Ben Affleck Officially Cast as New Batman

August 22, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Casting News

In a bit of astounding casting news, Ben Affleck has been tapped to play Batman in the yet-untitled Man of Steel sequel that involves the sparring world’s two preiminent superheroes. While speculation has been stirring amongst the interwebs since DC‘s announcement that this Zack Synder directed Superman/Batman film would be next on their plate, most reports pointed towards an older iteration of the hero last played by Christian Bale.

I can say with full assurance that the move to put Affleck in the batshoes is one that no-one, and I mean no-one, saw coming. Though Affleck is no stranger to superhero films – he played the eponymous character in the 2003’s lackluster Daredevil – his casting is certainly a move from left field. Early reports that suggested this version of the golden-aged hero would be older does however fit in line with Alleck’s 41 years of age.

While Affleck was certainly on the outs with the mainstream following his slow descent into crappy waters – I think we can all agree that we were done after Gigli – his star has been massively rising lately with his role behind the camera fueling said resurgence. Although his latest film Argo went on to win Best Picture at this years Oscar ceremonies, Affleck was hugely snubbed of a nomination, even though he went on to win practically every other Best Director award on the market. This hardly seems to be slowing Affleck down though. While this move into a hugely high profile blockbuster, in which he presumably will not be responsible for any of the work outside of the lens, is a risky maneuver for sure, it is a bit of a second chance for Affleck as a bankable actor.

If his performance in the role is seen as a success, he will surely re-solidify his place amongst the top of the elite A-listers but a Daredevil-sized flop could cause a change of the tide with people’s willingness to accept Affleck back into their good graces turning on a dime. Seeing that he’s on top of his game right now behind the camera, it surely seems like a chancy move on his part. That is, unless early reports that he was being vetted to direct the Justice League movie turn out to be true. If that is indeed the case, it would certainly make sense why Affleck was tapped, especially considering his penchant for putting himself front-and-center in the film’s that he directs.

Per the press release from the DC headquarters, Greg Silverman claimed that they needed the star power of a talent like Affleck:

“We knew we needed an extraordinary actor to take on one of DC Comics’ most enduringly popular Super Heroes, and Ben Affleck certainly fits that bill, and then some,”. His outstanding career is a testament to his talent and we know he and Zack will bring new dimension to the duality of this character.”

For now, all we know is that Affleck will be donning the Batsuit and fighting against, and eventually alongside, Henry Cavill as Superman. While an uprising of sorts is a sort of inevitability among the easily stirred up masses, this is the sort of risky business that you can at least respect for turning against expectation and giving us something to talk about for the coming months.

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First Poster for Terry Gilliam's THE ZERO THEOREM

August 21, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Posters

Terry Gilliam‘s career is defined by a certain eccentricity and a willingness to stretch the mind of his audience. Responsible for films such as Monty Python, 12 Monkeys and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Gilliam takes pleasure in dipping into the strangeness of the world and his latest, The Zero Theorem follows that trend closely.

Starring Christoph Waltz, the story follows Qohen Leth, a reclusive computer genius who lives in an Orwellian corporate world and suffers from existential angst. Under the instruction of a shadowy figure known only as “Management”, Qohen works to solve the “Zero Theorem” – a mathematical formula which will finally determine whether life has any meaning. Qohen’s work in the burnt-out chapel that serves as his home is interrupted by visits from Bainsley, a seductive woman, and Bob, the teenage son of Management. Waltz is accompanied by Tilda Swinton, Matt Damon, Ben Whishaw, and David Thewlis.

The Zero Theorem is directed by Terry Gilliam and stars Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Matt Damon, Ben Whishaw, and David Thewlis. It opens December 20.

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Snazzy Behind the Scenes Shots of Aronofsky's NOAH

August 20, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Pictures

A few months back, we got our first look at Darren Aronofsky‘s Noah -the biblical epic that follows Russell Crowe as the eponymous Old Testament hero inside of a film taking an environmental bent with its storytelling. These high-res behind-the-scenes photos take a look at the Iceland location and the work being done on the film. With filming still in progress, the film will wrap soon to allow enough post production time for its March 28, 2014 release date.

Noah is directed by Darren Aronofsky and stars Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Kevin Durand, Douglas Booth and Dakota Goyo. It storms into theaters March 28, 2014.

