South by Southwest® (SXSW®) 2025 is quickly approaching and this year’s line-up is incredible. Here are our ten most anticipated films that we know we absolutely must see.
South by Southwest® (SXSW®) celebrates the convergence of tech, film, music, education, and culture. This year it will run from March 7-15, 2025. The 2025 schedule is packed with a wide variety of films that we absolutely cannot miss. Here are our ten most anticipated ones.
Another Simple Favor
Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reunite on the beautiful island of Capri, Italy, for Emily’s extravagant wedding to a rich Italian businessman. Along with the glamorous guests, expect murder and betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri town square.
Together
Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (Dave Franco and Alison Brie) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
The Dutchman
Clay, a successful but troubled black businessman, attends therapy sessions with his wife, Kaya, in an attempt to salvage their marriage. But their mysterious therapist is not all that he seems, and begins to unexpectedly appear to Clay outside of their sessions. On a New York subway train, Clay encounters Lula, a seductive but sinister white stranger who slowly begins to unravel his life. Clay must discover the truth behind this encounter to get back to his wife, heal his fractured soul, and survive the night. In this modern adaptation of the 1964 Obie Award winning play, The Dutchman brings a contemporary edge to the original, exploring themes of race and identity in America.
O’Dessa
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, O’Dessa is an original rock opera about a farm girl on an epic quest to recover a cherished family heirloom. Her journey leads her to a strange and dangerous city where she meets her one true love – but in order to save his soul, she must put the power of destiny and song to the ultimate test.
Death Of A Unicorn
A father and daughter accidentally hit and kill a unicorn while en route to a weekend retreat, where his billionaire boss seeks to exploit the creature’s miraculous curative properties.
The Accountant 2
When someone close to her is killed by unknown assassins, Treasury Agent Marybeth Medina is forced to contact Christian Wolff to solve the murder. With the help of his estranged but highly lethal brother Brax, Chris applies his brilliant mind and less-than-legal methods to piece together the unsolved puzzle. As they get closer to the truth, the trio draw the attention of some of the most ruthless killers alive — all intent on putting a stop to their search.
Drop
A widowed mother, on her first date in years, arrives at an upscale restaurant where she meets her handsome date. But their chemistry begins to curdle as she begins being irritated and then terrorized by a series of anonymous drops to her phone.
The Rivals of Amziah King
Deep within the backwoods of rural Oklahoma, charismatic and musically gifted Amziah King herds a bluegrass-playing band of misfits while overseeing the premier honey-making operation in town. When Amziah’s estranged foster daughter unexpectedly returns, Amziah leaps at the possibility to renew connection and create a family business. But the honey game is ruthless, and Amziah’s rivals threaten to destroy everything he has built.
Friendship
Suburban dad Craig has his life turned upside down by the arrival of a new neighbor. As Craig’s attempts to make an adult male friend spiral out of control, their blossoming relationship threatens to ruin both of their lives.
Ash
A woman wakes up on a distant planet and finds the crew of her space station viciously killed. Her investigation into what happened sets in motion a terrifying chain of events.
Composer Jay Wadley reveals that he had a lot of fun scoring Heart Eyes and had never worked on a Slasher Rom-Com before.
Heart Eyes is a unique film that blends elements of both slasher and romantic comedy genres, something that composer Jay Wadley admits he had never done before. He has a long-standing relationship with director Josh Ruben so he was thrilled to come on board.
In this interview, he discusses the challenges of balancing the two genres, referencing classic films like Friday the 13th and Sleepless in Seattle for inspiration, claiming it was important to commit fully to both genres to make it work.
Composer Jay Wadley Talks Scoring Heart Eyes
Tessa Smith: Heart Eyes is the perfect combination of Slasher and Romantic Comedy, which I did not think would be possible.
Jay Wadley: Totally, totally, yeah. It’s such a delicate balance to strike. It risks not being good at either one of the things. I think the way that Josh [Ruben] was able to handle such an interesting mash up with such a deft hand was was pretty brilliant.
Tessa Smith: How did you get involved in the project?
Jay Wadley: Josh and I have been friends for 13 or 14 years, something like that. It wasn’t long after I moved to New York that I met Josh on the set of a project. We were working on a music project for Allison Williams, and he was producing the shoot, and I was the composer on it, and did some arrangements of fun musical numbers for her and and then we became good friends, and we’ve been friends ever since. We collaborated a lot when he was back at College Humor. This is our first time, though, working on a feature together, which has been super exciting.
Tessa Smith: What was that collaboration like?
Jay Wadley: It’s awesome. Josh is such a student of these genres and the craft and so he had a whole bunch of really great scores to listen to and classic stuff to reference. I got to read the script and dive in with brainstorming on references. He really wanted something that felt like an homage to the classic 80s, 90s slashers and rom-coms. Something that had a sense of that nostalgia, but still was modern, and felt up to date with what’s going on in those genres now.
Tessa Smith: What challenges did you discover when crafting this score?
