It seems a major fight is brewing in the upcoming Highlander reboot. Even with most of the film still shrouded in secrecy, this particular clash is already doing a lot of heavy lifting for fans’ expectations. A Marvel star and a Gladiator alum are about to go head-to-head in one intense scene; I cannot wait to lay my eyes on it.

The Gladiator half of the equation comes from Djimon Hounsou, who recently shed a bit of light on his role as OG returning character Sunda Kastagir in the film. Speaking with Collider, Hounsou revealed that while he’s part of the story’s larger machinery, he didn’t get nearly as much hands-on action as some might expect, even with a key fight lined up, facing off against a Marvel heavyweight. He explained:

You had me at “battle with Dave Bautista.” That alone is enough to grab my attention. Fans have been waiting for the Highlander reboot for some time, but Bautista stepping into the role of the Kurgan, a character made iconic by Clancy Brown in the original, will make the wait all worthwhile. His casting points to a villain driven by raw force but, with the added weight of the Guardians of the Galaxy stars’ on-screen presence.

Djimon Hounsou, meanwhile, tends to operate with a quieter, more deliberate intensity. Not a traditional movie crossover fight, those two energies together, and it has the makings of a fight that could genuinely stick with audiences long after the credits roll.

Helming the upcoming flick is director Chad Stahelski. His approach to fights, which he helped revolutionize for a new generation with his work on the John Wick franchise, tends to favor clarity and impact over chaos, turning fights into sequences that feel almost architectural in their design. Every ingredient in the rebooted Highlander flick has me certain we are witnessing a bit of alchemy destined to bring us one of the best fight scenes of all time.

Even if Hounsou’s role doesn’t involve extended combat, the idea of Stahelski staging a confrontation between him and Bautista suggests a scene that could stand out regardless of length. We could seriously have a banger of a battle on our hands here.

The reboot itself continues to assemble a notable ensemble. Henry Cavill steps into the lead role of Connor MacLeod, with Russell Crowe, another Marvel alum, Karen Gillan as MacLeod’s human wife, and others filling out a cast that blends blockbuster familiarity with a ton of dramatic range.

Hounsou also talked up the film's look, especially the set design, which he described as striking. That’s the part that has me hyped. If the team is putting that much care into the world itself, this could end up feeling bigger than just a string of fights. Highlander has always worked best when it leans into its weird, myth-heavy, slightly unhinged energy. If you’ve never seen the original, it’s absolutely worth your time. Just be prepared to mutter “what the heck did I just watch” at least once. That’s part of the charm. It’s not just about the fights, even if the fights are doing plenty of work.

That said, let’s not pretend the action isn’t a huge draw. That, and the music. If there isn’t a well-placed Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever needle drop or Princes of the Universe nod somewhere in this thing, I’m going to have questions. A showdown between a Marvel star and a Gladiator standout is great, sure, but if there’s no Queen, I walk out. I’m mostly joking. Mostly.

Unfortunately for us fans, we won't get to see Bautista and Hounsou go head-to-head on the 2026 movie schedule. We are going to have to wait until at least 2027, or possibly 2028, for that. But, in the meantime, you can revisit the original film, streaming on Peacock with a subscription.

The latest of the 2026 Netflix releases is Thrash, which follows a mix of the best shark films and crazy disaster movies. The thriller follows residents of a coastal town as they face a Category 5 hurricane and the blood-hungry sharks the dangerous tide brings in. If you’ve seen it, let’s get into the SPOILER question we had to ask Djimon Hounsou. (Check it out with your Netflix subscription before reading ahead!)

During the climax of the film. Phoebe Dynevor’s Lisa has her baby, Whitney Peak’s Dakota is rushing to rescue her with a boat she found, and Djimon Hounsou’s Dale is about to catch up to them on his rescue mission to save his niece. Both Lisa and Dakota get to fight sharks, but Dale never has a shark-fighting moment. In fact, another bigger shark ends up saying the final word action-wise when it jumps and munches on the one that was a big threat to Lisa, Dakota and the newborn baby. When I asked Hounsou if he was bummed he didn’t get to fight for his life too, here’s what he had to say:

Djimon Hounsou has a great track record of adding his physicality to action scenes in movies like Gladiator, The King’s Man, Shazam! and Furious 7, but as he told us, he was very “comfortable” with sitting this one out. The actor apparently isn’t super into ocean activities, so he was a-ok with playing a scientist who stays dry on a rescue boat through most of it. Honestly, I love that for him!

Phoebe Dynevor and Whitney Peak, on the other hand, seemed to spend most of the movie either with water all around them or submerged in it. Dynevor, who’s most famous for Bridgerton, has a long history with being underwater. As she told us:

While Dynevor said she didn’t used to be afraid of sharks, she’s become “a little more scared” of a lot of things as she’s gotten older – including diving. However, the actress and her castmates agreed they’re more so afraid of “the unknown” than sharks themselves. As one face of Shark Week once told us, shark movies like Jaws make the mammal “pretty bad PR client” since one can stand up for them all they want and then “they go and bite someone.”

Shark attacks are generally quite rare, but especially so when it comes to hurricanes. However, Spectrum News reported one study’s findings that while most sharks have been known to flee during hurricanes for deeper waters, Tiger sharks stayed put to scavenge for the marine life the storm killed. Thrash is a thrilling shark movie at the end of the day, and the shocking finale only made the movie even better.

Universe Pictures and DreamWorks Animation’s live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon ended up being one of the most successful movies of 2025, earning both positive critical reception and making over $636 million worldwide. But as a sign of approval of the movie’s quality made several months before the public got to see it, Universal decided to keep this film series going by greenlighting the live-action How to Train Your Dragon 2. It was announced earlier this week that Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Valka in the sequel, and while that news delighted me, I can’t say the same about the latest casting for a specific reason.

Drago Has Been Cast In How To Train Your Dragon 2

Deadline reports that Ólafur Darri Ólafsson has been cast as Drago Bludvist, How to Train Your Dragon 2’s main antagonist. Previously voiced by Djimon Hounsou in the 2014 animated movie of the same name, Drago is a warlord and dragon hunter who is determined to conquer the world using a dragon army. This brings him into conflict with Hiccup, Toothless and the other protagonists roughly five years after the events of How to Train Your Dragon, assuming this timeline is kept intact for the live-action version.

This will actually be Ólafur Darri Ólafsson’s second time performing in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise, as he previously voiced Ragnar the Rock in 2019’s How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. You may also recognize him from movies and TV shows like Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Murder Mystery, Severance and Your Friends and Neighbors, to name a few (those latter two shows can be streamed with an Apple TV subscription). Ólafsson and Cate Blanchett join returning cast members Mason Thames, Nico Parker, Gerard Butler, Julian Dennison, Gabriel Howell, Bronwyn James and Harry Trevaldwyn.

Why This Drago Casting Disappoints Me

Let me first say that my disappointment over the Drago casting isn’t because I don’t like Ólafur Darri Ólafsson. While I’m not too familiar with his work, he was cast in How to Train Your Dragon 2 for a good reason, and I’m sure he’ll do well in the role. It’s just that I would have rather Djimon Hounsou returned to play Drago, just like Cate Blanchett with Valka and Gerard Butler with Stoick.

Hounsou is no stranger to Hollywood blockbusters, with his credits including Gladiator, Guardians of the Galaxy, Furious 7, the Shazam! movies and both parts of Rebel Moon, among others. His distinctive voice also paired well with Drago’s intimidating personality, and while the actor may not really physically resemble Drago, that shouldn’t have been a stumbling block to bringing Hounsou back. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him play the primary villain in a movie, and I was looking forward to the prospect of seeing Hounsou physically inhabit Drago after doing such a great job voicing him.

This doesn’t mean I’m no longer anticipating How to Train Your Dragon 2’s June 11, 2027 release, it just feels like a missed opportunity to not bring Djimon Hounsou aboard. Oh well, at least I can revisit the original three movies with a Peacock subscription should the mood strike, and I’ll continue staying informed on the other actors who will join the next installment of the live-action film series.

Halle Berry has been absent from superhero universes since notably playing Catwoman in 2004 (save showing up in one more X-Men movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past, in 2014), but she is teaming up with another DC alum for a new project. The actress has had her hands full with movies like The Union and Never Let Go releasing very close to each other in 2024, and the Oscar winner isn’t slowing down any time soon. Her new film is an intense international thriller, and I actually can’t wait to see her join forces with an A+ co-star.

According to Deadline, Berry is set to star alongside Djimon Hounsou in Red Card, which is based on real events in Africa. The thriller follows Max, played by Hounsou, who is a ranger fending off animal poachers in Kenya. The disappearance of his son leads him to form an alliance with FBI supervisor Amanda, played by Berry, who is fighting trafficking rings in Africa. Filming is set to take the duo around the continent, as shooting will take place in both Maasai Mara, Kenya and Casablanca, Morocco.

While Halle Berry may be the "movie star" here, Hounsou is a decorated actor himself. He gained prominence when he joined the cast of Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, and even more attention after being nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Blood Diamond. He starred in some of the best films of the 2000s, and has since become a recognizable actor for his performances in franchises like A Quiet Place, the MCU, where he had a role in Guardians of the Galaxy, and the DCEU, where he played The Wizard in both Shazam movies. He can be both a character actor and a leading man, and I’m predicting great chemistry with Berry, who has also had a varied career.

This must have been quite a special project for both Berry and Hounsou to be able to attach themselves to the international production. Berry has two other films that she's attached to in pre-production, including the upcoming horror film, Maude v Maude, with Angelina Jolie. Honsou has three films in pre-production, and one in production, making him one of the busiest actors in Hollywood. Red Card would make lucky number four for the Rebel Moon actor, so this story must be an important one to tell.

There is a lot to be excited about in Red Card aside from just this casting. The movie will be directed by Joel Souza and written by Oscar winning screenwriter Nick Vallelonga and Midnight Run writer George Gallo. Souza has expressed praise for the script, and the talent attached which will undoubtedly bring this story to life. The movie is still in the pre-production process, with casting of supporting parts not yet completed. However with this kind of leading talent involved, I’m sure the producers will get this project in production in no time.

It may be a while before Red Card heads to the big screen, but in the meantime, you can see Halle Berry alongside Chris Hemsworth in her upcoming movie, Crime 101, which is set to be released on February 13th, 2026. You can also see Djimon Hounsou in Shiver, a survival thriller set to be released in July of 2026. For more information on other exciting titles heading to cinemas and streaming next year, make sure to consult our 2026 movie release schedule.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe introduced an entire generation of superhero movie fans to some of the comic book publishing giant’s most iconic characters, such as Iron Man and Thor. However, many of the heroes and villains we know from those Marvel movies in order have found their way to the big or small screen. Let’s honor some of the actors who brought them to life before they were inducted into the MCU.

Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man)

Some Marvel Comics fans have criticized the casting of Tobey Maguire in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy, considering he was far older than when Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive arachnid at the time. While Tom Holland certainly fit the bill of a teenage vigilante better years later, Maguire is still remembered today as one of the best to play the role. Not to mention, he wore, arguably, the best cinematic Spidey outfit of all time.

Jessica Alba (Invisible Woman)

Following her Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough role on Dark Angel, Jessica Alba could be seen just about everywhere in the early 2000s. Ironically, she made her comic book movie debut in Tim Story's Fantastic Four as a superhero known for being unseen: Sue "Invisible Woman" Storm, who would be inducted into the MCU with Vanessa Kirby's portrayal.

Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Ben Affleck would make an amusing, if not polarizing, impression when he joined a long line of live-action Batman actors for Zack Snyder's short-lived DC Extended Universe. More than a decade earlier, the Oscar winner cut his teeth in the world of superhero acting by playing the title role of 2003's Daredevil before Charlie Cox took over the role for the MCU in his own hit series.

Djimon Hounsou (Black Panther)

Djimon Hounsou has a small role in 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy as Korath the Pursuer, but had voiced the Black Panther in a BET original animated series four years earlier. The Academy Award nominee would later share the screen as Korath with the MCU's T'Challa, Chadwick Boseman, for an episode of the animated anthology series, What If...?

Wesley Snipes (Blade)

Marvel's popular vampire hunter character would, technically, make his MCU debut when Mahershala Ali made a vocal cameo as Blade in the post-credit sequence of 2021's Eternals. However, the first actor to play the Daywalker in his own trilogy of Blade movies, Wesley Snipes, beat him to the punch by making a full, live MCU appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Dolph Lundgren (The Punisher)

It is hard to imagine Rocky IV star Dolph Lundgren with jet black hair, but he donned it to play Frank Castle in a straight-to-video feature adaptation of The Punisher in 1989. The role of the vengeful vigilante would be passed down a couple more times before Jon Bernthal took over as the MCU's official iteration, but the Swedish actor would later return to comic book movie acting as King Nereus in the Jason Momoa-led Aquaman movies.

David Hasselhoff (Nick Fury)

Samuel L. Jackson's performance as Nick Fury has become so definitive that Marvel would use his likeness in the Ultimate universe comics. However, the eye-patched secret agent's main iteration better resembles David Hasselhoff, who would, indeed, play him in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., a made-for-TV movie that was intended to be a pilot for an original series on Fox.

Jennifer Garner (Elektra Natchios)

Jennifer Garner played a lighter interpretation of Matt Murdock's assassin lover, Elektra Natchios, in 2003's Daredevil and in her own spin-off film from two years later. While the Alias star would also reprise the role in Deadpool & Wolverine, the official MCU iteration, introduced in Season 2 of the Daredevil series, is played by Élodie Yung.

Chris Evans (Human Torch)

Chris Evans is one of the few MCU actors who can say he previously played a superhero from a different corner of the Marvel Multiverse. Years before he was cast as Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger, he starred in the 2000s Fantastic Four movies as the Human Torch, which he referenced to hilarious effect in Deadpool & Wolverine. The MCU later introduced its own official iteration of Johnny Storm, played by Joseph Quinn.

Lou Ferrigno (Hulk)

Before Bruce Banner's mean, green alter ego became the product of putting Mark Ruffalo in a performance capture suit, he was brought to life in live-action on the hit TV show, The Incredible Hulk, by Lou Ferrigno, standing in for David Banner actor Bill Bixby whenever he would get angry. The legendary bodybuilder also lent his voice to the role in the Incredible Hulk animated series and made a cameo as a security guard in both 2003's Hulk and the Edward Norton-led MCU debut.

J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson)

One of the few actors known for playing the same Marvel character both in and outside of the MCU is J.K. Simmons. The Academy Award winner stole the show as the editor-in-chief of the Daily Bugle in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies before reimagining the role as a conspiracy theorist and podcast host in the Tom Holland-led films.

Doug Jones (Silver Surfer)

The MCU would introduce a unique version of the Silver Surfer played by Emmy winner Julia Garner in The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Doug Jones, a master of roles requiring performance capture and heavy makeup transformations, shares credit for portraying the first "live-action" iteration of the metallic-skinned alien from 2007's Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer with Laurence Fishburne, who provided the voice.

Robert Hays (Iron Man)

It is hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Tony Stark other than Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr., but Iron Man was the star of his own animated series years earlier in the mid-1990s. Voicing the wealthy vigilante was Robert Hays, who is best known for starring in the classic spoof movie, Airplane!, as Ted Striker.

Neil Patrick Harris (Spider-Man)

In 2003, MTV aired a TV show very loosely connected to Sam Raimi's Marvel movies called Spider-Man: The New Animated Series. Instead of Tobey Maguire, the actor providing the voice of Peter Parker was none other than future How I Met Your Mother cast member Neil Patrick Harris, who later contributed to the 2010 video game, Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

Eric Allan Kramer (Thor)

Years before Chris Hemsworth's definitive performance as Thor in the MCU made him a household name, Eric Allan Kramer of Robin Hood: Men in Tights and Good Luck Charlie fame became the first actor the play the role in live-action in the 1988 TV movie, The Incredible Hulk Returns. However, I feel obligated to mention that Vincent D'Onofrio's role in Adventures in Babysitting as Dawson, who bears a striking resemblance to the God of Thunder, predates Kramer's portrayal by a year.

Rosemary Harris (Aunt May)

With all due respect and admiration for Marisa Tomei, the Oscar winner is certainly not the first person you would picture to play Peter Parker's Aunt May, as she does in the MCU. However, Rosemary Harris is not only the spitting image of the comic book character, but also gives a moving, iconic performance as May opposite Tobey Maguire's Peter in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy.

Matt Salinger (Captain America)

One of the most notable screen iterations of Steve Rogers that pre-dates Chris Evans' portrayal comes from 1990's infamous straight-to-video feature, Captain America. Playing the title role is Matt Salinger, who, believe it or not, is the son of The Catcher in the Rye author J.D. Salinger, as the actor discussed with The Guardian.

James Avery (War Machine)

Most people know actor James Avery best from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast as Philip Banks. Around that same time, however, the actor lent his voice to the animated Iron Man series as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, a.k.a. War Machine, years before Tony Stark's buddy was portrayed in the MCU by Don Cheadle... and Terrence Howard, of course.

Nicholas Hammond (Spider-Man)

Before the role was brought to life by Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, and Tom Holland, the first actor to play Peter Parker in live-action was Nicholas Hammond. The Sound of Music star led CBS' Spider-Man series and its two made-for-TV companion films in the late 1970s.

Jennifer Connelly (Betty Ross)

Liv Tyler appeared in 2008's The Incredible Hulk as Betty Ross, the colleague and love interest of Edward Norton's Bruce Banner. Years earlier, in 2003's Hulk, she was played by Academy Award winner Jennifer Connelly, who was also subtly inducted into the MCU as the voice of Karen, the AI built into Peter Parker's high-tech suit in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Thomas Jane (The Punisher)

Three actors were brought in to play Frank Castle before Jon Bernthal was cast in the role for the MCU. The second, after Dolph Lundgren and before Ray Stevenson, and first to bring the vigilante into the 21st Century, was Thomas Jane in 2004's The Punisher, which sees the anti-hero take on a corrupt businessman responsible for his family's tragic deaths.

Cree Summer (She-Hulk)

Cree Summer is the prolific voice actor behind many well-known animated roles, such as Susie Carmichael from Nickelodeon's Rugrats. She was also the second person to voice Bruce Banner's cousin, Jennifer Walters, on the animated Incredible Hulk TV show almost a couple of decades before Tatiana Maslany was cast in the lead role of Disney+'s She-Hulk: Attorney at Law.

Michael Chiklis (The Thing)

Jamie Bell and Emmy winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach (who also appeared on Jon Bernthal's The Punisher series) both played CGI versions of Ben "The Thing" Grimm in their respective cinematic adaptations of the Fantastic Four comics. However, Michael Chiklis admirably went the old-fashioned route and donned a heavy amount of prosthetics to play the orange, rock-skinned superhero in Tim Story's movies from 2004 and 2007.

Sam Elliott (Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross)

Following William Hurt's passing, Harrison Ford stepped in to play Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross for the MCU in Captain America: Brave New World, in which the military general-turned-U.S. president becomes the Red Hulk. However, you could argue that the most intimidating portrayal of the character is still that of Sam Elliott in 2003's Hulk.

Peter Hooten (Dr. Strange)

With the title's otherworldly, psychedelic imagery, it is not very surprising to learn that Marvel's Doctor Strange comics were first adapted for live-action in the 1970s. CBS attempted to launch a series focused on the Sorcerer Supreme with a pilot led by actor Peter Hooten, who was, of course, succeeded decades later by Benedict Cumberbatch as the MCU's official iteration.

Lisa Rinna (Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine)

While better known today as a star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Lisa Rinna also has the honor of being the first actor to portray Contessa Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in live-action in 1998's Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. In the MCU, the Italian-American noblewoman and CIA director is played by Seinfeld cast member Julia-Louis Dreyfus.

Conan Stevens (Man-Thing)

In 2005, SyFy aired a scary "movie of the week" inspired by the Marvel comic book character Man-Thing, played by Conan Stevens, who is essentially the publisher's equivalent to DC's Swamp Thing. The humanoid plant creature was painted in a far more sympathetic light in the Disney+ original Halloween special, Werewolf by Night, in which he was portrayed in motion capture by Carey Jones.

Ed Asner (J. Jonah Jameson)

Emmy winner Ed Asner's definitive TV role for years was cantankerous journalist Lou Grant on beloved TV sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show and the character's more earnest self-titled spin-off. In other words, he was a perfect choice to voice J. Jonah Jameson in Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the 1990s.

Eric Bana (Bruce Banner)

The first live-action, theatrically released feature film adaptation of Marvel's The Incredible Hulk comics, director Ang Lee's Hulk, cast Australian actor Eric Bana as Bruce Banner. The brilliant physicist would later return to the big screen as part of the MCU, first portrayed by Edward Norton in his 2008 solo flick before Mark Ruffalo took over the role in subsequent installments.

Ed Gale (Howard The Duck)

Howard the Duck, one of the most bizarre characters in Marvel Comics' history, exists in the MCU, having first appeared in the post-credit sequence for Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Seth Green. The fowl extraterrestrial crimefighter made his feature debut, however, in a self-titled film from producer George Lucas, in which Ed Gale, a little person also known for playing Chucky in Child's Play, wore a duck costume on set while Chip Zien provided the voice.

Ioan Gruffudd (Mr. Fantastic)

Before Pedro Pascal added the MCU to his ongoing list of franchises by playing Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, English actor Ioan Gruffudd played the stretchy superhero otherwise known as Mr. Fantastic in Tim Story's Fantastic Four movies.

Sticky Fingaz (Blade)

Mahershala Ali is actually not Wesley Snipes' direct successor to the role of Blade. Rap artist Sticky Fingaz played the vampire hunter in a short-lived TV series from 2006.

If you watch big movies, you’ve seen a few of Djimon Hounsou's performances. The actor has impressively been in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and held multiple roles in the DCEU. He's even starred in one of the best movies of the 2000s, Gladiator, along with the Fast and Furious, Kingsman and Quiet Place franchises. And yet, as the actor recently revealed while discussing diversity and equity, he’s still “struggling” to make a living in Hollywood.

Hounsou is an incredible actor, who has even earned two Oscar nominations over the years for his supporting roles in In America and Blood Diamond, alongside a Golden Globe nom for Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama, Amistad. In the last few years, he was notably part of the Gran Turismo cast and The King’s Man cast, along with Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movies. Nevertheless, here’s what the journeyman actor recently told CNN:

While the star's lengthy resume spans nearly 30 years, he still feels as though he’s “definitely underpaid”. Djimon Hounsou was born in the Republic of Benin in Africa and immigrated to France with his brother when he was 12. While there, he began a career in modeling (as many other actors got their start that way) in the late '80s before moving to the United States and starting his acting career. He garnered acclaim for his role in the aforementioned Steven Spielberg movie, but he also recalled a negative aspect of that:

The thespian’s words certainly highlight a continued inequality in Hollywood regarding minority communities and, sadly, there's still need for improvement on that front. Given his personal experiences and observations, the Academy Award nominee started his own nonprofit in 2019 called the Djimon Hounsou Foundation. The organization aims to strengthen Africa’s intergenerational identity along with combating modern-day slavery and human trafficking. It also hosts Africa Reconnect Running & Music Concert Series in African countries, Europe and the Americas.

During his recent chat, the King Arthur: Legend of the Sword alum's interviewer expressed disbelief that even today, he still has trouble making ends meet, given his body of work. That prompted to the 60-year-old actor to share the following sentiment:

While Djimon Hounsou has been in a lot of big movies, it sounds as though he unfortunately still hasn't had as many opportunities to play more more prominent roles and be compensated accordingly. His credits are extensive, and the films he's starred in are massive. With that, the actor definitely deserves to be paid the same as his colleagues

Hounsou does have a number of movies on the way such as a few upcoming horror movies called The Monster, The Zealot and Beneath the Storm (two of which he leads) and an action movie called The Bleeding Ground. Between Hounsou being honest on the topic of pay and creating change himself through his nonprofit, hopefully this doesn't continue to be a reality for him. The same goes for other actors of color and those belonging to groups that have historically been marginalized.

SPOILERS are ahead for A Quiet Place: Day One.

I’ll never forget seeing the original A Quiet Place movie. At the time, I wouldn’t have counted myself as a big horror fan (which has changed a lot since), but my friend and I decided to catch a screening of the 2018 hit film, and we walked out in love with John Krasinski’s original concept. I’ve since made it a tradition to go see A Quiet Place movies in theaters, including its prequel Day One, which I’ll admit I’ve been unsure whether it would hit the same. Now that I’ve fallen for another movie in the franchise with this new release, I want to discuss how it connects to my hopes for Part III.

A Quiet Place: Day One was based on a story by John Krasinski, but handed off to Pig director Michael Sarnoski to write and direct. While I initially didn’t understand why the main series would pause Part III to deliver this installment, I absolutely appreciated this standalone story and now I have some thoughts regarding how I’d like Day One and Part III to connect.

