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Keanu Reeves Movies

Keanu Reeves on the role that got away: ‘I did always want to play Wolverine’

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When you think about all the franchises and roles associated with Keanu Reeves, you’d think he’d be perfectly content with his filmography. Not only does he have The Matrix and the John Wick series under his belt, he’s also beloved for Bill & Ted, tackled Shakespeare (looking hella good doing so, I might add) and I will go to my grave singing his (and everyone else’s) praises for Parenthood. But during a recent Ask Me Anything on Reddit, Keanu revealed the one role that got away and it surprised me. When he was asked if he had any regrets about his career or roles he’d turned down, Keanu said no. But he added that he while he had no regrets, he did always want to play Wolverine, the stout Canadian X-Man brought to life by Hugh Jackman.

During a recent AMA on Reddit, Keanu Reeves opened up about any regrets in his career.

More specifically, the 58-year-old John Wick star was asked if he regretted turning down any of the roles in his past.

While he said no, he did reveal a dream role playing a classic comic book hero that he has not yet been able to book.

“I did always want to play Wolverine,” Keanu told a curious fan on Reddit.

[From Just Jared]

Aw, this breaks my heart a little. Because Keanu was seriously considered for Wolverine before Hugh was even suggested for the role. Several people were put forward as possible Wolverines. But only a few were favored by the studio heads. Among them were Russell Crow, Aaron Eckhart, Viggo Mortensen and Keanu. Keanu was fresh off The Matrix and quite hot. But it ultimately worked against him, because they worried comic book fans wouldn’t be able to see past him as Neo. The role went to Doughary Scott, who had to drop out, and the rest is history… or Hughstory *snerk* Now, I’m not saying I think Keanu should have been Wolverine, just that I feel bad he wanted the role that much and didn’t get it. And it is possible that had he gotten Logan, he would not have gotten John Wick. I love Keanu in John Wick so in my book, this worked out the way it should. Not to mention because it gave us the Hugh/Ryan Reynolds bromance as well. But I think in light of this, Ryan can find a role for his fellow Canadian in the next Deadpool alongside Wolverine. That would certainly be one pretty film.


Photo credit: Instagram and Yuri Murakami/Fotoarena/Avalon

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Movies Tom Holland

Paddington director Paul King to direct Tom Holland as Fred Astaire

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‘Paddington’ Filmmaker Paul King to Direct Tom Holland’s Fred Astaire Movie for Sony (Exclusive) https://t.co/AQmlIwcmgO

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 13, 2023

Tom Holland told us he was going to take a little break from acting after Spider-Man: No Way Home. It was always intended to be a breather, not semi-retirement or such. He assured us of that by announcing projects he had in the works, like a biopic on Fred Astaire in which he’d play Astaire. But there was no other information at that time. Well Tom is still chilling out, sadly as we all hoped to see him as a Super Bowl half-time show cameo, but the Astaire film is moving forward. It has a direction and a director, according to The Hollywood Reporter. None other than Paddington mastermind Paul King has signed on. And now we know what the movie will be about – Fred and his sister Adele’s early vaudeville act and her decision to end it at their height after she married.

Paul King, the director of the Paddington movies, is putting on his dancing shoes.

King has come aboard to direct Sony Pictures’ untitled Fred Astaire drama that has Tom Holland attached to star as the golden age film and dance star.

Sony is keeping the logline details under the top hat, but it is known that the project centers on the relationship between Astaire and his sister, Adele Astaire. The two were inseparable for more than 20 years, moving out of a simple Midwestern vaudeville act in the early part of the 20th century to Broadway and London’s West End in the 1920s. Adele Astaire was initially the face of the act, but eventually, Fred’s consummate stage skills eclipsed hers. The duo parted in 1932 when the sister married, which was a blow to Fred, but it also turned his focus toward Hollywood dance musicals, and subsequently set him on the path to cinematic immortality.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

I can already see the Paddington and Tom dancing memes. I assume this is great news. I thought the Paddington movies were fine, but I didn’t quite find them as enchanting as everyone else on my Twitter feed did. But Tom is as endearing as the CGI bear so Paul should know how to use him best. I’m kidding! They are both good at their jobs and I’m sure this will be fine. I don’t know what else to say. I’m still really just here for the dancing.

