Most would agree that Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes in all of pop culture. One of the reasons the character is so visible to the masses is because he’s been portrayed in both live-action movies and TV shows. Plenty of notable stars have brought the Man of Steel to life, from George Reeves and Christopher Reeve to Henry Cavill and Tyler Hoechlin. Some may not know, however, that back in the ‘70s, Nick Nolte was eyed to play the role of beloved DC Comics staple. The veteran actor was apparently given serious consideration, but he lost it after he told the producers exactly what he wanted to do with the imposing do-gooder. 

Nick Nolte was considered for the role of Supes during the development of Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie (which is streamable using an HBO Max subscription). During an interview, the 81-year-old actor recalled the talks he had with the producers. Though they were interested in him, the actor explained that he threw them off when he shared his own pitch for the hero. Apparently, Nolte asked to incorporate mental illness into the story: 

That’s definitely one way to play the Last Son of Krypton, and it definitely would’ve been something very “unique” for the superhero genre, especially at that time. But based on the Superman films Richard Donner produced, it’s quite clear that he and his collaborators wanted a take on the character that was more faithful to Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s comics. Funny enough though, Nick Nolte went on to say during his interview with Insider that he pitched that unconventional approach for a reason:

So it sounds like the Oscar nominee tripped himself up on purpose. Perhaps he was hesitant to play the role due to the prospect of wearing the red, blue and yellow suit that Christopher Reeve would later wear. Or it could’ve been that the 48 Hrs. alum didn’t want to risk being locked into a multi-picture contract. Whatever the case, I think most fans are probably glad that it was Reeves who ultimately played Clark Kent. 

Nick Nolte isn’t even the most unexpected actor to have ever been tapped for Kal-El. Back in the ‘90s, Nicolas Cage was set to play the role in Superman Lives – a DC movie that was to be directed by Batman alum Tim Burton. Over the years, some have been curious as to what the star would’ve brought to the role. But these days, even Cage believes it’s better that the movie didn’t happen, as he sees it as a “win/win because of the power of the imagination.” Plus, he would eventually get to voice the character in Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. 

These days, Henry Cavil is the Man of Steel, as he just returned to the role after a years-long hiatus. He’s indicated there are exciting things planned for Superman’s cinematic future. However, as many of us look to what’s ahead, there will always be those who look back on what could’ve been with stars like Nick Nolte.

I first saw Cape Fear when I was still in high school, back when I was trying to start my own Fight Club. Back then, I was working on seeing every Robert De Niro performance in a Martin Scorsese movie, and even back then, Cape Fear was one of the strange ones.    

In most of the best Martin Scorsese movies, like Taxi Driver, which is still one of the great New York City movies, Robert De Niro played disturbed characters. But, none of them were like Max Cady, who just had something about him that didn't sit well with me, even back then.      

Fast forward nearly twenty years (Oh, my God!), and I've since watched Cape Fear again, but this time, through a different lens. You see, I'm no longer that insecure young male who thought Travis Bickle was a hero. I’m now a balding, nearing 40-year-old father who knows an incel when he sees one, and also doesn’t find vindictive rapists to be anything more than what they are, which is vindictive rapists. So, here are six thoughts I had while rewatching Cape Fear. 

Oh, and major spoilers up ahead.  

Nick Nolte's Character Is Actually A Really Loving Husband And Father, But He's Still Inept As A Protector  

Back when I first saw Cape Fear as a teenager, I was really annoyed by Nick Nolte’s character, Sam Bowden. He's the lawyer who hid evidence from the jury, which led Max Cady to be sent away to prison for 14 years. Back then, I thought that Sam was getting his comeuppance for not fulfilling his legal obligation to his client, and I even sympathized with Cady, as he claimed to have lost his wife and daughter when he went away to prison. 

Since watching Cape Fear, I have a new respect for Bowden. Yes, he hid evidence that led to Cady's incarceration, but as he tells Cady toward the end of the film, even though the underage girl he was imprisoned for was deemed “promiscuous,” that still didn’t give him the right to rape her! 

I also now feel that Bowden, while inept in trying to stop Cady, was still doing everything in his power to protect his family. Sure, none of what he did worked, but, as a family man myself, I now empathize with him. How I ever sided with Max Cady as a teenager makes me sick to my stomach as an adult. Yuck.  

Also, Nick Nolte Should Have Been Nominated For An Oscar For His Performance 

Nowadays, when I think about Nick Nolte, I picture him as Kuiil from The Mandalorian. And, while yes, it’s fun to say lines like, “I have spoken,” I think I’ve really undervalued his entire career. Now, don’t get me wrong. He did get nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the movies Affliction and Warrior, and he’s great in both of those films. But, I honestly think he should have been nominated for Cape Fear, as well.     

Nolte plays Bowden as a nebbish man who doesn’t want to be pushed, but if you do push him, he’ll…well, he’ll hire goons to gang up on you, and then try to trick you into breaking into his house so that somebody can legally shoot him to death in self-defense. But you know what? He plays it so convincingly, that I can genuinely put myself in his shoes and understand exactly why he’s thinking that way. 

Every facial expression he makes is one that is calculating impending doom, and while he doesn’t command the screen like Robert De Niro does as Cady, his quiet performance may be even more impressive. I’m just finding that out now, though. 

Danielle Bowden Is The Real Hero Of The Film  

Now, while Nick Nolte didn’t get nominated, his co-star, Juliette Lewis, who played Bowden’s daughter, did get nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Juliette Lewis is great in the role of a smitten daughter who is both horrified and also potentially having her sexual awakening thinking about Cady, but upon watching it a second time, I now realize that Danielle Bowden is the most heroic character in the entire film.  

Toward the end of the movie when they’re having that great boat scene in the storm, it’s Danielle who is smart enough to squirt lighter fluid on Cady, because she knows he has an affinity for smoking cigars. She’s the reason that he goes up in flames and falls off the boat. While she doesn’t kill him, she damn well nearly does, making her the true hero of the film.  

