As per usual, it’s been another hectic week of Tinseltown developments. Imagine the scenes across town where Tom Cruise rages in one corner against the tyranny of Christopher Nolan’s IMAX obsession; on the other side of Hollywood, you see Barbie executives scrambling around, trying to find more shades of pink. Somewhere in between, John Carpenter pauses his video gaming for long enough to consider making The Thing 2.

As always, here is your dose of all the movie news you might have missed in the past week.

Movie Updates

John Carpenter Hints At Future Projects

John Carpenter, the legendary filmmaker known for his horror and science fiction films, has recently hinted at potential future projects, including a potential ‘The Thing 2’ and a Dead Space adaptation. While details remain sparse, Carpenter’s comments have sparked excitement among fans and industry insiders alike. Known for classics such as “Halloween,” “The Thing,” and “Escape from New York,” Carpenter’s influence on the horror genre is undeniable, and any new project from him is sure to be eagerly anticipated, even if his batting average has weakened.

Michel Gondry Directing Musical Based On Pharrell Williams

In an exciting development, renowned director Michel Gondry is set to helm a musical project inspired by the life of Grammy-winning artist Pharrell Williams. The project, titled “Atlantis,” is a highly anticipated collaboration between Gondry and Williams, promising a unique blend of music and storytelling. The film is currently in the early stages of development, and further details about the plot and casting are yet to be announced.

Corman McCarthy To Write Screenplay for Blood Meridian

Author Cormac McCarthy is adapting his acclaimed and notoriously bleak 1985 novel “Blood Meridian; or, the Evening Redness in the West” into a screenplay. The film will be directed by John Hillcoat, who previously directed the 2009 McCarthy film adaptation “The Road.” McCarthy will write “Blood Meridian” and serve as executive producer alongside his son, John Francis McCarthy. The novel is a dark, difficult exploration of the inevitability of war and the true horrors of the American frontier. The adaptation has been a long time coming, with McCarthy and Hillcoat discussing the project on and off for 15 years. Casting for “Blood Meridian” has not yet been announced, and there is no set release date.

First Look at Ridley Scott’s Napoleon

The first footage of Ridley Scott‘s highly anticipated film “Napoleon,” starring Joaquin Phoenix, has been unveiled. The brief clip, revealed during Apple’s 2023 WWDC event, shows Phoenix in character as the French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte aboard his ship. The film is described as an original and personal look at Napoleon’s origins and his swift, ruthless climb to emperor, viewed through the prism of his addictive and often volatile relationship with his wife and one true love, Josephine, played by Vanessa Kirby. The film will capture Napoleon’s famous battles, relentless ambition, and astounding strategic mind as an extraordinary military leader and war visionary. “Napoleon” is set to have an exclusive theatrical run starting on November 22 before being made available on Apple TV+.

Releases

Tom Cruise Furious with Oppenheimer and Barbie

July is shaping up to be a highly competitive month for movie fans, with Christopher Nolan‘s R-rated “Oppenheimer,” Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie,” and Christopher McQuarrie’s seventh ‘Mission Impossible’ film all set to hit the screens. However, this has reportedly led to some discontent within the industry, particularly from Tom Cruise.

Cruise, the star of the upcoming ‘Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning,’ is reportedly unhappy with “Oppenheimer” taking away all the IMAX screens from his film in July. He has been actively showing his film to exhibitors to convince them to switch from “Oppenheimer” or “Barbie.” Cruise is very frustrated about the situation, complaining “loudly” to Paramount and urging studio and theatre executives to switch their plans, trying to open up as many premium large format screens as possible for ‘Dead Reckoning’.

The issue is further complicated by the fact that IMAX prints of Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” are composed of 11 miles of film stock that weighs around 600 pounds. Exhibitors who are banking on this IMAX-driven spectacle will likely keep its current screen count. Nolan has had a very loyal relationship with IMAX, with “Oppenheimer” shot exclusively with IMAX cameras, and the film set up its release date way before Cruise’s film.

