Exclusive Hard Kill Clip Starring Jesse Metcalfe & Bruce Willis

ComingSoon.net has an exclusive Hard Kill clip featuring Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives, John Tucker Must Die, The Other End of the Line) and Golden Globe winner Bruce Willis (Moonlighting, Die Hard, Pulp Fiction) in Vertical Entertainment’s upcoming action-thriller. You can check out the clip now in the player below!

RELATED: Hard Kill Trailer & Poster Starring Jesse Metcalfe & Bruce Willis

A team of mercenaries finds themselves tricked into a deadly showdown with an old enemy —and racing the clock to stop a world-changing computer program from being triggered —in the tension-filled thriller Hard Kill. When ex-Special Forces soldier Derek Miller (Metcalfe) takes an assignment protecting wealthy industrialist Donovan Chalmers (Willis), Miller and his team —tough and fiery Sasha, her world-weary brother Harrison, and quick-tempered wise-guy Dash —think it’s a simple paycheck job. But then they’re ambushed during a warehouse rescue and are outgunned and outmanned by a team led by a merciless maniac from Miller’s past called The Pardoner.

As crucial minutes click by, Miller discovers that the industrialist’s kidnapped daughter has created an advanced form of Artificial Intelligence that could, in the wrong hands, wipe out modern civilization. Using every corner of the warehouse to their advantage, Miller’s squad realize they’re on a rescue mission for mankind’s future. If they can’t stop The Pardoner from activating Chalmers’ new program, its destructive technology will go from Hard Kill to global time bomb.

The movie also stars Natalie Eva Marie (WWE Smackdown!) and Sergio Rizzuto (Trauma Center). It was directed by Matt Eskandari (12 Feet Deep, Survive the Night) from a screenplay by Joe Russo (The Au Pair Nightmare) and Chris LaMont (The Au Pair Nightmare, Dark, Deadly & Dreadful) from a story by Clayton Haugen and Nikolai From.

RELATED: The Bay of Silence Trailer: Some Secrets Echo Forever

Vertical Entertainment will release Hard Kill on Digital and On Demand on August 25, 2020.

The post Exclusive Hard Kill Clip Starring Jesse Metcalfe & Bruce Willis appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

August 18 Blu-ray, Digital and DVD Releases

Welcome to ComingSoon.net’s August 18 Blu-ray, Digital HD and DVD column! We’ve highlighted this week’s releases in detailed write-ups of different titles below! Click each highlighted title to purchase through Amazon!

New Movies on Blu-ray/DVD

Deathstroke: Knights & Dragons
Master Assassin Slade Wilson leads two lives: a relentless killer known as Deathstroke and a family man. Can he atone for the sins of the past—or will his family pay the ultimate price?

The Outpost
Based on true events. A team of U.S. soldiers stationed at the deadliest outpost in Afghanistan are relentlessly attacked by an overwhelming force of Taliban insurgents. Their fight for survival is the ultimate display of American valor.

I Am Vengeance: Retaliation
Ex-special forces soldier John Gold (WWE champ Stu Bennett) agrees to retrieve a hated foe in exchange for an expunged record in this action-packed sequel to I Am Vengeance.

A Dog’s Courage
Jacob, a feisty and playful dog abandoned by his owners joins a pack of strays and embarks on a journey filled with fun adventures and life lessons in their pursuit to find a new and loving home.

The Barge People
A group of friends sets off for a relaxing weekend away on the canals of the glorious British countryside, unaware of the flesh-eating mutants lurking in the water…ready and waiting to feed.

Those Who Deserve to Die
In this revisionist revenge film, a troubled veteran returns to his home town and, guided by a malevolent young girl, enacts a gruesome violence upon the villains of his past.

Emperor (DVD)
Emperor is inspired by the legend of Shields “Emperor” Green, a descendant of African kings turned outlaw slave in the pre-Civil War South.

Cannibal Corpse Killers (DVD)
In an apocalyptic wasteland Pike leads a group of survivors fighting demonically possessed corpses through the new America while trying to make it to the epicenter – Jawbone.

Criterion Corner

The Comfort of Strangers
Adapting the acclaimed novel by Ian McEwan, playwright and screenwriter Harold Pinter lends his signature unnerving dialogue and air of creeping menace to this spellbinding study of power, control, and the frighteningly thin line between pleasure and pain. Rupert Everett and Natasha Richardson are the prey, a beautiful British couple working on their relationship while on holiday in Venice; Christopher Walken and Helen Mirren are the hunters who draw them into the sinister web of their opulent, old-world palazzo.

Reissues

Old Boyfriends
Diane Cruise (Talia Shire, in a riveting performance) is a woman whose life has shattered into a myriad of pieces after the dissolution of her marriage. She decides to delve into her past and seek out the men who marked the milestones of her life: Eric (John Belushi), the high school sweetheart who ruined her reputation with lies, Jeff (Richard Jordan), the college lover she almost married and Wayne (Keith Carradine), the unstable brother of her first real love.

Backlash
Hard-bitten wanderer Jim Slater (Richard Widmark) rides the range seeking to avenge his father’s death. Along the way he meets frontier widow Karyl Orton (Donna Reed), who is being hunted by gunslinger Johnny Cool (William Campbell).

