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Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Jeremy Renner teases MCU return: 'Hawkeye' star open to comeback despite pay cut issue
, who plays Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has shared a positive update about his future as the superhero. Even though he had a contract issue, he's still hopeful about returning as Hawkeye in Season 2 of the show and in future Marvel projects. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He says he loves the role and is physically ready to play it again. Renner 's future in the MCU Although his character, Hawkeye (Clint Barton), is not part of the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday film, Renner is still positive about returning to the role. In an interview with Empire, Renner said he loves being part of the MCU and still feels strong enough to play the superhero. He believes there's a good chance 'Hawkeye Season 2' will eventually happen and even hinted at other future appearances. He said 'I'm always happy to be in that world, man, I love all those guys, I love the character. I'm sure we'll end up doing Season 2 and do other things. And I'm happy to do it. My body's getting ready for something like that. I don't know if anybody wants to see me in tights, but my body will look good in the tights.' The first season of 'Hawkeye' was released in 2021 and received positive feedback. However, a second season didn't move forward due to a contract issue. Earlier this year, Renner revealed that he was offered half the salary compared to Season 1, which he turned down. Rumours about Season 2 There were rumours that Season 2 would be similar in style to 'The Raid', focusing on intense action in a single location. Renner confirmed that some of these ideas were true and said everyone involved was interested in continuing the story. Marvel executive Brad Winderbaum also hinted that Season 2 is still being considered, especially because of the strong character dynamics and holiday-themed setting. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Even though Marvel is now producing fewer movies and shows, Renner's openness to return is a good sign. After the contract dispute, many fans thought he might leave the MCU for good. But Renner clarified he never asked for more money just the same as before. While it's still unclear if 'Hawkeye Season 2' will fit into Marvel's future plans, there's hope that Clint Barton will return in some way.
Tom's Guide
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's new zombie movie is the undead love child of ‘28 Years Later' and ‘The Raid' — and it's just as intense as that sounds
Streaming Netflix's new action-horror 'Ziam' has taught me something about myself: I can forgive a lot of narrative cliches when a movie offers me the chance to see a martial artist roundhouse-kick a zombie in the face. It's hard to get too hung up on predictable plotting and the overreliance on genre cliches when 'Ziam' also contains some of the most exciting zombie beatdowns I've ever seen. Playing out like a mix between "28 Years Later" and "The Raid," this new Netflix original thrives because it understands what its core audience wants to see: brutal zombie mayhem above all else. Part of me does wish that 'Ziam' could have paired its seriously well-choreographed carnage with a more compelling cast of characters and a story that serves as more than window dressing between intense action sequences, but what we got is still enjoyable. If you're a simple man like me, and can't resist the elevator pitch of 'former Muay Thai fighter beats the snot out of the walking dead,' then you'll want to get this new Netflix movie on your watchlist pronto. But if you need more details, here's the full scoop on 'Ziam.' Set in a grim future where society is on the verge of collapse due to severe food shortages and dwindling resources, Singh (Prin Suparat) is a former professional fighter, now struggling to make ends meet and provide for his girlfriend, Rin (Nychaa-Nuttanicha Dungwattanawanich), who works in an overcrowded hospital. The two dream of escaping the dystopian city, but these plans are put on hold when Rin's hospital becomes the epicenter for a zombie outbreak. Singh rushes to the scene and embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue Rin before the ultra-aggressive zombie can get to her. Along the way, he meets a young boy, Buddy (Vayla-Wanvayla Boonnithipaisit), and adds this orphaned child to the list of people he's determined to protect at all costs. With a horde of zombies in his path, Singh must use his Muay Thai skills to fend off the savage undead and escape the hospital from hell. 