A breakdown of the biggest movie news from the last week (6 December – 12 December).

TRAILERS

The Matrix Resurrections – Official Trailer 2 (6 December)

The second official trailer for The Matrix Resurrections was released this week. It offers a closer look at numerous characters and some insight into exactly the sort of story Resurrections will tell ahead of its release later this month.

Perhaps the biggest reveal from the second trailer is the apparent revelation that Jonathan Groff will be playing some variation of Agent Smith, one of the primary antagonists from the previous movies. The Matrix Resurrections is set to release on 22 December 2021.

Munich – The Edge of War- Official Trailer (6 December)

Also released this week was the trailer for Munich – The Edge of War, based on Robert Harris’ novel of the same name.

The film is set to star Jeremy Irons, George MacKay (Captain Fantastic, 1917), and Jessica Brown Findlay, and is set to be released on Netflix on 21 January, 2022.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 – Official Trailer (10 December)

The official trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was also released this week. The trailer showcases the film’s versions of popular characters Tails (voiced by Colleen O’Shaughnessey, who voices the character in the video game series) and Knuckles (voiced by Idris Elba).

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is currently set for a theatrical release on 8 April 2022.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – Teaser Trailer (10 December)

Warner Bros. also released a teaser trailer for upcoming threequel Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. The teaser primarily teases the release of the full trailer, which it proudly announces will arrive Monday 13 December.

The teaser does offer an exciting glimpse of Mads Mikkelsen’s Grindelwald, though. Mikkelsen takes over the role from Johnny Depp, who himself took over the role from Colin Farrell. As the title implies, The Secrets of Dumbledore will finally offer a little more of Jude Law as the younger version of the Hogwarts headmaster.

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore is currently set for release on 8 April 2022.

NEW RELEASES

Don’t Look Up – Limited Theatrical Release (10 December)

Adam McKay’s satirical sci-fi has received a limited theatrical release this week, ahead of streaming on Netflix later this month.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence as astronomers attempting to warn a skeptical human race about an incoming comet that will destroy Earth. Jonah Hill, Rob Morgan, Mark Rylance, Ron Perlman, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep and more round out the film’s staggering ensemble cast.

Don’t Look Up is available to stream on Netflix from 24 December 2021.

Being the Ricardos – Limited Theatrical Release (10 December)

Another film to receive a limited theatrical run ahead of a global streaming release is Being the Ricardos, a biographical drama about the relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

Starring Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos is set to land on Prime Video on 21 December.

West Side Story (10 December)

Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story hit theaters this week, opening to critical acclaim.

The musical adaptation stars Ansel Elgort (Baby Driver) and Rachel Zegler, and in a story inspired by Romeo and Juliet, follows the forbidden love between Tony and Maria, who are each involved with rival gangs in Manhattan in the 1950s.

CASTING

Dave Bautista – Knock At The Cabin (7 December)

M. Night Shyamalan’s next project has found its new lead in the former WWE star. Bautista has had an impressive year, with roles in Army of the Dead and Dune, and is currently working on numerous high profile projects (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Knives Out 2, and Highlander, to name a few).

Bautista adds Shyamalan to the long list of acclaimed directors he’s worked with (James Gunn, Zack Snyder, Denis Villeneuve, and Rian Johnson), and while details on Knock at the Cabin have yet to be released, Bautista’s involvement will no doubt build anticipation for the film.

Florence Pugh, Rami Malek & Benny Safdie – Oppenheimer (10 December)

Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer has seen its cast swell this week, with three new actors added to the project.

The director’s WW2 biographical thriller will follow the titular scientist, famous for working on the development of the atomic bomb, and is already confirmed to feature Cillian Murphy in the title role, with Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Robert Downey Jr.

As the cast continues to grow, anticipation builds for Nolan’s first film at Universal (after his highly publicized split with his longtime backers at Warner Bros.).

Ridley Scott Tells Journalist To “Go F*** Yourself” After The Last Duel Question (6 December)

After confidently attributing The Last Duel‘s box office failure to “millennials on their cell phones”, director Ridley Scott is at it again.

This time, a journalist found himself in the line of fire, as, after a relatively innocuous statement about realism in his films, the legendary director leveled a tirade of abuse at the bewildered interviewer.

Between his recent comments regarding The Last Duel and his scathing condemnation of superhero films, Scott is fast becoming better known for his increasingly unpleasant demeanor than his recent films.

Shang-Chi 2 – Director Destin Daniel Cretton Returning For Sequel (6 December)

After the popularity and success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, a sequel was practically inevitable, but it’s now been confirmed that co-writer/director Destin Daniel Cretton will be returning to lead Shang-Chi 2.

The announcement comes with glowing praise from Marvel boss Kevin Feige, who, speaking about the director’s planned Disney+ projects, said of Cretton:

“Destin is an amazing collaborator who brought a unique perspective and skill to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. We had a fantastic time working together on the film and he has so many intriguing ideas for stories to bring to life on Disney+, so we’re thrilled to expand our relationship with him and can’t wait to get started.”

Kevin Feige Confirms Charlie Cox As MCU’s Daredevil (6 December)

After years of speculation and fans lobbying for the actor’s MCU return, Kevin Feige has seemingly confirmed that Charlie Cox will play Daredevil in future MCU projects.

While Feige’s comments are perhaps more ambiguous than many would hope, they acknowledge the actor’s exceptional work in bringing the hero to life in Netflix’s Daredevil series, and confirm that Cox is Marvel’s Daredevil of choice. Speaking with Cinemablend, Feige said:

“If you were to see Daredevil in upcoming things, Charlie Cox, yes, would be the actor playing Daredevil. Where we see that, how we see that, when we see that, remains to be seen.”

Exact details on when and how Cox could return are currently being kept quiet, but fan speculation suggests that he may be seen as soon as Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is set to his theaters next week.

Disney Announces New Animated Movie, Strange World (9 December)

Disney has announced its next major animated project, Strange World. Reuniting Raya and the Last Dragon‘s director Don Hall with co-writer Qui Nguyen, Strange World will follow the Clades, a family of explorers, as they traverse an uncharted land filled with fantastical creatures.

Currently, Strange World‘s release is set for 23 November, 2022.

Extraction 2 – Chris Hemsworth Returns In First Look Images (9 December)

Filming on Extraction 2 continues, and Chris Hemsworth has offered fans their first glimpse of the film. It looks decidedly different from the first film’s setting in Dhaka, instead showing Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake wrapping up to brave the cold – presumably to extract someone from a frigid locale.