<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warning: Spoilers ahead for "<keyword id="13517653" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="morbius" source="Orion">Morbius</keyword>."</li><li>Despite being in the <keyword id="11897475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie" source="Orion">movie</keyword>'s trailer, <keyword id="11909664" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="michael-keaton" source="Orion">Michael Keaton</keyword>'s Vulture was only in the end credits.</li></ul><p>You might have gone to see "Morbius" hoping for a nice dose of Michael Keaton's Adrian Toomes, better known as Vulture, from 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming."</p><p>I mean, he is <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-jared-leto-movie-trailer-2020-1">featured in the movie's trailer</a>.</p><p>But sadly, that wasn't the case.</p><p>Toomes <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-end-credits-vulture-explanation-breakdown-2022-3">shows up in the end credits</a> due to the multiverse almost cracking following the events of 2021's "Spider-Man: No Way Home." Toomes suddenly appears in the version of New York City that's inhabited by Dr. Morbius (played by Jared Leto).</p><p>Typically, any characters featured in the end credits are kept secret until the movie is released and everyone is surprised. With Toomes in the trailer, many theorized that Keaton's character was meant to have a bigger role in "Morbius," but it was left on the cutting-room floor.</p><p>Insider spoke with director <keyword id="13543623" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="daniel-espinosa" source="Orion">Daniel Espinosa</keyword>, who set the record straight.</p><p>"He never existed in the plot of the movie," <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-director-spoilers-rotten-tomatoes-score-interview-2022-4">he told Insider</a>. "He never had a part."</p><div type="image" title="Jared Leto's Morbius in &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="1898" width="4552" msid="90651743" hostid="261"></div>But it turns out having Keaton in the movie was in play for some time.<p>"The idea of having Michael Keaton in the movie came back before we even shot the movie," Espinosa revealed. "It was really related to showing off the Spider-Verse."</p><p>In the second end-credits scene in "Morbius," Toomes and Dr. Morbius meet and Toomes suggests the two team up, implying that they will go up against Spider-Man.</p><p>And while Spider-Man is not seen or even mentioned until the end credits, Espinosa confirmed to Insider that there is a Spider-Man who exists in the "Morbius" timeline.</p><p>"I can say this, there is a Spider-Man, but which one is something that will be revealed," he said.</p><p><em>"Morbius" is currently playing in theaters.</em></p>

'Morbius' director says Micheal Keaton's cameo was always intended solely for the end-credits, despite being featured in the movie's trailer

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "<keyword id="13517653" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="morbius" source="Orion">Morbius</keyword>."</li><li>Insider talked to director <keyword id="13543623" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="daniel-espinosa" source="Orion">Daniel Espinosa</keyword> about how he featured Michael Keaton in the <keyword id="11897475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie" source="Orion">movie</keyword>.</li></ul><p>Ever since "Venom" became a surprise hit in 2018, Sony has been trying to bring <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-trailer-teases-live-action-spider-verse-2020-1">another Spider-Man villain</a> movie to the big screen. </p><p>That finally came to fruition on Friday as director Daniel Espinosa's <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/morbius">"Morbius"</a> opened in theaters. Jared Leto stars as Dr. Morbius, a famed biochemist who, thanks to bat DNA, is cured of a rare blood disease but turned into a blood-sucking pseudo-vampire with amazing superpowers.</p><p>On paper, it seemed like another hit <keyword id="11899344" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="marvel" source="Orion">Marvel</keyword> property. But a lot has happened in the past four years. Most obviously, a global pandemic.</p><p>Through all that time Espinosa has been waiting patiently, having to deal with several release date changes, until his movie could finally be released.</p><p>And while "Morbius" did top the box office over the weekend, its $39 million domestic and <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2064025089/?ref_=bo_hm_rd">$84 million worldwide</a> debut was <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2022/04/03/box-office-morbius-nabs-not-so-marvelous-39-million-debut/?sh=35853f1a19b9">less than marvelous for a Marvel release</a>. But things weren't looking good going into the weekend either — it already had an <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/morbius">abysmal Rotten Tomatoes score of 17%</a>.</p><p>Insider chatted with Espinosa recently about everything from the film's famous cameo (and whether it was always intended to solely exist <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-end-credits-vulture-explanation-breakdown-2022-3">in an end-credits scene</a>), to his thoughts on the critical reaction, to the challenges of releasing a movie in the face of a pandemic.</p><p><strong>Jason Guerrasio: Was it frustrating to sit there with a finished movie that, due to the pandemic, could not be released?</strong></p><p><strong>Daniel Espinosa:</strong> I really like to have things happen quickly. I really do. There's something about the instinctual idea, it has a certain value. Prolonged processes are very problematic both on an emotional level and in practicality of what you do.</p><p>This picture, if it came out earlier, who knows what would have happened. But as you said, there was the pandemic. I think if I had sat two-and-a-half years in a normal world waiting for a movie to come out I would have been frustrated, but it wasn't like that. But it was very hard. </p><div type="image" title="Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes in the trailer for &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="1182" width="2880" msid="90646937" hostid="261"></div><p><strong>One aspect I would imagine that must have been a challenge was how to use Michael Keaton's character, Adrian Toomes. The trailer made it seem like the character was in the movie. But he only <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-end-credits-vulture-explanation-breakdown-2022-3">appeared in the end credits</a>. What was the evolution of bringing back Vulture?</strong></p><p>He never existed in the plot of the movie. He never had a part. But the idea of having Michael Keaton in the movie came back before we even shot the movie. It was really related to showing off the Spider-Verse. <br /> <br /><strong>Wow. And correct me if I'm wrong, you started on this movie before "Avengers: Endgame" even came out?</strong></p><p>Right!</p><p><strong>So then it became a question: How do we use Vulture in the end credits? The ideas must have been endless. </strong></p><p>Exactly. </p><p><strong>Now in the second end-credits scene when Vulture and Morbius meet, is that really Michael Keaton's voice or was that some movie magic voice doubling?</strong></p><p>Oh no, that's Keaton's voice! It is him. </p><div type="image" title="Spider-Man: No Way Home: Tom Holland, Andrew Garfield, Tobey Maguire recreate Spider-Man meme" height="1542" width="2057" msid="90646942" hostid="261"></div><strong>Which Spider-Man is in this New York City that Morbius occupies.</strong><p>I can say this, there is a Spider-Man, but which one is something that will be revealed. If I said anything else on this they would shoot me. [<em>Laughs.</em>]</p><p><strong>We don't want that. </strong></p><p>It's exciting and that will be revealed soon. Not like years from now. Soon. </p><p><strong>To tell this story, did you need to know what Spider-Man was in this world?</strong></p><p>Of course. But also, I told Sony that I can make a concept where, as this is going, other things are going on. So Venom out in San Francisco is also happening at the same time. That's what the exciting thing was about this.</p><p>After "Venom" came out, there was a confidence that you can make a Marvel movie that is kind of purified from details of other Marvel <keyword id="11898343" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movies" source="Orion">movies</keyword>. For me, Tom Hardy was so dedicated to that project that he willed it to work. </p><p><strong>And I would imagine you wanted the same with Jared Leto in your movie. </strong></p><p>Yes. </p><div type="image" title="Venom 2 Sony" height="777" width="1476" msid="90646944" hostid="261"></div><strong>Then do you feel "Morbius" missed its window due to all of the delays and not coming out soon after "Venom"?  </strong><p>Maybe. I mean, when I did "Life," all I heard was I had to be before the next "Alien" movie came out ["Alien: Covenant" opened two months after 2017's "Life"].</p><p>Because, after that movie came out, people wouldn't want to see another movie with aliens. But to me, it doesn't matter. At the end of the day, the movie is the movie. As the years go by, no one remembers when it came out, just that it exists. </p><p><strong>So "Morbius" is not getting received well by the critics. It has a 17% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Do you pay attention to critical reaction at all? </strong></p><p>When I did my first feature it was a small movie called "Babylon Disease." I remember one day going home on the subway and I had a few drinks so I was a bit drunk. Someone nudged me on the train and said, "I have to tell you what's wrong with the second scene in your feature," and I was like, "Well, okay."</p><p>The point I'm making is that it's a strange thing to make something that is so public. </p><p>Look, I have a lot of self-hatred so I have a lot of criticism of my own work. I'm always trying to focus on being better. But I am also proud of what I do. There are parts in all of my movies that I'm really proud of. </p><p><em>This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.</em></p>

