No, Tim Burton is not directing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2. But his best friend and frequent collaborator Johnny Depp (pictured above in Jack Sparrow mode) is indeed starring in the sequel to this December’s Harry Potter spinoff film. We’ve got the news in today’s Movie Morsels, along with the latest on Alien: Covenant, a new xXx: Return of Xander Cage trailer, and plenty more for you Morselers!
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2
Move over, Eddie Redmayne, you’ve got company. It was just a matter of time before Johnny Depp got himself a role in a J.K. Rowling joint. After all, the versatile actor has never been one to hide his love of children’s literature and English accents. And with the recent news that the Newt Scamander film franchise is expanding to a full five films, well, there were just a few too many opportunities for Depp to dive in. Though his role in the sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them has not yet been revealed, plenty of rumors are already buzzing around that Depp will make a cameo appearance in the November 18th release. Any guesses as to who he could wind up playing?
[Deadline]
xXx: Return of Xander Cage
“Kick some ass, get the girl, and try to look dope while doing it.” It’s pretty hard to top Samuel Jackson’s introduction when it comes to describing the new trailer for Vin Diesel’s xXx sequel Return of Xander Cage. Suffice it to say that if you like watching very photogenic people, extreme sports used in the service of espionage, and lots of shit blowing up real good, well, you’re gonna love it…
Alien: Covenant
Heads up, Michael Fassbender fans. We’ve known that you’re gonna get twice as much bang for your buck when it comes to the Irish thespian/heartthrob in Ridley Scott’s Alien: Covenant, because he’s actually playing two roles: David, the android he brought to life in Scott’s Prometheus, and another “artificial person” on board the vessel in the sequel’s title. Now we have some details regarding the latter. In an new interview with The Irish Times ol’ Fassy mentions his Covenant crew member…
“I am allowed to say I am playing two robots – Walter and David. I think what’s great about it is that Ridley has gone back to the original DNA of Alien, the horror element of that. But it also has the scope and the scale of Prometheus. Ridley has cut it already. He is a machine. He is an incredible human being and he was in such good form. He is such an imaginative and mischievous figure.”
Alien vs. Predator Galaxy, who brought this interview to our attention, adds that the more advanced Walter is “not a fan of David… He is distrustful of David 8 because the older model has gone without any form of maintenance or upgrades during the ten year interval he has been in isolation between the Prometheus incident and the Covenant crew making landfall on the supposed paradise planet that Alien: Covenant takes place on.”
Gifted
Chris Evans may not be wearing a superhero uniform in next year’s Gifted, but the film’s trailer indicates he’ll display all of Captain America’s heart. In what’s sure to be the feel-good tearjerker of the spring season, the actor plays a man caring for the genius daughter (played by newcomer McKenna Grace) of his late sister, and fighting to retain custody of her when others believe he’s not suited to guide someone of her vast intellect. The always watchable Octavia Spencer and Lindsay Duncan lend support, along with Evans’ real life girlfriend Jenny Slate, who plays his character’s love interest and his niece’s teacher…
Jumanji
Finally today… Dwayne Johnson continues to look like a big bald adorable kid in a candy store on the set of the Jumanji reboot. Yesterday the actor shared a video on Instagram in which he demonstrated a flamethrower he wields in the film that’s custom-built so he can wear it on his arm. “I steer my motorcycle with one hand and become the King of Fire with the other,” says a proud Johnson, before adding, “Already singed the hair off my arm, so we’re off to a great start.”
