Macleod

Bet she's "unofficially" helping with the script, as well. Seems a crime not to use that part of her brain.

Yes, I know all this. And it was odd at the time, too. Any smart business person/investor would have wanted him back...unless something problematic happened, which clearly did during the making of Creed II. Stallone was talking up a solo ROCKY sequel in the past couple of years, has now revealed he's writing/producing a ROCKY PREQUEL, and is finishing his "Director's Cut" of ROCKY IV...so he clearly doesn't want to give up the character...

Long rumored, but now confirmed... Something disagreeable enough must have gone down on Creed II that they aren't talking about. I think it has to do with how Stallone somehow wrestled the movie away and turned it into more of a Rocky follow-up than a Creed entry... https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/sylvester-stallone-will-not-appear-in-creed-iii

They're obviously going to wait and see how the theatrical market is doing by that time...and judging by Godzilla/Kong, there are strong possibilities... but if it moves back to "only in theatres" -- I do wonder if anyone will actually take up suit with HBO/WarnerMedia for "false advertising." 😂

I'll admit that I woke up today, saw the Godzilla/Kong numbers, and my first thought was: "...They should have kept Black Widow in May." Best trailer yet, in my opinion, and it's clear they're intending to stick to JULY 9th, the way they emphasize it... 😂

I'm guessing multiple time-jumps. Early origins. Then most of the movie probably takes place decades back, JSA-period, and my bet is that by the end, Black Adam is somehow buried/imprisoned and doesn't wake until present-day, where he starts creating havoc due to his unsettled mind. (Dr. Fate is also flexible to later reappear in present-day, as he is essentially immortal and goes through different hosts.) Naturally, the first being on Earth that would probably "hear" Adam's rumblings and/or be able to react/arrive most quickly would be...Superman.

Fair enough. I edited my statement to say "most of". Davis is on that tier. These other two guys are great/entertaining, but I wouldn't put them on that tier. But I know questions of "quality" don't come into play for most with a movie like this. And yes, I know "Birds of Prey" kind of flopped, so Warners is clearly leaning into other angles right now for this. But even BoP feels like it had more "style" than this. We'll see...

OK -- then they should show at least a snippet of that in the next trailer. Because based on what I've seen so far, there's nothing interesting enough here to convince me to pay any extra fee to see this, and surely not to go to theaters.

I don't know...the kind that an Oscar-nominated, multi-award nominated actress wants and probably deserves? She and Elba are still clearly in a different league than most of the other performers in this project. The question then is...was this a "contract" movie for Robbie? I.E. was she kind of "forced" to do it because of a contract option when signing for the first one? Possibly.

Stallone has basically revealed on his Instagram that *he* is voicing King Shark. Ho-hum. I was dreaming he was playing a revived "John Spartan."

What do you mean by "closest equivalent"? By "spy" theme/genre? Serious question. And this is yet another reason why Cruise remains a model for the industry -- if he's able to deliver what he has with those M:I films at a significant/percentage price point less than certain other blockbusters -- more reason why Paramount was smart to reverse Summer Redstone's "attitude" a few years back and remain in business with him. James Bond, well... essentially independently produced and one of the longest-running "continuous" film series of all time, barring perhaps Godzilla. But I'd argue that the Bond movies are too expensive now, too...eventually one will flop again (not just because of COVID, but creatively and at the box office). Sure. But they wouldn't be making this decision at all (especially for July) unless they were seriously unsure of U.S. and global theatrical potential. And I don't blame them -- I was 99% sure they were going this direction. Just saying... I would have found a way to make Black Widow for $150 mil. or less. But I digress... Anyway, it's all a fix... 😂 The "film business" makes a lot of its initial money through buying/selling properties, distribution deals, investment trade, tax shelters. Box Office is just gravy... Jolie's Tomb Raider was technically "in profit" before they even shot a role of film... but most of us are not really here to talk about that, I know...

