“It’s a really complex movie,” said Raimi, who took over the project after former director Scott Derrickson left the role amid creative differences.
It’s probably the most complex movie I’ve ever had anything to do with. Not just dealing with one character, or even five characters, but multiversal versions of those characters — and each one has a storyline.
This isn’t Raimi’s first time helming a comic book adaptation, having directed the original Spider-Man trilogy of films that starred Tobey Maguire in the title role, but his observations are far from unfounded. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is set to be one of Marvel Studios’ biggest films yet, and will surely be a catalyst in the narrative direction that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going towards.
Featuring an ensemble of heroes such as Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and newcomer America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), the film will feature the titular sorcerer venturing deep into the multiverse to combat a brand new threat.
The multiverse concept was first introduced in Spider-Man: No Way Home, which featured characters from Raimi’s original Spider-Man trilogy, and The Amazing Spider-Man series of films as well. It appears the upcoming Doctor Strange film is set to take this idea and crack its possibilities wide open, further evidenced by the presence of Patrick Stewart, who many believe will be reprising his role as Professor X from Sony’s X-Men series of films.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness releases on May 6 later this year.
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After the surreal events of West View in WandaVision, Scarlet Witch is returning to the big screens via Sam Raimi’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, though the two MCU projects might not be as closely tied together as you’d imagine.
In less than a week, the much anticipated second instalment in the Doctor Strange is series is making its way to theaters and as such, the crew has been doing press rounds. The latest instance of this involves the legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi, who recently told Rolling Stone that he didn’t have to watch all of WandaVision to prepare for Multiverse of Madness.
I’m not really sure what the WandaVision schedule was or how it changed. just know that halfway, or maybe three-quarters of the way into our writing process, I’d first heard of this show they were doing and that we would have to follow it. Therefore, we had to really study what WandaVision was doing, so we could have a proper throughline and character-growth dynamic. I never even saw all of WandaVision; I’ve just seen key moments of some episodes that I was told directly impact our storyline.
Elisabeth Olsen’s heroine will definitely be carrying the traumatic residues of that emotional rollercoaster of a television show to Doctor Strange 2, but the forthcoming MCU movie might not directly reference the events of WandaVision or get into the nitty-gritty of what happened to the character and her magically-manifested family.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness opens a portal to theaters on May 6.
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More than 20 years have passed since the Lord of the Rings films were first released, but Peter Jackson’s trilogy remains a favorite amongst moviegoers. Over the course of three gorgeous releases — and then a full trilogy of prequels — Jackson led a talented cast through the process of introducing and fleshing out a rich, wondrous world full of elves, dwarves, Hobbits, and dragons.
One character was there through each of the six films set in Middle-earth, despite the decades that pass between each trilogy’s setting. Gandalf the Grey — later known as Gandalf the White — is a mainstay in J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, proving himself time and again to be a wise and capable guide, advisor, and companion.
The transformation that Gandalf undergoes in the second Lord of the Rings film, following his fall in the Mines of Moria, remains a confusing part of his journey for many viewers. Experts on Tolkien’s fascinating, but often dense, lore are well aware of how the fan-favorite wizard cinched his promotion, but many casual viewers remain uncertain.
How did Gandalf become Gandalf the White?
Image via Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
Gandalf’s transformation from “the Grey” to “the White” happens off-screen, for the most part, leaving a number of viewers perplexed as to how the wizard made the shift. A bit of background, lovingly crafted by Tolkien and scattered throughout his many releases, helps provide context for the metamorphosis.
Gandalf is one of the Maiar, a collection of primordial spirits sent to join the Valar in their efforts to shape the world. He was there from the very beginning, helping to make changes as the world slowly developed, and is widely considered the wisest of his kind. He, along with four other Maiar, eventually became the five incarnated wizards — or Istari — we know from the books. Three of these wizards — Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast — make appearances in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films.