'Morbius' director says he isn't fazed by movie's negative reaction by critics: 'I have a lot of self-hatred'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>"<keyword id="13517653" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="morbius" source="Orion">Morbius</keyword>" director Daniel Espinosa confirmed a rumor about <keyword id="12470782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jared-leto" source="Orion">Jared Leto</keyword> in an interview with Uproxx. </li><li>He confirmed that Leto used a wheelchair to travel to and from bathroom breaks to stay in character.</li></ul><p>"<a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-end-credits-vulture-explanation-breakdown-2022-3">Morbius</a>" director <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-director-spoilers-rotten-tomatoes-score-interview-2022-4">Daniel Espinosa</a> confirmed that star Jared Leto used a wheelchair to travel to and from bathroom breaks so he could stay in character on set. </p><p>In a new interview with <a href="https://uproxx.com/movies/morbius-director-daniel-espinosa-interview/">Uproxx</a>, senior <keyword id="11896019" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="entertainment" source="Orion">entertainment</keyword> writer Mike Ryan brought up a <a href="https://twitter.com/mikeryan/status/1510993240178188291F">rumor</a> about Leto initially walking to the bathroom with crutches, similar to his character Dr. Michael Morbius. It was rumored that a compromise was made, in which Leto was transported via a wheelchair in order to move faster and reduce the time.</p><p>The director verified the story, saying: "I think that what Jared thinks, what Jared believes, is that somehow the pain of those movements, even when he was playing normal Michael Morbius, he needed because he's been having this pain his whole life. Even though, as he's alive and strong, it has to be a difference."</p><p>"Hey, man, it's people's processes," Espinosa added, saying that actors have different processes and "as director, you support whatever makes it as good as you can be."</p><div type="image" title="Jared Leto wearing a hooded jacket as Michael Morbius in &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="5055" width="6740" msid="90650984" hostid="261"></div><p>In Leto's latest role, he portrays the titular Marvel antihero in Sony's "Morbius."  </p><p>Due to a rare blood disorder, Michael Morbius a world-renowned biochemist relies on forearm crutches in order to walk more steadily. </p><p>When he finally creates a serum made from bat DNA, Morbius becomes physically stronger with superhuman abilities like echolocation. But the results are ephemeral, leading the doctor to drink blood frequently to maintain his more powerful form. </p><p>In interviews, Leto has been secretive about how he developed his unsteady walk for his character.</p><p>The actor, who prefers to use the term "immersive acting" over "method acting," implied that he went beyond putting a pebble in his shoe to alter his walk and create a limp. </p><p>"I don't want to get too specific because I'd like to keep some of that for myself," he told <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/features/jared-leto-morbius-marvel-wecrashed-wework-1235205322/">Variety</a>. "I worked with people who had this specific physical challenge and modeled it after that."</p><p>Adria Arjona, who stars as a scientist named Martine Bancroft in "Morbius," told the publication that Leto's dedication to the physical mannerisms of his role had her "fearing for this guy's spine."</p><p><em>"Morbius" is now in theaters.</em></p>

'Morbius' director says Jared Leto used a wheelchair to go to and from bathroom breaks so he could stay in character

