Part of what made Star Wars: The Last Jedi a controversial film among fans was the way it handled Rey’s parentage. Fans speculated wildly about who her parents might be, but it was revealed in The Last Jedi–written and directed by Rian Johnson–that her parents were … apparently no one of any significance at all. That revelation, in addition to the killing off of Supreme Leader Snoke, irked some fans. They thought the reveal of Rey’s parentage and plans for Snoke were part of some grander storytelling scheme.
Now, Johnson has suggested that he wouldn’t be bothered if Star Wars: Episode IX from JJ Abrams retcons some of the storytelling beats from The Last Jedi. Johnson was asked directly by MTV News if he would be bothered if Episode IX retcons Rey’s lineage.
“Like I said, man, I want to let go of all my expectations,” Johnson replied. “I want to sit back. I want to be entertained. I want to be surprised. I want to be thrilled. I want him to do stuff that I wasn’t expecting him to do, and just go along for the ride. For me, that’s why I go to the movies, you know?”
Explaining the reveal of Rey’s parents, who were nothing more than “filthy junk traders” according to Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), Johnson said, “We’re not here to give Rey an easy time; we’re here to put her on the hard path so that she has to. Because that’s the path of a hero.”
Abrams reportedly had a different idea for Rey’s parents, so it’ll be interesting to see if he decides to retcon Rey’s parents in Episode IX.
Very little is known about the story of Episode IX, but it’s expected to wrap up the new trilogy that began with 2015’s The Force Awakens. Abrams also directed The Force Awakens, and he wasn’t originally attached to Episode IX until director Colin Trevorrow was released.
It appears the DC Extended Universe of films is back on track. After Batman v Superman disappointed audiences, 2017’s Wonder Woman and 2018’s Aquaman struck better chords and made a lot of money at the box office. The latest DCEU movie, Shazam, opened this weekend–and it, too, is doing well out of the gate.
The movie made $53.5 million in the US and Canada for its opening weekend, which represents a good start but of course not as strong as other, big DCEU films starring bigger and better-known characters like Batman, Wonder Woman, and Joker. It is the seventh movie in the DCEU.
Counting preview ticket sales, Shazam has made $56.8 million in the US and Canada, according to Entertainment Weekly, which supplied all the box office figures. Shazam was the No. 1 movie of the weekend in the US and Canada. Shazam has made more than $100 million so far from international markets, for a global total of around $158 million to date.
Shazam focuses on a young boy, Billy Batson (Asher Angel) who can turn into an adult superhero named Shazam by yelling “Shazam!” Zachary Levi plays Shazam. The movie also stars Adam Brody, Ron Cephas Jones, Mark Strong, and Djimon Hounsou. It was directed by David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation) off a script by Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke.
Elsewhere at the box office, the newest Stephen King movie, Pete Semetary, opened to $25 million, while another new release, The Best Enemies starring Sam Rockwell and Taraji P. Henson, opened at No. 6. You can see the full weekend box office report below, via EW.
April 5-7 US/Canada Box Office
Shazam! — $53.5 million
Pet Sematary — $25 million
Dumbo — $18.2 million
Us — $13.8 million
Captain Marvel — $12.7 million
The Best of Enemies — $4.5 million
Five Feet Apart — $3.7 million
Unplanned — $3.2 million
Wonder Park — $2 million
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World — $2 million
If it’s turning to spring in your part of the world, you might be dealing with bugs. Fortunately, this episode of New Releases has Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain to help take care of your pest problem. There are also expansions for existing games, like Hearthstone‘s Rise of Shadows and the Nintendo Labo VR Kit on Switch. Switch is also getting its own port of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, and speed demons can get their fix with Dangerous Driving.
Hearthstone – Rise of Shadows — April 9
Available on: PC, iOS, Android
The eleventh expansion for Hearthstone is adding 135 new cards to the mix. These come alongside a new Twinspell keyword, which can duplicate an existing card in your hand, and new Lackey minions, which can be generated by other cards. While the expansion arrives April 9, card packs are available to pre-order right now.
Further Reading:
Dangerous Driving — April 9
Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Sometimes the fun isn’t in winning a race, but in all the destruction you cause along the way. Enter Dangerous Driving, from some of the minds behind the Burnout franchise. It has dozens of sedans, SUVs, supercars, and more to choose from as you race across a variety of environments in over 60 events.
Further Reading:
Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain — April 11
Available on: PS4
The latest in the long-running bug-slaying series is meant to be a more serious take on the EDF formula. That said, you’ll still be suiting up in mechs and raining all sorts of firepower down on giant insect invaders. You can battle the big bugs with friends online or on your couch through local co-op.
