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Thread: F9

  1. #1
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    F9

    Time to start that next thread? Eh, maybe not just yet. I'll wait for the starting gun. And when we do, this will be the starting line.

    Michelle Rodriguez Downplays 'Fast and Furious' Departure Talk
    7:43 AM PDT 9/9/2017 by Rhonda Richford


    Donato Sardella/Getty Images for U.S. Fund for UNICEF
    Michelle Rodriguez

    “I’m sure he’ll convince me,” she said of co-star and producer Vin Diesel after an Instagram post in which she said her character needed more development.

    After an impassioned Instagram post that was widely interpreted as a goodbye to the Fast and Furious franchise, Michelle Rodriguez said it was less a threat than an encouragement for the writers to explore the female characters more.

    While the series of films has cast strong female characters with Helen Mirren and Charlize Theron starring in recent outings, the movies don’t pass the first step of the famed Bechdel test where women interact as individuals and not as accessories of men.

    “We always see the guys talking, we know what they’re thinking and we know their relationships, but I can count with one hand in eight movies how many times the women talk to each other,” said Rodriguez. “So it’s, ‘Who are they, what are they about, and do you care?’ I just brought up a question, and if that doesn’t get answered and as I start on this path [of more dramatic roles], I just wonder if our paths meet at all.”

    However, the actress emphasized her strong relationship with franchise co-star and producer Vin Diesel. “I’m sure he’ll convince me,” she said of coming back for the next installment. Rodriguez said Diesel is aware of her concerns, and while both see it as a platform to promote multiculturalism within Hollywood, she also wants the films to evolve and address global violence against women and other cultural issues. “Yes, you’re there to entertain people, but when you’re on that scale you also have a responsibility. I won’t accept anything else, and Vin won’t accept anything else. He knows, he gets it.”

    Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the Deauville Film Festival, where she was set to receive a career honor, Rodriguez also called out Hollywood for its lack of diversity. “You know you penetrate 80 percent of the [global] market, but you don’t want to take on the responsibility of representing those markets you are penetrating,” she said. “Represent the grand majority of the cultures and involve them in your storytelling — don’t just feed us your whiteness.”

    The actress also cast doubt on her returning for the next installment of James Cameron’s Avatar. Her character died at the end of the last film, and it seems it will stay that way. “They’re bringing a lot of people back from the dead, but I don’t think I’m one of them,” she said.

    After forging a career with a series of tough-chick roles, Rodriguez said she felt she was hitting a career ceiling and is refocusing on the craft of acting. First up is portraying a housewife in Steve McQueen’s upcoming heist film Widows, which she found more challenging than some of her more physical roles.

    Taking on the role of an unambitious wife who hasn’t ventured far from the neighborhood she grew up in was “one of my greatest fears,” said Rodriguez. McQueen took her to a lot of uncomfortable places which forced her to grow as an actress, she explained.

    Rodriguez is now focused on finding more of these roles — save perhaps for the lead in an action film down the line — and producing her own material.

    “There aren’t enough women out there doing it, and I don’t want to be an example of somebody who sucks. I feel like I have a weight to carry,” she said of the two-year development of her first project, a CIA drama for television that she is set to pitch to networks soon.
    “I’m sure he’ll convince me" - I'm sure the ridiculous payout will convince Michelle. That would convince anyone.
    Gene Ching
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  2. #2
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    Fast and Furious 9

    Time to split this thread.

    OCTOBER 04, 2017 10:23am PT by Pamela McClintock
    'Fast and Furious 9' Pushed Back a Year to Spring 2020


    Courtesy of Universal Pictures
    'Fate of the Furious'

    Universal also announced that Walt Dohrn is returning to direct 'Trolls 2.'

    The ninth installment in Universal's high-octane Fast and the Furious franchise is being pushed back a year, the studio said Wednesday.

    The movie, which doesn't yet have a director, was to have raced into theaters on April 19, 2019. It will now open April 10, 2020, which is Easter weekend. Many of the franchise stars are returning, led by Vin Diesel. It is unclear whether Dwayne Johnson will return.

    Earlier this year, Fate of the Furious, the eighth installment, boasted the biggest global launch of all time on its way to earning $1.238 billion worldwide. The main franchise continues with Furious 9 and Furious 10, which has a release date of April 2, 2021. It's unclear whether Furious 10 will reschedule.

    Following the release of Fate of the Furious, Universal began plotting a Fast and Furious spinoff with Johnson and Jason Statham. It's possible the spinoff could be released in 2019.

    In addition to the Fast 9 news, Universal and DreamWorks Animation announced that Trolls 2 will move up from April 10, 2020, to Feb. 14, 2020, and that Walt Dohrn is returning to direct the film, while Gina Shay will once again produce. (Dohrn co-directed Trolls with Mike Mitchell.)
    For reference:
    Fast and Furious 7
    Fast and Furious 6
    The Fate of the Furious
    Fast and Furious 9
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    Fast & Furious Spin Off

    This will have to be split off at some future date too.

    OCTOBER 05, 2017 4:07pm PT by Borys Kit
    Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham 'Fast and Furious' Spinoff Gets 2019 Release (Exclusive)


    Courtesy of Universal Pictures
    Dwayne Johnson (left), Jason Statham

    The film is being written by Chris Morgan.

