Ron Howard tapped to direct Lang Lang Biopic

While the two-time Oscar winner is busy developing a drama about the Tham Luang cave rescue for MGM, Ron Howard has found another new project in the form of a biopic centered on acclaimed Chinese pianist Lang Lang, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

RELATED: MGM Acquires Ron Howard-Helmed Biopic Thirteen Lives

Based on Lang and David Ritz’s memoir Journey of a Thousand Miles, the untitled biopic will chart the musician’s incredible life story from his childhood in the provincial city of Shenyang in Northern China to the peak of the modern global classic music industry, all the while his family sacrifices almost everything to help their son succeed.

“Dream big, work hard, and always believe in yourself,” Lang said in a statement. “This movie, thanks to Ron Howard’s vision, will inspire young people around the world to follow their dreams and never forget they are one in a million.”

Click here to purchase the 2008 memoir upon which the film will be based!

Michelle and Kieran Mulroney (Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows) are attached to adapt the memoir for the screen, with Brian Grazer set to produce the film via his and Howard’s Imagine Entertainment production banner, while Lang and Jean-Jacques Cesbron will executive produce with Polygram Entertainment’s Michele Anthony and David Blackman. Stuart Ford’s AGC Studios are attached to finance the project.

“Lang Lang’s story is one of determination, passion, sacrifice, and finding the inner strength to beat the odds,” Grazer and Howard said in a joint statement. “This film is a bridge between two cultures that share universal truths about the gauntlets we face in the pursuit of greatness.”

RELATED: Willow 2: Ron Howard Reveals the Status of Disney+’s Potential Series

While Howard is currently awaiting to begin production on the Thai cave story, Thirteen Lives, he is planning to begin production on the Lang biopic shortly after in China and the U.S. with both Mandarin and English dialogue.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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Charlie Brown gets scary in new Halloween Raid71 prints

As we near the terrifying season of mid-fall, Raid71 has unveiled a new collection of prints featuring everyone’s favorite Peanuts character Charlie Brown mashed up with some of horror genre legend John Carpenter’s filmography! The prints, as well as a special mashup of Charlie and Evil Dead‘s Ash Williams, can be viewed in the gallery below!

RELATED: Exclusive: New Jaws & The Thing Prints Revealed by Vice Press!

Each of the four prints represents a director that was able to turn his hand to any style within the genre, from classic suspense in 1978’s iconic slasher Halloween to the social commentary of the 1988 cult classic sci-fi action pic They Live, as well as a film that refined archetypes of hero and damsel in distress with 1986’s Big Trouble in Little China to all-out dystopian action with 1981’s Escape From New York.

As an added bonus with the special prints, Raid71 is also offering fans a rare prototype model of Charlie Ash, a 4.5-inch handprinted figure with a design based on the Sam Raimi-created and Bruce Campbell-performed character from the horror-comedy franchise Evil Dead.

RELATED: Exclusive: S. Preston Looney Tunes Baseball Bugs MLB Edition Prints

The four 5″ x 5″ prints will be a timed edition set to run from Thursday, September 24 to Sunday, September 27 beginning at 1 p.m. EST, with the set of four set to be signed and numbered and runs for approximately $30. The prints are available to view on Raid71’s official site now and fans can head here to purchase the set once sales open up!

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Supernova trailer starring Colin Firth & Stanley Tucci

Studiocanal has released the official trailer for director Harry Macqueen’s forthcoming drama film titled Supernova, featuring award-winning actors Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci as they portray a long-time couple who must now face an uncertain future following Tucci’s character getting diagnosed with dementia. The film doesn’t have a U.S. release date yet but it is scheduled to hit UK theaters on Friday, November 27. Check out the video in the player below!

RELATED: Herself Trailer Previews Phyllida Lloyd’s New Drama Film

In Supernova, It is deep Autumn and Sam and Tusker, partners of twenty years, are on holiday. They are travelling across England in their old campervan visiting friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with young-onset dementia two years ago their lives have had to change. Jobs have been given up and plans put on hold. Their time together is now the most important thing they have. As the trip progresses however, their individual ideas for their future begin to collide. Secrets are uncovered, private plans unravel and their love for each other is tested like never before. Ultimately, they must confront the question of what it means to love one another in the face of Tusker’s irreparable illness.

The film is being led by Oscar winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech) and Emmy winner Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones). It will also feature James Dreyfus, Pippa Haywood, and Sarah Woodward.

