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Fox shocks fans at Comic-Con with unexpected new footage from 'X-Men: Apocalypse'

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Jackman Comic ConThe appearance of the large cast was heavily rumored.

Fox surprised a Hall H crowd with a first-look at X-Men: Apocalypse.

The appearance of the large cast – 14 actors took to the stage, ranging from James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence,  Michael Fassbender and Nicholas Hoult to Kodi Smit-McPhee, Sophie Turner and Oscar Isaac – was heavily rumored.

But it was the footage that had the crowd roaring in approval and delight.

It gave the first glimpse of Isaac as the villain, Apocalypse, and ended with McAvoy as the bald-headed Professor X, which is the first time the actor will inhabit that iconic look.

The X-Men panel started off on a sentimental note with Hugh Jackman.

A reel showcased the history of the X-Men franchise with a heavy dose of Jackman as Wolverine and also featured rare Jackman audition footage and being offered the job.

"Up until 2 days ago I had no idea that footage existed,” Jackman said before going on what felt very much like a Wolverine farewell tour. He talked of how his new Wolverine movie will be “my last time putting on the claws. This has been the greatest things that has ever happened to me.”

Singer then joined the man whose career he helped shape and explained: “I never gave anyone a job on the spot before. But I got permission.”

X-Men: Apocalypse, directed by Bryan Singerwill hit theaters on May 27, 2016. Gambit, starring Channing Tatum, is slated for October 7, 2016.

As the large Apocalypse cast came on, Jackman and Singer hugged and Jackman bid the stage adieu.

The panel ended on a high note and a surprise on top of a surprise, much to the delight of the crowd.

After another showing of the footage, the entire cast returned to the stage with Jackman for a giant photo. Then, from one far side, X-Men co-creator Stan Lee shuffled onto the stage. Moments later, and out of the blue, Channing Tatum, who is joining the X-Men cinematic universe with his solo film Gambit, hopped from backstage and joined in on the fun. The crowd, naturally, went ape and thousands of cameraphones went into overdrive.

SEE ALSO: Ryan Reynolds says fans made the "Deadpool" happen

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NOW WATCH: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and the entire ‘Star Wars’ cast partied on stage at the secret fan concert


'Minions' is the second-biggest opening in history for an animated film

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Minions Universal Pictures.JPG

The lovable yellow beings from “Despicable Me” showed they can carry a film as their first standalone, “Minions," took in $115.2 million in North America over the weekend.

That’s the second-largest animated opening in history, according to Variety.

The record holder is 2007’s “Shrek the Third,” which earned $121.6 million on its debut weekend.

Though the story of the silly Minions working under super-villains voiced by Jon Hamm and Sandra Bullock had an estimated budget of only $74 million, the publicity and promotion for the film was nearly $600 million, according to Bloomberg Business.

The big opening for "Minions" continues the hot summer for Universal Studios, which released the film. Its previous releases, “Furious 7” and “Jurassic World,” have each surpassed $1 billion at the global box office, with “World” boasting the highest-grossing opening weekend of all time. 

“Minions” was above its late-week projections of $100 million to $115 million, according to Deadline. Things looked good for the film late Friday night when it took in a healthy $46.2 million on its opening day.

The other new releases this weekend didn’t put up much of a fight.

Horror film “The Gallows” took in $10 million domestically, while Ryan Reynolds’ latest, "Self/less," is another clunker for the actor, as it only grossed $5.4 million. But the good news for Reynolds is if Comic-Con is any indication, his upcoming “Deadpool” will fair much better.

SEE ALSO: Universal is completely dominating the box office this year

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NOW WATCH: Some people believe these McDonald’s Minion toys are cursing

'Game of Thrones' star Maisie Williams posted the ultimate fan selfie at Comic-Con

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arya stark game of thrones maisie williams

Some of the biggest stars of TV and big screen were roaming around this past week's San Diego Comic-Con.

And, it's expected that they'll combine in certain ways when they happen to be at the same place at the same time. But once in a while, fans hit the real jackpot.

This happened on Sunday — the last day of the convention — when Maisie Williams, who plays the brave Arya Stark on HBO's "Game of Thrones," posted a group selfie on instagram that just blew fans' minds.

Not only was Williams joined by "GOT" co-star Hannah Murray, who plays Gilly, but to Murray's right was Jenna Coleman — the current "Doctor Who" companion — and to her right... "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe!

Let the screams begin:

 on

 Williams knew what she was doing. She wrote, "I think this photo is gonna make the world implode....."

She was right. The photo currently has 106,000 likes. 

SEE ALSO: 'Game of Thrones' actress Maisie Williams is nervous about how she'll handle the big twist to her character next season

MORE: 'Game of Thrones' season finale breaks series' viewership record

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NOW WATCH: I've never watched anime before — but this new 'Dragonball Z' movie looks like a blast

We just got a bunch of new hints about what's coming in the next 'Star Wars' movie

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star wars behind the scenes trailer poe dameron

We didn't get a new trailer for the upcoming "Star Wars" movie, "The Force Awakens," at Comic-Con this year, but we did get a look behind the scenes.

