Negromancer's Marvel Studios Link-o-Rama 2026 - UPDATE #21

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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NEWS:

AVENGERS - From Deadline:  Actor Noah Jupe ("Hamnet") has been cast in a secret role in Disney/Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Secret Wars" (2027).

SPIDER-MAN - From USAToday:  "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has become the eighth film to cross the 2 billion dollar mark in global box office (unadjusted for inflation).

AVENGERS - From THR:  At Disney's "D23 2026," Marvel unveiled new "Avengers: Doomsday" footage that emphasized Robert Downey Jr.'s "Doctor Doom."

X-MEN - From THR:  Marvel Studios has finally revealed the cast of its "X-Men" reboot (or at least some of it) at Disney's "D23 2026."  The movie will star Sadie Sink ("Jean Grey"), Kit Connor ("Cyclops"), Christopher Abbott ("Prof. X"), Samara Weaving ("Emma Frost"), Inde Navarrette ("Rogue"), and Maya Boyd ("Storm").  Adam Driver is also among the cast as the villain, "Mr. Sinister," with the film landing a release date of May 5, 2028.

From Deadline:  "Insiders" have told "Deadline's" Justin Kroll that Marvel Studios has found the Cyclops of its planned X-Men reboot.  He is Kit Connor.

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  The final estimates for the 7/31 to 8/2/2026 weekend box office have rolled in, and "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has grossed 360 million dollars.  This is now the all-time highest debut weekend in domestic box office history.  This surpasses the 357.1 million dollar debut of "Avengers: Endgame" (2019).

From Variety:  "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has a 355 million-dollar debut weekend at the domestic box office. That is the second largest of all-time behind the 357 million dollar debut of "Avengers: Endgame" back in 2019.  When the final numbers come out on Monday (Aug. 3rd), "Brand New Day" could hold the record.

From Variety:  So actress Sadie Sink is playing iconic X-Men character "Jean Grey" in the smash-hit, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."

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BLADE - From THR:  Two-time Oscar-winner, Mahershala Ali, confirms that he is not doing Marvel Studios-planned "Blade" movie.  He says that if Marvel really wanted to do the movie, it would have been done by now.

BLACK PANTHER - From ComicBookMovie:  By now, dear readers, you know that David Jonsson ("Alien: Romulus") is the new "Black Panther."  There is a rumor that Jonsson will make his debut as Black Panther in 2027's "Avengers: Secret Wars" before he begins his reign in December 2028's "Black Panther III."

DOOMSDAY - From Deadline:  Disney has dropped the first official trailer for its upcoming blockbuster, "Avengers: Doomsday," which is due in theaters December 18, 2026.

AVENGERS - From CBR:  In a CBR interview, Oscar-winner Robert Downey, Jr. talks about the pressure of returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and delivering on playing "Doctor Doom."

SPIDER-MAN - From ComicBookMovie:  See the new "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" trailer that hit YouTube today (Wed., June 17th).

From CBR:  The Russo Brothers (Joe and Anthony) officially confirms why Spider-Man's MCU origin is different from Spider-Man's traditional origin.

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X-MEN - From ComicBookMovie:  Rumors suggest that "Beef" Season Two (Netflix) star, Charles Melton, is being considered to play the "X-Men" character, "Hank McCoy/The Beast."

From MensHeath:  Lee Sung Jin, the creator Netflix's "Beef," gave "Men's Health" an interview about the series.  Lee is also working on Marvel Studio's planned "X-Men" movie and he talks about that film's focus on characters.

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ENDGAME  - From Variety:  The 2019 Marvel Studios blockbuster, "Avengers: Endgame" will get a September 25th, 2026 re-release that will include brand new footage that ties it into the upcoming "Avengers: Doomsday," which is due December 2026.

WONDER MAN - From THR:  The Disney+ Marvel Studios streaming series, "Wonder Man," will return for a second season.  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will return as "Simon Williams/Wonder Man" and Sir Ben Kingsley will return as "Trevor Slattery."

SPIDER-MAN - From ComicBookMovie:  A trailer of some sorts for the upcoming Sony/Marvel Studios film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," may debut as soon as next week.

AVENGERS DOOMSDAY - From YouTube:  The latest "Avengers: Doomsday" (#4) teaser trailer is now on YouTube.  This one features Shuri, M'Baku, Namor and others from the world of the "Black Panther" and also Ben Grimm of the "Fantastic Four."  "Avengers: Doomsday" arrives December 18, 2026.

From YouTube:  The latest "Avengers: Doomsday" (#3) teaser trailer is now on YouTube.  This one features Professor X, Magneto, and Cyclops.  "Avengers: Doomsday" arrives December 18, 2026.

From YouTube:  The latest "Avengers: Doomsday" (#2) teaser trailer is now on YouTube. It focuses on the Avenger, "Thor."  The film arrives in theaters December 18, 2026.

From YouTube:  The first of four "Avengers: Doomsday" teaser trailers is now officially on YouTube. This one focuses on Steve Rogers/Captain America.

BLADE - From DarkHorizons:  Rumors abound that Marvel is no longer developing a solo feature film starring its vampire hunter, "Blade," who was supposed to be played by Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali. Rumors also say "Blade" will make his debut in a "Midnight Sons" feature film.

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AVENGERS - From CinemaBlend:  Rumors abound that Disney/Marvel will release four teaser trailers for "Avengers: Doomsday."  Each one will appear at the head of "Avatar: Fire and Ash" on a rotation of one week each.

From ComicBookMovies:  After joining "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," actress Sadie Sink will reportedly joining "Avengers: Secret Wars," according to various reports and rumors.

SPIDER-MAN - From Deadline:  Sources tell "Deadline" that actor Marvin Jones III has been tapped for the role of "Tombstone" in Sony/Marvel's 2026 film, "Spider-Man: Brand New Day."  He also performed the voice of Tombstone in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) and will reprise the role in "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse" (2027).  Jones is also known as the rapper, "Krondon," a member of the rap trio, "Strong Arm Steady."

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MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE (MCU):

Review: Iron Man (2008)

Review: The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Review: Thor (2011)

Review:  Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Review:  Marvel's The Avengers (2012)

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Review: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Review:  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Review: Ant-Man (2015)

Review: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Review: Doctor Strange (2016)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Review:  Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Review:  Black Panther (2018)

Review:  Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Review:  Captain Marvel (2019)

Review: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Review:  Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Review: Black Widow (2021)

Review: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Review: Eternals (2021)

Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Review: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Review: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3 (2023)

Review: The Marvels (2023)

Review: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Review: Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Review: Thunderbolts* (2025)

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Click here for the 2025 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2024 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2023 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2022 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama"

Click here for the 2021 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2020 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2019 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

Click here for the 2018 edition of "Marvel Studios Negromancer Link-o-Rama."

