"It" is happening again ... in 2019.

Pennywise will return to haunt your nightmares in a sequel to the blockbuster movie remake of "It." Warner Bros. announced the sequel's release date: Sept. 6, 2019.

"It" has smashed a bunch of records at the box office, including becoming the top grossing horror movie of all time. The movie has earned over $266 million in the United States and $478 million worldwide.

Director Andy Muschietti is likely to return to direct, and co-writer Gary Dauberman is on board.

Stephen King's novel tells the story of a group of friends called the Losers Club, who team up to defeat demons in their small town. The book alternates between their past as children and the present when they're adults. The first movie focused more on the kids, but the sequel will take place in the present with multiple flashbacks.

If you thought TV shows were getting pricey to produce, just wait until you find out how much Fox is dropping on James Cameron's four "Avatar" sequels: The four flicks will reportedly cost $1 billion to make.

Deadline reports that production has finally begun in California on the long-awaited sequels to 2009's "Avatar," the highest-grossing movie of all time worldwide. While plans for the follow-ups have been evolving for years, with release dates and the exact number of sequels changing more times than we can count, Cameron is apparently finally ready to turn his vision into a reality.

Of course, such lofty vision doesn't come without an equally lofty price tag, and studio Fox is betting big with a risky shoot that will see all four flicks film back to back to back to back. It's the first time in history such a consecutive shooting schedule has been employed with four films (Peter Jackson previously held the record with three, for his "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" movies), and according to Deadline, that $1 billion estimate is expected to rise well before the final frame is shot.

Cameron says he spent two solid years writing the sequel scripts, which returning star Sigourney Weaver praised as "even more amazing" than the first flick. With filming finally underway, it seems that fans will at last be able to judge that for themselves.

"Avatar 2" is currently slated to open on December 18, 2020, with "Avatar 3" opening on December 17, 2021, "Avatar 4" opening on December 20, 2024, and "Avatar 5" opening on December 19, 2025. We'll see if Cameron's high-profile production meets those ever-shifting deadlines.

[via: Deadline]

Russia's Burger King wants "IT" out of the country. Not because the movie is too scary or anything. No, they -- somehow -- think Pennywise "is an exact copy" of Ronald McDonald, with the horror film giving McDonald's free publicity.

According to Newsweek, Burger King's Russian operation filed a Whopper of a complaint to the anti-monopoly business board, alleging unfair competition. Their claim argues the "protagonist" of the R-rated movie, Pennywise, "is an exact copy" of the famous McDonald's clown, "including the color range and the [balloons] with which the clown lures children."

I mean...

I guess?

But even if you do think Pennywise looks like the also creepy Ronald McDonald, how would that be free advertising for McDonald's? It's more likely to scare people away from The Golden Arches. You could see it as a free ad for the competition.

The complaint was filed last week, wanting the film axed for breaking Russia's advertising laws. A ban is a bit late, since "IT" has been playing in Russia since the first week of September, and even topped the box office there opening weekend. But now, Newsweek reports, Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service board will examine "IT" to see if there was any product placement or advertising that would be in violation of national law.

Warner Bros. just revealed an "IT" sequel is coming in 2019, so if there's no ban in Russia now, maybe Burger King be able to flush "Chapter Two" down the sewer.

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James Cameron stands by his remarks that "Wonder Woman" was a "step backwards."

Last month, he caused a stir by saying, "She's an objectified icon, and it's just male Hollywood doing the same old thing! I'm not saying I didn't like the movie but, to me, it's a step backwards."

Now, he's defending his criticism. "I mean, [Gal Gadot] was Miss Israel, and she was wearing a kind of bustier costume that was very form-fitting," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "She's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. To me, that's not breaking ground. They had Raquel Welch doing stuff like that in the '60s."

Cameron again drew parallels to Linda Hamilton in "Terminator."

"She just wasn't treated as a sex object. There was nothing sexual about her character. It was about angst, it was about will, it was about determination," he said.

"Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins responded to Cameron's initial comments by saying, "If women have to always be hard, tough and troubled to be strong, and we aren't free to be multidimensional or celebrate an icon of women everywhere because she is attractive and loving, then we haven't come very far have we[?]"

Cameron concluded his defense by adding, "As much as I applaud Patty directing the film and Hollywood, uh, 'letting' a woman direct a major action franchise, I didn't think there was anything groundbreaking in 'Wonder Woman.' I thought it was a good film. Period."

🙄

Natalie Portman is going in — but is she ready to find what's on the other side?

Paramount debuted the chilling first trailer for "Annihilation," an adaptation of Jeff VanderMeer's novel by "Ex Machina" writer/director Alex Garland. Natalie Portman stars as a scientist who goes on an expedition with three other women into an area quarantined for abnormal activity by a mysterious creature.

She goes in to save her husband (Oscar Isaac, re-teaming with his "Ex Machina" director) and uncover just what this creature is. But it may just defy categorization. "You really have no idea what it was?" one investigator asks Portman.

Much like "Ex Machina," the tone of the trailer is unsettled and creepy. It looks fantastic, too — the quarantined area features some twisted, disturbing vistas. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson are also along for the haunted horror ride.

"Annihilation" opens in theaters February 23, 2018.

Tom Cruise is a super-intense guy, but he does have a sense of humor. He may also have a Kardashian-sized tush.

Cruise is now promoting his new movie "American Made" and -- bless his heart -- was game enough to talk about a fake butt rumor that went viral over the summer. That rumor didn't even have anything to do with his new movie, it was connected to the 2008 film "Valkyrie" and this image:

hello, please, i present the theory that for one single shot in Valkyrie (2008), at 5:12, tom cruise wears a fake butt. observe: pic.twitter.com/Tw6yTbsQUe

— swizz keats (@iluvbutts247) August 20, 2017

ScreenRant went ahead and asked Cruise if he was indeed wearing some kind of fake butt material for that scene. Cruise had no clue his butt had become a meme, but since he takes pride is doing his own everything on set, with no tricks or stunt doubles, you can bet he had comment on rocking butt padding:

"There was no prosthetic in 'Valkyrie.' No."

Such a formal statement for such a silly topic. But he can get silly, too, don't worry.

While it may seem out of nowhere to talk about butts, there is a connection to "American Made." As ScreenRant noted, there's a running gag in the movie where Cruise's character moons his family members. So Cruise was asked about that, and showed he truly does *all* of his own stunts:

"It's me. It's not CGI, it's me. I do my own mooning in films. So let it be known – I do my own mooning."

He does his own running, jumping, and mooning. But nothing really explains that super-sized a** shot from"Valkyrie," so maybe "The Tom Tush" will now be added to the list of celeb plastic surgery requests.

"American Made" is out in theaters this Friday, September 29.

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Peter Parker gets called some nasty names in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," so he knows how much that sucks. Tom Holland and his fellow "Homecoming" stars teamed up with STOMP Out Bullying for a PSA asking students to participate in National Bullying Prevention Month in October.

Specifically, they asked fans to wear a blue shirt on the first Monday of October -- this coming Monday, Oct. 2, "The World Day of Bullying Prevention" -- to support the cause of acceptance, inclusion, and kindness.

Tom Holland, Zendaya, Laura Harrier (Liz), and Jacob Batalon (Ned) are featured in the PSA, and Harrier and Batalon visited a local NYC high school to also talk more about the campaign.

You can watch the PSA here. Tom Holland also included it in a new Instagram post:

My friends and I sharing a very important message ❤️#StompOutBullying PSA. Watch #SpidermanHomecoming on Digital now. @spidermanmovie

A post shared by ✌️ (@tomholland2013) on Sep 27, 2017 at 9:18am PDT

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" is indeed now out on Digital HD, and it will be available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD October 17. Check out more special features here.

Question: Would you consider what Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan do to Tom Holland "bullying," or just constantly mocking him with love?

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Fans of Disney's Halloween cult classic "Hocus Pocus" are in for either a trick or a treat, depending on their attachment to the original cast: The flick is set for a TV movie remake on the Disney Channel. But will Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy be back?

