Movies

Will Smith Slap Reportedly Forced The Oscars To Create A Crisis Team

by

Bill Kramer took over as CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last July. However, since then, he has spent a lot of time managing serious issues. In the past two years, the Oscars ratings are lower than they’ve ever been in the history of the award show. Now, while re-engaging viewers, Kramer has to contend with one of the biggest television scandals of last year. It’s been almost a year since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at last year’s Oscars. However, the Academy is still dealing with the repercussions. Kramer says that there’s now a “crisis team” in place to handle unwanted surprises during the ceremony.

In an interview with Time Magazine, the outlet asked Kramer what measures are being put in place this year to prepare for potential surprised. For one, they have Jimmy Kimmel hosting the Oscars, who is used to dealing with live TV, where things don’t always go as planned. According to Kramer, a host who can navigate unexpected moments is crucial to the show’s success. Kramer went on to say, “But we have a whole crisis team, something we’ve never had before, and many plans in place. We’ve run many scenarios. So it is our hope that we will be prepared for anything that we may not anticipate right now but that we’re planning for just in case it does happen.”

The Oscars 2022

Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

The “crisis team” has reportedly been running possible scenarios and solutions to what could occur during the show. When asked about what those scenarios look like, Kramer explained how the crisis team will come together for various issues. “Because of last year, we’ve opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars,” Kramer said. “But these crisis plans—the crisis communication teams and structures we have in place—allow us to say this is the group that we have to gather very quickly. This is how we all come together. This is the spokesperson. This will be the statement. He also said that, depending on the crisis itself, they “already have frameworks in place that we can modify.”

Time also mentioned how the President of the Academy recently said their response to the Will Smith slap was inadequate. Then, the interviewer asked what an accurate response would have looked like. According to Kramer, people are absolutely looking at that as the award show comes closer. He hopes they can move swiftly and compassionately to engage with members and nominees in a transparent way. He says, “Let’s hope something like this never happens again—but we could have moved more quickly. And I’m not just talking about the night of the show. This is really our response after the show, and how we spoke about it, and how we talked to Will and Chris, and our hosts and our members.”

[Via]

Jason Momoa Might Exit “Aquaman” Due To “Terrible” Script

by

According to a new report, Jason Momoa plans on leaving the Aquaman saga after Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Apparently, the film is so subpar, it has given the actor a desire to separate from the franchise. Therefore, the franchise’s future is up for some serious debate. There are rumors that test screenings for the film are going terribly. Some viewers thought it was the worst DCU movie yet. Others walked out of the theater. Also, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is also the last film in the DCU storyline that Momoa started. That makes it hard for audiences to get excited about the film.

A reliable insider, Jeff Sneider, is a reporter for The Ankler, an editor for Below the Line, and a film critic and columnist for LA Magazine. Thanks to him, fans have some insight as to Momoa’s future in the DCU. According to him, he heard that Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is “terrible” and “Momoa is going to be Lobo going forward.” He added, “But they can’t say that yet because then it would be a lame duck… and DC is hoping to wring another billion out of the box office. The first one was awful too, so not a huge surprise.” For those who don’t know, Lobo is a cosmic mercenary and bounty hunter that many heroes don’t like. He’s supposedly set to be the villain for 2025’s Superman: Legacy.

Jason Momoa To Move On?

Jason Momoa attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix’s “Slumberland” at AMC Century City 15 on November 09, 2022 in Century City, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Earlier this year, Momoa made some intriguing statements before all the new DCU announcements. He posted that he’d gotten “great news with Warner Bros.” and specifically thanked James Gunn and Peter Safran. Gunn and Safran are the DC Studio leads. Therefore, Momoa seems to know what’s next between him, Warner Bros., and the DCU. Fans know that Momoa has a strong admiration for Lobo and no one would be surprised if he took the opportunity to play the character.

Fans are unsure whether or not Momoa was teasing Aquaman 3 or his dream role playing Lobo. Previously, Comicbook.com’s Brandon Davis pointed out that Gunn posted a social media post with a photo of Lobo. Apparently, Momoa’s reaction was very suspicious. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that fans will know about Momoa’s fate in the DCU until the Aquaman sequel is released. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom will release to theaters on December 25, 2023.

