Who doesn't love the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino collabo that is From Dusk Till Dawn? On the internet, lots of people even tend to believe that 2025's Sinners is actually a rip-off of the 1996 film (I disagree, but whatever).

Anyway, many people tend to think of movies like FDTD, Grindhouse, and Sin City when considering movies that the two directors have worked on together, but not as many people tend to bring up the actual first movie they collaborated on, that being the 1995 anthology film, Four Rooms.

Somewhat savaged at the time (especially for Madonna's acting), Four Rooms is admittedly a lopsided film. That said, the good (such as the GOAT, Robert Rodriguez's segment) is really good. So, let's talk.

Four Rooms Tells Four Interconnected Stories From Four Interesting Directors

I adore anthology series like the V/H/S franchise, and it's mostly because I love seeing different directors take on a similar genre. In the case of V/H/S, it's horror, and in the case of Four Rooms, it's oddball comedy.

Now, two of the directors - Allison Anders and Alexandre Rockwell - I had never heard of before, and to be honest, I don’t really know any of their later movies, either. That said, I want to speak to their two short segments first because I think they’re really interesting in the broader sense of the film. The first segment, “The Missing Ingredient,” is Anders’s contribution, and this is the one that features Madonna (Who won a Raspberry Award for her troubles).

The story itself is interesting, though, as it concerns a coven of witches who want to counteract a spell on their goddess, and they need one last ingredient, that ingredient being…well, semen. Thankfully, Tim Roth (Who I’ll get into soon) can provide said ingredient, and it involves some kinky activity in a cauldron. So, yeah, a weird beginning, which leads into Rockwell’s contribution, “The Wrong Man”.

In this segment, Tim Roth is held hostage by a man who thinks he slept with his wife since his name is Ted, and the man’s wife apparently slept with a man named Theodore. Tim Roth keeps trying to convince the man (David Proval) that there’s been “a big mistake,” but it all ends in comic fashion, with Tim Roth getting vomited on. Oh, and speaking of Tim Roth…

Tim Roth Is The Glue That Holds It All Together

Man, I love this actor. He’s in my second-favorite Quentin Tarantino movie, The Hateful Eight, and he was really there from the very beginning for Tarantino, as he also starred in his debut picture, Reservoir Dogs. So, any time I get to see Tim Roth in a Tarantino film, I know it’s going to be good.

Well, Tarantino’s segment, “The Man from Hollywood,” appears at the end, so I’ll get to that later. However, Tim Roth is the connective tissue between every segment, as he acts as the go-between for each story. You see, it’s his character, Ted’s, first day on the job, and what a day to start. He’s acting as a replacement bellhop at a hotel on New Year’s Eve, and it’s seriously madness on every floor, it seems.

Tim Roth is really silly, making strange faces and contorting himself in all kinds of weird positions, and he almost acts like the cartoon you see at the beginning of the movie. His bellhop character is charming in a way, but also represents somebody who’s completely out of his depth, so he makes a good guide through the calamity that follows.

I mean, it’s not my favorite Tim Roth performance or anything like that, but it gets the job done, Honey Bunny.

I Like All Of The Segments, But Especially Robert Rodriguez's

Now, even though I enjoy the first two segments, I think the film really picks up with the third segment, “The Misbehavers,” which is directed by Robert Rodriguez. In this segment, Antonio Banderas and Tamlyn Tomita act as parents to two VERY naughty children, played by Lana McKissack and Danny Verduzco. Banderas’s character, simply known as Husband, warns his children not to misbehave, and he tips Ted $500 to watch them.

Throughout his time with the kids, Ted definitely wishes he hadn’t taken that tip, since the kids act like Thing 1 and Thing 2 from The Cat in the Hat, getting into all manner of troubles. They get champagne all over the room, the son smokes, the daughter drinks, they’re watching pornography on TV, and the kids even find a dead sex worker. So, you know, a normal night in paradise.

While this is all happening, Ted is reaching a boiling point, and when the parents get back and ask if the kids misbehaved, the sprinkler system goes off since the room had been on fire.

As a whole, I think this is the best segment in the entire film, and the one I think about the most whenever I remember this movie. Interestingly, this almost acts like a double feature since Tarantino’s segment comes next, just like Death Proof (my least favorite Tarantino movie) followed by Planet Terror when it came to 2007’s Grindhouse.

Tarantino Closes Out The Film In True Tarantino Fashion

The last segment, “The Man from Hollywood,” closes out the film, and just as I alluded to, it’s Tarantino’s contribution. Now, Tarantino has acted on many separate occasions, but much like he acted in The Muppets’ Wizard of Oz (I’m dead serious. See my article on Oz-related movies for more details), he plays an exaggerated version of himself.

But, unlike in The Muppets, where he actually does play himself, in this movie, he acts as a famous director who’s playing a game with some friends. And, they want Ted to participate once he brings them an assortment of bizarre items, including a meat cleaver, a bucket of ice, and a doughnut.

One of the friends makes a bet that one of his little fingers will be chopped off if he can’t produce flame with his lighter ten times in a row, in exchange for another friend’s nice car. Ted is paid to referee, and, well, just like with Chekhov’s gun, the meat cleaver that was introduced earlier gets put to good use.

And, this is very Tarantino-esque. The violence, the reference to something else (The game they’re playing is apparently a homage to an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode), the jokey nature of it all, truly feels like it could only come from one man, and that man is Tarantino. It’s a nice close to the film, and I just wonder how many Tarantino fans may not have seen it.

Overall, I Feel Like Most People Don't Talk About Four Rooms Anymore, And I Think They Should

In the end, is Four Rooms a great movie? Hmm…maybe not. But, is it an entertaining film and one that I think people should see - especially if they’re fans of Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino? Absolutely!

Because I always see people bringing up movies like True Romance, and Natural Born Killers for their connection to Tarantino, and Alita: Battle Angel for its connection to Robert Rodriguez, but I don’t really ever hear people talking about Four Rooms, and how these two great directors made a movie together before they were completely intertwined when it came to From Dusk Till Dawn.

That said, if you haven’t seen it, just keep in mind that some of it might be better than other parts of it. If you can keep that in your head, then I think you’ll be in for a good time.

Have you ever watched Four Rooms? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

James Cameron has proven himself thus far unbeatable with his massive Avatar franchise. The first two movies are two of the highest-grossing films ever made so, with a third Avatar movie barely over a month away, expectations are certainly high. However, some fans are actually interested in a different Cameron franchise, Alita: Battle Angel and are still hoping for a sequel. Now, Cameron's latest comments are giving me reason to hope that film will really happen.

The adaptation of Alita: Battle Angel (written and produced by James Cameron) has proven itself something of a cult classic. The film also has a dedicated fan base, the "Alita Army" who continue to hope that a sequel will one day materialize. I’m certainly one of those people, so I was excited to see James Cameron tell Empire that at least one more film, and possibly two more, are something that could really happen. Cameron said…

Cameron claims there’s a “blood oath” involved between himself and director Robert Rodriguez. It seems they both really want to make a movie happen, and he does say they’re “making progress,” which at least implies that this isn’t just talk, but there’s a real possibility it could happen.

Alita: Battle Angel's ending basically tees up a sequel. Unfortunately, the movie's high cost, combined with box office receipts that didn’t cover the cost, made the odds of another movie being greenlit seem quite unlikely. Of course, since then, Cameron has made Fox and its parent company Disney a couple of billion dollars, so it’s possible Cameron may have favors to call in that might help such a movie happen.

Of course, even in this good news, there are some big questions. James Cameron says he wants to make “at least” one more movie, but that they could also put together two more and make a trilogy. But, if they make a second movie with the intention of making a third and the second film is also not well received at the box office, we could end up right back where we are now.

Still, it does seem Alita advocates Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron will have plenty of opportunities to discuss making future movies in the franchise. Cameron reveals that the two now live very close to each other, so they can always chat about it when they run into each other at the coffee shop or the grocery store. As for just how close Cameron and Rodriguez now live to each other, the former said...

James Cameron has two more Avatar movies to make, but exactly when that will happen is unclear. Perhaps there will be time for him to sit down with Robert Rodriguez and put a plan together for a new Alita that Rodriguez can direct while Cameron gets back to finishing his Pandora set-flicks.

In the meantime, stream Alita: Battle Angel using a Hulu subscription.

With one of the most ‘90s-specific ensemble casts imaginable, Robert Rodriguez’s cult hit The Faculty is an era-specific classic sci-fi horror movie that works despite not being so scary. As such, this highly enjoyable high school take on pod-people creatures should ideally exist in solitude without any sequels or further lore-building efforts. So of course, 27 years later, a Hollywood remake is set to join the growing list of upcoming horror movies.

Let's take a quick dive into the details we know so far about The Faculty's remake before addressing my biggest worry about this arguably unnecessary remake.

What We Know About The Faculty Remake So Far

• Director: TBA
• Screenwriter: Drew Hancock (Companion)
• Cast: TBA
• Studio: Miramax
• Production Company: BoulderLight (Barbarian, Weapons)
• Producer: Robert Rodriguez

Obviously we're still in the early days, but the biggest creative force going into the new Faculty project is screenwriter Drew Hancock, who is currently a hot commodity for genre fans as the writer and director of the buzzy new horror Companion, starring Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher. Interestingly enough, Hancock’s prior work is largely in the world of comedy, as he’s written for Adult Swim’s Mr. Pickles, MTV’s Faking It, and Spike’s Blue Mountain State, while also creating the go90 streaming show My Dead Ex.

Beyond Miramax, the main connective tissue between the original film and the remake is Robert Rodriguez, according to Variety. Rodriguez has signed on to return as a producer, though I'd actually be more interested to see how he'd remake his own movie, as opposed to another filmmaker stepping in to take the reins. But it's not really the directing that I'm worried about with this.

I Hope The Faculty Doesn't Utilize A.I. To Modernize Its Story

With so many movies (mostly horror) currently focusing on the rise of A.I. technology, from M3GAN's sequel and its adults-only spinoff SOULM8TE to AfrAId and beyond, I can only imagine how many Hollywood executives are gleefully rubbing their palms together while imagining how to inject artificial intelligence into as many remakes as possible. Something I don't ever need to see: Speed, but with a self-driving bus.

In any case, the fact that Drew Hancock is the one handling the script makes me wary that The Faculty is going to take the alien parasite threat that made life hell for Herrington High School's students and staff and swap it out with an entirely technological threat. The impetus there being Companion's narrative, and how it shines a horrific light on advanced tech, since I'm sure that's a big part of what inspired Miramax bosses to hire him.

Not that I think Hancock is ill-equipped to craft a completely new take on The Faculty that strays far from A.I. remote-schooling screens on wheels and the rest. And I don't mean to pigeonhole him in such a way, but I would be surprised if he wasn't given certain parameters to work with that tap into Companion's story in some way.

I don't even know how the writer would make that work, though I guess if Jordana Brewster was brought in as an android high school teacher, it wouldn't take much to get students to do whatever she says, even if it's implanting chips in their heads that turn them into slack-jawed monsters. We can only hope she's one of several former cast members who get recruited for the new one.

Still one of Robert Rodriguez's best movies to date, The Faculty is currently among the best movies streaming on Pluto TV. For updates about the new remake, don't forget to insert your new brain chip!

One thing (of many) that I love about Hispanic Heritage Month is the focus on just how diverse and eclectic “Hispanic Heritage” actually is.

Case in point: the absolute legend that is Robert Rodriguez. His projects are both inherently Mexican, but also universal in a way that very few other filmmakers can truly capture.

And, while people are always talking about Spielberg, Tarantino, and Scorsese (and for good reason!), I think it’s time for us to finally give Robert Rodriguez his flowers, too. Because he certainly deserves the whole bouquet.

His Low Budget Entry Into The World Of Cinema Is A Case That Should Be Studied  

How amazing is Robert Rodriguez’s debut movie, El Mariachi? So amazing, that the director himself even wrote a book about the production of the film titled, Rebel Without a Crew: Or How a 23-Year-Old Filmmaker With $7,000 Became A Hollywood Player.

In fact, while El Mariachi is a fine film in its own right (and one that spawned two sequels in Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico), the most impressive thing about it is just how professional it is, especially given its extremely low budget (In fairness, Columbia Pictures did spend some extra money on it once they decided to distribute it).

Rodriguez is one of those ‘90s directors who, like Kevin Smith, and yes, like his pal, Tarantino, exploded onto the scene with his very first movie. But, unlike those two aforementioned directors, who pretty much started off with great bottle movies, Rodriguez’s El Mariachi feels a bit more ambitious in scope, what with its action sequences, and its mistaken identity plotline.

Yes, much has already been said about the success of El Mariachi (It even holds a Guinness World Record for the lowest budgeted movie to ever make $1 million dollars at the box office), but I really do think that even more people should talk about it, as it really is quite something.

He Made A Grindhouse Movie Long Before He Actually Helped Direct Grindhouse  

Before Grindhouse was split up into two separate movies for home distribution, those being Death Proof (which is my least favorite Tarantino movie, but I digress), and Planet Terror, the movie was a delightful double feature when it hit theaters back in 2007.

However, Rodriguez made a modern-day grindhouse movie long before 2007 with 1996’s From Dusk till Dawn. The film concerns two bank robbers who take a family hostage, only to end up at a bar that is swarming with vampires.

1992’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and 1994’s Interview with the Vampire came out at a time when vampires seemed to be taken seriously all of a sudden. But, then came Robert Rodriguez with a movie where a dude (Tom Savini!) has a penis gun, and Selma Hayek does one of the sexiest dances ever put to film (and she did it in a trance, no less!)

In a lot of ways, Planet Terror built off the foundation that was set in place with From Dusk Till Dawn, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

At The Same Time, Kids All Over The World Love His Movies, Too 

It took me by surprise when I found out that George Miller, director of the Mad Max movies, also directed Happy Feet, as you don’t usually see directors who make hard-R movies also delve into the realm of children’s cinema.

That said, Rodriguez does it all the time. In fact, by the end of his career, whenever that may be, he may have contributed even more to children’s cinema than adult cinema. And, that’s mostly because of his Spy Kids series, but also his movie The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl (as well as its spiritual successor, We Can Be Heroes).

What makes Rodriguez a master filmmaker is that he can ostensibly jump between both adult and children’s cinema in the blink of an eye. For example, do you want to know the movie he made before Sharkboy and Lavagirl? Sin City. And, do you want to know the movie that he made after it? Planet Terror.

Even so, I have absolutely no problem introducing my children to Robert Rodriguez because I know a segment of his filmography is completely kid-friendly. How many other major filmmakers can you say that about? I’m waiting.

He Was Even Deep In The Television Scene With El Rey Network For A Little While 

When I think of people starting their own TV networks, I think of Oprah Winfrey. I think of Ted Turner. But, do you know who I never thought about before I wrote this article? Robert Rodriguez.

That’s only because even though I had heard of El Rey Network before, which started back in 2013 and ended in 2020, I never really connected it with Rodriguez, who founded it.

El Rey’s mission was to produce exploitation-type entertainment and target English-speaking Hispanic audiences. It did so with shows such as Matador, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and the wrestling outfit, Lucha Underground, just to name a few.

It's no longer a network, but how cool is it that Rodriguez could get something like this off the ground in the first place? The man pretty much knows no bounds.

Plus, He's Still At It 

I love Robert Rodriguez, but one movie of his that I had no interest in whatsoever was Alita: Battle Angel. I don't know. It just didn’t appeal to me. But, one of my friends kept asking me at every barbecue that I would see him at if I had seen the movie yet, and I kept telling him no. Until, that is, I eventually saw it, and let me tell you. It's freaking awesome.

Rodriguez would like to make a sequel. In fact, he is always working. His last movie was 2023’s Spy Kids: Armageddon, and he has a whole slew of unrealized projects that he could possibly dip into if he ever finds the budget and studio backing to make one.

The fact, though, is that despite coming onto the scene back in 1992, Rodriguez is still very much at it. Now, if only we can all live long enough to watch his already filmed sci-fi movie, 100 Years, which is set to come out in…2115!? Well, I guess I’ll get in line now then.

But, until that day, we’ll keep you posted on any other Robert Rodriguez movies, so make sure to stop by here often!

When I walked into my screening for Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel, I had no idea that I’d be stepping into a new obsession when it came to the world of cinema. Despite the world of upcoming 2025 movies not holding any prospects for a potential sequel, I’m one of the people who are still holding out the hope for a return to Iron City after five years of fandom.

But, upon really thinking about this movie, especially in the terms of Hispanic Heritage Month, I think I’ve found even more reasons why Alita: Fallen Angel needs to happen. Chiefly among them is the fact that such a follow-up is more important than ever for Hispanic representation at the movies.

Alita: Battle Angel Unintentionally Became A Cult Favorite Hispanic-Led Franchise

Diversity and inclusion in media continues to be an area of importance in pop culture. We’ve seen this recently revisited through discourse on Star Trek’s underwhelming history of hispanic representation over the years. And I’m amazed that it took me this long to even discuss the fact that Alita: Battle Angel is a huge example of latino culture being so organically rooted in a modern cult hit!

Admittedly, fans pushing for an Alita sequel are more focused on wanting to see a franchise worthy of continuation rise from the ashes. That’s enough of a reason to champion more entries in the adaptation of author Yukito Kishiro’s manga Gunnm. But, besides pushing for the trilogy that was originally planned, this 20th Century Fox originated franchise never overplayed the importance of its cultural influences.

At the same time, those touches aren’t hidden or neglected, thanks to the writer/director behind the saga’s current incarnation. Which means we’re obviously going to celebrate the one and only Robert Rodriguez.

Robert Rodriguez’s Trademark Latino Pride Radiates Throughout Alita: Battle Angel

Robert Rodriguez is a director who knows how to mix Latino Pride into an overall narrative, and actually make it really sing in the context of a project. A big point that supports this notion is Rodriguez’s decision to use a Panama City setting to substitute the manga’s traditional Kansas City backdrop. However, you don’t need to look too hard to see how the Spy Kids director’s Mexican lineage further colored the experience.

Everything from his diverse casting choices to the Aztec markings that Looper highlighted on the body of rival bounty hunter Zapan (Ed Skrein) has Robert Rodriguez’s fingerprints all over it. As sure as the man who included a special lesson on how to make Alita’s favorite chocolate on the home release, the director who gave us Machete and the Mexico Trilogy knows how to flash his Hispanic Pride in style.

An Alita Sequel Would Continue To Elevate Rosa Salazar’s Star Power

Here’s some Alita: Battle Angel trivia you might not know: actor Rosa Salazar actually beat out a crop of candidates that included Maika Monroe, Zendaya, and Bella Thorne for the film’s lead role. While there would have been plenty of potential with any of those choices in the lead, I can’t imagine anyone other than Ms. Salazar playing the character.

Like any franchise worth its salt, the world of Alita has its flagship talent in Salazar, and she’s recognized that fact since the very beginning. In a 2019 interview with the Latino focused publication Remezcla, Salazar reflected on her director’s efforts to fuel the rise of Latin talent, along with the following important statistic:

I’d have to imagine that the Latino market share in theaters has only grown, much as Salazar’s career as a leading lady has through the powers of the film. In the past five years, she’s tackled everything from the body horror Netflix series Brand New Cherry Flavor to landing a role in Captain America: Brave New World’s cast. Already a star on the rise, a return for a sequel would further cement Salazar’s place in Hollywood, thanks to being potentially proven as a reliable franchise lead with a series to call her own.