The being that eventually became Gandalf the Grey was once known by other names, some of which crop up in popular Lord of the Rings releases. He became known by his primary moniker through the Hobbit trilogy and Fellowship of the Ring following the inception of the Third Age, cloaking himself in tattered grey robes and taking on the appearance of an elderly man in hopes of concealing his true power from the world. His somewhat shabby appearance is entirely purposeful — as is Radagast’s — and helps to separate these cautious, humble wizards from their far more conceited counterparts.
Image via Men of the West/YouTube
Following Gandalf’s battle with the Balrog, which sees both ancient beings plummet into the depths of the Mines of Moria, he was reborn as Gandalf the White. This transformation was prompted by a number of things, the first of which being Saruman’s betrayal.
Once the leader of the Istari order and of the White Council, Saruman’s will was gradually corrupted during his time in Middle-earth. He eventually becomes seduced by the dark side, as it were — Christopher Lee has a weakness for it, apparently — as he senses Sauron’s power growing from afar. He eventually became a willing slave to Sauron’s will, forming a massive Orc army in preparation for what he saw as an inevitable war.
Saruman’s treachery eventually comes to light, and prompts his ejection from the White Council and Istari order. By this time he had already rebranded himself as Saruman of the Many Colors — in proper Pride Month fashion — leaving the coveted position at the head of the White Council vacant. Gandalf eventually stepped in to fill this role.
Image via Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring
The second factor that contributed to Gandalf’s transformation came after his death at the hands of the Balrog. While Gandalf did manage to defeat the ancient beast, he too fell following their lengthy battle, straying “out of thought and time.” He remained tethered to Middle-earth, even as his spirit wandered, and the wounded wizard was eventually brought to Lothlórien. There, the elves saw his wounds healed and draped Gandalf in white, presenting him with a new, powerful staff to aid in his continued service to Middle-earth.
Thus, he became Gandalf the White, elevated in his position in the White Council and the last remaining Valar emissary in Middle-earth. This heightened position also allowed Gandalf to unveil more of his hidden Maiar power, but never swayed him from his original mission: to aid and empower the people of Middle-earth and to see the evil of Sauron permanently purged from the land he loves.
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Actor Sam Neill is submitting video evidence of director Taika Waititi stealing grapes from his vineyard, and no, that’s not some weird euphemism.
Jurassic Park actor Neill literally posted a video on Twitter of What We Do in the Shadows star Waititi lowering grapes into his mouth like a Roman hedonist.
“I’m just out here eating grapes at my friend Sam Neill’s vineyard. Sam Neill, from Event Horizon and Omen III,” Waititi says in the video.
“The day @TaikaWaititi stole my grapes. Made the mistake of filming his own crimes,” Neill captioned the video. He added, “Rookie Error” to provide additional commentary.
“Sam, you’re not even here. And maybe you don’t know that I came here, but broke in with my kids and we’re eating all your f**king grapes, bro,” Waititi flexes as the chattering of children could be heard in the background.
One of Waititi’s kids hilariously retches at the taste of the pinot noir grapes at one point.
Later on in the video, Waititi interacts with a pig named Angelica and explains Neill once also had a pig named Taika, but he died.
Both Waititi and Neill find their homes in New Zealand, where Neill’s Two Paddocks wine company — that he owns and operates — is located.
Neill has never been far from our thoughts ever since he was launched into household name recognition by starring as Dr. Alan Grant in 1993’s Jurassic Park. The In the Mouth of Madness actor has had steady work as a thespian ever since then, but he arguably underwent a career renaissance in the 2010s by starring in a main role in the critically acclaimed TV show Peaky Blinders and by starring in the much loved, Waititi-directed film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, in 2016. Wilderpeople represents the highest-grossing New Zealand film of all time, according to New Zealand Film Commission.
You can catch Neill reprising his role as Alan Grant in the forthcoming Jurassic World Dominion, on June 10. He will also make a cameo appearance in the Waititi-directed Thor: Love and Thunder, on July 8, reprising his role as an in-universe actor portraying Odin, as first seen in 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok.