In a three-minute video released at Comic Con, Disney and Lucasfilm gave the world a look at behind-the-scenes footage from the new movie.

The main takeaway: "The Force Awakens" will rely on practical special effects and costumes instead of computer-generated (CG) effects. Critics of the last three prequel "Star Wars" movies hated that the movies relied so heavily on CG.

There are some other hidden gems in the video too. Let's break it down. But stop reading now if you're afraid of potential spoilers.

SEE ALSO: An explanation for everything you see in the latest "Star Wars" trailer

Here's one of the desert sets from the movie. We already know it's a new planet called Jakku.



This is the inside of Han Solo's ship, the Millennium Falcon. It looks just like it did in the original movies from the 70s and 80s.



Next we get a look at the inside of what's likely a Star Destroyer, the big ships used by the bad guys.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Civil rights icon Atticus Finch from 'To Kill A Mockingbird' turns out to be a racist in Harper Lee’s follow-up novel

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gregory peck atticus finch to kill a mockingbird

Author Harper Lee has only published one book in her career, and it happens to be an American classic — 1960s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

Now, 55 years later, early reviews of her much-awaited follow-up, “Go Set A Watchman” (which comes out Tuesday), have begun to come out. And a shocking revelation has surfaced.

harper lee go set a watchman cover leadAtticus Finch, the widowed father of the book’s main character, Scout, and a lawyer who fought against 1930s-era racism by defending black man Tom Robinson in his trial for allegedly raping a white woman, turns out to be a racist.

Finch’s inspiring moral center in “To Kill a Mockingbird” — and later immortalized by actor Gregory Peck in the film adaptation in 1962 — became canonized during the Civil Rights Movement and has inspired generations of readers in recognizing equality for all.

The American Film Institute in 2003 even named the Finch character in the film adaptation the greatest hero in American film.

However, in “Go Set A Watchman,” set in the 1950s, we find Finch as an aging racist who has attended Ku Klux Klan meetings and denounces desegregation, according to The New York Times.

“Do you want Negroes by the carload in our schools and churches and theaters? Do you want them in our world?” is one example The Times reports Finch says to a now adult Scout in “Go Set A Watchman.”

As you can imagine, many have reacted via Twitter:

Lee has stayed away from talking to the media for decades, but the book’s publisher, Harper Collins, did release a statement on the matter:

“[Lee] wanted to have the novel published exactly as it was written, without editorial intervention… The question of Atticus’s racism is one of the most important and critical elements in this novel and it should be considered in the context of the book’s broader moral themes.”

Harper LeeLee, who is 89, wrote “Go Set A Watchman” in the 1950s but set it aside when her editor suggested she write a novel from young Scout’s point-of-view.

Following the success of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” the manuscript for “Watchman” was considered lost until Lee’s lawyer found it in 2014.

The book is reportedly being published as it was originally written by Lee in the ’50s, long before Atticus Finch became an iconic figure for moral good.

SEE ALSO: The first chapter of Harper Lee's new novel, "Go Set A Watchman," is out — here's a taste

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NOW WATCH: How to remember people's names

One of the most iconic "Star Wars" characters is coming back in the new movie

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If you don't want any potential spoilers for the next "Star Wars" movie, stop reading now.

In a new behind-the-scenes video of the upcoming "Star Wars" movie, "The Force Awakens," we briefly get a look at a familiar face:

star wars behind the scenes trailer admiral ackbar

That's Admiral Ackbar. Ackbar was the leader of the Rebel military in the final battle scene of "Return of the Jedi." He's a relatively minor character with very little screen time, but he's most famous for belting "It's a trap!" when the Rebels realize the Empire lured them into a trap.

Here's the scene:

It's also a scene that has spawned meme after meme on the internet over the years.

There's a small chance this is just another alien that's the same species as Ackbar, but an earlier leak appears to show the character in the movie. There's a very good chance we'll get to see Ackbar again when "The Force Awakens" comes out on December 18.

SEE ALSO: We just got a bunch of new hints about what's coming in the next 'Star Wars' movie

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NOW WATCH: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and the entire ‘Star Wars’ cast partied on stage at the secret fan concert

The 'X-Men' trailer that shocked fans at Comic-Con has leaked online

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x-men days of future past mystique jennifer lawrence

There were a ton of shockingtrailers at this year's Comic-Con. And this was certainly one of them.

Nobody really expected a trailer for next years "X-Men Apocalypse" to arrive during Saturday's Fox panel. After all, the movie is still pretty far away. But fans got hit with it anyways, and it looks amazing.

