The time is finally upon us. The 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, are this Sunday, and here at CinemaBlend, we’ve made our picks on who we think will take home the top eight categories of the night. Three of the categories (Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress) have clear-cut favorites amongst our staff. The remaining five (both screenplay awards, both supporting actor awards, and the award for Best Actor) are, quite honestly, very tricky to guess, because our opinions vary quite a bit.

The ceremony will be live on March 15th at 7pm ET on ABC, and available to stream live with a Hulu subscription. There are sure to be some surprises, but we’ve done our best to predict what we think will happen (though not necessarily our personal choices). We’ll start with the Best Screenplay Awards and work our way towards our pick for Best Picture, hitting all the acting awards and Best Director along the way. Each of our picks will be in bold among the list of nominees.

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Will Tracy for Bugonia
• Guillermo del Toro for Frankenstein
• Maggie O'Farrell and Chloe Zhao for Hamnet
• Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner
• Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar for Train Dreams

In our staff poll, the Best Adapted Screenplay choice is perhaps the most divisive. All five nominees were favored by at least one writer, and it was quite close between Hamnet, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another. This highlights just how tricky this task can be, because it’s easy to make a case for any of the five. Ultimately, in a very tight poll, Paul Thomas Anderson came out on top for One Battle After Another.

Best Original Screenplay

• Robert Kaplow for Blue Moon
• Jafar Panahi and Nader Saivar for It Was Just An Accident
• Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein for Marty Supreme
• Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt for Sentimental Value
• Ryan Coogler for Sinners – Our Predicted Winner

Sinners set the record this year for the most Oscar nominations for a film ever, with 16, including this nomination for writer Ryan Coogler. The momentum for Sinners has only been growing as this very long awards season has gone on (thanks, Olympics). While the staff pick wasn’t as close as it was for Adapted, there was quite a bit of support for Marty Supreme and Sentimental Value, but in the end, Sinners came out on top. This isn’t quite a slam dunk, but it’s the most definitive of the five awards that weren’t easy picks for us.

Best Supporting Actor

• Benicio del Toro for One Battle After Another
• Jacob Elordi for Frankenstein
• Sean Penn for One Battle After Another
• Delroy Lindo for Sinners – Our Predicted Winner
• Stellan Skarsgård for Sentimental Value

This race has been truly all over the place. Del Toro started the season strong with a string of critics' awards, Elordi won at the Critics' Choice, Skarsgård won the Golden Globe, and Penn has come on strong late with wins at BAFTA and the Actor Awards (formerly The SAG Awards). Four of the five nominees were picked by at least two writers each, and though Lindo hasn’t really been in the conversation until very late, on the strength of Sinners and his amazing performance, he is a real contender now. In fact, he is now the frontrunner, in our opinion.

Best Supporting Actress

• Elle Fanning for Sentimental Value
• Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas for Sentimental Value
• Amy Madigan for Weapons
• Wunmi Mosaku for Sinners
• Teyana Taylor for One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner

Like Best Supporting Actor, the race for Best Supporting Actress has been a wild ride, but it seems to have come down to three: Madigan, Mosaku, and Taylor. Each of the three has taken home awards this season, and while our choice ultimately had quite a bit of support, it’s impossible to rule out one of the other two women winning. Two months ago, it seemed like Taylor was going to sweep the season, but Madigan and Mosaku clearly have a lot of momentum as we get to the end here. We still think Taylor is the favorite for One Battle After Another, but just barely. Madigan and Mosaku are considered the favorites by quite a few folks around here.

Best Actor

• Timothée Chalamet for Marty Supreme – Our Predicted Winner
• Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another
• Ethan Hawke for Blue Moon
• Michael B. Jordan for Sinners
• Wagner Moura for The Secret Agent

Now this is a fascinating race, and CinemaBlend’s poll reflects that. We asked the staff to name both who they would vote for and who they think will win. While the majority of staff have predicted Chalamet to win, a huge majority picked Michael B. Jordan as who they would have voted for, personally. It’s safe to say the race is between these two, and, in full disclosure, much of our polling took place before Jordan won at the Actor Awards. There seems to be a late surge happening in favor of the Sinners star. It would not surprise anyone if he takes home the Oscar, but we predict that Chalamet will win in what could be a historic victory.

Best Actress

• Jessie Buckley for Hamnet – Our Predicted Winner
• Rose Byrne for If I Had Legs I'd Kick You
• Kate Hudson for Song Sung Blue
• Renate Reinsve for Sentimental Value
• Emma Stone for Bugonia

Here’s where we’re getting to the Oscars that everyone on staff is most confident about in our predictions. In fact, in the Best Actress race, there haven’t been any surprises at all leading up to the Oscars. Jessie Buckley has completely swept the awards leading up to this Sunday, and there is no reason at all to think that will change at the Academy Awards. Buckley’s performance in Hamnet is incredible, and it’s hard to imagine anyone sneaking in and winning this over her. Stone and Byrne did receive some support from the CinemaBlend staff, but an overwhelming majority picked Buckley to win Best Actress.

Best Director

• Paul Thomas Anderson for One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner
• Ryan Coogler for Sinners
• Josh Safdie for Marty Supreme
• Joachim Trier for Sentimental Value
• Chloe Zhao for Hamnet

Like Best Actor, the race for Best Director comes down to two men, Ryan Coogler and Paul Thomas Anderson. All season long, the general consensus is that this is PTA’s time and he’s going to walk away with the win. Our prediction is no different, as a huge majority of our staff believe that this is Anderson’s award to lose. Could he, though? Well, interestingly, yeah, he could. As with Michael B. Jordan, when we ask the staff for their favorite, most picked Coogler as their personal choice, even if almost everyone still predicted PTA to win.

Best Picture

• Bugonia
• F1: The Movie
• Frankenstein
• Hamnet
• Marty Supreme
• One Battle After Another – Our Predicted Winner
• Sentimental Value
• Sinners
• Train Dreams
• The Secret Agent

It has gotten trickier and trickier to predict Best Picture over the years. Sure, there are times like two years ago when everyone pretty much knew that Oppenheimer was going to take home the biggest prize of the night. But then there are ones like last year when Anora came on very strong at the end of awards season, but was a little bit of a dark horse on Oscar night. This year could be either.

The strong consensus of the CinemaBlend staff is that One Battle After Another will win Best Picture, but as in a couple of categories, a majority of the staff picked Sinners as their personal favorite. This isn’t surprising, after all, Sinners was our choice for the best movie of 2025. The late momentum for Sinners has turned this award into a real nail-biter, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Ryan Coogler on stage accepting the award at the end of the night. However, as a group, we have to stick with our prediction, given that all but three staff members picked One Battle to win (interestingly, the other votes all went to Hamnet).

You can go to our list of the 98th Academy Awards nominees to see who could win in every category, including all the technical ones, and everything else. Other than KPop Demon Hunters winning Best Animated Feature and “Golden” from that movie winning Best Song (sorry again, Diane Warren) being pretty much foregone conclusions, there are close races in every single category.

Keep an eye out for our live blog as well, as we will be reacting along with everyone else when the winners are announced.

Benicio Del Toro’s work in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another has been widely praised ever since the film debuted last fall, and the man truly earns every syllable of it with his performance. Playing the stoic and organized Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, he is a keystone player in the story helping Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Bob Ferguson” evade authorities, and he steals every scene he’s in. It stands among the best work he’s ever done (recognizing that the man is already an Oscar winner), and one’s appreciation for it is only enhanced learning how instrumental he was in crafting the sensei’s arc.

Many Academy voters are still considering their choices in advance of the Oscars ceremony scheduled in a few weeks, and those confounded by the competition in the Best Supporting Actor cateogry would do well to read the new profile about Del Toro in The Hollywood Reporter. The feature reveals that he was a key collaborator with Paul Thomas Anderson when it came to the story implementation of Sensei Sergio St. Carlos, as he had some major issues with the script as it was first presented to him – which involved a murder and cover-up in his dojo. Explaining his problem with the logic of it, the actor recalled the notes he penned on the script:

The idea of a double murder and the cleanup of that double murder was not something that Benicio Del Toro felt tracked logically – but instead of turning down the project, he instead presented a whole new path for the character. Instead of just being karate teacher to Chase Infiniti’s Willa, he is also a major player in what he apparently suggested to Paul Thomas Anderson as a ‘Latino Harriet Tubman situation.’

The filmmaker said in an email to the trade that he was never totally happy with what he had written prior to Del Toro’s note, and that suggestion, “made everything fall into place.”

Those who have seen the film probably don’t need an explanation why this was revolutionary for the direction of One Battle After Another (pun 100% intended). Sensei Sergio St. Carlos went from being an incidental part of the movie to a part of its core narrative and themes. He’s the exact right guy that Bob Ferguson needs to go during his sudden crisis, and his mix of chill and efficiency is dazzling on every rewatch.

Will Benicio Del Toro win for Best Supporting Actor? He has some stiff competition in Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Delroy Lindo (Sinners), Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) and even his One Battle After Another co-star Sean Penn – but it’s fair to say at this point that he stands a pretty good chance at picking up his first Oscar since the one he got for Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic. Those who haven’t seen his work for themselves can do so with a HBO Max subscription, and the 98th Academy Awards will air on Sunday, March 15.

Recently, I was watching an interview with Sylvester Stallone where he was looking back on his career. As he was talking about the Rambo franchise, specifically the first movie in the series (and by far the best of the series), First Blood, he mentioned another movie I’d never heard of: The Hunted.

Stallone said that the movie, which you can watch with a Paramount+ subscription, was based on the book First Blood, which his movie from 1982 was also based on. I read it years ago, and I knew a lot had been changed for the movie, so I had to watch The Hunted. It’s a wild movie.

The Hunted Is Packed With Talent

After reading a little about The Hunted, I was surprised that I had never heard of it. It’s loaded with A-list talent. Benicio del Toro plays an elite soldier who has gone nuts, and Tommy Lee Jones, his former instructor, is tasked with bringing the loose cannon in. It co-stars Connie Nielsen, of Gladiator fame, and features some great character actors, including Rex Linn, Mark Pellegrino, and José Zúñiga. Johnny Cash provides a brief intro narration.

The film is directed by the Academy Award-winning William Friedkin, who is most famous for The French Connection and The Exorcist, among many others. It also had a reported budget of over $50 million, which certainly wasn’t chump change in 2003. All things pointed to The Hunted being an underrated classic. Well, all things except the reviews, which were mostly negative. Still, I was ready to dive in.

The Hunted Is A Violent, Crazy Flick, But The Direct Connection To First Blood Isn’t Clear

It also appeared that maybe Stallone wasn’t exactly correct when he said in the interview with GQ that the movie was based on the book. I couldn’t find any evidence that the book First Blood, which was published in 1972, and The Hunted were directly connected. However, plenty of reviews of the movie compared it, mostly negatively, to the book and the Stallone film.

First Blood famously changed quite a bit from its source material, most notably the ending. I won’t spoil it if you’ve never seen it, but let’s just say the book is much more violent and much more tragic in the end than the movie is. It seems to me that The Hunted was very much inspired by the original First Blood book. The plot is that of a rogue soldier hunted by his former mentor (Col. Trautman in First Blood) that ends tragically for everyone. In fact, if I were author David Morrell, who wrote First Blood, I’d have to question if too much was lifted from my story.

In The End, The Hunted Just Isn’t Very Good

I went in with an open mind, ignoring the critics on this one. As the movie went on, however, I got more and more frustrated. I really wanted this to be good, but it just isn’t. The dialogue is cheesy and ham-fisted, the performances are pretty thin, and the direction is lazy. It’s not what I expect from the talent involved. There is so much obvious foreshadowing early in the movie that the third act of the movie was basically spoiled before it even started.

I see now why it carries only a 29% rating on Rotten Tomatoes; it’s not what anyone wants to see from the likes of Friedkin, Jones, and del Toro. At least I can take comfort in the fact that one of the best movies on the 2025 movie schedule, One Battle After Another, features del Toro in a much better performance.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains major spoilers for One Battle After Another. If you have not yet seen the film, proceed at your own risk!

Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another has many tremendous qualities (as critics have ebulliently acknowledged), but one of its most awe-inspiring aspects is its scale and depth. The film is loosely based on the novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon, but Anderson gives the world a life of its own – full of colorful characters and righteous political revolution. When the credits roll, one isn't left with the sense that the lives of these people are over... but that leaves the question: what does the future have in store for them?

In answering this question, there are few better sources to use than the stars of the film, and CinemaBlend's Jeff McCobb asked the actors for their thoughts on what's to come for their characters during the recent Los Angeles press day for One Battle After Another – having the opportunity to sit down with stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyona Taylor and Chase Infiniti.

Bob Is Getting Into Music While Sensei St. Carlos Gets Back To The Dojo

Through the events of One Battle After Another, Leonardo DiCaprio's Pat Calhoun/Bob Ferguson and Benicio Del Toro's Sensei St. Carlos prove to be strong allies. When Sean Penn's Col. Steven J. Lockjaw comes looking for the French 75 with intentions of covering up the interracial affair that led to the birth of Chase Infiniti's Charlene Calhoun/Willa Ferguson, they prove to be a successful team, with the martial arts teacher able to provide enough support and resources to overcome the former revolutionary's burnout-caused incompetence. So where do they go after the end?

At the end of the movie, Bob gets to experience some emotional catharsis with his daughter when he shares a letter from her mother, and the last we see of Sensei St. Carlos is him being arrested... but Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro envision happy lives for both of them. They shared the idea that the former might be getting into music, while also revealing that there was a deleted scene that showed what happened to the latter:

• Leonardo DiCaprio: Where did our characters end up?
• Benicio Del Toro: You'll be playing something, some band or something, right? You bought some stuff?
• Leonardo DiCaprio: Yeah, A Block Past Normal. I'll go with the local band, play at the local pub.
• Benicio Del Toro: There was one scene. I think that was something that we shot like, for after. That [PTA] didn't use. But I was back in the dojo teaching… I think I'll be there too. Right. I'll be back… I know some people in high places.

Bob certainly doesn't seem well-suited to get back into revolutionary activities, so it's probably for the best that he put more of his energy into music. And it's certainly great to hear that Sensei St. Carlos is still fighting the good fight in more ways than one.

Deandra May Or May Not Be In Prison, But There's No Closure Envisioned For Perfidia

While there was a fair amount of optimism shared by Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro for events beyond what we see in One Battle After Another, a different tone came out of the room with Regina Hall, Teyona Taylor, and Chase Infiniti. Instead of music and martial arts, the futures for Deandra and Perfidia Beverly Hills aren't looked upon with the same kinds of rose-colored glasses.

Much like how Sensei St. Carlos supports Bob in the film, Regina Hall's Deandra is a wonderful protector of Willa when Col. Lockjaw comes looking for her – but the return for her efforts may not be a peaceful life. While Jeff tried to make her consider otherwise during the interview, Hall thinks that the character may now be locked up:

But what about Perfidia? The character physically exits from One Battle After Another fairly early, as she betrays the French 75 by naming names and then escapes to freedom in Mexico – but she doesn't totally leave her old life behind, as indicated by the aforementioned letter that she sends to her daughter. Even after more than a decade-and-a-half, she is still looking for peace and perhaps a way back to her child:

• Teyana Taylor: Oh, I don't think there’s any closure.
• Regina Hall: She’s done broke some man’s heart.
• Teyana Taylor: Probably so, because you know Perfidia is a heartbreaker. But I also think that per her letter, you know, I think she's doing a lot of reflecting. I think there's a lot of reflecting. I think she's sorry. And I think that, you know, I think she's just hoping for a day that is safe enough to get back to her baby.

The only principal character who we really get proper closure with in One Battle After Another is the fascistic Col. Lockjaw, who gets assassinated by the Christmas Adventurers Club – and at the end of the day, I think the two word response to that particular character is, "Good riddance!"

Also featuring the talents of Alana Haim, Shayna McHayle, Wood Harris, and Tony Goldwyn, One Battle After Another is now playing in theaters everywhere, having dominated the competition this weekend during its opening weekend at the box office. Given that the movie is so incredibly great, you can be sure that we'll be writing plenty more about it in the months ahead – not only as we reflect on the best movies to be released in 2025 but also as we get deeper and deeper into the upcoming awards season (Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro surely think that Paul Thomas Anderson is overdue for winning Hollywood's highest honor).

True talent in Hollywood is most definitely not represented purely through success during awards season/at the Oscars – and Paul Thomas Anderson's career is proof positive of that. Despite him being one of the greatest living, he has been nominated for 11 Academy Awards for six different films in the last 28 years, and he has yet to take home a single trophy. It's not a pock on his legacy, as his phenomenal movies speak for themselves, but recognition is certainly always valued, and both Leonardo DiCaprio and Benicio Del Toro want to see that happen via Anderson's latest critically acclaimed feature, One Battle After Another.

Both DiCaprio and Del Toro have individually experienced the glory of winning an Oscar (the former for his work on 2016's The Revenant, the latter for his performance in 2001's Traffic), and during the recent Los Angeles press day for One Battle After Another, they agreed that Paul Thomas Anderson is due Hollywood's most prestigious honor. That being said, however, the first priority is not the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences appreciating the work, but instead movie-goers, and they want that appreciation reflected in people heading to cinemas to see it. Said DiCaprio,

Leonardo DiCaprio makes a great larger point here. People are constantly complaining online that Hollywood is out of original stories and has become entirely dependent on established intellectual properties, and they use that excuse not to go to the movies. But that environment has been created because people only go to see big blockbusters and franchises titles, and original stories not based on established intellectual properties need support in order to survive.

It's a sentiment with which Benicio Del Toro agrees, following his co-stars comments by noting that there's nothing that can be done about award season recognition, but the most important thing is that people buy a ticket and take the ride:

I will personally agree with this sentiment. If you don't make an effort to go see One Battle After Another, you are only doing yourself a disservice by missing out one of the best big screen experiences of 2025.

Loosely based on the unadaptable novel Vineland by Thomas Pynchon, One Battle After Another centers on a group of modern American revolutionaries who are forced to go into hiding when one of their own is captured and starts naming names. Years later, the hunt for the rebels restarts when the fascistic Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Sean Penn) needs to clean up his past messes in order to gain membership to a secret society – and it leaves burnout Bob (Leonardo DiCaprio) a mess as his teenage daughter is specifically targeted by Lockjaw and he struggles to find her after they get separated. The epic is full of action, comedy and drama, and it features an outstanding ensemble cast that also includes Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Wood Harris, Alana Haim, Chase Infiniti, and Tony Goldwyn.

Arriving just in time for the start of awards season on the 2025 Movie Release Calendar, One Battle After Another is in theaters this Friday, September 26, and stay tuned here on CinemaBlend in the coming days for more of our coverage of the outrageously excellent film.

Based on the early buzz, it’s looking like One Battle After Another, the new film from Paul Thomas Anderson starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Denicio del Toro, is going to be something special when it arrives in theaters this week. One person who believes that is director Steven Spielberg, who has been praising the movie ahead of release, something that has the movie’s two stars absolutely losing it.

Speaking with Extra, DiCaprio and del Toro are asked their thoughts on Spielberg’s praise of One Battle After Another. And while both are clearly thrilled, they actually have difficulty getting the words out, which is something of a shock for two guys who are generally paid a lot of money specifically to speak. It’s kind of adorable. Check it out.

Leonardo DiCaprio was directed by Spielberg in Catch Me If You Can, and it’s clear the actor has a great deal of respect for the accomplished director. He appreciates the compliments for his new movie. While DiCaprio has talked about how The Big Lebowski inspired him, he also mentions another influence that Spielberg called out from another great director (and one of the great cinematic comedies of all time) Stanley Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove. DiCaprio said…

While Benicio del Toro has never been directed by Steven Spielberg, he clearly knows the man’s work. He makes his own reference to Spielberg’s first film, The Duel, a movie that, even for a great director like Spielberg, not a lot of people have seen. Del Toro seems to feel that One Battle After Another takes a bit of inspiration from the movie, saying…

Del Toro makes a great point in calling out Spielberg’s ability to make movies that are both emotionally resonant with audiences and successful at the box office. Many projects tend to fall in one camp or the other, and Steven Spielberg is one of a fairly small class who can make movies that both win awards and win at the box office.

One Battle After Another feels like a film that will certainly be in the awards hunt when the first months of 2026 roll around. The question of whether it will also be a crowd-pleaser is another topic entirely. Certainly, anybody who hears what Steven Spielberg has to say about the movie may be buying tickets right now.

In the last few years, Taylor Sheridan went from being known for acting in shows like Sons of Anarchy to one of Hollywood’s most prolific writers and producers working in television. His shows Yellowstone, Lioness, and Landman are some of his most successful titles, and he doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Now, Sheridan fans can also get excited about one of his OG films (and best works ever) heading to streaming very soon.

Sicario is about to become available with a Peacock subscription starting on September 1, which is huge news for cinephiles everywhere. Sicario is the first film Sheridan wrote that was made into a major motion picture. The movie is fantastic, and Sheridan’s writing paired with the astounding direction of Denis Villeneuve, makes the film a modern classic.

Many critics agree, as the movie currently holds an impressive 92% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Sicario cast can't be overstated either, as Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, and Benicio del Toro give some of their best performances.

For those who haven’t seen the film, Sicario follows FBI agent Kate Macer, played by Blunt, on a top-secret assignment near the U.S.-Mexican border after she has been recruited for a government task force. The team is led by Alejandro, played by Del Toro, under the guise that the team is fighting drug cartels. However, Kate learns there is a lot more going on under the surface. The movie ends up exploring themes surrounding morality and corruption, and the idealism of the American Dream.

Sicario ended up inspiring a sequel, Sicario: Day of the Soldado, which was also written by Sheridan. The film feels like a touchstone for Sheridan’s career, as many of the themes and institutions investigated in the movie are also investigated in his other projects, like Lioness and Mayor of Kingstown -- which are both available with a Paramount+ subscription.

The film was also a huge moment for Sheridan as a creative, as it served as his jumping-off point as a powerhouse behind the scenes. Now, he's the mastermind behind massive hit shows like Yellowstone, and he's even tried his hand at directing. If anyone is a fan of Sheridan’s work, Sicario feels like an integral title on their watchlist.

Sicario returning to streaming isn’t the only exciting thing happening in the Sheridan-verse. There are two spinoffs directly related to Yellowstone in the works. Additionally, the third season of Tulsa King is set for release next month, Landman wrapped its second season and will come out later this year, and Mayor of Kingstown Season 4 will premiere in October. Sheridan writes shows at an unimaginable pace, which is a true testament to his skill and hard work, and is also a true treat for his fans.

He has a lot on his plate, but maybe he will someday have time for a third Sicario film. I have a feeling there is about to be a true audience for one once Sicario is rediscovered in this upcoming streaming run.

You will be able to check out Sicario, as well as other exciting movies heading to streaming on platforms like Peacock, on September 1st. Fans of Taylor Sheridan can also watch most of his projects, including the latest season of 1923 and the upcoming season of Tulsa King on Paramount+.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article gives away a detail from The Fantastic Four: First Steps that honestly will not ruin the new 2025 movie for you at all. However, if you still wish to go into every cinematic release with the absolute freshest of eyes, proceed with caution.

Marvel Studios seems to have an unspoken goal of inducting as many names from Hollywood’s A-List into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as possible, even if that means casting them in a small part of little to no significance. This has actually happened on more than one occasion, including in the latest Marvel movie, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. I’ll start there as I recall some of the big stars who took on decidedly minuscule roles in the MCU.

Natasha Lyonne In The Fantastic Four: First Steps

CinemaBlend’s Adam Holmes suspected that Natasha Lyonne would be voicing H.E.R.B.I.E., a robotic assistant, in The Fantastic Four: First Steps prior to its release, but she ended up playing a love interest to The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) named Rachel. The teacher only shows up for a couple of brief scenes and is never brought up again, which makes me wonder if Marvel is keeping an opportunity open for Ben Grimm to meet Alicia Masters in a later film. However, that also makes me wonder why the Poker Face star’s role was introduced in the first place.