'Ziam's' USP is pretty simple. In most zombie movies, the core cast of survivors fend off the hordes with firearms and maybe a blunt instrument or two, but here our protagonists get seriously up close and personal with their flesh-munching enemies. It turns out that you don't need an automatic assault rifle when your fists can muster enough power to send the walking dead back to the hellscape from which they spawned. And if brawls against zombies aren't enough, the second half of the action-horror movie sees Singh crack the skulls of some (slightly) more intelligent foes, namely a squad of armed cops trying to extract a high-value executive. Netflix's marketing materials for the movie are keen to stress its use of practical effects and the fact that its nameless cast of zombies were created with intricate makeup, not CGI, and this helps ratchet up the intensity nicely. Each blood-covered, grotesque, zombie face looks pleasingly disgusting, and the visceral violence can often be enough to turn your stomach. I particularly enjoyed 'Ziam's' balls-to-the-wall third act, a good deal of the first half is dedicated to scene-setting, and introducing the main players. But once this is all out of the way, the carnage takes center stage, and it's here that 'Ziam' shines. The final showdown on a rooftop bathed in early morning sunlight is particularly memorable and brings proceedings to a fitting close (or at least, it feels satisfying until a mid-credits final stinger ruins the emotional stakes). Where 'Ziam' falters is how rigidly it sticks to the classic zombie formula. Singh takes on the young Buddy as a sort of ward, protecting him at all costs, and even suggesting that they could adopt him once this madness is over. It's not exactly groundbreaking stuff for the genre. This feeling of 'been there, seen that' is extended to the movie's overarching theme, that of the regular folks being exploited by the upper class. This is most seen in the inclusion of the smarmy executive, who is deemed worthy of being extracted, even if that means putting more lives in danger. Meanwhile, the everyday citizens are deemed expendable and little more than zombie chow. Furthermore, a scene where the military debates the scorched-earth solution of bombing the hospital to prevent the zombie virus from spreading further, regardless of the lives lost, doesn't crackle with moral complexity. Instead, it feels painfully paint-by-numbers, almost included out of obligation. Of course, I'm not sure 'Ziam' is really concerned with flipping the well-worn zombie-movie script on its head. When the focus is on brutal brawls, flesh on fire and punches flying at the speed of bullets, the movie is quite a thrill ride. Just don't come looking for more than a gorefest. If you come into 'Ziam' with the right expectation, then it's very possible to enjoy this very bloody action-horror on its own terms. At a zippy 90 minutes long, the movie doesn't overstay its welcome, and while the first act does a fair bit of narrative heavy-lifting, once the outbreak begins, the carnage kicks off, and from here, 'Ziam' is solid, but unquestionably mindless, fun. Without wanting to veer into spoilers, the ending stinger leaves things on a bum note, with a tacked-on final scene that makes little logical sense and hints towards a possible sequel (do we need one?). While this left me with a vaguely sour taste, for the most part, I enjoyed 'Ziam.' All I was really looking for was a badass martial artist kicking the living daylights out of zombies, and this new Netflix original delivers that, so I'm happy to overlook its flaws. Meanwhile, thriller fans will be pleased to hear that Netflix just added a new mystery movie about a couple trapped in their apartment by a strange brick wall. Though it's another streaming original that requires viewers to tolerate some major flaws to find the enjoyment. Alternatively, for even more options, here's a guide to everything new on Netflix in July 2025. Watch "Ziam" on Netflix now
Metro
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Netflix's newest hit watched over 15,400,000 times to top global film charts
Caroline Westbrook Published June 5, 2025 3:45pm Link is copied Comments Summer is here, and with the temperature rising and the days at their longest it's all too tempting to switch off the TV and head outside to enjoy the sunshine. But over on Netflix it's business as usual, with the streaming platform dishing up enough feature-length gems to keep your screen sizzling over the warmer months. This week sees some of the more popular movies of recent weeks hanging in there, along with some tantalising newcomers to enjoy from Spain, Argentina and India. But can Fear Street: Prom Queen carve out a place at the top of the charts for another week? Read on to find out what you've all been watchin...