I Was Worried About A Quiet Place Prequel, But I Loved Day One 

Generally, I’m so tired of prequels. I’m frustrated with filmmakers deciding to over explain the origin of a character I like just because there’s facts behind a specific franchise doing well at the box office. Going into Day One, I had those reservations (especially after CinemaBlend’s 2-star A Quiet Place: Day One review), but I’m so happy I went out to see it in theaters along with a ton of A Quiet Place fans during opening weekend. I thankfully found the movie to be another really impressive and even unexpected entry not only into this franchise, but any franchise.

Rather than Day One getting too into the weeds of the origin of the aliens, Krasinski and Sarnoski used the movie as an opportunity to tell a very human story with more attention on its characters than providing some kind of exhaustive and generic summer alien movie with A Quiet Place slapped on the title. I loved the concept of it being told from the perspective of Lupita Nyong’o’s Samira, a woman living in hospice for a terminal condition. How would someone who already has been preparing to die deal with the end of the world? I found the storyline following Samira’s perspective throughout the movie to be really original, captivating and, most of all, moving.

The Relationship Between Eric And Samira Was A Real Highlight 

Samira’s character arc in Day One was only elevated by Joseph Quinn’s Eric, a British law student who finds himself alone and very terrified by the end of days he is suddenly confronted with. However, when he looks into the sweet eyes of a cat named Frodo and happens upon its owner, Samira, he finds purpose and solace in navigating the terrors New York City is dealing with during the alien invasion. I found the relationship between Samira and Eric to be the most captivating element of Day One. Despite them being complete strangers, an unspeakable bond between them forms that has each of them instinctively taking care and wanting the best for the other.

A lot of alien invasion movies focus on this 'every man for himself' mentality that could surface in humans when they are met with the potential of death and destruction. I appreciated Day One’s empathetic approach to the end of days through these two people. That is particularly illustrated through Samira’s ruthless hunt for one of the last slices of Patsy’s pizza throughout the movie. While most people were crowding to a boat to get to safety, she risked her life to get to Harlem to experience a slice of nostalgia she’s been longing for before her death. While Eric could have been characterised as someone who finds her off her rocker for going to Harlem for pizza instead of to safety, he joins her on her mission and even risks his life big time for both Frodo and Samira. In the end, Samira risks her life to get Eric to the ship.

How I Hope Day One Influences The Storytelling In Part 3

While Samira ultimately goes back to Harlem and dies there, Eric and Frodo get on the boat, notably with Djimon Hounsou’s Henri, who links the prequel to the last Quiet Place movie. If you may recall from A Quiet Place Part II’s ending, Henri was the leader of a group of survivors that welcomes Regan and Emmett to their community. Henri dies in Part II, but what if Eric and Frodo are still among the survivors of the community we have yet to meet?

By the end of Part II, Millicent Simmonds’ Regan is still separated from her mother and siblings alongside Cillian Murphy’s Emmett. Regan finds a way to kill one of the aliens herself, which could prove to be very helpful in humanity’s fight to survive. Following the events of Day One now telling the story of how Eric got on one of the rescue boats, I hope Part III will bring Joseph Quinn’s Eric (and Frodo the Cat) back and make him a new ally to Regan and Emmett!

Since it’s now been years since Part II was filmed, I imagine Part III will have to have some sort of time jump to explain Regan and her brother Marcus suddenly being older (Part II was filmed in 2019). Perhaps Regan is leading some sort of charge to kill the aliens once and for all and enlists the other survivors, including Eric, to do so. I want Eric to return to the fold because I found his arc in the prequel to be memorable, and it could lend itself to a more complete arc where he becomes a major part of saving Earth after being visibly panicked and scared in the first days of the invasion. I could particularly see some sweet moments unfolding between Eric and Regan. Quinn is such a solid talent, and I hope he finds his way in the next Quiet Place movie!

While Paramount previously announced A Quiet Place Part III as among upcoming horror movies, we don’t currently know when it’s coming. We’ll keep you updated here on CinemaBlend!

What do actors and models have in common? Well, for the most part, having “the look” will get you in the door in either profession rather quickly. However, for the purposes of the list you’re about to peruse, it just so happens that these Hollywood stars managed to work both sides of that scenario. And as expected, these models-turned-actors have done so with style. 

Mark Wahlberg

Before starring in movies ranging from Boogie Nights to The Family Plan, Mark Wahlberg was known as a rapper and a Calvin Klein model. Showing off his buff body in underwear ads helped give the aspiring star his start in the entertainment industry, with Mark shifting into acting just as his boy-band brother Donnie eventually did. 

Rebecca Romijn

In a career that saw her on Vogue magazine covers and in Victoria’s Secret campaigns, Rebecca Romijn put the “super” in “supermodel.” And then, in a move that only further strengthened that statement, she took her first acting gig as Mystique in X-Men, kickstarting a career that’s led to such fantastic parts as that of Number One on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. 

Tyrese Gibson

Ads for Coca-Cola, Guess, and Tommy Hilfiger had Tyrese Gibson primed for stardom, and gigs on TV shows like Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and Martin soon followed. But depending on who you ask, it was either Baby Boy or 2 Fast 2 Furious that caused Gibson’s star to rise to the heights it’s at today. 

Halle Berry

It’s no surprise that Halle Berry did some modeling in her entertainment career, as her beauty has always been well renowned. But rather than going for traditional ad campaign work, the future star of X-Men and James Bond movies was a contestant in both the Miss USA and Miss World pageants. 

Jamie Dornan

Prepare for a rollercoaster ride, folks. Jamie Dornan, actor known for everything from Fifty Shades of Grey to A Haunting in Venice, was not only a model…he was part of a reality show that helped get him the gig. Channel 4’s Model Behaviour led to some gigs with Abercrombie & Fitch and Tommy Hilfiger, which eventually made way for Dornan to be discovered by Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette. 

Cara Delevingne

We’ve seen Cara Delevingne do everything from John Green adaptations like Paper Towns to DCEU juggernauts such as Suicide Squad. And with a foundation of modeling for Vogue Italia, Tory Burch, and Donna Karan under her belt, the American Horror Story: Delicate star never really gave up her day job, as her modeling continued along with her acting efforts.

Channing Tatum

There was probably a time when people staring at random Armani ads featuring Channing Tatum thought, “I wonder if he can act?” With a resume that has titles like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Foxcatcher  to boast about, it’s probably safe to say that the answer is a confident “Yes!”

Jaime King

As a young model, Jaime King saw herself making a splash with Vogue, Seventeen, and pretty much any other fashion publication of note you could think of. 2001’s Happy Campers was all it took to help her jump into the acting world, which saw her play some impressive parts in Sin City’s screen adaptation, Fox’s The O.C., and even the voice of Solus Prime in the series Transformers: Power of the Primes.

Shemar Moore

S.W.A.T. star and all around heartthrob Shemar Moore actually had his own moment in the spotlight of modeling. Through catalog jobs with Macy’s and magazine shoots for GQ, among other opportunities, this man of action continues to engage in some modeling here and there; which only brings his fans that much more joy. 

Devon Aoki

Movie fans might recognize Devon Aoki from her standout roles in both Sin City and 2 Fast 2 Furious, but believe it or not her modeling career is the stronger of the two streams she’s dipped her toes into. Brands and magazines alike have showcased her talents in the industry, with Balenciaga and Harper’s Bazaar calling themselves a part of her storied body of work.

James Marsden

Jury Duty and Sonic the Hedgehog star James Marsden feels like the type of guy that’d be a model, right? How couldn’t he, with a smile like that? Well, if the world didn’t know it before his 2011 interview on Ellen, Ms. DeGeneres helped bring that aspect of his career to light; along with the pictures to prove it.

Gal Gadot

Jaguar, Maxim, and Gucci are only some of the brands and publications that Fast Saga star Gal Gadot has modeled for. This Heart of Stone lead eventually saw herself courted by Hollywood in the early-Aughts, thanks to auditions for Quantum of Solace that saw Gal compete with Olga Kurylenko for the role of Bond woman Camille. 

Antonio Sabàto Jr.

Calvin Klein was the name of the brand that gave actor Antonio Sabàto Jr. his start in the public eye, as underwear modeling was his first claim to fame. Eventually, projects like General Hospital, Earth 2, and even a Janet Jackson music video would see Antonio becoming an acting talent that continued to capitalize on their dreamy good looks. 

Charlize Theron

Even after winning her first Academy Award for Monster, and landing big ticket franchise like the Fast Saga, Charlize Theron still managed to fit in some modeling for Dior into her busy schedule. Which is absolutely fitting, considering that Theron got a jump start on her entertainment resume as a teen model throughout Europe in the ‘90s.

Mehcad Brooks

Fans of Law & Order and Supergirl’s Mehcad Brooks may want to brace themselves for what we’re about to tell them. Before Mr. Brooks was a part of worlds where superheroes and top cops reign supreme, he made a killing as a Calvin Klein underwear model; much like Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Sabàto Jr, and Djimon Hounsou.

Milla Jovovich

Before becoming an ace action star/zombie destroyer in the Resident Evil movies, Milla Jovovich found herself in another profession: muse. As an inspiration to designer Miuccia Prada, in addition to the star of shoots with acclaimed photographers such as Herb Ritts, Jovovich built a prolific career as a model; long before she would eventually be deemed a “Supreme Being” once again in 1995’s The Fifth Element.

Tyson Beckford

Before movies such as Biker Boyz and appearances on The Celebrity Dating Game and Match Game saw Tyson Beckford become an actor and personality, he saw himself engaged in another profession cut from similar cloth. Namely, Beckford was a model for magazines like The Source, as well as designer Ralph Lauren’s Polo brand.

Brooklyn Decker

The career of Brooklyn Decker started off with a huge splash, as both Sports Illustrated and Victoria’s Secret employed the future actor as a star model. Eventually, playing a lead in the Adam Sandler film Just Go with It put Decker on the map; which led to a pretty sweet long term gig as one of the stars of Netflix’s Grace and Frankie. 

Ian Somerhalder

Lost star and vampire extraordinaire Ian Somerhalder practiced looking ridiculously good looking in the modeling world, before parlaying it into roles that headed up projects like The CW’s The Vampire Diaries. Among the various brands that saw Somerhalder posing for greatness high end names like Nautica and Versace. 

Iman

In the modeling world, brands and magazines like Vogue, Calvin Klein, and Halston all called upon the mythic talents of the great Iman. Yves Saint-Laurent’s “dream woman” would eventually find the acting profession calling, and would heed its siren song through opportunities like the Kevin Costner thriller No Way Out, as well as a memorable spot in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Tom Welling

Even handsome men from Smallville manage to find themselves gracing campaigns for the usual glizy subjects. Former Clark Kent Tom Welling knows that first hand, as working with Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein would put him on the map to become a Superman for another generation. 

Tyra Banks

Long before Tyra Banks was trying to help find America’s Next Top Model, she was practically living her life under that very title. Through Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues, Victoria’s Secret campaigns, and cover shoots for Elle and Vogue, Banks’ reputation as an in demand beauty eventually saw her jumping into acting gigs like a recurring role on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. 

Kellan Lutz

Vampires seem to make for good fashion models. Or should we reverse that statement? In either case, Kellan Lutz would be covered big time. Known as one of the Cullen family in The Twilight Saga, Lutz had also done some modeling before becoming one of the sparkling undead.

Kate Upton

Roles in The Three Stooges, The Disaster Artist and Robot Chicken have seen model Kate Upton active in the sphere of acting entertainment. However, her big start came from popularity stemming from cover shoots for Vanity fair, as well as modeling for the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. 

Djimon Hounsou

Actor Djimon Hounsou has been known to battle it out heroically throughout various universes and time periods, making huge appearances in Gladiator, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Rebel Moon. But in addition to racking up such heavy hitting acts on his resume, the Academy Award nominee has also done some modeling for Calvin Klein underwear in the midst of his busy run.

Famke Janssen

Both the world of the X-Men movies, as well the James Bond legacy have called upon Famke Janssen’s skills as a performer. That run of good fortune actually came after she retired from modeling, which saw her lending her talents to campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent and Victoria’s Secret throughout the ‘80s.

Kofi Siriboe

Girls Trip and Queen Sugar star Kofi Siriboe is known as both an actor and an all around smokeshow in entertainment. And part of the reason the young actor has come so far so fast is thanks to childhood experience in the world of modeling campaigns!

Elle Macpherson

Everything from brands like Tab to magazines such as Elle and ads for Christian Dior have seen model Elle Macpherson gracing their campaigns for glory. And that was a perfect launching pad for Elle’s acting ambitions, which saw her hosting Saturday Night Live as well as appearing in movies such as Batman & Robin and The Edge throughout the ‘90s.

Robert Pattinson

While the world mostly knows Robert Pattinson for his acting gigs in the Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Batman franchises, you may be surprised to know that he actually did some modeling in his youth. Though he left that world behind a while back, that hasn’t stopped Pattinson from picking up some campaigns for brands like Dior Men from the Batcave.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Levi’s, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Teen Vogue were crucial starts to the career of model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and those pillars suited her well when continuing to be a world class icon. However, Rosie dipped her toes in the world of acting, through roles in both Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Mad Max: Fury Road.

Ashton Kutcher

How’s this for a start to a promising career? The late ‘90s saw Ashton Kutcher landing key gigs in both modeling and acting, with the former getting him started through Calvin Klein campaigns. It’s not hard to see how acting won out, as That ‘70s Show was the acting job that happened to land in his lap around the same time.

Elizabeth Hurley

The world has come to know and love Elizabeth Hurley in her capacity as an actor, throughout a career that’s seen her star in the Austin Powers franchise, as well as the remake of Bedazzled. But before she was selling Brendan Fraser’s soul, or fighting for peace with Mike Myers, Hurley was a model for the Estée Lauder brand. 

There you have it, lovers of modeling and acting talent! Keep these people in mind the next time you see a hot new star in either realm burning bright, for they could be the next exciting example of playing both sides, and looking exceptionally good in the process.

Zack Snyder is famous for telling epic stories with impressive ensemble casts, so it’s no surprise that sci-fi fans have been eagerly anticipating Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. That wait is almost over, as the first part of the space opera is set to hit Netflix on December 22. The story centers around a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy that is threatened by a tyrannical leader. The colonists turn to Kora (Sofia Boutella), a former member of the Imperium, to rally warriors against the Motherworld. Critics have had a chance to screen the film, and they’re not holding back with their thoughts.

In addition to Sofia Boutella, Rebel Moon’s cast for Part One includes a host of impressive names, including Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Michiel Huisman, Cary Elwes and many more. Let’s see what the critics are saying about the movie, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child Of Fire. Mike Reyes rates the movie 2.5 stars out of 5, saying he can feel the potential of this franchise, but this offering for Netflix is incomplete and formulaic. He continues:  

With Rebel Moon being split into two movies, viewers are left not only with the promise of a Part Two – The Scargiver but an R-rated Zack Snyder director’s cut of Rebel Moon – Part One, which other critics agree undercuts the product that is set to hit Netflix. Neil Smith of GamesRadar gives the movie 3 stars out of 5, saying that while Rebel Moon’s ending leaves too many loose ends, fans of Snyder’s heightened brand of stern, muscular filmmaking won’t be left wanting. Smith writes: 

This project has been drawing comparisons to Star Wars from its inception, and even Zack Snyder spoke about how Star Wars influenced Rebel Moon. However, Nick Schager of the Daily Beast says inspiration doesn’t excuse A Child of Fire’s inability to fashion a single idea that’s not a dull sci-fi cliche. The lack of originality is matched by its humorlessness, per the critic, who writes: 

William Bibbiani of The Wrap notes that nothing about Rebel Moon feels fresh, though many parts of the movie are at least competent, given Zack Snyder’s expertise at epic action sequences. Bibbiani continues:  

David Ehrlich of IndieWire grades it a D-, calling Rebel Moon Zack Snyder’s worst movie so far. The critic says there’s nothing original or imaginative about the Netflix film, as the director seems determined to remix a million things you’ve seen before into something you’ll wish you’d never seen at all. Ehrlich writes: 

The criticism is pretty sharp for Zack Snyder’s first Rebel Moon offering, but as this is a project that a lot of people have been looking forward to for a long time, viewers should feel free to draw their own conclusions. Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire can be streamed with a Netflix subscription starting December 22 ahead of Part Two: The Scargiver, which will be released April 19, 2024. Be sure to check out what else is new and coming soon to Netflix. 

When news first broke that Gran Turismo was joining the list of upcoming video game movies, it was admittedly hard to imagine how a racing simulation franchise with no story or characters would work on the big screen. But by combining elements of the popular Playstation exclusive with those of a real-life underdog story, Neill Blomkamp and the Gran Turismo cast turned out an incredible, unforgettable, and high-octane thrill ride of an experience.

After watching the thrilling racing film, you may be wondering where you’ve seen the actors before. Though some, like David Harbour, Orlando Bloom, and former Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell, will be instantly recognizable, it may be a different story for those like lead actor Archie Madekwe. Let’s break it all down now…

Archie Madekwe (Jann Mardenborough)

Archie Madekwe leads the Gran Turismo cast as Jann Mardenborough, a young video gamer who makes his dreams of becoming a professional racer a reality by entering the GT Academy. Interestingly enough, the real Mardenborough also appears in the movie as his own stunt double.

Those who use their Apple TV+ subscription to check out See will surely recognize Madekwe from his portrayal of Kofun on the sci-fi drama series. The same can be said about people who love A24 horror movies, as the actor also appeared in Midsommar back in 2019. He also appeared in the Heart of Stone cast, which became a hit on Netflix earlier in August. Later this year, he’ll have a role in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn. 

David Harbour (Jack Salter)

David Harbour plays a massive role in the events of Gran Turismo with his portrayal of  Jann’s coach, Jack Salter, a former racer whose remarkable story goes beyond  yelling at gamers for puking in the movie’s first trailer.

All those Stranger Things fans will probably be flooded with memories (and anticipation for the show’s fifth season) while watching Harbour once again play the reluctant father-type role in Gran Turismo. Outside of playing the Hawkins police chief for the better part of the past decade, Harbour has also given incredible performances in movies like Violent Night, No Sudden Move, and Black Widow. He’ll be playing the Red Guardian in another upcoming Marvel movie when appears in Jake Schreier’s Thunderbolts. 

Orlando Bloom (Danny Moore)

Orlando Bloom is another pivotal member of the Gran Turismo cast with his portrayal of Nissan marketing executive and GT Academy founder Danny Moore.

Throughout his career, Bloom has portrayed iconic characters like Legolas in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, Will Turner in the various Pirates of the Caribbean films, and worked with iconic filmmakers like Ridley Scott, Cameron Crowe, and the late Wolfgang Petersen.  

Djimon Hounsou (Steve Mardenborough)

Djimon Hounsou shows up in Gran Turismo as Jann Mardenborough’s father, Steve, a former soccer player who doesn’t approve of his son’s obsession with video games.

A two-time Oscar nominee (In America, Blood Diamond), Hounsou’s film career goes back more than 30 years and includes appearances in decorated movies like Amistad, Gladiator, and A Quiet Place Part II. On top of that, the actor has also appeared in some of the best Marvel movies like Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, the Fast and Furious franchise, and so much more. With upcoming movies like Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon, A Quiet Place: Day One, and Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, we’ll be seeing much more of Hounsou for years to come. 

Geri Halliwell (Lesley Mardenborough)

Taking on the role of Jann’s mother, Lesley Mardenborough, is Ginger Spice herself, Geri Halliwell.

In addition to being part of one of the most successful pop music groups of all time and finding fame with the Spice Girls, Halliwell has made several film appearances over the years. This includes acting in movies like Spice World, Fat Slags: The Film, and Crank: High Voltage, and showing up as herself on various reality and talk show programs. 

Daniel Puig (Coby Mardenborough)

Daniel Puig appears in Gran Turismo as Jann’s younger and more athletic brother, Coby Mardenborough.

This is Puig’s feature film debut, though he has appeared in various short films, made-for-TV movies, and series like Naomi over the course of the past half-decade. 

Darren Barnet (Matty Davis)

Darren Barnet appears in the Gran Turismo cast as Matty Davis, a well-skilled driver and intense competitor who becomes Jann’s biggest rival in the GT Academy program.

Prior to playing one of the best characters in Gran Turismo, Barnet was a major player of the Team Ben or Team Paxton drama on the popular Netflix original series Never Have I Ever. He’s also appeared on shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles, and Skull Island.

Pepe Barroso (Antonio Cruz)

Pepe Barroso shows up in Gran Turismo as Antonio Cruz, one of drivers Jann befriends during the GT Academy competition.

The 2023 sports biopic was Barraso’s first film appearances, as all of his other roles have been on shows like 45 rpm, High Seas, and Patria. 

Maeve Courtier-Lilley (Audrey)

Maeve Courtier-Lilley appears in Gran Turismo as Audrey, Jann’s crush in Cardiff who eventually becomes a major supporter in his journey to becoming a professional racer.

Like several other members of the Gran Turismo cast, this is Courtier-Lilley’s feature film debut, with all of her other previous appearances being on shows like Casualty, The Outpost, and Doctors. 

Josha Stradowski (Nicholas Capa)

Taking on the role of the talented yet arrogant Nicholas Capa, who could best be described as the film’s antagonist, is Josha Stradowski.

Fans of the Amazon original series The Wheel of Time will probably recognize Stradowski from his portrayal of Rand al’Thor. His other notable appearances include shows like High Flyers and Spangas as well as movies like Instinct and Just Friends. 

Takehiro Hira (Kazunori Yamauchi)

Then there is Takehiro Hira, who takes on the role of Kazunori Yamauchi, the creator of the iconic Gran Turismo video game franchise.

Throughout his career, Hira has appeared in a few dozen movies and TV shows, though most will probably recognize him from his portrayal of Kenta in the G.I. Joe origin story, Snake Eyes in 2021. His other recent films include We Couldn’t Become Adults, Lost Girls & Love Hotels, and Erica 38. 

As you can probably tell by now, the Gran Turismo cast is one that is filled with both established stars and up-and-comers just starting to make their mark on the world, much like Jann Mardenborough in the movie. Several of those actors also happen to have some pretty major releases on the 2023 movie schedule, so don't be all that shocked to see a lot more from them in the coming weeks and months.

When Gladiator hit theaters in 2000, it managed a very rare thing in Hollywood: Ridley Scott’s epic historical drama became a box office hit and a Best Picture winner. It’s one of those few movies that hit a stride with just about everyone. So, it’s no surprise a Gladiator sequel is on the way and that so many impressive actors are joining the cast. And, it's almost here!

Given the fact that Russell Crowe’s General Maximus Decimus Meridius died in the original Gladiator movie, he’s not leading the sequel. However, him saying he was “jealous” about Gladiator 2 filming without him has us wondering if he’ll cameo in a flashback or something. Regardless, check out the exciting cast members who have signed on to the Ridley Scott-directed sequel (many of which are featured in the Gladiator 2 trailer). The movie will open against Wicked this fall!

Paul Mescal 

Leading the Gladiator 2 cast as Lucius Verus is Oscar-nominee Paul Mescal. The Irish actor found his first leading role in 2020’s Normal People and has since been critically acclaimed in numerous films, including The Lost Daughter and Aftersun, the latter of which earned him a Best Actor nomination. Lucius was played by a young Spencer Treat Clark in the original Gladiator. He was the son of Maximus’ lover Lucilla and idolized Maximus. With that in mind, one should know the upcoming movie will feature a time jump of 25 years.

Pedro Pascal

The internet’s “daddy” Pedro Pascal is following up his success with The Mandalorian and The Last Of Us with a role in Gladiator 2. Pascal’s role in the Ridley Scott movie will reportedly be a former military commander forced to fight as a gladiator as punishment for defying his officers. The movie will be the actor’s latest big-budget movie role following his villain role in 2020’s Wonder Woman 1984 and ahead of his debut with The Fantastic Four cast.

Denzel Washington

Legendary actor Denzel Washington has reunited with Ridley Scott for Gladiator 2 after the pair worked together on 2007’s American Gangster with Russell Crowe. Scott wrote the “bad-ass role” with the actor in mind, and after Washington read the script, he was very much on board for it. The Oscar winner will play a former slave who becomes a wealthy merchant with a grudge against the emperors.

Connie Nielsen

Gladiator’s Connie Nielsen is set to return to play Lucilla, who was introduced as Maximus’ love interest, the sister of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus and the mother of Lucius in the original film. Apparently the actress was part of Ridley Scott’s plans for Gladiator 2 “from the start of development.” Nielsen is another Wonder Woman actress in the movie, as she memorably played Hippolyta in the franchise.

Joseph Quinn 

Stranger Things’ Eddie Munson actor, Joseph Quinn, is also among the Gladiator 2 cast, reportedly as co-Emperor Caracalla . Since the British actor went viral for starring in the latest season of the Netflix hit sci-fi series in 2022, he also recently led the cast in A Quiet Place: Day One alongside Lupita Nyong'o. Quinn looks almost unrecognizable in his Gladiator 2 role.

