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Schwarzenegger Circles Baddie Role in AVATAR Sequels

by Posted in Casting News

Arnold Schwarzenegger has had a bit of a tough go returning to Hollywood after his seven year stint as California governor. His last film, The Last Stand, which pitted him and Johnny Knoxville against a drug cartel only mustered a hair over $12 million domestically on a budget of over $45 mill. Schwarzenegger’s long promised return (“I’ll be back”) didn’t quite do much for audiences and, if anything, signaled a monetary loss on Lionsgate‘s part.

However, the idea of Schwarzenegger re-teaming with director James Cameron could signal a return to the glory days for his career. To this day, Terminator 2 continues to be the most financially successful movie that Schwarzenegger has been involved in so. Considering Cameron’s Avatar is the highest grossing movie of all time, there’s no doubt that the sequel will put up massive numbers, meaning Schwarzenegger could see a boost in his career after being front-and-center in such a high profile film.

This new rumor was broken by the notoriously accurate Latino Review, who more often than not are on-the-money, and suggests that Schwarzenegger would play “a bad guy human general”. It is currently unknown whether Schwarzenegger would just be involved in Avatar 2 or if his involvement would spread throughout all three sequels Cameron is developing.

For now, Scwarzenegger is set to co-star in the rebooted Terminator for director Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, Thor: The Dark World) as well as a new iteration of The Legend of Conan.

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12 YEARS A SLAVE Wins TIFF Audience Award

by Posted in Festival News
 

Winning at the highly watched, well-hyped Toronto International Film Festival can do wonderful things for a career, and speaks plenty about future Oscar nominations. At TIFF, the festival’s films are voted on by an audience instead of a Jury. Recent films given the People’s Choice Award  include Slumdog Millionaire, The King’s Speech and Argo.

That bodes well for 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and his actors and crew, a well put together ensemble that numbers Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northrup, the protagonist and author of the memoir that 12 Years a Slave is based on. Co-starring in the film, Michael Fassbender is the cruel plantation owner Edwin Epps who oversees Northrup after purchasing him off  William Ford (Benedict Cumberbatch), a Baptist preacher and slave owner. Brad Pitt, Quvenzhané Wallis, Paul Giamatti and other stars also lend their talents to this coherent ensemble. With the stake so high in talent, it’s no wonder the film has received acclaim from all of its viewers.

Couple great source material and superb with striking cinematography by Sean Bobbitt, wonderful writing by John Ridley, and superb direction by Steve McQueen, and it’s little wonder that 12 Years a Slave did take the cake at TIFF this year.  In an exploration of slavery that damns nearly every white character on screen while consistently reaffirming Northrup’s existent humanity, even under duress,, McQueen has set himself and his cast up well for Oscar season. Many Oscar tipsters have even mentioned that McQueen, the London-born Holland resident, could end up being the first a black director to win Best Director at the Academy Awards.
 
Before TIFF, 12 Years a Slave premiered as a sneak peak in the Telluride Film Festival,and has since been confirmed for the 2013 BFI London Film Festival as well. It’ll get commercial release by Fox Searchlight Pictures and Regency Enterprises on October 18, 2013. Given the film’s popularity with critics, we can be sure to expect more film festival showings and even more acclaim for 12 Years a Slave and its cast in the coming months.  To see a trailer for this wonderful drama, click here. 

12 Years a Slave is directed by Steve McQueen and stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brad Pitt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Giamatti, Quvenzhane Wallis, Sarah Paulson, Paul Dano, Scoot McNairy, Garrett Dillahunt, Alfre Woodard, Dwight Henry, and Michael K. Williams. It hits theaters on October 18.

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AMC Kills THE KILLING…Again

by Posted in Television

After a gripping cliffhanger of a season finale, AMC has gone ahead and axed The Killing for a second time. Originally snuffed out after season two and then revitalized thanks to a partnership with Netflix, The Killing had always struggled to find its footing in a market over-saturated with police drama. But those who watched it faithfully will tell you that there was something deeper and darker about this show that made it stand out from the crowd, not to mention pith perfect chemistry between leads Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman. 

