Whether you’re at work or taking the day off for Presidents’ Day, today’s edition of Movie Morsels has so much to offer we’d like to think George Washington himself would have taken a break from chopping down cherry trees to read it. In addition to the latest word on who will (or won’t) be directing the upcoming The Batman and Shazam, we’ve got a new look at Baby Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a whopping three (!) new clips from Kong: Skull Island, and much more!
The Batman
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh… After losing Ben Affleck as director of the first Batman solo film in its new DC Extended Universe and finding a replacement in Matt Reeves, it appears that Warner Bros. may now have also lost the War for the Planet of the Apes helmer.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, discussions with Reeves have broken down. But if you thought he’d be a great choice (like I do), don’t despair just yet. “The possibility, however, exists that talks could resume when heads cool,” say the Reporter, “The studio is intent on making the movie no matter what, as the Batman franchise has proven to be bigger than one person.”
Fingers crossed that whoever winds up in charge when the dust settles has a solid vision for the Dark Knight’s cinematic future.
Shazam
On a somewhat more positive note, Warner Bros.’ Shazam movie may have found a director in Lights Out helmer David F. Sandberg (who’s also directing August’s Annabelle 2.) While I can’t think of two projects more different than Lights Out and Shazam–which centers on the most childlike of all DC’s superheroes, since he is, quite literally, a boy in the body of the world’s mightiest mortal man–I’m willing to give the studio the benefit of the doubt… though I’m still dreading the thought I’ll have to hear characters on screen refer to the good Captain Marvel as “Shazam,” as DC’s comics have done in recent years. (Marvel, of course, has its own very different Captain Marvel movie on the way, and holds the copyright on the name when it’s used in a title.)
[The Wrap]
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Meanwhile, over the in the Marvel Cinematic Universe… Wondering what that mischievous Baby Groot is getting up to in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2? Well, from the look of the film’s latest international advertising, the little fella’s about to blow himself to smithereens! But don’t worry, as we all saw in the first Guardians of the Galaxy, Groot has a way of cheating death…
Baby Groot is Dynamite on New Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Poster https://t.co/BAaczEaeUe pic.twitter.com/WqBdljnx56
— Comic Book Resources (@CBR) February 19, 2017
Baby Groot Plays With Fire On New Guardians of the Galaxy 2 poster pic.twitter.com/qQzzFTp4QV
— Drunk Superman™ (@DrunkSuperman_) February 19, 2017
[Twitter]
Kong: Skull Island
Kong: Skull Island has officially entered the Rogue One phase of its marketing campaign, with new clips dropping almost too fast for us to keep up with. Today’s bounty includes a look at the titular isle’s ginormous graveyard locale, the cast in full Apocalypse Now helicopter mode as they first encounter the great ape, and even more of the island’s creepy and evocative scenery with the always awesome John Goodman and Samuel L. Jackson. Enjoy!
Zootopia
Oh Zootopia, you’re the gift that keeps on giving. Disney’s masterful animated allegory about prejudice, the favorite to win an Oscar in the Best Animated Feature Film category, is cleverly parodying some of this year’s live-action nominees–from La La Land to Hell or High Water–in a new series of posters. Check out a full gallery of ’em here.
[Nerdist]
The Lion King
Finally today, in case you missed it this weekend, Donald Glover and James Earl Jones have signed on to star in the live-action The Lion King. Glover will voice the film’s hero Simba, while Jones will once again voice his proud papa Mufasa, as he did in the original animated Lion King, thus completing the great circle of life.
[Nerdist]
What do you think of today’s top stories? Let us know below!
Featured Image: Warner Bros.
Images: Warner Bros., DC Entertainment, Disney
