Alfred Molina to Reprise Role as Doctor Octopus in Next Installment of “Spider-Man” Franchise

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Alfred Molina is ready for an mollusk-uous reprisal…

The 67-year-old half-Spanish actor will return as scientist-turned-villain Otto Octavius a.k.a Doctor Octopus in the forthcoming third installment of Sony/Marvel’s Tom Holland-led Spider-Man franchise.

The Emmy and Golden Globe nominee’s character first appeared in 2004’s Spider-Man 2, starring Toby Maguire and directed by Sam Raimi. A

nd he won’t be the only one from a previous Spidey-verse who’ll make an appearance. Early this year, it was revealed that Jamie Foxx would be returning as Electro from Andrew Garfield’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Jon Watts is back to direct the sequel to the $2 billion-grossing franchise. Stars Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon, and Tony Revolori are expected to return as well.

Spider-Man 3 is currently scheduled for release on December 17, 2021.

Xochitl Gomez to Star in the “Doctor Strange” Sequel “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

It’s a Strange time for Xochitl Gomez…

The Latina actress has joined the cast of Marvel’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which Benedict Cumberbatch returns to reprise the title character and Sam Raimi takes over directing duties.

Benedict Wong and Chiwetel Ejiofor also are expected to reprise their roles from the original film as, respectively, fellow sorcerer Wong and Strange’s compatriot-turned-nemesis Karl Mordo.

And Elizabeth Olsen has been tapped to reprise her role as Scarlet Witch, aka Wanda Maximoff, for a storyline that Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige has said will link up with her Disney Plus series WandaVision that debuts in December.

Plot details and Gomez’s character are still unknown at this time.

Production will begin after Cumberbatch finishes filming the next Spider-Man film, where he’ll be playing Doctor Strange.

Raimi replaces original director Scott Derrickson, who departed the project in January due to creative differences.

Gomez’s previous credits include Netflix’s The Baby-Sitters Club and Gentefied, as well as Raven’s Home, Roped and Shadow Wolves.

Alvarez Partners with Good Universe to Launch Content Company “Bad Hombre”

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Fede Alvarez is taking Donald Trump’s words to task…

The 38-year-old Uruguayan filmmaker, best known for directing Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe, has partnered with Good Universe to launch Bad Hombre, a new content company that will produce films across the horror, thriller and sci-fi genres.

“Bad Hombre” will ring bells for many…

During the third and final presidential debate Trump, who has favored deporting those who have arrived in the U.S. illegally, said, “We have some bad hombres here, and we’re going to get them out.”

Most recently, A White House official confirmed that Trump told Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto earlier this month that he might send U.S. troops to deal with “bad hombres down there” if the Mexican military doesn’t.

The deal marks an ongoing relationship between Good Universe and Alvarez. Good Universe co-founders Joe Drake and Nathan Kahane served as executive producers on Alvarez’s first two feature films as director — Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead and Don’t Breathe via Ghost House Pictures — both of which were successful at the box office.

Evil Dead grossed $97.5M worldwide in 2013, while Don’t Breathe grossed $156.4M.

Alvarez will lead Bad Hombre creatively and has hired longtime collaborator Rodo Sayagues as an executive help build the slate of genre films.

Grillo-Marxuach Penning “Xena: Warrior Princess” Remake for NBC

Posted on December 16, 2015 by Tom Castaneda

Javier Grillo-Marxuach is in warrior mode…

The 46-year-old Puerto Rican television screenwriter and producer has been tapped to pen NBC’s planned remake of the popular syndicated action-adventure series Xena: Warrior Princess.

Grillo-Marxuach will executive produce the project with the original series’ executive producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi.

So far, there is no involvement by Lucy Lawless, who toplined the 1995-2001 series, though NBC brass had been open to having her on board in some capacity.

Underscoring NBCUniversal’s hopes to capitalize on the property’s global appeal, the new series is being produced by NBC’s international production unit NBC International Television Studios, headed by Michael Edelstein and JoAnn Alfano.

Grillo-Marxuach (The 100) recently sold the ABC drama project Black Stilleto with Mila Kunis executive producing.

His other credits include Lost, Charmed and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

Álvarez’s “Evil Dead” Remake This Weekend’s Box Office Champ

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

The first time’s the charm for Fede Álvarez at the box office…

The 35-year-old Uruguayan filmmaker’s highly anticipated Evil Dead remake, his first feature film, proved to be the big winner at the North American box office in its opening weekend, earning an estimated $26 million.

The remake of Sam Raimi’s tale of demonic possession beat out the previous champ G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which came in No. 1 with an estimated $41.2 million last week.

