Lots of people love going to theme parks like Disneyland. While some famous celebs are full on Disney Adults, others just enjoy the occasional day at a theme park like everybody else. Often celebrities have to use VIP services to keep from getting mobbed in the parks. However, Star Wars icon Ewan McGregor apparently doesn’t have that problem, as he once went to Disneyland (on SW Day) and nobody recognized him.

In a post shared to Instragram by The Zach Sang Show, McGregor’s wife, Mary Elizabeth Winstead reveals that the couple once went to Disneyland together and that the Obi-Wan Kenobi actor took no precautions to avoid being recognized beyond wearing a hat. But somehow, he made it through a day at the park without anybody realizing it was him.

Disneyland has done regular Star Wars Nite events after hours for the last several years, and they're very popular. It’s likely one of those events that Winstead is referring to, though the park has also done what it calls Season of the Force, bridging attention to Star Wars for several months with special food items, attraction overlays and other experiences.

Even under normal Disneyland circumstances, I’d expect somebody would notice Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead walking around together, but as the actress points out, the circumstances of the time period meant that there were people in the park dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi, who apparently walked right by Kenobi without realizing it.

Meeting this couple would be a big deal for any serious Star Wars fan. In addition to McGregor playing Obi-Wan in thew prequel films and the follow up Disney+ series, Winstead played the live-action version of popular character Hera Syndulla in the first season of Disney+’s Ahsoka series. Expectations are that she will return in some capacity for Season 2 of the upcoming Star Wars series, which is set to debut sometime next year and be available with a Disney+ subscription.

To be fair, as Winstead points out, nobody is going to be standing in line for Hyperspace Mountain and expect to have somebody famous standing next to them. Even if you saw a major celebrity at Disneyland, if they didn’t have the VIP host with them, you’d have no reason to believe it was somebody famous and likely wouldn’t give them a second look.

As a theme park writer who also covers Hollywood I'll admit I always keep my eyes open for "plaids" the VIP tour guides, to see who might be with them. I figure it's only a matter of time before I run into major Disney Adults like Neil Patrick Harris, Josh Gad or John Stamos. Or possibly Gad and Stamos, singing on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Of course, now that I know Ewan McGregor can walk around Disneyland without being recognized, this clearly means there isn’t enough Obi-wan in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. If Luke Skywalker can be added to the land, clearly Obi-Wan can. Perhaps McGregor could visit the park when the character debuts, it’s not like anybody will bother him.

SPOILERS are ahead for The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, which is new on streaming over on Hulu. Check out the movie before reading ahead.

Halloweekend is upon us, and a brand-new horror release called The Hand That Rocks The Cradle is here starring two seasoned actors in the genre, Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. They've collaborated with acclaimed director Michelle Garza Cervera to bring a very twisty viewing experience about a mother and her mysterious babysitter. After I watched the new movie, I was left stunned by the ending. So when CinemaBlend had the chance to interview the creatives, I had to ask about the meaning behind it all.

The Director's Thoughts On The Finale Of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle

The moment I had to ask the director about was regarding the final scene in the movie where Caitlin’s daughter Emma is sitting with her baby sister Josie and repeating the same story Polly once told her about her tragic time in foster care, when she at one time only ate tuna for sustenance. As Garza told me:

At the end of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle, we find out that Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Caitlin committed arson to the house of Maika Monroe’s Polly when she was a teenager, killing Polly’s whole family before her eyes when she was just a child. Caitlin had done so in a desperate attempt to stop Polly’s father from continuing to sexually abuse her, and as Caitlin suggests at the end, Polly was being abused by him as well.

Since Caitlin’s children were exposed to Polly with her being their babysitter, they’ve absorbed some of the trauma associated with their mom’s past in their own way. As Garza continued in our interview:

So Emma telling Josie Polly’s sad story about what being in foster care was like for her is the film’s way of helping bring home the message of how whatever trauma we may hold has a way of passing from one generation to the other, despite our best efforts.

Why Mary Elizabeth Winstead Thinks It's The 'Perfect' Ending

When I continued the ending conversation with Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the actors echoed it had everything to do with “generational trauma.” Here’s what Winstead said specifically about Caitlin and Polly’s coming to a violent head at the end:

Winstead’s perspective on the story itself really adds some more layers to the effectiveness of the themes of The Hand That Rocks The Cradle. Polly can certainly be seen as a symbol of Caitlin’s trauma coming back to haunt her because she somewhat stuffed it down and didn’t deal with it. Winstead also said this:

The movie is a remake of a movie of the same title from 1992. Our The Hand That Rocks The Cradle review gave it four out of five stars, applauding it for avoiding “a number of clichés” with its plotline and there being a “strength of the characters” especially when it comes to Monroe and Winstead’s performances. You can check out what other critics are saying about the movie, and look forward to the many other upcoming horror movies on the way as spooky season continues.

Back in 1992, Rebecca De Mornay brought terror to the big screen as a grieving nanny bent on revenge in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and now that sexy thriller has been remade for a new generation. Premiering on the 2025 movie calendar on October 22 (and available to stream with a Hulu subscription) the new Hand That Rocks the Cradle brings two modern-day scream queens together, so do critics think it’s a worthy remake?

Maika Monroe stars as Polly Murphy, a nanny with ulterior motives who gets hired by Caitlyn and Miguel Morales (Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Raúl Castillo). In CinemaBlend’s review of Hulu’s The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Eric Eisenberg says Winstead and Monroe make a great on-screen pair, and this is definitely one to add to your watchlist this Halloween. He rates it 4 out of 5 stars and writes:

William Bibbiani of The Wrap says the new horror movie is smart, but not as thrilling as its 1992 counterpart. Still, the critic writes, that’s better than a superficial remake that merely retreads tired story beats. In Bibbiani’s words:

David Rooney of THR says director Michelle Garza Cervera blurs the line between victim and villain in The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, and while this is far from the worst unnecessary remake, it still is one. Its release on Hulu further cements its fate as quickly forgettable, Rooney says, writing:

David Ehrlich of IndieWire gives the movie a C-, writing that while the lead actresses are a formidable pair, the movie subs what could have been a provocative exploration of feminism with an unsatisfying and suspense-free story of how hurt women hurt women. Ehrlich continues:

Siddhant Adlakha of Variety says the movie introduces plenty of intrigue, including the mystery behind Polly’s intentions, the queer subplot and the way the fractured cinematography adds to the characters’ discombobulation. However, the final act is just no fun, Adlakha says, writing:

It sounds like there are some interesting additions to the 2025 version of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle to differentiate it from the 1992 original. While the critics seem to have enjoyed the performances, many think the themes that the remake introduce aren’t explored deeply enough.

If this sounds like a movie that interests you, it is available to stream now, and if not, there are plenty of other Hulu thrillers like Run to check out on the streaming service.

October is coming to a close, but the spooky season is far from over. This week sees a pair of new series that are likely to send chills down your spine, along with much more family-friendly fare and the return of a fan favorite romantic comedy. There’s something for everybody this week.

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle - October 22 (Hulu)

1992’s The Hand That Rocks The Cradle was number one at the domestic box office for a month. While the remake (which sees Mary Elizabeth Winstead take over from Rebecca De Mornay) will only be available with a Hulu Subscription, we can guess that Disney hopes this film about a woman who becomes a nanny to terrorize a family she believes wronged her will be just as successful.

Lazarus - October 22 (Prime Video)

Mystery and thriller author Harlan Coben has written numerous bestsellers. In 2022, he signed a deal with Amazon, which led to a well-received adaptation of his novel Shelter. The newest project from this partnership (available with a Prime Video subscription) is Lazarus, starring Bill Nighy and Sam Claflin as a son who begins to see the dead following the apparent suicide of his father.

Nobody Wants This, Season 2 - October 23 (Netflix)

The hit romantic comedy series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody returns for a second season as your favorite couple continues to deal with the beautiful and complicated relationship. Despite the title, it seems clear that everybody with a Netflix subscription wants this.

Weapons - October 24 (HBO Max)

A last-minute addition to this list, it was just announced this past Friday that one of the best movies of 2024 so far, Weapons, will be making its streaming debut this week. Make sure you have your HBO Max subscription ready because you won't want to miss this wild ride.

LEGO Frozen: Operations Puffins - October 24 (Disney+)

It’s still going to be a few years before fans get the long-awaited Frozen 3, but those who let it go (sorry) will have some new Frozen fun available with their Disney+ subscription in the form of the latest Disney and LEGO animated collaboration. LEGO Frozen: Operation Puffins sees the Duke of Weselton use the sea birds as an army to attack Arrendale. Several members of the Frozen voice cast, including Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Josh Gad, all reprise their roles.

A House of Dynamite - October 24 (Netflix)

From the director of Zero Dark Thirty comes A House of Dynamite. With a stellar cast including Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Jared Harris, and more, the new film from Kathryn Bigelow sees an apparent ICBM launch against the U.S., and the government must take what little time it has left to figure out the right way to respond, and possibly avoid the end of the world.

IT: Welcome to Derry, Season 1 - October 26 (HBO Max)

IT is considered by many to be Stephen King’s greatest work. It’s a story so big it required two films to tell the whole story. And yet, the story isn’t quite complete. From Andy Muschietti (the director of IT) comes IT: Welcome To Derry, which serves as a prequel to the films that explore the evil that came to town in the years before. Be sure to have your HBO Max subscription to check out this one.

Halloween is almost here, so we can bet that a few spooky surprises will be in store on your favorite streaming platform next week. Be sure to check back here to see what’s coming to Netflix, Disney+, and all the rest.

While Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Hera Syndulla of Ahsoka have not crossed paths in the Star Wars universe, the pair of actors are quite well acquainted. They reportedly met on the set of Fargo’s third season and began dating before they tied the knot in 2022. The couple share a two-year-old son named Laurie who apparently is already massively into Star Wars. Even though his favorite character isn’t necessarily one of his parents’, he chose a pretty solid number one in the franchise. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead opened up about Laurie’s connections with Star Wars already, sharing that he already has Star Wars gifts and action figures “peppered around” the house, and a Star Wars T-shirt collection that “sort of naturally just happened.” And, in her words: 

While speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Winstead shared that one of the first places Laurie actually went to as a newborn was the set of Obi-Wan Kenobi, which Winstead would often visit while McGregor was shooting the Disney+ series in mid-2021, just as Laurie came into the world. The actress also shared that she actually thinks she ended up in the Star Wars universe as a part of the Ahsoka cast after getting to know Star Wars filmmaker Deborah Chow during these set visits. 

As the actress also shared, Laurie’s favorite Star Wars character right now is Grogu, aka “Baby Yoda.” I mean, how can that cute green guy not be the best thing in the world at the age of two? Winstead continued: 

Once Laurie understands he’s the son of two Star Wars actors, his mind is going to explode! Winstead joined Star Wars in 2022 as Rebel general Hera Syndulla after previously sharing the space with her husband on two former projects. Along with the couple meeting on Fargo, they also ended up both being characters in DC’s Birds of Prey. Winstead played Helena Bertinelli/The Huntress in the movie, and McGregor played the 2020 film’s villain, Roman Sionis, a.k.a. Black Mask. 

Before becoming husband and wife, the couple were both previously married to other people. In 2017, McGregor separated from his wife of 22 years, Eve Mavrakis, and in that same year, Winstead’s marriage with filmmaker Riley Stearns ended after seven years as a married couple. Ah, the winding road to become a Star Wars couple! 

It sounds like Winstead and McGregor are embracing their son being into the universe. You can check out both actors in their respective shows set in a galaxy far, far away now streaming with a Disney+ subscription, and stay updated with more upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows here on CinemaBlend. 

Have you ever caught a rerun of an older TV show and during the opening credits sequence, you spotted someone who made you say, “Hey, I know that person!”? This is actually a more common occurrence than you may realize, as there many A-list celebrities whose first IMDb credit (or one of the first) was a supporting role on a series long before they earned the honor of being a leading presence on the big (or small) screen. The following are some of our favorite examples of famous actors who appeared a bit further down the the line on the call sheet on a TV show when they were starting out.

Chris Pratt (Everwood)

Before Guardians of the Galaxy made him a leading man, Chris Pratt really began to gain traction from starring in the Parks and Recreation cast as Andy Dwyer. However, even earlier than that, he starred on a WB family drama called Everwood as high school joke Bright Abbott alongside fellow future MCU star Emily VanCamp, who played his sister, Amy.

Jennifer Lawrence (The Bill Engvall Show)

Before her Academy Award-nominated performance in 2010’s Winter’s Bone, her star-making role as Katniss in The Hunger Games and Oscar-winning turn in Silver Lining’s Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence was a sitcom star — specifically a cable network sitcom star. On The Bill Engvall Show, which lasted three seasons on TBS, she starred opposite the eponymous stand-up comedian as his on-screen alter ego’s teenage daughter, Lauren Pearson,

Austin Butler (Zoey 101)

The musical talents that earned Austin Butler the title role of Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis can be traced back to his part on Ruby & the Rockits, which lasted 10 episodes on ABC Family (now Freeform) in 2009. However, the Oscar nominee’s first major TV role was on the final season of Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101 as James Garrett — a character missing from Paramount+’s feature-length follow-up, Zoey 102.

Margot Robbie (Pan Am)

While her earliest role was actually the long-running soap opera, Neighbours — much like many other Aussie A-listers — we thought we would highlight American audiences’ first true introduction to Margot Robbie on Pan Am. An interesting fact about Robbie is that the future Oscar nominee and DC movies star was actually roommates with co-star Christina Ricci while playing 1960s-era flight attendant Laura Cameron on the short-lived ABC drama from 2011 to 2012.

Seth Rogen (Freaks And Geeks)

While still part of the main ensemble, Seth Rogen’s role as the initially arrogant Ken Miller pretty much got the short end of the stick amongst the Freaks and Geeks cast, for the most part. Ironically, Rogen, arguably, went on to become the painfully short-lived coming-of-age dramedy’s biggest star, which is really saying something, given his co-stars include Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and John Francis Daley.

Brie Larson (Raising Dad)

A notable moment in Academy Award winner Brie Larson’s evolution from child star to modern A-list actor was her role as the late Bob Saget’s youngest on-screen daughter on Raising Dad — a sitcom that ran for one season on The WB (now The CW) in the early 2000s. Following her success as the MCU’s Captain Marvel, Larson returned to TV in 2023 — reprising her Scott Pilgrim vs. the World role for Netflix’s animated series reboot, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and leading the Lessons in Chemistry cast for Apple TV+.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Growing Pains)

While doing press for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt recalled how they both appeared on the hit ABC sitcom Growing Pains much earlier in their career. Of course, Pitt had a one-episode guest appearance while the Oscar-winning The Revenant star and Titanic cast member had a prominent role as Luke Brewer — a homeless teen taken in by the Seavers in Season 7. 

Ana De Armas (The Boarding School)

One of the films that earned Academy Award nominee Ana de Armas a spot on the A-list was Rian Johnson’s hit whodunit, Knives Out, from 2019. More than a decade earlier, the Cuban-born actor landed a role on a coming-of-age mystery TV show called El Internado (or The Boarding School), which originally aired in Spain from 2007 to 2010.

Michael B. Jordan (The Wire)

After getting his start as a Toys ‘R Us kid, the fascinating Michael B. Jordan made his official acting debut on an episode of The Sopranos, but later landed a more prominent role on another acclaimed, gritty HBO series in 2002. He appeared amongst The Wire cast as Wallace — an orphan whose tragic story had a profound impact on the Emmy-nominated series beyond his 13-episode stint.

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

Anne Hathaway fans should know that before she broke into the mainstream by leading Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, the Academy Award winner made her acting debut on a 1999 Fox TV show called Get Real as a high school senior who shocks her family with the decision to refuse college. Coincidentally, the short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS' Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Denzel Washington (St. Elsewhere)

With two Oscars to his name, it’s hard to imagine a TV screen big enough to contain the talent of one Denzel Washington, yet it was a TV show that helped launched the young actor’s career in the early 1980s. Following his official debut in the 1977 TV movie Wilma, the future Training Day lead played Dr. Philip Chandler on NBC’s hit medical drama, St. Elsewhere.

Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek)

For years, Michelle Williams was known best from the Dawson’s Creek cast as Jen Lindley. Now — after receiving multiple Academy Award nominations for acclaimed dramas like Manchester by the Sea and Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans — that role on the hit teen drama is, typically, among the last things mentioned in regards to her career.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (3rd Rock From The Sun)

As a child actor, Joseph Gordon-Levitt starred in some good movies and made a few notable TV guest appearances before landing his first successful series regular gig with 3rd Rock from the Sun. He played the eldest member of a group of extra-terrestrial visitors, and the character resembles a teenager in human form on the Emmy-winning sci-fi sitcom.

George Clooney (The Facts Of Life)

As a TV star, George Clooney is best known from his main role on the popular ‘90s show, ER, on which he played Doug Ross. Much earlier, however, the future two-time Oscar winner had a memorable recurring role on Diff’rent Strokes' (very different) spin-off, The Facts of Life, as George Burnett — a carpenter who would become close to the girls living under Mrs. Garrett’s roof.

Woody Harrelson (Cheers)

With multiple Academy Award nominations to his name, Woody Harrelson is known today as one of Hollywood’s most versatile movie stars, but his first big break came when he joined the Cheers cast in the mid-1980s. In fact, he won his first Emmy Award for playing the naive, but lovable, Woody Byrd, whom Sam (Ted Danson) hires on as a new barkeep following he death of Coach (Nicholas Colasanto).

Jason Bateman (Little House On The Prairie)

At least before he led Netflix’s Ozark cast, Jason Bateman has always best known on the small screen as a sitcom star, with his roles as David Hogan on Valerie (later changed to The Hogan Family) and Michael Bluth on Arrested Development being the famous examples. However, his very first gig was playing James Cooper Ingalls for 21 episodes of Little House on the Prairie during the early 1980s.

Don Cheadle (The Golden Palace)

An early Don Cheadle role you may have forgotten about was featured on a TV show spin-off you may not have heard of, either. The future Academy Award nominee and MCU actor starred alongside most of the Golden Girls cast on The Golden Palace as Roland Wilson — the young manager of the titular hotel where the short-lived sitcom took place. 

Jason Momoa (Baywatch)

Even long before he landed the role of Aquaman in the DC movies, Jason Momoa was no stranger to saving lives in the water. The Hawaiian-born actor made his debut in his home state when he joined the Baywatch cast as a character also named Jason from 1999 to 2001.

Marisa Tomei (A Different World)

We know her from her Academy Award-winning role in My Cousin Vinny as Mona Lisa Vito (who she'd love to revisit) or as Peter Parker’s (reinvented) Aunt May in the MCU, to name a few examples. Yet before many people knew who Marisa Tomei was, she was on the first season of The Cosby Show spin-off, A Different World, as Hillman student Maggie Lauten.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Get Down)

One interesting fact about Yahya Abdul-Mateen II: before he was an Emmy-winning DC TV show star (for playing Cal Abar on HBO’s Watchmen) and a scene-stealing DC movie villain (Black Manta in Aquaman), he worked as a San Francisco city planner until he was laid off in 2010. The role that first helped him make a name for himself as an actor was night club owner Clarene “Cadillac” Caldwell in Netflix’s musical period drama series, The Get Down, from co-creator Baz Luhrmann.

Alexandra Daddario (All My Children)

Speaking to Women’s Health in 2022, Alexandra Daddario recalls that she was fired from the long-running daytime soap opera, All My Children, which she actually found to be a liberating, educational experience. It led to seek improvement in her acting skills and pave the way for her to breakthrough in the Percy Jackson movies, give an Emmy-nominated performance as part of the HBO’s The White Lotus cast, and star in many other notable works.

Adam Driver (Girls)

Without Lena Dunham, there might not be a Kylo Ren — or at least, the memorable version of the Sith Lord we got in the hands Adam Driver. The former Marine’s scene-stealing role on HBO’s Girls as Adam Sackler is what got Hollywood to take notice of his talent, leading to his casting in the Star Wars movies and his Oscar-nominated performances in BlacKkKlansman and Marriage Story.

Melissa McCarthy (Gilmore Girls)

Gilmore Girls proved to be a launch pad for many A-listers — few of which would blow up quite like Melissa McCarthy, who played Sookie St. James on the hit dramedy.  She later won an Emmy for her leading role on the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly and received an Academy Award nomination for her supporting role as a member of the Bridesmaids cast. And that film skyrocketed her to the A-list as a trusted name in comedy and more.

Drake (Degrassi: The Next Generation)

One of the most memorable and important characters from Degrassi: The Next Generation is Jimmy Brooks, who served as an inspirational representation for wheelchair users on the long-running Canadian coming-of-age drama. The role was played by an actor named Aubrey Graham, who still acts on occasion — an Anchorman 2 cameo, for instance — but primarily performs as a rapper under the moniker Drake.

Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men)

At just eight years old, Kiernan Shipka proved to be a stand-out alongside AMC’s Mad Men cast with her performance as Sally Draper. She later went on to lead her own TV show (Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and headline movies like Amazon Prime’s horror-comedy, Totally Killer and The Silence.

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite his many earnest roles over the years, it may be hard to picture Ryan Reynolds as anything other than the smarmy goof he plays in the likes of the Deadpool movies and National Lampoon’s Van Wilder, for instance. Perhaps watching him make his debut in the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen will help audiences see another side of him.

Tommy Lee Jones (One Life To Live)

It is amazing to think about how many acclaimed and even legendary actors started out on soap operas, such as Tommy Lee Jones. One of the earliest roles for the Academy Award-winning star of The Fugitive and the Men in Black movies was the ill-fated Mark Toland on One Life to Live from 1971 to 1975.

John Travolta (Welcome Back, Kotter)

Before his Academy Award-nominated role in 1977’s Saturday Night Fever — and its fantastic movie soundtrack — made him one of the biggest stars of all time, John Travolta was better known by another name: Vinnie Barbarino. That was the future Pulp Fiction cast member’s character on Welcome Back, Kotter — a hit sitcom that never made it to 100 episodes. He practically stole the show from star and co-creator Gabe Kaplan with his famous catchphrase, “Up your nose with a rubber hose!”

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Kids Incorporated)

Her role as Sarah Reeves on the original Party of Five may have made Jennifer Love Hewitt a teen idol, but it was not her first major TV gig. The Ghost Whisperer star was 10 when she demonstrated her multiple talents on Disney Channel’s Kids Incorporated, which focuses on the lives of a group of young artists who perform live music at a club for children.