Wendell Pierce In Thunderbolts*

Twice in 2025, Wendell Pierce appeared in a new superhero movie for what amounted to a few, relatively inconsequential minutes, the most recent being in the new DC movie, Superman, as The Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White. A couple of months earlier, he showed up in Thunderbolts* as Gary, a Congressman who, in a subplot that I have almost completely forgotten about, has it out for Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and wants to see her impeached.

Giancarlo Esposito In Captain America: Brave New World

One issue I had with 2025’s Captain America: Brave New World is how it makes Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder a throwaway side character. How does one cast an actor who has perfected the art of villainy (i.e. Breaking Bad, The Mandalorian, The Boys) and make him the secondary antagonist to Tim Blake Nelson’s Samuel “The Leader” Sterns? I just hope the claims that we will see more of the terrorist leader are true.

John C. Reilly In Guardians Of The Galaxy

At the time Guardians of the Galaxy was released in 2014, John C. Reilly was one of the biggest names in the cast. Yet, the Academy Award nominee’s Corpsman Dey is one of the hilarious space adventure’s most forgettable characters, which might not have been the case if he had been brought back in at least one of the sequels.

Idris Elba In Thor

I would not say that Heimdall is really a random or unimportant role in the Thor movies, considering he does guard the Bifrost and shows up in six MCU installments, not counting a What If…? episode. However, it is a pretty small role for an actor as popular and acclaimed as Idris Elba, especially when compared to his other, more prominent comic book movie roles in The Losers, The Suicide Squad, and more.

Benicio Del Toro In Guardians Of The Galaxy

Speaking as a huge fan of Guardians of the Galaxy, I think we can all agree that The Collector’s sole purpose in that film, and ultimately the MCU as a whole, is to provide exposition. Quite frankly, I believe Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro deserves more chances to make this bizarre character really stand out.

Hannibal Buress In Spider-Man: Homecoming

Donald Glover’s role in Spider-Man: Homecoming is surprisingly small for an artist of his magnitude, but still noteworthy for his previous connections to the webslinger and his reprisal cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse as Aaron “The Prowler” Davis. The one who really gets the short end of the stick in the 2017 hit is acclaimed comedian Hannibal Buress, who appears just twice and for mere seconds at a time as Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) gym teacher, Coach Wilson. He would show up again in No Way Home, but for even less time.

Just to reiterate how little of an impact Buress’ character makes on Homecoming, the comedian couldn’t make it to the premiere and hired a lookalike to pose as him, and barely anyone noticed. I don’t think it should be that easy for an actor to pull off an otherwise brilliant stunt like this at a red carpet event for a huge blockbuster they are appearing in. In other words, Marvel, if you can get the best, give them the best.

In Wes Anderson’s new movie The Phoenician Scheme, Benicio del Toro stars as a protagonist constantly escaping death. Industrialist Anatole “Zsa-Zsa” Korda is an ambitious billionaire who has made many enemies, and said enemies are constantly trying to assassinate him. It makes for a terrific bit in the film – and it’s made a little extra fun when you realize the impressive number of times that del Toro’s characters have died in movies over the course of his long career.

But does he have a favorite on-screen death? I sought an answer to that question last week when I had the pleasure of participating in the virtual press day for The Phoenician Scheme and interviewed the actor alongside co-stars Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton. There are many that he could have chosen from – including being turned into a “human Pez dispenser” in Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's Sin City or being stabbed to death by Robert de Niro in The Fan – but he went with his first:

As captured in the video above, it was a response that Michael Cera absolutely loved (“Oh my God! That’s fantastic!”), and it’s certainly an awesome and gnarly choice.

For those of you who don’t quite know the full breadth of the James Bond franchise, Benicio del Toro had a supporting role in License To Kill – the last of the 007 films starring Timothy Dalton. It was just the second film of his career (after he had previously played Duke, The Dog-Faced Boy in Big Top Pee-wee), and he played Dario, one of the henchmen loyal to drug lord antagonist Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi).

In the scene in discussion, James Bond has been captured by Sanchez, and he is placed on a conveyer belt that carries bricks of cocaine to an industrial grinder. Dario tries to facilitate the death of the MI6 superspy when the ties around the hero’s wrists let him cling to the edge of the belt, but just as 007 is about to fall, Bond girl Pam Bouvier (Carey Lowell) shows up and shoots Dario. The del Toro character then gets pulled down into the grinder and has a slow death within a cloud of bloody cocaine particles.

You can check out the scene for yourself below, and once you do, I think you’ll be able to better appreciate Benicio del Toro’s affection.

Thirty-six years later, Benicio del Toro has gone from villainous Bond henchman to leading man, and he is surrounded by an outstanding ensemble cast in The Phoenician Scheme that includes the aforementioned Michael Cera and Mia Threapleton in addition to Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Riz Ahmed, Mathieu Amalric, Richard Ayoade, Jeffrey Wright, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Fiend, Hope Davis, and Scarlett Johansson. The film is now playing in limited release but will be expanding into theaters nationwide this Friday, June 6.

I've always been a huge fan of scary movies, and I've seen most of the best horror movies.

However, one area that I feel I'm sorely lacking in is with old, Universal horror movies. I've seen Frankenstein and Dracula, but I’m sad to say that I’ve never seen The Mummy, The Invisible Man, or Creature from the Black Lagoon.

I HAVE seen the 1941 The Wolf Man, though (since I absolutely adore werewolf movies), and I'm super excited for next year's Wolf Man reboot from Blumhouse. That said, one werewolf movie that I rarely hear anyone talking about is 2010's The Wolfman, and I aim to rectify that. Here's why.

First Off, It's An Excellent Period Piece

Now, while I may not be as well-versed as I’d like to be in Universal monster movies (though I guess it’s never too late to start), I absolutely love gothic horror. Interview with the Vampire, Sleepy Hollow, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, my heart sings for it. So, when I first saw trailers for The Wolfman, I got heart palpitations in the best sort of way.

And, the movie did not disappoint. The Wolfman revels in its 1890s setting, with horse drawn carriages, lanterns, and old-timey medicine. Directed by Joe Johnston, who has a knack for period pieces, The Wolfman truly lives in the time period that it's set in.

The story concerns an actor in America (del Toro) who returns to his English home in order to bury his brother, and I just love basking in the old-timiness of it all. I love the grungy pubs, the beautiful estates, and the disturbing mental facility.

I also adore the woods that seem all-encompassing. The film has a very moody, atmospheric vibe to it, and the people who inhabit this world fit into it perfectly.

I especially like Hugo Weaving’s boss mutton chops. In every way, The Wolfman takes you back to a time before TVs and smartphones took over, and I am here for it.

It Also Respects The Classic Original

I’m very much interested in the upcoming Wolf Man (especially when I heard it was influenced by The Fly), but it takes place in a modern day setting, and it doesn’t look like the 1941 original…which is fine. Don’t get me wrong.

Because even though I never saw the original 1933 The Invisible Man, I thoroughly enjoyed Leigh Whannell’s 2020 reboot (which we gave a great review), so I’m looking forward to what he can do with 2025’s Wolf Man. That said, after watching the trailer numerous times, I don’t see many parallels between it and 1941’s The Wolf Man, other than a person being attacked by a wolf, and then slowly turning into one.

Modernity is cool and all, but I still want to praise 2010’s The Wolfman for sticking to some of the story beats that made the 1941 movie a classic. Such as the premise of a man returning home to bury his brother and reuniting with his estranged father. In both versions, our protagonist has been away for a while, and he is drawn back into this world due to a death.

A lot of the similarities end there, but one thing I especially appreciate is the relationship between father and son in both films. Spoiler alert for an 83 year old movie, but in the original, our protagonist’s father, played by Claude Rains, ends up killing his werewolf son, played by Lon Cheney Jr., by hitting him over the head with a silver cane. It distresses him when he realizes that his son was actually the werewolf.

However, in the 2010 remake, the father, played brilliantly by Anthony Hopkins, has a much more nefarious role, as he himself is a werewolf, and was the one who bit his son in the first place (He even hits him with a silver-headed cane, just like in the original). I think it’s really cool that the 2010 movie shows reverence to the original. While I’m looking forward to this new one, I still have to show love for 2010’s wolf edition.

That Said, It Is Really Violent And Modern

I know how I just said that the 2010 movie doesn’t take place in modern day times, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t feature modern day violence. Because The Wolfman, for all of its homages to the 1941, Hays Code-era original, is still very much a movie of its time–which means blood, blood, and more blood.

The Wolfman is Rated-R for a reason. In one scene where a wolfman attacks a camp, one poor soul gets clawed through the back of his head. In another horrific scene, the wolfman eviscerates hapless, screaming victims before rampaging through London.

I really dig this because it feels like it shouldn’t be. What I mean is, you have this late Victorian setting, and instead of characters fretting over a looming marriage, you have a werewolf ripping people to shreds.

It kind of reminds me of that period in the mid-2010s when we were getting those sort of parody films based off of Seth Grahame–Smith novels, like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, but not played for laughs.

In fact, 2010’s The Wolfman actually feels like what a live-action version of the Castlevania cartoon would be like if it was on the big screen. If you know me, you’ll know that I’m a man who loves his Castlevania. So, 2010’s Wolfman feels like the next best thing to a live-action version of that, which I totally dig.

Benicio Del Toro Makes For An Excellent, Haunting Lead

Benecio del Toro is a true chameleon of an actor (Which might be why he starred in a Netflix movie called Reptile) as he can play pretty much any character.

He was terrifying as a prosecutor-turned-assassin in Sicario, and yet, hilarious (and often unrecognizable) as the attorney in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I’m convinced he could play any role you throw at him, and that’s including a man who is haunted by lycanthrophy.

Because del Toro is a man with doubts and fears. Playing an actor named Lawrence, del Toro’s character returns to a world both familiar, but now alien to him. He is also a man who is haunted by his mother’s death, which he has repressed since he couldn’t understand it in his youth.

So, this is a man who is already a little unstable at the start of the film, and this is before he starts locking himself in at night in order to prevent himself from going on a horrific rampage.

What’s great about this performance is that he plays it like a man who is both terrified for himself and for others. It’s a surprisingly subtle performance in a bombastic role, and if you’re just watching it for the werewolf action, you might miss del Toro’s excellent underacting. However, I’ll tell you one person’s performance you certainly won’t miss…

And I Just Can't Praise Anthony Hopkins Enough For His Scenery-Chewing Performance

It is a widely known fact that Anthony Hopkins is only in The Silence of the Lambs for 16 minutes, but he uses every last second of those minutes to peak performance (Thus, earning him an Academy Award in the process).

That said, while Hopkins could definitely do more subdued performances if he wanted to, that is not what we get in The Wolfman, where Hopkins chews scenery like it’s going out of style.

Hopkins plays the patriarch in the film, and unlike del Toro’s character, who finds his new form to be torture, Hopkin’s character embraces it, finding great pleasure in mauling people and having them for dinner.

This is a great contrast to his son, who views himself as a monster. But, you can just tell that Hopkins is having a great time playing a cad. Even so, there is nuance to his performance since you don’t know until later that he’s been the initial wolfman the entire time.

The way he smiles about his affliction only becomes clear on repeat viewings, and he just seems incredibly odd when you initially meet him, since he doesn’t show fear, but rather interest in the idea of a werewolf on the loose. Honestly, I don’t think I’d love this movie the way I do if not for Hopkins’ immaculate performance. It’s the best.

For more news on the upcoming Wolf Man, be sure to swing by here often.

For the last several weeks when celebrities and parties have come up in the same sentence, it’s been a discussion of the parties thrown by Sean “Diddy” Combs that are the subject of a federal indictment against the rapper and mogul. Considering all of that, it's extra sweet to hear about Leonardo DiCaprio’s 50th birthday party, which looks to have been quite the shindig. And it apparently had a guest list that would make the Governor’s Ball at the Academy Awards blush, as it truly featured a murderer's row of celebrities.

Leonardo DiCaprio turns 50 years old today, November 11, but he held his party over the weekend. The guest list was shared by deuxmoi on Instagram, and it's absolutely staggering. From DiCaprio’s fellow stars from his generation to some of the great directors that he's has worked with (and those he almost collaborated with), the guest list included:

• Brad Pitt & Ines de Ramon
• Mark Ruffalo
• Benicio del Toro
• Soleil Moon Frye
• Todd Phillips
• Kevin Connolly & Zulay Henao
• Chris Rock
• Jamie Foxx
• Guillermo del Toro
• Paris Hilton
• Lukas Haas
• Steven Spielberg
• Bill Maher
• Casey Affleck
• Emile Hirsch
• Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom
• Cara Delevingne
• Tobey Maguire
• Robin Thicke & April Love Geary
• Odell Beckham Jr.
• Teyana Taylor
• Edward Norton
• Chuck Lidell
• Dr. Dre

There may have been even more stars in attendance, but this list alone is truly a who’s who of Hollywood. Being there had to be an incredible experience. Leonardo DiCaprio's father and stepmother were the only non-celebrities reported to be in attendance. It must have been a pretty amazing night for them, I'd think.

A few of these names are potentially surprising, but it’s very interesting to see who the Wolf of Wall Street star decided to invite to the event. He and Edward Norton have been friends for a long time. The same goes for DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, who were part of the same real-life poker game that inspired the movie Molly’s Game.

It's also great that Leonardo DiCaprio invited his Catch Me If You Can director Steven Spielberg. The same goes for Guillermo del Toro, who almost directed DiCaprio, as he was originally attached to star in Nightmare Alley before he had to drop out and was replaced by Bradley Cooper. I would have loved to have seen those two meet up at the party. If there’s a chance they could work together down the road that’s a very exciting prospect that they probably talked about.

DiCaprio’s One Upon A Time…In Hollywood co-star Brad Pitt -- along with his serious girlfriend, Ines de Ramon, -- was there, as was his Shutter Island co-star Mark Ruffalo. The Revenant star also invited a couple of people who it looks like he may have gotten to know in his role as a producer. DiCaprio produced Out of the Furnace, which included Casey Affleck in its cast. He also produced Kid 90, the documentary film directed by former Punky Brewster star Soleil Moon Frye.

Needless to say, certainly looks like Leonardo DiCaprio’s birthday party was the hottest ticket in town. Now I just need to figure out how to become his friend before next year.

We’ve seen it before and we’ll surely see it again, but an older show is getting some love and finding new life as one of the best shows on Netflix. Escape at Dannemora, the 2018 Showtime original limited about one of the most notorious prison escapes of the 21st century, started trending when it became available to anyone with a Netflix subscription back in October 2024, and I couldn’t be more excited to see one of my favorite shows from a few years ago get some love.

Now that Escape at Dannemora is a part of the public consciousness once again – or at least holding down a spot on the Netflix Top 10 – I think it’s the perfect time to talk about this near-perfect crime drama and why you should be watching it, even if you sat through it more than a half-decade ago. Let’s talk it out…

This Is Honestly One Of The Best Prison Shows I've Ever Seen

There have been a ton of great prison shows over the years, with classics like Oz, Orange is the New Black and Prison Break quickly coming to mind. Escape at Dannemora is right up there with all three of those programs in the conversation of best ever. While Joyce “Tillie” Mitchell, the former guard convicted of helping two convicts escape from prison, had some choice words for Ben Stiller and the way he adapted the series, it’s hard to see this as anything other than an intense, emotional, and hard-to-put-down drama.

The way Escape at Dannemora constructs the titular prison as less like a setting and more like a character is phenomenal and allows for a great deal of world-building that only makes the show even more of a gem to watch. The ecosystems on either side of concrete walls and steel bars are filled with three-dimensional and complex characters that live outside the constraints of absolutes, making it even richer.

Patricia Arquette, Benicio Del Toro, and Paul Dano Put On Some Of The Best Performances Of Their Careers

Though none of their names were called at the 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano and Benicio del Toro were phenomenal as Joyce Mitchell, David Sweat, and Richard Matt, respectively, and gave some of the best performances of their careers up to that point.

Dano, with his nuanced and riveting portrayal of a desperate inmate who’ll do anything to get out of prison and experience freedom once again, showed he had what it took to pull off the complexity of The Riddler in The Batman. Del Toro, in his first major TV role, was also magnificent as Dano’s on-screen partner and fellow prisoner, a character who would stop at nothing to get out of the confinement of prison. But the real kicker was Arquette, whose portrayal of a prison guard who delicately walked the line between victim and accomplice was something to behold, which is saying something considering her resume up to that point.

The Dynamic Between The Three Leads Is Both Fascinating And Terrifying

Escape at Dannemora is a limited series with only seven episodes to weave together a complex, emotional and engaging narrative about three individuals whose lives all become intertwined for better or much, much worse. While all three of the lead actors are great individually, it’s the dynamic and intense love triangle shared by their characters that makes their respective performances even better.

Whether it’s in the various scenes where they’re planning the daring escape or an intense sex scene that puts the show up there with those sexually explicit movies on Netflix, the dynamic shared by the three actors honestly takes a good show and turns it into a great series that has you invested from beginning to end. There were so many times throughout the series where I didn’t see Arquette, Dano or del Toro on screen, but instead three desperate people caught in the middle of an even more desperate situation, even if was of their own making.

Even The Supporting Actors Put On Incredibly Riveting Performances

But the three stars at the top of the Escape at Dannemora cast aren’t the only talented actors giving commanding performances on screen, as the show’s group of supporting players are just as great in their various roles. This is especially true for David Morse and Eric Lange, who play Clinton Correctional Facility personnel Gene Palmer and Lyle Mitchell, respectively.

Throughout the seven-part series, both of these characters become increasingly involved with the escape and subsequent scandal that brings in state officials to see how it all went down. Whether it’s Lyle’s complicated relationship with his wife, Joyce, or Gene, who found himself getting wrapped up in the escape plot, their respective stories add so much to the show and also make the three main characters’ stories all the more interesting and complicated.

Ben Stiller's Direction Creates A Masterclass In Tension And Drama

Ben Stiller has gone on to create one of the best shows on television with the Apple TV+ original series Severance, a series that is full of thrilling drama, intrigue and characters desperately trying to escape, or at least make sense of, their present situations. But several years before spending time in the world of Lumon Industries, Stiller directed Escape at Dannemora.

I’m not saying we wouldn’t be eagerly awaiting Severance Season 2 right now if the comedian and actor didn’t first make this Showtime true crime series, but the show did allow Stiller to fine-tune his directing skills on the small screen after years of making hilarious comedies like Reality Bites, Tropic Thunder and Zoolander. And just like he would do with his next TV series, Stiller created a masterclass in tension and drama that leaves you on the edge of your seat for seven episodes.

I'm So Glad This Show Is Finding A New Audience Years After Its Original Run

Overall, I’m happy that Escape at Dannemora is finding a new audience after all these years. There really isn’t a way to make a second season since the the original run wrapped up everything that happened in real life, but it feels great to see a series that you cared so much about years ago get a new lease on life, or at least more viewers, years after you finished your journey with complicated yet interesting characters.

Who knows, maybe we’ll be talking about other shows from the 2010s getting some much-needed love on Netflix at some point in the future.

Escape at Dannemora is currently streaming on Netflix. If you want to know what else is coming to one of the best streaming services, check out our rundown of the 2024 Netflix schedule.

Stream Escape at Dannemora on Netflix.

In 2015, Denis Villeneuve brought Taylor Sheridan’s script for Sicario to life with Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin and Emily Blunt leading the cast. Talk about a dream team. Then, in 2018, Sicario: Day of the Soldado came out. Since then, fans have been wondering if there will be a third installment in this series of movies about a task force battling the war on drugs at the U.S.-Mexico border. Well, we’re here to provide as much of an answer as we can. 

The short answer to this question about Sicario 3 is: sort of. However, the realistic one is that while there’s a want for it and talk about it happening, there’s no confirmation that it’s taking solid steps forward yet. So, with that in mind, let’s break down what we know about this potential film. 

Sicario Producers Want Josh Brolin, Emily Blunt And Benicio Del Toro To Star

If Sicario 3 happens, it’d be nice to see the main trio of Josh Brolin, Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro back in action. According to producer Trent Luckinbill, that’s the goal, as he told Collider in October 2023:

So, with the objective to get the on-screen band back together, the questions start to circle around if the actors would be willing and available as well as if the top-tier behind-the-scenes crew wants to come back, too. 

Denis Villeneuve Has Nothing To Do With Sicario 3

In the years following the release of Sicario, Denis Villeneuve’s body of work has only grown more impressive, specifically through the releases of 2016's Arrival, 2017's Blade Runner 2049 and the wildly popular and critically acclaimed Dune films that came out in 2021 and 2024. That, mixed with the fact that he has two movies in the works, including Dune 3 and he didn’t direct Sicario: Day of the Soldado, Stefano Sollima did, makes it seem obvious that he won’t be back to helm a third film. 

He confirmed his lack of knowledge about Sicario 3 while speaking with The Playlist in February 2024:

He continued to explain that he was out of the loop on this topic. However, he reiterated that he’ll be excited to see the film, especially if the screenwriter is involved:

Well, lucky for Denis Villeneuve and us, Taylor Sheridan is reportedly attached to the project. However, unlucky for us, it’s unknown if he’ll be penning it. 

Sicario Producers Said Taylor Sheridan And Christopher McQuarrie Are Involved

While the evergrowing list of upcoming Yellowstone shows might have you wondering if Taylor Sheridan has time to write another Sicario movie, producers have explained that the OG screenwriter will be involved with a third film. Along with Sheridan, producer Molly Smith explained that Christopher McQuarrie – the director, writer and producer behind Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Fall Out and Dead Reckoning – is involved too, telling Collider:

Now, while this is thrilling news, it’s important to consider just how busy both these men are, specifically Sheridan. Putting all this in perspective, Sicario producer Trent Luckinbill told the same outlet:

It sounds like many folks who have worked on Sicario want a third film to happen, and like these producers, some of the cast, specifically Josh Brolin, are in the same boat. 

Josh Brolin Wants Sicario 3 To Happen 

Between playing Thanos in the MCU and Gurney in the incredibly well-reviewed Dune films, as well as leading the series Outer Range over on Amazon Prime, Josh Brolin has been booked and busy since Sicario's release. However, there’s also still no question that this project is one of Brolin’s best films, and he really wants to return as Matt Graver. Speaking with THR in May 2022 about the possibility of Sicario 3 and whether fans should give up on the film ever getting made, the actor explained:

Considering how all the careers of so many involved with the first Sicario have skyrocketed, I’d imagine getting the troops together for a third film is incredibly hard. However, Brolin clearly has hope that it can happen. That should make fans excited, but Emily Blunt’s thoughts on the possible film will likely even out your feelings. 

However, Emily Blunt Hasn’t Heard Anything About Sicario 3

Emily Blunt, who wasn’t in Sicario 2, put it bluntly on Happy, Sad, Confused in February 2024 when explaining what she knew about a possible threequel. While Brolin has seemingly talked a lot about it, the Oppenheimer actress hasn’t “seen anything,” she explained:

Back when Day of the Soldado was in the works, Taylor Sheridan did tell The Wrap that Blunt’s FBI agent Kate Macer’s story was complete. So, because she wasn’t involved in the sequel – even if it makes sense for the character to come back for a third film – it seems unlikely that she’d come back. 

While it seems like Sicario 3 would be a shoo-in for one of Emily Blunt’s best movies considering the success of the first film and the love for her character, according to her, she hasn’t heard anything about it. 

Overall, the discourse surrounding Sicario 3 is all over the place. While it’s 100% still in the developmental stages, it seems like many on the creative team want to make it happen. However, considering the schedules of the stars, writer and OG director, it looks like we’ll be waiting for quite some time before we find out who is officially writing, directing and starring in the project. 

We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on all things Sicario 3, in the meantime, you can stream Sicario with an Amazon Prime subscription and Sicario: Day of the Soldado with a Hulu subscription. 