RELATED: The Secret Garden Review: Poorly Paced But Emotionally Profound

Supernova is written and directed by Harry Macqueen. It is produced by Tristan Goligher and Emily Morgan. The film will be having its world premiere this Thursday, September 24 at the 2020 San Sebastián International Film Festival.

The post Supernova Trailer Starring Colin Firth & Stanley Tucci appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

The 15 Best Batman Statues Ever Made

Comingsoon.net has compiled a list of the 15 Best Batman Statues Ever Made in celebration of Batman Day! Check it out below!

Bruce Wayne AKA the caped crusader AKA the Dark Knight AKA the “World’s Greatest Detective” AKA Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics in 1939. Since then, the character’s success on the page, the small screen, and large have made all of his titles household names. The story of an orphan boy who grew up and used his inheritance to save the citizens of Gotham as a vigilante resonated, and continues to resonate with billions. 

To say Batman is iconic is an understatement. In many ways, he is the be-all and end-all superhero—he’s just a dude. A hyper-intelligent, physically-fit dude. Like us, he didn’t come from another planet or gain powers in some freak accident, and that makes us feel capable—maybe we can stand for justice as well? Regardless, this day, Batman Day, is celebrated all across the globe to honor perhaps the most timeless comic book character of all time. Here’s to 81 years and 81 more! That said, we’ve compiled a list of the 15 best Batman statues ever made so that every September 21 you can take these puppies out, put them on your mantel, and salute the Dark Knight. 

RELATED: The 10 Best Michael Keaton Batman Moments

1) Batman 1989 (Sideshow)

Click here to purchase!

2) Frank Miller Batman (DC Direct)

Click here to purchase!

Based on the art of comics legend Frank Miller comes an all-new DC Designer Series: Batman statue. This impressive 1:6 scale statue showcases the ravaged, gritty and iconic look from Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns story line. From comic book to 3-D polyresin statue, this piece is a real testament to the impact a comic can have on generations of fans.

RELATED: CS Unboxed: Dark Knight Returns Designer Series Statue

3) Batman Sanity (XM Studios)

Click here to purchase!

Fan favorite Batman artist David teamed up with XM to deliver Batman Sanity.  An incredible and perfectly balanced composition of top Batman villains surrounding the Dark Knight, taunting him endlessly pushing him over the edge. But this is Batman. And his mental willpower and determination is perhaps his strongest ability. This Art Piece is a testament to the Dark Knight’s iron-willed resolve to never cross the line – and hold on to his sanity even when surrounded by the darkest evil.

4) Batman (Sideshow)

Click here to purchase!

Criminals of Gotham, beware! Sideshow presents the Batman Premium Format Figure.

The Batman Premium Format Figure stands ready to bring justice to his city, wearing an updated version of his iconic costume. The polyresin figure has a sculpted black and grey tactical bodysuit featuring a gold utility belt. Batman’s chest, gauntlets, and boots textured with elements of battle-damage.

The Caped Crusader’s portrait is detailed with a grim expression, framed by his iconic cowl with white eyes. The Batman Premium Format Figure also has a tailored fabric cape with internal wiring to allow custom cape poses when displaying the piece.

5) Batman: Hush (Prime 1)

Click here to purchase!

“I made a promise on the grave of my parents to rid this city of the evil that took their lives. By day, I am Bruce Wayne, billionaire philantropist. At night, criminals, a cowardly and superstitious lot, call me… Batman.”

Prime 1 Studio presents the first product of MMDCBH-01: Batman from Batman: Hush. Batman: Hush is a 2002-2003 comic book story arc that published in the Batman monthly series. The story depicts a mysterious stalker, head wrapped in bandages, called Hush, who seems intent on sabotaging Batman from afar, and utilizes many guest appearances by Batman villains. Inspired by the art of Jim Lee, Batman measure approximately 24 inches tall. It is a must have for all Batman: Hush fans.

6) Batman: The Animated Series (Sideshow)

Click here to purchase!

7) Batman Ninja (Prime 1)

Click here to purchase!

“Batmobile and Batwing both gone but I still have this body.”

Prime 1 Studio presents PMDCNB-01: Ninja Batman from Batman Ninja (Animated Film). From the top creators of Japan, Batman Ninja is a Japanese animated film directed by Junpei Mizusaki. Batman Ninja takes a journey across the ages as Gorilla Grodd’s time displacement machine transports many of Batman’s worst enemies to feudal Japan – along with the Dark Knight and a few of his allies. The villains take over the forms of the feudal lords that rule the divided land, with the Joker taking the lead among the warring factions. As his traditional high-tech weaponry is exhausted almost immediately, Batman must rely on his intellect and his allies including Catwoman and the extended Bat-family to restore order to the land, and return to present-day Gotham City.

