universal pictures

Christmas Comes Early With The Announcement Of A VIOLENT NIGHT Sequel

The creative team behind one of last year’s biggest hits is coming back for more with The Wrap’s Drew Taylor reporting limited details confirming a sequel to Tommy Wirkola’s Violent Night. The report defers to quotes from Wirkola who verified the return of lead actor David Harbour in the role of a kick-ass Norse mythology-based Santa Claus who in the first film descends with a vengeance on a gang of home invaders led by John Leguizamo. Wirkola on the production status so far: “We have time to really crack the script and figure out the story,” Wirkola said. “And we have some ideas, me and Pat and Josh and the producers, we’ve been talking about where we want to take it and what we want to see.” That would be Pat Casey and Josh Miller who Wirkola is referring to as the writing duo will also be charged with the […]

RENFIELD Trailer Invites Toxic Work Relationships, Exploding Priests, And Nicolas Cage As The Vampiric Dark Lord Himself

Lee B. Golden III

The LEGO Batman Movie director Chris McKay’s newest action horror comedy looks a lot like something I could get into with the official trailer for Renfield now making the rounds. Nicholas Hoult and Nicolas Cage topline the fresh new inspired tale based on the work of Bram Stoker and opens on April 14 from Universal Pictures. In this modern monster tale of Dracula’s loyal servant, Nicholas Hoult (Mad Max: Fury Road, X-Men franchise) stars as Renfield, the tortured aide to history’s most narcissistic boss, Dracula (Oscar® winner Nicolas Cage). Renfield is forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding, no matter how debased. But now, after centuries of servitude, Renfield is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of The Prince of Darkness. If only he can figure out how to end his codependency. McKay directs from a screenplay by Ryan Ridley (Ghosted series, […]

COCAINE BEAR Gets Higher And Never Comes Down In The First Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

JFC… and this is what Elizabeth Banks is following up with after her Charlie’s Angels revival? Golly. If a film title like Cocaine Bear doesn’t pull you in, I don’t know what will… Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner’s plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild thriller finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500- pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow … and blood. Leave it to Banks and the good folks at Universal Pictures to make everyone’s 2023 dreams come true with this logline for her latest horror romp, Cocaine Bear. The poster revealed this week certainly did the trick but we now get a look at said bear opposite a cast that also lists Keri […]

VIOLENT NIGHT: Time For Some Seasons Beatings In The Official Trailer!

Lee B. Golden III

Geez Louise, if anyone told me years ago that Stranger Things would have been a great time to start keeping an eye on David Harbour in a spell of action performances, you could have fooled me! Welp, since then he’s battled demons in the hit Netflix series as well as in the title role of Neil Marshall’s Hellboy and now we get a brand new look at the actor touting his Holiday best for genre favorite Tommy Wirkola in Christmas actioner, Violent Night. The official trailer is up above ahead of the film’s December release from Universal, so check it out and for all else, read below! To hell with “all is calm.” From 87North, the bare-knuckle producers of Nobody, John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw comes a coal-dark holiday action-comedy that says you should always bet on red. When […]

MRS. K: Reimagining Of Kara Hui Action Comedy Thriller In The Works At Universal

Lee B. Golden III

Ho Yuhang’s 2016 Malaysian-Hong Kong actioner, Mrs. K, has found a new home of late with 87North developing a new take on the cult hit thriller for Universal, according to Deadline this week. The original featured legendary Shaw-era actress Kara Hui in the lead role of a woman whose violent past comes back to haunt her and her family. Anthony D’Alessandro’s exclusive notes that the new film will be a reimagining described as “a fast-paced, darkly humorous action movie featuring an unlikely heroine.” The description further reads: “Mrs. K’s peaceful life is disrupted, and family threatened, when trouble brews.” Author and humorist Mishna Wolff (Werewolves Within) is penning the script. Ho himself will be involved along with Lorna Tee who produced the original via her Paperheart label; they will be joined by 87North’s Kelly McCormick and David Leitch, who is coming off an electric week thusfar since the release of […]

BEAST: See Idris Elba Punch A Big-Ass, Hangry Lion In The Official Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

