John Boyega and Scott Eastman in ‘Pacific Rim Uprising.’
The first full trailer’s arrived for Pacific Rim Uprising, the sequel to 2013’s Pacific Rim with Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba. Directed by Steven S. DeKnight (Daredevil, Spartacus), Pacific Rim Uprising stars John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Jing Tian, Cailee Spaeny, Rinko Kikuchi, Burn Gorman, Adria Arjona, and Charlie Day. DeKnight, Emily Carmichael, Steven S. DeKnight, and T.S. Nowlin wrote the script, based on characters created by Travis Beacham.
Pacific Rim Uprising arrives in theaters on March 23, 2018.
The Plot: John Boyega stars as the rebellious Jake Pentecost, a once-promising Jaeger pilot whose legendary father gave his life to secure humanity’s victory against the monstrous “Kaiju.” Jake has since abandoned his training only to become caught up in a criminal underworld. But when an even more unstoppable threat is unleashed to tear through our cities and bring the world to its knees, he is given one last chance to live up to his father’s legacy by his estranged sister, Mako Mori (Kikuchi), who is leading a brave new generation of pilots who have grown up in the shadow of war. As they seek justice for the fallen, their only hope is to unite together in a global uprising against the forces of extinction.
Jake is joined by gifted rival pilot Lambert (Eastwood) and 15-year-old Jaeger hacker Amara (Spaeny), as the heroes of the PPDC become the only family he has left. Rising up to become the most powerful defense force to ever walk the earth, they will set course for a spectacular all-new adventure on a towering scale.
“What do you want?” asks Deckard (Harrison Ford). “I want to ask you some questions,” replies K (Ryan Gosling), a Blade Runner who’s finally successfully tracked down the missing Deckard in Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 cult classic film, Blade Runner.
Set 30 years after the events of the first film, the sequel focuses on a young Blade Runner, an LAPD cop named K who’s very good at his job of tracking and putting down old on-the-run replicants. While working on what seems to be an average case, K unearths a long-buried secret that could lead to utter chaos and war in what’s left of the world’s crumbling society. The need to know more prompts K to eventually search for Rick Deckard, an ex-Blade Runner who’s been missing for the last 30 years.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival), the much-anticipated Blade Runner 2049 is a visually striking but ponderous film that gets too caught up in all its lights, sets, and effects at the expense of the pace and interest of the story. Unlike Villeneuve’s critically acclaimed Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 fails to find its rhythm over the nearly three hour running time.
Ryan Gosling delivers an understated, bland, and at times simply uninteresting performance as the new Blade Runner K who ends up on a quest to find Deckard in order to solve not one mystery but two. Although there are a few scenes that allow him to show a little depth to his character, Gosling’s K inevitably comes across as an uninspiring protagonist.
Sylvia Hoeks has the breakout performance in the movie as the evil and lethal replicant, Luv. Luv’s devoted to her creator, Wallace (played by Jared Leto), and is determined to obey her master’s wishes no matter who or what gets in her way. She is both alluring and menacing at the same time. Jared Leto delivers another odd and showy performance as the brilliant, reclusive, and sociopathic creator of the replicants, Niander Wallace, who suffers from an extreme god complex.
Harrison Ford reprises his role of Rick Deckard, the ex-Blade Runner who’s been in hiding for 30 years. Ford gives, without question, the best performance in the film. When his character finally enters the movie, he injects it with a sense of energy and resurgence of life and passion that’s missing in most of the film. He also adds a touch of humor.
The visual effects are dazzling and the film’s sets are extremely impressive, but too much of Blade Runner 2049‘s pacing is slowed to a crawl – and at times a complete stop – due to the filmmaker’s desire to visually shock and stun the audience.
Overall, Blade Runner 2049 is a visual delight and features a strong cast delivering some noteworthy performances. Unfortunately, it also suffers from the director’s love of visual magic over a well-paced and engaging story.
GRADE: C+
MPAA Rating: R for violence, some sexuality, nudity and language
Tyler Labine in ‘Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.’
