Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland, and Megan Mullally as Karen Walker in ‘Will & Grace’ (Photo by Chris Haston/NBC)
NBC’s so happy about the ratings generated by the new season of Will & Grace that they’ve awarded the half-hour comedy series a renewal order for season three. The critically acclaimed, award-winning comedy returned for a new season on September 28, 2017 after a decade-long break. The current season, referred to as season one by the network but technically season nine, consists of 16 episodes.
Will & Grace had already picked up a season two (or season 10) episode order before season one even aired. The second season was greenlit for 13 episodes, however NBC’s upping that order to 18 half-hour episodes.
Season three (or season 11) will air in 2019. NBC’s planning that just-announced season to also consist of 18 episodes.
The series stars Eric McCormack as Will Truman, Debra Messing as Grace Adler, Sean Hayes as Jack McFarland, and Megan Mullally as Karen Walker, reprising their roles from the original eight season run of Will & Grace. Season one guest stars include Jennifer Lopez, Alec Baldwin, Minnie Driver, Ben Platt, Molly Shannon, Jane Lynch, and Andrew Rannells.
Series co-creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan write and executive produce. James Burrows is involved as both director and executive producer.
“As far as I’m concerned, we can’t get enough of Will & Grace and 23 more episodes is music to my ears,” stated Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “We’re eternally grateful that Debra, Eric, Sean and Megan feel the same way and wanted to keep this good thing going. I’m overwhelmed by the euphoric response the new show has received from the press and the audience, and my hat is off to the unrivaled writing team of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan, as well as the brilliant directing of Jimmy Burrows, for consistently delivering one of the best shows on television.”
Season one has been averaging 9.8 million viewers and has improved on NBC’s Thursday timeslot over last year by 48%. The network also reports Will & Grace is NBC’s “most-watched primetime comedy at this point in the season in eight years.”
Fox Searchlight has released the full trailer for the dramatic film, Can You Ever Forgive Me?. The trailer sets up the story of writer Lee Israel who, after no longer being able to make a living off her books, resorts to forgeries to pay the rent.
The 2018 theatrical release is based on a true story and was directed by Marielle Heller (The Diary of a Teenage Girl). Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty adapted Lee Israel’s book for the screen.
Lee Israel’s memoir was published in 2008 and was her fourth (and final) book.
The cast is led by Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly, The Boss) and Richard E. Grant (The Hitman’s Bodyguard) and includes Dolly Wells (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies), Jane Curtin (The Librarians), Ben Falcone (Enough Said), Anna Deavere Smith (For the People), and Stephen Spinella (Royal Pains).
The Plot: Melissa McCarthy stars in the adaptation of the memoir Can You Ever Forgive Me?, the true story of best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats) Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) who made her living in the 1970s and ’80s profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant).
Poster for ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me?’ (Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Negan in ‘The Walking Dead’ season 8 episode 12 (Photo Credit: Gene Page / AMC)
AMC’s The Walking Dead season eight episode 12 picks up with Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) smiling as he considers his plan to use walker blood to infect Rick’s group. He then pays a visit to Dwight (Austin Amelio), welcoming him back. He calls Dwight one of his top guys, and Dwight explains what happened to him in the woods. Negan assures him there’s work to do.
The Saviors go about collecting the blood and guts of walkers, dipping hammers, axes, and other weapons in the disgusting bloody mess. Simon (Steven Ogg) smiles as Negan explains his plan, but then quickly changes his expression to one of anger when Negan walks away.
The Saviors load up their trucks with buckets of walker blood. Simon tells the group not to kill the Hilltoppers and instead just wound them. The Saviors will use blood-soaked arrows and knives to carry out their attack.
As the group’s driving away, Negan gets into his own car and places Lucille into a bucket of guts. “You are beautiful, baby,” he says with a smile.
Over at Hilltop, Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) are welcomed by Maggie (Lauren Cohan). Rick reunites with Judith and then meets with Daryl (Norman Reedus). Daryl confesses he often thinks about the people who are gone and then apologizes for taking matters into his own hands at the Sanctuary. He says he just wanted the fight to be done. Rick understands and confirms he’s ready to fight now. He thinks he and Daryl should split up to cover more ground, and then reiterates that he’s okay. (He isn’t.)
Before splitting up, Rick thanks Daryl for getting the group to Hilltop.