Jay Wadley: It’s really just about making sure that you’re fully committed to it. If you were pulling punches on those scenes, then people would know they’re making a joke of it. But it is supposed to be very, very seriously committed to both things at all times. I think just the timing and the way that works, and the scenes that are built in and the interactions are what really make it come alive, and the humor of it all. It stops and turns on a dime.
Tessa Smith: Were there any specific films you looked at?
Jay Wadley: Josh really loves Friday the 13th. I went back and watched a number of films just to remind myself. But it was everything from Friday 13th, to Poltergeist, to Halloween, and then thinking about how to bring that into a modern thing. Trying to find a balance where you get that classic thematic nature to an iconic slasher character, and so that there’s something that feels tangible and representative of that character and classic in that orchestral way, but trying to incorporate production that really brings it to the fore, makes it really aggressive as well, and not to just concert hall stuff. I played with a lot of that, and then, for Josh, Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail.
Tessa Smith: Mason Gooding is also in Scream, so did you feel that you had to stay away from a Scream-esque score?
Jay Wadley: I think mine might lean a little bit more classic than the Scream stuff specifically, like in the way the stalker themes work. I very much treated the orchestra, like an orchestra, and the orchestral percussion, in a way, although, highly produced, just not groove based, I guess, if you will. I think the writing is a bit different for the strings and things like that. I’d like to think of myself a little bit more to maybe the Benjamin Wallfisch and then the classics, like Herman. But I did a lot of listening back too. What I like to do is listen to a lot of the concert composers, classical composers that a lot of the people that are working in film are also influenced by, because that’s who I was influenced by. I came up in classical music. So, all of the crazy string writing from Krzysztof Penderecki and those techniques are ones that horror composers have adopted these days.
Tessa Smith: Is there one sequence for you that was the hardest to nail down?
Jay Wadley: The one that was the hardest to nail was to make sure that the love theme felt super authentic, and didn’t read as pushing too hard or trying to do too much heavy lifting for the characters, because they’re already charming. They were convincing in their performances. So that’s a delicate balance. It took me a couple tries to make sure I found the the exact right tone for the love theme at the end. So that was that one was a challenge, just to find that delicate balance. And then, honestly, most of the other stuff came pretty quick. I was kind of surprised. Josh and I were just really on the same page from my early demos with the way that I was using strings, and the way that I was dealing with the stalker stuff. Once we identified what Heart Eyes’ little motif was going to be, then we could just take that and seed it everywhere, and play it slow and play it in every instrument, and really have some fun with how we manipulated that little motif.
For the past several years, the “Heart Eyes Killer” has wreaked havoc on Valentine’s Day by stalking and murdering romantic couples. This Valentine’s Day, no couple is safe…
The MultiCon Los Angeles Wildfire Benefit is this weekend, featuring many celebrities from your favorite films and television series.
Programming for Star-Studded Lineup at MultiCon Los Angeles Wildfire Benefit Announced as Kel Mitchell and Vivien Lyra Blair Join Lineup: Rob Liefeld to Offer Exclusive MultiCon Youngblood Print
LA-based collectible company Thriljoy will give all attendees a PIX! Collectible and donate Auction Items to raise additional money.
MultiCon is thrilled to announce their programming lineup and that Kel Mitchell (Good Burger, All That) and Vivien Lyra Blair (Star Wars Obi-Wan) have joined the already stellar lineup for the upcoming MultiCon Los Angeles Wildfire Benefit, taking place at The Preserve LA on February 22, 2025.
This highly anticipated event brings together top-tier talent from across the entertainment industry for a day of panels, exclusive collectibles, and charity-driven excitement—all supporting LA wildfire relief efforts with funds going to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Confirmed celebrities include Seth Green, Kevin Smith, Sean Gunn, David Dastmalchian, Rob Liefeld, Robert Kirkman, Jackie Tohn, Bisite Tulloch, Michael Cudlitz, Khary Payton, Kel Mitchell, Shar Jackson, Daniel Logan, Monique Coleman, Kaycee Stroh, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt.
In addition to these exciting new additions, comic book legend Rob Liefeld, who has not attended a convention in the US for over a year, will sign a MultiCon exclusive Youngblood prints (available in grey and color variants). Fans and collectors won’t want to miss an opportunity to own this print, the first that Liefeld has drawn of Youngblood in several years.
Adding to the excitement, Los Angeles-based collectible company Thrilljoy is giving every attendee a Thrilljoy PIX! (VALUED AT $50), with a chase variant chance.
They will also auction off a one-of-a-kind prototype item valued at $6000.
“Thrilljoy is proud to announce its participation in MultiCon, where we will donate over $100,000 worth of products to support those affected by the devastating wildfires. With our deep roots in LA, this cause is deeply personal to us. We have seen firsthand the impact of these fires. Friends, family, and members of our community have lost their homes and been displaced. Thrilljoy has always been about more than just collecting, it’s about connection, passion, and the communities that bring fandoms to life. In times of crisis, standing by those we love isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility. That’s why we’re honored to partner with MultiCon for this initiative. Our hope is that this contribution will not only bring relief and joy but also serve as a reminder that this community stands together and is stronger than ever.”
