Originally planned as part of Universal’s “Dark Universe” of monster movies, The Invisible Man was set to star Johnny Depp in the title role. However, the critical and commercial failure of 2017’s The Mummy led to a huge change of plans, and it’s now Saw writer Leigh Whannell who has been tasked with rebooting the property. The filmmaker has spent years working in the world of horror – his directorial debut was Insidious: Chapter 3 in 2015 – and that clearly paid off for this thrilling, terrifying new take on the classic property.

Starring Elizabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale) as Cecilia Kass, a woman who manages to escape an abusive and controlling boyfriend, this version of The Invisible Man sees her tormented by her vengeful ex, and what follows is a fascinating and impactful look at the ramifications a relationship like that can have. Without getting into specifics, Cecilia is forced to question her own sanity as things start to escalate, and this is a film that never lets up. The tension builds at a steady pace before reaching a climax that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Part thriller, and part horror, this new take is definitely scary, and Whannell (who also penned the screenplay) delivers plenty of great jump scares along the way. 

The film makes sure to take full advantage of its undeniably intriguing premise, with plenty of unique visuals and twisted moments which will definitely stick with you. Benjamin Wallfisch’s powerful and foreboding score perfectly compliments what we’re seeing on screen, while Whannell has firmly established himself as a filmmaker who is going to continue making a huge impact in future both in this genre, and others. 

Moss’ work here is fantastic, and the actress remains one of the most exciting and talented stars in Hollywood today. She takes Cecilia through a wide range of emotions, but ensures she’s always a compelling, likeable presence who it’s easy to root for. Aldis Hodge is another standout as an old friend of Cecilia’s, and Storm Reid and Oliver Jackson-Cohen make a small, but mostly memorable impact. It’s Moss’ movie, though, and this story wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in that lead role. 

While The Invisible Man definitely has franchise potential, it was the right decision to make this film its own thing and not try to shoehorn it into any sort of “shared universe.” With a realistic overhaul, but scares you would expect – and hope for – from any great horror movie, it’s hard to find fault with this film, and the huge twists and turns will keep you hooked from start to finish. Ultimately, there’s much more to this than a lot of other entries into the genre, and its thoughtful examination of a woman facing her worst nightmare after being trapped in an abusive relationship definitely helps it stand out from the crowd.

The first must-see horror movie of 2020, The Invisible Man is destined to be a classic, and Elizabeth Moss’ incredible performance proves to be impossible to tear your eyes from. 

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Sonic the Hedgehog set the stage for a whole series of movies, and there was a lot that was missing from the excellent first instalment which we’ll no doubt see touched on in possible sequels. 

Now, director Jeff Fowler has confirmed that the speedster nearly entered his “Super Sonic” form in an earlier draft of the screenplay. He ultimately decided not to head down that route, and it sounds like it’s something he would rather delve into once its been earned in this franchise. 

“It didn’t make sense to obviously bring in the Super Sonic thing just yet,” Fowler reveals “I mean, there were very early versions of the script and the outlines where… because we knew that’s something that’s very important in the fan mythology, or the mythology that fans love. And Chaos Emeralds are definitely a huge part, even going back to the first game in ’91, and it was definitely something that we were kind of trying to see. Like, ‘Does it make sense to include one of these?'”

 

“But again, just going back to what I said about the simplicity of it and just for the sake of just really starting from the simplest version and not trying to do too much, it just felt like, ‘Let’s just… let’s do the origins as Sonic and Robotnik and try to nail those characters before we potentially would open it up to some of these elements from the games that fans know and love,” he concluded.

It was in the 1992 Sega Genesis video game Sonic the Hedgehog 2 that the hero first gained the ability to transform into a yellow, “Super” version of himself, but seeing as the Chaos Emeralds were only hinted at in this movie, it really didn’t make sense to delve into that quite yet.

 

Would you guys like to see this version of Sonic on screen in the not too distant future? 

Hit the “Next” button below to take a look at the best
Easter Eggs, references, and cameos in the movie!

Some Familiar Villains

The movie kicks off in Sonic’s home, a land that’s clearly based on the Green Hills Zone from the original video game. However, his peaceful life doesn’t last long as a group known as the Echidnas soon attack. It’s important to note that Knuckles was a member of the Echidna Clan, but the group here seem to be based on the Nocturnus Clan. 