There was a time when music videos were as important as the radio in promoting the hottest artists and songs of the day. Back in the '80s and '90s, MTV was one of the most powerful cultural forces in the country, and that was reflected in how many stars you can spot in videos from the day. 

Sometimes, they were already huge stars, like Robin Williams and Chevy Chase, other times, they were actors looking to get their break and now, years later, we can marvel at their humble beginnings. This is a list of famous people in videos from the zenith of MTV highlights both.

Alicia Silverstone - "Cryin'"

Alicia Silverstone first got famous for starring in videos, specifically Aerosmith videos. The Clueless star appeared in three videos for the Boston rockers, the first for the song "Cryin'", then later showing up in the videos for "Amazing," alongside Dazed & Confused cast member Jason London. Silverstone's final appearance, and maybe the most famous video, was for the song "Crazy," alongside Steven Tyler's daughter, Liv Tyler. 

Courteney Cox - "Dancing In The Dark"

One of the most famous examples of a star getting her first break in a music video is, of course, Friends star Courteney Cox in the video for Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark." The video, which came out in 1984, was directed by Brian De Palma and, according to Cox, she was one of several women Springsteen could have picked out of the audience, and it was random that he chose her. What kismit! 

Cindy Crawford - "Freedom '90"

Director David Fincher, who has had quite an amazing career in film, started in music videos. One of those videos, George Michaels' "Freedom '90," was challenging because Michaels told Fincher he wasn't going to appear in the video. Fincher decided to cast a bevy of famous supermodels to lip-sync the song, including Cindy Crawford in a bathtub. 

Eva Mendes - "Miami"

In 1998, a young actress from Miami was cast in a video for the Will Smith song, "Miami." Eva Mendes had starred in one direct-to-video movie at that point and was that actress. It would be another three years before her breakout role in Training Day. It's a brief moment in the video, as she drove her convertible next to Smith's on the causeway to Miami Beach.

In 1993, Janet Jackson was on top of the world. Her fifth album, janet. was another huge hit, selling millions of copies, partly on the strength of the single, "That's the Way Love Goes." Little did anyone know at the time that one of the extras in the video would go on to a career that eclipsed even Jackson's, a then-unknown Jennifer Lopez. 

Matt LeBlanc - "Miracle"

Bon Jovi's "Miracle" is, let's be frank, not the New Jersey legends' best work. One thing they did get right was the casting for the video. Matt LeBlanc was a young actor and model just starting out on a career, so while his job is really only to look good in this video, he certainly does. It would be a few more years before America was introduced to his comedic chops too. 

Hugh Laurie - "Walking On Broken Glass"

By the time Hugh Laurie appeared in the video for Annie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass" in 1992, he was already very famous in the UK. It would be a few more years until the legendary TV show House would debut in the US, making Laurie a household name on both sides of the pond. John Malkovich also stars in the video, reminding fans of his role in Dangerous Liaisons. 

Angelina Jolie - "Wondering"

Angelina Jolie was a model in Hollywood from her teen years on, so it's no wonder she would have a few videos of her resume, including The Rolling Stones' video for "Has Anybody Seen My Baby," but it is surprising to see her in a video for the Athens, GA-based jam band Widespread Panic's song "Wondering" from 1993. Jolie also appears on the cover of the band's album Everyday, which includes "Wondering."

Zooey Deschanel - "She's Got Issues"

Zooey Deschanel is as successful in music, with her duo She & Him as she is on the big screen, so of course she has an early credit in a music video. Deschanel appears with fiery red hair in the video for "She's Got Issues" by The Offspring. 

Naomi Campbell - "Is This Love"

Bob Marley died over four decades ago, but his legacy is as big as ever, with the release of the biopic One Love in 2024. Back in the day, the reggae superstar filmed a video in London for his song "Is This Love" featuring a couple of local kids, including a 7-year-old Naomi Campbell!  

Macaulay Culkin - "Black Or White"

Michael Jackson redefined what a music video could be with "Thriller" and after that, he often released short films that were much more than just a song, and often they had big stars in them. For "Black or White" in 1991, MJ brought in Macaulay Culkin and George Wendt to play father and son, for example. 

Christina Hendricks - "One Hit Wonder"

Long before Christina Hendricks hit the big time with her role in Mad Men, she was a model and struggling actor in the '90s. One of her earliest roles, way back in 1998, was in the video for "One Hit Wonder" by Everclear. Luckily for all of us, that wasn't her only hit. 

Matthew McConaughey - "Walkaway Joe"

Alright, alright, alright, we'll concede that Dazed and Confused is what made Matthew McConaughey famous, but before that, he appeared in Trisha Yearwood's video for her hit "Walkaway Joe," playing the titular character of the song. 

Wesley Snipes - "Bad"

For the second single, "Bad" from his album of the same name, Micheal Jackson teamed up with Martin Scorsese to make an 18-minute short film for the video. In the video, Jackson famously has a dance-off with his rivals in a New York subway station. One of the baddies is none other than Wesley Snipes, who only had a few credits under his belt previously. 

Patrick Swayze - "Rosanna"

Toto's song "Rosanna" is famously about Rosanna Arquette. Less well-known is that if you watch the video closely, you'll notice a familiar face as one of the West Side Story-like dancers. Patrick Swayze, one year before his big break in The Outsiders is one of the dancers. In an even cooler bit of trivia, another one of the uncredited dancers in the video is Cynthia Rhodes, who would co-star as Swayze's first dance partner, Penny, in Dirty Dancing. 

Elijah Wood - "Forever Your Girl"

Elijah Wood has been working in Hollywood forever. He started as a child actor in films like Back to the Future II and The Good Sun, but before those even, he had a part in Paula Abdul's video for "Forever Your Girl" in 1989. 

Chevy Chase - "You Can Call Me Al"

Chevy Chase was one of the biggest stars on the planet in 1986 when he starred in the video for "You Can Call Me Al" with his buddy Paul Simon. It is, no lie, one of Chase's best performances, and it's impossible not to crack up at his facial expressions and physical comedy in the video. 

Johnny Depp - "Into The Great Wide Open"

Johnny Depp has always wanted to be a rock star, so it was a great move by Tom Petty to get him to play the part of one in the video for "Into The Great Wide Open" in 1991. The video also stars the legendary Faye Dunaway and Gabrielle Anwar. 

Jennifer Connelly - "I Drove All Night"

The late, great Roy Orbison found almost as much fame after he died as he found in life. Two albums of all-new songs were released posthumously and one song, "I Drove All Night," released in 1992, featured Jennifer Connelly alongside Jason Priestly, in the video, along with Orbison in grainy images of an old TV appearance. 

Kirsten Dunst - "I Knew I Loved You"

Does anybody remember the band Savage Garden? The Aussie duo had a string of huge hits in the late '90s, including the song "I Knew I Loved You" which features Kirsten Dunst as a woman on a subway with whom the lead singer, Darren Hayes, is in love. 

Robin Williams - "Don't Worry, Be Happy"

Bobby McFerrin's 1988 song "Don't Worry, Be Happy" has to be one of the most surprising #1 hits of all time. The song was huge when it came out, and went on to win three Grammys. Someone must have had an inkling though, because superstar Robin Williams co-stars in the video with McFerrin. 

Kim Basinger - "Last Dance With Mary Jane"

Tom Petty made some legendary videos during his career, but the strangest has to be the one for "Last Dance With Mary Jane" which features Kim Basinger playing a corpse, dressed up as a bride. Great song, but a very weird video.

Keanu Reeves - "Rush, Rush"

1991 was a big year for Keanu Reeves. Not only did he star in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey and Point Break, but he also appeared as a James Dean-like character in the video for "Rush, Rush" by Paula Abdul. 

Eddie Murphy - "Do You Remember The Time"

In case you've forgotten just how huge Michael Jackson was in the early '90s, remember there was a time he could premiere a video on MTV, BET, and Fox all at the same time. The video starred Jackson, of course, along with Eddie Murphy and Iman as ancient Egyptian royalty. Magic Johnson also appeared. 

Katie Holmes - "Tongue Tied"

Katie Holmes' career was just starting to take off in 1999 with her starring turn on Dawson's Creek. She also found some time to appear in the video for the song "Tongue Tied" by pop punk band Eve 6. It's not the last time Holmes has appeared in a video, either. A year later, in 2000, she starred with Micheal Douglas and others in a Bob Dylan video. 

Winona Ryder - "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child"

By far the award for the strangest appearance on this list goes to Winona Ryder in the video for Mojo Nixon's song "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child." Leave it to the late Nixon for coming up with the most ridiculous premise for a song, then landing a star like Ryder to star in the video in 1989, the same year she appeared in Heathers. 

RuPaul - "Love Shack"

If one were to guess which 1980s video to expect a RuPaul appearance, the smart money would be a B-52's video. That's exactly what happened in 1989 when RuPaul popped up very briefly in the video for "Love Shack" as a dancer and partygoer. He wasn't close to famous yet, but he was good friends with the band and he fits right into the campiness of the video. 

Benicio del Toro - "La Isla Bonita"

Benicio del Toro made his big screen debut in 1988 in Pee Wee's Big Top, but a year earlier, he was one of the extras in the video for Madonna's "La Isla Bonita." He is way in the background and can only be clearly seen in one shot, but when you watch the video, it's unmistakenly del Toro. 

Liv Tyler - "Crazy"

According to Liv Tyler, she didn't meet her biological father, Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler, until she was eight, and didn't know he was her father for another few years. Still, by the time she starred in the video for "Crazy," they had developed a healthy relationship, and the video, in which she co-stars with Alicia Silverstone, launched her career.

Captain Lou Albano - "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"

Cyndi Lauper was one of the biggest breakout stars of early MTV and for good reason. The low-budget video for her debut single, "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" featured a quirky cast that included her mother (playing her mother), her lawyer, and wrestling star "Captain" Lou Albano as her father. It's a video as fun as the song and it was played on repeat in those early MTV days. 

John Goodman - "Wild Wild Life"

The song "Wild Wild Life" by The Talking Heads was part of their soundtrack for the David Byrne-directed film True Stories. For the video, he recruited some of the people who appear in the film, including John Goodman, who lip-syncs along with the song in a karaoke bar. 

LeVar Burton - "Word Up"

LeVar Burton first found fame as Kunta Kinte in Roots, one of the most memorable performances by any actor, ever. About a decade later, between Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation, Burton popped up in the video for "Word Up" by Cameo, playing a police officer trying to arrest the band. 

One video we left off this list because it's just too big a list on its own is the video for Ghostbusters which, in addition to the stars of the film also includes Chevy Chase, Danny Devito, Peter Falk, Al Franken, John Candy, and more. It's all too much to add to his list of some of the coolest appearances of stars in music videos! 

Through over six decades of James Bond movies, there has been a wide assortment of notable actors that have played heroes, villains, and roles in-between in the long running saga. As there’s 25 movies to keep track of, you might still be surprised by who shows up in a 007 adventure upon rewatching the series. With that in mind, here’s a huge list of people you may have forgotten teamed up with Commander Bond on the big screen.

Jack Lord - Dr. No

Before playing the original Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O, actor Jack Lord got to originate another pop culture landmark. As the first actor to play Felix Leiter in Sean Connery’s James Bond movies, Dr. No saw Lord helping foil SPECTRE before instructing Danno to book anyone in another tropical crime fighting epic.

Robert Shaw - From Russia With Love

A good number of moviegoers would remember Robert Shaw best as the iconic sailor Quint, one of Jaws’ intrepid shark hunters. Before he got to put his hunting skills to the test against a Great White, Shaw played Red Grant: a SPECTRE hitman sent to kill James Bond. Unfortunately for Grant, a good thrashing on the Orient Express prevented him from completing his mission; all thanks to a wine based faux pas.

Donald Pleasence - You Only Live Twice

Halloween’s Michael Myers employed a mask to instill his own brand of chilling villainy. But years prior to tangling with that evil himself, Donald Pleasence became the first actor to show off Blofeld’s heinous visage in You Only Live Twice. Admit it, you probably remember Mike Myers’ parody of this character from Austin Powers more than the OG; which is ok.

Charles Gray - You Only Live Twice

Speaking of actors that have played Ernst Stavro Blofeld, The Rocky Horror Picture Show vet Charles Gray is also in that boat himself. However, the James Bond role people may have forgotten he played was that of 007’s ally Henderson in You Only Live Twice. Kind of fitting, as his Blofeld would be Sean Connery’s second tangle with the iconic nemesis.

Telly Savalas - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

What’s one more Blofeld for old times? As he’d go on to tear up World War II in Kelly’s Heroes, as well as fight crime with a lollipop addiction in Kojack, Telly Savalas got to be the big bad of James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service which is George Lazenby’s solo outing as 007. Savalas is arguably the best Blofeld of the bunch, exuding both charm and menace.

Joanna Lumley - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Joanna Lumley shot to stardom through roles in series like Sapphire and Steel and Absolutely Fabulous, as well as another British spy staple The Avengers. Much like her fellow alums Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg, Lumley found herself cast early on in the 007 legacy, as one of Blofeld’s “Angels of Death” in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Yaphet Kotto - Live And Let Die

Yaphet Kotto made a name for himself throughout all sorts of genres, thanks to roles in Alien, The Running Man, and NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Streets. And among all of those valued credits was the dual role of Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big in the debut of Roger Moore’s James Bond, Live and Let Die. Both sides of this coin fit the veteran performer to a tee, making for one of the most intriguing Bond villains of all time.

Charles Dance - For Your Eyes Only

Believe it or not, Tywin Lannister once tried to kill James Bond on a ski slope! Game of Thrones’ icon Charles Dance played a heavy trying to ice Roger Moore’s 007. Dance was even courted as a potential James Bond, but he graciously turned down the opportunity to audition as he didn’t feel he was a good fit for the role. 

Patrick Macnee - A View To A Kill

The British spy series The Avengers was another cultural icon that made many an actor into memorable agents of chaos and/or order. Patrick Macnee is one such icon, as he played series lead John Steed with a couple Bond girls joining in on the fun. So when Macnee was cast to assist Roger Moore in his final James Bond adventure, A View to a Kill, it felt like an ambitious crossover that was years in the making.

Dolph Lundgren - A View To A Kill

1985 was the year to have Dolph Lundgren playing your anti-capitalist villain. Not only did he square off against Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV, but he also found time to play a KGB agent tasked with keeping Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) in line in A View to a Kill. And if Grace Jones wasn’t Walken’s hired muscle, he may have stood a chance.

Joe Don Baker - The Living Daylights

Even die hard James Bond fans have had moments where they forget that Joe Don Baker actually played a 007 villain before he rejoined the series. Later playing Pierce Brosnan’s American counterpart Jack Wade of the CIA, Baker first appeared in the series as The Living Daylights’ big bad Brad Whitaker. A madman fixated on military history, Whitaker would meet his Waterloo after Timothy Dalton’s James Bond sends him crashing into a model of that very same battle.

Carey Lowell - License To Kill

James Bond has always had a strong sense of law and order; so it’s only fitting that Law and Order cast member Carey Lowell got to play one of his partners in License to Kill. As Pam Bouvier, Lowell was involved in one of James Bond’s most personal vendettas ever recorded. She even showed off her jealous streak in the end, romancing 007 by confessing her feelings in a swimming pool scene out of a rom-com.

Benicio del Toro - License To Kill

A young and hungry Benicio del Toro went toe to toe with both Carey Lowell and Timothy Dalton in License to Kill. Playing henchman Dario, his skills were employed by drug dealer/business magnate Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi). It’s just a shame that 007 got the drop on this young buck, which resulted in a demise so brutal that it’s cut in some versions of the film.

Wayne Newton - License To Kill

Legendary crooner and enemy of Clark Griswold, Wayne Newton is also quite an actor. Nowhere did he show that than in License to Kill, where he played the sleazy preacher Professor Joe Butcher. The perfect nexus of ‘80s influences, Newton’s character was part of how Franz Sanchez’s cartel would send secret messages to its network of buyers and sellers; through the power of televangelism.

Alan Cumming - Goldeneye

Boris Grishenko is one of the most memorable presences in 007 history, making quite an impression in Goldeneye. But many probably forget that the chameleon behind this performance is none other than the insanely talented Alan Cumming. Though he may not have been as invincible as he thought, Cumming’s nasty nerd is hard to stay mad at, even when he gets frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Minnie Driver - Goldeneye

There’s a fine line between cameo appearances and secondary roles that appear as a brief blip in the James Bond world. Otherwise, we’d be able to claim people like Gerard Butler and Hugh Bonneville as entries on this list. While their appearances were too brief to mention, Minnie Driver’s brief but beautiful role in Goldeneye sees her almost get Pierce Brosnan killed, while also sassing back her on-screen sugar daddy Robbie Coltrane.

Robbie Coltrane - Goldeneye/The World Is Not Enough

Here’s another pop culture intersection that’s hard to believe: Hagrid was a sworn frenemy of James Bond! Appearing in both Goldeneye and The World is Not Enough, the late great Robbie Coltrane played Valentin Zukovsky, an ex-KGB player who loved and loathed 007. Coltrane’s patter with Pierce Brosnan is invaluable, which probably led to Zukovsky returning for a meatier role in The World is Not Enough.

Michelle Yeoh - Tomorrow Never Dies

Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh has been Everything Everywhere All At Once, but early on in her career she was paired up with Pierce Brosnan’s Commander Bond to stop a madman. Tomorrow Never Dies saw the action star playing Wai Lin, a Chinese military officer who wants to prevent World War III as much as 007 does. If only she'd returned as supposedly planned in Die Another Day.

Teri Hatcher - Tomorrow Never Dies

While not quite a desperate housewife at this phase in her career, Teri Hatcher was still a popular actor that managed to land a Bond film with her clout. Playing 007’s ex-flame Paris Carver, her marriage to media mogul/villain Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) put her in the crosshairs of fate.

Vincent Schiavelli - Tomorrow Never Dies

Character acting legend Vincent Schiavelli has been in everything from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest to Death to Smoochy. And thanks to being cast in Tomorrow Never Dies as the diabolical Dr. Kaufman, Schiavelli was able to cross off being a Bond baddie from his to-do list.

Denise Richards - The World Is Not Enough

Denise Richards has gotten a lot of unfair criticism for her role as The World is Not Enough’s Dr. Christmas Jones. But that hasn’t stopped her from defending her part in 007 history, and rightfully so. You may have forgotten her snappy patter with Pierce Brosnan, but it’s not hard to fall back into the rhythm between these two well matched co-stars.

Robert Carlyle - The World Is Not Enough

One of the best red herrings in James Bond history, Robert Carlyle expertly played the role of terrorist Renard in The World is Not Enough. With his own motivations overshadowing the true villain of the piece, the Full Monty and Once Upon A Time star may have slipped your mind in the world of 007, but he was indeed a pretty fantastic part of it all.

Rosamund Pike - Die Another Day

Secret villain Miranda Frost was the perfect warm up for future Gone Girl star Rosamund Pike. Playing who seemed to be an MI6 ally in Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond eventually outed her as a colder player than she initially let on. The results were quite heated, especially as she would have to face off against true Bond ally Jinx (Halle Berry) in the big third act showdown.

Michael Madsen - Die Another Day

We’re never going to get that Pierce Brosnan/Quentin Tarantino James Bond movie that could have adapted Casino Royale. That being said, we may have gotten a taste of what a QT Bond character might have been like in Damian Falco, the CIA officer played by Tarantino vet Michael Madsen in Die Another Day. Which is enough to spark the FOMO all over again.

Tobias Menzies - Casino Royale

Before he terrorized Sam Heughan in Outlander, Tobias Menzies was a heroic party that assisted Daniel Craig’s James Bond in Casino Royale. Playing Villers, the right hand man to M (Judi Dench) before Tanner was revived in the post-reboot climate, Menzies saw some pretty harrowing action in the Bond franchise. Like that time James almost died due to a malfunctioning defibrillator. 

David Harbour - Quantum of Solace

An early career win for Violent Night’s David Harbour, the actor’s appearance as an antagonist in Quantum of Solace is another reason people shouldn’t sleep on this movie. As the morally corrupt Gregg Beam, Harbour is a delight in all of his scummy brilliance, just before the world would see him in a much more heroic light in Stranger Things.

Stana Katic - Quantum of Solace

Solving crimes alongside Nathan Fillion on Castle is Stana Katic’s major claim to fame. And just before she started babysitting a mystery author turned sleuth, she was a crucial part to Daniel Craig’s James Bond gaining closure over Vesper Lynd’s death; thanks to her appearance at the end of Quantum of Solace.

Helen McCrory - Skyfall

If you ever wanted to see Narscissa Malfoy and Voldemort battle it out, minus the wands and makeup, Skyfall should be added to your watch list at once. The late Helen McCrory and Ralph Fiennes face off during a hearing that questions the effectiveness of M’s leadership, which sees sparks fly in some heated verbal battle.

Albert Finney - Skyfall

There was once a time where Sean Connery was considered for a role in Skyfall. Instead, cooler heads prevailed, and Kincade, the groundskeeper of the old Bond estate, was cast as the legendary Albert Finney. I dare anyone else to say “Welcome to Skyfall” and make it sound as awesome.

Andrew Scott - Spectre

Though the world knows him as Sherlock’s Moriarty, actor Andrew Scott was also a thorn in the side of James Bond and his MI6 family. Popping up at exactly the wrong time in Spectre, Scott’s character Max Denbigh posed a great threat to the 00 program and all it stood for. 

Monica Bellucci - Spectre

Out of the extensive legacy of James Bond women, Monica Bellucci’s arrival in Spectre is one that was possibly the most hard fought. After Bellucci missed out on two Pierce Brosnan outings, seeing her romanced by Daniel Craig’s 007 was a triumph to behold.

Jimmy Dean - Diamonds Are Forever

The world at large will always remember actor/country singer/breakfast meat magnate Jimmy Dean for those various facets of his talent. But what most may not recall is the fact that he was also Willard White, the reclusive millionaire that Blofeld used as a cover for his grand schemes in Diamonds Are Forever.

With over 60 years under its belt, the James Bond legacy has certainly seen a lot of people come and go. As the next age of 007 dawns, who knows what the future will bring, and what major stars will appear only to be periodical surprises when revisiting the Bond adventures?

Many of those with a Netflix subscription will likely agree that the platform is home to some great true crime movies and TV shows. Yet, it should not go unnoticed that it also has a great catalog of fictional crime dramas – the latest of which is an upcoming film called Reptile.

With a title like that, this new Netflix original movie sounds like it should be included among the platform’s best monster movies or even in the nature documentary section. However, we can assure you that it is neither of those things, even though its subject matter might also qualify it as a new Netflix horror movie on a psychological level. Allow us to better explain what we mean by going through all the most essential facts about Reptile, starting with when it is expected to slither into your queue.

What Is The Reptile Release Date?

According to Netflix’s official blog, Tudum, Reptile will be available to stream on the platform on Friday, September 29, 2023. Another Tudum post reveals that the upcoming 2023 movie is one of the many Netflix originals set to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.

Unlike many of those titles, Reptile boasts a dark story, which we will talk about more explicitly soon. However, one way the film does relate with the rest of Netflix’s TIFF slate  — including the Chris Evans and Emily Blunt-led Pain Hustlers and Rustin with Colman Domingo — is a star-studded ensemble of top-notch talent.

Benicio Del Toro Leads The Reptile Cast

Academy Award winner Benicio del Toro (for Steven Soderbergh’s Traffic) is a master at playing bad guys (i.e. the classic Guy Ritchie movie, Snatch, or in Star Wars: The Last Jedi as the double-crossing DJ). Thus, his lead role in Reptile as a police detective named Tom Nichols seeking redemption from his troubled past serves as a, sort of, epilogue moment for his career. Playing Will, whose wife’s murder Nichols is investigating, is Grammy-winning pop star and Social Network cast member Justin Timberlake, whose gone to dark places as an actor before, as recently as leading Apple TV+’s Palmer in 2021.