MultiCon Los Angeles Wildfire Benefit Panel Schedule
Also, the event’s programming was just announced with engaging panels , bringing together some of the biggest names in television, film, animation, and comics for never before seen conversations.
Stories of The Walking Dead (11:00 – 11:45 AM)
Moderator: Benjamin Watts
Panelists: Scott Gimple (Walking Dead Showrunner), Khary Payton (Walking Dead), Michael Cudlitz (Walking Dead, Superman and Lois)
Panelists: Rob Liefeld (Deadpool Creator, Image Comics Founder), Kevin Smith (Clerks, Jay And Silent Bob), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, The Walking Dead)
Galaxy of Good (1:45 – 2:30 PM)
Moderator: Michael Tessler (Reel Rejects, Multihouse CEO)
Panelists: Sean Gunn (Guardians of The Galaxy), Daniel Logan (Star Wars), Vivien Lyra Blair (Obi Wan)
Panelists: Kaycee Stroh (High School Musical), Monique Coleman (High School Musical), Shar Jackson (Moesha, Good Burger), Kel Mitchell (Good Burger, Kenan and Kel. All That)
Animation Nation (3:35 – 4:20 PM)
Moderator: Juju Green aka Straw Hat Goofy ( TIKTOK’s Movie Guy)
Panelists: Seth Green (Robot Chicken, Family Guy), Tara Platt (Spiderman Video Games, Fire Emblem) Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-man, Naruto), Isaac Robinson-Smith (X-Men 97)
How to Be an Effective Game Master (4:30 – 5:15 PM)
Moderator: Travis Oates
Panelists: Jason Charles Miller, Jason Carl, Amy Vorpahl
Reel Rejects (5:25 – 6:00 PM)
Moderator: Greg Alba (Reel Rejects)
Panelists: Coy Jandreau, Aaron Alexander, Roxy Striar, Tara Erickson, Andrew Gordon, John Humphrey
MultiCon Wildfire Benefit is set to be an unforgettable event that combines fandom, philanthropy, and fun while raising funds for a crucial cause. Tickets are available now, and proceeds will go directly to UNITED WAY OF GREATER LOS ANGELES.
Upload season 4 is eventually coming, but not even star Robbie Amell can tell us when. But he can tease the final four episodes of the beloved series.
Fans have been waiting for Prime Video’s Upload Season 4 for what feels like forever. When asked about it, even star Robbie Amell had no idea when we will get to see it, joking that Amazon can deliver you anything you want tomorrow morning, but not Upload.
He can, however, tease the final season that comprises of just four episodes, which, I suppose, is better than nothing. While talking with him about his new film, Racewalkers, I snuck in an Upload question.
“It Gives A Nice Closure On The Show.”
Robbie Amell Teases Upload Season 4
Robbie Amell (Nathan), Andy Allo (Nora)
Robbie Amell: What will be interesting is it’s only four episodes, sadly, but they’re four great episodes, and it means the final season moves very quick. The series finale was written as a series finale. Greg wrote it. It’s beautiful.
The interesting thing will be how they cut a trailer together without giving stuff away, because every episode has something huge in it, and it all happens [fast]. It’s essentially a two hour movie cut into four episodes.
I’m very proud of it. I’m very happy that we got to end it in a real way, because most shows don’t, you kind of get canceled in between seasons. So the fact that Amazon was kind enough to say, All right, this is it, but you guys go finish it. That was pretty cool.
I hope people love it. I think it gives a nice closure on the show. I think it ends in a beautiful way.
Who knows when it’ll come out? Amazon, they’ll deliver anything you want tomorrow morning, but not Upload.
Yellowjackets season 3 explores the dynamic change after the shocking events at the end of season 2. It is so good to be back in this crazy world. It should be noted that this review is based solely on the first four episodes of Yellowjackets season 3.
Yellowjackets is one of the most talked about series on television for good reason. It continuously raises the bar, surpassing itself with shocking twist after shocking twist. Season 2 ended on a devastating note with the death of Natalie, and we all knew that this meant dynamics were going to change in season 3 – and they absolutely do.
L-R: Tawny Cypress as Taissa, Lauren Ambrose as Van, Warren Kole as Jeff Sadecki and Melanie Lynskey as Shauna in Yellowjackets, episode 1, season 3, streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, 2025. Photo Credit: Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
The present day drama with Lottie’s retreat and the eventual death of Natalie was not the only climax in season 2. There was a lot of drama going down on between the teenage versions of the girls as well. The cabin burned down and there was basically an all-out war. Yellowjackets season 3 explores these new dynamics, starting off in the Spring, after the snow has melted, and, seemingly, the girls have made peace with one another.
It doesn’t take long for viewers to realize that it is not all sunshine and rainbows, however. Shauna is still very upset with the rest of the team as well as still spinning from the death of her son. While they are forced to, sort of, work together, it is clear she wants nothing to do with pretty much anyone else.
