On the heels of two historical epics — 2023’s Napoleon and 2024’s Gladiator II — Ridley Scott is making a welcome return to the sci-fi genre with The Dog Stars, with Oscar nominee Jacob Elordi as its lead alongside Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley. The first full-length trailer has arrived, as seen above, and while I’m not sure this new action movie will be the one to give Scott his Oscar dues, it does look exciting as all hell.

And yeah, a big chunk of my excitement stems from the brief, mysterious, and arguably fetching shots of Oscar and Emmy winner Allison Janney in there. But we’ll get to her shortly.

The Dog Stars' Post-Apocalypse Looks Peaceful Until It Doesn't

Ridley Scott is taking viewers into a far different near future than the settings of his most classic science-fiction films. (Namely Alien and Blade Runner, but we can throw in The Martian and one other of the reader's choice.) Those familiar with the book-to-screen film's source material, Peter Heller's 2012 novel of the same name, are in the loop on the global pandemic that largely wiped out the population. Early on in the trailer, life appears tough but almost strangely idyllic, in a "Back in the good ol' days" kind of way.

As Hig, Elordi is a former pilot making a go at survival with Bangley (Brolin), an ex-Marine with an edge, and Cima (Qualley), a medic with an eye (and heart) for Hig. Unfortunately, it isn't long before the peaceful facade is revealed to be just that, and the bonkers-looking threats are revealed.

The Dog Stars appears to be the first 2026 movie release to go all-in on using night-vision as a visual aesthetic, which seems like a brilliant plan to play into the bizarre looks of the more feral survivors that seem to be overtaking any area they go running into. It seems like they're all still maintaining human traits, though, and haven't gone all Rage virus-zombie. But in those shots, they also look like members of a trippy Toxic Avenger tribute band, so who knows?

Whatever the case, as soon as the trailer gets intense, Jacob Elordi lights it up in what could very well be the role that sends him into a more action-heavy career path. It's a character that Brolin would have been great for had this been made 20 years ago, and Elordi fills the space quite convincingly. His performances in historical dramas and romances don't exactly scream "bad-ss," but it's a good look, and it can only help his Bond chances, if those rumors are to be believed.

Whatever Is Up With Allison Janney's Character, I'm All For It

The fourth-billed star of The Dog Stars, Allison Janney only appears fleetingly - still more so than Guy Pearce and Benedict Wong - but those quick shots are enough to spark some obsessive feelings. Totally normal ones, though! Well, mostly.

I mean, she instantly stands apart from other characters, in that she's basically in head-to-toe Pan Am flight attendant cosplay, while everyone else is dressed in the usual drab looks that accompany apocalypses. She's also tending bar, which feels like it has to be a major luxury in a world so broken. In large part because there's electricity there, as opposed to other settings shown in the trailer. Speaking of...

Okay, so Janney's unnamed character has both booze AND cigarettes, so she must be royalty or something. And bar lights are certainly not the extent of her electricity usage. As seen above, she apparently has access to security camera footage, presumably to make sure none of the wild shirtless people come trying to take her stuff. But how does she have all of this, while everyone else is slumming it?

That's the part I'm really obsessing over, and definitely not Janney in that blue get-up with a martini glass in her hand. Definitely not that. Now somebody open a window in here or something.

The Dog Stars is set to release in theaters on August 28, 2026.

Major spoilers for Wake Up Dead Man are ahead! Read with caution, and watch the latest Knives Out mystery with a Netflix subscription.

I get it, connecting the Knives Out movies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's movies feels random and potentially illogical. However, now that we’re three mysteries deep with Benoit Blanc thanks to the release of Wake Up Dead Man on the 2025 movie schedule, a pattern has been created that makes this connection undeniable. So, without further ado, let's talk about the fan theory involving Rian Johnson’s beloved whodunnits and how the MCU plays into their outcomes.

Why Is There A Fan Theory That Mixes Knives Out With Marvel?

Alright, this all starts with the Knives Out cast, including Chris Evans. When that movie came out in 2019, he was the only actor in the ensemble connected to the MCU, and his character, Ransom, killed Christopher Plummer’s Harlan.

Now, cut to 2022. Glass Onion was released, and it featured notable Marvel movie stars Edward Norton, who was in The Incredible Hulk before Mark Ruffalo took over as Bruce Banner, and Dave Bautista, AKA Drax from Guardians of the Galaxy. Notably, the cast also included Kathryn Hahn, who was in WandaVision and Agatha All Along, and Jessica Henwick, who appeared in The Defenders, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. However, those are shows, and this pattern only pertains to actors who starred in MCU movies.

In Glass Onion, Edward Norton’s Miles ended up killing both Bautista’s Duke Cody and Janelle Monáe’s Andi.

So, this all created the theory – which An0nym355 summarized on Reddit – that if a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie actor is in a Knives Out mystery, they will be either the killer or a victim and never an innocent survivor or bystander. An important distinction to make here is that not every victim is an MCU star. Rather, every time a MCU performer has been in one of Rian Johnson’s films, they have either done the killing or been killed. Now, with the release of Wake Up Dead Man, there’s even more merit to this connection.

How Wake Up Dead Man Perfectly Plays Into This Theory

When Josh Brolin and Jeremy Renner were cast in Wake Up Dead Man, I was immediately thinking about this theory. However, I didn’t realize at the time that Glenn Close and Thomas Haden Church were also MCU movie alums.

That’s right, along with Brolin playing the big bad Thanos and Renner portraying Hawkeye for years, Glenn Close played Nova Prime in Guardians of the Galaxy, and Thomas Haden Church was Sandman in both Spider-Man 3 and the MCU’s Spider-Man: No Way Home.

I will note that they aren't the only actors in Wake Up Dead Man with Marvel connections; however, they are the only four MCU movie stars. Kerry Washington was in 2005’s Fantastic Four and 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of Silver Surfer. Also, Jeffrey Wright voices a character in the series What If…? Neither of their characters was involved in the crimes of Wake Up Dead Man. However, neither of them is an MCU movie actor, either. Washington’s Marvel movies aren’t technically in the MCU – even though Chris Evans’ Human Torch does appear in Deadpool and Wolverine. Meanwhile, Wright has only ever appeared in Marvel TV shows.

With all that being said, I thought this third Knives Out mystery would deviate from the potential pattern due to all these muddy Marvel waters. However, it did not at all; in fact, it made the theory even stronger.

In the whodunnit, the four actors with ties to MCU movies were involved in the crime. Both Josh Brolin’s Monsignor Wicks and Thomas Haden Chruch’s Samson Holt died. And the people responsible for those deaths wound up being Glenn Close’s Martha Delacroix and Jeremy Renner’s Dr. Nat Sharp.

So, in the most brilliant of ways, the well-reviewed Wake Up Dead Man played right into this fan-favorite Marvel theory while also making it more complicated and twisty. Therefore, if we ever get another Knives Out mystery, make sure you pay close attention to the cast and their connections to the MCU.

Josh Brolin has had plenty of 2025 movie releases that critics and audiences loved, like Weapons, Wake Up Dead Man and The Running Man. It’s hard to believe that the ‘80s movie that launched the A-list actor’s career was The Goonies. Despite the success he's seen over the last several decades, Brolin is still remembered for his role as Brandon Walsh. Although the Oscar nominee can appreciate the film's legacy, he also explains why such an affiliation can be “a pain in the ass.”

The Goonies is an ‘80s adventure classic that offers comedy, action, and friendship, and still resonates with audiences to this day. Not only did it launch Josh Brolin’s career, but it also helped the careers of Sean Astin, Martha Plimpton, Corey Feldman and Ke Huy Quan. However, based on what Brolin shared with The Independent, it sounds like his link to the Steven Spielberg-produced film became somewhat ubiquitous:

I completely understand what Josh Brolin means, and he also did have professional struggles after The Goonies. He went on to play Wild Bill Hickok in The Young Riders series for three seasons, and he also starred on a couple of short-lived shows. While he worked with high-profile directors like Guillermo Del Toro, Woody Allen, and Paul Verhoeven, the film projects he did with them didn’t have a lasting impression on his career.

So, all things considered, it seems there can be costs and drawbacks to be associated with such an icon film for a long amount of time. In terms of Brolin specifically, it was understandable that he wanted to sink his teeth into a role that would truly show that he was more than just the character he played in Richard Donner's adventure film.

Josh Brolin worked as a full-time stock trader during his acting career lull, and the role that rescued him was the 2007 Oscar-winning film No Country for Old Men. The success of the Coen Brothers movie led to more big roles that would make up Brolin’s best movies, like American Gangster, W. and Milk. It goes without saying that Brolin has had an impressive career and, despite the ups and downs he faced, I love that he rose to prominence as one of the characters searching for One-Eyed Willy’s ship.

As for the enduring popularity of The Goonies, it's still so strong that a sequel is currently in development. I’d like to hope that Josh Brolin will continue celebrating his part in the beloved classic by reprising the role of Brand, but I definitely wouldn't blame him if he wanted to keep that role retired. In the meantime, stream the original film using a Netflix subscription.

One of Josh Brolin’s most iconic roles is one in which we never saw his face. He played Thanos throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Infinity Saga story, and while he admitted that the process of playing the role had him looking pretty ridiculous, it sounds like he actually really loved the experience.

At this point, the process of doing motion capture CGI is well understood, and it’s not exactly the coolest thing in the world. In order to make a person look like an alien with digital effects, they have to wear what have been called “mo cap pajamas,” which doesn’t necessarily make for the coolest looking wardrobe. Josh Brolin has a different name for the outfit that he told The Independent. It's one that includes some colorful language, and yet he apparently loves to wear it. He said…

It’s sort of wild to see Josh Brolin refer to wearing “a fucking onesie” as “a joke,” and then follow it up by saying it’s great. He apparently loves the ridiculousness of the entire thing because it, at least in one way, forces him to become a better actor because he knows just how silly he looks.

Honestly, while I’d never thought of it quite like that before, what Brolin says makes a great deal of sense. Thanos is portrayed on screen as both a massive physical character, as well as a force of nature. He delivers his dialogue in a way that commands attention and makes everybody realize that this is somebody who needs to be treated seriously.

So the fact that Josh Brolin did all that in his “fucking onesie” is both hilarious and a testament to the actor's ability that he was able to pull it off. He had to use his imagination to understand how it would look when it was done and give a performance that matched that, not what he actually saw.

While CGI is often compared unfavorably to traditional effects, it has its place and is an art form like any other on a movie set. Josh Brolin seems to appreciate what it means for him as an actor. Other stars like, Zoe Saldaña, have come to the defense of motion capture and the work that actors do for it.

Thanos was so popular that there are those who hope we haven’t seen the last of him. Some rumors have indicated we could see another version of Thanos appear as part of the multiverse story set to unfold in Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars. Brolin has certainly indicated that if the Russo Brothers called, he would be at the very least interested in talking with them.

The comic book genre continues to be wildly popular, with a few shared universes competing at the box office. Co-CEO James Gunn kickstarted a new DC Universe, already debuting three projects in theaters and streaming with a HBO Max subscription. Fans are curious about who will join the fun in upcoming DC movies, and some epic fan art has transformed actor Josh Brolin from Thanos to Darkseid. And honestly, I'm into this hypothetical casting.

The first slate of DCU projects is called Gods and Monsters, and will feature a variety of different titles. Given how iconic and powerful Darkseid is, it seems inevitable that he show up at some point in the future. And thanks to fan art from the Instagram of Boss Logic, we can imagine Brolin as ruler of Apokolips. Check it out below:

I mean, how cool is that? After Brolin brought Thanos to life with motion capture technology, he seems like a great fit to pivot over to DC as Darkseid. His talents and hulking physicality were not bogged down by acting through mocap, so why not let him join the fun for James Gunn and Peter Safran? After all, finding an actor who can portray Darkseid might be easier said than done.

Darkseid debuted in DC comics back in 1970, and has been a regular figure on the page, animated shows, and video games. Moviegoers who spent years watching the DC movies in order will recall he finally made his first appearance in live-action in Zack Snyder's Justice League, played by actor Ray Porter. But it was a relatively small role, as he was the puppet master who primary villain Steppenwolf was being controlled by. As such, longtime DC fans are still hoping to see him take center stage as the bad guy of his own movie.

Of course, there's been no indication that James Gunn and company are bringing Darkseid to the DCU anytime soon. None of the announced titles from Gods and Monsters focus on the character, and it would make sense if the studio was waiting until a full Justice League can be assembled before bringing the New God into the newly formed shared universe.

Of course, this type of epic fan art might inspire some theories and rumors about how Darkseid might join the fray. James Gunn teased that Superman: Man of Tomorrow will find Clark Kent and Lex Luthor team-up against a common enemy. While most fans think this means Brainiac will join the chat, perhaps that threat is actually Darkseid. We'll just have to wait for Gunn to offer any clues.

Superman is streaming on HBO Max alongside DCU TV shows Creatures Commandos and Peacemaker Season 2, and if you don't currently have access, now's the time to buy with these Black Friday streaming deals. The next DC movie hitting theaters is Supergirl on June 26th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Hopefully Gunn will treat us to more exciting casting news sooner rather than later.

Before finding out Glen Powell is currently in school, I had already considered him one of the busier men in Hollywood simply because he’s released multiple projects on both the 2025 movie schedule and 2025 TV schedule. However, that thought became even more true when I learned he was in college too. His co-stars were baffled by that fact, as well, and as they learned this information, he explained why he’s getting a degree while working full-time as an actor.

Colman Domingo Didn’t Know Glen Powell Was In College

In the lead-up to the release of The Running Man – which got pretty good reviews and is in theaters now – some of Glen Powell’s co-stars learned about his education while on the press tour. This included Lee Pace and Josh Brolin, who were in shock when they found out the leading man of their movie was attending the University of Texas.

The list also includes Colman Domingo, who plays the host of the fictional show The Running Man, who had the following reaction to learning about Powell’s education during an interview with Capital:

Overall, this was a silly back-and-forth where Powell revealed to Domingo that he’s studying Radio, Television and Film at UT. The Sing Sing actor was clearly impressed by the man sitting next to him. And when the Top Gun: Maverick star said he wanted to give the commencement speech at his own graduation, Domingo hyped him up about that, too.

Why Glen Powell Is Committed To Getting His Degree

This year alone, Glen Powell has released the show Chad Powers (which is available with a Hulu subscription), the movie The Running Man, and a condiment brand called Smash Kitchen. He has also been filming J.J. Abrams' new movie with Jenna Ortega, and he has various other projects in the works. So, in short, he’s busy, and it’s hard to comprehend how he also has time for school.

However, during an interview with CBS Mornings, he explained why he’s so committed to getting a degree, saying:

He went on to say that he started this journey in 2007, and now he’s projected to finish school in 2027. Talk about a full circle moment! However, it sounds like it’s more than that to him; he really wants to earn the title and finish what he started, further explaining:

Well, there you have it. Glen Powell doesn’t like shortcuts, and he’s committed to getting his degree the way most people get it: by going to class and doing his homework. However, while he’s doing that, he’s also a full-time working actor.

So, like his co-stars, I will continue to be utterly baffled by the fact that Glen Powell is both a college student and an A-list actor.

In honor of Daniel Craig's third feature outing as master investigator Benoit Blanc, I'd love to add a Southern twahy-ang to the entirety of this Wake Up Dead Man review — really give it some pahythos and chah-rick-tahr. But no matter how much I really want to dip my tootsies in those wahtuhs, I won't. For one, that schtick would just distract from the real point, which is something that Rian Johnson's Knives Out villains are known for, and I'm no villain. Second, it would take too long.

Third, and most important for our current purposes, doing so would readily be considered a silly and flighty exercise worthy of Glass Onion's gaggle of affluent knobs. And, my friends, Wake Up Dead Man does not invest any of its time in trying to be frivolous. This is church, not Silly...ville....Station. Which is all to say that though I definitely think Johnson and Craig's third teaming is brilliant, chilling, and the best yet from this murder mystery franchise, it also loses some of the winking charms and situational levity of the first two films. Necessary or not, I wanted to laugh more.

How obvious is it that I'm wearing these molasses-covered tap shoes just so I can slowly dance around the cardinal sin of spoilers? Alas, the church bells are ringing, so let us pray. In the name of the director...

Rian Johnson puts the magnifying glass on religion, faith and community.

Lest anyone think Benoit Blanc's life story is being put under the microscope here, Wake Up Dead Man is about the quirky and interconnected congregation keeping Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude up and running through hell or high falutin' reverands who dare challenge the almighty word of Monsignor Jefferson Wicks – brought to life by Josh Brolin. Brolin brings all the vim, vigor, piss, vinegar and vitriol to Wicks' psychologically sadistic sermons, and one of the biggest (mostly answered) questions viewers will have will no doubt be "Why would anyone put themselves through this?"

The yin to Wicks' da-a-ang is Josh O'Connor's Reverend Jud Duplenticy, who is initially optimistic when Jeffrey Wright's Bishop Langstrom assigns him to a small-town church whose clergy is tight with parishioners. (If you need instant gravitas with limited time on the set, few choices exist that are better than Wright.) Before long, Jud finds his eagerness stunted by Wicks and his subtly tyrannical rule over everyone in his church's pews. Yes, it is HIS church with a captital GTFO if you forget it.

Wake Up Dead Man applies a surprisingly measured approach to its religious subject matter. O'Connor convincingly personifies Jesus' New Testament teachings as a former boxer whose particularly notable crisis of conscience led him to God's graces – which obviously makes Wicks the hard-nosed Old Testament warlord. Benoit Blanc later arrives as the "proud heretic" who only aims to see things through the spectrum of logic and finds that there are indeed values in preaching more than just atheism.

Even beyond all of the moral-centric ways that religion can spice up a murder-mystery, it also sets an interesting stage for Wake Up Dead Man's central murder — remember somebody dies in this? — in a way that allows for certain expectations that aren't necessarily the norm for a murder investigation. Instead of What Would Jesus Do, this is more "What would Benoit Blanc do if faced with the combo of a seemingly impossible murder and a miracle?"

Another all-star Knives Out cast successfully keeps audiences guessing.

