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It looks like 'Batman V Superman' will address the big problem many people had with 'Man of Steel'

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superman batman v superman

The "Batman V Superman" teaser leaked online late Thursday evening.

If you watched it, it looks like next spring's film will address one big issue many critics and fans had with its predecessor, 2013's "Man of Steel."

In the third act of that film, Superman, typically known for being an upstanding figure of hope and morality, uncharacteristically brought death and destruction upon Metropolis as he fought General Zod (Michael Shannon). Supes then broke the moral code viewers identify with the hero by brutally snapping Zod's neck on screen.

man of steel explosion

That wasn't the Superman viewers were used to seeing.

Many respondedcritically about how the Man of Steel was portrayed in the film because of those final scenes. 

However, in telling this origin story of Superman, director Zack Snyder was aiming to show a young man who wasn't quite Superman yet. Sure, he looked and dressed the part, but he wasn't the Man of Steel in his glory days. He was just starting out. 

Snyder reinforced that idea in an interview with Empire magazine at the time:

David [S. Goyer], Chris [Nolan] and I had long talks about it, and I said that I really feel like we should kill Zod, and that Superman should kill him. The ‘Why?’ of it for me was that if was truly an origin story, his aversion to killing is unexplained… I wanted to create a scenario where Superman, either he’s going to see [Metropolis' citizens] chopped in half, or he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.

Regardless, if you weren't happy with the ending to "Man of Steel," don't worry. 

From what's seen in the first "Batman V Superman" trailer, one thing's clear: No one is a fan of Superman.

A voiceover from Jesse Eisenberg's Lex Luthor refers to the Man of Steel as a treacherous being. "Devils don’t come from hell beneath us," he says. "No, they come from the sky.”

Batman is seen addressing Superman at the trailer's end inquiring, "Tell me, do you bleed?" before threatening, "You will." 

Most fans could have seen this coming. After all, the film is called Batman vs. Superman. You can bet Bats wasn't going after the Man of Steel purely for knocking out one of his Wayne Enterprises satellites in the 2013 film. 

The Man of Steel will get his dues. 

And it looks like Ben Affleck's Batman is ready to deliver.

"Batman V Superman" is in theaters March 25, 2016.

SEE ALSO: The "Batman V Superman" trailer leaks online

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NOW WATCH: Disney just dropped another 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' trailer — and it's the best one yet


This Western starring Michael Fassbender is hilarious, violent, and awesome

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slow west gun fassbender"Slow West" is a modern Western clearly made by people that love and respect the genre, though it has more in common with a mismatched buddy comedy than a John Wayne film.

The premise is simple — a young Scottish boy (Kodi Smit-McPhee) travels across late 19th-century West in pursuit of the woman he loves. The boy is incredibly naive and knows not of the unspeakable horrors that lie in the desolate countryside. 

Lucky for him, he crosses paths with an outlaw drifter (Michael Fassbender) that offers to help guide and protect him along the way for a small fee. Little does he know the drifter may have a motive of his own.

Fassbender likely says more in voiceover narration than he does to the boy, and the difference in candor between these two mediums reveals there may be more to him than his brutish exterior would indicate. As more characters are introduced, Fassbender's value to the boy becomes clearer, and his charming demeanor becomes more sinister. The chemistry between the two is always lively and fun, and since the audience knows Fassbender is up to something, the tension only continues to rise until all hell breaks loose.

slow west shave fassbenderBesides the actual leads, the real star of the show here is the gorgeous, seemingly endless, wide-open spaces of the old West. The photography does a great job of isolating our heroes — as they go deeper and deeper into unchartered territory, they appear even more alone amongst the sweeping New Zealand backdrops, which themselves are a bit more confined by the director's decision to shoot 1.66:1.

Westerns are usually the perfect vehicle for a fuller, wider "scope" aspect ratio of 2.35:1, but the smaller, tighter frames work well here, restricting the view and keeping the audience in the same space as the characters. The string-filled score does a great job of accenting the action and feels like a solid mix of old-school and contemporary influences.  

The most surprising thing about "Slow West" is how genuinely funny it is in spite of the fact that it's steeped in Shakespearean level tragedy. There are a number of hilarious gags weaved throughout, and even when things get incredibly dark, there's a big punchline a second later to ease the pain. It's not a comedy in the traditional sense, but rather a dark, sad and contemplative story made that much more effective through genuinely funny moments. 

slow west horseBy the time "Slow West" reaches its frantic, mayhem-ridden, "Straw Dogs"-esque third act, it's firing on all cylinders, and is a total blast. It's masterfully paced, impeccably shot, occasionally violent, often funny, and always a joy to behold.