8) Andy Kubert Batman (DC Direct)

Click here to purchase!

Legendary writer/artist Frank Miller returned to Batman with Dark Knight III: The Master Race, teaming with superstar artist Andy Kubert! Now, the DC Collectibles statue based on Kubert’s rendition of the Dark Knight is back in a new, miniaturized edition! Limited edition of 5,000. Measures approximately 7″ tall.

9) Batman: Red Rain (Mondo)

Click here to purchase!

Batman Red Rain is a DC Comics Elseworlds tale, in which the Dark Knight battles the infamous Dracula, ultimately becomes a vampire himself in the process. Inspired by Francesco Francavilla’s poster of the same name, the Batman: Red Rain statue depicts Batman as a vampire stalking the night and hunting his own kind, while attempting to stave off his own hunger for blood.

10) Batman: Arkham Knight (Prime 1)

Click here to purchase!

“I am vengeance! I am the night! I am Batman!”

Prime 1 Studio is proud to present 1/3 Scale MMDC-01BD: Batman Battle Damage version. from Batman: Arkham Knight (2015 Video Game). The Dark Knight must defend the city that he had sworn to protect, when all of his deadliest foes unite to destroy him on Halloween Night with Scarecrow leading the group of rogues. However, while dealing with Scarecrow’s plan with the help of his allies, Batman must battle the mysterious “”Arkham Knight”” who seemed to have an unknown connection with the Caped Crusader.

11) Batman v Superman (Sideshow)

Click here to purchase!

“We have to be ready. You, me, the others… there’s an attack coming from far away.”

Batman has always been a fan-favorite character in DC Comics. After the event of Superman’s “death”, Batman learned of the supervillain Steppenwolf’s return who attempts to combine the reactivated Mother Boxes and reshape the world. Playing a crucial role as the founder of the Justice League, he has recruited and inspired all members of the league to save the world. To celebrate the release of the epic blockbuster by DC Comics, Sideshow and Hot Toys are thrilled to introduce the sixth scale Batman collectible figure from Justice League.

Skillfully crafted based on Ben Affleck’s appearance as Batman in Justice League, the movie-accurate collectible figure features two interchangeable heads which include a newly developed head sculpt and a masked head, three interchangeable eye pieces and lower faces capturing Ben Affleck’s facial expressions in the movie, newly developed muscular body, a brand-new Batsuit and leather-like cape, as well as a selection of gadgets and a Parademon gun.

12) Adam West Batman (Iron Studios)

Click here to purchase!

Played by Adam West (Batman) and Cesar Romero (The Joker), now immortalized by Iron Studios in the statues Batman Deluxe BDS Art Scale 1/10 and The Joker Deluxe BDS Art Scale 1/10 – Batman 66, with the hero duly armed with his “Shark Repellent Bat Spray”, and his biggest enemy, laughing, balancing on one leg, both properly dressed in their colorful and patterned Hawaiian shorts, gliding on their personalized boards on translucent waves. The iconic scene is derived from the episode “Batman” Surf’s Up! Joker’s Under!”The 10th of the third season of the series, originally shown in November 1967.

13) The Dark Knight Rises (Prime 1)

Click here to purchase!

“A hero can be anyone, even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat on a young boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended.”

Prime 1 Studio presents the 1:3 scale MMTDKR-02: Batman from The Dark Knight Rises. Bruce Wayne was the main protagonist of The Dark Knight Trilogy, described as a billionaire environment and military defense developer who witnessed his parent’s murder at age 8, and later traveled the world for seven years to seek the means to fight injustice, fear and chaos before returning to Gotham City to become Batman, a bat-masked vigilante hailed as the city’s “”Dark Knight””, who dedicated himself to protecting it from its criminal underworld at night as a means to uphold justice, hope and order. Batman from The Dark Knights Rises is precisely sculpted with screen accurate detail, capturing Christian Bale as the silent guardian of Gotham City and stands approximately 33 inches tall on a base environment based on the final battle scene. This is a must have statue for all fans of Batman from The Dark Knight Rises!

14) Todd McFarlane Batman (DC Direct)

Click here to purchase!

Based on the art of Todd McFarlane and Sculpted by Jonathan Matthews. After 15 years of celebrating diverse Batman art styles through the Batman Black & White statue line, DC Direct is proud to present its 100th statue in the collection, by acclaimed writer and artist Todd McFarlane. This milestone statue is based off of McFarlane’s cover for Batman 423. As with the previous 99 statues in the series, McFarlane’s design reinforces the core value of DC Direct’s Batman Black & White line: to represent the printed page in 3-D form.

