Heroes Forever: The New Beginning (film)

Heroes Forever: The New Beginning is a 2016 superhero film directed by Gary Ross and distributed by Paramount Pictures. A spin-off of the Jane Hoop Elementary film series, the film is produced and written by Rita Christensen, in her screenplay debut, inspired by her book with the same title. It Cameron Boyce, G Hannelius, Mika Abdalla, Jaden Harmon, Chloe Csengery, Jake Short, Jon Hamm, Amanda Peet, and Jeremy Piven. It took place thirteen years after the events from Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2, the original series final film. Principal photography began on June 25, 2015 mostly in Cincinnati, Ohio, and concluded on January 16, 2016. It is first installment in the Heroes Forever franchise, as well as the ninth film in Rita Christensen's Superhero Saga, which begin a extended franchise starting with the Jane Hoop Elementary films. It will be followed by the first sequel, Heroes Forever: The New Resolution.

The film was released on November 9, 2016 internationally and November 11, 2016 in the US all in 2D and IMAX. After receiving positive reviews, it eventually already became a box office success earning $855 million worldwide, making it the eighth highest-grossing film of 2016, as well as the eighth highest-grosser in the franchise including the Jane Hoop Elementary films. The film is nominated for three nominations for the Visual Effects Society Awards, and three nominations for the Academy Awards in 2017, where it won for Best Visual Effects becoming the first film in the Jane Hoop Elementary franchise to win a Academy Award.

In January 2017, it was announced by Paramount Pictures that the film will be available on home media on March 21, 2017, but it was available on Digital HD on March 2, 2017. It will be available in three different DVD options; regular single disc, a two disk special edition, and a blu ray + digital HD extended film edition.

Plot
Thirteen years has passed after the death of Dr. Catwoman, brother Joseph White, who happens to be a murderer, is held in jail, and has somehow escape as the bomb goes off in the jail cell causing massive breakouts. It is revealed to be Joseph's wife Chloe, who would support him on wanting to find the Jane Hoop Elementary heroes, who all happen to retired, to take revenge on them killing his sister. The new mayor of Cincinnati, Don and his wife Lisa were worried about the situation. As they plan on having the heroes, who all retired, to come back, but Don refused. As he intends to past on to their children, which Lisa refuses, who later accepts because it would be the only option they have.

Devin Gorden begins his first day of high school, alongside his sister Brooke, their cousin-in-law Kurtis, his sister Erica, and their friends Kyle and Kayla. They all get attacked by bullies, especially mostly to Devin. As Butch and Leonard gets on his nerves, he nearly killed them with his telekinesis and got suspended. He had no idea on how he has super powers.

A few months has passed, and while on a field trip to the Cincinnati Museum, the breaking news is shown on television, as there is an attack going on. It is revealed to be some robots some prisoners attacking the city. As the city is under attack, Devin, Brooke, Kurtis, Erica and Kyle were somehow teleported to the place, called the Jane Hoop Elementary base. They meet Mayor Don Kingston and his wife Lisa Kingston telling them that they are chosen as the new members of Jane Hoop Elementary. The kids refused and they all left. While trying to head back to school, they were being attacked by some thugs, Devin used his telekinesis to scare them away. While testing to see if he really has super powers, Brooke, Kurtis, Erica and Kyle also founded out that they all also have super powers. They would later met Joseph, who they all escape. Joseph talks to Chole and best friend Mark on planning on ruling the world as to finish up his sister's plan.

Curious on how he got his powers, decides to look up the information on how it happens. While at the library, the book says it is originally used from red stone, The First, but still doesn't understand how he got them. As him and the gang went back to the Base, they find it now a wreck and saw Mayor and say that Joseph kidnapped Lisa. As the gang accepted to become superheroes, they rescue Lisa before Chole, now Mysterious walks her off the cliff of a tall building to her death, and is saved by Kurtis from falling. After rescuing her, Lisa is kidnapped again at this time by Joseph's robots, who would later to be called as Wolfman heading to his base.

