Need a quick recap of the past week in movie news? Here are the highlights:
Will Poulter is Adam Warlock: After teasing the character twice in two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, writer-director James Gunn has confirmed Adam Warlock will appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Not only that, but as reported by Deadline, Midsommar and The Maze Runner actor Will Poulter has been cast in the role. While the plot of the sequel is unknown, the cosmic entity could presumably feature in multiple installments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe given his significance in the comics. In other Guardians news, Gunn slipped to CinemaBlend this week that his Suicide Squad composer, John Murphy, will score Vol. 3, which is due in theaters on May 5, 2023.
Anthony Hopkins joins The Son: Marvel actor Anthony Hopkins, who recently won an Oscar for his performance in The Father, has now been cast in The Son. While not directly linked story-wise to the former, The Son is part of the same trilogy of plays by Florian Zeller, who will also direct this movie. Details about Hopkins’ character are unknown, but it’s a role said to be written for the actor for the adaptation. The main cast of The Son includes Hugh Jackman, Vanessa Kirby and Laura Dern and involves a teenage boy, a child of divorce, who wants to go live with his dad and his new family. Look for this one in theaters in 2022.
Anthony Hopkins also joins Armageddon Time: Anthony Hopkins is all over the news this week, as Deadline reports that the 83-year-old, two-time Oscar-winning actor has additionally been cast in Armageddon Time, the next feature from Ad Astra writer-director James Gray. The coming-of-age drama is based on the filmmaker’s own childhood growing up in New York City in the 1980s. Jeremy Strong, best known for his Emmy-winning starring role in HBO’s Succession, also joined the movie, which already features Anne Hathaway. None of their parts are unknown, but the main character will be played by newcomer Banks Repeta.
Rachel Weisz holds a Seance: Another Oscar-winning Marvel actor, Black Widow’s Rachel Weisz, has her own cool casting news this week. According to Deadline, she will produce and star in an adaptation of the 1961 suspense novel Seance on a Wet Afternoon. Tomas Alfredson, who helmed Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, will direct the movie, which will follow a professional psychic who with her husband kidnaps a child so she can then become famous by helping the police find the young girl. The book was previously made into a British feature in 1964 with Kim Stanley earning an Academy Award nomination for her lead performance.
Millicent Simmonds to portray Helen Keller: Speaking of stories we saw on the big screen in the 1960s, a new biopic focused on Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan is in the works. According to The Hollywood Reporter, A Quiet Place Part II star Millicent Simmonds — who is actually deaf and also a distant cousin of Keller — will play the famous deaf and blind woman in Helen & Teacher. Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) has the role of Sullivan in the movie, which will be helmed by Wash Westmoreland (Still Alice). The real-life dynamic between the women was previously depicted in the 1962 movie The Miracle Worker.
