Among upcoming horror movies on the 2026 movie schedule is a mysterious one called The End Of Oak Street. For much of the year, I’ve been curious about what to expect from the J.J. Abrams-produced thriller, and now I have a much better idea. It’s a dinosaur movie with a twist – they're somehow invading a typical American suburb.

CinemaBlend had the opportunity to experience fourteen minutes of The End Of Oak Street in 4DX and hear from producer J.J. Abrams. It’s about a nuclear family with a dog led by Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway (in her fourth of five movies this year alone). They live in a quiet suburb, but one morning there’s a number of dinosaur sightings that rattle them enough to attempt to leave home. The problem is at the end of their street now has a cliff that leads to a prehistoric land. Here’s what Abrams said of how he got involved:

There’s absolutely a mystery afoot in The End Of Oak Street. But, when Abrams mentioned an “Amblin vibe” I was expecting a lot more comparisons to Jurassic Park than to Poltergeist. Between his comments and the footage we watched, I totally see what he’s saying. Check out this new clip:

This new summer flick and the actually cursed 1982 Spielberg movie feel like they come from the same DNA. Why? Because, it’s really more about the family and their dynamics than the creatures they are trying to survive. As Abrams put it:

The End Of Oak Street was written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, who was previously behind It Follows and Under The Silver Lake. In the same conversation, the filmmaker talked about wanting to connect “the average and mundane” with something fantastical. And, he had always wanted to make a dinosaur movie. In a quick interview with him at the event, I had to ask how much of his horror sensibilities to expect in the family-centered film. He said this:

How exciting! The End Of Oak Street may very much be a dinosaur movie, but it’s drawing from much different influences than I expected. And, that only has me more interested in it. The End Of Oak Street comes to theaters on August 14.

Tom Cruise has spent decades convincing audiences that he will run faster, hang higher, fly harder and generally treat gravity like a studio note he is choosing to ignore. But his next movie, the 2026 calendar release Digger, looks like a very different kind of swing. And now J.J. Abrams has made me even more curious about what he is cooking.

Abrams, who directed Cruise in the third Mission: Impossible film entry, shared his reaction on X after seeing only part of Digger. He was responding to the actor’s own post about the film, which included a career-spanning video celebrating his 46 years in movies before teasing his next big-screen role. Abrams wrote:

That is the kind of quote that immediately makes my ears perk up. Celebrity praise for projects can sometimes seem like polite Hollywood confetti, but this one feels more significant because of who it is coming from. Abrams knows the American Made lead as both a collaborator and a filmmaker. He has seen the Top Gun franchise star up close, and even he seems struck by whatever Digger is doing.

The phrase that really jumps out is “bold and wild next step.” At this stage in his career, that means something. His recent public image has been built around impossible stunts and franchise spectacle. When people think of modern Tom Cruise, they often think of Mission: Impossible, fighter jets, motorcycles, cliffs and that very specific movie-star intensity that suggests he might personally fight the concept of insurance if it got in his way. But at 63 years old, how much longer can he keep putting himself through that kind of stunt danger? Or stunt torture, depending on how you look at it.

Digger does not sound like another straightforward new action movie vehicle for Cruise to get lost running around in. The movie comes from Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Birdman and The Revenant, and early descriptions have framed it as a strange, satirical black comedy. The Jack Reacher performer reportedly plays Digger Rockwell, an over-the-top oil tycoon connected to a global catastrophe who tries to present himself as humanity’s unlikely savior.

That is already a pretty juicy setup, but the early footage has made the role sound even stranger. We recently got a glimpse of Cruise in character, and it's pretty clear we are about to get something loud, physical and possibly unhinged in a way that calls back to his beloved Tropic Thunder role without necessarily repeating it.

Frankly, I want more of that Tom Cruise. The action-star version is still great. I will happily watch him sprint through another airport, desert, alley or burning train until the sun finally taps out. But there is something especially exciting about watching a performer with that much control and precision step into a role that sounds messy on purpose.

Abrams has only had a taste of Digger, but his reaction makes the October 2 release feel much more intriguing. If Cruise really is about to blow our collective mind, I would like to be there when the fuse hits the dynamite.

There are times when seeing the name of a particular star or filmmaker can get you really excited for a new movie. Sometimes, a certain person being involved in a film can be the reason you decide to go. The new trailer for The End of Oak Street starring Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway is sure to tell you that it's produced by J.J. Abrams, but I'm not sure that's entirely necessary, because I could have guessed.

The End of Oak Street, formerly known as Flowervale Street, is only produced by Abrams. It's directed by David Robert Mitchell of It Follows fame. That's also not particularly shocking, as there are clear horror vibes in the new trailer. However, the thing that the footage, and likely the film as a whole, will be selling itself on is not what you are going to see, but the questions you want answered, in true J.J. Abrams fashion. Check out the trailer above.

The End Of Oak Street Is Pure J.J. Abrams Mystery Box

The trailer gives us Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway as part of a family who have apparently woken up one day to discover that their house, and their entire neighborhood, has been transported from wherever it was to someplace else. How or why did this happen? Thus far, nobody knows, but apparently, there are also dinosaurs.

Almost certainly, the how and the why of the supernatural transportation will be what the movie focuses on. It's not a shock that this is a Bad Robot production because this sort of thing seems to be exactly what gets J.J. Abrams out of bed in the morning. He has spoken at length in the past about his love for what he calls the "mystery box." A movie that is all about giving the audience questions and then getting them to watch the movie or TV show in order to get the answers.

A lot of people love J.J. Abrams' projects for exactly this reason. People tuned into Lost for years to follow every twist and turn in the story. I love a good mystery myself, and I won't pretend I'm not curious to see where The End of Oak Street goes with its story. The problem is, sometimes when we get J.J.'s mystery box open, we don't love what's inside.

The Resolution To These Mysteries Aren't Always Satisfying

The problem when you hang your entire movie on a central mystery is that the mystery's solution has to pay off, or people are going to leave the movie disappointed, regardless of how good the rest of it was. This is something we've seen happen with J.J. Abrams projects before. See the still-controversial ending to Lost as the most notable example.

It doesn't mean The End of Oak Street won't pay off and be great. Sometimes J.J. Abrams gives us The Cloverfield Paradox, sure. But sometimes he gives us 10 Cloverfield Lane, and we are dazzled. One way or another, we'll find out what's inside the mystery box this summer.

Director J.J. Abrams' next movie is in the works, and he’s landed two stars for the cast. Glen Powell, coming off his star turn in The Running Man on the 2025 movie schedule, and Jenna Ortega, who has been crushing it on Wednesday on the 2025 TV schedule (you can watch it with a Netflix subscription), are co-starring in the movie that, at least for now, has the working title Ghostwriter.

The title of the movie may not end up being Ghostwriter. Some reports indicate that is just a working title, and at least one source, the Providence Journal, has said the name of the movie could be Providence. That’s something we’ll just have to wait to find out, at least for a little while longer. Title or not, here’s everything we know about the movie so far.

When Will Ghostwriter Be Released?

This is a big question about this somewhat mysterious movie. In addition to not knowing what the title is for sure, we’ve also heard nothing about when the movie could be released. It has been reported, again by the Providence Journal, that the movie has wrapped filming as of August 2025, so it’s not unreasonable to guess that the movie could be released as part of the 2026 movie schedule, but that is far from confirmed.

Who Is Starring In Ghostwriter?

Here is where we do have solid information. We do know some big names that will star in the movie.

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega’s stardom is rising fast in Hollywood, most notably as the titular star of Wednesday. The show is easily one of the most popular titles streaming on Netflix, as it follows the Addams family member as she attends boarding school at Nevermore Academy. Ortega’s performance in Season 2 has been praised by fans and critics alike.

2025 has been a big year for Ortega on the big screen, too. Earlier this year, she co-produced and starred in the dark comedy Death of a Unicorn, alongside Paul Rudd and Will Poulter. She also starred in Hurry Up Tomorrow with The Weeknd, which wasn’t all that well received, but her role was a real bright spot in the uneven movie.

Glen Powell

It’s fair to call Glen Powell one of the biggest stars in Hollywood right now. Over the last few years, he’s shown that he’s not only great for box office numbers, but that he’s versatile. He’s starred in action flicks like 2025’s The Running Man and 2024’s Twisters, not to mention co-starring in the 2022 megahit Top Gun: Maverick. He’s also starred in comedies like Anyone but You and Hit Man (which he also co-wrote). He also had a hit TV show in 2025 with Chad Powers, which you can stream with a Hulu subscription. We don’t know his role in Ghostwriter, but we’re confident he’ll be great, whatever it is.

Emma Mackey

British-English actress Emma Mackey scored her breakout role in Netflix’s Sex Education and has not slowed down. Since then, she’s co-starred in Death on the Nile and Barbie, and she’s been a part of three movies in 2025, including the upcoming Ella McCay. She is in the titular role for the latest movie from Hollywood legend James L. Brooks, which hits theaters in December 2025. Like the other cast members, we don’t know who she’ll be playing.

Samuel L. Jackson

One actor that truly needs no introduction is the great Samuel L. Jackson. Over the last 40 years or so, few actors have appeared in as many movies as Jackson, and with his role as Nick Fury in the MCU movies, he’s right at the top of the all-time box office numbers for an actor.

What Is Ghostwriter About?

I’m going to be honest here, you’re guess is as good as mine here. It’s been billed as a “fantasy film,” but otherwise, no one has any solid info on the film’s plot. Ortega told The Cut in May:

According to The Providence Journal, it appears that Ortega and Powell are playing a couple, and Jackson is a fantasy author. But take that with a grain of salt, as nothing has been officially disclosed.

Ghostwriter Has Filmed In Scotland And Rhode Island

In addition to filming around Providence, Rhode Island, the movie has also reportedly been shot in Scotland, in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. We know the movie has wrapped, or at least it appears as though it has wrapped, but like so much else surrounding this movie, there is an air of mystery to that, too.

J.J. Abrams Is The Writer And Director

It’s hard to believe that J.J. Abrams, once the hottest director in Hollywood, hasn’t written or directed a movie in six years. His last movie was Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. That feels like a lifetime (and a pandemic) ago. He’s produced a handful of projects, including next year’s Flowervale Street, which is part of a huge upcoming year for Anne Hathaway. He also produced a great documentary about the Blue Angels that was narrated by Glen Powell in 2024.

Abrams created the TV show Duster with Josh Holloway for HBO Max in 2025, but it was met with middling reviews and viewership, and was canceled after just one season. It’s safe to say that after a meteoric rise, Abrams hit a pretty major bump in the road of his career, so a hit movie would be just what the doctor ordered to get things back on track. Maybe Ghostwriter (or whatever the title ends up being) will be that hit.

Daniel Craig knows a thing about suiting up; he played the famous 007 hero James Bond for fifteen years across five films. But it was another uniform white, plastic, and painfully stiff—that gave him a whole new appreciation for comfort. The actor famously made a blink-and-you-will-miss-it cameo as a Stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but it turns out the experience wasn’t quite as cool behind the scenes as it looked on screen.

Speaking on Radio Andy’s SiriusXM show in a video clip recently posted to the official YouTube channel, Craig was joined by director Rian Johnson to promote their upcoming film Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. Host Andy Cohen took the opportunity to ask about Craig’s now-legendary uncredited Star Wars role, specifically, how it felt to wear the infamous Stormtrooper armor. Craig didn’t hold back, saying:

Craig’s deadpan delivery and sarcasm didn’t hide the fact that the costume was, in a word, miserable. Rian Johnson, who directed The Last Jedi, chimed in to confirm the reality of Stormtrooper cosplay:

The Knives Out star also revealed how the whole cameo came together casually and under the radar. He recounted:

When the host asked whether the experience was exciting, Craig offered another laugh. Deadpanning, he responded:

Though uncredited and anonymous behind a helmet, Craig’s cameo became one of the more beloved Easter eggs in The Force Awakens. Fans eventually recognized his voice as the Stormtrooper in one of the best Rey moments when the trooper is Jedi mind-tricked by Daisy Ridley’s character, cementing the moment as a viral piece of Star Wars trivia.

These days, Daniel Craig is swapping out Stormtrooper helmets for a more refined look—trench coats, Southern drawls, and plenty of murder. He’s returning as detective Benoit Blanc in the third installment in Rian Johnson’s Knives Out series, set for a 2025 movie release. This time around, the mystery is promised to be darker than the last two, but also more faithful to classic whodunit structure, something longtime mystery fans have been craving. Johnson described the setup as being closer to the traditional Agatha Christie model.

Craig plays opposite Josh O’Connor, who steps into the role of the film’s central character, much like Ana de Armas did in Knives Out. While Glass Onion leaned into a flashy, layered deconstruction of the genre, Wake Up Dead Man seems poised to test whether audiences, and Blanc himself, can crack the case with only the clues provided. With early screenings already generating buzz, Craig appears to be heading into one of his most compelling performances yet.

Wake Up Dead Man ​​will have a limited theatrical release on November 26, 2025, followed by a streaming release on December 12, 2025. All you need is a Netflix subscription to enjoy the next Knives Out film

Skydance has signaled the company wants to prioritize getting Star Trek movies back to theaters now that the merger with Paramount is complete, and we've seen some efforts toward making that happen. We have a Starfleet origin movie on the way, along with reassurance that a fourth Kelvin movie is still in development, despite multiple false starts. Zachary Quinto is doing what he can to try to move things along, though I had to chuckle at his attempt.

Quinto talked to Collider recently, as his medical series Brilliant Minds prepares for its return on the 2025 TV schedule. The actor was asked if the merger would help the chances of a follow-up to 2016's Star Trek: Beyond finally happening, and shared he's actually reached out about that exact thing recently:

I get his intention in sending the email, but I can't help but laugh about the idea of Zachary Quinto suggesting the movie happen, as if there haven't been reports about failed scripts involving Chris Hemsworth, and various comments by former cast members on the difficulty in making another Star Trek Kelvin movie. Basically, I'm sure J.J. Abrams appreciated hearing from the actor, though I'm not sure he needed the reminder that many are still waiting on this movie to happen.

Despite that, the upcoming Trek projects rundown does not have a Kelvin movie confirmed to be in production. Even so, many in the ensemble cast remain committed to returning to make one happen, including Zachary Quinto:

It would be wonderful, provided the right idea finally gets clearance to happen. Another factor is the ensemble cast remains in high demand across Hollywood, whether it be in television or movies. I can imagine it wouldn't be cheap to negotiate a return for Chris Pine, Zoe Saldaña, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, and John Cho. That's before casting other known celebrities to play villains and other characters in the movie.

I just want to make it clear that if I had access to J.J. Abrams email, I'd be sending emails the same as Zachary Quinto. Hell, I think just about every diehard Star Trek fan would, as we're still just as excited about the prospect of this movie happening a decade after the last movie. In that regard, it's good to continue sounding the horn and reminding the decision-makers at Skydance and Paramount this is something worth pursuing, especially as long as the project has been in development hell.

In the meantime, it would be great to see if Star Trek could find other ways to get back in theaters. I've talked about how great it would be to finally see a Voyager movie, and I also wouldn't be opposed to seeing the Kelvin universe expand out and possibly move into The Next Generation era. Not to call anyone out, but James McAvoy is the same age as Patrick Stewart when he started the acclaimed Trek show, so why not have him take on the mantle of yet another one of the actor's iconic roles?

We'll see if we have a firm announcement about when the next Star Trek Kelvin movie is happening in the next year. Sadly, I'm not going to feel confident any idea is happening until I see a picture of the cast on set, but I do hope actors keep sending emails and ideas keep getting pitched!

Glen Powell and Jenna Ortega are emerging as some of the brightest stars of this generation. Both not only have the talent but the screen presence as well. And, as a fan of the both of them, I'm pleasantly surprised to learn that Powell and Ortega are teaming up for a project. Thus far, the production is shrouded in mystery, with details likely on a need-to-know basis. However, at the very least, Ortega just provided a tease for the “top secret” movie, and I'm my interest is piqued!

So far what is known about the Jenna Ortega/Glen Powell project is that J.J. Abrams and his production company, Bad Robot, are behind it. And, despite speculation, it’s not a time-traveling movie. Also, Samuel L. Jackson will also be part of the cast, and he adds some serious star power. During Ortega’s interview with The Cut, the former Disney Channel star provided a few more figurative crumbs for us to nibble on:

Jenna Ortega is not one to stray away from productions that contain “fantasy elements." After all, on Wednesday (which can be streamed with a Netflix subscription), her eponymous character has psychic abilities and interacts with the supernatural. Ortega's role in Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice also marked another instance in which she could play in a somewhat more heightened reality. Her 2025 movie release, Death of a Unicorn, also fits into that box, as it tells the story of a where a father and daughter who face the vengeful wrath of mythical creatures.

I still can't believe I'm only just hearing about this upcoming film. Aside from the fantasy parts of it, I'm curious about the character Ortega will play in the film. She told The Cut that she'll have a choice of tattoos, though that's still not much to go on in the way of specifics.

What can be said, though, is that J.J. Abrams is a skilled filmmaker. He returned audiences to the galaxy far, far away through the exciting Star Wars: The Force Awakens and told a interesting and fresh sci-fi story in the form of Super 8. He's also served as a producer on other franchises, including Cloverfield and Mission: Impossible.

I'm not sure when we'll learn more about Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell’s “top secret” project, but color me excited to learn more. Considering that there are some great stars in the mix and a talented director at the helm, I think this film, so far, has assembled some ingredients to create something truly special. Let's just hope it won't be too long before all involved can share a few more specific details on what's to come.

For right now, fans of Jenna Ortega can see her in Death of a Unicorn, which is playing in theaters. Also, be sure to look over the 2025 movie schedule to stay in the know when it comes to upcoming releases.

John Boyega's Finn remains one of the most interesting characters to me in the Sequel Trilogy, so I do hope the rumors of him returning for upcoming Star Wars movies are true. Unfortunately, Boyega wasn't discussing that at a recent convention appearance, though he did share the request he made to J.J. Abrams regarding Finn falling down when they filmed The Rise Of Skywalker.

The actor was a guest at Emerald City Comic Con, and during a panel in which he discussed a wide range of topics, he talked about his experience filming Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. According to Popverse, the actor had one request for director J.J. Abrams when he returned, and it involved wanting his character to not be off his feet as much:

This all jives with what John Boyega told CinemaBlend back when we interviewed him ahead of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. The actor behind the stormtrooper-turned-Rebellion leader told us he wanted to see Finn "elevate" and "advance" and be more sure of himself. Part of doing that had to be ensuring that his character wouldn't spend a lot of time fumbling around and getting into trouble where he needed to be bailed out.