L-R: Simone Kessell as Lottie, Sarah Desjardins as Callie Sadecki and Melanie Lynskey as Shauna in Yellowjackets, episode 3, season 3, streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, 2025. Photo Credit: Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
In the present, Shauna has a lot to deal with as well. Her husband and daughter know she is a murderer and a cheater. While she is trying to just go back to normal and push all that to the side, this is trauma that is going to have to be dealt with.
At the same time, Misty feels as if Natalie’s death is her fault (to be honest, it really is) and is forced to deal with the mental ramifications of that. Walter is trying his best to get her mind off it, and away from her friends who never seem to be there for her when she needs them.
Because it is Spring for the teenagers, the food is plentiful. Their cabin may have burnt down, but they have built new shelters and seem to be thriving. Of course, the show would get pretty boring if things remained happy-go-lucky, so it doesn’t take long before Coach, who most of them thought was dead, shows back up.
Steven Krueger as Ben Scott in Yellowjackets, episode 2, season 3, streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, 2025. Photo Credit: Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Because of the nature of the show, Yellowjackets season 3 is difficult to talk about without spoilers. Interesting things are happening in both times. We are learning more and more about what the girls (and Travis) went through after the crash and how they survived.
L-R: Tawny Cypress as Taissa and Lauren Ambrose as Van in Yellowjackets, episode 1, season 3, streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, 2025. Photo Credit: Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
In the present, there are shocking events that turn the lives of some of them upside down. And after all they went through in the past, they just might be nearing their breaking points.
L-R: Jenna Burgess as Teen Melissa and Sophie Thatcher as Teen Natalie in Yellowjackets, episode 2, season 3, streaming on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, 2025. Photo Credit: Kailey Schwerman/Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.
Having only seen four episodes so far, I can admit that I am fully hooked, hanging onto every word, and waiting to see what happens next. The first two episodes of Yellowjackets Season 3 are streaming now with new episodes releasing weekly.
Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, YELLOWJACKETS is the saga of a team of wildly talented high school girls soccer players who become the (un)lucky survivors of a plane crash deep in the remote northern wilderness. The series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.
Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, the 10-episode third season will pick up in the aftermath of the dramatic season two finale.
In this exclusive clip from the Apple TV+ series Goldie, Goldie finds Mayor Peach (voiced by Henry Winkler), the perfect best friend.
Inspired by Emily Brundige’s award-winning 2019 short film of the same name, Goldieis a new animated kids and family original series that follows Goldie, a giant girl with a big heart, as she sets off on epic adventures with her best friends in their beloved town of Boysenberg.
In this exclusive to Mama’s Geeky clip, we see Goldie on the hunt to find a best friend for everyone in town. This clip features Mayor Peach, who is voiced by Henry Winkler. All thirteen episodes of Goldie start streaming on Apple TV+ on Valentine’s Day, February 14.
Goldie “Perfect Best Friend” Clip, Featuring Henry Winkler
“Perfect Best Friend” is a clip from an episode titled “Birds of a Feather” which follows Goldie as she works hard to find a best friend for everyone, because Goldie has the biggest heart of them all.
In the clip, Henry voices Mayor Peach, the mayor of a neighboring town to Boysenberg, Goldie’s beloved home. This town is where she embarks on epic adventures with her best friends Petey and Teeny. Goldie thinks Boysenberg’s Mayor would be best friends with Mayor Peach because they have so much in common. This clip explores that obvious, and fun, reasons.
Other guest stars include Al Yankovic, Nicole Byer, Cree Summer, Carlos Alazraqui, Maulik Pancholy, and Maria Bamford.
Inspired by Emily Brundige’s award-winning 2019 short film of the same name, Goldie is a new animated kids and family original series that follows Goldie, a giant girl with a big heart, as she sets off on epic adventures with her best friends in their beloved town of Boysenberg. Together, they learn that being different is something to celebrate and that there’s space for everyone in this world — even giants.
Goldie stars a stellar voice cast, including Jessica McKenna (The Mighty Ones), Emmy Award nominee Dee Bradley Baker (Phineas & Ferb), Amari McCoy (Spidey and His Amazing Friends), Vedanten Naidoo (Little Girl, Little Boy), Grey Delisle (The Fairly OddParents) and James Sie (Stillwater).
Produced by Mercury Filmworks, Goldie is created by Emily Brundige (Hilda), who also serves as executive producer alongside Daytime Emmy Award winner Clint Eland (Hilda). Emmy Award winner Graham MacDonald (Mickey Mouse) directs, with Ben Greene (Hilda) as head writer.
Admittedly, I went into Captain America: Brave New World with low expectations. Something about this movie never really got me excited. That said, it exceeded all of my expectations. Sure, it might not be perfect, it might not even be great, but it is not bad. In fact, it is a pretty darn good and solid entry in the MCU. This feels like Marvel’s return to form and it has me looking forward to what comes next.
