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'Star Wars' fans can visit a huge replica of the Starkiller Base

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star wars force awakens poster

Despite its similarities to the Death Stars, Starkiller Base was nonetheless a technological achievement in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Stepping it up from an artificial space station the size of a moon, the First Order converted an entire planet into a super weapon capable of destroying multiple worlds in a single shot.

Until we develop out own planet destroying technology, we’ll never truly get to experience what it’s like walking on Starkiller Base, but the next best thing is now available in Abu Dhabi.Screen Shot 2016 01 22 at 12.15.42 PM

The United Arab Emirates capital was home to the Jakku scenes in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and to mark this big moment, media and entertainment company twofour54 and Aldar Properties PJSC teamed up to transform Aldar’s headquarters into a Starkiller Base tourist attraction. Taking nine days and “over 420 hours of combined manpower,” they were able to cover the building in over 17,000 square meters of printing to make it look like the weaponized planet. According to a report from Variety, twofour54 will also use some of the left over props from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens desert shoot for another tourist attraction, though no further details about that are currently available.

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As the Aldar HQ is the world’s first circular skyscraper, it’s fitting that it gets to be turned into a mock Starkiller Base, and no doubt this will be another boon for getting vacationers to visit Abu Dhabi. Obviously the interior of the building won’t match the silver hallways of the actual base, since Aldar still has work to do in there, but it’s the thought that counts.

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Built in the Unknown Regions from an ice planet, Starkiller Base was able to draw energy from a nearby sun and convert into a powerful beam that blasted across hyperspace. Its first and only use was when General Hux ordered it fire on the New Republic capital, Hosnian Prime, resulting the destruction of both that planet and all nearby worlds. Its second target was intended to be D’Qar, the location of the Resistance base, but after Rey, Finn, Han Solo, and Chewbacca lowered the shields and set off explosives, Poe Dameron and his X-Wing squadron were able to fly into the base and destroy it.

Check out the video below to get a better sense of what Abu Dhabi’s Starkiller Base will look like.

Unless Star Wars pulls a page from Return of the Jedi’s book and builds another Starkiller Base for Episode IX, then that’s the last we’ve of this particular technological terror. The new trilogy will resume when Star Wars: Episode VIII is released on December 15, 2017.

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NOW WATCH: Scientists say blowing up the Death Star would have had a catastrophic result


A NASA scientist explains why this 'Star Wars' planet is just like a real-life moon

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hoth star wars

The planets and galaxies created for sci-fi films such as "Star Wars,""Star Trek," and "Alien" are pretty realistic.

That is, according to Robert Hurt, a visualization specialist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

In a video for Wired, Hurt analyzes certain fictional planets and compares them to real-life counterparts.

Hoth, the icy planet from "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back," is similar to a moon in our own solar system, Saturn's Enceladus.

"[It's] this pristine, white, icy ball that has these fantastic geysers of ice that spray out into space," Hurt explains of the moon. It's "less hospitable" than Hoth, but still comparable. 

"Star Trek's" Romulus and Remus are a double-planet system, which means the two planets orbit each other. In our own system once again, Hurt explains that Pluto and its moon Charon "orbit around a mutual point in space. That would actually categorize it as a dual-planet system." 

As for "Alien's" LV-426, the planet's "hostile environment" is similar to that of exoplanets.

Watch the video below: 

SEE ALSO: 'Avatar 2' is delayed once again — here's why

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Meet 27-year-old Alicia Vikander, breakout Oscar nominee in 'The Danish Girl'

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Alicia Vikander

Just in 2015, Swedish actress Alicia Vikander played a famous painter, a secret agent, and an artificial intelligence that wants to be human.

It's been quite a year for the 27-year-old, and it might all end with her receiving an Oscar for her nominated role in "The Danish Girl."

Playing artist Gerda Wegener in the film, Vikander gives a scene-stealing performance as the wife of fellow artist Lili Elbe (played by Eddie Redmayne), one of the first identifiable recipients of sex-reassignment surgery.

But it's just the latest in a stellar series of performances Vikander has done, which also includes the hit indie film "Ex Machina."

Let's learn more about this star on the rise.

SEE ALSO: The fast-rising career of 26-year-old Brie Larson, 'Room' star and Hollywood's new 'it girl'

Vikander's first taste of success came in 2007 with the Swedish soap opera "Andra Avenyn" ("Second Avenue"), which looked at the lives of a group of people living in the second-largest city in Sweden.



In 2009, she starred in her first feature film, "Pure," in which she plays a troubled 20-year-old who, in leaving her family life, ends up in the arms of a married man.



