SCARLETT Johansson, who developed the idea for ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ with fellow creatives in her production company These Pictures, was originally going to just be a producer, not an actor, in the film.

But because of how well the script was written, Johansson eventually became a leader not only behind the camera as a producer, but also in front of the camera as marketing genius Kelly.

Set on the brink of the greatest triumph of the Space Age, Johansson’s Madison Avenue marketing virtuoso Kelly rockets slam-bang into Channing Tatum’s Apollo 11 launch director Cole – and if America is going to get to the moon, they’re going to have to start by looking at each other differently.

“All of these people were working so hard to do the impossible; for Cole, who’s really an optimist, that should be enough,” says Johansson.

“Kelly, who’s a pessimist, realizes people are more cynical than that. The world is a very complicated place. So, Cole’s reluctance is met by her determination to do whatever is necessary. Kelly is very much all about the ends justify the means, while for Cole, the means matters. And therein lies the conflict.”

But, continues Scarlett, even though Kelly and Cole clash, they may have more in common than they think. “They’re both very passionate people, and when they get behind something, it’s a winner,” she says. “They find the common ground there and reach for the stars – or the moon, I guess, in this case.”

The original idea for the film began with These Pictures’ Head of Film Keenan Flynn: what if everything that millions of people heard on July 20, 1969, was the true audio of people walking on the moon – but the images they saw had been faked, Hollywood-style? Johansson liked the idea enough to develop it, with Flynn and writer Bill Kirstein working on the story before turning it over to screenwriter Rose Gilroy.

At the time, Johansson was strictly intending to produce the film and was not developing it as “a Scarlett Johansson vehicle” – but all that changed when Gilroy turned in her draft. “I never intended on playing Kelly,” says Johansson, “but when the script came in, it was so great. It was such a wonderful read and the dialogue was so strong. And as a woman producer, working with a woman writer, who had created a strong woman character – well, it felt right.” Johansson knew she had to play the role.

To direct, Johansson chose, pursued, and ultimately convinced Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon; TV’s You, Riverdale [as a producer for the latter]) to take the helm. One of television’s most prolific writer-producers, Berlanti rarely chooses to direct, especially feature films, even though his 2018 film Love, Simon received rave reviews and became a fan favorite. In reaching out, the production team realized that Berlanti is incredibly busy and that his most recent feature film came six years earlier. Would he be available, and even if he were, would any feature film be something he’d want to do?

“Greg very rarely raises his hand for a project,” says Johansson’s producing partner Jonathan Lia, “but he understood this script from the first moment he read it and felt strongly that he knew how to tell this story. And he was right. He had a great vision for this film that elevated all the work that we did, from the page to the set design to working with the actors – and he’s as big of a space nerd as we are.”

“I was a real space nut as a kid,” says Berlanti, who admits that he was immediately charmed by the idea of an Apollo 11 movie. “When we had a son eight years ago, the first thing we bought for his room was a life-size shot of Neil Armstrong’s suit.”

Will they make it or fake it? Find out when Fly Me to the Moon, also starring Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano and Jim Rash, opens in cinemas July 10. Fly Me to the Moon is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International, #FlyMeToTheMoon @columbiapicph

(ROHN ROMULO)

It’s never too early to get jacked for Christmas. Watch the trailer for “Red One” now, starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, and see the film only in cinemas November 13.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/vGmahWH8Awg

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/WarnerBrosPH/videos/697488442503837

About “Red One”

After Santa Claus – Code Name: RED ONE – is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Security (Dwayne Johnson) must team up with the world’s most infamous bounty hunter (Chris Evans) in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas.

Directed by Chris Morgan, from a screenplay by Hiram Garcia. Produced by Dwayne Johnson, Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, Jake Kasdan, Melvin Mar and Chris Morgan.

The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Kiernan Shipka, Lucy Liu, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Nick Kroll, Kristofer Hivju and J. K. Simmons and Bonnie Hunt.

In cinemas November 13, “Red One” is distributed in the Philippines by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

Join the conversation online and use the hashtag #RedOneMovie

Photo & Video Credit: “Warner Bros. Pictures”

(ROHN ROMULO)

GLOBE is celebrating the highly anticipated theater release of Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” with special offers and events for the whole family to enjoy.

