Hollywood Insider: The Latest Scoop with Eli McCaig

From Oprah's New Film to Jurassic World Sequel - Latest Buzz from Hollywood!

Are you ready for some juicy entertainment news? Well, hold on tight because we've got some exciting updates from Hollywood. So, grab a seat, get cozy, and let's dive into the wonderful world of entertainment together!

Exploring New Depths: Oprah Winfrey's Latest Film Endeavor

First up, the queen of media, Oprah Winfrey, has announced her next potential film project. After the success of The Color Purple, Oprah has set her sights on Abraham Verghese's best-seller, The Covenant of Water. The story revolves around an Indian family who loses at least one person each generation due to drowning. Oprah has stated that she wants to create stories that show people of color in the highest light, and this project could be another success for her. We can't wait to see who she chooses to direct and star in this potential blockbuster.

She has stated, “So listen, I am here in the space of finding and creating stories as an offering to the world to show the world to itself and to try to do that in a way that lets in particular, not just exclusively, but in particular people of color see the reflection of themselves in the highest light.”

This could have the potential to be a success similar to The Color Purple; however, Oprah will need to find the correct filmmaker and studio to avoid a situation like A Wrinkle in Time. The likely choice for director could be her frequent collaborator Ava DuVernay. They have worked on three projects together as a producing/directing team, the first being Selma. Ultimately, I believe that having an Indian director would be best for the project since the book mainly deals with an Indian family and Indian culture.

Get Ready for The Mandalorian & Grogu: A New Hope for Star Wars Fans

In other news, Star Wars fans, are you ready to see your favorite characters on the big screen? Jon Favreau, the creator of The Mandalorian, is directing a feature film called The Mandalorian & Grogu. The movie is expected to start filming later this year, and it will be the first Star Wars film since 2019. We know that many fans have been disappointed with recent Star Wars projects, but this film could be the chance for Lucasfilm to win back their trust. I think this would also be a perfect opportunity to set up a possible adaptation of “Heir to the Empire” with Grand Admiral Thrawn as the main antagonist. We're excited to see what Favreau has in store for us.

Jurassic World: Dominion Sequel in the Works -

High Hopes and Skepticism Abound

Moving on to another beloved franchise, Universal Studios has hired David Koepp to write a sequel to Jurassic World: Dominion. The project has been kept quiet for some time and is currently being reported to be far enough along and well-liked that the studio is currently looking at a 2025 release date. 

Koepp wrote the first two Jurassic Park movies, so we have high hopes for this project. The film will be directed by Gareth Edwards, the director of 2014's Godzilla. Many thought it was going to be David Leitch, but Edwards won in the end. The sci-fi director seems to be the perfect fit for the film and adds a hint of enthusiasm to the project. While we're a bit skeptical about the recent Jurassic World films, having Koepp on board does inspire some confidence. Let's hope this sequel lives up to our expectations.

I will make it known now that I haven’t been the biggest fan of the Jurassic World projects. I believe that those films have hindered the franchise instead of helping it. However, I will admit that having David Koepp as the writer does inspire some confidence. On the flip side, his more recent work hasn’t been that well-received by the masses. We’ll see how it turns out, but it is too early to see if this new Jurassic World film will be a flop. Especially with the unknown factor of whether it will be a continuation of the prior three films or if it will follow a new storyline with new characters.

The Oscars 2024: A Roller Coaster of Nominations and Snubs!

Last but not least, it's awards season, and the Oscars nominations have been released. Oppenheimer leads with thirteen nominations, while Poor Things follows close behind with eleven. Some notable snubs include Margot Robbie for Best Actress for her role as Barbie and Greta Gerwig for Best Director for Barbie. While some fans are upset about these snubs, others have pointed out that people of color were also overlooked, such as Fantasia Barrino for Best Actress for The Color Purple. However, there is still cause for celebration as Lily Gladstone became the first Native American to be nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon.

The Oscars is my Super Bowl, but this year hasn’t tickled my fancy. Though I’m someone who thought Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie deserved nominations, I think that the Academy picked who they believed were the best. Now, I would’ve included The Iron Claw in some nominations, but that’s just my opinion. Overall, the Academy Awards will be decided on March 10th, and the only way to know if they made the right decisions is to tune in to find out.

Now we have a lot to look forward to in the entertainment world. From Oprah's potential blockbuster to the return of Star Wars and Jurassic World, there's something for everyone. And while some people may be disappointed with the Oscars nominations, we can still celebrate the milestones and achievements of the nominees. Let's sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!