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One of the most thrilling scenes from Oscar-nominee, 'Sicario,' almost didn't get made

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sicario emily blunt

Cinematographer Roger Deakins feels every movie has its own set of challenges, whether it be the budget or time to pull off shots. However, for his latest film “Sicario,” the legendary DP told Business Insider there was a part of the movie in particular that was one of the hardest he’s had to pull off.

The movie follows FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) as she’s thrust into the intense drug war on the Mexico/US border.

In one scene Macer and “consultant” Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) are part of a convoy that goes into Mexico to pick up a major player in the Mexican drug trade and transport him back across the US border for questioning.

sicario 3With beautiful aerial shots mixed with tight shots of the black SUVs driving close together as they speed through the narrow streets of Juarez to pick up its prisoner, the sequence is filled with tension as the convoy is on the lookout for anyone that might take them out.

sicario 1Things get serious after the convoy picks up their man from a Mexican prison and try to cross the border back to the US. Stuck in gridlock at the border, the team spot numerous cars planning to ambush the convoy and reclaim the prisoner.

sicario 2With Alejandro at the lead, the teams leave their vehicles and take out the targets, to the shock of Macer.

Deakins told Business Insider that it was unknown if they’d get permission to shoot in Mexico City (which doubled for Juarez), but finally towards the end of production they got the okay, leading them to scramble to get the shots they needed.

Roger Deakins Tommaso Boddi Getty“That was such a jigsaw of how the hell we were going to shoot it,” said Deakins, noting the complexity or aerial shots of the real Mexican border and the convoy on the streets of Mexico City that had to match the scenes they did on set, like the shootout at the border.

Shot over five days, the shooting locations constantly changed. Deakins recalls how difficult it was to shoot the exterior of the Mexican jail where the convoy picks up their prisoner.

“[Director] Denis [Villeneuve] and I fell in love with this location and the night before we were going to shoot we were told, ‘We think you can shoot there,’” Deakins recalled. “So we all showed up that morning and it was all negations but we got permission about five minutes before we shot it.”

He added, “It was quite an amazing experience. But it was particularly tight to do this one.”

Watch the trailer:

 

SEE ALSO: The cinematographer behind some of the most beautiful movies of all time gives his 3 favorites

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What it's like to survive a punishing Michael Bay movie set, according to '13 Hours' star Pablo Schreiber

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Pablo Schreiber Christian Black Paramount final

Pablo Schreiber got the call two months before shooting telling him that he would be in “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi.”

That's when the Michael Bay stories started.

“You talk to all your friends and they have all their stories about Michael and working with him and a lot of it involves screaming,” the actor told Business Insider.

Schreiber, who’s probably best known as the entertainingly evil “Pornstache” in “Orange Is the New Black,” took in all the stories while he prepared for the role of Kris “Tonto” Paronto, one of the surviving members of the security team that defended the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, after it was attacked by Islamic militants, which led to the killing of US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. 

The prep involved putting on a lot of muscle mass, which meant “eating a ton and lifting a lot of weights,” and then doing a three-day boot camp for the cast with ex-Navy SEALS.

Looking back on the experience, Schreiber sums it up this way: “Nothing can prepare you for a Michael Bay set.”

Michael Bay Francois Durand Getty finalThe director known for over-the-top mega-blockbusters like “Armageddon,” “The Rock,” and the “Transformers” movies also has a reputation for being tyrannical on his sets. Megan Fox once said of working with Bay on the first two “Transformers” movies: “He wants to be like Hitler on his sets, and he is.” (She was later fired from the franchise.)

When Schreiber touched down in Morocco for the shoot, he realized he had other things to focus on than Bay's behavior. When you're lugging around 50- to 60-pound gear for an unthinkable 70 setups in a day, with temperatures hitting the low 90s, “screaming is like the smallest part of it all,” Schreiber said.

In fact, he felt that Bay’s high energy was infectious and drove everyone to be equally as intense.

“There’s really no down time on set. Everything is go, go, go. He expects a lot from you,” Schreiber said of the director, who claims to be worth half a billion dollars. “You have to be able to perform any part of the movie at any given moment, so you want to give a lot because you can see how hard he is going. To rise to the occasion when your moment is called in that circumstance gives you a confidence that you can get through anything.”

Schreiber also wanted to make sure he was correctly representing the person he plays.

Pablo Schreiber Peter Larsen GettyHe talked via Skype with Paronto, a former US Army Ranger who is the sarcastic jokester of the bunch in the film, at least five times before shooting started.

“It became really clear that the biggest dynamic in portraying this guy was using the humor to good effect," he said.