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THOR: THE DARK WORLD Gets Dull Poster

August 10, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Posters

In a bit of inner-studio mimicry, the latest poster for Thor: The Dark World looks quite a bit like this summer’s poster for Iron Man 3. While many have taken shots at Marvel for using a similar formula for their films, it seems that they are now applying that formula to posters.

From the slightly cocked, minorly confuzzled and majorly concerned face of the heroine with her one hand on her man’s right pectoral, to the foreboding yet flexing stance of the hero, to the secondary characters superimposed in the background, and a big villain’s head looming in the distance, it’s a cluttered and failed attempt at a Photoshop job that just comes off as rushed, copied and, well, bad.

For comparisons sake, take a look at this poster for Iron Man 3 and see just how similar they look. With this new poster, expect another trailer to follow soon. If you missed the first trailer, check it out here.

Thor 2 is directed by Game of Thrones helmer Alan Taylor andstars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins and opens in theaters on November 8, 2013.

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First Two Posters for X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST Splices Old and New Characters

August 10, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Posters

With an absolutely massive cast that takes actors from both Bryan Singer‘s original trilogy and Matthew Vaughn‘s X-Men: First Class, this first poster from X-Men: Days of Future Past splices together the old and new Professor X and Magneto.

With both Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy playing Professor X and Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender playing Magneto, Days of Future Past involves a time-traveling plot where mutants from the future travel back in time to help past X-Men characters stop malevolent machines, known as Sentinels, bent on destroying mutants once and for all.

Patrick Stewart/James McAvoy as Professor X

Ian McKellen/Michael Fassbender as Magneto

X-Men: Days of Future Past is directed by Bryan Singer and stars Patrick Stewart, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, Halle Berry, Nicholas Hoult, Peter Dinklage, Ellen Page, Anna Paquin, Shaun Ashmore, Omar Sy and Evan Peters. It hits theaters on May 23, 2014.

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James Cameron Says AVATAR 2, 3 & 4 a Go

August 10, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Announcements

Master of making everyone in the world give him money, James Cameron, has announced today that he will not only begin production on Avatar 2, but will simulataneously be filming a third and forth film, making all three sequels at once. While this kind of consecutive filmmaking is no novel approach, just look to Peter Jackson‘s Middle Earth saga, he’s really banking on the fact that people are gonna want to return to Pandora not one, not two but three more times.

While Cameron has a preternatural ability to judge what the public wants, this move is as ambitious as it is excessive. Per today’s press release, Cameron had the following to say:

“Building upon the world we created with Avatar has been a rare and incredibly rewarding experience. In writing the new films, I’ve come to realize that Avatar‘s world, story and characters have become even richer than I anticipated, and it became apparent that two films would not be enough to capture everything I wanted to put on screen. And to help me continue to expand this universe, I’m pleased to bring aboard Amanda, Rick, Shane and Josh — all writers I’ve long admired - to join me in completing the films screenplays.”

The four names Cameron refers to will all be aiding the admittedly lackluster writing from Cameron to flesh out this three-legged journey back to the CGI, 3D world. Josh Friedman has got sci-fi cred from Spielberg’s War of the Worlds and the popular, but early cancelled,Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles. Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver both worked on Rise of the Planets of the Apes while Shane Salerno wrote Armageddeon and Aliens Vs Predator: Requiem.

Avatar 2 is set to hit theaters December 2016, with each sequel following suit the following year. This gives Avatar 3 a December 2017 release and Avatar 4 a December 2018 date. WETA Digital, who is also responsible for the upcoming Hobbit sequels and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, will run the technical components of Cameron’s world.

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Bryan Cranston Rumored for Lex Luthor in BATMAN/SUPERMAN Movie

August 10, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Casting News

Since DC announced the ultimate geekgasm film that involves Batman and Superman duking it out on the big screen, all sorts of news circling the film has been spiraling out of the blogosphere. While the casting rumors surrounding Batman, with sources claiming that DC is hunting for an aged and grizzled Bruce Wayne/Batman, a man in his mid-50s.

Much talk has surrounded prominent and minor actors such as Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Karl Urban (Star Trek), Max Martini (Pacific Rim), Ryan Gosling (Drive) and Richard Armitage (The Hobbit). While no official word on any of them have been released, it does seem clear that this new Batman iteration will steer clear of the Christopher Nolan legacy and we will not be seeing the return of Christian Bale nor his onscreen predecessor Joseph Gordon Levitt.