    Just because Universal pushed its next Fast and the Furious chapter back a year doesn’t mean the studio is sitting idle.

    In fact, it’s just switching gears to focus on the much-buzzed-about Fast & Furious spinoff that is intended to be a starring vehicle for Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.

    With Fast 9 moved back to 2020, Universal is now officially putting the project on the calendar, dating it for a July 26, 2019, opening.

    Chris Morgan, who has shepherded the script chores since 2006's Toyko Drift, is now writing the spinoff that will focus on Luke Hobbs, the Diplomatic Security Service agent played by Johnson, and Deckard Shaw, an assassin character who was one of the primary bad guys in the franchise before being redeemed and joining the motley crew of antiheroes that make up the roll call.

    Meanwhile, sources say that one reason for Fast 9's push was to accommodate potential director scheduling. Sources also say Justin Lin may be lining up to return to the franchise and is the top man to helm the core entry of Fast 9.

    Johnson first appeared in 2011’s Fast Five and has become a major factor in the franchise's rejuvenation and growth. He has starred in four of the eight films. Statham cameoed in Fast & Furious 6 and co-starred in the last two films. It was during the making of the last installment, The Fate of the Furious, that Universal began mulling a spinoff with the two actors after seeing their chemistry spark in the dailies.

    No deals have been made with the actors.

    “Fast & Furious is one of Universal’s most beloved properties, and we handle every decision we make surrounding this franchise with great care,” Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley told The Hollywood Reporter. “The global brand of Fast & Furious is strong and full of iconic characters, and we look forward to continuing to build on the film that started it all, as well as expanding into different narratives beginning with our first spinoff.”

    The Fast & Furious saga began as a 2001 mid-budget thriller that was trying to catch the fumes of the street racing culture in the San Fernando Valley around the turn of the century. But, along the way, the movie series reinvented itself into a heist and action franchise that has seen the last two chapters — 2015’s Furious 8 and 2016’s Fate of the Furious — gross $1.5 billion and $1.$1.2 billion, respectively.

    Universal has also turned the films into a brand that encompasses consumer products, a theme park ride and, starting next year, a live arena show.
    My head reels at spin off puns, plus there's Donnie/Rogue One title plays - oh please, PLEASE, make that the spin off.

    From my review - xXx: Return of Xander Cage: Donnie, Tony, Bisping and Deepika:
    It remains true to the previous two films, and if successful, could easily perpetuate the franchise with a wider, more diverse cast. In fact, if the Chinese and/or Indian box offices are profitable, it’s easy to envision the next installment pulling another Darius Stone move, with either Xiang or Serena stepping into the xXx lead role.
    Gene Ching
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    Hobbs & Shaw (Official Trailer)

    Gene Ching
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    Cena

    I hope he has a fight scene with the Rock. Like an old skool pro-wrasslin fight scene.

    John Cena Officially Joins ‘Fast & Furious 9’
    By Anthony D'Alessandro
    June 7, 2019 2:06pm


    REX/Shutterstock

    Vin Diesel teased about John Cena’s casting in the ninth installment of Fast & Furious back in April on Instagram, and Universal officially confirmed Friday that the Blockers actor is a lock.

    Cena’s character is under wraps, the only word coming to us is that he plays “a badass.” Dwayne Johnson, we hear, will not be in Fast & Furious 9.

    Dan Casey is writing the screenplay from a story by Justin Lin. Production starts later this month for a May 22, 2020 release.

    Diesel is producing through his One Race Films and Lin for Perfect Storm Entertainment.

    Cena is repped by ICM Partners.
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    filming begins

    Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez celebrate first day of filming Fast & Furious 9
    By Devan Coggan June 24, 2019 at 07:50 PM EDT


    EVERETT COLLECTION

    05/22/20

    Fast & Furious 9 is hitting the road.

    The first day of shooting has wrapped on the as-yet-untitled Fast sequel, the ninth — ninth! — film in the long-running franchise. Vin Diesel shared a video from the set on Instagram, in which he (wearing what looks like a Toretto mechanic’s shirt) and Michelle Rodriguez thanked the series’ fans for their support over the years.

    “We just completed our first day,” Diesel says. “It feels like a miracle — one hard-earned, but we’re just so grateful.”

    vindiesel
    Verified

    Click video for sound

    6,305,310 views
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    vindiesel
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    First day completed!
    Blessed beyond words.
    #Fast9 2020
    1d

    Nathalie Emmanuel, who joined the franchise with 2015’s Furious 7, also celebrated the start of filming on Twitter, using emojis to hint at which other cast members might be returning: In addition to Diesel’s Dominic Toretto and Rodriguez’s Letty, the remaining four likely represent Tyrese Gibson’s Roman Pearce, Jordana Brewster’s Mia, Ludacris’ Tej Parker, and Emmanuel’s hacker Ramsey. (Diesel has previously confirmed Brewster’s return to the franchise, even though her character is married to the late Paul Walker‘s character Brian.)

    Nathalie Emmanuel

    @missnemmanuel
    Day one of shooting Fast and Furious 9 today... The team is back together 👨🏼*🦲👩🏻👨🏿*🦲🙋🏻*♀️👨🏾*💻👩🏽*💻

    21.4K
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    Justin Lin is also returning to direct the latest Fast, after previously helming four other installments, while wrestler John Cena is joining the Fast family in a new role.

