Marvel Studios Reveals Title of Pedro Pascal’s “Fantastic Four” Reboot as “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”

Pedro Pascal is taking his first steps

Marvel Studios has revealed the official title of The Fantastic Four reboot, starring the 49-year-old Chilean actor, as The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

Pedro Pascal, Fantastic Four Reboot, The Fantastic Four: First StepsThe film’s name was announced during an action-packed Hall H San Diego Comic-Con panel on Saturday.

Director Matt Shakman made the reveal after previewing an early teaser reel, then surprising the audience with the introduction of cast members Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach.

Initially, he’d said the gang wouldn’t be making it, with production due to kick off in the UK this week.

Also revealed during the panel: the core Fantastic Four cast members will feature in the next two Avengers movies.

The teaser reel featured an early look at the four core cast members in astronaut outfits, the liftoff of an epic spacecraft, and one last stunning shot of the enormous supervillain Galactus hovering over the Earth.

Pascal said what he’s most enjoyed about joining the MCU is a sense of “new family.”

The actor shared how he and Shakman had the same manager and were once near-roommates, though the filmmaker was turned off by the place.

Moss-Bachrach said he was still processing putting on the superhero suit of Ben Grimm aka The Thing. “I got a nice text message from Mark Ruffalo. It just demystified the process of motion capture,” he said. The advice? “Make scenes like normal scene work.”

The panel didn’t go on too long, Feige said, as the cast “literally have to fly back [to the UK], but they have their own fantastic car which will hopefully take them back to UK quickly.” In a magical moment as he said this, an enormous blue space car floated onto the stage.

While the Fantastic Four film’s plot has thus far been kept under wraps, Pascal plays Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic), with Kirby as Sue Storm (aka the Invisible Woman), Quinn as Johnny Storm (aka the Human Torch) and Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (aka the Thing).

Paul Walter Hauser and Natasha Lyonne are on board in undisclosed roles, with Julia Garner set to play Shalla-Bal, a version of Silver Surfer, and Ralph Ineson to play big bad Galactus.

In a recent appearance on The Official Marvel Podcast, Marvel chief Kevin Feige called the project “a period film” and shared that filming will commence on the Monday after Comic-Con, July 29.

“I’m extremely excited because those characters are mainstays, are legendary pillars of the Marvel Universe that we’ve never gotten to play with or explore in any significant way apart from [Doctor Strange in the] Multiverse of Madness and a few fun teases before, in the way we’re doing that film,” said Feige. “So, I’m extremely excited.”

WandaVision‘s Shakman is directing The Fantastic Four: First Steps from a script by Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan, and Ian Springer. Peter Cameron has also done some writing on the project, produced by Feige for Marvel Studios, which is slated to hit theaters on July 25, 2025.

Benjamin Bratt Starring in Amazon MGM Studios’ Action Comedy “Balls Up”

Benjamin Bratt is having a ball

The 60-year-old half-Peruvian American Emmy-nominated actor has joined the cast of Balls Up, Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming action comedy from director Peter Farrelly and Skydance.

Benjamin Bratt,He joins previously announced cast members Mark Wahlberg, Paul Walter Hauser, Molly Shannon and Eva De Dominici.

Balls Up follows two American marketing executives who are fired for blowing a client sponsorship opportunity and decide to use their free tickets to a major soccer match. Their drunken debauchery leads them to be hunted by every person across the country.

Details surrounding Bratt’s role are under wraps.

Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese wrote the script.

Previously seen in films like Piñero, Steven Soderbergh’s TrafficMiss Congeniality and Curtis Hanson’s The River Wild opposite Meryl Streep, Bratt has most recently appeared in Netflix’s Mother of the Bride, as well as the hit Peacock series Poker Face and Apple TV+’s Loot on and respectively.

He’ll next appear alongside Julianna Margulies, Minnie Driver, Brian d’Arcy James and Patrick Wilson in Edward Burns’ film Millers in Marriage.

Rodolfo Salas Signs with Artists First for Representation Across All Areas

Rodolfo Salas has new representation…

The 40-year-old Venezuelan actor and model has signed with Artists First for representation across all areas.

Rodolfo SalasSalas has become one of the central faces of Netflix’s Latin American expansion, as he most recently starred in the platform’s hit series Fake Profile which follows a woman who creates a sexy profile on the online dating app Spice looking for the man of her dreams. Her dreams quickly turn into nightmares, and Camila ends up falling into a web of sex, lies, and deception. The show is headed into production on its second season in Colombia.

Prior to Fake Profile, he led the Mexican limited series Pact of Silence for Netflix. Next, he’ll star in the Lifetime original movie Padres, which is set to premiere in 2024.