The actor would often adlib, throwing in a joke when he felt a scene needed something to break the tension. He said one of those getting the biggest laughs is when, after talking to an interpreter, he turns to one of the soldiers on his team and says, “I’m going to have to break up with him after all of this is over.”

Schreiber knew the hard work paid off when Paronto, after seeing the film, told the actor he was happy with his portrayal.

So what’s his advice for surviving a Bay movie?

“Get on the train and hang on as hard as you can,” Schreiber said with a laugh. “He’s moving, and it’s going to go, and you just have to buckle in.”

Watch the trailer:

SEE ALSO: There's going to be a Broadway musical about Steve Jobs and Bill Gates

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Here are the 29 superhero movies coming out in the next 5 years

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Get ready! Nearly 30 superhero movies have been announced to hit theaters over the next few years.

We'll see Marvel complete "Phase 3" of its cinematic universe while DC will start playing catch-up by building its own multiverse on the groundwork laid by 2013's "Man of Steel."

The list of announced films includes the latest entries in Thor, Captain America, and X-Men as well as new heroes. If you're not feeling superhero fatigue yet, you may soon.

Keep reading to see every superhero movie that's been announced to hit theaters through 2020.

"Deadpool" is the first of seven superhero movies out this year.



Ryan Reynolds will star as Wade Wilson, a mercenary with accelerated healing powers and a wicked sense of humor.



Also starring Morena Baccarin, the R-rated film will be out February 12.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Young Chinese are heading to the movies in droves

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china movie theaterHaving grown up in relatively prosperous times, entertainment is a bigger priority for China’s youth than for generations past.

People under 30 comprise 52 percent of Chinese film audiences and have fueled box-office sales growth of 40 percent a year for the last five years.

With plans to open 700 new theaters, Chinese chain Wanda Cinema could see its market share double to 30 percent by 2020, according to Credit Suisse.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has predicted the sports industry – everything from the broadcasting, advertising and sponsorship rights associated with professional sports, as well as events such as marathons – will grow 25 percent a year to reach 3 trillion yuan ($462 billion) by 2025, partly through sales of broadcast rights for professional football and basketball games.

But young people aren’t just watching – they’re also participating: the number of marathon runners in the country doubled to 1 million between 2012 and 2014. An increasing focus on physical fitness should benefit China’s largest sportswear company, Anta, while the growing popularity of road races should be good for Wisdom Sports Group, which organizes such events.

Travel adventures are also increasingly appealing to China’s youth. Having already explored their backyards – Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand – young travelers are venturing to islands such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Saipan as well as the Middle East and Africa.

Young people scorn the guided group tours their parents have famously embraced, often booking trips online less than three days in advance and using social networks and forums to find recommendations and even travel buddies. Expect Ctrip, China’s largest online travel agency, to benefit from this travel bug.

The same goes for CITS, a state-owned corporation and the only duty-free shop licensed to operate in China, as travelers under 30 spend 54 percent more shopping on vacation than older tourists do.

SEE ALSO: The engine of the world economy is sputtering

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George Clooney is starring in a movie called 'Money Monster,' and his character is clearly a play on Jim Cramer

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"Ocean's 11" stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts are costarring in the coming financial-news thriller "Money Monster," directed by Jodie Foster.

Clooney plays financial-news personality Lee Gates, the so-called Wizard of Wall Street who hosts the stock-picking TV show "Money Monster." Roberts plays Gates' producer, Patty Fenn.

The show seems very similar to Jim Cramer's "Mad Money."

The plot centers on Gates, his crew, and Fenn being held hostage on live television by an enraged investor who lost money on a tech stock that Gates had pitched as a good investment.

The movie debuts in theaters in May.

Watch the trailer below:

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NOW WATCH: Jim Cramer's inspiring words on how to come back from a beatdown

A deleted scene from 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' reveals a new character's awesome power

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Maz Kanata's castle plays a larger part in "The Force Awakens" than the character herself, but she's more powerful than you realized watching the film.

In an interview with Collider, "Star Wars" SFX supervisor Chris Corbould reveals that Maz has abilities that ultimately didn't make the film's final cut.

The motion-capture character, played by Lupita Nyong'o, tells Rey (Daisy Ridley) that she knows the Force, though she's not a Jedi.

In a cut scene, Maz uses the Force to stop advancing stormtroopers.