Reuniting with Del Toro for the first time since 1997’s Excess Baggage to play Nichols’ wife Judy is Alicia Silverstone, whom the actor was delighted to reconnect with, as he shared with Tudum. The Reptile cast also includes Eric Bogosian from 2019’s A24 masterpiece Uncut Gems; Ato Essandoh, who is known for movies like Garden State and 2016’s Jason Bourne; and fellow musician Sky Ferreira, according to Deadline. Netflix movie veteran Dominic Lombardozzi (Fat Tony Salerno from Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman) also stars alongside Michael Carmen Pitt, who is known for the acclaimed NC-17 movie 2003’s The Dreamers and another Netflix exclusive from 2020 called The Last Days of American Crime.

The Trailer Teases A Chilling Slice Of Neo-Noir

We have already teased what sort of gloomy and disturbing subject matter there is to expect from Reptile throughout this guide so far. However, nothing we can say can prepare you forwhat a “nightmare” this story will prove to be for Del Toro and co. than by watching the official trailer. Check out the clip for yourself below:

Opening a movie trailer for a crime drama with your protagonist in a therapy session accompanied by an ominous score is a pretty good indication that things are not going well. That only becomes more clear when the music switches to Juice Newton’s “Angel in the Morning,” providing an intriguing juxtaposition to the ensuing montage of grief, increasingly disturbing imagery related to the central murder investigation, and a glimpse at the suspect list – which includes a certain character of unsettling an air played by Pitt. Overall, the teaser does its job painting a picture of the kind of haunting detective story Reptile seems to be.

A Murder Investigation Becomes An Introspective Journey For A Veteran Detective

As detailed in Netflix’s aforementioned Tudum blog post, the story of Reptile follows veteran cop as he struggles to solve the brutal murder of a young real estate agent in New England. As he sifts through the disturbing clues, brings up all the usual suspects for questioning – including the victim’s current lover, her former husband, and a few other interesting stand-outs – it unexpectedly begins to bring enlightening, conspiratorial evidence regarding his community to his attention.

Yet, what is even more concerning to Nichols is the way the investigation seems to be blockaded by memories of his own dark past. Del Toro reflected on this to Tudum by describing his role as “a man who gets a second chance, but then something happens and a reckoning occurs.” Will our unlikely hero be able to overcome his past, see through the lines of corruption blinding him to the answers he needs, and bring the culprit of this nightmarish homicide case to justice?

Directorial Debut Of Grant Singer

As mentioned in a preview story by GQ, Reptile is the first feature-length drama helmed by Grant Singer, who actually did make his official feature-length debut as the director of the Netflix original music documentary Shawn Mendes: In Wonder in 2020. Music is a recurring element of his entire filmography so far, as he is best known for directing videos for the likes of The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and the aforementioned Reptile cast member Sky Ferreira. However, it was this crime drama would make his first collaboration with Timberlake.

Singer also penned the screenplay along with a couple of co-writers: fellow music video director Benjamin Brewer, who also worked on the visual effects for Best Picture Oscar winner Everything Everywhere All At Once. Benicio del Toro recalled having a lot of fun with the collaboration to Tudum, adding how they discussed ways to make the narrative more interesting and more realistic by doing extensive research and pulling from other iconic crime stories such as Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood.

The question that remains on my mind is what the true meaning behind the title is. Does Reptile refer to the cold-blooded nature of the case? Is it a way of describing the mysterious culprit as an elusive snake? Or is it meant to represent Nichols’ ability (or even inability) to shed his own skin and move on from his past? Hopefully, all will be revealed when the R-rated thriller becomes available to stream on Netflix this fall.

Purposefully or not, Antoine Fuqua has done a nice job in recent years reteaming Denzel Washington with some of his best co-stars of the past. In 2016, the director reunited Washington and Ethan Hawke in The Magnificent Seven, the two actors having previously done phenomenal work together in Fuqua’s 2001 film Training Day, and now The Equalizer 3 is arriving in theaters with the two-time Oscar winner working opposite Man On Fire’s Dakota Fanning for the second time.

So who should be next? Fuqua has a couple ideas.

I interviewed the filmmaker earlier this month during the virtual press day for The Equalizer 3, and it was after discussing his take on the future of the franchise that I asked about more Denzel Washington collaborations he would like to orchestrate. After some thought, the director not only pitched one of Washington’s co-stars from The Magnificent Seven, but also another performer who he’d like to see work opposite the Tragedy Of Macbeth star for the first time. Said Fuqua,

With their trademark on-screen energies, Denzel Washington and Benicio del Toro could be incredible together in the right project – and it actually seems somewhat crazy that they’ve never collaborated together just because of their overlapping decades of work in the industry. As for Vincent D’Onofrio, he and Washington had the chance to share some scenes as part of the titular team in Antoine Fuqua’s remake of The Magnificent Seven, and it seems the filmmaker would like to see even more of the two actors in front of a camera together.

Putting my own two cents out there, my suggestion to Antoine Fuqua was reuniting Denzel Washington with Don Cheadle – the two actors having previously done some of the best work of their respective careers together in director Carl Franklin’s fantastic neo-noir mystery Devil In A Blue Dress. It was an idea met with enthusiasm by Fuqua, who responded,

While we wait to see who Denzel Washington may reteam with next – be it Vincent D’Onofrio, Don Cheadle, Julia Roberts, or Morgan Freeman – fans everywhere will be able to see the star back in action with Dakota Fanning tomorrow, as The Equalizer 3 arrives in theaters everywhere on Friday. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my interview with Antoine Fuqua, and get a look ahead at all the films arriving in theaters in what remains of the year with our 2023 Movie Release Calendar.

Considering how Christopher Nolan’s goal with his live-action Batman movies was to bring Batman into the real world, it was always safe to assume we would never see Mr. Freeze face off against Christian Bale. However, as Matt Reeves’ approach appears to be making Batman’s world real, it does not seem like too much of a stretch that we could see the chilling foe face off against Robert Pattinson.

The director of The Batman has even said that he sees potential for the tragic villain - whose real name is Dr. Victor Fries - to have a place in his grounded, new vision for the Dark Knight. If Mr. Freeze’s return to the big screen for the first time since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s very campy and punny portrayal in Batman & Robin is destined to happen under Matt Reeves’ watch, I have a few idea of who might be a perfect choice to bring the role to life, staring with someone well-versed in playing tragic figures already.

Bryan Cranston

Like many of the best faces in Batman’s rogues gallery, Mr. Freeze is a villain by circumstance - driven to crime in order to find a cure for his ailing wife, whom he has put under cryogenic slumber with the same chemicals that accidentally turn him, literally, cold-blooded. Another iconic example of a character whose desperate commitment to his family led him down a path of destruction is Walter White, played brilliantly in the Breaking Bad cast by four-time Emmy winner Bryan Cranston - who might also be good as a Marvel villain some day. If there is one person best equipped to portray Freeze’s tragic evolution, it has to be him.

Giancarlo Esposito

Bryan Cranston is not the only former Breaking Bad cast member to cross my mind when considering who could be the next Mr. Freeze. Ever since Giancarlo Esposito played drug lord Gus Fring on the hit drama and later on its prequel spin-off, Better Call Saul, he has become a reliable go-to for playing TV bad guys, from Moff Gideon on The Mandalorian to Vought CEO Stan Edgar on The Boys. I think it’s time his knack for portraying villainy gets the big screen treatment, and his potentially frightening Freeze he would be the perfect entry point.

Mads Mikkelsen

An actor known for frightening audiences on both the small screen (such as in the Hannibal cast in the title role) and the big screen (including as Kaecilius in Doctor Strange or the new Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore) is Mads Mikkelsen. However, in his lighter roles - like in the Oscar-winning dramedy Another Round - the Danish actor has shown he can effortlessly tap into an audience’s fuzzier side and earn its sympathy. Channeling both sides of his acting range would be key to pulling off Mr. Freeze, making him an excellent choice.

Christoph Waltz

We have also seen Christoph Waltz play both honorable and unscrupulous characters, and to Academy Award-winning glory (each time in a Quentin Tarantino movie, too). However, between the charming bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained and the dastardly Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds, I think the latter remains his defining role and Tarantino’s favorite of the characters he has written. I think it also provides a glimpse at what a more cunning and calculating Mr. Freeze could look like, and that is an interpretation I would kill to see.

Ben Mendelsohn

You may remember all of Ben Mendelsohn’s great, antagonistic performances in Star Wars: Rogue One or Captain Marvel (which turned out to be a misdirect, of course) or his Emmy-winning role on Netflix’s Bloodline. What you might not remember is that he also played a bad guy in The Dark Knight Rises - namely a construction company owner who attempted to assume control of Wayne Enterprises with the help of Bane (Tom Hardy). I think it would be fun to see the Aussie return to Gotham City as a more prominent villain, and with his penchant for playing blood-curdling bad guys, nailing Mr. Freeze, for him, would be a breeze.

Benicio Del Toro

Another veteran of both the Star Wars movies (as DJ) and the Marvel movies (as The Collector) is Benicio Del Toro, who brought a distinct eccentricity to each of his standout roles in those respective franchises. Eccentricity is not a word often associated with Mr. Freeze, who has typically been portrayed as over-the-top silly (such as on the 1960s Batman TV series) or stone cold serious (most famously in some of the best Batman: The Animated Series episodes as voiced by Michael Ansara). I am curious to see an iteration that finds that sweet spot in the middle and the Academy Award winner might be able to make that work really well in Matt Reeves’ Batman universe.

Michael Fassbender

Another actor you may remember from the Marvel movies (just not of the MCU continuity), but may have forgotten was also in a DC adaptation, is Michael Fassbender. The German-born, English-raised actor’s villainous roles from each are entirely different, with the X-Men movies’ Magneto being very sophisticated and driven by a morally questionable sense of righteousness, and Burke from the 2010’s misbegotten western Jonah Hex being a sadistic freak. The former of those character traits is already essential when portraying Mr. Freeze, while the latter could be an interesting one for the Academy Award nominee to also experiment with for a new interpretation. 

Mark Strong

I will admit that this choice is almost a little too easy since Mark Strong already has extensive experience with comic book movie roles. In fact, two of them are notable DC villains - namely Sinestro (before going bad, that is) in 2011’s Green Lantern and Dr. Sivana in Shazam! from 2019. However, that and his physical appearance alone (I mean, does he not look exactly like Mr. Freeze from Batman: The Animated Series brought to life?) are enough for me to consider him as a fantastic choice for the role.

The mere idea of any of these tour de force actors cast as Mr. Freeze makes me even more excited and hopeful for his big screen return. If he is destined to be one of the potential villains in the sequel to The Batman, I cannot wait to see what ideas Matt Reeves has in mind.

Wow, are these next few months a great time to be a cinephile! There’s something special about finding a distinct filmmaker you really love and catching their next movie. Wes Anderson is the kind of writer/director who has stayed consistent over the years with his style, yet found new ways to tell stories and use his aesthetics in different settings. His latest movie is The French Dispatch, and it stars a host of talented actors he’s worked with before like Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, and Tilda Swinton, along with some new faces to his movies, including Timothée Chalamet and Jeffrey Wright. Let’s see what film fans thought of the whimsical release. 

First of all, critics are loving The French Dispatch overall. It’s not a total surprise, seeing as how Wes Anderson movies have remained critically-acclaimed since the release of his first film in 1996, Bottle Rocket. From the reviews, it looks like the movie isn’t necessarily unexpected if you’re aware of the filmmaker’s style, but it also manages to stay endearing and fresh. Audiences also seemed to really dig The French Dispatch, considering what people are posting online about the release. Here’s what fans are saying about the artsy movie from The Grand Budapest Hotel director. 

It’s Another Winner For Timothée Chalamet Amidst Dune

The biggest movie in the world right now is Dune, which stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides in a sci-fi epic. Funny enough, The French Dispatch first hit theaters on the same day as Dune in select theaters, before going wide to more audiences last weekend. It’s very rare for the same actor to double-head a movie theater’s offerings, but here we are! Audiences are of course taking notice of Chalamet’s big weekend. 

The actor is just 25 and becoming a worldwide star after previously finding roles in movies like Call Me By Your Name and Little Women. Apparently, he’s becoming a household name these days and people are taking notice as they see The French Dispatch: 

Timothée Chalamet is among a massive cast in The French Dispatch, also including Benicio Del Toro, Adrien Brody, Léa Seydoux, Frances McDormand and Henry Winkler. Even so, it sounds like the young actor is a real highlight of the movie. 

It’s also a rare possibility for audiences to go see Dune and The French Dispatch in the same day or week. Let the Chala-week continue at the movies, because both films seem like real winners. 

The Visuals Are Blowing Audiences Away 

Wes Anderson is well known for his distinct visual style, notably often centering his subjects in his images and making use of specific color palettes in his movies. It turns out Anderson did not shy away from the kind of visually gorgeous films people remember him for in The French Dispatch, considering how much people are gushing over it, right down to the posters. 

The French Dispatch is a “love letter to journalists” and set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional French city. Another fan remarked on the visual style of the movie after checking it out, likening the filmmaker to a ‘cartoonist’ who works in live-action. 

Anderson is a rare filmmaker in that you can always tell you’re watching one of his movies, but at the same time, each one of them has a slightly different aesthetic. The French Dispatch makes use of more pastel colors like sky blue, blush pink and bright orange. Even someone who didn’t necessarily like the movie had to take a moment to share their love for the cinematography, as well: 

And there we have it, another Wes Anderson movie that is a feast for the eyes. 

Fans Really Got Into The French Of It All

What’s pretty adorable about the social posts for The French Dispatch is how many people looked to make a day or event out of going to see the movie. There are tons of pictures of people in front of the movie poster and taking other people along to go see it. The movie is also influencing people to buy into the movie’s very French fashion.  

Wes Anderson is clearly an influencer of his day and you know a movie is good when people are basing their own looks on a film after seeing it. The French Dispatch employed a ton of awesome fashion looks throughout, and it seems like fans are grabbing onto that. 

And, there’s just something about the French language and culture that is just so much fun to emulate and be a part of. The French Dispatch seems to be so immersive to some audiences that they are joking about learning French, too. 

Alright, we talked about the performances, the visuals and how it’s affecting audiences, but what about their thoughts on the movie overall? It looks like it’s winning over a ton of people by that measure, as well. 

The French Dispatch Is Another Beloved Wes Anderson Feature

The messages about the movie itself are just delightful. So many people are loving The French Dispatch, and it shows. It may not be a huge blockbuster, but it’s touching a lot of people. One fan shared his love for the script and performances, especially singling out Jeffrey Wright for his performance. 

Another devout fan of Wes Anderson called The French Dispatch one of Wes Anderson’s best movies to date. He also called it quite emotional and even referenced a quote in it that stuck with him. 

We’ll end on one last Twitter user, who absolutely “loved” the movie for so many reasons. These comments make me want to jump out of my seat and buy a ticket right now. It’s great to hear The French Dispatch is another success for Wes Anderson.

The French Dispatch is playing in theaters now. Check out CinemaBlend’s 2021 new movie release schedule to see what else is next for fans to react to. 

This week, Steven Soderbergh returns to the crime thriller genre with HBO Max's No Sudden Move, another snappy, stylish, star-studded affair that features the acting talents of Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro, David Harbour, Brendan Fraser, Jon Hamm, Ray Liotta, and Amy Seimetz, to name only a few famous faces attached. If you're wondering where you've seen this prominent ensemble before, we're here to help!

Don Cheadle (Curt Goynes)

As Curt Goynes, a small-time criminal looking to get his life together following a stint in prison, Don Cheadle plays the main character in No Sudden Move. Previously, Cheadle was Basher Tarr in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's trilogy. He also appeared in Traffic and Out of Sight. Additionally, Cheadle gave an Oscar-nominated lead performance in Hotel Rwanda. He also plays James Rhodes/War Machine in several Marvel movies, starting with Iron Man 2. Furthermore, Cheadle's other film credits include Crash, Boogie Nights, Rush Hour 2, Devil in a Blue Dress, Bulworth, Flight, Traitor, Reign Over Me, and The Guard. He also wrote, produced, directed, and played Miles Davis in Miles Ahead.

Outside of film, Don Cheadle starred in Showtime's House of Lies. Currently, he leads Showtime's Black Monday. Additionally, Cheadle was in the main cast of CBS's Picket Fences. Next, Cheadle will appear in Space Jam: A New Legacy. He'll also reprise his role as War Machine in Disney+'s Armor Wars.

Benicio Del Toro (Ronald Russo)

In the role of Ronald Russo, a petty criminal hired to "babysit" the Wertz family, Benicio Del Toro robs the spotlight in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Del Toro won an Oscar for his portrayal of Javier Rodriguez in Soderbergh's Traffic. He was also Oscar-nominated for his supporting turn in 21 Grams. Additionally, Del Toro starred in Soderbergh's Che and he appeared in The Wolfman, The Usual Suspects, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Basquiat, Sin City, Swimming with Sharks, Inherent Vice, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Savages, The Hunted, The Way of the Gun, Snatch, Escobar: Paradise Lost, Fearless, and the Sicario movies. Furthermore, Del Toro plays The Collector in Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor: The Dark World, and Avengers: Infinity War.

Away from film, Benicio Del Toro was Emmy-nominated for his starring role in Showtime's Escape at Dannemora. He also starred in NBC's mini-series, Drug Wars: The Camarena Story. Next, he'll appear in The French Dispatch and All-Star Weekend.

David Harbour (Matt Wertz)

Playing the part of Matt Wertz, a mid-level General Motors executive, David Harbour is a man who's in over his head in HBO Max's No Sudden Move. Most notably, the television actor is known for his Emmy-nominated performance as Jim Hopper in the cast of Netflix's Stranger Things. He also played recurring roles in The Newsroom, Manhattan, and State of Affairs. Additionally, Harbour's other TV credits include Banshee, Law & Order, Lie to Me, The Unit, Elementary, Drunk History, Law & Order: SVU, and Crisis in Six Scenes.

Away from television, David Harbour played the titular hellspawn in 2019's Hellboy. He also starred in Netflix's Frankenstein's Monster's Monster, Frankenstein. Additionally, Harbour is seen in Brokeback Mountain, Quantum of Solace, Black Mass, Suicide Squad, The Green Hornet, State of Play, Kinsey, War of the Worlds, Revolutionary Road, End of Watch, The Equalizer, and A Walk Among The Tombstones. Most recently, the prominent actor appeared in Extraction. Next, Harbour can be seen in Black Widow.

Jon Hamm (Detective Joe Finney)

As Detective Joe Finney, a determined gumshoe for the organized crime division, Jon Hamm plays a looming private eye in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Hamm is an Emmy-winner thanks to his mesmerizing performance as Don Draper in AMC's Mad Men. Additionally, the television actor starred in Sky Arts' A Young Doctors' Notebook and Lifetime's The Division. Hamm played recurring roles in 30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, Children's Hospital, The Unit, and Good Omens.

Meanwhile, away from the tube, Jon Hamm was the star of Million Dollar Arm, Beirut, Aardvark, Tag, Marjorie Prime, and Keeping Up with the Joneses. Additionally, the actor provided notable supporting turns in Bridesmaids, Baby Driver, The Town, Bad Times at the El Royale, Richard Jewell, Lucy in the Sky, Sucker Punch, Space Cowboys, Kissing Jessica Stein, We Were Soldiers, and The Day the Earth Stood Still. Last year, Hamm appeared in The Jesus Rolls and Wild Mountain Thyme. Next, he'll be seen in Top Gun: Maverick and Corner Office.

Amy Seimetz (Mary Wertz)

In the role of Mary Wertz, Matt's wife, Amy Seimetz plays a notable supporting part in HBO Max's No Sudden Move. As an actress, Seimetz starred in The Off Hours, Upstream Color, Pet Sematary (2019), Alexander the Last, and A Horrible Way to Die. She can also be seen in Alien Covenant, You're Next, My Days of Mercy, Entertainment, Lucky Them, The Sacrament, Tiny Furniture, and Wristercutters: A Love Story. Additionally, on television, Seimetz played Danette Leeds in AMC's The Killing. She also provided a recurring role in Epix's Get Shorty. Seimetz can also be seen in Family Tree, Junior, Stranger Things, and Halt and Catch Fire, as well as Showtime's The Comey Rule. Most recently, Seimetz appeared in Netflix's Sweet Tooth.

Outside of acting, Amy Seimetz is the co-creator, co-writer, and co-director of Starz's The Girlfriend Experience, based on Steven Soderbergh's film of the same name. She also directed episodes of Atlanta. Additionally, Seimetz wrote, produced, and directed Sun Don't Shine and 2020's She Dies Tomorrow.

Brendan Fraser (Jones)

Playing the part of Jones, a gangland middleman, Brendan Fraser is a suited-up, buttoned-down go-between in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Fraser starred in The Mummy trilogy and played the title character in George of the Jungle. His other notable starring roles include Looney Tunes: Back in Action, Bedazzled, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Encino Man, Blast from the Past, Dudley Do-Right, and Monkeybone. He also starred in School Ties, The Scout, The Quiet American, Furry Vengeance, Extraordinary Measures, and Airheads. Additionally, Fraser can be seen in Gods and Monsters, Crash, With Honors, Gimme Shelter, and G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.

Additionally, on TV, Brendan Fraser stars in HBO Max's Doom Patrol. Also, in 2020, the actor appeared in Professionals. Over the years, Fraser provided recurring roles in The Affair, Texas Rising, Trust, Condor, and Scrubs. He can also be seen in Fallen Angels and Nightcap. Next, he'll star in The Whale and Behind the Curtain of Night.

Kieran Culkin (Charley)

As Charley, a spunky cohort, Kieran Culkin plays a spirited supporting character in No Sudden Move. Most notably, Culkin plays Roman Roy in HBO's Succession, for which he was Emmy-nominated. Previously, the television actor played Rye Gerhardt in FX's Fargo Season 2. Additionally, Culkin led NBC's short-lived Go Fish, and he appeared in NBC's The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns.

Outside of television, Kieran Culkin played Jason "Igby" Slocumb, Jr. in Igby Goes Down. He also played Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Fuller McCallister in the Home Alone films, and Matty Banks in the Father of the Bride movies. His other film credits include It Runs in the Family, The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, She's All That, Lymelife, Wiener-Dog, Movie 43, Margaret, The Cider House Rules, and The Mighty. Recently, Culkin reprised his role as Matty Banks in Father of the Bride, Part 3(ish).

Noah Jupe (Matthew Wertz)

In the role of Matthew Wertz, Matthew and Mary's son, Noah Jupe plays a concerned young character in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Jupe starred in Honey Boy and Suburbicon. He also played Marcus Abbott in A Quiet Place and this year's A Quiet Place Part II. Jupe's other film credits include Ford v Ferrari, Holmes & Watson, Wonder, The Titan, The Man with the Iron Heart, and That Good Night.

Additionally, on television, Noah Jupe appeared in The Night Manager, Houdini & Doyle, Downton Abbey, and Penny Dreadful. Also, Jupe played Henry Fraser in HBO's The Undoing last year. Furthermore, the child actor appeared in The Last Dragonslayer, A Song for Jenny, Ian Brown's "From Chaos to Harmony" music video, and 2017's short film, My Pretty Pony. Next, Jupe will be heard in Netflix's The Magician's Elephant.

Craig muMs Grant (Jimmy)

Playing the part of Jimmy, Curt's straightforward contact, Craig muMs Grant is posthumously seen in HBO Max's No Sudden Move, which is dedicated in his memory. Also known as muMs the Schemer, Grant was Arnold "Poet" Jackson in HBO's Oz. He also played recurring roles in Boston Legal, She's Gotta Have It, Horace and Pete, and Hightown. Additionally, Grant performed as a poet on Def Comedy Jam. His other TV credits include The Sopranos, Chapelle's Show, Cold Case, Luke Cage, The Last O.G., and Bull. Also, Grant appeared in High Maintenance, City on a Hall, NCIS: New Orleans, Nurse Jackie, Blue Bloods, Law & Order: SVU, and Steven Soderbergh's The Knick.

