Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
BIG NEWS
Taika Waititi will return to direct Thor 4: Given the success and popularity of Thor: Ragnarok, it’s not surprising that director Taika Waititi has been tapped to also helm the next Thor movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This makes the Asgardian thunder god the first Avenger to get four solo installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Greta Gerwig to direct Barbie: More surprising is the news, via The Wrap, that Oscar-nominated Lady Bird writer/director may helm the Barbie movie, which is set to star Margot Robbie as the iconic doll. For now, Gerwig is writing the latest draft of the script with fellow Oscar-nominated filmmaker Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale). Barbie is currently set for a May 2020 release.
James Bond will pass the torch: Daniel Craig is currently filming his final movie as James Bond, and according to The Sun, he’s going to be passing the code name of 007 to another character for the future of the franchise. The lucky new agent, introduced in the untitled “Bond 25,” will be played by Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch. See the movie in theaters on April 8, 2020.
The Little Mermaid casts King Triton and Prince Eric: Rob Marshall’s live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid is heading into production soon with Halle Bailey starring as Ariel. In talks to join the young actress are Javier Bardem as her father, King Triton, per The DISinsider, and former pop singer turned actor Harry Styles (Dunkirk) as Prince Eric.
Edward Furlong is back for Terminator: Dark Fate: John Connor has been played by many actors over the past few decades, but now the original is returning to the franchise for the retconning sequel Terminator: Dark Fate. News that Edward Furlong would reprise his role in some form and that it will be rated R arrived during the movie’s San Diego Comic-Con panel. See it in theaters on November 1 and check out a new featurette below.
MUST-WATCH TRAILERS
Top Gun: Maverick fulfills our need for speed: At Comic-Con, Tom Cruise shared a first look at his upcoming Top Gun sequel, in which he appears to be doing some jet piloting on his own and also recreating some iconic moments. Watch the first trailer for Top Gun: Maverick, which opens June 26, 2020, below.
Cats promises some lasting memories: The first trailer for the movie musical Cats, based on the long-running Broadway show, arrived during Comic-Con, and it’s not quite like anything we’ve ever seen before. Watch the spot below for the star-studded adaptation, which hits theaters on December 20.
It Chapter Two doubles down on the nightmares: The first full trailer for the horror sequel It Chapter Two also arrived with more footage teasing the return of the Losers’ Club as adults and the resurrection of Pennywise the clown. Watch the new spot below and see the movie in theaters on September 6.
