Katie Roberts

Quicksilver in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past': Evan Peters Cast as Magneto's Son

2013-05-23T15:22:36-04:00

Looks like Joss Whedon will be following Bryan Singer’s lead after all: Singer just announced that Quicksilver will appear in “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”

Whedon first teased the possibility of using twins Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch in his follow-up to “The Avengers” back in April, confirming the news earlier this month. At the time, there was some speculation that the duo could theoretically also pop up in “Days of Future Past,” since both Fox and Disney own the rights to the villains-turned-heroes. Now, Singer’s announcement on Twitter Thursday that Evan Peters (“Kick Ass”) has been cast to play the superfast Quicksilver has turned that probability into a certainty.

Before he was an #Avenger, he was just a REALLY fast kid. Thrilled to say #EvanPeters is joining #XMen #DaysOfFuturePast as #Quicksilver.
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) May 23, 2013

Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are the children of “X-Men” villain Magneto, and first appear in the Marvel universe as antagonists before joining forces with the Avengers. Judging by their presence in “Days of Future Past,” Singer’s looking to focus on their early, evil days.

Not only will Singer be first in getting his version of the twins into multiplexes -- “Days” debuts July 14, 2014, while “The Avengers 2” isn’t due until May 1, 2015 -- but he’s also beaten Whedon to the punch in casting. While Peters is a lock for “Days,” there’s been no confirmation on who will play either of the twins in “Avengers 2,” aside from some recent reports that Whedon has based his characterization of Scarlet Witch on Irish actress Saoirse Ronan.

For her part, Ronan would be happy to join the “Avengers” team, telling The Mary Sue she would take the part if offered.

“I love Joss and I love those films, and I love his handle on them and how he portrayed these kinds of superheroes,” she said. “I think it’s very different from what anyone else has done. So yeah, I’d love to be in it.”

[via Twitter and ScreenCrush]

'Poltergeist' Reboot May Actually Be a Sequel

2013-05-23T14:19:48-04:00

A remake of ‘80s cult horror classic “Poltergeist” was announced in 2011, but not much information about the project had been scared up until now. What was once thought to be a complete reboot might instead be a sequel, if two recent reports are to be believed.

Earlier this week, Bloody Disgusting posted a short synopsis of the movie, which would follow a similar trajectory to the original, focusing this time on the Bowen family (the Freelings were featured in the original) and their young daughter, Madison, who’s abducted by the titular ghosts. Like the original, a team of paranormal investigators would be recruited to help bring Madison home; in the new version, the family matriarch can also communicate with the dead.

But while that summary certainly sounds like a direct remake of the first “Poltergeist” film, Moviehole posted some additional plot details a few days later that seem to indicate the new movie will follow in the footsteps of this year’s “Evil Dead” update -- keeping the name and a few select details of the original while presenting an entirely new plot.

The site says the film will exist in the same universe as the previous “Poltergeist” movies (there were three altogether), and that the Bowen family moves into the Freelings’s former home many years later. There they find abandoned possessions belonging to the family -- including a black-and-white television set -- and come upon some of the same suspicious occurrences that plagued the house’s former owners.

Sam Raimi’s involvement as producer would indicate that the “Evil Dead” trajectory theory isn’t too far off from what filmmakers have in mind. We’ll see what director Gil Kenan (“Monster House”) has in store soon -- the movie is set to start shooting later this year.

[via Bloody Disgusting and MovieHole h/t SlashFilm]

Is 'Jurassic Park 4' a Reboot? Yes, According to Sam Neill

2013-05-21T16:08:21-04:00

Earlier this month, “Jurassic Park 4” was rumored to be facing extinction after Universal announced the project would be delayed indefinitely to accommodate filmmakers’ ambitious plans for the long-awaited sequel. While the studio put a sunnier spin on the decision -- the delay would allow “adequate time to bring audiences the best possible version” of the film, Universal said -- some crew members were less optimistic, insinuating on social media that the movie was in serious trouble.

Now, Sam Neill, who starred as Dr. Alan Grant in the first and third films in the “Jurassic Park” franchise, may have shed some light on why the delay was necessary. In a short comment to The Dominion Post, Neill said that he was unlikely to reprise his role in the sequel, and shared a rumor about the movie’s purported plot.

“I’m told it’s a big reboot, a total re-jig,” Neill told the paper.