"There was a particular part of a scene that never made it, where they go underneath the castle and they’re going into the underground passageways, and stormtroopers are coming down the stairs and Maz uses her powers to collapse the ceiling," Corbould said. "From my point of view, [that] worked absolutely brilliantly because you had all the main actors running up and then Maz does her bit and then the whole ceiling collapses in front of them, but that never made it. That was a shot I was quite proud of, actually, it worked really, really well." 

Other scenes, like a snowspeeder chase depicted in the film's novelization, were also cut. Some of the deleted scenes will be included on the film's Blu-ray release. 

SEE ALSO: Meet the 8 on-the-rise actors who have been shortlisted to be the next Han Solo

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'Ride Along 2' beats 'The Force Awakens' to win the weekend box office

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It was going to happen sooner or later. After four weeks at number one in the US box office (and breaking countless domestic and international records), "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" has finally been knocked off the top spot. 

The comedy "Ride Along 2," with Ice Cube and Kevin Hart reteaming as the most unlikely cop duo, took in an estimated $34 million to win the weekend, according to Forbes. By the end of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend on Monday the film will likely to be at $39.5 million.

Coming off a leading 12 nominations when the Oscar nominations were announced last week certainly helped "The Revenant," as the Leonardo DiCaprio survival tale came in second with an estimated $29.5 million by Sunday, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a four-day gross of $35 million.  

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens' dropped to third place with an estimated three-day total of $25 million, $31 million four-day, according to THR. Still an impressive figure for a movie in its fifth week in theaters.

It's now approaching a total of $860 million domestically and over $1.8 billion globally.

13 Hours Dion Beebe ParamountMichael Bay's latest movie, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," performed softer than a typical Bay movie. Coming in fourth place with an estimated $16.8 million ($19 million four-day), according to Deadline, that's the lowest opening for a Bay movie since his first feature, "Bad Boys," back in 1996 (not counting for inflation).

But covering a topic like the 2012 Benghazi attack, with John Krasinski being the most recognizable actor in the cast (and some within the CIA calling the film a "distortion" of the facts), expectations on the film's performance were modest.

SEE ALSO: The 15 most ridiculous celebrity commercials that only aired overseas

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Here's how the insane vehicles were created in 'Mad Max: Fury Road'

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Talks of the twisted metal and high octane vehicles that would populate “Mad Max: Fury Road” began when director George Miller showed production designer Colin Gibson three walls filled with storyboards of the film 15 years ago.

“He said, ‘One day this could all be yours,’” Gibson recalls to Business Insider of what Miller presented him. Gibson just didn’t realize how far away that “one day” would be.

Mad Max George Miller Tom Hardy Mel Gibson Gibson began building the cars to be featured in the film as far back as 2003, when it was originally going to be shot in South Africa with Mel Gibson returning as Max, a loner in a post-apocalyptic world who navigates through the different gasoline-starved tribes in order to survive.

But the plug was pulled on the film leading up to the Iraq War, and the project lingered in development hell until four years ago.

The final version is an action-adventure film starring Tom Hardy as Max and Charlize Theron as Imperator Furiosa. Responsible for driving the massive “War Rig” to replenish her village’s gasoline needs, Furiosa goes rogue and dashes in the truck to parts unknown in hopes of freedom, picking up Max along the way. The village’s evil ruler, Immortal Joe (Hugh Keays-Byrne) unleashes his “War Boys” and their gonzo fleet of vehicles to hunt them down.

 FRD DS 00114Built over 11 months before production began in late 2011, the close to 200 vehicles Gibson created range from a sedan with massive metal spikes sticking out of it to a giant truck covered with stereo speakers.

Below, Gibson breaks down some of the most memorable vehicles.

Interceptor:

madmax_interceptor_finalThe iconic vehicle from the “Mad Max” franchise is Max’s 1973 Ford Falcon XB GT. The super-charged car made its first appearance in "Mad Max" in 1979 when Max was chasing down bad guys with it while he was still a cop. It returned in “The Road Warrior” (1981) where Max used it to escape the clutches of the evil forces who want to take it from him for the gasoline.

Gibson knew the importance of the car, so he didn’t make many changes to its look. “All we had to do with it was make it another 45 years older,” he said. “More rust. More rattle. Less original parts.” But with Hardy now as Max, Gibson also saw the car as a passing of the torch. “When we changed Maxes, it becomes even more important that we have that particular handoff.”

The War Rig:

madmax_warrig_finalLike in “The Road Warrior,” much of the action in "Fury Road" is on a massive 18-wheeler. But like all things in the movie, it’s unlike any you’ve ever seen. With two V8 engines, and modified cabins throughout, Gibson created a vehicle that the audience wouldn’t get tired of looking at half-way through the movie.