Fred Hechinger

While Barry Keoghan was initially cast in the role of Emperor Geta in Gladiator 2, the Eternals actor reportedly dropped out of Ridley Scott’s movie to star in a movie called Bird from American Honey filmmaker Andrea Arnold. Taking his place is The White Lotus and Thelma actor Fred Hechinger as co-emperor Geta.

Lior Raz

Israeli actor Lior Raz has also been cast in Gladiator 2. He’s known for his four-season Netflix series Fauda and is set to star in the upcoming Apple TV+ Tom Holland series, The Crowded Room. This is another cast member for whom we don’t know their place in the sequel yet but he was featured in a few scenes in the trailer.

May Calamawy

Egyptian-Palestinian actress May Calamawy, who has starred in three seasons of Hulu’s Ramy and the Marvel series Moon Knight alongside Oscar Isaac, is also going to be in Gladiator 2. Per Deadline, the actress’ unknown role has great “importance” to the story. Scott apparently did a wide search for the role, and Calamawy landed it after “multiple auditions.” We thought we spotted the actress kissing Mescal's character in the trailer, so perhaps she is his love interest.

Derek Jacobi 

Another returning cast member from Gladiator is Derek Jacobi, who will once again play Senator Gracchus, a member of the Roman Senate who opposed Commodus’s rule in the 2000 movie and helped out Lucilla and Maximus. Jacobi is an 84-year-old British actor who has appeared in projects like Good Omens and The Sandman in recent years.

Djimon Hounsou

Djimon Hounsou played the role of Juba, a Numidian tribesman who becomes Maximus’s closest friend, in the first movie, and the actor is expected to return for Gladiator 2 as the same character. Hounsou recently was seen as The Wizard in both Black Adam and Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and will star in Zack Snyder’s space opera, Rebel Moon this winter.

Peter Mensah 

Actor Peter Mensah has dabbled in historical epics like Gladiator, between his roles in the 300 films and Spartacus series. He had a role in Avatar and was a major character in cancelled series Midnight, Texas as well. Given his history in the action space, we imagine he’ll be part of it as a cast member with an undisclosed role in Gladiator 2.

Matt Lucas 

Bridesmaids actor Matt Lucas has also reportedly been cast in an unknown role in the sequel. The British-German actor is primarily known for his comedic and voiceover work. Along with Gladiator 2, he also was recently in Wonka movie starring Timothée Chalamet.

Gladiator 2 is set for a November 22, 2024 release date, only in theaters!

The latest DC Studios movie Shazam: Fury of the Gods rekindled our relationship with the “Shazamily,” and gave more scenes to Super Mary star Grace Caroline Currey and Billy Batson’s foster brother, Freddy Freeman. In fact, one of the main selling points (in my opinion) for the DC sequel is the comedic chemistry shared between Jack Dylan Grazer (as Freddy) and Djimon Hounsou, once again playing the wizard who granted Shazam (Zachary Levi) his powers. There’s a subplot that teams Freddy and the Wizard on a side mission through Shazam: Fury of the Gods, and it was during these sequences that Grazer came up with an improvised laugh that he fought hard to keep in, because it made Hounsou laugh. 

At one point during Shazam: Fury of the Gods, Freddy and the Wizard find themselves imprisoned by the Daughters of Atlas, played by the royal trio of Helen Mirren, Lucy Liu, and Rachel Zegler. And while digging around in the dirt seeking for a way out of their prison cell, Freddy wonders if he has discovered a tooth… which naturally freaks him out. Only, this line wasn’t in the script. As Grazer noted to CinemaBlend during our recent interview:

It is a funny line, one of many that Jack Dylan Grazer gets in this sequel. Because Helen Mirren’s character steals his Shazam powers away from Freddy early, Grazer gets to play the powered-down version of the character for longer stretches, which gives him time to expand on that unexpected chemistry he ends up having with Hounsou. 

And as I mentioned to Jack Dylan Grazer, the scene resonated so strongly with David Sandberg, he used the tooth moment as the sketch that accompanied the young actor’s credit in the final moments of the film. Of all the scenes that Sandberg could have selected for Grazer, he chose the prison-tooth line. It’s a funny improvisation, and one I’ll personally remember long after Shazam: Fury of the Gods has come and gone.  

Which might happen sooner than expected. The box office for Shazam: Fury of the Gods wasn’t really what the studio was hoping to see, meaning the end-credits scenes that connect the DC hero to the JSA probably isn’t going to pay off in the DC Universe moving forward. Some of this might have to do with the controversy surrounding The Rock’s reported refusal to have Zachary Levi’s Shazam cameo in Black Adam. And it could just be that DC fans are ready for new beginnings, with the slate that James Gunn and Peter Safran recently announced. 

Stay up to date on all of the upcoming DC movies by bookmarking this guide and checking it often.

Following his time in the DC Extended Universe helming Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and his version of Justice League (not to be confused with Joss Whedon’s theatrical version),  Zack Snyder made the jump to Netflix, first directing the zombie heist movie Army of the Dead for the platform. In addition to helping craft the prequel Army of Thieves, Snyder will helm the direct sequel Planet of the Dead, but the filmmaker isn’t just delivering tales involving the undead to Netflix subscribers. He also has a sci-fi epic out called Rebel Moon.

Originally envisioned as a Star Wars movie that Zack Snyder pitched to Lucasfilm prior to the company being purchased by Disney, Rebel Moon sees a peaceful colony at the edge of the galaxy called Veldt being threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius, leader of the Mother World. In response, the colony’s citizens task a young woman with a mysterious past to recruit warriors from nearby planets to help them take a stand against Balisarius and his forces. Among the things we know about Rebel Moon is that the tale, which Snyder co-wrote with Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, has been split into two movies shot back-to-back. 

An impressive collection of actors has been assembled for this story, including Sons of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam and Justice League’s Ray Fisher. But before we get to them, let’s talk about who’s playing the main protagonist.

Sofia Boutella

The enigmatic woman in Rebel Moon who’s seeking warriors to help protect Veldt, her adopted homeworld, is named Kora, and she's a deserter of the Imperium. Kora will be played by Sofia Boutella, who made a big splash in the mid-2010s starring in blockbusters like Kingsman: The Secret Service, Star Trek Beyond, The Mummy and Atomic Blonde. In more recent years, Boutella has appeared in Prisoners of the Ghostland, Settlers, SAS Rogue Heroes and the “The Viewing” episode of Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which also streams on Netflix. Since Kora is Rebel Moon’s main protagonist, it goes without saying she didn't die, so we'll see more of her in Rebel Moon Part 2.

Charlie Hunnam

As indicated earlier, Charlie Hunnam collected a lot of fans from his time playing Jax Teller in the FX series Sons of Anarchy, and he jumped back into the TV realm in 2022 to lead Shantaram, which can be streamed with an Apple TV+ subscription. Film-wise, Hunnam’s credits include Children of Men, Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, Triple Frontier and The Gentlemen. The actor appears in Rebel Moon as Kai, a mercenary who pilots the Tawau-Class freighter, which is "invaluable" to Kora's quest, although there proves to be more to him than meets the eye.

Ray Fisher

It’s not exaggerating to say that Zack Snyder launched Ray Fisher’s film career, as the actor’s first cinematic credit was cameoing in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as Victor Stone, a.k.a. Cyborg. Fisher then made his full debut as Cyborg in Justice League, and in addition to Zack Snyder’s Justice League showing off his original performance as the cybernetic superhero, the actor also came back to shoot new footage for the four-hour cut. Fisher had been set to reprise Cyborg in The Flash, but he was written out after he refused to work on any project involving then-DC Films president Walter Hamada. Post-DCEU, Fisher has starred in True Detective Season 3 and the ABC limited series Women of the Movement, and he's since re-teamed with Snyder on Rebel Moon, where he's played Darrian Bloodaxe, an insurgent who's been targeting the Imperium with guerilla attacks.

Ed Skrein

The powerful Regent Balisarius is the source of conflict in Rebel Moon’s story, and Ed Skrein will appear as his right-hand man, Admiral Atticus Noble, a nefarious Imperium enforcer and commandant of the space cruiser called The King's Gaze. Skrein is no stranger to playing villains, as evidenced by his work in Deadpool and Alita: Battle Angel. You may also recognize him from If Beale Street Could Talk, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, Midway and Naked Singularity, as well as being the first Daario Naharis on Game of Thrones. As revealed in Rebel Moon's surprise ending, Skrein will be back for Rebel Moon Part 2 despite initial appearances to the contrary.

Djimon Hounsou

Although Rebel Moon marks the first time that Djimon Hounsou and Zack Snyder have worked together, like Ray Fisher, Hounsou has some DCEU experience under his belt from playing The Wizard in Shazam!, Black Adam and the upcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods, as well as voicing King Ricou in Aquaman. Hounsou also lent his talents to the MCU as Korath in Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel, and his other notable credits include Amistad, Gladiator, Blood Diamond, Constantine, Furious 7, A Quiet Place Part II and The King’s Man. In Rebel Moon, Hounsou plays General Titus; we got an intense portrait of the actor in character in May 2022, and it was later revealed that Titus is a "hardened gladiator" who once served the Imperium.

Anthony Hopkins

While we don't see Anthony Hopkins in Rebel Moon, we will hear him as the voice of Jimmy, “an impossibly sentient JC1435 mechanized battle robot and one-time defender of the slain King.” (Dustin Ceithamer physically portrays Jimmy.) Kora met Jimmy during her time on Veldt, where the robot surprisingly came to her aid during a tense conflict, then disappeared to parts unknown. Rebel Moon's extended cut will flesh out the character's backstory. Along with this movie, Hopkins’ recent credits include Thor: Ragnarok, The Father, The Son, Armageddon Time and HBO’s Westworld.

Jena Malone

Rebel Moon marks Jena Malone’s third collaboration with Zack Snyder, having previously played Rocket in Sucker Punch and Jenet Klyburn in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’s “Ultimate Edition.” Malone is also well known for playing Johanna Mason in the latter three Hunger Games movies, Hope Harlingen in Inherent Vice and Sage Ross in Nocturnal Animals. Along with Rebel Moon, where she plays a spider warrior named Harmada who's terrorizing the mining village of Daggus, Malone is part of the ensemble cast for Kevin Costner’s Western saga Horizon.

Cary Elwes

Although Cary Elwes is still arguably best known for starring as Westley/DreadPirate Roberts in The Princess Bride and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the Saw movies, the man’s popped up in a fair amount of high-profile projects over the last several years. Stranger Things fans will remember him as Mayor Larry Kline in Season 3, he had a stint on the Amazon Prime Video as Gavin Hawk in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, he starred as Professor Gelson in the Black Christmas remake and also was paired with Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning. Elwes plays the Imperium king who was assassinated, allowing Balisarius to declare himself regent.

Corey Stoll

Superhero genre fans will recognize Corey Stoll as Darren Cross, a.k.a. Yellowjacket, in Ant-Man, and in 2021, he played supporting roles in The Many Saints of Newark and West Side Story. TV viewers, on the other hand, may have seen Stoll in shows like House of Cards, The Strain, Girls and Billions. Either way, Rebel Moon is the actor’s second time working on a Netflix project, having previously recurred in the first season of the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest prequel Ratched. In Rebel Moon, he plays Sindri, a village chief on Veldt.

Cleopatra Coleman

After kicking off her acting career appearing in various Australian movies and TV shows, Cleopatra Coleman gained popularity stateside starring with Will Forte in The Last Man on Earth. Following that show’s conclusion, Coleman led the short-lived TV series White Famous with Jamie Foxx, appeared in the Netflix movie In the Shadow of the Moon and recurred in five episodes of Hulu’s Dopesick, among other projects. Rebel Moon is arguably her most blockbuster-y project yet; she plays Devra, Darrian Bloodaxe's sister who has similar powers as him and is recruited at the same time to Kora's cause.

Fra Fee

Although it was initially reported that Skrein was playing Regent Balisarius in Rebel Moon, it was later clarified that Fra Free was playing that character instead, making him the story's overarching antagonist since he's the one giving orders to Admiral Atticus Noble. In addition to boast a large number of impressive theatre credits, film fans might recognize Free for playing Courfeyrac in 2012’s Les Misérables or Hench in Amazon’s Cinderella, which came out in 2019. If you’re a Marvel Cinematic Universe fan though, you’ll certainly recognize him as Kazi from Disney+’s Hawkeye series. 

Stuart Martin

Although Rebel Moon is the first time Stuart Martin has been directed by Zack Snyder in a live-action, he is already affiliated with a franchise tied to the filmmaker. That’s because he appeared as Brad Cage, a.k.a. Alexis Broschini, in the previously-mentioned Army of Thieves, which was directed by its lead actor, Matthias Schweighöfer. Martin also starred in the entirety of the Jamestown series and has been playing Detective Inspector William Wellington in Miss Scarlet and The Duke. Additionally, Martin is voicing a role in Snyder’s upcoming animated series Twilight of the Gods. Martin stars in Rebel Moon as Den, a farmer/hunter on Veldt.

Michiel Huisman

Remember when I said that Ed Skrein was the first actor to play Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones: Well here’s a twist: the second Daario is appearing in Rebel Moon too! Aside from the HBO series, Michiel Huisman’s major TV credits include Treme, Nashville, Orphan Black, The Haunting of Hill House and The Flight Attendant Season 1. Moviegoers might remember him from the likes of World War Z, The Age of Adaline and Kate. Huisman has been cast in Rebel Moon as Gunnar, a farmer on Veldt who "knows little of the galaxy outside of his small, quiet corner of the galaxy," but agrees to accompany Kora on her mission.

Doona Bae

While the majority of Doona Bae's professional endeavors come from her home country of South Korea, as far as her English-speaking work goes, the actress has notably collaborated with The Wachowskis twice, on Cloud Atlas (playing multiple roles) and the Netflix series Sense8. Bae appears in Rebel Moon as Nemesis, "a cyborg sword master whose mechanical hands allow her to wield molten-metal weapons," so expect her to pose trouble for Kora and her allies.

Staz Nair

Yet another Game of Thrones veteran has been looped into Rebel Moon, with Staz Nair having recurred in Seasons 6-8 as Qhono. However, Nair is arguably better known for playing CatCo reporter William Dey in Supergirl’s final two seasons. Rebel Moon is Nair’s second time performing in a feature-length film, and he does so as Tarak, a "noble indentured servant" who shares a special bond with a flying creature known as a Bennu.

Alfonso Herrera

Although most of Alfonso Herrera’s work is in Spanish-language projects, but he has starred in a number of high-profile offerings from the United States. You may know him as Hernando Fuentes from Sense8, Father Tomas Ortega from the short-lived Exorcist TV series, Javier Jimenez in Queen of the South or Javi Elizondro from Ozark. Herrera also voiced Krypto the Superdog for the Latin American version of DC League of Super-Pets, but it’s safe to say that Rebel Moon is his biggest movie yet. He takes part in this sci-fi epic as Cassius, a warrior working for Atticus Noble.

E. Duffy

E. Duffy is a relative newcomer to the acting scene, with their prior credits being the short films Jeanne Alone, Sleepyhead, Lucky Me, Girlfriends and Acid Noir. Rebel Moon is their first time acting in a feature-length film; they playing Milius, a refugee who seeks justice for her home, which fell to Mother World, and does so by joining Darrian and Devra's resistance group.

Charlotte Maggi

Charlotte Maggi also has one of the lighter resumes of the Rebel Moon cast members, having previously appeared in the TV shows MaveriX and Summer Love. Maggi is reportedly playing a character named Sam, a farm girl on Veldt who befriends Jimmy and ends up being the catalyst for Kora to gather warriors to help her protect her community.

Sky Yang

Aside from a minor role in 2018’s Tomb Raider, most of you have likely seen Sky Yang either in the Irish TV series Holding or playing Ruben in two episodes of Paramount+’s Halo series. In Rebel Moon, he plays Aris, a Motherworld soldier who stands up to his comrades' brutality against Sam.

Rhian Rees

Next, we have Rhian Rees, who played Emma in five episodes of the short-lived series Disengaged and has also popped up in the likes of Halloween (the 2018 version), The Send-Off, Nope and the upcoming Damian Chazelle movie Babylon. She briefly appears in Rebel Moon as The Queen, i.e. the late wife to Cary Elwes' King.

Ray Porter

Though Ray Porter has been professionally acting for over 30 years, he gained a lot of fans from Zack Snyder’s camp when he was cast to play Darkseid in Zack Snyder’s Justice League, a role he obviously would have reprised had those Justice League sequels moved forward. For Rebel Moon, he played Hickman, a cruel farmer whom Tarak owed a debt. Porter’s other superhero media experience includes playing Brutus on the short-lived TV series Naomi and voicing additional characters on Teen Titans, and he’s also appeared on shows like Medium, Monk, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Shameless and Modern Family.

Ingvar Sigurdsson

While the majority of Ingvar Sigurdsson’s credits hail from his native Iceland, the actor has accumulated some appearance in Hollywood productions, including K-19: The Widowmaker, Everest, Justice League (both versions), Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Northman. In Rebel Moon, Sigurdsson plays Hagen, a friend of Kora’s, and it's looking like he'll be back for Part 2.

The first half of Rebel Moon, titled A Child of Fire, hit Netflix on December 22, and the second half, titled The Scargiver, will follow on April 19, 2024. Keep your eyes on CinemaBlend for more news about the follow-up movie and other additions to the franchise.

Moviegoers love underdog stories because it is easier to relate to an otherwise extraordinary situation when it is told from the perspective of an average person much like them. The animated film, Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is, very literally, an underdog tale about a meek canine who wants to be a samurai and seeks training from a wise, old feline in a town entirely populated by cats.

Originally titled Blazing Samurai, this new movie from The Lion King director Rob Minkoff looks like it could be the most entertaining animated feature inspired by classic Japanese action films and featuring anthropomorphic animals since Kung Fu Panda. Check out the stars behind these charming, funny characters in our following guide to see who plays whom in the Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank voice cast - starting with the unlikely main hero.

Michael Cera (Hank)

Voicing Hank - the titular Beagle and aspiring samurai - is Michael Cera, whose last time playing a “dog” in an animated film was in 2016’s Sausage Party as a frankfurter named Barry. For a while, the Canadian actor’s main gig was playing non-literal underdogs - such as on Arrested Development as George-Michael Bluth, in 2007’s one-two-punch of hit coming-of-age comedies Juno and Superbad, and in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (also in the title role) to name a few. 

Cera, who also voiced Robin in 2017’s The LEGO Batman Movie, has also played characters that defy this reputation - such as a creepy, young sadist in 2013’s Magic Magic, Player X in Molly’s Game, and an extremely crude version of himself in This is the End. More recently, he acted alongside creator and star Amy Schumer on Hulu’s Life & Beth and has joined Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie cast in an undisclosed role.

Samuel L. Jackson (Jimbo)

As Hank’s mentor, a cat samurai named Jimbo, we have Samuel L. Jackson, who has played the mentor to several heroes (such as Nick Fury in the MCU or Mace Windu in the Star Wars universe). He has also played many straight-up heroes (like Frozone in The Incredibles and its sequel), some villains (like Elijah Price in Unbreakable and its 2019 sequel), some guys in between (like in The Hitman's Bodyguard and its sequel) and even another animated samurai (in the 2007 miniseries, Afro Samurai, and its sequel).

The Academy Award nominee’s lengthy filmography also includes countless cinematic classics like Coming to America, Goodfellas, Die Hard with a Vengeance, or Jurassic Park, and, also, more recent favorites like Black Snake Moan, Snakes on a Plane, or Kong: Skull Island. Also, you could name almost any one of Quentin Tarantino’s movies or any one of Spike Lee’s movies and there is a good chance that Jackson is in it.

Ricky Gervais (Ika Chu)

As Ika Chu - a greedy feline who wants to destroy the film’s central village setting - we have Ricky Gervais, who previously voiced a pigeon in Valiant, an invasive dolphin on Family Guy, a hedgehog on Bojack Horseman, himself on a few notable occasions (such as on Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?), and another cat in The Willoughbys cast for Netflix. He has also starred in a few live-action family-friendly films like 2014’s Muppets: Most Wanted and the Night of the Museum movies (which actually have an animated follow-up in the works).

Of course, the British comedian and host of some memorable Golden Globes ceremonies is even better known for less-family-friendly movies like For Your Consideration, The Invention of Lying (which he also co-wrote and co-directed), or Ghost Town. Yet, Gervais is even more famous for the TV shows he has created and starred in, like the original UK version of The Office, HBO’s Extras, or, most recently, the Netflix-original dramedy, After Life.

George Takei (Ohga)

Playing Ika Chu’s chief guard, Ohga, is George Takei, who is nothing short of a legend in the world of acting. His first screen credit was actually a Godzilla movie (1955’s Godzilla Raids Again), which led to roles in other films like The Green Berets and, of course, his best known role as Sulu in the original Star Trek cast in the 1960s and in many subsequent Star Trek movies, too. 

The LGBTQ+ activist has several notable recent TV roles, such as on AMC's horror anthology The Terror, and also makes many appearances as himself, such as on The Big Bang Theory. Takei has a large number of voice acting credits to his name, from First Ancestor in 1998’s Mulan, Hosato in 2016’s Kubo and the Two Strings, and Shinji Yokohama on Hulu’s animated Marvel series, Hit-Monkey.

Kylie Kuoika (Emiko)

Playing Emiko - an adorable, young cat with her own heroic aspirations - is Kylie Kuoika, a Hawaiian-born actor who is not only making her voice acting debut, but also her theatrically released feature film debut with Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank. Her official feature-length movie debut was the Disney+ exclusive Better Nate Than Ever earlier in 2022.

The young Broadway performer's first real screen acting debut was in the 2021 short horror movie, Harom. In 2022, she also starred in a more grounded and dramatic short film called Removable.

Michelle Yeoh (Yuki)

Emiko’s mother, Yuki, is voiced by Michelle Yeoh, whose last animated kung-fu movie was the 2011 sequel to the aforementioned Kung Fu Panda. She first tore up the screen in live-action alongside Jackie Chan in 1992’s Supercop before teaming up with Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond in 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies and defying gravity in Ang Lee’s Oscar-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in 2000 - which are only some of Yeoh's best movies. 

The Malaysian-born actor is almost more popular than ever these days, having appeared in two Marvel movies (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and in the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings cast), a few hit rom-coms (the Crazy Rich Asians cast and Last Christmas), and leading the highly acclaimed, indescribably unique crowd-pleaser, Everything Everywhere All At Once, in 2022. Yeoh also has a recurring role on Star Trek: Discovery and her most recent animated film before Paws of Fury is Minions: The Rise of Gru.

Gabriel Iglesias (Chuck)

As a fluffy cat name Chuck, we have the self-proclaimed “fluffy” stand-up star Gabriel Iglesias, who has many, many other notable voice acting credits under his belt. He played both Ned and Zed in Pixar’s Planes, Pepe Rodriguez in The Book of Life, Jimmy in both of The Nut Job movies, an afterlife clerk in Coco, Cuatro in Ferdinand, and Speedy Gonzales in Space Jam: A New Legacy - which, seriously, barely scratches the surface of that particular list.

You may have seen the Latino comedian in live-action near the end of All That’s original run on Nickelodeon, playing Tobias in the Magic Mike cast, and in A Haunted House 2 with Marlon Wayans. Iglesias also had a major role on Cristela Alonso’s self-titled sitcom before landing his own self-titled sitcom on Netflix with Mr. Iglesias.

Aasif Mandvi (Ichiro)

As another feline villager named Ichiro, we have Aasif Mandvi, who actually made his film debut opposite co-star Samuel L. Jackson with a brief appearance as a cab driver in Die Hard with a Vengeance and reunited with him in 2006 in the crime thriller Freedomland. He was also in Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais, when his best known movie role at the time might have been Mr. Aziz in Spider-Man 2. 

The former Daily Show correspondent would later land considerably larger parts in movies like The Proposal, M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender as Commander Zhao, The Internship with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson, and Million Dollar Arm with Jon Hamm. Mandvi’s most notable TV roles include Rafiq Massoud in HBO’s short-lived satire, The Brink, Uncle Monty on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, and Ben Shakir in Paramount+’s Evil cast, most recently.

Djimon Hounsou (Sumo)

Voicing the intimidatingly large cat aptly named Sumo is Djimon Hounsou - who is, like co-star Samuel L. Jackson, an MCU star (he appeared in two Marvel movies and lent his voice to the What If…? cast as Korath). However, he also has a few DC movies under his belt - namely 2005’s Constantine and DCEU movies Aquaman and Shazam!

The former model received his first Academy Award nomination for Steven Spielberg’s Amistad before going on to star in more classics like the Best Picture Oscar winner, Gladiator, and later earning his second nod in 2007 for Blood Diamond. In addition to joining other big franchises like the Fast and Furious movies and 2021's A Quiet Place sequel, the King’s Man cast member has also previously leant his voce to How to Train Your Dragon 2 and an animated miniseries adaptation of Black Panther from 2010 as T’Challa. 