It's been a while since I've streamed Episode IX with a Disney+ subscription, but I do feel like there were meaningful jumps in where his character was headed. Though it wasn't explicitly stated in The Rise of Skywalker (which played into the many criticisms about the film), we know that Finn was confirmed to be Force-sensitive. Unfortunately, the most interesting thing about his character was revealed in the Sequel Trilogy's final installment, and we didn't get to see where his journey may go from there.

As mentioned, however, there's a chance we will get to see John Boyega return if the rumors floating around the internet pan out. Word is he's going to make an appearance in the movie where Daisy Ridley will return as Rey Skywalker. It's not a theory that would be that hard to believe considering Rey and Finn had a pretty close relationship, and his Force sensitivity could ultimately set him up to aid her in re-establishing the Jedi Order.

Honestly, I'd just be content to learn that John Boyega will return to Star Wars in general, especially since he once referred to working for the franchise as "luxury jail." in fairness, I can understand the frustration and exhaustion he must've felt having to contend with the fandom during his first run as the character but would love to see him return and have a little more fun doing more scenes as Finn.

For now, we can only see John Boyega in his role as Finn in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. Stream it now on Disney+, and keep an eye on CinemaBlend as we track what else is happening in the galaxy far, far, away.

John Boyega has certainly been able to leave his own mark on pop culture through his role as Finn in the Star Wars movies. It’s crazy to think that this year will mark the 10th anniversary of The Force Awakens’ release. Ahead of that momentous occasion, Boyega is recalling how he ultimately joined the massive franchise. Interestingly, it would seem that Boyega has none other than Tom Cruise to thank for him being hired to play the stormtrooper-turned-Resistance member, and J.J. Abrams was in the mix as well.

Since the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy ended in 2019, the 32-year-old British actor has regaled fans with great behind-the-scenes stories. He’s just made a stop at Emerald City Comic Con, where he participated in a panel discussion hosted by Popverse. When talking about how he came to be involved with the George Lucas-created science fiction franchise, he name-dropped Mr. Cruise, which is surprising to me. However, it makes sense, considering that a Mission: Impossible link played into all of this:

J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise have collaborated on several M:I films, and the one they were likely editing when Cruise brought up John Boyega was 2011’s Ghost Protocol. (Abrams served as a producer on that flick.) As a film fan, I love hearing great BTS stories, especially anecdotes about one actor helping another in some form or fashion. It’s wonderful that Cruise talked up the then-up-and-coming actor to Abrams. Also, it’s easy to understand Cruise’s praise, because Boyega is phenomenal in the criminally underrated Attack the Block (which is streamable with a Paramount+ subscription).

For years, the Risky Business icon has been widely regarded as a generous figure within the entertainment industry. This also isn’t the first time that a younger actor has mentioned that he offered them support when they were seeking out a role. For instance, Monica Barbaro, who worked with the longtime leading man on Top Gun: Maverick, revealed that he went above and beyond for her when she pursued the role of Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown. He did so by putting in a good word for her with director James Mangold.

It goes without saying that John Boyega’s professional trajectory was immensely changed due to Tom Cruise’s recommendation. Boyega rose to international stardom thanks to his roles in three entries in the Skywalker Saga, and that’s made all the better by the fact that he was a fan of the galaxy far, far away before even being cast. Still, Boyega has been honest about the downsides of being tied to the franchise, including the onslaught of racist backlash as well as the “curse” that comes into play when an actor tries to diversify their work.

Thankfully, though, the London native has been able to take on some interesting roles since retiring the role of Finn. He’s notched roles in The Woman King, Breaking and They Cloned Tyrone and Small Axe, which all received critical acclaim. It’s wild to think that Tom Cruise played a hand in John Boyega’s humble beginnings, and, if he hasn’t thanked the legend face to face already, I hope he gets the chance to do so. And, as Boyega pitched, I hope he gets to play a “guy in the chair” or an even bigger role in a movie with Cruise one day.

You can stream all of the Star Wars movies now using a Disney+ subscription.

Zoe Saldaña has firmly established herself as one of the premier big-screen talents of her generation. The fan-favorite actress has headlined some of the most famous movie franchises of all time. Of course, one such franchise is Avatar, which sees Saldaña transform into the blue Nav’i princess Neytiri. Based on the success she’s had since starring in James Cameron’s 2009 sci-fi epic, it doesn’t seem like the series has been a hindrance to the star’s career. In fact, it turns out that her role in Cameron’s flick directly led to her landing the role in the Star Trek movies.

The original Avatar film was shot throughout most of 2007, with the live-action segments being filmed during October of that year. Of course, the future Guardians of the Galaxy star was on hand to fulfill her duties. She recently recalled the experience while appearing at a Screen Talks session amid the London Film Festival this past weekend. While discussing her time working on one of the best James Cameron movies, the Dominican actress recalled (via Deadline) that a very special guest visiting the set at one point:

Isn’t it funny how things work out? Why J. J. Abrams was on the set in the first place wasn’t made clear during Zoe Saldaña’s discussion. Nevertheless, I’m glad the Super 8 helmer managed to recognize sheer talent. And, of course, everything worked out, as Saldaña was officially cast in the Abrams’ film. And, as was the case with Avatar, those movies would positively impact the trajectory of her film career as well.

For 2009’s Star Trek, Zoe Saldaña played the role of Nyota Uhura, the character originated by Nichelle Nichols in Gene Gene Roddenberry’s original series. Ultimately, Saldaña played Uhura in all three of the Kelvin timeline-set films, including the sequels – Star Trek into Darkness and Star Trek Beyond, which were released in 2013 and 2016, respectively. The star has spoken positively about her experiences working on the movies and especially gushed about meeting Nichols, who passed away in 2022. A fourth film in the franchise has been long discussed and has seen its share of starts and stops. Saldaña is open to the film but feels it would be bittersweet to shoot it following the death of co-star Anton Yelchin.

What is known for sure is that the A-lister will reprise her role as Netyri in the upcoming Avatar: Fire and Ash, which is one of the biggest titles on the 2025 movie schedule. Plot details are scarce at the moment but, based on the details that have been released, Jake Sully, Neytri and their family could find themselves in yet another dangerous situation, due in part to the unpredictable Ash people.

As someone who enjoys sweet movie trivia, I really appreciate the behind-the-scenes connection between Zoe Saldaña’s work on the aforementioned sci-fi franchises. I also look forward to seeing her return to the world of Pandora and also hope she’ll be able to jump back on the Enterprise for another turn as Uhura at some point.

You can stream the first two Avatar movies with a Disney+ subscription now ahead of Fire and Ash’s release on December 19, 2025. Zoe Saldaña’s work in those three Star Trek movies can also be accessed using a Paramount+ subscription.

Glen Powell is booked and busy, and this doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. After Twisters was a big hit at the box office, the movie star has his eye on yet another big screen project. He is expected to potentially star alongside Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega in an Untitled Project from J.J. Abrams. This will likely be the filmmaker’s first feature film project as director since Star Wars.

According to Deadline, the project in question is in the early stages, and will be produced by Warner Brothers and Bad Robot Productions, Abrams’ production company. Ortega is currently in final talks to join the film, and Powell is finalizing his own deal. This movie is being kept very hush-hush, suggesting that the studio believes they have another mega blockbuster on their hands. We do know that it will not be centered around time travel, and Abrams will be writing the script. This will be a first collaboration between Ortega and the director, but a second with Powell, as the two produced The Blue Angels together.

After the success Powell and Ortega have had in recent years, teaming up with Abrams feels like a natural next step for both of them. Powell has experience starring in big budget blockbuster films, and proved in Twisters that he can take the lead in a movie like this. Ortega’s turn in the upcoming 2024 movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, will be a big indicator if she can lead her own tentpole film. However, with lead roles in Wednesday and Scream VI, we’ve already seen huge representations of the young actress’s talent.

This is a very bold career move for Powell especially, as he is certifying himself as Hollywood's premiere leading man. When he wasn’t promoting Twisters this summer, he was in South Africa shooting an A24 film titled Huntington. He is also set to star in a Hulu comedy series titled Chad Powers, which is expected to start shooting incredibly soon. Then, he is going to London to work on Edgar Wright’s Running Man, which he also will lead. With this news, I guess it will all be quickly followed by a major secret J.J. Abrams movie. It sounds like a lot, but one thing is for sure, we can get used to seeing Powell on the big screen.

As for Ortega, she also has a lot on her plate. She has her own A24 project in Death of a Unicorn coming down the pike, as well as another season of Wednesday, Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun, and a currently untitled project alongside the Weeknd. It’s hard to believe either star has enough room in their schedules to join another large-scale film, which makes me think that whatever it is, it's incredibly exciting. J.J. Abrams is one of Hollywood's buzziest directors, and it’s understandable that he would want to work with two in-demand movie stars. I can’t wait to see what this collaboration brings.

We currently don’t have a title for the film, much less a release date, so it may be a while before this film actually heads to theaters. In the meantime, you can see Glen Powell in Twisters, which is currently in theaters nationwide. Fans can also see Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice when it hits cinemas on September 6th, 2024.

Without George Lucas, there would be no Luke Skywalker, no Death Star, no Boba Fett, no Baby Yoda, and the collection of great movies on Disney+ would look vastly different. However, while Lucas is responsible for creating the massively popular franchise set in a galaxy far, far away, there are a handful of others whose names are listed as director for some of the best Star Wars movies.

With the property being as popular as ever, and a few high-profile upcoming Star Wars movies on the way, we decided to take a step back and look at all of the directors who have helped shape the franchise into what we know it as today. With all three sequels from the “Skywalker Saga” and every released standalone movie included, we’ve put together a rather robust list sorted by release date.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

When he sat behind the camera for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, George Lucas was a talented yet relatively unknown director who only had two credits to his name: THX 1138 and American Graffiti. That would soon change upon the May 1977 release of the franchise starter, which propelled Lucas and the film’s cast into superstardom and made him a household name, a distinction that has remained true for nearly 50 years.

Irvin Kershner, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Though very much involved with the story, production, and everything else surrounding Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas passed on the opportunity to direct the film due to not wanting to relive the stress from the first film, per the New York Times. He took a risk and selected Irvin Kershner, best known for films like The Hoodlum Priest, Up the Sandbox, and S*P*Y*S, and it ultimately paid off and gave us one of the best sequels of all time. However, it wasn’t all pleasant for everyone, as Mark Hamill butted heads with Kershner during his first and only Star Wars movie.

Richard Marquand, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return Of The Jedi (1983)

When it came to closing the Star Wars trilogy, Lucas selected Richard Marquand to direct Return of the Jedi, who beat out names like Steven Spielberg, David Lynch, and David Cronenberg, per Collider. Marquand would close out the first phase of the franchise with a divisive finale that seems to get much more praise as the years go on.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode I – Phantom Menace (1999)

When it came time for Star Wars to return to the big screen with the long-awaited prequels, George Lucas returned to the director’s chair 20 years after taking a more behind-the-scenes role with The Empire Strikes Back. The result of his return was 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menance, a movie that is not without its shortcomings but also one that gave us the iconic “Duel of the Fates” lightsaber battle.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones (2002)

The filmmaker stuck around for the second installment in the “Prequel Trilogy” Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Though fans have started to appreciate the prequels, including the middle chapter, in recent years, this 2002 movie remains a low point for the franchise.

George Lucas, Star Wars: Episode III -  Revenge Of The Sith (2005)

The “Prequel Trilogy” came to an end in 2005 with Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, which was once again directed by Lucas. Conversations surrounding the film’s legacy have gone in every direction in the nearly 20 years since its release, but there’s no denying that Lucas directed the hell out of the Mustafar duel.

Dave Filoni, Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)

Dave Filoni has gone on to be one of the driving forces behind the brand over the years, and it all started with him directing the 2008 animated movie, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The beloved film, which would lead into the the TV series of the same name, took place not long after the events of Attack of the Clones and further expanded the story of Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, while also introducing fan-favorites like Ahsoka Tano.

J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

In December 2015, three years after Disney acquired Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens was released into theaters around the world and became a massive box office hit. J.J. Abrams, who became one of the major stakeholders in the property following the acquisition, directed the first live-action Star Wars movie in a decade and kicked off the “Sequel Trilogy” in the process.

Gareth Edwards, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

One year after The Force Awakens made beaucoup money at the box office, Disney released its first anthology film with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Directed by Gareth Edwards, who was hot off of the release of Godzilla two years earlier, told the story of the rebel spies who secured the secret Death Star plans and chronicled the sacrifices they made to save the galaxy.

Rian Johnson, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017)

Either the most daring or divisive Star Wars movie depending on who you ask, Rian Johnson’s The Last Jedi broke from the status quo and offered a fresh take for the galaxy far, far away. There has been talk of Johnson returning to the franchise at some point in the future, but he has been rather busy the past few years with the Knives Out series, including his upcoming Wake Up Dead Man.

Ron Howard, Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

More than 40 years after working with Lucas in American Graffiti, Ron Howard joined the franchise with 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story, replacing Phil Lord and Chris Miller in the process. The movie, which saw Alden Ehrenreich take on the role of a young Han Solo, wasn’t well received and is currently the final Star Wars anthology film. 

J.J. Abrams, Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise Of Skywalker (2019)

Colin Trevorrow was supposed to direct the final installment of the “Sequel Trilogy,” which at one point had the working title of Duel of the Fates, but J.J. Abrams ultimately returned to wrap up the Skywalker Saga with The Rise of Skywalker. Though the lowest-ranked live-action Star Wars movie on Rotten Tomatoes, TROS still made a ton of cash at the box office, though there hasn’t been a new theatrical release since its December 2019 debut.

Though there aren’t any Star Wars movies on the 2024 movie schedule, there are some promising series set in the galaxy on the 2024 TV calendar that should hold fans’ attention while we wait. 

Star Trek has found new life via streaming platforms thanks to multiple new Trek  series on (or heading) to Paramount+. However, that success hasn’t translated to new big-screen adventures in the way it once did. Plans for a new Trek movie starring Chris Pine and the rest of the Enterprise crew from the Kelvin timeline have stalled multiple times over the past several years. Yet we now have a bit of new info about a version of the fourth installment that was once in development and perhaps still could happen one day. And interestingly enough, these details involve J.J. Abrams.

Lindsay Anderson Beer was one of a several different screenwriters who tackled a version of the film, which was intended to serve as a follow-up to 2016’s Star Trek Beyond. The writer of the Stephen King-endorsed Pet Sematary: Bloodlines revealed to Comicbook.com that she wrote two different drafts of that fourth movie, which franchise producer J.J. Abrams actually provided the original idea for. She explained…

There are no details on just what this idea was exactly. While Lindsay Anderson Beer is no longer working on the script, that doesn’t mean there may not be somebody else currently working on the project and picking up where she left off. At least, that may be the case now. The Star Trek 4 script had been collecting dust during the writer’s strike. There's surely a possibility that since Hollywood's various scribes are now working again, someone might give the screenplay another pass. (That's all speculation, of course.)

The last Trek film wasn’t exactly a flop, but Beyond wasn’t the massive box office hit many at the studio level were hoping it would be. That seems to have really slowed the franchise’s momentum as far as feature films are concerned. At one point, there were plans for an installment that would've seen Chris Hemsworth reprise his role  as the father of Chris Pine’s James Kirk. The character died during the prologue of the 2009 flick that launched the film series but would've returned via time travel. However, some element, seemingly the the A-lister's salary, may have partially hindered the production from taking off.

While it's now been quite some time since the last film, it seems there's still interest in producing another film. Spock actor Zachary Quinto, for instance, said he was down to return if another movie came to fruition. I'd say there's a good chance the Star Trek franchise will return to theaters at some point -- it's just hard to predict when that might happen. Until then, you can stream the first three installments in the Kelvin timeline franchise using a Paramount+ subscription.

Christopher Nolan is a true pioneer of cinema. If there isn’t a piece of camera equipment he can get his hands on to capture the image he desires, he’ll invent it. The director has become incredibly involved in camera technology, especially when it comes to shooting in the very rare 70mm IMAX format, which he has been experimenting with since working on The Prestige. He is so specific with his sensibilities, that while he was shooting The Dark Knight, he invented a specific lens that was so innovative that directors like J.J. Abrams and Zack Snyder had to get their hands on it. 

In an exclusive interview with CinemaBlend’s very own ReelBlend Podcast, the director opened up about how IMAX technology has evolved since working on The Dark Knight, which he shot when the format was experimental at the time. It was so experimental that the filmmaker had to help invent a specific lens for the immense amount of night shots needed to make the nighttime sequences so immersive. Nolan explained:

It’s no wonder that after seeing how incredible The Dark Knight looked with the innovative tech, that other blockbuster directors like J.J. Abrams and Zack Snyder would want to get their hands on the lens. Because it was made specifically for Nolan, it was the only lens of its kind in existence, so a lot of borrowing went on. The Interstellar director continued:

The Dark Knight was a sensation, and is considered to be one of the best comic book movies of all time. Much of this can be attributed to the great storytelling, as well as Nolan’s directing and visual style. His commitment to making the image as pristine as possible really pays off. Any director would want to replicate such stunning visuals, and thankfully IMAX has risen to the occasion, and continues to develop lenses and tech so the format becomes more accessible to directors. You can see our full interview with the filmmaker below:

Even as 70mm IMAX capabilities have evolved since the initial venture by Nolan, the Dunkirk director continues to help evolve the medium. For his latest film, Oppenheimer, Kodak specifically manufactured black and white film with Nolan’s preferred format. In the movie, the director cuts back and forth between color film and black and white to separate his timelines, giving the audience insight into different perspectives from different points of view. The black and white looks immaculate, and even more filmmakers will likely be clambering to shoot on the newly developed format after Nolan set such a precedent. 

You can see Oppenheimer in gorgeous 70mm IMAX in select cinemas nationwide. The biographical film has been wildly successful and just extended its theatrical IMAX run, so make sure to see it while you can. Fans can also revisit Nolan’s inventive feat, The Dark Knight, which is streaming now with a Max subscription. 

It’s a good time to be a Star Trek fan, as Discovery, Picard, Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks and Prodigy are all available to watch alongside the franchise’s classic shows with a Paramount+ subscription, and there are more upcoming Star Trek TV shows on the way. However, if you’re a fan of the Star Trek film series, specifically the movies set in the Kelvin timeline, we’re going into the seventh year without any new installments. Star Trek 4 continues to languish in development hell, but director/producer J.J. Abrams is apparently optimistic that it’ll eventually be made.