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Warning: There are major spoilers ahead for Marvel and Sony's "<keyword id="13517653" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="morbius" source="Orion">Morbius</keyword>."</li><li>The film stars <keyword id="12470782" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="jared-leto" source="Orion">Jared Leto</keyword> as Dr. Michael Morbius, who becomes an antihero. </li></ul><p>"Morbius," the latest entry as part of Sony's Spider-Man Universe, is now in theaters starring Jared Leto as the titular Marvel antihero. </p><p>The film centers on Dr. Michael Morbius, a world-renowned biochemist with a rare blood disorder who makes it his life's mission to develop a cure.</p><p>He uses bat DNA to create a serum that ends up giving him superhuman abilities, from increased strength to a form of echolocation. The downside? Michael becomes a living vampire, overcome by his new feral inclinations and insatiable bloodlust. </p><p>"Morbius" concludes with two baffling end-credits scenes which pave the way for the formation of a long-anticipated supervillain group. </p><p>Here's what you need to know.</p><h2>In the first scene, <keyword id="11909664" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="michael-keaton" source="Orion">Michael Keaton</keyword> reprises his role as Adrian Toomes/Vulture</h2><div type="image" title="Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes/Vulture in &quot;Spider-Man: Homecoming.&quot;" height="1198" width="1602" msid="90580336" hostid="261"></div><p>Keaton previously portrayed the character in 2017's "Spider-Man: Homecoming," starring Tom Holland as Spider-Man/Peter Parker. He served as the primary villain and father of Peter's love interest, Liz Toomes (Laura Harrier). </p><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/spider-man-homecoming-end-credits-explain-2017-6">mid-credits scene of "Homecoming"</a> showed Toomes imprisoned and briefly interacting with an inmate named Mac Gargan (known as Scorpion in the comics) who shared the same enemy as him.</p><p>"I've got some boys on the outside who would love to meet him," Mac said, referring to Spider-Man. "You know, take a picture, slice his throat, put his head in a dryer. And I heard a rumor you know who he is."</p><p>Adrian, lying, responded: "If I knew who he was, he'd already be dead."</p><p>The first end-credits scene of "Morbius" opens with a shot of the purple-hued cracks in the universe over the skyline of lower Manhattan, indicating that the moment takes place during a scene from 2021's <a href="https://www.insider.com/spider-man-no-way-home-details-you-missed-breakdown-references-2021-12">"Spider-Man: No Way Home."</a></p><p>In that film, the multiverse was nearly unleashed as the result of a spell cast by Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) going terribly wrong.</p><div type="image" title="Figures emerging from a crack in the universe in &quot;Spider-Man: No Way Home.&quot;" height="1194" width="2866" msid="90580337" hostid="261"></div><p>Then, the scene cuts to prison cell B012, where light is emitting from the cell door window. </p><p>Inside, Adrian is seen wearing his white prison jumpsuit. Keaton's character is suddenly transported to a different world and looks at his reflection, initially confused.</p><p>He quickly realizes that he's not in the same place, saying: "Hope the food's better in this joint."</p><p>The scene cuts to a news anchor on Spectrum News NY1, who says: "A bizarre story developing at the Manhattan Detention Center when a man identifying himself as Adrian Toomes simply appeared in an otherwise empty cell. A hearing has been set that could likely lead to his release."</p><p>A banner across the broadcast reads: "Adrian Toomes mystery appearance."</p><p>Adrian is then seen exiting the detention center in handcuffs and getting escorted by NYPD Emergency Service Unit officers into a black SUV.</p><h2>The second scene shows Adrian coming face-to-face with Michael Morbius and proposing a team-up</h2><div type="image" title="Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes/Vulture in &quot;Spider-Man: Homecoming.&quot;" height="1191" width="1589" msid="90580338" hostid="261"></div><p>It's unclear how much time has passed since this scene and the previous one, but Michael is seen driving on an empty road at night. As he exits the car, he looks at his watch to check the time and a whooshing sound becomes louder.</p><p>Adrian, in his aerial Vulture suit, touches down and keeps his helmet on, concealing his face. </p><p>"Thanks for meeting me, doc," Vulture tells Michael. "I've been reading about you."</p><p>"I'm listening," Michael says in response. </p><p>"I'm not sure how I got here," Vulture explains. "Has to do with Spider-Man, I think. I'm still figuring this place out, but I think a bunch of guys like us should team up and do some good."</p><p>The conversation concludes with Michael saying: "Intriguing."</p><h2>The end-credits scenes are baffling and raise several questions </h2><div type="image" title="Jared Leto as Michael Morbius in &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="1908" width="2544" msid="90580339" hostid="261"></div><p>In "No Way Home," Doctor Strange explained to Holland's Peter how villains from the multiverse entered their world.</p><p>"That little spell that you botched where you wanted everyone to forget that Peter Parker's Spider-Man, it started pulling in everyone who knows Peter Parker's Spider-Man — from every universe — into this one."</p><p>Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) ending up in Holland's universe — and being sent back to his world after Doctor Strange cast a new spell — in the <a href="https://www.insider.com/spider-man-no-way-home-end-credits-explained-2021-12">mid-credits scene of "No Way Home"</a> didn't really make sense because the "Venom" movies never stated that Hardy's character knows that Peter is Spider-Man. </p><p>So, Keaton's character, who knows Spider-Man's identity, being yanked <em>out</em> of Holland's universe and placed into the one occupied by Morbius makes even less sense. </p><p>Several nods in "Morbius" make it clear that the titular character <a href="https://twitter.com/CinemaBlend/status/1507432644799340550">lives in the same universe as Venom</a>.</p><p>When agents Stroud (Tyrese Gibson) and Rodriguez (Al Madrigal) begin investigating the blood-draining attacks in New York, Rodriguez says: "We haven't had anything this good since that thing in San Francisco," likely referring to Venom. </p><p>At another point in the film, after Michael breaks several bones in a man's body, the terrified victim asks who he is and the antihero jokingly says: "I'm Venom." </p><div type="image" title="Jared Leto as Michael Morbius in &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="1732" width="2309" msid="90580341" hostid="261"></div><p>Copies of the newspaper The Daily Bugle are also seen throughout "Morbius," with the publication's logo and style having the same appearance as the ones seen in " Venom: Let There Be Carnage" and Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" films that starred Tobey Maguire.</p><p>"Venom 2" director Andy Serkis explained the reference in his film during an interview with <a href="https://www.ign.com/articles/venom-let-there-be-carnage-exclusive-trailer-breakdown-with-director-andy-serkis">IGN in May 2021</a> saying: "There are nods and little moments just like this — newspaper The Daily Bugle — but on the whole, he's unaware, they're unaware at this point of other characters like Spider-Man."</p><p>In a Twitter Q&amp;A with CinemaBlend, conducted prior to the release of "Morbius," director Daniel Espinosa <a href="https://twitter.com/CinemaBlend/status/1507435881325600777">confirmed</a> that the version of Vulture that appears in his film is the same as the one played by Keaton in "Homecoming."</p><p>When asked about how Keaton's character landed in the same universe as Venom and Morbius, Espinosa <a href="https://twitter.com/CinemaBlend/status/1507437054916972556">said</a>: "At the end of 'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' and 'Spider-Man: No Way Home,' and in 'No Way Home' itself, it is clearly established that it is possible for characters to transfer from one multiverse to another."</p><p>"The events of 'No Way Home' had the effect of transferring Venom and Vulture (and maybe others) back and forth between the MCU and the Venom Universe," he added. </p><p>This answer is confusing because the rules of the multiverse have not been explicitly stated in the aforementioned films.</p><p>Vulture's suit is also different from the one he wore in "Homecoming," Espinosa confirmed. </p><p>"If you look closely, you will see it is not quite the same suit as 'Homecoming,'" he <a href="https://twitter.com/CinemaBlend/status/1507437595931914243">said</a>. "He is a resourceful guy."</p><div type="image" title="Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes/Vulture in &quot;Spider-Man: Homecoming.&quot;" height="1193" width="1590" msid="90580343" hostid="261"></div><p>Adrian's "Homecoming" suit was made by a crew of people using Chitauri tech remnants that were found after the Battle of New York from 2012's "The Avengers."</p><p>It's absolutely possible for Adrian to construct a suit on his own in Morbius' universe using some other tech, but exactly how he assembled it is unknown. </p><p>It's also worth noting that Keaton's end-credits scenes are not the same as the ones that were featured in the "Morbius" trailers. </p><p>Every trailer, from the first one <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLMBLuGJTsA">released in January 2020</a> to the most recent one that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQK-QxxtE8Y">dropped on February 28</a>, showed Keaton wearing his white prison outfit outdoors. </p><p>Based on the footage in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ6iiRrz1SY">trailers</a>, it looks like Adrian and Michael were originally supposed to meet outside the detention center. </p><div type="image" title="Michael Keaton as Adrian Toomes in the trailer for &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="1179" width="1572" msid="90580344" hostid="261"></div><p>In the first <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLMBLuGJTsA">teaser trailer</a> released in January 2020, Adrian crosses paths with Michael and says, "Got tired of doing the whole 'good guy' thing, huh? What's up, doc?"</p><p>In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ6iiRrz1SY">official trailer</a> that came out in November 2021, Adrian sees Michael and tells him, "Hey, Dr. Mike, you and I should stay in touch."</p><p>Because the scenes in the trailers and those in the final cut of "Morbius" are not the same, it means that aspects of the <keyword id="11897475" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="movie" source="Orion">movie</keyword> might have been reworked and reshoots may have taken place. </p><h2>How does Spider-Man factor into all of this?</h2><div type="image" title="Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland, and Andrew Garfield as Spider-Men in &quot;Spider-Man: No Way Home.&quot;" height="1200" width="2880" msid="90580345" hostid="261"></div><p>The "Morbius" trailers featured <a href="https://www.insider.com/morbius-trailer-teases-live-action-spider-verse-2020-1">nods</a> to all three iterations of "Spider-Man," played by Maguire (in Raimi's trilogy), Andrew Garfield (in <a href="https://www.insider.com/amazing-spider-man-andrew-garfield-movies-details-easter-eggs-references-2021-12">Marc Webb's two "Amazing Spider-Man" films</a>), and Holland. </p><p>A quick shot of the skyline of NYC included Oscorp Tower, with the same logo from "TASM."</p><p>In addition to The Daily Bugle's design being the same as the one from Raimi's movies, the trailers also included a shot of Leto's character wearing his orange jumpsuit and walking by a poster of Spider-Man with graffiti that reads "murderer."</p><p>The web-slinger seen in the design on the brick wall looked quite similar to the one portrayed by Maguire. The <a href="https://twitter.com/BillRosemann/status/1216775072414760965">same suit</a> was <a href="https://www.gamesradar.com/spider-man-ps4-adds-the-classic-sam-raimi-suit-as-a-free-holiday-gift-none-of-us-deserve/">added</a> to Marvel's "Spider-Man" game for Play Station 4 (PS4) in 2018.</p><div type="image" title="Michael Morbius walking by a poster of Spider-Man in the trailer for &quot;Morbius.&quot;" height="799" width="1917" msid="90580346" hostid="261"></div><p>All these aforementioned nods to Spider-Man were nixed from the theatrical release of "Morbius," leaving fans wondering about the presence of Spider-Man in Morbius' universe. </p><p>The conversation that Adrian had with Michael in the second end-credits scene made it clear that he's <a href="https://twitter.com/CinemaBlend/status/1507438450668146692">interested</a> in forming the Sinister Six, a supervillain group from the comics who have a common enemy: Spider-Man.</p><p>In the comics, the varying lineup of the group has included villains already seen on the big screen — like Doc Ock and Vulture — to ones that will soon make their debuts — like Kraven the Hunter, who will be <a href="https://www.insider.com/spider-man-spinoff-kraven-the-hunter-cast-details-information-2022-3">portrayed by Aaron Taylor-Johnson in an upcoming standalone Sony film</a>.</p><p>In his Twitter Q&amp;A with CinemaBlend, Espinosa <a href="https://twitter.com/CinemaBlend/status/1507433571329400837">said</a> that there <em>is</em> a Spider-Man in Venom and Morbius' universe. But it remains to be seen who is playing the character in this world. </p><p>"It is my understanding that audiences will discover the answer soon," the director cryptically said. </p>

