Britt Hayes is a writer, movie lover, and sensible sweater enthusiast living in Austin, Texas. She watches too much TV and never eats her vegetables.
Britt Hayes
Tom Cruise Reveals the ‘Top Gun’ Sequel’s Official Title
After years of taunting us with the possibility of a (super) late-coming sequel to Top Gun, it’s actually happening. Tom Cruise is back, which guarantees our butts will be in those seats on opening day, no matter what. If you thought they were going to go with a basic title like Top Gun 2 for this major movie event, you were sadly mistaken.
‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ Gets an Official Release Date
When Lucasfilm initially announced Star Wars: Episode IX, the tentative plan was to release it in theaters on May 23, 2019 — that date was never confirmed, however, and when the studio shifted their releases to December (with the exception of the young Han Solo spinoff), everyone just assumed that it was only a matter of time before Episode IX’s release date was changed, too. That’s definitely not the case, as Disney and Lucasfilm have announced a metric Jabba-ton of new release dates, officially confirming the final film in their Star Wars trilogy for May 24, 2019.
Big ‘Star Wars’ Announcement Teased for 40th Anniversary
Star Wars Celebration is set to kick off in just a few days, and with the 40th anniversary of the iconic franchise on the horizon, fans are expecting this year’s festivities to be extra special — but it looks like we won’t have to wait until later this week for major news from a galaxy far, far away. Good Morning America is teasing a big Star Wars announcement for tomorrow’s episode, but what could it possibly be? The first teaser for The Last Jedi? A revelation about one of your favorite characters?
Don Rickles, Iconic Comedian and Actor, Dead at 90
Don Rickles’ talents were seemingly limitless: An outrageous insult comic, a gifted dramatic actor, a welcome sight on stages and screens (big and small), and a constant presence whose career endured for decades, often surpassing his contemporaries. And now he’s gone on to join them, as the legendary Rickles passed away today, April 6, at the age of 90.
‘Beauty and the Beast’ Review: Even a Tale as Old as Time Can Become New Again
To say that the first trailer for Beauty and the Beast was evocative of the 1991 animated classic would be an understatement; it was a live-action carbon copy, and if Disney’s remake of Cinderella was any indication, we were in for yet another tedious — if visually stunning, well-acted and beautifully-designed — exercise in nostalgia-based capitalism. But Bill Condon’s live-action update of Beauty and the Beast is more reimagining than remake, a lavish and lovely take on a familiar tale (as old as time, no doubt) that enriches its source material without betraying it, embellishing a cherished antique with modern ideas.
Academy Bars Accountants Involved in Best Picture Mixup From Future Oscars
It took a few days, but the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has finally come to a decision: The two PricewaterhouseCooper accountants involved in this year’s Best Picture snafu, dubbed “Envelopegate,” will not be allowed to work at the Oscars again. In what instantly became the most memorable Oscar moment in recent memory (and perhaps all-time), La La Land was erroneously announced as Best Picture; it took two whole minutes (or more) for the PwC accountants to rectify the error and announce Moonlight as the correct winner.
Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn Reunite for New Crime Thriller From ‘Bone Tomahawk’ Director
Pop quiz — Is Dragged Across Concrete: A. The name of a ’90s post-grunge album, B. The way you feel every morning when you wake up and read that day’s onslaught of terrible news from Trump’s America, or C. The name of a new crime drama starring Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn? If you read the headline, you know the answer is C, obviously (but the other two are pretty believable).
‘Jurassic World 2’ Eyes Toby Jones and Rafe Spall as Casting Officially Begins
It looks like Universal and Amblin are finally gearing up to head into production on the Jurassic World sequel, as casting has officially begun for the follow-up to Colin Trevorrow’s hit blockbuster. In addition to returning stars Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard (hopefully sans high heels this time), Toby Jones and Rafe Spall are being eyed for supporting roles, while the studio is reportedly looking to test actors for two “key roles” relatively soon.
‘Westworld’ Premiere Review: HBO’s New Sci-Fi Series Was Worth the Wait
Michael Crichton’s 1973 sci-fi film is something of a cult classic, offering an early blueprint for Jurassic Park with its tale of scientists playing God and an ill-advised theme park run amok (seriously, what on earth happened during Crichton’s family vacations?). Similarly, Crichton’s campy romp through a futuristic resort serves as a blueprint for HBO’s Westworld, which takes a more thoughtful and unsettling approach in its inversion of the ’73 film, presenting the A.I. (or “hosts”) as the protagonists of the series.
‘Transformers: The Last Knight’ Set Video Features Anthony Hopkins and the World’s Loneliest Dog
If you’re a fan of internet-famous animals, then you’re probably quite familiar with the story of Freya, the British dog whose heartbreaking story made international headlines. Turns out that director Michael Bay is also a fan of the lonely canine, and in a surprising move that will undoubtedly melt the hearts of even his most critical naysayers, he gave Freya an acting job in the new Transformers movie — opposite none other than Sir Anthony Hopkins.