That theory coalesces nicely with director Colin Trevorrow’s recent announcement that the new film would take place in the same location as the original movie, the fictional Isla Nublar. And while producers have denied reboot plans in the past, history shows that when it comes to “JP4,” myriad plotlines have been considered; maybe they’re now circling back to some previously abandoned ideas?

Only time will tell what “JP4” brings, or when the movie will actually appear in theaters. It was once set for a July 2014 release; we’ll have to wait for production to resume before we know a new debut date.

[via The Dominion Post h/t ScreenCrush]

'Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters': Jeremy Renner Never Read the Script Before Signing On

2013-05-20T17:03:25-04:00

Jeremy Renner was notoriously prickly while promoting “Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” earlier this year, acting as if he truly hated the movie based on the classic fairy tale and wanted to distance himself as far from it as possible. Critics almost universally agreed with that sentiment, including Moviefone’s, who described the film as “88 Minutes of My Life I Will Never Get Back.”

So if the movie was really that bad, and Renner knew it, why did he agree to star in it in the first place? Turns out he has a reason -- though not a very good one.

In an interview clip from “Hansel & Gretel”’s forthcoming DVD and Blu-ray release, Renner reveals that he never actually read the script before deciding to sign on to the project, which filmed in 2011 and was slated for a 2012 release before eventually being dumped in theaters in January. What would possess Renner to skip over a crucial part of the decision-making process when it comes to his acting career? A single concept image of Hansel and Gretel.

“The initial attraction to do the movie came from a little one sheet that I got before I even got the script, and it was something that they ended up shooting in the movie,” Renner said. “It was Hansel and Gretel walking away. There’s a fire going and a witch burning in the background. He has a shotgun, and she has this crossbow. That’s interesting to me. I don’t know why, but it was.”

We don’t know why, either, but we bet that Renner has already learned to better control his impulses.

[via MTV Movies]

'Angry Birds' Movie Flies Forward

2013-05-20T16:27:52-04:00

The idea to make a movie based on insanely-popular game "Angry Birds" was first introduced years ago, but the project had yet to gain any forward momentum. Now (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how eager you are to see those birds fly in 3-D), it looks like the film will come to fruition after all, with sources telling The Wrap that veteran screenwriter Jon Vitti has been hired to pen a script.

Vitti, an Emmy-winning writer and producer on shows such as “The Simpsons,” “King of the Hill,” and “The Office,” is no stranger to turning existing stories into successful big screen features, having contributed his writing and consulting talents to films such as “The Simpsons Movie,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” and the first two “Ice Age” movies.

But he may face an uphill battle with "Angry Birds," which has no real plot and whose outcome is based purely on gamers’ performance. And turning video games into movies has always been a dicey prospect in Hollywood, both in terms of quality and finances; for every successful “Tomb Raider” or “Resident Evil,” there’s a “Doom” or “Super Mario Brothers” waiting in the wings.

Vitti will have the help of Catherine Winder, former Lucasfilm Animation and Fox Animation executive, who’ll serve as producer on the project alongside “Despicable Me”’s John Cohen.

“I’m very excited that Jon and Catherine have joined us, bringing with them their vast expertise,” said Mikael Hed, CEO of 'Angry Birds' maker Rovio Entertainment, which is backing the film financially. “I’m confident we are building the right team to deliver an amazing movie experience to our fans.”

The movie, to be released by Sony, is set to hit theaters sometime in July 2016. We’ll hold on to our slingshots until then.

[via TheWrap]

Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique: First Look at the Actress in 'X-Men: Days of Future Past'

2013-05-20T16:07:09-04:00

“X-Men: Days of Future Past” director Bryan Singer has been tweeting up a storm (and tweeting about Storm) ever since he took the helm of the latest installment of the “X-Men” franchise, and on Monday he gave fans yet another taste of what they can expect from the film, revealing the first glimpse of Jennifer Lawrence re-applying her Mystique makeup.

The striking image shows Lawrence decked out in head-to-toe blue body paint, revealing every last curve of the Academy Award-winning actress’s body. Her yellow eyes and red hair pop against her bright skin, and she’s seen standing in front of a green screen backdrop.

This is Lawrence’s second time appearing as the shape-shifting mutant (who Singer described as “vengeful’), having first stripped down in 2011’s “X-Men: First Class.” “Days of Future Past” promises to meld that world with the one seen in the first three “X-Men” films, purportedly featuring a time-traveling Kitty Pryde (Ellen Page), who warns the mutants of the past about a catastrophic future.

Stars Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan, Anna Paquin, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender, among many others, are all slated to reprise their roles. “X-Men: Days of Future Past” hits theaters July 18, 2014.