They rule over a realm called the Twilight Cage and have some pretty nefarious plans for Earth.

Why they want Sonic is hard to say, but if we had to hazard a guess, they would certainly make a pretty fitting choice of villains in the sequel (especially if they’re looking to steal those rings). 
 

The Flash Comic Books

Sonic has a lot of cool hobbies, and seems to be fascinated (understandably so) with speed. As a result, it’s hardly a surprise that he’s shown reading comic books featuring The Flash! 

DC Comics’ Scarlet Speedster is a much more fitting choice than Quicksilver – that pile of comics would be pretty small if Sonic was only reading his solo adventures – and it’s easy to see why Sonic would be a fan. Perhaps most surprising is that Warner Bros. happily greenlit this particular reference. 

 

Sonic’s Race Car Bed

The movie ends with Sonic being asked to live with Tom and Maddie, and they present the hero with his own bedroom in their loft. Look closely during that sequence, and you’ll notice that they’ve got him a race car shaped bed, something which you might dismiss as a nod to the aforementioned racing games the SEGA character has starred in over the years. 

While that’s entirely possible, this is more likely a hat tip to the Sonic the Hedgehog comic book series which also used to see Sonic kick back and take some naps in a bed shaped like that!

 

The Chaos Emerald

Before seemingly being killed by the Nocturnus Clan, Longclaw gives Sonic a map directing him to Earth and that mushroom planet (which is another level from the games).

However, look closely at that and you’ll notice a mention of the Chaos Emerald. 

That mystical gem – and the seven others like it – have played a huge role in the video games, and they’ve since become the franchise’s go-to MacGuffins. It’s possible this reference will pay off in the sequel as this might be another reason that Clan was targeting Sonic. 
 

“BADNIKS”

By the time the post-credits scene rolls around, Dr. Robotnik has become the “Eggman” we know and hate from the video games. However, there are some early hints about his transformation. 

After the power surge which shuts his ride down, Robotnik searches for a control panel to reboot the system, and a label can be seen which says “BADNIKS” on it. That’s a reference to Eggman’s original robots, and quite possibly something we can look forward to seeing in the sequel. 

 

Sonic’s Love Of Chilli Dogs

This is a fun one. 

Sonic is show to be a huge fan of chilli dogs in this movie, and that’s another concept which was introduced in the Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog series. Later, that was added to the animated series as well, and both Sonic and Tails would frequently eat them…and nothing else! 

Added to the video game franchise with Sonic Unleashed, they’ve stuck around ever since. 

 

A Familiar Animation

If you’ve played enough Sonic video games, then you’ll know that the speedster’s “idle animation” is him putting his hands on his hips and tapping his foot impatiently. 

Well, when time slows down around the iconic video game character as Robotnik shoots those missiles at him, Sonic recreates that exact same animation from the games.

 

“Gotta Go Fast!”

As you might expect, Sonic’s iconic catchphrase finds its way into the movie when he’s woken up by Tom’s wife with smelling salts. It’s a fun nod to the games and a clever way of including it.

Equally as fun is seeing Sonic perform a patented spin dash in the movie while he’s facing off with some of Robotnik’s creations during that standout chase with Tom on the highway. 

 

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Pixar has a phenomenal track record, but we’ve now seen them deliver films which are either just fine (The Good Dinosaur and Incredibles 2) or downright fantastic (Coco and Toy Story 4). Well, we can now add Onward to the list of the studio’s movies which are deserving of “masterpiece” status, because this vibrant fantasy film delivers in every possible way. Directed by Monsters University‘s – another of those films which are “just fine” – Dan Scanlon, Onward is never short of big laughs, beautiful visuals, and emotional moments which will bring a tear to your eye. 

Marvel Cinematic Universe regulars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland take the lead here, and both actors are amazing as brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot who set off on a magical quest to spend one final day with the father they lost years earlier. Along the way, they cross paths with a lot of very memorable characters, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Laurel Lightfoot) and Octavia Spencer (Corey) deliver standout performances as two of the most noteworthy. Onward belongs to Pratt and Holland, though, and their respective characters deserve to be remembered as fondly as the many other iconic creations Pixar has delivered over the years. 

This is another world from the iconic animation studio which it’s easy to get lost in, and it’s one we would love to return to again and again. Onward is inventive, makes great use of magic, and manages to put a fresh spin on a genre we’re well accustomed to at this point. That’s no easy feat, and the unique takes on familiar fantasy characters – especially the unicorns – is nothing short of brilliant. 

