- StyleTom Butler
'Thor 4' recruits new screenwriter to work on script
'Someone Great' director Jennifer Kaytin Robinson is working on the script for the fourth Thor film.
- StyleThe Wrap
Taika Waititi Eyed to Develop ‘Star Wars’ Movie
Director Taika Waititi, who voiced scene-stealing robot IG-11 in “The Mandalorian” and directed the show’s first season finale, is being eyed to develop a “Star Wars” movie. It is not clear if the project is for streaming platform Disney Plus or for theatrical.IG-11 appeared in three episodes this season. Waititi directed the season finale “Chapter 8: The Reckoning,” in which IG-11 heroically sacrificed and self-detonated himself to enabled the Mandalorian, Baby Yoda, and Cara Dune to escape from Moff Gideon and his forces.It is also unknown if the project if the project is separate from the “Star Wars” project being developed by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Details about that project are not known at this time, but Feige will develop the film alongside Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy.Also Read: 'The Mandalorian': Taika Waititi Thinks Fans Should Petition to Bring Back IG-11“Waititi’s “Jojo Rabbit” was nominated for six Oscars on Monday morning, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, Costume Design, Film Editing, Adapted Screenplay and Production Design.Waititi is currently in production on Fox Searchlight’s “Next Goal Wins” about the underdog American Samoa soccer team and will direct the third installment of the “Thor” franchise with Chris Hemsworth this August.The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news.Representatives for Disney and Lucasfilm did not respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.Read original story Taika Waititi Eyed to Develop ‘Star Wars’ Movie At TheWrap
- StyleThe Wrap
Christian Bale in Talks to Join Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’
Christian Bale is in talks to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe and join Chris Hemsworth in “Thor: Love and Thunder,” TheWrap has confirmed.Bale last wore superhero spandex in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy.Taika Waititi will return to write and direct. The filmmaker directed the third film in the installment, “Thor: Ragnarok,” which was written by Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher L. Yost. Waititi also portrayed Korg in “Ragnarok” and “Avengers: Endgame.”Also Read: 'Ford v Ferrari' Film Review: Christian Bale and Matt Damon Drive Steady Through Underwritten Le Mans TaleThe plot remains under wraps, but in “Avengers: Endgame,” as the film is wrapping up, one moment of sorely-needed levity after so many gut-punches comes when Thor leaves New Asgard on Earth and hitches a ride to parts unknown with the Guardians of the Galaxy. As they get ready to depart, Thor jokingly refers to the group as the “Asgardians of the Galaxy,” leading to a funny exchange with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) about who really leads the team. So we know at least where Thor might be when he returns.“Thor: Ragnarok” grossed $854 million at the worldwide box office since its debut in November of 2017, and scored rave reviews from critics, achieving a 93 percent “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as an “A” CinemaScore.A four time Oscar nominee who won a best supporting actor Oscar for 2010’s “The Fighter,” Bale can currently be seen in “Ford v Ferrari.” Bale is repped by WME.“Thor: Love and Thunder” will hit theaters Nov. 2021.Marvel had no comment.Collider first reported the news.“Thor: Love and Thunder” will hit theaters Nov. 2021.Read original story Christian Bale in Talks to Join Marvel’s ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ At TheWrap
- StyleSam Ashurst
'Jojo Rabbit' interview: Taika Waititi and his cast on the limits of comedy
“You should be able to find comedy in everything or that’s when we start having our thoughts taken away from us.”