Further Reading:
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice — April 11
Available on: Switch
One of 2017’s best games is coming to Nintendo Switch this week. Hellblade is pretty action-packed, but Senua’s journey is about much more than battling Norse gods. Her story highlights mental illness, and its portrayal of such issues has been praised by reviewers and activists alike.
Further Reading:
Nintendo Labo VR Kit — April 12
Available on: Switch
The Nintendo Switch is also getting some new Labo Toy-Cons this week. The virtual reality kit provides new peripherals like Goggles, Bird, Elephant, and Camera, which let you play a variety of immersive, quirky minigames. Beyond that, you can design your own VR games in the expanded Toy-Con Garage. We’ve also just learned that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey will support VR functionality via the new Labo kit.
Further Reading:
April has even more video games on the horizon. Next week, New Releases will take a look at some previous games on new platforms, as Cuphead and Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age both come to Nintendo Switch.
When it comes to Wrestlemania week, there’s so much to do. Whether it’s attending the main show itself, going to the Raw, Smackdown, and NXT events, or participating in any number of the community activations WWE launched when it comes to town for its biggest show of the year, there’s no end to the activities available to fans. However, if you’re looking to meet and make friends with other members of the WWE universe, chances are you’ll find yourself at Wrestlemania Axxess–WWE’s fan festival–sometime during the week.
For those not in the know, Axxess is essentially a smaller version of Comic-Con but just aimed at wrestling nerds. If you want to cosplay at Dude Love or get your picture taken with a WWE Hall of Famers, Axxess is the place for you. It also happens to house a truly impressive memorabilia museum, packed with a bunch of classic costumes, props, and items from throughout WWE history.
However, if you’re going to Axxess, there’s really only one can’t-miss attraction–the Wrestlemania superstore. Any wrestling fan knows there’s plenty of ways to spend money at a WWE show, whether it’s on T-shirts, masks, hats, or anything else that can put John Cena’s name on. And we love it all. At the superstore, though, there’s tons of merchandise for fans that they can’t buy anywhere else. So many exclusive goods, all for your wrestling-loving heart.
What can you pick up, though? We’re glad you asked. We made our way through the Wrestlemania superstore to document our favorite items you can buy yourself, including one very stylish and Earth-friendly championship title. Cross your fingers and hope that these items come to WWE Shop soon. And while you’re at it, check out our live coverage of Wrestlemania 35 from within the press room.
Game of Thrones returns for its eighth and final season in less than one week. The show’s stars are making the press rounds, talking about the final season and what it means. John Bradley, who plays Samwell Tarly, told Collider that as the show ends, he sees that Game of Thrones has helped TV stand taller and rival cinema in some regards.
“A lot of the TV that comes after [Game of Thrones] is taking lessons from it and using it as a springboard in terms of what can be achieved through the medium of television and how, given the right set of people and the right circumstances, it can rival cinema,” Bradley said. “And it’s got a right to be ambitious. It’s created a whole new sense of ambition in TV that wasn’t really there before. There has never been anything on this visual scale before. And I think TV is no longer seen as a kind of poor cousin of cinema. I hope that TV going forward feels that we’ve empowered it to be as ambitious as we’ve been.”
The final season of Game of Thrones was a massive effort, according to Gwendoline Christie, who plays Brienne of Tarth and is also featured in the Collider video.
“This season has really outdone all the others in all regards,” she said. “The production values, and the way in which everyone was pushed is much further than anything they’ve ever done on the show before. The scale is so much bigger.”
In regards to special effects specifically, VFX producer Steve Kullback recalled that Seasons 2 and 3 had about 600-800 VFX shots in each season. Season 8, meanwhile, has “multiples of that” in a single episode, so it is no small undertaking.
Game of Thrones Season 8 premieres on HBO April 14. Soon we’ll know who lives and dies, and everything else there is to know. While the show is ending, a prequel series is on the way.
We’ve learned a little more about the 2019 Sonic the Hedgehog movie. Speaking to IMDB from the CinemaCon event recently, Jim Carrey–who plays the evil doctor Robotnik–said the film will have an edge to it while still overall appealing to families.
“We’re playing to families, so you can’t get too crazy,” Carrey said. “But I made sure that there are some winks and nods, and edgy things that are still acceptable to both age groups.”
Carrey also described Robotnik as a very smart scientist who is “pure, unbridled evil.”
The new Sonic movie is produced by Deadpool 1 director Tim Miller, and that fact prompted the question about the film potentially having an edgier side.
Actress Tika Sumpter plays a veterinarian who is “one of the ones who helps Sonic get through this dimension of a world and figure it out.”
James Marsden plays a police officer who meets Sonic through happenstance, and then they work together to challenge Robotnik. Marsden also spoke about the Sonic film’s tone.
“Of course the movie is going to be family friendly, but there is an edge to it; there is a sharpness to it. There is a wit to it,” he said.