Daniel Craig is as dapper and charming as ever as the unstoppable Blanc, and he's once again surrounded by brilliant thespians working all the mystery's machinations. Beyond the aforementioned excellence of O'Connor and Brolin, we have a tabernacle of talent also filling out the list of potential suspects (and victims).

Glenn Close brings single-sighted zealotry to the role of Wicks' second-banana Meredith Delecroix, whose wandering eye is locked on Thomas Haden Church's Cubs-loving groundskeeper Samson Holt. The congregation consists of the secretly boozy town doctor Nat Sharp (Jeremy Renner); the successful and self-minded sci-fi author Lee Ross (Andrew Scott); the disabled and cure-seeking former concert cellist Simone Vivane (Cailee Spaeny); the stressed and put-upon lawyer Vera Draven (Kerry Washington); and the hopeful politician Sy Draven (Daryl McCormack).

Part of the fun of Knives Out films has become seeing the prim and proper Blanc sharing space and ideas with groups of characters he'd likely never mix it up with just for pleasure, and the same holds true with Wake Up Dead Man, even if he most closely works with Jud and the local authorities. Just watching him observe everyone else adds texture to the mystery.

Speak of the local PD, Blanc is brought to the town of Chimney Rock by police chief Geraldine Scott, played by Mila Kunis in what's arguably the least inspired casting choice. Don't get me wrong: I like Kunis and she's fine here, but the role isn't playing to either her comedic or dramatic strengths, and I can imagine others bringing something more memorable to the performance.

I appreciate Johnson stepping back from Glass Onion’s excess, but I do miss some of the silliness.

The murder and the surrounding investigation are rather miticulously laid out, with enough clues sprinkled throughout to keep audiences from falling too far behind the on-screen characters. But even when one does get a piece of the puzzle correct, there's almost always another piece waiting to be discovered that you didn't even realize was missing. In that way, Wake Up Dead Man is as fun as anything else involving church, at least to me.

However, the core concepts and themes of hellfire, damnation, judgment, shame, regret and analogous topics make it less of a joyride than Blanc's earlier cases. Which is perfectly fine, as the standalone nature of this franchise doesn't necessitate tonal similarities or a comedic balance at all. As well, the existence of Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne's Poker Face more than scratches the "serious + hilarious mystery" itch enough that it's not required here.

That's being objective, though, which is for the likes of logical blasphemer Benoit Blanc. Subjectively speaking, I personally wanted more laughs and merriment. But I still cannot deny that Wake Up Dead Man is a highbrow whodunnit that sets a new bar for the Knives Out franchise, as well as any other locked-room thrillers on the way, hand to God.

We’re still over a year away from Avengers: Doomsday, but we’re likely only a few months away from production getting underway on the follow-up film, Avengers: Secret Wars. Considering we don’t really know what to expect from Doomsday, what’s going to happen in Secret Wars is even more of a mystery, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of rumors of who or what we might see. There's also a theory in particular grabbed my attention, as it suggests Thanos could return.

Could Thanos Return In Avengers: Secret Wars?

This theory, from Comicbook.com, suggests that we might see Thanos return in Secret Wars. Specifically, we might see a multiverse version of the character, King Thanos, who comes from a universe where he was successful in using the Infinity Stones and defeating the Avengers, and has become the ruler of the universe.

Josh Brolin was recently asked about potentially returning as Thanos, and he gave a fairly vague answer. Though he did state that he would be more than willing to return, and even teased that such conversations may have already happened.

It’s an interesting idea, and considering that every indication is that both Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars and going to cram as many characters as possible into the movies, it’s certainly not the craziest idea in the world. There’s also some precedent for why introducing King Thanos in the MCU might make some sense, but it’s actually the reason I’m not sure I buy this particular idea.

King Thanos Will Appear At Disneyland

We already know that King Thanos is a character that we will get to see not too long from now, but he won’t be in a movie. Instead, he’ll be found at Disneyland Resort. The currently under-construction attraction Avengers Infinity Defense will have a multiverse storyline of its own and see various Marvel heroes from different universes battle against the victorious variant of Thanos.

What’s more, while Avengers Infinity Defense has no official opening date yet, a 2027 opening seems likely, which would see the ride open the same year Secret Wars hits theaters. It seems that some feel that this connection is a reason that King Thanos might also appear in Secret Wars, and I understand why some would feel that way, but I don’t buy it.

At this point, we fully expect that Doctor Doom will be the big bad of Avengers: Secret Wars, and bringing back Thanos feels like it has the strong potential to either undermine Doom, if King Thanos is treated as a monster threat, or undermine King Thanos, if he’s treated as a lesser problem than Doom.

It won’t shock me if we get a brief look at King Thanos in Secret Wars, or at the very least a reference to the fact that the character exists somewhere out in the multiverse. It wouldn’t be the first time a Disney Parks attraction was referenced in a movie. However, making the character a significant part of Secret Wars seems counterproductive.

Between it being another Edgar Wright-directed movie and starring recent Hollywood favorite Glen Powell, The Running Man remake has been one of those especially exciting 2025 movie releases throughout the year. Now that it’s arrived and I’ve seen it, there’s one idea that I can’t shake about what could have been for the latest of Stephen King adaptations. SPOILERS are ahead.

I Think The Running Man Could Have Been Even Better As A TV Show

While on one hand I think Edgar Wright’s vision for the movie was absolutely made for the big screen, as I found it to be a fun popcorn movie full of nail-biting action and such, I can’t stop thinking about a missed opportunity that could have elevated the concept. Given that The Running Man is partly a commentary on reality television, and the lengths desperate contestants might go to and TV producers might push for the sake of entertainment value, one predominant thought I have is how it could have thrived even further as a television series.

I think it would have been really clever if The Running Man were a weekly TV show that partially used its reality TV framing to make viewers feel like they are watching the titular series, as Ben Richards is also trying to survive it. It would have been a lot more meta to feel like we’re tuning into the show … which could be compared to a very twisted and violent take on network shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race.

Some Of My Issues With The Running Man May Have Improved

Overall, I do like the movie as is. I mostly agree with our The Running Man review, which highlights its big changes to the story’s ending. However, the problems I do have with the Glen Powell-led movie could have been improved if The Running Man were a TV show. It’s over two hours, and it felt rushed to me, and I don’t love leaving a theater and feeling like there were too many ideas and not enough time to flesh it out on the big screen.

There are a few threads that I think, if they were explored more, would have made me enjoy The Running Man a lot more. For one, I felt like the movie didn’t do the best job of setting up the stakes of Ben Richards' life. It was briefly suggested that his baby daughter, Kathy, was sick, and he felt desperate enough to try out for the high-stakes competition show, but I didn’t really feel this need from the movie itself.

Also, I really liked what was briefly established between Ben and William H. Macy’s Molie when he helps get him a disguise before revealing that he had planned to get him his next job. I was surprised to see that the only follow-up for his character was him possibly getting tortured without anything more. If this were a TV show, something like this relationship could have had more depth to it, rather than it feeling like Macy was giving basically a nothing cameo-ish role. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the third act! It felt a bit rushed to me.

Anyway, like I alluded to, I think The Running Man works as a movie. I had a blast watching it on the big screen. But watching it made me realize how solid this story would be as a TV show. Hey, maybe someday! Tons of upcoming book adaptations are taking the serial route these days.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe usually keeps fans on their toes, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Without a doubt the most highly anticipated upcoming Marvel movie is Avengers: Doomsday, which will feature a huge cast and a multiversal story. Fans are wondering which surprise characters might appear, and Josh Brolin might have just teased his possible return as Thanos.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday is limited, leaving fans to fill in the blanks about what The Russo Brothers have up their sleeves. With the multiverse is in play, it seems like pretty much any character could appear; just look at Robert Downey Jr. returning as Doctor Doom. In an interview with ET, Josh Brolin was asked if he'd be down to play Thanos again in live-action, to which he responded:

What do you mean you don't know, Mr. Brolin? Has Joe Russo reached out about appearing in one of the next two Avengers movies as Thanos? The actor is playing coy, but smart money says that fans are going to hear these comments and hold our hope for another appearance by the Mad Titan. After all, the Weapons star seems open to another collaboration with the Russos.

Fans who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order were treated to a major payoff when Thanos showed up in Infinity War and Endgame. He remains the biggest villain in the entire shared universe, responsible for wiping out half of all life after collecting the Infinity Stones and snapping his fingers. While Iron Man sacrificed himself to Brolin's character at the end of Endgame, the multiverse makes just about anything possible.

Funny enough, the Dune actor recently did get to play Thanos after the Avengers movies, albeit through animation. Brolin voiced the character for three episodes of What If...?, showing different variants of the hulking villain. Still, I have to assume that fans would lose their minds seeing the cosmic antagonist back on the big screen.

As previously mentioned, Marvel's tight security has been keeping details about The Russo Brothers' pair of movies. While Doomsday's cast announcement revealed a ton of confirmed characters, Kevin Feige teased that it doesn't include every single actor in the blockbuster. So it's not out of the realm of possibility to think the filmmakers might have a plan to reunite with Josh Brolin and bring Thanos back to the shared universe.

All will be revealed when Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters next December 18th as part of the 2026 movie release list. Secret Wars will follow suit on December 17th, 2027. We'll have to see if either title includes Thanos.

It’s wild to think that The Goonies is Josh Brolin’s first movie. The movie, which you can watch with a Netflix subscription, was produced by Steven Spielberg, and it launched a bunch of careers. Many of the actors on the set were new to the industry. For Brolin, who had relentlessly auditioned for parts for years, it was almost too much to handle, as he explained recently in an interview about his first day on the job. Let’s just say it didn’t go well, and it led to an admonishment from Spielberg himself. Here’s what happened.

Brolin Couldn’t Stop Laughing

Whether it was nerves, excitement, or something else, when shooting began on The Goonies in the fall of 1984, Brolin could control his laughter. It got so bad that it ruined the early shoots. As the actor explained in an interview with Entertainment Tonight:

Breaking character on the set of Saturday Night Live may be endearing, but on the set of a movie like The Goonies, it isn’t going to go over well. In fact, it pretty much meant every take was unusable. As a producer and a veteran of some of the biggest hits ever up to that point, Spielberg had to step in. Brolin says:

Getting a stern talking to from a luminary like Spielberg had to be a pretty humbling experience. It’s also good advice, really, as making movies isn’t cheap and keeping yourself under control is obviously important. No doubt it’s advice that Brolin has taken to heart in the years since.

Brolin Learned A Lot From Spielberg

This isn’t the first time that Josh Brolin has talked about learning about the industry and his craft from the legendary filmmaker. Earlier this year, Brolin told Rob Lowe on his podcast, Literally! With Rob Lowe, that Spielberg told him he was overthinking his role when he was trying to find too much meaning in a particular scene. He relayed what Spielberg said to him:

Any actor would do well to heed the advice of Steven Spielberg, and Brolin seems especially appreciative of all that early advice.

Goonies never say die, and just like the kids in the movie, The Goonies doesn’t either. The movie, which despite not launching a franchise like others from its era, remains a beloved film for generations of people. There are even Lego sets dedicated to it. The fact that actors like Brolin, Sean Astin, Ke Huy Quan, Martha Plimpton, and Corey Feldman were all so early in their careers makes it not only one of the best movies of the ‘80s, but one of the most important.

Glen Powell, Lee Pace and Josh Brolin are all having huge years, and it’s a big time for them right now with the release of The Running Man right around the corner of the 2025 movie schedule. However, arguably, the Top Gun: Maverick star is the busiest of the bunch, because not only is he starring in multiple projects, he’s in school too. His co-stars didn’t know that, though, and when they found out he was enrolled in college right now, they were shook.

As Powell, Pace and Brolin were promoting The Running Man's November 14 release, they played a “how well do you know each other” game with Variety. One of the questions during it was “What is Glen’s major in college?” The Foundation and Weapons actors seemingly didn’t pick up on the present tense of the question. And after it was revealed that Powell switched his major from economics to radio, television and film, and he told them he went to the University of Texas, he asked:

That led to Josh Brolin questioning whether his colleague had enough credits to graduate or if he was getting an honorary degree. Considering how common it is for actors to get honorary degrees, that was a logical line of questioning. However, Powell will graduate with a "proper" degree, and this back and forth between them made that clear:

• Josh Brolin: Are you serious?
• Glen Powell: Yeah, spring of '27.
• Josh Brolin: Are you serious?
• Glen Powell: I'm serious.
• Josh Brolin: Do you have enough credits or are they honoring you?
• Glen Powell: No, no. I have enough. I'm finishing properly. I'm not doing the honorary degree.

The guys were shook by this. They couldn’t believe the Twisters star was actually going to school while also having a full (and very busy) career as an actor. I was personally the most entertained by Lee Pace’s reaction to the news, as he said:

I also have that question. However, it hits harder coming from guys like Lee Pace and Josh Brolin. This year alone, Pace released Season 3 of Foundation and the movie After This Death. He was also working on Practical Magic 2, which wrapped earlier this fall. Meanwhile, Brolin released Weapons to great reviews and will release Wake Up Dead Man this month. So, they know how to handle busy, but Glen Powell is operating on another level.

This year, Glen Powell will have released Chad Powers on the 2025 TV schedule (you can stream it with a Hulu subscription) and The Running Man in theaters. So, he’s been promoting those, and he's been filming J.J. Abrams' new movie, Ghostwriter, with Jenna Ortega this year. That’s a lot to do without getting a degree on top of it. However, that’s what the Set It Up star is doing, and his fellow actors were baffled as their conversation continued like this:

• Glen Powell: I'm taking six credits a semester. So, I will finish in spring '27.
• Josh Brolin: Wait, you're taking six credits a semester for every semester?
• Glen Powell: Right now. Like I'm taking it right now.
• Lee Pace: You're doing it right now? You're the busiest person I know.
• Glen Powell: I am enrolled at the University of Texas right now. Yeah, it’s been nuts.

Six credits typically amounts to two classes, so that does seem like a reasonable workload for someone who is also working another job. However, considering just how busy and well-known Glen Powell is, it is shocking to learn that he’s getting a college degree while also becoming a movie star.

Josh Brolin was so shocked by all this that he didn’t even know how to react, as the conversation ended with him and Powell saying:

• Josh Brolin: I don't even know how to react to that.
• Glen Powell: I'll throw a graduation party if you guys want to tear it up in Austin.
• Josh Brolin: Absolutely, man.

Well, I hope Josh Brolin and Lee Pace mark their calendars for the spring of 2027, because that’s when Glen Powell plans on graduating.

In the meantime, I’m sure many more fans and co-workers alike will get to be surprised by the fact that Glen Powell isn’t just a hard-working actor, he’s a hard-working student too.

For the better part of the past two decades, Josh Brolin has been one of the biggest actors on the planet. He’s played one of the most nuanced Marvel villains, been nominated for all kinds of awards, and appeared in one great movie after another. However, it wasn’t always that way. Sure, Brolin arrived on the scene hot with The Goonies back in the ‘80s, but he sort of bounced around for the next 20 years before it all changed with one of the busiest years of his, or anyone else’s, career.

In 2007, Brolin went from being a steady and reliable supporting actor to one of the top stars in Hollywood. From Planet Terror to American Gangster to No Country for Old Men (one of the best 2000s movies), the second-generation star was on a whole different level, and we’re still feeling it.

Josh Brolin Was Far From A Leading Man In The '90s And Early 2000s

Though he appeared in some great ‘90s movies like Flirting with Disaster and Mimic, Josh Brolin was far from a leading man in the final decade of the 20th century. The same can be said about the first half of the 2000s, as he gave great performances, but in forgotten movies like Melinda and Melinda and Milwaukee, Minnesota.

Don’t get me wrong, Brolin was staying busy in the second and third decades of his career, but he was nowhere near the level he would reach in a few short years. This trend of small, supporting parts in indie projects and straight-to-DVD releases would soon come to an end, and Brolin would become not just a leading man but one of the most prolific actors of his time. Let’s go back to 2007…

But That Would Be A Completely Different Story By The End Of 2007

Over the course of a single year, Brolin went from being a dependable yet relatively lowkey hand on set to one of the biggest and most recognizable stars on the planet. That year was 2007. Between April and November, he gave some of the best performances of his career and pushed himself to the top of Hollywood. I mean, just look at the projects he was involved with that year:

• Grindhouse (The “Planet Terror” Segment) - April 4, 2007
• In the Valley of Elah - September 14, 2007
• American Gangster - November 2, 2007
• No Country for Old Men - November 9, 2007

We’ve seen years like this before, but it’s extremely rare to see an actor so far into his career go from supporting man to leading man in the space of like seven months. The work, and conscious effort, that he must have put in throughout 2005 and 2006 to get to this point would honestly be a moving premise of some great American novel or something.

Though In The Valley of Elah doesn’t get talked about as much as the other three, and though he has a small part, it’s impossible to overlook how much the release of that film (which was led by No Country for Old Men co-star Tommy Lee Jones) impacted his career. I must also point out that Brolin also appeared in the Coen Brothers’ “World Cinema” short film that was part of the To Each His Own Cinema anthology film that was released in 2007.

All His Performances Were Great That Year, But No Country For Old Men Was On A Different Level

It can be argued that No Country for Old Men is one of the best movies about people ending up in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it was the opposite for Brolin when he auditioned for the role of Llewelyn Moss in the Coen Brothers’ Best Picture Oscar winner. Each of his 2007 movies are great and all, but it’s his performance as a Texan stumbling upon a satchel of cash from a drug deal gone wrong that we still talk about nearly 20 years later.

I saw this movie in theaters either five or six times (both during its initial release and then when it was brought back ahead of the 2008 Oscars), and that number has grown exponentially since then. When I hear Brolin’s name, this (and a story about him getting arrested in my hometown while filming W) comes to mind. A character with a heavy conscious, few words, and a quest to survive, there was something the resonated with audiences.

Sure, people talk about Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh more than Moss, but that was a once-in-a-generation villain performance. Still though, Brolin’s calm, calculated, and somewhat sympathetic and ill-fated protagonist led to so many opportunities, immediately after and for years to come.