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 23rd to 31st, 2026 - UPDATE #14

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Jason Momoa, Tenoch Huerta, Adria Arjona, and Kiefer Sutherland join star Miles Teller in Black Label Media's thriller, "Copperhead."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/28 to 8/30/2026 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 22.2 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Anne Hathaway is joining Tom Cruise for "Days of Thunder 2," the sequel to the 1990 film, "Days of Thunder."  The film is currently set for a Summer 2028 release.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney+ has greenlighted "Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu."  It is a new stop-motion series that is part of a new global distribution deal between The Pokémon Company International and Disney.  The new series is created by the animation studio, Aardman Animations ("Wallace & Gromit"), and will debut on Disney XD and stream exclusively on Disney+ in 2027.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Ridley Scott's new film, "The Dog Stars," is out this week. One of his next projects may be a third film in his "Alien" prequel series, which began with "Prometheus" (2012) and continued with "Alien: Covenant" (2017).

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Actor Dan Stevens has been picked to headline Amazon MGM Studios' Prime Video series, "Robocop," based on the 1987 film, "Robocop."

MOVIES - From THR:  Warner Bros. is developing a live-action film based on the classic Hanna-Barbera animation franchise, "The Flintstones."  Ryan Gosling is a producer on the project.  Universal Pictures released a live-action film, "The Flintstones," in 1994 and its sequel, "The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" (2000).

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/21 to 8/23/2926 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 39 million dollars.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Woody Allen will begin shooting his next film in Madrid on October 5, 2026.  The financing deal dictates that the name "Madrid" must be in the title.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American film and television actor, Samuel Monroe, Jr., has died at the age of 52, Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after battle meningitis and pneumonia.  Monroe was best known for his roles in such films as "Menace II Society"(1992), "Tales from the Hood" (1995), and "Set It Off" (1996). He appeared in such TV series, "Out All Night," "NYPD Blue," and "Black Jesus."

From THR:  Canadian voice actor, Peter Cullen, has died at the age of 85, Wednesday, August 26, 2026.  Cullen's six decade career saw him provide voice performances film film, television, and video games.  However, Cullen was best known for providing the voice for the "Tranformers" character, "Optimus Prime," across "Transformers" media, beginning with "The Transformers" 1984-87 animated syndicated television series.  Cullen would also voice Optimus Prime in 1986's "The Transformers: The Movie" and Paramount's eight-film series, that began with 2007's "Transformers," to name a few.  In 2023, Cullen received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the "Children's and Family Emmy Awards."

From Variety:  The English stage, film, and television actor and singer, Tim Curry, has died at the age of 80, Tuesday, August 25, 2026.  Curry is best known for the role of "Dr Frank N Furter" in the 1973 West End musical, "The Rocky Horror Show," and in the 1975 film adaptation, which became a cult and midnight movie sensation.  Curry's other notable film roles including "Legend," Clue," "Oscar," Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," and "Congo," to name a few.  Curry appeared in numerous TV series, miniseries, and movies, including "Wiseguys," "It," "Roseanne," and "Will & Grace," to name a few.  Curry won a Daytime Emmy Award in 1991.

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From RollingStone:  American singer-songwriter, recording artist, and actress, Dolly Parton, has died at the age of 80, Tuesday, August 25, 2026.  Called the "Queen of Country," Parton released almost 70 albums, including solo works; duets with her former partner, Porter Wagoner; collaborations; live albums; and soundtracks.  She wrote over 3000 songs, including the 1973 song, "I Will Always Love You," which became a massive hit for the late Whitney Houston in 1992.  Other hit songs included "Coat of Many Colors" (1971), "Jolene" (1973), "9 to 5" (1980).  She had 25 #1 singles on "Billboard Magazine's" country music chart.

As an actress, Dolly appeared in multiple films, including "9 to 5" (1980), "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1982), "Steal Magnolias" (1989), and "Joyful Noise" (2012), to name a few.  She made guest appearances on such television series as Disney's "Hannah Montana," "Reba" and "Grace & Frankie," in addition to twice having her own variety show "Dolly!" (1976-77) and "Dolly" (1987-88).

Dolly Parton was nominated 50 times at the Grammy Awards, winning 10 competitive awards and the 2011 "Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award."  She was twice nominated for the "Best Original Song" Oscar, and she received the Academy's "Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award."  Parton was nominated four times at the "Primetime Emmy Awards," sharing a win in 2021 in the category of "Outstanding Television Movie" for Netflix's "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square."

Parton was also an author, businesswoman, and philanthropist.  Among her ventures was the theme park, "Dollywood."

From YahooEntertainment:  Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80, and tributes pour in from around the world.

From Billboard:  According to "Billboard Magazine," Dolly Parton had a brief battle with cancer before she died.

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From Deadline:  American actress and singer, Shelly Fabares, has died at the age of 82, Saturday, August 22, 2026.  She was best known for the role of "Christine Armstrong" on ABC's former sports sitcom, "Coach" (1989-97).  However, Fabares was also a child actor of the former ABC domestic sitcom, "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-66), playing the daughter, "Mary Stone."  Fabares was Elvis Presley's leading lady in the 1965 film, "Girl Happy."  She also appeared in two more of Presley's films, "Spinout" (1966) and "Clambake" (1967).  She also had a "Billboard Hot 100" #1 hit with the single, "Johnny Angel" (February 1962).  Fabares received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for her work on "Coach."  Fabares had been married to actor Mike Farrell, best known for his role on the former CBS sitcom, "M*A*S*H," since 1984.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 16th to 22nd, 2026 - UPDATE #9

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

NETFLIX - From WorldofReel:  Netflix will give director Peter Berg's “The Mosquito Bowl,” a U.S. theatrical release on October 30, 2026 before moving it streaming on November 25th.  The film tells the story of four of America’s most celebrated college football players who put their athletic careers on hold to enlist in the Marines after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They take part in a legendary football game featuring some of the greatest players in college football history, which would turn out to be the last football game for many of them.

DISNEY - From Deadline:  ABC filed an unprecedented "First Amendment" lawsuit against the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.  ABC claims that the FCC's investigations and regulatory actions against the network are part of a Trump administration's “retaliatory campaign” to curb ABC’s free speech.

From Deadline:  "Deadline" has posted a copy of ABC's lawsuit for your reading pleasure

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BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/14 to 8/16/2026 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios' "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 70 million dollars.

From WorldofReel:  “The Odyssey” hit the $1.34 billion milestone today, making it the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time. It has now surpassed 2024’s “Deadpool & Wolverine,” which finished with $1.33 billion worldwide.