AMC originally canceled the series last year after season two. Although the show started off a success, many viewers left after leaving betrayed by the conclusion to the first season which didn’t wrap things up like they expected. Personally, I thought it was a great, inventive move but ultimately, the series did itself in. Although season three was heralded by fans and critics, the numbers just weren’t there and consistent low ratings led to the decision to pull the plug to allow them to produce new material. In light of AMC’s recent decision to move ahead on Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul, it seems that the wake of Walter White can now add The Killing to his body count.

In a statement addressing their decision to not renew the much-loved show for a fourth season, AMC released the follow: “We have made the difficult decision not to move forward with a fourth season of The Killing. We want to thank our great partners at Fox Television Studios, creator Veena Sud, an extraordinary cast and the dedicated fans who watched.”

I will certainly be amongst those mourning the loss of The Killing. This fact is certainly not aided by the fact that season three ended with a major character turn that would have made for a fantastic next season. I guess this is the issue of getting too invested in tv shows. Like Deadwood and countless others before it, we will now never know the fate of Linden and Holder.

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Saul Gets His Own BREAKING BAD SPINOFF With BETTER CALL SAUL

by Posted in Television

For months, Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan has been spouting the idea of a spinoff for one of the show’s most beloved characters Saul Goodman. Today, it seems that that notion has become reality.

Better Call Saul will center on Bob Odenkirk‘s conniving, pun-ladden lawyer Saul Goodman and will run on AMC. Following a licensing agreement between AMC and Breaking Bad producer Sony Pictures TV, Better Call Saul is now officially green-lit. The show will run as an one-hour prequel to “focus on the evolution of the Goodman character before he ever became Walter White’s lawyer.”

Considering that Saul is much more of a light-hearted character (especially before his acquainting with Walter “Heisenberg” White), don’t expect the show to be the same trip down the rabbit hole that Breaking Bad was. While it won’t quite fill the massive gap that Breaking Bad will leave upon its departure in a mere three weeks time, it will be interesting to see Odenkirk’s back story and may just cushion the blow a touch.

At this point, it’s unknown if Saul will even live through the events of Breaking Bad. Wouldn’t it be interesting if he did indeed perish? Surely would give this prequel show a certain twist. While Walter White and Jesse most definitely wouldn’t be showing up for this spinoff, I would be willing to put my money on the fact that Jonathan Bank‘s Mike would be returning at some point.

 Watch the following round up of some of Saul’s best one-liners to get you pumped for the spinoff.

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Watch McConaughey and Harrelson Lead New HBO Series TRUE DETECTIVE

by Posted in Television

Ahh HBO. You are a breathe of fresh air in a putrid pool of network television. You have signaled the turning of the tides, the relocation of true adult entertainment, providing the catalyst that has marked a significant reinvention of what TV could be. And you, like a fine wine, you only improve with age. Sure, you may not currently be in the best run of all time, but the library of media you’ve amassed is unwaveringly impressive as you continue to provide some of the best things around year after year. And now you offer us a look at your next promising bit, True Detective, a story that follows Rust Cohle and Martin Hart whose lives become entangled during a 17-year hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana and we are oh so intrigued.

Aside from the inspired casting of Sean Bean as Eddard Stark on Game of Thrones, Steve Buchemi as Nucky Thompson on Boardwalk Empire, and whoever Jeff Daniels plays on The Newsroom HBO series have largely launched their own talent. Think James Gandolfini and, sigh, Lena Dunham. This is why their next move seems somewhat unprecedented. Not only will True Detective have one massive star in Woody Harrelson but the series has also scooped up Hollywood A-Lister (a man currently hot on a streak that very well may lead to an Oscar nomination, if not a win) Matthew McConaughey.

McConaughey and Harrelson star opposite each other in the first eight-episode slotted season. From what we see in the chaos, they are men on two sides of a fence but the same side of the law. Although this type of cop procedural is no new news, there is something about this that still screams fresh.

