Paramount Skydance announced its upcoming Star Trek movie is still "in development," and somehow, that's bumming me out more than the recent cancellation of Starfleet Academy. At a time when it feels Trekkies desperately need some positive news about the franchise's future, we're again stuck in this waiting period.

This year at CinemaCon, CEO David Ellison made exciting announcements about the studio's projects and confirmed it will aggressively release films throughout the 2026 movie schedule and beyond. However, TrekMovie.com and others reported that Star Trek was more or less a footnote, which is only a bit better than the previous year, when it was forgotten entirely. To me, that's not just upsetting, it's unacceptable, and it has me questioning just how serious the studio is about getting a movie out to its fans.

Star Trek Fans Know Nothing More About Star Trek's New Movie Than They Did In November

Back in November, we learned that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein were working on a new Star Trek movie, which had many excited because they're just a handful of years removed from co-writing Spider-Man: Homecoming. At the time, it was reported that it was likely the movie would be disconnected from previous entries in the franchise, both in film and television, and would feature new characters.

Essentially, we were given nothing in terms of what it would be about, which is exactly what we got this time, too. A Star Trek movie that has nothing to do with previous works is "in development," which can mean anything from a script actively being written to its just a studio commitment to make a movie happen. If this reads as snarky, it's because Paramount has been repeating this same line for the past decade, and we're no closer to seeing another Trek movie in theaters right now than we were back when Star Trek: Beyond was first released.

Paramount Skydance Is Really Dropping The Ball On Star Trek's 60th Anniversary

Star Trek's 60th anniversary as a franchise was meant to be a big year for the franchise, and yet, Paramount Skydance has done little in the way of assuring fans it's still the high-value IP that brought in billions in streaming revenue not that long ago. Movies take a while to make, I know that, but we can't even get a bread crumb of what the pitch is or what this movie is even about?

We do have unreleased seasons of Star Trek shows on the way, but I think many people want some promising news about the path forward. It doesn't seem like that will happen until Paramount Skydance's merger with Warner Bros. happens, but I would assume that discussions have to be happening.

There's still hope that we'll get some special news about the future of Star Trek when San Diego Comic-Con rolls around, but I'm getting increasingly pessimistic after CinemaCon's presentation came and went. It's disappointing because I know a ton of Trekkies ready to celebrate the 60th anniversary, but so far, there's very little reason to get excited.

We'll continue to keep an eye out for what's ahead for Star Trek as the year continues. Almost all the shows and movies are available on streaming with a Paramount+ subscription, so make sure to pick up one to enjoy some classic shows.

There are some days I wake up on the Internet to cute videos of children hugging their dads at the bus stop, or at least amusing footage of Christopher Nolan wandering around Universal Hollywood. Then, there are other days I’m confronted with facts about some of my favorite shows that make my pulse race in discomfort or disbelief. That’s what happened this morning when I learned Sweets was never supposed to die on Bones. Yes, you read that right.

You remember Sweets. He was the awkward-yet-charismatic psychologist and profiler who worked closely with the already-terrific Bones and Booth on cases for years. He ultimately was murdered and left to die in a parking garage, having one final conversation with his partners in solving crime before he succumbed to his injuries.

When he died, he left the team with an enduring message about believing in humanity that still lives rent-free in my brain. Sweets leaving the show was a few seasons after it hit its peak creatively, but it was the final moment in the series that I can remember still being really satisfied with the drama. It was a bittersweet and memorable TV episode, but it was never supposed to even happen.

So, Why Was Sweets Killed Off Then?

John Francis Daly is also a talented writer and director (as well as the adorable kid playing Sam in Freaks and Geeks). When Bones was still filming Season 8, he was hired to write and direct the 2015 movie Vacation. This was his first big opportunity as a director, though he’d written Horrible Bosses and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone with his writing partner Jonathan Goldstein prior to landing the gig. He physically had to be away from the show if he wanted to film the movie, and the creators ultimately decided if he was going to go, it needed to be in the “most painful way imaginable," with Stephen Nathan saying at the time:

Stephen Nathan also told THR while the show was still airing that they didn’t “want to hold” John Francis Daly back, but it became clear that once he chose the directing route, it made the most sense to kill the character off. He also elaborated:

So, yes, it was a creative choice. And it sounds like it was not Daly’s creative choice.

John Francis Daly Didn’t Really Want To Go

Vacation at first was going to shoot over the summer between Season 8 and Season 9 of Bones. With that schedule. John Francis Daly would have been able to do both shows. However, he said in a LiveJournal interview that the movie got pushed a whole year. It would go on to film in September and October of 2014 – right when network TV production is in schedule.

Ultimately, it was the Bones producers that told Daly him simply being gone for four months wasn’t an option.

None of these quotes contradict one another, but two things stand out to me. The first is that John Francis Daly did not want to stop playing Sweets. The second is the show didn’t want to be Daly’s second choice. Those two things naturally were never going to align, and I do agree if you are going to write a character off, that character might as well go out with a bang.

This is definitely one of those cases, though, where I wish things had been able to play out differently. I had trouble getting past Sweets’ death, even more so than Vincent Nigel-Murray, which also stuck with me. I do think Sweets’ death marks the end of some fans’ viewership in a way that doesn’t usually or always happen when a character is killed off. Like many fans, I broke up with Bones a short time later, and the show ultimately ended with Season 12.

It worked out for John Francis Daly, who has gone on to be a big part of fun and underrated movies like Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and box office winners like Game Night. I'm not sure it worked out as well for Bones.

Although Star Trek fans finally received a new movie earlier this year with the Paramount+ subscription-exclusive Section 31, the fact of the matter is it’s been almost 10 years since this sci-fi- franchise left its mark in theaters. Star Trek Beyond left the crew of the Kelvin Timeline’s USS Enterprise-A free to go on more adventures, but it no longer sounds like there’s any hope of reuniting with these versions of Kirk, Spock, etc. Instead, Paramount has reportedly tapped some stellar talent from the Spider-Man film series to tackle a new Star Trek movie, and I’m definitely interested to see what they put together.

Per Deadline, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who co-wrote Spider-Man: Homecoming, have been selected to write, produce and direct a Star Trek film that is described as having a “completely new take” on this universe. Meaning, it will not be connected to any of the previous or current TV shows and movies, nor is it tied to any of the other Star Trek movies that have been in development over the last several years. Daley and Goldstein already have history with Paramount from having written, directed and executive produced Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves.

I liked John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein work on Spider-Man: Homecoming and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, as well as their directorial efforts on the comedy Game Night, so all power to them with boldly going where no Star Trek movie writers have gone before. That’s assuming, of course, this ends up being the Trek movie that actually moves forward rather and isn’t relegated to development hell like so many others before it. And I certainly don’t want Daley and Goldstein to go through the same experience they did on The Flash, where they put years of work into this movie, only to depart and have others take over their positions.

All this being said, I am curious specifically how disconnected this movie will be from the rest of the Star Trek franchise. Deadline mentions that, while not confirmed, sources say that “it’s likely that new characters will be featured in this version.” So will this movie simply tell a more self-contained story within the Prime Timeline, i.e. the universe where most Trek stories take place? Or is John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein movie meant to follow in the footsteps of the Kelvin Timeline trilogy and reboot the continuity?

It may be a while until those questions are answered, but for now, it sounds like Daley and Goldstein’s Star Trek movie has now taken priority over the previously-announced “origins” one that had once been set to come out on the 2025 release schedule. Looking into the nearer future, the duo’s next feature, Mayday, is expected to be among the 2026 movie releases, and the new show Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will premiere January 15 on Paramount+.

Do you know what the 2025 movie schedule could use? More dungeons, with a heaping increase in the dragon population as well. Sadly, a sequel to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is still uncertain. However, as that 2023 crowdpleaser is making a name for itself through Netflix subscription holders, directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have just put out a call for a small gesture that could make a big difference.

Whether you’ve been on board with the Chris Pine-led ensemble comedy, or if you’re one of those U.S. viewers that have put Dungeons & Dragons in the second slot of the Top 15 Movies, you can participate. Per a posting on social media, here’s how Goldstein and Daley put out the call for fans to support Honor Among Thieves:

Of course, any creator is going to want to give their project a boost in the streaming rankings, so this request doesn’t feel that wild on the surface. However, as reported earlier this month in Variety, Paramount+’s aborted Dungeons & Dragons live-action series is now in development at Netflix. What’s more, showrunner/writer Drew Crevello has moved with that project as well.

So let’s say that Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves lands that huge double thumb boost. With the property squarely in Netflix’s corner, that could be taken as a sign that fans are more invested than others may have thought. Considering Chris Pine’s bullish D&D thoughts from last summer are still pretty fresh, we could even see at least one cast member return for a follow-up.

Then again, acquisitions and changes of management can mean murder to a potential franchise. I should know, as I’m still waiting for James Cameron’s supposed confirmation of Alita: Battle Angel sequels in 2023 that hasn’t brought us any closer to an announcement. Considering Rosa Salazar couldn’t even escape the MCU’s editing scissors during the production of Captain America: Brave New World, it doesn't feel like the brass at 20th Century Studios is feeling any particular remorse for its inaction.

I don’t want any of us to leave without hope however, as there is one factor that seems to be working on our side. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was just added on Wednesday, and this week’s New on Netflix offerings have given us a #2 hit. Now, if Netflix’s 28 day viewership rule applies to more than original series, if enough people bump up this flick’s ratings in that time frame, there might be room for a conversation about the future.

It's a Hail Mary, for sure, but is streaming Honor Among Thieves a bad idea, even if you're just watching the film for your own enjoyment? One never knows where the dice will fall until they're tossed, so let's roll!

Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley are four men who are all doing quite well at the moment. Reynolds is one of the biggest stars thanks to hits like Deadpool and Free Guy; Branagh is a few months away from seeing the release of his third Hercule Poirot film; and Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley just wrote and directed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which was hailed by critics and earned over $200 million at the global box office. The four men have heat, as they say, and now they are combining forces for a new action feature for Apple Original Films.

The Hollywood Reporter has gotten word that Apple is teaming with Skydance (producers of the Mission: Impossible franchise) to make Mayday with Ryan Reynolds, Kenneth Branagh, Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley attached. Goldstein and Daley wrote the script prior to the start of the on-going WGA Writers Strike, and they are going to direct the movie as their follow-up to Game Night and the aforementioned Dungeons & Dragons film.

Ryan Reynolds and Kenneth Branagh are going to star in Mayday, but the trade report doesn't mention anything about their characters nor what to expect from their dynamic – which makes sense when you also realize that there is no information presently available about the movie's plot.

One might not think that Reynolds could add yet another project to his packed slate of developing projects, but that's evidently what he's doing (perhaps he has access to time travel technology?). The actor is currently working on Deadpool 3 (which is shooting during the aforementioned strike), but he's also still trying to get his new Clue movie going, he's working on the developing comedy Boy Band, Netflix wants him back for Red Notice 2, and he is coming off of working on writer/director John Krasinski's IF. Where Mayday fits into all of the scheduling of those features is unclear.

Kenneth Branagh isn't quite as busy as Ryan Reynolds, but he has some big stuff coming up in what remains in 2023. He is part of the endless and endlessly talented cast of Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer (a reunion with the director after Dunkirk and Tenet), and his latest directorial effort, A Haunting In Venice, will be out in September. The movie is based on the Agatha Christie mystery of the same name, and it will mark Branagh's third time playing heroic detective Hercule Poirot after Murder On The Orient Express and Death On The Nile.

Exactly how fast Mayday will move through development is unclear due to the Hollywood labor disputes, but we'll continue to provide you with updates on the project as it gets closer to release. In the meantime, you can enjoy Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley's brand of comedy and action by streaming Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, which is available to watch instantly with a Paramount+ subscription.

Updated with video.

Sometimes things happen in real life that are so random and exciting that it makes you feel like you’ve rolled the dice during a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, and let the game (and your wild friends) decide what crazy things happens next. Well, this seemed to be the case for the creative team behind Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves as they were putting the pieces together to create the fantasy movie too. This is because the movie’s producer Jeremy Latcham revealed that a grocery store’s produce section and a run-in with the co-director Jonathan Goldstein played quite a role in getting this well-reviewed D&D movie made. 

Latcham started this fun story by telling CinemaBlend that before he even met John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein when they were getting ready for Spider-Man: Homecoming he had read their script called Bus Drivers, and loved their work. He explained that they “nailed” the tone of Peter Parker’s story and the foundation of the Marvel movie was laid through their screenplay. Then when the producer left Marvel, he got a call from the two writers/directors, and they said they would like him to produce D&D. He was super interested in the project, and then, by happenstance, he got a call from Hasbro and eOne as well as Paramount to talk about the same movie. 

After getting calls from “all three angles,” as Latcham put it, and getting excited about the prospect of the D&D movie, the producer then ran into Jonathan Goldstein at a grocery store of all places. And while standing in Vons they spoke about getting the ball rolling with this movie that ultimately ended up on the 2023 movie schedule. The producer recalled the story (which you can watch in the interview clip above), saying:

He continued his funny, yet fateful, story about this run-in at the grocery store, explaining the conversation he had with Goldstein about the D&D script: 

Well, they did more than talk about it, they made a whole dang movie. Latham went on to talk about how happy he was that the trio got to work together again on this fantasy film, explaining: 

Just by watching the movie you can sense that passion and fun Latcham talked about. From details like Jarnathan the bird to the incredible ensemble they brought together for this movie, they really pulled off something great, and fans have been loving it. 

The producer ended by saying he really loved working with the directors, and he explained that it had been a “great three years working with them.” Well, it's also been great for us, because this movie is such a fun time, and it’s pretty wild that we have a Vons produce section and some apples to partially thank for it. 

Updated with video.

