We’re halfway through April, and so far, the year has been a great one for movies. As Hollywood gears up for the start of the summer movie season, news keeps percolating. This week brings Super Mario box office dominance, two Hollywood icons teaming up for the first time ever, Ryan Reynolds revealing the key to Hugh Jackman’s heart, and more.
As always, Atom Insider brings you a few hand-picked stories we think you’ll like. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Halle Berry & Angelina Jolie To Face Off As Two Rival Spies In Maude Vs. Maude
Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry are no strangers to action, two queens of Hollywood when it comes to high-octane projects. Now, however, the icons are teaming up for what looks to be a really exciting project. According to Deadline, both are slated to star in and produce the action-thriller Maude vs. Maude. It’s being described as a “Bond vs. Bourne” globetrotting story. Reportedly, the script is great and with it being the first time the two have ever teamed up on screen, there was a Hollywood bidding war. Warner Bros. was ultimately the victor, snapping up the rights to the project. Expect them to move forward with this one pretty quickly.
Super Mario Bros. Becomes Highest-Grossing Movie Of 2023 So Far
Though viewers were skeptical before it hit theaters, The Super Mario Bros. Movie has proven doubters wrong, rocketing up the box office while setting records. Just a week ago, it had the biggest opening weekend ever for an animated movie. At the start of the week, had already cleared the $500 million worldwide mark; just a few days later and it’s already sitting at $716.5 million globally. This makes The Super Mario Bros. Movie the #2 animated movie since 2019. It has already overtaken 2020 global hit Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train and is on its way to overtaking last year’s Minions: The Rise of Gru, which bowed out at $942.5 million. Not only is it setting records for animated movies, but also in another genre: The Super Mario Bros. Movie has now become the most successful video game movie adaptation, surpassing 2019’s Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, which made almost $450 million at the box office. With those numbers, there’s little doubt it will cross the billion-dollar threshold before its run is over.
Ryan Reynolds Shares What Convinced Hugh Jackman To Return As Wolverine For Deadpool 3
After Logan, actor Hugh Jackman was adamant for years that he wouldn’t return to the role of Wolverine, feeling the James Mangold film had perfectly wrapped up Logan’s story. It’s what made it such a surprise when it was revealed that he would be returning to the role, this time in the MCU, boarding the cast of Deadpool 3. Granted, his return finds him reteaming with his good friend Ryan Reynolds, but even so, it apparently took quite a bit of effort on Reynolds’ part to talk his old friend into strapping on the claws one more time. When asked by ET Canada what it took to get Jackman to sign on, Reynolds revealed that it was years and years of work:
“I mean, I never stopped. I was just pestering him like a gnat over the last many years. I actually just think… I believe in timing … and I think he was ready. I think he was excited and what we pitched him was enough of a divergence from the character that he knows and the character that he’s left behind, that it gives him something completely new to play and something that he’s really excited to do.”
Considering we’ve seen just about every iteration of Wolverine there is over the years, it will be quite interesting to see just how “completely new” this new version of Wolverine can be.
First Look At Elphaba & Glinda In Wicked Movie Musical Adaptation
Flying somewhat under the radar has been Jon M. Chu’s movie musical adaptation of the hit Broadway show Wicked, based on the book by Gregory Maguire. The movie, which has an all-star cast, recently released its first look at Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda.
Along with those two staggering talents, Wicked also boasts Bridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero, Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard, and more. The story is a unique take on The Wizard of Oz‘s Wicked Witch of the West, showing how she grew to be the villain of the story from her perspective. It appears to be full steam ahead, with the movie slated to hit theaters in November 2024.
Clint Eastwood’s Next Movie Is Eyeballing Nicholas Hoult & Toni Collette To Star
Clint Eastwood might be a nonagenarian at age 92, but he’s not showing any signs of slowing down. He already has his next project lined up at Warner Bros. as well as the actors he wants to see in the lead roles. The Oscar-winning director has his eye on Nicholas Hoult and Toni Collette to star in Juror #2. According to reports, the story, with a script by Jonathan Abrams, takes place “during a murder trial where one of the jurors slowly realizes he killed the victim in a reckless-driving accident and tries to save the defendant without incriminating himself.” Eastwood reportedly wants Hoult in the titular role of that guilty juror, with Collette in the role of the district attorney. While neither have closed their deals yet, sources say schedules are being worked out and everything is moving toward a close. If that’s the case, Eastwood will score a coup with two of the most talented (and busiest) actors in Hollywood signing on to his next project.
Trailers & Clips of the Week
Insidious: The Red Door – Official Trailer
Patrick Wilson’s Insidious directing debut looks damn scary.
Fast X – Official Trailer 2
This is going to be ridiculous and it’s wonderful.
The Boogeyman – Official Trailer
You can always count on Stephen King to bring the scares.