[via Twitter h/t CinemaBlend]

First look: #JenniferLawrence as a vengeful #Mystique. #XMen #DaysOfFuturePast twitter.com/BryanSinger/st…
— Bryan Singer (@BryanSinger) May 20, 2013

'Anchorman 2' Teaser: 'The Hair Will Be Perfect'

2013-05-20T14:59:59-04:00

The Channel 4 news team is back and classier than ever in the newest teaser trailer for “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”

Likening the gang to Jesus and Jay-Z, a voiceover assures us that just as those great men returned, so will Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell), Brian Fantana (Paul Rudd), Brick Tamland (Steve Carell), and Champ Kind (David Koechner).

“And when they do,” the narrator promises, “one thing is for sure: their hair will be perfect.”

And by the beard of Zeus, their follicles are indeed perfect. Short and sweet, the clip gives us a quick glimpse of our heroes, who look and sound the same -- and as self-delusional -- as they did in 2004, the last time they graced the big screen.

There’s no sign of anchorwoman Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) or any of the other stars appearing in the flick (including Harrison Ford, Kristen Wiig, Nicole Kidman, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler), but we’re still pumped to see the old gang back together again. “Anchorman 2” drops December 20.

Seth MacFarlane Says He Won't Host the Oscars Next Year

2013-05-20T14:34:53-04:00

Hollywood can breathe a sigh of relief: Seth MacFarlane has just confirmed that he won’t return to host next year’s Oscars.

MacFarlane, whose bawdy, politically incorrect performance as host of this year’s telecast received mixed, mostly-negative reviews (two words: “Boobs Song”), announced on Twitter Monday that he simply didn’t have the time to commit to the gig.

“Traumatized critics exhale: I'm unable to do the Oscars again,” MacFarlane wrote. “Tried to make it work schedule-wise, but I need sleep.”

Indeed, by the time next year’s ceremony rolls around, MacFarlane will be deep in post-production on his next directorial vehicle, the comedy-western “A Million Ways to Die in the West,” in which he will also star. Despite early reports that he had been invited back to host the Academy Awards telecast, MacFarlane’s other commitments -- he also helms Fox’s “Family Guy” -- were just too numerous.

“However, I highly recommend the job, as [Craig] Zadan and [Neil] Meron are two of the most talented producers in the business,” MacFarlane said of the pair, who produced this year’s ceremony and are returning to the gig in 2014. Zadan and Meron came to MacFarlane’s defense in the wake of negative reviews of his performance, accusing critics of not understanding the host’s subversive humor.

With MacFarlane out of contention, it’s someone else’s turn to be subversive. But MacFarlane says he already has an idea of who might fit that bill.

“My suggestion for host is Joaquin Phoenix,” he wrote.

[via THR]

'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon II': The Oscar-Winning Movie Is Getting a Sequel

2013-05-16T16:33:35-04:00

Thirteen years after its release, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” is getting a sequel.

The Weinstein Company announced Thursday that the movie, which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, is set to be followed up by “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II – The Green Destiny.” It will follow the story of “Iron Knight, Silver Vase,” the fifth book in author Wang Du Lu’s Crane-Iron Pentalogy, the same series on which the first “Crouching Tiger” film was based.

“Crouching Tiger” became a surprise international hit in 2000, grossing over $200 million worldwide and $128 million in the United States to become the nation’s highest-earning foreign language film of all time. The story, set in western China, centered around two warriors’ quest for a missing sword and the assassin who follows their every move.

“I loved Ang Lee’s film,” said TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein. “I thought it was a master class in directing, but I know we are in fantastic hands with Yuen Wo Ping directing the second installment of ‘Crouching Tiger.’ … [Yuen] is a first-class director and choreographer, and I am thrilled to be teaming up with him once more. With John Fusco’s incredible script and the dream team of [original stars] Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh we are in great shape.”

Weinstein, Yuen, and Yen will further discuss the project at the Cannes International Film Festival this weekend.

Why Brad Bird Turned Down 'Star Wars: Episode VII'; Talks 'Incredibles' Sequel

2013-05-16T15:28:39-04:00

Looks like J.J. Abrams wasn’t the first choice to helm “Star Wars: Episode VII.” Brad Bird, director of 2011’s “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol” and Pixar films like “The Incredibles,” said Disney approached him to take the job, but he had to turn it down.