Jarnathan-related spoilers for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves are ahead. If you haven’t seen the fantasy film, or want to relive the fantastical adventure, you can purchase the movie digitally. 

One of the reasons Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is such a fun film for both D&D fans and newcomers alike is the plethora of incredibly unique creatures that live within the world of the Forgotten Realms. Of these fun creatures, Jarnathan the aarakocra, a massive bird, has become one of the beloved characters in the D&D universe. Now, one of the movie’s, co-directors, John Francis Daley is opening up about his feelings about the giant bird who sits on the prison council, explaining that he “didn’t expect” the lovable character to make it into the movie. 

When the fantasy film Dungeons and Dragons made its debut on the 2023 movie schedule, many fans immediately fell in love with Jarnathan, the bird who only appears in the first and last scenes of the movie. Videos about him went viral on TikTok, and the directors posted many behind-the-scenes clips showing how they created the fan-favorite character practically. Since the bird was such a massive project for the movie, it cost a lot of money to make, and was a very silly idea, Daley told CinemaBlend that he was actually quite surprised the studio allowed them to keep Jarnathan. He said:

I think it’s safe to say that for just about anyone who has seen this movie, they’d agree that Jarnathan is a real highlight, and we’re all also thrilled the studio approved of the bird. Even though he's only in the movie for a few minutes, those moments are outrageous and intensely creative, and so many fell in love with him and the silly nature of the prison escape he unwillingly took part in. Even though it’s a small scene it's pivotal, and many fans fell in love with Jarnathan and his kind demeanor, like TTRPGuy who posted this viral TikTok:

The comments underneath this video reiterate the immense love for this big bird, as fans noted Jarnathan feels like “a throwaway side character that the players become overly attached to” during a campaign. There was also a lot of love for the silly name Jarnathan, and how the energy we get from this character captures the vibe of a real D&D game. 

Overall, Dungeons and Dragons has received great reviews, and audiences have had a blast entering this fantastical world. While the D&D cast is magnificent and the action is incredible, what really makes this such a fun movie is all the unique creatures, characters, and D&D Easter eggs that help immerse you into this unique realm that includes an amazing giant bird named Jarnathan. 

SPOILERS ahead for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, now playing in theaters. 

I don’t know about you, but the last thing I expected from the Dungeons & Dragons movie was seeing Bradley Cooper as a three-foot-tall halfling and the ex-husband to Michelle Rodriguez’s barbarian character. While Cooper’s appearance certainly isn’t the only celebrity cameo in the fantasy adventure, it’s a curious one, and it actually has a sweet story behind it about two former co-stars reuniting!

Co-writer/director of Dungeons & Dragons, John Francis Daley, is also an actor who has played memorable characters on TV shows like Freaks and Geeks and Bones. When speaking to Variety alongside co-writer/director John Goldstein, about getting Bradley Cooper in Dungeons & Dragons, the filmmaker shared their connection to the actor with these words: 

Early in Cooper’s career, the actor starred in a short-lived sitcom on Fox based on Anthony Bourdain’s bestselling book of the same name. Cooper played a character inspired by Bourdain while Daley was a commis chef. The series was not a big hit for either of them, especially since it only lasted one season, but it did mark the beginning of their relationship, and it's what led to them reuniting on Daley’s massive fantasy movie. As Daley continued: 

Cooper signed on to the film after the movie itself had wrapped production in Belfast, Northern Ireland already. As Daley shared during the interview, it would have been a whole ordeal for Cooper to come on the actual set for a day of shooting with COVID-19 policies in place. Therefore here’s how it went down: 

Cooper plays a character named Marlamin, who has a hilarious scene with Michelle Rodriguez’s Holga that involves his character’s feet dangling off a chair as her contrastingly muscled-up frame speaks to him about their dissolved relationship. It sounds like the chair Cooper sat in was huge and blue screens were placed behind him as Daley stood in for Rodriguez for the first scene he shared with Cooper in nearly 20 years. What a sweet cameo story! 

While you certainly don’t need to be a fan of the popular tabletop role-playing game to enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, with this cameo in mind, it does help to know that halflings are a fictional race that one has the option to be in the game. They are often likened to hobbits in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings universe. 

Now that you’ve seen Dungeons & Dragons, you can check out CinemaBlend’s exclusive interviews with the cast including Chris Pine, Regé-Jean Page and Michelle Rodriguez, also check out our breakdown of how the ending could be setting up a Dungeons & Dragons sequel. 

We’ll continue to keep you updated on details about 2023 new movie releases throughout the year. 

The cast and filmmakers behind the “Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” movie, including Chris Pine (Edgin), Regé-Jean Page (Xenk), Michelle Rodriguez (Holga), Justice Smith (Simon), Sophia Lillis (Doric), John Francis Daley (Writer/Director/Executive Producer), and Jonathan Goldstein (Writer/Director/Executive Producer) join CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell to nerd out about the fantasy adventure. Watch as they discuss, delivering a DnD movie fans can be proud of, learning all of the game’s jargon, and… a “Fast and Furious” crossover?!

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:14 - The ‘DnD’ Filmmakers Discuss Celebrity Cameos And Staying True To The Game
01:23 - Regé-Jean Page and Justice Smith On The Fun Of Delivering The Most ‘Jargon’ In The Film
03:29 - Chris Pine Compares ‘DnD: Honor Among Thieves’ To ‘Indiana Jones’ And Harrison Ford
04:46 - Would Michelle Rodriguez Do A ‘DnD’/'Fast and Furious' Crossover?
05:31 - ‘DnD’s' Filmmakers Break Down The Incredible VFX We’ll Get To See
06:53 - Regé-Jean Page Talks How Playing DnD Translates To His Acting Career
08:05 - Outro

Arguably the biggest and most influential role-playing property of all time, Dungeons & Dragons has inspired all manner of spinoffs, adaptations, homages, parodies and then some. Paramount is hoping to roll its way into box office success with the impending action-adventure Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, with fan-favorite stars like Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, and Regé-Jean Page as leads. But before the new flick could even hit theaters, co-writer and co-director John Francis Daley brilliantly cemented it as one of 2023’s most important releases, at least for fans of the canceled-way-too-soon cult classic TV dramedy Freaks and Geeks.

Daley starred as one of the titular geeks, Sam Weir, in the highly beloved high school comedy, which aired 12 of its 18 episodes before NBC canceled it and unwittingly kicked off huge careers for the majority of its young cast. For much of the past 23 years, creator Paul Feig, executive producer Judd Apatow, and the bulk of the cast have been asked about reunions and revivals, without much to show for those talks outside of the stellar 2004 DVD box set and PaleyFest panel in 2011. But now, with an unexpected heap of gratitude going towards Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, we now have an actual scripted “reunion” scene from Daley and former co-stars Samm Levine and Martin Starr. Check out the Twitter-shared video below and savor the bejesus out of it!

From the first second, the video above pays homage to the original series and its own use of Dungeons & Dragons, from the music (which presumably didn't involve years of haggling over rights to use) to the dining room set to the immediate reference to "Carlos the Dwarf." As astute viewers will remember, Carlos is what James Franco's cool kid Daniel Desario named his character in the show's finale (fittingly named "Discos and Dragons") when joining the more studious characters for a campaign sesh. As much as fans definitely wanted Daniel to hang out with the nerdy peeps more often in a potential second season, it probably makes sense that he wasn't part of this mini-reunion. The holy trinity of Sam, Neil and Bill should never be broken or molded anew.

Technically speaking, the reunion scene doesn't actually feel like it came out of a Freaks and Geeks episode directly, since it's overtly self-aware and referential in that respect. But that doesn't feel like a mark against in my eyes, since I'll watch these characters do anything, whether it's logical or not. Is my year that much better after seeing Samm Levine and Martin Starr acting confused about where their beards came from? Obviously. And yours should be, too.

Let's give these guys credit for pulling off what could have been a completely cornball and unamusing gag, by way of pointing out how ridiculous an idea it is for Dungeons & Dragons to ever get adapted into a movie. It helps that it really is a ridiculous idea, considering how deep and unwieldy the RPG universe's lore can be, while also being a medium that visually exists largely in players' imaginations and via rulebook covers.

But not only does the feature exist, but the Geeks vet is majorly responsible for its existence in its current form. Daley and filmmaking partner Jonathan Goldstein joined the project in 2019 as directors after vacating their post on The Flash, and it wasn't long before they'd completed their own draft of the screenplay to work from, with prior scribes Chris McKay and Michael Gilio getting story credits. Much like their other projects, from Horrible Bosses to Spider-Man: Homecoming to Vacation Friends, Honor Among Thieves will bring a hefty smattering of comedy to any and all hectic situations and action sequences, which is likely what Sam, Neil and Bill would have wanted from a D&D movie.

Be sure to check out Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in theaters on Friday, March 31, to see if any Freaks and Geeks stars will be popping in for cameos. And let's all continue to clamor for even more reunion spots like this from the TV show's cast members. I'd love to see Ken and Nick walking into a dispensary for the first time...

"Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" writers/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein as well as producer Jeremy Latcham joined CinemaBlend at San Diego Comic-Con 2022 to discuss their upcoming "Dungeons & Dragons" film, starring Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and Hugh Grant. They chat about strong audience reactions to the film at test screenings, shooting during an actual volcanic eruption, and of course Chris Pine’s lute.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:19 - Fans Trailer Reactions and Expectations
01:28 - Capturing The Dialogue and Tone of a D&D Campaign
02:31 -  The Film’s Massive Scale & Shooting During An Active Volcano
04:53 - The Cast’s Incredible Chemistry & Audiences in Tears
06:50 - The Benefit of Working With Franchise Stars Like Chris Pine and Michelle Rodriguez
08:49 - Creating Languages and Spell Casting Choreography 
10:26 - The Charisma of Chris Pine’s Lute Playing & More On Hugh Grant's Mysterious Character 

Thanks to advances in digital technology, live-action movies with a big enough budget can basically create anything they need to appear in the frame alongside the actors. All of the amazing creatures that we see in the trailer for Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, for example, like displacer beasts and gelatinous cubes, can all exist in the new film thanks to CGI. But one moment you can see in the film’s preview is surprisingly real: an erupting volcano.

In a brief shot in the trailer for Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, we see some characters riding horses across an open plain while a large volcano erupts in the background. It was easy to assume watching it that this was a digital effect, but it turns out it was not. At San Diego Comic-Con, CinemaBlend sat down with the filmmakers and writer/director John Francis Daley told us the volcano was actually real. He explained,

Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano began erupting in March of 2021 and continued to do so for six months. It was a record breaking eruption that lasted longer than any in Iceland in a half century, and it was the first time that lava had flowed in the area in nearly 6,000 years.

By that measure, the production of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves was certainly lucky in that it planned to film in Iceland during this period of eruption. They just happened to be there at the right time. And considering that Honor Among Thieves was filming during the height of the pandemic, one can imagine that not everything always went the movie’s way during production. 

The volcano may be quite important to the plot of the movie as well. Several scenes in the trailer show our heroes inside lava filled caverns, so they may actually be inside the volcano that we see erupting. That in mind, perhaps the new Dungeons & Dragons movie was going to have a volcano in it one way or the other, and we would have seen one created with CGI if they hadn’t been able to get the real thing on camera.

Even if the volcano ends up being set dressing only, there’s little that is going to go further in making your fantasy setting feel more epic than a randomly erupting volcano in the background. Every D&D campaign needs one of those.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is the second attempt to turn the classic tabletop RPG into a big screen movie. The game is quite popular these days, counting big stars like Vin Diesel among those that play, so a lot of people want to see this movie work. 

The new Dungeons & Dragons film has a lot going for it, including an impressive cast, with Chris Pine, Michele Rodriguez, and Hugh Grant in the ensemble. It’s also got a tone of adventure mixed with light comedy, which as all players know, is where most campaigns end up anyway. The film is set to hit theaters in March of 2023.

It's hard to believe that it's been over 20 years since Freaks and Geeks aired its brief few episodes on NBC. Created by Paul Feig and executive produced by Judd Apatow, this coming-of-age teen dramedy is considered one of the finest programs to ever get canceled prematurely, but it has grown long legs since. Through its critical success and cult following, this short-lived show helped foster the careers of Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Martin Starr, Busy Philipps, and John Francis Daley. Now that the show is available to stream in full on Hulu, let's take this moment to see how far these stars have come since these humble beginnings.

Here's what the Freaks and Geeks cast is doing now.

John Francis Daley (Sam Weir)

As Sam Weir, the quiet comedy enthusiast who finds his clique with the geeks, John Francis Daley was one of the leads of the show. Afterward, Daley became known for his work in Bones. His other notable acting credits include View from the Top, Waiting ..., The Geena Davis Show, Boston Public, Kitchen Confidential, Dude Bro Party Massacre III, and 5-22-77. Outside of acting, Daley developed a second career as a Hollywood screenwriter, notably penning Horrible Bosses, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. He also wrote and co-directed Vacation (2015), helmed Game Night, and produced Stuber.

Next, John Francis Daley serves as the writer behind Vacation Friends. He's also attached to write and direct a new Dungeons & Dragons movie. Away from acting, he sings and plays keyboards for the band, Dayplayer.

Linda Cardellini (Lindsay Weir)

In the role of Lindsay Weir, a gifted high schooler and Sam's older sister, Linda Cardellini played one half of the lead roles in Freaks and Geeks. Outside of this short-lived series, the actress is best known for her work in the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, as well as ER, Mad Men, Bloodline, Legally Blonde, Brokeback Mountain, A Simple Favor, Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Daddy's Home movies, The Curse of La Llorona, The Founder, Good Burger, Boy Meets World, and Green Book. She can also be heard in Regular Show, Gravity Falls, Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated, and Sanjay and Craig.

