There’s a lot of breaking news in Hollywood happening every minute. In the age of the blockbuster, it’s easy for some smaller movie and television news to slip through the crack. Last Week in Hollywood is our new weekly series highlighting all the interesting news from the last week that we thought didn’t warrant its own post, but was still worth mentioning. It’s less personal opinions and more a hearty roundup of what you might have missed.
Batman: Caped Crusader Heads to Prime Video
Batman: Caped Crusader is moving from HBO Max to Prime Video. Amazon’s streaming service has handed out a two-season order for the animated series, which hails from Bruce Timm, J.J. Abrams, and Matt Reeves. Caped Crusader was sold to Prime Video as part of Warner Bros. Discovery’s efforts to monetize content by selling projects to third-party buyers.
Batman: Caped Crusader, first announced in May 2021, is said to harken back to Timm’s previous crack at the Dark Knight — Batman: The Animated Series. Comic book scribe Ed Brubaker is among the creative team, serving as Timm’s right hand on the 10-episode first season.
“We are beyond excited to be working together to bring this character back, to tell engrossing new stories in Gotham City,” said Abrams and Reeves in a joint statement when the project was first announced. “The series will be thrilling, cinematic and evocative of Batman’s noir roots, while diving deeper into the psychology of these iconic characters. We cannot wait to share this new world.” | Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Jonathan Krisel to Direct Detective Pikachu 2
Jonathan Krisel, who co-created Portlandia, is in negotiations to direct the Pokémon Detective Pikachu live-action sequel for Legendary Entertainment. Chris Galletta will write the script.
The original picture was directed by Rob Letterman and starred Ryan Reynolds, Ken Watanabe, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton. It was released in 2019 by Warner Bros., grossing more than $430 million at the worldwide box office. While no deals are done at this time and nothing is confirmed, insiders believe Reynolds will have some part to play in the upcoming sequel. | Source: Deadline
Amazon Planning Creed-Verse
Amazon and Michael B. Jordan are planning a Creed Universe. Following the box office success of MGM‘s Creed III, Amazon and Jordan are reportedly in the early stages of planning a shared universe that will stretch across film and television.
The Creed-verse is still in its “exploratory stages,” but possible projects include an anime series, a live-action series, and a potential project centered around Adonis Creed’s daughter Amara, who was played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent in Creed III. There is also a Drago spinoff movie in the works at MGM, which would focus on Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) and his son Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu). | Source: Deadline
You Renewed for Fifth and Final Season
Netflix has renewed You for a fifth and final season. Penn Badgley will be back, reprising his role as serial killer Joe Goldberg. However, Sera Gamble has stepped down as showrunner on the series after serving in the role for the first four seasons. She will be succeeded by You executive producers Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo.
“Making the show alongside our writers, producers, directors, cast and crew has been an honor and ridiculously fun,” Gamble said. “And I feel lucky to have worked with an artist as gifted and thoughtful as Penn Badgley. I’m proud of what we’ve all accomplished and feel privileged to pass the torch,” she added before teasing You‘s upcoming final season. “I’m excited to watch and support the You team as they bring Joe Goldberg’s journey to its delightfully twisted conclusion.” No release date has been announced for You Season 5 at this time. | Source: Deadline
Amazon in Final Talks for The Pick Up
Amazon Studios is in final talks for the package The Pick Up, an upcoming heist film that has Tim Story attached to direct and Eddie Murphy being eyed to star. John Davis and John Fox will produce through his Davis Entertainment banner. Murphy and Charisse Hewitt-Webster also are in talks to produce through Eddie Murphy Productions, and Story also will be a producer.
The Pick Up is based on a spec script written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, which was apparently so good that Amazon is going to shell out seven figures for the script. The film will reportedly be a heist comedy, with Murphy playing a guy who becomes smitten with a woman and finds himself mixed up in a heist attempt. | Source: Deadline
More News to Know
- Disney+ has canceled Willow after a single season. However, there’s a slight possibility a second season could happen down the road. (Deadline)
- HBO Max‘s Dune prequel series, Dune: The Sisterhood, which started production in late November is undergoing another creative overhaul. Director Johan Renck has exited the project. Shirley Henderson, who had been cast as Tula Harkonnen, has also left The Sisterhood, with her role set to be recast. This comes after ceator Diane Ademu-John previously stepped down as co-showrunner prior to the start of production. (Deadline)
- Parker Finn, the filmmaker behind 2022’s Smile, has signed a multiyear, first-look deal with Paramount Pictures. (THR)
- Netflix has closed a deal to adapt Riley Sager’s 2022 novel The House Across the Lake as a potential directing vehicle for Paul Feig. (Deadline)
- Good Burger 2 has officially been greenlit at Paramount+, with original stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell set to return. Production on the sequel to the beloved 1997 Nickelodeon film will begin in May with plans to debut it on Paramount+ later in 2023. (Variety)
- Lee Sung Jin, creator and showrunner of Beef, is rewriting Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts script, replacing Eric Pearson (Black Widow) who wrote the first draft. (Variety)
That’s it for the last few weeks. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us in the comments!
