he seems to be adding so much just at first look. I don't care what you thought about Diablo Cody after Juno became such an enormous, buzzy success-- she's a talented writer who creates characters like nobody else, and Young Adult looks to be no different. The movie won't come to theaters until December 9, so we'll have a bit longer to look forward to it, but this trailer gives a lot of reason to be excited.

Tate Taylor's The Help was filled with spectacular performances, but Octavia Spencer was simply perfect as the vengeful Minny Jackson. The actress is already being suggested for a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the next Academy Awards and she's even picked up a new role since, now set to star in James Ponsoldt's new film Smashed. With the amount of buzz she's getting, however, it would be foolish if she didn't add as many upcoming projects as she could to her schedule, and now she's added yet another new movie.

Spencer is now in early talks to star alongside Julianne Hough and Russell Brand in Diablo Cody's untitled directorial debut, according to Variety. Formally titled Lamb of God, the movie is about a sheltered young girl who moves to Vegas after losing her faith following a plane crash. There she finds an "unlikely companion who inadvertently helps her find her true self" (Brand). Spencer will play a dealer at the casino where Brand's character works. The project is being produced by Mandate Pictures and is scheduled to go into production in the spring. Cody's next work, the Jason Reitman-directed Young Adult, arrives in theaters on December 16th.

Hopefully this is a much bigger role than it sounds like. While one can probably imagine that the relationship between Hough and Brand will take center stage in the film, a talented actress like Spencer shouldn't just be relegated to background. In addition to Smashed and the Diablo Cody project, Spencer has also wrapped production on the comedy Girls! Girls! Girls!, Del Shores' The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife, and Eshom and Ian Nelms' Lost on Purpose.

Diablo Cody has flown remarkably under the radar since 2007, when her first movie Juno won her a Best Original Screenplay Oscar and she, her stripper past and her leopard print Oscar dress were seemingly everywhere. But even though her name has become an unfair punchline for hacky and gimmicky writing, Cody herself has kept her head down and continued to work hard, completing a screenplay for Young Adult (which will be out later this year), starting work on a Sweet Valley High film adaptation, and signing on to write a remake of The Evil Dead. OK, that move definitely put her back in the crosshairs of pop culture.

And she'll be getting more attention, good or bad, once again as she prepares to embark on her directorial debut, based on a script she wrote called Lamb of God. The project has been in the works for a while, with Julianne Hough and Russell Brand bandied about as leads, and now Mandate Pictures has confirmed the casting and a spring start date. The film no longer has a title, though, going into production as Untitled Diablo Cody project. Here's the brief synopsis they provided:

Hough and Brand are both public figures who could probably relate to Cody's experience of both good and bad press-- Hough is a Dancing With The Stars breakout star who's got her first starring role in the automatically controversial Footloose remake, while Brand became a star playing a lovable lout in Forgetting Sarah Marshall but had a hard time translating that into something different with this Arthur remake this year. Cody's sharp writing may or may not translate into strong directing skills, but I like where he's headed from what we've seen so far. She's a completely unique and valuable voice in screenwriting right now, and here's hoping she can be a good one as a director as well.

These are busy times for Charlize Theron. Later this year we’ll get a look at the blonde beauty in arrested development when she headlines Young Adult, the latest collaboration between the Juno writing-and-directing team of Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman. Next summer, Theron plays the evil Queen hunting Kristen Stewart’s battle-tested Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman. She also has a part in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi thriller Prometheus. And now, Theron’s contemplating her next move.

It could be Cities of Refuge, a crime thriller that – according to Deadline – Theron is circling. Brandon Willer wrote the screenplay, which would cast Theron as a female investigator ordered to solve a vicious murder-kidnapping case. As surprising as this may seem to you, the further she investigates, the more she realizes that nothing is as it seems. I know. I’m shocked, as well.