As Devin, Brooke and Kurtis are on their way there, they were attacked by Wolfman's guards, eventually all getting kidnapped. Heading to his base, which is previously his sister's, they found Lisa in a jail cell. As Erica and Kyle arrived to help them escape, the city appears to be attacked as they head into the final fight. After the battle, Wolfman fights against Devin for the first time. Back at his face, Devin uses his flammable powers that almost killed Wolfman, but escapes. The base bursts into flames as Devin, Brooke and Kurtis all tried to escape, but they eventually realized that they can now teleported, and they did before the base explodes. The police arrives, as Wolfman, after escaping the base, escaped before he is caught.

One year later, Devin, Brooke, Kurtis, Erica and Kyle all decided to accept to become new superhero members, Jane Hoop Elementary, while Kayla becomes their mentor, as the world celebrates them becoming heroes. As they begin high school, the gang decided to go back to the Base to celebrate, Devin asks Don for curiosity to see did any other kids become heroes before they did. As he did, he showed the pictures of the original Jane Hoop Elementary heroes, Danny Gorden, Rebecca Henry, Alec Gutzwiller, Cory Berning, Jaquille Short and Naudia Gorden. Shocked and overwhelmed, Devin and Brooke are happen to be children of Danny and Rebecca, Kurtis and Erica is children of Alec, and Kyle and Kayla are children of Cory. Sometime later, Wolfman walks to the destroyed Base, realizing that he already had a new plan ahead, as Devin and Brooke's father Danny can be seen from behind watching him.

Cast

 * Cameron Boyce as Devin Gorden, Brooke's brother chosen as a superhero and leader of the team. His significant color is Red, who is Danny's replacement.
 * G Hannelius as Brooke Gorden, Devin's sister, who is chosen as a superhero. Her significant color is Pink, who is Rebecca's replacement.
 * Marcus Scribner as Kurtis Gutzwiller, Erica's brother chosen as a superhero. His significant color is Blue, who is Alec's replacement.
 * Mika Abdalla as Erica Gutzwiller, Kurtis's sister chosen as a superhero. Her significant color is Yellow, who is Cory's replacement.
 * Jake Short as Kyle Berning, Kayla's brother, Devin and Kurtis' best friend being chosen as a superhero. His significant color is Black, who is Jaquille's replacement.
 * Chloe Csengery as Kayla Berning, Kyle's sister, Brooke and Erica's best friend chosen as assistant for the heroes. She is chosen as the new mentor of the heroes, who happens to be replacement of Naudia.
 * Jon Hamm as |Mayor Don Kingston, The new mayor of Cincinnati and now owner of the superheroes Jane Hoop Elementary, following Mayor James Watson's death from the events of Turbo of Catland.
 * Amanda Peet as Lisa Kingston, Don's new wife, and secretary of Jane Hoop Elementary, replacement for Mrs. Bella Watson after her retirement.
 * Jeremy Piven as Joseph White / Wolfman, Catwoman's brother who seeks on revenge on destroying the original heroes' children. He is happen to be mentally ill, and is in prison for quite some time for murder.
 * Heather Graham as Chloe Brown / Miss Mysterious, girlfriend of Joseph. She supports him on wanting to destroy the original heroes, who will be absent for the film, on killing her boyfriend's sister Dr. Catwoman.
 * Chris O'Donnell as Mark O'Neil / Spyman, Joseph's best friend, who supports him on wanting revenge on the new heroes' parents, who killed Joseph's sister.
 * Maxim Knight as Butch, a middle school bully who always pick on Devin, and sometimes his siblings and friends.
 * Jaden Harmon as Leonard, Butch's best friend, who supports him on picking on Devin, and sometimes his siblings and friends.
 * Amanda Pace as Abby, Rachel's twin sister, Butch's girlfriend, who always bullies Brooke.
 * Rachel Pace as Rachel, Abby's twin sister, Leonard's girlfriend, who supports her for picking on Brooke.
 * Blake Brown as Danny Gorden, Devin and Brooke's father, who is a retired leader of the original Jane Hoop Elementary heroes.