J.J. Abrams rebooted the Star Trek franchise in 2009 from the director’s chair with the aptly-named Star Trek, and he reprised those helming duties for 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. For 2016’s Star Trek Beyond, he passed the directing baton to Justin Lin, but he remained involved with that movie as an executive producer and holds that same position for Star Trek 4. While there’s still no timetable on when Star Trek 4 will arrive, Abrams shared this comment about where things stand with it in an Esquire profile about Chris Pine, who plays James Tiberius Kirk in the Kelvin timeline:

Star Trek 4 has been in the works sine shortly before Star Trek Beyond opened to the public, with the plan at the the time being for the story to revolve around Chris Pine’s James Kirk meeting his father, Chris Hemsworth’s George Kirk, who died at the beginning of 2009’s Star Trek mere moments after James was born. In the years since though, Star Trek 4 has cycled through various directors and writers, including WandaVision’s Matt Shakman stepping away so he can focus on helming Fantastic Four. It was even announced in February 2022 that Pine and the rest of the main cast (aside from Anton Yelchin, who died in 2016) would be back for Star Trek 4, though it was later revealed that the actors hadn’t actually been approached about the project.

As things stand now, Star Trek 4 is undated after previously being slotted for December 22 among the 2023 new movie releases. Chris Pine said in the Esquire piece that he “doesn’t know” anything about the project’s progress, and along with calling being left out out of the loop “frustrating,” he suggested that the franchise is “cursed.” J.J. Abrams, on the other hand, is confident that the Star Trek 4 story that’s been cooked up will match, if not exceed the quality of the first Kelvin movie. Although Abrams didn’t share any plot details, it’s believed that the George Kirk-centric story is no longer in play, namely because Chris Hemsworth turned down the movie because he didn’t approve of the script.

None of this clears up when we can expect to see Star Trek 4, but it sounds like there’s still a solid chance for it to get off the ground again… eventually. When that day comes, CinemaBlend will let you know, but for now, keep checking back with us for all sorts of other Star Trek-related news.

Jumping between movies and TV can do all sorts of things to a project in development. Creative teams can change and all previous work could be tossed out for a new approach, or it could mean the last straw before everything gets cancelled. The upcoming adaptation of Billy Summers is the latest to see a format switch come into the equation, but it's good news thanks to producer J.J. Abrams and the previously assembled creative team remaining on board for this new Stephen King movie.

THR reports that Billy Summers is now going to be adapted as a feature film project, with Abrams still on board as a producer alongside writers Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz. What was once going to be a limited series is now going to the movies, with this pivot coming a little over a year after the King project first staked its claim in Hollywood. Some are even wondering if J.J. Abrams will make this his first directing job since 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but at the moment, no one is attached to helm the project.

It’s good to see J.J. Abrams sticking around for the adaptation of Stephen King’s 2021 novel, especially when his last shakeup with the author’s work led to his departure from The Dark Tower adaptation that was set to be directed by Ron Howard. Billy Summers looks to be a much easier challenge in comparison, with a crime story that involves its hitman and the job from hell that’s supposed to allow him to retire.

Coming from the crime fiction side of the acclaimed author’s canon, audiences should expect something more grounded out of this new King film. More akin to the work he’s done with books like the Bill Hodges trilogy of novels, the threat is more grounded and human. So if you’re curious what sort of project to expect from Billy Summers, the series adaptation of Mr. Mercedes is the probably one of the closest, most recent analogs. 

That prospect makes the potential for J.J. Abrams to direct the film more intriguing, as the typically genre-focused work of his filmography would be massively toned down. Pushing more towards his work on Alias, the lack of supernatural angle could be a welcomed return for Abrams’ directing chops. Though if you’re a Stephen King fan who's still looking for a more fantastical story, you’re in luck, as the limited series adaptation of Later is also in the works.

Further details on when to expect Billy Summers are currently unavailable, as there are no current production or release dates available. There are still plenty of upcoming Stephen King movies and TV shows to look out for though, like The Boogeyman, which is set to open in theaters on June 2nd.

Star Trek 4 is on the way, trekkies! 

From the moment Star Trek, starring Chris Pine, dropped in 2009, J.J. Abrams has captivated Star Trek fans, by expanding on a beautiful universe with an amazing space adventure that showed off just how wonderful the world of Star Trek is. The last film release was way back in 2016, titled Star Trek Beyond, and for some time, it felt like another movie would never come.

However, Star Trek 4 has taken some steps towards becoming a reality, starting off with news in February 2022 and continuing to now. New details have been released about the long-awaited movie. If you’re looking for some of the latest updates on it, here are some quick things that we know about the upcoming sequel.

Star Trek 4 Was Announced To Be In The Works In February 2022

Fear not, all the loyal fans out there, as Star Trek 4 has officially been announced by J.J. Abrams. As first reported by Variety from the Paramount Investors Day Presentation in February 2022, Abrams himself said that they're “hard at work” on the new Star Trek film and that shooting for the movie will begin by the “end of the year.” 

Abrams also teased that the original cast, as well as some new players, would appear, creating a new Star Trek experience. With how much Star Trek has evolved over the last few years, thanks to new shows such as Star Trek: Discovery or Star Trek: Picard, it’s exciting to hear that the films are also going to be bringing in new characters for us to love just as much as the television shows.  

Star Trek 4 Has Been Temporarily Removed From Paramount’s Release Schedule

The original premiere date was already being pushed around for some time prior to this, but with everything sort of up in the air right now, Star Trek 4 has been temporarily removed from the Paramount release schedule, according to Deadline, as of September 2022.

In November 2021, THR reported that Star Trek 4 was delayed until December 22nd, 2023, as it had originally been slated to come out on June 9, 2023. But now, it’s unclear if it’s going to find a place on the 2023 movie release list, and there’s no new date announced.

Hopefully, we won’t need to wait long for a new release date, but I’d rather Paramount not push it so quickly if that means we need to sacrifice the quality. I can wait as long as possible.

Chris Pine Is Set To Return As The Star

It was sort of up in the air for some time whether Chris Pine was going to return to the Star Trek franchise. While he did star in the latest movies, Pine himself didn’t even know the fourth installment was in development, as reported above from The Hollywood Reporter. But, per the Deadline article above, Pine is going to star in the fourth movie. 

Pine has been doing a lot the last six years since his last appearance in the Star Trek universe. Most recently, he was a part of the Don’t Worry Darling cast, and has appeared in films such as the Wonder Woman movies, All the Old Knives, A Wrinkle in Time, and is going to be appearing in 2023’s Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, so he’s been quite busy. However, I can’t wait to see him return as James T. Kirk in Star Trek 4.

Zoe Saldana And More Are Expected To Return For Star Trek 4 

If you were wondering if any of the other stars are set to come back, the previously mentioned Variety report noted that several of the film's primary actors are in talks to return to the franchise for a fourth movie. When the film was first announced, it was a surprise to everyone from the original franchise that Star Trek 4 was even in the works, according to an early 2022 story from The Hollywood Reporter. 

In addition to Chris Pine, this includes Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, and Simon Pegg. 

Zoe Saldana has been in the superhero world for some time, appearing as Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise – which is set to have a third movie come out in May 2023. Saldana also made appearances as Gamora in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, so she’s been quite busy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. John Cho led Cowboy Bebop on Netflix, adding on to his impressive list of TV and movie performances. Zachary Quinto has appeared in The Boys in the Band and will be featured in the upcoming season of American Horror Story: NYC.

For sure, these stars have been busy as heck and will undoubtedly be appearing in many 2022 upcoming movies and beyond, but to hear that they’re potentially going to be back for Star Trek 4 is even more exciting. 

J.J. Abrams Will Be Producing Star Trek 4

As reported by Variety, Star Trek 4 will be produced by J.J. Abrams, but not directed by him. This isn’t that much of a surprise. While Abrams did direct the first two Star Trek films, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness, he stepped down from Star Trek Beyond to become an executive producer and handed over the directing torch to Justin Lin.

Abrams is going to be doing the same thing for Star Trek 4, working as a producer while another director takes the lead. However, this time around there will be a new person in the director’s chair, rather than Justin Lin. 

WandaVision Director, Matt Shakman, Will No Longer Be Directing Star Trek 4

Originally, it was announced that WandaVision director Matt Shakman, would be directing Star Trek 4, according to Deadline, in July 2021. However, that has since changed, as Shakman is now tacked on to direct the upcoming Fantastic Four film in the MCU, according to Deadline. 

WandaVision was a huge hit for both Disney+ and Marvel when it released in early 2021, scoring multiple award nominations and wins, and earning the love of fans everywhere, so it was exciting to see him sign on for something as big as Star Trek. But, reportedly due to time conflicts with Fantastic Four, Shakman can no longer direct. Paramount released a statement in regards to his departure. 

With this announcement, and no word since on who will direct, it’s not very surprising that the film was taken off the release schedule. But hopefully, that won't take too long.  

How To Watch The J.J. Abrams Star Trek Movies Streaming

If you’re like me and you can’t wait to see another Star Trek movie, the previous films are available to either rent or stream right now. The first J.J. Abrams Star Trek film begins the adventure, as the USS Enterprise combats a mighty force that threatens the lives of innocent people. 

Stream Star Trek on Netflix.
Rent Star Trek on Amazon.

The second film, Star Trek Into Darkness, stars the same crew when they are sent to investigate a Starfleet member who has turned into a terrorist and is causing hell for everyone. 

Stream Star Trek Into Darkness on Paramount+.
Rent Star Trek Into Darkness on Amazon.

Star Trek Beyond, the most recent entry so far in the franchise, follows the story of the Enterprise crew out on a rescue mission until it's revealed later on that it’s an attack, and now they must fight to stay alive against their enemies. 

Stream Star Trek Beyond on Amazon Prime through AMC+.
Rent Star Trek Beyond on Amazon. 

And, if for some reason that’s still not enough Star Trek goodness for you, Paramount+ has so much Star Trek content that I’m quite sure you’ll find plenty of stuff to watch until Star Trek 4 releases. 

What are you looking forward to the most with Star Trek 4? No matter who's added to the cast or when it comes out, I’m sure it’ll be a great time and we’ll get to live long and prosper together once more.  

Over the course of his writing career, Stephen King has written multiple on-going series and direct sequels to his own works… but those novels, novellas, and shorts are really just pockets in a much greater whole. One of the best things about being a Constant Reader is the fact that almost all of the author’s tales feature breadcrumbs that link the stories together as part of a larger canon, and you never really know what connections you’re going to stumble upon next.

Sometimes they come in the form of recognizable characters popping up (like Deputy Sheriff/Sheriff Norris Ridgewick appearing in Needful Things, Gerald’s Game, Bag Of Bones and more); sometimes there are recurring settings (such as the notorious Maine towns of Castle Rock and Derry); and sometimes there are recurring elements of the supernatural (like the Deadlights from IT making a comeback in Later). And all that’s without getting into the overarching elements from The Dark Tower books.

Because the ownership of adaptation rights in Hollywood is so diffuse, this part of the Stephen King experience is often lost in translation when it comes to film and television. Instead of seeing full-on crossovers, fans have typically had to settle for simple winks and nods from writers and directors who really know what they are doing with the source material.

But then came along Castle Rock to do something new and awesome.

In February 2017 (months before the start of the King Hollywood renaissance that would begin in earnest with Andy Muschietti’s IT: Chapter One), it was reported that producer J.J. Abrams was getting back into the Stephen King game, following up 11.22.63 with a special new project developed for Hulu. Created by Sam Shaw and Dusty Thomason, Castle Rock wouldn’t be an adaptation of any specific book, but instead function like an amalgamation. Original stories set in the eponymous town would be written featuring familiar King characters – functioning like a mixtape.

Not only would Castle Rock feature familiar settings and stories, the ensemble cast was outfitted with adaptation veterans across its two seasons, including Carrie’s Sissy Spacek, IT’s Bill Skarsgård and Chosen Jacobs, Silver Bullet’s Terry O’Quinn, The Mist’s Frances Conroy, Mr. Mercedes’ Ann Cusack, 11.22.63’s Sarah Gadon, and The Shawshank Redemption’s Tim Robbins. Not just a mixtape, it’s a mixtape that was delivered as a perfume-scented Valentine’s Day gift to Constant Readers.

It didn’t last long, with Hulu officially canceling the show in November 2020, but it’s amazing unto itself that Castle Rock exists, and my appreciation for it has inspired a different approach for this week’s Adapting Stephen King.

The History Of Stephen King’s Castle Rock

Castle Rock is notorious and beloved among Constant Readers, and in that light it’s funny to note that it was merely a secondary setting the first time Stephen King wrote about it. The small Maine town with a population of about 2,000 was introduced in 1979’s The Dead Zone as the local sheriff, George Bannerman, recruited the help of psychic Johnny Smith to hunt down a serial killer dubbed the Castle Rock Strangler. Smith is successful in the book, pointing the finger at Deputy Sheriff Frank Dodd, and then the protagonist moves on as the plot takes him to Ridgeway, New Hampshire.

Johnny Smith didn’t spend much time in Castle Rock, but Stephen King felt compelled to return. Two years after The Dead Zone, the author wrote Cujo, and the book provided readers with the first true dive into the town while further developing what would become a dark reputation. The personal coming-of-age novella “The Body,” featured in the 1982 omnibus Different Seasons further added to the continuity, and King’s brain went back over and over again throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s – with the continuity including The Dark Half, the novella “The Sun Dog” from the collection Four Past Midnight, and the short stories “Uncle Otto’s Truck,” “Mrs. Todd’s Shortcut,” “Gramma,” and “Nona.”

By 1991, however, Stephen King’s feelings toward Castle Rock changed. As I explained in my column about Fraser C. Heston’s Needful Things, the author got too comfortable, and he was concerned about the potential onset of “bloat.” With Needful Things, publicized as “The Last Castle Rock Story,” he planned to literally burn the place to the ground.

It didn’t take, however. In 1993, Stephen King was preparing the collection Nightmares And Dreamscapes and reworked the short story “It Grows On You” to serve as an epilogue to Needful Things, and he continued to reference Castle Rock in his stories. In 2009, King finally made a full return with the short story “Premium Harmony” (eventually included in 2015’s The Bazaar of Bad Dreams), and since then he has made frequent trips back in books including Elevation, and the Gwendy trilogy (co-written with Richard Chizmar).

From the local bar the Mellow Tiger, to Nan’s Luncheonette, to the seedy junk shop the Emporium Galorium, Stephen King holds the whole of Castle Rock in his imagination, and it’s a perpetual pleasure to visit… even with all of its dark history.

How Castle Rock Adapts The Works Of Stephen King

Not limited to just the stories in the King canon that are set in the titular town, Castle Rock features familiar faces and familiar places from a great number of Stephen King novels and stories – though obviously some titles are given more prominence than others. The individual seasons use some books a great deal, take bits and pieces from others, and casually reference a lot.

The main plot of Castle Rock Season 1 is wholly original – with lawyer Henry Deaver (André Holland) returning to his hometown to represent a mysterious Kid (Bill Skarsgård) kept captive in a cage – but Shawshank Prison, a major setting for the show, is familiar to anyone who has read “Rita Hayworth And Shawshank Redemption” or seen writer/director Frank Darabont’s beloved adaptation. The show also features Scott Glenn and Jeffrey Pierce as new big screen versions of Sheriff Alan Pangborn, who was previously played by Michael Rooker in George A. Romero’s The Dark Half and by Ed Harris in Fraser C. Heston’s Needful Things.

Season 2 leans a bit more on Stephen King’s work, with half of the show’s main arc operating as an origin story for Annie Wilkes (Lizzie Caplan) and a prequel to Misery. Castle Rock invents a backstory that sees the mentally unwell nurse on the run from the police in her youth with her daughter, Joy (Elsie Fisher) – who is eventually revealed to actually be her half-sister. Their nomadic lifestyle takes them to Castle Rock, Maine, and it’s geographically established that the town is right next to Jerusalem’s Lot a.k.a. the setting of Salem’s Lot.

There are no vampires on the show, but the horrible home known as Marsten House becomes a key setting. Ace Merrill (Paul Sparks) – the character from “The Body” and Needful Things – makes the address a base of operations when his body is possessed by a leader of the cult that founded Castle Rock and he works to bring back his flock.

Castle Rock Season 2 is additionally the first live-action work to partially adapt “The Sun Dog.” The key antagonist from that story, Pop Merrill (Tim Robbins), is a principal player in the plot, and, just like in the source material, he is a vicious businessman who owns the Emporium Galorium. Referring the source material, he’s introduced fixing a Polaroid camera, and even snaps off a photo, though we don’t see what’s printed (so we don’t know if there’s a dangerous dog just waiting to attack).

The Shining and The Dark Tower series are books that also have significant impact on the Hulu series – though to less of an extent than those mentioned above. In Season 1, Melanie Lynskey’s Molly Strand has psychic gifts that are akin to Danny Torrance’s shine, and while that word isn’t specifically used, Molly does notably try to dull her power by wearing dark sunglasses. Additionally, Molly’s realty company employs Diane “Jackie” Torrance, who identifies herself as Jack Torrance’s niece, at one point kills a man with an axe (to protect Henry), and ends Season 1 planning to make a trip to the Overlook Hotel.

There are a number of Dark Tower connections, but the biggest is the overarching plot of Season 1. It’s revealed that there is a cliff overlooking Castle Lake that emits an audible hum and functions as a doorway between different realities. This multiversal rift is called “The Schisma,” but Constant Readers will remember Roland Deschain’s word for it: a “Thinny.”

All of that is obviously a lot… and yet it’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg thanks to a wide variety of nods and Easter eggs that can be found in Castle Rock’s 20 episode run. From talk of a notorious killer dog (Cujo), to a botched state execution (The Green Mile), to a red 1958 Plymouth Fury in Castle Rock’s 400th Anniversary Parade (Christine), to Molly Strand revealing that she lives in Frank Dodd’s old house (The Dead Zone), both direct references and allusions are everywhere.

Is It Worthy Of The King?

I have some gripes with Castle Rock. I’m not a fan of Castle Rock and Jerusalem’s Lot being turned into geographical neighbors (especially because it ends up creating a continuity error between Season 1 and Season 2), and I can’t honestly say that I recognize either Alan Pangborn or Pop Merrill from their on-the-page counterparts. Things like that bug me when I rewatch the show – but they are ultimately rendered as minor quibbles in the shadow of my appreciation for the series’ existence and philosophy.