Obviously Theron’s in the very early stages of negotiations for the project, and Deadline notes that she could come on board in a producer’s role if the deal happens. The Oscar winner has played law-enforcement agents before, most notably opposite Tommy Lee Jones in In the Valley of Elah. And ever since winning her Oscar for Monster in 2003, Theron has effectively chosen roles that stretch her abilities. I’d like to know who’s guiding her through Refuge before I get too excited about it, but as Ben Affleck or David Fincher have taught us recently, gritty crime thrillers still pack plenty of punch, so long as the material’s treated properly by a director who appreciates the dark nuances of the genre. More on Cities of Refuge as the story develops.

After coming out of pretty much nowhere to win an Oscar for her Juno screenplay in 2008, Diablo Cody has been laying relatively low-- her follow-up screenplay Jennifer's Body became a hugely underseen film, and her show The United States of Tara ran on Showtime for three successful but low-key seasons before being cancelled earlier this year. But this fall Cody will be back to the big screen with what's looking like a likely Oscar run for Young Adult, directed by Jason Reitman, and she's also gearing up to make her directorial debut on Lamb of God, based on her own screenplay.

The initial announcement of the project didn't tell us much about the plot, but now a rumor from Twitch has started shedding light on the situation they report that Russell Brand has been offered the male lead in the film, and that Dancing With the Stars and upcoming Footloose star Julianne Hough is a top choice to play the female lead. Over at The Playlist they've read the script and say the plot kicks off when the main character, a young Christian girl named Lamb, survives a plane crash but loses her faith. She travels to Vegas and befriends a craps dealer and a bartender, the character that recovered alcoholic Brand would play. Between his raucous Get Him to the Greek character and the alcoholic in Arthur, this guy sure can't stay sober onscreen.

It's unclear when production on Lamb of God might start, though I imagine it has to be after Cody is done doing the publicity circuit for Young Adult this fall. I like the idea of Brand hopping on board a project that's a little different, though, and also not entirely about his personality. Since breaking out for U.S. audiences in Forgetting Sarah Marshall he's really just been playing various incarnations of his public persona, whether in the spinoff Greek or even as the voice of an energetic animated bunny in Hop. But Cody's name will be the big one on Lamb of God, and it might be nice to see Brand recede back into part of an ensemble.

Following the release and subsequent success of Juno, everybody thought that Diablo Cody was the next big thing. The writer was given an Oscar, gained a huge following and was offered more than her fair share of projects. Then Jennifer's Body happened and things didn't look so good for her theatrically. While she was able to create a successful series in The United States of Tara, it appeared that she was no longer a sure thing. So how do you get that back? By getting the old band back together.

Deadline reports that Jason Reitman, who directed Cody's Juno, has signed on to direct Young Adult, with Charlize Theron in the lead role. In the film, Theron will be an author who becomes successful writing under a pseudonym until she realizes that she has become distanced from her work. The film is currently aiming for a November 10 start date and will film in New York.

If you have made it this far in the article, I would like to take this time to commend you. There is a reason why I choose pictures for my articles after I have already written them. If I didn't, it would take me three hours to complete a story about an actress like Charlize Theron. Now that this article has ended, please enjoy staring at the above photo for the rest of eternity.

The Plastics of Mean Girls are pretty evil, but they’re no match for Megan Fox in Jennifer’s Body. Guard your boyfriends, because thanks to Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Jennifer Check is on the loose on DVD and Blu-ray December 29th.

Jennifer (Fox) is the ultimate groupie. When she drags her best friend Needy (Amanda Seyfried) to see the band Low Shoulder perform, she winds up leaving with lead singer Nikolai (Adam Brody) and his band mates. Turns out, playing music isn’t the only thing the boys of Low Shoulder are into. They’ve got a thing for Satan and use Jennifer as a sacrifice. Now, Jennifer is possessed and takes a liking to the flesh of her male classmates.