She Shoulda Said “No”! / The Devil’s Sleep (Forbidden Fruit, Volume 6)
After producing the wildly successful Mom and Dad, Kroger Babb, the godfather of the exploitation film, scored another coup by securing the involvement of Hollywood starlet Lila Leeds, who had been arrested in a high-profile marijuana bust with Robert Mitchum.

New On Digital HD

Open 24 Hours (exclusive clip)
After setting her brutal serial killer boyfriend on fire, a paranoid delusional woman gets a job at an all-night gas station. However, left alone to her own devices, her paranoia and hallucinations return with furious consequences.

Behind the Line – Escape to Dunkirk (exclusive clip)
A POW is singled out by a Nazi Commander, for his boxing abilities. He wants to humiliate him against his own champion. The POW’s use the upcoming fight as a diversion for a mass breakout to try and get as many soldiers back to Dunkirk and freedom.

The Silencing
A reformed hunter (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and a sheriff (Annabelle Wallis) are caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse when they set out to track a killer who may have kidnapped the hunter’s daughter five years ago.

Endless
When madly in love high school graduates Riley (Alexandra Shipp) and Chris (Nicholas Hamilton) are separated by a tragic car accident, Riley blames herself for her boyfriend’s death while Chris is stranded in limbo. Miraculously, the two find a way to connect. In a love story that transcends life and death, both Riley and Chris are forced to learn the hardest lesson of all: letting go.

Spree
Seeking social media fame, rideshare driver Kurt comes up with the perfect way to go viral: murdering his passengers via livestream.

Pretending I’m a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story
The story of the skaters and developers who came together to create one of the best-selling games of all time, changing the skateboarding scene and pop culture forever.

Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies
A definitive documentary on the history of nudity in the movies, beginning with the silent movie era through present day, examining the changes in morality that led to the use of nudity in films while emphasizing the political, sociological and artistic changes that shaped this rich history.

TV on Blu-ray and DVD

Cursed Films: Season 1
Cursed Films is a five-part documentary series which explores the myths and legends behind some of Hollywood’s notoriously “cursed” horror film productions.

Blue Bloods: The Tenth Season (DVD)
Season 10 picks up with newlyweds, Jamie (Will Estes) and Eddie (Vanessa Ray) attempting to balance the rocky terrain of their work and personal lives.

Playing For Keeps: Season 1 (DVD)
This fresh, contemporary, and glamorous murder mystery revolves around the titillating lives of the wives and girlfriends of renowned athletes. Your next obsession, Playing For Keeps lays bare the not-so-beautiful lives of beautiful people in a world full of lies, scandals, and possibly even murder…

Gold Digger: Season 1
On her 60th birthday, Julia (Emmy winner Julia Ormond) hits it off with handsome young Benjamin (Ben Barnes). But their whirlwind romance is marred by the disapproval of Julia’s adult children. Does Benjamin truly love her, or is he the gold digger her family believes him to be?

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Disney+ Movies and TV Titles for September 2020 Revealed!

Disney+ has revealed the full list of new movies and TV titles that will be available to the streaming service this coming September 2020. Next month includes the premiere of Mulan, where starting September 4, with Premier Access, viewers can watch the film before it’s available to all Disney+ subscribers. Disney+ will offer Premier Access to Mulan for $29.99 on disneyplus.com and select platforms. You can check out the full list of what Disney+ has in store next month below (via Vital Thrills)!

RELATED: The Mandalorian: Jon Favreau Says Pandemic Won’t Delay Production on Potential Season 3

Available September 4

NEW LIBRARY TITLES

Ancient China from Above (s1)

D2: The Mighty Ducks

D3: The Mighty Ducks

Never Been Kissed

Strange Magic

Trick or Treat

The Wolverine

DISNEY+ ORIGINALS

MULAN – Premiere

Acclaimed filmmaker Niki Caro brings the epic tale of China’s legendary warrior to life in Disney’s Mulan, in which a fearless young woman risks everything out of love for her family and her country to become one of the greatest warriors China has ever known.

When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father.

Earth to Ned – Series Premiere. Episodes 101-110 Available.

From the Jim Henson Company comes a late-night talk show hosted by alien commander Ned and his lieutenant Cornelius, who call off the invasion of Earth after they fall in love with human culture. Broadcasting from the bridge of their spaceship, hidden deep underground, Ned and Cornelius interview Earth’s greatest resource, celebrities. With the help of the ship’s artificial intelligence, BETI, and the destructive CLODs, Ned must keep his show a secret from his home planet or suffer the wrath of the Admiral of the Galactic Fleet.

One Day at Disney – Episode 140 – “Alice Taylor: Studiolab”

Alice Taylor experiments with new storytelling mediums through Disney’s StudioLAB. From drones to augmented reality, Taylor uses innovation and emerging technologies to continue pushing the boundaries by which content can be created and shared with people around the world.

Muppets Now – Season Finale. Episode 106 – “Socialized”

Muppets Now social media intern, Robin The Frog, makes Scooter co-moderator of the social media accounts. Scooter attempts to carry out this week’s upload amidst a flood of alerts, requests, and notifications. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant, Beaker, receive legal lectures and accidental assistance from Muppet attorney, Joe The Legal Weasel. The Swedish Chef faces his competitor, Marina Michelson, to prove his family recipe makes the most magnificent meatball. Fozzie Bear talks shop with fellow comedian Seth Rogen, while babysitting some bad babies. Linda Cardellini and Taye Diggs indulge Miss Piggy more than usual for this installment of Lifestyle with Miss Piggy.

