CS Interview: Kid Cudi Talks Bill & Ted Face the Music

Orion Pictures’ gave ComingSoon.net the chance to chat with Kid Cudi about his role in Dean Parisot’s Bill & Ted Face the Music and how the musician/actor became involved with the threequel. You can check out the interview below and click here to purchase Bill & Ted Face the Music!

RELATED: CS Interview: Director Dean Parisot on Bill & Ted Face the Music

Bill & Ted Face the Music centers on Bill S. Preston (Winter) and Ted “Theodore” Logan (Reeves), who are now fathers and have yet to fulfill their rock ‘n’ roll destinies. Their lives change when they are visited by a messenger from the future who warns them that only their song can save life as we know it.

Click here to own Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure!

Click here to own Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey!

Joining Winter and Reeves are Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) and Brigette Lundy-Paine (Atypical) as Bill and Ted’s daughters, respectively. The film will also feature Anthony Carrigan (Barry), Jillian Bell (Workaholics), Kristen Schall (Toy Story 4), Holland Taylor (Gloria Bell), Kid Cudi, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, and Beck Bennet. William Sadler is also set to reprise his role as Death alongside franchise returners Amy Stoch and Hal London Jr. Newcomer.

RELATED: Bill & Ted Face the Music Review: Nostalgia & Fun Outweigh Predictability

ComingSoon.net: This is such an iconic franchise to be a part of. How did your involvement come to be in this movie? Because I mean, they’ve had so many real-life musicians over the past, but how did you come to be a part of this one?

Kid Cudi: Well, huge “Bill & Ted” fan since I was a kid. I saw the movies when I was seven years old and became obsessed. And around 2013, I had read something that they were planning a sequel and that they were working on this project. And I was like, I called my agent and I was like, yo — well, actually, no. This is before I called my agent. I had just heard about it and I was like, yo, this is really cool. This seems really cool. Like I have to figure out how to be a part of this when it comes to life, you know?

So one day, 2013, that same year, I run into Alex Winter at Soho House in LA. I freak out and tell him how big of a fan I am and tell him I heard that they’re doing a new movie and if he needed anything from me — music, whatever, I would love to be a part of it. He said, for sure. We exchanged numbers. I actually sent him some music. And this was years ago, man. And I guess they had been working on it all this time, but I hadn’t heard anything about it for years. And then, when I saw that announcement that the guys had made, I hit up my agent and I was like, yo, this is something I’ve been chasing for years. I met Alex Winter at Soho House. He knows me. Just please tell them that I am totally interested to be a part of this movie in any way, shape, or form, right? So she reached out. I’m sorry this is such a long story.

CS: No, I love it. Go and tell all.

Cudi: So at that point, my agent Karina Manashil, she reaches out and just to see if there’s a part in the movie for me and see if I could be a part of it in some way. And I guess at the time, they didn’t have anything. They were still developing it and they said they would hit us back and let us know if anything came up. So I said like, maybe a couple of weeks went by, and then they hit up Karina and said, actually, we think we have a really dope role that we think Scott could play, you know? And we’re going to send you the script and let us know what you think.

CS: Yeah.

Cudi: So Karina, she calls me and she tells me all this. I’m freaking out because I’m like, holy shit, I’m about to get a script. Like this is crazy. Because in my mind, I’m just like, what do they sound like? What’s the whole like — what’s the thing, you know? And I get the script. I read it in under an hour. I’m like, totally like, I have to be in this movie. I have to be in this movie in some way. I have to do this role. The part that they had written in the movie for me was — well, not for me at the time, was just, they didn’t have a name in the character in the role. But like, I saw that I could do it, right? I was like, there’s no one on the planet that could play this role but me. This is destiny. This is the stars lining up. This is perfect, right?

So I hit Karina back. I told her I was like, I have to be a part of this. Tell them I’m totally in. Who do I have to meet? I’m down, right? So I met up with Dean, the director. I went to his house. We sat, we talked. We hit it off, you know? And the next thing I know, he asked me if I wanted to come join a day later, you know? We got the offer. So like, literally like the whole thing was, you know, fate, and everything happening, the stars lining up and just being like, the right time and the right moment, you know, and everything just working out. And it’s another one of those things where I can honestly say it’s a dream come true to be able to be in a “Bill & Ted” movie. Like this shit is like, the whole time I was on set, I was freaking out. Like I was like, having an out of body experience, like holy shit. I’m here. I have to be in this scene, I have to be focused, but it’s hard for me to focus because I’m looking at Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves playing these characters 30 years later. It’s fucking wild, you know?

CS: Yeah.

Cudi: So that’s my story.

CS: That’s an awesome story. I mean, it was wild just for me to watch them go back into these characters. So since you mentioned that it was a character that you knew you could take on that you wanted to take on, was it just like a present-day musician was how it was written? Or through talking with Dean and with the writers, did you guys come to the decision to have it be yourself?

Cudi: Well, I think it was written as an already like, established musician. That’s what they wanted.

CS: Okay.

Cudi: So it fit perfect. And you know, that was one of the first things they told me, it was like, we want you to play yourself, but with a little twist, you know? And I love that, you know? And I’ve been able to play myself in movies before and it’s always been different. And sometimes it can be hard, you know, to play yourself, because it’s like, what is my onscreen fictional persona like? What’s the difference between the real Kid Cudi and this movie Kid Cudi, you know? But this one was very like, first off, just the fact that I’m a fan of the franchise, it was really easy for me to just kind of dive in. And I kind of liked that — you saw the movie, right?

CS: Yes, yes.

Cudi: So yeah, I kind of liked that I’m like, in for the ride and I’m totally like, oh, I know what this is. Like maybe this is this and this is — and I’m not like, freaked out too much, so this is kind of like, what the hell is going on? I thought that was all dope because at first, I asked Dean. I was like, is he scared? Like am I freaking out, you know? He’s like, no, no, he’s kind of just going with it, you know? So I was like, okay. He’s just going with it. I’m with it.

CS: So I mean, he does go with it and he seems to be pretty knowledgeable about a lot of the science behind everything. Are you — were you pretty familiar with a lot of the science of time travel before? Or did a lot of that come from like, the script and research after you got the role?

Cudi: Yeah, it was mostly like, we had a quantum physicist on set, and he pretty much tried to break down the lines and he explained to me what I was actually saying.

CS: Okay.

Cudi: And I think maybe 10 percent of it made sense to me. But no, it was some really — everything in the script, it was like real things. It wasn’t like, something that the writers just made up. It was real science to the story. And so, there was a lot of, you know, information that the quantum physicist was giving me about like, you know, just time travel and what needs to happen and all these things and just all this scientific jargon that was like, making my mind melt. But no, it was cool, man. It was cool.

CS: So I mean, you talked a little bit about the challenges of playing yourself in different roles or different movies. But what would you say was your biggest creative challenge in portraying yourself in this one?

Cudi: I’d say it probably would’ve been the quantum physics stuff because the lines were so — you know, nobody really speaks in that way, you know? Unless you’re a quantum physicist, you know?

CS: Right.