There are people like you and me. And, there are people who wake up one morning and are like “Hm. I wanna see Idris Elba fight a lion, or something.” Welp, someone certainly deserves a thanks for handing Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns) and screenwriter Ryan Engle (Rampage) a proper cup of coffee to keep them up and about and conjure what we now have in the official trailer for Universal’s latest, Beast. Sometimes the rustle in the bushes actually is a monster. Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, The Suicide Squad) stars in a pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage daughters who find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion intent on proving that the savannah has but one apex predator. Elba plays Dr. Nate Daniels, a recently widowed husband who returns to South Africa, where he first met his wife, on a […]

UNIVERSAL CLASSIC MONSTERS: ICONS OF HORROR COLLECTION Doles Out The Spooky This Month On 4K, Blu-Ray And Digital

Christina Ortega

I am one of those people who believes that “spooky season” begins September 1st so now that we are in October, it’s basically Halloween. And what better way to celebrate Halloween than to treat yourself with the Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection? I was lucky enough to receive a copy for review before this collection’s release. Not only does the collection include four of the classic monster movies (Dracula, Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, and The Wolf Man), but there are tons of extras. Although I am a horror fan and have a deep appreciation for these monster icons, I have not seen these films in years! So it was very enjoyable to have this package delivered to my home right at the beginning of October. Being able to re-watch the monster movies was like getting reacquainted with an old friend. Here is the synopsis of the collection: From […]

ROCK ‘EM SOCK ‘EM ROBOTS: Vin Diesel To Star, Produce With Mattel Films For Universal

Lee B. Golden III

I had an eye on actor Vin Diesel to possibly headline a Street Sharks movie based on a promo he did many years ago in the nascency of his TV career. Alas, that never came to pass, though given his penchant for gargantuan blockbuster productions that aim really high on concept, you can imagine he would attach himself to the guy who invested in The Rock befriending an oversized Silverback gorilla as they battled monsters in between city streets and buildings for movie of their own… and that’s what he’s gone and did. And that’s why we now get to talk about Universal Pictures and its latest stake in a film adaptation of Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots, based on the classic 1966 tabletop boxing game which pitted Red Rocker against Blue Bomber in a fight to knock his rival’s block off; A staple in pop culture since its debut, […]

Chloé Zhao Primed For A Futuristic Sci-Fi Western Take On DRACULA At Universal

Lee B. Golden III

Chloé Zhao will take on Universal’s monster library with her own incarnation of Dracula, according to THR‘s exclusive on Thursday. Borys Kit writes, in part: Details are being kept in the coffin, but Zhao’s version is described as an original, futuristic, sci-fi Western. Themes of being on society’s fringes, something Zhao has tackled in her previous work, will course through the project’s veins. Zhao is best known for her recent work on Nomadland which earned four Golden Globe nominations, as well as Venice’s Golden Lion and the People’s Choice Award in Toronto last year – firsts, at that, and just a few among other awards in the past year. The move comes as part of Universal’s strive to boost its monster franchises having since recovered with Upgrade director Leigh Whannell’s pulsating horror revisal, The Invisible Man, which is currently streaming on HBO Max. “Chloé’s singular lens shines a light on […]

Bob Odenkirk Become A Very Dangerous NOBODY To Mess With In The Official Red Band Trailer

Bob Odenkirk Becomes A Very Dangerous NOBODY To Mess With In The Official Red Band Trailer

Lee B. Golden III

Being the prominent comedy writer he is, actor Bob Odenkirk spent two years getting in shape for his long-awaited action thriller, Nobody, from Hardcore Henry helmer Ilya Naishuller. He tells all including the following in an exclusive over at IGN on Thursday, about some of the challenges he faced in playing his character. “The hardest thing about doing Nobody was to be deprived of the ironic dimension of the performance. I wanted to play a sort of earnest action hero like Charles Bronson in Death Wish, in these 70s movies that I loved growing up, Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry and that s***. So I was going to deprive myself of being a wisecracker and making fun of myself,” he said. “It’s hard for me to do a scene that’s utterly earnest. … And this goes for Better Call Saul, too. When I don’t get to have a little wink […]

SAIGON BODYGUARDS Is Getting A Remake Starring Chris Pratt And Wu Jing For Universal Pictures