Currently, Linda Cardellini can be seen in Netflix's Dead to Me, where she also serves as a co-executive producer. She has been Emmy-nominated for this leading role. Most recently, the actress appeared in Capone and several episodes of Disney+'s Muppets Now.

Samm Levine (Neal Schweiber)

In the part of Neal Schweiber, a comedy-loving geek, Samm Leivne played a scene-stealing supporting character on the series. Levine is known for his work in Inglorious Basterds, the Wet Hot American Summer franchise, Not Another Teen Movie, Pulse, Club Dread, Sydney White, I Love You Beth Cooper, Jobs, NCIS, Crunch Time, Another Period, Selfie, Do No Harm, and Drunk History. Outside of acting, Levine served as a sidekick and fill-in host on Kevin Pollak's Chat Show. He also regularly appeared on Collider's Movie Trivia Schmoedown.

Most recently, Samm Levine was seen in No Good Nick, I'd Like To Be Alone Now, and the short film, Summoned. Next, he'll be seen in Adverse, Immortal, and Bonded. Additionally, Levine will be featured in Wags to Riches.

Seth Rogen (Ken Miller)

As Ken Miller, a wise-cracking, extremely sarcastic student at William McKinley High School, Seth Rogen started his career and later found his fame thanks to his early exposure here. His next acting credits include Knocked Up, Undeclared, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Funny People, Steve Jobs, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, 50/50, Neighbors, Long Shot, and The Disaster Artist, plus Superbad and Pineapple Express (both of which he also co-wrote).

Additionally, Seth Rogen lent his voice to the Kung Fu Panda movies, Monsters vs. Aliens, Paul, Shrek the Third, Horton Hears a Who, and The Lion King (2019). Also, he wrote, directed, and starred in This is the End and The Interview. The actor directed for Preacher, Future Man, and Black Sunday, and wrote for The League, The Simpsons, and Da Ali G Show, for which he was Emmy-nominated. Most recently, Rogen starred in An American Pickle. He was also seen in The Boys and heard in Big Mouth. His upcoming credits include Invincible, Pam & Tommy, and Santa Inc.

James Franco (Daniel Desario)

In the role of Daniel Desario, Nick's best friend who's in an unsteady relationship with Kim, James Franco first gained notoriety for his work in Freaks and Geeks. Franco's profile continued to rise thanks to the Spider-Man trilogy, Pineapple Express, Milk, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Spring Breakers, Oz the Great and Powerful, This is the End, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, Sausage Party, and 127 Hours, the latter for which he was Oscar-nominated. He also won a Golden Globe for his leading role in The Disaster Artist, which he also directed. Additionally, on television, Franco starred in The Deuce and 11.22.63, and appeared on General Hospital, The Mindy Project, and Angie Tribeca. Outside of acting, Franco also authored Palo Alto and Actors Anonymous.

Most recently, James Franco starred in Zeroville, which he also directed. He was also heard in Arctic Dogs. Next, he'll be seen in Kill the Czar and The Long Home, which he also directed. But, after a series of allegations were made against him, Franco has kept a low profile.

Jason Segel (Nick Andopolis)

Playing the part of Nick Andopolis, one of the Freaks who's often protective of Lindsay, Jason Segel found his early breakout role in this show. Following his time in this series, Segel starred in CBS's long-running How I Met Your Mother. The actor also wrote and starred in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 2011's The Muppets, The Five-Year Engagement, and Sex Tape. His other notable film credits include I Love You Man, Jeff Who Lives At Home, Bad Teacher, Knocked Up, This is 40, Can't Hardly Wait, This is the End, and The End of the Tour. Additionally, he worked with Judd Apatow on the similarly short-lived series, Undeclared.

Most recently, Jason Segel was seen in Our Friend. He also created, wrote, directed, and starred in AMC's anthology series, Dispatches from Elsewhere. Segel made an appearance in Quibi's Home Movie: The Princess Bride. Next, Segel will star in The Sky Is Everywhere. Outside of acting, Segel has co-authored several novels, including the Nightmares! series and the Last Reality series, with Kirsten Miller.

Martin Starr (Bill Haverchuck)

As Bill Haverchuck, one of the freshman geeks, Martin Starr had his first brush with fame through his supporting turn in Freaks and Geeks. Following his time in this series, Starr, well, starred in Starz's Party Down. He also played a lead role in HBO's Silicon Valley. His other notable credits include Knocked Up, Adventureland, The Incredible Hulk, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Superbad, This is the End, NTSF: SD: SUV::, Burning Love, Life in Pieces, Veronica Mars, Dead Snow 2: Red vs. Dead, Honey Boy, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

Most recently, Martin Starr guest-starred in truTV's Tacoma FD. Next, he'll be seen in Samaritan, Spider-Man 3, and the short film, Milford.

Busy Philipps (Kim Kelly)

In the role of Kim Kelly, Lindsay Weir's best friend, Busy Philipps played a prominent supporting character in Freaks and Geeks. Outside of this show, Philipps is known for her work in Dawson's Creek, Cougar Town, ER, Love Inc., White Chicks, He's Just Not That Into You, The Gift (2015), The Smokers, Home Room, Made of Honor, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Vice Principals, and I Feel Pretty. Additionally, from 2018 through 2019, Philipps hosted E!'s late-night talk show, Busy Tonight.

Most recently, Busy Philipps appeared in an episode of Search Party. Next, Philipps stars in Peacock's Girls5Eva. Outside of acting, the actress released her memoir, This Will Only Hurt A Little, in 2018.

Becky Ann Baker (Jean Weir)

Playing the part of Jean Weir, Lindsay and Sam's mother, Becky Ann Baker played a pivotal maternal character in Freaks and Geeks. Away from this Fox series, Baker is best known for her Emmy-nominated performance in HBO's Girls. Her other notable credits include Blue Steel, Lorenzo's Oil, Men in Black, Jacob's Ladder, In & Out, Spider-Man 3, Nights in Rodanthe, The End of the Tour, Table 19, Hope Springs, A Simple Plan, Stay, The Good Wife, The Blacklist, Big Little Lies, Younger, and Brockmire.

Most recently, Becky Ann Baker was seen in The Half of It. She also made appearances in Social Distance, Little America, Manhunt, Council of Dads, Little Voice, and Katy Keene. Next, Baker will be seen in Holler, which premiered at TIFF, and Starbright. Additionally, outside of acting, Baker produced the short film, Pizza Party, last year.

Joe Flaherty (Harold Weir)

As Harold Weir, Jean's husband and Lindsay and Sam's father, Joe Flaherty played a paternal character in Freaks and Geeks. Most notably, away from this role, the actor-comedian is known for his work on SCTV and Happy Gilmore. He also appeared in 1941, Johnny Dangerously, Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird, Innerspace, Back to the Future Part II, Stuart Saves His Family, Detroit Rock City, That '70s Show, Who's Harry Crumb?, Slackers, National Security, Club Paradise, Heavy Metal, and Stripes.

Most recently, Joe Flaherty appeared in Call Me Fitz, and the short film, Nightlife. He also wrote an episode Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated. He doesn't have any upcoming credits at this time.

You can stream Freaks and Geeks on Hulu here.

In the early days of what was once known as the DC Extended Universe, there were a lot of plans for projects that would stem from the story that was forming in Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. As the obvious endgame of a once two-part Justice League film loomed on the horizon, another planned component to this new universe of filmmaking was a movie centered around the misadventures of Barry Allen, better known to the world as The Flash.

With Ezra Miller cast in the role, and the seeds being sewn in a Dawn of Justice cameo exploring the future of the DCEU and also in a quick cameo in Suicide Squad, a plan was in motion to get that movie into theaters for 2018. Unfortunately, in the five years since that initial plan was hatched, delays have plagued The Flash-oriented solo film; mostly due to the fact The Flash’s director’s chair is about as popular as the plague.

Though the project seems to be in stable hands at the moment, with a new director recently being announced in IT’s Andy Muschietti, looking back on the history of The Flash’s rather eventful development seems like a good reminder that while the film might be on firm footing now, a lot could change, fittingly, in a flash.

The Flash On The Starting Line Of The DCEU (2014)

Late in 2014, a little over a year after director Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel forged a path for the future of DC Comics’ theatrical enterprises, a slate of films that were to be their first wave of box office bonanzas was announced. During an investor’s call, that blueprint was dropped, starting with Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice being set for release in 2016.

Also in the mix were solo films, such as Wonder Woman, and other team-up films like Suicide Squad. The most ambitious part of this schedule was to take place between 2017 and 2019, as Justice League Part 1 and 2 were to be bookends to three solo films: The Flash, Aquaman and Shazam. The year 2018 was supposed to be the home for The Flash and Aquaman, with Shazam leading up to Justice League Part 2’s release that summer.

Of the ambitious plans that DC Comics and Warner Bros. originally had for that DCEU schedule, all but two films would be released: The Flash and Justice League Part 2. With all of the turmoil this first wave put the studios through, these two projects ultimately became casualties of fate. Though the former project more fell by the wayside, thanks to the problems it had with securing a director.

The Flash, As Directed By Seth Grahame-Smith (October 2015 – April 2016)

Believe it or not, it was initially rumored that Phil Lord and Chris Miller were being pursued to become the directors for The Flash, and their names would surface again in the now future past of the project’s life span. But when it comes to who actually took the chair first by signing on the dotted line, it was without question writer/director Seth Grahame-Smith.

Hired in October 2015, Grahame-Smith was supposed to work off of a Phil Lord & Chris Miller treatment to turn The Flash into his directing debut, keeping the project on track for its 2018 debut. Alas, it was mere months before Seth Grahame-Smith left the project in early 2016, citing that famous and most repeated reasons for departing: “creative differences." Get used to that story, as it pervades much of the events that will follow.

Rick Famuyiwa’s Dope Adventure With The Flash (June 2016 - October 2016)

The Flash would bounce back pretty quickly after drafting a new director to sit in the chair vacated by Seth Grahame-Smith, as Dope director Rick Famuyiwa would settle into the duties. Even better, it looked like Famuyiwa would be the one to bring this project to the end goal, as he actually cast two important characters for his Flash film that would set the stage for their characters in Zack Snyder’s Justice League.

With Kiersey Clemmons starring as Iris West and Billy Crudup as Henry Allen, both actors filmed their roles for Snyder’s 2017 centerpiece film to the DCEU. Here’s where the wheels come off yet again, as Clemmons was eventually deleted from Justice League’s final product, and Rick Famuyiwa would leave the project after only months of work. It should also be noted that not only did the director lend his re-writing skills to The Flash’s script, but King Arthur: Legend of the Sword writer Joby Harold also took a go.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s Homecoming With The Flash (March 2018 – July 2019)

Between Rick Famuyiwa’s departure, and the next directors hired onto The Flash’s long and winding road of delays, a lot of names popped up in the offing. After Robert Zemeckis, Matthew Vaughn, Sam Raimi, and Marc Webb had all fallen off the radar for directing duties to The Flash movie, the team of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein was eventually hired. Considering they’d had a comic hit as writers who were part of the team that made Spider-Man: Homecoming such a hit, this seemed like a good sign.

Of course, with a film that has often felt as cursed as The Flash has, there were premature rumors that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein had jumped ship. For the time, that was proven to had been false, and the project was even moving away from being a straight-up Flashpoint adaptation, as it was originally intended through the various story strands that were set up in the DCEU at the time. This most recent hiring really did feel like it had stuck the landing, that is until some surprising news in early July 2019 changed it all.

For Andy Muschietti, The Flash Is It (Now)

Out of nowhere, an announcement came stating that IT director Andy Muschietti was the new man to take The Flash into the future. With the film now slated for a 2021 release, Muschietti’s duties will come hot on the heels of his work on IT: Chapter Two, and more than likely preempt his work on anime adaptations such as Attack On Titan and Robotech.

Though that’s not to say the horror mastermind is jumping into The Flash ASAP. Andy Muschietti has gone on record stating that he’s going to take a couple of months to break and recharge his batteries, before getting to work on the DCEU solo flick. While this does sound reasonable, wary fans of the Scarlet Speedster are undoubtedly going to be holding their breath until production is officially announced on The Flash’s solo movie. As evidenced above, anything can happen in the span of a couple of months.

In a history of blown start dates, tons of star power being attracted to the director’s chair, and even a failed re-hiring of Ben Affleck taking place in the search for a helmer to get The Flash going, it always feels like there’s something around the corner that’ll set the film back even more. As 2018 and 2020 release dates went out the window, 2021 is the current year we just might see Barry Allen ride again.

However, should something else happen to derail this once promising prospect of the DCEU, we’ll probably be adding a chapter into this horrid history’s contents to reflect any changes that happen between now and then. For now, let’s just cross our fingers and hope that Ezra Miller, in his capacity as star and now maybe even screenwriter for The Flash, doesn’t have to use the Speed Force to get this project back on track.

It’s almost the 20th anniversary of the first cinematic adaptation of Dungeons and Dragons, and considering how that was critically received, presumably it won’t take much for the upcoming reboot to turn out as a better product. Major updates concerning the next Dungeons and Dragons movie have been light over the last several years, but it looks like the project has finally some new directors: John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein.

Last year, The LEGO Batman Movie’s Chris McKay was being lined up to helm Dungeons and Dragons, but he eventually departed to work on Skydance’s Ghost Draft, which stars Chris Pratt. Now Variety reports that John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have been eyed to fill that directorial vacancy, with negotiations currently underway.

Daley and Goldstein’s notable credits together including directing Vacation (which they also wrote) and Game Night, and penning Spider-Man: Homecoming. However, before Dungeons and Dragons came their way, they were set to direct The Flash for the DC Extended Universe. Alas, after more than a year, eventually the duo decided to depart the project due to creative differences, and now IT director Andy Muschietti has been tapped to oversee the Scarlet Speedster’s standalone story.