    Fast 9 will hit theaters May 20, 2020, with a planned 10th installment set for April 2021.
    For #10, they should go all xXx.
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  7. #7
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    F&f9

    Always sorry to hear this. And I thought F&F9 was mostly CGI. I suppose there's danger in any stunt.

    GLOBAL JULY 22, 2019 9:51AM PT
    ‘Fast & Furious 9’ Production Halted After Stuntman Injured in Fall on Set
    By STEWART CLARKE
    International Correspondent
    @varietystewart


    CREDIT: MOVIESTORE/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK

    An accident on the set of Universal’s “Fast & Furious 9” in the United Kingdom has left a stuntman in the hospital with a serious head injury. Production on the movie has halted at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden, near London.

    “We had an injury on the set of ‘FAST 9’ today in Leavesden with one of our stuntmen,” a Universal spokesperson confirmed to Variety on Monday. “We have halted production for the day to focus on this situation.”

    Police said they were called to an incident shortly before noon U.K. time and an air ambulance was duly called out.

    “An ambulance, three ambulance officer vehicles and Essex and Herts [Hertfordshire] Air Ambulance were called to Leavesden Studios shortly before midday today (July 22), following reports of a man injured in a fall. One patient with a serious head injury was transported to the Royal London Hospital by air ambulance,” authorities said in a statement.

    “Fast & Furious 9” is scheduled to open in May 2020. It will star Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, John Cena, Helen Mirren, and Charlize Theron. Whether any of the stars were on set when the accident took place is not yet known.

    The accident is the latest in a series of recent incidents at the studio. In June a man sustained a neck injury and was hospitalized after an altercation with another crew member on the set of Anne Hathaway’s “The Witches.” A huge fire damaged one of the sets of HBO series “Avenue 5” earlier this month. Since then, unspecified “foreign bodies” have been discovered in food at a restaurant at the studio and police are investigating.

    Leavesden was the base for the Harry Potter movies. It is now home to the popular Harry Potter studio tour. With studio space in demand in the U.K., an expansion program is underway.
    THREADS
    Stunts - injuries & deaths
    Fast and Furious 9
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    Charlize

    Charlize Theron ditches the dreads for Cipher's return in Fast & Furious 9
    By Marcus Jones September 02, 2019 at 11:55 AM EDT


    MATT KENNEDY/UNIVERSAL
    Fast and Furious 9

    “She’s baaaaack,” reads an Instagram from Charlize Theron, showing off two photos from the set of Fast & Furious 9.

    After offing one of the Toretto family’s loved ones and parachuting away from her airbase in The Fate of the Furious, Cipher will be back to again face off against Dom (Vin Diesel) and company in Fast & Furious 9. This time though, as Theron’s post shows, the cyberterrorist has traded in her questionable dreads for a badass bowl cut.

    Not many plot details have been given about the ninth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, but returning along with Theron and the usual suspects is Dame Helen Mirren (her third franchise appearance, after a cameo in the spin-off Hobbs & Shaw this summer). Justin Lin will also be directing the film after passing his duties to James Wan and F. Gary Gray for Furious 7 and The Fate of the Furious, respectively.

    charlizeafrica
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    charlizeafrica
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    She’s baaaaack #Fast9
    3d
    The film will also feature Fast & Furious newcomers like John Cena (Blockers) and Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy).

    Fast & Furious 9 is set to hit theaters May 22, 2020.
    But I liked Charlize in dreads...
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    Similce Diesel

    I'm not sure how to pronounce 'Similce'. Anyone?

    DECEMBER 9, 2019 4:02PM PT
    Vin Diesel Teases ‘Fast & Furious 9,’ Celebrates Daughter Similce’s Acting Debut in Netflix Spinoff ‘Spy Racers’
    By NICHOLAS WHITE


    CREDIT: MEDIAPUNCH/SHUTTERSTOCK

    A family-friendly version of the “Fast & Furious” world revved up at Universal City’s AMC Theatre on Saturday, with Vin Diesel bringing 11-year-old daughter Similce to the premiere of the Netflix and DreamWorks animated series, “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers,” which features both of their voices and Diesel as an executive producer.

    The streaming show is the first TV spinoff of the 18-year-old film franchise and will tide fans over before “Fast & Furious 9” hits theaters next May. “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers” focuses on Dominic Toretto’s cousin Tony (voiced by “Teen Wolf’s” Tyler Posey) and his group of young, spy-race recruit friends. Similce lends her voice to the newly created character of Sissy Benson, the sister of one of Tony’s crew members, Frostee (voiced by Luke Youngblood). “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers” marks her acting debut.

    Giving Similce a huge and introducing her to the crowd before the premiere screening, Diesel reflected on the day Similce was born, while 2009’s “Fast & Furious” was filming. Diesel revealed he had been keeping her birth date a secret, even from his co-stars, including from the late Paul Walker, whom Diesel calls “Pablo.”

