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Court Sides With Warner Bros. In Blockbuster Case Against 'Superman' Heirs' Rights To Character

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superman

Superman will stay with DC Comics. 

After an ongoing legal feud between the comic owner Warner Bros. and the living heirs of the Man of Steel's co-creators to reclaim copyright to the character, U.S. District Court Judge Otis Wright II found the heirs signed away their rights back in 1992. 

The heirs of Joe Shuster, who first illustrated Superman, attempted to terminate the contract made 20 years ago under a provision that allowed creators to reclaim rights to properties made before 1978. 

However, Wright found that because Shuster's sister Jean Peavy made a new agreement in '92 to accept higher annual payments of $25,000 (up from $5,000) from Warner Bros. per year voiding any right to copyright claim.  

Under the agreement made October 2, 1992, DC claimed it would cover Shuster's debts and pay Peavy $25,000 a year for the rest of her life. In return, any of Shuster's rights to the character would be turned over to DC, and Peavy could never claim a right to Superman again. 

From the ruling:  

"In sum, the Court finds that the 1992 Agreement, which represented the Shuster heirs’ opportunity to renegotiate the prior grants of Joe Shuster’s copyrights, superseded and replaced all prior grants of the Superman copyrights."

Warner Bros. will be releasing a new Superman reboot, "Man of Steel," June 14, 2013.

SEE ALSO: The extravagent airfare allowances of Bob Iger, Rupert Murdoch, and more >

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How 2 College Juniors Just Sold Their First Script To A Huge Production Company

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Annie Harnick, Nick Scion

Nick Cion and Annie Harnick, college juniors at Princeton and Harvard, respectively, have been friends since the seventh grade—and now their relationship is about to turn professional.

The two 20-year-olds have penned an untitled romantic comedy script aimed at a young audience that just sold to Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

But ICM Partners, who repped the duo in the deal, had no idea the ages of the two young scribes when they initially expressed interest in the script—nor did they know about one of the writer's ties to their company.

"Esther Newberg, the powerhouse ICM publishing agent, asked her West Coast counterparts to read a script by the duo, called 'The Valedictorian.' She didn’t tell them who the writers were," reports Deadline. "And the agents swear that it wasn’t until after they sparked to the script and moved to sign the writers that Newberg admitted that Cion is her great nephew."

After the agents sent out the script, written together between college semesters, to 22 producers, they received 21 positive responses.

Harnick and Scion met with each of the producers, but ultimately decided to go with Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

But it wasn't "The Valedictorian" the production company was interested in; instead, it was another romantic comedy idea the pair mentioned while in the meeting.

It is only the second pitch the company has bought in its history, according to Deadline. The price of the sale has not been disclosed.

SKE is responsible for "Adventureland," "Lars and the Real Girl" and "Kite Runner." They are also producing the upcoming "The Place Beyond the Pines" starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper and Eva Mendes.

The news of the 20-year-old's sale comes after a Hollywood assistant sold her industry parody tumblr to CBS earlier this month and 26-year-old "Girls" creator Lena Dunham just scored a $3.5 million book deal with Random House.

SEE ALSO: A Hollywood assistant just sold her industry parody Tumblr to CBS >

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Here's The Leaked Plot For 'Iron Man 3'

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iron man tony stark

Next week, Disney will release the first trailer for "Iron Man 3," but until then, here's a look at what the film will be about.

The plot for the third film leaked online earlier today via Stitch Kingdom. Check it out below:

"Iron Man 3" will be released May 3, 2013. 

"Marvel Studios’ “Iron Man 3” pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?" 

Currently, if you head over to the film's Facebook page, it's offering a sneak peak at the movie once the page gets enough "likes." 

We'll have the trailer up for the film upon its release October 23.

SEE ALSO: Tom Cruise's new 'Jack Reacher' trailer >

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Will The Multi-Million Dollar Budget Of 'The Hobbit' Pay Off?

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the hobbit

When Peter Jackson's long-awaited "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" comes out December 14,  Bilbo Baggins will more than have his work cut out for him.  

It will be the first time we'll see J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved Middle-earth characters back on the big screen since 2003.  