Vikander then found notice in the US playing Kitty in the 2012 adaptation of the Tolstoy classic "Anna Karenina," starring Keira Knightley in the lead role.



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Don Cheadle: Here's why the Oscars are 'silly'

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Don Cheadle Nicholas Hunt Getty

Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle is at the Sundance Film Festival promoting his directorial debut, "Miles Ahead," a look at a dark period in the life of Miles Davis (played by Cheadle).

But the actor couldn't escape talking about the controversy surrounding this year's Oscar nominations and its lack of diversity.

"I guess I have to take some responsibility because I wrote a tweet that apparently was Earth shattering," Cheadle told Business Insider, referring to this tweet to Chris Rock once the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag began to trend:

The actor told BI that was just him joking with Rock, but "The best jokes are about some real s***," he added. "So I was joking about some real s***."

But, to Cheadle, the recent attention to Hollywood's diversity problem shouldn't be focused on Oscar nominations. It should point to the decision-makers at the studios.

"It's the executive level, where the money is being spent and the deals are being made," Cheadle said, "these things are the underpinning of what happens in two weeks from now when someone gets a statue." And, to Cheadle, when the time comes that executive suites inside Hollywood studios look similar to the diverse landscape of the country, the Oscars still won't matter because, to him, it's just a "silly contest."

Oscars 2015
"That's how I feel about it," said Cheadle. "This isn't about who scored the most points, this is about opinions and their subjective takes. Some [voters] haven't even seen all the movies they're voting on."

The controversy surrounding this year's Oscars has led actors like Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, ti announce they are boycotting this year's awards. Director Spike Lee is doing the same. Cheadle said he wasn't approached to boycott the Oscars and even if he was he wouldn't have done it.

"Boycott the Oscars this year with Chris Rock as the host?" said Cheadle. "No chance in hell. This could be a career defining moment for him."

"Miles Ahead" opens April 1.

SEE ALSO: These A-list actors are blowing off the Oscars this year — here's why

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NOW WATCH: Watch 13 hours of superstorm Jonas in one minute

Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe star in the strangest movie I've ever seen at the Sundance Film Festival

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swiss amry man joyce kim final

I've seen a lot of weird movies in the nine years I've attended the Sundance Film Festival, but this year, I may have seen the strangest one yet.

It involves friendship, a dead body, and a lot of flatulence.

"Swiss Army Man" is a comedic action-drama that stars Paul Dano as a lonely guy who, while sailing one day, gets swept up in a storm in the Pacific Ocean and is washed ashore on a deserted island. Daniel Radcliffe is the dead body that washes up at the moment when Dano's character, Hank, is about to commit suicide.

We're not even close to the weird part yet.

Directed by Daniels (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), who are best known for their music video and commercial work, the duo have created for their feature length debut a movie that highlights what it's like to be a recluse and not taking chances in life — a topic not uncommon to Sundance Film Festival entrants. The story plays out in a fashion that's funny, touching, but most importantly, original.

Let's take the film's opening 10 minutes, for example.

Swiss Army Man Featured
After he comes across the dead body, Hank gives this touching speech on how his hopes have been dashed that it isn't a live person. He's lonely, and desperate for human contact. But as he opens up in this revealing moment, the dead body passes gas.

It's funny; Hank even finds it amusing, but the body does it again. Even as Hank prepares to try suicide again, the body continues to pass gas.

The body then gets pulled into the current and moves further into the water — because of its relentless flatulence.  Eventually, Hank sits on top of the body and floats it like a jet ski off the island. The film score is triumphant. Hank is cheering as he moves further away from the island. Is this all a dream?

That's a question you'll be asking yourself often as the body doesn't just use its biological function to help Hank out of his predicament, but as Hank continues to search for civilization the body turns into a multi-purpose tool for Hank. The body chops wood with its arms, can start fires with its fingers, is a source of hydration by spewing water from its mouth — which Hank drinks.

Importantly, over time, the dead body begins to talk. Manny (the body's name) is curious about everything and Hank is happy to have someone to share his life with. Hank talks about what he wants to do when he returns home to reunite with his love, Sarah (Mary Elizabeth Winstead).

Paul Dano Daniel Radcliffe Nicholas Hunt Getty
Hank and Manny build little moments from Hank's memory with sticks, brush and trash found in the woods. But there are moments where Hank is too shy to go through with talking to Sarah, and tries to make Manny understand that doing almost anything instinctively will make a person look weird.

"Swiss Army Man" is a look into the side of ourselves that's too weird to be revealed in public. But, what the Daniels show here, is that the eccentricities in us that we hide may, in fact, be the best version of ourselves. The Daniels just chose to drive home that point by creating a silly film with A-listers in it.

