Richard Donner Confirms He Will Direct Lethal Weapon 5!

Richard Donner Confirms He Will Direct Lethal Weapon 5!

Even at 90, Richard Donner is not too old for this sh*t! At least when it comes to teaming up with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, who will return to star in one final Lethal Weapon film. Donner revealed as much in an interview with The Telegraph, and confirmed that he will indeed direct Riggs and Murtaugh’s final outing.

“This is the final one,” Donner said. “It’s both my privilege and duty to put it to bed. It’s exciting, actually… Hahaha! It’s the last one, I’ll promise you that.”

The Lethal Weapon franchise began in 1987 and has since spawned four films, the last being Lethal Weapon 4 way back in 1998. That film ultimately grossed $285 million at the box office (against a massive $100-150 million budget), but score lukewarm reviews and reactions from critics and audiences alike. Hopefully, Donner has enough juice left to give us something more along the lines of Lethal Weapon 2 so the series can go out with a bang.

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Earlier this year, Danny Glover told Variety that “there is something of a plan” in regards to a fourth sequel.

“I don’t want to give away the plot on the script that I read, but I found the plot had very strong relevance to some of things that are happening today,” Glover said. “I can say that. But that was in January. History changes so fast. But yes, there’s been talk about it. I can only tell you, if it does happen, there is something extraordinary in it. If Lethal Weapon gives us some sort of contribution to understanding a little bit more. It would be interesting to do. It would be interesting to see how we take this within the political framework we are in; the economic framework that we are in. And especially that framework as opposed to the communities that have been affected by the kind of police violence, the kind of police standards, and the power that they exert as well. And what would be interesting from that vantage point is what that attempt could be like at this particular moment.”

Created by Shane Black, the first film was directed by Richard Donner and released in 1987 and followed beleaguered veteran detective Roger Murtaugh (Glover) as he is partnered with reckless and PTSD-afflicted Martin Riggs (Gibson). The buddy comedy received rave reviews from critics and grossed over $120 million on a $15 million budget and spawned a franchise that included three sequels starring the two and a TV adaptation with Damon Wayans Sr. and Clayne Crawford taking on the roles of Murtaugh and Riggs that ran for three seasons on Fox before being cancelled.

RELATED: Robert Rodriguez Says Alita: Battle Angel 2 Could Happen On Disney+

A fifth film has been in the talks for years, though stalled for a long time as Gibson and Glover have expressed a lack of interest and problems with various scripts offered over time until January saw the news that Lethal Weapon 5 was in active development with the duo returning alongside Donner.

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Chris Pine Knows the Plot of Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron

Chris Pine Knows the Plot of Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron

In a recent interview, Chris Pine told Collider that his Wonder Woman 1984 director Patty Jenkins revealed the plot of her upcoming Star Wars film, Rogue Squadron, and the actor thought it was “really great.”

“I had spoken to her about, not my involvement, but the story. She talked to me about it,” he said. “It sounds really, really great. But I’m ecstatic for her, excited for what she’s about to embark on. If there’s anyone that can reimagine and breathe fresh, new life into it, it’s her.”

RELATED: Rogue Squadron: Patty Jenkins Teases Story for Star Wars Film

While not much is known about Rogue Squadron, which will serve as the next big-screen Star Wars feature, Jenkins did tell Lucasfilm that she’s excited to take the helm, explaining: “It’s been a lifelong dream as a filmmaker to one day make a great fighter pilot film. As the daughter of a great fighter pilot myself, some of the best memories of my life are of seeing my father’s squadron take off in their F4s every morning, and hearing and feeling the awe-inspiring power and grace. When he passed away in service to this country it ignited a burning desire to one day channel all of those emotions into one great film. When the perfect story arrived in combination with another true love of mine, the incomparable world of ‘Star Wars,’ I knew I’d finally found my next film. I’m extremely honored and excited to take it on, and grateful to Lucasfilm, Disney, and the fans for extending that thrill to me.”

Rogue Squadron will be the next Star Wars film to be released and will also mark the first feature film in the long-running franchise to be directed by a woman. The story will introduce a new generation of starfighter pilots as they earn their wings and risk their lives in a boundary-pushing, high-speed thrill-ride, and move the saga into the future era of the galaxy.