Season two of BBC America’s quirky, captivating, and original series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency will premiere on October 14, 2017. The surviving players from season one return for more incredible adventures, with Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine joining the series for the new season. Tudyk is playing Mr. Priest, a character described as a “bizarre person with a twist of maniacal derangement. He’s also a ruthless, dangerous and violent bounty hunter working for Blackwing who gets a real thrill from the chase. He is an overwhelming presence, but unlike other ruthless characters, he has a real sense of fun and adventure.”
Tyler Labine plays Sherlock Hobbs, “an under-stimulated, but overly enthusiastic small town sheriff. Despite the strange circumstances, he encounters with increasing frequency following the arrival of Dirk and his crew, Sheriff Hobbs, with his easy-going nature, is eager to help them solve their new mystery.”
Teamed up for interviews to discuss Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency season two at the San Diego Comic Con, Labine and Tudyk provided details on their characters along with why they wanted to be part of season two.
What can you say about your characters in Dirk Gently? We never know who these guys are anyway until the last episode of the season when you finally figure everything out.
Tyler Labine: “Right. I’m literally so uncertain of what we’re allowed to say and what we’re not. It’s such a confusing (thing).”
Alan Tudyk: “You can say the word umm… I can say everything’s connected, and so you’re part of that connection.”
Tyler Labine: “Yeah, everything is connected. We’re living within the sort of connectedness. My character is Sheriff Hobbes and if I had to make one sort of direct correlation to season one, me and Izzie Steele, she’s playing Tina Tevetino, we’re like the new detectives this season. We’re the cops this season. It’s a fictitious town called Burgsburg, Montana.”
Alan Tudyk: “Best burgers in Montana! Burgsburg Burger!”
Tyler Labine: “Burgsburg Burger. We are sort of there to go along on the ride with the heroes, if I had to call them anything.”
Alan Tudyk: “You’re like on the good or the evil side of things.”
Tyler Labine: “I’m on the good side, but I also may dabble into the evil side a little bit.”
Alan Tudyk: “Only in intimate settings.”
Tyler Labine: “Me and Tina Tevetino, we inexplicably go along with whatever crazy oddball stuff is happening in their world, even though for all intents and purposes we should probably arrest everybody the moment they walk into our sheriff station. I just kind of go, ‘Oh, sure, yeah, time travel. That’s pretty much a standard deal.’ We just go along for the ride and we end up sort of becoming their new aides, I guess.”
It’s a really quirky show. What about that appeals to you?
Tyler Labine: “The quirk.”
Alan Tudyk in ‘Dirk Gently’ season 2.
Alan Tudyk: “The originality. We don’t get that a lot. I feel like a lot of shows that are successful right now or that people tune into are ones that have originality. It’s not the same old thing. This comes from the mind of Max Landis and that’s an original mind.”
Tyler Labine: “That man is something else.”
Alan Tudyk: “It’s very appealing to be part of that. It’s a ride from script to script. My character, Priest, Mr. Priest…”
Tyler Labine: “If you want to get formal about it, yeah.”
Alan Tudyk: “Well, that’s what they call him, Mr. Priest. I have guns. I’m supposed to be intimidating. I don’t know that I’m pulling if off although Max says I am. I have guns. I have a machine gun. I’m on track to hunt down these people. It says in something that I’m a good sort of bounty hunter and I’m after the project people. I’m very good at it. I’ve been good at it for a long time. That’s my piece of the story that is ultimately connected; you see it converging now.”
Tyler Labine: “I do want to say something about commenting on the feel of the show and the quirk element. I’ve been remarking to my wife almost every night when I come home that it feels like we’re shooting a live-action cartoon. Because the stakes are so ridiculous and things don’t make sense but they do. And as an actor you really get to swing for the fences every time.
I don’t know if you’re having the same experience, but I feel like there’s a definite sky’s the limit kind of vibe on this show. And it’s so fun to do. It’s so much fun. It’s almost like that adage: there is no wrong answer. There is no dumb question. That definitely goes on this show.”
Alan Tudyk: “There are stupid questions. That should be said.”
Comic Con must feel like a second home to you two.
Tyler Labine: “Well, this guy, for sure.”
Alan Tudyk: “It’s my guest house. It’s a very large guest house.”
Tyler Labine: “I’m staying at his guest house’s guest house.”
Alan Tudyk: “It’s a shed.”
Tyler Labine: “It’s a towel warmer, actually. I live in his towel warmer.”
