We’ve seen several movies over the years that show us a reimagining of a character or story we thought we knew, and A24's The Death of Robin Hood is set to hit the 2026 movie calendar to do just that with the titular outlaw. On the opposite end of the spectrum that gave us animated foxes and men in tights is Hugh Jackman’s brutal version of the legendary archer. What I'm especially excited about, though, are critics' comparisons to another Jackman movie.

The Death of Robin Hood violently shoots down the familiar image of a man who stole from the rich to give to the poor, instead painting the protagonist as a wounded man who’s now grappling with a life spent satisfying an insatiable bloodlust. It’s not unlike what we saw from Hugh Jackman in Logan, Brandon David Wilson of RogerEbert says in his review of The Death of Robin Hood, down to his being forced to care for a little girl. The critic rates it 3.5 out of 4 stars, writing:

Jim Vejvoda of IGN gives it a “Good” 7 out of 10 for an astonishing cast that includes Jodie Comer, Bill Skarsgård, Murray Bartlett and Noah Jupe, gory kills and artsy drama from writer/director Michael Sarnoski. However, the “Logan of Robin Hood movies,” as the critic calls it, is more niche and less accessible than Sarnoski’s previous two projects — Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One. Vejvoda writes:

Guy Lodge of Variety says The Death of Robin Hood is “exquisitely crafted and emotionally intelligent” but almost wears its dourness as a badge of honor. He continues:

Jacob Oller of AV Club gives it a C and says it’s more than Hugh Jackman’s wild facial hair that likens The Death of Robin Hood to Logan, as it follows in the trend of eating away at the fables that brought us to the characters in the first place, just like Jackman did with Wolverine in Logan. Oller says:

Kristy Puchko of Mashable also notes several similarities between The Death of Robin Hood and Logan, but says in the upcoming A24 movie, Hugh Jackman’s character has less rage and therefore less energy. The attempt to rewrite this centuries-old character is “bleak, brutal, and boring” with “truly repulsive onscreen violence.” Puchko says:

While the critics don’t all agree, the reviews of Death of Robin Hood seem to be mostly positive, as so far it’s earned a 73% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. It definitely sounds like an interesting story — if one we’ve seen Hugh Jackman portray before — but how good audiences are going to feel afterward remains to be seen.

If you want to give it a shot, The Death of Robin Hood hits theaters on Friday, June 19.

There's a reason I strongly suggest that avid readers wander around an actual bookstore once in a while, if possible. As easy as it is to buy or borrow a book online, sometimes, the best way to stumble upon an interesting read is through the physical act of browsing. That's how I came across Adrian McKinty's 2019 thriller The Chain a few years back. The paperback cover art caught my attention (the blurb from Stephen King certainly helped too), but it was the premise on the back that led me to make the purchase. The set-up for this thriller honestly sounded like it'd be pure nightmare fuel for any parent.

Full disclosure, I'm not a parent, but when I read the synopsis for the book, my stomach turned, as I couldn't fathom any parent I know having to deal with such a scenario. Even having read the book, as I follow the updates on Damon Lindelof's plan to make a book-to-screen adaptation of the story as an HBO limited series, it still makes me shudder. While the plot for the story is a nightmare, the latest casting news for the adaptation is anything but. It was announced today that Jodie Comer is set to play the lead.

What The Chain Is About

McKinty's novel centers on a woman named Rachel, who learns that her daughter has been kidnapped. The people who took her also have a child who has been kidnapped. In order to get her own child back, she has to pay a ransom and kidnap someone else's child. As you'll likely surmise, the titular "chain" being orchestrated turns victimized parents into kidnappers each time.

Damon Lindelof's HBO Adaptation

In January of this year, HBO announced that it had ordered Damon Lindelof's limited series adaptation of the novel, stating the following details:

• The Chain will be 8 episodes
• Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Watchmen) will serve as showrunner
• Lindelof co-wrote the pilot story with Carly Wray and Michael Ellenberg
• Adrien McKinty is a co-executive producer. 
• Lindelof is planning on "expanding the mythology of McKinty's award-winning thriller." 

Jodie Comer Is Set To Star

We can now add Jodie Comer's name to the list of things we know, as Deadline reported today that Comer has signed on to play the role of Rachel in Lindelof's adaptation. This is undoubtedly a win for the upcoming show. Comer is well known on screen and stage, having won an Emmy and a BAFTA for her starring role in Killing Eve, as well as a Tony Award for her Broadway performance in Prima Facie. On the features side, she recently appeared in 28 Years Later. I can't wait to see what she brings to the role of Rachel.

Assuming Lindelof's adaptation is going to follow the same basic premise of the book, it'll be interesting to see how she tackles the part of a mother who's faced with doing the unthinkable, while simultaneously worrying about the safety of her own child, who's in the hands of parents dealing with the exact same situation. It's the kind of complex situation that requires a top-notch actor, and it sounds like they found one!

It's probably too much to hope that this series will land on the 2026 TV schedule, but now that it's found its star, it seems like things are moving right along for the series. Hopefully, we'll hear word of more cast additions and production getting started in the near future. In the meantime, you can pick up a copy of The Chain at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Or you could try heading out to your favorite bookstore. Maybe wander around a bit and see what catches your eye while you're there!

Actors playing multiple roles in entertainment go back to the dawn of drama. Even the ancient Greeks did it. This is certainly true of the film era, where actors have been playing roles all the way back to the beginning. Sometimes it's as simple as playing twins, like Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin in Big Business, and sometimes it's more complex, like the great Peter Sellers playing three very different roles in Dr, Strangelove. In honor of those actors, here are some of our favorite examples of actors playing multiple roles in movies.

Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove

No list like this would be complete without the great Peter Sellers in his three fantastic performances in Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. Sellers plays the resourceful Captain Mandrake, the bumbling President of the United States, and the completely over-the-top Dr. Strangelove in the movie. Sellers was also supposed to play the character Major Kong, but injured himself on set and the the role went to Slim Pickens instead.

Kate Hudson - Alex & Emma

Films with stories within stories are often a good place to find actors playing multiple roles, as is the case with Kate Hudson in Alex & Emma. In the "real" story, Hudson plays Emma, a stenographer helping Alex (Luke Wilson) complete his novel. As Alex and Emma work on the story, viewers are taken inside the story of a novel where both Wilson and Hudson play characters in the novel. Hudson, in fact, plays four different versions of a nanny in the book.

Michael J. Fox - Back To The Future Part II

While nothing will ever live up to the original Back To The Future, Back To The Future Part II is still pretty fun. One of the things that make it so is Michael J. Fox playing Marty (of course), and his son Marty, Jr., and his daughter Marlene in the movie. Thomas F. Wilson, who plays Biff Tannen, also plays multiple roles in the movie as the various members of the Tannen family.

Jodie Comer - Free Guy

This one is a little bit of a fudge, because in Free Guy, Jodie Comer is playing her character and her character's avatar. So in some ways they are kind of, sort of the same character. Still, she plays the roles different and for that reason, she deserves to be on this list.

Rory Kinnear - Men

Men is an odd movie, but in a good way. Rory Kinnear is what makes it unique. On the surface, Kinnear plays the owner of an inn in a small town, but he also plays most of the rest of the men in the town, all of whom are pretty odd characters.

Lupita Nyong'o - Us

Jordan Peele's horror classic Us features all of the cast members playing both their main character and "Tethered" character with that excellent cast being led by Lupita Nyong'o, who plays Addy and Red. It would be fair to put any of the cast members on this list though, about 20 in total, but we don't want to make this whole list about Us, despite how great it is.

Paul Dano - There Will Be Blood

It'll come as no surprise that a few entries on this list are actors playing identical twins in a movie. We had to include Paul Dano as both Paul and Eli Sunday in There Will Be Blood because Dano's performance, especially as the preacher Eli, is transcendent. The final scene between Eli and Daniel (Daniel Day-Lewis) is one of the most intense scenes ever to appear in a film.

Scarlett Johansson - Astroid City

Director Wes Anderson's Astroid City has a movie within a movie telling the story of the movie. As such, and as you'd probably expect, there are a few actors playing both their "real life" characters and the actors playing them in the movie inside the movie. Scarlett Johansson plays both Midge Campbell and the actor playing Midege, Mercedes. Jason Schwartzman also plays two roles, as do Matt Dillon, Maya Hawke, and others.

George Burns - Oh, God! You Devil

The legendary George Burns played God in not one, but three movies in the Oh God series. In the third installment, he added another character, the Devil. The best scene in the movie comes when God and the Devil play a game of poker for the soul of Bobby Shelton, played by Ted Wass.

Bette Midler And Lily Tomlin - Big Business

Movies about twins separated at birth have been popular in Hollywood forever, but in 1988, director Jim Abrahams upped the ante with two sets of twins separated at birth. Lily Tomlin and Bette Midler are two sets of sisters who discover they were separated from their identical twin. It's a decent movie that hasn't really been remembered by many movie fans.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Of course, we had to include Eddie Murphy on this list! There are multiple movies where the great comedian plays multiple roles, but in the interest of brevity, we're just including the best Eddie Murphy movie, Coming To America. Murphy's main character, Prince Akeem, is the only one that he plays in the movie. Clarence, the barber, is also Murphy, as is Saul, the guy who just hangs out at the barbershop all day. Finally, Murphy also plays the character you may remember from the "What's Going Down" episode of "That's My Mama," Jackson Heights' own Randy Watson!

Christian Bale - The Prestige

The Prestige is a movie that gets a little lost in director Christopher Nolan's fimography, though, like most of his movies, it's excellent. Nolan teamed up with Christian Bale again on the heels of Batman Begins for this movie about rival magicians. Bale plays Alfred Borden and Borden's assistant, Fallon, who are living with a secret that we'll keep in case you haven't seen the movie.

Mel Brooks - History of the World, Part I

Mel Brooks is a one-man force of nature. Not only did he write, direct, and str in most of his movies, but he usually played multiple roles as well. One of the best examples was in History of the World, Part I, where he plays four characters, one in each segment of the film.

Tilda Swinton - Suspiria

There is little that Tilda Swinton can't do, including playing multiple roles in movies. She first did it in 2002's Teknolust, before playing oddball twins in the Coen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! In Suspiria, she plays three roles, Madame Blanc, Dr. Josef Klemperer, and Mother Helena Markos.

Leonardo DiCaprio - The Man In The Iron Mask

The titular character in The Man in the Iron Mask, was, supposedly, a prisoner kept by King Louis XIV during his reign. In the movie, the mysterious prisoner is Louis' twin brother, the fictional Philippe Bourbon. Both the king and the man in the iron mask are played by Leonardo DiCaprio in this historically dubious retelling of a classic Four Musketeer tale.

Janelle Monáe - Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

As the title implies, there are a lot of layers in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. by writer and director Rian Johnson. One of those layers is just who Janelle Monáe's character is, either Andi Brand, the ex-partner of Edward Norton's character, or Helen Brand, her twin sister investigating Andi's unexpected death.

Arsenio Hall - Coming To America

Like his co-star Eddie Murphy, Arsenio also plays multiple roles in Coming To America. His main role, Semmi, is Murphy's trusted servant. Hall also plays one of the women the two meet at a club and one of the barbers, but the funniest character he plays has to be the preacher. Every line he delivers is hilarious.

Armie Hammer - The Social Network

Of all the double (and more) roles on this list, maybe the easiest to do double duty for is that of the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network. Don't get us wrong, Armie Hammer nails the role(s) as the swarmy twins who actually came up with the idea that would become Facebook. They may have had a case against Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg), but that didn't make them good people.

Graham Chapman - Monty Python And The Holy Grail

This is really an entry for all of the members of Monty Python, as all of them play at least four different roles in the movie. Graham Chapman plays King Arthur, so naturally, he gets top billing, but John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, and Eric Idle deserve the spotlight here. Actors Neil Innes, Sandy Johnson, and John Young also play multiple roles in the movie.

Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Ben Whishaw, And More - Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas tells a story that spans centuries and in each timeline, the same core group of actors play different roles. This includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, and many more. It's a wild movie to follow, but all the actors are on point, for sure

Jack Nicholson - Mars Attacks!

While Mars Attacks! may not be the first movie you think of when you think of the great roles Jack Nicholson has played over the years, you should because he's actually really great in both of the roles he plays. It's not often thought of as one of Nicholson's best movies, but maybe it should be, because it is hilarious and he's a big reason why,

Hayley Mills - The Parent Trap

Both versions of The Parent Trap, the original starring Hayley Mills as twins separated at birth and the remake starring Lindsey Lohan as the twins are great movies. Mills and Lohan are both great at playing the dual roles of the twins who discover their parents separated them when they were babies and they never knew.

Mike Myers - Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

As the Austin Powers franchise chugged on, Mike Myers kept adding roles, but in the original, he started brilliantly as both the hero, Austin Powers, and the villain, Dr. Evil. It's hard to decide which character is funnier, but it's safe to say that without Myers playing the roles, neither would be as iconic and we wouldn't have as many classic lines from Myers.

Peter Sellers - The Mouse That Roared

While Dr. Strangelove is the most famous and revered example of Peter Sellers playing multiple roles in a movie, it wasn't the first time he did. A few years before the Stanley Kubrick classic, Sellers started in the wildly underrated war movie farce The Mouse That Roared. Sellers carries the movie in three different, ridiculous, and hilarious roles and it really should be better remembered today.

Margaret Hamilton - The Wizard Of Oz

Margaret Hamilton plays two different villains in The Wizard Of Oz. Of course, she plays the iconic Wicked Witch Of The West and Dorothy's obnoxious neighbor Almira Gulch, who takes Toto after claiming to be bitten by the innocent dog. Hamilton isn't the only actor in the movie to play dual roles, but both of her characters are the most developed of them.

Eddie Murphy - The Nutty Professor

Coming To America may be the best example of Eddie Murphy playing multiple roles, but The Nutty Professors and its sequel, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps definitely has him playing the most characters. Across both movies, he plays eight different characters. While both movies have their moments, neither quite reach the comedic heights of Coming To America.

Mia Goth - X

In The X series, Mia Goth plays both Maxine Minx and Pearl Douglas. the former is in Goth's wheelhouse, but the latter, an elderly woman who is the villain of both of the first two movies, X and Pearl. Goth is unrecognizable and brilliant in both.

Richard Pryor - Which Way Is Up?

Years before his Harlem Nights co-star Eddie Murphy started starring in multiple roles in movies, Richard Pryor pulled off the feat in Which Way Is Up? in 1977. While it's an uneven movie, it does have some funny moments, especially Pryor in one of his roles, the Reverend Lenox Thomas.

Cate Blanchett - Coffee & Cigarettes

Director Jim Jarmusch's Coffee & Cigarettes is a collection of short stories, 11 in total, that pay tribute to, you guessed it, those two popular vices. In one of them, Cate Blanchett plays a fictionalized version of herself and her fictional cousin, Shelly, who meet for a coffee and a smoke. The story is really just an uncomfortable conversation between Cate and the jealous Shelly, but it's one of the best stories in the movie.

Tom Hardy - Legend

Tom Hardy is never afraid to take on a tricky role and in Legend he takes on two, playing the psychotic Cray twins, Reggie and Ronnie. Based on the true story of the mobsters who gained fame in the mid-'60s as the owners of a popular nightclub frequented by celebrities in the "Swinging London" era.

Hilary Duff - The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Okay, we'll admit the plot of The Lizzie McGuire Movie is pretty silly. In it, Lizzie, played by Hilary Duff, of course, travels to Rome on a school trip and ends up in a weird love triangle of sorts with her Italian doppelganger, Isabella. Is it a great movie? Nah, not really, but it does fit on this list.

Adam Sandler - Jack And Jill

If you're an Adam Sandler fan, then you'll love Jack And Jill because you get twice as much Sandler as usual, as he plays the brother and sister, Jack and Jill. Honestly, unless you're a big Sandler fan, this is a movie you can skip, though it does seem to have fans for some reason.

We’re still on the road to the next era of James Bond movies, despite the fact that there’s been no sizable movement announced in the official EON Productions camp. For those of you playing along at home, the Immaculate Sydney Sweeney previously topped the Bond Girl odds, and she continues to do so without surprise.

At the same time, what is exciting is how pumped I am about some of the other options that seem to have gained steam, while also bummed by one actor who I think should be in the discussion seeming to have been frozen out.

The Bond Girl Odds For Sydney Sweeney And Her Competition

Before we get too deep into the mission, let’s take a look at the latest Bond Girl odds from Gambling.com. As previously mentioned, Ms. Sweeney is still in the front of the pack, with some familiar competition also remaining in the conversation. Here’s where the field currently stands:

• Sydney Sweeney - 40%
• Nicola Coughlan - 36.4%
• Jodie Comer - 33.3%
• Kaya Scodelario - 25%
• Michelle Keegan - 22.2%
• Dua Lipa - 20%
• Marisa Abela - 16.7%
• Ana de Armas - 15.4%
• Zendaya / Florence Pugh - 14.3%
• Meg Bellamy - 13.3%
• Phoebe Dynevor - 12.5%
• Emma Mackey - 11.1%
• Saoirse Ronan - 10%
• Jenna Ortega - 9.1%
• Naomi Scott / Rachel Zegler/ Anya Taylor-Joy - 8.3%

While it must be noted that these new standings come from a different source than where we got our last updates, Sydney Sweeney still has a pretty commanding lead. Previous competitors like Wednesday’s Jenna Ortega, The Bikeriders’ Jodie Comer and the Dune: Part Two combo of Zendaya and Florence Pugh are all still very much in play.

As far as newcomers go, Back to Black lead Marisa Abela and The Gentlemen star Kaya Scodelario are pretty impressive additions as well. Clearly, the world of streaming hits has a pretty formidable hold on the rankings here. That point leads to both surprises I’m about to talk about, especially in a post-Bridgerton Season 3 and Fallout world.

Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan Is A Welcomed Sight, But I’m Surprised By The Absence Of A No-Brainer Bond Girl

I cannot stress my happiness enough after seeing Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan not only jump into the Bond 26 contest, but grabbing second place as well. With Penelope Featherington’s love story taking center stage in recent months, Ms. Coughlan is someone that the world stage is still very much in love with.

Though her presence on the list does have me pulling for her on-screen scene partner Luke Newton to make just as dramatic of an entrance in the competition to play Bond 26’s 007. Speaking of surprises, there’s one name I’m really shocked to see hasn’t made the Bond Girl betting odds: Fallout’s Ella Purnell.

While what we know about the Fallout Season 2 renewal probably has her booked up for the immediate future, that’s never gotten in the way of the betting public’s feelings. As Amazon’s record-breaking viewership has catapulted Ms. Purnell in front of a rather wide audience, it feels a bit weird that she hasn’t entered the conversation.

Ultimately, there’s a lot of uncertainty in the air surrounding Bond 26. With no official announcements on how or whether the wheels of the long-running franchise are turning, anything can happen. For now though, just as Aaron Taylor-Johnson is the rumor mill's choice for Commander Bond, Sydney Sweeney occupies that same space when evaluating who could play his next partner in saving the world.