Castle Rock is a tribute not only to the genius that is Stephen King, but the author’s special and monumental impact on popular culture. Carrie, The Shining, “The Body”/Stand By Me, Cujo and so many more are literary and cinematic touchstones, and Sam Shaw and Dusty Thomason use them as pillars for the foundation of a twisty, cool, and atmospheric streaming series. Its remarkable ability to capture the essence of King is strong enough to perfectly blend the established characters with the original ones, and while details from the books aren’t always faithfully translated to the screen in specific terms, the spirit of the source material is ubiquitous and constant.

If I personally had the ability to resurrect any cancelled Stephen King series, my first choice would be the 2006 anthology series Nightmares & Dreamscapes, but Castle Rock would be my backup pick. There are enough King stories and books for the show to work with that it could go on for more than a decade without issue… and I’d also really love to get some closure regarding the true nature of Bill Skarsgård’s The Kid/Henry Deaver.

How To Watch Castle Rock

Castle Rock was made as a Hulu original, but it’s not exclusively available on the streaming service – just like 11.22.63. You can be watching the show right now if you have a Hulu subscription, but there are other options. You can purchase full seasons or individual episodes digitally via Amazon, Google Play, Apple, and Vudu. For those of you building the Ultimate Stephen King collection, Season 1 was given a 4K release in 2019, and Season 2 came out on Blu-ray in 2020.

Adapting Stephen King will be going back to the CinemaBlend Television section for next week’s feature, as it will be time to take a long look at Mr. Mercedes Season 2 – which is based on the 2016 novel End Of Watch. Look for it on the site Wednesday, and click through the banners below to discover all of my previous columns.

Keanu Reeves’ John Constantine is set to return to the screen in a Constantine sequel that was announced by Warner Bros. last week, over 15 years after Reeves first starred as the comic book character. This is great news for fans of The Matrix and John Wick actor, as well as those who were fans of the 2005 film, but it could be bad news for diversity following another recent decision the studio has made regarding the character. 

As the Reeves-led Constantine movie was greenlit, Warner Bros. has decided to no longer move forward with the previously announced HBO Max Constantine series. The project that was announced in early 2021 was a reboot set to cast a “diverse lead,” per Deadline. As TV Line has confirmed with the streaming service, the series’ development has been axed, along with another series about Madame Xanadu. 

Now, Keanu Reeves’ ethnicity is mixed race, including ancestry from Hawaii, China, Ireland and Portugal. However, the HBO Max series may have certainly placed a new or rising person of color in the role who’s yet to receive the opportunities of Reeves. Additionally, there was room there for the show to cast an openly bisexual actor in the role since the sorcerer has been part of the LGBTQ+ community in his other appearances over the years. 

The Constantine series was being developed by J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot Production company, which has now decided to develop the Keanu Reeves’ movie instead. Abrams was also previously set to make a Justice League Dark show for HBO Max as well, as announced in 2020, but for the moment, we no longer know if that’s still on track to happen either. Matt Ryan, who played John Constantine in the Arrowverse, shared his interest in reprising his role for Justice League Dark, but instead we're getting Reeves back in the role. 

That’s not to say the Constantine sequel doesn’t have the ability to be a diverse project overall, and Keanu Reeves' casting has always been inspired. However, with news of Warner Bros choosing a bankable movie star over a perhaps more bold diverse HBO Max series, there’s a question as to whether the studio cares about opening the door for more representation in DC movies or if we’re stepping backwards into 2005? 

For context in regard to this concern, Warner Bros recently axed its Batgirl film which starred an Afro-Latina Barbara Gordon (Leslie Grace) and also included a transgender character (Ivory Aquino’s Alysia Yeoh) and Moroccan directors, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah. It was the studio’s most diverse high-profile film yet and it had already been filmed when Warner Bros decided to cancel any form of release. 

Additionally, there were claims made by former employees of Warner Bros. that the studio recently fired a number of employees, notably people of color, leaving the HBO Max branch in particular “homogeneous.” While we’re excited for upcoming projects like Keanu Reeves’ return to John Constantine, we hope one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, the DC Universe, will continue to make strides in expanding representation in an effort to better reflect on screen the world we live in. 

For many years, fans of 2005’s Constantine and the DC Comics source material have been hoping to see Keanu Reeves back in the big screen role. Surprise! It’s finally happening. Warner Bros is officially developing another Constantine movie where Reeves will reteam with the director of the first film, along with J.J. Abrams being among its producers. 

Francis Lawrence, who made his filmmaking debut with Constantine 17 years ago, and has since helmed much of the Hunger Games franchise, along with Water For Elephants and Red Sparrow, is set to direct the untitled return of Keanu Reeves’ John Constantine, as Deadline reports. The upcoming movie will be written by Akiva Goldsman, who co-developed the Titans series along with numerous Star Trek projects.  

Goldsman will also produce the movie through his company Weed Road Pictures alongside Abrams’ Bad Robot, with Hannah Minghella also aboard the project. Back in 2020, Francis Lawrence expressed interest in returning to Constantine with the caveat that the “character was not available to us.” Now things have clearly changed, as Warner Bros Pictures Group Co-Chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy have reportedly shepherded a deal with the filmmakers and Reeves. 

John Constantine has been between the pages of DC Comics since the character’s debut in 1985. The Keanu Reeves-led Constantine, which came out in the early days of the superhero movie boom, received mixed reviews and made $230 million worldwide at the box office, becoming the No. 15 top-grossing movie of 2005, per Box Office Mojo. 

Along with Reeves starring, the original movie also featured Rachel Weisz as Angela Dodson, Shia LaBeouf as Chas, Djimon Hounsou as Midnite and Tilda Swinton as Gabriel. With such an incredible lineup, most of whom are even more famous than they were in 2005, perhaps Warner Bros is knocking on a few of their doors? 

Constantine seemed to open the door for more movies starring Keanu Reeves as the supernatural exorcist and demonologist following his exciting face-off against the archangel Gabriel and Lucifer, but only now is a sequel finally being developed. The news comes a couple years after it was announced that a Justice League Dark series for HBO Max was in the works also from J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot, which memorably includes John Constantine among a team of supernatural heroes. 

There hasn’t been a lot of movement on the development of Justice League Dark since its announcement, but considering J.J. Abrams is on board both Constantine-related projects, it’s very possible they could be connected. While John Constantine did have some live-action time in the CW’s Arrowverse with Matt Ryan as the character, we’re excited about how the movie will build upon Constantine’s legacy, and as one of DC’s few LGBTQ+ characters too. 

While it certainly sounds like this DC movie is a ways away, it’s exciting news to hear Keanu Reeves will play Constantine again after all these years. 

The entertainment world changed forever in 2013 when Netflix debuted House Of Cards – the first ever original series produced directly for a streaming site. The rest is history, and it’s history that I don’t have to explain because everyone reading this has been living it and watching the rise and evolution of the medium. Just about every major studio has its own proprietary subscription service now, and the content is registered by audiences on the same playing field as theatrically released movies and broadcast/cable television.

The last decade has been dubbed the Streaming Age, and Stephen King adaptations have actually been a ubiquitous part of it – with projects based on King stories made as exclusives on many of the major services, including Netflix, Paramount+, Apple TV+, and Shudder. But, before any of those companies got in the game, Hulu was the first one to leap with the miniseries 11.22.63, based on the novel of the same name (albeit with slashes instead of periods) published in 2011.

Admittedly, streaming wasn’t actually the first target for the adaptation, nor was it initially to be made as a miniseries. Before the book was published, Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme got the rights and started trying to make an 11.22.63 film. In December 2012, the writer/director announced he was no longer working on the project, saying that he and the author “were too apart on what [they] felt should be in and what should be out of the script.”

Sixteen months later, Bad Robot (J.J. Abrams’ production company) entered negotiations to acquire the rights to the book, making plans to develop an adaptation through their deal with Warner Bros. TV – and Hulu entered the picture 17 months after that. With Bridget Carpenter, Stephen King, Bryan Burk, and Abrams as executive producers, it was the most ambitious original programming move made by the streaming service at the time.

With this history, 11.22.63 is automatically a standout title in the history of Stephen King film and television projects – but just how faithful is it to the novel, and how does it compare? Those are (as always) the big questions I get into in this week’s Adapting Stephen King.

What 11.22.63 Is About

Those of you who read my column about the CBS series, Under The Dome, might experience some déjà vu learning the origins of 11/22/63, as there is a notable common denominator between the two tomes: they are both stories that Stephen King started to write early in his career, but he put them aside because of the daunting research required to properly execute the premises. He started Under The Dome in 1976, and it wasn’t completed until 2009; 11/22/63 hit bookshelves in 2011, but it was a book he worked on even before Carrie was published.

Stephen King writes about the many decades it took to get 11/22/63 from story concept to published work in the Afterword of the book, and he adds that the research wasn’t the exclusive reason why he had trouble getting it done. He was trying to create a book about the tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy less than a decade after the event occurred, and the memory remained too painful for him to write through. He explains,

The novel could also be called a sibling to The Dead Zone, as their core ideas are arguably two sides of the same coin (narratively speaking). The 1979 novel imagines a circumstance where a man is in the right for carrying out a political assassination, and at one point poses the question, “If you could jump into a time machine and go back to 1932, would you kill Hitler?” 11/22/63 asks the question, “If you could jump into a time machine and go back to 1963, would you save Kennedy?” – and it’s a much more literal approach.

Jake Epping is a compassionate but emotionally congested high school English teacher who lives in the town of Lisbon Falls, Maine, and on one fateful day in 2011 he is let in on a world-changing secret by Al Templeton, the owner of a local diner that the protagonist frequents. Al is dying from cancer, and before he passes away he decides to show Jake a special area of his restaurant’s pantry that somehow serves as an invisible doorway to September 9, 1958 at 11:58am EST. You can go through, change the past, and then come back to an altered future where only two minutes have passed. But as soon as you go through again, the timeline resets.

Jake learns that Al has had a primary mission using this rabbit hole: to stop Lee Harvey Oswald and save the life of President John F. Kennedy – completely changing world history, presumably for the better. Though reluctant, the English teacher agrees to carry on his friend’s work, and he goes back in time, taking on the name George Amberson.

With more than two years to wait until Lee Harvey Oswald returns to the United States after defecting to the Soviet Union, and more than five years to wait until the assassination, Jake makes a life for himself in the late 1950s/early 1960s, but as he tries to change the life of one of his GED students and complete his ultimate task, he understands that the past protects itself, and it tries to throw horrible obstacles in his way to preserve history as we know it.

How The 11.22.63 Miniseries Differs From Stephen King’s Book

My notes comparing 11/22/63 and 11.22.63 side-by-side are as long as this entire feature, so it’s not really possible for me to highlight every single difference between the book and the miniseries. The adaptation is mostly faithful to the source material, hitting all of the most important plot points in the story, but there are some major changes – including both additions and subtractions.

One standout alteration is introduced early, and ends up having a big impact on the story: while the rabbit hole lets a person step into September 9, 1958 in the book, 11.22.63 changes the date to October 21, 1960. This is an effort made to tighten things up and let the story get to where it’s going faster, but it also lowers the stakes for the protagonist as far as Jake (James Franco) potentially aborting his mission and starting over (The extra two years is a lot of time to take in consideration when it comes to the character making the decision whether or not to hit the reset button when things start to go really bad).

Cutting these years out also means skipping over significant sections of Stephen King’s story, like Jake living in Florida for a spell and needing to get out of the state fast after being a bit too “lucky” making sports bets with dangerous people.

Keeping on the subject of places the character doesn’t go, also excised from the miniseries, is a place that is infamous among Constant Readers: Derry, Maine. The adaptation still has Jake’s GED student, Harry Dunning (Leon Rippy), and features Jake’s attempt to stop Harry’s homicidal father, Frank Dunning (Josh Duhamel), from murdering Harry’s mother and siblings, but their home is in Holden, Kentucky instead of Derry in the show. With this detail changed, there is also no mention of The Murder Place – the book that Jake starts writing about the haunted town as part of his cover story.

Far and away the biggest change made by 11.22.63 is the treatment of Bill Turcotte (George MacKay). The circumstances under which Jake meets him are the same, with Bill having his own desire for revenge against Frank Dunning and interrupting Jake’s plans – but the novel sees Bill’s story come to an end in the Dunning house when he suffers a heart attack shortly after killing Frank.

In the series the character is made to be much younger, and he ends up learning that Jake is a time-traveler. He travels with Jake to Texas under the guise of being the protagonist’s brother to help keep an eye on Lee Harvey Oswald (Daniel Webber), but he ends up becoming a liability instead of an asset. Jake has to lock him up in a mental hospital so that nobody will believe his claims about time travelers and assassination attempts. Later, Jake goes to him searching for answers after a horrible beating leaves Jake with short term memory loss, but Bill kills himself by leaping out of a window.

Finally, there is the Yellow Card Man (Kevin J. O'Connor). In the book, there is a key section where Jake has a conversation with this stranger and learns about the much broader consequences of his time traveling. The Yellow Card Man is a human who is essentially stationed at the rabbit hole and has a wholly different perspective on time travel. He explains that each trip through the portal creates a new string in reality and leaves a residue – and there is more residue left behind by massive changes to history. With enough bundled strings and residue gunking up the machine, the machine ceases to work, and it’s essentially his job to warn time travelers about this danger.

None of this is in the miniseries. Jake does have an extended encounter with the Yellow Card Man, but it takes place in Texas instead of by the rabbit hole, and the character is changed to be a lost time traveler who is tortured by the accidental death of his daughter and can’t alter the past.

Is It Worthy Of The King?

The total runtime of 11.22.63’s eight episodes is over seven hours, which made it the longest miniseries adaptation of a Stephen King book at the time that it aired – and yet it still isn’t able to capture so much of what is great about the novel. It’s in many ways a love letter to the art of teaching, and while some of the most powerful material in the text is about the community that Jake becomes a part of while teaching high school in Jodie, Texas, the Hulu show doesn’t engage with it as much as it should.

Beyond that, though, it’s a fitting and thrilling take on King’s book, with passionate performances from James Franco as Jake, Chris Cooper as Al Templeton, and Sarah Gadon as Sadie, the love of Jake’s life. The expansion of Bill’s role distracts the material in some ways, but it proves to be a brilliant source of conflict (fueled by a lot of chaotic energy in George MacKay’s performance), and the end of his arc is a terrific and memorable gut punch.

Its existence as the first direct-to-streaming adaptation of a Stephen King book cements a certain legacy, but it also happens to be one of the best miniseries produced to date, and it set a high bar to be reached by future projects, including Hulu’s Castle Rock, Paramount+’s The Stand, and Apple TV+’s Lisey’s Story (all of which will be getting their own column in the coming weeks).

How To Watch The 11.22.63 Miniseries

One of the nice things about exclusive streaming shows is that they, theoretically, will forever exist on the service on which they premiered – and that’s certainly held true for 11.22.63. The show in its entirety has been available with a Hulu subscription ever since its finale launched online. What’s also great, however, is that the term “exclusive” is a bit lax in this instance, as there are other available options to watch. A Blu-ray was released by Warner Bros. a few months after the adaptation aired, and you can purchase individual episodes or the full miniseries via Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, and Apple.

For next week’s Adapting Stephen King, I’ll be moving back to the CinemaBlend Movies section for a dive into Tod Williams’ Cell, based on the 2006 novel. Look for the feature next Wednesday, and click through the banners below to find all of the past installments of this column. 

Somehow, 16 years have passed since the world bid farewell to the badassery of Sydney Bristow, Jennifer Garner’s spy heading up the former ABC action-thriller Alias. During that time, fans have clamored for Garner to reteam with show creator J.J. Abrams for a revival of some kind — and not the reboot that the network considered over a decade ago — and it looked like we might get the next best thing in the form of Apple TV+’s My Glory Was I Had Such Friends. The streaming project, ordered to series back in 2018, was set to be a reunion for Garner and Abrams, but the project has now been canceled after Garner made a surprise exit.

lt doesn’t appear that a whole lot of forward progress was made with My Glory Was I Had Such Friends in the years after it was first announced as something Apple TV+ subscribers could look forward to. And while it’s unclear if there was a plan being made to start production soon, Deadline reports that Garner made the move to exit the long-gestating limited series due to scheduling reasons. Those presumably tie back to the other Apple TV+ series she’s currently filming, The Last Thing He Told Me, which is being produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine banner.

Without Jennifer Garner locked in as the new project’s lead, Apple TV+ execs made the decision to cut losses and cease work on the Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV production. The memoir My Glory Was I Had Such Friends, which admittedly isn’t anything like Alias, centers on author Amy Silverstein’s journey ahead of her second life-saving heart transplant, and the endlessly supportive group of friends that helped her cope during that stressful and emotionally troubling time. The book was acquired by Bad Robot back in 2017 soon after its debut.

The limited series project doesn’t appear to be throwing in the towel completely, however, with execs from both Bad Robot and Warner Bros TV reportedly still interested in bringing the adaptation to life. As such, the goal will be to find another home for it in the wake of Apple TV+’s cancellation decision, but that goal may not be put into action just yet. Reportedly, the writers room is working on crafting additional episode scripts to have more to show ahead of approaching various other networks and streaming platforms.

Having been nominated for four Emmy Awards for her work on Alias, Jennifer Garner has certainly made a home for herself in the world of streaming in recent years, even if this particular drama will no longer have her as its lead. 2021 and 2022 had her heading up two different Netflix films, the middling family comedy Yes Day and the time-traveling viewership monster The Adam Project, along with the aforementioned series The Last Thing He Told Me. That production is set to be followed by other reported projects such as the TV series Can’t Go Home and the musical comedy Fantasy Camp with I Feel Pretty writer/director Abby Kohn. 

This setback for My Glory Was I Had Such Friends is only the latest downer headline focused around Bad Robot’s TV production slate, with HBO putting the kibosh on another slow-moving project that was ordered to series in 2018, Demimonde, which was scrapped in part due to budget requests reaching around $250 million. Warner Bros. entire film and TV deal with J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot has been put under a spotlight thanks to the WB Discovery merger, with various other previously announced projects for HBO and HBO Max also facing financial hurdles during extended development phases. Will we ever see the update-lacking Justice League Dark, which first made waves over two years ago?

Bad Robot does still have the upcoming live-action Speed Racer TV series in the works at Apple TV+, as well as the adaptation of Scott Turow’s legal thriller Presumed Innocent, with David E. Kelley heading things up on that front. Perhaps if My Glory Was I Had Such Friends finds an A+ replacement for Jennifer Garner, Apple will throw its hat back in the ring.