Maggie and Rosita (Christian Serratos) have a heart-to-heart, and Rosita says they need to just keep going. Rosita thinks when the war is over, it will be harder because it will be quiet and people will have time to think about what happened. Maggie actually doesn’t agree, and really neither does Rosita.
Dozens of Saviors make the trek to Hilltop, and Simon and Dwight share a truck. Simon wants to know what Dwight really thinks about Negan’s plans. Simon’s tired of letting Rick’s group live and just firing warning shots. He wants to kill them all and doesn’t think Negan’s plan of infecting some of them is the best way to go.
Simon knows Rick’s people don’t scare and just keep fighting. Dwight just listens and doesn’t respond.
The Hilltop receives a letter saying some unknown person is willing to exchange food or records for a key to their future. Michonne thinks it’s from someone who really wants to help, but Maggie believes it’s a trap.
Michonne volunteers to go; she wants to take a chance even though Rick won’t understand why she left the safety of Hilltop. Maggie, Enid (Katelyn Nacon), and Rosita decide to go with Michonne, in case the letter writer’s offer is real.
Rick spots the Saviors’ convoy, with Negan in the last car. Instead of warning the Hilltop by honking his horn, he takes off after the group. (Another dumb, rash decision by Rick.)
Rick broadsides Negan’s car and then chases it down a street away from the group. The Saviors are forced to halt their convoy and look for Negan. Simon tries to get the group to stay put while he and Dwight go search for Negan. He wants them to block off both ends of the road, create a parameter, and stay frosty.
Simon and Dwight head out to look for Negan.
Negan’s car is rolled on its side and the bucket of walkers’ blood spills and drips all over him. Walkers approach as Rick fires indiscriminately into Negan’s car. (Rick’s out of control, wasting bullets, and not even close to hitting Negan.)
Negan makes a run for it while Rick reloads. They run into a building, followed by walkers. Rick’s out of bullets and when Negan realizes it, he taunts him. Rick tosses an axe and Negan falls, hanging from a second-story balcony. Rather than allow Rick to chop off his fingers, Negan lets go and drops through the floor.
Lauren Cohan as Maggie Greene in ‘The Walking Dead’ season 8 episode 12 (Photo Credit: Gene Page / AMC)
Michonne, Maggie, and Enid meet with the mysterious people who left the note. Georgie, Hilda, and Midge introduce themselves. Georgie will offer help for food and music, and while they’re talking Rosita gets the drop on Georgie’s two companions. She takes their weapons and then Georgie reveals she doesn’t have items to trade, she has knowledge to trade. It’s an act of benevolence.
Rosita looks through their van and then asks how many communities Georgie has found. Georgie admits not many, and that the worst have outpaced the best. She hopes people can believe in others again, saying it’s an exercise in trust. Georgie thinks the Hilltoppers are a fine group and Michonne wants to make the deal. However, Maggie says no – she wants to bring these people back to Hilltop.
Rick searches the area where Negan fell. It’s dark and they can barely see, and Negan can’t find Lucille. He doesn’t seem to be hurt despite the fall, and Rick wonders where the rest of his people are. Rick tells Negan this is where he dies…in the dark, all alone. Negan asks what Rick’s problem is, claiming he wants to save him. Negan claims he’s good at it, and Rick needs to stop this desire for revenge.
Negan finds a metal pole, angry it’s not Lucille. He keeps taunting Rick, telling him he failed Carl and failed his people. He’s just wasting his potential. Negan offers a one-time deal in Carl’s memory. If Rick can get the Hilltop, Alexandria, and the Kingdom to fall in line, things can go back to how they were. And, he’ll even lower his percentage to 25. But, Rick will have to come work with Negan.
Rick wonders how he can trust Negan after he wiped out all of Jadis’ people. Rick asks if that’s how Negan saves people and doesn’t believe anything Negan says. He also wonders why no one has come yet for Negan. Negan is shocked to hear about what happened to Jadis’ people, realizing Simon disobeyed orders.
Rick finds Lucille and smiles.
Simon and Dwight walk the streets, casually looking for Negan. Simon asks if Dwight thought about killing Negan and Dwight replies, “You mean when he took my wife or burned my face? No, never thought about that.” Simon confesses that if it was his call, they’d leave the area and make new relationships. He hopes Dwight agrees with this plan. Dwight asks, “Just move on?” Simon responds, “Just move on.”