    “[Similce] was born while we were shooting ‘Fast 4,’” Diesel said. “It was a long day, where Pablo and I were fighting each other in this scene. He came to my trailer at the end of the day and said, ‘Something is on your mind.’ I had a secret. I wasn’t telling anyone in the world that my daughter was about to be born. I’ll never forget what he said to me. He said, ‘Vin, you go into that hospital room, and you cut the umbilical cord. It will be the best day of your life.’ That’s the day that she was born. I say that because that’s how real the themes of familyhood run in the ‘Fast & Furious’ saga, and why I am so proud.”

    Walker’s 21-year-old daughter, Meadow Walker, also attended Saturday’s event, in addition to “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers” cast members Camille Ramsey, Charlet Chung, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Jorge Diaz and Manish Dayal.

    Diesel also gave a brief preview of the upcoming “Fast & Furious 9,” which wrapped filming in November. “We know that ‘Fast 9’ is all fatherhood,” he told the crowd.

    [Spoiler alert: Dom’s son, Baby Brian (named after Walker’s character Brian O’Conner) was introduced in 2017’s “Fate of the Furious,” and looks to play into next year’s film, as well. His mom is Elena Neves, played by Elsa Pataky. In June, Diesel and his movie sister Jordana Brewster (who plays Mia Toretto) introduced Isaac — the child actor who plays Baby Brian — via Instagram video.]

    “Fast & Furious: Spy Racers” begins streaming on Dec. 26 on Netflix.
    THREADS
    F&F9
    Fast & Furious: Spy Racers (Netflix animated series)
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    F9: Fast & Furious 9 - Official Trailer (2020) Vin Diesel, John Cena

    Gene Ching
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    Hollywood impact

    Mulan is still on at this point. I'm scheduled to go to the screener soon.

    Hollywood Coronavirus Cancellations: A List of Film, TV, and Entertainment Events Impacted By Pandemic
    Posted on Thursday, March 12th, 2020 by Ethan Anderton



    The coronavirus strain known as COVID-19 isn’t going away anytime soon, and the spread of the infection has already been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. This has resulted in the cancellation and postponing of many major film, TV and entertainment events around the world, as well as shutting down certain film and TV productions, or at the very least changing how they operate. Because the updates are coming so fast and fierce, we’ll be keeping an updated list as new coronavirus cancellations and interruptions are announced each day.

    Coronavirus Cancellations (Constantly Updated)
    We will update this list as required. The dates signify when the cancellation took place with information gathered from various sources, including and especially USA Today and IndieWire, who have been keeping track of the ongoing cancellations and delays.


    March 12
    Fast and Furious 9 (F9) Release Delayed to 2021 – Universal Pictures has decided to delay the global release of Fast and Furious 9 by an entire year. It is now slated to open in April 2, 2021 in North America, but specific international dates were not revealed at this time.

    The Lovebirds Release Delayed – Variety reports Paramount Pictures has delayed the romantic comedy The Lovebirds starring Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae. Originally slated for release on April 3, the movie now has new release date.

    A Quiet Place Part II Release Delayed – The worldwide release of A Quiet Place II was reported by Deadline. Originally intended for release overseas starting on March 18 and in the US on March 20, but the movie has yet to be given a new release date. Get more in our full story.

    Scott C’s Great Showdowns Gallery Events Canceled – Scott C’s latest art show at Gallery 1988 is canceling all in-gallery events, as well as a planned global scavenger hunt for prints, but will still have scheduled print releases and livestreams.

    Universal Television Delays Production on Shows – Deadline reports the second seasons of Netflix’s Russian Doll and AppleTV+’s Little America, as well as the first season of Rutherford Falls for Peacock, have all been delayed due to coronavirus concerns. Most of the shows require international travel, which is largely why the decision was made to delay production start.

    Broadway Usher Tests Positive for Coronavirus – A part-time Broadway usher who worked at the productions of Who’s Afraid of Virgina Woolf? at the Booth Theatre between March 3 and March 7 and Six at the Brooks Atkinson on the evening of February 25 and the afternoon of March 1 has tested positive for coronavirus.

    Both of the productions will continue, according to Deadline, and the two theater owners, Shubert Organization, owner of the Booth, and the Nederlander Organization, owner of the Brooks Atkinson, said the venues will have a deep cleaning performed. However, if any ticket holders wish to exchange for a future performance instead, they may do so.
    continued next post
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    Continued from previous post

    March 11
    California Governor Urges Cancellation of Large Gatherings – The Los Angeles Times reported that California Governor Gavin Newsom and state health official are recommending and urging the cancellation of upcoming gatherings of 250 or more people across the entire state in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. This recommendation does not come with the force of law to stop these events, but that could change if the coronavirus situation continues to get worse.

    Hollywood Agencies and Companies Starting to Work Remotely – Deadline reports Hollywood talent agencies like CAA, UTA, ICM Partners and Paradigm are making adjustments to have their employees work from home in order to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

    Meanwhile, Viacom, who owns Paramount Pictures, MTV, Comedy Central and more, said they will start testing whether or not they can have their employees also working from home instead of going into offices at this time.

    Cinema Con 2020 Canceled – Variety reported the cancellation of CinemaCon 2020, the annual trade show for theater owners from around the world where the latest developments and advances in exhibition, distribution, marketing, publicity, advertising, social media, theater equipment and concessions are showcased. The event was slated to take place from March 30 through April 2.

