LAS VEGAS – “Avatar: Fire & Ash” may have closed the Walt Disney Studios’ 2025 CinemaCon preview extravaganza, but it wasn’t the only movie that got theater owners excited. Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Alan Bergman and newly hired head of theatrical distribution Andrew Cripps had a lot to show. And perhaps the most impressive footage was from Marvel Studios’ “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.”
READ MORE: “Avatar: Fire & Ash” First Footage: James Cameron brings flaming spectacle to Pandora [CinemaCon]
Surprisingly not on hand was Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige, who sent a message from the set of “Avengers: Doomsday,” where he informed everyone principal photography was beginning any day now. Stepping in (or perhaps straggling in from the casino floor), were the cast of “Thunderbolts!*” including Juia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Pugh, Hannah John-Kamen, Wyatt Russell, and David Harbour (Russell may have lost some money at the craps tables). In a preview that had us thinking, “Hey, maybe this really is the A24 of Marvel Studios movies,” the newly formed super-team is headed to the former Avengers Tower, where Val (Louis-Dreyfus) is holding court.
After taking down Val’s security for no reason (Val on speaker “Guys, I left the door open for you”), they meet her on the familiar skytop balcony where the Avengers “fought some historic battles.” There is a lot of funny banter (Val to Winter Soldier, now a congressman, “You couldn’t even last half a term. Yikes.” Val to Black Widow, “You look awful”), but when they try to apprehend her, a mysterious figure stops them in their tracks (cough, it’s the Sentry played by Lewis Pullman, who still hasn’t been formally revealed yet). The rest was familiar footage from the trailer so far (the movie opens in a month), but the chemistry in scenes in the truck beforehand was very entertaining. Black Widow is mocking U.S. Agent’s helmet or cap (she doesn’t know what to call it) while Red Guardian is insecurely trying to bond with Winter Soldier over their super-soldier connection. We’re not sure how big a hit it is, but it’s hard not to find this band of rascals endearing.
The bigger debut, however, was more details from “Fantastic Four.” The new footage finds the beloved heroes on a 1960s live talk show as their “familiar origin story” is narrated by the host. We see an image of The Thing dragging a tanker in New York Harbor. The Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby) is pregnant. The Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) surfs over a fire plume, Galactus’ ship enters Earth’s atmosphere. Galactus’ shadow extends over the city skyline. And finally, when asked if everyone is going to be O.K., Mr. Fantastic (Pedro Pascal) turns back and responds in the affirmative, but his expression is anything but. A young girl goes to pick up her Thing doll only to look up and find an ominous shadow looking down at her. It all just looks…fantastic.
The third eye-popping preview was from “Tron: Ares,” which had stars Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges on hand to introduce it. We were slightly skeptical about this one after the footage shown at D23 in August, but things have changed. When you see Eve Kim (Greta Lee) racing down a Seattle city street as a massive digital carrier ship has invaded our world, you take notice. When two cycles from The Grid speed down a highway and split a cop car in two, you take notice. And when Nine Inch Nails‘ new score is added to the mix, you feel..reassured. Leto’s presence scares us, but director Joachim Rønning might just have pulled this one off.
Here are some other quick takes from the almost two-hour Disney presentation,
*”Predator: Badlands”
Elle Fanning popped by for the first look at Dan Trachtenberg‘s follow-up to the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated “Prey.” This movie is not what people thought it was. Set on another planet in the future, Fanning plays a soldier/warrior who teams up with a Predator to take on a bigger threat. This may be the first movie where Predators are given human-like emotions and a culture that is more than just going after that big kill. It looked super intriguing, but will it have enough spectacle? We’ll find out on November 7.
*”Deliver Me From Nowhere”
Are you ready for another music biopic? Based on the footage from Scott Cooper’s drama on the months Bruce Springsteen recorded his landmark “Nebraska” album, you better be. Jeremy Allen White plays The Boss, and he’s at his absolute best during the concert scenes, which Cooper shoots with an edgy authenticity we haven’t seen from him in years. The real star of the movie, however, may be Jeremy Strong, who plays Springsteen’s manager Jon Landeau and gives off back-to-back Best Supporting Actor nomination vibes. This could be a much bigger deal than “A Complete Unknown,” which just earned $136.8 million for 20th’s sibling label, Searchlight.
*”The Roses”
Jay Roach’s remake of “The War of the Roses” finds Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch as a successful couple coming to blows over their stunning home during divorce proceedings. There were some funny lines and the cast is incredible (Kate McKinnon, Andy Samberg, Ncuti Gatwa, Allison Janey), but it doesn’t seem dark enough? Did Roach take the foot off the gas with this one?
*”Elio”
Shown in 3D, this extended footage sets up how our hero, Elio (Yonas Kibreab), becomes Earth’s representative in the Communiverse. The world-building is safe, but creative. Because of their success, Pixar is held to a higher standard than its competitors. If this were Sony Animation or Illumination, the media would rave. Since it’s Pixar? It’s “good.” But “for” Pixar, this movie already seems forgettable, but maybe it’s all in the unseen third act? Or maybe not.
*”Zootopia 2″
We’ve got new characters! Quinta Brunson is playing a quokka work therapist for Nick (Jason Bateman) and Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin). Ke Huy Quan, who plays Gary, introduced the footage, but the snake still has not been seen. Oh, and this is gonna make $1+ billion globally, and that’s not an exaggeration.
*”Freakier Friday”
The scenes shown find Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan‘s characters inhabited by the the latter’s daughter and step-daughter and were, for lack of a better word, freakin’ funny. Everyone’s having a blast, and the updated trailer is to “Hot to Go!” by Chappell Roan. I mean, we’re there.
*”Ella McKay”
James L. Brooks‘ last chance at big screen directing (he’s 84, everyone) finds Emma McKay playing a young politician appointed to be Governor of her home state to fill out the term of the sitting governor (Albert Brooks,) who is joining the president’s cabinet. The aforementioned Curtis is her Aunt who owns a local dinner, Woody Harrelson is the estranged dad she has a terrible relationship with, Jack Lowden is her husband, Spike Fearn is Ella’s brother who is potentially agoraphobic, Ayo Edebiri is her brother’s potential boyfriend (when does Ayo sleep?), and Kumail Nanjiani is a state capital security guard (why not!). The movie gives old school “As Good As It Gets” vibes, and maybe that’s what America needs in 2025. If not, it will do fine on Hulu…eventually.
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