Eric Heisserer is the Oscar-nominated writer of “Arrival,” but he’s also someone that is deeply familiar with the topic of world-building in cinema and TV. Now, he shows off those skills as the writer and showrunner of the new Netflix fantasy series, “Shadow & Bone.”

In this episode of The Playlist Podcast, we got a chance to speak with Eric Heisserer, the man behind “Shadow & Bone,” as well as someone that has had his hands in a number of cinematic universes, including the failed Dark Universe and the current Valiant superhero film universe.

Continue reading Eric Heisserer Talks ‘Shadow & Bone,’ The Failure Of The Dark Universe & The Current State Of Valiant Superhero Films [The Playlist Podcast] at The Playlist.

With 2020 finally coming to a close, The Playlist Podcast adds one more Best Of list to the pile. Well, not so much a Best Of, but instead, Charles, Mike, and Brian talk about the only list that “New Mutants” might find itself on this year, the Most Disappointing Films of 2020.

LISTEN: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’: A Bold New Era For The Hero Or A Campy, Ridiculous Mess?

Continue reading The Most Disappointing Films Of 2020 [The Playlist Podcast] at The Playlist.

Long, long ago, in the Before Times, there was a movie called “Bloodshot.” This Vin Diesel-starring action film was the first attempt by Valiant Comics to create a cinematic universe using their brand of comic book characters. And why all plans – big and small – seem to be in a holding pattern these days, that doesn’t mean that Valiant is standing idle. To hear head honcho Dan Mintz say it, the future is brighter than ever for the comic industry’s most mature publisher.

Continue reading Valiant Boss: If Martin Scorsese Made Comic Book Movies, “He Would Make A Valiant Movie” at The Playlist.

It’s true. After months of lockdown and at least one failed reopening attempt, some cinemas in China are expected to reopen later this month. And while the theaters will feature some of the local films that are sure to attract audiences, Hollywood studio films are also getting involved, with the first slate of imports being announced, including an Oscar-winning feature a couple of, well, duds.

According to Deadline, Chinese theaters are expected to reopen on July 20.

Continue reading ‘Dolittle,’ ‘Bloodshot’ & ‘1917’ Expected To Be First “New” Hollywood Films In China Since January Shutdown at The Playlist.

Recently, we talked about how a number of movie theaters in Texas were set to reopen due to the Governor’s relaxing of certain restrictions against non-essential businesses. We detailed what risks were involved and what the theaters were doing to make it as safe as possible for film fans to come back to the big screen. And apparently, though it would seem that many people are still wary of running back to cinemas, there were plenty of Texans willing to go to Santikos Entertainment theaters right as they reopened.

Continue reading ‘Bloodshot,’ ‘Trolls 2’ & More Help Sell Almost 3,000 Movie Tickets In San Antonio Over The Weekend at The Playlist.

The recently-released “Bloodshot” was teased by Vin Diesel as being the film that could launch the Valiant Comics cinematic universe. However, with the poor box office showing (cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic), it appears that the film might not be the launching pad that the actor was hoping for. That being said, if you’re still interested in what a Valiant cinematic universe might look like, we got you covered, as you can now watch the entire “Ninjak vs.

Continue reading ‘Ninjak Vs. The Valiant Universe’: Watch Bloodshot & Friends In A Feature Film Minus Vin Diesel at The Playlist.

The box office is non-existent. Thanks to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, the majority of the world’s cinemas are now shuttered, and in the US, at least, it appears this is going to last through the months of April and May. And without box office numbers, how are we supposed to come up with a ranking of how well a film does and if it’s actually as popular as a studio hopes? Well, thankfully, the studios have decided to use this pandemic to test the waters on a straight-to-VOD market.

Continue reading Without Theaters, Are ‘Bloodshot,’ ‘Onward,’ ‘The Hunt’ & Others Succeeding On VOD? at The Playlist.

Honestly, in the week leading up to the release of “Bloodshot” last Friday, the idea of being one of the final new films in theaters wasn’t a bad idea. There was the idea that, even with reduced capacity, you’d have one of the last big films to be released. But now, with the vast majority of cinemas in the US and around the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sony’s plan to release “Bloodshot” last week all but assured that the Vin Diesel film would have a ridiculously low box office.

Continue reading Sony Will Release ‘Bloodshot’ On VOD Next Week But Is “Firmly Committed” To Theatrical Windows at The Playlist.

This is a box office report unlike any that I’ve written in my 2+ years regularly doing this for The Playlist. Normally, the discussion would center on the new movies that were released, how they did in terms of money earned, and their outlook moving forward. Pretty typical stuff. But folks, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, what’s going on in theaters around the world is anything but typical. So, this is likely going to be a bit shorter than previous weeks as there’s really only one story worth talking about.

Continue reading Weekend Box Office Hits 22-Year Low As Coronavirus Forces People To Stay Indoors at The Playlist.

Ever since the news that “No Time to Die” was delayed from its April release all the way until November due to the coronavirus pandemic, film fans have been looking at other big spring films to see which is the next to get moved. It appears, for now, at least, that May’s “Black Widow” release is going to stick. But later in the month, the new ‘Fast & Furious film, “F9,” hits theaters and that film, more than most, really relies heavily on China and other international territories.

Continue reading Vin Diesel Says ‘F9’ Won’t Be Delayed By Coronavirus & He’d Go To China Now To Promote It at The Playlist.