"Slow West" plays the Tribeca Film Festival Saturday 4/18,  Wednesday 4/22 & Friday 4/24. 

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NOW WATCH: Marvel's new 'Ant-Man' trailer looks even better than 'Guardians of the Galaxy'

The next 'Star Wars' game will show off the new planet teased in 'Episode VII'

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rey finn star wars episode vii

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will take place approximately 30 years after the last film, 1983's "Return of the Jedi."

What happened during the years in between?

"Star Wars Battlefront" will help piece that mystery together.

During Thursday's Star Wars Celebration kickoff panel for "The Force Awakens," it was revealed the sand-filled planet introduced in the film's two trailers isn't Luke Skywalker's home of Tattooine, as previously thought, but instead, another one called Jakku.

star wars battlefrontCustomers who pre-order the game will be able to visit Jakku, the new planet featured in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

Via the press release from EA:

Star Wars Battlefront will be among the first players to experience the Battle of Jakku, the pivotal moment when the New Republic confronted key Imperial holdouts on a remote desert planet on the Outer Rim. Taking place in the aftermath of the Rebel victory in the Battle of Endor, players will experience the events that created the massive, battle-scarred landscape of Jakku shown in Star Wars™: The Force Awakens™. 

So if you were confused by the scene in the trailer below, it will start to make a lot more sense once you play the game.

star wars episode vii trailer desert planet"Star Wars Battlefront" will be released November 17 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC. You can read more about the game here.

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is in theaters December 18.

SEE ALSO: Check out the new "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" trailer

AND: A breakdown of everything in the "Star Wars: Episode VII" trailer

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NOW WATCH: This is how the iconic lightsaber sounds are created for 'Star Wars'

Watch the original Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and Princess Leia take the stage at the 'Star Wars' Celebration event

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Leading up to the release of the trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," a cavalcade of vintage "Star Wars" superstars gathered on stage at the "Star Wars Celebration" event in Anaheim. The group featured actors Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO).

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Lady Gaga was in talks to be the voice of Betty Boop in an upcoming film reboot

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Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga was in talks to voice cartoon flapper Betty Boop in Simon Cowell's upcoming Betty Boop feature film project, according to a series of leaked emails from the Sony Pictures hack published by Wikileaks.

Gaga was also in discussions to  contribute music to the film as of last fall.

Business Insider has since learned the film is going to another studio however, and that Lady Gaga will not be involved.

In an email sent by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Columbia Pictures vice president of production Lauren Abrahams on October 10th, 2014, Abrahams writes to then Sony Pictures co-chairwoman Amy Pascal and Motion Pictures Group President Doug Belgrad that "I wanted to make sure Syco/Animal Logic’s Betty Boop project is on your radar. Lady Gaga is attached to voice Betty Boop & do some of the music."

Abrahams then mentions that "Neither of us thinks we should do it, and we’ve also run the brand by marketing who aren’t inclined either," and questions the appeal of the film because "it feels weirdly sexualized yet childlike (esp with Gaga) and not sure really who it’s for in a big mainstream way."

Belgrad replies that "It sounds kind of weird to me to be honest. I don't mind if we don't chase it."

Abrahams then says she agrees, and mentions that "MGM is going to buy it."

Betty Boop was potentially going to be made by Fleischer Studios, who own the rights to Betty Boop, and produced by Simon Cowell's Syco Entertainment and Animal Logic Entertainment.

The film does not yet have a release date.

Business Insider has reached out to Sony for comment and will update this post if we hear back.

Update: An earlier version of this story stated that Lady Gaga would voice Betty Boop. A source familiar with the discussions now tells Business Insider that Gaga is not involved and Sony will not be producing this film.

SEE ALSO: Khloe Kardashian is working on a new messaging app that helps friends plan their nights out

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NOW WATCH: Here's the first trailer for George Clooney's new movie 'Tomorrowland'

Warner Bros. releases the full official 'Batman V Superman' teaser trailer

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A day after the first teaser trailer for the "Batman V Superman" movie leaked online, director Zack Snyder took to Twitter to unveil the HD version of the trailer. 

 

Warner Bros. planned to reveal the first "Batman V Superman" teaser Monday night at special Imax screenings across the country.

According to Snyder, those screenings will still feature altered content from what's seen in the trailer above.

Henry Cavill returns as the Man of Steel while Ben Affleck joins the cast as an older version of the Caped Crusader. 

ben affleck batman

"Batman V Superman" is in theaters March 25, 2016.

SEE ALSO: It looks like "Batman V Superman" will address the big problem many people had with "Man of Steel"

AND: George Lucas has not seen the new "Star Wars" trailer

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George Lucas has not seen the new 'Star Wars' trailer

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george lucas stephen colbert tribeca film festival

The new "Star Wars" trailer has been viewed well over 23 million times alone on YouTube since its release Thursday at "Star Wars Celebration," but not one of those views belongs to creator George Lucas.