For you, perhaps, not for me, in terms of the industry. We are at the point where $200 million is "average" for a tentpole. Eventually that model will implode, even for Marvel/Disney. And one could say that it might have already due to the COVID crisis, they just aren't talking about it...yet. The acceleration towards streaming is a good backup in the event traditional box office receipts don't come back the way we're used to. We will likely see budgets curbed a bit over the next couple of years due to this couple of year's COVID issues and lack of profits. I wouldn't have spent this much on a Black Widow film now or then, that's all I'm saying. And now current circumstances dictate that it's going to be a money-loser, regardless.

Yeah, rather surprised how short-changed she is in this trailer... For Harley fans, what is going on here with her character that offers any progression? I don't see anything... And Elba is a great, great actor, but I don't buy him in Gunn's tone of humor.

This is what the industry would call/used to call a "loose sequel." It can be viewed as a sequel, but clearly also as a singular thing, note the emphasis on "THE" on the first poster, which I'm sure was Gunn's preference...if not also Warner's.

Is that STARRO??????? DC nerds take note... one of the few beyond-first level nerdy DC things I know... I really don't have any opinion on this, otherwise... Just not something that enthuses me. Looks a damn sight better than the first movie...but what doesn't? I'm just not a fan of Gunn's style, the jokes here don't work for me...but I know I'm in the minority.

Yeah, it's more than I would have spent, too. I know costs raised with the delay, but still. This movie should have been made 5-10 years ago and for a half or even a third of the cost. They could have upped it for the sequel, if it was a huge success. Ah, well...

Nothing is locked at this point, I'd say.

When I see a tangible example of this, like a THOR movie, I will believe it.

Agreed. But Deadline also seems to infer that they're not convinced this is going to stay on this date, either... but perhaps Deadline is living in old-world thinking, and Disney will stick to this gamble. I'll tell you one thing -- they wouldn't put an IRON MAN or CAPTAIN AMERICA or even BLACK WIDOW on this date -- they'd only "take a chance" on this date with an un-tested brand. If it flops or even just underperforms for whatever reason, they'll blame it on a "recovery year" but Asian representation will take the punishment. Not a cool thing in a year scarred by more hate crimes.

I'd argue that the "Event" problem is partially with the movie, itself. Black Widow wasn't really needed, at least not right now. And if it was made at all, it should have been made 5-10 years ago, ideally spun-off from Iron Man 2. As for "legs"...who knows? It all would have come down to how audiences received and talked about the movie. Disney/Marvel's squeezing out of their brand will indeed eventually produce a few flops both creatively and financially. And the more they saturate a year-long broadcast of new TV shows, the less their features will feel like "events." But this year's titles will all be given "a pass" because of the global situation.

Agreed. While I predicted this simultaneous streaming debut and am not surprised by it, that doesn't mean I will donate to it! 😂 Black Widow can wait for me, until either A ) I'm comfortable going back to a theater or B ) it emerges "free" on Disney+ (and I don't even have Disney+ right now).

I was also laughed at in here for even pondering that this might not make it by July. It's nice to be right once in a while, about this and Black Widow. (Even though I'd obviously like to see them earlier, like anyone else...but we're talking about realities.)

Allow me to just quote William Hurt, who plays a detective in one of my favorite movies, "Dark City" -- "Nobody ever listens to me..." ...Which is also something that I think would quite easily come out of General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross's mouth!! 😂

https://deadline.com/2021/03/michael-keaton-batman-the-trial-of-the-chicago-7-ramsey-clark-sag-ensemble-award-record-interview-1234719059/ Here's the original Deadline interview. It's possible that he's *still* not formally signed, yet. He says he hasn't even read the (latest) script. But that could also just be Keaton's way of talking about these situations...he doesn't play that typical actor-courting or interview game. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if his agent is simply telling Warners "Oh, he'll sign on, just give him time..."

Somebody bought them and resurrected the dead...never a good idea.