And that's the best part of this movie. Because the Daniels were able to land top-shelf talent like Dano and Radcliffe in their gonzo movie, it makes your chances of seeing "Swiss Army Man" outside of the film festival circuit that much greater. So get ready.

SEE ALSO: "Harry Potter" fans live out their wizard dreams at a magical school inspired by the series

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This might just be the craziest theory about Rey in 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' yet

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rey star wars force awakensWe have seen some absolutely bonkers theories coming off of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." Everything from Supreme Leader Snoke is actually Grand Moff Tarkin, to Poe Dameron is actually a sleeper agent for The First Order. We thought that last one was the craziest theory we’d hear, but this new one takes the cake. One of the other great mysteries of "The Force Awakens" is the answer to the question regarding Rey’s past. Prior to the movie’s release many believed that Rey might be the daughter of Han Solo. Now many are of the opinion that she might be the daughter of Luke Skywalker. A new theory supposes that she is related to Luke, but she’s not his daughter. She’s his father.

Ok, stick with me people because this one gets a little (a lot) crazy. The theory, which is laid out in pretty terrible English, but with a decent production value, on 9gag.com believes that Rey is actually the reincarnated spirit of Anakin Skywalker. The evidence for this theory is tenuous at best. It starts off by giving us some connections between Rey and Anakin as far as their general abilities. Rey is a pilot, she seems to be good with droids and other mechanical things, and obviously has the ability to use The Force. These are also things that Anakin was good at. While true, the connection is tenuous at best.

Exactly how the "reincarnating" happens, however, is a little vague in the theory. At one point, the post claims that Anakin may have learned how to do it as part of his desire to cheat death and save Padme.

rey theory

While at another point the theory claims that "The Chosen One" who Anakin is supposed to have been, has actually been reincarnated several times over the generations. The theory can't make up it's mind how this works.

rey theory

This part of the theory is actually pretty entertaining, as it surmises that the reason Rey ends up on Jakku is as punishment for her (his) previous bad acts. Anakin says in the prequels that he hates sand, so Rey ends up on a sand world as a kind of purgatory.

rey theory

Needless to say, the theory is full of holes. It believes that the reason that Rey has visions of the past when she touches the lightsaber is because it’s actually her lightsaber, viewing her own past, and future. It conveniently ignores the visions of the destruction of Luke’s Jedi Temple, which Anakin was certainly not around to see.

The theory is insane but it’s still entertaining. What do you think. Is there anything worthwhile here, or is it all complete nonsense?

SEE ALSO: How 'Star Wars' actor John Boyega got ripped in just 21 days

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Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Revenant' survives Storm Jonas to win weekend box office

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Snowzilla couldn't stop Leonardo DiCaprio.

Alejandro G. Inarritu's awards frontrunner "The Revenant" rode to the top of the box-office chart in its fourth weekend in wide release — the first time the movie has come in No. 1. The frontier epic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, grossed $16 from 3,711 theaters for a domestic total of $119.2 million. 

"The Revenant" and other films faced a formidable foe this weekend as hundreds of theaters closed on the East Coast because of winter storm Jonas, including in New York City, a market that contributes as much as 7% of the overall box-office gross. Cinemas also shuttered in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Analysts project that weekend revenue was down as much as 15% because of Jonas.

Theaters in the nation's capital, Baltimore and Philadelphia remain dark on Sunday as clean-up efforts begin, while New York City cinemas are expected to begin reopening in the afternoon.

Even without snowzilla, none of the weekend's three new films — Lionsgate's raunchy, R-rated comedy "Dirty Grandpa," supernatural horror film "The Boy," and Sony's "The 5th Wave"— were expected to do big business, although all three came in on the high end of expectations. That being said, they all placed behind "The Revenant,""Star Wars: The Force Awakens" ($14.5 million), and "Ride Along 2" ($12.9 million). Zac Efron and Robert De Niro's R-rated comedy "Dirty Grandpa" fared the best with $11.5 million from 3,192 theaters. The movie, coming in No. 4, was decimated by critics but fared somewhat better with audiences, who gave it a B CinemaScore.

dirty grandpaIn the film, De Niro plays a grandfather who tricks his grandson (Efron) into driving him to Florida just days before the young, uptight lawyer's wedding.

"The Boy," fueled by younger females and Hispanics, grossed $11.2 million from 2,671 theaters. Directed by William Brent Bell, the movie is the third release from STX Entertainment, who partnered with Lakeshore on the $10 million movie.