The exclusive activities will bring together families and friends to create core memories through an unforgettable movie experience, offering a chance to win free tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland while enjoying one of the year’s biggest animated films.

Pixar and Disney fans are in for a chance to create new core memories in cinemas as they get to enjoy another heartwarming animation gem filled with timeless lessons. Parents who grew up on Disney fare will love the chance to pass on the learnings to their children, while kids and kids-at-heart immersed in today’s Disney universe will connect with the relatable characters and the delightful storytelling.

With the film now showing in cinemas, Globe customers can further enjoy a movie date watching “Inside Out 2” and join the Family Feels Grand Raffle Promo.

To be eligible for the promo, customers must complete any of the eligible paid transactions in the GlobeOne app between June 19 and July 10, 2024. Eligible transactions include GFiber Prepaid sign up, GFiber Prepaid top up, any Globe Prepaid top up, any Globe Postpaid add on, and redemption of the Family Feels Reward from the Rewards catalog (visit the Globe Facebook page for the complete mechanics).

Once the transaction is done, the customer must fill out and submit the form on the GlobeOne app to officially register their raffle entry. The raffle will have 250 winners, each receiving movie tickets for four, redeemable at any Ayala Cinema showing Inside Out 2. One grand winner gets the grand prize of a trip for four to Hong Kong Disneyland.

“Inside Out 2,” sequel to the 2015 box office hit “Inside Out,” takes audiences back into the mind of teenager Riley, where new emotions are introduced, including Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke and Envy voiced by Ayo Edibiri. The movie, directed by Kelsey Mann and featuring a score by Andrea Datzman, promises to bring viewers through a rollercoaster of emotions, continuing the legacy of the beloved multi-awarded original film.

“Globe is committed to providing enriching experiences for Filipinos, and this collaboration with Disney gives everyone a chance to make new core memories. We invite all Disney lovers to join our special events and take part in our exciting promotions, making the cinema date truly unforgettable for the whole family,” said Joey Kilayko, Director, Globe Masterbrand and Strategic Initiatives.

Globe and Disney continue to help people find narratives that will spur them to positive action through stirring tales and heroes with a heart.

The partnership for the release of “Inside Out 2” further underscores Globe’s dedication to creating memorable experiences for its customers. With special events, raffle promos, and engaging activities, Globe invites everyone to make lasting memories and celebrate the joy of storytelling.

For more details on Globe’s offers and events, visit the GlobeOne app or https://www.globe.com.ph/.

(ROHN ROMULO)

Discover the sizzling chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in Greg Berlanti’s Fly Me to the Moon.

A stylish blend of comedy, drama, and romance set against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 moon landing. In cinemas July 10.

Director Greg Berlanti, renowned for his work on Love, Simon and You, knew from the first rehearsal that the dynamic duo of Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum would light up the screen in Fly Me to the Moon.

Berlanti shares, “When you work with stars of this magnitude – who are stars for a reason – you know that they each have a filming element that most people don’t have. But until they are in a room together and I’m watching them act, do they have chemistry? I knew from our first rehearsal. They were so inventive and fun with each other. As young people say, it was giving Rock Hudson and Doris Day, it was giving Spencer Tracy and [Katharine] Hepburn. They each have their own brand of comedy and drama but they really fit well together. It was exciting to see what was going to happen every day.”

Fly Me to the Moon is a stylish, multi-faceted comedy-drama with a hint of romance, set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Scarlett Johansson stars as Kelly Jones, a marketing maven tasked by the White House to stage a fake moon landing as a backup plan. This mission doesn’t sit well with launch director Cole Davis, played by Channing Tatum.
Johansson, who also serves as one of the film’s producers, explains the complex relationship between their characters. “Though there may be a little contempt between Kelly and Cole at times, you still see that they have a connection, and sparks fly.”

Berlanti’s film recalls the sharp banter of classic Hollywood couples like Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy while delivering a poignant message about the importance of truth. Set on the grand scale of the Apollo missions, it also tells the intimate story of two people coming together. “The tether is always the performance – to have actors who can be silly in one moment and serious the next,” Berlanti says. “Tone is the number one question I’ve got in my career. I love to blend tones because I think we live lives of blended tones – it makes the sad stuff more sad, the serious stuff more serious, and the funny stuff funnier, because it adds an element of surprise; you don’t know what you’re going to get from moment to moment. It’s testament to the actors being able to do that.”