Cudi: So that was the first day I was like, kind of like, it was intense because I was just having trouble like, getting the words out, you know? But after the first day, I had a rhythm and it was all good. It was cool after that. But the first day I had these really kind of like, weird lines and you know, it was kind of like one of those things that I just realized, because I’ve never had that happen to me before in my career, where like, I was reading lines and it was like, hard for me to process. Because half of the time, it’s like, you know, I don’t know what I’m necessarily saying, you know? But they had like, Dean, Ed, these guys were on set coaching me, guiding me through everything, you know? So I wasn’t completely in the dark. And after the first day, like I got my rhythm and we were taking off from there, you know?

CS: That’s good. That’s good you got that good collaborative attitude on set with everybody. What was it like then building — I mean, you only have a handful of scenes with everybody, but what was it like building that rapport with all of your fellow costars before the camera started rolling?

Cudi: Oh it was great, man. Like everybody was so cool and that’s the thing. It’s like, I’ve been blessed that every set I’ve been on has been full of love and everybody’s been cool and grounded and there’s no egos. And that’s exactly what this set was like, you know? Everybody was cool and chill and they were making these — because it was so fucking hot out there — they were making these icy, shaved ice little slushy things, like cones or whatever.

CS: Yeah.

Cudi: And we were turning those things up. That shit was nice. I was like, I feel spoiled. I was like, this is fucking cool…  But yeah, man, we all got along really well, and yeah, I still talk to Sam, Bridget. I talk to Alex. You know, I keep in touch with them, you know?

CS: That’s awesome. So then, did you find that you got to play around with your character a little bit in certain takes, do a little improv here or there?

Cudi: Yeah, definitely.

CS: Yeah?

Cudi: Yeah, I think Dean saw that I could do it and he leaned into that, you know? And I haven’t seen the movie, so I don’t know what he used. So it’s going to be exciting to see. But yeah, there was a couple of moments where he was just like, have fun with it, you know? This is what’s happening and just come up with something, just do it.

CS: Nice.

Cudi: And I love when directors give me that freedom.

CS: Yeah, it’s good when you get to have that relationship on set with them. So I mean, since you mentioned you haven’t seen it yet, it was supposed to be just theaters, but now with everything going on, it’s got this hybrid release. How did it feel for you, hearing that news, that it was going to get this simultaneous digital in-theater release?

Cudi: It made me feel good that the powers that be were thinking about the proper situation, you know, for people to be able to watch this safely. And it kind of gives people the option if you want to go to a theater, you can go and do that, too. But it’s really like, I encouraged everybody to stay home. That’s really what I’m going to do, because I usually like to rent out the theaters and watch the movies with my fans, you know? And that’s a bummer I can’t do that. That was something I was planning on doing. But you know, we’ll do something, where I’m watching the movie with the fans and I’ll just live tweet throughout it or something like that. But yeah, I think it’s going to be dope. I think we’re going to get a lot more eyes on it, actually, than we would’ve gotten if it had a theatrical release, I think.

CS: I couldn’t agree more. I think the simultaneous release is going to bring a lot more viewers to it, and I think they’re going to have a blast like I did. I really did. I had an awesome time with it.

Cudi: Nice.

CS: Thank you very much for taking the time to chat with me, man. I greatly appreciate it.

Cudi: No problem.

CS: I had fun seeing you in the movie, too. When you were going into the science stuff, even my mind was melting. I was like, oh.

Cudi: Oh man, this is so great to hear you talk about this, like I’ve kind of been not wanting to see it. I’ve kind of wanted to like, experience it with the fans a little bit, when it comes out. But no, it’s exciting to know that you saw it, and it’s dope. That’s, yo, nice.

CS: I think you’ll get a blast of it just like everybody else will.

Cudi: Oh dope, dope, dope. Thanks man.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  9
  images

The post CS Interview: Kid Cudi Talks Bill & Ted Face the Music appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

BritBox Unveils What’s Coming to the Streamer in September 2020

BritBox, the subscription streaming service from BBC Studios and ITV offering the biggest collection of streaming British television in North America, has unveiled its September slate! Next month, the lineup includes the BritBox original McDonald & Dodds, starring BAFTA Award winner Jason Watkins (The Crown, Hold the Sunset) and breakout star Tala Gouveia, and the exclusive U.S premiere of dramedy Don’t Forget the Driver, starring and co-created by award-winning actor Toby Jones (Detectorists, The Hunger Games).

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the iconic BBC series based on Jane Austen’s most famous love story, Pride and Prejudice, BritBox will also unveil the world premiere of the Colin Firth and Jennifer Elhe headlined series in stunning 4K.

RELATED: BritBox Unveils What’s Coming to the Streamer in August 2020

Available September 1

McDonald & Dodds Season 1 | BritBox Original, Exclusive, North American Premiere

BAFTA-winning Jason Watkins (The Crown, Hold the Sunset) and breakout star Tala Gouveia lead in this two-part detective drama as the unlikely pair, DCI McDonald (Gouveia) and DS Dodds (Watkins). Featuring contemporary crime stories told with warmth and humor, the series follows this mismatched duo as they solve crimes in Britain’s historic city of Bath. Instantly locking horns over their different professional and lifestyle choices, the tough and driven DCI McDonald and the quiet, unassuming DS Dodds soon forge an entertaining relationship and grow to realize that their differences will be their strengths when solving these gripping mysteries.

Available September 8

Moving On Season 10 | Exclusive, North American Premiere

Created by Emmy winner and multi BAFTA award-winning writer Jimmy McGovern (Cracker, Hillsborough, The Street), this critically acclaimed anthology show returns featuring modern stories about characters who have reached a turning point in their lives and try to move on. In Season 10, we watch as a university cleaner masquerades as a lecturer and discovers a newfound confidence; a stressed-out teacher heads for a breakdown as he copes with an impossible workload; a hard-up single mother reconnects with the father of her nine-year-old daughter; a former homeless addict turns her life around and volunteers at the local shelter; and a couple who conceived through IVF are informed that they still have embryos at the local shelter.

Available September 12

Last Night of the Proms | Exclusive, North American Premiere

In the year that the Proms turns 125 years old, the 2020 season brings the spirit of the Proms to music-lovers at home with treasures from the archive and incredible live performances. In challenging times, the BBC Proms continues its annual festival consisting of 8 weeks of world-class performances by the world’s greatest classical musicians of the past, present, and future. The season terminates with two weeks of performances live from the Royal Albert Hall. The famous “Last Night of the Proms” can be streamed on BritBox, live with the UK.

Available September 15

Don’t Forget the Driver | Exclusive U.S. Premiere

Starring and co-created by award-winning actor Toby Jones (Detectorists, The Hunger Games), and co-created by Tim Crouch, this dramedy series set in Bognor Regis follows coach driver Peter Green as his seemingly meaningless life is thrown into chaos by a sudden change in the tide. Between the discovery of a dead body on the beach and a surprise stowaway onboard his coach, this series reveals how an accidental occurrence can change even the most ordinary of lives.

Available September 18

This Farming Life Season 4 | Exclusive, North American Premiere

This BAFTA-winning documentary series returns, following the ups and downs of new farming families in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as they face tough economic times and an uncertain future. This warm, compelling series weaves intimate personal stories with the dramatic events that make up life on a farm, with families carving out a living in some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes.

