One wonders what the original audiences thought, as they settled into their seats thirty years ago, of the out-of-nowhere opening to Joe Dante’s six-years-later sequel to his 1984 smash “Gremlins.” Because “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” does not open like a conventional summer sequel; it opens with Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, in a Warner Bros. logo animation that breaks out of the movie entirely for a brief bit of Merrie Melodies-inspired lunacy.

Continue reading ‘Gremlins 2’ At 30: The Case For Letting A Franchise Go Absolutely Berzerk at The Playlist.

Hulkamania is about to go running wild, brother. He might have “The Joker” to contend with, but director Todd Phillips (“The Hangover” trilogy) is already looking towards the future. And so is Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth, who is expected to hang up the Thor hammer/new ax this spring once “Avengers: Endgame” hits theaters. The two are joining tag team forces to make a biopic of the life of iconic American wrestler Hulk Hogan with Hemsworth in the lead role for, who else, Netflix.

Continue reading Chris Hemsworth Will Play Hulk Hogan For Director Todd Phillips at The Playlist.

The Gawker v. Hulk Hogan story is getting the big screen treatment, and it looks like the project is assembling a pretty good crew to spearhead the film. According to reports, filmmaker Francis Lawrence (“Red Sparrow” and three of the four “Hunger Games” films) has been signed on to direct a film based on the novel “Conspiracy: Peter Thiel, Hulk Hogan, Gawker, and the Anatomy of Intrigue,” which details the recent case that resulted in Gawker going bankrupt and Hulk Hogan becoming an even more wealthy man, all thanks to Peter Thiel.

Continue reading Francis Lawrence To Direct Gawker-Hulk Hogan Film Based On Script By ‘The Big Short’ Writer at The Playlist.