Finally, Simon and Dwight stumble upon Negan’s wrecked car. They don’t know what building Negan’s in, and Simon thinks if they find him he might be more dead than alive. He suggests they just walk away and leave Negan. They can return to their people and make things better.
Dwight pulls out his pack of cigarettes, lights up, and considers what to do. He flicks the cigarette at the car and it explodes.
“Good answer,” says Simon. They walk back the way they came.
Georgie and her friends are taken to Hilltop. Michonne wants Maggie to make the deal before the Saviors get there, but Maggie wants to take the food they have in their van. Enid agrees, calling it a miracle Georgie is still alive. Enid’s upset and since the Saviors are on the way, she believes they should just take the stuff and help their people from Hilltop. Michonne reminds her Carl was brave and because he made a new friend, they now have a doctor. He wanted them to do – and be – better.
After Enid leaves, Michonne reminds Maggie that Carl never gave up on who Rick wanted him to be. Michonne says now they can’t give up on who Carl wanted them to be.
Rick is now the one taunting Negan in the dark building. Rick tells Negan he can’t save him and calls Negan a user. He only cares about Lucille and that’s all. Rick tells him he’ll make him a deal. “I’ll let you kiss her goodbye.” Negan screams, “Don’t you touch her!” and comes charging as Rick lights Lucille on fire and beats down a door labeled “Eaters.” Rick and Negan both fall through the door.
Rick picks up Lucille while the bat’s still on fire and keeps swinging at Negan. Walkers are all over the place, and Negan calls Rick a psychopath. They return to fighting and Negan gets Lucille back. Rick and Negan fight off the walkers, and finally, Rick makes a break for it out a window. (All of that and Rick accomplished absolutely nothing other than almost getting himself killed.)
Maggie brings Georgie crates of records, and Georgie changes the terms. She tells them they can have a sizeable portion of her food. She’ll do it in exchange for records and good faith. It’s a barter and she’ll be back sometime when she wants to make a new deal. She hands Maggie A Key to a Future, a book filled with diagrams of windmills, watermills, silos, guides to refining grain, and aqueducts. It’s a book of medieval achievement “so that we may have a future from our past,” explains Georgie.
Maggie thanks her and Georgie says to build the place up and make a future for her people. Georgie, Midge, and Hilda drive away. (This is all thanks to Michonne.)
Enid finally asks Michonne how they’re supposed to have a peaceful world after all this. Michonne tells her Carl wanted them to know that to get to their future it will take more than just fighting. “There’s got to be something after,” says Michonne.
Simon and Dwight make it back to the Saviors without Negan. Simon tells the group Negan is gone and they only found blood. Simon reminds them they’re all Negan and it doesn’t matter if the “big man” is gone. He wants them to remember their plan was to go to Hilltop and put the fear of God in them. But now, since Negan’s dead, they need to take more brutal action. “We must expunge them. We must redact them. They are a mistake that we shall now erase,” says Simon. “We are moving on.”
Dwight looks concerned and angry.
The group cheers, “For Negan!”
The final scene of the episode finds Negan in the passenger seat of a car being driven by Jadis. She’s holding a gun to his head and when he talks, she knocks him out.
Disney and Marvel’s Black Panther became the first film since James Cameron’s Avatar to hold the #1 position on the box office top 10 chart for five consecutive weeks. According to Box Office Mojo, Black Panther has become the 14th biggest grossing film worldwide and it’s still going strong.
Black Panther‘s main competition over the March 16-18, 2018 weekend came from Warner Bros Pictures’ Tomb Raider. The 2018 revival of the video game-inspired film franchise stars Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina) as Lara Croft. The new Tomb Raider didn’t come close to matching the opening weekend numbers of 2001’s Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie. That film rang up $47 million over its first domestic weekend and went on to gross $274 million over its worldwide theatrical run. The sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, saw its opening weekend numbers fall dramatically from its predecessor’s. The 2003 action film only brought in $21 million domestically over its first weekend and $156 million total during its theatrical run.
Next weekend will find Black Panther facing off against the romantic drama Midnight Sun starring Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger; the animated sequel, Sherlock Gnomes; and the thriller, Unsane, with Claire Foy. However, its main competition will come from the sci-fi sequel, Pacific Rim Uprising, with John Boyega and Charlie Day.
