Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Bryan Fuller to drive Christine: Another Stephen King book is headed to the big screen, and this one has already been there. Deadline reports that Blumhouse will produce a new adaptation of King’s 1983 horror novel Christine, about a killer car. Bryan Fuller, best known for creating and/or developing such TV series as Pushing Daisies, Hannibal and Star Trek: Discovery, will make his directorial debut with the movie. He previously scripted an adaptation of King’s Carrie for television in 2002. John Carpenter helmed the first movie of Christine, which starred Keith Gordon and was released in theaters shortly after the source material’s publication.
Rob Zombie to revive The Munsters: Speaking of people involved with The Munsters (Bryan Fuller developed a reboot of the show in 2012 called Mockingbird Lane), rocker-turned-filmmaker Rob Zombie (The Devil’s Rejects) has confirmed on social media that he is making a new Munsters movie for Universal. Zombie is apparently a huge fan of the 1960s monster-family sitcom and has been trying to get this project going for 20 years. Presumably this will be lighter fare than his usual horror movies, which include the 2007 Halloween remake and its sequel. The Munsters previously hit the big screen with the 1966 feature Munster, Go Home!
Jeff Nichols to direct third Quiet Place: Following the success of John Krasinski’s new sci-fi/horror sequel A Quiet Place Part II, Forbes confirmed Paramount is developing a third installment. But this one won’t focus on the Abbott family (Emily Blunt, et al.), nor will Krasinski be back at the helm. The spinoff will be written and directed by Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter) and is set to open in March of 2023. After that, as reported by Deadline, Nichols will make an original sci-fi movie for the same studio, bringing him back into his creative wheelhouse given that most of his past movies, such as the sci-fi feature Midnight Special, sprung from his own ideas.
Christina Ricci enters The Matrix: Lana Wachowski is reuniting with an unexpected actress for the upcoming fourth Matrix installment. Collider reports that Christina Ricci is among the listed cast members for the sequel, though her role is unknown and could be minor. Ricci previously worked with Lana and Lilly Wachowski when they directed her in Speed Racer. In other news involving Keanu Reeves franchises, Collider also reports that It villain Bill Skarsgård is joining John Wick: Chapter 4. Look for The Matrix 4 in theaters this Christmas, while the next John Wick sequel is due out Memorial Day weekend of 2022.
Issa Rae is Spider-Woman: In other sequel news, the follow-up to the Oscar-winning animated feature Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse will have another Marvel superhero joining the frame alongside Miles Morales’ Spider-Man. According to The Hollywood Reporter, comedic actress Issa Rae (The Lovebirds) has been cast to voice the character Jessica Drew, whose costumed alter ego is Spider-Woman. She played a big part in the “Spider-Verse” event in the comic books, so it makes sense that Spider-Woman would be brought into the cinematic fold. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2 is set to release on October 7, 2022.
Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan to take down Weinstein: Speaking of actresses who’ve been in rom-coms opposite Kumail Nanjiani, The Big Sick star Zoe Kazan is potentially teaming up with recent Oscar-nominee Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman) for a new movie titled She Said. Deadline reports the duo are in negotiations to co-lead as real-life New York Times journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor as they investigate the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment and sexual assault story. Maria Schrader, who won an Emmy as the director of the Netflix limited series Unorthodox, will helm the feature for Universal.
Anya Taylor-Joy is on The Menu: Speaking of Emmy-winning television directors, Succession and Game of Thrones helmer Mark Mylod will return to features with the psychological dark culinary comedy The Menu. Deadline reports Anya Taylor-Joy (Split, The New Mutants) is in talks to co-star with Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes (Schindler’s List, Harry Potter) in the movie, which is about a remote and exclusive restaurant located on a secluded island. Fiennes will play the chef of the destination eatery while Taylor-Joy’s role would be one half of a couple visiting the spot for a special tasting menu experience.
Another Dracula spin-off: We began this week’s roundup with a Stephen King adaptation and end it with news involving King’s son, Joe Hill. According to Deadline, the younger author’s action-horror short story “Abraham’s Boys” is being turned into a feature, which will be scripted and directed by genre filmmaker Natasha Kermani (Lucky). The original story follows characters from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, namely the vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing and his two sons, Max and Rudy, after the events of Stoker’s iconic literary work. Kermani’s take will view this tale of trauma through the eyes of a young Asian woman.