(Picture: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images) After six whole weeks in the top ten,. it looks as though Tom Hardy's fast-paced action thriller might finally be on the way out. Directed by Gareth Evans, (The Raid) the actor plays Detective Walker, a shady cop forced to navigate a city's criminal underworld after a drug deal goes awry. Plenty of brutal, visceral action follows (Picture: Netflix) The first of this week's new entries is the latest instalment in this popular Indian action, Telugu-language franchise. The story follows a ruthless cop (Nani) who is sent by the Homicide Intervention Team (the titular HIT) to track down a group of killers on a grisly murder spree. Despite scoring mixed reviews when it was released in cinemas earlier this year, it's been a box office hit - with a fourth movie in the works (Picture: Netflix) Next up, it's another new entry from India - this one a Hindi-language action drama which flopped at the box office but is finding new life on Netflix. Salman Khan stars as the title character, an heir to the Rajkot Dynasty of Gujarat - who is motivated by a tragic accident to change the lives of three people, only to find himself targeted by a vengeful politician (Picure: Pen Marudhar Entertainment/Netflix) The Shrek movies have remained hugely popular over the past couple of decades - as have the spin-off movies dedicated to the swashbuckling Puss In Boots. This one - technically the sixth film in the Shrek franchise - sees our feline favourite (voiced by Antonio Banderas) heading off on a quest to restore eight of his nine lives, with a little help from regular sidekick Kitty Softpaws (Salma Hayek) (Picture: NBC Universal) If you haven't yet seen this smash hit charmer - a former chart-topper featuring a host of famous faces - then add it to your watch list immediately. Nonnas, which stars Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Lorraine Bracco and Vince Vaughn, tells the true story of Joe Scarvarella, the Staten Island restaurateur who honours his late mother by opening an Italian restaurant staffed by grandmothers (Picture: Jeong Park/Netflix) It's not just Netflix newcomers that are racking up millions in the top 10 this week - as this 2023 blockbuster has also been making waves. Jason Momoa reprises his role as the DC Comics hero in this sequel to the 2018 hit, this time joining forces with his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) to stop Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) from killing his family and using the cursed Black Trident to cause chaos (Picture: Warner Bros/Everett/REX/ Shutterstock) Here's a film that was not only a hit with critics - becoming one of the best reviewed movies of 2024 - but with audiences too. The Wild Robot tells the story of Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), a service robot who crash-lands on a remote, uninhabited island during a storm, and has to learn to adapt to the unfamiliar surroundings - finding her purpose when she adopts an orphaned baby goose. A sequel to this gorgeous, visually stunning tale is on the way, so grab the chance to see the original while it's there (Picture: Universal Pictures) Another new entry now, and this one's a drama from Argentina, about a businessman who has a heart transplant and undergoes a personality shift, finding out more about the life of his donor and exploring his community. In doing so he meets the dead man's widow and falls for her, while secretly helping her neighbourhood. But she will discover his connection to her late husband? (Picture: Netflix) After spending last week at number one this latest instalment in the Fear Street series has been scared off the top spot Based on the novels by RL Stine, it offers up plenty of 80s-era slasher movie thrills as the senior class of Shadyside High gears up for prom night and the election of its queen, with underdog Lori going head-to-head against the more popular girls. However, the night turns deadly when a masked killer starts picking off the candidates (Picture: Alan Markfield/Netflix) Crashing straight into the charts at number one is this Spanish murder mystery, which has racked up an impressive number of views in its first week of release. Based on the real-life case of engineer Antonio Navarro Cerdan, who was stabbed to death in Patraix, Valencia, in 2017, it follows the investigation into the murder of a young man in the Spanish city - which uncovers some dark secrets as his widow's hidden double life is revealed (Picture: Netflix Inc./Manuel Fernandez Valdes. All Rights Reserved)
Daily Maverick
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Maverick
Havoc on Netflix: Gritty action can't save this overloaded crime thriller