RELATED: CS Unboxed: DC Direct’s Batman Black & White by Todd McFarlane

15) Batman Black Edition (Iron Studios)

Click here to purchase!

Sideshow and Iron Studios presents the Batman (Black Edition) Prime Scale Statue. Produced with concept and art developed by Ivan Reis (DC Comics official artist) of Chiaroscuro Studios. Exclusively sold at Sideshow and Iron Studios Concept Store, this polystone statue is hand-painted and features two heads with interchangeable mouths, interchangeable hands, the Joker gargoyle, and an LED light-up bat signal base.

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Exclusive Delirious Director’s Cut trailer starring Steve Buscemi!

Shout! Factory and MVD Entertainment Group have provided ComingSoon.net with the exclusive trailer for Tom DiCillo’s Delirious director’s cut, starring Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt. The new cut will be released on VOD & Digital HD on October 6 from Shout Factory, and on Blu-Ray and DVD on October 13 from MVD Entertainment Group. Check it out in the player below!

Click here to pre-oreder Delirious Director’s Cut on Digital HD!

RELATED: CS Video: Maude Apatow, Bel Powley & Steve Buscemi Talk King of Staten Island

Les (Steve Buscemi) is a small-time paparazzi with dreams of making it big. His luck changes for the better when he befriends a young homeless kid, Toby (Michael Pitt), and makes him his assistant. The two form an unlikely bond running through the sham and glam of NYC’s celebrity scene but when Toby falls for a pop diva and becomes a reality TV star, Les takes the rejection personally. The never-before-seen Director’s Cut features bonus and behind-the-scenes content including a new filmed introduction by director Tom DiCillo detailing the motivation behind his 12-year search for the film.

“Delirious is a very meaningful film for me, both personally and artistically,” states DiCillo. “Just before its original release some editing choices were forced upon me which I’ve always regretted. When I finally found the current owner of the rights to the film, I jumped at the chance to restore the film to its original cut. I wrote it for Steve Buscemi and he delivers one of his finest performances. I’m thrilled this Director’s Cut will give people a chance to appreciate it.”

The film also stars Alison Lohman (Drag Me to Hell), Gina Gershon (Face/Off), Callie Thorne (Rescue Me), Kevin Corrigan (Pineapple Express), Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory) Kristen Schaal (Bill & Ted Face the Music) and Richard Short (Public Enemies) with special appearances by Elvis Costello and David Wain. This award winning film about the high stakes world of fame and celebrity from acclaimed filmmaker Tom DiCillo, the writer/director of “Living in Oblivion”, is now presented for the first time in its original, never before seen Director’s Cut.

RELATED: 10 Best Steve Buscemi Movies

AWARDS
Best Director, Best Screenplay; San Sebastian Int’l Film Festival
Special Jury Prize, Istanbul Int’l Film Festival
Best Director, US Comedy Arts Festival

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY, DVD AND DIGITAL HD
3 Promotional Shorts: ‘Casting Michael Pitt’, ‘Steve Buscemi is Pissed’ and ‘The Gina Gershon Tape’
New filmed Director’s Intro by Tom DiCillo
New audio Commentary from director Tom DiCillo
‘Stalking Delirious’ making of featurette
Alison Lohman Music Video: ‘Shove It’
Original Theatrical Trailer

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CS Soapbox: Why Batman Doesn’t Kill

In DC Comics’ Batman #4 (1940), Batman tells Robin, “we never kill with weapons of any kind.” Thus implemented the hotly debated rule that Batman would not use guns or lethal force. In the issues that preceded Batman #4, Batman did carry guns and kill. However, in less than 2 years after his debut, the caped crusader’s creators, Bob Kane and Bill Finger (mostly Finger) decided that their aristocratic, hyper-intelligent vigilante would not carry a gun or kill (a rule DC had already applied to Superman).

This shift in the character’s core philosophy happened fairly quickly in retrospect. In 1939, Batman had yet to become a fully-formed character in a medium yet-to-be understood or properly utilized. The Dark Knight’s origin story, involving the brutal murder of Bruce Wayne’s parents didn’t even manifest itself until around 6 months after Batman was capping vampires with silver bullets on the page (yeah). That said, Thomas and Martha Wayne, who despised violent criminals, catalyze Bruce’s motivations and that of his creators (again, mostly Finger).

RELATED: Zack Snyder Shares New Photo of Batman From Justice League!