While a new Dungeons and Dragons movie has been in development since 2015, originally it started out at Warner Bros, but has since shifted to Paramount Pictures, which makes sense given the studio’s relationship with the company that owns the role-playing game, Hasbro.

Dungeons and Dragons will be one of the first projects that’s part of Hasbro’s AllSpark Pictures, through which the toy company hopes to start churning out Marvel Cinematic Universe-level competition. Other upcoming projects under the label include the G.I. Joe spinoff Snake Eyes and Micronauts.

Dungeons and Dragons has also gone through a lot of script writers over the years. Michael Gilio is penning the latest draft, taking over from Aquaman co-writer David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. Brian Goldner and Stephen Davis from Hasbro are executive producing.

As far as on-screen talent goes, no actors have been announced for Dungeons and Dragons yet. At one point, Baby Driver’s Ansel Elgort was in talks to play one of the leads, but that was over two years ago, so who knows if he’s still even a candidate. Paramount should consider looping Joe Manganiello in considering what a huge Dungeons and Dragons fan he is (after all, he tried to get his own version of the movie made).

Dungeons and Dragons is scheduled to hit theaters on November 19, 2021, sandwiching it between Fantastic Beasts 3 the week prior and a yet-to-be-revealed animated Disney film the week after. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for continuing coverage in this major motion picture.

In the meantime, look through our 2019 release schedule to find out what silver screen offerings catch your eye for the rest of the year.

The DC Extended Universe is a tricky place. While it's hard high moments with Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman, the development of its blockbusters always seems to be a bit rocky. The DCEU had seen quite a few directors unceremoniously depart projects, after their announcement made serious news. There's no better example of this than the long gestating Flashpoint movie, which has already seen two different come and go. The studio seems to be hoping the third time is the charm, as directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have been in talks to take on the project. Now it looks like it's actually happening, as Daley tweeted a not so thinly veiled confirmation on Twitter today. Check out his post below.

While not exactly a press release, there aren't many ways to interpret John Francis Daley's tweet. Alongside a GIF of the Scarlet Speedster running up a mountain, he simply told cinephiles and comic fans that it's actually happening. Cue the Hallelujah chorus.

It appears that John Francis Daley and his collaborator Jonathan Goldstein will be taking on The Flash's first solo movie within the shared universe. And given their respective comedic sensibilities, it's a solid choice by DC. The duo has worked together for years, writing the screenplay for movies like Vacation and Horrible Bosses. They also recently directed Game Night. Since Barry Allen is a naturally comedic character (especially with Ezra Miller's natural charm and quirkiness), having comedy-focused directors makes a great deal of sense.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein also recently received acclaim as two of the writers on Spider-Man: Homecoming. This once again speaks to their qualifications to take over Flashpoint, as The Flash is basically DC's answer to Spider-man. Both heroes are bright eyed and inexperienced, and watching their fish out of water attempts at superheroics brings natural comedy.

Hopefully Flashpoint has finally found its directors, and no unexpected departures are heading out way. The Flash movie was first announced with director Seth Grahame-Smith attached. He ultimately departed the project, with Dope director Rick Famuyiwa taking over, casting Kiersey Clmmons as Irish West along the way. But Famuyiwa would also end up dropping out, leaving the movie in apparent jeopardy.

While John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have been long rumored to be directing Flashpoint, it's a relief to hear that the deal is done. The DCEU is going to have to move fast in order to keep up with the behemoth Marvel Cinematic Universe. There's only one film set to release this year: James Wan's Aquaman in December. Shazam! and Wonder Woman 2 should arrive in 2019, so it's clearly going to be quite a while before Flash finally get a solo outing.

Aquaman will arrive in theaters December 21st. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your trips to the movies.

In the new comedy Game Night, Jason Bateman is very much front and center. In the large ensemble, he and Rachel McAdams are really the co-leads of the story -- navigating the arc that has the most significant impact on the larger plot -- and he even has a producer credit for his work getting the movie made. Clearly the actor-cum-filmmaker as heavily involved in the production, but it may surprise you to learn that he was actually going to take the helm of the project himself. He recently told me,

Jason Bateman told me about nearly directing Game Night himself when I had the opportunity to sit down with him earlier this month during the new movie's Los Angeles press junket. Having interviewed directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley earlier in the day, I knew going into the conversation that Batman had a long history with the project, but it was only while actually talking with him that I learned about his initial aspirations with the material. He wanted to make it as his first big studio comedy, but through the development process realized that the best course of action was for him to ultimately step out of the director's chair and let Goldstein and Daley take over.

As Jason Bateman alluded to, Game Night would have been his third feature film effort as a director - having previously made 2013's Bad Words and 2015's The Family Fang. According to our news archives, he first became involved with Game Night just a month before the release of the former, though at the time the trades apparently didn't know he was eyeing the helm of the comedy. Fortunately, it sounds like stepping away from that position was part of a mutual decision -- and it probably helped that Bateman previously worked with Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley in the making of the hit film Horrible Bosses (which the duo co-wrote).

I specifically followed-up with Jason Bateman about the fact that he had previously worked with Goldstein and Daley, and he explained why he feels they were the right choice for Game Night at the end of the day:

Game Night marks the second directorial effort from Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (the first being 2015's Vacation reboot), and we'll just have to wait and see what Jason Bateman decides to make when the next studio comedy opportunity comes around. In the meantime, you'll be able to see him back up on the big screen this Friday, along with Rachel McAdams, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Chelsea Peretti, and Kyle Chandler.

The developing DC Extended Universe Flash movie has had a rough go of it in development thus far, but it gained new life just a few weeks ago. While a deal hasn't fully gone through yet, it's been reported that Spider-Man: Homecoming scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are now in talks to helm -- and as I recently learned from the duo, one thing that greatly excites about the project is just being able to leave their specific stamp on it even more so than they did with the Marvel feature. Said the filmmakers,

The end of this month will see the release of John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein's new comedy Game Night, and it was during the Los Angeles press day for the film this past weekend that I had the chance to sit down with the filmmakers. At the end of my interview I took the opportunity to inquire about the future and their involvement in making Flashpoint -- specifically asking how, as more comedy-centric filmmakers, they were looking to handle the more dramatic aspects of the DC Comics arc. As you can see, they couldn't really speak to the tone because the project is still in early days, but they did express one element that has them anticipating making the blockbuster.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have been working together since 2011 when they collaborated on the script for the hit comedy Horrible Bosses (which also began their relationship with Warner Bros.). They spent years solely focused in the writing realm of the industry - scripting films like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 - but in 2015 they changed gears when they directed the Vacation reboot. Game Night, which is actually based on a script they didn't write, is their second directorial effort, and Warner Bros. evidently now trusts them enough to give them one of their biggest upcoming projects. They certainly helped make Spider-Man: Homecoming one of the best comic book movies of 2017, so there's confidence they can come up with something special for Flashpoint.

Because of the aforementioned development issues, Warner Bros. has not yet chosen a specific release date for the Flash solo feature -- though at the very least Justice League's Ezra Miller and Billy Crudup are expected to reprise their roles as Barry and Henry Allen, respectively. We'll continue to keep a close eye on Flashpoint as it continues to make its way through development, and be sure to be on the lookout for more from my interviews with the cast and filmmakers behind Game Night, which arrives in theaters February 23rd.

Although The Flash was one of the first movies that was officially announced for the DC Extended Universe back in late 2014, the project has hit a number of obstacles along the way, most notably by losing two directors. As of this past summer, the Scarlet Speedster's movie is now being called Flashpoint, and it looks like its directorial problems are finally being solved, as Vacation directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein to helm the blockbuster.

As things stand right now, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are in negotiations to direct Flashpoint, which will see Ezra Miller reprising Barry Allen, who he's already played in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, Suicide Squad and Justice League. According to Variety, Ben Affleck was being "courted" to direct the Flash's standalone story, but he passed on the opportunity. Along with Vacation, Daley and Goldstein also helmed and wrote the upcoming Game Night, while their other work together includes writing the Horrible Bosses movies and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. The duo also have prior experience in the comic book movie genre having written Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Back in October 2015, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter author Seth Grahame-Smith was tapped to direct the Flash movie, but by April 2016, he dropped out due to creative differences. Months later, Dope director Rick Famuyiwa was hired as Grahame-Smith's replacement, but like his predecessor, he eventually left due to creative differences. That happened in October 2016, and while names like Robert Zemeckis, Matthew Vaughn and Sam Raimi were tossed out as new directorial candidates during 2017, it appears that Warner Bros is keen on having John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein helm the Fastest Man Alive's movie. Maybe the third time will be the charm? Daley and Goldstein's involvement also suggests that Flashpoint will go for a comedic tone, which fits with how Flash was presented in Justice League.

After Rick Famuyiwa departed The Flash, Robin Hood writer Joby Harold was tasked with doing a page-one rewrite of the story, which he has now turned in. While presumably The Flash was originally set to be a more conventional spotlight on Barry Allen, now that it's been changed to Flashpoint, we'll likely now see Barry ending up in a radically-altered version of the DC universe, just like his comic book counterpart did in 2011. Gal Gadot will reportedly reprise Wonder Woman in Flashpoint, and DC's Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns said Batman elements will play into the story.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates on Flashpoint as they come in, and don't forget to look through our DC movies guide to find out what other DCEU projects are on the way.

There isn't a day that goes by that one small part of my brain fails to wish for a hidden cache to be found containing never-seen-before episodes of Freaks and Geeks, even though none of the cast or crew has ever hinted at more episodes existing. Well, that hasn't happened yet, but star John Francis Daley dropped a handful of behind-the-scenes photos from the show that I've probably never seen before, and now I just want to start mourning this show's 16-year-old cancellation all over again. Check them out!

The best of the bunch, as far as the heartstrings are concerned, is the shot of John Francis Daley laying across the lap of his TV sibling Linda Cardellini. Lindsay and Sam Weir didn't always get along, with their close ages conflicting with their wildly different interests (at least as far as Lindsay's rebel year went), but they remain one of the best brother/sister combinations in TV. I like to think that they, along with Wonder Years siblings Kevin and Karen, would be fantastic friends in adulthood. (Unlike Cardellini's current fictional family situation on Netflix's Bloodline.)

Then we have the shot of bow-legged Daley going all freak-out in the middle of William McKinley High, as co-star Jason Segel looks on amused in the background. Both of these guys look almost cartoonishly young here, especially for anyone who watched the actors go through adulthood on TV - Daley on Bones and Segel on How I Met Your Mother. Fun fact: that is exactly the pose and scream-face I'd make if the impossible-to-accomplish Freaks and Geeks Season 2 ever got announced. (I think they could do it like Wet Hot American Summer did for their Netflix series and just pretend they're all young again.)

And I'll end with the lovely on-set shot of not-yet-wildly-famous Judd Apatow talking with the show's titular geeks: Daley, Samm Levine and Martin Starr. It's unreal how much Hollywood influence and talent is in this shot, given how big their careers have gotten. In fact, when putting the Vacation reboot together, John Francis Daley had the plan to include Levine and Starr for an onscreen reunion, but it ended up falling through. One day...

Daley shared the photos on his Twitter page, crediting Freaks and Geeks writer Gabe Sachs with taking the photos. Let's all give Sachs a big round of applause right now for giving us a mental trip back to the lovely past of the 1980s in 2000. He's the creator of the current medical drama Night Shift, which will air the second part of its two-part Season 3 finale on Wednesday, August 31.

So while these images don't completely heal our woes, they do offer us the inspiration to go back and watch its 18-episode entirety (which can be found on Netflix). Sing with me: "I don't give a damn 'bout my reputation!"

Part of me feels bad for John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The two wrote the new Vacation movie (in theaters as we speak), and have spent the week trying to promote it to local and national media. Yet, all anyone wants to talk about is their next gig, writing the solo Spider-Man movie for Marvel. Pardon us, ever so slightly, for also jumping into the fray.

Daley and Goldstein opened up to Vulture about their approach to Spider-Man, repeating a number of talking points that many involved with the project have already said: Peter Parker will be in high school in this new movie; he’ll be a geeky outcast; we won’t have to endure the origin story again, etc. But when you combed through their Spidey speak looking for interesting nuggets, you realize how much work is going into connecting this Untitled Spider-Man movie to the pre-existing Marvel Cinematic Universe, which gives us extreme hope. For example, this weekend, they are going to visit with Marvel to see Tom Holland’s cameo from Captain America: Civil War. Said Goldstein:

However, in the same article, the screenwriting duo essentially shot down that detailed cast list that was circulating around the Web the other day, the one that discussed possible villains like Scorpion and The Vulture in John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein’s Spider-Man movie. Daley tells Vulture:

The only thing that can be certain at this point is that Marvel will have a lot more input into the decisions being made on this Spider-Man movie now that they have partnered with Sony. And the Marvel brain trust likely is feeding Daley and Goldstein details that they want to see in the upcoming script. For example, on a Grantland podcast that – again – probably should have focused more on Vacation, the duo opened up about how getting his powers only helps Peter Parker (Tom Holland) feel like more of an outcast, and a loner. Daley described it this way:

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have time to develop the new world of this classic character. They also will want the feedback of director Jon Watts, who was hired to shepherd this vision. (That’s a lot of Johns.) Marvel’s first Spider-Man movie won’t hit theaters until July 28, 2017, though we will see him in Joe and Anthony Russo’s Captain America: Civil War next May.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man reboot has slowly been coming together over the last several weeks. Tom Holland is starring as the next cinematic Peter Parker, Jon Watts has been hired as the director, and it has been confirmed that comedy writing duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein will pen the script. Since it’s still early in the creative process, the writers aren’t sharing specifics of what they have planned, but they did reveal one important thing fans won’t have to suffer through: Spider-Man doing any kind of dancing.