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The feud between Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun has been one of the most hotly debated dramas in the music industry over the past few years after the latter blocked the folklore singer from purchasing her own masters. Now, the producer has once again addressed the issue in an interview with MSNBC, though his statement might not sit well with a lot of Swifties.
“I think Taylor has every right to re-record. She has every right to pursue her masters,” He said. “And I wish her nothing but well, and I have zero interest in saying anything bad about her. The only thing I disagree with is weaponizing a fanbase.”
Braun, who manages Justin Bieber among other high-profile clients, is referencing legions of Taylor Swift fans taking matters into their own hands and harassing the manager on social media platforms and beyond. It’s an issue that Jake Gyllenhaal also brought up after being heavily alluded to in the American singer’s 10-minute version of “All Too Well” late last year.
“The artists I work with have very large fan bases. You don’t do that. It’s very dangerous. There’s people in that fanbase who have mental health issues. There’s families involved and I think that’s very, very dangerous.”
When asked if he thinks this is what has happened, Scooter replied: “That’s all I’ll say about that.”
After losing out on the right to buy her masters, Taylor Swift decided to re-record every album from scratch, with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) already making their way to the market in 2021.
The songwriter has also included references to the manager in her music video for “The Man” besides the original Tumblr post that revealed the dispute. But even taking all of that into consideration, “weaponizing” the fanbase, as Braun puts it, might be grasping at straws.
In any event, Braun no longer owns Swift’s masters, so he has no financial interest in her discography anymore. After purchasing Swift’s former record label including the masters for $300 million, Braun sold Swift’s back-catalog for an undisclosed sum believed to be as high as $450 million.
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With the promise of all of reality crossing over, Marvel fans have really let their imaginations run wild when it comes to guessing which cameos we can expect from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. To be fair, we know Patrick Stewart’s Professor X is back so hopes of seeing, say, Tobey Maguire’s Spidey return aren’t too crazy. But maybe fans were pushing it with that whole “Tom Cruise turning up as Superior Iron Man” obsession.
When earlier trailers featured a blurry glimpse at some kind of flying, glowing hero, everyone jumped on the idea that this was Cruise, who had been considered for Tony Stark but lost the part to Robert Downey Jr., playing a variant of the Armored Avenger. Even though a close examination of the shot made clear that it wasn’t, the latest hi-res look at the character finally 100% confirms who it is. And it ain’t Cruise.
Yes, as most expected, this character appears to be a variant of Monica Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), who’s become Captain Marvel instead of Carol Danvers. While some are excited to see her in action, the majority of reactions to this revelation are just folks roasting those hilariously misguided Cruise theories.
Again, seeing as the potential crossovers in this movie are genuinely limitless, you can’t blame fans for reaching for the sky with their hopes of a Cruise cameo. Even Superior Iron Man’s creator thought it might be him at one stage. But, hey, even if Cruise isn’t in the picture, it looks like his IRL partner Hayley Atwell is at least back as Captain Carter.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness blasts into theaters this May 6.
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Sometimes, appealing directly to a dedicated and passionate fanbase doesn’t work out in the end, which sums up the fate of Serenity rather neatly. Supporters had spent years demanding a continuation of cult classic TV series Firefly on either the big or small screens, but it ended up bombing hard when they ended up getting exactly what was asked for.
That’s not to say it’s a bad movie, with an 82% Rotten Tomatoes score and 91% user rating proving that it hit exactly the spot it was aiming for, but Serenity simply didn’t catch on with many folks outside of the target audience, killing any hopes and dreams the diehards may have had for the prematurely canceled show to rise from the ashes and be reinvented as a multi-film franchise.
Picking up from where Firefly left off, the titular ship and its ragtag crew end up being pursued by Chiwitel Ejiofor’s Operative, who seeks the precious cargo they harbor that comes in the form of Summer Glau’s River.
