Quantcast
Channel: Movies
Viewing all 8368 articles
Browse latest View live

'Star Wars' just released a ton of new footage from 'Rogue One' in a behind-the-scenes video

0
0

Felicity Jones Rogue One

Felicity Jones just uttered one of the most famous phrases of the "Star Wars" franchise — heck, of almost any franchise: "May the Force be with you."

Jones' Jyn Erso tweaks the phrase to say "us" in a new behind-the-scenes reel for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." In the scene, she likely leads a band of Rebel Alliance fighters to try to steal the plans to the Death Star. But first, they have to pass these Stormtroopers.

Stormtroopers

Lucasfilm released the reel Friday at Star Wars Celebration, an annual event celebrating all things "Star Wars."

If there's one takeaway from the clips, it's that there sure will be a lot of explosions in "Rogue One."

Explosions

What might be the most reassuring about the peek at the film is how it shows off real effects on sets versus primarily using green-screen effects (looking at you, prequels).

No Green Screen on Rogue One

The director Gareth Edwards also comments on the necessity of taking risks even when adding to a much-beloved franchise like "Star Wars." He might have just explained why those reshoots happened.

Also at Star Wars Celebration, Lucasfilm unveiled this awesome new poster for "Rogue One."

If anything, the shoot looks pretty intense. Watch the full clip:

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about the next 'Star Wars' movie, 'Rogue One'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Tom Hanks tries to land a plane on the Hudson River in the trailer for 'Sully'


The new behind-the-scenes clip for 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ called out the prequels’ biggest problem

0
0

Rogue One

The behind-the-scenes trailer for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" that just premiered at Star Wars Celebration Europe contained a ton of amazing, exciting aliens, storm troopers, explosions, and exotic locales. One thing it didn't contain a lot of? Footage of the crew filming on a green screen.

That's probably very deliberate, because the overreliance on green screen was one of the most-criticized aspects of the much-maligned prequel trilogy. 

Most of the celebration reel, as they call it, showed the cast and crew filming real stunts and acting on actual, physical sets or on real beaches and forests. There were tons of aliens that were complex costumes or intricate plots, rather than CGI creations like, oh, Jar Jar Binks. 

"It's about the humanity of it, which just makes the whole thing so real" says Warwick Davis, a longtime "Star Wars" actor who played an Ewok in "Return of the Jedi."

"You'll actually compose shots that, if we were on a green screen set, you just wouldn't have known were available," says another crew member. It's hard not to interpreted this as a shot at George Lucas' sterile, stagnantly directed prequels, like "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones."

"Your heart's beating, and you're actually in this situation," the star Felicity Jones says. "You get something very genuine that you couldn't have planned."

All the people involved clearly respect George Lucas and the world he created, even if his work on the prequels wasn't good. But this behind-the-scenes trailer fits in with a lot of the narrative around "The Force Awakens" too. 

Green screen and CGI have peaked, and audiences value real, actual stunts and sets. It looks more authentic — more like the original trillogy that we all know and love. When Lucas shot those in the 1970s and '80s, it was hard physical work, and it paid off. 

By emphasizing how authentic the filming of "Rogue One" was, the creators are making sure we're thinking of the original films, and not those terrible computer generated prequels. 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: These 'Star Wars' records project holograms while playing music

'Rogue One' is going to be like no 'Star Wars' movie we've seen before

0
0

Rogue One

Recently, reports of reshoots on "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" worried people about this new "Star Wars" spinoff. There were debates about both tone and quality.

But during "Star Wars" Celebration, exciting new behind-the-scenes footage was shown, and a quote from director Gareth Edwards explains why fans don't need to worry. 

"The pressure's so high, we're making a film that's touching my favorite movie of all time. But then if you're too respectful of it, that you don't do anything new or different, or take a risk, then what are you bringing to the table?" Edwards said.

Gareth Edwards Rogue One

Gareth Edwards isn't just trying to make a new "Star Wars" movie: he's trying to make "Star Wars" history.

One of the biggest complaints about "The Force Awakens" is that it didn't take any risks. Down to the creation of a new Death Star, it was almost identical to the plot of "A New Hope." It felt like J.J. Abrams intentionally played it safe as a means of not repeating the mistakes of the prequels, which altered too much. The best part about "The Force Awakens" was how it set up a new "Star Wars" era by adding Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) into the mix.