    Here’s the official statement from John Fithian and Mitch Newhauser from the National Association of Theater Owners:

    “It is with great regret we are announcing the cancellation of CinemaCon 2020. Each spring, motion picture exhibitors, distributors and industry partners from around the world meet in Las Vegas to share information and celebrate the moviegoing experience. This year, due to the travel ban from the European Union, the unique travel difficulties in many other areas of the world and other challenges presented by the Coronavirus pandemic, a significant portion of the worldwide motion picture community is not able to attend CinemaCon. While local outbreaks vary widely in severity, the global circumstances make it impossible for us to mount the show that our attendees have come to expect. After consultation with our attendees, trade show exhibitors, sponsors, and studio presenters, NATO has decided therefore to cancel CinemaCon 2020. We look forward to continuing the 10-year tradition of presenting the largest movie theater convention in the world and joining our attendees in future celebrations of the moviegoing experience.”

    PaleyFest 2020 Postponed – The annual television showcase of some of the biggest and best television shows has been postponed with new dates for the festival yet to be announced. Shows like Modern Family, The Mandalorian, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Boys, Star Trek: Picard, Schitt’s Creek, and more were slated to be featured at the festival, but they will have to wait for the event to be rescheduled. Here’s the full statement from the Paley Center for Media:

    “As you are aware, the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to remain of the utmost public concern. For several weeks now, the Paley Center, along with our venue host, The Dolby Theatre, has monitored the situation closely, staying in daily contact with local, state, and federal partners, as well as following the recommendations issued by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and following the guidelines of the local health department. Based on the most recent news and out of an abundance of concern, we have made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s PaleyFest. While we were looking forward to presenting another stellar lineup of PaleyFest events, the safety of our event participants, guests, and staff is the highest priority. We are exploring options to reschedule the festival and all ticket purchases will be honored for the new dates.”

    NBA Suspended 2019-20 Basketball Season – The NBA announced the suspension of the current season of basketball after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. The news came just before the Utah Jazz were set to play an away game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Gameplay will be suspended entirely until further notice and will determine when they can resume play as the coronavirus situation develops.

    Talk Shows Avoid Having Studio Audiences – Deadline confirmed New York’s late night network talk shows The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah will not have studio audiences for their tapings. In addition, cable talk shows Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Watch What Happens with Andy Cohen will follow suit.

    Los Angeles talk shows have not announced any sweeping changes to their recording plans yet with live audiences, but The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The View and Live With Kelly And Ryan will not film with audiences either. Conan is currently on a two-week hiatus, but their filming plans could easily change in the future.

    Riverdale Production Suspended – Production on The CW series was suspended after a person working on the show was recently in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Warner Bros. TV told Deadline:

    “We are working closely with the appropriate authorities and health agencies in Vancouver to identify and contact all individuals who may have come into direct contact with our team member,” the statement continued. “The health and safety of our employees, casts and crews is always our top priority. We have and will continue to take precautions to protect everyone who works on our productions around the world.”

    Survivor Production Delayed – CBS has delayed the production of the next two seasons of Survivor. As of now the premiere dates for those seasons in September 2020 and February 2021 have not been delayed, but that could change if the production does not begin with enough time to spare. Read our full story on the matter over here

    HBO’s Night of Too Many Stars Postponed – USA Today reported the event hosted by Jon Stewart and presented by HBO in partnership with NEXT for AUTISM has been pushed back. The show was slated to take place on April 18 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. No new date has been set yet.

    Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Postponed – Variety reported annual awards show from Nickelodeon where kids pick their favorite movies, TV shows, movie stars, musicians and more has been postponed until further notice. No new date has been set yet.

    E3 (The Electronic Entertainment Expo) Canceled – Kotaku reported the tradeshow for video games slated to take place from June 9 through June 11 has been canceled. In place of the event, there will be “an online experience to showcase industry announcements and news in June 2020.”

    GLAAD Awards Canceled – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced the cancellation of their awards intended to take place on March 19. It’s not clear if thy will be rescheduled.

    Adam Sandler Postpones March Comedy Tour Dates – In a post to Twitter, the comedian announced that March tour dates would be postponed until a later time. It is not clear when they will be rescheduled and more dates could be canceled.

    March 10
    The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Production Halted – The Marvel Studios series was slated to shoot an entire week in Prague, but they stopped before finishing due to spreading coronavirus concerns. It is not clear when and where production will finish the scenes meant to be shot there. Get more in our full story.

    Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway Release Delayed – Deadline reported the global release of the children’s movie sequel has been pushed back to August 7 by Sony Pictures.

    Game Shows Filming Without Audiences – Deadline reported Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune announced they would be taping episodes without live studio audiences, especially since much of the audiences of those shows consists of older viewers more susceptible to coronavirus.

    March 6
    SXSW Festival Canceled – The movie, TV, music and tech festival was canceled by the city of Austin one week before the event was slated to begin on March 13. Festival organizers may reschedule the festival, but the cancellation has created severe problems for them, and it might prevent the fest from returning in 2021.

    March 4
    No Time to Die Global Release Delayed – Sony Pictures made the decision to delay the global release of No Time to Die from April to November. The film will now open in the UK on November 12 and in the US on November 25. Read more in our full story over here.