The question is, with McConaughey in such high demand, how reasonable is it to expect this show to continue much past the first season? The synopsis clearly delineates a timeline lasting 17 years which really seems to open up the show and almost require it to continue but I wonder. All I know is that from this first look, I am already geared up for episode one and hope that it manages to fill the dark hole that will open up once Breaking Bad blacks out to its final credits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8i5CR4kDjM

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Benedict Cumberbatch Rumored for Sith Lord in STAR WARS 7

by Posted in Casting News

Benedict Cumberbatch, known by many as the villain “John Harrison” in Star Trek into Darkness and by few as the leading man on BBC‘s Sherlock, has some pretty massive rumors swirling about his strangely shaped head of late. Although nothing is confirmed, Cumberbatch is said to be in talks with Disney to play a “Vader-type” for Star Wars Episode 7. Now my understanding of this description – them using Vader-type instead of Sith – seems to come down to do a perceptions that the general public lacks familiarity with nerdtastic terms like “Sith Lord” – which is clearly all that they’re trying to get at with the description of anyone being “Vader-like”.

Any main villain in this next installment is sure to be a different beast than the iconic shiny-black-suit-wearing, respirator-box-chatting surrogate of the Dark Side. Who or what exactly he may be – if he is indeed involved in the project at all – is entirely at a speculatory point for now.

As for Cumberbatch’s involvement, a statement he made prior seems to suggest that he may be more than willing to be a part of a new part of the franchise:

“I was much more connected to [Star Wars] as a kid, in the way that a lot of kids are because it’s immediate storytelling, very simple – a beautifully, outrageously simple narrative in a way – and a wonderful three-act melodrama, opera,” Cumberbatch told Total Film. “And I loved them. I really, really loved those films and I always wanted to be Han Solo.”

Good choice on Han Solo, Cumbie. That’s who I wanted to be too. Mr. Cumberbatch however isn’t the only name rumored for this Disney-charted trip back to the stars as Alex Pettyfer (I Am Number Four, Magic Mike) and Rachel Hurd-Wood (Peter Pan) have both auditioned for roles. 

Hurd-Wood supposedly auditioned for the role of the daughter of Princess Leia and Han Solo, presumably the lead in the new trilogy. Pettyfer is said to be up for the role of Luke Skywalker’s son. Although both these characters feature heavily in canon, there’s no saying exactly which plot lines will be used for the offspring of the Skywalkers and Solos.

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Michael Bay Returns with First TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION Poster

by Posted in Movie Posters

After Michael Bay‘s alleged retirement from the Transformers franchise, a little bit of fancy footwork from the Paramount studio (and by fancy footwork I mean Heisenberg-styled drums of cash) has the man back behind the camera for Transformers 4, which is now officially titled Transformers: Age of Extinction.

Although original-trilogy star Shia LaBeouf has stepped away from this fourth giant robot punching each other film, Bay has filled his shoes with wildcard Marky Mark Wahlberg. While there is no official synopsis yet from the studio, a “leaked” idea of the film, per RopeofSilicon, has the Autobots and Decepticons out of the picture: 

“As humanity picks up the pieces, following the conclusion of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Autobots and Decepticons have all but vanished from the face of the planet. However, a group of powerful, ingenious businessman and scientists attempt to learn from past Transformer incursions and push the boundaries of technology beyond what they can control – all while an ancient, powerful Transformer menace sets Earth in his crosshairs. The epic adventure and battle between good and evil, freedom and enslavement ensues.”

Early reports point to the newest faction of shape-shifting-robots will involve a species known as the Dinobots who, you guessed it!, are dinosaurs/robots. While I’m all for injecting dinosaurs into the mainstream as often as possible, the fact that dinosaurs are, uh, extinct kinda makes them stick out more than, say, a 18-wheeler truck or a Toyota. It’s not like we’d walk down the street and think, “Nothing to worry about here. That’s definitely not a robot, just a T-Rex.”

 Transformers: Age of Extinction is directed by Michael Bay and stars Mark Walhberg, Nicola Peltz, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammar, T.J. Miller and Sophia Myles. It hits theaters on June 27, 2014.

