Though the films don’t necessarily have as many connections as you might expect from a film franchise, Duncan Jones’ features, “Moon” and “Mute,” do take place in the same sci-fi world and are part of a larger story. Unfortunately, though “Moon” (starring Sam Rockwell) was a critical success, 2018’s “Mute” (which stars Alexander Skarsgård and Paul Rudd) wasn’t warmly received by critics and fans when it hit Netflix.

Continue reading Duncan Jones To Continue His ‘Moon’ & ‘Mute’ Series With A Graphic Novel Titled ‘Madi’ at The Playlist.

It’s thrilling to see a bold work of genre filmmaking succeed, but depressing to see an equally ambitious picture fail so miserably.

On this episode of Adjust Your Tracking, Joe and I find plenty of interlocking themes in two films that refract and overlap, with the aim of giving us something fresh. One is far more successful than the other. “Mute” from Duncan Jones (“Warcraft“) is the latest splashy release from Netflix.

Continue reading Bold Filmmaking Gives Mixed Results In ‘Mute’ & ‘Annihilation’ [Adjust Your Tracking Podcast] at The Playlist.

Watching the noir-ish sci-fi movie “Mute,” from English filmmaker Duncan Jones (“Source Code,” “Warcraft“), I couldn’t help wondering about the intended audience the director made the film for, and whether I’d spent the last few years awaiting its 16-years-in-the-making release in vain. Watching its credits, I didn’t need to wonder. “Mute” attempts to take Jones back to the type of filmmaking of 2009 when his feature debut, “Moon,” premiered, dazzled us and proclaimed the helmer a new and exciting talent to watch.

Continue reading ‘Mute’: Duncan Jones’ ‘Blade Runner’ Wannabe Lacks Mystery & Depth [Review] at The Playlist.

At face value, February is looking pretty grim. With films such as the finale to a much derided trilogy “50 Shades Freed” (what even is that title) and the embarrassment that looks to be “Peter Rabbit” both coming out in the same week, it might be easy to call the entire month a wash. And, to be frank, I’d nearly agree if there weren’t the bright spots that will redeem the month from itself — and it’s certainly better than January.

Continue reading 12 Films To See In February at The Playlist.

Netflix’s two big attempts at bringing the blockbuster right into its subscriber’s homes have been pretty hit and miss. On one hand you have the delightful and great “Okja” and on the other you have everyone’s favorite movie “Bright.” But, now, it looks like they have finally found the sweet spot with the upcoming “Mute.”

Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos is certainly very excited about it having said that, “[Director] Duncan Jones is such a dynamic directing force, and the team he has assembled in-front-of and behind-the-camera will continue to reinvigorate the science fiction genre.” And given the official plot synopsis, it’s definitely hard to not be excited for it:

Berlin, the future, but close enough to feel familiar: In this loud, often brutal city, Leo (Alexander Skarsgård) – unable to speak from a childhood accident – searches for his missing girlfriend, the love of his life, his salvation, through dark streets, frenzied plazas, and the full spectrum of the cities shadow-dwellers.

Continue reading ‘Mute’ Trailer: Alexander Skarsgård Explores Berlin’s Neo-Noir Underworld at The Playlist.

The worst thing about making dream projects is that once they’re made, the dream is over. Duncan Jones has been thinking about “Mute” for years, and now it’s finally happening thanks to Netflix. However, his ambitious movie seems to be hitting the streaming giant somewhat hastily (there’s no “Bright“-style rollout for this one), which makes us a bit curious about the final product.

Continue reading ‘Mute’ Teaser: Duncan Jones Goes Noir & Sci-Fi at The Playlist.

We’re just getting started with our look at the best in film and TV of 2017, but before we really got sucked into the retrospective, we wanted to take a minute to look forward to what’s to come in the next twelve months or so. Lord knows we need things to keep us going in the shitshow that has been the second half of the 2010s, and fortunately, cinema has provided.

After a slow start, 2017 turned out to be a pretty great year for movies, and 2018 looks to keep that up in a big way.

Continue reading The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2018 at The Playlist.

This time last year we were feeling pretty down about the state of the blockbuster summer, having had a run of duds so instantly forgettable that we had to look them up again to remember (stuff like “X-Men: Apocalypse,” “Alice Through The Looking Glass,” “Warcraft,” and “Independence Day” — see what I mean?). Spin forward a twelvemonth and the picture is very different.

Continue reading 50 Films We Hope To See At The 2017 Fall Festivals at The Playlist.

As 2016 falls into the rearview, the next 12 months are on the horizon, and one of our 100 Most Anticipated Movies is Duncan Jones‘ long-awaited “Mute.” And even though filming only kicked off this fall, Netflix hasn’t wasted a moment in giving us all a taste.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2017

The first look at the futuristic thriller is here, highlighting the central trio of Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd and Justin Theroux who will power this Berlin-set tale that kicks off when a woman goes missing.

Continue reading First Look: Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd & Justin Theroux In Duncan Jones’ ‘Mute’ at The Playlist.