At the premiere of their new movie Vacation on Monday, Daley and Goldstein told USA Today’s Entertain This! that Tom Holland’s Spider-Man will not show off moves similar to Tobey Maguire’s in 2007’s Spider-Man 3. As Daley put it:

Since Spider-Man 3 is typically considered one the webslinger’s worst big screen outings, it’s probably for the best that the reboot isn’t influenced by it. To remind those who wiped most of that film from their memory, after Peter began using the alien symbiote, not only did his powers increase and his personality become more aggressive, but he also became a talented dancer… though that didn’t make it any less horrifying to watch him cut a rug. Peter’s most memorable dance scene was at a jazz club in front of his date Gwen Stacy to show off in front of ex-girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. Presumably this also means we won’t see Holland’s Peter Parker dancing outside of a clothing store after buying a new outfit and freaking out people passing by.

While the writers were hesitant to mention specifically what will be seen in the next Spidey film (aside from it not being an origin story again), Goldstein did describe the tone as more grounded, and audiences would see Peter struggling with his powers while dealing being an outcast in high school. Daley added,

Judging by these tidbits of information, it sounds like moviegoers can look forward to a story of a Spider-Man who already has his powers, but is still learning how to use them in his everyday life. Of course, taking into account Daley and Goldstein’s resume as a duo (which also includes Horrible Bosses and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2), there will also be plenty of humorous moments. Just don’t expect any laughs from shudder-worthy dancing.

The MCU’s Spider-Man will debut in Captain America: Civil War on May 6, 2016, and his solo movie will follow on July 28, 2017.

In addition to being packed with amazing action and thrills, James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy succeeded in a big way last summer thanks to the simple fact that it also made a special effort to be really, really funny. Obviously we can expect the upcoming sci-fi sequel to strike the same tone - but if quotes from the writers of the new Spider-Man movie are any indication, the webhead may give the outerspace group a run for their money where jokes are concerned, and could wind up becoming Marvel's funniest comic book movie yet.

While speaking with NPR, Vacation writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein were not only happy to finally confirm that they are indeed writing the script for the new Spider-Man movie, but also talked about their approach to the webslinger's famous sense of humor. Discussing Peter Parker's personality, Daley explained,

Given the duo's history making movies like Vacation, Horrible Bosses, and Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2, it's not a huge surprise that they are particularly looking at Spider-Man through a humorous lens. That being said, Marvel has confirmed in the past that one particular area that they are looking to focus on with their "reboot" is the fact that the character is super funny. Talking with IGN at the press day for The Avengers: Age of Ultron back in April, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige said,

Analyzing these quotes, I really find myself wondering about the direction that Marvel Studios is going with the new Spider-Man solo film. We saw them make Captain America: The Winter Solider as a 1970s conspiracy thriller, Ant-Man as a heist film, and Iron Man 3 as a noir detective story, so what if Spider-Man is, at its deepest core, an action movie that is actually driven by comedy? It would be a very different approach than the previous franchises, making it feel special, and it could be a great flavor for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to experiment with.

Jon Watts is directing the new Spider-Man movie, which is set to star Tom Holland in the titular role and Marisa Tomei as Aunt May. The film is currently scheduled for release on July 28, 2017, and production is scheduled to start next year, so stay tuned for more updates!

Now that they have Spider-Man back at home, Marvel is wasting no time getting the ball rolling welcoming the Web Slinger into the MCU. First, they hired Tom Holland to play him, John Watts to direct, and Marisa Tomei to play his aunt, and now they’ve hired Vacation writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein to handle the script for his first solo adventure.

Deadline reports that the duo has been tapped to tackle the script writing duties for the movie due in 2017. When the project was announced, they were on the shortlist to possibly direct—they’re about to make their feature debut with the Vacation reboot—before the job ultimately went to Watts, whose Cop Car recently made the festival rounds and is getting ready for release.

Daley and Goldstein are mostly known for their comedy writing on movies like Horrible Bosses, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. Peter Parker, better known by his superhero alter ego Spider-Man, is renowned for his sense of humor, wit, and bantering back and forth with his villainous foe. Especially with Ant-Man, reportedly the most comedic movie in the MCU thus far, just dropping, hiring guys primarily known for being funny and going this direction does seem too far off base. This could mean that Marvel is going for more of a comedy with some action sprinkled in for good measure.

It’ll be interesting to see how Daley and Goldstein’s approach meshes with Watts’ aesthetic. He does have some comedy on his resume, directing and producing for satirical news outlet The Onion, but his last two films have been grim and serious in tone. Cop Car is a tense thriller about a police officer tormenting two kids who take his unattended cruiser for a joyride. Not a lot of laughs. Before that he helmed Clown, a twisted horror movie about a father who gets taken over by an evil clown suit and becomes a murderer. Again, not many jolly fun times, chortles, and guffaws to be found.

Though it is reportedly not another origin story (thank whatever god you believe in), Tom Holland’s Peter Parker/Spider-Man is going to be young, still in high school and living with Aunt May (Marisa Tomei). The Wall Crawler’s first standalone movie is scheduled for release on July 28, 2017, and while that’s still a ways off, Marvel is certainly appears to be getting all of their ducks in a row. This should give Daley and Goldstein plenty of time to work.

Before he strikes out on his own, however, Spider-Man will show up next year in the superhero-studded Captain America: Civil War alongside countless other members of the MCU. We’re not sure what his precise role will be in that movie, or how large it will be, but for his age alone, he’ll provide an interesting contrast to his compatriots. And in the comics that serves as the source material for this arc, which sees heroes split into two factions and battling one another, Spidey has a big, dramatic moment that could come into play. We'll find out for sure when Civil War opens May 6, 2016

Marvel Studios is still reportedly hunting for the actor that they want to play the new version of Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that’s far from the only major decision they will soon have to make about the wall-crawler’s future. While the next solo film for the character is still more than two years away, the studio understands the importance of locking in a director to creatively guide the project, and the hunt is on to find the right filmmaker for the gig. They still haven’t found their ultimate choice, but this week we got an interesting look into the options that they are considering.

A shortlist of filmmakers being considered for the Spider-Man directing gig found its way online this week, and it’s an interesting group of directors to say the least. This list includes Jon Watts, the director of the acclaimed 2015 Sundance hit Cop Car; John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein, the helmers of the upcoming Vacation reboot; Ted Melfi of St. Vincent fame; and Jonathan Levine, best known as the man behind 50/50 and Warm Bodies. Each of these choices would be interesting for their own reasons, and in this week’s episode we dissect the positives and negatives of each one.

Joining me for this lively discussion is Cinema Blend’s own resident Spider-Man superfan Sean O’Connell, who brings some interesting insight about these possible choices and what they could bring to the table. Enjoy Hero Blend #62!

A couple months ago, news began springing up online saying that Marvel Studios had selected Drew Goddard as the director of their upcoming Spider-Man movie. This made a degree of sense, given that Goddard had previously worked with Marvel on the Daredevil Netflix series, and even had some connections to Spider-Man thanks to his development of Sinister Six with Sony. If new reports are to be believed, however, the race to find a Spider-Man director is still on – and apparently Drew Goddard is no longer in the running.

Deadline has published what they claim to be a shortlist of directors who are currently being considered by Marvel for the Spider-Man gig, and it’s definitely an interesting group. You can read about all five of the possible choices below:

Jonathan Levine

Writer/director Jonathan Levine made his first big box office success with Warm Bodies back in 2013, but the truth is that the guy has been doing great stuff just slightly under the radar for years. He began turning heads with The Wackness in 2008, but scored huge with critics making the 2011 cancer dramedy 50/50 starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen. It should be noted that this isn’t the first time that Levine has found himself on a shortlist for a Marvel Studios project, as there were talks last year that said he was one of the candidates to potentially make Doctor Strange (that gig wound up going to Scott Derrickson).

Ted Melfi

Though he only made his directorial debut last year, up-and-comer Ted Melfi is clearly starting to turn heads. His film St. Vincent - which he also wrote – got a positive reception from critics when it was released in 2014, and while Bill Murray was the real headliner of that project, it’s understandable why Melfi might be targeted for Spider-Man. This is because he actually got a rather fantastic performance out of young actor Jaeden Lieberher, who was starring in his first feature film. Given that Marvel is looking to cast a legitimately teenage actor to play Peter Parker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it makes sense to hire a filmmaker who knows how to get a good turn out of a young performer.

Jason Moore

Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige has said that one portion of the Spider-Man character the Marvel Cinematic Universe will definitely capitalize on is the humor of the hero, and that very well could explain why Jason Moore is one of the filmmakers that they are considering. After spending years in television, Moore only broke out in features a couple years ago, but did so in a big way making the surprise 2012 hit Pitch Perfect. Since then he has been working on the Tina Fey-Amy Poehler comedy Sisters, which will be hitting theaters this December.

John Francis Daley & Jonathan M. Goldstein

Remember what I was saying about the comedic approach to the project? That sentiment definitely goes the same for John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein. The two filmmakers actually only entered into the directing game very recently with their debut Vacation - due out in theaters this summer – but they have been behind some big titles in the last few years as writers, working on projects like Horrible Bosses, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and the animated Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2. If they are ultimately chosen by Marvel, it will definitely have us judging Vacation a whole lot differently.

Jared Hess

Jared Hess’ career has been one of ups and downs since breaking out in 2004 with Napoleon Dynamite, since making less successful titles like 2006’s Nacho Libre starring Jack Black, and 2009’s Gentlemen Broncos with Jemaine Clement. After a six year absence from the big screen, however, Hess is actually back in a big way in 2015, releasing not only the mystery comedy Don Verdean with Sam Rockwell, and the crime laugher Masterminds starring Kristen Wiig, Owen Wilson, and Zach Galifianakis.

Of these options, who would you like to see take the helm of Marvel and Sony’s 2017 Spider-Man movie? Answer in our poll below, and tell us what you think in the comments section.

This poll is no longer available.

Back in 1999, John Francis Daley, Martin Starr and Samm Levine teamed up to become one of the greatest nerd trios in the history of the television medium when they starred together on the short-lived but beloved series Freaks & Geeks. Fifteen years later, it looks like the band is coming back together - but they're doing so in a rather unexpected way.

Recently speaking with Vulture, John Francis Daley has revealed that he is going to be reuniting on screen with Martin Starr and Samm Levine in the upcoming Vacation reboot - which Daley is co-helming as his feature directorial debut. Asked if he would be making a cameo in the upcoming comedy, the actor-cum-director revealed that he is not only appearing in the movie, but that he is also working on a way to feature his Freaks & Geeks co-stars as well. The casting hasn't been 100% confirmed yet, but he clearly wants it to happen, saying, "I just wanted a chance to get the three geeks back together, in the same project."

Daley wouldn't reveal the nature of what he calls his "two-line cameo" due to spoilers, but it's interesting that he would mention it in the same breath as the announcement of Starr and Levine possibly being a part of the movie. This has naturally caused my geek brain to start ticking: is it possible that the three actors will be playing adult versions of Sam Weir, Bill Haverchuck and Neal Schweiber, thus making Vacation and Freaks & Geeks exist within the same fictional universe? This would potentially be messy continuity-wise, given that Freaks & Geeks was set in the early 80s (meaning that the characters would be about 20 years older than the actors in the year 2014), but we can all turn a blind eye to that in the name of a fun crossover. I would definitely be interested to see what those three Dungeons & Dragons-loving dorks are currently doing with their lives.

While we will certainly be on the look out for Daley, Starr and Levine in the upcoming movie, the real focus of the new Vacation film is Ed Helms, who will be playing an adult version of Rusty Griswold who has grown up and is taking his own family on a road trip. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo will be reprising their roles as Clark and Ellen Girswold in the movie, which the rest of the impressive cast includes Leslie Mann (as the new Audrey Griswold), Christina Applegate (as Rusty's wife), Charlie Day, Chris Hemsworth, Keegan-Michael Key, and Regina Hall. Daley scripted with his longtime writing partner Jonathan M. Goldstein, who is also co-directing. The movie is still in production and will be coming to a theater near you on October 9, 2015.

Are you still pissed off about Freaks And Geeks getting cancelled all the way back in 2000? I am, and let the record show Judd Apatow is too. In fact, the popular director and super producer still carries so much anger from the critically acclaimed show getting axed by NBC that it drives him to keep accomplishing more and more.

Speaking at the Paley Center yesterday, Apatow, who executive produced the Paul Feig created show, let his true feelings bubble forth for the first time. He admitted he’s still mad at the executives who didn’t give the show more time to find an audience because he feels like they wrote off all of the brilliant actors, directors and writers who were so absurdly talented. They could have created something even more special with more time.

Here’s a portion of his actual quote, as per Variety…

The insane list of people who were involved with Freaks And Geeks and would go on to more famous things has been recounted numerous times before, but for funzies, let’s go over it again. Seth Rogen (Knocked Up), James Franco (Milk), Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), John Francis Daley (Bones), Martin Starr (Party Down), Linda Cardellini (Grandma’s Boy), Busy Philipps (Cougar Town), Paul Feig (The Heat), Judd Apatow (40 Year Old Virgin). Beyond that, actors like Jason Schwartzman (I Heart Huckabees), Rashida Jones (Parks And Recreation), David Krumholtz (Numbers), Shia LaBeouf (Transformers), Ben Foster (310 To Yuma and Lizzie Caplan (Mean Girls) all found early work in small roles. Yet, despite all that talent and critical acclaim, the program only lasted a measly 18 episodes, all of which are cherished by fans.