Casting
Jon Hamm will be replacing Michael Shanks as the role as Don Kingston, Cincinnati's new mayor, following James Watson's death from the events of Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland. This is due to scheduling conflict for Shanks. Amanda Peet will play as his new wife, as well as Alice's step mom, Lisa.

Young child actors will be playing leading roles of the original superheroes' own teenage children. Disney Jessie star Cameron Boyce will play the leading role as Danny and Rebecca's son Devin Gorden, while Disney's Dog with a Blog star G Hannelius confirmed for a role as Devin's younger sister Brooke Gorden, daughter of Danny and Rebecca Gorden. Mika Abdalla and Marcus Scribner will both play as the siblings Erica and Kurtis Gutzwiller, respectively, children of Alec and Naudia Gutzwiller. Chloe Csengery and Noah Ryan Scott will both play as Kayla and Kyle, respectively, children of Cory and Stephanie Berning.

A villain was confirmed to be Dr. Catwoman's lost brother Joseph White. Christen admits that her brother was never heard or revealed from the Jane Hoop Elementary series, but admits that he will be coming onto the original heroes for revenge of his sister's death, which he seems very supportive of his sister. Joseph will be played by Jeremy Piven.

Hilary Swank is cast to play as the wife of Joseph's character. As she is originally going to play the role, but did no confirm it. However, Heather Graham replaced Swank as the role for the film as Piven's character's wife.

Development
A spin-off series was confirmed secrectly by Christensen on June 2014 to be in the works. She admits that the series will be inspired from Christensen's book, Heroes Forever: The New Beginning. It was confirmed that the spin-off will be a trilogy. Film distributor Paramount Pictures dated the first film to be released on November 11, 2016. The second film, entitled Heroes Forever: The Next Chapter, has confirmed a November 10, 2017 release date, and third Heroes Forever: The Finale for November 9, 2018. The series will be more of a sequel/spin-off series from the Jane Hoop Elementary film series.

The franchise will be based on the series spin-off, Heroes Forever: The New Beginning taking place about 13 years after the events from Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2, focusing on teenagers, who happen to be children of the original superheroes before they were born, defending the world. It was revealed that the enemy will be the brother of late sister Dr. Catwoman, the original heroes' enemy, who is trying to kill the heroes as to take revenge for the heroes who retired by destroying their kids.

Producers of the original film series, Derek Todd and Drake Jones both decided to come back and work on Christensen's project. Jones admits "Rita's plans is completely brilliant". Christen also got involved being producer for the film, making it the debut of working for films. Gary Ross, who directs the last four Hoop films, confirms that he will be directing the film.

Christensen states that the spin off series feels like: "since Jane Hoop Elementary story begins with younger kids first experiencing their first mission together as children, we will see the next new heroes beginning their first experience as teenagers, but felt like that would also have a mini scene where kids were playing around with their super powers as younger children, than get to their first mission as teenagers. This will feel a bit like the previous story of the original heroes [Danny, Rebecca, Alec, Cory and Jaquille], but for the new heroes [Devin, Brooke, Kurtis, Erica and Kyle], they were teenagers age between 13 to 15 when first being chosen to become superheroes instead of having written them as younger children when they first got chosen despite the original heroes were only young children ages around 5 to 7.

After discovers that the Harry Potter film franchise gets it's spin off franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Lord of the Rings film franchise also got it's spin off franchise, The Hobbit, Christensen feels like "since most popular film series gets a spin off, why 'Jane Hoop Elementary' can also get a spin-off?".

Filming
Filming for Heroes Forever: The New Beginning began secretly on June 25, 2015. Filming will most likely be filmed in Cincinnati, Ohio just like the original film series. However, most of the scenes from the film will also be filmed at the green screen at a local studio located in Cincinnati.