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DISNEY - From Deadline:  Disney+ is not moving forward with its live-action "Power Rangers" series. The project was written and executive produced by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, who are the executive producers and showrunners of the Disney+ series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians."  According to "Deadline," the reason for the cancellation of this project was budgetary.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  The American film and television actor, Michael Wright, has died at the age of 70, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.  His best known role was that of "Eddie King Jr" in "The 5 Heartbeats" (1991).  His other well-known roles include such films as Robert Altman's "Streamers" (1983), "The Principal" (1987), and "Sugar Hill" (1994)  Wright appeared in such TV series as NBC's former sci-fi franchise "V," HBO's former prison drama, "Oz," and The CW's former superhero drama, "Back Lightining"

From Variety:  American actress and singer, Hayden Panettiere, has died at the age of 36, Sunday, August 16, 2026.  Panettiere's best known roles were as Clair Benneton the former NBC superhero television series, "Heroes" (2006-10) and as Juliette Barnes on the former ABC/CMT musical drama series, "Nashville" (2012-18).  Panetteire's best known film roles were as "Kirby Reed" in the "Scream" horror film franchise and as "Dot" in Disney/Pixar's "A Bug's Life" (1998).  She earned a "Grammy Award" nomination for her work on the spoken word album, "A Bug's Life Read-Along."

From Deadline:  Hayden Panettiere: a career and life in photos from "Deadline"

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From ESPN:  Former American professional baseball player and Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, Tommy John, has died at the age of 83, Saturday, August 15, 2026.  John played in the MLB for 26 seasons for six teams, including playing for the Yankees for eight seasons over two stints with the team.  John was a four-time "MLB All-Star."  John pitched in three World Series contested between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees:  1977 and 1978 playing for the Dodgers and 1981 for the Yankees.  John was on the losing end of all three of those World Series.  He has the second most wins (288) of any pitcher since 1900 who is not in the "National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum."  John is also known for the "ligament replacement surgery" that bears his name, the "Tommy John surgery."

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 9th to 15th, 2026 - UPDATE #9

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

ANIME - From WorldofReel:  85-year-old Oscar-winner and Japanese animation legend, Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron), is still working at Studio Ghibli.  But what is Hayao's next project?

DISNEY/ANIMATION - From WorldofReel:  The sequel to "The Simpsons Movie" (2007) will arrive in 2027 and will be titled "The New Simpsons Movie."

SPORTS - From ESPN:  Former Disney CEO, Bob Iger, and Josh Kushner (the brother of Trump son-in-law, Jared Kushner) are buying Mark Walter's ownership stake in the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 12.5 billion dollars.  Walter bought the majority share of the Lakers for 10.5 billion dollars in October 2025.

From SilverScreenandRoll:  Apparently, Bob Iger will be more actively involved with the Lakers than his partner, Josh Kushner.

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MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Director Aaron Sorkin is performing reshoots on "The Social Reckoning," the follow-up to his Oscar-winning, "The Social Network" (2011). So it won't make its debut as the 2026 Venice Film Festival.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 8/7 to 8/9/2026 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 145 million dollars.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Warner Bros is denying reports that the sequel to its hit 2023, musical-fantasy film, "Wonka," which starred Timothee Chalamet, has been "delayed indefinitely." "Wonka" earned over 600 million dollars at the global box office.

OBITS:

From DreadCentral:  American actor and musician and Vietnam War veteran, Reggie Bannister, has died at the age of 80, Sunday, August 9, 2026.  Bannister is best known for starring in director Don Coscarelli's 1979 horror film, "Phantasm," and its four sequels.  In addition to the "Phantasm" series, Bannister and Cscarelli also collaborated on such films as "Jim the World's Greatest" (1976), "Survival Quest" (1989), and "Bubba Ho-tep" (2002). 

From CountryRebel:  American politician, U.S. congressman, essayist, playwright, and film, stage, and television actor, Ben Jones, has died at the age of 84, Sunday, August 9, 2026.  Jones was best known for the role of mechanic "Cooter Davenport," on the former CBS action-comedy series, "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979-85).  In addition, Jones appeared in over 100 theatrical productions and in such films as "The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars & Motor Kings (1976), "Smokey and the Bandit" (1977), and "Primay Colors" (1998).  Jones was also a two-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Georgia's Fourth Congressional District.

From Deadline:  British songwriter, musician, music producer, and recording artist, William Orbit, has died at the age of 69, Thursday, July 23, 2026.  Orbit is best known for work in ambiant, electronica, house, and techno music.  He collaborated with Madonna on her 1998 album, "Ray of Light," which earned him two Grammy Awards wins out of four nominations.  

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from August 1st to 8th, 2026 - UPDATE #9

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

NETFLIX - From WorldofReel:  Although he isn't getting the level of reshoots he wants, Netflix will allow director David Fincher some reshoots for "The Adventures of Cliff Booth," the sequel to director Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).  Brad Pitt, who won a "Best Supporting Actor" Oscar for playing Booth, is reprising the role for Fincher's film.

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Joel Coen wrapped up production of his upcoming film, "Jack of Spades" in November 2025. The film, which is a "gothic mystery" is set in Scotland of the 1880s, has been moved to a 2027 release.

BOX OFFFICE - From THR:  "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" has scored the biggest first week in domestic box office history with a total of crossing the 500-milllion dollar mark in seven days.  2019's Avengers: Endgame crossed that mark after eight days.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Numan Acar ("Young Sherlock) has signed to join on the next installment of Universal Pictures' "The Mummy" film franchise.  Franchise veterans, Kevin J. O'Connor and Oded Fehr, has also signed on for the next film.

AMAZON - From Deadline:  Jaafar Jackson is hot off playing his late uncle, "King of Pop" Michael Jackson is the one billion dollar-plus hit, "Michael" (Lionsgate). Now, Jafar takes his next big step with Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb in Amazon MGM Studios' action-thriller, "Supermax."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 7/31 to 8/2/2026 weekend box office is Sony Pictures' "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" with an estimated take of 355 million dollars.

From Variety:  "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" and "The Odyssey" power the weekend of 7/31 to 8/2/2026 into being the biggest weekend in domestic box office history.  Across all movies, the record setting gross is 430 million dollars.  This surpasses the 2019 weekend that the debut of "Avengers: Endgame" led. 

MOVIES - From GQ:  In an interview about writer-director Bassam Tariq's upcoming film, "Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother," the film's star, Mahershala Ali, talks about why he is no longer involved with Marvel Studios' "Blade" film.  Tariq was also once attached to the film.  Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is due Sept, 25, 2026.

