Picture Credits (l-r): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Marvel Studios, Netflix
Picture Credits (l-r): Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Marvel Studios, Netflix

This week, as every week is, has been filled with brilliant movie news! From news of two Marvel films swapping release dates, to Bradley Cooper’s upcoming feature’s casting news. Read about all this, and more, below! 

Adam Sandler confirms brand new film 

Actor Adam Sandler has recently confirmed the rumours of him reuniting with Uncut Gems directors, the Safdie Brothers, to make an all-new, unnamed feature together. 

Sandler has made a huge impact on Hollywood, specifically the comedy genre, with classics like Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy and Big Daddy; he has also been involved in some more serious movies, such as 2019’s Uncut Gems, which did rather well with audiences and critics alike. 

Recent rumours believed the actor to be working with the duo again, and it seems that they are true. Plot details (and any other details, for that matter) are being kept close to the chest for now. 

Sandler has praised the Safdie Brothers on their work ethic and creativity, hopefully leading into a brilliant and exciting film announcement sometime this year (2022). 

Captain Marvel swaps release date with Ant-Man 3 

Many films in the past two years have had to delay their releases, including some of Marvel’s upcoming features. However, news has surfaced that both Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels have not been pushed back, but are swapping release dates. 

Next year (2023) will see both Marvel films hit cinemas, but now they will release in a different order. Marvel has, once again, made changes to the release schedule for Phase 4, as Ant-Man 3 and Captain Marvel 2 were slated for release this year, but the unfortunate global pandemic seemed to have gotten in the way. 

The new dates are as follows: Ant-Man 3 will release on Captain Marvel 2’s old date of February 17th, 2023, while Captain Marvel 2 has been pushed back to Ant-Man 3’s original release date of July 28th, 2023. 

Both movies have finished filming, so hopefully later in the year will see a trailer or two for the upcoming films. 

John Wick spinoff to begin filming in Summer 2022 

The John Wick franchise, starring everyone’s favourite actor, Keanu Reeves, is somewhat of a masterpiece, and has brought Reeves back into the spotlight; now, it seems the thrilling film series is branching out. 

A spinoff feature, titled Ballerina, will begin filming this summer, and stars Ana de Armas (Knives Out, No Time to Die) as a deadly assassin. 

The narrative is set to follow the killer, who is determined to get revenge for those who slaughtered her family. As we saw in John Wick: Parabellum (2019), The Director (Angelica Huston) grooms young ballerinas into becoming assassins in the same place Wick was trained, laying the foundation for the spinoff. 

At this time, de Armas remains the only cast member attached to the project, that we know about, and there is no release date set just yet. 

Bradley Cooper’s upcoming feature casts Maya Hawke 

Maya Hawke, who plays Robin Buckley in hit Netflix series Stranger Things, has been cast in Bradley Cooper’s upcoming biopic, Maestro

The feature will follow the life of Leonard Bernstein and his complicated relationship with Felicia Cohn Montealegre in a tale that spreads over 30 years, from their first meeting at a party in 1946 to two engagements, three kids, and over 20 years of marriage; all this time, Bernstein struggled with his sexuality. 

Other cast members, as well as Hawke and writer Bradley Cooper, include Matt Bomer (Doom Patrol), Carey Mulligan (Promising Young Woman), and Jeremy Strong (Succession). 

Hawke will be playing the role of Bernstein’s daughter, Jamie. There is no release date for the Netflix feature just yet, but production is set to begin next month (May, 2022). 

Hunger Games prequel gets November 2023 release date 

The Hunger Games franchise (2012-2015) is somewhat iconic, and its four films are still beloved today. Recently, news has come that Lionsgate is officially moving forward with their prequel feature, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The prequel currently has a release date set for November next year, and hopefully this will stick, as many films are being pushed back. 

The upcoming movie focuses on a young Coriolanus Snow (portrayed by Donald Sutherland in the film series), the villain of The Hunger Games, which also starred Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role. 

There is no cast announced that we know of, but there is a specific, official release date set for November 17th, 2023. 

Written by Melissa, who you can follow on Twitter @melissajournal

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