With all of this streaming talk, you want to revisit some of the Daniel Craig James Bond movies. If that’s the case, the films are streaming through various platforms, with the most recent entry, No Time To Die, currently residing where Peacock subscription holders roam.

Warning: SPOILERS for The Bikeriders’ ending are in play. If you haven’t seen the film yet, you’ve officially been warned.

Writer/director Jeff Nichols’ 2024 movie The Bikeriders tells a fictitious story inspired by actual people, and the biker club to which they belonged. Caught up in this drama are Jodie Comer and Austin Butler’s Kathy and Benny, a pair of lovers who find each other as the Vandals MC starts to make its way into some tumultuous times.

That history comes with an ending that’s pretty open ended, and both actors have shared some pretty interesting thoughts on the film’s finale. On top of why they love what Nichols’ story leaves the audience pondering, they also shared some early feedback they’ve gotten from other viewers. Considering the critical reaction to The Bikeriders, that makes this conclusion sound like a conversation starter waiting to happen.

What Happened At The End Of The Bikeriders?

After Johnny (Tom Hardy) is murdered by The Kid (Toby Wallace), the Vandals MC turns into something altogether different. While its original founder saw it as more of a brotherhood of bike enthusiasts, that all changes after The Kid takes over. With the group becoming more of the scary biker gang you'd have expected from The Bikeriders' trailer, Benny (Austin Butler) and Kathy (Jodie Comer) take that moment to leave the scene.

Closing out The Bikeriders is a moment where we see Kathy in the middle of an interview with Danny (Mike Faist), the journalist she’s been telling stories to throughout the film. While the absence of Benny during these talks seemed to suggest he might have died, we see the smiling bandit hanging out by their house’s garage.

However, the final moments of this drama see Kathy and Benny seeming to draw happiness from two different things. For Kathy, their escape from the Vandals MC for relative safety seems to be her source of joy. After all, she’s got Benny, and that’s all she wanted. Meanwhile, his smile seems to be accompanied by the sound of motorbikes.

That seems to imply that despite taking the man out of the club, the club hasn’t totally left him. That contrast right there is one I had to explore in conversation with Jodie Comer and Austin Butler.

Jodie Comer And Austin Butler’s Thoughts On The Bikeriders’ Ending

Having the honor to attend an early press day held by Focus Features to promote The Bikeriders, I was able to ask both co-stars about how they interpreted that ending. In the case of Ms. Comer, her knowledge of the real people featured in Danny Lyon’s book of the same name kind of gives her the edge. With that in mind, Jodie did share with CinemaBlend this thought on how she wants audiences to interpret the film:

As for Austin Butler, he pretty much mirrored Jodie’s thoughts on The Bikeriders’ beautifully ambiguous finale. Though we do have plenty of audio from Kathy’s side of the story, all Austin had in reference to his character’s life was one photograph. But that certainly didn’t stop him from sharing his thoughts on how he wants audiences to walk out of the film. Here’s how Butler contributed to his co-stars thoughts with CinemaBlend:

Jeff Nichols presents his conclusion with enough ambiguity that, as I pointed out in The Bikeriders review, the movie somewhat embraces vibes over plot as a result. That choice left its imprint pretty early on though, as in continuing to talk about those final moments, both Comer and Butler had feedback to share from the experience that moment gave people.

The Feedback The Bikeriders Stars Shared About This Film’s Final Moments

Even as far back as last April, The Bikeriders’ press tour screenings saw Benny and Kathy’s uncertain fate catching on with audiences. Digging a little deeper into that final moment and its beautiful questions, both Austin Butler and Jodie Comer took the time to share how that moment struck others.

For Comer, what stuck with her was a more external reaction to the ending described above. But as you'll read below, Butler’s feedback was from personal experience:

“Austin Butler: I was struck by the ending, when I first saw it. Because I’ve obviously worked on the entire film, and read the script, and knew what was happening. But the first time I saw it really hit me. The sort of poetic nature that Jeff told the story, it really surprised me.

Jodie Comer: Quite a few people have said that that moment has stuck with them, which I think is quite [cool.] You know, as we start doing these interviews, and you hear what people have taken away from it, it’s quite interesting that the ending is something that’s really kind of lingered with people.”

For a movie to be able to surprise one of its stars with the ending, even after having made the picture, is something quite remarkable. So clearly Jeff Nichols landed onto a story that really nailed the hearts and souls of people like Benny and Kathy, right down to the audience being invested in what may have happened after.

As both Jodie and Austin’s legacy-quel connections are still a going concern in their acting futures, that investment undoubtedly also comes from the fanbases that favor their work. So landing such a brilliantly balanced ending like The Bikeriders could see them riding off into the box office on some pretty strong praise.

We’ll see soon enough, as the Focus Features film is currently showing in theaters. But if you’ve already seen the picture and want to learn more about the film from its writer/director, then check out Jeff Nichols’ ReelBlend interview.

Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy debut their new film “The Bikeriders” in theaters this weekend. Writer-director Jeff Nichols joins us on this week’s show to discuss the making of “The Bikeriders” and working with his star-studded cast. We talk about the energy surrounding Austin Butler, what that energy does for a film, being afraid of the real motorcycle gang the movie is inspired by, and more.

Timestamps (approx. only)

• 00:00:00 - Intro
• 00:03:23 - Jeff Nichols Interview - ‘The Bikeriders’
• 00:35:04 - ‘The Bikeriders’ Review
• 00:43:08:15 - ‘Inside Out 2’ Wins Big & More Box Office Talk
• 00:59:47 - Outro

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There’s something undeniably intriguing about motorcycle gangs, and moviegoers are about to get an inside look at the outlaw motorcycle club Vandals MC when The Bikeriders hits the big screen this Friday, June 21. The film, which stars Jodie Comer, Austin Butler and Tom Hardy among others, is inspired by a 1968 photo book and shows the transformation of the club into a gang whose dark intentions vary wildly from its founder's original intent. The movie has screened for critics, so let’s see what they have to say.

The Bikeriders’ release date was originally supposed to be in 2023, but it was delayed, at least in part, due to the entertainment industry strikes. Now, we’re finally going to get to see the crime drama whose trailer promises a scary look at a motorcycle gang’s inner workings. In Mike Reyes’ CinemaBlend review of The Bikeriders, he says the movie is more vibes than story, but that’s not an overall bad thing, and audiences won’t walk away unaffected. He gives it 3 out of 5 stars, writing: 

Neil Smith of GamesRadar, meanwhile, gives it 4 stars out of 5, saying you can practically smell the asphalt, as The Bikeriders’ encapsulates the motorcycle club’s camaraderie and solidarity in a brilliantly authentic way. Smith continues: 

Haadiza Ogwude of the Cincinnati Enquirer praises all three lead actors but says Jodie Comer is the clear star, and while the critic has no experience with motorcycle gangs personally, Ogwude was drawn into the plot and deeper themes. In the critic’s words: 

Jake Coyle of the AP gives the movie 3 out of 4 stars, pointing out several dualities that make The Bikeriders work, including romance and rugged masculinity, throttle and brakes. It characters embody both the glory and uneasiness about American freedom. Coyle writes: 

Beth Webb of Empire is experiencing that duality in her piece about The Bikeriders, as she says the movie is exquisitely shot, but its conflict isn’t strong enough to propel the story forward at an engaging pace. Webb gives it 3 out of 5 stars and says: 

All of the critics seem to have found good and bad things to say about The Bikeriders, but it sounds like most of them think the movie is still one worth checking out. That seems to be the consensus for more than just the above assessments, as the film holds an 86% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

The Bikeriders premieres in theaters on Friday, June 21, and be sure to also check out our 2024 movie release schedule to see what else is coming soon. 

When you’re actors in demand like Jodie Comer and Austin Butler, you become connected to all sorts of opportunities. While not all of those connections are actual offers, the internet and the trades certainly love to talk about the delicious possibilities that could arise.

However, when I recently sat down with both Comer and Butler, on behalf of an early press day for Focus Features’ 2024 movie The Bikeriders, two very unique projects came up in conversation. As Comer was just starting to be mentioned as a candidate for 28 Years Later, and with Butler being heavily speculated as circling Michael Mann’s Heat 2, I was curious what those opportunities meant to both of these young actors on the rise. Their responses were not only refreshing, but they had me even more convinced that they were perfect fits for their respective opportunities.

What 28 Years Later Represents To Star Jodie Comer

Shortly before Jodie Comer was confirmed as a member of the 28 Years Later cast, my inquiry about the opportunity yielded an answer that, in hindsight, feels like it was almost a confirmation. Even removed from that context, Comer’s response to CinemaBlend showed how reverent she is of the 28 Days Later legacy, as she had this to say:

If I was in Jodie’s shoes, I’d probably need a little more time to compose myself into the mindset she described above. But that’s exactly what makes her a perfect fit for 28 Years Later, as her value of the process itself is greater than the legacy. That school of thought is exactly what her Bikeriders co-star Austin Butler would probably fall in line with, considering the legacy-quel role for which he's being considered.

Austin Butler’s Gratitude For His Career Possibilities

Taking his own turn to dance with the spectre of speculation, Mr. Butler addressed the rumors that connect to everything we know about Heat 2. More specifically, the Dune: Part Two star has been suggested as playing the younger version of Val Kilmer’s character, Chris Shiherlis.

Here’s how Austin Butler, with the utmost care and targeted choice of words, discussed that possibility with CinemaBlend:

Butler is fast becoming a pro at handling such matters; as seen in Butler’s response to those fresh Pirates of the Caribbean rumors. In all honesty, I need to applaud both Austin Butler and Jodie Comer for their generous remarks on what was obviously a delicate subject that could spark even more speculation just by talking about it.

I also must applaud their performances in director Jeff Nichols' The Bikeriders, which finally makes it way into theaters on June 21st. If you're a fan of their work, or films that encompass experiences of a generation, then I definitely suggest keeping this one on your radar. And keep an eye our for further coverage on CinemaBlend, as we'll have more on Jodie Comer and Austin Butler's thoughts on the film's ending after it's released.

Though it’s been “only” 22 years since director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland teamed up on one of the best horror movies of all-time, 28 Days Later, they’ve reteamed anew for the highly anticipated sequel 28 Years Later. Now fully in production on the way to its eventual 2025 release, the upcoming horror flick has still only unveiled a limited number of details for what fans can expect, including character info for its previously announced cast.

But what if that all-around lack of information was as telling as a two-sentence synopsis? Specifically when it comes to Killing Eve vet and The Bikeriders stars Jamie Comer’s character, who was revealed to have signed on for 28 Years Later alongside rumored James Bond candidate Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, with Jack O’Connell’s addition and Cillian Murphy’s return confirmed in the ensuing weeks. Jim being back is key to my biggest theory about Comer’s storyline, so let’s dive in.

Could Jodie Comer Be Playing 28 Days Later Survivor Hannah?

Before Cillian Murphy was revealed to be returning to this franchise as Jim, the glassy-eyed protagonist from the first film, it was easier to consider the idea that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland intended to make this sequel stand completely apart from the previous two films, as far as character connections go. The speculation center of my brain was happy to conjure up casual theories, as opposed to all the alarms that started blaring in there after the Oppenheimer star’s involvement made the rounds.

Because one good returning character deserves another, perhaps the most likely throughline to ponder about is the possibility of Comer popping up in this post-apocalyptic universe as the all-grown-up version of Megan Burns’ Hannah, the daughter of Brendan Gleeson’s Frank in the original film. After all, the franchise has never offered up an official update on her whereabouts after she, Jim and Selena captured the eyes of a jet pilot with their “Hello” sign at the film’s conclusion. (She went unmentioned in the two comic follow-ups and film sequel.)

As far as age goes, Jodie Comer technically skews too young to properly play a grown up Hannah, who would be in her 40s during 28 Years Later’s timeline. The Tony and Emmy winner is currently 31 years old, which is a fairly large gap by all means, but certainly isn’t impossible to fake with some makeup and style choices.

Jodie Comer has always looked potentially well beyond her age, though it tends to depend on the role she’s playing. If she’s meant to portray a more bubbly and optimistic personality, there’s not a problem. Alternately, as it went with Killing Eve and The White Princess, if she’s meant to be playing a serious character who does lots of thinking and scheming, she can appear to be way older.

Could Jodie Comer Be Playing 28 Weeks Later's Tammy?

It’s probably obvious that the following line of thinking squares up with the idea that Jodie Comer could be playing the first movie’s young female survivor: she could also possibly be portraying the sequel’s Tammy. For the 2007 sequel directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, Imogen Poots plays Tammy, the daughter of Robert Carlye’s Don and Catherine McCormack’s Alice, as well as the brother of Mackintosh Muggleton’s Andy.

By the end of 28 Weeks Later, Tammy and Andy are among the only survivors, as they’re picked up via helicopter by Harold Perrineau’s Flynn, who is taking them to France, though it’s made clear that the bulk of Europe was hammered by the Rage Virus plague. So she obviously could have been taken to some kind of haven where she and her brother were kept safe. (There’s a whole separate leg of this theory that could be tied to Jack O’Connell possibly playing Andy, but we’ll keep this limited.)

Imogen Poots will be turning 35 in June 2024, so she’s slightly younger than Megan Turner, and thus wouldn’t need as much aging up for Comer in the sequel, presuming that’s how they would go about things.

Could Jodie Comer Be Playing Jim And Selena's Daughter?

This bit of speculation takes its inspiration from nothing, really, since at no point in this franchise was it implied that Jim and Naomie Harris’ Selena ever had kids once they were “saved,” as it were at the end of the first film. No surprise there, since Selena had a partner in Noah Huntley’s Mark, who tragically got infected later on. And in fact, Selena was the one character from the film who did appear in the 28 Days Later comic series that was published from 2009-2011, and she was neither with Jim nor with child.

But we’re not going to act like that comic series was 100% canon, especially since it’s not fully clear how much of the second film’s story is canonized within Boyle and Garland’s universe. On a theoretical scale, though, it’s definitely possible that Jim and Selena formed a bond that went beyond just friendship, and that, despite all odds, they managed to start a family in the middle of the apocalypse. Maybe not likely exactly, but possible.

Because let’s think practically for a moment. If Jodie Comer & Co’s characters aren’t directly related to one or more survivors introduced in the first two films, then why not share a character name and simple synopsis for each? It wouldn’t be spoilery if we learned that she’s playing someone named Rashida Dinklemeyer or Ingrid Gallo, and would only tip the story’s hand if the names Hannah or Tammy came up. So for now, I’m staying hopeful that we’ll be catching up with old friends, as opposed to meeting all-new people.

28 Years Later is currently set to hit theaters on Friday, June 20, 2025.

The brand new, revamped and rebooted DC Universe (DCU) has opened up endless possibilities. A new Superman has already been cast and is ready to take flight in the first movie in the new universe, which is replacing the old DC Extended Universe (DCEU). 

Producer James Gunn has shown he has a clear vision to wipe away most of the past and move forward with new actors and new stories, so for the purposes of this daydreaming, we're going to leave out the great actors who have appeared in DC-related films in the past, including the most recent movies starring the likes of Jason Momoa, Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck, though we're not against them returning, too. 

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling is one of the biggest stars in the world, and also one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He's the kind of actor you could cast in almost any role and you just know he'd hit it out of the park. He could play a hero or a villain and audiences would be transfixed no matter what. We probably want him as one of the most famous heroes though, someone befitting his star status. 

Daisy Ridley

We know she can carry a franchise, and we know she's a tough woman, so Daisy Ridley just has to find her way into the DCU. Of course, she'd have to be a hero, but who knows, maybe a change of pace from the Star Wars movies could be cool and she could play a villain. Either way, she has to have powers greater than The Force. 

Tom Cruise

It's time. It's hard to believe Tom Cruise has never been in a superhero movie. One of, in not the, biggest action stars of the last few decades still has that "hole" on his resume and it's time it got filled. Of course, we'd all love to see Cruise as a hero, but it would be awesome for him to be in any role, even a cameo like his turn in Tropic Thunder. Just get him in there, James Gunn! 

Jennifer Lawrence

Sure, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in the X-Men franchise, but that was years ago, and the comic book movie scene is a whole lot different today. Lawrence is a perfect fit for any number of roles, and even though she's great as Mystique, what about a hero as big as Wonder Woman or Black Canary? Surely she'd be fantastic. 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski delighted fans with his cameo as Dr. Reed Richards in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. MCU fans have been dying to see him as Mister Fantastic in the Fantastic 4 in the future, but so far, there's only been cold water thrown on the idea. That opens up the DCU for the former The Office star and he needs to step in. 

Zendaya

There isn't a bigger star on the scene right now than Zendaya. Sure, she's played MJ in the MCU and Spider-Man movies, but let's give her some real superpowers and let her run wild in the DCU. 

Jacob Elordi

Sure, Jacob Elordi says he's not interested in playing a superhero, having turned down an opportunity to read for Superman in the new DCU, but that doesn't mean we can't dream, right? There are so many heroes in the universe he could play. Elordi has been a hit in recent years with his role on HBO's Euphoria and movies like Saltburn and Pricilla, so he doesn't really need to be in the DCU, but we need him to be. 

Timothée Chalamet

Timothée Chalamet has a knack for picking great roles for himself. At this point, he can pick and choose anything he wants, given how often his movies are hits. Chalamet could probably just tell James Gunn what role he wanted and they'd find a way for it to happen. So let's do it! 

Meryl Streep

Let's be real, there is nothing Meryl Streep can't do. The greatest actor of her generation, bar none, and yet, she's never appeared in a superhero movie. She's flirted with the idea, according to some reports, and she even did the Wakanda salute at the 2024 Golden Globes, but alas, we still haven't seen her in one. The new DCU must have a spot for her, right?

Patina Miller

Patina Miller has won a Tony and she's starred in two hit shows (Madam Secretary and Power Book III: Raising Kanan), but she hasn't broken big on the big screen, aside from an important but too-brief role in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, and it's time that changed. She looks like a superhero and can act her socks off, so let's make it happen, let's make her a star in the DCU. 

Adam Driver

As Kylo Ren in the Star Wars sequels, Adam Driver showed he could play a first-rate villain. Now it's time to see him play a hero. Any hero, pick one, it doesn't matter, he'd kill it. Batman? For sure. Superman? Well, that role is taken, but yes. Aquaman? Oh yes. Martian Manhunter? Check. Wonder Woman? Sure, why not, he's got the hair for it. Let's go! 

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg may be aging gracefully and while he says he's ready to play grandpa roles, we think he'll never be too old for a spot in the DCU. Somehow he's never been in either the MCU or any of the DC-related properties, so the time is right. 

Cailee Spaeny

She may not jump off the page as a possible superhero, but don't forget that Cailee Spaeny starred in Pacific Rim Uprising and clearly has the chops to be in a big action flick. She's an up-and-coming superstar and jumping into the DCU now would be perfect timing. 