OBITS:

From Deadline:  American film and television actor and U.S. Navy veteran, Vincent Pastore, has died at the age of 80, July 2026.  Pastore was often cast as Italian mobster characters.  He is best known for playing "Salvatore 'Big Pussy' Bonpensiero" on the former HBO mob drama, "The Sopranos" (1999-2007).  He made notable appearances in the TV film, "Gotti" (HBO), the romantic comedy film, "Mickey Blue Eyes" (1999), and DreamWorks Animation's "Shark Tale" (2004).

From Deadline:  American producer and studio executive, Richard L. O'Connor, has died at the age of 96, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.  O'Connor was an "executive in charge of production" for such films as "On Golden Pond" (1981), "The Legend of the Lone Ranger" (1981), and "The Muppet Movie" (1979); and on such television movies as "The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd" (1980) and "Friendly Fire" (1979).  He was a producer on a number of TV movies and series, including "Fatal Vision" (1984), "Amerika" (1987), and "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," (1993).  O'Connor was a three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, and winning in 1990 the Primetime Emmy for "Outstanding Children's Program" for "A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story" (1989).

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 26th to 30th, 2026 - UPDATE #4

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

OSCARS - From Deadline:  In an exclusive story, "Deadline" has reported that Oscar-winner, Pavel Talankin’s Oscar for the documentary feature film, "Mr. Nobody Against Putin," has disappeared.  This happened after TSA officials at JFK Airport in New York refused to let Talankin board a flight with the statuette, declaring it could be used as a weapon.  Talakin shared a win at the recent 98th Academy Awards for "Best Feature Documentary" with U.S. documentary filmmaker, David Borenstein, Halle Faber, and Alzbeta Karaskova.  Two airline employees boxed the item and gave Talankin a ticket for the package, but when he arrived at his destination, the box could not be found...

MOVIES - From WorldofReel:  Sony Pictures is developing a film that will bring the worlds of Quentin Tarantino's Oscar-winning "Django Unchained" (2012) and the Oscar-nominated "The Mask of Zorro" (1998) together.  The film will be written by Oscar-winner Brian Helgeland ("L.A. Confidential") and will be based on the 2015 crossover comic book miniseries, "Django/Zorro" (Dynamite Entertainment), which acted as a sequel to Django Unchained.  [Here is my review of "Django/Zorro #1.]

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/24 to 4/26/2026 weekend box office is Lionsgate's "Michael" with an estimated 97 million dollars.

OBITS:

From Variety:  The American toy designer, businessman, and inventor, Roger Sweet, has died at the age of 91, Tuesday, April 28, 2026.  Sweet is best known for his work as a lead designer at toy manufacturer, Mattel.  Sweet was as the lead designer of the team that created the superhero, "He-Man," and the "Masters of the Universe" toy line.

From Deadline:  Film writer and television writer and producer, Gerry Conway, has died at the age of 73.  Conway wrote the screenplays for two films, the animated "Fire and Ice" (1983) and "Conan the Destroyer" (1984).  He was a writer-producer for NBC's "Law & Order" (1999-2006).  He wrote episodes of such animated TV series as "G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero," "The Transformers," and "My Little Pony," to name a few.  Conway was also a legendary comic book writer and editor.  He co-created "The Punisher" for Marvel and is considered to be one of the authors who expanded and deepened what came to be known as the "Marvel Universe."

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from January 11th to 17th, 2026 - UPDATE #12

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

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NEWS:

TIMOTHY BUSFIELD:

From CBS:  Director and Emmy-winning actor, Timothy Busfield (Thirtysomething), surrendered to New Mexico authorities in answer to an arrest warrant for child sex abuse charges.  The complaint involves twin brothers who claim that Busfield molested them on the set on the former Fox suspense drama, "The Cleaning Lady," for which Busfield was a series director.

From NBCNews:  Already facing charges related to claims that he molested twin brothers on the set of a TV series where he was a director, Emmy-winner Timothy Busfield is also facing accusations that he kissed and inappropriately touch a 16-year-old girl years ago.

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NETFLIX - From Reuters:  Sony Pictures and Netflix have extended their deal which sends Sony's films to stream on Netfllix after their theatrical release.

SCANDAL - From FoxNews:  Actor Daniel Stern, best known for his roe in the "Home Alone" films, has been arrested for soliciting prostitution on Dec 12th at a motel in Camarillo, CA.

From FoxNews:  Emmy-winning actor Keifer Sutherland ("24") has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a rideshare driver in Los Angeles on Monday, Jan. 12th.  Sutherland was released on a $50 thousand bond.

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TELEVISION - From Deadline:  NBC has ordered a pilot for its reboot of its former detective drama, "The Rockford Files" (1974-80).  In 1978, the series won the Primetime Emmy for "Outstand Drama Series."  In 1977, the series star, the late James Garner (1928-2014), won the Primetime Emmy Award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama."

BUSINESS - From THR:  Entertainer and businessman, Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, has finalized a deal with Louisiana to invest 124 million dollars in a complex that includes three entertainment venues.

AWARDS - From Deadline:  The winners at the 2026 / 83rd Golden Globes have been announced.  In the feature film category, "Hamnet" won two awards, including "Best Picture, Drama." "One Battle After Another" won three awards, including "Best Picture, Musical or Comedy."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 1/9 to 1/11/2026 weekend box office is 20th Century Studios' "Avatar: Fire and Ash" with an estimated take of 21.3 million dollars.

SCANDAL - From APNews:  Authorities in New Mexico have issued an arrest warrant for film and television actor and TV director, Timothy Busfield, who is facing a child sex abuse charge.  The alleged abusive acts occurred on the set of of the Fox broadcast former crime drama, "The Cleaning Lady" (2022-25).  Busfield won a Primetime Emmy Award for his acting on the former ABC drama, "Thirtysomthing." 

OBIT:

From RollingStone:  American musician, songwriter, and recording artist, Bob Weir, has died at the age of 78, Saturday, January 10, 2026.  In 1965, Weir was one of the five founding members of "the Warlocks," a "jug band" that would soon change its name to the "Grateful Dead."  The Dead would become known for its improvisational live performances and for its devoted fans, called "Deadheads."  In 1994, Weir was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Grateful Dead.

  

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from October 26th to 31st, 2025 - UPDATE #6

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

TELEVISION - From Variety:  Gayle King has been the face of CBS News‘ morning show, "CBS Mornings," for more than a decade.  Now, she is expected to depart as an anchor of that program next year, according to four people with knowledge of the situation. With the news division of CBS under a major overhaul by the new Skydance regime and with her current contract ending in May 2026, King could still return in a new role..

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  Paramount is losing its most prolific TV creator as Taylor Sheridan has signed a long term deal with NBCUniversal.  Sheridan is the mastermind behind such series as "Yellowstone," "Landman," and "Lioness."  Sheridan's producing partner, David Glasser, is also moving to NBCUniversal.  The deal begins in early 2026.

