The Dark Tower stars Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey discuss their characters and the action film in a new two-minute video just released by Sony Pictures. Author Stephen King also talks about the cast and film adaptation of his bestselling book series in the new video. Directed by Nikolaj Arcel, The Dark Tower is set to open in theaters on August 4, 2017.
In addition to Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, the cast of the action-adventure movie includes Tom Taylor, Claudia Kim, Fran Kranz, Abbey Lee, Katheryn Winnick, and Jackie Earle Haley.
The Plot: There are other worlds than these. Stephen King’s The Dark Tower, the ambitious and expansive story from one of the world’s most celebrated authors, makes its launch to the big screen. The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower, which holds the universe together. With the fate of the worlds at stake, good and evil will collide in the ultimate battle as only Roland can defend the Tower from the Man in Black.
Dominic Cooper as Jesse Custer in ‘Preacher’ Season 2, Episode 1 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen / AMC / Sony Pictures Television)
The season one finale of Preacher wiped the slate clean, destroying the town of Annville and setting Jesse (Dominic Cooper), Tulip (Ruth Negga), and Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun) on a road trip to find God. Season two episode one, appropriately titled ‘On the Road,’ begins with Cassidy going off about circumcision while Tulip wants to know about their plan. Jesse’s sure that visiting his family friend who’s a religious scholar is the right place to start. Of course, Cassidy can’t let the circumcised thing go and says they use the foreskins for things including skin lotion, which grosses out Tulip.
They’ve just agreed Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen” is a horrible song when it comes on the radio as a cop pulls a U-turn, siren going and lights flashing. Tulip was doing a cool 97 at the time, but she’s not worried. After a brief debate, they opt for a car chase while singing the song they all proclaim to dislike. (They harmonize well!) The car chase transitions into a ‘70s low-budget action film (a style the series established in season one) complete with requisite low camera angles, Tulip driving on two wheels, and the insertion of a random road crew she’s forced to avoid.
Fortunately, they escape the cops. Unfortunately, they run out of gas and the cops catch up. Jesse and Tulip are grabbed out of the car while Cassidy stands by casually smoking, shaded by an umbrella. He’s roughly tackled when he attempts to grab his sunscreen and a very feminine scream accompanies his take-down.
One cop’s nice enough to shade Cassidy after he claims he’ll catch fire, which earns the helpful cop the title of idiot from his superior. After knocking the umbrella away, Cassidy does start smoking and flees to the backseat of a squad car. As the ranking officer’s about to pull Cassidy from the car, Jesse commands him to stop and commands all the cops to holster their guns. He has them assemble in a lineup and tells the commanding officer to “mace his balls.” One is made to recite the “Yellow Rose of Texas,” two are forced into holding hands, and Tulip declares she’s not a fan of Jesse’s Genesis powers. She says it’s not even fun and wonders how he would like it if it happened to him.
Jesse’s just headed over to retrieve Cassidy when they begin taking sniper fire. Cops are getting obliterated and the sniper fire is blasting holes in the squad car that Cassidy has hidden in to escape the sun. The holes are now letting in sunlight and he’s trapped while Jesse and Tulip have taken cover with the few remaining cops.
Body parts are flying and now Cassidy is under the car crawling along in the shade as the car creeps forward. Jesse wants to flee but Tulip refuses to leave her car. However, it’s on empty and the only thing nearby she can use to siphon gas is intestines. (Tulip’s grossed out for the second time this episode.)
Jesse searches for Cassidy who has just used a cop’s dead body as a speed bump. He’s not safe yet because a can of gas has spilled and his joint is lit inches away from it on the ground. He tries to blow it out as the car once again moves forward. Jesse makes it to him with the umbrella and they speed off as cars explode behind them. From the smoke emerges the killer Cowboy from Hell, the Saint of Killers (Graham McTavish).
Tulip, blood on her face from intestine siphoning, pulls into a gas station to get the taste out of her mouth. After the clerk notices intestines hanging from their gas tank, he threatens to call the cops. Tulip and Cassidy head into the store while Jesse commands the clerk to forget they were even there and he returns to his sweeping, ignoring the bloody threesome. Inside the station, Cassidy has Tulip drink a variety of beverages – and hot sauce – to get the taste out of her mouth. Cassidy’s going for a different sort of refreshment, opting to dine on the store’s cat.
