Motion Picture: Denzel Washington to appear in ‘Black Panther 3’, Marvel committed to bring ‘Blade’ to MCU

Xolo Maridueña - Jamie McCarthy 

Action/Horror/Fantasy/Sci-Fi: Denzel Washington has revealed plans to appear in Black Panther 3, making it one of the final films of his illustrious career. Washington shared that director Ryan Coogler is writing a role for him, aligning with his desire to work with top-tier filmmakers as he nears retirement. Alongside this project, Washington is set to star in a Steve McQueen film, a Netflix-backed movie about Hannibal, and a Broadway production of Othello in 2025, followed by a film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. Washington's involvement in Black Panther 3 is particularly poignant, as Chadwick Boseman once credited him for funding his acting school, emphasizing Washington's profound impact on the franchise's legacy.

Cypriot filmmaker Stelana Kliris, known for the Netflix hit Find Me Falling, has begun production on her next feature, Apart from Her. The 1974-set drama-thriller follows a young woman escaping war-torn Cyprus to apartheid South Africa through an arranged marriage, only to face hidden truths and cultural tensions. The film stars Leem Lubany (Omar), Luke Pasqualino (The Musketeers), and Girley Jazama (Under the Hanging Tree). An international co-production, the project is backed by multiple cultural and film organizations and will be shot in Cyprus. Kliris describes the film as exploring identity and historical conflicts with universal relevance.

Marvel Studios remains committed to bringing Blade to the MCU, despite delays and production challenges, according to studio president Kevin Feige. Speaking at the D23 Brazil 2024 event, Feige reassured fans that Mahershala Ali's portrayal of the iconic vampire hunter is still developing, though it no longer has a release date. The project has faced numerous setbacks, including multiple script changes and director exits, with its most recent director, Yann Demange, departing in June. Originally slated for release on November 7, 2025, the date has been replaced by Predator: Badlands. While Marvel has untitled slots for 2028, it remains unclear if Blade will take one of those dates. Feige emphasized the studio’s commitment to ensuring the film meets high standards before its release.

Zoe Saldaña’s upcoming thriller The Absence of Eden, executive produced by Martin Scorsese, has been acquired by Signature Entertainment in a multi-territory deal. The rights include the U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, with the deal negotiated by Signature’s acquisitions manager Begüm Kayacan Parodi and The Exchange’s president Nat McCormick. Directed by first-time feature filmmaker Marco Perego, the film explores the moral complexities of immigration and border security. It follows an ICE agent (Garrett Hedlund) grappling with ethical dilemmas and an undocumented woman (Saldaña) striving to escape a violent cartel. Adria Arjona also stars.

Academy Award winners Travon Free and Martin Desmond Roe, known for Two Distant Strangers, have joined the live-action short Will I See You Again? as executive producers alongside Mickey Meyer and actress DeWanda Wise (She’s Gotta Have It). Directed by Michael Perez-Lindsey in his early foray into directing, the film explores the emotional reunion of estranged former college teammates at their late friend’s estate hearing, where a polygraph test forces them to confront their past. The short, co-written by Rhett Lindsey, stars Richard Lawson, Nick Wechsler, Hosea Chanchez, and Rosanny Zayas and premiered at HollyShorts, earning a nomination for Best LGBTQIA+ Award. It aims for Oscars consideration in the live-action short category.

Music Box Films' genre label, Doppelgänger Releasing, has acquired the North American distribution rights to Rounding, a psychological thriller directed by Alex Thompson. The film, which debuted at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and also screened at the Chicago Film Festival, will be released in select theaters on January 3, 2024, before hitting digital platforms on February 18. Rounding stars Namir Smallwood (American Rust), Sidney Flanigan (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), Michael Potts (The First Lady, The Piano Lesson), and Tony Award-winning director David Cromer. The plot follows James Hayman (Smallwood), a resident doctor who, after a traumatic experience, transfers to a rural hospital for a fresh start. However, his growing obsession with a young asthma patient (Flanigan) and the unsettling behavior of her mother (Rebecca Spense) begin to unravel his grip on reality.

Xolo Maridueña will reprise his role as Jaime Reyes in an upcoming Blue Beetle animated series from DC Studios. The actor, known for his role in Cobra Kai, expressed excitement about continuing Jaime's journey, calling it an honor to voice the Latino superhero in the series. While details are still limited, Maridueña teased that the story will be an exciting next chapter for the character. The animated series is being developed by Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios, with Miguel Paga directing and Cristian Martinez writing. Executive producers include Blue Beetle film director Angel Manuel Soto and screenwriter Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer.

Rhenzy Feliz, known for his breakout role in The Penguin, is among the new cast members of Kelly Reichardt's The Mastermind, a period art heist film set in 1970s New England. The film, which also stars Josh O'Connor, Alana Haim, and John Magaro, follows an audacious art heist, with production currently underway. Feliz's role in the film remains under wraps, but his inclusion adds to an ensemble that includes notable talents like Hope Davis, Bill Camp, and Amanda Plummer. The Mastermind is being financed by Mubi, with distribution in select international territories, including North America.