During a Tribeca Film Festival panel Friday afternoon where Lucas was interviewed by Stephen Colbert, the 70-year-old director said he has yet to see the new trailer for "The Force Awakens."

When asked by Colbert if he's seen the teasers, Lucas didn't even seem to be aware that it came out Thursday.

"I have seen the first one," Lucas said. He told the audience he hadn't had a chance to see "the one that came out today. I just saw it was on CBS."

"I want to see that on the big screen," he added as Colbert was prepping to take out his phone to have Lucas watch it on his own device.

While taking questions from the audience, a young man asked Lucas his "hope for the new 'Star Wars' movies going forward."

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be the first film in a new trilogy to be released under Disney in December. Lucas previously sold the rights to the films, along with his studio Lucasfilm, to the company back in 2012 for $4 billion.

"I hope they do a great job," said Lucas who noted that the first six films in the series followed the legacy of three generations of Skywalkers, including the books. "I'm hoping they'll take it in a different direction. I'm excited to see [it] ... I have no idea what they're doing."

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" is in theaters December 18, 2015.

If you missed the trailer out yesterday, you can check it out below. It's incredible.

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NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

The 'Batman V Superman' trailer hints at a major villain

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"Batman V Superman" director Zack Snyder revealed the official teaser trailer for the film late Friday afternoon.

Eagle-eyed fans watching the trailer may have noticed a familiar symbol hinting at a very popular Batman villain hiding in plain site.

At the 1:20 mark, while the focus is on the Batman over to the right of the screen, pay attention to the column on the left and you'll notice a question mark.

batman v superman riddler question markBatfans instantly recognize that as a possible nod to one of the Dark Knight's biggest foes, the Riddler, who is known for leaving around question marks with riddles for the super sleuth to solve. 

the riddler batman arkham cityHere's how the Riddler's question mark has looked in versions of Batman video game "Arkham Knight":

riddler question mark arkham Now, this could mean nothing.

Currently, the Riddler isn't set to be in the film.

A while back, there was a time when Leonardo DiCaprio's name was thrown around to play The Riddler in "The Dark Knight Rises." That never came to fruition.

It could just be a fun addition thrown in for DC fans. 

After all, the "Batman V Superman" movie is already getting pretty jam-packed with the addition of Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot, "Fast and the Furious" franchise), Superman villain Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg), and an appearance from Aquaman (Jason Momoa).

 

We wouldn't count on seeing The Riddler anytime soon. However, it would be a nice tease, laying the groundwork for future films.

"Batman V Superman" is in theaters March 25, 2016.

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NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible


'Furious 7' earns $1 billion worldwide in 17 days

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After a prolonged slump to begin 2015, the box office got a desperately-needed shot in the arm when Universal released Furious 7 on April 3. Taking advantage of a weak crop of “competitors,” the action sequel broke the month’s opening weekend record by making an impressive $147.1 million during its first three days. Not too long after that, the film became the highest-grossing installment in the series – after just 10 days of release.

It was long expected Furious 7 would be one of the year’s top earners when 2015 was in the history books, but few could have predicted that it would become one of the biggest movies of all-time. Indeed, that’s exactly what’s happening as Furious 7‘s commercial hot streak has continued. After only 17 days in theaters, the film has crossed the $1 billion milestone, becoming just the 20th film in Hollywood history to do so.furious 7 box office gross

That accomplishment gets even more noteworthy when you throw in the fact that Furious 7 became a member of the $1 billion club faster than anyone else. The previous record was 19 days in a three-way tie between The Avengers, Avatar, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. When you factor in that those three projects all benefited from 3D surcharges (when Furious 7 did not), it makes this unprecedented run all the more extraordinary.

In a press release, Universal announced that Furious 7 is the first film of theirs to cross $1 billion in its initial theatrical release. Jurassic Park was technically the first product from the studio to gross that much, but that’s when you also include the amount of money it grossed during its 2013 3D release ($45.3 million in the States). When it’s all said and done, Furious 7 should be the highest-grossing film Universal has ever distributed (it already is in 26 territories), making it easy to see why their executives are interested in continuing the series with Fast & Furious 8 down the line.furious 7 clips paul walker

As we’ve said before, there are numerous reasons why the film is having this much success at the box office. Chief among them is the fact that this marks the final career performance of Paul Walker, who lost his life while the movie was still in production. Everyone ranging from die-hard fans to casual moviegoers were interested to see how the “tribute” portion of the film was handled, making the “one last ride” of Furious 7 more of an event than other installments.

