Porthos

It's only "bad news" in as much as "things didn't go exactly as planned so we have to change direction" is a sign that things needed to be changed. But, as I intimated in my admittedly snarky post, there's a pretty strong reason sitting right out in the open for a possible change of direction. Beyond that, there's a *VERY* long list of films that have had production chaos that have turned out to be fantastic. Admittedly, there's also a long list of films that turned out to be trainwrecks. And then there's probably the majority which wind up somewhere on the "eh" spectrum. But my basic point is that folks way overreact to stories about reshoots, and double especially about length of reshoots. That reshoots happen, even fairly big ones, doesn't say nearly as much as they think it does.

MARVEL NEEDS TO COURSE CORRECT AND CHANGE THINGS UP AFTER THE PROBLEMS OF 2023!!! *Marvel engages in precisely that* MARVEL CHANGING THINGS UP MID-PRODUCTION IS NOT A GREAT SIGN EVERYONE!!! (felt a little snarky — don't mind me)

They're not bad news, either.

Google Translate translation: Experience this #Maythe4thBeWithYou like never before on Cinemex's Thunder Stage with #TheAcolyte , the next big Star Wars project. A galaxy far, far away joins the #CCXPVerse for a day full of surprises for all force users. This May 4th be part of #CCXPMexico Hopefully we'll get some good food out of this, and perhaps even a final trailer.

Monday (4/29) according to the tracking doc from @misterpepp and @katnisscinnaplex.

Oh, I'm well aware, though I suspect at least some of that feeling has shifted from "OJ was innocent" to "Well, at least someone who was Black was able to beat the system instead of having the system screw them". Plus the general, "Okay, OJ probably did it, but Fuck Them Racist Cops, so whatever". Which... I have a decent amount of sympathy for. If this project ever sees the light of day — and I am, let's say skeptical for a reason I'll say in a mo — I think it'll be quite the social media train wreck for many different reasons. Or rather, people finding different reasons to comment on it. For instance, what leapt out to me as a sign of unseriousness was the asking for "outrageous suggestions" of what people would like to see in the film. Via a Google Form no less! ... To paraphrase The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, have to give them 10/10 for viral originality (plus harvesting of personal data no doubt), but minus several million for good sense.

There's quite a few basketball fans on the forum, though they're not commenting as much about it as days gone by. Probably my (distant) third sport, but with the Kings being out and the Dubs at the end of their window, not much for me to comment on. Just as long as the Lakers lose in humiliating fashion, I'll be happy with just about anything that happens.

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Oh my. "The footage ends with a link to a Google Form requesting suggestions for "outrageous ideas" to include in the movie." Oh my oh my. "Prior reports about the film have suggested that it will present an argument that definitively exonerates Simpson from Brown's murder." Obviously the people behind this project saw all Teh Drama around Michael and haughtily said, "amateurs". @BoxOfficeFangrl you have to read this article (presuming you haven't already). (is it bad that I searched the forums to see if there was an On The Lot thread for this film? )

I was just thinking about this and thinking it was Wrecker would be the most likely to get the axe, as being a Lovable Goof is pretty much his defining characteristic (well, along with his loyalty). Tend to think Crosshair is the most likely to survive as a Live With Your Guilt/Atone For Your Past type thing while looking over Omega with Hunter or Echo being the next most likely to bite the bullet. Just don't get the sense that they're doing a Redemption Equals Death type dealio with Crosshair as he already crossed that Rubicon a while ago. Wouldn't be surprised if it did happen, mind. Come to think of it to think of it, might slip Wrecker down a tier and have it something like: Hunter/Echo Wrecker [still debating on whether or not to swap him with Echo] Crosshair <INSERT A MILLION BLANK LINES HERE> Omega I suppose Echo might have a Get Out of Jail Death Free card if he's gonna be the link to the inevitable(?) Rex series/shorts. When it comes right down to it, I think the only one who *is* completely safe is Omega. Though, come to think of it,

Thanks to recency bias, gonna be a whooooole lot of talk about Bohemian Rhapsody, but I'm waiting to see how many critics pull Great Balls of Fire! (1989) out of their rolodex for their compare/contrasts, as that to me seems to be the most On Point comparison. I mean, I realize I'm talking about a 35 year old film here, so we're talking about a radically different environment, both for movies at the time and the general cultural state of the US/elsewhere. Plus it isn't exactly remembered all that well in the first place. But have to say, it's Great Balls of Fire! that I immediately think of when I start thinking about Michael. (well, when I'm not thinking about the certain multiple train wrecks that will occur on social media over this film)

Finally took the time to see the trailer* * remember, it's "Resident Star Wars Shill and Apologist", not "Resident Marvel Shill and Apologist" or "Resident Disney Shill and Apologist". Have to say "Cocaine is the one thing Feige said was off limits" is a hell of a way to end the trailer. 👍 An instantly meme-able line, IMO. Hilariously enough, the subtitles on YT have cocaine stared out as "C******", which has to be deliberate. 😂 I so hope that actually makes it into the actual subtitled version of the film.

The Empire was... surprisingly competent in this episode. Oh, not perfect by any means, but leagues better than they('re) normally (portrayed as) are. Is a pretty big dangling thread that's very likely to be picked up on, I suspect But all in all a very well plotted out episode with all actors involved making logical moves and counter moves. Or at least in-character moves in the case of [SPOILER DELETED]. Can't even really blame [SPOILER DELETED] considering how out of their element they were. It's all coming together for the finale. Gonna be interesting to see what happens when the shit hits the fan. Have to think a

I think the real test/tell will be Cap 4. As it shouldn't have most of the baggage that surrounded The Marvels or have any real connection to fallout from AQM. Or the multiverse storyline in general. The only real big strike against it, and it's not an insignificant one, is the... less than universal praise given to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. That has the potential to derail things. (reshoots I don't care about at all, as that discussion is USUALLY far overblown) But I do think it's probably wise to remember that before Captain America: Civil War (which might as well have been Avengers 2.5), the Cap films weren't box office juggernauts. Using the likely conservative ATP adj from the-numbers, Cap 1 opened to something around 88m (65m non-adj) and Cap 2 to 125m (95m non-adj). Probably too far out to set any sort of range, especially given a lot can happen between now and release, but I do think noting how Cap 1 did way back when might be useful in at least framing the discussion, if not expectations.

My current ballpark expectations are around 165m - 190m OW; so let's say 180m, give or take. Prob being a little optimistic there, but I think the buzz is real.