Michael McCary, Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris, and Shawn Stockman (Boyz II men) - Vinnie Zuffante / Stringer 

Drama: The Boyz II Men biopic will chronicle the iconic R&B group's rise from their debut in 1991 to becoming the best-selling R&B group of all time. Focusing on their 30-year journey, the film will explore their chart-topping success with hits like “End of the Road” and “One Sweet Day,” while also diving into the personal and professional challenges they faced. Through brotherhood, heartbreak, humor, and the pressure of stardom, the biopic will offer an intimate look at the bonds that have sustained Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, and Wanya Morris throughout their enduring career.

Boy ii men

Documentary: Boyz II Men’s documentary will trace the group’s unparalleled impact on the music industry, from their dominance in the 90s and 2000s to their continued relevance today. Featuring behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and personal anecdotes, the documentary will showcase the emotional highs and lows of their journey, highlighting their evolution as both artists and individuals. It will celebrate their legacy and enduring friendship, offering fans a rare glimpse into the story behind the music that has defined a generation.

Lucy Liu - Dia Dipasupil

Industry Update: Lupita Nyong’o has joined the star-studded ensemble of Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated next film, which includes A-listers Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway. The untitled project is set to release on July 17, 2026, with filming expected to begin in early 2025. While plot and genre details remain under wraps, the movie marks another collaboration between Nolan and Universal Pictures following the success of Oppenheimer. Fans can expect more details as production progresses, but for now, much of the plot and direction of the film remain a mystery.

Actor and producer Yara Shahidi has joined Objectively Good Management (OGM) for representation, further solidifying her position as a dynamic force in Hollywood. Known for her breakout role in Black-ish and its spinoff Grown-ish, Shahidi also executive produced the latter through 7th Sun Productions, the company she co-founded with her mother, Keri Salter-Shahidi. Under their multi-year deal with ABC Signature, expanded in collaboration with Onyx Collective, Shahidi has proven her prowess both on and off-screen. OGM President Mohamed Kheir expressed excitement about representing Shahidi, calling her "a unique force" committed to impactful storytelling. Shahidi’s recent projects include starring in and executive producing Sitting in Bars With Cake for Amazon Studios, playing Tinker Bell in Disney’s Peter Pan & Wendy, and directing an episode of the Disney+ docuseries Growing Up.

Lucy Liu is open to reprising her role as Alex Munday for a possible Charlie’s Angels reboot. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Liu expressed her willingness, saying, “I’m never going to say no to that,” while acknowledging there are currently no plans for a reboot. Reflecting on the original films, Liu, who starred alongside Drew Barrymore and Cameron Diaz in 2000’s Charlie’s Angels and its 2003 sequel Full Throttle, noted the empowering and lighthearted nature of the series, describing it as "three women together that were strong and also having fun." With the 25th anniversary of the franchise approaching in 2025, Liu remains a game for future possibilities, though she emphasized the unpredictability of Hollywood projects.

The Black List's inaugural Projects Lab has named Alexandra Qin and Gabriella Mykal among its standout participants. Qin, a French-Filipino-Chinese screenwriter and director, brings a unique blend of software engineering and prison reform activism to her work. Her short film Thirstygirl, based on her award-winning feature script of the same name, premiered at Sundance 2024 and is now being developed with notable producers like Asher Goldstein and Carlos López Estrada’s Antigravity Academy. Mykal, a Queer West Indian American filmmaker and visual artist, uses personal trauma as a lens for humor and social commentary. Her project Fuzzy explores themes of femme friendship and sexual dysfunction through a bold narrative featuring a pink fuzzy monster as a catalyst for self-discovery.

Niija Kuykendall, Netflix's VP of Film, is leaving the company after three years. She joined in 2021 to oversee a new department focused on mid-sized holiday, faith-based, and young adult films. Kuykendall played a key role in shaping Netflix's film slate, working with filmmakers such as Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, and David Yates. Her contributions included overseeing films like The Piano Lesson, The Deliverance, The Six Triple Eight, Pain Hustlers, and Mea Culpa. The departure comes after changes within Netflix's film division, including a reorganization under new film chief Dan Lin, who aims to focus on improving film quality while maintaining production volume. Before Netflix, Kuykendall was an executive at Warner Bros., where she worked on major films like A Star Is Born and Judas and the Black Messiah.

Screenwriter Rob Grabow has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Netflix over the film Rez Ball, alleging that it shares significant similarities with his script The Gift of Game. Both stories follow Native American high school basketball players competing for a state championship. Although Rez Ball premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was released on Netflix in September, Grabow claims that he shared his script with individuals connected to the film's co-writer, Sterlin Harjo, months after its principal photography wrapped in May 2023. The lawsuit highlights alleged similarities, including the films' climactic endings, and argues that Rez Ball may have been influenced by The Gift of Game during post-production.

Jon M. Chu, director of the upcoming Wicked film, reflects on how adaptations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz have mirrored societal transitions. He notes that Baum's original 1900 tale, and its iconic 1939 film adaptation, were born out of America’s post-Depression, pre-war climate, asking what the American Dream would look like in a changing world. Chu draws parallels with Wicked (2003), which debuted in the wake of 9/11 and the onset of war, reflecting another national transition. His Wicked adaptation, set to release on November 22, arrives in a similarly tumultuous era, marked by societal divisions and political shifts. Chu sees this timing as prophetic, with the story’s themes of questioning authority, identity, and morality resonating deeply with today’s challenges.