If there is anyone involved with the upcoming film “Joker” that should be able to explain why everyone who is upset over the film’s plot is wrong, it should be Todd Phillips. The man who directed the upcoming thriller, and co-wrote it alongside Scott Silver, is probably the one person on the planet that knows exactly what the film is trying to say. And so, despite WB already releasing a statement about “Joker” and the potential violence that could be inspired by the film, Phillips is now speaking up about his thoughts on the recent controversies and why he thinks everyone is freaking out about nothing.

Continue reading Todd Phillips Defends The Violence In ‘Joker’ By Comparing To ‘John Wick 3’: “Why Does This Movie Get Held To Different Standards?” at The Playlist.

“Your world creation is visual. I want the audience from pretty much right off the bat to know you’re in a different reality, so you’re going to see some weird stuff. You’re going to see dogs and horses and gun-fu and karate and ninjas on motorcycles” said ‘John Wick’ director Chad Stahelski as he discusses crafting the visual palate of the third installment in the Keanu Reeves-led action series “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.”

READ MORE: ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ Somehow Ups The Action Ante Yet Again In The Franchise’s Most Explosive Installment [Review]

The ‘John Wick’ series has introduced audiences to such a distinct world that only seems to expand with each entry.

Continue reading ‘John Wick 3’: Director Chad Stahelski Talks Dogs, Horses, Gun-Fu & Ninjas On Motorcycles [Interview] at The Playlist.

“I’m super happy that the Wachowskis are not just doing a ‘Matrix,’ but they’re expanding what we all loved,” “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum” director Chad Stahelski told U.K. press last week when asked about the state of any potential “Matrix” movies, given that he was one of the action stunt coordinators on the film. “And if it’s anywhere near the level of what they’ve already done, it wouldn’t take more than a call to go, ‘Hey, we want you to be a stunt guy’ and I would probably go and get hit by a car.”

READ MORE: The Wachowskis Are Back For A Fourth ‘Matrix’ Film According To ‘John Wick 3’ Director

Great, that sounds pretty unambiguous, but shortly after the news was met with great enthusiasm and started to spread like wildfire, representatives for Stahelski reached out to /Film, said, the initial report was inaccurate and explained that the filmmaker’s comments were in response to a hypothetical scenario were the Wachowskis would be involved.

Continue reading ‘John Wick 3’ Director Chad Stahelski Talks About The Big “Ifs” Of A ‘Matrix 4’ With The Wachowskis [Exclusive] at The Playlist.

Despite film fans and studios saying it’s impossible to launch new franchises in today’s Hollywood, “John Wick” seems to be thriving. After the sequel outperformed the original, the “John Wick” franchise has gone from odd Keanu Reeves action film to the most-anticipated list. And in honor of 2019 right around the corner, EW has graced ‘Wick’ fans (‘Wick’-ans?) the first look at the upcoming ‘Chapter 3.’

The first two pictures from “John Wick: Chapter 3” give you everything you need to know about the upcoming film.

Continue reading ‘John Wick 3’ First Look: Halle Berry, Anjelica Huston, A Higher Body Count, & Yes, More Dogs at The Playlist.

After what feels like a year made up of roughly 5 million weeks (fun fact: the film “Black Panther” was released in 2018! It’s true!), December has rolled around and the light at the end of the 2018 tunnel is in sight. And around these parts, that means that it’s time to roll out the annual smorgasbord of year-end features, looking at the best, and sometimes worst, of the year in film and TV.

Continue reading The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019 at The Playlist.

It’s still kind of weird that “John Wick” is as good as it is. From the premise alone, it seemed like the kind of direct-to-VOD action movie that a John Travolta or a Bruce Willis might star in (co-starring 50 Cent, probably), and Keanu Reeves’ star had not been glittering of late. But the first film was a tremendous surprise: a thrilling, beautiful looking, characterful, textured action-thriller that might have featured the Keanu-est performance of all time.

Continue reading Keanu Reeves, Entire World Want Tilda Swinton For ‘John Wick 3’ at The Playlist.

Listen, I don’t even want to think about Christmas, let alone what movies are coming in 2019, but such is the way of the world now. But at least the good news is that it’s two movies worth looking forward to.

First up, “John Wick: Chapter Three” will kill everybody on May 17, 2019. Of course, it’s too early for plot details and all that jazz, but when we last saw the titular assassin, he was on the run, with a mighty bounty on his head, and literally every marksman in New York City gunning for him like big game prey.

Continue reading ‘John Wick: Chapter Three’ & James Gray’s ‘Ad Astra’ Set 2019 Release Dates at The Playlist.

While there is plenty of discussion about what Hollywood is doing wrong with their mostly tepid selection of summer season blockbusters, that’s not to say the year has been absent of some really good popcorn fun. “John Wick: Chapter 2” was a hugely enjoyable blast of action, picking up where the first film left off, but wisely not going overboard in expanding the world of the movie. It’s the rare sequel that was approached with some amount of thought and care, and it seems that same process is happening for “John Wick: Chapter 3.”

READ MORE: ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Is A Bullet Riddled Blast [Review]

“We’re in that magic spot called development, but it’s going OK,” director Chad Stahelski told The Independent about the status of the film.

Continue reading ‘John Wick’ Director Chad Stahelski Talks ‘Chapter 3,’ Says TV Series Development Is “Up And Running” at The Playlist.

When it comes to sequels, there’s always a balance between taking the big studio check and running with it, expanding the scope and size of the franchise, or being considered in how the world of the series is expanded. This winter’s “John Wick: Chapter 2” had the right touch of opening up the underground universe of assassins that we glimpsed in the original, and allowing the story to include more international locations, but never to the point of obscuring the film’s most important focus: John Wick.

Continue reading Director Chad Stahelski Talks ‘John Wick 3,’ Promises More Cool Reveals Over Big Budget Setpieces at The Playlist.

On a weekend that saw Donald Trump and whatever passed for a debate last night turn the media landscape into a garbage fire, there was one silver lining (aside from the Toronto Blue Jays once again winning a clutch playoff game in extra innings — go Jays!): “John Wick: Chapter 2.” The highly anticipated sequel dropped its first trailer and it looks every bit as fun as the original, and it looks like Lionsgate are as excited as everyone else.

Continue reading Lionsgate Already Eager For ‘John Wick 3’ at The Playlist.