'Morbius' has 2 baffling end-credits scenes. Here's what they mean for future movies.

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d6b1c6d349f9cb778b667a-1259/undefined" alt="life science fiction alien horror movie sony pictures jake gyllenhaal 3" data-mce-source="Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc." data-mce-caption="Jake Gyllenhaal in a scene from the alien sci-fi thriller &amp;quotLife&quot;."><p class="source"><span>Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.</span></p><p class="caption">Jake Gyllenhaal in "Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><strong>Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven't seen "Life"</strong></p><p>With a lackluster <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-beauty-and-the-beast-dances-off-with-top-box-office-spot-2017-3">$12.6 million</a> earned its opening weekend at the box office and a 67% rating on <a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/life_2017" target="_blank">Rotten Tomatoes</a>, the sci-fi thriller "Life" is one of those movies you either love or hate.</p><p>But one part of the movie everyone seems to be universally positive about is its ending.</p><p>(<em>Spoilers coming</em>!)</p><p>The movie ends with the last two survivors on the International Space Station, Miranda North (Rebecca Ferguson) and David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal), coming up with a plan to kill the alien on board, which has been named Calvin.</p><p>As it needs oxygen to survive, they shut down the ISS and lead Calvin to one of the two escape pods. David will stay in the pod and drive it into deep space where he and Calvin will eventually die while Miranda takes the other and goes back to Earth.</p><p>However, things go wrong and with some clever slight-of-hand editing we are shocked to find that Calvin overpowered David to fly the pod back to Earth and Miranda's ship, due to hitting some debris, malfunctions and floats out into deep space.</p><p>In a movie that's pretty predictable by the standards of a creature feature, the ending to "Life" is a welcomed sight.</p><p>In fact, director Daniel Espinosa said it's the powerful ending that convinced him to make the movie.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d418d5d349f91e008b68b9-2400/undefined" alt="Daniel Espinosa AP" data-mce-source="AP"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">"Life" director Daniel Espinosa.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>"I thought that the ending was so surprising," Espinosa told Business Insider. "When I went to the first meeting about the script I told them my vision about how I wanted to do the movie, but at the end of the meeting I had to confront them and ask sincerely if they want to make this ending. Because if they wanted to do this as a competition and test screen different endings and find which works best, as what's often done, I said to them we might want to go our separate ways."</p><p>But to Espinosa's shock, Sony, the studio behind the movie, was all for making the original ending.</p><p>"Which was astounding to me," said Espinosa. "To have a studio that would actually support you about the finality of the picture. It was never debated."</p><p>Espinosa compares the "Life" ending to an old film noir, which often ends with a pessimistic view on the world.</p><p>"I agree with that," he said. "That's what we were pointing to here."</p><p><em>"Life" is currently playing in theaters.</em></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ellen-degeneres-santa-barbara-mansion-sale-45-million-villa-tuscan-style-california-real-estate-2017-3">Ellen DeGeneres is selling her Santa Barbara mansion for $45 million - take a look inside</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="VuY2ZnYTE6rj_OSImOlgkoFVIirXinju" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'VuY2ZnYTE6rj_OSImOlgkoFVIirXinju',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

The ending of 'Life' is so good the director says he would have left the project if it was changed

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58a5adf501fe5823008b4e39-1067/undefined" alt="Mel Gibson Kevin Winter Getty final" data-mce-source="Kevin Winter/Getty" /><p class="source"><span>Kevin Winter/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Mel Gibson.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Warner Bros. is courting recent Oscar nominee Mel Gibson to helm its "Suicide Squad" sequel, according to <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-bros-courts-mel-gibson-suicide-squad-sequel-974436" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a>.</p><p>Sources tell the trade that the studio and Gibson are in early talks and no offer has been made to the actor/director.</p><p>But this is the latest indication that Gibson is <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mel-gibson-comeback-hacksaw-ridge-2016-11">back in the good graces of Hollywood</a> after a decade of being an outsider following a 2006 DUI arrest and now-infamous anti-Semitic rant while being put into police custody.</p><p>His latest directing effort, "Hacksaw Ridge," was well received by critics and went on to make over <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hacksawridge.htm" target="_blank">$100 million worldwide</a> at the box office. The movie received six Oscar nominations, including best picture, best actor (Andrew Garfield), and best director for Gibson.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/57a1ff01db5ce9b2008b46af-1600/suicide-squad-1.jpg" alt="suicide squad 1" data-mce-source="Warner Bros." /><p class="source"><span>Warner Bros.</span></p><p class="caption">"Suicide Squad."</p></div><p></p></div></div>The renewed interest in Gibson makes sense for Warner Bros. as the first "Suicide Squad" movie directed by David Ayer, though it made over <a href="http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=dc2016.htm" target="_blank">$745 million worldwide</a>, was filled with reported <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/david-ayer-on-suicide-squad-reshoots-rumors-2016-4">issues during production</a>. Perhaps WB is looking for a more experienced helmer. But at the same time, the movies Gibson has directed have been produced outside of the studio system, Will he play nice on a project that is vital for a studio?</p><p>It sounds like there's still a lot of talking to be had before a decision is made (THR also reports that director Daniel Espinosa of the upcoming sci-fi movie "Life" is also on their list). But this might not be the only superhero franchise that wants Gibson.</p><p>Robert Downey Jr. has been campaigning for years to get <a href="http://deadline.com/2014/10/robert-downey-jr-qa-the-judge-iron-man-4-mel-gibson-845359/" target="_blank">Gibson to direct an "Iron Man" movie</a>. The Gibson comeback might just make Marvel start to take RDJ's talk seriously.</p><p>A representative for Gibson had no comment for this story when contacted by Business Insider, and Warner Bros. did not give an immediate response.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/everything-need-know-american-gods-neil-gaiman2017-1">Everything you need to know about 'American Gods' - a TV show that could be bigger than 'Game of Thrones'</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="J0ZDc2OTE6ZzAmrHSf3ICfdPIKfhVEni" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'J0ZDc2OTE6ZzAmrHSf3ICfdPIKfhVEni',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Mel Gibson might direct the 'Suicide Squad' sequel