The other way Furious 7 has made so much in so little time is because it was released during a vacant time at the marketplace. Universal arguably was smart to avoid the glut of summer blockbusters this year by putting their film out in the beginning of spring. It was a strategy Marvel Studios employed last year when Captain America: The Winter Soldier enjoyed a similar run, dominating the box office for a solid month until similar films started hitting the multiplex. Audiences were getting desperate for some popcorn entertainment, and Furious 7 delivered it in spades.Fast and the Furious Movie Box Office

The only real drama left is how far up the all-time charts Furious 7 can go. It’s currently at 20th and more than likely will clear some of the smash hits ahead of it (including, among others, The Dark Knight) by the time it ends its theatrical run. But any other records it breaks is gravy at this point as far as Universal’s concerned. Back in 2001, they took a chance at a niche film about underground street racing culture and ended up turning it into one of the most profitable tentpoles in the industry. No matter how you feel about these movies, that’s quite an accomplishment.

Furious 7 is now playing in theaters.

Source: Universal Pictures

Follow Chris Agar on Twitter @ChrisAgar90

SEE ALSO: Here are the car brands that appear the most in 'Furious 7’

SEE ALSO: This is the sports car villain Jason Statham is driving in 'Furious 7'

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NOW WATCH: HBO's 'Game of Thrones' got the Iron Throne all wrong

George Lucas was convinced 'Star Wars' would be a disaster until this phone call in 1977

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george lucas stephen colbert tribeca film festival

When "Star Wars" first debuted, it was an instant hit.

In its limited release May 25, 1977, "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" made $1.5 million in theaters, a number that was unheard of at the time.

The film went on to make more than $775 million worldwide.

Perhaps no one was more stunned by the film's success than creator George Lucas himself.

During a Tribeca Film Festival panel Friday hosted by Stephen Colbert, Lucas recalled how no one thought the movie was going to be a hit — not himself, not 20th Century Fox, and not even his closest friends.

"I didn't think the film was going to be successful," Lucas said.

Colbert didn't accept that. 

"You must have thought at a certain point," Colbert insisted. "At what point did you say to yourself, 'I really got something here'?"

Lucas immediately responded, "No."

"I showed it to all of my friends early on, but it was mostly [filled with] stock footage of old war movies, and all kinds of stuff," he said. "They saw it and [said] 'Poor George.' 'What were you thinking?'"

According to Lucas, the only one who said "Star Wars" was going to be a hit was his close friend Steven Spielberg. 

steven spielberg george lucas"Steven had jumped up, and said, 'This is going to be the biggest movie of all time,'" recalled Lucas. "Everybody in the room looked up at Steven and [said], 'Poor Steven.'"

Lucas said his filmmaker friends helped him fix up "Star Wars" even though "they didn't have any faith in it."

They weren't the only ones.

"The studio, the board [at Fox] didn't have any faith in it," he continued. "Even when we showed it at [an] 'American Graffiti' screening and everybody loved it."

When "Star Wars" was preparing to debut May 1977, Lucas was prepping to head to Hawaii. 

Lucas explained that's just what he does when his films are coming out at theaters.

"I don't read the reviews," he said. "I just go, lay on a beach. Steven [Spielberg] was there."

Before he was able to leave, Lucas said he received a call from Alan Ladd Jr., the then president of 20th Century Fox who was one of the few believers in the film. Ladd, who Lucas refers to as Laddie, was telling him, "It's a fantastic hit! Every single paper! There are lines around the block. You can't believe this!"

star wars linesLucas couldn't.

"Laddie, calm down," said Lucas. "It's a science fiction film. Science fiction films get a good old group of sci-fi fans. They'll go to anything the first week. Wait for a couple weeks, and you'll see what it's really gonna do."

For Lucas, it sounded a bit frustrating. 

"[Originally] Nobody liked it [at the studio]. It hadn't been shown to the real audience," he explained to Colbert. "And then they called and said, 'Oh, it's a big hit.' I said, 'Well, look, let's not get too excited here.'"

What finally convinced Lucas "Star Wars" was a phenomenon? A phone call while he was off vacationing in Hawaii. 

"I got a call from Laddie after the first weekend. It was really like in the middle of the week," recalled Lucas. "He called and said, 'George, turn on the news.' I said, 'What?' He said, 'Turn on CBS. Turn on the news. Walter Cronkite.' You gotta see it.'"

"So I said, 'What is it now?' I turned on the news, and they had this huge story on the sensation of 'Star Wars,' and lines around the block. Everybody was going berserk about it," said Lucas. "That was the first time I understood that it was a big hit." 

The six films in the "Star Wars" franchise have gone on to make over $4.3 billion combined worldwide, according to figures from BoxOfficeMojo.