“War Rig was one built more to a prescription than an imagination,” he explains. “It was such an important part of the story that George and the storyboard artists had come to a greater consensus of what was required.” Gibson points out that there are up to 13 different characters inside the rig at any one time through the movie. Gibson said the classic John Wayne western, “Stagecoach,” was an inspiration for creating a moving location where the drama plays out over a long stretch of time.

The Gigahorse:

madmax_gigahorse_finalFor Immorten Joe’s vehicle Gibson thought of a creation that would suit a crazed post-apocalyptic leader. What he came up with, he says, is his favorite of the vehicles. Stacked with two 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Villes on top of massive tires, Gibson’s thinking was “in a world where there was barely one of everything, it seemed the only person liable to have a pair would be the lead villain.”

Plymouth Rock:

madmax_plymouthrock_finalTo create this porcupine on wheels, Gibson took inspiration from the tribe that would drive them, the Buzzards. “George saw the Buzzards as the lowest common denominator,” he said.

The first group to go after The War Rig after Furiosa tries to escape, Gibson said they are the “scrap merchants” of the tribes and was allowed to use the rustiest of materials for their vehicles. “We used bent and battered steel panels,” he said. “All the spikes and panels were built out of old cars. But the stunt guys expressed some concern about rolling them at high speeds into rocks, so I had to replicate a couple where the steel spikes were stiffened goat skin which buckled and were less dangerous.”

The Doof Wagon:

madmax_doofwagon_finalPerhaps the most challenging vehicle, for all involved in the film, was the bandwagon that follows Immortal Joe’s armada of twisted vehicles into battle. “George said every army has a little drummer boy and ours was Spinal Tap on acid,” said Gibson.

The Doof Wagon is a big rig strapped with massive drums in the rear, endless speakers in front of it, and a stage where the blind and disfigured Coma the Doof Warrior rocks out on his flam-throwing guitar. Gibson said it was the most difficult vehicle to run as its six foot wheels (which they took from old mining tractors) would get buried in the sand. And then there was the noise. “George Miller has very expansive tastes so everything has to be real,” said Gibson. That means the speakers blared music all the time. “Some of the actors could barely hear themselves act,” he said. But Gibson made the error of when creating the flame-throwing guitar that it did not also play. “I foolishly built it as a prototype,” he said. “George was most emphatic that the guitarist had to be able to play, so we went back to the drawing board and made something that could play and shoot flames.”

doofwagonWith a decade-worth of storyboards for the film, Gibson said the main thing he had to do to get an idea of how to make the vehicles was to write some backstory.

“After conversations with George about the different tribes, I put together this bible of looks and from that we drew the inspiration for each vehicle,” Gibson tells Business Insider.

Some of the cars and trucks created came from scrap material Gibson’s team found in junk yards throughout Australia. But mainly what was used came from what Aussie’s call the “paddock.” 

“It’s at the back of your house where you drop off two cars that you intend to work on one day,” Gibson described. “So we were out searching for other people’s passions that hadn’t come to pass.”

SEE ALSO: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ has no plot but it's still incredible

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People have seen 'Deadpool' already and they love it

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DeadpoolWe’re rather psyched for Deadpool around these parts, and as we get closer and closer to the release date, we’re bordering on giddy. Though the Merc with the Mouth’s solo big screen adventure hits theaters in less than a month now, which isn’t very long to wait at all, some fans got an early look at the film as 20th Century Fox staged surprise screenings in New York and Los Angeles. The first reactions out of these shows are just hitting the airwaves, and so far they’re over the moon.

When fans scored tickets to a handful of special screenings of as-yet unseen Deadpool footage, they wound up getting much more than they bargained for. Instead of just a few new clips or a even a look at a new scene or two, attendees at these screenings were treated to the entire movie, as well as the presence of key members of the cast and crew. Granted, the unexpected nature of these screenings may color the initial reactions somewhat, but the general gist of what’s coming out of these shows on both coasts is that Deadpool freaking rules and fans seem like they’re more than satisfied.

One of the biggest concerns going into Deadpool was how the violence, sex, and profanity would impact the film—the source material doesn’t exactly lend itself to the standard superhero PG-13 approach. These worries were put to bed early on as star Ryan Reynolds, director Tim Miller, and others assured fans it would be an R-rated affair, and that red band trailer certainly backed these claims up. It’s also apparently over-the-top enough that it won’t be able to screen in China, at least not in its current form, which is promising.

From these early responses, it certainly sounds like the cast and crew did the Merc with the Mouth proud. People are already so stoked on Deadpool that they want to see it again. 