While it’s disappointing that Jennifer Garner won’t be reteaming with J.J. Abrams on this new TV show, at least Alias fans got to see the cast reuniting in 2021 for a 20-year anniversary of the show’s premiere. And there’s still a chance for a revival somewhere else down the line, right?

Actor Simon Pegg and filmmaker J.J. Abrams go way back, with the latter having recruited the former onto Mission: Impossible III to play Benji Dunn, a role Pegg continues to play. Abrams also cast Pegg to play Scotty in 2009’s Star Trek, and these two worked together again within this sci-fi franchise on 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness. After that though, Abrams dropped the Star Trek directorial reins to work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which led to Pegg feeling a little salty.

Although J.J. Abrams was still involved with 2016’s Star Trek Beyond as a producer and will carry out that same duty on the yet-to-be-titled Star Trek 4, it obviously became necessary for Star Trek to take a backseat to his work of the first entry in the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. During a visit to Sirius XM’s Jim Norton & Sam Roberts, Pegg recalled to the title hosts how he felt upon learning that Abrams was directing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, saying:

While there’s certainly no shortage of people in the world who enjoy both Star Wars and Star Trek, some still see an unofficially rivalry that exists between the two franchises, much like there is between Marvel and DC (though Patrick Stewart and Mark Hamill aren’t among those people). So with that in mind, I don’t blame Simon Pegg for feeling a little jealous that Abrams now had his attention turned primarily to Star Wars, especially considering that the director’s work on Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness played a big role in revitalizing that franchise. Still, this is Star Wars we’re talking about, so you can’t fault Abrams for seizing the opportunity to leave his stamp on a galaxy far, far away.

Luckily for Simon Pegg, just because J.J. Abrams boarded Star Wars: The Force Awakens didn’t mean Pegg didn’t get to join in on that bit of fun. He was cast in the Star Wars movie as Unkar Plutt, a Crolute junk dealer on Jakku nicknamed The Blobfish. Although we learned in Star Wars: The Last Jedi that Rey was left in Plutt’s care when she was left on Jakku as a child by her parents, but by the time she was a young adult, the two had a contentious relationship. Within the final cut of The Force Awakens, Rey ended her time with Plutt by stealing the Millennium Falcon from him, but there was also a deleted scene where Pegg’s character cornered her on Takadona and got his arm ripped off by Chewbacca.

Even having played Unkar Plutt, perhaps there will come a time where Simon Pegg is able to play a different character in the Star Wars universe, and this time we’d see his face. As far as the Star Trek franchise goes, while Pegg is expected to reprise Scotty in Star Trek 4, which we know is slated for December 22, 2023, there’s still a lot of questions surrounding the production from both the public and the starring actors, including when filming will begin. As Pegg admitted in January, he’s “just quietly waiting for news basically” on the next Star Trek movie.

In the nearer future, we’ll hear Simon voicing Bob in the animated Apple TV+ movie Luck, and he’ll also jump back into action as Benji in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One and Part Two, which respectively come out on July 14, 2023 and June 28, 2024. For information on films coming out sooner, look through our 2022 release schedule.

J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek films sported some loaded casts and, as a result, some scenes that featured appearances from acting icons were left on the cutting room floor. Legendary actor Victor Garber is one of those unlucky people, as the former Alias cast member was asked to appear in the film as a Klingon. Now, years later, the beloved star has shared thoughts on having his role deleted.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Victor Garber about The Orville: New Horizons, and after seeing his character, Admiral Halsey, go toe-to-toe with the Krill species, I remembered his deleted scene as a Klingon interrogator in 2009's Star Trek. I asked Garber if it was disappointing that his former Alias boss, J.J. Abrams, cut the scene -- especially since he had to don all the prosthetics needed to play a Klingon. When responding, the actor was honest:

The scene, which can be found on the DVD and Blu-ray editions of the Star Trek movie, saw the movie’s Romulan villain Nero on a Klingon prison planet. The scene ultimately explained what happened after the madman destroyed the USS Kelvin and shed light on why so much time passed between his attack and return. (Anyone who's feeling lost can brush up on the movie’s time travel plot.) Viewers also see Victor Garber’s Klingon use a Centaurian slug, which Nero later used on Captain Pike. 

But ultimately, the scene was cut for time, and Star Trek 2009 went without Victor Garber and other Klingons. Garber spoke more about the role and revealed the thing that he’ll “never” do again after that experience: 

Hey, playing a Klingon isn’t for everyone, and Victor Garber wouldn’t be the first actor to dislike the experience. (Even Michael Dorn wasn't a fan of the transformation). It is sad to know the world missed out on the performance, though, and wild to think how the movie might’ve changed with the Klingon scene left in. 

Back in 2009, J.J. Abrams spoke to Gizmodo about the scene and shared why he had to cut it from the movie. Abrams, who sounded pretty remorseful, shared some of the other struggles Victor Garber endured during his scenes: 

Those with Paramount+ subscriptions won’t be able to see the scene if they stream Star Trek on the service, though anyone who owns a physical copy (or has access to YouTube) can. If you're someone who loves the movie and wants additional context behind Nero’s motivations, then you'll definitely want to see it. Plus, it gives you an opportunity to watch the always-delightful Victor Garber.

It’s a great time to be a fan of this franchise, as there’s a plethora of exciting Star Trek shows on the way. And all are set to air throughout the rest of 2022 and beyond. There’s also a new feature film on the way and, based on the latest update on the franchise's fourth movie, it’s looking like there's a good chance this flick will indeed be released to theaters!

J.J. Abrams is a creative talent who’s left his mark on a lot of major properties, including Star Trek and Star Wars. Over the last several years though, Abrams has been entrenched in various DC Comics projects, including a Justice League Dark series in development for HBO Max and a Superman movie he’s producing that’s being written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. However, there haven’t been a lot of major updates on these DC projects lately, and today it’s been announced that now Abrams has a live-action Speed Racer series on the way.

Apple TV+ is putting together a Speed Racer show with J.J. Abrams, his Bad Robot production company and Warner Bros. Television. Snowpiercer’s Hiram Martinez and Westworld’s Ron Fitzgerald are writing the project, and according to Deadline, this version of Speed Racer is “going back to the original source material.” Although Speed Racer achieved popularity stateside as an animated TV show, it started off in the ‘60s as a manga series called Mach GoGoGo by Tatsuo Yoshida. The outlet also mentioned that this Speed Racer series that will be available to Apple TV+ subscribers is now staffing its writers room, with Martinez and Fitzgerald serving as the executive producers/co-showrunners.

This Speed Racer news arrived shortly after THR shared the news that Demimonde, the first show J.J. Abrams has written since Fringe, is “on the bubble” at HBO due to Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav being “frustrated” by Bad Robot’s lack of output since its $250 million deal came together. Demimonde has been in the works since 2018, and Bad Robot is reportedly looking to spend over $200 million on it, which is even more than it cost to make the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel House of Dragons. Furthermore, THR mentioned that Warner Bros. Discovery isn’t pleased with Bad Robot for seizing a number of DC characters, but not getting any of the shows centered on said characters on the air. That said, Warners has apparently seen scripts for Constantine and the Madame X pilot, but it’s unclear where Justice League Dark stands.

These are just a handful of the projects that J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot have in the works for HBO/HBO Max, with others including the animated series Batman: Caped Crusader and the crime drama Duster. While Bad Robot’s deal with Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly not in jeopardy right now, the lack of output has apparently, as THR put it, “created a larger discussion” about what the latter company expects from the deal. A decision on if Demimonde will move forward is expected to be made later this week, but it’s hard to say at this point what the future holds in store for these live-action DC shows. It’s also unclear if Speed Racer… well, racing forward at Apple TV+ will have any bearing on what happens with Bad Robot’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Apple TV+’s Speed Racer will be the second time this property has been adapted for live action. The first time was with the 2008 Speed Racer movie, which was directed by The Wachowskis and starred Emilie Hirsch as the title character. There have also been a handful of other animated TV shows that followed the original Speed Racer from the late ‘60s, along with various videos games and pieces of merchandise. The newest series is the latest Bad Robot project to be set up at Apple TV+, with past ones including Lisey’s Story and Little Voice.

CinemaBlend will keep you apprised on how Speed Racer is coming along at Apple TV+, as well as what ends up happening with any of J.J. Abrams and Bad Robot’s DC projects over at HBO/HBO Max. Fortunately for fans of this superhero franchise, there are all kinds of other upcoming DC TV shows coming down the pipeline, not to mention a lot of upcoming DC movies being primed.

When it comes to blockbusters that revolve around cars, the Fast & Furious franchise has reigned supreme for over two decades now. However, for years there have been attempts to get a live-action Hot Wheels movie off the ground, and now the project based on the popular Mattel toyline has picked up steam. This is thanks to J.J. Abrams, who directed two of the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy movies, now being involved in Hot Wheels’ development.

Mattel Films and Warner Bros. Pictures announced today that Bad Robot Productions, J.J. Abrams’ production company, will produce the Hot Wheels movie. No plot details were revealed, but per the official announcement, the movie will “bring to life this beloved, multi-generational franchise and showcase some of the world’s hottest and sleekest cars, monster trucks and motorcycles.” Here’s what Robbie Brenner, Executive Producer of Mattel Films, had to say about Abrams and Bad Robot coming along for the Hot Wheels ride.

While it doesn’t sound like J.J. Abrams will be sitting in the director’s chair for Hot Wheels, this is yet another major property that Bad Robot has gotten its hands on. Among the production company’s other forthcoming endeavors include HBO Max’s Justice League Dark series, the Superman movie Ta-Nehisi Coaties is writing, Star Trek 4 and the film adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! that Jon Chu is attached to direct. As far as his directorial work goes, Abrams has operated in the sci-fi realm for more than a decade now through Star Trek, Super 8, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. I’m curious to see what kind of stamp Bad Robot puts on the Hot Wheels property for its theatrical debut.

A Hot Wheels movie has been in development in one form or another since 2003, when Columbia Pictures held the film rights and had lined up McG to direct. Another iteration of the project saw Justin Lin signing on to direct back in 2016 when his production company Perfect Storm Entertainment acquired it, but since he’s back to directing Fast & Furious movies, it’s safe to say he’s no longer attached to Hot Wheels. Mattel Films and Warner Bros. partnered up on Hot Wheels back in early 2019, and while it was reported in September 2020 that Neil Widener and Gavin James were writing the script, it’s unclear if their screenplay is what will be filmed or if new writers are being sought out.

Hot Wheels marks the second upcoming collaboration between Mattel Films and Warner Bros., as the companies are also teaming for the Margot Robbie-led Barbie movie, which Greta Gerwig is directing and co-wrote with Noah Baumbach. Other upcoming Mattel-related movies include Masters of the Universe (which has been moved to Netflix), the Vin Diesel-led Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, Barney and Wishbone. Mattel Films is also developing Christmas Balloon, which is based on all-new IP.

It’ll likely be a long time until Hot Wheels races into theaters, but with the main Fast & Furious film series wrapping up, this Mattel offering can easily fill its spot afterwards delivering high octane thrills to moviegoing audiences. Browse through the 2022 movie releases to learn what’s hitting the big screen in the near future.

If you're a fan of Stephen King and adaptations of his work, the past week has delivered a bounty of exciting news. Last Tuesday it was revealed that there is a new miniseries in the works based on King's 2021 horror novel Later, and just yesterday it was reported that Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina have come aboard a developing movie based on the short story "The Boogeyman." And as though those stories didn't provide us enough to anticipate, today we've learned that another miniseries is now in the works – one based on Stephen King's most recent book, Billy Summers.

Deadline has broken the news of this development and notes that there are some big names shepherding the small screen production forward. J.J. Abrams, who has extensive Stephen King adaptation experience having produced 11.22.63, Castle Rock, and Lisey's Story, is attached to the miniseries via Bad Robot, and Ed Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz are handling the screenwriting duties. Zwick, who is best known for directing films like Glory, Legends Of The Fall, and Blood Diamond, is apparently planning to direct the entire miniseries, which is expected to be between six and 10 episodes.

Billy Summers just arrived in stores worldwide last August, and it tells the story of the eponymous character: a hitman on the verge of retirement. Before he can leave the game completely, however, he is assigned one last job, which is to take out another trained assassin who has been arrested and knows too much about his employers' operation for anyone to feel comfortable. Of course, in classic "one last job" fashion, things don't precisely go as planned.

There presently aren't any actors attached to the project, which is presently being sold to cable networks and streaming services, but it is worth noting that Stephen King himself has pitched a name to play the titular Billy Summers. When the book came out last year, King was asked about who he would like to see in the role, and his response was Jake Gyllenhaal – whom he called "maybe the most underrated actor working right now."

As noted, J.J. Abrams has had success in the past selling small screen Stephen King adaptations – 11.22.63 and Castle Rock being among the best original programming on Hulu, and Lisey's Story is a great addition to the AppleTV+ library – so we'll just have to wait and see where Billy Summers lands and how quickly it develops. To keep track of all of the King projects that aren't currently in various stages of development, head on over to our regularly updated Upcoming Stephen King Movies and TV guide.

2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw The First Order unleash Starkiller Base onto the galaxy far, far away. As a show of force, General Hux had this planet-converted superweapon destroy the Hosnian Prime system, which is where the New Republic government was based at the time. However, if director J.J. Abrams’ original plan been approved, Starkiller Base would have instead destroyed Coruscant, one of the most important planets from Star Wars’ Prequel Trilogy.

Coruscant appeared in The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith as the capital of the Old Republic and home to the main Jedi Temple, so it would have been fitting for the metropolitan world to have been the hub for the New Republic government too. Alas, apparently Lucasfilm wasn’t on board with blowing up Coruscant in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. As Pablo Hidalgo, a Star Wars creative executive at Lucasfilm, wrote in a since-deleted tweet (via The Direct):

Seeing Coruscant obliterated by Starkiller Base definitely would have been a more emotional gut-punch for Star Wars fans since it’s an established location rather than brand-new like Hosnian Prime. Plus, there’s the fact that Palpatine continued to rule from Coruscant during the Empire’s reign, so it would have make sense for the Rebellion to reclaim the planet for the New Republic government. We even saw people celebrating the Empire’s fall on Coruscant in the Special Edition release of Return of the Jedi. 

Pablo Hidalgo added that it was really just “some folks at” Lucasfilm who didn’t want Coruscant destroyed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens since “it’s not like companies have points of view,” but either way, it was ultimately decided to keep the planet unharmed. Why was this? Hidalgo said in another tweet that he believes the big reason for the “reticence” was because Coruscant was in development for other projects. Of course, plans for the Star Wars franchise at that time differed heavily from what ended up coming to pass (namely because Disney+ didn’t exist at the time), and a little over six years after The Force Awakens’ release, Coruscant has barely received any attention on-screen, though it has been revisited fairly often in novels and comics, particularly stories set in the High Republic era.

The events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens paved the way for what unfolded in 2017’s The Last Jedi, and 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker not only concluded the Sequel Trilogy, but also the entire Skywalker Saga. Originally J.J. Abrams was only going to work on The Force Awakens, but after Colin Trevorrow departed The Rise of Skywalker due to creative differences, Abrams returned to the director’s chair. Cut to now, while there are plenty of Disney+ shows to keep Star Wars fans entertained (including the currently-airing The Book of Boba Fett), it remains to be seen when we’ll get another Star Wars movie. Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron is technically still set for December 22, 2023, but with its production having reportedly been delayed, it’s possible that release date won’t stick.

As always, CinemaBlend will keep apprised on news concerning upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows. In the meantime though, find out what cinematic entertainment is on track to arrive in the coming months with our 2022 release schedule.

Directors can be quite a chummy bunch when you get to know them, especially if you happen to be a director yourself. Guillermo del Toro knows this, as he’s always had a reliable group of friends that have helped him make big decisions in his filmmaking career. Thanks to his current film Nightmare Alley, a new name seems to have been added to that roster, as J.J. Abrams scored a special thanks credit in del Toro’s latest cinematic tale. How that credit was earned came down to a couple of questions, and a key choice that the Star Wars filmmaker suggested, in order to nail down the rhythm of the overall film. 

That choice was ultimately linked to Bradley Cooper’s Stanton Carlisle, and more specifically when we would first hear him speak as a character. As we discussed Nightmare Alley during the press day for the film, Mr. del Toro shared with CinemaBlend just how much he values collaboration and feedback from his peers. In that spirit, this is why he credited J.J. Abrams with a “special thanks” on the project: 

Nightmare Alley starts off rather cryptically, as our first introduction to Stanton Carlisle is when he’s lighting a house on fire. Escaping his deeds, he hops on a bus out of town and arrives at the pivotal point in his destiny. About to head to a diner, Bradley Cooper’s protagonist finds his eye wandering towards a traveling carnival, which puts into motion a chain reaction that leads to his ever winding fate.

True to Guillermo del Toro’s description above, we spend an extended period of time watching the mute Stan take in the sights of his future workplace. It’s only when he’s recruited to hunt down the recently-escaped geek performer that we finally hear his first words, which are addressed to his would-be quarry. We see part of this moment in the first trailer for the movie, which was also fittingly devoid of any dialogue from Mr. Cooper's character. It’s uncertain where that break in the dialogue occurred in the previous version of the film, but as it stands, Stanton Carlisle’s first lines act as a punctuation on an enigmatic character. 

Experiments in how scenes would play out seem to be the driving force behind how the finished version of Nightmare Alley was found in the editing room. Running for two and a half hours, this was after quite a bit of trimming, as Guillermo del Toro admitted a much longer cut was the starting point for this evolution. Just like J.J. Abrams helped shape our introduction to Stanton Carlisle, another director gave del Toro a note that would come in handy throughout those edits: 

Three different versions could already be claimed to exist in the world of Nightmare Alley: the three and a half hour initial cut, the almost three hour “grand” cut and the two and a half hour version that’s in existence. Oddly enough, Michael Mann isn’t a stranger to such a scenario, as he’s banked and released alternate versions for films like Miami Vice and even his 1995 classic Heat. With roughly an hour excised from del Toro’s adaptation of William Lindsay Gresham’s 1946 novel, there’s no telling what lies in the footage that found itself stored away, potentially to live another day. If we get either or both of those versions in the future, there’ll definitely be room on that “Special Thanks” credits roll for whomever helps make it possible. 