Taking place after Falcon and Winter Soldier, fans finally get to see Sam Wilson as Captain America, and owning that title. As much as the mantle weighs on his shoulders, he is determined to make Steve proud. Anthony Mackie shines in the quiet moments of this film. He kicks some serious butt (more on that later), but it is the subtle and small moments in which he really gets to show off his acting chops.
Captain America: Brave New World is a political thriller first, and a Marvel movie second. That much is clear from the trailers. The story itself is the most cohesive we have gotten from the MCU in a while. The giant celestial is addressed (yay!) and we have adamantium in the MCU (double yay!).
There is no doubt about it, Harrison Ford is having the best time Brave New World. He gives the role of President Thaddeus Ross his all. Every single time he is on screen, you cannot help but smile. He goes hard – especially in the final act.
Ever since we first saw Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley, I have been eager to see him again. He is the heart and soul of Brave New World. His story brings emotion and while some might find a few of his lines too cheesy, but they really tugged at my heartstrings. Pay attention when he talks about his suit, that is a man who doesn’t have much after being wrongfully imprisoned for thirty years – do not dirty his suit.
Danny Ramirez is the perfect sidekick for the new Captain America. He takes up the mantle of The Falcon, as much as Wilson pushes back on it, and works to prove himself the entire film. Whenever he is on screen, throwing sass at Wilson, I was laughing. Sure, some of the dialogue gets messy, but who cares, they were having fun and so was I.
While he could never take the place of Bucky, I did enjoy watching these two go back and forth with one another. Wilson has always been subtly funny, but he needs a good partner to banter with in order to shine in that department. Ramirez’s Joaquin Torres gave him that in Brave New World.
Everyone wants to know about Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk. Honestly, I wish they had kept the reveal a secret in the marketing. We all knew it was coming, it would have been more fun as a “surprise”, especially because we do not see a lot of him. That said, when we do see him, the CGI is impeccable. I was truly impressed at how they were able to create a fantastic looking Red Hulk that also captures the features of Ford so flawlessly.
That said, because he looks so good, the things around him don’t. He feels dropped into the background at times which causes him to stand out. While I wish we saw more of him in the movie, his short appearance fits into the plot well.
When it comes to the fight sequences, they were one of the biggest standouts for me. I love a good action scene and Captain America: Brave New World delivers on that front. There are some fantastic wing and shield combinations. We have all seen Steve Rogers’ Captain America fight with the shield, so it was important for Wilson’s to bring something new to the table. Mission accomplished.
No spoilers, but know that Wilson’s suit got an upgrade, which you learn about very early on. It not only looks amazing on Mackie, but it is pretty sweet seeing it in action as well.
As someone who loves a good villain, I was a little disappointed at how underused they both are in this film. Tim Blake Nelson is great, of course, and so I was thrilled to see him return to Marvel. He does a wonderful job as Leader but he felt slightly underserved. I wish we had a little bit more of him. It makes sense that he is more of a behind the scenes guy, but he needed just a sprinkle more to get where I wanted him to be.
Which brings me to Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder. Sigh. I was very much looking forward to Esposito’s MCU debut but he is extremely underutilized in this film. He is threatening when he is on screen, but that is for only minutes. You don’t hire Esposito to do him like this. Perhaps this was just an introduction to his character and we will have more later. One can hope.
The plot itself is interesting and even thrilling at times, but it does feel like The Incredible Hulk 2, which is weird because some of these characters have been replaced by new actors. Do not worry, you do not have to have seen that movie in order to understand this one – they will explain it to you.
In fact, they will explain everything. A lot. There is quite a bit of exposition in here, making it feel like the were thinking people will have seen The Incredible Hulk and that some viewers will be dropped into this as their first Marvel movie.
Overall Thoughts On Captain America: Brave New World
Honestly, the first ten minutes or so of this movie had me worried. I thought to myself, oh no, this is going to be bad, isn’t it? But then it picked itself up, dusted itself off, and went full political thriller and I was in. Mackie proves that he can lead a film, which is probably in part due to the supporting cast lifting him up whenever they were on screen. This ensemble is great as everyone brings something to the table.
There are solid action sequences and moments that will pull at your heartstrings. Ford is having the time of his life and Mackie soars to new heights. There are even a few fan service moments squeezed in (in true Marvel fashion), but I fully embraced them.
Say what you will, this movie feels like a return to form for Marvel and that has me excited for the future. Oh, and there is one end credit scene you do not want to miss.
Captain America: Brave New World exceeds expectations and is a solid entry in the MCU. It isn’t great, it isn’t perfect, but it’s pretty good.
Captain America: Brave New World hits theaters on February 14.
Anthony Mackie returns as the high-flying hero Sam Wilson, who’s officially taken up the mantle of Captain America. After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red.
How To Train Your Dragon (2025) Director Dean DeBlois reveals how the live-action version is going to expand and enrich the animated films.
I don’t know about you but the first thing that went through my mind when I heard there was going to be a live-action version of How To Train Your Dragon was, why? I love the animated franchise – in fact, I think it is one of the few perfect trilogies to ever grace the screen. So of course, I had some concerns.