Much like its episodic predecessor, Serenity has enjoyed long-lasting life as a cult favorite, and it’s started another ascent up the streaming charts. As per FlixPatrol, the acclaimed intergalactic actioner has crash-landed onto the iTunes charts, and has randomly enough become the top title in Slovenia on the platform.
The feature-length directorial debut of current industry persona non grata Joss Whedon was being touted as the launchpad for further adventures in the buildup to release, but those notions were torpedoed when the rootin’ tootin’ space Western barely made it past $40 million at the global box office.
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Actor Tom Hiddleston, who plays the mischievous Loki in the Marvel universe, contemplated the emotional flashback scene in the television series of the same name.
Hiddleston states: “It was moving to do it, it was it felt very, very cathartic. Loki changed the course of my life. That moment is a fork in the road. I can’t go back there. And I don’t particularly want to.”
Playing the character of Loki firmly established the British actor as a world-recognized face and name. His pre-Marvel career included roles in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and Steven Spielberg’s War Horse. Hiddleston credits actor/director Kenneth Branagh for giving him his big Marvel break; he had worked with Branagh previously and was invited to audition for the first Thor movie. Hiddleston stated thankfully:
“Ken has had a life-changing effect. He was able to say to the executives, ‘Trust me on this, you can cast Tom and he will deliver’. It was massive and it’s completely changed the course of what is available to me to do. Ken gave me my break.”
Hiddleston initially auditioned for the role of Thor, agreeing that he is not who you would initially think of for Loki. He stated:
“I initially auditioned to play Thor. That was what I was being considered for, because I’m tall and blonde and classically trained, and that seemed to be the mold for what Thor was, he was to be a classical character. And it was in my auditions. I owe this entirely to Marvel and their open-mindedness, they saw something that they thought was interesting. They saw some temperament that they liked.”
Loki Trailer
Audiences and critics agree that things worked out just as they were meant to be. Hiddleston’s Loki is a pivotal piece in the Marvel universe. One we hope Dr. Strange never tries to manipulate in the multiverse.
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Paul Bettany is admired the world over for his portrayal of the Avenger, Vision, in the MCU theatrical films and Disney Plus’ Wandavision. Unfortunately, he has to live with his two harshest critics. Literally.
Bettany’s two children with his wife Jennifer Connelly may love their dad, but his big-screen counterpart can go jump in a lake as far as they’re concerned. Bettany recently sat down on the Late Night couch to chat with Seth Meyers and revealed his android alter ego is held in less than high regard by his kids. When Meyers asked if Bettany’s kids were fans of the MCU, he answered, “Yes, but they torture me with it.”
Bettany claims that his daughter, 11, has selected every other Avenger but him as her personal favorite over the years. “My daughter has moved through all the different Avengers as her favorite. It’s never, never me,” he told Meyers.
Bettany’s offspring actually went through some pains to let him know exactly the regard his character is held. The actor was attempting to log in to Disney Plus when he noticed his login icon had been altered. “Just recently, I turned on – I wanted to watch Moon Knight, which is fantastic. And I tried to log in to my Disney Plus account, and they had edited my profile.”
One (or both) of the kids has hacked in and changed the avatar to a photo of Vision and the name to “Worst Avenger.”
Even Avengers have a hard time earning the respect of their children. Maybe Chris Hemsworth has an easier time with his three kids.
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Greta Gerwig is a multi-talented star who’s known for her intimate stories that pull at your heartstrings in inventive ways. She’s a director, an actress, and a producer who rose from indie darling success to helming Academy Award-nominated films, and yet she hasn’t lost that special quality that made fans first fall in love with her work.
Gerwig started as an actress before making the jump to directing her own movies, and she took to it quickly with quirks and style all her own. For her next project, she’s directing the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie. It’s her most commercially ambitious project to date and much like everything she does, she’ll likely find a way to incorporate her message into the narrative.
From directing to acting, Gerwig has helped create some impressive stories that analyze the human experience on a human level. Here are 5 movies on streaming that represent her best work to date.