Lee B. Golden III

Chris Pratt (Guardians Of The Galaxy/MCU, upcoming The Tomorrow War) and Wu Jing (Wolf Warrior franchise) are teaming up to headline a reimagining of Ken Ochiai’s 2016 action comedy, Saigon Bodyguards, for Universal Pictures. Thai Hoa and Kim Ly starred in the original film which was produced by Rhomhus Media and CJ Entertainment, and focused on two pals – polar opposites working as professional bodyguards who are assigned to protect a rich brat, only for the job to go completely downhill. The new film will be in the hands of Universal Pictures with Pratt and Jing starring from a script by Alex Gregory and Peter Huyck (What Men Want, HBO’s Veep). Pratt is producing through his Indivisible Productions banner, marking a reunion for both actors with powerhouse film duo Anthony and Joe Russo who had their hands on multiple titles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which Pratt stars a […]

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THE FAST SAGA: Universal Commits To FAST 11 And Spin-Offs

Lee B. Golden III

I think it’s safe to say that the Fast And Furious film franchise has been a career defining one for actor Vin Diesel, who also has a stake in producing the film series since 2009’s The Fast And The Furious: Tokyo Drift. Now with nine films in as Universal Pictures contends with the residual effects of the Covid-19 pandemic (including stagnant theater reopenings throughout North America), the studio is remaining steadfast to its commitment to the road saga that began nineteen years ago. Adam B. Vary at Variety reports: The central “Fast and Furious” franchise will come to a conclusion after the 10th and 11th films, Variety has confirmed. Justin Lin, who directed the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and ninth “Fast and Furious” films, will return to direct the final two installments and the franchise to the finish line after over two decades in theaters. This does not, however, necessarily […]

THE FALL GUY: Classic ABC Series Makes The Jump To The Big Screen, David Leitch And Ryan Gosling Attached

Lee B. Golden III

Deadpool 2 director David Leitch is still plotting Bullet Train for Sony, but thanks to Universal, the 87Eleven stunt multi-hyphenate who’s spent since 2014 leaving an impression in the director’s chair will soon bring to life a feature adaptation based on the 1981 ABC series, The Fall Guy. Deadline’s Justin Kroll was the first to break the news, while THR has more insider info on the project’s title; The latter cites a $125 million dollar bid for the project in a heated auction for Universal against MGM, Lionsgate and Sony, with no streamers involved, as a theatrical release was part of the package. Glen A. Larson created the hit series which lasted five years, casting Lee Majors in the role of Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who plied his trade both for the screen, and for his side hustle as a bounty hunter with the help of his cousin and […]

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SCARFACE: Universal’s Epic Crime Reimagining Lands A Director

Lee B. Golden III

Five years after a seemingly unending development process, Universal’s long-brewing Scarface remaining finally has a director in Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name, Suspira). The new film marks the latest incarnation of the core immigrant story of Scarface which Variety‘s Justin Kroll elucidates will be a “reimagining”; Howard Hawks and Richard Rosson directed the 1932 pic long prior to Brian DePalma etching violent crime cinema history with his own 1983 opus starring Al Pacino. Attempts at a sequel and a remake have been well underway since 2001 with little progress on nabbing a director, and with Jonathan Herman penning a draft along with other writers in the project’s extenuating developmental history. The reigns were since handed to Joel and Ethan Coen (The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs, The Jesus Rolls) whose script will serve as the basis for the pic. Guadagnino is one of a handful of directors whose names […]

Amasia’s THE GREEN HORNET AND KATO Revs Up At Universal

Lee B. Golden III

Four years since Paramount Pictures took the reins with Gavin O’Connor a likely prospect, LA-based Amasia Entertainment snagged the rights for a film all their own based on legendary pulp hero, The Green Hornet.That IP now has new life as Green Hornet and Kato, with word from the trades on Amasia’s newly-etched partnership with Universal Pictures. Both parties are reportedly eyeing a global franchise with Amasia’s Michael Helfant and Bradley Gallo producing, currently in search of writers. George W. Trendle and Fran Striker first launched the character on radio in 1936 with actor Van Williams transitioning the character on screen by the 1960s – a playboy/media mogul and owner of The Daily Sentinel, Britt Reid. A wanted fugitive, he dons a trenchcoat and green mask as the gun-toting crimefighting alterego alongside his valet-turned-partner, Kato, debuted by then-burgeoning martial arts star, actor Bruce Lee. The new film marks the latest effort […]

David Leitch To Direct KUNG FU For Universal; Confirmed To Direct ENTER THE DRAGON