Edwards clearly respects and loves the "Star Wars" property, but he also wants to take it a step further. That has been the key to many of the most successful sequels and reboots in recent years. This is why "Rocky" sequel "Creed" and James Bond sequel "Casino Royale" were so good: they brought in new fans with radical new ideas while showing great respect for the history of their respective franchises. They understood they were both part of a bigger picture.

Thus, we will get a "Star Wars" movie set on a tropical planet. At the same time, we'll get an appearence from Darth Vader.

Star Wars Rogue One

Personally, I am a late-to-life "Star Wars" fan who didn't feel myself growing incredibly attached to this property until I was much older. This makes the idea of creating something new more exciting. We love Han Solo and Darth Vader, but we can't sustain ourselves with the same characters forever. This is a "Star Wars" that will connect with me, and not just the generation that grew up with the first one. 

Edwards has tried this before, with his brooding version of "Godzilla." The results were mixed. While you might not be satisfied with what exactly "Rogue One" is going for, you can guarantee that this is a "Star Wars" movie like we've never seen before.

I, personally, cannot wait to see what new adventures are in store. And yes, I will also cheer when Darth Vader pops up.

"Rogue One" will be out in theaters on December 16.

SEE ALSO: The Death Star returns in this amazing new poster for the next 'Star Wars' movie 'Rogue One'

DON'T MISS: 'Star Wars' just released a ton of new footage from 'Rogue One' in a behind-the-scenes video

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Daisy Ridley's 'Star Wars' lightsaber training is intense

Disney just released 3 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from the new 'Star Wars' movie

0
0

Disney released an extended behind the scenes montage for "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," which is scheduled to hit theaters in December. The clip contains footage from the movie that hasn't been seen before now, as well as a detailed look at the movie's production. 

The footage dropped as part of Star Wars Celebration, which is a weekend-long festival celebrating all things "Star Wars" being held in London.

Follow BI Video: On Twitter

Join the conversation about this story »

Here’s the sign Lucasfilm used to ask fans to not leak a new trailer for ‘Rogue One’

0
0

At its annual "Star Wars Celebration" on Friday, Lucasfilm debuted a new clip from its next big "Star Wars" movie coming later this year, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." 

Don't expect the clip to drop online — at least not anytime soon. "Star Wars Celebration" likes to keep some goodies exclusive for attendees at the event. Before the big reveal, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy asked fans to put away their cellphones along with a pretty hilarious image on screen at the "Rogue One" panel.

loose lips sink star shipsloose lips sink starships rogue one

The image on screen says "Loose lips sink Starships!" If that phrase sounds familiar it's because it's similar to a phrase from a poster that was slapped around the "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" set during shooting. That one told crew that "Loose Lips bring down Starships."

And while that may not stop people from listening, the security Disney usually has on hand for panels with night-vision goggles enforcing that rule usually will. 

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" will be in theaters December 16.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars' just released a ton of new footage from 'Rogue One' in a behind-the-scenes video

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 'Zulu Cobra' helicopter is one of the Marines' most powerful weapons

The funniest part of 'Ghostbusters' is Kate McKinnon — and she's about to become a huge movie star

0
0

Kate McKinnon Ghostbusters

A new star is born.

The latest "Ghostbusters" will be more divisive than any other "Ghostbusters" movie yet.  It drew the internet's ire for months with its all-female cast before anyone had seen a single frame of it. Meanwhile, the movie itself throws out most of the continuity with the original.

But there's one part you can't argue with: Kate McKinnon.

McKinnon plays Jillian Holtzmann, an eccentric engineer who joins the ghostbusting team. She is far and away the best part of "Ghostbusters," and her performance proves that she's ready to become a huge movie star.

If you watch "Saturday Night Live," you'll have known about McKinnon's talent for years.

Kate McKinnon SNL

McKinnon first joined "Saturday Night Live" in 2012, where she's stood out in a crowded ensemble. She's known for her oddball characters, as well as her spot-on impressions. She is best known for skewering Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, and Justin Bieber.

But what really shows the best of McKinnon is the fact that she can imitate somebody who isn't as much in the public eye, such as veteran tennis player, Billie Jean King, and churn out a hilarious performance.