Salas was also a mainstay of Telemundo after emigrating to the United States in 2014. He starred in their series La Fan, Neighborhood Butterfly, Blood of My Land, Betty In NY and most recently, Back To Me.

While not in production overseas, Rodolfo resides with his family in Miami, Florida.

Artists First is a talent management and production company focused on actors, writers, directors and producers in film, television and digital media, Artists First boasts a roster that also includes Martin Lawrence, Awkwafina, Kenya Barris, Anthony Anderson, Tracee Ellis Ross, Niecy Nash, Ed Helms, Will Arnett, Ike Barinholtz, Paul Walter Hauser, Kate McKinnon, Michael Showalter, Jon M. Chu, Lior Raz, Mitch Hurwitz and Cristela Alonzo, among others.

La La Anthony to Guest Star on Peacock’s Comedy Series “Bupkis”

La La Anthony is doing bupkis this year…

The 40-year-old television personality and actress will guest star on the Peacock comedy series “Bupkis,” from Pete Davidson.

La La AnthonyIn addition to the Anthony, the guest line up Charlamagne That God, Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly), Steve Buscemi, Bobby Cannavale, Philip Ettinger, Al Gore, Paul Walter Hauser, Sunita Mani, John Mulaney, Oona Roche, Cliff “Method Man” Smith, Jon Stewart and Marissa Jaret Winokur will be featured in the television series.

The upcoming comedy series “Bupkis,” which will premiere on Thursday, May 4.

Previously announced guest stars include Charlie Day, Brad Garrett, Simon Rex, Ray Romano, Kenan Thompson and Chase Sui Wonders.

“Bupkis” is an eight episode comedy series that Davidson will star in. Davidson, too, serves as writer and executive producer. Aside from himself, series regulars include Edie Falco and Joe Pesci. The show is a fictionalized retelling of Davidson’s life as he navigates family dynamics, fame and relationships.

Judah Miller serves as showrunner of the series in addition to writer and executive producer alongside Dave Sirus. Lorne Micheals, Andrew Singer and Erin David, too, join “Bupkis” as executive producers.

Alfred Molina to Star in the Apple Original Films’ “The Instigators”

Alfred Molina is an instigator

The 69-year-old half-Spanish English actor has joined the cast of Apple Original Films’ The Instigatorsstarring Matt Damon and Casey Affleck.

Alfred MolinaMolina is among a roster of new cast additions that includes Ving Rhames and Ron Perlman.

The A-list ensemble also includes Hong Chau, Paul Walter Hauser and Michael Stuhlbarg. Doug Liman is directing.

The film follows two thieves who go on the run with the help of one of their therapists after a robbery goes awry. The script was penned by Chuck MacLean and Casey Affleck and was developed by Robinov, Graham and Casey Affleck.

Damon and Ben Affleck are producing through their banner Artists Equity, along with Jeff Robinov and John Graham through Studio 8 and Kevin Walsh through his The Walsh Company.

Molina is coming off reprising role as Doc Ock in Spider-Man: No Way Home and also was seen in the most recent season of FX’s Feud.

Rosario Dawson to Star in Apple TV+’s Genre-Bending Auditory Adaptation of Canal+’s “Calls”

Rosario Dawson is placing some calls

Apple TV+ announced the cast, which includes the 41-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American actress and activist, and set the premiere date for its genre-bending auditory adaptation of Canal PlusCalls.

Rosario Dawson

In addition to Dawson, the stars featured in the first season of the nine-part drama, include Nick JonasPedro Pascal, Lily Collins, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Aubrey Plaza are among the stars featuring in the first season of the nine-part drama.

Launching on Friday, March 19, the show uses audio and minimal abstract visuals to tell nine short-form stories. Each episode follows a dark mystery that unfolds through a series of seemingly average, unconnected phone calls that quickly become surreal as the characters face growingly unsettling experiences.

Based on a French series created by Timothée Hochet, it is directed by Fede Álvarez, who directed 2013’s Evil Dead feature and 2016’s horror film Don’t Breathe.

Nicholas Braun, Clancy Brown, Mark Duplass, Karen Gillan, Judy Greer, Paul Walter Hauser, Danny Huston, Riley Keough, Joey King, Stephen Lang, Jaeden Martell, Paola Nuñez, Edi Patterson, Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz and Jennifer Tilly also appear in the first season.

Calls was the streamer’s first international series order back in June 2018 and it also marks its first global co-production – a tie up with French pay-TV broadcaster Canal+. Apple will launch the series, which is produced with Studiocanal and Bad Hombre, in 100 countries, while Canal+ will premiere a French-language version in a number of markets.

Apple will launch the series in a number of Spanish-speaking Latin America markets as Llamadas with Spanish-language custom graphics.