Benedict Cumberbatch (Fortysomething)

It was his eponymous role on the modern crime drama Sherlock that made Benedict Cumberbatch a nigh-unpronounceable household name, but his first starring role on a TV series was Fortysomething. The MCU’s Doctor Strange actor played the on-screen son of none other than House’s Hugh Laurie on the English dramedy that lasted six episodes.

Jared Leto (My So-Called Life)

In one of the best ‘90s shows that ended too soon, My So-Called Life, Jared Leto portrayed what would become his first iconic role: high school heartthrob Jordan Catalano. The much celebrated coming-of-age drama also marked one for the first times the future Academy Award winner acted alongside his sibling and Thirty Seconds to Mars bandmate, Shannon.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Passions)

Movie star Mary Elizabeth Winstead has more than a few very notable small-screen roles — such as a leading stint in Fargo Season 3 and Hera Syndulla alongside the Ahsoka cast for Disney+. The Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast member’s earliest major TV gig, however, was on the supernatural soap opera Passions.

For any TV actors out there hoping one day to make it onto the big screen, let these stories serve as proof that your dreams may not be far away from becoming a reality.

Some spoilers below for anyone who hasn’t yet watched through the third episode of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, so be warned!

While many Netflix viewers thought Scott Pilgrim Takes Off would be a complete rehashing of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series, the first episode’s conclusion made it clear this isn’t the same world that fans are used to. Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Ramona Flowers drew the spotlight this time around, and rather than keeping the focus on Michael Cera’s slacker facing off against a bunch of exes, this remixed storyline allows for a bunch of new brawls, such as the location-jumping battle between Ramona and Mae Whitman’s Roxy in Episode 3, “Ramona Rents a Video.” Co-creator BenDavid Grabinski talked to CinemaBlend about how that sequence changed from conception to the final product, and how a reference to all-time great horror sequel Evil Dead II factored into the original version.

I brought up that Ramona and Roxy’s rumble in the third ep was likely my favorite out of all the square-offs in the season, and asked Grabinski if that was the same for him. He excitedly agreed, and started explaining how that idea came around, saying:

While it technically would be filmable as a concept, given a big enough budget and schedule, BenDavid Grabinski said the idea would get shot down by studio execs long before that would happen. But animation was obviously the more preferable format for it, and allowed them to take things wherever they wanted, which initially included the use of familiar movie references. After reflecting on the pros and cons of that approach, though, Grabinski said he and Bryan Lee O’Malley opted to scrap the specifics so that the animators could bring their own influences into it. In his words: 

It’s around this point when Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s two co-creators took a trip to Japan to touch base with the animation team, which sounds like a total blast for them to experience. Especially since the artists involved had, without being prompted, designed part of Ramona and Roxy’s fight as a homage to Bruce Campbell’s iconic work in Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II. Here's how he explained it:

Oh man, oh man, oh man. A Scott Pilgrim and Evil Dead crossover is the pop culture event I didn’t know I’d want so bad. And I love the idea of Roxy being the Ash Williams surrogate in this universe, as opposed to Ramona, Scott or anyone else.

• RELATED: 'It's Kind Of Mystifying": Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Co-Creator On Fans Not Guessing Title's Spoilery Secret, Explains Where The Idea Came From

Evil Dead II would have been even more of a perfect reference if Ramona had been fighting someone named Dawn, tying into the film’s Dead By Dawn subtitle that has largely been ignored over subsequent years. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be. But here’s hoping that art makes its way public in some form or another.

Realistically, bringing other recognizable properties into that big fight scene, as opposed to more broadly familiar film settings, might have taken away from the emotional core of the brawl. BenDavid Grabinski talked about how much he loved the former lovers’ moments inside the war plane, and how their big emotional moment needed to be yelled out so that they could hear each other over the plane’s engines. I would have watched the same situation play out over the sounds of moaning and groaning Deadites. Just saying. Maybe in Season 2. 

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is available to stream in full with a Netflix subscription. While waiting to hear whether or not Season 2 will happen, check out more series on the way with our Netflix TV schedule.

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Ahsoka episode "Time To Fly." Read at your own risk!

I'm enjoying watching Ahsoka (streaming with a Disney+ subscription) so far, but one common story element in these first three episodes has me pulling out my tin foil Jedi robe and spinning conspiracy theories. For this is yet another Star Wars project to fall back on a using a recurring plot point, and I'm beginning to wonder whether the frequency is all a bizarre coincidence, or if there is some deeper meaning and purpose behind it. 

In "Time to Fly," Ahsoka reminded us once again that Sabine Wren did not complete her training, making her another potential Jedi maestro whose ascension did not come to be in the Star Wars universe. I'm not sure if these truncated educations are something that all fans are keeping track of at home, but for those who aren't, the list of dropouts is growing quite a bit as of late. But is this story element something that is important to the greater story of the franchise, or just some hilariously coincidental instinct for creative teams in this universe? 

Sabine Is The Latest Jedi Who Didn't Finish Their Training In A Long Line 

Granted, we knew before the latest episode that Sabine Wren never finished her training with Ahsoka Tano, but the Episode 3 scene drilling down on that fact once more really had me reflecting on just how many Jedi we've met lately who boast little to no extensive training. Ahsoka, of course, never actually finished her Jedi training with Anakin Skywalker either, and here's a list of other Jedi besides Ahsoka and Sabine who failed to complete their training that we've seen: 

• Grogu
• Cal Kestis
• Kylo Ren
• Rey Skywalker
• Leia Organa

To be clear, there were multiple, valid reasons why all of these characters walked away from their training, and they all walked vastly different paths. It does seem weird, however, in the same way that blasters and lightsabers just don't kill things like they used to, that we have so many front-and-center Jedi who just aren't completing their training. It's strange, but also a little hilarious that in this new era of Star Wars, no one can emerge as a successful Jedi with a full array of preperatory education. 

Is Star Wars Doing This On Purpose? 

Star Wars keeps giving us quasi-Jedi, but I'm struggling to figure out if this is just a tried and true method of franchise storytelling, or if there's any connective tissue of value to it all. When Jedi are restricted to certain attachments, I wonder if it's just easier to create tension between Master and Padawan by creating the tension of a "will they or won't they" in terms of that particular relationship. For example, will Ahsoka show Sabine complete her training or come out of it with some blend of Jedi and Mandalorian fighting style? 

I also wonder if, much like CinemaBlend's Laura Hurley speculated, if there are plans to tell the story of a reformed Jedi order. It's possible Jacen Syndulla could represent the next wave of Jedi, though it seemed like the end of the sequel trilogy set up Rey to be the teacher of the next generation of Jedi knights. There is a Rey movie being developed, so I could see some long-term storytelling being laid out. 

At the same time, there's a part of me that just wonders if this is all unintentional, and I've stumbled upon a common crutch in Star Wars' storytelling. It's similar to the trope of how the villains connected to the Dark Side can seemingly survive if they just hate enough and refuse to die. And yet, Qui-Gon Jinn, one of the most powerful Jedi Masters, was taken out after a simple stabbing. Some things just don't make sense in Star Wars, so this may be all just one big coincidence. I guess like most things tied to the future of this universe, we'll just have to wait and see. 

Ahsoka premieres new episodes on Disney+ on Tuesdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Tune in and eagerly await the return of Ezra Bridger, assuming we haven't secretly seen him already. 

There are so many recognizable actresses who have graced movie and TV screens, but one who's been a consistent force for years now is Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Starting her time in Hollywood in the early 2000s, the actress has only continued to show just how gifted she is on a yearly basis. 

From some of her best films to her latest hits, here are the best Mary Elizabeth Winstead movies and TV shows, and where you can watch them right now. 

Sky High (2005)

First up on this list is Sky High, a film that is, honestly, vastly underrated. It's all about a group of teenagers who happen to have superpowers, so what do they do to deal with them and learn how to be heroes or sidekicks? They go to Sky High, of course, a superhero high school. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays Gwen, a senior at the school who starts to hang out with the main character, a freshman named Will, a lot. I won’t reveal much about her character because there’s so that unfolds as the movie goes on, but just know that Winstead killed it in this role – and this was one of her first movie appearances ever. The whole Sky High cast is incredibly talented, so it’s worth a watch just for them. 

Stream Sky High on Disney+.
Rent/Buy Sky High on Amazon.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (2010)

When people think of Winstead, I'd say that it’s arguably her role in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World that they remember. The film is based on the graphic novel of the same name, and follows Scott, a musician who finds out he has to fight the deadly exes of Ramona Flowers in order to date her. 

Winstead plays Ramona, and man, I genuinely can’t think of someone better to play this character. The entire Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast has done so much since, but I can’t help but love them in this movie, and her as Ramona. 

She perfectly captures that mysterious, beautiful girl with a hint of comedic flair, and I, for one, can’t wait for when she reprises the role in Scott Pilgrim The Anime on Netflix. There'll be nothing quite like it. 

Stream Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Amazon Prime.
Rent/Buy Scott Pilgrim vs. The World on Apple TV+.

Final Destination 3 (2006)

What if you knew the time, place and how you were going to die? That’s what this movie explores. Final Destination 3, part of the Final Destination movies franchise, takes place many years after the first film, and this time follows a young woman who foresees that she and her classmates will be derailed on a rollercoaster and die. When she is able to warn them and survive, Death slowly comes for each and every one of them. 

Honestly, I think Winstead should be in more horror films, because she was great here. I just watched it for the first time recently and I loved her – even as an amusement park junkie who loves roller coasters. The whole entire franchise can tend to get a bit graphic with its kills, so be wary of that, but otherwise, it’s a good time for a scary night. 

Stream Final Destination 3 on Pluto TV.
Rent/Buy Final Destination 3 on Amazon.

Smashed (2012)

For a time, Winstead spent a good amount of time appearing in smaller independent films that earned her a lot of critical acclaim, and Smashed was one of them. She stars alongside Aaron Paul, and the film follows a married couple who happen to both be alcoholics, but the young woman, portrayed by Winstead, decides that she wants to change her life and get sober. 

I would describe it as a tragic romantic comedy that leads with an excellent performance from her, as well as a great one from Paul. The two of them have a great amount of chemistry and provide some funny moments, but also show just how much addiction can ruin your life, and the changes you have to make in order to heal yourself. It’s a great sit-down-and-talk-about-it-afterwards movie.

Rent/Buy Smashed on Amazon.

The Returned (2015)

The talent started her career in television, and returned to the small screen with The Returned in 2015. This supernatural drama series follows an interesting premise – an American town is suddenly disrupted when people who have been dead for many years start to reappear, with everyone questioning how they're alive again. 

The series only ran for one season, but received good reviews and plenty of praise from critics. Some of that was due to the story itself, and some was for the actors, such as Mary Elizabeth Winstead. She’s great in horror, so this was the perfect pick to get back into the world of television. 

Buy The Returned on Amazon.

The Spectacular Now (2013)

The Spectacular Now is a coming of age film that mainly stars Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley as two high school students who end up falling for each other and sharing a beautiful love story. 

Winstead portrays Holly Keely, the sister of Miles’ character, Sutter, and while she doesn’t have many scenes, her presence is still very much felt, and when we do see her they are some of the best moments of the film. This is a perfect summer movie, so I would suggest checking it out when the weather is nice and warm. 

Stream The Spectacular Now on Max.
Rent/Buy The Spectacular Now on Amazon.

Mercy Street (2016 - 2017)

If you’re looking for a historical medical drama, then Mercy Street is the one for you, where Winstead actually played a real person, Mary Phinney. The television show is set during the Civil War and follows nurses who work for a local hospital and aid soldiers and visitors, but also support Union and Confederate troops. 

If I’m being truthful, Winstead is part of a large ensemble cast here, so sometimes it can be hard to single her out amongst the many great performances that are delivered throughout the drama. But, when she is on screen, you can’t look away. She portrays Phinney expertly and really shows just how skilled of an actress she is. I would gladly watch her in another TV such as this one. 

Stream Mercy Street on PBS.

Fargo (2017)

There are several great anthology series nowadays, and Fargo is one of the best. There are four seasons, each following a different cast of characters as they are involved in a local crime that turns their worlds upside down, from murders to gang activity. 

Winstead stars in the third season alongside Ewan McGregor, and God, I want to see more of them together. I freaking loved them as the main stars; their chemistry is so good and they really made Season 3 such a great one. These episodes followed a probation officer and his girlfriend (McGregor and Winstead), who stole a valuable vintage stamp in order to live a better life, but eventually, they get tangled up in a murder case. 

Stream Fargo on Hulu.

Swiss Army Man (2016)

Ever wonder what it would be like to travel with a corpse that seems to have some strange powers? That’s what Swiss Army Man is all about, where a young man who is stranded on an island is suddenly saved when a corpse washes up on his beach – and seems to have the ability to fart itself in a specific direction. 

That’s just the beginning of how weird this movie gets, but in a good way. Daniel Radcliffe stars as the corpse, Paul Dano is Hank, the main character, and Winstead is Sarah, a young woman that the corpse later falls in love with and – you know what, I can’t say anything else. This movie is so strange but so good and please, check it out if you need a good laugh. Winstead is great, and so is the whole cast.

Stream Swiss Army Man on Max.
Rent/Buy Swiss Army Man on Amazon.

10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)

When Cloverfield originally came out, no one ever expected a prequel film, but then 10 Cloverfield Lane released in 2016, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The main story follows Winstead’s character, Michelle, who wakes up in a bunker after a car crash, but instead of being released, the men who found her insist that something has changed the world forever – and that she can’t leave. 

I said it before, and I’ll say it again – Winstead is killer in horror movies and this proves it. Granted, 10 Cloverfield Lane is more of a sci-fi horror but she is able to show fear so well I am almost jealous of it. She and John Goodman play well off of each other and create a pretty compelling story. I would watch again. 

Stream 10 Cloverfield Lane on Pluto TV.
Rent/Buy 10 Cloverfield Lane on Amazon.

Faults (2014)

Another independent film that Winstead did was Faults, where she starred alongside Leland Orser. The film primarily follows a couple who decide to hire a cult expert to help with their daughter – who seems to have joined a cult called “Faults.”

The movie was well-received by critics and scored a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics said that it teaches bold themes about the realities of cults and how they come to be, while also keeping a comedic tone throughout, and that Winstead’s performance was one of the highlights of the film. 

Stream Faults on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Faults on Amazon.

Birds Of Prey (2020)

Last but not least, we need to talk about Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The film follows Harley after she ends things with the Joker, and decides to make her own squad of badass killer ladies in order save Cassandra Cain, when they're threatened by a local crime lord. 

Man, I wish Birds of Prey came out at any other time besides 2020, because I have a feeling this movie would have done so much better if given more time in theaters. It was only out for a month before the world basically shut down, but I still love it. It's great, the cast is awesome, and Winstead kills it as the Huntress and I would let her hunt me down any day, please and thank you. 

Stream Birds of Prey on Max.
Rent/Buy Birds of Prey on Amazon.

There are many awesome films/shows from Winstead, but these are her best. We can wait to see what she does next – but I think I need to watch Scott Pilgrim vs. The World again. 

There are a lot of movies that I have come to love with age, most of which I did not appreciate much as a child. These could be some of my favorite stop-motion films, like Coraline or my beloved The Nightmare Before Christmas, or maybe even family movies like Spy Kids, with their amazing parents that I’ve somehow come to love even more. 

But, you want to know a movie that I genuinely love more now? Sky High.

The film, a teen superhero movie that had plenty of young and adult talent to enjoy, was one that I liked a lot as a kid. Upon rewatching it as an adult, however, I realized just how underrated it really is. You want to know what else is underrated? How freaking insane the Sky High cast is. From the lead star being Michael Angarano, to Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and all the way to Kurt Russell, there is so much about this cast that stands out. 

Today, we’re going to take a look at the Sky High cast, and what they’re up to now. 

Michael Angarano (Will Stronghold)

First up on the list is Michael Angarano, who played Will Stronghold in Sky High. The actor (who many likely saw first in his recurring role on the popular LGBTQ+ show, Will & Grace) has since had a big career in television, as well as some smaller roles in movies you might recognize. Some of his biggest include The Forbidden Kingdom, Haywire, Sun Dogs, Red State, The English Teacher, and Empire State. 

Angarano has made more of a name for himself in television. He was a part of the main cast of The Knick, and I’m Dying Up Here. He was also a part of the recurring cast for the popular NBC show, This Is Us, as well as Minx and Angelyne. 

Coming up, Angarano is going to be a part of the extremely lengthy cast of Oppenhiemer, as well as the new Horizon film. 

Kurt Russell (Steve Stronghold)

Next up is Kurt Russell, someone who has been in the industry for years and has only continued to prove his staying power in Hollywood. He played Steve Stronghold, Will’s father. Russell has been in several movies since Sky High, many I’m sure you recognize. 

He played Santa Claus in The Christmas Chronicles movies, as well as Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. He was also in several other films such as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Hateful Eight, Death Proof, Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, and most recently, in 2021, F9. 

Russell hasn’t been in any television since Sky High, but he is set to appear in an upcoming Godzilla and Titans series, so keep an eye out for that. It would be his return to live-action television for the first time in decades. 

Kelly Preston (Josie DeMarco-Stronghold)

Playing Josie Stronghold was Kelly Preston, who was a formidable force in the film. After Sky High, the actress appeared in films such as Old Dogs, Death Sentence, Gotti, Off the Rails and more. She also had a recurring role on both Fat Actress and Medium. 

Sadly, Kelly Preston passed away in 2020. 

Danielle Panabaker (Layla Williams)

Danielle Panabaker played Layla Williams, Will’s friend and later a romantic interest. I was well aware of Panabaker for some time, as she was in so many of the kids shows I used to watch, but since Sky High, she continued to appear in both movies and films. 

Her films include the rebooted version of Friday the 13th in 2009, as part of the popular horror series, Mr. Brooks, Home of the Giant, Girls Against Boys and This Isn’t Funny. Panabaker continued her career on television, appearing in shows such as Shark, where she had a main role, and Necessary Roughness, where she held a recurring part. 

The talent appeared in the Arrowverse as Caitlin/Killer Frost, showing up on The Flash, Arrow, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Gwen Grayson)

Moving on, we take a look at Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who has had quite the career since she played senior Gwen Grayson. Winstead would go on to be in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World in 2010, as well as several other films including the third film in the Final Destination series, Death Proof, Black Christmas, The Spectacular Now, A Good Day to Die Hard, Swiss Army Man, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Birds of Prey and more. 

Winstead has also had a pretty big career in television, with a main role on Wolf Lake, as well as The Returned, Brain Dead, and Mercy Street. She also had a main role on Fargo during the third season. 

Coming up, she will be in the new Ashoka television show, and be reprising her role as Ramona Flowers in the Scott Pilgrim The Anime series on Netflix. 

Steven Strait (Warren Peace)

Steven Strait played Warren Peace (Get it? “War and peace.”), and he’s also done plenty since his time in the film. Strait appeared in a variety of smaller films, including Undiscovered, City Island, After, 10,000 BC, Stop-Loss, Life Like and The Covenant, but he’s mainly stuck to television. 

He had a main role as part of the popular Amazon original show, The Expanse, and had a lead part on Magic City. Coming up, he is also going to be back in the movies with a new film called Body Language. 

Kelly Vitz (Magenta Lewis)

Moving on, we take a look at Kelly Vitz, who played Magenta Lewis, a teenager who had the power to turn into a guinea pig (which is honestly kind of cool). Lewis guest starred on Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, but also appeared in a variety of movies. 

Vitz had roles in Nancy Drew, Teenius, Simon Says, Eye of the Dolphin, The Temerity of Zim and Leonie. Vitz hasn’t acted for some time – but she did enjoy some higher education, and now works as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA!

Nicholas Braun (Zachary Braun)

Next up is Nicholas Braun, who played Zachary Braun (yes, they shared the same last name). Braun has done a lot in movies since, appearing in Red State, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Date and Switch Poltergeist, The Stanford Prison Experiment, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, How to Be Single, Good Kids, The Big Ugly and more. 

However, many more people now may know him as Greg from the Succession cast, which really brought him a lot of attention as an actor. He was also a part of the main cast of 10 Things I Hate About You. 

This list focused on the main characters of the movie, but I did leave out one - Dee Jay Daniels, but that's mainly because he hasn't acted in quite some time, and has experienced serious legal issues. 

There are also several other characters that I’ll give a quick shout out too such as Penny, who was played by Malika and Khadijah Haqq, as well as Principle Powers, portrayed by Lynda Carter, and Coach Boomer, played by Bruce Campbell – but trust me when I say all of them have been doing just fine in the entertainment industry since. 

Sky High is really one of those films that you don’t see that often, and it’s such a fun one, too. If you have the time, be sure to check it out – and even if you have, go watch it again just to see this cast. 

It was revealed during Star Wars Celebration 2023 that Mary Elizabeth Winstead — who had already been added to Disney+’s Ahsoka cast the previous year — would be starring alongside Rosario Dawson as a live-action version of another beloved animated character, Hera Syndulla. Given her reputation as one of the most talented actors in genre films working today I am surprised she did not earn a spot in the Star Wars universe earlier. Even more surprising, however, is that she has not yet made her debut in another mega-popular franchise: the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It should be noted that the actor — also known for playing John McClane’s daughter, Lucy, in the latter two Die Hard movies and solidifying her Scream Queen status as the lead of 10 Cloverfield Lane — is no stranger to superhero movies, having played Helena “The Huntress” Bertinelli in 2020’s Birds of Prey. However, she would not be the first person to make the transition from DC movies to Marvel movies and I think she is more than qualified for membership in that club. If the opportunity arises, I thought I would give Kevin Feige and co. some ideas of which Marvel characters Winstead would be the ideal choice to play, starting with one that bears a distinct similarity to her DC role.

Atalanta

Winstead has previously expressed interest in reprising her Huntress role from Birds of Prey in another film. However, considering James Gunn and Peter Safran’s upcoming DC movie plans do not involve anything connected to the DCEU continuity, that is probably not going to happen. Yet, that does not mean she cannot relive the fun of playing a crossbow-wielding vigilante in another new superhero movie and, in fact, there is a Marvel character who (almost) fits that bill perfectly.

Instead of a crossbow, Atalanta uses a more traditional bow and arrow, even though there is not really anything very traditional about her own personal, signature weapon. This member of the elite crimefighting team called Pantheon — whose members also include Hulk and the Asgardian Agamemnon — uses a plasma bow, which emits energy that can assume the form of an arrow. Atalanta is also a human with Frost Giant ancestry, giving her abilities like superhuman strength and regenerative healing, making her stand out among the MCU’s other current archers — Clint Barton and Kate Bishop.