The film’s narrative cleverly intertwines Kelly and Cole’s mission to get to the moon with their personal journey of coming together. “Next to going to the moon, love may be the most ambitious thing a person can take on,” Berlanti reflects. Both aspirations – reaching the moon and allowing oneself to fall in love – require a leap into the unknown. “The moon is mystical and magical,” he says. “For thousands of years, it was the brightest light in the evening, when all the magical romantic things were happening. That’s so ingrained in us. What it has in common with the romance and the aspirations of the world at that time is the ambition – the giving yourself over to something great.”

Will they make it or fake it? Find out when Fly Me to the Moon, also starring Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, and Jim Rash, opens in cinemas on July 10. Distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, the local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. #FlyMeToTheMoon @columbiapicph

(Photo & Video Credit: “Columbia Pictures”)

(ROHN ROMULO)

WARNER Bros. PH announces that the release date for the newest M. Night Shyamalan film, “Trap,” has moved to an earlier release date.

“Trap” will be arriving in Philippine cinemas on July 31, instead of its previous release date of August 7.

Check out the trailer and synopsis for “Trap”:

Watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/0MCfCyBBil0

A father goes with his teen daughter to her idol’s pop concert, where they realize they’re at the heart of a dark and sinister event. “Trap” is the upcoming American psychological thriller film written, directed, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan.

The film stars Josh Hartnett as Cooper, a serial killer dubbed ’The Buthcer’, Ariel Donoghue as Riley, Cooper’s teenage daughter who is a fan of Lady Raven, Saleka Shyamalan as Lady Raven. With Hayley Mills and Allison Pill.

Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka, stars as Lady Raven, the singer whose concert the characters attend. She wrote fourteen songs for the film, designed diegetically to match the action onscreen, while her father wrote the script.

Saleka previously collaborated with her father by contributing to the soundtracks for the film Old (2021) and the series Servant.[Shyamalan was inspired to incorporate musical elements by visiting Saleka on tour and Prince’s musical film Purple Rain (1984).

Saleka also noted that they grew up watching Bollywoodcinema, in which music often plays a key role in the storytelling. She described Trap as a “Shyamalan American version of a Bollywood movie that is grounded and the songs make sense — not necessarily a musical, but completely music-centric.”

Cora Kozaris was the choreographer for the songs performed on stage in the film.

Trap was released the same year as The Watchers, the directorial debut of Saleka’s sister, Ishana Night Shyamalan; a poster for The Watchers appears in the background of a scene in Trap.

Saleka and Ishana Shyamalan worked on their respective films on their family’s property in Pennsylvania. Saleka operated in a recording studio while Ishana mixed her film next door.] Herdís Stefánsdóttir composed the score, independently from Saleka. Columbia Records will release the soundtrack.

(ROHN ROMULO)

WHILE developing the next installment for the captivating world of A Quiet Place, producer and writer John Krasinski found himself wanting to see how the rest of the world is dealing with this otherworldly crisis. “I especially wondered how people in a big city like New York, with all the chaos and noise there, all the millions of people, would respond,” he says.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/Ym44h27ckmU

This idea formed into A Quiet Place: Day One, where an ordinary day in New York City turns horrific as creatures rain down on Earth and start slaughtering humans indiscriminately. “I wanted to take a place we all know and put it in extraordinary circumstances,” Krasinski explains. “New York City, whether you’ve been there or not, whether you like it or not, is instantly familiar. And in a world where murderous creatures can appear at any time, from any place they detect a noise, New York is not the best place to be.”

For director-writer Michael Sarnoski, he wanted to center all the chaos of a big city crumbling from an invasion around one point and character, based on the unique execution of the original A Quiet Place. “John took the concept and brought it to new heights, it was so elevated and character-driven,” he says. “The first two movies are about one family, so I expanded the world, but that was just incidental. The heart of it is making sure that the characters’ stories are front and center.”

