Film Bits: ‘Ghost in the Shell’ Releases Trio of Teasers; Disney Execs Appear to Temper ‘Rogue One’ Expectations; ‘Bad Santa 2’ Releases Trailer With Filthiest Joke Ever

‘Ghost in the Shell’ Releases Trio of Teasers

The controversial live action adaptation of Ghost in the Shell, the seminal anime film that popularized the form for a mainstream audience here in America, released a trio of teasers last night ahead of the release of their full trailer, which is expected soon. While giving us little about the film, the teasers do give us some insight into the feel of the movie, which comes across as a bit Blade Runner, which makes sense, given the source. The film stars Scarlett Johansson, a move which sparked the fury of the internet in recent months over concerns of white washing, as a cybernetic detective on the hunt for a mysterious hacker. Ghost in the Shell is directed by Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Hunstman) and is currently expected to hit theaters on March 31, 2017.

(YouTube)

Disney Appears to Temper Expectactions for ‘Rogue One”; Hypes Future of ‘Star Wars’

In a recent investors meeting, Disney exec Bob Iger seemed to temper expectations about the latest Star Wars film, Rogue One. Iger told investors he’d seen a rough cut of the film and described it as “interesting” but stressed that no one was expecting it to do as well as The Force Awakens. That movie, the seventh in the franchise, made $2.1 billion at the box office, so he’s probably right to expect that Rogue One won’t fare as well—no movie should have to live up to that expectation, if we’re being honest. Still, his comments, while positive, seem to be an indication that Disney might be worried about the performance of the upcoming film, which received some bad press recently due to reports of extensive reshoots.

Iger went on to deflect any fears he might have had by emphasizing that Disney and LucasFilm are in the process of planning out the next decade of the shared universe, a feat Disney is well familiar with that this point, given the success of the MCU. To that end, Iger confirmed they’d recently found a writer to pen the third standalone movie in the franchise, following Rogue One and the planned film about Han Solo in his younger days. Without giving any details away, Iger confirmed that film is still on tap for a 2020 release, after  the concluding film in the latest trilogy.

(Variety)

‘Wolf Boys’ Lands ‘X-Men: First Class’ Scribe to Pen Script

Director Antoine Fuqua (The Equalizer) is set to have a magnificent weekend with the opening of his remake of The Magnificent Seven, but that doesn’t mean he’s not looking forward to the next project. Sony/TriStar recently confirmed that it tapped writer Sheldon Turner (X-Men: First Class) to pen Wolf Boys, based on Dan Slater’s non-fiction book of the same name. The story follows two American teens recruited as hitmen for Mexican cartels and the Mexican-American detective who tries to catch them. Fuqua is currently developing the project and is all set to helm the picture, though no date has been given for the start of production.

Look for our review of The Magnificent Seven tomorrow.

(Deadline)

‘Bad Santa 2’ Releases Most NSFW Trailer Ever

The new trailer for Bad Santa 2 is…well, don’t watch it at work. Or in public. Or around anyone whose opinion of you might one day matter. Maybe keep the sound low. In fact, it’s probably best to wear headphones. The trailer pulls no punches (figuratively and literally, as Kathy Bates getting clocked in the face shows) as it makes every attempt to the up the ante of poor taste and hilarity from its 2003 forebear, and includes the dirtiest joke this side of a Bob Saget or Gilbert Gottfried routine. Billy Bob Thornton returns as the foul mouthed alcoholic thief Willie who, along with his former partner Marcus (Tony Cox) hatches another scheme to get them rich. They’re joined by Willie’s mother (Bates) and Christina Hendricks (Mad Men). Bad Santa 2 opens November 23. Did I mention not to watch it at work? Really. Don’t.

(YouTube)

Keanu Reeves Gets Sized Up in Promo Image for ‘John Wick 2’

John Wick was one of the most unabashedly fun action movies to come out in years. So, naturally, they’re making a sequel. Keanu Reeves returns as the formerly retired assassin brought back to the life after Russian mobsters murdered his dog (side note: no matter how many times I write that sentence, the concept never gets old to me). The new film finds John facing more dangerous enemies and traveling to Europe to take on, well, probably fucking everybody, if the first movie is any indication. In fact, he’s probably looking at the back of your head through a scoped rifle a mile or so away as you read this. John Wick: Chapter 2 also finds Reeves reunited with his The Matrix trilogy co-star Laurence Fishburne, who’s playing the awesomely-enigmatically named “The Bowler King.” I’m done. Totally. This movie is going to be awesome. John Wick: Chapter 2 hits theaters February 10, 2017.