Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Fast & Furious presents Cipher: The central saga of the Fast & Furious movies is expected to end after two more sequels, but the franchise has many more miles to go beyond that finish line. In addition to the planned Hobbs & Shaw sequel, another spin-off is in the works focused on the villainous cyberterrorist character Cipher. According to Variety, this news comes directly from franchise producer and star Vin Diesel, who said writers are working on the extra installment. There’s no word, however, on when the spin-off will take place or whether actress Charlize Theron would or could reprise the Cipher role, which she debuted in The Fate of the Furious and again portrayed in this year’s F9: The Fast Saga.
Another little woman for Greta Gerwig: Speaking of actresses who earned Oscar nominations for Bombshell, Margot Robbie has chosen a director for Barbie. Variety reports that Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird, Little Women) will take the helm of the live-action feature based on the iconic fashion doll. Gerwig was already writing the movie with her partner, Noah Baumbach, but now she’s also been officially confirmed for the additional task of directing. Robbie, who is set to play the title character, is also producing the movie, which she says will “put some positivity out in the world…be aspirational for younger kids.”
Bill Condon to remake Guys and Dolls: Speaking of dolls, Hollywood is still set on making another movie out of the gangster musical Guys and Dolls, and now there’s a new director attached. According to Deadline, TriStar Pictures has brought on Oscar-winning filmmaker Bill Condon, who has had a lot of experience with the genre. He previously worked on the screenplays for the movie musicals The Greatest Showman and Chicago, the latter of which earned him his second Academy Award nomination, and he helmed Disney’s live-action musical version of Beauty and the Beast and the film adaptation of the Broadway show Dreamgirls.
Annie Mumolo joins Confess, Fletch: On the subject of long-in-development remakes, Greg Mottola’s reboot of the Fletch franchise has added a few names to its cast. Collider reports that Annie Mumolo, who recently co-starred in the comedy Barb & Star Go to Vista Del Mar and who earned an Oscar nomination for co-writing Bridesmaids, will reunite with Bridesmaids actor Jon Hamm in the mystery novel adaptation Confess, Fletch. Hamm is playing the titular investigative journalist, previously portrayed by Chevy Chase in two movies in the 1980s. Hamm will also be reunited with fellow Mad Men actor John Slattery.
Henry Cavill is Argylle: Speaking of cool adaptations, Superman actor Henry Cavill, who also starred in the spy movies The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Mission: Impossible - Fallout, is heading back to the espionage genre for Argylle, based on an upcoming novel by Ellie Conway. According to Deadline, the movie will be directed by Kingsman: The Secret Service helmer Matthew Vaughn and will co-star Sam Rockwell, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, John Cena, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara and pop star Dua Lipa making her acting debut. At least two sequel are already in the plans for the new franchise, as well.