Recommended Reading: Rogue Squadron (Star Wars: X-Wing Series, Book 1)

The Star Wars video game series had first made its launch on December 7, 1998, with Rogue Squadron where it was set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. It was then followed by three game sequels: Rogue Leader, Rebel Strike, and Episode I: Battle for Naboo. However, before the video game had debuted, the X-Wing: Rogue Squadron novel was first published in 1996 which was the first installment in author Michael A. Stackpole’s X-Wing novel series.

Patty Jenkins’ Rogue Squadron is currently set for a December 22, 2023, theatrical release.

RELATED: Star Wars Mystery Thriller Series The Acolyte Coming to Disney+

Star Wars continues to create more opportunities for women. Along with Jenkins, Victoria Mahoney served as a second unit director on The Rise of Skywalker, Deborah Chow directed an episode of The Mandalorian and is currently steering the highly anticipated limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi for Disney+. Bryce Dallas Howard also directed two well-received episodes of The Mandalorian, including the third episode of the second season, titled “The Heiress.”

 

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Mark Hamill Thanks Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni For His Mandalorian Cameo

Mark Hamill Thanks Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni For His Mandalorian Cameo

After The Rise of Skywalker, no one expected Mark Hamill to reprise his role as Luke Skywalker again. Regardless, The Mandalorian season 2 finale brought Hamill back to Star Wars in a big way. Thanks to the magic of CGI, young Luke saved the day and took custody of Grogu. It also gave fans a rare chance to see Jedi Master Luke in his prime, as he tore through Dark Troopers on his way to the bridge.

Hamill has taken to Twitter to share a message of gratitude to Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, two of the key creative forces behind the show (via SuperHeroHype).

Sometimes the greatest gifts are the most unexpected and something you never realized you wanted until it was given.#ThankYouJonAndDave pic.twitter.com/4nNjSvbvIN

— Mark Hamill (@HamillHimself) December 30, 2020

RELATED: Robert Rodriguez Jams with Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian BTS Video

Hamill’s remarks have led #ThankYouJonandDave to trend on Twitter. Additionally, actor Diedrich Bader shared his own reaction to Luke’s return.

This was such an AMAZING MOMENT!!

When you first appeared (obscured) my son grabbed my hand and said “is that???” and i whispered in a delirium of excitement “the greatest Jedi that ever lived!”

My childhood for a brief moment returned

Really satisfying story telling

Thanks

— Diedrich Bader (@bader_diedrich) December 30, 2020

How did you feel about Luke Skywalker’s return in The Mandalorian? Let us know in the comment section below!

Recommended Reading: The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season One)

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Report: The Flash Begins Production In the U.K. In April

Report: The Flash Begins Production In the U.K. In April

After an endless series of directorial shakeups and changes to the script, it looks like cameras are finally set to roll on Warner Bros.’ standalone Flash movie (via SuperHeroHype). A new listing found on Backstage claims that the film will start shooting in April, with Andy Muschietti planted firmly in the director’s chair.

Production on The Flash will take place at Leavesden Studios in the United Kingdom. Currently, that studio is serving as the home of another highly-anticipated DC movie, The Batman. Backstage also notes that The Flash’s casting process is underway with Rich Delia and Kate Ringsell presiding. Delia isn’t a stranger to DC projects, having been the casting director on Shazam!, DC Universe’s Swamp Thing, and The CW’s Stargirl. Ringsell also worked as a casting associate on the original Wonder Woman movie.

RELATED: Micheal Keaton Won’t Confirm Involvement in The Flash

So far, The Flash’s cast includes Ezra Miller as the title character, with Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck playing two alternate versions of Bruce Wayne/Batman. Additionally, Billy Crudup is reportedly set to reprise his Justice League role as Barry Allen’s father, Henry. However, Ray Fisher’s return as Cyborg seems very unlikely. Earlier today, Fisher said that he will not work with DC Films’ Walter Hamada.

The Flash will hit theaters on November 4, 2022.

Are you happy to hear that the movie finally has a start date? Let us know in the comments down below!

Recommended Reading: Flashpoint

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5 TV Episodes Featuring WW84’s Dreamstone Plot

5 TV Episodes Featuring WW84’s Dreamstone Plot

One of the more head scratching elements of Wonder Woman 1984 was its bizarre Dreamstone plot in which a person’s ultimate wish brings about negative consequences. In the film, Diana’s (Gal Gadot) wish for the return of Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), who was killed off in 2017’s Wonder Woman, is granted but at the expense of her powers. Barbara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) wishes to be more like Diana and ends up becoming just as powerful as Wonder Woman, but loses her, ah, nice personality in the process — and grows Cheetah hair. Max Lord wishes to be the wish maker and becomes sick (?) and so grants the world all of their wishes and steals their health (?) … ?