Pixar in Real Life – Season Finale. Episode 111 – “Coco: Abuelita Says No Music”

Abuelita shakes her chancla at the street performers in Washington Square Park and asks real New Yorkers to help her find her grandson. She eventually finds Miguel playing guitar, and he begs her to let him play just one song. The other street performers join in, creating a performance so delightful that even Abuelita can’t help but clap along.

Weird But True – Episode 304 – “Germs”

Hosts Carly and Charlie are nominated for a Daytime Crafty Award! The awards ceremony is just around the corner, and Casey is helping them with their costumes…until she comes down with a cold! To avoid getting sick from the germs Casey is spreading throughout HQ, Carly and Charlie must understand all there is to know about germs. They head to Germfree Laboratories and Mushroom Mountain to examine good hygiene and health practices.

Available September 11

NEW LIBRARY TITLES

Christopher Robin

DISNEY+ ORIGINALS

One Day at Disney – Episode 141 – “Amanda Lauder: Chef Chocolatier”

Fulfilling a childhood dream, Amanda Lauder is the Chef Chocolatier for The Ganachery at Disney Springs. For Amanda, it’s a daily goal to create a delicious dessert that is both a tasty treat and a memorable experience for each guest. S’mores, ganache squares and chocolate lollipops are all on the menu as Amanda takes us into The Ganachery’s bustling kitchen.

Weird But True – Episode 305 – “Photography”

This year Carly and Charlie’s work is the main attraction at an art gala! This year’s gala focuses on photography, but the duo is not as skilled in this artform. They head to Berkeley to learn from one of the best – National Geographic photographer Anand Varma! Their idea to combine paper art with photography makes their creation the hit of the show!

Available September 18

NEW LIBRARY TITLES

Bend It Like Beckham

Coop & Cami Ask the World (s2)

Europe from Above (s1)

Ever After: A Cinderella Story

Kingdom of the Mummies (s1)

Marvel Super Hero Adventures (s4)

Notre Dame: Race Against the Inferno

Once Upon a Time (s1-7)

Soy Luna (s2-3)

Violetta (s3)

Wicked Tuna (s9)

DISNEY+ ORIGINALS

Becoming – Original Series Premiere. Episodes 101-110 Available.

From Executive Producers LeBron James & Maverick Carter, Becoming chronicles the inspirational life stories of world-class entertainers, musicians and athletes. Each episode follows a different celebrity back to their hometown as they revisit memorable locations that were central to their upbringing. Family members, coaches, teachers, mentors, and close friends share significant, personal memories of the subjects before they hit it big. These rarely heard stories provide an intimate look into the central moments in each star’s journey towards becoming who they are today.

One Day at Disney – Episode 142 – “Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko: Veterinarian”

Discover Walt Disney World Resort Veterinarian Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko’s creative approach to animal care. From performing rhinoceros check-ups at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park to traveling abroad for environmental work with endangered gorillas, this animal lover is dedicated to ensuring the survival of our world’s most vulnerable species.

Weird But True – Episode 306 – “Trains”

It’s Crafty Camper Career Week, and Carly is so excited. All campers are paired with a professional in their respective field, and Carly’s assignment is to shadow a train engineer. After her grandfather organizes a visit to Steamtown Pennsylvania, Carly becomes inspired to improve trains in the future.

RELATED: The One and Only Ivan Review: Simple, But Enchanting

Available September 25

NEW LIBRARY TITLES

Fancy Nancy: Fancy it Yourself (s2)

The Giant Robber Crab

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted (s2)

Muppet Babies (s2)

Oceans

Port Protection: Alaska (s3)

Sydney to the Max (s2)

Wild Central America (s1)

X-Ray Earth (s1)

DISNEY+ ORIGINALS

Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom – Original Series Premiere

Disney+‘s Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, produced by National Geographic and narrated by Disney fan-favorite Josh Gad (Frozen, Frozen II), gives viewers an all-encompassing backstage pass to explore the magic behind two of the world’s most beloved animal experiences, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT. Viewers get unprecedented access to some of the rarest and beautiful creatures on the planet and meet the animal care experts who have formed remarkable bonds with the parks’ 5,000 plus animals.

Each of the eight episodes dives into the details within The Most Magical Place on Earth, unveiling the multifaceted aspects of animal care, operations, and Imagineering. Celebrating the magnificent array of more than 300 species, Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom invites fans of Disney, nature, and animals to hang out with all the parks’ residents, including baby Grace, the newest member of the gorilla troop.

Then, hop over to Harambe Wildlife Reserve to come face to knee with supermom Masai giraffe, Kenya, and up close and personal with Gus the hippo. Viewers can travel to the savanna to witness Dakari, the alpha male African lion, lord over his land, and meet Kinsey, the alpha lioness, who’s the real ruler of the pride.

The series incorporates cutting-edge technology, including custom-built GoPro housings, 18-foot cranes, and underwater camera systems, to reveal the world-famous dedication, pioneering conservation, and visionary genius that IS Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Secret Society of Second-Born Royals – Original Movie Premiere

Secret Society of Second Born Royals follows Sam, a teenage royal rebel second in line to the throne of the kingdom of Illyria. Just as Sam’s disinterest in the royal way of life is at an all-time high, she discovers she has super-human abilities and is invited to join a secret society of similar extraordinary second-born royals charged with keeping the world safe. With guidance from their Secret Society instructor James, Sam and a new class of royal recruits must first learn to harness their new powers at a top-secret training camp before they can save the world.