Alan Ritchson

Reacher's Alan Ritchson is over six feet tall and built like a monster truck, is there anyone in Hollywood more perfect to play an intimidating villain in a comic book movie? Sure, he could play a superhero, too, but being a villain would be an awesome departure from his character on Reacher and it would be a ton a fun. And again, just look at the guy! 

Sterling K. Brown

Sterling K. Brown had an all-too-brief role as T'Chala's traitorous brother N'Jobu in Black Panther and it's high time he gets a chance to sink his teeth into a bigger superhero role. How about John Stewart/Green Lantern in the DCU? Brown has even campaigned for the role, so really, it's a perfect opportunity to get him into the DC Universe, it needs to happen, so we're putting it out there into the universe again. 

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage has dabbled in superhero movies in the past, playing the villain, Bolivar Trask, in X-Men: Days of Future Past, as Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War, and as the Toxic Avenger, but it leaves us all wanting more. Let's be honest here, anything Dinklage does is awesome, so getting him into the DCU somehow would be amazing. He's also pretty good at carrying a wildly popular franchise, as he proved with Game of Thrones.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson has done it all, except star in a comic book movie. Henson is one of the best actors of her generation and yet, she's got this hole in her resume that, let's be honest, we all want to see filled. The DCU would be a perfect place for her to land, in just about any role, superhero, villain, regular human... anything, just get her in there! 

Charlize Theron

Audiences were teased with a Charlize Theron character in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and the actress stars in the Old Guard franchise, but she's not appeared in any DC-related projects yet and she sure deserves to. We'd love to see her in any number of roles, as she can play just about anything. 

Jason Statham

He's one of the biggest action stars in the world, and yet Jason Statham hasn't appeared in the MCU or anything DC-related. This is something that must be remedied! How about Cliff Steele/Robotman, whose origin story comes out of a race car crash, which would dovetail perfectly with Statham's past work as star of The Transporter movies and in the Fast franchise?

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer has been taking the world by storm over the last few years and that means it's time to find her way into the DCU. Comer could be great in the MCU, but the possibilities in the DCU are endless and for someone like her, on the rise in Hollywood, the sky's the limit. 

Don Cheadle

Don Cheadle is pretty entrenched in the MCU, where he's played James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine 10 times in various movies and TV shows. Still, Cheadle is awesome, and there has to be a way to get him into the DCU, too. He'd need to play a completely different kind of character, like a villain, but we're for it. 

Jenna Ortega

Wednesday star Jenna Ortega is clearly ready for the big time. She'd be great as Aquagirl, or, even better, the villain Lourdes Lucero/Encantadora. There are a lot of options, let's hope she fits into one, because it would be great. 

Zoe Saldaña

Zoe Saldaña is another star that most fans immediately associate with The Guardians of the Galaxy and the MCU, but with the Guardians franchise possibly winding down, and the franchise's director, James Gunn, now in charge over at DC, this could be a good time to switch it up for Saldaña, as there are a lot of different heroes she would be great for. 

Josh Gad

Hear us out. Josh Gad may not be the first person you think of when you think of an action movie or a comic book movie, but some of the best casting decisions are sometimes the ones you least expect. Think Michael Keaton as Batman or even Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man. Gad, with his blend of humor and "everyman" qualities, can be pretty chameleon-like and that could make him perfect for the DCU. 

Gwendoline Christie

How has this happened? How have we gotten dozens of superhero movies in the last couple of decades and Gwendoline Christie hasn't been in any of them? Sure, she's got the physique to play any hero out there, but it's her wit and comedic timing combined with that that makes the Game of Thrones star a no-brainer. This seems too easy.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris jumped into the comic book world by playing Shriek in Venom: Let There Be Carnage. She was predictably great, so why not have her cast as a character with a multi-film arc? She should be. With the James Bond Universe in flux with the departure of Daniel Craig, this would be a great time for Harris to find a new franchise to get attached to. 

Daniel Kaluuya

Black Panther star Daniel Kaluuya (who also starred as a real-life Black Panther in Judas and the Black Messiah) is an actor who could fit into the DCU in just about any role. He could be a charming hero, or an evil villain, or even a government bureaucrat. Kaluuya's acting toolbox has a lot of options, the DCU will do well to take advantage of that somehow. 

Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer is a veteran of a lot of big-time franchises. Game of Thrones, Hunger Games, and even the MCU. Unfortunately, she was in fewer Game of Thrones episodes than you would think, and her appearances in the other two were also fairly brief. The DCU has a great opportunity to feature her in a much larger role. 

Donald Glover

This is another absolute no-brainer. Donald Glover is one of the most talented and charming actors in the business, there are an endless amount of roles he could fill in the DCU, so someone out there needs to find a spot for him. 

Diego Luna

With Andor (and his other projects) Diego Luna showed the world how great he can be in a franchise. His performance was gripping, and bringing that same energy to the DCU would be fantastic. 

Jack Quaid

Let's take a sec to lament that despite starring in one of the wildest superhero franchises of all time, The Boys, Jack Quaid hasn't really had an opportunity to be a proper superhero (V-24 notwithstanding). So let's give him a proper chance here! Put him in the DCU! 

Hayden Panettiere

Save the cheerleader, save the world. It was a mantra for Heroes and it's time to see Hayden Panettiere play another superhero. She was so great in Heroes, there's no way she wouldn't be great in the DCU

The DC Universe is James Gunn's oyster, these are some of the pearls out there just waiting to be plopped onto his beach. 

This has been an incredibly good year for film and filmmakers. James Cameron and James Mangold released new films. We are on the precipice of upcoming 2023 movies from Christopher McQuarrie, Greta Gerwig, and Christopher Nolan. And later this year, we get new movies from Denis Villenueve, Martin Scorsese, and Sir Ridley Scott! The last returns to history with Napoleon, casting Joaquin Phoenix, and we have the first full trailer above. But there’s a battle scene hinted at here that we were able to preview, and it’s pretty amazing.

Let’s start with Sir Ridley Scott. That title montage of movies he has delivered is enough to make anyone stand up and take notice. You tell me Napoleon comes from the director of Blade Runner, Alien, Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and The Martian, and I’m there opening weekend. Those are just a few of Ridley Scott’s best movies. And this trailer for Napoleon certainly looks like it has the potential to rise to the level of those cinematic masterworks.       

But while CinemaBlend was covering the annual CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas this year, Sony Pictures and Apple brought the full battle scene that is showcased at the end of this trailer. The one that takes place on a frozen lake. Only, Napoleon’s adversaries don’t realize that they are marching onto a frozen lake until it’s too late. And by that point, Napoleon has launched the cannonballs. 

We wrote about the sequence in depth here, if you want to dig a little deeper. Because the moments leading up to this are nightmarish:

Sir Ridley Scott specializes in these historical epics. Think back just a few years, when he doubled down on House of Gucci along with The Last Duel, flexing his directorial muscle at the age of 85. We are still talking about the ending for The Last Duel, and what it meant for Jodie Comer’s character. Scott shows no signs of slowing down in the least with Napoleon, and pairing him with an enigmatic leading man like Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role instantly makes this one of our most anticipated films of the fall season. As well as the Awards season, which expects to be crowded thanks to all of the movies I mentioned at the top of this article. 

We have to wait a bit for Napoleon to reach theaters and streaming (and you should note that Napoleon WILL get a theatrical release before playing on Apple TV+ for those with a subscription). Look for the movie in theaters on November 22, though we don’t have a clear indication on its window, or when it will reach the streamer. It’s a bold new world of theatrical distribution, with top streamers at the helm. Stay with CinemaBlend for updates as they arrive. 

Following their time together on Gladiator with Russell Crowe, actor Joaquin Phoenix and director Ridley Scott are finally re-teaming for another historical epic. Kitbag will see Phoenix playing French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, and originally the plan was for The Last Duel star Jodie Comer to star opposite as Napoleon’s first wife, Joséphine. As to today though, that will no longer be happening, but not to worry, as Comer’s role has already been recast.

Regarding why Jodie Comer will no longer appear in Kitbag, the actress cited scheduling issues and COVID-19 as the culprits while speaking with THR, calling the turn of events “rubbish.” Kitbag is set to begin shooting in Europe this January, and Comer is getting ready for rehearsals this March on the West End production Prima Facie, which will have a limited engagement from April to June. In the end, it just wasn’t possible for Comer to do both these projects, so Kitbag had to go, but maybe she and Ridley Scott will be able to collaborate again down the line after working together on The Last Duel, which co-starred Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Adam Driver.

Now the plan is for Vanessa Kirby to play Joséphine instead. According to Deadline, Kirby’s reps are negotiating a deal for her to join Kitbag. Along with earning an Academy Award nomination for her performance as Martha Weiss in Pieces of a Woman, Kirby’s other notable credits include Jupiter Ascending, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. She’ll also star with Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern and Anthony Hopkins in the upcoming drama The Son.

Clearly Ridley Scott and his Kitbag team didn’t waste anytime time finding someone to replace Jodie Comer, and with Vanessa Kirby finalizing the arrangements to come aboard, it sounds like the filming plans won’t be impacted. Written by David Scarpa, who penned Ridley Scott’s 2017 movie All the Money in the World, Kitbag will delve into how Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power in both the military and politics,  with the story being filtered through his “addictive and often volatile relationship” with Joséphine. The title comes from the phrase, “There is a general’s staff hidden in every soldier’s kitbag.”

Unlike The Last Duel, which was distributed by 20th Century Studios as a theatrical-exclusive release, Kitbag has been acquired by Apple TV+. It’s unclear how much the streaming service paid for Ridley Scott’s next feature, as well as if it will also play in theaters. It’s one of many high-profiles movies Apple TV+ has snatched up since its inception, with past examples including Greyhound and Cherry, and other upcoming offerings including Killers of the Flower Moon, Argylle and Emancipation. With Kitbag’s principal photography’s just weeks away, hopefully we’ll learn about the actors who are joining Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby in the main cast soon.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more news concerning Kitbag, including when it will drop on Apple TV+. Those of you looking to the nearer future would be wise to peruse our 2022 release schedule to see which upcoming movies catch your eye.

There are some actors who have a difficult time transitioning from the stardom they have acquired through appearing on television into a successful film career, but Jodie Comer has done an extraordinary job so far. Since winning an Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy for playing Villanelle on the hit AMC drama Killing Eve, the English actress has made quite a killing on the big screen, from a small cameo in the Star Wars movies as Rey’s Mother to her tour de force performance in the excellent period piece The Last Duel from Ridley Scott, who is also directing her an upcoming Napoleon Bonaparte biopic called Kitbag.

At this rate, it should be no time before we start seeing her appearing in any upcoming superhero movies - but the question is, however, in which cinematic universe and as who? If we were to infer that the Marvel movies are in her future, we have a few ideas in mind as to what role she might be a good fit for. The following are our picks for Marvel characters we would love to see Jodie Comer bring to life on the big (or small) screen, starting with one that would allow her to reunite with her Free Guy cast member, Ryan Reynolds. 

Dr. Betty

Since his two self-titled movies made him one of the most popular comic book characters in the world, many of Deadpool’s most notable side characters have also gained mainstream attention, such as Domino or Cable. One who has yet to enjoy such success is Dr. Betty Swanson, an archeologist and agent of the criminal organization A.I.M. 

She first crossed paths with Merc with a Mouth when they teamed up to retrieve the severed head of Deadpool’s zombie doppelgänger (also known as Headpool) in the Savage Land, but became interrupted by jungle resident Ka-Zar and others who believed the head to be a powerful deity. Of all the wonderful reasons this story should be adapted in some way, the chance to see Jodie Comer bring a strong, new dimension to Dr. Betty alongside Ryan Reynolds in an awesome post-Free Guy reunion, currently tops the list for me.

Dead Girl

Another way that Jodie Comer could cross paths with Ryan Reynolds again in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be to cast her as Dead Girl. Originally named Moonbeam, this young woman just wanted to be an actress until her boyfriend murdered her, which happened to be exactly what she needed to activate latent mutant abilities including talking to the dead, regrowth of lost limbs, and immortality… sort of.

In spite of her eponymous alias, pale complexion, and the fact that she is not actually alive, Dead Girl is one of the more lively and personable members of the X-Force, and such is a character trait that Jodie Comer has already shown she has the talent for in previous performances and in real life. Of course, making this possible would require bringing the X-Force (which made its film debut in Deadpool 2) into the MCU, which I think most fans would be on board with.

Mystique

More so than the X-Force, comic book fans are extremely excited to see the X-Men brought into the Marvel Cinematic Universe now that Marvel Studios has the right to a reboot following the Disney/Fox merger. The only question now is who will play which mutant when the time comes.

I, for one, believe that a worthy successor to Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence in the role of Raven Darkholme (a.k.a., Mystique) would be Jodie Comer, mainly due to the shape-shifter’s complicated character arc as someone who often struggles with where her loyalties lie in the conflicting mutant agenda. This is a key element to her performance on Killing Eve as Villanelle, who finds herself stuck between her professional rivalry with MI-6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and her romantic feelings for her.

Angela, Queen Of Hel

Speaking of great performances, Jodie Comer’s role as Marguerite de Carrouges in The Last Duel is undeniably the heart and soul of the medieval drama, despite the fact that she does not do much dueling in the film herself. There is a Marvel character inspired by mythology that originated from the medieval era that would fix that.

As we know, Thor has an evil half-sister name Hela (portrayed in Thor: Ragnarok by Cate Blanchett), but he also has a good-natured, but equally fierce, sister named Aldrif Odinsdottir - who also goes by Angela. Originally a creation of Todd McFarlane for his Image Comics-based Spawn series before Marvel acquired her, this Asgardian assassin turned one-time Guardian of the Galaxy is one of the most beloved and badass female characters in comics right now and one that I imagine Jodie Comer would be honored to play for her MCU debut.

Clea

Speaking of badasses and honor, as much as I imagine it was an honor for Jodie Comer to become a part of the Star Wars universe as the mother of Rey (Daisy Ridley) in a flashback, I would not be surprised if she would have loved to have played someone more badass, like a Jedi. Well, maybe instead of a Force-wielder, the actress would be open to a playing a magic-wielder in the MCU, such as Clea.

This sorcerer once ruled the Dark Dimension until she fell in love with Stephen Strange, inspiring her to use her magic as a force for good with the one-time surgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme as a duo that redefines the term “power couple.” Playing Clea would not only be a dream come true to any fans who have awaited the character’s MCU induction, but would be a great opportunity to Jodie Comer to work with Doctor Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch for what would be the first time.

Invisible Woman

If there is one character who would be an especially honorable and badass opportunity for Jodie Comer to play in the MCU, it would have to be one of the most honored and badass characters in comic book history: Susan Richards (née Storm. Also known as the Invisible Woman, the transparent, force field-wielding scientist turned vigilante has yet to be cast in Marvel Studios’ upcoming Fantastic Four movie and I cannot think of a reason to not cast Comer.

Susan has always been considered the de facto ring leader of Marvel’s first superhero family, especially when conflict breaks out between them. Jodie Comer has the right kind of spunk and leading qualities that define that role, but also, and more importantly, the signature blonde hair. 

Given the career that Jodie Comer has had so far, she might be more interested in playing comic book roles of an even darker variety. Maybe she should look into any openings that the upcoming DC movies might have. 

In the middle of spooky season and a number of blockbuster properties such as Marvel’s Venom and James Bond coming back into the fold, we have The Last Duel, a Ridley Scott movie about a historical duel that happened in medieval times. It’s the first movie since Good Will Hunting to be written by and star both Matt Damon and Ben Affleck together, along with Adam Driver and Jodie Comer playing lead roles. Following the film’s release, let’s see what fans thought of the historical drama. 

The Last Duel is based on the book by Eric Jager and recounts the true story of the last officially recognized judicial duel fought in France back in 1386. The movie is told in three acts: one from the perspective of Matt Damon’s Jean de Carrouges, the second from Adam Driver’s Jacques Le Gris and the last from Jodie Comer’s Marguerite de Carrouges, who tells her husband Jean that Jacques raped her, leading Jean to request the duel.  

Critics have greatly praised the movie, including CinemaBlend’s The Last Duel review, which gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars. When it comes to audiences, there is an overall positive impression of the film. The only problem is the movie is completely flopping at the box office, per last weekend’s box office numbers against Halloween Kills winning the weekend. Let’s get to the talking points fans were talking about over on social media since it came out. 

Jodie Comer Unquestionably Stole The Show

The most resounding opinion about The Last Duel is how great its female lead, Jodie Comer, is. One might even say she carried the film. Yes, even with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Adam Driver also as major stars in the movie. 

In the movie, Jodie Comer plays the person at the center of a duel following being raped by Adam Driver’s Jacques Le Gris. The movie slowly builds her arc, with each perspective highlighting her story in a different light. It’s an incredibly nuanced performance that audiences of the movie are taking notice of amidst the movie’s difficult subject matter. 

When fans left The Last Duel, it was Jodie Comer’s performance that really tied the movie together and drove home its difficult messages that still ring true today despite over 600 years having passed since the historical event. Comer has been best known for her Emmy-nominated role in Killing Eve, but this movie allows the actress to show even more of her acting chops. 

2021 really is Jodie Comer’s year overall. The actress also starred in this summer’s Free Guy alongside Ryan Reynolds, making for her first two lead Hollywood movie roles ever in the span of a few months. Oh and both roles are completely different from one another. 

There’s an aura in the air that this movie could even earn Jodie Comer her first Oscar nomination. We’ll have to see, but it’s great to see the talented actress getting some much-deserved praise for her performance. 

Fans Really Enjoyed Ben Affleck’s Role Too

In contrast to Jodie Comer’s powerhouse dramatic performance, Ben Affleck has a more jovial role as Count Pierre d'Alençon, a playboy in France’s court who orchestrates orgies, all while having bleach-blonde hair and a goatee. Fans really enjoyed Affleck’s performance in The Last Duel. 

Ben Affleck’s job in The Last Duel seems to be to add some comedic humor to the otherwise dramatic tale. It shouldn’t work, but Affleck takes on the role well and provides loads of memorable moments throughout the film. Some fans are even throwing around the “O” word around his role as well: 

Ben Affleck isn’t exactly a comedian if we’re being honest here. We would expect the actor to take on a more brooding role in a movie like The Last Duel, especially coming off of Justice League or The Way Back. Perhaps that’s one reason why people are responding to Affleck’s Count as much as they are. He’s finally getting to sit back and have a little bit of fun. One fan called Affleck “hilarious” in the movie: 

But of course, a Ben Affleck meme had to make its way into the discourse as the movie reaches the end, which we won’t spoil here, but we talk about in detail in The Last Duel ending explained. 

In addition to the actor’s fun The Last Duel role, Ben Affleck co-wrote the script with Matt Damon and Nicole Holofcener. 