More Hispanic Talent Would Undoubtedly Be Involved With Alita Sequels

Salazar isn’t the only talent with Hispanic lineage that made a splash in Alita: Battle Angel. The roster for this cast includes extremely talented veterans like Michelle Rodriguez and other up and comers like Keean Johnson. Not to mention I’d still consider Alita as a movie that has one of the best Eiza Gonzalez roles so far, which further ties this discussion into a very important point for the future. And, that is that a sequel would only serve to highlight more hispanic talent across the board.

I struggle to think that with Motorball and the fight against Edward Norton’s Nova hanging in the balance, there wouldn’t be room for some of Robert Rodriguez’s repertory cast to show up. Even Danny Trejo was surprised he wasn’t cast in Alita, so having another movie on the board would be a great time to correct that error.

Plus, the Sin City director would be bound to lure other Latino actors into the picture. Whether it’s old friends like Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, or Rodriguez heeding John Leguizamo’s call for more Latin movie heroes, there’s a huge possibility waiting to pop off. It’s all because patient fans, like myself and the ranks of the Alita Army, are still devoted to this sci-fi adventure that captured our imaginations in the recent past.

Before I’d even thought about the movie's status as a beacon of Hispanic representation, I’d have just kept pushing for a sequel because I loved it so much. Now I have even more of a reason to want to see this happen, as it would only further represent diversity in Hollywood, both in terms of its narrative and the Hispanic-centered storytelling at work.

Also, considering the Alita fans have only been waiting for five years, this battle is not nearly over when looking at how long other legacy-quels have taken to happen. A tip of the hat to both the Tron and Beetlejuice fandoms is in order, in that respect.

The point still remains: those of us who want to see more Alita: Battle Angel action should not stand by in the presence of uncertainty. Rosa Salazar, Robert Rodriguez, James Cameron, and even the dearly departed Jon Landau have been keeping the flame lit for this long; and frankly that’s as good a reason as any to continue the fight.

For those of you who want to revisit the adventure, or need to introduce themselves to its glory, this is the time! Kick off your HIspanic Heritage Month with a blast of action, as you stream this fan favorite in its current home, through the usage of a Hulu subscription.

It’s a sad reality that every so often, the filmmaking community loses one of its own and, this past week, it lost an absolute giant within the industry. Roger Corman – the acclaimed director and producer – passed away at the tender age of 98. The show business legend was highly regarded for his work within the independent film space and for being instrumental in cultivating the careers of some of cinema’s greatest directors. Admirers have since taken to social media to send well wishes and honor the late Corman. A plethora of big names are doing that as well, including William Shatner and John Carpenter.

William Shatner has a lengthy filmography filled with plenty of titles not related to Star Trek. One of those entries is the 1962 drama The Intruder, which was produced and directed by Roger Corman, who died on Thursday at his Santa Monica home per THR. Shatner referenced his collaboration with the late Corman while sharing a sweet tribute to him on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1926, the late filmmaker began his career in the mailroom at 20th Century Fox. After dabbling in on-stage work and screenwriting, he eventually produced his first movie, 1954’s Monster from the Ocean Floor and followed that up with the 1955 thriller The Fast and the Furious. (The title of the latter would be licensed off for the contemporary FF film series decades later.) The Highway Dragnet scribe would eventually move into theatrical distribution, through which he would open the floodgates for movies from acclaimed foreign directors to reach the states. While reflecting on his work, John Carpenter – whose films are revered – discussed on X just how the producer impacted him:

What many tend to remember the Filmgroup co-founder for is the way in which he invested in directors. Jonathan Demme, Francis Ford Coppola, James Cameron and Martin Scorsese are just a few of the esteemed individuals who benefited from his generosity. Ron Howard is another person who owes a portion of his career to the late auteur. The Apollo 13 helmer also used X as his forum to reflect on his relationship with his former colleague:

Famously known as the king of the b-movie, Corman, who also acted in movies, directed 55 films between the 1950s and the 2000s. He helmed science fiction and horror fare like The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) and It Conquered the World (1956) as well as dramas like I Mobster (1959) and The Wild Angels (1966). Corman also had a few westerns to his name, including Five Guns West (1955) and The Oklahoma Woman (1956). He also carved out a niche for himself by adapting Edgar Alan Poe’s work. Robert Rodriguez, who’s directed great films himself, shared via X what he learned from Corman:

Few would deny the sheer impact that Roger Corman had on the medium that is film. The moviemaking community as a whole owes him a great deal of gratitude for the doors that he opened, and the mark he leaves on Hollywood is indelible. It’s certainly sad that he’s no longer with us but, through his work, and the memories that these stars and more have shared, he’ll surely never be forgotten. And we here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to Corman’s family, friends and loved ones during this time.

We’ve lost another Hollywood legend in Carl Weathers. As announced on Friday, the beloved Rocky and The Mandalorian star died on Thursday, reportedly “peacefully in his sleep” after living 76 years. Following the news being made public, a host of Weathers’ famous co-stars from his career took to social media to share tributes about the late actor. 

First up, Carl Weathers’ Happy Gilmore co-star Adam Sandler wrote a sweet message on X following the pair sharing the screen for the hilarious 1996 comedy. Here’s what he said: 

It sounds like Adam Sandler was a close friend to Carl Weathers after the two actors played golfers. Sadly, Weathers is the second Happy Gilmore star to die within the year following Bob Barker, who had an amazing cameo in the comedy, dying over the summer. 

Another famed co-star of Carl Weathers’ is, of course, Arnold Schwarzenegger, after they both were in 1987’s Predator, which is not only still considered the best of the Predator franchise, but one of the best action movies of all time. Here’s what Schwarzenegger posted on X: 

Weathers played Al Dillon, who was the No. 1 buddy of Arnold Schwarzengger’s Dutch in the 1987 movie. He made the sci-fi action flick in the midst of his Rocky fame. Prior to Predator, Carl Weathers played Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky movies, some of the best boxing movies Hollywood has ever seen, alongside Sylvestor Stallone. His character would go on to inspire three Creed movies starring Michael B. Jordan. While Weathers was not a real boxer, he gave a super convincing performance as one. 

Going back to Predator, Jesse Ventura, who played Blain Cooper, also wrote a tribute to Weathers following news of his death. In Ventura’s words on X: 

Along with Weathers being somewhat of an ‘80s movie icon, he also found another big role in recent years by being a part of The Mandalorian cast as Greef Karga. Pedro Pascal posted a picture of Weathers on his Instagram with this caption: 

Director Robert Rodriguez also commented from The Mandalorian family. In his words on X: 

Finally (for now anyway), Giancarlo Esposito also posted a tribute on X. Here’s what he wrote: 

Surely in the hours and days to come, so many more will come forward with their thoughts and stories about Carl Weathers. Over at CinemaBlend, we forward our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fans who may be affected by his passing. 

We’re coming up on the fifth anniversary of the theatrical release of Alita: Battle Angel, and talks surrounding a potential sequel continue to flow. With Robert Rodriguez and his collaborators “trying like hell” to make Alita 2 happen, the fanbase to one of the best sci-fi movies in recent memory has kept feeding into those aspirations with their own efforts. 

Which has yet again led Rodriguez himself to keep the fires of the Alita Army burning with his latest update of optimism. The Spy Kids: Armageddon director spoke with The Wrap during his promotion of his latest contribution to the 2023 movie schedule, giving loyal fans another reason to keep pressing the issue. This recent round of talk yielded the following optimistic update: 

The 20th Century Studios brand has been on the rise in the years after the Fox/Disney merger completed. With the shingle seeing new releases head not only to Hulu but also to theaters, movies like The Boogeyman, and of course the Avatar sequels, have been lighting up the silver screen.

Engines now warmed and running, the Disney subsidiary is poised to be of great help to extending the Alita franchise’s reach, whether streaming or theatrical is the hypothetically chosen platform. Which is fantastic, as Robert Rodriguez’s previous Alita 2 update is all anyone needed to be convinced that the love for Rosa Salazar-led saga was still strong. 

Those who know their Alita: Battle Angel facts know that the way the project fell into the Desperado director’s lap proved to be the ultimate test of devotion. Rewriting the blueprint from James Cameron’s blueprint out of the goodness of his heart, Rodriguez’s dedication gave this potential ongoing IP a foundation to be built on.

In a year where James Cameron’s recent house sale seemed to confirm that multiple Alita sequels could be in the works, it feels like the hopes for another chapter are starting to swell again. Maybe Robert Rodriguez’s love for this project is making him play things a bit closer to the vest, out of the interest of not getting people’s hopes up. At the very least, it doesn't sound like the Disney brass has flat out said no to more Alita. 

No matter what the truth may be, the Alita Army will surely keep pushing to return to Iron City after hearing such sentiments; which only matches that “try like hell” energy that’s still a crucial part of the Alita: Battle Angel fandom. If you’ve somehow escaped the hoopla and haven’t seen this Robert Rodriguez film, at the time of this writing it’s streaming for anyone with a Hulu subscription.

After a 12-year absence, the Spy Kids franchise is back with Spy Kids: Armageddon, a cinematic offering exclusive to Netflix subscribers. However, unlike the previous installment, All the Time in the World, none of the original Spy Kids trilogy’s cast members appeared in this 2023 new movie release. Robert Rodriguez, the director of all the Spy Kids movies, has now shared why the lack of familiar faces was necessary for Armageddon. 

Spy Kids is Rodriguez’s baby, because along with his directorial duties, he wrote the first four movies on his own, and co-wrote this latest entry with Racer Max. So obviously there’s no one better qualified to explain why no one from the old Spy Kids crew showed up in Armageddon, although that’s not to say this couldn’t change if another sequel moves forward. As he told Yahoo:

Spy Kids: All the Time in the World came out in 2011, eight years after Spy Kids  3-D: Game Over, which wrapped up the original trilogy. Like Armageddon, All the Time in the World spotlighted a new duo of title protagonists and their espionage-gifted parents, but Alex Vega and Daryl Sabara did reprise Carmen and Juni Cortez in supporting roles, and Danny Trejo cameoed as their uncle Isador “Machete” Cortez. So while the goal with the previous Spy Kids movie was to usher in a new era, the previous generation of gadget-toting youths was also included.

In sharp contrast, Spy Kids: Armageddon truly stands on its own. Yes, the same spy agency, the Organization of Super Spies (OSS) is used, but none of the old guard appear or are even mentioned during these action-packed events. So while Armageddon is not technically a reboot since, per Robert Rodriguez’s comments, can easily take place in the same continuity as the other four movies, the filmmaker certainly accomplished his goal of starting fresh. 

If Armageddon scores a sequel it will undoubtedly continue following along with the Torrez-Tango family, which is comprised of Connor Esterson’s Tony, Everly Carganilla’s Patty, Zachary Levi’s Terrence and Gina Rodriguez’s Nora. But as Rodriguez stated, he’s still game to bring legacy characters now that this new stage has been set. It’s already easy enough to envision Carmen and Juni nicely filling out adult mentor roles, and who knows, maybe even their parents, Antonio Banderas’ Gregorio and Carla Gugino’s Ingrid, are still deeply engaged in spycraft.

Of course, whether or not Spy Kids 6 will even happen depends on how Spy Kids: Armageddon performs on Netflix, so keep your eyes peeled for any developments on that front. In the meantime, look through the Netflix movie schedule to learn when the streamer will deliver its remaining 2023 flicks, or browser through the best movies on Netflix available to watch now.

Mention the late Bill Paxton, and there’s no doubt a slew of outstanding roles and films that leap to mind. There are the classics he made with James Cameron, the name just a few: The Terminator, Aliens, True Lies, and Titanic. It still bothers Cameron that he never got him into an Avatar sequel. But outside of that partnership, Paxton also collaborated with several other greats, from Ron Howard (Apollo 13) and Jan de Bont (Twister) to Sam Raimi (A Simple Plan) and Robert Rodriguez. The latter cast Paxton as a theme park owner in the inventive Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams, and he recently told us how it came about. 

Robert Rodriguez has a new chapter in the long-running Spy Kids series hitting Netflix as we speak. Spy Kids: Armageddon spins off of the original films to introduce a new family led by Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi, with new spy children in Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla. But while appearing on CinemaBlend’s official podcast, ReelBlend, Rodriguez spoke of the various actors who would come to him over the years and ask to BE in a Spy Kids movie. As he explained:

That’s a very sweet reason why Bill Paxton wanted to play the part of Dinky Winks, the owner of the Troublemaker Theme Park, in the Spy Kids movies. It’s almost as sweet as the reason why Robert Rodriguez keeps returning to the Spy Kids movies… this time collaborating on the screenplay with his 26-year-old son, Racer. The Spy Kids franchise is a family affair at the Rodriguez household. Here, listen to him talk all about it on the latest ReelBlend:

Then use your Netflix subscription to check out the newest addition to the Spy Kids saga. I’m curious where it will land in our overall ranking of the Spy Kids movies. Also, will Robert Rodriguez keep making these movies, or pass the baton to Racer in time. Maybe give ReelBlend a listen to hear his thoughts on that possibility. 

Director Robert Rodriguez returns! We discuss the latest entry in the Spy Kids franchise (now on Netflix) and the filmmaking process as a family. He takes us through some stories from behind the scenes, being inspired by the next generation of filmmakers, and shares a few gems from around his office. 

Also this week, we are bringing the Oscars In Review segment into the main show for the first time. We look back at the 2003 Oscars, celebrating films released in 2002, and debate whether or not the Academy got it right. They usually don't...

Timestamps (approx. only)

00:00:00 - Intro 
00:12:11 - Robert Rodriguez Interview
00:34:14 - ‘No One Will Save You’  Review
00:43:03 - The 2003 Oscars In Review
01:22:44 - Outro 

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The Spy Kids franchise is arguably one of Robert Rodriguez’s most famous creations. He's presided over it in the same way that Avatar is spearheaded by James Cameron or how the Dark Knight trilogy was guided by Christopher Nolan. The Texas native has been making the family films for over two decades now. After much speculation the franchise getting the reboot treatment with Rodriguez attached, said production is finally coming to fruition. And ahead of its release, the filmmaker is explaining just why he keeps returning to the IP.

It's honestly rare that a long-running series maintains its lead creative for so long. But Robert Rodriguez has stuck with his espionage-centric romps through the highs and lows. The filmmaker told People part of his reason for staying is because Spy Kids has had such a positive impact on so many people:

It’s hard to believe it’s been over two decades since the first time Spy Kids was introduced to audiences. Starring Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara as siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez, the inaugural movie sees both children tasked with rescuing their kidnapped secret agent parents. And at the same time, they must protect the world from robotic children crafted by a famed TV show host. The successful 2001 movie spawned two direct sequels, subtitled Island of Lost Dreams and Game Over, in 2002 and 2003, respectively. Robert Rodriguez then revived the series years later with 2011's All the Time in the World, which wasn't as successful as its predecessors. 

Still, as the director mentioned, the series has indeed been popular over the years, especially amongst families. So it's understandable that he'd be eager to return and relaunch the property for streaming with Spy Kids: Armageddon. The film stars Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez as spy parents, whose kids unwittingly help a madman unleash a computer virus. In addition to wanting to entertain the masses, the El Mariachi helmer also has a more personal reason for keeping the series alive:

Wow, imagine all the stories Robert Rodriguez was told by his special-agent uncle. Thanks to that inspiration, he really hit on something special with this franchise. He also filled a need, as there weren't too many kid-friendly properties (at the time the first film released) that exuded a James Bond-esque vibe. The OG trilogy definitely left an impression, and I can attest to that. I remember that after I saw the first installment in theaters, I wanted to get my hands on all of those cool gadgets. Children today may feel the same way after watching Armageddon.

Another personal detail we know about the Spy Kids reboot is that it allowed its director the opportunity to work with his son, Racer Max, who co-wrote the script. The last time the father and son duo worked together was back in 2005 with The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl. When Racer was seven years old, he came up with the story of a boy raised by sharks and a girl who could wield fire. The young man received a screenplay credit for the superhero film at a young age, too. Considering that the now-26-year-old Racer not only penned the scripted but also produced the movie, this is something of a full-circle moment.

Robert Rodriguez is an example of a filmmaker who stays faithful to his film series. With Spy Kids being such a personal project to him, it’s understandable why he doesn’t plan on passing the torch to someone else. Unless, of course, that person could maybe be his own son down the line. Make sure to watch the next generation of young OSS agents in Spy Kids: Armageddon, which will be available to stream with a Netflix subscription starting on September 22 as part of the schedule of 2023 new movie releases.

Fans of Robert Rodriguez are undoubtedly happy to see the director close to releasing a film in the schedule of 2023 new movie releases. Unfortunately for a specific sect of those followers, it’s not Alita: Battle Angel 2; though the Ben Affleck thriller Hypnotic does look pretty amazing in its own right. Still, that Alita sequel seems to be further off than most would like, and Rodriguez admits that in its own way, the progression of the Avatar sequels are impacting such developments.

Our sister site Total Film caught up with the director of the 2019 cult favorite as he prepares to enter the cinematic field of battle once more. It was seen as the perfect opportunity to dig further into just what’s going on in terms of the often-discussed sequel that’s still demanded by fans. As such, Robert Rodriguez shared the following remarks that admit to a pretty predictable predicament:

Yes, the production on Pandora’s continuing saga is in a pretty good spot, with James Cameron filming three Avatar sequels at once through his previous round of production. However, that still leaves quite a bit of post-production work that’s needed to make the Sully family look their best. With at least three sequels planned to follow The Way of Water, one can see why those pictures are currently the priority. 

It’s not all negative when it comes to the intertwined dance that’s going on between Avatar and Alita: Battle Angel. Just recently, producer Jon Landau offered some hopeful Alita sequel developments, with the intent to use the advances of technology that came from Avatar: The Way of Water’s production in the hypothetical follow-up. Which is definitely keeping it in the family, as Alita: Battle Angel benefitted from that same sort of development boost coming from the original Avatar. 

Try as we might, the world will never be able to separate these properties simply because they both came into existence thanks to James Cameron’s vision. While Robert Rodriguez rewrote Alita: Battle Angel for free and claimed that franchise as his own, Cameron and Jon Landau will always be the enthusiastic producing partners they’ve been since Alita started development alongside Avatar. So long as they’re still talking about this potential sequel, fans should keep hope alive in their own way, if only to prove that the market for such a project is still out there.

For the moment, there’s no confirmation that Alita: Battle Angel 2 talks have left the inner circle of Rosa Salazar, Robert Rodriguez, James Cameron and Jon Landau. So patience is still going to be required from all who call themselves a part of the Alita Army. In the meantime, Avatar: The Way of Water is currently in theaters, as well as available for rental or purchase through major digital platforms. 

Meanwhile, Robert Rodriguez fans have Hypnotic to look forward to, which is set to open in theaters this weekend. Finally, for those of you looking to stream Alita: Battle Angel, you can currently do just that through access to a Hulu subscription. 

The fanbase behind Alita: Battle Angel’s continued presence in the media are always on the lookout for news pertaining to the film’s long hoped-for sequel. As the new movie release Avatar: The Way of Water has seen producer Jon Landau making the rounds, the press have been asking him some questions about where things stand with that potential project. On the heels of Landau’s recent hopeful Alita update, some more information has come out in yet another interview, and you can sign me up for this flick now!