The answer to that question is still up in the air, but for the time being, it appears to be "no." Deadline reports that the new version is "a reimagining" of the 1993 film, which will be written by Scarlett Lacey ("The Royals"), and will have an all-new cast.

The original "Hocus Pocus" starred Midler, Parker, and Najimy as the Sanderson sisters, a trio of witches who are accidentally brought back to life in modern day Salem, Massachusetts. While all three actresses have been vocal in the past about their interest in returning for a potential sequel, Midler quashed fans' dreams back in 2015 by stating that she didn't think such a film would ever materialize.

According to Deadline, this new movie seems to be a completely new concept based on the original, though David Kirschner, a producer and co-writer of the story of the first film, will be back as an executive producer this time around. Original director Kenny Ortega will not be returning, sadly.

We'll have to wait and see what the story is before we give this remake our official stamp of approval, though if Disney bases it off of fans' ideas, we can probably get on board. Stay tuned. (And keep your fingers crossed that the flick finds a way to insert a cameo from the original Sistahs.)

[via: Deadline]

Sony's upcoming "Venom" standalone flick may have found its female lead, with Michelle Williams reportedly in talks for the secretive role.

Variety has the scoop that Williams is currently negotiating to join the flick, which stars Tom Hardy as the titular villain from the "Spider-Man" universe. According to the trade, there's no concrete details yet on her character, though she's rumored to be playing "a district attorney and possibly Hardy's love interest."

Sony declined to comment on Variety's report, though the studio already has a connection to Williams, who stars in its upcoming release from director Ridley Scott, "All the Money in the World." While Williams tends to favor smaller, arthouse flicks that garner awards attention (she's a Golden Globe winner and four-time Oscar nominee, who's also expected to earn some buzz for "All the Money"), this "Venom" flick isn't expected to be typical superhero fare, either: Sony has already said that it would not be connected at all to the current "Spider-Man" (a.k.a. Marvel) cinematic universe.

So far, Riz Ahmed ("Rogue One: A Star Wars Story") is the only other star officially attached to "Venom." Ruben Fleischer ("Zombieland") is directing the spinoff, which is set to begin production next month.

"Venom" is expected to hit theaters on October 5, 2018.

[via: Variety]

If you're an action movie, Liam Neeson will find you, and he will keeping starring in you, "until they bury me in the ground."

Neeson just recently made headlines for supposedly retiring as an action star. At the Toronto Film Festival, Neeson said he was done with the genre, after becoming an unlikely action hero with the "Taken" franchise, and working on more "serious" projects. He figured at sixty-f*cking-five" he was getting too old for it.

Well, he's still 65, but he no longer feels the same way. Variety asked him about his retirement, while on the red carpet premiere of his new film "Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House."

"It's not true, look at me!" Neeson told Variety, laughing about his retirement as an action star. "You're talking in the past tense. I'm going to be doing action movies until they bury me in the ground. I'm unretired."

Yas, king! He was probably just venting before, like when Daniel Craig said he'd rather slash his wrists than play James Bond again, and here he is playing James Bond again. Or maybe Neeson was worried that fans would mock him for trying to keep up with the Marvel crowd at 65. But fans were not happy at the idea of Neeson exiting stage left, so maybe that gave him the encouragement to keep going -- until he's buried in the ground.

His "Mark Felt" movie opens Friday.

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We're not getting a sequel to action comedy "The Nice Guys," but we are getting a TV series. Except without Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. And not set in the '70s.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox has greenlit a female-led reboot called "The Nice Girls." Two as-yet-uncast women will play similar roles to the 2016 film, in which Gosling played a private eye and Crowe was a ruthless enforcer who became unlikely partners.

The TV series will have a contemporary setting, so don't expect any parties where Earth, Wind and Fire is playing.

Michael Diliberti ("30 Minutes or Less") will write the script and executive produce along with Ken Kao and Joel Silver, who produced the film, THR reports. Rodney Ferrell, the head of Silver Pictures Television, will produce with 20th Century Fox Television and Lionsgate.