McKinnon steals the show in "Ghostbusters," despite being in the background.

ghostbusters 2016

It would be easy to get swept to the side when acting along comedy powerhouses like Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy. But McKinnon pulls her own in such an amazing way.

McKinnon is effortlessly funny. Her character enjoys playing with blowtorches and says things like, "the year is 2040 and the president is now a plant." All these things would be funny on their own, but she elevates them. 

Other major comedy stars get their start in supporting roles like this.

ghostbusters kate mckinnon

McKinnon's work in "Ghostbusters" reminds me most of two huge comedy performance.

The first one is John Belushi in "Animal House." Belushi's character Bluto is a slob who enjoys starting chaos. He barely has any lines, but Belushi was so good that he barely needed any dialogue. McKinnon feels the same way; she makes a simple face and you're already laughing.

It is also similar to the breakout role of her co-star Melissa McCarthy in "Bridesmaids." That was the rare performance that actually got the Oscars to pay attention to comedy: McCarthy was nominated for an Oscar for it. 

Kate McKinnon made a lot out of a little with this performance. Just imagine what she could do with a leading role. In no time, producers and directors alike will be knocking at her door.

SEE ALSO: Ignore the haters — the new 'Ghostbusters' is a hilarious summer comedy in its own right

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: GREEN BERET: This is how we're different from US Navy SEALs

The first 'Rogue One' toy has been revealed and it's a female action figure

0
0

We finally have our look at the first "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" toy, and it's not a male action figure. 

Gwendoline Christie, who plays Captain Phasma in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," revealed the first action figure from the upcoming movie at the annual "Star Wars Celebration" event and it's of Jyn Erso, the female protagonist of "Rogue One."

Christie presented actress Felicity Jones, who will be playing Erso, with the toy during the "Rogue One" panel Friday afternoon.

jyn erso toy

That's a big deal since Hasbro was slow to release action figures of Rey, the lead female character from "The Force Awakens." While that very well may have been to keep some of the secrets of the film under wraps until its December 18 release last year, #WheresRey became a big topic of discussion online when parents began having a tough time finding the character in stores. 

According to Sweatpants and Coffee, via IndieWire, that wasn't the case. Lucasfilm executives reportedly wanted fewer Rey toys because "no boy wants to given a product with a female character on it."

Hopefully, there will be a lot of Jyn Erso toys out there. 

"Rogue One" will take place in between "Star Wars" episodes III and IV as Erso and a group of individuals try and steal plans for the Death Star. The movie will be in theaters December 16, 2016.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars' just released a ton of new footage from 'Rogue One' in a behind-the-scenes video

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 9 phrases on your résumé that make hiring managers cringe

Here's everything we learned about 'Star Wars: Rogue One' from its action-packed new teaser

0
0

star wars rogue one

We're five months away from the premiere of "Rogue One: A Story Wars" story, and the movie is primed for excellence.

Taking place before the events of the 1977 original film, the first "Star Wars" stand-alone film follows Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and a group of Rebel fighters on a mission to steal plans for the Death Star. 

The annual "Star Wars" Celebration has revealed a few more details about the upcoming movie, including a new poster showing off a beach world. 

But even more exciting was a special behind-the-scenes look at what we can expect from the movie. 

"Rogue One" will hit theaters December 16. 

Check out everything that we learned from the new sizzle reel:

SEE ALSO: The Death Star returns in this amazing new poster for the next 'Star Wars' movie 'Rogue One'

Diego Luna as Captain Cassian Andor, an intelligence officer, and Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso find themselves dodging explosions in a war zone.



There's this unknown structure in a green field.



Cassian Andor finds himself at the hands of Stormtroopers.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

RANKED: The 10 most successful comedy movies of all time

0
0

Ghostbusters cast

Comedies are not historically huge box-office earners, but some strike a chord with so many different people that audiences go watch them again and again.

So far this year, the Kevin Hart/Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson comedy "Central Intelligence" is tops in the genre, having taken in over $110 million at the domestic box office.

But the all-female "Ghostbusters" reboot kicks off its theatrical run on Friday with the hopes of rising up the ranks to catch Hart and Johnson.

Both, however, have a lot more work to do to catch these all-time great comedies — especially Bill Murray's original supernatural smash.

Here are the 10 highest-grossing comedy movies ever, adjusted for inflation to keep things on an even playing field.