Tulip puts an armload of items on the counter, but the clerk ignores her. She’s insulted because he won’t look at her, so she scoops up the drinks – and hot sauce – and leaves. Jesse’s found something to use to get the handcuffs off Cassidy, while Tulip wonders why someone was shooting at them. Cassidy thinks it’s because Jesse has a superpower, but Tulip remains unimpressed with Jesse’s new ability. She believes it’s a case of wrong place/wrong time. “We’re in Texas. They pretty much grow dumbass crazy here,” says Tulip.
Jesse decides he’ll deal with the shooter if they run into him again, but now it’s time to hit the road once more.
The store clerk calls for Ginger the cat as the cowboy assassin arrives asking about the preacher. The man keeps answering that the preacher wasn’t there, and The Cowboy makes him open his mouth and then rips out his tongue.
Ruth Negga as Tulip O’Hare, Joseph Gilgun as Cassidy, Abbie Gayle as Ashleigh in ‘Preacher’ Season 2, Episode 1 (Photo Credit: Skip Bolen / AMC / Sony Pictures Television)
Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy arrive at Jesse’s friend Mike’s house and pull into the garage. When Jesse heads in Cassidy admits to Tulip he feels bad about keeping secrets from Jesse. He didn’t know about her and Jesse when he and Tulip hooked up, and he wants to clear the air and tell Jesse. Tulip thinks that’s the stupidest thing she’s ever heard him say. “Listen to me, Cassidy. You want to feel really bad? Go tell him we had sex and see what your mate does then,” suggests Tulip. “You don’t know him like I do.”
Cassidy owes Jesse his life and he thinks Jesse’s a good man, more so than most. Tulip agrees he has good sides to him, but he also has another darker side. Their conversation’s interrupted by someone crying out from a cage. A woman is locked up but before they can free her, Mike (who it turns out is a minister) enters the garage and tells them to leave the woman, Ashley (Abbie Gayle), in the cage.
They do as they’re instructed and head inside the messy house. Mike (Glenn Morshower) introduces them to Eddie the dog and then explains Ashley is a parishioner who needed help, so he put her in a covered cage to curb her urges. Mike explains he does this to help any of his congregation in need. Cassidy and Tulip think that’s psycho, but he claims the covered cage works.
Jesse tells his friend that God is gone, and Mike’s not surprised. When he’s prayed these past few weeks, God hasn’t answered. Jesse thinks God’s somewhere on earth right now and he wants to know where Mike thinks God might be. Mike reveals that when he studied in Mesopotamia, he came across a map that indicated God’s whereabouts if he walked the earth. After Cassidy and Tulip chime in, he wonders if they’re high right now. “Not in a covered cage kind of way,” replies Cassidy. “Idiots,” responds Mike.
Mike then admits there’s no map and nothing in any book that would tell of God’s location on earth. “You call heaven on an angel phone to discover God’s gone to roam the earth. What book is that exactly?” asks Mike. He has no idea where God would be if he’s on earth.
Jesse, Tulip, and Cassidy spend the night in one bed, and Cassidy apologizes for being a third wheel in bed. He recalls that in his childhood in Ireland they were so poor they slept in one bed, with his parents having sex right next to him. He says he grew used to the noise, so it’s okay if Tulip and Jesse want to make love right now. They decline.
Jesse heads outside for a smoke and his friend joins him. Mike asks if he’s considered God went missing for a good reason, and Jesse says God should be held accountable. Mike wants Jesse to demonstrate his Genesis power to prove it’s real, and Jesse commands him to break something – which he of course does. Jesse recalls that right before his dad died, he promised Jesse big things would be coming for him. He’s decided the quest to find God is his calling.
Mike hands Jesse a card from a woman named Tammy who told him God had been in her strip club, She She’s, in Kimble County. Jesse doesn’t believe it’s possible finding God could be that easy, but it’s their only lead so the trio have to follow it.
After his visitors leave, Mike’s doing dishes when Eddie alerts him The Cowboy has arrived. Eddie’s the first to die (off-camera, thankfully) and when The Cowboy breaks down his door, Mike offers him whiskey but no real answers to his question about Jesse’s whereabouts. Mike dies an honorable death, killing himself before The Cowboy can force him to speak.
