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We’ve got a new featurette to share with you today that offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at DC’s Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Margot Robbie kicks it off by talking about how Harley Quinn’s story is framed, saying:

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s a wild ride and I think we wanted people to get a taste of what life could be like when you see it from Harley’s point of view, and when you watch this film that’s what you’re getting. It’s unpredictable and it’s out of order and it’s messy and it’s funny and it’s dangerous and it’s violent and it’s absurd and it’s heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s a bit of everything, which is kind of like the character.”

Jurnee Smollett-Bell, who plays Canary in the film, adds, “Yeah, Harley’s crazy. She’s a psycho. She’s quirky. She’s all these annoying things. But Margot finds a way to ground her in a truth that I think we can relate to.”

My expectations for this movie are low, and I would be surprised if the movie exceeds those expectations. But there’s still a good chance that the film will have a decent opening at the box office. If it does, chances are that Warner Bros. will want to make a sequel, which is what Robbie is hoping for. In an interview with SFX magazine/GamesRadar, Robbie was asked about a sequel, and she said:

“I would hope so. I think it would be amazing if people respond to this film. I think the idea is really to set up the idea of the Birds of Prey. In the comics, there are tons of different comic book characters that duck in and out of the group. So the point of this is really to open that doorway and to watch the Birds of Prey start to emerge.”

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if audiences respond to the movie in a positive way. The film comes from director Cathy Yan, and the movie also stars Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Huntress, Ella Jay Basco as Cassandra Cain, and Rosie Perez as Renee Montoya. Here’s the synopsis for the movie:

Since the events of Suicide Squad, Batman has disappeared, leaving Gotham City unprotected from crime, and Harley Quinn has left the Joker. When Cassandra Cain, a young girl, comes across a diamond belonging to crime lord Black Mask, Harley joins forces with Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to help protect her.

The movie will be released in theaters on February 7th, 2020. Here’s the featurette:

We are still over a year out from the Disney+ Marvel series Loki, which is set for Spring 2021, according to the Phase Four timeline. But as we know, the years seem to be flying by, and as far as it seems, I am willing to bet it will be here before we know it. And according to a recent report, the series has begun to shoot its principal photography, so production is well underway.

The report comes from scooper Charles Murphy, who said in a tweet:

“I’m not sure that the right people will see this, but I can promise you that Loki did begin filming last week. I can’t believe that people might not comprehend that these productions aren’t always shot in public and that they use a stage at times, which is the case here.”

I’m sure there’s plenty of work to be done inside a studio for a series like this. It’s fun when it’s out in public and fans get to catch a glimpse, but it’s good to hear that the series is getting worked on, and we will be able to watch it in just over a year.

Kobe Bryant’s studio has made his Oscar-winning short available to everyone following his untimely death over the weekend.

New adaptation of The Thing in development at Universal Pictures & Blumhouse

John Carpenter’s 1982 sci-fi horror The Thing is considered to be one of his greatest works and now after the discovery of a novel-length version of its source novella, Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Productions have begun development on a new adaptation of the material, according to Bloody Disgusting.

RELATED: Never Come Home in Blumhouse’s Fantasy Island Poster

The original film, which was technically the second adaptation of John W. Campbell Jr.’s Who Goes There? after the 1951 The Thing From Another World, followed a group of American researchers in the Antarctic who discover a parasitic alien organism that assimilates and imitates other lifeforms. As it makes its way through the group, disguising itself as various members, paranoia sets in and those still human seek to find a way to kill it off before it finds a way to get to civilization.

In 2018, John Betancourt revealed he had found a full-length version of the source material and took to Kickstarter to fund the release of the novel, entitled Frozen Hell, and this week he revealed that not only has the project been fully funded, but that the original studio had acquired the rights to it and began development almost immediately on an adaptation.

“The movie will be from Universal and Blumhouse,” Betancourt said. “Everyone is super excited about it and it’s being fast-tracked.”

RELATED: The Craft: Michelle Monaghan to Star in Blumhouse & Sony’s Remake

Producer Alan Donnes originally announced the news via a Facebook post, in which he revealed he will be executive producing the new adaptation, which he calls “a remake” and that it will remain true to not only the original novella and new full-length novel, but will also stay faithful to both the 1951 and 1982 films.

The Carpenter film was considered a disappointment upon release, earning mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike at the time and only grossing $19.6 million on its $15 million in the US, but in the years following its release, it became a cult classic, finding a large audience upon home release. Critics also revisited the film in the years since and most changed their tune, praising its paranoia-driven atmosphere, shocking visual effects and strong performances from its cast, led by Kurt Russell.

The film spawned a franchise of its own, including haunted house attractions, novelizations and sequel comic books, a 2002 video game and a prequel in 2011 from Universal Pictures, which received mixed-to-negative reviews and grossed only $31.5 million on a $38 million budget.

The post New Adaptation of The Thing in Development at Universal Pictures & Blumhouse appeared first on ComingSoon.net.

The Chinese Government is limiting travel and implementing other measures to battle the deadly Coronavirus.

Ice Cube says he couldn’t quite believe his friend Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash and decided to send him a text message.

James Vanderbilt has been tapped to pen a new Transformers movie said to be based on Beast Wars.

Plague Inc. developer Ndemic Creations is warning that the game is not a ‘not a scientific model’ after coronavirus outbreak.

We have a surprising new trailer for you all to watch for the Disney+ experimental short film series, Short Circuit, not to be confused with the delightful 80’s robot movie of the same name. The trailer is filled with looks at each of the films, each in vibrant colors and fantastical stories straight from the imagination. Here’s the description for the trailer given by Disney:

From a lost baby elephant to a newly-formed raindrop, @DisneyAnimation’s Short Circuit will introduce you to an array of new characters—and worlds! Stream all 14 shorts today on #DisneyPlus.

This series is similar to the SparkShorts short film series by Pixar, created to highlight new animators, storytellers and artists. My kids loved that series of shorts, and I am excited to show them these as well. Check out the trailer below, and watch Short Circuit on Disney+, available now!

Joby Harold and James Vanderbilt have both been hired by Paramount to pen different Transformers movies.