The Toxic Avenger reboot finds a major star. Shazam director David F. Sandberg throws some water on some Fury of the Gods casting rumours. Ben Wheatley talks about taking on The Meg 2. Plus, what’s next on Debris and Nancy Drew. Spoilers, away!
The Toxic Avenger
Deadline reports Jacob Tremblay has joined Peter Dinklage in the cast of the upcoming Toxic Avenger reboot. According to a synopsis, the remake follows “a struggling everyman who is pushed into a vat of toxic waste and transformed into a mutant freak who must go from shunned outcast to underdog hero as he races to save his son, his friends and his community from the forces of corruption and greed.” Presumably, Tremblay has been cast as Toxie’s son.
Shazam: Fury of the Gods
In light of casting rumours sparked by speculative Shazam fans who’ve noticed Zachary Levi is now following Eiza Gonzalez on Twitter, director David F. Sandberg noted he also follows several prominent Muppets. Whether or not Cookie Monster will appear in Black Adam remains to be seen.
[referenced id=”1687047″ url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2021/04/lucy-liu-joins-shazam-wrath-of-the-gods-as-helen-mirrens-co-villain/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/13/rvb4l5xmk8pnljyjgp4s-300×169.png” title=”Lucy Liu Joins Shazam: Wrath of the Gods as Helen Mirren’s Co-Villain” excerpt=”We still haven’t gotten over the fact that Dame Helen Mirren has joined DC’s Shazam movie as Hespera, the divine foe that will face down Billy Batson (Asher Angel) in both his normal and superhero forms. Now Hecuba will be lent a hand by her sister Kalypso, as played by…”]
???????????? https://t.co/l8mazYy1xR pic.twitter.com/e2f1W9x57h
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) April 14, 2021
The Meg 2
During a recent interview with Comic Book, sequel director Ben Wheatley stated he feels “a heavy responsibility” to “respect” The Meg in its sequel, while also suggesting he was also not a fan of the first film.
A lot of it is respecting The Meg, and trying to make sure it’s a great Meg film. And as you can see from the movies I’ve made, they’re not necessarily…it’s not…when you go and do Doctor Who, I don’t completely change it because I wanted to do it. I didn’t want to necessarily make it something completely different that nobody recognised, you know? So there’s that element of back and forth. But it’s an opportunity to do action on such an insanely large scale, that it’s just unbelievable. From doing Free Fire, which was, I thought, was all my Christmases came at once in terms of action, this is just unbelievable. And just doing the storyboards for it, just thinking and going, ‘Oh,’ it’s just…I feel a heavy responsibility.
F9
In conversation with THR, Justin Lin described the ninth direct sequel in the Fast and Furious franchise as “the final chapter” of a trilogy including parts seven and eight.
I was thinking of it as one chapter. It became very clear to me that if we were going to do that, we were going to need some real estate. To the studio’s credit, it was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ That’s what we’ve been doing since I’ve been back…processing it as almost like a trilogy as a final chapter.
Universe’s Most Wanted
STX has acquired the rights to Dave Bautista’s upcoming sci-fi/fantasy movie, Universe’s Most Wanted. It’s described thusly: “a small town gets a big surprise when a spaceship carrying the universe’s most wanted and dangerous criminals crash lands in their backyard. Soon the sheriff and his son become heroes when they find themselves helping an intergalactic peacekeeper (Bautista) to keep the ragtag group of alien prisoners from escaping and taking over the world.”
Mortal Kombat
A new featurette hypes Mortal Kombat’s “sickeningly violent” Fatalities.
Loki
In a new interview with Empire Magazine (via Comic Book), Tom Hiddleston stated fans should look to Loki’s shapeshifting logo for an indication of the series’ themes and ideas.
I want to preserve the freshness of the show for when it emerges, but something to think about is the [show’s] logo, which seems to refresh and restore. The font of how Loki is spelled out seems to keep changing shape. Loki is the quintessential shapeshifter. His mercurial nature is that you don’t know whether, across the MCU, he’s a hero or a villain or an anti-hero. You don’t know whether you can trust him. He literally and physically changes shape into an Asgardian guard, or into Captain America repeatedly. Thor talks about how he could change into a snake. I think that shapeshifting logo might give you an idea that Loki, the show, is about identity, and about integrating the disparate fragments of the many selves that he can be, and perhaps the many selves that we are. I thought it was very exciting because I’ve always found Loki a very complex construct. Who is this character who can wear so many masks, and changes shape, and seems to change his external feeling on a sixpence?
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
An unnamed guest actor for the series has entered quarantine after testing positive for covid-19 as part of CBS’s stringent on-set safety requirements. Production on the series has not been stalled. [Deadline]
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
The Falcon and the Winter Solider’s official Twitter page has released a new poster.
“The Whole World is Watching.” Check out the fifth in a series of posters inspired by Marvel Studios’ The Falcon and The Winter Soldier. Artist credit to @Doaly. Stream the fourth episode of the Original Series now on @DisneyPlus. #FalconAndWinterSoldier pic.twitter.com/1bvdCvD8mD
— The Falcon and The Winter Soldier (@falconandwinter) April 14, 2021
Meanwhile, John Walker executes a perfect psychotic head tilt (filmed at a Dutch angle!) in another new spot for this week’s episode.
#TheFalconAndTheWinterSoldier Episode 5 teaser.
Sam & Bucky comin’ for that shield.pic.twitter.com/hBBGoZRCE3
— Phase Zero (@PhaseZeroCB) April 14, 2021
Legends of Tomorrow
Legends of Tomorrow is now filming “There Will Be Brood” directed by Vixen herself, Maisie Richardson-Sellers.
#LegendsOfTomorrow episode 614 is now in production! Written by @rayutar and @campmayhorn and directed by former Legend @maisie_rs! pic.twitter.com/xJkrkflDNw
— Keto Shimizu (@ketomizu) April 14, 2021
Debris
A diver accidentally “erases his sister from reality” in the synopsis for “Have You Seen Icarus?” — the April 27 episode of Debris. Head over to Spoiler TV for photos.
While Bryan and Finola figure out their next move, a diver finds Debris off the coast and accidentally erases his sister from reality.
The Nevers
Spoiler TV also has a synopsis for “Undertaking” — the May 3 episode of The Nevers. Images at the link.
While Mundi (Ben Chaplin) seeks justice, Amalia (Laura Donnelly) and her most trusted advisors make a list of potential enemies. Harriet (Kiran Sonia Sawar), Primrose (Anna Devlin), and the other Orphans attempt to decipher a message. Later, Amalia (Donnelly) exposes an unexpected threat.
Written by Madhuri Shekar; Directed by David Semel.
[referenced id=”1687153″ url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2021/04/the-nevers-olivia-williams-and-pip-torrens-on-playing-aristocrats-among-superheroes/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/13/qafqoyibzhlncxacb3qo-e1618289020816-300×169.jpg” title=”The Nevers’ Olivia Williams and Pip Torrens on Playing Aristocrats Among Superheroes” excerpt=”HBO’s new sci-fi fantasy series The Nevers focuses on a group of (mostly) women suddenly imbued with superpowers in Victorian London. But circling around the main characters are several frenemies and outright foes — including a pair of slippery aristocrats played by Olivia Williams and Pip Torrens.”]
Nancy Drew
Finally, Nancy Drew interrogates a girl who speaks to “fire souls” in the trailer for next week’s “The Beacon of Moonstone Island.”
Banner art by Jim Cook