Canadian action star Ryan Reynolds may be currently working on Marvel’s “Deadpool 3,” but that doesn’t mean he can’t line up other big projects for the future. He’s reportedly set to reunite with Skydance Media for a new film at Apple Original Films, as Deadline reveals he’ll star alongside director/actor Kenneth Branagh in “Mayday.”

READ MORE: ‘Deadpool 3’: Brianna Hildebrand & Shioli Kutsuna Will Both Be Back For Shawn Levy’s Upcoming Marvel Sequel

The action-adventure flick hails from “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” filmmaking duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley, who had some decent success recently with their fantasy-comedy based on the beloved table-top role playing game.

Continue reading ‘Mayday’: Ryan Reynolds & Kenneth Branagh Tapped For New Apple/Skydance Action Flick From ‘Dungeon & Dragons’ Directors at The Playlist.

With Hollywood now turning to franchises like “The Last of Us” and “Borderlands” in the search for new audiences, it might be safe to say that video games are no longer the untapped frontier of adaptations. And that might mean it is the tabletop industry’s time to shine. “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is the latest attempt to bring the tabletop roleplaying game to the big screen, but while other film and television adaptations seemed uncertain of what they had, ‘Honor Among Thieves’ is safely in the hands of creators who seem to genuinely love their world of magic and mayhem.

Continue reading ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Review: Chris Pine & Company Score A Critical Hit [SXSW] at The Playlist.

John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein return to SXSW this year with “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” which kicks off the Austin-based festival today. And in the lead-up to the film’s world premiere, the directing duo had some scoop for Variety about why they left another big-budget project due in theaters this year, DC Studios‘ “The Flash.”

READ MORE: New ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ International Trailer: Chris Pine & Co.

Continue reading ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Directors John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein Explain Why They Left ‘The Flash’ at The Playlist.

Throughout the last decade-plus, movie audiences have tasted all sorts of different adaptations: video games, book-to-film, comic books, and the like. But a more uncommon adaption formula is the board game movie. Sure, there’s Peter Berg’s 2012 “Battleship” film and the 1985 comedy “Clue,” but few click with audiences. However, that may change when the duo behind the critically acclaimed “Game Night” brings “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” to Austin for its world premiere at SXSW next month.

Continue reading New ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ International Trailer: Chris Pine & Co. Rock Out To Led Zeppelin at The Playlist.

Adapting a quality “Dungeons & Dragons” movie would likely require a filmmaker with a great knowledge of the game and the ability to craft a big-budget fantasy world in the same vein as “The Lord of the Rings.” Or, you know, just go with the guys that wrote and directed the “Vacation” reboot.

According to Deadline, Hasbro’s Allspark Pictures and Paramount are in discussions with filmmakers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley to bring the massively popular RPG “Dungeons & Dragons” to theaters.

Continue reading ‘Game Night’ Directors Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley In Talks To Direct New ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Film at The Playlist.

After months of a lot of movement, there’s finally some news on “The Flash” front at Warner Bros., but none of it is very promising. The positive, if you want to call it that: ‘Flash’ star Ezra Miller is taking matters into his own hands and writing a new screenplay, and he’s enlisted DC Comics writer Grant Morrison to help. The bad news, Miller, has been clashing with the directors on the project, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, who are coming off the very successful and critically well-received WB film, “Game Night,” plus the shine of writing “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Furthermore, WB is moving in a lighter, more comedic direction—which is precisely what The Flash character is fundamentally and why Daley and Goldstein, who again, already did this kind of thing with ‘Spider-Man,’ were tapped to direct the movie in the first place.

Continue reading ‘The Flash’: Ezra Miller Is Writing His Own Script In A Hail Mary Hope Of Staying On As Character at The Playlist.

On this episode of The Playlist Podcast, I’m joined by Editor-in-Chief Rodrigo Perez and Managing Editor Charles Barfield, to discuss the 20 Breakthrough Directors of 2018, though it cannot be stressed enough that our topic at hand today was a collective pick from many members of our staff to which we are merely the mouthpiece for. We continue our extensive year-end coverage with our director’s conversation.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019

It’s been talked about at-length how strong the year in film was for 2018, but maybe not as much about how some of the best, most-acclaimed films of the year were from either first-time directors or filmmakers with few directorial credits who made a huge splash with a recent release.

Continue reading The 20 Breakthrough Directors of 2018 [Podcast] at The Playlist.

In case it’s unclear. There’s been another big shakeup at Warner Bros. branch of the DC Films unit. That’s what the third? First, Zack Snyder was quietly phased out around the time “Justice League” was starting and Charles Roven, the producer of “Suicide Squad” and Chris Nolan‘s “Batman” films was demoted a long time ago.

Continue reading DC’s ‘Flash’ Movie Will Be A ‘Back To The Future’-Style Adventure at The Playlist.

DC Films could really use a victory or at least a glimmer of good news. Yesterday, Joss Whedon bailed on directing “Batgirl“ after admitting he simply was unable to crack the story. That announcement followed a grim end to 2017 with the release of “Justice League,” a hodge-podge disaster of two directors’ vision that underperformed at the box office. The studio, who once promised upwards of three pictures of year, currently only have one slated for 2018 (“Aquaman“) and two for 2019 (“Shazam!

