Category: Movies

Even if you don’t know his name, if you’re a fan of classic Westerns, you probably know Clu Gulager. 

He was one of those character actors who appeared all over classic TV, but he especially was known for his Western appearances. Have Gun — Will Travel, Wagon Train, Ironside, Bonanza, Wanted Dead or Alive… Gulager blended into the wild west sets like he belonged there.

In 1960, he got the chance to play one of history’s most notorious gunslingers, Billy the Kid, in the TV series The Tall Man. The two-season show saw Gulager playing against Barry Sullivan as Sheriff Pat Garrett. 

It wouldn’t take long after the cancellation of The Tall Man for Gulager to get one of his most famous roles — Deputy Sheriff Emmett Ryker on The Virginian. In his very first episode, aptly titled “Ryker”, he went up against a corrupt land-grabber played by Leslie Neilsen. Gulager would stay on the show for 102 episodes before leaving in 1968.

While he never took on a main role again in TV, he appeared as guest roles in everything from Falcon Crest to Walker, Texas Ranger to even a voice role on Beavis and Butt-Head.

In 1985, Gulager took another well-known role in the cult classic Return of the Living Dead, which is famous for introducing the concept of zombies wanting to chow down on brains specifically. As Burt Wilson, Gulager plays the owner of a warehouse whose employees accidentally unleash a hoarde of the dead onto an unsuspecting town. 

The same year, Gulager reinforced his horror legacy by appearing in the Nightmare on Elm Street sequel, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge where he played the father of the main character. He would later appear in the 2019 documentary about the movie, Scream, Queen! My Nightmare on Elm Street.

Gulager’s son, John Gulager, cast his dad in multiple of his own films starting in the 2000s. He appeared in John’s 2005 horror comedy Feast, as well as Feast II: Sloppy Seconds and Feast III: The Happy Finish. In 2012, he worked with his son again in Piranha 3DD.

His final film appearance was in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

On Facebook, his daughter-in-law Diane Goldner released a family statement: “Clu was as caring as he was loyal and devoted to his craft, a proud member of the Cherokee nation, a rule-breaker, sharp and astute and on the side—always—of the oppressed. He was good-humored, an avid reader, tender and kind. Loud and dangerous… He is survived by his sons John and Tom, their partners Diane and Zoe, his cherished grandson Clu Mosha, dedicated fans, and decades of extraordinary students.”

The long-time actor was 93 years old.

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As I sat down to revisit Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of the Neil Gaiman novel Stardust, a family friend who was visiting asked me a question. “What are you watching?” “Stardust.” “What’s that?” “This fantasy movie with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro.” “I’ve never heard of it.” “Henry Cavill is also in it and he fights Daredevil.” “Ben Affleck?”

I found the conversation funny but also incredibly telling. That this friend didn’t know Stardust was not some anomaly. The film opened 15 years ago today and in that time certainly found its fans, but never quite captured the imaginations of the world in the way it should have. And yet, I saw it when it was released and loved it. Was I some outlier? What was the problem with Stardust?

Part of the issue is probably Rush Hour 3. The Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker action comedy sequel opened on the same day and promptly trounced Stardust at the box office. That was also the second week of the action-packed The Bourne Ultimatum, the third week for the long-awaited The Simpsons Movie, and in the following weeks, the generational comedy Superbad opened, as well as Rob Zombie’s remake of Halloween. Box office competition was fierce in August 2007, especially for films gunning for that younger audience Stardust was meant for. It fell out of the top 10 within a month. Internationally it did significantly better, but that initial gut punch at the U.S. box office did the film’s legacy no favors. Fewer eyeballs upon initial release meant less marketing dollars moving ahead and a relatively quiet arrival in the home market.

Michelle Pfeiffer on the hunt for a star.Image: Paramount

Fifteen years later though, no one is talking about Rush Hour 3 anymore. That’s because Stardust has something going for many other films don’t: it’s really freaking good. Who better than Neil Gaiman to craft a memorable, imaginative story? What better time in a director’s career than their second film, which Stardust was for Matthew Vaughn, for a filmmaker to take a big step up? And the cast, while headlined with steadfast stars of the day like Pfeiffer and De Niro, was filled with incredible talent from top to bottom: Claire Danes, Charlie Cox (the aforementioned Daredevil, of course), Mark Strong, Rupert Everett, Henry Cavill, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Ben Barnes, Peter O’Toole, Ian McKellen, truly, the list goes on and on. That several of them have become even more famous since the film’s release only adds to its success.
 

As a result, though Stardust was not a box office sensation; it was a critical hit upon its release and remains as solid and entertaining a film as ever. In large part that does have to do with seeing this incredible cast work their magic on this story. But it’s also the brilliance, complexities, and scope of the story itself. At its heart, Stardust is the story of a young, lovesick boy named Tristan (Cox) who decides to cross a wall that separates his world from another to retrieve a fallen star for his crush, Victoria (Miller). He finds the star but it’s actually a person named Yvaine (Danes) and as the two try to get back to Victoria, they’re pursued by the witch Lamia (Pfeiffer) who wants to eat the star—literally—and several princes (Strong and others) who need the star to become king of the realm. It sounds complicated but Vaughn and co-writer Jane Goldman (who also did Kick-Ass, X-Men: First Class, and more after Stardust) lay it out very simply. The film then unspools in a manner that keeps everything cohesive and propulsive. There are no frills and the film is better off for it.

