When the long-awaited Masters of the Universe live-action movie first hit the 2026 movie schedule, I would say I was moderately excited. I’m a Gen Xer who grew up in the ‘80s, and the original cartoon was appointment viewing when I got home from school every day, so reliving those old glories sounded like it could be fun. I even rewatched the 1987 live-action movie in anticipation.

I had my reservations, because even as a kid, I recognized that the plots of the shows were pretty flimsy. Now I’ve finally caught the movie with my Prime subscription, and I have to ask, why did we need this?

The Jokes Were Bad, And He-Man’s Story Was Frustrating

There are two big gripes I have with Masters of the Universe. One, the jokes really didn’t work for me at all. I completely appreciate what the writers (of which there were at least three) and director Travis Knight were trying to do: make the movie fun and cheeky, with a wink the audience acknowledging how silly the whole world of Eternia is, but the jokes didn’t land. The sexual innuendos felt both completely childish AND too adult for the material. I don’t know how they pulled that off, but they did.

My biggest gripe, though, was the origin story of Prince Adam/He-Man. In the cartoon, He-Man is a superhero who rarely shows any weakness (at least, I don’t remember there being a lot of pathos; maybe it went over my head). In the 2026 movie, Adam, played by Nicholas Galitzine, has been sent to live on Earth to escape the wrath of Skelator (Jared Leto, who is the best part of the movie). On Earth, he’s basically a goofy wimp. I hated that. Even worse, when he finally does return to Eternia with Teela (Camila Mendes), his newfound power is completely unearned. If you’re going to set up a hero’s journey, our hero has to struggle with more than a comic book store mannequin.

Which Leads To Ask: Why Was This Made, And For Whom?

I was left to struggle with the question of why Masters of the Universe was even made, and more importantly, who the target audience is. I mean, sure, I get why it was greenlit in the wake of the massive success of Barbie, but Barbie is an iconic toy that has transcended multiple generations. He-Man was a flash in the pan, comparatively. The toyline (and subsequent cartoon) was wildly popular, but only for a small window of time in the mid-’80s, and only with a specific age group (one I happen to fall right into).

I can’t say it left me satisfied, and theoretically, I’m at least one part of the target audience as a movie fan who grew up with He-Man. But it didn’t seem like it was made for me. It reinvents who Prince Adam is, and not very successfully, in my opinion. It also doesn’t feel like it was made for a new audience, either, because, again, it’s not like this is an enduring franchise on the level of Barbie, or even G.I. Joe for that matter. I think that’s reflected in the movie’s poor performance at the box office, despite mostly positive reviews.

Looking ahead to the 2027 movie schedule, there is another toyline from the same era releasing a new movie, Voltron, that I think shares a lot of commonalities with He-Man. Does the same fate lie ahead for it? Time will tell.

There are major movie franchises, and then there's the James Bond movies. Audiences have been following 007's adventures since 1962, and there's been debate about who might play him next following Daniel Craig's films. Actor Idris Elba's name has been tossed around for a long time, and the Masters of the Universe actor recently said the rumors were never legit. Although I'm not sure I agree with his assessment about why it would have never worked.

What we know about Bond 26 is extremely limited, with the biggest question being which actor will play the beloved MI6 agent next. During a recent interview with GQ, Elba spoke about the long-standing rumors about him playing Bond. It all began when Daniel Craig suggested back in 2008 that it was time for a Black actor to take on the role, following Barack Obama winning the Presidential Election. The Thor actor got honest by saying:

The chatter about Idris Elba's Bond has been going on for over a decade now, with some fans still hoping to see him with 007's tux and martini. But it sounds like there was never any real legitimacy to the casting, although the actor seems flattered that so many people wanted to see him in that iconic role.

Folks have ben betting on the next James Bond actor or some time now, and Elba's name still comes up even though the studio is reportedly looking for a younger actor for 007. Later in the same interview, the Sonic the Hedgehog actor shared why he never thought he'd actually play the role. In his words:

This is a super realistic take on the idea of a Black actor playing James Bond, but I'm not sure I agree with Elba's assessment. While an actor of color has yet to play the role of 007, I'd like to think that it's not an impossibility in today's world. Idris Elba is a wildly successful actor with generations of fans, and I think that he would be embraced in the role by moviegoing audiences.

Over the past few years, there's been a ton of conversations about the power of representation and inclusion in the media. But James Bond is a global IP, and Idris Elba seems to think that'll exclude Black actors from being considered for the leading role. He's got years of experience in the industry, but I'd like to think that we've progressed more as a society. We'll just have to wait and see who who actually end up replacing Daniel Craig as that character.

It's currently unclear when Bond 26 will arrive, but Idris Elba is in theaters now in Masters of the Universe as part of the 2026 movie release list.

Until very recently, I wasn't sure if I was going to see Masters of the Universe in theaters, however the decision has now been made. The ticket has been purchased, and I want to talk about a couple of reasons why I'm planning to see the He-Man film, which arrives soon on the 2026 movie schedule.

While nostalgia is a factor, it wasn't enough to make Masters of the Universe a must-see-in-theaters for me. My sisters and I were '80s kids and the prime age for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe when the animated series aired on TV. We loved that show, and the She-Ra spinoff that followed. Of course, we had some of the toys, and we saw the 1987 live-action film starring Dolph Lundgren and a pre-Friends Courteney Cox.

When I learned that they were making a new Masters of the Universe movie, I recall feeling a spark of nostalgia, but otherwise, I was fairly neutral. As fondly as I remember watching the original show as a kid, I can't say that I've been clamoring for a reboot. Still, I was curious enough to keep an eye on the promotions for Travis Knight's movie, and that brings us to the things that sold me on seeing it sooner rather than later...

The Trailers Really Look Fun

The story centers on Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) returning to his home world of Eternia after spending more than a decade living on Earth. With the Sword of Power and the help of his friends Teela (Camila Mendes) and Man-At-Arms (Idris Elba), he's tasked with trying to save his world and fight Skeletor (Jared Leto).

I like the mix of humor and fantastical action featured in the trailers for the new movie. The footage has given us a good glimpse of the cast and the journey Adam is on. Also, I need to admit that I forgot just how much I loved Cringer/Battle Cat. As a kid, I remember liking that he could be brave even though he was also sometimes terrified. The sight of him roaring inside the MGM logo in the trailer made me smile.

Nicholas Galitzine Is Great -- The Whole Cast Is, Really

Though I'd seen him in The Craft: Legacy and the Amazon's 2021 Cinderella, Nicholas Galitzine won me over with two specific performances: the ridiculous, cheating-boyfriend Jeff in Bottoms, and the warm, charming, deserves-so-much-love Prince Henry in Red, White and Royal Blue (I can't wait for Red, White and Royal Blue 2 to come out!). These characters couldn't be more different if they tried, and yet, Galitzine played both so memorably and perfectly. For all the humor he brought to Bottoms, he brought as much warmth and depth to his Red, White and Royal Blue character.

Learning that he'd play Prince Adam had me curious, but also much more optimistic about the quality of the movie they were putting together. For Masters of the Universe, they picked an actor with genuine range to play the part of Adam (and from the sound of it, he put in a lot of work to bulk up for the role).

There's even more talent among the cast, which – in addition to Galitzine, Mendes, Elba and Leto – includes Alison Brie, James Purefoy, Morena Baccarin, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, and Charlotte Riley.

The cast and trailers had me mostly sold on buying a ticket, but there's one more thing to talk about...

Reviews Aren't In Yet, But Early Reactions Sound Positive

I don't rely solely on critics' reactions to determine if I'll see a movie, but if I hear it's good, that's certainly going to factor into my decision. In the case of Masters of the Universe, as of this writing, actual reviews aren't out yet, but early reactions on social media sound positive, with the words "fun" and "funny" being used to describe it. This isn't a property that I need to see taking itself super seriously. If what we're in for is popcorn fun where the heroes fight the bad guys and there are some bits of humor sprinkled throughout, that works for me.

Masters of the Universe arrives in theaters on June 5, 2026, but luckily, I was able to grab a ticket for an early access screening on June 3rd at my local theater, so if you're planning to watch it sooner rather than later, check the listings to see what's available near you.

The “who’s the next James Bond” conversation has been going on for a while now, and it feels like we aren’t getting any closer to crowning a successor. Near the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure in the franchise, speculation ramped up, and it only increased after he said goodbye to the series But, even years before that, fans were throwing out names for potential successors, including Idris Elba's. Despite that, I've long wondered if Elba was truly in the mix for the 007 gig, and he recently revealed whether or not he was in the conversation to begin with.

While speaking with People, Elba opened up about this long-held rumor that associated him with the James Bond film franchise. Even though he was constantly asked about Bond by fans, and his name showed up in listicles for over a decade, Elba shared a take on the speculation that honestly surprised me. He explained:

I’m not sure I completely agree with the actor. He seemed like a contender for a while, at least at the beginning. After Spectre, Craig’s interest in the role was waning, which is when all this hullabaloo started. Elba would’ve been 10 years younger (in his early 40s) and would’ve been a great choice for the role. However, Craig decided to return for one last Bond movie, 2021's No Time To Die, which pushed things back quite a bit.

Of course, this is all just me looking at the situation from the outside. Elba's comments seem to suggest that he never received serious consideration from the 007 franchise's producers. And that's quite disappointing, given that he feels like a great fit for the role.

So where will Bond go now? Well, many contenders have been thrown out in context with the project, especially since it was officially announced that Bond 26 would happen with Denis Villeneuve at the helm. It seems almost certain that Bond will go younger this time around, with frequent rumored frontrunners being Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Some rumors even suggest casting could go even younger, with 22-year-old Louis Partridge reportedly being in contention.

At the very least, Amazon (which acquired creative control over the Bond IP in 2025) recently shared a casting update. Apparently, auditions are underway, but that still means it could be a while before a new actor is cast.

Even though Bond will not be a reality for the Wire star, and he believes it never was a real possibility in the first place, I think Elba is ultimately better off without Bond. Playing Commander Bond requires a pretty tight contract, and Elba may not have been able to take on some of his best projects if he’d been restricted to Bond. I have to wonder if he would’ve been able to headline Luther as long as he did, and his involvement in both the DCEU and MCU would likely have not been feasible. When one door closes another one opens, and I personally can’t wait to see what Elba has on top outside of the 007 world.

You might not be able to see Idris Elba as James Bond, but you can see him in his latest film, Masters of the Universe, which is heading to theaters on June 5th as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

From Marvel and DC to Star Trek and Sonic the Hedgehog, Idris Elba has assembled an impressive collection of franchises he’s acted in. The latest of these is this summer’s Masters of the Universe, where he stars in the forthcoming reboot as Duncan, a.k.a. Man-At-Arms, one of He-Man’s key allies and adoptive father of Teela. Regarding why he decided to join the 2026 movie release, Elba revealed that he has a personal connection to Masters of the Universe stretching back decades.

While joining a major motion picture tied to existing IP can simply boil down to the paycheck for some actors, while others like the script they’ve read even without having any familiarity with the source material, Idris Elba goes way back with Masters of the Universe. As he told Empire:

Mattel launched Masters of the Universe as one of its toylines in 1982, and the animated series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe premiered a year later. Since Idris Elba was born in 1972, that means he was in just the right age range to enjoy those toys. Sure, they wouldn’t have been his first choice had his family been able to purchase those Star Wars toys, but it sounds like Elba had fun playing with He-Man and the gang, as well as watching their cartoon adventures.

Masters of the Universe was previously adapted into a movie in 1987, and a reboot had been stuck in development hell since 2009. Bumblebee Director Travis Knight signed on to helm the new movie in 2024, and when Idris Elba learned how faithful the filmmaker intended to stay to the MOTU mythology, he was eager to be involved, saying:

By November 2024, Idris Elba was announced to be playing Man-At-Arms, and Masters of the Universe, which debuted its first trailer last month, began filming the following January and ended in July. Elba was impressed by the reboot’s Eternity sets and how the characters are being adapted for live-action this time around. As he put it:

After being stranded on Earth for 20 years, Masters of the Universe will follow Nicholas Galitzine’s Prince Adam Glenn rediscovering his Power Sword and returning to Eternia. He won’t have much time to enjoy a homecoming though, as Adam will have to team up with Man-At-Arms, Camila Mendes’ Teela, Kristen Wiig’s Roboto, Cringer/Battle Cat and more to defeat the evil forces led by Jared Leto’s creepy-looking Skeletor. With the Power Sword back in his hands, Adam will be able to transform into the mighty He-Man and embrace his heroic destiny.

Should Masters of the Universe be successful upon its release on June 5, Amazon MGM Studios will surely consider making a sequel. And should that get the greenlight, fingers crossed Idris Elba is brought back. If he had this much fun working on one MOTU movie, you know he’ll want another bite of that apple with another movie.

In 2013, Idris Elba and Guillermo del Toro teamed up for their first, and so far only, movie, Pacific Rim. Elba played Stacker Pentecost in del Toro’s story about a future where giant robots called Jaegers are piloted to battle the Kaiju that keep attacking Earth (we’ll revisit this world in an upcoming Amazon show). Nearly a decade and a half later, the filmmaker has revealed what the actor does when he doesn’t know his lines, and this has me wanting to be on the lookout for this tell when watching Elba’s movies.

This came up when Guillermo del Toro was participating in a THR roundtable with Bradley Cooper, Clint Bentley, Hikari, Noah Oppenheim and Will Tracy. All six wrote movies released in 2025 that have been getting awards buzz; in del Toro’s case, that was his film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. During the get-together, he inquired with Oppenheim, who wrote A House of Dynamite, about his experience working with Idris Elba, as he played the President of the United States in the fellow Netflix subscription-exclusive movie. But before asking his question, del Toro recounted:

Guillermo del Toro wanted to know if Idris Elba did this same squinting movie on A House of Dynamite. Noah Oppenheim answered that the actor did learn his lines on this feature, but there was also “some improvisation around the margins of it.” I suppose going back to A House of Dynamite to check if there is indeed none of this squinting would be as good of a reason as any to rewatch it, along with seeing if my opinion has changed about the movie’s polarizing ending.

The squinting is definitely noticeable in Pacific Rim, however, with the screenshot at the top of this article being one of the many examples. So if Idris Elba wasn’t learning his lines, or at least not learning them as well as you expect from actors of his caliber, was the squinting just to mask the fact that he was reading off cue cards being held offscreen? Or was he just memorizing his lines piecemeal throughout each day, and then started to squint when he couldn’t remember them?

Whatever the answers are, maybe I’ll carve out some time to rewatch the Thor movies, Star Trek Beyond and The Suicide Squad, perhaps along with others, to see if I spot this trademark squinting. Not that this will change my opinion about his acting, as he remains one of Hollywood’s best talents nowadays. Among his accolades are a Golden Globe win and being nominated five other times, as well as seven Emmy nominations. My fingers are crossed that he’ll eventually get Academy Award recognition too.

Idris Elba will be back on the big screen when he’s seen playing Man-At-Arms in Masters of the Universe, which arrives to the 2026 movies schedule on June 5. Then he’ll be seen in the fantasy movie Children of Blood and Bone in early 2027, while his survival thriller Above the Below still doesn’t have a release date.

Based on Zootopia 2’s incredible opening weekend at the box office, the sort that we haven’t seen since the last animated Disney release, there’s a good chance that you saw the movie over the past weekend. Fans are gushing over the film on social media, including one particular line which, it turns out, wasn’t actually in the film’s original script.

One fan took to Twitter to shout out one of her favorite parts of the film, specifically, a dry line delivered by Idris Elba’s Chief Bogo. At one point in the film, Bogo, no fan of Jason Bateman’s Nick Wilde, dismissively refers to the fox simply calling him, “orange dog.” Zootopia 2 director and Walt Disney Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer, Jared Bush, responded to the original post, revealing the line came directly from the actor. Bush said…

Fans are universally loving this detail. Many are surprised that the line came from Idris Elba himself, and if anything, the fact that it was an ad lib makes the line even funnier. Some of the best movie moments have been ad-libbed. Comments to Bush include…

• One of the more memorable lines in a movie chock full of bangers! You crushed it on this one Jared - @scottcaldwell
• I definitely heard Knuckles with that line XD - @Zootopia_News
• THAT WAS AN AD-LIB??? Oh my gosh that’s even better thank you for this glorious tidbit - @jessicannatar
• yeah as soon as he said that I was like did he call him an orange dog - @zeldysnep
• I KNEW that felt ad-libbed a little. Idris is such a fun guy with Bogo. - @The_Movie_Goer

Idris Elba has such a fantastically deadpan sense of humor that almost anything he says when delivered in the right tone can be hilarious. Calling a fox an “orange dog” wouldn’t be that great a line coming from just anybody, but Elba nails it.

One of the above comments, that the line sounds like it came from a different Idris Elba animated character, might be on to something. Knuckles from the Sonic the Hedgehog movies tends to use formal descriptive language, and one could absolutely imagine him calling a fox an orange dog. That may have very well been what Elba was thinking of when he ad-libbed the line.

With Zootopia 2 already a massive hit, and the movie already teasing a potential Zootopia 3, there’s a good chance Idris Elba will be back voicing Chief Bogo before too long. Hopefully, he'll have a bigger role in the future, giving him a chance for even greater lines.

There are plenty of upcoming horror movies hitting the 2025 movie calendar as Halloween approaches, but A House of Dynamite is horrifying in a whole different way. It’s not ghosts or murderers or bumps in the night that threaten the protagonists in this apocalyptic political thriller, but a nuclear missile. Critics have seen the movie as it makes its premiere on the Netflix schedule, so should we be adding this to our watch lists?

A House of Dynamite features an ensemble cast led by Idris Elba as the president of the United States and is directed by Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty). The film follows the response of the U.S. government when faced with an impending nuclear strike from an unknown enemy, and Dana Stevens of Slate calls it both “an ingenious puzzle box” and a nail-biting cautionary tale. The critic says:

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY agrees this isn’t an easy watch, but it’s an important one. The way it plays out mostly in real time adds to the audience’s stress, he says, but the film loses a bit of steam by repeating the same window of time from different characters’ perspectives. Truitt gives it 3 out of 4 stars, writing:

Mark Hughes of Forbes says the director boasts one of the most impressive resumes in modern filmmaking, with her movies asking complex questions and forcing us to examine ourselves and our society to see what our history and present say about our future. A House of Dynamite certainly accomplishes this, Hughes writes:

John Powers of NPR says that, sadly, Kathryn Bigelow’s warning about nuclear war won’t likely have any real-world effect when it comes to those holding the codes. A House of Dynamite probably won’t result in making us safer, but it’s exciting nonetheless. Powers says:

While the majority of critics seem to agree with those above — A House of Dynamite holds a “Certified Fresh” 80% on Rotten Tomatoes, with an equally high score from the audience.

Johnny Oleksinski of the NY Post calls the movie a cheesy “overcooked casserole.” He gives the movie 2 stars out of 4, writing that it feels like a ‘90s disaster flick. In Oleksinski’s words:

A House of Dynamite saw a limited release in theaters and is now available to stream with a Netflix subscription, as of October 24. It certainly sounds like a different kind of horror scenario to mix into this month’s haunting tales.

While the DC Universe is effectively a reboot of the DC Extended Universe that came before it, there are some holdovers from that prior franchise. Along with Xolo Maridueña on deck to reprise Blue Beetle for an animated series, The Suicide Squad characters like Viola Davis’ Amanda Waller and John Cena’s Peacemaker are hanging around in the DCU continuity. But what about Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn? Could we see her again someday in an upcoming DC movie or upcoming DC TV show? DC Studios co-head James Gunn addressed this topic, though I’m more interested in one of the other leading characters from his 2021 DC movie he wants to bring back.

Where Things Stand With Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn

After delivering her breakthrough performance in Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie was catapulted to worldwide fame when she was cast to play Harley Quinn in the first Suicide Squad movie, which followed Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in the DCEU. She later reprised the role for Birds of Prey and The Suicide Squad, but there’s been no word about if she’ll return in the DCU or if a new actress will be cast to play Harley. Here’s what James Gunn had to say when Entertainment Weekly asked about this:

It sounds like Gunn, who wrote and directed The Suicide Squad ahead of being tapped to lead DC Studios with Peter Safran in late 2022, has already reached a decision on Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn, but isn’t willing to reveal it just yet. He also didn’t give any timeframe on when we can expect to learn this information. Maybe it’ll be before 2025 is over, maybe it’ll be some time next year.

I’m hopeful that Gunn plans to bring Margot Robbie back to play Harley Quinn, as I enjoyed her take on the character. However, she’s also a much more in-demand actress and producer compared to when she was bringing The Joker’s ex-girlfriend to life, especially since Barbie took the world by storm in 2023. It might be difficult to arrange for her to return to the role, whether it’s because of scheduling conflicts or because it’ll be more expensive to bring her aboard. Harley’s too popular a character to leave on the proverbial shelf, so that’d make it inevitable to hire a new actress in Robbie’s place, which is allegedly what’s likely to happen according to a new rumor.

James Gunn Wants To Bring Bloodsport Back

Fingers crossed we get clarification either way on Margot Robbie and Harley Quinn sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, James Gunn also shared his desire to have Idris Elba reprise Robert DuBois, a.k.a. Bloodsport, who’s only appeared in The Suicide Squad so far. Gunn said:

Bloodsport led the team that infiltrated Corto Maltese in The Suicide Squad, with his cohorts including Polka-Dot Man, Ratcatcher 2, Peacemaker and King Shark. Rick Flag Jr. and Harley Quinn later joined up with them, having survived their own team’s massacre, and Bloodsport and Harley got along well enough during their short time together, though not to the point she could remember his name. Since Bloodsport blackmailed Amanda Waller into letting him and the other surviving Task Force X members go free in The Suicide Squad’s ending, presumably he’s resumed being a mercenary, though I’d like to think he’s also making an effort to be a better father to his daughter Tyla.

Unlike the uncertainty surrounding Harley Quinn, James Gunn’s statement about Bloodsport makes it sound like he’d have Idris Elba reprise him rather than hire another actor in his place. Whether or not this character even resurfaces in the DCU, we’ll have to wait and see. For now, the next DCU project, Peacemaker, returns for its second season on Thursday, August 21.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article gives away a detail from The Fantastic Four: First Steps that honestly will not ruin the new 2025 movie for you at all. However, if you still wish to go into every cinematic release with the absolute freshest of eyes, proceed with caution.

Marvel Studios seems to have an unspoken goal of inducting as many names from Hollywood’s A-List into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as possible, even if that means casting them in a small part of little to no significance. This has actually happened on more than one occasion, including in the latest Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. I’ll start there as I recall some of the big stars who took on decidedly minuscule roles in the MCU.

Natasha Lyonne In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

CinemaBlend’s Adam Holmes suspected that Natasha Lyonne would be voicing H.E.R.B.I.E., a robotic assistant, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps prior to its release, but she ended up playing a love interest to The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) named Rachel. The teacher only shows up for a couple of brief scenes and is never brought up again, which makes me wonder if Marvel is keeping an opportunity open for Ben Grimm to meet Alicia Masters in a later film. However, that also makes me wonder why the Poker Face star’s role was introduced in the first place.

Wendell Pierce In Thunderbolts*

Twice in 2025, Wendell Pierce appeared in a new superhero movie for what amounted to a few, relatively inconsequential minutes, the most recent being in the new DC movie, Superman, as The Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White. A couple of months earlier, he showed up in Thunderbolts* as Gary, a Congressman who, in a subplot that I have almost completely forgotten about, has it out for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and wants to see her impeached.

Giancarlo Esposito In Captain America: Brave New World

One issue I had with 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World is how it makes Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder a throwaway side character. How does one cast an actor who has perfected the art of villainy (i.e. Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian, The Boys) and make him the secondary antagonist to Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel “The Leader” Sterns? I just hope the claims that we will see more of the terrorist leader are true.

John C. Reilly In Guardians Of The Galaxy

At the time Guardians of the Galaxy was released in 2014, John C. Reilly was one of the biggest names in the cast. Yet, the Academy Award nominee’s Corpsman Dey is one of the hilarious space adventure’s most forgettable characters, which might not have been the case if he had been brought back in at least one of the sequels.