The three "Lord of the Rings" films that precede it have grossed more than $1 billion combined in the U.S. (near $3 billion worldwide) and have won 17 Oscars.  

The films, which cost between an estimated $200-315 million each will have to perform at least as well as their "Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) predecessors to break even.  

(Bear in mind, the total estimated budget for the original three films is set at $281 million.) 

The film has a lot riding on it, not only for Jackson with two sequels ready to roll out subsequently in 2013 and 2014 respectively, but also for the back-from-the-dead MGM

Will the hundreds of millions of dollars be worth it? 

The Numbers Speak For Themselves 

                                                                     Worldwide Gross               Opening Weekend

"LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring":                    $871.5 million                    $47.2 million

"LOTR: The Two Towers":                                   $926 million                        $62 million

"LOTR: The Return of the King":                          $1.1 billion                          $72 million

If we strictly go according to "The Lord of the Rings" grosses, "The Hobbit" should be set. Higher ticket prices and inflation aside, each film in the series built upon the last. And, with members of the cast returning (Christopher Lee as Sauron, Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, the gruesome Gollum, even Orlando Bloom is making an appearance as Legolas), that familiarity with beloved characters is an instant drawback for fans.  

However, can the franchise sustain nearly a decade break from the big screen? 

Sure. 

gandalf the hobbitThe Immense Popularity of "The Hobbit" 

"The Hobbit" is a children's book. 

Not only has it sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, but it's also a requirement in most school curricula to at some point partake in the misadventures of Bilbo Baggins.

With that in mind, it's more than likely that this film may have a bigger audience reach than LOTR not only because it's the return of the franchise; however, because it's also a book in which younger children have an interest.

Like "The Avengers," "The Hobbit" lends itself toward more of a family-friendly film. The demographic won't be solely for fans of the original series, but also for youngsters wanting to view their imaginings of the Lonely Mountain on the big screen when all their teachers have to offer is the much outdated 1977 cartoon adaptation of the book.

And, with that … 

It's a children's book. 

On the flip side, "The Hobbit" is a children's book, less dark than some of the creatures encountered in LOTR (the Nazgûl/Dark Riders), despite the Orcs and giant spiders featured in "The Hobbit" (nothing that "Harry Potter" couldn't conjure up). 

In the end, we think this is only something that will help the series, rather than hinder it because of the added demographic. 

hobbit bookThe One Book Argument 

Since the announcement at the end of July that "The Hobbit" film will be three films, Jackson has been criticized for trying to stretch the success of a 272-page book into a trilogy.  

Part of why the LOTR worked was because it was three films made from three separate books with no gimmicky break in the final film

We've said it once, and we'll say it again. Sure, there are break points in the book to split up the film into thirds; however, this isn't a storyline that needs more than two movies to put the story to bed.  

Jackson promises that the use of an 125-page appendices included in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" will deliver more than enough material for the impending franchise. 

"In the novel, Gandalf disappears for various patches of time. In 1936, when Tolkien was writing that book, he didn’t have a clue what Gandalf was doing. But later on, when he did The Lord of the Rings and he’d hit on this whole epic story, he was going to go back and revise The Hobbit and he wrote all these notes about how Gandalf disappears and was really investigating the possible return of Sauron, the villain from The Lord of the Rings. Sauron doesn’t appear at all in The Hobbit." 

While we're excited for a more direct link between the LOTR and its prequel, we think Jackson's main challenge is seeing whether or not you can successfully turn a one-trick pony into a three-ring circus without it feeling too drawn out.  

Regardless, we're thinking Jackson can make up for that with his ability for ...

Specific Detail

One of the many reasons we go back to watch Jackson's return to Middle Earth is because of the quality of the films.  

Similar to Rowling with "Potter," Jackson makes us believe in the reality of a fictional universe. 

From the New Zealand hills of Hobbiton, down to the hair and makeup that make the dwarves themselves, the director makes the set come alive and it shows. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, there are people on set who solely work on hair and hobbit feet

Each of the dwarves has six wigs and eight beards (for the actors, stunt doubles, and stand-ins) all real human hair imported from Russia.  

