Jurassic World

Life will find a way next summer.

One of the peculiarities of the modern studio system is that we often know the date a movie will be released long before we know the date when a movie will actually go into production. For example, we’ve known since last year that Jurassic World 2 would be released in June of 2018, but here it is, the end of 2016, and we’re just now learning the timeline to actually make the darn thing. Production schedules, like box office gross, sometimes have a logic all their own.

We’ve gotten tons of information about the vague feel of J.A. Bayona’s Jurassic World 2 — it’ll deal, metaphorically, with the modern-day treatment of animals — but we haven’t heard much about the actual plot. Today, though, it sounds like Universal is finally getting the ball rolling with news of an open casting call for a child actor. Jurassic World attempted to update the franchise for modern audiences, but at least one tradition has stayed the same: it’s not a Jurassic Park movie without kids running form dinosaurs.

We’ve gotten tons of information about the vague feel of J.A. Bayona’s Jurassic World 2 — it’ll deal, metaphorically, with the modern-day treatment of animals — but we haven’t heard much about the actual plot. Today, though, it sounds like Universal is finally getting the ball rolling with news of an open casting call for a child actor. Jurassic World attempted to update the franchise for modern audiences, but at least one tradition has stayed the same: it’s not a Jurassic Park movie without kids running form dinosaurs.

Earlier this year, our own Britt Hayes wrote a brief history of the times when modern filmmakers compared their movies to Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. It was a pretty revealing trend; as movie studios scrambled to give audiences the dark and gritty franchises they assumed audiences wanted, more and more filmmakers used Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises as a kind of fanboy secret handshake.

Despite lukewarm reviews, Jurassic World made more than enough bank at the box office to guarantee a sequel. Universal recently set a 2018 release date for Jurassic World 2, with The Impossible director Juan Antonio Bayona taking over for Colin Trevorrow, who will still work on the screenplay with co-writer Derek Connolly. With just under two years until the next installment in the franchise hits theaters, we’ve been wondering when Bayona & Co. might get to work, and according to a new rumor, it won’t be long from now.

Before Chad Stahelski and David Leitch made their directorial debut, the guys behind John Wick worked as stunt coordinators and second unit directors on films like The Matrix, The Hunger Games and The Wolverine — to name just a fraction of their credits. And while most fans are aware of their movie history, you might not know that the duo also helped Joe and Anthony Russo on Captain America: Civil War, giving them a little assistance with some of their action sequences, of course.

Plus, the show's 25th broadcast will add two brand new categories.

J.J. Abrams revved up the engine on the ol’ Star Wars ship, launching the series on a new journey with The Force Awakens, but declining to return for the subsequent sequels. Instead, Rian Johnson (Looper) and Colin Trevorrow (Jurassic World) will be steering the franchise from here on out, directing Episodes 8 and 9, respectively. Johnson is in production on Episode 8 right now, and according to The Force Awakens star Daisy Ridley, the script is “very good.” How good? Abrams regrets turning down the chance to direct it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was always going to make enough money to make most blockbusters tremble in fear. That was inevitable. It’s a Star Wars movie. The big question lingering over this opening weekend concerned whether or not it’s surely enormous opening weekend would break the records set by Jurassic World earlier this year. And now, with the early estimates in, we can answer that question: yes and no.

These toys can be choked on, break limbs, take out an eye or confuse children on the difference between fake and real weapons.

Prepare yourself... for the EXTREMELY LARGE MONSTERS CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.