A big star might have joined Alien: Covenant. The Justice League sequel has been pushed back. There’s a ton of crazy cameos in new footage from The LEGO Batman Movie. Plus, new clips from Rogue One, and Sigourney Weaver has an update on the Avatar movies. Spoilers!
Power Rangers
The Wrap reports that big bad Lord Zedd will indeed appear in the movie, with interesting links to future incarnations of the Rangers themselves. Apparently, Rita is searching for the Zeo crystal — the artefact that would eventually let the Rangers become the Zeo Rangers in Power Rangers Zeo — on behalf of Zedd, who was horribly disfigured in a previous attempt to acquire the crystal.
The same report also says that Rita is also trying to resurrect her favourite henchman Goldar, who gets “vaporized into a cloud of microscopic gold particles” in an opening action sequence set on Earth thousands of years ago. She apparently does this by collecting gold, which sounds an awful lot like very early reports about the basic premise of the film we heard last year. Rita Repulsa’s Quest For Gold starts here!
Alien: Covenant
According to AVP Galaxy, James Franco has joined the cast as Branson, the captain of the starship Covenant and husband to Katherine Waterson’s character, Daniels. The character allegedly only appears in the first 10 minutes of the film, outside of occasional minor appearances throughout the film after that (perhaps in flashback form if, say, he horribly dies 10 minutes into a horror film, as characters are wont to do).
Puff the Magic Dragon
A live-action/animation hybrid is in development at Fox. Trolls director Mike Mitchell is set to direct. [Deadline]
Spider-Man: Homecoming 2
Surprise! A sequel to the new Spider-Man movie has already been slated for 5 July 2019. [Deadline]
Justice League 2
A new report by THR says that the film — which Zack Snyder still intends to direct — has been pushed back further to make space in Warner Bros.’ schedule for The Batman. Justice League 2: Justice Boogaloo had previously been set for a 14 June 2019 release.
Jurassic World 2
J.A. Bayona says the film will have a political undercurrent with regards to the treatment of animals — specifically, dinosaurs.
I think there’s a lot of that in the new Jurassic. I think there’s a lot of possessiveness towards our creations. I think it’s very interesting where the new movie is heading. It’s so different from the other films, it talks a lot about the moment we live in right now. It’s darker… but at the same time it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s a blockbuster, you have Chris Pratt, it’s a great adventure, but it’s very interesting the way the film is darker than the other ones.
Avatar 2, 3 & 4
Sigourney Weaver spoke to Coming Soon about James Cameron reportedly having already shot various bits of his tetralogy.
I think what he’s been doing is trying to develop the technology. We’re going to do all four simultaneously, so I think he’s trying to make sure that he has really done all the groundwork so when he really starts these four we’ll be able to hit the ground running. So I don’t think he’s actually… he IS experimenting. I don’t know if any of that would end up in the movie ’cause it’s not actually any of the story, but I’m sure he’s trying to figure out how to photograph an animal in this situation, things like that, so on the day he doesn’t have to waste time finding that out.
When asked if she’s been a part of this “experimentation”, Weaver replied:
Conversationally, yes. I’ve read three of the four scripts and if you liked the first one hold onto your hat. It is so ambitious and it is so moving. Nothing like it.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2
James Gunn took to Twitter to discuss criticism that the insanely adorable baby Groot was kept in his young form for the film to sell more toys:
I’m sure some people think that but for me keeping him Baby Groot throughout the film was the creative change that opened the film up for me https://t.co/5PJTQZpSwB
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 10, 2016
I was less confident the studio was going to buy in on Baby Groot than I was they were going to buy in on Ego the Living Planet. https://t.co/5PJTQZ8hF3
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) December 10, 2016
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Team Rogue has a bumpy landing and Jyn Erso escapes Imperial detention in two new clips from the film.
Meanwhile, you can hear even more of Michael Giacchino’s score in this new featurette:
The LEGO Batman Movie
Here’s an extended TV spot, featuring new shots of some delightfully obscure villains (Condiment King!), the Justice League (and some Superfriends) and… Daleks?
Game of Thrones
After we first heard rumours, and then character details, now we have Dana White seemingly confirming it UFC fighter Conor McGregor will appear in an episode this season. What a long, strange trip it’s been. [TV Line]
Transcience
The CW is developing a new series with Ian Somerhalder (producing, rather than starring) about a near future world where the ability to transfer consciousness between bodies has become a legal practice. Naturally, things start going wrong real fast. [Deadline]
Arrow
Producer Wendy Mericle discusses how Felicity moves on from Prometheus setting up Oliver to kill her boyfriend:
One thing Felicity is not going to do, I can tell you for sure, is blame Oliver. She recognises the manipulations that have led to this situation. Her heart is broken in that last moment for Oliver and for Malone and for herself. Felicity has set her sights on Prometheus. This season we have said we’re going to take her to a darker place, and you’re seeing the genesis of the reason why, right here.
[TV Line]
Sleepy Hollow
Finally, a new synopsis for the show’s fourth season premiere, “Columbia”, has been released.
Crane and Jenny begin to navigate life following the unexpected death of Abbie Mills. When he finds himself in the nation’s capital, Crane must forge unlikely partnerships in his quest to find the next Witness, as he discovers that there is more evil at play than he realised was possible.
Additional reporting by Gordon Jackson. Banner art by Jim Cooke.