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.
New Texas Chainsaw Massacre Sequel in the Works
Fede Alvarez is producing a new Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie that will act as a direct sequel to the original film. Alvarez said that it will focus on “the same character” and that character “is old man Leatherface.” The producer also said that the film will be using practical effects with no VFX. He said, “It’s a very old-school approach to filmmaking. Vintage lenses…it’s very similar to the original film.” It also sounds very similar to the approach taken with 2018’s Halloween.
David Blue Garcia is set to direct the upcoming horror feature. The cast so far includes Elsie Fisher, Sarah Yarkin, Jacob Latimore, and Moe Dunford. Olwen Fouéré is also part of the cast playing an older version of Sally Hardesty, the final girl from the original film. She replaces original Sally actress Marilyn Burns, who passed away in 2014.
Amazon Developing Ace Ventura 3
Ace Ventura 3 is reportedly in development at Amazon Prime Video.In a recent interview, someone over at Morgan Creek Entertainment, the studio that launched the Ace Ventura franchise, told Park Circus:
“We’re pretty excited about our franchise developments with Exorcist and the Ace Ventura franchise… During COVID, audiences have been in love and are thrilled to have beloved characters brought back with new stories. Ace Ventura will see a new day at Amazon as a major motion-picture/theatrical with the Sonic the Hedgehog writers.”
Amazon Studios recently released Coming 2 America, another legacyquel that managed to become the biggest streaming movie release of 2020, so it makes sense that they would be interested in reviving another popular comedy series. As long as they can get Jim Carrey back this should be a slam dunk.
DC Finds Writers for Zatanna & Static Shock
DC Films have found a couple excellent writers for their upcoming projects.
Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) has been tapped to write Zatanna for Warner Bros. and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. Variety first reported the news. A director is currently not attached, but it would be stupid to not just hire Fennell to direct as well. Zatanna first appeared in 1964’s Hawkman #4, and is considered one of the most powerful sorcerers in the DC universe.
Randy McKinnon (Safety) has also been hired to write the screenplay for Static Shock. Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther) and Reginald Hudlin (Django Unchained) are on board as producers. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news. Static Shock focuses on Virgil Hawkins, a kid who gains superpowers after being exposed to strange gas.
Keanu Reeves to Star in BRZRKR Movie
Keanu Reeves recently co-wrote a comic book called BRZRKR with Matt Kindt which fosuses on a “warrior who has been fighting for 80,000 years”. It’s basically Keanu Reeves’ own take on Wolverine.
Well, Netflix is now developing a live-action movie and an anime series set in the same universe. The 12-issue Boom! Studios comic BRZRKR follows immortal warrior “B”, who is “half-mortal and half-god, cursed and compelled to violence…even at the sacrifice of his sanity. But after wandering the earth for centuries, B may have finally found a refuge – working for the U.S. government to fight the battles too violent and too dangerous for anyone else. In exchange, B will be granted the one thing he desires – the truth about his endless blood-soaked existence…and how to end it.”
The movie will adapt the comic run while the anime series “will further expand the BRZRKR universe by exploring different elements of the story,” according to a Netflix press release.
Kalinda Vazquez Writing Next Star Trek
Paramount Pictures has tapped Kalinda Vazquez to write the next Star Trek movie. Vazquez seems like a perfect fit for the next feature film. She has previously written for Star Trek: Discovery, and is actually named after a character from the original series (Kelinda from the 1968 episode “By Any Other Name”).
We know that Bad Robot is producing, but we aren’t sure if Vazquez is writing her own script or if it is based on an existing idea. There have been several recent cracks at getting a fourth film off the ground. Noah Hawley tried one. Quentin Tarantino was behind another. I think both of those ideas were shelved. However, with Star Trek back in full force on television, and the films never really making a lot of money, is a new film really necessary? I guess Paramount thinks so, but I’m not so sure. But at least they’re keeping the job in the family.
New Resident Evil Movie Titled
The official title for the upcoming Resident Evil reboot movie is… Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City. The film is an adaptation of the first two Resident Evil video games.
The film is set in 1998 and “will tell the events of the city under siege from infected zombies.” It is said that “both the mansion from Resident Evil 1 and the city itself and police station from Resident Evil 2 will be present in the movie.”