Sofia Carson’s “Songbird” Will Be Available on Premium VOD in December

Sofia Carson’s latest project will be right at your fingertips soon…

The 27-year-old Colombian American actress/singer’s Songbird, which was acquired by STX earlier this year, will be skipping theaters in exchange for a premium VOD release starting on Friday, December 11.

Sofia Carson, Songbird

STX picked up the KJ Apa-Carson pandemic thriller produced by Invisible Narratives back in August. The movie was one of the first to shoot in Los Angeles during the pandemic under COVID-19 safety guidelines.

The film now will be available for $19.99 for a 48-hour rental on all transactional platforms. Following Songbird‘s nesting on PVOD, it will premiere on a major streaming service in 2021.

From producer Michael Bay and director Adam MasonSongbird follows Riverdale‘s Apa as Nico, a bicycle messenger in a post-apocalyptic near future where COVID-19 has mutated to COVID-23. He’s smitten with his girlfriend Sara (Carson), who he hasn’t been able to see during the pandemic. Complicating life greatly is that the government is snatching up people who have the virus and tossing them into camps. Demi Moore, Craig Robinson, Bradley Whitford, Peter Stormare, Alexandra Daddario and Paul Walter Hauser also star.

Mason co-wrote the script with Simon Boyes.

“The pandemic has affected every aspect of our business, from production to release, but Songbird demonstrates that a nimble studio like STX can find effective and profitable ways to make their movies work,” says STXfilms Motion Picture Group chairman Adam Fogelson. “The show must go on. Songbird is a thrilling movie that will speak to audiences in this moment as it keeps them on the edge of their seats.”

STX & Invisible Narratives Release Trailer for Sofia Carson’s Pandemic Thriller “Songbird”

It’s a (song)bird’s eye view of Sofia Carson’s latest project…

STX and Invisible Narratives have released the trailer for their upcoming pandemic thriller Songbird, starring the 27-year-old Colombian America actress/singer.

Sofia Carson, Songbird

“Sometimes we have to do things we don’t want, to survive,” says Demi Moore’s enigmatic baddie in trailer for the film.

Riverdale‘s KJ Apa stars as Nico, a bicycle messenger in a near post apocalyptic future where COVID-19 has mutated to COVID-23. He’s smitten with his girlfriend Sara (Carson), and it looks like these two haven’t been able to see each other for a while. Complicating life greatly is the fact that the government is snatching up people who have the virus and tossing them into camps. Take a look.

There’s an all-star cast here with Moore, Bradley Whitford, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Walter Hauser, Craig Robinson and more in this feature directed and co-written by Adam Mason, with Simon Boyes co-writing.

STX captured Songbird‘s UK and North American rights at the end of August. No release date has been announced yet.

The film was one of the first features to be shot this past summer in Los Angeles during quarantine, paving the way for production safety protocols.

Sofia Carson to Star Opposite KJ Apa in the Pandemic Thriller “Songbird”

Sofia Carson is flying high…

The 27-year-old Colombian American actress/singer will star opposite KJ Apa as star-crossed lovers in the pandemic thriller Songbird, which began filming last week in Los Angeles.

Sofia Carson

Told from street level through the eyes of the characters, Songbirdtakes place two years into the future, as a lockdown has been re-implemented after a more serious virus continues to mutate. In a feeble attempt to keep the sickness contained, the city has been split into haves and have nots. 

Songbird follows an essential worker (Apa) who has a rare immunity, a delivery man who delivers goods and hope throughout the city. Like the vast majority of the population, his girlfriend (Carson) is locked within her home, and the couple have no ability to physically be together. 

To be with the one he loves, he must overcome martial law, murderous vigilantes and a powerful, well connected family, helmed by a matriarch (Demi Moore) who will stop at nothing to protect her family and maintain her way of life.

Carson and Apa join the previously announced cast of Moore, Bradley WhitfordCraig RobinsonJenna OrtegaPaul Walter Hauser, and Peter Stormare

Adam Mason is directing off a screenplay he co-wrote with Simon Boyes. The film hails from Adam Goodman and Michael Bay.

Carson has more than 18 million followers on social media, over 1.5 billion streams of her music and over 2M subscribers to her YouTube channel. 

She currently stars in the Netflix feature film Feel the Beat. She previously starred as “Evie” in Disney’s Descendantsfranchjse and appeared on the Freeform series Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists

Carson is signed to Hollywood Records/Republic Records and recently released her latest single “Miss U More Than U Know”, which has clocked more than 4.5 million streams to date. Carson is a Global Ambassador for Revlon, and recently unveiled the Revlon x Sofia Carson Collection, an exclusive collection of her favorite Revlon lip products and nail polish.