Kaiser informed me that this is one of two Fred Astaire films in the works. Jamie Bell and Margaret Qualley are working on a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers movie. That, too, will focus on the early part of their relationship and the crucial point that set them on the path to become the legendary partners they became. So both films are taking “ …and the rest is history” angles. But I am still concerned that they both center around a man who forbade his life from ever being turned into a film. Why not make the women in the film the focus and at least semi-honor his wishes? And I hate that I’m interested in the projects because I love Astaire’s work so much, I do kind of want to see his process on the big screen. But then I’ll feel bad for going against his wishes.

Even though I’m conflicted, if Paul King can get Hugh Grant in Tom’s movie, I’m in. Hugh can play Noel Coward.

xEmbed from Getty Images

Embed from Getty Images

This unfortunate hair situation is because Tom’s filming A Crowded Room



Photo credit: Twitter, Getty Images, Cover Images and Maria Laura Antonelli/AGF Foto/Avalon

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Movies

Love, Actually director: ‘The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable & a bit stupid’

love,-actually-director:-‘the-lack-of-diversity-makes-me-feel-uncomfortable-&-a-bit-stupid’

I love the 2003 film Love, Actually – I’m just going to say that up front. That’s not popular to admit these days but it’s true and I can’t pretend otherwise. I know there are problems with it, and I understand why people don’t like it, but I just felt we should start this post from a place of honesty. The film is 20 years old. While it came out in 2003, it was filmed in 2002, so I guess that’s how that math works. Diane Sawyer did one of her sit-down specials to acknowledge the milestone. It’s called The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later and aired last Tuesday. One of the more interesting things said during the special came from director Richard Curtis. He told Diane that he is embarrassed about the lack of diversity in the film. I mean, obviously I knew there was a lack of diversity, but I was surprised not only that Curtis acknowledged it, but is embarrassed by it.

When Love Actually writer and director Richard Curtis considers his 2003 hit today, he has some regrets.

“There are things you’d change but, thank God, society is changing, so my film is bound, in some moments, to feel out of date,” he told ABC’s Diane Sawyer in The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later special that aired Tuesday. (The movie was filmed in 2002.)

“The lack of diversity makes me feel uncomfortable and a bit stupid,” Curtis explained. “You know, I think there are sort of three plots that have sort of bosses and people who work for them.”

The large Love Actually cast is predominantly white. So much so that some Netflix subscribers called out the streamer in 2018, accusing it of targeting them according to race or ethnicity with that movie and others. Black customers, for instance, said they were shown a photo of Chiwetel Ejiofor, one of the few non-white actors in the romantic comedy, to advertise it. They found that to be misleading, because Ejiofor’s part is so small. At the time, Netflix said reports that it considered demographics when personalizing artwork were “untrue.”

[From Yahoo]

“There are things you’d change but, thank God, society is changing, so my film is bound, in some moments, to feel out of date.” Curtis is an inherently optimistic person so it makes sense that he would find a way to spin this in a way to highlight progress. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I think we should focus on the fact that society has evolved to a point that it shines a light on movies like Love, Actually and how blindingly white they are. Good for Curtis for admitting he was short-sighted when he made it and recognizes that out loud. And shame on Netflix for trying to put all the non-white actors out front while trying to promote it as if viewers wouldn’t notice how little representation there was.

The Diane Sawyer special is on Hulu if anyone else is still a fan. There are some sweet moments and funny behind-the-scenes parts. Many of the stars are interviewed. Curtis said he’d like to make another positive Love inspired film but based on the acts of kindness stories from the Covid pandemic. That would be amazing, I’d watch the hell out of that.

