Latest news with #liveAction
Geek Culture
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Hot Wheels' Live-Action Film Steered By 'Wicked' Filmmaker Jon M. Chu
Wicked director Jon M. Chu has been chosen to spearhead the live-action Hot Wheels movie for Warner Bros. According to a press release, the high-throttle motion picture will showcase 'some of the world's hottest and sleekest vehicles', bringing to life the iconic racing car toy line from Mattel. Photo credit: Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images Though plot details have not been revealed, Mattel Studios president and chief content officer Robbie Brenner explained his rationale for choosing Chu: 'Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life. His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames.' Meanwhile, Chu said in a statement, 'Hot Wheels has always been about more than speed — it's about imagination, connection, and the thrill of play. Bringing that spirit to the big screen is an incredible opportunity. I'm excited to (…) create an adventure that honours Hot Wheels' legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new.' The film, which was first announced over three years ago, will be produced by J. J. Abrams' company Bad Robot Productions and Chu's Electric Somewhere. Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier, who have previously collaborated on Creed II and Netflix's They Cloned Tyrone , are to be the screenwriters. The choice to adapt the Mattel toy line into a live-action film comes hot on the heels of Barbie's massive commercial success, which grossed US$1.44 billion in worldwide markets. With the newfound potential to convert children's toy lines into profitable ventures, Mattel has quickly gotten to work, slating Barney, Polly Pocket, the Uno card game, and Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robot for film adaptations as well. Cynthia Erivo, Jon M. Chu, and Ariana Grande behind-the-scenes on Wicked (2024) Choosing Chu to take the helm for this new project may certainly prove to be the right decision for Mattel to achieve their money-making blockbuster vision, given his recent success with Wicked: Part One, which grossed US$750 million worldwide and garnered 10 Oscar nominations. Chu's repertoire is already expanding, with his name being attached to various projects in development, such as a Play-Doh animated film, a Britney Spears biopic, and a stage-to-screen adaptation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat . Though Chu looks to have his hands full with the countless new projects he will be involved in, fans can look forward to him gunning his engine as he steers Hot Wheels towards commercial success. Conversation with Ting Wei is like chatting with a weird AI bot programmed only with One Piece lore and theories, sitcom quotes and other miscellaneous pop culture references. When he's not sleeping, he's highly likely reading manga. In fact, the only thing he reads more than manga is the Bible, and it's honestly pretty close. Hot Wheels Jon M. Chu wicked movie Wicked Part 1
Geek Culture
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
Netflix's 'Alice in Borderland' Season 3 Lands Sept Release And First Trailer
After three long years, fans are finally heading back to the Borderlands once more, as Netflix has set the premiere date for Season 3 of the hit Japanese live-action death game thriller Alice in Borderland , unveiling its first teaser trailer ahead of its release on 25 September 2025. Beware, spoilers for the first two seasons of Alice in Borderland ahead. Based on Haro Aso's 2015 manga of the same name, the third season will continue the story of Arisu (Kento Yamazaki, Kingdom ) and Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya, Rurouni Kenshin ) as they are drawn back into the dangerous limbo world known as the Borderland. After escaping death at the end of season two, the pair enjoy a seemingly peaceful married life, until a mysterious afterlife researcher, Ryuji (Kento Kaku, Like a Dragon: Yakuza ), abducts Usagi, forcing Arisu back into the Borderland to save her. The trailer also depicts the final uncleared card, the Joker, which will most likely play a central role in Season 3's plot. Glimpses of new death games were also shown, including ones involving fire arrows and deadly electrical currents, no doubt thrusting Arisu and Usagi, alongside other unfortunate souls, into the thick of an all-out battle for survival that promises to be much larger in scale than the first two seasons. Joining the returning cast of characters are Banda (Hayato Isomura), Ann (Ayaka Miyoshi) and Yaba (Katsuya Maiguma). Season 3 will also introduce a bunch of new faces, including Koji Ohkura, Risa Sudou, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, Tina Tamashiro, Kotaro Daigo, Hyunri, Sakura Kiryu, Yugo Mikawa, Joey Iwanaga and Akana Ikeda. Season 3 will be directed once again by Shinsuke Sato, who also penned its script with Yasuko Kuramitsu. The creative team is rounded off by composer Yutaka Yamada, cinematographer Taro Kawazu, production designers Iwao Saito and Shin Nakayama, and VFX supervisor Atsushi Doi. Is escape in the cards once again for Arisu and Usagi? All will become clear when Alice in Borderland Season 3 premieres on Netflix on 25 September 2025. Kevin is a reformed PC Master Race gamer with a penchant for franchise 'duds' like Darksiders III and Dead Space 3 . He has made it his life-long mission to play every single major game release – lest his wallet dies trying. alice in borderland Alice in Borderland Season 3 Netflix
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hot Wheels Movie Finds Acclaimed Director for Live-Action Film
Wicked director Jon M. Chu has officially been tapped to helm Warner Bros.' upcoming live-action movie based on Mattel's popular toy car franchise. This marks Chu's latest collaboration with the studio after previously working together on 2018's Crazy Rich Asians adaptation and 2021's In the Heights movie. 'Hot Wheels has always been about more than speed — it's about imagination, connection and the thrill of play,' Chu said in a statement. 'Bringing that spirit to the big screen is an incredible opportunity. I'm excited to partner with Mattel Studios, Warner Bros. Pictures, and Bad Robot to create an adventure that honors Hot Wheels' legacy while driving it somewhere entirely new.' Chu will be directing the Hot Wheels movie from a screenplay written by Juel Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier. Further details about its plot are still being kept under wraps, but it is being described as an action movie that will showcase 'some of the world's hottest and sleekest vehicles.' The Hot Wheels franchise was first introduced by its inventor and Mattel co-founder Elliot Handler in 1968. 'Jon's ability to craft rich, elaborate worlds with a distinct point of view makes him the ideal storyteller to bring Hot Wheels to life,' Mattel Studios boss Robbie Brenner. 'His films are visual spectacles — true eye candy — but what sets them apart is how he weaves unforgettable narratives within those stunning frames. Paired with Juel and Tony's compelling storytelling, this team is uniquely positioned to capture the heart, adrenaline, and spirit of Hot Wheels, a leading brand in car culture.' The project will be produced by J.J. Abrams' company, Bad Robot Productions, and Chu's Electric Somewhere. The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker director has been attached to the adaptation since 2022. Producers are Brenner, Chu, Abrams, and Michael Bostick. It is a production by Mattel Studios and Warner Bros. (Source: Deadline) The post Hot Wheels Movie Finds Acclaimed Director for Live-Action Film appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Forbes
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How Soon Will Disney's ‘Lilo & Stitch' Arrive On Digital Streaming?
