Entertainment
Destin Daniel Cretton Reveals He Declined Avengers: Doomsday Before Kevin Feige Offered Him Spider-Man: Brand New Day
Marvel fans are getting a clearer picture of how Spider-Man: Brand New Day ended up with Destin Daniel Cretton behind the camera.
During a recent interview promoting the film, Cretton revealed that after stepping away from Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, Marvel Studios later approached him about directing what eventually became Avengers: Doomsday. However, the filmmaker ultimately turned it down because he didn’t feel he was the right creative fit for the story.
“When I told Kevin Feige I didn’t think I was the right fit for that,” Cretton explained, “he mentioned ‘Spidey’ in the room, which was a huge relief to me because I thought he’d be like, ‘OK, see you later.'”
Cretton also explained that his decision wasn’t about walking away from Marvel. Instead, it came down to finding a personal connection with the material.
“I don’t do any movie just to do the movie. Until I find an intimate, personal connection to the material, I don’t feel like I could do a good job,” he said, adding that simply directing a major franchise film wasn’t enough reason to commit.
Doom and Kang [marvel comics]
Originally, Cretton had been announced as the director of Avengers: The Kang Dynasty in 2022 following the success of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. After he exited the project in late 2023, Marvel eventually reworked its Multiverse Saga plans, replacing Kang with Doctor Doom and transforming the film into Avengers: Doomsday under directors Anthony and Joe Russo.
Rather than returning for another Avengers ensemble, Cretton found a project that resonated with him creatively in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The film has already become a massive success, earning record-breaking box office numbers and setting the stage for Spider-Man’s future in the MCU.
Looking back, the decision appears to have worked out well for both Marvel and Cretton. The Russo brothers are steering the next Avengers event, while Cretton has delivered one of the biggest Spider-Man films in the franchise, proving that sometimes the right project is simply a better fit than the biggest one.
RJ Mitte, the actor best known for portraying Walter White Jr. on the acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad, has died at the age of 34.
Mitte died Monday in Brownsville, Texas. His representatives confirmed his death in a statement, remembering him as an actor, philanthropist and passionate disability rights advocate. A cause of death has not been officially announced.
Mitte became widely known for his role as Walter White Jr., also known as Flynn, the son of Bryan Cranston’s Walter White on Breaking Bad. He appeared throughout all five seasons of the series from 2008 through 2013 and became an important part of one of television’s most celebrated ensembles.
Like his character, Mitte lived with cerebral palsy. He drew from his own experiences for the role and later became an outspoken advocate for greater representation and opportunities for people with disabilities in Hollywood.
Breaking Bad [Sony Pictures Television]
Mitte also worked extensively with organizations supporting people with disabilities, including United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children’s, and served as president of The Mitte Foundation.
His representatives described him as a powerful voice for inclusion whose influence reached well beyond his work on screen.
RJ Mitte was 34.
Jeremy Allen White is ready to step into the shoes of legendary actor Gene Wilder, he just needs someone to make the call.
The Bear star recently addressed the possibility of portraying Wilder in an upcoming biopic after fans pointed out the striking resemblance between the two actors.
During an appearance on TODAY, White was asked whether he would be interested in taking on the role.
“Absolutely, it would be my honour,”
White said.
White went on to reveal his longtime admiration for Wilder and some of his most iconic films.
“Young Frankenstein is one of my earliest film memories. Blazing Saddles, he’s a genius. It would be an honor. He was a genius. It would be an honor. Yeah, I love him. I’ve always loved him.”
Jeremy Allen White [Photo by Dan Doperalski]
Despite his enthusiasm, White confirmed that he has not been cast in the project. When asked whether the role was already his, the actor quickly responded, “No! No, no, no,” before adding, “We’ll see, we’re manifesting it.”
A Gene Wilder biopic was announced earlier this year, with filmmaker Dito Montiel attached to direct. The project has the cooperation of Wilder’s estate, though casting has yet to be announced.
Wilder remains one of Hollywood’s most beloved comedic performers, starring in classics including Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and The Producers. He died in 2016 at the age of 83 following complications from Alzheimer’s disease.
With White openly interested and fans already making comparisons between the two actors, the upcoming biopic may have just found its most obvious candidate, even if the phone hasn’t rung yet.
Blumhouse is bringing another popular horror video game to the big screen.
The studio is developing a live-action adaptation of Amanda the Adventurer, the indie horror game series from MANGLEDmaw Games and publisher DreadXP.
The project was announced during BlumFest at New York Comic Con, with Matthew “MatPat” Patrick attached to produce the film. Patrick is best known for creating the popular Game Theory YouTube series and has spent years exploring the lore behind horror games and other franchises.
Amanda the Adventurer follows Riley Park, who inherits the home of their Aunt Kate and discovers a collection of mysterious VHS tapes in the attic. The tapes contain episodes of an apparently innocent children’s program starring a young girl named Amanda and her sheep companion, Wooly.
Things quickly become much more disturbing when Amanda and Wooly appear capable of communicating directly with the person watching the tapes.
Amanda the Adventurer
The original game became known for combining the appearance of an early-2000s children’s television show with puzzle-solving, psychological horror and increasingly unsettling imagery.
The franchise has since expanded with Amanda the Adventurer 2 and Amanda the Adventurer 3.
The movie will also mark the first project under a broader partnership between Patrick and Blumhouse focused on adapting indie horror games and online horror properties for the screen.
Blumhouse already has major experience turning horror games into theatrical properties following the success of its Five Nights at Freddy’s films.
The Amanda the Adventurer adaptation remains early in development. A writer and director have not yet been announced, and there is currently no confirmed cast or release date.
Breaking Bad Star RJ Mitte Dies at 34
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