And, though he's not in the film, actor Sean Astin shared at New York Comic Con that even the Hobbit shoes have been reimagined since the first series of films and are extra cozy. (Apparently, they weren't all that comfortable to get around in during the LOTR due to a simple latex and foam build.)

Of course, Jackson's not the first, and certainly not the last director, to put meticulous detail in everything down to the props, but his attention enchants us regardless.  

the hobbitBut, what about the 48 fps? 

When Peter Jackson announced he planned on filming the "Hobbit" prequel in 48 frames-per-second (the norm is just half of that at 24 fps), it sounded sort of cool, until the critiques came back and people were up in arms. 

After ten minutes of the footage was shown earlier this year at CinemaCon, critics were divided between calling the footage "smooth" and impressive, to calling it "too clear" and comparing the look to that of a soap opera

Warner Bros. decided the world wasn't ready for this, as "The Hobbit" will only be available in limited release at select theaters including IMAX

However, when it comes down to it ... 

king kong posterJackson has taken a gamble before and succeeded.  

We can sigh and grunt (or applaud) the inclusion of a third "Hobbit" film; however, Jackson's always one to deliver when it comes to giving us lengthy 2+ hour feature films.  

Jackson originally went over the 160 minute call for "King Kong" by 20 minutes. Instead of cutting the film, Jackson exceeded Universal's expectations. The addition cost the studio a reported extra $20 million in production, of which Jackson paid half

So, when Warner Bros. shells out hundreds of millions for a Jackson film, we can probably count it's going to pay off, trilogy or not. 

SEE ALSO: See the extravagent private jet perks of top media CEOs >

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Lionsgate Pays Off $500 Million Loan To Summit Four Years Early : Lionsgate made the announcement in a pre...

M Orders A Hit On Bond In The Latest 'Skyfall' Trailer

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A new action-packed trailer for the next Bond film, "Skyfall," was released this morning.

In it, we get a better idea about the film's plot (it looks like M, the Head of Secret Intelligence Service, is the reason Bond gets shot at during the much-teased train fight). Plus, there's a hefty bit of dialogue from villain Raoul Silva, played by Javier Bardem.

"Skyfall" comes to theaters November 9, with IMAX releases the day before.

Watch the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: The first plot synopsis for "Iron Man 3" >

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Helen Hunt Plays A Sex Surrogate For A Man With Polio In New Movie Based On True Story

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The Sessions helen hunt

If you live in New York or Los Angeles, as of tonight, you can hit theaters to watch actress Helen Hunt take the virginity of a 38-year-old man afflicted with polio in the new movie "The Sessions."

The film, based on the autobiographical writings of California-based journalist and poet Mark O'Brien, played by actor John Hawkes, tells the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined to lose his virginity.

With the help of his therapists and the guidance of his priest, expertly played by William H. Macy, he sets out to make his dream a reality.

Hunt, who completely strips down in the film, portrays real life sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene, who worked with the polio-stricken O'Brien in real life. A sex surrogate is "a professional substitute trained to help patients overcome inhibitions"—essentially a prostitute but with a limited number of sessions.

O'Brien passed away in 1999, but Cohen-Greene, who worked with Hunt to master the role, is currently out helping promote the film by talking about her real-life sexploits.

The film was also a special project for its screenwriter, Polish-born Ben Lewin, who himself is a polio survivor.

"The Sessions," released today in New York and Los Angeles, won audience and jury awards at Sundance and was immediately picked up by Fox Searchlight. And it's already getting Oscar buzz.

 Watch the trailer below:

SEE ALSO: Will the multi-million dollar budget on "The Hobbit" pay off?

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'Iron Man 3' Teaser Shows Pepper Potts In Trouble


'Paranormal Activity 4' Doesn't Live Up To Its Scary Potential—Here's Your Box-Office Roundup

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tyler perry alex cross

The fourth time for "Paranormal Activity" is not as kind as before. 

Though the film's weekend gross would be great for any other low budget production, the latest installment of the paranormal cult following saw less than either of its previous sequels opening weekend.  