Yup. That’s the plot of Wonder Woman 2, a film that eschews Diana’s more aggressive personality in order to cater to the four fans of the 1970s TV show starring Lynda Carter. She doesn’t even carry a sword or shield … which is just … eh …

Anyways, if the plot sounds vaguely familiar its because we’ve seen it countless times before in other movies and TV shows. So, if you’re itching for more wacky hijinks in the vein of Max Lord’s yearning to “touch as many people as possible at once” scheme, then check out this list of Five TV Episodes Featuring Wonder Woman’s Dreamstone Plot, which itself is a variation of the “Be Careful What You Wish For” TV trope seen in countless Nick at Night shows, in case you were wondering. Which you probably weren’t. But now you know.

RELATED: CS Soapbox: Wonder Woman 1984 is Basically Superman II

The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror II (1991)

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This Simpsons episode was the first thing that came to mind during our viewing of WW84. In it, Homer happens upon a monkey’s paw that grants its users four wishes. Except, each wish comes with terrible consequences. For example, Lisa wishes for world peace which beckons aliens to take over the weapon-less planet; Bart yearns for fame, but is quickly ousted after people become tired of his family’s antics. In the end, Homer gives the paw to Ned Flanders, whose wishes go off without a hitch, prompting Homer to wish he had a monkey’s paw. It’s actually one of the better Treehouse of Horror episodes and quite clever in the way it adapts W.W. Jacobs’ 1902 short story, “The Monkey’s Paw,” which is probably why Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns felt the need to rework the script as a big budget superhero film.

Actually, there are quite a few TV adaptations of “The Monkey’s Paw,” namely an episode of The Monkees (obviously) titled, ahem, “The Monkee’s Paw,” an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark? titled “The Tale of the Twisted Claw,” and an episode of Creepshow titled, “Night of the Paw,” among many others.

The Brady Bunch: Hawaii Bound (1972)

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In the premier episode of The Brady Bunch Season 4, everyone’s favorite sycophantic family travels to Hawaii where Bobby finds a magical tiki that inevitably brings bad luck to anyone unfortunate enough to hold it. The family shrugs off the warning and instead carry the tiki into a surf competition where Greg is mauled to death by a Great White shark, who then proceeds to devour all the Brady children before following a grieving Carol to the Bahamas. Naturally, Carol begins a tepid affair with Michael Caine but must deal with the Great White personally after it attacks Alice on a banana boat. It’s really great stuff. Though, we’re not sure what happened to the tiki.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Wish (1998)

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In this episode of Buffy, Cordelia is given a pendant with which she wishes the titular Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. Lo and behold, the pendant giver is actually a demon who grants Cordelia’s wish and, in a wacky twist on It’s a Wonderful Life, watches her supposedly shitty existence with Buffy get shittier without her. The Master and his vampires take over without any opposition to challenge them and actually kill Cordelia, who learns that her life quite literally hinges on Buffy’s existence. Basically, she’s everyone in Bedford Falls, whose lives are all the worse without George Bailey. How said is that?

Charmed: Be Careful What You Witch For (2000)

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A genie quite dissimilar from Robin Williams/Will Smith grants the Halliwell’s three wishes. Prue wishes she would feel the same way she did when she first met, ahem, Dick; Piper wishes Dan would move on; and Phoebe wishes for power. Naturally, the wishes all come true albeit with unintended consequences. Prue reverts to a 17-year old mentality, Dan decides to move on to San Francisco and Phoebe suddenly has uncontrollable powers. All three witches run amok until an 8-year old, a virgin, Allison and a cat murder them in cold blood on All Hallows Eve.

Power Rangers Dino Charge: Wishing for a Hero (2015)

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Look, this particular reference is simply to show just how asinine WW84’s plot was. Please don’t get too caught up with our love of Power Rangers, especially Dino Charge, which stands as perhaps the greatest show to ever grace American screens. Anyways, in the episode “Wishing for a Hero,” a monster does some evil magic to wishing cards that allows the user’s wishes to come true. But, again, there’s a price. Koda wishes for a burger and ends up getting sick, Shelby wishes to be alone with Tyler and their date ends with blindness-by-bubbles and ants-on-food madness. There’s also a wish for a new Ranger and other wacky bits, though nothing as ridiculous as an oil tycoon granting all the wishes to the world so he can sure up his failing organs.