There’s now less than a month until Christmas, and after a start last week with our look at the Best Posters and Best Trailers of the year, this week commences in earnest our annual smorgasbord of movie love that is our annual Playlist year-end features marathon. We’ll be looking at the best and worst of films, performances, sequences, cinematography, soundtracks and more across the next few weeks, which will serve as a reminder that 2016 was a pretty strong year at the movies.

Continue reading The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2017 at The Playlist.

With “Warcraft” now behind him, Duncan Jones has moved on from his dalliance with branded blockbuster vision and turned toward a deeply personal project that he’s been trying to make for years: “Mute.” And with cameras now rolling, one more actor has come along to join in on the fun.

READ MORE: Review: Brilliant Effects Can’t Save Duncan Jones’ ‘Warcraft’ From Familiar Fantasy Doldrums

“The Leftovers” and “The Girl On The Train” star Justin Theroux has joined Alexander Skarsgard and Paul Rudd in “Mute.” The Netflix production follows Leo (Skarsgard), a mute bartender searching for his girlfriend in the year 2052 in Berlin, while dueling with two rogue, villainous surgeons.

Continue reading ‘The Leftovers’ Star Justin Theroux Joins Duncan Jones’ ‘Mute’ As Production Begins at The Playlist.

It’s safe to say that Duncan Jones‘ career refuses to follow any sort of predictable, predetermined path. Breaking out with indie sci-fi “Moon,” he kept things relatively small scale for his follow-up, “Source Code.” But then, much to everyone’s surprise, he went blockbuster with this summer’s “Warcraft,” allowing the filmmaker to play in the big budget sandbox. Next, he’s finally gearing up his long developing passion project, “Mute,” and it will see Jones joining the growing field of filmmakers headed to Netflix.

Continue reading Duncan Jones’ ‘Mute’ Headed To Netflix at The Playlist.

Paul Rudd & Alexander Skarsgard To Star In Duncan Jones's Long-Gestating Sci-Fi Project ‘Mute'

Continue reading Paul Rudd & Alexander Skarsgard To Star In Duncan Jones’s Long-Gestating Sci-Fi Project ‘Mute’ at The Playlist.

Duncan Jones Wants To Try And Shoot 'Mute' Before 'Warcraft' Is Released Next Summer

Continue reading Duncan Jones Wants To Try And Shoot ‘Mute’ Before ‘Warcraft’ Is Released Next Summer at The Playlist.

Duncan Jones Says He May Try To Make His Passion Project ‘Mute’ After ‘Warcraft’

Continue reading Duncan Jones Says He May Try To Make His Passion Project ‘Mute’ After ‘Warcraft’ at The Playlist.

Interview: 'A Single Shot' Star Sam Rockwell Talks His Favorite Genre Films, Marvel Movies, Duncan Jones' 'Mute' & More

Continue reading Interview: ‘A Single Shot’ Star Sam Rockwell Talks His Favorite Genre Films, Marvel Movies, Duncan Jones’ ‘Mute’ & More at The Playlist.

Continue reading Duncan Jones Explains Why His Sci-Fi Film ‘Mute’ Is Such A Difficult Movie To Make at The Playlist.

Continue reading SXSW: Duncan Jones Calls ‘Mute’ His ‘Don Quixote’ & Talks About His Next Cityscape Sci-Fi Project at The Playlist.

Continue reading Duncan Jones To Turn ‘Mute’ Into A Graphic Novel; Says City Based Sci-Fi Film Will Be Next Project at The Playlist.

Continue reading Duncan Jones Says Sci-Fi Project ‘Mute’ Is “In Limbo,” ‘Blade Runner’ Homage Next at The Playlist.

Continue reading Duncan Jones Juggling Two Projects As Potential Follow Up To ‘Source Code’ at The Playlist.

Jake Gyllenhaal is in talks to star in the speculative thriller about a soldier who awakens to realize he is in a body not his own.

Continue reading ‘Moon’ Director Duncan Jones Temporarily Silences ‘Mute’ for Jake Gyllenhaal Film at The Playlist.

Continue reading Rachel Weisz and Karyn Kusama To Team; First Concept Art From Duncan Jones’ ‘Mute’ at The Playlist.

The “Moon,” director has been on a tear discussing the villains of his next sci-fi film, “Mute” – which he now amusingly describes as his “love letter to ‘Blade Runner.’ ” And it’s not like he’s trying to sell the thing, it’s already set to be his next project. Gotta love unbridled enthusiasm.

“They’re a pair of buddies. They’re kind of like; you know the Paul Rudd film, “I Love You, Man’?

Continue reading Duncan Jones Likens ‘Mute’ Buddy Villains To Paul Rudd’s ‘I Love You, Man’ at The Playlist.

Nicole Kidman is attached to star and produce the BBC Films production of the Chris Cleave novel “Little Bee.” The film centers on a fateful encounter on an African beach in which a 16-year-old Nigerian orphan named Little Bee meets a vacationing upper-middle-class British couple who’ve wandered into an area outside the safety of their resort.

Continue reading “Wolf Man’ Attempts To Toughen Up Character With Reshoots, ‘Tron 2’ Sequel Gets A Plot at The Playlist.