Like millions of people around the world, I spent five hours watching Marvel slowly roll out all those Avengers: Doomsday names in March 2025, and like a lot of people, I was bummed a few of the biggest MCU stars, including Ryan Reynolds, didn’t have a chair. While it may be true that we will see more additions as we work toward the release of the upcoming Marvel movie, I was shocked by some of the names left out of the excruciatingly long cast announcement.

That said, here’s a list of some of those beloved MCU actors I really hope we see when the Russo Brothers’ Avengers: Doomsday opens on the big screen in May 2026. It’s a long list (no, not as long as that video), so let’s get started…

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds, who has played Deadpool since the Fox days, has made a habit of teasing his return to the MCU ever since the release of Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. I totally thought we’d see his name on one of those chairs in that seemingly endless lineup, which is why I’m so bummed the wise-cracking, R-rated, and lethal hero wasn’t included.

In an ideal world, Reynolds’ return would also include the likes of Dafne Keen, Wesley Snipes, Jennifer Garner, and Leslie Uggams (you can’t have Deadpool without Blind Al).

Tom Holland

With the Spider-Man 4 release date so close to the Avengers: Doomsday rollout, it would be shocking if Tom Holland doesn’t show up in the massive crossover film a few months before his new Web-Slinger adventure. The highly in-demand actor seemed like a shoo-in to be included in the gargantuan list filled with all his MCU buddies. There are rumors that Holland won’t be in the next Avengers film, but I’m not totally convinced at this point.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson has been a part of the MCU since he showed up in Tony Stark’s house and revealed himself as Nick Fury way back in Iron Man. Since then, he’s popped up in all of the Avengers movies, so I was a little saddened and surprised by his omission from the absurdly long cast list for Doomsday. I mean, Fury is still alive on the Marvel Cinematic timeline after the events of The Marvels.

Chris Evans

Even though his version of Captain America retired during the Avengers: Endgame ending, Chris Evans has reappeared in the MCU (Johnny Flame in Deadpool & Wolverine), so I wouldn’t be shocked if some character played by the franchise mainstay shows up by the time it’s all said and done. Evans has been cagey about a possible return in the past, but not seeing his name on the back of a chair is a little disheartening, if I’m being honest.

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo has been one of my favorite MCU actors ever since he took on the role of Bruce Banner/The Hulk in 2012’s The Avengers. He’s been there for all the major moments in the franchise since then, but now I’m starting to think his iconic character won’t be saving the planet, galaxy, universe, or multiverse with his old buddies next summer. This can’t happen. I mean, who’s going to give Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man an extra taco?

Benedict Cumberbatch

Is Benedict Cumberbatch bringing back Doctor Strange (third eye and all) for Avengers: Doomsday? I don’t know because the longtime Marvel staple wasn’t included in the longest line of chairs I’ve ever seen. The actor’s comments about his return to the MCU have been all over the place, with his most recent comments to Business Insider in January 2025 making it sound like he could possibly return.

Don Cheadle

Though the Armor Wars project seems to be up in the air, I thought Don Cheadle would for sure be a part of the upcoming Avengers movie. James Rhodes has been a part of the franchise since the very beginning, and Cheadle’s version of the character has had a part in three of the four crossover films to date.

Brie Larson

Another big name missing from the “Infinity Scroll of Chairs” was Brie Larson, whose Captain Marvel has long been one of the strongest heroes in the entire MCU. We last saw her in The Marvels back in 2023, so she’s due for a return at this point. The same can be said about co-stars Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani, who play Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan, respectively. I’d be shocked if they didn’t appear.

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye has had one of the craziest journeys in the MCU over the years. The underrated Avenger has been through it all, and I’ll be bummed if he’s not part of Doomsday next year. He famously wasn’t part of the Avengers: Infinity War cast, so maybe, just maybe, we’ll see him in Avengers: Secret Wars in a few years.

Charlie Cox

With Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdoch very much a part of the MCU again with the recent arrival of Daredevil: Born Again, I will be shocked if the actor doesn’t appear in Avengers: Doomsday. His name is on the rise (both the actor and character), so his absence could be felt a great deal.

Also, I would love to see Cox’s Defenders co-stars like Mike Colter, Finn Jones, and Krysten Ritter have some kind of role in what appears to be the biggest Marvel movie in years.

Halle Berry

Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and several other major players from the original X-Men movies were all announced for Avengers: Doomsday, but there was one actress whose absence really bummed me out: Halle Berry. Whenever the music would change and the camera would pan to the right, I kept hoping to see the Storm actress listed on a chair, but it never came.

The same can be said about Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, and Hugh Jackman, three other major names from the franchise who are oddly missing from the cast list.

The Guardians Of The Galaxy

Though Dave Bautista and Pom Klementieff seem to be finished with the MCU after the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the rest of the actors should still be in play moving forward. With Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Karen Gillan, and Vin Diesel being major parts of the last two Avengers movies, it will be odd not to see them in the upcoming Doomsday. I really hope that changes, as I’d love to see that ragtag group of space scoundrels save the day again.

The Eternals

After Captain America: Brave New World referenced Eternals earlier in the year, it felt like maybe this oft-forgotten MCU movie would be getting some attention again. However, none of the actors from the 2021 epic were included in the Avengers: Doomsday rollout. I guess we’ll have to wait longer to figure out what’s going on with the group played by Angelina Jolie, Richard Madden, Gemma Chan, and Barry Keoghan.

Other Marvel Stars I Want To See In Avengers: Doomsday

On top of all these names and various groups, I would love to see even more actors from the Marvel Cinematic Universe show up in Avengers: Doomsday. From longtime staples like Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Hayley Atwell, and Scarlett Johansson (nobody stays dead forever, right?) to other fan favorites played by the likes of Benedict Wong, Dafne Keen, Lupita Nyong’o, Awkwafina, and Danai Guirara to actors introduced in post-credit scenes like Brett Goldstein and Charlize Theron, there are just so many familiar faces that could show up.

Will any or all of these actors show up in Avengers: Doomsday or its sequel? I really hope so.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

By mid-August, the busy summer movie season has usually run its course. However, for the best streaming services, there is never really a slow season. There’s always something new on Netflix (which has my top movie this week) or something coming up on Hulu that you can watch. What’s difficult is finding the best content among everything that’s available. Luckily, we have a few of the best choices from what’s new this week within the streaming realm.

Almost all the major streaming platforms have at least one major original series or movie on offer. We have a Star Wars animated series for kids that's being added to Disney+ and a Hulu animated series not for kids. There’s also a pair of interesting original movies with unlikely duos that look to combine action and comedy just perfectly. Here’s what’s worth looking at this week.

New Movies

The Union (Netflix) 

In The Union, Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry play former high school sweethearts who reunite 25 years later. Little does he know that she’s a super spy, and she’s about to recruit him to work on a secret mission. Is the premise nuts? Sure but, if the action is solid and the chemistry between the two leads is there, nobody is going to care. One gets the sense that, at the very least, the cast had fun making the movie, and that can go a long way. Needless, this is my top movie, and I'm looking forward to checking it out!

The Union Premieres August 16 on Netflix.

The Woman King (Hulu)

2022’s The Woman King was one of the best-reviewed films of the year by both professional critics and general audiences, and yet it made less than $100 million worldwide at the box office and was ignored by the Oscars. That means there's a solid chance you may have missed one of the best movies of 2022, and you should fix that. The film stars Viola Davis as the leader of an all-female warrior unit in West Africa in the early 1800s. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood's historical epic features some impressive performances as well as excellent action. Don’t miss this one again.

The Woman King arrives on August 13 on Hulu.

The Fast & Furious Franchise (Peacock) 

The Fast & Furious movies are collectively the biggest current franchise that Universal has, and yet being able to watch the films with a Peacock subscription has been hit or miss due to agreements Universal signed before launching its own platform. This week the first eight Fast & Furious films join the ninth, which was added earlier this month, meaning you can watch almost the entire franchise in one place. Fast X is currently available with a Prime Video subscription if you need to watch all the Fast & Furious movies in order.

The Fast & Furious movies arrive August 12 on Peacock.

 Jackpot! (Prime Video) 

Most of us would do just about anything to win a lottery jackpot. The movie Jackpot!, from Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, suggests a hilarious future in which the way to win the lottery is to stay alive while everybody else tries to kill you and take your money. Awkwafina stars as the winner in fear for her life, and John Cena plays a guy trying to help her survive. The movie looks to combine Awkwafina's natural comedic timing with Cena's own comic abilities, while also giving the former WWE star plenty to do physically.

Jackpot! premieres August 15 on Prime Video.

New TV

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season 2 (Disney+)

So many Star Wars fans became enthralled with the franchise as young kids but, now, even younger children have an easy entry into the galaxy far, far, away. Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season 2 (which consists of 11 episodes) arrives for those with a Disney+ subscription this week. The show is set during the High Republic era, the same time frame as the recent live-action series The Acolyte. Of course, these stories are more geared toward children and focus on a group of young Jedi learning lessons and trying to make good choices.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Season 2 premieres August 14 on Disney+.

Solar Opposites: Complete Season 5 (Hulu) 

In an era where a streaming series can be canceled seemingly without warning, the fact that Solar Opposites has made it to Season 5 is an accomplishment unto itself. Despite a high-profile voice actor change prior to Season 4, the show has remained popular among those with a Hulu subscription. The latest season promises fresh hijinks and new characters and looks to be exactly what fans are expecting.

Solar Opposites Season 5 premies August 12 on Hulu.

Bel-Air Season 3 (Peacock) 

When it was first announced that The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the sitcom that made Will Smith a star, was going to be remade as a dramatic series, there were a lot of questions. What’s clear now is that the show is working for a lot of people, as Bel-Air premieres its third season this week.

Bel-Air Season 3 arrives August 15 on Peacock.

Bad Monkey (Apple TV+) 

I’m sure once I watch Bad Monkey with my Apple TV+ subscription, I’ll understand what the title means. All I know is that a good detective story with more than a little humor, courtesy of lead actor Vince Vaughn, looks like exactly the sort of thing I’d enjoy. Vaughn stars as a suspected police detective, who gets a bit too close to a murder case and then has to figure his way out of it.

Bad Monkey premieres August 15 on Apple TV+.

RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Season 1 (Paramount+)  

It’s difficult to undersell just how popular RuPaul’s Drag Race has become. The series has multiple iterations domestically, but it is now also produced in multiple countries around the world. Now, it's time for the Drag Race World Championship. RuPaul's Drag Race Global All-Stars brings together 12 former contestants from the various international versions of the show to compete against each other. Until a Paramount+ subscription gets you access to the international versions of the show, this will give fans a way to see how the game is played around the world.

RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars Season 1 on Paramount+.

Plenty more good stuff is planned for August and beyond. We’ll be keeping our eyes open to find the best streaming content so you don’t miss it.

Actress Karen Gillan has a long resume of both TV and film projects, but she's perhaps most synonymous with playing Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order saw as the Blue Meanie's layers peeled back, making her a fan favorite character. And while it's unclear if she'll return in an upcoming Marvel movie, Gillan had a sweet reunion with Tom Hiddleston and other stars. And I so wish I could have been a fly on the wall.

While the entire MCU can be re-watched with a Disney+ subscription, the actors often go long amounts of time before seeing each other. That's why when Karen Gillan posted on Instagram of her with some familiar faces, fans responded. You can check out a group photo below, which features her with Tom Hiddleston and Awkwafina, as well as execs Kevin Feige and Louis D'Esposito. Check it out for yourself below: 

Well, I've got Marvel-related FOMO. This group of folks got together for a Hulu on Disney+ celebration, and I'm so curious about what kind of conversations were had. Perhaps Gillan could be preparing another appearance as Nebula after the ending of Guardians 3? We can only hope.

Some fans might wonder who the guy standing next to Karen Gillan in the group photo is. That's none other than comedian Nick Kocher, aka her husband. The pair got married in 2022, in a lovely Scottish event. Kocher is also featured in another image from the Disney+/Hulu event, check it out below:

Clearly plenty of laughs were had during this event, especially with comedians like Awkwafina in attendance. She and Karen Gillan worked together as part of the Jumanji 3 cast, but they haven't gotten to share any screen time in the MCU. At least, not yet.

Awkwafina joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, playing comedic relief Katy. She and Simu Liu had killer chemistry, but it's been unclear when we'll see those characters back on the big screen. But hopefully we get more information about Shang-Chi 2 as well as the future Avengers movies sooner rather than later.

As previously mentioned, fans are wondering whether or not we'll ever see Karen Gillan's Nebula again in the MCU. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gave the entire team their own happy ending. That includes Nebula, who left the team to help lead Knowhere with Drax and raise the children they rescued. While the final title card of the movie confirmed that Chris Pratt's Star-Lord would return sometime in the future, the rest of the team's fate is a mystery. And some fans want to see Gillan go to DC and play Poison Ivy. 

The next Marvel movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

One of the most fun comedic pairings of 2023 has to be Awkwafina and Sandra Oh in Hulu’s Quiz Lady, which started streaming last month. But if you thought their project on the 2023 film schedule was the first time the pair of actors crossed paths, you’d actually be wrong. They first joined the same cast back in 2019 for Disney Animation’s Raya and the Last Dragon. When reflecting on their history of co-stars, the pair shared why they much preferred working together on Quiz Lady. 

Prior to Sandra Oh playing Awkwafina’s sister in the R-rated comedy about a game show obsessive’s chaotic journey to becoming an official contestant, they both had voice roles in the Raya and the Last Dragon cast alongside the likes of Kelly Marie Tran, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim and Benedict Wong. Here’s how Awkwafina compared the experiences: 

Unlike a live-action comedy like Quiz Lady, when actors sign up to voiceovers in Disney movies, especially in the time of a worldwide pandemic, they don’t always actually get to work with their co-stars. In the vocal booth, many times actors act against the other filmmakers rather than being in front of their co-stars. So, while they were both in Raya and the Last Dragon together, they didn’t get the kind of quality time that Quiz Lady provided them. 

In Raya and the Last Dragon, Awkwafina played the magical dragon Sisu whilst Sandra Oh played Virana, the chief of Fang Land. The animated adventure was unfortunately greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic not only during production, but within its release as it dropped on Disney+’s Premier Access feature on the same day it came to theaters in March 2021. It made $130 million worldwide against a reported $100 million budget. 

While Awkwafina and Sandra Oh were isolated from each other during the production of Raya, they had the chance to really play off each other in Quiz Lady. When CinemaBlend spoke to the movie’s director Jessica Yu, she recalled Oh in particular “pushing” the dislocated wrist gag in particular and we can imagine the pair had a ton of other hilarious on-set improvisation moments between one another.  

While Awkwafina has definitely made a mark for herself in the realm of comedy in recent years, Quiz Lady definitely has us sold on Sandra Oh being part of more comedies in the future. And hopefully, the two star in another funny film like Quiz Lady in the near future. You can see both actresses in their favorite project together now with a Hulu subscription. 

We see it quite often – comedians and comedic actors cut their teeth performing stand-up or appearing on beloved sketch comedy shows before knocking everyone’s socks off with a remarkable and remarkably emotional dramatic role. Sometimes, these earn the actors and actresses Academy Awards or at least their first Oscar nomination for unforgettable performances that make us cry as much as they once made us laugh.

That being said, here are 32 examples of people known for their comedy being great in dramatic roles…

Robin Williams

Even before Robin Williams earned a much-deserved Oscar for his performance in Good Will Hunting, the comedian proved time and time again that he was more than capable when it came to dramatic roles. In fact some of Williams’ best movies like Dead Poets Society and Awakenings showed early on what he could achieve in a less comedic capacity. And let’s not forget his frightening turns in One Hour Photo and Insomnia.

Jim Carrey

After being an almost guaranteed box office draw in the mid 1990s, Jim Carrey showed he was more than just an over-the-top slapstick comedian with roles in The Truman Show and Man on the Moon. However, Carrey’s most notable dramatic turn, and probably his best overall performance can be found in 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Eddie Murphy

For years, Eddie Murphy was well-known for beloved comedic roles in classics like Coming to America, 48 Hrs., and Beverly Hills Cop, but he’s also displayed a more dramatic side over the years. At the top of this list is Dreamgirls, the 2006 musical drama that saw him take on the role of James “Thunder” Early, a performance that should have earned him an Oscar.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg is an all-time great comedian who has made audiences laugh with her stand-up specials and various film and TV projects for the better part of the past 40 years. During that time, Goldberg has also given us some of the richest and most nuanced dramatic performances like her take on Celie Harris Johnson in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, which earned her a Golden Globe and numerous other accolades.

Adam Sandler

When he wants, Adam Sandler can stand toe-to-toe with just about any living actor. Though he’s mostly known for his various comedies like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, and the Grown Ups movies, let’s not forget his outstanding dramatic performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Reign Over Me, and Uncut Gems. Watching Sandler in the Safdie Brothers’ 2019 crime thriller is like watching a completely different actor.

Steve Carell

Around the same time Steve Carell was making us fall over with laughter with his portrayal as Michael Scott on The Office, he was also giving audiences some of the best dramatic performances in movies like Little Miss Sunshine and Foxcatcher. Even since then, Carell has continued to steal the show with heart-wrenching turns in Beautiful Boy and Last Flag Flying.

Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx made a name for himself as one of the funniest comedians on the planet in the early ‘90s thanks to shows like In Living Color and The Jamie Foxx Show, which he followed up with some truly great movies in the final decade of the 20th century. But in 2004, Foxx showed off his dramatic chops in Michael Mann’s thrilling Collateral and the must-watch music biopic, Ray, a performance that earned him an Oscar.

Aubrey Plaza 

To some, Aubrey Plaza will always be remembered for her hilarious portrayal of April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation, but the comedian has given some commanding dramatic performances over the years as well. Movies like Emily the Criminal and Black Bear, as well as the second season of The White Lotus, have shown she’s a force to be reckoned with.

Melissa McCarthy

Okay, Melissa McCarthy may be one of the funniest comedic actors on the planet right now, but let’s not overlook her gripping portrayal of literary fraudster Lee Israel in 2018’s Can You Ever Forgive Me, a movie that saw her hold her own with Richard E. Grant. That’s not nothing.

Will Ferrell

Though Will Ferrell’s dramatic roles still have the comedian's unique style of humor, his performances in Everything Must Go and Stranger Than Fiction are still worth bringing up. He’s less manic and a tad bit quieter in these two movies, but that charm is still there, which really messes with your head.

Ben Stiller

Ben Stiller has shown over the years that he can do more than play the lovable loser in movies like Meet the Parents, detestable villains in Dodgeball, or caricatures of models in Zoolander. In fact, he’s given quite a few outstanding dramatic performances in everything from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty to the gutting Permanent Midnight.

Mo'Nique

In addition to being a prolific comedian with multiple stand-up specials including The Queens of Comedy, as well as having a lead role on the long-running sitcom, The Parkers, Mo’Nique is also an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA winner thanks to her lights out performance in the 2009 drama film, Precious. 

Bette Midler

Bette Midler has made us laugh ourselves out of our seats countless times over the years, but her performance as Cecilia Bloom in Beaches has been making everyone cry for decades now. It’s impossible to listen to “Wind Beneath My Wings” without thinking of that masterful dramatic turn.

Richard Pryor

Legendary stand-up comedian Richard Pryor had a series of comedies with frequent collaborator Gene Wilder at the height of his career, but the comic also gave a dynamic dramatic performance in Paul Schrader’s 1978 crime film, Blue Collar. The movie, which showed the actor’s range, also featured Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto. Talk about a cast.

Lily Tomlin

Lily Tomlin, an actress who continues to thrive decades into her career, is best known for performances in comedies like 9 to 5, shows like Grace and Frankie, and various stand-up specials and Broadway productions. But Tomlin can also pull off dramatic roles like her Academy Award-nominated performance in Nashville, her feature film debut.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks is wonderfully hilarious in movies like Finding Nemo, Broadcast News, and so many others, but his trademark happy-go-lucky and funny sensibility and charm went out the window with his bone-chilling portrayal of Bernie Rose in Drive. Ice cold.

Marlon Wayans

Here’s something wild to think about: Marlon Wayans played the stereotypical stoner Shorty in the parody horror flick Scary Movie and Tyrone in Darren Aronofsky’s devastating drama Requiem for a Dream in the same year. During the latter film’s development, the star of The Wayan Bros., the comedian had to go through five auditions.

Kristen Wiig

Some of Kristen Wiig’s best movies are those that lean more towards the dramatic side of the spectrum, with Mother, The Skeleton Twins, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty all coming to mind. This isn’t to say her comedic work isn’t great, as Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is legitimately one of the funniest movies of the 2020s.

Jason Segel

Jason Segel, through shows like Freaks & Geeks and How I Met Your Mother, has shown time after time that he’s undeniably hilarious. However, through work in movies like The End of the Tour and the 1999 dramedy SLC Punk, the actor has proven he can handle more dramatic performances as good as the rest.

Steve Martin

On top of being the all-time best SNL host, Steve Martin is also one of the most prolific actors of our time. But in addition to all of that, the actor, writer, musician, and what we can assume is a generally good hang, Martin can also pull off more dramatic roles. This can best be seen in the 2005 romantic drama, Shopgirl, which was based on one of his novellas.

Maya Rudolph

Two years after her Saturday Night Live tenure came to an end, Maya Rudolph gave a passionate and beautiful performance in Sam Mendes’ 2009 dramedy, Away We Go. The role, which saw her play the pregnant wife trying to find a place to settle down, allowed the comedic actress to play a more grounded, and sincere character.

Goldie Hawn

In 1991, Goldie Hawn took on the role of Adrienne Saunders in Damian Harris’ psychological thriller, Deceived, which saw her play the wife of the manipulative Frank Sullivan (John Heard in a devilish role). Though the movie wasn’t all that well-received, Hawn was still masterful in it, showing a great deal of range in the process.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen has given one wonderfully funny performance after another for nearly the past quarter-century, but the actor and writer behind movies like Superbad and Pineapple Express can handle his own when it comes to drama. Danny Boyle’s 2015 biopic, Steve Jobs, saw the comedian portray Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, which required him to go head-to-head with Michael Fassbender’s tech CEO in some extremely intense scenes.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart made the jump to serious drama in The Upside in 2019, an English remake of the french film, The Intouchables. However, this wouldn’t be a one and done type situation for the comedian. He would give another emotional performance in the 2021 Netflix drama, Fatherhood, in which he played a widower trying to raise his daughter in the wake of his wife’s sudden passing.

Jack Black

After dipping his toes in the drama waters with his charming performance in The Holiday, Jack Black played his darkest role yet in the 2011 crime biopic, Bernie. In Richard Linklater’s movie, Black took on the role of mortician Bernhardt “Bernie” Tiede, who was later convicted of murdering his friend and millionaire Marjorie Nugent (Shirley MacLane). 

Anna Kendrick

Anna Kendrick is best known for her starring roles in musical comedies like the Pitch Perfect franchise and the Trolls animated movies, but the comedic actress has also given commanding dramatic performances. This includes the likes of Up in the Air, 50/50, Alice Darling, and A Simple Favor, all of which show her dynamic range.

Awkwafina

If you look at Awkwafina’s best movies, you’ll see a lot of great comedies like Crazy Rich Asians, Ocean’s Eight, and Quiz Lady. However, you’ll also find Lulu Wang’s 2019 drama, The Farewell, which saw the comedian pull off a whole range of emotions throughout its story. In fact, she even won a Golden Globe for her performance.

John Lithgow

John Lithgow has had a remarkable career full of great comedies, including 3rd Rock from the Sun and Shrek, but he’s also given some impressive dramatic performances throughout his career. Be it shows like Dexter and The Crown or a list of movies that includes Killers of the Flower Moon, Terms of Endearment, and Interstellar, the decorated actor has always been able to pull off some impressive feats.

Jerry Lewis

One-half of Martin and Lewis with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis was one of the funniest names in show business throughout his career, be it with his Vegas shows or various movies like The Nutty Professor and The Ladies Man. But Lewis also gave a terrific dramatic performance in Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy, which saw the legendary comedian play a late night TV host kidnapped by an obsessed fan (played by Robert De Niro).

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston will always be remembered for her take on Rachel Green in the landmark sitcom, Friends, but the actress has since taken on some rather dramatic roles that worked quite well. One of the most notable is the 2014 drama, Cake, which saw Aniston take on the role of a woman coming to terms with the death of her son.

Jonah Hill

Jonah Hill spent the better part of the 2000s appearing in comedies like Superbad, Grandma’s Boy, and Accepted, but he started to take more dramatic roles in the 2010s. One of the most promising was his part in 2011’s Moneyball, which saw him play Billy Beane’s (Brad Pitt) incredibly intelligent (and sometimes awkward) assistant to great effect.

Steve Coogan

Steve Coogan is lights out in comedies like the Night at the Museum movies and Tropic Thunder, but he was equally as good in the 2013 drama film, Philomena, which saw him take on the role of a journalist helping a woman (played by Judi Dench) track down the son she was force to give up for adoption decades earlier.

Each of these comedians found a way to turn audience expectations on their head and give us some all-time great dramatic performances. It’s safe to say we’ll never forget some of these beloved, and wonderfully emotional roles and the people who brought them to life.

Looking back on Sandra Oh’s best movies and TV shows, the vast majority of her filmography is dramatic work. However, with Jessica Yu’s Quiz Lady, she got to let her comedic skills shine! There are so many moments in the movie that prove Oh should be in more comedies, and it turns out she really wanted to push herself and bring the funny. And she did, as the director of the movie about two sisters’ quest to get on a quiz show told CinemaBlend about the scene where the actress wanted to keep “pushing that gag.” 

The scene in question begins when the two sisters, Anne (Awkwafina) and Jenny (Sandra Oh), end up at the hospital, after Oh’s character falls off the top of the bar, into a TV and onto the floor. While they’re sitting in the waiting room, Jenny takes an ice pack off her wrist to reveal that it’s totally floppy. Anne then has a visceral reaction to it, and it turns out that flipping and flopping her wrist around to get it back into place was all the Grey’s Anatomy alum’s idea. Yu broke down shooting the scene, and how funny the actress was as she flailed her arm around while speaking with CinemaBlend. She said:

In the movie, you can see Oh pushing it, and seeing how far she can take the bit. It totally works too! Jessica Yu noted this as well, and she explained why the over the top bit paid off, saying:

The scene goes from being super funny to quite dramatic quickly, and both Sandra Oh and Awkwafina handle both elements masterfully. Yu said seeing that range from her actors was one of the reasons why this scene was a favorite of hers. She said:

Yu went on to explain another example of Sandra Oh cracking everyone up on set as she recalled shooting the scene in the Philadelphia hotel. She said the Killing Eve star was doing “this whole thing with her leg,” and it led to the entire crew cracking up. The director told me:

Overall, seeing Sandra Oh in this comedic role was so much fun, and it’s clear as day that she was having a blast making this movie. It turns out she was also making everyone involved with Quiz Lady laugh really hard because of her ability to keep pushing a gag. 