Alan Tudyk: “It seems to be a yearly event. I mean, it’s obviously a yearly event, but it’s a yearly pilgrimage to come here. And, it’s great to see people. This is a place where you see people that you wish you hung out with all year, but it’s here that you run into them and say, ‘You’ve aged one whole year.’ That’s mainly what I say.”
Does it serve to remind you why you do it, to see the joy on the faces of fans who recognize you from all your different projects?
Alan Tudyk: “Certainly, although I go to a lot of different cons around the world. You mentioned Con Man – I built that show from my experiences. And some of those more intimate ones you really get a one-on-one situation. It’s really the only place where you get that, at Cons. When you’re signing. If you’re at a premiere, you sign just a handful. Like, ‘I’m sorry, I’ve got to go in.’ At the airport you go, ‘How did you know I was on this plane? This is weird I’m uncomfortable.’”
Tyler Labine: “At Cons you dedicate hours of tiny, very, very unique, specific conversations. You know what I mean? Everybody who comes up you have like a really small, but kind of like very fulfilling conversation with them.”
Alan Tudyk: “Some can be moving as hell.”
Tyler Labine: “Some people don’t say anything, which is pretty awkward. That’s when I speak too much and try and fill in the blanks.”
Fans of The CW’s The Flash can expect to see #TeamFlash members stepping up to take on expanded roles while Barry Allen/The Flash (Grant Gustin) is out of the picture. Keiynan Lonsdale’s Kid Flash has big shoes to fill, taking over as the lead speedster as the team continues to attempt to keep Central City safe. Sitting down for roundtable interviews at the San Diego Comic Con, Lonsdale talked about Kid Flash’s place in the team, Wally’s relationship with Iris, and the lighter tone of The Flash‘s fourth season.
The Flash season four debuts on October 10, 2017.
So, it’s up to him to save the world at this point?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “Wally? (Laughing) It’s up to everyone. Yeah, I think that’s probably one thing that we all expected was, ‘Okay, now Kid Flash really has to step forward and fill in those shoes.’ But, how it sort of organically worked out is that the team has become a unit and everyone has got their place to make the machine run smoothly. So, it’s less like a step forward and more a step up, and I think he’s enjoying that. There’s less pressure in that role. I don’t know if Wally would be at the place where he could have all the weight on his shoulders because he’s not there yet. And so this has been quite good for the team to sort of be thrust into this situation that is sad but also helps them be stronger.”
Since Kid Flash has been the speedster since Barry’s been gone, how does he react when Barry returns and takes his place back?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “I think he’s trying to figure out how he feels because Wally would be so excited about Barry being back for everyone involved, himself included. But, there’s also a sense of freedom and independence that he’s really found these past six months. I think he’s got to figure out, ‘Well, does he have less independence and less freedom? Is he less of a Flash with the return of Barry?’ I think those are the questions running through his head and something he’s got to try and figure out.”
Are you looking forward to a lighter tone this year?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “I think it’s less trying to get away from the darkness and more just finding the light within the terrible situations. That’s what’s happening. There’s still heavy stuff going on; there’s still heart-wrenching moments. There’s still villains out there and crime to fight. But at the same time, I think when we make mistakes, we’re not as down on yourselves about making those mistakes. It’s sort of just funny, like finding the light in those situations. I know Wally is, for sure. He’s enjoying all of this. He has a good energy. The whole thing feels more comic book-y like that.”
Which of Wally’s relationships are focused on early in the season?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “Maybe all of them. Wally really feels like right there in the team when we kick off, and so I definitely feel like Wally and Iris (Candice Patton) have really solidified their relationship. They know each other so well that even if they’re not saying anything to each other, they’ve got each other which is very helpful for a situation when you’re out fighting crime and whatnot. And, it’s cool to see. That’s not where they started. Wally was very defensive and didn’t feel secure in the family. So, it’s really fun to see that transition and see that change.”
So, he’s okay with Iris being in charge of the group at this point?
Keiynan Lonsdale: “Of course. I think Wally is in a place where… Everyone has a space and a place to be that can make this work. We’re used to having this amazing superhero, Barry Allen, leading the fight. And with him gone, there’s literally no other choice but for us to band together. We haven’t been the leaders, so this is where Iris’ strong points can really come in and blossom which is really cool because maybe we haven’t seen her as much in the journalism side but it’s like using her brain in a whole different way. It’s cool and I think Wally loves to see that.”