Available September 22

Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime | Exclusive, New to BritBox

Francesca Annis (Bancroft, Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary) and James Warwick (Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary, Iron Man) star as the famous crime-fighting duo, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford, as they solve mysteries and search for enemy spies in 1950’s Britain. Super sleuths Tommy and Tuppence are now married and established as secret agents under the eagle eye of Scotland Yard. Also starring Reece Dinsdale (Moving On) as Albert and Arthur Cox (Yes, Minister) as Inspector Marriott with guest stars including Graham Crowden (Waiting For God), Joan Sanderson (Please, Sir!), Liz Smith (The Vicar Of Dibley, The Royle Family), T.P. McKenna (Ulysses) and Anne Stallybrass (The Strauss Family).

Available September 25

Pride and Prejudice – Remastered | World Premiere

Critically acclaimed and famously adapted from Jane Austen’s iconic story, watch this six-episode television drama as you’ve never seen it before. In this performance that launched Jennifer Ehle (Zero Dark Thirty, A Quiet Passion) and Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, Bridget Jones’s Diary) to international fame, follow the beloved Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy as they overcome their differences in social standing.

RELATED: BritBox Announces Three Original Drama Series Including Jared Harris’ The Beast Must Die

The post BritBox Unveils What’s Coming to the Streamer in September 2020 appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

CS Interview: Director Dean Parisot on Bill & Ted Face the Music

ComingSoon.net had the opportunity to talk with Oscar-winning filmmaker Dean Parisot about directing Orion Pictures’ Bill & Ted Face the Music, including how he stayed true to the already established characters and tone. Check out the interview below and click here to purchase Bill & Ted Face the Music!

RELATED: Bill & Ted Face the Music Review: Nostalgia & Fun Outweigh Predictability

Bill & Ted Face the Music centers on Bill S. Preston (Winter) and Ted “Theodore” Logan (Reeves), who are now fathers and have yet to fulfill their rock ‘n’ roll destinies. Their lives change when they are visited by a messenger from the future who warns them that only their song can save life as we know it.

Click here to own Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure!

Click here to own Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey!

Joining Winter and Reeves are Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) and Brigette Lundy-Paine (Atypical) as Bill and Ted’s daughters, respectively. The film will also feature Anthony Carrigan (Barry), Jillian Bell (Workaholics), Kristen Schall (Toy Story 4), Holland Taylor (Gloria Bell), Kid Cudi, Erinn Hayes, Jayma Mays, and Beck Bennet. William Sadler is also set to reprise his role as Death alongside franchise returners Amy Stoch and Hal London Jr. Newcomer.

RELATED: Exclusive: Chris Matheson & Ed Solomon on Their Bill & Ted 3 Cameos!

ComingSoon.net: You have actually been attached to this project for a long time, at least since 2012.

Dean Parisot: That is unfortunately so, yes.

CS: Yeah. How precarious was it? Like did you lose out on other work while you were waiting? Were there times when you almost had to bail?

Parisot: Yeah, you know, Ed and Chris wrote this on spec. They were not commissioned by anyone, so it was a labor of love for sure. And it happens a lot, where you try to get a project going and it’s up, it’s down, we’re doing it, we’re doing it, oops, oh, we’re not doing it. So it does occasionally get in the way of trying to actually do any jobs, yes. But I don’t know. It felt like this moment in history, and this is pre-COVID, could benefit from “Bill & Ted”. I always loved the themes of it, and I love those characters and their unbridled optimism. And yeah, what can I say? It’s a long time.

CS: When they first announced you, I thought that you were a perfect fit because Ed and Chris’ domain is absurdism and you’ve done a lot of that in your early shorts and the movie you did with Vince Gilligan and in “Galaxy Quest”. You fit right in.

Parisot: Well, first of all, I’m glad you know that much about me, but I guess you can’t hide everything. I’ve known Ed since the early 90s and we both share a sense of humor. And so, that helped, obviously. We worked together on other projects and have kept trying to work together. This is the first movie we’ve actually completed from the beginning to the end. But yeah, that sense of humor is for some reason built into my psyche and I can’t get rid of it, so there you have it.

CS: I’m just curious, what were some of the other projects that you tried to work on with him?

Parisot: “The BFG”. I wanted to do a Marc Davis book Called Dirty Money. He did a rewrite on “Fun with Dick and Jane”. And I brought him on other things where I thought something was going to happen. I mean, we share a sensibility.

CS: Right, exactly. That’s interesting that you almost did “BFG” because I remember talking to Frank Marshall about that in 2005. He was trying to get that off the ground for a long time. Was that the same iteration over at Amblin?

Parisot: Yes, yes, it was. Yeah, when I was doing it, first it was Terry Jones from Python and then I brought Ed on. And then, I ended up leaving that project for “Fun with Dick and Jane”.

CS: Getting back to “Bill & Ted”, but I was told it was your idea to have hell be modeled after that Zdzisław Beksiński painting.

Parisot: Yes. I guess it was my idea. Well, you know, as you’re trying to find an aesthetic, you’re tearing through magazines and you’re grabbing stuff off the internet and for whatever reason, that grabbed my attention. And there’s a collection of them, too.

CS: Yeah, no, I’m a huge fan of his paintings. They’re very surreal. They’re very expressionistic and quite scary. But it was funny that you picked probably the scariest painter of all time to put in this light, frothy comedy.

Parisot: Well, hell has to be scary and bad down there. I love putting ludicrous characters in seriously dangerous places because it’s more fun I think to make a believable setting as you can in comedy world rather than a goofy one where you know everything is going to be successful. So yeah, I mean, it also was based on some of the photographs by Sebastião Salgado, a Brazilian photographer of the gold mines in Brazil. There’s a giant open pit mine in Brazil with literally tens of thousands of people covered in mud carrying bags of mud up and down ladders into this pit.

CS: I also noticed in that sequence when they go into Death’s office, there’s a game of Battleship in the background. Are there any other fun Easter eggs like that that people should look out for?

Parisot: Yeah, well, spoilers, but yeah. Search the frames. You’ll find things.

CS: This film feels very much of a piece with the other two. What were the biggest guiding rules you felt you had to adhere to in order to sort of stay true to the characters and the tone that was already established by the other two directors?

Parisot: I mean, you can’t get around the things that were established in the first two. Rufus was there in the future, but I had the challenge of trying to make it feel contemporary. It was made easier by the fact that it was 29 years ago, so I could change the future. I could create a new time traveling booth. I could elaborate on hell. And so, it allowed me to create a more grounded environment for this time. But you couldn’t lose those characters. That’s the key to “Bill & Ted” is how they deal with each other and the world. And that’s still the same. It’s just addressed by the fact that they’ve been trying for 29 years and they’re middle aged now. So they have the problems of middle aged relationships, children, you know, not fulfilling their destinies, all of those things. But it’s still in context of an absurdist comedy.

CS: What I think this movie really slams home is even though it goes to some dark places with the characters, the fundamental thing is these guys don’t want to live without each other. And even when they’re at their darkest, they’re still together.

Parisot: I think that friendship is never in question. But Alex and Keanu just wanted to be able to… really all I had to do was watch. I didn’t do anything. I just gave them a nice environment to play in.

CS: Alex has become a very accomplished director in his own right in the intervening years, and he’s credited as an executive producer. How did you collaborate with him specifically, as an executive producer?

Parisot: Alex is a brilliant filmmaker. When they asked me to do this, I said, “Why doesn’t Alex direct it?” No, seriously. It seemed like it would be a perfect fit. He said, “Dude, I can’t. It’s like, I can’t. I need to be in it and concentrate on being those characters. I can’t do it.” But it was really fun with this group of people because they’re all incredibly collaborative. They’re all filmmakers. Even Keanu made a movie. Alex has made movies. They’ve all produced. They’ve all directed. They know it backwards and forwards. We were all like a band that kept making this thing together. And it was quite fun to make, actually. I have a big place in my heart for this group of people.