We're still not 100% sure what's going to happen in the film, but there's plenty of fun stuff in the trailer, including our first look at Sophie Turner (Sansa Stark on "Game of Thrones") as Jean Grey, and the first image of a bald-headed James McAvoy as Professor X.

"X-Men: Apocalypse" is in theaters May 27, 2016.

Watch it before it gets taken down!

SEE ALSO: New "X-Men" footage debuts at Comic-Con

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NOW WATCH: Here's the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer that just got a standing ovation at Comic-Con

Hollywood is completely missing the one thing that makes Superman great

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Batman v. Superman trailer screenshot

It's easy to think that making a Superman movie is very hard. Just ask the people making it.

“He’s a tough character," Superman actor Henry Cavill told Entertainment Weekly when talking up "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice."  "People like the darker vigilante." Then he offered a possible reason why:  "I think it speaks to the human psyche more easily rather than the god-like being that we can’t really understand."

That's a load of nonsense. 

To be clear, we really shouldn't blame Cavill for saying any of this. He's an actor, and a great one for Superman, with what looked like buckets of charisma utterly hamstrung by the dour script driving "Man of Steel." It's also his job to fully understand and portray the character that is in the script, not the one from the comics. 

It's a shame then, that the story he's given simply doesn't get Superman. It also totally buys into some of the worst assumptions about the character. superman batman v supermanThere are two popular reasons for why Superman can't succeed in modern movies: They are (1). He's too powerful and (2.) He's a not interesting, because he's just a big ol' goodie two-shoes. 

People are often skeptical that a Superman movie can be good because stories need conflict, and conflict seems pretty hard to come by when your hero is a person who always does the right thing and can't be hurt. That, however, is a reductive way of looking at the character, and the secret to why Superman stories are so great: They're never really about him. They're about us.

This is something Snyder and his team almost get, but they come at it from an angle that totally misses the point of Superman. They treat him as a god among mortals, our greatest fear or our great salvation. The problem with this, though, is that it strips the character of his humanity, and makes him downright unapproachable. 

There's a great anecdote that legendary comics writer Grant Morrison — the man responsible for one of the best Superman stories in recent memory, 2005's "All-Star Superman"—  tells about Superman in his memoir "Supergods." In the memoir, he mentions the inspiration for his story — he was at a convention, and he saw a handsome man in a Superman costume just sitting down and relaxing on a stoop. 

That was Morrison's epiphany: The most powerful man alive wouldn't be tortured, but instead would be the friendliest, most relaxed person you ever saw. Thus this famous cover to "All-Star Superman" #1 by artist Frank Quitely.All_Star_SupermanAnd this, one of the most iconic, touching scenes in all of superhero comics, where Superman stops everything to hug a teenager who thinks life isn't worth it.All-Star Superman you're stronger than you thinkSuperman isn't good or special because he's an alien who crashes on Earth and ends up being incredibly powerful. He's special because after all that he becomes someone who always does the right thing because he was raised by a couple of decent people from Kansas. That's it.

He is someone with the power to be the most selfish being in all of existence, and decides to be selfless because he was raised by a couple of kindly farmers. And the beautiful idea behind him is that we don't need to be bulletproof to be that way — we just have to be decent people. 

This is something that's been coming up again and again as I've read through some recent Superman comics lately, particularly Greg Pak and Aaron Kuder's stellar run on "Action Comics." The current story has Superman with almost none of his signature powers taking on police brutality, but just before that Pak and Kuder were working with a more classic Superman, complete with cape and powers. In those stories, they kept coming back to this basic, beautifully simple idea: Superman doesn't try to beat his foes, he tries to understand them. Even when it doesn't make sense to those around him.Action Comics excerptHe literally does everything he can to turn his foes into friends. That's a million times more important to understanding Superman than knowing how much he can lift or fast he can fly or whether or not Batman could beat him in a fight.  

That's also a perfect source of tension: When someone or something is out to not just hurt you, but everyone around you ... can you intervene in time to achieve these goals before someone else gets hurt?

As for his simplistic morality, the rebuttal to that is a simple one: Captain America is pretty much the literal definition of a Boy Scout, and he's the guy at the center of two of the very best Marvel movies so far. 

In order to make a good Superman story, you have to embrace a few unpopular notions about what makes good superhero stories: Dark doesn't always mean better or more complex, characters fighting for good because it's right is a compelling enough reason, and that a hero's powers isn't their most important aspect (but certainly don't be afraid to show them off).

Unfortunately, that's not where movie makers have been headed so far. And with the next installment, 'Batman v Superman,' it looks once again like we won't get close.

SEE ALSO: 12 things we learned from the 'Batman V. Superman' trailer

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer that just got a standing ovation at Comic-Con


Rambo vs. ISIS is not happening, Stallone rep says, contrary to reports

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rambo

A representative for Sylvester Stallone says the "Rocky" star will not be fighting ISIS in an upcoming "Rambo" movie, according to Rolling Stone.