Cathy Shim (Little Mama)

As the Grand Dame of the town being fought over, Kakamucho, Little Mama, we have Cathy Shim, who made her uncredited feature film debut alongside co-star Michelle Yeoh in 2005’s Memoirs of a Geisha. By then, she had already made some of her first appearances with the Reno 911! cast as various characters - such as Miss Junior, whom she would reprise in the Emmy-nominated, feature-length Paramount+ exclusive, Reno 911!: The Hunt for QAnon, in 2021.

She also had a small role in 2007’s Balls of Fury (which has absolutely no relation to this new animated film), was in the 2009 horror-comedy, The Revenant (which has absolutely nothing to do with the 2015 Leonardo DiCaprio film), and also had a few small roles in comedies like 2012’s The Watch and Hell Baby from 2013. Shim also had a recurring spot on L.A.’s Finest and was in the 2019 romantic drama, The Sun is Also a Star. 

Mel Brooks (Shogun)

Last, but certainly no least, we have Mel Brooks as The Shogun - the latest voice acting role of the 96-year-old comedy legend. He previously played Bigweld in 2005’s Blue Sky movie, Robots, Albert Einstein in 2014’s Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Vlad in the Hotel Transylvania movies, and Melephant Brooks in Toy Story 4. 

Of course, Brooks is just as famous for his acting as he is for writing, producing, and directing - such as his 1967 directorial debut, The Producers, which earned him his sole Oscar and was later adapted into a Tony-winning stage musical. Other classics of his include B-movie parody, Young Frankenstein, Star Wars parody, Spaceballs, medieval adventure parody, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and western parody, Blazing Saddles.

Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank is actually loosely inspired by Blazing Saddles, so it must be quite an honor for the creators to have gotten the man behind the comedy classic to star in the film. Then again, it would be an honor to work with every member of this talented voice cast.

Following the release of Zack Snyder's Justice League, the title filmmaker is moving on with original ideas, namely for Netflix. After last year’s successful release of zombie flick Army of the Dead, the writer/director has been developing an original science fiction film called Rebel Moon for a few years. Snyder has updated fans that he is on the set of the project right now to start filming the mysterious epic. 

Zack Snyder took to his Twitter to share the first three images from the set of Rebel Moon. Check them out: 

What sticks out immediately about the Rebel Moon images is a piercing black and white image of Djimon Hounsou, who will reportedly play a character named General Titus in the movie. He is jacked in an ornate piece of armor and giving an intense stare as he dons a cut on his forehead. Consider our attention held. 

The other two images seem to give Zack Snyder fans a peek at one of Rebel Moon’s set pieces, which looks like some sort of aircraft out of Dune. It’s a massive piece that is standing in the middle of a desert and painted with green, which means some CGI will come in to finish its look. 

Zack Snyder has referenced Akira Kurosawa and the Star Wars universe when speaking about how Rebel Moon came about. When Rebel Moon was picked up by Netflix last summer, the Man of Steel filmmaker said the movie brings out his “love” of sci-fi and giant adventure. He shared the hope that Rebel Moon become sa “massive IP” that can be built out into a bigger universe. 

Rebel Moon boasts a huge cast also including Charlie Hunnam, Sofia Boutella, Jena Malone, Corey Stoll, Cary Elwes and Justice League’s Cyborg actor, Ray Fisher. Snyder came up with the story alongside 300 and Atomic Blonde’s  Kurt Johnstad and co-wrote the screenplay with Shay Hatten, who also penned Army of the Dead and Army of Thieves with him – alongside writing credits in the John Wick franchise. 

Much like the release of Army of the Dead (which has a sequel called Planet of the Dead on the way), I imagine once Rebel Moon is filmed and edited, it may be one of the few Netflix films to hit theaters before arriving on the streaming service. People with Netflix subscriptions around the world will have access to the science fiction epic, and perhaps the filmmaker can bring out his distinct creative vision without the constraints of a studio he ran into working on DC films with Warner Bros. 

Zack Snyder has, of course, amassed a huge following thanks to his SnyderVerse vision for DC, but at this time, it doesn’t seem like movies like Man of Steel 2 are in the works anymore from the director. No matter what happens with DC, Snyder is moving forward with Rebel Moon, and the future looks bright as filming kicks off. 

Zack Snyder's upcoming science-fiction blockbuster Rebel Moon is starting to really get cooking. The filmmaker has already cast a number of talented actors for the Netflix movie, which is going into production soon, but today he nearly doubled the size of the ensemble by adding a Justice League star and an Academy Award-nominee, among others.

The writer/director announced the news on his official Twitter account – posting that Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bae, and Ray Fisher have all signed deals that will see them take parts in Rebel Moon. You can check out Zack Snyder's message on Twitter below, which also includes what we have to assume is concept art from the upcoming film:

Additionally, Netflix has revealed an official plot synopsis for the film via the Netflix Geeked Twitter account, which details Rebel Moon as being about a mysterious woman who goes planet hopping in search of warriors who will stand with her in a fight against an enemy named Regent Balisarius. You can see the full text below:

Rebel Moon will mark the first time that Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, and Doona Bae work with Zack Snyder, but obviously Ray Fisher previously collaborated with the filmmaker on Justice League – playing the role of Victor Stone a.k.a. Cyborg. Unfortunately there aren't any official details regarding what parts the actors will be playing in the new Netflix blockbuster, but The Hollywood Reporter has some leads on a few character IDs.

According to the trade's sources, Djimon Hounsou will play a character named General Titus, and Ray Fisher is playing a hero called Blood Axe. The report doesn't mention a name for Bae Doona's role, but it says she is "a nemesis who is proficient with a sword."

If all goes according to plan, Rebel Moon may end up being Zack Snyder's most ambitious movie production yet, as it is a two-parter that will see both halves filmed this year. The current schedule will see the blockbuster start principal photography in April and come to an end in November. Release dates have not yet been announced (which is normal for Netflix), but given the scale of the project one has to wonder just how long the post-production process is going to take. If the streaming service were to announce that we won't see the finished product before 2024, I can't say I'd be all that surprised.

With nearly two months still to go before Rebel Moon starts its epic production phase, it's possible that the project still isn't done adding to its impressive cast, so stay tuned for any news or updates on that front. And while you start to calculate just how long you may have to wait for the new Zack Snyder film (as well as everything else he's working on), you can check out all of the features scheduled to hit Netflix this year with our 2022 Netflix Movie Schedule.

In 2015, a year dominated by spy movies, the one that stood out for its sheer originality and bold zaniness was Kingsman: The Secret Service - based on Mark Millar’s popular Icon Comics series - which spawned an even more bizarre sequel, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, two years later. Co-writer and director Matthew Vaughn has returned for a third installment called The King’s Man, which will focus on the origins of the titular intelligence agency during the early 20th Century.

Of course, as is the case for most prequels, The King’s Man cast employs a whole new (and very exciting) ensemble, including two-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes. We shall start with him as we explore who is playing who (a phrase that may actually have more than one meaning in this case) in one of the most anticipated 2021 movies. 

Ralph Fiennes (Orlando, Duke Of Oxford)

Leading The King’s Man cast as Orlando, a Kingsman member (and the Duke of Oxford), is Ralph Fiennes, who has previous experience in comic book movies (Alfred in The LEGO Batman Movie) and spy movies (James Bond’s “M” since Skyfall). Of course, his most famous franchise is the Harry Potter movies, in which he played the ruthless Voldemort. 

The Shakespearean-trained performer is one of cinema’s most respected British actors today with two Oscar nominations (Schindler’s List in 1993 and 1997’s The English Patient) to prove it. His resume is full of plenty more Oscar-nominated films such as The Constant Gardener from 2005, Martin McDonough’s dark comedy In Bruges in 2008, Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, and the animated Kubo and the Two Strings, just to name a few.

Harris Dickinson (Conrad Oxford)

As Ralph Fiennes’ onscreen son, Conrad, in The King’s Man, we have Harris Dickinson, who made his critically acclaimed feature-length film debut in the coming-of-age, LGBTQ+ drama Beach Rats in 2017. The British actor was cast as real-life kidnapping victim J. Paul Getty III in the FX miniseries Trust the following year. 

Also in 2018, he played a telekinetic teen in The Darkest Minds, but had an even bigger year in 2019 when he joined Netflix’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance cast as Gurjin and appeared in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil as Prince Phillip. In 2022, Dickinson will appear in another sequel (The Souvenir Part II) and the star-studded mystery drama Where the Crawdads Sing.

Gemma Arterton (Polly Wilkins)

Previously working with Ralph Fiennes in Clash of the Titans before appearing on The King’s Man cast as the trigger-happy Polly Wilkins is Gemma Arterton. The fellow Brit already knows a thing or two about kicking some ass onscreen. 

Gemma Arterton previously appeared in Guy Ritchie’s RocknRolla in 2008, the video game movie Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in 2010, and 2013’s action-packed reinterpretation of a Grimm Brothers’ classic, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, as Gretel. Outside of action movies, Arterton has also appeared in comedies like Netflix’s Murdery Mystery and led the cast of the FX/BBC produced, miniseries period drama Black Narcissus in 2020.

Rhys Ifans (Grigori Rasputin)

Playing an exaggerated version of Grigori Rasputin in The King’s Man is an almost completely unrecognizable Rhys Ifans. Like Ralph Fiennes, Ifans is also a veteran of comic book movies (Lizard in The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012 and 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home), the Harry Potter movies (Xenophilius Lovegood), spy movies (Oliver Stone’s Snowden, if that counts), and playing Oxford-based royalty (Roland Emmerich’s Anonymous in 2011). 

Ifans is also well known for playing Hugh Grant’s roommate in 1999’s Notting Hill and starring in period pieces like Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The fantasy genre has also been a recurrence in Ifans’ career and which will continue with HBO’s upcoming Game of Thrones prequel, House of Dragons.

Matthew Goode (Morton)

Our next (and certainly not last) comic book veteran on The King’s Man cast is Matthew Goode. The British actor started getting noticed as Mandy Moore’s love interest in Chasing Liberty and Scarlett Johansson’s cuckolded love interest in Match Point before playing Ozymandias in Zack Snyder’s Watchmen in 2009. 

Goode has also done various period pieces both on the big screen (such as 2008’s Brideshead Revisited and The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch in 2014) and the small screen (he landed recurring roles on both the Downton Abbey cast and on Netflix’s The Crown). In 2022, the Silent Night star will reprise his role as the vampiric Matthew Clairmont on the romantic supernatural drama A Discovery of Witches for its third season.

Tom Hollander (King George/Kaiser Wilhelm/Tsar Nicholas)

Juggling three roles in The King’s Man (namely King George, Kaiser Wilhelm, and Tsar Nicholas) is Tom Hollander. This actor began to gain notoriety as part of the ensemble cast of Robert Altman’s 2001 murder mystery Gosford Park and 2005’s Pride & Prejudice adaptation before playing an antagonist of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies called Lord Cutler Beckett. 

In fact, Tom Hollander has played a number of antagonistic characters, such as Lance Corkoran on the acclaimed AMC miniseries The Night Manager and the unhinged Gary in Netflix’s Bird Box in 2018. Among his better known roles as of late, Hollander played long-time Queen manager Jim Beach in Bohemian Rhapsody and made his comic book adaptation debut on HBO Max’s animated Harley Quinn series as the voice of Alfred Pennyworth in 2020.

Daniel Brühl (Erik Jan Hanussen)

Yet another The King’s Man cast member with previous comic book adaptation experience is the Spanish-born, German-raised Daniel Brühl, who plays real-life Austrian-Jewish charlatan Erik Jan Hanussen in the film. American audiences began to take interest in Daniel Brühl after he played Nazi soldier turned autobiographical movie star Fredrick Zoller on Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds cast. 

However, he is even better known internationally by now as Zemo in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and on Disney+’s Falcon and the Winter Soldier cast in 2021. He also has two Golden Globes for 2013’s competitor driver biopic Rush and TNT’s suspenseful period drama The Alienist and made his directorial debut in 2021 with the Berlin-set social commentary Next Door, which he also stars in.

Djimon Hounsou (Shola)

As Kingsman agent Shola, we have Djimon Honsou, who has starred in Marvel movies (and lent his voice to Disney+’s What If…? cast) as the Kree warrior Korath. However, he has also appeared in DC movies Constantine, Aquaman, Shazam!. 

Djimon Hounsou also has two Oscar nominations for Steven Spielberg’s Amistad and the International crime thriller Blood Diamond and also starred in the Best Picture-winner Gladiator between them. The King’s Man is only the latest franchise endeavor that Hounsou has participated in after starring in How To Train Your Dragon 2, Furious 7, and A Quiet Place Part II most recently.

Charles Dance (Herbert Kitchener)

As real-life, World War I-era British Army officer Herbert Kitchener, we have Charles Dance, whose long and esteemed career is filled with connections to most of his fellow The King’s Man cast members. He played a Bond villain in 1981’s For Your Eyes Only, starred in Gosford Park and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, and  was Tywin Lannister on the Game of Thrones cast. 

Charles Dance also had a recurring role on Netflix's The Crown and will soon star on the streaming platform's series adaptation of the DC comic The Sandman. Dance has also worked with director David Fincher on Alien 3 and the 2020 Netflix original Mank, was part of the Underworld movies cast, and played the main human villain of Godzilla: King of the Monsters in 2019.

Saving the world has not looked so old school since… well, the first Kingsman movie, probably. For that, you need an ensemble who know what they are doing and that describes The King’s Man cast to a T.

In 2019, the DC Comics superhero formerly known as Captain Marvel finally scored his own feature-length film eight decades after he first appeared in the pages of Whiz Comics #2. Shazam! was met with with a lot of critical praise and went on to make $366 million at the worldwide box office, so New Line Cinema swiftly greenlit a sequel. By DC FanDome 2020, the project once known as Shazam! 2 was officially titled Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and it’s assembled an impressive cast.

Although the Shazam! mid-credits scene teased an alliance between Mark Strong’s Doctor Sivana and the super-intelligent caterpillar known as Mister Mind, it’s since been revealed they will not appear in Shazam! Fury of the Gods (unless the duo is secretly cameoing). Instead, the Shazam family will face new threats in the sequel, but before we discuss them, let’s go over the familiar faces who are returning for the sequel.

Asher Angel/Zachary Levi

Hey, it wouldn’t be a Shazam! movie without our central protagonist, Billy Batson, played in regular form by Asher Angel and in superhero form by Chuck’s Zachary Levi. The character was selected by the wizard also called Shazam to be his new champion millennia after his previous champion, Black Adam, became corrupted (we’ll meet that Dwayne Johnson-portrayed anti-hero in summer 2022). But along with becoming a superhero, Billy also embraced his new family during Shazam!, and during the battle with Sivana and the Seven Deadly Sins, he shared his amazing abilities with his foster siblings. Now they’re superheroes just like him, so he won’t have to deal with the villains who surface in Shazam! Fury of the Gods alone.

Jack Dylan Grazer/Adam Brody

After being transformed into a superpowered adult, Billy sought the help of his new foster brother, Jack Dylan Grazer’s Freddy Freeman, expert on all things superhero-related, on getting the hang of these powers. Thanks to Freddy’s videos, Billy in his mighty adult form became a celebrity in Philadelphia, although the two boy’s friendship briefly became strained when Billy started irresponsibly using his powers, both to earn money and not prioritizing the well-being of innocents near him. Luckily, not only did these two end up reconciling, but like the other siblings, Freddy became Shazam-ified, with The O.C.’s Adam Brody playing his adult self. It was especially nice to see Freddy, who requires a crutch to walk in his normal form, was the first of the newly-minted members of the Shazam Family to start flying. It was also great to see Brody in superhero garb after he missed out on playing The Flash in the scrapped movie Justice League: Mortal.

Grace Fulton

The eldest member of the Shazam Family, Grace Fulton’s Mary Bromfield was applying to CalTech when we first met her in Shazam! and later on she was accepted. However, this academic institution was on the other side of the country, and Mary was saddened at the prospect of being so far away from her family. Since Mary’s back for Shazam! Fury of the Gods, it’s a good bet that if she is attending college, it’s somewhere close to home since she’s still battling the forces of evil with her siblings. Although Hawaii 5-0’s Michelle Borth played Mary’s Shazam-ified form in the first Shazam! movie, Fulton is pulling double duty as both civilian and superhero Mary in Fury of the Gods.

Faithe Herman/Meagan Good

Faithe Herman’s Darla Dudley was the second person to learn that Billy Batson could turn into Shazam, and while she has a penchant for spoiling secrets, she managed to keep mum on this until Mary figured it out herself. Think Like A Man’s Meagan Good was cast to play the superhero version of Darla, and did a great job emulating the girl’s enthusiasm and love for her family. Darla also got the hang of super speed… well, quickly, upon being bestowed with the Shazam magic.

Ian Chen/Ross Butler

Like his comic book counterpart, Ian Chen’s Eugene Choi knows his way around computers, to the point that he was able to find the address of Billy Batson’s biological mother and learn that Billy’s father was in prison. Upon becoming a superhero, the adult Eugene was played 13 Reasons Why’s Ross Butler, and was the first of Billy’s siblings who learned how to conjure lightning.

Jovan Armand/D.J. Cotrona

The shyest of Billy Batson’s foster siblings, Jovan Armand Pedro Peña was the one who spotted Billy’s discarded notebook chronicling his search for his mother. Pedro was also working out to get “swole,” making it especially fitting that after going through the Shazam transformation, he was the one who relied chiefly on super strength. G.I. Joe: Retaliation’s D.J. Cotrona played the adult Pedro, marking his return to the DC Comics space after he nearly played Superman in Justice League: Mortal.

Djimon Hounsou

Guardians of the Galaxy’s Djimon Hounsou starred in Shazam! as the wizard Shazam, who was once part of the Council of Wizards at the Rock of Eternity. However, after the other members were killed by the Seven Deadly Sins freed by Black Adam, Shazam imprisoned his former champion and spent centuries searching for someone pure of heart to inherit his powers. Thaddeus Sivana was one of the candidates, but when the boy became tempted by the Eye of Sin, the wizard sent him back. Decades later, and after the adult Sivana stole the eye, Shazam chose Billy as his new champion and swiftly crumbled to dust soon after. Hounsou is reprising the role in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and judging from the trailer, rather tha  the wizard Shazam’s spirit mentoring the heroes from the afterlife or appearing through flashbacks, it looks as though he's straight up been brought back to life.

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren has scored action cred thanks to her work in the RED movies and the Fast & Furious franchise, and now she’s jumping into the superhero movie genre with Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Mirren will play Hespera, one of the daughters of Atlas, from whom Billy and his siblings gain their enhanced stamina. The behind-the-scenes featurette for the sequel that screened at 2021’s DC FanDome showed Hespera and Kalypso (more on her soon) in a museum on Earth and causing mayhem on a street, so it seems as if they’re searching for an artifact on our world and don’t mind unleashing some destruction in the process. What is this artifact? What do they intend to do with it? It’ll be a while before those questions are answered. 

Lucy Liu

Lucy Liu also knows her way around the action world from the original Charlie’s Angels movies and Kill Bill: Volume 1, while in more recent years, she starred as Joan Watson in the CBS series Elementary. Liu’s Kalypso will be causing trouble alongside Helen Mirren’s Hespera in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, but we won’t just see them on Earth. In addition to revisiting the Rock of Eternity, we’ll also visit places like the Library of Eternity and the Realm of the Gods in the sequel, and monsters like  minotaurs, harpies and dragons will be on display. It stands to reason we’ll learn at least a little bit about Hespera and Kalypso’s upbringing in Fury of the Gods, namely how they ended up on the antagonistic path.

Rachel Zegler

The third of Atlas' daughters is named Anthea, and she’ll be played by Rachel Zegler, who made her film debut in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story remake. Between Shazam! Fury of the Gods and leading Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Zegler has a bright future ahead of her in Hollywood. It is worth noting that we don’t know yet if Zegler’s character in Fury of the Gods will be a villain like Hespera and Kalypso, or if she’s walking down a different path.

Cooper Andrews

In the first act of Shazam!, Billy Batson was placed in a group home run by Victor and Rosa Vásquez, who each had their own experience with the foster care system. Nevertheless, Billy kept looking for his biological mother, and after a sad reunion with her where he learned she deliberately gave him up, Billy realized his new family is where he truly belonged. The Walking Dead’s Cooper Andrews played Victor, and he’ll be back for Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Marta Milans

It’d be pretty weird for Victor to appear in Shazam! Fury of the Gods without Rosa, but luckily, we don’t have to worry about that. No Tomorrow’s Marta Milans will reprise Rosa in the sequel. Since the parents didn’t learn in Shazam! that their foster children became superheroes, hopefully they learn that in this new movie. There’s only so much sneaking around these kids can do before they finally reveal the truth.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods will work its magic in theaters on December 16, 2022. Keep checking back with CinemaBlend for more news about this and other upcoming DC Comics movies.

After nearly 80 years of existence, Shazam, formerly known as Captain Marvel, finally scored his own live-action movie in 2019, with Asher Angel playing young Billy Batson and Zachary Levi playing his mighty adult self. With the character now a full-fledged superhero alongside his adoptive siblings, the Shazam Family will return in Shazam! Fury of the Gods, and thanks to a leaked set photo, it’s been revealed that Djimon Hounsou’s Wizard, the mystical being who gave Billy his powers, will also be back.

But wait, didn’t he die in the first Shazam! movie? Well, yes, but let’s go over this new information first. Djimon Hounsou, who also has comic book movie cred from playing Korath in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Papa Midnite in Constantine and the Fisherman King in Aquaman, was photographed on Shazam! Fury of the Gods set in Atlanta, Georgia by Atlanta Filming. Also known as Shazam, The Wizard has been an integral figure in DC Comics’ Shazam mythos since the very beginning. Hounsou’s version of The Wizard was modeled after the New 52 version of the character, whose original name in that continuity was Mamaragan.

Djimon Hounsou’s Wizard, the sole surviving member of the Council of Wizards, was first seen in Shazam! bringing young Thaddeus Sivana to the Rock of Eternity to become his new champion, only to realize that the boy wasn’t worthy when he was tempted by the Seven Deadly Sins (the same thing that happened to Black Adam thousands of years earlier). In the present day, following the adult Sivana finally freeing the Sins, the Wizard brought Billy Batson to his magical lair to finally pass on his magic. After Billy was transformed, the ancient sorcerer crumbled to dust.

Now that we’re caught up to speed, there are two ways Djimon Hounsou’s Wizard could factor into Shazam! Fury of the Gods. Although the Wizard also died in the comics, his spirit lived on and would advise Billy from the Rock of Eternity, so perhaps Hounsou’s Wizard similarly maintains a connection between reality and the afterlife. However, looking at the actor’s darker hairstyle this time around compared to the all-white hair from the first Shazam! movie, it’s likelier that we’ll see his character in flashbacks. With the main villains in Shazam set to be the daughters of Atlas, one of the beings from which Shazam derives his power, it stands to reason he’s connected to them.

With Shazam! Fury of the Gods plot details being kept a closely-guarded secret, it may be a while until we learn exactly how The Wizard fits into the plot. What has been made public is who’s playing Atlas’ daughters, with Helen Mirren being cast as Hespera, Lucy Liu coming aboard as Kalypso and Rachel Zegler’s character having not been officially identified yet. Mark Strong has also confirmed that he won’t return as Thaddeus Sivana, despite the fact that Shazam!’s mid-credits scene set up an alliance between him the super-intelligent caterpillar known as Mister Mind.

Keep your eyes locked on CinemaBlend for more updates about Shazam! Fury of the Gods as we move closer to its June 2, 2023 release date. And as always, we’ll catch you up to speed on news concerning other upcoming DC Comics movies.

Out of all the new TV shows coming soon to Disney+, the one that I think I am most looking forward to is What If…?, inspired by the comic book of the same name. It is described as a 10-episode animated anthology series that reimagines key events canon to the Marvel Cinematic Universe had things gone a little different. If that is not enough to surprise you, outside of first time Marvel actor Jeffrey Wright hosting the show Rod Serling-style as The Watcher, all of the MCU characters said to appear will be played by their original actors. I am certain that sparks a great deal of questions in your mind and I will be sure provide all the answers that I can in the following breakdown of every actor confirmed to lend their voice to the highly anticipated series, starting with the man who brought most of these characters together.

Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury)

It would be wrong to not include Samuel L. Jackson on a trippy, Marvel-inspired anthology as the voice of Nick Fury, although how the former S.H.I.E.L.D. director (also leading his own upcoming live action Disney+ series, Secret Invasion) will be depicted on What If…? has yet to be revealed.

Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter)

We might be able to infer from the first trailer for What If…? that Nick Fury will discover a frozen Peggy Carter (played once again by Hayley Atwell), who will be reimagined on the series as the Army’s choice for the Super Soldier Program instead of Steve Rogers, which, I suppose, would make her Captain Britain.