CS: This was not your first sequel. You’d also done “RED 2”. What do you enjoy about coming into a franchise that’s already established?

Parisot: Well, I actually don’t. You know, sometimes, you don’t think about that. For the most part, I don’t think I’m somebody who wants to do a franchise. But in this case, it wasn’t really a franchise. It’s 29 years later. It’s a continuation of a story. And I had the room to create a new thing. In “RED”, it was a franchise, and that was a little more difficult.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  9
  images

(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty Images)

The post CS Interview: Director Dean Parisot on Bill & Ted Face the Music appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

ComingSoon’s 2020 Back to School Gift Guide

It’s that time again, time to go back to school. It’s been an unconventional year, but, whether it be online or in-person, students all around the world are gearing up to hit the books (some are already back in class). If you’re lucky enough to have completed your education, you might want to get the students in your life something to encourage/aid them in these tumultuous times. Practical/fun things. But how do you know what gifts to get for your friends and loved ones? Taking a look at what’s out there would certainly help, that’s why ComingSoon.net is here to help you find the perfect back-to-school gifts for the special someone in your life… even if that someone is you! Check out our 2020 Back to School Gift Guide below! 

RELATED: Check Out ComingSoon’s Fall 2020 TV Preview!

This year we have compiled over 40 items for you to peruse, along with a buy link for every piece we’ve showcased. The prices welcome thrifty folk and big spenders alike! Below you’ll find everything from notebooks, pens, and folders, to clothes, movies (academia-related), games, and more! Whether it’s a gift for a high school, college (settling into their new home), graduate student we’ve got something for you. 

Which items from our 2020 Back to School Guide did you add to your shopping cart? Do you have any other ideas for gifts that you think our readers would like to know about, perhaps? Let us know in the comments!

The Movie Critic’s Notebook: The Perfect Journal for Serious Movie Buffs and Film Students. 6.14″ x 9.21″ Perfect Bound Journal

Click here to purchase!

Do you ever wish you could remember all the movies you have ever watched? Do you love talking about plots, writing, cinematography, casting, musical scores, and production values? Release your inner movie critic with this handy 100-page special notebook. Each page gives detailed areas to record all your thoughts and opinions about the movies you’ve watched. A must for film students and aspiring filmmakers!

Back to School (1986)

Click here to purchase!

Rodney Dangerfield plays self-made millionaire Thornton Mellon, owner of a chain of tall and fat clothing stores, who, after divorcing his philandering wife, enrolls in college to keep his son from dropping out.

Bad Mother F***er Coffee Mug

Click here to purchase!

No, we’re not just being intentionally rude – honest! This is actually an officially licensed Pulp Fiction Movie Mug, featuring the words that remind us of that unforgettable scene from the 1994 hit movie. Each time to request a brew now, you can now do so in the style of Jules Winnfield… because we know and you know that you’re a bad mother fu*&er!

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

Click here to purchase!

A clever teenager and his friends play hooky, enjoying the day with the principal in hot pursuit.

Phone Case Ferris Buellers Day Off Compatible with iPhone 6 6s 7 8 X XS XR 11 Pro Max SE 2020 Samsung Galaxy Charm Scratch Shock

Click here to purchase!

• Made with PC and TPU. Slim design. Ultra transparent and scratch-resistant back.
• Easy access to all the controls and features.
• Perfect cutouts for speakers, camera and other ports.
• All of our phone cases are screen printed in the USA.
• Designed in the USA and engineered with only the highest qualities to ensure a long-lasting product while maintaining a light-weight and slim design.

Bully: Scholarship Edition (Xbox 360)

Click here to purchase!

Plays on Xbox 360 and Xbox One with Backward Compatibility. Bully: Scholarship Edition takes place at the fictional New England boarding school, Bullworth Academy and tells the story of mischievous 15-year-old Jimmy Hopkins as he goes through the hilarity and awkwardness of adolescence. Beat the jocks at dodge ball, prank the preppies, save the nerds, kiss the girl and ultimately navigate the social hierarchy in the worst school around.

Ellie Backpack The Last Backpack of Us for Girls Women

Click here to purchase!

• Zipper closure
• Size:15.7*11.8*5.9 inches High pixel and clear character print
• Material: Quality high-density durable Oxford Cloth fabric and made by our artisan exquisite craftsmanship. Delicate design, great workman-craft, has high reducibility to the original character.
• Feature: Big enough to fit your laptop, your lunch, a camera, shaving equipment, garments, or anything else you need. Occasions:This style bag is a great rucksack for hiking, camping, traveling. It is also a perfect school bag for men, women, teens, girls, boys, or college students.
• Occasions: This style bag is a great rucksack for hiking, camping, traveling. It is also a perfect school bag for men, women, teens, girls, boys, or college students

Dazed And Confused (1993) Soundtrack

Click here to purchase!

1. “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” by Rick Derringer
2. “Slow Ride” (Single version) by Foghat
3. “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
4. “Jim Dandy” by Black Oak Arkansas
5. “Tush” by ZZ Top
6. “Love Hurts” by Nazareth
7. “Stranglehold” by Ted Nugent
8. “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways
9. “Fox on the Run” by Sweet
10. “Low Rider” by War
11. “Tuesday’s Gone” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
12. “Highway Star” by Deep Purple
13. “Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss
14. “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Click here to purchase!

The film follows a small group of boys out of Mr Keating’s (Robin Williams) class, who restart a now defunct Dead Poets Society. Mr Keating teaches the boys to follow their hearts and think independently of their parents, and unfortunately this leads to a great deal of trouble.

The Lord of the Rings: One Volume Kindle Edition

Click here to purchase!

The Lord of the Rings tells of the great quest undertaken by Frodo and the Fellowship of the Ring: Gandalf the Wizard; the hobbits Merry, Pippin, and Sam; Gimli the Dwarf; Legolas the Elf; Boromir of Gondor; and a tall, mysterious stranger called Strider. This new edition includes the fiftieth-anniversary fully corrected text setting and, for the first time, an extensive new index.

Mask- Bane with Multiple Filter Reusable Protective Anti Dust Cover

Click here to purchase!

• 100% Polyester.
• Applicable Scenarios: Suitable For Cycling, Camping, Running, Traveling, Climbing, And Daily Use.
• Three ways of matching: 6 filters/10 filters/16 filters.
• Protect You From Fog, haze, vehicle exhaust, passive smoking, etc.
• This is a protective and decorative article, a good gift for family and friends.

Complete your Jeff Spicoli costume with this sweatshirt!

Wall Street Screenplay Poster – “Greed is good”

Click here to purchase!

Poster’s garage screenplay posters feature the most memorable moments and lines from your favorite films. Each screenplay was pulled up in the Los Angeles’ Writer’s Guild library and extracted word for word – so you know you’re getting the exact lines, stage directions, and markings. The text of every high-contrast poster is guaranteed to be crystal clear. Like this idea, but want a different movie section on a poster? Message them and they’ll make it happen!

eKids Marvel Thor Hammer Wireless Bluetooth Speaker for All Smartphones and Tablets, Touch Sensitive Handle, Speaker Lights Up

Click here to purchase!