Though "Rambo: Last Blood" still might exist, Stallone's rep denies a plotline that has anything to do with ISIS, or that the actor even attended Comic Con, where some reports said he made comments about the upcoming film.

Filming on "Rambo: Last Blood" was originally expected to begin late last year or early this year, but it was delayed. Stallone last appeared as John Rambo in 2008's "Rambo," where Rambo joined a group of mercenaries in war-torn Thailand to rescue a group of kidnapped aid workers. Now 68, Stallone is ready to reprise another one of this major film characters, Rocky Balboa, in "Creed," which arrives later this year and stars Michael B. Jordan.

SEE ALSO: The 'Deadpool' trailer from Comic-Con leaks online, and the movie looks like everything fans hoped it would be

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watching Sylvester Stallone play Rocky again after all these years in the trailer for 'Creed' is fantastic

Here's our first good look at Jared Leto as the new Joker in 'Suicide Squad'

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After a leak, Warner Bros. has officially released the "Suicide Squad" footage that debuted at Comic-Con Friday morning.

The end of the over three-minute trailer gives our best look at the new iteration of the Joker, who will be played by Jared Leto.

He'll be the first actor to play the role since Heath Ledger in 2008's "The Dark Knight."

As we've seen from a few image teases, Leto's Joker doesn't look like any version of the character we've seen before.

Take a look:

joker suide squad joker suicide squad trailerHere he is when his intro is first teased.

joker suicide squad

"Suicide Squad" is in theaters August 5, 2016.

SEE ALSO: 12 things we learned from the new "Batman v Superman" trailer

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Ryan Reynolds' raunchy 'Deadpool' crushed Comic-Con for one simple reason — it looks like they nailed it

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deadpool

One of the show-stoppers of 20th Century Fox's big San Diego Comic-Con panel was the trailer for the X-Men spinoff film "Deadpool." Fans reportedly loved it — so much so that the trailer was shown twice! 

But who is Deadpool, and why is this a big deal?

Created in 1991 by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, Deadpool was originally an antihero in the Punisher mold, a scumbag antihero with big guns and two swords. But in 1997 writer Joe Kelly and artist Ed McGuiness decided to reinvent the character completely, and it's thanks to those two that Deadpool is famous. 

Deadpool #1 (1993)

The Deadpool Kelly and McGuiness depicted was a parody machine, lambasting every trope of action heroes and superhero comics with an extra fourth-wall breaking twist: Deadpool knew he was a comic book character, and talked about it all the time. Since then, that's been a defining trait of the character, who has since become the hero of numerous violent action-comedy comics, each more ridiculous than the last (The recently concluded series by Brian Posehn, Gerry Duggan, and Tony Moore kicked off with Deadpool taking on zombie US Presidents).

That's what people love about Deadpool: Over-the-top action and crazy meta-comedy. 

And from the trailer screened at San Diego Comic-Con, it looks like this new movie is getting everything right. ryan reynolds deadpoolWhile it will take the studio three weeks to officially release the trailer (star Ryan Reynolds says that's because the visual effects aren't done yet), what was shown at Comic-Con is remarkably faithful to the source material. We're introduced to Ryan Reynolds character, Wade Wilson, a man with cancer in his "liver, lungs, prostate, and brain," promptly quipping that they are  "all things I can live without."

Humor? Check. 

Wilson then submits himself to a military experiment that promises to make him "a superhero" and heal him. In the comic books, this is the same Weapon X project that gave Wolverine his metal skeleton and claws.  Just before the procedure begins, Wilson requests that they "please don't make the super suit green. Or animated!"

Meta-humor? Double check.

Then, an action sequence that looks like a pretty close live-action approximation of the leaked CGI test footage that fans adored — only with a sudden, surprise cameo by Colossus

Not-very-subtle connection to the X-Men? Check.

Then Deadpool tells the camera to "cue the music."

Breaking down that fourth wall? Definitely.

Oh, and then they reveal the side-effect to the experiment that turned Wade into Deadpool — his skin is horribly scarred and disfigured, and there are several very descriptive and filthy jokes traded between Wade and his pal about how ugly he now looks. "Like an avocado had sex with an older avocado" is probably the tamest one, I swear. Then there's a bunch of stylish and gory violence, complete with headshots.

R-rated comedy and violence? Totally there. 

Deadpool is a character you sort of have to experience for yourself to understand why he has such ardent fans, but it's hard to miss the appeal of an exuberantly irreverent R-rated superhero comedy. It's something that we haven't really seen before outside of maybe the first "Kick-Ass," and as we become more and more accustomed to the spectacle of superheroes onscreen, "Deadpool" could prove to be an extremely fun palate cleanser. 