[Via]

Bas, Black Sherif, And Kel-P Put Their ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears’ Into The ‘Creed III’ Soundtrack’s Second Single

by

Michael B. Jordan may have let it slip that Dreamville boss J. Cole was executive producing the soundtrack to his directorial debut film, Creed III, but ever since, he has remained tight-lipped. The project’s first single, “Ma Boy,” featuring JID and Lute, was shared earlier this month, and now as the movie’s opening week approaches, another track from the soundtrack has hit the internet.

The latest track, “Blood, Sweat, & Tears,” by Dreamville’s own Bas and Ghanaian recording artist Black Sherif featuring Nigerian producer Kel-P, is the epitome of the film’s plot, in which Adonis Creed’s (played by Jordan) legacy is being threatened by his former childhood friend Damian (played by Jonathan Majors). The pair will, as the trailer outlines, “reconnect in the ring, setting up a delicious dichotomy between loyalty and betrayal.”

Bas opens the track with a declaration of faith as he raps, “I’ve been waitin’ all my life, I’ve been spendin’ all my nights / Contemplatin’ all my trails, oh my God, this not overnight / I’ve been givin’ all my soul, I’ve been chasin’ all my goals / Dedication all I know, that’s how hard I go,” which could be a first-hand account from the fictional and namesake character.

On the chorus, Black Sherif joins in for a combined chanting of, “Blood sweat and my tears, no, I will not surrender/ If you take my lead then we can fly together / Heaven never seem to reach, it’s now or never / We got what we need, but we don’t got forever,” which will send chills down your spine if you’re a big fan of climatic cinema as it creates suspense for what’s to come in the film.

Listen to the full track above.

Creed III hits theaters on 3/3.

“Winnie The Pooh: Blood & Honey” Surprises At The Box Office

by

Critics heavily bashed Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. However, the film has already become a box office smash hit. The film is inspired by the characters from the children’s book. The story follows Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, who have become feral after being abandoned by Christopher Robin. Eventually, the duo becomes serial killers. In the time span of this film, they focus their terror on a group of college kids who come to visit the Hundred Acre Wood. The film’s announcement went viral when fans of the childhood classic expressed excitement. Therefore, the one-night-only theatrical release expanded to a week.

This past week, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has dominated the box office. However, Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey has also become a box office hit. The film originally got many negative reviews from critics. However, it earned $750k in its opening weekend. This has raised to $1.58 million gross in the first week of the film’s theatrical release. These numbers are promising for the overall financial results of the film. It’s particularly impressive when you consider that Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was made on a budget of only $100K.

Winnie The Pooh: Blood & Honey

Even before the film was officially released, the film’s writer/director/producer, Rhys Frake-Waterfield, was confident in its success. Frake-Waterfield announced that there were plans for a sequel already in the works. He is also looking to continue the success of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey by twisting other children’s stories. There are ideas for Bambi, which he is just producing, and Peter Pan. According to Frake-Waterfield, Winnie the Pooh: Love and Honey could be part of a multi-film universe.

Just two months into 2023, it’s clear that this will be a strong year for the horror genre. January 2023 held the release of M3GAN, which had a production budget of $12 million and grossed over $170 million. Additionally, February 2023 kicked off with M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin. That film was made with a $20 million budget and grossed $47.9 million. Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey grossed over ten times its budget. Additionally, March 2023 holds the release of Scream VI, which is projected to gross $5 million more than Scream III in its opening weekend. There are also high hopes for horror releases later this year, such as Evil Dead Rise, Insidious: Fear the Dark, The Exorcist legacy sequel, The Nun 2, and Saw X. Fans are also excited for original releases, Beau is Afraid, Renfield and The Last Voyage of the Demeter.

[Via]

Orlando Bloom Discusses His Future In “Pirates Of The Caribbean”

by

Orlando Bloom says he’d love the opportunity to return to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise as blacksmith-made-pirate, Will Turner. Over the course of five films, the franchise has earned $4.5 billion worldwide at the box office. Furthermore, Bloom’s character appeared in four of the five Pirates of the Caribbean films. The only time he did not appear was in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. However, Will gets his curse lifted in the franchise’s, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017). This makes it possible for him to end his time as the immortal captain of the Flying Dutchman.