Along with Sandra Oh, Quiz Lady’s cast is stacked with comedic legends. Oh and Awkwafina lead the charge, and they are supported by Jason Schwartzman, Tony Hale and Will Ferrell (who asked to be in the movie). Talk about a comedy dream team!

If you want to see how Sandra Oh rocks the movie with her comedic skills, you can stream Quiz Lady right now with a Hulu subscription. After you watch the wonderful comedy, make sure to check out the 2023 movie schedule to see what other hilarious films are making their way to theaters and streaming soon. 

Actress Sandra Oh has had a long and celebrated career in both TV and film. Some of her most iconic roles remain on the small screen, thanks to her acclaimed work as Cristina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy and as the title character of AMC’s Killing Eve, both of which earned Oh Golden Globe Awards. Her newest movie Quiz Lady (see what we know here) will be released shortly with those with a Hulu subscription, which also stars Awkwafina. Having seen it early I can say that Quiz Lady is thoroughly hilarious, and I need to see Oh in more comedies.

Quiz Lady is one of the many films which recently had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. I had the privilege of attending said premiere, and being in the first audience to see this delightful new comedy from director Jessica Yu, who previously worked with Oh on a number of Grey’s Anatomy episodes. The film stars Sandra Oh and Awkwafina as estranged sisters Jenny and Anne, who are suddenly in danger when saddled with their absent mother’s gambling debt. Their mom’s bookie kidnaps Anne’s dog, and the sisters decide to get cast in and film a popular trivia game show in order to procure the money to get the old pup named Mr. Linguini back.

While the business involving gambling addiction and a bookie sounds like a drama, Quiz Lady is anything but. The movie is thoroughly silly from very on in its runtime– largely thanks to the comedic chops of Oh herself. Case in point: her first entrance in the movie sees her hit by a car, while rocking a delightfully ridiculous costume and blue fake extensions. While Awkwafina is an accomplished comedian herself, she functions as more of the straight man in this dynamic, to hilarious results.

Awkwafina’s protagonist Anne is buttoned up and full of anxiety, largely thanks to the sisters’ upbringing with a mother who is addicted to gambling. Sandra Oh’s Jenny is in many ways her opposite, and is a free spirit experiencing both joblessness and homelessness thanks to her lifestyle. Together they make an odd couple, whose shared trauma and family history prevents them from truly connecting throughout much of the film’s runtime.

As previously mentioned, Sandra Oh is comic gold in Quiz Lady, and is the clear scene stealer of the upcoming Hulu comedy. She’s obviously an incredible dramatic actress, so this might be somewhat surprising for casual fans of the Canadian star. But she’s shown her penchant for comedic timing during Oh’s ten year run on Grey’s, while also balancing the show’s countless tragedies. When you also think about her iconic performances in Sideways and The Princess Diaries, perhaps it shouldn’t be so surprising that Oh is able to carry the bonkers comedy.

Jessica Yu expertly directs Quiz Lady, and includes some really great visual gags. One standout sequence in particular sees Awkwafina’s Anne accidentally consuming a number of drugs during her audition for the game show, with some hilarious trippy moments and surprisingly expensive looking visual effects. The script by Jen D'Angelo is really killer, and the movie’s dialogue gives the movie’s cast plenty to work with, especially Sandra Oh.

Speaking of the cast, there's some A+ talent included in Quiz Lady, besides its pair of leading ladies. Will Ferrell (who is also a producer on the film) plays the host of the quiz show that Awkwafina’s character has been obsessed with for her whole life. The great Holland Taylor has some great material as her cantankerous neighbor, while Veep’s Tony Hale and actor Jason Schwartzman both kill in their respective roles. There’s also an amazing cameo I won’t spoil that has the potential to get moviegoers emotional given some events IRL. The whole cast give excellent performances, and help form a stellar ensemble of actors for the delightful comedy.

Quiz Lady will arrive November 3rd on Hulu. In the meantime, check out the 2023 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

Dinsey’s live-action version of The Little Mermaid keeps the classic animated movie’s story largely intact, without any significant deviations from the plot. The biggest changes in the movie come in the form of its music, with a couple of songs from the original Little Mermaid missing, and three new songs from Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda added in. Reaction to these new songs is somewhat mixed, but one thing that’s clear is that whatever your opinion might be, you probably have strong feelings about the new song “Scuttlebutt.”

The final song on the new Little Mermaid soundtrack is sung by Akwafina’s Scuttle and is the clearest indication that Lin-Manuel Miranda was involved in writing the new music, as the tune is a rap song, where Scuttle informs Ariel that the Prince has announced his engagement. Considering the drastic change in style from the rest of the songs in the film, it’s a pretty wild song, and it’s even wilder when you hear it performed in 20 languages, as a new video from Disney proves. Check it out

Disney has released videos like this before, where a popular Disney song shifts between multiple languages. They can be very interesting for a couple of different reasons. Sometimes the voice actor used in other countries can sound significantly different from the one you’re used to hearing, and so it can be quite a shock to hear what your favorite character sounds like elsewhere. This also shows just how wide the reach of a company like Disney is. Voice acting costs money, and it would be easier and cheaper to simply subtitle a film, but in at least 20 countries Disney makes their movies more accessible by fully dubbing them.

I have to admit, I’m one of the people that doesn’t love “Scuttlebutt.” I am, generally speaking, a fan of the music of Lin-Manuel Miranda in nearly every circumstance, but I’m not sure the song works in The Little Mermaid, and I now know that it isn’t Awkwafina that’s the problem, as I don’t think the song works any better in any language sung by anybody else. 

Having said that, a lot of people do like the song, several of the comments on the video are from fans who think it sounds great in every language. It’s actually pretty impressive that the voice actress in every case sounds remarkably like Awkwafina which couldn’t have been an easy thing to pull off. 

Whether you love "Scuttlebutt" or love to hate on it, the fact that the song is out there, with video, will certainly give people plenty to talk about. Disney's newest live-action remake is in theaters now and you can check our Little Mermaid review to find out how this one stacks up, beyond feelings regarding a single song. 

There are few movie monsters more classic than Count Dracula, and vampires in general have seen so many different big-screen interpretations over the years. While Chris McKay’s upcoming horror comedy Renfield may focus on the famous vampire’s servant (played by Nicholas Hoult), it’s not surprising that Nicolas Cage’s Dracula was what had social media on fire after the release of Renfield’s trailer. Reviews are in for the film ahead of its April 14 release, and the critics seem to agree the audience is in for a bloody good time.

Along with The Weather Man co-stars Nicholas Cage and Nicholas Hoult reuniting, Renfield boasts an impressive cast, including Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, Brandon Scott Jones and Adrian Martinez. The movie takes place in modern-day New Orleans, where Dracula’s familiar has decided to stand up to his toxic employer in hopes of escaping his life of servitude. Let’s see what the critics are saying, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Renfield. Mike Reyes rates the movie 3.5 stars out of 5, describing Hoult as “charmingly heroic,” while Cage is “gleefully evil.” Reyes continues: 

Linda Codega of Gizmodo says Renfield isn’t lacking for blood or camp, and there are way more martial arts sequences than one might expect from a vampire flick. It’s a creature feature where Nic Cage’s creature “is truly fucking featured.” The critic says: 

Liz Shannon Miller of Consequence agrees with the above review in the case of gore, calling the film “gloriously violent” and remarking that it carries a bold aesthetic “that loves color as much as it loves seeing a person’s insides on the outside.” More from the review: 

Rachel Leishman of The Mary Sue rates Renfield 5 out of 5 Dracula blood bags, noting that while it’s centered around a familiar Universal monster, it also makes a statement on toxic relationships, with Nicholas Hoult bringing the heart to the movie. And, as the other critics have mentioned, this review warns viewers about just how bloody the movie is, saying: 

Sam Stone of CBR also warns that audiences will chuckle through their winces, saying this film is not for the faint of heart and is at its best when leaning into the goofiness of it all. The critic continues: 

It certainly sounds like Nicolas Cage is perfect for the role and is complemented by Nicholas Hoult’s performance. Could Renfield’s success lead to Cage’s version of Dracula getting a solo movie? If you’re up for this bloody horror comedy, you can catch Renfield in theaters starting Friday, April 14, and in the meantime, be sure to check out our 2023 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are hitting the big screen soon. 

While most people who did watch the Oscars last weekend were likely there to see who won the various awards, there were likely more than a few whose primary objective was to watch the first full trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Overall the trailer is being received quite well, but some fans are taking issue with a specific element. They have a problem with Scuttle.

In the animated film, Scuttle was voiced by the great Buddy Hackett, but in the live-action version, Scuttle will be handled by Raya and the Last Dragon’s Awkwafina. And while this would seemingly change the bird’s gender, that’s not the only thing that the new movie is changing, and fans on Twitter don’t like change.

One certainly expects there to be significant differences between the exaggerated animated character from the Disney classic and the more realistic version we expect to see in a live-action remake. However, that’s not what is happening here, because Scuttle actually isn’t even a seagull anymore.

For those of you not up on birds, this version of Scuttle is actually a gannet. It’s another breed of seabird, but one not related to the seagull we all know. The reason for this change isn’t specifically clear. It’s possible that it was just decided that it would be more interesting to use a different bird. The gannet is native to the area where we expect the movie would be set, the northern coast of Europe and the British Isles, so maybe that’s why.

It certainly wasn’t done because Disney was having trouble rendering a CGI seagull. As one fan pointed out, they had one of those in the recent remake of Pinocchio, and it turned out fine. Perhaps it was because they’d already done it once that the studio decided to try something else. 

The design of the bird itself looks fine, but people are clearly having a problem with the fact that Scuttle doesn’t match whatever their preconceived notion was. Why people are so hung up on a seagull that, in the original film, isn’t that important a character, is unclear, but here we are.

Honestly, when it comes to the animal characters in The Little Mermaid remake, I feel like Sebastian and Flounder, while certainly looking fairly realistic, look much stranger than Scuttle, but fans are having their fun with this one, as you’d expect.

In the end I don’t think anybody is going to stay away from The Little Mermaid because they don’t like the change in Scuttle. There are a lot of people excited about this one and it has the potential to really take the box office by storm. We’ll find out when it hits theaters in May. 

Halle Bailey and Awkwafina got a bit of revenge on their wicked Sea Witch-playing co-star during the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. Melissa McCarthy might be set to play the villainous Ursula (a role she beat out Lizzo for) in the upcoming Disney movie, but she was less than threatening dangling above a massive vat of the kid's channel's famous patented green-colored slime during the children's awards ceremony on March 4th. And you can watch the Ariel and Scuttle performers slime their funny woman fellow actresses. 

The 34th annual Kids Choice Awards show, co-hosted by CBS This Morning sports analyst Nate Burleson and Dancing with the Stars winner and social media star Charli D'Amelio, aired from the Microsoft Theater this past Saturday. Awkwafina, Melissa McCarthy, and Halle Bailey were just a few stars who appeared during the broadcast. Still, they were most certainly some of the most memorable after dunking the Ghostbusters vet in a tank filled with over 1,500 gallons of slime. Watch as The Chloe x Halle performer jokingly scolds McCarthy, saying, "Villains never learn. Don't do the crime if you can't do the slime" before hitting a comically splatter-shaped button sending the Spy actress into the neon-toxic colored goo. The clip is in the official Award's account's Instagram post below:

We must give it to Melissa McCarthy; she took her swim in the sludge like a champ! 

Halle Bailey recently shared more underwater footage from the highly anticipated movie, including a first glimpse of Melissa McCarthy as Ursula the Sea Witch. Director Rob Marshall assembled a killer cast to play Ariel, Triton and more in order to bring his vision for the underwater adventure to life, and it includes live-action performances as well as voiceover work for the animated characters. Is it March yet? The entire cast looks like they're having an awesome time and are likely going to crush it with their performances! 

While on the Nick stage, the Disney cast pretended to have beef; behind the scenes, that wasn't the case. Awkwafina, who lends her voice to the eccentric seagull, Scuttle (who's known for thinking she is an expert on everything human), said in the past that performing in The Little Mermaid was a mind-blowing dream come true. And she said that's primarily because of her talented co-stars. One can only imagine how that  chemistry will translate to an engaging movie, and I cannot wait. 

The humorous back-and-forth between The Little Mermaid cast was definitely a highlight of the night's festivities. Of course, fans probably wouldn't have minded a new trailer to go along with that bit. Hopefully, one arrives sooner rather than later but, in the meantime, I'm down for more shenanigans like these from Melissa McCarthy, Halle Bailey and Awkwafina.

The Little Mermaid is slated to swim into cinemas on March 26th and presumably, the House of Mouse's streaming service later this year. All you'll need is a Disney+ subscription if you can't make it out the door to see it on the big screen. While you wait for Ariel and the gang to return, check out the schedule 2023 new movie releases to plan your next cinematic experience. 

Over a decade ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was founded with a principal lineup of characters including Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, and Thor, and among the many things that has changed since those early years is an increased focus on diversity and youth. In Phase 4 particularly, both on the big screen and the small, MCU fans were introduced to a fantastic roster of new heroes from a wide variety of backgrounds, and they all are expected to contribute in major ways to what’s ahead in the franchise.

Of course, given the scale of the canon at this point, it can be tricky to keep track of all the new names being introduced, so we’ve put together this guide highlighting all of the fresh faces that fans should get used to seeing in Marvel Phase 5 and beyond.

Alaqua Cox As Echo

Marvel fans were first introduced to the awesomeness of Alaqua Cox’s Echo in Hawkeye, where she was introduced as an intense crime boss looking to get revenge for the death of her father. She’ll be back soon in her own solo Disney+ series, which will see her, in part, deal with the consequences from taking a shot at Wilson Fisk, a.k.a. Kingpin.

Awkwafina As Katy

Awkwafina’s Katy is a normal woman who is thrown headfirst into the craziness of the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks to her friendship with Shang-Chi (more on him later). Where he goes, we expect she will follow and have his back – especially now that she has honed some killer archery skills.

Brian Tyree Henry As Phastos

A member of the Eternals, Brian Tyree Henry’s Phastos has a bit of a dark history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as it was his incredible ingenuity that in part led to the horrific bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. This led him to put aside his skills as an inventor and focus on living a human-like existence raising a son with his husband.

Danny Ramirez As Joaquin Torres

During Steve Rogers’ run as Captain America, he had Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson as brothers in arms who always fought by his side, and now that Sam is wearing the star-spangled suit and shield, he has Danny Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres. Fans first meet Joaquin as he is helping Sam during an Air Force mission in The Falcon And The Winter Solider, and we will soon see the characters back together on screen in Captain America: New World Order.

Dominique Thorne As Riri Williams

Move over, Shuri and Peter Parker. There is a new hero in the MCU vying for the title of “most brilliant young inventor.” Dominque Thorne’s Riri Williams makes a remarkable impression as a genius technological mind in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, making her first steps towards being known to the world as Ironheart, and audiences will get to see that journey continue in the upcoming Ironheart Disney+ series.

Florence Pugh As Yelena Belova

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has no shortage of charismatic ass-kickers, but Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova has already made herself stand out from the crowd following Black Widow and the Hawkeye series. The former Russian assassin is, for all intents and purposes, the franchise’s new Black Widow, following the death of Natasha Romanoff, and there is anticipation for everything she has in the works – the standout title being Thunderbolts.

Gemma Chan As Sersi

At the end of Eternals, it looks like the brilliant, matter-transforming Sersi, played by Gemma Chan, is on a path to start living a happy, human-like life – with her relationship with Kit Harrington’s Dane Whitman deepening. Sadly, those plans hit a snag when the Celestial, Arishem, comes to Earth and kidnaps her to space along with the other Eternals still alive and on the planet (including the aforementioned Phastos and the forthcoming Kingo). What’s next for her is unknown, but exciting.

Hailee Steinfeld As Kate Bishop

After decades of fighting for S.H.I.E.L.D. and serving as an Avenger, Clint Barton has certainly earned retirement – but it doesn’t seem he’ll be quite ready to hang up his purple costume until his successor is ready to take on the Hawkeye mantle. Said successor is Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop: an incredibly gifted and enthusiastic young woman who has a wide variety of skills, but chief among them is her talent with a bow-and-arrow.

Iman Vellani As Kamala Khan

Played by MCU superfan Iman Vellani, Kamala Khan is an Avengers superfan in the canon who lives the dream of gaining powers. In Ms. Marvel, it at first seems that her energy-based powers come from wearing a supernatural bangle, but she has since been recognized as the franchise’s first identified mutant. Expect that to come up when we see her next in The Marvels.

India Rose Hemsworth As Love

We have no idea when we will next see Love, or if she will continue to be played by India Rose Hemsworth in future movies after her debut at the end of Thor: Love And Thunder, but this list would be incomplete without mentioning her. She is the daughter of Gorr The God Butcher, and has remarkable gifts as a result – meaning Thor is going to have his hand’s full in the future as her guardian.

Kathryn Newton As Cassie Lang

Technically, Marvel fans have known Cassie Lang since Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (first played by Abby Ryder Fortson), but she is all grown up now following The Blip, and ready to be reintroduced as a new hero: Stature. She’s played by Kathryn Newton in Ant-Man And The Wasp: Quantumania, which features her coming into her own as a scientist and dabbling in her father’s quantum research.

Kumail Nanjiani As Kingo

Like Phastos and Sersi, Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo was seemingly in big trouble the last time we saw him – taken by Arishem into space to face consequences for their role in halting the birth of the new Celestial being born inside Earth. Not only is the character’s fate unclear, but his incredibly successful, multi-generational Bollywood acting career may be in jeopardy as well.

Lauren Ridloff As Makkari

Unlike the other Eternals who have already been mentioned, Lauren Ridloff’s Makkari didn’t stay on Earth at the end of the 2021 blockbuster – instead choosing to leave the planet with Thena and Druig to find Eternals on other worlds and tell them about their true natures. This plan, however, may change in the wake of the space travelers learning what happened to Phastos, Sersi, and Kingo.

Lia McHugh As Sprite

Once an Eternal, but no more! At the end of Eternals, the forever-youthful Sprite, played by Lia McHugh, undergoes a transformation and becomes truly human thanks to Sersi. Will she enjoy the experience? We’ll have to wait and find out.

Mahershala Ali As Blade

We’ve thus far only heard the voice of Mahershala Ali’s Blade, the infamous comic book vampire hunter, but soon he will be getting his very own MCU spotlight with the Phase 5 release of his solo film. Be warned, bloodsuckers!

May Calamawy As Layla El-Faouly

Indiana Jones is cool and all, but is he imbued with superpowers as a result of being the avatar for an Egyptian god? The answer is no, and that’s the edge that May Calamawy’s Layla El-Faouly will always maintain over her fellow pop culture archeologist. She made her MCU debut as the wife of Marc Spector (more on him in a bit) in Disney+’s Moon Knight, and by the finale she takes on the superhero mantle Scarlet Scarab.

Meng'er Zhang As Xu Xialing

The leader of the Ten Rings is a daunting position, as the organization orchestrates crime on a global level, but Meng’er Zhang’s Xu Xialing looks pretty damn comfortable in the role in the end credits of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. She is officially the successor to The Mandarin in the MCU, and we’ll have to wait and see how she wields her power.

Michaela Coel As Aneka

It’s a high honor in Wakanda to be named a member of the Dora Milaje, but Michaela Coel’s Aneka gets an even bigger privilege than that in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. In the blockbuster she is featured fighting alongside Okoye wearing one of the two Midnight Angel suits, and the will and skill demonstrated in the battle against Talocan will surely only fortify her reputation among the royals going forward.

Oscar Isaac As Marc Spector/Steven Grant

Who is the hero known as Moon Knight? That’s a complicated question, as his secret identity is fractured as a result of him having dissociative identity disorder. He was born Marc Spector, who becomes a skilled soldier in his adulthood, but he also lives a life as Steven Grant, a museum curator in England. Obviously only making things more complicated is that he is the avatar for the justice-obsessed Egyptian god Khonshu.

Simu Liu As Shang-Chi

Xu Xialing may control the organization known as the Ten Rings, but Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi is the one who actually possesses the incredibly powerful bands that give the wearer supernatural abilities. At the end of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, the hero is shown getting back to a somewhat normal life and hanging out with Katy, but it most definitely won’t be long until he returns to a good fight against evil.

Sophia Di Martino As Sylvie

Sophia Di Martino’s Sylvie is unique on this list in that she is the only one not from the main MCU universe; she is a version of Loki from an alternate dimension with a quest to destroy the Time Variance Authority. She actually accomplished this task at the end of Loki Season 1…but we don’t know yet how it has changed her existence.

Tatiana Maslany As Jennifer Walters/She-Hulk

It’s not easy being both a Hulk and a lawyer, but Tatiana Maslany’s Jennifer Walters, a.k.a. She-Hulk, makes it work in the meta Disney+ comedy series, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law. She’s mostly focused on the legal realm for now, namely practicing superhero law, but fans anticipate a call to action with the Avengers before too long.

Tenoch Huerta As Namor

Is Namor a hero or a villain? That depends on your perspective – but he’s certainly a hero in the eyes of the people of Talocan: the underwater nation he rules over like a god. Like Kamala Khan, he’s a mutant and he has remarkable abilities beyond his capacity to live underwater. He can fly thanks to Hermes-like wings on his ankles, and he is both phenomenally strong and durable.

Teyonah Parris As Monica Rambeau

The life of Teyonah Parris’ Monica Rambeau changes in every way during the events of WandaVision. Working as an agent of S.W.O.R.D., she is sent to investigate a strange anomaly in northern New Jersey – and not only does she literally get sucked into Scarlet Witch’s grief-related drama, but she ends up gaining superpowers. We’ll see her put those skills to use in The Marvels, where she’ll be featured opposite both Ms. Marvel and Captain Marvel.

Xochitl Gomez As America Chavez

Phase 5 has been called the second phase of The Multiverse Saga – and that could suggest that we’ll end up seeing huge things coming from Xochitl Gomez’s America Chavez. As established in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, the young hero has the unique ability to jump across universes, and that should be a pretty handy skill as existence gets closer and closer to potential chaos and nothingness.

For further reading, check out our Marvel Movies In Order feature and our Upcoming Marvel Movies and Upcoming Marvel TV guides. 

We’re all still working our way back to normal after the brightness of the holiday season has faded. A new year means new chances to be scared through upcoming horror movies, and that’s what seems to be on the menu with this weekend’s big debut, M3gan. However, horror’s also a good source of comedy, which is what one should expect in another Universal project slated to open this year, Renfield. 

Our first full look at the Nicholas Hoult/Nicolas Cage caper has been released by Universal, with Cage's Dracula being on full display. Honestly, it's every bit as perfect as we could have hoped, with Renfield giving him a classically creepy vampire look; eccentric cane and all. Not to mention, Cage and Hoult looks like they're having a lot of fun here.

The basics of Renfield see Count Dracula’s ever faithful familiar ready to get out of the game. With super powered abilities comes super powered guilt and doubt, and Hoult’s character seems ready to have more of a normal life courting Awkwafina’s law enforcement agent. It’s a fun setup, but it wouldn’t be nearly as exciting without someone really digging into the role of Dracula.

Enter Nicolas Cage, who we hear through the trailer but only really see at the end. This quick glimpse is enough though, as the eccentric acting legend is at full wattage in Renfield’s first look. Both menacing and hilarious, the twin tones of director Chris McKay’s film are nailed in this one character. 

Cage dances with both sides brilliantly, and even though he’s got those very sharp teeth, his smile is kind of infectious. All the better to drain his prey with, one would guess. While what we know about Renfield had the world prepared for Nicolas Cage to once again become a vampire, actually seeing him in action just hammers home how amazing this casting actually is.

On top of all of this excitement and bloodshed, Renfield’s all-star cast promises even more fun and games. With Nicholas Hoult’s rendition of the classic familiar of Count Dracula looking for love, this take on the characters and legend of Bram Stoker’s iconic creation feels at home in a world where What We Do In The Shadows exists. Though this isn’t the only new spin on that particular universe headed our way this year. 

Later this summer, The Last Voyage of the Demeter will finally make its way into theaters, after over a decade of development and faces like Viggo Mortensen being previously offered roles. A year of double Dracula action is exciting for those of you who love a good bloodletting. In the case of Renfield, fans of What We Do In The Shadows, supernatural action, and Nicolas Cage 

Renfield takes a bite out of the box office on April 14th, which means it probably won’t have to face off against Avatar: The Way of Water. Though the competition might still be pretty stiff, which is something you can look into by browsing 2023’s new movie releases. And don’t forget to read our official review of M3gan, to get a taste of what could be the next big thing in the world of horror.

It’s now been four summers since Crazy Rich Asians hit theaters and swept the box office off its feet as a rare romantic comedy that could make bank. Not too soon after its success, it was announced that Kevin Kwan’s entire trilogy would be seen on the big screen. Well… where is it? The franchise’s star Constance Wu has shared a couple updates at least.

Constance Wu played the movie’s leading lady, Rachel Chu, a New York University economics professor who finds love in Nick Young (played by Henry Golding), but is then placed in the middle of an awkward crossfire when she travels with him home to Singapore for a wedding. Here’s what Wu shared about what’s going on with Crazy Rich Asians 2: 

Wu was speaking to ScreenRant about her new series The Terminal List, which she stars in with Chris Pratt, and it was during that conversation that actress broke a long silence about the next Crazy Rich Asians movie. As she shared, there’s some movement on the rom-com sequel, with filming on the producers' minds. Plus, she shared a cute nugget about being great friends with Awkwafina, who played Rachel’s best friend Goh Peik Lin in the 2018 movie. 

After Crazy Rich Asians, there are two more novels that star Rachel and Nick: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. Back in 2018, it was announced that the sequels would be filmed back-to-back in 2020, but then 2020 must have happened. Plus, there’s the fact that just about every member of the Crazy Rich Asians cast has been busy getting even more famous since the release of the rom-com and going from project to project. 

The latest news we’ve heard about what’s next for Crazy Rich Asians prior to Wu’s words is that there was a shakeup in the writer’s room, with newcomer writer Amy Wang now penning the script. The change came after there was a pay dispute between one of the scribes of the first movie for the sequels. Adele Lim, who wrote the first movie alongside Peter Chiarelli, decided to exit the projects due to being offered significantly less money than her male co-writer. 