At the very least, it's a heartfelt apology for the first time Reynolds played Deadpool in "X-Men Origins: Wolverine." Because that was horrendous.

 

SEE ALSO: Why can't Hollywood ever get Superman right?

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NOW WATCH: Bryan Cranston's new Crackle series looks like a raunchy version of 'The Incredibles'

There's an amazing new movie from Andy Samberg on HBO that you cannot miss

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When former "Saturday Night Live" star and current "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Andy Samberg digs in on stupidity, he really digs in. Take, for example, his latest project: a fake HBO Sports documentary titled, "Seven Days in Hell." This is the movie's promo image, which speaks volumes unto itself:Seven Days in HellThe "mockumentary" features two (fake) professional tennis players – Aaron Williams (Samberg) and Charles Poole ("Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington) – and focuses on the (fake) seven day match they had at Wimbledon 2001. The entire film is shot from the perspective of a serious HBO Sports documentary, with expert interviews from both HBO Sports interviewers and professional tennis players. (Serena Williams and John McEnroe are prominently featured).

Let's be clear right up front: "Seven Days in Hell" is an amazing movie, and by far the funniest film I've seen in 2015. You should watch it immediately. Today.

Here's a GIF of Andy Samberg's character Aaron Williams from his introduction video:

Seven Days in HellRight?

And things get much, much more ridiculous after that. Samberg's character is clearly modeled after tennis superstar Andre Agassi – here's hoping Agassi has a pretty serious sense of humor:

Andy Samberg and Andrew AgassiWhile Samberg plays the role of an even more insane Andre Agassi, "Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington plays his dim-witted upstart competition, Charles Poole, who unwittingly brings Samberg's character out of retirement.

Here's Harrington, as Poole, freaking out on an elliptical machine:

Seven Days in HellThe entire faux-doc is littered with little flashes of brilliant absurdity like this.

Like so many Samberg productions, "Seven Days in Hell" feels like what would happen if you took a teenager's sense of humor, and applied professional production and an editor. Like "Zoolander" or "Wet Hot American Summer,""Seven Days in Hell" takes absurdity well beyond the rational limit; it asks viewers to not just accept its stupidity, but to revel in that stupidity. It expects the same level of careful attention to detail to its stupidity that it lavishes on itself.

Take, for instance, a two minute scene wherein the mockumentary devolves into various "experts" offering commentary on a Swedish courtroom sketch artist's influence on courtroom sketch art around the world. Yes, really.

Seven Days in Hell

I could keep going, but then I'd start spoiling the 42 minutes of juvenile comedy bliss that's waiting for you on HBO Go. Prepare yourself, and maybe use a sippy cup in case of spit takes.

SEE ALSO: Here's how 50 Cent spent his millions before filing for bankruptcy

AND: The best cosplay photos from San Diego Comic-Con 2015

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NOW WATCH: Get ready to root for the bad guys — your first look at 'Suicide Squad' is here

'Mad Max' cosplay was everywhere at Comic-Con

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"Mad Max: Fury Road" was one of the best movies of the year.

Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, the film follows a team of underdog-vigilantes on the run from the War Boys, a mutant gang, and their leader Immortan Joe. It grossed $350 million worldwide and conjured a rare 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

So it was no surprise that fans showed their love for the film at San Diego Comic-Con

Fans in "Mad Max" cosplay, or role-playing costumes, were everywhere you looked.

We rounded up the best "Mad Max" cast look-a-likes from the Con.

SEE ALSO: This family's elaborate 'Mad Max' cosplay cost $700 to make

Elsa and Anna from “Frozen” dressed for battle on the Fury Road in one of the most creative cosplays we saw at the Con.



Elsa wore black war paint around her eyes and a mechanical hand to match Furiosa.



Olaf rides eternal, shiny, and chrome!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Mel Gibson signs on to big-budget 3D Chinese movie — as its art director

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Mel Gibson

Numerous actors have found their stardom reborn by signing on to Chinese blockbusters. The latest example, “Dragon Blade,” starring Adrien Brody, John Cusack, and Jackie Chan, grossed over $100 million at the Chinese box office.

So it was no surprise that Mel Gibson has been attached to a big-budget World War II-set 3D Chinese movie.

But the thing is, he’s not acting in it.

Variety reports that the 59-year-old actor has signed on as art director for the film “The Bombing,” which looks back on the horrific bombing of Chongqing by the Japanese in WWII.

“Mel is interested in what happened during that period of time, and provided relevant suggestions on how to make the movie,” said Shi Jianxiang, founder and CEO of Kuailu Investment Group, which is producing the film, Variety reports.

But the film does not lack American-bred star power. Bruce Willis is in the cast.

Gibson was on hand at a press conference for the film on July 7 and spoke glowingly of the production.

“It has been a very interesting experience filming this movie,” he said, according to a press release. “We share similar objectives no matter who we are, actors or director. So I am grateful to have such opportunities to express my thought no matter how much I have contributed to the movie.”