Here’s the trailer for the special:



Photo credit: Cat Morley and JPI Studios/Avalon

Categories
Brendan Fraser Movies

‘The Whale’ trailer premieres: is Brendan Fraser the frontrunner for best actor?

‘the-whale’-trailer-premieres:-is-brendan-fraser-the-frontrunner-for-best-actor?

I’ve talked about Samuel D Hunter’s The Whale so much I didn’t realize it hadn’t opened yet. But it just ran the film festival circuit to great success. Now, however, the first trailer dropped, and we finally get to see what all the yelling is about. Or clapping, rather. The film’s gotten a lot of press so far, some good, and some not so good. But almost everyone agrees that star Brendan Fraser is a standout. Not just that everyone is thrilled for his comeback, but he turns in a powerhouse performance. So much so that he is presently poised as a frontrunner for best actor.

Brendan Fraser’s highly-acclaimed comeback is front and center in the first trailer for “The Whale,” the latest film from director Darren Aronofsky (“Requiem for a Dream,” “Black Swan”) and A24.

“The Whale” follows Charlie (Fraser), an English teacher living with obesity who has decided to eat himself to death. His pain and misery stems from the abandonment and death of his gay lover, leading to chronic binge-eating. Meanwhile, Charlie struggles to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter, played by “Stranger Things” favorite Sadie Sink. Now, the 600-pound man has one last shot at redemption with his child.

“The Whale” emerged from the fall festival circuit with rave reviews for Fraser’s performance, which earned a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival that reduced the actor to tears. Screenings at the Toronto International Film Festival and the London Film Festival earned similar standing ovations for Fraser. For many Oscar pundits, Fraser is the frontrunner for best actor.

“It felt so affirming,” Fraser told Variety in October regarding enthusiasm surrounding his appearances through the fall festivals. “I was emotional because it was acknowledgment that what we did is making an impact. And that kind of response feels completely new in my professional life.”

[From Yahoo!]

I’d love to see Brendan win an Oscar. I already know he’d make us cry in his acceptance speech. But I want to see him win the Golden Globe. Since it was the HFPA that sunk his career, let them be the first to recognize what’s owed him. Unfortunately, there will be controversy surrounding any recognition for this role due to the prosthetics. But from everything I’ve heard so far, Brendan really is incredible. I’ve posted the trailer below. He only speaks a couple of lines so it’s hard to gauge. However, he does a great job with the few we hear.

What’s interesting is this is also considered a comeback of sorts for Darren Aronofsky. His last film was Mother! and lord knows how that turned out. But nobody is really bringing him into the discussion, only Brendan. To Aronofsky’s credit, he is letting Brendan fully have the moment

Here’s the trailer for The Whale, which comes out Dec 9:

Photo credit: Cover Images, YouTube and Ottavia Da Re/Agenzia Sintesi/Avalon

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Henry Cavill Movies

Henry Cavill confirms that he’s coming back as Superman

henry-cavill-confirms-that-he’s-coming-back-as-superman

The only bummer about this job is I get practically every movie spoiled for me. I haven’t gotten out to see Black Adam yet. Not that I was in a rush to do so, but I was going to see it. And now I know what would have been such an incredibly cool moment. So – and this kills me to say this – stop reading this post now if you plan to see the film.

***SPOILERS for Black Adam***

In the post credit scene of Black Adam, Superman crashes through the ceiling and tells Dwayne Johnson’s Black Adam they need to talk before the scene fades to black. Audiences hoped this meant Black Adam and Superman are going to battle it out in another film. Which it does, unofficially. But what was also gasp-worthy is that it was none other than Henry Cavill once again wearing the Big S emblazoned on his delicious chest. Much like the question who’s got the keys to the Batmobile this week?, we didn’t know if Henry was coming back to the role. Between the shifting directors at DC and Henry’s many other projects, most of us thought he’d pulled his red boots off for the last time (and nobody really blamed him). But Dwayne Johnson was teasing all kinds of ways during the promo and people who guessed a Superman cameo was in the works kept poking Henry if he was reprising his role anytime soon. He didn’t make a peep prior so as not to spoil anything. However, after Black Adam pulled in $140M globally, Henry felt enough people had seen the film that he could officially announce to everyone that he’s back, baby.