Outside of television, Craig muMs Grant was seen in Steven Soderbergh's Side Effects. He also appeared in Birdman, Bamboozled, Bringing Out the Dead, Good Time, The Price, The Brooklyn Heist, BlacKkKlansman, and Monsters and Men. Grant is also heard in several video games. Furthermore, he's seen in the 1998 documentary, SlamNation. In March, the actor passed away following complications with diabetes. He was 52.

Julia Fox (Vanessa Capelli)

As Vanessa Capelli, Frank's wife, Julia Fox plays a notable supporting role in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Fox made her film debut in Benny and Josh Safdie's Uncut Gems. Following this movie's success, the actress starred in last year's PVT CHAT. She also appeared in short films like 2018's The Great American Mud Wrestle and 2020's Paradise. Additionally, Fox could be seen in Puppet, Day by Day, and the music video for "Nothing Good," by Goody Grace ft. G-Eazy and Juicy J. Outside of acting, the standout supporting player was established as a clothing designer, model, painter, and photographer. Also, Fox wrote and directed the short film, Fantasy Girls.

Frankie Shaw (Paula)

In the role of Paula, Forbert's secretary, Frankie Shaw is a notable supporting character in HBO Max's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Shaw created, wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Showtime's SMILF, based on her autobiographical 2015 short film. The TV actress also wrote, directed, produced, and starred in 2015's short film, Too Legit.

Additionally, Frankie Shaw played Shayla Nico in USA Network's Mr. Robot and Mary Jo Cacciatore in Spike TV's Blue Mountain State. She also had a main part in ABC's Mixology and recurring roles in Homecoming, Good Girls Revolt, and Flaked. Her other TV credits include Law & Order, 2 Broke Girls, Drunk History, Hello Ladies, Mulaney, Glory Daze, The Bedford Diaries, and CSI: NY. Furthermore, the actress starred in Kevin Smith's online-only Hollyweed pilot. Away from TV, Shaw reprised her role as Mary Jo Cacciatore in the Kickstarter-funded Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland. Her other film credits include Stronger, The End of Love, Knife Fight, The Pretty One, Always Worthy, Lullaby, and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

Ray Liotta (Frank Capelli)

Playing the part of Frank Capelli, a tough-nut mobster, Ray Liotta is a mean-mugging supporting character in Steven Soderbergh's No Sudden Move. Most notably, Liotta starred in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas. Additionally, the film actor was Golden Globe-nominated for his supporting turn in Something Wild. His other notable film credits include Field of Dreams, Blow, Hannibal, Cop Land, Killing Them Softly, Identity, Unlawful Entry, The Place Beyond the Pines, Narc (which he also produced), Wild Hogs, Smokin' Aces, Wanderlust, and Charlie St. Cloud. He can also be seen in Marriage Story, Revolver, Heartbreakers, Phoenix (which he also produced), Comeback Season, John Q, and Muppets Most Wanted. Additionally, Liotta did voice work in Bee Movie. Most recently, he provided a supporting turn in Netflix's Hubie Halloween.

Away from the big screen, Ray Liotta starred in NBC's Shades of Blue. Additionally, the esteemed actor won an Emmy for his guest star appearance in NBC's ER. He also appeared in Modern Family, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Young Sheldon. Next, Liotta will be seen in The Many Saints of Newark, El Tonto, and Broken Soldier.

Bill Duke (Aldrick Watkins)

As Aldrick Watkins, a criminal kingpin, Bill Duke plays a prominent part in No Sudden Move. Most notably, Duke was Sgt. Mac Eliot in Predator. He also appeared in American Gigolo, Commando, Menace II Society, Exit Wounds, X-Men: The Last Stand, Payback, Bird on a Wire, No Man's Land, Get Rich or Die Tryin, Red Dragon, Action Jackson, and Mandy. Previously, Duke was seen in Steven Soderbergh's High Flying Bird and The Limey. Additionally, on TV, Duke has a recurring role in The CW's Black Lightning.

Outside of acting, Bill Duke directed Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. His other films include Not Easily Broken, The Killing Floor, A Rage in Harlem, Deep Cover, The Cemetery Club, America's Dream, Hoodlum, Cover, Dark Girls, and Created Equal. Additionally, Duke directed episodes of Dallas, Falcon Crest, Cagney & Lacey, Hill Street Blues, The Twilight Zone, Knots Landing, Brewster Place, Miami Vice, and Matlock.

No Sudden Move is available to stream on HBO Max starting July 1st.

From a galaxy far away to the most successful cinematic universe of all time, and the other way around, there have been multiple actors who have appeared in Star Wars movies and Marvel movies throughout their career. It doesn’t take long to come up with names like Samuel L. Jackson, Natalie Portman, Lupita Nyong’o, and Mads Mikkelsen, but there have been actors whose performances in either the MCU or Star Wars that have been lost to time. But no more as we have put together an extensive list of the actors who have shown up at time or another in both franchises.

Now, before we get started we should lay out some rules about who is being included and why. The list only includes actors who have appeared in the MCU in addition to Star Wars at some point. This doesn’t include any of the films in the Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters or any other Marvel film franchise like X-Men or Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy.

Samuel L. Jackson - Mace Windu/Nick Fury

When thinking of actors who have shown up in Star Wars and the MCU over the years, the first person to come to mind is more times than not none other than Samuel L. Jackson. I mean how could you forget Mace Windu and his awesome purple lightsaber in the Prequel Trilogy starting with the family friendly Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace and his badass scenes throughout his other two appearances in the trilogy.

And then there is Samuel L. Jackson’s work in the MCU, which started with the iconic Iron Man post-credits scene when his version of Nick Fury introduced himself to Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) about starting the Avengers Initiative. The rest, well, it’s history, and Fury has become one of the franchise’s most beloved and mysterious characters to date.

Natalie Portman - Padmé Amidala/Jane Foster

Natalie Portman is another massive star to appear in both Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe with plenty more Marvel on the way including her return for Thor: Love and Thunder. First introduced to the MCU in 2011’s Thor as Jane Foster, one the world’s premier astrophysicists and eventual love interest to Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder, Portman appeared in the franchise’s second installment Thor: The Dark World in 2013 before stepping away from Marvel for what will be nearly a decade before she takes up the mantel of Lady Thor in the upcoming sequel.

Natalie Portman was also instrumental throughout the three Star Wars prequels as the queen-turned-senator from Naboo and eventual mother of Luke and Leia before dying of a broken heart in Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith.

Paul Bettany - Dryden Vos/Vision/Jarvis

Even though Solo: A Star Wars Story is considered a failure by many, one of the 2018 film’s stars, Paul Bettany is actually quite fond of the standalone movie. And honestly, he has every right to feel that way considering he was one of the best things about the movie (along with another actor who appeared in both Star Wars and the MCU) with his portrayal of Dryden Vos, the figurehead leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate.

Paul Bettany’s stellar Solo performance is par for the course for the talented and versatile actor who has been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe longer than just about everyone else. After voicing Tony Stark’s AI Jarvis going back to 2008’s Iron Man, Bettany portrayed the character as well as Vision in a number of MCU movies before getting his very own Disney+ series with WandaVision in 2021 where he trolled the hell out of the show’s fans.

Andy Serkis - Supreme Leader Snoke/Ulysses Klaue

More times than not, when we see Andy Serkis in a movie, it’s either under a ton of makeup or a CGI character brought to life by the actor’s masterful motion-capture work. That can’t be said for his two appearances in the MCU where he portrayed crime lord Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron and again in Black Panther (with that deadly cybernetic arm) before getting killed off by Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) before the villain made his return to Wakanda.

Over on the Star Wars side of things, Andy Serkis did what he does best when he performed all the motion-capture work for Supreme Leader Snoke starting in The Force Awakens before being cut in half in the much-maligned sequel The Last Jedi. And while everyone thought the character (and Serkis) would have a much longer shelf life in the franchise, his early departure shouldn’t take away from his performance.

Benicio Del Toro - DJ/The Collector

Benicio del Toro has appeared in three different MCU movies over the years, portraying Taneleer Tivan, aka The Collector, in Thor: The Dark World, Guardians of the Galaxy, and finally Avengers: Infinity War. A crucial character in the Infinity Saga, The Collector played a prominent role in helping audiences better grasp the concept of the Infinity Stones and Thanos’ quest to secure all six.

Long before he appeared as DJ, the untrustworthy codebreaker in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Benicio del Toro was originally up for the role of Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace but later dropped out and delayed his debut in the galaxy far, far away for nearly 20 years.

Donald Glover - Lando Calrissian/Aaron Davis/Prowler

Donald Glover was already a big name when he was cast as Lando Calrissian in Solo: A Star Wars Story with his popular Atlanta series and work on Community making a strong case, but he reached another level of stardom when he took on the role first made popular by Billy Dee Williams nearly 40 years earlier. And while Solo wasn’t anyone’s favorite Star Wars movie, Glover’s Lando was worth the price of admission alone.

A year before making his Star Wars debut, however, Donald Glover appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming in a seemingly small capacity, but as a character with an extensive history in Marvel Comics. His one-scene performance as Aaron Davis, aka Prowler was a fun little easter egg and one that CinemaBlend predicted back in June 2016. Let’s just hope this wasn’t a one-and-done role for the Hollywood renaissance man.

Mads Mikkelsen - Galen Erso/Kaecilius

Mads Mikkelsen, who has made a career out of playing villains, served as one of the main antagonists in 2016’s Doctor Strange when he took on the role of Kaecilius, a former member of the Masters of the Mystics Arts who brought Dormammu to Earth before becoming forever trapped in the Dark Dimension.

Over in Star Wars, however, Mads Mikkelsen played a less evil character (considering the circumstances) with his portrayal of Galen Erso, the father of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Although he was responsible for the creation of the Death Star, Erson did put in a crucial flaw in the battle station’s defenses.

Lupita Nyong’o - Maz Kanata/Nakia

Andy Serkis isn’t the only future Marvel actor to pull of some impressive motion-capture work in a Star Wars movie as Lupita Nyong’o helped bring the CGI character Maz Kanata to life in 2015’s The Force Awakens. With the help of talented artists, Nyong’o’s animated Force-sensitive character who proved to be a key ally for Rey (Daisy Ridley) and company throughout the sequel trilogy.

Not long after appearing in Star Wars, Lupita Nyong’o moved over to the Marvel Cinematic Universe where she took on the role of Nakia, one of T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) biggest allies and love interest in Black Panther.

Forest Whitaker - Saw Gerrera/Zuri

Forest Whitaker’s Zuri was at the center of the complicated history of Wakanda that came back to nearly overthrow reclusive nation in Black Panther, but even though the elder was responsible for one of T’Chaka’s (John Kani) worst moments, he tried to prevent history from repeating itself, putting his life on the line in the process.

Over on the Star Wars side of thing, Forest Whitaker portrayed the paranoid revolutionary figure Saw Gerrera in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story that walked a fine line between ally of the rebellion and overzealous terrorist. That moral ambiguity was one of the reasons why Whitaker enjoyed taking on the memorable character.

Jon Favreau - Rio Durant/Happy Hogan

In addition to creating the hit Disney+ series The Mandalorian, actor/director/producer/writer Jon Favreau has appeared in the Star Wars galaxy in an acting role, voicing Rio Durant in Solo: A Story Wars Story. The good-natured, four-armed pilot was at the center of the film’s big heist, dying in the process.

Over on the Marvel side of things, there are few people who have been more instrumental in launching the MCU and keeping it going over the years than Jon Favreau. In addition to directing two of the first three movies in the franchise with his Iron Man movies, Favreau has appeared in numerous movies as Happy Hogan, including giving us one of the most emotional scenes in Avengers: Endgame.

Ben Mendelsohn - Orson Krennic/Talos

History would tell you that Ben Mendelsohn would have been the one playing the villain when he appeared as Talos, one of the main Skrulls at the center of Captain Marvel, but the veteran Australian actor proved that he was capable of playing an unassuming hero who doesn’t look like he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

The same can’t be said for his portrayal of the Imperial Orson Krennic in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Even though he never really got a fair shake and was constantly knocked down a few pegs by Grand Moff Tarkin (Guy Henry) who even took Krennic’s Death Star from him, when the director of the Imperial’s military research division was about as evil as evil can be.

Hannah John-Kamen - First Order Bridge Officer/Ghost

Hannah John-Kamen appeared as Ant-Man and the Wasp antagonist Ava Starr, aka Ghost, a character who needed a special suit to provide relief for her unstable quantum state following an accident as a young child. And while not much has been said about a possible return to the MCU, John-Kamen has teased fans about that for a couple years now.

A couple years before she joined the MCU, Hannah John-Kamen appeared briefly in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as the First Order bridge officer who told General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) that Starkiller Base’s powerful weapon would soon be operational.

Richard Armitage - Naboo Fighter Pilot/Heinz Kruger

Richard Armitage, who would go on to portray Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, appeared in his first movie back in 1999 when he had a very small part as a Naboo fighter pilot in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.

A little more than a decade later, Richard Armitage would make a lot of out of a short amount of time in Captain America: The First Avenger, appearing as Hydra spy Heinz Kruger who attempts to steal the super soldier serum and kills Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) before being chased down by Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and his new superhuman powers.

Peter Serafinowicz - Darth Maul (Voice)/Garthan Saal

And then there is Peter Serafinowicz, who played Nova Corps officer Garthan Saal in Guardians of the Galaxy. Featured in several key scenes throughout the 2014 surprise hit, Saal was one of the Nova Corps pilots to sacrifice themselves in an attempt to prevent Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) from decimating Xandar.

Fifteen years before joining the MCU, Peter Serafinowicz provided the voice of Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace after he was brought in to overdub Ray Park’s original dialogue during post-production. He would later have harsh words for the movie.

These are just a few of the actors who have appeared in Star Wars and the MCU over the years, as dozens have appeared in smaller roles in each property. This also doesn’t even begin to touch on the names who have appeared in Star Wars or Marvel shows like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’s Erin Kellyman, Luke Cage’s Jessica Henwick, or The Mandalorian’s Rosario Dawson and Ming-N Wen. We will just have to wait and see if this list continues to grow with all the upcoming Star Wars movies and Marvel Phase 4 and beyond.

What comes to mind when you think of a Wes Anderson film? If you said pastels, a twinkly musical score and one hell of a cast, then you’re absolutely correct in your beliefs. Should anyone question your Anderson acumen, then you have plenty of evidence to provide to back up your valid hypothesis, especially when the trailer for The French Dispatch features such stars as Timothee Chalamet and Bill Murray in its full cast list.

As luck would have it, we have that cast list provided below, which shows off the pretty extensive lineup that Anderson has assembled for The French Dispatch.

Before we dive into a deeper breakdown of the cast, it’s particularly notable that we have a classic Wes Anderson narrator at large in The French Dispatch. Anjelica Huston, a long time Anderson player, is the omniscient voice that will bring the entire package to live. And here are the players she’ll be commentating on throughout the film:

The Staff Of The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun

Bill Murray

One of the many veterans of the Wes Anderson Repertory Company is none other than comedy legend Bill Murray! In their latest collaboration, Murray will be playing the role of Arthur Howitzer Jr, the editor of The French Dispatch that ties the universe together. So basically, Murray is almost playing the exact same role he provides to the world at large.

Owen Wilson

Also rejoining the ranks of Wes Anderson’s frequent flyer club is Owen Wilson, someone who’s been in almost all of the director’s films. Herbsaint Sazerac is Wilson’s new character, a writer on staff at The French Dispatch who can be counted on for witty conversation and bicycle repair prowess, as well as sterling copy.

Jason Schwartzman

How could a Wes Anderson movie not have Jason Schwartzman attached, even in the slightest capacity? Another longtime friend and employee in the Anderson orbit, Schwartzman’s Hermes Jones looks to be the cover artist for The French Dispatch. Here’s hoping his quips are as crazy as his hair.

Elisabeth Moss

Rounding out the staff members of The French Dispatch who are displayed outside of individual vignettes is Elisabeth Moss, a newcomer to the wild and crazy world of Wes Anderson’s work. We don’t know her character's name yet, but it looks like Moss’ dry and wry sensibilities from Mad Men will make this follow-up to her work on The Invisible Man a nice change of comedic pace.

We’ll now move onto the three stories that The French Dispatch tells at the heart of its very last issue in print. With each story is a journalist from the staff at its heart, recalling events from various time periods and moments of turmoil in this film’s thematic structure.

Story 1: The Concrete Masterpiece, By J.K.L. Bernesen

Tilda Swinton

Providing the lecture that details the story within “The Concrete Masterpiece” is The French Dispatch’s journalist J.K.L. Bernesen. Artistically inclined, and ever fashionable, Berensen is brought to life by the impeccable Tilda Swinton. Her track record in the Wes Anderson Repertory Company stretches back to 2012’s Moonrise Kingdom, and has endured ever since.

Benicio Del Toro

Another first timer comes to the fold in The French Dispatch, as Moses Rosenthaler, the artist at the heart of “The Concrete Masterpiece” is played by Benicio Del Toro. Just watching his banter with co-star Adrian Brody is enough to convince even the most casual observer that Del Toro clearly belongs in this motley crew of acting talent.

Lea Seydoux

The muse for Rosenthaler’s work, and subject of a painting that’s of particular importance to The French Dispatch, is the alluring and mysterious Simone. Seen as both muse and prison guard, this part is played by Spectre’s Léa Seydoux. No stranger to Wes Anderson’s work, Seydoux previously worked with the director on 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Adrien Brody

Seeking to purchase Moses Rosenthaler’s un-buyable “Simone, Naked, Cell Block J, Hobby Room (oil on sackcloth)” is the persistent art dealer, Julien Cadazio. As previously mentioned, this bickersome character is played by Adrien Brody, best known for his roles in Anderson’s previous films The Darjeeling Limited and The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Bob Balaban and Henry Winkler

In order to aid his art savvy empire, Julien Cadazio has the help of two ‘business-partner uncles’ at his disposal in The French Dispatch. Playing one of those two uncles is comedic stalwart Bob Balaban, who, much like Tilda Swinton, has been an Anderson disciple since Moonrise Kingdom. The other Cadazio uncle is the big surprise though, as the legendary Henry Winkler is playing him, making his debut in the Wes Anderson three ring circus!

Story 2: Revisions To A Manifesto, By Lucinda Krementz

Frances McDormand

Story 2 of The French Dispatch, Lucinda Krementz’s “Revisions To A Manifesto,” focuses on two crazy kids who happen to be in love during a tumultuous student revolution. The journalist telling this story is played by Frances McDormand, last heard bringing the news to the Wes Anderson created world of Isle of Dogs.

Timothee Chalamet

It was only a matter of time before Timothee Chalamet and Wes Anderson crossed paths. Nature basically dictated it, and it’s only fair that Chalamet be the one to play Zeffirelli, a revolutionary student in The French Dispatch. Looking like a prodigious chess player to boot, this young man could put that knowledge to political usage as well.

Lyna Khoudri

Making her major motion picture debut with The French Dispatch is actor Lyna Khoudri. Playing Juliette, the girlfriend to Timothee Chalamet’s Zeffirelli, their pairing was destined based on their character names. With a motor scooter and a bad attitude, her fire matches that of her fellow activist and boyfriend.

Story 3: The Private Dining Room Of The Police Commissioner, By Roebuck Wright

Jeffrey Wright

Our final story in The French Dispatch's catalog of whimsy is entitled "The Private Dining Room Of The Police Commissioner, By Roebuck Wright." Wright, played by Westworld and No Time To Die actor Jeffrey Wright, is the resident food journalist at the film's titular magazine. Reporting on something called "Police Cuisine," he becomes embroiled in a story that looks like it leads to a hostage standoff, and a lot of symmetrical gunfire.

Liev Schreiber

Part of Roebuck Wright's story looks to be told through his appearance on a TV show of some sort. Cast as the presenter of that show is Isle Of Dogs voice actor Liev Schreiber, making this his second Wes Anderson film. We don't know his character's name yet, but The French Dispatch looks like it's going to make the most of pairing Schreiber with Jeffrey Wright.

Willem Dafoe

While not all of the star studded cast members of The French Dispatch may play larger than life characters, it's nice to see Wes Anderson continue to reward previous collaborators with spots in the lineup. Willem Dafoe is one such fixture in this cast, as his prisoner character doesn't have a name yet, and is only seen briefly in the film's trailer. A sporadic presence in Anderson's universe, Dafoe was most notably present in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zizzou, but also in the casts for Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Mathieu Amalric

Cast as "a policeman with a kidnapped son,” Mathieu Amalric won't just be enjoying food alongside Jeffrey Wright's Roebuck Wright. As this third story centers around said kidnapping, Amalric's policeman will undoubtedly be excusing himself from dinner a little earlier than expected. This marks the actor's second Wes Anderson film, as The Grand Budapest Hotel was Mathiew Amalric's appearance in an Anderson picture.

Edward Norton

The voice on the other end of that phone Mathieu Amalric is holding was quite recognizable upon the first viewing of The French Dispatch's trailer. Edward Norton has one of those distinct vocal ranges that automatically pegs him in any film he shows up in, and as the kidnapper behind the insidious plot of "The Private Dining Room Of The Police Commissioner, By Roebuck Wright," he's even easy to spot in a group of dissidents firing at will upon authorities. And before you ask, yes, Norton is another cast member that's been a part of the Wes Anderson Repertory Company since Moonrise Kingdom.

Saoirse Ronan

Rounding out the cast of characters partaking in the kidnapping of a policeman's son is a rather mysterious woman. So mysterious, we don't know her character's name. However, we do know that she's played by Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan, who was previously spotted in Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. With The French Dispatch, Ronan looks to be playing against type, as a figure on the side of evil.

Stephen Park

Last, but not least is Stephen Park's Lieutenant Nescafier, the chef behind the gorgeous meal that "The Private Dining Room Of The Police Commissioner, By Roebuck Wright" looks to be serving. But Park's character also happens to be listed as solving a kidnapping in The French Dispatch. Which is pretty handy, considering how fast things shift from a table of smiling guests gushing over cuisine to exchanging bullets and phone calls.

The French Dispatch has a huge cast, three stories and a boatload of ambition to potentially become the next, best Wes Anderson film. We'll see if it pays off when the film opens in theaters on July 25. Though should that release date be delayed, due to the ever shifting release calendar affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we'll report such an update as it occurs.

It is impossible to imagine anyone other than Mark Hamill playing Luke Skywalker, or the voice of James Earl Jones not coming through Darth Vader’s helmet, or any one of your favorite Star Wars characters played by different actors. However, there exists an alternate reality in which the beloved sci-fi franchise is performed by an entirely different cast.

No, Harrison Ford was not George Lucas’ first choice to play Han Solo, Disney almost hired a young Oscar-nominee to play Rey, and DJ from Star Wars: The Last Jedi was not the first character from a galaxy far, far away that Benicio del Toro was considered for. Your interest may already be piqued now, but just you wait - very strange, these stories get.

The following is a list of eight celebrities who came close to filling the shoes of a Star Wars character. Be prepared: these are not the actors you're looking for.

Leonardo DiCaprio Could Have Played Anakin Skywalker

Whether you are a hater or a defender of Hayden Christensen’s portrayal of a pre-Vader Anakin Skywalker, you may have a whole new perspective on the Star Wars prequels once you learn that Leonardo DiCaprio was among George Lucas’ initial choices to succeed the role from Jake Lloyd in Attack of the Clones. According to an interview with The Short List, the actor claims that he did have a meeting with Lucas about the but felt that he was not “ready to take that dive.” Could the future Oscar-winner have delivered Anakin’s “I hate sand” speech to rousing perfection? Ehh.

Saoirse Ronan Could Have Played Rey

These days, Saoirse Ronan is an indie film queen, but there was a time when she almost became the face of Disney’s Star Wars trilogy. The then 19-year-old confirmed to Empire in 2013 that she did read for the role of Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens in an audition that apparently included wielding a pretend lightsaber, but the part of the lonely junker-turned-Jedi would go onto British actress Daisy Ridley. While it is a relief that Ronan was able to save 2017 and 2019 for Oscar-nominated roles in director Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird and Little Women, I think I could get used to the idea of Rey with an Irish accent.