Rogue

Before playing Huntress, Winstead actually made her comic book movie debut when she joined the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast as the title character’s love interest, Ramona Flowers, whose seven evil exes prove to be more than a thorn in his side. The character is known for having a very unique haircut that changes color frequently which gave me an idea for another Marvel character the actor might be a good choice for.

I want to make it clear, however, that a similarly distinct haircut is not the only reason I considered Winstead for the MCU’s version of Rogue when Marvel Studios finally reboots the X-Men movies. In fact, it is not even the number one reason, which is that a character as iconic and beloved as this spunky, energy-absorbing mutant deserves to be played by someone who has a firm handle on strong character portrayals and has experience with high-stakes action thrills, and that is Winstead to a tee.

Jocasta

Some people may have forgotten this, but Winstead actually made her superhero movie debut in one of the best non-Marvel and non-DC superhero movies, Sky High, as Gwen — one of the most popular students at the titular school for powerful teens. Before revealing a particularly dark secret about herself, her character reveals that she is a technopath, meaning she has a psychic link with all forms of technology, which gave me the idea to cast her as a Marvel character who, literally, becomes one with technology.

Jocasta is the name of an android originally brought to life by the implanted consciousness of Janet Van Dyne, who was later rescued by the Avengers, but not without leaving traces of her mind in the mechanical body that became its “soul.” Obviously, casting Winstead in this role would require taking a few liberties, but Jocasta’s creator, Ultron, was designed by Hank Pym in the comics and not Tony Stark and Bruce Banner like in Avengers: Age of Ultron, so why not change things up with this underrated, robotic character, too?

Mystique

While many disagree with me, I actually kind of dig 2011’s The Thing (a prequel to John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi masterpiece of the same name), especially for Winstead’s lead performance as one of the few humans at an Antarctica research outpost who has been imitated by a shape-shifting alien. That being said, I would be curious to see how she would portray a character with the ability to assume the form of another and there just happens to be a popular Marvel character who could make that a reality.

Now, once again, I feel I should assure you that the very loose connection between Winstead’s role in The Thing and the shape-shifting abilities of Raven Darkholme (better known as Mystique) is not the only reason I considered her for the role. Much like what I said about Rogue, Winstead is, simply, the exact kind of actor who could give the complex, iconic mutant a winning portrayal in the MCU’s version of the X-Men.

Death

Years before she starred in The Thing, one of Winstead’s earliest lead roles in a horror movie was in the third installment of the Final Destination movies, in which she and her friends fend off death itself after a premonition allows her to escape a grisly fate on a roller coaster. Well, if she were ever curious about seeing things from the perspective of her enemy in the gory 2006 thriller, she could do so in the MCU.

The physical manifestation of Death is also a major character in Marvel Comics, having been the inspiration for Thanos’ crusade for the Infinity Stones in the original story and sharing a romance with none other than Deadpool. Since Winstead was actually one of several actors rumored to play Domino in Deadpool 2 before Zazie Beetz landed the role, I think flirting with Ryan Reynolds’ Merc with a Mouth in an upcoming Marvel movie would be a pretty epic consolation.

Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

You know, as great and perfectly fitting as any of the characters above would be for Winstead, I would really want to see her make her Marvel movie debut in her own film and not in a supporting role. I think the best part for her in that case would require a detour away from the MCU and into the path of Sony.

For a long while, there has been talk that the studio has been planning to bring Jessica Drew (a.k.a., Spider-Woman) into its own universe of Spider-Man characters and I believe, when the time finally comes, Winstead should be their first choice to bring the secret agent with arachnid-like abilities to life in live-action. All I can say is that I really hope Olivia Wilde’s Marvel movie is still happening because, together, I think these women could make magic by bringing this story to the big screen.

Then again, if Winstead is not destined for Marvel, I think we can live with that, considering how many other badass heroes she has already played.

Every once in a while, there is a movie that truly changes a generation and brings us a cast that is the definition of star-studded. You can’t help but look back on it and wonder, “How were there so many stars in this movie?” Well, friends, I’m here to bring you back to a movie that released in 2010 that had exactly that – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. 

The film didn’t do so well at the box office, but ended up becoming a cult classic, so much so that it was announced in 2023 that there would be an anime adaptation of the popular graphic novel series, but using the exact same cast from the film. But, where is the Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast now? And what are they doing? With a cast full of stars, this is what they’ve been up to – and what you can catch them in. 

And, let me just say here – every single one of these actors is going to be in the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World anime that is coming out, and reprising their roles, which is awesome.

Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim)

First up on the list is Michael Cera, who portrayed the titular character in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Cera has been in many movies and television shows since his big appearance in the adaptation, and you’ve most likely seen him somewhere. Besides continuing his main role Arrested Development, Cera also had parts in shows such as Burning Love, Drunk History, and Life and Beth. 

In terms of movies, he’s appeared in several comedies, including This Is The End, Magic Magic, The Lego Batman Movie, Sausage Party (which is getting a spinoff series) and more. Coming up, he’s going to be in Barbie, as well as a film called Dream Scenario.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Ramona Flowers)

Next up, we have Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who portrayed Ramona Flowers. Winstead has had quite the career since her role in the cult classic. Some of her biggest movies thus far include 2011’s The Thing, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Spectacular Now, 10 Cloverfield Lane, All About Nina, Birds of Prey, and Kate, and coming up, she’s going to have a role in a new film called Moscow. 

She’s also had roles in television as well, including parts in The Returned, Brain Dead and Mercy Street. 

Kieran Culkin (Wallace Wells)

Kieran Culkin played Wallace Wells, and I’m pretty sure you’ve been hearing his name a lot lately, largely for his main role on the hit HBO show, Succession, for which he’s received critical acclaim. However, Culkin has done plenty more in movies and TV. 

With films, he’s been in Movie 43, Quitters, Infinity Baby and No Sudden Move, but on television, he also had a main role in Fargo in Season 4, as well as a big part in Go Fish. He also had a guest role in the hilarious Hulu comedy, Solar Opposites. Soon, he’s going to be in a new movie called A Real Pain. 

Chris Evans (Lucas Lee)

Chris Evans exploded onto the scene after his role as Lucas Lee in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. While he was known for his appearances in teen comedies beforehand, after this film he took on the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which he held onto for almost a decade.

Besides that, he’s also appeared in films such as the hit Knives Out, Snowpiercer, Lightyear, The Gray Man on Netflix, Gifted, 2023’s Ghosted and more. He was also one of the leads in the Apple TV+ series, Defending Jacob.

Coming up, he’s going to be in Red One alongside Dwayne Johnson, and Pain Hustlers.

Anna Kendrick (Stacey Pilgrim)

Another star who blew up after Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was Anna Kendrick, who plays Stacey Pilgrim. Kendrick received a lot of acclaim for her lead role in the Pitch Perfect movie franchise, but has also appeared in films such as the last of the Twilight movies, ParaNorman, End of Watch, Life After Beth, A Simple Favour alongside Blake Lively, Alice, Darling and more. She also has one of the lead roles in the Trolls movie franchise. 

Besides movies, Kendrick has also had plenty of time on television. Not only has she hosted SNL, but she was the main star of Season 1 of Love Life, an awesome HBO Max original show that you should really watch if given the chance. Soon, she’s going to be in the next Trolls movie, Trolls Band Together, and a new movie called The Dating Game. 

Brie Larson (Natalie V. "Envy" Adams)

See what I told you, when there’s just been star after star? Brie Larson played Envy Adams and continued to shine on with even bigger roles right after. She took on the part of Captain Marvel in the MCU, and is going to be playing her again in the upcoming film, The Marvels. 

Aside from that, Larson has appeared in movies such as 21 Jump Street, Don Jon, The Spectacular Now, The Gambler, The Glass Castle and Basmati Blues. She also had a recurring guest role on Community. Aside from that, she also had a starring role in Room, a film which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. 

Coming up, she’s also going to be in Fast X, as well as an Apple TV+ series called Lessons in Chemistry.

Alison Pill (Kim Pine)

Moving on, Alison Pill played Kim Pine in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and she’s been in several films since her appearance in the cult classic. These include, but aren’t limited to, Midnight in Paris, Goon and its sequel, To Rome With Love, Zom, Hail, Caesar!, Miss Sloane, Vice, and All My Puny Sorrows. 

In terms of television, she’s had main roles in shows such as The Newsroom, The Family, Devs alongside Nick Offerman, Them on Amazon Prime, Hello Tomorrow!, and was in the first two seasons of Star Trek: Picard. Coming up, Pill is going to be in a new movie called Eric Larau, so keep an eye out for that. 

Aubrey Plaza (Julie Powers)

Next up on the list, we have Aubrey Plaza, who played Julie Powers in the movie. The star blew up after the film thanks to her big role in the Parks and Recreation cast, but she’s also had big parts in movies and other television shows since then. 

Plaza’s main movies that she had done so far are 10 Years, the English dub of From Up on Poppy Hill, The End of Love, The To Do List, Monsters University, Addicted to Fresno, Dirty Grandma, Life After Beth, the reboot of Child’s Play, Happiest Season, Emily the Criminal on Netflix, Spin Me Round, and Safety Not Guaranteed, among others. 

The actress also had a voice role in the Nickelodeon show, The Legend of Korra, a role in Legion, and was a part of the Season 2 cast of The White Lotus. Coming up, she’ll be in Agatha: Coven of Chaos, Olga Dies Dreaming and a film called Megalopolis.

Brandon Routh (Todd Ingram)

Next up is Brandon Routh, who played Todd Ingram in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. Some of the films he’s been in include Crooked Arrows, 400 Days, Lost in the Pacific, and Anastasia: Once Upon a Time. 

On television, Routh had a pretty prominent role in CW’s Arrowverse as The Atom, and appeared on many of the shows, but other than that, he also guest-starred in many other television series as well. Coming up, he’s going to be in the Magic: The Gathering television series, as well as a movie called The Redeemer. 

Jason Schwartzman (Gideon "G-Man" Graves)

Jason Schwartzman portrayed Gideon “G-Man” Graves in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and has truly made a name for himself after the film. He’s appeared in several Wes Anderson films, including The Grand Budapest Hotel, The French Dispatch, and Isle of Dogs. Other than that, he’s appeared in movies such as Saving Mr. Banks, Moonrise Kingdom, Wine Country, Klaus, Sing 2, The Overnight and more. 

In television, he had a main role in Mozart in the Jungle, as well as leading Bored to Death and having a main part in Fargo Season 4. Coming up, he will also appear in Megalopolis, but will also be in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, both Spider-Verse sequels, and Asteroid City. 

Johnny Simmons ("Young" Neil Nordegraf)

Johnny Simmons played Neil Nordegraf, and has been in multiple movies and TV shows since his role in the cult classic. Movies include The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Whiplash, 21 Jump Street, The To Do List, The Late Bloomer, and more. In television, he appeared in the show Klondike, and had a main role in Girlboss. 

Mark Webber (Stephen Stills)

Moving on, we take a look at Mark Webber, who played Stephen Stills in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. In films, he’s been in movies such as The End of Love, Laggies, Uncanny, Green Room, Antibirth, Flesh and Blood, and Clover. He also had a guest role on the TV show SMILF, and appeared in The Gift of the Magi. He’s soon going to be in a movie called Trigger Warning. 

Mae Whitman (Roxanne "Roxy" Richter)

Mae Whitman played Roxanne Richter in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and has had quite the career since her role in the movie. She’s appeared in films such as The Perks of Being A Wallflower, The Duff, CHiPs, Freaks of Nature, and more, and also did voice roles for the Tinker Bell movie franchise and the English dub for The Wind Rises, a Hayao Miyazaki movie. 

In TV, she had a main role on Parenthood, a guest role on Drunk History, a leading part on Good Girls, and had a voice role on the underrated The Owl House. 

Ellen Wong (Knives Chau)

Ellen Wong played Knives Chau, and has since appeared in films such as Silent Knight, The Voice, The Circle, In The Life of Music, Best Sellers and more. She’s also had big roles in shows such as Combat Hospital, The Carrie Diaries, and a recurring role in GLOW on Netflix. 

Satya Bhabha (Matthew Patel)

Last but not least is Satya Bhabha, who played Matthew Patel in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. He’s appeared in movies such as Midnight’s Children, Change in the Air, The F**k-It List and more. He also had a recurring role on New Girl, as well as Sense8, and a part in the rebooted Gossip Girl. 

There are truly so many stars here and I for one can’t wait to hear all their wonderful voices again in the upcoming anime – and now I might just have some new movies and TV shows to watch or look forward to. It’s going to be a fun ride. 

Although Ahsoka is spinning out of the events of The Mandalorian Season 2, this upcoming Star Wars show Disney+ subscribers will have access to is equally a continuation of Star Wars Rebels, if not more so. Besides Ahsoka Tano herself having appeared in three out of the animated show’s four seasons, we’ll also see Natasha Liu Bordizzo playing Sabine Wren and Eman Esfandi playing Ezra Bridger. It was also revealed earlier this year that Hera Syndulla will appear in Ahsoka, and we may finally know who will be playing her in live action.

In case you missed out on hearing about the Ahsoka footage that played at Star Wars Celebration in May, Hera was briefly seen alongside her trusty droid Chopper, but because it was her back facing the camera, viewers were left clueless about who will play her. Well, according to Bespin Bulletin, 10 Cloverfield Lane and Birds of Prey star Mary Elizabeth Winstead scored the role. Should this be true, Winstead will be the second actress to play Hera, with Vanessa Marshall having previously voiced her in Star Wars Rebels, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Star Wars Forces of Destiny and Star Wars Squadrons, among other projects. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead was revealed to be joining Rosario Dawson in Ahsoka back in January, but no details about her role have been officially shared since then. It’s possible that we won’t know for sure if indeed Winstead is appearing as Hera Syndulla or not until her first episode comes out, but given how well these proverbial puzzle pieces line up together, it seems like a solid bet. Having said that, we still don’t know much we’ll see of Winstead in the series, whether it’s just for one episode or multiple of them.

Hera Syndulla served as the captain of the Ghost in Star Wars Rebels, adventuring alongside Ezra Bridger, Sabine Wren, Chopper, Kanan Jarrus and Garazeb “Zeb” Orrelios in the years prior to A New Hope. As we learned in the Rebels series finale’s epilogue, which took place after the Battle of Endor, Hera gave birth to her and Kanan’s son, Jacen Syndulla, sometime after the Jedi’s death in “Jedi Night.” With Ahsoka taking place at the same time as The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, i.e. half a decade after Return of the Jedi, maybe we’ll see a bit of Hera being one of New Republic’s top military leaders, but chances are she’ll also be looped in to Ahsoka and Sabine’s search for the missing Ezra.

Along with the aforementioned characters, Ahsoka will also see the return of Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader following his appearances in Obi-Wan Kenobi, and apparently his presence in this show involves the World Between Worlds. Additionally, Ivanna Sakhano and Ray Stevenson have been cast in undisclosed roles, though the latter is said to be playing a villainous admiral. It’s also been rumored that Lars Mikkelsen, who voiced Grand Admiral Thrawn in Star Wars Rebels’ latter two seasons, will reprise the role in Ahsoka, just like Kate Sackhoff has done with Bo-Katan Kryze in The Mandalorian.

Ahsoka is set to premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2023, so until then, feel free to go through the Star Wars movies in order on the platform, then delve into the franchise’s TV offerings. There’s also plenty of other upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows to look forward to in the new year and beyond.

After Rosario Dawson’s epic live-action debut as Ahsoka Tano in The Mandalorian Season 2, the fan-favorite character is getting ready to have her own self-titled spin-off show, which will follow the Force-sensitive Jedi on a whole new adventure. The upcoming Star Wars title is set to become available to stream with a Disney+ subscription on August 23, 2023. While specific plot details for the series are being kept under wraps, here are the actors who have either been announced or been reported to appear in the Ahsoka cast from reputable sources.

Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka Tano)

Portraying the aforementioned title character of Ahsoka on her third Star Wars series so far is Rosario Dawson. The acclaimed actor was initially cast in the role – first introduced on Star Wars: The Clone Wars as voiced by Ashley Eckstein – for The Mandalorian, years after a fan tweeted at the actress in 2017 to play the animated character in live action, and she responded with, “yes, please.” 

The Jedi is only the latest character in Dawson’s repertoire that has earned her “Geek Goddess” status, such as a few animated DC movie roles (including Wonder Woman in several titles and Barbara Gordon in The LEGO Batman Movie), a Marvel character (nurse to the vigilantes, Claire Temple), and her role in the Sin City cast as Gail. She also earned praise for her performances in 2005’s Rent, Kevin Smith’s Clerks movies, and Hulu’s Dopesick cast, to name just a few notable examples.

Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker)

Ahsoka Tano will presumably be reunited with her Jedi teacher, Anakin Skywalker, since it’s been announced that Hayden Christensen would return to the role in Ahsoka, as Rosario Dawson confirmed on social media before Disney asked her to take down the news. Given the series’ expected timeline, Anakin should no longer be alive, so he’ll more likely be depicted in flashbacks or as a Force Ghost. 

Christensen most recently reprised his Star Wars prequel trilogy role in Disney+’s Obi-Wan Kenobi cast in 2022. Before that, he gave many eclectic performances in several notable movies like the fact-based Shattered Glass (also starring Dawson) and the 2010 thriller, Vanishing on 7th Street.

Natasha Liu Bordizzo (Sabine Wren)

Australian actress Natasha Liu Bordizzo -- who was part of Netflix’s Day Shift cast, along with starring as Helena Wu in the streamer’s abruptly-canceled series The Society -- stars as the live-action Sabine Wren on Ahsoka. Sabine debuted in animated form on Star Wars Rebels and was a main character throughout all four seasons, as voiced by Tiya Sicar. 

Sabine is a Mandalorian artist who becomes a warrior leader of the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire as the series progresses. The last time Star Wars fans saw the character was when she and Ahsoka set off to find their missing friend, Ezra Bridger, who'd disappeared in the final Rebels episode with Grand Admiral Thrawn as an unwilling companion. When we pick up with these characters in Ahsoka, fans expect that it will continue this storyline and give them closure following where Rebels left off.

Eman Esfandi (Ezra Bridger)

Ahsoka has found its live-action Ezra Bridger in Eman Esfandi, who has previous credits in Red 11, King Richard, and the acclaimed 2022 drama, The Inspection. The actor succeeds Taylor Gray’s voice acting role as the Force-sensitive Jedi Padawan and freedom fighter. The character was key to Star Wars Rebels, where the orphan and con artist joined the Ghost crew, which included Sabine Wren.  

As previously mentioned, Bridger becomes lost at the end of Rebels when, in an effort to face their enemies, he sacrifices himself by creating a protecting air pocket for himself and General Thrawn to both be taken by a Purrgil. It looks as though we’ll get to see Ezra’s next chapter in live action with Esfandi’s performance. 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Hera Syndulla)

Also joining the Ahsoka cast is Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Hera Syndulla – a Twi'lek female revolutionary leader from Rebels. The series will mark the actress’ first time in the Star Wars universe following her roles in various action franchises, from DC’s Birds of Prey as The Huntress in 2020 to Live Free or Die Hard as John McClane’s daughter, Lucy, back in 2007. The actor is also well-known as Ramona Flowers in 2010’s Scott Pilgrim vs. The World cast, for starring in the 2016 Cloverfield spinoff, 10 Cloverfield Lane, and playing the title role of the Netflix's ass-kicking action movie from 2021, Kate.

In a cute connection, Winstead is the real-life partner of Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Ewan McGregor, whom she first collaborated with on Fargo Season 3 before starring in Birds of Prey together. Not to mention, Ahsoka will mark the actor’s reunion with Dawson since they last shared the screen in Quentin Tarantino’s half of 2007’s Grindhouse (and self-proclaimed “worst movie”), Death Proof. 

Ray Stevenson (Baylan Skoll)

Ray Stevenson also stars on Ahsoka as a new character named Baylan Skoll – an orange-red lightsaber-wielding, Force-sensitive mercenary who appears to be working for Thrawn, based on the series’ trailer. However, this was not his first time in the Star Wars universe, having previously voiced Gar Saxon in Rebels and The Clone Wars. 

Stevenson was known for his role as Titus Pullo in the HBO series Rome, a recurring stint as one of the best main antagonists on Dexter, and for portraying a couple of Marvel characters – namely Frank Castle in 2008’s Punisher: War Zone, as well as Volstagg in three Thor movies. Unfortunately, before he could see the premiere of Ahsoka, the Irish actor passed away on May 22, 2023, at the age of 58.

Ivanna Sakhno (Shin Hati)

Also among the confirmed cast is Ivanna Sakno, who is reportedly playing a brand-new role made for the upcoming series, named Shin Hati. Sakhno is a Ukranian-American actress who has previously been seen in 2018’s Pacific Rim: Uprising and The Spy Who Dumped Me, along with appearing in a couple of episodes of Hulu’s High Fidelity alongside Zoë Kravitz. 

Diana Lee Inosanto (Morgan Elsbeth)

Diana Lee Inosanto will appear in the cast to reprise her role as an agent of Thrawn named Morgan Elsbeth, which she originated on The Mandalorian Season 2 episode, “The Jedi.” Inosanto is also known for her work as a stunt performer on movies like Blade and Face/Off and TV shows like Walker, Texas Ranger and Lucifer. Her additional acting credits include a small part in the Pamela Anderson-led comic book flick, Barb Wire, and the lead of 2008’s The Sensei, which she also wrote and directed.  

Wes Chatham (Captain Enoch)

Additionally, Wes Chatham, who is best known for playing Amos Burton in another space-set series, Amazon’s The Expanse, along with portraying Castor in The Hunger Games franchise, is part of Ahsoka as well. The actor, per Deadline, will reportedly be playing Captain Enoch, who is the right-hand man to Grand Admiral Thrawn. 

David Tennant (Huyang)

Reprising the role of Huyang – a droid known for overseeing the construction of lightsabers for centuries – is the actor who voiced him on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, David Tennant. The British actor is part of a few other beloved franchises – having played the title role of Doctor Who for years, appeared in the Harry Potter movies as Barty Crouch, Jr., and starred alongside Dawson in the Marvel series, Jessica Jones, as Kilgrave, most notably. Some of Tennant’s most revered work outside of the fantasy genre includes the acclaimed crime drama, Broadchurch, and leading the Inside Man cast for Netflix.

Lars Mikkelsen (Grand Admiral Thrawn)

As it was announced during Star Wars Celebration Europe in 2023, the live-action Grand Admiral Thrawn is coming to Ahsoka and will be played by Lars Mikkelsen, the same actor who gave voice to the villain in Star Wars: Rebels. The brother of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story actor Mads Mikkelsen (according to Fandom) is also known for Forbrydelsen – the Danish series that inspired Netflix’s The Killing – and recurring roles on Sherlock and The Witcher. 

Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma)

Yet another franchise veteran reprising her role in the upcoming drama is Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma, as we know from her appearance in the trailer. She became the second actor to play the Rebel Alliance leader (after Caroline Blakiston) when she was cast in Revenge of the Sith and would return to the character in Rogue One, and then again as part of the Andor cast on Disney+. Her most notable credits outside the franchise include the Matrix movies as Officer Wirtz, Amazon’s crime drama series Tin Star, and the Overwatch video games.

Those are all the actors, and the characters they play, that we could confirm are in the Ahsoka cast. Who knows what other iconic figures from a galaxy far, far away might show up in the highly anticipated Star Wars series? Find out when it premieres on Disney+ in August 2023!

The galaxy far, far away is expanding even more with upcoming Star Wars series on the way to Disney+, and the Ahsoka spinoff of The Mandalorian is one that promises to tie the television shows to the movies even more closely than ever. Rosario Dawson stars as Ahsoka Tano, and now another movie star has been added to the ranks of the show. Birds of Prey and 10 Cloverfield Lane actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is on board for Ahsoka.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has joined the cast of Ahsoka as the beginning of production approaches, according to THR, although details about her character and how she fits into the almost equally mysterious plot have not been revealed just yet. She joins a cast headlined by Rosario Dawson, who debuted the live-action version of Ahsoka Tano in Season 2 of The Mandalorian, and bolstered by Hayden Christensen reprising his role as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader from the three prequel films. 

Also cast in Ahsoka so far are Natasha Liu Bordizzo of The Society fame and Pacific Rim: Uprising's Ivanna Sakhno. Although no details are available for Sakhno's character either, Bordizzo is on board to play Sabine Wren of Star Wars Rebels fame in a recasting of voice actress Tiya Sircar for live-action.  

With Ahsoka herself originating on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Hayden Christensen's version of Anakin/Vader coming from the three prequels, Sabine (and Thrawn, if he appears) hailing from Star Wars Rebels, this series could bring the corners of the Star Wars universe together more than ever before, even accounting for the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi series and the Andor show, both of which will star movie actors reprising their roles.  

In fact, if the plot does follow Ahsoka's search for Thrawn, the live-action series may be more of a continuation of the animated Star Wars Rebels' cliffhanger than a spinoff with ties to The Mandalorian. Unfortunately, unlike Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor, both of which are expected in 2022, and the currently-releasing Book of Boba Fett, there is no current confirmation of when to expect Ahsoka to be ready to premiere on Disney+.

The show itself hails from Dave Filoni, who has been pivotal to bringing Star Wars to television in live-action and animation, as well as bringing back the Ahsoka character even when she seemed dead for good. As for the casting of Mary Elizabeth Winstead, she'll be new to the Star Wars universe, but has experience in both television and film at this point. 

Arguably her highest-profile job in showbiz to date was playing Huntress in DC's Birds of Prey move, which also starred Ewan McGregor ahead of his return to Star Wars. She also starred with McGregor in the third season of Fargo on FX back in 2017. As for what she'll bring to Ahsoka, fans of the galaxy far, far away can only wait and hope for more details to release as production kicks off. 

For now, you can find Ahsoka Tano herself in action on Disney+ with the full runs of The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, plus her guest appearance on The Mandalorian. For some viewing options coming sooner rather than later, you can check out our 2022 winter and spring premiere schedule, and always catch new episodes of The Book of Boba Fett as they release weekly on Thursdays on Disney+.

When Mary Elizabeth Winstead signed on to star in 10 Cloverfield Lane, she had no idea that she was becoming part of a major franchise. The original script had no connections to the Cloverfield universe and went through two title changes before producer J.J. Abrams decided to expand the story. But when did Mary Elizabeth Winstead find out about the switch? 

Mary Elizabeth Winstead recently stopped by Collider Ladies Night to chat about her latest action film Kate and past projects including 10 Cloverfield Lane. The new mother revealed that she’d had no idea the latter was part of the Cloverfield universe until right before the film’s release in 2016. According to Mary Elizabeth Winstead, 10 Cloverfield Lane was supposed to be its own standalone project. That is, until JJ Abrams and director Dan Trachtenberg did a little rebranding. She explained: 

Talk about a bombshell. While it’s a bit crazy to think that no one told Mary Elizabeth Winstead about her film’s relevance to Cloverfield until its release, it’s not exactly unheard of. For example, many Marvel actors have been known to shoot scenes without knowing what movie they’re for. Luckily, there are no hard feelings between Mary Elizabeth Winstead and the production team of 10 Cloverfield Lane. She even praised the story for its clever nods to the source material: 

10 Cloverfield Lane follows Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s character Michelle after she wakes up in a sealed underground bunker with two unfamiliar men. The duo insists that a mysterious attack has left the Earth inhospitable and that the bunker is the only safe place left for human habitation. Naturally, all is not as it seems: Howard (John Goodman) has decidedly unsavory intentions, while Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.) dismisses Michelle’s initial misgivings. 

The script for 10 Cloverfield Lane, originally titled The Cellar, was renamed Valencia when it began production in 2014. As the creators began to flesh out the world of the film, they realized it had the potential to tie into the larger Cloverfield universe. Ironically, the same thing happened toThe Cloverfield Paradox, the third installment in the Cloverfield franchise. The project began development under the name God Particle until JJ Abrams (quite literally) flipped the script.

You can rent 10 Cloverfield Lane on Amazon Prime Video. Kate is available to stream now on Netflix. 

The following contains minor spoilers for Netflix's Kate*_.*_

There's nothing quite like a good action movie. Sometimes all you need is a hero you can connect to, with a clear goal and a bunch of human targets standing in the way of the hero reaching that goal. The "one hero versus an endless army of thugs" movie genre is hardly new or unique, but that's part of the challenge. To get noticed here, you have to bring something special to the game. However, based on fan reaction, Kate, the new Netflix movie starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, does exactly that.

Following her co-starring role as Huntress in Birds of Prey, Mary Elizabeth Winstead takes the lead role in Kate. As the titular professional assassin, she must murder a great deal of Yakuza thugs in order to get the revenge she seeks before her time is up. The movie isn't a great deal more complex than that, but fans seem to be ok with that, because everything that is there works quite well.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead Kicks All Of The Ass In Kate

At the end of the day, your action movie needs to have exciting action sequences, and they need to include a character the audience is able and willing to get behind. Kate seems to have scored perfectly in both regards. While Mary Elizabeth Winstead has been able to show her action bona fides in everything from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World to Birds of Prey, in Kate, she plays second fiddle to no one, and she shows she's more than capable of carrying an entire action-heavy movie on her own back.

Kate takes place on the neon-soaked streets of Tokyo, giving the movie a particular vibe as it mixes the bright colors with the dark streets. It's a stylish movie, and the style permeates not only the movie's look, but it's action as well. Fans are complementing both the fight choreography as well as the cinematography of the action. The threat level is continually increased, making each battle that much more tense.

The John Wick plus Crank comparison is certainly apt. Kate has the professional assassin takes on the entire underworld element of the Keanu Reeves films with the ticking clock from the Jason Statham films. At the same time, fans aren't seeing Kate as a derivative movie, and that seems to be largely because of Mary Elizabeth Winstead herself. She brings something a little different to the movie, making Kate stand on its own and be its own movie.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead may be well on her way to becoming an action star, but Kate isn't the only character in Kate that people love.

Kate Isn't All About Kate

While Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Kate certainly leads the show, the movie Kate is full of interesting characters, and some have completely stolen the show, according to various people. Miku Martineau plays Ani in Kate. She's the niece of the man who Kate is after, but she ends up helping Kate throughout much of the film. It's the sort of character who could easily turn out to be annoying, but she never does. And in the end, she may have the single best moment in the movie. If you've seen it, you know what I'm talking about, even if you don't agree with that.

Another character who is getting a lot of praise despite his comparatively short screen time, is musician, model and actor Miyavi. In a movie that is, in many ways, quite brutal and intentionally ugly, Miyavi, plays the prettiest character in the film, something which is not lost on many viewers. While he may only appear briefly, he and his tattoos own the scene he's in.

But now let's get into a weirdly specific aspect of Kate that a lot of people are talking about.

Fans Have Strong Feeling About Kate's Favorite Beverage

At the end of the day, the single most important thing for any movie is that audiences invest in the characters. If the people watching care what happens to the hero, they'll go along for the ride even in an otherwise imperfect movie. If you can get people to care about the things the character cares about, the rest is easy. And in the case of Kate, everybody has clearly gotten on board there, because Kate's quest for Boom Boom Lemon has become their quest for Boom Boom Lemon.

Boom Boom Lemon is Kate's favorite beverage in the film. It would appear to be a sort of citrus soda, though what it actually is doesn't matter. What matters is that Kate wants one and can't get one. Early in the film, we see that it's something she drinks while on the job, as it's something that makes her happy. Throughout her epic ordeal, in between battles she barely wins, she occasionally looks for the drink and regularly comes up empty.

Eventually Kate's frustration becomes the audience's frustration. With the stakes becoming as big as they are, the least the world can do is give Kate her damn soda, and every time she is denied, the fans are feeling it. The stress clearly gets to the people watching the movie, which shows just how much people are buying into Kate. And by the time we reach the end, well, whether or not people actually had emotional breakdowns, they certainly are representing that the experience was akin to an emotional breakdown.

Netflix seems to have a solid winner with Kate. It's always difficult to tell with streaming movies just popular they really are with fans, since there are no box office numbers to reference. However, the social media buzz is overwhelmingly positive and considerably more passionate than we've seen with other streaming products. While the future never looks very bright for Kate for basically the entirety of the movie, it likely looks pretty good for Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and any action fans who haven't yet sat down to watch Kate kick some ass.

Get ready for another action film you can stream for the comfort of your own couch! Kate is about to debut on the big red streaming service and stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as the titular character. The thriller was directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan and also features Miku Martineau, Woody Harrelson, Tadanobu Asano, and Michiel Huisman.

In Kate, an assassin is poisoned and has 24 hours to get vengeance on her murderer before she dies. The action flick will be available to stream on Netflix on September 10, and the review embargo has officially been lifted. Let’s check out what critics are saying.

Let’s start with the CinemaBlend side, as always. Our very own Eric Eisenberg really enjoyed Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s kick-ass performance in the film and enjoyed the action flick overall, rating it 3 out of 5 stars. He argued that the main reason to watch Kate is to see Winstead’s dynamite performance, and he praised the cinematography of the action sequences as well. But Eisenberg was frustrated with how familiar the screenplay is, noting that it includes every cliche of the “hired killer” storyline that we’ve seen before. He commented:

Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter also touched on the familiar aspect of Kate in her review. She argued that while the action film is entertaining, it borrows from so many other action movies that it’s hard to ignore. She noted that you can map out the entire end of the thriller just based on the first two minutes. Han said:

Laura Sirikul from IGN thought Kate fell short with its lack of originality and unfortunate Asian tropes. Sirikul thought the film could’ve made up for its predictable plot if it had some exhilarating action, but she was disappointed with the boring action sequences. Overall, she said:

Charles Bramesco from AV Club was disappointed, like previous critics, that Kate borrowed so much from other action films. He particularly compared the thriller to this summer’s Gunpowder Milkshake, noting that they had pretty much the same plot. Bramesco noted:

Amy Nicholson from Variety had a bit more positive opinion of Kate. Nicholson appreciated that Winstead played Kate as a human, instead of a “femmebot executioner dressed in latex or pigtails” like we’ve seen before. She also enjoyed the excellent action sequences. But she argued that Winstead’s more natural, human-like performance really butts heads with the movie’s style, which is too exaggerated. Nicholson thought that Nicolas-Troyan’s Tokyo is just “goofball caricatures.” She noted:

Well, critics' reviews seem pretty mixed. But you can soon form your own opinion of Kate when the action thriller releases on Netflix next Friday, September 10.

In the meantime, you can prepare for your next movie-watching experience with our release guide.

The lure of the assassin protagonist isn’t exactly complicated. “Hired killer” is a kind of job that feels like it exists on the fringes of reality while still being very real, and it comes pre-packaged with deep conflicts of both the internal and external variety. It’s often exotic work, taking characters off to far-flung places, and only deals in extreme stakes and consequences. It’s fish-in-a-barrel storytelling – which is why it is material that regularly generates exceedingly generic results.

We’ve already seen a perfect example of this from Netflix in 2021, as it was this past July that the service debuted Navot Papushado's Gunpowder Milkshake, and now, a few months later, the streamer is set to do it again with the release of Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s Kate. Like the Karen Gillan action flick, the new movie is also a film beset and undercut by all manners of clichés, resulting in a predictable and underwhelming story – but the results are at least somewhat different. The key deviation is that the latter accentuates skill while the former is just all about hollow style, and that, at the very least, makes it more engaging and satisfying.

Set in Tokyo, Japan, the eponymous Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a young woman who has spent almost her entire life training to be and operating as a freelance assassin. Her father figure/handler Varrick (Woody Harrelson) manages the targets she executes, and she employs her honed physical abilities and firearms expertise to get the job done.

As always in these kinds of movies, the dominos of trouble begin to fall when a hit goes wrong. Kate is hired to kill a key yakuza figure, and while she successfully completes the work, she is haunted by the fact that the man is killed right in front of his young daughter Ani (Miku Martineau). Ten months of soul searching later, she decides that she is ready for retirement – but Varrick convinces her to do one last hit.

Naturally, said hit winds up ruining her perfect record, as the target gets away without taking a fatal bullet, but that’s the least of Kate’s worries. The reason she misses is because she begins to experience side effects from being given a lethal dose of poison that has given her acute radiation sickness. Her death is guaranteed, as there is no antidote available, but with one day left to live she decides to spend her remaining hours hunting down those responsible and taking them with her to the grave.

The ultimate reason to watch Kate is for a high dose of Mary Elizabeth Winstead excellence.

If one is on the fence about whether or not to check out Kate, the tiebreaker for a decision in favor is the performance by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. From The Thing, to Smashed, to 10 Cloverfield Lane, Winstead has consistently proven in the last decade that she is one of the most underutilized leading actresses currently working, and puts in a great turn in her debut as a front-and-center action star (not counting her role as part of the titular ensemble in Birds Of Prey). It’s not emotionally the most complex part she has taken on, but she is everything that it requires – with mostly cold detachment and professionalism smothering a spark of vulnerability that can’t help but shine through. It’s not an easy line to walk, as that kind of character can easily take a deep dive into “unlikable,” but Winstead has the charisma necessary to pull it off.

Kate is very much up to the action standard we’ve come to expect from 87North Productions.

Not only is it wonderful to see Mary Elizabeth Winstead back in a leading role, but it’s exceptionally exciting to see her collaborating with 87North Productions. With a filmography that includes the John Wick movies, Atomic Blonde, and Nobody, the company’s credentials when it comes to action excellence is well established, and it’s amazing to see their newest star operate in their world. The aforementioned DC Comics movie already proved to audiences that Winstead can kick a whole lot of ass on screen (not to mention the skills she demonstrates in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), but here she doesn’t have to share the spotlight, and the production delivers a number of exceptional sequences that allow her to shine.

Kate snipes, she shoots, she slashes, she chases, she brawls, and everything in between, and each sequence where she does allows for its own unique flavor and angles. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan shoots it all with sharp clarity that accentuates the wonderful details in the choreography, even in low lighting, and it strikes that all important tone between brutal and fun: you feel the weight and impact of each hit, and can’t help but marvel at the skill with which it’s all performed.

Even if you’ve only seen three assassin-centric movies before, you can predict pretty much each step of the plot in Kate.

What hampers Kate is that it feels like the inverse amount of energy that went into crafting the action of the movie went into the design of the script. As much as you might be hoping that the film will upend long-established expectations from the subgenre, Umair Aleem's screenplay instead falls into every trope pitfall you can think of, and you can’t help but groan every single time one of your early predictions for developments in the plot comes to fruition. The story tracks, it’s well paced, and it does make some valid attempts at commentary regarding exploitation and colonization, but it’s mostly just a collection of basic plot points wrapped around excellent set pieces.

Kate isn’t the first movie of its kind that we’ve seen this year, and in the next 12 months it’s wholly possible that we will see one or two whacks at the exact same concept. In that sense the film is mostly unimpressive, but it definitely does find ways to stand out. At the very least it will hopefully get more people to recognize the range of Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and she’ll continue to get even bigger and better projects in the years to come.

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The DC Extended Universe is a fascinating franchise, with Warner Bros. consistently keeping the fandom on their collective toes. This was certainly the case when it was revealed that Birds of Prey’s Black Canary would be getting her own solo movie on HBO Max starring Jurnee Smollett. Now that Canary is back, could Huntress also return to the DCEU? Here’s the latest from Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Director Cathy Yan assembled a killer cast for Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). The movie ended with the titular team being formed by the likes Black Canary, Renee Montoya, and Huntress. Fans are eager to see Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s crossbow-wielding hero return, with the actress recently addressing this possibility by saying:

Well, that’s certainly a hopeful message. It seems like Mary Elizabeth Winstead thoroughly enjoyed playing Huntress, and would be down to return to the DCEU. But given the unpredictable nature of the comic book genre, she’s unsure if it’ll ever happen. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s comments to ComicBook come from an interview about her upcoming Netflix action movie, Kate. Eventually the conversation turned to her time in the DCEU, especially since her co-star is getting her own movie for Black Canary. But the developing project isn’t Birds of Prey 2, so it seems unlikely that Huntress would show up.

Birds of Prey is currently available on HBO Max, which will also be the home of the Black Canary movie. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

While Birds of Prey failed to perform as well as other DC blockbusters like Aquaman, the movie’s legacy has been growing in the past few years. Margot Robbie once again played Harley Quinn in The Suicide Squad, bringing the same over the top POV to her colorful escape scene. And with Black Canary getting her own streaming movie, maybe there’s a chance for Cathy Yan to get a sequel in the DCEU after all.

Not much is known about the developing Black Canary movie, but it’ll star Jurnee Smollett and be written by Lovecraft Country creator Misha Green. Obviously the pair has a great working relationship, and it should be fascinating to see what they bring to the DCEU together. We’ll just have to see if characters like Huntress are referenced, and if the Birds of Prey are even together anymore.

The Suicide Squad is in theaters now and the next DCEU movie arriving will be Black Adam on July 29, 2022. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Some days, it feels like there’s never enough time to get anything done. But if that day happens to be the last one you’ll be drawing breath on this green earth, you’re going to want to get your affairs in order. Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s titular protagonist in the Netflix film Kate is grappling with that exact scenario, as the Birds of Prey star has only a handful of hours to exact revenge on the people who poisoned her. And as you can see in this blistering action packed trailer, including the presence of one Woody Harrelson, those hours are packed with so much ass kicking.

Kate follows Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s contract killer, who’s a natural pro at taking people out. However, through a series of circumstances and twists of fate, Kate finds herself poisoned by the Yakuza, and given under a day to live. Determined to go out with a bang, she’s going to kill her way to the top of this conspiracy, and have her revenge before the lights go out. Which is a shame, because the lights in Kate’s trailer are absolutely beautiful to behold, amidst the blood and bullets brought to the table.

A strong thread of mentorship, as well as friendship, seems to run through the trailer to director Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s bone crunching opus. We see it in Woody Harrelson’s character and his concern for Kate herself; but there’s also the relationship between Mary Elizabeth Winstead and her would-be sidekick Ani, played by Miku Patricia Martineau. So if you were a fan of Netflix’s recent assassin extravaganza, Gunpowder Milkshake, you might be interested to see where this one goes.

Though, in the interest of full disclosure, it looks like Kate goes even harder. With her own life on the line, and the result almost assuredly ending in death, Ms. Winstead’s methods of revenge are pretty brutal. Plus, our own protagonist gets pretty banged up herself, only getting bloodier throughout the course of this trailer; to the point where Mary Elizabeth Winstead looks like she's auditioning for the role of Jill Valentine in the Resident Evil series. Seriously, tell us we're wrong:

In a year of high velocity action, Kate separates itself from the competition by dropping Mary Elizabeth Winstead into a night to die for. With what looks like a John Wick style thriller, set against the ticking clock of advancing mortality, nothing is off the table. At least, that what it feels like when you flip an awesome looking car that many times in front of the camera, with your lead still riding inside.

You don’t have to rush into line to see Kate, as the film will carve a bloody trail of revenge, in select theaters as well as through a Netflix streaming release, on September 10th. Though in a year where Netflix is promising a new movie debut each week, you’re going to want to take a look at the Netflix movie schedule for 2021 and see what other thrills are in store.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has made a name for herself in the acting world with cool projects ranging from films like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Birds of Prey to TV’s very own Fargo. However, there was a time when Winstead very nearly quit acting and she vividly recalled why in a lengthy interview.

Speaking To Sam Jones as part of The Off Camera Show, Mary Elizabeth Winstead made the surprising reveal that there was a time she almost didn’t continue. It wasn’t as much of a confidence issue or one of not loving acting as much, but it was more about the stress of being an actress in general. She noted:

As Mary Elizabeth Winstead opened up about her personal stress, it’s also mentioned that work stress related to acting is “not really talked about” all that much in Hollywood, even as it’s clear that actors on sets often work long and weird hours to get the job done. From how the actress is talking, it seems to have been earlier in her career when she was considering quitting. If that's true, finances and wanting bigger and better jobs would likely compound other stressors considerably. Luckily, over time Winstead says she was able to talk to some of her other female friends in the industry and that’s what ultimately helped. And then her career boomed.

Elsewhere in the interview with Sam Jones for The Off Camera Show, the actress also talked about trying to put on a brave face, particularly during conversations with other actresses in Hollywood. She noted the difficulty of achieving your dream, becoming a household name and then complaining. How could she possibly do that when there were so many struggling actors and actresses out there?

Nothing in life worth having generally comes easily and that’s true of building a brand in Hollywood. Mary Elizabeth Winstead is more successful than most and was making headlines twice this year thanks to her role in the female anti-hero film Birds of Prey, in which she played Huntress. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World was also a major topic of conversation over the (mostly) movie-less summer when the Edgar Wright flick hit its 10th anniversary. She ended up appearing in “Scott Pilgrim vs the World Water Crisis,” reprising her role as Ramona Flowers.