Marvel Thor hammer wireless Bluetooth speaker for all smartphones and tablets, touch-sensitive handle, speaker lights up wirelessly stream audio anywhere up to 33 feet hammer lights up when in use or with touch-sensitive handle powerful sound performance answer and end calls via speaker rechargeable lithium-ion battery

The Breakfast Club Super Soft Micro-fleece Living Room Blanket Bed Flannel Comfortable Super Soft Sofa Blanket

Click here to purchase!

• Full-Frame Printing, Single-Sided Printing, Made Of Anti-Pilling Fleece, More Comfortable And Warm.
• Machine Wash, Hand Wash, Quick Dry, Easy To Care, Durable, Do Not Use Bleach.
• There Are Three Sizes To Choose From, Suitable For Children, Adults, Parents, And Grandparents!
• They’re Super Soft And High-Quality Fabrics On The Outside And White On The Inside. Suitable For Bed, Sofa, Camping, Cold Cinema, Or Travel! Give Your Family And Friends A Perfect Gift.

Burn Book Mean Girls Scented Candle 

Click here to purchase!

Burn Book Scented Candle. Smells like Baby Prostitute, Pink Wednesdays and So Fetch! Makes a great gift for The Plastics Fan! · 9 oz Scented Candle. · Burn Time Approximately 50 hours.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Click here to purchase!

The critically acclaimed debut novel from Stephen Chbosky, Perks follows observant “wallflower” Charlie as he charts a course through the strange world between adolescence and adulthood. First dates, family drama, and new friends. Sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Devastating loss, young love, and life on the fringes. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it, Charlie must learn to navigate those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

Superbad: The Drawings Hardcover

Click here to purchase!

The only compendium of 62 hilarious, captioned “phallographics” created exclusively for the movie Superbad. Everyone who has seen the blockbuster comedy hit Superbad will recall the outrageous phallic foolery featured in the movie, inspired by the character Seth’s obsessive drawings from the third grade. When Evan Goldberg, Superbad’s co-writer/producer, called his older brother, David, about a job on the movie, David had no idea that he would tap into the unexplored world of phallographics. The brilliant results are these 62, full-color, laugh-out-loud drawings that will surely tickle your funny bone. Some of these illustrations were featured in the end credits of the movie, and audience members are still buzzing about them! Many of these clever depictions are exclusive to this novelty art volume.

DC Comics Batman Sticky Notes Booklet

Click here to purchase!

• Whether you’re fighting crime or leading the life of a wealthy philanthropist, you need the #1 sticky notes of Caped Crusaders.
• Each hardcover memo pad is full of hundreds of colorful self-sticking sheets. You can write a note on these stickies and post it anywhere!
• Book measures 3 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ and will fit in your purse or back pocket. Great for home, the office, for friends, your boss, or coworkers.
• Click on the link to our store page near the product title to see more smart and clever gifts. UPG truly has presents of mind.

Stranger Pencils – Inspirational Pencils Engraved With Funny And Motivational Sayings For School And The Office

Click here to purchase!

Let these Stranger Things pencils help you on your curiosity voyage. Just try not to get lost in the upside-down.

The Witcher’s Bestiary: Brown Leather Collection | Fan Notebook, Sketchbook, Diary, Journal

Click here to purchase!

Open your door to the world of wisdom and knowledge with the help of our perfectly designed notebooks. It is made to serve your many purposes, whether it be a school assignment or work task. Packed with excellent features and quality, they provide you with unique notebook experience you might never had before. It can be slipped inside your backpack or anywhere you might like for all your work bits and pieces!

All the Best Lines: An Informal History of the Movies in Quotes, Notes and Anecdotes

Click here to purchase!

Pithy put-downs, hard-boiled snarlings, words of love and regret—they’re all here in this collection of 500 memorable movie quotes, embracing both one-liners (“My name is Pussy Galore”) and slices of snappy dialogue from pictures as diverse as King Kong, Vertigo, The Magnificent Seven, Network, This Is Spinal Tap, Fight Club, Superbad, and Inglourious Basterds. Arranged under such timeless themes as “dreams,” “friends,” “libido,” and “memories,” the quotes juxtapose films and stars from every era and every genre. Throughout the text are feature capsules focusing on themes and stories in the movies from Goldwynisms to Mae West, plus a generous scattering of cinema anecdotes, making the book both a joy to browse and an authoritative reference. Lavishly illustrated, this collection will delight and entertain readers in equal measure, reacquainting them with favorite movies and introducing some forgotten classics.

Indiana Jones MK VII Gas Mask Bag Green Indy Props WWII

Click here to purchase!

This is a replica of the famous MkVII Gas Mask Bag issued to British troops and civilians during WWII as a precaution against a German gas attack. The bag has a few compartments in the inside as seen on the picture. There are a total of 3 drainage holes 2 at the bottom and 1 at the side. Bag has been made to appear aged.

Harry Potter Quill & Ink Wizard’s Writing Bundle with Parchment Paper & Owl Sealing Wax Seal Stamp

Click here to purchase!

• This set contains all the favorite items for a young wizard to create his/her missives, Harry Potter style!
• 1 Quill Pen with Black Apothecary jar of Water-based Writing Ink (15ml -1/2 oz.)
• 1 Wood Pen Stand plus 1 Set of Aged Parchment Sheets- 10 sheets
• 3 assorted sticks of Sealing Wax plus Owl Wax Seal Stamp

Coloring Broadway Hamilton Card stock Coloring Post Cards

Click here to purchase!

• Set of 4 beautifully designed Broadway-inspired coloring Postcards featuring quotes from Hamilton. 
• “Featured Quotes: * Just You Wait * Why Do You Write Like You’re Running out of Time, * History Is Happening * The Room Where it Happens”
• Postcards are 5″ x 7″ and are printed on 80# Matte Card stock
• Use your markers, colored pencils, pastels, gel pens … whatever you love coloring with!
• The perfect gift for any musical theater lover!

Umbrella Academy Number Five Reusable Lunch Tote Bag Waterproof Picnic Lunch Box For School Road Walking And Office- Waterproof/Warm/Cooler

Click here to purchase!

The Walking Dead Gel Pen & Bookmark

Click here to purchase!

This deluxe Walking Dead pen set featuring classic zombie artwork. Premium pen with clip, 0.70 mm line and black ink. Deluxe Walking Dead bookmark. Perfect as Walking Dead school supplies, party supplies, party favors, stocking stuffers and more. Officially licensed Walking Dead office supplies. A great addition to any Walking Dead calendar or planner gift.

Swingline Stapler, Milton’s Red Stapler from Office Space

Click here to purchase!

Have you seen my stapler? Keep a watchful eye on this iconic red stapler from Office Space, which is sure to be the talk of your office.

Parks and Recreation Location Logos 4-Piece Shot Glass Set – Features City of Pawnee Seal, JJ’s Diner, Snakehole Lounge & Entertainment 720 Symbols On 2-Ounce Glasses 

Click here to purchase!

TREAT YO’ SELF: Show off your love of NBC’s hit comedy series Parks and Recreation with this fun shot glass set!