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James Spader Cast as Villain in THE AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

by Posted in Casting News

You can probably guess from the post-colon title of Joss Whedon‘s follow-up to the $1.5 billion  earning superhero collective that at some point a dude named Ultron is going to be involved. Heralded as a beloved Marvel supervillain, Ultron is a sentient robot, who will now be played by James Spader.

It’s yet unclear where Spader will solely be providing the voice for a CGI character or if he will someone be incorporated physically into his robo-counterpart but one thing is clear: this is a bit of inspired casting from the quip-slingin’ Whedon. Spader has a penchant for fast talking (Lincoln) but has also proved that he can be calculating, cold and completely lack sympathy (The Office). Put that talent behind Whedon’s knack for dialogue and I think you cook up a winning recipe.

While the suits over at Marvel are claiming that Ultron will have his own sort of origin story for the sequel, not necessarily pulled from the comics, his powers might be similar to those quoted on his Wikipedia page:”Common powers include superhuman levels of strength, speed, stamina, durability, and reflexes; flight at subsonic speeds; and various offensive weapons such as concussive blasts of energy fired from its optical sensors and hands, and an “encephalo-ray”, which places victims into a deathlike coma. The latter ray also allows Ultron to mesmerize and mind-control victims, or implant subliminal hypnotic commands within their minds to be enacted at a later time.”

The Avengers: Age of Ultron is directed by Joss Whedon and stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, James Spader and Samuel L. Jackson. It hits theaters May 1, 2015.

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Matt Damon Joins Frickin' Stacked Cast in Nolan's INTERSTELLAR

by Posted in Casting News

 

You thought that Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar cast couldn’t possibly spend another dollar on its acting budget…but you were wrong. Hollywood A-lister Matt Damon has joined what can only be called a frickin’ stacked cast in the intergalatic sci-fi movie from the blockbuster king. Although Damon will reportedly only play a small supporting role – the shooting schedule only accounts for two weeks of Mr. Damon’s time – his presence is a massive pull in collecting one hell of an ensemble.

Damon was Nolan’s first choice to play the Harvey Dent/Two Face character in The Dark Knight, which eventually went to Aaron Eckhart, so it’s fair to say that Nolan has had his eye on Damon for quite some time. Damon joins Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Casey Affleck, Ellen Burstyn, Mackenzie Foy, John Lithgow, Bill Irwin, Topher Grace, Wes Bentley, David Oyelowo and David Gyasi.

As I noted in a previous post:Nolan is noted for returning to cast members such as Christian Bale, who has starred in four films with him, Cillian Murphy, also in four, Ken Watanabe, four again, with Marion Cotillard, Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon Levitt all having boarded The Dark Knight franchise after working with Nolan on Inception. This time around though, Nolan seems to be dropping his troupe of regulars and working with a whole new slew of talent. Most notably in Nolan’s stable though is Caine, who has been in all of Nolan’s films but one, who will continue that streak here again alongside fellow Dark Knight Rises cast member Anne Hathaway.

Interstellar is directed by Christopher Nolan and stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Casey Affleck, Bill Irwin, Michael Caine, John Lithgow, Ellen Burstyn, Timothée Chalamet and Mackenzie Foy. It hits theaters November 7, 2014.

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Damon, Clooney, Murray Cock Furrowed Brows for MONUMENTS MEN Poster

by Posted in Movie Posters

In George Clooney‘s latest everythingman vehicle (he wrote, directed and starred), The Monuments Men, he plays a solider/art appreciator tasked with gathering together a troop of soldiers, art historians and museum curators. Intent on rescuing priceless works of art from the grip of the notoriously burny Nazis, Clooney is joined by Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and John Goodman. Their goal: infiltrate Nazi-occupied Germany and France and pull out the gems of the past before history is destroyed forever.

 
The first trailer poised the film as something with more a comedic bent than most were expecting. Considering Clooney’s Midas touch when it comes to Oscar involvement though, I have a hard time believing that a well-measure dose of comedy will put a stop to it’s already rumpus Oscar chances.

The Monuments Men is written, starring and directed by George Clooney. It also stars Matt Damon, Bill Murray, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, Bob Balaban, Hugh Bonneville and John Goodman. It hits theaters in the thick of Oscar season on December 18.

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