The entire franchise is estimated to be worth more than $30 billion.

The seventh film in the saga, "The Force Awakens," which Lucas won't have a hand in, will be released in theaters December 18, 2015.

SEE ALSO: George Lucas asked Stephen Colbert why he wouldn't want to host "The Daily Show," and his response was great

AND: Lucas: If you want to watch movies on a phone 'fine by me'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

70 people were injured while filming this movie with 100 untamed lions

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Warning: This video contains blood and gore. 

Noel Marshall, Tippi Hedren, and their family lived with 140 untrained animals, including 100 untamed lions, in what is called "the most dangerous movie ever made". The idea for "Roar" was conceived after the couple toured several safari wildlife preserves and was struck by the scene of an abandoned plantation house overrun by lions.

The entire Marshall family moved along with their pride of 100 lions to a ranch property 40 miles north of Los Angeles and began shooting.  They were forced to film documentary style after they realized that they could rarely get through a scene without the lions attacking.

The cast suffered serious injuries over the 11 years the movie was filmed. Tippi Hedren endured a fractured leg and deep scalp wounds. Noel Marshall was gored so many times that he was eventually hospitalized with gangrene. And their daughter, Melanie Griffith, was mauled by a lion, resulting in over 100 stitches and reconstructive surgery. Her real-life mauling is on display in the final cut of the film.

The film was originally released in 1981 and will have a limited theatrical release this spring. It will be available on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand platforms later this summer.

Video courtesy of Drafthouse Films

Visit drafthousefilms.com for more information on the film.

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George Lucas: If you want to watch movies on a phone 'fine by me'

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george lucas stephen colbert tribeca film festival

The way we consume media has changed immensely.

If you want to watch a movie, you're not just limited to the cinema and a TV screen anymore.

You can also stream it on your laptop, tablet, or phone.

How does George Lucas, the man behind one of the most successful movie franchises of all time, feel about that?

Pretty positively.

While discussing the next "Star Wars" film during a Tribeca Film Festival panel Friday, Stephen Colbert asked Lucas how he feels about people watching movies on small phones.

"I make movies for the big screen. That's what I do," said Lucas. "If you want the full experience, see it in a good theater with a good sound system, a lot of people, and it works the best. If you want to see it on a small phone, fine with me."

"You can't sort of tell people where to watch movies, especially in the future," he continued. "So you just have to accept the fact people are going to look at it."

"If you want to see it really well, and have a full experience, you've got to see it in a theater, but you can buy the DVD," Lucas added. "You can do it that way. That's fine. It's just not the same."

At this point, Colbert interjected to say that Lucas has "certainly put out enough versions."

SEE ALSO: The first time George Lucas was told "Star Wars" was a big hit, he didn't believe it

AND: George Lucas asked Colbert why he wouldn't want to host "The Daily Show" and his response was great

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

After 'Star Wars' became a big hit, George Lucas demanded 5 minutes be put back in 'American Graffiti'

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george lucas tribeca film festival

If you're a "Star Wars" fan you know that over the decades George Lucas as altered all the movies from the sage with enhancements, including new computer-generated special effects in the original trilogy.

But in a conversation with Stephen Colbert at the Tribeca Film Festival on Friday, Lucas told a sold-out crowd that he actually went back and updated the previous films he made before "Star Wars" as well.

Lucas' first two feature films, the experimental sci-fi cult hit "THX 1138" and successful comedy "American Graffiti," were released in the early '70s and both studios that released them took out five minutes of the films, to Lucas' displeasure.

So when "Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope" became a box-office sensation, Lucas went back to have the films corrected.

"After 'Star Wars,' I went back to Warner Bros. and Universal and said, 'You put that five minutes back in,'" Lucas told Colbert. "They redid it and put it back in, and it was the way I wanted it to be. Now the only versions that are out there are the ones that are fixed ... the way I wanted them to be in the first place."

thx 1138Lucas says the experience of working with Hollywood studios on those earlier films was not a pleasant one. So with the success of "A New Hope" Lucas reworked the contract for its sequel, "The Empire Strikes Back," so he would never have to deal with the interference by studio heads again.

"I wanted to have sequel rights, not because I thought ["Empire Strikes Back"] was going to be successful, I thought it would be unsuccessful, but I wanted to finance my own movies so I'm the only one who controls them."

That is not only why Lucas could go back and enhance the "Star Wars" films decades later to his liking when the technology evolved but, as he said at the chat, "That's how I got rich."  

SEE ALSO: George Lucas asked Stephen Colbert why he wouldn't want to host 'The Daily Show' and his response was great

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NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

George Lucas thinks Marvel may work on a Howard the Duck reboot

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At the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival, Lucas supposed that a reboot of his original 1986 film isn't too far into the future, thanks to that 'Guardians of the Galaxy' post-credits clip.

