Movie Tea: Live-Action “Bakugan” In The Works; Warner Bros. Drops Over 30 Free Movies On YouTube

Sometimes, your childhood has a weird way of making a comeback.

From a windfall of free movies from days gone by, to a new one tugging on those nostalgia strings in your heart – here’s news that’ll perk up any cinephile keen on revisiting their youth. 

“The Adventures Of Pluto Nash,” “The Wind And The Lion” & More On YouTube

If you’re looking for old movies to binge on to get your nostalgia fix, then Warner Bros. has you covered. The American studio has released over 30 classic movies on the official Warner Bros. Entertainment YouTube channel, and apparently, they have been steadily adding movies for over the past month.

The playlist is an assorted collection of vintage films, featuring largely obscure movies or releases that received a substantial amount of negative reviews. When we say assorted, we mean assorted. Films like Leonardo DiCaprio’s “The 11th Hour,” Jackie Chan’s “Mr. Nice Guy,” and even Ken Wiederhorn’s “Return of the Living Dead Part II.”

Most, if not all, of these offers are not available on Warner’s streaming platform, Max; and perhaps because of their iffy quality, we can make the assumption they never will be. Additionally, there has been no explanation as to why the media giant has added these films to the platform, let alone why these films specifically.

If you are interested in viewing these movies, you’ll need a VPN, as these have been region-locked all over Asia. However, it’s a small price to pay compared to a pricey streaming service.

According to The Verge, this might be a peace offering from the company as a way of apologising for axing films such as “Batgirl” and “Coyote vs. Acme” before they were even released. We will never know the true rationale for this move – unless Warner Bros. comes out of the woodwork and addresses the matter properly. Until then, feel free to binge on them here (be sure to click the three dots and select “Show unavailable videos” first). 

Popular Anime TV Series “Bakugan” Is Coming To The Big Screen

As weird as it sounds, the mid- to late 2000’s anime “Bakugan” is receiving a live-action adaptation. Spin Master Entertainment, the company responsible for the recent iterations of “Bakugan” and other shows like “Paw Patrol,” has reached out to Brad Peyton (director of both “Rampage” and “San Andreas”) to write, direct, and produce a live-action movie based on the popular toy-line-turned-anime series.

For those unaware of the franchise, “Bakugan” is an anime that spawned a massive toy line before the 2010’s. It’s a part card and miniature game where players set down metal cards and roll spring-loaded magnetic figurines that transform into toy monsters. It’s a highly strategic game that gained a lot of traction in Japan, the United States, Canada, and parts of Asia. The space was quite competitive for its time, resulting in the creation of lucrative tournaments.

Moving back to the film, Peyton has confirmed that he will be working with Lindsay Harbert to write the script. Peyton shared his enthusiasm about the film in a statement, saying: “‘Bakugan is ready for the film treatment, and I’m thrilled to be the one to bring it to the big screen for the very first time. With Lindsay and the Spin Master team alongside me, we’re excited to build a hit franchise with global appeal. I am confident we will create a must-see film event that does justice to the unique and epic world that is Bakugan.’”

Spin Master president Jennifer Dodge added to the hype by saying: “As fans who were part of its initial craze now enter adulthood, we are thrilled to be working with accomplished filmmaking talent like Brad to reimagine ‘Bakugan’ in live action, expanding the franchise for fans while introducing it to new audiences around the world.”

Spin Master already has the movie slated for a 2026 release date, alongside a third “Paw Patrol” movie. It will be released in association with Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies. It has not been confirmed whether the upcoming “Bakugan” film will be a continuation of the 2018 and 2023 versions of the series or if it will be another reboot.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter, The Verge

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