5. Nights and Weekends
Nights and Weekends stars Greta Gerwig as Mattie, a woman in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend James (Joe Swanberg), and the two of them also directed the film. This type of film is described as “mumblecore” because the actors speak lazily, which turns some people off, but it adds to the realism of the picture. There’s a voyeuristic aspect to it and the scenes play out unexpectedly without the precise predictability of Hollywood films. Conversations seem unscripted and the plot isn’t forced to go through the motions, choosing instead to amplify the mundane. Gerwig is a diamond in the rough in this role and it really works for a story about lovers holding on by a thinning thread. Stream Nights and Weekends tonight on AMC+.
4. Little Women
Remaking Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women (again) was a great risk, but Gerwig was up to taking on the enormous challenge. It almost felt like she was made for this moment — turning one of her favorite books into a movie for the 21st century. The cast included Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Laura Dern, and Timothée Chalamet, and there was an unmistakable sense that Gerwig was really trying to highlight the themes of women’s agency in a patriarchal society, as Ronan’s fervent and desperate Jo March fights for her writing when there’s so much standing against her. Gerwig made what could have been a standard reproduction into a story that felt even more personal and gripping. Little Women is available to stream on Spectrum On Demand.
3. Mistress America
Gerwig’s performance in Mistress America is her at her most unhinged. She plays Brooke, a stylish woman who lives out loud. She becomes a mentor to her future stepsister Tracy (Lola Kirke), a college freshman looking to make a connection. She has an opinion about everything but there are indications that she’s just making It up as she goes along. The film is a more grown-up role than her previous ones and yet there’s still a sense of artistic abandon present that resonates throughout the story. The dichotomy within her character makes it a joy to watch unravel as the cold truth is exposed in time. But don’t take our word for it, Mistress America can be rented on Google Play, Apple TV, and YouTube.
2. Lady Bird (Netflix)
Streaming now on Netflix, Lady Bird is Gerwig’s most personal story because of its semi-autobiographical nature. Gerwig directs the film which stars Ronan as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, an overdramatic teenager with all the potential in the world who’s itching to get out of her small town. In one memorable scene, her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf) is lecturing her daughter and Lady Bird throws herself out of a moving car, prompting her mother to scream. Because of her big dreams, Lady Bird doesn’t realize all the family and love that surrounds her, and it’s heartbreaking in a retrospective way. It permits you to look back into your own past and see where you may have taken people for granted.
1. Frances Ha
Shot in black and white, Gerwig’s role in Frances Ha was her breakthrough performance. It manages to balance an offbeat story with more linearity without feeling contrived. She plays Frances, a woman in New York who seems lost in her life, and yet she won’t stop trying to make it. Although she’s not a dancer, she apprentices for a dance company and doesn’t really do a great job of it. Her triumphant spirit is endearing in an effortless way as if it’s calling on people to follow their dreams even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Frances Ha takes the top spot for its humor, Frances’ unflappable spirit, and kick-ass soundtrack. Watch it now on AMC+ and the Criterion Channel.
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The Batman 2 is officially happening. It’s been confirmed that Robert Pattinson will don the cowl once again, teaming up with Matt Reeves to continue the adventures of the latest on-screen Batman.
This was never really in doubt, especially since The Batman is currently 2022’s highest-grossing movie, with Warner Bros. Pictures set to build an expanded media universe around it. The Batman won praise for establishing a familiar but fresh take on the Dark Knight and creating a city where every shadow bursts with the threat of vengeance. These are the Dark Knight’s early days when he’s earning the trust of the Gotham City Police Department and the fear of the city’s villains. Despite the journey undertaken by Bruce Wayne behind the cowl — from suspicious street stalker to the city’s hope — there are still plenty of empty rooms at Arkham.