George Lucas thinks Howard the Duck may be the next to get a big-screen reboot.

During Friday's Tribeca Film Festival discussion, moderated by Stephen Colbert, the filmmaker had spoken candidly about Hollywood's corporate culture and the media's habit of publishing scathing reviews.

He noted how even the worst reviewed films can "float up to the surface of the lake, and then they become cult classics. … It means you made an interesting movie or a weird movie, and a small group of people love it." 

"Even Howard the Duck is a cult classic," he said, triggering applause in the Borough of Manhattan Community College theater. "I have a feeling that Marvel's gonna redo it because of the technology they have today."

He said of the original 1986 film, "I told the producer and writer it's not gonna work. … You can't put a dwarf in a duck suit and make it work!"

Colbert mentioned how the character is seen as an Easter egg at the very end of Guardians of the Galaxy.James Gunn has said that the character's appearance was the result of an offhand comment by the movie's editor during postproduction. "We decided to do it very late in the game, only a couple of months [before release], and we had to design Howard that day," he told Empire.

Marvel's publishing arm certainly took note of the character's popularity in the final movie, launching a new comic book series centered around the character earlier this year.

Lucas said of the appearance in the 2014 hit: "It's a digital duck. When you have a digital duck, you can do anything. You can make it act."

SEE ALSO: George Lucas asked Stephen Colbert why he wouldn't want to host "The Daily Show" and his response was great

AND: Lucas thought "Star Wars" would be a disaster until a phone call in 1977

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

'Unfriended' is a brilliant horror movie in spite of its lame story

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Unfriended

It would be easy to write off "Unfriended" as a modernized rip-off of a number of earlier horror films, because that very much is the case. In spite of this, the film’s familiar story meshes so well with its central gimmick that it’s engaging, entertaining, and impossible to take your eyes off of.

The premise can easily be summed up in a sentence — a year after a teenage girl commits suicide, her ghost cyber stalks a group of high school friends that may have had something to do with her death.

The twist?

The entire movie unfolds in real time and takes place on one character’s computer screen over Skype.  

The movie never attempts to reach beyond its gimmick, and because of that, it succeeds. It’s a brilliant example of how truly great, unique form can trump a relatively lame story.  The filmmakers mine the format for all its worth and cleverly use it as a vehicle for revealing information. Some of the exposition is definitely cheap, for instance a random forum post dictates the rules of the haunting, but nitpicking aside, the commitment to one-screen is impeccably handled. 

Take the opening scene, for example. We open on a computer screen with a YouTube video of Laura Barns’ suicide playing. Whoever’s watching this video then clicks on a related link that may show why Laura killed herself, but this is interrupted by a Skype call, and now we are introduced to all the characters and waste zero time before the mysterious “ghost” appears and begins to terrorize them. 

UnfriendedWe all know this story is nothing new — it’s literally just"I Know What You Did Last Summer" confined to a computer screen. Even this digitized angle isn’t completely original — "Modern Family" did the exact same thing for an entire episode this season and there’s a not-so-great indie horror flick starring Elijah Wood that does, too. "Unfriended" stands out because it absolutely nails the internet culture that its steeped in.  

People that consider themselves "internet obsessed" will get the most out of "Unfriended." It’s the minor details that really make it that much more engaging — the sheer panic Blaire feels when Mitch doesn’t instantly reply to her, or the fact that she will type one thing, delete it, and say something entirely different. For those that grew up “connected,” or even those that became heavily committed later in life, these subtle moments add a whole other level of relatability that renders the film incredibly effective. 

"Unfriended" is definitely not for everyone — if you don’t automatically look at the top right of the screen every time a notification noise goes off, it’s probably not for you.

If you can't stop texting, tweeting, and posting to even watch this movie, chances are you'll really enjoy it provided you can disconnect.

Watch the trailer below.

"Unfriended" is now playing nationwide. 

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NOW WATCH: There's a 'Poltergeist' remake out this summer and the first trailer is absolutely terrifying


Mark Hamill didn't know the name of 'Star Wars: Episode VII' until he saw it online

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When we learned the name of the next "Star Wars" movie back in November, star Mark Hamill heard it for the first time along with the rest of us.

Hamill, who reprises his role as Luke Skywalker in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," admitted he first saw the title online during a panel Saturday at "Star Wars Celebration," an annual celebration of everything about a galaxy far, far away.

The 63-year-old actor said he had to check whether that was even the real name of the movie.

"When I read the title ... first of all I said, 'Is this real?' You have to confirm that it's actually true because I heard about it like you did on the internet," Hamill told a surprised audience.