Brolin's Work Has Continued To Get Better Over The Years

Brolin’s 2007 is the stuff of Hollywood legend, but it wasn’t a one-and-done affair for the actor, as he’s found even more success in the decades that have followed. One year after No Country rekindled his career, he played then-United States President George W. Bush in W, a movie that is much better than critics will make it out to be. Also in 2008, he portrayed San Francisco politician Dan White, Harvey Milk’s assassin, in the Sean Penn-led biopic, Milk. That role would earn Brolin his first and only Oscar nomination.

In the years that followed, Brolin re-teamed with directors like Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, and the Coen Brothers, the latter of whom made the decorated and all-time great Western True Grit. However, Brolin would again reach a whole new level a few years later when he was cast as Thanos, the overarching villain of the MCU’s “Infinity Saga.” Culminating in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Brolin’s portayal of the Mad Titan ushered in a new era of movie villains, much like his counterpart did in No Country for Old Men.

And With Some Massive Movies On The Way, He's Not Slowing Down Anytime Soon

Brolin could have stopped acting and rode off into the sunset multiple times over the years, but he continues to be one of the busiest names in show business, with even more releases on the 2025 movie schedule. After already appearing in one of 2025’s best horror movies (Weapons), he is gearing up to appear in the upcoming Netflix film, Wake Up Dead Man, and Edgar Wright’s adaptation of The Running Man, one of my most anticipated action flicks. And that’s just this year.

Before the end of the 2026 movie schedule, Brolin will reprise his role as Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s massive Dune: Part Three (their fourth time working together), team up with Ridley Scott again for The Dog Stars, and star in the upcoming survival film, Whalefall. He just doesn’t stop…

It’s hard to imagine what Josh Brolin’s career (and Hollywood as a whole) would look like without his stacked 2007, but luckily, we live in a timeline where that’s just a hypothetical situation.

Humor and horror have an important relationship in cinema. They exist on opposite ends of the emotional spectrum, but that's why they can be so effective when used together. A funny moment can lower an audiences defenses in preparation for a great scare, and it can also diffuse tension after an extended streak of terror. Recently, we've seen this tonal balance used expertly by writer/director Zach Cregger in his new movie Weapons, and a perfect example is Josh Brolin's literal "What the fuck?" moment in the aftermath of experiencing a shocking nightmare.

When I first saw Weapons earlier this summer, the theater absolutely erupted with laughter when Brolin delivered his exhausted and confused exclamation (since declared by the great David Fincher as "the greatest line in R-rated history"), and I felt compelled to ask the actor about it when I interviewed him during the film's Los Angeles press day. It goes without saying that more than just a great delivery is needed to make the beat in the movie work, as the editor has to perfectly time it with the end of the film's dream sequence, but Brolin explained how it also took multiple takes with little changes:

When it comes to filmmakers who make a habit of always getting multiple takes (the aforementioned David Fincher actually being a prime example), I've frequently seen the argument that it's indicative of a director not being entirely sure what they want – but I think this story effectively illustrates why that may be an oversimplification. Just because a certain take feels right on set doesn't mean that it's going to be exactly what a sequence needs when that footage is taken to an editing suite and cut together.

I'll also say this: just as I am hopeful that the footage of Josh Brolin sleeping on set in the middle of a take will be on the Weapons home video release, I also hope that there is some kind of quick super cut edited together with all five/six versions of the actor screaming, "What the fuck?!"

Weapons – co-starring the great talents of Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenhreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, Cary Christopher and Amy Madigan – will be entering its fourth weekend at the box office this coming Friday, and despite being an August release, it has been one of the most exciting hits of the summer. It's an amazing big screen experience, and if you haven't heard Josh Brolin's epic "What the fuck?!" with a crowd yet, you should try to make that a priority soon.

If you’ve seen the 2025 movie schedule release Weapons, you already know it’s packed with haunting imagery and disturbing body horror sequences. However, what you might not know is that the flick is genuinely funny at times, rivaling some of the best horror-comedies of all time. And according to Josh Brolin, the star of the blockbuster hit, one particular line of dialogue stood out so much that none other than David Fincher gave it the ultimate compliment. And yes, it involves an f-bomb.

Brolin revealed the story on the new podcast On Film…with Kevin McCarthy, where he couldn’t resist sharing the anecdote about Fincher’s reaction. According to the Goonies star:

For those who haven’t had the chance to watch the ​​new horror movie, the moment in question comes when Brolin’s character suffers a surreal and horrifying dream, only to suddenly wake up and blurt out a bewildered, perfectly timed: “What the fuck?!?!”

The American Gangster actor seems to believe the beauty of the line was in its raw simplicity, which is an honest reaction to chaos rather than a neatly scripted speech. The fact that Fincher, one of the most meticulous directors in Hollywood, singled it out as one of the top movie f-bombs of all time only amplified the impact.

As Brolin explained, the comment came after Cregger reached out to Fincher to get his thoughts on the film. The Fight Club and Gone Girl director reportedly watched Weapons closely but had almost no notes. As the Avengers: Endgame star tells it:

A throwaway curse word to be so well-regarded might sound a bit strange, but as Brolin explains in the full interview, which you can watch below, he sees it differently. Those raw, honest reactions and the specific kind of comedy really stick with people, and in a flick as bizarre and unsettling as Weapons, that shocked “What the fuck?!” is kind of like a pressure release for the audience. This interplay of horror and comedy is something Weapons director Zach Creggar is becoming a master at.

It also doesn’t hurt that Fincher has spent his career crafting some of the most quotable R-rated dialogue in film history. From Se7en’s infamous “What’s in the box?!” to the cutting barbs of The Social Network, he knows the power of a line that captures a character’s emotional breaking point.

Zach Cregger’s well-reviewed Weapons, his highly anticipated follow-up to the chaos of Barbarian, has quickly become one of the standout horror films of 2025, and it’s been dominating at the box office. Josh Brolin’s “Fincher-endorsed” f-bomb is just one reason audiences are connecting with the film.

Love it or not, the buzz is undeniable, and if you’re a movie fan, you owe it to yourself to head to your local theater, arms outstretched like the missing kids in the movie, and experience Weapons on the big screen while it’s still playing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Weapons, Josh Brolin plays Archer Graff: a father who has seen his entire life upended by the disappearance of his son. It’s all he can think about, and it has not only distracted him from his work as a contractor, but he spends his nights sleeping in his child’s bed. There are multiple scenes with Archer cocooned in the boy’s Batman sheets, and while there is a darkness and sadness to the behavior, it did lead to a funny incident on set: Brolin actually fell asleep for real in the midst of a take.

The actor made this confession to me when I spoke with him late last month during the Los Angeles press day for Weapons – as captured in the video above. I opened the interview asking for his analysis of the symbol-filled dream that Archer has during the character’s segment of the movie, and he laughed as he told me how he accidentally took a nap while cameras were rolling. Said Brolin,

I followed up asking if it had been a particularly long day of filming, and he explained that it didn’t have anything specifically to do with the day, and it instead is just part of his life while he is working. If Josh Brolin is working, he apparently isn’t getting the CDC-recommended seven hours of sleep that an adult needs.

He was tired, and he was in a comfy bed, and that equation equaled “sleep” for his brain. A lot of us can probably relate… though most of us probably don’t have cameras filming the moment. Fortunately, writer/director Zach Cregger had a sense of humor about it:

I know that special features are more and more becoming the exclusive domain of boutique home video distributors instead of major studios, but I am very much hoping that there is at least a short blooper real included on the eventual 4K UHD/Blu-ray release of Weapons with the footage from the camera arcing over Josh Brolin’s torso and landing on his face in mid-slumber. The actor can obviously laugh it off, and Zach Cregger evidently enjoyed it in the moment, and it would probably be pretty funny to watch. Had I interviewed the filmmaker during the press day after talking with Brolin instead of before, I definitely would have asked about it.

Co-starring Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan, Weapons is now playing in theaters everywhere, and it’s the buzziest film around – following weeks of excited hype with a bigger-than-expected performance at the box office during its opening weekend. If you haven’t seen it yet, I would highly recommend that you do so soon, as the ending is exceptionally wild, and you should see it for yourself before getting spoiled.

The news that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is coming to an end has shocked fans and late-night hosts alike. Of course, one has to assume nobody was quite as shocked as Colbert himself, who was likely expecting to spend years, possibly decades, more hosting the show. One big question is just what Colbert will do once his tenure on The Late Show comes to an end. It appears he’s ready to entertain offers.

Colbert Jokes About Going To Streaming, And Why Not?

While it’s been suggested that Colbert’s targeting of the Trump administration had a part in The Late Show’s cancellation, Colbert did not pull punches on Friday’s show, putting on a mask of Vice President J.D. Vance and acting like a spoiled child. After dropping the mask at two different points during the monologue, Colbert offered his new “character” to two different streaming platforms, saying…

Colbert is joking, of course. At the same time, while I’m not sure a show featuring Colbert playing J.D. Vance will get picked up by a major streaming platform, if he’s interested, it seems like Colbert himself could be.

Colbert’s predecessor on The Late Show, David Letterman, actually did go to Netflix with the long-form interview show My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. While John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight is technically an HBO production, it appears that most people who watch it do so with an HBO Max subscription.

Considering the popularity of Oliver’s show specifically, it would not be shocking at all if another streamer, like a Netflix or a Prime Video, wanted to get in on that action.

Depending on Colbert’s contract situation, he may not be able to entertain offers until he’s officially done with The Late Show, but considering his popularity, which may only grow as we approach the end of the show, it seems likely the comedian will have some options. The last time that a late-night host was unceremoniously removed from his show, when Conan O'Brien left The Tonight Show, he had no trouble finding work.

Of Course, He Could Always Go To Work For Josh Brolin

Stephen Colbert will likely have his pick of jobs on screen, but if he’s looking for a change of pace, he’s getting other offers as well. Weapons co-star Josh Brolin appeared on The Late Show last week as well and offered Colbert a different job, saying…

Colbert joked that he thought that would be an easy job, as he didn't expect Josh Brolin to be a very demanding boss. If that’s the case, maybe Colbert will take him up on it. Sometimes you just need a low-stress job.

What Stephen Colbert does next will likely remain a big question to us until after his time on The Late Show is done. What seems likely is that he’ll have a job if he wants one, even if it means carrying Josh Brolin’s bags.

The following contains some spoilers for Weapons.

My job is weird. One of the reasons my job is weird is that watching new movies is one of the things expected of me. While I don’t see as many movies as I used to, due to having small kids that require constant attention, I still as many movies as I can, and while it’s great when a movie I’m really excited about comes out, it also means watching movies I’m not sure I want to see, as was the case this weekend with the new horror movieWeapons.

To be clear, it wasn’t that I didn’t think Weapons would be a good movie. It’s actually been one of the more intriguing movies on the release calendar this year, and its premise is one I found awfully compelling. However, as a dad of a school-age kid, that same premise also made me slightly afraid to see Weapons, for fear that the movie would make me want to cry and scream in personal agony throughout its runtime.

Weapons' Trailers Were Really Disturbing

From the first trailer I saw for Weapons, I was immediately interested in it, and immediately sure that I didn’t want to see it. The idea that an entire elementary school classroom disappeared, with seemingly no cause or reason, was a creepy idea. The film’s promotion focused on the disappearances without giving much additional detail about the various characters or how the rest of the movie would play out. It was all very mysterious.

The problem was that one of the things I have discovered about myself since becoming a father is that I now have a real problem watching movies where children are put in jeopardy. Any story where a child might die, where a parent is trying desperately to get back to their child, absolutely destroys me emotionally. So an entire movie that is about that, times 17, I was sure would be a movie that would hit me right in the heart.

But at the same time, as somebody who absolutely loved the insanity that was Barbarian, director Zach Cregger’s previous film, I was also very curious to see just what Weapons would be. I wanted to see it, but I was afraid I wouldn’t enjoy the experience, and with that conflicted mindset, I sat down in the theater and waited for the lights to dim.

At First, I Breathed A Sigh Of Relief

I didn’t realize how tense I was as Weapons began until I started to feel that tension dissipate. Almost immediately, the movie put me at ease. The actual disappearance of the children in the film is dealt with as a narrated prologue. It’s an event that happens, but we’re told, rather than shown, what happened. This is because Weapons isn’t actually about the disappearance, it’s about what happens after.

But more importantly, this setup means you never really get emotionally invested in the children. You never get to meet them. Only a couple of them are ever given names. They’re not characters in the film. They’re a plot device. This isn’t a bad thing, for the plot or my nerves.

I fully expected to spend the entire runtime of Weapons afraid these kids were going to be eaten by monsters, or that they would be transformed into monsters and start eating other people. But as the movie went on, I began to realize neither fate would have mattered a great deal. The reason children in jeopardy bother me is that I often get emotionally attached to them, because that’s what the movie wants, but that’s not what happens here.

Weapons One Child Character Doesn’t Need My Sympathy

There’s one child character of any note in Weapons, Alex (played by Cary Christopher ) is the only child in the classroom to not disappear. The movie's vignette style structure mostly ignores him as much as it does the rest of the children, but even when he does become important to the story, even considering the wild things that happen to him, I never felt the terror I often feel when children have to experience horrific things in movies.

I think the main reason I never broke down over Alex’s situation is that Alex himself never does. He finds himself dealing with extraordinary circumstances, and he simply deals with them as best he can. He's clearly afraid, but he never lets it overwhelm him.

I won’t say I was ever sure Alex was entirely safe, and at one point, I wondered if he was somehow behind all the terrible things that were happening, but the movie never gave any real indication that Alex was in over his head, and so I never felt the need to worry about his fate.

Weapons Was Much More My Speed Than I Expected

As I mentioned earlier, I was a big fan of Barbarian, and while the marketing for Weapons certainly pointed out that the new film was from the same director, nothing in the early trailers gave the impression that Weapons would be quite as unhinged, as darkly comedic, as that movie. Needless to say, Weapons goes arguably even more off the deep end than a movie about finding a monster living under your Airbnb.

I certainly had those moments when I got apprehensive about some terrible thing that I was afraid was about to happen. But I found myself laughing, or laugh-screaming, just as often. Sometimes the horror is so extreme that it goes beyond being scared, and you just find yourself thinking, “What the fuck?” It’s a sentiment several characters in the film share as well.

Barbarian balanced its tone remarkably well, and Weapons, dealing with a subject matter that, at least to me, could have been even darker, does an even better job. I can’t remember the last time a horror movie finale had me smiling/laughing/cheering at such a gruesome spectacle, but here we are.

In the end, I came home to sleeping children not completely strung out over a movie where terrible things had happened to kids, as I had previously feared. I'm in full agreement with our own Weapons review that it's one of the best movies of the year. Julia Garner is now one of my favorite actresses. Weapons isn't at all what I thought it was, it's so much better.

The 2025 movie schedule is rolling right along, and with it we’ve seen the ever-increasing number of Marvel movies in order continue to do the same. While The Fantastic Four: First Steps was pretty successful at rounding out this year’s big-screen MCU blockbusters, there are still numerous upcoming superhero movies where our favorites will return. With that, it’s hard not to think about those who portrayed past heroes and villains, like Josh Brolin. He’s now opened up about whether or not he’d like to return as Thanos or Cable, and had a very thoughtful position on the matter.

What Did Josh Brolin Say About Playing Thanos Or Cable Again?

There are several actors who have played more than one MCU role in the Marvel multiverse, and we can count Weapons star Josh Brolin among that number. The actor helped make The Mad Titan a force to be reckoned with across several films in the Infinity Saga, and also appeared as the futuristic, cybernetic revenge-seeking soldier Cable in 2018’s Deadpool 2.

We are currently a little over a year away from another major Marvel team-up movie, as the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday hits the 2026 movies that December. While there’s no reason (right now) to think that Brolin will return as either character, when speaking with the Happy Sad Confused podcast, the topic of his work as both did come up. After revealing that Thanos was originally supposed to only be a cameo, he added:

Brolin didn’t go into details about why he, seemingly, holds Thanos so close to his heart that he’d be willing to drop everything, pull on those motion-capture pajamas again and play the Big Bad. However, it sounds like his love for former Iron Man Robert Downey, Jr. (who’s starring in Doomsday as Doctor Doom) and the Russo brothers has a lot to do with it. He continued:

The Oscar nominee explained that he and Joe Russo are embarking on a business endeavor together, but noted his fondness for the siblings, saying, “I love both of them. I think they’re amazing.” So, when he was asked about possibly being able to bring Thanos back (which has been rumored) in some way, Brolin confirmed that he has complete faith in the Russos’ ability to make such a shocking turn of events work within the story they’re now building. Brolin said:

Though it would be severely premature to get excited about the idea of Brolin’s Thanos returning to the MCU, at least we know that he’s down for the opportunity if it arises.

The inciting incident that kicks off the story in writer/director Zach Cregger’s new horror movie Weapons is incredibly freaky all by itself: in a small town, 17 children wake from their beds simultaneously, leave their homes, and flee into the night. But it’s not just the event itself that is scary, but also the way it happens. The kids don’t just stroll away from their houses but instead sprint at full tilt with their arms angled straight out at their sides. It’s a seriously creepy image that has been used very effectively in the marketing – and it even successfully sends a chill down the spine of star Josh Brolin.

Knowing how the proverbial sausage is made certainly takes some of the edge off of scary movies for the actors who make them, but the case of the eerie arm positioning in Weapons is kind of a special case for Brolin. When I spoke with him late last month during the Los Angeles press day for the upcoming 2025 movie (as captured in the video above), I brought up the subject of the special physicality, and the actor explained that he made a point of not wanting to know the “why” of it all. On set, he wasn’t sure if it would work on screen, but he now recognizes that it definitely does. Said Brolin,

In addition to Josh Brolin not asking Zach Cregger about it on the set of Weapons, the “reason” behind the way the kids hold out their arms as they run isn’t something that is ever explained in the film either, and like Brolin, I think that’s a great move. Explanations tend to take a bit of the spookiness out of a scary mystery, and while there is plenty of other spookiness in the film awaiting audiences this weekend, it’s one of many nice things to excitedly mentally chew on as you walk out of the theater.