The Last Duel Is Being Overlooked By Widespread Audiences

Despite all this positive buzz about The Last Duel, the truth of the matter is it’s a $100 million-budgeted film that has only made less than $10 million worldwide as it reaches its first weekend in theaters. It doesn’t look like it’s going to turn a profit despite so many people loving it. A number of fans shared being the only one in their theater actually checking out the film. Here’s one:  

The issue here is perhaps The Last Duel came out at the wrong time. It’s not exactly the kind of movie you’d expect for mid-October, especially alongside one of the most beloved Halloween icons – Michael Myers and Laurie Strode returned on the same day for Halloween Kills. Also, a medieval film such as this is something that would appeal to an older demographic, but right now older audiences are largely staying at home to stream movies. Audiences who saw it sound bummed it’s not getting the attention it deserves. 

The movie tells a worthwhile story about rape culture that is important, yet at the same time not exactly the kind of topic everyone is going to want to sit down and watch as soon as it comes out in theaters. The studio took a huge risk spending so much on a movie about a historical event. It’s incredibly rare in the landscape of IPs and franchises. We'll close out with this super hype fan reaction: 

Overall, a lot of people really enjoyed what The Last Duel had to offer, but the downside is there is sadly  not enough fans of it to begin with. The movie is now playing in theaters. You can check out what other movies are coming up here on CinemaBlend with the 2021 new movie release schedule. 

Move over, Zack Snyder and Peter Jackson. Ridley Scott might be the real king of long movies. The famed director behind this weekend’s release The Last Duel has made numerous movies that he later released extended versions of his work, including Blade Runner, Kingdom of Heaven and Alien. The filmmaker has released eleven alternate versions of his movies throughout his career, and we’re curious if his medieval epic starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver and Jodie Comer will join them with a longer version of its own. 

When CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg spoke with The Last Duel co-writers Matt Damon and Nicole Holofcener for The Last Duel, Damon confirmed that Ridley Scott did in fact direct a longer version of the movie. In Damon’s words: 

The theatrical cut of The Last Duel sits at two hours and 33 minutes long, which is pretty typical for big-budget movies like this. As Damon shared, the movie used to be an hour longer before they decided to cut it down. When answering the question, the actor also shared his experience working with the 83-year-old director: 

It sounds like Ridley Scott is really intentional about what he shoots, even making a point to sit with his fellow filmmakers before getting to set to go over the script they’ll be bringing to life. Some might gather that filmmakers with extended cuts like Ridley Scott shoot too much footage, but it seems like Scott loves the movies he makes so much that he wants to be in the world more and overshoot what will reach cinemas when the films are released. 

I could definitely see there being more to explore in The Last Duel in an extended cut. There’s a lot of history that the movie covers, including telling the story of the last recognized trial by combat in France from the perspectives of the two men involved in the duel to determine the truth behind a rape case. 

What’s beautiful about extended cuts is it allows for fans of the movie to spend some more time in a movie they enjoyed without boring everyone who is going to the theater to watch it, and not necessarily wanting to sign up for an over-three-hour movie. We’ll have to wait and see if Ridley Scott decides to release an extended version of his latest movie. For now, you can see The Last Duel in theaters. 

SPOILERS are ahead for The Last Duel. Meet us back here once you’ve seen Ridley Scott’s medieval epic. 

Before there were courtroom dramas, there were medieval duels, which had two men fighting to the death to solve some kind of disagreement rather than hire lawyers and sit before a jury. The last time one of these duels was officially recognized by the crown was in December of 1386 in France between a knight and a squire. This event in history is subject of Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, which has Matt Damon and Adam Driver playing the two men, Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris, meet each other in the ring on horseback concerning a matter of the rape of Jean’s wife Marguerite de Carrouges. Let’s talk about The Last Duel ending. 

The Last Duel starts on the day of the duel, but before it shares the results of Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris’ fight, the movie shares the three perspectives at the center of why the duel takes place. Matt Damon’s Jean de Carrouges challenges Adam Driver’s Jacques Le Gris to a duel in front of King Charles VI after his wife, Jodie Comer’s Marguerite de Carrouges tells him that Jacques raped her on a day when Jean was away at a battle and his mother and the guards were away on errands. Let’s break down what happened and how the movie left its audience. 

What Happens At The End Of The Last Duel

After much of The Last Duel spends time on the point of views of Jean and Jacques, the third act points to Jodie Comer’s Marguerite and as the movie suggests, her perspective is the “truth” of the three. Marguerite was raped by Jacques and she told her husband, Jean, but his decision to challenge Jacques to a duel was in part due to seeing his wife as his property and additionally because he and Jacques had a falling out years prior. 

Marguerite testifies in court about the rape and it’s revealed that she is pregnant after her and Jean had been trying to conceive for some time. There’s a possibility that Marguerite is pregnant with Jacques' child, but this detail is never explored further in The Last Duel. As Marguerite speaks out, she receives pushback from the women in her life. Jean’s mother (played by Harriet Walter) reveals that she has also been raped, but decided to keep it quiet to stay alive. Marguerite’s best friend Marie (played by Tallulah Haddon) does not believe her and provides to the court that Marguerite had expressed belief in Jacques being handsome prior to the incident. 

It’s decided that Jean and Jacques will fight to the death so that God may decide which party is right. If Jean dies in the fight, Marguerite will be burned alive and her child orphaned to punish her for lying. If Jacques dies in the fight, Jean and Marguerite de Carrouges can continue to be a family. After a grueling battle, Jean kills Jacques and justice is served. Jacques' body is dragged into the dirt and hung in the town square as Marguerite finally fulfills her purpose and desire to raise a child. Jean dies in battle a few years later and it is said that Marguerite never marries again. 

Trial By Combat Explained

Trial by combat, also known as wager of battle, or a judicial duel, is a common function used in the middle ages to settle disputes, per History News Network. It wasn’t used for all disputes though, mainly these combats were employed when there was not enough evidence, witness or a confession to determine the person at fault. In Great Britain and Ireland, trial by combat was used for settling civil disputes rather than something like a murder case. At the time, it was believed that a duel placed a situation in the hands of God to decide who lives and who dies based on being innocent or guilty in his eyes. The parties involved would have to proclaim in an oath that they are telling the truth. As The Last Duel showed, each of the three involved made this oath, leaving the verdict at the time to trial by combat to seal who is right and wrong. 

As we know, innocent people die and guilty people die and are killed everyday, so even though the duel did in fact bring justice to Marguerite, she could have just as easily been burned alive if Jacques was victorious instead. 

What Happens Between Jean de Carrouges And Jacques Le Gris?

Marguerite’s rape that led to the duel and Jacques being killed in front of a kingdom is much more nuanced in the film than one might gather from reading the facts in a history book. As The Last Duel illustrates, Jean and Jacques were once friends who fought side by side in battle. However, as the movie progresses Jacques finds friendship in Ben Affleck’s Count Pierre d'Alençon and becomes treated more respectfully in the court than Jean is. In one pivotal scene, Jean explodes on Jacques in front of everyone for not calling him “Sir.’ 

It’s very possible that Jacques was attracted to pursuing Marguerite due to his own jealousy that his friend was with a beautiful woman after their falling out. Psychologists believe that much of the time the act of rape is about dominance and control and in this situation, Marguerite was caught in the middle of two men with deep-seated power issues with each other. That comes to an absolute breaking point with the duel when Jean kills Jacques after Jacques rapes his wife.

What Happens To Marguerite de Carrouges After The Duel?

The Last Duel also very much leaves audiences with the realization that although Marguerite is in the middle and technically the subject of the trial by combat case, it does not benefit her. If Jacques had killed Jean he would have died a brave man, who only believed his wife and Marguerite would have been villainized and died an agonizing death. And in terms of the fate she received, her husband is blinded by his own ego and ends up dying in battle anyway. She gets to raise a child, but mostly alone and possibly with a son who is the offspring she biologically shares with her rapist. 

The Last Duel’s ending is straightforward, but one that holds a deep message to be unpacked. After you’ve seen The Last Duel, there’s many other new movies to check out. You can make your next movie picks with CinemaBlend’s 2021 movie release schedule. 

Video game worlds like Free Guy’s Free City are canvases where anybody can do, or be, anything. Want to be a gun-toting crusader like Jodie Comer’s Molotov Girl? You can totally do that, with the proper modifications in game. Though for actors like Comer and Ryan Reynolds to actually pull that act off in the real world, there’s a lot of badass training that’s usually involved. Which, as you can see above in our exclusive clip from Free Guy's bonus features, is much harder than adjusting a skill scale; but well worth the time.

Arriving today on digital rental and purchase platforms, Free Guy has some exciting peeks behind the curtain of director Shawn Levy’s surprise blockbuster. One such extra happens to be a nice and quick reel that encompasses quite a bit of Jodie Comer’s transformation into an action hero. That’s no small feat, considering Free Guy was the first time she actually got to jump into such a rigorous exercise.

Playing both Molotov Girl, and her real-life counterpart Millie, Free Guy saw Jodie Comer launching into action packed fights like a total champion. As 2nd Unit Director/Stunt Coordinator Chris O’Hara describes the process that turned Comer into a fighter, he lays out a plan that saw 2-3 weeks of training change her acting life. The actor herself also adds in her own recollections of both the physical and stunt training regimen that got the Killing Eve star into fighting shape.

It all comes together through a look at the stash house fight, which sees Jodie Comer’s Molotov Girl and Ryan Reynolds’ Guy trying to battle their way out of a nasty situation. Surrounded by digital avatars running security for said house, Molotov Girl’s quest for evidence of some real-life wrongdoing turns into a large action set piece. While you can only see snips of that showdown above, the training that went into making that Free Guy moment believable is undeniably taxing.

The work paid off in the end though, as the movie was not only a feel-good entertainment, with some action to spare, but it also led to the development of a sequel. Free Guy went from being the metaphorical underdog to a triumphant hero in the world of original ideas. It’s an opportunity that, so long as the right idea presents itself, isn’t at odds with its original mission statement. So next time Jodie Comer has to go in for training in the world of Free Guy, it’ll absolutely help that she did such a bang up job the first time around. Who knows what challenges another round in the universe of this offbeat hit will present to Comer, Ryan Reynolds, and whomever else joins in on the fun?

You might still be able to catch Free Guy in theaters, should you feel like heading out to the movies. Or, you can rent or purchase Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer’s action-comedy wherever you enjoy your digital media. Those of you holding out for the physical media will have to wait until October 12th, as the movie will then be available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD.

Every now and then, a surprise comes along in the world of 3D that makes for an interesting scenario. While Free Guy certainly looked like it was a movie that’d benefit from a third dimensional experience, there wasn’t a lot of pomp and circumstance surrounding the potential. And yet, the time has indeed come to talk out whether you should become one of the sunglasses people and see Ryan Reynolds’ latest action-comedy in 3D, or if you’re better off depositing that money at the Free City Bank.

Should you want to know how Free Guy measures up as a movie in general, head on over to the official review and read it for yourself! However, if you’re ready to see if the explosive thrills, and other effects, make for a 3D extravaganza, then you’re in the right place! Slip on your own magic glasses, and check out how Free Guy fares in 3D!

3D Fit Score: 5/5

Free Guy is literally a movie about how “magic glasses” change the life of an NPC in a playfully violent video game. If that’s not a 3D fit, it’s time for me to get out of this gig. Free City’s open world allows for a lot of wonderful possibilities when it comes to using the 3D format, especially when Guy slips on the glasses himself and sees that intricate heads up display. But even in the “real world,” Free Guy manages to make things pop, thanks to interesting transitions and the ability to frame conversations as more than just a series of cuts back and forth.

Planning & Effort Score: 5/5

When you can make something as simple as watching a YouTube video stand out in 3D, you’ve clearly thought about how you’re going to wow the audience. Both the mundane and the exciting are given the same amount of consideration in Free Guy’s eye-popping visuals, and it’s certainly not by accident. But even something as simple as separating characters from their backgrounds comes off as an extra sharp contrast when watching the end result. There’s a lot of love baked into this 3D presentation from the good folks at Stereo-D, and it shows.

Before the Window Score: 4/5

While Free Guy isn’t constantly throwing objects out of the screen, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t impress in our “Before The Window” segment. In line with Disney’s most recent 3D presentation, Jungle Cruise, there’s a healthy amount of objects that poke out at the audience. Several scenes where guns are drawn on Free City denizens put the audience in the line of fire, and components of the third act action setpieces see cars, debris, and Disney copyrighted iconography poking through the window and into the audience. Plus, if you ever wanted to see Ryan Reynolds’ face magnified by a goldfish bowl, in 3D, you won’t be disappointed.

Beyond the Window Score: 5/5

Depth of field is usually not a problem with most 3D movies, with most films using the background as another canvas to impress the audience. While a more subtle effect, if you look beyond the 3D window carefully enough, what you find may surprise you. Free Guy is, again, unsurprising in the fact that it takes full advantage of picture depth, especially with Guy’s heads up display view of some sequences. Characters and their environments are clearly delineated, so much so that there’s an extra pop when you shift focus from character to background, and back again. Plus, the sequence where Guy and Millie are driving away from a city that’s literally closing in around them is a true standout in terms of the depth drawn in that ever shrinking canyon of doom.

Brightness Score: 3/5

Brightness is a habitual problem with the 3D presentation for films like Free Guy. Showing off bright daytime scenes, as well as stealth nighttime missions, the standard version is a color rich film without 3D enhancements. However, after watching that action in 3D, there is sadly a bit of dimming when it comes to the colors presented in the film. This factor isn’t totally determined by the finished product, as the theater you’re choosing to see a film like Free Guy at may not be calibrating their projectors properly when they switch between 2D and 3D showings. Watching Free Guy won’t tax your eyes too much, and the darker night time scenes are absolutely clear enough to watch painlessly. However, it’s sad that in this viewing of Free Guy, the daytime sequences in the color stylized world of Free City tended to be a bit murkier than hoped.

Glasses Off Score: 5/5

The oldest trick in the 3D book, besides throwing objects precariously out at the audience, is taking your glasses off during the show. Removing your 3D frames during a movie like Free Guy, you should be able to see a world of blur populating the image. That’s usually indicative of the level of manipulation that’s been implemented to simulate a 3D image, and when it comes to Shawn Levy’s videogame comedy, it’s alive and well. So much so that when you take a look at close up moments where characters are used as 2D anchor points, the contrast between them and the complexly drawn backgrounds is as sharp as it can be. Also, standard wide shots are total fields of blur.

Audience Health Score: 4/5

Free Guy isn’t exactly a movie that stands still and lets things happen around it. Dynamic camera work and an insane oner are present to open the movie, with 3D thrills already presenting themselves as Free City makes itself known to the audience. With that sort of frantic movement, audience health can be a bit of an issue, as if the movements are too fast, the 3D effect gets a bit wonky. There’s only a little bit of this sort of wonk with Free Guy’s fast moving world, and most of it is in that hyperkinetic opening. It doesn’t last for long, and it won’t make you sick, but your eyes may get a bit confused for small stretches as a result.

Even with some minor gaps in the Brightness and Audience Health department, Free Guy is a lot of fun to see in a 3D showing. The team responsible for this beautiful effort have a keen eye on taking the worlds of gaming and reality, and helping them collide in a 3D result that’s another welcomed treat in the world of glasses enhanced action. Just be sure to select a theater you trust to keep their brightness levels maintained, as that was the most compromised segment of this particular showing.

If you’re interested in taking this ride, if only to see what a game of Jeopardy would look like in 3D, be sure to check your local listings carefully. You may need to really hunt down a 3D showing of Free Guy in your area, as we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, and 3D is still a bit limited in its footprint for the moment. But if you like a good time with cars and shotguns coming at you, you’ll want to meet up with this Guy for sure. With that in mind, we return you to the real, totally 3D world of reality, and until next time, don’t just have a good 3D experience...have a great one!

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If Ryan Reynolds were a non-playable character in a video game, that would easily make him the funniest and most charismatic NPC ever animated. Such is the premise of Free Guy, in which the actor and producer plays a bank teller who suffers an existential crisis when he learns that he lives in the world of a popular MMORPG called Free City created by an eccentric game developer (Taika Waititi). Those aforementioned celebrities are only a few of the many famous faces in the Free Guy cast, whose careers up to this point (and beyond) we will breakdown for you one by one, starting with the lead.

Ryan Reynolds (Guy)

Free Guy is an action comedy, meaning Ryan Reynolds (who mastered action with movies like Smokin’ Aces, comedy with hits like Van Wilder or The Proposal, and the hybrid of both genres with Deadpool) was the perfect choice to play the title character. In fact, if not for the raunchy Marvel movie (his fourth attempt at superhero movies after Blade: Trinity, 2008’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and the infamous Green Lantern, the Canadian-born former sitcom star (of Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, namely) might not have been considered for the role. The next of Reynolds’ 2021 movies (which has also included sequels to The Croods and The Hitman’s Bodyguard) is Red Notice (his second Netflix original after 6 Underground), he will reunite with Free Guy director Shawn Levy for the time travel adventure The Adam Project, and a Deadpool 3 is in the works, reportedly.

Jodie Comer (Millie/Molotov Girl)

Assisting Guy in his effort to save the non-existent city he calls home is a game designer named Millie - played by Jodie Comer, who is best known for her Emmy-winning role on Killing Eve as an assassin tasked with killing Eve (Sandra Oh). The BBC original drama, distributed in the United States on AMC, would be what introduced her into the American mainstream following a steady career in her native England, which led to roles like Rey’s long-lost mother in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and, of course, Free Guy. 

In October 2021, you can see Matt Damon and Adam Driver fight over Comer in The Last Duel, you can see her fight the spread of COVID-19 in the upcoming British TV movie Help, and she is rumored to star in another historical epic from director Ridley Scott called Kitbag, opposite Joaquin Phoenix as Napoleon Bonaparte.

Taika Waititi (Antwan)

Playing the man behind the video game at the center of Free Guy, is Taika Waititi - the man behind other funny blockbusters like Thor: Ragnarok and poignant dramedies like the World War II satire Jojo Rabbit, which earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. The New Zealand-born artist has done everything from playing a vampire in the mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows (which he also co-wrote and directed) to playing a droid on The Mandalorian (which he also helmed an episode of), to playing the father of Daniela Melchior’s Ratcatcher 2 in The Suicide Squad (which he did not direct, but probably could have nailed). 

Waititi will reprise his Marvel movies character, Korg in Thor: Love and Thunder (which he is writing and directing), and of his many other upcoming projects, the most exciting is probably his Star Wars movie, expected for 2025.

Lil Rel Howery (Buddy)

Playing a Free City cop and best friend of Guy is Lil Red Howery, who skyrocketed to fame in 2017 as another scene-stealer with a badge in Jordan Peele’s Get Out - the first of two Best Picture nominees he has starred in, along with Judas and the Black Messiah in 2021. The comedian and fellow former sitcom star (for The Carmichael Show, Insecure, and his own short-lived, self-titled series on Fox) has led a versatile career that, of course, includes comedies like Brittany Runs a Marathon and Bad Trip, thrillers like Bird Box, dramas like Fatherhood, and animation/live-action hybrids like Tom and Jerry and Space Jam: A New Legacy. Howery has more variety coming up on his plentiful plate, including the Hulu original comedy Vacation Friends with John Cena and the crime thriller Deep Water opposite Ben Affleck.