Right now, we’re also not sure if Jon M. Chu will still direct the movie either, considering the director has been in pre-production on the two Wicked movies he’ll helm. We’ll keep you updated on the Crazy Rich Asians sequels as we learn more about them. Until then, you can check out Constance Wu in The Terminal List, now streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription. 

Over the years, acting legends like Bela Lugosi, Gary Oldman, and the late Christopher Lee have given their own spin on the classic vampire character, Count Dracula, with dozens of other names following in their footsteps. Well, in the spring of 2023, Nicolas Cage will join their ranks when he dons the cape in Renfield, the upcoming horror comedy about the iconic character’s henchman. But, instead of doing his master’s bidding without batting an eye, the new movie from Universal Pictures will see the classic literary character go in a new direction.

If this is the first you’ve heard of Renfield, besides seeing that picture of Cage in full costume that circulated in early 2022, worry not, fearless vampire killer, because we’re about to break down everything there is to know about the movie, including its release date, cast, story, tone, and other tidbits of information you won’t want to miss.

Renfield Will Be Released On April 14, 2023

Universal Pictures is going to have quite a busy theatrical slate in the coming year with movies like the upcoming Fast X and the star-studded Oppenheimer serving as just two of the major tent poles holding up the studio’s big 2023 plans. Well, you can add Renfield to that list, as the Dracula comedy (which boasts a stacked cast of its own) is currently slated to be released theatrically on April 14, 2023, per Deadline. The 2023 movie schedule keeps getting better by the day (or night if you’re a vampire), and we’re still months away at this point.

The Renfield Cast Includes Nicolas Cage, Nicholas Hoult, Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, And More

When the movie opens in theaters in April 2023 it will feature a rather outstanding Renfield cast of Hollywood A-listers and actors who have been on the rise the past few years. Although Nicolas Cage’s Count Dracula has been getting a lot of attention since his casting was first announced, the main character in the movie, the titular Renfield, will be played by Nicholas Hoult, star of the more recent X-Men movies and the high-octane action thrill ride that was Mad Max: Fury Road.

The other members of the Renfield cast are just as impressive, with Awkwafina, of Crazy Rich Asians and Shang-Chi and Legend of the Ten Rings fame, playing Rebecca Quincy, a traffic cop who catches the eye of Dracula’s assistant. Ben Schwartz, who most recently voiced the blue speedster in Sonic the Hedgehog 2, will appear in a supporting role. Adrian Martinez (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty), Shohreh Aghdashloo (The Punisher), Bess Rouss (Murder in the First), James Moses Black (Snowfall), and Caroline Williams (The Mentalist) are all slated to appear as well.

Renfield Follows Dracula’s Lackey As He Leaves His Master To Find Love

As mentioned above, Renfield will focus less on Count Dracula and more on his longtime lackey who finally takes a stand after suffering at his master’s hand for centuries. In January 2022, Deadline reported that the 2023 Universal Pictures monster movie will follow Nicholas Hoult’s Renfield as he finds a new lease on life after meeting and falling in love (much like his character in Warm Bodies) with traffic cop Rebecca Quincy, Awkwafina’s feisty character. Not much else has been revealed about the plot at this point, but expect to find out more as we get closer to its release, especially when a trailer eventually arrives.

The Tomorrow War Director Chris McKay Is Directing Renfield

Back in April 2021, when details about Renfield were scant at best, Deadline reported that the upcoming horror comedy would be directed by Chris McKay, who helmed the Chris Pratt led sci-fi action thriller, The Tomorrow War, which was released later that year. Prior to the Amazon original movie, McKay directed The Lego Batman Movie and 2wks, 1yr. He also served as a writer, director, and producer on a number of Adult Swim stop-motion animation programs throughout his career, including Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, and Titan Maximum.

The same Deadline report also pointed out that Renfield is based on a story written Robert Kirkman, the creative force behind The Walking Dead and Invincible, both the comics and TV adaptations. Longtime Community and Rick and Morty scribe Ryan Ridley wrote the screenplay.

Robert Kirkman Has Described Renfield As An ‘Extremely Violent Comedy’

Anyone familiar with Robert Kirkman’s work, whether it be his comics or various TV projects, knows he has a knack for comedy and violence, and has crafted his own unique style over the years. Well, it sounds like Renfield will be no different, considering what the visionary writer told Kevin Smith on the FatMan Beyond podcast in May 2021:

And, with all the crazy ways Kirkman has killed off The Walking Dead characters and made the lives of others a living hell over the years (while still being funny at times), it sounds like we’re in for quite a treat come April 2023.

Production Has Already Wrapped On Renfield

The buzz surrounding Renfield reached a fever pitch in March 2022 when it was revealed that production on the upcoming Nicolas Cage movie was well underway, but come on, it was mostly due to those incredible on-set photos People published (the images of Cage as Count Dracula are absolutely incredible). Even more good news came about a month later when Ben Schwartz shared on-set image on his Instagram page saying filming had wrapped on the upcoming horror movie:

Judging by the glowing remarks the Sonic the Hedgehog 2 star made in the caption accompanying the photo, it sounds like the shoot was a great way to spend a short amount of time in New Orleans.

Nicolas Cage Took Inspiration From Malignant And Ringu When Preparing For Renfield

With Nicolas Cage playing Count Dracula in Renfield, you would think the Academy Award winner would draw inspiration from the greats who have played the role in the past, but Cage (being Cage and all) wanted to try something different and give audiences a unique version of the character. When speaking on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast in January 2022, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent star revealed that he took inspiration from some less-than-obvious sources:

How Cage incorporates those non-Dracula inspirations into his character remain to be seen, but they sound interesting nonetheless.

Expect to hear a lot more about Renfield as we get closer to its April 14, 2023 release date. In the meantime, make sure to get all caught up with the rest of the upcoming horror movies coming to theaters and streaming services in the near future.

When it comes to animated films, DreamWorks is one of the kings. From Shrek to How To Train Your Dragon, DreamWorks has made some amazing films in its time. My personal favorite has always been the amazing biblical musical, The Prince of Egypt, but now, a new film has come to join that list of awesome animated movies - The Bad Guys. 

Debuting as part of the 2022 movie release schedule, The Bad Guys is the latest DreamWork's venture, which follows a gang of animals who are criminals and try to pull off the ultimate heist, but when they are caught, have to pretend they want to be reformed citizens. Here is the cast of The Bad Guys and where you might have seen or heard them before. 

Sam Rockwell (Mr. Wolf)

Mr. Wolf is the leader of the “Bad Guys” gang, and he is voiced by the superbly talented Sam Rockwell. Don’t be surprised if that name sounds familiar, as Rockwell is certainly one of those actors you’ve seen or heard many times before. 

In terms of movies, Rockwell has been in a variety of films, both critical and box-office hits. Some of these movies include Lawn Dogs, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Matchstick Men, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Moon, Seven Psychopaths, Richard Jewel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the Stephen King adaptation, The Green Mile, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, The Way Way Back, Vice, Jojo Rabbit, and many, many others. 

Rockwell hasn’t been as active in television as he has in movies, mainly keeping his talents to the big screen. However, one of his biggest TV roles was voicing the character Vic Reynolds in the animated Netflix TV series, F is for Family. 

Marc Maron (Mr. Snake)

Next up in The Bad Guys, we have Mr. Snake, the second-in-command to Mr. Wolf who's voiced by Marc Maron. Primarily a stand-up comedian, Maron is known for his comedy and many guest-spots on late night shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman or Late Night with Conan O’Brien. However, he has plenty of acting credits that you might recognize him from, as well. 

Maron has had roles in films like 2019’s Joker, Get A Job, Sword of Trust, Stardust, To Leslie, Respect, and more. He has also had experience in television. From 2013-2016, he starred in his own show, called Maron. He’s also had roles in shows such as Harvey Beaks, Easy, the Netflix series, GLOW, and many other small guest roles that you might have seen him in before. 

Anthony Ramos (Mr. Piranha)

Moving on to the next member of The Bad Guys, Anthony Ramos voices Mr. Piranha, who is the youngest of the gang and has a bit of a temper. Ramos has been making a name for himself the last few years with his musical and acting talent, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you have heard of him. 

Ramos was a part of the original cast of Hamilton, which was released on Disney+ in 2020 and gave him even more exposure. Since then, Ramos has appeared in a variety of movies and television shows. He was a part of the In the Heights cast as the lead character, as well as having smaller roles in movies like Godzilla: King of the Monsters, A Star Is Born, Trolls: World Tour, and more. 

Ramos is also no stranger to television. He had a big role as Mars Blackmon in She’s Gotta Have It, as well as a big role in Season 4 of In Treatment, and a guest role on the Starz series, Blindspotting. He’s also going to be in the upcoming Disney+ series, Ironheart, so keep an eye out for this one. 

Craig Robinson (Mr. Shark)

The fourth member of The Bad Guys gang is Mr. Shark, who is a supposed master-of-disguise. He is voiced by Craig Robinson, a hilarious actor and comedian who has been in many movies and television shows that you might recognize him from - or, at the very least, recognize his voice. 

Robinson has appeared in many big screen comedies, including This Is The End, Hot Tub Time Machine, Pineapple Express, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Sausage Party, and more. He’s also done a few dramatic films, with roles in movies like Dolemite is My Name and Morris from America. 

However, I know Craig Robinson originally from his work on television. One of his most prominent characters was Darryl Philbin as part of The Office cast. He’s also had many roles in other shows such as The Cleveland Show, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, American Dad!, Ghosted, and more. Robinson has also stepped into hosting a little bit, with his gigs on both The Masked Danced and Your Attention Please. Currently, he stars as Craig in Killing It on Peacock. 

Awkwafina (Ms. Tarantula)

Last but not least for the gang members in The Bad Guys, we have Ms. Tarantula, voiced by the talented Awkwafina. I’m sure at some point over the last couple of years you’ve heard Awkwafina’s name, and for good reason, as the actress is so funny and a star. 

Awkwafina has been in many films over the last few years. Some of her best include Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell, being part of the Raya and the Last Dragon cast, and a big role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She’s even going to be in the upcoming The Little Mermaid live-action remake as Scully. 

The star has also had a lot of experience in television as well. Awkwafina stars in her own series called Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, a comedy, but she’s also had other prominent roles as well, including a voice role in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, as well the host of Tawk. 

Richard Ayode (Prof. Rupert Marmalade IV)

Next up, we have Professor Rupert Marmalade IV in The Bad Guys, who is voiced by the talented Richard Ayoade. Ayoade has been in a number of movies and TV shows during his career, so you might have seen him in a couple of things before. 

With movies, Ayoade has appeared in many films such as The Watch, The Double, The Boxtrolls, was a part of the Soul cast, and many more. Ayoade has also been very prominent in television. His biggest role this far was portraying Maurice Moss in the comedy, The IT Crowd, but he’s also appeared in many other shows such as Time Trumpet, The Big Fat Quiz, Strange Hill High, Gadget Man, Travel Man, Apple & Onion, and many others. 

Zazie Beetz (Diane Foxington/The Crimson Paw)

Moving on, we have Zazie Beetz, who voices Diane Foxington in The Bad Guys, otherwise known as The Crimson Paw. Zazie Beetz is a name I’ve grown very familiar with over the last several years, due to her iconic portrayal of Vanessa in the FX series, Atlanta, which just returned for Season 3. 

However, Beetz has done more than just that and has been in many TV shows and movies. Some of her best known work thus far has been playing Domino in Deadpool 2,  Joker, Wounds, Dead Pigs, Geostorm, Lucy in the Sky, The Harder They Fall, and more. She’s also going to be in the upcoming Brad Pitt-led film, Bullet Train. 

Beetz's television works besides Atlanta includes playing Noelle in Easy, having a guest spot on Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone, and voice roles in Robot Chicken. 

Lilly Singh (Tiffany Fluffit)

Tiffany Fluffit, a news reporter in The Bad Guys, is voiced by Lilly Singh, and as someone who grew up watching her, it is so cool to see her in a big-time movie like this. Lilly Singh got her start making sketches on her YouTube channel, Superwoman, but then broke out into the mainstream media when she started to host her own late-night talk show, A Little Late with Lilly Singh. 

Even though she hosted her talk show for two seasons, Singh has also had a variety of television and movie appearances. Some of her movie roles include a voice role in Ice Age: Collision Course, Bad Moms, and more. Her TV appearances include small guest roles in shows such as Life in Pieces, Fahrenheit 451 (which was a made-for-TV film), The Simpsons, Medical Police, and a recurring role in the Hulu original series, Dollface. She’s also a judge on Canada’s Got Talent. 

Alex Borstein (Misty Luggins)

Last but not least, we have Alex Borstein, who voices Misty Luggins in The Bad Guys. I’m sure if you’re a voice-actor fan, you’ve heard of Alex Borstein, who has done an extensive amount of voice work during her career, but one of her biggest roles thus far has been voicing Lois Griffin in the iconic animated show, Family Guy. 

However, besides her big voice role, Borstein has done plenty of other parts as well in both movies and TV shows. Some of her movie work includes Catwoman, Little Man, The Lookout, Killers, Ted, the stopmotion film, ParaNorman, Love the Coopers, Extinct, The Angry Birds Movie, and more. 

Her other TV roles include being a part of MADtv and doing several sketches, guest roles on Gilmore Girls, voices on Robot Chicken, voicing Latoyah in Slacker Cats, portraying Lou Deckner in Shameless, Dawn Forchette in Getting On, Susie Myerson in the Amazon Prime original series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and many others. 

With such a large cast, it’s no surprise that all of these characters are played by such talented actors and actresses. Maybe now you've found a new show or movie to watch because of them. Hopefully they’re not as bad as the Bad Guys gang in their other projects, though. 

We know there are those of you out there who root for the bad guy. DreamWorks Animation must know it too, and their upcoming movie The Bad Guys gives you plenty of them (duh). The trailer for the film, which shows off its A-list cast, makes it look like a pretty fun heist flick, with even some Reservoir Dogs inspiration, but what else can we expect from Pierre Perifel’s feature directorial debut? The critics have screened the movie, and they’re here to help us figure that out.

Voicing the animated bad guys are Sam Rockwell, Marc Maron, Anthony Ramos, Craig Robinson and Awkwafina. This group of criminal animals who, upon being caught, pretend to attempt to reform themselves as model citizens. However, leader of the pack Wolf (Rockwell), is unexpectedly drawn to change his ways for real. So what’s the verdict? Let’s check out what the critics have to say, starting with the CinemaBlend review of The Bad Guys. 

Our own Eric Eisenberg rates it 3 out of 5 stars, saying while the movie looks fun, it never really tries anything interesting. He says it’s impossible not to notice similarities to 2016 hit Zootopia, and this one doesn’t stack up favorably to the Disney film:

Tom Santilli of Movie Show Plus doesn’t give the film quite as much credit, grading it a D. He says the film’s premise is ripe for fun, but there’s nothing good to be found, and the audience — both the children and the adults accompanying them — deserve better:

However, for some audiences, it’s hard to beat a redemption story, and Danielle Solzman of Solzy at the Movies enjoyed this one, rating it a 4 out of 5. She draws attention to the beautiful animation — which is one point the critics agree on, even in other, less favorable reviews. Solzman says: 

Frank Schek of The Hollywood Reporter says The Bad Guys is “criminally fun” — especially with some older-generation references to Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs for the grown-ups — although the final act devolves into manic vehicular mayhem. This critic especially likes the casting of well-known actors who are actually well-suited to the roles:

Aaron Neuwirth of We Live Entertainment rates it a 7 out of 10, saying The Bad Guys incorporates plot twists, compelling character reveals, and engaging action sequences with plenty of space left for jokes and sight gags:

Josh Spiegel of SlashFilm rates the movie 6.5 out of 10, saying it has its charms but doesn’t quite stand up to some of its Pixar peers, including Luca and Turning Red. He also mentioned the animation style, which he says is a nod to Aaron Blabey’s book series that the movie is adapted from:

It sounds like critics are all over the place on The Bad Guys, but they do agree on the beautiful animation. Many also mention that the film tries to provide enough shout-outs to other movies to keep the adult portion of the audience on their toes while the kids are otherwise distracted by the more expected child-geared humor (yes, I’m talking about fart jokes). 

If you want to check this one out, you can soon. The Bad Guys premieres in theaters on Friday, April 22. While you’re at it, take a look at our 2022 Movie Release Schedule to see what other films are coming soon. 

Film adaptations of Bram Stoker’s Dracula have been commonplace in cinema since the release of 1922’s Nosferatu, though Bela Lugosi was the first actor to officially bring the infamous vampire to life on the big screen in 1931. Like in the original novel, many of these adaptations include Renfield, Count Dracula’s henchman who was locked away in an insane asylum and desperate to gain immortality. Well, more than after 120 years after Dracula was published, it’s time for Renfield to get the spotlight, and he’ll do so in his own movie from Universal Pictures.

Based on an original pitch from The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman, Renfield sees its eponymous protagonist getting a new lease on life in the present day after spending centuries as Dracula’s poorly-treated lackey, leading to him falling in love with a feisty traffic cop. This comedic take on the Dracula mythos is being directed by The Tomorrow War’s Chris McKay and written by Rick & Morty alum Ryan Ridley. Renfield is among the 2023 movie releases to look forward to, so this a good time to discuss Nicolas Cage, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Awkwafina and the other actors making up the main cast. But first, let’s talk about who’s playing Renfield himself.

Nicholas Hoult

Nicolas Hoult is arguably best known for playing Hank McCoy/Beast in the “First Class” era of X-Men movies, with those movies following his progression from a bright-eyed young scientist to veteran superhero and teacher who cycled between looking like a normal human and rocking blue fur. Hoult has also starred in Mad Max: Fury Road, Rebel in the Rye, The Favourite, Tolkien and Those Who Wish Me Dead, and he also co-leads Hulu’s The Great with Elle Fanning. As seen in the first Renfield trailer, Hoult’s R.M. Renfield has been gifted with special abilities because he serves Dracula, but are those worth it in exchange for the abuse he puts up with… and, you know, sacrificing the lives of innocents? Evidently not since he seeks out a support group and realizes that if he if he doesn’t prioritize Dracula, the vampire will lose his power. And speaking of that fanged fiend…

Nicolas Cage

More than three decades after his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola, directed Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Nicolas Cage is bringing the iconic vampire to life in Renfield. Although this is a comedy (like his previous outing in the world of vampires, 1989’s Vampire’s Kiss), don’t think that means he isn’t taking preparation for the role seriously, as Cage wants his Dracula to “pop in a unique way,” and even turned to the 2021 horror movie Malignant for inspiration. For those who haven’t followed along with Cage’s career in recent years, some of the the movies he’s popped up in include Mandy, Color Out of Space, Primal, Willy’s Wonderland and Pig. He was also convinced into playing a fictionalized version of himself in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Refield also marks Cage’s first time working with Nicolas Hoult since The Weather Man, when Hoult was a teenager.

Awkwafina

Although Awkwafina’s been active in the entertainment world since she was a teenager, 2018 saw her skyrocketing to new levels of fame thanks to her roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8. Since then, along with joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe to play Katy Chen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, she’s also starred in The Farewell, Jumanji: The Next Level and Raya and the Last Dragon, as well as her own TV series, Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens. In addition to voicing Scuttle in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, Awkwafina is also appearing in Renfield as Rebecca Quincy, the previously-mentioned traffic cop the title character falls in love with once he charts a new life path. Understandably though, she is disgusted to learn that Renfield essentially serves as Dracula’s Postmates.

Ben Schwartz

Some of you may instantly recognize Ben Schwartz from on-camera work like Parks & Recreation, Space Force and The Afterparty, while others may know his voice from projects like Sonic the Hedgehog, DuckTales and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Whatever the case, Schwartz has a diverse resume, and Renfield will spice it up further. The actor will play a mobster (supposedly named Teddy Lobo, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet) who I’m guessing will somehow end up on Rebecca Quincy’s radar as a law enforcement officer, thus explaining how he comes into Renfield’s life too.

Adrian Martinez

Rebecca Quincy will be joined in carrying out traffic cop duties by her partner Chris, played by Adrian Martinez. Even if his name doesn’t ring a bell, chances are you’ve seen him in at least a couple things given all the film and TV credits he’s collected. Some of the highlights include Kick-Ass, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Focus and Disney’s Lady and the Tramp remake, as well as being a main cast member on the short-lived TV shows The Blacklist: Redemption and Stumptown.

Shohreh Aghdashloo

Fans of The Expanse will instantly recognize Shohreh Aghdashloo as Chrisjen Avasarala, one of the lead characters for the entirety of the show’s run. But if you didn’t watch the recently-concluded sci-fi series, maybe you remember the actress from movies like House of Sand and Fog, X-Men: The Last Stand and Rosewater, or TV shows like 24, Grimm and The Punisher. Aghdashloo is appearing in Renfield as Ella, a feared crime lord, though it’s unclear if she’s the boss of Ben Schwartz’s character or a rival criminal.

Bess Rous

With all the abuse Nicolas Cage’s Dracula has piled on Nicholas Hoult’s Renfield, the former minion wouldn’t be faulted for having a lot of issues to work through. Fortunately, it sounds like he’ll seek some help during the movie, because Bess Rous is starring as Caitlyn, a member of a support group for people in toxic relationships. You might know Rous from TV shows like Murder in the First and Other Space, or perhaps noticed her as Gertrude Aldrige in 2016’s Ghostbusters.

James Moses Black

Next up in the Renfield lineup is James Moses Black, who’s known from TV shows like Nashville, 24: Legacy and Snowfall. Deadline’s report of Black being cast in Renfield didn’t mention anything about his character, but the actor’s role is listed on IMDB as Captain J. Browning. Assuming this is true, then my money’s on this Captain Browning being the officer Awkwafina’s Rebecca and Adrian Martinez’s Chris report to, meaning there’s a chance he might end up running into Renfield at some point.

Caroline Williams

Caroline Williams has been around the acting block, from popping up in movies like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Days of Thunder and How The Grinch Stole Christmas, to guest starring on TV shows like L.A. Law, NYPD Blue and The Mentalist. Williams confirmed her involvement in Renfield on Twitter, and once again, IMDB supposedly lists the identity of her character: Vanessa. Whether that’s indeed her name or she’s called something else, going off the necklace Williams was wearing in that social media post, I wouldn’t be surprised if this individual is associated with Dracula in some way.

Brandon Scott Jones

Brandon Scott Jones has been on a hot streak in TV over the last few years, having recurred on both The Good Place and The Other Two, as well as currently starring in CBS’s Ghosts, where he plays American Revolution officer Captain Isaac Higgintoot. Film-wise, his credits include the Rebel Wilson-led features Isn’t It Romantic and Senior Year, and now Renfield is joining that lineup of cinematic work. Jones is playing Mark, the leader of the support group that Renfield goes to when he’s finally had enough of Dracula.

Renfield opens in theaters on April 24, so keep visiting CinemaBlend for more coverage on the movie, including our review once its out. Since this is a Universal release, it’s also a good bet you’ll be able to stream it with a Peacock subscription later in the year.

In the past few years Awkwafina has found a lot of success in Hollywood. There's her breakout role in Crazy Rich Asians, her critically-acclaimed performance in The Farewell and her turn to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. But with success comes a lot of attention, and the star has been at the center of online uproar over the use of a blaccent (Black accent) in her major roles. After months of silence, the actress is addressing the cultural appropriation controversy.

Awkwafina took to her Twitter Saturday morning to share a lengthy message after not posting on the social media platform since late 2019. In her words: 

The Shang-Chi actress, who got her start as a rapper a decade ago, went into the background of cultural appropriation of the African American community. She continued: 

Awkwafina shared that AAVE (which is African-American Vernacular English), is a major part of American culture and a genre of music she and many Americans love, hip hop. She stated that there’s an “inevitable passage” of “linguistic acculturation” that could walk a fine line between being offensive and part of our collective culture. She also said: 

Awkwafina shared that she is “always” going to listen and she never meant to cause any harm. Here’s how the actress closed out her statement: 

Awkwafina capped off her Twitter address with another pair of tweets, one that shared that per her therapist’s suggestion. With this, she will not be regularly posting on the social media platform. She thanked her fans for their support and love and said that she does “apologize” if she ever “fell short.” Check out what else she said: 

Awkwafina stated that she will still be on other social media platforms, but will be “retiring” from Twitter. The 33-year-old got blunt when she suggested that comments on Twitter have asked her to kill herself, leading to her decision to get off of the app. The controversy has placed a lot of negative attention on Awkwafina and it sounds like she was the subject of some online bullying that has led other Hollywood talents to quit social media as well. 

Looking forward, the actress will lend her voice to The Bad Guys and as Scuttle in the live-action The Little Mermaid, which she has called a “mind-blowing experience.” Following the ending of Shang-Chi, we’d expect her character of Katy to return to the MCU. Given her rising star, it's very likely that the public will be seeing more of her in the near future.

There have been great heist films and there have been animated movies featuring anthropomorphic animals getting in all sorts of hijinks released over the years, but with The Bad Guys, we’ll get the best of both worlds. The upcoming DreamWorks Animation film, which has a voice cast featuring Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina, Anthony Ramos, and other notable stars, will make its debut in Spring 2022, and will hopefully provide an answer for the question: can a bad guy go good?

If this is the first you are hearing about The Bad Guys movie, worry not because we have a whole vault full of information about the animated adventure including its release date, information on the cast, and other great details that will perk up your ears.

The Bad Guys Will Be Released Theatrically On April 22, 2022

The Bad Guys will provide thrills and laughs when it opens in theaters on April 22, 2022. The latest movie from DreamWorks Animation was originally slated to open theatrically on September 17, 2021, but the movie was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and was later pushed back once again, per Deadline.

Sam Rockwell, Awkwafina And Anthony Ramos Lead The Bad Guys Voice Cast

The Bad Guys features one hell of a voice cast that includes Academy Award Winners, Golden Globe recipients, and several of the most respected comedic actors and comedians in show business today.

Leading the pack is Sam Rockwell, who provides the voice of Mr. Wolf, a seasoned thief who will do anything to keep his tight-knit group together no matter the cost. Awkwafina takes on the role of Ms. Tarantula, aka “Webs,” a hacker not too different from her Ocean’s 8 character. Anthony Ramos, hot off In the Heights, portrays Mr. Piranha, the muscle of the group. Marc Maron, of GLOW and WTF with Marc Maron Podcast fame, takes on the role of a safecracker Mr. Snake. Craig Robinson, a fixture of The Office cast, voices the master-of-disguise Mr. Shark.