Previously titled "The Inhabitant,""The Boy" revolves around a young American (Lauren Cohan) who takes a job as a nanny in a remote English village. Her charge, however, turns out to be a life-size doll that the parents treat as a real boy, while the whereabouts of their son is unclear.

Sony's "5th Wave," starring Chloe Grace Moretz, came in No. 6 with an estimated $10.3 million from 2,908 locations. That's a disappointing start, considering the $38 million movie was intended to launch a new YA film franchise. However, the film is faring better overseas, where its early total is $37 million.

"5th Wave," based on the best-selling book series, follows a young girl on the run after four waves of increasingly deadly alien attacks leave much of Earth decimated. As she prepares for the fifth attack, she meets a young man (Nick Robinson).

star wars the force awakensBoth "5th Wave" and "The Boy" earned a B- CinemaScore.

In its sixth weekend, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" hit $1.94 billion globally. It placed No. 2 in the U.S. with $14.3 million from 3,365 theaters for a domestic total of $879.3 million; overseas, it took in $23.3 million for a foreign tally of $1.06 billion.

Among holdovers, Universal's "Ride Along 2" appeared to be hit hardest by Jonas. The sequel, reuniting Ice Cube and Kevin Hart, tumbled 63% in its second weekend to $12.9 million from 3,192 theaters. "The Revenant" and "Star Wars" declined 50% and 46% as a way of comparison.

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

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' took a swing at Hollywood for its Oscars diversity controversy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How makeup artists made Leonardo DiCaprio look like he was really attacked by a bear in 'The Revenant'

Chris Rock is rewriting the Oscars show amid diversity uproar

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Chris Rock won't do the script he planned to perform for this year's Oscars awards ceremony. In light of the uproar over diversity, he's rewriting the show with a new angle.

"Chris is hard at work. He and his writing staff locked themselves in a room,"Academy Awards producer Reginald Hudlin told "Entertainment Tonight" during the NAACP Image Awards luncheon on Saturday. "As things got a little provocative and exciting, he said, 'I'm throwing out the show I wrote and writing a new show.'"

Spike Lee mentioned Hudlin and Rock in his statement earlier this week, in which he said he wouldn't be attending this year's ceremony. He was soon followed by many other celebrities– including Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and George Clooney – who expressed their anger that not one black actor was nominated for the second consecutive year.

In response, the Academy reiterated its intention to make diversity a priority, and is changing some rules to do so. According to Hudlin, the organization is also supportive of Rock's efforts to include the controversy in the show.

"You should expect [diversity jokes]," Hudlin told ET. "And, yes, the Academy is ready for him to do that. They're excited about him doing that. They know that's what we need. They know that's what the public wants, and we deliver what the people want."

The 88th Annual Academy Awards will air Sunday, February 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT on ABC.

Watch the interview with Hudlin below:

SEE ALSO: Don Cheadle: Here's why the Oscars are 'silly'

SEE ALSO: 'SNL' took a swing at Hollywood for its Oscars diversity controversy

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jada Pinkett Smith says 'people of color' don't need the Oscars anymore

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."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Warner Bros. just released two new 'Batman v Superman' teasers

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We're less than two months from the release of "Batman v Superman" and Warner Bros. just released two new teasers for the film during football games Sunday.

The first TV spot, which aired during the Broncos and Patriots' game, contains a lot of footage from previous trailers. The new part comes at the very end when Supes gives Batman some advice: Ditch the cape and cowl the next time he sees the Bat signal in the sky.

Somehow, we doubt he'll heed that advice, especially since the second teaser, which aired during Panthers and Cardinals game, almost plays like a continuation of the last one.  

Batman (Ben Affleck) tells his butler Alfred (Jeremy Irons) that Superman needs to be stopped at all costs. From Bruce Wayne's perspective, after demolishing Metropolis in "Man of Steel," it's unclear what kind of havoc he can unleash next upon the world. Of course, he has a lot to learn.

Check out the teaser below:

The two TV spots debuted along with a new poster Sunday asking fans to pledge their allegiance to Batman or Superman, asking "Who will win?"

batman v superman poster

"Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" is in theaters March 25, 2016.

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Man who accidentally shot a woman during '13 Hours' had the gun because he was 'concerned about mass shootings'

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13 Hours Dion Beebe Paramount

A man who accidentally shot a woman in a Washington state movie theater had the gun because he was afraid of mass shootings, according to police.

Dane Gallion, 29, was at a screening of Michael Bay's "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" on January 21, when his gun discharged, hitting a 40-year-old woman in the shoulder. She was in serious condition, but was in stable condition by Saturday.

In a statement released by police, Gallion said he had the gun because he was “concerned about recent mass shootings in public places,” so he kept the gun unholstered.