TELEVISION - From Deadline:  ABC is putting work into finding the next big TV music competition series and it has turned to Simon Cowell, a maestro of the genre to test a new format.  ABC and Cowell are working on a series called "Who's In The Band." Cowell will sit on a panel of judges that includes Joe Jones, Mel B of the "Spice Girls," songwriter Savan Kotecha, and Rei Ami, who provided the singing voice for the character, "Zoey" in Netflix's animated film, "KPop Demon Hunters."

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro: The winner of the 10/24 to 10/26/2025 weekend box office is Sony Pictures/Crunchyroll's "Chainsaw Man - The Movie: Reze Arc" with an estimated total of 17.25 million dollars.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Oscar-nominated actor, Austin Butler, is in talks to play "Sonny Crockett" in Universal Pictures' new film based on the former NBC crime drama, "Miami Vice" (1984-90).

OBITS:

From THR:  American actress and daytime soap opera writer, Margaret DePriest, has died at the age of 94, Monday, September 29, 2025.  As a woman, DePriest was a pioneering head writer or co-head writer of such soap operas as "The Doctors" (NBC, 1976), "General Hospital" (ABC, 1980-81), "Days of Our Lives" (NBC, 1982-84), "Another World" (NBC, 1986-89, 1996-97) and "All My Children" (ABC, 1989), to name a few.  In 1969, DePriest co-created with Lou Scofield the former CBS soap, "Where the Heart Is" (1969-73).  She was nominated five times for the "Daytime Emmy Award" in the category of "Best Writing."  She was also a soap opera actress and appeared in former CBS soap opera, "The Edge of Night" (for which she was also the co-head writer) and in "The Doctors."

From Deadline:   English actress, Prunella Scales, has died at the age of 93, Monday, October 27, 2025.  Scales was best known for her portrayal of "Sybil Fawlty," the bossy wife of rude and put-upon hotel owner, "Basil Fawlty" (John Cleese), in the beloved for BBC sitcom, "Fawlty Towers" (1975-79). She received a British Academy Television Award nomination for "Best Actress" for the role of "Queen Elizabeth II" in the 1991 TV movie, "A Question of Attribution." Scales was also a presenter on the British documentary TV series, "Great Canal Journeys" (Channel 4), from 2014 to 2019.

Review: In "THE GRUDGE," That Ghost Bitch is Really Mad

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 216 (of 2004) by Leroy Douresseaux

The Road to Halloween 2025

The Grudge (2004)

Running time:  91 minutes (1 hour, 31 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for mature thematic material, disturbing images/terror/violence, and some sensuality

DIRECTOR:  Takashi Shimizu

WRITER:  Stephen Susco (based upon the Japanese film Ju-On: The Grudge, written and directed by Takashi Shimizu)

PRODUCERS:  Taka Ichise, Sam Raimi, and Robert G. Tapert

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Hideo Yamamoto (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Jeff Betancourt

COMPOSER: Christopher Young

HORROR with elements of thriller and mystery

Starring:  Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, William Mapother, Clea DuVall, KaDee Strickland, Grace Zabriskie, Bill Pullman, Rosa Blasi, Ted Raimi, Ryo Ishibashi, Yoko Maki, Yuya Ozeki, Takako Fuji, and Takashi Matsunaga

The Grudge is a 2004 American supernatural horror film directed by Takashi Shimizu.  The film is a remake of Shimizu's 2002 Japanese horror film Ju-On: The Grudge, and it is the first installment in The Grudge film series.  The Grudge focuses on an American nurse living and working in Tokyo who is exposed to a mysterious supernatural curse.

When a person dies in the grip of a powerful rage, a curse is born.  If that person dies in his house, then, the curse stays in the house like a stain making the house death itself.  Any person who goes into the house is touched by death and will be killed by the curse, usually in the form of an angry spirit.  So goes The Grudge, the latest American remake of a Japanese horror film, but unlike 2002’s The Ring, the writer/director of the original Japanese film, Ju-On: The Grudge, Takashi Shimizu helms the remake.  Does that make a difference?  Very likely, it does.

The Ring and its forefather, Ringu, were similar, but The Ring clearly showed American sensibilities, as well as being set in the U.S.  The Grudge, like the original, is set in Japan, and Shimizu apparently treats the film as a sequel rather than as a remake.  And The Grudge certainly comes across as a kooky, as weird, and as very, very creepy horror movie, fitting right in with other Japanese horror films.

Sarah Michelle Gellar is Kare Davis, an American exchange student who somewhat reluctantly moved to Japan with her boyfriend Doug (Jason Behr), also a student.  When a fellow student who is working as a nurse doesn’t show up for work, Kare gets the fill-in assignment of going to a home in a Tokyo suburb to care for an invalid older woman.  What she doesn’t know, nor apparently does anyone else, is that the house has a horrible curse on it due to a double murder and suicide committed within its walls.  The curse touches anyone who enters the house, and Kare unwittingly unleashes a diabolical supernatural killing machine.

The Grudge is one of the scariest pure horror films that I’ve seen in awhile.  It’s unabashedly about the evil dead, wicked spirits, and mysterious supernatural curses that come and go with no explanation.  Some audiences may be put off by the fact that the curse doesn’t really follow the rules.  That’s because humans are explaining something they only halfway understand; like explaining the unknown and unknowable in human terms.  The may not be steadfast rules to how the curse in The Grudge works, and Japanese filmmakers seem to understand that capricious nature of the supernatural, or at least they aren’t always trying to order it like Western filmmakers.

There’s almost zero characterization in this film, and the fact that the audience doesn’t really get to know the characters keeps this from being a great horror movie.  Ms. Gellar, however, is now without a doubt, a great screen star of horror and thriller genres.  She centers this film and keeps the kookiness from getting out of hand.

The Grudge is certainly peculiar.  As frightening as I found it, I can easily see where some people might find the concept of the curse and the film itself farcical and utterly hilarious.  Be warned; it could be your cup of tea or have you rolling your eyes in disgust.

7 of 10

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

RE-EDITED:  Thursday, October 2, 2025

The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Negromancer News Bits and Bites from September 14th to 20th, 2025 - UPDATE #7

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

APPLE - From Deadline:  Director Martin Scorsese is eyeing "What Happens at Night" as his next film, with Apple Original Films looking to finance and produce the film.  Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence are set to star.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Director Joseph Kosinski's (F1) "Miami Vice" film is due from Universal on August 6, 2027.  The new film is set in the 1980s.