Other members of The Bad Guys cast include Richard Ayoade, Zazie Beetz, Lilly Singh, and Alex Borstein, to name only a few.

The Bad Guys Follows A Group Of Animal Criminals Who Attempt To Fool The World Into Thinking They’ve Gone Good

According to the official plot synopsis by DreamWorks Animation, The Bad Guys centers on Mr. Wolf and his gang as they are finally caught in the act following years as being the world’s most-wanted villains. To keep his crew from spending the rest of their natural lives behind bars, Mr. Wolf brokers a deal: leave behind a life of crime and become law-abiding citizens. There’s just one thing, the fearless bandit has no intentions on being good (or so he thinks).

The Bad Guys Is Based On Aaron Blabey’s Series Of Children’s Books Of The Same Name

The Bad Guys, which was co-written by Etan Cohen, is based on the highly successful series of children’s graphic novels of the same name by author Aaron Blabey. According to a 2018 Variety report, millions of copies of The Bad Guys books have been sold over the years, and the original, released in December 2016, has ended up both the USA Today and New York Times best-seller lists. To date, there have been 14 books released in the series, with several more slated for release in 2022 and beyond.

Making his directorial debut with The Bad Guys is longtime DreamWorks animator Pierre Perifel, who previously worked on titles including Monsters vs. Aliens, Shrek Forever After, Rise of the Guardians, and Kung Fu Panda 2, to name only a few. Etan Cohen’s prior work includes Idiocracy, Tropic Thunder, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, and Get Hard, which he also directed.

Production On The Bad Guys Continued Remotely Throughout The Pandemic

Although most live-action productions (save for Malcolm & Marie, which was shot during quarantine) were forced to endure extensive delays during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, a great number of animated films were able to continue through quarantine thanks to animators, designers, and voice actors working remotely. The Bad Guys was one of the productions mentioned among films that were being worked on remotely. 

In May 2020, when the pandemic was still in its early stages, Deadline reported that DreamWorks Animation projects like Croods 2, The Boss Baby: Family Business, and The Bad Guys were just a few of the animated projects that were able to avoid major delays in production. This list also included Tom & Jerry, Sing 2, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Soul, all of which have been released at this point in time.

We Could Be Able To Watch The Bad Guys Streaming On Peacock As Soon As 45 Days After Release

In the past few years, studios have turned to different methods of distributing movies to the masses. We have seen it with the Warner Bros. 2021 release model which saw the studio’s slate of films open in theaters and on HBO Max simultaneously, while others, like Paramount and Universal, have elected to run with a model in which their major releases end up on their respective streaming services, Paramount+ and Peacock, a certain amount of days after opening in theaters.

According to Deadline, this will be the route Universal takes with The Bad Guys and the rest of the studio’s 2022 slate, which will all end up on Peacock as soon as 45 days after their theatrical and PVOD debut. The article also points out that it is unclear if the studio has plans for any additional day-and-date releases on Peacock like Halloween Kills, which debuted on the streaming service in October 2021.

The Bad Guys Trailer Offers A Glimpse Of The Action And Humor In The Animated Heist Movie

In December 2021, Universal Pictures gave the world its first look at The Bad Guys and its crew of thieves as they find themselves in one perilous situation after another. The two-minute trailer offers a glimpse at just some of the action and humor that will be featured in the latest offering from DreamWorks Animation while also not giving too much away. See for yourself:

If The Bad Guys is half as exciting as its trailer, there’s a lot to look forward to seeing when it opens in April 2022.

Expect to hear more about The Bad Guys (and hopefully find another trailer) before it opens in theaters (and later on Peacock). In the meantime, now is the perfect time to read up on all the other upcoming 2022 movies.

Dreamworks Animation is about to debut its newest feature film and it looks like a hilarious heist movie. It's also starring an impressive ensemble of voice talent including Sam Rockwell, Anthony Ramos, Awkwafina, Marc Maron, and more. It's called The Bad Guys. Check out the trailer up top. 

Sam Rockwell is the Big Bad Wolf, or as he's called here, Mr. Wolf. He's got a whole crew that he works with to carry off massive scams, that includes Mr. Snake (Marc Maron), Mr. Shark (Craig Robinson), Mr. Piranha (Anthony Ramos), and Ms. Tarantula (Awkwafina). However,  when Mr. Wolf gets a taste of what it's like to be one of the good guys, he decides to change the focus of his team and try to do good instead.

The trailer gives the general rundown on the story, including what appears to be an early caper from Mr. Wolf's team. We see that Ms. Tarantula is the one at the computer keeping an eye on things for the team from a tech standpoint. Mr. Shark is the grifter in disguise. Mr. Wolf seems to have a particular talent as a pickpocket, while Mr. Snake is the safecracker. All your standard heist tropes are here. 

The Bad Guys looks like it could be a great one. It's got the fun style that always comes with a good heist movie. At the same time, it looks hilarious. I'm not quite sure why all these characters seem to spend a large portion of the movie wearing onesie pajamas, but I can't wait to find out. 

You have to love a good heist movie, and The Bad Guys looks to be an exciting adventure while also being a funny comedy. There are clear Reservoir Dogs inspirations here, even the characters' names make one think of the Quentin Tarantino movie, and while the younger audience laughing at this one won't get that joke, it's likely one of many jokes that will be there primarily for the adult audience. 

As with most studios right now, there's a huge focus on franchises and Dreamworks has been trying to build its own with everything from Trolls to Boss Baby. But every once in a while you need to do something new in order to have new franchises to build. The Bad Guys certainly could be that. If the audience likes this adventure, future heists are always possible. 

Dreamworks has put together a remarkable slate of animated features that has been second to Disney in quantity, but the quality is quite usually top notch. From the How to Train Your Dragon adventures to the Kung Fu Panda movies Dreamworks has been able to blend adventure and comedy incredibly well, and The Bad Guys looks like another potential success.

Among the many Dracula-related movies currently in development is Renfield, which will focus on the same-named character from Bram Stoker’s original novel. Yesterday it was announced that Nicolas Cage has been cast as pop culture’s most famous vampire in Renfield opposite Nicholas Hoult, who’s been attached to play R.M. Renfield since August. Now word’s come in that this Universal Monsters movie has brought Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings star Awkwafina along for the ride.

Sadly, Deadline didn’t provide any details on who the actress is playing in Renfield, so it’s anyone’s guess at this point how she fits into this cinematic picture. Nevertheless, this adds another big movie to her lineup of upcoming projects following her appearance as Katy in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, the 25th Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Awkwafina is next set to appear alongside Mahershala Ali in Apple TV+’s Swan Song, and she’s also voicing Scuttle in Disney’s live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.

In the original Dracula novel, R.M. Renfield was a patient in an insane asylum who consumes living creatures in the hopes of obtaining their life force. It’s later revealed that Renfield was a servant of Dracula, who’d been sending him the animals. However, upon meeting Mina Harker, Renfield was overcome by his conscience and attempted to escape his master’s influence, only to ultimately have his neck broken. The character (or loose versions of him) has previously been played by actors like Dwight Frye, Frank Langella, Tom Waits and Peter MacNicol. 

No specific plot details for the Renfield movie have been revealed yet, other than it will be set in the present day rather than be a period piece. Maybe Awkwafina has been brought aboard to play a version of Mina Harker, or, as part of the movie’s creative liberties, maybe she’s playing someone entirely new. Either way, with Awkwafina’s comedic chops, the prospect of Nicolas Cage playing a completely unhinged Dracula and Rick and Morty’s Ryan Ridley writing the script, at this point we can reasonably assume that Renfield will be a humorous Universal Monsters movie rather than a tonally serious offering.

Renfield is based on an original story outline from The Walking Dead and Invincible creator Robert Kirkman, who’s also producing through his Skybound Entertainment banner. The LEGO Batman Movie and The Tomorrow War’s Chris McKay is directing the feature. As already noted, Dracula won’t be lacking for cinematic attention in the coming years, with Eternals’ Chloe Zhao working on an “an original, futuristic, sci-fi Western” story centered on the vampire, Jennifer’s Body’s Karyn Kusama is tackling a faithful adaptation of the original Dracula story (albeit also set in the present day), and the André Øvredal-directed Last Voyage of the Demeter chronicling the journey that brought Dracula to London.

While we wait for more news on what to expect from Renfield, Awkwafina fans can see the actress’ work in Swan Song starting on December 17. If you missed out on seeing Awkwafina in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, or simply want to re-watch it, stream it on Disney+.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings recently made its debut on Disney+ and that means that a lot of people who never got a chance to see it are now finding it for the very first time. This includes an actual San Francisco bus driver, who has a bone to pick with the movie’s bus-based fight scene. This sequence has some significant issues that should be addressed.

The first major fight scene for Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi takes place when he’s accosted on a public bus. A fight breaks out, all while the bus is in motion. Mack the bus driver put together a whole Twitter thread on the sequence that needs to be read. The first place where the driver takes issue with the movie, is the second the first punch is thrown. At that point., the bus should really stop.

The Shang-Chi Bus Driver Is Bad At His Job

Of course, it’s only a few seconds before the brake lines of the bus get cut, which potentially makes the stopping of the bus a bit tougher. Except, as it turns out, these buses have a mechanism for stopping when the normal brakes don’t work, and the fact that the bus driver never tries to use it is also a pretty serious error. 

The Fight Scenes Geography Is A Mess

There’s another problem with the fight scene that has nothing to do with the actual fight. San Francisco locals will all likely realize that the geography of the fight makes no sense. This bus apparently goes all over San Francisco, which, I don’t know if you know this, is a really big city, and somehow it’s able to get from one end of the city to another in just a few minutes. I don’t know the normal Muni routes that well but I’m guessing you’d need multiple buses to get to all these places normally. 

At one point the bus even ends up on a road that is above a tunnel, before, a few moments later, somehow ending up going through the same tunnel.

Shang-Chi Would Be An Excellent Bus Driver

There are some positive points to the way the bus is handled, however. It’s not all bad. While Mack the bus driver critiques both the driver in the film and Awkwafina’s character for looking back over their shoulder at the fight, and thus taking their eyes off the road, when Shang-Chi briefly finds himself in the driver seat, he knows how to handle it.

In the end, however, Mack the bus driver doesn’t think our movie bus driver is going to survive in his current employment. It seems like he made a lot of rookie mistakes.  

There’s a lot more to this thread and you should really check out the whole thing as it’s all quite informative and also hilarious. While Mack the bus driver has some fun with the whole thing, he clearly loved the fight scene.  

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These days, landing a part in the Marvel movies is often considered to be a clear indication that an actor has made it, which means that I think we can confidently say that Awkwafina (née Nora Lum) has made it, if her previous success has not made that clear enough.

In fact, with a few notable exceptions, the trailblazing Chinese-American rapper and comedian is just about the most famous face in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast, in addition to already being one of the most famous faces in Hollywood. Arguably, the moment that brought her to that level of fame was her history-making Golden Globe win for the first of the following Awkwafina movies and TV shows we recommend any fans or fans-to-be should stream or rent.

The Farewell (Amazon Prime)

A young woman (Awkwafina) returns to China for a wedding, only to learn that the ceremony is a ruse for her family to gather and visit their terminally ill matriarch, whom they decide to keep unaware of her diagnosis.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Awkwafina became the first Asian-American to receive a Golden Globe for a feature film role after winning Best Actress for her performance in 2019’s The Farewell - writer and director Lulu Wang’s bizarre, semi-autobiographical dramedy from A24.

Stream The Farewell on Amazon Prime.

Rent/Buy The Farewell on Amazon.

Crazy Rich Asians (HBO Max)

New York native Rachel (Fresh Off the Boat cast member Constance Wu) travels to Singapore for a wedding with her boyfriend (Henry Golding) where she meets his family for the first time and is surprised to learn how extravagantly wealthy they are.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another Golden Globe-nominated ensemble dramedy featuring a cast of predominantly Asian actors is Crazy Rich Asians, director Jon M. Chu’s delightful, romantic 2018 blockbuster based on Kevin Kwan’s novel, in which Awkwafina (as Rachel’s friend Goh Peik-lin) shares the screen with a few of her Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings co-stars (namely Michelle Yeoh and Ronny Chieng).

Stream Crazy Rich Asians on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Crazy Rich Asians on Amazon.

Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens (HBO Max)

With her single father (B.D. Wong), grandmother (Orange is the New Black cast member Lori Tan Chinn), and cousin (Saturday Night Live’s Bowen Yang) offering their modest assistance, underachieving, twenty-something Chinese-American Nora (Awkwafina) tries to figure out adulthood while living in Flushing, New York.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Awkwafina also got to share the screen with her Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings co-star, Simu Liu, in an episode of Awkwafina is Nora from Queens, her own semi-autobiographical Comedy Central original series that showcases her unique sense of humor in irreverent, yet refreshingly relatable, ways.

Stream Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens on HBO Max.

Buy Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens on Amazon.

Storks (Hulu)

In a world in which the myth of storks delivering babies is true, but they have moved on to more standard package delivery, one experienced bird (Andy Samberg) and an orphaned human (Katie Crown) team-up to bring a child to her family after receiving a mistaken baby order.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Among the star-studded voice cast of the cleverly funny 2016 family film, Storks (also including Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Aniston, and Danny Trejo), Awkwafina has a small role as the voice of a quail aptly named Quail.

Stream Storks on Hulu.

Rent/Buy Storks on Amazon.

The Angry Birds Movie 2 (Amazon Rental)

The winged residents of Bird Island and their rivals on Pig Island are forced to set aside their differences and work together after a new island emerges, threatening their mutual existence.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another animated movie featuring a cast of various kinds of birds is The Angry Birds Movie 2 - the 2019 sequel to the hit 2016 film inspired by the popular mobile gaming app - but instead of another winged creature, Awkwafina lends her voice to the role of a pig named Courtney.

Rent/Buy The Angry Birds Movie 2 on Amazon.

Dude (Netflix)

Four young women (Pretty Little Liars cast member Lucy Hale, X-Men movies star Alexandra Shipp, original Skins actress Kathryn Prescott, and Awkwafina) struggle to come to terms with loss of time and loved ones as their high school graduation draws near.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Witness the birth of a new flavor of stoner movies in the dramatically grounded, Netflix original coming-of-age comedy Dude, in which then-30-year-old Awkwafina delivers her signature sense of humor to the role of a teenager.

Stream Dude on Netflix.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (Amazon Rental)

A married couple (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) team up with their former neighbor and rival (Zac Efron) in order to take down a recently formed sorority (headed by Chloë Grace Moretz) that has been causing them distress after moving in next door.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Awkwafina actually made her feature film debut in another raunchy, female-centric, (somewhat) coming-of-age comedy, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising - director Nicholas Stoller’s 2016 sequel to his acclaimed 2014 hit comedy Neighbors - as a member of the centerpiece sorority, Alpha Nu.

Rent/Buy Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising on Amazon.

Ocean’s Eight (HBO Max)

Almost immediately after being released from prison, a master thief (Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock) rounds up a crew of the most criminally skilled women she can find in order to pull off an elaborate jewel heist on the night of the Met Gala.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another fun, female-centric comedy featuring Awkwafina in its star-studded ensemble cast is Ocean’s Eight - director Gary Ross’ 2018 spin-off of Steven Soderbergh’s stylish trilogy that began with 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven - in which the actress plays a motormouth recruited onto Debbie Ocean’s (the younger sister of George Clooney’s Daniel Ocean) crew for her impressive skills in street hustling and pickpocketing.

Stream Ocean’s Eight on HBO Max.

Rent/Buy Ocean’s Eight on Amazon.

Paradise Hills (Amazon Rental)

A young woman (American Horror Story: 1984 cast member Emma Roberts) wakes up to find herself enrolled into a seemingly idyllic center for reform, but slowly learns more about its true, hidden nature the more she rebels against its enforced philosophies.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another star-studded, female-centric ensemble featuring Awkwafina is 2019’s Paradise Hills - a visually inventive, dystopian parable dripping with timely social commentary from director Alice Waddington.

Rent/Buy Paradise Hills on Amazon.

Jumanji: The Next Level (Starz)

In order to rescue their friend, Spencer (Alex Wolff), from a truly immersive video game that they once survived two years earlier, three college students must re-enter the game and take on new, and more dangerous, environments, but accidentally take two elderly relatives along with them.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: In the sequel to the hit video game-inspired reboot of the classic 1995 magic-board-game movie, Awkwafina joined the Jumanji: The Next Level cast as Ming Fleetwood, who is initially the new avatar for Spencer before a mid-way body swap scene leads Spencer’s grandfather, Eddie (Danny DeVito), to assume the master thief’s identity - and the actress does a flawless job portraying both.

Stream Jumanji: The Next Level on Starz.

Rent/Buy Jumanji: The Next Level on Amazon.

Raya And The Last Dragon (Disney+)

In order to save her world from a race of evil, monstrous creatures known as Druun that have returned after they were defeated by dragons hundreds of years earlier, a lone, female warrior embarks on a quest to find the last of the reptilian beasts and rid her world of the sinister threat once and for all.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: In what is arguably her biggest voice role yet, Awkwafina shares the title role of the acclaimed Disney animated adventure Raya and the Last Dragon with Raya actress Kelly Marie Tran, as the film’s “last dragon,” named Sisu, who turns out to be a more meek creature than Raya anticipates.

Stream Raya And The Last Dragon on Disney+.

Rent/Buy Raya And The Last Dragon on Amazon.

The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance (Netflix)

After uncovering a grave, disturbing secret about the sinister race of creatures that rule their magical world, the Gelflings decide to develop a rebellion and take back ownership of their land at any cost necessary.

Why it’s worth checking out if you like Awkwafina: Another one of Awkwafina’s more notable voice roles in a fantasy story is The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - the thrilling, Emmy-winning Netflix original series continuation of Jim Henson’s 1982 epic starring a cast consisting entirely of puppets - in which she plays a member of the oppressive Skeksis named skekLach (otherwise known as The Collector).

Stream The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance on Netflix.

If you have already binged each and every one of these titles, there are plenty more starring Awkwafina to look out for in the future. She will next appear in the Apple TV+ original sci-fi drama Swan Song, an animated adaptation of the Aaron Blabey’s novel The Bad Guys, a biopic about successful Chinese gambler Cheung Yin "Kelly" Sun called The Baccarat Machine, and Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid remake, in which she voices Scuttle the Seagull.

Marvel Studios’ latest film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has it all. There’s intense action, dazzling visuals, big laughs and genuine heart. There’s also some singing to be found in the film, as the titular hero and his best friend, Katy, enjoy their fair share of karaoke. So on that note, what does the actual cast like to sing to when they’re jamming out at their own karaoke nights? Well, they recently shared their go-to songs with us, and they’re awesome.

Shang-Chi and Katy jam out to a number of songs in the film, such as Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” As you can imagine, the cast has varied taste in tunes, which is especially evident when it comes to lead actor Simu Liu. The star, along with his co-stars, recently caught up with CinemaBlend’s own Sean O’Connell and revealed what he loves to belt out while singing with a partner:

If you’ve watched the video above then you’ll know that in addition to loving karaoke, Simu Liu seems to have some pipes. His brief selection from Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” was pretty good. Who knows, maybe the actor could find himself playing a Disney prince one of these days. But before we get too ahead of ourselves there, let’s hear what his on-screen partner in crime, Awkwafina, has to say about her own song preferences:

Anyone who’s heard the 1987 classic from Def Leppard would probably agree that performing it would not be an easy task. However, Awkwafina, while acknowledging that it’s challenging, says that she can “kill it” any time she performs the song. Meanwhile, co-star Florian Munteanu has a go-to tune that’s a bit easier, yet just as popular:

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I now want to attend a karaoke night with this cast. Seeing any of these stars and their colleagues take to the stage and show off their musical talents. As previously mentioned, all are now members of the Disney family, so maybe the studio will choose to utilize their talents in musical projects. But at the very least, it seems like a safe bet that Marvel Studios would give Shang-Chi and Katy some more karaoke time in a potential sequel.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters.

SPOILERS lie ahead for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, now playing exclusively in theaters.

For the first time since Captain Marvel in 2019, the MCU has introduced a new superhero into its expansive universe with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Simu Liu may play the leading character we get to know throughout the epic action flick but, real talk, the movie wouldn't have had as much personality as it did without the addition of Awkwafina’s Katy, who has a ton of hilarious moments throughout Shang-Chi. With that in mind, we're taking a look at the archer-in-training’s best lines.

Awkwafina already has the reputation of using her quick-wit to hydrate big movies such as Crazy Rich Asians, Raya and the Last Dragon and Jumanji: The Next Level, but she’s really in the big leagues now with a Marvel role under her belt. Here are the quotable Katy moments that got the big laughs:

“That Is Exactly The Daughter My Mom Wished Came Out Of Her Vagina.”

For the vast majority of the film, Katy is the fish out of water in Shang-Chi, but she’s also already a bit of an outcast before she enters the mystical world connected to her best friend’s past. As illustrated in one moment right before the action starts, Awkwafina’s character looks on to a prim and proper Asian woman on the bus, who is basically the person she imagines her mom wishes she was instead of being a hotel valet with a hot attitude. The moment really informs who Katy is and surely rings relatable to many viewers.

“I Know You Don’t Like To Talk About Your Life, But A Guy With A Freaking Machete For An Arm Just Chopped Our Bus In Half!”

To cut the incredible tension built in Shang-Chi’s awesome bus action sequence, Awkwafina’s character goes for some real talk with her bestie to ask him WTF just happened, and it was perfect. Katy has known Shang-Chi for much of her life, so you can imagine her surprise seeing him go into full martial arts mode to take down Florian Munteanu’s Razor Fist and his associates. It sets up the crazy world Katy is about to dive into with Shang-Chi and, while we may be accustomed to seeing crazy stuff go down in movies, it’s a good reminder that she is truly entering the MCU for the first time.

“Shaun Chi?”

It’s when Shang-Chi and Katy get to a plane, en route to Macau, that he finally starts to spill the details of his past, which includes him revealing his real name, which she thought was “Shaun” up to this point. This leads to a funny moment where she’s trying to learn how to say the name of the hero properly but then comes to the realization that he didn’t really hide his identity very well, by literally calling himself “Shaun” instead of “Shang-Chi.” It’s a laugh-out-loud moment to break up the drama of the hero’s tense upbringing, but it's also a great way to touch on how often people from other cultures change up their names to more American titles to appease the norms of a society.

“I Like Your Spiked Face.”

When Shang-Chi and Katy get to Macau, they find themselves in Xialing’s fighting ring, where the hero is determined to get to his sister before Razor Fist does. When they enter the place, it seems to be full of characters from all sectors of the galaxy within the MCU, hence Wong’s surprise appearance. Katy gets to comment on the whole situation through a funny compliment to a spiky-faced person they pass on their way in. A subtle line yes, but another good one.

“An Underground Fighting Ring When You Were 15 Years Old? Hell Yeah.”

As Katy gets acquainted with Shang-Chi’s world, she also meets his estranged sister, Xialing, who is a super badass but closed off and dark character. Throughout the film, it looks like Katy and Xialing quietly enjoy each other’s company and seem to have blooming friendship. Part of that is shown early on when Katy recognizes how cool the club owner is, breaksing through some awkward moments between Xialing and Shang-Chi in the process. I loved this dynamic and enjoyed see women supporting women!

“Initially, I Thought Your Dad Should Definitely See A Therapist… But Then That Dragon Created A Magical Water Map.”

There Katy goes again with reminding us what’s happening in front of us, but this made for a really funny moment, too. This comes on the heels of a pretty cringey dinner with Shang-Chi’s daddy, where we learn that the character played by Tony Leung believes his late wife is still alive and being held captive. And of course, he also mentions that he's willing to kill a lot of innocent people to bring her back. Katy sums up the situation in a funny and matter-of-fact way that creates some more chuckles during Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

“All I Could Hear In The Back Of My Mind Was My Mom’s Voice Saying ‘Just Take The Shot You Little Mush!’”

We should also mention that Awkwafina’s Katy becomes a hero in her own right by the end of Shang-Chi, after falling into some archery training during the film's third act. It provides the character with a more meaningful arc because the journey allows her to learn about pointing with purpose. And in the end, she totally takes decisive that turns the tide in the final battle. At the end of the movie, she and Shang-Chi hilariously tell their story of saving the world to some seriously confused friends, and the above line definitely earned a big laugh.

Now that we’ve seen Awkwafina’s Katy enter into the MCU, would you like to see her character continue and become part of the Avengers? The mid-credits scene definitely hints at bigger things for the character when she joins Wong and some other notable heroes in a meeting! Vote in our poll below, and get hyped for more Marvel introductions with the upcoming MCU movie slate.

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Spoilers ahead for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

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Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is underway, with the franchise recently expanding with Destin Daniel Cretton’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The blockbuster introduced a ton of new characters to the MCU, including Awkwafina’s Katy Chen. And the actress-comedian recently shared her feelings about Katy’s fate at the end of Shang-Chi.

Awkwafina’s character consistently served as the comedic relief of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. But she also got in on the action, and was included in the thrilling ending scenes featuring Wong and The Avengers. CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell spoke with Awkwafina about her character’s seemingly endless future in the MCU, saying:

Katy might not have the kung-fu skills shared by the cast of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but she definitely contributed to the movie’s adventures. And it seems that Awkwafina’s character is going to have some legs in the greater MCU, at least according to the final sequences of the new blockbuster. Cue the new fan theories and rumors about a sequel.

The MCU has found its streaming home on Disney+. You can use this link to sign up for the streaming service.

Awkwafina’s comments to Sean O’Connell shows her similarities to Shang-Chi favorite Katy. While it remains to be seen how this character will factor into the greater MCU, she was included in those wild Avengers scenes for a reason. Only time will tell where she’ll pop back up on the big screen.

In the final scene of Shang-Chi, Simu Liu and Awkwafina’s characters are telling their friends about their wild mystical adventures. Suddenly one of Wong’s signature portals appears behind them, with the Doctor Strange character telling the pair to come with him. The mid-credits scene goes even further with this crossover moment, Katy and Shang-Chi are included in a meeting with Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo). It looks like the Avengers are growing, and fans can’t wait to see what comes next.

The Avengers scene in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings occurred because the title character’s use of the rings emitted a strange signal. Could this be teasing the arrival of the MCU’s next Thanos-like villain? It’s unclear, but clearly there are a ton of narrative seeds being planted in these first Phase Four installments.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is available in theaters now. Be sure to check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

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Much of the time, whenever any new Marvel movies come out, you already know exactly who the cast is and who they are playing from previous installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, with the exception of Michelle Yeoh and Benedict Wong, most of the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast are making their MCU debuts, including Simu Liu and Awkwafina. There are plenty more actors from one of the most anticipated superhero movies of 2021 to introduce (or reintroduce) you to in the following breakdown of their most notable acting credits up to this point, starting with our title hero.