Tristan and Yvaine.Image: Paramount

Along the way, Gaiman’s world bustles with imagination; it’s filled with elements like the pirate Captain Shakespeare (De Niro), who flies across the skies in his ship, sells lightning bolts, and hides his charming true self. The way people travel via candlelight. That flowers offer protection from magic. Or how when each would-be-king dies they become ghosts who look as they did at death and proceed to become a Greek chorus to the film’s events. And just when the film feels like it can’t get any more adventurous or weird, the burgeoning love story between Tristan and Yvaine becomes more prominent and moving as both Cox and Danes electrify the screen with infectious joy and wonder. If it wasn’t for a third act that drags out just a bit too long, and a few un-PC moments that haven’t aged well, I’d be hard-pressed to say a single bad thing about Stardust.

So while the film didn’t immediately capture the imagination of the movie-going public 15 years ago, I was delighted to discover that Stardust is not a film beholden to time. It’s so fun, heartwarming, and well-made that it’s sure to endure and capture imaginations from now until forever. Simply put, Stardust is magic, and that it can still work its spell after all this time is a testament to its quality.

Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

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There can be only one! And it just might be Henry Cavill. Henry Cavill has been Chad Stahelski’s first choice to star in a new version of Highlander, and he just might get his wish.  For those who don’t know, a Highlander film is in the works, and right now, it’s in its very early stages. One of the biggest roadblocks the film has reached is Henry Cavill’s extremely busy filming schedule, but from what Stahelski had to say, it sounds like Cavill is on board.

It makes sense that an action-packed franchise like Highlander would go to Stahelski. The director has worked on great action movies like John Wick. Henry Cavill is no slouch when it comes to action either, from his role as Superman to his current work as Geralt of Rivia in Netflix’s The Witcher. Cavill also definitely has the nerd-clout to headline a movie like Highlander.

Highlander itself has been around since 1986, but its DNA is even older than that. The series harkens back to pulpy adventure stories like Conan The Barbarian and other works by the likes of Robert E. Howard. The Highlander series tells the story of a race of immortals who can only be killed by beheading. They hunt and destroy each other towards the end of becoming the only Highlander left, and therefore the most powerful in all of creation.

In a recent interview with Collider, Chad Stahelski sat down and talked about what he has on the horizon. Of particular interest here is what he had to say about where Highlander is in the process. He said:

We’re in the process of tweaking right now. I think we know what we want. More importantly than anything, we know what we want to make. It’s in the creatives. We know what we’re trying to make. It’s just a matter of getting it to the point where we feel, ‘Okay, this is it. Let’s go.’ But we’re closer than we’ve ever been, so that’s good.

As of now, there’s obviously no official release date, but ideally, we hear more news soon.

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John Travolta took to social media to pay tribute to Olivia Newton-John, his “Grease” co-star who died Monday at 73 years old.

“My dearest Olivia, you made all of our lives so much better,” Travolta wrote in a post. “Your impact was incredible. I love you so much. We will see you down the road and we will all be together again. Yours from the moment I saw you and forever! Your Danny, your John!”

Travolta and Newton-John headlined “Grease,” delivering two of their most iconic film performances as Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson. The 1978 musical, directed by Randal Kleiser, became a cultural phenomenon with $366 million at the worldwide box office. The single “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” performed by Newton-John, was nominated at the Oscars for original song. The film’s soundtrack was the second biggest album of 1978 in the U.S., trailing only the soundtrack to the Travolta-starring “Saturday Night Fever.”

Following the release of “Grease,” Travolta and Newton-John remained lifelong friends. The two often reunited to celebrate the movie. At a 40th anniversary screening for “Grease” in 2018, the duo memorably recreated their famous dance moves on the red carpet.

“We rehearsed so much in the three week period to get it right,” Travolta told Variety at the time about rehearsing for the film with Newton-John. “And you can see from the energy on that film, we were so anxious to get it right that I think everything — it was like going to school. Every day there was a regimen: song, dance, recording, rehearsing scenes, rewriting scenes. It was a big myriad of events.”

Newton-John’s passing was confirmed by her husband, John Easterling, who wrote on Facebook: “Dame Olivia Newton-John (73) passed away peacefully at her Ranch in Southern California this morning, surrounded by family and friends. We ask that everyone please respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

“Olivia has been a symbol of triumphs and hope for over 30 years sharing her journey with breast cancer,” the statement continued, “Her healing inspiration and pioneering experience with plant medicine continues with the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund, dedicated to researching plant medicine and cancer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be made in her memory to the Olivia Newton-John Foundation Fund.”