Nightmare Alley is currently in theaters, so if you’re inclined to enjoy some noir goodness with your holiday season, it’s there for you. Otherwise, you can start lining your movie watching schedule up for next year with 2022’s release schedule. It surely beats trying to psychically conjure those dates, as that sort of racket could lead to some serious trouble if you’re not careful. 

It has been 10 years since the June 2011 release of J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 movie in theaters, which told a story that was equal parts coming-of-age drama and monster thriller, and one that both entertained moviegoers and took them back to the late 1970s. In honor of this momentous occasion, we have put together some of the best behind the scenes facts from not only the making of the summer blockbuster but also some that go into Abrams’ years of planning and even his relationship with Steven Spielberg long before he took us to Lillian, Ohio, and all its mysteries. Here’s how Super 8 came to be…

Writer-Director J.J. Abrams First Met Producer Steven Spielberg When He Was Asked To Restore A Super 8 Film

If there were to be a real-life Forrest Gump in Hollywood, there is a strong case to be made for J.J. Abrams being that person. Over the years, he has become involved with box office megahit franchises like Mission: Impossible, Star Trek, and Star Wars, and even helped flesh out the Escape From New York ending. However, one of the most fascinating stories of Abrams’ life and career comes from when he was just a teenager obsessed with Super 8 films, who had a chance encounter with none other than Steven Spielberg.

Shortly before the 2011 release of Super 8, J.J. Abrams spoke with SFGate and shared the story about the time he and his friend, Matt Reeves, found themselves restoring Super 8 films for the legendary director. After participating in a film festival, Abrams recalled receiving a phone call from Steven Spielberg who hired them to restore his early films Firelight and Escape to Nowhere. A couple of decades later, Abrams would find himself not only working with his childhood hero, but making a movie alongside him.

Super 8 Was Influenced By J.J. Abrams’ Childhood Memories And Love Of Visionary Filmmakers Like John Carpenter

Super 8 is one of J.J. Abrams’ most personal movies and that’s partly due to the writer-director drawing from his own childhood experiences and combining it with his love of legendary filmmakers like John Carpenter, George A. Romero, and Steven Spielberg. 

When speaking with SFGate (in the same interview mentioned above), Abrams described the movie as a “weird sort of cocktail” because of his own experiences as a kid and his childhood obsession with those visionary directors. During the June 2011 chat, Abrams explained that the second act of Super 8 is where the sweetness (the semi-autobiographical story of a group of friends making a monster movie) and the horror (actually encountering a monster) come together. At this point, the movie feels like both a love letter to Abrams’ youth and one for figures like Carpenter.

J.J. Abrams Finally Settled On The Idea Behind Super 8 While Working On Star Trek

Years before Super 8 came to be, J.J. Abrams had been toying around with the idea of making a coming-of-age movie about a group of young filmmakers in the 1970s, but couldn’t find a way to make it work or jump out at audiences. As time went on, Abrams started coming up with different ideas and started making other movies, like 2009’s Star Trek. 

The writer-director would later tell EW that, during production of the sci-fi space adventure, he had a conversation with someone about how the military moves stuff to and from Area 51 and he started to think about what if something went wrong during one of those transports. After that, he called Steven Spielberg and pitched an idea that would combine elements of his story about kids making movies with the premise of an alien escaping a military transport. The rest is history.

J.J. Abrams Needed The Monster In Super 8 To Eventually Be Less Scary While Also Not Being ‘Lovable And Cuddly’

The alien at the center of Super 8 is definitely a terrifying movie monster, but also comes off as a sympathetic character with a great deal of emotion. Finding this balance was something that J.J. Abrams spent a great deal of time considering when planning out the creature, as he explained to Gizmodo during a June 2011 Q&A conference call. During the chat, Abrams explained that the alien was the physical manifestation of Joe Lamb’s (Joel Courtney) struggle to let go of his recently deceased mother and so it had to initially to be terrifying before eventually becoming less scary, but not toned down too much:

J.J. Abrams said the monster was one of those "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" types of situations, in that sometimes what we fear isn't nearly as terrifying once we build up the courage to face it.

Jeremy Renner Turned Down The Role Of Jack Lamb And Ended Up Getting Cast In Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol In The Process

It is hard to imagine anyone besides Kyle Chandler taking on the role of Deputy Jack Lamb in Super 8, but J.J. Abrams originally wanted a different star for the crucial role in his 2011 monster film, and that person was Hawkeye star Jeremy Renner. When appearing on Conan in May 2015, Jeremy Renner revealed that he was offered the role but “wasn’t quite feeling the part” and decided to have a sit-down with Abrams to explain why he was turning down the gig. 

During the conversation, Abrams told the actor he wanted to hear what he had to say but also wanted to offer him in Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol, which hadn’t even been written yet. Later that day, Renner met with Tom Cruise who then called him to ask him if he would be in the movie, concluding what the actor called a “really strange experience.”

Joel Courtney Landed The Role Of Joe Lamb After Meeting Several Casting Directors And J.J. Abrams On The First Day Of His First Audition Ever

Joel Courtney, who would later go on to star as Lee Flynn in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth franchise, made his acting debut in Super 8, and had quite a first day while auditioning for the role of Joe Lamb. In Forbes’ Super 8 oral history, Courtney broke down the whirlwind of a day that was unlike anything he had ever experienced. After going through the first audition, Courtney was sent to another room and read lines for another casting director. Courtney must have impressed the casting directors because they quickly told him they wanted to try it again, only this time with J.J. Abrams sitting in to watch it go down. Courtney barely had time to catch his breath.

Ron Howard And Steven Spielberg Helped J.J. Abrams Get A Better Grasp On Working With Child Actors

A large portion of the Super 8 cast was made up of child actors, which presented another set of challenges for J.J. Abrams when planning out the production. During the Q&A conference call with Gizmodo mentioned earlier, Abrams revealed that he reached out to Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg for advice since the former was a child actor before turning to directing, and because the latter had gotten so much out of kids’ performances over the years. 

Basically, both filmmakers told him that the best thing he could do would be to tell them how he wanted them to read their lines and then continue to work with them on those lines so that they would be completely prepared by the time cameras started rolling. Abrams also credited acting teacher Jay Scully for getting the cast comfortable with their lines and delivery before and during production.

The Super 8 Cast Had To Learn A Great Deal About The 1970s, Including The Slang And How To Use A Rotary Phone

Super 8 takes place in 1979, a world much different from anything the younger members of the cast knew growing up. To get around this and make the movie feel more authentic to the era in which it takes place, the production team taught them how to use things like rotary phones and understand the slang of the era. 

In Forbes’ Super 8 oral history, Joel Courtney recalled J.J. Abrams giving everyone little cheatsheets with all the lingo their characters used throughout the movie, including the iconic “mint,” “turkey,” and “you’re a brain.” On top of that, the cast was given a list of words and phrases they couldn’t use while filming because they were too modern.

The Super 8 VFX Team Added Flying Debris Whenever The Child Actors Flinched During The Train Derailment Scene

One of the most memorable sequences in all of Super 8 is the epic train derailment that takes place not long into the movie. This over-the-top action set piece was both practical (the child actors were running on a set with large objects in their way) and digital (the train and other parts of the environment were CGI), which gave the team at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) a lot to work with. 

In June 2011, Popular Mechanics published an extensive profile on how this catastrophic scene came to be, and some of the tricks ILM used to make it so powerful. In the piece, VFX supervisor Kim Libreri revealed that J.J. Abrams used long lenses when shooting the kids and explosions together, which made them seem like they were much closer to danger than they really were. One of the most fascinating tricks involved adding CGI debris to the scene whenever the actors would flinch, adding more realism to the shot. 

‘The Case’ Short Film Shown During The Super 8 End Credits Was Mostly Shot By The Cast

During the Super 8 end credits, the film that the younger members of the cast were working on — The Case — plays out in its entirety. The five-minute movie, which was shot entirely in the Super 8 film format, was also mostly written and directed by the young cast themselves. When speaking with Forbes for the Super 8 oral history, Riley Griffiths revealed that the kids had full control when it came to writing and directing the film, calling it a great experience. The only time any adults helped out would be to set up the lighting and help set up the shots. Everything else was from the mind and experiences of the young cast.

Hopefully, all of this makes you want to go back and revisit Super 8 after all these years. If you've already re-watched J.J. Abrams' love letter to his childhood and influences, check out CinemaBlend's updated schedule of 2021 movie premiere dates.

As depicted in both Stanley Kubrick's The Shining and Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep, The Overlook Hotel is one of horror cinema's most beloved, iconic locations – which is why it wasn't surprising in the slightest when Warner Bros. announced in spring 2020 that a new series was being developed about the haunted Rocky Mountain lodging. Unfortunately, that project has now hit a few bumps in the road. It has been revealed that the show is no longer being developed as an HBO Max original, which is how it was originally pitched... though the good news is that the idea isn't dead and is now just looking for a new home.

News of this change of plans comes to us via Deadline, which says that the show, titled Overlook, is currently being shopped around by Warner Bros. Television and that there is expectation that the mission will be successful. The series is being produced by J.J. Abrams, who has had some significant success in the last few years helping to get Stephen King adaptations made for the small screen, with titles including 11.22.63, Castle Rock, and Lisey's Story.

Dustin Thomason and Scott Brown – the former being the co-creator of Castle Rock, and the latter being a writer/producer – are the main creatives behind Overlook, and the plan for the show is for it to dive into the long, dark history of its titular location and tell the stories of the ghosts who reside inside. According to the trade, the executives at HBO Max don't take any issue with the concept, but apparently don't feel that it fits with the slate they are currently developing.

So where will Overlook eventually end up? One could imagine that anything is possible. The Stephen King brand perpetually has heat (and has since the mid-1970s), and most of the major streaming services have original adaptations at this point, including the aforementioned 11.22.63 and Castle Rock on Hulu, Lisey's Story on Apple TV+, Gerald's Game, 1922, and In The Tall Grass on Netflix, The Stand on Paramount+, and Creepshow on Shudder. Peacock has also picked up the excellent Mr. Mercedes following its run on the now-defunct network Audience, so perhaps they will want to give Overlook a try as an original series.

We'll have to wait and see how things develop from this point forward and if Overlook can stay on its feet – but the good news for all you Constant Readers out there is that even if it takes another five years for the show to get made, there are plenty of other adaptations on the way. From the Firestarter remake that started production this summer, to the new series Chapelwaite that is premiering on Epix later this month, to all of the projects in various stages of development, you can keep track of them all by scoping out our Upcoming Stephen King Movies and TV guide.

The U.S.S. Enterprise has been stuck in deep space for too long with comms off – it’s about time for the Star Trek franchise to reel us back in. Five years following the release of Star Trek Beyond, Paramount is reportedly finally moving forward with a new Star Trek movie, and the studio has found a director in WandaVision's Matt Shakman.

Paramount and J.J. Abrams’ own Bad Robot, the companies behind the trilogy of Star Trek films starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, are moving forward with a mysterious movie from the universe. Matt Shakman will be the director of the next space epic as he comes off helming all nine WandaVision episodes, per Deadline. The movie’s script has reportedly been written by Lindsey Beer and Geneva Robertson.

Lindsey Beer wrote Sierra Burgess Is a Loser for Netflix and Geneva Robertson was behind 2018’s Tomb Raider and Captain Marvel. The pair have also been attached to writing the Silver Sable movie for Sony’s Spider-Verse. Beer is also tapped to direct the upcoming Pet Sematary movie for Paramount+ as well. The news of Matt Shakman taking on Star Trek comes the same day it was announced that WandaVision is up for 23 Emmy nominations this year.

Following years of development hell for the Star Trek movies, it’s unclear what this Star Trek project will look like. We don’t know yet if the movie will be a continuation of the franchise that started in 2009 about Captain Kirk and his crew, or a complete reimagining of the beloved science fiction franchise. Since Star Trek Beyond was released, a number of scripts have been on the table and then fallen through.

At one point, Chris Pine’s Kirk was going to reunite with Kirk’s father, played briefly by Chris Hemsworth in the 2009 movie, in a time travel tale. However, pay negotiations between Pine and Hemsworth reportedly led to the project being placed on pause. Additionally, Fargo’s Noah Hawley was attached to a Star Trek movie, and Quentin Tarantino even shared interest in adapting a script by The Revenant‘s Mark L. Smith said to be like “Pulp Fiction in space.”

Matt Shakman’s Star Trek movie is not the only one from the franchise in the works over at Paramount. Back in March, it was also announced that Star Trek: Discovery writer Kalinda Vazquez is writing an “original” Star Trek movie that she pitched to the studio. It was also announced in April that a Star Trek movie will be coming to theaters on June 9, 2023, but we don’t know if its Kalinda Vazquez’s project or Matt Shakman’s.

From what we know, our best guess is that we’ll see Shakman’s first considering the report also hints at his Star Trek movie being fast-tracked and moving into production next spring. If the WandaVision filmmaker shoots the next Star Trek movie in early 2022, it could most definitely be ready to compete with Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Furiosa in summer 2023.

It’s exciting to hear Paramount is putting the franchise back on course, but we’re still in the dark here. What Star Trek movie are we amping up for, Paramount? Stay tuned for those answers.

The future of Star Trek on the big screen is a big question and at this point, nobody is quite sure what will happen with it. The reboot franchise produced by J.J. Abrams has been successful overall, and many fans and critics have been impressed with the way the films found a way to tell new stories with these classic characters. However, the original Captain Kirk does take issue with one element of those movies, the use of Leonard Nimoy and Spock. Shatner calls the decision to include the original Spock in the new movies "gratuitous."

The concept of the 2009 Star Trek movie is that, due to time travel interfering with an established timeline, a new timeline is created, causing the classic Star Trek crew of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and the rest to go in a different direction. Leonard Nimoy appears in the first two movies as "Old Spock" who's there to explain what's going on to the characters, and also the audience. William Shatner recently told Express that he didn't care for the way Spock was included in the new films, saying...

While it's been widely reported that there was some tension between William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy at various points in their careers, it should be made clear that it appears from the statement that Shatner's issue here is the inclusion of the character, not the appearance of Nimoy specifically. Although, the quote is largely without context, so exactly what led to Shatner making the statement we don't know.

Leonard Nimoy's character was a significant presence in Star Trek, and he had a brief cameo in Star Trek Into Darkness, a film that would be the actor's final on-screen role. The death of "Old Spock" would be referenced in the third film, Star Trek Beyond.

For what it's worth, William Shatner says that he would consider returning to Star Trek if it "functioned as a point of the movie," which seems to indicate his issue. He simply felt that Spock's appearance wasn't important enough. And that's certainly true, the plot of the film was not about Nimoy's character. It was about the new cast of characters.

Technically speaking, I suppose Leonard Nimoy's appearance in the 2009 film was not strictly necessary. The project could have been handled without him. But for a lot of fans the inclusion of Spock was what made the whole thing work.

Fans of the larger franchise appreciated the idea that the reboot franchise made a point to say that it wasn't replacing the original series or movies, just taking things in a new direction. And the fact that an original series star was the one making that clear gave a sort of stamp of approval.

Disney and Lucasfilm are currently crafting the next era of Star Wars following a grand finale to the Skywalker Saga in late 2019 with The Rise of Skywalker. Although the studios seem to have closed the book on the main characters from the Sequel Trilogy, including Daisy Ridley’s Rey, Oscar Isaac’s Poe and John Boyega’s Finn, we can’t exactly be convinced of complete finality forever. Han Solo, Luke and Leia certainly came back over 30 years after Return of the Jedi, so who’s to say the same couldn't happen with these newer leads?

There’s still clearly interest in the continuation of the storylines established in The Rise of Skywalker over a year after its conclusion. A clip of John Boyega sharing his thoughts on returning to Finn one day recently made its rounds online from a 2020 interview with none other than CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend co-host Jake Hamilton. Here’s what Boyega said about going back to play Finn at the time:

John Boyega and Jake Hamilton caught up just in time for Star Wars Day 2020 at the height of quarantine. During the interview, Hamilton asked the actor if he’d be interested in continuing his role in Star Wars thirty years down the line following starring in the recent trilogy. Boyega shared how much he “loved” the experience despite feeling some disappointment he has been public about, along with saying this:

One major criticism that has been part of the conversation following The Rise of Skywalker is the weaving storyline of its characters and rumored retcon of storylines between J.J. Abrams and Rian Johnson’s own visions in their movies. John Boyega’s own experience became cloudy when his character was left with an open-ended conclusion. We never learned on screen what Finn needed to tell Rey, and the actor became vocal about being yet another sidelined BIPOC character.

Sure, J.J. Abrams clarified following the release of The Rise of Skywalker that it was indeed about his connections to the Force, but it’s kind of a bummer that John Boyega’s character did not get a complete arc in the trilogy itself. For the moment, Boyega and his cast-mates are stepping away from the franchise to play different characters, such as Boyega's coming return to Attack the Block, but years from now. we could him returning to flesh out the loose ends for a continuation of some sort.

Until then, there’s a lot to look forward to in terms of a galaxy far, far away. Check out what Star Wars movies and TV shows are coming in the near future here on CinemaBlend.

In early 2013, mere months after Disney officially purchased Lucasfilm from George Lucas, it was announced that J.J. Abrams had been hired to direct the first movie in a new Star Wars trilogy, what we now know as The Force Awakens. In the immediate years afterwards, the Mouse House brought aboard Rian Johnson and Colin Trevorrow to helm what would eventually be titled The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, respectively, but when Trevorrow departed the latter project, Abrams came back to wrap up the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. But it wasn’t just a matter of him sitting back in the director’s chair; he also had to rewrite the script with Chris Terrio to end this trilogy in a matter he saw fit. Abrams took away a big lesson from that experience.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker ended up being met with mixed reception from fans and professional critics alike, with one of the main criticisms being that it didn’t feel like it meshed well with what Rian Johnson set up in The Last Jedi. While speaking with Collider about the 10th anniversary of his movie Super 8, J.J. Abrams was asked if he thought the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy would have benefitted from having a plan from the very beginning. Here’s how the filmmaker responded:

Looking at J.J. Abrams’ resume, from the first two Star Trek reboot movies to TV shows like Alias and Lost, the man has been involved with planning plenty of stories over the years. While Abrams mentioned earlier in the interview that he’s learned that you have to plan things out as best as you can and “always need to be able to respond to the unexpected,” he also acknowledged that sometimes, he’s been in situations where following the plan ends up causing problems down the road. Sticking closely to something you hashed out at the beginning of the creative process might lead to not being flexible enough to adjust certain elements of a story later on.