"I went to the website [presumably StarWars.com] to make sure it was really the title," he continued.

Disney, which will be distributing the new "Star Wars" film, has been keeping anything "Episode VII" closely guarded in the Disney vault. Actor Oscar Isaac said he had to read his script for the film in a room with cameras. 

And, while there have been a few images and supposed plot lines leaked online for the film, everyone has stayed tight-lipped when it comes to revealing information.

Hamill mentioned at the panel that he only went in last week to record a voiceover for the new teaser that was unveiled April 16.

mark hamill star wars"They're so secretive these days," he mentioned at the start of the panel. "Back when we were doing the original films, you didn't have that instant media, Twitter, and everybody having a cell phone and so forth. Of course, when we did the first one, no one cared."

"Star Wars: The Force Awakens" will be in theaters December 18, 2015.

SEE ALSO: George Lucas told Mark Hamill about 'Star Wars: Episode VII' in the 1980s

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NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

Here's the concept art that inspired the robot from the year's best sci-fi movie

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em machina lead

Artificial Intelligence has become a popular topic in movies recently, ranging as far in themes from gun-toting Chappie to the lovable Baymax in "Big Hero 6."

But "Ex Machina," opening in limited release Friday, features an AI so realistic that you'll be thinking about it long after the credits roll.

“Ex Machina” is the directorial debut of Alex Garland (best known for writing "28 Days Later" and "Dredd") and follows young programmer Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson) who is invited to stay with Nathan (Oscar Isaac), a reclusive Steve Jobs-like CEO of the company he works for. Once there, Caleb learns that Nathan has created one of the most sophisticated AIs and wants Caleb to test it to see how human it can be.

ExMachina2The AI, named Ava (played by newcomer Alicia Vikander), speaks and acts as any human being, but physically there's no mistaking that she's a robot.

This distinction was one Garland was adamant about.

We reached out to Mark Simpson, who previously worked with Garland on "Dredd," to learn more about the physical evolution of Ava. Simpson, who's known in the art world as Jock, was responsible for Ava's concept art — the drawings and designs the production uses as a starting point in the creation of the characters and sets. 

Jock shared six of his concept images for "Ex Machina" with Business Insider; taking us through his process for the creation of Ava.

Ex Machina Jock 1.PNG

To get Ava right, Garland and Jock spent a lot of time talking about what the movie's AI should not look like.

"We went through so many variations in the early stages of designing Ava. I started out with a figure much closer to human, with internal lights and a few subtle oddities in the joints, but Alex really pushed for a far more robotic look; and of course his instincts were right. To present something that is entirely mechanical, and then ask how the viewer feels about it, that's a really interesting question. These variations are somewhere in between those two initial ideas."

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Here we see the evolution of Ava. 

"This image was one that got us closer to the final design. The breakthrough with Ava came when Alex came up with the idea of the mesh that would cover her entire body. In certain light, she'd look entirely mechanical, with her midriff and limbs missing — almost a typical 'robot' — but the light would catch the mesh as she turned, or in certain light would reveal a beautiful female form. I think it works incredibly well in the film — she looks completely seductive but entirely mechanical. This is obviously underpinned by Alicia's amazing performance and Double Negative's entirely convincing VFX."

Ex Machina Jock 2.PNG

Though most of the movie is inside Nathan's underground compound, Jock didn't know that when he was creating his concepts. This gave him the freedom to place Ava in any world he wanted.

"Very early concept work is completely free from the constraints of budget, location, and sets — or at least when I work with Alex he encourages that mind set. The practicalities of getting it on film are a problem to overcome later, and he's always keen for me to be free of any constraints in the conceptual stage. This image was obviously before production found the stunning Norway location where the exteriors were eventually shot, so it shows a different feel to the landscape."

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But sometimes the concept art can inspire the way shots come together when filming takes place.

"This proved a popular image in production, and you can see this shot in varying degrees in the final film. There are smoked glass doors all over Nathan's mansion, providing glimpses of figures as they enter or leave. The metaphors are fairly obvious here, with Ava appearing slightly unseen and enigmatic."

Ex Machina Jock 5.JPG

Concepts also help express the kind of tone the film should have.

"This is probably my favorite image, but perhaps not the most obvious. For me it sums up, tonally, what the film is about; It's explicit, but has beauty. It's very naturalistic, but we also see the inner workings of the robot, giving a mechanical quality to the figure. I like that juxtaposition."

Ex Machina Jock 6.JPG

At the end of the day, the goal of the concept art is to be the first step of a character's life and their world — sometimes, even, the world they dream of.