Note: We did not count animated or superhero movies in our selection because, while they lean heavily on comedic writing, they are categories all their own and tend to earn significantly more. All figures below are from Box Office Mojo.

SEE ALSO: 25 actors who appeared on 'Seinfeld' and went on to become huge stars

10. "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993) — $452 million (adjusted)

$219.1 million - unadjusted

It's hard to imagine anyone other than Robin Williams playing the role of a father who decides to dress up as an elderly female housekeeper to spend more time with his children while in the midst of a nasty divorce.



9. "M*A*S*H" (1970) — $460.6 million (adjusted)

$81.6 million - unadjusted

Before the hit TV show, it was a hit movie from director Robert Altman, whose style of having all the characters talking over one another laid the groundwork for a unique brand of comedy.



8. "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963) — $462.2 million (adjusted)

$46.3 million - unadjusted

The plot isn't much — a whole bunch of people racing for buried treasure — but what drew audiences to the theaters is that every comic who was huge up to the '60s was cast or had a cameo in the movie — even The Three Stooges!



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 scenes from the next 'Star Wars' movie without visual effects

0
0

star wars rogue one

A new behind the scenes look at "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" was released Friday at the annual "Star Wars Celebration" event in addition to a new poster

Lucasfilm released the video that shows new scenes and the camera work that went in to creating some of the most incredible shots from the upcoming film that is set to hit theaters on December 16.

In the video, actress Felicity Jones who plays Jyn Erso explained what it was like to film, "Your heart's beating and you're actually in this situation...You get something very genuine that you couldn't have planned."

The film tells the story of a group of rebels on a mission to steal plans for the Empire's Death Star.

Here are some shots from filming without any special effects added in.

In this shot, the blue screen is visible in the background.



The rain blowing off of Jones in this shot is being forced back thanks to a burst of air, not special effects.

RAW Embed

 



This large structure looks like it could be part of a ship in the new film, suspended near a screen.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Star Wars' just showed a new trailer for 'Rogue One' with Darth Vader to fans — here's what it was about

0
0

gwedoline christie

Lucasfilm just debuted a new trailer for the first "Star Wars" spinoff movie, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," for fans at its annual "Star Wars Celebration" event.

If you're looking around for the new trailer online, Lucasfilm hasn't released it yet, and they probably won't for a while. For fans who aren't in London at the event and are itching to know what was in the new teaser, a bunch of people and journalists have been sharing details of what was screened and it sounds amazing. 

"Rogue One" will take place in between "Star Wars" episodes III and IV and will follow a group of misfits who attempt to steal the plans for the Death Star. Fans received more footage of the film's main protagonist Jyn Erso and were treated to the first tease of Darth Vader at the trailers end. 

jyn rogue one

According to Collider, the trailer starts with a young Erso running. An overture from an older Erso says, "There's not much time. Every day, we grow weaker. While the day grows grimmer, we still have a chance … to make a real difference."

Comicbook.com says throughout the narration there are battle scenes, new locations show, and an X-Wing flying through a forrested planet. New aliens are seen along with Deathtroopers and the Death Star.

Collider reports shots of handcuffed rebels being walked through the streets. There's also a shot of the film's villain, Director Orson Krennic along with Deathtroopers by his side. 

ben Mendelsohn rogue one

The trailer ends with the sound of Darth Vader's ominous breathing — yes, he'll be in the movie, too. However, fans don't get a clean shot of him. You just see a reflection of him on the floor. You can read their great summation of the new trailer here.

"Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" will be in theaters December 16. 

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars' just released a ton of new footage from 'Rogue One' in a behind-the-scenes video

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Airplane designers have a brilliant idea for the middle seat

The actress who will play 'Wonder Woman' explains why she thinks the movie will be so important

0
0

wonder woman

When Israeli actress and model Gal Gadot accepted the role of Wonder Woman, she might not have realized she was becoming a part of history.

Gadot will star in the hero's first standalone movie when "Wonder Woman" comes out in theaters in 2017. It is also a rare female-centered superhero movie. 

Gadot now understands the significance of this. 