In Weapons, Josh Brolin plays Archer Graff, who is the father of one of the 17 children who go missing. He starts letting his whole life fall apart out of grief, and much of his frustration is directed at Julia Garner’s Justine Gandy – who is the teacher of all the kids who went missing. His story is one of a collection of interlocking tales in the horror film, which also stars Alden Ehrenreich, Benedict Wong, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher and Amy Madigan.

After months of building up hype with creepy trailers and earning buzz from early reactions and critics (allow me to recommend my five-star CinemaBlend review), Weapons is finally almost here, as it will be arriving in theaters everywhere this weekend. After you see the film, I would highly recommend heading back here to the site, as it’s definitely a movie that you’re going to want to read about, and we have plenty more articles and features coming your way.

Movie lovers who agreed that 2022’s Barbarian was pretty intense even for seasoned horror fans have likely been anticipating Zach Cregger’s next directorial outing. That wait is now almost over, as the mystery-horror Weapons is set to hit the 2025 movie calendar on August 8. Early screenings are underway, and first reactions are all talking about the “off the rails” ending that left one critic “cackling with twisted glee.”

Josh Brolin leads Weapons as the father of one of 17 children from the same class who all went missing at the same time one night. Regardless of whether or not you’ve been waiting for this release, CinemaBlend’s own Eric Eisenberg assures us that this is one that needs to be on our radar, posting:

Well you have to love the promise of a strong ending. The plot of Weapons sounds really intriguing, too, with Julia Garner playing Justine, the teacher of the 17 missing children (and main suspect of the investigation). Chris Evangelista of SlashFilm calls the movie “a memorable suburban nightmare," writing:

Shak Lambert of CGMagazine, meanwhile, is already thinking about catching the upcoming horror movie for a second time, saying he can’t wait to see it again with a crowd. Lambert says:

Germain Lussier of Gizmodo has lots of adjectives to describe Weapons’ ending, and while it may be less shocking than Zach Cregger's previous movie, Lussier says this one is “better” (and with nearly 10 times the budget of Barbarian, I’d say “better” was definitely the goal). The critic posts:

Critic Edward Douglas says to be wary of spoilers for this one, but seems to agree with others that the movie builds to a wild conclusion, writing:

Griffin Schiller of FilmSpeak calls Weapons “a horror masterpiece and the best film of the year,” using other highly regarded movies and filmmakers to try to explain what Zach Cregger has accomplished. Schiller says:

First reactions are indicating a lot of excitement around Zach Cregger’s Weapons, especially that apparently wild conclusion. I love that even after reading these opinions, there’s still so much mystery surrounding the story, and I look forward to checking this horror movie out when it hits theaters Friday, August 8.

In the meantime, if you want to relive Cregger’s previous work, Barbarian is available to stream with a Netflix subscription.

Josh Brolin has built a pretty incredible resume over his four-decade-long career. He’s won Screen Actors Guild Awards and been nominated for Oscars. He’s been in major big-budget blockbusters and character-driven dramas. He’s also achieved a significant level of fame for his work, but the actor now feels that too many people are looking for fame without doing the actual work.

In a recent appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Brolin lamented what he sees as a fundamental shift in the way people approach the acting profession today. He feels that when he was young in the industry, people were focused on the craft of acting, whereas people trying to break into acting are only looking for fame. He said…

While there have always been actors who had their eyes on fame and what came with it, Brolin seems to feel the issue has become considerably worse in recent years. He has a traditional view of acting as a craft and feels that more people used to be focused on improving that craft rather than financial success.

While trying to be financially successful might not be the worst thing in the world, Josh Brolin does feel that, because so many are focused on that, it hurts the movies being made. It seems that because people are chasing fame, they’re less interested in the collaborative process of filmmaking. Brolin continued…

While a certain amount of this could certainly be chalked up to Josh Brolin being 40 years older and having a less-than-stellar view of a younger generation, it’s hard to argue that the Dune actor hasn’t always felt this way.

Brolin has talked about the way that some assumed that he was only chasing fame because he was the son of actor James Brolin, something he had to fight against. Brolin admits to doing a lot of studying of acting methods while making The Goonies. Although Steven Spielberg told Brolin he was maybe taking it all a bit too seriously.

When it comes to the actors that Brolin himself looks up to, it’s clear that he’s not looking at the people who are the most famous, but rather those actors who he thinks have done some of the best performances. He mentions the great performances of Denzel Washington specifically, saying…

Even if the number of actors focused on the craft of acting has diminished, they’re certainly out there. When Brolin’s Dune co-star Timothee Chalamet won the Oscar, he didn’t say he wanted to be the most famous actor, but that he wanted to be one of the greats as an actor. Perhaps he’ll be an inspiration to a new generation.

Last week, I had the chance to marvel at the incredible year this is for Stephen King fans around the world. Following the arrival of Osgood Perkins’ bloody and brilliant adaptation of The Monkey back in February, three more King movies are on their way to the big screen before the end of 2025 (Mike Flanagan’s The Life Of Chuck, Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk and Edgar Wright’s The Running Man), and I had a chance to preview all of them while on the ground covering CinemaCon 2025. I was entranced by everything I saw and heard about the three extremely different films, as I not only got to watch impressive footage but also hear some great behind-the-scenes stories.

One of these great stories – specifically one told by Josh Brolin – leads this week’s edition of The King Beat, but it’s but one of three headlines in this week’s column digging into the latest news from the world of Stephen King. There’s a whole lot to discuss, so let’s dig in!

The Running Man Production Devised A Super Cool Way To Make Josh Brolin More Comfortable Performing While Looking Right At The Camera

When an actor does their thing in the making of a movie, the general idea is for them to ignore the existence of the camera. Creating an authentic performance means forgetting the artifice of the filmmaking process, and that’s hard to do if there is an over-awareness of the lens capturing your every move. This in mind, it’s somewhat understandable that Josh Brolin faced a special kind of freak out in the making of The Running Man when the shooting of a sequence required him to perform right down the barrel, so to speak.

Brolin spoke about this experience during an entertaining luncheon at CinemaCon last week where the actor participated in a Q&A panel with writer/director Edgar Wright and Running Man co-stars Glen Powell and Colman Domingo. He spoke about his time playing the villainous Killian in the upcoming Stephen King movie, and he specifically referenced a time on set when he was unnerved by a setup on set that required him to act directly into the camera. Said Brolin,

In The Running Man, Josh Brolin plays the film’s central antagonist: the lead producer of the Games Network, which is the state-run media channel that broadcast’s the film’s titular reality show. Some of the character’s key scenes in the book are intense one-on-one interactions with Ben Richards (including an early sequence where the protagonist is recruited to be on The Running Man), and Edgar Wright’s approach for at least one of these moments apparently puts us directly in Ben’s point of view.

Acting directly into a camera is hard not only because it forces a performer to recognize the existence of the lens, but also because it means that there is nobody opposite them to play off of emotionally. But Wright is an immensely talented filmmaker who works with other very talented people, and Brolin explained that the crew was able to devise an awesome workaround for this issue that ultimately made him more comfortable on set. He continued,

Cool, right?

The discussion of this special kind of invention behind-the-scenes of The Running Man has made me all the more fascinated by the film and excited for what Edgar Wright has in store… but it wasn’t just the discussion of the upcoming 2025 movie that amped my curiosity about the film.

After Getting An Early First Look At The Running Man, I’m Curious If/How The Stephen King Movie Will Adapt The Book’s Super Dark Ending

SPOILER WARNING: If you haven’t read The Running Man and don’t want to be spoiled on the ending (which may end up being adapted), you may want to skip down to the next section!

When it was first announced in early 2021 that Edgar Wright’s remake of The Running Man was getting made, I wrote a feature explaining that I felt two aspects of the source material would probably be better off getting changed – despite the whole initiative of the project being the creation of a more faithful adaptation than the 1987 movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. My first note was that protagonist Ben Richards should be cast with a Black actor (allowing the film to highlight systemic racial issues in our modern justice system)… but that notion admittedly went out the window as soon as it was announced that Glen Powell was playing the lead.

My second point was that it would probably be best if the remake didn’t directly adapt the dark, potentially controversial ending from Stephen King’s book… but based on the footage that was showcased at CinemaCon 2025 last week, the project might be ignoring that suggestion as well.

To rewind a bit, the reason why I felt the ending should be changed for the new movie is simple: the actions by the hero of the story are disturbingly reminiscent of the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. At the end of Stephen King’s book (which was first published in 1982), the protagonist is horrified to discover that the sinister Games Network not only doesn’t plan to deliver his earned prize money to his family after his participation as a contestant on The Running Man, but they have been straight-up killed. Emotionally devastated, Ben’s response to the news is to hijack a plane and fly it into the state-run media’s skyscraper headquarters.

I don’t think I need to explain beyond that recounting of events why that may not be the best direction for Edgar Wright’s upcoming film – but that’s why I was so surprised to catch a couple of standout moments in the Running Man CinemaCon footage. While that material has not yet made its way officially online, I was surprised to notice that there were shots of a fight aboard a mid-flight airplane and a pilot being killed. There wasn’t any specific context presented for these clips in the edit, but seeing them, my brain immediately clicked back to the extremely dark conclusion of the novel.

Overall, the first look at The Running Man suggested that the Edgar Wright film is going to be much more “fun” than the source material (as evidenced by a shot where Glen Powell lies on a bed and slaps his own tighty-whities-clad ass and Michael Cera kills a bunch of soldiers with a super soaker and an electrified floor), and I would be stunned if the blockbuster presented a faithful adaptation of the ending… but there is now enough evidence that makes me question that assumption. Frankly, though, that only makes me more excited to see the movie when it arrives in theaters later this year – specifically on November 7.

I’m Super Curious How One Plot Description Detail For Mike Flanagan’s Upcoming Carrie Will Impact And Change The Story From Stephen King’s Book

To be perfectly honest, I’m not totally sure what to expect from the Carrie series that is now in development from writer/director Mike Flanagan at Amazon MGM. On the one hand, Flanagan has an impeccable record when it comes to adapting the works of Stephen King – with Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep and The Life Of Chuck all ranking among the best King movies of all time – but this is also a book we’ve already seen adapted for the screen three previous times. What could the show possibly add to the massive legacy?

Going by new details that arrived online this week, one detail may be revelations about Carrie White’s father.

This week, Variety reported the news that actress Summer H. Howell is nearing the signing of a deal that will see her play the titular role in Carrie, and beyond the casting, the trade report also includes an official logline for the project. It reads:

Most of that information – from the domineering mother to bullying to telekinetic powers – is very familiar to anyone even remotely familiar with the story of Carrie… but the “father’s sudden and untimely death” part is new and intriguing. The paternal side of the eponymous protagonist’s genetic code is not something that has ever gotten any focus in previous adaptations of the Stephen King novel, and I wonder how significant a hook it will be in Mike Flanagan’s vision.

In the book, Carrie’s father is Ralph White, a fundamentalist Christian and construction worker who dies in an accident prior to his daughter’s birth – but it seems that the show will be going in a different direction with the character. Instead of Carrie being raised by Margaret as a single mother, it seems her dad will be around into her teenage years and potentially home schooling her before his “untimely death.” If this is the case, I have three standout questions: 1) Will investigation into his demise be a plot point on the show? 2) What will having Ralph around mean for the characterization of Margaret? 3) Will the paternal presence reveal more about the origins of Carrie’s psychic abilities?

Mike Flanagan has promised that there is an answer to the question of “Why remake Carrie again?” and I wonder if this detail about the developing project may be significant insight. The show hasn’t gotten an official series pickup yet, but that news is expected imminently, and when that news comes, we’ll hopefully get to learn more about the plans for the adaptation.

That brings us to the end of this week’s edition of The King Beat, but as always, I’ll be back next Thursday here on CinemaBlend with a brand new column digging into all of the latest news from the world of Stephen King.

Can you believe it’s been 40 years since The Goonies? The movie was Josh Brolin’s first film, and four decades later he’s an established and sought-after actor with multiple movies on the 2025 schedule. However, when the Oscar nominee reflected on being part of The Goonies cast, he spoke about his nepo baby status and how it worked against him.

In recent years, a ton of actors with famous parents have been commenting on what it’s like to be the child of a big star in the business. (For example, Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose Depp has felt like “people have been ready” to see her fail since she was a kid). For Josh Brolin, who is the son of James Brolin, when he was trying to break into the industry, being a nepo baby only meant he needed to prove himself more. As he recalled:

When Brolin recalled earning his first Hollywood role while on the Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast, he shared that it wasn’t easy for him to get roles because he had a famous father. It sounds like it actually led people to believe he thought he had it easy, and they needed more convincing. As he continued:

Can you imagine your first job being with the likes of Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner? It’s actually so wild. But for those who think Josh Brolin got the part because he was the son of another actor, it sounds like he really had to prove himself, and it was the case of being there at the right place, right time.

Interestingly enough, Brolin isn’t the only nepo baby in The Goonies. Sean Astin is the son of Oscar winner Patty Duke. However, the cast also included first-time actors with blue-collar backgrounds like Corey Feldman, whose mom was a cocktail waitress and Ke Huy Quan, whose family actually fled to America from the Vietnam War and were part of the Refugee Admissions Program in 1979.

Brolin has also previously talked about how he thought he’d rise to fame right after The Goonies, but had professional struggles directly after and fell off. He wouldn’t star in another theatrical movie until 1997’s Mimic, and he didn’t really become a big name until he was cast in the Coen brothers’ No Country For Old Men. After that became a huge success, critically and commercially, things really took off for him – but it sounds like his career definitely didn’t come easy.

We lost a legend, and there’s no denying it. Yesterday, Gene Hackman, his wife Betsy Arakawa and their dog were found dead in their home. While we learned about this in the early hours of the morning, many of Hollywood’s greats did not wait to post tributes, as Francis Ford Coppola, Viola Davis, George Takei and more honored the late great actor and his family on social media.

Legendary director Francis Ford Coppola worked on the film The Conversation with Hackman. Using his Instagram to pay tribute to the actor, the filmmaker posted a BTS image of them working together, with the following heartfelt message:

The greats truly are recognizing greats here. EGOT winner Viola Davis was quick to post her tribute to The French Connection star. Using a headshot of the actor, the actress used her IG caption to honor him and note some of her favorite works of his, writing:

Antonio Banderas also got in on the tributes. After Hackman and his wife were found dead in their Santa Fe home, many were left in shock and are sending their condolences to their family and loved ones. That’s exactly what The Mask of Zorro actor did, too, writing on IG:

Josh Brolin was also “crushed” by this news.

The Dune actor posted an image of Hackman and Arakawa on his Instagram to mourn this devastating loss. Noting the actor’s iconic filmography – which includes some of the best movies of the 2000s, ‘90s, ‘80s and ‘70s – he wrote:

George Takei also posted about this death in the early hours of the morning. Citing an obituary posted about the late actor, the Star Trek legend wrote on X:

Along with actors, and like Coppola, many filmmakers paid their respects to The Royal Tenenbaums actor and his family.

A Simple Favor director Paul Feig took to X to post his tribute, citing The Conversation (the film Hackman made with Coppola) as a movie that changed the way he saw acting:

Meanwhile, Edgar Wright kept his tribute simple.

The Baby Driver director retweeted Mubi’s X post about the news. He didn’t say much, but his two simple words are effective and the message I’d like to leave us on:

Gene Hackman truly is one of the greats, and he always will be. From critical classics like The French Connection and Unforgiven to 1978’s Superman (which is one of the best Superman movies) where he played Lex Luthor to modern cult classics like The Royal Tenenbaums, he truly left a remarkable mark on cinema. His legacy will be remembered forever.

We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences to Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s loved ones during this tragic time.

Considering how many child stars have walked away from Hollywood, it is always so inspiring to see an actor who started early and continues to act to this day. Of course, some of them would walk away from the spotlight or experience a bit of a career hiccup before making an impressive return, either with more acting roles or in a new medium altogether. See for yourself by taking a look at these former child actors who went on to impress us as adults.

Mayim Bialik

After hitting it big as the title character of the hit '90s sitcom Blossom, Mayim Bialik lived a normal life that included earning a neuroscience degree and starting a family. She made her major industry return by joining the Big Bang Theory cast as neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, which led her to lead another sitcom called Call Me Kat and host Jeopardy! for a short time.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

After getting his start in movies like Angels in the Outfield and A River Runs Through It and playing an alien posing as a human teen on the great ‘90s TV show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Joseph Gordon-Levitt never really went away from Hollywood. However, he did experience a moment of relative obscurity before roles in the likes of (500) Days of Summer, a few great Christopher Nolan movies, and his many collaborations with Rian Johnson put him on the A-List.

Jurnee Smollett

Jurnee Smollett made a grand impression in her youth with a recurring stint on Full House and as the title role of the acclaimed Black horror movie, 1997's Eve’s Bayou. Her career would take an astonishing turn toward A-list success in 2020 after her Emmy-nominated turn in HBO’s Lovecraft Country, which was followed by her role as Black Canary in DC’s Birds of Prey, her great performance in Amazon Prime’s The Burial, and more.

Jason Bateman

Following his debut appearance on Little House on the Prairie, his roles on sitcoms like Valerie (later called The Hogan Family after some major casting shake-ups), and his lead part in Teen Wolf Too made Jason Bateman an '80s heartthrob. Years later, playing Michael Bluth in the Arrested Development cast made him a comedy icon before his Emmy-nominated turn as Marty Byrde in Netflix's Ozark cast further proved his remarkable versatility.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer – who proved she was an acting powerhouse at 9 years old with her debut role in Barbershop 2: Back in Business before scoring her first lead role in 2006's Akeelah and the Bee – never needed a comeback moment because her notoriety never really stopped. However, it is clear that the multi-talented Emmy winner was never more popular before her scene-stealing performance in Jordan Peele’s 2022 alien invasion movie, Nope.

Josh Brolin

After making his acting debut at 17 in 1985's The Goonies cast, Josh Brolin rarely had another role quite as successful until, at 39, he was cast in 2007's instant classic Western movie, No Country for Old Men, as Llewellyn Moss. The son of James Brolin went on to receive an Oscar nomination for 2008's Milk, was cast as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first big bad, Thanos, and has given commanding performances in various other acclaimed films.