"Argo" saw a very small dip during its second week in theaters, while "Taken 2" still continued its massive box-office run.  

And, Tyler Perry should stick to dresses as his serious stint in "Alex Cross" disappointed. The film saw his lowest box-office opening gross ever with him as a lead. 

Out of the top ten this week include Colin Farrell's "Seven Psychopaths" and Emma Watson's "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." 

Here are this weekend's winners and losers at the box office: 

10. Joseph Gordon-Levitt's "Looper" narrowly makes it into the top ten with $4.2 million. The time travel film is faring better overseas ($75 million) bringing its worldwide total to $132.8 million. 

9."Frankenweenie" lives to see another week in the top ten earning $4.4 million in week four. Tim Burton's black-and-white animated film has earned $40.2 million worldwide. 

8. Universal's "Pitch Perfect" takes in $7 million in week four. The "Glee"-like comedy is on track to hit the $50 million mark in the coming week. 

7. Kevin James' "Here Comes the Boom" only falls two spots during its second week earning $8.5 million. The film is still behind his earlier movies, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" and "Zookeeper." 

6. With a new horror film out, "Sinister" drops three spots with a gross of $9 million. The low budget ($3 million estimated) film earned Summit $31.9 million in its two weekends, which is good considering its latest debut with Perry didn't fare so well.  

5. Tyler Perry should stick to comedy. Summit's "Alex Cross," featuring Perry and Matthew Fox ("Lost") as a detective and serial killer respectively, underperformed, making a third of its estimated $35 million budget with $11.7 million.  

4. Liam Neeson's "Taken 2" settles for fourth with $13.4 million. After three weeks, the sequel to the cult favorite has earned $280.4 million worldwide. 

3. Adam Sandler's "Hotel Transylvania" narrowly beats Neeson's action thriller earning $13.5 million. In four weeks, the film has earned $187.3 million worldwide. 

2. "Argo" finally beat "Taken 2" in its second week, but its 16.6 million weekend wasn't enough to take the box office. After two weeks, the film is slightly more than $1 million shy of its estimated $44.5 million budget. 

1. Though "Paranormal Activity 4" manages to take the top spot with $30.2 million, it earned roughly $5-10 million less than expectations after "Paranormal 3" managed to net $52.5 million opening weekend. Overseas, the film didn't fare much better with a total of $26.5 million. 

SEE ALSO: The teaser trailer for "Iron Man 3" >

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Stephen Colbert Will Make An Appearance In 'The Hobbit'

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the hobbit stephen colbert

What's better than Peter Jackson's long-awaited "Hobbit" coming to theaters in December? 

"The Hobbit" plus a cameo from Stephen Colbert

Yes, Middle-earth is getting a visit from the host of "The Colbert Report," according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Word is the Comedy Central host won't appear in this winter's flick; however, he will be in one of the later two films.

The host also previously hinted at a role in the films during his interview in the November issue of Playboy, mentioning his visit to the set in New Zealand. 

Peter Jackson invited me to the set last year," said Colbert. "I flew out and watched them shoot some scenes and went to some locations. I saw a 25-minute cut, and it was amazing."

Colbert's known to be a huge fan of "The Lord of the Rings" series. (Jon Stewart once played a recording Colbert made on the history of Viggo Mortensen's character Aragorn during an interview on "The Daily Show.") 

Colbert's role hasn't been revealed yet; however, considering the man reads Elvish (the Tolkien language of Middle Earth), we're hoping to see him among the elves of Rivendell. 

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" heads to theaters December 14.

SEE ALSO: The new teaser trailer for "Iron Man 3" >

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Meet Steven Spielberg's Parents In This Revealing '60 Minutes' Profile

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Steven Spielberg mom

Steven Spielberg, along with his divorced parents, sat for in-depth interviews on Sunday's "60 Minutes" before the November 16 release of his upcoming film "Lincoln."

And, for the first time ever, viewers got an intimate look into the personal life of the Oscar-winning director, his anti-Semitic childhood and the strained relationship with his father that has influenced every one of his films.