The Batman was packed with references and Easter eggs that hint at storylines to come, taking the lead from eight decades of comic book story arcs. The Riddler’s devastation of Gotham left Batman’s city split and divided, ready to be carved up by a new class of criminals who fill in the void left by collapsing organized crime. It took inspiration from major comic events Zero Year and No Man’s Land. In the latter, a 7.6 earthquake decimated Gotham, providing new opportunities for many of his enemies.
The Batman director Matt Reeves has indicated that he wants to establish a universe on the screen with the same dysfunctional family of invaluable friends and dangerous enemies as the comics. But as Reeves has stressed, “I just feel drawn to finding the grounded version of everything.” So don’t expect Ten-Eyed Man, Crazy Quilt, or Killer Croc to pop up anytime soon.
We can expect more villains to arrive in Gotham, albeit with their comic backgrounds adjusted. Of course, Reeves’ interpretation leaves the possibility that famous villains will undergo gender reversals. So who could be lined up to take on the Dark Knight in the Batman sequel?
The Penguin
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Colin Farrell’s charismatic turn as Oswald Cobblepot will be hard to keep off the screen. We know an HBO Max series is lined up to fill in the years waddling up to and beyond The Batman. It’s likely to arrive before the sequel film, and plot strands in the TV show could interlink as DC’s ambitions for a shared universe take shape.
The Batman showed Gotham City changing as organized crime gave way to costumes and masks, and it’ll be a surprise if Cobblepot’s Ice Lounge isn’t at its heart. His journey between old and new Gotham may be one of the universe’s most fascinating, and he certainly looked ready for the challenge at the end of the first film.
The Riddler
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
The Batman’s determined attempt to bring a more authentic Batman to the screen includes a growing gallery of opponents. Some or all of them are likely to escape from Arkham State Hospital, including one of its recent patients. If the Riddler isn’t a significant focus in the sequel, it’s unlikely that he’ll remain locked up for long. Paul Dano’s upcoming Riddler: Year One series will undoubtedly keep him alive in the minds of fans.
Poison Ivy
Image via DC Comics
We have a strong female lead in Catwoman, but she’s unlikely to fall off the edge of a building, let alone into full villainy. The Batman’s universe should be looking at Gotham’s compelling female villains, and few felons are due big-screen redemption the way Poison Ivy is. Ironically, Dr. Pamela Isley is one of the more challenging foes to “ground” with her full comic book origins, but her ecological agenda is more relevant than ever.
Hush
Image via The CW
Fans were surprised and thrilled at the number of references The Batman made to Hush. Despite his recent arrival, Hush is a comic book favorite you can see fitting in with his swaddled face, trench coat, and dual pistols. Then there are the extremes he’ll go to to exact vengeance on Bruce Wayne ⏤ the perfect step up from Riddler’s campaign, perhaps. Could the doomed investigative reporter Edward Elliot, mentioned in The Batman, be related to bandaged psychopath Tommy Elliot?
Mr. Freeze
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
The flooded Gotham we left at the end of The Batman is the perfect environment for new villains to emerge and stake their claims to parts of the city. In the original No Man’s Land story arc, Mr. Freeze took control of the city power plant, holding the people of Gotham to ransom for electricity. Despite the more realistic Gotham he’s created, Reeves has expressed an interest in bringing the character to the streets. Mr. Freeze is due some redemption on the movie screen, although even Batman and Robin brought out the essential tragedy at the cold heart of his story.
Bane
Image via DC comics
The sequel will undoubtedly build on Riddler’s sprawling campaign against Gotham’s elite. Who better to join him in his mission than arch-strategist and powerhouse Bane? However, this grounded universe will likely shun the villain’s super-serum origins. He arrived in the comics fusing his tactical brain with superhuman strength thanks to the addictive Venom drug. Since then, he’s overcome his dependency while retaining his threat, even when more of an antihero.
The Batman didn’t leave the hint of this oncoming storm that some people thought. When Batman injected himself with chemicals to savagely take out the last of Riddler’s followers, it wasn’t a sign that venom exists in this universe. The Art of the Batman book revealed that it was a handy shot of adrenaline.