Among the remakes of horror films, the Álvarez’s thriller earned more on opening weekend than Texas Chainsaw 3D, which opened to $21.7 million in January. But Evil Dead made less than Guillermo del Toro’s Mama, which earned $28.4 million in February. Receiving a “C+” from CinemaScore, it is predicted to wind up with around $50 million.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s Top 10 films at the box office:

1. Evil Dead – $26 million

2. G.I. Joe: Retaliation – $21.1 million (tie)

2. The Croods – $21.1 million (tie)

4. Jurassic Park – $18.2 million

5. Olympus Has Fallen – $10.4 million

6. Tyler Perry’s Temptation – $10 million

7. Oz: The Great and Powerful – $8.1 million

8. The Host (2013) – $5.2 million

9. The Call – $3.5 million

10. Admission – $2.05 million

Carey Releases “Almost Home” Music Video

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Mariah Carey is having a great and powerful moment…

The 42-year-old half-Afro-Venezuelan singer has released the official music video for her latest single “Almost Home,” the theme song for the film Oz: The Great and Powerful.

Recorded by the American Idol judge for the Sam Raimi-directed film, which opened this weekend, the “feel-good record” was co-written by Carey.

The clip, directed by David LaChapelle, captures the singer belting out the song alone, while dressed in a black gown. The photographer-director intersperses footage from the Disney adventure fantasy film throughout the 3 1/2-minute clip.

“I’ve always just loved Disney, and now especially having two little babies – like all we do is watch animated movies, even though they’re so little, they still love them, especially Roc, my little boy,” said Carey, revealing how her twins Moroccan and Monroe had inspired her to write the song.

Carey is currently in the studio working on her next album, which is due in May. The album will include production by Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, Big Jim Wright, Hit-Boy, The-Dream, Rodney Jerkins and contain a “lot more raw ballads than people might expect,” says the singer.

Carey Records “Oz: The Great and Powerful” Theme Song

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

She’s got a great and powerful voice… And now Mariah Carey is lending it to a great and powerful movie.

The 42-year-old part-Venezuelan singer has recorded the theme song for Disney‘s new fantasy movie Oz: The Great and Powerful, starring James Franco, Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz.

Entitled “Almost Home,” Carey co-produced the track with Stargate and co-wrote the inspirational song with Simone Porter, Justin Gray, Lindsey Ray, Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen.
“’Almost Home’ has a message that works beautifully with the film,” says the American Idol judge. “It’s a feel-good record, evoking the feeling of reaching your home and being with people that you love.”

The song will be fully released on iTunes this Tuesday February 19, with a music video directed by fashion photographer David LaChapelle to follow later on.

Oz: The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi, will open in theaters on March 8.

The Release of Álvarez’s “Evil Dead” Moved Up to April

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

Fede Álvarez will now face a Jurassic challenge at the box office…

Sony Pictures has shifted the release date for the 34-year-old Uruguayan filmmaker’s highly anticipated Evil Dead remake.

The horror film, being hailed as “the most terrifying film you will ever experience,” will now open nationwide on April 5, the same weekend that Universal Studios’ Jurassic Park 3D will be released.

Produced by the original film’s director and star – Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell respectively – Evil Dead will counter Steven Spielberg’s genetically engineered now-3D dinosaurs with R-rated gore and a twist on the classic Evil Dead premise that already has the genre crowd’s attention.

In addition, Álvarez’s film will compete against Danny Boyle’s Trance, starring Rosario Dawson. Although that film will be released in limited theaters.

Gomez’s “Spring Breakers” to Premiere at SXSW Film Festival

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Tom Castaneda

It looks like Selena Gomez will be spring breaking in Austin this March…

The 20-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer’s highly anticipated Spring Breakers will have its United States premiere at the SXSW Film Conference and Festival in Austin, taking place March 8-16.

Directed by Harmony Korine, Spring Breakers stars Gomez as one of four college girls who end up in jail after robbing a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation, only to find themselves bailed out by a drug and arms dealer who wants them to do a little dirty work.

In addition to Gomez, the film stars Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson and James Franco.

Meanwhile, Uruguayan director/screenwriter Fede Álvarez’s Evil Dead remake will have its world premiere at the festival.

Based on the cult classic from director Sam Raimi, the film centers on five friends, holed up in a remote cabin, who discover a Book of the Dead that unwittingly summons up dormant demons, which possess the youngsters in succession until only one is left to fight for survival.

The film stars Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas and Elizabeth Blackmore.

Alvarez Teases His “The Evil Dead” Remake

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Tom Castaneda

Fede Alvarez is putting his spin on an Evil classic…

The 34-year-old Uruguayan filmmaker is directing a remake of Sam Raimi’s The Evil Dead horror film, the first of the franchise’s three films. It’s Alvarez’s first full-length feature film. He’d previously directed the short films Panic Attack!, El cojonudo, El último Alevare and Los pocillos.

Sony‘s TriStar Pictures has released a teaser trailer in advance of the release of the updated film’s official trailer on Wednesday.

The original films revolve around the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis, a fictional Sumerian text which wreaks havoc on a group of cabin inhabitants in a wooded area in Tennessee. The protagonist, Ashley J. “Ash” Williams, played by Bruce Campbell, is the only character left alive by the end of the series.

Alvarez’s re-do, starring Suburgatory’s Jane Levy and Shiloh Fernandez centers on Mia, a young woman struggling with sobriety who heads to a remote cabin with her brother and a group of friends, where the discovery of a Book of the Dead leads to danger and horror.

Raimi and Campbell are both involved in the reboot, serving as producers on the film.

Evil Dead will be released on April 12, 2013.

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