Drew Barrymore

Many forget that, years after 1982's E.T. the Extra-terrestrial made her a sensation at just 7 years old, Drew Barrymore had a few career shake-ups due to personal drama including addiction. Yet, her astonishing performance in the opening scene of 1996’s Scream brought her back to the A-List and earned her roles in blockbusters like Charlie's Angels and TV shows like Santa Clarita Diet before she found later success as a daytime talk show host.

Neil Patrick Harris

Playing the prodigious title role of Doogie Howser M.D. made Neil Patrick Harris a household name, at least for a while. His popularity would skyrocket, however, when he played Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother cast, which opened up many avenues for the now multi-Emmy-winning performer, from working with David Fincher on Gone Girl to hosting award shows and taking the stage on Broadway.

Gaby Hoffman

Gaby Hoffman had an amazing run as a child actor in the late 1980s and early 1990s with roles in movies like Uncle Buck, Field of Dreams, Now and Then, and Sleepless in Seattle. After stepping away to focus on her education, she resurfaced as a sought-after talent with her Emmy-nominated starring role in the Amazon Prime original TV show, Transparent.

Ke Huy Quan

Following his iconic roles in classic '80s movies Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, as Short Round, and The Goonies, as Data, Ke Huy Quan’s role offers began to disappear. That would change decades later when he won an Academy Award for his uplifting performance in A24's acclaimed multiverse movie, 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Anna Chlumsky

For years, Anna Chlumsky was best known for her heartbreaking performance as 11-year-old Vada in 1991's My Girl. Years later, she significantly increased her star power with her multi-Emmy-nominated role in the hit HBO series, Veep, as Amy Brookheimer.

Macaulay Culkin

One of the most essential examples of a “former child star” is Macaulay Culkin, who had Hollywood in the palm of his young hands after leading the original Home Alone cast as Kevin McCallister. He still acts from time to time, having shown up in the American Horror Story Season 10 cast or on HBO's The Righteous Gemstones, is in a power couple with Brenda Song, and finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023.

Christina Ricci

Christina Ricci would continue to find notable acting roles beyond her star-making turn as Wednesday Addams in 1991's The Addams Family and 1993's Addams Family Values. However, starring in Showtime’s Yellowjackets cast did wonders for her modern notoriety before she revisited her breakout role with a fun part in Netflix’s Wednesday cast, opposite Jenna Ortega.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale owes his fame to starring in Steven Spielberg's 1987 period drama Empire of the Sun and the cult-favorite 1992 musical Newsies but his menacing turn in 2000's American Psycho earned him wide respect as an adult. However, leading Christopher Nolan's live-action Batman movies as Bruce Wayne made him one of the top actors of his generation, leading to his Oscar win for 2011’s The Fighter.

Danica McKellar

Danica McKellar embodied the ultimate girl next door when she was cast in the original Wonder Years as Winnie Cooper from 1988 to 1993. Much later in her career, she would acquire a much different fanbase when she became one of the most prolific stars on the Hallmark Channel with roles in movies like Christmas She Wrote and Swing into Romance.

Cole Sprouse

Cole Sprouse had already acted alongside his sibling, his identical twin brother Dylan, numerous times (such as in Big Daddy) before Disney Channel’s The Suite Life franchise made them teen idols. However, you could argue that Cole was never more popular after he joined the Riverdale cast as Jughead Jones.

Hilary Duff

There were few teen Disney Channel stars who became quite as iconic and as quickly as Hilary Duff after she starred in the title role of Lizzie McGuire. She would find later success in the scene-stealing supporting role of Kelsey Peters on TV Land’s Younger and as the lead protagonist of Hulu's short-lived but well-liked How I Met Your Mother spin-off, How I Met Your Father.

Josh Peck

Josh Peck first rose to fame on Nickelodeon by scoring major roles in kid-friendly comedies like The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh. He would later prove his worth as a versatile actor with more mature roles, such as on Fox's Grandfathered or in Christopher Nolan’s Best Picture Oscar winner, Oppenheimer.

Vincent Kartheiser

Vincent Kartheiser first made a name for himself by appearing in ‘90s teen movies like Alaska and Masterminds. However, he would find later and greater success after starring in AMC's Mad Men cast as Pete Campbell.

Kurt Russell

Following his feature debut in 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair alongside Elvis Presley, Kurt Russell continued to have success as the star of light and funny Disney movies like The Strongest Man in the World. In 1981, he reinvented himself as an action movie icon after playing Snake Plissken in John Carpenter’s Escape from New York, which led to plenty more awesome movie roles, such as R.J. MacReady in The Thing and Coach Herb Brooks in Miracle.

Kieran Culkin

Kieran Culkin was previously best known as Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, who also showed up in the Home Alone movies and played Matty Banks in the Father of the Bride movies. However, he would become one of the more prolific Culkin siblings following his Emmy-winning turn in the Succession cast as Roman Roy and other widely acclaimed performances.

Johnny Galecki

For years, Johnny Galecki was best known for playing the third Rusty Griswold in 1989's National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and David Healy on Roseanne. He would later reprise the latter role on The Conners years after experiencing a career resurgence by playing Leonard Hofstadter on CBS' The Big Bang Theory.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster made an impressive feature film debut as Liam Neeson’s onscreen stepson in the 2003 rom-com, Love Actually. The British actor would later surprise audiences with his role as Jojen Reed in the Game of Thrones cast, leading to parts in the Maze Runner movies and Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit.

Tyler James Williams

Tyler James Williams became a bonafide sitcom star by playing a young Chris Rock on Everybody Hates Chris, which led to more interesting roles, such as Lionel in the acclaimed 2014 indie comedy, Dear White People. However, his recurring role on the Walking Dead cast and multi-Emmy-nominated turn as Gregory Eddie on the Abbott Elementary cast earned him wide respect as an adult actor.

Alisan Porter

Alisan Porter only appeared in a handful of movies, including Ron Howard's Parenthood and John Hughes' Curly Sue in the title role, before she walked away from acting when she was still very young. She would later reinvent herself as a talented musician when she competed in and won the tenth season of NBC's hit singing competition show, The Voice.

Ashley Johnson

Ashley Johnson broke into the business when she joined the Growing Pains cast as the Severs' youngest child, Chrissy. She is best known these days as a prolific voice actor who has breathed life into iconic roles such as Gretchen on Recess and Ellie in the hit post-apocalyptic video game The Last of Us, which was adapted into an HBO series that she cameoed on.

Jennette McCurdy

Jennette McCurdy became one of the most promising young talents to break through on Nickelodeon, having been cast on iCarly as the charmingly bullish Sam Puckett. However, she became better known and even better respected years later for her acclaimed, revealing 2022 memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, which focuses on her life as a reluctant child actor.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne began her career early in life – notably appearing on Pee-wee's Playhouse – and seemingly hit her peak in her late teens and early 20s with the American Pie movies and But I'm a Cheerleader before substance abuse caused her career to slow down. Years later, Emmy-nominated turns on TV shows like Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll (which she co-created), and Poker Face and a few acclaimed movie roles reignited her wonderfully versatile career.

Mara Wilson

Following her star-making roles in Mrs. Doubtfire, Miracle on 34th Street, and Matilda, Mara Wilson walked away from the spotlight soon after starring in Thomas and the Magic Railroad. She would later take up minor, infrequent parts after becoming better known for writing about her experiences as a top child actor.

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment would never go on to play a role quite as iconic as young medium Cole Sear in, arguably, the best M. Night Shyamalan movie, The Sixth Sense (which earned him an Oscar nomination) at 11 years old. However, his work as an adult – such as recurring roles on hit series like Silicon Valley and The Boys and memorable parts in movies like Kevin Smith’s Tusk – has been nothing short of exciting.

Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen made a charming debut as Cindy Lou Who in 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas and, in her teens, made an impression on the Gossip Girl cast as Jenny Humphrey. She would later reinvent herself as the frontwoman of a successful rock group called The Pretty Reckless.

Lukas Haas

Following an acclaimed run as one of the most revered child actors of the 1980s for his roles in Witness and Lady in White, Lukas Haas went on to take progressively smaller roles as he grew up. However, much of the projects he has taken in his adulthood – including movies like Inception and Babylon and TV shows like The Righteous Gemstones and War of the Worlds – have been met with great receptions.

The Goonies is one of those movies that seems to be universally beloved. There have been hopes dreams and rumors of potential Goonies sequels for decades specifically because so many love it. A big part of the movie’s success has to be chalked up to The Goonies' perfect casting, including a young Josh Brolin as Mikey’s older brother Brand.

The Goonies was Josh Brolin’s first film role, but he tells Rob Lowe on the Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast he received pushback immediately in Hollywood, as many assumed that he, being the son of actor James Brolin, wasn’t a “serious” actor and he just thought he’d find success because of his family.

As a result, Brolin studied acting by mostly reading books incessantly in order to prove his dedication. This lead to a conversation on the set of The Goonies where Brolin tried to show the film’s producer, Steven Spielberg, just how smart he was at a very young age. When asked by Lowe how old he was, Brolin explained…

Brolin says he read the works of Stanislavski, Artaud, and others. He wanted to show he was more than just an actor with famous parents. He was trying to put everything he’d read to use in talking to Spielberg about the metaphorical elements of a story about a bunch of children searching for hidden pirate treasure. For his part, it sounds like Spielberg did really listen, but the producer had a much simpler perspective on the movie. Brolin continued…

It’s understandable that Josh Brolin could have been upset by this. Spielberg was essentially shutting down a lot of work the young kid had done and making it look irrelevant. At the same time, when Steven Spielberg tells you something about making movies, it’s probably worth listening to him. Kevin Costner regrets not taking Spielberg's advice on Waterworld. Brolin, it seems, did listen.

Today nobody can question Josh Brolin’s bonafides as an actor. He’s starred in massive tentpole blockbusters and movies that have been nominated for Academy Awards, even if he thinks his recent Dune: Part Two is missing a key nomination. and been nominated for an Oscar himself. He may have been “really dumb” at 16, but he’s learned a lot since then.

We're currently deep into Awards Season, with the Oscar nominations heralding on of the most highly anticipated upcoming Awards shows. Like every year, there were were some notable Academy Award snubs, including Dune: Part Two director Denis Villeneuve, who didn't nab a Best Director nom despite the blockbuster being recognized for major categories including Best Picture. Actor Josh Brolin didn't hold back on Villeneuve being passed over again, even saying "it makes no sense to me."

As part of the Dune 2 cast, actor Josh Brolin notably complained about Villeneuve being snubbed back in 2022 for the original movie. Now history has repeated itself, despite the sequel getting five big noms including Best Picture. The 56 year-old film icon went on his Instagram story to react to Oscar nominations, and once again voiced his displeasure about Villeneuve not being recognized. In his words:

Clearly Brolin feels some mixed feelings about how Dune 2 fared at the Academy Awards. While he was happy to see the Best Picture nomination as well as his collaborators getting their flowers, it's a point of contention that the film's director wasn't given the same treatment. Since Villeneuve's vision is responsible for the project coming together, he's got a point.

These two new Dune movies are considered some of the best sci-fi movies of all time, and have therefore been recognized by the Film Academy for their quality. But there are more Best Picture nominees than Best Director, so Villeneuve joins the ranks of other filmmakers who didn't personally get a nod.

The Arrival director isn't alone in this unique type of Oscars snub. Just last year, Greta Gerwig was snubbed from the Best Director category, despite Barbie getting a whopping eight nominations. And to make things worse, the same thing happened to her the year Little Women was nominated for a slew of Academy Awards. So this isn't a problem that only applies to Denis Villeneuve.

Dune 2's Oscar noms will likely only increase chatter about if/when Villeneuve will move forward with the third movie in the franchise, titled Messiah. While he originally indicated he wanted a break from Arrakis, Villeneuve already seems ready to go back. And maybe the threequel will finally give earn him another Academy Award nomination.

The first two Dune movies are streaming now on Max. Check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

With a career spanning decades since his film debut in 1985’s The Goonies, fans of actor Josh Brolin may have forgotten his work prior to joining the MCU in 2013. From time to time that period is recalled, and probably will be again in the near future, thanks to Brolin having two projects on the 2025 movie schedule.

But as seen in a recent recollection provided by Brolin himself, his understanding about the ups and downs of his own career has given him the ability to candidly admit that he always brings his A-game, and holds Sir Anthony Hopkins as an inspiration to do so.

Josh Brolin’s ‘A-Game’ Response To Being Asked About Doing ‘C- Work’

As the Dune: Part Two star sat down with host Guy Raz on The Great Creators podcast, the 2009 Academy Award nominee recalled a pretty blunt story about how his career had changed over the years. Through his anecdote about that interview, Brolin also shared his approach to acting in the following context:

Similar to that time Nicolas Cage rebuked claims he phoned some movies in, Josh Brolin is someone that I feel we can trust to be truthful in that regard. Whether it’s terrorizing the world as Thanos in the MCU, or running from an invisible Kevin Bacon in Hollow Man, it’s hard to make a case that the man doesn’t show up ready to play. Something like Brolin’s sterling impression of Tommy Lee Jones from Men in Black 3 doesn’t happen by accident.

Further along in this conversation, the member of the Weapons cast actually had another story to tell about when he was struggling in his career. And as you’ll read from Josh Brolin’s continued remarks, the trajectory of Sir Anthony Hopkins’ own resume is a key comparison he still has in mind when looking back.

How Anthony Hopkins’ Career Inspired Josh Brolin’s Take On Acting

Some of the “C-movies” that the Outer Range star may have done could have been due to just luck of the draw in an extensive career. While he doesn’t name any person or opportunity specifically, Josh Brolin continued to talk about his canon by recalling how he roles to "actors who I didn’t think were necessarily really good actors."

That frustration did lead to the wisdom that's helped him temper his reactions. Which leads to this example of Mr. Hopkins, and how the fates of good or bad actors are unknown:

In his current state, Josh Brolin can definitely mourn a missed opportunity, but move on to the next gig. We saw it graciously manifest when Brolin’s Lanterns casting rumors didn’t pan out, and we’ll probably see it again. Knowing his work ethic, and the skills he brings to the table, this should only endear this versatile talent to anyone who’s open to casting him.

Both parts of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune adaptation are currently available to stream, thanks to access to either a Max or Netflix subscription. The latter option will be important for fans of Josh Brolin as he can next be seen in Wake Up Dead Man: a Knives Out mystery, which will presumably be debuting on that platform at some point during 2025’s calendar.

It’s a pretty safe statement to say that people loved Deadpool & Wolverine. It ended 2024 as the highest-grossing live-action movie of the year, both domestically and worldwide, grossing well over $1 billion. Fans loved all the returning superhero characters from the various pre-MCU Marvel movies, but there was one character who was conspicuous by his absence, and Deadpool co-creator Rob Liefeld thinks the new movie made a big mistake leaving him out.

In addition to all the cameos and supporting characters who appeared in Deadpool & Wolverine, most of the cast of the two previous Deadpool films appeared, though in fairly small roles. However, Rob Liefeld thinks that one character from Deadpool 2 should have also been in the new film, as Josh Brolin’s Cable was nowhere to be found. In a response on Twitter to the recent news of Brolin possibly joining the DCU, Liefled posted…

While I think “all-time” might be a bit of an overstatement, Deadpool & Wolverine did just fine as it was, I have to agree with Liefeld that leaving Josh Brolin out was a significant misstep. Cable was an excellent addition to Deadpool 2 and beyond the fact that Deadpool makes a brief reference to screwing with time travel in the new film, events from second movie are barely addressed.

It’s not like bringing Cable back would have been out of place. Every other superhero you can shake a comic book at was in the movie, even some like Channing Tatum's Gambit whose movie never came to fruition.

It didn’t even need to be the same version of Cable that we saw in Deadpool 2, Brolin could have easily played some alternate version of the character that Deadpool and Wolverine came across while wandering the TVA wasteland, just like the other big cameos. It could have been a small role or a brief appearance if Brolin was too busy to do anything more significant.

It would be one thing if Marvel Studios decided that Deadpool was the only character from the X-Men universe who would be seen in the MCU. After all, we can be pretty sure that the official MCU X-Men, whenever they debut in upcoming Marvel movies, will be played by other actors. But of course, Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine was in the movie, and its title. And even Kelsey Grammar’s Beast made an appearance in The Marvels post-credits scene.

Maybe it was the fact that Brolin is already part of the MCU as Thanos. Of course Thanos is dead, and the fact that Brolin played both roles was already joked about in Deadpool 2 and could have been the source of even more fun in the new film.

Considering how long it took to make Deadpool & Wolverine happen and all the work that went into getting that cast together, leaving Josh Brolin out does feel like a significant lost opportunity.

At the time of this writing, Josh Brolin has three superhero movie credits logged on his filmography. First he played Jonah Hex for DC in the character’s same-named 2010 movie, then he went on to portray Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Cable in Deadpool 2. Now there are rumors that Brolin has a fourth gig in this genre lined up, whether it’s in an upcoming superhero movie or TV show, and in the midst of this, the actor shared some DCU fan art of himself as an iconic character.

You may recall that in the latter half of 2024, Brolin was said to be in talks to play Hal Jordan in Lanterns, the Green Lantern-focused TV show set in the DC Universe franchise. While that didn’t work out and Kyle Chandler will play the character instead, allegedly Brolin is in talks for another major role in this new shared continuity. As such, artist BossLogic decided to share his take on Instagram of what Brolin would look like as Darkseid, one of DC Comics’ greatest villains. The image found its way in front of the Dune star’s eyes, and he shared it on his own Instagram Stories:

This seems… familiar. Yes, as BossLogic noted in his original post, having Josh Brolin play Darkseid would be “the biggest opportunity to do the funniest thing” given how similar he is to Thanos. I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that Thanos debuted three years Thanos, and that Marvel’s Mad Titan was specifically modeled after the tyrant from Apokolips. However, Thanos is definitely the more well-known among the general public following his appearances in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

While there’s been no word about Darkseid appearing in the DC Universe, I would certainly welcome his inclusion. He’s previously been depicted in live-action in Smallville and Zack Snyder’s Justice League, with the latter teasing more to come from him had Snyder been able to complete his DC saga. Darkseid was also supposed to appear in Ava DuVernay’s New Gods movie before it was cancelled in 2021. The point being, while I think it’d be way too on the nose for Josh Brolin to play the cosmic baddie, I do want Darkseid to be given a platform to shine on in the DCU someday, specifically in an upcoming DC movie.