Gallion left the theater after the shooting, and according to a theater patron, "seemed like he was intoxicated." 

After Gallion returned home, his father called 911, saying that his son was upset and claimed the gun had fallen out of his pocket and discharged.

Since then, Gallion's description of the event has changed. 

Police say that Gallion told an arresting officer that someone reached for his crotch, so he accidentally fired the weapon. He later said at the station that someone had been bothering him before the gun accidentally went off. 

His bail was set at $25,000 and he will appear in court for a second time Tuesday. 

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

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Every theory fans have about Rey in 'Star Wars'

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daisy ridley rey star wars

One of the biggest questions "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" left unanswered was the identity of Rey, the young scavenger from the desert planet of Jakku.

Since the film's release, fans have been coming up with a lot of theories on who the young girl can possibly be. Speculation goes way beyond whether Rey's a Solo or a Skywalker (or even a Kenobi).

We've searched through every theory we could find about the mystery girl and some of them are truly out there.

We'll have to wait for Episode 8, or beyond, to find out whether or not any of these theories pan out. Keep reading to see 10 theories fans came up with to explain Rey's heritage.

Naturally, there are spoilers ahead. You've been warned.

Rey is Luke Skywalker's daughter.

Let's start off with one of the biggest theories. If you've been following anything "Star Wars"-related since the film's release, you've heard this one by now.

How the theory goes: Rey is Luke's daughter. She's a natural pilot, just like the other Skywalkers, is naturally strong in the force, and Luke's lightsaber calls out to her in the movie. At the film's end, it looks like Luke instantly recognizes Rey and has a connection with the young girl.

Why people don't buy it: Some fans think this is too obvious of an answer for Rey's heritage. Then there's the fact that Rey doesn't seem to be aware of Luke Skywalker at all when Finn mentions him.

You can read more on Rey possibly being a Skywalker, here.



Rey is Han Solo and Leia's daughter.

The other big theory is that Rey is the daughter of Han and Leia, making her Kylo Ren's sister.

How the theory goes: Prior to Disney's purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012, the accepted "Star Wars" canon included one of many novels which featured Han and Leia's twin children named Jaina and Jacen. The one twin, Jacen, fell to the dark side. Though the novelizations are no longer canon, many believe Lucasfilm may be loosely adapting Jaina and Jacen as Rey and Kylo Ren.

As well, Rey and Han seem very similar. Not only were the two finishing each other's sentences, but Rey also had a knack for mechanical engineering similar to Han.

Why people don't buy it: It's extremely strange that Leia and Han never mention having a daughter. Sure, maybe they never speak of her because they thought they lost her long ago, but in the novelization the two refer to Rey as no one special but "the girl." 

You can read more on Rey being a Solo, here.



She's Obi-Wan Kenobi's granddaughter.

How the theory goes: There's a lot of time in between "Star Wars: Episode III" and "Episode IV" and some think that after Obi-Wan went into hiding that he may have had a love interest. There's some evidence to support this since he falls for Duchess Satine in the animated series "The Clone Wars." A lot of people also point out that she has an accent similar to Obi-Wan's.

Fans think there are a lot of hints to Kenobi and Rey's connection. For instance, when Rey first comes in possession of Luke's lightsaber she hears a multitude of voices including Obi-Wan's (both Ewan McGregor and Alec Guinness). Sure, Anakin's lightsaber may have called to Rey, but Obi-Wan was in possession of it the longest. People also see her use of a Jedi mind trick eerily similar to the delivery of Kenobi throughout the "Star Wars" saga.

Why people don't buy it: Kenobi doesn't seem like the kind of person to break the Jedi code for a woman. It would also be weird for the series to skip over an entire generation of the character's history.

You can read more on Rey being a Kenobi here.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Disney has 13 movies coming out in 2016 — here’s what you have to look forward to


A movie about one of the most horrific moments in TV history has become the talk of the Sundance Film Festival

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kate plays christine

Ten years ago, when Robert Greene learned the story of Christine Chubbuck— a 1970s TV reporter in Sarasota, Florida, who was the first person to commit suicide on live television — two things instantly came to him: "How do you make a film about someone who kills themselves?" and "I need to see the footage."

With the most mundane moments of our lives now captured and immediately put online for the world to see, Greene was shocked to find that not only was no footage of the Chubbuck suicide online (supposedly Paddy Chayefsky was inspired to write the Howard Beale character in "Network" based on Chubbuck's suicide), but there was no video of the reporter period.

"She went on television to commit suicide so people would see it, and that has been lost," Greene told Business Insider. "There's such pathetic irony to that."