Speaking with ComicBook.com, Jon Landau was asked if the potential sequel to director Robert Rodriguez’s anime adaptation is any closer to happening. Keeping hope alive, the producer of both Alita and Avatar had this to say on the proposed project: 

While there’s still no new time frame for the potentially titled Alita: Fallen Angel, we have a little more insight into what that recent conversation between Jon Landau and Robert Rodriguez entailed. Pride for that 2019  action/adventure flick is high, as always, and there are already more stories that are ready to go, should the producers receive the green light for more entries in this would-be franchise.

Between the 600-page treatment James Cameron wrote for Alita: Battle Angel, and part of the plan always involving Alita’s Motorball career, sequels were always in mind for this fictional universe. An entire trilogy was laid out from the first frame, but Robert Rodriguez created an ending to Alita that teases the future while providing a satisfying closure. So whether a follow-up happens or not, the story feels complete in its own way.

That being said, Jon Landau, Robert Rodriguez, and even Rosa Salazar herself aren’t quite satisfied with leaving the story where it currently sits. It’s something the fans and creatives alike can agree on, which could align the stars for a second installment sooner rather than later. Hope still springs eternal, and the crusade to return to Iron City and beyond has only just begun. 

If you’re an Alita: Battle Angel fan with a Hulu subscription, then you shouldn’t stand by and let your chance to revisit the film pass. As it was recently added to the Hulu library after absent from subscription-based streaming services for some time, there’s always the possibility that good viewing numbers would only build the case for a sequel all the stronger. 

Which also means that if you have even a passing interest in Avatar: The Way of Water, you should head out to a theater near you starting on December 16 and boost that film as well. As that property has always been the creative sibling to Alita, a win for James Cameron could be a win for Iron City.

More than 20 years ago, Robert Rodriguez, the visionary filmmaker behind iconic neo-western ‘90s action movies like El Mariachi, Desperado, and From Dusk till Dawn, tried something new — a spy movie that used his over-the-top characters and action sequences but in a more family-friendly way. That movie, the 2001 action comedy Spy Kids, went on to be a success that launched a franchise of its own and introduced Rodriguez to a whole other audience.

In the two decades since the release of the movie, Rodriguez has returned to the franchise several more times, but not since 2011’s Spy Kids: All the Time in the World,  while also trying out new ventures like the fan-favorite, Alita: Battle Angel, and the 2020 Netflix movie, We Can Be Heroes. Now, after a decade-plus away from the property, Rodriguez is coming back with a Spy Kids reboot. Here’s everything we know about it so far…

The Spy Kids Reboot Will Be A Netflix Exclusive

After not seeing a new addition to the franchise for nearly a decade, Variety revealed in January 2021 that Robert Rodriguez and his Skydance Media production company were in the process of rebooting the long-dormant franchise. At the time, it wasn’t disclosed if Rodriguez was going for a traditional theatrical rollout or finding a home on a streaming service.

That all changed in March 2022, when Netflix's Tudum announced that the new Spy Kids reboot movie would be exclusive to the platform upon its release. And, considering the fact that Rodriguez’s most recent movie, We Can Be Heroes, was released on Netflix and became a hit with viewers in December 2020, this makes perfect sense.

Gina Rodriguez And Zachary Levi Lead The Spy Kids Cast

Even though we don’t yet know when the Spy Kids reboot will be released or enter production, Robert Rodriguez and company have already started to put together a strong cast, with only a few names announced so far. In June 2022, Tudum announced that Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Zachary Levi (Shazam! Fury of the Gods), Everly Carganilla (Yes Day), and Connor Esterson (Attaway General) had all joined the Spy Kids cast as the family of super spies at the center of its story. However, the names of the characters have yet to be revealed.

Not long after, in July 2022, Deadline reported that Billy Magnussen, who previously played dynamic State Department agent Logan Ash in No Time To Die, had been added to the Spy Kids cast in an undisclosed role. But, if his turn in Daniel Craig’s final James Bond movie is any indication, the actor is well-equipped for whatever is thrown his way.

There haven’t been any additional announcements since then, but count on hearing more about the cast in the months to come.

The Movie Will Center on The Kids Of Super Spies Who Team Up To Take Down An Evil Game Developer

As the name suggests, the Spy Kids franchise has largely centered on child spies from the Organization of Super Spies (OSS) with original agents Carmen Cortez (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara) rising to the occasion to save the world (and their parents) multiple times over the years. Although the upcoming reboot will focus on a new set of characters, the basic premise of the movie sounds very much in line with the previous four films.

When announcing the Spy Kids reboot, Netflix provided the official logline:

Admittedly, this description makes the reboot sound similar to the franchise’s 2003 installment, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, which saw Sylvester Stallone as a villain known as The Toymaker, who created a diabolical virtual reality game in an attempt to escape cyberspace after being held prisoner there by the OSS. No word on if Stallone will come back in some shape or form, though.

Robert Rodriguez Co-Wrote The Spy Kids Reboot With His Son Racer Max

Up until this point, all of the movies in the Spy Kids franchise have been written by Robert Rodriguez with help from no one else. However, now it appears that Rodriguez, in the spirit of a movie about families working together to solve their problems, wrote the upcoming reboot along with his son, Racer Max, according to Netflix.

Although the Spy Kids reboot was Racer Max’s first time working on a movie in the franchise, he was credited with coming up with the story for his father’s 2004 family-friendly action movie, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D, and even portrayed a young version of Sharkboy in the feature film. He is also serving as a producer alongside his father on the upcoming movie. However, it remains to be seen if this is a sign that Racer Max will be taking over for his father with the franchise in the years to come.

Robert Rodriguez Returns To Direct The Spy Kids Reboot

Robert Rodriguez has directed some incredible movies throughout his career, and the Spy Kids franchise is included in that group. That being said, it should come as no surprise that the man who started the franchise more than 20 years ago will be sitting in the director’s chair for the upcoming reboot. Back when Netflix announced the cast, the streaming service also stated that Rodriguez would be returning to direct the movie he co-wrote and produced. 

But, this isn’t the only popular family-friendly action movie Rodriguez has in the works for a Netflix release at some point in the future, as he has stated in the past that he is in the process of developing a sequel to the successful We Can Be Heroes movie as well. Expect to hear more on both of these exciting projects in the months to come.

There is still a lot we don’t yet know about the Spy Kids reboot, including its release date and if any familiar faces from previous movies will show up in some shape or from. One thing we do know, however, is that you will need an active Netflix subscription to watch it when it eventually does come out.

There are some actor/director combos that audiences have come to expect on seeing. Sam Raimi has Bruce Campbell, Rian Johnson has both Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Noah Segan, and for Robert Rodriguez one of his frequent collaborators is the great, real-life badass Danny Trejo. However, these collaborators don’t have a perfect track record, and in the case of Rodriguez, Trejo, and Sin City, the actor's potential role in the comic book movie apparently went to Mickey Rourke for a rather hilarious reason. 

While speaking with Danny Trejo in advance of his upcoming movie Minions: The Rise of Gru, I had one Robert Rodriguez question I was burning to ask him. Funny enough, it wasn’t about his absence in Sin City, but rather Trejo’s omission from the cast of 2019’s Alita: Battle Angel. While he’s still not sure why he was left out of the anime adaptation’s roster, Danny Trejo off-handedly mentioned that he was up for the role of Marv in the Frank Miller co-directed hardboiled noir.

It wasn’t meant to be, however, as the actor apparently didn’t meet a very special requirement Robert Rodriguez had for the role. Addressing both his absence in Alita and Sin City, Danny Trejo said, 

To be fair, the character of Marv is supposed to be so hideous that most women are repulsed by him. We see this factor come into play during Sin City’s segment “The Hard Goodbye,” where Mickey Rourke’s character somehow finds himself entwined with the beautiful Goldie (Jaime King) just before her untimely death. 

Though there were prosthetics involved to make Rourke look closer to his graphic novel counterpart, his “appalling disfigured” face admittedly made him a natural fit as one of Sin City’s most dogged protectors. With a litany of pro-boxing injuries and reconstructive surgeries that followed, Mickey Rourke’s physical attributes (as well as his career’s resurgence after appearing in the Academy Award nominated The Wrestler) made him the right fit for the part.

It’s not like Danny Trejo wouldn’t go on to work with Robert Rodriguez again. In fact, it was only two years after Sin City’s 2005 release that the two men teamed up on one of their greatest projects: the short that would spawn Machete (which was featured in the theatrical release of the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double feature Grindhouse). It's a role that the actor would love to reprise, either in the upcoming Netflix Spy Kids reboot, or in the previously promised Machete Kills In Space. 

This story does circle back all the way to talking about Alita: Battle Angel: a film with a fanbase that’s extremely motivated to see a sequel, and that has Robert Rodriguez, James Cameron, and Rosa Salazar pushing for the project. Were the Alita Army fandom to push for Trejo to appear in this hypothetical sequel, his reaction to his potential casting is as positive as you’d expect: 

There you have it, folks. While it seems very unlikely we’ll be able to bring Danny Trejo into the world of Sin City (he's also not in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For), there’s still some prime opportunities to see the actor work with his longtime collaborator Robert Rodriguez. Who knows? Maybe there’s some room for Mickey Rourke to join in on some of these worlds too.

In the meantime, you can hear Danny Trejo bring Stronghold, one of the members of the Vicious 6, to life in Minions: The Rise of Gru, which opens this weekend (starting with early showings on Thursday). 

If you’re into movies like I am, then you’ve undoubtedly seen a ton of excellent films by great directors like Quentin Tarantino, Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, etc. Not only do I love to watch films from all over the world, I also love to watch a director’s entire oeuvre, which is how I’ve seen all 6 George Lucas movies, and every Peter Jackson movie. Here’s what I’ve learned by watching the entire filmography of so many directors: Some of them make a truly great movie on their very first try. 

Now, that’s not to say that they didn’t experiment with smaller projects before their first feature length film, as even Paul Thomas Anderson cut his teeth on the short film Cigarettes and Coffee before he directed Hard Eight. But, when it comes to a first feature length film, some directors just somehow nail it, which often guides the trajectory of their entire careers. So, here are 16 such directors who undoubtedly got it right on their very first feature length film.  

Quentin Tarantino - Reservoir Dogs (1992) 

Here’s what’s interesting about Reservoir Dogs. If Tarantino’s first movie was Pulp Fiction, and Reservoir Dogs was actually his last movie, it might feel smaller in scale, sure, but I also think it would still feel like a fitting swansong to an incredible career. That’s how amazing Reservoir Dogs is. It’s so good, I could see him making it today. 

But, it was his first film, and it totally made him explode onto the scene back in the early ‘90s. He would, of course, go on to make Pulp Fiction (his best movie), Inglorious Basterds, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and many others, but Tarantino’s mark was already made with Reservoir Dogs, and it’s still legendary today.     

Robert Rodriguez - El Mariachi (1992) 

The first (and I would argue best) in Rodriguez’s Mexico Trilogy, which also contains Desperado and Once Upon a Time in Mexico, is said to have only cost $7,000 U.S. dollars to make. It’s about a guitar player who manages to get targeted because of mistaken identity, and he has to take up arms if he wants to live. 

Robert Rodriguez has had an interesting career, jumping back and forth between mature, R-rated films like Sin City and Machete, and kid-friendly stuff like Spy Kids and the hit We Can Be Heroes. That said, it was El Mariachi and its unassuming badassness that got him onto the scene, and it’s still awesome to this day. He’s still awesome to this day, no question.  

Kevin Smith - Clerks (1994) 

There's a reason why Kevin Smith keeps coming back to Clerks, what with the upcoming Clerks 3, and that's because his first movie might just be his very best film ever. The story of a clerk named Dante who shouldn't even be at work today, seems like it has nothing to say and yet everything to say at the same time. Plus, it's all in glorious black and white. 

Kevin Smith's known for movies like Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and Red State, and those movies are great and all, but I think most would agree that Smith found his voice with his very first film, and he's mostly kept that voice for the entirety of his career. I'm not complaining.   

Patty Jenkins - Monster (2003) 

Nowadays, Patty Jenkins is most known for bringing Wonder Woman to the big screen, and her future resides in Star Wars with her upcoming movie, Rogue Squadron. But, arguably more interesting is Patty Jenkins' first movie, Monster, which is about the real life serial killer, Aileen Wuornos, played by Charlize Theron, who won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance.  

How good was this movie? Well, Roger Ebert called Monster the best film of 2002, and he proclaimed that Charlize Theron's performance was one of the greatest that he’d ever seen. Not bad for a director's debut picture.  

Jordan Peele - Get Out (2017) 

Before Get Out, Jordan Peele was probably most known as the other half of Key & Peele. But, after Get Out, I’m pretty sure everybody knew who he was as a single entity, as the talented director/writer/actor exploded onto the scene with the movie that many consider the true Best Picture of 2017.  

Now, every new movie he makes is an event. Us was a creepy doppelganger film, and his next project, Nope, is shrouded in mystery, but still highly anticipated. All that white hot anticipation is all due to Get Out, which single-handedly turned this comedian into one of the most important voices in horror today.    

Steven Spielberg - Duel (1971) 

Steven Spielberg was only 24 when he directed his first feature length film, Duel, and the rest is history. Duel has a simple premise - a guy (Dennis Weaver) is terrorized by an unseen truck driver for 80 minutes, and that’s it.  

But, Spielberg, who has made some of the best movies of all time, just nailed it with Duel. The whole film is taut and unsettling, and it’s little wonder why many people pegged Spielberg as a wunderkind all the way back in the early ‘70s. He certainly was!   

Orson Welles - Citizen Kane (1941) 

The year is 2022, and some people are still saying that Orson Welles got robbed when Citizen Kane lost Best Picture to How Green Was My Valley back at the 1942 Oscars. This actually makes sense, because some critics call Citizen Kane the greatest movie of all time. Not bad for a young man's very first feature film. 

In fact, even though Welles directed other great films like The Magnificent Ambersons, and Touch of Evil, he will forever be known as the man who directed quite possibly the greatest film of all time. On his very first try, no less. Unbelievable.  

Sidney Lumet - 12 Angry Men (1957) 

Even though Sidney Lumet directed a little over 40 films, and serious classics including Network, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Verdict, it might be his first movie, the Academy Award-nominated 12 Angry Men, that might be his most accessible and enjoyable work in his filmography. 

Adapted from a teleplay of the same name, 12 Angry Men is spectacular for many reasons, one being the acting, but two being the pacing, which never lets up. In fact, quick pacing and stellar acting is emblematic of a lot of Lumet's movies, and he had it down pat with his very first film. Lumet was a legend.  

Sophia Coppola - The Virgin Suicides (1999) 

Based on the novel of the same name, The Virgin Suicides is about five sisters (one played by Kirsten Dunst) who are closely monitored after the youngest sister attempts suicide. It’s a drama, to be certain, but there is also an undercurrent of dark humor that kind of creates an almost unsettling quality to an already pretty dark story. 

This “unsettling quality” would show up in Coppola’s later films, like Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette, and especially, The Beguiled. Still, if I were to jumble up all of those movies and throw The Virgin Suicides into the mix, then most people likely wouldn’t be able to tell which is her debut picture, since they’re all the marks of a professional.  

Ridley Scott - The Duelists (1977) 

Ridley Scott is probably most known for movies like Alien, Blade Runner, and the Best Picture-winning Gladiator, but his debut, The Duelists, starring Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine as warring soldiers who duel each other for decades, was already the mark of master director. 

It’s so good that one of his most recent films, The Last Duel, kind of feels similar in tone and direction. The budget is much higher for The Last Duel, but the acting, pacing, and direction in The Duelists is just as good as it is in the recent film, which is astounding to say the very least.  

Alejandro González Iñárritu - Amores Perros (2000)

The first part of the “Trilogy of Death” (with 21 Grams and Babel), Amores Perros, which roughly translates to "love’s a bitch," slammed into audiences like a car crash with this interesting narrative that connects three separate people to an automobile accident. 

Alejandro González Iñárritu would later go on to direct one of my favorite movies ever in Birdman, but a lot of the electric filmmaking that made that movie so great, was even evident in Amores Perros, which shocks and breaks your heart, sometimes in the very same scene. 

Sam Raimi - The Evil Dead (1981) 

Sam Raimi's come a long way since his debut picture, The Evil Dead. He's helming Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and he came to commercial recognition with his Spider-Man trilogy.   

But, to many, he'll always be "The Evil Dead guy," and for good reason. The first Evil Dead is a seminal entry in ‘80s horror that innovated a lot of unique techniques, such as the camera chasing the characters. Sure, his later Evil Dead movies might be more popular, but that first movie announced a fresh new director, and he'd be here to stay.   

Spike Jonze - Being John Malkovich (1999) 

If you love meta movies, then you’re undoubtedly familiar with the work of Spike Jonze. His second film, Adaptation., was perhaps even more meta than his first, and he managed to make the children’s book, Where the Wild Things Are, into a semi-meditative movie featuring James Gandolfini.   

Being John Malkovich garnered him a Best Director Oscar nomination. The film has such a unique strangeness to it that you might attribute it to Charlie Kaufman’s cerebral writing, but, you can see that Spike Jonze’s brain is definitely on a similar wavelength with his other films not written by Kaufman. Being John Malkovich is one of the reasons why some people call 1999 one of the best years in cinema, and this was Spike Jonze’s debut picture. Outstanding!    

Ryan Coogler - Fruitvale Station (2013)  

Before Black Panther, before Creed, there was Fruitvale Station, a film so infuriating that it had this writer seething in his seat when he first saw it. Chronicling the events that led up to the real life death of Oscar Grant, Fruitvale Station seems like the work of an artist who had spent years in the director’s seat, not a directorial debut.  

Coogler's next picture is the hotly anticipated sequel, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but you could see the talent in his first picture, which he made at the tender age of 25. Damn.  

Ari Aster - Hereditary (2018) 

I think it says a lot that Ari Aster only has two feature films to his name, but he's already established himself as one of the leading voices in modern day horror. This was all due to Hereditary, which is still the scariest movie I've ever seen. 

He would later go on to make Midsommar, and one could argue that Midsommar is the better Ari Aster film. Whichever you prefer, I don't think anybody will argue the greatness of Hereditary. Making one of the scariest movies of all time as your very first feature film is no laughing matter. In fact, it’s quite terrifying to be this good.    

Rob Reiner - This Is Spinal Tap (1984) 

Rob Reiner has proven that he can be successful in any genre. He mastered fantasy with The Princess Bride, tackled horror with Misery, and dabbled in romantic comedies with When Harry Met Sally.

But, my favorite, and a lot of people's favorite movie of his, is his debut, the infinitely quotable mockumentary, This is Spinal Tap. The film is probably the funniest rock movie ever made, and it's done in such a way that Spinal Tap seems like a legit band. It's actually kind of sad that they aren't a real band, though, because some of their songs really kick ass.   

What other prominent directors do you think made a great movie on their first try? For news on today's great directors, make sure to swing by here often!   

Fresh off his stint on Disney+’s Star Wars series The Book of Boba Fett, Robert Rodriguez is returning to the world of Spy Kids! While the majority of the filmmaker’s work has been geared to the PG-13 and R crowd, 2001’s Spy Kids marked his first time helming a feature directed at families, and he sat back in the director’s chair for all of the following three installments. Now it’s been announced that Rodriguez has been brought aboard to put together what’s being described as a reimagining of the Spy Kids franchise.