Dominic Cooper (Howard Stark)

Real-life Brit Dominic Cooper returns to play Iron Man’s father and S.H.I.E.L.D. co-founder Howard Stark (circa 1942) for the first time since the short-lived Agent Carter series, but to see Hayley Atwell’s character become a Super Soldier on What If…? this time.

Stanley Tucci (Dr. Abraham Erskine)

I wonder if the developer of the original Super Soldier Serum, German-born ally to the U.S. Army Dr. Abraham Erskine (voiced by Oscar-nominee Stanley Tucci), will suffer the same tragic fate on What If…? as he did in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger.

Toby Jones (Arnim Zola)

That being said, I am also curious if British Golden Globe-nominee Toby Jones’ reprisal of Arnim Zola, a Swiss HYDRA scientist and right hand man of Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull, will appear in his 1940s era human form, as a computer in the present day, or something completely different on What If…?

Neal McDonough (Dum Dum Dugan)

I mean, for all we know, Arrowverse star Neal McDonough’s return to the role of Sergeant Timothy Alloysius Cadwaller "Dum Dum" Dugan (the subsequent leader of the Howling Commandos after Steve Rogers’ supposed demise) on What If…? could see him become the Winter Soldier instead of Bucky Barnes.

Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier)

However, Bucky Barnes will appear as The Winter Soldier (voiced by Sebastian Stan, of course) on What If…?, and, based on the trailer, he seems to have taken on the role of a savior of the apocalypse against the long-awaited appearance of Marvel Zombies.

Frank Grillo (Crossbones)

Speaking of Marvel Zombies, I think there are few MCU characters better equipped (literally) to take on an army of the undead than Frank Grillo’s corrupt former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Brock Rumlow, whose brief reign as the armored terrorist Crossbones in Captain America: Civil War will, supposedly, be given an extension in some capacity on What If…?

Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym/Ant-Man)

Seeing 76-year-old Oscar-winner Michael Douglas credited as the voice of both Hank Pym and Ant-Man has me curious if we are destined to see more of the brilliant scientist in his crimefighting days on the series and, considering much of the original Ultron’s creator’s arc in the MCU has already been a big What If…? story in itself.

Paul Rudd (Scott Lang/Ant-Man)

Of course, Paul Rudd is coming back to voice the MCU’s present-day Ant-Man, Scott Lang, as well, but besides also being credited as the incredibly shrinking Avenger in the cast list, I cannot find any preceding issues of the What If…? comic to give me any insight as to where his story on the series may lead him.

David Dastmalchian (Kurt)

There may, however, be a clue to Scott Lang’s role on What If…? is the inclusion of serial comic book adaptation star David Dastmalchian (The Dark Knight, The Flash, Gotham, the upcoming The Suicide Squad) returning as fellow reformed criminal Kurt from the Ant-Man movies, but there is not much else to infer from that.

Michael B. Jordan (Erik Killmonger)

Furthermore, I have no idea where to even begin when considering the possibilities of how What If…? will reexamine the already complex origins of Erik Killmonger when Michael B. Jordan returns to voice the Black Panther villain.

Jeremy Renner (Clint Barton/Hawkeye)

Clint Barton’s frequent, but subtle, reminiscing with Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow in the Avengers movies has always made me curious to see him in his pre-Hawkeye days as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and there is a chance that Jeremy Renner’s vocal reprisal on What If…? could touch upon that.

Mark Ruffalo (Bruce Banner/Hulk)

With how often we can easily assume Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has imagined what his life would be if had he never become the Hulk, it is not too far-fetched to infer that What If…? may take advantage of that opportunity, considering Avengers: Endgame already lived out the “Professor Hulk” scenario.

Chris Hemsworth (Thor)

On the other hand, there is much that could be expanded on with Hulk’s time on Sakaar before Chris Hemsworth showed up in Thor: Ragnarok, which could be a major source of inspiration for either he or Bruce Banner’s story reinventions on What If…? considering the inclusion of the next couple of characters.

Jeff Goldblum (The Grandmaster)

Anyone who has ached to see more from Jeff Goldblum’s dazzling performance in Thor: Ragnarok is in luck as The Grandmaster does have a role in What If…?

Taika Waititi (Korg)

Another scene-stealer from Thor: Ragnarok (and Avengers: Endgame, too) whom we can be thankful to know is in What If…? is Korg, once again voiced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, who will also be directing and starring in the upcoming fourth installment, Thor: Love and Thunder.

Tom Hiddleston (Loki)

I do have another theory, however, that Thor may not even be the star of his What If…? episode and instead instead take the backseat in a story that sees Loki (voiced by Tom Hiddleston) claiming Mjolnir first, which would take inspiration from a real issue of the original comic book series from 1984.

Natalie Portman (Jane Foster)

If that turns out to be case, maybe What If…? will see leading astrophysicist Jane Foster fall in love with Loki instead of Thor, considering we already know that Natalie Portman will be making a live action return to the role in Thor: Love and Thunder as Chris Hemsworth’s successor to the “mighty” God of Thunder title.

Josh Brolin (Thanos)

It was “inevitable” that this series would have a place for Josh Brolin to come back as Thanos, who actually joined the Avengers in a 2015 issue of What If…?, although I would be interested to see an episode imagining the post-Decimation world had it not been reversed in Avengers: Endgame.

Karen Gillan (Nebula)

There is plenty to be inspired by in Thanos’ rocky relationship with his daughter, Nebula, for her story on What If…?, such as imagining Karen Gillan’s partially robotic warrior as the purple Titan’s favorite child over Gamora instead.

Djimon Hounsou (Korath)

After witnessing two awfully different portrayals of Korath the Pursuer as a merciless henchman to Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy and a more soft-spoken Starforce operative in Captain Marvel, I am very intrigued to see what Djimon Hounsou will bring the role on What If…?

Michael Rooker (Yondu Udonta)

Based on his brief appearance in the What If…? trailer, former Walking Dead star Michael Rooker does not seem to be changing much about his country-fried depiction of Ravager leader Yondu Udonta from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies on the series, which is just what I was hoping for.

Sean Gunn (Kraglin)

Other than starring alongside Michael Rooker in his brother’s new take on The Suicide Squad, 2021 will see Sean Gunn lending his voice to What If…? as his second most famous MCU character (after performing the motion capture for Rocket Raccoon), Kraglin.

Chris Sullivan (Taserface)

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Kraglin would come to regret allowing Yondu’s Ravager faction to be usurped by Taserface, the hilariously nicknamed scene-stealer whom Emmy-nominated This Is Us star Chris Sullivan will reprise on What If…?

Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa)

Before his devastating death in 2020, Chadwick Boseman was able to portray his Black Panther character one last time for one of the most fascinating concepts to be seen in What If…?: T’Challa as Star-Lord.

What do you think? Has it been your dream for Black Panther to become a Guardian of the Galaxy for a while now, or that does barely scratch the surface of what you want to see on this highly imaginative upcoming series? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back for additional information and updates on What If…?, as well as even more inside looks at what to expect from your favorite upcoming comic book movies and TV shows, here on CinemaBlend.

With his Walking Dead universe is currently going strong with three different shows, even with the flagship series destined to end in 2022, Robert Kirkman will soonishly branch out with another high-profile TV series based on his excellent comic book series Invincible. Not only did the adult-animation project reunite Kirkman with former Walking Dead star Steven Yeun as the teen superhero Mark Grayson, but the cast features a host of other TWD vets, as well as Mark Hamill, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh and more. And now we can celebrate The Flash's Ezra Miller joining future Blade lead Mahershala Ali and six other actors for Invincible's first season.

Invincible, which Robert Kirkman crafted with Cory Walker and Ryan Ottley, follows Steven Yeun's Mark as he comes to terms with his superhero legacy as the son of Earth's most powerful superhero, Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons). Of course, as Mark hones his powers and learns more about superhero life, he faces many complications that threaten his familial relationships. Without getting into too many details, let's take a look at all the new actors that have been added to Invincible's cast, which also includes Seth Rogen, Mae Whitman, Walton Goggins, Jason Mantzoukas, Zazie Beetz, Gillian Jacobs, Kevin Michael Richardson, Andrew Rannells, and more.

Mahershala Ali (Titan)

Having already played the villainous Cornell "Cottonmouth" Stokes for Netflix' and Marvel's Luke Cage, Mahershala Ali is gearing up to become more heroic for the MCU's Blade reboot. (Not to mention he'd also voiced The Prowler for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.) For Invincible, Ali will be portraying the pompous and over-confident mostly-villain Titan, whose claim to fame is the power to encase himself in rock. Don't expect him to be a big bad, though.

Clancy Brown (Damien Darkblood)

Clancy Brown has been winning over genre audiences since first popping up in Buckaroo Banzai and Highlander, and he's been in a slew of superhero TV shows over the years. He appeared in The Flash and both Daredevil and The Punisher for live-action, and has voiced Lex Luthor, Mr. Freeze, Bane, Rhino, Mister Sinister, General Zartok, Red Hulk, and many more characters in a wide variety of animated TV shows and direct-to-video features. For Invincible, Brown will voice the demon detective Damien Darkblood, who comes up from Hell every so often to investigate superhero-related matters.

Nicole Byer (Vanessa & Fiona)

Comedian Nicole Byer is perhaps best known as the host of Netflix's hilarious cooking competition Nailed It, but she's also a podcast queen and has appeared in a ton of different shows and movies in recent years. From Bad Hair to Brooklyn Nine-Nine to A Black Lady Sketch Show to The Unicorn, Byer covers the comedy gamut, and she'll presumably be just as hilarious when she shows up in Invincible as the characters Vanessa and Fiona.

Jeffrey Donovan (Machine Head)

Jeffrey Donovan has headed up various TV series in the past 15 years, from Burn Notice to Fargo to Shut Eye, and has also boosted his filmography with movies such as both Sicario flicks, Lucy in the Sky, and the upcoming Guy Ritchie actioner Wrath of Man. On the comic book front, Donovan voiced Steve Trevor for 2019's animated DC movie Wonder Woman: Bloodlines, but he'll be flipping to the villainous side for Invincible, in which he'll play Machine Head, the super-strong and logic-minded crime boss who rocks a robotic head.

Jonathan Groff (Rick Sheridan)

Only time will tell if Jonathan Groff ends up returning to Netflix for Mindhunter Season 3, but the Hamilton and Glee vet will be lending his celebrated voice to Invincible as a character that sadly probably won't have any singing scenes. (Yes, Groff also voiced Kristoff in all things Frozen.) He'll be voicing Rick Sheridan, a schoolmate of Mark's who was turned into a cyborg. Interestingly, Rick is one of two gay characters within Invincible, so it's a good sign that the producers found a proper actor to fit the bill.

Jon Hamm (Steve)

Jon Hamm is seemingly one of the only actors left in Hollywood that has yet to take on some kind of a major superhero comic book role, although I guess one could count him being the narrator for the Marvel series Legion. On top of being seen in Top Gun: Maverick and Steven Soderbergh's HBO Max crime drama No Sudden Move, Hamm will be playing "Steve" in Invincible. No further details were given, but it's possible this Steve is Steven Erickson, a villain within the Global Defense Angecy, though that's not confirmed.

Djimon Hounsou (Martian Emperor)

When it comes to comic book projects, Djimon Hounsou is definitely no slouch. He's portrayed Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, and the upcoming Disney+ animated series What If...?, and also appeared in the DC films Aquaman and Shazam! When he pops up in Invincible, Hounsou will be voicing the role of Martian Emperor, though it's not quite clear just yet if that is the Martian Man of the comic book, who was a member of the Guardians of the Globe, which would be a fun soundalike connection to his MCU role.

Ezra Miller (D.A. Sinclair)

Fans have been waiting ages to see Ezra Miller capitalize on his DC role as Barry Allen for The Flash, especially after he popped up in the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover. He'll be seen soon enough for the Justice League Snyder Cut release on HBO Max, and he'll play a different kind of protagonist for Invincible, where he'll voice the hermitic Upstate University scientist D.A. Sinclair, who created a group of robotic zombies called the Reainimen. And yes, maybe he had something to do with Rick Sinclair's roboticized transition.

The eight-episode first season of Invincible will debut on Amazon Prime Video in 2021, so stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more information as it becomes available. In the meantime, head to our Fall 2020 TV premiere schedule and our Winter and Spring 2021 TV rundown to see what new and returning shows are on the way in the near future.

The past few years have seen a renaissance in the horror genre, with new critically acclaimed projects being brought to theaters, and making a ton of money at the box office. One of the biggest hits to come from 2018 was John Krasinski's directorial debut A Quiet Place. The apocalyptic drama was a sensory experience, as the movie had so little dialogue. A Quiet Place: Part II was quickly green lit, although there's been a casting changeup, with the film losing one star and gaining a MCU alum.

A Quiet Place: Part II's contents and plot are a mystery, but we'll see some new faces joining the Abbotts in the apocalypse. Christopher Nolan favorite Cillian Murphy will have a role in the sequel, but Atlanta star Brian Tyree Henry recently dropped out of his announced role in the upcoming horror movie. Luckily there's already been a replacement: Djimon Hounsou aka the MCU's Korath Pursuer.

This latest news from A Quiet Place's sequel comes to us from Deadline, and is sure to be a bummer for the many fans of Brian Tyree Henry's work. Henry first became known to the public through his work on the acclaimed FX drama Atlanta. Henry has been getting some high-profile movie roles in the recent past, including Widows, If Beale Street Could Talk, Child's Play, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict prevented the actor from fulfilling that obligation.

Instead, actor Djimon Hounsou has taken on Bryan Tyree Henry's mysterious role in A Quiet Place: Part II. What the part will entail remains a mystery, but Hounsou is another actor who had made quite a name for himself through the years, especially within the superhero genre of film.

Related: John Krasinski’s ‘A Quiet Place 2’: What We Know So Far

Djimon Hounsou played Korath The Pursuer in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, recently reprising his role for the prequel movie Captain Marvel. He's had two different roles on the DC side of things, playing the Fishermen King in Aquaman and the Wizard in Shazam!

Brian Tyree Henry's departure from A Quiet Place: Part II is sure to be a disappointment for the up and coming actor, and one has to wonder what the scheduling conflict might have been that made this decision real. One possibility is Marvel Studios' The Eternals, which recently announced its cast at San Diego Comic-Con. Henry is playing the character Phastos, in what might be his biggest star-making moment yet. Both The Eternals and A Quiet Place's sequel are currently filming, so it would make sense that their schedules might not mix.

A Quiet Place: Part II is currently set to arrive in theaters March 20, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your next trip to the movies.

It's no secret that this modern age of entertainment has seen remakes, reboots and re-imaginings of popular properties come and go with a speed that would leave many race car drivers dizzy. Pretty much any well-known TV show, movie, comic, book, etc has either already been re-adapted for the screen or is currently being considered for another go-round in movie or television form.

Now, it would seem that the time has come, once again, for Charlie's Angels to come back with a new cast and an updated twist on the premise that's been around in two TV shows and a previous movie franchise reboot that begin in 2000. So, let's jump right in and see what this latest version of the tale has in store for us!

What Have We Seen From Charlie's Angels?

After months of waiting, we finally got a trailer for the action movie in late June 2019, and it did not disappoint. Not only did we get a good look at the set up for the story, we also got looks at all the main characters, what the action would have in store for us and how the humor would work in this continuation of the Charlie's Angels story.

When Is The Charlie's Angels Release Date?

Originally, Charlie's Angels was set to debut on November 1, 2019. As of late March of the same year, though, the movie was pushed a couple of weekends ahead to a November 15 release. So, why the change of just a couple of weeks? Well, the film's previous release date was set to put it up against the highly anticipated Terminator: Dark Fate, which will bring back both Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger for what's being billed as a proper sequel to 1991's Terminator 2: Judgement Day.

While Charlie's Angels might not necessarily be looking at the same target audience as Dark Fate, the studio behind the film is said to believe that it will have strong legs overseas, which tends to be true for big budget action movies like Dark Fate as well. It would seem that they're trying to give Charlie and his (her?) Angels some more breathing room at the box office, both domestically and internationally.

Right now, there are no other action / adventure movies debuting on November 15, but Frozen 2 will finally hit theaters the next weekend, so time will tell whether or not Charlie's Angels can gain and hold onto an audience.

What Is The Charlie's Angels Rating?

Movie edits are basically living, breathing entities that take on lives of their own. Well, ok, not really. But, the final edit of a movie that we end up seeing in theaters takes months to assemble, and can change, sometimes kind of a lot, up until a month or so away from the release date.

This means that, in every case, the MPAA waits until very near the release to bug studios about screening a finished cut of each film, so that what they watch and rate for us is actually the film that the filmmakers will be putting into theaters. As such, we won't know for sure what Charlie's Angels will be rated for quite some time yet, even though the movie is (as of late April 2019) listed as being in post-production, which is an indication that editing is already likely underway.

However, based on some previous comments about the tone of the new film, and what's come before, we can speculate. While the movie will be a comedy, star Kristen Stewart has said that it will lack the kitsch element that the Drew Barrymore films were fond of. Additionally, star and director Elizabeth Banks (more on her later) said while she was still developing the movie that she was working with the studio to see what would be right for Charlie's Angels, but was open to making it R-rated.

That said, both previous big screen installments were PG-13, but without that slightly silly element, we could see a Charlie's Angels that really kicks things up a notch and gives us an R-rated adventure.

What Is The Charlie's Angels Story?

After months of hearing reports of there being multiple Bosleys and the Townsend Agency going global, late April 2019 brought us some clearer information regarding the new film. First of all, this is not a remake of either the original 1970s show or the early '00s movies, but a continuation of the franchise that will expand upon what we've already seen. According to star Elizabeth Banks (who we'll get into more in a bit), Charlie's Angels will, in fact, feature a Townsend Agency that has grown a lot since we first saw Sabrina, Jill and Kelly go undercover and fight crime.

The success of that first agency has led to branches all over the world, which will, naturally, lead to there being many more than three Angels and multiple Bosleys (one of whom will be played by Elizabeth Banks). Part of the focus of the movie will be on these groups of Angels working together to protect a systems engineer who's blown the whistle on some potentially dangerous technology that might be about to fall into the hands of some very bad people.

Banks has said that the action will be more grounded than what we saw in the Drew Barrymore / Lucy Liu / Cameron Diaz films, adding that team dynamics will likely remind audiences of those seen in more recent Mission: Impossible movies. And, if you're worried there will be too many Angels involved for you to get to know any of them well, don't worry. This new tale will still see the story from the point of view of three main ladies, played by Kristen Stewart, Ella Balinska and Naomi Scott.

Who's Directing And Writing Charlie's Angels?

Back in the fall of 2015, when a new Charlie's Angels movie was just starting to get off the ground, actress Elizabeth Banks became attached as director. While she was mostly known for her work in a wide variety of comedies, she had just released her directorial debut with Pitch Perfect 2, which turned out well for her, as the movie was a hit with audiences and critics alike.

That success likely put her on Sony's radar for Charlie's Angels, and it seems that she had an idea for the movie that they loved as well, because not only did she nab the directing gig and get a part in the movie as one of the Bosleys, but she also stepped in to help write the script.

The screenplay has gone through a few writers at this point, including Evan Spiliotopoulos (Hercules), Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn and the team of Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard, so it seems that Banks had a clearer idea of how to fulfill her desire to make the story matter and bring some richly developed characters to the screen.

Kristen Stewart - Sabina Wilson

Let's start with the most well-known of the main three Angels, shall we? And, this isn't just because Kristen Stewart's Sabina is described as being the team's leader. Apparently, when director / writer / co-star Elizabeth Banks decided to take on this project, one of the first things that came to her was the idea that the erstwhile Twilight star should be one of Charlie's Angels. Here's what she said at a recent luncheon during CinemaCon:

Well, that's simple enough. Once Banks had one Angel in mind, she just worked to convince Kristen Stewart that the film was one she should be a part of. Aside from being the group leader, the only other thing we know about Sabina is that she's good at partying. How that will help in her work as an Angel, I don't know, but Stewart has taken on a wide variety of intriguing roles since her time with the sparkly vamps of her youth, so there's no doubt that the role, and film as a whole appealed to her, and that she'll bring something cool to her work as Sabina.

Naomi Scott - Elena Houghlin

Next among our main Angels is Naomi Scott, who will be making her second blockbuster appearance just a few months before Charlie's Angels when she stars as Princess Jasmine in Disney's live action Aladdin. When Elizabeth Banks spoke about how she cast the other Angels, once she had Kristen Stewart on board, she noted that making sure she had actresses who could provide something very different from Stewart was important. Here's what Banks said about it during that same CinemaCon panel:

So, Banks wanted Scott's Elena, and the third Angel (who we'll talk about in a bit), to really provide a nice counterpoint to what Stewart was doing as Sabina. Scott, who also played the Pink Ranger in 2017's Power Rangers reboot (alongside Elizabeth Banks' Rita Repulsa) is said to be portraying the “heart of the movie,” and her character is also the science whiz of the group, which completely fits now that we've seen the trailer and know that she starts the film as the systems engineer that the other ladies need to protect. We'll see before long what kind of energy Scott brings to the role, and Charlie's Angels as a whole.

Ella Balinska - Jane Kano

To complete the main Angelic triangle, Ella Balinska will round out the cast as Jane Kano. All we know about Jane so far is that she's an ex-MI6 agent who's very skilled. Skilled at what, you might ask? Well, she survived a stint in MI-6, so I imagine she's skilled at lots of fancy spy-type things that will make her a wonderful addition to the Charlie's Angels team.

You can be forgiven for not having heard of Ella Balinska at this point, as the London-born actress has mostly worked in TV in her home country, and just got her first film credit in 2015. But, considering the effort that Elizabeth Banks has put into this project from the beginning, and her desire to have all the characters have depth and personality, there's no doubt that Balinska (and Jane) will help make the team great fun to watch.

Djimon Hounsou - Bosley

As was mentioned earlier, while there is a main team of Angels that we will follow as they attempt to foil some fiendish plot, the ladies will be working in conjunction with other groups of Angels. Because of this, the film will have multiple Bosleys, with the name now being used as a title within the much-expanded Townsend Agency. Right now, we only know for sure that the movie will have three of these characters, and Djimon Hounsou will be joining Elizabeth Banks in this role.

We don't know what city (or country) Hounsou's Angels will operate out of, but considering the actor's action-heavy resume, it's possible we might actually get to see him get in on some of the adventure. The two-time Oscar nominee has now been in some of the biggest blockbusters of all time, with his work being seen in Captain Marvel, Aquaman, Shazam! and Guardians of the Galaxy, along with films like In America, Gladiator, Furious 7 and the upcoming Kingsmen: The Great Game.

Patrick Stewart - Bosley

And now we come to Bosely number three, who will be portrayed by a man known for leading many a team of intrepid adventurers as they try to save the world. Patrick Stewart, probably best known either as Star Trek's Jean-Luc Picard or X-Men's Charles Xavier, looks to be rounding out our Bosley contingent for this iteration of Charlie's Angels.

Just like with the Bosley played by Djimon Hounsou, though, we don't know where Stewart's Bosley and his particular Angels will call home. And, while the acclaimed actor certainly has the gravitas to lead his Angels with Shakespearean class, it would be nice if his Bosley allowed Stewart to bring some of his daffy American Dad-esq tendencies to the role, just so we could get a different version of big screen leadership from Sir Patrick Stewart.

Noah Centineo - Langston

OK, everyone can go ahead and get really excited about Charlie's Angels now, because your favorite rom-com boyfriend, Noah Centineo, has a part in the film. Fittingly, the To All The Boys I've Loved Before star is rumored to be playing a character named Langston, the love interest of one of the Angels. While we don't know anything else about his character, my bet is on him either being totally in the dark about his potential love's line of work, or being a bad guy who's cozying up to the Angel in the hopes of getting info he shouldn't be able to get.

After breaking out on the Freeform show The Fosters, Centineo has quickly become known for his Netflix teen romantic comedies, which also include Sierra Burgess Is a Loser and The Perfect Date. He's currently filming the sequel for To All The Boys I've Loved Before, and recently confirmed that he'll be taking on the super-powered role of He-Man in the upcoming Masters of the Universe remake.

We just have a few months until Charlie's Angels hits theaters, so be sure to check back with this guide to get all the latest updates on the film!

This weekend, moviegoers will find themselves uttering the true magic word: Shazam! Part of the DC's upcoming film slate will be the story of youngster Billy Batson, who with one simple word can turn into the superhero Shazam!, formerly referred to as Captain Marvel, an adult hero with powers ranging from super strength and flight to various forms of magic. For kids who pretend to be superheroes on the playground and around their house, being able to turn into one instantly is the ultimate wish fulfillment! Okay, let's be real, a lot of us who are adults would love this opportunity as well.

