Welcome back, Studio Coffee Folks! What a week, honestly. The world is reacting to the coronavirus and taking precautions to slow its infection rate. The entertainment industry, like every other, is taking a bit of a break in everyone’s best interest. So, all said, it’s a quiet news week as far as announcements – but we’ve still got a few bangers. Dracula is being adapted at Blumhouse, we’ve got more casting news on Walker, Texas Ranger and Disney’s Loki and new trailers for Central Park and Pixar’s Soul.
Let’s get started!
Dracula is invited in at Blumhouse
Blumhouse is taking on Dracula. The company built a name for itself on low budget, high quality horror movies like Get Out, The Purge, and its most recent hit, The Invisible Man. It announced on Tuesday that Jennifer’s Body director Karyn Kusama is helming its next project, with Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay scripting. The trio worked together previously on Destroyer as well as The Invitation.
Although no studio is attached at this point, Blumhouse does have a first look deal with Universal – it’s partner on The Invisible Man. And, as we saw last week, that studio is trying to buff up its monster movie lineup with filmmaker focused content by bringing on talent like James Wan. That in mind, it’s hard to picture the studio passing on what seems like such a natural fit.
The project is currently under development and remains untitled for the time being.
The Scream reboot finds its directors
- In other horror-related news, Matthew Bettinelli-Oplin and Tyler Gillet are now set to direct the Scream reboot. You’ll recognize the pair from their most recent film, Ready or Not, which combined subversive humor with classic horror in a family game night premise. It’s a resume that seems more than fitting to reboot the original horror parody franchise.
Walker, Texas Ranger casts the kids
More casting on CW’s Walker, Texas Ranger as Violet Brinson (Sharp Objects) and Kale Culley (Me, Myself and I) join the reboot production. Brinson will play Walker’s oft-alluded to daughter, Stella. She’s a 16 year old who’s witty, confident and resentful towards her absentee dad. Culley, meanwhile plays Arlo Walker, the ranger’s 14 year old son. He’s a sponge, a sweetie and will do anything for his family – as long as he doesn’t make a raucous.
Brinson and Culley join previously announced cast members, Jared Padalecki as Walker, Lindsey Morgan as his partner Micki and Jeff Pierre as Micki’s boyfriend. The new take on the ‘90s action series will follow Walker through feuding with conservative family members, solving the mystery around his wife’s death and getting to know his kids and new partner.
Richard E. Grant hops from Star Wars to Marvel
The latest casting news on Disney’s slate of Marvel shows reveals that Richard E. Grant will be appearing in an episode of Loki. Grant, a British actor, is known for his role as Jack Hock in Can You Ever Forgive Me?, which earned him an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, along with several other awards. In nerd-dom, he may be more recognizable as a bad guy. He played General Enric Pryde in Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker and, before Fox was under the MCU umbrella, he was Dr. Zander Rice in Logan.
Loki is lead by Tom Hiddleston as – well, you know. He’s joined by Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Sophia Di Martino in unannounced roles. Kate Herron directs and shares EP duties with writer Michael Waldron and the show should hit D+ sometime in early 2021.
More coronavirus delays abound
While we’re talking Marvel shows, it’s worth a mention that The Falcon and the Winter Soldier is hitting delays in Prague, Czech Republic because of coronavirus. Production is “shut down” according to Deadline. It also saw delays on its Puerto Rico shoot last January because of a record-setting earthquake but, nonetheless, it’s August premiere date remains – for now.
And, here is a list of other affected productions. It’s far from exhaustive, but it does put in perspective how many of this week’s headlines were coronavirus-related.
- Riverdale is halting production on season 4 following a team member being tested positive for coronavirus.
- Disney’s European debut of Mulan, that was scheduled for March 12, was scaled down to exclude media and the red carpet and the movie’s theatrical release was later postponed.
- Disney has also postponed Antlers and – this’ll make you laugh – New Mutants.
- The global release of A Quiet Place 2 is delayed.
- Production on Netflix’s Russian Doll is being put on hold as a precaution.
- Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere is cancelling its LA premiere event as a precaution.
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah are all taping with no studio audiences beginning on Monday as a safety measure.
- The 41st season of Survivor is postponing production for two months.
- And Tom Hanks himself has been diagnosed with the virus, putting a stop to production on his untitled Elvis Presley movie, which he was filming at time of diagnosis.
Animated trailers ONLY this week
The first trailer for Central Park, Apple TV+’s animated series from Loren Bouchard (Bob’s Burgers), is here – and it’s catchy. The two minute look is accompanied by Josh Gad’s singing voice and highlights the musically attuned cast that also includes Leslie Odom, Jr., Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, and Stanley Tucci. It also captures all the notable qualities of Central Park. It’s scenic, it’s got hot dog water and a gross rich person wants to buy it. The show premieres on Apple TV+ on May 29.
“What would you want to be known for on Earth?” That’s the question Soul poses, Pixar’s upcoming (it’s probably still upcoming) animated feature about a pianist and band teacher with a passion for jazz, who finds himself completely reconsidering the concept of having soul. Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey star, and the two are directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers.
That’s a wrap for this week! Stay safe out there and we’ll see you back here next time.