These concerns, however, were immediately squashed the first time I saw the teaser trailer. In fact, it brought me to tears. Director Dean DeBlois also co-directed the animated movies with Chris Sanders and it is clear that he still has a special place for them in his heart.
During a special event, we were shown three (unfinished) scenes from the movie and the new trailer. DeBlois spoke about filming the movie, and his wishes for it. He expressed that it was important for him to expand and enrich the animated films wherever he could, and that the live-action movie was never meant to replace the originals.
“If we were going to do this in live-action, we wanted to find a reason for being.”
“This [story] comes from the mind of Cressida Cowell and her many books,” DeBlois explains. “This was also based on the animated movie, of which I’m very proud, that Chris Sanders and I wrote and directed together.” He goes on to admit that he has not been the biggest fan of live-action movies that have been made of animated films because he feels like they’re made to replace the animated movie.
“From the start, we wanted to make sure that that wasn’t our intention here. If we were going to do this in live-action, we wanted to find a reason for being.” DeBlois explains that with the rushed production schedule and the limited resources that they had on that first movie, there were things that they skipped past that they could have done a little more justice to: “Some of the characters, some of the depth of relationships, and the immersive action.”
How To Train Your Dragon (2025) Is “Quite Faithful” To The Story
DeBlois says that How To Train Your Dragon (2025) is “a reimagining that holds quite faithful to the story and yet, finds moments where we could enrich character relationships, give a bit of depth, even a little bit of Mythology that might have been lacking in that original, all in hopes to make it feel like it enriches the experience and it gives you that much more emotional connection to the characters and a sense of established folklore to this world.”
He compares the animated movie to a test preview screening, saying he used it to find what they could add if they still had money and still had time. He asked himself, “Where would we put those efforts?,” before adding, “We’re hoping to bring all of the strengths of that medium to this story. Whether or not we succeed, the world can judge, but that was the intention.”
Deblois says there is a lot of love, affection, care, and attention that they sunk into this version of How To Train Your Dragon.
Dean DeBlois Always Felt Astrid Was “Underserved” In The Animated Films
DeBlois wanted to use this opportunity to “give a little bit more to the character of Astrid” who he always felt was a little underserved. He also “loves the idea of expanding the mythology of this story that this tribe exists on the island of Burke with purpose.”
In this lore, the Vikings sailed far and wide collecting the best dragon-fighting warriors, they could find with the purpose of eliminating dragons for the good of all. They arrived on the island of Burke because they knew it was within spitting distance of a key dragon’s nest, but generations have gone by and they have not found it. This means there is a mounting pressure that has fallen upon their Chief Stoick, played by Gerard Butler.
Certain Key Scenes Needed To Be Recreated Shot For Shot
Mason Thames (right) as Hiccup with his Night Fury dragon, Toothless, in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois.
Going into this film, DeBlois knew that there were a couple of moments where they should almost stick shot for shot with the animated movie because these are iconic scenes that fans will recognize and they wanted to honor them in live-action as best they could.
“In designing them for live action, we wanted to make sure we didn’t we didn’t sacrifice those trademark silhouettes and personalities from the animated movie that we wanted to draw forward.” To do this, they wanted to set aside anything that was too anthropomorphic because they were really trying to make the idea of dragons credible on the screen.
(from left) Night Fury dragon, Toothless, and Hiccup (Mason Thames) in Universal Pictures’ live-action How to Train Your Dragon, written and directed by Dean DeBlois.
“We had these amazing puppeteers who created foam heads and bodies from the digital assets of the dragons and then they puppeteered them in such a way that they disappeared and there was a dragon and our actors had somebody to act with.” – Dean DeBlois
They filmed with with real cameras and moved around as a creature of this natural world would. “Working backwards we were able to retain what we think might have been simplified in an animated design but give it a little bit more robust skeleton, and musculature, and scales and details,” DeBlois explains.
How To Train Your Dragon (2025) soars into theaters on June 13.
On the rugged isle of Berk, where Vikings and dragons have been bitter enemies for generations, Hiccup (Mason Thames; The Black Phone, For All Mankind) stands apart. The inventive yet overlooked son of Chief Stoick the Vast (Gerard Butler, reprising his voice role from the animated franchise), Hiccup defies centuries of tradition when he befriends Toothless, a feared Night Fury dragon.
Their unlikely bond reveals the true nature of dragons, challenging the very foundations of Viking society. With the fierce and ambitious Astrid (BAFTA nominee Nico Parker; Dumbo, The Last of Us) and the village’s quirky blacksmith Gobber (Nick Frost; Snow White and the Huntsman, Shaun of the Dead) by his side, Hiccup confronts a world torn by fear and misunderstanding.
As an ancient threat emerges, endangering both Vikings and dragons, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.
The White Lotus Season 3 is dark, twisted, and extremely uncomfortable to watch (but in a good way). The new ensemble cast fits into this world perfectly. It should be noted that this review is based solely on the first six episodes of The White Lotus Season 3.
