Latest news with #FrancisLawrence
Geek Tyrant
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Keanu Reeves Isn't Happy With Where CONSTANTINE 2 Is Heading — GeekTyrant
If you're one of the many fans who've been riding the emotional rollercoaster of Constantine 2 updates over the years, you might want to brace yourself again because things aren't exactly going smoothly behind the scenes. Actor Peter Stormare, who famously played Lucifer in the 2005 cult classic, recently shed some light on what's going on with the sequel... and it sounds like Keanu Reeves isn't thrilled with what he's seeing. While promoting his latest project Stand Your Ground , Stormare was asked for an update on Constantine 2 , and he didn't sugarcoat the situation. 'It's a lot of back and forth, because… I think Keanu [Reeves], who I know pretty good, is not so happy with the scripts and usually what comes out of the studios…' That hesitation from Reeves is about protecting the soul of the film. According to Stormare, Reeves has a clear vision for what Constantine 2 should be: 'I think Keanu says, 'I've done John Wick. This movie is spiritual. It's about demons and regular people. And I wanted to keep it that way.' And we talked about that… I think Keanu, he wants to do a sequel that is very close to the first one.' That first film, directed by Francis Lawrence, wasn't a massive hit out of the gate. It was dark, weird, spiritual, and very much its own thing. But over time, it found its audience, one that appreciated a grimy, noir-soaked world where angels and demons fought over souls, and the hero was a chain-smoking exorcist with one foot in the grave. 'The first one wasn't that successful in the beginning. It became a sleeper and became a cult movie, and now it is one of the biggest cult movies ever. 'But to do a sequel, the studios want to have, you know, cars flying in the air. They want to have people doing flip-flops and fighting action scenes.' Stormare hasn't read the latest scripts himself, all of this is coming directly from conversations with Reeves. But from the sound of it, both actors agree that trying to turn Constantine 2 into a Marvel-style thrill ride would kill everything that made the original special. 'It turns into an action movie, and not like going deeper and deeper into the characters. I think he [Keanu] wants to do this character again, Constantine, as grounded as it was in the first one. 'It took a long time to become a cult movie, it really worked, and it will work on the audience again. You don't have to add a lot of action and shootouts. You have other movies. 'Don't turn it into big Marvel… [Don't turn it] into us flying around in harnesses all the time and shooting each other up. Don't bring in the big guns. Let it be.' Lawrence, the director behind the original, seems to be on the same page. He's gone on record in the past saying that if they're doing a sequel, they want to do it their way, and go even darker and deeper this time. 'I certainly think there is a bigger fan base and certainly it's become a kind of cult classic, which has been really exciting to see and very strange, but it's something we've always loved… 'I'd say more than any of my other movies, Constantine has been something that I felt like was really worthy of a sequel. There is a world that you can really explore and there's a character that we certainly loved and really wanted to explore… 'So we're like, 'F–k it, let's go and do a sequel and really make an R-rated movie. Give us an R, let us make a real R-rated movie.'' So where does that leave Constantine 2 ? Still in development, for now. But it's clear that if Reeves is going to return, he's only doing it on the right terms, and that's reassuring because the last thing we need is another half-hearted reboot that forgets what made the original matter in the first place.
Geek Tyrant
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Kieran Culkin Will Play Caesar Flickerman in THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING — GeekTyrant
Lionsgate has confirmed that Emmy-winning Succession star Kieran Culkin will take on the role of Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping , the upcoming prequel based on Suzanne Collins' bestseller. This puts Culkin in the shoes of the flamboyant Hunger Games host previously played by Stanley Tucci in the original films, and there's no doubt that Culkin will bring chaotic charm to the character. Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen's rise, Sunrise on the Reaping opens on the grim morning of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. This brutal version of the games sends 48 children into the arena including a young, sharp-tongued Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada. Whitney Peak stars opposite him as Lenore Dove Baird. The cast lineup is stacked with McKenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, Lili Taylor as Mags, Ben Wang as Wyatt Callow, Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, and Elle Fanning as a younger Effie Trinket. Francis Lawrence returns to direct, keeping the world of Panem in familiar hands, with a script from Billy Ray. Producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson are back under the Color Force banner, and Lionsgate's Cameron MacConomy is executive producing. Culkin's casting adds serious prestige. He's coming off an Oscar win for A Real Pain , which he starred in opposite Jesse Eisenberg, and his Broadway run in Glengarry Glen Ross alongside Bob Odenkirk and Bill Burr is doing very well. The film is scheduled to hit theaters on November 20, 2026.