Idris Elba In Thor

I would not say that Heimdall is really a random or unimportant role in the Thor movies, considering he does guard the Bifrost and shows up in six MCU installments, not counting a What If…? episode. However, it is a pretty small role for an actor as popular and acclaimed as Idris Elba, especially when compared to his other, more prominent comic book movie roles in The Losers, The Suicide Squad, and more.

Benicio Del Toro In Guardians Of The Galaxy

Speaking as a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy, I think we can all agree that The Collector’s sole purpose in that film, and ultimately the MCU as a whole, is to provide exposition. Quite frankly, I believe Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro deserves more chances to make this bizarre character really stand out.

Hannibal Buress In Spider-Man: Homecoming

Donald Glover’s role in Spider-Man: Homecoming is surprisingly small for an artist of his magnitude, but still noteworthy for his previous connections to the webslinger and his reprisal cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as Aaron “The Prowler” Davis. The one who really gets the short end of the stick in the 2017 hit is acclaimed comedian Hannibal Buress, who appears just twice and for mere seconds at a time as Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) gym teacher, Coach Wilson. He would show up again in No Way Home, but for even less time.

Just to reiterate how little of an impact Buress’ character makes on Homecoming, the comedian couldn’t make it to the premiere and hired a lookalike to pose as him, and barely anyone noticed. I don’t think it should be that easy for an actor to pull off an otherwise brilliant stunt like this at a red carpet event for a huge blockbuster they are appearing in. In other words, Marvel, if you can get the best, give them the best.

There are plenty of action movies we’ve been excited to see this year, and as we wait for blockbusters like Superman and slasher sequels like I Know What You Did Last Summer, John Cena and Idris Elba are hoping to provide audiences with some humor to go with their hijinks. Heads of State will be available to stream with a Prime Video subscription when it hits the 2025 movie premiere calendar just in time for July Fourth, and critics mostly agree it’s the best kind of dumb comedy.

In Heads of State, Idris Elba and John Cena team up in the name of action, playing the British prime minister and the U.S. president, respectively. After an assassination attempt, the bickering world leaders are forced to work together to keep each other alive and thwart a global conspiracy. In CinemaBlend’s review of Heads of State, our own Nick Venable says he “had a blast,” giving the movie 4 out of 5 stars and saying:

Nate Richard of Collider agrees, giving Heads of State a 7 out of 10 for being “stupid in all the right ways.” Idris Elba and John Cena are so great together that they overshadow a lot of the film’s other shortcomings, Richard says, writing:

IndieWire’s Siddhant Adlakha gives the flick a B and calls it “a hoot,” writing:

Olly Richards of Empire rates the upcoming Idris Elba movie 4 out of 5 stars, writing that this “really good, dumb comedy” has no ambitions to be anything other than a thoroughly good time, allowing it to hit that undemanding but entertaining sweet spot that many action-comedies lack. The critic continues:

If dumb humor is what Heads of State is going for, Justin Kim of Loud and Clear thinks it perhaps didn’t go far enough. The critic left the theater not fully satisfied but still rates the movie 3 out of 5 stars, writing that it provided too much entertainment to warrant a low score. In Kim’s words:

It sounds like the critics are mostly in agreement that Heads of State is great for a dose of stupid summer fun. Go ahead and add me to that list, as I also attended an early screening and was highly amused by the banter between John Cena and Idris Elba. You won’t have to wait long or go far for this one. Heads of State hits Amazon’s Prime Video on Wednesday, July 2.

While Hollywood blockbusters are still quite capable of producing bona fide solo heroes for audiences to cheer and worry for like John Wick and [insert specially skilled Liam Neeson character name], fewer and farther between are the two-hander action romps that populated video rental shelves in the '80s and '90s. That semi-dearth of duos is largely why I'm so grateful that John Cena and Idris Elba's rip-roaring new action-comedy Heads of State exists.

As produced by Amazon MGM — whose name is basically buddy branding in and of itself — Heads of State likely could have set Cena and Elba up with the dumbest story imaginable and their combined talents would have still made it worth watching. Thankfully, screenwriting duties were handled in part by veteran scribes Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, whose most prominent addition to the action genre was unquestionably co-writing Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol.

Cena brings his WWE confidence as the relatively new President of the United States Will Derringer, who was a globally recognized action movie star prior to entering politics. Naturally, Will is the overly vocal and impulsive yin to the measured and clandestine yang of Elba's Sam Clarke, Britain's Prime Minister. Opposites initially don't attract as they're brought together to unveil a plot-driving plan to fellow NATO leaders, but a nagging terrorist threat forces them to see each other's strengths instead of just the faults. It's a classic set-up, and the two stars make both the clashing and vibing feel genuine throughout.

It's the third and biggest movie yet from director Ilya Naishuller, who is arguably responsible for injecting the biggest surprises and quirkiest moments that make Heads of State stand apart from the sea of overly serious political thrillers and lesser-than action-comedies that sacrifice wowzers stunts for ad-libbed one-liners.

Together, John Cena and Idris Elba are funny, charismatic and badass enough that I already want a sequel.

Idris Elba is the kind of actor who brings his A-game to every role, and he's quite polished at choosing projects that hit above a certain line of quality. Cena by and large shares that first trait, even if his body of work sits on a slightly lower echelon. Put the two together, and where one might expect to see two larger-than-life personalities fighting for screen-supremacy, and the result is instead perfectly complementary. The pairing worked in The Suicide Squad within a larger ensemble but fully thrives here.

Cena's Will Derringer is largely a caricature that mixes Donald Trump's political bravado and impulsive outbursts with former Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger's embrace of his Hollywood past. He's the kind of guy who loves to solve problems with easily digestible catchphrases, which initially puts him at odds with Elba's more stoic and contemplative Sam Clarke. Their argumentative dynamic creates a bit of a grind early on as everyone's personalities are spread out in full, but the pair's chemistry is locked in straightaway, making this way easier to watch than an actual political debate.

The two leaders are forced into teaming up aboard Air Force One after the flight gets targeted by a team of goons guided by Paddy Considine's shady mustachioed villain Viktor Gradov. Once the two heroes are free and clear of the plane crash, they're forced to go on the run to seek out a welcoming U.S. embassy, with plenty of expected and unexpected threats getting in their way. If you think it wouldn't get old watching Cena and Elba punch, kick and shoot enemies with gleeful aplomb, you'd be right.

Not that the two titular Heads provide the only star power. Priyanka Chopra-Jonas is every bit as badass as her co-stars while portraying MI6 agent Noel Bisset, whose prolonged absence during a chunk of the movie feels more like a scheduling issue than a story plus-up. The Boys and Novocaine's Jack Quaid pops in for some brazen and brutal delights, and might actually boast the most highlight reel-ready appearance of anyone.

Nobody director Ilya Naishuller gets his biggest budget yet, with lots of fun, unique, and explosive moments to show for it.

Russian filmmaker Ilya Naishuller made his mark on Hollywood and U.S. audiences with the 2015 action flick Hardcore Henry (budget: $2 million), which is infamous for being shot entirely from the first-person perspective of its main character. Next up, Naishuller turned Bob Odenkirk into a low-key action hero with 2021's Nobody (budget: $16 million), which was a big enough hit to spark a sequel (coming later this year).

With Heads of State, however, the director is working on a completely different level, and his ability to scale his talents up becomes quite evident during the first big action sequence onboard Air Force One. Actually, the moments that occur outside the plane are the best indicators of Naishuller's ability to shake up the norm. A couple of the most memorable shots in the film come from cameras that are attached to drone explosives aimed at the POTUS' plane, calling back to Hardcore Henry's P.O.V. approach.

Other stunts and shots peppered throughout the film also show off Naishuller's imaginative approach to camerawork – be on the lookout for a character who's missing his front teeth – which helps give Heads of State more personality than the majority of less playful releases. Even when explosive weapons aren't in use, Will and Sam's hand-to-hand combat scenes are somehow just as much fun and exciting to watch.

That applies fully to the main antagonist's top pair of hyper-violent enforcers, Sasha the Killer (Alexander Kuznetsov) and Olga the Killer (Katrina Durden), who seem to defy death as they continue chasing the two world leaders wherever necessary. The duo would have felt right at home in The Raid or Oldboy.

I admittedly expected more of those unique and unexpected moments throughout, and it's entirely possible that making such a big budget movie for Amazon MGM stymied some of Ilya Naishuller's wackier instincts in order to keep everything on a clear and understandable narrative path.

Despite early issues with plot and tone, Heads of State boasts a pretty flawless second half.

Had a version of Heads of State come out in the '80s alongside the comparable buddy action classics Lethal Weapon and 48 Hrs., the political exposition laid out in the first act likely wouldn't have inspired a second glance. But at a time when real-world news is affected by partisanship at every level, watching any kind of immature tête-à-tête between two global leaders – even a fictional comedic-minded one – can immedaitely become exhausting.

Beyond the politico murk, the film's opening sequences also have a lot of exposition and character introductions to get through, which is where audiences first meet Chopra-Jonas' Noel and Sarlto Copley's Agent Coop. Which leads to introductions for Will's Chief of Staff Simone (Sarah Niles), Sam's second banana Quincy (Richard Coyle) and Viktor Gradov's American quasi-henchman Arthur (Stephen Root). Let's also not forget Will's Vice President Elizabeth Kirk, though Carla Gugino makes her first appearance a bit later on.

After the stellar Air Force One sequence, however, John Cena and Idris Elba are removed from the bulk of the other main characters, and that's when things get cooking. Without anyone else yapping in their ears, Will and Sam are forced to meet in the middle and work together, which is the foundation of any great buddy action movie. The movie never loses sight of that kinship, either, throughout all the other bone-breaking brawls, bullet-hell gunfights, and twisty plot machinations.

With its surprisingly deft blend of high-stakes action and light-hearted comedy that bumps against the PG-13 rating, Heads of State is 100% the kind of guilt-free popcorn-chomping good time that Amazon MGM should be making, and is definitely worthy of a trip to the theater, as opposed to streaming at home. President John Cena's biceps deserve to be seen on the biggest screen possible... because America.

We've reached July, and it’s hot outside. So you may have some time off this week with the 4th of July weekend happening. You could spend that time doing something useful, or you could spend it in front of the TV with the A/C on and enjoying something new on your favorite streaming platform.

One of the biggest box office hits of the year is heading to HBO Max. One of Netflix’s biggest hits is finally getting a sequel after all these years, and the newest Marvel series on Disney+ wraps up after only two weeks. Here’s a look at what you don’t want to miss on streaming this week.

Ironheart, Episodes 4-6 - July 1 (Disney+)

The first three episodes of Marvel Studios' Ironheart received a strong response from fans, so there could be strong interest in the final three. Unless you canceled your Disney+ subscription in the middle, you can watch the conclusion to the strangely released series this week.

The Old Guard 2 - July 2 (Netflix)

The Old Guard was a major triumph, becoming one of Netflix’s most successful original movies when it was released. Of course, that was five years ago, and quite a lot’s happened since then. Will The Old Guard 2 be worth the wait? Fans certainly hope so. We'll finally find out what Charlize Theron (whose kids were not a fan of her mullet) and her gang of immortals have been up to. Maybe rewatch the original first, just to be safe.

Heads of State - July 2 (Prime Video)

Not since Harrison Ford fought off terrorists in Air Force One have leaders of the free world kicked so much ass. Heads of State stars Idris Elba as the British Prime Minister and John Cena as the President of the United States, who can’t stand each other, but must work together when they’re both targeted for assassination. The movie looks to be full of action and laughs, and fan know Elba and Cena can dish out both. The best reason to have a Prime Video subscription this week.

The Sandman, Season 2, Volume 1 - July 3 (Netflix)

The first season of Sandman, based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel, was a solid hit that earned itself a second season, despite being a fairly expensive series to produce. The first of three episode drops for Season 2 arrives this week. The new DC TV show's return is a pretty good reason to keep your Netflix subscription for the next few weeks.

Sinners - July 4 (HBO Max)

So often, I highlight movies that were released theatrically, but that most people probably haven’t yet seen. In this case, I get to sing the praises of Sinners, a movie that there’s a decent chance you saw, considering it’s one of the highest-grossing non-franchise movies in years. Whether you need to see what all the hype was about or you want to watch it again, you can use your HBO Max subscription to watch one of the best horror movies of the year so far, starting on the 4th of July.

July is just getting started, and there are a lot more high-profile series and movies debuting this month. We’ll see you back here next week with another list of streaming content you won’t want to miss.

The following contains SPOILERS for Stephen King’s The Dark Tower books.

There was a time, not even that long ago, when The Lord of the Rings was considered un-filmable. The story was simply seen as too big and too dense that to do it justice in cinematic form wasn’t believed possible. Peter Jackson showed us all that was untrue, and with that, a number of other epic stories became possible too; stories like Stephen King’s The Dark Tower.

Considered King’s magnum opus, The Dark Tower is a seven-book series that also touches on almost every other book King has ever written. To do it justice would require a commitment on par with what we saw in the Harry Potter movies. It was attempted once with disastrous results, and now they’re trying again.

Mike Flanagan, who has shown a deft hand at adapting Stephen King material already, is currently very early in what is clearly meant to be a long-term project adapting The Dark Tower as a TV series. In nearly every way, he is likely trying to avoid the mess that the 2017 Dark Tower movie starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey became. However, there is one thing about that movie that I hope the new series actually embraces.

Ron Howard Once Tried What Mike Flanagan Is Doing Now

Back in the early 2010s, Ron Howard and his producing partner Brian Grazer attempted to adapt The Dark Tower. It was an incredibly ambitious project, and at one point, it was planned to be a combination of theatrical film and television series that would tell the whole story, but with each chapter belonging to the medium that suited it best.

At various points, it appeared the project was dead. Eventually, the ambition shrunk down, and all we got was 2017’s The Dark Tower, a single film that both tried to be standalone, while also opening the door to sequels if the first movie was a hit.

It was not a hit. The movie was a mess. Its attempts to be a story that worked on its own required so much lore that the film was overstuffed. Fans of The Dark Tower hated the way it changed the story. New fans were simply unable to get invested thanks to being buried under endless lore.

As a fan of The Dark Tower, I was as disappointed as anybody that the movie was a mess. It had a strong cast, but they weren’t given much to work with. But I was especially disappointed by the failure because a year before the movie came out Stephen King himself got me excited for the film with an image that changed everything.

How Stephen King’s The Dark Tower Ends Is Important To The Film

The Dark Tower follows Roland of Gilead, a Gunslinger, as he goes on search for the ritual tower. At the end of the story, he finds the building, but then the story drops an incredible twist: Roland has been here before.

As it turns out, Roland has made the journey to the Dark Tower many times, and each time he does, he is returned to the place where the first book begins. Roland’s single-minded determination to seek the Tower has made him unworthy of that which he has been after.

However, on this trip to the Tower, the one we read, something changed in Roland. It’s indicated that in previous cycles, the people Roland met along the way were only tools he used to get to the Tower, but this time, he found friends. Roland’s goal was the Tower, but he (mostly) was not willing to sacrifice others to get it. For this reason, as Roland begins his next walk across the desert, he is carrying the Horn of Eld, an item he had previously left behind and that he needs to blow from a top the Dark Tower.

The implication is that Roland is a step closer to his redemption. However many times Roland has arrived at the Tower, the story of King’s novels may be his penultimate trip, with only this last journey required to truly reach his goal.

The Failed Dark Tower Movie Was Meant To Be A Sequel To The Books

It was with this knowledge that a tweet from Stephen King back in May of 2016 really set me off. It included a picture of the Horn of Eld with the words “Last Time Around” across it. Along with a comment from King himself, it seemed clear, that the Dark Tower film wasn’t an adaptation of the books, it was a sequel.

By implication, it seemed the idea was that the movie version of The Dark Tower would tell the story of this next cycle of Roland, one where he carried the Horn of Eld, and would finally deliver it to the Tower. If there is anything from the otherwise mess of a movie that is worth salvaging, it’s this.

Making The New Dark Tower Series A Sequel Is An Opportunity

Making The Dark Tower a follow-up to the books rather than a straight adaptation offers a lot of potential and a lot of opportunity. First and foremost, while fans will certainly hope that Mike Flanagan’s series will be fairly faithful to the source material, no adaptation is perfect. The fact that the show isn’t supposed to be an exact adaptation can be worked into the story.

We can potentially see new things, meet new people and go to new places. If the events in Roland’s past happened slightly differently, if he isn’t quite the same man, then it stands to reason that what follows wouldn’t play out exactly the same. This gives both the books and the series value in themselves. Fans would have a reason to experience both completely as they tell one long story.

And of course, there’s also the satisfaction that comes with a story that reaches its end. Not everybody loved the way the final Dark Tower book ended with its lack of resolution, no matter how much sense it made. Those of us who love Roland want to see him succeed, and with this, it could be possible.

Stephen King has said he’s actually involved in working on Mike Flanagan’s adaptation. While exactly what that means is far from clear, with the two men working together, perhaps we really could get a version of The Dark Tower that doesn’t simply adapt the story, but completes it.

Some of the most extraordinary performances in movie or TV history have seen the actor completely disappear into a role, not only changing their appearance but also adopting a voice almost entirely different from their own. Take a look at some of the most impressive voice alterations that an actor took on to perfect their unique portrayal of a now iconic character (or characters).

Robert De Niro (Cape Fear)

One thing that makes the 1991 remake of Cape Fear one of the most amusing Martin Scorsese/Robert De Niro collaborations is the actor's approach to playing Max Cady. The Academy Award-winning Italian-American dons a thick, over-the-top Southern accent but is still no less chilling as the sadistic, recently released convict seeking revenge on the defense attorney (Nick Nolte) who put him away.

Lupita Nyong'o (Us)

One of the scariest modern horror movie villains is Red (Lupita Nyong'o) from writer and director Jordan Peele's 2019 sophomore feature, Us. The Academy Award winner brilliantly differentiates the vengeful, "tethered" person from her above-ground double, Adelaide, and gives her an even more unsettling presence, with a raspy voice inspired by a condition called spasmodic dysphonia, which inhibits airflow and is commonly a symptom of traumatic experiences.

Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln)

As he would with any other role, Daniel Day-Lewis went to great lengths to become the sixteenth President of the United States for his Oscar-winning performance in Steven Spielberg's 2012 biopic, Lincoln. He even made sure to match Honest Abe's voice, which was high-pitched and reedy (according to the Library of Congress), as opposed to the low bellow many previous portrayals mistakenly attempted.

Mel Blanc (Looney Tunes)

To this day, it is almost shocking to learn that most of the original Looney Tunes characters were brought to life by just one actor. Until he passed away in 1989, Mel Blanc provided the diverse voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, and plenty more favorites under the Warner Bros. animation umbrella.

Austin Butler (Elvis)

The key to portraying Elvis Presley is nailing his distinct Southern drawl, which Austin Butler went to great lengths to perfect when he was cast as the influential musician in Baz Luhrmann's 2022 biopic. The work he put into the voice seemed to have a lasting effect on the actor, whom audiences could not help but notice continued to speak in the same accent during public appearances.

Seth MacFarlane (Various)

In addition to being one of the creative forces behind two of TV's longest-running hit animated shows for grown-ups, Seth MacFarlane is also responsible for bringing many of their most important characters to life. He voices Peter, Stewie, and Quagmire on Family Guy and plays Stan and Roger on American Dad – all of whom require him to be completely unrecognizable, while Family Guy's Brian is no different from his real voice.

Catherine O’Hara (Schitt's Creek)

What makes Moira Rose (Catherine O'Hara) one of the funniest characters on Schitt's Creek is the way she pronounces certain words with her over-the-top, posh accent. Classic examples include "baby" (beh-beh) and "enchiladas" (ahn-chuh-lah-dahs).

Jim Carrey (How The Grinch Stole Christmas)

It is still sometimes hard to believe that it is Jim Carrey playing the title role in Ron Howard's live-action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 2000. Not only is he covered head-to-toe with green skin and matching fur in the Christmas movie classic but the comedic mastermind disguises his voice with an accent that earned comparisons to Sean Connery, as he told Entertainment Weekly.

Eddie Murphy (Coming To America)

Eddie Murphy started a career staple of playing multiple roles in the same movie with 1988's Coming to America. He dons an African accent to play Prince Akeem and brings his voice to higher octaves as Randy Watson and Clarence, but he undergoes the most intensive alteration of both his appearance and voice when playing elderly barber shop patron, Saul.

Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

The Dark Knight is a superhero movie that won Oscars for Sound Editing and for Heath Ledger's astonishing, transformative performance as The Joker. No matter how many times you watch Christopher Nolan's acclaimed 2008 sequel to Batman Begins, it is always shocking to hear that wheezy, menacing voice coming from the late Australian actor.

Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons)

If you have ever seen any of comedian Dan Castellaneta's live-action acting credits, it might shock you to learn that his most famous role is Homer Simpson. However, the Simpsons cast member provides the voice of plenty more characters than the infantile, Duff-swilling family man, including Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, and Groundskeeper Willie.

Bill Skarsgård (Nosferatu)

Bill Skarsgård is no stranger to dramatically altering his appearance and his voice for the sake of scaring the living daylights out of audiences, having played Pennywise in back-to-back creepy clown movies, It and It Chapter Two. However, his transformation into Count Orlok for Robert Eggers' 2024 reimagining of Nosferatu was an even more challenging process, requiring a month-and-a-half of vocal training to perfect the vampire's dread-inducing growl.

Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line)

Joaquin Phoenix did all of his own singing when portraying Johnny Cash in James Mangold's acclaimed music biopic, 2005's Walk the Line. While appearing on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that year, the future Oscar winner told the late night talk show host that he worked with a dialect coach to replicate the Man in Black's deep baritone voice as authentically as possible.

Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout)

For her Emmy-winning performance on the Hulu original true crime miniseries, The Dropout, Amanda Seyfried had the challenge of imitating the infamous low voice of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder and CEO of the fraudulent blood-testing company Theranos.

Hugh Jackman (X-Men)

Many have been shocked to learn that Hugh Jackman is an Australian as his most famous role is the Canadian-native, Adamantium-clawed mutant, Wolverine. Of course, the Tony winner does more than just drop his natural accent for the X-Men movies but also incorporates a deep, nigh-animalistic growl.

Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

When Stephanie Beatriz debuted in the Brooklyn Nine-Nine cast, she used her natural, higher-tone voice to play Det. Rosa Diaz. However, over time, the character's voice became progressively deeper until the actor settled on a low, more gruff tone that better suited the cop's hard-edged exterior.

Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Trilogy)

To play the lead in Christopher Nolan's beloved live-action Batman movies, Christian Bale pulled double-duty on changing his voice. In addition to dropping his Welsh accent when appearing as Bruce Wayne, he adopted a gravelly, identity-concealing growl when patrolling Gotham as the Dark Knight.

Kristen Stewart (Spencer)

Kristen Stewart did more to earn her Academy Award nomination for portraying Princess Diana in the 2021 biopic, Spencer, than donning a blonde hairdo and an English accent. The actor revealed to Howard Stern that she went so far as to dramatically evolve her vocal inflection by opening her mouth more widely than she normally would and, as a result, practically altered her physical appearance in the film.

Phil LaMarr (The Adventures Of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius)

Prolific voice actor Phil LaMarr, in addition to his transformative characters as a MADtv cast member, has made himself unrecognizable for countless iconic animated roles, such as John "Green Lantern" Stewart on Justice League or the title hero of Samurai Jack. However, no blip on his resume is nearly as surprising as the recurring role of foreign exchange student Bolbi Stroganofsky on Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.

Mark Hamill (Batman: The Animated Series)

There are two different kinds of Mark Hamill fans. There are those who know the actor as Luke Skywalker from the Star Wars movies and then there are those who know him as The Joker on Batman: The Animated Series and many subsequent animated Batman movies. The voice he puts on for the role – a wonderful mix of comically over-the-top theatrics and scintillating intimidation – has been recognized as the definitive portrayal of the Clown Prince of Crime in the eyes of many DC fans.