Here's what we learned:

  • He still gets nervous when directing: "It's just the kind of level of anxiety not being able to write my life as well as I can write my movies."
  • Steven's mother, Leah Adler, was a homemaker and his father, Arnold Spielberg, a workaholic engineer. "Anything he wanted, we did," said his mother. "Steve really did run us. He called the shots." Added Spielberg: "My mom didn't parent us as much as she sort of big-sistered us. She was Peter Pan. She refused to grow up." As for his dad: "I missed my dad a lot growing up, even though we were together as a family. My dad was really a workaholic. And he was always working."
  • Spielberg was bullied as a kid for being Jewish. "I was a nerd in those days. Outsider. Like the kid that played the clarinet in the band and orchestra, which I did." After the neighborhood kids started chanting "The Spielbergs are dirty Jews," Steven got revenge by sneaking out of his room one night to smear peanut butter on their windows.
  • As a result of the bullying, Spielberg long denied his Judaism, saying "I often told people my last name was German, not Jewish. I'm sure my grandparents are rolling over in their graves right now, hearing me say that."
  • But everything changed at age 16, when Steven's father gave him a video camera and eventually "found a way to accept myself. ... I found that I could do something well."
  • When Spielberg was 19, his parents got divorced after his mother fell in love with one of his father's best friends. "It's still a mystery to me, but even though my mother was like an older sister to me, I kind of put her up on a pedestal," Spielberg said. "And my dad was much more terrestrial, much more grounded, much more salt of the earth. And for some reason, it was easier for me to blame him than it was to someone who I was already -- exalted."
  • 1982's "E.T.," centered on a boy and his two siblings being raised by a single mom, was based on Spielberg's parents' divorce—and would become a common theme in all of his future films.
  • Spielberg didn't think anyone would watch 1994's "Schindler's List." "I did everything I needed to do to tell the story the way I thought the story should be told, to give it as much integrity as I could, never expecting it to make a dollar." (The film went on to make more than $321 million at the global box office and win two Oscars for best picture and director.)
  • Spielberg researched for his upcoming film "Lincoln" for over 12 years and it is partially inspired by his reconciliation with his father. "He was the father of a nation in need of repair and in a sense the movies I've made recently have reflected the positive relationship that my dad and I have enjoyed for 20-25 years."
  • "One of the worst things that happened to me was my voluntary fallout with my father and then the greatest thing that ever happened to me was when I finally saw the light and realized I needed to love him in a way that he could love me back."
  • Although divorced, Spielberg's parents are still very close. His mother went on to marry his father's good friend, who has since died, but his father and his second wife are still close with his mother.
  • Spielberg decided to hold off on releasing "Lincoln" until after the November election because he didn't want the film to become a tug of war about party politics. "I think the film is very relevant for today. It's about leadership and telling teh truth, how you feel."

Watch the intimate "60 Minutes" interviews below:

Now watch the "Lincoln" trailer, in theaters November 16:

SEE ALSO: Stephen Colbert will make an appearance in "The Hobbit" >

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Take A Tour Inside The Filming Locations Of The Latest Bond Film, 'Skyfall'

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james bond skyfallThe only item more impressive than 007's stunts in the James Bond films are the locations in which they're filmed.

We went through Sony's production notes for "Skyfall" due out November 9 to take a look at exactly where the film takes place.

Originally, six countries in total were supposed to be featured in the film; however, due to reported budget cuts in January, shooting was to stay primarily in the UK.

Production used 31 different sets on eight sound stages at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire alone for filming.

Despite the cutbacks, the film was able to shoot on location in Scotland, China, and Turkey as well. 

There are no real spoilers; however, if you want to spare yourself of any Bond related news prior to the "Skyfall" release next month, we suggest you turn away.

The pre-title sequence for "Skyfall" is shot in Turkey's cities of Istanbul and Adana. Below is home to Istanbul's Eminonu Square ...

It's the third film to be shot in Istanbul after "From Russia with Love" and "The World Is Not Enough."



... which Bond races in a high-pursuit chase. An area consisting of more than 250 market stalls was created by the art and props department this scene.