Recently, Bloom spoke with Parade about his time as Will Turner. They asked him if he would like to return to any of his past roles. He mentioned a potential return as Will Turner for Pirates of the Caribbean 6. Apparently, he would love to come back to the character. Bloom answered, “I think Will [Turner from Pirates of the Caribbean]—I mean Will’s so great. I wouldn’t mind seeing what Will looked like today in some ways, because he was such this earnest guy. But, after rumbling around the bottom of the ocean for as long as he would have done at this point, it’d be interesting to see how he surfaces and what he’s like.”

Orlando Bloom Speaks

Orlando Bloom attends UNICEF at 75 in Los Angeles at NeueHouse Los Angeles on November 30, 2021 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for UNICEF USA)

While the franchise is one of Disney’s most popular, things have been rather up in the air for its future. Plans for Pirates of the Caribbean 6 have been in the works since before the release of Dead Man Tell No Tales. However, these plans were affected when Disney parted ways with Johnny Depp. This turn of events occurred because of his defamation trial with his ex-wife, Amber Heard. Additionally, the female-centric spinoff that was supposedly in development has been an object of speculation. Margot Robbie, who was going to star in the film, suggested that the project is no longer moving forward.

Despite these claims, Jerry Bruckheimer says the projects are both still in active development. Additionally, each of these films could benefit from Bloom’s involvement. Bruckheimer is a producer of the franchise. With the unsure fate of Depp’s return as Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner could connect past stories to future installments of the franchise. Furthermore, Bruckheimer is suggesting Pirates of the Caribbean 6 will include a younger cast. One of these characters could be Will’s son Henry (Brenton Thwaites). Because Pirates of the Caribbean movies rely heavily on fantasy elements, the former Flying Dutchman would be a wonderful character to include in upcoming sagas. Regardless, Bloom seems very interested in returning to the role.

[Via]

James Cameron To Direct Hiroshima Movie Before “Avatar 4”

by

James Cameron’s latest box office smash hit Avatar: The Way of Water continues to make waves. The next three Avatar films are already in the works. However, Cameron has additional plans. A report from the LA Times shared that Cameron has another project in his lineup. He’s set to make a film adaptation of the book, The Last Train From Hiroshima: The Survivors Look Back. Charles R. Pellegrino wrote the book, which tells stories of the Japanese Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings during the events of World War II. However, the story is told from the perspectives of survivors.

Initially, Cameron was interested in adapting this story as a film in 2010. He visited and interviewed Tsutomu Yamaguchi to prepare for the film. Yamaguchi was the only known survivor that was present in the bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Eventually, Yamaguchi passed away soon after meeting with Cameron. Since then, no one has made a film adaptation of Pellegrino’s book. However, Cameron decided to dedicate his time to the Avatar sequels, so he shelved the movie about the bombings.

James Cameron’s New Project

James Cameron attends the 21st Annual VES Awards at The Beverly Hilton on February 15, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

However, after all these years, there is hope for the Hiroshima film. Cameron recently revealed that he will take some time off before the production of Avatar 4. During this time, Cameron will supposedly work on the Hiroshima movie. He mentioned the importance of the film during these times. For example, the war in Ukraine and the recent resurgence of nationalism worldwide make the film relevant today. Cameron said, “We live in a more precarious world than we thought we did. I think the Hiroshima film would be as timely as ever, if not more so. It reminds people what these weapons really do when they’re used against human targets.”

This would not be the first of Cameron’s films to return from the depths of development. For example, Avatar was initially written in 1994 but shelved due to technological restraints of the decade. The Hiroshima movie is in early stages of development. There are no casting or filming announcements yet. Details are limited until production begins. However, Cameron’s commitment to the film makes it clear that this could be Cameron’s first non-Avatar film since Titanic in 1997.