Having Since Seen The Original Movie, I Now Realize That Robert Mitchum Is Actually In The Remake On The Opposite Side Of The Law  

Throughout the movie, there are ancillary characters, like an officer who suggests to Bowden's character that maybe he should take the law into his own hands, to which Bowden initially declines, given that he's a lawyer. I originally thought little of this character until I watched the 1962 Cape Fear starring Robert Mitchum as Max Cady and Gregory Peck as the lawyer, Sam Bowden. 

Well, after rewatching the 1991 Cape Fear, I now realize that those "ancillary characters" were really cameos by none other than Robert Mitchum as Lt. Elgart and Gregory Peck as the lawyer who actually defends De Niro's Max Cady. Just a little cool homage to the stellar original.  

The Signs On The Side Of The Road When The Family Is Escaping For The Climax Are Actually Pretty Funny 

This one isn't really big, but when the Bowden family is on the run from Max Cady, who is sneakily hidden beneath the car, the family drives past some stands on the way to their eventual boat. Well, along the way, there are a couple of signs that really made me laugh out loud that I definitely didn't catch the first time I watched the movie. 

On the side of the road is a single guy just sitting in a lawn chair selling honey, and there is another vendor with a sign for a "bo-kay" of roses and carnations. Now, as a teenager, I was probably so invested in the story that I didn't understand the humor that this hick town they were hiding out in had somebody who didn't know how to spell "bouquet," but I definitely laughed upon my second watch. That's some funny stuff right there.   

The Simpsons Episode, "Cape Feare" Is A Pretty Spot On Homage To The Movie  

And lastly, can I just say what an excellent job The Simpsons did with their homage to Cape Fear with their funnily titled episode, "Cape Feare"? While I didn't include it in my list of the ten best Simpson episodes, nor did I include Sideshow Bob in my list of the 12 Simpsons characters that make me laugh (almost) as much as Bart and Homer, "Cape Feare" is still one of the best episodes, and Sideshow Bob is one of the best characters, because this is a pitch perfect homage to the movie.     

Sideshow Bob is the Max Cady character, Bart is the victim who put him away from an earlier episode, and Bart’s the one who is also pursued in much the same way that Bowden is. It even includes a great scene that is not in the movie, where Bob gets hit by rake after rake, right in the face. I always knew that the episode referenced the 1991 movie, but I didn't realize just how much until I rewatched the film, and it's spot on.    

That's all the things I realized upon my second viewing of Cape Fear. To see what my colleague thought of her second viewing of Death Becomes Her, or to see what we thought of other movies the second time around, then make sure to swing by here often.  

There are few actors who can command the kind of presence on the big screen as Morgan Freeman has proven time and time again. The 82-year-old actor has played the role of God, Nelson Mandela, right hand man to the Nolan’s Batman and just about every kind of role in between. He now reprises his role as Allan Trumbull in Angel Has Fallen, who has now risen up the ranks to become the President of the United States.

During the recent press junket for Angel Has Fallen, CinemaBlend’s own Jeff McCobb sat down with Morgan Freeman, Nick Nolte and director Ric Roman Waugh. He asked them about Freeman’s record of playing important leaders. Check it out:

Did you hear that? Morgan Freeman has the same question too! The illustrious actor opened the floor to his co-star and director. They had nothing but compliments to spew at the actor over his various leader-type roles.

Nick Nolte went on to answer, but he doesn’t seem to be talking about Freeman’s time in 2003’s Bruce Almighty and 2007’s Evan Almighty. He seems to be referencing National Geographic series The Story of God with Morgan Freeman instead as he says he thought he was “perfect” for discussing God and “spirit of life”. Freeman called him out with… “that wasn’t me as God” and do I detect a little disappointment in his eyes?

Ric Roman Waugh then cuts the tension by saying if he can play God, surely he can play the president. Waugh also mentions his role as the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, who he portrayed in 2009’s Invictus. So Morgan Freeman’s basically a world leader now, right? Here’s what the actor said in response to the title:

There you have it! Don’t expect Morgan Freeman to join the 2020 presidential race, playing a leader is much more enjoyable and lucrative than being one. In Angel Has Fallen, Freeman’s character is the President of the United States after previously being the Speaker of the House in 2013’s Olympus Has Fallen and Vice President in 2016’s London Has Fallen. The action flick has Gerard Butler’s Mike Banning being framed for an attempted hit on him.

The Secret Service agent becomes at odds with the government and the real threat as a result, making for some thrilling action sequences. Angel Has Fallen has earned mixed reviews from critics but CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell calls it “best chapter” of the three in his review.

Angel Has Fallen is now playing theaters along with other new releases this weekend including Ready or Not, Brittany Runs a Marathon.

Why do you think Morgan Freeman play so many powerful leader roles and which is your favorite? Sound off in the comments below!

Rare is the action-movie franchise that finds a way to improve by its third installment, and yet, Ric Roman Waugh’s bare-bones Angel Has Fallen ends up being the best chapter in all the Gerard Butler-led bunch. Color me shocked.

Part of this lies in the fact that the previous two installments in this explosive trilogy – the series-launching Olympus Has Fallen and its ludicrous sequel, London Has Fallen – weren’t very good. In fact, had you asked me which “White House In Peril” picture released in 2013 would still be telling its story today, I’d have bet big money on Roland Emmerich’s White House Down (if only because Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx seemed like better box office bets over Butler).

Yet, here we are, still following the heroic exploits of Presidential bodyguard Mike Banning, a burly concoction of Kiefer Sutherland’s Jack Bauer, Bruce Willis’ John McClane and Clint Eastwood’s Frank Horrigan from In The Line of Fire. Banning’s a throwback on-screen hero, which is why it works that director Ric Roman Waugh has constructed a throwback action thriller around him, relying on practical stunts, tangible explosions, smaller-scale fights and good-old-fashioned car chases to make Angel Has Fallen the most credible and enjoyable film in the series to date.