Elizabeth Banks to Direct True Story Cocaine Bear
Elizabeth Banks (Charlie’s Angels) is set to direct Cocaine Bear for Universal Pictures. The script will be written by Jimmy Warden and will be a character-driven thriller inspired by true events that took place in 1985 Kentucky. Yup, apparently some cocaine fell out of an airplane and a bear ate it all or something like that. Personally, this sounds like the next great horror franchise.
Besides the amazing premise, the next best thing about this project is that Phil Lord and Chris Miller are involved. Those two continually churn out comedy gold. Anyway, a source tells Deadline producers are aiming to get cameras rolling by this Summer.
DC Films Developing Hourman Film
Deadline reports that Gavin James and Neil Widener have been hired to write a screenplay for an Hourman film for Warner Bros. and DC Films. Hourman, real name Rex Tyler, was a chemist who created a synthesis that would grant him super strength and stamina for one hour. The CW tried to make a TV show back in 2013 about the superhero, but nothing ever happened with it. He later appeared on Stargirl in a supporting role.
Chad Stahelski to Direct Classified
Chad Stahelski, who has directed all of the John Wick movies, is about to branch out. He has signed on to helm a new action-thriller for New Line called Classified. Andrew Deutschman and Jason Pagan (Project Almanac, Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension) penned the screenplay.
The Wrap describes the film as a “high octane, cat-and-mouse thriller, in the vein of ‘Die Hard’ meets ‘Indiana Jones,’ set inside a top secret government bunker that contains relics covertly recovered during World War II — that turn out to be more powerful and dangerous than ever imagined.”
Marvel Developing TV Series Starring Echo
Echo, a deaf Native American superhero with the power to copy another person’s movements or fighting style, is set to make her live-action debut in the upcoming Hawkeye series. But it seems like Marvel Studios has big plans for the character as a spin-off series centered on Echo is reportedly in early development at Disney+.
Variety states that Etan and Emily Cohen have been set to write and executive produce the spin-off series. Marvel Studios will produce. Additionally, Alaqua Cox would likely reprise her role as Maya Lopez/Echo from Hawkeye. In the comics, Echo has crossed paths with Moon Knight and was the first person to hold the title of Ronin (before Hawkeye), so we could definitely see this character pop up in the Moon Knight series as well. I’m all for expanding the world being developed in Hawkeye (give me six seasons and a movie, you cowards!).
Steven Spielberg Finally Adapting The Talisman
Steven Spielberg is teaming up with Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer to adapt The Talisman for television. THR reports that the trio will executive produce a Netflix adaptation of the 1984 novel that was written by Stephen King and Peter Straub. Curtis Gwinn (Stranger Things) will write and serve as showrunner on the series.
Spielberg has been wanting to adapt this novel for close to three decades. He snagged the rights to The Talisman in 1982, two years before it was published. It’s nice to see Spielberg finally getting to adapt the book, but I’m a bit bummed he won’t be directing any episodes.
National Treasure Disney+ Series a Go
Disney+ has officially ordered a National Treasure series that will be separate from the feature film franchise. The film will be a “reimagining of the National Treasure franchise and focus on “Jess Morales, a twenty-year-old DREAMer who, with her diverse group of friends, sets off on the adventure of a lifetime to uncover her mysterious family history and recover lost treasure.” The series will also reportedly explore “the timely issues of identity, community, historical authorship and patriotism.”
Am I supposed to know what a “DREAMer” is? Is that some sort of new acronym the kids are using these days? I honestly don’t know, but I do know that no one is asking for this series! We just want National Treasure 3 with Nicolas Cage saying crazy stuff like “We have to kidnap the President of the United States!”
Anyway, Mira Nair (Queen of Katwe) will direct the series and original franchise writers Marianne and Cormac Wibberley are back to pen the scripts. Jerry Bruckheimer will also return to produce.
Spielberg to Direct Film Inspired By His Childhood
Steven Spielberg will direct an untilted picture at Amblin Partners that will be loosely based on his childhood growing up in Arizona. Michelle Williams is set to star in a role inspired by Spielberg’s mom but with a “separate and original voice.” Seth Rogen has also been tapped to play Spielberg’s favorite uncle growing up.
In addition to directing, Spielberg will co-write the screenplay with Tony Kushner (Munich, Lincoln). This is the first time since 2001’s A.I.: Artificial Intelligence that Spielberg will be involved in screenwriting duties. Shooting is expected to start this summer for a release sometime in 2022.
That’s it for last month. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us down in the comments!
