While the James Bond franchise has been obligated to move with the times, because you bet your ass a 2021 movie with a 1962 mindset would be burned at the online stake the second it was announced, there are several tropes that need to remain in place so it feels like a genuine 007 blockbuster.
If you have absolutely no self-control, then you've probably already seen the Venom: Let There Be Carnage credits scene by now, but if you haven't then consider this your one and only spoiler warning.
Last week, Marvel and Disney received some negative publicity when it was revealed the companies were filing lawsuits against the estates of some legendary figures in the comic book industry, a list that also included Stan Lee's family.
Ruben Fleischer's opening installment hardly set a bar that was impossibly high to clear, so the bare minimum expected from Venom: Let There Be Carnage is that it turns out vastly superior to its predecessor. The superhero sequel hits theaters tomorrow, and with the embargo now lifted, reviews are rolling in all across the internet.
We've known for a while that we'll be seeing new footage from The Batman for the first time since Matt Reeves dropped a surprise trailer last year at the upcoming DC FanDome event, but it sounds as though we'll be getting much more than that, according to star Robert Pattinson.
Unless the property in question has already been established as a shared universe where everything is connected, the inter-franchise crossover can often have an air of desperation surrounding it. On many occasions, it feels like the studio throwing everything and the kitchen sink into the mix, hoping that combining at least two iconic characters in the same movie will yield increased box office returns to keep the brand alive just that little bit longer.
When it comes to naming the greatest actresses of all-time, not just the modern era, Meryl Streep is never too far away from the forefront of the conversation. The living legend has won three Academy Awards from a mind-boggling 21 nominations, while her trophy cabinet also includes two BAFTAs, nine Golden Globes, three Emmys and much more.
The Suicide Squad still hasn't managed to recoup its $185 million budget at the box office, but that hasn't stopped James Gunn from continuing to talk up his future with Warner Bros. and DC Films. Obviously, the writer and director is back at Marvel for the time being as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 gears up to head into production, but HBO Max spinoff series Peacemaker is only three months away.
Daniel Craig isn't an idiot, so he'll be fully aware that the rest of his career will find him fielding questions about the James Bond franchise any time he hits the press circuit for his latest project. It comes with the territory, and even though predecessor Pierce Brosnan has admitted that he's long since grown tired of it, he's resigned himself to the fact it comes with the territory of playing a cinematic icon.