Robin Williams (Popeye)

Robin Williams proved that he was the perfect choice to lead director Robert Altman's live-action adaptation of the Popeye comic strip. He matched the brave, spinach-swilling sailor's fast-paced growl, as originated by voice actor Billy Costello, to a tee in the 1980 film.

Maggie Wheeler (Friends)

Maggie Wheeler stole the show from the Friends cast with her recurring role as Janice Hosenstein, who was famous for her signature catchphrase, "Oh. My. GAWWWWWD!" What sold the character was her thick, nasally Brooklyn accent, which the actor came up with when she auditioned to play the character, as she revealed to Access Hollywood.

Idris Elba (Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom)

Idris Elba earned rave reviews for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the Oscar-nominated 2013 biopic, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Being raised by West African immigrants helped the English-born actor develop an appropriate dialect to play the influential South African President, as he revealed to Oprah Winfrey.

Mia Goth (X)

Mia Goth played dual roles in Ti West's acclaimed A24 horror movie, 2022's X – both of which required her to conceal her mousy English accent. She spoke with a raspy Southern drawl as young aspiring starlet Maxine Minx and sounded similar, but significantly aged up, when playing homicidal elder, Pearl.

Megan Mullally (Will & Grace)

Megan Mullally absolutely earned her two Emmy Award wins for her committed performance as Karen Walker on the classic TV sitcom, Will & Grace. The key to the spoiled socialite's scene-stealing presence was her ear-piercing voice, which truly sounds nothing like the actor in real life.

Ana De Armas (Blonde)

Cuban-born actor Ana de Armas is known for having a strong accent, which she concealed in order to portray Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. Her commitment to matching the Hollywood icon's dialect in the 2022 Netflix original biopic would earn her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

Billy West (Various)

Billy West could be called the Mel Blanc of his generation as he can claim to have played about as many memorable animated characters as the iconic voice actor behind much of the Looney Tunes line-up did. To list just a few of West's best-known credits, he was both of the title characters from The Ren & Stimpy Show, took over as Popeye at one time, led Futurama as Fry, and plenty more.

Nicole Kidman (Being The Ricardos)

Nicole Kidman's Academy Award-nominated portrayal of Lucille Ball in 2021's Being the Ricardos was achieved with more than just makeup. The actor shed her Australian accent and added a smokiness to match the I Love Lucy star's natural voice but was also challenged to imitate the more high-pitched tone of the comedy icon's onscreen alter ego.

Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory)

Dr. Bernadette Maryann Rostenkowski-Wolowitz easily boasts one of the most impossibly high-pitched voices in sitcom history. However, The Big Bang Theory cast member Melissa Rauch actually sounds nothing like Howard Wolowitz's bride, yet maintained the façade convincingly for 10 seasons on the hit CBS comedy.

Chris Pratt (The Super Mario Bros. Movie)

Despite making "total sense" to the directors of Illumination's The Super Mario Bros. Movie, fans of the original Nintendo video game series had some initial hesitation over Chris Pratt's casting as the older Mario brother. However, the actor wisely avoided the plumber's stereotypical Italian dialect from the games in favor of a Brooklyn accent that effectively masked his natural voice.

Robert Pattinson (Mickey 17)

Robert Pattinson plays the title role of Bong Joon-ho's 2024 sci-fi comedy Mickey 17 with an entirely unrecognizable and, admittedly, kind of goofy voice. According to IndieWire, the English actor based the voice for his "expendable" character and his many clones off of comedian Steve-O.

Johnny Depp (Charlie And The Chocolate Factory)

Say what you want about Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory but you have to admit that Johnny Depp did try something amusing with the role of Willy Wonka. To play the eccentric chocolatier, he adopted a high-pitched wheeze that almost makes you question if it really is the same guy who played Capt. Jack Sparrow under that top hat.

A lot of actors will go the extra mile when it comes to trying to portray a character on screen. Many will put their bodies through incredible workouts to bulk up to play a superhero. Others might gain or lose weight so as to better reflect what a character should look like. When playing real people, if possible some actors will meet the person they are playing if that’s possible. Or, if you’re Idris Elba, you spend a night in prison.

Back in 2013, Idris Elba played Nelson Mandela in Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom, based on the memoir the South African leader wrote after spending nearly three decades in prison. As part of his preparation to play the great leader, Elba decided to not simply spend time in prison, but he tells The Times he actually convinced authorities to let him spend the night in the same prison where Mandela was incarcerated. Elba explained…

It’s certainly one way to feel close to your subject. To spend any time in the same prison, to see the same thing and experience the same place, even if only for one night, certainly gives one a small understanding of what the experience was really like.

Most of us likely would not spend any time in prison if we had the choice. On the one hand, not being actually incarcerated might have changed the experience for the actor, but it seems that wasn’t quite the case. Elba clearly didn't enjoy his overnight stay. The prison is no longer in use, which meant he was the only person there during that time, but that may have actually made things worse. The actor continued…

It seems like the time spent may have been worth it. While Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom wasn’t a blockbuster hit or a major awards darling, his performance as Mandela is seen as one of Elba's best roles, earning him a Golden Globe nomination for the role at the time.

As an avid reader, I love getting ready for upcoming book adaptations because it’s just so much fun how a book can compare to a novel. Sure, the source material is almost always better than the movie or TV show, but it can be satisfying to see how the different mediums tell the same story. And following a new announcement coming out about the movie Children Of Blood And Bone, I’m very much sold on finally getting into the book series.

I’m Floored By The Talent In Paramount’s Children Of Blood And Bone

First off, this cast is actually ridiculous. Per Variety, eight very talented actors have already signed on and there’s more in negotiations. To first talk about the heavy hitters, Viola Davis will play a Seer named Mama Agba. Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo will play an admiral named Kaea who is right hand to the king, played by Chiwetel Ejifor. Idris Elba will play a high priest named Lekan, and Lashana Lynch will play the mother to the main characters, Zelie and Tzain.

Oh, and apparently Regina King is currently in negotiations to play the queen of the kingdom of Orïsha, the setting of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling series. Paramount is assembling some of the biggest casts of talented actors we’ve seen in a minute. This is clearly a big production that the studio is investing in and has impressed a slew of talent.

I’m Excited To See Talent From The Woman King Reunited

Leading the adaptation will be Thuso Mbedu as the fantasy film’s heroine Zelie. I don’t know if you saw 2023’s The Woman King, but that was the first and only movie in which I’ve seen Mbedu, and she is amazing in her role. She co-starred with Viola Davis in that movie, who did almost every stunt in the action movie, along with Lynch. We loved The Woman King in our review, especially for the direction of Gina Prince-Blythewood, who will also be directing the Children of Blood and Bone.

Thuso Mbedu will also be joined by Snowfall’s Damson Idris, who is set to star in F9 with Brad Pitt this year, and The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg will play the children of the king who embark on a quest with Zelie to take back the magic that is stolen from their kingdom. House Party’s Tosin Cole will play Zelie’s older brother.

I Love The Idea Of A New Fantasy YA Trilogy Being On The Big Screen

As a book reader who loved following The Hunger Games series when it was being made into movies and is excited for the upcoming prequel, I love the idea of there finally being a big-budget YA adaptation again. So many of them in the past just weren’t not successful, oftentimes because the right attention wasn’t put into them. With this cast, its director and author Tomi Adeyemi even co-writing the screenplay, I’m ready to read this series (there are three books) and then get even more excited for the movie. The film has a release date of Jan. 15, 2027 and will be made for IMAX.

This has been an extra special year for those who like the Sonic the Hedgehog film continuity. Starting off, the first tie-in TV series, Knuckles, was released to Paramount+ subscription holders in April, and now we’re just a week away from Sonic the Hedgehog 3’s arrival on the 2024 movies schedule. Idris Elba, of course, reprised Knuckles for both projects, and Keanu Reeves is debuting in the threequel as Shadow the Hedgehog. While we’re still in the dark about what will go down between these two in Sonic 3, evidently things won’t end on too bad of a note, as Elba and Reeves want a spinoff starring their characters and pitched some excellent titles for it.

The actors shared their enthusiasm for such a team-up while speaking with ComicBook, offering the below titles as straightforward, yet nonetheless on-point suggestions for that this spinoff would be called:

Idris Elba: I’m telling you… Shadow Knuckles
Keanu Reeves: No, Knuckles and Shadow.
Elba: Shadow Knuckles sounds like a band.

Hey, why overcomplicate the title for a spinoff starring these characters? Much like how the title for the upcoming Paramount+ series NCIS: Tony & Ziva is “fantastic,” there’s no need to come up with something complicated for such a Sonic the Hedgehog spinoff. Just keep it simple! As for if I like Shadow Knuckles or Knuckles and Shadow, I have to go with the latter, but not because of Idris Elba’s band observation.

Rather than Knuckles and Shadow being its own series or movie, I think it would be better if that was the title used for Knuckles Season 2, assuming that’s in the cards. Assuming Shadow comes out of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as a good guy, or at least less inclined to kill Knuckles, Sonic and Tails, then would be easy enough to throw him into an adventures with Knuckles that requires them to work together. Tack on Shadow’s name to the Knuckles show, and you give people more incentive to check out the next season.

Of course, even entertaining the possibility of a Knuckles and Shadow movie or series happening in any form can’t truly happen until Sonic the Hedgehog 3 comes out. In addition to Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves, as well as Ben Schwartz and Colleen O'Shaughnessey respectively reprising Sonic and Tails, the threequel sees the return of folks like James Marsden as Tom Wachowski, Tika Sumpter as Maddie Wachowski, Lee Majdoub as Agent Stone, and Jim Carrey playing both Dr. Ivo Robotnik and his grandfather Gerald. Newcomers include Krysten Ritter, Alyla Browne, Sofia Pernas, Cristo Fernández, James Wolk, and Jorma Taccone.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 races into theaters on December 20. If the day comes that Knuckles and Shadow is officially announced, count on CinemaBlend to pass along that news.

At this point, The Office is basically guaranteed to go down in history as not only one of the best sitcoms of all time, but also as one of the comedies that people love to rewatch and as a series that made a number of actors famous because of their roles on the nine-season hit.

Speaking of which, many of the actors we know and love from the ever-popular mockumentary about the (frequently wacky) employees at the Scranton branch of the Dunder Mifflin paper company have starred (or popped up memorably) in a number of other movies and shows both before, during and after their time on the NBC classic. So let’s take a look at what else you can watch the cast of The Office in!

Foxcatcher

Even though Steve Carell was known as a comedic actor before he led The Office cast as the sometimes good at his job Michael Scott, it was definitely his role on the comedy that propelled him to new heights and led to opportunities for him to branch out. One such case of that was his creepy starring turn in the drama Foxcatcher, an acclaimed biographical sports thriller that saw him nominated for a Best Actor Oscar in 2015.

Inside Out

It seems that 2015 was a good year for The Office cast, as this was when the Pixar mega-hit Inside Out was released, starring the voice of Phyllis Smith as Sadness. The animated film, of course, followed the personified emotions of a young girl going through a tough time, and was popular enough to get a sequel in 2024.

Away We Go

Of all The Office characters, it’s possible that John Krasinski’s Jim Halpert is the most beloved, and the actor rode that wave into 2009’s romantic road trip film Away We Go. The comedy-drama is about a couple in their early 30s trying to decide where to settle before the birth of their first child, and really should be sought out if you haven’t seen it yet.

Blades Of Glory

I know what you’re thinking, What about Pam? Well, Jenna Fischer’s Pam Beesly Halpert was, many think, the heart of the sitcom, and the actress became the heart of the ice-skating comedy Blades of Glory in 2007.

The Mindy Project

While Kelly Kapoor is one of the most memorably ridiculous staffers at Dunder Mifflin, the same can’t (totally) be said for Mindy Kaling’s OB/GYN, Mindy Lahiri, in The Mindy Project. The doctor may be analytical, friendly and good at her job, but she’s also blunt and shallow, making her fun to watch.

Bridesmaids

Because of the number of hilarious performances from the ensemble cast of the one-liner-filled comedy, Bridesmaids, you might have forgotten that Ellie Kemper (that’s receptionist Erin Hannon to you) starred in the somewhat raunchy 2011 hit as Becca, a newlywed member of the bridal party who loses some of her naivete because of the antics of the assembled group.

Parks And Recreation

Did you forget about Karen Filippelli? You know, Jim’s girlfriend who quickly realized that he was in love with Pam once they were all working together? Well, Rashida Jones was a much bigger part of Parks and Recreation, where her nurse, Anne Perkins, was a (mostly) reasonable member of the wacky ensemble.

Super

There probably aren’t a lot of us who watched the NBC workplace sitcom and envisioned any of the characters as superheroes, which is part of the point to Dwight Schrute actor Rainn Wilson taking on his reading role in Super. The dark comedy follows a short order cook who becomes a masked vigilante, and should be experienced at least once.

The Hangover

A hit comedy you’ve almost definitely seen at least once is 2009’s The Hangover, starring Ed Helms, a.k.a. Andy Bernard. Actually, no one would be surprised if you’ve seen this movie plus its two sequels multiple times.

This Is The End

Apocalyptic horror comedies don’t come around all that often, and when they do they’re rarely as insane as This Is The End. The 2013 film stars a number of notable famous folks playing versions of themselves who try to survive the Biblical event, including Darryl Philbin’s portrayer, Craig Robinson.

Leatherheads

John Krasinski also lent his talents to the George Clooney-directed, 1925-set football comedy, Leatherheads. It might not have been a big hit, but it definitely let fans see more of Krasinski’s big-screen potential early on.

Fresh Off The Boat

It hasn’t been uncommon for some of the cast to pop up on other popular shows, and that’s what we saw with Angela Kinsey (yup, she played Dwight’s eventual boo Angela) when it came to the ABC family comedy Fresh Off the Boat. Kinsey guest starred in a handful of episodes across Seasons 4 and 5 as Amy Chestnut, a nemesis for Jessica Huang.

The Lost City

It’s a bit of a wonder that Oscar managed to continue working at Dunder Mifflin Scranton, considering how professional and free of foolishness he was. But, his portrayer, Oscar Nuñez, did play an important oddball in 2022’s The Lost City, and to hilarious effect.

The Morning Show

Steve Carell continued to take on more dramatic roles after leaving The Office behind, and he kept his streak going by playing the disgraced former co-host for the first two seasons of the titular show that’s the focus of this Apple TV+ series.

The Giant Mechanical Man

While none of our beloved Office cast members have led what will come to be known as one of the best romantic comedies of all time just yet, Jenna Fischer did star in a lovely little rom-com called The Giant Mechanical Man, where she plays a struggling zoo worker who falls for a financially strapped street performer.

Family Switch

Sometimes you just need a good, fun family movie, and Ed Helms helped give us one with Family Switch. The movie, which you can watch with your Netflix subscription, gets its Freaky Friday on by having two parents (and the family dog) swap bodies with their two teens (and the baby of the family).

Galaxy Quest

Unfortunately, sci-fi and comedy simply don’t overlap that much, because when they do we end up with wondrous movies like Galaxy Quest. This now classic features Rainn Wilson as one of the decent, octopus-like Thermians, who juuuuust manage to pose as human.

Gone Baby Gone

Though she’d been a working actor for many years, most people really got to know about Amy Ryan because of her Oscar-nominated role in 2007’s Gone Baby Gone as the mother of a missing girl; a role that was quite different from her sweet Holly Flax.

The Bold Type

It’s a bad idea to get involved with your boss; that is, if your boss is like the domineering Jan Levinson, as played by Melora Hardin. However, if your boss is tough but fair and an all-around good human like The Bold Type’s Jacqueline Carlyle, then maybe things won’t go as badly for you as they did for Michael.

Silicon Valley

While Zach Woods brought even more weirdness to The Office as Gabe Woods for Seasons 6-9, he was more of a secure and stabilizing presence for the tech team on HBO’s comedy, Silicon Valley.

Ocean’s Eight

The Mindy Project hasn’t been the only way to watch Mindy Kaling outside of Scranton. In 2018 she branched out by starring as jeweler Amita in the crime comedy Ocean’s Eight, as one of the so-named group with a plan for a big jewelry heist.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

Naive, nice and endlessly hopeful seems to be a specialty of Ellie Kemper. She added another such character to the one from Bridesmaids and The Office when she took on the role of former underground (literally) doomsday cult member Kimmy Schmidt as she attempted to make a life for herself in New York City after being rescued. You can watch her in all four seasons and one interactive movie on one of the best streaming services, Netflix.

The Blacklist

Anyone who enjoyed James Spader as the intimidating and mysterious Robert California, odd though he was, would probably have no problem seeing the actor as, well…mysterious, intimidating and charming criminal mastermind/FBI informant/probable sociopath, Raymond “Red” Reddington for 10 seasons of the NBC drama, The Blacklist, which wrapped its long run in 2023.

The Wire

The Wire is an amazing drama that is one of the TV shows that actually ended well, and it also made Idris Elba a household name because of his long-running role as smooth criminal Stringer Bell. Were it not for this series, we might not have gotten him as Michael’s strict (and eventually antagonistic) boss who had quite an effect on the ladies, Charles Miner. FYI, you can also see Amy Ryan in this show, beginning in Season 2.

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Few fans of our favorite mockumentary could have guessed that there would be a time when superhero fans around the world would call for John Krasinski (he of the flippy Jim haircut and consistent bemused looks to the camera) to portray Marvel icon Mister Fantastic, a.k.a. Reed Richards. Well, Disney finally gave them their wish in a wildly short-lived fashion when he appeared as a version of the Fantastic Four leader in 2022’s multiverse-hopping Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

Six Feet Under

Yet another 2000s HBO drama has delivered another way to see someone from The Office. One of the rare family shows that’s about death in a real way, Six Feet Under helped Rainn Wilson show the world a happier, though still incredibly peculiar, character in mortuary intern Arthur Martin during Season 3.

Hot Tub Time Machine

One of the stranger time travel movies in recent memory can easily be said to be Hot Tub Time Machine, where our time travelers do, indeed, trip through time via an energy drink-powered hot tub. In both this classic comedy and its sequel, you can watch Craig Robinson experience the many benefits and dangers of time travel.

The Daily Show

A number of correspondents have passed by the news desk on Comedy Central’s politically aware pop culture program, The Daily Show. From 2002-2006, Ed Helms lent his talents to segments like Digital Watch, We Love Showbiz and This Week in God. The added bonus for you? This series launched Steve Carell’s early career, as he was also a correspondent from 1999 through 2005, and has returned several times since then as a guest.

Inglourious Basterds

We’ve already come upon some surprising portrayals from our wild and wacky Office workers, and fans were treated to another one with the release of Quentin Tarantino’s Academy Award-nominated Inglourious Basterds in 2009. While B.J. Novak’s Smithson "Little Man" Utivich was simply a loyal soldier and accomplished smart-alek, the environment he thrived in was much more stressful than anything Ryan could have survived.

Upload

Remember that dutiful movie and TV viewers can easily spot one of the Scranton denizens as they pop up in any number of other well-known projects. However, when Creed Bratton (yes, that Creed) appeared in a Season 1 episode of Amazon Prime’s Upload, he probably delivered the briefest, most hilariously gruesome guest star spot of them all.

Doctor Who

If there’s any one show in the history of TV shows that continues to provide us with a near-endless stream of cameos and guest starring roles from up-and-comers, it would be Doctor Who and its 60-year, 40-season history. And, we can actually watch a whole season (the fourth modern one) plus six specials of Catherine Tate (Nellie Bertram, Seasons 7-9) as The Doctor’s companion, Donna Noble.

The White Lotus

Last but not least, we take you to The White Lotus. This Emmy-winning HBO (Should we all just stick with HBO if we want to see our Office mates?) satire has already given us innumerable memorable characters and performances, and Season 1 saw Jake Lacy (who played Pete “New Jim” Miller in Season 9) take on the role of the easily unlikable, arrogant rich guy Shane Patton.

As you can see, The Office cast has thrived outside of the comedy that made so many of them famous!

One of the most iconic Black detectives in pop culture history is also one of Eddie Murphy’s funniest characters, Axel Foley, whom he's reprised in the 2024 Netflix movie, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. To celebrate Axel’s latest return to 90210, let’s take a look back at more of our favorite Black detectives from movies and TV shows, starting with the man of hour.

Axel Foley (Beverly Hills Cop)

The original Beverly Hills Cop from 1984 and its sequels are some of the funniest Eddie Murphy movies ever, particularly for Axel Foley’s blistering wit. Yet, he is also the right kind of detective you would want on your side for his commitment to getting the job done, even if he has to break a few rules along the way.

Virgil Tibbs (In The Heat Of The Night)

In 1967, trailblazing Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier gave one of his most inspiring performances in the Best Picture Oscar winner, In the Heat of the Night, as Virgil Tibbs, who falls prey to racial prejudice when he is wrongfully accused of a murder while visiting his mother in a small Mississippi town. However, the Philadelphia cop’s arrival proves to be a godsend, as Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger) would have never solved the crime without the expert investigation skills and resilience of the one they call “Mister Tibbs.”

John Luther (Luther)

The title character of the long-running British crime drama, Luther, could be called the Sherlock Holmes of his time, in the sense that his unusual methods of investigation and alienating personality traits often rub his colleagues the wrong way and even put him in legal trouble. Audiences, however, cannot get enough of the Detective Chief Inspector — who returned for Netflix’s feature-length spin-off, Luther: The Fallen Sun — his brilliant criminal perception and the charming Idris Elba’s captivating, Golden Globe-winning performance.

John Shaft (Shaft)

The crown jewel of Richard Roundtree’s best movies is Shaft — the story of a suave, streetwise detective from New York City. The Oscar-winning 1971 classic and its sequels made this bad mother— “shut yo mouth” — the undisputed king of the Blaxploitation era.

Mike Lowery And Marcus Burnett (Bad Boys)

As the title — borrowed from Inner Circle’s 1987 reggae hit — suggests, Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) from director Michael Bay’s directorial debut, Bad Boys, are not ones to be messed with. What really makes the 1995 buddy cop movie favorite and its sequels such a fun time is the two detectives’ unbreakable bond, both on and off duty.

Faith Mitchell (Will Trent)

When GBI Special Agents Will Trent (Ramon Rodriguez) and Faith Mitchell (Iantha Richardson) were forced to work together, they could not stand each other, with Faith being especially ticked off by his uptight attitude and connection to her own mother’s stunted law enforcement career. However, the title hero of ABC’s fun detective drama came to respect and admire his partner — a single mother to a college student with a big heart, a strong intuition, and a powerful kick — just as she warmed to him for his keen eye for evidence.

Ricardo Tubbs (Miami Vice)

One of the most dynamic duos in the history of TV cop dramas is that of Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs (Philip Michael Thomas) and James “Sonny” Crockett (Don Johnson) on one of the best mystery TV shows of the ‘80s, Miami Vice. Between the two, Tubbs was the one whom audiences would hope to identify with the most, being the more laid back undercover detective.

Alex Cross (Kiss The Girls)

As a forensic psychologist, Dr. Alex Cross knows how to get into the mind of the most disturbing criminals in Washington D.C., which often comes in handy during the many times the perpetrators make his cases a personal matter. Author James Patterson’s flagship character was first brought to life on screen by Morgan Freeman in 1997’s Kiss the Girls and again in Along Came a Spider four years later, before Tyler Perry took over the role in Alex Cross in 2012.

William Somerset (Se7en)

Two years before he became the (first) face of Alex Cross, Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman was cast in David Fincher’s breakthrough masterpiece, Se7en, as William Somerset — a veteran detective showing the younger David Mills (Brad Pitt) the ropes while working on what is meant to be his last case. However, despite how much the increasingly unsettling investigation tears him up inside, Somerset apparently decides to stay on the force by the end, based on his agreement with the second half of Ernest Hemingway’s belief that “the world is a fine place and worth fighting for.”