Joe Keery (Walter “Keys” McKeys)

“Keys,” a video game designer and former beau of Jodie Comer's Millie, from Free Guy is easily the biggest movie role to date for 29-year-old Joe Keery, whose other most notable big screen credits to date include Molly’s Game with Jessica Chastain, the strange horror-comedy Slice, and the buzzy found footage thriller Spree in 2020. He will reprise his best known character, Steve Harrington, when Stranger Things Season 4 premieres on Netflix in 2022.

Utkarsh Ambudkar (Mouser)

Assisting Keys is a fellow coder in a pink bunny outfit named Mouser - played by Utkarsh Ambudkar, who went by UTK on Lin-Manuel Miranda’s improv rap group Freestyle Love Supreme before making his acting debut in 2007’s Rocket Science, alongside his future Pitch Perfect cast co-star Anna Kendrick. That movie opened doors for him to appear opposite Brie Larson in Basmati Blues, Mindy Kaling’s Netflix series Never Have I Ever, the acclaimed 2018 drama Blindspotting, and as a rat in Tom and Jerry (one of his many notable voice acting roles). Ambudkar’s post-Free Guy credits include the rom-com Marry Me, Hulu’s Elizabeth Holmes-inspired miniseries The Dropout, and an American update of the supernatural UK sitcom Ghosts.

Camille Kostek (Bombshell)

Free Guys’s “Bombshell”is the latest nameless character in a big screen feature film played by former New England Patriots cheerleader and Sports Illustrated cover model Camille Kostek, who made her acting debut in the Amy Schumer-led 2018 comedy I Feel Pretty in the role of “Hostess.” She has, however, played characters with names in a pair of Hallmark movies before becoming the on-field host of the competition show Wipeout on TBS. Kostek will finally have a major movie role with a name when she stars in the upcoming sci-fi adventure film Monsters of California.

Aaron W. Reed (Dude)

Dude is an appropriate name for a beefed up version of Guy, whom Ryan Reynolds claims in a recent trailer for Free Guy is actually played entirely by him after going on a strict (and illegal) diet of human muscle. The actor who's really doubling for Dude’s body, however, is former WWE wrestler Aaron W. Reed, who made his acting debut on the final season of Jane the Virgin in 2019 before appearing on an episode of NCIS in 2020 and playing Satan in a hilarious Match.com ad that was actually produced by Reynolds that same year.

I find it quite endearing that Aaron W. Reed, a guy whom Ryan Reynolds essentially made into star by casting him as a Devil smitten with the year 2020 in human form, is now responsible for making the actor appear like he is in better shape than ever before. Catch who wins when Guy and Dude face off in Free Guy when it hits theaters Friday, August 13, 2021.

The Free Guy cast, including Ryan Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, and Director Shawn Levy discuss everything about their new action-comedy in this interview with CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes. The cast picks their character’s NPC songs, Reynolds explains whether Deadpool could have been included in the film and if we can ever expect a sequel! Plus much more.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro

00:34 - Was Deadpool Ever Considered to be Included in Free Guy?

03:00 - Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery and Joe Keery Pick Their Free City NPC Songs

05:33 - What Ryan Reynolds Loved About Playing The Innocent “Guy” Versus Somone Like Deadpool

06:44 - Jodie Comer and Joe Keery Discuss Playing Two Different Characters

08:30 - Shawn Levy and Lil Rel Howery Explain What Makes Guy and Buddy’s Friendship so Special

10:31 - Joe Keery on the Perks of Working With Director Shawn Levy On Both Stranger Things and Free Guy

11:35 - What the Free Guy Cast Thinks About a Potential Sequel

In the world of Free Guy, the action is set not only in the digital playground known as Free City, but also in the very world that we inhabit ourselves. With Ryan Reynolds’ eponymous bank teller captivating both sides of the screen with his great guy antics, he also draws the attention of one of his programmers, Jodie Comer’s Millie. Playing basically the bridge between worlds, Comer’s digital alter ego Molotov Girl, the Killing Eve star had to flip personas during her time on Free Guy, but thankfully never on the same day of shooting.

As we spoke during the press day for the film, our conversation included a moment where I asked whether Millie and Molotov ever caused Jodie Comer to have to swap characters at the drop of a hat. Her answer was no, and it’s actually for a reason that’s adjacent to said dropping of a hat. Here’s what Ms. Comer mentioned as the big reason for Free Guy’s compartmentalized strategy:

The difference between Millie and Molotov Girl is almost night and day, especially when it comes to the hair. While Jodie Comer got to use her natural look for Free Guy’s programmer on a mission, her Free City avatar has a shorter and darker haircut than her creator. So naturally, wigs were in order, and as anyone will tell you, those are not a lot of fun to put on and take off in a professional context.

A digital wonderland like Free Guy’s Free Cityhas as much of the potential for people to customize their appearance as any of the games that director Shawn Levy’s film is inspired by. Wild outfits, crazy hairstyles and even a full-sizes pink bunny avatar played by Utkarsh Ambudkar are only a sampling of the visuals that Ryan Reynolds’ character gets to contrast. But for most of the film, Guy is accompanied by Jodie Comer in her Molotov Girl get up, which includes a costume that’s ready for pretty much anything the open world can throw at her.

With a shooting schedule that sounds like it kept Millie and Molotov Girl in their own bubbles, Free Guy’s story about the fate of one world lying in the actions of another is only all the more enhanced. And you can catch the hilarity, and the warmth, of that journey as the film opens in early showings this evening. Also, if you’re a huge Jodie Comer fan, you can see her next in Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel, which hits theaters on October 15.

Ryan Reynolds’ next comedy is almost here. He stars as the titular Guy in Free Guy, an upcoming sci-fi action comedy from director Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Big Fat Liar). The movie also stars Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi. In a video game called Free City, Guy is a non-player character (NPC) working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by programmers Milly (Comer) and Keys (Keery) inserted into the game by the publisher Antoine (Waititi), Guy becomes aware that his world is a video game, and goes on a journey to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Based on social media reactions, people really seem to be enjoying Reynolds’ video game comedy, and it sure looks like a lot of fun. I mean, what else would you expect from the man who brought us Deadpool (who, by the way, has officially joined the MCU, in a hilarious way)? The sci-fi movie releases in theaters on Friday, August 13, and critics reviews are starting to roll in. Let’s see if they’re as positive as the early social media reactions, shall we?

Let’s start with the CinemaBlend side. Our very own Mike Reyes had a lot of fun watching Free Guy, and rated it 4 out of 5 stars. He argued it might be the most fun anyone could have in theaters this summer. With a perfect blend of punchlines and emotional beats that don’t overtake one another, the comedy showcases Reynolds’ humor and Lil Rel Howery’s wholesome energy, according to Reyes. He thinks the blockbuster will be re-watched over and over again by fans, saying:

Pete Hammond from Deadline was absolutely “smitten” with Free Guy. He praised Reynolds’ performance, which combined charm, wit, and emotion, among other qualities. He thought the rest of the cast was absolutely terrific, too, giving special recognition to Comer and Waititi. Hammond really enjoyed the sci-fi flick as it took on new urgency and action as its runtime continued, and said:

The positive reviews continue with Yolanda Machado from Nerdist. She commended the incredible world-building and thought the graphics were impeccable and engaging. She also praised the “perfect” cast, like we’ve seen in other reviews, and particularly enjoyed how Comer’s Millie/Molotov girl character was portrayed. Molotovgirl isn’t just a “science nerd” in the video game, nor is she desirable because she wears revealing clothing. She’s just a smart, focused, creative character, a great representation of a modern woman. Machado said:

Aaron Neuwirth from We Live Entertainment also enjoyed Free Guy overall, but he still had some criticisms. He thought that since the film tries to appeal to a wider audience, not just gamers, some of the gags are less impressive to video game experts, and the script loses a bit of edge in the process. But he commended several aspects of the comedy, specifically the casting choices (definitely sensing a pattern here). Neuwirth said:

Hoai-Tran Bui also enjoyed the comedy overall, but thought that it still had some faults. While she really enjoyed Reynolds’ refreshingly, painfully sincere performance, she thought the climax of the movie felt too full of needle-drops and pop culture references and didn’t quite make the impact it wanted to. But she thinks Free Guy is one of the best video game movies out there. Bui said:

Well, critics sure seem to be enjoying Reynolds' Free Guy overall! You can see for yourself when it releases in theaters next Friday, August 13.

Until then, you can check out the other movies coming out this summer with our release guide.

It hasn’t been easy for fans who want to see a movie like Free Guy, as the Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer-fronted comedy has maintained a theatrical-only presence. Resisting the wiles of making a streaming debut, the team behind the 20th Century Studios picture have made sure to carve out a release window that’ll let the audience see this film in the big screen, and there’s been enough release pushes to prove this determination. With August 13 marked as the big debut for Free Guy, both Reynolds and Comer are absolutely excited for audiences to discover the film in theaters, and for very good reason.

Earlier this summer, I was part of a virtual roundtable on behalf of Free Guy’s upcoming release, with both Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer in attendance. Being part of an early group of critics that got to see director Shawn Levy’s film, I could see why watching Guy’s journey unfold in a theatrical setting was important to how the movie would play. There’s a lot of reasons why it works so well as an experience to go see at your local theater, so there’s some variety in what people can look forward to.

Asking what they were most looking forward to audiences discovering in Free Guy, both stars had their own outlooks on what was the big draw. In terms of how Ryan Reynolds sees the film, the most exciting piece of the puzzle is how the movie reflects our current pop culture climate. But upon further reflection, Reynolds nails down the big takeaway of Free Guy into four words:

“To fucking have fun” is a pretty big intent that a lot of comedies go into production trying to reflect. But hearing Ryan Reynolds talk about how much he wants the potential audience for Free Guy to just dig in and leave the theater grinning really separated this project from most intended laugh riots you’ll see in theaters. This is especially true when you realize that Reynolds has found a kindred creative spirit in Shawn Levy, who, through films like Night at the Museum and Real Steel, has always tried to emotionally connect with the audience, while also going for that blockbuster 'wow' factor.

However, if you ask fellow Free Guy star Jodie Comer what she’s most excited for fans to discover, it’s the message at the center of the film. As we’re following an NPC player in a video game that tries to be “the great guy” in his life, there’s an undercurrent that takes the story in another direction than most would expect. It’s that unexpected humanity that really excites her about her work on Free Guy, which Ms. Comer described in this context:

Comedy thrives on the unexpected, and Free Guy has an arsenal of twists, punchlines and random cameos that will have people doing double takes. But the most unpredictable aspect is how much Guy’s story will actually be able to move audiences, while also delivering a major blockbuster comedy that stars like Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer are capable of delivering. You’ll get to meet Guy, and the rest of the Free City world, when Free Guy opens in theaters on August 13.

Ryan Reynolds in a comedy? Who would have thought?! Reynolds stars as Guy in Free Guy, an upcoming sci-fi action comedy directed by Shawn Levy (Stranger Things, Big Fat Liar). The film’s cast also includes Jodie Comer, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi. In a video game, Guy is a non-player character (NPC) working as a bank teller. Thanks to a program developed by programmers Milly (Comer) and Keys (Keery) inserted into the game by the publisher Antoine (Waititi), Guy becomes aware that his world is a video game, and goes on a journey to make himself the hero, creating a race against time to save the game before the developers can shut it down.

Judging by the newest trailer, Free Guy looks like a lot of fun, which is to be expected from the man who brought us Deadpool (who, by the way, has officially joined the MCU, in a very relevant way). The social embargo for the video game movie has lifted, so critics are sharing their thoughts on social media. Let's take a look at what they're saying.

CinemaBlend's own Mike Reyes is absolutely singing the movie's praises, saying that it was everything he'd hoped for and more. He applauded Levy and Reynolds for their creation of a universe that is both hilarious and "bitingly satirical." Reyes can't wait to see the comedy again, saying:

Nikki Novak of Fandango also highly praised Reynold's latest blockbuster, predicting that it will be a hit with viewers. She enjoyed that the video game movie actually makes you feel like you're in a video game, and that it's clever and original, with fun surprises in store. Novak also commended Reynolds' and Comer's performances, saying:

It sounds like this action comedy is going to be really fun, as the positive opinions just keep on comin'. Steven Weintraub from Collider was smiling from the beginning to the very end. He also commended on the surprise twists featured that actually made his jaw drop, and argued that viewers should see it as soon as possible to avoid spoilers. Weintraub said:

Jacqueline Coley from Rotten Tomatoes considers Free Guy the best video game movie ever made, but she also noted that non-gamers will still enjoy it (which director Shawn Levy also assured us of). Coley also praised Joe Keery's performance in the comedy. She said:

Seriously, people are really enjoying this movie! Chris E. Hayner from Gamespot loved the film and specifically praised the over-the-top action, the Easter eggs (which Ryan Reynolds promised us the film will be riddled with), and the cast's performances. Hayner said:

Well, there you have it! People are singing Free Guy's praises, and now I'm even more excited to see this comedy. We'll soon be able to see what audiences think, when the film releases in theaters on August 13.

Before Ryan Reynold's comedy video game movie releases next month, plan your next movie-going experience with our summer release guide.

In the blink of an eye and under the worst of circumstances, good friends can become brutal enemies. Ridley Scott’s latest film, The Last Duel, tells a true story that illustrates such a sad state of affairs, as Adam Driver and Matt Damon go head to head in France’s final state-approved duel. Co-starring Ben Affleck and Jodie Comer, this tale almost sounds like something out of Game of Thrones and, based on what we’ve seen in the first trailer, it looks a lot like the HBO series as well.

Jean de Carrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) are a knight and squire, respectively, who happen to be pretty close. But when The Last Duel shows Jean’s wife, Marguerite (Jodie Comer) accusing Jaques of raping her, Jean challenges his former friend to a duel to the death. With more than just honor on the line, Jean and Jacques will settle their grievances in trial by combat, with God seemingly determining who’s telling the truth.

The Last Duel is a return to form of sorts for Ridley Scott, as it’s been a while since the director has shown the world combat of a bygone era. Indeed, the first look at his latest film is giving off some serious vibes from the era in which Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven saw him plying his trade. The results couldn’t look any better, as pure Scott magic fills the screen with this trailer.

It’s also nice to see Matt Damon and Ben Affleck starring in another movie together, a feat that hasn’t happened for quite some time. Even more impressive is that, alongside co-writer Nicole Holofcener, Damon and Affleck actually wrote the script for The Last Duel; something that hasn’t happened since the two penned their Academy Award-winning screenplay for Good Will Hunting. So fans of the creative duo are sure to be happy about this new collaboration.

Most impressively, The Last Duel looks like a beautiful blend between Ridley Scott’s directing sensibilities and the writing talents of Nicole Holofcener, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck. While the film was delayed in production thanks to 2020’s unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, it looks like the wait will truly be worth it. Not to mention, it’s just one of two films that Scott has on his docket that’ll make 2021 a fall to remember; seeing as he also has House of Gucci, which also co-stars Adam Driver, releasing not too long after.

The Last Duel hits theaters on October 15th, but you won't have to wait that long to see Matt Damon back at the box office. Damon can be next seen in Stillwater, which opens in theaters on July 30th. And if you're looking to see what else is set to hit throughout the year, check out the 2021 release schedule for more info.

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Many actors dream of being involved with an iconic franchise, and Star Wars is sure to be one that’s on many performers’ bucket lists. This seems to have been the case for Killing Eve star Jodie Comer, who was able to join the beloved space saga through 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Of course, her inclusion is something she couldn’t just shout to the world. She had to keep it a secret, along with any details on what it was like to be on the set.

In Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Jodie Comer plays the role of Rey’s mother in a flashback, in which she and Rey’s father were murdered by Emperor Palpatine’s assassins. So you can understand why the actress had to remain silent about her involvement in the movie. She recently reflected on this very thing:

There’s always been secrecy involved when it comes to major movie properties, and that’s arguably increased with the rise of social media. For Star Wars, Lucasfilm and Disney go to particularly great lengths to ensure details don’t leak. Former The Mandalorian star Gina Carano once discussed the intense amount of secrecy involved in the Disney+’s show’s production. Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams also revealed that the studio once took precautions in his own office while he was working on The Force Awakens. You can revisit both of Abrams’ films on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Luckily, Jodie Comer managed not to spill the beans and, based on her recent comments to EW, it sounds like there was a lot to hold in. Comer recalled her experience as being relatively “eye-opening,” and she seems to have learned a lot about the inner workings of Star Wars:

Many of us would be like a kid in a candy store if we had the opportunity to be on the set of a Star Wars production. Unfortunately (for us), it’s an opportunity that so few people get. With this, we can simply live vicariously through the actors, writers and crew members that get to live the dream of being smack dab in the middle of the galaxy far, far away.

The wait for Ryan Reynolds’ action/comedy Free Guy could be counted as an experience you could only find in a video game. Every time audiences and the actor alike have gotten hyped for a new release date, a delay would come around and everybody would respawn to square one. But not it feels like it’s definitely happening this summer, and a new trailer with a lot of action, and some additional Jodie Comer footage, makes it all feel a little more real.

Free Guy’s latest reel of fun debuted on Twitter to promote the August 13th date that the 20th Century Studios film currently occupies. Providing another look into the world of Free City and Ryan Reynolds’ cheerful protagonist Guy, we see car crashes, explosions, and a lot of verbal threats from Taika Waititi. But we also get to see more of Killing Eve star Jodie Comer acting as a sort of guide to Guy, as she’s trying to complete her own mission in both the real and virtual world. Oh, did we mention the car stunts?

Ever the marketing enthusiast, Ryan Reynolds shared this trailer on his own personal social media platform. And as you’ll see in the message he included along with the goods, he couldn’t be happier to finally be sharing Free Guy with the world. Naturally, there’s even some good natured double entendre included, making this a true Ryan Reynolds approved message:

Oh Mr. Reynolds, you scamp you. Reading his Free Guy tweet, you can practically hear the mischief in his voice, but also the love that he has for the Shawn Levy directed film. Much like his marketing for the brands that he personally has a hand in operating, Ryan Reynolds has put some extra love and care into the proceedings surrounding this film. Each new look only reinforces that, and by the looks of Jodie Comer, Taika Waititi, and the entire Free Guy cast, it looks like everybody else was enthusiastically on board as well.

Though it may be a video game centered quest of chaos and comedy, Free Guy looks to be a movie that will appeal to audiences far and wide. So far, that mission looks like it’s been accomplished, and if plans finally hold up, those results will be in a theater near you rather soon. Provided nobody hits the reset button again.

Free Guy will try not only to make it a good day, but a great day, when it arrives in theaters on August 13th. Though Ryan Reynolds fans of a more R-rated bracket can catch him in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, which hits theaters on June 16th. Either way, prepare to enjoy a little bit of Reynolds’ tastes in pop music as a result.

