Latest news with #RyanCoogler
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sacha Baron Cohen Shocks Fans With Muscular Body Transformation to Play Marvel's Mephisto: ‘This Is Not AI… Hard Launching My Mid-Life Crisis'
Sacha Baron Cohen is shocking fans with his Men's Fitness U.K. cover story, which includes photos of the muscular body transformation he underwent before filming scenes as Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 'Borat' creator debuted as the infamous comic book villain in the Disney+ series 'Ironheart' earlier this summer. 'Some celebs use Ozempic and some use private chefs, others use personal trainers. I did all three,' Cohen quipped on his Instagram story while sharing the shirtless photos of himself. He also told fans: 'This is not AI. I really am egotistical enough to do this.' More from Variety Kevin Feige on Marvel Studios' Future, Focusing on Lower Budgets, Less TV and More Robert Downey Jr.: 'Look at "Superman," It's Clearly Not Superhero Fatigue' Marvel Plans to Recast the X-Men and (Eventually) Tony Stark After 'Avengers: Secret Wars,' But 'Reboot Is a Scary Word,' Says Kevin Feige John Malkovich's Red Ghost Cut From 'Fantastic Four'; Director Says 'It Was Heartbreaking Not to Include Him' (EXCLUSIVE) Cohen wrote in other posts: 'Debuting my new character: Middle-aged man who replaced beer with protein shakes… Hard launching my mid-life crisis.' Marvel fans originally expected Mephisto to pop up years ago in 'WandaVision,' and Baron Cohen was always at the top of fan-casting wishlists. 'Ironheart' producer and 'Black Panther' director Ryan Coogler told Variety last month that he was thrilled Marvel waited until 'Ironheart' to debut Baron Cohen's Mephisto. 'I just absolutely love that we're not meeting him in 'WandaVision' or 'Agatha [All Along].' You're meeting him through this stressed-out, young Black genius,' Coogler said. 'When you watch the show, it's like, 'Oh, that was how you always were gonna meet him.' It wasn't gonna be in 'Loki.' That's the trickster; that's how he works. That's where he's gonna be: in a pizza shop in Chicago, like, where you would absolutely never expect him.' Head writer Chinaka Hodge said the decision to introduce Baron Cohen's Mephisto was a 'collaborative' one, adding: 'I could tell the story about process, and you would know how benevolent Kevin Feige is. But I will say that it was a collaborative effort, where we all landed on Mephisto together, but there was one of us in the room who led us there, and I'm eternally grateful for him leading us that direction.' It's currently unknown when Baron Cohen will pop up again as Mephisto in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he'll certainly be in great shape whenever that time comes. Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts? Final Emmy Predictions: Talk Series and Scripted Variety - New Blood Looks to Tackle Late Night Staples Solve the daily Crossword
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Kevin Feige Unveils Some of the MCU's Big Next Moves
The grind never stops at Marvel Studios, and Kevin Feige has gone and revealed some juicy nuggets about what is and isn't to come in the MCU. The longtime producer recently talked to press about Marvel's next moves, and he was naturally asked about Blade. We're now on the six-year anniversary of Mahershala Ali being announced for the role, and he recently told press to pester Marvel about the film's infamously troubled production. To Deadline and other outlets, Feige confirmed that yes, there have been four separate takes of the character in the development process so far: two in the past and two in the modern day. (One would've been set in the Prohibition era, and it was far enough along its background costumes were instead used for Sinners.) The version now being developed has 'landed on modern day' and will see Ali do more than 'put a leather outfit on him and have him start killing vampires.' 'We didn't want to do that to Mahershala and he didn't want to do that to us,' Feige explained to THR. 'You can start and have a good script and make it a great script through production, but we didn't feel confident we could do that on Blade.' Additionally, he confirmed that Ryan Coogler isn't in the running for that project, as he's focused on developing Black Panther 3. Another character fans have been wanting to come to the MCU is one Miles Morales, aka New York's one and only Spider-Man (other Spiders may be available). It sounds like fans should keep on waiting, as Feige said the studio 'has been told to stay away' by Sony, which owns Miles' film rights. The character's animated trilogy is expected to wrap with Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse in June 2027, but until then, any plans to bring him into the fold 'are nowhere' on the MCU's end. Sony, on the other hand, has its own plans for bringing him out of animation. When it comes to long-term plans, Feige told press Marvel's current roadmap stretches to 2032. Naturally, the X-Men are part of those plans, and they'll be recast for their MCU debut, which'll be directed by Thunderbolts' Jake Schreirer. X-fans will get one more chance to see the original Fox actors reprise their roles in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. But the new X-Men will also prepare audiences for bigger MCU characters like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers to be eventually played by newer actors down the line. But don't worry about any of that until Secret Wars, which will end with a 'reset' that brings the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the same universe as the current crop of MCU heroes. Feige stressed to Variety that this isn't a reboot, which he considers 'a scary word that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Reset, singular timeline—we're thinking along those lines.' 'Secret Wars very, very much sets us up for the future,' Feige teased. 'Avengers: Endgame was about endings, literally, and Secret Wars is about beginnings.' Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Lyric Ross Cherishes Her AI Natalie in ‘Ironheart'
