On this episode of Collider Movie Talk (August 20, 2025) Dennis Tzeng, Jon Schnepp, Perri Nemiroff and Ashley Mova discuss the following:
The latesttrailer forPete’s Dragonhas been releasedgiving fans a more in depth look at the live-action adaptation of the Disney classic, with many fans commenting on the Spielberg-esque vibe. The movie is co-written and directed byAin’t Them Bodies Saints’David Loweryand starsBryce Dallas Howard,Oakes Fegley,Wes Bentley,Karl Urban,Oona LaurenceandRobert Redford.Pete’s Dragonwill be released by Disney nationwide on August 12th.
According to a report from THR,San AndreasdirectorBrad Peytonhas come onboard to directMalignant Man, a sci-fi/action project being produced byTheConjuring 2directorJames Wan, based on the Boom Studios comic that he co-created. The story focuses on Alex Gates, a patient dying of a terminal disease who is resigned to his fate … until he discovers that his malignant tumor is actually a mysterious alien parasite. Now with some incredible powers and a renewed purpose, Gates is tasked with fighting a secret army lurking behind the veils of society while also peeling back his own secrets. It’s unclear when production onMalignant Manwill actually begin. Peyton will next tackle directing duties onSan Andreas 2withDwayne Johnson. Wan, meanwhile, is preppingAquamanwithJason Momoafor 2018.
BUY OR SELL
When the first trailer forDoctor Strangedebuted, fans were given a look at a noticeably different Marvel movie, with many fans comparing it toInceptionandThe Matrixbut in the MCU. And while the final product will probably follow the familiar beats of a Marvel movie,Mads Mikkelsen, who plays the film’s mysterious villain,says the movie will be offering a twist on the what we can expect. Speaking with Yahoo, Mikkelsen said that the comic books were an acid trip, and that the movie will have the energy, colors and madness found in he books with all the good ingredients you get in a Marvel film.Doctor Strangeopens later this year on November 6th.
The idea of anIndependence Daysequel changed a few times before finally getting a greenlight. Originally, directorRoland Emmerichwrote multiple sequels withWill Smithin mind to reprise his role as Captain Hiller. When that didn’t happen, he had Hiller die during a test flight of new alien technology. What ended up in the final cut ofIndependence Day: Resurgenceis a story about a team of young individuals fighting a new wave of alien invaders using alien tech recovered from the first. During a stint as guest editor for Empire magazine,Emmerich answered fan questions and revealed an early conceptfor the sequel. He said that he wanted to make the movie about peace, and it just didn’t work. Though there’s still an element of that in the new one, the previous version was all about a peaceful resolution. He also added that he didn’t plan on making a sequel, but the studio continuously asked him to make one.
Straight from E3 comesa new featurette for theAssassin’s Creedfilm starringMichael Fassbenderas Callum Lynch. While the actor and hisMacbethhelmerJustin Kurzeltease the intense action sequences and the cinematic experience of the video game brought to life, the footage takes us on a trip through time and Callum’s past life, with Fassbender explaining there are two major forces in this film: the assassins who fight for freewill, and their adversaries, the Templars, who “are trying to enhance human kind through science.” Fans will no doubt be excited to see Kurzel and his crew are utilizing various locales and sweeping vistas for a full-fledged vision of the game to film adaptation.Assassin’s Creedis scheduled for release on December 21stand stars Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Michael K. Williams and Ariane Labed.
When it comes toDeadpool 2, we know very little about what we will see in the sequel, other than a return ofRyan Reynoldsas the Merc with the Mouth alongside directorTim Millerand screenwritersRhett ReeseandPaul Wernick, along with a promise of the bionic-armed Cable character. That’s not much to go on, but while we wait for more information to come to light, actorEd Skreinhas an idea for who the new villain should be. While Ajax (a.k.a. Francis) is unlikely to return, Skrein said he’d like to see Deadpool battle the Taskmaster in the sequel, a character whose ability in the comics was dubbed “photographic reflexes,” meaning he could mimic the abilities and movements of those around him. No other casting news has been revealed forDeadpool 2and a release date has yet to be decided.
OPENING THIS WEEKEND
Central Intelligence- Bullied as a teen for being overweight, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson) shows up to his high school reunion looking fit and muscular. While there, he finds Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart), a fast-talking accountant who misses his glory days as a popular athlete. Stone is now a lethal CIA agent who needs Calvin’s number skills to help him save the compromised U.S. spy satellite system. Together, the former classmates encounter shootouts, espionage and double-crosses while trying to prevent worldwide chaos.
Sterling Jones writes:
Greetings,
Before you read, put that spoiler alert up please!…
In all of your years of watching film, name two your favorite “darkest” characters. Mine are 1. Lisbeth Salander (played byNoomi Rapace) inThe Girl with The Dragon Tattoo. Seeing Lisbeth watching a man die in a burning car with an almost excited look to her face shook me. 2. Lisa Rowe (played byAngelina Jolie) inGirl, Interrupted. The scene where she just, without lifting a finger, verbally DESTROYS Daisy Randone (played by the lateBrittany Murphy), which led to Daisy’s suicide in the next scene, left me…cold.
Have a good day and keep bringing to filthy!
Hannah Bennett writes:
Hey, people of Collider Movie Talk!
Since it is your job to review movies, it seems like it would be hard to keep continual scrutiny from ruining your ability to enjoy movies. When do you think is the right time to exercise willing suspension of disbelief and when do you choose to be more critical?