It doesn't sound like writer-director Shane Black, who helmed the film, will be directly involved in the reboot.

Lynda Carter just told James Cameron to stop sounding off against "Wonder Woman." In a blistering Facebook post, the actress, who played the superhero on TV in the '70s, asked for him to drop his "ill-advised thuggish jabs" about the hit movie.

She also said, "perhaps you do not understand the character. I most certainly do. Like all women -- we are more than the sum of our parts... This movie was spot on. Gal Gadot was great. I know, Mr. Cameron--because I have embodied this character for more than 40 years. So -- STOP IT."

Cameron first dissed Gadot's Wonder Woman back in August, saying that the character was "an objectified icon" that represented "a step backwards." In a new interview this week, he repeated the claim, saying, "She's absolutely drop-dead gorgeous. To me, that's not breaking ground."

Because you can't be gorgeous and strong? Director Patty Jenkins responded to his initial criticism, saying there is "no right and wrong kind of powerful woman."

Carter has been a big supporter of the film, including appearing at the movie's Hollywood premiere alongside Jenkins and Gadot.

[Via Variety, MSN]

Not everyone is loving the news that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner planned to be buried next to Marilyn Monroe.

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">Hefner, who passed away at 91 on September 27, bought the plot next to Monroe for $75,000 in 1992. As he told the LA Times, "I'm a believer in things symbolic. Spending eternity next to Marilyn is too sweet to pass up."

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">Monroe was Playboy's first cover girl in 1953, but she never knowingly posed for the magazine. She reportedly earned only $50 for the photo shoot that Hefner later bought for $500. As she wrote in her memoir: "I never even received a thank you from all those who made millions off a nude Marilyn photograph. I even had to buy a copy of the magazine to see myself in it."

This is not a cute story. Hefner bought the plot next to Monroe to "spend eternity with her" w/out her consent after exploiting her body. https://t.co/VwHQoeZhYF

— Ella Dawson (@brosandprose) September 28, 2017

In a lifetime of creepy things, Hugh Hefner buying the plot next to Marilyn Monroe to lurk beside her for all eternity is the creepiest.

— Jojo Moyes (@jojomoyes) September 29, 2017

sorry, I think Hugh Hefner is gross. and paying to be buried next to Marilyn Monroe (who he didn't know) is creep level 1 million.

— Danielle (@timelysarcasm) September 29, 2017

I never know he would be a romantic, even after death :

Hugh Hefner bought crypt next to Marilyn Monroe - https://t.co/CsaPuTsbIk

— marjo zeng (@marjo_zeng) September 29, 2017

When I heard Hefner paid $75k in '92 so he could be in the vault next to Marilyn Monroe to "spend eternity with his 1st cover girl" ... pic.twitter.com/m7ncqSqOqF

— Steven R. Walker (@Steve_R_Walker) September 28, 2017

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">Twitter users were not the only ones to call the arrangement "creepy." The Independent UK ran a column calling it "grossly disrespectful."

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">Biba Kang writes, "To allow the ultimate misogynist in effect to shack up with a woman under the soil, without her having consented in life, feels inappropriate at the best of times."

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">Hefner will be buried in a mausoleum located inside the Westwood Memorial Park, where Monroe was buried after her death in 1962.

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">As Hefner said in 2000, "Jay Leno suggested that if I was going to spend that kind of money, I should actually be on top of her. But to me there's something rather poetic in the fact that we'll be buried in the same place. And that cemetery also has other meanings and connections for me," he said, pointing out that Dorothy Stratten, the Playboy Bunny who was murdered in 1980 by her estranged husband, is also buried there.

who" died<="" a>="" aged="" 91="" wednesday,="" told<="" the="" <em>la="" times.="" <="" em>"spending="" eternity="" next="" to="" marilyn="" is="" too="" sweet="" pass="" up.""="" data-reactid="16" type="text">[Via Time, The Independent, New York Daily News]

The long-rumored "Coming to America" sequel is a step closer to happening: Deadline reports that Jonathan Levine ("50/50," "The Night Before") will direct.