Christine_Chubbuck wikipediaAs the years passed and Greene began making movies that walked the line between nonfiction and fiction — like 2012's "Fake It So Real," which looks at the independent professional-wrestling circuit, and 2014's "Actress," an intimate study of character actress Brandy Burre ("The Wire") — Greene couldn't escape the Chubbuck story.

With Chubbuck essentially a pre-internet folk story — as years had passed since Greene learned of the suicide and the footage of the suicide still hadn't surfaced — he decided to start the Chubbuck project, but with a unique angle.

"I never wanted to make a straightforward story," Greene said. "The title of the movie actually became the full idea."

"Kate Plays Christine," which premiered Sunday at the Sundance Film Festival amid much conversation about it, is a part documentary, part fictionalized narrative that explores Chubbuck through actress Kate Lyn Sheil ("House of Cards"), who plays Chubbuck in scripted scenes depicting key moments leading up to her death while also chronicling Sheil's journey in Sarasota by talking to people who knew Chubbuck.

Greene captures the similarities between the women — Chubbuck's frustrations about not being taken seriously as a journalist in a male-dominated industry; Sheil's concerns about being pigeonholed into one type of character — while also delving into Sheil's struggles to truthfully represent Chubbuck in the scripted scenes with little to no source material. (Sheil is actually not the only actress to play Chubbuck in a Sundance movie; Rebecca Hall plays her in the film "Christine.")

Kate Lyn Sheil Jamie McCarthy Getty final"Kate is the film," Greene said. "Kate is someone I'm friends with but also someone I find very interesting to watch on-screen because I don't know where things come from, and as a documentary filmmaker, I'm fascinated by that."

Sheil acknowledges, however, that her performance is not without some dramatics for the camera.

"It's simultaneously genuine and completely fabricated," Sheil told Business Insider of her performance in the film. "It's me knowing what Robert was trying to do, being frustrated by that, but playing it up."

For example, in one scene, Sheil tries to do one of the scripted scenes but stops and tells Greene it's not working. When one of her costars gives her encouragement, Sheil lashes out at her. Asked how real that scene was, Sheil acknowledged she would never talk to another actor that way in real life.

But that aspect of performing for the camera was something Greene wanted to explore in the film, since many documentaries are not as authentically "real" as we may think.

"If you have a camera, you have a performance — that's just a fact," Greene said. "Most documentaries are so eager to hide that because authenticity is this gift to the audience: 'I didn't make this up.' But it's a film — it's not reality. One of the things we're trying to do in the film is to take that as a starting point, not an endpoint."

Robert Greene Andrew H. Walker Getty finalAnd then there was the ending of the movie. Did the filmmakers want to reenact a suicide? What of substance would it give the audience?

Greene and Sheil said they didn't come up with the film's ending until the night before they shot it.

"I didn't want to pull the trigger, but flying down to Florida, the plan was to reenact the suicide," Sheil said.

Going back and forth with ideas, the two, along with cinematographer Sean Price Williams, finally landed on an ending they all agreed on (the ending was filmed on the 41st anniversary of Chubbuck's suicide), which was greatly influenced by a discovery they made in the reporting for the movie.

"The ending to me is everything I care about in movies," Greene said. "The way it came about was a very documentary way. We have a scene and we've talked to people, and now it's an absolute collision of fiction and nonfiction."

A melodrama wrapped in an investigative documentary, "Kate Plays Christine" is a unique story that explores depression, female stereotypes, and privacy in a time when all-access is the norm.

It's a movie that will leave you with more questions than answers, and Greene wouldn't have it any other way.

"The point of the movie is this is what it takes to tell this story," he said. "So when the audience is asking, 'Is it real?' — 'Is Kate deciding to do that, or did Robert tell her to do that?' — we're inviting those thoughts because most films don't invite those thoughts, and it's fruitful because I think that is the nature of the Christine Chubbuck story."

SEE ALSO: These A-list celebrities are blowing off the Oscars this year — here's why

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The 'World of Warcraft' movie looks even prettier than the game

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"World of Warcraft" launched in North America nearly 11 years ago.

The game still boasts over 7 million players— a huge feat for such an old game, and one that requires a monthly subscription to play, no less.

And this year, "World of Warcraft" finally gets its big Hollywood debut:

Warcraft

The film, simply named "Warcraft," arrives in theaters on June 10, 2016. There's a new TV commercial for it, released over the weekend, that offers some of the best looks we've had at the film in action:

The first "Warcraft" trailer went live last November. It's full of references to people and places from the long-running game, and one Reddit user named "aerial51zd" put together a massive comparison chart detailing what's what.

