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'Wonka', 'Dune Part 2', 'Meg 2', 'Barbie', 'The Color Purple' Musical Exclusive Footage Details from CinemaCon
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- Category: Movie News
- Published: Saturday, 29 April 2023 16:40
Warner Bros paraded their upcoming movie slate during their CinemaCon presentation along with stars Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie, America Ferrera, Xolo Mariduena, and Oprah Winfrey taking the stage. The Warner Bros. executives revealed some first-look footage from WONKA, THE COLOR PURPLE, DUNE PART TWO, THE NUN 2, and THE MEG 2. Get the details of the exclusive footage below.
Directors Denis Villeneuve, Greta Gerwig, and BLUE BEETLE’s Angel Miguel Soto were also on hand to promote their projects.
THE COLOR PURPLE: A BOLD NEW TAKE ON THE BELOVED CLASSIC
First up, Oprah Winfrey, who serves as a producer on THE COLOR PURPLE: A BOLD NEW TAKE ON THE BELOVED CLASSIC, presented director Blitz Bazawule She touted the director as the perfect choice for this new musical rendition of Alice Walker's novel. Oprah then sat down for a Q&A with actresses Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks (Peacemaker), and Fantasia Barrino who plays Celie in her acting debut. Oprah shares that in common with the American Idol contestant. The television icon made her feature film debut in Steven Spielberg's THE COLOR PURPLE (1985) as Sofia. Sofia will now be portrayed by Brooks, and Henson takes on the role of Shug.
Before the cast joined Oprah on stage, the director and Oprah presented a trailer for the upcoming musical. The first preview sets up the relationship and close bond between the three women which will be the central focus of this new version. The brief musical numbers in the short preview are powerful and emotional enough to send chills down your spine. There's no comparison to the original, and both versions can exist in the same universe.
The musical is set for a Christmas Day release.
BARBIE
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling channeled their inner Barbie when they walked on stage in a pink ensemble fitting for a Ken and Barbie date. Director Greta Gerwig and America Ferrera followed Barbie and Ken onto the stage.
The cast revealed the BARBIE set was a popular production with other film crew's coming into their stages to check out the doll house sets.
When asked what it was like inhabiting Ken, Gosling admitted he doubted he could get his "Ken-ergy" on but it took some convincing from Margot and Greta to get him into the doll's head space. “I finally felt what Dorothy felt like,” he joked. He also added that Ken has no sense of humor, but the exclusive preview suggests otherwise.
The previous BARBIE trailers reveal what the world of BARBIE looks like in a live-action adaptation but the plot isn't so obvious until the exclusive clips provided more insight. The preview kicks off with what we've already seen in trailers, but then Barbie's dilemma is revealed. We find out why she sets out to the real world along with Ken, and it's hilarious. Ken and Barbie are eye sores among the regular folk and they get into some trouble. We also find out Ken is a male chauvinist, but Gosling plays it in an endearing and naive way.
WONKA
Timothee Chalamet and costar Calah Lane made an appearance at CinemaCon. Chalamet revealed WONKA is an origins story of a young Willy Wonka, a bright-eyed kid with a dream before he becomes a recluse and cynical character from WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (1971), played by Gene Wilder.
The footage shown introduced us to the future chocolate maker who will face many obstacles from the corporate giants. He has help along the way from a character portrayed by Lane, and we find out how he met the Oompa Loompas.
The biggest surprise was seeing Hugh Grant's CGI face on a very tiny Oompa Loompa body. That image was surreal, and it had the entire audience laughing.
THE MEG 2: THE TRENCH
Warner Bros. is going bigger the second time around with more pre-historic sea monsters in THE MEG 2: THE TRENCH. The Megalodon isn't the only threat when the Trench opens up allowing more sea creatures to escape into the existing world. Who you gonna call? No doubt Jason Statham who at one point, holds off the Meg with his foot. The trailer is full of over-the-top megalodon action including one scene with a T-Rex. Cliff Curtis, the young actress from the first movie, Sophia Cai returns as well as Page Kennedy.
It's going to be wild.
THE NUN 2
Taissa Farmiga reprises her Sister Irene character in the sequel. The actress was joined on stage by her new costar Storm Reid.
In the first clip, girls at a convent invite a girl to summon the devil and then lock her in a room. The nun as expected shows up. In the next scene, karma pays a visit to the the mean girl who locked the other teen in the attic. In another scene, Sister Irene is called in to advise on the recent incidences at the convent as the sole survivor of the last nun sighting.
THE NUN 2 is in movie theaters on September 8.
DUNE PART TWO
Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, and Denis Villeneuve stepped onto the stage to tease the DUNE sequel hitting theaters on November 3rd. Zendaya was excited to play more of Chani in this version. The director praised Austin Butler's performance as a bald albino-looking Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen as revealed in an exclusive trailer shown at the conference.
Aside from Butler, the exclusive clips revealed a glimpse at Florence Pugh's Princess Irulan Corrino, Paul and Chani share a kiss and Paul rides a sandworm.
AQUAMAN AND THE LOST KINGDOM
Director James Wan and Jason Momoa were not present at the Warner Bros. presentation but they did appear in a recorded video message. The filmmaker divulged the plot of the DC sequel. Arthur (Momoa) and his brother King Orm (Patrick Wilson) team up against Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II).
In the preview screened, Aquaman is now a father to a blond baby, and his human father (Temuera Morrison) is helping with the babysitting duties. There's no mention of a mother.
Arthur calls Orm his brother, but the Ocean Master replies, "I am not your brother." Regardless, the two work in unison to defeat their common enemy. Manta somehow obtains a dangerous weapon, the Black Trident.
Judging from the exclusive footage, the action will largely take place in the underwater kingdom. Nicole Kidman's Atlannna and Amber Heard's Mera make brief appearances in the trailer. Seeing Heard in the preview shouldn't be a surprise since Wan stated a year ago that he would keep her in the movie.
BLUE BEETLE
Director Angel Miguel Soto and star Xolo Mariduena (Cobra Kai) appeared at the Warner Bros. presentation. Xolo who plays Jaime Reyes, says his character unlike other superhero movies, doesn't want the superpowers. Fortunately, the DC superhero is not alone, and his family will be integral to the hero's story and journey.
An extended trailer version was screened during the presentation which showcased more of the family in action.
THE FLASH
Director Andy Muschietti presented the final film of the night. He revealed that the production recreated the entire bat cave for Michael Keaton's Batman.
The Argentinian director also explained how he wooed Keaton back as the Caped Crusader. He says they met at an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, and they had a "amazing conversation" about where Batman would be after BATMAN RETURNS. Keaton was "intrigued" by the idea, and after reading the script, he signed on.
The only footage presented was the latest trailer. Later in the day, the studio screened the entire film to the CinemaCon attendees.
Watch my first reaction to THE FLASH.