Movies
No, ‘Life’ Probably Isn’t a ‘Venom’ Prequel…BUT WHAT IF?
[Update] Breaking: Life is NOT Venom.
One of the coolest and most believable fan theories is that Columbia Pictures’ Life is actually a prequel to their Spider-Man spinoff, Venom, which all of a sudden landed on the theatrical slate for October of 2018.
It all started when a fan noticed the exact same shots from Spider-Man 3 in the trailer for Life, which we confirmed its validity. But, as an investigator will tell you, the simplest explanation is usually correct. That answer would be that whomever was cutting together the trailer needed footage of a crowd and used some stock footage that came out of Raimi’s Spider-Man sequel.
Still, it’s weirdly believable; I even received a vile from Sony in the mail that contains a BLACK substance that reacts to magnets. Furthermore, there’s a line forming as I write this outside of the premiere taking place tonight at the SXSW Film Festival. Word has it that NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) are being signed before entering. What could be so secret about Life that is needs to be kept in the dark for a mere six days before its March 24th release?
Want more fuel for speculation? While a Sony rep denied the connection to Collider (and my own Sony connection told me he heard the same), an interview with the director didn’t exactly put a nail in the coffin. While the two joked and made fun of the rumor, the interviewer asked if it’s complete bullshit, to which Daniel Espinosa stated “I’m not commenting on that.” Not exactly a denial.
While it probably is complete bullshit, I’m wanting so badly for it to be true. So much so that I may even pretend it is a Venom prequel no matter what comes of this insanity.
Hopefully word breaks out of tonight’s screening so we can know what we’re up against this coming Friday…
Brendan Fraser is back for the upcoming fourth installment in The Mummy franchise from directors Radio Silence, and Michael Johnston (Obsession) is now in talks to join him.
The Hollywood Reporter lets us know tonight that Michael Johnston is in “early talks” to join The Mummy 4, which will release in theaters on October 15, 2027 via Universal.
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and John Hannah will reprise their iconic roles as Rick O’Connell, Evelyn O’Connell, and Jonathan Carnahan in the upcoming movie.
Radio Silence duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Scream 5-6) are directing from a script by David Coggeshall (Orphan: First Kill).
Plot details are being kept under wraps at this time, but the brand new sequel is expected to disregard the events of the third movie, in which Rachel Weisz did not appear.
“It’s just really beautiful and scary and sweeping, and it’s awesome,” Gillet teases. Bettinelli-Olpin adds that the film “has all of the heart and the character that you could hope for.”
A remake of the classic Universal monster movie that took an action-adventure approach, The Mummy was released in 1999 and grossed $417 million worldwide. It was followed by The Mummy Returns in 2001 and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor in 2008.