DC Comics Batman v Superman 1″ O-Ring Vinyl Binder with Pockets ~ Dawn of Justice

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program also provides a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images)

The post ComingSoon’s 2020 Back to School Gift Guide appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Marvel Pays Tribute to Chadwick Boseman & Black Panther in Behind-the-Scenes Video

Marvel Studios has released a tribute to Chadwick Boseman, who tragically died last Friday after battling colon cancer. The video, which you can view in the player below, gives a behind-the-scenes look at Black Panther while honoring the man who played the iconic character.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther follows T’Challa (Boseman) who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king – and Black Panther – is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

Black Panther stars the late Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Oscar winners Lupita Nyong’o and Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Oscar nominees Daniel Kaluuya and Angela Bassett.

RELATED: Hail to the King: Hollywood Reacts to Chadwick Boseman’s Death

The film received seven nominations at the 91st Academy Awards including Best Picture, with wins for Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, and Best Production Design. Black Panther is the first superhero film to receive a Best Picture nomination and the first MCU film to win an Academy Award. It also received three nominations at the 76th Golden Globe Awards, two wins at the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three wins at the 24th Critics’ Choice Awards from 12 nominations, among others.

Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther also stars Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Andy Serkis.

The film was directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole. Kevin Feige and David J. Grant were producers; and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Jeffrey Chernov, Nate Moore, and Stan Lee served as executive producers. The film was produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and is currently available on Disney+.

The post Marvel Pays Tribute to Chadwick Boseman & Black Panther in Behind-the-Scenes Video appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Hasbro PulseCon: 2-Day Virtual Convention Announced

Hasbro, Inc. today announced the first-ever Hasbro PulseCon, a 2-day virtual event that gives fans unprecedented access to their favorite Hasbro brands, music & entertainment. Taking place on September 25-26, 2020 exclusively on the Hasbro Pulse YouTube Channel and hosted by SYFY Wire on-air correspondent, writer, and producer, Jackie Jennings, Hasbro PulseCon promises fans in the US and Canada a front row seat to panels, talent appearances, brand reveals, product giveaways and more; connecting consumers to their favorite brands in an immersive, one-of-a-kind setting that, along with the eOne portfolio, will bring fans the best in entertainment, music, and toys. Announcements for new innovations and product reveals will take place for brands including Dungeons & Dragons, G.I. Joe, Magic: The Gathering, Power Rangers, Transformers as well as premiere partner brands Marvel, Star Wars, Ghostbusters, and more.

RELATED: Hasbro Marvel Fan First Tuesday Product Reveals

 

View this post on Instagram

 

2 epic days. All your favorite brands. Reveals. Exclusives. And SO MUCH MORE. This is the one virtual event you do not want to miss! (for US & CAN fans only) HasbroPulseCon.com #Hasbro #HasbroPulse #HasbroPulseCon #PulseCon #Pulse

A post shared by Hasbro Pulse (@hasbropulse) on Aug 31, 2020 at 7:01am PDT

Hasbro PulseCon delivers the experience and connection of conventions for free and right from the comforts of fans’ homes. Highlights from the virtual event will consist of live unboxings, over 50 new product reveals and pre-orders, coveted Hasbro PulseCon exclusive merchandise, livestream panels featuring celebrities and audience Q&A, and surprise experiences. “To be a part of this new virtual experience that celebrates fan culture and incorporates so many different iconic entertainment properties is truly a thrilling opportunity and I can’t wait for fans to check it out,” says Jackie Jennings, Hasbro PulseCon host.

“We are constantly impressed by our fan community and their unwavering passion for Hasbro brands. The Hasbro Pulse community was built with them in mind, and we’re excited to take fan-first engagement with our Pulse platform even deeper,” says Eric Nyman, Chief Consumer Officer, Hasbro. “We’re looking forward to celebrating the fans, providing community connection at a time where everyone needs it most, and ultimately delivering a peek behind the curtain on their favorite brands in a way only Hasbro can.”

Fans will also be able to get their hands on Hasbro PulseCon exclusive items, available only at Hasbro PulseCon in the US & Canada, including:
• Ghostbusters Plasma Series Tully’s Terrible Night (Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $49.99 / Available: September 2020 / Images)
• G.I. Joe Classified Series Snake Supreme Cobra Commander Action Figure (Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $29.99 / Available: September 2020 / Images)
• Power Rangers Lightning Collection Mighty Morphin Lord Drakkon Evo III Figure (Ages 4 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $49.99 / Available: September 2020 / Images)
• Transformers: Generations War for Cybertron Trilogy: Quintesson Pit of Judgement 5-Pack (Ages 8 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $69.99 / Available: September 2020 / Images)
• Marvel Legends Series 6-Inch Hellfire Club Collection
(Ages 4 years and up / Approx. Retail Price: $79.99 / Available: September 2020)
• Marvel Legends Series 6-Inch X-Men Marvel’s Logan & Charles Xavier Figure 2-Pack
(Ages 14 years and up / Approx. Retail Price: $49.99 / Available: September 2020)
• Star Wars: The Vintage Collection Star Wars: The Clone Wars 501st Legion ARC Troopers Figure 3-Pack (Ages 4 years and up / Approx. Retail Price: $49.99 / Available: September 2020)
• Star Wars: The Black Series Heroes of Endor Figure Set
(Ages 4 years and up / Approx. Retail Price: $109.99 / Available: September 2020)
• Star Wars: The Black Series 6-Inch-Scale Hoth Wampa Figure
(Ages 4 years and up / Approx. Retail Price: $29.99 / Available: September 2020 / Images)

Additional details and scheduling will be announced soon. To stay up to date, fans can follow @HasbroPulse on Instagram and visit HasbroPulseCon.com for more details.

The post Hasbro PulseCon: 2-Day Virtual Convention Announced appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

CS Soapbox: Did Alien 3 Beget Riddick?

Director David Twohy’s 2000 Pitch Black (out this week for the first time on 4K!) would not exist without Ridley Scott’s Alien franchise. From its pacing and atmosphere to its characterization and setting, 1979’s Alien is easily one of the most influential sci-fi films of all-time. With 1986’s Aliens, Scott relinquished his directorial duties to James Cameron, paving the way for a sequel that upped the action ante while simultaneously capitalizing on everything its predecessor had put in place. That said, expectations for David Fincher’s 1992 “classic” Alien 3, were high. For many, it did not deliver. 

Click here to pick up the brand new Pitch Black 4K Blu-ray from Arrow Video!

Alien 3 almost didn’t get made. Its muddled journey from script to screen was plagued with studio interference, contract negotiations, and a revolving door of creators. By the time a young Fincher (equally as dark and ambitious) found himself picking up the pieces, his obsessive/perfectionist nature proved incompatible with the ill-fated production. Ultimately, the director became so frustrated that he abandoned Alien 3 in post-production, the studio editing it without him, and has since disowned it. Decades after Alien 3’s disappointing reception and release, the film’s behind-the-scenes drama is more intriguing than Ellen Ripley’s Christ-like demise. 

RELATED: CS Soapbox: Why Star Wars Needs Taika Waititi

There were at least three different versions of Alien 3’s script before it even went into production. Those scripts are so dissimilar to the final product that they might as well be considered something else. One of the earliest versions of the screenplay was written by William Gibson. His script followed Aliens’ Corporal Hicks (Michael Biehn), Bishop (Lance Henriksen) and Newt (Carrie Henn) while Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley remained in a coma. Unfortunately for Gibson, this draft was shelved, although certain aspects of it found their way into the final film. Enter Pitch Black’s David Twohy.

