Casting News for 'Blade,' Scorsese's Grateful Dead biopic

Plus, ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ reveals eight new character posters ahead of its December 22nd release date.

If you were following social media last week, you might think the only movie news was the new ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ trailer, but there was so much more than that. We saw casting announcements for the MCU’s ‘Blade’ starring Martin Scorsese’s Grateful Dead biopic.

We also saw production updates on ‘Lethal Weapon 5’ and the announcement of its new director, and ‘Trolls 3,’ which now has a release date. As well as the release of eight new character posters for the sequel, ‘The Matrix Resurrections.’

If you missed anything, Moviefone has you covered!

CASTING NEWS:

BLADE

Blade

It was reported that Disney has confirmed acclaimed actor Delroy Lindo is ing the cast of their reboot of ‘Blade,’ which will star two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali in the title role. Lindo, who received rave reviews for his performance in last year’s ‘Da Five Bloods,’ is the first actor since Ali to be confirmed to appear in the movie, although his role is still being kept under wraps.

Of course, that didn’t stop the internet from guessing who the actor might play, which ranged from a villain to Blade’s mentor and friend, Whistler. Blade is set to be directed by Bassam Tariq (‘Mogul Mowgli’), from a screenplay by Stacy Osei-Kuffour (‘Watchmen’). Lindo can currently be seen in ‘The Harder They Fall,’ and is best known for his roles in ‘Malcolm X,’ ‘Get Shorty,’ ‘The Cider House Rules,’ and ‘Gone in 60 Seconds.’

GRATEFUL DEAD BIOPIC

There was great news for Deadheads as Jonah Hill has been cast as the band’s iconic frontman, Jerry Garcia. The film will be produced by Scorsese and Hill, as well as the remaining of the band, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Mikey Hart, and Bill Kreutzmann.

The screenplay will be written by Andy Kaufman, and the award-winning TV series ‘American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson.’ Scorsese is also no stranger to the Grateful Dead, having directed the 2017 documentary series about the band for Amazon Prime called ‘Long Strange Trip.’ The project marks the first time Scorsese and Hill have worked together since 2013’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street,’ which earned Hill an Academy Award nomination for Best ing Actor.

PRODUCTION NEWS:

LETHAL WEAPON 5

Lauren Shuler Donner (‘X-Men’) will produce.

Speaking at an event in London last week, according to The Sun, Gibson talked about taking over directing duties from Donner. “He was developing the screenplay, and he got pretty far along with it,” Gibson said. “And he said to me one day, ‘Listen kid, if I kick the bucket, you will do it.’ He did indeed away, but he did ask me to do it, and, at the time, I didn’t say anything. He said it to his wife, to the studio and the producer. So, I will be directing the fifth one,” Gibson confirmed.

‘Lethal Weapon’ was released in 1987 and has spawned three other sequels including ‘Lethal Weapon 2,’ ‘Lethal Weapon 3,’ and ‘Lethal Weapon 4,’ as well as a TV series that ran from 2016-2019. It is assumed that Gibson will also reprise his iconic role of Martin Riggs, but it is still unknown if Rene Russo will return to their franchise roles.

TROLLS 3

It was reported in Deadline that Universal has set a release date for DreamWorks Animation’s ‘Troll 3’ for November 17th, 2023. However, unlike 2020’s ‘Trolls World Tour,’ the film will be release exclusively in theaters for 17 days before going to PVOD.

‘Trolls’ premiered in 2016 and went on to earn almost $350 million at the box office and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling,’ performed by Anna Kendrick will return.

PHOTOS AND POSTERS:

SCREAM

Melissa Barrera. The film is said to take place twenty-five years after the original, and features a new killer wearing the Ghostface mask.

The new film is once again executive produced by Courtney Cox, and https://moviefone.watchanime.biz/celebrity/marley-shelton/1829816/main/.

THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS

With the forth ‘Matrix’ film coming to theaters next month, Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s mysterious characters also received character posters.

‘The Matrix’ was released in 1999, followed by two sequels, including 2003’s ‘The Matrix Reloaded’ and ‘The Matrix Revolutions.’ Directed by Christina Ricci.