- StyleThe Wrap
‘The Mandalorian': What You Need to Know About Moff Gideon’s Weird Sword
(Spoilers ahead for the season finale, “Chapter 8,” of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+)We have now reached the end of the first season of the first ever live-action “Star Wars” TV show, “The Mandalorian.” It’s been a bit of a weird ride, with eight short episodes and not that much story to tell, but at least we know that Disney is doing a second season that might have a little more plot. Regardless, the season finale, “Chapter 8,” ends with quite the surprising reference to another part of the “Star Wars” universe, with the new Big Bad of the show, Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito), whipping out a pretty strange looking blade in the last scene.So this episode was, of course, all about the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and his friends trying to escape Moff Gideon and his legion of stormtroopers of various types. Baby Yoda takes a few lumps along the way, but they manage to eventually escape thanks to Mando’s new jetpack which he picks up on the way out of town. Our hero pulls quite a crazy move when Gideon, piloting a TIE Fighter, tries to take them out from the air.The Mando rockets up into the air and manages to get on top of the fighter, riding it like a bucking bronco. Eventually he manages to attach a couple explosives to the hull and jumps off, with Gideon’s TIE Fighter crashing to the ground. And the Mandalorian heads off to try to find some Jedi to hand Baby Yoda over to.Also Read: Whose Voices Were Those at the End of 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker'?But that’s not the end. Gideon survived the crash, and carves his way out of the wreckage with what looks very much like a black lightsaber. And the reason it looks like a black lightsaber is because that’s exactly what it is. Gideon is wielding the blade known as the Darksaber.This is a pretty obscure reference for everyone who didn’t watch the “Star Wars” cartoons, “Clone Wars” and “Rebels.” The Darksaber appeared in a handful of episodes of each show, and has a very long history. If you want the full history of this weapon, you should check out the Wookieepedia article about it — otherwise, I’ll give you the short version here.So the Darksaber has a lot of meaning for Mandalorians, because it was made a thousand years before any of the movies by a Mandalorian named Tarre Vizsla, who was also a Jedi. After Vizsla died, the Darksaber was kept at the Jedi temple on Coruscant, but was stolen by Mandalorians during a major period of upheaval in the Republic — we’re still hundreds of years before the movies here.Also Read: 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' - We Need to Talk About This Rose Tico SituationBy the time of the Clone Wars, the blade had fallen into the hands of Pre Vizsla, who led a rogue group of Mandalorians called the Death Watch who fought with the Separatists against the Republic. Darth Maul — who, yes, survived being cut in half in “The Phantom Menace — tired of Viszla’s shenanigans and power plays, challenged Viszla to a duel for ownership of the Darksaber and control of Death Watch, which he won. So Darth Maul used the Darksaber for a while, until he put it in storage on his home planet of Dathomir.Years later during the events of “Rebels,” the Darksaber was nabbed by heroes Sabine Wren and Kanan Jarrus. Wren, herself a Mandalorian, learned to use the sword and wielded it in battle for a while, before eventually handing it over to Bo-Katan Kryze, another Mandalorian, about a year before the events of the original “Star Wars” film. And that was the last we heard about the Darksaber until Moff Gideon used it.“The Mandalorian” takes place a few years after “Return of the Jedi,” so there’s probably seven or eight years between “Chapter 8” and when we last saw the Darksaber on “Rebels.” So we don’t know how Gideon ended up with it, but that’s a long time and anything could have happened since then. The fact that Gideon knew the Mando’s real name indicates he has had some run-ins with some other Mandalorians in the past, and it’s entirely possible that he killed Bo-Katan for it. But there’s no point in speculating further until we get more info.Also Read: 'Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker' - How Exactly Did Emperor Palpatine Return From the Dead?Either way it’ll be interesting to see the Mando facing off against a personal enemy instead of just the random bad guys of the week the way most of his conflicts in Season 1 were. But it’s gonna be a long wait for Season 2.Read original story ‘The Mandalorian': What You Need to Know About Moff Gideon’s Weird Sword At TheWrap
- StyleThe Wrap
Bob Iger Compares ‘Black Panther’ to Scorsese and Coppola Films in Defense of Marvel Movies