Captain Marvel/Shazam! has been fighting crime on the comic book pages for over eight decades (though he was put on ice for 20 years), and has been one of DC Comics' most popular characters since the 1970s. Aside from a film serial released in the early 1940s, this project will mark Shazam!'s full-length theatrical debut after years of appearances in cartoons, video games and even a live-action TV series. The film is now only a couple of days away, but there is still enough to chew on, both about what's already been announced, like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson playing Black Adam, and what we may end up seeing. Here's everything we know so far about Shazam!

When Is The Shazam! Release Date?

Shazam! was originally expected to hit theaters on April 5, 2019. At the time, that was placing it right after the unnamed DC film being released on October 5, 2018, but before Justice League 2 was scheduled to come out on June 14, 2019. Even though the DCEU has gone through numerous scheduling (and content) changes since late 2014, we can say for sure that Shazam! has kept that spot. April is an unusual time for a big blockbuster movie to come out, but as Captain America: The Winter Soldier proved in 2014, that doesn't mean they can't be successful in that release slot.

That may not be as applicable to Shazam!, considering that Winter Soldier was a sequel and most people aren't familiar with Shazam! the character (the word, much more so). Originally, the release date was seen as being beneficial to Shazam!, as there wasn't much box office competition set, giving it plenty of room to stretch its legs. But, as we near the movie's debut, that has changed quite a bit. Captain Marvel opened less than a month ago, and with that movie recently crossing the $1 billion mark, there may still be folks who head out this weekend to take it in. Plus, Jordan Peele's Us has been stronger than expected, and in the next few weeks we'll see the Hellboy reboot and Avengers: Endgame open, meaning that Shazam! will have to find its audience quickly and/or stick around for a while to really make its money back.

What Is The Shazam! Rating?

Shazam! didn't get its official for a long time, as is customary, but we now know that the film will be rated PG-13. In mid-February 2019, the MPAA made its decision on the rating of the film due to "intense sequences of action, language, and suggestive material." Past DC movies, and for that matter, most modern superhero movies, get the same rating. With Shazam! being one of the lighter entries from DC, it was pretty much guaranteed to hit the PG-13 target. Another thing we can safely count on is that Shazam! won't come out with an R-rated extended cut for home media...I hope.

The Director

It was quite a while before Shazam! confirmed who would be directing the superhero flick, but in July 2017, it was announced that David F. Sandberg had officially obtained the job. Sandberg's moviemaking experience primarily rests in the horror realm with movies like Lights Out and Annabelle 2. Having him helm a movie about a boy who becomes a fully-grown superhero upon exclaiming a word sounds like a weird pairing, but it wouldn't be the first unorthodox pick for a superhero director. Remember, Aquaman director James Wan also has a horror background. And, Sandberg himself has said that he thinks he's the best person for the job since he didn't grow up knowing a lot about the hero.

Shazam!, Previously Known As Captain Marvel (Zachary Levi)

Billy Batson, a.k.a Captain Marvel, was created by Fawcett Comics in 1940, and at one point was considered the most popular superhero of the 1940s. Like most comic book characters, Billy's origins have been retconned several times, but the basic premise remains the same. Orphaned at a young age, young Billy was led by a mysterious stranger through a subway tunnel. Brought before the ancient wizard Shazam! in the Rock of Eternity, he is chosen to receive the powers of Captain Marvel because of the goodness in his heart. Whenever Billy says the word "Shazam!", a magical lightning bolt strikes him, and he becomes the adult Captain Marvel, though he still has Billy's intellect and personality. To transform back into Billy Batson, Captain Marvel just has to say the same word. Each letter in "Shazam!" corresponds with one of the magical abilities Billy inherited from various Greek and Roman characters: S for the Wisdom of Solomon; H for the Strength of Hercules; A for the Stamina of Atlas; Z for the Power of Zeus; A for the Courage of Achilles and M for the Speed of Mercury.

The recent name change for the superhero goes back to legal troubles the character faced in the early 1950s. Due to a copyright infringement lawsuit from DC Comics over Captain Marvel's similarity to Superman, Fawcett Comics agreed to stop publishing stories featuring him and the other members of the Marvel Family, and they weren't seen again for nearly 20 years. During this interim period, Marvel created their own Captain Marvel and trademarked the name. So when DC got ahold of Captain Marvel and his supporting cast in the early 1970s, although they could still call him Captain Marvel within their published stories, they couldn't publish a comic book called "Captain Marvel." As a result, the various series over the years starring him have had titles circling around the word "Shazam!"

When the character was rebooted in 2012 as part of the New 52, writer Geoff Johns decided to rename him Shazam! since many already associated that word with the superhero. Now Billy shares the same name as the being who gave him his powers, and now it's been retconned so that Billy has to say "Shazam!" with good intentions to become the superhero rather than simply say it. This eliminates the pesky problem of him accidentally transforming back into his child self when introducing himself in his superpowered form.

Though Armie Hammer had expressed interest in playing Shazam! following a social media post from The Rock, who is set to portray villain/anti-hero Black Adam, though not in this film (more on that later), we finally found out who would step in to play the odd hero for his first solo film in October 2017: Chuck star Zachary Levi. This isn't his first foray into the world of superhero movies, either. Levi also played Fandral in the last two Thor films, but this will be his first time leading a superhero movie.

Billy Batson (Asher Angel)

As we discussed in the previous section, you can't have Shazam! without Billy Batson, the teen who the Wizard entrusts with superpowers that allow him to become an adult hero. In early November 2017, the film finally cast the role of young Billy, and it found him in Disney Channel star Asher Angel. As for how Billy will be portrayed in the film, director David F. Sandberg has confirmed that the version of Billy most recently used in the comics during the New 52 era won't be in the movie. So, instead of "huge dickhead" Billy Batson, we'll be treated to a more traditional take on the character, with him being fun and happy-go-lucky this time around.

Shazam! - The Wizard (Djimon Hounsou)

The origins of the entity who gave Shazam! and Black Adam their powers are steeped in mystery. In a story from the 1980s, it was explained that 5,000 years ago, he was a shepherd who was chosen to be the ancient superhero the Champion. Centuries later, now going by the name Shazam!, the wizard passed along his power to Teth-Adam, but when Adam abused his powers, it wasn't until millennia later that he decided to trust another with his power. That person was Billy Batson, but soon after he transformed the boy into Captain Marvel, he was killed by a falling granite block. Though dead, his spirit remained connected to his lair the Rock of Eternity (where he safeguarded the Seven Deadly Sins and other captured mystical threats), and he served as a mentor to Billy and the rest of the Marvel Family.

In the New 52, the wizard is one of seven beings who controlled magic in ancient times. In the present day, he is the only member of the council who hadn't been killed by Black Adam, and knowing he was near death, he attempted to find a person with purity of heart to inherit his power. After going through several candidates, he finally chose Billy, who helped him realize that no one's heart is truly pure, but knew that the boy has potential to be good. After transforming Billy into Shazam!, the wizard passed away.

Now that Captain Marvel has been renamed in the New 52, he shares the same name as the wizard, so it's important whenever discussing these characters to clarify which Shazam! you're talking about. As for his role in the 2019 film, it will most likely be the same as in the comics, i.e., giving Billy and Black Adam their powers, as well as possibly serving as a mentor. Expect him to be a major (if not the most important) supporting character.

While casting for the wizard wasn't confirmed for a long time, January 2018 brought the news that Ron Cephas Jones, of This Is Us fame, was in talks to play him on the big screen. When this guide was originally written, the movie had been filming for a few weeks, making it seem likely that Jones was, indeed, cast in the part. To our surprise, though, we were wrong, as official word came down around mid-July of the same year that Djimon Hounsou, who was already set to reprise his MCU role as Korath in Captain Marvel, and was also playing one of the leaders of the seven undersea kingdoms in Aquaman, would actually take on the part of the ancient magic man who gives Billy's his powers.

Black Adam

Millenia before Billy Batson became Captain Marvel/Shazam!, the ancient wizard Shazam! chose another to be his champion. That person was Kahndaqian (previously Egyptian) Teth-Adam. Adam also shouts "Shazam!" to turn into his superpowered form, but the letters in the word represent the Egyptian gods: S for the Stamina of Shu; H for the Swiftness of Heru; A for the Strength of Amon; Z for the Wisdom of Zehuti; A for the Power of Anon and M for the Courage of Mehen. After he becomes corrupted by his power (in the New 52, Adam actually steals the power from its intended recipient, his nephew Aman), he is banished for thousands of years until he is freed from his confinement in the present. Originally, in the pre-New 52 universe, Adam's descendant Theo Adam said, "Shazam!" to transform into Black Adam, but it was then retconned so that Teth-Adam/Black Adam are their own individuals, though Black Adam rarely transforms back into his human form.

Although Black Adam was originally written as a stereotypical supervillain bent on world domination and all that jazz, over the years he has evolved into an anti-hero who wants to do what's best for his people, but his methods are more brutal than what most superheroes are comfortable doing. This is the characterization we will see in the DCEU. Dwayne Johnson has stated that like the New 52 version, the DCEU Black Adam will be a former slave, which has made him very angry. So while he will be a "bad guy" in the sense that he will battling the protagonist at some point, he can't be classified as evil.

Now, here's where some confusion comes in. It was originally thought that Black Adam would serve as the primary antagonist for Shazam! in this film, with the character also being spun off into his own film, which would see him transition from an antagonist to someone who is keen on doing the right thing, but who just happens to get in a lot of fights in the process. It was later decided, however, that Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam would actually not make his debut in Shazam!, but in his own proposed solo movie. That will leave some unknown future film to finally give audiences the battle of wills and superpowers that will result when the two beefy heroes meet.

The Story

It took around four years, but plot details have been revealed about Shazam!. With principal photography beginning at the end of January 2018, we were finally given an idea of what the overall storyline for the movie would be, and we're pleased to say that the story is a classic origin tale that features many aspects of the comics. Take a look at the synopsis released by Warner Bros.:

So, we'll see Billy playing around with his newfound superpowers to figure out just how crazy powerful he is, and then, hopefully, getting used to what he can do enough to take down Dr. Sivana and whatever minions (supervillains always have minions) he has causing trouble all over the place. Since the Wizard will play a definite part in this story, maybe audiences will also get some details regarding his background, and magic as a whole in the DCEU. After Wonder Woman, Shazam! is the next best film to go down this path.

Doctor Sivana (Mark Strong)

With Black Adam no longer a part of Shazam!, the superhero movie has moved on to the next logical character to pit against the World's Mightiest Mortal: Doctor Thaddeus Sivana, who first appeared in 1940's Whiz Comics #2, the same book in which Captain Marvel debuted. While Black Adam has the brawn to go toe-to-toe with Captain Marvel/Shazam!, Sivana usually relies on his scientific mind, sending his unusual experiments and creations to cause trouble for the hero. In the comics he rarely did physical battle because of how weak he was typically portrayed, but it was made very clear by Shazam!'s second trailer that this version of Sivana will be a physical force for the Big Red Cheese to deal with his first time out.

Mark Strong, who played Sinestro in the ill-fated Green Lantern film and Merlin in the Kingsman series, has signed on to portray Sivana in Shazam!. According to what Strong had to say about his training for the part in January 2018, it sounds like they're planning to adapt Sivana's New 52 reintroduction. There, Sivana was responsible for accidentally awakening Black Adam during his search to find a magical solution to save his family from unknown circumstances (perfectly setting up Black Adam for Shazam! 2), and he also gained some meta-human abilities after getting struck in the face with some magical lightning.

DC Extended Universe Connection

Shortly before Shazam!'s release date was officially announced, New Line Cinema president Toby Emmerich mentioned that the movie would have a "tone unto itself." This led some to wonder if Shazam! would exist separately from the other DC films. DC Comics eventually clarified the situation in December 2014 by confirming that Shazam! will exist in the DCEU, so we can expect to see the World's Mightiest Mortal flying in the same world as the other heroes. Given the character's history, though, we can also expect the film to be more lighthearted than most of DC's cinematic fare, and star Zachary Levi has likened the movie to the Tom Hanks classic Big.

Despite his connection to many DC superheroes, Shazam! did not appear in Justice League, even though he's a member of the team in the comics. And, since there's been no word on other DCEU heroes appearing in Shazam!, fans are wondering how this movie will connect to the other DC films that have come before it. The answer, it seems, lies mainly with an action sequence set in a toy store. According to news from a set report, this scene will feature stuffed toy versions of other DC characters like Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman. In addition, Billy's new foster brother Freddie will be obsessed with the world's heroes in the movie, giving us lots of references there.

Supporting Characters

Like most of DC's biggest heroes, Shazam!/Captain Marvel has a diverse group of supporting characters by his side, several of whom are superheroes in their own right. The two primary members of the Marvel/Shazam! family are Mary Bromfield and Freddy Freeman. Mary, originally Billy's long-lost twin sister, was also given her powers by the wizard Shazam!, meaning that she utters the same word as Billy to turn into Mary Marvel. The film will see Mary played by Annabelle: Creation actress Grace Fulton. In Freddy's case, he was given his powers directly from Captain Marvel after being critically injured by a supervillain, and as a result has to say "Captain Marvel" to become Captain Marvel Jr. IT actor Jack Dylan Grazer will play Freddie in the film; the character is Billy's best friend and (for a time, anyway) the only one who knows the truth about Shazam!.

The movie will also be including the rest of Billy's foster family from the New 52, which consists of Mary and Freddy, as well as new additions Eugene, Darla and Pedro. Ian Chen, of ABC's comedy Fresh Off the Boat, will play Eugene, while Jovan Armand from The Middle portrays Pedro. This Is Us actress Faithe Herman has also been confirmed for Shazam!, and although her character wasn't given, it's a safe assumption that she'll be playing Darla, the youngest member of Billy's siblings.

In the comics, each of Billy's foster siblings were briefly given powers during Shazam!'s fight with Black Adam (as seen above), but these were temporary. If Mary, Freddy and the others do become superheroes in the DCEU, that will probably be saved for future films, especially since Shazam! won't feature any tussles with Black Adam.

If you're wondering who's going to be in charge of all these foster kids, well, Shazam! isn't going to let them fend for themselves on the big screen. Cooper Andrews, from The Walking Dead, has been cast in the role of their guardian, Victor Vasquez, who will care for the large family along with his wife Rosa, who'll be played by Spanish actress Marta Milans. The film cast almost 80 roles, so it's good to know that Billy will have a solid foster family behind him to help him deal with his new, double life.

We can see how all of these intriguing pieces fit together when Shazam! opens in just a few days, on April 5, 2019!

It's true that DC Comics has beat Marvel Studios to the box office with their first female-led superhero blockbuster in the form of 2017's Wonder Woman, but the folks at the House of Ideas truthfully aren't trailing too far behind. As was officially announced in October 2014, the comic book studio is officially moving forward with a Captain Marvel movie, and it will be here before we know it.

Given the source material and the talent involved, it's easily one of our most anticipated projects of the coming year, and we'll be keeping a very close eye on it. It's for this reason that we've organized this guide, used to keep track of all the latest developments of the Captain Marvel movie. So, where do things currently stand, and what do we know so far? Read on and find out!

What Have We Seen From Captain Marvel?

Actually, because the premiere of Captain Marvel is less than a month away as of this writing, we've gotten a pretty good look at the film and what at least some of the main themes will be. Both trailers, combined with a quick teaser that was shown during the Super Bowl and other footage have given us a good look at the main players, delved into some of the issues that will be faced and shown off some amazing action sequences as well as given us a taste of Captain Marvel's powers.

What Is Captain Marvel's Release Date?

As far as Marvel Studio's Phase Three slate goes, Captain Marvel sits in an interesting position. While the film was originally announced for release on July 6, 2018, project additions (and the introduction of Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe) led to schedule changes that wound up with the blockbuster having its current March 8, 2019 date. This is a bit odd for the comic book movie studio, as they've never put a feature in March before. What makes the placement more interesting is where it lands within the slate - specifically between Avengers: Infinity War on April 27, 2018 and Avengers: Endgame on April 26, 2019.

Why is this significant for Captain Marvel? At the end of Avengers: Infinity War, Nick Fury (we'll talk more about him later) activated a spruced-up pager that displayed the Captain Marvel insignia right before he was turned to dust by the Thanos snap. This gave audiences the first hint of Carol Danvers' existence in the MCU, leaving Captain Marvel to officially introduce her to us, and almost two months after that, she'll return for Avengers: Endgame to aid the surviving heroes in fixing what the Mad Titan wrought.

What Is Captain Marvel's Rating?

The MPAA doesn't give ratings to movies until they are just about finished and getting ready for theatrical release, but even with Captain Marvel a few weeks away we can already guarantee the film's rating: PG-13. How do we know this? Because every Marvel feature to this point has been rated PG-13, and it's been confirmed by the CEO of Disney that there are no plans to make an R-rated Marvel Cinematic Universe title any time soon.

It makes sense for Marvel Studios to stick with PG-13 ratings in general, given that most of the characters from the comics lend themselves to a younger-skewing audience anyway, and Captain Marvel doesn't buck that trend. The blockbuster will surely have moments of intense and thrilling action, and possibly a cuss word or two tossed in for humor, but this movie is going to be made so that it's accessible to audiences of all ages.

Who Is Captain Marvel?

Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, Ms. Marvel (Carol Danvers' original moniker) first debuted in Marvel Comics in 1977, but it was nine years before that when readers were introduced to her alter ago. While serving as a member of the United States Air Force, she was present during the explosion of a device created by the Kree (an alien race you may remember from Guardians of the Galaxy). As a result of this accident, Danvers' human genes were fused with alien DNA, and the result was that she gained super powers.

Captain Marvel is super strong, can fly, both absorbs and projects energy, and even has limited precognitive abilities. In addition to her own run of comics, she's also been a part of many different teams and organizations over the years in the Marvel world, including The Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Who Will Play The Lead?

The casting process is easily one of the most exciting parts of any developing superhero project, and for the Captain Marvel movie both actors and fans alike made their voices heard when it came to selecting who would play Captain Carol Danvers in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over the years we heard many suggestions, including Bryce Dallas Howard, Katheryn Winnick, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Katee Sackhoff, and Shailene Woodley. Ultimately only one actress could get the gig, however, and that actress is Brie Larson.

Fans started buzzing about Brie Larson as a potential Captain Marvel candidate after she won the 2016 Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Room, and in June 2016 trade reports began saying that Larson was in talks with Marvel Studios for the part. It wasn't until about one month later at San Diego Comic-Con 2016 that Marvel made the news official, bringing their new star on stage to meet the fans for the first time.

Who Will Direct?

As far as time between project announcement and director selection goes, Captain Marvel basically set a record for Marvel Studios - but the hunt did eventually come to a conclusion in April 2017. There were numerous reports about potential candidates for the job, including Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Wood, Niki Caro, Jennifer Kent, and Rachel Talalay. Ultimately, however, it was decided that the movie would be the first blockbuster directed by filmmaking duo Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck.

Given that the filmmakers are primarily known for their work on independent features, it's hard to say exactly what it is about Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck that Marvel Studios felt made them a good fit for Captain Marvel. That being said, their resume is impressive. They broke out on the scene with 2006's Oscar-nominated Half Nelson (which Fleck directed and they both co-wrote), but since then they've worked on projects like It's Kind of a Funny Story starring Zach Galifianakis and Mississippi Grind with Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn.

What Will Captain Marvel Be About?

With no director attached for years, Captain Marvel has remained a long-lasting mystery in the plot department - with the only information available being word from Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige that the film would be an origin story. The veil finally lifted during the Marvel Studios panel at Hall H during San Diego Comic-Con 2017, however. For starters, while many expected that Captain Marvel would be set in between the events of The Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4, it turns out that's not the case. In fact, the blockbuster will be the first in the franchise to extensively explore the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe during the 1990s.

But wait! There's more! As though it weren't cool enough that the film is a period piece, Kevin Feige also confirmed that Captain Marvel will be the first MCU blockbuster to feature the alien race known as the Skrulls. Famously in perpetual intergalactic conflict with the Kree (mentioned earlier in this piece), this legendary alien species from Marvel Comics is a race of shape-shifters who have created some serious drama in Marvel history (ahem). We don't precisely know what they are up to in the 2019 blockbuster, other than the fact that it involves infiltrating Earth, which obviously isn't good.

Of course, that isn't the end of it either. It turns out that Captain Marvel will feature a familiar Marvel Cinematic Universe character who will cross paths with Carol Danvers during the craziness. It's been announced that Samuel L. Jackson will have a key supporting role in the film as Nick Fury, and it's been revealed that he will still have two eyes at the start of the story.

Finally, rather than give Carol Danvers a traditional origin story, Captain Marvel will begin with her already empowered and serving on the Kree military team known as Starforce. That being said, eventually Carol will return to Earth with new questions about her past and identity, meaning that not only will we learn how she obtained her abilities, but perhaps our intrepid heroine is dealing with memory issues.

The Skrulls

The Skrulls were first introduced all the way back in Fantastic Four #2, released in January 1962, and while initially they were a primary foe for the Fantastic Four, their attempts to try and conquer the Earth have basically made them an enemy of every hero in the Marvel universe. Their war against the Kree in late 1970s-era Avengers comics famously stuck our planet right in the middle of their conflict, and the aliens have continued to pop up in all of the decades since. Given their shape-shifting abilities, they make for seriously scary, paranoia-inducing storytelling, and it's hard not to expect at least a taste of that in the Captain Marvel movie. At the very least, it probably explains why Carol had to fight that old lady during the train sequence seen in the trailer that topped this guide.

It's worth noting that the Skrulls' stance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe rights-wise is somewhat complicated. Similar to the situation involving the characters Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, both Marvel Studios and 20th Century Fox have the rights to use the Skrulls in their respective comic book universes. The only thing that is off-limits for Marvel Studios is use of the Super-Skrull - who is a member of the Skrull species imbued with all of the powers of the Fantastic Four.

Nick Fury

Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury has been a key part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for nearly a decade now, and fans will never forget how he introduced both Tony Stark and audiences to a larger universe unlike anything ever seen on the big screen before. Since the first Iron Man, he was featured in Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. Fury finally returned in Avengers: Infinity War, although as mentioned earlier, his time on screen was brief.

As for how Nick Fury fits into Captain Marvel, the movie will be peeking in on him at a time in his life when he believes the best years of his career are behind him due to the Cold War wrapping up. Now a bureaucrat, Fury hasn't had any experience with superheroes or aliens, but that will change once he meets Carol Danvers. Whatever happens to him in the movie, two things are clear. One, there's a good chance we'll see how Fury lost his eye, and two, these events are going to set him on the path to becoming the man who will one day bring the Avengers together to protect humanity from unusual threats.

Just like has been done in the past on Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Ant-Man and the Wasp, Marvel is putting its digital magic to work to de-age Samuel L. Jackson in Captain Marvel by approximately 25 years. Only unlike those previous examples, which were done for brief flashbacks, this is the first time that a character is being de-aged for the whole movie.

Mar-Vell

As mentioned, Carol Danvers didn't become Ms. Marvel until 1977, and wasn't named Captain Marvel until 2012 -- but there was a Captain Marvel that preceded her. I'm referring to Mar-Vell, who was a Kree hero first introduced in the comics in 1967. In the character's origin story, he first came to Earth to spy on humanity on behalf of his people, but fell in love with us instead. Now he may finally make his live action debut in Captain Marvel, where he'd be played by Academy Award-nominee Jude Law.

Most audiences know Jude Law for his dramatic work, but he has dipped his toe into the blockbuster world -- coincidentally with another Marvel Cinematic Universe star. Going back to 2009 he has played the Dr. Watson to Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's series of movies, and those movies did give him the chance to kick a little ass. He's certainly proven himself one of the most talented actors around, so we're incredibly excited to see what he brings to Captain Marvel.

It is worth noting that as of right now, Marvel hasn't actually identified Jude Law as playing Mar-Vell. So far all that's been revealed about Law's character is that he's the leader of Starforce, is a devout Kree warrior and has taken a liking to Carol, prioritizing her over the team's other members. Law could still be playing the MCU's version of Mar-Vell, but that's not officially confirmed, and there's also been speculation that he might actually be playing Kree villain Yon-Rogg.

Agent Phil Coulson

This is not a drill, folks. After years of waiting, Clark Gregg is finally returning to the movie side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Agent Phil Coulson has a supporting role to play in Captain Marvel. Fans will recall that the character was incredibly vital to the start of the franchise, appearing in Iron Man, Iron Man 2 and Thor before The Avengers, but he has been relegated to television ever since his big screen death. The events of Captain Marvel obviously won't deal with any of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aftermath for the brave hero (let's not forget that this is a period piece), but it's still very exciting.

As you probably expected, this will show him back when he was the "new guy" at the spy organization and not as "crusty and jaded." Remember when Coulson told Tony Stark and Pepper Potts in Iron Man that this wasn't his "first rodeo"? Well, who wants to place bets that whatever goes down in Captain Marvel will be the first time he considers himself to have swung the proverbial lasso? And just like Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg will be put through Marvel's digital de-aging process.