"It is a big responsibility,"Gadot told Entertainment Weekly in an interview. "We knew we wanted to tell a story that would inspire people: women, men, boys, and girls. And we didn’t want to just show a generic story of a superhero coming of age. We wanted her to be full and whole. This is the first time we are telling this story and I feel like for so many boys, they have great role models to work with. They have Superman and Batman and Spiderman and the list goes on and on. And they are strong and almighty and they are positive and active and proactive."

Just like the cast of the new "Ghostbusters,""Wonder Woman" will fill in a gap for a big audience usually left out of summer's biggest blockbusters.

wonder woman gal gadot

While talking to her daughter, Gadot saw that there was a need for a strong, female hero.

"I just had a conversation with my daughter, Alma, and she was saying something about the prince she saw in 'Sleeping Beauty' and she was saying he’s brave and he’s strong. And I said what about the princess and she said, she’s weak. And I said, what do you think of that. And she’s 4, my daughter. And she said, she shouldn’t be weak. And I said why do you think she’s weak, and she said, she’s sleeping the entire movie and the prince comes and kisses her and saves her. She didn’t do anything," she said.

Gadot is grateful for the opportunity to provide young girls with a strong female role model.

"I feel that I’ve got the opportunity to set a great role model for girls to look up to a strong, active, compassionate, loving, positive woman and I think it’s so important," Gadot concluded.

Read the full interview here.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Daisy Ridley's 'Star Wars' lightsaber training is intense

A J.R.R. Tolkien poem that just resurfaced after 70 years gives an interesting insight into one of his most powerful characters

0
0

Galadriel lord of the rings

In the years between the release of the "The Hobbit" and the first "Lord of the Rings" novel, J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a long poem that hasn't been republished in the 70 years since.

"The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun" was published in 1945 in the literary journal the Welsh Review.

According to The Guardian, the poem was based on a Celtic legend and features an early version of Elven queen Galadriel, who was officially introduced in "The Lord of the Rings" series. She was portrayed by Cate Blanchett in the "LOTR" film trilogy, as well as "The Hobbit" film trilogy, though she's not in that book.

HarperCollins announced that this poem would be published on November 3 along with other Tolkien poems. According to a press release from the publishing house given to The Guardian, the poem is said to come "from the darker side of J.R.R Tolkien's imagination."

The statement read:

"The sequence shows the Corrigan's increasingly powerful presence, as she takes an ever more active role in the lives of Aotrou and Itroun ... She would finally emerge, changed in motive and character but still be recognizable, in 'The Lord of the Rings' as the beautiful and terrible Lady of the Golden Wood, the Elven queen Galadriel."

The published poem will include a preface from Tolkien's son, Christopher.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: 'The Lord of the Rings’ makeup experts turned me into a dwarf — and the transformation was shocking

This is the beautiful location where scenes for the new 'Star Wars' movie were shot

0
0

Maldives Beach Resort Bungalows Boardwalk

The new "Star Wars" movie, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" comes out this December.

Many of the scenes that will appear in the new movie were filmed in the Maldives, including an already iconic one that features a line of Stormtroopers wading through the sparkling waters of the Indian Ocean.

At a panel during the annual Star Wars Celebration which discussed the new movie, director Gareth Edwards explained that this scene takes place in Scarif, which is supposed to be a "paradise world."

Since the Maldives is known as a real-life paradise, it's no wonder he chose this spot for filming.

Keep scrolling to see why this place is so beautiful.

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars' just released a ton of new footage from 'Rogue One' in a behind-the-scenes video

The Maldives is a collection of 26 coral atolls that sit in the Indian Ocean.



It's a popular honeymoon spot thanks to its incredibly bright white-sand beaches...



...and its stunningly clear waters.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything we know about the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' sequel

0
0

guardians of the galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a cool retro title for the movie, and it's definitely a callback to the "Awesome Mix Vol. 1" soundtrack that helped make the first movie a sensation. Principal photography is now finished, and it looks like we're going to get our first look at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 footage at San Diego Comic-Con next week.

James Gunn unveiled the first look at some Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 concept art via Facebook, and it's got a couple of surprises. For one thing, check out adorable Baby Groot. But for another, this is our first look at Mantis, who will be played by Pom Klementieff in the movie. And how can you not love Rocket Raccoon with a jetpack?

And now we have the first story details of the movie, courtesy of the folks at Stitch Kingdom. It's not much, but it's a start!

Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

I'm really curious about that "old foes become new allies" thing, as well as the "fan-favorite characters" part. Does this mean we'll get to see characters like Quasar, Nova (singular, not the Corps), or Adam Warlock this time around?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Release Date

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2  is scheduled for release on May 5th, 2017. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Cast

452654058

The official press release confirms that the core original cast is back, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord;  Zoe Saldana as Gamora; Dave Bautista as Drax; Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot; Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket; and  even Michael Rooker as Yondu, Karen Gillan as Nebula (you didn't really think we had seen the last of her, did you?), and Sean Gunn as Kraglin.

There are two characters from the first film who won't make their return in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Neither Nova Corps member Dey nor Benicio Del Toro's The Collector will be in this one. The news comes via James Gunn's Facebook page

New cast members include Pom Klementieff (Oldboy), Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, Everest), Chris Sullivan (The Knick, The Drop) and Kurt Russell (TheHateful Eight, Furious 7). Kurt Russell is indeed playing Star-Lord's father, although don't expect to find out his name. It definitely isn't J-Son. James Gunn confirmed that Pom Klementieff is playing Marvel Comics character Mantis, as well. Steve Agee is also on board.

The same scientists who created Adam Warlock also created Kismet. But she was their second attempt, while Warlock was their first. So if Kismet is in the movie, that might at least mean that Adam Warlock already exists in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether he's actually been cast or will appear in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is another story.

Tommy Flanagan, recently known as Chibs on Sons of Anarchy, will play Yondu's new right hand man in the Ravagers. Heroic Hollywood, who first reported the news, claims that Yondu and the Ravagers have a bounty out on Rocket Raccoon this time around.

Nathan Fillion had an amusing cameo as the voice of one of the intergalactic inmates in the first Guardians of the Galaxy film, and now he's about to have another cameo as a more high profile member of the Marvel Universe.

With shooting underway, it appears some sequences are taking place on Earth, and there's a "Simon Williams Film Festival" happening, with a movie theater all decked out with posters featuring Nathan Fillion's face in various roles...including a biopic of Tony Stark. Simon Williams is better known to Marvel fans as part time superhero/part time actor, "Wonder Man." It's unlikely that we're going to see anything resembling Wonder Man in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, but this sounds like a fun way to sneak him in.

The images, honestly, look like crap, so I'm not putting them here, but you can see them at ComicBook.com if you'd like.

I've reached out to representatives for Mr. Fillion to see if anyone will offer any confirmation or further details.

Director James Gunn eagerly snapped a shot of Guardians old and new together for rehearsals, which you can view below. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, David Bautista, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan (with hair!), and more are heeding the call.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Villain

JoBlo.com has been getting some quality Marvel scoops lately, and now they appear to have word on who the villain of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is. With all of the official casting news out there (more on that on page two), there's been no word on who Elizabeth Debicki is playing (there was some speculation that she was playing Phyla-Vell/Quasar). You might recognize Ms. Debicki from her recent turn on AMC's excellent The Night Manager, which starred another Marvel villain, Tom Hiddleston.

JoBlo reports that Ms. Debicki is the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 villain, Kismet. Kismet (also known as Paragon and Her) is an artificial life form created by a group of scientists known as the Enclave. She's got tremendous cosmic power at her disposal. But here's another cool thing...she's connected to Adam Warlock, a character that we absolutely need to see on screen fighting Thanos at some point.

12698197_10153165740966157_5309066470210744898_o

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Plot

This is the closest thing to an official synopsis Marvel is handing out right now:

Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

If you're looking for inspiration from the comics, you're out of luck. James Gunn has already promised that the movie is "not really based on anything."

For one thing, expect them to solve the mystery of Star-Lord's father in this one. "At its heart, Guardians is a story about families. And if the first film was about him and his mother, this is a story about fathers." 

He expanded on that a little bit for us:

“You’ll have to wait and see but it’s very different. There are things in the comic book that on film seemed to come out a little too Star Wars to me. I’m not a great fan of the name J’son. So there’ll be a lot of differences from what’s in there." 

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Villain

It doesn't look like Thanos is going to have a major hand in the proceedings, which should help to distance this from the upcomingAvengers: Infinity Warmovies. Maybe one of those other new cast members has the answer.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Production Details

We'll just let the press release take over here...