Jennifer’s Body is no Juno, but writer Diablo Cody still delivers a devilishly entertaining flick. If you’re a fan of Fox, Seyfried, or Cody’s witty writing, Jennifer’s Body is a good buy. The DVD only costs $29.98 but should be immediately refuted. There’s no way you’ll watch this film and not be craving additional material. Considering the DVD only comes with the extended version of the film and commentary with director Karyn Kusama and Cody, there’s no contest when choosing between the DVD and BD. Picking up the 2-disc Blu-ray version is well worth the price jump to $39.99. Check out all of the additional goodies:

Disc One

• Audio Commentary with Director Karyn Kusama and Writer Diablo Cody
• Audio Commentary with Director Karyn Kusama
• Dead Boys
• Jennifer Check Is Gross
• Needy Confronts Jennifer
• Who's Cindy Crawford?
• Needy Faces The Band
• Ass, Gas, or Grass...
• Gag Reel
• Jennifer's Body: The Dead Pool
• Megan Fox and Johnny Simmons
• Amanda Seyfried
• Diablo Cody
• Dan Dubiecki
• Megan Fox Is HOT
• Megan Fox "Peer Pressure" PSA
• Fox Movie Channel Presents "Life After Film School" With Writer Diablo Cody

Disc Two

• Digital Copy of Jennifer's Body (Extended Version)

I really have no idea whether Jennifer's Body will be any good or not, but I'm still utterly excited about it, just because it looks like something so different. Even Megan Fox, who has seemed as dull onscreen as she is wacky in the press, seems willing to let her freak flag fly for this one, and Amanda Seyfried, scrubbed so clean in Mamma Mia!, is getting down in the muck as well.

For one more argument about why this movie is at least worth a shot, ET Online has posted a four-minute behind-the-scenes featurette on the film, which you can view below. There's some new footage from the movie, some interviews with Fox and Seyfriend and Diablo Cody, and a girl-on-kiss. Yeah, you probably only care about that last part. Whatever your reasons, check out the clip below.

The official, Green Band trailer for Jennifer’s Body has arrived and as we predicted earlier in the week when the red band trailer debuted it loses little when restricted only to content suitable for all audiences. The biggest change is a little more hair on Megan Fox’s boobs in her mid-trailer topless scene. But also this trailer seems to fit together just a little better. They’ve ditched a lot of the confusing stuff involving the demon rock band you saw in the first trailer and have the whole thing focused on Megan Fox eating people and nerd Amanda Seyfried’s quest to stop her.

Watch the brand new official trailer for Jennifer’s Body below, or in HD over at Yahoo where they also have a special come-hither intro from Megan Fox herself.

If like the trucker-hat wearing guy sitting behind me you shouted the words “I’d hit it!” at the screen when you saw her on that motorcycle in Transformers 2, then you’d probably better get a box of tissue before you watch the first ever, red band trailer for Jennifer’s Body. It’s here, and Megan Fox wants to strip you naked and bite off your head.

In the film, Fox plays a gorgeous cheerleader possessed by a demon. She soon starts feeding off the boys in a small Minnesota farming town, forcing her "plain Jane" best friend to kill her and then escape from a correctional facility to go after the Satan-worshipping rock band responsible for the horrible transformation. Mostly though, what you’ll most remember from the trailer, is a lot of Megan Fox taking her clothes off. Watch it:

One unusual note regarding this trailer. According to a message left by the filmmakers on Shock Till You Drop where it debuted, this is a special version of the Jennifer's Body trailer. This is the trailer director Karyn Kusama, producer Jason Reitman, and writer Diablo Cody think people should watch instead of the green band, studio version which you'll see in front of Bruno later this week.

Frankly, I'm not sure why they couldn't have fit almost this same trailer into a green band version and I suspect, as has been the trend recently, the green band cut may be surprisingly similar. While it was once a delightful haven of nudity and profanity, in recent months the Red Band tag seems to have become nothing more than a marketing gimmick.