As it turns out, Mary Elizabeth Winstead did not quit acting in order to learn to make latte art. Next up we’ll see her in another badass role in Kate, a flick from Cedric Nicolas-Troyan which will feature the actress playing an assassin who gets poisoned and has 24 hours to seek vengeance before her ultimate end. Like so many films in 2020, that one’s heading straight to Netflix. While we wait, you can take a look at what all is hitting the subscription streamer coming up with our Netflix schedule.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sure, more moviegoers in February 2020 went out to see Sonic the Hedgehog speed laps around Jim Carrey than witness the Birds of Prey come together in Warner Bros.’ latest comic book flick, but that doesn’t mean Harley Quinn's movie wasn’t still awesome. The DC movie was packed with fantabulous fight sequences we can’t get enough of. And director Cathy Yan has just revealed one badass detail.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead totally knocked down Birds of Prey’s director of photography during one scene and it totally made it to the final cut. Remember the funhouse moment when her Huntress wrestles one of Black Mask’s men down while they’re sliding down a tunnel? The actress and the stunt double actually ran into the cameraman there. Check out Cathy Yan’s reveal on Twitter:

Bad. Ass. As the director illustrates, Matty Libatique got “destroyed” by Mary Elizabeth Winstead and the stuntman in the sequence during this memorable shot during Birds of Prey’s finale. When the shot goes black there, that’s not editing… his camera is actually colliding with the action.

Cathy Yan’s reveal comes after a fan pointed out the technical brilliance of the sequence. It sounds like the director of photography wasn’t afraid to really get in there and get a gritty shot – even if a bruise or two came from it. Matthew Libatique has also been the DP on Venom, A Star Is Born, Iron Man 2 and so forth.

When the Birds of Prey cast sat down with CinemaBlend during the press day in London, Jurnee Smollett-Bell called the sequence “inhumane," remembering how she was downing high ball energy drinks to get through the funhouse sequence. Mary Elizabeth Winstead said they trained for months for the scene but not with the sets built yet. When they showed up on set, she was sliding down a tunnel and jumping on tongues for the first time. Check out the full interview below:

Birds of Prey really pushed the limits of a comic book team-up film. Along with allowing Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn to narrate the story in her own wacky way, the movie included some awesome choreographed fight sequences from John Wick’s Chad Stahelski and his stunt team at 87eleven. Plus, it’s unabashadley R-rated.

The DC film has performed below expectations with a $33 million domestic opening at the start of February, but it has racked up $155 million worldwide so far. It’s neither a huge hit nor a flop. Recently, fans of the film took to social media to get the film trending and talk through reasons it should be supported more by moviegoers.

You can check out this crazy tunnel shot in Birds of Prey in theaters now.

This story discusses minor plot details from Birds of Prey. If you want to go into the movie unspoiled, we’d recommend you don’t read this until after you’ve seen it.

Filming an action sequence is probably never easy. But from the sounds of it, the Birds of Prey cast faced some pretty unique challenges during one intense fight scene. That led to what Jurnee Smollett-Bell jokingly called an "inhumane" shoot -- and the grueling days on set left her no choice but to chug energy drinks.

One of Bird of Prey’s most notable scenes features all of the film’s central characters coming together for the first time to battle their foes in a funhouse. In an exclusive interview with CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell, Birds of Prey cast members Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Rosie Perez, and Jurnee Smollett-Bell opened up about the perils of filming that intense moment. And Jurnee Smollett-Bell got real about what life was like on set:

The actress, who plays Black Canary in the film, told CinemaBlend that her grueling days on the Birds of Prey set were even enough to change her mind about energy drinks:

Jurnee Smollett-Bell’s co-stars, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Rosie Perez, were quick to back up her claims about becoming a temporary caffeine junkie. The actresses, who play Huntress and Renee Montoya, also confirmed that the funhouse sequence was particularly difficult to shoot. Mary Elizabeth Winstead explained that they spent months training and learning choreography for their Birds of Prey fight sequences, but that the film’s sets weren’t built until much later. That meant the actresses had to get used to performing their stunts on set pieces, like a rotating carousel -- and that proved to be a huge challenge. Take a look at what they had to say below:

Their commitment to getting scenes like that just right was crucial in making Birds of Prey work. And the actresses weren’t the only ones focused on nailing all the details. The film’s director, Cathy Yan, revealed that she recruited the experts behind John Wick’s incredible action sequences to help her ensure that Birds of Prey was as thrilling as possible. All the hard work was not for nothing, if its Rotten Tomatoes scores are any indication. Critics have praised the film’s fight scenes as “inventive” and “phenomenal,” and noted the overall energy as a highlight. So if nothing else, Jurnee Smollett-Bell’s newfound love of energy drinks paid off.

Birds of Prey is playing in theaters everywhere.

In the months since we first started seeing posters and footage from Cathy Yan’s upcoming DC movie Birds of Prey, actresses like Margot Robbie have admitted the looks of the characters were “less male gaze-y” than some of the other genre films. While the movie isn’t out in theaters yet, some people have expressed distaste for the looks sported by some of the leading ladies in Birds of Prey: And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn and some of them have been open about the leading ladies not looking sexy.

This week, one set of tweets in particular spurred an online response after stating Birds of Prey will bomb because the ladies don’t look hot enough. This dude notes that Birds of Prey will appeal to a “girl power” audiences before conversely claiming “they literally don’t know” who the movie is for.

That tweet got a lot of attention, so naturally there was a follow-up also talking about how women only like to see "attractive women."

One dude on the Internet doesn’t speak for every dude, although I’m a little galled to think this particular dude was able to rile up so many people on the internet and get so much attention for his thoughts. Yet I digress, because he’s not the only male comfortable with that opinion, given it has quite a few likes and retweets.

In addition, the idea that Birds of Prey is trying to uglify its cast popped up on the Internet in the days prior to the viral tweets above, specifically in the context of what Harley Quinn is wearing in the Birds of Prey trailers compared to the skimpy outfit she sported in Suicide Squad. A skimpy outfit that I would like to reiterate was super uncomfortable to film in and that Margot Robbie has spoken out about before.

It's not just Margot Robbie who is getting flack for her costume choices, however. Apparently, Mary Elizabeth Winstead isn’t sexy enough in the upcoming movie, either.

Although there's some hate online about the choices Birds of Prey has made and there are plenty of questions about who the intended audience is, a lot of people have commented on the above ideas and threads defending what the movie is trying to do. Or at least defending the idea that Margot Robbie is not just onscreen to be a pair of legs that are pleasing for men to look at.

Others have defended Mary Elizabeth Winstead after some other dudes haven’t thought she looked hot enough either as Huntress.

In the new movie, the leading ladies in Birds of Prey wear a lot of bright colors and wild clothes – the now-famous caution tape costume comes to mind – but they’ve also spoken out about how costumes were chosen for The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn. Rosie Perez, the oldest cast member in the girl gang, previously said she was pretty happy she wasn’t stuck in hot pants “because her ass is great,” noting the goal was to feel good in the clothes.

Look, Birds of Prey isn’t out yet and I’m not sure the DC movie will be any good or break any records at the box office, although it is currently tracking at a $40 million - $60 million opening weekend. But if it doesn’t make that much money, I don’t think it will be because Harley Quinn eats Cheez Whiz in cat pajamas. In fact, that just inspires me to want to see the movie in cat pajamas. We should all be lucky enough to see the movie in cat pajamas. And if you don’t like cat pajamas, as the immortal Gretchen Wieners always says, “You can’t sit with us!”

Birds of Prey is out on February 7.

As of right now, the overall structure of the DC Extended Universe is a touch wonky. Some Justice League characters are still going strong, with Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, and Ezra Miller’s Flash all having sequels at various points on the production schedule, but there are two reboots of different varieties on the way with Matt Reeves’ The Batman and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, and also the very real lingering potential for more standalone projects like Todd Phillips’ Joker.

How projects will wind up being developed in the franchise going forward isn’t quite clear yet, but there is one thing that we can be pretty certain of: if Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) is successful, it will spawn either sequels or spin-offs. That’s just the rule in Hollywood. And while we’re still a few weeks away from learning which way things will go at the box office, the stars of the film already have a clear idea of characters they’d like to star alongside in future projects.

Birds Of Prey held a special event in Los Angeles at the end of last week – transforming Hollywood into Harleywood for a night – and during the after party the main stars of the film spent time with members of the press, answering questions of the new movie before embarking on the global press tour. When a pair of reporters and myself had the opportunity to speak with Margot Robbie, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, the actresses were asked about DC characters they’d love to join up with on the big screen, and there was little hesitation in their answers.

Responding first, Jurnee Smollett-Bell – who plays the first ever feature film version of Dinah Lance a.k.a. Black Canary in Birds Of Prey – expressed that she would love to see a movie that brings in the O.G. Birds of Prey character from the comics who doesn’t have a role in the film: Barbara Gordon a.k.a. Oracle. Said Smollett-Bell,

In the comics, Barbara Gordon, who is the daughter of Gotham Police Commissioner Jim Gordon, took on the alias Oracle after being made a paraplegic following an attack by the Joker (as depicted in the notorious Alan Moore and Brian Boland series The Killing Joke). Rather than being rendered inactive by her injury, she instead starts make expert use of her computer skills, and becomes a behind-the-scenes aid to heroes like Black Canary (forming the Birds of Prey) and later Helena Bertinelli a.k.a. Huntress.

Speaking of Huntress, Mary Elizabeth Winstead specifically expressed an interest in diving deep into her character’s storied connection to the world of Batman – while also seemingly clarifying that the incarnation of her part in Birds of Prey is unrelated to the Helena Wayne version of Huntress from the comics, who is from an alternate universe and the daughter of Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman and Selina Kyle a.k.a. Catwoman.

It’s not just a potential meet-up with Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight that Mary Elizabeth Winstead is after, however. In the spirit of the girl power featured in Birds Of Prey, she is most interested in her version of Helena Bertinelli meeting the most significant female character in Matt Reeves’ upcoming blockbuster:

Last to speak in the trio, Margot Robbie took the moment to ring a bell that she’s been ringing for quite a while now. The Academy Award-nominated actress has been talking about teaming Harley Quinn up with a new version of Poison Ivy for a while – creating a big screen version of one of Harley’s most important relationships in the comics – and she even addressed that in her response. Said Robbie,

Along with Catwoman, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy work together in DC comics as the Gotham City Sirens, and a film adaptation of that team was announced as being in development back in late 2016, but it was put on the back burner as Birds Of Prey became more of a priority. After the new movie, Harley is set to next appear in the aforementioned The Suicide Squad – a project that won’t feature Poison Ivy – but the future beyond that is a mystery.

It should also be noted that those needing a Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy fix can always turn to the Harley Quinn animated series on DC Universe, where the two characters have a great back and forth played by Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell.

Given that it’s kind of our jobs, we here at CinemaBlend will be spending the forthcoming weeks, months, and years searching for and reporting about news and updates about the future of the DC Extended Universe, and the possibility of these particular wishes coming true (we honestly hope that the majority of them actually do).

In the meantime, fans everywhere will be able to see the R-rated crazy calamity and chaos Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) – co-starring Ewan McGregor, Rosie Perez, Chris Messina, Ella Jay Basco, and Ali Wong – when it arrives in theaters in less than a week and a half, on February 7th. To see what else will soon be hitting the big screen, be sure to check out our 2020 Release Calendar.

On the surface, Harley Quinn doesn’t really seem like a PG-13 rating kind of girl, even though Suicide Squad landed that rating. So, it’s not a huge surprise that her latest cinematic breakthrough in Warner Bro.’s Birds of Prey has been slapped with an R rating. While that may be disappointing to Harley’s younger fans, Margot Robbie and the cast and crew of the film can and have offered plenty of reasons why it had to be that way.

At the opening of Harleywood in Hollywood, Margot Robbie, who reprises her role as Harley Quinn, opened up about how Birds of Prey’s R-rating not only matched her character’s mindset, but also freed the team up to tell her story. She said:

According to what Margot Robbie told Variety, the fight scenes featuring Harley and her fellow vigilantes are pretty intense -- and definitely not kid friendly. That meant intense preparation and fight choreography -- but it also gave the team a lot of freedom. In addition, Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan was grateful she could take the characters’ story where she felt it needed to go:

Margot Robbie's co-stars were equally enthused about how the film ultimately gets its point across. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays Huntress in Birds of Prey, spoke to the reasons why they took a ‘no holds barred’ approach, also noting,

In other words, we can expect the language in Birds of Prey tp be every bit as colorful as its visuals. That may come as a surprise to fans who first encountered Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad. Despite existing in the same universe, the 2016 action film was rated PG-13 -- so in some ways, it introduced a watered down, but still intensely popular, version of Margot Robbie’s bombastic vigilante. With this R rating, fans can expect to see the same Harley Quinn -- albeit one that is much less restricted (both by the Joker and by the MPAA).

You can see Harley Quinn and the rest of her incredible crew gals in all their uninhibited glory when Birds of Prey hits theaters on February 7, 2020. Until then, check out our 2020 release schedule to see what other exciting films are coming your way soon.

The DC live-action universe has been on a roll lately, with Shazam! and Aquaman performing well in theaters. Warner Bros. is currently riding on the success of Todd Phillips' Joker, although that movie isn't connected to the shared universe. The DCEU will kick back up with Cathy Yan's upcoming blockbuster Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), starring a strong cast of femme fatales. Chief among them is Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Huntress, and the actress recently teased what Yan brought to the highly anticipated blockbuster

On top of a female-led cast, Birds of Prey has been getting some serious hype for also having women behind the camera. Cathy Yan is the filmmaker behind the upcoming blockbuster, and its first trailer recently broke the internet and teased something unique for the genre. Mary Elizabeth Winstead recently spoke to Yan's ability to take creative risks, while speaking about how exciting it was to be on a set full of women. As she put it:

Well, this is certainly exciting. While studio interference has been known to sink a DCEU movie or two, Cathy Yan looks like she got full control of the ship for Birds of Prey. And the upcoming movie seems like it could just about anywhere.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's comments to Collider are sure to excite both casual moviegoers and hardcore DC fans out there. The superhero movies have become the most profitable and popular genre in film over the past few years, with certain critics fearing it may become too oversaturated. Hero fatigue is what filmmakers are trying to avoid, and it seems like Cathy Yan did just that with Birds of Prey.

Related: Birds Of Prey’s Mary Elizabeth Winstead Says It’s ‘Unlike Anything’ In The Superhero Genre

The first full trailer for Birds of Prey finally arrived last week, and it was a bonkers one. Margot Robbie was a producer in addition to starring as Harley Quinn, and the first footage hints that the story will be very much told through Harley's POV. Her voice over was used all throughout the trailer, likely serving as an unreliable narrator. There's also a Marilyn Monroe-inspired musical number, and some very unique dialogue. Clearly Yan was happy to take risks, and they hopefully pay off in a big way once the movie finally hits theaters in a few months.

In the meantime, Joker will be in theaters to satiate the hardcore DC fans out there. While Todd Phillips' movie is set outside of the DCEU (Jared Leto is still technically that Joker), the psychological origin story is breaking box office records. Let's see if Birds of Prey manages to accrue the same hype.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will hit theaters on February 7th, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The DC Extended Universe has had an interesting tenure in theaters, starting with Zack Snyder's Man of Steel. The shared universe had a ton of hype around its inception, with fans eager to see their favorite characters translated into live-action. And while movies like Justice League failed to impress critics or make money at the box office, Warner Bros. seems to have hit its stride recently. Shazam! and Aquaman were both successes, and it looks like Cathy Yan's upcoming Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is going to bring something wholly unique to the genre. At least, according to actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

10 Cloverfield Lane actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is playing Helena Bertinelli / Huntress in Birds of Prey, a Gotham City vigilante and daughter of gangster Franco Bertinelli. The female-centric DC blockbuster is also a pseudo spinoff for Harley Quinn, with the first poster revealing her bizarre perspective of the world. It's likely this narrative opportunity that Winstead is referencing when speaking about the movie's unique perspective, saying:

Well, that's certainly intriguing. Because while some critics fear that superhero fatigue will make the market oversaturated and predictable, it seems like Cathy Yan is bringing something new to theaters with Birds of Prey. Is it February yet?

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's comments to Total Film are sure to excite DC fans out there, who are eager to return to the shared universe and see it continue to expand. While Todd Phillips' Joker will hit theaters shortly, the 1981-set origin story is disconnected from the DCEU. As such, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is the next opportunity to give back into the franchise proper.

Related: The Leaked Birds Of Prey Teaser Will Apparently Only Be In Theaters

Birds of Prey will be the DCEU's first big ensemble film since Justice League, which has the potential to make moviegoers nervous. Aquaman, Shazam!, and Joker all focused on one major character, allowing the subject to become truly fleshed. Crossovers seem to be largely abandoned by the studio, but Birds of Prey will change that by having Harley Quinn interact with plenty of new (but iconic) characters, including Huntress, Black Canary, Black Mask, Victor Zsasz, and Renee Montoya.

It should be fascinating to see what exactly Mary Elizabeth Winstead is teasing about Birds of Prey's contents. Given how popular the superhero genre is, it seems like audiences have seen just about everything. But Harley Quinn's fracture mental state might be the key to bringing something new to the genre. If audiences are able to get into her twisted mind, it could allow for concepts like an unreliable narrator or trippy visuals to be incorporated into the upcoming DC blockbuster.

All will be revealed when Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) arrives in theaters February 7th, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

While there are many Marvel properties who have basked in the limelight through various different blockbusters, network shows and streaming series, there is one lingering character will soon finally get her time to shine: She-Hulk. The comic book heroine, created by John Buscema and Stan Lee in early 1980, has been around for nearly four decades, but despite an infectious fanbase, She-Hulk has yet to break into live-action. That changed drastically when Marvel announced at this year's D23 Expo that She-Hulk (alongside Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel) would finally get her long-awaited debut within the MCU with her own all-new Disney+ streaming series.

Among the chief reasons why She-Hulk's introduction into the Marvel Cinematic Universe is so enticing is because she can provide a variety of different assets for the expansive superhero universe. Sure, She-Hulk could be played fairly straight, but Marvel's track record implies the chances are high for She-Hulk's introduction to showcase a fun, outlandish and very funny character; one that might open the doors to more Deadpool-esque meta comedy.

She-Hulk isn't quite as raunchy as Deadpool, though she is very witty and headstrong, and far more so than her fellow green contemporary, Bruce Banner's Hulk. She knows how to stand out as way more than simply "the lady version of Hulk," and the character could quickly become an MCU standout if the right actress lands the role. The casting process is always important, especially where Marvel's long-winded, multi-project contracts are concerned, and it's pivotal that Marvel nails this pick.

Eliza Dushku has portrayed She-Hulk in some animated projects, but this series will be She-Hulk's live-action debut. Of course, it almost definitely needs to be someone who hasn't already been utilized inside the MCU; as much as I'd love to see, say, Tessa Thompson in this heroic role, she's obviously Valkyrie now. Plus, it needs to be a performer who has action skills mixed with the comedy chops, so it won't be an easy choice. With that said, let's take a look at 12 women who could do wonders as She-Hulk, if given a chance to go green for the Disney+ series.

Gabrielle Union

Carrying the captivating confidence and conviction necessary to stand out in this rough and tough role, Gabrielle Union is an actress who continues to stand out with each new role, no matter what genre or tone. Union has been great in comedies in the past, including Bring It On, Top Five, Deliver Us From Eva and several others.

But she has also proven her action skills as well, most recently in movies like Breaking In and in the Bad Boys spinoff series L.A.'s Finest. Like fine wine, Gabrielle Union only seems gets better over time. She-Hulk would, no doubt, be a great showcase for her star talents.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

A tremendous versatile actress who can play roles with both great strength and delicate vulnerability, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has an extraordinary amount of range. That's why it's so easy to see the actress playing the part of She-Hulk. No matter which direction they take the character, be it more dramatic, action-orientated or (hopefully) comedy-friendly, it's easy to see Winstead excelling with any aspect.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has shown her dramatic and action chops in 10 Cloverfield Lane and Death Proof, her comedy action skills in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, her dramatic skills in Smashed, The Spectacular Now, and Faults, and her dramedy range in All About Nina, Swiss Army Man and Fargo Season 3. She is also entering the comic book sphere with next year's Birds of Prey, which will reportedly get big, bold and "very '90s," according to Ms. Winstead herself. It makes so much sense that Mary Elizabeth Winstead would crush it in the role of She-Hulk. If anything, it's simply a matter of whether she can fit it in.

Rosario Dawson

Bold, brash and beautiful, Rosario Dawson is a great fit for She-Hulk. The actress carries herself with fierce conviction, and is never afraid to seek her mind or hold her own. Dawson can also carry great vulnerability and inner-depth, convincingly building layers through which her well-versed characters both live and thrive. Her tremendous action work in Death Proof and Sin City give us a glimpse at how much she could excel in She-Hulk. And her strong comedic work in movies like Clerks II and Top Five, to name a mere few, show us that she would fit into the character's comedic side quite easily and readily.

It's not hard to see how Dawson could fit in the roles of both She-Hulk and her alter ego, Jennifer Walters. Clearly, there are many fans who agree with this sentiment. There is already some fan art floating out there showcasing how well she would fit into this role, and she responded to this casting possibility in kind, saying she would love to play the part. While Dawson was in Daredevil, that character was not wholly affiliated with the MCU at large, so she could pull it off.

Ronda Rousey

There's no denying that former UFC mixed martial arts fighter Ronda Rousey, now a talent within the WWE, has proven herself before. The athlete has had her ups-and-downs, but she has held steadfast and proven herself in some major moments in her life. Though her fighting career isn't what it once was, and her acting career has generally been cast aside in favor of her professional wrestling, the role of She-Hulk would be a great opportunity for Ronda Rousey to come back to the public spotlight in a major way.

Ronda Rousey is, at least in my view, a better actress than people often give her credit for being, and she showed in movies like Entourage and Furious 7 that she has a good sense of humor, even when she's throwing kicks and punches. Rousey also has the muscles to stand out in the role of She-Hulk, which would guarantee that anytime there is action involved, Rousey could be depended on to kick some ass. She-Hulk is a part that could work for her, and it would provide the one-time martial arts superstar with the major comeback that she deserves at this time.

Aubrey Plaza

If Marvel really wants to lean into the funny and the absurd with She-Hulk, look no further than Aubrey Plaza. The Parks and Recreation actress is often known for her deadpan delivery and witticisms, but she has really shown her range as an actress in a number of stand-out roles, most notably including Ingrid Goes West, An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn, The Little Hours and her supporting turn in FX's Legion, a Marvel show that also sits relatively distant from the MCU. Plaza was also good in the not-so-good comedies Dirty Grandpa and Mike And Dave Need Wedding Dates, proving that she knows how to elevate the material and make even her lesser movies shine.

