I don’t know about you folks, but after this summer’s largely lackluster blockbusters, I am more than ready for next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. And in today’s Movie Morsels, actor Chris Pratt and director James Gunn shed a little light on what we can expect from the film’s most anticipated new character: Star-Lord’s proud papa Ego, as played by Kurt Russell! Plus, the latest on Doctor Strange, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and more…

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Wondering how Peter Quill will react to the news that his dad is a living planet? In the latest issue of Empire magazine, Chris Pratt explains that as far-out as the character Ego might be, his relationship with his son will have an all-too-human dynamic…

“You’re going to see these characters having to endure the realities of being in a family,” says Pratt. “You’re talking about a guy who’s been longing to know who his father is for a long time. He’ll discover if that person lives up to the expectations he has in his head.”

James Gunn sheds a little more light on Ego, describing him as “an ancient cosmic being who has been on the edges of the universe for aeons by himself.”

The director adds that it was Pratt’s idea to cast Kurt Russell (pictured above in Death Proof) in the role: “He was actually not in my head initially, but one day Chris suggested him, and I would have been really disappointed if he’d said no. Hey, if you have to cast anything, Kurt’s a pretty good way to go.”

[Empire]

Doctor Strange

In another corner of the Marvel Universe, it turns out that Doctor Strange may serve as a kind of lead-in to Marvel’s upcoming Hulu series, Runaways (the Doctor Strange prelude comic introduced Tina Minoru and Daniel Drumm). According to That Hashtag Show, Daniel Drumm’s brother, Jericho Drumm (a.k.a. Brother Voodoo), will make a brief appearance in the Doctor Strange film. As will Tina Minoru, who is the mother of Nico Minoru, a member of the Runaways. Take this with a grain of salt, as it’s still just a rumor. But it certainly doesn’t sound too far-fetched.

[Comic Book Resources]

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

In non-Marvel news… We have three new TV spots today for Tim Burton’s adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. Opening on September 30, the film stars Eva Green in the titular role of headmistress for a school for wayward weirdos. Enjoy!

[20th Century Fox]

The Maze Runner: The Death Cure

After what will be almost a full year’s delay, which began when star Dylan O’Brien was injured on set in March, production on the third and final Maze Runner movie, The Maze Runner: The Death Cure, will resume in February of 2017. Directed by Wes Ball, the film’s current release date remains January 12, 2018.

[Deadline]

What Now?

The red band trailer for Kevin Hart’s next concert film, What Now?, has just landed online. James Bond fans take note: it features Oscar winner (and former Bond girl) Halle Berry alongside the diminutive funnyman in a brief 007 spoof…

[Universal]

Transformers: The Last Knight

Finally today… In case you missed the news last night, Once Upon a Time‘s King Arthur, Liam Garrigan, has been tapped by director Michael Bay to play the legendary monarch once more in his Transformers: The Last Knight. Check out our full report on Nerdist News!

[Nerdist]

What do you think of today’s top stories? Let us know below!

Featured Image: Marvel/Disney

Images: Marvel, Disney, The Weinstein Company, ABC, 20th Century Fox