Given a parameter of being set in New York City, Sarnoski began to build an idea for A Quiet Place: Day One, and sell it to Krasinski. “I gave John a one-minute pitch about a woman who comes to New York on a quest for her favorite pizza just as the world is ending. John’s response was, ‘Yeah! Let’s do it,’” Sarnoski says.

With this, the character Samira was born, and for this crucial role Sarnoski already has an actor in mind. “Lupita was at the top of Michael’s list,” says Krasinski. “She’s a very powerful actress. The role was both physically and mentally challenging — she was effectively terrorized daily — and she handled it brilliantly and elegantly, bringing a combination of bravery and vulnerability to her character.”

Lupita Nyong’o was so ready to be part of this silent world, and she delighted in her role as Samira. “It was such a meal to play Samira,” she says. “When the creatures land, she blacks out. When she awakes, it’s an entirely new world where no one will allow her to speak and she has no idea what happened. How many popular films ask an audience to sit and witness silence? It ends up speaking volumes.”

To accompany Samira on her journey, she meets Eric, played by Joseph Quinn, and the strangers bond through trauma and survival. “Joe’s wildly talented,” says Krasinski. “In Day One, he walks the razor’s edge of fight or flight on what is the worst day of his character’s life. He and Samira are trying to survive under harrowing circumstances that force them together. That relationship makes them the heartbeat of the movie.”

Watch them try to survive a brand new, horrifying new world as A Quiet Place: Day One arrives in Philippine cinemas on June 26.

About A Quiet Place: Day One:
Executive Producer: Allyson Seeger, Vicki Dee Rock
Produced by: Michael Bay, Andrew Form, p.g.a., Brad Fuller, John Krasinski
Story by: John Krasinski and Michael Sarnoski
Written and directed by: Michael Sarnoski
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff and Djimon Hounsou

Arriving in Philippine cinemas on June 26, A Quiet Place: Day One is distributed in the Philippines by Paramount Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Connect with #AQuietPlaceDayOne and tag @paramountpicsph

Photo and Video Credit: “Paramount Pictures International”

(ROHN ROMULO)

KEVIN Costner is back in the director’s chair with “Horizon: An American Saga,” a four-part epic Western featuring a star-studded cast that includes Costner, Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Giovanni Ribisi, Jena Malone, Jamie Campbell Bower and Luke Wilson. “Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1,” distributed in the Philippines by Parallax Studios, opens in local cinemas simultaneously with the rest of the world on June 28, while Chapter 2 has been scheduled for August 2024.

Costner is no stranger to the Western genre. His directorial debut was 1990’s “Dances with Wolves,” also an epic Western, which won the then first-time director Best Picture and Best Director Academy Awards. And since 2018, Costner has top-billed “Yellowstone,” a popular neo-Western drama series that has inspired multiple prequels and spinoff series.

Sanding ovation at Cannes
Horizon: An American Saga” is said to be a passion project of Costner’s. The actor-director, who also co-wrote the films, reportedly poured $38 million of his own money to make the sweeping saga, a project that he’s been developing for over 30 years. According to reports, the first two chapters, scheduled for release this year, cost $100 million to make.
The first chapter was screened at the recently concluded Cannes Film Festival, where it earned a seven-minute standing ovation. “Such good people. Such a good moment, not just for me, but for the actors that came with me, for people who believed in me who continued to work,” said a teary-eyed Costner, in response to the standing ovation, applause and chants of his name. “It’s a funny business, and I’m so glad I found it. There’s no place like here. I’ll never forget this — neither will my children.”
“Horizon: An American Saga” explores the lure of the Old West and how it was won – and lost – through the blood, sweat and tears of many. Spanning the four years of the American Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, Costner’s ambitious cinematic adventure will take audiences on an emotional journey across a country at war with itself.
Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di_sVRF-bbo
In their review out of Cannes, movie website Next Best Picture said that in Western epics, “there are incredible opportunities to explore engaging worlds while showcasing impressive visual artistry within the genre. However, no matter what, you can always count on folks like Kevin Costner to remind audiences of the power these films can still have in today’s age. It’s impossible not to feel that passion with ‘Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1’ as so much is packed into this nod to the epics of yesteryear. There’s a lot thrown at the screen that still manages to result in an engrossing experience.”