Director James Gunn's creative team also includes director of photography Henry Braham ("The Legend of Tarzan,""The Golden Compass"); production designer Scott Chambliss ("Star Trek,""Tomorrowland"); editors Fred Raskin ("The Hateful Eight,""Guardians of the Galaxy") and Craig Wood ("Guardians of the Galaxy,""Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"); three time Oscar®-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky ("Captain America: Civil War,""Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"); Oscar®-nominated visual effects supervisor Chris Townsend ("Avengers: Age of Ultron,""Iron Man 3"); stunt coordinator Tommy Harper ("Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,""Captain America: The Winter Soldier" ); co-producer / first assistant director Lars Winther ("Captain America: Civil War,""Captain America: The Winter Soldier"); and six-time Oscar® nominee, special effects supervisor Dan Sudick ("Captain America: Civil War,"  "The Avengers").

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just released 3 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from the new 'Star Wars' movie


The new 'Star Wars' movie is based off of one tiny piece of text from 'A New Hope'

0
0

Rogue One Death Star

Most big ideas start with something really small.

Such is the case with "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," the first "Star Wars" anthology film, as the whole movie started as one sentence from the opening crawl of "A New Hope," the original 1977 film.

Visual-effects supervisor John Knoll came up with the idea while "Episode III" was being shot. He shared the awesome tidbit again on Friday during Star Wars Celebration in London.

This is the line that inspired him:

A New Hope Star Wars

It reads, "During the battle, rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR ..."

"Rogue One" focuses on the rebels' attempts to steal the plans for the Death Star, not long before the events of "A New Hope."

Writer Chris Weitz still had a lot of story to come up with from that simple line. We'll be able to see what he came up with on December 16, when "Rogue One" finally comes out in theaters.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Disney just released 3 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage from the new 'Star Wars' movie

The 10 most successful R-rated movies ever are not what you think

0
0

deadpool

Sometimes it pays to be restricted.

R-rated films limit their audiences based on excessive violence, sexual situations, drug use, and language, as determined by the MPAA.

Even so, the box office doesn't always take a hit.

"Deadpool" had the biggest R-rated opening weekend with $132.43 million, but when looking at total grosses of R-rated films adjusted for inflation, the breakout Marvel movie doesn't make the top 10. (In fact, it sits at No. 17.)

"The Matrix Reloaded," which previously held "Deadpool's" opening record, and "American Sniper" also surprisingly don't qualify, ranking at 11 and 15, respectively. "The Hangover" doesn't even make the top 20; it placed at No. 28.

Interestingly, 7 of the top 10 R-rated films are from the 1970s, and only one is from the new millenium. 

Take a look at the top 10 highest-grossing R-rated movies of all time adjusted for inflation (to keep things on an even playing field):

The ranking comes from Box Office Mojo's list of top domestic adjusted grosses of R-rated movies.

SEE ALSO: The 15 highest-grossing animated movies of all time

10. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991) — $417.47 million *all figures adjusted for inflation



9. "National Lampoon's Animal House" (1978) — $440.33 million



8. "M.A.S.H." (1970) — $460.61 million



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Ghostbusters' has the biggest opening for a comedy this year but can't win the weekend box office

0
0

ghostbusters-group

After all the controversy surrounding the female-focused reboot of the 1980s classic comedy, "Ghostbusters" has finally opened, and though it didn't do amazing business, Sony, the studio behind the movie, should be happy to have survived the rough waters.

The comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones with director Paul Feig ("Spy") at the helm, took in an estimated $46 million at the domestic box office this weekend, according to Exhibitor Relations.

That's the biggest opening for a live-action comedy this year and the biggest opening for a McCarthy/Feig movie (besting their 2013 movie "The Heat," which opened at $39.1 million).

the secret life of pets universalBut that wasn't enough to beat the latest animated hit, "The Secret Life of Pets," which topped the box office again with an estimated $50.5 million.

That once again proves that animation is ruling the summer box office.

There was a moment when it looked like "Ghostbusters" could top "Pets," as the comedy won Friday with $17.2 million over the $15 million taken in by "Pets," but with the latest film from the makers of "Despicable Me" in 400 more theaters than "Ghostbusters," it was able to catch up to the gals who aren't afraid of ghosts. 