Filming for the film will have most of the scenes for this film taking place in Downtown Cincinnati, and some other scenes also being included in the film is the Cincinnati Museum, and the part where the location of Catwoman's old base, which is since demolished after Cawtoman's defeat, being rebuild for the base for her brother, who is seeking revenge on the heroes by destroying their children, who now gained super abilities. Filming for the film wrapped on January 16, 2016 back in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Music
It was announced on May 22, 2016 that John Williams will be composing the film's score. It will be released on November 8, 2016, three days before the film's theatrical release. The theme song for Jane Hoop Elementary is revealed to be heard, but will be a bit different than the Jane Hoop Elementary films has sound. Originally, the theme song was first composed by Han Zimmer for Jane Hoop Elementary: The First.

Setting
Heroes Forever: The New Beginning will be taking place about ten years after the events from the last scene from Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 where the heroes, now married and retired and now have children, now living a normal life and the world is now a better and safer place than never before.

Like the Jane Hoop Elementary film series, the film will be taking place in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio at the same Jane Hoop Elementary Base. The villains base, known for Catwoman's Base, was destroyed after the death of Catwoman and all of the villains. However, the same location of the base will be rebuild for Catwoman's brother, who is seeking revenge on the original heroes, who killed his sister during a battle.

Alice, who is the original Jane Hoop Elementary supporting character, will be part of the series more extended character, who happens to be replacement for Mrs. Bella Watson as Mayor of the city, wife of deceased president Mayor James Watson. However, her husband Hunter will be taking over as Mayor of the city of Cincinnati, also now known as management of Jane Hoop Elementary, replacing Mrs. Watson who temporarily becomes manager of the heroes and Mayor of Cincinnati.

The original characters; Danny Gorden and his wife Rebecca, Alec Gutzwiller and his wife Naudia, Cory Berning and his wife Stephanie, will all be absent from the first film, but will however appear in the sequels of the planned trilogy, basically supporting their children on protecting the world. It was also unsure if other character Jaquille Short will also appear as well since the story never tell if he was also married and have kids as well.

Release
Heroes Forever: The New Beginning is released by Paramount Pictures theatrically in theaters worldwide on November 11, 2016, and internationally starting with Australia on November 9, 2016 and November 10, 2016. Some other countries such as Japan and China will release the film there on November 16, 2016 and November 17, 2016 respectively. It will be released in 2D and IMAX. Thursday night showings is included before the film's theatrical release on November 10, with times starting approximately around 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

It was originally also scheduled to be released in 3D, but on October 3, 2016, it was confirmed that the film will not be having it's premiere in 3D. Paramount Pictures producer Brad Grey confirmed the reason why the film has chosen not to be released in 3D, and only in 2D and IMAX instead is "due to technical issues and we are unable to get the film done in time for the release date. We don't want to disappoint fans on making this decision."

On October 11, 2016, it was revealed on G Hannelius' twitter account that the film will be having it's world premiere on November 4, 2016, which will be held in New York City.

The film opened in 4,179 theaters and 1,025 IMAX theaters worldwide. It is the widest release ever for a IMAX release, as well as the second film in history after Doctor Strange to play over 1,000 IMAX screens.

Marketing
Paramount Pictures released the first poster for Heroes Forever on November 2015, just showing the film's logo and the release date. On January 4, 2016, the film's first trailer was released. On January 30, 2016, Paramount Pictures released the second teaser poster for the film, just showing off a hero's and villain's hand while competing against each other. The same posters was also released the same day, but only for the showings for it's IMAX release.

Also the same day, a featurette for the film is shown online showing exclusive behind the scenes from the film. It was rumored that the film's first full length trailer would be released during a commercial break of the Super Bowl 50. On March 6, Paramount Pictures released the first character poster of the film feature five characters (Devin, Brooke, Kurtis, Erica and Kyle). On August 2016, three months before the film's release, the film has given a PG rating by MPPA for "action violence and intense sequences". On October 2, 2016, the film released it's final theatrical poster.

A final theatrical poster for the film was released on October 2016, a month ahead before the film's theatrical release. Paramount Pictures than premiered the first two tv spots for the film around late September to early October 2016. A fan event for Heroes Forever: The New Beginning is held on October 14, 2016, which is being held at Paramount Studios with cast members Cameron Boyce, G Hannelius, Marcus Scribner, Jeremy Piven, Heather Graham and Lisa Black attended, as well as director Gary Ross and producer Derek Todd and also author Rita Christensen. The main channel for Paramount Pictures did a live stream of the entire event on YouTube. The third TV spot was released on October 17, 2016.