Aubrey Plaza has grown more comfortable with her weird, out-there energy, and she has channeled it into some of her best work to date for a number of recent projects. She has expressed interest in playing a comic book character, and she has been open to playing She-Hulk, too. It would be a great fit for her oddball talents, and there's no denying that, if Plaza was given the part, she'd really turn it into something kooky and memorable.

Kaley Cuoco

With the recent conclusion of The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco has a lot more free-time on her hands, at least in theory. The actress, best known for playing Penny on the uber-popular CBS sitcom, often shined even in the show's most mediocre moments, and there was a lot of interest in what the actress was planning to do with her next big project. While she is attached to the HBO Max series The Flight Attendant next, there's good reason to believe that Cuoco could make a great impression in the MCU.

And in the role of She-Hulk, Cuoco could once again showcase her comedy chops in a major league role. She already has the star power, which would instantly bring in viewers for this series, and while she doesn't have a ton of action experience, she is certainly seasoned in the comedy department, and the comic book department. (She voices the titular role in DC Universe Harley Quinn.) If given the chance, Cuoco could earn a hell of a lot of goodwill and laughter in this big role.

Jessica Biel

Having developed a steadfast career in both film and television, Jessica Biel has proven herself in a variety of different projects, and she seems comfortable working on projects both big and small, in a number of varying genres. She has done a number of comedic films, including Summer's Catch, Playing For Keeps and I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry — not to mention an excellent recurring role in BoJack Horseman as a more outlandish variation of herself. She has also done a number of action films, including Stealth, Total Recall and Blade: Trinity.

When it comes to the dramas, Jessica Biel earned some of the best notices of her career for her season-long work in TNT's The Sinner. She has the experience and flexibility to play the part, and it doesn't hurt that she certainly has the look and build to pull it off too. This major role could be a good MCU introduction for Biel.

Angie Harmon

While TNT's Rizzoli & Isles never became a huge hit, it was certainly more than a modest cable success. The detective series earned a loyal fanbase through its fine mix of comedy and action, standing out even among the other procedurals thanks in part to Angie Harmon. The TV actress, playing one half of the title duo, was smart and determined, open to doing what needed to be done to solve the case and rarely showing resistance. Through the show's fine mix of comedy and action, it was clear that Harmon could excel in another leading role.

One potential project that would really play to her strengths and skills was a potential She-Hulk live-action adaptation, which is one that she openly championed. A few years back, Harmon was clearly enthusiastic about the possibility of playing this part, claiming on Conan that it was a part that Angie Harmon would very much love to play for... several reasons. Nevertheless, it's apparent that she would not only be honored to be the part, but she'd make a great fit too.

Michelle Rodriguez

Undoubtedly one of the toughest women in Hollywood, there's no need to prove Michelle Rodriguez's action chops. The famous actress has already proven them time-and-time again in the Fast & Furious movies, Avatar, Machete and several others. But she is also an undervalued dramatic actress as well, having proven herself in movies like Girlfight and, most recently, Widows to be a strong dramatic presence in addition to being a solid action star.

While she has only made a few comedies in her career, many of which were not especially great, it's clear from her work that she has a good sense of humor, and she translates it into her badass women. Therefore, it's clear that she would most certainly have the chops to pull of the part of She-Hulk.

Paula Patton

Paula Patton is an actress who often gets overlooked for how often she jumps into different genres. She has done dramas, action flicks, thrillers and comedies, and she could incorporate her skills in all of those fields for the role of She-Hulk. With experience in projects both big and small, it is clear that Paula Patton is a hardworking woman who can find herself playing to her strengths if given the right role.

While she hasn't had the best run of movies, Patton's work in films like Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Deja Vu, 2 Guns and Warcraft suggest she has what it takes. After all, Patton already played a green-skinned orc in Warcraft. That fantasy role is likely not so huge a departure from what is required to play She-Hulk, at least in certain ways.

Melanie Scrofano

While she isn't necessarily a household name yet (unfortunately), Melanie Scrofano is an exceptionally dynamic actress who has proven herself in a bunch of projects on the big and small screen. Most notably, she boasts the lead role in Syfy's Wynonna Earp, in which Scrofano shows her knack for comedy, drama and action, notably in the horror vein. Similarly, Scrofano played a very memorable part in the highly enjoyable film, Ready Or Not, where she put her horror-comedy talents on tremendous display.

Even in supporting roles in otherwise unremarkable movies like Saw VI, The Conspiracy and Nurse 3D, as well as the RoboCop remake, Scrofano knows how to make herself stand out immensely. She has great presence and tremendous range, and she deserves a platform that will really propel her into superstar status. Thankfully, in the role of She-Hulk, Melanie Scrofano could do wonders.

Gina Carano

Having built her career as an MMA fighter, Gina Carano has transitioned rather nicely into movies. She made a big impression in Steven Soderbergh's unjustly overlooked action-thriller Haywire, and she's also had a solid supporting role in Deadpool. What's more, Carano will soon appear in the Disney+ much-anticipated Star Wars series, The Mandalorian.

Since she has already established a working relationship with the forthcoming streaming service, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to see the actress appear in a lead role in the new Marvel series, She-Hulk. The athlete-turned-actress doesn't have the most dramatic range of her acting peers, but she has proven herself in the action and comedy departments. Carano also clearly has the muscles and build to be a convincing ass-kicker, which is certainly be beneficial in making the action pop on-screen. Carano could certainly find a big acting break as She-Hulk.

There are no shortage of talented women who could take on the role of She-Hulk. We're certain that Marvel is looking to hundreds, if not thousands, of actresses who could play this muscle-bound part. Is there anyone in our list that you'd like to see become She-Hulk? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned for the show's debut, which is coming in the near-to-distant future.

The DC live-action universe has had a fascinating tenure in theaters, full of peaks and valleys. While the first few installments left something to be desired critically, Warner Bros. has managed to pivot away from ensemble projects and crossover-heavy blockbusters. Instead, directors have been given the chance to craft their own corner of the DCEU, and its a method that worked out great for Aquaman and Shazam!

The next DC live-action movie is Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), which will bring Margot Robbie's signature villain back to the silver screen alongside Gotham City's femme fatales. Anticipation for Cathy Yan's DC debut has been steadily building since it was announced, especially after the cast was assembled. Mary Elizabeth Winstead will be playing Huntress in Birds of Prey, and recently revealed that the movie will have some '90's flare. As she put it:

Well, this interesting. While comparing her role as Huntress to the one she played in the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster Gemini Man, Mary Elizabeth Winstead revealed that the 1990's would be factoring into Birds of Prey. And since the movie is set in the present, it should be interesting to see exactly how it all pans out.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's comments to The New York Times are sure to turn a few heads, as the contents of Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) are largely a mystery. While we know the cast of femme fatales will face off against Ewan McGregor's villainous Black Mask, exactly what the movie will contain is a mystery. But filming has been underway, so it's only a matter of time before Cathy Yan and company get chatty about the upcoming female-led blockbuster.

Related: Birds Of Prey’s Mary Elizabeth Winstead Is Really Into Playing Huntress

Huntress has been teased to be one of the main characters of Birds of Prey, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead was one of the first actresses to sign on to the DC project. In the comics, Huntress is a member of the Bat-family who use far more violent means to achieve her goals than Bruce Wayne and his proteges. This can put her at odds with Batman, although we shouldn't expect the Caped Crusader to pop up in Birds of Prey. Especially since Ben Affleck departed the role.

It'll be a number of months before Birds of Prey arrives in theaters, but hopefully footage and stills from the set begin arriving this summer. The teaser went over super well when it arrived, so the studio may want to keep the momentum going sooner rather than later.

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) will arrive in theaters on February 7th, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

DC's live-action universe is a fascinating place, as the studio constantly surprises the fandom with which of its myriad announced projects actually make their way to theaters. Aquaman, Shazam!, Wonder Woman 1984, and Joker are the next four projects that will be released, but there's another blockbuster being developed over at DC: Birds of Prey.

Cathy Yan's Birds of Prey movie is really shaping up, with the cast and crew being assembled as development continues moving forward. This includes Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who is playing Bat-family vigilante Huntress in the upcoming ensemble project. And she does seem to think the project is at least partly a spinoff of David Ayer's Suicide Squad. As she tells it,

Well, this is interesting. While Harley Quinn has always been attached to Birds of Prey, it's been unclear how the fan favorite villain would factor into the story, and interact with the titular team of heroes. But with Winstead classifying it as a spinoff of sorts, it appears the new female-led movie will indeed connect to Harley's DCEU debut.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's comments to Bionic Buzz are sure to pique the interest of DC fans out there, who are eager to see more of Gotham City's characters translated into live-action. When the DC Universe was still in its infancy, it seemed that the studio was trying to do more ensemble projects, in hopes of doing enough world building to compete with the MCU.

Unfortunately, projects like Justice League and Suicide Squad were critical nightmares, and didn't translate to the success Warner Bros. was no doubt hoping for. But there were some standout moments, with the latter relying heavily on Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn to carry the movie.

It should be fascinating to see how Harley Quinn ultimately moves the story of Birds of Prey forward, and ends up teaming up with heroes like Huntress and Black Canary. When we last saw Harley, she had found a new family in her Suicide Squad members. But during the film's final moments, Jared Leto's Joker arrived to break his lover out of prison.

Of course, Suicide Squad also showed the darkness in Harley relationship with Joker, despite their mutual devotion toward each other. Perhaps she and Mr. J will have a breakup, eventually landing her alongside some heroes. _Birds of Pre_y will also feature Ewan McGregor as the villainous Black Mask, so it also seems logical that Harley might join the story through her connection with the underworld. Only time will tell.

Birds of Prey is currently set to arrive in theaters on February 7th, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

DC's live-action universe has had an interesting path to theaters, full of peaks and valleys. Tons of movie, casting, and director announcements have been made, although its never clear exactly how concrete the studio's plans are. One upcoming blockbuster that is really shaping up is the Birds of Prey movie, which will bring Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn back onto the silver screen alongside a team of female heroes and law enforcement officers. The first new casting announcements have been made, with 10 Cloverfield Lane actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead playing Helena Bertinelli/ Huntress. Winstead recently broke her silence on this news, and what she looks forward to exploring about the character, saying:

Is anyone else getting super hyped up? Huntress is one of the darkest members of DC's Bat-family, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead is gong to have a dark and sordid backstory to work through during Birds of Prey. And with a strong emotional core to play off, it'll also affect the way action is handled.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead's comments make a great deal of sense, for those who are already familiar with Huntress in the DC comics. Helena Bertinelli was born into a powerful Gotham mob family. How this plays out changes based on the comic book story, but she typically ends up victimized at a young age, due to her powerful father's influence and rivals. As such, she's much more violent and extreme that Batman, Robin and the rest. That often puts her at odds with the Dark Knight.

It should be interesting to see where director Cathy Yan decides to take Huntress, when the character makes its silver screen debut in 2020. There's plenty of dark material to mine from, as well as references to Batman and the greater DCEU. Considering she'll be working with both villains and heroes in Birds of Prey, perhaps Huntress ends up walking the middle ground, struggling to find her place in the crime fighting world.

Birds of Prey should include plenty of action, Mary Elizabeth Winstead's comments to The Wrap tease the training she's starting, saying:

Huntress is a character of many weapons, although her most iconic are her signature crossbows. And yes, they shoot real arrows. She's a hardcore figure in DC comics, and it should be fascinating to see the vigilante finally make her way onto the silver screen.

Birds of Prey is currently set to arrive on February 7, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Set to be directed by Cathy Yan, the DC Extended Universe's Birds of Prey movie is really starting to move its gears. There have been rumors circling about the actors who might join the project, and earlier this week it even got a release date. Now it seems as though the project has taken yet another big step forward by picking two new names to join Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn in the film, specifically Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress and Jurnee Smollett-Bell as Black Canary.

We learned about a bunch of the actors in contention for the lead roles in Birds of Prey at the end of last week - with both Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jurnee Smollett-Bell both mentioned - and now it looks like they are prepping to close their deals. This news comes to us from a Variety report, though their wording makes it sounds like the deals aren't 100 percent completed just yet.

In the DCEU film we will see a similar version to the Helena Bertinelli a.k.a. Huntress that was featured in the CW's Arrowverse - where the character was played by Jessica Elise De Gouw. She has an interesting backstory as a heroine, as she is a former mob princess who lost her family at a young age, ultimately turning to a life led as a masked vigilante. Black Canary, meanwhile (who was also featured in the Arrowverse, played by Katie Cassidy) is a crimefighter best known for her ultrasonic scream - which at full capacity is powerful enough to potentially shatter planet Earth. It's not clear exactly how they will link up with Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, but at the very least they are connected by the fact that they have all been are Gotham residents.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a bit of experience in the realm of comic book movies, having previously starred in Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, but over the years we have also seen her name listed among those in contention for some interesting superhero movie roles. Specifically, she was on the shortlist to play Domino in Deadpool 2 (a role that eventually went to Zazie Beetz), and there was some buzz about her years ago potentially playing Sharon Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In summation, it's about time she got a chance to play in this genre, and Huntress is a great fit for her.

Jurnee Smollett-Bell, meanwhile, is better known for her work on the small-screen, and has been performing for most of her life. She got her start with recurring roles on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Full House, and Cosby in the 1990s, but since 2009 she has had busy with series like Friday Night Lights, The Defenders, The Mob Doctor, Do No Harm, Parenthood, True Blood, Underground, and most recently Sofia The First and Lovecraft Country (which will be coming next year). She does have a few features on her filmmography, including the boxing drama Hands of Stone with Edgar Ramirez and Robert De Niro, but Birds of Prey will be her biggest film to date.

There was a long stretch of time when we didn't know what DC Extended Universe film would come after Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman 1984, but now their upcoming schedule is starting to solidify. With a script written by Christina Hodson, the movie will be moving into production early next year, and is currently scheduled to be released on February 7, 2020. Not much is known about the plot of the film, though the new trade reports offers that there will be a showdown with a "Gotham crime lord who has yet to be unveiled."

Although DC and Warner Bros have yet to officially announce what will follow Wonder Woman 1984 in the DC Extended Universe, so far all signs point to Birds of Prey being the next installment in the superhero franchise. The movie will mark the return of Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn (with the actress also producing) following her appearance in Suicide Squad, and Cathy Yan was hired to direct back in April, working off a script written by Christina Hodson. So far Birds of Prey's heroic lineup reportedly consists of Black Canary, Huntress and GCPD detective Renee Montoya, and now we know who's been looked at recently to fill these roles.

Starting off, let's look at the ladies in consideration for Black Canary. Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Jurnee Smollett-Bell are both high up on the list to play the sonic-screaming crimefighter, and while Janelle Monae is also said to be in the running, it's unclear if she's tested for the role. Although Black Canary is white in the comics, THR states that Warner Bros is looking for "diverse talent" for Birds of Prey's version of the character. Mbatha-Raw's notable credits include Beauty and the Beast, The Cloverfield Paradox and A Wrinkle in Time, Smollett-Bell has been a series regular on TV shows like Friday Night Lights, True Blood and Underground, and Janelle Moane, in addition to being a Grammy-nominated singer, has appeared in movies like Moonlight and Hidden Figures.

Next we have Black Canary's frequent partner, Huntress. Margaret Qualley, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Cristin Milloti have all either tested or read for the role, though there's no indication if any of them have an edge over the rest. Margaret Qualley is best known for her role on HBO's The Leftovers, Winstead's resume includes Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, 10 Cloverfield Lane and Fargo (the TV series), and Cristin Milloti has appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, How I Met Your Mother and Black Mirror, among other things.

Finally for Renee Montoya, Justina Machado from Netflix's One Day at a Time and Roberta Colindrez from Amazon's I Love Dick have both tested for the character. Unlike Black Canary and Huntress, it doesn't sound like Renee will be getting her superhero on during Birds of Prey. However, given that she became the second Question in the comics, perhaps there is a scenario where she turns to vigilantism in the DCEU.

Other actresses are supposedly in consideration for Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya, but evidently Warner Bros is looking to decide on who will lead Birds of Prey within the next two weeks, with production scheduled to begin early next year. We here at CinemaBlend will keep you updated on what's happening with Birds of Prey as more details come in. For now, check out our DC movies guide to lear what else the DCEU has in development.

Scottish movie star Ewan McGregor and French costume designer Eve Mavrakis have separated after 22 years of marriage. Incidentally, the paparazzi spotted the Trainspotting star getting cozy with American actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead the other day at a London coffee shop and the two were even reportedly caught kissing. The cause of McGregor and Mavrakis' split is yet a mystery, but new details keep coming to light.

In fact, Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis met on the courtroom drama Kavanagh QC in 1995 and share four daughters together. Allegedly, friends of McGregor and Mavrakis have been seen to be updating their respective public social media accounts with pictures of themselves not wearing their wedding rings. Moreover, the paparazzi caught up with Mavrakis out and about in Santa Monica, California, as she was running some errands this week, and she was not wearing her wedding band. Neither McGregor or Mavrakis have publicly confirmed the split, but an unnamed source told People that the split has happened.

Which leads us to Ewan McGregor hanging out with Mary Elizabeth Winstead at a coffee shop in London, where snapshots of them kissing one another were taken. After the pair spent time at the coffee shop, they got on McGregor's motorcycle and drove off into the distance, with Winstead on the back of McGregor's bike.

Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead played lovers in the third season of the FX drama Fargo. Now it appears life could be imitating art for the two actors, as a photographer for the Sun did capture pictures of the co-stars embracing and sharing a kiss at one point during their meet up at The Good Life Eatery in St. John's Wood. Still, nobody knows if McGregor and Winstead were spending private time together before he and Mavrakis separated in May. We'll keep you updated as more news breaks.

Regarding the Fargo actress, it turns out Mary Elizabeth Winstead and her husband, Riley Stearns, split up in May of this year after seven years of marriage. Winstead had originally met Riley Stearns, a director, on a cruise.

Although we don't know what, if anything, is going on with the Mary Elizabeth Winstead kiss, it would not be the first time the rumor mill has circulated stories about Ewan McGregor having extramarital dalliances. Back when he and Nicole Kidman were working on Moulin Rouge, rumor had it the two co-stars covered up a secret off-screen fling. About ten years later, McGregor was tied to French actress Melanie Laurent, with whom he starred in the film Beginners. However, neither of those reports were ever confirmed, and the notion McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are anything more than friends could be an unfair assumption. Perhaps we will get more clarity concerning the situation in due time. Regardless, we'll keep you updated regarding what is going on between Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis.

It's that time, yep. The time when the people on the TV there start talking in a way we're not used to hearing much. 16 months or so have passed since FX's Fargo ended its genre-bending second season, and Season 3 has finally arrived, led by a pair of polar opposite brothers played by Ewan McGregor in his first big TV role. As evidenced by the recent mind-warp of FX's Legion, creator Noah Hawley's storytelling talents are expanding, and this Fargo Season 3 is a dense and intense tale of murder and miscommunication, steeped in hilarious small town idealism.

Ewan McGregor positively shines as brothers Emmitt and Ray Stussy, if the word "shines" can be applied to two characters headed down roads as dark as Fargo's. His "McGregor-ness" was ever-present in the accents, but I often lost sight of the actor within the makeup and performances themselves. Seen above, Ray is the younger of the two, but the roundness of his balding head and his growing belly make him appear older. He's currently a parole officer who hasn't had much of a problem bringing parolees into his personal life, particularly Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Nikki Swango. There's a lot of good in Ray somewhere underneath the pent up aggression against his brother, whom Ray feels is responsible for the bad hand he was dealt, but it won't be easy for him to make that goodness visible.

Emmitt is the far more successful of the pair, having built up a modest real estate empire that earned him the nickname "The Parking Lot King of Minnesota," which affords him and wife Stella (Linda Kash) a good life. Set in 2010, Fargo Season 3 kicks off with the elder denying his younger sibling a financial loan, because even though Emmitt holds a certain amount of empathy for Ray and his constant troubles, Emmitt's decision-making is guided by his right hand man Sy Feltz, played by Michael Stahlberg, one of the most dependably fantastic actors in Hollywood. Sy's protective hold over Emmitt borders on buffoonish, in an enjoyable sense, but there's a legitimate loyalty there that will no doubt reach some dramatic heights as the [true] stories go on.

In one corner, we have Ray and Nikki, who embrace the almost charming goal of becoming professional bridge players. In need of some quick cash that couldn't be found with Emmitt, Ray tasks Scoot McNairy's uncomfortable stoner Maurice LeFay with a boneheaded ploy to get a quick payday, which opens up a deadly can of worms for potentially anyone the Stussy family comes into contact with. It isn't safe to think that Nikki is the lesser of two evils in this situation, either, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead nails whatever passive psychosis her character is feeding on.

In the other corner, Emmitt has just come out of his own financial troubles, but while money is no longer an issue, Emmitt and Sy's problems are really only just starting. Due to circumstances beyond his means, Emmitt takes on an unwanted business partner -- for lack of a better and more villainous description -- in the mysterious and sadistically cheery V.M. Varga, played by Harry Potter vet David Thewlis. By the time 2017 comes to a close, I bet people are still going to be talking about Thewlis' performance, as V.M. was unmistakably birthed in Fargo's universe and retains a deviousness that is charming but never without an air of foreboding.

V.M. is a man who seeks to exploit the humanity in others, and does not take well to the company of others. However, he often travels with two henchman. One is Yuri Gurka, a Ukranian whose ties with V.M. aren't immediately clear, and he's played by Croation actor and writer Goran Bogdan. The other is the earbuds-wearing Meemo, whose silence only breaks when he's breaking something. Meemo is played by Chinese-Canadian actor Andy Yu.

And it wouldn't be Fargo without the cops being involved, and this year, the good guys are being led by Eden Valley Police chief Gloria Burgle, played by The Leftovers standout Carrie Coon. A mother getting used to a post-divorce life, Gloria's normally unwavering resolve is tested when she crosses counties to investigate the bloody aftermath of a robbery gone wrong, and this one hits closer to home than her cases usually do. Though Gloria will probably get more chances at gee-golly humor as the season goes on, her arc is anchored more by dramatic undertones, and Coon quietly steals all the attention in every scene she's in, often with just a wistful stare or a resigned glare.

Other than dead bodies, the police force is getting enveloped into a larger department, with a newly arriving big boss in Shea Whigham's Sheriff Moe Dammik, a Philadelphia import whose personality is far rougher and gruffer than everyone around him. Another memorable officer is the talkative Winnie Lopez, played by Olivia Sandoval, and then there's the extremely hard-nosed IRS agent Larue Dollard, played by Hamish Linklater. Not even the non-speaking extras qualify as "weak links" here.