EMMYS - From THR:  The winners at the 2025 / 77th Primetime Emmy Awards have been announced.  "The Studio" (AppleTV+) won "Outstanding Comedy Series."  "The Pitt" (HBO Max) won "Outstanding Drama Series." "Adolescence" (Netflix) won "Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series."

From Deadline:  And then there was the 2025 Creative Arts Emmy Awards weekend before last.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 9/12 to 9/14/2025 weekend box office is Sony and Crunchyroll's "Demon Slayer - Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Infinity Castle" with an estimated take of 70 million dollars.

BUSINESS - From Variety:  Why does David Ellison and Skydance want Warner Bros. Discovery now... when waiting could mean taking on less of WBD's debt?

OBITS:

From Variety:  American film actor, director, and producer and Hollywood icon, Robert Redford, has died at the age of 89, Tuesday, September 16, 2025.  Redford's career is so long and his list of credits is so massive, that I'll just hit some of the highlights.  Redford won the Best Director Oscar for "Ordinary People" (1980), and he directed other films including, "Quiz Show" (1994), which earned him a Best Director Oscar nomination, and also "Lions for Lambs" (2007).  Redford received a Best Action Oscar nomination for "The Sting" (1973), but he other acclaimed roles occurred in such films as "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969), "The Candidate" (1972), "The Way We Were" (1973), "The Great Gatsby" (1974), "All the President's Men" (1976), "The Natural" (1984), and a personal favorite, "Sneakers" (1992).  Redford is also known for founding the "Sundance Film Festival," the largest film festival for independent films in the United States.  In 2001, Redford received the "Academic Honorary Award."

From Deadline:  American television writer, producer, and creator, John Masius, died at the age of 75, Saturday, September 13, 2025 from complications of ALS (also known as "Lou Gehrig's disease).  He first came to prominence working on the former CBS drama, "The White Shadow" (1978-81). He is best known for his work on the acclaimed former NBC medical drama, "St. Elsewhere" (1982-87).  He was nominated for 14 Primetime Emmy Awards.  Masius won "Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series" twice for his work on "St. Elsewhere."  He is also known for creating such TV series as "Touched by an Angel" (CBS), "Providence" (NBC), and "Hawthorne" (TNT).

Negromancer News Bits and Bites from April 13th to 19th, 2025 - UPDATE #10

by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

You can support Leroy via Paypal or on Patreon:

Amazon wants me to inform/remind you that any affiliate links found on this page are PAID ADS, but I technically only get paid (eventually) if you click on affiliate links like this, MOVIES PAGE, and BUY something(s).

TREATS: From AnotherCookie?:  There is a new online cookie retailer, "AnotherCookie?" The cookies are delicious.

-------------------

NEWS:

MOVIES/MUSIC - From THR:  The site has an update on director Sam Mendes four biographical films about "The Beatles." Each movie focuses on one of the four members, Paul, John, George, and Ringo.  Sony Pictures will release all four films in April 2028.

MOVIES - From Deadline:  Following her monumental film directing debut, "Blink Twice," Zoe Kravitz is negotiating to direct "How to Save a Marriage," from Sony Pictures and producer Robert Pattison.  Pattison who co-starred with Kravitz in "The Batman" (2022) is thus far only producing the film.

POLITICS - From THR:  Former MSNBC host, Chris Matthews, has revealed that he will revive his former MSNBC politics talk show, "Hardball," on Substack.

CELEBRITY - From Deadline:  "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Gossip Girl" star, Michelle Trachtenberg, 39, was found dead in her apartment on February 26, 2025.  The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has now listed Trachtenberg's cause of death as natural as the result of complications from diabetes mellitus.

MOVIES - From Variety:  Notorious wino and accused wife beater, Johnny Depp, makes his Hollywood return as he begins filming the thriller, "Day Drinker," for Lionsgate.

TELEVISION - From THR:  HBO has just officially announced the actors that will play six adult leads in its upcoming "Harry Potter" TV series.  John Lithgow will take on the critical role of Hogwarts’ wise and warm, "Headmaster Albus Dumbledore." Janet McTeer will take on the role of stern "Transfiguration Professor Minerva McGonagall." Paapa Essiedu will take on the role of the sneering "Potions Professor Severus Snape." Nick Frost will play the lumbering Hogwarts gamekeeper Rubeus Hagrid." Luke Thallon will play "Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Quirinus Quirrel" and Paul Whitehouse has been cast as the curmudgeonly caretaker "Argus Filch."  The main children's characters, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco, have not yet been cast.

BOX OFFICE - From BoxOfficePro:  The winner of the 4/11 to 1/13/2025 weekend box office is Warner Bros. Pictures' "Minecraft" with an estimated take of 80.6 million dollars.

From Deadline:  Angel Studio's animated film, "The King of Kings," makes an estimated 19 million dollars at the weekend box office. This is the largest opening for a "faith-based" animated film.

CANNES - From WorldofReel:  Cannes Film Festival 2025 has rejected Jim Jarmusch's new film, "Father Mother Sister Brother," which stars Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver (among others).  Just a month ago, "Variety" reported that the film was a lock to compete at the festival, which runs from May 13th to May 24th, 2025.

OBITS:

From Variety:  Canadian-Bulgarian film and television director, Ted Kotcheff, has died at the age of 94, Thursday, April 10, 2025.  Kotcheff may be best known for directing the first film in the "Rambo" series, "First Blood" (1982), starring Sylvester Stallone.  Kotcheff also directed such well-known films as "Fun with Dick and Jane" (1977), "North Dallas Forty" (1979), and "Weekend at Bernie's" (1989). He also directed such acclaimed films as "Wake in Fright" (1971), "The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz" (1974), and "Joshua Then and Now" (1985). Kotcheff was also an executive producer and director on NBC police drama, "Law & Order: SVU" from 1999 to 2012.

From Variety:  The film and television actor, Nicky Katt, has died at the age of 54, Tuesday, April 8, 2025.  Katt began his career as a child actor in NBC's former Western drama, "Father Murphy," and NBC's former sci-fi series, "V."  Eventually, he would have a prominent role in the former Fox legal drama, "Boston Public."  He appeared in such films as "Dazed and Confused" (1993), "A Time to Kill" (1996), "The Limey" (1999), and "Insomnia" (2002), to name a few.