Onward is a movie that packs a massive emotional punch, and while it may not be quite as groundbreaking from a visual standpoint as something like Coco, there are still plenty of stunning sights to behold during this thrilling adventure. From a comedic standpoint, we’re treated to tonnes of hilarious visual gags, and the dynamic between Ian and Barley is never anything short of awesome. Mychael and Jeff Danna’s score doesn’t leave a particularly lasting impact, but it still works well with the action on screen, and that’s something you won’t be able to tear your eyes away from. Make no mistake about it, Onward is another huge win for Pixar, and Soul now has a lot to live up to as the studio’s second original 2020 release in June. 

Onward is a masterpiece, and an unmissable fantasy adventure from Pixar. Stars Chris Pratt and Tom Holland steal the show, and this is a vibrant, wonderfully exciting world we definitely hope to return to.

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Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Marcus (Noah Jupe) brave the unknown in “A Quiet Place Part II.”
 

L-r, Marcus (Noah Jupe), Regan (Millicent Simmonds), and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) brave the unknown in “A Quiet Place Part II.”
 

L-r, Regan (Millicent Simmonds), Marcus (Noah Jupe) and Evelyn (Emily Blunt) brave the unknown in “A Quiet Place Part II.”
 

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“Illusion is the ultimate weapon.“

Hot on the heels of wrapping Snake Eyes earlier this week, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro have enlisted Chis Bremner (Bad Boys for Life; National Treasure 3) to write their upcoming live-action M.A.S.K. movie, which has F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton; The Fate of the Furious) set to direct.

M.A.S.K., which stands for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, was originally launched in 1985, as both a toy line and an animated series, and followed an elite strike force that fought against an evil organization known as V.E.N.O.M., a.k.a. the Vicious Evil Network of Mayhem.

Further details are currently unavailable.

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Multiple sources are reporting that Ben Schnetzer (Warcraft; Goat) has joined the cast of FX’s upcoming Y: The Last Man series as Yorick Brown, replacing the previously cast Barry Keoghan (Marvel’s The Eternals) who departed the series earlier this month. 

He joins cast that will also feature Diane Lane (Man of Steel) as Senator Jennifer Brown, Imogen Poots (The Art of Self-Defense) as Hero Brown, Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel) as Agent 355, Juliana Canfield (Succession) as Beth, Marin Ireland (The Irishman) as Nora, Amber Tamblyn (Two and a Half Men) as Mariette Callows and Timothy Hutton (American Crime) as the U.S. President.

The upcoming series, which has Eliza Clark (Animal Kingdom) attached as showrunner, will takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which a cataclysmic event has killed every male mammal save for one lone human (Schnetzer) and his capuchin monkey. 

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After a very special 100th episode, Supergirl gets back to business on March 8th with an episode that will see Lex Luthor (Jon Cryer) task Kara (Melissa Benoist) with a mission to protect Andrea Rojas (Julie Gonzalo) from an anti-tech extremist, but it seems like there may be more to this mission than meets the eye.

Elsewhere, Lena (Katie McGrath) continues to work with Lex and makes more progress toward turning Non Nocere into a reality. 

“The Bodyguard” – (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (TV-PG, V) (HDTV)

LENA MOVES FORWARD WITH NON NOCERE – Lex (guest star Jon Cryer) tasks Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) with protecting Andrea (Julie Gonzalo) from an anti-tech extremist, but his nefarious purpose goes beyond merely keeping Andrea alive. Meanwhile, Lena (Katie McGrath) moves forward with Non Nocere, with Lex’s help. Gregory Smith directed the episode with story by Lindsay Sturman and teleplay by Emilio Ortega Aldrich & Chandler Smidt (#514). Original airdate 3/8/2020.

Season four showed that truth, justice and the American way are stronger than fear and hate, as Supergirl (Melissa Benoist) stopped Lex Luthor’s anti-alien campaign with the power of the press, no cape required. As the world returns to normal, some things will never be the same now that Lena (Kate McGrath) knows Kara’s secret and the Monitor has arrived on Earth 38! Watch, like Leviathan, as new dynamics and relationships unfold for Supergirl and her friends and colleagues as their adventures continue in season five!

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