Mike Banning actually spends all of Angel lamenting his broken-down body. He never actually speaks the words, “I’m too old for this shit,” but he embodies the classic Lethal Weapon line in every frame of this film. His vulnerability is a welcome trait. Banning has been through the ringer protecting first The White House and, later, the entirety of London, so he’s contemplating hanging up his detail.

Those plans are cast aside when a new antagonist makes a high-tech attack on new world leader, President Allan Trumbull (Morgan Freeman), somehow framing Banning for the threat.

That’s one of the most preposterous plot turns in Angel Has Fallen, and poor Jada Pinkett Smith has to somehow sell the tough talk that anyone in the administration would doubt Banning’s loyalty after the previous two films, or think he’d have a legitimate reason to want to eliminate Trumbull. Yet, without that line of bull, there’d be no story, thereby, no sequel.

The “twist” sends Mike Banning, two-time world saver, on the lam, where he must out the true criminal element and prove his innocence, all while still fulfilling his moral duty to keep the President alive. Piper Perabo lends support via telephone calls as Mike’s wife, Leah, while Nick freaking Nolte joins the fray in a welcome supporting part as Mike’s off-the-grid father.

But this is Butler’s show, and he makes the most of the opportunity. I return to the point of Mike’s vulnerability, an action-hero trope that has gone the way of the “practical stunt” in this current era of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson holding a helicopter in place with one arm as he poses in front of a green screen. (See Hobbs & Shaw for that visual. Or, you know, don’t.)

Angel Has Fallen proudly honors older-school traditions, with fender-bending car wrecks, pyrotechnic explosions that practically throw heat off the screen, and fist fights that make you wince in your seat.

This plausibility was missing from the first two movies, where Butler’s Banning was an Energizer bunny, virtually impossible to stop. Ric Roman Waugh and his screenwriters wisely understand that once an action hero Has Fallen, it’s far more interesting when they struggle to get up, and that realization makes Angel a better-than-expected sequel.

Disney+ is on the way, and with it will come the first ever live-action Star Wars television series. Suffice to say there's a ton of hype surrounding The Mandalorian, and people are eager for any and all details regarding the show. Those in search of answers need look no further, because we've got quite a few right here.

What Is The Mandalorian About?

The synopsis for The Mandalorian talks about a lone gunfighter on the Outer Reaches of the galaxy away from the New Republic. Additionally, Jon Favreau has revealed this show will take place five years after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which is quite a ways away from The Force Awakens era. While it's not an impossibility to see characters from the new trilogy, it feels more likely older characters will make an appearance.

The synopsis also name-checked characters like Jango Fett and Boba Fett, and likened the gunfighter to a character similar in that regard because he's a warrior. This might be because all three characters are tied to Mandalore, which explains the title of the story well enough. Is this gunfighter directly related to Jango and Boba, or is the connection more based in the fact that most Mandalorians are warriors, mercenarys, or bounty hunters?

When Will The Mandalorian Premiere?

Here's the good news Star Wars fans, The Mandalorian will launch day one of Disney+'s launch. That's Tuesday, November 12, although we're only going to get the first episode of the season. Future episode air dates have not been confirmed.

The Mandalorian completed principal photography in February, and with Disney+ launching in November, it isn't crazy to think Season 1 will be fully released by the end of 2019. We don't know Disney's reasoning for holding off on the rest of the episodes, which still may need some editing in post-production or something like that. Disney may also be plotting a scheduled release of episodes to stop fans from binging it all at once. We'll just have to see!

Who Has Been Cast In The Mandalorian?

Pedro Pascal has been tapped to play the title character, and is joined by an impressive cast of actors. Known actors include Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Nick Nolte, Carl Weathers, Emily Swallow, and Omid Abtahi. Also, The Mandalorian is being graced by a rare performance by Werner Herzog, so there's really something special happening here.

It's really hard to guess what each actors' role will be, or whether or not these actors are playing humans, droids, aliens, good guys or bad guys. One thing that is worth mentioning is that Omid Abtahi voiced a Mandalorian in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which could possibly mean he's reprising the role of his character. Anything could happen at this point, so, hopefully, more details will emerge to take away some of the mystery ahead of the premiere.

Grief Marga (spelling not confirmed): Carl Weathers' character is the head of a bounty hunters guild, and he's enlisted the Mandalorian to seek out an item of high value for a client. Weathers has described his character as "nefarious," although it's been noted by Jon Favreau and others many characters in The Mandalorian have a bit of moral ambiguity to them. He could be a villain, or just a character a bit more honest with himself and what he does.

Kara Dune (spelling not confirmed): Gina Carano's Kara Dune is a former Rebel Shock Trooper who, according to her statements at Star Wars Celebration, is having some trouble acclimating to civilian life now that the Galactic Civil War is over. Her connection to the Mandalorian is unknown, although her character pictures looks like she's someone who could either be a great asset on the field of battle, or great adversary.

What Characters Are Involved In The Mandalorian?

IG-88: Star Wars fans may recognize this Droid, who was only seen briefly as one of the bounty hunters enlisted by Darth Vader to track down the Millennium Falcon. Fett ended up getting the better of the Droid, and his remains were seen in a scrap heap at Cloud City. Does Jon Favreau's picture, which he posted to Instagram, tease he's been rebuilt, and is back out doing what he does best?

R5-D4: R5-D4's involvement was teased by Jon Favreau, although the picture doesn't guarantee he's actually a part of the show. The character was first seen in A New Hope, and was the Droid who malfunctioned and led to Luke and Owen taking R2-D2 instead. The character was last seen on Tatooine, which obviously leaves open the possibility that The Mandalorian takes place (at least in part) on that planet or that someone from Tatooine transported him there. Who could it have been?