[This story contains spoilers from the finale.] It's hard to forget Lyric Ross as Deja in This Is Us. At such a young age, she delivered a standout performance. For some actors, that can be a hard act to follow in adulthood. Not for Ross. As the AI version of Riri Williams' best friend Natalie in Marvel Studios' Ironheart series on Disney+, Ross has been one of the show's many unexpected delights. More from The Hollywood Reporter Where and When to Watch 'Thunderbolts*' Online 'Ironheart' Review: Marvel's 'Black Panther' Spinoff Finds Its Voice Between a Clumsy Pilot and a Frustrating Finale Dominique Thorne Shares Robert Downey Jr.'s Reaction to 'Ironheart': "He Immediately Just Got It" Black Panther fans first met Ironheart's Dominique Thorne's Riri in Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever three years ago, but her character actually first appeared in the comics in 2016 in Invincible Iron Man Vol. 3 #7. After several other comic appearances, she got her own standalone Ironheart comic in 2018. A teenage prodigy from the South Side of Chicago, Riri attends MIT with every intention of following in Tony Stark's or, rather, Iron Man's, footsteps. Lack of finances, however, complicates that goal in the Ironheart series created by playwright and former Snowpiercer staff writer Chinaka Hodge, which released its season finale on Tuesday. Produced by Ryan Coogler, Ironheart showed a fallen hero in Riri. Her attempts to stay at MIT by any means necessary get her expelled, sending her back home to Chicago without any legitimate way to move forward with her own plans. Back home, she got mixed up with a nefarious group of hackers led by Anthony Ramos' character The Hood. But she also has to face the hole left in her heart from losing her stepfather Gary (Chicago PD's LaRoyce Hawkins) and best friend Natalie to violence. In her grief, she produces an AI version of her best friend whose loss is also felt by Xavier (Matthew Elam), Natalie's brother and maybe Riri's potential love interest. Ross spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about what makes her AI Natalie different from the real Natalie, how she and Thorne created their best friend chemistry, why Ironheart has been a great follow-up to This Is Us, filming in her native Chicago, ignoring the backlash and if we will see more of AI Natalie moving forward. *** Who is the real Natalie and who is the AI Natalie? I think the AI Natalie is that light you can't put out even if you try. She is there to stay whether you like it or not. Very determined, little to no fear, which is one of the things I loved about her. You don't see her getting shaken up by anything really. She takes on challenges seamlessly. The real Natalie is a friend, nurturer, supporter. She's everything that she says she is, in all her confidence, and nobody can tell her different. She embraces challenges like AI Natalie, just with that confidence that she can do anything and everything. And she is always there for her friend Riri. So very similar, but, at the same time, they have their different struggles. We haven't really seen much of the real Natalie. It's more so been flashbacks, but we get to come back to her at the end of the show and see she's a little more calm than AI Natalie, who's kind of all over the place and a very big personality, which they both have, but she's just a little bit more that in who she is, and she understands that and everything that comes with it. So, just different little things. She's very smart. The AI Natalie does things that I don't think she's supposed to be able to do. Oh, absolutely. And that is all shout out to Riri because that is her creation. [AI Natalie] couldn't do that alone, and, of course, [Riri] didn't do it on purpose, which shows you where her mind can go, the fact that she created something that she wasn't supposed to create that was bigger than her own vision should say a lot. Talk about how you and Dominique built the chemistry that we see, because it's quite electric. It seems like it was there from the jump. From our first chemistry read and through our rehearsals, it just stayed consistent. Of course, we put our efforts in just being around each other and having conversations and lunches, if we could. We didn't always have that much time to just hang, but we would take some moments to just be in each other's presence and talk things out, laugh and just hash out random things. So, it was pretty easy and relaxing for me. Let's talk about what AI Natalie represents, because at the end of the day, it's still grief because, at the end of the day, she's lost her friend to gun violence. I think one of the beautiful things about their dynamic is that Riri is forced to grieve in a way. She's been running away from all of that for I don't know how long, and rightfully so, nobody wants to relive those things in order to heal. But what Natalie comes with is a lot of accountability, a lot of