One Day at Disney – Episode 143 – “Ashley Girdich: R&D Imagineer Manager”

Project manager Ashley Girdich oversees dynamic assignments for Walt Disney Imagineering’s Research and Development group. From managing teams to keeping projects and plans on track, Ashley is constantly pushing boundaries to ensure the next generation of Imagineers continue to create industry-leading, interactive experiences for park guests.

Weird But True – Episode 307 – “Venomous Animals”

Super Staple strikes again! The local library’s annual contest is here, and Charlie’s ready to submit his latest comic book for review. Unfortunately, Charlie’s comic book is never picked, so Carly and Charlie embark on a mission to find a new superhero and villain. But when they discover amazing things about venomous animals, Charlie and Carly must decide who the real hero is. They head to California Academy of Sciences to learn all about venomous species.

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Bill & Ted Meet An Emissary From the Future in a New Face the Music Clip

Orion Pictures has released a new Bill & Ted Face the Music clip, featuring Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (Keanu Reeves) being visited by an emissary from the future named Kelly (Kristen Schaal) and not knowing what to expect. The studio has also released a set of Face the Music Zoom backgrounds to make your video calls most triumphant! You can download the Zoom backgrounds here and check out the clip in the player below! You can also pre-order the movie now for access to exclusive bonus content by clicking here!

RELATED: Alamo Drafthouse Unveils Reopening Plans With Free Bill & Ted Screenings!

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: CS Score Reviews Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure

Bill & Ted Face the Music is set to hit theaters and Premium VOD on August 28!

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First trailer & poster for Lankyboy’s Summerland revealed

Superchill and First Look Films have debuted the first trailer and poster for the upcoming queer coming-of-age comedy Summerland starring Maddie Phillips (Teenage Bounty Hunters), which is set to hit digital platforms and VOD next month. The trailer and poster can be viewed below!

RELATED: The Binge Trailer Previews Hulu’s Newest Teen-Comedy Film

Surviving graduation is just the first challenge for Bray (Chris Ball), Oliver (Rory J. Saper), and Stacey (Phillips), three friends determined to make it to the Summerland music festival, no matter what it takes. Embarking on a road-trip in high-spirits, there’s more than just music waiting for them at the end of the rainbow. Bray has plans to meet Shawn, a boy he met on an online dating site he’s convinced is questioning his sexuality. The problem? He’s been pretending to be Stacey, Oliver’s girlfriend, to get close to him.

The film is directed by Lankyboy, a directing duo made up of Kurtis David Harder (Shudder Original Spiral, Incontrol) and Noah Kentis. The two have directed numerous music videos and co-wrote the script for Summerland alongside Chris Ball and Dylan Griffiths. Harder is also a celebrated producer on a number of breakout hit horror movies including Brandon Christensen’s Z, Rob Grant’s Harpoon, Colin Minihan’s What Keeps You Alive and Michael Peterson’s Knuckleball.

Alongside Phillips, the cast for the film includes Rory J. Saper (Find Me In Paris, The Legend of Tarzan), Dylan Playfair (Letterkenny, Descendants 1 & 2, The Mighty Ducks), Noah Grossman (Smosh) and Chris Ball (Incontrol).

RELATED: Alexandra Daddario-Led Lost Girls & Love Hotels Trailer & Release Revealed!

Summerland is a Superchill and First Look Films production and produced by Kurtis David Harder, Chris Ball, Brandon Christensen, and KC McPherson. Stephen Klugman and Stephen Klugman executive produced. The Canadian feature was shot on location at the Joshua Tree Music Festival and on the road in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Seattle, Portland, and Northern California, as well in Calgary, AB.

The film is set to premiere on digital platforms and VOD on September 14.

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Issa Rae & David Heyman to produce Ghost in the Machine at Netflix

After landing the rights to the forthcoming memoir from Tanya Smith, Netflix is partnering up with Issa Rae (The Lovebirds) and David Heyman (The Secret Garden) to produce a feature adaptation of The Ghost in the Machine, according to Deadline.

RELATED: Jordan Peele & Issa Rae To Produce Universal’s Sinkhole

The memoir, which is set to hit shelves in 2021, tells the story of Smith, a middle-class black girl from the North Side of Minneapolis who would go on to, in the words of the FBI, “become one of the single biggest threats to the entire United States banking system” as she creates a sophisticated wire fraud scheme and outwits the authorities and prosecutors until her life eventually fell apart and she was sent to prison. After two escapes, she would finally serve 13 years of a 24-year sentence, which at the time was the longest sentence handed down to any white-collar criminal, with the novel chronicling her rise and her coming to terms with her past and rebuild her life.

Rae is set to produce via her Issa Rae Productions banner, with Montrel McKay and Sara Rastogi overseeing for the company, while Heyman will produce through his Heyday Films banner, with Jillian Share and Jeffrey Clifford overseeing the project for the latter.