Continue reading ‘The Flash’ Directors John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein Still Aren’t Officially Signed To Make The Movie at The Playlist.

“Game Night” is something of a rarity — it’s a smart, consistently entertaining, and actually funny studio comedy. There are so many ways it could’ve gone wrong, yet like actual game nights with the right people, the newest film from directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein deliver something that’s genuinely fun. Not likely to break any new ground like some of its R-rated peers such as “The Hangover,” “Bridesmaids” or “Girls Trip,” “Game Night” remains fresh simply for being a crude-yet-sweet mainstream comedy for the middle-aged crowd that doesn’t belittle their intelligence.

Continue reading ‘Game Night’ Starring Jason Bateman & Rachel McAdams Is A Winner [Review] at The Playlist.

Having just stepping into the world of Dungeons & Dragons, I know all about the good time spirit of the weekly hang with the gang. However, for Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams, their own “Game Night” goes out of control in this upcoming romantic action comedy thing.

Directed by John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein (“Vacation“), the premise for this one is pretty simple: competitive gamers get way in over their head, when a murder mystery party gets a bit too real.

Continue reading ‘Game Night’ Trailer: Jason Bateman & Rachel McAdams Take It Up A Notch at The Playlist.

Uhh, so this is a little bit unexpected, but in Hollywood you can fail upwards. The DC Films’ picture “The Flash” has played a lot of musical chairs. First Phil Lord and Chris Miller who bailed to make “Han Solo” (only to get fired) then “Dope” director Rick Famuyiwa dropped out too over “creative differences” and so too did Seth Grahame-Smith (“Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” and “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter”), who also rewrote the script.

Continue reading ‘The Flash’ Will Be Directed By The Screenwriters Of ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ at The Playlist.

Any movie directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein — who helmed the poorly reviewed “Vacation” — should be approached with caution. But thanks to a cast that includes Rachel McAdams, Jason Bateman, Lamorne Morris, Jesse Plemons, and Kyle Chandler, “Game Night” might just earn the benefit of the doubt.

Continue reading ‘Game Night’ Trailer: There Are No Rules For Jason Bateman & Rachel McAdams at The Playlist.

There’s a pretty dull formula for comedies developing around Hollywood that sees creatives cherry picking an innocuous event (“Office Christmas Party“), adding a thin plot and some raunch, and calling it a movie (see also: “Date Night“). And now another one is coming with “Game Night.” Sigh.

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams will cash easy paychecks for this one, which is being dreamed up by writer/directors Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (“Vacation,” “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone”) with the story centering around, you guessed it, the wild shenanigans of one game night, and what happens when things go off course when a variety of couples are brought together for their regular hang. 

Continue reading Rachel McAdams & Jason Bateman Will Have A Wild ‘Game Night’ at The Playlist.

Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan And More Assemble For Hasbro Cinematic Universe

Continue reading Michael Chabon, Brian K. Vaughan And More Assemble For Hasbro Cinematic Universe at The Playlist.

Review: 'Vacation' Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Chris Hemsworth, And More

Continue reading Review: ‘Vacation’ Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Chris Hemsworth, And More at The Playlist.

‘Vacation’ Reboot Writers Will Pen Marvel’s New ‘Spider-Man’ Movie

Continue reading ‘Vacation’ Reboot Writers Will Pen Marvel’s New ‘Spider-Man’ Movie at The Playlist.

Watch: Rusty Takes The Family Back To Wally World In The New Trailer For ‘Vacation’

Continue reading Watch: Rusty Takes The Family Back To Wally World In The New Trailer For ‘Vacation’ at The Playlist.

Contenders To Helm Standalone 'Spider-Man' Narrow To Include Ted Melfi And Jonathan Levine, Adds Jon Watts

Continue reading Contenders To Helm Standalone ‘Spider-Man’ Narrow To Include Ted Melfi And Jonathan Levine, Adds Jon Watts at The Playlist.

Jonathan Levine, Jared Hess And More In Running To Direct Standalone 'Spider-Man,' Drew Goddard Seemingly Out

Continue reading Jonathan Levine, Jared Hess And More In Running To Direct Standalone ‘Spider-Man,’ Drew Goddard Seemingly Out at The Playlist.

'Vacation' Reboot Put On Hold As Battle Erupts Over Rating

Continue reading ‘Vacation’ Reboot Put On Hold As Battle Erupts Over Rating at The Playlist.

Fox Pushes Ahead With Josh Trank's 'Fantastic Four,' Hires Writer To Pen The Script & More

Continue reading Fox Pushes Ahead With Josh Trank’s ‘Fantastic Four,’ Hires Writer To Pen The Script & More at The Playlist.

'Horrible Bosses' Writers John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein To Make Directorial Debut On 'Vacation' Reboot

Continue reading ‘Horrible Bosses’ Writers John Francis Daley & Jonathan Goldstein To Make Directorial Debut On ‘Vacation’ Reboot at The Playlist.

'Horrible Bosses' To Get A Sequel, Hopefully With Jokes This Time

Continue reading ‘Horrible Bosses’ To Get A Sequel, Hopefully With Jokes This Time at The Playlist.

Continue reading ‘Get Smart’ & ‘Tommy Boy’ Director Pete Segal In The Mix For ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ Reboot at The Playlist.