The “no-kill rule” continues to frustrate casual fans. Gotham City would arguably be a safer/better place if Batman just ended the Joker once and for all. Because of this, there are plenty of stories where Batman does kill, but most of those stories contradict the heart of who Batman is. In Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the character is essentially a mass murderer, seeking justice however he sees fit (machine gunning criminals with the Batmobile, fatal brandings, etc.). That film’s director, Zack Snyder, has openly criticized fans who think superheroes shouldn’t kill, saying that a Batman who isn’t allowed to use lethal force lives in a “dream world.” As you may recall, Snyder’s Clark Kent AKA Superman broke Zod’s neck in Man of Steel, something that upset fans (and was condemned by Christopher Nolan), but wasn’t as incendiary as Batfleck’s brutality—which is far more dangerous than Superman’s laser eyes.

Inspired by characters like Sherlock Holmes, Batman has earned himself the mantel of the “World’s Greatest Detective.” He’s a thinker: driven, obsessive, and consumed by a desire to honor the legacy of his parents. Batman’s fortitude is the reason people often argue that, with enough prep time, he could defeat anyone or anything. To kill would be to admit defeat or take an easy path, and that’s not who Bruce/Batman is. The consequences of “admitting defeat” are perhaps best explored in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s The Batman Who Laughs miniseries.

The Batman Who Laughs: The Grim Knight #1 outlines the origin story of Bruce Wayne in a parallel universe. In this Gotham, when Thomas and Martha Wayne were murdered in Crime Alley, a young Bruce picks up the gun and shoots their murderer. Thus beginning the career of a much more sinister Batman, one more equatable to the Punisher, and ultimately, the Joker, than the Dark (yet not this dark) Knight we know and love.

The early days of the Grim Knight’s career is successful: he defeats everyone—from crime families to growing supervillains (even killing a maniac in an Ace Chemical plant). For a while, the police support him, all but one, Jim Gordon. In this universe, Batman and Gordon are far from friends. The Grim Knight’s mission turns Gotham into a totalitarian state where everyone is under constant surveillance (he even puts chips in people’s necks to force their obedience). The Grim Knight not only kills those “convicted” of crimes but those accused as well. Eventually, Gordon and Alfred defeat Batman, proving that the “no-kill rule” keeps Bruce from losing his faith in humanity. 

RELATED: DC Multiverse Batman Figure by Todd McFarlane Revealed!

Co-creator Kane has openly criticized Batman’s “no kill rule.” In his autobiography, Batman and Me, he said that Batman “wasn’t the Dark Knight anymore with all the censorship.” However, Kane has also acknowledged that the character’s lighter (and sometimes campy) tone early on helped him to become the iconic he is today. Besides, a hero without a moral compass, killing under the guise of “the greater good” excuse, is an anti-hero/villain but never a superhero. The latter argument has been made vehemently by Finger, the man who deserves the most credit for the caped crusader’s characteristics. 

The brutal origin story Finger wrote for Batman taught Bruce to cherish life and hate criminals. In Batman #47 (1948), Finger has Batman come face-to-face with his parents’ murderer, Joe Chill. Rather than kill him, Batman reveals to him his identity, hoping to provoke a confession (so that Chill can face due process). In a panic, Chill reveals the role in played in Batman’s creation to his henchman, who ultimately gun him down. Not only does Batman take no pleasure in Chill’s death, but he brings his killers to justice. 

In his Dark Knight trilogy Christopher Nolan paints Bruce/Batman in a similar light. Batman Begins follows Bruce, years after his parents’ murder, as he takes a pistol to Chill’s (who was convicted for murdering the Waynes) parole hearing, only to see him gunned down in the courthouse by Carmine Falcone’s triggerman. After a meeting with Falcone, Bruce throws his gun into the river, and leaves Gotham, vowing never to stoop to the level of those ruining his home, and in turn, his parents’ legacy. 

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

We don’t watch/read superhero stories to feel dejection. Proponents of grounding superheroes in overt realism are missing the point of the genre people like Finger helped define. To quote Christian Bale from Batman Begins, “people need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can’t do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I’m flesh and blood, I can be ignored, I can be destroyed; but as a symbol… as a symbol I can be incorruptible, I can be everlasting.” Striving towards this paradigm creates emotionally resonant drama. By struggling with his morality, Batman’s character/story becomes a dramatized reflection of the type of conflict most of us experience daily to do the “right” thing, whatever that may mean for them.  

