John Singleton – 1968 – 2019
Director John Singleton has sadly passed away at the young age of 51. He suffered a stroke and was taken off life support earlier this week.
The director is probably best known as the writer/director of classic youth drama Boyz n The Hood. The film was a massively influential film and led to Singleton becoming the first African-American, as well as the youngest person (at the age of 24!) to be nominated for Best Director Academy Award.
John Singleton arrives at night one of the Creative Arts Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
Singleton would go on to make Poetic Justice, the under-rated Higher Learning, the Shaft remake and the first Fast And Furious sequel (sighs) 2 Fast 2 Furious.
In more recent years, he made the move to TV, directing episodes of Billions, Empire and acclaimed drama, The People Vs OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, where he was reunited with Boyz n The Hood star, Cuba Gooding Jr.
Sonic The Hedgehog Trailer
Considering the first Sega game was released in 1991, I’m not entirely sure why now is the time for a live action Sonic The Hedgehog movie, but yet, here we are.
The bizarre trailer features Coolio, a freaky looking CGI Sonic with human teeth and long legs and Jim Carrey devouring the scenery as villain Dr Robotnik.
The trailer has received so much online backlash that the director has since promised to change Sonic’s look to make the “character the BEST he can be”.
Now it’s unfair to assume a film will be bad based solely on a trailer – but the initial signs aren’t great. A hyper Jim Carrey in- full-on, 1990’s mode could be fun – if you like his manic style of humour. Time will tell if it’s as good as other video game adaptations, like Super Mario Brothers, Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, Doom….oh wait, they’re all rubbish, aren’t they?
Are there any good video game adaptations?!
Peter Mayhew – 1944 – 2019
More sad news. Peter Mayhew – known to the world as the man who played Chewbacca died on Thursday aged 74. Loving tributes and memories have been shared by Star Wars alumni Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and George Lucas – Mayhew truly lived up to the title of a gentle giant, who had a passion for his character and was always welcoming of fans.
Mayhew’s health had been deteriorating in recent years – he fought back from being wheelchair bound to play Chewbacca one final time in The Force Awakens. The role was shared with new actor Joonas Suotamo, who has now taken over the role full time, with Mayhew acting as a consultant/wookie-mentor on The Last Jedi.
RIP Chewie and thanks for all the memories.