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d417e8d349f932008b6859-1200/undefined" alt="Life4 Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">"Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Perhaps it's because he refuses to live in LA or he tends to liken the way he makes movies to the classics he grew up on, but when Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa was given the chance to direct&#xa0;the sci-fi thriller "Life," he didn't see a blockbuster. Instead, he saw a chamber piece about life back on earth.<p>"People compare this to 'Alien,' but this is a movie that takes place now," Espinosa recently told Business Insider from his home in Sweden. "Back in the 1970s people speculated what our future would be, this is a somewhat realistic piece. Yes, it's the feel of an episode of 'The Twilight Zone' or a zombie movie like 'Night of the Living Dead,' but its reality comes from Raymond Chandler."</p><p>The movie follows a group of scientists on the International Space Station who discover life on Mars, but while studying it, that life becomes deadly and takes&#xa0;out the crew one by one. It all ends with a dramatic conclusion you never see coming, and that's what hooked Espinosa.</p><p>"I wanted to make the two turns in the movie the essence of the picture," he said, referring to the alien suddenly turning on the crew and the surprise ending. "But also have the characters have a complex past that would reflect on their actions. Normally in American movies that doesn't really happen. You get everything told to you. In this movie all these characters had their secrets and that's why they react certain ways."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58cbf472d349f914038b4cfe-2400/undefined" alt="Life 2 Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">"Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>To explore those complexities, Espinosa got some of the biggest stars in the world to join him: Ryan Reynolds, who was Espinosa's first call, as the two had worked together on the director's 2012 film, "Safe House"; then Jake Gyllenhaal; and finally <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/rebecca-ferguson-life-interview-2017-3">rising star Rebecca Ferguson</a> ("Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation").<p>But there was one other person Espinosa had to reach out to before taking on the film: Ridley Scott. Though the legendary director has no real direct involvement in "Life," his fingerprints are all over the story, written by "Deadpool" screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, which very much resembles Scott's "Alien."</p><p>"Once I decided to do 'Life' he gave the blessing right away," said Espinosa, who had a relationship with Scott already as he was a producer on Espinosa's 2015 movie "Child 44." "He has always been encouraging of my work and he didn't think it was an 'Alien' rip-off at all. I actually had the opportunity to spend time with him in his office and go through his storyboards for 'Alien' and 'Blade Runner' and talk to him about them. It's an honor that he allowed me to do that."</p><p>Though "Life" has the look of a big-budget blockbuster, it was made for a relatively modest $57 million on a shooting schedule of 65 days. Quite barebones for a Hollywood studio movie with A-list stars.</p><p>But for Espinosa, it created the perfect working environment. Sony mostly stayed out of his way and let him do unconventional things like ditch having a&#xa0;second camera unit and use preproduction time to come up with extensive backstories for the characters.</p><p>"What I do is a tradition of the Danish system in which we create the backstory to each character but they are not allowed to discuss it," Espinosa said. "So as we are doing the scenes, all the actors are equally surprised by the reactions."</p><p>It was that kind of detail that instantly grabbed the actors.</p><p>"What I loved about this role and how Daniel described it was the philosophy of her and the romance of <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="science">science</keyword>," Rebecca Ferguson told Business Insider of her character. "It was all created through the backstory, which is never told, but hopefully it's displayed through our acting."</p><p>Then there was also Espinosa's technical ambition. To open the movie, he introduces the cast and their mission with a five-minute single shot (or a "oner") that travels throughout the International Space Station. No cuts allowed.</p><p>"I thought I have to do a oner to understand the claustrophobia and the ballet that these characters have to do to survive," he said.</p><p>Though it's a standout moment in the movie, looking back now, Espinosa admits it was a lot harder than he anticipated.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d418d5d349f91e008b68b9-2400/undefined" alt="Daniel Espinosa AP" data-mce-source="AP"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">Daniel Espinosa.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>"Halfway through [shooting it], I thought that I had gone mad, that this was completely impossible," he said, though with the guidance of his cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (known for his famous <a href="https://vimeo.com/91846884" target="_blank">oner in "Atonement"</a>), they pulled it off.<p>But what really makes&#xa0;Espinosa stand out in the Hollywood system today is his feeling about sequels.</p><p>"I think it's uninteresting," he said. "I think you make a piece of work that stands by itself and then to go back on it is like meeting an old lover and trying to start a relationship again."</p><p>Espinosa believes it was a big gamble by Sony to allow him the creative freedom to take chances and not be controlled by test-screening audiences or the pressure of building a possible franchise. He hopes "Life" is part of a&#xa0;trend of studio projects that tell unique stories.</p><p>"We're in an interesting time where movies that don't fit under the current banner, like 'Deadpool' and 'Logan' and hopefully my movie, show there is an interest in something that is different than the road we've been going down the last 20 years," he said.</p><p><em>"Life" opens in theaters on Friday.</em></p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LeLsJfGmY_Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/new-teaser-trailer-game-of-thrones-season-7-2017-3">Watch the new teaser trailer for 'Game of Thrones' season 7</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="VieGc4YTE6BgD1pzvBED6Y_4m09Ieqb9" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'VieGc4YTE6BgD1pzvBED6Y_4m09Ieqb9',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

The director of the mind-blowing new sci-fi thriller 'Life' explains how he pulled it off