However, overall J.J. Abrams has learned planning out a story as much as possible in the beginning is integral, rather than moving forward without anything in place, and it sounds like his time in the Star Wars franchise strengthened that belief. In his words:

J.J. Abrams didn’t outright say that he feels the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy should have been handled this way, but one would imagine that the saga these three movies chronicled might have been better received overall had that been the case. Even if Lucasfilm had still been determined to use a different filmmaker for each movie, at least having a more concrete, three-part storyline structure would have helped things flow better, even if it meant each director was more restricted with the ways they could make unique changes. On the other hand, perhaps The Rise of Skywalker would have fared better on the critical front had Abrams more closely coordinated with Rian Johnson to ensure that Episode IX more seamlessly built off the groundwork The Last Jedi laid, as opposed to feeling weirdly distanced from it.

In any case, J.J. Abrams’ time in the Star Wars universe is now over, and he’s keeping busy nowadays with his projects as WarnerMedia, including a Justice League Dark series and new Superman movie. For those who can’t get enough of the Star Wars franchise, the next movie on the way is the Patty Jenkins-directed Rogue Squadron, which is slated for December 22, 2023. Learn what other projects set in a galaxy far, far away are coming up with our upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows guide.

As a producer, J.J. Abrams is always one who has a lot of projects on his plate. Recently, Abrams made news with the reveal that his Bad Robot production company would be working on a new Superman movie, but now the producer/director has also confirmed that a long in development project, a movie based on the Portal video game series is not only still in development, but a script is currently being worked on and Abrams seems to feel that film will be moving forward sooner rather than later.

Speaking with IGN, J.J. Abrams says that script is currently being written, and that the project's current direction has him quite excited. According to Abrams...

It was back in 2013 when it was first announced that Valve, the creators of the Steam PC game platform that every once in a while still makes a game, would be collaborating with Bad Robot on projects that could potentially produce movies based on brands like Portal and Half-Life. However, little has come since then and at this point the projects were either believed to be dead or in some circle of development hell. It sounds from what Abrams says that the Half-Life project is on hold for now.

However, based on J.J. Abrams statement here that the "thing's finally on the rails," he, at least, seems to be of the opinion that the Portal movie isn't simply still ongoing, but is now in a place where things are really going to move forward. There's an idea for a movie based on Portal that Bad Robot seems to like and a script is being written as we speak based on that idea. Abrams did not reveal who is working on the script.

The Portal game franchise, which currently consists of two main games and other ancillary media, is a unique take on the first-person shooter style of game, where, instead of firing bullets, the player has a gun that can shoot two different portals. When both portals are active, the player can walk through one of them, and come out wherever the other one is. This ability is used by a woman (never named in the games, but referred to elsewhere in the franchise as Chell) being forced to undergo a series of tests at Aperture Science, run by a diabolical, insane, and hilarious, A.I. known as GLaDOS. The second Portal game also included a fantastic voice performance by J.K. Simmons as Aperture Science founder Cave Johnson

A Portal movie has some real potential. The core story is simple enough, which would give the screenwriter(s) a lot of space to play within and create new ideas. And Portal is one video game franchise where humor is core to the story, which has the ability to make a Portal movie more accessible to those that don't know the games intimately. Having said that, if a Portal movie is really going to happen somebody should get J.K. Simmons and voice of GLaDOS Ellen McLain under contract right now to reprise their roles.

For years, Batman has been a mainstay in pop culture, and one of the mediums in which the Dark Knight made the most enduring impact is animation. Bruce Timm’s Batman: The Animated Series defined the character for a generation and, nearly 30 years after its debut, it remains a superhero staple. Rumors recently indicated that the show was being revived and, while that’s not exactly the case, co-creator and DC Animated Universe guru Bruce Timm is returning to produce a new show that’s bringing more Caped Crusader action to HBO Max!

Warner Bros. Animation has confirmed that Batman: Caped Crusader, a brand-new animated series, in the works for HBO Max and Cartoon Network. Bruce Timm will return to Gotham City to serve as executive producer on the show and will be joined by J.J. Abrams and The Batman writer/director Matt Reeves, who will also serve as executive producers.

While specifics are mostly being kept under wraps at the moment, the announcement did come with an official teaser poster, which is sure to get BTAS fans pumped! Check it out for yourself down below:

Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves also released a joint statement on Batman: Caped Crusader. In it, there express their excitement about getting to work together to update the Dark Knight for a new generation of viewers:

Created by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski, Batman: The Animated Series debuted on Fox Kids in 1992. At the time, the show was a heavy departure from other animated iterations of the Dark Knight and opted for a darker animation and mature storytelling. The show received critical acclaim during its run, even earning two Daytime Emmys and a Primetime Emmy Award. The series also spawned a theatrical film, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm. Though the show's run ended in 1995, it would ultimately kickstart the DC Animated Universe, which would include other shows like Superman: The Animated Series, Batman Beyond and Justice League.

The first poster and the comments from the producers imply that the show is really going for a “back-to-basics” approach. Seeing as how Batman’s animated outings have varied over the years, fans will likely find it refreshing to see the World’s Greatest Detective back in Gotham City and doing battle with his extensive rogues’ gallery.

Most would agree that it’s going to be great to see an animated Batman on the small screen again, and Bruce Timm is certainly the man for the job. Fans will likely be waiting anxiously to see what he, J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves manage to bring to the Caped Crusader’s rich mythos.

To prep for the show, you can stream Batman: The Animated Series and other DCAU shows on HBO Max now!

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Filmmaker J.J. Abrams had his hand in a number of iconic franchises throughout the years. He brought Star Trek and Star Wars back to theaters, and was recently announced to be developing a Superman movie, which he’ll eventually produce. But would Abrams direct a DC movie after Superman? He recently shared his thoughts on the subject.

Comic book fans’ minds were collectively blown when it was announced that J.J. Abrams was developing a new Superman movie, which is intended to star a Black actor. Abrams isn’t expected to direct the project, but some fans are hoping he might get behind the camera for his own DC blockbuster. The filmmaker recently explained his complicated feelings about jumping into another giant franchise, saying:

Well, that was honest. It looks like J.J. Abrams is currently interested in directing another adaptation, whether it's a comic book movie or a different property. Instead he wants to work as a filmmaker on original concepts, while still helping to produce projects like the new Superman movie.

J.J. Abrams’ comments to Collider show where the visionary filmmaker’s head is at regarding the future of his directorial career. While he’s producing a slew of projects on both the small and silver screens, Abrams hasn’t openly committed to directing a movie project since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. And considering how much pressure comes with the galaxy far, far away, it makes sense that he’s not interested in helming another pre-existing property.

The DCEU has found its streaming home on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

While J.J. Abrams won’t be directing an installment of the DCEU anytime soon, he’s still helping projects come together as a producer. News of the developing Superman movie broke the internet, especially in the wake of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Could this mean that Henry Cavill’s run as Superman is coming to an end?

Henry Cavill’s future in the DCEU is currently unclear, as there are no plans for a Man of Steel sequel. The actor himself has expressed interest in returning as Superman, while also staying busy with other projects like Enola Holmes 2. We’ll just have to wait and see how all the Kryptonian drama shakes out, and see how the official canon is affected.

The next installment in the DCEU is The Suicide Squad on August 6th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has made a name for himself as a pretty powerful triple threat, with huge titles on his résumé for not only acting but for writing and composing as well. The Hamilton actor, writer, and musical composer has the talent to back up his world renowned name, but it also seems the musical genius also has a bit of luck and impeccable timing to thank for his involvement in one huge franchise. Miranda has now described how he came to be involved in the Star Wars universe, and it’s honestly pretty funny.

While promoting the theatrical adaptation of In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda looks back on how he landed the gig of composing music for J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: The Force Awakens - and it was very much by chance. In an interview with SFGATE, he jokingly recalled asking for a hypothetical job that turned out to be very real. Here it is in Miranda’s own words:

It turns out Lin-Manuel Miranda’s dream gig in the Star Wars franchise is pretty much the epitome of the phrase “if you don’t ask, the answer is always no,” and it had the best possible outcome. Of course, that doesn’t mean just anyone could have asked J.J. Abrams for the job of writing cantina music in one of the most beloved franchises known to man.

Lin-Manuel Miranda absolutely had the skills to back up his casual pitch to J.J. Abrams. In fact, Miranda explained that the encounter came after Miranda introduced himself to Abrams while the director was at a performance of Hamilton. When Abrams complimented his work, Miranda saw an in with the director, and it worked out beautifully that what he was offering fit perfectly with Abrams’ needs.

It’s actually brilliant kismet that J.J.Abrams had a need for a cantina writer at all, seeing as though he had the iconic John Williams composing music for him already. Williams is pretty much the biggest musical name in cinema and has worked on some of the biggest films in Hollywood’s history, like Jaws, Jurassic Park, the Harry Potter franchise, and of course, all of the Star Wars films. It turns out that even though the cantina music Williams has produced for Star Wars is pretty lit, he apparently wasn't too eager to revive it for The Force Awakens - cue Lin-Manuel Miranda!

While Lin-Manuel Miranda’s involvement with Star Wars may be kind of a funny story, it’s actually pretty inspirational, too. The amount of effort it took for Miranda to work up the courage to introduce himself to one of his heroes ended up with him getting pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime gig; it just goes to show that sometimes the fulfillment of a dream is just an ask away! Fast forward to today, and you can check out Miranda’s newest musical endeavor by watching In The Heights, which is set to release to theaters and HBO Max on June 11th.

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Given the popularity of the superhero genre, there are a number of cinematic universes currently in play. Filmmaker Zack Snyder kickstarted the DC Extended Universe with his trilogy of movies, and was recently given the chance to release Justice League’s Snyder Cut. And now Snyder has broken his silence on the developing Superman movie that J.J. Abrams is working on.

Man of Steel was the first installment in the DCEU, introducing Henry Cavill’s hulking Superman to the world. But a new Superman may be coming to the big screen, as J.J. Abrams is reportedly developing a movie that will star a Black actor. Zack Snyder recently responded to this Kryptonian pivot, saying:

What a class act. While Zack Snyder spent years bringing his own Superman to the big screen in his DCEU trilogy, the filmmaker doesn’t seem to have any hard feelings about the developing version of the hero. Especially since J.J. Abrams is involved.

Zack Snyder responded to the news about Superman during an interview with Radio Times and other outlets. While many fans are intrigued by J.J. Abrams’ potential Superman movie, there are also those who are hoping to see Henry Cavill return as Kal-El. Luckily, Snyder seems to give that project his blessing of sorts.

DC fans can re-watch Henry Cavill’s time as Superman on HBO Max. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

While continuing to support Henry Cavill as his personal Superman, it seems Zack Snyder is open for future takes on the Man of Steel. Given the character’s iconography, he’s already been adapted for film and TV a number of times. What’s more, Snyder seems to support a Black actor playing the role on the big screen.

Information about the developing Superman is very limited, as it’s still at such an early stage. But reports indicate that J.J. Abrams will be producing, while having another filmmaker step into the director’s chair. As previously mentioned the story will star a Black actor, with reports indicating he’ll still be Kal-El, rather than comic character Calvin Ellis. We’ll just have to see how this all shakes out.

The next installment in the DC Extended Universe is The Suicide Squad on August 6th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Back in February, it was revealed that Warner Bros. is planning a fascinating big screen future for Superman. While things remain up in the air regarding Henry Cavill’s future as the character, the studio is now developing a new Man Of Tomorrow-centric movie with producer J.J. Abrams and screenwriter Ta-Nehisi Coates, and it appears that the plan is to have the film feature a Black actor in the lead role. Now the project seems to be moving forward, reportedly looking for a Black filmmaker to take the helm, and it has inspired us to do some thinking about what the movie could be.

The Hollywood Reporter published an article earlier today about the on-going search to find a director to make the next Superman movie, and while it doesn’t specifically name anybody who is actively in line for the job, the news got us thinking about a few individuals who we would like to see get the gig – taking into consideration both their proven abilities, and demonstrated interest in the material. There are a lot of great options in the industry, but these are the filmmakers who stick out at the moment:

Rick Famuyiwa

Truth be told, the last time that Rick Famuyiwa worked to make a DC Comics blockbuster it didn’t end up working out. The filmmaker signed on to direct the DC Extended Universe’s solo Flash movie all the way back in 2016, even appearing on stage at that year’s San Diego Comic-Con, but the gig was short-lived, as he wound up departing the project four months later due to cited “creative differences.” In the time since then, Famuyiwa has had the chance to get into the franchise game, helming three episodes of The Mandalorian – and with that work under his belt it would be great to see him get a chance at the Superman job. He hasn’t made a feature since his fantastic 2015 indie movie Dope, and with the experience he has now it would be great to see him get a shot at making a movie about the Kryptonian who fell to Earth.

Regina King

Two years ago, Regina King starred in what can honestly be called one of the best comic book adaptations we’ve seen. While fans feared the worst from the idea of expanding the world of Watchmen, the HBO series that served as a sequel to the original Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons comic proved to be an absolutely stunning piece of work, with King's turn as Angela Abar a.k.a. Sister Night being one of the greatest highlights. Recognizing this positive history with live-action DC, as well as noting the actor-cum-filmmaker’s impressive feature directorial debut last year, she is definitely a candidate who should at least be considered for the Superman gig. One Night In Miami has already provided her with the experience of rendering iconic figures on the big screen, and making a new movie about the Man of Steel could give her an opportunity to do it yet again, albeit with a much larger budget and more visual effects.

Shaka King

Following the incredible success of Judas And The Black Messiah, Shaka King is surely been crazy busy taking meetings around Hollywood in the last couple months, but hopefully one of those business gatherings has seen him discussing Superman with the folks at DC and Warner Bros. (which distributed the Oscar-nominated film). Telling the story of Black Panther Chairman Fred Hampton and the conspiracy that led to his assassination, King unleashed some powerhouse cinema built on intimate portrayals and dynamic camerawork, and it would be amazing to see those skills put to work on a movie that could change the world’s perspective on a legendary hero. He’s surely getting a ton of offers right now, and it would be amazing if this were one of them.

Boots Riley

In 2018, Boots Riley made one of the most bombastic and memorable directorial debuts in the last decade, writing and helming the bizarre comedy Sorry To Bother You starring LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson. Last year it was announced that his next project will take him to the small screen, as he is developing a series with Mr. Mercedes star Jharrel Jerome – but it would be amazing to see him make a return to the feature world with a new Superman movie. Part of the argument for Riley getting the job stems from his deft ability to sculpt commentary in a fantastical form, but even stronger is the idea of seeing his outrageous aesthetic utilized in a blockbuster with a six digit budget. It’s worth noting that the filmmaker has criticized the genre in the past, but that would just make it all the more fascinating to discover what kind of story would result from his perspective.

Ava DuVernay

DC fans were dealt a serious bummer a few weeks ago. After years of developing The New Gods as a film with Ava DuVernay and Tom King collaborating on the script, it was announced that the project was no longer moving forward. While we haven’t heard any specific reasoning given as to why that particular move was made, we’re holding out hope that the situation has kept the door open for a conversation with DuVernay about the next Superman movie. Between Selma, When They See Us, and the documentary 13th, the filmmaker has demonstrated a tremendous capacity to create powerful cinema – and while her first venture into the blockbuster realm, 2018’s A Wrinkle In Time, didn’t quite perform at the box office as well as hoped, one can still absolutely appreciate the large-scale beauty in the movie. She clearly has an interest in bringing the world of DC Comics to the big screen, and we’re holding out hope she eventually gets the opportunity.

Of the directors mentioned here, who would you like to see take the helm of the developing Superman movie? Answer our poll below, and while you stay tuned for more updates about this specific project, be sure to check out our Upcoming DC Movies guide to find out about everything that the comic book franchise has coming in the next few years.

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Over the decade that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World has built its profile as a cult favorite, co-writer/director Edgar Wright has felt the love from fans far and wide. But perhaps the most rewarding kudos he’s gotten for his adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic opus is from his peers. As it turns out, Hollywood creatives like Jack Black and J.J. Abrams are among the fans who also have kids who really love the film. This has resulted in Edgar Wright getting some unexpected requests to sign Scott Pilgrim posters.

As we discussed the legacy of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, which is being re-released into Dolby Cinema theaters starting this Thursday, Edgar Wright told me a story of a movie that was more beloved than its box office numbers would have indicated. While fans of the film understand that concept, there’s some on the outside who probably still find themselves surprised to hear its name almost 11 years after Universal first debuted it in theaters. As he discussed Scott Pilgrim’s various waves of fandom, Wright dropped some pretty exciting names when it came to the fans who still praise this particular film:

The home video and streaming circuits have been amazingly beneficial venues for films like Real Steel and, of course, Scott Pilgrim, in the years since their release. Though Bryan Lee O’Malley’s iconic character has also been the subject of many other avenues of fan love, with repertory screenings, fan-anticipated soundtrack re-releases and video games being among the key instruments to keeping Scott Pilgrim alive in the consciousness. Now it sounds like the love of Edgar Wright’s peers is another untapped reservoir of support, which has led to a lot of signed posters going to some famous folks and their kids.

That’s not the end of the affection for Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall’s big screen translation of Scott Pilgrim vs The World, as it’s even carried through the film’s history at Universal. Which is pretty much the reason that we’re getting a big theatrical event out of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’s return, as Wright and the folks at the studio came to the conclusion that a re-release would be a perfect way to reignite the magic, with AMC Theaters and Dolby Cinema offering their locations to be the vessel for the magic.

Thankfully, those Scott Pilgrim vs. The World signing requests have given Edgar Wright’s signing skills some good practice. Which seems to have come in handy with the big 10th anniversary re-release, as Wright recently signed some posters for the Dolby Cinema re-release, and shared a photo of the results.

Opening weekends are, for the most part, where a movie’s legacy lives and dies. Were that always the case, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World would have been kept in the storage closet of history, never to be seen or heard from again. And yet, the outpouring of good vibes from fans, industry professionals and even the studio that made the damned movie have kept its memory alive. This has led to Edgar Wright’s hyperkinetic love story feeling like it’s always been there, ready for the world to boost it up whenever the occasion called for it.

So if you’ve ever fallen in love with a movie that feels like it has three strikes and seven evil exes out to get it, think back on the story of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Through the powers of love, music, and video games, a movie that seemed to stumble right out of the gate scored the most powerful 1-UP of all. Just as Scott and Ramona got a second chance at a first date, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World gets another chance at an opening weekend, as it's now open in Dolby Cinema locations. Don’t wait too long to pay your respects though, as the movie’s departing next week.