Meanwhile, Brolin said last October that Lanterns just “didn’t work out,” but he’s looking forward to seeing Kyle Chandler play Hal Jordan instead. He also seemed open to working over at DC again, which is good to hear. Given how much of a critical and commercial disappointment Jonah Hex was, the man deserves to get some redemption in this corner of the comic book media space.

Creature Commandos, the first DCU project, wraps up its first season for Max subscription holders this Thursday, and Superman, the first DCU movie, opens in theaters on July 11. Josh Brolin will also be seen on the 2025 movies schedule thanks to The Running Man and Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, with the former coming out on November 7.

Josh Brolin has more geek movie experience than pretty much any other actor in Hollywood. He not only has major comic book characters on his resume including Cable and Thanos, but he also has films like Dune and Men In Black 3 on his resume. The guy is clearly no stranger to the culture... and yet, he still finds it a tough experience when he goes to conventions and gets asked unanswerable questions.

Earlier this month, Brolin was a guest on The Graham Norton Show, included in a panel including Cher, Michael Fassbender and Kiera Knightly, and there was a point during the episode where he and Fassbender began talking about attending comic conventions (the latter, of course, well-known for playing Magneto in the X-Men movies). While Brolin may be an intimidating presence on screen playing villains like Thanos and tough guys like Gurney Halleck, he has no idea what to do when he is presented with questions from passionate fans:

To be fair to Josh Brolin here: he doesn't write the material; he just performs it in front of the camera. In fact, this particular fan quibble can't even be redirected to Avengers: Infinity War/Avengers: Endgame screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, as they were simply adapting the Thanos storyline from the comics written by Jim Starlin in the early 1990s (though in that case, Thanos was partially motivated to kill half the universe because of his love for the personification of Death).

The story reminds me of the infamous comments made by Ben Affleck to director Michael Bay on the set of the sci-fi blockbuster Armageddon. The actor (who would have "Academy Award-winning screenwriter" on his resume within a few years) wondered aloud if it wouldn't be easier to teach astronauts how to drill than it would be to teach oil drillers to become astronauts. In Affleck's words, Bay told him to "shut the fuck up."

Taken at face value, I suppose Thanos' decision to wipe out half of life in the universe instead of doubling the number of resources is more a reflection of the character's personality and line of thinking about the way that life works. Because life will always continue to grow and expand across the cosmos, both moves are temporary fixes anyway, so it says something about the Mad Titan's mindset that he thinks mass death is the superior option. I'd say that this idea could make for an interesting episode of What If...?, but that show is coming to an end after Season 3, with new adventures currently premiering daily for those with a Disney+ subscription.

There's another takeaway one can get from this story too: if you see Josh Brolin at a convention, maybe don't make his day more stressful by asking questions that you're only asking to make yourself feel smart. Just let him know that his work is appreciated and move on!

When Avengers: Infinity War, the 19th of the Marvel movies in order, rolled around in 2018, one of its first big moments was Thanos beating up Hulk so bad that he never emerged from Bruce Banner again, as Avengers: Endgame saw the two halves being merged into one. However, in real life, Mark Ruffalo and Josh Brolin are pretty chummy with each other. Case in point, the former shared some love on social media for the latter’s memoir, which one fan described as “The Hulk’s reading Thanos’ book.”

Brolin’s memoir, titled From Under the Truck: A Memoir, was released last week, and Ruffalo is among the many who acquired a copy. Clearly he’s having a good time reading, as evidenced by what he posted on Instagram:

As you’ll see when going through the comments section, the aforementioned fan summarized this post perfectly, while another fan asked that Mark Ruffalo give them the “Hulk vs Thanos rematch.” Don’t count on that happening since, as mentioned earlier, the original Hulk doesn’t exist anymore, with Bruce Banner now permanently in his Smart Hulk form (minus when he reverted to human form for a bit during Phase Four to heal his damaged arm). But hey, at least Ruffalo is enjoying learning about Josh Brolin’s life through his memoir, which he described as “a testament to the healing and redemptive significance of art, love and a Higher Power.”

Brolin has been making the press rounds this month to promote From Under the Truck and chat about a variety of other topics, including that time he didn’t realize Denzel Washington was fully in character and his thoughts on James Cameron being “angry” that he turned down Avatar. As far as Marvel goes, while Avengers: Endgame marked his last appearance as Thanos in the movies, Brolin did voice alternate versions of the character in two episodes of What If… ?, which can be viewed with a Disney+ subscription. Beyond that though, there’s no indication that he’ll ever play any version of Thanos again.

With Mark Ruffalo, we have no idea what’s in store for his Hulk future either, but at least the chances of him returning to the MCU are a lot stronger. At the end of She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, Bruce Banner, who’d embarked out into space after training his cousin Jennifer Walters, came back to Earth and introduced his son Skaar. While it remains to be seen when this lingering plot thread will be readdressed, I suspect we’ll see Ruffalo back as Smart Hulk in the upcoming Marvel movies Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

As for their non-Marvel work, both men will be seen numerous times on the 2025 movies schedule, with Josh Brolin starring in Wake Up Dead Man and The Running Man, and Mark Ruffalo starring in Mickey 17, Now You See Me 3 and Crime 101.

Known for his superb performances in films like No Country for Old Men and Sicario as well as his work as Thanos in the Marvel movies, Josh Brolin has done quite a bit. What some may not know is that one BTS fact about the Avatar is that the Inherent Vice actor was apparently on James Cameron’s radar for a key role in what would become one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Yet Brolin turned down the chance to star in one of Cameron's best movies and, years after that, he's now sharing his take on the filmmaker's alleged anger over that.

Josh Brolin recently opened up about the situation during an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger. He specifically shed light on his perspective about what went down and addressing the alleged tension between himself and the legendary director. The actor explained that his decision to pass on the project wasn’t a personal slight but a matter of prioritizing other commitments at the time:

The Goonies alum’s comments offer a rare glimpse into the dynamics of Hollywood decision-making, where choices can ripple beyond the immediate parties involved. For James Cameron, who is known for his relentless perfectionism and dedication to his craft, it’s easy to see why he may have been disappointed when the Dune star opted out. The Avatar films have become a cultural phenomenon, with the original 2009 film still holding the title as one of the highest-grossing movies of all time and igniting a series of films. The third entry -- the upcoming Fire and Ash -- is set for the 2025 movie schedule.

That said, Josh Brolin’s comments exemplify the tough decisions actors face when weighing big career moves. At the time, he may have been juggling other high-profile projects or felt the role in Avatar didn’t align with his vision. And, honestly, who could blame him? Even the first installment of James Cameron’s sci-fi juggernaut was a massive commitment and not just a quick gig.

Interestingly, the choice doesn’t appear to have caused any lasting tension—at least not from the Outer Range star’s perspective. While he acknowledged hearing that James Cameron might have been upset, the True Grit actor was clear about his respect for the Aliens director’s work and his undeniable legacy in Hollywood. And let’s not forget: Brolin’s career hasn’t exactly suffered. With an Oscar nomination under his belt and roles in everything from critically acclaimed dramas to billion-dollar franchises, it’s safe to say he made his choices count.

Still, it’s hard not to indulge in a little “what if” thinking. Would theYoung Riders alum’s presence in Avatar have altered the trajectory of the franchise? Could his performance have brought something unique to the world of Pandora, or would it have simply been another jewel in the crown of a film packed with stunning visuals and unforgettable performances? We’ll never know. What we do know is that since 2009, Brolin, now 56, has delivered standout roles, from Dune to Avengers: Endgame.

Most recently, Josh Brolin showed off his comedic chops in a a barely-discussed gem of a film that’s flown under the radar this year. Brothers, which also stars Peter Dinklage, is available to stream with a Prime Video subscription.

It goes without saying that there are great Josh Brolin movies, and he's become a legend in his own right. No Country For Old Men, True Grit, and Dune are just a few of the major titles under his belt. However, when he joined the all-star cast of American Gangster with Denzel Washington in 2007, he didn’t have quite the amount of clout and experience he does now. Brolin recently opened up about working on the film, and detailed one moment when he touched Washington, while he was in character. And what happened next was wild.

Josh Brolin recently was interviewed on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, during which he talked about working with Denzel Washington. It was during the chat that he recalled the crazy misunderstanding they once had that could’ve led to blows. Everyone is friends now but, while makingAmerican Gangster, Brolin was the buzzy hot shot star coming off of No Country For Old Men, and newly experiencing a career renaissance after years long professional struggles following Goonies. Brolin began his story by saying the following:

This may or may not have set a tense tone for meeting and working with a legend like Washington for the first time. Even with the encouragement Brian Grazer, one of the producers of the film, the Avengers alum was nervous. That was especially true when the Oscar winner started tinkering with the scene structure in their first scene together. The whole energy resulted in Brolin flubbing a line:

That's not exactly the kind of impression you want to give when working with a Hollywood icon. Yet considering the circumstance, it’s definitely understandable. The situation didn’t get better when Denzel Washington responded completely in character as Frank Lucus from the movie, which was something Josh Brolin didn’t expect:

What a crazy awkward experience, especially considering Washington’s process wasn’t explained to Brolin. Sets are unique environments, where actors are seemingly willing for things to get a little dicey for the sake of a scene working. In American Gangster, the two actors' characters are adversaries, so this kind of response makes sense for the movie. However, it probably didn’t make much sense in the context of co-workers meeting for the first time. Thankfully, things were quickly smoothed over, as the Jonah Hex alum explained:

Josh Brolin also said that whenever he and his ex-co-star see each other now, it’s incredibly friendly, and Washington always gives him a big hug. So the “no touching” thing was seemingly just a way into the character. Brolin works differently, as his character work exists more between action and cut. These are definitely different methods, but the combative energy this created was clearly right for the scene.

Both actors are tremendous in American Gangster, and the film easily signifies one of Denzel Washington’s most iconic roles. The tone he created comes across when he and Brolin are opposite each other on screen. And, even if it created a strange moment for the performers, you can't argue with the finished film.

You can revisit Josh Brolin and Denzel Washington in one of Ridley Scott’s best movies, American Gangster, which is currently streamable with a Netflix subscription. For other interesting showbiz stories from Brolin, make sure to check out his book, From Under the Truck, which is now available to buy on Amazon.

If it wasn't for Thursday Night Football, I might've never learned about my favorite comedy of 2024. It was only a quick commercial promoting a new comedy movie available with a Amazon Prime Video subscription that revealed Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin were starring in it. I threw it on after the game and was shocked Brothers was barely being talked about.

A movie from Etan Cohen, the same mastermind behind Tropic Thunder and Idiocracy, is sitting on streaming for the world to discover. I love it so much that I feel obligated to spread the word to other comedy fans who have no idea it even exists so we can get everyone on board with this movie featuring two brothers trying to change their lives with some long-lost jewels.

This Movie Thrives On Two Actors Known For Their Dramatic Roles Crushing It In The Comedy Genre

I don't know why I was so shocked to see James Brolin and Peter Dinklage doing comedy, especially since I can immediately think of prior examples for both. Dinklage plays the disgruntled author Miles Finch in one of the best Christmas movies ever, Elf. And how can we forget, especially with the arrival of Deadpool & Wolverine for those with a Disney+ subscription, that Brolin played Cable in Deadpool 2?

Those are just a couple of examples, and there are other times where both have shown their funny side in other movies or on Saturday Night Live. That said, there's something hilarious about seeing these two be obscene and over the top when we've seen Peter Dinklage's Emmy-winning role as Tyrion Lannister. The same is true of Brolin, where I sooner think of No Country For Old Men or Dune before one of his funnier roles.

It's easy to forget all their past dramatic roles watching Brothers, as both men alternate between the goofy and straight man throughout. Dinklage shines as the greasy Jady, politely but firmly rejecting oral sex from a geriatric cellmate before linking up with his brother Moke. Brolin also plays his part perfectly as the slightly dim brother trying to hide his felonious past from his new family.

What makes the performance so great is that it isn't hard at any point in the movie to believe these two are brothers. Brothers hinges heavily on a sibling vibe between them, and they both play their parts perfectly. Jady is the troublemaker who follows in his mother's footsteps with elaborate plans and get-rich-quick schemes, and Moke goes along mainly out of love for his family while still trying to make an honest name for himself. The chemistry these two have is siblings is what will hook you on this movie, but there's still a lot to love about it beyond just their performances.

The Supporting Cast Is Loaded With Stellar Talent

Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage do a lot of heavy lifting in this movie, but it needs to be said they're also backed up by a stellar supporting cast. You have Glenn Close playing their sketchy mother, Cath, who is central to this big jewel heist comedy. Her performance falls somewhere between her characters in 101 Dalmatians and Hillbilly Elegy, and it's glorious.

Another person who vastly elevates the quality of this movie is Brendan Fraser, who, despite being picky about his role after The Whale, is back to doing what he does in the comedy world. Watching Brothers reminded me of how hilarious Fraser is when he's playing a character who is screaming and almost manic the entire time. He's behind some of the funniest moments in this movie, and I don't think anyone else could play his Officer Farful.

The above two are highlights, but there are plenty of others to highlight. Taylour Paige does a great job playing the supportive housewife, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to watch Spider-Man again without seeing Marisa Tomei's wild character. I can't spoil anything more than what I've said, but suffice it to say this is a vast departure from the mom characters she's played in the past.

Ricky Stanicky Was My Favorite Comedy Of 2024, This Tops It

In my book, Prime Video is the winner of the best comedy movies of 2024. I was blown away by how hilarious Ricky Stanicky was when I first saw it that I was fairly confident nothing that came out the rest of the year would be nearly as funny as seeing John Cena dressed as Britney Spears. For those who still have yet to see that movie, let CinemaBlend's glowing Ricky Stanicky review persuade you to check it out.

I rated Ricky Stanicky a 4.5, which I think is a full star above our official review, but believe me when I say that for as much as I love that movie, Brothers tops it in just about every way imaginable. That's not to say Ricky Stanicky is a bad movie, either. I just think that Brothers is the best comedy we'll see in 2024. Given there's not much time left in the year, I feel pretty safe in assuming no other upcoming comedy still yet to be released is going to blow me away.

The only thing disappointing to me is that Brothers didn't get a theatrical release because damn, I think this movie was good enough to have a solid run in theaters. I'm hoping that as more people see it and word of mouth spreads, this movie garners some sort of cult following on streaming. I don't think there's going to be a sequel to this movie, but hopefully if enough people watch it, it'll start to get more eyes on it as we close out the rest of the year.

If you haven't figured it out by now, watching Brothers is just as easy as firing up that Prime Video subscription. Check it out, and make sure you don't accidentally mistake it for the Jake Gyllenhaal and Tobey Maguire movie that is absolutely not a comedy. I cannot stress enough how different those two movies are, despite their shared titles.

Actor Glen Powell is having a moment. While he's been working for years, the success of Top Gun: Maverick (which is streaming with a Paramount+ subscription), Twisters, and Anyone But You helped to bring him to superstardom. He's got a number of upcoming projects lined up, including the remake The Running Man with Josh Brolin. They seem to have a great relationship, with Brolin and Powell having a hilarious exchange over the mesh shirt he wore in his latest interview. Cue the LOLs.

What we know about The Running Man is limited, but it's already a highly anticipated Stephen King adaptation. While it remains to be seen if this becomes one of Glen Powell's best performances, but it seems like he and Brolin are having fun on set. Powell recently was featured on Vanity Fair, rocking a mesh polo shirt in the process. Check it out:

Talk about a bold look. Powell has become a sex symbol over the past year, partly thanks to that oiled up scene from Top Gun: Maverick. And now he's joined Florence Pugh's free the nipple movement by rocking a see through polo shirt.

The image is definitely striking, enough that Josh Brolin share it on his Instagram story. His caption came outta nowhere, but Powell took it in stride.

Well, that's one way of showing affection for your coworker. The Dune star posted what many people out there were thinking. For his part, Glen Powell seemed tickled by the other actor sharing this message to his 3.4 Instagram followers. Powell shared the message and added his own response, writing:

Mesh polos for everyone! One only imagine how many heads Josh Brolin would turn if he rocked that same look. If only we could get him and Powell matching and posing or a photo together at the wrap party for The Running Man. Fingers crossed that Powell follows through on his word!

Given how much chemistry the pair of A-listers seemingly have, I'm even more hyped about the upcoming Stephen King adaptation. That legend of horror has many beloved stories that have been released for TV and film in recent years. Now if only they could work in some see through shirts.

It feels like the sky's the limit regarding Glen Powell's career, as he's been wildly busy and successful over the past two years. Some moviegoers are hoping to see him reunite with Tom Cruise for a sequel to Top Gun: Maverick. Others would like to see him join the superhero space as DC's hero Booster Gold.

Both Brolin and Powell have a number of projects coming down the line. And their movie The Running Man is expected to arrive November 21st, 2025. In the meantime, check out the 2025 movie release dates.

Few movies have had the cultural impact of The Goonies, one of the best '80s movies that’s still beloved today. While it may not have been entirely kid-appropriate, this adventure classic helped launch the careers of its young cast, including Josh Brolin, whose first big-screen role as Brandon Walsh kicked off what would become an impressive list of film credits. Like many young actors eager to make a mark, the Avengers: Endgame actor was determined to dive deep into his character’s psyche—even if it meant taking things a bit too far. In fact, the Thanos actor shared a hilarious story about how Steven Spielberg, who served as executive producer on the film, gave him some blunt advice that put his early method acting in perspective.

