
WB confirms 2027 release for ‘The Hunt for Gollum'
Set before the events of Peter Jackson's acclaimed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, the film is based on the appendices written by J.R.R. Tolkien and follows Aragorn's secret mission, commissioned by Gandalf the Grey, to track and capture Gollum, who is in possession of the One Ring.
Andy Serkis is confirmed to reprise his iconic role as Gollum and is also rumoured to direct the project. While Ian McKellen is speculated to return as Gandalf, there has been no official confirmation regarding Viggo Mortensen's involvement as Aragorn.
The announcement comes amid a mixed legacy of 'Lord of the Rings' spinoffs. Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit trilogy', though initially promising, was criticised for being unnecessarily stretched. More recently, Amazon's 'The Rings of Power' series drew a lukewarm response, with early intrigue giving way to audience disappointment.
With the franchise's track record in recent years, fans are approaching 'The Hunt for Gollum' with cautious optimism. Whether this latest foray into Middle-earth will recapture the magic of the original films remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: Tolkien enthusiasts will be watching closely as Middle-earth returns to the big screen in 2027.
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Observer
12-07-2025
- Observer
'Superman' aims to save flagging film franchise
Superman is often called upon to save the world from evildoers, but in his latest big-screen incarnation, he's also being asked to swoop in and save a franchise. James Gunn's " Superman ," which opened in theaters worldwide this week, is a reboot aimed at relaunching the so-called DC Universe of comic book-based superhero movies, which also features Wonder Woman and Batman . The celluloid efforts of Warner Bros. and DC Studios have been widely eclipsed by Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe -- the world of Iron Man , Thor , Black Panther, and the Fantastic Four , who are getting their reboot later this month. "Warner Bros. has invested a lot of energy and money in trying to refocus and renew DC Studios, and this is going to be the big release from that," analyst David A. Gross from Franchise Entertainment Research told AFP. The heavy task falls on the shoulders of Gunn, the writer-director who won praise from fans of the genre with Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy " trilogy. The movie's rollout has already encountered several headwinds, including a right-wing backlash to Gunn's comments on Superman's role as an immigrant, and skepticism from fans of the previous Superman films helmed by director Zack Snyder. Gunn has shrugged off the high stakes surrounding the movie's box office success. "Is there something riding on it? Yeah, but it's not as big as people make it out to be," he told GQ Magazine. "They hear these numbers that the movie's only going to be successful if it makes $700 million or something and it's just complete and utter nonsense." The hype around the movie is real -- the White House even superimposed President Donald Trump onto one of the movie's official posters with the caption "THE SYMBOL OF HOPE. TRUTH. JUSTICE. THE AMERICAN WAY. SUPERMAN TRUMP." - 'A diminished genre' - Warner Bros. hopes the DC Universe can catch up with Marvel, which, after years of huge successes with the "Avengers" movies -- has seen more muted box office returns with the recent "Thunderbolts" and "Captain America: Brave New World." Gross explained that superhero films hit a peak right before the COVID-19 pandemic, with box office earnings and audience enthusiasm waning ever since that time. "It's a diminished genre," Gross said. However, the analyst said early buzz for "Superman" was "really good." The film stars up-and-comer David Corenswet as the new Superman/Clark Kent, with "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" star Rachel Brosnahan playing love interest Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as arch-villain Lex Luthor. The story follows the Man of Steel coming to terms with his alien identity as he finds his place in the human world. The supporting cast boasts a selection of other DC Comics characters, from the peacekeeping Green Lantern (Nathan Fillion) -- who is scheduled to reprise the role in the upcoming TV series "Lanterns" -- to the mace-wielding Hawkgirl. Gross noted that July "is the top moviegoing month of the year," leading tracking estimates to forecast a total of more than $100 million for the film's opening weekend in North America. - 'The story of America' - DC Studios, however, must shake off a reputation for producing mediocre films that did not score well with audiences. The last round of "DC Extended Universe" films included the well-liked "Wonder Woman" (2017) starring Gal Gadot -- but also box office flops like "Shazam! Fury of the Gods" (2023) and the under-performing "Aquaman" sequel with Jason Momoa. "The success was mixed, and they were spending a lot of money on some of the new spinoff characters who were not working particularly well," Gross said, pointing at 2021's "The Suicide Squad" -- directed by Gunn -- as an example. The last films featuring Superman, starring Henry Cavill and directed by Snyder, were relatively successful for Warner Bros. until "Justice League" -- DC's effort at recreating the "Avengers" vibe -- which lost millions of dollars. Fans of Snyder have stirred up negative buzz for the new "Superman" movie, voicing hope online that the reboot fails out of a sense of loyalty to the previous films. The backlash was further widened after right-wing pundits groaned about Superman's specific characterization as an immigrant, lamenting the superhero had become "woke." Gunn addressed the criticism, telling The Times newspaper that "Superman is the story of America," with the character reflecting those who "came from other places and populated the country." "I'm telling a story about a guy who is uniquely good, and that feels needed now," he added. Ultimately, time will soon tell if Corenswet's chiseled looks and Gunn's directorial vision will be the superpowers that DC Studios need -- or prove to be its Kryptonite.