RELATED: Willy Wonka Going the Prequel Route According to Producer David Heyman

Ghost in the Machine becomes the latest project Rae has added to her production roster after it was announced in late July she would be teaming with Jordan Peele and Universal Pictures to produce an adaptation of the short story Sinkhole with the possibility to also star in the horror film. The 35-year-old co-creator and star of Insecure also recently produced the musical documentary Dark City Beneath the Beat and worked with Netflix for the romantic-comedy The Lovebirds, which was acquired by the streaming service from Paramount Pictures as theaters experienced shutdowns across the country.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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Daniel Dae Kim & Randall Park to lead heist film at Amazon Studios

After starring as romantic rivals in the acclaimed Netflix rom-com Always Be My Maybe, Daniel Dae Kim and Randall Park are reuniting to lead an Asian American heist film at Amazon Studios, who acquired the film after a heated bidding war, according to Deadline.

RELATED: Tether: Daniel Dae Kim & Amazon Teaming Up for New Supernatural Series

Penned by Young Il Kim (Billions), the plot details for the untitled film are currently being kept under wraps but sources report that the story will center on a reunion of high school friends who assemble for a heist in the same vein of the “classic, fun ensemble heist films.”

“I think it has nods to Ocean’s 11, The Full Monty as well as Better Luck Tomorrow,” Kim said. “It’s a story that kind of highlights community, friendship, unity in a very familiar genre that people I think will enjoy. There is an appetite to see this kind of a movie with an Asian American cast and that is a really promising sign of the times.”

The concept for the film came from an idea developed by Kim, Park and 3AD’s Head of Development John Cheng, with Park and Kim attaching themselves as the lead stars while also planning to assemble an ensemble of primarily Asian American actors. The duo are old friends in real life and expressed excitement to unite once again for the project as well as with the Billions alum to “tell this special story of friendship, pride and community.”

“We love heist movies,” Kim said. “We want to be inclusive and we feel like there’s a story here to be told. It’s super exciting… Randall and I have wanted to do something together for a while. This is just a great reason to bring together talented actors who have been friends for a really long time and really have fun on a project that, with any luck, will be able to make an impact.”

RELATED: Ed Helms and Randall Park Team Up for NBC Series True Story

Park is set to produce the film alongside Kim and Cheng under their 3AD banner, which recently entered a first-look TV deal with Amazon Studios, though this project is noted as being outside of said deal.

(Photo Credits: Getty Images)

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CS Interview: Ludvig Gür & Ralph D’Amato on Pretending I’m a Superman

ComingSoon.net got the opportunity to chat with director Ludvig Gür (The Outsider) and producer Ralph D’Amato to discuss their work on the documentary Pretending I’m a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story, which is now available on digital platforms. Click here to rent or purchase the documentary!

RELATED: Pretending I’m Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story Review

When it came to figuring out the concept or idea to explore the Tony Hawk’s franchise in a documentary, Gür explained that he has “always been a huge fan of the games,” having “played them a lot growing up” while also having skated his whole life, though joking “I’m not very good at it” while also expressing his admiration for “the art form.”

“I’m pretty much a skate nerd in every single aspect, and that all comes from playing the video games,” Gür opined. “You know, when Ralph and I started out this project, we kind of wanted to make a documentary purely on the video games themselves, but as we kept going and doing the interviews, we realized that the interesting story was really the skaters’ perspective of how their kind of thing, skateboarding turned into this massive, mainstream miracle. And we wanted to focus the documentary about them because it’s such an amazing story how it went from this, essentially underground activity just 10 years earlier before Tony Hawk Skater was released in the early 90s, and then to just go off like that.”

“I wanted to really tell the story of the video games and how the video games came to be and the team, and I was more along the lines of just more focusing on the video games itself,” D’Amato added. “When we started doing the interviews, and I think Ludvig as the director, his idea was more than just the video game. Thankfully, we went with his route, because I think it has a much bigger appeal to mass audiences to give you a taste of the history of skateboarding, and then we’d blend in the video game and the impact it had after the video game, as that has an impact. So that whole story and weaving that story was really all Ludvig. And you know, it gives the audience, if they have no clue what Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was, or they really have no knowledge of skateboarding at all, it gives them a real good, clear picture of what the industry, the ups and downs of skateboarding and how a video game publisher like Activision decided to send a bunch of money to put a new genre of video games.”

In reflecting on the three-year journey from first announcing the documentary to bringing it to screens, D’Amato noted the biggest challenges he and the team faced in developing and making the project was that “we never made a full-length feature film,” while Gür found his biggest challenge to be developing a good ending and finding the heart of “the great story in there” and “getting it all together.”

“I worked on the Tony Hawk’s vide ogames for eight years, so I produced video games, I worked for Sony for four years, so I produced a ton of action sports content,” D’Amato related. “But this is the first foray into a feature-length documentary. I’ve been a huge fan, sort of like the way I got into video games. I was a huge fan of video games and I’m a huge fan of documentaries. But it’s one thing being a fan of it, it’s another thing entirely of getting involved in creating something, and then you’re learning and making mistakes and learning along the way. So for me, that was just a big challenge. All of the unknowns of this industry and the process of making films.”

“As we kind of kept reworking the movie, as we hired other editors, eventually kind of found our own way,” Gür explained. “But you know, that was really challenging and it took a very long time to determine what the story should focus on, who should be in this, who should be most featured and stuff like that. So that was really challenging. But of course, you know, since this really was a passion project by me and Ralph, you know, that was obviously a big part of the whole producing aspect in the beginning of the film. And you know, all of that was really challenging, too, just making that Indiegogo. So much work. You know, it did pay off in the end, not financially, but it was very much worth it.

