December is in full swing, which means Hollywood is also in full swing for the holiday movie season. Huge, record-breaking tentpoles, heartwarming family fare, and awards season hopefuls are all around the corner. It all means news continues to flow. As always, Atom Insider is bringing you a few hand-picked stories we think you\u2019ll like. Ready? Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tom Holland may very well be the busiest person in Hollywood. He’s currently anchoring two different mega-franchises as the current iteration of Spider-Man and soon to play a young version of Nathan Drake in Sony’s Uncharted<\/a><\/em> adaptation. In between, he’s worked in a few indie films and voice roles in multiple animated films. Now, he’s adding a splashy biopic to his resume. After Sony producer Amy Pascal said that she’d love to work with Holland for a Fred Astaire movie she’s working on, Holland himself has now confirmed he’ll be playing Astaire to AP<\/a> during a red carpet event for Spider-Man: No Way Home<\/a><\/em>. The project is still in the early development stages; Holland hasn’t even read the script yet, telling reporters that it only came in a week ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s hard to imagine anyone else better suited to play the iconic song-and-dance man and consummate entertainer. Along with Gene Kelly, Astaire is arguably the best-known dancer and classic movie musical lead in Hollywood history. He starred in over 30 movie musicals, often partnered up with Ginger Rogers, as well as being a star on Broadway the West End. He was known for his fluid, elegant style of dance that melded ballet, tap, and ballroom, his grace making it look easy. Though Holland is, of course, a modern dancer, his stage background will lend itself to the young actor transforming into the legendary Astaire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n After his first Marvel hit with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Ring<\/a>s<\/em>, director Destin Daniel Cretton and Marvel are apparently ready to take their relationship to the next level. Deadline<\/a> revealed that Cretton is back in the saddle for a Shang-Chi<\/em> sequel, which Marvel has officially greenlit. There are no details as to whether or not Cretton and Marvel have any ideas yet for the sequel’s story, but both sides are clearly excited to be working together again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Interestingly, Shang-Chi 2<\/em> is just one project Cretton will be working on for Disney. He actually signed an exclusive multi-year, overall deal to develop content for Marvel Studios and Hulu’s Onyx Collective, a collective focused on creating and developing projects from artists of color and other underrepresented voices. Along with Shang-Chi 2<\/em>, Cretton is reportedly working on developing a Disney+ series for Marvel, though it’s unknown what it is. He’s already working on the series American Born Chinese<\/em> for Disney, an action-comedy based on Gene Luen Yang’s 2006 graphic novel. He’ll also be working on developing series and films for Onyx across various platforms, joining a stable of notable creators of color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After her breakout performance helming Marvel’s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier<\/em> series for Disney+, diretor Kari Skogland has her next project lined up and it’s a big one. She’s set to direct Paramount’s biopic Cleopatra<\/em>, starring Gal Gadot as the legendary ruler of Egypt and daughter of Macedonian Greece. Skogland steps into the role vacated by Patty Jenkins, who relinquished direcing duties to focus on her next two projects, Wonder Woman 3<\/em> and Star Wars spinoff Rogue Squadron<\/em>, but who is remaining on board as producer. Paramount is high up on his project, which explains why they wouldn’t wait for Jenkins’ schedule to clear up. The package, with a script written by Laeta Kalogridis, was the prize in a fervent bidding war last fall. Reportedly, it was the scope of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier<\/em> that won Skogland the Cleopatra<\/em> gig, which makes sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cleopatra’s life was one lived on a grand scale at a pivotal time in history. When their father Ptolemy XII Auletes, the pharaoah of Egypt, died, Cleopatra and her brother battled for the throne of Egypt. Cleopatra won the battle by personally appealing to Caesar. Her rule was a dramatic one. Upon taking the throne, she was immediately faced with enormous challenges, including famine, the Nile River flooding, and the lawless behavior of the Gabiniani, Roman soldiers who had been abandoned in Egypt and assimilated into the culture but left without jobs once the empire departed. She was a lover of both Caesar and later Marc Antony, leading to their infamous downfall together. There’s no release date for Cleopatra<\/em> yet, but it woulnd’t be a surprise to see it in theaters as early as 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n‘Shang-Chi 2’ Is Officially In The Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
‘Falcon & The Winter Soldier’ Director Kari Skogland Tapped For Gal Gadot’s Cleopatra Biopic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Dave Bautista To Star In M. Night Shyamalan’s Next Film<\/h2>\n\n\n\n