Filming at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar was only allowed on Sundays when it was closed due to the harm that could come to its 400,000 daily visitors.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Here's What Happens When Kanye West's Lyrics Meet Wes Anderson's Film Stills

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Kanye West Wes Anderson

Kanye West is a Chicago born rapper known for colorful storytelling through his music and having Kim Kardashian on his arm.

Director Wes Anderson is famous for his quirky characters in award winning films such as "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Royal Tenenbaums," and "Rushmore."

So what happens when you combine one of the world's most famous rappers and the hipster director?

KanyeWesAnderson.

The "Brangelina"-like name mash-up is the title of a new meme going viral, in which Kanye West's lyrics are matched with photo stills from Wes Anderson films.

Take a look at a few examples below:

Kanye West Wes Anderson
 

Kanye West Wes Anderson

Kanye West Wes Anderson

Kanye West Wes Anderson

To see the rest of the pairings from Mr. West and Mr. Wes, click here.

SEE ALSO: 20 bizarre foreign titles for American films >

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The First Trailer For 'Iron Man 3' Is As Awesome As Expected

Robert Redford Announces Sundance London Will Return Next Year: After a successful reception, Redford announced Sund...


Superman Leaves His Job At The Daily Planet To Start 'The Next Huffington Post Or Drudge Report'

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Superman

Not even Superman can save print media.

Less than a week after Newsweek announced they are folding their print edition after 80 years in favor of a digital future, Superman's alter-ego Clark Kent has announced he, too, will be leaving his post as a journalist at the print publication, The Daily Planet, in hopes of creating a new media empire.

In "Superman" issue 13 out on Wednesday, the mild mannered reporter-by-day quits the Metropolis newspaper that has been his employer since the DC Comics superhero's earliest days in 1940.

And he doesn't go out quietly.

In the issue, USA Today reports "his still-strong feelings for Lois, combined with Daily Planet editor in chief Perry White getting on his case for not enough scoops on the Superman beat and his boss' boss Morgan Edge also giving him a hard time, leads to a Jerry Maguire-type moment where he quits in front of the whole staff and rails on how journalism has given way to entertainment — in a not-so-mild-mannered fashion."

New "Superman" scribe Scott Lobdell, who took the writing reigns just last month, explains to USA Today, "I wasn't going to test the waters. I was just going to do a cannonball in the Super-verse ... This is really what happens when a 27-year-old guy is behind a desk and he has to take instruction from a larger conglomerate with concerns that aren't really his own."

But don't expect The Man of Steel to take another day job anytime soon.

"I don't think he's going to be filling out an application anywhere," says Lobdell. "He is more likely to start the next Huffington Post or the next Drudge Report than he is to go find someone else to get assignments or draw a paycheck from."

In the issue, Clark Kent criticizes his Planet Daily editor Perry White, telling him, "I've been a journalist barely five years now. Why am I the one sounding like a grizzled ink-stained wretch who thinks that news should be about -- I don't know, news?"

"Go easy on us mere mortals, Clark. Times are changing, and print is a dying medium," White responds.

SEE ALSO: The first trailer for "Iron Man 3" is as awesome as expected >

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The 'Iron Man 3' Trailer Feels Awfully Similar To 'The Dark Knight' Trilogy

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iron man 3

Earlier this morning, Marvel unveiled the first trailer for "Iron Man 3."

While we know the sequel is following the "Extremis" storyline (more on that later), the more we watched it, Stark's fallen hero storyline reminded us eerily of another recent superhero film.

We couldn't help but notice the latest installment of Iron Man seems to share many similarities with Nolan's Batman universe.

(Granted, it's not the first three-quel to take this route. "Spider-Man 3" also looked at a world where Peter Parker briefly threw away the Spidey suit.)

We're not saying that the two will be identical in the least–there's no Alfred ("J.A.R.V.I.S."), Rachel Dawes (Pepper Potts), or Batmobile (does the Iron Man suit count?)–however, there are definitely some parallels between the two.

The fact that Tony Stark is essentially Marvel's Bruce Wayne is fodder in itself; however, while witnessing Stark down on his luck it's easy to ask ourselves the same question Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character dwells upon in "The Dark Knight Rises": "Do you think he's [Iron Man] coming back?"