There’s nothing gained by forcing overt cynicism/pragmatism into a world where men wear tights and can fly. There’s no real message. No hope. Great art is meant to entertain, inform, and inspire. Batman’s code, like Captain American or Superman’s, isn’t just about being a role model (maybe it is?). Batman’s code, in the face of true darkness, masquerades as unwavering altruism. However, Bruce Wayne doesn’t kill for a much more selfish reason. Bruce had his parents and his idyllic life taken from him. By cleaning up the street of Gotham without killing, he’s besting Death, which in his mind, is the real enemy. He knows that through death, there can never be the type of life he wanted for himself or his city. Happy Batman Day!

The post CS Soapbox: Why Batman Doesn’t Kill appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Herself trailer previews Phyllida Lloyd’s new drama film

The official trailer for acclaimed filmmaker Phyllida Lloyd’s upcoming family drama film titled Herself has been released, featuring a young mother as she tries to find a way to build a home for her and her daughters while facing a custody battle with her controlling ex-husband. Starring Clare Dunne, the film’s U.S. release hasn’t been announced yet but it is set to hit the UK and Irish theaters on Friday, October 16. Check out the video in the player below!

RELATED: Official Trailer & Poster for The Wolf of Snow Hollow Revealed

In Herself film, Sandra, on the surface of it, is a young Mum struggling to provide her two young daughters with a warm, safe, happy home to grow up in. Beneath the surface, Sandra has a steely determination to change their lives for the better and when it becomes clear that the local council won’t provide that home, she decides to build it herself from scratch. With very little income to speak of and no savings, Sandra must use all her ingenuity to make her ambitious dream a reality. At the same time, she must escape the grip of her possessive ex-husband and keep him away from her and her girls. The lionhearted Sandra draws together a community of friends to support her and lend a helping hand and it is the kindness and generosity of these people and the love of her young daughters that help build her own strength and sense of self.

The film is being led by Clare Dunne, who worked with Lloyd in Donmar Theatre’s all-female version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV. It also stars award-winning actress Harriet Walter and Game of Thrones alum Conleth Hill.

RELATED: A Rainy Day in New York Sets U.S. Release Date for October

Herself is directed by Phyllida Lloyd, who is known for her work in 2008’s Mamma Mia! and 2011’s The Iron Lady which both starred Oscar winner Meryl Streep. Lloyd also co-written the screenplay with Malcolm Campbell. It is produced by Rory Gilmartin, Ed Guiney and Sharon Horgan.

The film had its world premiere earlier this year at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Amazon Studios has also acquired the film’s North America distribution rights.

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POLL RESULTS: Which non-DCEU movie characters should be in The Flash?

With both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton already set to return as the Dark Knight for the long-awaited The Flash, ComingSoon.net asked our readers what other non-DCEU portrayals of DC Comics heroes they’d like to see in the film and after a week and nearly 1200 votes, a certain chain-smoking occult expert came out victorious. See the results below!

RELATED: POLL RESULTS: What Did You Think of the Dune Trailer?

Which Non-DCEU Movie Characters Should Be in The Flash?

1. John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) (16%, 183 votes)
2. Green Lantern (Ryan Reynolds) (13%, 150 votes)
3. Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) (12%, 144 votes)
4. Batman (Christian Bale) (12%, 136 votes)
5. Superman (Brandon Routh) (10%, 118 votes)

Though initially received with mixed reviews from critics and comic book fans alike, Keanu Reeves’ portrayal of Alan Moore, Stephen R. Bissette, Rick Veitch and John Totleben’s occult detective John Constantine has gone on to achieve a cult following and has many hopeful for his return in some capacity, including the John Wick star himself. The Reynolds-starring Green Lantern was met with much scorn upon its 2011 release, with the star consistently poking fun at it in his Deadpool films, but it appears fans would love to see him return.

Bill Finger and Bob Kane’s Catwoman has been on screen to varying degrees of reception and Michelle Pfeiffer’s turn as the cat burglar and Dark Knight love interest still sits as many’s favorite and with Keaton set to return, it would be a delight to see those two perform together on screen again. It’s hard to imagine Christian Bale returning to the role, especially after the moving send-off for the character in The Dark Knight Rises, but with two Batmen already in the film what’s the harm in bringing in another. As the film and TV worlds have collided on multiple occasions in the DC world, fans got to see Brandon Routh don the cape of the Man of Steel once more in the Crisis on Infinite Earths event and while he is preparing his departure from the world of the Arrowverse, it could be a fun nod to his work on reviving the character for the big screen with a cameo as Superman in the film, even if it’s reused footage from the crossover special.