Twohy wrote a screenplay about a Weyland-Yutani prison space station, Moloch Island, whose inhabitants served as biological warfare experiments, or hosts for Xenomorphs. The story follows the inmate Scott Styles, who is serving a 20-year sentence for fraud and two failed escape attempts. We are also introduced to a handful of other inmates, all whose crimes are much more deplorable than fraud. During his incarceration, Styles befriends an infirmary technician named Packard, and becomes her assistant. At this point in the story, Xenomorphs begin breaking out of the lab and killing inmates, something Weylan-Yutani is aware of as they attempt to cover up their experimentation on death row inmates. Having witnessed all of this, Styles is thrown into solitary confinement.

The core relationship in Twohy’s Alien 3 is that of Styles and Packard. Styles manages to convince Packard of all that is happening on Moloch Island, prompting Packard to free Styles and escape with him. During their escape, the station is ruptured by gunfire, killing thousands and releasing more Xenomorphs. Following the explosion, Styles and Packard team up with a group of survivors to get off the space station alive. Styles ends up confronting the Weyland-Yutani representative, Lone, attempting to flee aboard his shuttle, and throws him to his death, while simultaneously revealing Lone to be an android. Ultimately, Styles and Packard leap into space (wearing space suits) and board Lone’s shuttle, which they fly directly into the last Xenomorph, killing it.

Twohy ended up leaving Alien 3. While his idea of an intergalactic penitentiary made its way into Alien 3’s final draft (as well as The Chronicles of Riddick via the prison moon, Crematoria), the bulk of his plot and characters were scrapped. In case you were wondering, Twohy’s draft sidelined Ripley due to uncertainty surrounding Sigourney Weaver’s return to the franchise. So the concept of new, non-stock characters was very much at the forefront of Twohy’s mind. Years after Alien 3, Twohy was approached by Ken and Jim Wheat with a story called “Nightfall.” The brothers told Twohy that if he could refine their script, he could direct it. 

Nightfall eventually became Pitch Black, the story of a deep-space transporter’s crash landing on an alien planet inhabited by photophobic monsters. Among the crash’s survivors is a ruthless criminal: Vin Diesel’s Richard B. Riddick, the man that would become just “Riddick,” the face of two more theatrical releases, animated features, video games, and novels. A franchise that not only makes clear allusions to the Alien films early on but is intertwined with Alien 3. 

Riddick can be seen as an amalgamation of all the inmates in Twohy’s draft of Alien 3. He’s convicted of much more than just fraud, but he’s not beyond redemption. The core relationship in Pitch Black is that of Carolyn Fry and Riddick. Unlike Twohy’s Alien 3, the roles are reversed here: Instead of the convict protagonist teaming up with an inherently good female character, an inherently good female protagonist teams up with the convict. The ending of Pitch Black also seems to mirror Twohy’s ending for Alien 3, the latter sees its heroes escape their circumstances and use a craft to triumphantly slay the alien, while the former sees Riddick delay his launch to incinerate as many creatures as possible to avenge Fry.

The Riddick franchise’s Alien 3 references go beyond just Twohy’s draft. The first and most obvious wink (aside from “cryosleep”): Riddick is part of a race called Furyans who hails from a planet called Furya. The prison planet in Alien 3 is known as Fiorina “Fury” 161. The second (and less obvious) parallel to Alien 3 came early on in development.

In Twohy’s original Pitch Black script, Riddick/the convict was female (*cough* Ellen Ripley), insinuating that Alien 3 still permeated Twohy’s creativity. Make no mistake, Diesel’s Riddick is not Weaver’s Ripley. The latter can be seen as inherently “good,” while the former is presented to the audience as “bad.” Pitch Black’s Riddick arguably shares more similarities with Holt McCallany’s Ted “Junior” Gillas from Alien 3—a character that resembles a rapist character (a more deplorable convict) Howard Grimes from Twohy’s draft of Alien 3.

RELATED: CS Soapbox: Supernatural Will Do What GoT & Star Wars Could Not—End Well

Aside from their bald heads and obvious affinity for goggles, they’re both anti-social and hate humanity (understatement). Not only is Junior a serial rapist, but he leads an attempt to assault Ripley. In the theatrical version Junior is killed in an explosion, leaving him completely amoral and unworthy of redemption. However, Alien 3’s special edition/assembly cut sees Junior survive that initial explosion, aid Ripley in saving Gregor, and sacrifice himself to lure the Xenomorph AKA “the Dragon” into a nuclear waste dump, a death that suggests something much more complex. 

The studio’s assembly cut is an edit based on notes left behind by Fincher and, presumably, other creatives who were involved early on. Due to the many conversations and drafts consolidated during the production process, it’s hard to know what details came from/inspired Twohy during the production of Pitch Black. Riddick is a “better” person than Junior but his arc in Pitch Black is certainly one that (at the very least) suggests redemption. 

Near the end of Pitch Black, Riddick means to abandon his fellow survivors and asks Radha Mitchell’s Carolyn Fry (the one character that could be equated to Ripley) to come with him. When she refuses, her selflessness inspires Riddick, even if only for a second. Like Ripley, Fry dies, leaving the worst of humanity, in this case, Riddick and a child. 

Junior’s sacrifice in Alien 3 (albeit unintentionally in the theatrical version) furthers Ripley’s survival. Riddick’s actions further Fry’s survival. While Fry’s actions inspire Riddick to be “better,” Ripley’s prevent the creation of Xenomorph bio-weapons—both circumstances creating a better future.

RELATED: CS Soapbox: Is The Last Of Us Part II A Bad Sequel? (Spoilers)

Pitch Black was an obvious response to sci-fi horror films of the late 80’s and 90’s. The idea of an external tormentor provoking the inward exploration. From its dark atmosphere to its contemplation of human nature, Pitch Black is like the second cousin of Alien 3. The preface of Pitch Black’s script reads: “the focus of the finished film will not be on what the creatures do, but on what the creatures do to reveal the inner nature of the characters.” It’s not a stretch to imagine Fincher’s mission statement for Alien 3 being similar (before he left of course). 

If it weren’t for 2004’s bombastic space opera The Chronicles of Riddick (and its protagonist’s retconned backstory), and 2013’s Riddick, Pitch Black could easily exist in the same canon as Alien 3. Twohy reportedly didn’t want to create stock characters when making Pitch Black. That said, it’s ironic that the evolution of the Riddick character saw him become just that. Like all great things, the Alien franchise has begotten many inferior spin-offs, sequels and copycats that are now something entirely their own. 

Click here to purchase the Alien 3 Special Edition, or as part of the Alien Quadrilogy!

Click here to purchase the Riddick Trilogy!

The post CS Soapbox: Did Alien 3 Beget Riddick? appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

BEGIN SLIDESHOW

Jeffrey Wright Talks The Batman and the Batmobile

In a recent interview with Heroic Hollywood (via ComicBookMovie) actor Jeffrey Wright, who plays Commissioner Gordon in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, discussed the highly anticipated film and confirmed that the tone of the film was reflected in the recent DC FanDome trailer.

To start, Wright discussed his take on Commissioner Gordon and explained that his iteration will follow in the footsteps of Gary Oldman, who, of course, played the role in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy.