If you were one of the lucky people who were privy to one of these screenings, good for you, we’re not totally jealous or anything. That’s a lie, we are very jealous. The good news, however, is that the rest of us only have a few more weeks to wait before we see Deadpool for ourselves as it opens on February 12, just in time for Valentine’s Day. How many of you are already planning a romantic holiday excursion to check this out?  

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Academy president responds to #OscarsSoWhite criticism and says 'big changes' are coming

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In the wake of a second consecutive year with zero minorities among the acting nominees for the Academy Awards, the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, issued a statement on Monday via Twitter addressing the matter and saying that there needs to be a change in the members who vote.

“I am both heartbroken and frustrated about the lack of inclusion,” Isaacs said in her statement. “The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership.”

Isaacs said that in the coming days and weeks, the Academy would conduct a review of its recruitment in order to bring “much-needed diversity” to next year’s membership class and beyond.

Here’s the full statement that was tweeted:

Following the 2016 Oscar nominations announcement last week, the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, which got a lot of attention last year, became a trending topic again on social media.

Even this year’s Oscars host, Chris Rock, couldn’t help but tweet about it:

And celebrities like Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith have taken it further by stating that they will be boycotting this year's ceremony. 

“This isn't unprecedented for the Academy,” Isaacs wrote in her statement. “In the '60s and '70s it was about recruiting younger members to stay vital and relevant. In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. We recognize the very real concerns of our community...”

The Oscars air on ABC on February 28.

SEE ALSO: Christian Slater says starring in "Mr. Robot" has made him paranoid about the internet

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Seth Rogen and Zac Efron take on a hard-partying sorority in 'Neighbors 2' trailer

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After "Neighbors" made over $270 million (on a budget of around $18 million), it was only a matter of time before a sequel came around. And now it is upon us.

Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne are just a few of the stars from the original who have returned for "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising."

This time a new sisterhood is what married couple Mark (Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Byrne) have to take on. A fresh face in the franchise, Chloë Grace Moretz, has created a hard-partying sorority next door to where the Radners live.

To combat the problem, they call in their old nemesis, Teddy (Efron), to settle the girls down.

Obviously that doesn't work.

Check out the hilarious trailer below. The film opens May 20.

 

SEE ALSO: Ice Cube's rise from gangsta rapper to millionaire Hollywood mogul

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HBO is streaming 'The Godfather' parts 1 and 2 with unseen footage as a 7.5-hour epic

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You might think you know Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather" inside out, but HBO is bringing the saga of the gangster family back to the small screen in a completely different format than you're used to. In fact, you've already missed the first airing.

I'm not sure why the network has been so quiet about this, but announced last month (but likely lost amidst the holiday and awards season chatter), last night marked the debut screening of "The Godfather Epic." Running 424-minutes long, this newly remastered version of "The Godfather" and "The Godfather Part II" features scenes cut from the theatrical release, with both movies re-edited into chronological order.

If this seems like a bastardization of Coppola's film, it has actually been done before. In 1977, the version aired on NBC as "The Godfather: A Novel For Television," but with the sex and violence tempered for television. In 1981, Paramount released the uncensored version on VHS, and in 1992 added "The Godfather Part III" to the mix in a box set titled, "The Godfather Trilogy." Four years ago, AMC showed this version, but with commercial breaks, but HBO is now showing it with no breaks at all, except the ones you make yourself.

"The Godfather Epic" is now available on HBO Now, will air again on January 23rd, and is available On Demand until January 28th. Don't miss it.

SEE ALSO: 20 modern classic TV shows everyone needs to watch in their lifetime

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NOW WATCH: Astronauts found something troubling in these shots from space

Netflix releases heartwarming Pee-wee Herman movie teaser and release date

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After almost 30 years without him, the lovable Pee-wee Herman is finally returning to the screen. 

Netflix announced Tuesday that its movie "Pee-wee's Big Holiday" will be on the streaming service beginning March 18.

Produced by Judd Apatow along with Paul Reubens, who will also reprise his legendary Pee-wee character, the movie follows the bow tie-savvy character on his latest adventure. 

Watch the fun teaser Netflix released along with the announcement:

SEE ALSO: Two YouTubers recreated the best movies of 2015 with Legos

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A US president inspired the villainous Snoke in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'

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J.J. Abrams couldn’t have predicted how much attentionStar Wars fans have paid to the new characters introduced in The Force Awakens.

Sure, there was a nostalgic rush to seeing Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) back in action.