Gibson has had success behind the camera. He won Best Picture and Best Director honors at the 1996 Academy Awards for the gory epic “Braveheart.

It will be interesting to see what kind of gruesome vision he has in store for this infamous moment in Chinese history.

“The Bombing” is directed by Xiao Feng on a budget of $65 million.

SEE ALSO: 8 American actors who are shockingly huge stars overseas

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NOW WATCH: The real 'Jurassic World' is in China — 17,000 dinosaur eggs have been found in the same city

‘Ant-Man’ star Michael Peña says Donald Trump’s immigration remarks made his family stronger

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Michael Pena

Michael Peña gives a scene-stealing performance in “Ant-Man” (out this weekend) as the spacey side kick of the micro-sized superhero played by Paul Rudd.

But when Business Insider spoke with the actor, who is of Mexican descent, over the phone on Monday, we had to get his thoughts on Donald Trump's remarks during his presidential candidacy announcement last month that Mexico sends people across the US boarder that are “bringing crime” and “rapists.” 

“When I first saw it, I thought it was a skit,” Peña told BI. “I was thinking, ‘Who is this guy’s campaign manager?’ That’s the guy who should be fired.”

donald trumpPeña, who was born and raised in Chicago after his parents emigrated to the States from Mexico, went on to say that it’s hard to be insulted by Trump’s comments because he doesn’t take Trump seriously.

The actor said, if anything, the remarks brought his family closer.

“My parents were farmers [in Mexico] and they came here and learned English because they wanted a better life in America,” Peña said. “So it’s unfortunate for people who have come here and do well. But at the same time it’s made the bond that my family and I have stronger.”

“It’s unfortunate because he just wants people to talk about him,” said Peña of Trump.

SEE ALSO: David Letterman came out of retirement to roast Donald Trump

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NOW WATCH: The original 'Apprentice' Bill Rancic: Here's the best advice I got from Donald Trump


'Batman v Superman' actor Jesse Eisenberg compares Comic-Con to genocide

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jesse eisenberg sdcc 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jesse Eisenberg's Comic-Con experience apparently wasn't a joy.

Eisenberg, who plays Lex Luthor in the upcoming "Batman v. Superman, " was at the massive San Diego convention last week with co-stars Ben Affleck and Henry Cavil. In an interview Monday, he was decidedly negative about the experience.

"It is like being screamed at by thousands of people. I don't know what the experience is throughout history, probably some kind of genocide. I can't think of anything that's equivalent," he said.

jesse eisenberg comic con 2015Eisenberg spoke at the premiere of "End of the Tour," with Jason Segal, about the release of David Foster Wallace's novel "Infinite Jest." Segal plays Wallace, while Eisenberg plays journalist David Lipsky.

"Yes I have never been on the other side, on your side of journalism. I have normally been the victim so I worked with the guy who I play, I play a real person, David Lipsky," he said. "I interviewed him. He taught me how to interview and what his process is like and now I understand the pariahs that you guys are."

SEE ALSO: Hollywood is missing the one thing that makes Superman great

AND: 12 things we learned from the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's the new 'Batman v Superman' trailer that just got a standing ovation at Comic-Con

50 CENT ON BANKRUPTCY FILING: 'I’m taking precautions that any good businessperson would take'

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50 cent E! interview bankruptcy

50 Cent aka Curtis Jackson is making sure that he won't be taken advantage of because of his success.

A day after news broke that the rapper had filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, 50 Cent spoke with E! News about his finances.

"Walt Disney had filed for bankruptcy before. Donald Trump has filed bankruptcy," 50 Cent told E! News while promoting his new movie, "Southpaw.""It means you're re-organizing your finances. But, it does stop things from moving forward that you don't want moving forward, so..."

The filing could be a protective move after 50 Cent was ordered on Friday to pay Lastonia Leviston $5 million as a result of a sex tape that he posted in 2009 allegedly as part of an attempt to stir the pot with rival rapper Rick Ross.

"When you're successful and stuff, you become a target. I don't wanna be a bullseye," Jackson told E!. "I don't want anybody to pick me as the guy that they just come to with astronomical claims and go through all that."

He also added, "I'm taking precautions that any good businessperson would take in this situation."

50cent starz power bankrupt 2According to a statement from his attorney, William A. Brewer III, to Billboard, the filing "permits Mr. Jackson to continue his involvement with various business interests and continue his work as an entertainer, while he pursues an orderly reorganization of his financial affairs."

Hunter Shkolnik, Leviston's lawyer, told Business Insider, "We think this is a failed attempt to avoid paying this woman who has been hurt so badly by his actions."

In addition to starring in "Southpaw" and appearing in "Magic Mike XXL" this year, 50 Cent executive produces and stars on Starz's hit drama "Power." Later this year, he will release his sixth studio album, "Street King Immortal."