Ronan The Accuser

Phil Coulson isn't the only dead Marvel character that is being brought back for Captain Marvel. Audiences saw Lee Pace's Ronan The Accuser die a pretty horrific death at the end of James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy -- disintegrated using the Power Infinity Stone -- but the first MCU title of 2019 will apparently let fans see what the angry Kree fanatic was up to 25-plus years ago.

It's pretty clear that Captain Marvel will be digging into the legendary forever war between the Kree and the Skrulls, and it's easy to imagine finding Ronan in a military position within that fight. Sure enough, Ronan will be serving on Starforce during the movie, although nothing else about how he fits into the movie has been revealed yet. Maybe whatever happens in Captain Marvel will pave the way for him to become the radical we saw in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Korath The Pursuer

We learned in Guardians of the Galaxy that Ronan The Accuser has a close association with Djimon Hounsou's Korath The Pursuer, and apparently that's a bond forged over many decades. We now know this because it looks like the two characters will be coming back together in the early 1990s, years before Ronan sent Korath to go acquire the Power Infinity Stone on Morag.

Djimon Hounsou's role in Captain Marvel was confirmed in the same Start of Production announcement that confirmed many of the parts noted in this feature, and like Ronan, he's on the Starforce team. Beyond that, nothing else has been said about Korath's role in Captain Marvel, but one would imagine that his experience will directly or indirectly lead to why he ultimately becomes one of Ronan's subordinates.

Ben Mendelsohn

Ben Mendelsohn seems to be carving out a niche for himself as a classic sci-fi villain figure in pop culture. It started with his nefarious role as Orson Krennic in Gareth Edwards' Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, but then he was cast as central antagonist Nolan Sorrento in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One. Now he's ready to create a trilogy of sorts with his first Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance, as he will be playing the big bad in Captain Marvel: Talos, the Skrull leading the infiltration of Earth.

The only other thing that's been revealed about Talos in Captain Marvel so far is that he's working undercover as Nick Fury's boss within S.H.I.E.L.D. That's interesting, but then let's also remember that line Fury gave Steve Rogers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier: "The last time I trusted someone I lost an eye." Since Fury's superior is actually a Skrull, then there's a decent chance that Talos is the one responsible for ruining Fury's 20/20 vision. That scarring around Fury's blind eye could certainly come from an alien energy weapon.

The Rest Of The Supporting Cast

Thus far we've covered the principal stars of Captain Marvel, but there is a full line-up of other actors who have been officially announced as being part of the project. Now we're turning our heads to the rest of the ensemble, who are listed below:

• Lashana Lynch (Brotherhood, Fast Girls)
• Gemma Chan (Humans, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them)
• Algenis Perez Soto (Sambá, Sugar)
• Rune Temte (Eddie The Eagle, The Last Kingdom)
• McKenna Grace (Gifted, I, Tonya)
• Annette Bening (American Beauty, The Kids Are All Right)
• Robert Kazinsky (True Blood, Warcraft)
• Vik Sahay (Roxy Hunter, Chuck)
• Colin Ford (We Bought a Zoo, Under the Dome)
• Chuku Modu (Game of Thrones, The Good Doctor)

Let's start off with the first five actors on this list. Arguably the most important of the bunch is Lashana Lynch's Maria Rambeau, Carol Danvers' best friend and fellow Air Force pilot who flies under the call sign "Photon." Maria is a single mother taking care of her daughter, Monica, someone who longtime Marvel Comics fans will recognize. Monica will be a young girl in Captain Marvel, but it's possible that this movie is laying the groundwork for her to be a superhero in the present day MCU.

Then we have the other members of Starforce: Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva, Algenis Perez Soto as Att-Lass and Rune Temte as Bron-Char. No specific details for Att-Lass and Bron-Char have been revealed yet, but Minn-Erva is said to be a Kree sniper who was the star of the group before Carol Danvers joined and is now "slightly threatened" by the heroine. Given Minn-Erva's villainous past in the comics, perhaps her movie counterpart will follow suit, giving Carol some trouble on the side while the Kree-Skrull conflict unfolds.

Finally, McKenna Grace is confirmed to be playing young Carol Danvers, meaning we will get a peek into her childhood during in the movie. As for the latter five actors, while Annette Bening was rumored to be playing Carol's mother, from the looks of her in the above trailer she appears to be portraying another Kree. Aside from her, no one else's character has been identified yet, so we'll have to wait and see how they fit into the proceedings.

As we mentioned previously, Captain Marvel is just a few weeks away from opening, so be sure to keep your eyes on this guide for the latest updates!

The Charlie's Angels reboot is expanding its cast of characters and there won't just be a team of Angels. The Elizabeth Banks directed reboot will have multiple characters named Bosley, with Banks and Patrick Stewart already cast in these roles. Now, a Marvel Cinematic Universe alum has been cast as another Bosely. Djimon Hounsou, who will be appearing in Captain Marvel next year, will join the movie as the third Bosley. Now there are as many Bosleys as there are Angels.

According to Variety, Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou has been cast as Bosley, bringing the total number of Bosley's in the film up to three. No other details about the role or how it will be different from the versions played by Elizabeth Banks and Patrick Stewart were given. The film will follow the next generation of Angels, secret agents who work for the mysterious and never seen Charlie. This time around the Townsend Agency has grown beyond a three-person operation and gone global, providing security and other services with multiple offices and teams spread across the world.

The movie will focus on one of these teams, which consists of Kristen Stewart, Natalie Scott, and Ella Balinska as the new Angels. The rest of the cast includes Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart, Djimon Hounsou, and Luis Gerardo Méndez as The Saint. Elizabeth Banks is directing the film from a script written by herself and Jay Basu. Earlier drafts were penned by Craig Mazin and Semi Chellas.

It's a very solid cast so far, and Djimon Hounsou certainly doesn't hurt that. The actor might be best known for his work in the MCU. He plays Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy and will be reprising the role in Captain Marvel, out next year. In addition to Marvel, he'll also be appearing in DC's Shazam!. In it, he plays the wizard Shazam, who gifts his magical abilities to young Billy Batson. Funnily enough, Shazam used to be known as Captain Marvel, and both superhero movies will be opening around the same time. Hounsou also nabbed a role in Aquaman as the fisherman King.

Charlie's Angels is expected to hit theaters on September 27, 2019. However, you can see Djimon Hounsou far sooner than that. Hounsou will appear in Aquaman on December 14, 2019; Captain Marvel on March 8, 2019; and finally, Shazam on April 5, 2019. This guy knows how to keep busy.

The DCEU is about to take off in some fairly significant ways. With Justice League having hit theaters in late 2017, the stage is now officially set for an army of iconic DC heroes and villains to take center stage in their solo movies. One of the most intriguing characters of the bunch is Jason Momoa's Aquaman -- who will finally step into the light almost four years after Zack Snyder first revealed his character to the world. As Arthur Curry has not taken the spotlight in live-action too many times over the years, (at least compared to his DC contemporaries like Batman and Superman), Aquaman will represent his first real opportunity to make a legitimate and profound impression on audiences all around the world.

On that note, we have gone through all of the news and developments that have materialized over the course of the last couple of years to compile a list of everything that we currently know about James Wan's upcoming Aquaman movie. Take a look at our handy guide for this aquatic DC adventure and let us know how excited you are for the film in the comments section below. Now, without further ado, let's kick this guide off with one of the greatest revelations of all: the movie's most recent trailer.

What Have We Seen From Aquaman?

While it seems like it took forever to get some footage from Aquaman, late July 2018 finally offered up a trailer, which, as you can see from the video above, featured a wondrous look at the action, underwater world, characters and costumes in the movie. It also gives fans a pretty good taste of the main storylines, proving that we should be in for quite a treat when the film hits theaters.

What Is The Aquaman Movie Release Date?

Like numerous other entries in the DCEU, Aquaman has experienced a number of shifts and changes to its release date since it was first announced. That said, the film has managed to remain far more stable than other DC projects currently on the horizon. The film was originally slated to hit theaters in summer 2018 but was subsequently pushed back to fall and then winter. Now the film will hit theaters on December 21, 2018, and (barring a major, unexpected setback) it doesn't look like that is going to change anytime soon. That said, this IS DC, so anything can happen at any time.

What Is The Aquaman Movie Rating?

Although it was recently revealed to The Wrap that the folks at Warner Bros. are genuinely considering the possibility of an R-rated DC movie -- particularly after the success of Logan -- it doesn't seem likely that Aquaman will be that film. It seems far more likely that a villain-centric movie like Suicide Squad 2 or even Gotham City Sirens will receive that particular honor. An Aquaman movie is a globe-trotting, big budget VFX adventure, and that stylistic choice inherently lends itself to a more sanitized story. Arthur Curry is one of DC's more brutal and badass heroes (and Jason Momoa has already sold that idea), but you shouldn't expect Aquaman to go any further than a PG-13 rating when it finally hits theaters in winter 2018.

What Is The Aquaman Story?

We still don't know all the particulars of the plot for Aquaman's solo film, but we do have an idea of some of the things the movie is planning to touch on. First and foremost, with the casting of his parents and two actors who will be playing younger versions of the character at different stages, we do know that the movie is going to dig into the character's history. Aquaman will detail how Arthur was left by his Atlantean mom on land to be raised by his father, how he discovered his special abilities and how he never quite felt at home on land or in the sea. As for the modern day portion of the story, at least some of it will focus on ocean pollution, a conflict between those who live in the sea and those who live on land, and the need for Arthur to bring the two worlds together peacefully. And, it's been confirmed that a whopping two-thirds of the action will take place underwater, which should make for a very different superhero adventure.

Who Is Working On The Aquaman Movie?

This is one particular area where the Aquaman solo movie has actually fared better than most DC films. Despite the fact that most other DCEU films have suffered through a wide variety of director losses over the course of the last few years (The Flash being a prime example of that phenomenon) Aquaman has managed to comfortably keep James Wan locked down in the director's chair to shoot a script written by Gangster Squad's Will Beall. Given Wan's knack for shooting practical monster effects in The Conjuring horror series, as well as his proven ability to shoot coherent action sequences in Furious 7, all eyes are on him to produce one of the most expertly crafted DC films to date.

Who Is The Villain Of The Aquaman Movie?

Aquaman has quite a few iconic villains that he could potentially square off against in his first ever solo movie, and James Wan decided to go with two of his most legendary foes for his first film. The 2018 Aquaman solo film will see Arthur Curry go head to head against the one and only Black Manta -- arguably the most well-known member of the King of Atlantis' rogue's gallery. Known for his iconic black suit (and its easily identifiable manta-inspired helmet) Black Manta is a villain with a tragic backstory as an autistic child who can only find comfort in cold water, and he has a personal feud with Aquaman after murdering Arthur Curry's son. To put it simply: he's one of the most badass and imposing bad guys in the entirety of DC lore.

However, although Black Manta will be among the antagonists of the first Aquaman movie, he won't be the main bad guy. It appears that the upcoming film will also do quite a bit of world-building as well, and will use Aquaman's half-brother Orm (also known as the evil villain Ocean Master) as the film's Big Bad. According to Patrick Wilson, who plays Orm, the character will butt heads with Aquaman due to his desire to start war with the surface world over the pollution of the oceans, something that the half-human Arthur Curry, obviously, doesn't want to happen.

Where Does The Aquaman Movie Fit Within The DCEU?

Despite the fact that not much is currently known about the main plot of the Aquaman solo movie, it does sound like it will take place after the events of Justice League -- which apparently is also the case for The Flash solo movie as well. However, DC producer Charles Roven also recently made it abundantly clear that future DC films may follow the example set by Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman and include a number of flashback sequences to flesh out the overall mythology of the live-action DC universe. On that note, while the main Aquaman story will take place after the central team of DC superheroes has assembled to take down Steppenwolf, the film will also include flashbacks to a time when the world didn't actually know about the undersea realm of Atlantis.

Jason Momoa As Aquaman

Of course, as many of you already know, Aquaman will put Arthur Curry front and center for the very first time, and Jason Momoa will step into the role to headline the film. Momoa's version of Arthur Curry already made his first appearance in the DCEU during the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice when Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) went through Lex Luthor's (Jesse Eisenberg) files about metahumans, and the character also took a more prominent role when he made his Justice League debut.

Casting an actor like Momoa currently seems like nothing less than a stroke of genius on the part of the folks at DC. The Game of Thrones alum has developed a reputation as one of the most ferocious and physically imposing actors in Hollywood, so bringing him in to portray a more badass version of Arthur Curry will go a long way towards making people forget about their preconceived notions towards Aquaman as a hero. That said, Justice League has already made quite a few jokes at the character's expense ("I hear you can talk to fish") so it seems that the DCEU will maintain a certain sense of humor to complement Aquaman's newfound ferocity.

Amber Heard As Mera

Behind any respectable King is a Queen keeping him in line, and Aquaman's Queen will take the form of Amber Heard's Mera. An iconic DC hero, and badass warrior in her own right, Mera already made her proper debut in a Justice League cameo, and now she'll take on a much more substantial role when the Aquaman solo movie finally debuts.

Although we've only seen a little interaction between Arthur Curry and Mera (in Justice League), everything that we have heard about their dynamic in his titular film promises something that's equal parts hilarious, romantic, and downright cool. These two characters are incredibly hard-headed and self-reliant, and as such they will have to learn to work with one another over the course of their first scenes within the DCEU. Heard has gone on record saying that Mera and Arthur make quite the "unlikely duo," but their partnership will create a "nuanced relationship between them" that leads to a strong bond. James Wan has actually likened the overall tone of the solo Aquaman film to that of Romancing the Stone, which means we can reasonably expect a romantic adventure to play a central role in the aquatic DC movie.

Willem Dafoe As Nuidis Vulko

When the announcement came out that Willem Dafoe would play a character in the DCEU, fans began wildly speculating as to which character he could potentially portray. As a guy known for some truly outlandish roles, it could've been anyone. That said, Vulko seems like a perfect choice. A major member of Aquaman's supporting cast, Nuidis Vulko is a scientific and political advisor to the King of Atlantis, and one of Arthur Curry's closest confidants as he rules the seven seas.

Like Amber Heard's Mera, Vulko was supposed to make his initial debut during the events of Justice League before making a full introduction in Aquaman -- in a move likely somewhat similar to the introduction of Marisa Tomei's Aunt May in Captain America: Civil War. Unfortunately, Dafoe's work on the film had to be cut when it was realized there just wasn't enough time to include the scenes he'd filmed. How he will explicitly factor into the overarching narrative of the Aquaman solo movie remains to be seen, but considering the fact that we absolutely love everything Willem Dafoe does, we have a feeling that Vulko will be one of the standout characters from the DCEU.

Patrick Wilson As Orm

One of the most delightful revelations to come out of the DCEU in recent months is the reveal of Patrick Wilson as Aquaman's half-brother Orm. Also known as Ocean Master, Orm is a full Atlantean who grows resentful of Arthur Curry when his brother returns and rightfully dethrones him. Think Loki and Thor, only with more water. After being unclear exactly how much of a villain Orm will be in Aquaman for quite some time, we now know that he is the film's main antagonist. So, instead of the movie only planting the seeds for him to break bad in a future story, Orm will be an out and out antagonist during this first undersea adventure. And, the epic conflict between these half-brothers should be something to see.

Oddly enough, Patrick Wilson has technically already appeared in the DCEU -- albeit as little more than a voiceover cameo. He is credited as "POTUS" from Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice on IMDB, which means that he is technically the one who ordered a nuclear strike on Superman. With his upcoming role as the villainous Orm, we can tell that his resume of dastardly deeds in this universe is only going to get longer and more diverse as time goes by.

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II As Black Manta

Stepping into the role of a character that has never been depicted on the silver screen is a major responsibility -- particularly for an up and comer like Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. However, considering the young actor's work on Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down on Netflix, all eyes are on him to pull of Black Manta in exemplary fashion. Not much is currently known about how Black Manta will explicitly factor into Aquaman's overarching narrative, but Yahya Abdul-Mateen II certainly has a look and the physicality to portray Manta in a way that should make fans of the DC lore very happy.

Of all the confirmed members of Aquaman's supporting cast, he is the one we know the least about. While we will have to wait and see how James Wan handles him as more information becomes available to us, we do know that this iteration of the character plays an important part in the story, and is also "part mercenary but full-time pirate," according to Abdul-Mateen. If that description doesn't get you eager to watch him on the big screen, it's possible nothing will. But, from the look of the character in full, comic book costume that we got in the trailer (along with the glimpse of his laser beam-eyed helmet) it seems like just getting to see Black Manta in live action will be worth the wait.

Nicole Kidman As Queen Atlanna

Late January 2017 brought some casting information related to Aquaman which raised the distinct possibility that the film wanted Nicole Kidman for the role of Atlanna. Luckily, by early April of the same year, Kidman had agreed to take part in the film. Not much is currently known about how Atlanna could potentially fit into the Aquaman story (because not much is known about the plot itself yet). That said, the presence of Aquaman's mother in the film's narrative will go a long way towards reinforcing the thematic idea that Arthur Curry is a man stuck between two worlds. Kidman has said that her friendship with James Wan, along with the opportunity to play "a mermaid warrior" are what led her to accept the role. Oddly enough, this isn't Nicole Kidman's first go-around in the DC universe, as she previously portrayed Dr. Chase Meridian in Joel Schumacher's (underrated) Batman Forever back in 1995.

Randall Park As Dr. Stephen Shin

April 2018 brought Aquaman reshoots and the confirmation that an addition to the cast had been present all along in the form of Fresh Off the Boat and Veep actor Randall Park. According to James Wan's tweet, Park is taking on the role of Dr. Shin in the new film, and while we don't know just yet exactly what his character will be like on the big screen, because this is a character who was important to Geoff Johns' work on the comic during the New 52 era, we do have some idea of what he could be doing. In the comics, Arthur's father took him to Dr. Shin, the world's foremost expert on Atlantis, and he helped the youngster develop his special skills. But, later, when Arthur refused to tell Shin where Atlantis was, the doctor tried to kill him. Eventually, though, Shin did become an actually ally to Arthur again, so, it'll be interesting to see how Aquaman uses him.

Michael Beach As Jesse Kane

After months of speculation that actor Michael Beach, of The CW's The 100, might be involved in Aquaman in some way, it was finally confirmed that he'll be playing Jesse Kane in the film. Kane will be part of a group of "high seas hijackers" in the movie, and his membership in that group will somehow lead him to have whats being called a "fateful interaction" with the underseas hero. These details have lead many fans to speculate that he will actually be the father to Black Manta, since that character was a treasure hunter in the comics, but neither Beach nor anyone else associated with the film have confirmed that at this point.

Dolph Lundgren As King Nereus

In an effort to flesh out the underwater world of Atlantis, Aquaman will be bringing in another character from the comics, and that will be Dolph Lundgren's King Nereus. In comic lore, Nereus is the ruler of another aquatic kingdom, Xebel, which is where Mera is actually from. While Mera and Nereus were former lovers in the comics, for the purpose of this movie, their relationship will, instead, be as father and daughter. The character is quite villainous historically, but James Wan has gone on record noting that this version of Nereus will be "not quite a villain," so we'll see how the character works within the narrative of the film when it hits theaters.

Ludi Lin As Murk

Well, after talking a lot about all the villains or potential villains that Aquaman will introduce, we've come back around to the side of the good guys. Actor Ludi Lin, who is best known in the United States for his role as the Black Ranger in the most recent Power Rangers film, will be playing Murk in the movie. The comic version of Murk is the leader of the Men-Of-War, the main army of Atlantis, and also serves as a close ally to Aquaman. The character was just introduced in the comics a few years ago, though, so the film will have a lot of leeway with how Murk is characterized.

Djimon Honsou As Fisherman King

Djimon Honsou's appearance in Aquaman was a bit of a surprise, as we only heard of his role in the movie during the summer of 2018. It turns out that his character is going to be somewhat important, though, as Orm will go to him to seek support in declaring war on the surface world. Apparently, his kingdom is one of the ones that evolved after Atlantis fell, and the community is now mostly comprised of poets, philosophers and other cerebral, artistic types. Would these guys really be willing to help out with a major war effort? We'll just have to wait and see.

Back in January, it was reported that This is Us star Ron Cephas Jones was in talks to play The Wizard in Shazam!, and for months it was assumed that he'd scored the role. However, earlier this week it was revealed that Jones had scheduling conflicts with the World's Mightiest Mortal's upcoming movie, and Djimon Honsou was tapped as Jones' replacement. Honsou was already a comic book movie veteran, having played Korath the Pursuer in Guardians of the Galaxy, but it turns out that the actor has also already shown up in the DC Extended Universe, as he'll be seen later this year as the Fisherman King in Aquaman.

While a character named Fisher King was introduced in the Aquaman book at the start of the Rebirth era as the former leader of N.E.M.O., it appears that Fisherman King is an original character created specifically for the Aquaman movie. You can head over to EW to get your first look at Djimon Honsou's character, who is a green, humanoid fish creature garbed in golden armor, carries a trident and rules over one of the seven kingdoms of Atlantis. In that scene, he is surrounded by the Fisherman Queen (Natalia Safran), Princess (Sophia Forrest) and a royal guard, and they are listening to Patrick Wilson's Orm, who has come to enlist Fisherman King's help in declaring war on the surface world. As executive Peter Safran explained:

So for those keeping track at home, Djimon Honsou will appear in three comic book movies within the span of five months. First, he'll show up in Aquaman as Fisherman King this December, then he'll reprise Korath in Captain Marvel next March, and then a month after that, he'll play The Wizard in Shazam!, where he'll give the adolescent Billy Batson his amazing abilities. It's quite possible that having seen Honsou's performance in Aquaman, Peter Safran, who is also a producer on Shazam!, thought that he would be a good fit for The Wizard once Ron Cephas Jones had to depart. Interestingly enough, Honsou isn't the only Aquaman actor who has dual roles within the DCEU, as Patrick Wilson made a vocal cameo in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice as the President of the United States.

Set after the events of Justice League, Aquaman sees Jason Momoa's Arthur Curry returning to Atlantis to embrace his royal duties. Unfortunately for him, he'll soon have to deal with his half-brother Orm and those who support him wanting to invade the surface after getting fed up with humanity polluting the oceans. Throw in the ruthless mercenary Black Manta causing trouble as well, and even with the help of allies like Mera, Arthur will have a lot on his plate.

Aquaman swims into theaters on December 21, and Shazam! opens on April 5, 2019. If you're interested in learning what other projects are in development for the DCEU, look through our DC movies guide.

The DCEU will continue to grow next year with the highly-anticipated debut of David F. Sandberg's Shazam! on the big screen. There's a lot of fan anticipation to see what will happen when this decidedly lighter adventure joins the darker superhero universe, and the cast has become a particularly interesting element to watch. Though the film recently finished shooting, it looks like we now have some exciting casting news, as it turns out that Djimon Hounsou will appear in the movie as the Wizard.

Per a report from EW, it looks like Blood Diamond star Djimon Hounsou will appear in Shazam! as the Wizard who grants Billy Batson (Asher Angel) the powers to turn into the titular hero (Zachary Levi). Hounsou has apparently been cast for quite a while (as production on Shazam! has already been completed), but his involvement in the movie had not been made public until now. Previously, it had been reported that This Is Us star Ron Cephas Jones had signed onto Shazam! as the Wizard (and some fans had even begun making fan art of the actor in the role), but Jones ultimately had to turn down the part due to scheduling conflicts.

Ironically, this is the second movie that Djimon Hounsou has signed on for with a lead character who goes by the name of Captain Marvel -- though it's worth noting that we don't know if the Captain Marvel moniker will pop up in Shazam! The Gladiator actor is also set to reprise his Guardians of the Galaxy role, Korath, in Carol Danvers' upcoming solo movie. That film is set to debut in theaters less than a month before Shazam! premieres, so it looks like Hounsou is going full Josh Brolin in his ability to work in multiple superhero franchises at once.

Shazam! tells the story of a young orphan named Billy Batson growing up in the DC universe. A scrappy and streetwise kid, Billy eventually meets a Wizard who grants him the powers of the Gods of Olympus and allows him to turn into a muscle-bound hero by yelling out the name "Shazam!" In addition to the aforementioned members of the cast, David F. Sandberg has also enlisted Green Lantern veteran Mark Strong for the villainous role of Dr. Sivana, as well as several young actors to portray Billy's foster family.

Audiences will get a chance to see Djimon Hounsou as the 3,000-year-old Wizard when Shazam! hits theaters next year on April 5, 2019! Make sure to keep it here for more updates related to Shazam! as they become available to us and watch out for this year's release of James Wan's Aquaman, which will premiere on December 21.

Before Avengers 4 concludes Phase 4 with a bang, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will wind the clock back to the 1990s with Captain Marvel. Much like in the comics, Carol Danvers' origin story will be closely connected to the Kree, and over the last few months, we've heard rumors and reports about some of the alien players who will be participating in this prequel adventure. However, today brings official word that Captain Marvel will also include two characters who met their demise during 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy: Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer.