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58cbf472d349f914038b4cfe-2400/undefined" alt="Life 2 Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">"Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Director Daniel Espinosa gets ambitious right from the start of his sci-fi thriller "Life," in theaters Friday. He delivers a single continuous shot in an opening scene that lasts for over five minutes and shows the crew of the International Space Station receiving the capsule that holds the first ever life-form from Mars.<p>The scene follows the crew members (Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, and Rebecca Ferguson) floating in zero-gravity conditions as they race to make sure to capture the capsule before it zooms past the space station.</p><p>The continuous shot (known as a "oner") floats in and out of different areas of the space station, even turning upside down at one point to show just how insane the layout of the ISS is. All the while, the shot peeks out of the window into space to build the drama of the capsule getting closer and closer.</p><p>Espinosa knew he wanted to do the oner as soon as he got the "Life" script.</p><p>"The oner in cinema history belongs right now to two genres: the gangster movie and the science-fiction picture," Espinosa recently told Business Insider. "I did my gangster movie ["<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1291652/?ref_=nm_knf_i3" target="_blank">Easy Money</a>"] and I didn't do a oner and I always blamed myself for it, that I didn't throw myself out there. So when I got this one, I thought I have to do a oner, to understand the claustrophobia and the ballet that these characters have to do to survive."</p><p>Though he went in with the right intentions, the execution turned out to be a lot harder than he anticipated.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d53eb6112f701b008b6aa6-2400/undefined" alt="Life 3 Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Filming the shot took a month of preparation with the actors, who did everything from wirework to dance training&#xa0;to pull off the movements. And for everything to work perfectly, the sets had to rotate and be in sync. This allowed for the shot to be more continuous and for cuts not to be hidden (yes, many "oners" do have cuts - they're just disguised).<p>"Halfway through I thought that I had gone mad," Espinosa said, "that this was completely impossible."&#xa0;</p><p>Looking for guidance, he reached out to three-time Oscar-winning cinematographer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523881/?ref_=nv_sr_6" target="_blank">Emmanuel Lubezki</a>.</p><p>"He did it for 'Gravity' and he said, 'A oner in zero gravity equals vomit,'" Espinosa said.</p><p>But at the end of the day, the director was in good hands. His cinematographer&#xa0;<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0568974/?ref_=nv_sr_3" target="_blank">Seamus McGarvey</a>&#xa0;is known for creating one of the <a href="https://vimeo.com/91846884" target="_blank">greatest oners of all time</a> in the 2007 movie "Atonement."</p><p>"He was great support," Espinosa said of McGarvey.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/sesame-street-mock-trump-best-moments-budget-proposal-pbs-public-funding-2017-3">'Sesame Street' has been mocking Trump since 1988 - here are some of the best moments</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Zzc3RmYTE6B1TWWP6Sb05CiGy5P-mR4J" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'Zzc3RmYTE6B1TWWP6Sb05CiGy5P-mR4J',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

How the incredible opening shot of the new sci-fi thriller 'Life' was made

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58cbf256d349f949008b4da7-806/undefined" alt="Life Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">"Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>At first glance, the latest sci-fi movie coming to the multiplex, "Life" (opening March 24), looks like a thriller with the same kind of "in space no one can hear you scream" DNA that made the first "Alien" movie back in 1979 a cultural phenomenon. And you would be right.</p><p>"Life" is not the first movie in the past 30-plus years set in space that wants to scare the heck out of you. And basing the scares around a creepy organism that we gullible humans find on another planet is tried-and-true. But there are little tweaks to the formula that director Daniel Espinosa and screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick (of "Deadpool" fame) do that makes this particular movie very fun to experience.</p><p>What I respect a lot about this movie is, for a big budget blockbuster from a major studio such as Sony, it doesn't look to cater to all audiences. That's evident in its opening, which is a single shot that goes on for around five minutes or so - a very ambitious move.</p><p>But Espinosa does this to cleverly kill two birds with one stone: the single shot gives us the layout of the international space station, where we will be spending most of our time throughout the movie; and also shows a major moment in the movie, the crew retrieving a probe back from Mars with a sample from the planet.</p><p>We find out that the sample is the first proof of life on Mars.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58cbf472d349f914038b4cfe-2400/undefined" alt="Life 2 Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">Ryan Reynolds in "Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Then we're given the usual beats of the space thriller: getting to know the crew, including the wise ass Rory Adams (Ryan Reynolds); the person in charge of the mission's risk management, Miranda Bragg (Rebecca Ferguson); Hugh Derry (Ariyon Bakare), who will be doing the experimenting on the Mars life form, and Dr. David Jordan (Jake Gyllenhaal), who has recently broken the record for most time in space.<p>Jokes are constant and we're shown that back down on Earth, where everyone is celebrating the news of the discovery on Mars, a school has been rewarded with the honor of naming the Martian - calling it Calvin.</p><p>But, as you would imagine (or if you've seen the trailer), something goes terribly wrong. Calvin turns out not to be the cute little thing it first looked to be and soon is crawling throughout the ship looking to kill the whole crew.</p><p>Oh, and it's growing in size, by the way.</p><p>From then on, the jump scares are constant, as well as homages to "Alien" (even Calvin having a tracking device on it so the crew knows where it is on the ship and Ferguson doing voice over diary logs a la Sigourney Weaver's Ripley character).</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58cbf41bd349f9ee2d8b48f7-2400/undefined" alt="Life 3 Sony final" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">Jake Gyllenhaal and Rebecca Ferguson in "Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>And I would be the first to say that this is a total rip-off of "Alien" if it weren't for the last five minutes of the movie, which makes the entire film worth the watch. I'm not going to give it away - all I'll say is Ferguson is certainly not this movie's Ripley and the story turns out to be nothing like "Alien."<p>"Life" is the perfect buy-the-ticket-take-the-ride Saturday night movie. If you're looking to cuddle up and squeeze your partner's arm for 100 minutes, this is for you. It's is a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole time and has an ending you will never see coming.</p><p>But if Sony is smart it will make this movie a one-and-done.</p><p>If it's not made into a franchise, I could see "Life" becoming a cult classic. With a disregard to pander to its audience (and the huge movie stars that inhabit it), "Life" has the potential of building a loyal fan base, and if Sony goes long tail with this, I would not be shocked if the next generation of movie lovers see this as a landmark title in the sci-fi genre.</p><p>In the meantime, just ignore everyone who calls it an "Alien" rip-off.</p><p>&#xa0;</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LeLsJfGmY_Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/terry-crews-intermittent-fasting-fit-shape-autophagy-diet-exercise-netflix-2017-2">Terry Crews explains how intermittent fasting keeps him in shape</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="NjY2QzYTE6SnATuauHloX3BbJvCMJY08" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'NjY2QzYTE6SnATuauHloX3BbJvCMJY08',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