Netflix has closed a deal with Skydance Media and Spyglass Media (which owns the Spy Kids franchise) to put together a new Spy Kids movie that will play exclusively on the streaming service. Robert Rodriguez will direct, write and produce this new feature that will “introduce the world to a new family of spies.” This is Rodriguez’s second time making a family film for Netflix, having previously delivered 2020’s We Can Be Heroes, a standalone follow-up to his 2005 movie The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D. We Can Be Heroes ended up being a huge hit for Netflix, and there’s a sequel on the way. 

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of a new Spy Kids movie being on the horizon. Back in January 2021, it was reported that Robert Rodriguez was striking up a deal with Skydance to make a new entry that would focus on a “multicultural family.” Evidently it took some time to find a home for the project, but a little over a year later, fans of the Spy Kids franchise will can look forward to watching the next installment with a Netflix subscription. 

The first Spy Kids movie introduced Alex Vega’s Carmen Cortez and Daryl Sabara’s Juni Cortez, young siblings who were thrust into the spy game after their parents, Antonio Banderas’ Gregorio and Carla Gugino’s Ingrid, were kidnapped by the nefarious Fegan Floop, played by Alan Cumming. Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over followed in 2002 and 2003, respectively, and other members of the Cortez family we met during that original trilogy included Danny Trejo’s Isador Cortez (a.k.a. an alternate universe version of Machete), Ricardo Montalbán’s Valentin Avellan and Holland Taylor’s Helga Avellan. Then in 2011, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World came out, and while Vega, Sabara and Trejo reprised their respective roles, this time around the spotlight was pointed on the Wilson family, with its core members played by Jessica Alba, Joel McHale, Rowan Blanchard and Mason Cook.

It’s worth noting that this Robert Rodriguez’s next Spy Kids movie won’t be the franchise’s first exclusive Netflix offering. An animated series called Spy Kids: Mission Critical aired for two seasons on the platform in 2018. However, the show was a reboot that depicted Carmen and Juni Cortez working at Spy Kids Academy to train a team of cadets to go up against S.W.A.M.P. (Sinister Wrongdoers Against Mankind's Preservation). It hasn’t been clarified yet if the upcoming movie will be set in the same reality as the previous Spy Kids movies or a full-blown reboot existing on its own, but either way, it’s gearing up to revive the franchise in a big way.

CinemaBlend will share any major concrete details about the new Spy Kids movie once they come in. For now, there’s no shortage of Netflix movies to check out, or you can look through our 2022 Netflix movie schedule to see what the streaming service will deliver later this year.

It’s a hell of a time to be Robert Rodriguez right now, thanks to all of the franchise plates he has spinning at this particular moment. Developing sequels for projects like Netflix’s We Can Be Heroes, as well as continuing to craft amazing visions in Disney+’s corner of the Star Wars universe, the man is making his fans happy. Of course, there are some of his loyalists who wonder where and if any progress has been made in trying to make the sequel to 2019’s Alita: Battle Angel a reality. Not only did Rodriguez provide a hopeful update, he also credited the previous film as landing him his current gig in a galaxy far, far away. 

What’s The Status Of Alita: Fallen Angel, A.K.A. Alita: Battle Angel 2?

Robert Rodriguez has remained constantly hopeful that he’d be able to return for an Alita sequel, which would presumably contain the subtitle Fallen Angel, per a previous interview with James Cameron. The Book of Boba Fett’s co-showrunner had already floated the notion that should his upcoming Disney+ show be a massive enough success, he’d take his dream of continuing the anime adaptation to the higher ups. In a recent interview with THR, Robert Rodriguez shored up those thoughts with the following update: 

It may be a bit optimistic, but the mere mention of figuring out a pitch is a pretty hopeful sign. Considering how involved Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron were on the pitch for Alita: Battle Angel, that’s not the sort of investment you make without a certain level of confidence. The best case scenario at this point is that someone in the Disney ranks is probably keen on hearing a pitch, provided The Book of Boba Fett sticks the landing. So why not be prepared just in case? 

The Reason Alita: Battle Angel Helped Robert Rodriguez Land The Mandalorian

Just as Robert Rodriguez is hoping to use Star Wars to make good on continuing the Alita: Battle Angel storyline, the tables were previously turned when it came to introducing him into the Lucasfilm fold. The modest financial success and vocal fanbase surrounding the 2019 sci-fi action/adventure film appeared to have drawn the attention of the right people. During this same interview, that much was made clear when Rodriguez cited George Lucas as an inspiration for filmmaking, and another key player for drafting him into the game:

With Robert Rodriguez having made an impression with his debut on Chapter 14 - “The Tragedy”, The Mandalorian led to bigger and better things through The Book of Boba Fett. It's a project that was such a closely guarded secret, fans thought it was meant to replace the show it originated from, but the truth was soon clarified when it came to its status. Now the world stands on the edge of seeing where the legendary bounty hunter goes next, and if all goes to plan, Alita herself might be getting a hand from the newly redeemed heavy in the Star Wars galaxy. 

If you’re hoping for an Alita sequel, you might want to make sure you support The Book of Boba Fett. The series premieres on December 29th only on Disney+, which means it’s perfect for pre or post New Year's Eve celebrations. While you’re at it, be sure to consult the 2022 release schedule and see what movies might be able to help distract you from the lack of an Alita: Battle Angel sequel.

In the 1990s, indie filmmaking started to break ground as a hot, more mainstream commodity than ever before, and one such filmmaker who has maintained his signature indie attitude no matter how mainstream he gets is Robert Rodriguez. Watch any one of his films - from the Spanish-language El Mariachi to the lighter Spy Kids movies - and each of them feels similarly rebellious and refreshingly unique no matter how big (or even charmingly ridiculous at times) they prove to be. 

That rebellious ambition and charm are what make the following Robert Rodriguez movies available on streaming, for digital rental, or to purchase on physical media (if you prefer that) so memorable and fun to revisit again and again, such as his feature-length debut.

El Mariachi (1992)

A case of mistaken identity causes a traveling musician (Carlos Gallardo) to become embroiled in a violent stand-off against a bloodthirsty drug lord in a small Mexican town.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Robert Rodriguez made a very impressive case for himself as one of the film industry’s most promising newcomers with the explosive, Spanish-language action thriller, El Mariachi, for which he personally conducted just about every on-set task necessary other than acting.

Rent/buy El Mariachi digitally on Amazon.
Buy El Mariachi on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Desperado (1995)

El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) is still trying to outrun his violent past when he arrives at a small town on the Mexican border, where he comes at odds with another ruthless drug kingpin (Joachim de Almeida) and his vicious henchmen.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Robert Rodriguez continued the story he began with El Mariachi with Antonio Banderas filling the role of the traveling musician-turned-hardened-gunslinger in the bigger, louder, and more explosive, Desperado, which was also one of the first times he worked with other frequent collaborators like Salma Hayek, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, and his good friend, Quentin Tarantino.

Stream Desperado on Netflix.
Stream Desperado on HBO Max.

Rent/buy Desperado digitally on Amazon.
Buy Desperado on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico (2003)

Legendary hitman El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas) is enlisted by a corrupt CIA agent (Johnny Depp) to help him take down a drug cartel leader (Willem Dafoe) planning to kill the president of Mexico.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Along with an exciting assortment of newcomers to the franchise like Johnny Depp, Mickey Rourke, and Willem Dafoe, Antonio Banderas reprises the role of El Mariachi, and Salma Hayek reprises her role as Carolina in the insanely entertaining Neo-western thriller Once Upon a Time in Mexico, the final installment of Robert Rodriguez’s trilogy following the deadly gunslinger who just wanted to play guitar.

Stream Once Upon A Time In Mexico on Netflix.
Stream Once Upon A Time In Mexico on Amazon Prime.

Rent/buy Once Upon A Time In Mexico digitally on Amazon.
Buy Once Upon A Time In Mexico on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)

On the run from the law, a pair of notorious criminal brothers (George Clooney and Quentin Tarantino) take a former minister (Harvey Keitel) and his children (Juliette Lewis and Ernest Liu) hostage, and take refuge together at a bar in the middle of nowhere that turns out to be haven for a more monstrous threat.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: From star and screenwriter Quentin Tarantino and director Robert Rodriguez, From Dusk Till Dawn is a lean, mean, instant B-movie classic with real bite that would later inspire a hit TV series on Rodriguez’s own cable network, El Rey.

Rent/buy From Dusk Till Dawn digitally on Amazon.
Buy From Dusk Till Dawn on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Planet Terror (2007)

An unhappy go-go dancer (Rose McGowan), her mechanic ex-boyfriend (Freddy Rodriguez), and others become the last hope for humanity after an experimental gas turns people into vicious, flesh-eating mutants in a small Texas town. 

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez would later collaborate on another lean, mean, instant B-movie classic with the double-feature event Grindhouse - which, unfortunately, is not available to digitally stream or rent as a whole, but you can do so with Rodriguez’s bloody special-effects extravaganza, Planet Terror, which many agree is the strongest segment of the two.

Rent/buy Planet Terror digitally on Amazon.
Buy Planet Terror on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Buy Grindhouse on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Machete Movies (2010-2013)

A former Federale (Danny Trejo) seeks brutal revenge on a man who framed him for murder and, later, is enlisted by the President to stop a Mexican revolutionary threatening Washington D.C. with a nuclear attack.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Robert Rodriguez also directed a fake trailer for Grindhouse which he later adapted into two shamelessly manic tributes to exploitation cinema (Machete in 2010 and 2013’s Machete Kills) with Danny Trejo playing the role of one of his most badass characters in both. 

Stream Machete on Tubi.
Rent/buy Machete digitally on Amazon.
Buy Machete on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rent/buy Machete Kills digitally on Amazon.
Buy Machete Kills on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Faculty (1998)

A mismatched group of teenagers become the last hope for humanity when their high school becomes the epicenter for an extraterrestrial virus possessing teachers and fellow students. 

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: From Scream writer Kevin Williamson, The Faculty is Robert Rodriguez’s fun attempt at horror movies in the vein of 1950s classics like Invasion of the Body Snatchers, but repurposed for young, angsty moviegoers of the ‘90s to relate to.

Stream The Faculty on Pluto TV.
Rent/buy The Faculty digitally on Amazon.
Buy The Faculty on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Spy Kids (2001)

A 12-year-old girl (Alex PenaVega) and her 8-year-old brother (Daryl Sabara) become the last hope to save their father (Antonio Banderas) and mother (Carla Gugino), after discovering they are secret agents who have been kidnapped by an eccentric TV host (Alan Cumming).

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: After an impressive track record of popcorn cinema for more mature audiences, Robert Rodriguez came out with Spy Kids - a fun, visually inventive attempt at action flicks in the vein of the James Bond movies, but reimagined for children eight years old and up to relate to.

Stream Spy Kids on Netflix.
Stream Spy Kids on Paramount+.

Rent/buy Spy Kids digitally on Amazon.
Buy Spy Kids on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Sin City (2005)

The stories of a brutish criminal (Mickey Rourke) avenging the murder of a beautiful call girl, a mysterious loner (Clive Owen) taking on a slew of corrupt lawmen, and a disgraced former detective (Bruce Willis) returning to look out for the dancer (Jessica Alba) he rescued as a little girl make up this anthology taking place in an urban cess pool of violence.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Robert Rodriguez teamed up with comic book legend Frank Miller to co-write and co-direct Sin City, which does more than adapt Miller’s series of noir-inspired graphic novels, but brings the stories to life on the big screen with visually breathtaking mastery.

Stream Sin City on Showtime.
Stream Sin City on Pluto TV.

Rent/buy Sin City digitally on Amazon.
Buy Sin City on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

A cybernetic organism (Rosa Salazar) tries to figure out the forgotten secrets of her past when a kindly professor (Christoph Waltz) reactivates her after finding her remains in a junkyard.

Why it’s a great Robert Rodriguez movie: Robert Rodriguez took over for co-screenwriter and producer James Cameron as the director of Alita: Battle Angel - another visually striking and narratively refreshing comic book adaptation that has earned a devoted cult following since its 2019 release.

Rent/buy Alita: Battle Angel digitally on Amazon.
Buy Alita: Battle Angel on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Lately, Robert Rodriguez has made quite a splash directing television, namely an episode of The Mandalorian Season 2, and the upcoming pilot of The Book of Boba Fett, which he has also signed on as an executive producer for. However, the title I would most like to see from him (but never will) is 100 Years - a short starring John Malkovich that is scheduled to be released in 2115.

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At the moment, Alita: Battle Angel director Robert Rodriguez is a bit busy. In the years since the burgeoning cult classic was released, he’s delivered streaming hits like We Can Be Heroes for Netflix. Not to mention, he’s also been playing around in the world of Star Wars with The Mandolorian and now, The Book of Boba Fett. And if Mr. Rodriguez has his way, that second series will be the key to giving the Alita Army the sequel it keeps clamoring for, as he’s quite pleased with the work that’s been put in so far.

While promoting his work co-directing the Disney+ special, Billie Eilish: Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles, Robert Rodriguez was pressed for details about his new Star Wars project. And as he spoke with The Nerdy Basement, Rodriquez hyped up The Book of Boba Fett as ready to “overdeliver” on the promise it’s shown. Which, as he describes further along in that same interview, is part of his strategy to bring Alita: Battle Angel back into the forefront:

It’s the oldest play in the book, and Robert Rodriguez is using it to his advantage. And should he knock out a hit for the home team with The Book of Boba Fett, the results could be so overwhelming that he’ll earn the chips to finally make Alita: Fallen Angel a reality. It’s the story that could help end the almost three-year wait for some sort of action on a sequel, though that’s nothing compared to how long it took Alita: Battle Angel to arrive.

The original project was developed at the studio for a little over two decades, and talks of a trilogy continued when Robert Rodriguez took the reins from the project’s original shepherd, Avatar’s James Cameron. However, the two worked closely as collaborators, and that bond is still present. Though Cameron is more focused on returning to the world of Pandora in Avatar 2 and its intended sequels, Rodriguez admits that his mentor and pitch buddy is still in touch:

With Free Guy and Vacation Friends finding homes in theaters and on streaming in the past month, the Fox-era titles that Disney still has in the bank have been wandering out into the world. The success of the Ryan Reynolds' blockbuster is especially emboldening, as Free Guy has been a delightful surprise in its theatrical-only release model. However, with social media seeing Vacation Friends pick up some positive notices as a fun comedic romp, that pathway is particularly valuable as well. So it’s good that Robert Rodriguez is keeping his options open, though ultimately it may not be his decision.

If The Book of Boba Fett allows for Alita: Fallen Angel (or whatever the sequel may be called) to go into development, theatrical may be the sole option for initial release. Considering Alita: Battle Angel was released under the old 20th Century Fox system, which had an agreement that required its films to go to cable before even hitting streaming, that extra stumbling block could be an important factor in deciding the project's fate. A streaming debut might be an easier sell, thanks to the more modest results the first film raked in back in 2019.

For now though, Robert Rodriguez is optimistic about an Alita: Battle Angel sequel, provided fans flock to The Book of Boba Fett. Disney+ could have its next massive streaming hit on its hands, as that series is supposed to debut at some point in December 2021. So if you want to catch up on The Mandalorian, or any of the other Star Wars series and films in the franchise, you’ll want to head over to Disney+. Which, if you’re not a current subscriber, is part of the Disney Bundle; alongside ESPN+ and Hulu. So you should definitely check out the most recent subscription offer to take part in the magic.

Sex scenes are no doubt one of the more difficult parts of filming as an actor. Some of the best in the business won’t even entertain doing them. Salma Hayek recently shared a not-so-glamorous behind the scenes story about filming the famous sex scene for 1995's Desperado opposite Antonio Banderas, and why she was afraid to do it.

In a recent podcast appearance, Salma Hayek revealed, years later, why she was so afraid to film the Desperado scene and how she felt embarrassed by the whole situation. It was so early in her career. She noted:

The Oscar-nominated actress recently detailed the entire ordeal on the podcast Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard. She went on the describe exactly why the entire situation was more awkward than anything, and how it was intimidating to work with Antonio Banderas, who was "very free" with his acting on the set.

She did note that those involved did their best to make the filming as comfortable as possible. Director Robert Rodriguez cleared the entire area, only allowing Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, producer Elizabeth Avellán and himself to be a part of the scene. While the ordeal was no doubt traumatic, Hayek went on to commend the group for their support while speaking with Dax Shepherd. Despite the one scene, she mostly seems to have positive things to say.

Desperado was the second installment of the Mexico Trilogy from director Robert Rodriguez. In it, Salma Hayek played Carolina, the love interest of El Mariachi, played by Antonio Banderas. Despite the ordeal during the filming of the 1995 film, Hayek returned for the third and final installment of the series, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, which released in 2003.

Salma Hayek has had an impressive career since Desperado, appearing in major titles such as From Dusk Until Dawn, Wild Wild West, and her breakout hit Frida, for which she was nominated for an Academy award. Recently, she co-starred alongside Owen Wilson for Bliss, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime and features an ending that has had people talking. She will also be appearing in the upcoming MCU Phase 4 installment, Eternals, alongside an impressive cast. In the meantime, fans can stay up to date on the ever-changing upcoming slate of movies with CinemaBlend’s 2021 release schedule.

Cue the Floop theme song and call in the Thumb Thumbs, because Spy Kids is coming back! Dusk Till Dawn filmmaker Robert Rodriguez is returning to his explosive family franchise after his recent success with Netflix, having continued his Sharkboy and Lavagirl story with We Can Be Heroes, which recently racked up huge viewership numbers on the streaming site.

Robert Rodriguez is reportedly teaming up with Skydance Media to reboot the Spy Kids by tasking himself to write and direct an upcoming film that will focus on a “multicultural family,” per Deadline. The Spy Kids were first introduced 20 years ago when the 2001 film had Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino playing a retired pair of spies who get sucked back into danger, leading their two kids, Carmen and Juni, to come to the rescue.

The Spy Kids movies spawned three sequels, with the most recent film replacing the Cortez family and spotlighting Jessica Alba and Joel McHale as the parents to new spy children. We’d imagine his return to the franchise would follow somewhat of the same formula, but there has to be some new spark he has in mind to reimagine the franchise.

Now, my first choice would be to see Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino, Danny Trejo, Alan Cumming, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin and the now grown-up kids Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara back as Carmen and Juni, but chances are this will turn the focus on a new family we have yet to meet. I do feel inclined to dream my dream since We Can Be Heroes saw the return of Taylor Dooley suited back up as Lavagirl after all these years, whilst Taylor Lautner’s Sharkboy sat the follow-up out, much to fans’ disappointment.

Robert Rodriguez is seriously keeping himself busy as of late, considering he just signed up for a We Can Be Heroes sequel and is working with Disney+ to executive produce the upcoming series The Book of Boba Fett after working on The Mandalorian Season 2. With We Can Be Heroes 2 in the works, I’m inclined to humor the idea of Rodriguez making his own universe that could perhaps connect his superhero movies to his spy world.

A lot of the aesthetics between the two complement each other, and it just sounds like a fun way for Robert Rodriguez to play around with his two family-friendly worlds. Skydance Media is also a frequent collaborator with Netflix, previously distributing The Old Guard and 6 Underground on the platform, so Spy Kids could be a streaming release too depending on how things shake out.

What do you think? Are you interested in another Spy Kids movie? Sound off in the poll below. It’s great to see the visionary filmmaker get a lot of work; maybe Alita 2 will be next, eh?