On the week of November 5, all eight of the Jane Hoop Elementary films will be released in IMAX theaters. The first and second film premiered on November 6, third and fourth on November 7, fifth and sixth on November 9, and seventh and eight on November 10 before the 7:00 pm premiere of the film. The promotion poster for the marathon was released showing the face of Danny on the left side, and his son Devin on the right side.

On October 28, 2016, three more TV spots premiered on YouTube, which they eventually would later premiere on television.

Home media
Heroes Forever: The New Beginning is set to be available on DVD in the United States on March 21, 2017, and available on Digital HD on March 2, 2017. It will available in three different DVD options; regular single disc, a two disk special edition, and a blu ray extended film edition. Only available on the Blu Ray edition, the film will include a special teaser trailer for the second film, Heroes Forever: The New Resolution.

Box office
As of March 2, 2017, the film grossed $245.3 million in North America, plus adding $610.6 million from foreign markets, for a worldwide total to $855.9 million. It opened to $231.9 million worldwide. It is a lower than a few Jane Hoop Elementary films, though it did earn the sixth biggest opening worldwide of 2016, and the 37th biggest worldwide opener of all-time. It also grossed $27 million worldwide from IMAX, making it the highest IMAX opening among Rita Christensen's superhero saga.

Before it's release in North America, early tracking projects that the film is expecting to earn at least between $75-90 million during it's opening weekend in the United States. Some say that a $85 million will most likely be that range, while other say it could make way more than $90 million. Some sources say that it could go as high as $100 million. 80% percent were remembered as Jane Hoop Elementary fans. The film grossed $12.5 million from Thursday previews, making it the sixth biggest Thursday previews of 2016, and well below from the midnight preview grosses for the last few Jane Hoop Elementary sequels. On it's opening day on Friday November 11, 2016, the film earned $35.1 million, which is the third lowest opening day in the film franchise ahead of Jane Hoop Elementary: The First ($31 million) and Jane Hoop Elementary: The Cyber Escape ($29.9 million).

In it's opening weekend in North America, the film grossed $76.4 million, scoring the #1 spot at the box office charts replacing Doctor Strange (after it earned $85 million from it's weekend debut last weekend). This made it the lowest opening weekend in Rita Christensen's superhero saga since Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power ($80 million), as well as 2016's seventh biggest opening ever, the eighth biggest November opening of all-time, and also the tenth biggest opening ever for any films released on a holiday season. The film than grossed $19.2 million from IMAX, which made the biggest opening weekend in the Jane Hoop Elementary universe.

In it's second weekend, the film dropped 35.3% by earning just $49.3 million for a total to $161.5 million, scoring the #2 spot behind newcomer Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them ($75 million), which made it the smallest drop ever in the Jane Hoop Elementary universe (compared to Jane Hoop Elementary: The First's 35.5 percent drop), as well as the third biggest second opening weekend ever. Jane Hoop Elementary: The First earned $57 million in its second weekend of release in 2000 while Jane Hoop Elementary: The Magic Ball earned $56.3 million in its second weekend of release in 2005.

Outside North America, the film set numerous records, such as one of 2016's biggest openers. It is projected to earn anywhere between $100 million to $135 million. In seven countries, it's opening day on November 9, 2016, the film grossed $12 million. In two days, the film grossed a total to $32 million in 33 more countries, before growing to $78 million on it's third day in 21 more countries. In five days, the film grossed a total of $155 million, which succeeded high expectations, which made it the fifth biggest opening in Rita Christensen's superhero saga behind Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 2 ($290 million) and Jane Hoop Elementary: Turbo of Catland ($220 million), Jane Hoop Elementary: Morphin the Power ($195.1 million) and Jane Hoop Elementary: The Final Rush - Part 1 ($195 million), as well as the 11th biggest foreign opening of all-time, and the third biggest foreign opening of 2016 behind Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ($256 million) and Captain America: Civil War ($200 million).