Stormtroopers: Stormtroopers will be a part of the action in The Mandalorian, and while we're not exactly sure how, we do know there will be quite a few of them. Jon Favreau enlisted members of the 501st Legion to appear in their outfits, and photos showed quite a few folks were on set. That's certainly interesting considering how far removed this series is from Return of the Jedi, unless of course they're being used for flashbacks.

Who's Behind The Scenes At The Mandalorian?

The Mandalorian has acclaimed director and actor Jon Favreau behind the wheel, and he's done a good job at bringing some other incredibly talented people into the mix. On the directing side he has the likes of Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Deborah Chow, and Dave Filoni. That's right, the guy behind some of Star Wars' best animated outings is getting in on the live-action fun.

If there were an all-star team of directing talent, this group would make the lineup. Then there's Favreau doing the writing, and sharing executive producing duties with Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy and Colin Wilson. If the reported budget of the show wasn't enough evidence, this lineup of individuals is proof enough that Disney wants to give this project all the tools it needs to be as good as it can be.

What's The Mandalorian's Timeline?

The Mandalorian takes place around five years after the events of the Galactic Civil War long before the First Order. For those who need that in movie terms, this is after Return of the Jedi, and some time before Star Wars: The Force Awakens. This means the series will explore more of what happened a short time after the Rebellion run, and possibly chronicle the chaos that led to support of the First Order.

That seems to line up with photos seen from The Mandalorian thus far, which tease older droids that first came into being during the original trilogy. Granted, droids like C-3PO and R2-D2 have lived through multiple eras, so that by no means guarantees anything. Additionally, The First Order's rise to power took around three decades to become fully realized, so that's quite a bit of territory for this show to play with.

What Will The Special Effects Be Like?

Fans of the original trilogy get pumped, as Jon Favreau is going to some great lengths to maintain a look similar to that of the classic movies. Specifically, that means practical effects, and even bringing back the miniature ships and sets to shoot flight scenes. That's no easy task given the advancement of special tech today, but looks amazing based on the bit of footage shown at Star Wars Celebration.

Early Theories About The Mandalorian

Right now the biggest theory surrounding The Mandalorian is that Boba Fett is in some way tied to this series. This is rooted in the fact that a solo film for the bounty hunter was nixed to develop this show, the fact the characters' armor look similar, and the premise of the show. Oh yeah, his rival and a droid from the last planet he was on are also involved, so it's possible he may show up.

Another theory has some thinking The Mandalorian is Cobb Vanth from the Star Wars: Aftermath novel. The character was a former slave of Jabba The Hutt who made a name for himself as a gunfighter after the destruction of Jabba's palace. He's also said to have a set of Mandalorian armor, and some believe the set belonged to Boba Fett. His initial life on Tatooine would explain R5-D4, and him owning Fett's armor could convince IG-88 that his rival is alive.

Other vague theories have speculated that various characters from the Star Wars universe will make an appearance, either from films or the animated shows. That seems like a safe enough bet, as the Star Wars universe has always been big on interconnected events and giving smaller characters a chance to shine in other projects. Star Wars Rebels seems like a show that could have some characters crossover, but it remains to be seen whether or not it will actually happen.

CinemaBlend will update this guide about The Mandalorian as more details surface, so be sure to visit often to see the latest info. For a look at what's happening on television in the coming weeks, head on over to our midseason premiere guide.

Nick Nolte's ability to play intimidating roles has only expanded with age, so it was extremely interesting to learn of his somewhat recent casting for the upcoming Star Wars live-action series The Mandalorian. Equally interesting is a new report claiming Nolte's character is not at all what most fans would expect. If this news turns out to be true, the Oscar-nominated actor may be portraying an ugnaught, one of those pig-like humanoids first introduced in The Empire Strikes Back.

Not the most predictable casting decision by any stretch, considering Nick Nolte doesn't share a whole lot in common with the ugnaught species. According to MakingStarWars.com, though, the actor's physical appearance will be a non-factor, as he's reportedly just lending his voice to the role. Perhaps unsurprisingly, even this voiceover process sounds more bizarre than anything we expected.

Though ugnaught characters were most recently seen in CGI animated shows like Star Wars Rebels and the currently ongoing Star Wars Resistance, The Mandalorian won't be using a fully animated character to bring Nick Nolte's voice to life. Instead, the show will allegedly be utilizing a new piece of animatronic technology.

According to the report, the Stan Winston effects team crafted a practical animatronic mask that works on voice command. A female of limited stature is said to be doing the actual physical performance while wearing the mask, which is supposedly extremely impressive in the way it's able to perfectly mimic inflections and mouth movements.

The head-scratching details aren't finished, either. One might have assumed that, as one of the first few cast members reported for The Mandalorian, that Nick Nolte would feature heavily through the series, delivering a layered and nuanced performance. However, it's reported that the actor actually completed his vocal performances during a multi-hour session in a single afternoon.

If that's the case, viewers may not see much from the Mandalorian character Nick Nolte is purported to be playing. Perhaps his ugnaught would be a creature who minces words with surgical precision, only saying exactly what is necessary during any given moment. On the flip side, maybe the character will have limited communication capabilities, in the vein of Guardians of the Galaxy's Groot. Or maybe he'll just be in The Mandalorian for a single episode. The mind boggles.

Hailing from the planet Gentes, ugnaughts became more connected with Cloud City after being introduced in The Empire Strikes Back. They're mostly used as a worker species, with many having been sold into slavery through the galaxies. After Empire, fans got to see the ugnaughts return for Return of the Jedi and The Clone Wars, as well as the aforementioned more recent animated series. They've also appeared in Star Wars novels over the years.