Gareth Evans, director of The Raid, teams up with Tom Hardy for this ultra-violent and relentlessly gory movie that should satisfy fans of Hong Kong-style action cinema, but will probably leave the rest of the audience beaten into submission. Set in a particularly grimy yet artificial-looking American city, Havoc gathers crime thriller clichés to build a scaffold on which to hang its admittedly inventive action sequences. Hardy plays homicide cop Walker, a once decent tough guy who has become disillusioned while carrying a terrible secret he would like to forget. Like all world-weary cops, Walker is estranged from his wife and daughter, but sees a way to redeem himself when he becomes involved in a high-stakes conflict between an ice-cold crime boss, Little Sister (Yeo Yann Yann), out to avenge the murder of her son; petty thieves Charlie (Justin Cornwell) and Mia (Quelin Sepulveda), who Little Sister thinks are responsible for her son's death; and Walker's old squad members led by Vincent (Timothy Olyphant), who are also out to get Charlie and Mia for putting a colleague in the hospital while trying to escape the cops with a truck full of cocaine. Walker is in the pay of corrupt mayoral candidate Lawrence Beaumont (Forest Whitaker), who knows his dark secret. After recognising Charlie as Beaumont's son in CCTV footage, Walker sees a chance to get the politician off his back: he offers to find and save Charlie from all the murderous factions on his tail in exchange for Beaumont agreeing to stop blackmailing him. As if that weren't enough to be getting on with, Walker is also saddled with a young, idealistic rookie cop, Ellie (Shadow and Bone's Jessie Mei Li), who in one of the film's few fresh twists, proves to be resourceful and more than capable of holding her own. Hardy ably carries the drama and action on his shoulders, but his character's motivation for getting involved in this extremely dangerous mess aren't convincing. Perhaps if Charlie had been Walker's son, it would have made sense for him to go to such extremes to save him, but the promise of escaping Beaumont's vaguely threatening hold doesn't seem enticing to someone as morally corrupt as Walker, who's already lost everyone he holds dear. Whitaker wildly overacts as if he's in a Shakespearean tragedy, in contrast to Yeo, who knows just how much melodrama to inject into her emotionally devastated yet hard-as-nails gangster. Justified star Olyphant merely looks pained to be there, though younger actors Cornwell and Sepulveda fare better, making the audience believe in their desperation. The slow build-up with only short bursts of violence do count in the movie's favour, creating some tension and preventing the action from reaching saturation point too soon. Unfortunately Havoc then descends into a bloodbath that loses its impact, leaving the viewer exhausted instead of exhilarated. Havoc is on Netflix now. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Gareth Evans' Havoc review: A flawed crime thriller
AFTER a long hiatus following 2018's folk horror film Apostle, Gareth Evans returns to the world of crime and action with Havoc, a film that truly lives up to its name, for better or worse. Evans, more popularly known for the cult favourite Indonesian martial arts duology The Raid and The Raid: Berandal from a decade ago, has shown that he is still at the top of the game when it comes to directing action flicks. However, his skill in taking on drama and writing have inexplicably fallen off hard. A contrived mess, Havoc concerns a group of thieves led by Charlie Beaumont (Justin Cornwell) stealing washing machines before grievously injuring a narcotics detective following a lengthy vehicle pursuit. In Evans' escalatingly convoluted story, Charlie's group tries to sell the drugs inside the washing machines to Tsui, the son of a powerful triad leader. This too goes awry, as a second group of antagonists with assault rifles and hockey masks show up, leading to Tsui and countless others dying. Dirty homicide detective Patrick Walker (Tom Hardy) is then tasked by the mayoral candidate of Havoc's unnamed American city, Lawrence (Forest Whitaker), to find Charlie – his estranged son – before the police and triad get to him. No Raid revival in sight Though Evans seems to have put The Raid franchise to bed, most of the writer-director's fans are still expecting some sort of follow-up to his Indonesian films, which many in movie circles agree started the modern renaissance for martial arts and action films – after 2011's The Raid, countless action films such as John Wick began to sprout up sharing the same DNA as Evans' films. For anyone expecting Evans' latest to be a spiritual follow-up to The Raid, you can rest easy because Havoc is not that film. That is not to say the film is terrible, but it is as decent as a Netflix film can reasonably get. It even feels wrong to put Havoc in the same sentence as The Raid, due to the film's meagre amount of action sequences. Having to stomach the bulk of the film just to savour the two or so slivers of Evans' signature style of action filmmaking is simply not worth it. To make matters worse, they are not very long and are spaced far apart, while the best of the two occurs in the third act, taking place in a cabin as Hardy is put through a gauntlet of nameless goons that end with roughly 50 people beaten, knifed, slashed, harpooned and shot to death. It is a great sequence – a final hurrah true to Evans' style that only slightly makes up for the rest of Havoc's story involving generic dirty cops, witless robbers and personality-free crime families. Havoc is streaming on Netflix.