Stitch (voice of Chris Sanders) in "Lilo & Stitch." Disney's blockbuster Lilo & Stitch opened in theaters in late May. How soon will it be before viewers can stream the movie at home? A live-action version of the 2002 Disney animated hit, Lilo & Stitch opened in theaters on May 23 against Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and took the box office crown in its opening frame at Memorial Day weekend box office with $183 million in ticket sales from 4,410 North American theaters. Rated PG, Lilo & Stitch stars Maia Kealoha as Lilo, a young Hawaiian girl who is under the care of her teenage sister, Nani (Sydney Agudong) after the loss of their parents. When Lilo adopts a furry, blue alien refugee believed to be a dog, she names her new friend Stitch, who in turn helps mend the girls' broken home and become a new family. Chris Sanders, who co-wrote, co-directed and voiced Stitch in the animated version of Lilo & Stitch, reprises the voice role for the live-action remake. Directed by Dean Fleischer Camp, Lilo & Stitch also stars Zach Galifianakis, Billy Magnussen, Tia Carrere, Courtney B. Vance, Amy Hill and Kaipo Dudoit and the voice of Hannah Waddingham. Generally, Disney has a two-month window between the time the studio releases its films in theaters and on digital streaming via premium video on demand. For example, Disney and Marvel Studios' Captain America: Brave New World arrived on PVOD on April 15, just over two months after it opened in theaters on Feb. 14. More recently, Disney-Marvel's Thunderbolts* made its debut on PVOD on July 2, exactly two months after its theatrical release on May 2. If Disney follows the same pattern as the titles above, then viewers can expect Lilo & Stitch to arrive on PVOD on either July 22 or July 29, since new films on digital streaming tend to be released on Tuesdays. There are rare exceptions where Disney releases their films earlier than the 60 days after they debut in theaters (the financial dud Snow White hit PVOD eight days shy of the two-month window), but that's unlikely since Lilo & Stitch is a blockbuster hit in theaters. When Lilo & Stitch arrives on PVOD, it will be available for purchase or rent on such digital platforms as Apple TV, Fandango at Home, Microsoft, Prime Video and YouTube. New films on PVOD are generally available for purchase for anywhere between $19.99 and $29.99 and for rent for a 48-hour period for anywhere between $14.99 and $24.99. 'Lilo & Stitch' Is One Of The Top-Grossing Movies Of 2025 To date, Lilo & Stitch has earned $403.7 million domestically and $546.8 million internationally for a worldwide box office tally of $950.5 million against a $100 million production budget before prints and advertising, according to The Numbers. A Minecraft Movie is still the No. 1 movie, domestically, in 2025, with $423.9 million in ticket sales to date. Lilo & Stitch, however, is getting close to becoming the No. 1 film at the worldwide box office. As of Friday, Lilo & Stitch is a just under $3 million shy of A Minecraft Movie's global box office take of nearly $953.2 million. In all likelihood, Lilo & Stitch will become the 2025 worldwide box office leader soon, since the film, per The Numbers, is still playing in 2,900 North American theaters while A Minecraft Movie is going into the 4th of July weekend in only 46 venues.
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Live-Action ‘Akira' Leaves Warner Bros. After Decades In Production Hell
'Akira' is now up for grabs as to its live-action rights. After decades of multiple people trying to get a live-action Akira off the ground, the rights have reverted back to Kodansha. I mean, I started covering this live-action adaptation back in 2015, and almost every year after that, new people were attached to write or direct the movie. During that time, I even managed to interview Katsuhiro Otomo, who wrote the original manga and directed the seminal 1988 anime adaptation. In that interview, Otomo revealed that he had final sign-off on the live-action scenario. So if Otomo didn't like the scenario, it meant the movie didn't get made. My guess is that Otomo has blocked every live-action scenario to date, and that's why Warner Bros. has let the live-action rights revert back to Kodansha. It's also likely that whoever takes the option on the live-action rights to Akira will still have to get past Otomo on its scenario. Honestly, if that's the case, then as long as Otomo is around, I doubt we will ever see a live-action adaptation. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder To be honest, I am entirely fine with that. I mean, people have been joking about how terrible an American film of Akira would be since 2008. Hollywood still doesn't really get manga and anime, let alone video games. Akira is one of those cultural heirlooms that should be treated with the respect it deserves, and Hollywood's never been big on giving any kind of respect to Japanese creative talent. In any case, Akira's live-action rights are now back with Kodansha, and it will be interesting to see who will pick it up next, as no doubt Otomo will be just as strict with them as he has been with everyone else. In the meantime, feel free to check out my Blu-ray review of the anime, which you should absolutely watch if you haven't done so already. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