Misty Knight (Luke Cage)

One of the most influential comic book characters with a disability is Mercedes “Misty” Knight, who became equipped with a bionic right arm after losing it in an attempt to defuse a bomb. The brave, intuitive, hard-fighting New York detective was portrayed wonderfully on Luke Cage by Simone Missick.

Easy Rawlins (Devil In A Blue Dress)

One of the few and most esteemed Black characters in old-fashioned noir fiction is Ezekiel “Easy” Rawlins — first introduced in Walter Mosley’s 1990 novel, Devil in a Blue Dress. In the book’s 1995 adaptation, Academy Award winner Denzel Washington portrayed the World War II veteran who falls into the world of private investigation when his street smart intellect gets him enlisted to find a politician’s missing lover.

Roger Murtaugh (Lethal Weapon)

We wish we had a nickel for every time Roger Murtaugh (Danny Glover) proclaimed he was “getting too old for this shit” in one of the all-time greatest action movies, 1987’s Lethal Weapon, and its sequels. However, despite his age and no matter how uproarious his cases with his loose-canon partner, Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson), would get, the L.A. cop continued to fight.

Neal Washington (Hill Street Blues)

One of the best cop dramas of its time, if not all time, is Hill Street Blues, which boasted a diverse cast of characters, including standout Neal Washington (Emmy nominee Taurean Blacque). Known for his trademark toothpick and cap, the undercover veteran officer was a stern individual, but with a track record that earned him much respect and admiration from his peers.

Cleopatra Jones (Cleopatra Jones)

While the aforementioned John Shaft was the King of Blaxploitation, its queen would have to be… well, Pam Grier, who never actually played a cop in any of her most iconic roles from the era. However, when it came to ass-kicking Black females in official law enforcement positions in the 1970s, no one was better and badder than the title character of Cleopatra Jones — an undercover government agent played by Tamara Dobson in the 1973 hit and its 1975 sequel, Cleopatra Jones and the Casino of Gold.

Ron Stallworth (BlacKkKlansman)

In the early 1970s, Ron Stallworth became the first Black cadet at the Colorado Springs police department before going on to lead a secret operation to infiltrate the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan. He later chronicled this previously classified operation in his memoir, which was adapted into director Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning film, BlacKkKlansman, in which Stallworth was portrayed by John David Washington.

These are only some of our favorite examples of Black detectives in pop culture. Follow the clues and seek more of them out!

Eternity is calling! After about four decades of starts and stops. A new Master Of The Universe movie is finally part of the 2026 movie schedule. Fans of the franchise know all too well that the promise of a live-action movie based on the toy line from Mattel (and the cartoon that was also born from the action figures) has been in and out of production hell for a long, long time.

With the release of the movie just a couple of weeks away, here's everything we know about the Amazon MGM Studios release.

What Is The Masters Of The Universe Release Date?

By the power of Grayskull (and Amazon MGM Studios, and Mattel Films), Masters of the Universe is set to hit theaters everywhere on Friday, June 5, 2026. This date is a long time coming. The project has been all over the place for years, including a point when it found a home at Netflix, only to be scrapped.

The film was later revived with plans to start shooting in mid-2022, and those were abruptly cancelled not long after. Principal photography finally got underway in January of 2025, and star Nicholas Galitzine confirmed in an Instagram post in July of ‘25 that production had wrapped. Now it's hitting the big screen this summer.

The Master Of The Universe Trailer

In March 2026, Amazon MGM dropped the first full trailer for the movie.

After releasing a teaser a couple of months ago, Amazon MGM dropped the first trailer on the last day of March 2026. It looks amazing, even on the small screen; it should look really cool on the big one.

What Masters Of The Universe Is About

From the trailers, it looks like we're definitely getting an origin story. I don't always love origin stories, but I think it's critical here. He-Man isn't, say, Superman. Everyone knows Kal-El's history; fewer know Prince Adam/He-Man's backstory. Introducing all the key characters and, from the looks of it, creating a new backstory (the old show never went too deep here), is a smart way to build the foundation of a potential franchise.

The Masters Of The Universe Cast

The cast of Masters of the Universe is, in a word, stacked. There will be a ton of everyone's favorite characters, many of whom are played by A-list stars and familiar faces.

Nicholas Galitzine (He-Man/Prince Adam)

The new He-Man will be played by Nicholas Galitzine, who has starred in numerous Amazon Prime original movies already, including 2023’s Red, White & Royal Blue (which is returning soon), and The Idea of You from early 2024. The English actor’s casting followed two previous announcements that the lead Masters of the Universe role was filled – first by Noah Centineo, who dropped out as Covid-19 continued to hold the project back, and then by Kyle Allen, who was brought in until it hit another snag.

Jared Leto (Keldor/Skeletor)

Jared Leto had a rough 2025 with the release of Tron: Ares, which was a huge box office letdown. Leto is no stranger to big franchises, however. The Suicide Squad vet is playing He-Man's chief villain, Skeletor. The reveal of the villain is one of the real highlights of the trailer.

Camila Mendes (Teela)

Teela – the Captain of the Royal Guard at the palace of Eternos, who serves as Prince Adam’s trainer and protector – will be played by Camila Mendes. The character – who also fights battles with He-Man while unaware he is Adam’s alter ego – marks a major departure for the former Riverdale cast member, who is otherwise best known for rom-com films like the funny Palm Springs (one of the best movies on Hulu) or Amazon’s Upgraded. Then again, she also starred in a crime thriller called Coyote Lake from 2019 and led Netflix’s Dangerous Lies the following year.

Alison Brie (Evil-Lyn)

You could probably guess by her name alone that Evil-Lyn – the only female member of the Evil Warriors and second-in-command to Skeletor – is a villain. She will be played by Alison Brie. We only get a brief glimpse of her in both trailers, but she definitely looks badass.

Idris Elba (Duncan / Man-At-Arms)

Duncan, whose title, “Man-At-Arms,” is a central figure for Eternia’s ruling monarchy and the Royal Guard, will be played by Idris Elba, who played the somewhat similar role of Heimdall in the Thor movies. In fact, Masters of the Universe will be only the latest of many franchise films the six-time Emmy nominee has participated in, also including two DC films (The Losers and 2021’s The Suicide Squad) and the non-MCU Marvel flick, Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.

Kristen Wiig (Roboto)

The great Kristen Wiig will star as a Roboto, a robot warrior built by Man-At-Arms in the cartoon, and introduced later in the original cartoon's run. Traditionally, Roboto has been male, so this is an intriguing casting, one that could be very cool.

Morena Baccarin (Sorceress Of Castle Grayskull)

Playing Sorceress of Castle Grayskull, who guards the fortress’ secrets with magic, is Morena Baccarin, who is also no stranger to franchise adaptations, having voiced Talia Al Ghul in some animated Batman movies, playing Leslie Thompkins in the Gotham cast, and starring in the Deadpool movies as Wade's girlfriend, Vanessa. She had previously earned her “Geek Goddess” status as part of the Firefly cast in the role of Inara Serra.

James Purefoy (King Randor Grayskull)

James Purefoy – starring as Adam’s father, King Randor – has one previous comic book adaptation under his belt called Pennyworth (following Bruce Wayne’s butler’s early days in espionage). Highlights of the English actor’s resume also include A Knight’s Tale, HBO’s Rome, Disney’s John Carter, and creator Kevin Williamson’s crime drama, The Following.

Sam C. Wilson (Trap Jaw)

Skeletor’s cybernetic henchperson, Trap Jaw, who gets his name for his deadly bite, will be played by Sam C. Wilson of BBC’s Dodger fame. He is also known for appearing in a couple of episodes of House of the Dragon as Blood and is also set to star in the upcoming series, Blade Runner 2099, for Amazon MGM.

Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Fisto)

A fierce, heroic warrior named Fisto, known for having a large metal fist for a right hand, is being portrayed by Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, who is no stranger to fantasy epics, having appeared in the Game of Thrones cast as Lem Lemoncloak, in Vikings: Valhalla as Olaf Haraldsson, and more. The Icelandic actor more recently appeared in Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World as Copperhead.

Kojo Attah (Tri-Klops)

As Tri-Klops, one of Skeletor’s top warriors, we have Kojo Attah, whose last major “warrior” role was in the 2020 video game Total War Saga: Troy as the voice of Memnon. The actor would later work with Jason Statham in Wrath of Man and The Beekeeper. They also appeared in Netflix’s sci-fi series, Supacell.

John Xue Zhang (Ram Man)

Ram Man, who was literally described by Mattel as a “human battering ram,” is being played by John Xue Zhang, who has performed stunts for such films as Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw and Eternals. He has also scored acting roles in shows like Netflix’s The Brothers Son and movies like Kraven the Hunter.

Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (Goat Man)

Playing a minor villain named Goat Man – who debuted in the 1985 Golden Book, Secret of the Dragon’s Egg, before appearing in the Masters of the Universe: Revelation episode “Hope, for a Destination” – is Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson. The Icelandic strongman made his acting debut as one of multiple actors in the TV role of The Mountain on Game of Thrones and later starred in 2022’s The Northman, most notably.

Charlotte Riley (Queen Marlena)

As Marlena – King Randor’s wife and Adam’s mother – we have Charlotte Riley, who met her husband, Tom Hardy, while playing the romantic leads of Masterpiece’s two-part adaptation of Wuthering Heights. She is also known for films like Edge of Tomorrow and London Has Fallen, plus series like Peaky Blinders.

Sasheer Zamata (Suzie)

Sasheer Zamata has joined the Masters of the Universe cast as a new character named Suzie, but it will not mark the first time the SNL alum has branched out beyond comedy. She starred in a Blumhouse thriller called Sleight, was in the 2020 found footage horror movie Spree, appeared in Showtime’s Waco: The Aftermath, and joined the MCU in Agatha: All Along.

Christian Vunipola (Hussein)

Also starring in an original role, named Hussein, is Christian Vunipola. Some of his previous acting roles include 2022’s Not Okay and Hulu’s Miguel Wants to Fight.

Travis Knight Is Directing

Helming Masters of the Universe is Travis Knight, who already has experience with movies about toys, having made his live-action directorial debut with 2018’s Transformers movies spin-off, Bumblebee. His first directing credit was 2016’s Academy Award-winning Kubo and the Two Strings from Laika — the stop-motion animation studio he co-founded to produce acclaimed films like ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls.

Handling screenwriting duties, following a previous draft by David Callaham and Adam Nee, is fellow Laika veteran Chris Butler, who penned the likes of ParaNorman and Missing Link, in addition to working on the storyboarding for stop-motion classics Corpse Bride and Coraline.

Masters Of The Universe Is One Of Many Upcoming Mattel Productions

It would not be too much of a stretch to assume that the Masters of the Universe production got a healthy boost following the success of Barbie. However, He-Man is not the only toy hitting the big screen with help from the pink lady, as there are several other films based on Mattel products currently in the works.

The film studio (and toy company) is reported to be developing projects based on the popular American Girl dolls, a Hot Wheels movie, and a different one based on Matchbox toy cars, and even flicks about the View-Master and the Magic 8 Ball. There are plenty more where those came from on the way.

Previous Adaptations Of The Masters Of The Universe Toys

The Masters of the Universe toy line was first launched by Mattel in 1982. A popular after-school cartoon soon followed, and a notorious live-action box office bomb starring Dolph Lundgren (who reportedly has a cameo in the new movie) as He-Man was released in 1987. The adventures of He-Man and other characters from the franchise were also chronicled in accompanying minicomics, which were followed by a run in DC Comics as well.

The franchise’s first-ever movie, however, was 1985’s He-Man and She-Ra: The Secret of the Sword, which was later televised as a mini-series. The adventures continued to expand on the small screen in later years with 1990’s The New Adventures of He-Man, another remake from 2002.

Two animated reboot series on Netflix in 2021, including the Kevin Smith-produced Masters of the Universe: Revelation, and a 2024 miniseries called Masters of the Universe: Revolution. There were also two spin-off series centered on He-Man's sister, with Netflix's more recent hit She-Ra: Princesses of Power being an update of the characters' '80s spin-off.

Will this new interpretation of Masters of the Universe “have the POWERRRRRRR!” to win audiences over? We will just have to see when He-Man returns to the big screen in 2026.

Of all the mysteries of life, one that continues to confound us is what, exactly, lies beyond our planet. After thousands of years of peering into outer space as far as we could, we began to look for those answers in a very concrete way by sending people to the stars, and our movies have reflected our desire to know more, meaning that a number of humanity’s biggest and brightest stars have played space-faring individuals on screen. Here for you now are 32 famous actors who’ve played astronauts.

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Let’s start with one of the more harrowing views of space travel, Gravity, which garnered a number of Academy Award wins after its 2013 release. Sandra Bullock stars as Dr. Ryan Stone, who’s on her first space mission in order to help upgrade a telescope. But, things very quickly go wrong when she’s doing a spacewalk, and debris from a recently deactivated satellite hits the shuttle and leaves her stranded with many of her crew dead, Ryan floating through space, and desperate to find a way back to earth all on her own.

Brad Pitt (Ad Astra)

A space trip that doesn’t go too much better involves Brad Pitt’s Roy McBride in 2019’s Ad Astra. When Roy is tasked with traveling to Mars to see if the crew of a mission that was searching for other intelligent life, which was led 29 years earlier by his father, is still alive, he’s unwittingly thrust into a situation that’s far more dangerous than even standard space travel is known to be.

Ryan Reynolds (Life)

Noted comedic actor and big-screen superhero talent Ryan Reynolds has also donned a space suit for the very much not comedic Life, a 2017 ode to terror in space. After a probe returns to the International Space Station with soil samples from Mars, what is at first a dormant cell quickly turns into, well, life, and begins to cause a lot of horrific trouble for Reynolds’ engineer and the rest of the crew.

Halle Berry (Moonfall)

If you’re starting to sense a theme here, that outer space is dangerous, congratulations, because you really are paying attention. In the sci-fi disaster epic, Moonfall, Halle Berry’s NASA deputy director has to investigate when the moon begins to leave its orbit and come closer to Earth, threatening all of civilization. When she digs deeper into the mystery, however, she finds a government cover-up that goes back many decades and is forced to head back into space with a small crew to take care of the growing problem herself.

Michael Peña (A Million Miles Away)

Considering the incredible number of films we have where those who head into space are prominent characters, there are actually relatively few based on the lives of real people. A Million Miles Away stars Michael Peña as José M. Hernández, a Mexican-American engineer who served as a migrant worker when he was a child and went on to become an astronaut who worked aboard the International Space Station.

Viola Davis (Solaris)

There are many sci-fi films of the mind-trip variety and Solaris is no different. Viola Davis portrays one of the last surviving members of a space station crew orbiting the titular alien world, who must then try to help George Clooney’s visiting psychologist understand the truly strange phenomena that led to the death or disappearance of most of the crew. If you enjoy a twisty ending that leaves you with lots of questions, you’ll enjoy this one.

Mark Wahlberg (Planet Of The Apes)

You know this story; you love this story. Planet of the Apes saw Mark Wahlberg take over the role of an astronaut who crashes on a foreign planet, only to find that apes are now the dominant species, while humans are mostly without speech and used as slave labor. 

Chris Evans (Sunshine)

And here we have yet another space movie where a mission does not quite go as planned. Sunshine features stars like Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh and a pre-Captain America Chris Evans as the crew of a ship that’s been tasked with traveling to our dying sun to deliver a bomb in the hopes of reigniting it so that our planet can avoid another catastrophic ice age.

Adam Driver (65)

Ever wonder what Earth was like about 65 million years ago when dinosaurs still ruled the land? Well, that’s what alien astronaut Mills (Adam Driver) accidentally finds out when his ship is struck by a large field of asteroids and crashes on our planet, leading him to have to protect the only other survivor as they flee many dangerous beasts in an attempt to get to a faraway escape pod so they can return home.

Sigourney Weaver (Alien)

It’s possible we’d have far fewer of these “if it can go wrong on a space mission it will” science fiction films without what many consider one of the best horror movies of all time, Alien. The classic stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, one of a seven-person crew who unknowingly stumble upon the ultra-dangerous xenomorphs that would go on to become legendary in sci-fi horror, which quickly leads to pretty much nothing but increasingly bad times on their doomed mission.

Tom Hanks (Apollo 13)

We’ve hit upon another story based on some real-life adventures! In Apollo 13, Tom Hanks stars as Commander Jim Lovell who, along with Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), board their 1970 mission to the moon in order to become the third American crew to land there. However, trouble starts almost immediately.

Natalie Portman (Lucy In The Sky)

While not completely a true life story, 2019’s Lucy in the Sky is billed as being “loosely inspired” by the life of NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak. The plot concerns Natalie Portman’s Lucy, who has just returned from her first space mission, which had such a huge impact on her that she no longer feels connected to her family or life here. As she pushes herself to return on the next mission, she undergoes a mental breakdown that sends her life into a tailspin.

Glen Powell (Hidden Figures)

While the amazing biopic, Hidden Figures, focuses on three Black women (Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) who worked as NASA mathematicians during the height of the Space Race in the 1960s, we do still get an astronaut in this film. Twisters star Glen Powell plays John Glenn, who became the first American in orbit in 1962.

Robert Pattinson (High Life)

You’d think a movie called High Life would finally focus on some good times in space, but…nahhhhh. Robert Pattinson is a member of a crew of convicts on death row who’ve been sent to retrieve energy from a black hole, with the experiments of their commander leading to a child being born on board while crew members spiral out of control.

Tom Cruise (Oblivion)

Tom Cruise’s 2013 film, Oblivion, features him in a twisty plot that involves a post-apocalyptic Earth, evil A.I., even more evil aliens, and his character trying to figure out exactly what’s going on with his assigned mission. This is a good one that people hardly ever talk about.

Jodie Foster (Contact)

Based on the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan, Contact stars Academy Award winner Jodie Foster as a scientist who specializes in the search for extraterrestrial life, and finds a big clue toward that goal when she locates a radio signal that appears to be sent from a distant star, and is eventually chosen as the person to make first contact with the alien race behind the signal. Contact is an amazing film that is a must-see for sci-fi and space movie lovers.

Colin Farrell (Voyagers)

This movie is a real (space) trip. Voyagers stars Colin Farrell as the leader of a crew of very young adults who were bred away from humanity and had some of their hormones and emotions suppressed in the hope of keeping them manageable. But, when two of the crew realize what’s been done to them and convince everyone to stop taking the chemical, well, the proceedings get extremely emotional and tension doesn't let up for quite some time.

Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar)

By now, it’s probably pretty clear that our idea of space travel and exploration is mainly one of danger, especially from the unknown, and Christopher Nolan’s wildly successful Interstellar is certainly another addition to the film canon that shows us that. In it, Matthew McConaughey plays a former NASA test pilot who’s chosen to lead a mission through a wormhole that is hoped to lead to at least one habitable planet for humanity, which is dealing with a global famine that’s threatening an extinction event. 

Idris Elba (Prometheus)

Those Alien xenomorphs just won’t leave us alone, will they? In Prometheus, we get their origin story as a crew following an ancient star map searches for the beginnings of humanity, but instead finds…you know, a secret plot and lots of terror. Idris Elba portrays Janek, the heroic captain of the doomed spaceship.

Adam Sandler (Spaceman)

If you’ve ever gotten the sense that space travel can be kind of lonely, Adam Sandler’s Spaceman turns that idea up to 11. His astronaut is six months into a solo mission that sees him missing his wife and the unborn child he left behind, when he realizes he has a stowaway: an alien creature who can communicate telepathically with him, and seeks to understand humans while helping alleviate the astronaut’s loneliness.

Ryan Gosling (First Man)

This biographical drama sees Ryan Gosling play Neil Armstrong, who became the first man to walk on the moon in 1969. The story follows Armstrong, his wife Janet (Claire Foy), and other astronauts and NASA figures as they prepare for the famed Apollo 11 mission that led to Armstrong making history.

Angela Bassett (Supernova)

Even two-time Oscar nominee Angela Bassett has taken a turn at playing a space explorer whose time there does not go as planned. When she and her crew answer a distress call from thousands of light years away during their deep space mission, things go from bad to worse at, well, the speed of light.

Matt Damon (The Martian)

Matt Damon famously starred in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, playing astronaut Mark Watney, who’s forced to survive on Mars alone after being accidentally left behind when he’s presumed dead by the rest of his crew as they’re forced to evacuate. 

Bruce Willis (Armageddon)

Possibly the best non-traditional astronaut movie ever made, Armageddon stars good guy Bruce Willis as an oil driller recruited to go into space with a team of his mean so that they drill into a massive asteroid, implant a nuke in it and blow it up in the hope of stopping it from destroying the planet and human civilization as we know it. I got excited just writing that!

Laurence Fishburne (Event Horizon)

In space, no one can hear you scream. Unless you’re on a spaceship with other people that’s destined to run into loads of trouble, then, you know, all of those people will probably be able to hear you. There’s lots of screaming in 1997’s Event Horizon, which stars Laurence Fishburne as the captain of a rescue ship that goes to answer a distress call sent by a ship that disappeared several years prior. There’s a vivisection in this one. I’m starting to think we should just leave space alone.

Robert Duvall (Deep Impact)

You must remember Deep Impact, as it was released about two months before the more popular Armageddon, but featured a comet being on a collision course with our precious homeworld. Robert Duvall plays the pilot for the crew that’s dispatched to (you guessed it) drill into the comet and nuke it to smithereens. The mission does not go off without a hitch, and that’s why they call this a disaster movie.

Ethan Hawke (Gattaca)

In a society where most babies are created with genetic altering to make sure they have only the best traits of each parent, a man (Ethan Hawke) who was born without that practice poses as a man who was altered so that he can reach his dream of becoming an astronaut without all of the discrimination that people like him suffer in a society where people are expected to be “perfect” to have the best opportunities in life.

Sam Rockwell (Moon)

Ok, so maybe being in space, in general, isn’t always terrible. But it definitely seems like being alone in space for an extended period could be a bad sign for your future. Such is the case with Moon, where Sam Rockwell plays the lone human operating a mining facility on the titular celestial body, who comes to a startling revelation as he nears the end of his three-year work term.

Clint Eastwood (Space Cowboys)

Clint Eastwood has portrayed a number of (basically) good guys, so it makes complete sense that he would have stepped into the shoes of an Air Force pilot who retired long ago, but ends up leading a mission of other retired pilots to fix an old Soviet communications satellite that’s in danger of crashing to Earth.

Liv Tyler (Space Station 76)

As you’ve likely noticed, there are not a lot of comedies among this bunch, but Space Station 76 is definitely one of them. This “retro-futuristic” parody stars Liv Tyler as the newly arrived station’s co-pilot, who soon comes to realize that the apparently utopian lives of those on board are hiding some very real problems.

Alan Rickman (Galaxy Quest)

Here is another comedy that’s been a cult hit pretty much since its release in 1999. Galaxy Quest focuses on the cast of a fictional Star Trek-like series who are pulled into a hilariously real war between alien races, when the kind, gentle aliens have seen their show and believe it’s a documentary.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Cloverfield Paradox)

The Cloverfield franchise grew with this 2018 entry, which stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as an engineer aboard an orbiting space station where the plan is to test a particle accelerator in the hope of using it to provide the planet with infinite energy. You know what happens, right? Things don’t go as planned.

Many of our finest actors have pretended to travel in space for our entertainment, and this list gives you a number of amazing options should you decide to launch an astronaut movie binge session.

The Sonic the Hedgehog video game may be decades old, but the live-action movies have certainly breathed new life into the franchise over the past few years. Following the introduction of Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 — and before the third film in the series hits the 2024 movie release calendar — the anthropomorphic red echidna is getting his own spinoff series. Appropriately titled Knuckles, Idris Elba returns as the voice of the main character, and critics are weighing in on the series ahead of its April 26 premiere for Paramount+ subscription holders.