Geek Tyrant
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Elle Fanning Cast as Young Effie Trinket in THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE OF THE REAPING — GeekTyrant
Lionsgate has officially cast Elle Fanning actress as a younger Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping , the next installment in the billion-dollar dystopian franchise. Directed by Francis Lawrence and based on Suzanne Collins' upcoming novel, Fanning steps into the shoes of the iconic Capitol escort originally played by Elizabeth Banks in the first four films. But Sunrise on the Reaping is set decades before Katniss volunteered as tribute, centering on the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, and the earlier lives of several key characters. In this story, Effie is paired with a young Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada, as his assigned Capitol liaison. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group co-president Erin Westermant: 'From the moment Suzanne released the book, one question echoed from fans around the world: Who will play Effie? 'Elizabeth Banks made her iconic — so who could honor that legacy while bringing us back to Effie's early, most formative days? For us, there was only one answer. 'Elle Fanning's career has been transcendent. She has a rare presence — warm, sparkling and layered with extraordinary depth. She was the undeniable fan favorite from the start, and we're honored she answered the call. The odds, it turns out, were in our favor.' The cast for Sunrise on the Reaping also includes Whitney Peak, Mckenna Grace, Jesse Plemons, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Maya Hawke, Lili Taylor, Ben Wang, and Ralph Fiennes as President Snow. The film is scripted by Billy Ray and produced by franchise veterans Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson for Color Force, with Cameron MacConomy executive producing. The story picks up 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games, during a pivotal moment in Panem's history. Sunrise on the Reaping is going to dig deeper into the origins of characters we thought we already knew. Fanning, who's had an impressive run of late with A Complete Unknown and Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value , which just premiered at Cannes, is also set to appear in the Apple TV+ series Margo's Got Money Troubles and 20th Century's Predator: Badlands . She's a great young actress and she's going to be wonderful in the role of Effie Trinket. The film is slated for release on November 20, 2026.
Gizmodo
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The Next ‘Hunger Games' Movie Keeps Gobbling Up More Names for Its Cast
Elle Fanning has signed on to play Effie Trinket in Suzanne Collins adaptation 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.' We were already looking forward to seeing Elle Fanning kicking ass on an alien planet in Predator: Badlands. Now the A Complete Unknown actress is adding another well-known franchise to her resume, this time with a role we know a lot more about going in: she'll play Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, a flamboyant character memorably played by Elizabeth Banks in the original Hunger Games movies. As Variety reports, this younger version of Effie is still climbing the ladder in Panem. In Sunrise, she'll be the stylist for District 12 Tribute Haymitch Abernathy, played here by Joseph Zada. (In the main Hunger Games movies, he was played by Woody Harrelson.) Fanning is just the latest big name to join the Sunrise cast. Its main characters—Zada as Haymitch and Whitney Peak as Lenore Dove Baird—are played by up-and-comers, but there are plenty of immediately recognizable faces also along for the ride, including Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee, Maya Hawke as Wiress, and Lili Taylor as Mags. Other cast members include Mckenna Grace as Maysilee Donner, Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Beetee, Ben Wang as Wyatt, Molly McCann as Louella, and Iona Bell as Louella lookalike Lou Lou. Frequent Hunger Games helmer Francis Lawrence is back to direct Sunrise on the Reaping; it hits theaters November 20, 2026.