Henry said the clip above and the cameo in BA “are just a very small taste of things to come,” which has sent fans into overdrive trying to figure what’s coming next. DC has a lot of issues currently. The biggest is Ezra Miller because DC had a franchise tied to them. And now that they are looking at a potential 26 years behind bars, DC needs to pretend they were never The Flash. I swear, if Henry can resurrect DC’s PR by coming back, I might suspect he actually is Superman.

Henry ended his IG by thanking the fans for all their support and love. I’ll bet they lost their minds over that cameo. Like I said, I would pay money to go back to a time I didn’t know about it just to see that scene. I love Henry as Superman. Granted I think he is knee-buckling handsome, but I also think he’s good in the role so I’m game for however long he wants the cape. And I hope Amy Adams keeps coming back as his Lois, they’re darling together (on and offscreen). Henry also said in his IG that he was sorry to keep us in suspense, but he promises it will be rewarded. So I guess he intends to make out with me in the theater during his next film? Awesome.

Equally sexy to Superman Henry is Nerd Hank:

Photo credit: Cover Images, James Warren/Avalon Red and Instagram

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Hugh Jackman Movies Ryan Reynolds

Hugh Jackman to reprise role as Wolverine in Deadpool 3

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There was a big hoopla on social media on Tuesday when Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds both posted these videos to their Instagrams and Twitters:

Yeah, sure. pic.twitter.com/LaSBjDeLjI

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) September 27, 2022

In case you didn’t watch that, Ryan admits he needed a big gimmick for Deadpool 3, couldn’t think of one, until he did, and then Hugh Jackman walks across the background and Ryan asks, “Hey, Hugh, you want to play Wolverine one more time?” to which High casually responds, “Yeah, sure, Ryan,” as he walks up stairs. So this is very exciting news to fans of the characters/actors. The reason this is exciting is threefold. The first is because people love Hugh as Wolverine. Not to get too geeky, but I live with an X-Men comic book nut, fans were irate when 6’3” Australian Hugh was cast to play the 5’3” Canadian Logan. But it only took until Hugh uttered “Pick one” to Rogue in X-Men to win everyone over. Once you sway fans like that, they stay loyal. The second reason is the poetry of Ryan first appearing as a very different Deadpool in the 2009 X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which started the franchise that Hugh fronted. And the third reason is Hugh and Ryan’s bromance. Most of us love any excuse for those two to be in a room together so the promotion alone for this film will be worth it.

However, the news also raised many questions, like will Wolverine be just a cameo? Whose house was this filmed in? What is Hugh eating when he answers and oh yeah, what about Wolverine being dead?! Because that’s where we left him at the end of Logan in 2017, dead and buried on the side of the road. Many people thought Logan was a great movie and it ended perfectly. Thus resurrecting Wolverine would undo the beauty of that film. Hugh and Ryan heard those concerns and answered those questions as well:

Again, it’s cute. And they gave us the answer we needed, which is the DP3 movie will not undo the story of Logan. I assume it will take place prior to 2029 but who knows what they have planned? *whispers* I wasn’t a huge fan of Logan, so I don’t care if they make Wolverine a zombie or not.