Simu Liu (Shang-Chi)

Bringing the marvelous martial arts master Shang-Chi to the big screen for the first time is the Chinese-born, Canadian-raised Simu Liu, who debuted in 2012 as “Desk Officer” in another story about a reformed assassin (The CW’s Nikita series) before playing Pete Wentz’s stunt double in Fall Out Boy’s “Centuries” music video in 2014. Being cast on the popular Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience led to further prominent roles such as Faaron on NBC’s Taken prequel series, guest spots on hit sci-fi TV shows Orphan Black and The Expanse, and an episode of Fresh Off the Boat Season 5. Following Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Liu has a voice role on Disney+’s anime anthology series Star Wars: Visions, he is currently filming Arthur the King with Mark Wahlberg, and the romance One True Loves (starring Hamilton cast’s Phillipa Soo) is in post-production.

Awkwafina (Katy Chen)

Playing Shang-Chi’s friend Katy, who is unaware of his past, is Awkwafina (née Nora Lum), who first broke out as a viral rapping sensation in 2012 before making her feature film debut in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising in 2016 and lending her voice to Storks the same year. She had a huge year in 2018 with Ocean’s Eight, Crazy Rich Asians, and becoming the second-ever female Asian-American Saturday Night Live host, and an even bigger year in 2019 with The Angry Birds Movie 2, Jumanji: The Next Level, and, her Golden Globe-winning role in The Farewell, especially. Earlier in 2021, she voiced the dragon in Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon, the second season of her semi-autobiographical comedy Awkwafina is Nora from Queens premiered, and she plays Scuttle in Disney’s live action The Little Mermaid update, which is now in post-production.

Michelle Yeoh (Ying Nan)

Shang-Chi’s aunt, Ying Nan, is actually Michelle Yeoh’s second Marvel movie character following her Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 cameo and also marks her second time working with Awkwafina after Crazy Rich Asians and her umpteenth action movie role after the Supercop films with Jackie Chan, 1997’s James Bond flick Tomorrow Never Dies, the recent Gunpowder Milkshake and, of course, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and its 2016 sequel. The Malaysian actress has also done sci-fi with Sunshine and Star Trek: Discovery, fantasy with The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, period dramas with Memoirs of a Geisha, comedy with Last Christmas, and animation with Kung Fu Panda 2 and the upcoming Minions: The Rise of Gru. She also has a role in the upcoming Avatar sequels and Netflix’s upcoming The Witcher prequel miniseries The Witcher: Blood Origin.

Tony Leung (Xu Wenwu / The Mandarin)

For anyone still pissed about Iron Man 3’s Mandarin fake-out, Marvel is bringing in the real Mandarin - also Shang-Chi’s father and played by actor and singer Tony Leung - who debuted in 1978’s Game of Death, which featured post-humous archive footage of the inspiration for Shang-Chi, Bruce Lee. He also was directed by legendary action director John Woo in 1992’s Hard Boiled and shared the screen with another martial arts superstar, Jet Li, in Hero from 2002 - the same year he starred in Infernal Affairs (the Chinese film that inspired The Departed). Despite his international acclaim and ability to speak fluent English, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Leung’s first Hollywood picture and has more Chinese productions next on his resume, including the 1980s period piece, Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong.

Yuen Wah (Master Guang Bo)

An actor who actually did share the screen with Bruce Lee in films like Fist of Fury, The Way of the Dragon, and Enter the Dragon (all of which he performed stunts in) is Yuen Wah, who appears in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings as Master Guang Bo. He also worked previously with Michelle Yeoh in the first Supercop movie (which is really the third Police Story movie) as a cartel member named Panther who teams up with Jackie Chan and Yeoh’s characters, but his best known role is probably the heroic “Landlord” in Kung Fu Hustle - co-writer, director, and star Stephen Chow’s brilliant 2004 action-comedy. Wah’s next film is I Dreamed a Dream, which sounds a lot like a more romantic and whimsical update of Inception from its plot description.

Fala Chen (Jiang Li)

As Xu Wenwu’s wife and Shang-Chi’s mother, Jiang Li, we have Fala Chen, who is also a popular singer and actor in her native China and kicked off her career in entertainment after becoming 1st runner up at the Miss Chinese International Pageant in 2005. She officially made her English-language acting debut in the Martin Scorsese-produced true crime drama Revenge of Green Dragons before voicing the Cantonese dub of Despicable Me 3 as Kristen Wiig’s character, Lucy Wilde, and appearing in two episodes of the Emmy-nominated miniseries The Undoing for HBO. The cable network will also be the home of an upcoming TV series adaptation of the 1996 French film Irma Vep, which Chen is set to appear in alongside star and executive producer Alicia Vikander.

Florian Munteanu (Razor Fist)

Among the film’s antagonists, Shang-Chi will be taking on a mercenary hired to kill him who gets the name Razor Fist for having steel blades as hands. Portraying the villain in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the German-Romanian born actor and model Florian Munteanu, who originally rose to fame as a heavyweight boxer, which would earn him the role of Ivan Drago’s son, Viktor, in Creed II - also his feature film debut. His third feature, a thriller called Violence of Action with Chris Pine, is expected to release late on the 2021 movie release schedule and he will play Krieg on the Borderlands cast for director Eli Roth’s adaptation of the popular video game franchise.

Ronny Chieng (Jon Jon)

Another friend of Katy and Shang-Chi named Jon Jon is played by Ronny Chieng, who also had a role on the Crazy Rich Asians cast after breaking out in America in 2015 as a correspondent for The Daily Show on Comedy Central, which also aired his semi-autobiographical sitcom Ronny Chieng: International Student in 2017. In 2019, he released his first Netflix stand-up special, Ronny Chieng: Asian Comedian Destroys America!, and appeared in the Amazon original sci-fi Bliss and the blockbuster monster movie Godzilla vs. Kong in 2021. Next, he will appear on Disney+’s upcoming series Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (a gender-swapped, Hawaiian-set reboot of Doogie Howser, M.D.), he is filming the technophobic thriller M3GAN, and will voice the title role of Inspector Sun and the Curse of the Black Widow - which is not a Marvel movie despite how it sounds.

Zach Cherry (Klev)

Another comedian in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast is Zach Cherry, apparently reprising his role as a previously unnamed street vendor who told Spider-Man to do a flip in Spider-Man: Homecoming and now catches Shang-Chi in the act and posts a video of him online in this film. The actor has also appeared on comedy series like Broad City and Search Party and dramas like Netflix’s You and Quibi’s Most Dangerous Game as well as funny movies like The Big Sick and thrillers like Unsane from Steven Soderbergh. He also voices Wolf, a major character on co-creator and star Amy Poehler’s animated show Duncanville, and has a starring role on upcoming TV drama Severance, alongside Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette.

Benedict Wong (Wong)

Another actor also reprising what is normally a large role in some of the best Marvel movies for a smaller appearance in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is Benedict Wong as an experienced sorcerer also named Wong. The British-Chinese actor actually made his feature film debut alongside Marvel’s Robert Downey Jr. in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, starred in Moon with Iron Man 2’s Sam Rockwell, appeared in Sunshine with Michelle Yeoh, was also in Annihilation and Prometheus with Thor: Ragnarok’s Tessa Thompson and Idris Elba respectively, and first worked with his Doctor Strange co-star Chiwetel Ejiofor in The Martian in 2015. Wong also starred in one of the best Black Mirror episodes (“Hated in the Nation”), voiced a character in Raya and the Last Dragon, and will appear as Wong again Spider-Man: No Way Home and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

You might have already seen in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings trailer that Wong appears in a cage match with Abomination (Tim Roth, reprising his The Incredible Hulk role). Not only that, but Ben Kingsley apparently reprises his controversial role in Iron Man 3 as Trevor Slattery. Look you may need to review all the Marvel movies in order before checking out this latest adventure.

The cast of Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, including Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng’er Zhang, Florian Munteanu, and writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton discuss the MCU’s latest epic origin story in this interview with CinemaBlend's Sean O'Connell. They reveal their go-to karaoke songs, chat about the potential for a Disney+ series, and so much more.

Video Chapters

00:00 - Intro

00:07 - The Shang-Chi Cast Reveals Their Go-To Karaoke Songs, And They're Awesome

01:43 - The Comicbook Elements Shang-Chi’s Director Made Sure To Put In The Movie

03:12 - Awkwafina On How Katy Handles Being Thrown Into The Insanity Of The MCU

04:02 - Simu Liu/More On The Jackie Chan Tribute And Filming That Insane Bus Sequence

07:31 - Florian Munteanu Reveals Razor Fists’s Origin Story

08:28 - Meng’er Zhang On Working With Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh

09:35 - Destin Daniel Cretton Explains The Inspirations Behind His Depiction Of The Ten Rings

11:00 - Could The Ten Rings Go To Disney+? Awkwafina and Meng’er Zhang Have Thoughts

Disney is pumping out project after project right now, and it's still making time to remake its many of its classic animated Disney Princess films into live-action, all-star-casted affairs. One such film that has been in the works for a hot minute is The Little Mermaid. Star Awkwafina has now expressed how “mind-blowing” her experience working on The Little Mermaid remake was, and even teased that she believes the world will love what they did with it.

It seems like it’s every little kids’ dream to live their own Disney movie. It sounds like that is just the case for comedian Awkwafina, because in an interview with Comicbook.com, she explained how cool it was to work on the The Little Mermaid - especially being surrounded by such amazing talent that is also present in the film. Here’s what the Crazy Rich Asians actress said:

Awkwafina participates in The Little Mermaid remake as the voice of Scuttle, the eccentric seagull who thinks she is an expert on everything human. Having a background in comedy and voicing children’s movies, Awkwafina is a pretty solid choice to play Scuttle, seeing as the bird makes up funny words for typical human objects she happens across.

Although her talent is pretty substantial, Awkwafina is just one of the many jewels in the crown of the live-action The Little Mermaid. As she mentioned in her interview, Awkwafina works with the likes of Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda and Rob Marshall (who should be used to working together), who has directed a number of high budget musical movies like Into The Woods and Chicago. Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem also have leading roles in the production, and Halle Bailey feature film debut as an adult in the leading role of Ariel.

The Little Mermaid is nowhere near Awkwafina’s first project with Disney, as the major company has cast her in a number of films, both live action and animated. Most majorly and recently, the comedic actress lent her voice to the popular, newer Disney princess film Raya and the Last Dragon as the leading dragon, and she will appear in the Marvel film Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings that is set to hit theaters on September 3.

As for The Little Mermaid, we’ve got a much longer wait until we can expect it to hit a viewable screen. Production on the remake wrapped back in July, but it’s expected to release sometime next year; a specific date has not yet been set. If what Awkwafina says is true though, we can expect to be pleased with the final project.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is finally almost here. The Marvel superhero film features Simu Liu (who clarified how to correctly pronounce his and his character's names) as the titular Shang-Chi, alongside Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, and Michelle Yeoh. The action flick will make history as the first Asian-led Marvel installment, featuring Shang-Chi, a skilled martial artist who was trained at a young age to be an assassin by his father, Wenwu (Leung). But when he is drawn into the Ten Rings organization, he’s forced to confront the past he thought he left behind.

The highly anticipated next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe releases exclusively in theaters (NOT on Disney+, which has been a highly controversial decision) on September 3rd. We already saw critics' reactions to the blockbuster on social media, and now the review embargo has lifted. Let’s take a look at what critics are saying.

We’ll start with the home team, like usual. CinemaBlend’s Eric Eisenberg really enjoyed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, rating it 3.5 out of 5 stars. He commended many aspects of the superhero flick, such as Simu Liu’s performance as the titular Shang-Chi and Awkwafina’s role. He also highly praised the remarkable fight sequences and set pieces, noting that they “feel like magic.” But while Eisenberg enjoyed the film overall, he still had criticisms. His main note was that the best parts of the movie are the more intimate aspects, but those get overshadowed by the traditional fantasy Marvel spectacle, which dulls the impact. He said:

Kate Erbland from IndieWire also highly praised Shang-Chi, while also noting that the film was hindered by the necessity to check some boxes as an MCU origin story, with little wiggle room. She commended the “awe-inspiring” fight sequences, choreographed by second unit director Brad Allan, who sadly passed away earlier this month. She argued that the blockbuster showcases the best action of the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Simu Liu’s and Awkwafina’s performances were also highly praised by Erbland, as well as Meng’er Zhang. She noted that part of the film is too bogged down by exposition and familiar beats, but remains enjoyable, saying:

Angie Han from The Hollywood Reporter really enjoyed the action set pieces and cinematography that perfectly frames them, but she had some criticisms. She argued that the plot is overstuffed with exposition and side-plots that kept getting side-lined. She also thought Shang-Chi himself got lost in the frantic plotting, though Leung’s Wenwu was a breath of fresh air as a “rare supervillain with a soul.” While Han argued that the film couldn’t break the Marvel mold completely, it’s still worth checking out, saying:

Justin Chang from the Los Angeles times also commented on Tony Leung’s performance as Wenwu, whom Chang considers the star of the movie. He thought Leung moved through the frame with grace and magnetized the camera by hardly moving at all. He also enjoyed the action of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, though he noted that it was too CG-polished. Chang considers the original aspects of the blockbuster the best parts, when it tries to shake off the franchise necessities, but ultimately it has to fit within the Marvel universe. He still enjoyed the film, noting:

Amelia Emberwing of WhatToWatch considers Shang-Chi truly special. She also praised the “incredible” Leung, as well as the performances of Liu (whom she thought was made for the role of the titular character), Zhang, and Awkwafina. She also applauded the fight sequences, as well as the direction by Cretton and cinematography by Bill Pope. Emberwing noted that the only real weakness of the superhero flick is the heavy use of flashbacks, which are sometimes too clunky. But she overall really enjoyed the next installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, saying:

It would seem that critics have somewhat mixed opinions of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. The epic action seems to be enjoyed across the board, but will audiences feel the same way? We'll soon find out, when the Marvel flick debuts in theaters on Friday, September 3.

You can also check out what else is slated for Phase Four of the MCU with our release guide.

This weekend, Disney will introduce their latest princess with Raya and the Last Dragon, a CG-animated fantasy film featuring the voice talents of Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong, and more. Early reviews have certainly been glowing for the company's newest animated adventure, and families will have the option of watching the movie in theaters or at home on Disney+ (with a premium fee) in the weeks ahead. If you recognize the voices behind this new movie and you're wondering why, we're here to help. Here are the actors behind Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon.

Kelly Marie Tran (Raya)

As our title character, Raya, a warrior princess on a quest to find the last dragon and save her world from an evil force, Kelly Marie Tran plays the protagonist in Disney's latest animated feature, Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Tran played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. She also voiced Rose in Star Wars Forces of Destiny and Disney+'s The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special. Additionally, the actress appeared in XOXO and lent her voice to last year's The Croods: A New Age.

Online, Kelly Marie Tran played a lead role in Facebook Watch's Sorry For Your Loss. The actress also appeared in CollegeHumor. Her TV credits include About A Boy, Adam Ruins Everything, Comedy Bang! Bang!, Monsterland, Ladies Like Us, and Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street. Next, Tran will be heard in Disney+'s Monsters At Work.

Awkwafina (Sisu)

In the role of Sisu, a self-deprecating water dragon who is the last of her kind, Awkwafina voices a sidekick called upon by our other title character to save humanity in Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actress is known for her scene-stealing supporting turn in Crazy Rich Asians, as well as her performances in Ocean's 8, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Dude, and Jumanji: The Next Level. Additionally, Awkwafina is recognized for her acclaimed dramatic lead role in The Farewell, for which she won a Golden Globe Award. She is also the star, co-creator, and writer behind Comedy Central's semi-autobiographical series, Awkwafina is Nora from Queens.

As a voice actress, meanwhile, Awkwafina is heard in The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, Tuca & Bertie, The Angry Birds Movie 2, Storks, Animals, and The Simpsons. She can also be heard in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. Most recently, the actress was seen in Breaking News in Yuba County. Next, she'll be heard in The Little Mermaid and seen in Swan Song, which premieres at SXSW.

Gemma Chan (Namaari)

Playing the part of Namaari, Raya's nemesis, Gemma Chan voices our main antagonist in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Chan is known for Crazy Rich Asians, as well as her supporting turn in Captain Marvel. She can also be seen in Mary Queen of Scots, Transformers: The Last Knight, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit, The Double, London Fields, Shanghai, Submarine, Exam, and HBO Max's Let Them All Talk. On television, Chan can be seen in the lead role of Humans, as well as Sherlock, Doctor Who, The IT Crowd, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Bedlam, Fresh Meat, and Project Catwalk. Next, she'll star in Marvel's Eternals. She'll also appear in Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry, Darling.

Daniel Dae Kim (Chief Benja)

As Chief Benja, Raya's beloved father and the legendary Guardian of the Dragon Gem, Daniel Dae Kim plays a man known as "the baddest blade in the five lands" in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actor is known for Lost, Hawaii Five-0, and Angel. He also played recurring roles in Beverly Hills, 90210, 24, ER, Star Trek: Enterprise, and The Good Doctor, where he serves as an executive producer. Currently, Kim plays a recurring character in NBC's New Amsterdam. And as a voice actor, he's heard in The Legend of Korra, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, The Casagrandes, Justice League Unlimited, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. Additionally, Kim lent his voice to the Saints Row series, as well as other video games like Scarface: The World Is Yours and Agents of Mayhem.

Outside of television, Daniel Dae Kim appears in Hellboy (2019), Always Be My Maybe, The Divergent Series: Insurgent and Allegiant, Spider-Man 2, Crash (2004), Hulk, Cradle 2 the Grave, and For the Love of the Game.

Sandra Oh (Virana)

In the role of Virana, the chief of the Fang Land, Sandra Oh voices a main character in Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Oh starred in ABC's Grey's Anatomy and BBC America's Killing Eve and won Golden Globes for both. Likewise, she received Emmy nominations for each show, along with nominations for co-hosting The Golden Globes and hosting Saturday Night Live. Her other TV credits include Arliss, Judging Amy, American Crime, and voice roles in American Dad!, American Dragon: Jake Long, The Proud Family, Mulan II, Phineas and Ferb, and She-Ra and the Princesses of Power.

Away from TV, Sandra Oh appears in Sideways, Double Happiness, The Diary of Evelyn Lau, Big Fat Liar, Full Frontal, Bean, The Princess Diaries, Under the Tuscan Sun, Hard Candy, Rabbit Hole, The Red Violin, and Dancing at the Blue Iguana. Recently, Oh lent her voice to Under the Moon. Next, she will be heard in Invincible and seen in Umma.

Benedict Wong (Tong)

Playing the part of Tong, a formidable giant, Benedict Wong voices a large and looming supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, the actor is known for playing Wong in Doctor Strange, as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame. He also appeared in The Martian, Prometheus, Kick-Ass 2, Annihilation, Johnny English Reborn, Gemini Man, Moon, The Lady, Sunshine, Dirty Pretty Things, Shanghai, Spy Game, Hummingbird, and, most recently, The Personal History of David Copperfield. Additionally, Wong was recently heard in Disney+'s Lady and the Tramp.

On television, Benedict Wong played Kublai Khan in Netflix's Marco Polo. He was also seen in Deadly Class, Spirit Warriors, Law & Order: UK, Prey, Black Mirror, State of Play, and What We Do in the Shadows, as well as heard in Netflix's The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Next, he'll appear in Nine Days and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which is now filming. Also, Wong will be heard in The Magician's Elephant.

Izaac Wang (Boun)

As Boun, a savvy entrepreneur and boat restaurant owner, Izaac Wang plays a notable supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Wang is known for his supporting role in Good Boys. He was also recently seen in Think Like a Dog. On TV, the child actor appeared in Teachers. Next, Wang will be seen in Clifford the Big Red Dog and heard in HBO Max's Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.

Thalia Tran (Little Noi)

In the role of Little Noi, a thieving toddler, Thalia Tran voices an adorable troublemaker in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Tran starred in NBC's short-lived Council of Dads. She can also be seen in Little. Her other TV credits include Tiny Feminists, Hotel Du Loone, and Sydney to the Max.

Alan Tudyk (Tuk Tuk)

Playing the part of Tuk Tuk, a bug/armadillo/pug hybrid, Alan Tudyk voices an odd-but-loyal sidekick in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Tudyk is known for his role as Hoban "Wash" Washburne in Fox's short-lived Firefly and its film continuation, Serenity. Also, he appears in Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, Wonder Boys, A Knight's Tale, Knocked Up, 3:10 to Yuma (2007), Trumbo, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, Deadpool 2, 42, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Death at a Funeral (2007). Additionally, Tudyk wrote, directed, and starred in the web series, Con Man, for which he was Emmy-nominated. As a voice actor, he's heard in I, Robot, Wreck-It Ralph, Frozen and Frozen II, Ralph Breaks the Internet, Big Hero 6, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Ice Age, Zootopia, Moana, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and Aladdin (2019).

On television, Alan Tudyk's other credits include Suburgatory, Newsreaders, Powerless, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Dollhouse, and V. Currently, he can be seen in Doom Patrol and heard in Harley Quinn.

Lucille Soong (Dang Hu)

As Dang Hu, the leader of the land of Talon, Lucille Soon plays a sage supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. An actress with nearly 60 years of acting experience, Soong is best known for her main role in ABC's Fresh Off the Boat. She also played a recurring role in Desperate Housewives. Her other television credits include Dharma & Greg, The Troubleshooters, Bones, The King of Queens, Without a Trace, The United States of Tara, According to Jim, and The League, to only name a few credits. In film, meanwhile, Soong can be seen in The Joy Luck Club, Freaky Friday (2003), Nancy Drew, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Mission: Impossible III, Employee of the Month, The Corrupter, Genghis Khan, One More Time, Sky High, and Just Like Heaven.

Patti Harrison (Tail Chief)

In the role of Tail Chief, Patti Harrison voices a prominent supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Most notably, Harrison stars in Hulu's Shrill. She can also be seen in Search Party, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Special Without Brett Davis, where she also wrote, Broad City, High Maintenance, The Chris Gethard Show, History of Swear Words, and I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson. Additionally, Harrison can be heard in BoJack Horseman and Magical Girl Friendship Squad. Most recently, the comedienne co-starred in Amazon Prime's Yearly Departed.

Furthermore, Patti Harrison is seen in A Simple Favor. She also stars in Together Together, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Away from acting, Harrison wrote for Dispatches from Elsewhere and Big Mouth and co-hosts A Woman's Smile.

Ross Butler (Spine Chief)

Playing the part of Spine Chief, Ross Butler voices a notable supporting character in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. Butler is known for his main role on Netflix's 13 Reasons Why. He can also be seen in Riverdale, Shazam!, Teen Beach 2, K.C. Undercover, Perfect High, The Internship, Teen Wolf, Chasing Life, and the music videos for Steve Aoki's "Waste It On Me" and Juice Wild's "Graduation." Additionally, Butler played supporting roles in To All the Boys I Loved: P.S. I Still Love You and this year's To All the Boys: Always and Forever. Next, he'll be heard in Netflix's Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. He was also set to star in Quibi's Swimming with Sharks, though the show's status is unknown after the company folded last year.

Raya and the Last Dragon arrives in theaters and on Disney+ on March 5th.

Spongebob Squarepants has been around for more than twenty years, with the lighthearted sponge and his band of sea friends bringing smiles and joy onto the faces of kids and adults alike. There have been many specials, a couple of spinoffs planned, and even a broadway musical dedicated to the sponge. But one thing that seems to have happened a good amount lately is movies, including the latest one. 

However, there is more to the cast of The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. While we are sure to hear some familiar faces, there will be plenty of guest cameos and spots that fans will love to see, from Keanu Reeves to Awkwafina. With so many characters, it might be hard to keep up, so this is who you should know about in the upcoming Spongebob Squarepants movie.

Tom Kenny - Spongebob Squarepants and Gary the Snail

Everyone knows the man, the myth, the legend, Tom Kenny. He will be returning to the character of Spongebob Squarepants in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Tom Kenny, who has played Spongebob from the beginning of the series, has also had some prominent voice-acting work, with main roles in Adventure Time, playing the Ice King, and the Narrator/The Mayor in The Powerpuff Girls.

Bill Fagerbakke - Patrick Star

Patrick is the best friend we all want and has been Spongebob’s best friend from the moment the series began – even if he is a bit of a goofball sometimes. Bill Fagerbakke, who has played Patrick since the beginning of the series, will be reprising his role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Bill Fagerbakke has also lent his voice to many TV shows, such as The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy, Dragon Tales, Kim Possible, and several others in guest roles and additional voices.

Rodger Bumpass - Squidward Tentacles

I feel like we’ve all become a Squidward at some point in our lives, but Rodger Bumpass has been Squidward for a good part of his own. Squidward Tentacles is the longtime neighbor of Spongebob who always seems to somehow get pulled into the yellow sponge’s hijinks – even though he doesn’t want to be. Rodger Bumpass will be reprising his role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Rodger Bumpass himself has been busy in the voice world, with voice parts in big-time films such as Spirited Away and Monsters University, plus more.

Clancy Brown - Mr. Krabs

Now for another long-timer, Mr. Krabs is the greedy crab who owns the Krusty Krab, who is always looking to make a quick buck. Clancy Brown, who has voiced Mr. Krabs since the beginning, will be reprising his role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Clancy Brown has had some prominent roles both in voiceovers and live-action, with parts in Thor: Ragnarok, The Shawshank Redemption, portraying Lex Luthor in the DC Animated Universe, and even stepping into the video game world voicing Hank Anderson in Detroit: Become Human.

Mr. Lawrence – Plankton

There always needs to be an antagonist in every show, and Plankton most certainly fits that bill. Plankton is the foil to Mr. Krabs. Owner of the Chum Bucket, he will do whatever it takes to somehow snatch away that Krabby Patty formula. Mr. Lawrence, who has voiced Plankton since the show’s first season, will be reprising his role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Mr. Lawrence has had several voice roles, including multiple in Camp Lazlo, the voice of Filburt in Rocko’s Modern Life, and also a couple of other characters on Spongebob Squarepants, like Potty the Parrot, Larry the Lobster, and several others.

Jill Talley – Karen

Ah, Karen, the sassy wife that any married couple can relate to. Karen is the computer that Plankton is married to, and while their marriage can sometimes be rocky due to Plankton’s consistent need to grab the formula, she will always be there to support him. Jill Talley, another voice actor who has voiced the role since the first season, will be reprising her role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Jill Talley has also had several voice roles, including a role in Adventure Time as Maja and several parts in Camp Lazlo.