The Black Panther Plot:Black Panther follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who, after the events of Captain America: Civil War, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to take his place as King. However, when an old enemy reappears on the radar, T’Challa’s mettle as King and Black Panther is tested when he is drawn into a conflict that puts the entire fate of Wakanda and the world at risk.
Jake McDorman joins ‘Murphy Brown’ (Photo Courtesy of CBS)
The 2018 revival of the half-hour comedy series Murphy Brown has signed up Jake McDorman (Limitless, Lady Bird) in a key role. McDorman joins the cast as Avery, “Murphy’s millennial journalist son who is following in his mother’s footsteps, perhaps too closely, and has his mother’s competitive spirit and quick wit.”
The network also announced Nik Dodani (Atypical) has joined the cast and will play Pat. Pat is the “director of social media for the news show who is tasked with bringing Murphy and the gang into the 21st century,” according to CBS’s official announcement.
Jake McDorman and Nik Dodani will be joining returning Murphy Brown cast members Candice Bergen, Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud. Bergen is back in the title role with Ford reprising her role as Corky Sherwood. Joe Regalbuto returns as Frank Fontana and Grant Shaud is back as Miles Silverberg.
CBS is planning to air 13 new episodes of the award-winning comedy series during the 2018-2019 broadcast season.
The new season of Murphy Brown arrives 30 years after the original series premiered. Murphy Brown ran for 10 seasons and earned 62 Emmy nominations, winning 18 times. It also collected three Golden Globe wins out of 15 nominations, three Screen Actors Guild awards, two Directors Guild wins out of five nominations, and two Writers Guild wins out of four nominations. The series’ titular character also made TV Guide’s list of the “25 Greatest TV Characters of All Time.”
Original series creator Diane English returns as writer and executive producer with her Bend in the Road Productions. Candice Bergen is also executive producing the new season.
In addition to Limitless and Lady Bird, Jake McDorman’s filmography includes Me Him Her, Manhattan Love Story, American Sniper, and Shameless. Nik Dodani’s credits include Enemies of Dorothy, The Good Neighbor, Kevin From Work, and The Comeback.
Jessica Biel as Cora Tannetti and Bill Pullman as Detective Harry Ambrose in ‘The Sinner’ season 1 (Photo by Peter Kramer / USA Network)
USA Network’s compelling dramatic series The Sinner will return for a second season. The series earned a season two renewal order following a first season that ranked as the #1 new cable series of 2017.
The Sinner earned Golden Globe nominations in the Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (Jessica Biel) categories. It currently stands at 94% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics calling it intriguing, shocking, and complex.
Season one starred Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman, and Pullman is set to reprise his role of Detective Harry Ambrose in season two. Biel will continue as an executive producer along with Michelle Purple, Charlie Gogolak, Brad Winters, and Antonio Campos. Campos directed three episodes of the show’s first season and will direct episodes one and two of season two. Derek Simonds is returning as the series’ showrunner.
Season two’s eight episodes will air in the summer of 2018.
“The Sinner was a huge success for USA Network,” stated Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “In our second season, we’ll follow Detective Ambrose as he tracks his newest ‘why-dunnit,’ while staying true to the unique, edge-of-your-seat storytelling that captivated audiences and critics alike.”
“Jessica, Derek, and team created a mesmeric and compelling world in the first installment of The Sinner,” said Dawn Olmstead and George Cheeks, Co-Presidents, Universal Cable Productions and Wilshire Studios. “We are very proud of the series they have developed and it is with great excitement that we, along with our partners at USA Network, announce a new chapter in Detective Ambrose’s story, played once again by the incomparable Bill Pullman, as he embarks on a gripping new mystery.”
The Sinner Season 2 Plot: In season two Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) is lured back to his hometown in rural New York to assess an unsettling and heart wrenching crime — parents murdered by their 11-year-old son, with no apparent motive. As Ambrose realizes there’s nothing ordinary about the boy or where he came from, the investigation pulls him into the hidden darkness of his hometown. He’s pitted against those who’ll stop at nothing to protect its secrets — and a mysterious woman who proves to be a complicated, enigmatic piece to this haunting puzzle.
A Look Back at Season 1:The Sinner season one follows a young mother who, when overcome by an inexplicable fit of rage, commits a startling act of violence and to her horror, has no idea why. Detective Harry Ambrose finds himself obsessed with uncovering the woman’s buried motive.