In comparison to this report, just about any other explanation for Nick Nolte's Mandalorian role might sound like a reasonable one, and we can't wait to learn if it's legit or not. Of course, we also want to know all about the characters being played by everyone else in the cast, which includes Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Carl Weathers, Emily Swallow, Omid Abtahi and Werner Herzog.

While plot details are fairly scarce at the moment, we'll definitely know a lot more about Star Wars' The Mandalorian when it hits the Disney+ streaming service in 2019. Stay tuned for more news, and keep up with all the great fall TV left to hit primetime, as well as all the new and returning shows hitting the midseason TV schedule.

The cast of Jon Favreau's The Mandalorian has been revealed, and exciting things are afoot as Star Wars has unveiled the star actors and actresses of its Disney+ series. Who are these new stars? What have they done? We have all that and more below.

Pedro Pascal- The Mandalorian

The news on Pedro Pascal joining The Mandalorian in the title role first surfaced in early November, and it has now officially been confirmed by Star Wars.com. Unfortunately, all that's presently known about Pascals role is that The Mandalorian is a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy. Basically, a lot about his character is being kept under wraps, unless that potentially stolen footage manages to hit the web.

A little information would be better sooner or later, as a lot of mystery remains regarding Pascal's role. It's possibly one of those things where his name may be a big reveal in the series, which is why it's being kept so under wraps. Either that, or it's not of much importance, much like Rey's alleged parentage.

Gina Carano- ???

Gina Carano's presence in The Mandalorian also managed to get out ahead of an official announcement, although unlike Pedro Pascal, there's been no description regarding her character. One thing Carano has made a career of doing is taking on physically demanding roles such as her presence in Haywire and Deadpool. This may mean the series is hoping to use Carano in an action-heavy role and possibly put her years of MMA experience to work on-camera.

That would be ideal anyway, as it would feel a bit of a waste to put an actress who's used to rough and tumble action in a role that doesn't require a lot of it. In a series where the star of the show is a "lone gunfighter," one can expect there's going to be some action, so here's hoping Carano is a part of that in whatever role she may play.

Giancarlo Esposito-???

News of Giancarlo Esposito in The Mandalorian is brand new and ultra exciting for fans of his work in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. The character he plays in those two shows, Gus Fring, have brought Esposito the status of one of television's most intimidating villains, which could make speculation on the actor's role in The Mandalorian skew villainous. Who can deny Esposito wouldn't be phenomenal as a new villain to this franchise?

Perhaps Esposito is a former Imperial Officer hiding out, or a crime lord who's been profiteering off war and chaos. Assuming he's playing a villain, it's hard to expect Esposito won't knock this role out of the park. Not to discredit a heroic role he could play, as Esposito would also make for a solid stoic defender of justice.

Nick Nolte-???

Nick Nolte's casting hit the web before Star Wars made it official, yet the Disney family was able to keep the details of his character's role in-house. Nolte certainly has the look of some hardened or grizzled warfighter, but with The Mandalorian's reported use of heavy CGI and makeup to bring its characters to life, it's almost a case that anybody could be anyone with the right amount of transformation.

Nick Nolte is one of The Mandalorian's castings that could be hard to pin down. The actor's long body of work mixed with the variety of roles the Star Wars universe can provide obviously make it hard to make any solid predictions on what he may do. That said, his presence in the Disney+ adventure is exciting nonetheless, and audiences are undoubtedly eager for details.

Carl Weathers-???

Carl Weathers is a bit more of a wildcard when it comes to roles for The Mandalorian. He's worn a lot of hats throughout the course of his career, both in live-action and voice acting. This means Weathers could appear in live-action or as some alien species, Watto-looking character.

Either way, having him a part of this project is some very exciting news. Weathers obviously can't reprise his role as Apollo without causing much confusion in the Creed films, so it's nice to see the high profile actor find another role to strut his stuff in.

Emily Swallow-???

What's true for Carl Weathers is also true for Emily Swallow, who has had a healthy mixture of live action and voice acting roles. Again, this seems like a sign that her presence in the series may be as a character portrayed heavily in CGI. Swallow has done grounded roles on The Mentalist, as well as more roles in the paranormal genre like Supernatural.

Which side this role will fall on is not known at this time, but it's safe to say she'd fit into just about any archetype in the Star Wars universe. Good, evil, alien, or droid, the sky's the limit for roles that Swallow could fit into without it feeling forced.

Omid Abtahi-???

Omid Abtahi latest project has been on the seemingly troubled set of American Gods, but now he will go into The Mandalorian in an unknown role. Unlike many of the actors in this list, Abtahi actually has a prior connection to the Star Wars universe as the voice of a Mandalorian cadet in Star Wars: The Clone Wars named Amis. It's unknown if Abtahi will be reprising that role in the live action, especially given the time gap.

Amis was known to be exceptionally bright, so if Omid Abtahi is reprising the character expect him to be sharp as a whip. His character wasn't especially important in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which almost makes it perfect as he has a lot of territory to grow in The Mandalorian.

Werner Herzog-???

Of all the castings to be released on The Mandalorian thus far, Werner Herzog is potentially the most unexpected, exciting, and a little confusing. Herzog hasn't done a long-running television performance since Adult Swim's Metalocalypse, which was back in 2012. Beyond that, Herzog has not had a role in television where he's had a recurring performance as a character.

Let's hope his appearance in The Mandalorian is frequent and one that spans throughout the length of the series, as he remains one of cinema's most fascinating performers. Plus, with Herzog attached as an actor, there's always a chance he could shoot some kind of awesome behind-the-scenes documentary on Star Wars first live-action series. Who wouldn't want that?

The Mandalorian is currently in development and will be arriving on Disney+. For a look at what other new things are coming to television in the near future and the first half of 2019, be sure to visit our fall and midseason premiere guides.

Star Wars action is coming to the small screen in live-action thanks to the upcoming Disney streaming service. The first to be announced was The Mandalorian, and although a pretty tight lid has been kept on spoilers, we do know some of the folks who will fill out the cast. Now, yet another cast member has been announced: Nick Nolte.