Billie Eilish has established herself as a global sensation to tens of millions of fans in the past few years, but she’s still a 19-year-old with her share of geek-out moments as she continues to interact with the music industry and Hollywood with her fame. The No Time To Die singer famously had a viral moment with her childhood icon Justin Bieber, and as she gears up for her second album, she had a heart-eye moment with Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer.

The pop star turned heads over the weekend with a British Vogue cover shoot that had Billie Eilish modeling corsets and sharing a deep message about body positivity after years of wearing baggy clothing to keep the conversation elsewhere. In the middle of the shoot, a freshly-platinum blonde Billie sat down to answer questions asked by legends such as Missy Elliott, Orlando Bloom and Halle Berry. But we especially love her priceless reaction to Killing Eve’s Villanelle. Check it out:

Billie Eilish was surprised and flustered to see Jodie Comer on the old television screen of the Q&A setup, dropping her jaw and then exclaiming that she has “such a crush” on the Emmy-winning star of Killing Eve. She paused to “pull herself together” before answering Comer’s question about her karaoke go-tos.

For fans of Killing Eve’s Villanelle, it’s a perfectly normal and understandable reaction to the actress. On the BBC series, Jodie Comer plays an oddball assassin who is always keeping Sandra Oh’s Eve Polastri guessing and on a three season (wo)manhunt filled with bold fashion looks, a moody soundtrack and thrilling action. So naturally Eilish would love tuning in!

Another fun connection is the fact that Phoebe Waller-Bridge created Killing Eve , nd she contributed to the script for the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die. And of course, Billie Eilish wrote and sings the theme song for that movie, becoming the youngest person to be behind a 007 theme. All the dots were connecting toward her and Comer meeting at some point, and this surprise video question definitely stunned the 19-year-old in the best way.

Aside from their recent exchange, Billie Eilish has shared on Instagram that Killing Eve was her favorite show, to which Jodie Comer reposted with the words “I am not OK.” Comer also watched Eilish’s personal documentary The World’s A Little Blurry earlier this year and shared that she “had goosebumps the entire time.” The pair are clearly fans of one another, and it’s adorable to see these exchanges. Maybe it’ll blossom into a friendship and/or a music video collaboration?

Billie Eilish recently announced her latest album “Happier Than Ever” is set for July 30 and Jodie Comer’s next movie Free Guy is coming August 13.

At one point in time, Jodie Comer, the Primetime Emmy Award-winning actress who portrays the psychotic assassin Villanelle on the British dark comedy/spy thriller Killing Eve, was going to have one hell of a 2020. She was coming off a brief appearance as Rey’s mom in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and had two highly anticipated movies with impressive casts on the way. But then COVID-19 came, plans were changed, and a number of Jodie Comer upcoming movies were delayed and delayed.

But a new year brings new opportunity to two-time Golden Globe nominee and the future is brighter than ever for Jodie Comer. With the movies slated for 2020 release — Free Guy and The Last Duel — coming out this year with more potentially great projects following not far behind, we could be seeing the latest and greatest chapter in the actress’ career. And if any of these upcoming movies and shows are half as good as they sound, we’ll be hearing the name Jodie Comer for quite some time…

Free Guy - August 13, 2021 (Completed)

Jodie Comer made a name for herself with her riveting depiction of cold-blooded yet obsessive killer on Killing Eve, but she will be playing a more kind-hearted yet just as lethal character in Ryan Reynolds’ upcoming video game action movie Free Guy. In the movie, Comer plays a programmer by the name of Milly, who along with her cohort Keys (Stranger Things’ Joe Keery), accidentally inserts a programmer into the Free City open world video game that gives Guy (Reynolds) something all the other non-player characters lack: awareness. Comer also plays Molotov Girl (as seen in the explosive trailer), a user character in the game that assists Guy in his race to save Free City from destruction.

Directed by Shawn Levy, the 20th Century Studios blockbuster was originally slated to be released on July 3, 2020, but the date was subsequently moved several times throughout the year (including being taken off the schedule entirely) due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the public health crisis’ impact on the movie theater industry. Largely shot in Massachusetts over the course of summer 2019, Free Guy is all set and ready to go for release, which is currently scheduled for August 13, 2021.

The Last Duel - October 15, 2021 (Post-Production)

The first of two Ridley Scott films in which Jodie Comer will star, The Last Duel, centers around two best friends Jean de Garrouges (Matt Damon) and Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) in 14th Century France who are ordered to fight to the death after the former accuses the latter of raping his wife Marguerite (Comer). Just one of the many book-to-movie adaptations and upcoming Ben Affleck movies set to be released in 2021, The Last Duel looks to be a tense, bloody, and epic period drama in the vein of Scott’s previous efforts including Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and his 1977 debut The Duelists.

At one point, The Last Duel was one of six Disney movies to be released before the end of 2020, but when the movie theater industry didn’t recover as quickly as people had originally hoped, the title was pushed back a considerable length of time. In addition that, production on The Last Duel had to be stopped after less than a month of filming in March 2020 due to a decision by Disney regarding the health and safety of the cast and crew. Production didn’t resume until that September, eventually wrapping in mid-October, per Deadline.

The Last Duel is now scheduled to be released on October 15, 2021.

Kitbag - TBD (Pre-Production)

As if working with Ridley Scott once wasn’t great enough, Jodie Comer will star in yet another period drama set in France directed by the Academy Award-winning filmmaker, this time portraying one of the most important women in the country’s storied history. The film, which is going by the title Kitbag, will center on French military mind and embattled emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, portrayed here by Joaquin Phoenix, who will be working with Scott for the first time since 2000’s Gladiator. The upcoming biographical drama will follow Bonaparte’s origins, unprecedented and brutal rise to power, and his relationship with wife Josephine, played here by Comer, per Deadline.

It is hard to say exactly when Kitbag will enter production as Ridley Scott is currently busy filming the Lady Gaga and Adam Driver-led House of Gucci, which began shooting in Italy in March 2021. Not one to waste time between projects (there was only a brief break between The Last Duel and the Gucci murder movie), the prolific Scott will more than likely start working on his Napoleon Bonaparte epic at some point by year’s end, early 2022 at the latest.

When Kitbag is released to the world it will be see distribution through Apple TV+, as Apple Studios acquired the rights to the latest film based on Napoleon Bonaparte in January 2021, per Variety. The longtime passion project of Ridley Scott will be the latest in a line of recent or upcoming Apple movies including Greyhound, Emancipation, and Killers of the Flower Moon, the upcoming Martin Scorsese crime thriller starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.

Killing Eve Season 4 - 2022 (Pre-Production)

Since its debut in 2018, Killing Eve, the British black comedy/spy thriller starring Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh, has consistently been one of the best shows on television that isn’t afraid to take some major risks and explore uncharted territory. The series, which initially starts out with a simple premise in which MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Oh) hunts down the skilled assassin known as Villanelle (Comer), turns into anything but when the two become obsessed with one another and begin doing anything they can to cross paths and learn as much as possible, ultimately losing track of their respective targets.

Over the years, Killing Eve has given a few of the most promising female writers a shot at making their mark with the unorthodox spy series. The first season was written by Fleabag creator and No Time to Die writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the second by writer of the Academy Award-nominated Promising Young Woman and The Crown actress Emerald Fennell, and the third handled by Fear the Walking Dead writer Suzanne Heathcote. Per Deadline, Laura Neal, who has written for Sex Education and Secret Diary of a Call Girl, has been hired to handle the show’s fourth season. Speaking of which…

All good things have to come to an end, and unfortunately that too is the case for Killing Eve, which is set to conclude following its fourth and final season at some point in 2022. This news came in the form of a March 2021 article from The Hollywood Reporter that also made it appear as the door will remain open for future spinoffs, though though it is unlikely they will focus on Jodie Come or Sandra Oh’s characters. Hopefully it’s not too late in 2022 so we don’t have to sit with these lingering Killing Eve questions too much longer.

Help (TV Movie) - TBD (Pre-Production)

With one television project coming to an end, another is getting underway for Jodie Comer, who is set to star in the upcoming TV movie Help (a working title) alongside Venom 2’s Stephen Graham. According to Channel 4, the British television broadcast network producing the film, Help will tell the story of Sarah (Comer), a young care worker who forms an unconventional yet meaningful relationship with a 47-year-old Alzheimer’s patient named Tony (Graham) at a long care facility during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Liverpool, England.

Help will serve as a reunion for the writer Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham, who previously worked together on This is England ’90, the third and final in a collection of the miniseries that followed up the events from the 2006 film This is England. Since then, Thorne has gone on to spearhead the adaptation of His Dark Materials, serving as the head writer and showrunner of the BBC/HBO fantasy drama series.

Production on Help, which will be directed by Marc Munden, is set to get underway at some point in 2021 although a release date and information on a possible broadcast in the United States has not yet been revealed. Be on the lookout for more information on the latest COVID-19-centric film in the months to come.

Expect to hear more on these upcoming Jodie Comer film and television projects as well as all the other 2021 new movie releases coming to theaters and streaming services in the coming weeks and months. With so much slated to be released throughout the year there is a lot to keep track of, especially in this day and age.

Some actors are hired for specific sets of skills, as watching our favorite performers do what they do best just makes movies like Free Guy all the more immersive to watch. And apparently, if the new film’s trailer is any indication, Ryan Reynolds has one attribute that comes in handy when introducing moviegoers to the world of the fictitious Free City. As you can now see for yourself, if you want to hire someone to get hit by moving vehicles in style for your next motion picture, Reynolds is your guy.

Naturally, Free Guy isn’t being malicious about subjecting Ryan Reynolds’ Guy to fake pain, especially when he’s technically playing an NPC in a wildly successful sandbox simulator. Taxi cabs, murder trains, and even people’s fists all slam into Ryan Reynolds in this latest look at 20th Century Studios’ comedy thrill ride. But even though it resets his day, Guy keeps on smiling, and trying to not just be a good guy, but a great one.

The world in Free Guy certainly could use such a hero, as anyone who grabs media attention, and even finds himself becoming the answer to a question on Jeopardy! It’s a rags to riches story, when you take into account the fact that Guy’s world is kind of crumbing down around him. An existential crisis will do that to a person, and that’s exactly where this adventure lands Ryan Reynolds’ protagonist, thanks to his dealings with the elusive Molotov Girl, played by Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer. Now that he’s learned exactly what he is, and how to play the game at the heart of Free Guy, it’s up to Guy to help his new ally in saving Free City, and potentially himself.

But inside of all of the action and comedy that Free Guy has to show the world, there’s also a heart. While Ryan Reynolds struggles with his ponderances on life in as an NPC, he’s got a friend like Lil Rel Howery’s character, aptly named Buddy, to help him stay the course. Friendship, action, and comedy: the cornerstones of any big would-be blockbuster, if I do say so myself. And so far, it looks like Free Guy is reveling in the environment it’s gotten to play around with, with surprises waiting around every corner. Just take a look at the new poster that was released alongside this latest trailer:

I think I’m starting to see why Free Guy is apparently Ryan Reynolds’ favorite movie he’s ever filmed. And we’ll all get to see a lot more of just why it’s captured his heart as the movie is slated for theatrical release on December 11. Should change for any reason whatsoever, you can be sure CinemaBlend will break that news as it updates, and that yesterday’s joke about covering several release options in one promo was well played. So keep an eye out on both our 2020 release schedule, as well as the calendar for the titles debuting in 2021, just in case something looks like it’s disappeared from where you last saw it.

As one of the few movies in 2020 that’s standing its ground when it comes to theatrical release, director Shawn Levy’s Free Guy looks like it’s the sort of blockbuster we could have expected in a normal summer release window. And if the world hadn’t gone and taken the turn that it did, that’s exactly what we would have gotten, as the Ryan Reynolds comedy was supposed to have opened this past July. However, expectations aren’t everything, especially when it comes to this particular movie, as whether you’re a pro or a noob, you won’t need to be a full-blown gamer to be interested Free Guy.

This much was true the moment I walked onto the set last July, as Disney and 20th Century Studios arranged for several journalists to attend a day in the set life of this blockbuster comedy. The world of Free Guy’s video game world Free City looked pretty much like our own. Of course, as we saw in the film’s trailer released at the end of last year, there’s a lot of big ticket effects and Ryan Reynolds-style schtick colliding to make Free Guy something like we’ve never seen before.

Still, if you watched the trailers for the film, you might be wondering if you need to have a gamer’s background to enjoy this trip around the fictitious Free City. A hybrid of Fortnite costumes and dance moves and a PG-13 friendly Grand Theft Auto vibe, there was already talk about how this film might sell itself towards gamers, and some even wondered if an E3 presence would be a part of that platform. Director Shawn Levy helped address that point, and the larger point of attracting all audiences to Free Guy, with a very simple statement:

Any movie, be it an original IP or a franchise like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Star Wars saga, or even the Fast and Furious films, has to walk that fine line between drawing in the Venn diagram of people it’s obviously built for, while also appealing to newcomers. But when you’re a fresh project like Free Guy, there obviously needs to be a stronger hook for those who aren’t as up on the subject matter as the faithful gamers. Which is the perfect link to something that Ryan Reynolds said, as he spoke alongside Shawn Levy during our set visit:

Just as you don’t have to know a home run from a base hit to break into tears when Kevin Costner asks his dad to play catch, you don’t need to know what spawn camping is, or have a particularly impressive kill-to-death ratio, to get Free Guy’s charms. In fact, that’s something that probably benefits the moviegoers who will be attracted to this adventure, as it’s been built right into the character of Guy.

The happy-go-lucky bank teller who endures countless robberies on a daily basis, Ryan Reynolds’ protagonist is a Non Playable Character, or NPC for short. But as Free Guy progresses, Guy learns the reality of his environment, and proceeds to expand that education when he retrieves a pair of glasses that gives him a player’s perspective. That journey is the magic element that helps any audience member get onboard with the story, and as Shawn Levy explained through a metaphor borrowing from HBO’s Chernobyl and its storytelling devices, it works for the following reasons:

With the December release date still in the cards for the time being, Shawn Levy is going to have plenty of time to continue to find that balance in the editing room for Free Guy. Clearly hoping that both non-players and pro gamers can find joy in this friendly, but destructive action-comedy, moviegoers can expect a lot of heart, with some references scattered through the landscape it's waiting to share. Free Guy is set to log onto the world of Free City on December 11th, and we’ll have more coverage of our visit to the set as we get closer to that date. But don’t forget to check out our 2020 and 2021 release schedules, as they will be updated whenever a project decides to stay on course or jump to the next level of release.

Once upon a time, movie release dates were pretty firm, and you could expect them to happen when announced. But in the era of COVID-19, things are far from being set in stone. So as their film prepares to get a new trailer, Ryan Reynolds and the cast of the upcoming comedy, Free Guy, seem to be trying to get one step ahead of the game with their pitch-perfect response to the movie's delay.

Ryan Reynolds, being the constant jokester that he is, has developed a keen skill in turning tragedy into comedy. Considering he’s a producer on Free Guy, I can’t help but wonder if he had a hand in developing this latest video announcing the new trailer for the movie. All in all, it's the perfect response to the situation. Check it out:

Not only does all the mayhem in Free Guy look vaguely familiar, but it’s that last line about arriving in theaters December 11 that hits the hardest. All too often, movie trailers have been using vague language to announce their release dates because they likely expect those dates to change. So the Free Guy cast acknowledging that rather than ignoring it makes any further delay a bit easier to swallow.

Although theaters have reopened (with Tenet being the main draw for moviegoers), the lack of major films paired with a lower guest attendance rate is making it difficult for theater chains to thrive. Now, with Daniel Craig’s No Time to Die and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman 1984 being delayed to 2021, one company is actually planning to close locations until the new year.

While it’s yet to be determined what destiny awaits Free Guy, it sounds like it has a special place in Ryan Reynolds' heart. He said late last year that Free Guy is his favorite movie he’s ever made, placing it even above Deadpool, one of his most well-known and beloved films to date. With sentiments like that, you’d have to believe he’d fight to have it released in theaters.

Making Free Guy also sounds like it had a big impact on both director Shawn Levy and Ryan Reynolds' working relationship, as the two will be teaming up yet again for a Netflix project. But rather than putting Ryan Reynolds in a video game, they’ll be making a time-travel movie based on a script called Our Name Is Adam.

Like Grand Theft Auto meets Wreck-It Ralph, Free Guy is about a non-player character (NPC) in a video game named Guy (Ryan Reynolds), who's unaware of the fact that he’s in a video game, until he puts on a special pair of glasses. This average joe eventually seeks to become a hero in his own right, with comedic results, and aims to save his game before developers can shut it down.

Free Guy is expected to release on December 11, 2020 but, as the cast jokes, be on the lookout for changes. At the very least, you can expect a trailer for the movie tomorrow. For more movie news, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.

Anticipation for the release of No Time To Die is pretty high, as the film’s delay into November has only given James Bond fans more time to ponder just what sort of mysteries are waiting past the title song. But another, greater mystery that awaits for 007 loyalists is who exactly will take over the post of the franchise lead once Daniel Craig turns in his Walther PPK for the last time. In uncertain times like these, there’s only one place we can turn to get a hint as to what the answer to that question might be: the oddsmakers!

James Bond is known to be a gambler from time to time, so why wouldn’t we consult the data from oddsmakers like US-Bookies to see where the smart money is supposedly going? And believe it or not, fans aren’t over the concept of a female Bond, despite official statements basically writing this concept off. We’ll start with going over the top 10 placings in terms of the odds-on favorites, after which we’ll be running through the long shots that have some interesting names attached to their standings. It all adds up to a pretty exciting pack, mixing the expected with the shocking!

Damian Lewis (25/1)

Currently known for his leading role on the Showtime drama Billions, Damian Lewis’ past history with both Homeland and Band of Brothers also could have put the English drama star in the running for James Bond. The one factor that might keep him from landing the gig is age, as Lewis is currently 49, which is around the time a 007 actor would see themselves on their way out. For reference, Roger Moore was 58 when he left the franchise, and Daniel Craig is currently 52.

Chris Hemsworth/Paul Mescal (20/1)

On the other end of the spectrum, the 36-year-old Extraction star Chris Hemsworth and 24-year-old Paul Mescal, known for his role in Hulu’s Normal People, are both younger candidates tied for 9th place. Were the producers running the franchise, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, hoping to go with a popular, yet relative unknown, Mescal is the way to go, especially as the youngest candidate in the field. Hemsworth, on the other hand, almost feels like an instant disqualification in this pair, as his Marvel experience has probably driven up his salary demands, and the potential Extraction franchise is probably his Bond gig for the time being.

Henry Cavill (16/1)

A past favorite of fans and oddsmakers alike, Henry Cavill was previously touted as a strong candidate back in the days that saw Daniel Craig take the crown for Casino Royale. Those who saw and enjoyed The Man From U.N.C.L.E. are probably still holding out hope for this prospect, and to be certain, it could still happen if Justice League's Superman willed it so. Those of you looking for an age check, Cavill is currently 37, which keeps him in the game.