The new sci-fi thriller 'Life' is a cult classic in the making

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d0734ed349f9ee2d8b5610-809/undefined" alt="Rebecca Ferguson Pascal Le Segretain Getty final" data-mce-source="Pascal Le Segretain/Getty"><p class="source"><span>Pascal Le Segretain/Getty</span></p><p class="caption">Rebecca Ferguson.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Even if you don't know&#xa0;Rebecca Ferguson by name, trust us: You know her.<p>Though the Swedish actress has a Golden Globe nomination under her belt (for the 2014 miniseries "The White Queen"), it wasn't until her scene-stealing role as MI6 agent Ilsa Faust in 2015's "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation" that most of the world realized she was a star in the making.</p><p>Since then Ferguson, 33, has been on a breakneck schedule: working opposite Meryl Streep in the Oscar-nominated "Florence Foster Jenkins," starring in the adaptation of the best-selling book "The Girl on the Train," and now sharing the screen with Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds in the sci-fi thriller "Life" (opening in theaters on Friday).</p><p>It's&#xa0;the latest smart choice by an actress who made her bones in the business modeling as a teenager and starring in a soap opera in Sweden.</p><p>In "Life," Ferguson plays Dr. Miranda North, one of a handful of astronauts/scientists on the International Space Station who have discovered life on Mars and are tasked with researching it. That is, until things go wrong and that life turns on the crew.</p><p>Moviegoers have been familiar with the alien thriller for decades, and no other movie has more perfectly executed that setup than&#xa0;Ridley Scott's 1979 "Alien," with&#xa0;<span>Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, the hero going head-to-head with a murderous alien.</span></p><p>About halfway through "Life," Ferguson's soft-spoken Miranda seems like a mirror image of Ripley. But it turns out <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jake-gyllenhaal-ryan-reynolds-life-review-2017-3">that's not the case</a>, and Ferguson admits that's why she took the role.</p><p>"I actually turned the film down in the beginning because I thought, 'How is this not going to be compared to the Ripley character?'" Ferguson told Business Insider, hours before presenting "Life" as the closing-night film at this year's SXSW festival. "And the producer said, 'Just talk to [director] Daniel [Espinosa], let him explain,' and it was literally 10 minutes into that conversation that I was hooked. He said, 'Take the alien out of it and look at the drama between the characters and their storyline.' It's a character piece set in space where we take something from its natural habitat and we try to control it and provoke it and what we're doing is basically creating our own disaster. Which is a beautiful mirror in how we are treating ourselves on earth."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d074fc112f70e0018b5837-1063/undefined" alt="rebecca ferguson life sony" data-mce-source="Sony"><p class="source"><span>Sony</span></p><p class="caption">Rebecca Ferguson in "Life."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Then&#xa0;Ferguson joined Reynolds, Gyllenhaal, and the rest of the cast, working with dance instructors and training with wires to imitate conditions on the International Space Station.<p>Everything has been so fast-paced since starring in "Rogue Nation" that she admits it's tough to reflect on any of her success.</p><p>"The biggest shock is how quickly everything has gone and how lucky I've been," Ferguson said. "I never have the break, or give myself the break, to go, 'Wow, let's process that.'"</p><p>But with that commitment, she gets less time with those she loves, like her 10-year-old son.</p><p>"I'm in a situation where I can fly from one set one evening to another set and start straight away," she said. "I think for any working person no matter what field they are in, it is maintaining a structure for your family life as well. That's very, very hard. I find it to be the better and better it goes, the harder and harder it is."</p><p>Along with limited personal time, being more recognizable has also led to Ferguson getting questions that the major stars answer, like about the gender wage gap in Hollywood. In "Life," she stars alongside two of the biggest male actors alive, and she has more screen time than either. Was she paid the same amount as&#xa0;<span>Gyllenhaal and Reynolds?</span></p><p>"It's always a sensitive topic when it comes to equal pay," she said. "It's something we struggle with, but I can say that I have a brilliant team around me and they are very much aware of how the politics work in the world. From my aspect right now, I'm pretty darn happy with the offers I get and how things are working out for me. And what I love is I don't feel like a woman on set with men. I feel one amongst everyone."</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d0757a112f70f2008b585a-1039/undefined" alt="rebecca ferguson MI5" data-mce-source="Paramount Pictures" data-link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW_azQbOjw"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOW_azQbOjw">Paramount Pictures</a></span></p><p class="caption">Rebecca Ferguson in "Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation."</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Right now Ferguson is in training mode for the sixth "Mission: Impossible" movie, which she says begins shooting in early April.<p>"Tom and I are in hardcore training right now," she said, referring to Tom Cruise. "Tom never stops. I don't know how he does it."</p><p>She says she has no major requests in changing up the Ilsa character for the next movie.</p><p>"I'm so relaxed when it comes to my Ilsa character because [director] Chris McQuarrie did wonders, I think, with the last film," she said. "I was so happy with the way that we shot her with her independence, with her strength, with her vulnerability, with her relation to Tom's character, and I think we're all on board where we're just going to maintain her characteristic traits for this film."</p><p>&#xa0;</p><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LeLsJfGmY_Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jeopardy-host-alex-trebek-profile-behind-the-scenes-television-game-show-2017-3">This is what 'Jeopardy!' host Alex Trebek is really like</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Rma3M3YTE6BgwRcC0kd1f8WRltY1sW1B" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'Rma3M3YTE6BgwRcC0kd1f8WRltY1sW1B',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

How Rebecca Ferguson went from 'Mission: Impossible' scene-stealer to the star of 'Life'

