Benh Zeitlin Finally Returns with Trailer for Peter Pan Reimagining "Wendy"

Scene from Wendy (2020)

Up until now, director Benh Zeitlin felt like he was doomed to be the one-hit-wonder of his generation. With the Sundance hit Beasts of the Southern Wild, he gained acclaim for a film that took Hurricane Katrina as symbolism and made it into a Best Picture nominee as well as earning him a Best Director nomination and launching the career of Quevenzhane Wallis. The easy question to ask is: where did he go? A success like that should've gotten him every project that he wanted. Well, after seven years there's at least some idea of what he's been up to. He's the latest to take on the mythology of J.M. Barrie's beloved "Peter Pan" and explore the joys of childhood in his own way. Wendy is a reimagining of sorts that fits within his love of children in the wilderness, and the trailer promises to take audiences to the familiar landscape of whimsy that made his first film such a beloved classic to many. 

Rooney Mara Expresses Her Regret Over Whitewashed "Pan" Role

Rooney Mara

Save for Chris Rock's highly anticipated opening monologue, it seems like the Oscars So White debate has finally mellowed out after initial cries from Jada Pinkett Smith boycotting the ceremony to other celebrities saying problematic things. Basically we're at the point where you're either defending the Oscars as not being the problem, or blaming it as the pinnacle of what's wrong with film in 2016. However, there's been one recent viewpoint that's been expressed that seems prescient. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Carol, Rooney Mara had an interesting year last year for a different reason. She was attacked in playing a Native American in director Joe Wright's box office bomb Pan. When asked recently how she feels about the Oscars So White issue, she spoke the familiar cry of equality while also preaching a certain level of regret. 

A Look at the Shortlists for Best Hair and Make-Up, Best Original Song, and Best Picture

Will Smith in Concussion

With The Academy starting to get their final ballots ready, it seems like a great time to see what has made the final cut on its various lists. So far, there has been exploration into the Best Foreign films and Best Documentary. Today, there's an exploration of three major lists: Best Hair and Make-Up; Best Original Song, as well as Best Picture. The following is a look at both of the categories including some additional commentary. While Best Hair and Make-Up has been whittled down to a very interesting seven titles, Best Picture looks to be more lofty with a lengthy 305 titles (even then, a decline in overall total from last year's 325). Check out more after the jump.

Update: The "Pan" Release Date Gets Moved From Summer to October

Hugh Jackman

The last time that we heard from director Joe Wright's Peter Pan adaptation Pan, it had received a trailer and a promising slot in the middle of summer. However, there has been recent news regarding the film's release date that may either prove to be a bad sign or a great one depending on how you prefer to see things. Instead of coming out at the end of the summer, it is now coming out on October 9. For the optimism that I have previously stated, I am hoping that this is the sign that this big budgeted adventure film is capable of being an Oscar contender. Let's take a look at the facts after the jump.

The First "Pan" Trailer is a Beautiful Spectacle Promising Great Adventure

Hugh Jackman

With awards season in our midst, it isn't entirely wise to look forward to next year's potential selections. However, there are few names as reassuring a contender as that of director Joe Wright. Known for making definitive adaptations of some of the best literature with Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, there is reason to celebrate every time he comes around with a new film. After making the divisive Anna Karenina, he has been out of the limelight working on a new adaptation of a Peter Pan origin story known as Pan. The first trailer has dropped and it's time to get excited once again. Wright cannot make an ugly film. That's just fact.