Starz officially announced they have committed to the new limited series, The Spanish Princess. The network has greenlit the period drama which continues the stories that unfolded in Starz’ The White Queen and The White Princess. The Spanish Princess is based on Philippa Gregory’s The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse.
The White Queen and The White Princess‘ Emma Frost and Life on Mars‘ Matthew Graham are confirmed as showrunners and executive producers. Playgrounds’ Colin Callender (The White Queen, The Dresser, Wolf Hall) and Scott Huff (Howards End, The White Princess, The Missing) are also executive producing along with All3 Media’s New Pictures’ Charlie Pattinson (The White Queen, Requiem, The Missing 1 & 2) and Charlie Hampton (Shameless, Wild at Heart, Inspector George Gently).
“Starz is committed to its ongoing programming strategy to provide premium content highlighting the untold stories of strong women in history,” stated Carmi Zlotnik, President of Programming for Starz. “We have a passionate fanbase who embraces female-led stories like The White Queen and The White Princess and are excited to continue with Catherine of Aragon’s story in The Spanish Princess.”
Starz has not announced any casting or set a premiere date for The Spanish Princess.
The Plot:The Spanish Princess is a powerful, epic story that not only returns the audience to the world of royal court intrigue as seen uniquely through the perspective of the women, but also sheds light on a previously untold corner of history – the lives of people of color, living and working in 16th century London.
Catherine of Aragon is the beautiful teenaged princess of Spain who was promised the English throne since she was a child. She arrives in a grey, rain-lashed England with her glorious and diverse court including her lady-in-waiting Lina – an African Moor. She is Princess of Wales now, but when her husband Prince Arthur dies suddenly, the throne seems lost to Catherine. Until she claims her marriage was never consummated and that as a virgin she may set her sights on the new heir, the charismatic and headstrong Prince Harry who will one day rule as King Henry VIII.
Showtime’s trying out something new with the upcoming limited series Patrick Melrose. Showtime’s confirmed the five episode series will air on Saturdays, opening up a new night of original programming for the network. Patrick Melrose starring Benedict Cumberbatch will premiere on Saturday, May 12, 2018 and will air on Saturdays at 9pm ET/PT.
In addition to announcing the premiere date, Showtime released a new one minute clip from the series.
Oscar nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) executive produces the series as well as starring in the title role. Michael Jackson, Rachael Horovitz, Alan Ackland, and Helen Flint also executive produce, with Jackson’s new Two Cities Television company making its debut with the production of Patrick Melrose.
“As the size of our programming slate continues to grow, it makes sense for Showtime to offer another night of premieres – allowing us the opportunity to eventize series like Patrick Melrose,” said David Nevins, President and CEO, Showtime Networks Inc. “Offering original content on Saturdays not only enables us to fully service our subscribers with diverse offerings, it gives viewers enough time to enjoy them all. And a series with the ambition and quality of Patrick Melrose is the perfect place to start.”
The limited series is based on Edward St. Aubyn’s series of semi-autobiographical novels. According to Showtime, each episode is devoted to one of the five novels. BAFTA Award nominee David Nicholls (Cold Feet) adapted the novels for the series and Edward Berger (Deutchland 83, Jack) directed.
The Plot: This five-part limited series hilariously skewers the upper class as it tracks the protagonist’s harrowing odyssey from a deeply traumatic childhood through adult substance abuse and, ultimately, toward recovery. In a tour de force role, Cumberbatch plays the titular character who struggles to overcome the damage inflicted by a horribly abusive father and the mother who tacitly condoned the behavior.
Oscar nominee Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight) and Screen Actors Guild winner Hugo Weaving (The Matrix trilogy) also star as Patrick Melrose’s parents. Rounding out this accomplished cast are Anna Madeley (The Crown), Blythe Danner (Meet the Fockers), Allison Williams (Get Out), Pip Torrens (The Crown), Jessica Raine (Call the Midwife), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Doctor Foster), Holliday Grainger (The Borgias, Bonnie & Clyde), Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), and Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Baby).
Benedict Cumberbatch as Patrick Melrose in ‘Patrick Melrose’ (Photo: Ollie Upton / Showtime)
“Why are you here?” asks one of the hijackers. “I want to throw bombs into the consciousness of the masses,” answers Wilfried Bose (Daniel Brühl), the intellectual German hijacker who’s one of the hostage takers as he waits for Israel to negotiate to free the hostages in the dramatic thriller, 7 Days in Entebbe.