    February 24
    Mission: Impossible 7 Production Halted in Italy – After the outbreak worsened significantly in Italy, USA Today reported Paramount Pictures chose to halt production on Mission: Impossible 7. It’s not clear when/if shooting will still take place there in the future.
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  13. #13
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    Will we have a Summer rush this year?

    Feb 12, 2021 6:36am PT
    ‘Black Widow’ vs. ‘F9’: Which Summer Blockbuster Will Blink First?


    By Rebecca Rubin


    Courtesy of Marvel
    Disney’s “Black Widow” and Universal’s “F9” are poised to kick off summer moviegoing season. Yet it’s unlikely either blockbuster will actually arrive on schedule.

    While neither film has been postponed, industry experts and insiders have been speculating that Hollywood’s next round of release date delays will begin to impact the middle of 2021.

    At this point, it’s almost expected that movies due out in the first half of the year will be moved yet again. With coronavirus cases rampant and the vaccine rollout going more slowly than many hoped, studios and by extension, cinema operators, are essentially in the same situation they were 10 months ago: audiences aren’t going to the movies.

    Even with President Joe Biden’s recent announcement that the U.S. will be able to vaccinate 300 million people by July, it’s still too soon to tell how quickly Americans will be able to resume everyday activities.

    In the interim, however, ticket sales aren’t doing much to encourage studios. With 60% of U.S. theaters closed, the top 10 movies combined have brought in between $7 million to $12 million each weekend, according to Box Office Mojo. Compounding matters, conversations around reopening theaters in major markets like New York and Los Angeles have seemingly come to a standstill, and Hollywood players have been pretty clear that they don’t intend to open a buzzy tentpole without theaters on the coasts welcoming patrons.

    After MGM announced in January that “No Time to Die,” Daniel Craig’s final outing as James Bond, will no longer hit theaters in April (it’s now slated for Oct. 8), it set off a small ripple. Universal pushed the Bob Odenkirk thriller “Nobody” to April, Paramount bounced “A Quiet Place Part II” to September and Sony bumped “Ghostbusters: Afterlife and “Cinderella” to November and July, respectively. (Meanwhile Warner Bros., seemingly operating in another universe due to its hybrid HBO Max agreement, moved “Godzilla vs. Kong” up two months from May to March).

    Yet the two biggest movies positioned to open in the next few months, Scarlett Johansson-led Marvel adventure “Black Widow” (set for May 7) and “Fast and Furious” sequel “F9” (set for May 28), have not wavered. And it’s not because their respective studios are optimistic that they’ll be able to open them in theaters as planned. The decision isn’t if these titles should move, it’s more likely a matter of assessing where to move them.

    However, it’s an especially significant decision because postponing “Black Widow” and “F9” signals to the rest of the film industry that moviegoing may be absent another summer season.

    There have been frequent rumors that “Black Widow” may keep its May release date and take a route similar to “Raya and the Last Dragon,” meaning it would premiere simultaneously in theaters and on Disney Plus for a premium price. On Disney’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday, Disney CEO Bob Chapek debunked that theory and stressed that the studio is “still intending [‘Black Widow’] to be a theatrical release.”

    According to insiders, that’s partially because Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige, the lead architect behind the meticulously constructed Marvel Cinematic Universe, was opposed to a hybrid rollout. Having produced many of the studio’s highest-grossing movies, including “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” Feige’s opinion certainly carries considerable weight at Disney. But that doesn’t mean the powers that be can’t eventually convince Feige to change his mind — or overrule him completely.

    Sources suggest Disney has three to four weeks before having to make a decision about “Black Widow” and Universal has slightly more time for “F9” because it’s not expected to debut until three weeks after the Marvel film. “Black Widow,” in particular, represents its own set of complications because of the interconnected nature of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which now spans both feature films meant for theatrical distribution, and limited and ongoing TV series created for Disney Plus. Bumping “Black Widow” means that “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (July 9) and “Eternals” (Nov. 5) would almost certainly be shuffled around as well. It could also throw Marvel’s carefully planned roll-out of its Disney Plus shows into disarray as well — after “The Falcon and the Winter Solider” in March, at least four other titles are set to premiere on the streamer this year.

    Meanwhile, Universal plans to keep a traditional theatrical release for “F9” because “Fast & Furious” is among the studio’s most lucrative properties. Prior to the pandemic, the upcoming entry would have easily generated more than $1 billion worldwide. Under the current circumstances, getting ticket sales anywhere near that number would be a feat as unrealistic as any of the gravity-defying stunts performed in a “Fast” movie. Though Universal last year forged an agreement with major theater chains, including AMC and Cinemark, to put its movies on demand sooner than usual, even the most optimistic outcome would result in a money-losing proposition given the impaired theatrical marketplace. Too few countries have reopened movie theaters, and too few people are going in the areas where moviegoing has returned.

    For now, Universal is waiting to see how the box office recovers in China, where the “Fast” movies are enormously popular. Hinging upon Asian countries, “F9” could end up opening later in summer, possibly in July or August, or down the line in 2021. There’s even a world in which it is delayed another year.