Cruise’s anger about ‘Mission: Impossible 7’ losing IMAX screens to ‘Oppenheimer’ is understandable, given how competitive the summer will be for big film releases. The situation also illustrates just how many major movies are coming out in the next few months, something that could make it daunting for consumers to keep up with every major release. It remains to be seen how much ‘Oppenheimer,’ ‘Barbie,’ and other high-profile films will impact ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’ at the box office.

Bong Joon-ho’s Mickey 17 Test Screening

Bong Joon-ho‘s “Mickey 17,” set for release in March 2024, is scheduled for a test screening next week. The film, starring Robert Pattinson, is an adaptation of Edward Ashton’s recently published novel. The story follows an expendable employee on a human expedition sent to colonise the ice world Niflheim. The cast includes Naomi Ackie, Steven Yeun, Toni Collette, and Mark Ruffalo. This will be Bong’s first film since his 2019 Cannes and Oscar-winning Parasite. The test screening is expected to be a rough cut of the film, with unfinished CGI and effects.

Alfonso Cuaron’s Disclaimer Apple TV Series Premiering in 2024

Alfonso Cuaron, the Oscar-winning filmmaker known for Gravity and Roma, is working on a new Apple TV+ series titled “Disclaimer”, which was recently announced that it is set to premiere in 2024. The psychological thriller series stars Cate Blanchett and Kevin Kline. Blanchett portrays Catherine Ravenscroft, a successful television documentary journalist who exposes the transgressions of institutions. However, when a novel written by a widower (played by Kline) appears on her bedside table, she realises she is a key character in a story that reveals her darkest secret. The series, which is Cuaron’s first under his multi-year deal with Apple, is based on the novel of the same name by Renee Knight.

Other News

Barbie Caused International Pink Paint Shortage

The upcoming “Barbie” movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has reportedly caused an international shortage of pink paint. The film’s production designer, Sarah Greenwood, revealed that the set used so much pink paint that it led to a global shortage. The production used large amounts of Rosco’s fluorescent pink paint, leading to the company running out of the shade. However, Lauren Proud, VP of Marketing and Digital for Rosco, clarified that the company was already experiencing supply chain issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a 2021 deep freeze in Texas that damaged materials used to make its paint. Despite the shortage, the production team managed to create an over-the-top pink presence for the film, set to hit theatres on July 21, 2023.

Pixar In Trouble Following Lightyear

Disney’s Pixar Animation Studios has reportedly cut 75 positions, including key creatives behind the box office disappointment “Lightyear.” The layoffs, the first significant ones at the studio in a decade, include director Angus MacLane, a 26-year Pixar veteran, and producer Galyn Susman. The cuts are part of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s plan to eliminate 7,000 jobs and reduce costs by $5.5 billion. “Lightyear,” released a year ago with a reported budget of $200 million, brought in a modest $226.7 million in worldwide ticket sales and received a mixed critical reception. The film could not be shown in 14 Middle Eastern and Asian countries due to its depiction of a same-sex relationship, impacting its global box office performance. Pixar has experienced less commercial success than they have been used to in recent years following John Lasseter’s departure from the company and Pete Docter becoming CCO.

DGA Agrees on New Contract With Studios

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has reached a historic agreement with the major studios on a new three-year film and TV contract. The deal includes wage increases, a new structure to pay foreign residuals and restrictions on the use of AI. The DGA’s current contract is set to expire on June 30. The agreement includes a 5% increase in wages in the first year, 4% in the second, and 3.5% in the third. The DGA also secured a 76% increase in foreign residuals for the largest platforms, ensuring that residuals for a one-hour episode will now be roughly $90,000 for the first three exhibition years. The contract also stipulates that AI cannot replace the duties performed by members. The DGA board will vote on whether to approve the deal, which also must be ratified by members. The agreement comes amidst the ongoing Writers Guild strike, and its impact on the standoff with writers remains to be seen.