Note: there are hundreds of other episodes featuring this trope, but these were the first that appeared when we searched Google these were the best examples we found. Hell, even The X-Files had an episode with a genie who grants literal wishes that turn out to be disastrous. Again, the concept here is that WW84 borrowed a long-used TV trope, which is weird considering the budget and talent involved in the sequel. Then again, as Patty Jenkins no longer allows Wonder Woman to brandish a sword or shield and has inexplicably decided to push the character closer to her TV roots, it makes sense that the plot would adhere to television rather than cinema. But it’s still a weird artistic choice and light years from Diana’s first appearance in Batman v Superman … for better or worse. 

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Mario Lopez Says Cobra Kai Convinced Him to Revisit Saved By the Bell

Mario Lopez Says Cobra Kai Convinced Him to Return for Saved By the Bell Reboot

In a recent interview with GQ, Mario Lopez revealed that he was hesitant to return to the role of Slater in the Saved By the Bell reboot, but that Cobra Kai convinced him otherwise.

“It was such a smart, clever way, the way they blended the nostalgia and this updated version. So [I said], if we can emulate that, then I’m down.”

RELATED: The 25 Best Movie Posters of 2020

So far, Saved By the Bell carries a 76% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 60% audience score, and it seems to be doing well in its first season as a nostalgia-fueled, self aware continuation of everyone’s favorite Bayside High students.

When California governor Zack Morris gets into hot water for closing too many low-income high schools, he proposes they send the affected students to the highest performing schools in the state – including Bayside High. The influx of new students gives the over-privileged Bayside kids a much needed and hilarious dose of reality in this comedy inspired by the classic late ’80s/early ’90s sitcom of the same name.

The revival will feature the return of original cast members Elizabeth Berkley (Showgirls), Mario Lopez (The X Factor), Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Mixed-ish) and Tiffani Thiessen reprising their iconic roles as Jessie, Slater, Zack and Kelly, respectively with Gosselaar and Thiessen only appearing in a few episodes. Joining them are the new young cast Dexter Darden, Josie Totah, Haskiri Velazquez, Mitchell Hoog, Alycia Pascual-Pena and Belmont Cameli.

RELATED: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reboot Gets Two Season Order at Peacock

The new Saved by the Bell will be executive produced and written by Emmy-winning 30 Rock writer-producer Tracey Wigfield. Peter Engel and Franco Bario also executive produce. The series is produced by Universal Television for Peacock.

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ComingSoon.net’s Top 10 Video Games of 2020

ComingSoon.net’s Top 10 Video Games of 2020

2020 shook the entertainment industry to its core, making video games more relevant than ever. With that in mind, we present our Top 10 Video Games of 2020. Check out our list below!

RELATED: ComingSoon.net’s 10 Most Anticipated 2020 Video Games

While COVID-19 may have slowed the production and release of our favorite television shows and moving, gaming has largely stayed the course. Now more than ever, people are playing games and watching streaming on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. The gaming community might be one of the few groups strengthened by quarantine. That said, a handful of fantastic video games were released this year, the following are the ones we consider to be the very best both because we enjoyed them and their impact on the industry.

Disclaimer: Cyberpunk 2077 (PC) didn’t make this list because of how upset the person writing is about his experience playing it on PS4 (one of the consoles for which it was advertised).

RELATED: Comic-Con: The Witcher Will Never Adapt the Video Games, Says Showrunner

Which of our Top 10 Video Games did you enjoy the most? What are some other games not included in our list that you feel deserved to be? Let us know in the comments below!

RELATED: Assassin’s Creed Live-Action Series in Development at Netflix

10. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is the 22nd game set in the Assassin’s Creed Universe (the 12th major installment). That said, it can be easy to take Ubisoft Montreal’s prolific ability for granted—quality over quantity? Still, for a game as big as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (albeit plagued by sporadic technical issues), its beauty is impressive. With hundreds of hours of game time (driven by story, choice, and consequence), Assassin’s Creed Valhalla never feels too watered down. Playing the role of Eivor may feel like a standard AC outing at times but there are enough surprises—including a compelling take on Norse mythology and less of a focus on the “present-day” storyline— to keep fans intrigued. 