Tulip, Jesse, and Cassidy arrive at the strip club, and Cassidy immediately volunteers to have a look around. Jesse and Tulip find Tammy and let her know they’re looking for God and that Mike says it’s possible she’s seen him. Tammy laughs it off, but her hand is shaking and Jesse picks up on that. Tammy reveals God was there a few times a couple of months back. Jesse wants to know why he was there and what he looked like, admitting he has questions for him he wants answered.
Tammy assures Jesse God will not answer any questions and instead will stare at him, making him feel terrified. Jesse and Tulip debate whether they should use Genesis on Tammy, with Tulip of the mind Genesis should be a last resort (even though she thinks Tammy is being a dick). Tulip believes it would be better to beat the answers out of Tammy who’s been calling Doug for backup for the last minute. Jesse really just wants to know what God was doing there, and Tulip suggests it was what all guys do there. But, if he came back, it’s probably for one girl in particular.
Tammy refuses to give up the name of the girl God fell for, while Jesse practically begs Tulip to be allowed to use Genesis. Tulip reminds him it’s mind invasion with Jesse countering that he could erase her mind after he uses it so she won’t feel violated. Tulip finally gives in, mainly because Tammy is so irritating.
Tammy isn’t ready to be attacked without defending herself and threatens to stab their eyes out. Meanwhile, Doug is currently wrestling with Cassidy in one of the private rooms so he’s no help. Just when Jesse assures her they won’t hurt her, a bullet from Doug’s gun comes through the wall and hits Tammy in the chest. Jesse uses Genesis on her before she dies and learns God wasn’t coming for the girls, he was coming for the jazz.
A live jazz band takes the stage and plays while the strippers dance.
Back at the hotel, Tulip’s pissed at Cassidy for getting Tammy shot. Cassidy claims there’s a three-second rule for touching the girls and he wasn’t doing anything wrong, blaming Doug for what happened. Cassidy promises Jesse he won’t let him down again.
Finally alone in their hotel room, Tulip locks herself in the bathroom and smiles as Jesse breaks down the door. They passionately kiss and then the action moves to the bed where they consummate their reunion as on the other side of the motel room wall, Cassidy lies in bed while Tulip and Jesse knock their bed into the wall over and over and over again. He watches a commercial for The Amazing Ganesh and looks confused.
Jesse steps outside for a smoke and watches as The Cowboy approaches. He repeatedly commands him to stop but that doesn’t work. The episode ends with The Cowboy pointing a gun at a surprised Jesse.
Laura Haddock and Mark Wahlberg in Paramount Pictures’ ‘Transformers: The Last Knight.’
The fifth film of the Transformers franchise posted the lowest domestic opening weekend of the franchise, ringing up just $69 million over its first five days in release. 2007’s Transformers grossed $146 million in its first six days over the extended July 4th holiday weekend. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen followed in 2009, grossing $108 million over the first five days in domestic release. Transformers: Dark of the Moon hit theaters on June 29, 2011 and raked in $97 million in five days while Transformers: Age of Extinction had a $100 million 3-day weekend performance.
Transformers: The Last Knight sits at 15% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, but it managed to snag an average score of B+ from ticket buyers according to CinemaScore.
Meanwhile, Warner Bros Pictures’ Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot continues to do fantastic at the box office. It’s now surpassed Man of Steel‘s final domestic box office numbers and is still going strong. In fact, Disney’s Cars 3 in its second weekend finished in a tie with Wonder Woman‘s fourth weekend. It’ll be interesting to see the order of finish next weekend as the critically acclaimed action drama Baby Driver arrives on June 28th followed by Despicable Me 3 and The House on June 30th.
The first trailer for Pitch Perfect 3 declares the final tour begins this December, but will #3 truly be the end of the Barton Bellas? The third film finds the all-female a cappella group now graduated from college and unable to find decent jobs. The obvious answer to all of their employment problems is to get back together for one last big tour.
Directed by Trish Sie, Pitch Perfect 3 stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Ruby Rose, John Lithgow, John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks. Universal Pictures is targeting a December 22, 2017 theatrical release date.
The Plot: Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office.
After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.
Jessica Williams stars in ‘The Incredible Jessica James.’