But fans have spent the weeks following the release of The Force Awakens analyzing Poe, Finn, Rey, Kylo Ren and, especially, Supreme Leader Snoke, looking for any new detail.

Well, we have some more Snoke information for you.

During a recent conversation with ILM visual effects artists Roger Guyett and Pat Tubach, we probed for specific details on the mysterious Snoke. In doing so, we learned that a large part of his visual presentation was lifted from Abraham Lincoln ... or, specifically, the monument to Lincoln that sits in Washington, DC. As Guyett told me:

Imagine when you’re a kid or whatever, you go up and you stand in front of the Lincoln Memorial. And you see old Lincoln in a huge chair. There’s a certain quality about that. So, that was certainly sort of part of the inspiration for it all. But I think, hologram, you know? The idea really in that opening scene is sort of like, ‘What is going on here. Ok, it’s a hologram. Is he really this big?’ OK, once you figure out that it’s a hologram, of course it’s like, ‘Well how big is he?’

"Honest" Abe Lincoln certainly stood taller than most, and it has been implied in various articles that Snoke, in his normal (non-hologram) form is taller than the rest. It's nice that Guyett and Tubach confirm Snoke's use of hologram technology — putting that rumor of him possibly being a "Force Ghost" to rest. They also talked a bit about how advancements in the technology might have affected how Snoke presented himself. It certainly affected how they, as visual artists, approached making him appear when he spoke with Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson). Guyett explained:

At the end of that first scene [with Snoke], it kind of really gives it away, because obviously he disappears, like a classic hologram. But the idea is the holographic technology is really way more advanced ... we’ve traveled 30 years in time, so you’re seeing a hologram. The thing that I think will be revealed in future movies is more of, you know, you’re probably seeing more of Snoke. Obviously he’s an ongoing character and a lot of those things I think your fans and people on your site or whatever are analyzing, will be discussed. A lot of that stuff will be revealed in the future. But I mean, he is a hologram.

I think one thing that is interesting, too, is just the nature of how he ended up looking, that kind of came out of a lot of exploration. Just our lighting tests, just starting to light that chamber and figure out, kind of, what did that light do in there. Seeing him so dramatically backlit like that is something that I think was kind of inspirational. Because there is, realizing that, ‘Hey, if you reduce a lot of the color down and you just make this very visceral, black-and-white silhouetted character, he gets that much more menacing.’ His size, you know, already makes him menacing, and then you have this sort of [effect of] you can’t quite see what you’re looking at all the time. I think it really adds to his mystique.

Supreme Leader Snoke appears to be a driving force (no pun intended) of the new trilogy that J.J. Abrams started with Star Wars: The Force Awakens. His look is partially inspired by Abraham Lincoln and the Lincoln Memorial, and he’s definitely a hologram. How much power will he wield? What role will he play in Kylo Ren’s development? We’ll find out more when Rian Johnson’s Star Wars: Episode VIII hits theaters on May 26, 2017.

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11 must-see movies completely rejected by the Oscars

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These movies don't have a single Oscar nomination, but they all deserve your attention nonetheless.

SEE ALSO: Academy president responds to #OscarsSoWhite criticism and says 'big changes' are coming

"Love & Mercy"

From "Brokeback Mountain" to "The Tree of Life" and "12 Years a Slave," Bill Pohlad has produced some of the most critically acclaimed films of the past two decades. Stepping behind the director's chair for the first time since his 1990 debut "Old Explorers," Pohlad and screenwriter Oren Moverman reinvigorated the biopic genre with a unique approach to chronicling Beach Boys leader and co-founder Brian Wilson. The film is presented in a parallel narrative covering two important time periods in Wilson's life: The 1960s and the 1980s. Bringing the singer to life over these two separate decades is a pair of performances by Paul Dano and John Cusack that show the peak of their dramatic powers. Dano, in particular, is a force of unrelenting genius, registering Wilson's brilliance as inspiring and tragic all in a single look.



"Tangerine"

What is there to say about "Tangerine" that hasn't been said already? Magnolia effortlessly mounted the first Oscar campaign for a transgender actress, and in many ways we wish Mya Taylor would be at the Dolby Theater in February. In this madcap tale of two Los Angeles prostitutes wandering around Hollywood in search of a cheating pimp, the two stars — Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez — break out in ways both comically brilliant and dramatically profound. Director Sean Baker, shooting the streets of Hollywood with a magnetic intensity, crafts a screwball comedy that never stops surprising. His characters' plight make their tale universally relatable, and the film speaks boldly to every viewers' battle to survive another hectic day.



