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"You're the one that exploits people."
Technology has become so pervasive in our day-to-day lives, it's a surprise that there aren't more movies like the upcoming drama/ thriller Disconnect, directed by the Academy Award–nominated Henry Alex Rubin (Murderball). Centering on "a group of people searching for human connections in today's wired world," the movie stars Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses) as a father who spends more time with his phone than his son, Alexander Skarsgard (True Blood) and Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol) as a couple whose online secrecy gets them in trouble, Andrea Riseborough (the upcoming Oblivion) as a journalist investigating a teenager working on an adults-only site, and Frank Grillo (The Grey) as a widowed ex-cop whose son is a cyber-bully. The resulting first trailer is a sobering pastiche of the world we live in, albeit of fairly well-known online dangers, and is anchored by strong performances by the cast.
watch the trailer >> Posted 03.04.13 by Ryan -
Who Should Rule Atlantis?
First appearing way back in More Fun Comics #73 (Sept. 1941), Aquaman is one of the oldest comic book characters in existence. His longevity in popular culture, coupled with his incredible powers — super strength and durability, telepathy, ability to breathe underwater — and the fact that he is also the king of Atlantis on top of being a superhero should place Aquaman in the upper echelon of comic book characters, yet he has always been considered something of a laughing stock outside of the comic book community. A popular subject of derision on TV shows like Saturday Night Live and The Big Bang Theory, Aquaman's only live-action highlights have come from his appearances on Smallville, as played by Alan Ritchson, and in an Entourage sub-plot in which the too-lean and not-blonde Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) played the "King of the Seven Seas" in a faux James Cameron movie.
Apparently, there is some talk at Warner Bros. about bringing Aquaman to the big screen in a solo movie, but the studio is far more invested in developing Green Lantern 2, The Flash and Wonder Woman so Aquaman's big screen debut will likely be as part of the ensemble Justice League movie. Who do you think has what it takes to not only salvage Aquaman's reputation, but stand alongside Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice Leaguers on the big screen?
Aquaman art by Jeff Chapman
Select the Top 10 Actors Who Could Play Aquaman >>
Posted 10.11.12 by BrentJS -
After receiving Academy Award nominations for both The Hurt Locker and The Town, actor Jeremy Renner has been filling up his resume with high-profile roles in The Avengers, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters and Bourne Legacy. Renner's most recent role will see him return to the world of bank robbery he explored in The Town.
Deadline reports that Renner is attached to star in King of Heists, which the actor will also produce. Based on author J. North Conway non-fiction book of the same name, Renner will play architect George Leslie, who led a double life as a thief, assembling a crew of New York City's finest criminals and executing a number of heists — the most infamous being the one that netted nearly $3 million in cash and securities from the Manhattan Savings Institution in 1878.
Up-and-coming screenwriter Will Staples will adapt the script for the as-yet-unattached director. With King of Heists in early development, expect Renner to fit in a few more roles before the movie steps before cameras.
more casting news >> Posted 09.21.11 by Ryan -
For those wondering how Universal was going to adapt the Milton-Bradley board game Battleship into a live-action movie, wonder no more because the first trailer for Battleship has arrived courtesy of Yahoo!.
In January, James Cameron criticized the Battleship adaptation, calling it an example of everything that's wrong in Hollywood. "We have a story crisis," said Cameron at the time. "Now they want to make the Battleship game into a film. This is pure desperation."
was Cameron right? watch the trailer >> Posted 07.27.11 by Ryan -
Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard has landed the lead role in Universal's movie adaptation based on the Milton-Bradley board game, Battleship.
Directed by Peter Berg (The Kingdom, Hancock). Skarsgard will star as a "straight arrow" naval officer alongside Taylor Kitsch, who was cast a few months back and is currently filming John Carter of Mars in the red rock desert of Utah. Battleship will be Skarsgard's first major starring role, although you may remember that he was one of the early front-runners for Marvel's comic book movie Thor--losing out in the end to Chris Hemsworth.
A BOARD GAME MOVIE? WHAT'S IT ABOUT? >> Posted 06.18.10 by reelz -
For a time, Alexander Skarsgård seemed like the front runner for the lead role in Thor, before Chris Hemsworth finally landed the part.
