Lionsgate closed CinemaCon with a bang.
The studio took to the main stage on Thursday afternoon to share its roster in front of theater owners, presenting a series of revelations titled John Wick 4, Expendables 4, About My Father, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Borderlands, a new Hunger Games title and more.
Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski were ready to offer the latest installment in their successful franchise. The pair walked to the center of the stage towards the end of the presentation, to great applause from the crowd. “Hello Vegas, hello CinemaCon, hello exhibitors,” Reeves said before turning his attention to the teleprompter to read the script. But when it wasn’t in exactly the right place, the couple played a little at will, completely enchanting the 3,000 or so in attendance.
“I first met you, Chad, when we were doing ‘Matrix’ in 1998,” Reeves said of getting back on track. “I think this is the film where we forged the fire of our creative bond through the Wachowski school of cinema and storytelling. It’s been an honor to build these stories with you.” He went on to describe the John Wick franchise as “a celebration of fight choreography, balletic action and storytelling that can only happen through movement”.
Stahelski presented the first-ever look at John Wick: Chapter 4. “Are you ready, John?” asks Laurence Fishburne’s character to launch the trailer, which promises: “A new day is dawning, new ideas, new rules, new management. Then Wick says, “I’m going to kill them all.” Cut to epic battle sequences (including a water-soaked scene), Wick riding a horse in the desert, car chases, and Wick smashing an enemy’s head with nunchucks. “I want you to find peace, John,” says an off-screen character. Another: “The only way this leads to is death.”
The three previous films about the once-retired killer have grossed over $579 million at the global box office, fueled by Reeves, who did many of his own stunts and fight choreography for the films. The latest chapter has been postponed multiple times due to COVID-19 and has a release date of March 24, 2023.
Reeves and Stahelksi were greeted on stage by Lionsgate Motion Picture Group topper Joe Drake, who summarized Wick’s journey. “If we know one thing about Mr Wick after all this time, it’s that he rarely gets what he wants unless it’s revenge,” he said. “John Wick is more than just a film series. It’s a modern myth, it’s a carefully unfolding universe, and it’s an experience to be witnessed on the big screen.”
He said the studio had had their eye on Stahelski for some time. “We had previously worked with Chad on The Expendables in 2010. He had the most unique perspective on stunts we’ve ever seen. We bet Chad’s vision coupled with Keanu’s unique screen presence would rewrite the action genre. And that bet has paid off for everyone.”
The session kicked off with comedy superstar Sebastian Maniscalco, who was on stage as the program’s MC. A fitting choice for Las Vegas as he regularly sells out in Sin City and beyond, and even more fitting as he leads Lionsgate’s About My Father, which is loosely based on his life story and co-stars Robert De Niro, Leslie Bibb and Kim Cattrall plays leading roles.
Maniscalco confidently strolled the stage of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, dropping a short comedy set that covered face coverings, the insane cost of a pool in Las Vegas, and even the size of CinemaCon badges (which, by the way, are very big). “I’ve been watching you walking around the casino for the last three days,” he said. “Who the heck decided the lanyards were going to be so big? What are you keeping in there? your tax return? Some of you walk around the casino [hunched over].”
Referring to Vegas fashion, he quipped, “Vegas has changed a lot in the last 30 years. [People] He used to come here in disguise. Looks like a slumber party out there.”
Jokes aside, Lionsgate then released a video message from Curtis Jackson, best known as rap icon 50 Cent, introducing the star-filled role Expendables 4. Scott Waugh managed the picture stars 50 Cent alongside heavyweights Jason Statham, Sylvester Stallone, Megan Fox, Dolph Lundgren, Andy Garcia, Randy Couture and Uko Awais.
“This movie is more violent than Will Smith in a comedy club, to put it mildly,” joked Maniscalco before introducing 50 Cent. “I love movies,” he said. “This here, this is going to be my film. I’m taking over this franchise.”
