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 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.
Lee Isaac Chung to Direct Twisters
Lee Isaac Chung (Minari) will direct Twisters, an upcoming sequel to the 1996 film Twister, for Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. Plot details are still under wraps, but the film will reportedly focus on Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton’s characters’ daughter, who has caught the storm-chasing bug her parents had. The hope is to have Hunt return, but no casting has been finalized at this time.
Mark L. Smith, who co-wrote the adapted screenplay of Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Oscar winner The Revenant, penned the script. Twisters will open in theaters on July 19, 2024. | Source: Deadline
God of War Series Ordered at Prime Video
Prime Video has given a series order to God of War, based on the best-selling PlayStation video game franchise. The series had been in the works at the streamer since March. Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby will write God of War, with Rafe Judkins serving as showrunner.
The series follows “Kratos, the God of War, who, after exiling himself from his blood-soaked past in ancient Greece, hangs up his weapons forever in the Norse realm of Midgard. When his beloved wife dies, Kratos sets off on a dangerous journey with his estranged son to spread her ashes from the highest peak—his wife’s final wish. Kratos soon realizes the journey is an epic quest in disguise, one which will test the bonds between father and son, and force Kratos to battle new Gods and monsters for the fate of the world.” | Source: Deadline
New The Dark Tower Adaptation in the Works
Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy’s Intrepid Pictures is working on a series adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, which Flanagan reportedly envisions running for five seasons, followed by two stand-alone features. Flanagan has written a pilot script and season outlines for The Dark Tower. Flanagan and Macy previously adapted two of King’s books into films — 2019’s Doctor Sleep and 2017 Gerald’s Game, both directed and written/co-written by Flanagan. | Source: Deadline
Death Stranding Movie in the Works
Hideo Kojima’s Kojima Productions has partnered with Alex Lebovici’s Hammerstone Studios to develop and produce a film adaptation of the 2019 video game, Death Stranding. Plot details are scarce, but the film will reportedly introduce new elements and characters within the Death Stranding universe. No writers, directors, or actors are attached to the project yet, though the film is being fast-tracked. | Source: Deadline
The Santa Clauses Renewed for Season 2
Disney+ has renewed The Santa Clauses for a second season, with Tim Allen and Elizabeth Mitchell set to reprise their roles as Scott Calvin/Santa Claus and Carol Calvin/Mrs. Claus, respectively. The Santa Clauses serves as a sequel to The Santa Clause film trilogy, which began in 1994 with The Santa Clause. | Source: Deadline
Searchlight Pictures & Taylor Swift Are Making a Movie
Taylor Swift will be making her feature directorial debut with Searchlight Pictures. The singer/songwriter also wrote the screenplay for the film, which remains under wraps at this time. No casting has been announced yet. Swift previously directed and wrote the 14-minute short film, All Too Well: The Short Film, which screened at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and Toronto International Film Festival. | Source: Variety
Tyler Petty Signs 4-Film Deal with Amazon
Amazon Studios has closed a deal with multi-hyphenate Tyler Perry for four new films, which will release on Prime Video worldwide.
“I’m excited and grateful to start working with Amazon Studios to bring movies to Prime Video,” said Perry in a statement. “Jennifer Salke and the entire team have welcomed me with open arms, and I’m looking forward to continuing telling unique stories and bringing my next projects to the global audiences that they reach.”
Perry recently wrote and directed A Jazzman’s Blues for Netflix. | Source: Deadline
That’s it for the last few weeks of 2022. What projects mentioned are you interested in seeing once completed? Tell us in the comments!