We Can Be Heroes is really popular! So popular, in fact, that it already has a sequel lined up for it in the future. And thankfully, it will likely have the same cast of characters, which will certainly make one of its stars, Lyon Daniels, particularly happy. He plays the elastic character, Noodles, in the Netflix movie.

For those who don’t know, We Can Be Heroes is a spiritual sequel to the 2005 kiddie cult classic, The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D. In the original film, a young Taylor Lautner and a young Taylor Dooley played Sharkboy and Lavagirl, respectively. But while an all-grown-up Taylor Dooley reprises her role as Lavagirl, Taylor Lautner does not reprise his role as Sharkboy (Even though the actor, JJ Dashnaw, fills in for Sharkboy in a silent role in the sequel). Sharkboy as a character was especially memorable for Lyon Daniels, though, who grew up watching Sharkboy and Lavagirl. In fact, he even had the perfect nickname when he was younger. Here's what he told CinemaBlend:

Which is really cool! We Can Be Heroes is pretty much the perfect follow-up to The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D. So, to hear that one of its young actors actually grew up watching the original Robert Rodriguez kid film just goes to show what an impact it had on a younger generation.

Starring in the kiddie superhero film was “a dream come true” for the young actor, especially since he’s such a massive fan of Robert Rodriquez, who he admires and appreciates as a director. Lyon Daniels said this about working with Rodriguez:

The cast, which also features adult actors such as Pedro Pascal and Christian Slater, also seemed to grow very close on the set. Perhaps some of them will reprise their roles in a future film as adults like Taylor Dooley did in We Can Be Heroes. This is what Lyon Daniels had to say about his fellow co-stars:

Sounds like fun! And what a sweet wrap gift from Priyanka Chopra. Seems like everyone had a blast on this set, including the adults, and it produced a fun film. We can't wait to see what the characters get into in the sequel.

We Can Be Heroes is currently streaming on Netflix. Do you and your kiddos agree it's the perfect follow-up to Sharkboy and Lavagirl? Let us know in the comments.

From Dusk Till Dawn, the cult classic genre mash-up directed by Robert Rodriguez, written by Quentin Tarantino and starring George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Tarantino and a bunch of B-movie icons turns 25 in January. To celebrate its silver anniversary, let’s dive into some of the behind-the-scenes facts on the making and legacy of From Dusk Till Dawn.

From Dusk Till Dawn Was Quentin Tarantino’s First Paid Writing Assignment

Quentin Tarantino’s origin story as a movie-obsessed video store clerk who almost overnight became the hottest filmmaker in Hollywood is pretty well known. However, Reservoir Dogs isn’t the script that gave him the ability to dive full on into his career as a writer-director - that distinction goes to From Dusk Till Dawn.

Robert Kurtzman, the special effects and makeup artist who was part of the founding group for KNB EFX Group, conceived the story and wrote a treatment. When it came to actually writing the script, though, a producer pointed him in the direction of a young writer who was making some noise with his scripts Natural Born Killers and True Romance. Kurtzman hired Tarantino to write the script for $1,500, which allowed him to quit his job as a video clerk.

Tarantino did have one condition. As part of the deal for him to write the script, KNB would help him with makeup on Reservoir Dogs (i.e. the infamous ear scene). Tarantino would continue to use KNB for many of his films.

George Clooney’s Flame Tattoo Was Inspired By A New Zealand Movie

Seth Gecko was George Clooney’s first leading role in a film after becoming a TV star on ER. One of the defining characteristics of Seth Gecko is his flame tattoo that runs up his arm and around his neck. The film helped to make similar looking tattoos popular, but Clooney, or Tarantino or Rodriguez for that matter, is not the originator of the idea.

According to Clooney, he first saw the tattoo in the 1994 New Zealand movie Once Were Warriors, which follows a family descendant from Maori warriors and stars Temuera Morrison, or as he is better known to most U.S. audiences, Boba Fett.

Still, Clooney says that he occasionally sees people sporting the design and they reference From Dusk Till Dawn. One such instance, he said, happened at the Oscar nominee luncheon in 2006, when a member of Three Six Mafia - who were nominated (and eventually won) for “Hard Out Here for a Pimp” in Best Original Song - wanted to show Clooney his ink.

Salma Hayek’s Dance Was Done In A Trance Because Of Her Fear Of Snakes

Actors have different processes to get into their roles. Apparently for Salma Hayek, preparing for her role as Santanico Pandemonium required a bit of hypnosis.

When asked to be in the film by Tarantino, he revealed that the dance scene would include an 11-foot snake, which would be a bit of a problem for Hayek considering her fear of snakes. Hayek said she told Tarantino that she couldn’t dance with a snake because of that, who, according to Hayek, said that Madonna would be up for it if she wasn’t. So Hayek came up with a strategy to overcome her fear for the scene.

As she details in an interview with IGN:

Hayek said at the time that it was one of the most challenging things that she has done as an actress.

Fred Williamson Has Three Rules For Being In A Movie, But He Broke Them For From Dusk Till Dawn

Fred Williamson is a former NFL player who, during his playing career, was nicknamed “The Hammer.” He would then go on to become a major star and producer of blaxploitation movies.

Williamson says that he has three rules when selecting a movie, needing at least two out of three to be in a movie: 1) he can’t be killed in the movie; 2) he has to win all the fights; and 3) he gets the girl at the end of the movie.

However, spoiler alert if you haven’t seen From Dusk Till Dawn, Williamson’s character Frost ultimately satisfies none of those rules, considering he eventually becomes one of the undead. But according to Williamson, in an interview with the Phoenix News Times, after killing a whole bunch of vampires he believed he effectively satisfied his fans and then when he is ultimately killed after turning to a vampire, he said “I went down as an ugly thing and not as ‘The Hammer.’”

From Dusk Till Dawn Went To Battle Against Hollywood Unions

Rodriguez and Tarantino have a long history with Hollywood unions. Most of Rodriguez’s early films were done with non-union crews, while Tarantino is not a member of the Writer’s Guild of America (he is a member of the Director’s Guild, however). From Dusk Till Dawn was another non-union production for Rodriguez, but that almost led to some problems.

In a report from Variety, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) was not thrilled that an $18 million budgeted movie was shooting in Los Angeles with a non-union crew. IATSE attempted to bring the crew into the union, but were rebuked in their efforts by Tarantino and producer Lawrence Bender, saying it would add $300,000 to their budget, a number IATSE refuted.

Tensions between the two sides continued throughout production, though ultimately no action was taken by IATSE and, as shown in the making-of documentary Full Tilt Boogie, Miramax eventually agreed to provide healthcare to crew members.

Fire and Other Natural Disasters Hit The Set

The first five weeks of shooting for From Dusk Till Dawn was the bar fight that takes up the second half of the movie and was done on a soundstage in Los Angeles. But once they picked up stakes and headed on location, things got a bit more complicated.

A desert outside Barstow, Calif., was where the facade of The Titty Twister bar was built. While filming one of the final scenes when the bar explodes, the explosion worked a little too well, as Tom Bellissimo, pyrotechnical/mechanical effects designer, told the Full Tilt Boogie filmmakers.

The crew was prepared to work around the fire and continue shooting, but sometimes it just isn’t your day. Just a little bit later a dust storm hit and production had to be called off for the day.

Mother Nature had one more trick up its sleeve for the production. On the martini shot (the last shot of production) it began to rain, forcing the crew to wait as they needed sunlight to match their previous work. As a co-producer joked in the documentary, they were just “waiting for the frogs it hit.”

From Dusk Till Dawn Was Banned In Ireland

From Dusk Till Dawn’s violence was a critical point in nearly all of the negative reviews that the film garnered, even with the green blood. However, Ireland went so far as to ban the film altogether.

Film censor Sheamus Smith called the From Dusk Till Dawn’s violence “irresponsible and totally gratuitous,” adding “Somebody has to say ‘stop’ to this extraordinary violence on the screen.” According to an article in The Irish Times, the country had recently experienced the Dunblane and Port Arthur massacres.

From Dusk Till Dawn’s ban in Ireland would eventually be lifted in 2004 for release on video.

From Dusk Till Dawn Is Part Of Tarantino’s Shared Universe

All of Tarantino’s films are connected, as he himself has confirmed in interviews, and From Dusk Till Dawn is no exception, even though he did not direct it.

As Tarantino describes it, his films operate in two different realities - the “real world,” i.e. Pulp Fiction, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; the other is the films those characters would go see, like the Kill Bill movies. From Dusk Till Dawn falls into the second category.

Because of that, From Dusk Till Dawn features Tarantino easter eggs like Big Kahuna Burger, as well as Michael Parks’ Texas Ranger Earl McGraw, who appears again in the Kill Bill movies and Grindhouse. Details from Robert Rodriguez's films were also obviously included, connecting them as well.

Rodriguez Calls From Dusk Till Dawn As A Quasi Double Feature

Speaking of Grindhouse, the 2007 event film from Rodriguez and Tarantino was created as a double feature, like how films would often be paired at drive-in movie theaters in the ‘60s and ‘70s. The duo first played around with the idea of a double feature though with From Dusk Till Dawn.

Rodriguez and Tarantino often say that the film is an unofficial double feature, with the first half the kind of crime story that Tarantino was known for at that point, while the brawl with the vampires Rodriguez’s half of the equation.

From Dusk Till Dawn turns 25 on Jan. 19. It is available to watch on streaming, VOD and of course if you own the DVD or Blu-ray.

In the days and weeks leading up to 2020’s big Disney Investor Day event, the fan community rallying around a potential sequel to Alita: Battle Angel hoped that there might be an announcement of where Robert Rodriguez’s cult hit could be going in the future. Whispers of a prequel series on Disney+ or a full-fledged sequel film reigned supreme, with various scoopers on the internet claiming they knew something ahead of the big announcement festival. However, the event came and went without even a mention of Alita or even Avatar, leaving fans to question if this was a dead end, or if a way forward still existed.

On the surface, there are no outward plans to push Alita: Battle Angel back into the Disney spotlight. Reading between the lines and using some clever interpretation tell a different story though, as there’s a distinct possibility that Hulu and/or Disney+ could be the path towards the continued adventures of Alita and her battle against the evil Nova. What follows are several points of order that lead to one solid conclusion: Disney streaming just might be the way forward for Alita: Battle Angel’s future.

Alita: Battle Angel Is Already Part Of The Disney+ Library Internationally

One of the concrete announcements at Disney’s Investor Day that pertained to Alita: Battle Angel was the fact that the film, along with other landmark titles from the Fox library, are actually available on a Disney streaming platform! Unfortunately, films like the Alien series, Deadpool and even Alita are all only available on Disney’s Hotstar platform, which operates on an international basis. Still, once the domestic streaming rights expire with the current rights holders, which happen to be the HBO family of networks, Alita: Battle Angel will have a clear path to head onto either Hulu or Disney+. When and if that happens, you can bet it’ll amp up fans of the franchise to flock to Disney’s streaming platforms, which will only drive interest in a follow-up even higher in demand.

Hulu Is The Future Home Of 20th Century Studios Exclusives

Another announcement that Disney’s Investor Day that helped fuel the dream of an Alita sequel is the fact that Hulu will have exclusive films developed under the 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures banners. While the downside to this pathway, at this time, is the fact that Alita: Battle Angel’s potential sequel might skip theatrical release, it’s still a rather hopeful development. Should a new film in Robert Rodriguez’s cult hit be greenlighted, and if Alita Battle Angel 2 becomes a large enough streaming success, there’s a chance that Disney might see enough promise to not only send that film into some sort of limited theatrical release, but also ensure the future of the franchise as a cinematic event.

Disney Is Already Reviving Fox Properties Under The Current Leadership

For a moment, the Disney/Fox merger caused a bit of uneasiness among fans of various projects that were up in the air. Properties like Alien and Planet of the Apes were of particular interest, as their recent activity suggested further installments in the works during the Fox years. Both of those series have been confirmed as alive and well under the Disney regime, with Alien being mentioned on Investor Day as the subject of a new FX original series in development. With the doors to the Fox Vault already open, it would be foolish to think that Disney isn’t, at the very least, puzzling how Alita: Battle Angel could become a future streaming concern.

The Works Of Robert Rodriguez Are Already Streaming Hits

Alita: Battle Angel 2 could be an easier sell overall if the finished project were intended for a medium that sees Robert Rodriguez maintaining a home court advantage. Believe it or not, the Rodriguez brand has already become crazy popular when it comes to the world of streaming media, as classics and new efforts alike have are making waves. Older titles like Spy Kids have been hits with families, and even newer efforts like The Mandalorian and We Can Be Heroes have given Rodriguez a seriously bankable name in the world of streaming entertainment. Between the ease and scope of streaming releases, Robert Rodriguez’s hardcore work ethic seems pretty well suited for the fast paced world of this more direct medium.

Robert Rodriguez And James Cameron Are Still In The Disney Family

While Robert Rodriguez’s popularity in streaming has led to Netflix fast-tracking a sequel for We Can Be Heroes, he and Alita: Battle Angel producer James Cameron both have some strong roots planted on the Disney lot. As Cameron is currently shaping his Avatar saga under the auspices of the Disney/Fox merger, and Rodriguez is playing around in the Star Wars sandbox for Disney+, two of the most crucial players for Alita: Battle Angel 2’s potential success are strongly linked to the studio. With Alita and Avatar practically joined at the hip since the earliest days of development, refinement of technology on one project has always lead to the other’s advancement. With both under the same roof, that process could be supercharged; if only someone would let it happen.

Even Robert Rodriguez Likes The Idea Of A Streaming Alita Sequel

If he really wanted to, Robert Rodriguez could probably put Alita: Battle Angel in the rearview of his career, save for the occasional kind thoughts spared for the production process and the fan response to the film. That doesn’t seem to be an option for the man at this point, as almost two full years since Alita was released into theaters, Robert Rodriguez continues to go on record as saying he’d love to head back to the world of Iron City. Even better is the fact that he’s also up for a streaming revival, as the notion of a Disney+ project has perked up his ears in recent interviews.

Ideally, fans and creator alike would love to see Alita: Battle Angel back on the big screen with any potential sequels or prequels to come in the future. In the best possible scenario, the usage of both the Hulu and Disney+ streaming outlets could be a stepping stone back into such a release strategy. Though if Alita: Battle Angel 2 were to be a streaming exclusive title, it would still achieve the goal of exploring the world that was left wide open after the bittersweet cliffhanger that ended the first chapter of a planned trilogy.

For now, you can catch Alita: Battle Angel on its current broadcast/streaming home of Cinemax and CinemaxGo in the domestic market, as well as on Disney HotStar in select international markets. And if you’re looking to see what Robert Rodriguez has been up to in the streaming world, The Mandalorian Season 2is available in its entirety on Disney+, with We Can Be Heroes streaming in the Netflix library.

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We’ve only just begun to see what 2021 has to offer in terms of entertainment, especially since this coming weekend is the first non-holiday frame for films to make their debut. But the tail end of 2020 already yielded a pretty big development in terms of writer/director Robert Rodriguez’s future, as not only did Disney confirm he’ll be an executive producer on The Book of Boba Fett series, but now Netflix has retained his services for a streaming original. It’s all thanks to his latest film, We Can Be Heroes, being such a gigantic hit that the studio has already given the green light to a sequel.

Following the announcement that 44 million families have watched the pseudo-sequel to Sharkboy and Lavagirl within the first four weeks of its release, clearly We Can Be Heroes has left a lasting impression on kids and adults alike. So obviously when you have a movie that’s left the public wanting more, you announce a sequel as soon as you can, right? That school of thought led to the following post from Robert Rodriguez’s Twitter, confirming that Netflix had just that in mind:

Of course, this good news comes with a bit of a caveat for those fans of Robert Rodriguez’s other recent fan favorite, Alita: Battle Angel. With no concrete plans announced by Disney, or the ever optimistic Rodriguez, to continue that franchise, these new gigs are a bit of a sticky wicket. As both We Can Be Heroes 2 and The Book of Boba Fett will be taking up Rodriguez’s time in the foreseeable future, this casts even more doubt on a potential Alita sequel that fans have been clamoring for.

That’s not to say that “full development” on the We Can Be Heroes sequel has killed any chance for moving forward with that universe as well, but it’s admittedly looking as if there will be an even longer wait for any announcement confirming or denying the Alita: Battle Angel sequel's fate. But on the positive side, to see Netflix give Robert Rodriguez a pretty quick and firm commitment to We Can Be Heroes 2 is a hopeful sign that the studio is keen to keep the train rolling on this partnership, and in short order.

We Can Be Heroes is currently available on Netflix, with the sequel’s release date sitting at an obvious TBD for this moment. We'll let you know when an official date is announced. As for Robert Rodriguez’s work on Season 2 of The Mandalorian, that’s currently sitting in the Disney+ library, waiting to be enjoyed. And if you’re looking for more cinematic thrills in 2021, you can head over to our release schedule for the entire year and scope out what’s available.

Over the course of The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal's titular hero gets to run the action-adventure gamut, from hand-to-hand combat to blaster fights to spaceship mayhem and everything in between. The character is a bit of a mix of various Star Wars protagonists from years past, as well as another icon from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's cinematic collaborations, Indiana Jones. To that end, filmmaker and Mandalorian episode director Robert Rodriguez has shared his thoughts about why Pascal reminds him of Han Solo himself, O.G. Star Wars actor Harrison Ford.

Though Robert Rodriguez is more known for his work on films such as Alita: Battle Angel, the Machete films and the Spy Kids movies, he lent his talents to The Mandalorian for the action-packed Chapter 14, "The Tragedy." While that installment was more focused on the big returns of Temuera Morrison's Boba Fett and Ming-Na Wen's Fennec Shand, Rodriguez talked with Den of Geek more about working with Pedro Pascal, who is also in the director's new film We Can Be Heroes. Here's how he compared Pascal to fellow Star Wars alum Harrison Ford.

Robert Rodriguez is right on the money with that assessment, too, since Pedro Pascal is basically capable of taking on any kind of role that's thrown at him. Even though he doesn't get to play the most expressive character behind his all-important mask on The Mandalorian, Pascal's voice work alone is usually pitch-perfect on both a dramatic level and on a wry humor level, which is definitely on Ford's level. Pascal is excellent at portraying a put-upon badass, and while his character automatically tends to clam up whenever the helmet comes off, he gives those moments weight by appearing extremely uncomfortable. And who knows more about appearing uncomfortable, both on camera and in Star Wars interviews, than Harrison Ford? [Insert GIF of amused Chewbacca.]

Beyond The Mandalorian, Pedro Pascal is probably best known for the highly intense crime drama Narcos, as well as his limited-but-lasting arc on Game of Thrones as The Viper. And he'll soon be seen in Wonder Woman 1984 as the villainous Maxwell Lord. But despite these projects all being on the more serious front, Pascal maintains an eye-catching charisma and a sense of potential mischief. It's unfortunate that he hasn't been utilized for full-blown comedies at this point, since even his input for the Community reunion table-read was perfecto.

In that sense, Pedro Pascal is like another mega-famous actor that Robert Rodriguez has worked with a couple of times in his career. Here's how he put it:

Robert Rodriguez first worked with George Clooney on one of the most gloriously vile vampire movies ever, From Dusk Till Dawn, which was a shock for audiences used to his stoic performances on ER. And then there was that Nespresso ad/short, in which John Malkovich played God, so that was obviously perfect. If only we could now get another FDTD sequel starring both Clooney and Pedro Pascal. Or if only Clooney would join The Mandalorian. I'd take either.