The film scored in Australia with $13.5 million which made it one of the biggest opening of 2016, but the lowest opening ever below all of the Jane Hoop Elementary film series. With a total of $43.4 million, it became the highest-grossing film of 2016. In China, the film scored a massive $48.1 million, making it one of 2016's biggest openings ever, and also had the biggest opening among all of the Jane Hoop Elementary films. In the United Kingdom, the film grossed £14.914 million (U$18.4 million) from 657 theaters, which made it the fifth biggest opening in the Jane Hoop Elementary series behind The Final Rush - Part 2 (£20 million), Morphin the Power (£19 million), The Final Rush - Part 1 (£18 million) and Turbo of Catland (£17.6 million), as well as the year's second highest opening weekend in that country as well behind Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (£15.33 million). It also is the UK's biggest opener for a Paramount film in history since The Final Rush - Part 2 back in 2011.

With a total of $610.6 million as of February 2017, it is the third highest-grosser of 2016 behind Captain America: Civil War ($745 million) and Zootopia ($600 million). In IMAX internationally, the film scored just $8 million from 660 theaters in the foreign market.

Critical reception
Before the film's release, Heroes Forever: The New Beginning was already named as one of the most anticipated films of 2016 so far. The film has also received critical acclaim. On a website Rotten Tomatoes, the film received 74% out of 100%, based on 163 reviews, with a rating of 9.5/10. Top Critics scored the film 98%, based on 27 reviews, giving it a positive feedback. It also scored 69 from Materic, and scored a A- from Yahoo! Movie based of 10 reviews from critics. CinemaScore score the film a A on the A+ to F chart, making it the fourth film in the Jane Hoop Elementary universe that can score that grade on the chart.

Many critics are separated between mixed and positive. Some says this is indeed "a brand new chapter for Jane Hoop Elementary, calling it "intense" and "adventurous". Other says it is not as entertaining of Jane Hoop Elementary, but can be more of a Jane Hoop Elementary somewhat reboot. Critic Robert Crawford praises a mixed review stating: "a must seen movie all children and teens are dying to see", and also "but this not meant to be seen for some children because sometimes their parents might refuse their young children to see this movie because it involves action and violence, so I recommended I should have gotten a PG-13 rating instead of PG."

Other critics also praised on the actors' performances and the characters. Joey Grace of The Guardian gave the film four out of five stars praising: "Devin Gorden is nothing like Danny Gorden, but he is a true hero he is." He also praised the film "as one of the most remarkable and very action packed film ever made since The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King in 2003."

Movie critic Jonathan Ferrall gave it a positive review praising: "mind blowing, and a nice well welcome to brand new faces, that brings you into the new generation of the superhero world of five young children becoming superheroes." Alyssa Thomas score the film a A+ praising it "probably the most anticipated movie in my book."

Kevin Smith of The Guardian ranked the film a decent 3.0/5 stars and calling the film "fun and fulfilled with spectacular excitement". Robert Buckley of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a a positive review: "Devin is nothing like Danny, but at least this is how they feel this way. Bravely and courage, it is all that matters that "braveness and courageous" makes it fell like we are coming back home so many years since we first saw Danny and the gang on the big screen."

Accolades
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Sequels
Christensen planned a trilogy for the series. The second film is scheduled for release on November 10, 2017, one year after the release of the first, followed by the third film for November 9, 2018. The original cast members, who played the original Jane Hoop Elementary heroes in the previous series, will all reprise their roles.

On April 12, 2016, Rita Christensen announced on her twitter that the film franchise will be made into five films. Christensen stated the reason: "I am pretty sure it will be more than one movie being made. We could be seen Joseph's sister [Salma White aka Dr. Catwoman] being brought back to life from the dead from the Jane Hoop Elementary days where the original heroes defeated her." On October 29, 2016, Paramount Pictures scheduled the release date for the fourth film for November 15, 2019 and the fifth and final film for November 13, 2020.