"The End of the Tour"

James Ponsoldt has emerged as one of the best independent directors thanks to acclaimed favorites "Smashed" (2012) and "The Spectacular Now" (2013), and this biographical drama about a magazine reporter and his conversations with author David Foster Wallace during a promotional book tour is another emotional winner. Following in the footsteps of Jonah Hill, Judd Apatow stalwart Jason Segel makes a successful jump to drama with his portrayal of Wallace, the influential "Infinite Jest" author who committed suicide at age 46 after years of battling depression and substance addiction. It's ultimately these dark facets of Wallace's life that make Ponsoldt the best choice to bring the author to the big screen. Ponsoldt embraces his subjects and their addictions with a rare sensitivity that builds character organically without ever judging it. The results have been movies of stirring authenticity, and "The End of the Tour" movingly continues the trend.



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Here's our first look at the fully assembled Justice League from 'Batman v Superman'

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Here they are!

Warner Bros. and DC Comics just unveiled our first look at the fully assembled Justice League. The image comes from DC Films' newly launched Facebook page and was released to promote Tuesday night's big preview of the "Justice League" film on The CW.

The image features Justice League members Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and Flash (Ezra Miller).

Fans were quick to point out the absence of the Green Lantern. Though the hero may not be appear in the new artwork, Warner Bros. announced a solo film for Lantern in 2020 but have not yet attached an actor.

The other members will also get solo movies between now and 2020. 

For now, we'll get our first glimpses of the team in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" coming March 25 and we'll see all the heroes unite for "Justice League - Part I" on November 17, 2017.

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Leonardo DiCaprio wants to play Vladimir Putin for his next movie

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leonardo dicaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is ready to take on a new role: Russian president Vladimir Putin. 

According to the Guardian, DiCaprio spoke to Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper and described Putin as "very, very, very interesting,” and said, “I would love to play him.” 

DiCaprio and Putin previously met in 2010 when DiCaprio attended a conference in St. Petersburg focused on the endangered Siberian tiger. He said he didn't discuss politics with the politician, but instead "talked only about the protection of these magnificent animals."

He went on to say that Russian history should be portrayed more in films and cited other well-known Russians as interesting people to portray.

“I think there should be more films about Russian history because it has many stories worthy of Shakespeare," he said. "That is fascinating for an actor. Lenin also would be an interesting role. I would like also to star as Rasputin.”

 

SEE ALSO: The 15 most ridiculous celebrity commercials that only aired overseas

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THEN & NOW: What the stars of 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' are up to 10 years later

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40 year old virgin steve carrell

"The 40-Year-Old Virgin" almost didn't happen, but it was a good thing it did, because it helped launch the careers of Hollywood A-listers like Paul Rudd, Seth Rogen, and Steve Carell.

In a recent interview with Conan O'Brien, Carell revealed that the film he helped cowrite with Judd Apatow was almost sacked because Universal felt that Carell looked like a "serial killer" in early footage.

"We hadn't shot any dialogue," he said. "It was me riding my bike with a weird helmet, and it was me walking down the street and seeing suggestive posters and going eghh. And just that week compiled, they went, 'No, no, no, this is not a comedy.'"

But the shooting continued and Apatow's feature directorial debut became a comedic success, leading to "Knocked Up" and more.

Here's what the cast and filmmakers have been up to in the last decade, since "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" came out in 2005:

SEE ALSO: 11 must-see movies completely rejected by the Oscars

Steve Carell had appeared in a few comedies ("Bruce Almighty" and "Anchorman") before landing the lead role of the 40-year-old virgin, Andy, in Judd Apatow's directorial debut.



The film helped launch Carell to an award-winning career in comedic and dramatic roles. He played Michael Scott on "The Office" for seven seasons, a role that earned him six Golden Globe nominations (one win) and nine Emmy noms. He also earned an Oscar and a Golden Globe nom for his portrayal of convicted murderer John du Pont in "Foxcatcher" (2014). He can most recently be seen in "The Big Short," for which he earned another Golden Globe nom.



Before Paul Rudd played coworker and friend to Andy, he was best known as Cher's ex-stepbrother in "Clueless."



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These toys may give a few hints at what's to come in 'Batman v Superman'

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Tuesday night, DC Comics and Warner Bros. is giving a preview at some of its upcoming superhero movies on The CW, including "Batman v Superman" and "Suicide Squad."

Until then, a few of Mattel's "Batman v Superman" toys may give us some more hints about the March superhero film.

I came across a few new "Batman v Superman" toys for sale on Amazon, which may give away some spoilers, so tread lightly!

batman v superman trinity

Ready?

