Thanks to the good graces (or relentless evils) of the internet and social media, today’s movie fans have the luxury of peaking behind the curtain of their most anticipated upcoming features. This means getting startling insight into the eccentric behaviors of Hollywood superstars, hearing the honest feedback of actors who may not have the highest opinions of their costars and projects, and even influencing the form new films will take. Watch as we tackle all this and more in today’s Nerdist News Talks Back, hosted by Jessica Chobot and featuring Nerdist Editor-in-Chief and Alpha Book Club host Rachel Heine and writer Amy Vorpahl.
After 2012’s Prometheus, you may be restraining optimism for Ridley Scott’s latest outing in the Alien universe, Alien: Covenant. But according to Scott, it was that very middling response that influenced him in the creation of Covenant, convincing him to shift gears for the next chapter. While this may delight some of you, it certainly prompts the question about whether filmmakers should stick to their creative guns or let fan fervor set the course for their exploits.
Oh, and while we’re on the topic of Alien: Covenant, here’s a new clip for your (and, especially, our horror-lovin’ guest Amy’s) viewing pleasure.
Stepping away from the big screen for the next segment, Nerdist News Talks Back delves into the news of the Mass Effect franchise’s hiatus. On the one hand, this means (obviously) no new Mass Effect games for heaven knows how long. On the other, it could mean good things for the company’s other exploits, namely Battlefront 2.
And back we go into–and behind the scenes of–the movie world, where Justice League is once again the hot topic of discussion. Not because of early rave reviews, however. In fact, the DC Extended Universe’s own mainstay Diane Lane, who plays Superman’s adoptive mother Martha Kent, dropped the offhand remark on Watch What Happens LIVE! that the film probably won’t be as good as its top competitor in superhero team-up films: The Avengers.
And finally, since we’re so determined to get the inside scoop on everything and everyone in Hollywood, we turn to that unavoidable topic of Johnny Depp. The actor’s name has been all around the news of late, though not because of his upcoming turn in the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Actually, Depp’s reputation for spending in excess–to the point of bankruptcy–and less-than-admirable on-set behavior has caught up with him, earning him condemnation from fans and colleagues alike. We’ll dig into his money problems, his tardiness to set, and even his insistence to wear an ear piece during shoots as to avoid having to memorize his lines.
That’s this week for you–a peak at the habits of one actor, the opinions of another, and the invisible hand (i.e., your own) hovering over one of the most anticipated movies of the year. What do you think about Depp’s lifestyle, Lane’s projections for Justice League, the future of Mass Effect, and the forthcoming Alien: Covenant? Let us know!
Featured Image: 20th Century Fox