The rest of the results are as follows:

• Batman (Robert Pattinson) (8%, 95 votes)
• Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) (8%, 94 votes)
• The Riddler (Jim Carrey) (5%, 63 votes)
• Steel (Shaquille O’Neal) (3%, 37 votes)
• Harvey Dent/Two Face (Billy Dee Williams) (3%, 35 votes)
• Robin (Chris O’Donnell) (2%, 29 votes)
• Supergirl (Helen Slater) (2%, 26 votes)
• Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin) (2%, 20 votes)
• Batman (Val Kilmer) (2%, 18 votes)
• Catwoman (Halle Berry) (1%, 13 votes)
• Batman (George Clooney) (1%, 8 votes)

Even before Warner Bros. Pictures had launched the DCEU in 2013, fans of all ages have already enjoyed a varied selection of live-action DC films throughout the years, spanning from 1966’s Adam West-led Batman film, to 1982’s Wes Craven-directed Swamp Thing, and up until Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy.

That’s why, it isn’t difficult to speculate about the probability that Warner Bros. wouldn’t pass up the opportunity of utilizing other iconic characters from the DC film library, especially when The Flash producers have been very vocal about the movie’s role in restarting the DCEU’s continuity that would allow various character iterations to collide.

RELATED: Constantine Director Says Keanu Reeves Has Always Wanted a Sequel

Warner Bros. first revealed that their Flash film would be inspired by Geoff Johns and Andy Kubert’s Flashpoint comic as early as 2017. The studio even went so far as to change the movie’s title to Flashpoint. But following last month’s announcement of the film’s 2022 release date, it doesn’t sound like this is still the case.

It’s probably for the best that the filmmakers are going to make changes to Johns and Kubert’s original Flashpoint arc. After all, the story has already been brought to life in animated form and in the Arrowverse. In 2013, Warner Home Video released Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. A few years later, The CW’s The Flash aired its own version of the story during the show’s third season. With this, it makes sense that Warner Bros.’ film division would want to make something that stands out from prior adaptations. Plus, the timeline tampering could also be used a means of fixing continuity issues within the DCEU.

Set to be directed by IT‘s Andy Muschietti, the Ezra Miller-led Flash movie is now scheduled to be released on July 1, 2022. Miller first portrayed the scarlet speedster in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.

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All In: Amazon’s voter suppression doc streaming free tomorrow

In solidarity with this year’s National Voter Registration Day tomorrow, Amazon Studios has announced that directors Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes’ documentary film All In: The Fight for Democracy will be available for free viewing on Tuesday, September 22 for 24 hours in front Amazon Prime Video’s paywall. It will also be made available on Amazon’s social media channels including Twitch, YouTube and Twitter. In addition, voting rights activist and former Georgia gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams is set to host watch parties along with Hamilton‘s Lin Manuel Miranda on Twitter at 4PM PT.

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In anticipation of the 2020 presidential election, ALL IN: THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY examines the often overlooked, yet insidious issue of voter suppression in the United States The film interweaves personal experiences with current activism and historical insight to expose a problem that has corrupted our democracy from the very beginning. With the perspective and expertise of Stacey Abrams, the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives, the documentary offers an insider’s look into laws and barriers to voting that most people don’t even know is a threat to their basic rights as citizens of the United States.

The documentary film was directed and produced by award-winning filmmaker Liz Garbus and Lisa Cortes. It was also produced by Abrams and Dan Cogan. The film recently had its limited theatrical release earlier this month and was soon followed by it digital debut last September 18.

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CS Reviews The Making of Aliens by J.W. Rinzler

What more can be said of James Cameron’s sci-fi blockbuster Aliens — one of the greatest action flicks of all time, featuring, perhaps, cinema’s most famous action heroine; and boasting any number of long-lasting pop cultural staples including the Alien Queen, the military aesthetic, and the various set pieces that have since been replicated in any number of films? As it turns out, quite a bit. To that end, J.W. Rinzler, author of “The Making of Star Wars,” “The Making of The Empire Strikes Back,” “The Making of Planet of the Apes” and “The Making of Alien” now brings us The Making of Aliens, which delves deeper into the intense production of Cameron’s classic film than ever before, even if a lot of the material is regurgitated from those in-depth making of documentaries currently found on the Alien Quadrilogy Blu-ray set.

Click here to purchase Titan Books’ The Making of Aliens!

Spanning nearly 300 pages and bursting with eye-popping photos, production stills and conceptual artwork, “The Making of Aliens” follows Cameron and then-wife producer Gale Anne Hurd as they traverse the tricky Hollywood landscape to produce a follow-up to Ridley Scott’s 1979 sci-fi shocker.