Check it out right here:

Warcraft vs World of Warcraft

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Here are the 14 Netflix original movies coming out in 2016 and what you need to know about them

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crouching tiger hidden dragon sequel

Fourteen Netflix original films, produced or purchased by the company, have been announced. The first to be released is a sequel to "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," which will hit the service on February 26.

Other films set for a 2016 release include the Brad Pitt-starring "War Machine" and Ricky Gervais' "Special Correspondents."

Netflix also just acquired the rights to two films from the Sundance Film Festival: "The Fundamentals of Caring" and "Tallulah."

Only three films have official release dates, but check out the 14 films in the pipeline below:

SEE ALSO: The 28 original Netflix shows and movies we know will be released in 2016

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny" (February 26)

Netflix description: "In this sequel to 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' four Martial World heroes must keep the legendary Green Destiny sword from villainous Hades Dai."

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Harry Shum Jr., Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jason Scott Lee, and Veronica Ngo.



"Pee-wee’s Big Holiday" (March 18)

Netflix description: "A fateful meeting with a mysterious stranger inspires Pee-wee Herman to take his first-ever holiday in this epic story of friendship and destiny."

Starring: Paul Reubens, Joe Manganiello, Alia Shawkat, Stephanie Beatriz, and Jessica Pohly.



"Special Correspondents" (April 29)

Netflix description: "Ricky Gervais' hilarious comedy follows a struggling radio journalist and his hapless technician faking frontline war reports from an NYC hideout." 

Starring: Ricky Gervais, Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald, Kevin Pollak, and America Ferrera.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

This Norwegian town featured in a new disaster movie could be wiped out any second in real life

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There is a history in Norway of tremendous rock slides causing devastating tsunamis. A new movie called "The Wave" shows us the terrifying reality of how history could repeat itself.

Produced By Matt Johnston. Video courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

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We talked to Don Cheadle about his new Miles Davis movie, biopics, and why he's not boycotting the Oscars

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miles ahead nyff

Don Cheadle has spent his career showing off his abilities in a diverse set of roles that are dramatic, funny, and complex. And all of those led him to playing Miles Davis in the movie "Miles Ahead," which he also directed, wrote, and produced. 

The irony is that, for an actor who is best known for taking on biographical roles — particularly his Oscar-nominated performance in "Hotel Rwanda" as hotel owner Paul Rusesabagina, who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan Genocide — he did not want to do a straightforward Miles Davis biopic.

Instead, "Miles Ahead" is an action-packed, drug-fueled heist movie that follows Davis during a dark period in his life and a reporter trying to write the legendary musician's comeback story (Ewan McGregor) as they race around Manhattan trying to score drugs and reclaim demo music that was stolen from Davis.

There are biographical themes throughout the movie, as Davis' music comes to the fore and we get flashbacks of his life, but the focus is on a broken man who is blocked creatively.

Getting the film made has been a 10-year journey for Cheadle. He talked to Business Insider at the Sundance Film Festival about the struggle to complete it, why all biopics are fictional, and his thoughts on another year of the Oscars lacking diversity.

Don Cheadle Nicholas Hunt Getty
BI: Was there ever a time when you wanted this to be a straight-up biopic?

Cheadle: Never.

BI: Would this have been made sooner if you went a more traditional route?

Cheadle: Only if I got a white actor to be in it some way. And that's the reality. That's when the money got triggered, is when we cast Ewan McGregor. They would have said, "That's great, I love the whole idea and the Miles music, now where's the white guy?" [Laughs] That's what the question continued to be.

But pre-dating any Ewan involvement, when [Davis' nephew] Vince Wilburn Jr. announced at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducting ceremony for Miles Davis in 2006 that they were going to do a Miles Davis movie and I was going to play him, which had not been told to me, people started calling me and asked when the movie starts and I'm like, "What are you talking about?"

BI: So how did your name even get on his radar?

Cheadle: I think some writers that were going to write the script had mentioned me as a good person to play Miles, because at the time I was the biopic guy. Which was another reason why I didn't want to do it. I did not want to do another biopic. Thank you "Hotel Rwanda," it changed my life. "The Rat Pack" was great, and "Rebound" for HBO. Working with these real people, it was amazing. But I want to also do parts that are just regular dudes.

So I wasn't looking forward to the biopic idea. And when I met with them a week later after his announcement, all of their pitches were kind of that. And I said, "Thank you for thinking of me, I would love to play him if you come up with something that's kind of hot." I said, "I think you should do something where Miles is a G. I want Miles to be a gangster, I want it to be gunslinging and car chases and girls." I wanted to write a movie that Miles would want to star in. I said, "If you come up with anything like that I'm down." And I left. I was literally a block away and I thought, who's going to do that? I realized, only I can do it. And that started the journey.