honesty, vulnerability, and [Riri] learns a lot throughout that, I guess, new relationship and the contrast between the real Natalie and the AI Natalie. It's a lot to learn between the two and how to deal with tragedy like that, especially when it hits so close to home. Natalie's brother Xavier or Xay, as he's affectionately known, has a very different reaction to AI Natalie. I would, too. It makes a lot of sense where AI Natalie is coming from, but she's focusing on the joy and happiness of all these memories that she's getting, not necessarily the bad part of whatever these people that were affected by those events are going through. It seems like she's blinded by all of the positivity coming from those memories, so she doesn't give room to understand the fact that it's not going to be the same with the people who are affected. And that comes with understanding humans and how they work, understanding that she is not human so she's not going to feel the same in any way. Even though she gets a sense of emotions, the human way of things is a lot harder to understand. Tech is easy for her. She's up for this new challenge of understanding what it means to live, what reality is. So, it's a pretty complex situation. Talk a little bit about playing Deja on for so long and then being able to go into a completely different project. How gratifying is that? And what are the things that you learned playing Deja that help with this role? This whole Ironheart Natalie situation was exactly what I was looking for. I wanted something completely different from Deja and from myself. I heard a lot of horror stories about people being on a show for however many years and not doing much outside of that, and they kind of get stuck in that cycle or rhythm that whatever show brings, and I didn't want to be like that. I was trying to find something that would really break me out of that shell. I [thought] a low budget indie film, but Marvel came along and they said they wanted me to be a part of this journey. I was really excited and really scared at the same time. This is unlike anything that I've ever done, but I wanted to check my range as an actor and as a creative to see what I can do, and that's still the journey that I'm on for whatever my next project will be. And how dope was it to be able to do it in a project set in your city? I was super excited. One of the things that I dreamed of when I was little is getting to go to work downtown in the city, just to do something. I didn't care if it was extra work on Chicago Fire. That was Hollywood to me. I loved seeing the skyscrapers while getting to do what I love. So the fact that I was being taken out of my home in L.A. for however many years just to come back to do something on this scale is, I don't know, I can't explain it. It was that personal to me, and to my folks. All my family is from Chicago. It's a really cool situation that I couldn't come up with myself. That was God. Given all the backlash to before people even saw it, how gratifying is it to see the outpouring of love afterwards? Knowing in your heart that you had done something that was spectacular, how special is it to see people feel that and give you that love back? Absolutely. There was a lot of heart behind it. I knew what we put into it was what we were going to get out of it, whether it looked that way or not. I just knew that that was going to happen. And the fact that people were saying all these horrible things about it without it coming out yet, some people were talking about it before the trailers came out, with the obnoxious actions of that, you've got a choice of what you can believe: Believe in what you did or believe in what the people are saying. I appreciate the love that this show has been getting, but even if there wasn't love at the end of the day, we still made something very special. People are entitled to their own opinions, but I've seen everybody's hard work, day in and day out, blood, sweat and tears. There was so much passion from everybody coming into this show and the fact that we could come together and just take in everything that we've made, it all turned out beautifully. We're sad because it looks like Natalie has gone away. Do you envision an world in which we get more Natalie? I hope that we get more Natalie. There's more for me to explore about her. I know for sure that five months or so was not enough. Selfishly, I want Natalie back. But we will see. I haven't heard anything, so y'all just might find out at the same time I do. *** All six episodes of Ironheart are now streaming on Disney+. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bridget Jones and Minecraft Movie lead big screen bounce back as box office takings beat pandemic downturn
