Film Bits: ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequel Info Revealed; Mel Gibson Talks ‘The Passion’ Sequel; New Trailer for ‘xXx’

Johnny Depp Joins ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequel; New Setting Revealed

With just a little over two weeks to go until the release of the Harry Potter spinoff/prequel, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, planning is already in full swing for a sequel. J.K. Rowling revealed earlier this year that her prequel series would be comprised of 5 parts, assuring audiences more from the magical realm for years to come. Johnny Depp has been announced as a co-star for the planned sequel, which is now confirmed to be taking place in Paris. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes place in New York, meanwhile, confirming the globetrotting motifs for the new series which will expand the world of Harry Potter to heights previously only hinted at. No word yet on who Depp might be playing, but word is we’ll meet his character in a brief appearance in Fantastic Beasts opens on November 18.

(Deadline, Digital Spy)

Zach Galifianakis Joins ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

Ava DuVernay’s A Wrinkle in Time keeps getting bigger and bigger. Yesterday it was confirmed that Zack Galifianakis is joining the already monumental cast—which includes Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Storm Reid, and Chris Pine—as the Happy Medium. Based on Madeleine L’Engle’s classic children’s book, A Wrinkle in Time is already primed to be one of the biggest movies of the year well before its 2018 release.

(Variety)

‘The Passion of the Christ’ Sequel Reveals Title

It would appear that Mel Gibson is working hard on a comeback. The formerly embattled director has been hard work recently, and has a new movie, Hacksaw Ridge, coming out this Friday. During a promotional appearance for the movie on Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the director confirmed that plans for a sequel to his controversial 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ, have begun in earnest. He’s currently working on nailing down the script with Braveheart screenwriter Randal Wallace, and the director thinks that it might be a few years out. He also confirmed the title of the film, Resurrection. Gibson stated that he’ll be exploring what happened during the three days following the death of Jesus Christ before his resurrection, and how the events affected the world he lived in.

(The Hollywood Reporter)

New ‘xXx’ Trailer Looks Like, Well, What You Would Expect

So they made another xXx movie, for some reason. It certainly looks…like a xXx movie. Vin Diesel returns as Xander Cage, perhaps leading to the title of the film, xXx: Return of Xander Cage. The new trailer has him skiing through the jungle, dumping an entire elite task force out of plane, and enlisting the help of Ruby Rose. You know what? Sure. Whatever. I’ll take two tickets. xXX: Return of Xander Cage opens January 20, 2017.

(Paramount)