Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Michaela Coel may destroy Black Panther: In the wake of Chadwick Boseman’s death, the details of the Black Panther sequel are anyone’s guess, but we do have an update on some of the Marvel movie’s cast. Variety reports that I May Destroy You breakout Michaela Coel has joined the ensemble of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in an undisclosed role. Could she be a villain? An ally to or member of T’Challa’s family? Who knows. But we do also now know, courtesy of two different Collider interviews, that Angela Bassett and Winston Duke are confirmed to be reprising their respective roles as Queen Ramonda and M’Baku. The movie is now filming and will release on July 8, 2022.
Bassam Tariq wields Blade: Speaking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the upcoming reboot of Blade has found its director. According to Deadline, Bassam Tariq, a filmmaker best known for his acclaimed documentary work (These Birds Walk, Ghosts of Sugar Land) who also made the 2020 Riz Ahmed drama Mogul Mowgli, is in talks to take the helm of the comic book adaptation. The script is currently being written by Stacy Osei-Kuffour (HBO’s Watchmen). And two-time Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali, previously seen in the Marvel show Luke Cage in a different role, will portray the titular vampire hunter.
The Exorcist won’t be a retcon: Speaking of reboots, the next resurrection of the Exorcist franchise has been clarified a bit more. Previously expected to be another remake, then explained to be a direct sequel to the 1973 original, the whole truth has been revealed to be slightly different still. Director David Gordon Green, who recently retconned another horror franchise with his direct sequel to Halloween in 2018, told Total Film that his Exorcist installment will indeed link directly back to first film but will not erase any of the existing sequels. Instead, the other movies will be able to fit into the same mythology as his take on The Exorcist.
Jordan Peele says Nope: Speaking of horror movies, the next "terror" from writer/director Jordan Peele (Get Out, Us) has been known about for a while, with Black Panther and Get Out actor Daniel Kaluuya already announced to star alongside Keke Palmer (Hustlers) and Steven Yeun (Minari). This week, Peele revealed, via Twitter, that the movie is called Nope. Meanwhile, Variety shared the latest casting update, naming Michael Wincott (The Crow), Barbie Ferreira (HBO’s Euphoria) and Brandon Perea (Netflix’s The OA) as part of the ensemble of the secret project. Universal will release the thriller next summer, on July 22, 2022.
Parker Posey heads to Disappointment Blvd.: Speaking of horror movie auteurs, the next feature from Hereditary and Midsommar writer/director Ari Aster has also added some exciting new cast members. Deadline reports that Parker Posey (Blade Trinity), Zoe Lister-Jones (How It Ends), Stephen McKinley Henderson (Lady Bird), Michael Gandolfini (Cherry), Denis Ménochet (Assassin’s Creed) and Hayley Squires (In the Earth) have all joined Disappointment Blvd., which will star Joaquin Phoenix. This project, about the life of a successful entrepreneur, is not another horror story, however. Additionally, Aster is also in the news this week, again via Deadline, for a horror movie he will produce from a script by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Michael R. Jackson.
Bill Murray to reunite with Wes Anderson again: Speaking of auteur filmmakers and their ensemble casts, the next Wes Anderson movie has added some more of the writer/director’s usual players. According to Variety, Bill Murray has joined Anderson’s currently untitled and secretively premised Spain-set effort, which already stars Tilda Swinton. Murray has previously appeared in seven live-action Anderson movies, including this fall’s The French Dispatch. He also voiced characters in the filmmaker’s two animated features, so this will be their tenth collaboration. Additionally, Deadline reports that Adrien Brody, who has previously worked with Anderson on four movies, including The French Dispatch, also joined the filmmaker’s next project.
Clerks III is open for business: Another writer/director who came out of the 1990s indie film boom is in the news this week. According to Deadline, Lionsgate has picked up the distribution rights to Clerks III, Kevin Smith’s second sequel to his 1994 cult classic, which also spawned a whole cinematic universe based around its supporting characters Jay and Silent Bob. The new Clerks movie will again star Smith and Jason Mewes as that duo alongside original leads Jeff Anderson and Brian OHalloran plus Clerks II addition Rosario Dawson. The plot will involve the characters making a movie about the Quick Stop convenience store.