Sonic opens in theatres on November 8. Ben Schwartz (Parks and Recreation, voices Sonic. The movie is directed by Jeff Fowler, who picked up an Oscar nomination for Gopher Broke.
Are you ready for hours and hours AND HOURS of wrestling because…it’s WrestleMania 35 time!
Still reeling from Bret Hart being attacked by an “over-exuberant fan” (WWE’s words, not mine) at the Hall of Fame Ceremony? Still shook from an over-exuberant Enzo crashing the ROH/NJPW G1 Supercard at the Garden? Well, we’ve still got sixteen matches to plow through. Two of which are Battle Royals. One of which has freakin’ SNL cast members in it. So we’re not out of the woods yet!
At least ‘Mania 35 falls squarely in-between Walking Dead’s finale and Game of Thrones’ premiere, because I for one remember when, years ago, that all happened on the same night. It was not ideal. This year, ‘Mania is free and clear and ready to serve up an overtly overstuffed card. But there’s a silver lining: Kofi Kingston has a shot at winning the WWE Championship, Seth Rollins just might topple Brock Lesnar and walk out as Universal Champion, and “The Man” Becky Lynch is primed and ready to go over Ronda Rousey and Charlotte to bring him both womens’ women’s titles – in a match that will make history by going on last!
Mat: My favorite part of any Kickoff Show match is when it cuts to a commercial for the PPV. Anyway, this was a nice showcase for the in-ring work of Nese, who many WWE fans may not be as familiar with, as it’s mostly Buddy Murphy in these matches. I do want to spend a lot of time talking about Murphy’s ring gear because it’s weird and I love it. However, I guess I’m here to talk about the match. I always question why these cruiserweight matches aren’t on the main card because they are nutso good, and I just don’t mean Murphy’s trunks. Whoa… I also didn’t expect Tony Nese to win this. It came seemingly out of nowhere, but the finish was fine. It was a nice surprise. Nese will be a fantastic, brutal champion.
7/10
10/10 for Buddy’s trunks
Chris: I kind of feel bad. Kind of. These guys are working hard as the crowd files in, so there’s not much reaction, at least early on. Nese and Murphy rule, though, so they were able to get the audience invested with a series of high spots and and a truly vicious German suplex into the turnbuckle–which won Nese the belt. I have to be honest, I did not expect Murphy to lose the title here. But also I don’t regularly watch 205 Live anymore, so I might just be misinformed. Whatever the case, I want this division to be given a better spotlight. Or not, I don’t know. There’s already so many hours of wrestling each week.
6.75/10
Keisha: I started this match feeling bad for Nese and Murphy, who are obviously strong performers. They put up a great effort but because the crowd was just settling in, wasn’t very responsive. As the match progressed, however, the pair slowly won the crowd over and it began to feel like a match worth investing in. Overall, it was a decent outing with some cool spots. That suplex into the ropes was a nice touch. But the highlight for me was Nese who came out swinging with his sweet Power Ranger gear. Dope.
Today is the day. WWE’s biggest event of the year, Wrestlemania, is airing on PPV and the WWE Network right now. This is going to be a long show, with 16 matches on the card and a few extra surprises along the way.
Every major WWE title is on the line from 205 Live’s Cruiserweight title to Raw’s Universal Championship. There is plenty to get excited about and something for every WWE fan on the April 7 evening.
Wrestlemania 35 will be the final WWE PPV and match for Kurt Angle, a Hall of Famer with a long history with the company and wrestling as a whole. He’ll be taking on Baron Corbin, but if we had to guess, we’re thinking there will be more to this match. There is also Kofi Kingston fighting Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship. Kingston has been down a long, hard road in order to get here, overcoming immense odds and obstacles placed in his way.
Finally, there’s the main event of Wrestlemania. For the first time, women will headline the show with a triple threat match between Charlotte Flair, Ronda Rousey, and Becky Lynch in a winner takes all match. Considering how amazing past Charlotte/Lynch matches have been in the past, this should be good one. Check out the full card below.
Wrestlemania Match Card:
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese (Cruiserweight Championship) [KICKOFF SHOW]
Andre The Giant Battle Royal
Women’s Battle Royal
The Revival vs. Curt Hawkins & Zack Ryder (Raw Tag Team Championship)
Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor (Intercontinental Championship)
Roman Reigns vs. Drew McIntyre
The Usos (c) vs. Ricochet & Aleister Black vs. The Bar vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rusev (Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton
Bayley & Sasha Banks (c) vs. Beth Phoenix & Natalya vs. The IIconics vs. Nia Jax & Tamina (Women’s Tag Team Championship)
Shane McMahon vs. The Miz
Samoa Joe (c) vs. Rey Mysterio (United States Championship)
Kurt Angle vs. Baron Corbin
Triple H vs. Batista (No Holds Barred Match)
Daniel Bryan (c) vs. Kofi Kingston (WWE Championship)
Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Seth Rollins (Universal Championship)
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (Winner Takes All)
As Wrestlemania goes on, we’ll be keeping you updated with the winners and losers of the event as it happens. Scroll down and keep refreshing for live updates.