Jamie Bell (12/1)

Rocketman’s Jamie Bell would be a fine pick for James Bond, as he has the cred from both TV projects like Turn: Washington’s Spies, as well as his extensive film career stemming back to his debut as young Billy Elliot. His relative youth among these 007 candidates also plays rather well. However, there’s just one potentially big catch: he’s already signed on to be a potentially important part of Paramount’s budding franchise stemming from Michael B. Jordan’s Without Remorse. Bell may already have a pre-emptive clause in his contract from that Tom Clancy adaptation that’ll keep him in that particular wheelhouse, which would be less than ideal for his potential tuxedo fitting.

Idris Elba/Cillian Murphy (10/1)

If Idris Elba and Cillian Murphy aren’t perfect examples of actors who have been suggested to play James Bond for quite some time, then such a concept doesn’t exist. The 47-year-old Elba and 44-year-old Murphy are mainstays, Elba particularly, in the race to find the next Bond. But as an expert has written the Thor actor out of the part due to his age, and Cillian Murphy isn’t too far from that mark himself, their potential casting may sadly be too late.

Aidan Turner (9/1)

Best known for his role on the TV series Poldark, Aidan Turner has had experience playing a lovelorn warrior of great speed himself in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy. Perhaps this, along with his handsome looks, is what has landed Turner in the fifth place showing amongst these other potential James Bond actors. He can be seen next in the TV series Leonardo, in which Aidan Turner will be playing Da Vinci himself; but if that doesn’t pan out, this could mean some good things for a potential opening on her majesty’s secret service.

Tom Hardy/Michael Fassbender (8/1)

At 42 and 43, respectively, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender are two more people that, while being familiar and bankable names, are a little on the older side of the James Bond dream casting spectrum. Their familiarity and potential franchise gigs probably put them further out of the realm of possibility, but fans seem to be willing to bet they’ll get the gig. So if I had to choose, Fassbender would have the advantage, as not only is the Alien franchise’s future in question, he basically played the role as Magneto in X-Men: First Class.

Tom Hiddleston/Richard Madden (6/1)

Having a familiar face certainly helps when it comes to James Bond fans looking into potential hires. While a producer might be motivated to avoid Tom Hiddleston and Richard Madden in the casting game, both occupy a sweet spot where they’re still in their 30s and are recognizable enough to draw a crowd, but still primed to take their stars further. The edge goes to Madden in this case, as he’s 33 to Hiddleston’s 39, and the latter actor’s commitment to Disney+’s Loki series will probably get in the way of any more immediate talks.

Sam Heughan (5/1)

As fast as you can say the word Outlander, Sam Heughan’s name seems to come up in any sort of talk surrounding any potential future 007 action. Part of that is because the man himself has been pushing for the throne himself, but honestly, it’s hard to not see him as a high ranking contender. Even in the higher age range at 40 years old, the man has the looks and the attitude needed to play James Bond, and he is very comfortable with action and emotion as Scottish heartthrob Jamie Fraser. Plus, it helps that the idea kind of took shape in people’s heads after his tuxedoed appearance in The Spy Who Dumped Me, so this isn’t a total surprise.

James Norton (2/1)

At 34 years old, with a resume that includes parts in TV shows like Doctor Who and McMafia, as well as films such as Rush and Little Women, James Norton has an interesting balance of anonymity and familiarity. All of those facors have probably led to him being the odds-on favorite for James Bond at this particular moment in time. While this could change drastically between now and the time of a formal announcement, it’s probably still a good idea to keep an eye on where Mr. Norton’s career takes him in the near future.

Other Notable Candidates

Towards the back of the James Bond candidate pack is a rather interesting assortment of players. With some pretty wild picks, a couple of veterans to the Bond franchise and a previous contender who got pretty close to the job in the running up to Daniel Craig’s hiring, all of these actors are too good to leave out. So let’s get started, moving through three distinct groupings:

The 50/1 Gang

There are six candidates who sit just outside of the top 10 standings, with 50/1 odds tipping them as the next 007:

This is where those Bond franchise veterans we discussed earlier lie, as both Spectre’s Andrew Scott and No Time To Die’s Rami Malek are both suggested as sitting in this category. Should either of them be cast, it’d be the first time a Bond villain would go on to play the lead role in film. Though it should be noted that Die Another Day villain Toby Stephens eventually went on to play James Bond in a series of BBC radio adaptations. So never say never on this concept!

In the younger end of the pack, both John Boyega and Timothee Chalamet are in the 50/1 range of landing the role. If I to pick a favorite in this subsection, I would say that Boyega would be the victor, as his Star Wars franchise experience gives him the functional advantage. Rounding out this group are Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch, with McGregor returning to potential contention and Cumberbatch riding the wave he’s recently become accustomed to. McGregor is the clear favorite out of these two.

The 00-Women Gang

Betting fans of the James Bond franchise haven’t given up hope on a female Bond being cast in the future. Though as you can see, most have heeded the words of Barbara Broccoli, by not putting too much stock into this prospect. Still, with candidates like these, it’s hard not to get excited about this big “what if”:

Now, if anyone in this pack was going to get the gig, I side with the betters in Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer landing the post. Between the cultural success of that show, as well as her upcoming appearance in the Ryan Reynolds film Free Guy, it’s a potent martini of qualifications that would make history in its own right. Provided, of course, there’s some sort of in-house reversal over at EON Productions.

The Long Shot Gang

Last, but not least, are two contenders that, while being qualified in their own ways, are less than likely to become the next Bond:

Even in such an unlikely grouping, the favorite is clear as Harry Styles is an acting talent tested enough to be considered a possibility, and he’s young enough to do a longer stint in the franchise than Will Smith could potentially. Also, Smith’s an American, so that probably docks some additional points off the top.

Again, all of these odds could change at the drop of a hat, and fans shouldn’t count any of those top candidates out too early on in the race to become the next James Bond. Until that would-be successor has been named, Daniel Craig is still our 007 for the moment, and we’ll get to see him in his final franchise outing on November 20, when No Time To Die sets its sights on the box office.

Spoilers ahead for those not caught up Season 3 of Killing Eve.

This week’s episode was a change of pace for Killing Eve, which followed Jodie Comer’s Oksana on her journey home for a short-lived reunion with her family. Episode 5 provided some much-needed insight into Villanelle’s past, combined with shocking character development. But as we move forward wondering what to expect next week, there’s a massive cliffhanger dangling in front of us we need to see resolved: the murder of Eve’s husband Niko, as committed by Harriet Walter’s Dasha.

The jaw-dropping kill had Dasha luring Eve to Poland with the expectation of mending things with her hubby after the events in Season 2. As revealed in Episode 4, Dasha was the one pulling the strings on their communication the whole time. Once Eve made it to him in Poland, Dasha stabbed him right in the throat and secretly killed him right in front of Eve.

Eve has certainly seen more than her share of death recently, and fans are really concerned over how Sandra Oh’s character will be able to cope with another major loss. That said, it was an interesting development that it was Dasha pulling the strings here. The Twelve seem to be following through with their plan to take out everyone nearest and dearest to Eve, but what about Villanelle? Is Dasha a threat to her as well? CinemaBlend had the chance to speak with Harriet Walter about her character in Season 3, and here’s what she told me:

It’s really tough to tell where things will go from here, isn’t it? That’s exactly why we love Killing Eve. As Harriet Walter told me, there’s certainly a give-and-take situation happening between Villanelle and Dasha here. The latter has an upper hand because she really doesn’t know what to expect, but Villanelle is really on the top of her kill game. Dasha’s been providing Oksana with a fancy place to stay, along with the opportunity to move up with the Twelve. But then again, Killing Eve is great at setting up trust issues.

When discussing Dasha’s specific role in Villanelle’s character arc this season, Harriet Walter said this:

It’s good to keep in mind that Dasha has known Villanelle for a long time, so she knows how the devious killer works. Maybe somewhat in the same way that Konstantine does? Harriet Walter continued:

Now that we’re midway through Killing Eve Season 3, there’s definitely a lot of questions we have moving forward and Dasha is moving closer to the center of the web. How is the season already half over?!?

Watch Killing Eve Sunday nights on AMC at 9:00 p.m. ET. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on the BBC America/AMC series as they develop.

Ah, the perks of being a movie star. If you’re someone like Ryan Reynolds, you can quarantine with some fantastic gin, get a haircut from your wife/better half Blake Lively and promote your new and exciting holiday release Free Guy. It’s a nice feeling, for sure… up until the point your wife finds out that you happened to make a movie with Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer, and you never stopped to tell her.

That’s exactly what happened recently, as Ryan Reynolds took to Instagram to talk up the front cover treatment his latest film has received, and how it’s such a “speedball of joy,” as you can see below:

Looking at that art for Free Guy, the joy can hardly be contained. With this nutso looking comedy-adventure recently pushed back to the holiday season, it only makes the first trailer released for the film all the more exciting to go back and revisit. Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer running rampant in a GTA meets Fortnite world where anything is possibly explosive is something that history has been joyfully looking forward to for some time now.

Of course, that joy reached its way out to Blake Lively, which in turn caused the Killing Eve fan in her to politely freak out as follows:

While Free Guy is still a couple of months out, the latest season of Killing Eve has already started with a promising, albeit slightly off, start. And seeing as Jodie Comer’s already iconic Villanelle is wrecking having once again, as only she knows how, the slightest sight of the actor is going to touch off some feelings.

Let’s just hope that Blake Lively doesn’t separate herself from her husband after her discovery that he did in fact get to work with Killing Eve’s rising star. Ryan, you might want to spring for some flowers, along with a bottle of Aviation Gin with a personally engraved apology. It's just a suggestion.

It’s hard to tell if this is just another good natured joke between Blake Lively and her loving husband, or if somehow Ryan Reynolds was able to stealthily make Free Guy without informing her that Ms. Comer was part of the festivities. More than likely it’s the first scenario that reigns supreme, but no matter the truth, it’s shenanigans like this that are helping the world keep it together while staying indoors.

If current plans hold up, we’ll all get to see Jodie Comer AND Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy as it levels up in theaters on December 11. Keep checking in with CinemaBlend for updates on that project and other movie news. Meanwhile, Killing Eve can be seen Sundays at 9 PM ET on BBC America.

Spoilers ahead for Killing Eve's Season 3 premiere.

Over the past few years, Phoebe Waller-Bridge has become a household name for her work on the big and small screen. On TV, she's got two hit shows in Fleabag and Killing Eve, both of which have won Emmy Awards. The latter show just returned to BBC America and AMC, the joy of the many fans who missed seeing Eve and Villanelle on our screens every week. The Season 3 premiere of Killing Eve just aired, but there was some thing crucial missing for me: the two leads didn't actually interact.

The wait for Killing Eve's return has been excruciating for fans like me, especially given the wild cliffhanger of Season 2. In a moment of cyclical storytelling, Villanelle shot Eve in the finale, and fans were left wondering if she managed to survive. Luckily she did just that, and was shown living in alcoholic isolation. Meanwhile, we saw the bonkers way everyone's favorite killer has been coping since her "breakup" with Eve.

The episode functioned like a typical installment of Killing Eve. There was a mixture of drama and humor, as the cast of characters' relationships continue to grow in the wake of crime solving and murder. But it was hard not seeing the two leads meet. Furthermore, it seems like their fascination with each other has really slowed down... and that's a big missing piece for me.

What makes Killing Eve such a fascinating watch (besides Villanelle's utterly awesome kills) is the dynamic between Sandra Oh's Eve and Jodie Comer's Oksana. While they are foes who are on opposite sides of the law, they're also drawn to each other in an almost primal way. Seeing their game of cat and mouse is what hooked me on the show, especially as their personal connection deepened. But the Season 3 premiere was wholly lacking this aspect to the story.

The only real indication we had of Killing Eve's two leads being drawn to each other was in Villanelle's hilarious wedding sequence in the premiere's first act. It looks like Oksana found a rebound after shooting Eve in the Season 2 finale, and speed tracked their relationship to marriage level in just six months. But Villanelle acts utterly bizarre throughout the reception, and even goes on a rant about her ex. As for Eve, she doesn't seem to be feeling the same way.

Obviously Killing Eve's title character has every right to abandon her fascination with Villanelle. After all, she was shot in the finale and has been struggling with the physical and emotional toll of that near death experience. But Kenny's death was a shocking button for the episode, so clearly Eve is still in grave danger. Might this be the reason for a reconnection with Villanelle? Only time will tell.

Killing Eve airs Sunday nights on BBC America and AMC. In the meantime, check out our midseason premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

As more shows slip into a dry spell, Killing Eve is primed to return to BBC America with Season 3. These new episodes will feature the same drama and tension of past seasons, and apparently, actress Jodie Comer in a clown suit. Villanelle is seen dressed as a clown in the early trailers for the new season and apparently, the experience of filming those scenes had a profound effect on Comer.

In an interview ahead of the premiere of Killing Eve Season 3, Jodie Comer said she has a "newfound respect" for clowns after that day of filming. Comer talked to TVLine about her brief stint as a clown and shared something about the clowning profession that may be taken for granted by those who have never worked as clowns:

Jodie Comer probably didn't have to be too jovial in her clown costume, but that's just an assumption based on Villanelle's general demeanor. The trailer for Season 3 of Killing Eve shows Villanelle scaring children away with her chaotic presence, so perhaps Comer channeled how miserable she was in that clown suit to really drive that performance over the top.

Villanelle as a clown will be a fun thing for fans to look forward to, many of which may be eager to find out where Killing Eve goes after Season 2's ending. The previous season concluded with Eve being shot by Villanelle. The assassin believed she had killed Eve but, as Season 3's official synopsis has revealed, that's not the case:

The stage is now set for more drama, more violence, and more clowns than ever before. Killing Eve looks like its doing all the right things to ensure another critically acclaimed season, though I can't say for certain until the series is back on television.

Killing Eve returns to BBC America Sunday, April 12, at 9:00 p.m. ET. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest news happening in television and movies, and for continued updates on how the coronavirus pandemic could affect your favorite television.

It’s been a rough few weeks for television fans as we’ve seen a slew of production delays for television shows amidst lockdowns around the world, but thankfully Killing Eve has decided to swoop in and fill a void by premiering two weeks early on BBC America and AMC. The thrilling Emmy-winning series, which comes from creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge and stars Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, left fans with a ton to think about over the ten months that it's been on hiatus.

Before diving back into the cat-and-mouse game of Killing Eve for Season 3's premiere, allow the following to refresh your memory. Here are the most important things to remember. SPOILERS ahead for Killing Eve Season 2. If you’re not caught up on the series ahead of the premiere this Sunday April 12, catch up on Hulu here, AMC here or BBC America here.

Villanelle Shot Eve In Rome

The final cliffhanger that has us anxiously coming into Season 3 of Killing Eve cam in the last minutes of the Season 2 finale. After an operation gone wrong in Rome, Sandra Oh’s Eve and Jodie Comer’s Villanelle found themselves each at a crossroads in their lives. Eve felt betrayed by the MI6 Russian operation led by Carolyn Martens and Villanelle had pissed off the Twelve to the point of a hit being placed on her own head.

While wandering in the ruins of Rome, Villanelle suggested they go off and live in Alaska together with the car and money Konstantin had given her. When Eve refused, Villanelle shot her. It’s unclear just where the bullet went…but it’s safe to assume Eve will be okay (I mean the show’s named after her right?) But just how will she come back from this?

Eve Was Coerced Into Murder By Villanelle

Right before Eve was shot by Villanelle, the Russian assassin found herself in front of her handler Raymond, who planned to hack at her with a very large axe. But for some reason, he dropped the large weapon and resorted to attempting to choke her death before Eve came to the scene. Villanelle convinced Eve to grab the axe and she picketed it into his back.

In the heat of the moment, Villanelle told Eve she needed to swing that axe right at his head and kill him, otherwise he’d have kept coming after them. Eve did it, thus committing her first murder (and a crazy bloody one at that). Oh’s character thought she did it out of necessity until she found out Villanelle had a gun at her disposal the entire time. How will Eve cope with that first taste of murder? The honeymoon phase between her and Villanelle has to be over, that’s for sure.

Konstantin Knows Something About Villanelle’s Family

Villanelle turned on not just Eve at the end of Season 2, as the assassin also seemed to cut ties with her old friend Konstantin (Kim Bodnia). Once again, he helped her get out of a sticky situation by stalling the Twelve from killing her until she took out Aaron Peel. He offered her a car and money to run away from it all, but she didn’t want to leave Eve. Angered at Konstantin’s pleas for her to forget Eve and go on her own again, as well as the manipulation in play involving Peel, she promised to come after him and his family in spite.

But during their last exchange, Konstantin’s briefly mentioned that some of Villanelle’s family may still be alive. This could serve as leverage down the line for Konstantin to keep Villanelle close. Plus, she certainly has a soft spot for finding somewhere to belong. Remember, she's attracted to Eve because they are "the same."

The Twelve Are Still In Play

The action at the underbelly of Killing Eve has to do with the group of assassins called The Twelve, which Villanelle was a part of without her explicit knowledge. Both Raymond and Konstantin were her handlers for The Twelve, but she keeps running away from them. When Raymond was killed by Eve, he vowed to both Villanelle and Eve that they would come after not only them, but their families and friends.

While Villanelle remained without enough ties for that to matter much to her, Eve certainly has a few more loved ones The Twelve could target in order to taunt and haunt her. Maybe this shared threat from the organization will be what ultimately pulls the pair together again?

Villanelle Killed Niko’s New Girlfriend

Another boiling plot line to keep in mind as we head into Killing Eve Season 3 is the torn relationship between Eve and Niko. The couple’s lives were really broken apart last season, with Villanelle having a ton to do with that. As the season pulled to an end, Niko had left Eve and moved in with a colleague from his school, which went down after Villanelle confronted Niko to tell him that Eve had stabbed her in Paris.

At the end of Season 2, Villanelle also paid Niko and his new girlfriend a visit to provoke him, and killed her in front of his eyes. It will be interesting to see how Niko’s role continues from there. Will he and Eve band together in shared trauma over Villanelle’s actions, or will the two become completely estranged?

Hugo Could Still Be Alive

Eve made a lot of rash decisions during the final stretch of Season 2 and if we are to assume she lives through it (and the Season 3 trailer offers a hint) she will be grappling with the aftermaths. Such as the moment when she left her partner Hugo (Edward Bluemel) in the Roman hotel bleeding to save Villanelle. Hugo looked like he was in pretty bad shape when she walked away from him, but it’s unclear if he actually died or made it out alive.

When Eve returned to the hotel after getting to Villanelle, the whole bloody scene had been cleaned up and Carolyn alluded to a crew that had taken care of the situation. We’ll have to watch and find out if Hugo comes back into the picture or not.

No One Is Happy With Carolyn

Arguably the last point to remember is all of Carolyn Martens’ shadiness. The way things left off, we learned that Carolyn actually wanted Villanelle to kill Aaron Peel the whole time without anyone being the wiser. Carolyn’s son Kenny tried to warn Eve not to go on the mission in Rome, likely because he knew what was about to go down.