With Captain Marvel having finally kicked off principal photography, Marvel has officially announced the movie's main cast, and surprisingly, Lee Pace and Djimon Honsou are listed as reprising Ronan the Accuser and Korath the Pursuer, respectively. Both characters debuted in Guardians of the Galaxy, with Ronan serving as the main antagonist and Korath serving alongside Nebula as one of the side baddies. Korath was killed by Drax the Destroyer during Guardians of the Galaxy's climactic conflict, while Ronan perished soon after when the Guardians redirected the energy of the Orb (a.k.a. the Power Infinity Stone) back at the Kree fanatic.

Like her comic book counterpart, Carol Danvers is expected to gain her special abilities through an accident involving a Kree experiment in Captain Marvel. Carol's first chapter as a superhero will see her not only crossing paths with Kree like Mar-Vell, but also battling the shapeshifting Skrulls. It's hard to tell how exactly Ronan and Korath will fit into Captain Marvel, but since this movie takes place two decades before the events of Guardians of the Galaxy, it will be interesting to see how these two characters are different compared to their older selves. Disgusted by how the Kree Empire signed a peace treaty with Xandar, Ronan attempted to wipe out the Xandarians during Guardians of the Galaxy, so I wonder if he was just as radical during the 1990s or if his demeanor was a little softer back then. Given that the Kree have been at war with the Skrulls for centuries in the MCU, I'm guessing that Ronan was intensely militaristic, but the events of Captain Marvel will push him over the edge.

Ronan the Accuser and Korath won't be the only familiar faces showing up in Captain Marvel alongside Brie Larson's Carol Danvers. Last summer, it was announced that Samuel L. Jackson will return as Nick Fury, who at this point in time still has two working eyes. Today's announcement also revealed that Clark Gregg will reprise Phil Coulson, making this his first Marvel movies appearance since 2012's The Avengers, although he's still been actively participating in the MCU through ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The rest of Captain Marvel's main cast includes Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan, Algenis Perez Soto, Rune Temtev and McKenna Grace.

Captain Marvel flies into theaters on March 8, 2019. Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more updates about the movie, and don't forget to look through our Marvel movies guide to learn what else the MCU has in development.

With the number of new stars joining the already packed ensemble cast, the Fast & Furious franchise is constantly looking more and more like The Expendables. In addition to the crew from Fast & Furious 6, which included big name regulars like Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson, the sequel has already added Jason Statham, Kurt Russell and MMA fighter Ronda Rousey - and today yet another known name has joined the gang. Variety reports that Djimon Hounsou is the latest actor to sign on for Fast & Furious 7.

Unfortunately, the trade doesn't provide any information about the Oscar nominated star's character and because there are no current details available about the plot we have no idea how he will fit into the story. Chris Morgan, who has written every installment of the franchise since Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift, is once again penning the script, while Justin Lin will be stepping down from his post as director and is being replaced by The Conjuring's James Wan. Back in May, Diesel promised fans that the new movie will be returning to the series' roots and will be set in Los Angeles. When I spoke with the director about his plans for the film a few months ago he told me that he just wants the audience to be on the edge of their seat. Said Wan,

Weirdly enough, there are now going to be two films in 2014 that feature both Hounsou and Diesel. In addition to Fast & Furious 7, both are on the cast list for James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy, which will be out next August. While Diesel's character will be a motion-capture walking tree named Groot, Hounsou will be playing a live-action character, Koranth. As the actor described at San Diego Comic-Con this summer, the character is an ally to Ronan The Accuser (the villainous alien played by Lee Pace) and Thanos (the big purple dude you saw at the end of Joss Whedon's The Avengers).

Stepping outside of the action genre, Hounsou will next be seen in the ensemble comedy Baggage Claim, which will be out later this month. After that we'll soon get to see him in Mark Neveldine's horror movie The Vatican Tapes and co-starring with Jeff Bridges in Seventh Son. He's also part of the voice cast of How To Train Your Dragon 2.

Fast & Furious 7 will be going into production soon and is scheduled to be released July 11, 2014.

South Africa is quickly becoming a hot spot in the movie world. In the past few years alone we've seen multiple films set in the African country, from Neill Blomkamp's District 9 to Clint Eastwood's Invictus to Daniel Espinosa's Safe House (which was just released two weeks ago). Now a new project is in development set in the nation and it has just attached its two leads.

Screen Daily (via Movie Hole) reports that Orlando Bloom and Djimon Hounsou have both signed to play in Zulu, a new film based on the novel by Caryl Férey. In the film both Bloom and Hounsou will play cops who are assigned the job of tracking down the murderer of the 18-year-old daughter of a championship-winning rugby player. As the investigation continues, however, it's revealed that the reason for her murder has to do with the country's apartheid history. French filmmaker Jérôme Salle is attached to direct the film. Salle's last movie was the 2011 action/thriller The Burma Conspiracy, a sequel to 2008's Largo Winch (which he also directed). Production on Zulu is scheduled to begin this July.

It's really not surprising that filmmakers would find South Africa to be an intriguing setting. Thanks to the history of apartheid, the entire country is filled with stories that can be informed by a difficult and controversial history. To be honest, what's really surprising is that the racial policy was put to an end in the mid-90s. As for this project, so long as Bloom is able to come up with a better accent than Leonardo DiCaprio did for Blood Diamond, this could be an interesting picture.

We haven’t heard much about Julie Taymor’s The Tempest since it was announced in August that it would headline the New York Film Festival last month, but we just got our hands on a pile of new photos that reminded all of us that the new take on a 400-year-old Shakespearean play is still here and in a big way.

The images released are nothing short of stunning, much like every other Julie Taymor piece. Across the Universe and Titus were both visually stunning regardless of what you thought of the film, and that trend seems to have carried over into her latest. Here you’ll see all of the many stars in their period regalia controlling fire, looking royal, or creeping around a desert.

As you can see, the film stars Helen Mirren as Prospera (from Prospero in the original play), Djimon Hounsou, Russell Brand, and Alfred Molina just to name a few, but the list of stars is seemingly endless. Scope out a few of the images below and see the rest in our Blend Film Database. Warning! At least one of these is NSFW. It's this one if you're down with nudity.

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned during my years watching films it’s that you can never have too much Helen Mirren. Sure, it sort of seems like she’s been in everything for the past few years, but has she been in anything that’s not good? Anything that hasn’t earned her a nomination or 12? She’s 65-years-old and is still making movies. We should be thanking her for not walking away ages ago.

You’ll be able to catch the Oscar winner in Julie Taymor’s The Tempest, which will be closing the Venice Film Festival in September. A new poster for the Shakespeare adaptation has popped up over at Yahoo! and it looks...well...it looks like a Julie Taymor movie (she directed Across the Universe if that helps give you a frame of reference.) Alongside the living legend, you’ll be able to see Djimon Hounsou, Alfred Molina, Alan Cumming, Chris Cooper, David Strathairn, among many many other amazing names. The cast also includes Russell Brand, letting audiences see the two on screen together before the Arthur reboot. An all-star cast to say the very least.

Scope out the poster below and bide your time until December when you’ll finally be able to bask in the glory that this movie will be, simply because it means we’ll get even more Helen Mirren.

“In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.” That's the Peter Principal, a brilliant theorem of morose inevitability put forth by Dr. Laurence Peter. Usually applied to the world of business and commerce, the astute commentary holds just as much water in Hollywood as it does on Wall Street. Nearly every working actor is eventually promoted to a level of fame, artistic sophistication or mass appeal big budgetary which he is either entirely incapable or in better cases, not particularly suited to handle.

It's actually not quite the insult it makes itself out to be. Imagine your dream car. For the sake of argument, let's say it's a silver 2008 Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Now imagine driving it on vacation to Mexico City. It's possible. You certainly could drive it to Mexico City; you're probably better off driving that than a 1993 purple Corey Haim, but really, on the whole, it's the better call to drive the sweet '08 Silver Hoffman to the airport and fly jumbo first class 757 Tom Hanks straight into Mexico City. Said another way, the best mashed potatoes in the world can't replace overcooked turkey on Thanksgiving. That's no shot at mashed potatoes, they're delicious, you just can't make a habit out of exclusively eating mashed potatoes, regardless of what the Irish might tell you.

Sure, this list could be looked at as a condemnation, the sixteen souls who inhabit it as mere second fiddles, but slander or not, this penned celebration is a testament to how truly wonderful these men and women are at their respective games. Some of them may be pleased with their stations, others may want for something more, but when focused, all are capable of delivering Oscar-worthy supporting turns. The Rock may have denigrated millions in the late 90s by telling them to know their roles and shut their mouths, but maybe, just maybe, that's legitimately great advice. At least for a handful of movies, these men and women knew their roles, and because of that acceptance, because of that commitment to providing world-class support, their brilliant work is what we remember. Here's a look at sixteen working actors who shine brightest with third billing. They know their roles.

William H Macy

Best Supporting Roles: Pleasantville, Magnolia, Fargo, Boogie Nights, Mystery Men

In a business typically all about stylized beauty, William H. Macy has built a career playing the opposite. The assistant principals, the car salesmen, the second directors, the wannabe superheroes, the fathers who can't change with the times and the schmucks who just don't know any better. There's a loneliness to William H. Macy's best roles, a longing, sometimes for love, sometimes for respect, sometimes merely for acceptance, but always a longing, a begrudging sadness channeled from millions of trapped, disenchanted middle class eyes. It all feels so familiar, so recognizable.

We watch the beautiful, the damned, the virtuous and the powerful to escape; we watch the isolated, the disheartened, the awkward and the melancholic to smile as they want for something more out of life. It doesn't always have to be about winning or achieving something memorable; sometimes happiness, in and of itself, is a beautiful goal. Life is never over if you still have love to give. That's the maxim of Quiz Kid Donnie Smith, and that's the overarching message in the wonderful supporting work of William H. Macy.

Alec Baldwin

Best Supporting Roles: 30 Rock, The Departed, The Aviator

In his early days, Alec Baldwin was a character actor talent trapped in a leading man body. Cursed to be continually cast as some sort of low-rent George Clooney knockoff I'm convinced that at some point he simply started eating, in the hopes that he'd get fat enough to be asked to do something interesting. Alec Baldwin was too good to be the chiseled-chin, straight man. He was never cut out for it. While most actors start out as sidekicks and eventually work their way up to leading men, Baldwin started out at the top of the marquee and then at some point decided he'd have a lot more fun with third billing.

He's a natural talent as the perfect, preening, comedic sidekick and, much as I love The Shadow, he never should have done anything else. It's more than just comedy with Baldwin though, portly old age has revitalized his career and remade him into one of the most sought after stars in Hollywood. Not as a leading man, but as the guy who works in the office upstairs, the guy who tries to ruin Howard Hughes empire, or the police captain who sends cops out into the street to do the mayor's dirty work. It's where he's always belonged.

Ed Begley Jr.

Best Supporting Roles: Best In Show, Pineapple Express, For Your Consideration, A Mighty Wind

Probably best known to most of you Johnny-Come-Lately's as the pissed off father who tried to shoot Seth Rogan in Pineapple Express, Ed Begley Jr has been hammering out solid supporting roles since President Obama was in high school. Many of them can be castigated as feed-your-family projects, he had a six episode story arc on the original Battlestar Galactica for Christ's sake, but Ed Begley Jr has really come into his own as the frequently stoic, always hilarious straight man in many of the best comedies and dramas of the last decade.

He's the condescending hotel manager in Best In Show, the hairdresser/ other man in Six Feet Under, the rival business executive in Arrested Development. Movies and television shows need great actors and actresses to support the main characters, this list has outlined many of them, but sometimes, they need reliable talent to pop in and out. Ed Begley Jr is a popper. He's the master of the several episode arc, the most capable man in three minutes of screen time or less. He's a dabbler, never wearing out his welcome or leaving on the low note. Maybe that's why he has time for environmental activism and kicking ass on Celebrity Jeopardy.

Djimon Honsou

Best Supporting Roles: Gladiator, Blood Diamond, Amistad, In America

Nearly every time I have watched Djimon Hounsou act, I have felt as if I was smack dab in the middle of an Aesop fable. “I am not your partner!”(Blood Diamond)- Every man for himself (the three tradesmen). See where I'm going with this? The nature of most of his films lends his characters to being men who are unfailingly moral in tough situations. And that's great, because it allows an actor to work in interesting movies, but it also only gives them a chance to play one note. Holed up in a corner, if you will, they must take paycheck roles like Joe in Beauty Shop and stay in the public limelight through dating “I am anorexic” Kimora Lee. Then I saw In America, and realized that there was more to Hounsou than being a great one-note actor. In America finds Hounsou with spark, wit… and complication. It's like flipping over (insert great song or first side of album) for the first time only to discover (insert great song from other side) was waiting on the other side all along. Sounds like a wolf in sheep's clothing to me.

Marisa Tomei

Best Supporting Roles: My Cousin Vinny, In The Bedroom, The Wrestler, Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

Perhaps never has a three-time Oscar-nominee been more maligned by the critics than Marisa Tomei. All-around douche bag Rex Reed once famously quipped Jack Palance must have read the wrong name when he opened her Oscar-winning envelope for My Cousin Vinny. She had to be playing herself. It all felt so genuine, like she and Joe Pesci hired writers to contrive a screenplay out of their personalities, but then along came In The Bedroom and recently, The Wrestler, two more worthy nominations for dissenting women with little in common. Like Bill Murray, she's carved out a niche playing emotionally-closeted, misanthropic middle-aged drifters, a wonderful counterbalance to her early tour-de-force look-at-me comedies. I love Marisa Tomei, she smiles and laughs like an A-list actress but sneers and cries like a seasoned character actor. I wonder how her biological clock feels about that.

John C. Reilly

Best Supporting Roles: Chicago, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Talladega Nights, Step-Brothers

Just like his less than infamous character Dale Doback, John C. Reilly is here to fuck shit up. John C. Reilly is a monolithic man, a chameleon of acting genres, a master of his craft…. While he's played the lead in films like Cirque Du Freak and Walk Hard, he's best when he's sharing a camera and wearing Chewbacca masks. Reilly slides seamlessly between historical biopics, musicals, comedies and dramas. He's a crooked cop, a best friend, a Stepbrother, a funny hunny—a Mr. Cellophane. So, here's the question, in which genre is he most suitable? “O.K. here's the shot out of the cannon… you gotta fuck one, marry one, kill one, go!” Just be careful because so help you God, if your answer ends up costing me Boogie Nights, my boyfriend's balls are going on your drum set.

Melanie Lynskey

Best Supporting Roles: Detroit Rock City, Up In The Air, Flags of Our Fathers, Away We Go, Helena From the Wedding

You know that chick who plays the friend who gives Piper Perabo that money in Coyote Ugly that later gets stolen out of the freezer? The same woman who brings the baby into the bar in Sweet Home Alabama? Most notably for anyone who actually watched Sputnik, she's the next-door neighbor in Two and a Half Men who shamelessly stalks Charlie Sheen's character. Same page? It's a shame these reference points need to be tossed out to get to some of Lynskey's roles that actually matter, most recently Up In The Air and Away We Go. In Up in the Air, Lynskey plays a soon-to-be married young woman dealing with keeping her family together on the eve of her wedding. In Away We Go, she plays a married woman who has adopted many beautiful children, but is tinged with sadness because she cannot have children of her own. A lot of people didn't see these movies. If you have, you've been privy to the pancake house, the lonely pole dance, the fatherless walk down the aisle. To see her is to think: “wow, that girl was pretty good. I wish she had a bit bigger of a part.” She's never going to be the woman to carry a whole movie, but it would be nice to see her get the acting credit she deserves.

Seth Green

Best Supporting Roles: The Italian Job, Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery, Party Monster, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Here's the thing you need to know about Seth Green: we could talk about how he invented Napster in The Italian Job, got all angsty in Austin Powers and was the same level of solid in everything he's ever decided to do, but the real prize here is how he made the movie Sex Drive passable. Not even passable. Fairly funny. Not knocking on James Marsden or Clark Duke here (well maybe James Marsden), but that movie would be terrible without Seth Green. With his prowess, that movie almost made enough money to make back the budget costs.

Seth Green's the guy we need in there for a few scenes every movie, cleaning shit up, comedically speaking. Should he deserve to be on this list, next to the likes of Joe Pesci and Paul Giamatti? Debatable. All I'm saying is, you couldn't use the likes of Joe Pesci and Paul Giamatti the way you can use Seth Green. The man always plays Seth Green, but his shtick is so affable, he becomes super useful. (Seth Green could be Damian in Mean Girls: I want my pink shirt back. He could be Stanley Tucci in Devil Wears Prada—Gird your loins. See?) He may not be the best lead, but he is the John Cusack of support acting.

Steve Buscemi

Best Supporting Roles: The Big Lebowski, Reservoir Dogs, Con Air, The Island, Fargo, Ghost World

You know how people with soft features and bland hair are often described as mousy? Steve Buscemi doesn't look mousy, he looks almost ratty, and by this count, it could be argued he shouldn't be a movie star. He seems ill-placed in a sea of fake body parts and charming smiles. But the best thing (probably) about being a great supporting actor is that you get to be a character actor, and there is something so eerily charming, so daringly weird about Steve Buscemi, an audience is drawn to him in the same way an audience is drawn to a Tim Burton film. But that first drawing in is only part of it. Because Steve Buscemi the downtrodden, Steve Buscemi the Man, Steve Buscemi the fragile guy the loser the sardonic outcast, the guy who kind of doesn't always get it always, always has the same matter of fact smirk to let us know he's still in there somewhere, outperforming the A-list with his ratty greatness.

Paul Giamatti

Best Supporting Roles: Cinderella Man, Safe Men, Shoot Em Up, Fred Claus

I have no idea what Paul Giamatti is like in real life. He might be a redneck or a biker or a desperate groupie, but let's be honest, he's not any of those things. I don't need to know him to know at least part of his overeducated curmudgeon persona has to be real. So powerful is his disapproving sneer, I preemptively pick out things for him to complain about. It doesn't matter the role, really. They're drinking merlot? Miles is not going to be pleased. Howard Stern said what yesterday? Oh Pig Vomit'll be pissed. They want James J. Braddock to fight whom? His manager will have something to say about that.

Whether it be Bob Zmuda from Man On The Moon or Veal Chop from Safe Men, Paul Giamatti's characters always look at the world through disapproving eyes; yet, we find reasons to root for many of them, or at least explain away their foibles. Harvey Pekar just wants a little respect, and John Adams just wants a little recognition for his hard work and Saint Nick, well, he just wants to keep on with his whole presents thing. Paul Giamatti would be the asshole to play Santa Clause as a tired mumbler. That has to be list worthy, right?

Morgan Freeman

Best Supporting Roles: Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby, Glory, The Dark Knight

Morgan Freeman is the greatest other dude in the history of cinema. Even in the films where he's technically the main character, he's still remembered as the other bloke. He's Andy's friend in The Shawshank Redemption. He's the other cop in Se7en. I haven't seen The Bucket List, but I'd throw down a few sawbucks and bet he's more Jack Nicholson's friend than the other way around. Mind you, this whole second banana business is a compliment. You see, the main guy, the lead character, he's always up to some shit. He's fighting off the sodomites in a prison bathroom or dressing in black to save Gotham City. Morgan Freeman's definitely not that dude. He's the brains, the guy behind the guy, the epicenter of real power and influence. Blasphemic rhetoric aside, he's God, at least when playing a sketchy head assassin, Nelson Mandela, or God.

JK Simmons

Best Supporting Roles: Spider-Man, Juno, Up in the Air, Extract, Party Down

Whether he's screaming for pictures of Spider-Man or driving Juno to planned parenthood, JK Simmons has a talent for being that guy you know, only better. Give him a line of dialogue and he'll deliver it like his tongue's on fire. Give him a thankless character and he'll invariably steal every single, crappily written scene he's plopped down in. He's the dad you've always wanted, the boss you've always feared, the incompetent secret agent who screws things up for everyone else and still manages to get a laugh while he's doing it. JK Simmons takes comedy seriously and makes drama seem easy. He's effortless. The guy you want delivering your movie's most important life lesson, the dude you want screaming at the top of his lungs whenever your movie's short on tension. JK Simmons makes anything better. Give him a cigar and he'll light your scene on fire.

Jeff Daniels

Best Supporting Roles: The Squid And The Whale, Pleasantville, The Lookout, Away We Go

Jeff Daniels sells stupid, ill-advised decisions better than any other actor working today. Sure, it may not be the sexiest skill on the acting block, but to consistently, over-and-over again, make me, as a viewer say, “that fucking moron would…”, well, that has to be a skill, at least in the same way as Justin Bieber's hair flip or David Koechner's whammy noise. Actually, it's better than those one-dimensional, for-any-situation faux-talents. Jeff Daniels can sell the shit out of the high-class stupid decision, the low-class stupid decision, I'm sure if you gave him a chance, he could have sold you on BP dumping eight million gallons of black gold into the Atlantic.

Take high class. In The Squid And The Whale, he fires his literary agent for making a disparaging remark about the Knicks at a party. “Said they played like thugs.” Fucking moron, he would. Take low class. In Dumb & Dumber, he follows his idiot best friend across the country to find a woman without checking to see if they knew her name. “Maybe it's on her briefcase!” No, Jeff, it's not Samsonite. Whether the character is a high-class, arrogant buffoon or a low-class, ignorant simpleton, Jeff Daniels commits, he invests in the incompetent, foolhardy natures of those he chooses to play, and in doing so, creates real people we can't help but root for as they stumble through misadventures.

Catherine Keener

Best Supporting Roles: Capote, Being John Malkovich, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Your Friends And Neighbors

There's a fragility to Catherine Keener's best roles which often gets lost amidst her harsh exterior. She's the woman who's seen it all, done most and regretted more than a few, gradually shrouding herself in defensive, impenetrable layers. She doesn't think herself a prize to win or a treasure to cherish; she's merely a woman more focused on riding out the waves than dreaming naïve girlish fantasies. In The 40-Year Old Virgin and Capote, we see these layers slowly unravel; in Being John Malkovich and Your Friends And Neighbors, we see these layers fortify. You've got to work for the love, for the trust, for the affection of a woman like Catherine Keener because “she breaks just like a little girl…”. That's what Bob Dylan would have said, but I'm sure Max's mother in Where The Wild Things Are wouldn't have even bothered to question it.

Joe Pesci

Best Supporting Roles: Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Home Alone, Lethal Weapon 2

Arguably more than any other ethnic subgroup, the Italians, the Romans, have seen their culture's history played out, praised, maligned, castigated and worshiped, sometimes within the confines of a single decade. What does it mean to be an Italian? An Italian-American? I don't know. A thousand people would probably give a thousand different answers, but Joe Pesci, that son of a bitch, he knows. And believe it or not, that all-knowing Italianism has little to do with his mob movies. It's the swagger, the walk, the I-don't-care-who-the-fuck-you-are and who-the-fuck-are-you-exactly persona. I don't have that. I'm sitting behind a computer typing an article, meanwhile a Joe Pesci character is out trolling the streets for uncollected gambling debts and probably simmering an awesome pasta sauce. Is that racist? I don't really care; it's awesome and it's the reason I own more than ten Joe Pesci flicks.

Tim Curry

Best Supporting Roles: Clue, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Earth 2, Muppet Treasure Island, Legend, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, It

We're cheating a little here because Tim Curry hasn't done anything even remotely relevant since Kinsey back in 2004. So he's our wild card, the 16th man. But he's in Burke & Hare which comes out later this year and if there's a god, then that means he's poised for comeback. Curry's the kind of unbelievable talent who deserves throngs of adoring fans outside his house throwing roses and begging for an appearance. He should be treated like the pope, because nobody does it better than Curry. He's the oily salesman, the innocent but brilliant butler, the mysterious villain, the untrustworthy colleague. He's danced around wearing a teddy, he's sneered and connived with the best of them. He's a villain when it's called for and the leader of an ensemble whenever it needs one.

There's nothing Tim Curry can't do, there's nothing he hasn't made better simply by showing up on screen and staring straight into the camera. When he speaks, it's liquid gold. He doesn't need to be a leading man, he's comfortable there on the fringes; pulling the strings, foiling your plans, ten steps ahead of you and six floors above. He doesn't need top billing, he doesn't need your accolades or your attention. Like the Mounties he always gets his man and frankly Scarlett he doesn't give a damn. Communism was just a red herring, Tim Curry's a star wherever he goes.

Best Supporting Runners Up: Laura Linney, Maria Bello, Mos Def, Tom Wilkinson, Cillian Murphy, Julianne Moore, Josh Brolin, Maggie Gylenhaal, Anna Paquin, Thomas Lennon, Gary Oldman, Chris Cooper, Jackie Earle Haley, Stanley Tucci, Oliver Platt, Benicio Del Toro, John Malkovich, Gary Sinise, Paul Dano, Ed Harris, Mary Steenburgen