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 Line Officially Greenlights Mortal Kombat Sequel
New Line Cinema has officially greenlit a sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat. Simon McQuoid will return as director. Jeremy Slater is writing the screenplay for the sequel.
The 2021 film followed MMA fighter Cole Young as he sought out Earth’s greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe. | Source: Deadline
What If…? Renewed for Season 3
Marvel Studios has revealed that What If…? will be returning for a third season on Disney+. The news was announced during Marvel Studios’ Animation panel at 2022’s San Diego Comic-Con.
Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in early 2023. | Source: SDCC
MGM Loses Rights to Tomb Raider
MGM has lost the film rights to Tomb Raider. This means that a sequel to 2018’s Tomb Raider starring Alicia Vikander, which has been in development since the first film was released, is basically canceled.
MGM had till May of this year to greenlight a Tomb Raider sequel, and the window passed. A host of Hollywood movie studios are now bidding for the film rights to the popular video game series. | Source: The Wrap
First Look at The Whale
A24 has revealed the first look at Brendan Fraser in The Whale ahead of the film’s premiere at the 79th Venice Film Festival. Darren Aronofsky directed The Whale, which also stars Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Samantha Morton, and Ty Simpkins.
The upcoming drama film follows “a 600-pound middle-aged man named Charlie (Fraser) who tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter. The two grew apart after Charlie abandoned his family for his gay lover, who later died. Charlie then went on to binge eat out of pain and guilt.” | Source: A24
Charlie Cox to Voice Daredevil in Spider-Man: Freshman Year
Charlie Cox will voice Matt Murdock/Daredevil in Spider-Man: Freshman Year. The upcoming animated prequel series will follow Peter Parker on his way to becoming Spider-Man in the MCU, pre-Civil War. However, Marvel Studios has confirmed that Freshman Year will not take place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but will instead take place in an alternate timeline where Norman Osborn is Peter’s mentor instead of Tony Stark.
In addition to Daredevil (peep the concept art for the character above), Doctor Strange will also appear in Freshman Year. Oh, and the series has already been renewed for Season 2, which will be titled Spider-Man: Sophomore Year. Characters set to appear in Season 1 include Harry Osborn, Scorpion, Unicorn, Rhino, Tarantula, Doctor Octopus, Speed Demon, Amadeus Cho, and Nico Minoru. Freshman Year is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in 2024. | Source: SDCC
New DC Universe Animated Movies Announced
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has announced three new DC animated movies at 2022’s San Diego Comic-Con: Batman: The Doom That Came to Gotham, Legion of Super-Heroes, and Justice League: Warworld.
So far, there’s no word yet on if any of these films will take place in the new shared universe of animated DC films, collectively dubbed the “Tomorrowverse” after Superman: Man of Tomorrow. | Source: SDCC
Other News & Casting Updates
- David Krumholtz will reprise his role as fan-favorite Bernard Disney+‘s forthcoming Santa Clause sequel series, now titled The Santa Clauses. (TVLine)
- Holt McCallany has signed on for a role in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two. (Deadline)
- Amandla Stenberg has closed a deal to headline The Acolyte, an upcoming Disney+ series set in the Star Wars universe during the final days of the High Republic era. (TVLine)
- Kurt and Wyatt Russell have joined Apple TV+ and Legendary Television’s untitled Godzilla series, which is set in the MonsterVerse and after the events of 2014’s Godzilla. (THR)
- Paramount+ has renewed iCarly for a third season, set to premiere in 2023. (TVLine)
- Adam Scott has joined the cast of Sony’s superhero film Madame Web in an undisclosed role. (Variety)
- Dean Fleischer Camp will follow up his delightful indie hit Marcel the Shell With Shoes On with Disney‘s live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch. (Deadline)
- Alden Ehrenreich has joined Marvel’s Ironheart series in a key role. (Deadline)
- Jared Leto and Jamie Lee Curtis have joined The Haunted Mansion reboot film as the “Hatbox Ghost” Madame Leota, respectively. (Entertainment Weekly)
That’s it for the last few weeks. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us down in the comments!