The roster of interviewees features everyone from the producers of the titular video game franchise to iconic promoters of the industry to legendary skaters and musicians involved in the series and in building up this list, Gür does note that there were a couple of people they were hoping to talk to that were unable to, mostly from “scheduling conflicts,” but still found he had a “perfect mix of people for the film” and is “real proud” of who he assembled. In looking to connect the film’s story to its present day, the filmmakers also sought out modern-day skaters and their search began with talking to their main star.

“This is kind of funny, it’s sort of a similar way that we got skaters for the video game,” D’Amato chuckled. “I kind of talked to Tony and asked him who’s really new, and I had seen, I think Ludvig had seen in interviews that Jaws, Aaron Homoki, was into playing the video game. I recalled when I worked at Tony Hawk Inc. that Elliott [Sloan] was also an influence. I knew Elliott. When I worked at THI, he used to come to the office, so I knew him. So that was an easy one. And then Tony, I believe it was Tony that forwarded me Aaron, Jaws’ info and he was on board from the get-go. The other two skaters, Keire and Jordan, again, those were suggestions of Tony’s, that he kind of connected us with those two skaters that the game had a pretty big impact for.”

Many of the names on the video game side of things came from D’Amato’s help, especially in the Neversoft realm, who stated he is “still friends with all these guys, they’ll be lifelong friends for me,” which made it easier for him to reach out and discuss their involvement in the documentary, as well as some of the skaters.

“I knew all of them either on Facebook or had their personal contact info, including the skaters, you know, I had been working with them for so many years and helping them, you know, develop their characters, their special tricks for the video games,” D’Amato recalled. “So it was a fairly straightforward process in contacting them and one-by-one they were all on board. I mean, they were all excited. You know, the video game had a big impact in the developers’ lives as well as the skaters, so they were gung-ho about this documentary for sure.”

One of the most notable subjects covered in the film is the coincidental timing of its titular athlete landing the challenging 900 just in time for the release of the first game in the long-running franchise and though the documentary is coming to audiences just in time for the release of the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remaster, D’Amato assured they “had no idea” there would be another game on the way during their development.

Pre-order your copy of the remaster of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 here!

“We kind of heard some rumblings, but you never know, or just like everybody saw things that were popping up on the internet through companies here and there,” D’Amato noted. “So we were kind of thinking this could be a potential, and it would be a cool like, perfect storm like back then. But yeah, there was no huge planning between us and them or anything like that. This is completely separate from Activision. But I can tell you, I’m stoked that that game, just from a gamer’s perspective, I’m stoked that that game is coming out. I’ve been wanting to play another core Tony Hawk game, like the early games, for quite a while. My nephew’s a pretty hardcore skater and I’ve wanted to play our video games and kind of show him what we made. So I’m stoked. I bought a couple of the collector’s editions of the digital version of it.”

Gür expressed extreme excitement about the forthcoming title, pointing out the fact it’s being developed by Vicarious Visions, who have been attached to the franchise since 2001’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, developing the Game Boy Advance port of the title and the handheld versions of all subsequent titles until 2008 when Robomodo took over as the series’ developer.

“Those ports were really good, too, I mean, Pro Skater 2 is usually ranked amongst the best Game Boy Advance games, so yeah, I’m definitely planning on picking it up,” Gür excitedly said. “I mean, it looks amazing. It’s probably going to be amazing. I love that they both have the old skaters in the game, who are not old, but you know, the Tony Hawk Skater 1 skaters as well as the new roster of skaters like Nyjah Huston, and stuff like that. They’re all awesome. I heard that Machine Gun Kelly’s going to be in the game, which is awesome. So they have the original games, and they’re adding all these awesome things to it. So I’m so looking forward to it. It’s going to be amazing.”

“I’m not looking forward to playing Ludvig because the last time we did that, he kicked my butt pretty handily,” D’Amato laughed.

The post-Neversoft era of the Tony Hawk’s series is one of the most debated amongst fans and critics alike and when it came time to discussing this time period for the franchise, D’Amato praised his director for his ability to tackle it with an honest lens and get the titular legend to open up about his true opinions on the subject.

“Tony tells us exactly how he felt and what happened there, and you know, it was an attempt to do something new,” D’Amato explained. “It was an attempt to kind of do something revolutionary. And you’re always at risk in those kind of things. But I really think that Ludvig, in bringing that whole story out, we couldn’t do better than that.”

“Honestly, I asked about Tony Hawk Ride and all of those games post-Neversoft, you know, he doesn’t talk about it in a bad way and really explains their original intentions and that he was the one who amongst the making of this video game,” Gür added. “I mean, they tried something new and they were brave to do so. It might not have been the greatest success, but it was still actually received well amongst some fans as well, and occasionally I will play Tony Hawk: Shred, but now what just came about, Tony Hawk acknowledges that he’s proud of, too, in film. So it’s a fun game for sure.”

When it came to interviewing Hawk himself, Gür noted he did not have to make any kind of effort to push his 52-year-old star to open up further, as he proved to be “a very open guy,” with the only problem arriving in the occasional memory lapse of Hawk from the myriad of games his name’s attached to.

“I will say from just on the outside looking in and watching Ludvig direct, he was a pro throughout,” D’Amato expressed. “I mean, this is an idol of his that he’s having to direct and ask questions of, and with no hesitation, Ludvig would be able to stop him and direct and ask questions or try to get him to answer in a specific area. But that was amazing along the way, just the professionalism the he showed and I think that went a long way, not only with Tony, but with all of the other skaters, for sure.”

