Life is busy and content is everywhere. Plenty of news can pass right under our noses, from the big announcements to the small news items that get buried. Allow our weekly roundup of quick-hit news to catch you up on all the bits and bobs you might have missed.
‘Captain Marvel 2’ Gets A Writer
Earlier this week it was reported that the planned Captain Marvel sequel had finally found a writer in Megan McDonnell. The WandaVision staff writer is in final talks to write the script. Original directing team Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, however, will not be back to direct the sequel (though they’re still working with Disney, with talk of them developing a Disney+ series), so the hunt is on for a female director.
The Coronavirus Is Wreaking Havoc On Movie Release Dates
Thanks to China quarantining a dozen cities in an effort to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus, it’s put 33 million people in lockdown. As a result, China has decided to delay the release of at least seven different movies, which has caused a ripple effect across the world as other countries scramble to realign their own release schedules. That includes Warner Bros., who, Atom Tickets learned, has decided to delay the U.S. release of Chinese blockbuster Detective Chinatown 3. The studio had planned a special rollout timed with Chinese New Year, but the virus wrecking release timelines in China threw a wrench into plans.
A Live-Action ‘Bambi’ Is In The Works
Disney’s live-action remake train is chugging down the tracks at top speed. The next project up is a live-action remake of Bambi, which the studio says will be made in the photorealistic CGI style of The Jungle Book and The Lion King. Writers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Lindsey Beer have been tapped as the writing team for the project, and Disney says it has no plans to shoehorn a larger story into the classic simple tale.
Robert Zemeckis To Direct & Co-Write Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ Remake
Meanwhile, veteran director Robert Zemeckis has closed a deal to both direct and co-write Disney’s live-action Pinocchio remake. He’ll be co-writing the next draft of the script alongside Chris Weitz. Weitz wrote the previous script with Simon Farnaby. No release date has officially been set, but reports say if the script comes together, the project could be aiming for a year-end start of production.
Matthew McConaughey And Hugh Grant Hatched A Plan To Set Up Their Parents
In the cutest news of the week, an update on the developing story of two A-listers trying to set up their parents. In an interview for The Gentlemen, Hugh Grant teasingly asked Matthew McConaughey if McConaughey’s 88-year-old mom would fancy a nice, 91-year-old Englishman. Turns out, she would, and McConaughey offered an update late last week: “Next week, they’re supposed to meet, and we probably won’t see them for the rest of the night.” Excellent.
Michelle Yeoh To Join The Cast Of Marvel’s ‘Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings’
In an excellent bit of casting news, Michelle Yeoh is in talks to join the cast of Marvel’s upcoming Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Details are still being finalized, but reports indicate it’s all but a done deal. If Yeoh does join, this would be the second Marvel movie she’s lent her considerable talents to, having previously played Aleta Ogord/Starhawk in Guardians of the Galaxy. However, that role was little but a glorified cameo, giving the talented actor plenty of room for a larger role in Shang-Chi.
Universal Releases Teaser Video For ‘Fast & Furious 9’ Trailer
The era of trailers for trailers is still in full effect, and Universal continued that trend this week by dropping a teaser trailer for the actual Fast & Furious 9 trailer set to drop next week.
The Road To F9 Concert & Trailer Drop is Friday, 1/31!
❤️ this Tweet to receive F9 content before the movie comes out in theaters 5/22. pic.twitter.com/0WcUccXHCV
— #F9 (@TheFastSaga) January 24, 2020
Universal plans to reveal the big trailer drop during a concert titled “The Road to F9.” The cast of F9 will be in attendance to debut the trailer and join in the festivities. There will also be a number of performances, including Cardi B, Wiz Khalifa, and Ludacris (naturally). Details for the concert can be found in a previous tweet from the movie’s official Twitter account:
The Fast Saga continues. YOU’RE INVITED to join the cast at The Road to #F9 Live Concert & Trailer Drop in #Miami Friday, January 31, 2020. Featuring musical performances by @iamcardib, @wizkhalifa, @charlieputh, @Ozuna_Pr, and @Ludacris. Click below to see how you can attend.
— #F9 (@TheFastSaga) December 18, 2019
Come back next week for another roundup of news you might have missed.