Carolyn paid off Konstantin to manipulate Eve as well and stall the Twelve. Overall, there’s a lot of hate being passed around MI6’s Head of Russia. And she’s certainly proved that she cannot be trusted, so what's to come in Season 3?

Now you’re all ready to dive into Killing Eve Season 3 this Sunday, April 12, at 9:00 p.m. ET! The upcoming season certainly puts all the characters in different situations that is sure to shake up the series in new ways. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more TV coverage.

In 2015, after three decades away from the franchise and despite a difficult production with two leads that did not get along, 70-year-old director George Miller delivered a legitimate action masterpiece with Mad Max: Fury Road. Since then we’ve been eagerly awaiting news to hear when Miller would once again return to the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Well according to a new rumor, George Miller may have found his new leads for another Mad Max movie.

Warner Bros. and George Miller are looking for new leads for the next Mad Max film and they may have their eyes on Jodie Comer and Richard Madden. That’s according to Geeks WorldWide, who report that the pair of actors are at the top of the want list to star in a Mad Max prequel film titled Mad Max: Furiosa. The report also states that George Miller would return to direct and that production is expected to begin late this year in Australia.

This should be treated as a rumor for now, and the report states that Jodie Comer and Richard Madden are wanted for the film, not that they have officially signed on. So we should take this rumor with a grain of salt for the time being and shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves thinking that Mad Max: Furiosa starring Jodie Comer and Richard Madden is a done deal. That said, this rumor is certainly something worth considering.

According to the rumor, Jodie Comer is being sought for Mad Max: Furiosa to play none other than Imperator Furiosa herself. As a prequel film, Comer would play the younger version of Charlize Theron’s instantly iconic character from Mad Max: Fury Road. It is unknown whether Charlize Theron would return would return as the older Furiosa or not.

Actress Jodie Comer’s career has taken off recently thanks to her breakout role as childlike assassin Villanelle on the TV series Killing Eve, for which she won an Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy. She also just had a cameo appearance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as Spoiler Alert! Rey’s mother. Later this year she will prove her action chops on the big screen opposite Ryan Reynolds in Free Guy.

If this rumor bears out and both actors sign on, Jodie Comer would join Mad Max: Furiosa opposite Richard Madden. The report states that Madden would star in Furiosa as a handsome man with a huge forehead wound crudely stitched together with chrome staples.

First breaking out as the Young Wolf Robb Stark on HBO’s Game of Thrones, Richard Madden has gone on to star in the series Bodyguard and Dexter Fletcher’s Elton John film Rocketman. Later this year Richard Madden joins the MCU as Ikaris in The Eternals.

We’ve heard that Warner Bros. wants more Mad Max movies from George Miller and the director has said he has two more films in his head, one of them being a Furiosa movie. So this rumored Mad Max: Furiosa film isn’t coming out of left field. What is interesting though is the rumored casting.

Charlize Theron has stated multiple times that she’d love to come back and play Furiosa again. So it would be odd that Jodie Comer would be sought for the role instead. It’s possible Charlize Theron changed her mind, but I think the prevailing wisdom was that the actress would be returning to one of her most recognizable roles. It’s nothing against Jodie Comer, but I think that would be the preferred direction.

Perhaps it has to do with this rumored film potentially being a prequel. Jodie Comer is 18 years Charlize Theron’s junior and so Mad Max: Furiosa would be set well before Mad Max: Fury Road and rather than de-age the not at all old and completely stunning Charlize Theron, they decided to recast.

The more encouraging direction though would be a film that served as both sequel and prequel, showing Furiosa in the past and present, allowing both Comer and Theron to play her.

It’s a lot to think about, but for now it’s just a rumor. We’ll keep you updated though as we eagerly wait for George Miller to blow our minds once more. Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what’s headed to theaters this year and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest movie news.

Ben Affleck has made a career out of taking big risks. Now, he’s taking on a new challenge -- a movie starring Adam Driver, Jodie Comer, and Matt Damon. And even he admits that he’s a little bit nervous about this one.

The actor’s next project, The Last Duel, is a huge collaboration in more ways than one. Set in 14th century France, it’s a true story about two knights, Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris. After Jean de Carrouges accused Jacques Le Gris of raping his wife, King Charles VI sanctioned a duel between the two. He’ll have a supporting role in the film, but is still deeply involved as one of the screenwriters, along with Matt Damon. When asked about the project, Ben Affleck was quick to admit he knows it’s an ambitious project (via ET):

We can understand why he’s so excited. Though the pair teamed up for the 2015 HBO series Project Greenlight, The Last Duel marks the first cinematic collaboration between longtime friends Ben Affleck and Matt Damon since 2004’s Jersey Girls. It’s also the first time they’ve co-written a screenplay since their Oscar-winning breakout film Good Will Hunting.

This is a considerably different situation for the both of them for a few different reasons. It’s the first time they’ve collaborated with another writer. They drew on their own experiences growing up in the Boston area for Good Will Hunting -- a far cry from Medieval Europe. But as actors, they have both proven they are more than capable of losing themselves in a role, regardless of the time and place a film is set in.

The Last Duel marks a big departure for Ben Affleck from his recent projects. Not only is a period piece about dueling considerably different from Batfleck, it’s also a notable change from the more personal take of his most recent film, The Way Back. And it will mark the first time since 2010’s The Town that his behind-the-scenes work will be more significant than his role on screen.

Ridley Scott will begin production on The Last Duel later this year. It’s slated for release on Christmas Day 2020. In the meantime, you can see Ben Affleck in The Way Back, which hits theaters much sooner -- on March 6.

Free Guy isn't even coming out until Fourth of July weekend, but the comedy's marketing has already been [chef's kiss] perfection. There should be an award for movie teases. Speaking of awards, since the Golden Globe Awards are tomorrow -- Sunday, January 5 -- and Free Guy star Jodie Comer is nominated for Killing Eve, the Free Guy team pulled a classic Ryan Reynolds move and maximized a pop culture moment for their own benefit. The Peloton actress can relate.

Ryan Reynolds posted a video on "The Craft of Free Guy," a clever spoof of the many self-promoting awards consideration interviews currently working the web during awards season. In this case, Reynolds and Jodie Comer were talking about the dynamic between their Free Guy characters when Reynolds stopped the background music and interview to ask why "Emmy winner" had to be listed under Comer's name every time when he got nothing?

So the "[bleep]-er" behind the keyboard started adding Ryan Reynolds' own honors -- from Best Cast Ensemble Nominee in 2009 to Sexiest Man Alive in 2010, Best Kiss Nominee in 2010, Best Young Cable Actor back in 1985 when he was 9, 2nd Grade Blue Ribbon ("that's a participation award!") and even Golden Globe Award Winner ... for Ryan Gosling.

Check it out:

Yes, leave it to Ry-guy to perfectly spoof awards season with a video that is both self-deprecating and pure self-promotion.

Shawn Levy directed Free Guy and re-tweeted the video with a note that he loves his Free Guy stars. It's definitely nothing new for Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds to post a timely self-deprecating video. It's also not even new for him to do so connected to Free Guy. Remember the cast video with Reynolds, Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, and Taika Waititi? Reynolds and Waititi pretended Free Guy was the first time they worked together, going out of their way to disavow their previous team-up for Green Lantern.

Unlike that other Ryan, Ryan Reynolds is best known for his comedy and comedy is notoriously overlooked by major awards. That said, the Golden Globes do separate drama from "musical or comedy" movies, and Reynolds was nominated for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Deadpool. You know who beat him that year? Ryan Gosling for La La Land.

In Free Guy, Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, a non-player character in an open world video game. According to Syfy Wire, Jodie Comer and Joe Keery play programmers who create a code that allows Guy to break free of his non-playable bonds. Taika Waititi plays Antoine, described as an unscrupulous game publisher who steals their code and sticks it in Free City.

The first trailer for Free Guy was released to fans about a month ago and seemed to go over quite well. Now Free Guy is one of the most anticipated comedies of 2020.

Ryan Reynolds said Free Guy is his favorite movie he's made so far, adding this during NYCC's Fox panel (via EW):

We can probably expect Ryan Reynolds to promote the blazes out of Free Guy before its July 3, 2020 release. I wouldn't be surprised if Reynolds tapped his best frenemy Hugh Jackman for more "feud" posts in the months ahead. Hopefully Blake Lively also gets in on the act, since she's pretty good at promotion too, and maybe Reynolds can use his viral marketing skills to help promote her January 31 movie The Rhythm Section.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

As the grand finale of the nine-episode Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker was expected to reach deep into the franchise canon to execute a conclusion, and that expectation was very much met. Some big questions are answered, some significant arcs are brought to a close, and many characters came back for some final goodbyes.

It’s that last bit that we’re here to talk about in this feature. Not only did director J.J. Abrams manage to bring in some franchise legends, but also big actors in surprising roles and a handful of fun appearances. So let’s dig into it, shall we? Here are all of the cameos we know about in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker so far.

J.J. Abrams (D-O)

Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz were notably brought in to help create the voice for BB-8 in the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the production didn’t go to outside consultation when it came to making D-O for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. The droid notably speaks English (much like C-3PO), and while its modulated, the voice you’re hearing belongs to director J.J. Abrams. It marks the first time that he has acted as a character instead of himself since a 2001 episode of Alias in which he had a voice role.

Jodie Comer (Rey's Mother)

Those of you who are fans of the critically-acclaimed series Killing Eve probably got a bit of an extra thrill seeing Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker this weekend noticing that Villanelle herself, Jodie Comer, plays Rey’s unnamed mother (opposite actor Billy Howle as Rey’s father). It’s not clear if she is the daughter of Emperor Palpatine, or if that lineage is on her husband’s side, but either way it was fun seeing the Emmy winner in her first blockbuster (and actually only her second movie).

Warwick Davis (Wicket W. Warrick)

Warwick Davis has a long history playing multiple characters in the Star Wars universe (eight to be exact), but for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker he returned to the role that began his relationship with the legendary franchise. In 1983 Davis made his feature film debut playing the fuzzy Ewok named Wicket in Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, and in 2019 he reprised that same role for a quick appearance following Rey’s defeat of the Sith. It’s a quick moment, but a cute one, and gives us an interesting look into the biology of the species (much like Wookiees, it appears that they age very slowly).

Harrison Ford (Han Solo)

Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker may have rewritten a lot of what Star Wars: The Last Jedi implemented in the canon, but one fantastic detail that was maintained from Rian Johnson’s film was the idea that Kylo Ren was “haunted” by the spirit of his father, Han Solo, whom he killed in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. J.J. Abrams brought this to life in the new blockbuster, getting Harrison Ford to perform one last scene as the world’s favorite intergalactic smuggler. Abrams even finds a way to reference Solo’s famous “I know” line from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back – though this time the context refers to Kylo Ren a.k.a. Ben Solo reembracing the Light Side of the Force.

James Earl Jones (Darth Vader)

As we’ll get into more a bit later, not all of the cameos in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker were in-person, as the film finds a way to include a number of actors in voice-only roles. One perfect example is James Earl Jones, who has a single line toward the beginning of the film as Darth Vader speaking as an imitation performed by Emperor Palpatine. It’s a nice surprise, and Jones’ voice is always amazing to hear… though the much more substantial role he had in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story did make this appearance a tad less exciting.

Denis Lawson (Wedge Antilles)

Star Wars fans spent the majority of the Sequel Trilogy wondering what exactly had become of Wedge Antilles. The skilled pilot was a key part of some of the most important battles between the Rebels and the Empire in the original trilogy, and yet the events of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi suggested that he had moved on from fighting tyranny when the Rebellion became the Resistance. Just in time for the whole saga to end, though, Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker brought back actor Denis Lawson for a surprise appearance in the new film, featured as one of the heroes brought into battle by Lando Calrissian in the ultimate fight against the First/Final Order.

Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke)

Audiences worldwide were shocked to see Supreme Leader Snoke sliced in half in Star Wars: The Last Jedi given that it seemed he was being set up as the big bad of the Sequel Trilogy – but J.J. Abrams did still find a way for the character to have a minor part in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker. Specifically, much like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader, you can hear Serkis’ voice spoken through the mouth of the Emperor early in the film when the master of the Dark Side is discussing possibilities for the future with Kylo Ren.

Chris Terrio (Colonel Aftab Ackbar)

Did you know that Admiral Ackbar had a son? Did you know that he was a colonel in the Resistance? Well, those are piece of information brought to light in Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, as Colonel Aftab Ackbar makes his first big screen appearance. On screen the character is played by Tom Wilton, who wears the prosthetics necessary to bring the squid-like alien to life, but his voice is provided by none other than Chris Terrio – who co-wrote the film’s script with J.J. Abrams, and like the director couldn’t resist taking a role in the Star Wars universe.

John Williams (Oma Tres)

There are many reasons why Star Wars is a true icon of cinema, but the epic and unforgettable music composed by John Williams most certainly ranks high on the top of the list. As such, it’s only right that he have a small role to play in the actual universe, appearing on screen for the first time since a 1959 episode of the television series Johnny Staccato. He plays Oma Tres (an anagram of “Maestro”), and is hard to miss in the movie: he’s the bartender the camera lingers on when Poe, Rey, Finn and the other heroes visit the watering hole on Kijimi.

All Of The Jedi

Most of the cameos discussed so far are spread throughout the runtime of Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker, but one particular sequence jams a bunch of them into the space of just a few seconds. I am, of course, referring to the moment when Rey reaches out with the Force to try and connect with all the dead Jedi of the past while doing battle with Emperor Palpatine. The chorus she hears in response includes the voices of just about every lightsaber-wielding hero we’ve ever seen on the big screen – and some we’ve only seen in animated features. The list includes:

Some of the voices are easier to pick out than others simply because of their recognizability (Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, and Liam Neeson, for example, should click instantly for even casual fans), but the effort on the whole is very impressive. When you go back and watch Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker again in the future, see if you can identify each individual voice.

With so many characters sporting helmets and appearing as crazy aliens, we can never be fully sure about all of the cameos in Star Wars movies – and we fully expect that more will be revealed following the publication of this feature. For now, though, hit the comments below to tell us which of all the special appearances is your favorite.

It'll take at least one more season to kill Eve! Killing Eve just premiered Season 2 last night and BBC America has already renewed it for Season 3.

Killing Eve will also continue its tradition of each season having a new woman in charge -- Season 1 had lead writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge as showrunner; Season 2 had Emerald Fennell as lead writer/showrunner; with Season 3 to be run by Suzanne Heathcote as lead writer and executive producer.

Show creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge shared a statement on the latest lady at the helm:

Emerald Fennell, who led the writing of the current Season 2, also shared her thoughts:

Killing Eve really is an untraditional show, and not just for things like the Season 2 premiere being titled "Do You Know How to Dispose of a Body?" It's very unusual for a show to grow across its first season. In fact, Killing Eve Season 1 had an unprecedented unbroken record of weekly ratings growth in the key adults 25-54 and 18-49 demos. As BBC America bragged, that is "something no other show on television has accomplished in the history of Nielsen live+3 ratings."

Granted, it's not getting Big Bang Theory numbers, but word of mouth kept it growing and growing, landing series highs with 1.25 million viewers in live+3, up 86 percent from premiere -- with 378,000 adults 18-49, up 100 percent from the premiere.

Killing Eve is making such a cultural killing thanks to the trio of Sandra Oh, Jodie Comer, and Fiona Shaw. Oh plays Eve Polastri, an MI6 operative, with Comer as psychopath assassin Villanelle, and Shaw as MI6 Russian desk leader Carolyn Martens.

The Season 2 premiere -- which picked up just 30 seconds after the end of Season 1 -- was simulcast last night on both BBC America and AMC, giving the episode even more reach. At this point, the ratings aren't in, but they are probably healthy. No matter what, the show is coming back for Season 3.

Killing Eve only had eight episodes for Season 1, and it looks like that will be the case again for Season 2 and possibly for Season 3. Season 1 is a perfect binge-watching show -- and that's how I ended up loving it -- but I'm excited to watch Season 2's episodes week to week, and do the same for Season 3 whenever it premieres (maybe April 2020, if they stick with the current schedule).

Check out how BBC America revealed the renewal on Twitter:

Sarah Barnett, president of Entertainment Networks for AMC Networks, shared her own statement with the early renewal news:

Sandra Oh recently picked up Golden Globe, SAG and Critics' Choice Awards for her role as Eve. She's always asked about returning to Grey's Anatomy but recently said Killing Eve is her home now, and she'll continue playing Eve as long as they'll have her. Or perhaps as long as Villanelle doesn't fulfill the mission of the show's title.

Killing Eve airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on BBC America and AMC. (That's just before Game of Thrones airs at 9 p.m. on HBO for the final six episodes of its series.) You can watch the first episode of Killing Eve Season 2 right now on BBCAmerica.com.

Killing Eve is the BBC America show that took the country by storm and brought Sandra Oh back into the spotlight on the small screen. The actress made a name for herself on TV with her role as Cristina Yang for ten seasons of Grey's Anatomy, and some folks may still associate her more with that long-running series than with Killing Eve. One person who definitely doesn't is her Killing Eve costar Jodie Comer, who totally never saw Grey's Anatomy before meeting Oh. Here's how Comer puts it to Oh:

Sandra Oh was on hand when Jodie Comer explained to EW that she was glad she'd never watched Grey's Anatomy prior to meeting her Killing Eve costar, and she was surprised at the sentiment. Comer elaborated, saying that so many people loved it, and if she'd known it and loved it, she might have been overwhelmed at meeting Oh.

Without knowing Sandra Oh's former big show, Jodie Comer didn't have any preconceptions of what it would be like to work for her. And hey, no worries that she'd try to treat Eve as Cristina Yang! Eve and Cristina certainly aren't two of a kind, even if they are both played by Sandra Oh.

In the same interview, Sandra Oh reiterated her determination not to return to Grey's Anatomy despite a fanbase that would still love to see her back in the mix. Oh wants to focus on the "new love" in her life, and hang out with Jodie Comer. Grey's Anatomy has continued well enough without her, and it's currently in a new era, so hopefully fans can resign themselves to Cristina not dropping by. Why not tune in to Killing Eve?

The second season of the show that was such a hit that Netflix hyped it even though it doesn't release on Netflix will hit the airwaves soon, on BBC America and AMC. The Season 2 trailer is just as hilariously effed up as Season 1 fans could have hoped, and the footage bodes well for new episodes delivering the same quality as the first batch did.

Her role on Killing Eve allowed Sandra Oh to hit an Emmys milestone as the first Asian woman to score a nomination in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. She didn't win, with the trophy going to Claire Foy for The Crown (in her final season in the role of Queen Elizabeth II), but Killing Eve fans can undoubtedly agree that she deserved the nomination. Maybe the 2019 Emmys will see her take home a trophy!

Killing Eve Season 2 premieres Sunday, April 7 at 8 p.m. ET on BBC America and AMC. There are still plenty of other shows premiering in the not-too-distant future, if you need a break from all the craziness that is the battle between Eve and Villanelle.