The weather is heating up, and so is showbiz news; we round it up here.
Warner Bros. has released a teaser trailer (below) for Joker: Folie a Deux, the new musical sequel to Joker. The film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix (again in the title role) and Lady Gaga, will premiere October 4 (see “’Joker’ Musical Date“).
LuckyChap, the production company headed by Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerly, and Josey McNamara that produced Barbie, has joined LionsGate and Hasbro to develop a movie based on the Hasbro game Monopoly, the companies announced. LionsGate has been involved since 2015, and extended its development rights in conjunction with the eOne purchase from Hasbro (see “Lionsgate Closes on eOne“). The Monopoly movie has been in development since 2008, most recently with Kevin Hart attached to star (see “Kevin Hart Will Star in ‘Monopoly’ Movie“).
Paramount is developing an R-rated live action feature based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Walter Hamada, former head of DC Films (see “Hamada Leaving DC“), is producing, and Tyler Burton Smith (Child’s Play) is writing the script. Teenage Mutant Turtles: The Last Ronin was the bestselling graphic novel in comic stores last year (see “Top Graphic Novels – Full Year 2023“).
Apple TV+ is expanding its relationship with Legendary Entertainment for Monsterverse programming: a second season of Monarch: Legacy of Monsters has been ordered, and multiple spin-off series put into the pipeline, the streamer announced. The new season of Monarch is exec produced by showrunners and co-creators Chris Black and Matt Fraction. The first 10-episode season (see “Monsterverse Series Title, Date“), was a global hit, the company said.
Paramount confirmed at CinemaCon that it is developing a Transfomers-G.I. Joe crossover film, according to Deadline. The storyline is reportedly drawn from 1980s Marvel comics. Steven Spielberg is exec producing, no director has been attached to date.
Paramount has set dates for two upcoming animated features, and revealed casting news for two others, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The 2025 SpongeBob movie, now titled The SpongeBob Movie: Search for Squarepants, has been moved from May to December 19, 2025. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 2, the sequel announced last year (see “’TMNT’ Sequel“) has been set for October 9, 2026.
In casting news, the first of three Avatar: The Last Airbender features (see “Three ‘Last Airbender’ Features“), working title Aang: The Last Airbender, is casting, according to The Hollywood Reporter, with Dave Bautista as the villain. And a huge roll call of stars has joined Rihanna in The Smurfs Movie (see “Rihanna Voicing Smurfette“): Nick Offerman, Natasha Lyonne, JP Karliak, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris, Nick Kroll, James Corden, Octavia Spencer, Hannah Waddingham, Sandra Oh, Alex Winter, Billie Lourd, Xolo Maridueña with Kurt Russell and John Goodman.Source: ICv2