Given their cultural dominance, playground games for boys naturally often center on make-believe superhero play. But in this fantasy pretend, there’s always that one windbag kid—let’s call that f*cker Chad—that imbues his invented character with so many utterly invincible powers he essentially ruins any capacity for drama or stakes rendering the entire imaginary peril pointless and dull. Thanks, Chad. Welcome to Sony’s “Bloodshot”—the superhero film equivalent of the worst kid at the playground. 

The latest attempt to anchor a relatively unknown superhero property around an A-list actor, “Bloodshot,” stars Vin Diesel as a character, sometimes known as “Ray,” other times “Garrison,” and only once “Bloodshot.” He’s a deceased former soldier brought back to life as a seemingly unconquerable killing machine by RST, a mysterious tech company led by Dr.

Continue reading ‘Bloodshot’: Vin Diesel’s Latest Dull Bid For Superherodom Has Zero Dramatic Stakes [Review] at The Playlist.

Not only is the upcoming film, “Bloodshot,” the first time Vin Diesel gets to show his face in a superhero film, but it also is the first in what many fans hope is a brand-new slate of films based on Valiant Comics series. (Believe it or not, there are plenty of great superhero stories that aren’t tied to Marvel and DC. Go figure!) And according to the star of “Bloodshot,” the film does do what it can to pave the way for a new superhero cinematic universe.

Continue reading ‘Bloodshot’: Vin Diesel Confirms The Superhero Film Sets Up The Valiant Cinematic Universe at The Playlist.

You knew it was only a matter of time before Vin Diesel lands his own superhero film. The man absolutely loves the idea of leading a franchise, and just about every film he signs up for is with the hopes that sequels will get made. And yes, he’s part of “Guardians of the Galaxy,” but his character, Groot, is hardly known for being voiced by Diesel. That’s where “Bloodshot” comes in.

Continue reading ‘Bloodshot’ Trailer: Vin Diesel Finally Gets A Superhero Role That Doesn’t Require Him To Voice A Tree at The Playlist.

You hear Vin Diesel (“Fast & Furious” series) and the words “killing machine,” you don’t bat an eyelid. Diesel and the action genre go hand in hand really, well here he goes again in another similar role as he plays Valiant Comics own “Bloodshot” in there feature film debut.

The project is being directed by Dave Wilson, and will serve as his first feature film as a director.

Continue reading ‘Bloodshot’ Trailer: Vin Diesel Becomes A Superhuman Killer In Sony’s & Valiant Comics First Superhero Feature at The Playlist.

You know we’ve reached peak superhero filmmaking when the first question you have about the latest “Harbinger” news is, “How is this going to affect the Valiant cinematic universe?” We are truly witnessing the fall of the Roman Empire, folks.

Now, you either read that introduction and thought “ok, that’s all well and good, but how does it affect the Valiant shared cinematic universe?” or “Who the fuck is ‘Harbinger’ and why do I care?” I’m going to guess many of you are in the latter camp, so before we get to the news, let’s take a step back.

Continue reading Valiant Comics Superhero Film ‘Harbinger’ Moves From Sony To Paramount Resulting In Some Shared Universe Drama at The Playlist.

The San Diego Comic-Con has gone through quite a few makeovers throughout the years. Starting as a tiny, niche convention decades prior, SDCC morphed into the premier event in the comic book industry. And with the rise of superhero films, the convention has turned into one of the biggest film events of the year, as well. Except in 2019, that seems to be changing, as almost all of the major studios are sitting this year out, including the latest one to flee, Sony.

Continue reading Sony Is Skipping The 2019 San Diego Comic-Con Clearing The Way For A Marvel Studios-Dominated Affair at The Playlist.

Say what you will about the Disney/Fox merger, but Sony is quietly building up an arsenal of franchises. Of course, they’ve already got “Spider-Man” off the ground with a little help from Marvel, and have a number of spinoffs cooking including this year’s “Venom.” Meanwhile, “Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle” has become a massive success, and it’s only a matter of time until a sequel is announced.

Continue reading Move Over Jared Leto, Vin Diesel Is Now ‘Bloodshot’ at The Playlist.

THR reports that Leto is eyeing “Bloodshot.” Oscar Isaac, James McAvoy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicholas Hoult and Mark Wahlberg were reportedly on this wishlist for the movie earlier this year, but I guess it’s Leto who’s taking the calls from the studio.

Continue reading Jared Leto May Play ‘Bloodshot’ at The Playlist.

Ah, the olde wishlist. As you should probably know by now, just because a studio wants an A-list star for whatever blockbuster project they’re working on, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll happen or that they’re even talking with them. But it makes the project seem high profile by tossing some names alongside it, it makes for a buzzy news story, and so here we are.

The Wrap reveals that Sony and Valiant Entertainment are throwing a coin in the wishing well for Oscar Isaac, James McAvoy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicholas Hoult or Mark Wahlberg to lead “Bloodshot.” The movie will be based on the comic of the same name, which sounds a lot like Wolverine, following a soldier with regenerative and morphing powers, who gets his memory wiped, and seeks revenge on those who made him this way.

Continue reading Oscar Isaac, James McAvoy, Jake Gyllenhaal, Nicholas Hoult & Mark Wahlberg Top Wishlist For Sony’s ‘Bloodshot’ at The Playlist.

Jane Goldman Adapting Eisner Award-Winning Comic 'Nonplayer' For Warner Bros.

Continue reading Jane Goldman Adapting Eisner Award-Winning Comic ‘Nonplayer’ For Warner Bros. at The Playlist.