We’re already halfway through January and the first month of 2024 is flying by. With the holiday lull being over and Hollywood being in the thick of awards season, there’s plenty of entertainment news hitting the internet. This week finds a few exciting tidbits, from a Star Wars update, a weird Taylor Swift conspiracy theory, a new Jordan Peele joint, and more.
As always, Atom Insider brings you a few hand-picked stories we think you’ll like. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Ryan Reynolds Thanks Deadpool 3 Cast As Filming Wraps – And Takes A Jab At Hugh Jackman
The highly-anticipated Deadpool 3, the production of which was shut down during the writers’ and actors’ strikes, resumed filming after the strikes were done. Now, it’s finally wrapped production, which star Ryan Reynolds signaled on his social media channels – complete, of course, with a cheeky shot at co-star Hugh Jackman, as befits their longtime pretend feud.
“The suit hides the blood. Also sweat… But today, with Deadpool wrapping, it’s mostly tears,” the tweet read. “A giant and forever thanks to the cast and crew of our film who battled wind, rain, strikes and @RealHughJackman… all under the stalwart leadership of @ShawnLevyDirect… I got to make a movie with my closest pals and that doesn’t happen very often. See ya July 26th…”
As is also typical of their friendship, Hugh Jackman responded without the good-natured ribbing of his buddy, showing pictures of himself in the makeup chair with the caption “What a ride!!! I’ve loved every minute of making this movie. Well not the training and diet but the other 93.2%. To the best cast and crew, thank you! You are all aces. To two of my best mates @VancityReynolds and @ShawnLevyDirect I literally couldn’t have done this without you. Literally! July 26th can’t come soon enough. Time to shave. @deadpoolmovie”
Back in September at TIFF, director Shawn Levy surprisingly teased that the movie may not be what everyone is expecting. “We wanted something that felt, grounded, real…” he explained. “You put Hugh Jackman in his most iconic character alongside Ryan Reynolds in his most iconic character; it’s more of a descendant of Midnight Run, and 48 Hours, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles more than it’s a descendant of Airplane.“
Interesting. We’ll find out what he means this summer when it his theaters.
The Spider-Man Actor Mixup We’ve Been Waiting For Actually Happened
It’s something of a running joke that British actors Tom Holland, actual Spider-Man star, and the older Tom Hollander are often confused for one another in name if not in face. It happens often on social media, and even in real life, as Hollander related to Seth Meyers on Late Night. Once, however, the similarity of their names led to a mixup worth millions of dollars.
At the time, both Hollander and Holland were represented by the same talent agency, which mistakenly sent the former one of the latter’s notices for a Marvel movie check. The agency, as he explained, sent him an email notifying him of a box office bonus check for a movie and Hollander was incredibly confused. “And I thought, ‘I don’t think I’m in The Avengers. It was an astonishing amount of money,” he teased. Though he wouldn’t reveal the exact figure, he did say it was a bonus of a “seven-figure sum.” You can check out the full interview below:
Clearly, we’re all in the wrong line of work.
Melissa Barrera Opens Up About Her Firing From Scream 7
A few months ago, new Scream franchise star Melissa Barrera was fired from Scream VII after speaking out against the war in Gaza and the slaughter being unleashed upon the Palestinian people. It was a hugely controversial decision, particularly after fellow franchise co-star and rising star in general, Jenna Ortega, immediately quit in solidarity. Starting with 2022’s Scream V, Barrera starred as Sam Carpenter, so it was a shock to her to be unceremoniously fired from the project. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, she finally opened up about the firing and how it felt:
“It was shocking. I don’t even know what to say. I think everything that happened was very transparent, on both sides, and I know who I am, and I know that what I said always came from a place of love and a place of humanity and a place of human rights and a place of freedom for people, which shouldn’t be controversial. It shouldn’t be up for debate. So, I’m very at peace. The people who know me in my family know the truth about me and where I stand, and I think most people in the world also do.”
At the time of her firing, a spokesperson for Spyglass, the production company behind Scream, released a statement, saying, “Spyglass’ stance is unequivocally clear: We have zero tolerance for antisemitism or the incitement of hate in any form, including false references to genocide, ethnic cleansing, Holocaust distortion or anything that flagrantly crosses the line into hate speech.”
The social media post that got Barrera fired read, “Gaza is currently being treated like a concentration camp. Cornering everyone together, with no where to go, no electricity no water … People have learnt nothing from our histories. And just like our histories, people are still silently watching it all happen. THIS IS GENOCIDE & ETHNIC CLEANSING.”
Since her firing and Spyglass’s statement, the Pope has condemned what’s happening in Gaza as genocide, South Africa has brought formal genocide charges against Israel, and the UN has publicly warned that what’s unfolding in Gaza has the makings of a genocide. Melissa Barrera, meanwhile, will next be seen in Abigail, the newest classic monster reimagining from Universal, hitting theaters on April 19.
Gillian Anderson Boards Tron: Ares
While buzz for Tron: Ares is flying somewhat muted at the moment, one new bit of news should excite everyone: the incomparable Gillian Anderson has reportedly boarded the project. She joins a cast that includes Jared Leto in the titular role, Jodie Turner-Smith (Queen & Slim), Greta Lee (Past Lives), Evan Peters (X-Men franchise, American Horror Story), Cameron Monaghan (Shameless, Gotham), and Sarah Desjardins (The Night Agent). It’s not yet known who Anderson will be playing. Still, with an actress of her caliber and range joining the cast, it will be fascinating to see what she brings to the table.
The story will certainly provide a lot of room for interesting angles. Reportedly, it will follow Leto’s Ares, a sentient program in the grid that escapes the video game and enters the real world, causing havoc among a human population not ready for that interaction. Beyond that, the plot is being kept under wraps, but expect more details to leak as production continues.
The Wizard of Oz Ruby Slipper Thief Finally Reveals Why He Did It
“One last score.” The premise has been so prevalent in the crime and heist genre that it’s become a trope. As they say, however, art imitates life, and as it turns out, that urge to pull off one last crazy job was the motivation behind one of the more infamous thefts of the past few decades.
You may remember that back in 2005, Judy Garland’s famous ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz were stolen; they were finally reclaimed in 2018 by the FBI after someone tried to file an insurance claim on the priceless shoes. Thief Terry Jon Martin was charged with the theft, and his defense attorney finally revealed the reason for it ahead of his January 29th sentencing. Reportedly, it was an old mob associate of Martin who enticed him to steal the shoes, saying that they must have had real jewels encrusted into them to justify their $1 million insured value.
“At first, Terry declined the invitation to participate in the heist. But old habits die hard, and the thought of a ‘final score’ kept him up at night,” wrote defense attorney Dane DeKrey in a memo. “After much contemplation, Terry had a criminal relapse and decided to participate in the theft.”
Martin, who used a hammer to smash the glass of the slippers when they were being displayed in a museum, was crestfallen to learn that the “rubies” in the slippers were merely glass. He dumped them a few days later. Currently, there are only four known authenticated pairs of ruby slippers from the 1939 production. The pair that was stolen and recovered is now valued at $3.5 million.
In a funny coincidence, the news breaks (and Martin’s sentencing happens) just as The Wizard of Oz returns to theaters to celebrate its 85th anniversary. Get tickets here.
Trailers & Clips of the Week
And now, your trailers and clips of the week!
Tuesday – Official Trailer
Is anyone else crying?
Road House – Official Trailer
It doesn’t appear that Doug Liman and Jake Gyllenhaal’s remake of the ’80s classic is hitting theaters, but we can hold out hope.
Stopmotion – Official Trailer
This is a very cool – and creepy – horror movie.