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d5862c112f7043268b699b-1639" alt="life science fiction alien horror movie sony pictures jake gyllenhaal 3" data-mce-source="Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc." data-mce-caption="Jake Gyllenhaal in a scene from the alien sci-fi thriller &amp;quotLife&quot;."><p class="source"><span>Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.</span></p><p class="caption">Jake Gyllenhaal in a scene from the alien sci-fi thriller "Life".</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p><em>Warning: Some spoilers for "Life" are ahead if you haven't seen the movie.</em></p><ul><li><strong>"Life" is a space horror movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson, and more.</strong></li><li><strong>The plot is about a Mars sample return mission gone terribly wrong.</strong></li><li><strong>The film's creators worked with real scientists to make it more believable.</strong></li><li><strong>NASA is actually working on getting a Mars sample to Earth and is worried about contaminating the planet.</strong></li></ul><p>Big-budget science-fiction movies aren't supposed to be documentaries.</p><p>They are, however, supposed to take us on journeys to far-flung places, immerse us in vivid alternate realities, and make us wonder "what if?"</p><p>But reality itself is a powerful filmmaking spice that, justly applied, helps suspend our disbelief - and sometimes scream our guts out.</p><p>Such is the case with the new movie "Life", <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/life-director-daniel-espinosa-interview-2017-3">whose makers</a> consulted a NASA-trained medical doctor, a Mars spacecraft engineer, and a geneticist to help produce their horrifying spectacle.</p><p>While the film, directed by Daniel Espinosa, whiffs on quite a lot of <keyword id="41551" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="science">science</keyword>, it does go far enough to be wildly entertaining. In fact, Business Insider's Jason Guerrasio even argues it may be <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/jake-gyllenhaal-ryan-reynolds-life-review-2017-3">a cult classic in the making</a>.</p><p>We join the story just as a Mars sample return spacecraft is being caught by a small crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). With red dirt in hand, NASA astronauts go about analyzing the grit behind several "firewalls" of protection.</p><p>After an extraterrestrial microbe is discovered in the soil, it's revived in a soup of water and nutrients. Then, to the astonishment of the crew, it springs to life. "Calvin," as the life form is soon called, quickly divides and grows into a starfish-size creature with incredible strength and intelligence.</p><p>What could possibly go wrong?</p><p>To understand what doses of reality went into the movie, we called up <a href="http://www.rigb.org/christmas-lectures/how-to-survive-in-space/meet-kevin-fong">Dr. Kevin Fong</a>&#xa0;<span>―</span>&#xa0;a medical doctor, space medicine expert who's trained with NASA and ESA for about a decade, and a paid science consultant for the new <a href="http://www.lifemovie.com/">Sony Pictures film</a>.</p><p>And to answer some of those "what if?" questions on aliens, we spoke to Catharine A. Conley, <a href="https://planetaryprotection.nasa.gov/overview">a planetary protection officer</a> for NASA who gets paid to help humankind avert extraterrestrial disasters in the real world.</p><h2>Astronaut doctor on set</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d57f60d349f91e008b6f53-2000" alt="life science fiction alien horror movie sony pictures jake gyllenhaal 2" data-mce-source="Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc." data-mce-caption="Jake Gyllenhaal in a scene from the science fiction movie &amp;quotLife&quot;."><p class="source"><span>Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.</span></p><p class="caption">Jake Gyllenhaal plays the role of Dr.  David Jordan in "Life".</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>"Life" features not one but two characters who are doctors, so filmmakers brought Fong on board to answer their pressing questions.</p><p>A lot of the early work happened by email, he says, but soon enough Fong was invited to join the set: an elaborate and modular reconstruction of the space station inside a giant green-screen studio.</p><p>"They paid more attention to detail than I'd seen in the space agencies," Fong told Business Insider. "Although the modules are different than what they actually are on the space station, it was very close."</p><p>The producers occasionally asked Fong to lend his expertise in physiology and emergency care to actor Jake Gyllenhaal (who plays long-duration astronaut David Jordan), actress Rebecca Ferguson (who plays Center for Disease specialist Miranda North), and others in various scenes.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d59f7c112f70e0018b6df5-1105/undefined" alt="life science fiction alien horror movie sony pictures rebecca ferguson" data-mce-source="Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc." data-mce-caption="Rebecca Ferguson in a scene from the science fiction movie &amp;quotLife&quot;."><p class="source"><span>Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.</span></p><p class="caption">Rebecca Ferguson in "Life".</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>"There are a couple of quite dense medical scenes, where I'd say, 'I'd hold this tool like that,' or 'I wouldn't hold that in the way you are,' and 'here's some terminology I'd use in this situation.' On the set, it came across as a very believable," Fong says.<p>He was especially impressed with a cardiac arrest scene, saying it was "about as faithful as one could be" in a movie.</p><p>While he hadn't seen the movie, at least at the time Business Insider interviewed him, Fong didn't walk away thinking it'd be a documentary.</p><p>"I think it pays dividends to any movie producer to go as far as you can in suspending disbelief," he says. "But I'm not expecting 'Apollo 13.' You have to make the drama more realistic without getting in the way of the story."</p><p>Fong also said that while there are definitely parallels to the "Alien" space horror movie franchise, "Life" is imminently more believable.</p><p>"Around the time 'Alien' was made, you needed to imagine some far-flung place," he says. But with the ISS floating just 250 miles above Earth, he added, "this is happening right on your back door."</p><p>Fortunately for us, NASA has put decades of thought into protecting planet Earth.</p><h2>Defending the planet from real-life Martians</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d57f60d349f9d7038b6dbc-2000" alt="life science fiction alien horror movie sony pictures space station" data-mce-source="Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc." data-mce-caption="A scene from the science fiction movie &amp;quotLife&quot;."><p class="source"><span>Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc.</span></p><p class="caption">Ryan Reynolds in "Life".</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>At first blush, the idea of a Mars sample return mission might seem far-fetched. But NASA researchers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-nasa-mars-sample-return-mission-2016-12">hope to do just that</a> in the future.</p><p>In fact, both Congress and President Trump essentially codified that mission for the space agency by passing the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-law-budget-president-trump-2017-3">NASA Transition Authorization Act of 2017</a> into law in March.</p><p>The first line of defense for a Mars sample is Catharine Conley, who is NASA's sole planetary protection officer. She has worked in that role since 2006, and helps&#xa0;ensure Earth's microbes don't reach other worlds - and other worlds' microbes don't reach Earth, at least in an uncontained way. (And that includes <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-planetary-protection-mars-europa-missions-2015-6">keeping dead bodies off of other worlds</a>.)</p><p>"The phrase that we use is, 'break the chain of contact with Mars,'" Conley told Business Insider.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d5a742d349f9cb778b6598-1121" alt="catharine a conley planetary protection officer paul alers nasa" data-mce-source="Paul E. Alers/NASA" data-mce-caption="Catharine &amp;quotCassie&quot; A. Conley, NASA's sole planetary protection officer."><p class="source"><span>Paul E. Alers/NASA</span></p><p class="caption">Catharine "Cassie" A. Conley, NASA's sole planetary protection officer.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>Conley also hadn't seen the movie, but said if a Mars sample was flying toward Earth, it would be aimed slightly off-course from the planet. That way if something goes wrong, the capsule full of red dirt (and maybe a harmful microbe) wouldn't&#xa0;enter our atmosphere in an uncontrolled way, break open, and induce panic.<p>Yet before such a capsule would ever leave Mars, she says, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/the-laws-that-keep-space-from-spiraling-out-of-control-into-a-political-war-zone-2016-9">space law</a> requires that an inter-governmental, multi-space agency committee convene to review the mission and make a recommendation on what to do.</p><p>"You'd want the international community to weigh in because it's a of a high-enough concern," she said . "There's a lot of checks and balances."</p><p>A Mars sample return mission - ostensibly to seek <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oldest-fossils-life-hydrothermal-vents-2017-3">fossilized signs of ancient life</a>, not actual microbes - wouldn't be the first to test the mettle of protections for Earth: Apollo 11 astronauts had to stay quarantined for three whole weeks in a trailer before emerging.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/58d5a986d349f965008b6fcb-2000/undefined" alt="apollo 11 astronauts quarantine president richard nixon nasa" data-mce-source="NASA" data-mce-caption="Apollo 11 astronauts quarantined in their &amp;quotHornet 3&quot; trailer meet then-President Richard Nixon." data-link="https://www.nasa.gov/topics/people/galleries/armstrong_july1969_3.html"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/topics/people/galleries/armstrong_july1969_3.html">NASA</a></span></p><p class="caption">Apollo 11 astronauts quarantined in their "Hornet 3" trailer meet then-President Richard Nixon.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>In fact, she says, planning for a Mars sample return mission started with the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nuclear-powered-spacecraft-nasa-history-2017-3">nuclear-powered Viking landers</a> of the 1970s and has been going ever since.</p><p>Plans "got the most carefully laid out" in the early 2000s, she said, but by the time she arrived, bringing a sample to the space station had long been ruled out. The reason? It seemed far too expensive, and containing a disastrous microbe inside the ISS seemed pointless.</p><p>"The space station is going <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/578543main_asap_eol_plan_2010_101020.pdf">to fall down</a> at some point," she said.</p><p>Instead, Conley says scientists would make sure an extra-robust capsule carefully reenters Earth's atmosphere, is quickly retrieved, and hurried away to a Biosafety Level 4 laboratory - the most high-security grade of research facility on the planet.</p><p>"I would love to find life elsewhere," Conley said - if for no other reason than to compare it to life here on Earth, where the only organisms we know of exist. "If Earth and Mars life are related, that makes things a lot more complicated."</p><div><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:42%"><iframe src="https://gfycat.com/ifr/NiceNippyAbyssiniangroundhornbill" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="100%" height="100%" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/scene-from-new-alien-movie-similar-to-the-originals-shocking-intro-coveneant-michael-fassbender-james-franco-2017-2">Watch a scene from the new 'Alien' movie that's eerily similar to the original's shocking reveal</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="k5ajN5OTE6zCuE7Eh2Gr6gMY03E85wav" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'k5ajN5OTE6zCuE7Eh2Gr6gMY03E85wav',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

You Searched For "daniel espinosa" and got 11 results

'Morbius' director says Micheal Keaton's cameo was always intended solely for the end-credits, despite being featured in the movie's trailer

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The ending of 'Life' is so good the director says he would have left the project if it was changed

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Mel Gibson might direct the 'Suicide Squad' sequel

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The director of the mind-blowing new sci-fi thriller 'Life' explains how he pulled it off

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How the incredible opening shot of the new sci-fi thriller 'Life' was made

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The new sci-fi thriller 'Life' is a cult classic in the making

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How Rebecca Ferguson went from 'Mission: Impossible' scene-stealer to the star of 'Life'

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'Life' is an alien horror movie that riffs on some eerily plausible science

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