BI: And directing the movie — is that another thing you realized only you could do?

Cheadle: Yeah, I was like, I guess I will have to do this, too. I have to pick up the whole thing and put it on my back. And when it became real, I didn't want to do it. When we were at points where we could get it made, we tried to bring in a director that was more seasoned that a studio or an independent financier would have more confidence in. We were just trying to get to a "Yes." So I tried to give the directing away, two or three years ago. Let me just be in it, I don't need to do both. But it became clear that it was only going to get made if I did it all.

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BI: You've worked with so many great directors. Can absorbing what they do on set help at all when you are then the director of a movie?

Cheadle: I think so. The best thing that I learned from the best directors that I worked with is that the best answer wins. They are ego-less when it comes to doing the most important thing.

BI: What did the Davis estate think when they saw footage of Miles playing, basically, a gangster?

Cheadle: There were several come-to-Jesus moments about many different things in the film. But at the end of the day, we kept hearing Miles' voice in our heads, which said, "Don't be safe." Any time it got sticky and people wanted to pull back, it was like, "Do you think Miles would want to pull back right now?" And they would all talk amongst themselves and would come up with, "Yeah, he was wild. He did do this." If you read his autobiography, he doesn't shy away from any of it. He says it all.

BI: Do you read reviews of your work?

Cheadle: I think if you're going to read reviews, you have to just concede that they are all right. And I think I read two very diametrically opposed reviews about my movie and I had to go, yeah, I agree with both of them.

BI: Is that the same when you're just starring in the movie?

Cheadle: I don't read reviews.

BI: But now being a director you were more curious?

Cheadle: I was brought into the curiosity of it because with Sony Pictures Classics, which bought the movie, they look into what the feedback is and base that off of how they release it, and you end up hearing the feedback and getting that early talk. So the reviews early on that were "bad reviews," they were kind of reviewing another movie.

BI: They wanted that biopic.

Cheadle: That's right. They felt there was some kind of bait-and-switch, though I have never said anything but the exact opposite. If anyone ever said biopic I would say, "It's not a biopic." We're fighting uphill against the weight of history. I was like, why don't we just call it historical fiction?

BI: Which is what a lot of biopics are.

Cheadle: Every. Single. One. Let me tell you. Paul Rusesabagina sat right next to me when we were making "Hotel Rwanda" and we'd finish a scene and I would turn to him and ask, "Was it like that?" And he would shrug. But I get it, it's a movie. You're trying to encapsulate somebody's life in 90 minutes or two hours. You cannot do it, and why do it? If you're going to do a Miles Davis story like that you need six movies.

hotel rwanda lions gate
BI: Do you have the directing bug, do you want to direct again?

Cheadle: I direct on my show "House of Lies," but that's very different. I would be interested in doing a feature again. But I don't think I would do it like this again.

BI: What are your thoughts on the diversity issue that's come up with the Oscar nominations? Which is nothing new.

Cheadle: There you go.

BI: But the last two years it's gotten a lot of media attention.

Cheadle: It's social media. And I guess I have to take some responsibility for it because I wrote a tweet that apparently was earth-shattering

BI: But that was you joking.

Cheadle: Yeah, that was me f------g around with [Oscar host] Chris [Rock]. But as the best jokes are, they are about some real s---. So I was joking about some real s---. Which is why I think it became sort of a lightning rod for everyone that has an opinion about this to latch onto and pick a side. It has so much more to do with what's happening at a studio level. Where the money is being spent, things are getting green-lit, there's where we're talking about access, what works overseas. But all of these things are the underpinning of what happens in two weeks from now when somebody's going to get a statue.

And it's not just black people. That's the other thing about this issue, it's conflated with just black and white and it's not that at all. It's diversity, it's something that looks more like the landscape of the country. And it's not about then we get the statues we deserve, it's not that. It's that everyone should be able to participate in this silly contest, which is how I feel about it. We're not talking about you scored more points than me and I know that you won and I lost, those are clear results. This is about people's opinions and their subjective takes on things, people that sometimes haven't seen all of the movies they're voting on.

BI: Did anyone ever approach you about boycotting the Oscars?

Cheadle: Nobody said anything to me about that. Boycott the Oscars this year? With Chris Rock as the host? In this moment? No chance in hell. I think this could be a career-defining moment for him. And there's no better person to do it. He should skewer everybody.

BI: Are you going to the Oscars?

Cheadle: No. I don't go to any of those things unless I'm nominated.

"Miles Ahead" opens April 1.

 

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