It’s July 1976 when Wilfried Bose and Brigitte Kuhlman (Rosamund Pike) board an Air France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris via Athens. They have no intention of going to France and are part of a four-member team of hijackers who take control of the plane and force it to land in Entebbe, Uganda. Once on the ground, the hijackers separate the Jewish passengers from the others and demand the release of many terrorists in Israeli prisons.
The Israeli government spends the next few days debating the best course of action. The Prime Minister wants to open a line of communications to the hijackers while the Secretary of Defense looks for a military move to both save the hostages and eliminate the terrorists. As the hours slowly tick away, Wilfried begins to get to close to the hostages. He starts feeling empathy for these innocent victims and begins to doubt if he’ll be able to execute women and children, if their demands are not met.
Closing in on the time limit set by the hijackers, the Israeli government officials finally decide on a military solution. They send in an elite commando unit to raid the airfield, kill the hijackers, and free the hostages.
Based on real life events, 7 Days in Entebbe should be an intense political thriller but instead gets bogged down with trying too hard to make two of the hijackers noble. In addition, the film spends far too much time on the debate with the Israeli officials.
The first half of the film is the best, and Brühl and Pike effectively portray Bose and Kuhlman as tense and at moments doubtful in their ability to pull off the hijacking. The scenes concentrating on the hijacking of the plane and then ultimately the landing in Uganda are extremely well shot and well acted by the cast.
It’s the second half of 7 Days in Entebbe, with its constant negotiating and arguing in Israel on how to handle the crisis, that all tension and urgency are removed from the thriller. Also, the shift in Kuhlman’s attitude feels forced. At first she’s determined and at times intimidating as a gun-wielding terrorist, but then transitions to a women who questions her choices and near the end regrets her actions. The transformation doesn’t work and feels unrealistic. The scene where she slips away to another airport to make a call to her lover, expressing her wish that she hadn’t gotten on the plane, is slow and contrived.
The direction and editing is a big issue near the end of the film when it keeps going back and forth between the daring rescue mission and a dance performance by a girlfriend of one of the commandos. It ruins what should be the most suspenseful and edge-of–your-seat scene in the film and thus ruins the climax of the movie.
7 Days in Entebbe is a missed opportunity for telling the story of the compelling true life rescue mission that shocked and surprised the world in 1976.
GRADE: C-
Directed By: José Padilha (2014’s RoboCop)
Release Date: March 16, 2018
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for violence, some thematic material, drug use, smoking and brief strong language
Running Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
Daniel Brühl stars as Wilfried Bose and Rosamond Pike stars as Brigitte Kuhlman in José Padilha’s ‘7 Days in Entebbe, a Focus Features release. (Photo by Liam Daniel / Focus Features)
The full trailer for Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity War opens with Gamora warning Tony Stark/Iron Man about Thanos. “The entire time I knew him, he only ever had one goal: to wipe out half the universe. If he gets all the Infinity Stones, he can do it with a snap of his fingers,” says Gamora.
Iron Man knows they have what Thanos wants and believes they’ll have the upper-hand in the battle since he’s coming to Earth – their turf. As Iron Man and Captain America gather the superheroes who will take on Thanos, Peter Quill/Star Lord suggests that Iron Man’s plan sucks and he can come up with a “really good plan” on his own.
The trailer features clips of incredible action sequences including one in which it appears Captain America’s on the losing side of a fight with Thanos. Ending on a lighter note, Peter Parker introduces himself to Dr. Stephen Strange. “I’m Peter, by the way,” says Parker. “Dr. Strange,” replies Stephen. “Oh, we’re using our made-up names. Then I am Spider-Man,” replies Peter.
The large ensemble cast of Avengers: Infinity War includes Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa/Black Panther, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America, Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark/Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange, Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, and Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord. The cast also includes Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Karen Gillian as Nebula, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Dave Bautista as Drax, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine, and Paul Bettany as Vision. Josh Brolin is the film’s main villain, Thanos.
Disney and Marvel are opening the action-adventure film in theaters on April 27, 2018. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo directed from a screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
The Plot: An unprecedented cinematic journey ten years in the making and spanning the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War brings to the screen the ultimate, deadliest showdown of all time. The Avengers and their Super Hero allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