In an interview with People, Brolin revealed he was fully committed to creating a backstory for his character Brandon, the older and well-intentioned, but protective brother of Sean Astin’s Mikey. Apparently the Hail, Caesar! star took the "protective" part a bit too literally, diving deep into metaphors and symbolism to shape Brandon’s motivations. He approached Spielberg with an elaborate interpretation of his character’s emotional state, but Spielberg’s response quickly reminded him that sometimes, simplicity is best. According to Brolin:

Looking back, the Deadpool 2 actor acknowledged Spielberg’s advice was spot-on. Sometimes, especially for new actors, simplicity is vital, and Spielberg’s words became a grounding reminder for Brolin early in his career. Rather than overthinking Brandon’s motivations, the Jaws director encouraged him to trust the script and bring authenticity to his performance, a valuable lesson he’s carried throughout his acting journey.

Now 56, the Inherent Vice star calls The Goonies one of the most formative experiences of his life. While The Goonies cast has gone on to do great things, at the time, Brolin was going through a tough period—he had been kicked out of his home and was living with his father, determined to figure out his life. He recalls enduring hundreds of auditions where he was often told he wasn’t cut out for acting. Yet despite the rejections, he found himself fueled by the challenge, and landing The Goonies was the break that set his career into motion.

In his forthcoming memoir From Under the Truck, Brolin delves into his life both on and off screen, sharing stories of his journey from The Goonies to his breakout role in No Country for Old Men, along with reflections on fatherhood, addiction and personal struggles. The book promises fans a raw and intimate look at the actor’s life, shedding light on the highs and lows of a career that’s spanned nearly four decades.

As Brolin revisits his early days in The Goonies, it’s clear that Spielberg’s simple, yet powerful advice made a lasting impact on him. Sometimes, just staying true to the character and trusting the script is all it takes to bring a role to life. Most recently, Josh Brolin starred in the action movie Brothers alongside Peter Dinklage, which is available to stream with an Amazon Prime subscription.

Kevin Smith's movies resonate with audiences, and he's solidified his place within the history of cinema. But, ultimately, he’s still a fanboy at heart. That’s why he still finds himself becoming overwhelmed or even truly emotional whenever he runs into someone who he admires. Smith recently had such an experience when he attended a convention, where his own fans were geeking out over him. However, the Mallrats helmer himself was hyped over meeting Thanos actor Josh Brolin, and Smith’s reaction was so relatable.

The 54-year-old filmmaker was one of the many who recently attended New York Comic Con. It was there that he took photos with a plethora of fans alongside his longtime friend and co-star, Jason Mewes. The Clerks helmer chronicled his experiences via a post he shared to Instagram, and the first photo in his carousel shows him alongside the Oscar-nominated Dune actor. You can check out the sweet photo below, along with great snapshots featuring fans:

Let’s be honest, most of us would probably have that same expression if we had the pleasure of meeting the man who famously portrays the Mad Titan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Seriously, it looks like Kevin Smith was happier than a kid in a candy store, and I don’t blame him at all. I’ve been fortunate enough to be around and talk to a number of celebrities in my time and have managed to keep my cool. Still, I’d be quite giddy to meet Mr. Brolin just as Smith seems to have been.

What’s also great is that the Dogma director laid out just how his meet-cute with Josh Brolin came to be. While the Comic Book Men star used his caption to shout out the fans, he also explained how his run-in with the No Country for Old Men star came to be:

Kevin Smith has rubbed shoulders with plenty of major stars over the years, and he’s even become close friends with a number of them. For example, he became great pals with the late, great Stan Lee, who famously cameoed in Mallrats. Smith was also a friend to the great Alan Rickman, to the point where they even had straightforward and mundane conversations. A particularly funny anecdote involves Rickman telling Smith about how he’d discovered that fellow Harry Potter alum Ralph Fiennes lived in proximity to him and was concerned that fans would find out and swarm their living complex.

I’m not sure whether the Masters of the Universe: Revelation creator will become good chums with Josh Brolin (who’s rumored to return as Thanos). However, it’d be downright delightful if they do become pals and end up collaborating. Even if they don’t end up working together, here’s hoping that their Comic Con run-in marks the start of a beautiful friendship.

You can stream all of Josh Brolin’s MCU appearances as Thanos by streaming the Marvel movies in order with a Disney+ subscription.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is always expanding, thanks to new projects arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. As always, there are plenty of rumors and theories about upcoming Marvel movies, including some about returning actors. And after rumors swirled that Josh Brolin might be back as Thanos, he revealed what it would take for him to return as The Mad Titan. Let's break it all down.

What we know about Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars are super limited, but they're going to be the next big crossover events for the shared universe. But those projects will feature Robert Downey Jr.'s return to the MCU, this time as the villainous Doctor Doom. Josh Brolin recently spoke to Collider about his possible future as Thanos, offering:

There you have it. Brolin does seem to down to clown as Thanos... under the right circumstances. It has to be the right story, although he admitted that he's got total trust in The Russo Brothers. And since they're the ones directing the next two Avengers flicks, this might be a very hopeful update for the fandom.

Brolin's comments about Thanos offered his take on the rumor and fan theory-fueled nature of the superhero genre. Moviegoers who spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen the way that the fandom clings to popular rumors. And with RDJ coming back and the multiverse in play, it seems like just abut anything could happen... including the return of Josh Brolin's purple villain.

In the comics, Secret Wars is a multiversal event that brings all sorts of character together in battle thanks to a cosmic entity known as The Beyonder. It's unclear if that's how Kevin Feige and company are approaching the story for the movie adaptation, but Downey's Doctor Doom will presumably factor in heavily.

Personally, I have mixed feelings about another appearance by Thanos. The character died twice in Endgame, and he was cut in half by Ultron in one episode of What If...? Add in the appearance his corpse in Doctor Strange 2, and it feels like The Mad Titan has already been around and perished plenty of times.

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continue to be an entertainment juggernaut, with new projects regularly arriving in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order have seen how the franchise has stumbled a bit after Thanos' storyline was finished in Endgame. A new Marvel rumor claims that the Mad Titan might be returning, but as a fan I'm conflicted about this idea.

We're currently in The Multiverse Saga, so it feels like just about anything could happen in upcoming Marvel movies. Fans are especially curious to see what's going to happen in big crossover movies like Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, and a new rumor on Twitter claims the latter may feature Josh Brolin's purple villain. And while I'd like to see another badass fight with Thanos, I'm worried about his death losing its power.

We should take this rumor with a grain of salt for now, as there are countless reports online about what Kevin Feige and company might be hiding up their sleeves for the future of the MCU. But with Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as Doctor Doom in those two Avengers flicks.

If Thanos comes back in Secret Wars, that means the character would presumably have to die yet again in the MCU. We've already seen the Mad Titan decapitated by Thor and later dusted by Iron Man in Endgame, with the latter being wildly satisfying after seeing his destruction. We also saw him cut in half during an episode of What If...?, as well as his corpse in an illuminati-related flashback for Doctor Strange 2. How many times is this guy gonna come back?

While fans were hyped that Robert Downey Jr. is going to be back in the MCU, he's not going to mess with Tony Stark's legacy. That character will seemingly stay dead, with a variant becoming the villain known as Doctor Doom. And seeing Thanos alive and kicking ass during Secret Wars might make for cool action, but it takes the power out of how many characters died to vanquish him once and for all in Endgame.

Since Secret Wars is expected to be a multiversal story, it makes sense that some big cameos might occur throughout its runtime. And after box office bombs like The Marvels, it stands to reason that Feige and company might want to bring in some of the Old Guard to help drum up excitement. But hopefully it does so without cheapening some of the meaningful onscreen deaths. After all, movies need lasting stakes!

The next MCU movie to hit theaters will be Captain America: Brave New World on February 14th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

Joe and Anthony Russo have been carving out a cinematic lane for themselves outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe over the past few years. However, it was confirmed earlier this year that the Russos would return to the superhero fold to direct the next two Avengers films. Filming has yet to commence but, in the interim, the directors reunited with Robert Downey Jr. – who will play the villain of their upcoming Marvel movies – as well as Thanos actor Josh Brolin. There’s a sweet photo of the meet-up, but it’s the caption that’s truly top-notch.

RDJ is headlining a production of McNeal at the Lincoln Center Theater. The Russos checked out the show sometime this past weekend alongside the aforementioned Sicario star as well as veteran writer/director Donald Mustard. The Gray Man filmmakers shared the photo from the reunion to their Instagram and, based on the snapshot all five men looked happy to be in each other's company. Check it out in the pic – which Downey also shared to his IG story – and take a look at the pitch-perfect caption:

What’s wild is that I would actually love to see a scenario in which Doctor Doom and Thanos actually walk into Lincoln Center Theater in New York. I’d imagine that it would probably be quite strange to see a large, purple alien hanging out with a cloaked figure wearing a metal mask. I honestly can’t tell if I’m just going too far thinking about all of this, or if I’m actually crafting what could be an amazing episode of Marvel’s What If…? But I digress.

In all seriousness, though, it’s sweet that the Russos had the opportunity to see their friend and colleague perform on stage alongside Josh Brolin. The cast and crew of the MCU have always seemed close, maintaining contact even when they’re not collaborating on superhero blockbusters. For instance, the OG Avengers stars have a group chat (through which they’ve discussed Chris Evans’ Sexiest Man Alive title and more). So, considering how close everyone seems to be it’s not surprising at all that this latest encounter at LCT happened.

One would imagine that the Citadel EPs are relishing this time, as they’re about to get very busy. For starters, the two are in the early days of promoting their 2025 movie release – Netflix’s sci-fi flick The Electric State. The post-apocalyptic, action/adventure flick stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Giancarlo Esposito and more. And, following that press tour, of course, the two brothers will likely get knee deep into their MCU obligations.

The Russos are directing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, which are set to be released in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Plot details are being kept under wraps at this point but, based on the rumors and reports surrounding the two event films, these two installments could be monumental for the MCU narrative-wise just as the brothers’ last two Marvel flicks – Infinity War and Endgame. Given that Robert Downey Jr. is playing Doctor Doom in those films, the two filmmakers are going to be spending a lot of time with the Oscar winner moving forward.

It’s unclear exactly when the trio and their collaborators will kick off production on the two ambitious films. But, for now, I’m just loving the fact that RDJ, the Russos and Josh Brolin were able to meet up under less formal circumstances. (I’ll also continue to ponder how an outing at the LCT would play out for Doom and Thanos.)

You can see the group’s work in the MCU by streaming the Marvel movies in order using a Disney+ subscription.

Knives Out 3, now officially titled Wake Up Dead Man, is set to bring fresh murder and a fresh new look for Daniel Craig to the 2025 movie schedule. Not to mention, it also features another star-studded cast that includes Josh O’Connor, Kerry Washington, Glenn Close, and Jeremy Renner (despite his silly role as himself in Glass Onion). Along with them, Josh Brolin, another Marvel alum joined the latest Knives Out mystery, and now he's opening up about it!

Since we are still waiting on a trailer, much of this movie’s plot and characters remain as much a mystery to solve as the perpetual murder of the film. What we do know about Wake Up Dead Man is that Josh Brolin seems to have a serious role in it.

The Dune alum was recently asked at New York Comic Con, via People, about his role in Knives Out 3, and the Sicario actor slipped us a crumb in response:

Could this be his most intense role yet? That’s a tall order given he played the overarching villain Thanos in the MCU. Anything that can shake Thanos makes me worried about what this film has in store, but in a good way. I don’t think the Avengers: Infinity War actor is hinting at his character being the culprit. That would be too easy. Although maybe he’s trying to throw us off his tracks…

Honestly, anything’s possible when it comes to director Rian Johnson’s Oscar-nominated murder mystery series, and I gave up a long time ago trying to predict the twists and turns. Knives Out was so successful with audiences that the Star Wars: The Last Jedi director scored a huge deal with Netflix for the franchise’s sequels, making the Knives Out films some of the best on the legacy streamer. The Outer Range star says that’s not an accident with the Brick filmmaker at the helm, and it’s why he was a fan of the films previously, explaining:

While you can’t deny the quality of the writing, there's also no denying the star power that propels these movies. As Kerry Washington put it, it’s like summer camp for the actors, where you can’t wait to see which celebrity friends hop off the bus onto the set. When it was announced there would be a third installment of the franchise, fans took to the internet to share some pretty unhinged dream castlists too, showing how much anticipation there is to see this ensemble together.

In Brolin’s opinion, there couldn’t be a more perfect group of actors for this movie, as he said:

Those are just the main actors. One of the best parts about the Knives Out mysteries has to be all the celebrity cameos sprinkled in. We can absolutely count on a Joseph Gordon-Levitt cameo given the 500 Days of Summer actor has appeared in every Rian Johnson film in some way shape or form.

So, overall, I'm feeling the same kind of excitement Brolin is feeling, and I can't wait to see him and cast together on screen.

There are only so many guesses and assumptions to be made though when it comes to the mystery that's about to unfold. While I’ll eat up every behind-the-scenes teaser the cast has to offer, I really need a trailer soon.

We know the film wrapped in August thanks to Jeremy Renner, so hopefully, a teaser trailer will drop soon that includes Brolin's scary character so we can have more to analyze. Until then, if you need a refresher on where we last left the genius detective, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is available to stream with a Netflix Subscription.

From The Goonies to Coen brothers movies to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Josh Brolin has left footprints in just about every area of pop culture, but here's an interesting piece of trivia for you: he's never been in a Stephen King adaptation before. That's a bit odd given the breadth of his work... but that is a wrong that is soon to be righted, as the actor has landed a key role in one of the most anticipated upcoming King projects: he's set to play the villain in Edgar Wright's developing remake of The Running Man.

This news comes to us via Deadline, which clarifies that Josh Brolin will be playing the powerful network executive who oversees the operation of the film's titular reality show (the character's name in the book is Dan Killian, but the trade report doesn't specifically say that will be his name in the film). It's excellent casting, as Brolin is a performer that has the capacity to give the antagonist a powerful, sinister presence as well as flashy, toothy smile.

The Running Man is based on the book of the same name that was first published in 1982 with Stephen King's pseudonym Richard Bachman. Unlike the 1987 adaptation starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new movie will be much more faithful to the dark source material. Glen Powell is set to star as Ben Richards, a man out of options and desperate for money so that he can support his wife and sick child. Making the ultimate sacrifice, he decides to volunteer for one of the dangerous reality programs orchestrated by the government-sponsored TV network, and he is selected to star on the channel's most popular show.

As a contestant on The Running Man, Ben essentially becomes the world's most wanted man, and in addition to the protagonist having trained hunters tracking him down, the show's viewers are compensated for providing tips that lead to his capture and execution. The longer he survives, the more money his family gets after his death.

In addition to Josh Brolin and Glen Powell, the movie is also set to star Katy O'Brian, Daniel Ezra and Karl Glusman. Edgar Wright and Michael Bacall (who previously collaborated on Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) are co-writing the adaptation of the Stephen King book.

Brolin has been quite busy in 2024 – a year that has seen him return as Royal Abbott in the second season of Prime Video's Outer Range and star in Dune: Part 2 and the new comedy Brothers with Peter Dinklage. In addition to being in The Running Man, his upcoming projects include Rian Johnson's new Benoit Blanc mystery Wake Up Dead Man and Zach Cregger's follow-up to 2022's breakout horror hit Barbarian (titled Weapons).

Production on the new movie is set to begin before the end of the year, and Paramount Pictures has already announced that the film will be getting a theatrical release on November 21, 2025 (one of at least three Stephen King features set to come out in the calendar year – the others being Osgood Perkins' The Monkey and Mike Flanagan's The Life Of Chuck). Be on the lookout for more updates about The Running Man in the coming weeks/months here on CinemaBlend, and you can enjoy my weekly roundup of all things King-related with my Thursday column The King Beat.

Even the greatest actors have ups and downs in their careers. For some, it's more dramatic than others. John Travolta was virtually forgotten about before Quentin Tarantino cast him in Pulp Fiction, for example. Then there was "The McConaissance," when Matthew McConaughey roared back to prominence. Those two are hardly alone in finding roles that brought them back. Here is our list of 32 roles that saved actors' careers. 

Pulp Fiction - John Travolta

This was a big one. In the late '70s, there wasn't a bigger star than John Travolta. On the strength of a hit TV show (Welcome Back, Kotter), and two huge hits at the box office with Saturday Night Fever and Grease, Travolta was on top of the world. Then, almost all of a sudden, poof, he was gone. In the 16 years between Grease in 1978 and 1994, he appeared in only 11 movies, and three of those were Look Who's Talking movies and most of them bombed. Then Tarantino came along and cast him as Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction and once again, Travolta was on top of the business and he's never looked back. 

Dallas Buyers Club - Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey exploded onto the scene in the early '90s in Dazed And Confused, where he delivered some of the most iconic quotes. In the mid-90s he started playing more dramatic roles in movies like A Time To Kill, Contact, and Amistad. By the early 2000s, he established himself as a popular lead in rom-coms. Then, after a few of his movies struggled to make an impact in the late 2000s, his star faded a little. That all changed in 2013 when he starred in, and won a Best Actor Oscar, for Dallas Buyers Club and The McConaissance was born. 

Stranger Things - Winona Ryder

With movies like Beetlejuice, Heathers,  The Age of Innocence, and Little Women, Winona Ryder was a superstar in the late '80s and early '90s. But in the early '00s, after some bad press for her shoplifting conviction, Ryder's star had fallen quite a bit and she even took a short break from acting. Though she never fell off the map completely, it wasn't until she starred in Stranger Things starting in 2016, that Ryder returned to the top. 

Judy - Renée Zellweger

Between Jerry McGuire in 1996 and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2005, Renée Zellweger was one of the most popular and successful actors in Hollywood. With a slew of hits and awards,  Zellweger could do no wrong. Then, after a few less-than-successful movies, the industry showed how fickle it could be and she fell off the A-list. That all changed in 2019 with Judy, followed up with the TV series The Thing About Pam.

The Whale - Brendan Fraser

the 1990s were Brendan Fraser's decade. He had some massive hits, most notably The Mummy in 1999, but soon after, it's like everything dried up. He worked still, but barely and it left the world asking what had become of the heartthrob. He answered every one with his amazing performance in The Whale, winning the Best Actor Oscar and roaring back to the top. 