Lee B. Golden III

David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Fast And Furious: Hobbs And Shaw) will direct the feature-length adaptation of classic martial arts drama, Kung Fu. Mike Fleming Jr. confirms the news at Deadline in an exclusive that also notes the production is housed under Universal Pictures who’ve optioned the rights. Originally birthed by martial arts screen legend Bruce Lee, the show took on new life with David Carradine starring in the original TV drama from 1972 through 1975. In that series, Carradine plays Kwai Chang Kaine, a shaolin monk who initially ventures out to the 18th century old West in search of his brother. The series was then followed by two feature films and a spin-off television show titled Kung Fu: The Legend Continues, co-starring Chris Potter, and efforts followed years later to revive the property, at one point revealing Bill Paxton’s potential involvement 2011 as director – six […]

FLINT STRONG: ‘Star’ Series Actress To Portray Teenage Olympic Boxing Legend For Universal

Lee B. Golden III

Fox series Star actress Ryan Destiny will make her turn to the big screen in a biopic celebrating Olympic boxing athlete Claressa “T-Rex” Shields for Universal Pictures. Flint Strong is the name from debut director Rachel Morrison who previously served as cinematographer on Mudbound and directed cinematography on Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther. The film narratively takes after Zackary Canepari and Drea Cooper’s 2015 doc, T-Rex, chronicling the Michigan native’s efforts to become the first female Olympic Gold medalist, realizing her dream in London back in 2012. Barry Jenkins will direct and produce next to Michael De Luca Productions. Canepari, Cooper and Sue Jaye Johnson will exec produce. (VARIETY)

DARK ARMY: Universal Taps Paul Feig To Direct Driven Thriller Tied To Studio’s Classic Monsters Legacy

Lee B. Golden III

I’m still pining for a Spy sequel, but director Paul Feig apparently has other plans, and with none other than Universal Pictures for a new project called Dark Army. Feig will direct from his own script – based on an from an original idea, and will produce from his Feigco banner with Laura Fischer at Universal. Plot details are scant though word from Deadline‘s Mike Fleming Jr. states the film will have a connective tissue to the studios’s Classic Monsters legacy, much like Upgrade helmer Leigh Whannell’s upcoming The Invisible Man. Universal’s ambitious attempt at a Dark Universe fell flat with Tom Cruise’s 2017 starrer, The Mummy. Plans for a cinematic universe pretty much came to a full stop as the studio regrouped to try and find a more viable way to approach its classic monsters line-up. By January with Whannell’s hire came the studio’s formal efforts to bring, according […]

AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS: Don Cheadle Launches Radicle Act, Partners With Producers For Upcoming Book Adaptation

Lee B. Golden III

Actor Don Cheadle is launching Radicle Act as of Thursday coinciding with the current development of feature adaptation, Amari and the Night Brothers with Universal Pictures. The move marks Cheadles latest partnership with Industrial Media per their first look deal, and with Radicle also adding Myka Price to the station of SVP and Head of Development. Developments surrounding the adaptation of the novel began around the tail end of May when word broke that Universal nabbed the rights. Cheadle will produce via his banner alongside Madeville Films’ Todd and David Hoberman (Beauty and the Beast, Wonder), and Marsai Martin (Black-ish) and Josh Martin of Genius Productions. Debut author B.B. Alston is penning the forthcoming novel billed as a contemporary fantasy about a middle-school age black girl who sets off on a journey during which she awakens her hidden powers. According to Borys Kit at THR, HarperCollins imprint, Balzer + Bray, […]

355: Actress Fan Bingbing Retains Her Spot In The Female Spy Ensemble

Lee B. Golden III

Variety reports that Fan Bingbing (X-Men: Days Of Future Past, The White-Haired Witch Of Lunar Kingdon) will yet see her starring alongside her colleagues in the female spy ensemble, 355. The news comes just as the actress has since emerged from obscurity following a disappearance from the public for several months – part of the extensive fallout she’s faced amid China’s sprawling crackdown on tax evasion last year. With 355, Bingbing re-officiates her position with headliners Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard. Simon Kinberg (upcoming Dark Phoenix) will direct the project from a screenplay by Theresa Rebeck described as a “large-scale espionage film about international agents in a grounded, edgy action thriller”. Universal acquired the film last summer at Cannes for a $20 million deal with Chastain set to star, as well as produce via her Freckle Films banner. Question remains, however, as to who will help […]