Cinemas across the UK and Ireland are roaring back to life after posting their strongest first-half performance since the Covid19 pandemic in a stunning box office comeback. After years of gloom, audience numbers are surging and tills are ringing once more. New data from Comscore shows box office takings hit a massive £532.4million in the first six months of the year – up a hefty 18 per cent on the same period in 2024. It is a dramatic reversal from the post-Covid slump that many feared was here to stay. This year's box office has outpaced 2024 for all but a single week, and analysts say the trend is only gathering speed. Film fans have been flocking to the big screens for a string of smash hits - with the Minecraft Movie leading the charge, grossing a staggering £56.7million. Hot on its heels came Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy with £46.4million, followed by a live-action Lilo & Stitch reboot, which raked in £35.3million. Other crowd pleasers included Ryan Coogler's Sinners which grossed a whopping £162.2million, contributing to a bumper first half. New data from Comscore shows box office takings hit a massive £532.4million in the first six months of the year – up a hefty 18 per cent on the same period in 2024 In total, cinema admissions were up 12 per cent, with box office receipts rising even faster - up to 18 per cent on last year. Experts now believe the worst is behind the industry. Gower Street Analytics forecasts the UK and Ireland box office will reach £1.2billion this year. 'A 16.5 per cent advantage over last summer's performance is a great place to be,' Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, told The Times. 'With August looking particularly strong, I think we'll see this momentum continue'. Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association, credited a broad range of appealing titles for luring audiences back into cinemas. 'The summer slate has really started to gear up, and there's still more to come - including Fantastic Four: First Steps,' he said, adding that high expectations now rest on tentpoles such as Wicked: For Good and Avatar: Ash and Water, later this year. Even the slightly underwhelming UK launch of Superman - which opened with £6.9million, compared to Man of Steel's £11.2million in 2013 - has not dampened the mood. Vue's group director of screen content, Eduardo Leal, dismissed fears the superhero's return signalled another dip. 'We're seeing external factors, like the heatwave, weighing on UK numbers, but the film has already picked up in the last few rainy days,' he said. 'We're optimistic it will track upwards.' Even the slightly underwhelming UK launch of Superman - which opened with £6.9million, compared to Man of Steel's £11.2million in 2013 - has not dampened the mood Leal also pointed to a structural shift. 'There's a much higher volume of films this year - levels recovered after 2022 but then dipped due to the [Hollywood writer] strikes. Now they're looking really good again'. Looking ahead, hopes are high for a strong finish to the year. Titles including the Fantastic Four, Wicked, and Avatar are all poised to deliver box office fireworks in the autumn and winter months. Film journalist Charles Gant described the year's progress as 'continued gentle recovery, supercharged by strong releases'. He added that 'success breeds success' and that anticipation is built on audiences coming in and seeing striking trailers. Despite this, the path is not entirely smooth. September is expected to be quieter, and some insiders warn the final quarter may struggle to replicate last year's blockbuster-heavy finish, which included Wonka and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. But there remains cautious optimism that the UK box office could return to pre-pandemic heights by late 2016 - or even sooner. 'It's been a long haul and we're still behind 2019, but 2025 is showing cinemas can bounce back when the right films come along,' Gant said.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Watch ‘Sinners' Star Miles Caton Show Off His Holy Vocals on Soulful Cover of SZA's ‘Snooze'
Miles Caton isn't missing his moment. Amid his newfound fame from starring in Ryan Coogler's Sinners, the actor-musician showed off his vocal talents with a new cover of SZA's 'Snooze' that fans are absolutely loving. In a recent TikTok, Caton sits in a recording studio while holding up a mic, casually spinning slightly in his swivel chair as he sings. 'I can't lose when I'm with you/ How can I snooze and miss the moment?' he croons with silky soulfulness. 'You just too important/ Nobody do body like you do.' More from Billboard SZA Warns Against AI & Its 'Environmental Racism,' Slams Users for Being 'Codependent on a Machine' Connie Francis, 'Who's Sorry Now' Singer, Dies at 87 Five Years Post-Rehab, $uicideboy$ Are 'Grateful to be Alive' - And Maybe Even Happy Featured on SZA's Billboard 200-topping album SOS, 'Snooze' reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2023, nearly a year after it was first released. Just a month before the song's peak, Justin Bieber had joined SZA on an acoustic version of the track. Caton's followers loved what he did with the song, with one person writing in the comments of his TikTok, 'I didn't know I needed to hear sammie sing SZA until now,' referencing the name of his character in Sinners. 'sing it preacher boy!!!' another viewer wrote, while a third person commented, 'i need you to drop some music like NOW.' Sinners premiered in theaters in April, earning critical acclaim and marking Caton's acting debut. In an interview with Variety that month, Coogler said that he knew there was something special about Caton from the moment he saw the young star's audition tape. 'He was just in the dark — like he didn't turn his lights on,' the director told the publication at the time. 'Something about that was, like, so intriguing. This kid looked like he was in his basement, like in between homework assignments. But he had this voice — a once in a lifetime voice — and he also felt like the character.' Before making his acting debut, Caton gained traction as a musician, performing with artists such as H.E.R. In 2023, he dropped a single titled 'This Ain't It.' Watch Caton's cover of 'Snooze' below. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