Fun fact: Karen was actually named after the wife of the creator of Spongebob Squarepants, Stephen Hillenburg. Also fun fact, Jill Talley is actually the real-life wife of Tom Kenny! Talk about being a part of the family business.

Carolyn Lawrence - Sandy Cheeks

The squirrel from Texas with a brain about the size of her home, Sandy Cheeks is the smartest critter under the sea. With her mind, there’s no problem she can’t solve. Carolyn Lawrence, who has voiced Sandy since her debut, will be reprising the role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Besides Spongebob Squarepants, she’s had multiple voice roles outside of the show, including playing the main role of Cindy Vortex on The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and a guest role on The Fairly OddParents.

Mary Jo Catlett - Mrs. Puff

Let’s be honest – all of our parents were Mrs. Puff when we first started to drive, absolutely terrified, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a great character. Mrs. Puff, the best pufferfish around and Spongebob’s boating instructor, will be appearing in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, along with her long-time voice actress, Mary Jo Catlett. Besides Spongebob Squarepants, Mary Jo Catlett was once very active in the theater scene, starring in musicals and plays like Hello, Dolly! and Diff’rent Strokes. Stephen Hillenburg himself actually sought out Catlett once he saw her perform on stage specifically for the role of Mrs. Puff, so there’s more to this pufferfish than you know.

Matt Berry - King Poseidon

While we’ve seen some versions of King Poseidon before, we’ve never seen one quite like this. King Poseidon is the ruler of the sea, and half merman to boot. In The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, he will be portrayed by Matt Berry. Berry was actually in another Spongebob Squarepants movie, Sponge Out of Water, but as a different character, Bubbles the Dolphin. Matt Berry has also had roles in The IT Crowd, Disenchantment, What We Do In The Shadows, and more.

Awkwafina - Otto

As one of the many new characters in this film, Otto is a welcome addition to the Spongebob Squarepants family in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Otto is actually Spongebob’s personal boat driver – because, you know, Spongebob can’t drive, even more than twenty years later. If only Mrs. Puff could see how far tech has come. Otto is played by Awkwafina, who is most known for her roles as Ocean’s 8 and Crazy Rich Asians. She will also have a starring role as Sisu in the upcoming Disney movie, Raya and the Last Dragon.

Keanu Reeves – Sage

You know him, you love him, and now, he’s appearing in Spongebob – as a tumbleweed.

Yes, you read that right. The great Keanu Reeves is appearing as Sage in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, a sage piece from a sagebrush who is there to provide aid to Spongebob and his crew on their journey to try and find his pet snail, Gary. While this is most certainly one of the stranger roles Keanu Reeves has done, that doesn’t mean he still doesn’t have plenty of other movies as well. Reeves, who has been in hits like The Matrix, John Wick, and Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure will only add onto his list of films with this new installment to the Spongebob Squarepants series – albeit a little weird.

Snoop Dogg - The Gambler

The famous rapper and music producer Snoop Dogg will be lending his acting skills in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run by portraying The Gambler, a performer who is putting on a show at a Bikini Bottom club. While Snoop Dogg is definitely known more for some of his music and hits, he has had multiple film and TV roles, such as Pitch Perfect 2 and Dolemite Is My Name. He also has this great cooking show with Martha Stewart, titled Martha and Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party, so if you want to learn to cook some fire recipes, head on over to the coolest pairing in television cooking history (in my opinion).

Danny Trejo - El Diablo

Moving on with the list of cameos in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, Danny Trejo is next up to bat. Danny Trejo is going to be portraying El Diablo, the leader of the Flesh-eating Cowboy Pirate Zombies. While the title of that does seem a bit dark for a children’s movie, I’m sure that somehow it will be made fun and lighthearted for the kids seeing this film. Danny Trejo is more known for his multiple roles in the film and TV industry, including Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy, Rob Zombie’s Halloween, and several more – seriously, the man has been all over Hollywood. You will have seen him at some point or the other, which shows how awesome of an actor he truly is.

Tiffany Haddish - Master Of Ceremonies

Make way for a queen of comedy, because Tiffany Haddish is picking up a role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Tiffany Haddish portrays the Master of Ceremonies, otherwise known as Tiffany Haddock, a fish who has a knack for talent. Tiffany Haddish is well-known for her roles in the movies Girl’s Trip and Night School but has had a couple of voice roles as well in The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe.

Reggie Watts - Chancellor

While a brief role in The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, the Chancellor, a character who is sure to bring on trouble for everyone’s favorite sea creatures when. The talented comedian and musician most certainly has plenty of work under his belt, but is more well-known for his part in the IFC series Comedy Bang! Bang! and also leads the house band for The Late Late Show with James Corden. But seeing him break out onto the big screen, even if the role is a bit smaller, is always great to see.

With all these stars and alumnus of the show coming back, The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run will surely be full of fun for the whole family to enjoy. Be sure to check it out on Paramount+ when it premieres.

Disney's latest blockbuster is finally here, after a year of very few blockbuster films to enjoy, as the 59th feature film from Walt Disney Animation Studios is preparing to hit streaming and the big screen. Kelly Marie Tran stars as Raya in Raya and the Last Dragon, an epic adventure and martial arts movie that features a cast full of star power, with characters voiced by Awkwafina, Gemma Chan, Benedict Wong, and Daniel Dae Kim. Directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Moana) and Carlos López Estrada (Blindspotting), Raya and the Last Dragon follows a lone warrior as she tracks down the legendary last dragon in hopes of restoring the fractured land of Kumandra and its divided people.

Raya and the Last Dragon debuts Friday, March 5 with a limited theatrical release and on Disney+ as a Premiere Access title (meaning it costs extra). Read on to read what critics are saying and to discover if Disney's newest blockbuster is worth a view (Spoiler alert: it certainly seems like it is).

CinemaBlend’s Dirk Libbey, our resident Disney expert, saw Raya and the Last Dragon and rated it five out of five stars! He praised every aspect of the film, from the “stunning” animation; to the casting of Kelly Marie Tran (who, by the way, is understandably stoked to be a Disney princess), Awkwafina; to the narrative pacing – calling it “near perfect.” Libbey continued, saying:

Inkoo Kang of The Hollywood Reporter notes that Raya and the Last Dragon is a film you’ll desperately wish you could see on the big screen (which, incidentally, you can, just in limited theaters). Kang praised the imagery of the movie, the tributes to Southeast Asian cultures, and the character design. Kang writes,

Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times praised Raya and the Last Dragon for its representative value, noting that the film is “an ambitious, imperfect stew of cultural inspirations, in which sharp new flavors and textures jostle with flat, derivative ones.” Though Chang comments that the narrative skeleton is somewhat generic and perhaps reminiscent of previous fantasy literature, generic is still entertaining. He says,

Kate Erbland of IndieWire was overall very pleased with the film. She called it “a rich story about acceptance, found families, and the power of trust.” Erbland continued, saying:

Hoai-Tran Bui of SlashFilm was certainly impressed with Raya and the Last Dragon, praising the beautiful animation and the characters, specifically calling Kelly Marie Tran “absolutely perfect” as Raya. However, Bui criticized the tone of the film, calling it uneven. She writes,

Though met with minor criticisms, Raya and the Last Dragon seems to be worth a trip to the theater or the cost of premiere access on Disney+, just based off of what critics are reporting so far. But we'll have to wait until March 5 to see if audiences receive the film positively!

While we wait until Raya and The Last Dragon releases, check out all the other new movies coming out in March, and our full 2021 Release Calendar.

As Netflix continues to reign as the largest streaming giant in entertainment, the exciting team ups just don’t stop. The platform has had an incredible year between Aaron Sorkin and Spike Lee’s award contending films, big action films The Old Guard and Extraction and the streamer’s connections to the comedy world are especially exciting. It has just nabbed Sandra Oh and Awkwafina for a movie that sounds iconic already.

The name is still to be determined, but Sandra Oh and Awkwafina are going to play estranged sisters brought together by one’s determination to fulfill the other’s lifelong dream to be a contestant on a game show. Oh will reportedly play a “lonely recluse” whose life will be turned upside down by her “trainwreck” sister (Awkwafina) fixed on repairing their relationship.

The Netflix comedy will be written by Workaholics’ Jen D’Angelo, who is also penning the upcoming Hocus Pocus sequel, per a report by Deadline. It is also being produced by Will Ferrell himself, along with Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Itay Reiss and Maggie Haskins. Ferrell was also a producer on Booksmart and Netflix hit Dead To Me for reference. Both, obviously hilarious.

Sandra Oh is an incredibly gifted comedy actress who has seldom been given the opportunity to shine in her own movie of the genre. Oh is best known for her role in Grey’s Anatomy and in the BBC thriller Killing Eve and she has done her share of comedy in the past, but not in a leading role. Plus both of those TV roles had some comedic beats.

Sandra Oh will be in a half-hour dramedy series called The Chair from David Benioff and D.B. Weiss of Game of Thrones next. We were reminded of her sharp comedic timing when she co hosted the 2019’s Golden Globes with Andy Samberg and seriously killed it. So this next project is an exciting one.

We can already imagine it, Oh will likely be the “straight man” to Awkwafina’s wacky sister character. The young actress blew up with 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians and has since been cast in just about everything. The comedian is going to have a voice role in Disney Animation’s Raya and the Last Dragon, she just wrapped filming Marvel’s Shang-Chi with the rest of the cast and she’ll voice Scuttle in the live-action Little Mermaid film.

The buddy comedy genre is always fun, especially as a way to see how two talents bounce off each other. Oh and Awkwafina are operating off a fun premise and both have great track records of achieving some impressive chemistry with unlikely co-stars. Not to mention we just don’t see enough female-driven comedies, especially with two Asian women.

Both these actresses are extremely busy as is, but we’re excited they made room in their high-profile schedules to work together in particular. While we wait for more news about the Netflix comedy, check out what’s coming to the streaming platform in November.

The past few years have given audiences some of the biggest and brightest stars in recent memory, and near the top of that list of young standouts is Awkwafina, the hilarious rapper-turned-actress who has taken the world by storm since first appearing on screen midway through the 2010s. In recent years, the Chinese American actress has starred in films like Ocean's 8, Crazy Rich Asians and The Farewell, the latter of which earned her a Golden Globe in 2020. But as they like to say, there's no rest for the weary, and it doesn't look like Awkwafina is wasting any time or momentum moving forward.

Over the course of the next several of years, Awkwafina will be in a Marvel movie, a Disney live-action adaptation and several other movies that will surely elevate the star to the next level of her career. Here's what's on tap for the comedic actress.

Raya And The Last Dragon - March 12, 2021

2021 will be a big year for Awkwafina, and she will star things off with a leading role in Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon, an animated fantasy film about a lone warrior who embarks upon an epic journey to locate the last known water dragon in existence so that she can save her kingdom from an evil threat. Disney first announced Raya and the Last Dragon at its 2019 D23 event, where the studio revealed that Degrassi actress Cassie Steele would be playing Raya and Awkwafina would be taking on the role of Sisu, the last water dragon. However, there was a major shakeup in August 2020 when it was announced that Star Wars star Kelly Marie Tran would be taking over the role of Raya.

Since its initial announcement back in 2019, Raya and the Last Dragon has been met with some production delays brought on the recasting of the film's lead, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which swept across the globe just as production was picking up in March 2020. The movie was initially slated to be released on November 25, 2020, but the slot was given to the Pixar film Soul after its original release was pushed back because of the pandemic. Despite the shutdown, the team working on the upcoming Disney feature has been able to push through with the help of video calls and working remotely in order to get everything ready for the movie's March 12, 2021 release date.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings - May 7, 2021

Next on Awkwafina's list of upcoming projects, the Golden Globe winner will star in her first Marvel Cinematic Universe film when she appears in the upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Not much is known about the cast except for the casting of Simu Liu as Shangi-Chi and Tony Leung as the Mandarin, the leader of the Ten Rings terrorist organization who also has a strong connection to the titular character. Awkwafina, Ronny Chieng, and Michelle Yeoh are all part of the cast as well, but Marvel and director Destin Daniel Cretton are being tight-lipped at this point in production.

Filming got underway in early 2020 at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney, but the production was temporarily shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and didn't pick back up until August after the cast and crew had returned to Sydney and completed their mandated quarantines. The film was originally supposed to be released on February 12, 2021 to coincide with the start of the Chinese New Year, but delays forced Marvel Studios to push back all theatrical releases, resulting in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings getting a new release date of May 7, 2021.

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run - 2021

Technically The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run is already out in theaters (in Canada), but fans of the latest adaptation of the classic Nickelodeon cartoon will have to wait until some point in 2021 when it premieres on CBS All Access instead of having a traditional run at the local movie theater. Now that we have all of that confusing business out of the way, the third SpongeBob movie will follow everyone's favorite Krabby Patty burger-flipper and his best friend Patrick as they embark on a rescue mission to save Gary that takes them to the Lost City of Atlantic City.

In addition to the SpongeBob mainstays like the titular Bob, Patrick, Gary and the rest of the residents of Bikini Bottom, Sponge on the Run also features none other than Awkwafina, who portrays Otto, a robot who joins the main characters on their epic journey and serves as SpongeBob's personal boat driver. We'll have to wait until next year (unless you're in Canada) to see what Otto has in store for everyone, but hopefully it's worth the wait.

Breaking News In Yuba County - TBD

The next project involving Awkwafina is the crime comedy-drama Breaking News in Yuba County, which centers around a woman who buries her husband's body after he suffers a heart attack caused by her catching him in bed with another woman. In the film, Oscar winner Allison Janney plays Sue Bottoms, a quiet woman who becomes somewhat of a celebrity after the local community starts a search party for her presumed-missing husband. Breaking News in Yuba County also stars Mila Kunis, Regina Hall and Awkwafina, to name a few.

First announced back in late 2018, Breaking News in Yuba County entered production in June 2019, according to Deadline, but not so much of a peep has been made about how and when it will be released to audiences. With a star-studded cast and the director of hits like The Help, The Girl on the Train and Ma, it's strange that the movie hasn't seen the light of day well over a year since shooting first got underway.

The Little Mermaid - TBD

Disney released its latest live-action remake, Mulan, on Disney+ in September 2020, but the House of Mouse always has something up its sleeve next. In this case, that happens to be The Little Mermaid. The new version of the Disney animated classic boasts a stacked live-action cast anchored by Halle Bailey as Ariel, Melissa McCarthy as Ursula and Javier Bardem as King Triton. The voice cast includes Hamilton's Daveed Diggs as Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay as Founder, and Awkwafina as Scuttle, the dim-witted bird who gives Ariel highly inaccurate descriptions of everyday objects.

Production on The Little Mermaid was supposed to get underway in spring 2020, but Disney shut things down just 10 days before filming was set to begin due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March. There is no word on when The Little Mermaid will be released at this point.

The Baccarat Machine - TBD

Awkwafina is no stranger to the crime genre thanks to her great performance in 2018's Ocean's 8, in which she played Constance, the loudmouthed pickpocket, and she'll pick up where she left off in the upcoming drama The Baccarat Machine. According to Variety, Awkwafina signed on in February 2020 to star in the gambling thriller inspired by Michael Kaplan's 2017 Cigar Aficionado article of the same name. The Golden Globe winner will portray Cheung Yin Sun, who, along with poker player Phil Ivey, amassed a fortune at casinos around the world by recognizing the differences in edges of cards. There are currently no other details regarding this project.

Shelly - TBD

Anyone who like the pairing of Awkwafina and Karen Gillan in Jumanji: The Next Level is in for some good news, as the two stars will soon be teaming up once more in the action-comedy Shelly. The movie centers around Awkwafina's Shelly, a cutthroat assassin who returns to her hometown only to discover that her next target is Karen Gillan's Dianna Park, who pulled a traumatic prank on her in high school. Like pretty much every other movie like this, Shelly and Dianna will team up and take on another group of hitmen and become friends in the process.

Amazon Studios announced in September 2020 that it had picked up the project that is being written by Michael Doneger and directed by Liz Storm, though there was no word on when the rest of the cast will be announced or when shooting is expected to get underway. It also remains unclear if Shelly will receive a theatrical release or head straight to Prime Video at some point next year.

Crazy Rich Asians Sequel - TBD

The world was taken by storm by the shockingly refreshing romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians, and before the dust had even settled, there was talk of adapting Kevin Kwan's followup novels, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems, back-to-back. Seems great, right? Well, a little more than a year after audiences fell in love with the story of Rachel Chu and Nick Young, the project was dealt a blow when Adele Lim, one of the writers of the original adaptation, announced that she was leaving the project due to an unequal pay dispute. That combined with the COVID-19 pandemic makes it seem like we'll be waiting for an extended period of time before we see the next chapters in the Crazy Rich Asians franchise.

It is a bummer that we will most likely have to wait a long time before we see Awkwafina's Peik Lin Goh or any other character from Crazy Rich Asians, but there are plenty of movies featuring the rapper-turned-actor coming up in the next year or so to get us by. And if you want to know what other movies are coming out next year, check out CinemaBlend's 2021 New Movie release guide for all the latest information.

Last year, Crazy Rich Asians’ Awkwafina and Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan collaborated for the first time via Jumanji: The Next Level, where they starred alongside Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black, among others. Now Awkwafina and Gillan are preparing to team up again on an action-comedy titled Shelly, and word’s come in that the movie has a home.

According to Deadline, Amazon Studios has acquired Shelly, which started to be shopped around back in late June. It’s unclear whether Shelly will get some kind of theatrical release or if it’ll solely be distributed on the Prime Video streaming, but either way, this is a big step forward for the project. Amazons Studios’ recent distributed features include 7500, My Spy and Chemical Hearts.

Shelly follows two women who attended high school together: Awkwafina’s Shelly Wheeler and Karen Gillan’s Dianna Park. Taking place a decade after Dianna pulled a traumatizing prank on Shelly that resulted in her leaving town, Shelly returns to old stomping grounds as a hardened assassin. In a twist of fate, Shelly’s next target is Dianna, but when the latter unexpectedly ends up befriending the former, the two women must work together when another crew of killers is tasked with eliminating them both.

Along with Awkwafina and Karen Gillan as the main stars, Shelly also has Liz Storm attached to direct and Michael Doneger writing the script. The movie, which will be produced by Ian Bryce Productions, is tonally described as “Mean Girls meets Barry.” There’s no word yet on when filming will begin, but fingers crossed more casting information is revealed in the near future.

Along with their time together on Jumanji: The Next Level (which, like 2017’s Welcome to the Jungle, was a commercial powerhouse with its $800 million worldwide haul), Awkwafina and Karen Gillan also share the Marvel Cinematic Universe in common. Gillan has played Nebula in the two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, and Awkwafina will appear in next year’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, although it hasn’t been officially announced yet who she’s playing.

As far as their separate, recent professional endeavors go, along with starring in the Comedy Central series Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens, Awkwafina has appeared in The Farewell, Paradise Hills and The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run, and her other upcoming movies include Raya and the Last Dragon and the live-action Little Mermaid remake. Karen Gillan has shown up in Stuber, All Creatures Here Below, Spies in Disguise and The Call of the Wild, and she’ll next star in Gunpowder Milkshake.

Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates on how Shelly is coming along. In the meantime, find out what movies are already on the calendar with our 2020 release schedule and 2021 release schedule.

In the past five decades, Saturday Night Live has seen a stellar rotation of guest hosts – some of which have returned enough times to join the Five-Timers Club. However, some classic SNL hosts still have a while before they can qualify for that honor and even have yet to headline a second time.

Since we are currently in SNL Season 50, I would say it is about time that some of the most successful and hilarious members of the One-Timers Club be considered to return for what would very likely be another slam dunk episode. The following are some celebrities who deserve the chance to prove lightning can strike twice in Studio 8H.

Pedro Pascal

With his Emmy-nominated performance in The Last of Us, his legion of Gen-Z fans, and plenty of other fandoms he is a focus of, Pedro Pascal is the type of actor who appeals to all ages, which is part of why his Season 48 episode became an instant classic. He would return less than a year later to cameo alongside host Bad Bunny and reprise his “Protective Mom” character, whom I know fans would love to see return by the time The Last of Us Season 2 premieres or when he shows up in the upcoming Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Quinta Brunson

Quinta Brunson achieved Emmy-winning success as the creator and star of Abbott Elementary (one of the funniest TV shows on Hulu) before making her hosting debut in Season 48, for which she brought back the same energy she demonstrated on HBO’s acclaimed sketch comedy TV show, A Black Lady Sketch Show. A performer with her charisma and sharp sense of humor was made for a show like SNL and as long as her ABC sitcom is a hit (and even beyond its ongoing tenure), I believe she deserves plenty more chances to rock it at Studio 8H.

Travis Kelce

Many professional athletes have appeared on SNL as hosts and one of the more recent and surprisingly successful of the bunch is Travis Kelce, who was an absolute riot as a far too old American Girl Doll Cafe patron in one funny bit. Having made a cameo not long after his Season 48 episode in a sketch poking fun at the NFL’s attention to his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, it’s clear that SNL likes the Kansas City Chiefs player, who has dabbled in more acting since, which means there could be more reasons to bring him back even if he were to hang up his helmet sometime soon.

Natasha Lyonne

SNL’s Season 47 finale was a bittersweet episode – bitter because it was the last to feature heavy hitters like Kate McKinnon and Pete Davidson in the cast and sweet because it was headlined by a supreme talent like Emmy nominee Natasha Lyonne. She is one of the most versatile and naturally funny actors of her time and I would say that promoting the upcoming Poker Face Season 2 would be a great reason for her to come back, not that she really needs one as far as I am concerned.

Robert Downey Jr.

SNL’s 11th season is considered the worst year in the show’s history, as well as a career low for then-cast member Robert Downey Jr., who luckily went on to achieve greater things, such as playing Iron Man in the Marvel movies and becoming the first former SNL actor to win an Oscar (for Oppenheimer). Still, the beloved actor has only come back to host the show for one, totally solid, episode, but I cannot help but feel he deserves more time to shine at Studio 8H.

Taylor Swift

Any doubt that the aforementioned Taylor Swift had acting ability was quelled by her November 2009 SNL episode, in which she poked fun at herself with her “Monologue Song” and did a killer Shakira impersonation. That wasn't even her first time appearing in sketches (she played Little Orphan Annie in a bit about Broadway during her first musical gig) and not her last either (she showed up in Please Don’t Destroy’s “Three Sad Virgins” video, for instance). Yet, while T Swift qualifies for the Five-Timers Club for musical guest appearances and has made a few jaw-dropping cameos on SNL, she has only been a host once, but will hopefully get another well-deserved double shift.

Neil Patrick Harris

Taylor Swift's first musical SNL gig was also Neil Patrick Harris' sole hosting appearance, during which he appeared in a hilarious SNL Digital Short that recreated the Doogie Howser, M.D. theme with an eclectic variety of instruments. The former How I Met Your Mother cast member’s impeccable talent, which has since earned him countless other hosting gigs, made it a really fun show. Perhaps the actor and producer is just too busy for SNL these days, which, to me, means they should just try harder to get him.

Kerry Washington

Emmy winner Kerry Washington hosted Saturday Night Live in 2013, at a time when the cast lacked women of color, which the show hilariously self-indicted itself over by having the Django Unchained star play Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyonce in the cold open. That does not even scratch the surface of the comedic prowess she exhibited for her one-time hosting gig, from her Scandal-ous monologue to a gut-busting "What Does the Fox Say?" parody with Jay Pharaoh. Washington has said she has wanted to quit acting on several occasions, only to be pulled back in by something extraordinary, which makes me wonder if a really clever SNL episode could do the trick.

Bryan Cranston

We tend to forget how funny the man who won five Emmys for playing Walter White can be, and if Malcolm in the Middle does not provide a fitting example, perhaps his 2010 bid as Saturday Night Live host will. The episode – featuring a monologue explaining his long career without household name status and a brilliant Billy Ray Cyrus impersonation in the first-ever "The Miley Cyrus Show" sketch – was hilarious, but the actor’s only return so far is a surprise cold open cameo as his Breaking Bad alter ego in 2016. I am still anticipating the day he could reprise the character, and others, on SNL as a host for his second time.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

At the peak of Hamilton's success on Broadway, its creator took the stage of Saturday Night Live as host for a 2016 episode that served as a perfect way to show the vast extent of his talents. In fact, behind-the-scenes footage revealed Lin-Manuel Miranda to be an amazing pre-show host as well, by surprising audience members lined up outside 30 Rock with pizza. The Tony winner cameoed as Alexander Hamilton in a Season 50 cold open (and struggled to keep a straight face next to James Austin Johnson’s Donald Trump) but that was the last we saw of him at Studio 8H… for now, hopefully.

Bradley Cooper

Months before The Hangover made him a household name, Bradley Cooper proved his worth as a comedic actor – with a biting impression of his future American Hustle co-star Christian Bale, for instance – on his sole SNL episode in February 2009. He has since returned for a few cameos (including a particularly memorable one opposite Betty White at the 40th Anniversary special) and obtained permission to film scenes in Studio 8H for his directorial debut, A Star is Born. However, it would be really nice to see him headline a show again.

Donald Glover

This multi-talented, award-winning artist both hosted Saturday Night Live and performed as his rapper alter ego, Childish Gambino, in 2018. The episode, which also saw Donald Glover's official debut as Lando Calrissian prior to Solo: A Star Wars Story, featured the Community cast member and Atlanta mastermind showing he "really can do anything," proving himself a natural for sketches and earning the right to a second hosting gig, which has yet to be secured. It makes you wonder how he could have possibly failed to make the cut when auditioning for SNL, even if it might have been for the best.

Awkwafina

In her SNL monologue, Awkwafina shared that her first visit to Rockefeller Center was as a child who just "wanted to be near the building" when Lucy Liu made history as the show's first host of Asian descent in 2000. The second to do so, 18 years later, was the Golden Globe-winning comedian turned rapper and Crazy Rich Asians star, who also displayed her penchant for dancing to classic game show theme songs in, arguably, the funniest sketch of the night. Hopefully, the actor makes her return to SNL soon because we are convinced there is still much more we have yet to learn about her.

Andy Samberg

Why would I like to see more of Andy Samberg on SNL? Other than how he and The Lonely Island basically changed the show forever with classic pre-recorded bits like "Lazy Sunday,” the guy is just really funny and the fact that he has only hosted once, two years after leaving the cast in 2012, is surprising. Based on his stint of cameos as Douglas Emhoff for Season 50, Samberg clearly does not even need to plug something like his dramatic performance in 2024’s Lee to earn another hosting gig, because just another idea for a Justin Timberlake collaboration would suffice.