Birdman - Michael Keaton

In the 1980s, Michael Keaton delivered some of the funniest lines in some of the funniest movies. In the mid-90s and early 00s, his career slowed a bit. He was still working but wasn't the big star he'd been when he got the role in Tim Burton's Batman. That is, of course, until he starred as an actor much like himself in Birdman and brought the great actor back to the top of the A-list. 

House Of Cards - Robin Wright

When she burst onto the scene in The Princess Bride, the sky was the limit for Robin Wright. She reached new heights with her role as Jenny in Forrest Gump but found herself a tabloid regular with her marriage to Sean Penn. Ultimately, she found perhaps her greatest fame when she landed the role of Claire Underwood in Netflix's House Of Cards. 

Everything Everywhere All at Once - Ke Huy Quan

Has there ever been a feel-good story in Hollywood like Ke Huy Quan's return to fame after winning an Oscar for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once? After decades of virtually not working in the industry, having found fame as a kid, Quan was once again the toast of the town. 

Halloween (2018) - Jamie Lee Curtis

She's been called the original slasher film "final girl" for her role in the original Halloween, and Jamie Lee Curtis rode that fame to the top of Hollywood. You might not remember, but in 2006 she actually announced her retirement from acting. Though she didn't give it up completely, she was very selective about roles, mostly playing supporting characters. That changed with 2018 Halloween when she roared back into the business head first. 

Sin City - Mickey Rourke

People forget just how huge Mickey Rourke was in the 80s. Men wanted to be him and women wanted to be with him, as they say. Then, he decided he'd put acting on the back burner and become a boxer. After a somewhat successful run, he returned to acting, and with Sin City and The Wrestler, Rouke was back on top in Hollywood

Scream - Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore became a huge star as a kid in the 1980s with movies like E.T. and Firestarter. In her teens, some personal problems derailed things a little, but when she starred in Scream, it brought her completely back and she's never looked back. 

Wild - Reese Witherspoon

When Reese Witherspoon won the Academy Award for her performance in 2005's Walk The Line, she was on top of the world. Just a few years later though, after a string of poorly performing romance movies Witherspoon dubbed her "love triangle period," her career hit a valley. Then came Wild which marked not only her resurgence as an actor but her transition to big-time producer as well. 

Iron Man - Robert Downey, Jr

There probably isn't a more famous comeback story than Robert Downey, Jr. After years of personal problems and addiction, his career looked like it was going to be completely wasted. Then Downey sobered up and landed the role of a lifetime as Tony Stark/Iron Man and the rest is history. 

Arrested Development - Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman has had quite a few ups and downs in his career. In the '80s, he was a teen star on the verge of big things, but then his career hit a serious lull. It really wasn't until the cult success of Arrested Development that Bateman once again commanded must-see TV. 

Ryan Reynolds - Deadpool

With big roles in 90s TV shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Two Guys And A Girl, Ryan Reynolds was poised for huge success. At first, that's what he found, but it started to fizzle out with a string of forgettable movies in the late '00s and early teens, including the disaster that was The Green Lantern. Then came another superhero movie in 2015 called Deadpool and now he will be doing that until he's 90. 

Yellowjackets - Christina Ricci

By no fault of her own, Christina Ricci's career hit a string of bad luck with projects that she shined in, but for one reason or another didn't capture the attention of audiences. That changed, obviously, with Yellowjackets starting in 2021. 

The Godfather - Marlon Brando

People forget that when Francis Ford Coppola cast Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone, Brando was on the outs in Hollywood. It's well-known lore at this point that Coppola had to fight to get the legend in the movie, but we're all grateful he did. 

24 - Kiefer Sutherland

With roles in Stand By Me, The Lost Boys,  and the two Young Guns movies, the late '80s and early '90s were big for Kiefer Sutherland. The mid and late '90s saw a bit of a lull with some box office disappointments. In 2001, Sutherland took on the role of Jack Bauer in 24, which quickly became one of the most popular shows on TV and Sutherland rode it to a new level of fame. 

 Orange Is The New Black - Natasha Lyonne

Legal and personal problems almost completely derailed Natasha Lyonne's promising career in the '00s. Thankfully, she got the help she needed and cleaned up, she scored a role on the Netflix hit Orange Is The New Black and she's continued to crush in a number of roles since. 

This Is Us - Mandy Moore

Around the turn of the century, Mandy Moore was unstoppable, starring in hit movies and charting on the Top 40. It was in 2016, however, when she was cast as the matriarch in This Is Us that her fame shot to an entirely new level. 

The Town - Ben Affleck

After a big decade in the '90s, Ben Affleck's fame in the '00s was more about the tabloids than it was about his filmography. It took a few years, but eventually, he proved to everyone how great a filmmaker he was with The Town in 2010, and ever since, he's been crushing it. 

Monster-in-Law - Jane Fonda

There weren't many bigger stars in Hollywood than Jane Fonda in the '70s and '80s. Then, in 1991, she announced she was retiring from acting, coinciding with her marriage to Ted Turner. She returned, to everyone's delight, in 2005's Monster-In-Law alongside Jennifer Lopez and has scoring hits ever since. 

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle - Neil Patrick Harris

Like his character on Doogie Howser, MD, Neil Patrick Harris was a prodigy. However after the hit show ended, he struggled to move into more adult roles. Surprisingly, it was playing a fictionalized version of himself in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle that landed him back on audiences' radar screens, and then he landed his most famous gig on How I Met Your Mother

Bohemian Rhapsody - Mike Myers

Mike Myers was everywhere in the 1990s. From SNL to Wayne's World (one of the best movies based on an SNL character) to Shrek to Austin Powers, he was on top of the world. In 2010, after a string of box office misses, he retreated from the scene, only to emerge with a glorious role in 2018's Bohemian Rhapsody. 

John Wick - Keanu Reeves

After proving to be box office gold for a couple of decades, Keanu Reeves had a string of misses in the late '00s, but when he teamed up with director Chad Stahelski for John Wick in 2014, he helped launch a whole new franchise that continues to pump out hits. 

Unfaithful - Diane Lane

Diane Lane has always been selective about her roles, going back to her early days in Hollywood in the '80s. This has led to multiple career "revivals" but the most notable has to be her turn in the hit Unfaithful in 2002 which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Oscars in 2003. 

Airplane! - Leslie Nielsen

For a generation of audiences, Leslie Nielson will forever be known for his roles in some of the best parody movies like Airplane! and The Naked Gun. But before Nielson was delivering hilarious lines in those movies, he was known for his dramatic acting., though his career had slowed before he reinvented himself in the first Airplane!  

Striptease - Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds was one of Hollywood's biggest stars in the '70s, but a few poorly received movies in the '80s knocked him off that lofty perch. While many might point to his role in Boogie Nights in 1997 as reviving his career, it was really his hilarious performance in Striptease from a year earlier that put him back on the map.

No Country For Old Men - Josh Brolin

After finding success as a young star in the 1980s in movies like The Goonies, Josh Brolin hit a career drought that lasted more than a decade and left him wondering if he'd ever regain his earlier success. He did so and more after his amazing turn in No Country For Old Men in 2007 and has been one of Hollywood's best ever since. 

Trading Places - Don Ameche

With an amazing career that had started in the 1930s, Don Ameche's bookings dried up in the 1970s. Luckily for all of his, he landed a role as one of the Duke Brothers in Trading Places and he once again was a huge star, this time with a whole new, younger, generation of fans. 

Sea of Love - Al Pacino

It is easy to forget that even the greatest sometimes find themselves in slumps. Such was the case with Al Pacino in the mid 1980s. After all the incredible success of the '70s, he learned how fickle Hollywood can be and it wasn't until 1989's Sea Of Love that Pacino regained his rightful spot among the elite. 

Rocky Balboa - Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is responsible for some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood history, but even the great ones stumble. Stallone had a pretty rough run of bad movies in the late '90s and early '00s, but when he returned to his roots in 2006's Rocky Balboa, he once again found his footing and not only starring in Rambo, reviving his other monster franchise, but he launched a new one with The Expendables.

As the superhero genre continues to dominate the entertainment industry, one shared universe is going through some serious changes. The DCEU (which is streaming with a Max subscription) ended with Aquaman 2, and fans are waiting to see how the upcoming DC movies bring in the new DCU. Fans are especially curious about casting, and actor Josh Brolin recently broke his silence about Green Lantern casting, and his possible future at the studio

In September it was revealed that Josh Brolin was offered to play Hal Jordan in the forthcoming Green Lantern show titled Lanterns. But he turned it down, and now Kyle Chandler is reportdly in talks for the role. The Thanos actor spoke to ComicBook about how things shook out, saying:

There you have it. it sounds like the 56 year-old actor has a great perspective about the way the industry ebbs and flows. And while playing Hal Jordan didn't work out, he seems psyched about Kyle Chandler's possible casting. And we'll have to see if he ends up taking on another DC role sometime in the future.

What we know about Lanterns is very limited, but the DC fandom is excited for the Green Lantern Corps. to finally take center stage in the series. The series is just one part of James Gunn's plans for the developing DCU, with the first slate of projects titled Gods and Monsters. And it should be fascinating to see how the group of cosmic law enforcers end up factoring into plans for the universe as a whole.

While Josh Brolin won't be playing Hal Jordan, he seems open to doing another DC project sometime down the line. He's already shown a talent for bringing comic book characters to life, thanks to his acclaimed performances as Thanos in the MCU and Cable in Deadpool 2 (both of which are streaming with a Disney+ subscription).

While the specifics of what's going to go down in Lanterns is unclear, the Green Lantern Corps. will factor into the DCU as soon as it begins with James Gunn's Superman. Because the cast list for Superman includes Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner. In the comics, he's a bad boy of the Corps., and it should be fun to see what the frequent James Gunn collaborator does with the role. Especially since he'll be joined by other heroes like Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, and Metamorpho.

Hopefully Brolin will get to join the DCU sometime down the line. Since he didn't return as Cable in Deadpool & Wolverine, he's seemingly not going to appear in the MCU anytime soon. We'll just have to see how it all shakes out.

Superman will hit theaters on July 11th. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates.

One of the most anticipated upcoming DC TV shows lined up for the DC Universe shared continuity is Lanterns, which will focus on Green Lanterns Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigating a mystery in the American heartland. Earlier this month, it was reported that Josh Brolin was being lined up to play the former role, but shortly thereafter, word came in that he wouldn’t play Hal after all. Today, however, a new actor has been revealed to be in the running, and this Lanterns casting rumor is even more fitting.

According to Deadline, Kyle Chandler of Friday Night Lights and Bloodline fame is in talks to star in Lanterns as Hal Jordan, who was previously played by Ryan Reynolds in the 2011 Green Lantern movie. In this series, Hal would function as the grizzled veteran Emerald Knight who’s paired with John, a rookie in the Green Lantern Corps. The publication reports that the search for an actor to play John is ongoing.

As already indicated, Chandler is no stranger to working in television, both with the aforementioned two shows and series like Early Edition, What About Joan? and Super Pumped. Film-wise, his credits include King Kong, Super 8, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and Godzilla vs. Kong, the latter two being part of the MonsterVerse franchise housed at Warner Bros. Pictures. Lanterns would finally give Chandler the opportunity to add a superhero media credit to his name, and hopefully him playing Hal Jordan would turn out better than it did for Ryan Reynolds.

Additionally, Kyle Chandler has proved time and time he’s great at playing sympathetic authority figures, whether we’re talking about Coach Taylor in Friday Night Lights or a role like Mark Russell in the MonsterVerse. Given the dynamic that Hal Jordan and John Stewart will have in Lanterns, Chandler is a great pick for such a role, as Hal will need to show John the ropes with channeling the green energy of willpower and making effective constructs to protect the inhabitants of Sector 2814. I still have concerns about Hal being around 60 in this series, but I have no doubt that Chandler can do justice to the role.

That being said, if my suspicion is correct that Lanterns will show Hal Jordan becoming Parallax, whether it’s in this first season or hypothetical future seasons, then Chandler will also end up need to stretch those villainous acting muscles, too. For now, though, Warner Bros. and DC Studios are keeping a tight lid on Lanterns plot details. Behind the scenes, True Detective’s Chris Mundy is serving as showrunner and executive producer, and he also wrote the pilot script with fellow executive producers Damon Lindelof and Tom King.

After initially being set to be an exclusive offering to Max subscription holders, Lanterns will now air on HBO first before its episodes drop on the streaming platform. We’re a long ways off from learning when Lanterns premieres, but browse through our 2024 TV schedule to see what small screen programming is available to watch now, which includes fellow DC series The Penguin.

Lanterns is among the upcoming DC TV shows that will be part of the new DC Universe shared continuity, with viewers getting to see Green Lantern Corps members Hal Jordan and John Stewart “drawn into a dark, earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.” Earlier this month, it was rumored that Josh Brolin had been offered the role of Hal in this Green Lantern series, which will now air on HBO first, then become available to stream with a Max subscription. Word has now come in that Brolin won’t play Hal after all, but I’m still hoping he gets DC redemption someday considering how poorly Jonah Hex turned out.

This latest Lanterns update comes from THR, which shared that Brolin passed on an offer to star as Hal Jordan. Reportedly, the Dune actor received said offer at the end of August, but made up his mind last weekend that he didn’t want to participate in the project. No other details were provided on Brolin’s disinterest in Lanterns, but perhaps we’ll hear in the coming weeks who’s being eyed for the role next.

Considering that Lanterns’ Hal Jordan will be a veteran Green Lantern who’s being paired with rookie John Stewart, I can understand why the show’s team would want someone like Josh Brolin to play him, and an A-list talent of his caliber would certainly help draw more viewers in. Frankly though, part of me is relieved that Brolin passed on Lanterns, as I felt he was a little too old to play Hal, so hopefully whoever is cast in the role is a little younger, yet still at the right age to be believable as a longtime Green Lantern Corps member. All that being said, I’m hoping the DC Universe can find another use for Brolin someday, because I don’t want Jonah Hex to be his one and only DC credit.

Released in 2010, Jonah Hex saw Josh Brolin playing the title character, a disfigured former Confederate soldier-turned-bounty hunter who clashes with John Malkovich’s Quentin Turnbull, the man who killed his family and left him for dead. Also co-starring Megan Fox, Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett and Michael Shannon, among others, this movie was a critical and commercial failure. Thankfully though, this didn’t prevent Brolin from carving out a better standing within the superhero media world, as he would later go on to play Thanos in the MCU and Cable in Deadpool 2.

With his time at Marvel done, it would be great to see Brolin get another bite at the DC apple. If Hal Jordan doesn’t appeal to him, maybe he’d be game to play someone like Commissioner James Gordon in The Brave and the Bold. I also have no doubt he’d portray Swamp Thing rather well, and that entity has his own upcoming DC movie lined up. Regardless, Jonah Hex was a mess all around, so my fingers are crossed that DC Studios heads James Gunn and Peter Safran find a place for Brolin in the DC Universe, if only to help us further forget about the 2010 movie.

Lanterns is being showrun by Ozark’s Chris Mundy, who’s also executive producing alongside writers Damon Lindelof and Tom King. Filming is tentatively planned to unfold from next January to June in Atlanta, Georgia, so count on it to air sometime in 2026.

James Gunn’s DCU Chapter 1 is finally taking shape and, as it does, rumors have been swirling around the various productions that are in the works. One of those is the TV show Lanterns, which is reportedly set to focus on a pair of Green Lanterns. Hal Jordan will apparently be one of the lead characters and, per a recent rumor, Josh Brolin is being eyed to play him. That piece of news is interesting enough on its own but, now, it’s been alleged that two more A-listers could be in the running to portray Jordan.

According to the original report, Josh Brolin has allegedly just been offered the role of Hal Jordan at this point and no official deal has been signed. The InSneider now claims that should the Dune star pass on Lanterns, the producers have two other actors in mind. Matthew McConaughey and Ewan McGregor are supposedly the two leading men that are being considered as alternate options. To say that either one of those castings would be huge for the show – and the DCU as a whole – would be an understatement.

Both of the actors certainly have proven their talents on multiple occasions throughout the course of their careers, and each could bring a different kind of vibe to Hal. Texas native Matthew McConaughey certainly has plenty of swagger that would be fitting for Jordan. Of course, he can also bring a sense of relatability to the character, and that element has arguably been synonymous with plenty of interpretations of Hal over the years. McConaughey definitely isn’t the first person I’d imagine for the part but, when I really think about it, the Oscar winner is a solid fit.

Ewan McGregor would also bring a considerable amount of gravitas to the role. I’m definitely of the mindset that McGregor could imbue Hal with a cerebral nature – similar to what he’s done with Star Wars’ Obi-Wan Kenobi over the years. Going in that direction for this version of Jordan would certainly make sense, especially given that he’ll reportedly be something of a mentor to a younger John Stewart.

This latest report on Lanterns should, of course, be taken with a grain of salt at this time, as none of the bigwigs at DC Studios have confirmed or denied any casting rumors. If Josh Brolin, Ewan McGregor and Matthew McConaughey are indeed all in the running, though, it would drive home the assumption that the producers want a more seasoned actor to play Hal. Based on the casting choices that have been made for the DCU thus far, I’d say that James Gunn and co. have made some inspired choices, and that rings true with this newest bit of news.

Lanterns’ showrunner is Chris Mundy, who’s arguably best known for serving in that same role on the hit Netflix crime series Ozark. The veteran EP also has notable titles like Criminal Minds and True Detective on his resume. Given his past credits, Mundy should be a perfect fit for the upcoming DC show, which will see Hal Jordan and John Stewart investigate a mystery. Specific details on the series are currently being kept under wraps, but what is known is that the project moved from Max to HBO and will run for eight episodes.

It’ll probably be a while before any official news on the Green Lantern-focused show is announced. Nevertheless, I remain excited and intrigued by the possibilities this production presents. Of course, I’ll also be waiting intently to see if Josh Brolin, Matthew McConaughey or Ewan McGregor ultimately end up playing one of the show’s co-leads.

Those eager for some DCTV content should know that The Penguin – which is not set in the DCU but is part of The Batman’s continuity – is on the way. It premieres for Max subscription holders on Thursday, September 19 at 9 p.m. ET. After that, the show will air on HBO, starting on Sunday, September 29 at 9 p.m. ET amid the 2024 TV schedule.