Aquaman

First up is an Aquaman toy in actor Jason Momoa's likeness.

We've heard the King of the Seven Seas aka Aquaman will appear in "Batman v Superman," and we've seen an image of Momoa as a brooding version of the king, but this toy gives us an idea of how we may see him in "Batman v Superman."

batman v superman aquaman

It looks like Aquaman has blonde highlights as well as tattoos all over his body.

The new Batwing

batman v superman batwing

We've seen some shots in the dark featuring Batman's new ride, but this toy gives a good look at what we can expect to see in the final film. 

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It's a lot smaller than you may think.

batwing

A Kryptonite-wielding Batman?

batman v superman gauntlet batman

Okay, this guy is actually called "Gauntlet Assault Batman," but who are you trying to kid, Mattel? That's totally Kryptonite.batman kryptonite

We know it's not a fair fight for Batman to go up against Superman in the new film. Batman is going to need some help on his side, and he's probably going to find it in the Man of Steel's one weakness — Kryptonite.

It's not clear whether we'll actually see a Batsuit like this in the film — complete with Kryptonite-like gauntlets — but it's probably not a stretch to think Batman will be looking for a piece of the green substance.

Heat Vision Batman!

There are some really interesting Batman figurines coming out and this one's on the more bizarre end of the spectrum:

heat vision batman

That's a little silly, right? Batman and Superman having laser vision? I know Bruce Wayne has the tech to make these sorts of things, but between Superman, Doomsday, and Cyborg, we don't really need another character shooting lasers out of their eyes.

Often, toy companies will put out a bunch of toys that have nothing to do with the film. If you ask me, I doubt we're going to see this in "Batman v Superman."

Lex Luthor's Kryptonite warsuit

The biggest potential spoiler is this Lex Luthor toy that's being sold along with Batman and Superman figurines. 

It shows Luthor in a suit of his own that fans are most likely familiar with. That's the green and purple suit he uses to go up against Superman time and time again.

batman superman lex luthor

It even has the LexCorp logo on its chest plate.

lex luthor suit

Will we see its debut in "Batman v Superman" or possibly later on down the line? Joblo reported last year we'll be seeing Luthor's mechanical suit in "BvS."

We'll have to wait to see, but we may get some more hints soon.

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How the 'Suicide Squad' cast looks compared to their comic-book counterparts

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Tuesday night, Warner Bros. unveiled a new trailer for this summer's "Suicide Squad" film

Based on the comic series of the same name, the Suicide Squad is a team of supervillains recruited to go on missions that have almost no odds of survival. They're suicide missions, hence the name. The team is made up of almost a dozen unique villains, but many have never appeared in a DC film before.

Not familiar with the Squad? No worries.

Here's what you need to know about each member of the team before the film comes to theaters August 5.

One thing's for certain, these aren't the good guys.

Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) leads the Suicide Squad.

Amanda "The Wall" Waller forms the "Suicide Squad" team and acts as its leader. Because the Squad members are all officially serving life sentences in maximum security prison, she works hard to maintain their cover during missions. 

In the comics, she keeps the Squad in check by implanting bombs in their neck and threatening to detonate them if they step out of line. But Waller's greatest weapons are her mind games. She keeps encyclopedic knowledge of each member's weaknesses and uses them to keep the squad members under control. She wants her team to succeed, but never lets them forget they're all expendable. 



Deadshot (Will Smith) is a sniper and master armsman.

Real name Floyd Lawton, Deadshot is a master assassin and gunslinger. In addition to his sniper rifle, he can fire bullets from his gauntlets and laser monocle.

In the comics, he joins the Squad in the hopes of clearing off a life sentence so he can reconnect with his adopted daughter. He also starts an on and off again fling with Harley Quinn. Interestingly, Batman is the one who put Deadshot into prison after foiling an assassination attempt in Gotham. We know Ben Affleck's Batman will appear in "Suicide Squad," so perhaps he'll be a part of Deadshot's story. 



Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), the Joker's main squeeze, will appear on film for the first time.

Described in the comics as a "psychoanalyst turned psycho," Harleen Quinzel was once a brilliant psychologist. However, she fell in love with her most disturbed patient, The Joker, and soon after took on the persona of "Harley Quinn."

In the comics, Harley is among the most feared of the Squad members because she's both unpredictable and uncontrollable. She's a surprisingly strong martial artist and Deadshot develops something of a soft spot for her. This is the on-screen debut for the character and we'll get to see both her life as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, attempting to treat the Joker, and as Harley Quinn, the giggling supervillain and Squad member.

 



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