Review: "ULTRAVIOLET" is Mostly Misspent Potential

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 164 (of 2003) by Leroy Douresseaux

Ultraviolet (2006)

Running time:  88 minutes (1 hour, 28 minutes)

MPAA – PG-13 for sequences of violent action throughout, partial nudity, and language

WRITER/DIRECTOR:  Kurt Wimmer

PRODUCERS:  John Badecchi and Lucas Foster

CINEMATOGRAPHERS:  Arthur Wong Ngok Tai and Jimmy Wong

EDITOR:  William Yeh

COMPOSER:  Klaus Badelt

SCI-FI/ACTION and MARTIAL ARTS/MYSTERY

Starring:  Milla Jovovich, Cameron Bright, Nick Chinlund, Sebastien Andrieu, Ida Martin, and William Fichtner

Ultraviolet is a 2006 American science fiction action film from writer-director Kurt Wimmer.  The film focuses on a woman infected with a virus that gives her superhuman and vampire-like powers who has to protect a boy thought to carry antigens that would destroy others like her.

Ultraviolet opens in the late 21st century.  The Hemoglophagic Virus has infected the human population – a disease causing symptoms that many associate with vampires.  Those afflicted gain enhanced intelligence, fantastic stamina, and lightning-fast speed (like the vampires in Blade).  The world is divided into those who don’t have it (normal humans), and those who do (called “hemophages”).

The government, led by the powerful scientist, Vicecardinum Ferdinand Daxus (Nick Chinlund), hunts hemophages in hopes of wiping them out.  One woman, a highly-skilled hemophage warrior named Violet Song jat Shariff (Milla Jovovich), infiltrates a governmental research station.  Violet steals a case containing a secret weapon that will reportedly wipe out the infected.  However, Violet finds herself on the run and protecting a mysterious child, called “Six” (Cameron Bright), who may or may not be infected with a virus dangerous to hemophages.  Now, Daxus and his entire military force is out to get her and the child.

From writer/director Kurt Wimmer (Equilibrium), Ultraviolet is non-interactive entertainment (a movie) trying to act like interactive entertainment (a videogame).  Awash in bright colors (computer-generated neon), the film looks like a comic book, especially when Milla Jovovich poses – standing still and trying to look badass before she begins a fight sequence.  It’s the only time her performance can be said to be anything near good.  Most of the time, she is so dreadful that it’s impossible to believe that she’s been acting for nearly two decades.

Ultraviolet has a lot of potential, but ultimately it’s just a poorly developed and disastrously executed movie that a computer made all gooey with color and the filmmakers filled with an electronics expo full of fancy gadgets.

3 of 10

C-

★½ out of 4 stars

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Edited: Monday, March 24, 2025

The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "VENOM: THE LAST DANCE" Has a Death Wish

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 10 of 2025 (No. 2016) by Leroy Douresseaux

Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

Running time:  110 minutes (1 hour, 50 minutes)

MPA – PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, bloody images and strong language

DIRECTOR:  Kelly Marcel

WRITERS:  Kelly Marcel; from a story by Kelly Marcel and Tom Hardy (based on the Marvel Comics)

PRODUCERS:  Avi Arad, Amy Pascal, Matt Tolmach, Tom Hardy, Kelly Marcel, and Hutch Parker

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Fabian Wagner (D.o.P.)

EDITOR:  Mark Sanger

COMPOSER:  Dan Deacon

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/ACTION

Starring:  Tom Hardy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Juno Temple, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu, Clark Backo, Alanna Ubach, Hala Finley, Dash McCloud, Cristo Fernandez, Jared Abrahamson, Jack Brady, Reid Scott, and Andy Serkis

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:

Venom: The Last Dance is the least of the three films in this series in terms of quality.

The entire point of the movie seems to be to end the series as soon as possible, so it is strictly for fans of this series

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Venom: The Last Dance is a 2024 superhero fantasy-action film directed by Kelly Marcel.  The film is based on the Marvel Comics super-villain/anti-hero characters, Eddie Brock/Venom.  Several comic book writers, artists, and editors contributed in the development of this duo, and artist Todd McFarlane and writer David Michelinie are the creators of Venom.  This is also the third entry in the Venom film series.  In Venom: The Last Dance, Eddie Brock and Venom are on the run from both an alien monster and a mysterious military officer, and they may be forced to break up their symbiotic partnership.

Venom: The Last Dance opens on Klyntar, the home world of the symbiotes.  Knull (Andy Serkis), the creator of the symbiotes, seeks a way to escape the prison made for him by his rebellious creations.  To that end, he has discovered a key – some thing called a “Codex” – that will free him.  What and where is the codex?

Well, it is on Earth, and the Codex exists because of the relationship between the symbiote, Venom, and his human host, the former investigative reporter, Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy).  They have just returned to Earth after their short stay in the multiverse (as seen in 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home) and has landed in the Mexico of their own Earth.  While there, Eddie and Venom learn that Eddie is being blamed for the death of Detective Patrick Mulligan (Stephen Graham).

Mulligan is not dead.  He was infected by a symbiote (as seen in 2021's Venom: Let There Be Carnage).  He has been imprisoned in an underground facility at “Area 55” (which is beneath “Area 51”), and is being held in captivity by the “Imperium Program.”  There, Mulligan and his symbiote are under the watchful gazes of Imperium scientist, Dr. Teddy Paine (Juno Temple), and the Imperium's military commander, General Rex Strickland (Chiwetel Ejiofor).

Eddie and Venom are headed for New York City in a bid to clear Eddie's name, unaware that General Strickland is hunting them.  The duo, however, is soon made aware of an even more dangerous hunter.  Knull has sent a creature known as a “Xenophage” to capture the Codex within Eddie and Venom.  Now, a year into their symbiotic relationship, Eddie Brock and Venom may have to make a most devastating and heart-wrenching decision in order to save the Earth and at least one of their lives.

Venom: The Last Dance is the fifth film in “Sony's Spider-Man Universe” line of films.  It follows Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), Morbius (2022), and Madame Web (2024).  The Last Dance arrived in movie theaters a little more than a month before the series' sixth film, Kraven the Hunter (2024).  This film series stars characters and properties commonly associated with Marvel Comics' character, Spider-Man.  Sadly, media reports indicate that Kraven the Hunter will be the last entry in Sony's Spider-Man Universe.

Anyway, just before the halfway mark in Venom: The Last Dance, the Venom symbiote enters a horse, and “venomizes” it, creating a “Venom horse.”  The sequence featuring Venom as a horse, which becomes a wild ride across the desert with Eddie on its back, is probably the liveliest moment in this movie.  Venom does not venomize any more animals the rest of the way, but strangely, the beginning of the film's end-credits is a montage of venomized animals, everything from insects and birds to mammals and amphibians.  A Venom movie featuring the Venom symbiote venomizing countless different insects and animals?! – now, that would be a Venom movie I'd love and a lot of people would watch.  Sadly, that is what we get in Venom: The Last Dance.

Yes, there are some genuine character moments – such as Eddie/Venom's relationship with the Moon family – but even that is overwhelmed by Venom: The Last Dance's need to end.  Yes, this isn't so much a movie as it is an execution or suicide pact.  Venom is a trilogy and Venom: The Last Dance must be the end of it:  that's what this movie feels like – a race to the end.