Robert Rodriguez isn't done with the Star Wars universe yet, either, as he'll be serving as an executive producer (and maybe more) on the upcoming spinoff series The Book of Boba Fett. While waiting to hear more about that project, don't forget to check out We Can Be Heroes when it hits Netflix on Friday, December 25, at 3:01 a.m. ET. Head to our Winter and Spring 2021 TV premiere schedule to see what new and returning shows are popping up when the new year arrives.

The Mandalorian Season 2 is done and, while there's a wait to be had before Season 3, fans are still loving all the extra reveals and theories to come out of the wonderful sophomore season. The last week has brought a slew of behind-the-scenes content to fans, including one adorable video of director Robert Rodriguez rocking out with Baby Yoda.

Robert Rodriguez, who directed The Mandalorian Season 2's sixth episode, "The Tragedy," can be seen in the video strumming his guitar while sitting on the seeing stone with Grogu. Take a look at the director's Twitter video, which shows The Child bobbing his head as the director plays:

You gotta love the work of puppeteers. The head bobbing was good enough, but isn't it just the best when Grogu is making baby noises? I certainly wasn't expecting that kind of commitment from the puppet master during a moment in which Robert Rodriguez is essentially taking a break between takes and hanging out with his guitar.

For those impressed with Robert Rodriguez's guitar playing, the director has been playing the instrument for some time. Rodriguez founded a band, Chingon, in 2003 for the purpose of writing songs for his film Once Upon A Time In Mexico. The band released an album in 2004 and, since then, songs have appeared in subsequent movies he's directed as well as the films of others like Quentin Tarantino.

It would be great to see Baby Yoda jam out to more music but, unfortunately, based on the ending of The Mandalorian Season 2, it's currently unclear if he will return in any future series. The character went off to train with Luke Skywalker, a development that required a pretty big CGI cameo from Mark Hamill. With Grogu kicking it with an expensive, CGI Luke in some unknown location, one has to wonder if his run in future Star Wars stories will be put on hold for now.

As for Robert Rodriguez, his run in Star Wars has only just begun. The director is on board to be an executive producer for The Book Of Boba Fett, an upcoming spinoff of The Mandalorian that's set to premiere in December 2021. Fans are undoubtedly excited to see Rodriguez in the Star Wars universe, given his contribution to film over the past couple of decades as well as his tremendous directing of "The Tragedy." Hopefully, The Book Of Boba Fett is loaded with many more fight scenes like the one seen in that episode, though I pity the stormtroopers that have to take those beatings.

The Mandalorian Seasons 1 and 2 are currently available to stream on Disney+. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest happening with the series, and for more news in the world of television and movies.

The potential for an Alita: Battle Angel sequel is something that’s powered fans of director Robert Rodriguez’s 2019 blockbuster through a sea of time without any studio announcements. Not even a theatrical re-release that took place earlier this year could nudge Disney into even mentioning that the property is still a priority, or even an acknowledged quantity, during their recent Investor’s Day. But that hasn’t stopped people from hoping, and it certainly hasn’t dampened Rodriguez’s spirits, as even he is optimistic that Alita could have a bright future in the world of streaming.

While promoting another streaming effort, the Netflix feature film We Can Be Heroes, Robert Rodriguez talked up the possibility with Forbes. And it’s thanks to Disney+ that Alita: Battle Angel’s intrepid helmer is in high spirits for getting back to Iron City. Not only that, but as he spoke in this particular interview, Rodriguez reinforced that he is very much open to sticking with the franchise:

Recent rumblings among the ranks of the Alita Army have seen various scoopers declaring that both a sequel, and a potential prequel series on Disney+, have been discussed among the top brass at Disney. But even in light of the recent rounds of scuttlebutt, there’s been no official word of Alita: Battle Angel being considered for such treatment. So hearing Robert Rodriguez throwing some logs on the fire for such a revival is a good booster in a time when fans could use it.

To be perfectly fair, some other huge projects that Disney has inherited from Fox weren’t mentioned at Investor’s Day either. With no mention or footage of James Cameron’s Avatar 2, which just recently wrapped live action photography, or even a nod towards the Planet of the Apes continuation that’s in the works, there were definitely some gaps in that gargantuan rollout. Even Marvel found themselves at a loss, as the supposed casting of Oscar Isaac as Moon Knight’s lead was absent from the whole shebang.

Clearly absence clearly doesn’t mean the total lack of interest, so the Alita: Battle Angel legacy could still be in the pipeline. Though even if that’s not particularly true just yet, Robert Rodriguez’s latest efforts in the Disney+ family, such as The Book of Boba Fett, seem to be olive branches that could lead to some sort of movement in the future. Hope springs eternal, and until Disney officially takes Alita off the table, fans shouldn’t stand by without lending their support.

For now, you can check out Robert Rodriguez’s latest movie efforts with We Can Be Heroes, which debuts on Netflix on Christmas Day. And if 2021 is the year you’re looking to get back to the theaters, our 2021 release schedule is here to assist in getting your new year in order.

Spoilers below for those who haven't yet finished watching The Mandalorian's Season 2 finale all the way through!

While The Mandalorian obviously delivered a couple of huge gut-punches with its second season finale – in particular, a gut-punch shaped like Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker – Jon Favreau & Co. saved one of the best reveals for after the episode technically ended. Following the surprisingly quiet end credits, which lacked the usual concept art, The Mandalorian gave fans a rollicking teaser sequence announcing The Book of Boba Fett would be arriving in December 2021, though it failed to actually say if The Book of Boba was meant to be Season 3, or if it was its own thing.

Thankfully, Disney+ finally cleared things up for Star Wars fans, even if it took until Monday morning for it to happen. According to the rising star streaming service, The Book of Boba Fett will indeed be the next standalone spinoff tethered to The Mandalorian's universe. Here's how the company explained it in a tweet, while also confirming a few key creatives behind the scenes.

This news should be quite comforting to fans who were afraid that Jon Favreau would be curtailing the storyline of Pedro Pascal's Din Djarin and replacing it with a renewed focus on Temuera Morrison's Boba Fett, with the Mandalorian title being transferrable between characters. I suppose that can technically still happen at some point, but we probably don't need to worry about The Book of Boba Fett being the catalyst behind Mando's exit.

It's not a big surprise to learn that both Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni are executive producers for The Book of Boba Fett, considering they're a critical part of the storytelling cycle within this TV universe. It was, however, somewhat surprising to see that filmmaker Robert Rodriguez will be maintaining a more permanent spot in Star Wars' future. Rodriguez directed the episode "The Tragedy," and thus is responsible for giving Boba Fett the kinds of action scenes that truly made him as badass as he was always thought to be. It's not clear from this message if Rodriguez will be responsible for helming some or all of the Book of Boba Fett episodes, but it's not unlikely if the scheduling works out.

What this tweet does NOT do, however, is confirm that The Mandalorian Season 3 is a thing that will exist. It's all but assured, considering how extremely popular the first live-action Star Wars series has been for the streaming service. But with all the other franchise TV shows in development, it's possible Mando's future will take a backseat until everything else can come together.

The Mandalorian's first two seasons are available to stream in full on Disney+ right now, with The Book of Boba Fett set to arrive in December 2021. While waiting for that day to finally arrive, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 TV rundown to see what new and returning shows are on the way.

Robert Rodriguez has one of the most intriguing filmmaker careers one can have. While the writer/director is best known for his more bloody affairs like Sin City, Machete and From Dusk Till Dawn, for an entire generation who grew up in the early ‘00s with his family-friendly movies. The Spy Kids trilogy of course left a mark, because how can one forget thumb-thumbs? Another memorable one is 2005’s The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl starring a 13-year-old Taylor Lautner before his Twilight werewolf days.

Rodriguez surprised fans this morning with an espresso shot of nostalgia with the reveal of Sharkboy and Lavagirl all grown up for his upcoming movie We Can Be Heroes. The Netflix movie will have the filmmaker returning to family movies as a group of kids band together to save their parents from aliens. Among the parents is Sharkboy and Lavagirl. Yep. Take a look:

Well this is awesome. Taylor Dooley looks great back in her Lavagirl suit and bright pink hair for We Can Be Heroes. The production value looks incredible and as Robert Rodriguez reveals, the pair have a kid together named Guppy. You can briefly see their daughter, played by Vivien Lyra Blair, who was Girl in Bird Box. But there’s a massive shark in the room, not not the one on the right… where the heck is Taylor Lautner?

Next to Taylor Dooley’s Lavagirl is a Sharkboy rocking the new and improved suit, but this time donning a fin mask over his head. It’s clearly not Taylor Lautner, but instead stunt actor JJ Dashnaw. The reveal bothered fans right away, creating a conversation so massive that Taylor Lautner’s name has been trending all day. Check out one response:

Following Taylor Lautner’s early work as Sharkboy and in Cheaper by the Dozen 2, the actor of course moved to a number of years in the spotlight as the Team Jacob side of the Twilight hype. Following his fame, the actor has not followed in the footsteps of his counterpart Robert Pattinson, who has gone on to receive critical acclaim for movies like Good Time and soon become The Batman for DC. In the near decade since the actor’s leave from Jacob Black, he’s had a total of six roles with The Ridiculous 6 and Scream Queens being among his credits. He’s surely missed on We Can Be Heroes as you can see:

Imagine the power We Can Be Heroes with both Taylors back in their suits? Sadly, Lautner is not a part of the project for an unknown reason. The movie does have a massive cast including The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Christian Slater and Haley Reinhart. And it’s unclear how prominent Sharkboy and Lavagirl will be to the movie. But it’s the principle of it all.

The awesome reveal was taken away in a sense because the reaction was so focused on who was not there. The internet showed some contempt toward the 28-year-old actor who either decided not to, didn’t have time to or was not asked to join this reunion. It is a bummer, but fans are really roasting Lautner now on Twitter:

We Can Be Heroes debuts on Netflix on New Year’s Day, January 1. For many, we’re walking into the new year with a bit of disappointment about what could have been. At least we can dream, dream, dream! Check out what else is coming next year with CinemaBlend’s 2021 release schedule.

If you were to go back in time a couple of months in the past just to tell Alita: Battle Angel fans that they’d get another chance to see the movie in theaters, the fandom would probably be shocked. But sure enough, the call of the fandom has been heeded, and director Robert Rodriguez’s ever growing cult favorite is coming back to select movie screens this weekend. This calls for a celebration, and Rodriguez himself has provided something cool to add to the festivities courtesy of an exclusive poster he just debuted. Take a look at this new promo art below:

Previously, promotions for the Alita: Battle Angel re-release have used older poster art, photoshopped to show the October 30th opening date for the re-issue. Which meant that the moment Robert Rodriguez shared this new artwork on Twitter, the fans went wild. Showing Rosa Salazar’s Alita, with her trusty Damascus Blade held over her shoulder, a colorful and sunny background heralds what looks like the appropriate dawn of a new day.

Issuing new art for Alita: Battle Angel, even if it’s purely digital for the moment, is a pretty big deal for a movie that was supposed to have been done and dusted in 2019. Though the studio and filmmakers behind the modest success may have picked up on the Alita Army fan community’s own efforts to market the film, and decided that a new piece to the advertising puzzle was well earned. At this point, the only thing that’d be more impressive than creating that new poster is if the studio actually printed some hard copies, in hopes that theaters will put them into their lightboxes to promote the big night at hand.

The commitment of Robert Rodriguez, as well as producers James Cameron and Jon Landau, has always been amazing when it comes to the re-release of Alita: Battle Angel. That impressive support was even bolstered by the fact that the official Twitter accounts for both 20th Century Studios and Alita: Battle Angel also managed to join in the messaging boost. In a time where movie theaters are looking for patrons to return, pushing this new chance for an older favorite to shine feels pretty refreshing. Here’s hoping the re-release effort this weekend pushes the hopes of a sequel higher than ever, on the battle hardened wings of its fans.

Alita: Battle Angel heads back to theaters this Friday, with some theaters scheduling showings as early as this Thursday. So check your local showtimes, to make sure where and when you can join the festivities. If you’re looking to support Alita’s big return, but you can’t or don’t feel like returning to theaters just yet, you can still join the cause through either buying or renting the film on physical or digital media. Or, if you’re a Cinemax/MaxGO subscriber, you can watch or stream Alita: Battle Angel this weekend, in order to help boost the film’s profile. The clock’s ticking, so plan accordingly, Alita Army!

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Both James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez are busy men, with the former currently filming his handful of Avatar sequels in New Zealand and the latter hard at work on Netflix’s upcoming film We Can Be Heroes. So it’s not like they’re exactly sitting on a lot of extra social media time on their hands. However, with the Alita: Battle Angel re-release campaign in full effect, both of these titanic figures behind the fan-favorite manga adaptation have found time to lend their voices to those that want the public to give Alita a warm welcome back to theaters.

The legendary sci-fi master who started Alita: Battle Angel on its journey, and the hot shot filmmaker who gave her those cinematic wings, have weighed in on the big bring back in the past day. Most surprisingly James Cameron, someone who isn’t a huge Twitter user in the first place, took to Twitter to throw his vote of support into the ring. Check out his message:

Two really huge pieces of information stick out when it comes to this Alita: Battle Angel tweet from James Cameron. The first is the fact that while he did develop this project over the span of about 20 years, in the end Cameron decided to devote his attention to Avatar in the long run. There were two worlds that the man behind The Terminator and Titanic had in mind at the same time, but the wonders of Pandora were the ones that won out. But with clear affection still felt for Alita: Battle Angel, he’s been supportive of the project every step of the way; right down to stumping for the big re-release that the Alita Army has been waiting for.

A larger finding is that the art included in James Cameron’s tweet for Alita: Battle Angel actually looks like it’s studio sanctioned PR material. While it’s as simple as adding the message “Back In Theaters – October 30,” this isn’t a callback for any specific theater chain’s participation. As both Regal and Cinemark had officially announced their participation in the past, only Cinemark currently stands as going ahead with the re-release campaign set for the end of the month. This is unfortunately due to Regal Cinemas’ decision to close the doors of all locations in the US and UK, thanks to major releases being postponed throughout the year. So those who are hoping for AMC Theatres to officially get in the game may have even more hope on their side, thanks to James Cameron.

Even with the massive support of Cameron behind Alita: Battle Angel’s resurrection, what type of a campaign would this be if director Robert Rodriguez didn’t take part? As he weighed in with a more direct ask for fans to buy tickets to Cinemark Theaters’ big event, the cinematic Doc Ido to Alita: Battle Angel’s very existence rallied behind the charge with his own battle cry.

In a world that has seen movie theaters welcoming attendance, but the numbers signaling that there’s either not as much interest, or not the right content to draw the crowds, Alita: Battle Angel’s re-release feels like it could be an outlier that the big chains have been waiting for. While social distancing and theater availability might not be the same as a modest blockbuster in the before times, the results could be enough to show the world that Alita: Battle Angel is still in the hearts and minds of so many. Then again, if you can get James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez to tweet about the re-issue of a movie they both released almost two years ago, that has to say something doesn’t it?

Alita: Battle Angel will be back in select Cinemark theaters on October 30th, and you can get your tickets now for the big night! But if you’re more interested in supporting the film in the comfort of your own home, you can purchase or rent the film on digital and physical formats, as well as watch/stream Alita on her new cable TV home at Cinemax and MaxGo.

Just when it seemed like Ben Affleck was about to get to work on his next big screen project, there’s been a bit of a snafu in the form of a lawsuit. In fact news broke this week that Ben Affleck’s upcoming flick Hypnotic with Robert Rodriguez is dealing with a lawsuit directly related to its COVID-19 delays.

The disagreement is related to insurance on Hypnotic. When the pandemic got underway, the Ben Affleck starrer had been expected to film in Los Angeles. However, as it became clear Los Angeles could not support COVID-19 testing for the massive production, first the film looked to Texas and then as rates went up there, it looked to Canada in order to film. As all of that was happening, Hypnotic was being insured by the Chubb National Insurance Company.

Well, those delays took months. Now, Hypnotic is actually set to work its way back into production, Chubb National Insurance Company alleges that the company does not have to extend the insurance coverage. The company is happy to give the film a new coverage policy, per a report obtained by THR, but apparently wants to add in a COVID-19 exclusion policy before moving forward.

Hypnotic’s production Hoosegow Productions is suing, stating that Chubb National Insurance Company didn’t do its due diligence when the production tried to extend over a period of two months. In addition, the company believes that the long-standing policy with the company is that when films are delayed the company would typically be extended until a film is completed. The lawsuit alleges Chubb National Insurance company noted this in writing, mentioning,

The policy was expected to expire on October 28, 2020, which would have given the movie plenty of time had it made its original April filming date, though the suit also alleges the Hypnotic team initially suggested a 2021 date on the policy and were told they could re-up as needed, per the lawsuit. Then the novel coronavirus hit and the movie has been in limbo much longer than initially anticipated. Meanwhile, the October 28 date is now coming up.

In fact, as recently as August 24, the production was reportedly just starting to look at venues in and around Vancouver, British Columbia. Without insurance, the movie wouldn’t be able to back the production and its major assets Ben Affleck and Robert Rodriguez, so it’s unclear if this lawsuit will delay Affleck’s next movie even longer.

The year 2020 has obviously been unprecedented for a whole bunch of reasons, including longer-than-expected movie delays. Some movies have been able to work out deals and figure out issues in order to and get the ball moving again in regards to filming. Others are still waiting in limbo to move forward, either due to filming location issues, Covid-testing issues or other issues more along the same lines Hypnotic is dealing with right now. In one very specific case, The Batman returned to filming, only to allegedly see its lead get sick with the virus, so the potential for COVID-19 to be an issue on set is there.

Ben Affleck has a whole bunch of projects lined up, and we’ll have to see now which one ends up getting off of the ground first. At least he may be able to spend more time with his new partner Ana de Armas in the meantime.

Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas have been joined at the hip since quarantine started back in March. The couple have done a little traveling together, they’ve walked dogs together and at one point Ben Affleck was even seen hanging out on a balcony at a Malibu location where Ana de Armas was filming. Soon, however, Affleck may be getting back to work on a new movie himself.

In fact, if things had been normal, he would have already been working. Ben Affleck had several productions ground to a halt this spring. One of them was the Robert Rodriguez movie Hypnotic, which was expected to originally film in Los Angeles. The flick got shifted to Austin for a July filming date as LA dealt with its own pandemic problems. As history has shown, Texas then also saw its rates go up and the production had to sit in limbo over the summer.

Soon, however, it looks as if Ben Affleck will be getting back to work. According to a CNBC report, the parent company of Hypnotic Solstice Studios has been looking around for a new venue for a while. Apparently the production will be moving to Vancouver, Canada for an October start in terms of filming. Australia and the U.K. were also looked at before the location was finalized.

Solstice Studios told the outlet that filming in the U.S. would be impossible not due to the rates in the country but just due to the availability of testing for those working on the movie, with Solstice Studios head honcho Mark Gill saying the testing capacity made it “impossible” to keep Hypnotic in The States. Basically, because there is a delay between the testing and the lab results, there's no way to reconcile with what the unions were asking for and what was actually available, per Mark Gill.

Some productions such as Yellowstone have been able to resume filming in the United States due to quarantine and other safety facets and procedures, but for a big budget movie like the one starring Ben Affleck, there are typically larger crews and more people interacting. So, Vancouver has more of the capacity to handle the set and the necessary testing.

