It’s been a couple weeks since a Friday Five was posted up, but we’re back. The past couple weeks saw Comikaze and a rather slow week in the entertainment industry. Things certainly picked up this week and the list of this week’s big events can be found below. Also, if you haven’t seen it yet, Marvel released a new, extended trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron.
Ok, let’s jump into this week’s Friday Five run-down.
Jude Law As Villain in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur Epic
Jude Law has signed on to play the villain in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur epic. The film is the first in a tentatively planned SIX film franchise. It is “tentative” because if it bombs, there goes those plans. Variety reports that Idris Elba was being considered for a Merlin-like character but is no longer involved with the film. Law and Ritchie previously worked together on the two Sherlock Holmes films that co-starred Robert Downey Jr. King Arthur is currently scheduled for a July 22, 2016 release.
Ride or Die: Who’s Up For Three More ‘Fast & Furious’ Movies?
If you thought the eighth planned Fast and Furious movie was going to be the end of the franchise, think again. Universal Pictures Chairman Donna Langley tells The Hollywood Reporter that the series isn’t ending anytime soon. “We think there’s at least three more,” Langley said. “I think it’s still a growing franchise. We’ll see what happens with Furious 7 obviously, but our box office has grown over the past three or four films and internationally, in particular. So we think that there’s more to mine there. But we’re of course mindful of fatigue.” So, Fast 10 anyone?
‘Guardians of the Galaxy 2’ Will Not Lead into ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
Now that we’ve all calmed down a bit from last month’s Marvel Event in which the company unveiled their massive Phase Three slate of films, many fans have pointed out how Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is slated a year before Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 (along with Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther). Speculation has led some to believe the sequel will lead into the Avengers’ clash with Thanos, but director James Gunn is saying otherwise.
“I don’t feel beholden to that stuff at all,” Gunn tells MTV. “I think it’s really about the Guardians and what they are doing. We’re not subservient to the Avengers. Guardians 2 is not a movie that’s made to move toward Infinity War.
Christoph Waltz as Villain in ‘James Bond 24’
Christoph Waltz is the latest actor being rumored to play the next Bond villain James Bond 24. Granted, this rumor surfaced from The Daily Mail so proceed accordingly, but if legit, Waltz would join Dave Bautista who signed on as a Bond villain a couple of months ago. The film is set for a November 6, 2015 release and will be directed by Skyfall helmer Sam Mendes.
Jai Courtney Eyed for Deadshot in ‘Suicide Squad’
Hollywood’s seemingly never-ending crusade to turn Jai Courtney into a superstar continues with word from Variety that he’s being considered for the Deadshot role in WB/DC Comics’ Suicide Squad movie. The trade previously reported that The Wolf of Wall Street star Margot Robbie was in contention for the role of Harley Quinn in the film and that Jared Leto would portray The Joker. The film is part of WB’s expansive DC Comics movie universe that stretches to 2020. Suicide Squad is slated for an August 5, 2016 release and if this casting list sticks, WB might as well go into hibernation for a few years with their DC Comics movies.
Extra Bits:
Shawn Levy to Helm Arabian Nights Tale Forty Thieves; Liam Hemsworth Among Lead Actor Considerations
Universal is Releasing the Next M. Night Shyamalan Movie in September 2015 (You’ve been warned.)
IMAX to Release The Hobbit Marathon on December 15
X-Men: Apocalypse to Focus Heavily on Magneto and Mystique Romance
Universal is Prepping a New Wolfman; Script to be Written by Prisoners’ Aaron Guzikowski
The Conjuring 2 Set for June 2016 Release
Universal Picks Up My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
New Trailers This Week:
The Latest Trailer for Johnny Depp as Mortdecai was Released
The Teaser Trailer for The Divergent Series: Insurgent Was Released
The First Trailer for Night at the Musem: Secret of the Tomb Premiered
A New Fifty Shades of Grey Trailer was Released
You Should Also Be Warned the First Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Trailer was Released