Netflix snagged The Incredible Jessica James prior to its debut at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival where it earned high praise from critics, and today they’ve unveiled a new teaser trailer in support of the film’s July 28, 2017 release. The Incredible Jessica James is currently sitting at 95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with only a single critic giving it a negative review. TheWrap‘s Claudia Puig (not the negative critic) describes it as “a comedy centered around a multi-dimensional African-American woman who is smart, funny, vulnerable, sensual, charming, flawed, resilient, well-educated, an inspiring teacher and a loving friend feels almost like the cinematic equivalent of a unicorn.”
Jim Strouse wrote and directed the comedy and Jessica Williams stars in the title role. The cast also includes Chris O’Dowd, Lakeith Stanfield (Atlanta), and Noël Wells (Master of None).
The Plot: Jessica Williams (The Daily Show) stars as a young, aspiring playwright in New York City who is struggling to get over a recent breakup. She is forced to go on a date with the recently divorced Boone, played by Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids) and the unlikely duo discover how to make it through the tough times in a social media obsessed post-relationship universe.
Paladin announced they’ve picked up the dramatic film Shot starring Noah Wyle (Falling Skies), Sharon Leal, and Jorge Lendeborg, Jr. Jeremy Paul Kagan directed from a script by Anneke Campbell and Will Lamborn. Paladin’s is targeting a theatrical release later this year.
“This has been a passion project for me. I wanted to make a film where we get intimately involved in what happens when someone gets shot. I want us to care about these people and I didn’t want us to turn away, like we get to do with most movie violence. This isn’t about ‘no guns,’ it is about responsible living. It’s about sanity and gun safety to prevent the staggering loss of lives. They say you save a world when you save a life. Wouldn’t it be amazing if this movie could save a life!” said director/producer Kagan.
“Shot deals with the urgent social issue of gun violence in a striking and original way. What makes it particularly effective is that it is devoid of polemics and rhetoric—no speeches are made,” said Paladin President Mark Urman, commenting on the acquisition. “Rather, through action and character alone, the viewer is drawn into a situation that is emotionally moving and disturbing. Anyone concerned about the lack of sensible gun control in our society, will want to see this film and will tell others to see it as well.”
The Plot:Shot begins as movie sound mixer Mark Newman (Noah Wyle), is pumping up the volume on a bloody shootout in an action film. Hours later, after an argument with his wife Phoebe, Mark is suddenly felled by a real random bullet, and lies bleeding on the pavement with a chest wound. With Phoebe desperately trying to stop the bleeding, they both agonizingly wait for an ambulance to arrive as Mark frantically fights for his life. Meanwhile, hidden behind a fence across the street, a teenager, Miguel (Lendeborg), watches in horror with the still smoking gun in his hand that was just passed to him by his cousin. A gun that was meant to protect him against gang bullies.
From the moment the shot rings out, Kagan’s camera in real time daringly follows Mark from street, to stretcher, to gurney, to examining table, as we watch the paramedics and medical teams in full life-saving mode. We share Mark’s shock, pain, anger, fear, gallows humor, guilt, and resignation, and how this all effects his troubled relationship with his estranged wife. We experience the pain in his bodyfrom the trauma of a gunshot wound as well as the terrors in his mind via a stream-of-semi-consciousness that conveys his panic and confusion as he wonders if he will survive. Through the imaginative use of split-screen, Kagan juxtaposes Mark’s medical crisis with Miguel’s moral one, as we simultaneously see the frightened young man wrestle with the fact that an innocent man was injured – or worse – as a direct result of his actions. And, in the film’s thrilling climax, the two meet face to face. But now a gun is in Mark’s hands.
Ansel Elgort (Divergent, The Fault in Our Stars) has Baby Driver hitting theaters next week and a new single launching today. Elgort says “All I Think About Is You” was inspired by a past memory, with the singer/songwriter sharing a bit of his philosophy on life. “Society tells us happiness and success are directly correlated, and while that’s partly true, I’ve learned real happiness comes from pure human connection,” said Elgort.
Baby Driver‘s set to open in theaters on June 28, 2017 and finds Ansel Elgort playing a getaway driver who constantly listens to music via earbuds in order to quell the ringing in his ears. Elgort’s ‘Baby’ has an eclectic taste in music, and select songs fuel his driving style at any particular time. Writer/director Edgar Wright’sBaby Driver blends his passion for music and action and features 35 songs including Golden Earring’s “Radar Love,” Queen’s “Brighton Rock,” and The Champs’ “Tequila,” with Elgort actually listening to whatever Baby was tuning into in each scene.
