Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Olivia Wilde to direct a Marvel movie: Sony has tapped Booksmart director Olivia Wilde to helm a new live-action Marvel movie based in their Spider-Man-adjacent universe. Deadline reports that the focus will be on a female character (rumor has it that it’s Spider-Woman) and Booksmart co-writer Katie Silberman will handle the screenplay for the comic book blockbuster.
Kraven the Hunter snags a director: Speaking of Sony’s Spider-Verse franchise, the studio’s Kraven the Hunter movie now has a director. According to Deadline, J.C. Chandor (A Most Violent Year) is in talks to helm the Marvel Comics adaptation, which focuses on one of Spider-Man’s most well-known villains. Whether Spidey will be able to make an appearance is unknown.
Batfleck returns: On the other side of comic book cinema, DC’s The Flash is bringing back another fan-favorite incarnation of Batman in addition to Michael Keaton’s portrayal. Vanity Fair revealed that Ben Affleck will don the cowl once again for the solo superhero flick in which Ezra Miller will reprise his role as the speedy member of the Justice League. The Andy Muschietti-helmed movie is due on June 3, 2022.
Planes, Trains and remakes: Another resurrection is on its way in the form of a Planes, Trains & Automobiles remake from Paramount. Deadline reports the new version of the 1987 John Hughes comedy will star Will Smith and Kevin Hart in the roles originated by Steve Martin and John Candy. No director has been chosen yet, but Aeysha Carr (TV’s Rel) is writing the script.
Pete Davidson and O’Shea Jackson Jr. got Sole: Speaking of Kevin Hart, he will also produce American Sole, a comedy set in the world of after-market sneakers. According to one Deadline report, the movie will star SNL’s Pete Davidson and Just Mercy’s O’Shea Jackson Jr. while another Deadline report added Riverdale actress Camila Mendes to the mix.
Gucci bags an impressive ensemble: Ridley Scott’s true-crime biopic Gucci, which already stars Lady Gaga, has added some more big names to its cast. According to Deadline, the MGM production, about Maurizio Gucci ex-wife and murder plotter Patrizia Reggiani, will co-star Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Reeve Carney and Jack Huston.
Bjork boards The Northman: In other casting news, the next period piece from Robert Eggers (The Lighthouse) has rounded out its cast with none other than music icon Bjork. This news comes from a casting announcement posted on Twitter showing the Dancer in the Dark actress among the star-studded ensemble for the Viking revenge drama, titled The Northman. The cast also includes Bill Skarsgård, Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy, Willem Dafoe and Nicole Kidman.