"Black-ish" creator Kenya Barris will be reworking a script by Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, who wrote the original 1988 film.

Eddie Murphy is expected to reprise his role of Prince Akeem, but, according to Deadline, "nothing's been finalized." No word on whether we can expect other original cast members, including Arsenio Hall, to return for the sequel.

John Landis, who also gave us such great '80s hits as "Trading Places" and "The Blues Brothers" directed the original film.

A tweet by Oprah Winfrey is fueling speculation that she's going to run for president in 2020.

Responding to a New York Post column that she'd be the "best hope" for Democrats in the next election, Oprah tweeted "Thanks for your vote of confidence!"

@jpodhoretz Thanks for your VOTE of confidence!Democrats' best hope for 2020: Oprah | New York Post https://t.co/tvt82v8cMH

— Oprah Winfrey (@Oprah) September 28, 2017

Despite Winfrey's many denials over the years that she'd ever run for office, Twitter took that as a sign that yes, she is running.

Oprah for President! Oprah Winfrey sets political speculation on fire as she retweets article promoting a presidential run. #Oprah2020 pic.twitter.com/OCR9mi89OM

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) September 29, 2017

So @Oprah thanks @jpodhoretz for his piece arguing she could be the 2020 Democratic Presidential nominee if she wants to be.

She's running. https://t.co/nVmWi3rLvw

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) September 29, 2017

The New York Post isn't the only outlet suggesting Winfrey throw her hat into the ring: Back in March, Politico ran an article called "The Serious Case for Oprah 2020."

That's the same month Winfrey admitted that Trump's election had her reconsidering the idea that someone with no political experience to speak of could run and win. In an appearance on "The David Rubenstein Show," she said, "'I thought, 'Oh gee. I don't have the experience. I don't know enough. And, now I'm thinking, 'Oh.'"

In the meantime, Oprah is still busy producing and acting. She plays Mrs. Which in the upcoming "A Wrinkle in Time" and received an Emmy nomination for producing the TV movie "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks," in which she also starred.

[Via Twitter, New York Post, Rare]

The initial reactions to "Blade Runner 2049" were extremely positive and now that full reviews are in, they're almost all rapturous.

The sequel to the 1982 cult classic (which, as you recall, bombed on its initial release), currently has a 97% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with 33 critics recommending it and only 1 saying "skip it."

"Blade Runner 2049" is directed by "Arrival"s Denis Villeneuve and stars Ryan Gosling, Robin Wright, Jared Leto, with Harrison Ford reprising his role as Rick Deckard.

Here are some of the most glowing reviews, with some suggesting it's even (gasp!) better than the RIdley Scott original:

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: "Villeneuve's dazzling sequel is on its own march to screen legend."

Leah Greenblatt, EW: "'2049' reaches for, and finds, something remarkable: the elevation of mainstream moviemaking to high art."

Kyle Anderson, Nerdist: "'Blade Runner 2049' supersedes its predecessor in a number of ways, and is not only a brilliant sci-fi movie, but one of the best movies of the year."

Some of the "fresh" reviews aren't exactly wholehearted endorsements, however:

Bilge Ebiri (Village Voice) writes, "Careful, dutiful, and beautiful, 'Blade Runner 2049' cannot achieve the sublime slipperiness of Scott's masterpiece. Whether it even needs to is up to you."

David Edelsetein (New York/Vulture) says "you feel every [minute]" of the film's nearly 3-hour running time and concludes with a ho-hum, "I thought it was okay."

The one flat-out negative review (so far) is from Scott Mendelson (Forbes). He writes, "It looks great and boasts solid performances from an underused cast, but (like the original) it's a triumph of style over substance."

So get your tickets, but keep those sky-high expectations in line. If you can.

"Blade Runner 2049" opens October 6.

"Flatliners," the remake of the 1990 thriller, wasn't screened for critics, which is usually a sure sign that a studio knows it has a dud on its hands.