As it always goes with Noah Hawley's shows, Fargo Season 3 has a wide and well-formulated foundation that takes awhile to explain, even though only the vaguest of story elements are being discussed. Knowing little pays off where this series is concerned, and its anthology nature means no one is ever safe. This year's hairpin twists and turns can just as easily affect anyone and anything. But the people that will be affected most by this story are viewers, who can finally once again sit back and marvel at another thrilling season from one of TV's best dramas. With such an incredible cast -- seriously, the Emmys should just call itself the Fargos next year -- and a suspense-filled plot, you won't walk away from this one disappointed, I reckon.

Get ready for a Midwestern series of unfortunate events when Fargo Season 3 debuts on FX on Wednesday, April 19, at 10 p.m. ET. To see when everything else is hitting the small screen in the near future, head to our midseason premiere guide and our summer TV schedule.

As the DCEU continues to expand, an army of classic heroes will gradually enter the fold. Hot off the heels of the announcement of a Nightwing movie last month, we recently learned that the silver screen Bat Family would continue to grow with the announcement of a Batgirl film as well. The character has never taken center stage in her own live-action solo movie, so all eyes are on director, writer, and producer Joss Whedon to break new ground with this comic book icon.

Of course, the announcement of a Batgirl film raises distinct casting questions. Barbara Gordon is one of the most beloved characters in DC Comics, so everyone has his or her own idea as to who should take on the role. As that question continues to loom, we have compiled a list of actresses that we think are perfect to take on the role of Babs. Check out our choices, and let us know who you want to see don the cape and cowl when the Batgirl movie finally debuts. We have many options to get to, so let's kick this list off with arguably the most obvious of the bunch.

Emma Stone

When it comes to fan-casting the role of Barbara Gordon, Emma Stone is probably the most common suggestion that people throw out -- and it's not hard to understand why. Between her trademark red hair and her offbeat sense of humor, the 28-year-old actress is a dead ringer for the comic book icon. More important than her looks, she's also one of the most talented actors working today, and she recently took home an Oscar for her work on La La Land to prove it. That's the type of prestige that any superhero universe would want to lock down. Besides, we cannot allow her comic book movie legacy to be defined by her work as Gwen Stacy in The Amazing Spider-Man franchise, can we?

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

At 32, Mary Elizabeth Winstead is the oldest entry on this list, but we think that could potentially be a huge asset towards establishing a version of Barbara Gordon with a longer history in Gotham City alongside Batman, Robin, and Nightwing. It also helps that Winstead has definitively proven her strength as a badass heroine through her work on films like The Thing, two Die Hard movies, and (most recently) 10 Cloverfield Lane. Besides, much like Emma Stone and The Amazing Spider-Man franchise, we cannot allow 2005's Sky High to be the last superhero movie that Mary Elizabeth Winstead took part in. She is tailor-made for the role of Barbara Gordon, so it is time for Hollywood to take notice.

Lili Reinhart

Although Lili Reinhart's Riverdale co-star, Madelaine "Cheryl Blossom" Petsch, arguably looks more like Barbara Gordon, the Betty Cooper actress has made a serious impression on audiences and proven herself worthy of the Batgirl role. She strikes a perfect balance between her girl next door persona (literally, in the case of Riverdale) and her hidden dark side that would perfectly compliment the established Bat universe in the DCEU. Most importantly, she now has a wealth of experience playing an iconic comic book character with decades of literary history, so she would perfectly understand the weight of the Batgirl role if afforded the opportunity to enter the silver screen DC universe. She may be young, but we think that she could nail this part if given the chance.

Shailene Woodley

Shailene Woodley was originally supposed to enter The Amazing Spider-Man franchise as Mary Jane Watson back in 2014 with a quick cameo in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, but she ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor to allow more time to mourn Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy. While we're sure that she would've made a great Mary Jane, she could be an even better Barbara Gordon in the DCEU. Her work in projects like The Spectacular Now and Big Little Lies has established her ability to deliver the goods when it comes to drama, and her time as part of the ill-fated Divergent series (which she was easily the highlight of) proved that she could hold her own as the lead of a big-budget action franchise.

Zoë Kravitz

While former X-Men: First Class star Zoe Kravitz may not look like the most traditional comic book version of Barbara Gordon, she has proven herself entirely worthy of the role over the course of her career as an actress. With an eclectic resume that nicely balances blockbuster epics like Mad Max: Fury Road and indie darlings like Dope, she has a very definite knack for bombastic action sequences, as well as quieter and more dramatic moments. On top of that, Ms. Kravitz was already cheated out of a previous opportunity to audition for a role in the Batman universe when she was told she was "too urban" for The Dark Knight Rises. For her to return as Barbara Gordon would be some seriously poetic justice.

Hailee Steinfeld

Although Hailee Steinfeld is one of the younger actresses on this list, she still has a long Hollywood resume that dates back to the role of Mattie Ross in The Coen Brothers' True Grit remake. Since then, she has refused to pigeon-hole herself into any particular genre or role, and she most recently became a household name with her standout performance as Nadine in The Edge of Seventeen. Not only can the 20-year-old actress deliver the drama, but she also has impeccable comedic timing that could serve her well as a more lighthearted protector of Gotham City and its inhabitants. Babs is a fundamentally more optimistic member of The Bat Family, and Hailee Steinfeld could be a perfect counterpoint to Ben Affleck's brooding Caped Crusader.

Lindsey Morgan

Lindsey Morgan holds a special place on this list, because her name has already reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to play Batgirl in Joss Whedon's upcoming Batgirl movie. It's not necessarily hard to understand why, as the 27-year-old star of The CW's The 100 has continuously impressed us with her signature small screen role over the course of the last few years. If she can bring all of the scrappy badassery that she brings to Raven Reyes to Barbara Gordon, then we can rest assured knowing that we will have a Batgirl who is faithful to the comics. Not only is she mentally tough, and fierce in a fight, but (perhaps most importantly) she's an infinitely intelligent superhero with the ability to outthink her opponents.

Jane Levy

Success in the horror genre is often a reliable indicator that a filmmaker can be successful in the blockbuster superhero genre, so there's no reason to believe that such a formula cannot also be applied to an actor. Between her work on the Evil Dead remake and Don't Breathe, Jane Levy has continuously proven herself as THE horror scream queen for the modern age. She routinely portrays heroines who are scrappy, smart, and strong in all of the ways that make her ideally suited to portray Barbara Gordon in the DCEU. After all of the punishment that horror movies have put her through in recent years, I think that it's safe to say that she has earned this iconic role.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Between her work on films like The Witch and Split, Anya-Taylor Joy has slowly but surely established herself as one of the fastest rising stars in Hollywood. Even when she has taken part in mediocre films (Morgan comes to mind) she has routinely stood out as one of the most talented young actresses in the film industry. Her performances are often characterized by a silent intensity that would naturally translate to Barbara Gordon, and (perhaps most importantly) she can expertly convey a perfect balance between quiet intelligence and visceral action when she needs to. A major blockbuster franchise is going to pick up Ms. Joy at some point; DC would be wise to beat the competition to the punch.

Those are our picks, but what do you think? Let us know who you want to play Barbara Gordon in the DCEU below to keep this conversation going!

The DCEU is making its boldest move yet with Harley Quinn's Birds of Prey movie. Instead of getting her own solo film, the Suicide Squad standout is returning with a new badass squad.

The Birds of Prey are definitely a famous comic book team, but they aren't nearly as recognizable as the Justice League or The Bat Family. With that in mind, we have compiled a handy guide to help get you up to speed on the basics of Birds of Prey before the movie comes out in 2020. Let's start with the big trailer:

She's Harley frickin' Quinn! But let's focus...

What Is The Official Birds Of Prey Movie Title?

Margot Robbie, a.k.a. Harley Quinn, revealed in an Instagram photo that the full title of the movie is Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). It is a mouthful! Harley co-creator Paul Dini said he loves the title, and the photo Robbie posted of the script, calling it "classic Quinnsanity" for a character who often scribbles "wacky thoughts" all over things like her therapist's pad. The title also works as a tongue-in-cheek riff off the movie Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance). Bird humor never gets old!

What Is The Birds Of Prey Release Date?

Birds of Prey is currently scheduled for release on February 7, 2020. It follows DCEU movie releases Aquaman (December 21, 2018) and Shazam! (April 5, 2019) and precedes Wonder Woman 1984 (June 5, 2020). Birds of Prey was previously set to open on Valentine's Day 2020, but it was moved back one week, so it wouldn't conflict with Bond 25, which was opening that February 14 but moved itself to April 2020 anyway.

What Is The Birds Of Prey Rating?

Birds of Prey is currently confirmed to be rated R. That's in line with what Margot Robbie wanted when she pitched the idea of "an R-rated girl gang film." She wanted her Harley Quinn to be part of it, but not have it be a solo film. If this R rating holds, it will be the DCEU's first R-rated release. Robbie's Harley first appeared in Suicide Squad, but that film had the usual PG-13 rating for DCEU films. This will be an edgy departure, following the successes of other R-rated comic book films like Fox's Deadpool and Logan.

When Did Birds Of Prey Start Filming?

Birds of Prey reportedly started filming in January 2019 in Los Angeles, under the working title Fox Force Five, and ended filming in April 2019. The working title intel came from Production Weekly (via Pursue News), and Pulp Fiction fans should recognize it. It's the name of the TV show Pulp character Mia Wallace (Uma Thurman) was working on, following an all-female team of secret agents. So between Birdman and Pulp Fiction, Birds of Prey is already off to an early start with sly pop culture references. The script for Birds of Prey was written by Christina Hodson and the film is being directed by relative newcomer, Dead Pigs director Cathy Yan. She's only the second woman to direct a film for the DCEU, after Wonder Woman's Patty Jenkins. She's also the first Asian woman to ever direct a superhero movie.

What Is The Plot Of Birds Of Prey?

Warner Bros. has yet to release an official synopsis for Birds of Prey, but here's what the film is reportedly about: Harley Quinn is said to bring this girl gang together, with Mary Elizabeth Winstead's Huntress, Jurnee Smollett-Bell's Black Canary, and Rosie Perez's Detective Renee Montoya protecting Ella Jay Basco's Cassandra Cain after she comes across a diamond belonging to crime boss Roman Sionis, a.k.a. Black Mask, played by Ewan McGregor. In DC Comics, the Birds of Prey lineup has expanded over the years, but the covert ops and crimefighting team is usually anchored by Batgirl/Oracle (aka Barbara Gordon), Black Canary (Dinah Laurel Lance), and the Huntress (Helena Bertinelli).

Harleen Quinzel a.k.a. Harley Quinn - Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie was a scene-stealer in Suicide Squad, and her Harley returns to lead this semi-spinoff. Before she met and fell in love with the Joker, Dr. Harleen Quinzel was a psychiatrist assigned to Arkham Asylum. The DC Comics villain was voiced by Arleen Sorkin in Batman: The Animated Series, and played by Mia Sara in The WB's 2002 Birds of Prey TV series. The DCEU is reportedly still working on David Ayer's Gotham City Sirens movie, with Robbie's Harley Quinn returning and working with Selina Kyle/Catwoman and Pamela Isley/Poison Ivy. But first, Harley is working with more traditionally heroic crime fighters, the Birds of Prey.

Margot Robbie's star has only risen since Suicide Squad was released in 2016. In the past two years, she has landed a series of high profile projects -- including Queen Elizabeth I in Mary Queen of Scots and Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. She also picked up her first Oscar nomination for I, Tonya, which she also produced. She's the perfect choice to lead her own film, but it says a lot about her collaborative spirit that she preferred this film to be an ensemble rather than a Harley spinoff.

Dinah Laurel Lance a.k.a Black Canary - Jurnee Smollett-Bell

Jurnee Smollett-Bell was cast as crime fighter Black Canary. The CW's Arrow-verse recently brought the Black Canary mythology into the mainstream with the character played by played by Katie Cassidy. Dinah Lance, a.k.a Black Canary, is one of the best hand-to-hand combatants in the entire DC universe, and her abilities are further bolstered by her sonic "Canary Cry" power, which can shatter glass and burst eardrums. The prospect of Black Canary making an appearance in a Birds of Prey movie is exciting on its own, but also because it also lays possible groundwork for the DCEU to introduce her mentor, Wildcat, as well as her longtime boyfriend, Green Arrow.

Smollett-Bell broke out as young Eve in the 1997 film Eve's Bayou, and had a lead role in Denzel Washington's 2007 film The Great Debaters. She followed that with series regular roles as Jess Merriweather on Friday Night Lights and Nicole Wright in True Blood. This superhero film will be a departure for her, but it should also be a great showcase.

Helena Bertinelli a.k.a Huntress - Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary Elizabeth Winstead will play Huntress, who has had several iterations in the DC world. According to Variety, Birds of Prey will show her as a former mafia princess who was devastated at a young age when her family was killed in a mob hit. That turns her into a vigilante, and ultimately leads her to join the Birds of Prey team. Typically operating out of Gotham City (and often considered an honorary member of The Bat Family), Huntress has become known for her generally violent tactics, as well as her trademark use of a crossbow as her primary weapon. Most non-comic book readers will likely remember the villainous portrayal of the character during the first two seasons of The CW's Arrow. Although she is not an original member of the Birds of Prey organization, she has become inextricable from the team, and generally considered one of its most recognizable members.

Winstead will reunite with her Fargo Season 3 co-star Ewan McGregor in Birds of Prey. She was a standout in 10 Cloverfield Lane, and already has comic book adaptation experience from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, which helps get us excited to see her wield a crossbow as Huntress.

Detective Renee Montoya - Rosie Perez

Fearless Oscar nominee Rosie Perez has been cast as Gotham City Police Department Detective Renee Montoya. Renee Montoya was created for Batman: The Animated Series and returned for The New Batman Adventures. She has previously been depicted in Gotham, Batman: Bad Blood and Batman: The Telltale Series. In the comics, Renee is also one of the DC universe's most prominent gay characters. At one point in the comics, she became The Question, following her mentor Vic Sage.

It's not clear yet if Birds of Prey will include The Question aspect of Renee Montoya's story or if she'll stick to being a police detective. But, since Rosie Perez was interested enough to take the role, hopefully that means they gave her character a lot of good material.

Cassandra Cain a.k.a. Batgirl - Ella Jay Basco

Young Ella Jay Basco will make her film debut as Cassandra Cain. In the comics, Cassandra is a teenager/young adult, but in Birds of Prey the half-Asian Cassandra will be a child. Cassandra Cain was introduced in the comics as the daughter of assassins David Cain and Lady Shiva. The child prodigy was raised to become a skilled martial artist and assassin. Weirdly enough, Cassandra was taught not to speak; instead, the parts of her brain normally used for speech were trained to read other people's movements and body language. She ultimately became one of Barbara Gordon/Oracle's field agents. Cassandra is one of several characters who have assumed the role of Batgirl. In the comics, Cassandra also goes by the name Orphan.

This will be a breakout role for Ella Jay Basco, whose first credit was as 3-year-old Evelyn Yu in the "Perfect Storm" episode of Grey's Anatomy back in 2013. Since then, she's only had a few TV series roles, and this will be her first movie. What a way to make a debut!

Roman Sionis a.k.a. Black Mask - Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor will be playing Birds of Prey's villain, Black Mask, Deadline confirmed. His Roman Sionis is a mob boss who leads the False Facers gang. Roman came from a rich family, and his parents cared more about that wealth than him. They'd drag him to parties and force him to be friends with other rich young Gothamites like Bruce Wayne. Roman hated his parents' fakeness -- their masks. When they died in a suspicious fire he inherited the Janus Cosmetics Corporation but drove it into the ground, leaving the door open for a Wayne Industries buyout. So, Roman came to hate Bruce Wayne. He carved a mask from his father's black coffin, hence the name, and eventually became one of Gotham's most ruthless crime lords.

This won't be the first time Ewan McGregor plays a villain, or joins a blockbuster franchise, but he did play Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels, so it's definitely a departure. Some of us still know the Scottish actor best from Trainspotting and singing in Mouin Rouge! He took a rare trip to TV to join fellow Birds of Prey star Mary Elizabeth Winstead in Fargo Season 3, and right before this movie opens he'll play grown-up Danny Torrance in Doctor Sleep. We're definitely looking forward to seeing what McGregor brings to the dark role of Black Mask.

Victor Zsasz - Chris Messina

The most recent addition to the Birds of Prey cast is actor Chris Messina as villain Victor Zsasz. In the comic, Victor is a self-mutilating serial killer. For every life he takes, he carves a mark on his body. Since his entire body is covered in cuts, you can see how many lives he's taken. Victor was once a successful business man in Gotham, but he gambled everything and lost to The Penguin. Victor was about to jump off a bridge when he was attacked by a homeless man. (Only in Gotham can you be attacked mid-suicide.) Victor murdered the homeless man in self-defense, and that inspired him to kill as many people as possible.

Chris Messina is one of those actors who seems to have been in everything, from Six Feet Under and The Mindy Project to Vicky Christina Barcelona and Away We Go. This is definitely a new direction for him, and it further illustrates the bold choices being made for this DC film.

Other Confirmed Actors

Two other actors have been confirmed to be a part of Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) at this point, but we don't know much about either of the characters they'll be playing. Comedian Ali Wong, who's best known for her two Netflix specials (Baby Cobra and Hard Knock Wife) and her work on ABC's American Housewife, has been tapped to play someone working alongside Renee Montoya in Gotham law enforcement. We don't know right now if this means she's another cop or someone else working for the GCPD, or if she's a lawyer, but it should be fun to watch Wong bring her manic energy to the film either way.

Actor Robert Catrini has also been added to the film, but his role is being kept super mysterious for now. Catrini is a character actor with over 100 film and TV credits dating back to 1995, and has appeared in shows such as Law & Order, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ally McBeal, General Hospital, 24, Criminal Minds, True Blood and Homeland.

Other Birds Of Prey Characters Who Could Appear

So far, Birds of Prey has yet to cast Barbara Gordon, and it's possible they will leave the daughter of Commissioner James Gordon behind. But, we'll see. Plenty of other characters have rotated through the Birds of Prey roster over the years. Potential additions to the cast include, but are certainly not limited to, Katana, Hawkgirl, Catwoman, and Poison Ivy -- although major roles for Poison Ivy and Catwoman may be saved for Gotham City Sirens, if that ever gets off the ground. It's also worth noting that the Birds of Prey team lineup is not inherently exclusive to women; male heroes like Nightwing and Blue Beetle have taken up honorary positions among the roster at various points throughout their publication history.

How Does Harley Quinn Relate To The Birds Of Prey?

Given the fact that the Birds of Prey often operate out of Gotham City, they have come into conflict with Harley Quinn numerous times over the course of their publication history. It's not clear yet how Birds of Prey will connect Margot Robbie's Harley Quinn to the heroines, but Mary Elizabeth Winstead said the movie is sort of a Suicide Squad spinoff, with Harley bringing the girl gang together. The Birds of Prey have worked with villains in the past, and Harley Quinn has definitely proven herself willing to cooperate with others when it benefits her.

How Does Birds Of Prey Connect To The DCEU?

Birds of Prey will be the eighth film in the DC Extended Universe, following Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, Justice League, Aquaman, and Shazam! Birds of Prey will be released nearly a year after Shazam!'s April 5, 2019 opening, but -- as of this moment -- just four months before Wonder Woman 1984 arrives on June 5, 2020.

We'll have to see if Birds of Prey includes a connection to the Wonder Woman sequel. Wonder Woman 1984 started filming well before Birds of Prey, and it was originally scheduled to open toward the end of 2019, before Birds of Prey's current release. Now that the dates have been switched, Birds of Prey may include some kind of segue into the next chapter of Wonder Woman's story -- even if that story is another prequel, this time set in the 1980s.

At this stage, it's weird that Deadpool 2 remains mostly a mystery. While Fox has committed to the sequel (which was a no-brainer after the first one became the highest grossing X-Men franchise film earlier this year), the project still doesn't have a release date, and no firm details regarding casting. Of course, just because we don't have any official details doesn't mean that rumors haven't been flying around all over the place -- and today we have a report suggesting the production is looking at six actresses to play the role of Domino.

It hasn't even been confirmed that Domino will be a character in Deadpool 2 yet, but Collider claims to have a source close to the production who has fed them a list of names currently being tested for the part. A few months ago it was said that Mackenzie Davis was being eyed for the role, but she isn't included amongst this new batch...

First up we have Lizzy Caplan, who has been known to bounce back and forth between movies (The Interview, Now You See Me 2) and television (Masters of Sex, Party Down). While she doesn't really have much ass-kicking experience on the big screen, one thing she definitely brings to the table is a sense of humor, as she has certainly proven to be equally adept at being both a dramatic and comedic performer.

Unlike Lizzy Caplan, Mary Elizabeth Winstead does have some comic book movie experience -- having played Ramona Flowers in Edgar Wright's Scott Pilgrim vs. The World - and she would certainly be a great fit to play Domino in Deadpool 2. She has proven time and time again in an extremely wide variety of projects that she is a talented star -- and that extends to her role earlier this year opposite John Goodman in 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Sienna Miller is much better known for her dramatic work in films like American Sniper and Foxcatcher, but she did dabble a bit in action blockbusters when she took on the role of the Baroness in 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. We probably shouldn't talk about how that movie turned out... but one thing also worth mentioning is that Miller is the only actress on the list who has previously worked with Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds (they were both in 2015's Mississippi Grind).

In the world of action movies, there are few stars rising as fast as Sofia Boutella, so it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see her take on the part of Domino in Deadpool 2. She broke out thanks to her ass-kicking performance in Matthew Vaughn's Kingsman: The Secret Service, but continued to earn acclaim thanks to her part as the alien Jayla in Justin Lin's Star Trek Beyond. She would certainly be a fit for director Tim Miller's upcoming blockbuster

Stephanie Sigman is not nearly as well-known as some of the other names on this Deadpool 2 list, but she has certainly been getting more attention in recent years. She first really earned notice thanks to her performance in Gerardo Naranjo's 2011 film Miss Bala, but she has since been in a Bond movie (featured in the opening sequence of Spectre) and more recently has been playing Valeria Velez on the Netflix series Narcos.

Like Stephanie Sigman, Sylvia Hoeks may not be a name that you recognize now, but there is a very good chance you will in the near future. The Dutch actress hasn't done a great deal of work in America just yet, but has recently landed a high-profile gig, as she has a part in Denis Villeneuve's in-production Blade Runner 2049. If that movie doesn't make her a star, playing Domino in Deadpool 2 would.