Everybody needs something to drive them. Whether it be some perceived slight, a very real middle finger or a feeling of inadequacy, the most motivated people always have some kind of wound they’re trying to patch up or some kind of fear they’re trying to conquer. If being bitter about Freaks And Geeks is what Apatow needs to keep creating exciting projects, I say so be it. There are far stupider things to be mad about.

For a reminder of how drop dead brilliant Freaks And Geeks was, you can check out a scene from the dearly departed show below…

The above poster came straight from iTunes Movie Trailers, so we are fairly certain that it wasn’t just the work of a bored teenager wasting his time with Photoshop instead of cleaning his room. Paul Middleditch’s upcoming dark comedy Rapture-Palooza looks absolutely amazing, full of absurdist humor and surreal situations. In a year strangely full of post-apocalyptic comedies – such as the “Seth Rogen ‘n’ Friends” flick This is the End and Edgar Wright’s The World’s End - Rapture-Palooza’s red band trailer put it out in front as far as zany subject matter.

So why does this poster read 1992 direct-to-video? I’d try and seriously consider how generic it looks, but it’s kind of impossible, even though I like the way the pitchfork is used as the letter E in “rapture.” Silver linings, if nothing else. Seeing Craig Robinson in anything is a plus, but having his Antichrist character stand next to Anna Kendrick in front of a flame graphic is a step down from even the lamest Office episode. Why does co-star John Francis Daley (Freaks and Geeks) have to get shafted?

The film will follow Daley and Kendrick as a married couple who find themselves trapped on Earth after the Rapture hits, and the world is now full of talking crows and a laser-beamed Jesus and general malaise all around. Robinson appears and aims to bring Hell to Earth, but not if our lead couple can help it. These characters are joined by a bunch of co-stars, including Ken Jeong, Rob Corddry, Thomas Lennon, Tyler Labine, Rob Huebel, Paul Scheer and Ana Gasteyer.

The film comes to theaters and to VOD on June 10th, hopefully with a better poster out by then. Check out the trailer below if you missed it the first time. Remember, red band means NSFW.

If you thought Ed Helms played a good emotionally-frazzled buddy in The Hangover movies, just wait until you see what happens when he’s saddled with his own family. Earlier this year, New Line hired Horrible Bosses writers John Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein to write and direct a new installment of the classic Vacation franchise, and with the script pretty close to completion, the directors have settled on Helms as their leading man.

The Office star will play Clark Griswold’s son Rusty, who, now grown, has his own wife and children to angrily shuttle around the country in a desperate attempt to have fun. Helms has long been rumored as a front-runner for the project, but according to Variety, his involvement is now official. The specifics of where he might usher his family to or what nonsense they might encounter are being held strictly under wraps. Luckily, there are also some other cast member rumors. An effort is supposedly under way to get Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo to return as the Griswold parents, and if they come on board, their presence, along with Helms’, should allow Daly and Goldstein to cast pretty much whoever they’d like in the supports. Unfortunately, with Randy Quaid up to some ludicrous shenanigans, I wouldn’t expect to see Cousin Eddie.

Remakes and sequels produced decades after the last entry are often greeted with worry and frustration, but let it be said this one actually seems to be coming together. I’m not promising it’ll live up to the original, but there’s no way in hell I won’t be there to give it a fair chance. And those who aren't in line next to me are probably all fucked in the head.

Don't watch if you're at work...

The word "reboot" is one that often urges movie fans to gnash their teeth, cry out about Hollywood's lack of originality, and curse the cash-grabbing bastards surely responsible for making such a thing occur. So, when word hit that New Line was looking to reboot National Lampoon's comedy classic Vacation franchise, the response was predictably negative, even though they'd signed rising comedy writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who penned the cheered summer comedy Horrible Bosses, to polish the script and helm the project. Perhaps to allay the fears of those fans who have insisted that no one could dare play Clark Griswold besides Chevy Chase, Daley revealed to THR that he agrees. Moreover, he wants Chase and Beverly D'Angelo to reprise their roles as the parents who can't get a break during their holiday family getaways.

In truth, the unnamed reboot doesn't actually sound like a reboot at all as it's intended to center on Rusty Griswold, son of Clark and Ellen, all grown up and experiencing vacation-related mayhem all his own. This sounds like a smart innovation story-wise, as it will allow Daley and Goldstein to bring some new characters into the Griswold fold without ostracizing their best-loved members or fans. Of course, as five different actors have played Rusty over the course of the Griswold's adventures, the writers-turning-directors aren't bound in their casting options for their lead. However, Daley admits,

Now, I would assume that Chase and D'Angelo would have sort of glorified cameos in this Vacation, but personally I think it could be fun to see the pair as knowing grandparents smirking as Rusty fumbles to make the perfect vacation they long tried to attain. Or perhaps the years won't have mellowed the pair at all. Either way, their involvement not only speaks to Daley and Goldstein's commitment to making their Vacation a movie in the vein of the original franchise, but also their respect for those comedies. Plus it's not like they're unaware the stakes are high:

I totally agree, and look forward to seeing what's in store in the second generation of family shenanigans. Hopefully Chase and D'Angelo will be game to revisit the Griswolds.

One of the biggest surprises of summer last year was Horrible Bosses. While the calendar was choked with R-rated comedies, from The Hangover Part II to Bad Teacher to The Change-Up, the Seth Gordon-directed film had a great mix of cleverness and irreverence that made it a real joy to watch. Much of the credit for the comedy must go to John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, whose script turned the Strangers on a Train idea into a true laugh-fest. Let's hope they can turn that writing prowess into directing prowess because they've just been handed a high-profile project that's going to get a lot of eyes.

THR reports that Daley and Goldstein have been hired to helm the reboot of National Lampoon's Vacation, a series that originated with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo and spawned three sequels (European Vacation, Christmas Vacation and Vegas Vacation). The duo was hired by New Line to write the last draft of the script and now the studio has given them the chance to direct as well. The project will be the first time that they have directed a feature, though they did direct a short film called Audio Tour together just last year. Most recently they wrote the script for the upcoming magic comedy The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and they were recently hired to write the script for Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2.

The script will follow a grown-up version of Rusty Griswold (played by Anthony Michael Hall, Jason Lively, Johnny Galecki and Ethan Embry over the course of the franchise) as he tries to take his own family on a special trip.

It's hard not to be of two minds about this. While Daley and Goldstein are talented and the story sounds like it's more of an extension of the series than a reboot, the original movies have a devoted fanbase that will likely wretch at the idea of a reboot. What do you think of the idea? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

The official end of summer may be weeks away, but let's face it, Hollywood gave up on the season last weekend with the release of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. James Franco's surprisingly successful monkey movie sent the summer out with a screech and at an internet meme (Why cookie Rocket?) and that means it's time to take a look back at what happened during this year's heat wave.

We're not here to dissect which movie was the biggest box office winner of the summer (with $348 million earned and counting it was definitely Harry Potter) or which movie the critics loved most (oddly enough, also Harry Potter), we have loftier ambitions. The biggest blockbuster movie going season of the year often has implications beyond the numbers, so here we are to break down who came out of the summer smelling like a rose, and who came out Ryan Reynolds. These are the biggest winners and losers of Summer 2011, as we see them.

Winner: R-rated Comedy

It wasn't just The Hangover Part II that managed to piggyback on The Hangover's success this summer. A lot of very famous people were saying some very dirty, very funny things on camera this year, reviving the R-rated comedy in a way that even Judd Apatow might not have been able to predict. Sure, the dreadful The Hangover Part II is the most successful of these, but Bridesmaids was a massive hit at $166 million domestic, and Horrible Bosses-- which used the R-rating to give Charlie Day a chance to be even more funny and ridiculous than he can on TV's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia-- isn't far behind with $106 million.

Even Bad Teacher, which opened to OK reviews and a middling first weekend, has made $186 million worldwide, making it Cameron Diaz's biggest hit in a lead role since Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle in 2003. In a time when most action movies turn themselves into pretzels trying to avoid R ratings, comedies are fully embracing them, becoming funnier and, somehow, more lucrative in the process. It's one of this summer's most promising trends.

Loser: Pixar's Reputation

For 15 years, the name "Pixar" was always a sure thing, a promise of movies that wouldn't just quiet restless kids for an hour and a half, that wouldn't just entertain grown-ups in the process, but would somehow advance storytelling and animation and bravura filmmaking in a way you'd never expect. Pixar was the magic factory, and every movie they turned out seem to break the mold all over again, whether turning the superhero genre on its ear or making a boxy robot into a romantic hero.

Then this summer came Cars 2, the worst reviewed of Pixar's films and, so far, the lowest grossing since A Bug's Life. The movie is still a hit, of course, and Disney/Pixar will make a mint off the popular toys, but the bloom is definitely off the Pixar rose, meaning that for the first time in years, the studio has something to prove. If their next film Brave is also not up to the usual standard, we'll have to start seriously worrying that the great Pixar era is actually over

Winner: The Legacy Of Freaks & Geeks

You wanna know what the worst thing in the world for a sports fan is? When your favorite team trades away a promising rookie, and he turns into a complete stud. Every drained three pointer is like a little needle prick and every behind the back pass a slow motion fuck you. I actually feel bad for NBC. Eleven years ago, the network was broadcasting Freaks And Geeks, a brilliant, Emmy-nominated show less than seven million people bothered watching each week. They cancelled it, only to watch producer Judd Apatow brand himself, stars Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel turn themselves into household names, Linda Cardellini land a principal roll in the successful Scooby Doo franchise, Martin Starr destroy on Party Down and Busy Phillips wind up on Cougar Town.

Still, the guilt must have been manageable, at least until this summer when Freaks And Geeks main character John Francis Daley wrote the wonderful comedy Horrible Bosses, creator Paul Feig directed the brilliant and commercially successful Bridesmaids and Samm Levine appeared on Doug Benson's best-selling new comedy album. What else can you do but laugh now? It's no longer an issue of Freaks And Geeks having had a few great cast members, every single goddamn person on the show pathologically started destroying life the second it was cancelled. For the sake of decency, I probably shouldn't mention that Franco's Planet Of The Apes made a fortune last weekend and Segel's new Muppet movie looks amazing, but I just can't help myself.

Winner: The Past

There's no time like the past, at least that's what this summer proved. In an era where most big-budget event films try and look as hip and updated as possible, several studios gambled the past few months and wound their focuses backward. Their efforts gifted audiences with more than a few better than expected offerings, and they were rewarded handsomely with generous returns. No doubt the money men will attempt to look for a specific formula to reproduce amidst all these revisionist history goldmines, but the truly remarkable thing is they may not find one more specific than "the past".

Super 8 was a monster movie set in 1979, Captain America, a superhero movie during World War II. Transformers: Dark Of The Moon was an adapted children's series with an origin story from the 1960s, X-Men: First Class was another superhero movie, this one taking place during the Cuban Missile Crisis and Midnight In Paris was a romantic comedy/ fantasy/ time travel story mainly highlighting the 1920s. Yes, for one of the first times in his life, Woody Allen, perhaps unintentionally, joined the philistines in subject matter and wound up with the most financially successful film of his entire career. You can't make this shit up. As someone who loves history, I can't get enough of this recent development, but talk to me again in two years when the byproducts of this revisionist history craze start flooding the marketplace and I have to review Big Mommas House 4: Gots To Get Myself One Of Them Pyramids .

Losers: Horror Fans

The only thing scary about Summer 2011 was the utter lack of legitimate terrors waiting for horror fans at the multiplex. Paul Bettany's Priest was the only bona-fide horror film released wide over the summer months (a few markets were lucky enough to receive John Carpenter's The Ward), and that one went over like a lead balloon.

Studios, instead, opted for creature features like Super 8 and Cowboys & Aliens, but even those were light on chills and skin-crawling moments. Maybe Hollywood figured we needed a few months to recover from Insidious, which remains one of the scariest films I've seen in years. And August is trying to rectify the horror drought by cramming in Fright Night and a fifth Final Destination. But horror fanatics have every right to say, “Too little too late” after being forced to wait all summer for a memorable scare.

Winner: Marvel

Marvel Studios' movie to-do list had two items on it – introduce Thor and Captain America to mainstream audiences ahead of next summer's The Avengers – and the fledgling studio checked both off with ease. Directors Kenneth Branagh and Joe Johnston delivered origin stories for Thor and Cap, respectively, that worked as standalone adventures while also adding vital pieces to the ever-forming Avengers puzzle.

It's also remarkable how the two films mirror each other critically and financially. Thor posted a 77% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and nabbed $180.8 million domestically, while Captain America: The First Avenger scored a 79% Fresh and has earned $146.8M to date. That bodes well for Joss Whedon's pending Avengers film, due in theaters next May. And while Matthew Vaughn's X-Men: First Class had absolutely nothing to do with the Avengers initiative, that prequel's successes only helps the Marvel Comics brand, overall.

Winner: Beyond The Trilogy Franchises

From The Godfather to Back to the Future to Star Wars movie going audiences are used to seeing films in trilogy form, but this summer some of the biggest winners were those films that went beyond movie #3. Between Fast Five (Budget: $125 million, International Gross: $604 million); Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Budget: $250 million, International Gross: $1.037 billion); X-Men: First Class (Budget: $160 million, International Gross: $349 million); and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (Budget: approximately $125 million, International Gross: $1.134 billion and growing), these kind of franchise movies made $2.464 billion at the global box office.

Even more impressive, these films, with the exception of Pirates, won over critics as well, three of the four films earning an average score of 87% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some people may complain about seeing the same characters over and over again on screen, but if your character was making their fourth, fifth, six or seventh performance during the summer of 2011, you were in the right place at the right time.

Losers: People Who Saw The Smurfs Instead Of Winnie The Pooh

In many ways the two projects are very similar: both are movies based on classic, beloved source material that features a group of characters that are specifically defined by a single trait. But there is one huge, outstanding difference between Winnie The Pooh and The Smurfs: the former is one of the best films to come out this year, while the latter will end up being considered one of the worst. What's devastating is that The Smurfs had a huge opening weekend and an already guaranteed sequel, while Pooh opened against Harry Potter and only made $7.8 million in its first three days.