The Baby Driver Plot: A talented, young getaway driver (Elgort) relies on the beat of his personal soundtrack to be the best in the game. When he meets the girl of his dreams (Lily James), Baby sees a chance to ditch his criminal life and make a clean getaway. But after being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), he must face the music when a doomed heist threatens his life, love and freedom.
Universal Pictures has just released a new poster for Pitch Perfect 3, one day before premiering the official trailer for the third film of the comedy franchise. The first Pitch Perfect opened in theaters on October 5, 2012 and grossed $115 million during its theatrical run. Pitch Perfect 2 followed on May 15, 2015 and made $287 million worldwide before exiting theaters. Universal’s set a December 22, 2017 release date for Pitch Perfect 3.
Pitch Perfect 3 was directed by Trish Sie and produced by Paul Brooks, Max Handelman, and Elizabeth Banks. The cast includes Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Alexis Knapp, Chrissie Fit, Kelley Jakle, Shelley Regner, Ruby Rose, John Lithgow, John Michael Higgins and Elizabeth Banks.
The Plot: Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office.
After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.
CBS’s Zoo, based on the novel by James Patterson, returns for a third season on Thursday, June 29, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT. The new season is set 10 years after the events in season two’s finale and stars James Wolk (‘Jackson Oz’), Kristen Connolly (‘Jamie Campbell’), Billy Burke (‘Mitch Morgan’), Nonso Anozie (‘Abraham Kenyatta’), Alyssa Diaz (‘Dariela Marzan’), Josh Salatin (‘Logan’), and Gracie Dzienny (‘Clementine’).
Season three episode one’s guest cast includes Athena Karkanis (‘Abigail’), Hilary Jardine (‘Tessa Williams’), Stephen Lobo (‘Myers’), Aleks Paunovic (‘Dallas’), Callum Seagram Airlie (‘Luke’), Donny Lucas (‘Ronald Kasak’), Kayla Deorksen (‘Curls’), Meredith Hama-Brown (‘Pearls’), Robert Lawrenson (‘Jonah’), and Virginia Gardner (‘Clem-2’).
Episode one, titled ‘No Place Like Home,’ was directed by Michael Katleman from a script by Melissa Glenn and Nicole Phillips.
The ‘No Place Like Home’ Plot: Ten years after the animals were cured but at the cost of sterilizing the human population, a new threat rises in the form of “the hybrids,” an army of unstoppable lab-made creatures focused on destroying mankind.
Season 3 Plot:Zoo is a global thriller about a wave of violent animal attacks against humans sweeping the planet. In season three, the year is 2027, and the world has reached a tipping point: as the human population continues to dwindle due to the sterility problem, an equally devastating threat rises in the form of “the hybrids,” an army of unstoppable lab-made creatures, hell-bent on destroying mankind. Although the team has become estranged over the past decade, Jackson, Jamie, Abraham, Dariela and Logan are forced to overcome their differences and reunite when they learn that Mitch is alive. As the planet’s future hangs in the balance, the team must race to stop the hybrids and their creator – a shadowy figure with a startling connection to the team’s past.
Sharon Leal (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
CBS’ upcoming new dramatic series Instinct has added Sharon Leal (Dreamgirls) to the season one cast led by Alan Cumming. Instinct is based on James Patterson’s novel, with Patterson involved as an executive producer. Cumming, Michael Rauch, Marc Webb, Alex Kurtzman, Heather Kadin, Bill Robinson, and Leopoldo Gout are also on board as executive producers. Additionally, The Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb directed the series’ pilot.
Instinct will premiere later in the 2017-2018 primetime season.
The Plot:Instinct stars Alan Cumming as a former CIA operative who is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer. Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Cumming) is a gifted author and university professor living a quiet life teaching psychopathic behavior to packed classes of adoring students. But when top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham (Bojana Novakovic) appeals to him to help her catch a serial murderer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial, Dylan is compelled by the case, comes out of retirement and taps into his old skill set. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they realize they will make an ideal team if they both trust their instincts.
Leal will portray a friend of Lizzie’s who has recently been promoted to be their boss in the NYPD.
