This week’s Ketchup brings you more headlines from the world of film development news, covering new titles like The bodyguard, Wonka, and seven huge Marvel movies.

TOP STORY OF THE WEEK

MARVEL HAS NOW SEVEN FILMS PLANNED FOR 2023 AND 2024

(Photo by © Marvel Studios)

Marvel fans continue to wait patiently (and sometimes, not so patiently) for an official word on when Marvel Studios finally begins releasing. The Fantastic Four and X Men movies after the rights to do so passed to Marvel as a result of the Disney / Fox deal in 2019. We still don’t have specific deals for any of those movies, but there are so many movies now. “mysteries” on Marvel’s list that fair money suggests they might be coming soon. That’s because Marvel has announced four 2024 release dates for untitled “mystery” films this week, February 16, May 3, July 26, and November 8. Those four films, whoever they are, join three other mystery films slated for 2023 on July 28, October 6, and November 10. Out of these seven films, there are a few well-known feature films that we can to guess could be included (which do not have dates yet), such as Blade, Captain America 4 (with Anthony Mackie), Deadpool 3, and The Fantastic Four. The first one X Men the movie could also be one of those seven, and that would still leave two more slots for … something else (maybe New Avengers Where Shang-Chi 2). Whatever these seven films are, they will be released after Eternals (5/11/2021), Spider-Man: No Path Home (12/17/2021), Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (03/25/2022), Thor: Love and Thunder (5/6/2022), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (7/8/2022), Wonders (11/11/2022), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2/17/2023), and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (5/5/2023). You can read here for a full breakdown of everything that goes into the MCU, along with key details for each project.

Other flagship titles

1. CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TAKES HIS TALENTS TO UNIVERSAL FOR HIS FILM ATOMIC BOMB

(Photo by Melinda Sue Gordon / Paramount Pictures)

Not to mention his first two feature films (Following and Memento), Christopher Nolan has spent most of his career directing films for Warner Bros., including three Batman films and, most recently, Dunkirk and Principle. It was finished Principle that Nolan fell out with Warner Bros., which included Nolan calling HBO Max “the worst streaming service.” It was with this in mind that news broke last week that Nolan was shopping for his next film, a drama about atomic bomb innovator J. Robert Oppenheimer. That search ended quickly this week with the announcement that Nolan landed the project at Universal Pictures with a view to starting filming in the first quarter of 2022. The agreement between Nolan and Universal came with several stipulations, including $ 100 million. of dollars. budget, a 100-day cinema window (at a time when most movies are only 30 or 45 days, if any), 20% of the first gross dollar, and a three-week blackout period before and after during which Universal will not release another movie. (And as this article implies, Nolan probably won’t be bashing Peacock anytime soon.)

2. DISNEY WORKS WITH THEATERS TO ETERNAL, ENCANTO, WEST SIDE STORY AND OTHERS

(Photo by Marvel Studios)

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a dampening effect on the theatrical box office, one of the strategy studios attempted this year (notably by Warner Bros. / HBO Max and Disney / Disney +) was to launch their “day and date” films both hit theaters. and streaming. Over the Labor Day weekend, Disney tried a different approach with Shang-Chi and the legend of the ten rings, and the result was a record $ 94 million. Apparently based on that success (compared to the impact of COVID-19) – and, presumably, to avoid any further potential Scarlett Johansson situation – Walt Disney Pictures confirmed this week that several of their upcoming 2021 films will be released. exclusively in theaters for one or the other. 45 or 30 days. The animated musical Encanto (11/24/2021) will have a 30 day window, while most others including The last duel (10/15/2021), Ron has gone wrong (10/22/2021), Marvel’s Eternals (5/11/2021), by Steven Spielberg West Side Story (10/12/2021), and the spy prequel The king’s man (12/22/2021) will all have exclusive 45-day windows before going to streaming.

3. KEEGAN-MICHAEL KEY JOINS TIMOTHEE CHALAMET’S WONKA PREQUEL

(Photo by Melinda Sue Gordon / © Netflix)

We are still a month away from Dune (88% fresh) on release (in the US), but star Timothée Chalamet is already gearing up to star in another big-budget movie for Warner Bros. After years of speculation, Chalamet was finally the actor who landed the starring role in Wonka, the prequel on Willy Wonka’s previous life from Roald Dahl’s novel Charlie and the chocolate factory. This week, Jordan Peele’s comedy partner Keegan-Michael Key became the second actor in the prequel, although we don’t know what role he will play (certainly not an Oompa-Loompa). Wonka will be directed by Paul King, who arrives at the prequel with impressive critical reception following his work on the two Paddington (Certified Fresh at 97%) and Paddington 2 (Certified 99% Fresh). Warner Bros. programmed Wonka for release on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2023.

