Minecraft Updates, Is Denzel Retiring? Singing in Theaters and More This Week in Movie News!

Narrated by Izola Siegfried

Hey everybody and welcome back to this week's episode of Flick News. Izola here with FlickDirect and I've got some new information on some updates of movies that we were talking about in the past and also some new stuff. So grab your popcorn, sit back, relax, and let's get this started. Well, apparently we have another director that is being very, very hush-hush on their next project.

But we're starting to hear some people who might be in this new project that no one knows anything about. And it's not Christopher Nolan. Last week we talked about him and how he's got a new project going on and he's literally grabbing every single big, hot celebrity at this point to be in his new film. And again, still tight-lipped on that, so I don't have any updates for that.

But we just got word that he's now signed Robert Pattinson. So, I mean, I don't know. Are we surprised? I mean, just think of every single big star right now. They're probably all going to be in it. Well, after a five-year hiatus, J.J. Abrams is actually coming back and he's working on an original project. And he's already lined up a bunch of big actors.

So far, the names that have been thrown around are M.A.B.E. Emma Mackey, Jenna Ortega, Glenn Powell, who is basically on everybody's hot list. So, I mean, there's Twisters. I mean, he's been in a ton of stuff. He's probably, I think what they're saying is the new Brad Pitt, Matthew McConaughey, all wrapped up into one neatly, you know, package. So, yeah, you know, so J.J.'s really trying to make sure that he's getting just the top-notch actors.

And the ones that people are really wanting to see on the big screen. And not only that, it also sounds like Samuel L. Jackson will likely be joining this cast as well. Deadline reported that Jackson is in talks with J.J. Abrams right now for this new original movie that will be co-produced by Warner Brothers and Bad Robot. So, you know, there's definitely going to be some backing there for sure.

Details are scarce, but we do know that J.J. Abrams is writing the script. Pretty much this will likely be his baby. And he hasn't really done that since Super 8. So, I'm kind of excited to see, you know, where this goes. He's done a lot of, you know, things that I've really enjoyed, even television. So, I'm really excited to see what's going to come down the pipeline.

Again, very scarce, tight-lipped. Nobody's got any idea. I don't have any idea on what this is. Apparently, though, it's not time-traveling. I guess that's something. This also means no production time, no, you know, filming times, nothing. But the moment I hear anything about this, I will definitely be back here to let you guys know. Next, Jared Hess, who is best known for Nacho Libre and Napoleon Dynamite, just to name a couple, is actually bringing Minecraft to life.

And it will be starring... Jack Black and Jason Momoa. It really sounds like they're trying to bring this magic that the Legos movie did. However, this is actually live action. So, we're not just going to hear the voices behind some animation. Now, I just watched the latest trailer, and it's definitely giving you this, I'm in a video game vibe. Which, I mean, does kind of make sense.

But also, a little bit of a Jumanji kind of feel. Even though that was a board game, I know. But it kind of still gets that feel. Now, it's giving us a little more of an in-depth detail or, you know, maybe description of Jack Black's character, Steve, who has really yearned to be in the mines. And this obviously started as a kid. But eventually, he dug his way into the blocky dreams as an adult.

Now, if you're a fan of the game, there are a lot of little Easter eggs and name drops about a lot of things that do happen in the Minecraft game. Which, if you're not familiar with it, it's really one of those... You're searching for items so that you can build and create things. There was one day that I literally mined for 18 hours. Not straight.

I did use the restroom and I did eat some food. But... 18 hours straight on the couch is not good for your body. But back to the references. You are going to get the redstone contraptions, the lava cooked chicken, the Minecraft music. And everything is in block theme except for some of the characters because obviously they're getting thrown into, you know, the video game.

I shouldn't say it's completely blocky. There is some smoothness, kind of like Mario Brothers. But you're still... That's more pixelated. But you're still going to get that Minecraft block vibe, which I think is really what the fans are going to want. Especially because this game is apparently loved by a lot of people. I don't love it. I just got lost in mining sometimes.

I need to dumb my brain down. And do something that is just repetitive. So, you know, I go to that. I find it very therapeutic. Now, the trailer really gives you this update feel. And you're going to see this, you know, buddy vibe between Jack Black and Jason Momoa. And it's, you know, pretty fun. It's very vibrant. And like I said, it really just gives you the feel like you are in the game.

So here's the plot. You've got four missing characters. You've got four misfits that are actually pulled into the overworld. And they have to team up with Steve to battle the pinglins and the zombies and any other threats that you may or may not know from Minecraft. So there's a lot. And, I mean, you will have to battle the llamas if you punch them or hit them.

They don't really like that. And they will tell you. They will tell you in their native tongue. Now, while they're in the game, they're going to unlock their own creativity, which is going to help them in the game and in the real world. So I think there's going to be a lot of learning opportunities here. So it's probably going to be really great for the kids.

I definitely hope they're making this for the kids because it really is, you know, a game for almost all ages. I did watch the trailer. And I did enjoy it. But I'm still not sure how I feel about this. Sometimes I just feel like it's a little hokey over the top. But then again, when you know what type of movie this is supposed to be, I guess it works.

But I'll just have to wait until I see it on the big screen. I think I'm suffering from PTSD from Borderlands. So anytime there's a video game being made into a live action, also Halo, you know, I'm just I'm a little I'm a little gun shy. So, yeah. We'll just wait and see what happens with this one. But who knows? It could be a surprisingly fun ride for all of us.

So I guess we'll just have to wait until we see the movie. Stay tuned. And if I hear anything else or if there are any new trailers, I will definitely let you know. Denzel Washington has officially put those retirement rumors to rest because we've got some information about some new movies that he's doing. So he's definitely not done yet. Last week, Empire did an interview with Denzel talking about Gladiator and, you know, if he was going to retire.

And apparently there were like five minutes of silence. OK, it wasn't that much. But there was a lot of silence that went along with that. He wasn't really talking about anything. So very tight lipped. But this week he has announced that he is coming back with an equalizer four and five. Now, I thought he was going to be done with equalizer three because they really wrapped up his storyline with a neat little bow.

So he was able to retire. You know, I won't I won't go into too much of it, but watch the movie. You'll you'll see what I mean. So I assume that there will be no more equalizers. Mr. Denzel has decided to be very sneaky sneaky on this, which, I mean. Nothing's even been started yet. So, you know, it's it's not really anything to get overly excited about.

But, you know, we're getting two more equalizer movies. Now, there's no official word from Sony or the director. I don't even know if we have the director yet. We don't even know what the plot is or who will be starring in it alongside Denzel. Again, this is just literally information that has been drawn. And I think that's what's going to be the most interesting part of this movie.

I think that's what's going to be the most interesting part of this movie.