Once Hypnotic gets off the ground, that should get the ball rolling in terms of Ben Affleck’s workload. He also has the Disney flick The Last Duel (with Matt Damon) to complete. Then he’ll be directing Ghost Army and also has a role in The Witness for the Prosecution coming up, based on the Agatha Christie novel of the same name – and not to be confused with Death on the Nile, the upcoming Hercule Poirot movie that already has a trailer. Plus, there’s that whole little return of the Batfleck thing to look forward to...

Meanwhile, at some point soon Ana de Armas will have some No Time To Die promotional work to do. She was also recently seen filming in Malibu and her next movie will be playing Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. So, the a-list couple is going to be very busy in the coming months.

The good news? Both will be doing some interview and red carpet work together later this year. The reason they even met in the first place was because they filmed the thriller Deep Water together. It sounds like a shark movie, but it’s actually about an unhappy couple and the games they play. Deep Water is expected out this November, but that’s still subject to change.

At the moment, there’s still no official movement on whether or not Disney or any other studio player is interested in making Alita: Battle Angel’s potential sequel a reality. However, that hasn’t stopped fans of the Robert Rodriguez directed film from trying to make it happen. And today came with a pretty exciting development in the quest to get Alita: Fallen Angel its wings, as Black Panther star Danai Gurira is their choice to play a character that is a part of the Motorball scene in the world of Alita.

This tweet came from the Alita Army Twitter feed, as they were keen on celebrating “Danai Gurira Appreciation Day.” So obviously, after playing such commanding presences as Michonne on AMC’s The Walking Dead, as well as Okoye the Wakandan warrior we last saw in Avengers: Endgame, it feels like the time is right to get Gurira into the mocap meets practical world of Alita: Battle Angel.

Motorballer Zafal Takié, better known to sporting fans as “Crimson Wind,” is the role that fans want Danai Gurira to play in the dream sequel to Alita: Battle Angel. And if this casting was to take place, there could be some potential for further reinvention of Yukito Kisiro’s manga source. On the page, Gurira’s potential role as Zafal Taiké has been described as one of the fastest players in Motorball history, but not very chatty. In fact, it looks like the character has no dialogue at all.

But much as Alita: Battle Angel saw its Motorball arc changed up so it was included in the first of a planned series of films, there’s always room for Danai Gurira’s personality and stage presence to be further built into a cinematic expansion of the Crimson Wind’s character. And considering she gets to go head to head with Jai Courtney’s Jashugan in her arc, his beefed up presence in Alita: Fallen Angel and beyond could mean that Zafal Takié could appear again as well.

Yes, you read that right, again. As it turns out, the Alita Army fans have further speculated that not only is Danai Gurira a good fit for a more substantial introduction of this character to Alita: Battle Angel fans, it looks like Crimson Wind snuck into director Robert Rodriguez’s first installment into the series. You can see the clip that they shared from Alita’s first trip to a Motorball game, in the embed of their previous tweet above.

If Alita: Battle Angel gets its sequel, Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron already have their pitch process, and the world of Alita, down to a science. With volumes worth of story left to tell, and key players like Rosa Salazar, Edward Norton and Michelle Rodriguez ready to return to tell those further chapters, all that needs to happen is for an official greenlight to be issued by whatever party is given the authority. Since the ball’s already in Disney’s court, they may want to consider using Dania Gurira’s position in the Marvel Studios family as a good incentive to casting her as the Crimson Wind in Alita: Fallen Angel. Which, in practice, would be satisfying two wishes of the fandom, as that’d mean we’d be getting a sequel in the first place. But it’s best to take these sorts of things one step at a time.

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Movies have always been, and always will be, something akin to a magic act. Just look at the process needed to pitch a film like Alita: Battle Angel into existence. It’s a process that, according to writer/director Robert Rodriguez, required a lot of crazy hoops to be jumped. That’s a lot, coming from the man that’s dreamt up movies like Desperado, Spy Kids, and Sin City, as each of those unique visions, while being triumphs in their own right, were much simpler to get off the ground.

During Collider's “Directors on Directors” panel, a part of the festivities for this weekend’s ComicCon @ Home event, Rodriguez explained that it was a lot easier to pitch his own ideas for two simple reasons. Those ideas didn’t come from a preexisting property, and they were on much lower scales of budget and scope. Explaining the Alita: Battle Angel pitch process, Robert Rodriguez laid out the following high stakes game he played, with producer James Cameron on his side:

Alita: Battle Angel fans can recall the story of how, after 20 years of development and pitching by James Cameron himself, the manga adaptation found its way into the hands of Robert Rodriguez. Through rewrites and further development by his own hand, Rodriguez turned in a project that became an auspicious start to a potential franchise that’s still got its loyal base rooting for another installment.

That’s exactly the sort of activity that helps sell a franchise like Alita: Battle Angel into an initial round of existence; and Robert Rodriguez really did his homework on the project before pitching it to the higher ups at 20th Century Fox. With an estimated budget of $170 million, and a long history of development already in play, it’s not like deciding to make that film was an easy button to press. Ultimately, Rodriguez needed to sell that idea with the right sort of panache that made it look like a winner.

Stakes like these are even higher when you think about how 20th Century Fox had been holding on to the rights to Alita: Battle Angel for some time. Which not only focused Robert Rodriguez’s pitch into a very specific wheelhouse, but also meant that if his pitch failed to get the greenlight, it was an automatic game over. Explaining his pitch and just why it was so crucial to Alita’s production, Rodriguez nails the whole situation in this statement:

If you’re going to do something like sell Alita: Battle Angel to a major studio, you’ve got to do it right. Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron eventually won their fight to make the film they’d always dreamed of seeing, but it was a multi-step process that saw the film come into the world. After that initial pitch described above, Rodriguez and Cameron were given permission to further develop the project, create some new art to further shape the project’s vision and eventually, repitch the film to the 20th Century Fox brass -- all with the end result of getting to go into production and bringing Alita: Battle Angel to the masses.

The best part is by time this entire process was finished, Alita: Battle Angel started shooting four months after the pitching process had been completed. Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron had the film in such fine shape after pitching and repitching that it wasn’t that much longer before they were off to the races. It’s that sort of process that fans should keep in mind when seeking out an update on any potential sequel to Alita: Battle Angel, as it took pretty long to get that first installment off the ground.

If there’s to be another movie in the potential franchise that’s Alita: Battle Angel, one could expect another pitching process that’s as strenuous, if not moreso, than the previous effort. But if the history laid out above is any indication, once that process is complete, and the potential greenlight has been given, the vision for Alita: Fallen Angel could be ready to get into production pretty quickly afterwards.

For now though, fans in the Alita Army will have to keep hope alive and let the powers that be know that they’re ready for Alita: Fallen Angel to become a reality. In the meantime, Robert Rodriguez fans will have a new movie from his directorial hand to look forward to soon enough, as his Netflix Original movie We Can Be Heroes will be available on the service at some point this year. Alita: Battle Angel, on the other hand, can be streamed on HBO Max, whether you’re a subscriber or if you decide to check out the 7-day free trial offer currently available to newcomers.

It didn’t take that long for Fantastic Four director Josh Trank to leave his first mark on Hollywood, as in 2012, when Trank was just shy of 28 years old, he delivered Chronicle to the masses. The found footage sci-fi movie was met with positive reception and made over $126 million worldwide off a $12 million budget, but it left Trank in a dark headspace that fellow filmmaker Robert Rodriguez, recently of Alita: Battle Angel fame, helped pull him out of.

Before kicking off his professional filmmaking career, Josh Trank made a deal with his parents that if he didn’t get his first movie made by the time he was 27, he would quit. He picked that age because that’s when Steve Spielberg started working on Jaws. Well, Trank ended up accomplishing his goal, as he shot Chronicle at that same age.

However, two weeks after Chronicle’s release, Josh Trank, who thought that he’d “beaten Spielberg,” was feeling adrift, dealing with an increasing cigarette habit and having trouble embracing the “happiness” from his increased profile. So, as Trank informed Polygon during an extensive interview, he ended up punching through a wall in his house and cracked his hand on a steel beam.

Unsure about how to solve his problem, Josh Trank called up Robert Rodriguez, who he’d met during the Chronicle press tour. Trank described Rodriguez as “Yoda-esque” when they spoke, with the From Dusk till Dawn filmmaker talking with Trank about his own experiences with success and sending him a box of self-help guides.

It sounds like Robert Rodriguez was able to help Josh Trank clear his head, although to further cope, Trank focused on more work. He pitched a hard-R take on Venom to Sony, as well as briefly tackled a Shadow of the Colossus film adaptation, neither of which moved forward. Chronicle 2 was also put into development, but Trank wasn’t involved with that, and he even admitted he tried his best to stall progress on the sequel when it started picking up steam.

Ultimately Josh Trank was hired to direct a Fantastic Four reboot for 20th Century Fox, which saw Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Michael B. Jordan playing Marvel’s First Family, along with Toby Kebbell as Doctor Doom. The project was packed with behind-the-scenes drama, including rumors of irresponsible on-set behavior from Trank and Fox producers making significant changes to the movie without him, resulting in Trank tweeting a day before Fantastic Four’s release that what audiences would be seeing was not reflective of his creative vision.

Fantastic Four ended up both critically and commercially underperforming, resulting in a sequel being scrapped. Josh Trank also ended up quitting the Star Wars movie he’d been hired for months before Fantastic Four came out, contrary to the reports that he’d been fired. So while Robert Rodriguez was most beneficial to Trank in the aftermath of Chronicle, Trank still dealt with plenty of troubles in the entertainment industry.

Half a decade later though, Josh Trank is back in the public consciousness with Capone (previously known as Fonzo), which stars Tom Hardy as Al Capone, who’s done serving his 11-year prison sentence, and is suffering from syphilis and dementia. The movie also stars Linda Cardellini, Kyle MacLachlan and Jack Lowden, among others.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on Capone (which drops on VOD next Tuesday, May 12) and other projects Josh Trank is working on. As for Robert Rodriguez, he’s attached write, direct and produce the superhero movie We Can Be Heroes for Netflix.

May The Fourth was filled with plenty of fun information for Star Wars fans, including the announcement of an upcoming feature film. However, there was also some major news on the TV front featuring one confirmation that will also appeal to a totally different fanbase. Alita: Battle Angel director Robert Rodriguez confirmed that he’s directing The Mandalorian in Season 2, along with Peyton Reed, known for his work in the MCU. It's a pretty good day for franchise crossovers.

Both directors took to the Internet to share their connections to the upcoming season of The Mandalorian. However, Robert Rodriguez's post did so in the cutest way ever. Between that and the newfound connection between the Alita and Star Wars franchises, we're obviously sharing first.

The longtime director has had a storied career. No stranger to action projects, Robert Rodriguez has directed films ranging from Spy Kids to Sin City and, of course, last year’s Alita: Battle Angel. So while we wait for potential news on the sequel front, we're happy to see he's keeping busy. And honestly, it’s really no wonder that his next project will send him to the galaxy far, far, away. Star Wars Day was all online this year, due to obvious external circumstances, and so Rodriguez took to Twitter to announce the exciting news. He posed with none other than Baby Yoda, who is probably the most popular creature in every galaxy.

The post is adorable, wouldn’t you say? Calling Baby Yoda the “biggest star” isn’t a lie as far as I’m concerned. Of course, the Disney+ series and Alita: Battle Angel may not belong in the same universe, but now that Robert Rodriguez is the one helming The Mandalorian, it’s pretty cool that fans of both properties now have a distinct connection to two separate, but great sci-fi/fantasy projects.

Speaking of a fun connection, Ant-Man director Peyton Reed also announced that he’s directing an episode of The Mandalorian. Disney execs seem to like keeping things in the family, so Reed’s transition from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the world of Star Wars isn’t that much of a stretch. Let’s hope that the Mandalorian himself doesn’t have to shrink a la Ant-Man to better fight off his adversaries in Season 2, but I have to admit that would be pretty wild to watch. You can check out Reed’s Twitter announcement below. Sadly, Baby Yoda couldn’t be bothered to be in the picture, probably too busy preparing his next meme.

It hasn’t been confirmed whether Robert Rodriguez and Peyton Reed are simply directing one episode each or if they’re signed on to direct at least two or more. It seems we might have to wait a bit longer to find out on that front, but it’s pretty awesome news nonetheless. Thankfully, The Mandalorian Season 2 is still on track to be released as previously scheduled, unlike other Disney+ shows that are facing delays.

The Mandalorian Season 2 will be available to stream on Disney+ in October, though no specified date has been announced just yet. For more on what to watch in the meantime, be sure to check out our 2020 summer TV premiere schedule.

For many Disney+ subscribers, the main reason to snatch up an immediate subscription was the debut of Star Wars' first live-action TV show, The Mandalorian. Its ten-episode first season is, for the most part, an enjoyable action-adventure featuring one of the cutest side characters in all of fiction. (I meant Baby Yoda, but Cara and Greef are treats themselves.) So understandably, fans are desperate to hear what's happening with Season 2, which went into production last fall. Thankfully, a recent update has us extremely excited about what's allegedly happening behind the scenes.

As fans are aware, The Mandalorian had a wealth of talent behind the camera for Season 1, and it doesn't sound like they're pulling back the reins with Season 2. If reports from the web series Black Series Rebels can be believed, the new season welcomed Alita: Battle Angel and Sin City director Robert Rodriguez, as well as Logan and Ford v Ferrari helmer James Mangold to the crew. Perhaps not in the most complete fashion, though, since it doesn't sound like either of them actually directed an entire episode (yet).

Interestingly enough, the report notes that several other directors stepped in to film other specific sequences for episodes, though none of those names are listed. It is known that showrunner and creator Jon Favreau has expressed interest in helming a Season 2 ep, since a lot of his time in Season 1 was spent making sure the massive production and innovative technology were going smoothly.

Additionally, The Mandalorian apparently roped the Jurassic World franchise's Bryce Dallas Howard to direct another episode. She'd previously put together the Season 1 installment, "Sanctuary," so it's going to be interesting to see what she tries next. As well, executive producer Dave Filoni is set to handle at least one episode, after having directed the Season 1 premiere and the fifth ep, "The Gunslinger."

Now let's take a step back to reflect on the potential addition of two top-notch genre filmmakers for The Mandalorian Season 2. For one, it would make a ton of sense for Robert Rodriguez to get involved here. No so much because he's essential to the Star Wars universe, but because he has a brilliant mind and is known for keeping budgets low and for using experimental filmmaking techniques. I can imagine he'd be excited to work with the virtual environments that Jon Favreau and ILM have put together.

Even though Robert Rodriguez apparently didn't direct an entire episode, that's no reason to feel actual disappointment here. From the Sin City flicks to Grindhouse: Planet Terror to From Dusk Till Dawn (and even the Spy Kids movies), Rodriguez's movies always feature truly original visuals and a handful of eye-popping sequences, regardless of the quality of the overall movie. He's not exactly known for his sci-fi efforts, but Alita has developed a hardcore fanbase, and even The Faculty has aged better than similar fare from the late '90s.

Meanwhile, James Mangold has no shortage of excitement happening in his life. The director's highly celebrated Ford v Ferrari recently took home a pair of Oscars, and his previous effort Logan turned comic book fare into legitimate non-bombastic cinema. He was tapped to take on a Romeo & Juliet-adjacent drama Juliet, and very recently became the rumored go-to director for the upcoming Indiana Jones sequel after it was confirmed that Steven Spielberg had vacated the duty. 

Given Indy's George Lucas connection, Mangold's inclusion for The Mandalorian would also make proper enough sense for Season 2. And if not that, then Mangold's

So could The Mandalorian have some kind of an anthology episode coming to Season 2 that allows for multiple directors to be used? Or would Robert Rodriguez, James Mangold and others simply be spread across various episodes throughout the season? I supposed I'll have to wait and make sure this news gets confirmed before getting too grand with my predictions.

You can check out the original video below, with the Mandalorian chat starting around 35:30.

With another recent rumor claiming a WWE star joined the show in some capacity, The Mandalorian Season 1 is currently available to stream on Disney+, with Season 2 hitting the streaming service at some point in October 2020.

It’s almost been a year since Alita: Battle Angel debuted in theaters worldwide, sparking a fan movement that’s been hungry to see the continued adventures of this beloved manga heroine. With the film making its cable premiere on HBO last weekend, the fanbase known as the Alita Army have taken to social media to deliver their reasons why a second film should happen; and the results are quite convincing.

Among the various posts of support for Alita: Battle Angel, there have been some very good cases for why another trip to director Robert Rodriguez’s fantastic vision of Yukito Kishiro’s manga Gunnm is called for. Starting with the obvious, fans have signaled that the deeper themes of this particular series would…

In addition to the themes of Alita: Battle Angel’s historically known story, there’s the fact that there’s so much more of that universe that’s been left untold. So fans obviously want to see the rest of the story play out on the big screen.

Of course, anyone who’s fallen for Alita: Battle Angel remembers that at the end of the first film, there’s a bit of a tease for where the next fil in the series could go. Fans certainly haven’t forgotten that tag at the end of the film, as seen in the next tweet supporting an Alita sequel.

If there was any reason to put above all the other cases to be made for an Alita: Battle Angel sequel, it would have to be this last tweet that we’ll be looking at. If it wasn’t for the fandom taking to Rosa Salazar’s performance as Alita herself, we wouldn’t have a franchise worth fighting for.

Alita’s not done waging her war against the diabolical Nova, and Salazar herself is even ready to return to the world of Alita: Battle Angel, should the opportunity present itself. All that has to happen now is for Disney, the current owners of what used to be known as 20th Century Fox, to greenlight a follow-up effort to the modestly successful film now in their care.

Just as one of the film’s producers, Jon Landau, has told the faithful fans in the past, a lot of noise will need to be made to convince Disney that an Alita sequel is worth the effort. With this recent Twitter campaign, and a banner about to be flown over this Sunday’s Academy Awards supporting this very cause, it’s going to be hard not to hear this call any clearer. Alita: Battle Angel has a very vocal fandom, and in one united voice, their request is clear: continue the good work on Alita’s story, and see it through to the end.

Sadly, for now we only have that first film, Alita: Battle Angel. But, you can see it either on digital HD, 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD; or on HBO and its streaming services, should you be a subscriber.

In a little less than two weeks’ time, February 14 will mark the one-year anniversary of the release of Alita: Battle Angel. In the year since its debut, the Robert Rodriguez directed, James Cameron-produced science fiction movie has amassed a passionate fanbase that is eagerly awaiting news of a sequel-- news that to this point has yet to materialize. Addressing the fan campaign for a sequel, Alita: Battle Angel’s VFX supervisor Richard Baneham said:

Simply put, the (motor)ball is in Mickey Mouse’s court. In the time since Alita: Battle Angel opened in theaters, Disney’s purchase of 21st Century Fox was finalized, making Disney the studio that would theoretically have to greenlight any Alita sequels. So for those fans in the Alita Army actively campaigning to get Alita 2 made, the marching orders are quite clear: talk to Disney.

Lightstorm Entertainment’s Richard Baneham gave no indication that they have heard any word on a potential sequel to this point, and by the sound of it they don’t really have any idea of whether Alita 2 will happen or not. However, his suggestion to talk to Disney reflects his willingness to dive back into that world. It’s a world that is well worth exploring in greater detail in his mind.