However, before Hemsworth was cast, Skarsgård was indeed close to playing the thunder god. Real close. "Yeah, I met with [Marvel Studios Executive] Kevin [Feige] a few times and the director [Kenneth Branagh]," Skarsgård explained to MTV. He even tried on the costume to shoot his audition. "Yeah, that was pretty fun,” said Skarsgård.
However, while Skarsgård ultimately lost the part, he would still be interested in appearing a Marvel movie, should Feige decide to bring him in. Perhaps even Captain America in The First Avenger: Captain America?
It depends on the circumstances — who the director is, and what the character is. But of course [I'd be interested in looking into it]. I think it's every little boy's dream; it would be a person's dream to play an action hero.
Unless, of course, he loses the part again.
Posted 06.13.09 by Ryan -
Kenneth Branagh offered an update on his comic adaptation to IGN:
Well, I'm working currently on Thor for Marvel and we're planning that one. We're having a great time at the moment. We're in intense pre-production. I shoot Thor in January of next year.
All this extra time allows Branagh to take his time in casting the Thor role. With Alexander Skarsgård seemingly out of the running, and Charlie Hunnam screen testing, Branagh is quick to mention that Tom Hiddleston is still a possibility:
Tom Hiddleston is a great actor and he, amongst a number of others, hasbeen part of the group we've spoken to and all that's still a work inprogress.
With Thor not shooting until next year, Branagh has plenty of time to make up his mind.
Posted 05.03.09 by Ryan -
There's good reason for Charlie Hunnam to be testing for the role of Thor, because it looks like Alexander Skarsgård is out of the running. While Skarsgård has met with director Kenneth Branagh, he doesn't feel confident about the part, responding to questions about his casting by saying, "No, I don't think so, I haven't gotten the call, so..."
Skarsgard will just have to content himself with his work on HBO's True Blood.
Posted 04.24.09 by Ryan -
Thor, the mythological Norse god of thunder and one of the founding members of Marvel Comics' super-team, the Avengers, is expected to be one of the most complex -- and commercially risky -- comic-to-film adaptations in Marvel's planned lead-up to the Avengers feature film.
The intended release date for the film has already been pushed back, and there have been no shortage of cast rumors -- from Josh Hartnett or Natalie Portman portraying the evil trickster god Loki, to Alexander Skarsgård lifting the hammer in the Thor role -- but recently one more name has been added to the list: Charlie Hunnam of the FX series Sons of Anarchy. At the recent premiere of Mutant Chronicles, Hunnam was asked about the Thor rumor and he admitted that he had been called in for the role.
Superhero films were once thought of as cheap, "popcorn flicks," but with films such as Iron Man (2008) and The Dark Knight (2008) scoring record box office numbers while simultaneously courting Oscar buzz, the genre has come out of the shadows and into the Hollywood spotlight.
Still, the prospect of playing a larger-than-life character in spandex (or leather, armor, etc.) can be a daunting decision for any actor. About his film choices, Hunnam has said:
Well, I have a great deal of pride, and I care infinitely about what my peers think (of me). It could be my downfall, but I don't think it is -- Hollywood is run on perception, and if you stray off the path of what you want to do with your career, it's suicide. I have 60 years to make the money, but the choices I make in the next five years are really going to define my career.
Hunnam has appeared in Cold Mountain (2003), Green Street Hooligans (2005), and Children of Men (2006). He currently stars as Jackson "Jax" Teller on the FX series Sons of Anarchy.
Posted 04.23.09 by BrentJS -
With Thor's opening day moved to 2011, director Kenneth Branagh can take his time with casting. While several actors have been rumored for the role, Fighting actor Channing Tatum has been officially removed from consideration. Tatum told MTV that, while he did meet with Branagh about the role, he is no longer a candidate. "I think they're looking for someone more Nordic-looking." Considering Thor is a Norse god, Tatum may be onto something.
Tatum had no further information on whether Branagh will cast Alexander Skarsgård or any of the other rumored actors currently testing for the role.
Posted 04.07.09 by Ryan