[Via]

Anthony Mackie Offers Crucial Update On Captain America

by

Anthony Mackie has to follow in some big footsteps as the new Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Steve Rogers left a mark on the MCU as a former leader of the Avengers. However, Mackie’s new version of Captain America may not be stepping into that same role. Marvel has shared that Captain America will be a crucial part of The Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, but he may not lead the team. Empire Magazine interviewed Anthony Mackie. In the interview, Mackie discussed Captain America: New World Order. Empire asked about the potential for Sam Wilson to step up as the leader of the Avengers. Read what Mackie said below:

“Sam is the only character without superpowers. He’s just a regular dude hanging out with a bunch of weirdos. Being from New Orleans, I’ve been in a few fights. And heart and charisma never helped me in a fight. That usually just got me beat up. So that might cause an issue when you go fight somebody like Thanos. So, I think with him, he has to come to the stage with a very different understanding of what it is to be a good guy or be a bad guy and what are the decisions that make you toe that line in the way that you did.” He continued, “so I just see him as more of a humane Cap as opposed to a distinctive judge Cap — [a] Cap of judgment, where this is right and this is wrong. There are decisions that make you choose right or wrong.”

Mackie As Captain America

Co-host Anthony Mackie attends the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for CMT)

Captain America was crucial to many wars. For one, he was pivotal to a World War, as well as the Battle of New York. Additionally, He was a prime leader in the storyline of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. Even during Avengers: Endgame, Rogers’ impact was undeniable. With Anthony Mackie bringing the hero back, he has big shoes to fill. There could be a new war coming for him to make a great impact on. This could even serve as a catalyst for the arrival of a new film with a certain X-Men character in the future.

In December, rumors surfaced that the plot of Captain America: New World Order would introduce the element Adamantium into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Adamantium was a crucial element for the creation of Wolverine’s claws and bones. Apparently, the element will be discovered on Tiamat Island, where the giant Celestial was left in the middle of the ocean at the end of the Eternals. Surprisingly, the giant Celestial has not been reported on in the MCU, other than a quick newspaper seen in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. May 3, 2024 is the set release date for Captain America: New World Order.

[Via]

Gorillaz Movie Canceled By Netflix

by

In October 2020, Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn announced that the band had a movie in the works. The English group confirmed that they had “signed contracts” with Netflix just a year later, according to NME. With co-creator Jamie Hewlett pioneering the iconic cartoons that represent the band, the project was to be an animated movie using Gorillaz’s branded characters.

Unfortunately, Albarn confirmed in an interview with HUMO that “it will never happen.” Netflix has allegedly canceled the film due to cutbacks in the network’s animation department. The 54-year-old musician explained the situation bluntly. “The streaming platform for which we were making the film has withdrawn,” he said. “They started to panic because they were making too much content and decided to cut back on their movie offerings.”

Gorillaz’s Iconic Characters Get The Boot

Albarn continued to throw shade on the “classic Hollywood practice.” The English-Icelandic singer reflected on how the Netflix representative the band was working with had left the company. “From then on you have lost your guardian angel, and there seems to be a bad smell hanging on you,” he began. “Hollywood is quite territorial: if a new guy comes along, he must and will have a different opinion, even if he secretly agrees with his predecessor.”

When Albarn initially announced the project, he spoke with Apple Music enthusiastically. “I’m at Netflix because we’re making a full-length Gorillaz film,” he told the streaming service. “Yeah, we’re having a writing session in Malibu this afternoon. It’s really exciting to do that. It’s something we’ve been wanting to do for a very long time. It’s been through so many incarnations…this Gorillaz doing a movie. Honestly.”

Gorillaz Not Giving Up, Despite Cancellation

Despite the disappointing setbacks of their movie, the band will be releasing its eighth studio album, “Cracker Island” on Friday (February 24th). Although we won’t be seeing the Gorillaz characters on our Netflix screens, the band dropped their “Silent Running” single featuring Adeleye Omotayo earlier this month. Check out the music video for that above. As always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news on your favorite hip hop artists.