Yes, Nick Nolte has joined the cast of The Mandalorian. He is the third actor to be announced as an official part of the show, following Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano. No details are currently available about who Nolte will play in that galaxy far, far away, but who can't see Nolte as some kind of grizzled space pirate? The Mandalorian isn't exactly going to be taking place in the glitzy heart of the Republic.

Or the heart of the New Republic, I should say. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the First Order emerged, placing it between the events of Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens. The action will follow "the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic," according to a plot description released by executive producer Jon Favreau.

We can't say for 100% certain at this point that Nick Nolte won't be the lone gunfighter, but the odds are pretty good that Pedro Pascal will tackle that particular role. It should certainly be interesting to see what kind of character Star Wars serves up the actor known for projects like The Prince of Tides, Warrior, and the now-cancelled Graves.

Unfortunately, we can't even take Nick Nolte's looks as an indication of the kind of character he'll play. THR reports that the show will make significant use of visual effects, costumes, and makeup to transform actors, enabling some to be cast late in the production process as well as drop in and out of production as needed. That could certainly be useful if the ongoing goal is to attract big names.

There are big reasons for Star Wars fans to get excited about the series. It has already begun to gather A-list talent for behind the camera, including the executive producer of previous Star Wars TV shows, Taika Waititi of Thor Ragnarok, and more.

There was a bit of a snafu on set when a theft resulted in expensive equipment being stolen from The Mandalorian, and a memory card filled with sensitive information was rumored to be one of the things lost in the theft. Not a whole lot of details were released about the case, but given that tons of spoilers did not hit the web in the aftermath, it may be safe to say that The Mandalorian managed to avoid early disaster.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in Star Wars news. Neither of the upcoming live-action Star Wars series will premiere until after Disney+ gets off the ground, but you can find some Star Wars action on Disney Channel with episodes of Star Wars Resistance. For some upcoming viewing options not set in the galaxy far, far away, check out our midseason TV premiere schedule.

After jumping into the original content game two years ago, Epix is giving the axe to its first scripted comedy series. Graves, which starred Nick Nolte as an ex-president suddenly remorseful for the things he did in office decades prior, has been cancelled after just two seasons. This means no Season 3 of the series will be happening, at least on the premium channel. Somewhat surprisingly, the show got the boot at a time when television with a political spin seems to be flourishing.

As mentioned, Graves centered around ex-President Richard Graves who (two decades after his exit from office) began to regret his legacy and the things he stood for as President of the United States. This came as a surprise to his mostly conservative family, especially his wife Margaret (played by Sela Ward) who was attempting to set out with political ambitions of her own. Season 2 came to an end after 10 episodes of Graves looking inside himself to discover the man he was before becoming President. Sadly for fans, that season finale will now serve as the series finale.

Graves is comparable to a more political version of Veep, although the series did not have the massive award-winning success of that HBO series. While Graves wasn't showered in love from the Emmys, Star Nick Nolte did gain some awards show recognition when he was nominated for the 2017 Golden Globe for Best Actor in the category of Television Series Musical or Comedy. Nolte's portrayal of ex-president Graves was lauded by critics as a high point of the series, with Sela Ward's Margaret coming in a close second. While the show was mostly comprised of actors, Graves occasionally brought in real-life pundits and politicians such as former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and CNN's Jake Tapper to heighten the realism of the series.

With Graves officially at an end after 20 episodes, there are only two shows that remain as part of Epix's jump into original programming. One of them, Get Shorty, premiered in August and was renewed for Season 2 not long after the debut of its third episode. The other series, Berlin Station, was just renewed for Season 3 a couple weeks ago and is expected to premiere sometime in late 2018. It's unknown whether or not Graves is able to jump networks should the show want to continue making episodes elsewhere, or if anyone presently involved with the series is up to continue the series beyond its Season 2 finale.

While it is cancelled, Graves is currently still available to stream on Epix's on-demand service. For a look at what's coming to television in the next few weeks, be sure to visit and bookmark our fall premiere guide and midseason premiere guide. Those curious to see what other shows got kicked off of television in 2017 can visit our cancellation guide.

In the world of entertainment awards, the Golden Globes are where you'll find the most TV shows that live and die by word of mouth. It's where you'll see the small screen establishment get upended and set ablaze while the new TV regime rises up and demands attention. That pattern of sorts continued with this morning's release of the 2017 Golden Globes nominations, and there were shocks galore oozing from the announcements. Here are the 5 biggest WTF elements of this year's honorees.

Stranger Things For Best Drama

We adore Stranger Things here at CinemaBlend, and as soon as that initial eight-episode season had come to a close, I knew that Netflix had delivered one of my favorite new series of all time. But I would have predicted this world would transform into the Upside Down before I'd have predicted any awards love raining down on Matt and Ross Duffer's genre-bending thriller. Horror and science fiction almost never play well where prestigious accolades are concerned, but Stranger Things now sits among the very best dramas of 2016, and it's absolutely deserving. Double the joy for Winona Ryder earning a Best Actress in a Drama nomination. Let's hope that Barb can come back to at least call out the nominations.

CBS And Fox Were Completely Shut Out

In recent years, it's become more and more likely that network TV will never again hold the majority of small screen nominations in any awards context, but this year was more stark than most, with neither CBS nor Fox getting any recognition for their series from the past year. Nothing from the Big Bang Theory cast or Brooklyn Nine-Nine or Criminal Minds or Pitch or anything. We all know that the point of creating TV isn't solely to be rewarded during live events, but it can't be encouraging that so many cable and streaming outlets are producing such high numbers of top-quality series on a yearly basis.

