We’re halfway through August, and as the school season winds back up, the summer blockbuster movie season is winding down. That doesn’t mean the news is slowing down, though, not with Disney’s D23 convention just wrapping up and some big movies still in theaters. This week sees one of those big movies dominating the box office, a first glimpse at Marvel’s First Family, Alien: Romulus‘ promising box office predictions, and more.
As always, Atom Insider brings you a few hand-picked stories we think you’ll like. Ready? Let’s dive in.
Deadpool & Wolverine Is Still Dominating The Box Office
Not a long update here, but one we could probably all see coming: Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine is still dominating the box office, crossing half-billion mark domestically and billion-dollar mark globally this week. Currently, it stands at $507 million domestically and $1.04 billion around the world. It’s in rare company: only 55 other movies have ever crossed the billion-dollar threshold, and many of those only after special re-releases. While Alien: Romulus will knock it out of the top spot again (more on that below), it’s clear audiences have been dying to see the Merc with the Mouth finally team up with Logan.
Marvel’s Fantastic Four’s Costumes Revealed
Speaking of Marvel news, when the cast for Marvel’s upcoming The Fantastic Four: First Steps movie was announced, it came with throwback, ’60s era concept art that showed them in all-blue costumes with retro white boots:
However, the first glimpse of their costumes dropped this weekend at Disney’s D23 Expo, and they are markedly different from that concept art. Appearing in a video greeting at the expo, the cast of The Fantastic Four – Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach – appeared to say hi to fans and tell them a bit about the movie. Joseph Quinn was kitted out in what appears to be their Fantastic Four costumes:
That design is a clear nod to the John Byrne era of the Fantastic Four comics. It’s fitting, seeing as how John Byrne was the comic book writer who helped rehabilitate Marvel’s First Family in the 1980s when their comics were floundering, Considering Marvel is now trying to restart the Fantastic Four franchise and rescue it from the depths it reached with 20th Century Fox, styling the costumes as an homage to the man who helped save so many comic book franchises holds a lot of symbolism.
Alien: Romulus Is Heading For A $75 Million Opening Weekend
Deadpool & Wolverine isn’t the only movie under the Disney umbrella to show lots of promise. Fede Álvarez’s Alien movie, Alien: Romulus, looks set for an estimated $75 million opening weekend, with $40 million coming domestically and another $35 million from international territories. That’s a heck of a haul for an R-rated movie, though R-rated movies have been having themselves a summer. Romulus is poised to reinvigorate the franchise, with it being the best-reviewed sequel since Aliens almost 50 years ago. Horror fans are buzzing as it looks to finally be returning the franchise to its sci-fi horror (heavy on the horror) roots. If that buzz translates to box office, it’s looking at a great opening.
Get tickets to Alien: Romulus
Avatar 3 Gets An Official Title
Also at the D23 Expo, the official title for James Cameron’s third Avatar movie was revealed: the new movie will be titled Avatar: Fire and Ash. For those paying close attention to Avatar news, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Cameron has already confirmed that the third movie will introduce the Ash People, who are a fire people, just as Avatar: The Way of Water introduced the the Metkayina and the Omaticaya clans, ocean and forest Na’vi clans, respectively.
What that title means on a narrative level could hint that destruction is coming. War and battle have always been a part of Avatar‘s overarching war-vs-peace, technology-vs-nature themes. Considering fire is the most destructive force there is, it indicates the battle in this one could be the biggest and most heartbreaking yet.
Dwayne Johnson Is Doing A Monster Jam Movie
Last on this week’s roundup is that Disney announced Dwayne Johnson is doing a Monster Jam movie. The movie will be exactly what ’90s kids think: an adaptation of the classic monster truck rally that began in the early 1990s and featured giant trucks racing and competing against each other in various races and freestyle competitions. Monster Jam spawned countless video games, toys, and an entire generation obsessed with the Grave Digger truck, which dominated the competition. Not much is known about the upcoming motorsport movie, just that it will be told from the POV of the trucks and will give each one of them unique personalities.
Trailers & Clips of the Week
And now, your trailers and clips of the week!
Mufasa: The Lion King – Official Trailer
It’s interesting how the origin story is changing Mufasa and Scar’s relationship…
Agatha All Along – Official Trailer
Yes, it’s a TV show, but c’mon – it’s AGATHA.
Snow White – Official Teaser Trailer
Rachel Zegler is lovely in the role.
Moana 2 – Official Trailer
Did anyone else get chills?