Magic in the movies
“I don’t fall out of love with what I think is something good,” Costner, speaking at the film’s press conference at Cannes, answered when a reporter asked him about the financial challenges he’s so far had to face while making the epic saga. “I believe that when these lights go out and we’re in a movie theater, something magical can happen. Part of why I wanted to make one, two, three and four was to make it for myself because I know what it’s like to sit out there in the audience and the curtain opens and something magical is going to happen, and a story is going to transport us. The movies have always been a place for us to go have a chance at magic. Something that we’ll never ever forget.”
Costner then went on to joke that to make the third one, he’s knocked on every billionaire’s boat in Cannes to help him. “They go, ‘Oh come, I want to have a picture.’ I say, ‘No, get your checkbook out. Let’s talk money,’” a laughing Costner told reporters.
When asked if it was difficult to wear so many hats for this passion project (writer, director, producer, actor), Costner said, “I’d like to think that I got to this place [in my life] because I like the work. I like the dreaming part. I like the late nights, directing and editing and writing – I like that part of it the best.”
Get ready to be swept away when the first chapter of the epic “Horizon: An American Saga,” distributed in the Philippines by Parallax Studios with Axinite Digicinema, opens in cinemas June 28.
Follow Parallax Studios Facebook for the latest updates on “Horizon: An American Saga.”

(ROHN ROMULO)

AFTER directing Ryan Reynolds’ first Marvel Cinematic Universe movie, Shawn looks at the chances of Deadpool 4 happening after Deadpool & Wolverine.

2024 may only have one MCU movie coming out, but it will definitely be one of the most significant films for the Multiverse Saga, as Deadpool & Wolverine will shake up the franchise in more ways than one. With Deadpool & Wolverine currently tracking to be one of the biggest box office hits for Marvel Studios, it is leaving several doors open for Wade Wilson in the MCU timeline the MCU after his summer installment.

With the Deadpool & Wolverine release coming only a month from now, Levy was recently asked in an interview with Deadline if he sees a potential sequel for the Merc with a Mouth.

While Marvel Studios hasn’t announced any plans for a Deadpool 4 movie, Levy looked at the prospects from two perspectives. While the world of Deadpool allows them to do anything they want, the Deadpool & Wolverine director also stressed the amount of work that went into this film, sharing the following: Usually, I have to lie. I’m waiting for the questions when I have to lie and pretend I don’t know the answer, but this one I can sincerely say I don’t know. But I can, in the same breath, say, ‘Man, this thing has been the hardest, most all-consuming thing I’ve ever done. But it’s also been the most creatively gratifying.’ Because with Deadpool, there’s no rules. It is, in its very DNA, built on tonal audacity. So, for a filmmaker, what a delight. And to do it with my best friend Ryan, my other buddy Hugh, the three of us who have known each other now for a very long time, it was just a blast. Because if you work with friends, you don’t mind making an ass of yourself. And if you’re working on something that’s comedic, you better be willing to fall on your face.

Assuming that Deadpool & Wolverine becomes a box office and critical success, it wouldn’t be shocking at all to see Deadpool 4 get greenlit. With Wade set to seemingly exist in the MCU permanently, there are a lot of fun directions they could take him in a hypothetical Deadpool 4. Depending on how Deadpool & Wolverine ends, Deadpool 4 could be Wade’s proper exploration of the MCU as he gets familiarized with his new home.

Interestingly enough, Levy recently stated that he would love to do a Deadpool & Spider-Man movie with Reynolds and Tom Holland, which would be terrific, especially after Spider-Man 4. Given their fun dynamic in the comics, seeing Spider-Man and Deadpool teaming up in any capacity would guarantee another success for Marvel Studios. While it would obviously be another collaboration between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures, the latter is likely going to be open for this type of team-up film, especially if Deadpool & Wolverine emerges as a 2024 hit.

Deadpool 4 could also be something that happens in Phase 7, which is where the X-Men are bound to have their big focus, as their reboot movie is currently being developed. Given how past Deadpool movies poked fun at the lack of X-Men in his stories, Deadpool 4 could make up for that, as the mutants become bigger players in the MCU going forward. But in order for Deadpool 4 to become a reality, the world will first have to catch Deadpool & Wolverine in theaters this summer. (Source: screenrant.com)

(ROHN ROMULO)