Benicio del Toro Could Have Played Darth Maul

Ray Park has the pleasure of having played one of the most iconic villains the Star Wars saga in two films and even voicing him in the most recent season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but there was a time when his most famous character to date could have been the infamous Toad in Bryan Singer’s X-Men. Future Academy-Award winner Benicio del Toro had already been cast as Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, but dropped out when he learned that George Lucas had cut out much of his dialogue before eventually returning to the franchise as the talkative code breaker, DJ, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. I would say that everything worked out for the best because I cannot imagine Darth Maul with a stutter would have had the same effect.

Tupac Shakur Could Have Played Mace Windu

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the top reasons why some people still watch the Star Wars prequels, but, apparently, George Lucas’ first choice to play Jedi Master Mace Windu was Tupac Shakur. According to an interview with 2-Pac Forum, former Death Row Records engineer Rick Clifford claimed that the late rapper told him he was reading for the part in what would be 1999’s The Phantom Menace which, despite his murder in 1996 (roughly a year before the film began shooting), sounds impossible to make up. Coincidentally, Shakur’s Juice co-star, Jackson, would go on to play Windu, and help him acquire the only purple lightsaber in the saga’s history, but one can only imagine how getting a Star Wars role would have affected his all-too brief acting career.

Christopher Walken Could Have Played Han Solo

There is a Saturday Night Live sketch in which Christopher Walken (played by Kevin Spacey) auditions to play Han Solo, poking fun at how silly the pilot of the Millennium Falcon would be if played by the famously kooky actor instead of Harrison Ford. Well, as it turns out, the joke is really on us because the Oscar-winner was, apparently, one of George Lucas' top choices to play the scruffy Nerf Herder in 1977's Star Wars. However, as fate intended, Walken turned down the role for Woody Allen's Annie Hall, but had he accepted, we might be living in a world in which there are more bad Han Solo impersonations than Chewbacca impersonations.

Jodie Foster Could Have Played Princess Leia

Carrie Fisher was one of those actresses whom, whenever you saw her, you could not help but see her defining character: Leia Organa. That fate could have befell Jodie Foster, who declined an offer to play the Alderaanian princess in 1977’s Star Wars due to scheduling conflicts with her role as a teenage prostitute in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver. Had the future Academy Award-winner taken the role, the then 15-year-old’s fan appeal would have increased a hundredfold, but probably not for the same reason that many male, pubescent moviegoers in late ‘70s admired Fisher.

Orson Welles Could Have Played Darth Vader

James Earl Jones’ unmistakable voice is one of the key factors of Darth Vader’s commanding presence in Star Wars, but, according to an interview with the actor on BBC Radio, he almost did not get the role had George Lucas not deemed Orson Welles’ voice “too recognizable.” Yes, radio star and writer, director, and star of Citizen Kane was initially considered to voice the villain, which I still cannot even begin to imagine having the same impression. However, Welles’ would eventually go on able to voice a villainous character: Unicron in the 1986 animated The Transformers: The Movie.

Michael Jackson Could Have Played Jar Jar Binks

If you ever needed a reason to stop spewing hate at Ahmed Best, who played the infamously reviled Jar Jar Binks in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, this bewildering piece of trivia should do the trick. Best revealed in an interview with Vice that Michael Jackson, hoped that George Lucas would cast him as the Gungan, but his request to play the role in full makeup and prosthetics (a la his zombified appearance in “Thriller”) instead of CGI lost him the part. The King of Pop’s star power might have been enough to silence Jar Jar haters for a while, at least, but, as Best adds in the interview, it is possible that Jackson would have ended up being bigger than the film itself, which might not have made Lucas very happy.

If you ask me, I would say that I am overall happy with the casting we have in the Star Wars films, but I still definitely want to see a cut of The Phantom Menace with Michael Jackson in full Jar Jar makeup. Be sure to check back for more updates from the world of Star Wars and other news in casting what-ifs here on CinemaBlend.

The frame is centered and the picture has a vintage tinge – it must be time for another Wes Anderson film! Whispers of the quirky, Oscar-nominated director’s next project have been floating around, and now some official details have now been revealed. Anderson’s next film will be called The French Dispatch and feature an impressive cast of actors – including frequent collaborators Bill Murray, Owen Wilson and Tilda Swinton.

The French Dispatch will be a love letter to journalists and be set in a fictional French city at an American newspaper outpost. The collection of stories published in the titular “French Dispatch” magazine will be brought to life through Wes Anderson’s vision. Fox Searchlight officially announced its acquired rights, along with a 2020 release date.

Benicio Del Toro, Frances McDormand, Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Léa Seydoux and Timothée Chalamet have each been cast in roles in The French Dispatch. Additionally, French actors Mathieu Amalric (also in Grand Budapest Hotel) and Lyna Khoudri have joined, along with newcomer Stephen Park.

The movie is currently in production and will follow Wes Anderson’s second stop-motion film, Isle of Dogs, released in 2018. Fans of the filmmaker will be excited to hear Bill Murray will continue his streak and once again grace an Anderson film. It’s also no surprise Tilda Swinton and Owen Wilson are amongst the cast. The latter started out as his writing partner and star in his first movie, Bottle Rocket, and has appeared in many of Anderson's movies since then.

The upcoming release certainly marks tons of talented actors in first-time roles with the established filmmaker as well. Benicio Del Toro has yet to work with Wes Anderson between his work Paul Thomas Anderson, Denis Villenueve and so forth. It should be fun to see how Del Toro translates into Anderson’s aesthetic along with The Goldfinch’s Jeffrey Wright and 23-year-old Timothée Chalamet, who will soon be seen in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women and Villenueve’s Dune.

Fans of the filmmaker certainly can expect a certain tone and whimsy going into a Wes Anderson flick. The writer/director is an expert at bringing together ensemble casts and giving them sharp dialogue to work with. The French Dispatch looks like no exception.

The movie will be produced by Wes Anderson, Steven Rales and Jeremy Dawson, a team who previously worked on Isle of Dogs, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Darjeeling Limited.

Other big names such as Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, Jason Schwartzman and Willem Dafoe have been attached to the cast, but are not among those who have been confirmed by Fox Searchlight.

The studio behind The French Dispatch has an Anderson-esque release coming soon in the form of Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit, which is getting Oscar buzz ahead of its release on October 18.

While it wasn’t the critical hit DC and Warner Bros were hoping for months after Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice polarized critics and moviegoers, 2016’s Suicide Squad was definitely a commercial hit, so naturally they’d want to keep that corner of the DCEU going. Following numerous behind-the-scenes change-ups, James Gunn is writing and directing Suicide Squad 2, a.k.a. The Suicide Squad, which is set to begin filming this fall.

Contrary to initial claims, The Suicide Squad will not be a total reboot for the officially-designated Task Force X in this continuity. Instead, it’s balancing on the line between follow-up and relaunch, and will feature a sprinkling of familiar faces among plenty of new ones. So let’s go over the lineup of characters that’s been assembled for The Suicide Squad so far.

Margot Robbie - Harley Quinn

After more than two decades of appearances in animated TV shows, comic books and video games, Harley Quinn finally made her live action theatrical debut in Suicide Squad, played by Margot Robbie. Her performance as the psychiatrist corrupted by The Joker was one of the few Suicide Squad elements received positively almost across the board, and The Suicide Squad will mark Robbie’s third turn as the character, following Birds of Prey. While Harley and The Joker were two peas in a pod again at the end of Suicide Squad, she won’t be obsessing over the Clown Prince of Crime again in The Suicide Squad since they’ve broken up pre-Birds of Prey.

Jai Courtney - Captain Boomerang

Although Digger Harkness, a.k.a. Captain Boomerang, was introduced as an adversary for The Flash, he’s arguably just as well known now for being a Suicide Squad member, albeit a cowardly and disruptive one. Jai Courtney will wield the throwing weapons and stuffed pink unicorn again in The Suicide Squad (and is quite psyched about it), although given Digger’s attitude, I’m surprised Amanda Waller is still utilizing his talents rather than keeping him permanently locked up.

Viola Davis - Amanda Waller

Task Force X is the brainchild of Amanda Waller, so it makes sense for Viola Davis to reprise the role. Suicide Squad members come and go, but with a few exceptions, Amanda is the one overseeing their missions and not tolerating their shenanigans. We saw in Suicide Squad how she’s ruthless, uncompromising and will take any action she deems necessary to protecting the United States of America. Count on her being just as unflinching in The Suicide Squad.

Joel Kinnaman - Rick Flag

Although it initially seemed like Joel Kinnaman wouldn’t be back for The Suicide Squad, it turns out he will indeed reprise Rick Flag. While Amanda Waller directs the Suicide Squad’s missions, it’s Rick Flag’s job to ensure that they behave themselves out in the field, meaning he’s also capable of detonating the micro bombs implanted inside them. With The Suicide Squad, however, we will not see Rick’s relationship with June Moone explored further, as Cara Delevingne is not reprising the role. Have they broken up or is Rick just keeping June far away from this part of his life?

Idris Elba

Idris Elba was the first new cast member to be announced for The Suicide Squad, and it was initially announced that he’d be playing Floyd Lawton, a.k.a. Deadshot, taking over the role from Will Smith. However, it was later decided to keep the Deadshot open in case Smith wanted to play him again, so Elba will instead play a different character. There’s no official indication yet who that is, although Bronze Tiger is a good bet since The Suicide Squad is inspired by John Ostrander’s run on the Suicide Squad comic book and Tiger was one of the main members during that time.

David Dastmalchian - Polka-Dot Man

David Dastmalchian is no stranger to comic book projects, having already appeared in The Dark Knight, the Ant-Man movies, Gotham and The Flash. Now he’s making his DCEU debut as Polka-Dot Man in The Suicide Squad. As you can infer from the name, Polka-Dot Man, a minor Batman villain since 1962, uses high-tech dots as his gimmick, with their uses ranging from offensive weaponry to transportation. Given his obscurity and that he doesn’t have a history with the Suicide Squad in the comics, don’t be surprised if Polka-Dot Man is the Squad member killed off early into the movie.

Daniela Melchior - Ratcatcher

Having already appeared in several Portuguese TV shows, Daniela Melchior is making her Hollywood debut in The Suicide Squad as a female version of Ratcatcher. Like Polka-Dot Man, the original Ratcatcher has fought Batman on many occasions, and along with controlling an army of rats, he also utilizes cyanide gas in his crimes. There’s no information yet on what Melchior’s version of Ratcatcher will be like, but given that this character is also pretty obscure, perhaps that increases her chances of being on the chopping block.

Storm Reid

Storm Reid has been acting since she was three years old, but a lot of folks learned about her for the first time in last year's A Wrinkle in Time. While she’s performed in some notable movies and TV shows since then, including HBO’s Euphoria, The Suicide Squad is arguably her most profile project following the adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle’s novel. She’ll play the daughter of Idris Elba’s character, so once we learn who Elba’s playing, perhaps that’ll give some context on how Reid’s character specifically fits into the story.

John Cena

John Cena has primarily made a splash in the comedy realm with his acting thus far, but now he’s finally building up action cred as well with Bumblebee and the upcoming Fast & Furious 9. The Suicide Squad will keep that going, although he hasn’t officially signed on yet. The WWE superstar is being eyed to play Peacemaker, who is a peak physical specimen and relies on brutal force and non-lethal weaponry to carry out his peace cause. It’s a great role for someone as jacked and intense as Cena.

Benicio Del Toro

Like John Cena, Benicio del Toro, who already has some comic book cred by playing The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, isn’t officially attached to The Suicide Squad just yet, but if a deal is finalized, he won’t be lacking for screen time. Word on the proverbial street is that del Toro will play the main villain, who is simply being identified for now as The General. While it’s unclear if the character will actually go by that name in The Suicide Squad, it’s not unreasonable to assume that this is just a placeholder meant to hide his true identity, so as to not tip of hardcore DC Comics fans just yet.

Flula Borg

Flula Borg is a man who wears a lot of hats in the entertainment sphere, from standup comedian to YouTuber to DJ to your garden variety actor. In that last category, Borg’s resume includes TV shows like The Good Place and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and movies like Pitch Perfect 2 and Ralph Breaks the Internet. Now Borg is hopping into the realm of comic book movies, as he’s reportedly been cast in The Suicide Squad as the love interest to one of the main characters. But who? Does Harley Quinn have a new squeeze after the events of Birds of Prey? Is this who Polka-Dot Man was seeing before he was thrown into Belle Reve? And does Borg’s character have a key part in the movie or will this just be a minor appearance?

Nathan Fillion

For years, Firefly, Castle and The Rookie star Nathan Fillion was the popular fan pick to play Hal Jordan in a live action Green Lantern movie. Alas, while he’s gone on to voice the first human member of the Green Lantern Corps in various animated movies, he was passed over in favor of Ryan Reynolds in 2011’s Green Lantern, and while there is a Green Lantern Corps reboot in development, Fillion won’t be the one to bring the new version of Hal to life… well, not unless The Suicide Squad plans on introducing him. The actor has been tapped for a mystery role in the movie, making this his latest collaboration with James Gunn, having previously worked with the writer/director on Slither, Super and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Taika Waititi

Take Waititi’s already left a huge mark on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as his unique sense of humor did wonders with revitalizing a certain God of Thunder’s corner of the franchise in Thor: Ragnarok. Waititi will be back to write and direct Thor: Love and Thunder, evidently he’s also hopping over to the DCEU, as he’s hopped on board The Suicide Squad. This will be his second time playing a DC character, the first being Thomas Kalmaku in Green Lantern. Given that in addition to the fourth Thor movie, Waititi is also working beforehand on Next Goal Wins and will be doing press for Jojo Rabbit, I imagine his role in The Suicide Squad won’t be huge, but fingers crossed his character is nonetheless memorable.

Peter Capaldi

Originally known best in the U.K. for playing the foul-mouthed Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It, Peter Capaldi was catapulted to worldwide fame from his time as the Twelfth Doctor on Doctor Who. His tenure as the long-lived, space and time-traveling Time Lord lasted from 2014 to 2017, and now that he’s reportedly joined The Suicide Squad, he has the opportunity to contribute to another major franchise. As with a lot of folks on this list, we’re still in the dark about who Capaldi will be playing, but I suspect his character will have more in common with Tucker than The Doctor.

The Suicide Squad charges into theaters on August 5, 2021, so keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more updates. If you’re curious about what other DC movies are in development, look through our comprehensive guide.

As his vacation from film directing draws to a close, Guillermo del Toro seems ready to get to work with two big projects on his hands: a stop-motion remake of Pinocchio for Netflix, and the retelling of novel/noir pot boiler Nightmare Alley. While casting on that second project was moving forward with Leonardo DiCaprio in mind for the lead, it appears that none other than Bradley Cooper is now in the running for this dark and twisting tale’s male lead.

The offer to star in Nightmare Alley has reportedly gone out to Bradley Cooper within the past couple of days, with news getting out that DiCaprio and those in charge of making this deal couldn’t see eye to eye. At this time, the same sources that say Cooper is in talks to take the lead haven't an inkling as to whether or not he’ll accept.

Bradley Cooper teaming up with Guillermo del Toro is a prospect that’s pretty impressive. With Cooper coming off of a fantastic 2018, thanks to his remake of A Star Is Born, as well as his role in Avengers: Endgame making his 2019 pretty bright as well, the triple threat who helped remake a well-worn Hollywood staple into something new and invigorating certainly understands a thing or two about revisiting a previously told tale.

But to have a chance to see Bradley Cooper attacking a role as dark as Stanton Carlisle, the carnival barker who’ll do anything to get what he wants, is something that’s hard not to get excited about. We’ve seen hime as a hero, or even an anti-hero, quite often; but rarely have we seen Cooper turn to the dark side of his talents.

While this deal is still being worked out, and the potential participation of Bradley Cooper in this new adaptation of Nightmare Alley isn’t written in stone, the project still has a promising pedigree behind its inception. Guillermo del Toro, in a fashion true to his career, is planning to serve not only as the director of this suspense thriller, but he’s also co-written the film’s script with writer Kim Morgan; as per Variety’s reporting on this film’s latest developments.

Part of his overall deal with Fox Searchlight, Nightmare Alley is a fitting project for the studio, as the original film adaptation of author William Lindsay Gresham’s novel was previously made as a film for Fox in 1947. It’s safe to say that with this new version of that same story, del Toro and Morgan will be adhering to the original timeframe of the source material. Which is even more comforting, as Guillermo del Toro has shown time and time again, with projects such as Crimson Peak and The Shape of Water that he knows how to marry the look of a bygone era with the tone of a more modern thriller.

Bradley Cooper and Guillermo del Toro could be one hell of a filmmaking team, should this Nightmare Alley deal go through. And as soon as there are any updates, we’ll report them here on CinemaBlend as they break.

In the meantime, Bradley Cooper’s A Star Is Born has just hit HBO; and Guillermo del Toro is the producer and co-writer on Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, which will hit theaters on August 9th. For more information on films heading our way this year, take a look at our 2019 release schedule for further information.

Showtime's Escape At Dannemora tells the tale of Joyce Mitchell, who was found guilty of helping inmates escape their prison cells. It's a tale that, according to Mitchell, is propagating lies that are not in line with what actually happened. Mitchell recently spoke out against the series and had some unkind words for director and executive producer Ben Stiller, blasting him for continuing to spread a portion of the story she claims didn't happen.

As she alluded, Joyce Mitchell is specifically upset at Ben Stiller for Escape At Dannemora's depiction of her being engaged in a sexual relationship with the inmates. Mitchell, who was found guilty of smuggling in tools that allowed David Sweat and Richard Matt to break out of the prison, denied there was a sexual relationship between her and the inmates. Mitchell also told the New York Post she committed the crime out of fear and not love.

Joyce Mitchell said she has not seen Escape At Dannemora but has heard about the Showtime series from the guards in the prison and her husband. Mitchell added that guards ask her if she really slept with the inmates in a tailor shop closet, which is often shown on the program. Apparently that would've been difficult to do, according to Mitchell, who said the actual closet had an air compressor in it.

For all the problems she has with the series, Joyce Mitchell did state the relationship between Benicio Del Toro's Richard Matt and correction officer Gene Palmer is accurate. Palmer helped Mitchell in her effort to smuggle tools for the prisoners via hamburger meat, and was given six months in prison for his role in the escape. Mitchell got far more time for her role, and if she serves her entire sentence, she won't be released until June 2022.

Escape At Dannemora covers Joyce Mitchell's role in the escape of Richard Matt and David Sweat, which led to a 23-day manhunt. Matt ended up being shot to death, and Sweat was recaptured. The series has garnered acclaim since airing on Showtime, and has been nominated for several awards. Patricia Arquette portrays Mitchell and gained 40 pounds for the role. The series also features a rare television performance from Benicio Del Toro, who mainly does films and theme park rides.

Escape At Dannemora airs on Showtime Sundays at 10:00 p.m. ET. 2018 is winding down, but there are still some shows left worth checking out that are listed on our fall premiere guide. For a look at what's happening in 2019, check out our midseason premiere guide.

Stop everything that you are doing right now, because Benicio del Toro has been cast to play the character Swiper the Fox in the live-action Dora the Explorer movie, based on the popular children's television series.

Now that you've had a couple of seconds to digest that information, let's get into the details. Benicio del Toro has been cast to play the voice of Swiper, the villain of Dora the Explorer. Swiper is a fox who loves to steal things, often trying to nab the artifacts that Dora finds on her missions. The only way to stop him is for Dora to repeat the phrase "Swiper, no swiping" three times. This is exactly what Swiper's wife said to him in the episode where she found Tinder on his phone.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Benicio del Toro joins the film a little late-in-the-game, as production has already wrapped in Australia. However, del Toro is just supplying the voice for the character, and it's normal for the roles of CGI characters to be finalized when post-production begins.

Swiper the Fox has been in nearly every episode of Dora the Explorer, so it's no surprise to see him pop up in the live-action movie. It is a bit of a surprise that Paramount got Benicio del Toro to provide the voice, which perhaps gives us a clue that this version of Swiper is a bit more menacing than he ever was on the cartoon.

It is unknown if other popular Dora characters will be joining Swiper in the film, such as Map, Backpack, Benny the Bull, and (checks notes) the Grumpy Old Troll.

Benicio del Toro joins a cast that already includes Isabela Moner (Instant Family, Transformers: The Last Knight) as Dora. Moner and del Toro previously shared the screen in Sicario: Day of the Soldado earlier this year. The live-action cast also stars Michael Pena and Eva Longoria as Dora's parents, in addition to Eugenio Derbez, Adriana Barraza, and Temuera Morrison.

The plot of Dora the Explorer will find Dora leaving the familiarity of the jungle to explore an all-new world: High school. However, Dora soon hears the call to adventure and leads her best friend/monkey Boots, her cousin Diego, and a group of teens on a Goonies-like quest to save her parents and uncover the mystery of an Inca civilization.

I was a bit too old for Dora when it debuted on Nickelodeon but it was still popular enough where I was aware of the most famous parts of the show. It'll be interesting to see the tone that the movie is going for, as it sounds like an adventure film, but one that keeps the sillier elements like Swiper intact.

Dora the Explorer, which is directed by James Bobin, is currently slated to release on August 2, 2019. For everything else releasing next year, hit up our 2019 movie release guide.

Despite being released back in April, the events of Avengers: Infinity War are still being felt. The Russo Brothers crafted an emotionally driven blockbuster that somehow utilized almost every major character in the MCU. This even includes Benicio del Toro's Collector from James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, who briefly appeared in the film's second act.

In addition to The Collector's quick appearance in Infinity War, Benicio del Toro also has a role in the ride Guardians of the Galaxy -- Mission: BREAKOUT! And it's an appearance that's been garnering all sorts of NSFW comments from park patrons. Some choices include (in del Toro's own words),

Such crass language for the happiest place on Earth! Still, part of me thinks the Guardians of the Galaxy like Star-Lord and Rocket wouldn't want it any other way.

Benicio del Toro's comments come from his recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where the actor discussed his role as The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The Collector was a supporting role in Guardians 1, but still made his way to theme parks, as Disneyland's Guardians of the Galaxy -- Mission: BREAKOUT! ride is actually set within The Collector's lair. As such, Benicio del Toro is part of the ride-- further cementing his role in the MCU. And after briefly appearing in Infinity War, comic book fans are eager to see if/when the eccentric cosmic character pops back up.

As a smaller role in Guardians of the Galaxy, del Toro's Marvel involvement isn't quite as intense as his co-stars like Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, and Zoe Saldana. But as a protector of one of the Infinity Stones, The Collector has become an important part of the overall lore.

Of course, The Collector's short scene in Infinity War wasn't actually the character, but an illusion created by Thanos and the power of the Reality Stone. It turns out that his lair was all but destroyed, with fans wondering if Thanos and his followers might have killed The Collector when accruing the stone. Or, if he died in the finger snap of death.

The Collector's future in the MCU is still a complete mystery, as the studio is keeping the contents of Avengers 4 under wraps. Furthermore, it's unclear how/if the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise will continue. The threequel is on indefinite hold, as James Gunn was fired by Disney after controversial comments from a decade go resurfaced on Twitter.

More answers should come when Avengers 4 arrives in theaters on May 3rd, 2019. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

The Star Wars franchise has enthralled audiences for decades, but it's currently a very interesting time in the galaxy far, far away. Disney and Lucasfilm are cranking out new blockbusters at an impressive pace, with the fandom currently reeling from the release of both Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The latter continued the main narrative of the franchise, introducing a handful of new characters to join the main heroes. One of these was Benicio del Toro's mysterious DJ, who was part of the less than stellar Canto Bight sequence. The actor was recently asked if he'd like to return to the space opera, saying:

While far from an actual confirmation, it looks like Benicio del Toro is hoping to return to the galaxy far, far away. So little is known about J.J. Abrams' Episode IX, therefore it's unclear exactly what will happen in the highly anticipated threequel.