Putting together a documentary with the title Pretending I’m a Superman does indicate the filmmakers exploring the ensemble soundtracks from the titles and using a number of the tracks throughout and when it came to putting that all together, Gür credited a lot of it to D’Amato, who worked to get the songs on their limited budget as well as alternatives for when they couldn’t land the desired track.

“I used to work on the music soundtrack for the video game, and I connected with Brandon Young, he works at Activision,” D’Amato explained. “He connected me with our music supervisor, Jonathan McHugh. Getting the interviews for the film, that was a little bit dicey. I didn’t have anything. I had no contacts there, so I went through a lot of these info asks of people’s Twitter. But licensing the music is fairly straightforward. You know, you are approaching the labels or the bands directly and asking them. That was all our music supervisor. I had a budget, a very low budget, and we were trying to get as many songs as we could. And fortunately, I think we knocked out pretty much all of them that we possibly could. There were a couple that just were not going to be possible at all. You’ve got bands that kind of disappear and labels that kind of go away. So in those instances, we had no choice. But I think we pretty much nailed I’d say 85 percent of the songs that we wanted for this from the get-go. And the collection of songs was on Ludvig. I mean, Ludvig kind of chose the songs based on the feeling he wanted in the film. And fortunately, I’m a huge fan of all the songs. So it was sort of an easy pick, too.”

The easiest choice of all came in looking at the titles and deciding on which was their favorite game in the series, with D’Amato saying his is “always going to be Tony Hawk 2” while Gür expresses he feels Tony Hawk 3 “played the best” but that Tony Hawk Underground will always be his favorite.

“I think at that point we’d finished the first game, we had started with the manual mechanics, but we realized soon enough that it was going to change up the game so much that we couldn’t get it in that first game,” D’Amato recalled. “So then we added it in the second game, we added Rodney Mullen, we added Eric Koston, we added Steve Caballero, three of my favorites as well. And we added the park editor and creative skater. Ludvig, correct me if I’m wrong on all of that, right? I think I’m right. Ludvig also is a breezing encyclopedia of Tony Hawk. If you tell him a song, he’ll tell you, you know, what game it was, and so, I always fact check stuff with him. I’m fairly certain all of those things were in the second one. And the other thing for me, I’m not as much a fan of the — and that’s what I hate about this. I’m not as much of a fan of the multi-million point combos. I was happy that after you got to a quarter pipe, you ended your combo, and it sort of made that more of a level playing field. And then 3, we added the revert and then later on they added shuffle grinds. Then, you guys were getting scores that I couldn’t even think about getting. So definitely for me, those two.”

“As a young kid playing that game, it was actually one of my first introductions to like, telling a really great story through the art of video games, which that game really does,” Gür opined. “I mean, when I was a kid, I always hated that guy, Eric Sparrow so much. I wanted to punch him in the face, so I was so glad when there’s an alternate ending, which I punch him out. So I mean, Tony Hawk Underground is so awesome and has so many big names on the team. It’s got an amazing soundtrack, amazing controls, and all around, it’s more of a cult hit for sure than Tony Hawk Skater 1, 2, 3, but I love it. I absolutely love it.”

RELATED: Pretending I’m a Superman Trailer Explores Tony Hawk’s Video Games

Directed by Gür, the documentary explores the world of skateboarding from the early ’80s, when Hawk first became a pro, onward and looking at the scene as a whole as well as its transition into the world of video games at Activision with the long-running Tony Hawk’s series that began in 1999.

The film will feature archival footage from both the various games in the series and Hawk’s career, as well as interviews with a slew of skate legends and athletes including Christian Hosoi, Steve Caballero, Chad Muska, Eric Koston, and Rodney Mullen, as well as key figures on the video game side such as former Neversoft producer Scott Pease, among others. The documentary comes just a month ahead of Activision and Vicarious Vision’s highly-anticipated next-gen remasters of the first two games in the Pro Skater series, originally developed by Neversoft.

Pretending I’m a Superman: The Tony Hawk Video Game Story is now on digital platforms!

The post CS Interview: Ludvig Gür & Ralph D’Amato on Pretending I’m a Superman appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

BEGIN SLIDESHOW

Rating:

7.8/10

Cast:

Sam Rockwell … Ivan (voice)
Bryan Cranston … Mack
Angelina Jolie … Stella (voice)
Phillipa Soo … Thelma
Helen Mirren … Snickers (voice)
Danny DeVito … Bob (voice)
Ariana Greenblatt … Julia
Brooklynn Prince … Ruby (voice)
Eleanor Matsuura … Candace Taylor
Ramon Rodriguez … George

Directed by Thea Sharrock
Written by Mike White
Based on the book by Katherine Applegate

Click here to purchase the novel!

The One and Only Ivan Review

There’s a moment in Disney’s The One and Only Ivan in which a young elephant named Ruby arrives at the downtrodden Exit 8 Big Top Mall and Video Arcade to join a small collection of circus animals led by the titular Ivan, a giant gorilla who has spent a majority of his life in captivity. As Ruby recoils inside her cage, Mack, the circus owner, enlists the aid of Stella, an older, much larger elephant, who uses her trunk to calm the infant while the other animals silently observe from their cages.

Ruby and Stella are entirely CGI, but under Thea Sharrock’s assured direction, realized by Florian Ballhaus’ sparkling cinematography and Craig Armstrong’s magical score, the sequence enchants in a way few modern special FX driven blockbusters do — specifically, last year’s visually exciting, but ultimately bland remake of The Lion King.