Watch 50 Cent's full interview at E! >>

SEE ALSO: 50 Cent’s attorney says 50 Cent will keep being 50 Cent despite bankruptcy filing

MORE: Bankrupt 50 Cent is likely still making money on Starz's hit series 'Power'

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NOW WATCH: This is how rapper 50 Cent made millions and then lost it

If you can get through the first half of ‘Ant-Man’ — you won’t regret sticking around for the wild ride

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ant man

Amongst all the Marvel movies released thus far, "Ant-Man" may be the first without an obvious fan base. There's no iconic emblem on his chest that we can emblazon onto T-shirts, the cartoons he has appeared in pre-Marvel Cinematic Universe aren't well-known or beloved, and his powers are pretty spectacularly unsexy. Shrinking and talking to ants? C'mon. 

Add to that a very complicated comic book history and some highly-publicized behind-the-scenes creative shuffling, and it's easy to assume that "Ant-Man" is far from a safe bet. 

Summer blockbusters trade in expectation, but it's hard to figure out what to expect from "Ant-Man" other than the prerequisite visual effects and Paul Rudd charm. Its trailers are too busy trying to explain Ant-Man's powers and convince you that they're cool to spend any time selling you on the fun heist story at the movie's center, or the charming comedic ensemble that glues everything together. 

In fact, the movie takes a while before the best things about it come together in any meaningful way. The first half of the film feels strangely off — it starts with a prologue set in the '80s that introduces Michael Douglass as Hank Pym, a scientist with a remarkable formula for shrinking matter who decides to hide it from the government agents that want it as a weapon (there are also quite a few Easter eggs for Marvel fans in those first few minutes).

michael douglas ant manThen it jumps to the present day and introduces Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a Robin Hood-esque thief with a code who's just out of lockup and is trying to go clean. 

Ant Man Paul RuddThese are the unlikely pair that "Ant-Man" throws together when Darren Cross (Corey Stoll), the power-hungry young man now in charge of Pym's company, announces he's figured out his former mentor's secret, and plans to sell it to the military. The premise is simple: Pym wants Lang to steal his techology back from Cross. 

It's hard to articulate what it is about the first half of the movie that feels so strange, but much of it comes down to pacing. While "Ant-Man" doesn't take very long getting Paul Rudd in the incredible suit, there's a very real lack of momentum that undermines the talents of the cast and the fun of the central conceit. 

However, midway through, the film just clicks, and it's wonderful. The action is exciting and imaginative, the cast really starts to gel together, and the jokes get really, really funny. 

Marvel films have a reputation for not entirely sticking the landing — they start strong, but generally end with big, dumb fights. Sure, there's a fight at the end of "Ant-Man" as well, but it's genuinely thrilling, the best action sequence in a movie where action sequences get better and better as the film goes on. In this sense, the film suffers from the inverse problem of most Marvel films — its first act is a bit weak, but the back half sings.

corey stoll ant manThere are other problems with "Ant-Man," as well — the villain, Darren Cross, is pretty cartoonishly evil, but actor Corey Stoll totally relishes the role. Evangeline Lilly has a few great moments as Hank Pym's daughter Hope Van Dyne, but she's sidelined for much of the film. While "Ant-Man" goes out of its way to make this an important plot point, it doesn't make up for it with other female characters, because there really aren't any outside of Scott Lang's disapproving wife and adorable daughter. 

What's most refreshing about "Ant-Man," then, is probably its scope. Finally, here is a Marvel movie about something other than the destruction of worlds. Cities don't get leveled in "Ant-Man," just a building does. It's a story almost exclusively about a small, personal thing: Fathers who have looked at their lives and realized they have failed their children. 

Like those fathers, "Ant-Man" is a flawed, yet earnest attempt to win over those who might not believe in it. 

Give it a shot.

"Ant-Man" is in theaters Friday, July 17.

SEE ALSO: Why Ryan Reynold's 'Deadpool' won over Comic-Con

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It's clear 'Suicide Squad' isn't going to be like any comic book movie we've seen before

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david ayer suicide squad comic con

When director David Ayer took the stage to introduce "Suicide Squad" at San Diego Comic-Con Saturday morning, it was clear from the moment he started speaking this movie was going to be very different from any comic book movie adaptation we've seen before.

"We're making this movie for you, okay?" said Ayer. "This is DC Comics s--- right here. It's all about canon. It's all about being faithful to the source material. You guys know who you are, and you know what you want, and you're gonna freaking get it with this show, okay?" 

The words that should stick out there are "faithful to the source material."

There's nothing fans of a series dislike more than when a comic-book adaptation takes source material and interprets it differently on screen. It's a big risk.

Sometimes it works. You'll even get a new defining character or two. Other times it goes horribly wrong.