No American Horror Story For The First Time

Since its non-subtitled debut back in 2011, American Horror Story has been as reliable a target for Golden Globe nominations as anything, with Lady Gaga successfully taking the Best Actress reins last year from exiting leading lady Jessica Lange. But this year, the show kept its theme a secret, it was chopped from its normal season length to 10 episodes (without a winter hiatus), and it told what was arguably its most coherent (but still batshit) story yet. With Cuba Gooding, Jr. involved, no less. And what happened? It got completely shut out. Perhaps it's due to the boom in limited series; for instance, Ryan Murphy's People vs. O.J. Simpson cleaned house. Or perhaps it's The Butcher's fault. Either way, it'll be interesting to see how things go down next year.

Male Westworld Actors Get No Love

Few TV shows in 2016 took the Internet by storm like HBO's long-anticipated Westworld, the brainy and twist-filled sci-fi drama from Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, so it was expected to get recognized in several key categories. But while Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton were righteously nominated, what about the show's male cast members? Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright and Jimmi Simpson (among others) all turned in stellar performances in Season 1, with the latter two seeming certain to get picked. The actor nominations all went to truly talented thespians, to be sure, but it's extremely surprising that Westworld didn't produce any of them.

Nick Nolte And EPIX Getting A Nom

It was befuddling to hear the Best Musical or Comedy series get named without HBO's Silicon Valley in the bunch, especially since the show just won the Critics Choice Award last night. But the biggest mindblower in the Comedy categories was the recognition of veteran actor Nick Nolte, who has very recently wowed audiences with his work as an openly repentant and regretful ex-President on the EPIX series Graves. This is the first big accolade Nolte has gotten for TV work since 1976's miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, and it's the only big accolade earned by EPIX, as Graves is the first original scripted series from the film-heavy network. Plus, it's not even a particularly acclaimed show, though Nolte and co-star Sela Ward are noted standouts.

With all of its shocking nominations now out in the public forum, the 2017 Golden Globes will be telecast on ABC on Sunday, January 8, 2017, at 5 p.m. PT. To see what shows you'll likely see getting honored for the next ceremony, check out our midseason premiere schedule.

If you saw Run All Night this weekend, you either loved it or you hated it. While it is a film that primarily focuses on surface level emotional detail, it makes up for this shallowness by providing a seriously intriguing chase through the back alleys of a New York we don’t often see in the movies. It also helps that Liam Neeson is a badass through and through, and his rapport with Ed Harris brings the heaviest emotional weight to which the film is able to lay claim. For the most part, Run All Night’s attempts at emotional storytelling are decent, but there’s one scene that just falls flat on its face, and it contains one of the most head-scratching cameos in recent memory.

If you haven’t seen the film, consider yourself warned for spoilers.

So in the third act, Neeson’s Jimmy Conlon is shot in the arm while fleeing Common’s bad ass assassin, Mr. Price. It’s a bad enough wound that he needs to be patched up, otherwise he’ll be of no use to the rest of the film’s briskly paced plot. Now the standard procedure for such a film would call for our antihero to hole up in one location for a moment to take stock and regroup. In the case of Run All Night, Jimmy runs to the house of his brother, Eddie Conlon, who is played in an extended, unbilled cameo by Nick Nolte.

Believe me when I tell you, this moment that’s supposed to be played for serious drama elicited some of the most unintentional laughter from myself and our preview audience. Since you won’t find Nolte anywhere near the ad campaign for Run All Night, I’ve included a photo below to show you just how Nolte shows up for his cameo in the film. The only thing that’s missing is the pony tail he’s sporting to keep his rampant locks as in control as he possibly can.

Nolte’s cameo goes un-credited for very good reason, as the poor man’s acting levels of late aren’t up to snuff with what he once was capable of. Gone are the days of Peak Nolte, where The Prince Of Tides and Cape Fear would be landing on his doorstep at regular intervals. True, he was amazing in Warrior, and hysterical as the Vietnam Vet faking his "true story" in Tropic Thunder. He even made a compelling Chief Parker in Gangster Squad, but was more of a harmless, one-note performance. Run All Night is attempting to go for the heartbreaking family reunion scene, while also dropping a piece of exposition that further fuels the conflict between Jimmy and his son. It’s a small scene, but it’s important enough that deploying Nick Nolte in a surprise cameo ruins its intent, knocking the film temporarily off the rails.

If the film had set up Eddie Conlon’s presence as one that was absolutely required in Run All Night, be it through a discussion or maybe a little more screen time to get used to Nick Nolte’s performance, this third act moment would have made a lot more sense. But to wait until this late in the film to introduce a new character of importance, just for one brief scene of dialogue, disrupts the rhythm of the film greatly. Remember, we’re coming off of a scene where Common and Liam Neeson just fought each other with fiery wooden weapons. To introduce a new character, as well as new backstory, seizes the momentum and distracts the audience. Not to mention, as previously stated, Nick Nolte kind of looks and sounds worse for the wear these days, so trusting him with a scene that’s supposed to sell us on the more emotional aspects of the film is a bridge too far to cross.

Perhaps the strangest part is that Run All Night already contained a character with enough knowledge and performance skills to carry Nolte's scene, without having to use Nolte, who came off as completely distracting; and it’s Vincent D’Onofrio’s Detective Harding.

Think about it: Harding’s already obsessed with Jimmy, so much so that he’s followed his career and supposedly knows all of his kills. He’s also right on scene when Jimmy gets shot and flees, so with a quick re-write, we could have had Harding following Jimmy and his son, Michael (Joel Kinnaman), into the shed, already hot on their trail. Knowing his obsession with the elder Conlon would persuade him to make the collar on his own terms, as well as the fact that he’s allowing Jimmy to prove his son’s innocence, we’d see Harding radio a medic and make up a bullshit story to lure the medic over to treat Jimmy’s wound. Insert the line about Jimmy killing his own cousin, and the ensuing fall out with Michael, and you’d pretty much have the same trajectory to finish out the film’s otherwise entertaining course. The big difference here is that the Nolte cameo wouldn’t distract from the rest of the film, and Vincent D’Onofrio would have had some more weight added to the payoff his character receives in the end.