The yet untitled Batman/Superman film is said to turn the two preeminent superheroes at odds with one another, with Bruce Wayne presumably working with Lex Luthor to clean up Metropolis after all the havoc wrecked upon it during Superman and Zod’s showdown in Man of Steel. While no new actors have yet to be locked down, sources are saying that Luthor may be closer to casting than the Bats.

The latest name to churn out of the rumor mill is Bryan Cranston with his name rising to the top of the list for contenders to play Luther in the Man of Steel sequel. Although nothing is definitive, Cranstons role as Walter White on AMC’s Breaking Bad as well as his famed dome-headed shave makes him an ideal candidate, especially if the franchise is looking for names the carry some weight that can also be bought on a more modest budget.

Although Cranson’s has filled some film roles before, he’s mostly been relegated to small supporting roles in movies. While he’s been involved in such as clunkers as John Carter, Red Tails, Rock of Ages and the Total Recall remake, he’s also been part of the cast of great films like Drive, Argo and The Lincoln Lawyer.

Although talks are merely that at the moment, if Cranston is approached for the role that will probably spark up a lot of excitement amongst the internet community. Personally, I would rather see Cranston use his ability to something more suiting of his massive talent but I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing his star rise with a prominent role in a promising franchise. Until we hear any official word from the studio executives though, any of these roles are still up for grabs.

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First Look at Jason Reitman's LABOR DAY

August 7, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Pictures

Jason Reitman, director of Juno, Up in the Air, Thank You For Smoking and Young Adult, returns to the mainstream with Labor Day, a film starring Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet as a pair of strangers forced together by chance.

Depressed single mom Adele (Winslet) and her son Henry offer a wounded, fearsome man (Brolin), who turns out to be a con on the run, a ride home and a place to lie low. As the police turn over the town in search of the escaped convict, Adele and her son gradually learn his true story as their options become increasingly limited. As the Labor Day weekend runs to a close, Tobey Maguire, Clark Gregg, JK Simmons, Brooke Smith and James Van Der Beek co-star.

Labor Day is directed by Jason Reitman and stars Josh Brolin, Kate Winslet, Tobey Maguire, Clark Gregg, JK Simmons, Brooke Smith and James Van Der Beek. It will not open on Labor Day as it comes to theaters on Christmas Day.

First Look at Ginsberg Murder Mystery KILL YOUR DARLINGS

August 7, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Movie Posters

Godawful poster aside, Kill Your Darlings is a film worth looking into. Actor Daniel Radcliffe seems to be doing everything in his power to expunge his association with the eponymous character from the Harry Potter saga, this time taking the mantle of the beatnik bard, Allen Ginsberg. The film centers around a murder that draws the superheroes of the beatnik generation, Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs, together Avengers-style.

With stars Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan giving this film a powerful soul and first time director John Krokidas taking the beatnik generation in a new and inspired direction, this walked away from this year’s Sundance Film Festival with mostly positive buzz. While it’s not slated to go wide anywhere yet, Kill Your Darlings will see a limited release on October 18.

Kill Your Darlings is directed by John Krokidas and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Dane Dehaan, Michael C. Hall, Ben Foster, Elizabeth Olsen, Jack Huston, Davis Cross and Jennifer Jason Leigh. It hits limited theaters on October 18.

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Promo Trask Inc. Teaser and First Look at Mystique and Sentinels for X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

August 1, 2013 by Matt Oakes Posted in Pictures

In a bit of a news roundup, I’m trying to cover all the press material literally flying out of X-Men: Days of Future Past. After the success of The Wolverine and the post-credits scenes that more than hinted at the next step in the X-Men film franchise, Days of Future Past is gearing up to pull a bit of an Avengers move in bringing together the entirety of the X-Men film universe.

The first bit is a promo teaser that comes from the perspective of Trask Industries, the enemy in this next installment that threatens to eliminate all of mutantkind once and for all. “Join Trask Industries” it says, “as we celebrate 50 years of the Sentinel program and look forward to an even brighter future.”

While I’m not quite up to snuff on my X-Men mythology, Sentinels are giant, killer robots seen as the solution to the “mutant problem.” The leader of Trask Inc.? Peter Dinklage.

Take a look at Dinklage as Bolivar Trask as well as a picture of a full-sized sentinel from the set that director Bryan Singer tweeted earlier today.