The Sonic the Hedgehog flicks are considered two of the best video game movies, so it’s safe to say that fans are plenty excited for the new limited series, especially with Sonic the Hedgehog 3 coming to expand the Sega franchise later this year. So let’s get right to the critics, with GamesRadar’s Bradley Russell rating the series 3 stars out of 5, saying that while the series sometimes focuses more on Adam Pally’s Wade Whipple, Knuckles overall delivers an energetic mini-cinematic adventure to hold us over until December. Russell writes: 

Tessa Smith of Mama’s Geeky rates this “hilarious” buddy comedy a 4 out of 5, saying that while it’s not required viewing before you catch Sonic the Hedgehog 3, fans really should watch it because it’s a whole lot of fun. The critic continues: 

Meredith Hobbs Coons of the AV Club grades Knuckles a B-, saying the red echidna is mostly capable of carrying a Sonic series, especially with its more heartwarming plotlines. However, those who don’t care for the movies or these characters specifically should feel free to skip it. Coons says: 

Alex Maidy of JoBlo gives it an “Average” 6 out of 10, noting that there are long portions of the series that don’t even have Knuckles in them, which may be disappointing to the kids who tune in. Idris Elba, however, is consistent as the title character in the scenes he is in. Maidy continues: 

Brian Shea of GameInformer says Knuckles is enjoyable to watch in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies because of the characters’ contrasting personalities. The series loses that a bit, putting too much emphasis on the human characters and feeling overall kind of inconsequential. Shea says: 

All six episodes of the limited Knuckles series will be released to Paramount+ on April 26, and at just 25 to 30 minutes apiece, it sounds like they make for a fun way to spend a few hours while we wait for the Blue Blur to return. 

In addition to the new spinoff, both Sonic the Hedgehog movies are also available to stream on Paramount+, as we wait for the third movie. Be sure to also check out the other best movies and TV options hitting streaming this week, as well as the rest of the TV premieres on our 2024 TV schedule. 

April is coming to an end but as the month wraps up there is no shortage of great movies or series available on all the best streaming services. A couple of major franchise-connected series are coming on Netflix and Paramount. If you’re a music fan with a Hulu subscription, you’ll want to take note, and Disney+ subscribers get access to the latest entry in a series that finds its origins back in the days of Walt Disney himself. Here are the highlights of what’s streaming this week. 

Netflix This Week: Sydney Sweeney And More

Netflix has made original content a major pillar in its library, but access to major movie releases is still important, and this week the streaming king gives us some of each. 

Anyone But You - April 23

The Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeny rom-com Anyone But You was bashed by critics, but audiences turned out to make the movie a hit at the box office last year. Now fans who missed out on the theatrical release, or who want to see it again, will have that chance when it arrives on Netflix this week.

Dead Boy Detectives - April 25

Netflix’s Sandman series was a major hit for the streaming platform and while Netflix subscribers wait for Sandman Season 2, something is coming this week that might be enough to tide them over until Sandman returns. The Dead Boy Detectives are characters created by Neal Gaiman in the Sandman graphic novels who eventually got their own comics and now have their own Netflix series. The series follows two dead friends who decide to skip the afterlife and instead remain on Earth and solve crimes with a supernatural element.

What's On Disney+: Tigers

Earth Day is usually a big day for Disney. It’s the day that Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened more than 25 years ago, and it’s the day we traditionally get the latest Disney nature documentary. 

Tiger/Tiger On The Rise - April 22

While Disney will always be known as an animation company before all else, many of the record number of Academy Award nominations that Walt Disney received were for documentary films. His series of True Life Adventures brought viewers up close to the natural world and told engaging and emotional stories along the way. That has continued to the present day with Disneynature’s most recent film Tiger, narrated by Priyanka Chopra Jonas. Alongside that documentary will be a second original tiger-based doc, Tiger on the Rise, which takes a look at the efforts to help the global tiger population return.

What's On Max: Velma And More

From heartwarming reality series, to one of the most polarizing shows we’ve seen in a while, Max this week is worth watching if only to see 

Velma Season 2 - April 25

Max’s most recent animated twist on Scooby-Doo, Mindy Kaling’s Velma was, it must be said, not warmly received when Season 1 first arrived. However, two seasons were given the green light up front, so Season 2 of Velma is now here. Perhaps the show heard the criticism and has made changes. Or perhaps, as was likely the case with the first season, many will simply tune in to hate-watch. It will certainly be interesting to see how the new season is received.  

We’re Here - April 26

Those looking for a shot of unapologetic optimism and feel-good stories are in luck this week if they have a Max subscription. We’re Here is returning for another season on HBO and Max. The fourth season of the show will see a few changes. A new cast of drag queens takes over for those who hosted the first three seasons. In addition, instead of each episode focusing on a new town, the season will focus on only two regions, allowing the show to dive deeper into the stories of those looking to break out and break free.  

Paramount+ This Week: Sonic's Pal Knuckles

Original content based on popular franchises is one area where other streaming services tend to be a step ahead on Paramount+, but this week fans of a certain hedgehog and his friends will get a brand new series ahead of the next movie. 

Knuckles - April 26

The two Sonic the Hedgehog movies are among the best films based on video games that we’ve seen. With the news that Keanu Reeves is joining Sonic the Hedgehog 3 as Shadow the Hedgehog, there is renewed interest in the franchise just in time for the release of Knuckles a limited series starring the character voiced by Idris Elba who was introduced in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.  

Hulu This Week: Bon Jovi And More

It’s a big week for documentaries and music on Hulu this week, with one documentary film about the intersection of music and politics, and another docu-series about one of the biggest bands of all time. 

Hip-Hop and The White House - April 22

Hip Hop music has a long and storied history that frequently comes up against the world of politics. The new Hulu documentary Hip-Hop and the White House takes a very specific look at the music and how it responded to the President of the United States over the decades, as well as how the White House responded to hip-hop as the music grew in popularity and influence.  

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story - April 26

If you were a music fan in the ‘80s, then you were probably a Bon Jovi fan, and if you’re a music fan today, you’re probably a Bon Jovi fan. The New Jersey-based band was incredibly popular in its day and has continued to remain relevant in the decades since after creating some of the most iconic rock songs ever recorded. The four-part documentary series Thank You, Goodnight, includes Jon Bon Jovi and the rest of the band telling their story from the early days through the band’s near collapse. It should be a must-watch for any fan or just anybody who has belted out "Livin on a Prayer" on karaoke night.

Apple TV+ This Week: The Big Door Prize

Apple TV+ isn’t a streaming service with tons of new shows debuting every week, but when the one new show you get this week is one of the best series on Apple TV+, you take quality  

The Big Door Prize - Season 2 - April 22

Following a successful first season, where a small town is forever changed by the introduction of a machine that promises to reveal each person’s life’s potential, The Big Door Prize is back for Season 2. The new season promises to take things to the “next stage” for the residents. Whatever that means, it promises to be just as funny and heartwarming as Season 1.

While these are some highlights worth checking out, there’s a great deal more coming to the various streaming platforms this week. Be sure to check out everything upcoming on Disney+ for a full list of what’s arriving there. You can also see what’s new on Netflix and everything coming to Hulu for the complete schedules on those services as well. 

The release of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has been highly anticipated by a portion of those who love video game adaptations. It’s been a few years since the public last saw Sega’s famously fast, blue critter on the big screen, but he’ll finally return later this year. In the meantime, reports have been swirling around the high-profile 2024 movie schedule entry. A true whopper of a news story made the rounds last week, as it was reported that Keanu Reeves had been cast as Shadow the Hedgehog. That’s yet to be confirmed by the creative team, but movie cast member Idris Elba – who voices Knuckles the Echidna – did share some thoughts on the report. 

Fans across the Internet expressed excitement about the prospect of the John Wick star lending his pipes to the iconic video game antagonist. Considering that Paramount Studios has yet to confirm that he’s part of the Sonic 3 cast, it’s not surprising that some are looking for answers. One such entity to inquire about the reported casting was our sister site, Games Radar+, which asked for Idris Elba’s take while chatting with him. And the British actor’s comments on the subject might not be quite what you’re expecting: 

Some might be tempted to think that this is simply the Luther actor’s way of deflecting the question. In a lot of cases, those who do voiceover work for the same productions, don’t end up working together in the booth. So it’s incredibly possible that Idris Elba not only hasn’t worked with Keanu Reeves but doesn’t even know if he’s actually part of the movie. It’s honestly interesting to think about the notion that Elba could be a co-star of the Matrix icon and be out of the loop about it.

Of course, the Suicide Squad alum isn’t totally ignorant in regard to what lies ahead in the highly anticipated threequel. As is customary for a major franchise like Sonic though, actors are required to keep secrets that they’re privy to. The fan-favorite star, while speaking with Total Film, went on to acknowledge the level of uncertainty regarding what he’s free to say. On top of that, he added a cryptic tease: 

What we might be able to glean from his sentiments is that the third movie is going to up the ante. Only a few story details are known at this time, but the first footage of the flick was revealed at CinemaCon earlier this month, where CinemaBlend was present. The tease featured Jim Carrey’s Dr. Robotnik, who’s revealed to have gained weight and is depressed since being foiled by Sonic a second time. The humorously maniacal scientist was ultimately reenergized by the knowledge that Shadow has been located. And, of course, the newly minted challenger will do battle with the titular hedgehog and his cohorts. With any hope, that’ll be a sight to behold. 

One would imagine that Idris Elba’s character will have a solid role and have experienced some major growth coming off his spinoff TV show, Knuckles, which has a great cast. Like so many, I look forward to seeing what lies ahead in the threequel. And, while Keanu Reeves’ casting is still unconfirmed, the notion of hearing him bounce off Elba, Jim Carrey, Ben Schwartz (Sonic) and more, has me absolutely giddy. 

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in theaters on December 20, 2024 and, in the meantime, all six episodes of Knuckles will be available to Paramount+ subscribers starting on April 26. That same subscription will also allow you to stream the first two films in this live-action franchise.

Out of all the upcoming video game tv shows and movies, it's fair to say Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is one of the most anticipated. Audiences are ready to see the Blue Blur in action once again, especially after the way the second movie ended. It's looking like the third installment will finally introduce Shadow The Hedgehog and open up the world of Sonic drastically.

The following are all the actors and actresses we know that are involved with Sonic the Hedgehog 3. Right now, there is still some mystery as to who some of these actors are playing, so be sure to check back in for updates should we learn more about some of these actors' roles before the premiere date in December.

Ben Schwartz

At three movies in, there's only one man who can voice the "Blue Blur," and his name is Ben Schwartz. We know that Schwartz is back in Sonic 3 to play the title character, but could he be voicing someone else as well? Schwartz told CinemaBlend he's ready for his "villainous era" when we speculated he could also voice Shadow The Hedgehog. We'll have to wait and see if that. actually happens, but I'd be down to see him pull double duty.

James Marsden

James Marsden has been the perfect sidekick to his CGI co-star, and that's thanks in part to the various Sonics used on set to make it look accurate. Marsden's Tom Wachowski is the vehicle that keeps this franchise quickly moving along, and it wouldn't feel the same without seeing him in the mix.

Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter is back in Sonic 3, though for fans, it may not seem like she's been away that long. She'll be one of the main cast set to return as part of the Knuckles cast, but what would this movie be without Maddie Wachowski around to help out their furry friends?

Jim Carrey

I'm not sure if playing Dr. Eggman was ever a long-term goal for Jim Carrey, but it certainly feels that way, given how well he understands and plays the role. The main villain of the Sonic franchise disappeared at the end of the second movie, but with G.U.N. unable to find a body, it was assumed that Robotnik had slipped away.

Colleen O'Shaughnessey

Colleen O'Shaughnessey is back and voicing the role of Sonic's best sidekick, Tails. I don't think there's any denying that Tails is Sonic's best friend in the franchise, but with Knuckles now allied with the heroes, there's going to be some proving that he's not the weak link in the chain in this adventure.

Idris Elba

After appearing as the antagonist in the second movie and starring in his own self-titled series, Idris Elba's Knuckles is back and ready to use his super strength to fight for the good guys and, hopefully, stop whatever the latest threat from Dr. Eggman may be. We'll get to see how this group works together in the series, assuming readers have a Paramount+ subscription.

Lee Majdoub

Dr. Robotnik is skilled, but it's Agent Stone, played by Lee Majdoub, who helps him pull off half of his wild schemes. Readers might remember that Stone narrowly escaped capture by posing as an operative for G.U.N. No doubt he'll play a key part in plotting Eggman's return and may even be in a position of power hiding in the shadows of Green Hills. Either that, or he's putting plans in place for the next big scheme for the villain.

Tom Butler

Tom Butler's Commander Walters was disappointed he couldn't find Robotnik at the end of Sonic The Hedgehog 2, and concerned about what he learned next. It was uncovered that a secret location to a lab was exposed, and it was revealed Project Shadow was worked on there. It's a problem we expect to see resolved in the upcoming movie, and Walters will undoubtedly have more to share on the project.

Krysten Ritter

Krysten Ritter will make her debut in Sonic The Hedgehog 3, according to IGN, but we're still in the dark on how she'll be involved. With that said, Ritter is a star of repute, having been in Breaking Bad and Jessica Jones before joining the cast, so it's possible she'll be voicing one of the notable Sonic characters who hasn't been introduced. On the other hand, she could be playing a new character in live-action as well.

James Wolk

James Wolk is another actor with a big question mark next to the character he'll be playing, as we don't know anything beyond the fact he was cast to be in the movie. Wolk is an actor who has had roles on prominent shows like The Crazy Ones and Mad Men, and he's a great addition to the Sonic 3 cast.

Sofia Pernas

Actress Sofia Pernas, who has starred in The Young and the Restless and Justin Hartley's hit CBS series Tracker, will also be a part of the Sonic 3 cast. Unfortunately, we're in the dark once again about what her character will do or if they're appearing in live-action or via CGI, but it's always exciting to see a fresh face join an established franchise!

Cristo Fernández

While Ted Lasso fans brainstorm ways the series can return, star Cristo Fernández is branching out into the Sonic franchise. We have no idea what character he'll play in the upcoming movie, but if his character has the same peppy energy as Dani Rojas, I'm beyond excited to see who he'll play.

Jorma Taccone

Jorma Taccone, one of the masterminds behind The Lonely Island group, will also be in Sonic 3 in an unknown role. Considering he's a force behind a scene considered so wtf it had to be cut from Hot Rod, I'm assuming he's coming into the movie to play a comedic role. We'll have to wait for confirmation to find out for certain, though he could surprise us with something a little more serious for this latest romp in cinema.

Sonic The Hedgehog 3 is currently slated to be released on December 20th, 2024. Hopefully, we'll learn more details about what roles all the actors are playing before its arrival, or at the very least, who will be voicing the villainous Shadow The Hedgehog.

Sonic The Hedgehog fans are looking forward to the Knuckles miniseries on Paramount+, and looking at the cast, it isn't hard to see what. Idris Elba is a big name to attach to any series, but he's not the only heavy-hitter joining this adventure about Sonic's new red ally. So, who else is in tow for this spinoff show? 

Let's run down the list of all those involved in Knuckles, which follows the echidna warrior as he looks to adjust to a world unlike one he has ever known to that point. Of course, it doesn't take long until his new life on Earth is upended and he's on his back heels trying to protect himself and new friends from another threat. Let's dive in and see who all is in this series:

Idris Elba

As one might expect, Idris Elba will reprise his role of the iconic character Knuckles after debuting as him in Sonic the Hedgehog 2. The miniseries will pick up after Knuckles moves to Earth, and in addition to all trouble coming his way, will explore his life feeling out of sorts and adjusting to a different life. 

Adam Pally

Actor Adam Pally, an MCU actor who jumped into Sonic the Hedgehog from the very start, will co-star alongside Knuckles, reprising his role as Wade Whipple. Wade will be learning from Knuckles about being an echidna warrior, and I can only assume that Wade will also be passing along some knowledge about life on Earth to his new friend. 

Cary Elwes

You may know him from The Princess Bride or two of the other popular movies Cary Elwes says people consistently clock him for being in. Whatever the case may be, Elwes is making his debut in the Sonic universe by playing "Pistol" Pete Whipple. Whipple is a 27-time championship bowler and Wade's relative. 

Edi Patterson

The Righteous Gemstones' Edi Patterson will be introduced in Knuckles as Wanda Whipple, Wade's sister. Not a ton is revealed about her character at this time, but given her comedic chops, I can assume she'll be in the mix and around for the adventure at various points during the miniseries. 

Scott Mescudi

Scott Mescudi, likely known to more than a few by his rap name Kid Cudi, will come into the world of Knuckles as Agent Mason. Mason is an enforcer for "The Buyer," and based on what we've seen in the trailer, that means doing everything within his power to try and capture Knuckles for the villain. 

Stockard Channing

Stockard Channing has done everything from playing Betty in Grease to inadvertently making Will Smith fall in love, and now she's in Knuckles. Channing will play the role of matriarch in this adventure, meaning she'll be the mother of Wade Whipple, Wendy. There are not many details about the character beyond that, but it is great to see a well-seasoned veteran actress in the series. 

Julian Barratt

Julian Barratt, an English actor known for the comedy series The Mighty Boosh, as among other things, joins the cast of Knuckles as Jack Sinclair. All we really have on this character is a name so far, and given that he doesn't appear in the Sonic the Hedgehog games, there's no telling what he'll be up to until we get more information on the character. 

Ellie Taylor

Actress Ellie Taylor will join Knuckles as Agent Willoughby, another one of the agents working for "The Buyer." Viewers might recognize Taylor from her work in Ted Lasso, where she played Rebecca's best friend "Sassy." She'll also work to try to capture Knuckles in this series, all at The Buyer's request. 

Rory McCann

Rory McCann, who played the badass Hound in Game of Thrones, will come into Knuckles as the main villain known as "The Buyer." This villain is a mysterious former lackey of Dr. Robotnik who is hellbent on obtaining Knuckles' power for himself. I'm making an assumption here, but it's probably for the best that he doesn't get that power. 

Tika Sumpter

Tika Sumpter will make her return to the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise as Maddie Wachowski, the wife of James Marsden's Tom Wachowski. She's still doing her thing as the veterinarian of Green Hills, as well as looking after Sonic, Tails and Knuckles. It'll be great to see her back, as the connective tissue since Marsden's character is seemingly out of the story for this one. 

Ben Schwartz

The blue hedgehog is back for Knuckles, and so is the actor who voices him. Ben Schwartz will make an appearance as Sonic The Hedgehog in the series. Though he is the star of the franchise, it appears Sonic isn't too good to pop up in a series made for those with a Paramount+ subscription. 

Colleen O'Shaughnessey

If Sonic is back, then you have to know that Colleen O'Shaughnessey's Tails is going to get in on the action as well. The two-tailed sidekick will also play a part in Knuckles, though it's unclear how much either will be in the mix during this miniseries. 

Christopher Lloyd

Actor Christopher Lloyd, known for Back To The Future and many other major movies, will play an elder echidna named Pachacamac. This character appearing will apparently be quite a surprise for Knuckles, as it's believed that he perished alongside Longclaw, the original adopted mother of Sonic.  

Paul Scheer

Paul Scheer, an actor with some serious comedic chops that have served him well in everything from The League to Star Trek: Lower Decks, will appear in Knuckles. Unfortunately, we're still in the dark about what role he'll be playing at this time, though it's possible he'll lend his voice to an animated character. 

Rob Huebel

Rob Huebel, whom readers may know from shows like Children's Hospital and Human Giant, will also join Knuckles in an undisclosed role. While we know nothing about his role, I would once again speculate that he's playing an animated character, as it would be easier to keep the voice work under wraps than anything shot on a set. We will see, though!

Knuckles premieres on Paramount+ beginning Friday, April 26th. This looks like another upcoming live-action video game adaptation that gamers won't want to miss, especially if they grew up playing the Sega Genesis. 

For a while, Idris Elba was one of the hottest tickets in the competition to become the new face of the James Bond movies. Eventually though, Elba took himself out of the running, opting instead to focus on other pursuits. Of course, when you’re connected to the role of 007 in any capacity, that chatter is hard to shake the longer it runs. Which prompted the Luther star to get honest about how those casting rumors started to wear thin over time.

Appearing on the Smartless podcast to promote his new Apple TV+ series Hijack, Idris Elba laid out his experiences with being rumored to become the next 007 in sharp detail. Starting off with why it was all such a compliment in the first place, the man also known as “Big Driis” painted this very familiar picture:

The world definitely seems to have its own controlling stake in putting up candidates for the next James Bond. Even after Elba removed himself from the equation, folks like Tom Hanks are still suggesting him as the next incarnation of Ian Fleming’s super spy. That’s the positive side of the coin but, as with any major casting news, there are those who aren’t so positive about the matter.

Idris Elba certainly understands this, as the negative aspects of his potential 00-status were also present in this tale as well. And unfortunately, the not-so-exciting part of being tipped as a potential James Bond came down to the matter of race. Handling the subject politely, but bluntly, the Marvel Cinematic Universe vet clarified that piece of the puzzle further as follows:

Between seemingly aging out of the role, as well as dropping the pursuit himself, Idris Elba looks to be done with the legacy of James Bond. On one hand, it’s kind of bittersweet, because thinking about what might have been is always a fun exercise. Then again, Elba has proven he’s better off without 007 in recent years; the surprise that accompanies whatever he tackles next is still a great joy to his fans. A joy that is only enhanced by not having to worry about a strict timetable that comes with being locked into a major motion picture franchise.

One such joy is the new streaming series Hijack, which is currently running on Apple TV+. You can also get some use out of that Netflix subscription and catch Idris Elba in not only Luther: The Fallen Sun but also in a pretty exciting appearance in Extraction 2 alongside Chris Hemsworth. And as always, James Bond will return… just not with Mr. Elba in the role.

After what seems like years of hearing about it, Extraction 2 is finally here, bringing with it another adventure featuring Chris Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake. Following the Extraction ending,  the black ops mercenary’s story was left up in the air, but he has since returned for another dangerous and seemingly impossible mission: rescue the family of a Georgian gangster from an Eastern European prison.

If you have watched the new Netflix arrival, or plan on watching it in the near future, you’ll probably want to know where you’ve seen the actors behind those new and returning characters before. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place, as we have all the information on the Extraction 2 cast.  

Chris Hemsworth (Tyler Rake) 

There are a few returning stars showing up in Extraction 2, with the biggest and baddest being Chris Hemsworth, who once again portrays former Australian SAS operator and black ops mercenary Tyler Rake.

Obviously, Hemsworth is best known for his portrayal of Thor in some of the best Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, with his two biggest appearances – Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame – being directed by Extraction 2 producers Joe and Anthony Russo. However, the super-jacked action star has also been in some non-MCU films over the years, including Michael Mann’s Black Hat, the 2016 female-led Ghostbusters, 12 Strong, and Rush, to name a few.  

Golshifteh Farahani (Nik Khan)

Golshiefteh Farahani is another member of the Extraction cast to return for the 2023 Netflix movie, once again taking on the role of Tyler Rake’s most trusted partner and fellow merc, Nik Khan.

In the three years since first joining the Extraction franchise, Farahani has appeared in movies like Brother and Sister, My Father’s Dragon, and A Romantic Comedy, as well as several TV series including Gen: Lock, VTC, and the Apple TV+ original show, Invasion. All of this comes after years of building a career with titles such as M for Mother, Body of Lies, Paterson, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. 

Adam Bessa (Yaz Khan) 

Adam Bessa also returns for more action in Extraction 2, reprising his role of Yaz Khan, Nik’s brother and another core member of Tyler Rake’s team.

Outside of his appearance in Sam Hargrave’s 2020 action thriller, Bessa has appeared in movies like The Blessed, Mosul, and Harka over the years. He’s also made a handful of TV appearances over the years, including a sizable role in the third season of the Amazon Prime original series, Hanna back in 2021. 

Tinatin Dalakishvili (Ketevan)

Tinatin Dalakishvili is the first new addition to the Extraction 2 cast we’ll be discussing here, as the actress appears in the movie as Ketevan, the woman who is to be rescued by Tyler Rake.

Throughout her career, the model-turned-actress has split her time between film and TV,  with some notable roles in both mediums. This includes movies like About Love, For Adults Only alongside John Malkovich, Let It Snow, Hostages, Star, and Medeya, to name a few. If you were a fan of the 2022 Peacock streaming series, The Undeclared War, then you’ll probably recognize Dalakishvili from her portrayal of Marina Veselova. 