Their girl gets taken.

(Note, this is from "The Dark Knight.")

the dark knight rachel dawes



Their multi-million dollar home gets obliterated.

batman begins wayne manor

(And, this is from "Batman Begins.")



Basically, he loses everything.

Tony Stark: The girl (possibly), his home, his suits.

Batman: His Tumblr, Batcave, wealth.

the dark knight rises



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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Everything You Need To Know About The 'Iron Man 3' Villain

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iron man 3 the mandarin

Now that the "Iron Man 3" trailer has been out for a day, one of the many questions on everyone's mind is the exact identity of the film's villain.  

We know Ben Kingsley's playing The Mandarin; however, despite a lot of explosions, multiple Iron Man suits, and a desperate-looking Tony Stark, we didn't get any shots of the real bad guy in action.  

For those unfamiliar with the comics, we've broken down the mysterious Mandarin and his connection to Stark. 

We also think he may not be the only villain in the film.  

Here's everything you need to know about the latest "Iron Man" villain. 

The Essentials: 

The Mandarin's been featured in the Iron Man comics since 1964. A descendant of Genghis Khan, he's essentially out to avenge himself against the hand life dealt him (His parents died soon after his birth, he was left penniless after his savings were spent on the his trainings in combat, and the Chinese government took away his home after he couldn't pay taxes.) What better way to achieve those goals than world domination? 

His beef with Stark:

His fighting techniques employ a level of combat combined with science. Basically, Mandarin looks to take weapons of mass destruction and turn them against their own countries. With that in mind, Tony Stark's technology is of high interest to Mandarin.  

(Perhaps this means we'll see the character using Stark's technology against him and the U.S. government?) 

The deal with the rings: 

mandarin rings

They're no joke. The Mandarin's true testament to power are the rings he found aboard an alien ship (really). We've broken down each of the individual rings' functions below:

Left Hand: 

  • Pinky: Ice beam
  • Ring Finger: Mind control
  • Middle Finger: Electric beam
  • Index Finger: Heat ray / flame blaster
  • Thumb: various electromagnetic powers

Right Hand: 

  • Pinky: Takes the light out of an area. (think the Deluminator in Harry Potter) 
  • Ring Finger: Disintegrate objects 
  • Middle finger: Creates vortexes 
  • Index finger: Creates magnetic waves / sonic vibrations 
  • Thumb: Ability to change matter's shape or form 

This Marvel illustration offers some variations on the powers

However, we're betting Kingsley's Mandarin isn't the only villain Stark should fret. 

guy pearce iron manFrom the looks of it, and if you know anything about Iron Man characters, Guy Pearce's role of Aldrich Killian will center around another bad guy. 

Our reasoning?  

When Pearce was first interviewed for his role, he played it off as nothing more than "cameo stuff." However, we've seen / heard that before.  

Killian's well known in the Marvel universe as a scientist who created an Extremis technology that allows nanotechnology to bind with a human (aka the Iron Man suit with Tony Stark which appears to be in full use this film). 

In the comics, funding for the project was pulled and Killian took matters into his own hands giving the product to terrorists.  

This seems feasible for the plot considering there were comics featuring Mandarin planning to unleash an army of Extremis soldiers.  

SEE ALSO: How the "Iron Man 3" trailer reminded us of "The Dark Knight" trilogy >

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Watch Composer John Williams Test The 'E.T.' Theme Song For Steven Spielberg

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The 30th anniversary edition of "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" revealed an early audition of Henry Thomas as Elliot crying, and now we're getting a look at the making of the film's iconic theme. 

The nearly two minute take shows Stephen Spielberg alongside composer John Williams figuring out the both the track and how to place the music with a specific scene featuring Thomas (Elliot). 

There's not much to it, but it's a cool short clip at the inner makings of one of Spielberg's most memorable films. 

The video is also featured on the 30th anniversary edition.

Check it out below:

SEE ALSO: Photos from the 1941 Disney artist strike >

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IMAX Screenings Of 'Skyfall' Will Show More Bond: Typically IMAX films are shown in a standard format which crops an...

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