Anna Kendrick

While she never became a cast member, Anna Kendrick is somebody tailor-made for the world of Saturday Night Live, which she proved in her sole hosting gig in 2014. In just her opening monologue, she was able to show off how well her comedic timing comes through in her astonishing singing voice, before lending it to a song about international "dong" admiration. In fact, I would support the idea of bringing her on as both host and musical guest for her return and just give her anything to sing. Whatever it is, she'll nail it.

Conan O’Brien

At one point, seeing former SNL writer Conan O'Brien host for the first time since 2001 seemed pretty unlikely, considering his strained relationship with NBC after an awkward, premature Tonight Show exit in 2010. However, after making an epic cameo in Season 47, it does not seem like much of a stretch for the beloved former late night talk show host to reclaim his place at Studio 8H. Not to mention, with new superhero movies still popular, there is no better time for him to reprise the overenthusiastic superhero, Moleculo: The Molecular Man.

What do you think? Do these celebrities deserve a second Saturday Night Live hosting gig, or, perhaps, are they better off not trying to repeat themselves?

They say comedy is rooted in tragedy. People laugh to avoid crying. While that might not always be the case, that's fitting when it comes to these peculiarly dramatic performances from comedians/comedic actors. It almost seems like a rite of passage for prominent comedians to leap into dramatic/darker material, and several have proved their chops. It might not always be the roles they're most commonly associated with, but for actors like Adam Sandler in Uncut Gems, it showcases new sides to their familiar screen presence. The results are surprising and exciting in equal measures. No joke. Here are comedians who also stood out in dramatic roles.

Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)

While he's more commonly associated with his juvenile, boyish Happy Madison productions, including Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer, and the Grown Ups movies, Adam Sandler has also consistently proven himself as a serious actor. Notably starting with 2003's misunderstood dark dramedy Punch-Drunk Love, which cleverly subverted and dissected the tropes of Sandler's early comedies in an artistic, challenging, yet still bleakly hilarious way, Sandler has dived into dramatic roles — to mixed results. Judd Apatow's Funny People was smartly funny and insightfully self-referential, but Reign Over Me was a middling effort prior. Men, Women & Children was a well-meaning but misbegotten flub, while The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) featured an excellent Sandler performance in this dysfunctional family dramedy.

Tom McCarthy's The Cobbler seemed like an easy winner but it tragically received some of Adam Sandler's worst reviews. But Sandler got some of his best reviews in Uncut Gems, a New York City-based crime drama-thriller following Howard Ratner (Sandler), a down-on-his-luck jewelry salesman with a gambling addiction that involves some very expensive debts and some very bad people. 

The grimy, stylistic, relentless, but appropriately addictive, character piece surprised general audiences used to seeing broader, more conventional comedies from the A-lister. Instead, Uncut Gems finds Sandler giving one of his most committed, commendably foul performances, fully embodying this scumbag with vigor and aplomb. The result is one of the actor's most audacious and daring roles, and one that hopefully proved to Sandler's biggest, most merciless critics that he has serious chops.

Kevin James (Becky)

Best known for The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait, in addition to comedy film franchises like Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Grown Ups, Kevin James' decision to play a vicious, vindictive neo-Nazi in this year's Becky was certainly a surprising, unexpected one. If you can get past the bold, bizarre casting choice, James proves himself to be a formidable dramatic one, one who isn't afraid to play against the grain and relish his darker impulses. Characters like the aforementioned Paul Blart showcased an underlying sadness, which suggested that James had what it took to be an intriguing dramatic performer, but this bald-headed villainous brute is a stark departure from anything we've seen from him. While some dismissed it as stunt casting, James does convey genuine tension and menace through this violent, cold-blooded character.

While Kevin James' performance isn't a complete revelation, notably with a flimsy screenplay and little insight into this character's motivations, it should hopefully prove to be a stepping stone for his second chapter. Certainly, his YouTube account suggests James can't wait to try darker, more challenging material, though it's unclear if more filmmakers will allow him to do something this outlandishly against his familiar image. Notably, using his physicality not for slapstick comedy but rather to impose suspense and terror is an intriguing change-of-pace.

Eddie Murphy (Dolemite Is My Name)

Eddie Murphy needed a comeback. He impressed everyone with his sensational musical performance in 2006's Dreamgirls, nearly winning an Oscar. But then came Norbit. The ill-received studio comedy was not only a critical flop but it also supposedly killed his award chances. Murphy continued to make several ill-fated studio comedies, not of which captured Dreamgirls' radiant spark or the sharp wit of his earlier comedic work. But after an extended absence, Murphy returned with Dolemite Is My Name, a lively, heartfelt biopic dramedy/tribute to Rudy Ray Moore, best known for playing Dolemite on the stage and screen. Murphy's performance was rewardingly electrifying, feeling more alive than anything he'd done in years. It's also a role that heartily played to his strengths, capturing the humor and heartbreak of this larger-than-life personality.

Patton Oswalt (Big Fan)

Better known then for his stage work and Ratatouille, Patton Oswalt proved his acting chops with 2009's overlooked Big Fan. As a diehard football fan caught in a complicated situation when he's assaulted by his football idol, Oswalt's reverence for pop culture and fandom were put to sharp, poignant use, showcasing the complexities that come with being blindingly reverent to something — to the point where you can't look at it from an objective lens. But for many folks, they didn't realize the extent of Oswalt's acting talents until he starred in 2011's Young Adult, appearing opposite Charlize Theron, in which he gave an excellently nuanced, perspective performance.

Awkwafina (The Farewell)

As an actress, comedian, and musician, Awkwafina continues to gain notice and recognition, notably with standout roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's Eight. But her most prominent part might actually be her most dramatic. Specifically, last year's tender, personal The Farewell found the rising star at the forefront of one of the most acclaimed movies of the year. And her performance was certainly well-recognized. Beautifully conveying the mix of humor and sorrow that's presented in this nuanced situation, Awkwafina was praised for channeling the deft balance of gentle humor and dramatic pathos with grace and vulnerability. It led to Awkwafina being the first Asian woman in Golden Globes history to win Best Actress.

Vince Vaughn (Brawl In Cell Block 99)

Though not a comedian in a traditional sense, Vince Vaughn came into fame through his star-making role in Swingers, loosely based on his own real-life personality. From there, much like Jon Favreau, Vaughn continued climbing up the Hollywood ladder, starring in Wedding Crashers, Dodgeball, Old School, The Break-Up, and more. While he periodically dived into dramatic territory, notably with Gus Van Sant's much-criticized Psycho remake, Vaughn found his dramatic stride with Brawl in Cell Block 99, a neo-noir prison thriller-drama which follows former boxer-turned-drug mule Bradley Thomas (Vaughn) as he descends several brutal layers of prison hell to protect the woman he loves. 

While previous Vince Vaughn roles relied on his snarky sarcasm, this one challenges Vaughn's physique. With his bald head and imposing height, Vaughn is surprisingly menacing, but that only makes his unexpected emotional sweet side resonate more.

Marlon Wayans (Requiem For A Dream)

Before White Chicks, Little Man, and the first two Scary Movies, Marlon Wayans was a TV star venturing out into movies. Shortly before his movie career would took off, Wayans gave a surprising dramatic performance in 2000's almost relentlessly bleak Requiem for a Dream. In its bold, unflinching look at drug addiction, Wayans not only holds his own opposite Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Ellen Burstyn, but he proves his dramatic chops in a performance that doesn't mirror any other throughout his career. It's a shame we haven't seen Wayans take another role in this vein again, though he's set to star in Sofia Coppola's latest, On the Rocks.

Albert Brooks (Drive)

A celebrated actor-director best known for Broadcast News, Out of Sight, Finding Nemo, Modern Romance, Defending Your Life, and Lost in America, the latter three he also helmed, Albert Brooks is a familiar, beloved screen presence, yet he surprised everyone with his dark, menacing villainous role in 2011's Drive. Playing the brooding antagonistic figure to Ryan Gosling's soft-spoken protagonist, Brooks' cold, calculated performance didn't capture any of the warmth or humility seen in his earlier work, conveying a seething contempt and a vigor for violence that was surprising not merely because it came from the voice of Merlin. Intentionally, it was effectively disarming, never allowing us to be two steps ahead of our scowling sociopathic baddie. It showed a new side to Brooks. It should be noted, though, that he also starred in Taxi Driver. What's the deal with him and drivers?

In addition all these strong and/or challenging performances, we'll take this moment to celebrate some comedians who didn't make the list, including Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me? and The Nines, Molly Shannon in Other People and Year of the Dog, Jenny Slate in Obvious Child, Mary Tyler Moore in Ordinary People, Rodney Dangerfield in Natural Born Killers, Stephen Merchant in Logan, Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction and Everything Must Go, Richard Pryor in Blue Collar, George Carlin in Jersey Girl, Seth Rogen in Steve Jobs and Take This Waltz, and Ben Stiller in Permanent Midnight, Greenberg, and The Meyerowitz Stories.

Karen Gillan and Awkwafina together again? Sign us up! Word is that the Jumanji actresses have just signed on to star in an action-packed comedy together that’s being described as a cross between HBO’s Barry and Mean Girls. The two talented stars will be the leads in Jude Weng’s Shelly.

In the comedy, Awkwafina will be playing a stone-cold hitwoman named Shelly who was burned by Karen Gillan’s Dianna Park back in high school, with Dianne pulling a traumatizing high school prank on Shelly during prom night. Ten years later, Shelly is hired to kill off her former high school classmate, and she thinks it's an easy job until they form an unexpected friendship with one another. Shelly then finds herself taking on the role of Dianna’s protector against a crew of hitmen now after the both of them.

Shelly is a fun premise that can allow Awkwafina and Karen Gillan to show off their tried-and-true comedic chops and maybe even some hand-to-hand combat. Karen Gillan’s practically an action star after training with nunchucks for Jumanji: The Next Level and kicking butt in four Marvel films so far. Awkwafina is gearing up to enter the MCU too in Phase Four’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings with Simu Liu. Yeah, this is going to be awesome.

The upcoming movie was penned by The Escort writer Michael Doneger and newcomer Liz Storm, and will be helmed by Jude Weng, who recently wrapped her first feature-length film Finding Ohana and has directed episodes of the hit comedies The Good Place, Young Sheldon, Fresh off the Boat and Black-ish. Shelly will be produced by 6 Underground’s Ian Bryce and Kate Malott, per Deadline.

For the kind of buddy comedy Shelly looks to be, it helps that Karen Gillan and Awkwafina already bonded on the set of Jumanji: The Next Level last year. Take a look at the pair, already supporting one another in the air during Awkwafina’s first day on set as Ming:

We might not have easily imagined placing these two together, but now that Hollywood has, I cannot wait to see what they do with a comedy movie of their own. The actresses are coming off the massive success Jumanji: The Next Level became at the end of 2019. The holiday release made $796 million at the worldwide box office and impressed critics. Jumanji 4 is in early development at Sony.

Shelly sounds like a blast for the actresses in between their big-budget tentpole films. Karen Gillan is also signed on for James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and a sci-fi thriller called Dual. Awkwafina also has a role in Disney’s animated film Raya and the Last Dragon and the live-action remake of The Little Mermaid. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more updates on upcoming movies.

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Based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians became one of the biggest movies of 2018. Both a critical and commercial hit, earning over $200 million worldwide and securing several award nominations, Jon M. Chu's film adaptation was the first major Hollywood movie since 1993's The Joy Luck Club to feature a majority cast of actors of Asian descent inside a modern setting, and it was certainly a well-received film. With plans to turn the film into a trilogy set in place for sometime in the near future, we'll return to these romantic cast of characters, played by Henry Golding, Constance Wu, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and more, soon. But since its major success, many of the movie's stars have only continued to see their stars shine brighter. Let's take a look at what Crazy Rich Asians cast has been working since the film's release.

Constance Wu (Rachel Chu)

An actress who found her breakthrough role with ABC's Fresh Off the Boat, Crazy Rich Asians proved to be a major breakout for the actress, leading her to more career possibilities. Notably following her Golden Globe-nominated performance in that film, becoming only the fourth Asian woman to be nominated for that award, Wu was seen in the lead role in the acclaimed crime drama, Hustlers, which also starred Jennifer Lopez. Wu also played a voice-only role in the animated movie, Next Gen. Up next, Wu will be seen in the drama film, I Was A Simple Man, and she'll also lend her voice to Wish Dragon. She also recently appeared in the sixth and final season of the aforementioned Fresh Off the Boat, and it appears that she wasn't thrilled about the acclaimed show being renewed for that many seasons, as she made clear on Twitter.

Henry Golding (Nick Young)

A Malaysian-born English actor, model, and TV host, Henry Golding gained fame across the pond, notably as the host of BBC's The Travel Show, but he became an international success when he played the romantic lead in Crazy Rich Asians, which became his first professional acting credit. Since starring in this box office smash, Golding continues to gain more high-profile roles, notably in 2018's A Simple Favor and as the romantic lead in last year's Last Christmas, which also starred the actor's Crazy Rich Asians co-star, Michelle Yeoh. Most recently, Golding starred in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen. Up next, the rising performer will play the title role in Snake Eyes, which is expected to be released later this year (or perhaps next year, at this point). Golding will also soon set to be seen in the romantic drama Monsoon, which will get its stateside release soon.

Michelle Yeoh (Eleanor Sung-Young)

A Malaysian actress who became famous in the 1990s through Hong Kong action films, then became an international success thanks to Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Crazy Rich Asians was one of Yeoh's biggest hits in recent years as she played the part of Eleanor Sung-Young, Nick's domineering mother. Since the film's release, Yeoh has also been seen in Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy and, most recently, Last Christmas. Though the actress has most prominently appeared on Star Trek: Discovery on CBS All Access. Up next, Yeoh is set to appear in a number of new movies, including Boss Level, Gunpowder Milkshake, and Everything Everywhere All At Once, but the biggest role she has coming up is a part in the forthcoming Avatar sequels. Yeoh is also lending her voice to Minions: The Rise of Gru, which will come out next year.

Awkwafina (Peik Lin Goh)

Awkwafina was previously best known as a rapper, though the performer only continues her ascension as a high-profile actress. Certainly, 2018 proved to be a big year for the rising actress, starring in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean's 8 in the same summer, while her second EP, In Fina We Trust, was also released. The comedy star proved herself tremendously as a dramatic actress through her outstanding performance in The Farewell, for which she won a Golden Globe. Unfortunately, Awkwafina was snubbed at the Oscars. Awkwafina was also seen in Jumanji: The Next Level, and she stars, produces and writes the Comedy Central series, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. Next, Awkwafina stars in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Breaking News in Yuba County, and she'll soon be heard in Raya and the Last Dragon and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run.

Gemma Chan (Astrid Young Teo)

Playing fashion icon and socialite Astrid Leong-Teo, Gemma Chan had a standout role in Crazy Rich Asians. The English actress has appeared in several movies and TV shows, including Humans, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Doctor Who, Transformers: The Last Knight, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, to name a few. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Chan has continued to build her resume. She appeared in Mary Queen of Scots, and she also starred in Captain Marvel. The actress also starred and co-wrote an episode of I Am and she provided her voice to BBC's Watership Down. Next, Chan will star in The Eternals and she also has a role in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming drama, Let Them All Talk, which hits HBO Max later this year.

Lisa Lu (Ah Ma)

A prolific, acclaimed actress with decades of experience to her name, Lisa Lu gave another strong performance in Crazy Rich Asians playing the part of Shang Su Yi, also known as Ah Ma. An actress/producer seen in The Last Emperor, Bonanza, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Joy Luck Club, and several other productions for both big and small screens, Lu is a celebrated actress with three Golden Horse Awards to her name from the 1970s. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Lu hasn't appeared in any other films or shows, though she did act in the short film Penzai. It's expected to be released soon.

Ken Jeong (Wye Mun Goh)

Best known for his work in Community and The Hangover trilogy, Ken Jeong is a dependable comedic talent, and he has stayed active in the past ten-plus years. One of Jeong's most noteworthy roles was Wye Mun Goh, the wealthy father of Peik Lin Goh (Awkwafina), in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians. Since then, the doctor-turned-comedian has starred in several movies and TV shows, including Lady and the Tramp, Fresh Off the Boat, Saving Zoe, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, and an Avengers: Endgame cameo. Additionally, Jeong provided voice roles in BoJack Horseman, Wonder Park, The Simpsons, and Bob's Burgers. He also had a Netflix special released in 2019 and he's currently seen as a panelist on The Masked Singer. Next, Jeong stars in My Spy, Boss Level, Tom & Jerry and more, including voice roles in Scoob!, The Emperor of Malibu, and Adventures in Wonder Park.

Sonoya Mizuno (Araminta Lee)

A Japanese-born British actress, ballet dancer, and model, Sonoya Mizuno has been seen in a variety of unique and exciting projects. In addition to her role in Crazy Rich Asians, where she played Araminta Lee, the bride-to-be and the heiress to a billion-dollar chain restaurant, Mizuno is best known for her work with writer-director Alex Garland. She has appeared in both of his directorial efforts, Ex Machina and Annihilation, and she was most recently seen in the lead role of Devs, his FX-Hulu mini-series, which premiered earlier this year. Additionally, in the fall of 2018, Mizuno starred in Netflix's mini-series, Maniac, where she played a prominent role. She was also recently seen in All About Nina and The Domestics. Next, Mizuno will star in the new HBO Max series, The Flight Attendant, alongside Kaley Cuoco.

Chris Pang (Colin Khoo)

As Colin Khoo, Araminta's fiancé and Nick's childhood best friend, Chris Pang played a prominent character in Crazy Rich Asians. An Australian actor-producer of Chinese descent, Pang was previously best known for 2010's Tomorrow, When the War Began before the 2018 romantic studio comedy. Since Crazy Rich Asians, Pang has been seen in last year's Charlie's Angels and Empty By Design, which he also produced. He was also recently cast in an untitled Amazon pilot from producer Jason Katims (Friday Night Lights, Parenthood). Pang is also soon set to be seen in the Sundance hit, Palm Springs, and he has a role in the upcoming sports movie, Underdogs Rising.

Jimmy O. Yang (Bernard Tai)

As the spoiled, party-loving former classmate of Colin Khoo and Nick Young, comedian Jimmy O. Yang gets a splashy, occasionally scene-stealing role in Crazy Rich Asians. Beyond this supporting role, Yang is best known for playing Jian-Yang in HBO's acclaimed Silicon Valley. That series wrapped its run after its sixth season aired late last year. Recently, Yang was seen in Like a Boss and Fantasy Island. He'll next star in Netflix's Space Force. He also appeared in The Simpsons and Fresh Off the Boat, which also stars Constance Wu, and he played a voice-only role in The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. He'll next be seen in the lead role of The Opening Act, which also stars Ken Jeong, and he provides his voice to Wish Dragon. He also recently wrote a memoir titled How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents.

Who is your favorite Crazy Rich Asians star? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Jumanji: The Next Level lived up to its title by changing up the formula of the previous film by adding new video game avatar characters as well as new "real world" characters to inhabit those avatars. Seeing Dwayne Johnson do his best Danny DeVito impression in the film was good, but really it has to be said that Awkwafina was the real star of the show, as, when she took over the impression the whole move was elevated.

It seems that Awkwafina believes it was all meant to be. The comedian and actress says in one of the special features attached to the recent Blu-ray release of Jumanji: The Next Level, that she thinks she was literally born to play Danny DeVito. It all comes down to her voice. According to Awkwafina...

It probably never really crossed anybody's mind to compare the voices of Awkwafina and Danny DeVito, but when you think about it, Awkwafina is from Long Island, New York and Danny DeVito is from New Jersey, and they both very much sound like it. Maybe that's why Awkwafina's impression is so spot on. She has a natural talent for the dialect. She probably knows her share of people who sound lust like that, and yes, she even sounds something like that already. There are few other women you would say sound like Danny DeVito, but since she brought it up, it's now impossible to not think about.

The previous Jumanji movie let actors like Karen Gillan and Jack Black play against type by playing awkward teenagers, but the addition of Danny DeVito and Danny Glover really did make the follow-up something special. The previous Jumanji surprised a lot of people by making nearly $1 billion at the global box office, by comparison, I suppose Jumanji: The Next Level unperformed, by making only $754 million around the world. Still, the film found a smart way to reinvent itself and do something new with its formula by changing around the characters.

Kevin Hart is probably the real MVP of Jumanji: The Next Level as his version of the slow-talking Danny Glover never fails to be funny throughout the movie. And while Awkwafina's DeVito is clearly superior, Dwayne Johnson's version is still funny.

As we all sit around more or less locked in place Jumanji: The Next Level on Blu-ray and Digital is maybe what we all need. It's a fun little adventure movie that will probably make us all forget the world has gone to hell for a little while.

Since 2012, Awkwafina has been an artist on the rise; first for a viral music video and now for her performances in critically acclaimed movies like The Farewell. Awkwafina is quickly building a diverse body of work, from blockbusters to independent films. Her career evolution is making her an interesting artist to watch. One day, Awkwafina’s name could join the conversation of prestige actors.

Awkwafina began rapping at 13 and made her feature film debut in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising in 2016. In only a few years, she has gone from an artist only recognized by a niche group of fans to an award-winning actress. Awkwafina is a fascinating performer because her persona feels like a mythical character, and an extremely talented actress, writer, and performer. It is easy to become curious about the persona Awkwafina and the person Nora Lum.

Her Stage Name’s Origin Is Just As Unique As The Name Itself

Awkwafina was born in 1988 as Nora Lum. She chose her stage name at 15, and started going by it at 16. In a Galore interview, Awkwafina discussed how she thought the process of coming up with product names, especially names like Neutrogena and Aquafina, was funny. So she made her stage name Aquafina. A video producer told her that she needed to at least change the spelling of the name so they wouldn’t get sued by Pepsi.

He decided to create a new spelling of the word Aquafina, and Awkwafina was born. She also mentioned in an interview with Refinery29, that she saw the name as “a shield of confidence” when growing up. However, now the lines between Nora and Awkwafina intersect, one does not exist without the other.

She Plans To Continue To Make Music

Awkwafina got a big break when the 2012 video for “My Vag” went viral. It was a response to Mickey Avalon’s song “My Dick.” She then recorded a few other hits, including “NYC Bitche$” and “Green Tea.” “Green Tea” discusses Asian stereotypes and features comedian Margaret Cho. In 2014, Awkwafina produced an 11-track album called Yellow Ranger. In 2018, she released a seven-track EP called In Fina We Trust. Music is what Awkwafina is most passionate about, and she started listening to rap at 11. In an interview with The Ringer, Awkwafina mentioned that she has been making music since 16, and doing it all by herself: mixing, producing, and writing songs.

In that 2017 Ringer interview, Awkwafina said that she had no plans to give up music, because it was something she could control. She also said that she gave up on trying to reach the masses. Awkwafina mentioned that she accepts that her fan base will always be small and niche, and that she would have a difficult road if she tried to become a mainstream artist.

She Is The Subject Of A Rap Documentary

In 2016, a documentary called Bad Rap profiles four Asian American hip-hop artists: Awkwafina, Dumbfounddead, Rekstizzy, and Lyricks. It addresses their struggles as Asian Americans trying to make it in the hip-hop world. The film made its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2016. It then went on to tour the film festival circuit. Bad Rap won Best Documentary Feature at the San Diego Asian Film Festival and the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.

Bad Rap explores the factors that may prohibit Asian American hip-hop artists from becoming household names. It also features commentary from other Asian hip-hop artists. In the documentary, Awkwafina discusses being a marginalized a hip-hop artist, both as an Asian American and as a woman. Bad Rap is currently available to stream on Netflix.

She Has A Close Relationship With Her Grandmother

The Farewell is a movie based on Lulu Wang’s real life experience. In the film, Awkwafina plays Billi. Billi’s Chinese family returns to China because her grandmother has been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, and she only has a short time left to live. They decide to keep her in the dark about her health condition, and instead, they tell Billie’s grandmother that everyone is gathering for the wedding of a cousin. Awkwafina felt this was her most personal role so far, because she is very close with her grandmother. She also related to Billi’s struggle of not feeling at home in China or America.

Awkwafina’s mother died when she was four. Her single father and paternal grandparents raised her, which led to her developing a close bond with her grandmother. Her new semi-autobiographical Comedy Central series Awkwafina is Nora From Queens also highlights their relationship.

Awkwafina also often shares stories about her grandmother on late night talk shows, like on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. On Ellen, Awkwafina mentioned how her grandmother now sees all of her movies because she felt guilty about walking out at the end of a screener of The Farewell. Awkwafina also talked about wanting her grandmother to be her date to the Golden Globes. Sometimes Awkwafina posts pictures of her grandmother on her social media pages and gets her involved in her projects, like having her appear in the video for Awkwafina’s song “Pockiez.”

Her Golden Globes Win Made History

Awkwafina won the 2020 Golden Globe for Best Performance By An Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy for her role in The Farewell. This was the first time someone of East Asian descent won the Best Actress award in that category. This was also the first time an Asian American actress won a Golden Globe for a lead role in the film categories. Her nomination was also only the second time an Asian woman received a best lead actress nomination at the Golden Globes. Constance Wu was the first in 2019 for her role in Crazy Rich Asians.

Awkwafina is also only one of six actresses of Asian descent to receive a nomination in the Golden Globes’ Comedy and Musical category. This is a huge victory for Awkwafina as a young actress, and especially as the first Asian American one in this category.

She Has Some Major Movie Projects In Development

Awkwafina has already been building an impressive resume of film projects, and this resume continues to grow. She ended 2019 by appearing in Jumanji: The Next Level with Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Nick Jonas, Jack Black, and Karen Gillan.

In 2020, she voices a character in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. Also that year, she lends her voice to the upcoming animated Disney film Raya and the Last Dragon. She plays the dragon Sisu. In 2021, Awkwafina enters the Marvel world by appearing in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Awkwafina also has a comedy in the works with an all-star cast. The film is called Breaking News in Yuba County and the cast includes Allison Janney, Mila Kunis, and Regina Hall.

Awkwafina continues to challenge herself as an artist by taking on unexpected roles, and by producing and developing her own music. As she becomes a more well-rounded performer, Awkwafina stays true to her Nora from Queens roots. Awkwafina is Nora from Queens is currently airing every Wednesday on Comedy Central.