Benicio del Toro's comments to Variety are sure to elicit mixed feelings from the generations of Star Wars fans out there, especially given his role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Director Rian Johnson purposefully subverted fan expectations with the sequel, to mixed reception from the community. While some like that Johnson took risks and changed up the iconic characters, others felt it strayed too far away from the Star Wars franchise we knew and love.

DJ as a character is definitely one of the less favorable aspects of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The Canto Bight sequence is generally considered a waste of screentime, with a tone that didn't really fit with the rest of the film. DJ enters when Finn and Rose are trapped, and promises to be the master codebreaker they'd been looking for. Ultimately he double crosses the duo of heroes, and his fate was left unknown after he sold them out to Captain Phasma.

The issue that audience seem to have with Benicio del Toros' characterization of DJ seemed to deal with the strange vocal affect and twitches he used during his brief appearance. BDT plays a total weirdo, but the character never really payed off the way that the actors' fans were hoping. Although now that he's officially in the canon, it seems he could pop back up at any moment.

Aside from J.J Abrams' untitled Episode IX, there are also quite a few other places that DJ might pop back up in the Star Wars franchise. Rian Johnson is developing his own trio of films, which seems a likely choice given Johnson's relationship with the character. Plus, there are the standalone films that may or may not still be in active development at Disney.

You can watch Benicio del Toro in Star Wars: The Last Jedi for home release, and streaming on Netflix. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

Whenever a sequel gets made, one of the first questions that some fans inevitably ask is whether or not the sequel even needed to happen in the first place. That question became even more pronounced when it was revealed that Denis Villeneuve's Sicario (a nasty, decidedly non-franchise film) would actually get the franchise treatment. Fans of the original have wondered if Sicario: Day of the Soldado could live up to the brutal legacy of the original, and save for a few narrative pitfalls, we're pleased to announce that Stefano Sollima's follow-up has largely succeeded in deepening this world, while expanding on its characters.

Sicario: Day of the Soldado picks up an unspecified amount of time after (or maybe it's before, we really don't know), Matt (Josh Brolin) and Alejandro (Benicio del Toro) had their last encounter with Kate Macer (Emily Blunt). After a major terrorist attack on United States soil is traced to Mexico, the deadly duo is dispatched south of the border by the government to start a war with the biggest cartel in the region and splinter the criminal underworld in the process. However, when the daughter (Isabela Moner) of a cartel boss becomes a disposable witness, Matt and Alexandro find themselves at odds over whether or not to follow orders and tie off the loose end.

First things first, it needs to be said that Sicario: Day of the Soldado is a great movie that doesn't even feel like a sequel in many respects. It gets audiences up-to-speed quickly, and while knowledge of Matt and Alejandro's relationship from the first movie helps expedite that process, the arcs in the film work incredibly well -- which is a testament to the lead performances, the strength of the writing, and Stefano Sollima's ability to helm realistic action.

That said, are two specific elements of Sicario: Day of the Soldado that make it an inferior movie when compared to its predecessor, and they both have to do with creatives who did not return for the sequel. Specifically, I'm referring to the absence of cinematographer Roger Deakins and composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, who passed away earlier this year. In terms of cinematography, Sicario: Day of the Soldado by no means looks bad, but Dariusz Wolski's landscapes just aren't as sharp or immersive as the terrifyingly-desolate world created by Deakins. That's a high bar to cross, for anyone.

Then there's the music, which definitely makes attempts to honor the work done by Jóhann Jóhannsson in Sicario, but doesn't achieve anything nearly as memorable. In fact, the film eventually does include some specific cues from Jóhannsson's work on the first installment in this franchise, and it serves as a stark reminder of how much better the original score was. Again, this doesn't mean that the work done by Hildur Guðnadóttir is bad; it merely shows that Sicario: Day of the Soldado has downgraded in a few key areas.

That said, the areas that have remained consistent from the first movie are the areas that thrive. Bringing Josh Brolin and Benicio del Toro back for enhanced roles as Matt Graver and Alejandro is a stroke of genius, as both actors explore their newfound space in exciting ways and find new dimensions to their characters. Emily Blunt's Kate Macer was our way into this world in the first movie, and while there were some fan concerns over whether we could get as invested in a story focusing on Matt and Alejandro, Day of the Soldado's impeccable lead performances (Isabela Moner is also incredible as a newcomer to the ensemble) help add new layers of complexity to the world.

Then there's screenwriter Taylor Sheridan, who continues to show that he's one of the most capable and talented screenwriters in the game right now. Once again embracing his knack for blending neo-western ideas with current political ideas, Sheridan's story is nuanced and layered in a way that glosses over some of the inherent machismo in Matt and Alejandro's personas. Without getting too bogged down in its own message, the movie actively acknowledges a political environment that feels VERY 2018, and it provides an even more unflinching look at the drug cartel world than anything seen in the first Sicario.

Some narrative threads don't work, and some eventually lead to dead ends. In fact, the first two acts set up a much bigger story than we ultimately get, with the movie seemingly changing gears at the last second to tell a smaller and more personal tale. However, the bulk of Sicario: Day of the Soldado's 'A' plot is a satisfying continuation of the two characters introduced in the previous film, and leaves them in a spot where we want to know what will happen. It's not that the film necessarily ends on a vague cliffhanger, but the door that it opens in its final minutes stands out as an enticing one that absolutely demands that Sicario 3 happen.

In true sequel fashion, Sicario: Day of the Soldado ups the ante in terms of scale this time around. This enhancement of scope does sometimes come at the cost of the darkly intimate charm of the original film, but in its place, we get a movie with big, bold, and smart action sequences. One that stands out is a long take firefight scene depicted entirely from the inside of a crashed humvee. Not showing the entirety of a showstopper moment like that could seem like a gamble, but Stefano Sollima's deft hand helps keep things moving and provides us with a solid sense of geography that carries the action forward. It's moments like these that remind us that a fair amount of thought went into this sequel, and it's clearly not a cheap cash grab designed to profit off of the Sicario name.

Though not quite as masterful as the film that preceded it, Sicario: Day of the Soldado is a damn-fine sequel that honors the narrative work done by Denis Villeneuve in the first film and allows Taylor Sheridan to build on an already fascinating world. Stefano Sollima's direction of the film's tactical elements are more than competent (which bodes quite well for the Call of Duty adaptation that he's currently involved with), and the result is an engaging thriller that lacks some of the atmospheric charms of the original, but succeeds in keeping audiences invested in the Sicario world. This is the land of wolves, and they are as vicious as ever.

We're coming up on a very exciting time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Following Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, almost every major character from the shared universe will appear in Avengers: Infinity War, as well as the untitled fourth Avengers film. The Russo Brothers are helming both projects, and have the daunting task of juggling the large ensemble cast in the blockbuster, without it being weighed down by exposition and a long runtime. Its seems like just about any Marvel character could pop up, and now Chris Hemsworth seems to have confirmed the return of Benicio Del Toro's Collector.

Chris Hemsworth recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote his myriad projects. Of course, the conversation eventually turned to Infinity War, which is one of the most anticipated films in history. During their chat, Fallon listed off some of the all star cast that will bring the blockbuster to live, and included Benicio Del Toro, to which Hemsworth agreed. And just like that, it looks like The Collector will finally return to the shared universe after his hilarious appearance in the first Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

Rumors about The Collector's inclusion in Infinity War began about a year ago, when the film was first beginning to shoot. Josh Brolin is finally getting to play Thanos in the upcoming movie, and in a livestream on social media he showed Benicio Del Toro was among the actors he'd get to work with. We've also seen the Collector's lair in Avengers: Infinity War footage, but Marvel Studios hadn't expressly confirmed his inclusion; which is why this note is good news. Thanks in part to Jimmy Fallon himself, it looks like we have a concrete confirmation.

Narratively, The Collector popping up in Infinity War makes a great deal of sense. Through the events of Guardians of the Galaxy, it was revealed that The Collector was in possession of the Reality Stone aka the Aether. He also very nearly procured the Power Stone as well, before his plans went awry thanks to the Guardians. This should make Thanos very happy.

Thanos' main mission is to collect the Infinity Stones in order to give him seemingly unlimited power. Because The Collector seems to be keeping tabs on the Stones, Thanos will likely use The Collector to locate them, and to hand over the Reality Stone. Benicio Del Toro may not be as big of a character as the likes of Tony Stark or Steve Rogers, but he'll still be a welcomed presence in the film.

Benicio Del Toro's upcoming Infinity War appearance comes off the heels of his role as DJ in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Unfortunately, his role was tied to the Canto Bight plot line, which is arguably the most poorly received aspect of Rian Johnson's sequel. It's unclear if DJ will come back up in Episode IX and beyond, although his fate was left open-ended in the wake of the film's ending.

Avengers: Infinity War will arrive in theaters May 4th, 2018. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your trips to the movies in the New Year.

A handful of new characters were introduced in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, chief among them being DJ. Played by Benicio Del Toro, DJ is a new scoundrel-type character who is enlisted for help by Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran). I won't get into any more specifics for spoiler reasons, but nothing is revealed about DJ's background or what he was doing before Finn and Rose found him. That's where his one-shot comic book from Marvel comes in, which, according to the writer, will help to expand DJ's worldview and his place in The Last Jedi.

One of the perks of Disney owning both Star Wars and Marvel is that now there are a lot more Star Wars comics hitting the shelf. Marvel has been making Star Wars comics for a few years now, filling in gaps like the events between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back or how Darth Vader learned Luke was his son. In addition to those series, Marvel also makes comics to illuminate some details on smaller side characters that the movies don't have enough time for. Captain Phasma received her own mini-series and a comic about Luke and Leia visiting Crait, the salty planet from The Last Jedi, was recently published. Now DJ is next in line to get his own one issue series about what he was up to before The Last Jedi.

Written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker and illustrated by Kev Walker, Star Wars: The Last Jedi - DJ #1 is set for release on January 31, 2018. The only thing known about the story is that it is set prior to the events of the feature film, but StarWars.Com was able to get more information about the comic from writer Ben Blacker. The DJ centric one-shot will show what DJ was doing right up until the minute he is introduced in the movie. More will also be explored about DJ's worldview, which plays a big part in the overall theme of The Last Jedi. Will it reveal how he got his stutter? To be determined.

DJ is certainly one of the more mysterious elements of The Last Jedi, so perhaps some fans will appreciate having the opportunity to learn more about him. While the movie couldn't (and shouldn't) devote more time to DJ, that's why these Star Wars comics and novels exist: to give side characters a spotlight. Ben Blacker teased we'll be seeing a lot more of how DJ interacts with the world and how he prefers not to be a "man of action."

DJ's future is up to J.J. Abrams now, but you can still see him in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is currently still playing in theaters. To learn more, visit our comprehensive guide on the sequel.

SPOILER WARNING for those who don't want to know specifically about Benicio Del Toro's character and his role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

There were plenty of mysteries going into Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and while it may not have been on the level of Rey's parents, there was plenty of secrecy surrounding an all-new character played by Benicio Del Toro. Del Toro plays a character who is only known to us as DJ, a figure of some flexible morality who provides aid to Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) on a crucial mission. Turns out that "DJ" is not his actual name, but a moniker that symbolizes his philosophy of "Don't Join."

Benicio Del Toro's character is never called "DJ" throughout the running time of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Actually, no one calls him by any name whatsoever. At some point in the sequel, Finn and Rose go on a secret mission to the casino city of Canto Bight in search of a master codebreaker. They ultimately stumble upon DJ, who isn't the man they were looking for, but is still familiar with First Order code. DJ's a thief and hacker for hire with no allegiances to the Resistance, the First Order, or anyone. It's all the same to him and no one is outright The Good Guy or The Bad Guy. Thus his personal mantra is "Don't Join," which also stands for his non-canon nickname DJ.

The Star Wars: The Last Jedi Visual Dictionary is filled with behind-the-scenes trivia and factoids about the sequels characters, vehicles, and location. DJ has his own two-page entry in the book (via CBR), which sheds some more light on his backstory and motivations. To DJ, "larger causes are for fools," and he views society as just one big machine looking to turn everyone into another cog. These causes are no different in his eyes since they all ultimately "chew up their followers with the same disinterest." He even has the words "Don't Join" written on his hat.

I think that DJ will end up being a divisive character (mostly because of an odd performance choice from Del Toro), but he does serve his purpose posing the question to one of the key themes of The Last Jedi: Is war worth fighting when both sides aren't perfect? Finn ultimately provides the answer to that question, but we'll see if DJ has a rebuttal for the next movie.

You can see the man not technically named DJ for yourself in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which is currently in theaters right now. To learn everything you can about the sequel, make sure to visit our comprehensive guide on Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

The first new Star Wars movie gave us a whole cast of new characters to inhabit the galaxy far, far, away. The sequel will mostly follow those same heroes and villains, though there are three brand new characters in Star Wars: The Last Jedi who will be important to the story. Two are played by well-known actors Laura Dern and Benicio del Toro, while the third comes from relative newcomer Kelly Marie Tran.

As with most details surrounding Star Wars: The Last Jedi, there's a lot we don't know about these three characters. However, we've collected everything that we do know about these newcomers to the story, and how they will fit into the newest chapter of the Star Wars saga. Here's the rundown on Rose, Amilyn Holdo, and DJ.

Rose Tico

Rose may be the most intriguing new character in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, if only because, from the outside, she appears so simple. Rose is a maintenance worker for the Resistance; she's a mechanic. It's the most simple and boring occupation for a Star Wars character since moisture farmer. She also has a sister named Paige who is a pilot, who might seem like the more interesting character. But it's clearly Rose who will factor into the show's narrative. We've seen from the trailers and behind the scenes footage that Rose will be right alongside Finn when he attempts to infiltrate the First Order disguised as an officer. Is Rose more than we're being led to believe, or somebody who gets in way over her head? It's not exactly clear at this point. We do know that Rose is director Rian Johnson's favorite new character, and that probably means a great deal.

Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo

Laura Dern plays the part of Vice Admiral Amilyn Holda. The character recently made an appearance in the Star Wars novel Leia, Princess of Alderaan as a member of the Apprentice Legislature where she befriended a young Princess Leia. Decades later, Holda will be a Vice Admiral in the Resistance and the commander of cruiser Ninka. From everything, we've learned it appears that Holda will be sharing a number of scenes with both General Leia and Poe Dameron. It is also likely Holdo's ship that we see that pair on in the trailers. While every indication is that Holdo will be an ally, we have heard that her relationship with Poe Dameron may not be on the best terms. Holdo will take some sort of leadership role in the Resistance during The Last Jedi, apparently due to General Leia sustaining an injury.

DJ

No new character in Star Wars: The Last Jedi is as mysterious as the one being played by Benicio del Toro. The character is known as DJ, though it's not entirely clear if that's his actual name. What we do know is that the character is a slicer, which is essentially a computer hacker. Finn and Rose will come to DJ with data they need decrypted, likely from their infiltration of the First Order mentioned earlier. This will take them to the casino planet Canto Bight. It sounds like DJ is all about finding the best angle for himself, which means he won't be the most trustworthy character. The fact that DJ is being hidden like this certainly implies there's more to him that we're meant to be surprised by. We'll find out when Star Wars: The Last Jedi debuts December 15. If you want to be the first to learn about these new characters, be sure to pre-order your tickets soon.

The latest Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer was most welcome for learning more about the movie's big beats, but there were still plenty of elements that Lucasfilm and Disney kept out of last week's preview. For one thing, we still haven't seen any footage of Benicio Del Toro's character, the mysterious DJ, who John Boyega's Finn and Kelly Marie Tran's Rose Tico will cross paths with during their trip to Canto Bight. For those who end up liking DJ in Episode VIII, you're in luck, because a comic book one-shot is coming out early next year that will follow him shortly before the movie.

Written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker, with Kev Walker handling illustration, Star Wars: The Last Jedi - DJ #1 will spotlight a day in the life of Benicio del Toro's character right before the events of The Last Jedi. This creative team already has some experience with Marvel's Star Wars comics, with Acker and Blacker having tackled the upcoming Storms of Crait one-shot, while Walker worked on the ongoing Doctor Aphra series, a spinoff of the first Darth Vader series.

While Benicio del Toro's involvement in Star Wars: The Last Jedi has been known since last year, it was only a couple months ago that we finally received important details concerning DJ beyond his name and general ambiguous vibe. When Finn and Rose are sent on a mission for The Resistance, they'll require DJ's expert computer skills, as he's one of the best codebreakers in the galaxy far, far away. However, rather than aid our protagonists out of the goodness of his heart, DJ is only doing this for financial gain. He's allied neither with The Resistance nor The First Order, as he's content to capitalize off the conflict between the two factions. We'll have to wait until The Last Jedi's release to learn the specifics of the mission DJ's being paid for, but for those interested to learn more about this morally dubious player, it sounds like it'll be worth picking up this Marvel one-shot, though I wouldn't be surprised if DJ appears in another comic book or novel at a later date.

DJ is one of several prominent new characters being introduced in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Along with him and Rose Tico, we'll also meet Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, the Resistance officer played by Laura Dern who has known General Leia Organa for decades. DJ also won't be the only computer expert popping up in The Last Jedi, as The Leftovers' Justin Theroux will have a "pivotal moment" in the movie as a top-notch slicer.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - DJ #1 will be available for purchase digitally and at your local comic book store this January. Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters on December 15. To find out what the year's other remaining releases are, look through our 2017 screening guide.

One of the biggest movies of the year, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was almost guaranteed to have a massive presence at the D23 Expo this weekend. The Mouse House sure as hell didn't disappoint, not only wheeling out some of the big time cast members, but also premiering a new behind-the-scenes video of the highly anticipated sequel. There was plenty of new footage to be glimpsed in the almost three minutes long video, and tons of teases for fans to decipher. Luckily, we're here to help you with that part.

Because there's just so much to gawk at in the behind-the-scenes video, we've assembled this handy list of some the best moments from the footage. In addition to seeing our best looks yet at new characters played by Laura Dern and Benicio Del Toro, there are also some awesome action beats. Take a look at the 9 best moments from the new Last Jedi video in no particular order.

First Shot Of Laura Dern

Jurassic Park's Laura Dern will be playing Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo, a politician with quite the sense of style. We've already seen Dern's pink colored character in some screenshots, but this is our first time seeing her on film. Apparently, Holdo is something of a rival to Leia, whose politics and ambition differ greatly from her.

First Shot of Benicio Del Toro

Benicio Del Toro must not have gotten his fill of space in Guardians of the Galaxy. His character in The Last Jedi is only known as DJ (may or may not be his real name) and he is described as a "shifty" character with uncertain alliances. He can be glimpsed for the first time on footage in the behind-the-scenes video.

Rey Posing With Her Lightsaber

Rey (Daisy Ridley) will begin her training under Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi, and she wouldn't be a real Jedi if she couldn't strike a pose! The above image more than captures the spirit of Luke Skywalker, with Rey wearing the hood and similar colors to Luke. It's also a classic Star Wars pose for Jedi Knights. Rey can also be seen running with her lightsaber, which was spotted in the first trailer as well.

These Cute Little Puffin Aliens

The new video featured a LOT of new aliens, most of which are created entirely with practical effects. One such species are these cute little aliens that vaguely look like a cross between a puffin and a Furby. This unnamed species is rumored to inhabit Ahch-To, the planet Luke Skywalker has been living on and can be seen at the end of Star War: The Force Awakens. They supposedly see him as their protector, but they haven't given that honor to Rey just yet.

Billie Lourd

Billie Lourd, the daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, had a cameo appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and she returns here in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Her character can be seen briefly in the new video, and it was very sweet for her to be included, given the tragedy that struck her family.

Daisy Ridley Rehearsing To Fight Three People At Once

It looks The Last Jedi is going to have some serious lightsaber action. Daisy Ridley can be seen in the new teaser rehearsing to fight THREE people at once! The attacker's identities are obviously a mystery, but could the be the Knights of Ren, who were only briefly alluded to in the previous movie. Either way, Luke Skywalker knows how to train a Jedi.

Fin And Rose Undercover

Fin will be spending a lot of time with new character Rose Tico, played by Kelly Marie Tran, in the new movie. The two of them will reportedly be off on a mission for the Resistance, and it looks like one that might require them to go undercover. The two can be spotted in what looks like First Order uniforms.

X-Wings Go Boom

The First Order isn't taken their loss at the end of The Force Awakens lying down. A brief and awesome shot of a hanger filled with X-Wings can be seen getting blown to smithereens. I'm fairly certain this involves a scene with Poe from the first trailer, and it looks like the First Order as brought the fight home to the Resistance.

Carrie Fisher

It's very heartwarming that the final image of the behind-the-scenes footage is of Carrie Fisher. The actress sadly passed away this past December, and there has been no shortage of support from Star Wars fans. The final lines of the video are of her saying "It's about family, and that's what's so powerful about it."

And just because it's an extremely good watch, here's the video just one more time, so you can see all the previous awesome moments strung together.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi hits theaters on December 15, 2017, and I literally can't wait.

Actors best known for their movie roles have been migrating to the small screen in recent years, ranging from Matthew McConaughey to Halle Berry to even Julia Roberts in the not-too-distant future. Now, Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro (known for movies like Traffic and Sicario) will be taking a break from the big screen for his first big TV show. He has signed on to star in Showtime's upcoming limited series Escape at Dannemora, which will be based on an intriguing true story.

Escape at Dannemora will be based on the account of the shocking prison break back in 2015 that saw two inmates escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York. A pair of convicted murderers broke out of jail with the help of a female prison employee, who was sexually involved with both inmates despite being married to somebody else. A massive manhunt ensued to re-capture the murderers and their accomplice before they could cross the border and escape into Canada or Mexico. The show is billed as a limited series and will run for eight episodes of one hour each.

Benicio Del Toro will star as Richard Matt, who is an imposing figure among the inmates and the mastermind behind the escape. Paul Dano will play Matt's partner in crime, David Sweat, who was in jail for killing a cop but is able to use his good looks to find an ally on the prison staff. Patricia Arquette will play Tilly Mitchell, who is a working class woman and supervisor at the prison tailor shop until she is wooed by Sweat and convinced by the two men to help them make their escape.

There will be a talented group of folks behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera for Escape at Dannemora. Ben Stiller is on board as executive producer and director of all eight episodes. Brett Johnson of Mad Men and Michael Tolkin of The Player will write and executive produce as well. No release date has yet been set by Showtime, so there's no saying how long we'll have to wait before the series makes it to the airwaves. Assuming the series closely follows the real-life story, there should be plenty of action.

Escape at Dannemora will be Benicio Del Toro's first starring role on television. He has appeared in other series -- including an episode of Tales from the Crypt back in 1994 -- but the closest he's come to an ongoing show was the Drug Wars miniseries in 1990. It should be fun to see how he does on the small screen compared to his performances on the big screen. Escape at Dannemora won't be keeping him away from movies, however; viewers can catch him in Star Wars: The Last Jedi when it debuts later this year.

Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest in TV news, and don't forget to check out our summer TV premiere schedule to discover all your viewing options now and in the coming weeks. Be sure to drop by our rundowns for cable/streaming and broadcast TV renewals and cancellations as well. If streaming is more your style, our Netflix premiere schedule will help you out.

There are few properties that are quite as iconic and beloved as Star Wars. And with Disney now alternating between main installments and standalone films, we can expect to see a new movie every year for the foreseeable future. But with the fandom so rabid and leaks/set photos having the potential to ruin plot points, Star Wars has taken some drastic measures to keep its secrets. Regarding Star Wars: The Last Jedi, this includes the overall plot, as well as the handful of new characters that director Rian Johnson will be introducing. Luckily for us, we finally have an idea about what newcommers Laura Dern and Benicio del Toro will be doing in Episode VII.