Richard Baneham echoed the sentiments of many Alita: Battle Angel fans when he told Insider that there is a rich world of material to tap into in an Alita sequel. The mythology exists to capitalize on, but it’s not just a matter of whether he sees it that way or the fans see it that way, Disney has to see it that way. The Mouse House needs to be convinced that this is a property with potential to grow and evolve and that making Alita 2 would be a smart choice.

To do that, those that want to see Alita 2 and beyond need to make their voices heard all the way in the halls and offices of Disney’s Burbank studios. They need to let Disney know that the demand is there for this franchise to continue and that doing so would be a smart business decision. That is basically what the campaigns have been doing but I suppose it simply has to continue until there is a definitive answer either way about Alita 2.

Should Alita 2 actually happen, Richard Baneham and the visual effects team on Alita: Battle Angel would likely be thrilled. The VFX supervisor said that the team all wants to do another one. That team was robbed of an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects for the way Alita gracefully vaulted over the uncanny valley, but I digress. So now it’s just a matter of making Alita 2 happen.

Alita: Battle Angel was a movie clearly made with a sequel in mind and we know that James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez have ideas mapped out for where that sequel could go. Unfortunately, the numbers may not be in Alita’s favor. It’s worldwide box office of $404.8 million was actually fairly respectable for a brand new franchise, but Alita was also a very expensive film with a budget of $170 million.

As Richard Baneham noted, it comes down to whether Disney thinks that it can build on the first film and believes that this is a property with the potential to grow and become profitable. I tend to think it is, but testing that theory is a financial gamble Disney may or may not want to make.

We’ll keep you updated on the latest the fight for Alita 2. In the meantime, check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what movies you can look forward to this year.

A little over a year ago, director Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel released in theaters. That film was a science fiction spectacle and a technical marvel, sporting incredible visual effects that demanded to be seen on the biggest screen in the best possible format, even if not enough people ultimately did that. But for his next film, Robert Rodriguez is going in an entirely different direction. That’s because Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel follow-up is heading to streaming.

Robert Rodriguez’s science fiction-horror film Red 11 will stream exclusively on the Tubi streaming service according to Deadline. The free, ad-supported streaming service has obtained the exclusive streaming rights to the director’s Alita follow-up, as well as his docuseries The Robert Rodriguez Film School.

Red 11 first premiered at SXSW last year and explores the world of medical research. The film has a meta quality in that it is based on Robert Rodriguez’s experiences in a medical research facility as the director signed up for pharmaceutical trials to help pay for his first film, El Mariachi.

In the new movie, college kids volunteer as lab rats as a way to make some quick cash. The film’s protagonist Rob, played by Roby Attal, is given the titular designation Red 11. Rob is trying to pay down a debt of $7000 (the same amount as the budget of El Mariachi and Red 11 itself) through being a part of the research but the lines get blurred when he thinks the hospital is trying to kill him and is unsure if he’s just experiencing the side effects of the experimental drugs.

Alongside Red 11, Robert Rodriguez is also releasing the companion series The Robert Rodriguez Film School that documents the director’s guerrilla filmmaking process. In the series Robert Rodriguez will speak to filmmakers and entrepreneurs about how to make movies the way he does. It basically sounds like a crash course in how to get a movie made in the face of obstacles like budget and time.

Both Red 11 and The Robert Rodriguez Film School will stream on Tubi. For those unfamiliar with the streaming service, Tubi is free, but supported by ads. The service is widely available on a number of devices including Android and iOS mobile devices, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku streamers, Playstation 4 and Xbox One. So Red 11 will be free and easily available to anyone who wants to check it out when it drops this summer in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The premise of Red 11 sounds suitably nightmarish and what it represents as far as showing what can be done on a micro-budget is inspiring.Of course, when you talk about Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel follow-up, many fans are hoping that you are talking about an Alita sequel.

There is no word on a sequel yet, but producer Jon Landau suggests that the Alita Army keep letting Disney know how bad we want to see Alita 2 and maybe one day it will happen.

We’ll keep you updated on any developments on that front. In the meantime, check out our 2020 Release Schedule to see what’s headed to theaters this year.

In the making of Alita: Battle Angel, director Robert Rodriguez, writer/producer James Cameron, and the artists designing the film made some bold moves when it came to the look of the titular protagonist. In addition to making their lead a performance capture character (played by Rosa Salazar), one of the earliest concepts for the design of movie was the idea that she would have eyes significantly larger than a normal human’s – a callback to the look of Alita in the Manga comic where she originated.

Of course, bold moves like that are rarely met with universal acclaim when first introduced, and Alita: Battle Angel proved to be no exception. When the first trailer for the film was released in December 2017, there was a whole lot of commentary on social media about the look of Alita’s eyes, and to put it politely, not a lot of it was super positive.

With the film still more than a year away from release at that point, the reaction did cause a bit of a stir behind-the-scenes of the movie, leading to questions about the chosen road still being a good idea to travel. Two people who never experienced any kind of doubts, however, were Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron, who, per WETA Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Saindon had a very clear attitude towards the early negative response: “Fuck the haters.”

Saindon was a part of a group of Alita: Battle Angel visual effects and animation supervisors – including Richard Baneham, Mike Cozens, and Richard Hollander – that I had the chance to sit down with yesterday during a themed award season press day on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank, California. Early in the conversation the subject of post-trailer changes was mentioned, and I followed up with the group asking specifically about the evolution of Alita’s eyes.

The WETA filmmaker directly addressed the commentary that surrounded the first Alita: Battle Angel trailer, and acknowledged that it inspired some internal conversations:

As noted, the response they got from Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron wasn’t a lot of hemming and hawing. They had a clear vision for what they wanted Alita: Battle Angel to look like, and a big part of that was the character’s Manga-inspired eyes. Saindon continued,

That’s called sticking to your guns, ladies and gentlemen.

Those who have seen the film obviously know that the Alita: Battle Angel filmmakers most definitely did not steer away from their foundation-level ideas for the hero, and she does have significantly larger eyes than the human characters. You may notice in side-by-side stills that things did change a bit, but the move was never to go smaller.

As Eric Saindon explained, the visual effects artists didn’t quite take James Cameron literally and go defiantly bigger with the eyes, but there were particular adjustments made to have them feel more natural in the finished film. Said the filmmaker,

Alita: Battle Angel took a long time to get made – both in pre-production and post-production – but the finished result was one of the most impressive blockbuster efforts that we saw on the big screen last year. It’s stunning how immersive the world of the film feels, and hopefully we’ll someday get the chance to revisit in a sequel.

Hopefully we’ll continue to hear a lot more about Alita: Battle Angel during this year’s award season, as well as updates about a potential follow-up. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for all of the latest news, and also be on the lookout for more stories from my interviews with the VFX filmmakers behind Captain Marvel, The Lion King, and Avengers: Endgame.

Academy Award nominee Edward Norton isn’t the type of actor you would have expected to be in a film like Alita: Battle Angel; and yet when the last act of director Robert Rodriguez’s film revealed him to be the actor playing big bad Nova, audience members were treated to a gasp-worthy twist. As it turns out, that role came out of Norton rejecting a part in director James Cameron’s Avatar 2, which happened for one very specific reason: Edward Norton really, really wants to be a Na’vi.

In a recent interview, Norton explained himself as follows:

Two pretty big things to take away here: first, holy crap Edward Norton and James Cameron are friends, and somehow this is the first most people are hearing about it. But second, and most importantly, Norton’s reasoning for rejecting a role in Avatar 2 was pretty solid. Throughout his career, the actor has sometimes been used a kind of shorthand for an officious villain, with films like The Italian Job, and more applicably The Bourne Legacy painting him as the creep that wants to crash the party.

Make no mistake, Edward Norton is really good at playing a multi-faceted villain, but after so many times in that sort of role, any sane actor would want the challenge of playing one of Pandora’s indigenous peoples. And in the case of Avatar 2, that challenge ideally would have involved motion capture and some really cool CGI augmentations. Something that there was undoubtedly a little of both of when Norton signed onto his small, but crucial role in Robert Rodriguez’s Alita: Battle Angel.

Perhaps the coolest side effect of his choice to bypass the proposed Avatar 2 role that GamesRadar just uncovered is the fact that not only could Edward Norton show up in a future movie in the franchise, alongside other luminaries like Sigourney Weaver and Kate Winslet, but should the Alita: Battle Angel sequel ever get off the ground, Norton would more than likely get a chance to dive deeper into his character of Nova. That’s a pretty impressive sci-fi double play, should it be in the offing.

For now though, we’ll have to temper any hopes of seeing Edward Norton as either a Na’vi, or Nova, until the movie gods smile upon us all and allow either really cool possibility to occur. But should the day come that the actor’s dream comes true, you can bet we’ll want to see it for ourselves.

In the meantime, you can catch Edward Norton’s long awaited return to directing with Motherless Brooklyn, which will be in theaters on November 1st. Should you want to find something a little more sci-fi, like say the James Cameron-produced Terminator: Dark Fate, then head over to our 2019 release schedule, and see what’s in store for the rest of this year’s cinematic calendar.

Alita: Battle Angel was a movie that found a strong fan base, but failed to set the box office on fire. For his next movie, Robert Rodriguez won't need to worry about box office numbers at all, because he's making his next movie, a superhero project called We Can Be Heroes, for Netflix.

Rodriguez has written the script and will direct and produce We Can Be Heroes. The movie is a family adventure that will see all the world's superheroes kidnapped by aliens, leading a group of children to team up to save their parents and the world.

If you're familiar with the work of Robert Rodriguez, then the premise of We Can Be Heroes might sound familiar, as it's pretty similar to the plot of the original Spy Kids. In that movie, a pair of siblings discover that their parents are super spies when they get captured, and must become spies themselves in order to rescue mom and dad.

This movie basically just sounds like the superhero version of the same story. Of course, the Spy Kids movies spawned sequels and were, generally speaking, pretty good, so if the idea isn't broken, there's no need to fix it.

The movie is putting together a solid cast. Deadline has revealed that Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Christian Slater, Pedro Pascal, and more are on board to star as the adult heroes.

Robert Rodriguez is one of those directors who has shown he is capable of pretty much anything. He can do a family adventure movie like Sharkboy and Lavagirl as easily as he can make a gritty adult drama like Sin City. We Can Be Heroes follows his effort directing Alita: Battle Angel, a movie based on a Japanese manga and produced by James Cameron. The movie has built a passionate fan base, but it seems unlikely the movie will become the franchise that it was looking to become.

Rodriguez is just the next high profile filmmaker to jump on board the Netflix bandwagon. At this point it's really not even unique to find out that big stars or directors are working for the streaming service. And with new players like Disney about to jump into the game, original content is going to be key to helping consumers decide just which services they plan to spend their money on.

Robert Rodriguez has shown how skilled he is with family content like this, so the movie sounds perfect. It's also not the sort of thing that you can imagine Hollywood spending money on for a major theatrical release today, which makes it perfect for Netflix. It's hard to imagine a major studio shelling out for the original Spy Kids in the current climate.

We Can Be Heroes is reportedly filming in Texas right now, so expect it to hit the streaming service sometime next year.

While the prospect of Alita: Battle Angel getting a sequel is not a certainty, or even a likely concern at this point, that hasn’t stopped a vocal group of fans from hoping another adventure could be on the way. There’s certainly room for a franchise too, as this was supposed to be the first of a trilogy based on Yukito Kishiro’s classic manga series, Gunnm.

It looks like it’d take a lot of wheeling and dealing to get a sequel back on the table, but should Alita: Battle Angel return for another adventure, lead animator Mike Cozens has an idea of what he’d love to tackle first in resurrecting the world of the battle angel herself:

Mike Cozens revealed this information in a recent interview with CinemaBlend, in honor of the home video release of Alita: Battle Angel, set to take place next week. In talking about the first movie's story, which saw actor Rosa Salazar portray Alita’s shift from a young innocent into a hardened warrior; it’s that shift that Mike Cozens really enjoyed seeing take place as director Robert Rodriguez’s film progressed.

Part of the reason Mike Cozens identified with this part of the story is that he partially identified with Alita’s journey, because he saw pieces of his teenage daughter in the character. While it’s doubtful that his teenage daughter is being trained in the ways of Panzer Kunst, the early journey of Alita: Battle Angel’s protagonist and her developing understanding of the world around her is something that any parent, or any person for that matter, could identify with.

That empathy is something that you see in every frame of Alita’s creation and existence, and by time Alita: Battle Angel’s plot shapes her into the avenging angel she is in those final frames, you can feel the pain that she’s carrying being displayed clear as day on the screen.

It’s the balance between the film’s emotional moments that take in the wonder of the world, and those action beats that get the audiences’ blood racing, that make Alita: Battle Angel such a rewarding experience for Mike Cozens. This, coming from a man who’s worked with Weta Digital on such films as Avatar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and The Hobbit trilogy, is a pretty high level of praise. Though he and his team have gotten some big praise themselves, as even Robert Rodriguez can’t stop talking about their work when asked about a potential follow up.

In a possible sequel to Alita: Battle Angel, those early days of Alita falling in love with chocolate and romancing Hugo in-between Motorball matches will be long gone. With her quest to become a champion of that very futuristic sport, as well as settling her grudge with Edward Norton’s Nova, there’s not going to be a lot of time for tender moments in a second movie.

But much as the more personal scenes require a lot of attention to detail, those moments where villains succumb to Alita’s warrior abilities are just as important to nail. And it’s the transition between those two halves that really excites Mike Cozens, even if the ass-kicking is what he’s looking forward to the most in a potential sequel.

Talking with Mike Cozens about the level of detail that went into everything from the movements of Alita’s character, to even the facial models required to properly animate Rosa Salazar’s motion captured performance, was an absolute treat after seeing the final product itself. Alita: Battle Angel avoids the problems most CGI films have with an “uncanny valley” by steering straight into the anime/manga influences of the film’s source material, and that’s just on the first time out.

With an upgraded robot body, tons of combat experience, and a confidence in herself that she didn’t have when she started, Alita is a character that’s ready for another go at the big time. A sequel to Alita: Battle Angel could be even more of an explosive success, especially with the evolution of technologies like motion capture still taking place to this day.

So not only would a sequel allow audiences the ability to see Mike Cozens and his team animating Alita’s continued adventures in humanity, but another film could show us some of the most visually stunning ass kicking in some time.

Alita: Battle Angel is currently available on Digital HD, and is available for pre-order on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD, with a release date set for July 23rd.

Alita: Battle Angel came out all the way back in February and we are still waiting for it to arrive on home video in July. While this might seem like a long wait for a home video release, and it certainly is by modern standards, 20th Century Fox has fortunately been giving fans an early look at some of the bonus features we’ll find on the Blu-ray. The latest bonus feature talks about Alita’s journey from manga to big screen blockbuster. Check it out:

You’ve got to love when an adaptation of a beloved property endeavors to stay as true as possible to the source material and recognizing that it is beloved for a reason. For Alita: Battle Angel, director Robert Rodriguez scanned pages from the Gunnm/Battle Angel Alita manga and directly translated some of that into his film. There are some awesome frames in the movie that are ripped straight from the page, showing that this really was a true adaptation.

In this video we see that Alita’s fight with Grewishka was heavily influenced by the manga, with specific shots, such as Alita launching herself at Grewishka and balancing on one hand, looking just like their black and white counterparts. Alita’s look was also adapted right from the manga big eyes and all; a brave choice and one that could have easily landed in the uncanny valley but I think actually worked out really well.

This “From Manga To Screen” bonus feature from the Alita: Battle Angel home video release, provides some really cool insight, not just into how Yukito Kishiro’s 1990-1995 manga series informed the 2019 feature film, but how long that journey of adaptation took. James Cameron was working on the film since the early 2000’s and in this feature we see a reel of really beautiful concept art from 2005 that showed his vision for the film.

I like the idea that the concept art for James Cameron’s Gunnm/Battle Angel Alita adaptation became this legendary thing in the concept art community because of how awesome it was and the talented artists who worked on it. You can see why too, I think fans of Alita: Battle Angel would be happy to have prints of some of it to frame and hang on their walls.

So when the time came to finally make this movie happen, albeit under a different director, the team for Alita: Battle Angel got to look at that old art and keep as much of it as possible for their new designs. In so doing, the final film looks a lot like that old concept art nearly 15 years later.

That’s because director Robert Rodriguez wanted to make a James Cameron film, to make the movie that he wanted to see James Cameron make but that he never got to because of the Avatar sequels. So he collaborated closely with James Cameron and his team. We’ve already heard about James Cameron’s extensive notes on the property, but here we also see how he worked with Cameron’s designers from Avatar to help create the world both as Yukito Kishiro originally drew it and as James Cameron imagined it for the big screen.

You can check out this bonus feature and more when Alita: Battle Angel arrives on Digital July 9 and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on July 23. For the dedicated and deep-pocketed fan, there will also be a Collector’s Edition of the movie that includes a 64-page art book and two framed art prints. You can pre-order the Collector's Edition here.

Check out our 2019 Release Schedule to keep track of all of this year’s biggest movies.

When James Cameron opted to finally hand off his passion project, an adaptation of the Battle Angel Alita manga, the person he gave it to (after he proved himself by fixing the script) was From Dusk Till Dawn director Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez brought James Cameron’s vision to life in this year’s Alita: Battle Angel but that may or may not be the end of the story.

Alita: Battle Angel ended with a perfect jumping off point for a sequel and there is clearly more story to tell. So would Robert Rodriguez be the one to tell it if the opportunity presents itself? The director expressed his enthusiasm at the prospect, saying:

Robert Rodriguez seems to have really enjoyed his experience making Alita: Battle Angel and the prospect of getting to do it again and build on the first movie is really appealing to him. In addition to working with James Cameron again and reuniting with the film’s star Rosa Salazar, who was indeed incredible, Robert Rodriguez brings up another great point to Nerd Reactor regarding Alita 2. Namely, that a sequel would in theory be even more technologically magnificent than the first film.

Alita: Battle Angel was a sumptuous and stunning film, and Robert Rodriguez is confident that a sequel would up the wow factor even more. As he says, the computer generated imagery and performance capture technology is continuing to evolve as time goes on. So the effects team at WETA that worked on the first film could do even more for Alita 2. Robert Rodriguez speaks as if he were only just a fan, excited to see more of this visually marvelous world.

Even if a sequel opportunity doesn’t present itself, Robert Rodriguez still sounds to be tremendously grateful for the experience of working on Alita: Battle Angel, where he got to work with James Cameron himself. He’s mentioned before how rewarding it was to learn from the Avatar director, and he goes into that more here-- speaking to how James Cameron franchise builds from the very first film, with what to include now and what to save for later.

Whether that later will ever come we don’t know, but if it does, there are plenty of directions Alita 2 could go. Like Robert Rodriguez says, it would be pretty easy to figure out the story of the next movie after the ending of the first film and James Cameron has hundreds of pages of notes with a whole trilogy's worth of ideas.

So will it happen? Who knows, Alita: Battle Angel ended its run with just under $405 million which is around $100 million less than the 3 times a movies production budget rule of thumb it may have needed. Fox is also under Disney now, so it will be the mouse’s decision what to do with the property.

Disney loves franchises and Cameron is giving it the Avatar sequels, so maybe the studio will throw him a bone and invest in more Alita. As of right now though it is unclear what the future holds for the battle angel, but if she takes flight again, it seems Robert Rodriguez would love to join her.

Alita: Battle Angel finally arrives on digital on July 9 and on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on July 23. Check out our 2019 Release Schedule for all of the biggest movies still headed your way this summer.