[Via][Via]

Jonathan Majors Praises “Ebony” Cover After Backlash

by

Film star Jonathan Majors is making his rounds in appearing in majorly anticipated film and television roles as of late. For the promotion of his latest projects, the Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania villain covers Ebony Magazine’s newest digital issue. The multifaceted actor showcases the juxtaposition between a strong and soft alpha man as Creed III prepares to hit theaters. Though the initial response was overall positive, some critics bashed it as they deem the feature emasculating.

Ahead of the Quantumania premiere, Majors shares his thoughts on the cover backlash. After receiving over 30 messages upon its release, the Lovecraft Country standout chose to focus on the shoot’s positive aspects. He mainly applauds the creativity behind the talent responsible, adding “it’s always good to make a ruckus.” Stylist Alexander-Julian Gibbson, a noted anime fan, took inspiration from One Piece manga character Donquixote Doflamingo.

Jonathan Majors Applauds Creativity Behind Ebony Feature

Jonathan Majors is currently gearing up to go up against Adonis Creed as Damian Anderson in Creed’s third installment. The film, out March 3, centers around their relationship from childhood as they prepare to get in the ring with each other. Majors will also appear at the 54th NAACP Image Awards this Saturday, February 25 to receive accolades for his theatrical efforts. He’s up for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for his role in 2022’s war film, Devotion.

Furthermore, The Ant-Man star recently spoke on his new role in the Marvel multiverse, admitting he walked out on the company at first. “I hope this doesn’t bite me in the ass,” he began, “but I walked out of my Marvel general [meeting]. This was a long time ago. I had just gotten out of drama school and I’m running around town and I’m sitting in the office. I grew up in a very particular way and I don’t want to waste nobody’s time. So I got in there and they’re just busy. And I was like, ‘I’m supposed to be here, right?’ It got long and I went, ‘I’m just going to go…” Casting director Sarah Finn stopped him, however, going on to introduce him to his Kang the Conquerer character three years later.

Jonathan Majors Appears in “Creed III” Trailer

Zach Galifianakis Cast In Disney’s Live-Action “Lilo & Stitch”

by

That’s right, Disney is doing a live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch and the cast is coming into fruition. Zach Galifianakis has officially joined the cast of the movie that has Disney fans buzzing. Disney has not disclosed the details of Galifianakis’ role in the film. However, the film is set to be released on Disney+. Dean Fleischer Camp’s Marcel the Shell with Shoes On is nominated for best-animated feature at the upcoming 95th annual Academy Awards. He will be directing the Lilo & Stitch adaptation from Chris Kekaniokalani Bright’s script.

Galifianakis will star in the live-action movie that follows the iconic 2002 animated film, Lilo & Stitch. The family hit grossed $273 million globally at the box office. Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois wrote and directed Lilo & Stitch. The film centers around 6-year-old Lilo and her teenage sister, Nani. The pair live in Hawai’i and adopt Stitch, an adorable, mischievous blue alien. The movie features wonderful songs, such as “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride,” and introduced audiences outside Hawai’i to the concept of ‘ohana.

Zach Galifianakis Gets A New Role

Zach Galifianakis arrives at the U.S. premiere of Ron’s Gone Wrong at El Capitan Theatre on October 19, 2021 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)

Galifianakis marks the beginning of the studio’s casting process for the film, which is still in the early stages of pre-production. Disney has begun a wide search for their perfect Lilo and Nani. Stitch will, obviously, be made and portrayed using CGI. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich (Rideback) are producing the Lilo & Stitch remake. Ryan Halprin (Rideback) will executive produce. Fans know Galifianakis for his work in The Hangover trilogy, but he has additional impressive credits. Some of these credits include Due Date, The Campaign, Puss in Boots, Keeping Up with the Joneses, and The Lego Batman Movie. He also won two primetime Emmy awards for his short-form series, Between Two Ferns, and is a five-time nominee.

This is not Galifianakis’ first time working with Disney. He voiced Ron in Disney’s Twentieth Century Studios and Locksmith Animation series, Ron’s Gone Wrong. He also played a live-action role for Disney previously with 2018’s A Wrinkle in Time. UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Yorn Levine represent Galifianakis. The Hollywood Reporter was the first to announce the news of his casting.

[Via]