That said, Winnie The Pooh isn't the loser here, it's everyone who went to go see The Smurfs instead. By refusing to modernize the characters, directors Don Hall and Stephen J. Anderson crafted their A.A. Milne adaptation as a timeless and beautiful work that was perfect for both children and adults. Raja Gosnell's take on Peyo's work, however, had the little blue creatures playing Guitar Hero and rapping over Run DMC. If you saw The Smufrs instead of Winnie The Pooh this summer, it's your loss.

Winner: 2D

Summer 2011 was the year that audiences, at last, started to revolt against 3D. Tired of higher ticket prices and ready to relive the good old days when they could watch movies without glasses, time and again audiences seemed to seek out 2D tickets instead of 3D. Harry Potter fans, for instance, snatched up 2D tickets to the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 at a faster pace than they bought 3D ones, even though 3D showings were often in the biggest and best features. Most cited a desire to finish the franchise the way they started it, without the third dimension.

Fast Five was one of the early frontrunners for biggest movie of the year, and it did it without a 3D option. Factor in the inflated cost of 3D tickets and the truth is that 2D Fast Five was seen by more people than any other movie released this summer, outside of the aforementioned Harry Potter and Michael Bay's unstoppable Transformers juggernaut. People continue to see movies in 3D, in some cases because they have no choice and in others because it's actually occasionally good (thanks for that Captain America), but with movies X-Men: First Class making more money than competing 3D movies selling tickets at a higher price, it seems clearer than ever that 2D is not only alive and well, but wanted by audiences.

Loser: Ryan Reynolds

I like Ryan Reynolds. Scratch that, I love Ryan Reynolds. He's been the best thing about every bad movie he's ever been in, unfortunately bad movies no one wants to see seems to be about all he ever ends up doing. This summer was particularly painful for him, he was the star-power anchor behind not one, but two big-budget, badly reviewed, under-performers. Critics savaged Green Lantern and audiences barely showed up for it. The movie probably won't make back its $200 million budget at the box office, though the studio is still talking about a sequel.

The Change-Up paired Reynolds with Jason Bateman, who entered the fray with one successful summer 2011 comedy (Horrible Bosses) under his belt. The movie sank anyway and ended up as not only one of the worst reviewed movies of the year, but with $18 million earned on a $52 million budget, also one of the biggest flops. It's not clear how long Reynolds can go on like this, the guy's obviously a talent but Hollywood can only take this kind bleeding so long before he's relegated to supporting roles. Summer 2011 may end up as the year the whole Ryan Reynolds thing was kind of over. Hey Ryan, maybe now's a good time to try something edgy. How about Deadpool?

Though I'm not a religious scholar - the phrase "godless heathen" is often more appropriate - I am aware that one doesn't want to find themselves stuck on Earth during the Rapture. For those that don't know, the Rapture is the period of time in which those that have led good, Christian lives ascend to heaven while everyone else sticks around to watch the apocalypse. Apparently some have found the humor in it, however, as Craig Robinson was recently cast as the Antichrist in a movie called Rapture-Palooza, and now he is close to getting two co-stars.

THR reports that Anna Kendrick and John Francis Daley are now in talks for the religious comedy. Written by Chris Matheson, the film is about a couple named Ben and Lindsey who are trying to live in the post-apocalyptic world operating a sandwich cart business. If that wasn't hard enough, though, the Antichrist decides that he wants Lindsey to be his bride. The roles played by Kendrick and Daley are unspecified. Paul Middleditch is directing and the tone is described as being "Zombieland meets The Big Lebowski."

In spite of the stupid title, which we can only hope they'll change, I think this idea has a lot of promise. It's a concept that's never really been explored before in a feature film, though it might make the planned Jay and Seth vs. The Apocalpyse, starring Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel, a bit harder to pull off.

Trying to define the term “A-lister” with any sort of consistency is like trying to describe why ninety-five percent of the population seems to think Jennifer Aniston is sexier than Kate Winslet. If you were listing their features on paper, I’m not sure you’d have ninety-five tally marks next to Aniston. Kate Winslet has stunning eyes, a beautiful smile, a nice figure, but she’s more classically beautiful, which, oddly, works against her on the sexy scale. Jennifer Aniston just is sexier. And using that full-proof logic, let me now bring forth the rambling, semi-coherent definition which we’ll be using for the purposes of this piece of ordered deliciousness.

An A-lister is the person Hollywood goes to when they want a sure thing. Their name goes on the poster along with their face. Everyone else ends up somewhere in the background. They’ll carry at least a strong portion of the running time (though sometimes less than half), and ultimately, the success or failure of the film will affect their earning power more than anyone else’s. They’ll have an uncanny knack for getting their ideal projects greenlit and it wouldn’t seem weird if you heard two different tables at the same restaurant having a conversation about said person. They don’t necessarily need to be on a Julia Roberts level, but they do need to be better known for their acting than Jeff Daniels. He’s the cut off point. My mom knows who Jeff Daniels is, and has seen some of the stuff he's been in, but I guarantee I will never in my life hear her ask when his next movie is coming out.

None of the actors and actresses on this list are more known for their acting skills than Jeff Daniels is, but we, the visionaries here at Cinema Blend, believe someday they will be. We believe someday our moms will be asking when their next films will be out, and three, perhaps even four, separate restaurant tables will be espousing some sort of opinion on which of their movies they like best. We believe they will leave us with an amazing collection of brilliant movies and quite a few we’d rather forget. We believe someday we’ll be able to say things like “That wasn’t as good as Aaron Paul’s last movie” without getting blank stares. We believe there’s a Tom Cruise in here, a few Vince Vaughn’s and maybe even a Lauren Bacall. We believe these things because we can’t help ourselves and because one of us is one-sixteenth Gypsy. Here’s a look at twenty up and coming actors who will one day lead big-budget event films and Oscar-worthy dramas. Their mere interest in a film will inspire rewrites and the removal of studio tape, and by their forties, we’ll be playing Sporcle quizzes trying to remember all their acting credits.

Amber Heard

Amber Heard is one of the most devastatingly beautiful girls in a town full of devastatingly beautiful girls. Her A-list looks have helped get her this far, and odds are that alone won't be enough to get her farther. Still, I'm betting Amber has something bigger and better than early-life hotness in her. Not because she can act necessarily, the jury's still out on that, but because she seems willing to try. See Amber could very easily sit back and be another Blake Lively, but she hasn't done that. Her career so far makes one thing very clear: She's a gamer. She's good looking, yes, but she keeps getting work because she's pretty much up for anything. Got a weird indie-movie where she'll be engaged in a naked threesome? Count her in and forget the body double. Nic Cage doing some crazy, hell-themed, car-revenge movie and you need someone to play his badass chick sidekick? Sign her up. Need a babe to play Seth Rogen's underage girlfriend in a stoner-action comedy? Amber Heard is there. Amber Heard's approach is no-holds barred, an actress who's actually there because she seems more interested in acting than being a brand. She doesn't have a list of things she won't do in her contract and because of that I think her big break will happen at any minute. I'm betting it'll be as frequently naked muse Chenault in The Rum Diary, if that long since finished Johnny Depp movie ever released. But even if it isn't, she'll be big some day anyway, because Amber Heard is up for anything.

Anton Yelchin

Remember that scene in Step Brothers where Rob Riggle tells Will Ferrell he wants to punch him in the face? Not for any particular reason, of course, there's just something about that suck hole that needs punching. That's how I feel about Anton Yelchin's passive-aggressive, one hundred and eight pound frame at the start of every movie. There's just something about him that bothers me, makes me want to yell “man up” during random intervals until he feels self-conscious and changes, but as the movie goes on, I always start to hate these Anton Yelchin characters a little less. Then by the end, I'm cheering as they go skinny dipping with Amanda Seyfried and make out with Kat Dennings. I don't know why it happens, perhaps it's because Anton Yelchin's emaciated frame is Oliver Twisty, but more than likely, it's because these characters are supposed to come off as effeminate douches until they slowly start to figure it out. Such is the power of Anton Yelchin that he could convince me to hate him, the bastard.

Donald Glover

Donald Glover is the next Tina Fey. I mean that. He's a creator as much as he is a performer, a guy who when he wants to do something is willing to simply step up and make it happen himself. He's prolific. A fountain of creative genius. He already starred in, co-wrote, and produced one of the funniest movies of the decade. It's not Donald Glover's fault that people weren't smart enough to see it. You really should run out and buy a copy of Mystery Team. On Community he's one half of the funniest comedic duos since Larry and Balki, but he's destined for bigger things than Bronson Pinchot. People were half-joking when they started a grass roots campaign to convince Sony to make Donald the next Spider-Man, but would anyone have minded if they'd taken the internet seriously and actually cast him? Probably not. He's too talented, too likable, for just about anything (even something as ill-conceived as Sony's Spider-Man reboot) he does to suck. He'll be huge, he'll do it all on his own, his way, through talent, hard work, and sheer likability. No, he's not related to Danny Glover.

Emma Stone

Emma Stone has proven she can be a charming-ish love interest (Superbad), a solid supporting actress who can occasionally carry a scene (Zombieland), and now, with last month's release of the enjoyable Easy A, she's proven she can topline an above-average comedy that actually makes its budget back. That leaves her with a choice. She can either attempt to become Anna Faris, a not really worthwhile goal she will fail at, or she can try to be the next Jennifer Aniston, a more reasonable use of her talents she can definitely succeed at. It'll all come down to genre choices. I can't tell you how many reviews of Easy A I've read that have called Emma Stone a funnywoman. She's not. Gilda Radner was a funnywoman. Emma Stone is a good actress with excellent comedic timing. She's more than capable of servicing comedic material, but trying to force laughs on her own will ultimately prove a different story. Here's to hoping she goes the Jennifer Aniston route, and in doing so, takes a few more Office Space's than Along Came Polly's.

Terry Crews

I'm voting for Camacho. That needs to be on a bumper sticker, somewhere. Terry Crews is heading into his mid-forties and he's been working non-stop in film and television for more than a decade on more than forty different projects. You might think that at his age, after so much work, if he was going to make it big it would have happened by now. But Samuel L. Jackson was forty-six before Quentin Tarantino recognized what he could do, and made him a mega-star by casting him in Pulp Fiction. That's where I see Terry Crews. He's the kind of actor who only really gets big late in life, the kind of guy whose talent doesn't really mature until he's long past his sexual prime. Terry Crews is just getting going. He's becoming that guy that everybody recognizes from somewhere, and would probably like to vote for in a dystopian future where everyone's dumb and our president is a retired wrestler. He can play the warm and caring father, or kill with comedic timing. He can flex his muscles and hold his own with the likes of Stallone and Rourke. Everything, whether it's an Old Spice ad or a gun battle, is a little bit better with Terry Crews in it. It's just taking the world a little while to figure it out and now it's only a matter of time before he hooks up with the right filmmaker and gets his own Royal with Cheese.

Tom Felton

I'm not convinced, but if interviews and Youtube videos are any indication, Tom Felton sucks. Which doesn't mean he's a terrible actor—the opposite in fact is true. While his cameo in Get Him To The Greek gains him more street cred with me, his incredible performances in the Harry Potter franchise are what gains him street cred with 95% of everyone else. Which is sort of funny, because Tom Felton/Draco Malfoy only accounts for like 7% of Harry Potter references. Outside of Harry Potter, Felton's been writhing in the muck of a bunch of gritty indie flicks that only like 3% of the population has seen (.5% accounted for by Felton's family members) —case in point, you ever heard of 13 Hours or The Disappeared? This equivocating has caused Mr. Felton to be about as popular as banana peppers on a Subway sandwich. Of course, Vegas odds says there's like a 4% chance of him somehow ending up on the A-List. Because I'm a risk taker, and because I'm pretty sure Felton might just be an acting genius, I'd take the over in a second (22% of you should be smart enough to, too).

Anna Kendrick

On the surface Anna Kendrick seems eternally suited to be pigeonholed in the thankless role of best friend to whoever it is they've hired to play the movie's lead. The girl she's playing best friend to will have better hair, and Anna Kendrick would be doomed to spend her character actress life in a world revolving around the part someone else is playing. But Kendrick's better than that and while she may not have the best hair in whatever movie she's in, no matter how she's used there's always the sense that she's that girl you know, and will probably meet again. She seems real, in a way so few others have, and when given the opportunity to do something other than play the best friend, she knocked it out of the park. Maybe she'll keep playing the supporting role for a few more years, but when you watch Anna Kendrick there's the sense that she has something pretty great inside her somewhere. She seems real, in a way too few Hollywood actresses do. She's more than just the lead character's best friend, she's your best friend too, and too rare to leave her stranded at fourth billing in someone else's film.

Kieran Culkin

Eighty percent as cute and every bit as talented as his more famous older brother Macaulay, Kieran Culkin took a seven year hiatus from Hollywood after his Golden Globe-nominated lead performance in Igby Goes Down, only to recently return in a few juicy supporting roles including off-beat man whore Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. Brooding, angsty and always delightfully eccentric, Kieran Culkin usually comes off like that kid in Honors Math who ditches out the side door to chain smoke and read Phillip K. Dick novels. In all honesty, it's probably bad for society that we romanticize those underachievers, the Will Hunting's of the world, but how could we not when people like Kieran Culkin tinge their middle fingers with infectious rebellion and at-all-costs individuality.