All complaining aside, Run All Night is worth a watch, and is in theaters now. A heads up to anyone with a Nick Nolte sensitivity. He’ll be seen next in Adam Sandler’s Ridiculous Six.

You’d think people in movies would know better than to go out on blind dates nowadays, but they just keep on doing it. Do they ever work out? Comedies use them for wacky character fodder and dramas use them to create tension between strangers. And thrillers, of course, use them to put one of their characters in mortal danger.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rosamund Pike will be playing a small town damsel in distress in that scenario starring in Return to Sender, the upcoming psychological thriller directed by Fouad Mikati (Operation:Endgame). The film will also star Shiloh Fernandez (Evil Dead) and Nick Nolte (Gangster Squad). The screenplay was written by newcomer Patricia Beauchamp and Joe Gossett, who wrote Ryan Phillippe’s directorial debut Shreveport.

The film follows Pike as a meticulous nurse in a small town who goes on a blind date with a guy (Fernandez) who isn’t exactly who he says he is. She experiences a life-altering event that she spends the rest of the film finding the courage to overcome. Nolte will play her father. I get the feeling this has something to do with rape, but it’s unclear whether this will look more like The Accused or The Brave One. Actually, let’s just get Jodie Foster for this one, too.

Pike was last seen in Jack Reacher with Tom Cruise and has Edgar Wright’s The World’s End and James Oakley’s mystery thriller The Devil You Know on the horizon. Nolte will soon hopefully be starring in the adaptation of A Walk in the Woods with Robert Redford. Fernandez, meanwhile, is currently starring in starring in the recently released Syrup and will soon be seen in Zal Batmanglij’s mystery thriller The East, which opens later this month.

Return to Sender has already begun production in New Orleans.

Both Kristen Wiig and Hailee Steinfeld broke out with big studio films, starring in Bridesmaids and True Grit respectively, but now they are heading down the indie route together. It's being reported that the two actresses, Guy Pearce and Nick Nolte have all taken parts in Hateship, Friendship, the new movie from director Liza Johnson.

THR says the project is based on a novel filled with short stories called "Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage" that was written by Alice Munro. Steinfeld will star as "a rather wild teenager girl" who uses email to try and hook up her nanny (Wiig) with her father (presumably Pearce). Nolte will play Steinfeld's characters grandfather, who blames Pearce's character, a former drug addict, for the death of his daughter (the girl's mother). Johnson last wrote and directed the 2011 drama Return, which starred Linda Cardellini, Michael Shannon, and John Slattery.

While Steinfeld has yet to make an appearance in a film since her breakout role, she has a big year coming up with Can a Song Save Your Life, Romeo and Juliet, and Ender's Game all due out in 2013. Wiig recently wrapped production on Ben Stiller's The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and her latest, Imogene, just premiered last month at the Toronto International Film Festival. After a big 2012 that has included titles like Lawless, Prometheus, and Lockout, Pearce will be back in 2013 with Iron Man 3 and David Michôd's The Rover. Lastly, Nolte will appear at the start of 2013 with the release of Gangster Squad, followed by Robert Redford's The Company You Keep and Parker with Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez.

Those looking to fill the inevitable void after the second season finale of everyone's favorite gangster series, well, you don't even have to change the channel. HBO's brand new show called Luck should definitely appeal to the Boardwalk Empire crowd, and it's no coincidence that the pay-cable network scheduled a sneak peek of the pilot to follow the season ender of the Prohibition drama. Here is another brief look at the rapidly approaching new show.

It's rather odd that the pre-premiere of HBO's big new series Luck takes place in under two weeks, and they've yet to really make an effort in the advertising department. There are no publicity stills on the HBO website and only a few promotional videos thus far, including the snappy new teaser below. Called the "Quiet" trailer, it comes across as anything but, showcasing all the major players and some of the stunning camera work, all set to a snappy tune that can't help but rouse memories of The Sopranos (at least for me). Take a look at the 30-second spot and see if it doesn't get you ready for the races.

The new spot also announces a firm date for the beginning of the series' actual run on HBO. Luck debuts on Sunday, January 29th but, as mentioned above, the pay cabler will air a special screening of the pilot after the Boardwalk Empire season two finale on Sunday, December 11th, at 10 p.m. ET. Now, a closing note on the lack of advertising for the series -- I'm starting to suspect that HBO knows they have quality on their hands and that after this preview screening of the pilot, the buzz from critics, fans, everyone will begin the real promotional push for the new series. I'm excited, giddy up.

Luck stars Dustin Hoffman, Nick Nolte, Dennis Farina, John Ortiz, Kevin Dunn, Richard Kind, and Kerry Condon. It is from executive producers David Milch, Michael Mann and Carolyn Strauss.

I can understand why some people wouldn't like sports movies. With a few exceptions they are typically the same story over and over again: beaten down underdog fights his way to the top and becomes a champion. But, as The Fighter proved last year, when done well it can actually be pretty exhilarating. We'll have to wait and see if Warrior can accomplish the same feat.

Apple has launched the first trailer for the MMA movie, starring Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton and Nick Nolte. In the film, two estranged brothers, one a teacher, one a war hero, finds themselves both returning to fighting after spending years away. What they have to prepare for, though, is that they are on a path to face off against each other.

Check out the trailer below or in HD over on Apple.

While performances in both Bronson and Inception have me 100% sold on Tom Hardy, I'm not so sure about this movie. Ignoring the fact that this trailer basically gives everything away except for who wins the fight at the end, it just seems a bit too generic (seeing that this film is directed by the same guy who did Miracle actually explains a lot). Hopefully the movie doesn't end up being one huge trope. For more on Warrior, be sure to head over to our Blend Film Database