The film, which stars Ellen Page, Nina Dobrev and Diego Luna as medical students who get their kicks by temporarily stopping their hearts, opened today with not one positive review. (Reviews are still filtering in as critics finally get a chance to see it.) Audiences weren't too keen on it either, giving it a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Cinemablend writes that the film "lacks a pulse" and is strictly "run of the mill."

Australian site FIlmInk calls it a "bland, flatly executed and joyless slog."

And Den of Geek UK, while apologizing for the obvious pun, writes, "it just lies there on the slab."

If you're planning on watching Flatliners, dig two graves: One for the remake, and one for your time. https://t.co/V9jWcRwbru

— Simon Miraudo (@simonmiraudo) September 28, 2017

IGN's review is the most positive of the bunch, saying "It falls flat as a horror movie but the cast is good enough, and the sci-fi concepts are interesting enough, to keep it from crashing completely."

Per Deadline, "Flatliners" didn't hold previews last night for audiences either. The film, which had a $20 million budget is "only expected to gross in the mid-to-high single digits at 2,552 venues." It's apparently too early for the audience-generated CinemaScore.

Kristen Stewart and Lupita Nyong'o might be getting wings soon.

The actresses are being considered to star in the reboot of "Charlie's Angels" directed by Elizabeth Banks, according to Variety.

The hit ABC television show ran from 1976 to 1981, and was adapted into a movie in 2000 starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu. It was a hit, but a follow-up "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" disappointed at the box office. A 2011 TV reboot was also a dud, canceled after just four episodes. Sony is hoping that the fourth time is the charm.

It's unclear if Stewart is even interested in the project. She's focused mostly on indies in the last few years and hasn't starred in a major studio movie since 2010's "Snow White and the Huntsman."

As for Nyong'o, she'll next be seen in Marvel's "Black Panther" and also reprises her voice role as Maz Kanata in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

Carrie, MIranda, Charlotte, and Samantha won't be putting on their Manolo's one last time.

Rumors had been flying that the stars of "Sex and the City" would reunite for a third movie, but Sarah Jessica Parker said it's not happening.

"It's over," Parker told Extra. "We're not doing it."

She added, "I'm disappointed. We had this beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, joyful, very relatable script and story. It's not just disappointing that we don't get to tell the story and have that experience, but more so for that audience that has been so vocal in wanting another movie."

Then again, 2010's "Sex and the City 2" was a disappointment both critically and commercially.

There's been talk that Kim Cattrall, who played Samantha, torpedoed the project by making "outrageous demands." But she refuted that on Twitter:

Woke 2 a @MailOnline 💩storm! The only 'DEMAND' I ever made was that I didn't want to do a 3rd film....& that was back in 2016

— Kim Cattrall (@KimCattrall) September 29, 2017

Earlier this year, Cattrall told People that a third movie was unlikely.

"The hardest thing is, what would the story be? It's been seven, eight years since we wrapped the last movie. Can we get everybody together? We're all sort of scattered now. Are we still relevant?"

The DC Extended Universe is extending everywhere.

In a Vulture profile, DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson and chief creative officer Geoff Johns revealed that the company is deemphasizing its cinematic universe so that not all of its movies (distributed by Warner Bros.) will be connected.

This change comes on the heels of the critical and commercial success of "Wonder Woman." While the character played by Gal Gadot was introduced in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," the movie was largely a standalone.

"Our intention, certainly, moving forward is using the continuity to help make sure nothing is diverging in a way that doesn't make sense, but there's no insistence upon an overall story line or interconnectivity in that universe," Nelson said.

Johns added, "Some of the movies do connect the characters together, like 'Justice League.' But, like with 'Aquaman,' our goal is not to connect Aquaman to every movie."

DC Entertainment has been trying to keep up with Marvel's blockbuster production machine — and failing. While its movies have raked in billions of dollars, they don't make as much and don't get as good reviews as Marvel's.

In fact, the company is creating a side label (still unnamed) for standalones that are completely outside the universe. The first one would be a Joker movie written and directed by Todd Phillips ("The Hangover").