James Mangold, the director of Logan, seemed to also be asking about Dead Logan when he posted this to his Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/v1OLXfN6i9

— Mangold (@mang0ld) September 27, 2022

Unfortunately, Mangold had intended that to be a cheeky little jab to piggyback on the boys’ fun. The internet, however, declared war. So Mangold had to clarify he meant no ill-will to his “dear friends” and could everybody please take a deep breath on this:

Oh my gosh! Everybody chill. Just kidding! I’m all good! LOGAN will always be there. Multiverse or prequel, time warp or worm hole, canon or non-canon or even without a rationale, I cannot wait to see what maddness my dear friends @VancityReynolds and @RealHughJackman cook up! pic.twitter.com/qaCG4Z39x4

— Mangold (@mang0ld) September 28, 2022

If there is one thing we can count on from the MCU, most of the story takes place in the Twitterverse before the thing has even been released.

Photo credit: Avalon Red and Instagram

Categories
Alan Rickman Movies

Alan Rickman almost quit Harry Potter after the second movie

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Madly, Deeply: The Diaries of Alan Rickman is coming out October 4 in the UK, October 18 in the US. The Guardian published some excerpts over the weekend and got everyone all a-titter. Alan wrote the diaries with the intention that they would be published, so read these with a clear conscience. His wife Rima Horton takes over the book when Alan is too weak from pancreatic cancer to write, and she details his last few days. The beauty of Alan’s entries is that he wrote in his own voice, so it feels like you’re having a chat. The bonus is there is all this wonderful gossip and insight we’re hearing for the first time. One of the big stories is that Alan almost didn’t return to the role of Snape in the Harry Potter movies after Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In the brief blurb we got, he talked about “reiterating” that he was doing no more of the films. But the studios wouldn’t hear it. Thank goodness. By the fifth film, Alan decided Snape’s story was now his story, so he relented to see it through.

Excerpts from Alan Rickman’s diaries are giving insight into the late actor’s role as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series and why he decided to continue playing the character amid tough times and desires to quit.

In the diary entries, which were published online by The Guardian on Saturday, Rickman detailed that he wanted to leave the franchise in 2002, one month after the release of the second film: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

“Talking to [agent] Paul Lyon-Maris about HP exit, which he thinks will happen,” Rickman wrote in an entry dated Dec. 4, 2002. “But here we are in the project-collision area again. Reiterating no more HP. They don’t want to hear it.”

The actor decided to stay with the franchise, however, after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2005, ahead of filming for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the franchise’s fifth installment.

After doctors opted to remove his entire prostate through surgery at a Tennessee hospital, Rickman wrote a journal entry detailing his decision to stay on as Snape in the beloved fantasy saga.

“Finally, yes to HP 5. The sensation is neither up nor down. The argument that wins is the one that says: ‘See it through. It’s your story,’ ” he wrote.

[From People]

My first question was why did Alan want out of the Potter films? I have no idea if the excerpts are just partial entries or if he just wrote a sentence or two at a time. Maybe Rima will give some interviews and fill in blanks during the promotion. Hard to believe the studios didn’t lock these characters down with multi-picture contracts from the start. Again, I never read the books, maybe Snape wasn’t featured in them as prominently so that wasn’t necessary. But later in his diaries, Alan talks about finishing the last HP book and Snape’s in it, thus my assumption they needed Snape past movie two. It’s also sad because Alan died in 2016, before J.K. Rowling had any tarnish to her. He speaks of talking to and about her in such a way, it makes me miss both of them.

Not surprisingly, the book is already a number one best seller on Amazon. My father keeps a diary. I know it’s going to tear me in two after he’s gone. I’ve always been a crap diarist, but they are important. Sometimes even more important for others more for us. That’s what Instagram has become for me. I suppose Facebook could be as well if you can avoid the toxicity. Alan died on my birthday. Four days after David Bowie died. Personally, I was in one of the worst places I’ve been in – for other reasons, obviously, but I took their deaths so personally. Maybe if I put on one of Bowie’s albums and read Madly, Deeply, it’ll feel like they’re back for just a few minutes.

Photo credit: Instagram and Avalon Red