Replicas stars Keanu Reeves, Alice Eve, and Thomas Middleditch took part in a New York Comic Con panel in support of the film’s upcoming theatrical release, showing off the new trailer to the NYCC crowd before it launched online. Jeffrey Nachmanoff directed the sci-fi thriller from a script by Chad St. John, with Reeves, Stephen Hamel, and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (the Transformers films) producing.
The Plot: In this sci-fi thriller, neuro-scientist William Foster (Keanu Reeves) is on the verge of successfully transferring human consciousness into a computer when his family is tragically killed in a car crash. Desperate to resurrect them, William recruits fellow scientist Ed Whittle (Thomas Middleditch) to help him secretly clone their bodies and create replicas. But he soon faces a “Sophie’s choice” when it turns out that they can only bring three of the four family members back to life.
Hulu’s debuted the official (and really bizarre) trailer for Future Man starring Josh Hutcherson (The Hunger Games films). The sci-fi comedy series finds Josh Hutcherson playing a gamer recruited to help save the world. In addition to Hutcherson, the cast includes Eliza Coupe (Happy Endings), Derek Wilson (Preacher), Ed Begley Jr. (St. Elsewhere), and Glenne Headly (Don Jon).
The series was created by Kyle Hunter and Ariel Shaffir (Sausage Party), with Hunter, Shaffier, Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Matt Tolmach, James Weaver, and Ben Karlin executive producing. Hulu will launch all episodes of season one on Tuesday, November 14, 2017.
The Plot:Future Man follows a janitor by day/world-ranked gamer by night who travels through time to prevent the extinction of humanity after mysterious visitors from the future proclaim him the key to defeating the imminent super-race invasion. Josh Hutcherson stars as Josh Futterman, an uninspired and dejected gamer who quickly becomes earth’s unlikely hero.
The CW announced Grammy Award winner Jill Scott has signed on to the cast of Black Lightning, based on DC Comics characters. Jill Scott will play Lady Eve, a “DC villain who can be traced back to the Kobra Cult in comic lore. In Black Lightning, Lady Eve will be the bridge between Tobias Whale (Marvin “Krondon” Jones III) and a secret group of corrupt leaders. Always a consummate professional, Lady Eve presents herself in Freeland as the owner of a funeral parlor but quickly becomes an adversary to Black Lightning.”
The CW will premiere Black Lightning in midseason 2018. The series is executive produced by Greg Berlanti (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, The Game, Jumping the Broom, Girlfriends), and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl).
“Jill is an amazing artist who can embody any character and give them an authentic voice that is both nuanced and richly complex. I am excited to see her in the role of Lady Eve,” said showrunner and executive producer Salim Akil.
The Plot:Black Lightning stars Cress Williams as Jefferson Pierce, a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort.
Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. Almost a decade later, Pierce’s crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community.
AMC’s zombie apocalypse series The Walking Dead just released a new 30 second trailer titled “We’ve Already Won.” The new teaser’s in support of the series’ return for season eight on October 22, 2017. Returning cast members include Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, Alanna Masteron, Josh McDermitt, Seth Gillaim, Ross Marquand, Khary Payton, Tom Payne, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Austin Amelio, Chandler Riggs, and Lennie James.
The Walking Dead Season 8 Plot: Last year, Rick Grimes and his group of survivors were confronted with their deadliest challenge yet. With the comfort of Alexandria, they let their guard down, only to be reminded how brutal the world they live in can be. The introduction of Negan and the Saviors broke our group.
Feeling powerless under Negan’s rules and demands, Rick advocated the group play along. But seeing that Negan couldn’t be reasoned with, Rick began rallying together other communities affected by the Saviors. And with the support of the Hilltop and Kingdom, they finally have enough fire power to contest the Saviors.
This year, Rick brings “All Out War” to Negan and his forces. The Saviors are larger, better-equipped, and ruthless — but Rick and the unified communities are fighting for the promise of a brighter future. The battle lines are drawn as they launch into a kinetic, action-packed offensive.