The clip reel opened with Stallone’s character saying matter-of-factly, “This life isn’t for everyone.” Then came facts about the franchise, such as using more than 500,000 rounds of ammo and piling up more than 7,000 bodies in the last three installments. “It was all a warmup for that,” teased the role.
Selected highlights from the presentation are listed below.
• Maniscalco introduced his film About My Father and welcomed his castmates Robert De Niro, Leslie Bibb and Kim Cattrall onstage for a Q&A and to introduce the film. The comedy, directed by Laura Terruso (Work It), is loosely based on the life of Maniscalco. He stars in the lead role and co-wrote the screenplay with screenwriter and producer Austen Earl (Happy Together).
The story unfolds as Sebastian tells his old-school Italian father, Salvo, played by Robert De Niro, that he is going to propose to his girlfriend, played by Leslie Bibb. The revelation leads to Salvo spending a weekend with her parents. Anders Holm, Brett Dier and David Rasche round out the cast.
“I wanted to make a film that the family could enjoy,” Maniscalco said, adding that he just wrote the script without being sure what would happen next. “I can’t believe Robert De Niro is playing my dad in this movie. I mean, it kind of hurt me when my dad suggested Leonardo DiCaprio play me, but it’s my movie so he has to deal with it.”
De Niro (seen here with a CinemaCon Cinema Verité Award at his first convention) praised Maniscalco’s talent for “telling the story from a real location. He’ll make it funny and show the irony of situations.” Then he came up with a callback. “The only trouble I had was with Sebastian, but what could I do? I got stuck with him. If I could rephrase it, I would have picked Leonardo DiCaprio.”
• See THR’s separate coverage of Borderlands.
• Watch THR’s separate coverage of the new Hunger Games episode, Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, due for release on November 17, 2023.
• Lionsgate also unveiled the first look at an anticipated adaptation of a popular piece of literature. are you there god It’s Me, Margaret is based on the first novel by legendary author Judy Blume, who has notably turned down requests for adaptations in the decades following its publication in 1970. It tells a coming-of-age story about Margaret Simon, a sixth grader who questions everything about adolescence and puberty as he searches the universe for answers of any kind.
As her mother and grandmother try to guide her through a time when everything is changing, they too find that you never stop questioning your path and defining what makes sense in your life. Abby Ryder Fortson takes on the title character, with Rachel McAdams playing her mother and Benny Safdie playing her father. Kathy Bates can also be seen in the picture. Kelly Fremon Craig (The Edge of Seventeen) wrote, directed and produced the film with James L. Brooks and his Gracie Films banner, Julie Ansell and Richard Sakai also produced.
Thursday’s presentation featured the trailer and appearances from McAdams (received here with a CinemaCon Vanguard Award) alongside Fortson. “We’re so lucky to be here,” McAdams said. “First written by Judy Blume in 1970, Margaret’s story has stood the test of time. … Whether you grew up reading the book as a girl, discovered it as a mother, or found it somewhere in between, Margaret’s story stays with you.”
It struck a chord in the press department when a female member of the press broke out in applause midway through the trailer and said, “Oh my god! That is fine.”
• Helen Mirren teased the new part of the Wonder story with White Bird: A Wonder Story, a story about the power and beauty of kindness. “When I was asked to continue the Wonder story, I was very happy,” Mirren explained. “With our film White Bird, Marc Forster raised the bar … and it’s both beautiful and very emotional.” It’s coming this fall, Mirren said.
• Like other studio executives, Lionsgate’s Drake praised the theatrical experience. “Seeing a movie in the cinema is just better. In fact, a film is only a film if you see it in the cinema. There’s something liberating about being part of an audience. Sitting next to a total stranger and laughing at them makes you feel a little more human. What we believe at Lionsgate doesn’t mean just because an experience is shared, it can’t be unique,” he said. “Sure, we see audiences returning to cinemas in 2022 for big event films. But what about all those weekends when there’s no new addition to the multiverse? Every film can be an event for someone. We want to bring all viewers back to your theaters – those who want to discover what they love instead of being told what they should like.”
This story was originally published on April 28 at 3:32 p.m