Disney CEO Bob Iger was the latest to leap to the defense of Marvel movies in the recent civil war among filmmakers over the blockbusters, pointing to Ryan Coogler’s Best Picture-nominated “Black Panther” as worthy as being called “cinema” as any film Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola have made.Iger got heated on the subject as part of the WSJ Tech Live event Tuesday night after both Scorsese, Coppola and a handful of other auteur filmmakers have criticized the movies, with Coppola most recently calling the films “despicable.”“I’m puzzled by it. If they want to bitch about movies it’s certainly their right. It seems so disrespectful to all the people who work on those films who are working just as hard as the people who are working on their films and are putting their creative souls on the line just like they are,” Iger said of filmmakers’ comments. “Are you telling me that Ryan Coogler making ‘Black Panther’ is doing something that somehow or another is less than anything Marty Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola have ever done on any one of their movies? Come on.”Also Read: Jon Favreau on Scorsese and Coppola's Marvel Criticism: 'They Can Express Whatever Opinion They Like'Iger says he holds Coppola and Scorsese in “the highest regard,” but he took issue with Coppola’s characterization of the films as “despicable,” and that he’d only reserve that word “for someone who had committed mass murder.”“When Francis uses the words ‘those films are despicable,’ to whom is he talking? Is he talking to Kevin Feige who runs Marvel, or Taika Waititi who directs or Ryan Coogler who directs for us or Scarlett Johansson,” Iger said. “I don’t get what they’re criticizing us for when we’re making films that people are obviously enjoying going to because they’re doing so by the millions.”Scorsese recently doubled down on his comments when he said that Marvel movies were not cinema and compared them to “theme parks.” He ultimately said that Marvel’s films were “invading” movie theaters and replacing what young people’s idea of cinema is, even driving out smaller films and more human stories from the popular culture.Also Read: After Coppola Slam, James Gunn Defends Marvel Movies as Cinema (Again)Ken Loach, the British director behind “Kes” and the recent “Sorry We Missed You,” more specifically attacked the commercialism of Marvel films rather than their content specifically.“They’re made as commodities like hamburgers, and it’s not about communicating, and it’s not about sharing our imagination,” Loach told Sky News. “It’s about making a commodity which will make a profit for a big corporation – they’re a cynical exercise. They’re a market exercise, and it has nothing to do with the art of cinema. William Blake said, ‘When money is discussed, art is impossible.'”Iger however had a response for that as well, saying that there’s a mutual benefit in the success of the Marvel films and other blockbusters that allows movie theaters to exhibit movies that otherwise wouldn’t be as financially successful.Check out Iger’s full comments via WSJ.Read original story Bob Iger Compares ‘Black Panther’ to Scorsese and Coppola Films in Defense of Marvel Movies At TheWrap
- StyleKevin Polowy
Taika Waititi has finished 'Thor 4' script, says Thor's weight remains 'ongoing discussion' with Marvel
To beer belly or not to beer belly, that is the question.
- StyleHanna Flint
Taika Waititi confirms his character Korg will appear in 'Thor: Love and Thunder'
Your favourite Koran is back in business.
- StyleBen Arnold
Taika Waititi says that 'Thor 4' could feature Jane Foster breast cancer storyline
Taika Waititi has said that there could be scope for including a plot line about Jane Foster battling breast cancer in Thor 4.
- StyleHanna Flint
Christopher Eccleston would return to the MCU if Taika Waititi wrote his comeback
The actor was the main antagonist in Thor: The Dark World.
- StyleGregory Wakeman
Ryan Reynolds and Taika Waititi poke fun at ‘Green Lantern’ in ‘Free Guy’ clip
Ryan Reynolds once again pokes fun at Green Lantern, but this time with his former co-star Taika Waititi.
- StyleEntertainment Tonight
Natalie Portman Talks Returning to Marvel for 'Thor: Love and Thunder' (Exclusive)
The actress opened up to ET about rejoining the MCU to reprise her role in the next 'Thor' film.
- StyleGregory Wakeman
Michael Fassbender joins Taika Waititi’s football film 'Next Goal Wins'
Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender has joined Taika Waititi’s Next Goal Wins.
- StyleHanna Flint
Scarlett Johansson hides a Jewish girl from Nazis in the full 'Jojo Rabbit' trailer
The film is the latest from Taika Waititi.
- StyleSam Ashurst
Taika Waititi is turning Terry Gilliam’s 'Time Bandits' into a TV series
The Thor: Ragnarok director is teaming with Apple.
