Movie News Bits: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR, X-FORCE, THE BATMAN, ATOMIC BLONDE 2, ANT-MAN AND THE WASP

Welcome to our latest installment of Movie News Bits. Today, we have some new details on Marvel Studios’ next two films, why Jeff Wadlow’s X-Force didn’t happen, and confirmation of an Atomic Blonde sequel. Meanwhile, Jake Gyllenhaal addresses those Batman rumors.

Literally every single Marvel Studios movie so far has been rated PG-13, and Avengers: Infinity War is no exception. The MPAA (via BoxOfficeMojo) gave its rating for “intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action throughout, language and some crude references.”

Sci-fi violence and language are in these movies non-stop, so that’s not surprising. Crude references? Hmm…maybe a middle finger or something?

Avengers: Infinity War is set to hit theaters on April 27th. The 19th installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Sebastian Stan, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Bettany, Benedict Wong, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Scarlett Johansson, Benicio del Toro, Tom Holland, Anthony Mackie, Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Peter Dinklage, and Don Cheadle. Joe and Anthony Russo direct from a script by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

Back in the day, writer-director Jeff Wadlow was developing his own take on an X-Force movie. Clearly, that didn’t happen, and in an interview with Collider, he explains why.

Wadlow explains that it essentially came down to Fox deciding to make Deadpool over X-Force (which would have “rehabilitated” the Merc with a Mouth after X-Men Origins: Wolverine). “I had actually been talking to Ryan Reynolds about playing him in my X-Force movie, but my X-Force movie was much more focused on Cable and the New Mutants becoming this paramilitary unit. So, Fox was trying to decide whether they going to do the Deadpool solo movie or my X-Force movie. Fortunately, they picked the Deadpool solo movie because it’s great. Fortunately for the world, I should say, but unfortunately for me. But, I have no complaints about the process.”

Despite this, Fox is still developing another iteration of X-Force, this time under the helm of Drew Goddard. Reynolds’ Deadpool will star alongside Josh Brolin’s Cable and other mutants. But in the meantime, the X-Force debuts in next month’s Deadpool 2.

There’s been a lot of back-and-forth over whether Ben Affleck is going to play Batman again for Matt Reeves’ film. A popular rumor says that if Affleck bails, Reeves’ choice is Jake Gyllenhaal. However, the actor has denied this possibility.

Speaking with CNA Lifestyle (via Batman-News), Gyllenhaal is pretty blunt when asked the Batman question. “Wow, that’s a very difficult question. The answer to that question is ‘no.'”

Of course, it’s possible Gyllenhaal could be denying it for the sake of denying it. Just look at actors like Jason Momoa or Paul Rudd before their superhero roles were official. But it’s also just as likely that Gyllenhaal’s telling the truth. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Atomic Blonde, an adaptation of The Coldest City graphic novel, was a solid success last year, grossing nearly $96 million on a $30 million budget. This led to speculation that a sequel would be made. Sure enough, it’s confirmed.

Appearing at the San Francisco International Film Festival (via IndieWire), star Charlize Theron confirmed that an Atomic Blonde sequel is indeed in development. No word on other details, including whether director David Leitch will return. But, fans of the first film should be satisfied.

And finally, we have a nice Ant-Man and The Wasp tease. The Marvel blockbuster is part of USA Today‘s summer movie preview, and star Evangeline Lilly teases her character’s origin story. “You’ve never seen a superhero origin story with less blunders. She knows what she’s doing and she’s been grooming herself for this moment her whole life. The satisfaction in watching her finally get to live it out is really fun.” She also says her suit is very comfortable…maybe one of the most comfortable in the entire MCU.

For more from USA Today’s preview, click HERE.

Ant-Man and The Wasp is scheduled to hit theaters on July 6th. The 20th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Judy Greer, David Dastmalchian, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfieffer, Laurence Fishburne, Hannah John-Kamen, Randall Park, Walton Goggins, and Abby Ryder Fortson. Peyton Reed directs from a script by Rudd, Gabriel Ferrari, and Andrew Barrer.