Bird, whose name was bandied about by fans as a possible directing prospect soon after Disney first announced “Episode VII,” was quick to deny those rumors late last year. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he explained why: he’s busy at work on his latest project, a mysterious, Disney-set sci-fi flick called “Tomorrowland.”

“I’ve known [‘Star Wars’ producer] Kathy [Kennedy] for a while and I know George [Lucas]. And they did come to me. But the problem was, the schedule they had in mind made it impossible to do…unless I dropped ‘Tomorrowland,’” Bird said.

He added that he worried the project, which was already deep in development, would lose momentum if he temporarily abandoned it in favor of “Star Wars” – “It would’ve thrown the furniture around from the train stopping,” he said -- and while part of him lamented the loss of “Episode VII,” he said that he was excited to watch Abrams’s take on the franchise.

“I really want to see this movie,” Bird said of “Tomorrowland.” “I love the ‘Star Wars’ films, and I can’t wait to see what J.J. does, but it meant I’d have to shut down one dream to participate in another. I feel like [with ‘Tomorrowland’] we’re making something that’s really special and unique.”

Judging by Bird’s track record, “Tomorrowland” is sure to deliver on that promise. And if that doesn’t whet fans’ appetites for his work enough, Bird also revealed in that same THR interview that he’s open to the idea of making “The Incredibles 2.”

“I have been thinking about it,” he said. “ ... I love those characters and love that world. I am stroking my chin and scratching my head. I have many, many elements that I think would work really well in another [‘Incredibles’] film, and if I can get ‘em to click all together, I would probably wanna do that.”

[via THR h/t Cinemablend]

'Pacific Rim' Trailer: How 'Man and Machine Become One'

2013-05-16T14:44:26-04:00

Continuing its trend of offering a slew of impressive CGI set pieces, the latest trailer for “Pacific Rim,” Guillermo Del Toro’s epic monsters vs. robots showdown flick, hit the web Thursday with an even closer look at those creatures and their increasingly complex battles.

“In order to fight monsters, we created monsters of our own,” star Charlie Hunnam explains about humans’ decision to build giant robot warriors to take on the massive, water-dwelling creatures. Like the teaser, Hunnam offers a quick voiceover explanation as to how the robots work: they’re operated by two humans who use their minds and memories to control them, so that “man and machine become one.”

Also like the teaser, there’s plenty of action in the clip, including more detailed looks at the aliens -- one resembles a pterodactyl -- and additional shots of alien-on-robot action, clashing in the water and mid-air.

Based on what we’ve seen so far, this is going to be a big, loud, explosive movie, and with Del Toro’s pedigree behind it, it should be smart and fun, too.

“Pacific Rim” lands July 12.

[h/t The Playlist]

Nerd-Off! 'Star Wars' Club and 'Doctor Who' Fans Get Into Altercation at Sci-Fi Convention

2013-05-16T14:10:34-04:00

The force was not with two rival fan clubs last Sunday after a verbal altercation between the groups at an English sci-fi convention had to be broken up by police.

In a report that sounds more like something out of “West Side Story” than science fiction, the BBC writes that the Norwich Star Wars Club was celebrating its fourth annual Norwich Sci-Fi and Film Convention, when members of the rival Norwich Sci-Fi Club showed up, purportedly to get the autographs of two actors from the long-running “Doctor Who” TV series who were appearing at the event. Members of the Star Wars Club noticed the other members’ presence -- one of them was wearing a shirt emblazoned with the club’s name -- and the police were called, with the tipster complaining someone had been assaulted.

After law enforcement arrived, they interviewed witnesses and reviewed closed-circuit television footage, concluding no such physical confrontation took place. (Maybe the club just used Jedi mind tricks?)

“The two rival groups were spoken to and advised to keep out of each other's way,” a police spokesman told the BBC.

Sunday’s confrontation was nothing new, according to Jim Poole, the treasurer of the Norwich Sci-Fi Club, which is set to put on its own convention in the city later this year. Poole was the one wearing the t-shirt promoting his club, and said he was also the one to call the police, complaining of verbal abuse. Though he acknowledged that the two groups have had disputes in the past, he said Sunday’s spat was blown out of proportion -- and also had nothing to do with deep-seated disagreements over differing sci-fi series.

“This wasn’t a fight between ‘Star Wars’ fans and ‘Doctor Who’ fans with lightsabers and sonic screwdrivers drawn,” he said. “It’s a bit sad and pathetic. We’re all in the same boat. We’re not in competition.”