"Another thematic idea, rather than a specific shot from the script; 'What would this robot look like in a natural environment?' 'What would it be looking for, once it was outside?' More often than not the more successful images come from a simple feeling rather than trying to manufacture a look. And this was one of those, produced very quickly."

Here's a finished look of Ava as she appears on the poster for "Ex Machina":ExMachina_Payoff_hires2_rgb

"Ex Machina" is currently in limited release and goes wide theatrically April 24.

SEE ALSO: Top scientists have an ominous warning about artificial intelligence

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NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

Here's what the first 'Star Wars' spinoff movie will be about

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We finally know what the first "Star Wars" spinoff film, "Rogue One," will be about.

On the final day of "Star Wars Celebration," an annual gathering for "Star Wars" fans, director Gareth Edwards took the stage at a panel to reveal the plot of the 2016 film.

"A band of resistance fighters unite for a daring mission to steal the Death Star plans in Star Wars anthology film, Rogue One."

According to Variety, the film will take place before "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope."

Edwards also showed a brief teaser for the film along with concept art, which you can see below.

It sounds like it's the same concept art Disney CEO Bob Iger recently showed off at a shareholder meeting.

  

Here's how Variety described the teaser shown:

The teaser took on war movie visuals, showing a TIE fighter flying above a forest planet before revealing the Death Star. The footage also featured shots of soldiers running through darkness.

“The Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic, before the dark times, before the Empire,” says a voiceover in the teaser.

And, here's the logo for the new film via /film editor Peter Sciretta:
  
According to the panel, the "Star Wars" spinoff films will be referred to as anthology movies.
 
The teaser shown at "Star Wars Celebration" has since leaked online. If you want to look it up, feel free to, but I'm going to wait until there's a full HD version released.

"Rogue One" will star Felicity Jones and will be in theaters December 16, 2016.

SEE ALSO: George Lucas was convinced "Star Wars" would be a disaster until a phone call in 1977

AND: Mark Hamill found out the name of "The Force Awakens" online

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NOW WATCH: Disney just released a new 'Star Wars: Episode VII' trailer and it's incredible

There's a new trailer out for 'Fantastic Four,' and it has us excited about the reboot

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fantastic four

The new movie trailer releases aren’t done yet, folks.

20th Century Fox released a new full trailer for its “Fantastic Four” reboot Sunday, and we're finally pretty excited for this film.

That’s largely because of the cast.

You can’t really argue with the casting of Miles Teller who was in the excellent “Whiplash,” and Kate Mara who was a fan favorite on “House of Cards.”

Don’t count out Michael B. Jordan either. He’s been a star on the rise ever since television appearances on "The Wire" and “Friday Night Lights.” He recently gave a great performance in “Fruitvale Station.” 

The film also stars Jamie Bell and Toby Kebbell (as the villain, Doctor Doom).

Here’s the official synopsis via Fox:

FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

“Fantastic Four” will be in theaters August 7, 2015

Pretty good, right?

You have to applaud Fox, here.

Marvel is currently dominating the box office with its superhero movies a la Disney's purchase of the company in 2009. 

Prior to that purchase, Marvel sold off the film rights to some of its characters including the X-Men, Deadpool, and Fantastic Four to Fox. 

So far, Fox has been able to deliver with its X-Men movies. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" was one of the highest-grossing movies of 2014, and, one of the most enjoyable for this scene alone

Fox also recently discovered the enormous popularity of Comic-Con favorite Deadpool. We'll be seeing a movie starring Ryan Reynolds — who has basically been on a mission to get this film made for years— in 2016. It looks pretty promising.

Disney and Marvel haven't made it easy.

Marvel's been burying the X-Men series for a while. You can read more on that hereThe company also recently announced it's killing the "Fantastic Four" comic line. (Though Disney's Alan Horn has said it was a “fully independent decision.”)

So, yeah, we're going to root for this film and hope for the best.

Here's another look at the film's villain Doctor Doom, who you can see below:

fantastic four doctor doom

SEE ALSO: Mark Hamill found out the name of the new 'Star Wars' movie online

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Fans are going to get some awesome posters at the 'Batman V Superman' trailer event Monday

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Monday night, select fans are in for a treat.

Imax theaters around the country will be hosting an event to launch the "Batman V Superman" trailer

After the trailer leaked online last week, Warner Bros. ended up releasing a version of the trailer in full online Friday night.

However, director Zack Snyder promised fans attending Monday's event will see some different footage. They'll also get to go home with some swag. 

It looks like that will come in the form of two pretty cool looking posters.

Regal Cinemas just shared a preview at what fans can expect.

 

Here's a closer look at both:

batman v superman imax postersuperman batman poster

SEE ALSO: It looks like 'Batman V Superman' will address the big problem many people had with 'Man of Steel'

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