The cast and crew of The Last Jedi recently appeared in Vanity Fair to publicize the highly anticipated sequel. It's here that the first details of those two new characters were revealed, and the details are certainly enticing. Laura Dern will portray Vice Admiral Holdo, a decorated member of the Resistance. Dressed in an opulent purple gown (with matching hair), I'm hoping we see Holdo clash with General Leia. If nothing else, so audiences can catch those two badass ladies in a scene together.

Benicio del Toro's character is a bit more cryptic. His unnamed character is a shady one, whose allegiances in the battle of good vs evil are unclear. The character was reportedly nicknamed "DJ" by the crew, which director Rian Johnson claims will become clear once audience see the film. Vanity Fair's portrait of del Toro is in stark juxtaposition to the regal nature of Laura Dern's, as he's shown being unkept, dirty, and looking like a total badass.

While footage and details about The Last Jedi might be few and far between, getting a glimpse into Laura Dern and Benicio del Toro's characters is certainly exciting. The two fantastic actors are big gets for the franchise, as most of the new characters introduced in The Force Awakens were relative unknowns (besides Academy Award Winner Lupita Nyong'o's Maz Kanata). But with the Star Wars franchise having a resurgence in viewership and critical success, we should expect to see major talent like Dern and del Toro sign up for roles.

It looks like Star Wars: The Last Jedi will continue the ongoing war between the Resistance and the First Order. Much like the Rebels vs The Empire, we see General Leia and her crew of fighters battle against the tyranny of the Dark Side. And now that the backstory and world building has been completed by J.J. Abrams, we'll be able to get into the nitty gritty of the resistance, fleshing out the universe with these new characters.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will arrive in theaters on December 15th, 2017. In the meantime, check out our full 2017 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

When Benicio Del Toro was originally cast as Guardians Of The Galaxy's The Collector it was hoped that he'd be reprising his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe on a repeated basis. But the Academy Award winning actor unfortunately won't be appearing in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2. Writer and director James Gunn has now revealed why, explaining that there just wasn't enough room in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 for The Collector despite the fact that he's actually making a bigger film this time around. Here's what James Gunn had to say about the topic in a recent FB Live chat.

It isn't much of a surprise that The Collector was dropped from Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, especially when you consider there wasn't much space for him in the original film, either. When you also factor in that Vol. 2 is primarily going to revolve around Peter Quill learning more about his true parentage, which will include seeing him meeting up with Kurt Russell's Ego. Then when you consider the film will also include expanded roles for Nebula (Karen Gillan), Yondu (Michael Rooker), and introduce the likes of Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), too, something had to give. James Gunn's comments during his recent Facebook Live post make it clear that there are no hard feelings between the pair, though. In addition, he also insisted that he wants to work with the actor in the very near future, too.

At this point, it's safe to say that the addition of Benicio Del Toro to the Marvel Cinematic Universe hasn't been quite as staggering as many fans of Marvel films originally dreamed. In fact, his most memorable scene as the character actually came in the post credits scene of Guardians Of The Galaxy, when he was licked by Cosmos The Spacedog and then chastised by Howard The Duck. You can relive this scene, below.

Of course, Benicio Del Toro brightens up any film with his presence, as the Puerto Rican thespian is one of the most talented actors to have graced the silver screen in the last two decades. But any lingering disappointment Benicio Del Toro had with not appearing in Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 was probably softened when he was cast in a mysterious role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. We'll get to see who exactly Benicio Del Toro is portraying The Last Jedi when it's released in December, while Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 should still do just fine without Benicio Del Toro when it's released on May 4. While we wait, check out the other cool movies that are headed into theaters soon.

Just like with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Disney and Lucasfilm are keeping mum about what to expect from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Aside from a few casting reports and the title announcement, no official information concerning the movie's plot has been disclosed yet. Heck, even the major new characters being introduced haven't been identified yet, including who Sicario's Benicio del Toro is playing. However, there's a rumor floating around that he might be someone related to feared bounty hunter Boba Fett.

In a recent video, YouTuber MIKE ZEROH detailed how recently he noticed that on the Wikiwand website's page for Benicio del Toro's filmography that the actor was listed as playing "Sir Vicrum Fett" in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. That character name was deleted a few days later, with the spot now filled in by "TBA." However, ZEROH provided a screenshot showing that if you type "Vicrum Fett" on Google search, the name is still in the Wikiwand system. Remember, none of this constitutes official information, so take "Vicrum Fett" with a grain of salt for now.

Hearing the name Vicrum Fett might lead many to assume that he is Boba Fett's son, but that's not necessarily the case. Benicio del Toro just turned 49, so let's assume that his character is also around 50. That would mean that he had to have been born around the end of the Prequel Trilogy or during the Empire's earliest years. Boba Fett was only a teenager then, so while it's not impossible he could have had a son then, it doesn't seem likely. If del Toro is indeed playing someone connected to the Fett clan (and again, this is nowhere near confirmed), he's probably a relative of Jango Fett, like a distant cousin.

Before this Vicrum Fett rumor popped up, the biggest unofficial information surrounding Benicio del Toro's Star Wars character was that he was being called the "man in black," called as such for his wardrobe and his temperament. It was also mentioned that he isn't being "treated as a villain" by the main characters, and that he may appear on a casino set. It was also theorized that del Toro's character is an older Ezra Bridger, currently seen as a young man on Star Wars Rebels. Star Wars: The Last Jedi is still 10 months away from a release, so we could still be in for a long wait finding out who del Toro is playing, whether it's a Fett or someone completely unrelated.

The last time we saw Boba Fett in the official Star Wars universe, he had been knocked into the Sarlacc Pit during Return of the Jedi. While the Expanded Universe had Boba escaping the beast, continuing his bounty hunter career and starting a family, it's unclear in the main continuity whether he survived or has been long dead. While the character has popped up in the Star Wars comics over at Marvel, it remains to be seem whether Lucasfilm has any plans for Boba Fett on the big screen or other media. That said, a Boba Fett movie is rumored to be in consideration for the third Star Wars Anthology spinoff.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi will be released in theaters on December 15.

Avengers: Infinity War is going to be so packed with characters that it's probably easier now to ask who WON'T be part of the cast. Nevertheless, with production having just kicked off last month on the gigantic blockbuster, more names have been trickling in, and looks like we can add at least one more to the pile this week, as word is going around that Benicio del Toro will reprise cosmic eccentric The Collector, last seen in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Earlier this week, Josh Brolin, a.k.a. the man voicing Thanos, posted a live stream (as noted by ComicBookMovie) on his Instagram account where he mentioned that Benicio del Toro was one of the actors he'd be shooting scenes with soon. That post has since been deleted, but it that wasn't enough evidence for you, del Toro was also recently photographed at a record store in Atlanta, Georgia, the city where Avengers: Infinity War is currently shooting. None of this technically counts as official confirmation, but the odds are strong right now that The Collector will show up during the epic conflict with the Mad Titan.

While The Collector's inclusion in Avengers: Infinity War might be somewhat surprising to casual MCU fans, longtime comic book readers likely assumed he would play some kind of role in the movie. As one of the most ancient beings in existence, The Collector, a.k.a. Taneleer Tivan, has feuded with Thanos for millennia, and thanks to his habit of accumulating rare and priceless things from across the universe, both inanimate and living, at one point he even obtained an Infinity Gem. Like Thanos, the MCU's Collector is after all six Infinity Stones, though we don't expect him to be successful in this endeavor given how powerful the Mad Titan is expected to become.

The MCU's Collector first cameoed in 2013's Thor: The Dark World, receiving the Aether, a.k.a. the Reality Stone, from Sif and Volstagg for safe-keeping. He later made his full debut a little over half a year later in Guardians of the Galaxy, where he hired Gamora to retrieve the Orb, a.k.a. the Power Stone. She and her new allies brought it back to him, but when Collector's mistreated slave Carina touched the Orb so she would have the power to escape him, the artifact instead blew up his gallery. The eccentric alien was last in seen outside the ruins having a drink with Cosmo the spacedog and Howard the Duck. Although it was initially reported that Benicio del Toro would not reprise Collector for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the actor was seen last summer rocking a wig resembling the character's distinctive hairstyle, so there's a chance we'll see him back in the MCU before the next Avengers movie.

Avengers: Infinity War will be released on May 4, 2018.

There's much we don't know about Star Wars: Episode VIII. Especially as it concerns actors that did not appear in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. However, some rumors regarding them have started to come out. The first bit of news regards the character being played by Benicio del Toro. It appears we finally have some news regarding who he might be or at least what he might look like.

While this is all still rumor, Making Star Wars is correct more often than not when it comes to those rumors. According to them, Benicio del Toro is playing a "man in black." That's a description of his look, as well as his temperament as he is apparently the sort of character that you don't want to mess with. He is apparently clean shaven with hair on par with the length of Poe Dameron. While some rumors have indicated that del Toro would be playing a villain, and the all black look certainly makes him sound like he looks similar to Kylo Ren, MSW says that the other characters in the film don't treat him like a villain, at least not initially. It's believed he may appear on a casino set which the site recently revealed will be part of the film. MSW compares him more to Lando Calrissian than to any villain, though they also say they have some details, which they're not quite ready to publish, which indicates he's also very unlike Lando.

While Benicio del Toro frequently plays bad guys, the idea that he would be doing that in Star Wars: Episode VIII never felt right. Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced us to most, if not all, of our primary villains already and introducing new ones this late, unless they're minor, seemed off. And you don't cast Benicio del Toro in a minor role. Unless we meet the rest of the Knights of Ren at some point we don't expect to meet a lot of new bad guys.

Having him attached to a casino does make him seem a bit more like Lando, or even something like del Toro's role of Taneleer Tivan from Guardians of the Galaxy. Why would any of our important characters find themselves in a casino? The most likely reason would be that they're looking for information, something or someone, that they believe they'll find there. Whether Benicio del Toro is the one they're looking for, or just a step on the road, who knows?

So it's unlikely, though not impossible that Benicio del Toro will be a new villain in Star Wars: Episode VIII. Instead, it appears that he'll play an important supporting role for our heroes. Will we see him again after that? We'll have to wait and see. Star Wars: Episode VIII will be in theaters next year.

A few weeks ago, The Predator made a pretty significant change. While it originally looked as though the upcoming action film would star Benicio Del Toro, the Oscar winner's busy scheduled demanded he leave the blockbuster -- and Logan star Boyd Holbrook has come in to replace him. Casting shake-ups like these tend to worry audiences - but writer/director Shane Black has assured us there's nothing to worry about. While there is certainly a plan in place for Holbrook to hit the gym, his plans for hero character Quinn Mackenna have remained the same.

This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Shane Black over the phone in promotion of his contribution to the Austin Film Festival-published book On Story - Screenwriters & Filmmakers On Their Iconic Films, and I took the opportunity to ask him about the development of The Predator. I asked if Quinn Mackenna as a character was being altered as a result of having a new actor in the role, but Black explained that nothing much has changed in the script -- before adding that he does plan to have Boyd Holbrook basically live in a gym for a while. Said the director,

Boyd Holbrook has earned positive notices for his work in the past, and certainly has great potential to become an awesome central hero in the Predator canon... but he apparently won't be the only terrific star featured in The Predator's ensemble. While he couldn't name any names yet, Shane Black did tell me that the coming weeks will feature some exciting announcements about actors joining his squad:

You can be sure that we will be all over every casting announcement we hear for The Predator, so be sure to stay tuned for that news. In the meantime, you can read more about Shane Black's work in in On Story - Screenwriters & Filmmakers On Their Iconic Films, which is now available for purchase.

Following Predators earning mixed reviews in 2010, the Predator franchise is looking to find some redemption in 2018 with The Predator, which will be helmed by Shane Black. That's enough to get any fan excited, but then last month, anticipation rose even higher when it was reported that Sicario star Benicio del Toro was in talks to play the movie's main protagonist. Having already appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy and the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VIII, joining the Predator world would have been been another way for him to leave his mark on the sci-fi genre. Unfortunately for those who were eager for this casting to be made official, the news just broke that del Toro has dropped out of The Predator, though a replacement is already being eyed.

According to THR, Benicio del Toro "fell out of negotiations" with 20th Century Fox to star in The Predator, though precise details about how the two sides parted ways weren't revealed. However, apparently it was difficult to get del Toro on board due to multiple scheduling issues. Production was even moved back to February 2017 to accommodate him, but it wasn't enough. Now Fox is looking at Narcos star Boyd Holbrook to take his place. As the article points out, Holbrook doesn't have the same level of star power as del Toro, which is why The Predator is reportedly "planning on beefing up the supporting cast." In other words, there will be plenty of familiar Hollywood faces to help prop up the blockbuster.

If Boyd Holbrook succeeds del Toro as The Predator's main protagonist, it will be the latest project that's raised his profile over the last couple years. After appearing in movies like The Skeleton Twins, A Walk Among the Tombstones and Gone Girl, Holbrook was cast as DEA agent Steve Murphy in the Netflix series Narcos. Along with being one of that show's leads, he's appeared in movies like Jane Got a Gun and Morgan in 2016, and he'll be seen next year in Logan, the third Wolverine spinoff, as Donald Pierce, the head of Transigen security.

Few plot details concerning The Predator have come out, aside from the obvious fact that like the previous movies, it will involve humans battling one or more of these monstrous, extraterrestrial hunters. Shane Black has confirmed that the story will be set in the present day, he hopes that this movie will help strengthen the franchise's complicated continuity. Back in June, Black mentioned that the main protagonist's name is Quinn Mackenna, although that is subject to change. With production only four months away from kicking off (assuming there isn't another delay), Fox will need to work fast to secure Boyd Holbrook and build its all-star supporting cast.

The Predator will be released in theaters on March 2, 2018.

Benicio Del Toro has been a bit franchise-happy as of late. Specifically, in recent years we saw him put on a tremendously strange get-up to play The Collector in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Guardians of the Galaxy; soon he will be playing the new villain in Star Wars: Episode VIII; and he's even got a spin-off going for his character in Sicario. Those three would be enough for most actors, but it looks like Del Toro will soon be adding another series to his resume: The Predator.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned from inside sources that Benicio Del Toro is now in talks to play a key role in the upcoming The Predator, which is being directed and co-written by Shane Black. The trade report says that the film is being planned to have an ensemble cast (more people for the monster to kill, I guess), but they note that Del Toro will be "anchoring" the piece -- suggesting that he will be the one following in the footsteps of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny Glover, and Adrian Brody (and may be a guy named Quinn Mackenna). Sadly, there is no information about the personality of the character, or how he will fit into the plot we know nothing about.

What's interesting about this news is that apparently it's a development that has been in the works for a good amount of time now. According to the report, both 20th Century Fox and Benicio Del Toro have been discussing the idea of the actor being in The Predator for months. It's only because Del Toro's schedule has recently changed that things have been able to move forward, and now it looks as though he will be available for a shoot that is set to begin in the early months of 2017.

As mentioned earlier, basically nothing is known about the story being told in the new Predator, but we do know one thing: it's definitely not a reboot. When I spoke to Shane Black earlier this year for his amazing new movie The Nice Guys, he noted that moves are being made to actively solidify the continuity of the franchise, with elements in the narrative that tie back to the John McTiernan's original movie from 1987. Black wrote the treatment for the film, and Fred Dekker, who last teamed with Black writing the script for the 1987 cult hit The Monster Squad, is taking care of the screenplay.

With The Predator set to begin filming in February, with a release date set for February 9, 2018, you can expect that the next few months will be filled with sporadic reports about the blockbuster's development and casting. Given that it's a movie for which we're tremendously excited (even more so now thanks to the potential of Benicio Del Toro signing on), you can be sure that we'll have all of the updates for you here on Cinema Blend.

When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 hits theaters next year, fans will be reunited a lot of familiar faces, from the Guardians themselves to former enemies like Nebula and Yondu. However, one of the characters who hasn't been confirmed to return is Taneleer Tivan, a.k.a. The Collector. Although Benicio del Toro expressed interest in reprising the eccentric hoarder, there were differing reports about whether he would appear in the sequel or if he wasn't included in the new story. Now new photos have found their way online that seemingly suggests del Toro will at least cameo in the movie.

Benicio del Toro was spotted wearing a white wig at the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 in Los Angeles. You can look at the pictures for yourself at The Daily Mail, but that wig looks exactly like the hairdo The Collector rocked in the first movie. The Guardians sequel concluded principal photography in June, but cameos and quick add-on scenes (particularly of the mid/end credits variety) are sometimes completed separately, so it's plausible that the actor popped in to shoot some material. While these pictures don't constitute official confirmation that The Collector will be seen in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, it's doubtful del Toro decided one day just to wear that wig for the hell of it.

The Collector appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy as the individual who hired Gamoa to steal the Orb, which he knew contained one of the Infinity Stones. When the Guardians arrived at his base in Knowhere, they saw his vast collection of prizes he'd found across the galaxy, including a Dark Elf, Cosmo the space dog and Howard the Duck. After seizing the Power Stone and making an offer for Groot's body when the walking tree eventually died, he narrated the history of the Infinity Stones. Unfortunately for him, his slave, Carina, tried to use the Power Stone to escape his clutches, but she set off a reaction that resulted in his gallery being destroyed. We last saw him in the movie's post-credits scene in the ruins hanging out with Cosmo and Howard, the latter of whom made fun of Taneleer.

As one of the oldest beings in the Marvel universe, The Collector is someone who can easily be expanded upon in the MCU. Benicio del Toro has expressed interest in exploring the character more deeply, and using him for only one movie would be a waste given his importance. Even if the actor doesn't end up being included in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 or his screen time is minimal, he could still be brought back for a future MCU installment. Given The Collector's history with the Infinity Stones, it's hard to imagine Marvel won't do everything they can to bring del Toro in for Avengers: Infinity War.

With or without The Collector, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 arrives in theaters on May 5, 2017, and Benicio del Toro will appear that following December in Star Wars: Episode VIII.

We learned last September that the action-thriller Sicario will soon be getting a sequel, and it’s bringing back some key players. The story is set to focus on the character played by Benicio Del Toro in the first movie, and it’s also been said that Josh Brolin will be returning to reprise his part as CIA agent Matt Graver. As confirmed by a new report, however, one headliner who will not be returning for more action on the Mexican border will be Emily Blunt – the lead of director Denis Villeneuve’s 2015 film.

The Hollywood Reporter has published the latest developments of Sicario 2, which will be titled Soldado, and in addition to revealing that Italian filmmaker Stefano Sollima is now in talks to helm the project, the trade also notes that Emily Blunt will not be one of the actors returning from the first movie. We always knew that the follow-up was going to change the point of perspective to Benicio Del Toro’s character – the stoic and mysterious Alejandro – but it seems that there will be no room for Blunt’s inquisitive FBI agent Kate Macer.

When you think about how Sicario ultimately played out, it’s actually not a huge surprise that Emily Blunt wouldn’t return for Soldado (even if it is still extremely unfortunate). While Kate Macer was the lead of the disturbing thriller for about three-quarters of the story, one of the biggest issues that I actually had with Sicario was the fact that the end of the movie essentially abandons her to instead follow Alejandro as he executes his personal mission on the other side of the border. Benicio Del Toro basically took the lead role of the movie away from Blunt at the end of the movie, and now it seems the filmmakers are taking that idea a step further with the sequel.

There was hope that Denis Villeneuve would be back to take the helm of Soldado, but it seems that the filmmaker was too busy to fit it on to his schedule (he is currently hard at work developing Blade Runner 2). For a while it looked like the directing gig would fall to up-and-comer Jeremy Saulnier - who just earned strong reviews for his thriller Green Room - but he also couldn’t make the movie work. As a result, Lionsgate is turning their attention towards Stefano Sollima, who has spent his entire career in Italy and is actually best known for his television work.

While Emily Blunt won't be starring in Sicario 2, the good news is that she's still one of the industry's most popular actresses, and as such has plenty of projects on the horizon. We just recently saw her in theaters as a key player in The Huntsman: Winter's War, and she will soon be found in the adaptation of the acclaimed novel The Girl On The Train. She also has three voice roles set up over the next few years - Animal Crackers, My Little Pony: The Movie and Gnomeo & Juliet: Sherlock Gnomes - and she has signed on to star in Disney’s Mary Poppins sequel, Mary Poppins Returns.

T.J. English clearly did something right with his upcoming book "The Corporation: An Epic Story Of The Cuban American Underworld." Because even though it’s not been released yet, the novel sparked a huge bidding war between numerous studios, which has now been resolved. Who came out on top to claim the film rights? Paramount Studios and Appian Way, who have Benicio Del Toro already attached to star in the project.

The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that Benicio Del Toro will take the lead role in "The Corporation," which takes place over the decades between the 1950s and 1980s in Miami and New York. What also made "The Corporation" so appealing was the fact that it’s based on the real life antics of the Cuban mob during this period, which increased the integrity of the story tenfold.

In "The Corporation," Benicio Del Toro will play Jose Miguel Battle Sr., who leads the eponymous and hugely powerful Cuban mafia. Born in Havana, Battle escaped to the US following the rise of Fidel Casto. Alongside his team of fellow Cubans, Battle was trained by the CIA so that he could fight in the 1961 Bay Of Pigs invasion.

Despite his name, things didn’t go so well for Jose Miguel Battle Sr. during this attempted invasion, as he was captured, which led to him being imprisoned inside a Cuban prison. Battle failed to find the light side during his incarceration, and, when he was released, he headed straight back to the U.S. where he set off to build a huge criminal empire alongside the same posse of men that he fought with. His empire revolved around drug trafficking, gambling, and, even murder, and made him one of the most powerful crime bosses in the US until his death in 2007.

Obviously this material is rife for cinematic adaptation. This is what provoked such a fervent battle between several studios, all of which either had their own actor or director in line for the film. In fact, according to The Wrap, Oscar Isaac and Warner Bros. are currently celebrating landing the rights to the book.

Oscar Isaac was working alongside producers David Heyman, Brett Ratner, and James Packer in his pursuit to try and land "The Corporation," while Sony also developed their own offer that would have seen Paul Greengrass direct, and Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal produce. Their efforts all ultimately proved to be futile, though.

Those of us who are planning to leaf through T.J. English’s book before the film is released will have to wait quite a while longer. That’s because HarperCollins’ William Morrow is only going to release it at some point in 2017. Expect the film to follow either towards the end of 2017 or in 2018.

Because Star Wars has been around for 40 years, it’s a franchise that most movie fans have grown up with. That also goes for many of the people who make movies, as well. At the same time, Star Wars has continued to create new fans through new toys and cartoons for years. This means that there are multiple generations who can share the joy of Star Wars together. Parents can share it with their children. This is what Benicio Del Toro saw an opportunity to do when he was asked to be a part of Star Wars: Episode VIII.

Long before the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, we were already hearing rumors about Star Wars: Episode VIII. Most of these revolved around actor Benicio Del Toro being part of the cast. Now, in the strangest of places, a promotional video for a series of Heineken beer ads that Del Toro will be doing, he spoke a little about why he chose to take the part. The reason is his daughter.

Part of the reason that Star Wars: The Force Awakens was such a big deal for so many fans was because of the multiple generations that were able to enjoy it. Fans that were exposed to it at the beginning when the original trilogy was released in the late 1970’s, or when the prequels came out at the turn of the century, all got to enjoy a new Star Wars story, potentially with a new generation of fan in their own children. That same feeling can be the thing that leads an actor to take a part in the story. If you thought it was cool just to see The Force Awakens, imagine how it would feel to see a family member on that screen.

While Benicio Del Toro was the actor that we knew was joining Star Wars: Episode VIII first, we still don’t know much about him. At first it seemed clear that Del Toro would be playing a new villain in the story, but more recently he’s gone back on that and said that isn’t necessarily the case. As we have almost two years before Episode VIII hits theaters, there’s still plenty of time for rumors and leaks to help paint that picture.

We’re looking forward to seeing Benicio Del Toro in Star Wars as, we’re sure, is his family. What kind of role would you like to see the actor play?