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We’re living in an era where practical effects in movies are still important but are often accompanied by a whole lot of CGI. Such is the case in the Jumanji franchise, a series of movies in which Karen Gillan has done some of her own stunt work. Still, while she may look like she's doing things like jumping between moving bridges, there’s a lot still going on with a blue screen, and Karen Gillan recently shared a bit of the movie magic with a behind-the-scenes look at a The Next Level scene she filmed with Awkwafina.

The look at the making of the movie includes Awkwafina’s Ming in a sticky situation and being saved by Ruby Roundhouse in a warehouse completely set up with blue screen to add visual effects later.

The scene in question looks to be that key piece from the now-famous rope bridge scene, which featured the gang running from a pack of mandrills who are trying to end their lives – like nearly everything in the Jumanji game. In the scene, Karen Gillan’s and Awkwafina’s avatar characters ran across a rickety bridge. Ruby Roundhouse then jumped off the bridge and into seemingly empty space, grabbing a stray rope at the last second.

Awafina’s Ming also jumped and was caught by Ruby Roundhouse in the air. Roundhouse eventually rocked back and forth on the rope, depositing Ming safely on land before escaping the mandrills herself. It’s very tense, action-heavy stuff. According to Awkwafina, who responded on the Instagram post, it was a big day for her on Jumanji: The Next Level. She noted:

Really though, that’s a helluva way to kick things off. She really must’ve hit the ground running on the movie. We've known for a while a lot of visual effects were used in the movie and this isn't the first time the cast has highlighted the green/blue screen, as Kevin Hart also talked recently about why filming vfx heavy scenes are "the most interesting days."

Previously, the producers on Jumanji: The Next Level Hiram Garcia and Matt Tolmach told CinemaBlend’s ReelBlend podcast that the scene in question was actually envisioned for the first movie but the creative team didn’t have the time or money at the time to make it work. Per Garcia:

If it had made the first movie, it would certainly have played out very differently, as Awkwafina wasn’t around during the first movie. The Next Level incorporated a couple of new characters and this meant the game added a few avatars so that more people could join in the fun.

It will be interesting to see how much heavy lifting the avatars actually do if Jumanji does get a fourth movie. At the very end of Jumanji: The Next Level, there’s a big scene scene featuring some of the creatures from the game escaping into the real world, which is very similar to what happens in the original 1995 film.

For now, you can revisit that moment and more when Jumanji: The Next Level officially hits Digital, DVD and Blu-ray on March 3. See more of what’s coming out with our full guide or feel free to pre-order the upcoming movie now.

How do you greet a co-worker on the first day of work? Most would say “Hello,” or “Nice to meet you,” as typical social conventions dictate. But Jack Black isn’t a typical sort of guy, and Jumanji: The Next Level isn’t a standard blockbuster either.

So when introducing himself to new co-star Awkwafina, it was an obvious Jack Black move to start singing Guns N’ Roses “Welcome To The Jungle” when the meeting of these two comedic minds happened for the first time on set.

It’s the sort of thing that you’d totally expect from Jack Black, as he’s kind of known around the world for his musical chops, courtesy of not only his band Tenacious D, but also thanks to performances in landmark films like School of Rock.

But whether you’re expecting it or not, nothing could prepare you for the man who brings Jumanji: The Next Level’s Professor Shelly Oberon to life coming at you, singing in his best Axl Rose voice, telling you exactly where you are and where you’re going to die.

You can watch Jack Black and Awkwafina tell the story about their first meeting, as well as answer some of the Internet’s most burning questions, in the video below, courtesy of WIRED:

What’s even funnier is the fact that this isn’t even the first story that’s put Jack Black on the set of a Jumanji movie singing this very same song. As ScreenRant picked up on during the press tour for Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle, Black’s habit of singing that song on set helped director Jake Kasdan nail down the title to the first sequel that put Jumanji back on the board.

Now, one sequel into the future, Jumanji: The Next Level seems to have benefitted from Jack Black’s rendition of “Welcome To The Jungle,” as the second installment of this potential trilogy has broken records and hauled in some decent cash since its mid-December debut.

Of course, should there be a fourth movie/third installment of the modern Jumanji trilogy, that means there’s probably going to be more new faces to encounter in this world of video game adventure. Which also means that Jack Black is going to have to warm up those pipes from the moment that film is announced, as there’s now an added expectation that Jumanji: The Next Level’s successor will need to be blessed in the same fashion as its forebears.

We’ll have to wait and see how things play out, but for now, carry that image of Awkwafina and Jack Black meeting for the first time, and his rock prowess delivering those shredding vocals, sealing a friendship pact that’ll more than likely last forever. It kinda warms your heart, doesn’t it?

Jumanji: The Next Level is in theaters now, waiting for eager and willing players to enter the jungle.

This shouldn’t have to be said, but this feature will be loaded with spoilers for the new movie Jumanji: The Next Level. We literally will be discussing the movie’s ending, so stop reading now if you do not want to be spoiled.

All of the Jumanji movies, up to this point, have been standalone adventures. This includes the Robin Williams original, as well as the sci-fi spinoff Zathura (which was disconnected, but basically “Jumanji in Space”). That has changed with the ending of Jumanji: The Next Level. The game is being altered, and that will have a major impact on the movies to come.

When Sony decided to bring the Jumanji property off of the shelf for a reimagining in 2017, the remake/reboot wasn’t thought of as being a franchise launcher. For those who might not recall, the Jumanji video game that pulled the four main characters – played by Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain and Madison Iseman – into the virtual world of Jumanji was destroyed.

However, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ended up being a HUGE crowdpleaser, so a sequel was ordered up. Now the producers are discussing “multiple Jumanji universes” (that’s apparently a real thing). And the final scenes of the new movie Jumanji: The Next Level end up being a direct set up for another movie. That’s not speculation. Director Jake Kasdan told us this.

So, let’s talk about the final scenes of Jumanji: The Next Level, and then share some comments from the director about how this might set up the future of the Jumanji series.

What Happens At The End Of Jumanji: The Next Level?

By the end of Jumanji: The Next Level, our main characters have made it out of the game a second time. Only one character decided to stay. Milo (Danny Glover) had admitted to his close friend, Eddie (Danny DeVito), that he was dealing with an illness, so he chose to stay in the game… in the form of a flying horse.

Everyone leaves the game and returns to their normal lives. Spencer (Alex Wolff) learns to trust in the bond of friendships forged with Martha (Morgan Turner), Bethany (Madison Iseman) and Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain). The group finally meets for the meal that they were supposed to have at the start of the movie, in the diner now called Nora’s.

As for Grandpa Eddie (Danny DeVito), he also ventures back to Nora’s – which used to be his restaurant – and strikes up a conversation with the new owner. As they chat, Eddie learns that they need help at the shop, so his forced retirement has come to an end. It’s a win, win for everyone involved!

Until…

Back at Spencer and Eddie’s house, Spencer’s mom is heading into the basement with the furnace repairman (Lamorne Morris). The tech recognizes the gaming system on Spencer’s workbench, and admits to being a bit of a gamer, himself. Though Spencer’s mom warns him against touching it, because it looks broken, Morris’ character presses a button on the console.

The camera cuts back to the front of Nora’s café. We see one ostrich from the game run past. However, as we learned in Jumanji: The Next Level, ostriches travel on herds. Immediately after, an army of massive ostriches run past the restaurant as Spencer, Bethany, Fridge and Martha come out onto the street, trying to figure out what is going on. We smash back to the credits, as this adventure draws to a close.

What Does This Mean?

The immediate speculation is the obvious one, that the game is now part of the real world in which our human heroes operate, so they will not be able to escape the dangers of Jumanji by defeating a level and going back home. The presence of the ostrich in the world of Spencer, Martha, Bethany and Fridge means that whatever the furnace repairman did, he unleashed chaos into our normal universe.

Is it more complicated than that? Not at the moment, according to Jumanji: The Next Level director and co-writer Jake Kasdan. When we asked him point blank if the final shots embedded into his end credits were meant to imply that in the next movie, the game essentially will be OUT of the game, he told us:

Releasing the animals into the world is a slight departure from some of the talk that we got from Jumanji: The Next Level producers Matt Tolmach and Hiram Garcia during the same press junket. You see, during a press conference with the cast, Dwayne Johnson repeatedly mentioned the phrase “multiple Jumanji universes.” He seemed to be teasing that as a direction of where we could possibly go with Jumanji 4.

So, we posed that question to the producers, and Hiram Garcia admitted to us that they have been thinking about the concept, explaining:

This sort of poses two possible paths for a Jumanji 4. There could be a traditional sequel that picks up right where this one leaves off, and then focuses on the teenage characters who we never get to see on an adventure. Because of the avatars in the Jumanji reboot, the bulk of the action defaults to The Rock, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan and Jack Black (with Awkwafina joining the crew this time around). But I’m unsure how they’d figure out how to bring the avatars out into our world, so Bravestone and his cohorts might have a hard time appearing in Jumanji 4, if it stays set in our universe.

At the same time, Garcia’s comments about the possibility of exploring multiple Jumanji universes means that there could be a spinoff movie that relies on the classic avatars we now know very well, thanks to the two recent Jumanji movies. And because they are avatars, you have creative freedom to introduce virtually anyone you want to the cast, because it doesn’t make to make logical sense. It’s a video game. Awkwafina can play Danny DeVito, and the audience doesn’t bat an eye.

SHOULD Sony do this? That’s a different question. Too much of a good thing is always a risk, which leads us to our final point.

Will There Be A Jumanji 4?

Both Jake Kasdan and his producers took the safe route when we discussed the possibility of more movies in this series. They left it up to the audience to essentially tell them if they want more movies in this saga. And the way that they will do that will be at the box office.

It’s worth noting that the flat-out success of Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle inspired the team to reunite quickly and come up with a second adventure for this cast of characters. So if Jumanji: The Next Level does really well, the ending scene of this movie gives them a clear-cut springboard on which to build. Also, they have that concept of “multiple Jumanji universes” in their back pocket, so it feels like groundwork is being laid for more movies in this series.

If I were to gamble, because Jumanji: The Next Level ends on a blatant tease for what could happen next, I’d say Jumanji 4 is all but certain. The new movie would have to really tank for Sony not to continue making movies in a given franchise. Studios loves brands, and sequels help pay the bills.

So, let’s see how this movie does, and then prepare for announcements on the future of Jumanji, which could include spinoffs and may include Jumanji 4.

What are your thoughts on the ending of Jumanji: The Next Level? Did you think it was an intriguing set up for the next chapter? Or did the ending take things too far? Hit the comments section and share your opinions on Jumanji: The Next Level and its game-changing ending.

As 2019’s summer season reaches an end, we may remember it as a moment when moviegoers couldn’t get enough of live-action remakes and superhero genre epics. But when looking in restrospect to last summer’s movie offerings, Crazy Rich Asians was the standout movie of the season that turned some tides for Hollywood with its massive box office and critical success. It brought about a new wave for the romantic comedy genre and proved there’s an eager audience centered on Asian-American stories. Just look at how well the Crazy Rich Asians’ cast is doing, nabbing big-time roles after their breakout success!

Crazy Rich Asians had a stacked cast of Asian-American actors – the first major Hollywood film to do so since 1993's The Joy Luck Club. The comedy featured some well known talents such as Michelle Yeoh and Ken Jeong, but more notably introduced the world to quite a few newcomers who clearly have bright futures in the business looking at where they are just one year after Crazy Rich Asians, between their impressive co-stars and upcoming franchise roles. Check them out:

Constance Wu (Rachel Chu)

Fresh Off the Boat’s Constance Wu lead 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians as New York economics professor Rachel Chu, who journeys to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young for a wedding only to find out he belongs to an incredibly rich, celebrity-status family. Before starring in the summer success, Wu already had four seasons on the aforementioned ABC sitcom under her belt. The actress had been pursuing the business for over 10 years, and with Fresh Off the Boat being her only starring role at the time, Crazy Rich Asians allowed her to snag the spotlight in a movie.

One year after the August release of Crazy Rich Asians, Constance Wu is gearing up for a starring role in the upcoming crime dramedy Hustlers alongside Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B and Lizzo. The September release tells the true story of a crew of former strippers who decide to take advantage of their Wall Street clients. Wu holds the top-billing for Hustlers as a single mother named Destiny who creates the master plan with her fellow dancers.

The actress did have a very public outburst a few months ago when she took to social media to express her anguish over losing out on another opportunity following the renewal of Fresh Off the Boat. Slate has called the incident a unique win for representation Hollywood. Finally, an Asian-American “Diva” to call their own! ABC has assured fans there is no beef with the actress. She’s also scored roles in Sony Animation’s Wish Dragon and Low Budget Ethnic Movie.

Henry Golding (Nick Young)

When Henry Golding was cast in Crazy Rich Asians, he didn’t have a single acting credit. He’d been hosting BBC World News’ The Travel Show, which was just the source that got him invited to audition for the rom-com. When he debuted as Nick Young in the August flick, he became a Hollywood heartthrob overnight and has since gained massive fame (a transition he admits he’s wrestled with). In his breakout role, he plays Rachel’s boyfriend with a family part of the Singapore elite.

After also starring in A Simple Favor alongside Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick for his second movie, Golding has an impressive line-up to continue his acting career. This holiday season he’ll play leading man to Game of Thrones’ Emilia Clarke in another rom-com, titled Last Christmas. At the top of 2020, the Crazy Rich Asians actor will also be in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman. The action film also stars Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell and Hugh Grant and will follow a British drug lord selling off his empire to Oklahoma billionaires.

Henry Golding is also making moves into blockbuster franchises with his recent casting as the lead in G.I. Joe spinoff, Snake Eyes. He’ll play the fan-favorite ninja warrior in the Robert Schwentke (director of Red)-helmed flick. The actor has also recently been in public conversation about taking on the role of Namor in the MCU (maybe as the villain in Black Panther 2?) Who knows if it will happen, but the fact that Golding has made it as far as being fan-casted in a Marvel role within a year of his success is crazy!

Gemma Chan (Astrid Young Teo)

Of the Crazy Rich Asians’ breakout cast, 37-year-old Gemma Chan had the most lengthy career before joining in on the summer hit. Fans of AMC’s Humans series were familiar with her and she’d found supporting roles in Fantastic Beasts and Transformers. The Jon M. Chu-directed book adaptation was her largest movie role to date and has propelled her into Hollywood star status. Chan played Nick’s sister Astrid, who is dealing with her husband’s affair throughout the movie.

Since then, she played the blue-skinned Minn-Erva in March’s Captain Marvel. She may have a larger role in the MCU too, since she’s rumored to have involvement in the upcoming Phase Four film The Eternals. It’s unclear whether she’ll be reprising her Starforce role or playing a brand new character, but get it, girl! The actress has also just been cast in Steven Soderbergh’s latest project, titled Let them All Talk. She’ll be acting alongside none-other-than Meryl Streep for the under-wraps role. That cast also includes Lucas Hedges and Candice Bergen.

Chan will also be getting a promotion of sorts for the planned Crazy Rich Asian sequels. Astrid’s continuing story will reportedly play a larger role in the next film in development as her relationship with Harry Shum Jr’s Charlie Wu (shown in a cameo at the end) will be further explored, following the events of the books.

Awkwafina (Peik Lin Goh)

The true breakout of the Crazy Rich Asians cast is Awkwafina, of course. The 31-year-old has quickly become one of Hollywood’s trendiest talents since her scene-stealing role as Rachel’s hilarious best friend Peik Lin in the 2018 summer movie. Before that role lit up the big screen, she appeared earlier in 2018 in Ocean’s Eight and had gained popularity for her YouTube channel. Once she uttered the iconic words “bok, bok, bitch,” he life was never the same.

Awkwafina recently wowed critics for her performance in Lulu Wang’s drama The Farewell, which has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and could receive Oscars attention. She’s also done voice acting for The Angry Birds Movie 2, Netflix’s upcoming The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, 2020’s The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge and will reportedly play Scuttle in Disney’s live-action Little Mermaid.

Awkwafina also has a role in Jumanji: The Next Level coming this December, alongside The Rock, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Jack Black, Danny DeVito and Danny Glover. Then she is joining the MCU in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Oh, and she’ll also star with Meryl Streep in Netflix musical Prom! Plus, she's creating her own television show for Comedy Central called Awkwafina, based on her experiences living in Queens. She’s literally doing it all!

The Crazy Rich Asians cast members are becoming actual realizations of the movie title that propelled them into stardom with all the projects they have on the way!! Considering each of their careers have exponentially grown since the rom-com dazzled audiences, it's clear the movie left an impression on Hollywood and made way for more Asian lead roles in the mainstream.

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During 2019's always-anticipated Marvel Studios panel at San Diego Comic-Con, it was officially announced that Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings would officially be a part of the newly-announced Phase 4 for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And that wasn't the only bit of information we discovered about the forthcoming superhero blockbuster, as the movie also announced the star who would play the eponymous hero, the filmmaker who would be taking the helm of the project, and its release date.

Since it was originally announced, conversation around the film has been kept ultra hush-hush, with Marvel holding off on releasing any official first looks at the movie – but we have been able to pick up bits and pieces of information as we've gotten closer and closer to its release date. So who is directing Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings? What will it be about? Who will be in it? And when will we actually see it? We answer all of those questions and more in this installment of our What We Know So Far guides!

What Is The Release Date Of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings?

When the project was officially announced to the public, it was also revealed that Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings would be released on February 12, 2021. That, however, was long before people knew about the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans for the blockbuster have shifted since then, with the film first moving from winter to summer, but now the film is set to hit theaters in the fall of 2021, namely on September 3, 2021. And all signs point to it not moving again. It's one of four films from the franchise coming out this year, and you can read about all of them in our Upcoming Marvel Movies guide.

Who Is Directing Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings?

In the last decade, Destin Daniel Cretton has proven himself to be one of the elite young filmmakers working in Hollywood. He first got a great deal of attention for his stunning 2013 feature Short Term 12 – which features a phenomenal ensemble packed with "before they were stars" actors, including Brie Larson, Rami Malek, LaKeith Stanfield, Stephanie Beatriz, and Kaitlyn Dever. He followed that movie with an adaptation of Jeannette Walls' The Glass Castle, and the powerful legal drama Just Mercy, but now he is making what is definitely the biggest film of his career with Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings.

Under other circumstances this might been a circumstance that would cause fans to worry, but the reality is that Marvel has been shepherding young filmmakers with limited blockbuster experience for years and years at this point. Directors like James Gunn, the Russo brothers, Jon Watts, and Taika Waititi never made anything on the scale of a superhero movie prior to their respective MCU features, and so there is plenty of reason to expect that Destin Daniel Cretton will actually thrive in the environment.

Who Is Writing Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings?

When it came to hiring the right talent to writing the script for Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Marvel Studios made the decision to turn to Dave Callaham, who is an experienced screenwriter with a good deal of experience in the superhero field. The production company previously turned to him when the script for Ant-Man was coming together, and he's even done some work for the competition, having collaborated with Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns on Wonder Woman 1984. It's also worth noting that his blockbuster experience goes beyond comics, as he also got a "Story By" credit on 2014's Godzilla, and penned the upcoming Mortal Kombat remake. Clearly the guy knows a thing or two about making big movies, and we're keeping our fingers crossed he has operated well in the Marvel system.

What Is Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings About?

As alluded to earlier in this piece, Marvel Studios has been playing its cards close to the vest when it comes to Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. That's partially because Marvel has always been big on secrets, but it's also because of the constantly shifting release schedule and the fear of putting out too much information too early. It's very likely that the floodgates won't open until we are much closer to the release of Black Widow – but the good news is that's only a few months away from now. At that time we'll hopefully get not only first look images, but also a more dense plot description than what currently exists.

As of right now, what we know about the story being told in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings can be summed up in one sentence – specifically the one that was released in late 2019 when the movie's full cast was announced (more on that in a second). Per Marvel, "Shang-Chi must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization." Obviously that's not much to go on, but it's what we have!

The Characters And Cast Of Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Arguably the most exciting aspect of any new solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the projects capacity to introduce a litany of exciting new characters into the franchise – and it very much looks like Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings. Not only does the film seem to have an interesting lineup of heroes and villains lined up, but they are set to be played by some incredibly talented performers.

Shang-Chi (Simu Liu)

Like Desin Daniel Cretton, Simu Liu also doesn't have much in the way of blockbuster experience – but that just means that he's now waiting in the wings to become one of the world's biggest stars. In 2017 he played a recurring role on the TV series version of the Liam Neeson-thriller Taken, but he is probably best known at this point in his career for playing the role of Jung in the acclaimed Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience.

The actor will be the first performer to ever play a live-action version of Shang-Chi, who was created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin, and was first introduced to the pages of Marvel Comics in 1973. He is also known in the universe as the Master of Kung Fu, a name that highlights his remarkable martial arts skills, and he has been a part of many notable teams during his existence, including The Avengers.

Katy (Awkwafina)

While we can't say we know much about Katy in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings beyond the fact that she is a friend of the titular hero, what can be fully recognized is the big step that the Marvel Studios production is for Awkwafina's career. She is now a couple years removed from her acclaimed performance in the remarkable 2019 drama The Farewell, but that time has also seen her earn rave reviews for her voice performance as Sisu in Walt Disney Animation Studios' Raya And The Last Dragon.

Wenwu/The Mandarin (Tony Leung)

Audiences first thought they were going to see a big screen version of The Mandarin back in 2013 with the release of Iron Man 3, with the character played by Sir Ben Kingsley – but it was revealed in the course of that film that Kingsley's character was merely an imposter. Now Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings is getting set to feature the real Mandarin as its central antagonist, and he will be played by actor Tony Leung. American audiences may not be overly familiar with the actor's work, but he is best known for his collaborations with director Wong Kar-Wai (including In The Mood For Love, 2046, and The Grandmaster), and he plays one of the two lead roles in 2002's Infernal Affairs (the movie that Martin Scorsese remade as The Departed).

Jiang Nan (Michelle Yeoh)

Marvel fans paying attention will remember that Michelle Yeoh made her Marvel Cinematic Universe debut a few years ago in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, as she briefly cameoed as Aleta Ogord in one of the movie's many post-credits scenes. It's still possible that we will see her return to that role in Guardians of the Galaxy 3, but in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings the actor will be playing a wholly different character. Now, admittedly we can't say much more than that at this point, as there hasn't been any official information released about the role that the character Jiang Nan has in the plot of the film, but Yeoh's presence alone has our expectations raised.

Jon Jon (Ronny Chieng)

Jon Jon is another character in Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings that we admittedly don't know too much about, but the trailer seems to suggest he is a friend of Shang-Chi's in the "normal" world, and we wouldn't be surprised if he provides more than a few laughs in the scenes between the kung fu action given Ronny Chieng's comedic skills. The actor is getting his first taste of blockbuster action experience in 2021, starring in both Shang-Chi and Godzilla vs. Kong – but he is best known for as a correspondent on The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, and his part in the romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians.

The closer we get to Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings' release date, the more we learn about it – and it's in recognition of that fact that we will continue to update this feature with all of the latest information we have about the Marvel blockbuster. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that the wait to see more won't be long!

Technological advances in the modern world have made it so that the world now seems a lot smaller than it used to be, but not to be forgotten is how big it still really is. Spread across the continents that cover our globe are millions of people living vastly different lives based on different principles and histories. What may seem every day to you or me may seem completely alien and bizarre to someone living just 2000 miles away. What’s key to understand, though, is the underlying thinking and philosophy behind those cultural ways – and that’s what exists at the core of writer/director Lulu Wang’s excellent The Farewell.

The film is a fictionalized take of Wang’s own personal experiences as a Chinese-American, and centers on her proxy Billi (Awkwafina) – to whom we are introduced as a young struggling writer living in New York. She is a very family-oriented woman, regularly visiting her parents (Tzi Ma and Diana Lin) who live locally, and calling her grandmother, Nai Nai (Shuzhen Zhou), who still lives in China. It’s this closeness that makes it particularly devastating when she learns that Nai Nai has end stage lung cancer and only a few months to live.

The grief strikes immediately, but is made complicated by a discovered catch. While Billi’s entire family knows about Nai Nai’s condition, the one person who doesn’t is Nai Nai – and there are no plans to inform her. Billi discovers that it is customary in China to keep the elderly entirely in the dark about terminal condition, allowing them to live the rest of their lives without the anxiety of knowing about their impending death. Doctors instead inform someone close to them about the situation, and the necessary steps are taken without their knowledge.

A plan is orchestrated to have Nai Nai’s relatives travel to China to celebrate a wedding, but the wedding is actually fake, and the real idea is for everyone to have an opportunity to say goodbye without giving away the truth. Despite her rather dire financial situation, Billi decides that she needs to go on the trip to see her grandmother, all the while wrestling with the complicated ethical dilemma presented by Chinese customs.

The Farewell has a certain expectation that most audiences aren’t going to know about this practice going into the film, and Billi makes for an excellent movie-goer surrogate as she spends most of the moving asking all of the appropriate and important questions about ethics that are spawned by the discovery. Having spent most of her life in America, she is primarily aware of the American way of doing things, and as a result aggressively bridles against the plans for Nai Nai and what seem like violations of her rights as a patient. In the United States, doctors typically provide as much information as possible so that informed decisions can be made, so Chinese doctors doing the exact opposite seems extreme.

What’s truly fascinating about the film, however, are the answers that Billi gets to her questions – which in turn work to add to your perspective and help you gain an understanding of why things are done so differently. While also touching on themes about emigrating families and starting new lives in new places, the conversations that Billi has with her various family members both enlighten and surprise with angles that don’t necessarily immediately spring to mind, and by the end of the story you’ll probably have a completely different take on the issue than when you were first processing it all in the movie’s first act.

It’s a challenging film to pull off given that it’s various conversations about an ethical dilemma that primarily push the story forward, but Lulu Wang artfully pulls it off. Not only is there a particular warmth generated by the emotional family material, accented with a subtle but potent melancholy, the dialogue is both smart and funny without feeling unnatural. You can read that it comes from a personal and passionate place, and the real deep thought about what it all means is palpable as the philosophical questions get deeper and deeper.

It certainly helps that Awkwafina pulls off what can be called a revelatory performance. Thus far in her career she has proven herself particularly capable playing a comedic side character in movies, but her work in The Farewell exposes the fact that she has far more range than what her resume suggests. The background in funny certainly does help, as Billi has a sense of humor and quirks – but what really shines is the dramatic material. Not only is her emotionality powerful just in her grief, but her stress over what to tell her grandmother has you aching right alongside her.

The Farewell is a movie that reminds us of the awesome power of film – not just to tell us fantastical fictional tales, but also help us learn and understand more about our own world. It’s a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of work that both spotlights an excellent up-and-coming filmmaker, and an immensely talented emerging star.