I found myself unable to really enjoy this movie.  I really didn't connect with the film's best action scenes, and there were a few really good ones.  Also, I feel like the Knull subplot was woefully underutilized.  There are some good moments here, and by the end of the film, I thought the good things had been downplayed in favor of this movie's fatalistic mood.  Ultimately, I think Venom: The Last Dance is only for fans of the series who will want to see it through to the end.

5 of 10

C+

★★½ out of 4 stars out of 4 stars

[This film has one mid-credits scene and one scene that occurs at the end of the credits.]

The text is copyright © 2025 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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Review: "KRAVEN THE HUNTER" Has a Beast in Aaron Taylor-Johnson

TRASH IN MY EYE No. 57 of 2024 (No. 2001) by Leroy Douresseaux

Kraven the Hunter (2024)

Running time:  127 minutes (2 hours, 7 minutes)

MPA – R for strong bloody violence, and language

DIRECTOR:  J.C. Chandor

WRITERS:  Richard Wenk, Art Marcum, and Matt Holloway; from a story by Richard Wenk (based on the Marvel Comics)

PRODUCERS:  Avi Arad, David B. Householter, and Matt Tolmach

CINEMATOGRAPHER:  Ben Davis (D.o.P.)

EDITORS:  Chris Lebenzon and Craig Wood

COMPOSERS:  Evgueni Galperine, Sacha Galperine, and Benjamin Wallfisch

SUPERHERO/FANTASY/ACTION

Starring:  Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Alessandro Nivola, Christopher Abbott, Levi Miller, Billy Barratt, Tom Reed, Diaana Babnicova, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Damola Adelaja, and Russell Crowe

SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW:

“Kraven the Hunter” has already established itself as having the lowest opening weekend debut of any film carry the Marvel brand, but it is a lot better than many of the other comic book films that came before it

Star Aaron Taylor-Johnson is indeed a star as he carries this film to victory, and he maximizes several intense scenes with co-star, Oscar-winner Russell Crowe

You don't have to be a fan of comic book movies to enjoy “Kraven the Hunter” because its intensity and its extreme and extremely violent action scenes and sequences are exceptionally entertaining

Kraven the Hunter is a 2024 action movie and superhero film from director J.C. Chandor.  The movie is based on the Marvel Comics character, Sergei Kravinoff/Kraven the Hunter, that was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 (cover dated: August 1964).  This is also the sixth film in “Sony's Spider-Man Universe” (SSU) series.  The film focuses on a hunter of men and his complex relationship with his father, a ruthless Russian crime lord, which starts him down the path to becoming the greatest hunter of men in the world.

Kraven the Hunter opens in Northern Russia at a prison.  Of particular interest is Prisoner #0864, but soon, prison security and imprisoned Russian gangster, Semyon Chorney (Yuri Kolokolnikov), will learn that this prisoner is really a legendary assassin known as “The Hunter.”  Who is “The Hunter?”

He is really Sergei Kravinoff (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), the elder son of brutal Russian crime lord, Nikolai Kravinoff (Russell Crowe).  Sixteen years before The Hunter killed Chorney, Nikolai took Sergei and his younger son, Dmitri, on a hunting expedition in Northern Ghana.  A terrible accident leaves Sergei near death until a local young woman intervenes in a manner that changes Sergei in ways he never imagined.

In the present day, Sergei goes by the name “Kraven.”  His activities as “The Hunter” have earned him the ire of many criminals.  Kraven has a kill-list, and once someone is on it, they don't get off until he kills them.  Kraven reunites with Calypso (Ariana DeBose), the young woman who saved him sixteen years earlier.  Now, an adult, Calypso is an attorney, and Kraven asks her to assist him in his activities as “The Hunter” by finding information on his targets.

However, Kraven himself is now being hunted.  Wannabe Russian crime boss, Aleksei Sytsevich (Alessandro Nivola), and his ally, “The Foreigner” (Christopher Abbott), have targeted Kraven's brother, Dmitri (Fred Hechinger), now an adult, as a way to trap their prey.  Kraven will have to prove to his enemies that he is indeed the world's greatest hunter and also its most dangerous apex predator.

Kraven the Hunter is sixth film in “Sony's Spider-Man Universe” line of films.  It follows Venom (2018), Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021), Morbius (2022), Madame Web (2024), and the recently release, Venom: The Last Dance (2024).  This film series stars characters and properties commonly associated with Marvel Comics' character, Spider-Man.  Sadly, media reports indicate that Kraven the Hunter will be the last entry in Sony's Spider-Man Universe, and that's a shame because Kraven the Hunter deserves a sequel.

Most movie actors could not have saved Kraven the Hunter, if it did indeed need saving, as industry and fan gossip indicated.  If we accept those arguments, dear readers, that Kraven the Hunter needed saving, then Aaron Taylor-Johnson is indeed this film's savior.  Taylor-Johnson is a talented young actor, and he can certainly portray the tough-guy hero or antihero in a way that seems genuine, if not outright real.

Without Taylor-Johnson, I think Kraven the Hunter would still be a really entertaining film.  The screenplay, regardless of whatever number of writers contributed to it, intrigued me.  Director J.C. Chandor deftly weaves the film's story across continents and through shifts in plot that keeps things so interesting and involved that I didn't have time to search for plot holes and inconsistencies.  Also, Russell Crowe as Nikolai Kravinoff makes his scenes with Taylor-Johnson's Kraven feel ultra edgy and especially dangerous.

With Taylor-Johnson, however, Kraven the Hunter, is not only a really entertaining film, but it is also an exceptional superhero spin-off comic book film.  As comic book and superhero movies go, Kraven the Hunter is kind of like a B-movie or, at least, a B-list film, but you, dear readers, don't have to be a comic book fan to enjoy the film or its star.  As Kraven, Taylor-Johnson has such animal magnetism; I wanted to see him be in action-mode and be violent.  Taylor-Johnson has true movie star qualities, such as charisma and presence, and girl, the camera absolutely loves him.  Seriously, Taylor-Johnson carries Kraven the Hunter past what most other actors would have done – all the way to whatever kind of cinematic glory a Spider-Man-adjacent film can have.

Marvel Comics fans will likely enjoy the fact that several Spider-Man-related characters appear in the film, some of them surprisingly so.  Still, this film is about Kraven the Hunter, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson makes every subplot, setting, and the other character bow down to his “king of the jungle” performance.  Kraven the Hunter is good, surprisingly and shockingly good, because its leading man knows how to be a beast.

8 of 10

A

★★★★ out of 4 stars

Sunday, December 15, 2024

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