Aaron Sorkin finds his Lucy & Desi
And it's not cheap to bring back the 'Sex and the City' women
What to know
Deadpool is joining the MCU and there’s a ton of other Marvel news
The Marvel Cinematic Universe returns from its year+ slumber this week as WandaVision hits Disney+ so take a deep breath because there’s a lot of news from the comic book movie makers: Deadpool 3 will be set in the MCU and rated R, to which Ryan Reynolds joked that it’s because he showed Disney Spider-Man 1 & 2; Black Widow is apparently headed for theaters still (May 7); Black Panther 2 will not feature a CGI Chadwick Boseman; the Oscar Isaac Moon Knight series adds directors Justin Benson and Aaron Moorhea; and early buzz on WandaVision is good.
Aaron Sorkin will direct Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Lucy and Desi | Variety
Lucy, I’m home! Aaron Sorkin has cast Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in his new movie Being the Ricardos. The movie dramatizes a week on set of I Love Lucy in which the couple “will face challenges that could end their careers and their marriage.” Sorkin wrote the script and will direct for Amazon Studios. Playing Lucy seems like a stretch for Kidman, but it’s possible Sorkin’s script is a more understated affair?
Sex and the City stars will make more than $1M per ep | Variety
As I reported here on Dec. 23, Sex and the City is getting a sequel series, subtitled And Just Like That…, at HBO Max — minus Samantha. Now Variety reports that returning stars Parker, Nixon, and Davis will make more than $1 million per episode for the 10-part revival. Kim Cattrall must have really not wanted to return to miss out on that pay day.
Dr. Fauci is hopeful concert venues and theaters can open in the Fall | Variety
When can we go back to a show? Dr. Fauci hopes later this year saying, “if everything goes right, this will occur some time in the fall of 2021.” Fauci added that this hinges on vaccine rollout going smoothly (at least 75% of the population vaccinated) and will still likely include mask wearing at the venue.
Andy Samberg’s new Apple project lines up A+ talent | THR
Andy Samberg is re-teaming with Palm Springs writer Andy Siara for a sci-fi comedy-drama feature at Apple Studios, which would be great news on its own, but get this: It’s based an on original idea by Bojack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg. Wait, there’s more: It will be produced by Noah Hawley and Ben Stiller. No wonder this package apparently caused a bidding war. THR teased the film’s plot details are being kept in “an alternate dimension.” 🤔
Also...
Board game Risk is becoming a TV show from House of Cards creator 🌐
Sacha Baron Cohen says Twitter banning Trump was the ‘most important moment in social media history’ 🐦
Nomadland named Best Picture by National Society of Film Critics 🏆
Here’s how COVID-19 compliance officers keep film sets safe 😷
Benioff and Weiss are developing an adaptation of The Overstory for Netflix 🌳
Ben Affleck will direct Keeper of Lost Cities for Disney 🙇♀️
People are playing Pokemon Red in this guy’s Twitter profile and Pokemon Go made $1.9 billion last year 🎮
What to watch
It’s no surprise Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, now on Netflix, is attracting awards season buzz. It lives up to the hype. Based on the August Wilson play, this 1920s period piece explores the Black experience in America as seen in the recording studio with real-life blues legend Ma Rainey and her band. Though written in 1982, it’s just as relevant and important in 2021. Director George C. Wolfe gives the play filmic vision with engaging camera work and some bonus material you couldn’t do on stage. But it’s the actors that make it sing. Viola Davis disappears into the title role, while Chadwick Boseman, in one of his final performances, gives a tour de force that shows he was only scratching the surface of his talents.
New notables this week:
Herself (Jan 11) - Sundance darling on Amazon | 92% RT
One Night in Miami (Jan 15) - Clay, Cooke, Brown, X on Amazon | 98% RT
WandaVision (Jan 15) - New Marvel series on Disney+ | No RT yet
Promising Young Woman (Jan 15) - Carey Mulligan thriller on VOD | 92%
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About the author: Alex Rabinowitz has led the way on social media and story packaging at media outlets big and small. With his acclaimed Tumblr site PopCultureBrain.com, Alex became a leading figure in emerging social networks and entertainment news. Sourced by many top destinations, including New York Magazine, BuzzFeed, and Videogum, Pop Culture Brain was featured by BuzzFeed and TIME as the best pop culture blog on Tumblr. Alex's writing has appeared on The Huffington Post, GQ.com, Mic, and Time Warner Cable.