Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Jamie Foxx into the multi-verse: Spider-Man could face Jamie Foxx as Electro again, even though the franchise has been rebooted since the supervilain’s introduction in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Oscar-winning actor is in talks to reprise his role for the follow-up to Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home opposite current Spidey Tom Holland. How? Rumor has it the multi-verse will be involved.
Aldis Hodge takes flight as Hawkman: Meanwhile, over in the DC Extended Universe, rising star Aldis Hodge is earning his wings with his first comic book movie. According to Variety, the Brian Banks actor in in talks to play the superhero Hawkman in Black Adam, which will star Dwayne Johnson in the titular role. Hawkman will appear as a member the Justice Society.
Yara Shahidi is Tinker Bell: Speaking of winged characters, Tinker Bell has been cast for Disney’s Peter Pan and Wendy, a live-action reimagining of the studio’s 1953 animated classic, Peter Pan. Deadline reports that actress Yara Shahidi, of the TV sitcom Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish, will play the iconic fairy character for director David Lowery (Pete’s Dragon).
Barry Jenkins takes on Lion King: And speaking of Disney’s live-action-style remakes, last year’s hit reimagining of The Lion King is spawning a sequel. According to Deadline, Oscar-winning filmmaker Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) will take the helm of the follow-up, which will continue the story of Simba but also possibly feature a parallel flashback narrative a la The Godfather Part II.
Oscar Isaac is the director of The Godfather: Speaking of The Godfather, Barry Levinson (Rain Man) will helm a drama about the making of that Best Picture winner. Deadline also reports that Oscar Isaac will portray director Francis Ford Coppola and Jake Gyllenhaal will play Paramount head Robert Evans in the movie, which is titled Francis and The Godfather.
Zendaya is singing with Be My Baby: Another biopic in the works will follow the life of Ronnie Spector, lead member of the 1960s girl group The Ronettes and ex-wife of music producer Phil Spector. According to Deadline, Spider-Man: Far From Home actress Zendaya will portray the singer in the movie, which is titled Be My Baby after the hit tune of the same name
Firestarter will star Zac Efron: Zendaya’s The Greatest Showman co-star Zac Efron is also in the news as Collider reports the actor has been cast in a new adaptation of the Stephen King novel Firestarter from Blumhouse. Efron will play the father of a young girl with pyrokinetic abilities. Firestarter was previously made into a movie in 1984 starring a young Drew Barrymore.