Chloe Moretz

We stopped being amazed by child actors who actually seemed good at their job, some time not long after Haley Joel Osment proved it was possible for kids not to suck on screen in The Sixth Sense. Haley Joel was a big deal, and every kid actor that came after him, no matter how good, is not. But Chloe Moretz is at least as good as Osment and as a bonus, she has parents who don't really seem to care about traumatizing her all that much. It's probably not good for her eternal soul and I worry that all that time she spent covered in sticky red entrails during the filming of Kick-Ass may have turned her into Dexter, but if she can avoid the massive drug problems of similarly treated child actors then Chloe Moretz could grow up to be something pretty good. Or even if she does turn into a coked out party kid as she gets older, there's still the chance she'll end up turning into Drew Barrymore, hopefully minus a starring role in Poison Ivy 7.

Gillian Jacobs

Gillian Jacobs is the kind of woman who looks like she doesn't need to wear makeup, the kind of girl who you feel certain rolls out of bed looking that way, and only looks cuter when her hair is messed up. She's one of the most underrated components of NBC's Community, going toe to toe with Joel McHale as the empowered female who secretly would rather be the girl next door. Gillian has wicked comedic timing and she's versatile too. Whether she's playing a day-shift stripper in Choke or a British party crasher in Helena at the Wedding every scene sparkles just a little more when she's in it. One look at her and she just seems like she's destined for something bigger, like she should be replacing Julia Roberts as the new queen of rom-coms, or at the least providing a less uptight, judgement-free alternative to the ones starring Katherine Heigl. At some point Jacobs is going to hook up with Judd Apatow and blow the world away, until then enjoy her on TV and plan for the day when your wife will own all of her movies on DVD.

Clark Duke

The first time I saw Sex Drive, I turned to my roommate and said, “Hey, that's the kid at the party in Superbad.” “No,” he said, “That's the kid from Greek.” Such is the it factor of Clark Duke, that his second feature film and first major supporting role would immediately remind me of his only other film, a one-off bit part he's not even credited for, and remind my roommate of a show on ABC Family. There's just something about his mannerisms that is really funny, like if a 1976 Chevy Chase took two years off to eat excessively and somehow grow more sure of himself. Clark Duke is a throwback. He's the chubby, cocksure, loud idiot for the internet generation. God only knows if he'll reach the lofty heights of Belushi, but I'm pretty sure he'll smash a few guitars along the way.

Michael Pitt

I've known Michael Pitt was going to be famous for the last ten years. Remember Finding Forrester? He's the kid who can't come up with Coleridge, even though his last name is Coleridge. I remember watching the nervous sweat pool around his cheeks and thinking this kid's got it. Then, the next year he showed up in Bully, playing a stoner that impulsively joins a murder plot because he wants to have sex with one of the girls involved. Again, awesome. Same thing in Hedwig And The Angry Inch and The Dreamers and Funny Games. Now, Michael Pitt is the second lead on Boardwalk Empire, Scorsese's new HBO Prohibition drama. Do I really even need to tell you he's awesome in it? This kid has literally been the best thing about almost every film he's been in, the only thing holding him back has been his penchant for taking obscure indie films most people don't see. There's a way to be groundbreaking and at least partly mainstream. Someday Michael Pitt will mark his territory in that place and at that point, he'll have turned into his generation's Gary Oldman.

Mia Wasikowska

In the space of a single year, this year, Mia Wasikowska has managed to play the lead in one of Hollywood's most financially successful blockbusters while at the same time tackling a pivotal supporting role in one of the year's most critically acclaimed indies. And still, almost no one seems to know her name, let alone how to spell it. That won't last long. She has too much range. She does quietly complex almost unlike any other young actress you've seen lately on screen, and she has a knack for channeling that into bravery and strength when it's needed. Mia has a kind of ethereal grace, the kind you'd get from Grace Kelly, combined with an inexplicable layer of Christina Ricci oddity. She's beautiful, without looking exactly like anyone else you've already seen on screen. Maybe she'll get caught up in corset dramas, that seems to be where she's most comfortable, but expect to see more of her.

Aziz Ansari

A good comedy needs three things: a funny premise, talent and momentum. Sometimes that momentum can come from a flawless script, but more often than not, it channels from the main actor either through energy or cleverness. Jim Carrey, Chris Farley, these guys are house of energy comedians, they come at you with all they've got, hoping to infect you with their determination. Woody Allen, Christopher Guest, these guys are clever, improving and subtly bouncing off what's given with a relentless wit that builds throughout a film. At twenty-seven years old, I've seen Aziz Ansari do both. From the brilliant Funny People Randy spin-off to the low-energy retorts of Tom Haverford on Parks And Recreation, Aziz Ansari is quietly one of the most talented comedians we've seen in years. He can carry the show like at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards or he can steal a scene here or there like in Observe And Report. It's like young Bill Murray and old Bill Murray fucked and had a dark-skinned baby. Good God, people would not pay money for that sex tape.

Joel McHale

Now nearly 40, you have to think with a hit TV show like Community under his belt that Joel McHale is more interested in putting a new pool in his backyard than getting even more famous, but it's probably going to happen to him anyway. His eerily perfect combination of easygoing charm and biting, sarcastic wit in a Hollywood ready body is too much for anyone, let alone a studio exec sure to see dollar signs, to resist. The current incarnation of Saturday Night Live isn't going to crank out any more new movie stars any time soon and we have to find the next Adam Sandler somewhere. Maybe it'll be Joel McHale, who probably believes he's far more likely to end up mirroring Rodney Dangerfield's career path than Billy Madison's, but you never know when he'll hallucinate a girlfriend stealing penguin. He did a good job in Soderbergh's otherwise blah The Informant! last year. It's only a matter of time before the movie world starts to notice, and craves more of his lanky, cynical talents.

Ben Foster

Ben Foster has played a psychotic prisoner in My Name is Earl, a learning disabled teen in Freaks and Geeks, and a confused and sexually frustrated artist in Six Feet Under… and this eclectic bibliography only accounts for his early television work. Whether he's playing a psychotic, erotic cowboy in 3:10 to Yuma or a panicked yet determined brother in Alpha Dog, Foster always keeps his audience in rapt attention. Maybe it's the nuance of crystal eyes. Maybe it's that dreamy/scary effect he shrugs out like its nothing (somewhere there's a girl all ready to change him). All I know, is back in the day Foster and fellow coworker Jewel Staite (of Stargate: Atlantis fame) were on this show that nobody remembers, with a title everyone knows (Flash Forward). It was about two kids, one a class clown, one a girl who tried to act grown-up, trying to make it through the ups and downs of middle school together. When Foster's teenage self entered that set, he walked on-screen like he was some Ellis Island immigrant knowing he had arrived. He may make famous for his off-kilter good looks, he should make famous for his acting skills, but I think he could make it on charisma alone.

Aaron Paul

Aaron Paul is a brilliant actor, but perhaps more importantly, he's handsome and creepy and depending on how he's dressed and how his face looks, either an intellectual member of high society or a learning-disabled product of inbreeding. He easily waffles between extremes with the slightest alterations. Johnny Depp can do that too, one minute a conquering hero, a merciless villain the next, all while never saying a word. It's all in the face, that handsome, yet up to no good smirk, the one that won Aaron Paul an Emmy for his work on Breaking Bad. Do yourself a favor and check out the remake of The Last House On The Left or his turn as Sarah's ex-Mormon boyfriend Scott on HBO's Big Love. I haven't the slightest idea where Aaron Paul will end up in ten years, but I can promise you the path to get there will be littered with a lot of strange films.

Jaden Smith

Jaden Smith is going to be a massive movie star, whether you like it or not, and whether he deserves it or not. His dad is Will Smith, one of the only big Hollywood box office draws left on the planet, and Will has sort of made it his mission to turn Jaden into his heir apparent. It's happening, you can't stop it. The good news is that Jaden might not actually be bad at it. The Karate Kid remake was one of the few movies worth seeing this summer and while most of the credit goes to the brilliant work of Jackie Chan, Jaden wasn't half-bad for a 12-year-old. He has a famous Dad, he probably doesn't have to try that hard, but he seems to be trying hard anyway. Maybe Jaden has inherited enough of his father drive, determination, and flat out talent that we won't mind all that much when he's shoved down our collective throats. At least he hasn't tried to become the next Jonas Brother, he could have done that you know, and it would have worked. The kid, for now at least, seems genuinely interested in acting. He'll be a star and maybe this is one case when nepotism isn't such a bad thing.

John Francis Daley

John Francis Daley is either going to be huge, or he's going to be exactly as big as he is now for several years to come before fizzling out. I really can't make up my mind. You see, common sense tells me his time has passed. Even though he's barely twenty-five years old, the last half-decade has been dominated by hyper-intelligent, socially-awkward, shyly cute nerds like Michael Cera and Jesse Eisenberg. John Francis Daley is nothing, if not that character. He's been playing that character since he was called Sam Weir on Freaks & Geeks. Hell, he's still playing that character (now named Dr. Lance Sweets) on an above-average crime show on network television. He's like the bizarre-o Matthew Grey Gubler. For the love of God, those two should be churning out scientist double date comedies like Harvard-educated Cheech and Chong's, but alas, the two crime crushers have yet to connect. I think maybe John Francis Daley might headline a few thinking man's Rom Coms at some point, but maybe that's only because I've learned what the likes of Seth Rogen, James Franco, Linda Cardellini and Busy Phillips had to teach me: being associated with Judd Apatow gets you a couple of Scooby Doo flicks and an invitation to the Hanks Family Thanksgiving, at worst.

Justin Timberlake

Like Michael Vick, John Travolta and Disney's non-Pixar animation department, Justin Timberlake has been written off an almost uncountable number of times. He went from Star Search to The Mickey Mouse Club to N Sync to pop superstardom, all of which involved handsomeness, likeability and singing. Then, out of nowhere, he went from Saturday Night Live guest host to Alpha Dog to Black Snake Moan and now to The Social Network, literally crushing every performance like acting was his primary skill. And the sick thing about it is, it just well may be, all while ignorant purists keep writing him off. I can't tell you how many times before The Social Network came out people told me, "Yeah, it sounds great, but it's got Justin Timberlake." We need to face facts, people. Justin Timberlake is not only handsome beyond words, he's an excellent actor who throws himself into the work. If you gave me three possible outcomes for JT's future: fading away, continuing on as an above-average supporting performer or achieving Hollywood success beyond his musical achievements, I would undoubtedly put it all on the latter, even if he did start his career as a Mouskateer.

This poll is no longer available.

Suggest candidates of your own in the comments section below.

In the opening to last night's episode of The Office, every employee of the Scranton branch of Sabre Printers is performing a lip dub to the song "Nobody But Me" by Human Beinz. After touring around the all of the desks, the camera enters the office of Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, where he donning a top hat, a cape and a magic wand. Apparently the actor really liked filming that scene because now he wants to play a magician in a movie.

Variety reports that Carell is in negotiations to star in Burt Wonderstone, a comedy about magicians in Las Vegas. After a risky illusion (tricks are what a whore does for money) kills his partner, Burt Wonderstone, played by Carell, must reexamine his life and "rediscover his love of magic." The most recent draft of the script was written by John Francis Daley (best known for his acting role on Freaks and Geeks) and Jonathan Goldstein.

This is Carell's last season on The Office so expect him to be picking up movie projects left and right very soon. He's already attached to a film called A Boyfriend For My Wife, but this film seems like a much more natural fit. Last night's episode was hardly the first time that Michael Scott has put his love of magic on display, be it attending magic camp or getting himself locked inside of a straitjacket and losing the key. Carell's last few live-action ventures have not been on par with his earlier work, culminating with this past summer's Dinner For Schmucks. Hopefully he'll get back on track.

Sorry if I'm about to ruin your favorite spot of the Super Bowl, but remember that Homeaway ad that reunited Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo as the Griswold family? Yeah, that wasn't just a one-off thing. The ad was intended to whet our appetite for a full-on Vacation redo, which has been in development for a while and today has finally hired screenwriters to get the machine lumbering to life again.

The lucky guys are John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who have done a fair amount of script work around Hollywood but, based on Variety's report, haven't had anything actually make it to the screen so far. Daley would have made a fair Rusty Griswold back in the days he was starring on Judd Apatow's late, great Freaks & Geeks, but now that he's all grown up, apparently it's all behind-the-scenes work for him.

Then again, the new film is all about Rusty and his own family as they road trip to Wally World one last time, so if Daley wants to make an acting comeback.... Chevy Chase will also be part of the festivities, as Grandpa Clark. No word on whether D'Angelo is returning, but if she made the time for the Homeaway ad, you've got to figure a cameo here is inevitable.

The one last interesting tidbit is that the "National Lampoon" label won't be attached to this film, likely a rights thing. While the National Lampoon title has lately indicated more bad things than good, it does feel like a shame that a new Vacation movie will be a completely separate thing. As we've learned from the rotating casts of Rustys and Audreys over the years, though, nothing lasts forever, not even your own children.

Still feeling a little burned by the disappointing movie that Fanboys became when the Weinstein Company pillaged it? Maybe you can find some consolation in '77, the other tiny indie about geeky Star Wars fans trying to make their dreams come true. This one is written and directed by Patrick Read Johnson, telling an autobiographical story about an Illinois teenager (John Francis Daley, a.k.a. Sam Weir from Freaks and Geeks) who is an aspiring filmmaker, and whose life is changed by the May 25, 1977 release of a little movie called Star Wars.

The movie doesn't have a release date or a distributor yet, but they've released the first trailer. It's a good trailer, though one that's really over-reliant on familiar songs-- Paul Simon's "Kodachrome,'" ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" and (I think) Jon Brion's song from I Heart Huckabees. Seriously, we all love "Mr. Blue Sky," but it needs to be retired from media right alongside "Don't Stop Believin'."

Anyway, check it out for yourself below, and see if you identify with the geeky kid at the center of it. I have a feeling we'll all find something to like here.