The Joker
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
We saw a glimpse of the future in the curious exchange between Riddler and an unseen Arkham patient near the end of The Batman. Matt Reeves has denied the scene is sequel bait, but Barry Keoghan didn’t don the makeup for nothing. It’s clear that this version of the Joker isn’t the complete package. Although the famous foes already know each other, expect the rivalry between Joker and Batman to be a slow-burn. If The Batman’s heading for a trilogy as is expected, then we’ll expect the Clown Prince of Crime to hit his stride in the finale.
Arkham Knight
Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
The Arkham series developed for HBO Max suggests the famous institution will hold an important place in this universe. Arkham State Hospital is the tinder box in the Batman Universe, but the first movie tied it intriguingly close to the Dark Knight. Taking the lead from the Batman: Earth One storyline, it revealed that Bruce Wayne’s mother came from the Arkham family. Could it play a more prominent role in this movie universe than previously?
A recent comic addition, the Arkham Knight originated in the hugely popular video game of the same name. In DC Comics continuity, they are a mysterious vigilante with a grudge against Batman who fights on behalf of the asylum’s inmates.
Two Face
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
As we’re heading into Year Three of the Dark Knight’s career, we can expect the number of Batman’s allies to grow along with his enemies. We’ve already met Catwoman and Jim Gordon. A natural next step is the expansion of the Bat-Family, including ward Dick Grayson as Robin. But Batman mythology tells us there’s another friend who’ll come into play soon.
Early in Batman’s career, a pact between him, Gordon, and ambitious District Attorney Harvey Dent took Gotham’s untouchable crime lords to task. The Batman’s already seen off Carmine Falcone, but there are plenty of ways to watch Dent transform into conflicted villain Two Face. It already looks like the city’s new mayor is taking up part of Dent’s traditional role.
The Court of Owls
Image via DC Comics
This secret organization was mentioned during The Batman’s promotional rounds, with Robert Pattinson and Paul Dano expressing interest in this relatively new but dangerous cabal. Introduced during DC Comics’ New 52 era, the Court of Owls has drawn together the most influential citizens of Gotham since the founding of the city — but so quietly, even the World’s Greatest Detective took years to discover them.
The Court might not sound like a significant threat, but its army of brainwashed and cryogenically frozen Talons is one of the Dark Knight’s greatest threats. The Batman did a good job of undermining Bruce Wayne’s family history and the heart of his mission, and there were big hints that there were major forces behind Carmine Falcone’s actions. As Batman becomes a greater force in the city and a beacon for its citizens, it would attract the attention of the Court if they hadn’t already had their eyes on him for decades. We can hear the sound of Talons defrosting already.
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There are good movies, great movies, and bad movies, but sometimes it’s worse to be a completely forgettable movie. The film in question comes along, does the bare minimum expected of its genre and/or setting, before immediately fading into obscurity. Despite ticking all of those boxes and more, The Sentinel has nonetheless embarked on something of a comeback on streaming.
As per FlixPatrol, the forgotten 2006 political action thriller has been riding a wave of momentum on the iTunes charts, even though you’d be hard-pressed to recall a single thing about it. That would be completely understandable and perfectly okay, though, when the plot has been done a thousand times before.
Michael Douglas’ veteran Secret Service agent ends up being blackmailed as the prime suspect in a murder he didn’t commit, all because he has a secret he doesn’t want to get out. Heading out on the run with his reputation in tatters, his former colleagues and friends are tasked to bring him in, all while a plot to assassinate the president needs to be foiled.
A 35% Rotten Tomatoes score, 40% user rating, and a $78 million box office take on a $60 million budget is about as adequate as The Sentinel itself, so it did at least live up to its reputation from a critical and commercial perspective. It’s a decent enough way to kill 108 minutes of your time, but the machinations and revelations aren’t going to stay with you for much longer than a few minutes after the credits roll.
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