Ayer continued, not afraid to take shots at pitting the fans against Marvel.

"And all this 'good vs. evil' is kind of played out right now," said Ayer. "It's time for bad vs. evil right? Time for a movie about bad guys. And who's got the best bad guys out there? DC Comics. Best villains ever."

The director quickly addressed that little dig.

"Now, I'm not trying to start no, you know, east coast/west coast feud with Marvel comics, now. But, hey, someone's gotta say the truth, all right?"

Ayer then revealed some footage for the film, which leaked online afterward, and was subsequently released by Warner Bros. MondayHe then brought out the cast to introduce the film. 

It's a big one.

suicide squad cast comic con

Here's the quick rundown of the cast from left to right:

Cary Fukuhara —Katana
Adam Beach — Slipknot
Cara Delevingne — Enchantress 
Jay Hernandez — El Diablo 
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje — Killer Croc
Jai Courtney — Captain Boomerang
Joel Kinnaman — Rick Flag
Viola Davis — Amanda Wallace
Margot Robbie — fan favorite Harley Quinn
Will Smith — Deadshot

Ayer previously released a photo of the entire cast. There were a few missing including Jim Parrack and Ike Barinholtz.

Jared Leto, who will play the Joker, was also absent from the Con.

suicide squad

After the crowd took the stage, Smith rallied the crew together for a Suicide Squad rally before saying a few niceties to the crowd, but that was mostly it.

suicide squad comic-con 2015

For those who aren't familiar, the "Suicide Squad" is a hand-selected group of villains recruited to work for the government under the direction of Waller (Davis) where they participate in, essentially, suicide missions. If they refuse or try to escape? They get killed.

The series has featured a rotating cast of villains and antihheroes throughout the years.

While no official plot has been released for the film, it's very clear that we'll be seeing much more than a bunch of DC villains gather together to take out potentially larger world threats.

From the footage revealed at Comic-Con, it looks like the film will attempt to humanize many of the Squad members. We may receive the backstories to some of the characters like Smith's Deadshot and Robbie's Harley who was formerly known as psychiatrist Dr. Harleen Quinzel.

will smith suicide squad deadshot

will smith suicide squad

suicide squad harleen quinzelharley quinn joker suicide squadThat's extermely exciting, and something I've been saying to people for awhile. 

We have so many superhero movies — why hasn't anyone made one that embraces the villains?

Sony was going to try and make that happen with its "Sinister Six" project, a film which would have revolved around Spider-Man villains.

This has become a proven format. No one knows that more than Disney and ABC with their series "Once Upon a Time," which humanizes some of the darkest Disney villains by telling the stories of how they got to become evil.

regina once upon a time

The Mouse House took that formula and ran with it for its adaptation of "Maleficent" starring Angelina Jolie as the titular "Sleeping Beauty" villainess. It was a hit grossing over $758.4 million worldwide

Maleficent horns

If you could do this with Disney villains, why not apply the same formula with supervillains?

Tell me you wouldn't watch a Loki movie. (Though "Thor 2"very much felt like one.)

Tom Hiddleston loki comic-con thor

Surely, you'd want to see a standalone Joker film.

joker

While "Suicide Squad" isn't exactly your Joker film, it's refreshing to see Warner Bros. is finally taking a stab at a villain/anti-hero film. The "Squad" footage that ignited Hall H looked intriguing and exciting, and I for one am looking forward to more of it.

As for that Joker film? It looks like WB has some big plans for the Clown Prince of Crime down the line.

We're not too worried.

You can watch the "Suicide Squad" Comic-Con panel below:

 

SEE ALSO: "Suicide Squad" star Margot Robbie is taking over Hollywood

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NOW WATCH: Get ready to root for the bad guys — your first look at 'Suicide Squad' is here

Here's when you'll be able to see the next 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' trailer

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jj abrams star wars the force awakens

During the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" panel at San Diego Comic-Con, fans didn't get to see any scenes or a new trailer for the film.

Instead, they showed off over three minutes of incredible behind the scenes footage.

When will you be able to see a new trailer?

Abrams told the over 6,000 crowd in Hall H we'll have to wait a few months.

"Here's the thing. The truth is, we aren't ready to show you scenes from the movie or a new trailer," said Abrams. "We really want to wait and do the trailer later in the fall."

"We knew that this was too important coming to you, who care about this, and love this so much. And, we wanted to bring something that was as unique and unexpected as we could. We put together a piece that you're gonna see that we hoped would bring you into the process a little bit of what it was like to make this movie and see some of the people who are doing it so, we have that."

In case you haven't seen the behind-the-scenes footage, here it is below:

 

Watch the full panel below:

 

SEE ALSO: Stormtroopers escorted fans to a secret "Star Wars" concert at Comic-Con and we were there

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NOW WATCH: Meet the dark side of the new 'Star Wars' cast

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