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In an on the spot interview shared on MTV News, Lupita Nyong’o detailed that the call sheets for upcoming marvel title Wakanda Forever didn’t have a “#1” in honour of the late Chadwick Boseman.

Chadwick Boseman, who starred as the titular character in 2018’s Black Panther, sadly passed on August 28, 2020. With his cast, crew and fans devastated, there were plenty of questions surrounding the future of Black Panther and the MCU. But, the show must go on, and on November 11, 2022 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will release.

There has been plenty of controversy surrounding Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the character since Boseman has passed, including if he would be recast, or how they might honour the actor. With SDCC last weekend revealing more about the title and the franchise as a whole, some of those questions have been answered.

The trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is epic. The film looks incredibly powerful on its own—I definitely got goosebumps—but also knowing what the franchise and the cast and crew has lost makes it that much more powerful.

In an interview shared by MTV News, and then explained by on TikTok, Lupita Nyong’o mentioned just one way the team behind the film honoured Chadwick Boseman during filming, “Our call sheets didn’t have a number 1. That was reserved for Chadwick. He was with us.”

The TikToker explains that the #1 on a call sheet is the “lead actor”. All of their information comes first, including hair and make-up, and their travel being priority. The cast and crew leaving it blank was to honour the Black Panther himself. Even though the second spot would be filled, they still weren’t at the top. As Danielle notes, “That was reserved for their king…it’s not just Wakanda Forever, it’s Chadwick Boseman forever”.

#stitch with @mtvnews incredible #mcu #marvel #blackpanther #wakandaforever #acting #actor #writer #director #phasefour #blackpantherwakandaforever

♬ original sound – (((Danielle 🐵✡️🧚🏼‍♀️✨)))

It remains to be seen how Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Marvel will honour Chadwick Boseman on screen, but it is clear that during planning, pre-production and filming, the actor was in the hearts of many.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to release on November 11, 2022.

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Madonna discussed her decision to take her biopic into her own hands and gave an update on the Julia Garner-starring film in a new interview with Variety.

It was previously revealed nearly two years ago that the Material Girl herself would co-write (with Diablo Cody) and direct the still-untitled movie.

“I have a very long script that is really hard for me to make shorter. I’ve been whittling away at it, but it’s like hacking off my limbs,” Madonna told Variety.

“I’ve had an extraordinary life, I must make an extraordinary film. It was also a preemptive strike because a lot of people were trying to make movies about me. Mostly misogynistic men. So I put my foot in the door and said, ‘No one’s going to tell my story but me.’”

Ozark star Garner was reportedly offered the role of Madonna earlier this month following a lengthy audition process. (“Madonna” will also be seen on the small screen in the near future in the form of Evan Rachel Wood in the upcoming “Weird Al” Yankovic biopic.)

Madonna does have some directorial experience, having helmed 2008’s Filth and Wisdom and 2011’s W.E.

“I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer—a human being, trying to make her way in this world,” Madonna said of the biopic in a statement in 2020. 

“The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.”

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Shakespeare himself couldn’t write poetry like this. During a Mudvayne show on July 26 in Tampa, Florida, singer Chad Gray fell off the stage while performing the song “Not Falling” from the band’s 2002 album, The End of All Things to Come.

The 50-year-old singer falls like a rock from the sky, but it doesn’t appear to phase him all that much. Within a few seconds, Gray is singing again as a roadie jumps down to confirm that he isn’t injured.

Mudvayne are currently reliving the early 2000s on a co-headline tour with Rob Zombie, plus Static-X and Powerman 5000. The nü-metal quartet recently reactivated in 2021 after 11 years off. The current Freaks on Parade tour with Zombie is their first US tour in 13 years.

Gray kept himself busy throughout the hiatus as the frontman for metal supergroup Hellyeah, which featured late Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul alongside members of Nothingface, Ministry, Stone Sour and a laundry list of other acts. Hellyeah went inactive following Paul’s 2018 death.

There are still a number of dates remaining on the tour, which you can find below alongside the video.

With Rob Zombie, Static-X and Powerman 5000
Fri Jul 29 – Camden, NJ – Waterfront Music Pavilion
Sat Jul 30 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
Sun Jul 31 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts
Tue Aug 02 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
Wed Aug 03 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Fri Aug 05 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 06 – Council Bluffs, IA  – Westfair Amphitheater
Wed Aug 10 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Fri Aug 12 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
Sat Aug 13 – Las Vegas, NV – Michelob ULTRA Arena
Sun Aug 14 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre
Tue Aug 16 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Thu Aug 18 – Del Valle, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
Sat Aug 20 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
Sun Aug 21 – The Woodlands, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

The post Video: Mudvayne Frontman Chad Gray Falls Off the Stage While Singing “Not Falling” appeared first on MetalSucks.

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The suspected Kidnappers of Nollywood actors, Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel aka Agbogidi, have demanded the sum of $100,000 for their release. Recall that Okereke and Clemson, who are members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), were abducted on their way from a movie set in Ozalla Town in Enugu State, on Thursday, July […]

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