What do you think of this list of rumored actresses for Deadpool 2? Who would you like to see get the gig? Hit the comments section below with your thoughts, and stay tuned for more news about the developing project!

Fargo wields a great cast like a mighty sword, cutting politely through its humdrum settings like butter. Each season of the critically acclaimed black comedy crime drama has had an entirely new cast, a tradition that continues with the upcoming Season 3. Ewan McGregor and Carrie Coon are already signed on, and now they will be joined by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, known best for a variety of roles in films like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and 10 Cloverfield Lane.

According to TVLine, Mary Elizabeth Winstead is heading to Minnesota. The actress will be joining the third season of Fargo as a series regular. She will play Nikki Swango, a "crafty and alluring recent parolee with a passion for competitive bridge playing." She is described as bring a focused woman with a plan, who always likes to be one step ahead of her opponent. Whether her opponents are in bridge or something more dubious is unclear, but either way she sounds like an interesting addition to the anthology series.

Season's 1 and 2 of FX's Emmy-winning drama took place in 2006 and 1979 respectively, and Season 3 is supposedly set closer to modern day. Mary Elizabeth Winstead will join a cast that so far includes Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting, Star Wars) and Carrie Coon (Gone Girl, The Leftovers). McGregor will be playing two lookalike brothers, Emmitt and Ray Stussy. Emmitt is a good looking real estate magnate while his brother Ray is pudgy parole officer who blames his older brother for his less than stellar life. Coon will be starring as Gloria Burgle, the chief of police. Fargo is nominated for 18 Emmys this season, and we'll see how many it can bring home this Sunday.

Winstead has been in a number of roles, including quite a few movies in the horror genre. She arguably made a name for herself as Ramona Flowers in the cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World before moving on to other roles like the romantic dramedy The Spectacular Now, indie black comedy Swiss Army Man, and recent horror 10 Cloverfield Lane. She can most recently be seen in the CBS political satire Braindead, which wrapped up Season 1 this summer. That show's fate has been up in the air, but given that Winstead has signed on for Fargo and the Braindead showrunners announced they'd be heading up the Good Wife spin-off, Braindead is more than likely...well, dead.

Fargo Season 3 isn't set to premiere until early 2017, so keep checking back in with CinemaBlend for more updates as they come.

10 Cloverfield Lane has made an impressive start to its box office haul. Even though it only came in second place behind the Disney smash hit Zootopia, 10 Cloverfield Lane’s $25 million gross means that it’s already made more than its $15 million budget. And since it’s, sort of, a sequel to 2008’s Cloverfield, we can expect Bad Robot to already be developing further installments to the franchise. But they’ll need to sign Mary Elizabeth Winstead up for further Cloverfield films first, because the actress has now admitted that she’s not contracted for any more at the moment.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead made this admission to me when I sat down with her to talk about 10 Cloverfield Lane. I asked the 31-year-old actress if she’d already signed up for further Cloverfield films, and while she admitted that she hasn’t done so yet, she teased that she’d be more than happy to do just that.

It’s no surprise that producer J.J. Abrams, director Dan Trachtenberg, and the rest of the Bad Robot team would like Mary Elizabeth Winstead to lead the Cloverfield franchise going forward, as the effortlessly beautiful actress, who emanates a girl-next-door appeal, also displays a drive and tenacity that is perfectly suited to the sci-fi adventure genre.

Obviously, though, Bad Robot Productions have to decide on whether or not there will be any further Cloverfield films, first. But whereas J.J. Abrams and his crew were very patient and considerate about when to release the "spiritual" follow-up to 2008’s Cloverfield, taking 8 years to do just that, it appears as though plans are already afoot for how to expand the universe following 10 Cloverfield Lane.

Even during my own discussion with director Dan Trachtenberg the director admitted that he and J.J. Abrams would constantly start to flesh out ideas for where the series could go while they developed 10 Cloverfield Lane. However, rather than jumping to conclusions and assuming that audiences would want to see further films, they have waited to see if viewers were still interested in the "Cloververse."

And while its $25 million opening weekend gross has hardly set the world alight, it should be enough to see further films follow. Especially since 10 Cloverfield Lane was released with a rather unusual marketing campaign, which only saw its connection to Cloverfield announced just over two months ago at the start of January. You can check out a snippet from my discussion with Mary Elizabeth Winstead below.

Those of you who haven’t seen 10 Cloverfield Lane can do so now, or at a more convenient time, since it was released into cinemas last Friday.

When they start out, most fledgling actors simply want to earn a livable wage in the profession. Obviously, when they leap this first hurdle, they then look to broaden their careers and see how far up the Hollywood echelon they can go. Some even reach a level where they’re recognized on the streets for their work, while a handful are even mobbed everywhere they go.

But, after originally excelling, some actors never quite reach the level of fame that you assumed they would. In fact, here are 8 actors who should actually be way more famous than they actually are. Wouldn't you agree?

John Hawkes

John Hawkes is the kind of actor that you not only immediately recognize, but who also improves a film just through his presence. It’s easy to see why, because he just oozes a rugged, workmanlike screen presence that is seldom seen anymore. Hawkes is also one of those rare actors who is able to move from the small to the big screen without an issue, bringing the same level of intent and talent to every performance. Hawkes’ workmanlike appeal comes from the fact that he has been a jobbing actor now since 1985. Over the course of the last 31 years, he has appeared in From Dusk 'Til Dawn, Rush Hour, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, The Perfect Storm, Miami Vice, American Gangster, Lincoln, Everest, Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Sessions, and Winter’s Bone. The latter three saw him receive numerous award nominations, while he even received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Winter’s Bone.

Because of this, you’d have hoped for a Paul Giamatti or, maybe pushing it a tad, Philip Seymour Hoffman boost to his career. That has yet to materialize. But until it does, we’re all just happy for him to make even the most tedious of projects better.

Gina Torres

There was a period in the early 2000s when it looked like Gina Torres was about to become a bona-fide leading lady in the action genre. Her performances as Cas in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions had proven that she had the cinematic muscle to flourish on the big screen, and this was boosted exponentially through her performance in Joss Whedon’s Serenity. Not only did she go toe-to-toe with leading man Nathan Fillion (another actor who probably should be more famous) but her performance suggested that this was just the beginning.

Unfortunately, further roles of this ilk never materialized. In fact, her biggest role since the release of Serenity was in I Think I Love My Wife, the 2007 Chris Rock comedy. Instead, she has excelled on the small screen, taking leading roles in Suits and Hannibal. But despite her prowess on these shows, it’s hard not to wonder what might have been if she’d been given further cinematic chances.

Ben Foster

It says a lot about Ben Foster’s talent that despite appearing in the X-Men franchise, more was expected from the 35-year-old American. After bursting onto the scene opposite Justin Timberlake and Emile Hirsch in Alpha Dog, Ben Foster followed this up with performances in the huge Hollywood productions of X-Men: The Last Stand and 3:10 To Yuma, while his role in The Messenger earned him numerous awards nominations back in 2000. Ben Foster was in the perfect position to take Hollywood by storm.

Unfortunately, it just hasn’t panned out that way. Sure, his work in The Mechanic, Lone Survivor, and Ain't Them Bodies Saints was impressive, but they all mostly flew under the radar. As has his performance as Lance Armstrong in The Program, which, once touted for a potential Oscar nomination, is instead being released under the radar almost a month after the Academy Awards ceremony. There’s still hope though, because he’s leading the way in Warcraft this summer. But if Warcraft is a flop, like the recently flopped The Finest Hour, Ben Foster will have to think long and hard about his next role, otherwise he could descend in obscurity.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

While on the face of it, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has a wholesome girl next door appeal, her performances are each underlined with a drive and intensity that permeates into her films. That’s why she has been perfect for a whole host of scream queen roles, which have seen her pop up in Final Destination 3, Black Christmas, Death Proof, and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. But she’s also made sure to compliment these turns with more dramatic and complex roles, with her performance in Smashed being one of the finest of the last 5 years.

Yet these have never quite earned her the recognition she deserved, while even her parts in big budget productions (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, A Good Day To The Die Hard) didn’t push her further up the Hollywood ladder due to a poor box office return and critical response, respectively. That should all change with 10 Cloverfield Lane though. Because if its box office matches the critical reception it recently received, then Mary Elizabeth Winstead should have a franchise all to herself.

Jacki Weaver

Twice nominated for Best Supporting Actress Academy Awards for her performances in 2010’s Animal Kingdom and 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook, 68-year-old Jacki Weaver only came to the attention of American moviegoers in the last half a decade or so. But she was actually a huge star in Australia from the 1970s, thanks to her work in Stork, Alvin Purple, Peter Weir’s Picnic At Hanging Rock, and Caddie, which saw her win her second Australian Film Institute Award.

Unfortunately, Jacki Weaver was unable to find role in film or television as she got older, which is why she wasn’t able to make the leap into American movies. Instead, the world of theater reaped the rewards of cinema’s oversight, as she played a role in several huge Australian productions, including A Streetcar Named Desire, and Death Of A Salesman. Sure, Jacki Weaver’s turn in Animal Kingdom finally allowed her to get her Hollywood debut with The Five-Year Engagement. But it should have come earlier. And if it had, she could have been rivaling the stature of Judi Dench, Helen Mirren and Maggie Smith. Great company to keep.

Adam Pally

Adam Pally has the sort of rapscallion on-screen personality that would suit itself perfectly in Hollywood comedies. I mean, anyone who has ever seen Happy Endings or The Mindy Project knows just how consistently funny he can be, while still emanating a warm and likable persona that means you just want to become BFFs with him. But Adam Pally is yet to find the movie roles that have brought out the best of his comedic sensibilities.

That’s not for the want of trying though, because Adam Pally has appeared in several low-budget comedies over the last two years (Slow Learners, Life After Beth, The To Do List) that have each failed to pop. While his appearances in bigger-budgeted comedies have either not been widely released (Search Party) or were just plain awful (Bad Grandpda). It speaks volumes that his most memorable role, to date, came in Iron Man 3 as Gary The Cameraman. But even though he was in the blockbuster for just a few minutes, Adam Pally still provided laughs, and proved that he should be given bigger parts.

Ellen Page

OK, so we all know who Ellen Page is. Having first wowed audiences with her performances in Hard Candy, a role that won her the Best Actress at the Austin Film Critics Association, and Juno, which quadrupled down on this success as she received Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild nominations, she then followed this up as Kitty Pryde in X-Men’s The Last Stand and Days Of Future Past, as well as Inception. Obviously she has done well for herself. Which, considering how she can swerve from comedy to drama so deftly, while always remaining on point with her characterization, was always likely to happen.

But, barring Days Of Future Past, Ellen Page has somewhat disappeared from the movie landscape over the last six years. Hopefully this is just a brief blip in her career though, and we all know that she has acting ability to slip back in as if she’s never been away. The worry is though is that there just aren’t enough challenging roles out there for her that are different to what she’s already done. If that’s the case then shame on Hollywood.

Toby Kebbell

Fantastic Four’s catastrophic failure last summer wasn’t just bad news for 20th Century Fox, it was also devastating for those of us who have been watching Toby Kebbell’s rise ever since his debut in the cult British thriller Dead Man’s Shoes. Since then Toby Kebbell has proven himself with stand out roles in Control and RocknRolla, before then steadily building his Hollywood reputation by appearing in Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, War Horse, and Wrath Of The Titans. His villainous double whammy in Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes and Fantastic Four was supposed to move him further up the echelon.

But while Dawn fared well, Fantastic Four’s failure stagnated his progress. But since he's appearing in Warcraft, Ben-Hur, and Kong: Skull Island, all of which are due out in the next 18 months or so, it's safe to say that Toby Kebbell is still right on track.

The Die Hard franchise is currently undergoing a pretty big transformation. Following the underwhelming release of 2013’s A Good To Day To Die Hard, which was critically savaged, the most recent speculation regarding the next installment to the series is that it will be a prequel and sequel hybrid. But while Bruce Willis’ participation in a Die Hard film is always obligatory, where does this leave Jai Courtney and Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who played John McClane’s offspring in later sequels? Well, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has now insisted that she’s dying to return as Lucy Gennero-McClane in Die Hard 6.

I had the opportunity to speak to Mary Elizabeth Winstead about 10 Cloverfield Lane over the weekend, and while we were chatting, I decided to ask her about the chances of her returning for Die Hard 6. And the 31-year-old actress admitted that she’d jump at the opportunity, however she’s yet to hear anything.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead portrayed John McClane’s daughter in both Live Free Or Die Hard and A Good Day To Die Hard. And while they’ve both been relatively small appearances, she was, arguably, one of the only bright sparks in the two films, which have left the franchise in a bit of a dire place.

The poor reaction to A Good Day To Die Hard provoked Bruce Willis and the team in control of the Die Hard label to develop a prequel and sequel hybrid to try and rejuvenate the franchise. The most recent news we’ve had regarding Die Hard 6 is that one part will be set on New Years’ Eve 1979, while the rumor that Bruce Willis will be present in just two scenes, at the start and end of the film, has been dismissed, with director Len Wiseman (Live Free Or Die Hard) insisting that the legendary action star "will be more present than that."

The prequel section of Die Hard 6 will focus on John McClane’s early life as an NYPD officer and his early marriage to Holly Gennero. So there’s every chance that Mary Elizabeth Winstead will be asked to return, as a scene involving Holly and John’s son and daughter would be a nice way to bookend the movie. You can check out a brief snippet of my discussion with Mary Elizabeth Winstead below.

Before then, though, Mary Elizabeth Winstead has the small matter of the release of 10 Cloverfield Lane to contend with. A "spirited" sequel to 2008’s Cloverfield, 10 Cloverfield Lane will be in cinemas this coming Friday, while we’ll have further tidbits from my discussions with John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr., director Dan Trachtenberg, as well as more from Mary Elizabeth Winstead over the next few days for you to peruse.

If you'd like to try your hand at some CB trivia, scroll down below...

Or you can head here for an update on what we know about Die Hard 6.

There’s something genuinely uplifting about learning that two established, young actors with bounds of potential still yet to flourish are going to work on a project together. Especially when that project is itself teeming with possibilities too. So the revelation that Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe are making a comedy about a man who becomes BFFs with a dead body should fill you with great joy.

Variety has reported that Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe have signed on the dotted line to star in Swiss Army Man. The impressive cast has also been rounded off with the addition of Mary Elizabeth Winstead.

Thanks to his turns in There Will Be Blood, Love & Mercy, and 12 Years A Slave, Paul Dano has turned into one of the most intense and compelling young actors in American cinema. Meanwhile, after his turns in the Harry Potter franchise, Daniel Radcliffe has done an exemplary job moving away from the iconic character thanks to his portrayals in The Woman In Black, Kill Your Darlings, and What If.

What has convinced this trio to star in the offbeat drama-comedy? Well, its unusual premise may have been the biggest allure. Swiss Army Man revolves around a man who is stranded alone in the wilderness. Struggling to survive, he comes across a dead body that he befriends. We’re still not completely sure how he actually befriends the corpse, but it’s been reported that the pair go on a surreal journey in order to get home.

Intrigued? I certainly am. Swiss Army Man has been developed over at the Sundance Lab, which has championed and supported a variety of leading independent filmmakers over the last 30 years. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert are directing Swiss Army Man, which comes fresh off their success at the MTV Music Awards, where they won Best Direction for their work on "Turn Down For What" by Lil Jon and DJ Snake. (Check that out here.)

By winning this award, the Daniels have followed in the footsteps of Spike Jonze, David Fincher, Marc Webb, and Francis Lawrence, each of whom have forged impressive filmmaking careers by creating the likes of Being John Malkovich, Se7en, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Hunger Games. Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have also worked on a number of short films as well as numerous other music videos for the likes of Passion Pit, Tenacious D, and The Shins. You can head over to the pair’s official website to see more of their work.

Production on Swiss Army Man is set to begin in the next few weeks, and we can expect to see our first glimpse of the interesting flick around the turn of 2016.

Film actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is successfully making the transition into television. After fielding offers this past pilot season, she’s joined the cast of upcoming A&E series The Returned, and will have a prominent role in the series. The actress is set to play a character named Rowan, a young woman who lost her partner, Simon, a decade before the events in The Returned will start. Additionally, Sandrine Holt and Agnes Bruckner have also taken roles in The Returned.

The news broke on Friday, with Deadline noting that Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s casting shouldn’t be a huge shock. The actress is mostly known for taking small roles in big budget movies like Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and small indie fare like Smashed. Her career over the last five years has shown audiences a capable actress who will probably never be a true blue movie star. However, moving to TV should afford the actress the opportunity to take on leading roles in stories that are just as interesting as what the big screen can offer. And with several other big names on board, The Returned seems like a pretty good bet.

The Returned is a drama that is headed to A&E with Lost producer Carlton Cuse attached to write the first episode and True Blood’s Raelle Tucker on board to write and executive produce. It’s also a remake of the critically admired French series Les Revenants, which has aired on the Sundance Channel in the U.S. The French version is expected to produce a second season, soon, but here in the States it shouldn’t be as high profile as A&E’s new drama. 10 episodes of the series are expected to air, and production on The Returned will begin this summer.

So far, The Returned is shaping up to be much like its predecessor. The show is about a small town that is faced with a challenge when a slew of formerly dead people show up, walking and talking. We already know Lost actor Mark Pellegrino has signed on. He’ll play a parent still grieving after a horrible bus accident, an incident that also occurs during Les Revenants. Sophie Lowe has also been slotted to play Lena, one of Pellegrino’s daughters in the series—a character who also pops up in the original. Now Winstead is set to play a character similar to Les Revenants' Adele. Clearly, A&E has an opportunity to take The Returned in a brand new direction, but that may not be the direction the network wants to take.

Which is fine by me. I personally find Les Revenants to be a compelling and eerie drama and would be fine seeing the same story told from a less European perspective. It seems we will still have a while to wait before we have any idea how The Returned will pan out. As the show moves into production, we’ll let you know if any other big names get cast.

It appears there has finally been more forward progress behind the scenes of This is Where I Leave You, the film adaptation of Jonathan Tropper’s celebrated adult-coming-of-age novel which has been put through Hollywood’s wringer for quite a while now. Back in November, Shawn Levy took over as director, but little has been heard about it since.

The Hollywood Reporter is now reporting Jason Bateman has returned to the project, after having his name attached to it early last year. Bateman is a welcome presence in almost any film, and will probably do a great job nailing the character’s tone of the novel. But there’s more!

On Monday, Levy and Bateman will meet with a group of well-known actresses, some of whom will be reading for the lead female role of Penny. Those actresses include Zoe Saldana (The Words), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (A Good Day to Die Hard), Isla Fisher (Bachelorette), Ari Graynor (For a Good Time Call…), and Kathryn Hahn (Afternoon Delight). This is an interesting bunch, and I think we can determine who probably isn't reading for the love interest, since Winstead wasn’t even born yet when Jason Bateman was on Silver Spoons. Amy Adams’ name is floating around as well, but she’s not being asked to read for the part.

Last May, when Bateman’s name was first connected to the film, it was being directed by Adam Shankman, who has now stepped into a producer role, and the co-stars in talks to join him were Zac Efron, Leslie Mann, Jason Sudeikis, Malin Akerman, and Goldie Hawn. Nobody ever made anything official, but it’s possible a few of these names will resurface as the casting process continues.

This is Where I Leave You, from a script written by the author Tropper himself, follows a man whose dysfunctional family gathers for a rare get-together after the death of his father, whose dying wish was for the family to spend the week following his death under one roof. It sounds like the most comfortable, non-intrusive situation imaginable, right?

Marvel Studios doesn't really have a role in this year's New York Comic Con, even though last year's panel for The Avengers was an enormous success and they could easily promote Iron Man 3… but hey, I don't make the rules. And even with Marvel officially absent this weekend, there are plenty of rumors emerging about their upcoming slate-- including a possible lead on who might be getting that coveted female lead role in Captain America 2.

Let's start there, since over at Latino Review, our friend Da7e is dropping a pretty big bombshell regarding the recently revealed shortlist of actress vying to play what we're all assuming will be Sharon Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Da7e's sources are telling him that it's none of those actress, but Smashed and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World star Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who's currently at the top of the list, and the part could even be hers for the taking.

In other Cap 2 news, there are two very "physical" parts up for grabs that Da7e is assuming will be villains, and Game of Thrones's Nikolaj Coster Waldau and Lost's Josh Holloway are both up for it. One character is American and the other foreign, so it seems entirely possibly one could get cast in each part… or they could knock each other out of contention and get replaced by someone on no shortlist, as is apparently happening with the women. You never know with Marvel!

And finally, in this giant article there are also some rumors about the characters who might make up the main focus of Guardians of the Galaxy, the intergalactic Marvel project that recently set James Gunn as director. I'm struggling as it is to understand what Guardians of the Galaxy is at all, so I'm not really sure what to make of the news there-- but if the names Star-Lord, Gamora and Drax the Destroyer mean anything to you, you may want to go take a look.

The Die Hard films comprise one of the best action series of all time and even though the fourth installment, Live Free or Die Hard, doesn't measure up to the standard set by the previous three, the addition of Mary Elizabeth Winstead to the franchise was a more than welcome one. After kicking some ass as Lucy, Winstead then won our hearts (as well as continued to kick ass) as Ramona Flowers in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and by killing, well, things in the remake of The Thing. So it was a little disappointing to hear that the fifth film in the Die Hard franchise, A Good Day to Die Hard, shifts the focus to the other McClane child John Jr., played by Jai Courtney.

Nothing against Courtney, who's got a few big projects of his own on the horizon with a supporting role in Jack Reacher and I, Frankentstein, but I'm not sold on why writer Skip Woods and director John Moore decided to move ahead with Die Hard but leave Lucy behind. One of the staples of the action series is Bruce Willis' John McClane's combative relationship with the women in his life, particularly the on-again off-a-lot marriage with Holly. Winstead's character served as a nice surrogate for that dynamic, and once of the few people to really rally behind in Live Free.

It seems like I'm not the only one lamenting the possible lost opportunity of making another Die Hard installment and not including the best new character from the previous film because, according to extra Ted Cross' blog, Winstead will indeed be reprising her role as Lucy Genarro McClane, even if only in a brief appearance. Cross, who has been blogging (and doing extra work) about the film since production started in Budapest some time ago, states that he had the privilege working with the lovely young actress: "It's a scene near the end of the movie. I got to work with Bruce Willis again, which is always nice. The best, though, was that I got to work with Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who plays Willis's daughter."

That just gave me a(nother) reason to be excited for the fifth Die Hard, which opens February 14, 2013. Happy Valentines.

UPDATE: Here's a look at Winstead on set with Willis (head over to The Film Stage for a few more).