Film Bits: ‘Deadpool 2’ Finds New Director; ‘Game of Thrones’ Star Joins ‘Star Wars’; ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Crushes Box Office Competition

‘John Wick’ Director Officially Lands ‘Deadpool 2’ Gig

The abrupt departure of director Tim Miller didn’t derail Deadpool 2 for long. Just weeks following the behind the scenes rift, FOX has tapped John Wick director David Leitch to helm the sequel to the surprise comic book hit of 2016. Leitch is a director well-versed in the action oeuvre, who took wanton violence and turned it into a ballet of destruction in 2014’s John Wick and, presumably, its upcoming sequel. That aligns well with the needs of Deadpool, which bucked comic book tradition to present a decidedly adult oriented tale of violence, destruction, and revenge. The pairing feels like a dream come true for fans the hyperviolent, tongue-in-cheek comic book character, and represents a big movie for Leitch and his career.

(The Hollywood Reporter)

‘Mortal Kombat’ Movie Moves Forward for Some Reason

Everyone can relax. Mortal Kombat has found its director. Wait…what? Are we really still…trying to…what? This is still a thing we’re trying to make happen? K. Well. Seems like it’s out of our hands now and that sometime in the impending future we’ll be forced to endure another cinematic adaptation of a video game about people who punch each other. I mean, granted, people also get spines ripped out, cut in half, impaled in giant spikes, and basically anything else you might can imagine, but the core is still people punching each other. I mean sure, there’s an overarching mythos about alternate dimensions and great evils and taking over the world but, really, those are all just absurd set pieces designed to ensure they’ve got people coming together to punch each other. Anyway, some guy you’ve never heard of, Simon McQuoid, is in talks to helm the production, which is being produced by James “I Made Saw” Wan. McQuoid used to direct commercials, which seems appropriate for some reason. Get excited?

(The Hollywood Reporter)

Emilia Clarke Joins ‘Star Wars’ Universe

While Daenerys Targaryen has busied herself crossing the to get to Westeros, actress Emilia Clarke has been busying herself for a journey to a galaxy far, far away. The Game of Thrones star was recently confirmed as the latest actress to join the Star Wars universe with the announcement that she will play a role in the upcoming Han Solo spin off film. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie) the as-yet-untitled film will explore the rogue smuggler in the years prior to the events of the first Star Wars film. She joins Alden Ehrenreich (Hail, Caesar!) as Han Solo and Donald Glover (Community) as Lando Calrissian. No word yet on who Clarke is playing.

(Deadline)

First Full Trailer for ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ is Full of Whimsy

After a year that found Netflix involved in a series of fortunate events, the streaming service flexed their muscles to reveal the first trailer for Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Based on the popular children’s novels, the new series stars Neil Patrick Harris as the mysterious Count Olaf, a man who tries to steal the fortunes of two young orphans left in his care. Whimsical irreverence, which was the hallmark of the novels, is found throughout the trailer, suggesting that Netflix has found the key to doing justice by their adaptation, unlike the Jim Carrey starring film from 2004. It’s hard not to be sucked in by the charm of the trailer, though we’ve still got a few months until January 13, when the series makes its debut.

(Netflix)

‘Fantastic Beasts’ Bewitches Audiences

This weekend, studio heads across Hollywood were given a stunning reminder of just what a film from the Harry Potter universe does to the box office. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them opened with a jaw dropping $75 million in its debut week, soundly stomping the competition. Doctor Strange, which spellbound moviegoers for the last two weeks, fell to second place with $17.6 million, just edging out the family friendly Trolls, which took third place at $17.5 million. Arrival, the heady science fiction film starring Amy Adams, dropped to fourth place with $11.8 million while Almost Christmas rounded out the top 5 with $7 million. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is heading into Thanksgiving with almost no competition at the box office, and is expected to retain its top spot for at least another week.