As the fate and form of movies changes, and continue to be debated, there’s no denying that other forms of entertainment media are becoming more like the movies. For example, if it weren’t for the uncanny valley, the brand new trailer for Rockstar Games’ Old West opera Red Dead Redemption 2 would be nearly indiscernible from one for any number of movies that play off the same tropes and visual language. And you know what? It’s effective.
That’s why this week in the Trailer Park, we’re looking at previews for both a more traditional movie and forms of time-based entertainment that aren’t meant for the theater—because at the end of the day, no matter the size of the screen or the format of the signal, a trailer is a trailer. And trailers are the name of our game! Let’s dive in:
Sharp Objects
Are miniseries and other types of episodic television the future of movies? It’s a provocative proposition that’s become much more than merely a thought exercise, especially since the crossover from Hollywood to the small screen has become more and more fertile, with bigger and bigger names making the leap into serialized storytelling. If Top of the Lake, directed by acclaimed auteur Jane Campion, isn’t proof of concept enough, then certainly Big Little Lies is.
And now, BLL director Jean-Marc Vallée will also be helming the adaptation of a Gillian Flynn novel (she wrote a little book called Gone Girl; have you heard of it?) for HBO. Sharp Objects is typical Flynn fare: tough broads, double lives, plot twists. Like Top of the Lake and Big Little Lies before it, the series will be anchored by some impressive talents—in this case, the formidable Patricia Clarkson and the incredibly versatile Amy Adams. As far as the sensibilities of Marti Noxon, who developed Sharp Objects for HBO and who has been steadily making great television from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Mad Men to UnREAL, go, you could do a whole lot worse for a showrunner.
This marks an onscreen reunion for Adams and The Mindy Project’s Chris Messina, who appeared together in 2009’s Julie & Julia. We’re also excited to see Sophia Lillis, who we loved as Beverly Marsh in It, as the younger version of Adam’s character! Even though Jessica Chastain has been cast as adult Beverly Marsh in It: Chapter 2 (in accordance with our predictions), we now can’t help but wonder what Adams would have brought to that role. Regardless, this mix of power from the worlds of both TV and movies simply can’t be excellent, you know? It’s just not possible. Sharp Objects premieres sometime this summer, which is perfect timing to tide us all over until the next season of Big Little Lies.
Ant-Man and the Wasp
When we last saw Ant-Man, he was falling in love with his spoiled yet sharp-witted stepsister—no, sorry, that’s Clueless. How has Clueless not gotten a sequel yet? Where are our priorities, even? Where even were we? Oh, right: When we last saw Ant-Man, he was actually Giant-Man, and now he’s under house arrest for his efforts in support of Captain America. Bummer! While it’s a little weird and confusing that Ant-Man and the Wasp is coming out after Avengers: Infinity War, given that it’s supposed to take place before all of that epic crossover madness, it’s nice to have a premise that appears relatively pared-down in comparison—with fewer characters to invest in. Now, maybe, we can invest a little more in each one. We’re most looking forward to getting to know a new villain with a really great outfit: the shape-shifting, wall-phasing, incredibly cool-looking Ghost. To repeat: She walks through walls! Since Ant-Man’s alter ego, Scott Lang went to jail for whistle-blowing and the Pym/van Dyn family are titans of a questionably ethical industry, it makes a lot of sense to bring Ghost, a hacker who targets big corporations, into this saga as an antagonist.
Of course, Edgar Wright has not returned as part of the screenwriting team and that’s not exactly great news, but we’re happy to see Michael Douglas and Michael Peña reprising their roles from the first Ant-Man. Plus, we hear that none other than Michelle Pfeiffer herself will join the cast as the original Wasp, Janet van Dyne! Oh, and T.I. is back, too. Add in some sweet psychedelic trips to and through the quantum realm, and you’ve got yourself what promises to be a solid summer blockbuster. Ant-Man and the Wasp will be in theaters starting July 6, and we’re going to say it’s a good idea to go ahead and spring for the IMAX 3D on this one.