Tornike Gogrichiani (Zurab)

Next up is Tornike Gogrichiani, another new addition to the Extraction cast, who takes on the role of the ruthless and deadly Georgian gangster known as Zurab.

Before being involved in the hard-hitting action of Extraction 2, Gogrichiani wrote, directed, and starred in his fair share of film and TV projects over the course of his career, one that goes back more than a decade. With movies like Adam & Eve, Neighbors, and A Fold in My Blanket, and numerous others under his belt, Gogrichiani has provided a lot of variety on the screen. His work on the small screen includes everything from Paradox to Sniffer and Tiflisi to Artificial Breathing, the latter of which featured him in more than 50 episodes.

Daniel Bernhardt (Konstantine)

Martial artist and actor Daniel Bernhardt is another member of the Extraction 2 cast, as he takes on the role of badass-looking Georgian known as Konstantine.

If Bernhardt looks familiar, it’s probably because he has fought alongside or against some of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the best action movies of all time. Throughout his film career, Bernhardt has played characters in the John Wick universe, portrayed an agent in the Matrix franchise, fought aliens in Skylines, and has popped up in Logan, Atomic Blonde, and Hobbs & Shaw. And that’s just the beginning. Pretty much, if there has been an action flick in the past quarter-century, he’s probably been in it in some shape or form. Fans of the various Mortal Kombat adaptations will even recognize Bernhardt from his turn on the short-lived late ‘90s live-action series, Mortal Kombat: Conquest. 

Olga Kurylenko (Mia)

One of the most recognizable faces in the Extraction 2 cast, Olga Kurylenko shows up in the new Netflix movie as a character named Mia.

Throughout her career, Kurylenko has appeared in some of the biggest movie franchises of all time with roles like Camille Montes in the Daniel Craig-led James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, and that of Antonia Dreykov, a.k.a., Taskmaster in Black Widow. But these are just two of Kurylenko’s roles, as she has also appeared in movies like Max Payne, To the Wonder, The November Man, The Death of Stalin, Oblivion, The Princess, and High Heat. Her TV appearances include everything from Tyranny to Magic City and Mission Control to Treason. 

Idris Elba (Man in the Suit) 

And last but certainly not least is Idris Elba, who shows up in Extraction 2 as the mysterious figure known as the Man in the Suit. 

No stranger to appearing in Netflix movies, Elba has previously popped up in originals like Concrete Cowboy, The Harder They Fall, and Luther: The Fallen Sun. At the same time, Elba has worked extensively with Chris Hemsworth thanks to her appearances in the various Thor movies and various other MCU titles. Outside of that, Elba has done a little bit of everything throughout his career, including leading The Wire cast for multiple seasons, kicking ass in one of the best DC Comics movies, and bringing Knuckles to life in Sonic the Hedgehog 2.

Stream Extraction 2 on Netflix.

Well, this should help you put the names to all the faces who make up the Extraction 2 cast. The movie is currently streaming for anyone with a Netflix subscription, which also grants you access to some of the biggest movies on the 2023 Movie schedule.

Stream Extraction 2 on Netflix.

We’re still in the midst of waiting to find out which actor will be the next face of the James Bond movies, with the race leading to next year’s intended production of Bond 26. Longtime favorite Idris Elba took himself out of the running for the role earlier this year, basically ending most people’s hopes of seeing him cast. However, that’s not enough for actor/author Tom Hanks to reconsider his pick for 007, as he’s just come out in support of the Luther star.

As he spoke with BBC about his debut novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, America’s Dad discussed changes in literature from the past. That very subject has seen a lot of discussion thanks to the newly edited editions of Ian Fleming’s 007 adventures, which in turn leapt into who Hanks thinks should be the next James Bond. Here’s how the star of A Man Called Otto lent his support to Idris Elba as a result:

No one should be holding their breath for an Idris Elba outing in this storied franchise, and frankly, the Luther actor is better off without James Bond. Yet Tom Hanks is a voice that people tend to listen to whenever he speaks. So to have him deliver such a passionate case for Elba’s 007 candidacy is a pretty strong vote that could even get the most skeptical James Bond fans to reconsider.

And yet, the one person that would truly need convincing probably won't budge after this statement. Idris Elba firmly killed his 007 chances by noting that he wasn't "going to be that guy." That guy, of course, being the tuxedoed super spy that Ian Fleming first published 70 years ago, and has since seen 25 movies released over 60 years. Elba has doubled down on his commitment to the Luther saga, and it's admirable to see. 

As we move closer to the plans that will reinvent Commander Bond for his next era, it’ll be interesting to see how this endorsement might change the Bond betting odds. Not to mention, it’d be exciting to hear how Idris Elba feels about Hanks and any other supporters still hoping against hope for his casting. But still, we're not holding our breath for a last minute reversal that'll indicate a 00-Elba any time soon.

If you want to see Tom Hanks’ latest stealth blockbuster, you can catch A Man Called Otto on streaming. So long as you’re someone with a Netflix subscription, you’ll be able to catch this recent hit for yourself very conveniently. And if you’re also an Idris Elba fan, that same platform offers his most recent film, Luther: The Fallen Sun, as well. 

The hunt for the next face of the James Bond movies continues to be a subject of high interest. With an AI program dreaming up the perfect Bond, the buzz around the casting process is going to only grow louder, especially for those in the camp supporting Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Meanwhile, former contender Idris Elba has taken himself out of the race, focusing his energy instead on his continuing Luther franchise. Frankly, I think Mr. Elba is better off without James Bond, and I’m happy to run down just why he’s right to forget 007 and forge ahead on his own path. 

Expectations For An Idris Elba 007 Movie Would Be Unfairly High

By this point, the concept of Idris Elba playing James Bond has been in discussion for some time. It’s so ingrained in the minds of the public that there’s already an expectation as to what that movie would look like, and the sort of 007 adventure that would hypothetically result. That same pressure is going to follow whoever becomes the next Commander Bond, but with a new candidate, there’s still more room to breathe.

Idris Elba’s James Bond would be something that’s akin to Spider-Man: No Way Home’s integration of both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. With so much anticipation building the experience up, there’s going to be more scrutiny on the line with Elba’s hypothetical performance than there would be with a newcomer. Such is the way when "fulfilling" internet expectations in a series as prolific as the Bond films.

The pressure is already great enough for whomever will play the next James Bond thanks to the over-60-year legacy continuing to echo throughout history. Strangely enough, it’s because of that history that a younger actor with fewer expectations would seem to get a more fair shake than someone like Idris Elba, who has had their name associated with the role for so long without ever playing it. 

The James Bond Legacy Could Be Extremely Limiting

At this point in his career, Idris Elba has also amassed a variety of roles that have seen his talents tackle a wide range of archetypes. When an actor can claim projects like The Office, The Jungle Book, The Harder They Fall and even Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbes & Shaw to their credit, it’s hard to put them “back in the box.” For Elba, that box would feel even smaller, given the parts he's taken at this point in his career. 

Everyone knows that James Bond is a role that comes with not only certain expectations, but also limitations in what the character is allowed to do. There are also smaller details that Idris Elba would have to adhere to if he was playing 007, and they can be interesting to navigate. Case in point: Elba wouldn’t be able to wear a standard tuxedo in any other movie, much as Pierce Brosnan showed with a wardrobe choice in The Thomas Crown Affair remake. 

Idris Elba has also had past experience with a role that somewhat kept him in a specific lane. Playing Heimdall for the MCU saw Elba always eager to reprise the role, but also unafraid to share his complaints about the Marvel experience, particularly Thor: The Dark World. Some might say that makes him even more qualified for the role, as Daniel Craig had a complicated relationship with the role. However, there are plenty of other opportunities out there that would benefit from Idris Elba’s star status and wouldn’t limit him to what’s more than likely going to become a more regimented franchise.

Current Plans For 007 Are Aiming Towards A Long Term Strategy

Daniel Craig’s James Bond tenure spanned 15 years, but only yielded five movies as a result. While it’s certainly more movies than George Lazenby or Timothy Dalton ever got, Sir Roger Moore racked up seven films in a span of time that was three years shorter. The folks at EON Productions seem to recognize that fact for themselves, as a longterm Bond distribution strategy seems to be in play.

Part of that plan has included the call to cast a “thirty-something” actors as James Bond, which is more than likely part of a play to score more movies out of the next lucky 007. It’s enough to wonder how much latitude our new Commander would have over taking roles outside of the franchise, which was something that Daniel Craig certainly had no problem doing.

If the character of James Bond wasn’t already enough of a limitation for a potential Idris Elba adventure, then having a more restrictive schedule would be even more of a challenge. Which leads to the final reason the Luther actor is probably better off without having to worry about Ian Fleming’s legendary creation in his rotation.

Idris Elba Already Has His Own Bond-Style Franchise With Luther

When he removed himself from the running for James Bond, Idris Elba flat out said that he is John Luther. Dedicating himself to the role that he’s played throughout five seasons on TV, and in his recent Netflix film, Elba has shown his hand and it’s not shaken or stirred. Which, if you recall the ending to Luther: The Fallen Sun, already seems to have filled the void in a very similar fashion.

Luther’s potential “job offer” with those secretive, unseen parties that came calling in his first cinematic adventure has “Secret Agent Elba” written all over it. The big difference being that through his part in creator Neil Cross’s franchise, Idris Elba would be doing it his way. John Luther doesn’t have to play by the same rules James Bond does, and Elba is the person to continue that adventure. 

As the search for James Bond’s future continues, Idris Elba’s present is pretty secure in the light of the career choices he's made in recent past. That statement only stands to become even more appropriate if the film franchise Luther: The Fallen Sun is hoping to start takes off. A Netflix subscription is all that’s required should you want to test the waters with Elba’s own longterm career plan in this twisted thriller.

Warning: the ending to Luther: The Fallen Sun will be TOTALLY SPOILED. If you haven’t seen the Netflix streaming hit just yet, you’ve been warned.

For weeks, audiences have been flocking to the 2023 new movie release Luther: The Fallen Sun. Idris Elba’s stalwart detective has been a hit, trending with Netflix viewers in part because of its wild ending. Since everyone’s been talking about some specific moments presented in the finale of what intends to kick off the Luther cinematic era, it feels only right that we dig into what happened to John Luther and how it sets up more potential adventures.

Consider this your official last call for spoilers, as we’re going to start with what happened at the end of The Fallen Sun. After which, we'll dig into what it could mean for the future of Luther-land, and who might be along for the ride. 

John Luther’s Fate At The End Of The Fallen Sun

A man used to bending or breaking the rules to get the job done, DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) broke out of prison to stop cyber fiend/serial killer David Robey (Andy Serkis). Besting his newfound nemesis in this Netflix mystery, Luther narrowly survives a plunge into a frozen lake, while Robey is not so lucky.

After reuniting with DSU Martin Schenk (Dermot Crowley) and new adversary-turned-friend DCI Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo), John Luther is assumed to be going back into custody after he recovers from the physical punishment he’s suffered on his latest case. The truth is much more mysterious, as well as a gigantic tease for potential future adventures, as Luther is told by Schenk that he’s actually been taken to a government safe house.

As a group of mysterious black Range Rovers pull up in the courtyard, John Luther and Martin Schenk go back and forth about what exactly is going on. Unsure of the identities of their new friends, Schenk presents the following scenario:

Luther: The Fallen Sun ends with writer/creator Neil Cross’ BBC antihero being led into one of those Range Rovers with a cryptic message. Apparently his latest caper has unofficially been commended by unseen parties, and “Chief would like a word.” As the character climbs into this automotive meeting, we’re left with a gigantic hint that Idris Elba’s continued dedication to Luther comes at just the right time.

Why This New “Job Offer” Is Good News For Idris Elba’s Detective

As you’ve probably read through fan reactions to Luther: The Fallen Sun, it appears that John Luther could become the next James Bond. Ok, so he’s not exactly set up to take over the role of Ian Fleming’s super spy, but Idris Elba's character could be getting an offer to become a clandestine operative for His Majesty’s government. That’s the outcome that seems heavily implied, particularly with an enigmatic figure known as “Chief” sitting at the head of it all. 

In terms of the future of Luther, it appears John won’t be a mere detective or fugitive anymore. He’s impressed the right people and he could be given the freedom to pursue the deadliest, most elusive figures that would do harm on any sort of scale. As far as Idris Elba is concerned, he might get to play Bond in his own way, and with a character he’s helped shape for over a decade. 

With new freedom comes new danger, as we all know what John Luther is like with rules set in place to keep him in check. What would that same man act like when given free rein?

The Potential Danger Luther’s New Career Could Introduce

From the very beginning of Luther, our complicated protagonist hasn’t been afraid to bend or outwardly break rules to get results. He’s even enlisted the help of freed criminal/frenemy Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) to solve some cases here and there.

With no rules to keep him on the ground, John Luther could become more dangerous than ever, treading even darker ground within his psyche. It’s another exciting prospect, as Luther: The Fallen Sun started to explore this ground. Showing himself to be ever resourceful, the former detective broke himself out of prison to get the job done this time around.

The sort of ingenuity Idris Elba’s protagonist could show when dropped into a lawless setting could fully turn him into a hero as complex and as morally gray as 24’s Jack Bauer; a character John Luther already shared some common DNA with from the start. That said, straight-up detective fiction fans shouldn’t feel too worried about the potential expansion of the Luther-verse. 

Could We See A Potential DCI Odette Raine Spin-off?

While John Luther may be the star of the show in Luther: The Fallen Sun, a new hero has risen as part of the resulting chaos. Through sequences like the outstanding Piccadilly Circus set piece, star Cynthia Erivo got to live out her action hero fantasies, all while presenting a strong female character who felt like a mirror image of Luther’s enigmatic lead.

Now that the straight-laced DCI Odette Raine has gotten a taste for life outside of the lines, her continued adventures would make another fantastic path to follow. When Erivo spoke with CinemaBlend during the press day for The Fallen Sun, she offered this comment on what that hypothetical scenario meant to her:

Cynthia Erivo wasn’t the only party excited about that prospect. When director Jamie Payne and writer/creator Neil Cross were presented with the concept in their own interview, they both showed enthusiasm through these short, but sweet approvals:

"Jamie Payne: I’d love to watch that too. Yeah, I’d love to watch that.

Neil Cross: To God’s ear."

Put it all together, and it sounds like Luther is in good shape to continue its cinematic expansion into unknown territory. However, there’s one final question that you’re probably looking for an answer to, and we’ll address that briefly before we go.

Will Alice Morgan Ever Appear In A Potential Luther Sequel?

Across almost the entire run of Luther’s television series, one character has popped up occasionally to help, harm, and harass John Luther. While what we knew about Luther: The Fallen Sun pointed out that the charming, but chilly psychopath Alice Morgan was presumed to be dead after Season 5, that assumption may not be as certain as one would have thought.

Sadly, there’s no reference to or confirmation that Alice is still running around during the events of The Fallen Sun; at least not that we know about. However, in the press notes to the film, writer/creator Neil Cross did address this subject briefly, with the following statement: 

Could John Luther’s new job offer allow him to cross paths with Alice Morgan again? The door’s not totally closed on the matter, that’s for sure. So who knows where things will go in a potential sequel to Luther: The Fallen Sun? 

If you want to go back and rewatch the film, or if you’ve read through this rundown and haven’t experience the harrowing drama for yourself, a Netflix subscription holds the key to digging into Luther-land a little deeper. Just be careful, because you never know what you’ll find when you start venturing further into the dark. 

Warning: slight SPOILERS are in play for the ending to Luther: The Fallen Sun. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you’ve been warned. 

Not all of the hits from the 2023 new movie releases have been released to theaters, as seen with the recent trending of Netflix’s Luther: The Fallen Sun. A cinematic continuation of Neil Cross’ fan-favorite detective series with Idris Elba, it hit the top of Netflix’s movie charts around the time of its debut, and it’s still going strong. Part of the reason for that, besides Elba’s return to the iconic character of DCI John Luther, is the fact that fans can’t get over the movie’s wild ending.

Without going into too much detail, the means that Luther’s hardboiled protagonist uses to solve his latest case leads to him getting the attention of some pretty important people. By the end of The Fallen Sun, John Luther is presumably being given a “job offer” from someone we only know as “The Chief.” As you’ll see in this reaction to Idris Elba’s Twitter post celebrating the first place finish of Luther: The Fallen Sun, it’s an ending that’s sparking a very specific reaction: 

As a newly-minted Luther fan and a longtime James Bond fanatic, I totally agree with these feelings. With the iconic BBC/Netflix detective really being put through his paces in this first movie, there’s only so many places John Luther can go next. And his skills have proven that he can engage in some work for His Majesty’s government that most others wouldn’t dream of doing. Here’s another tweet backing that same call, along with another reaction for Luther: The Fallen Sun: 

Nailing this all further into place is the fact that former 00-contender Idris Elba took himself out of the James Bond race. After years of people hyping him up for the job, the actor eventually decided to focus his efforts on Luther rather than chase that particular rabbit. 

One can kind of see why, especially with this ending leaving the door open for the character to engage in similar action, but without the usual franchise constraints. Some have said as much, as you’ll see in our next comment on The Fallen Sun’s ending:

There are also some fun spy references in Luther: The Fallen Sun, one of which involves James Bond’s drink of choice and a very fun dismissal. But even the events of the film feel like a take on Skyfall, as Andy Serkis’ baddie David Robey engages in some theatrics that are very similar to Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva. Then again, that’s not the only major franchise that John Luther’s latest adventure has invoked, as we’ll close out this roundup with a rather inspired connection: 

If Oscar Isaac wasn’t already cast in the Metal Gear Solid movie, Idris Elba could have been a fantastic choice to play Solid Snake. Of course, it doesn’t sound like we’ll be worrying about that any time soon, as the success of Luther: The Fallen Sun might dictate that Netflix should get to work on a follow-up real soon. With the fans enjoying the movie and Elba primed to keep going, the iron is indeed hot. Those of you curious to experience this film can do so thanks to the advantages provided by a Netflix subscription. 

Idris Elba has had some roles that had to have been tough. The gritty crime drama that is Luther, which recently saw a Netflix sequel film, was probably an emotional journey for him. His BAFTA-nominated performance in Beasts of No Nation almost killed him according to reports. But apparently his toughest role, according to Elba himself, was the year he spent as the Sexiest Man Alive.

I mean, most of us certainly can’t relate to being the Sexiest Man Alive any more than we can relate to being an Asgardian God, but Idris Elba has been both, and he says the former was the tougher job. Elba recently told ET Canada that the job was tough for him mostly because he doesn’t think he photographs that well and was worried the pictures wouldn’t turn out. He explained…

I mean, I guess I get it. It’s tough to sell yourself as the Sexiest Man Alive if the pictures in the magazine calling you that don’t make you look like you deserve the title. Somebody comes along and says you’re the Sexiest Man Alive, and that’s quite a statement to live up to. But unsurprisingly, the photographers have had some experience with this, and they were apparently able to put the actor at ease. He continued…

It’s almost humorous to hear that Idris Elba feels he doesn’t photograph well all the time, considering that’s a big part of the guy’s job. And of course, there are a lot of people who would probably nominate Elba for Sexiest Man Alive every single year if that was the way it worked. Those people probably don’t think Elba has ever taken a bad picture in his life. 

I honestly wouldn’t be that surprised if other recipients of the Sexiest Man Alive title had similar feelings when doing their photoshoots for the magazine. Trying to look sexy is one of those things that’s actually hard to do, and most of the time people seen as Sexiest Man Alive probably earned that title because they look sexy when they’re not trying that hard. 

Every once in a while the same person gets named Sexiest Man Alive again, so it's possible Idris Elba could get the gig again. If he dies, one hopes it will be a bit easier the second time around. 

There has been talk of a Luther movie for years, but now Idris Elba’s cult British crime thriller has finally gotten the feature film treatment with the arrival of the new Netflix movie. Luther: The Fallen Sun, which picks up some time after the events of the BBC drama’s fifth and final season, brings back Elba’s DCI John Luther for what could be his most intense and dangerous foe yet: a billionaire serial killer using London as his own personal playground.

If you have watched the continuation of Neil Cross’s beloved property, or plan on watching it soon, there’s a good chance you’ll want to know where you’ve seen the Luther: The Fallen Sun cast before. Well, we can solve at least one of the mysteries with the 2023 Netflix movie, as we have a rundown of the main characters and why the actors look so familiar.

Idris Elba (John Luther)

Making his return to the franchise in Luther: The Fallen Sun is Idris Elba, who once again plays the brilliant yet embattled DCI John Luther. Even though he’s behind bars when the movie starts, Luther won’t let that stop him from solving the case.

Probably best known for his portrayal of Baltimore drug kingpin Stringer Bell on the landmark HBO drama series, The Wire, Elba has continued to be one of the most prolific stars in film and TV the past few decades, with a major push in recent years. This includes everything from playing Bloodsport in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, Heimdall in some of the best Marvel movies, and Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, with plans to be in the upcoming sequel. And this is just barely scratching the surface when it comes to Elba's immense output.

Cynthia Erivo (Odette Raine)

One of the high-profile new additions to the Luther franchise is Cynthia Erivo, who takes on the role of DCI Odette Raine, a London police officer looking for John Luther after the disgraced detective escapes from prison.

Prior to joining the Luther: The Fallen Sun cast, Erivo made a name for herself as one of the most talented and versatile multi-talented performers in recent memory. With a Tony, Grammy, and Daytime Emmy for her decorated performance in the Broadway musical, The Color Purple, Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Harriet, and outstanding turns on shows like The Outsider and Genius, there are plenty of reasons why Erivo keeps getting so many high-profile roles. And that should only continue considering her prominent role in the upcoming film adaptation of Wicked.

Andy Serkis (David Robey) 

Andy Serkis shows up in Luther: The Fallen Sun as David Robey, a billionaire who also happens to be a sadistic and manipulative serial killer as well as the reason John Luther decides to break out of prison.

If you look at Serkis’ best movies, you’ll see a pattern of the actor playing larger-than-life and terrifying characters like Gollum in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Black Panther, and various others throughout his career. Serkis is also well known for his work in the Planet of the Apes reboot trilogy, playing Caesar in all three movies. And let’s not forget his work as Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars sequel trilogy and most recently, as Alfred Pennyworth in The Batman. 

Dermot Crowley (Martin Schenk)

Dermot Crowley is another returning actor showing up in Luther: The Fallen Sun, in which he reprises his role of Martin Schenk, John Luther’s retired former boss.

Crowley, a veteran film and TV actor, has appeared in multiple British mystery shows over the years, including The Bill, Call Me Mister, and Midsomer Murders. He was also a prominent figure throughout the original run of Luther, in which he played the no-nonsense and feared head of the Serious and Serial Crime Unit. Crowley also appeared in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, in which he played the rebel general who came up with the plan to destroy the Death Star II shield generator.  

Thomas Coombes (Archie Woodward)

Thomas Coombes is another new addition to the Luther franchise, appearing in The Fallen Sun as London detective Archie Woodward.

Throughout his career, Coombes has appeared in movies like Living and Boiling Point, but the lion’s share of his work has been on the small screen. This includes shows like EastEnders, Save Me, Knightfall, and Jekyll and Hyde, to name only a few. 

Lauryn Ajufo (Anya)

Lauryn Ajuro appears in Luther: The Fallen Sun as Odette Raine’s daughter, Anya. 

Though her career goes back only a few years, Ajufo has already made a name for herself on shows like The Last Bus and Tell Me Everything. She’s also popped up in some movies as well, including the 2021 drama Boiling Point, which is worth checking out if you’re a fan of The Bear. 

Hattie Morahan (Corinne Aldrich)

Hattie Morahan shows up in Luther: The Fallen Sun as Corinne Aldrich, a mother who calls upon John Luther for help after something terrible happens to her son.

Morahan has been in a little bit of everything over the years, including movies like Alice Through the Looking Glass and Enola Holmes, TV shows like Eternal Law and Sense and Sensibility, a long list of stage productions that includes See How They Run and Hamlet, and then multiple radio dramas, including several set within the Doctor Who universe. 