    “Black Widow” and “F9” are no small propositions; they each carry nine-figure marketing campaigns on top of $200 million-plus production budgets. Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet,” which attempted to restart moviegoing last September and grossed $363 million globally, has fielded the strongest result yet for a coronavirus-era release. Months later, “Wonder Woman 1984” tapped out with a meager $154 million worldwide. If “Black Widow” and “F9” replicated those results, they would stand to lose millions upon millions.

    One positive: “Black Widow” and “F9” both benefit from brand awareness, meaning the general public is already familiar with these franchises. Their respective studios don’t need to reintroduce the characters to audiences the same way they would have to with an original property. And, unlike James Bond, who has lucrative partnerships with Heineken and Audi, among others, neither “Fast” nor “Black Widow” have significant consumer product tie-ins, which makes it easier and less costly for them to pick up and move to a new date.

    The eventual retreat of “Black Widow” and “F9” may have serious implications for the movie business. Several titles, including Ryan Reynolds’ sci-fi adventure “Free Guy” (May 21), Paramount’s “Infinite” starring Mark Wahlberg (May 28), Sony’s “Venom” sequel (June 25) and “Top Gun: Maverick” (July 2), remain on the calendar. But plans could be amended should “Black Widow” and “F9” wave the white flag on summer.

    What’s tricky is the back half of the year has become so stacked, there’s hardly any room to slot in new titles without pushing others back. Starting in fall, blockbuster-hopefuls are scheduled nearly every single week: “A Quiet Place” (Sept. 17), “Many Saints of Newark” (Sept. 24), “Dune” (Oct. 1), “Halloween Kills” (Oct. 15), “Eternals” (Nov. 5), “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” (Nov. 11), “Mission: Impossible” (Nov. 19), “West Side Story” (Dec. 10) and “The Matrix 4” (Dec. 22).

    At a closer glance, it appears that nobody told the holiday season that there’s still a pandemic raging.
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  14. #14
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    Some might call it nepotism...

    ...although I suppose the son playing the father is fair.

    NEWS
    Vin Diesel’s Son Joins Fast And Furious 9, Proving It Really Is All About Family
    DIRK LIBBEY
    PUBLISHED: MAR. 22. 2021 6:34 AM

    The Fast & Furious franchise has always been about "family" and it turns out that's not just a catchphrase. When the next movie in the franchise, simply titled, F9 opens in theaters, it will not only include new members of that family, like John Cena, who will play the brother of Vin Diesel's Dominic Toretto, but it will reportedly also apparently an actual member of Vin Diesel's family. A new report claims that Diesel's son Vincent Sinclair will appear in the film, as part of a flashback sequence where he will play a young Dom.

    The report comes from TMZ who got a hold of the young Vincent Sinclair's contract. He was paid $1,005 for some work on camera back in 2019. It seems that the young kid was brought in to play his dad's character as a child in a flashback sequence. All this lines up with what we know of the film itself, as it will also introduce a previously unknown brother for Diesel's character, so giving the audience a flashback or two that shows us the relationship between the two of them, and probably whatever event split them up, would make a lot of sense.

    While the Fast & Furious movies have never needed to be all that serious or realistic, the fact that the main character has a sibling that has never been mentioned in eight previous films, despite the fact that another sibling has been a big part of the films, certainly does feel like a major swerve in the story. According to previous films, Dom raised his sister after their father's death. It's unclear if the John Cena character was already out of the picture at that point, or if Dom tried to raise them both, but ultimately failed in some way.

    We'll find out what's really going on when F9 finally opens up. The movie is currently set to open June 25. When F9 originally pulled up stakes on its original 2020 release it pushed itself back a full year, a move that that seemed excessive at the that time, but has appeared to be prophetic as time has gone on. Even that full year delay wasn't quite enough as the movie has since been delayed from April to May, and earlier this month F9 pushed itself back another month from its late May opening to June 25.

    One certainly hopes that this last delay will be the last one required. Fans of the franchise have been waiting for more than a year now to learn not only where Dom's brother came from, but also how fan favorite character Han survived his fiery crash all those years ago.One wonders if that little plot twist would have been revealed in the first trailer if there had been any indication the movie wouldn't come out on time.

    DIRK LIBBEY
    CinemaBlend’s resident theme park junkie and amateur Disney historian. Armchair Imagineer. Epcot Stan. Future Club 33 Member.
    Gene Ching
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  15. #15
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    Press release

    *NEWS RELEASE*

    TO CELEBRATE THE ARRIVAL OF F9 IN THEATERS JUNE 25


    UNIVERSAL PICTURES ANNOUNCES

    “FAST FRIDAYS”

    EIGHT WEEKS OF FREE NATIONWIDE SCREENINGS OF EVERY PREVIOUS FAST AND FURIOUS FILM TO THANK FAST FANS AND TO WELCOME AUDIENCES BACK TO MOVIES

    SELECT THEATERS WILL SCREEN A DIFFERENT FAST FILM EACH FRIDAY BEGINNING APRIL 30, 2021


    “Fast Fridays” will launch in more than 500 U.S. theaters and will then expand to more than 900 theaters nationwide.

    Each of the eight previous Fast films will screen each Friday in chronological order, beginning with 2001’s The Fast and the Furious on Friday, April 30.