Dominic Warner, secretary of the Norwich Star Wars Club, echoed those sentiments, adding that any ill will between the two clubs was in the past, and that the groups would try to work together more closely in the future to avoid incidents like Sunday’s.

“It does sound comical,” Warner said. “People that dress up in costume are labeled geeks and some people laugh at us, and this just makes it even more so.”

[via BBC]

'Wild Bunch' Remake: Will Smith Eyes Modern-Day Reboot

2013-05-14T17:12:10-04:00

He’s busy working on remaking the musical classic “Annie,” but Will Smith already has yet another reboot in his sights: “The Wild Bunch.”

Smith is currently in negotiations to star in and produce a revamped version of the 1969 classic western about a gang of aging outlaws set to pull off one final heist on the Mexican-American border in 1913. The reboot would be set in modern times, and focus on a disgraced DEA agent who pulls together a team to hunt down a Mexican drug lord -- and his money.

Warner Bros. and Smith's producing partner, Jerry Weintraub, have been trying to wrangle together a “Wild Bunch” remake for some time, most recently with director Tony Scott on board and a screenplay half-finished. But that plan was put on hold after Scott’s death last year, and now the filmmakers are looking for a new writer to pen the project.

The Wrap notes that Smith has never made a “proper western,” which is true. He infamously rebooted the 1960s television show “Wild Wild West” in 1999, and the film disappointed with critics and audiences alike, barely recouping its production costs at the box office. Considering “The Wild Bunch”’s iconic legacy -- the film starred many Hollywood heavyweights, including William Holden and Ernest Borgnine -- it may be difficult for Smith’s take to do it justice.

If he can resist the urge to record a single to soundtrack the new film, that’s already a step in the right direction.

[via The Wrap]

'Pineapple Express 2': James Franco Wants Stoner Sequel to Happen

2013-05-14T16:05:11-04:00

James Franco and Seth Rogen were just yanking our chains when they released a fake trailer for “Pineapple Express 2” on April Fools’ Day (see above). While the clip ended up being another promo for their upcoming apocalypse comedy “This Is the End,” it turns out that that spoof wasn’t just wishful thinking.

Franco revealed in a recent interview that he and Rogen very much want to make a follow-up to “Pineapple,” the beloved 2008 comedy, which starred the pair as stoners whose love of weed takes a dark turn after they witness a murder. A reporter for GQ asked Franco why there weren’t any current plans for a sequel, and the actor had this to say:

“As far as why ‘Pineapple Express 2’ has not been made for real, I don’t know what the holdup is. I would do it, Danny [McBride] would do it, Seth [Rogen] would do it. I think Seth and [co-writer] Evan [Goldberg] just need a fire lit under their asses.”

Rogen has no doubt been busy, starring in a string of recent films, including “The Green Hornet,” “Paul,” “50/50,” and “The Guilt Trip,” and even making cameo TV appearances on shows like “Eastbound and Down” and “The Mindy Project.” Plus, he’s in the midst of promoting the aforementioned “This Is the End” (due out June 12) alongside Franco, who’s also had a lot on his plate. (Being an actor-writer-director-artist-student usually takes up a lot of time.)

It seems like the stars really do need to align for this project to get off the ground, but the fact that all the major players are on board with the idea gives us hope that it could become a reality some day. Based on Franco’s statements to GQ, one original member of the project probably won’t be back: director David Gordon Green. When asked about his role in “Your Highness,” a film also directed by Green, Franco had a few choice words about the project.

“That movie sucks,” he said.

[via GQ]

'Catching Fire' Poster: Jennifer Lawrence Stands Tall (PHOTO)

2013-05-14T14:24:57-04:00

The newest poster (scroll down) for “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” was released Tuesday, a powerful image that depicts heroine Katniss Everdeen ascending a cliff into the heavens, wing-shaped clouds behind her.

It’s a striking, almost hopeful look for the character, in stark contrast to the poster’s morose tagline: “The sun persists in rising, so I make myself stand.” That mindset consumes Katniss for much of “Catching Fire,” as she must return to the arena to once again fight to the death against fellow victors from the rest of Panem’s districts, all overseen by the calculating President Snow.

But as the poster suggests, Katniss is able to rise above her troubles, and “Catching Fire” sets in motion her transition from survivor to hero. The image is a nice tease of what’s to come -– those Mockingjay-esque clouds and Katniss’s almost messianic pose are no coincidence –- as the “Hunger Games” series continues. We’ll see how it all plays out when “Catching Fire” enters the arena on November 22.

[via Hunger Games Instagram]

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