Vincent Regan (Dennis McCabe)

And then there is Vincent Regan, who shows up in Luther: The Fallen Sun as Dennis McCabe.

Regan, who will appear in the Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom cast as King Atlan, has spent his decades-long career appearing in movies like 300, Troy, Clash of the Titans, and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. His long list of TV credits includes Snatch, Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Wild at Heart, and the upcoming One Piece Netflix adaptation. 

You can now see all of these members of the Luther: The Fallen Sun cast in action as the movie is currently streaming for anyone with a Netflix subscription. If you want to know what other new releases are coming to Netflix, other streaming services, and your local theater, check out our 2023 movie schedule.

Stream Luther: The Fallen Sun on Netflix. 

Idris Elba has consistently landed high-profile role for the last couple of decades, making his mark with movies like Prometheus, Pacific Rim and The Suicide Squad. Despite his extensive body of work, he still gets bombarded with questions about James Bond. The British actor has long been linked to the iconic role and, now that Daniel Craig’s 007 tenure has ended, the public only seems more curious as to whether he’ll ever don the famous tuxedo. Recent developments would suggest that Elba’s Bond chances are dead at this point. Now, he’s apparently put the rumors to rest while promoting his latest flick – Luther: The Fallen Sun – which features a slew of fun spy references. 

Considering the hype that’s surrounded the idea of the 50-year-old star playing James Bond, it feels like just about everyone (even King Richard’s director) wouldn’t mind seeing Idris Elba play the secret agent. Everyone, except the actor himself, however. At this point, Elba essentially deflects when quizzed on the matter, as he’s gotten somewhat annoyed over hearing them. That doesn’t mean he holds any ill will towards the franchise or its creative team, though. In fact, based on sentiments he recently shared, they’re all quite chummy:

Interestingly, franchise producer Michael G. Wilson previously discussed the star’s complicated feelings about taking over the role. Wilson could understand the A-lister being hesitant to step into the character’s shoes, as it would require a multi-year commitment on his part. As for whether or not he ever officially met with the powers that be about taking the part, Idris Elba told The Guardian that he was “nowhere” close to getting it. And when asked again about whether there were talks he only laughed and shook his head. He also said:

So all of this still leaves one very big question: Who in the world is actually going to end up playing James Bond? At this point, it feels like just about every major British leading man is in the mix, from Aaron Taylor-Johnson to Regé-Jean Page. Both are flattered that their names are being mentioned in the discussion, though neither of them seem to have gotten a call just yet. Kingsman star Taron Edgerton also responded to the rumors, claiming that he’s not in the running and that the producers have never inquired about enlisting his services. 

Though Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli haven’t formally announced Daniel Craig’s replacement just yet, as they’re looking to take their time. As they continue to plot out the franchise’s future, Idris Elba will likely continue with business as usual. His James Bond odds may be slim to none at this point, but I’d wager that the chances of him getting another question about the role at some point are still very high.

See the star play the (slightly) spy-adjacent role of John Luther in Luther: The Fallen Sun, which will be available for Netflix subscription holders starting March 10. Be sure to look over CinemaBlend’s schedule of 2023 new movie releases for information on this year’s other major titles.

Idris Elba has seen some highs and lows in recent weeks. He's been celebrating the impending release of the highly anticipated Luther: The Fallen Sun. But on the flip side, he’s experienced online backlash for revealing that he doesn't call himself a “Black actor” anymore. Since then, Elba has set the record straight by clarifying he didn’t want to be defined by his race. Now, the British actor is sharing more thoughts on the backlash surrounding his polarizing comments.

The A-lister seemed to have more to get off his chest in regard to the controversy while speaking with The Guardian. Idris Elba opened up about feeling scrutinized long before he made his recent statements. He conveyed that this happened around the time that U.S. audiences found out he was British -- and not American -- after watching him in his breakthrough role as Stringer Bell on HBO’s The Wire. And before he starred on Luther, he saw “a glass ceiling coming," since he was being typecast due to his desirability -- and not his talent. The Suicide Squad star dispelled public perception of him by saying he lives “a quite sheltered life.” He said about dealing with public scrutiny at this phase in his career:

It seems he just wants to express his thoughts without worrying about others’ opinions. Multiple celebrities have faced online backlash over seemingly candid comments. Of course, the multi-tainer entered this business because he wanted to be judged by his talent, not his race. However, over the years, he's talked about being encouraged by the presence of Black characters on the big screen. So make no mistake, he’s still proud of who he is as well as the rising tide in Hollywood.

Idris Elba felt much of the discourse was stirred up by social media, and not for a meaningful conversation. The showbiz staple stood by his words, as he questioned those who felt he was denying his Blackness. He said to the online publication:

The Sonic the Hedgehog 2 alum, who is the son of two African immigrants, is clearly over others questioning his commitment to the African diaspora. One gets the feeling that he just wants to work and live his life without having to watch every word he says.

Idris Elba’s comments come at a time where Black actors are thriving in Hollywood. Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors are having a moment with box office successes like Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania. The two also appear together in Creed III, which has received great reviews from critics. His fellow Brits -- like John Boyega, Damson Idris, and Regé-Jean Page -- are also experiencing success and have high-profile blockbuster movies lined up. It's fair to assume that Elba is rooting for his colleagues and isn't going to let the noise distort how he views them or himself.

Catch Idris Elba in Luther: The Fallen Sun, which is set to be released on March 10, and you'll need a Netflix subscription if you want to check it out. After that, he has a few film and TV projects lined up for 2023 and 2024. In the meantime, check out our schedule of 2023 new movie releases for info on other upcoming films that feature top-notch Black talent.

Whodunnits and howcatchems seem to be seeing a resurgence right now thanks in large part to Rian Johnson’s projects like Glass Onion and Peacock’s refreshing detective anthology Poker Face. But before Benoit Blanc or Charlie Cale, there was John Luther, and Idris Elba has long hoped to bring the detective chief inspector to life in a movie. That time has finally come, as Luther: The Fallen Sun will be available for Netflix subscription holders on Friday, March 10 following a limited theatrical run that starts today, February 24. Luckily for us, the reviews are in to give us a clue as to whether it was worth the wait.

Luther came to an end in 2019 after five seasons. When Idris Elba returns as the character, it will be alongside newcomers Cynthia Erivo as DCI Odette Raine and Andy Serkis as serial killer David Robey. Dermot Crowely also reprises his role of Detective Superintendent Martin Schenk. Let’s hand it over to the critics, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Luther: The Fallen Sun. Eric Eisenberg rates the Netflix film 2.5 stars out of 5, saying the film feels like a full season was crunched into a shorter run time, but is still a hell of a lot of fun to watch. He concludes: 

Siddhant Adlakha of IGN thinks the pacing of Luther: The Fallen Sun robs the audience of the most enjoyable part of a detective story — watching the master piece together the mystery. This critic rates it a “Bad” 4 out of 10, saying: 

In fact, many of the critics commented on how The Fallen Sun might have played out better as a series, thus giving the story room to breathe. Carly Lane of Collider says the movie starts at a quick pace that only ever shifts to breakneck speeds. The critic likes the movie overall though, grading it a B: 

Sam Haysom of Mashable says the movie sticks the landing, but just barely. The critic says it's an entertaining and well-acted story that can't help but get tangled up in itself: 

Steve Greene of IndieWire grades the movie a C+, pointing out that bigger isn’t always better, and that The Fallen Sun proves to be a messy TV expansion that’s ultimately out of its depth. The review continues: 

The critics all seem to agree on the quick pacing of the Netflix film, but they were split on if the end result was still worth it. If you want to catch Luther: The Fallen Sun on the big screen, you have a small opportunity during its limited theatrical run starting today. Otherwise, it will become available to stream on Netflix on March 10. In the meantime, you can check out some of Idris Elba’s other best performances, as well as everything new and coming soon to Netflix. 

Everyone has their favorite long shot in the race to become the face of the James Bond movies and, for a while, Idris Elba has been one of the more popular picks. Tipped as a potential 007 for some time now, the actor sat in a position where the odds weren’t abysmal, but the climate around the role made the prospect very unlikely. Today, that speculation can come to an end, as Elba has officially killed his chances of being James Bond, with fan favorite John Luther filling the void.

During Dubai’s World Government Summit, AP capture remarks that the actor made regarding the persistent buzz around him becoming the cinematic super spy. Tying those remarks to his continued work on the BBC/Netflix original series Luther, here’s how Idris Elba closed one door -- but kept another firmly open:

It hasn’t been an easy path to walk, as Idris Elba has been tired of talking Bond for some time now. Years have seen his name always circulating in the pool of hopefuls that could take over in the wake of the Daniel Craig era of 007, with varying degrees of teasing and refutation coming from Elba himself. However, this recent rejection comes with the hopes that his role as John Luther will be continuing for some time into the future.

He's starred as the titular lead in Luther since its 2010 debut, and five seasons of mysteries have kept the titular detective busy enough to jump into the world of movies. Luther: The Fallen Sun is set to make its debut, both in theaters and on streaming, in a couple of weeks; and the leading man already sounds like he’s ready to continue making these event films. Considered one of the best Idris Elba roles from his entire career, this trade-off of fortunes is quite welcomed news leading up to the arrival of this "first movie."

It’s kind of sad to say goodbye to the potential of a run of James Bond flicks not starring the Suicide Squad alum. His humor and his command would have made him a perfect fit for 007 adventures of any tone. While his time in contention for the role is over, it only means that he’s free to pursue any and every offer he receives to do something he loves. 

At the moment, Luther fans have an award winning/marathon inspiring franchise lead seemingly laser-focused on continuing the story he helped start over a decade ago. For Idris Elba, it may not be as new as slipping into a tuxedo to save the world, but it's still a gig that has a lot of action and intrigue to it. While he gets to continue telling that story, another new and potentially untested 007 to take the stage, leaving everyone winning in this scenario.

John Luther’s return will be in limited theatrical release, starting February 24th, so die-hard fans can see that action unfold after checking their local listings. Or if you happen to have a Netflix subscription, you’ll be able to enjoy the film when it makes its streaming debut on March 10th. If you’d like to check out what we know about Luther: The Fallen Sun, then feel free to have a look at all of the clues we’ve gathered so far.

Idris Elba has shown a ton of much talent and range in his acting career. This spans his breakout role in the HBO drama series The Wire to nailing parts in Beasts of No Nation, Luther, Pacific Rim, and more. With so many people asking him to be the next James Bond, he would be considered the first Black actor to portray the 007 spy. But after experiencing backlash in not wanting to call himself a “Black actor” anymore, Elba has decided to set the record straight on that.

The entertainment industry has significantly changed ever since the Academy Awards recognized Gone with the Wind’s Hattie McDaniels as the first Black actress to be nominated and win an Oscar in 1940, where she was forced to sit away from her white co-stars. Now unforgettable breakthrough performances by Black actors have been widely celebrated for their triumphs in what used to be a predominately white business. So you can imagine the backlash Idris Elba received when he said during an interview with Esquire UK that being called a “Black actor” put himself “in a box.” A few days later, he took to Twitter to further elaborate on what he meant by those controversial comments.

The British actor is  seemingly stating that he doesn’t deny his race as a Black man, but just doesn’t want his career to be defined by it. But if others choose go the opposite route, that's their choice. The reactions on Twitter towards the Beasts of No Nation actor’s recent comments have been mixed. Some have expressed “disgust” in feeling Elba is not using his platform to speak up for his race and how he’s “dissociating” from his Blackness. Others on the social media site see that while the Luther actor clearly recognizes himself as a proud Black man, he just wants his profession to shine without his race being the center of everything. 

When Esquire UK interviewed Idris Elbra, he was asked about his childhood in the predominantly white yet ethnically diverse London borough of Hackney. But while answering this question, he stopped himself to ask why people find his race “fascinating.” This high-grossing actor elaborated in the interview on the importance of not allowing a person’s skin color to define everything.

Idris Elba continued to talk about how his intentions to be an actor had nothing to do with his race, but just because he was interested in the profession. While there are many who feel proud about opening doors and being a source of representation, the Golden Globe winner wants his work to speak for itself. What’s next on this talented actor’s to-do list is to star in the upcoming Luther movie, The Fallen Sun, reimagined for the big screen. In this follow-up to his iconic crime series Luther, Elba is back as DCI John Luther who will break out of prison to hunt down a serial killer on the loose in London. With this being his first live-action movie since Beast and the acclaim the Luther series has received during its five-season run, you can be sure audiences will be tuning in to see this one.

While the words of this award-winning actor may have hit a nerve with a lot of people, he still has plenty of fans who commend him for the significance of wanting to be viewed as a person who acts for a living rather than allowing race to define him. You can find the film continuation of Luther: The Fallen Sun to be released in select theaters on February 24th and on your Netflix subscription on March 10th.

Idris Elba has found a lot of success in his acting career for the past 20 years, starring in successful series like The Wire and Luther, along with playing roles in DC and Marvel movies, and appearing in Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim, Beasts of No Nation or the 2013 Nelson Mandela movie Long Walk to Freedom, to name a few. With his fame still very much in full force, Elba recently shared how he has felt that describing himself as Black actor has put him in a “box.” 

Idris Elba was being asked about his childhood in Hackney, which is a predominantly white, but ethnically diverse borough in London. The actor stopped to share his curiosity as to why his race is “fascinating to people.” During his interview with Esquire UK, the actor shared that he’s “not any more Black” due to where he lived or currently lives before saying this: 

Elba, who has long been on movie fans’ list to play the first Black James Bond, shared that he feels there’s an “obsession” with race that he believes doesn’t always help forward conversations about racism, especially when it comes to people constantly highlighting their differences. Idris Elba continued by saying this: 

Idris Elba's next movie is Luther: The Fallen Sun, which is a followup to his beloved crime series Luther, which started in 2010 and concluded in 2019. In the upcoming Luther movie, detective John Luther will break out of prison to hunt down a serial killer who is on the loose in London. The movie is set to hit select theaters this month before becoming available to stream with a Netflix subscription in March. 

The Fallen Sun is Elba’s first live action movie since last summer’s thriller Beast, which earned mostly positive reviews from audiences, especially for its great action sequences. In 2022, Elba also made an appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, was the voice of Knuckles in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and starred in George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing with Tilda Swinton. 

The 50-year-old actor also shared in the interview that he accepts being a prominent part of the Black community, and that being so is part of his “journey.” He does hope that he leaves a legacy that may inspire not only Black kids, but anyone from his hometown of Canning Town, that what he did can be done no matter what your roots are. 

Everybody knows how mean people can be on Twitter. Oftentimes, people will take to the platform and express their dislike for a particular actor or movie, which isn’t always expressed in the kindest way. Many celebrities brush off haters, not feeling the need to respond to negative comments and focus on having positive interactions with fans. However, Jimmy Kimmel often challenges this, putting celebrities in front of a camera to read tweets from their haters and making fun of some of the ridiculous comments people make. This week, the talk show host gave celebrities the opportunity again, prompting some choice words from Idris Elba and Jason Momoa.

The two superhero actors had hilarious responses to some rude tweets from haters as a part of Jimmy Kimmel's Mean Tweet series. Momoa and Elba did not shy away from dropping an f-bomb or two when formulating retorts for their trolls. In a tweet towards Elba, one person wrote:

The Hobbs and Shaw actor responded with a very simple bite back to the very mean comment:

Short and sweet and to the point is the best way to handle haters, as Elba demonstrates. Also the very simple response almost makes it funnier, showing that the Marvel alum has nothing more to say to this person. Momoa decided to relax for the occasion, enjoying a beer while he read a tweet that said:

Taking a note from Elba, Momoa responded with the same two, fitting words. These two actors may be on opposing sides in the DCEU, but these two heavy hitters are clearly on the same team when it comes to trolls on the internet. There’s no need to waste too much time on them, and write them off with a simple two words, and in Momoa’s case, enjoy a casual beer while you’re at it. You can watch the clip of the actors below:

Momoa and Elba have plenty of fans to make up for the few online haters. Elba has been a long time fan favorite for the next James Bond, and Jason Momoa has become a Hollywood staple ever since his memorable performance on Game of Thrones. Both actors are incredibly busy and seem to always have projects in the works. Jason Momoa will be starring in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, which is set to release on December 23rd of next year. And Idris Elba has had three movies come out this year, and a film adaptation of his BBC show, Luther, is in the works. Sorry haters, it looks like you will be seeing much more of these two in the future. 

I personally am waiting for the day when these two appear in a project together. If they can handle mean online comments together, I’m sure they can do much more. There is already an avenue for it, as they both play characters in the DCEU. Seeing Aquaman potentially fighting Bloodsport in an action packed superhero adventure would be a blast for fans. Elba has expressed an interest in more DC projects underway, and it seems like Momoa will most likely be in another DC team up movie that could throw these two together. Maybe for a potential Justice Society of America movie? I have my fingers crossed. 

In the meantime, these mega-movie stars will be battling haters in real life, and continue to fight villains on the big screen. You can check out Momoa doing so in Aquaman, which is currently streaming for HBO Max subscribers. In addition, Idris Elba fights his own battles in the 2022 film, Beast which is currently available for fans with a Peacock subscription. For more information about other films releasing this year on streaming or otherwise, check out our 2022 movie release schedule.

There have been several 2022 new movie releases that have given audiences some of the most terrifying spectacles in recent memory, including Jordan Peele’s UFO thriller Nope and Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey, the latter of which took the Predator franchise back to the very beginning. Another movie that saw humans being chased and sometimes viciously attacked by a massively terrifying beast was Baltasar Kormákur’s Beast, which featured its fair share of drama, action and some gnarly and visceral gore.

The movie, which followed Idris Elba’s Dr. Nate Samuels as he protected his two daughters from a hellacious lion, carries an R-rating and features gore that is not only up there with some all-time greats, it also looks frighteningly realistic. That’s all thanks to attention to detail of the movie’s prosthetics team.

In the bonus features that accompany the home release of Beast, which is now out digitally and on physical media from Universal Pictures, Prosthetics Supervisor Clinton Smith broke down the extreme lengths he and his team went to make the movie’s lion wounds look so realistic. While there was some digital effects used to touch up some of the wounds, the lion’s share of the process was done by hand the old-fashioned way, which included combining hair, various make-up practices, and some incredibly detailed props.

But before the team could start making the various wounds and contraptions used to bring them to life, they first had to conduct a great deal of research to make it look as realistic as possible:

The lion featured in the movie, which was the highlight for many critics, including CinemaBlend's Eric Eisenberg (as seen in his Beast review), isn’t your everyday apex predator. Instead, this is a massive ungodly creature created for the big screen, which made things more intense for the prosthetics team and actors involved in the scenes.

Sharlto Copley’s Martin Battles is just one of the characters on the receiving end of the Beast’s terrifying attack sequences, and the team went above and beyond to make the aftermath as vicious and lifelike as possible. After having his leg slashed open just when the movie starts to pick up the pace, the biologist is forced to cauterize his own wound to prevent bleeding out. The way Assistant Prosthetics Supervisor Daleen Badenhorst created the prop used in the scene made it all the more realistic:

With the wound being in line with one of the main arteries, the prop called for a system that could pump a large amount of blood in a short amount of time. To do this, the team developed a system of rigs underneath the fake skin that would then pump blood to increase the believability.

The story of how the prosthetics team made the gore and lion wounds in Beast so gnarly is just a small portion of the behind-the-scenes details revealed on the Beast home release. You can pick up a copy for yourself, either digitally or on physical media on Amazon. Beast is also one of the 2022 movies streaming and can be watched with a Peacock Premium subscription, but that won’t grant you access to stories of how the movie came to be.

Telling a story is harder than it looks, especially if you’re going for a specific effect. The new movie release Three Thousand Years of Longing is a specific case where all the bells and whistles were available in order to make Idris Elba’s story sessions with Tilda Swinton bend to the will of George Miller’s visual feast. And yet, Elba himself made a pitch that was so simple, and so old school, that it enhanced the body of the picture, in which our main pair get caught up in the magic of storytelling.

During the press day for Three Thousand Years of Longing, I was granted the opportunity to speak with both Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba in connection with the film, which you can now rent on PVOD. Noting the electric chemistry between the actors in the latest vision from the man who's currently hard at work delivering his surprisingly long-awaited Mad Max prequel Furiosa, I was curious if the body of the anthology was filmed in long takes, or if the dialogue in the hotel room portions was limited to what was needed for the moment. 

That question yielded an answer that rendered George Miller’s cinematic offering even more impressive. Tilda Swinton confirmed that Three Thousand Years of Longing did indeed employ long takes of Idris Elba telling her stories of his Djinn’s exploits, which is impressive in itself. However, as she told CinemaBlend, Elba pitched Miller on a key idea that enhanced those scenes even further:

As a film, Three Thousand Years of Longing orbits around the central anthology of how the Djinn’s 3000 years leading up to the present day have taught him everything there is to know about wishing. Imparting this wisdom with Dr. Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), a scholar who specializes in storytelling and myths, he tells three different stories over the course of their time in an Istanbul hotel room. 

For as much as the movie is a beautiful feast of spectacle, the entire concept revolves around two people in bathrobes having a conversation. Watching the trailer for Three Thousand Years of Longing, you can see how audiences might expect something a bit more fast paced and fantastical. What exists instead is more of a balance between far-flung cautionary tales and the more intimate moments between Elba and Swinton.

It absolutely works thanks to those stories being told so expertly on the part of Idris Elba. Knowing that The Suicide Squad actor suggested this shooting strategy shows how much of a handle he had on the role of the Djinn, as well as how much George Miller trusts his actors. That trust worked in a very special way for both Elba and Tilda Swinton, which they further explained in our interview: 

Tilda Swinton: That was really a work of genius, but yes, we shot in a way similar to working with a play. We shot with long takes, and that was useful, because we got a rhythm going, and we were able to establish a rhythm.

Idris Elba: It was designed to be a narration piece, with snippets of the room; but we shot the entire room. The narration is actually my performance in the room, even though you can’t see it. That was important for us to have, and it just brings a certain continuity to the emotion in the whole film. Which I think would have been different, had you cut to a narrator.

The Djinn could be one of Idris Elba’s career best roles, with Tilda Swinton’s performance also ranking highly among her work. It’s all thanks to a collaborative environment that saw some simple suggestions expanded into strategies that maximized the star power that anchored Three Thousand Years of Longing in the here and now. Sometimes the more traditional approach really does make a truly 'out there' tale of romance and fantasy even more fantastic to behold. 

As mentioned earlier, Three Thousand Years of Longing is currently available for PVOD rental, though you might be able to still catch it at a theater near you. Meanwhile, you can also pre-order Three Thousand Years of Longing in advance of its release on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD on November 15th. 

Or, if you're an eccentric millionaire that agrees with Tilda Swinton's movie theater plan, you could probably run the movie yourself for as long as you'd like. There are a lot of options in play here, and none of them require access to a Djinn. 

We’re coming up on one full year since No Time to Die concluded the story of Daniel Craig’s James Bond, and 007 fans are still eager to learn what the next era of this franchise holds in store. Naturally the biggest question remains who will be Craig’s successor, and while there’s certainly no shortage of guesses on that front, Idris Elba has said he has no interest in taking over as James Bond. Producer Barbara Broccoli has now shared her reaction to Elba’s complications about playing 007.

For years, Idris Elba has been frequently brought up as a potential candidate to play James Bond after Daniel Craig’s run was over. While few, if any, would dispute he has the acting chops to pull off the role, Elba simply isn’t interested in tackling the character and rarely talks about Bond anymore. In response to Elba saying that he doesn’t see Bond when he “looks in the mirror” Barbara Broccoli, who produces the Bond franchise with Michael G. Wilson, told Variety that while she and Wilson “love” the Luther star, she understands him not wanting to play the suave spy, saying:

While Daniel Craig didn’t star in quite as many James Bond movies as predecessors Sean Connery and Roger Moore, he certainly poured many years of his life into the role. Craig was officially cast in Casino Royale in October 2005, and while he obviously did press for No Time to Die in the weeks leading up to its release, the actor essentially said goodbye to Bond once principal photography on that movie wrapped at the end of October 2019. Let’s also not forget there was a period where we didn’t even know if Craig would reprise Bond after 2015’s Spectre, but even if he hadn’t come back, he would have had four Bond movies under his belt, the same amount as Pierce Brosnan.