The White Lotus Season 3 continues the streak of great television. This show is twisted and bizarre, something writer and creator Mike White excels at. As always, this season starts with a murder and then jumps backward in time, allowing the week prior to the death to play out over the course of the episodes. Season 3 is eight episodes, and I have only seen six of them so far.
If I am being totally honest, Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya is missed. She was a staple of the first two seasons and it does seem strange to not have her be a part of Season 3. Of course, there is good reason why this character cannot be in Thailand and that is because, well, she’s dead. Still, there is a little bit of The White Lotus Season 3 that felt off without her. Don’t worry though, there is a whole lot of drama, mystery, and secrets to keep things entertaining and intriguing, though.
After watching six episodes, I still have no idea who dies this season. There are many possibilities that the writing is so brilliantly sprinkling in, so I have remained on the edge of my seat all the way through. Multiple characters could also be the killer because White knows exactly how to tease several different prospects.
Every Storyline In The White Lotus Season 3 Is Interesting
Each and every storyline in The White Lotus Season 3 is interesting. There is the Ratliff family who have a very strange dynamic, one that will have viewers feeling unsettled and uneasy every time they are on screen. Something strange is going on there that I do not want to ruin, but it all comes to a head in episodes five and six in a truly shocking way.
Then we Belinda, who we first met in season one and is now returning in season three. She is unsure why Tanya ghosted her after offering to help her with her own business and is trying to get her confidence back. We also meet her son in this season.
While I cannot discuss much more about what happens with her this season, just know that she has one of the most suspenseful plots that will have those watching rooting for her, but also worried for her. Honestly though, it is lovely to have Natasha Rothwell back in The White Lotus. She is so great as Belinda.
Chelsea and Rick are the most mysterious of the guests at The White Lotus this season. They have a strange relationship and while they know their backstory, viewers do not. These two also have a fair amount of comedic moments, of which there are not many in The White Lotus Season 3. I love their dynamic and easily became invested in their story.
This show has always included a romantic storyline with the employees of the hotel, and of course, season 3 is no exception.
BLACKPINK’s Lisa joins the cast, in her very first acting role, as Mook. It comes as a complete surprise that this is, indeed, the first time she has acted because she is great in this role. Her character has a bit of a love story, which offers some sweet relief amongst all the bizarre and twisted things going on at the hotel.
Even though all of these plot points are fantastic, and I am excited to see how they crossover and bleed into one another at the end of the season, as they often do in The White Lotus, my favorite has to be the friend group. It is very clear that these three are only still friends out of habit at this point, as they often split up with two ranting and complaining, and gossiping about the other. This is something that so many of us can relate to, which makes it interesting and fun to watch.
Overall Thoughts On The White Lotus Season 3
The White Lotus is one of those shows that is very difficult to discuss what works and what doesn’t without getting into spoilers. The season three ensemble cast does a wonderful job of stepping into this world seamlessly while still bringing new and exciting elements to the story. Mike White proves that he is a brilliant writer once again, to no one’s surprise.
There are moments of suspense, humor, and heart, all perfectly woven together in such a way that will keep viewers guessing when it comes to who has died, and who has killed them. It seems like with every episode I change my suspicions, which is what keeps a show like this interesting.
My biggest qualm with The White Lotus Season 3 is the lack of Jennifer Coolidge. She was fantastic as Tanya and I am sad to have her not be involved – even though there is good reason that she isn’t. Still, with Belinda returning, and what she brings with her this season, it feels like Tanya is still represented. At least a little bit.
With just two episodes left, I cannot wait to see how it all plays out. Of course, it could go downhill, but I highly doubt that will happen.
The White Lotus season 3 premieres on February 16 on Max and HBO, with new episodes following weekly.
An all-star cast head to a resort and unleash their worst, most privileged impulses. The series is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain, whose stay becomes affected by their various dysfunctions.
A week in the life of vacationers is unravelled as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. With each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees, and the idyllic locale itself.
The White Lotus season 3 premieres on February 16 on Max and HBO, with new episodes following weekly.
Enjoy this exclusive track from the Inheritance movie soundtrack, “Welcome To Egypt”, from Emmy and Ivor Novello-nominated Paul Leonard-Morgan.
Lakeshore Records is set to release Inheritance– Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally today, January 31, featuring music by BAFTA award-winning, Emmy and Ivor Novello-nominated Paul Leonard-Morgan (Fellow Travelers, Cyberpunk 2077). The atmospheric and darkly distorted dynamics of the electronic score add both tension and an erie calm providing a striking backdrop to the spy thriller. The IFC film directed by Neil Burger and starring Phoebe Dynevor and Rhys Ifans is in theaters nationwide.
When Maya learns that her father was once a spy, she suddenly finds herself at the centre of an international conspiracy. In her quest for answers, she must travel the globe, mastering her father’s skills and unraveling the mysteries of his past.
