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Warner Bros. is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2023 and after a two-hour presentation at CinemaCon, it’s clear the studio is ensuring the subsequent eight months replicate that historic legacy. Following a considerably impassioned speak from Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslov, WB co-chairs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy introduced out some huge stars and filmmakers to tout their upcoming slate. And there may need simply been a future Best Picture nominee (or two, or three) within the combine.
READ MORE: Sony Pictures reveals first footage of “Napoleon,” “Kraven the Hunter,” and “Dumb Money”
One of the most important surprises of the day was Zaslov introducing his previous good friend, Oprah Winfrey. The pair partnered on the OWN community over 15 years in the past and when the Warner Bros. Discovery deal got here to go one of many first calls he acquired was from Winfrey informing him she was producing a film model of “The Color Purple” musical at WB. Winfrey was making her first go to to the theater house owners’ conference and got here on stage with a loud “Helllooooo Cinemacon!” alongside “Purple” director Blitz Bazawule. Then in one thing of an unbelievable coup for Warner Bros, Winfrey proceeded to introduce after which spend 10 minutes interviewing “Purple” stars Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia.
Henson, who portrays Shug Avery, says she “punked out” on auditioning for “The Color Purple” on Broadway and when it got here round once more this time round it was the right method to do it as a result of it was “one and done.” A musical theater main in faculty earlier than the delivery of her first baby, she was excited to flex these muscle groups once more and was “blown away” by the expertise. She additionally famous how vital this story is to Black America noting, it’s “a fiber of the community.”
Brooks, who performs Sofia, reprises her Tony Award-nominated function for her studio big-screen debut. She notes, “This has been an incredible journey once again” after taking part in her on Broadway. The a part of the story she loves is “no matter how many times you fall you can get back up.”
Fantasia admits when she first received the decision to play Celie she mentioned no. Playing the function within the Broadway incarnation occurred throughout one of many roughest patches of her life. She tears up on stage discussing how deep she needed to go to play this function when her private life is in a a lot better place. Says people who find themselves “wounded” can be healed as a result of she was healed returning to the function.
Brooks thinks the track “Hell No” would be the anthem for the movie (it was the background music for the preview), however Fantasia provides that Bazawule took all of the music to a different degree together with the ballad, “I’m Here.” For Fantasia, that report says “I’m still here so I got a chance to step out and do something I’ve always wanted to do.” The “American Idol” legend she nonetheless cries and will get tousled every time she performs it.
Winfrey capped off the interview phase by telling the gang “It’s not your mama’s ‘Color Purple” however your mama’s gonna prefer it.”
READ MORE: Warner Bros. Discovery boss David Zaslov says studio doesn’t consider in streaming films
Here’s a response to a few of the different movies De Luca, Abdy, and DC Studios co-chairman and CEO Peter Safran (standing in for James Gunn locked right into a “Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3” publicity tour) screened for the CinemaCon viewers.
“The Color Purple”
Smartly has a a lot totally different aesthetic than Spielberg’s unique movie, however nonetheless hints at real scope (there seems to be one quantity which is a dream sequence within the vein of a 1930’s Hollywood musical) and main power. Outside of the aforementioned three leads, Colman Domingo popped probably the most as Mister. But the scope of the forged together with Jon Baptiste, H.E.R, Deon Cole, Ciara, Halle Bailey and Corey Hawkins, amongst others, was tremendous spectacular. This was a trailer that makes the brand new incarnation seem business, awards-worthy, and simply flat-out entertaining.
“Wonka”
Appearing on stage beforehand, star Timothee Chalamet famous that this model of Willy Wonka is way more optimistic than the marginally extra jaded Wonka that Gene Wilder performed within the unique 1971 movie. This film regarded decidedly family-friendly with Wonka attempting to get his chocolate firm off the bottom in a world that regarded barely “Harry Potter”-esque. The preview teased musical numbers (though no songs have been heard or mentioned) and appearances by Olivia Colman and Sally Hawkins as Wonka’s mom. It ended with a really humorous bit the place Hugh Grant performs a captured Oompa Loompa to hilarious impact. We’d heard from screenings it’s very a lot a child’s film, however the trailer regarded barely broader than that take.
“Meg 2: The Trench”
Do you desire a larger Meg? How about two Megs? Do you need ridiculous plot factors? How a couple of Meg consuming a T-Rex? Do you need characters to die hilarious deaths out of sheer stupidity? You’ll get all that in additional within the sequel to the shock 2018 hit. Oh, yeah, Jason Statham is again, too.
“The Nun 2”
The possed nun is wreaking havoc throughout Europe killing ladies proper and left. Taissa Farminga is a nun attempting to cease her and Storm Reid is alongside for the experience. Looks as scary as the primary and presumably extra business which is type of a shock contemplating the unique took in $365 million international.
“Dune: Part Two”
Fresh from a shock Coachella efficiency this previous weekend, Zedaya joined Chalamet and director Denis Villeneuve to introduce the follow-up to the 2022 Best Picture nominee. To be sincere, the 2 stars didn’t have a lot concrete to say, however Villeneuve heaped reward on new forged members Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, and, notably, Christopher Walken, who he says brings an amazing quantity of humanity to his function as Shaddam IV, the Emperor of House Corrino. The footage itself appeared way more action-packed than the primary installment and centered on Paul (Chalamet) attempting to experience a sandworm for the primary time. The solely notable shock was fast glimpses of Butler with a shaved head and in utterly white face and physique make-up as Feyd-Rautha.
“Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom”
The buzz on James Wan‘s sequel to the 2018 billion-dollar blockbuster has not been good, however the prolonged preview at the very least promised Warner Bros. has materials they’ll promote to potential moviegoers. This installment finds Aquaman (Jason Mamoa) having to workforce up along with his former nemesis and brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to take down a extra highly effective model of Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II). In an introductory video Wan referred to the film as “bromance” however it regarded extra like simply bickering siblings within the footage screened. The plot appears very a lot brothers reunite and go take down the massive dangerous man, however Wan is a proficient visible filmmaker and the film definitely appears to be like huge. It additionally seems as if a great chunk of the finances went to the particular results (a great factor) and there have been fast glimpses of Queen Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) and Mera (Amber Heard) in motion.
“Blue Beetle”
This prolonged preview solely included a number of extra scenes than the present trailer, however confirmed reluctant hero Jamie Reyes (Xolo Maridueña) in motion. Needless to say, the struggle scenes have been spectacular and completely regarded like a theatrical play over the movies unique streaming designs. There was additionally a shot of what we may assume is the unique Blue Beetle’s Bug ship and, presumably, Ted Kord’s personal model of the bat cave. The film continues to seem like it may do field workplace much like the unique “Shazam”
Other notable elements of the presentation included a hilarious take a look at “Barbie” with Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and American Ferrera. Additionally, the studio screened a promo reel for its one centesimal anniversary which included tantalizing pictures from George Miller’s “Furiosa” starring Anna Taylor-Joy. We would have liked to see extra of that exact launch.
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