Kickoff Show
Buddy Murphy (c) vs. Tony Nese (Cruiserweight Championship)
“How did the surprise ending of Avengers: Infinity War affect the tone of Endgame in the aftermath of Thanos’s destruction?”
The question was posed by Iron Man director and Happy Hogan actor Jon Favreau to Joe and Anthony Russo, the brother directors shepherding the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its phase 3 conclusion with Avengers: Endgame. Favreau was moderating a Los Angeles press conference featuring the directors along with much of the cast, from Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans) to Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson).
In the lead-up to Endgame, everyone involved with the movie has been hesitant to discuss it in any detail–understandably–but the Russos gave a satisfying answer nonetheless.
“One of our favorite storytelling adages is ‘Write yourself into a corner,'” Anthony Russo said. “And what we take that to mean is put yourself in a place on a narrative level where you have no idea how you could possibly move forward from here, and that’s a very exciting place to be. It forces you to come up with some really creative ways forward. And we tried to do with the endings of every single Marvel movie we’ve done, never more so than Infinity War.”
Of course, Infinity War’s ending featured the destruction of most of the Marvel heroes we’ve come to know over the last decade of MCU movies. As fans, it’s easy to believe that most of that damage will be undone, whether by time travel, the heroes wresting control of the Infinity Stones away from Thanos, or some kind of Quantum Realm hijinks. But the Russos said they want the weight of Infinity War’s ending to continue to matter even after whatever happens in Endgame.
“We are very committed to the ending of that movie,” Anthony said. “We think that stories lose their meaning and relevance and resonance unless there are real stakes. And for us, moving into this new movie–into Endgame–the story is very much about how do these characters–how do these heroes–deal with loss? Resounding loss, true loss, devastating loss–that’s what they’ve experienced in Infinity War, and that was a unique experience for all of them. How does a person move forward from that moment? How does a hero move forward from that moment? The way we wrote it into the story is, How is everybody on an individual level dealing with that experience, and then how do they collectively deal with it?”
Joe Russo also teased Endgame in his own vague terms, predicting “satisfaction” for fans. “This is, I think, a really unique experience in movies, this grand mosaic, depending on how you count it up, 11 franchises that have been interwoven into one big mural,” the co-director said. “With Endgame we get the opportunity to finish off one of the grandest experiments in movie history and bring it to–as Kevin [Feige] said–an epic conclusion. What we’re hoping for is that people feel satisfied with the conclusion.”
When asked for a single word they think describes Avengers: Endgame, Joe Russo took several moments to think, then responded with “cathartic.”
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Some of the actors present during the press conference also tried their best to describe the movie without revealing any details, including Chris Evans. “I think just the completion of the arc–I mean that’s safe to say, right?” he said. “That this movie does kind of provide kind of an ending to a lot of–“
That came a little too close to providing actual information about Endgame, so Favreau interrupted him with a loud buzzer noise directly into the mic. “Let’s just talk about Scott Pilgrim,” the moderator joked.
Robert Downey Jr., on the other hand, managed to discuss the weight of some of the decisions made during Endgame’s creation without anyone feeling the need to step in and stop him from saying too much. “It’s one of those things where you go like, ‘Wow, I think we just made a pretty serious choice here.’ But I think audiences like that,” the actor said. “I think audiences are so smart, and they require to not be fed the same drivel as even 20 minutes ago. So we need novelty, and I think what the Russos and Kevin [Feige] have tried to do is provide that in spades.”
Mark Ruffalo, who plays Bruce Banner/Hulk, remarked on the movie’s bittersweet tone, and how it has bled into the way the cast and filmmakers discuss it. “We’re all talking about like we’re dead. ‘Oh, I loved working with these guys, it was great knowing them. They were great Boggle players,'” he said, half joking. “There’s something very bittersweet about the tone.”
The franchise’s newest hero, Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), added her own perspective. “The whole thing has always felt like a dream, and this film will always be personally dear to me, because it was my first time playing Captain Marvel,” she explained. “We shot [Endgame] first, so I had to stumble and try to figure out who this character was with no [full] script for this and no script for Captain Marvel either, and perform for the first time in front of legends. But it was incredible.”
“I’m super excited for this to come out so that I can talk about it,” she continued. “I want to be able to talk about my experience, which I haven’t been able to do for a very long time.”