Tom's Guide
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's latest video game adaptations finally got some updates — and my nerves are officially kicking in
'Bioshock' and 'Gears of War' are easily in my top three favorite video game franchises of all time. Nothing can ever quite dethrone 'The Last of Us' from the No. 1 spot, but these two dystopian worlds have stuck with me and I find myself replaying them more than just about anything else. So when I first heard Netflix was adapting them into movies, I couldn't help but feel excited (even if my expectations were... cautiously low). For a while, though, updates were scarce, and months of radio silence had me wondering if the projects had been quietly shelved. Thankfully, both titles have gotten some encouraging news in the past few days. Director Francis Lawrence recently told IGN: 'Bioshock is still in development. I just actually just got a draft. We have a meeting with the writer [Justin Rhodes], so that's definitely a very strong possibility as well.' He also acknowledged the uphill battle in adapting the game: 'It's a tricky adaptation, so there's lots of things to figure out and to get right. There's regime changes at Netflix, and so things stall out and get re-energized and stall out and get re-energized, and I think we're in a pretty good place, honestly.' Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter shared that 'David Leitch is in negotiations to helm Gears of War.' Leitch, who is best known for 'The Fall Guy,' 'Atomic Blonde,' and 'Bullet Train', has a knack for slick, stylized action, which makes him a solid pick for the franchise. Netflix hasn't commented on the deal just yet, but Leitch and his wife/producing partner Kelly McCormick are also expected to produce the movie alongside The Coalition. These aren't massive updates, but they confirm one crucial thing: both adaptations are still alive and moving forward. And being such a huge fan of 'Bioshock' and 'Gears of War,' I can't deny that my excitement is growing. I think most of us can agree that video game adaptations are usually hit or miss. Just look at movies like 'Tomb Raider,' 'Warcraft,' and the recent 'Until Dawn' — more often than not, they just don't land. And there are plenty more where those came from, but we'd be here all day if I tried to list them all. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. On the flip side, 'The Last of Us,' 'Fallout,' 'The Witcher,' and even 'Halo' have actually done really well. What do they all have in common? They're TV shows. I've said for a while now that video game adaptations tend to fare better in a show format as there's simply more time to flesh out the world and dive deep into the characters. That's a big reason why blockbuster versions often fail. Which is exactly why I'm a little nervous about 'Bioshock' and 'Gears of War' getting the Netflix movie treatment. It's not that I don't believe in the talent behind these projects, because they're more than capable of telling great stories. It's just that the worlds in these games are so massive and detailed, I can see how tough it would be to translate them to live-action. The underwater city of Rapture and the fictional planet Sera are practically characters themselves. Their scale and intricate lore would be incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to fully capture in live-action without losing what makes them special. Honestly, maybe some games just aren't meant for that format. I'd be just as happy seeing them adapted as adult animated series instead. Since Netflix first confirmed a 'Bioshock' movie back in 2022, quite a few things have changed, and that includes the budget. During a panel at San Diego Comic-Con, producer Roy Lee said: 'The new regime has lowered the budgets. So we're doing a much smaller version. It's going to be a more personal point of view, as opposed to a grander, big project.' The limited budget does have me a bit concerned that it could limit the movie's ability to fully bring this world to life, possibly making it feel less immersive. Still, I'm holding onto some hope, especially knowing that Lawrence has drawn inspiration from 'The Shining' for this 'BioShock' adaptation. As I mentioned earlier, TV shows clearly tend to work better. And while Netflix is adapting 'Gears of War' into a movie, it's also developing an animated series which I'm much more optimistic about. There aren't any details yet, but I'm confident the show will do a lot better than the live-action take. All that said, I'm still genuinely excited for these movies, even if I'm a little hesitant because these games are some of my absolute favorites. Honestly, I'd rather wait a few more years if it means they get the focus and polish they deserve. Netflix, I just have one wish: Would you kindly do these video game adaptations justice?