Notes Leonard-Morgan: “My Inheritance soundtrack leans away from traditional scoring. I wanted to create a soundtrack that leaves the audience on edge as Maya, the main character, fights for her life escaping her followers. She takes in countries such as India and Egypt as she flees. I didn’t want to use typical instruments to signpost that we’re in these countries. Instead, I used vocals, sampled them up and reversed, processed sand distorted them to make us feel uniquely close and in the head of our lead character. In the same way that the whole film was shot on iPhones, giving it a unique perspective, the use of vocals, sampled over processed basses, electronica and percussion leads to an extremely unsettling soundtrack.”
Inheritance Track Exclusive
Listen to “Welcome To Egypt” by Paul Leonard-Morgan Inheritance (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) Pre-save the album.
Full Inheritance Track List
Window Ledge
You Are Charming
Thanks For The Advice
Passports
Welcome To Egypt
iPad Photos
Get Out Of The Restaurant
Kidnap Call
Sneak Out
Raiding The Wallet
Come Home
Arriving In India
Safety Deposit Box
Rajar Singh
You’re a Spy
Keep Walking
Bike Chase in Delhi
Smart Woman
Interpol Call
Speak to Your Dad
Train Chase
Passport Control
Arriving in Seoul
Seoul Apartment
Another Family
Temple
Maya’s Plan
Your Special One
All A Misunderstanding
You’re A Fool
My Inheritance
About Paul Leonard-Morgan
Paul Leonard-Morgan is a BAFTA award-winning, Emmy and Ivor Novello-nominated composer and producer. His unique cinematic style of fusing orchestra with electronica has put him in high demand as a score composer & band producer, as well as a performer and artist in his own right.
His film scores include DREDD, LIMITLESS, LAST BREATH, GIGI & NATE and 20th Century Studios BOSTON STRANGLER, starring Keira Knightley, directed by Matt Ruskin. He has worked on a string of projects with Academy-Award winning director Errol Morris including the features THE B-SIDE, MY PSYCHEDELIC LOVE STORY, the award-winning Netflix series WORMWOOD and the Steve Bannon documentary AMERICAN DHARMA. Recent projects include this years’ INHERITANCE (teaming up again with Neil Burger), the Sundance feature THE TOMORROW MAN (starring Blythe Danner and John Lithgow), BEST SELLERS (starring Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza), the Emmy-winning THE HUNT FOR PLANET B, directed by Academy-Award nominee Nathaniel Kahn, as well as the HBO feature documentary LUCY THE HUMAN CHIMP. His collaborations with legendary composer Philip Glass began on Amazon’s series TALES FROM THE LOOP, winning them numerous awards, and continued with THE GREEN VEIL followed by the documentary feature film THE PIGEON TUNNEL, which received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination and Cinema Eye Honors nomination for Best Score.
After beginning his career working with bands such as No Doubt, Simple Minds, Isobel Campbell, Snow Patrol & Belle and Sebastian, Leonard-Morgan went on to work on films including three short films accompanying Universal Studio’s DESPICABLE ME 2 and Fox/Evergreen’s $80 million feature animation WALKING WITH DINOSAURS 3D. Leonard-Morgan’s first video game soundtrack (EA Games’ flagship BATTLEFIELD HARDLINE) was released in 2015, the success of which led him to score WARHAMMER: DAWN OF WAR 3 released in 2017, followed by the global hit CYBERPUNK 2077 and CALL OF DUTY MOBILE in 2021. Last year he released an album of remixes for DREDD’s 10th anniversary, released on Mondo, featuring collaborations with artists such as Mogwai and John Tejada.
Recent concert work includes his concerto commission for Orchestre Nationale de Bretagne, which premiered in France in 2021 and his latest album of études for piano and cello which is currently being choreographed by members of the San Francis ballet.
Currently you can listen to Paul’s score for Showtime’s FELLOW TRAVELERS for Paramount+ which is streaming now, written by Academy Award-nominee Ron Nyswaner (PHILADELPHIA). His most recent score can be heard in Netflix’s new original drama series, BODKIN (the first series by the Obama’s production company Higher Ground) as well as his latest feature film LAST BREATH (feat Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu).
About Lakeshore Records
Lakeshore Records is a GRAMMY-winning record label, and the soundtrack arm of the Cutting Edge Group.
Lakeshore Records is the global independent leader in top line soundtrack album releases, including such popular, critically acclaimed and classic soundtracks as Bridgerton, Stranger Things, Wednesday, Fallout, John Wick, Whiplash, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Drive, Cyberpunk 2077 / Edgerunners, Star Trek: Picard, Bojack Horseman, The Walking Dead, Napoleon Dynamite, Red Dead Redemption 2, the Grammy-winning Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok, the Academy Award nominated Lady Bird and Academy Award winners Moonlight, Little Miss Sunshine, American Factory, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Hurt Locker and many, many more.
About Inheritance
When Maya (Phoebe Dynevor) learns that her father was once a spy, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an international conspiracy. In her quest for answers, Maya becomes a target and must travel the globe, mastering her father’s skills and unraveling the mysteries of his past in this gripping espionage thriller.
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