So much has happened recently in the realm of movies. A video game franchise made a splash hit on television as the most talked-about show of January. Another video game franchise is gearing up for a reboot. And a certain small movie is making waves this Awards season. Check out everything that recently happened in the world of film.
Tomb Raider Movie and Series in the Works By Amazon
With video games becoming more common as a source for making movies with “Sonic The Hedgehog”, “Super Mario Bros”, and more, franchises previously adapted will likely be getting a second chance. Tomb Raider, the iconic platform video game series, has had three movie adaptations. Two of them have starred Angelina Jolie, and the most recent one from 2018 starred Alicia Vikander. While the recent film wasn’t exactly a hit, that doesn’t mean the chances of another Tomb Raider movie are gone. There’s also the chance of a series amid a new video game.
Amazon Studios and dj2 Entertainment are working together to develop a trifecta of a new Tomb Raider launch. The rebooting of the franchise will include a new video game, movie, and TV series. The project has been recently announced, so there are no details of what creatives are involved or who will be playing the central character of Lara Croft in the new movie and series. The movie and series will likely premiere on Prime Video.
The Last of Us Renewed For Season 2
HBO’s biggest this year is undeniably “The Last of Us“, a zombie apocalypse series based on the hit video game of the same title. The series, created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey as Joel and Ellie, an unlikely duo who may have found a cure for the world’s virus that has transformed humanity into monsters. The show debuted to incredibly high ratings for HBO Max, with over 22 million views in only twelve days. So it was only a matter of time before a second season was announced.
As season one has yet to finish, season two is already approved. Based on how the first season plays out, it’s likely that the second season will follow the events of the second game, “The Last of Us Part II”. All of that depends on how long it takes to develop the following season, considering the time between the two games. At any rate, there’s plenty of material for the show to continue, quickly making “The Last of Us” HBO’s most popular and talked-about movie to date.
Everything Everywhere All At Once Gains 11 Oscar Nominations
The Academy Awards are fast approaching, and the event nominations were recently announced. One of the top contenders for many awards is “Everything Everywhere All At Once”, a surreal adventure by directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. It’s been the little “A24” film that could for 2022 as it has amassed over $100 million on a budget of roughly $25 million. After raving critical reviews and multiple returns to the theater, the film is on its way to the Oscars.
The film has already won a handful of awards from various awards groups, including various film critic associations. The Oscar nominations for the film include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress (for both Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Costume Design, and Best Film Editing. The odds are that the film will win a handful of categories, including a shot at Best Picture. We’ll just have to wait and see when the Academy Award ceremony is held in February.
Netflix Shelves Two Completed Films
Warner Bros is one of many studios deciding not to release films that have already been completed. They previously decided to scrap the complete films for Batgirl and Scoob 2. Some hoped these films might find a new home if sold to another streaming service like Netflix. However, Netflix is not a great sanctuary for movies anymore.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Netflix was developing two original films titled “The Inheritance” and “House/Wife”, but has yet to release these movies on the streaming app, despite both being completed. The Inheritance is a thriller directed by Alejandro Brugues about a wealthy man who fears someone is trying to kill him and uses his spoiled children to defend him with the threat of no inheritance. “House/Wife” is a sci-fi horror movie about a smart house where artificial intelligence turns deadly.
It’s possible that these movies could end up on another streaming service as they were initially shelved to cut back on production costs. Netflix has been losing subscribers and is restructuring as of late, where many projects have been getting the ax, including current shows (“Dead End: Paranormal Park”) and ones originally in development (“Bone”). It remains to be seen if Netflix will try to recoup its losses by selling these movies to a distributor.
HBO Max is Canceling Doom Patrol and Titans
The fallout of the Warner Bros/Discovery merger continues as HBO Max considers what to trim from their library, new and old. Sadly, two DC Comics series are the latest entries on the chopping block. Despite lasting for several seasons, Doom Patrol and Titans are coming to a close with their current seasons.
These series were known for being more adult and experimental with DC Comics lore. Doom Patrol, in particular, was notable for its misfit ensemble and being blunt with progressive themes of mental health, sexuality, discrimination, and more. It was also gleefully vulgar, considering the wild writing.
Despite these cancelations, HBO Max still has some more adult DC Comics series in the works. After its first successful season last year, “Peacemaker” is still heading into a second season. Harley Quinn, the adult-animated series based on the Batman villain, is in production for its fourth season with a Valentine’s Day special airing soon.
Cover credit: IMDb