It's not unusual for people in the TV industry to work together on multiple projects during their time in the business, and this tends to be especially true when they've already struck broadcast gold together. Such is the case with current Yellowstone star Josh Holloway, who's still beloved by many for his role as Sawyer on Lost, and will be reuniting with that show's co-creator, J.J. Abrams, on a new series for HBO Max that sounds as though it will be perfectly wild.

According to Variety, Josh Holloway has now signed on to star in a new drama for HBO Max from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan (Shameless, The Walking Dead), titled Duster. The series will see Holloway star as the currently-unnamed lead character, who just so happens to be a "gutsy getaway driver" for a crime syndicate. If that doesn't sound action-packed and wild enough for you, Holloway's character is working for a criminal enterprise which happens to be growing by leaps and bounds (Yay?), which will take his already "awful" life to "wildly, stupidly, dangerously awful." On top of all that, Duster will be set in the Southwest of the 1970s.

Truth be told, I can already picture the car chases and insanely '70s fashions which will be sure to come our way with Duster. It sounds like a perfect compliment to all of the new projects coming to the streamer, many of which will also be due to J.J. Abrams, as he signed an overall deal with WarnerMedia, HBO Max's parent company, where LaToya Morgan has her own deal with the media giant.

Abrams is also working on content for the streamer based on the DC comics properties Constantine and Justice League Dark, is working on a series set in the world of Stephen King's The Shining, called Overlook, and also has original series Subject to Change in the works, as well as a show for HBO proper, the sci-fi drama Demimonde.

Of course, we cannot ignore the fact that Duster also sounds like a perfect compliment to Josh Holloway's recent role on Yellowstone Season 3 as smooth-talking, upstanding businessman-appearing Roarke Carter. Even though the character was deliciously flirty with Beth, he eventually revealed himself to be after the Dutton family's land in a major way, and we saw that Roarke was willing to do pretty much anything to try and get his way.

The constantly simmering notes of danger and double-crosses which Josh Holloway helped to amp up on Yellowstone are known well to the actor from his time on the twisty-turny, and sometime very confusing, Lost, which he appeared on for its entire six season run. Holloway seems pretty well-suited to bring the same kind of intensity to viewers on Duster, while also being able to deliver all of his dimple-cheeked charm and some good old fashioned "I can't believe I got myself into this mess" relatability to a man who's very much doing less than admirable things.

Duster is still in the very early stages, so there's no word yet on how many episodes there will be, other casting, or when it might hit the streamer. In the meantime, though, feel free to check out our guide to early 2021 TV to see what you can watch right now!

Sometimes life can be a random series of events leading to fortuitous or not-so-fortuitious moments. For Ben Schwartz, getting to voice BB-8 -- albeit briefly -- in the Star Wars universe seems like kind of a bit of both. The actor known for Sonic the Hedgehog, Parks and Rec and the recent Disney+ film Flora & Ulysses does actually have a credit in the Star Wars universe, and told us his shot came after Harrison Ford infamously injured himself on set.

Like many an actor or actress who finds out that he or she will be in the Star Wars universe, Ben Schwartz revealed his excitement and glee over getting to help voice BB-8 early on as the latest trilogy of movies was coming together. Plus, he also revealed how Harrison Ford’s infamous injury on the set of The Force Awakens led to it happening. On a set visit for the Disney+’s Flora & Ulysses, Schwartz recalled the tale and it was one filled with ups and downs, beginning with the movie having to shut down production for a couple of weeks.

Now, Harrison Ford injuring himself on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a big deal at the time and the story rolled around, likely due to the fact the actor he injured himself when the Millennium Falcon slammed down on his leg. Production on the Disney-owned property was halted for two weeks and J.J. Abrams has spoken in the past about some of the changes the script needed that were only able to happen after Ford hurt himself (thankfully he was fine).

We knew previously this timeframe was when Rey and Finn’s relationship was reworked, as J.J. Abrams himself admitted a few short years ago. Now, Ben Schwartz has explained how his work with BB-8 entered the picture during this timeframe as well.

Ben Schwartz has spoken about his work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens in the past, noting that actual lines of dialogue were written, but he also shared a few more details about all of the work that went in before Bill Hader famously took over and then ultimately the final product was able to be created.

So did Star Wars: The Force Awakens and subsequent movies use Ben Schwartz’s work? In a way, as the actor also revealed to us what he knows about the final BB-8 product.

At the end of the day, Ben Schwartz also told us he got to putz around on set a day John Williams was there and we also know that he was able to play a Stormtrooper for a scene as well. So, it sounds like he really did make the most of the experience even if the whole BB-8 plan didn’t work out exactly as expected. It’s certainly an example of making blue milk out of lemons if I’ve ever seen one.

Catch him in Flora & Ulysses on Disney+ now.

We’re not that far out from the release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League on HBO Max, which will see the return of Henry Cavill’s Superman. But as we’ve heard in the past, the Snyderverse is, at best, an Elseworld tangent. That leaves room for other sons of Krypton to exist. And now producer J.J. Abrams and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates are about to reboot Superman yet again. But what does this mean for Henry Cavill?

Deadline broke the news today, reporting that this new Superman will be produced under J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production company. Undoubtedly a part of his creative pact with WarnerMedia, there’s not much many other details to divulge on this huge happening, except that producer Hannah Minghella is along for the ride as well. But already certain details here are bringing up threads of past conversations surrounding the protector of Metropolis, and those hypotheticals are exciting as anything.

The largest hypothetical, of course, is that with a prominent black writer like Ta-Nehisi Coates crafting his version of Superman’s mythos, there’s room for Michael B. Jordan to finally live out his fan’s dreams of playing both sides of Clark Kent’s story. Though with Coates penning the story, there’s no limit to who could end up playing the character, which is something that is refreshing. Even if it’s in the face of Henry Cavill really wanting to come back to the franchise.

Another reason this Superman reboot is such an interesting prospect is that for J.J. Abrams, it’s sort of a homecoming. Way back in the dark age between Christopher Reeve’s Superman franchise and the failed reboot that was Brandon Routh’s Superman Lives, there was a project called Superman: Flyby. That variant of Superman’s legacy was scripted by none other than Abrams himself, and had some interesting ideas it would have tackled. Whether J.J. Abrams will consult Ta-Nehisi Coates on including those ideas, or just leave this new reboot’s story to the man writing it, is yet to be seen.

A final question that comes to mind when puzzling out this new Superman story is what we’ll see in terms of this initial volume. Will we see Krypton exploding again, and flash through Clark Kent’s years as a child? Do we have to return to General Zod so soon, if ever? Or is a new, and lesser used baddie going to give us the shock of our lives, putting this Smallville farmboy to the test in a way we’ve never seen in live-action? As someone on Krypton probably wrote, in some philosophy book lost in the planet’s destruction, in the absence of answers, questions are the light that leads the way forward.

We’ll just leave things off on that note, as Superman’s exciting future lies ahead. Though, we’d be lying if we didn’t say we wanted some sort of Elseworlds story to come into the picture as well, so we can have both Henry Cavill and the next Superman both working at the same time. And the loser in a game of Chicken would have to fight Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam in the end; because you’ve gotta give the people what they want.

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J.J. Abrams’ conclusion to the Skywalker Saga paid a lot of lip service to fan expectations. Abrams tried to repair Luke’s legacy after the revolutionary tactics employed by Rian Johnson. He came up with a solution for Rey’s heritage, and connected the Sequel Trilogy back to the Original Trilogy AND the Prequel Trilogy. And while Abrams seemed to go out of his way to include references and mentions to the Star Wars touchstones that fans adore (hey there, Billy Dee Williams!), he could have included one more classic locale in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Adam Brockbank is a concept artist who has worked on the Harry Potter franchise, Captain America: The First Avenger, Solo: A Star Wars Story and J.J. Abrams’ final Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker. He shared the above photo on his Instagram account showing a recognizable confrontation from Rise, only, setting it on the iconic planet of Coruscant, from the expanding Star Wars galaxy.

Where have you heard the name Coruscant before? It was a prominent location in George Lucas’s Prequel Trilogy, housing both the Galactic Senate building and the Jedi Temple. Coruscant appeared to be one of the most developed planets in the galaxy, consisting of towering skyscrapers and advanced technologies. Senator Padme Amidala is in Coruscant to vote on significant political motion when she is attacked by an assassin, leading to this chase around the skyscrapers in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones.

According to Adam Brockbank’s concept art, Coruscant would have been a fading husk of its former self by the time we revisited it in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There’s no explanation given as to why Coruscant would have fallen to ruin, though given its position as a base of operations for the corrupt Galactic Empire, there’s no doubt the wolves would have turned on each other following the success of the Rebellion.

Instead of revisiting this iconic location, J.J. Abrams and his team had Rey (Daisy Ridley) confront Kylo Ren and his TIE fighter on the desert sands of Pasaana (a planet we’d never visited in the Star Wars films before) as Rey, Finn (John Boyega), Poe (Oscar Isaac) and their allies seek a clue to unearth a Wayfinder.

The final confrontation between Rey and Kylo’s ship ended up looking like this:

While a return to Coruscant might have been a nice touch, The Rise of Skywalker wasn’t lacking for nostalgic references to the movies that came before it. What the movie really needed was stronger connective threads to an actual arc for the story, and a pitstop in the defunct Coruscant likely wasn’t going to provide that. Do you agree?

This year, Thanksgiving was quite different for a lot of people. With fewer family members gathered around the dinner table, 2020’s day of turkey may have felt a bit off from other years. However, if you logged onto the internet, then you could see the tradition of heated holiday debate was at least alive and well, as some of y’all still spent Thanksgiving arguing over Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker again.

As if there hadn't already been enough said and done in connection with dissecting director J.J. Abrams’ finale to the Skywalker Saga of Star Wars in the ensuing weeks and months following its December 2019 release, the topic reared its head once more yesterday. And as you’ll see in some of the responses on Twitter that came through yesterday, the discourse is still piping hot surrounding the rise of Rey Skywalker. We’ll start off with a nice, light post that trashes the movie, because that’s probably what the world expects, right?

Only owning five Star Wars movies surely means that the tweeter above only has the original trilogy, The Force Awakens, and (the best Star Wars movie ever) The Last Jedi in their collection, right? I mean, what’s the other option; the entire prequel trilogy, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Solo: A Star Wars Story? Whatever configuration that user seems to believe in, it’s different from our next contestant, who will no longer allow you to put Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker down on the internet:

That last tweet not only showed some love to what’s being considered by a good number of people as the worst star war ever, it also took the entire sequel trilogy of Star Wars flicks and gave it a big hug. Yet, why did Twitter erupt into this fight at all? Did people really want to fight over Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, purely for Porgs and giggles? Well, as it turns out, our next tweet is not only a full on debate about that film, but it gives us some context as to why this argument broke out in the first place.

In-between the claims of melted brains and ruination of beloved characters, it appears that people took to Twitter saying that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the best star war in the lineup. And that take looks to have sent the internet down a rabbit hole of debating Star Wars; nothing but Star Wars. The whole thing seems to have stemmed from a post featuring footage from Thanksgiving Eve:

Can I say 100% that Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is the worst Star Wars film? No, because whatever we feel in our hearts, there’s always going to be someone who has another viewpoint on what makes the franchise so special. Subjective lenses count for everything when it comes to looking at a franchise such as this, especially when it has spanned decades of operation. Sure enough, the Star Wars fandom even took a run at Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, as you can see in the final tweet below:

If there’s one certainty, it’s that so long as there’s breath in the lungs of the Star Wars fanbase, there will always be a debate over which films are great, and which ones are Bantha poodoo. And no matter which Star Wars films you happen to love and/or hate, you can watch them all on Disney+, as the entire collection is there for the viewing whenever you'd like. Though while you’re there, you can always catch up on The Mandolorian, and see why the internet can’t stop loving that show. It’s not all green children and blue macarons, I can tell you that.

The Star Trek franchise is an iconic piece of history which entire generations are brought up on. The property has found massive success in both TV and film, and is showing no signs of slowing down. On the big screen Star Trek Beyond was the latest entry back in 2016, and fans have been eager to see if the current timeline would continue in another blockbuster. And when a rumor circulating claiming that the franchise had come to an end, Paramount responded to those reports.

Earlier this week rumors swirled around the internet that claimed Paramount was no longer interested in continuing the current Star Trek movie timeline, and would instead be pulling the plug on the property. This report stunned the fandom, who are still holding out hope to see the cast like Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, and Zoe Saldana reprise their roles. But Paramount has responded, shutting down the rumor and clarifying that the movies are currently still in development.

This clarification comes to us from ScreenRant, and is sure to be a relief for the many Star Trek fans out there who are hopeful for the current timeline's future. But while the recent trilogy of movies hasn't been officially ended, it does seem like the franchise will remain in development hell for the foreseeable future. It's time to use some Vulcan-like patience.

As for the future of the current Star Trek timeline, there's no telling where the property might go. One possibility is a fourth Star Trek movie that follows the same timeline, continuing the story from Beyond. This would allow the same ensemble of actors to return, with one notable exception. Chekov actor Anton Yelchin tragically died in 2016, and his absence would surely be felt.

There's also another more outrageous possibility for Star Trek's future: a movie directed by Quentin Tarantino. The legendary filmmaker has expressed interest in helming his own vision for the beloved franchise, which would be an exception from his plans to direct only ten original films. While there might be some friction between Tarantino and actor Simon Pegg, the possibility of the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director taking to the skies is something that cinephiles are very excited about.

It's been a number of years since Star Trek Beyond hit theaters, with no concrete information regarding the franchise's future on the big screen, or lack thereof. But clearly Paramount is still interested in using the beloved science fiction property moving forward. While development hell isn't where the fans are hoping to stay, it's certainly more hopeful news than the current timeline being ended for good.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Star Trek as more details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

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It's almost hard to believe, but The Rise of Skywalker is quickly approaching its one-year anniversary. Following the departure of Colin Trevorrow, J.J. Abrams returned to the galaxy far far away in an attempt to wrap up the nine-film Skywalker Saga. One of the many overarching questions hanging over the sequel trilogy was Rey's parentage, and Daisy Ridley recently spoke to how that changed throughout the years, including one wild alternate choice for her lineage.

When Rey debuted in The Force Awakens, countless theories popped up regarding who she might be related to. The newcomer showed an aptitude with The Force that previous characters took years to master, leading many to believe she could be related to someone like Luke. In the end she was a Palpatine by blood, but it turns out that a few alternate versions of her lineage were tossed around. One of which being none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi. As Daisy Ridley recently recounted in conversation with Josh Gad,

Well, this is interesting. Because while the audience sees the finished product of Star Wars movies, they're ultimately just made up of people trying to do their best. And that means throwing some ideas at the wall to see what sticks, as well as keeping even Daisy Ridley in the dark regarding her character's true family heritage.

Daisy Ridley's comments come from her recent conversation with Josh Gad, who was substituting on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The two actors worked together in Murder on the Orient Express, and Gad would famously prod her for spoilers regarding the Star Wars franchise. And while he wanted to know Rey's lineage like the rest of us, it turns out that not even Daisy Ridley knew the truth ahead of filming The Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars fans can re-watch Daisy Ridley's tenure in the franchise on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Obi-Wan Kenobi being Rey's father was a popular fan theory when Daisy Ridley's character debuted in The Force Awakens. Much of Obi-Wan's life in isolation is a complete mystery, in the years between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. While that time will be expanded in Ewan McGregor's upcoming live-action series on Disney+, it seemed possible that he might have broken his Jedi vow and had a child during those decades.

Daisy Ridley's conversation with Josh Gad is interesting because it shows how there wasn't a concrete plan for the sequel trilogy. Each movie was seemingly approached as its own beast, with the writers and directors not following one narrative throughline. This is especially true for Rey's parents, as The Last Jedi claimed she was nobody, while The Rise of Skywalker retconned that to reveal she was actually a Palpatine by blood.

CinemaBlend will keep you updated on all things Star Wars as more details become public. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

Everyone needs to keep busy these days, even sci-fi mastermind J.J. Abrams. But this time out, the project that’s kept Abrams busy isn’t a new Star Wars film, nor is it executive producing duties on a show like Misha Green’s HBO hit Lovecraft Country. No, it appears that Abrams has crafted an action figure based on a lead character of another franchise near and dear to his heart, as he recently gifted a 10 Cloverfield Lane action figure to the film’s director, Dan Trachtenberg. Take a look at the sculpted beauty for yourself below:

Dan Trachtenberg shared this special, limited edition figure on Instagram, which only clocks in at a precise production run of one figure. Modeled after Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s main character Michelle, the 10 Cloverfield Lane figure above shows her heroine in the homemade hazmat suit she crafted out of a shower curtain, some plastic soda bottles, and a lot of duct tape. Carrying one of the board games available from the wide selection of distractions present in the basement of one Howard Stambler (John Goodman) she’s looking up at something with a most puzzling look. Either that, or she’s still shocked that the posters in international territories ruined 10 Cloverfield Lane’s big twist.

It’s a pretty amazing feat, no doubt crafted by J.J. Abrams himself at the offices of Bad Robot, which cranks out its own handmade goodies on a pretty regular schedule. The detail on Michelle’s miniature likeness makes Dan Trachtenberg’s bespoke collector’s piece all the more amazing. You can even check the figure for accuracy against the photo below, taken from 10 Cloverfield Lane:

Seeing J.J. Abrams’ gift to Dan Trachtenberg only makes us wish there was more official Cloverfield-centric merchandise around for our enjoyment. It’s not bad enough that around the time of the first film’s release there was a super limited but high quality figure for Clover itself, but now this would-be grail piece has been revealed to the world. One that is infinitely more limited, and assuredly never going to find its way into the hands of collectors. Then again, isn’t that part of the magic?

Just as Dan Trachtenberg gave the world a top notch thriller with 10 Cloverfield Lane, J.J. Abrams gave him a memento to memorialize the work he did for the still in play Cloverfield franchise. While we’re still waiting on that direct sequel to Matt Reeves’ original entry in the series, it’s good to know that the series Abrams helped turn into box office gold is still something that’s on his mind from time to time.

In the meantime, you can still catch 10 Cloverfield Lane at its current streaming home, over on Crackle; while The Cloverfield Paradox is over on Netflix. As for Cloverfield, it’s currently available on Showtime’s streaming arm; if you want to make it a complete triple feature night.