4. WILD FOREST NEXT STOP-MOTION ANIMATED FILM BY LAIKA

(Photo by Laika Studios)

It usually takes years for a movie to develop and produce, but it’s particularly long, on average, with animation. Consider, for example, the news in 2011 that LAIKA, the stop-motion company behind films like Coraline (Certified Fresh at 90%) and Kubo and the two strings (97% Certified Fresh), was developing a film called Wild forest. To put things in perspective, in 2011, Coraline was the company alone film released, previous Paranormand in 2012, Boxtrolls in 2014, Kubo and the two strings in 2016, and Missing link in 2019. Wild forest was finally confirmed this week as LAIKA’s next stop-motion film, with company co-founder Travis Knight directing (after taking a detour to direct Bumblebee, Certified 90% Fresh). The Hansel and Gretel-film reminiscence will be an adaptation of the first book of the Wild forest series of fantastic children’s novels by Colin Meloy, who is also the lead singer of indie band The Decemberists.

5. THE WINNING Dramatist OF TONY REFUSING WHITNEY HOUSTON’S BODY GUARD

(Photo by Warner Bros. courtesy Everett Collection)

Naomi Ackie, who played Jannah in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, will soon play the role of pop star Whitney Houston in the biopic I want to dance with someone (12/23/2022), which could lead to renewed fan interest in his music and legacy. Houston’s biggest starring role in a movie was in 1992 The bodyguard (32% rotten) (opposite Kevin Costner as the main character), and a remake is in development at Warner Bros. since 2011. The remake has received a new shot of creativity this week as playwright Tony Lopez (Heritage) came on board to start a new draft rewrite. According to Variety, some of the couples that were considered for the remake include Thor: Ragnarok stars Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth, and Cardi B and Channing Tatum. Another possibility could be Lizzo, who turned to TikTok this week to respond to the fans who fancasted her in the remake (opposite Chris Pine). Warner Bros. has not made any official casting announcements yet.

6. VEEP CO-STAR SAM RICHARDSON IS CHRIS PRATT BLOCKED ASSET

(Photo by Glen Wilson / © Paramount Pictures)

Sam Richardson is an actor who joined HBO Veep in Season 3 and recently co-starred with Chris Pratt in the sci-fi action movie Amazon Prime The war of tomorrow (52% rotten) and video game adaptation Werewolves inside (Certified 86% Fresh). Now Richardson is signed to star in an action comedy titled Failed asset for Universal Pictures, which Pratt produces through his company Indivisible Production. The premise is being kept “a secret,” but the title itself suggests something possibly involving an intelligence “asset” that is “stuck” in a dangerous location, but that’s just this writer’s guess. Failed asset was written by screenwriter Jen D’Angelo, who also wrote several episodes of workaholics (86% fresh) and more Hocus pocus 2 soon available on Disney +.

7. MARC MARON IS YOUR NEXT LEX LUTHOR (IN CC LEAGUE OF SUPER PETS)

(Photo by Erica Parise / © Netflix)

Comedian and podcasting innovator Marc Maron played a supporting role in Joaquin Phoenix Joker, and now he has his own chance to play the arch nemesis of one of DC’s main superheroes. Maron to provide voice for Lex Luthor in the next year DC League of Super-Pets (5/20/2022), joining an animated voice cast that already includes Dwayne Johnson (Krypto the Super-Dog), Kevin Hart (Ace the Bat-Hound), Keanu Reeves, Vanessa Bayer, Jameela Jamil, John Krasinski, Diego Luna, Natasha Lyonne and Kate McKinnon. Maron broke the news on his podcast in his last episode with guest Steve Buscemi.

8. TRACY MORGAN JOINS TRIPLETS AS THE LOST BROTHER OF DEVITO AND SCHWARZENEGGER

(Photo by Christopher Polk / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Almost ten years ago, we first heard of a sequel to twins (43% rotten) called Triplets entering development, with the return of Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger and their long-lost third brother who will be played by Eddie Murphy. Murphy apparently gave up some time ago, but the producers have finally found their third Triplets star in another Saturday Night Live alumnus, Tracy Morgan. Triplets will begin filming in the Boston area in January 2022, and the project is currently being researched in the Toronto International Film Festival market for distribution deals. twins director Ivan Reitman, whose son Jason Reitman recently directed Ghostbusters: the afterlife (19/11/2021), will also direct Triplets. In related news, Shadow Hunters star Dominic Sherwood recently wrapped up direct video shooting Eraser: Reborn, a reboot of the 1996 Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick Gum (38% rotten).

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