"Ghostbusters" is the latest reboot/sequel that has underperformed this summer. With an estimated budget of around $145 million, plus a $100 million prints-and-advertising price tag, just making around $46 million on its opening weekend doesn't cut it. Especially with the movie not being allowed to play in China, which has been a savior for the global box office of numerous movies this summer.

But no other movie this summer has received the scrutiny that "Ghostbusters" has. There's been a constant group of people on the internet who have tried to hurt the movie's performance by negatively rating its trailers and bringing down its IMDb ranking just because the movie has been remade with female leads.

With Sony intending to make more "Ghostbusters" movies with this cast, this weekend's performance, though soft, still solidifies the continuation of the franchise (sorry, haters).

SEE ALSO: The 10 most successful comedy movies of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: We took a ride around NYC in the new ‘Ghostbusters’ car which is actually a 1984 Cadillac hearse

One tiny Harry Potter movie prop shows how much attention J.K. Rowling pays to every detail

0
0

J.K. Rowling

Only the most hardcore Harry Potter fans will remember "The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore," a biography of the Hogwarts headmaster mentioned in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

For J.K. Rowling, it was essential.

In the plot of the Harry Potter series, the book is relatively unimportant. It's a critical hit piece on Albus Dumbledore, written by gossip reporter Rita Skeeter three weeks after his death. It's a best-seller in the Harry Potter universe, turning the author from a merely a gadfly to becoming one of the series' bad guys.

In the movies, "The Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore" pops up in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1." Hermione grabs a copy to learn more about about Dumbledore's past, leading her, Harry, and Ron to information that eventually helps them defeat Voldemort.

The Life and Times of Albus Dumbledore by Rita Skeeter Harry PotterEven though it's there just in passing, Rowling paid close attention to the look and feel of the prop. According to The Wall Street Journal, she wanted the cover "to look like a trashy airport novel." Which is perfect. In the movies, the book does look exactly like an overwritten, disreputable biography that's been dashed off by a gossip columnist in just three weeks. The design also looks a lot like some of the other books and newspapers in the Harry Potter universe, with the overwrought lettering in the title and the framing of Michael Gambon's face on the cover.

This kind of insane attention to detail is very much in character for Rowling.

“She knows exactly what she’s doing and what she wants,” says Miraphora Mina, the co-owner of  Mina Lima, a props company that Rowling works with frequently.

Lately, Rowling has been expanding that detail-oriented style into new endeavors.

Since Rowling wrapped up the "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" book in 2007, she's increasingly put her own stamp on her fantasy empire.

She's worked on Pottermore, an interactive website where people can learn more about the characters and minutiae in the Harry Potter universe. She has a new play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," about what happens to Harry, Ron, and Hermione 19 years after the books. And she's writing the scripts for a trilogy of movies in the Harry Potter universe herself, instead of handing off script-writing duties to another writer, as she did for the Harry Potter series.

And on a business level, she's putting her stamp on everything as well. She got special deals with Apple and Amazon for Harry Potter ebook and audiobooks. She's orchestrating the rollout of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." And she's closely involved in merchandising decisions. It's very much like what George Lucas did for "Star Wars," except Rowling is actually good.

 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: GREEN BERET: This is how we're different from US Navy SEALs

Meet the actor taking on the iconic 'Star Wars' role as the new Han Solo

0
0

Alden Ehrenreich Jason Kempin Getty

Alden Ehrenreich is heading to a universe far, far away.

It was announced in May that the 26-year-old actor was cast as a young Han Solo, stepping into a role made iconic by Harrison Ford, but he was officially introduced at the 2016 Star Wars Celebration Europe on Sunday.

The spin-off is set for a 2018 release.

Though this might be Ehrenreich's first blockbuster film, the actor is no stranger to Hollywood. 

He was discovered by Steven Spielberg at a bat mitzvah at age 14, and has worked with some of the film industry's most established directors, including Francis Ford Coppola.

Here's a look at the professional career of the future "Star Wars" actor:

Alden Caleb Ehrenreich is now joining the "Star Wars" universe, taking on the role of a young Han Solo in the Han Solo anthology film.



He beat out more than 2,500 other actors for the part in the Han Solo spin-off during a six-month audition process.

Source: Hollywood Reporter



Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller said he was "literally the first person to walk through the door" for the audition, and they knew right away.

Source: Hollywood Reporter



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 8368 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images