Observer
07-07-2025
- Observer
'Superman' returns to screens with 'kindness, flying dogs and space battles'
Donning the famous red cape for the first time in the new "Superman" movie gave actor David Corenswet a big confidence boost. A relative newcomer, Corenswet follows in the footsteps of Christopher Reeve and more recently Henry Cavill, taking over the role of Clark Kent and Superman in the reboot movie, which was launched with a red carpet fan event in London on Wednesday. "When the cape gets on, it really ties the whole thing together. You walk out with it flowing behind you, you feel like, 'Yeah, I'm all right, I'll do okay'," Corenswet, whose acting credits include TV series "The Politician" and "Hollywood" and films "Twisters" and "Pearl", said on the red carpet. "Superman" offers the first look at director James Gunn's vision for the remake of the DC Universe (DCU) at Warner Bros . The "Guardians of the Galaxy" filmmaker, who also wrote the "Superman" screenplay, said he wanted to combine elements from the comic books and the mythos of Superman in cinema. "My 'Superman' is about, you know, in a world where there's so much meanness and so many petty things happening, Superman, who can often be seen as old-fashioned or too earnest, too kind, he is those things. I think that's the most rebellious thing that you can be in this day and age," Gunn said. "It's a movie about kindness. But it's all told in this universe with giant monsters and flying dogs and robots and space battles and everything else." "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" actress Rachel Brosnahan takes on the role of Lois Lane and "Nosferatu", "About a Boy" and "X-Men" franchise actor Nicholas Hoult stars as Superman's nemesis Lex Luthor. Hoult also drew inspiration from comic books for his portrayal of the iconic villain. "For instance, reading 'All-Star Superman', Lex really prides himself on being the peak alpha human, and so I really wanted to bring that kind of energy," Hoult said. Brosnahan said her predecessors in the role had set the bar high. Gunn's vision for the movie was what set it aside from previous films, she said. "I think James's knowledge of and love for these characters and the different adventures that he's taking them on with the different friends he's taking them with, kind of inherently brings it into present day," said Brosnahan. "Superman" begins its global cinematic rollout on July 9. —Reuters


Times of Oman
04-07-2025
- Times of Oman
Deepika Padukone becomes first Indian to be honoured with Hollywood Walk of Fame star
Mumbai: Deepika Padukone has etched her name in history as the first Indian actress to be honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The announcement was made during a live press conference at Ovation Hollywood on Wednesday, where Deepika's name was revealed as part of the prestigious Class of 2026. She joins a select group of stars, including Emily Blunt, Timothee Chalamet, Rami Malek, and Stanley Tucci, among others. Deepika took to Instagram to express her gratitude, writing, "Gratitude..." Her achievement marks a historic milestone for Indian cinema and underscores her global influence, especially following her Hollywood debut in 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' in 2017. The Hollywood Walk of Fame selection panel reviewed "hundreds of nominations" before finalising the honorees at a meeting on June 20. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce ratified the official selections on June 25. "We are excited to announce the newest selections of 35 esteemed individuals who will be enshrined on the Walk of Fame as part of the prestigious Class of 2026," Peter Roth, former CEO of Warner Bros. Television and chairman of the Walk of Fame selection committee, said in a statement, adding, "These talented individuals have made significant contributions to the world of entertainment, and we are thrilled to honour them with this well-deserved recognition." Deepika's name holds particular significance for the Indian film industry, as she becomes the first Indian actress to achieve such an honour. The only Indian name before her on the Walk of Fame was Sabu Dastagir, a legendary actor of Indian origin, who earned his star in 1960. Apart from her iconic roles in Bollywood, Deepika Padukone has earned international recognition, making notable appearances at prestigious events such as the Cannes Film Festival and the Met Gala. Earlier this year, she was also featured in TIME's 100 Most Influential People list and Variety's International Women's Impact Report. Alongside Padukone, other notable figures such as Miley Cyrus, Gordon Ramsay, and Rachel McAdams will also be celebrated with a star in the coming year.