Indeed, the effects work in Ivan are truly astonishing. The animals, particularly Ivan himself, look and behave like the real thing, even whilst conveying very human expressions brought to life by a voice cast that includes Sam Rockwell as Ivan, Danny DeVito as stray dog Bob, Angelina Jolie (who also produced) as aging elephant Stella, and the great Helen Mirren as (what else) a posh poodle named Snickers. The best bits are those in which this all-star lineup of circus performers gather to tell stories of their past lives outside the zoo before they were locked in cages and forced to entertain themselves by watching TV on tire swings.

Therein lies the true story of The One and Only Ivan — and, perhaps, its greatest flaw — a film that can best be summed up as an enchanting, even emotional, two-hour ad campaign decrying animals in captivity. There’s even a phone number at the end people can call to make donations. The message itself isn’t wrong, but the film has nothing else to say beyond what we’ve heard in similar films dating back to 1966’s Born Free and echoed in Free Willy, Babe,and dozens more. Except, where those films relied on a ticking clock — read: death! or evil corporations! — to propel their narratives, Ivan navigates a decidedly less visceral route by denouncing humans in general. “Cockroaches have more heart,” an animal says at one point.

The message is clear: animals in captivity = bad. Get it? Not exactly bold Hollywood storytelling.

In fact, Ivan mostly ignores the dramatic beats usually reserved for these types of films and settles for something more, ah, watered down. Instead of an out-and-out villain, for example, we get Mack, the man who raised, loves, and exploits Ivan via a modest circus show designed around the gentle gorilla’s “talents” — Ivan beats his chest and roars at the conclusion of each performance. Mack isn’t a bad guy, the film explains. He’s simply a man trying to make his way in the circus-verse even if he behaves like a dilapidated version of Hugh Jackman’s Greatest Showman — a film that, ironically, savored the glorious heyday of the original circus attraction and is also streaming on Disney+. Come on Hollywood, pick a side!

Unfortunately, as public interest in Ivan declines, Mack becomes increasingly desperate. At one point, in a bit of Heisenberg-level rage, the man goes a little too far in his handling of Ruby; an event that spurs Ivan and the rest of the circus gang to abandon their cages and seek refuge elsewhere. Kudos to Disney for not berating us with gratuitous man-on-infant-elephant violence, but Mack, as portrayed by Bryan Cranston, is rather toothless; and more of a minor hindrance to the plot than an outright obstacle our heroes must overcome. In fact, his big decision at the finale is reminiscent of that scene in Joe vs. the Volcano when Tom Hanks, presented with the opportunity to “live like a king and die like a man” by sacrificing himself into a volcano in order to save the island of Waponi Woo and its inhabitants, merely shrugs and says, “Ok, I’ll do it.”

As such, the film moves from one moment to the next without much narrative pull as it’s only a matter of time before the happy ending inevitably arrives. We learn that Ivan possesses artistic talents as evidenced by his ability to draw images of jungles on the zoo windows; and learn the tragic truth behind his chewed-up doll, Tag. Such scenes are designed and executed extremely well and pack quite the emotional punch, but the film as a whole mostly meanders about without much to say beyond its initial message.

As told, The One and Only Ivan presents a simple 90-minute romp that is sure to delight kids with its colorful characters and eye-popping visuals and stir the emotions (and wallets) of adults. That it lacks the more engaging theatrics of, say, Dumbo, or the great Chicken Run isn’t necessarily an out-and-out criticism. Ivan simply wants to leave his cage, smell some flowers, and see that clear blue sky in all its glory. What’s wrong with that?

The One and Only Ivan will begin streaming on Disney+ this Friday!

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The post The One and Only Ivan Review: Simple, But Enchanting appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

Death of Me trailer previews Darren Lynn Bousman’s new horror film

As Saw fans wait for the upcoming release of Spiral: From the Book of Saw, director Darren Lynn Bousman delivers yet a brand new nightmare in the newly released trailer for Saban Films’ upcoming horror film titled Death of Me. The video features a couple named Christine and Neil as they try to remember the events from the previous night after finding unbelievable footage of Neil murdering Christine. The film is scheduled to be released in theaters, on digital, and on VOD on Friday, October 2. Check out the video in the player below!

RELATED: Scare Me Teaser: Shudder Sets New Horror Comedy Film for October

In Death of Me, vacationing on an island off the coast of Thailand, Christine and Neil Oliver awake hungover and with no memory of the previous night. They find footage on Neil’s camera, and watch, horrified, as Neil appears to murder Christine. With twenty-four hours until the next ferry and a typhoon threatening the island, Christine and Neil attempt to reconstruct the night’s events—and are snared in a web of mystery, black magic, and murder.

The film stars Maggie Q (Nikita, Fantasy Island) as Christine, Luke Hemsworth (Westworld) as Neil, and Alex Essoe (Doctor Sleep) as Samantha.

RELATED: Eli Roth’s History of Horror Season 2 Sets Premiere Date & Guest Line-Up

Death of Me is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw films) from a script co-written by Arli Margolis, James Morley III, and David Tish. It is produced by Tish, Lee Nelsen, and Charles Dorfman.

The post Death of Me Trailer Previews Darren Lynn Bousman’s New Horror Film appeared first on ComingSoon.net.