So yes, getting to play James Bond would be an incredible opportunity for many actors, but Barbara Broccoli made it clear that whoever scores the role will need to stick with the franchise for a long time. Beyond the reasons Idris Elba has outright mentioned in interviews for not wanting to play James Bond, Broccoli surmises the actor’s not interested in committing to such a lengthy run. Besides, it’s not like Elba is lacking in opportunities to star in action movies, as the last several years have seen him appear in blockbusters like Star Trek Beyond, The Dark Tower, Hobbs & Shaw and The Suicide Squad. 

Back in June, Barbara Broccoli said that filming on the next James Bond movie “is at least two years away,” so it’ll be a while until we learn who takes over as 007. That said, it was rumored in August that a younger actor will likely be cast as the next Bond, and Idris Elba just turned 50, meaning he’d be in his early-mid 60s once that 10-12-year commitment was done. So between his disinterest in the role and this alleged age requirement, it works out that Elba doesn’t want to play Bond, although that doesn’t mean we couldn’t see him pop up in this franchise as a villain or in another role someday.

If you’re in the mood for some James Bond action, many of the franchise’s movies are can be streamed with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. As for Elba, his newest movies, Beast and Three Thousand Years of Longing, are both still playing in theaters, and the Luther movie will premiere to Netflix subscribers at a yet-to-be-announced date.

Stephen King’s Constant Readers are a passionate lot, and arguably the work they are most passionate about is The Dark Tower series. Blending western, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror genres, the books unfold a staggering epic that is awe-inspiring, gut-wrenching, and encompasses everything that King is about. Though viewed as controversial by some who don’t appreciate the way it concludes, it is also hailed as the author’s greatest achievement – and as such, it is powerfully frustrating that Hollywood has failed to produce a proper adaptation. Instead, all we have is Nikolaj Arcel's The Dark Tower from 2017, which is not just a bad film, but an utter disgrace.

Admittedly, it’s a movie that began development with perfect intentions. In 2010, NBC Universal announced remarkable and ambitious plans to bring Stephen King’s The Dark Tower to both the big and small screens. With Ron Howard directing and Akiva Goldsman writing, the idea was to adapt the books as a trilogy of films with seasons of a television series interspersed between them, bridging the story from one feature to the next. The strategy would have celebrated the scale of King’s work while also providing real estate that would ensure everything valuable in the source material would be included in the adaptation.

In the years that followed, some forward motion was made with this version of the project – such as casting Javier Bardem as protagonist Roland Deschain – but mostly everything just fell apart. By mid-2011, Universal backed out of their commitment to the franchise, and while Warner Bros. expressed interest temporarily about picking up the pieces, the studio took itself out of the running in August 2012. That was when Media Rights Capital stepped in, and they eventually partnered with Sony Pictures on the project in 2015.

It was as a Sony/MRC project that The Dark Tower finally grew some legs under it… but long gone were the plans to create something ambitious and worthy of Stephen King’s books. Nikolaj Arcel was hired to direct (the script credited to himself, Anders Thomas Jensen, Jeff Pinkner, and Akiva Goldsman), and with Idris Elba cast as Roland and Matthew McConaughey cast as the villainous Walter Padick/Randall Flagg/the man in black, the film went into production in 2016, and hit theaters about a year-and-a-half later on August 4, 2017.

The Dark Tower was a flop that got eviscerated by critics, and it’s a fate that the travesty wholly deserved. After decades of tremendous successes, Hollywood failed Stephen King in the worst way with the movie, and the depths of how are explored in this week’s Adapting Stephen King.

What The Dark Tower Is About

“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.”

It was with that line that Stephen King embarked on what would be the most epic literary journey of his career. He was only 21 years old, a student at the University of Maine getting a BA in English, and he had a vision: to coalesce the Robert Browning poem “Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came” with the iconography of director Sergio Leone’s The Man With No Name Trilogy and the scale of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings. He conjured the stoic, determined, Clint Eastwood-esque hero Roland Deschain and set him with the task of chasing the villainous Man In Black through the desolation of Mid-World while questing to The Dark Tower – a titanic monolith standing at the center of the universe that anchors all realities.

As he explains in Stephen King: The Art Of Darkness by Douglas E. Winter, the author’s original intention for the story was “a very long fantasy novel,” but that wasn’t how it initially found publication. Instead, the first five stories featuring Roland Deschain were featured in issues of The Magazine Of Fantasy And Science Fiction between 1978 and 1981 – the period when King’s fame was exploding with the release of books including The Stand, The Dead Zone, Firestarter and Cujo. It wasn’t until 1982 that the chapters of the story were edited together and published – with Rhode Island-based company Donald M. Grant printing just 10,000 copies of The Gunslinger.

Given the scale of the publication, most Stephen King readers were unaware of the book’s existence… but that changed in November 1983 with the release of Pet Sematary. The Gunslinger was listed among the writer’s other works in the front matter of the notorious horror novel, and curiosity about it exploded as Constant Readers demanded opportunity to read it. There was a clear hunger for the work, and after The Gunslinger got a second printing in 1984, plans were formed for The Dark Tower as a series of seven novels – with the second book, The Drawing Of The Three, getting published in 1987.

With The Drawing Of The Three and the subsequent book, 1991’s The Waste Lands, Stephen King united Roland Deschain with the companions who would ultimately join him on his quest for The Dark Tower: Eddie Dean, a heroin addict and criminal; Odetta Holmes, a wealthy civil rights activist with dissociative identity disorder; Jake Chambers, an eleven-year-old-boy; and Oy, a small dog-like creature called a Billy-Bumbler with limited speech capabilities. The characters formed a fated group referred to as a “ka-tet,” and they are some of King’s greatest creations.

The fourth book, Wizard And Glass was published in 1997, but urgency to complete the Dark Tower series changed at the turn of the century following the incident that saw Stephen King nearly killed when he was struck by an out-of-control van. According to Stephen King: A Complete Exploration Of His Work, Life And Influences by Bev Vincent, the author dedicated himself to completing the story in 2001 when he began a stretch of 16 months writing what would be the last three books he had planned: The Wolves Of The Calla, The Song Of Susannah, and The Dark Tower. He was left so exhausted by the process that he contemplated retirement after their publication in 2003 and 2004, but, fortunately for all of us, he ended up changing his mind.

Despite the Dark Tower series’ existence as a perfect whole, it’s a world to which Stephen King has continually returned – be it directly (such as with 2012’s The Wind Through The Keyhole) or more indirectly (such as with the Gwendy trilogy published between 2017 and 2022 with co-author Richard Chizmar).

How Nikolaj Arcel's The Dark Tower Differs From Stephen King’s Books

Where the hell do I begin?

A lot of Stephen King adaptations have issues translating the author’s verbose storytelling sensibilities into the runtime of a standard feature film, but Nikolaj Arcel's The Dark Tower is in a class of its own in terms of incompetence and awfulness. This is a movie that attempts to condense seven epic tomes into 88 minutes (the runtime minus about seven minutes of end credits), and in doing so it drains the material of every ounce of its brilliance and depth.

Narratively speaking, the movie primarily borrows from The Waste Lands and The Dark Tower, which are the books A) where Jake Chambers (Tom Taylor) arrives in Mid-World, joining up with Roland (Idris Elba), and B) where the heroes attempt to stop psychic humans known as Breakers from destroying the Dark Tower. Those are thin elements within the context of the individual novels, but they are the most significant details that the film takes from the source material.

Instead of using what Stephen King wrote, The Dark Tower adaptation opts to change and simplify… with desecrating results. Case in point: this is a movie that removes Roland’s ineffable and unyielding drive to seek the Dark Tower (his literal reason for being), and instead makes his only motivation be a bland revenge mission targeting the man in black/Walter Padick (Matthew McConaughey) after Walter kills Roland’s father (Dennis Haysbert). Furthermore, the film clearly has no idea what to do with Jake’s story in the book, so the film takes a shortcut and just says that he is the universe’s most powerful breaker, putting a target on his back from the bad guys. It’s lazy, baffling, and horrible.

Everything compelling and fascinating from the text is dwindled down into absentia or nothingness – the most glaring and awful omissions being the entire ka-tet outside of Roland and Jake. There is no scale, texture or history in the depiction of Mid-World (a complex reality where time and direction have no meaning), and there isn’t even a single mention of ka – the all-important force that drives all things. Ultimately it’s as though the movie took anything that would have taken more than ten seconds to explain and dumped it in the trash.

Is It Worthy Of The King?

It’s hard to say who Nikolaj Arcel’s The Dark Tower is made for. It’s certainly not for Stephen King fans. Nobody who loves the books could possibly look at the movie and view it as a proper and satisfactory interpretation. It skips over and ignores far too much, and desperately tries to make up for it with various Easter eggs and details from the broader King Universe – such as Jake having a toy Christine and characters walking through a destroyed carnival with a Pennywise sign.

That just leaves the potential audience with the non-Constant Readers, and there is nothing for them here either. With the material sanded down as it is, the movie is just mind-numbingly dull and feels like a scattershot collection of tropes from young adult fiction (which is not a genre to which Stephen King’s novels belong). Despite what I think of as solid casting with Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, the characters have no unique vibrancy. Roland and Walter are empty caricatures of who they are on the page and invite no emotional investment.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly in December of 2017 (about four months after The Dark Tower’s theatrical release), Stephen King attributed the film’s poor results to the misguided attempt to produce the adaptation as a PG-13 tent pole blockbuster. He notes that the story lost a “toughness” not being able to go for a more adult rating, but that’s only part of it. The movie is a failure to dumb down the material for a lowest common denominator audience, and King’s work is just far too cerebral and dense for that treatment.

The greatest sin of Nikolaj Arcel’s The Dark Tower is the idea that someone might point to it as an example of why Stephen King’s most impressive work can never be properly adapted – and that simply isn’t fair. The series of novels is infinitely better than anything this faux blockbuster pretends to be, and while Hollywood has not yet been able to properly see the phenomenal potential, Constant Readers are perfectly aware of it, and we’ll never give up hope of seeing the adaptation that the epic deserves.

How To Watch Nikolaj Arcel's The Dark Tower

For all of you masochists out there, Nikolaj Arcel's The Dark Tower is an easy title to find and watch online. Amazon, Google Play, Vudu, and Apple all have the movie available for both rental and purchase. If you’re a physical media completest looking to build the Ultimate Stephen King collection, the film is available on 4K.

Thankfully, next week’s edition of Adapting Stephen King will be more celebratory instead of depressing, as it’s almost time to talk about the best on-going series adaptation of King’s work to date. Come Wednesday, I’ll be taking a close look at Mr. Mercedes – the show that debuted on Audience in 2017 based on the 2014 novel (and trilogy-starter) of the same name. Look for it in the CinemaBlend TV section, and in the meantime explore all of the previous installments of this column by clicking through the banners below.

While fans are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the James Bond movies, the road to the future is being watched all the more carefully. Recent rumors have started to potentially narrow the field as to who the next 007 can be. However, that hasn’t stopped Henry Cavill’s odds-topping success in recent weeks. 

In fact, a more comprehensive look at the Bond betting odds shows us some interesting results in terms of where Cavill stands, along with Idris Elba and Regé-Jean Page. 

Henry Cavill Still Leads The Top 10, With Some Familiar James Bond Competitors Seeing A Boost As Well

A new updated playing field from Vegas Insider shows that yes, Henry Cavill is still the top choice to become the next 007. Clearly, the recent reports claiming that the new Bond could be in their mid-30s hasn’t tarnished his shine among bettors. In fact, the top 10 stats you’ll see below seem to suggest quite a few candidates we’d expect to be written off are still riding quite high:  

• Henry Cavill (39) – 427/160 (27.26%)
• Regé-Jean Page (34) - 347/80 (18.73%)
• Idris Elba (49) - 215/48 (18.25%)
• Tom Hardy (44) - 11/2 (15.38%)
• James Norton (37) - 10/1 (9.09%)
• Chiwetel Ejiofor (45)  - 43/4 (8.51%)
• Aidan Turner (39) - 173/16 (8.47%)
• Kit Harrington (35) - 61/5 (7.58%)
• Jonathan Bailey (34) - 15/1 (6.25%)
• Michael Fassbender (45) - 125/8 (6.02%)

Frequent favorites like Idris Elba and Tom Hardy, along with the occasionally appearing Chiwetel Ejiofor and Michael Fassbender, are all clearly out of the supposedly ideal age range. And yet James Bond fans can’t stop propping them up from time to time; especially in the case of Elba and Hardy. 

Indeed, the top for slots of this 007 odds field seems to be set in stone at the moment. Though wandering past benchmark, and even outside of the top 10, the odds tighten up for the remaining competitors in the field. 

Former Favorites Like Jamie Dornan, Cillian Murphy, And Tom Hopper Make Up A Really Close Back Half To The 007 Competition

Working our way down the list, and starting with previous James Bond favorite James Norton, the difference in ranking is pretty slim. As seen in the percentages provided, the standings are pretty close between anyone outside the top four choices. That reality becomes much more enforced in the bottom 10 competitors to become the next 007:

• Jamie Dornan - 47/3 (6%)
• Richard Madden - 149/8 (5.10%)
• Cillian Murphy - 163/8 (4.68%)
• Jamie Bell - 146/7 (4.58%)
• Sam Heughan - 177/8 (4.32%)
• Tom Hopper - 111/5 (4.31%)
• Jack Lowden - 183/8 (4.19%)
• Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - 25/1 (3.85%)
• Luke Evans - 129/4 (3.01%)
• Lydia West/Sope Dirsu/Luke Pasqalino/T’Nia Miller/Tahar Rahim/Surrane Jones/Ben Hardy - 33/1 (2.94%)

Continuing to act as a surprise among these prospective spies is Tom Hopper, previous 007 odds champ. One of the stars in the soon-to-end series The Umbrella Academy, Hopper had a run where he was the name to beat for Bond late last year. If there’s anything that could reverse his current 4.31% odds, it might be a potential bump from the announcement that the fourth season of Netflix’s comic adaptation will be its last.

It’s happened before, as we saw in the case of fellow backbencher Cillian Murphy. As soon fellow Netflix favorite Peaky Blinders was known to be in its endgame, Murphy’s 007 odds jumped quite a bit. With the numbers shaking out as they have in this segment of the people who could be James Bond, anyone could be propelled into the top 10 on the right sort of buzz. 

Which only brings us to the reality that we are still quite a ways off from learning who the next James Bond could be. The stats shown above aren’t exactly a consensus, even among Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, and Idris Elba’s dominating standings. 2024 is a long way off, and Bond 26 won’t be shooting until then if all goes as planned. 

This leaves the world to continue speculating and betting on who they want to step into the tuxedo. James Bond fans may want to pass some of that time, enjoying the already existing canon of 007 adventures. That honor is currently available for Amazon Prime subscribers, with almost all of the Bond canon included with said subscription.

The DC Extended Universe is known for its wild twists, both on and offscreen. One of the recent big hits from the shared universe was James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, which was an R-rated reboot of the villain-centric DC movie. The cast featured new and returning faces, including Idris Elba as Bloodsport. And Elba recently revealed the Bloodsport story that “needs to happen” on screen.

While he was originally rumored to be playing Will Smith’s character Deadshot, Idris Elba eventually debuted as Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad. He became the titular team’s new leader in the process, and was one of the few members of Task Force X to survive their adventure. Elba recently spoke to Variety about possibly returning to the DCEU, and mentioned one narrative he’d like to see play out. As he put it,

Same, though. Despite Henry Cavill having been missing from the DC Extended Universe for years now, Bloodsport’s backstory in The Suicide Squad revealed that the villain ended up imprisoned in Belle Reve for shooting the Man of Steel with a Kryptonite bullet. While it was only one quick line of dialogue, both Idris Elba and audiences have agreed that they’d like to see that conflict play out in live-action. We’ll just have to wait and see what Warner Bros. has up its sleeve.

Idris Elba’s comments to Variety come as he’s promoting his new movie Beast, which sees him face off against a Lion. Eventually the conversation turned to his comic book roles, as he’s got ongoing parts in both the MCU and DCEU. And after leading the cast of The Suicide Squad, moviegoers are definitely curious about when we’ll see Elba’s Bloodsport again.

While the DCEU is known for its crossover stories, it certainly seems like a possibility that we’ll be seeing Idris Elba’s Bloodsport again– with or without Superman. After all, his co-star John Cena got to reprise his role as the lead of the Peacemaker series. So even if another movie appearance doesn’t happen for Elba’s character, perhaps he’ll get to appear on the small screen sometime in the future. Fingers crossed.

Of course, the biggest obstacle in seeing Bloodsport and Superman face off in the DC Extended Universe may come from none other than Henry Cavill. As previously mentioned, he hasn’t filmed anything as the Man of Steel since wrapping his work on Justice League’s theatrical cut. This includes opportunities like cameos in Shazam! and  Peacemaker’s finale. It’s unclear if Cavill will ever return to the role, which ultimately started the entire shared universe.

The next installment in the DCEU is Black Adam on October 21st. In the meantime, check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The famed director of films like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Witches of Eastwick, George Miller is back after seven years for another go in the fantasy realm. Three Thousand Years of Longing stars Idris Elba (in his second movie to hit theaters this month) and Tilda Swinton in the adaptation of the short story "The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye" by A.S. Byatt. Critics have seen the movie and are here to tell us what to expect before it hits theaters August 26.

In Three Thousand Years of Longing, Tilda Swinton plays Alithea Binnie, an academic who happens upon a Djinn (Idris Elba) who offers to grant her three wishes. The film’s mind-blowing trailer promises fans the excesses of sex, death, revenge and more, so let’s see what the critics are saying. We’ll start, of course, with CinemaBlend’s review of Three Thousand Years of Longing, in which Mike Reyes rates the film 3 out of 5 stars. He loves the pairing of Elba and Swinton and says this deserves to be seen on the big screen, but the review argues George Miller should have amped up the weird: 

Qina Liu of The Seattle Times is on the same page, with a rating of 2.5 stars out of a possible 4. In what is a “mesmerizing cinematic experience” — thanks to cinematographer John Seale, who also worked with George Miller on Mad Max: Fury Road — this critic could have done without the fourth act:

Lindsey Bahr of the Associated Press rates it 3 out of 4 stars and notes that the stories told by Idris Elba’s Djinn are “enchanting, brutal, sensual, grotesque,” and like other critics have said, this team makes it work. From the review:

Aaron Neuwirth of We Live Entertainment also finds the film better than average, rating it an 8. The critic says Three Thousand Years of Longing highlights the power of storytelling, but it’s Tilda Swinton and Idris Elba who hold the movie together:

Linda Codega of Gizmodo also speaks of storytelling and the way this movie alternates between the main characters’ conversation and the fantastic centuries-old tales, saying the result is somewhat muddled: 

If this sounds like a movie you want to catch on the big screen, Three Thousand Years of Longing is set to hit theaters on Friday, August 26. You can check out what other movies Idris Elba has in the works, but it will be a while before we see George Miller’s next project. The Mad Max prequel Furiosa started filming in June but isn’t scheduled to hit theaters until May 24, 2024. So in the meantime, take a look at our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to start planning your next trip to the theater.

Stories of djinn, or “genies” as they’re more commonly known, have long represented some of the most fantastical tales of wish fulfillment in fiction. It’s a subgenre of its own, with a wide gamut of efforts catering to both children and adults, extolling the virtues of being careful what you wish for. Co-writer/director George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing skews towards the more mature side of that spectrum, and it’s an exciting grown-up fairytale brought to life with the filmmaker’s aesthetic. However, the finished product could have benefitted from going weirder, as the adaptation of A.S. Byatt’s “The Djinn in the Nightingale’s Eye” feels a bit more reserved than one might expect. 

The mortal that Three Thousand Years of Longing follows is Alithea Binnie (Tilda Swinton), an academic who happens to come into the possession of a vessel that unleashes our story’s Djinn (Idris Elba). Tasked with granting the standard three wishes, the magical being tells an anthology of stories to the human currently in command of his fate, and that’s where the bulk of George Miller’s film is told. 

Even with these fantastical stories unfolding in great visual detail, Three Thousand Years of Longing doesn’t quite stick the landing, but it manages to put on a hell of a show while trying. 

George Miller’s first movie since Mad Max: Fury Road, Three Thousand Years of Longing is a solid, but slightly disjointed effort.

The heart of Miller’s first narrative since Mad Max: Fury Road exploded onto the screen in 2015, a strong anthological core holds for a majority of the movie. Idris Elba’s Djinn weaves stories for Tilda Swinton’s Alithea that warn her about the powers of his wishes with tales of his past, and it’s here that the novelty of the movie takes hold. 

With Swinton’s character being an expert in storytelling and possessing a very meticulous mind, her seemingly wish-less personality takes glee digging into Three Thousand Years of Longing’s cautionary tales. She challenges Elba’s storyteller throughout the film, and the rapport between the two fuels what unfurls, and vice versa. It isn’t until a shift late in the game that the rhythm of the movie falls apart, splitting the narrative into two almost completely separate pictures. 

The film continues past what felt like a logical endpoint, and George Miller and co-writer Augusta Gore inject some modern commentary into what is essentially the fourth story of Three Thousand Years of Longing’s anthology. If it were laid out a little better in the opening act of the film, the very pointed jabs at the real world could have been a great opportunity to get weird. Instead, certain decisions and plot points that really want to say something about our current state of affairs stick out like sore thumbs, failing to be woven properly into the overall fabric.

 Even with that stumbling present, it’s still a mesmerizing thing to watch, especially with Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton holding the fort. 

Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton were made to carry a movie together, and their efforts here gladly prove that point.

The pairing of Elba and Swinton proves to be a tremendous casting call by Three Thousand Years of Longing. Teaming George Miller’s directing prowess with Idris Elba and Tilda Swinton’s acting energies is a formula for success on paper, but seeing the results reflect that hypothesis is something that feels like a wish come true for movie-goers. 

It's through Idris Elba’s Djinn that the understated magic of Three Thousand Years of Longing works best. The djinn isn’t a fast talking or sneaky force of unlimited power, but more of a methodical showman. Elba tells each of these stories with pure, enthralling charisma. As far as djinns go, this is one you’d actually want to run across, as he’d do everything he can to make sure you get the most out of your wishes. 

Meanwhile, Tilda Swinton’s Alithea Binnie makes the most out of being a captive audience. Showcasing vulnerability, cunning, and modesty, Swinton's role is one that her fans will definitely recognize as more on the grounded side of her skill set. And yet, just as Idris Elba knows how to command his role as the Djinn, Swinton explores the space of her human companion to beautiful and intriguing effect. 

Despite the odd pacing of the stories presented, Three Thousand Years of Longing is still a lush film with visual excitement and commanding performances.

Warts and all, Three Thousand Years of Longing is a movie that deserves to be seen theatrically. Though the stories may not mesh together as well as one would hope, the visuals and performances fill every corner of the screen. George Miller may not have gone as weird as one might hope, but this is still a film that is very much of a grand and lush scope that’s larger than life. 

If anything, this tale of loss, romance, and the intricacy of wishes stands as a signpost at a very important crossroads. Firmly planted between movies aimed at an adult audience and the spectacle that can still exist in such a medium, Three Thousand Years of Longing shows that huge, colorful epics don’t have to be limited to a general audiences approach. It’s that promise that makes the relative tameness of this movie, especially compared to Mad Max Fury Road, all the more frustrating. 

Alas, there’s always the winning team of George Miller, Idris Elba, and Tilda Swinton to fall back on. Should anything be taken from this exercise, it’s that this is a match made in heaven. Investing in this trio is putting creative minds of great quality together, and it could almost be assured that should they all collide again on another project, it’ll be something else worth taking in at the movies.