The most interesting aspect brought forward by this new book is the notion that Aliens was produced like a small film on a tiny budget totaling roughly $18.5 million. That figure actually surpasses the budgets to other hits of 1986, including Top Gun ($15M), Crocodile Dundee ($8M AUD), The Karate Kid Part II ($13M) and Back to School ($11M), all of which earned more at the box office, though, considering Scott’s Alien grossed a whopping $203M against a $10M production budget, you’d think the suits at 20th Century Fox would have allotted more cash to Cameron’s ambitious follow-up. (By contrast, Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie carried a heft $55M price tag making it the most expensive film ever produced to that point.)

Instead, the low budget set up a grueling production that spanned nine months (including postproduction work) and resulted in several firings, a lawsuit by at least one special effects company, and plenty of rifts between the team and its “perfectionist” director. (Although, consensus of Cameron by those involved with the production seems to be he’s a nice guy… just very demanding.) At one point, the production stalled so cast and crew could hash out their issues with Cameron while Hurd and star Sigourney Weaver served as mediators.

The biggest gripes came from Cameron’s intolerance towards the numerous breaks the staff at Pinewood insisted on taking. Indeed, a well-documented account of the famed director’s futile battle to stymy a tea cart from intruding on his production are given even more detail by Rinzler and are fascinating in and of themselves. For Cameron, Aliens represented the turning point of his career. As such, his focus was intense and resolve complete. For everyone else on the production it was just a job; and that lack of synergy led to plenty of bad blood between everyone from the model makers to the main film crew.

Other notes of interest include the casting process. Did you know that Bill Paxton was originally about to join Police Academy 2 when he got the call to do Aliens for much less? Or that the actor made up the famed “We’re on an express elevator to Hell! Going down!” line right before cameras rolled? Or that Fox decided to push most of its marketing dollars towards the long-forgotten SpaceCamp (which went on to gross less than $10M at the box office), mainly due to Aliens’ excessive 2 hour+ run time? Or that, upon completion of his script and deal to direct Aliens, Cameron learned that Fox had yet to approach Weaver to star in the pic and instead wanted Cameron to retool the film for a male lead? Or that Cameron bumped into Ridley Scott during the production (Scott was working on Legend at the time) and awkwardly sidestepped any mention of Aliens?

“The Making of Aliens” contains such unique details, plus a look at Cameron’s early drafts of the screenplay and his concept drawings for the Queen that convinced Stan Winston to jump aboard the production. (Another tidbit: Cameron was developing Terminator, writing Rambo: First Blood Part II and Alien II, as it was then known, in unison and set up separate desks to work on each project. The man is a machine.) There are also interesting notes regarding some of the uniquely designed special effects used to cheat the production cost, which feels a little like a magician revealing his tricks. Once you see Cameron’s sleight of hand, it’s hard not to feel simultaneously impressed by the creativity (a forced perspective shot of the Alien Hive, for instance, is mind blowing) and let down by the B-movie crassness. Readers will certainly come to appreciate Cameron’s ability to turn a feeble budget into an A-grade motion picture that still holds up well to this day, and not just in terms of its astonishing visuals.

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There’s also a lengthy section devoted to the film’s marketing campaign that initially left viewers confused — it’s title, in particular, led people to believe it was just more of the original, for some reason — but eventually found traction with the masses, though it was word-of-mouth that ultimately propelled Aliens to over $206M worldwide. (As a side, a majority of film critics at the time, including Roger Ebert, weren’t fond of the flick and felt it was too intense; and too much of a departure from Scott’s “artsy” flick.)

All told, “The Making of Aliens” offers a fascinating look at one of our greatest films and makes for an easy weekend read. That it lacks the drama of Rinzler’s previous deep dives is mainly due to the relatively straight forwardness of the production. Aliens was an intense experience for all, including bodybuilder Jenette Goldstein, who played the tough-as-nails Vasquez and became good friends with actor Mark Rolston (Pvt. Drake) due to long hours of sitting on stools holding their 40 pound M56 Smart Guns — other actors like Paxton and Paul Reiser (Carter Burke) were free to run amok on set, while Michael Biehn (Hicks) did indeed get caught sleeping in-between takes leading Weaver to quip, “There’s my leading man” — but, mostly, many were happy with the final pic and the experience. As such, the enjoyment from “The Making of Aliens: comes from gleaning new insights into the production that cast a whole new light on specific scenes and characters.

Funny enough, had Aliens merely succeeded many in the industry would have shrugged, blamed Cameron and moved on. That the film went on to become one of the all-time classic action adventure films is a damned miracle and a testament to Cameron’s extraordinary abilities as a film director.

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