“First of all the script, when I read the script I said to myself ‘yeah, this is on it’, Wright said before adding, “Because as you described about Westworld, you know, this show is very much about mystery, Batman, the series. You go back to the original, it’s DC, it’s Detective Comics and the script is really beholden to that, beholden to this idea of Batman is the world’s greatest detective. I think, as Gary Oldman once described, you know Gordon is something of a Watson to him. The script honors that and also sets a tone that’s very clear and a tone that’s been captured in that trailer.”

Wright then spoke about the Batmobile, which he described as a crazy, hyper-modified muscle car. “And I think one of the aspects of the script that I was really stoked about was the Batmobile, the way it was described — It was described as this kind of retro, hyper-modified muscle car, that’s just the craziest coolest thing you’d ever seen. And when I read that I said ‘aha, yes.’ Because what it’s trying to achieve and what it does achieve is to create an accessibility for our Gotham, a world that is tangible and grounded in a very familiar reality. But at the same time it’s still fantastical, it’s still tweaked.”

RELATED: Batman: The Long Halloween and Justice Society Animated Films Coming In 2021

Starring alongside Robert Pattinson’s Batman/Bruce Wayne is Zoë Kravitz (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Mad Max: Fury Road) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (Love & Mercy, 12 Years a Slave) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (the Hunger Games films) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the Transformers films) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (The Magnificent Seven, Black Mass) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson (Farewell Amor) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the Planet of the Apes films, Black Panther) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Dumbo) as Oswald Cobblepot. Twins Max and Charlie Carver have also joined the movie in “sizable roles.”

During DC FanDome, Reeves confirmed the movie will focus on Bruce Wayne’s second year as Batman, and, per Walter Hamada, that the film is set in a different universe separate from the Justice League DCEU characters. Reeves also revealed that the movie is a detective story that follows a series of murders that open up the history of corruption in Gotham and how Bruce’s family is linked.

RELATED: New Photos From The Batman Show Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne

Reeves and Dylan Clark (the Planet of the Apes films) are producing the film, with Simon Emanuel, Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, and Chantal Nong Vo serving as executive producers.

The Batman opens in theaters on October 1, 2021.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
  9
  images

The post Jeffrey Wright Talks The Batman and the Batmobile appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Scream 5 Gets a Release Date!

Get ready for more Ghost Face as Scream 5 will slash its way into theaters on January 14, 2022. The date was revealed via a tweet by the film’s official Twitter account which you can see below! That is already a crowded date, with the Blue Sky animated movie Nimonia, the Sesame Street movie and untitled event films from Warner Bros. and Universal all scheduled for that January 14.

RELATED: Exclusive: David Arquette Talks Scream Reboot!

David Arquette became the first actor from the original franchise to sign on for Scream 5, with Courtney Cox signing on at the end of July for the film and word coming earlier this year that lead heroine Neve Campbell is currently in talks to reprise her role of Sidney Prescott.

While plot details are currently scarce, it is being reported that the film will follow “a woman returning to her home town to try to find out who has been committing a series of vicious crimes.”

The new film will be produced by Project X Entertainment’s James Vanderbilt (Zodiac), who is also co-writing the screenplay with Guy Busick (Ready or Not), as well as Paul Neinstein and William Sherak for Spyglass, with original screenwriter Kevin Williamson executive producing with Radio Silence’s third member Chad Villella.

The first film, released in 1996, was a surprise smash upon its debut, helping to revive the horror genre for the decade and becoming the highest-grossing slasher movie of all-time until it was dethroned by last year’s Halloween reboot. The first’s success spawned a franchise that includes three sequels, the first of which remained equally as successful as the first while the previous two saw middling box office returns and mixed reviews.

After years of struggling to get another film off the ground, MTV picked up a series adaptation that became a cult hit, with two well-received seasons from fans before it was passed off to VH1 for its rebooted third season, which saw mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and audiences alike, but was a minor improvement in the ratings from the second season.

The Scream revival marks the second major horror franchise reboot Spyglass is working on, with the studio developing a remake of the Clive Barker cult horror classic Hellraiser, with David S. Goyer (Terminator: Dark Fate) attached to pen the script.

Neve Campbell (Party of Five, The Craft) has played Sidney Prescott in the original blockbuster hit Scream way back in 1996. Since then, she became the face of the popular slasher franchise as she also starred in three follow-up sequels. The most recent entry, Scream 4, released in 2011 and grossed $97 million worldwide on a $40 million budget. Campbell recently appeared in Netflix’s House of Cards and the film Castle in the Ground.

On January 14, 2022… We’re going to hear you SCREAM. pic.twitter.com/X83ENIj3Hm

— Scream (@ScreamMovies) August 29, 2020

The post Scream 5 Release Date Revealed! appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

New Mutants Lands at the Top of the Weekend Box Office!

The box office is back! Well, kinda. Even though a majority of theaters still haven’t opened, a handful of releases earned a semi-respectable amount of cash in limited release. Taking the top spot was Disney/20th Century Studios’ The New Mutants, which hauled in $7 million in its first weekend. Keep in mind that, according to Deadline, only 62% of theaters are open and auditorium capacity restrictions allow for only 25%-50% occupancy. Even so, the $3.1 million opening day gross won’t knock anyone’s socks off, neither will the $2.45 million the flick grossed on Saturday, even if it marks the highest gross for a film since mid-March. When combined with overseas numbers, the long-delayed Josh Boone thriller only managed to pull in $10 million, which just goes to show we’re still a long way off from normalcy.

RELATED: Watched at Home: Top 20 Streaming Films for the Week of August 21

Initially planned to release in 2018, New Mutants was delayed due to a number of factors and was ultimately lost in the shuffle during Disney’s acquisition of Fox. Despite rumors of reshoots and multiple cuts of the film, Disney opted to release Boone’s original version and neither critics nor audiences were impressed. Currently, the film holds a 32% on RottenTomates from 38 critics and a 53% audience rating. Ouch.

Landing in second place was the Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged, which collected $2.6 million (-35%) from 2,331 theaters for a $8.8 million total. The thriller scored a 48% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but has amassed a 76% audience rating out of 1,068 reviews.

The anticipated threequel Bill & Ted Face the Music grossed $1.06 million overall from 1,007 theaters which may not sound like much for a blockbuster film, but consider that the flick was also released on PVOD where it landed at No. 1 on iTunes with the franchise bundle trailing at No. 2. We’re still waiting on the PVOD numbers to determine just how big (or small) of a hit the Keanu Reeves/Alex Winter flick will be.

Up next was The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run with $604,000 (+9.8%) from 314 theaters for a total haul of $2,019,824 after three weeks of release.

The Personal History of David Copperfield made its debut with $520,000 from 1,360 theaters, while Words on Bathroom Walls rounded out the top six with $453,360 (+4.7%) from 1,356 theaters in its second week of release.

RELATED: Tenet Review: It’s Hard Not to Be Impressed

As for Tenet, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Christopher Nolan’s latest mind bender grossed more than $53 million internationally in 41 markets. The U.K. led with $7.1 million while France and Germany chipped in $5.7 million and $4.2 million, respectively. The film cost $200 million to produce and much more to market, so this looks like a huge win for WB. The pic collected $5 million from 248 Imax theaters, which is akin to Nolan’s Dunkirk and Interstellar. The film is expected to make a decent-sized splash when it hits the U.S. this week.

The post New Mutants Lands at the Top of the Weekend Box Office! appeared first on ComingSoon.net.