Up until now, survival has been the focus of Rick and our group, but it’s not enough. They have to fight to take back their freedom so that they can live. So that they can rebuild. As with any battle, there will be losses. Casualties. But with Rick leading the Alexandrian forces, Maggie leading the Hilltop, and King Ezekiel leading the Kingdom — Negan and the Saviors’ grip on this world may finally be coming to an end.
Pink will be embarking on the Beautiful Trauma World Tour beginning on March 1, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 40 date tour will stop in cities including Chicago, Kansas City, Toronto, Boston, San Diego, and Orlando before finishing up on June 2nd in Los Angeles. Pink also released a new track – “Whatever You Want” – from her upcoming seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma, which is set to drop on October 13, 2017. “Whatever You Want” was written and produced by Max Martin and Shellback, with additional writing credits by Pink.
Tickets will go on sale to American Express® Card Members beginning Tuesday, October 10th at 10am local time. In addition, “U.S. and Canadian residents who purchase tickets online between October 10th and October 20th will be able to redeem (1) physical copy of P!NK’s new album Beautiful Trauma, out Friday, Oct. 13th, 2017. All albums must be redeemed by October 20, 2017 at 11:59pm PST. Tickets will be on sale starting Friday, October 13th to the general public,” per the official tour announcement.
Pink Beautiful Trauma 2018 Tour Dates
03/01/18 in Phoenix, AZ at Talking Stick Resort Arena
03/03/18 in Wichita, KS at INTRUST Bank Arena
03/05/18 in Tulsa, OK at BOK Center
03/06/18 in Lincoln, NE at Pinnacle Bank Arena
03/09/18 in Chicago, IL at United Center
03/12/18 in St. Paul, MN at Xcel Energy Center
03/14/18 in St. Louis, MO at Scottrade Center
03/15/18 in Kansas City, MO at Sprint Center
03/17/18 in Indianapolis, IN at Bankers Life Fieldhouse
03/18/18 in Grand Rapids, MI at Van Andel Arena
03/20/18 in Toronto, ON* at Air Canada Centre
03/23/18 in Montreal, QC* at Bell Centre
03/25/18 in Detroit, MI* at Little Caesars Arena
03/27/18 in Louisville, KY* at KFC Yum! Center
03/28/18 in Cleveland, OH* at Quicken Loans Arena
04/04/18 in New York, NY* at Madison Square Garden
04/07/18 in Pittsburgh, PA* at PPG Paints Arena
04/09/18 in Boston, MA* at TD Garden
04/13/18 in Philadelphia, PA at Wells Fargo Center
04/14/18 in Newark, NJ at Prudential Center
04/16/18 in Washington, DC* at Capital One Arena (fka Verizon Center)
04/19/18 in Charlottesville, VA at John Paul Jones Arena
04/21/18 in Atlanta, GA at Philips Arena
04/24/18 in Orlando, FL at Amway Center
04/25/18 in Fort Lauderdale, FL at BB&T Center
04/28/18 in Houston, TX at Toyota Center
05/01/18 in Dallas, TX at American Airlines Center
05/08/18 in Denver, CO at Pepsi Center
05/09/18 in Salt Lake City, UT at Vivint Smart Home Arena
05/12/18 in Vancouver, BC at Rogers Arena
05/13/18 in Seattle, WA at KeyArena
05/15/18 in Portland, OR at Moda Center
05/18/18 in Oakland, CA at Oracle Arena
05/22/18 in Fresno, CA at Save Mart Center
05/23/18 in Ontario, CA at Citizens Business Bank Arena
05/25/18 in Anaheim, CA at Honda Center
05/26/18 in Las Vegas, NV at T-Mobile Arena
5/28/18 in San Diego, CA at Valley View Casino Center
5/31/18 in Los Angeles, CA at STAPLES Center
06/02/18 in Los Angeles, CA at The Forum
Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba star in ‘Molly’s Game’ (Photo Credit: STX Entertainment)
Jessica Chastain stars in STXfilms’ Molly’s Game which just unveiled a new two-minute trailer. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, the dramatic film is based on real events and stars Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O’Dowd, and Bill Camp. Molly’s Game is set to open in theaters on November 22, 2017.
The Plot:Molly’s Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world’s most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.
