New rumours for Hulk sequel and Now You See Me’s Dave Franco talks sequel and announces filming

There wasn’t great expectation for Louis Letterier’s (Wrath of the Titans,  2013 thriller Now You See Me, the story of a group of conning magicians, and it received an early critical beating but quickly became a fan favourite, taking $350 million and becoming the year’s most refreshing original story. A sequel had been announced but seemed to go quiet when it became apparent that, in a 2015 release, it’d get swallowed up by the likes of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Star Wars: Episode VII, Fast and Furious 7, Terminator: Genesis, Jurassic World, Tomorrowland, American Sniper, Ted 2, The Man from UNCLE, Cinderella, San Andreas, Mission: Impossible 5, Pan, Assassin’s Creed, Kung Fu Panda 3, Resident Evil 6, The Conjuring 2, Igor, Mad Max: Fury Road, Crimson Peak, The Minions, Bond 24 and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2.

This hiatus led to Leterrier to focus on Sacha Baron Cohen comedy Grimsby but Now You See Me hasn’t been forgotten. Its star Dave Franco has finally spoken out. Last I heard, we were still going at the end of this year. I’ve heard a pitch of the story. It’s actually going to be really exciting. I was slightly weary, just because you never know when it comes to a sequel. But I think the first one opened up enough avenues. There are many directions left to explore. There are many places that it can go, and they really – they held true to the spirit of the first one, but it’s going to be enough of a departure that it doesn’t just feel like a complete copy of the first one.”

This comes alongside the announcement that filming begins later this year, likely meaning an early 2016 release. Now You See Me 2 will likely star Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers, The Kids Are All Right), Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, The Social Network), Isla Fisher (Wedding Crashers, Rango), Woody Harrelson (No Country for Old Men, The Hunger Games, True Detective), Melanie Laurent (Inglorious, Beginners), Dave Franco (Warm Bodies, 21 Jump Street), Michael Caine (The Italian Job, Alfie, The Dark Knight, Children of Men) and Morgan Freeman (The Dark Knight, Million Dollar Baby, Seven, The Shawshank Redemption).

I believe there’s yet to be a half decent Hulk movie. 2008’s The Incredible Hulk has gained minor praise from some critics, not us however, while 2003’s Hulk is just universally agreed to be a disastrous misfire, hastily attempting to latch onto the efforts of X-Men and Spider-Man. The only successful portrayals would be the ’70s Lou Ferrigno TV series and Mark Ruffalo’s supporting role in The Avengers.

Marvel have spent $300 million trying to make a solo Hulk movie work but have failed, despite making the cocky billionaire Iron Man vulnerable, the arrogant prince Thor wise and the blatantly dull Captain America exciting in their recent instalments. Hulk’s voice actor Lou Ferrigno recently expressed his belief that the next Hulk begin work after Age of Ultron in 2015 but the likelihood is that he’s been bumped up the waiting list. The only greenlit Marvel projects we can definitely say are coming are Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America 3, Thor 3, Doctor Strange and The Avengers 3 while Black Widow, Iron Man 4, Nick Fury, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Black Panther have all been considered.

The Hulk 2 – 2017?

Now You See Me 2 – 2016

Now You See Me review

“Come in close…because the more you think you see…the easier it’ll be to fool you”

Director: Louis Leterrier

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Michael Caine

Louis Leterrier has had a fairly chequered film making history. His first two Transporter movies gained a mixed reaction and he’ll be glad to say he didn’t direct the third. The Incredible Hulk didn’t amaze and, while it wasn’t awful, is the least liked of the Avengers films. His next Clash of the Titans was a big disappointment for me also. I’m pleased to report that Now You See Me is a great turnaround for his career.

The mysterious story sees four magicians – J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg – The Social Network), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher – The Great Gatsby), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson – The Hunger Games) and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco – 21 Jump Street) – as they are enlisted by an unknown employer known as The Eye. They call themselves The Four Horseman. As they use their unique skills to pull off heists for public display and some strange purpose, Detective Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) chases them across America: from Vegas to New Orleans and New York as they perform their elaborate shows. Out of their league, Rhodes hires professional trick buster Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) to bring the Four Horsemen in and find out if there is a fifth. Are the tricks magic or one grand illusion.

Now You See Me’s great cast (which also features Michael Caine – The Italian Job, The Dark Knight – and Melanie Laurent – Beginners, Inglourious)  was unlikely to ever let it down. The Horsemen were smart, sharp and witty on screen and provoked many laughs (with Jesse Eisenberg stealing the show). Ruffalo was engaging and believable and there was no chance that Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine could disappoint.

The borderline between magic and practicality was obviously going to be a thin one to tread. The action cleverly uses tricks (the burning paper, the throwing of the cards) in a blend with some cracking punch-ups over the recent Hollywood over-usage of guns. Trick artists in the modern world is something that is yet to be captured on tape for movies. You only tend to see them performing on the streets (like our characters once did) or performing incredible (as in not especially credible) TV shows. Now You See Me does something original by bringing the world of Penn and Teller or Dynamo: Magician Impossible to the screen.

Some have criticised a lack of character development, a fair point that I disagree with. Dave Franco’s character Jack’s transition from amateur fan to a valued and strong fourth Horseman I found surprising to go unnoticed by critics.

Although it tries to stay within realism it does occasionally slip into some outrageous forethought and planning in one escape but (like Silva and his purposeful capture in Skyfall) it shouldn’t really be over thought for what is quite a clever bit of action.

The 2nd act becomes slightly more of a mediocre chase scenario and forgets the real set up from the 1st but the excellent mystery keeps us guessing till the end which is exactly what you want in a caper: a twist!

8/10

The Great Gatsby Reveiw

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Starring: Leonardo Di Caprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Isla Fisher, Jason Clarke

Having not read Fitzgerald’s novel, I saw The Great Gatsby knowing nothing of the plot. I must say Gatsby really was great. Although ridiculously loud and blatant at certain points, the excellent cast carried the whole film.

In New York, during America’s wealthy 1920’s, Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) moves into a cottage across the lake from his rich cousin Daisy (Carey Mulligan) and her husband Tom (Joel Edgerton). Nick soon becomes aware of his neighbour, Gatsby (Leonardo Di Caprio) , watching him from Gatsby’s mansion. Nick finds himself at one of Gatsby’s many parties and hears bizarre rumours about the man. When Nick finally meets Jay Gatsby, he learns of his obsession with Daisy.

Many impressive performances all round, especially Maguire and Di Caprio. Carey Mulligan shined in a difficult role but I didn’t understand the overuse of Jay-Z’s music. It just seemed to drown the rest of the film out and didn’t suit the tone of the film.

Unnecessary 3-D, overly loud but some great screen presences!

8/10 

Still don’t understand the blue guy with the glasses who saw everything, please comment