RELATED: CS Plays: The Last of Us Part II Walkthrough Video Part 2

9. The Last of Us: Part II

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Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part II was one of the most (if not the most) controversial games of the year. From “deceptive” marketing and NG’s supposed crunch culture to a story that had (some) fans of the first game up in arms, you can’t talk 2020 gaming without touching on Ellie v. Abby…minus Joel. Regardless of how you feel about its narrative, one can’t deny The Last of Us Part II’s ambition, stunning visuals, improvisational gameplay, and level-of-detail. Much like its predecessor, Part II makes the most of the PS4. 

8. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons released in March, right when the world went into lockdown. The game broke Nintendo Switch’s console record for most digital units sold in a single month (5 million copies) and has since become the 28th best-selling video game in history. Maybe all of this is because Animal Crossing: New Horizons is just what we needed. The life simulation—which puts players in charge of their own customization deserted island—is a blissful (and highly-addictive) escape from our reality and the nihilism of other games. On top of that, you can invite friends/family to visit your island or go to theirs, providing a solely-needed bonding experience as well. 

7. Demon’s Souls

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Bulepoint Games’ remake of FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls (2009) is pretty much everything you could want from a next-gen Souls experience. Not only does it play better than the original (without sacrificing the series’ notorious difficulity) but improves the world’s lighting and other technical aspects. The game also has new armor, weapons, items, and environments, making it more than just a carbon-copy remaster. 

RELATED: CS Review: Doom Eternal — an Orgy of Blood and Chaos

6. Doom Eternal

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Doom is up there with Halo and Call of Duty as one of the greatest shooters of all-time. That said, Doom Eternal delivers. It takes the first game’s mechanics and injects new weapons, skills, limited ammo, and smarter AI. It’s a difficult game—fast, furious, and rewarding as hell. 

RELATED: CS Reviews Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

5. Spider-Man: Miles Morales

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As the follow-up to Marvel’s Spider-Man (2018), Spider-Man: Miles Morales is smaller, more intimate. You could write it off as merely a spin-off but that would be a mistake—its story, following Miles’ relationship with the mantel of “Spider-Man” and the city of Harlem is crucial to Sony’s franchise. Spider-Man: Miles Morales doubles down on the series’ ability to tell a resonate story while simultaneously improving traversal and combat. Also, as a premiere next-gen experience, it’s breathtaking. 

4. Hades

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These days, role-playing games are overtly concerned with making the experience as life-like as possible—from the look to the feel. Supergiant Games’ Hades proves that millions of dollars don’t need to be spent on world-building to create an immersive experience. The game follows Zagreus, son of Hades, as he tries to escape Hell and reach the surface. Every time the player dies trying to reach the surface, they are sent back to their base-like home; where the Zagreus develops his relationships and buys crucial upgrades. This approach to death makes the player feel like they’re in a constant state of progress and the game’s frantic combat, differing enemies, and art style make reaching the surface seem like a moot point. 

3. Half-Life: Alyx

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Half-Life: Alyx’s story takes place between Half-Life (1998) and Half-Life 2 (2004), the latter being the last time there was an installment in the franchise. Half-Life: Alyx’s use of virtual reality (compatible with almost any headset), puzzles, combat, “gravity gloves,” and exploration makes it well worth the wait. On top of its top-tie level design that makes the game feel non-linear (even though it’s linear), the game’s thrilling action sequences make it one of the year’s best shooters—VR or not. 

RELATED: CS Review: Final Fantasy VII Remake Proves It Was Worth the Wait

2. Final Fantasy VII Remake

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Square Enix’s remake of one of the greatest RPGs ever made lives up to the hype because of its innovation—turning 5 hours of the original game into 30 and implementing an adjustable combat system. Also, the game is gorgeous. There’s something fresh here for long-time Final Fantasy fans and newcomers alike.

RELATED: CS Plays: Ghost of Tsushima – Kurosawa Edition!

1. Ghost of Tsushima

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Ghost of Tsushima is the underdog game of the year. Its 13th-century open world sets a new standard for art design. Its story, following one of the last surviving samurai fighting back (via unconventional and less honorable tactics) against the Mongol Empire as it invades the island of Tsushima is universally acclaimed. On a technical level, the game is the most cohesive game of the year, hitting every mark. A great soundtrack, excellent stealth mechanics, and combat equatable to that of the Arkham series make Ghost of Tsushima a great way to say farewell to a generation of gaming. 

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