Sony Pictures brought out their A-list lineup for today’s CinemaCon panel, including starsJennifer LawrenceandChris Prattwho presented footage from their upcoming sci-fi thriller Passengers, an early look at upcoming films includingAng Lee’sBilly Flynn’s Long Halftime Walk,Antoine Fuqua’sThe Magnificent Seven, andPaul Feig’sGhostbustersreboot. But the studio saved their big news for last, dropping the official titles for two of their most anticipated projects in development: the21 Jump Street/Men in Blackcrossover, which will be titledMIB 23, and the biggest drop of the night, the Marvel Studios co-produced Spider-Man standalone film, which is offcially titledSpider-Man: Homecoming.
Cop Car helmerJon Wattsis set to directSpider-Man: Homecomingfrom a script byVacationscribesJohn Francis DaleyandJohnathan M. Goldstein. During the title announcement, Sony execTom RothmansaidHomecomingcarries a double meaning as a reference to both the high school event and the character’s homecoming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sony is co-producing the movie with Marvel studios, who is introducingTom Holland’s web-slinger inCaptain America: Civil War.Marvel chiefKevin Feigerecently clarifed the terms of that deal for us, saying that while Homecoming will be a Sony Pictures production, the studios are working in tandem on the film with Marvel Studios acting as the “creative producers”.
As for the21 Jump Street/Men in Blackcrossover, which I honestly still can’t believe is happening,The MuppetshelmerJames Bobinwas recently rumored to be in talks to direct.Phil LordandChris Millerwill remain on board as producers (they’re a little busy to with the Han Solo origin story to direct).Will SmithandTommy LeeJones are not returning forMIB 23, so the film will presumably act as a sequel to 22 Jump Street and a reboot for the Men in Black franchise.
For the panel’s other highlights, Sony announced that today was the first day of principal photography on theStephen KingadaptationThe Dark Tower. The studio was was pushingZombieland 2,The Equalizer 2andRobotech. They also set theEmoji Movie, which will take place inside of a phone, for Summer 2017, announced an animated nativity movie told from the POV of the animals, which is set for the 2017 holiday season, and confirmed theAnimated Spider-Man Moviefor December 2018.
In terms of footage, theJon Spaight’s scripted Lawrence/Pratt sci-fi projectPassengersand Antoine Fuqua’s westernThe Magnificent Sevenwere both met with positive response. Check out some of the reactions below.