    Visit www.FastFridayScreenings.com
    for information on participating theaters and for details on how to receive tickets

    Universal City, Calif., April 23, 2021 — Universal Pictures announced today that to celebrate the arrival of F9, the newest chapter in the Fast and Furious Saga, in theaters June 25, the studio and its theater partners across the U.S. will launch a free nationwide screening series of all eight previous Fast films, beginning April 30, 2021.

    The eight-week program will invite fans to watch all eight previous Fast films in participating theaters, free of charge, with one film screening each Friday. The films will be screened in chronological order, beginning with 2001’s The Fast and the Furious on April 30 and culminating with 2017’s The Fate of the Furious on June 18.

    The screening series will launch in more than 500 theaters across the U.S. and will ultimately expand to more than 900 theaters. Theaters that join the screening series after April 30 will begin their screenings with whichever film is already scheduled to screen in that week.

    Participating theaters include AMC Theatres, Regal, Cinemark Theatres, Marcus Theatres, Harkins Theatres, Showcase Cinemas, Santikos Entertainment, B&B Theatres, Cinépolis USA, Georgia Theatre Company, Marquee Cinemas, Epic Theatres, EVO Cinemas, Megaplex Theatres, Maya Cinemas, Xscape Theatres, Silverspot Cinema, Golden Star Theaters, MovieScoop Cinemas and Premiere Cinemas.

    Over the course of eight films that have stoked passion in an ever-expanding audience and have earned more than $5 billion at the worldwide box office, Universal Pictures’ record-smashing, homegrown Fast Saga has become the studio’s most-profitable and longest-running franchise. Across social media platforms, the fan following for the movies and cast has grown into the biggest of any active franchise. On the heels of 2017’s The Fate of the Furious, which debuted in theaters as the biggest global opening of all time, the blockbuster franchise has expanded to a multitude of offerings – from toys and video games to an all-new animated series and a successfully launched spin-off franchise.

    “The Fast films are all about family, and Universal wanted to find a way to thank our huge family of Fast fans around the country for their passion and loyalty over the past 20 years,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution. “We’re grateful to our theater partners for their help in making this screening series possible and we are delighted to welcome audiences back to theaters to experience the wild Fast ride all over again. And we cannot wait to blow everyone’s minds with the release of F9 on June 25.”

    Screening tickets will be distributed by each individual theater and will be available the Friday before each weekly screening, starting on Friday, April 30.

    Visit www.FastFridayScreenings.com for further information on how to receive tickets.

    The full schedule of screenings is as follows:

    Friday, 4/30 – The Fast and the Furious

    Friday, 5/7 – 2 Fast 2 Furious

    Friday, 5/14 – The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

    Friday, 5/21 – Fast & Furious

    Friday, 5/28 – Fast Five

    Friday, 6/4 – Fast & Furious 6

    Friday, 6/11 – Furious 7

    Friday, 6/18 – The Fate of the Furious

    In addition to the screening series, Entertainment Weekly’s popular BINGE Podcast will take fans through each of the previous Fast films in an eight-week series featuring exclusive conversations with the stars who brought those movies to life. Each episode will focus on one movie in the franchise with a Fast cast member from that particular film. Beginning April 30, a new episode will drop each “Fast Friday,” every week, leading up to the release of F9 on June 25.

    Media Contacts:

    Universal Pictures: Brad Mendelson, brad.mendelson@nbcuni.com, 818-913-1414

    About F9

    No matter how fast you are, no one outruns their past.

    F9 is the ninth chapter in the Fast & Furious Saga, which has endured for two decades and has earned more than $5 billion around the world.

    Vin Diesel’s Dom Toretto is leading a quiet life off the grid with Letty and his son, little Brian, but they know that danger always lurks just over their peaceful horizon. This time, that threat will force Dom to confront the sins of his past if he’s going to save those he loves most. His crew joins together to stop a world-shattering plot led by the most skilled assassin and high-performance driver they’ve ever encountered: a man who also happens to be Dom’s forsaken brother, Jakob (John Cena, the upcoming The Suicide Squad).

    F9 sees the return of Justin Lin as director, who helmed the third, fourth, fifth and sixth chapters of the series when it transformed into a global blockbuster. The action hurtles around the globe—from London to Tokyo, from Central America to Edinburgh, and from a secret bunker in Azerbaijan to the teeming streets of Tbilisi. Along the way, old friends will be resurrected, old foes will return, history will be rewritten, and the true meaning of family will be tested like never before.

    The film stars returning cast members Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Jordana Brewster and Sung Kang, with Oscar® winner Helen Mirren, with Kurt Russell and Oscar® winner Charlize Theron. F9 also features Grammy-winning superstar Cardi B as new franchise character Leysa, a woman with a connection to Dom’s past, and a cameo by Reggaeton sensation Ozuna.

    F9 is produced by Neal H. Moritz, p.g.a., Vin Diesel, p.g.a., Justin Lin, p.g.a., Jeff Kirschenbaum, p.g.a., Joe Roth, Clayton Townsend, p.g.a., and Samantha Vincent. Universal Pictures presents an Original Film/One Race Films/Perfect Storm production in association with Roth/Kirschenbaum Films, a Justin Lin film. www.thefastsaga.com

    About Universal Pictures

    Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
    Changing the title of this thread from Fast & Furious 9 to F9
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