'Rogue One' Reshoots Spelling Disaster? Not Even Close.

According to Page Six, Disney executives are not happy with what they've seen so far from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, so they've ordered "expensive" reshoots to take place during the month of July. In essence, they feel that this film is not living up to the success of The Force Awakens. Before I get into why this is a non-issue and does not spell disaster for the highly anticipated film, I'll provide you with the exact quote from the alleged source:

“The filmmaking team and the studio always anticipated additional shooting and second unit work to make the film the absolute best it can be, and the actors were aware there would be additional shooting. Coming off ‘The Force Awakens,’ there’s an incredibly high bar for this movie and we have a responsibility to the franchise and to the fans to deliver the best possible movie we can.”

First of all, if this report is true, remember who said the film isn't testing well: Disney. Not Kathleen Kennedy. We have to remember that the nature of this film will probably be the most adult oriented Star Wars film we've ever had. Disney has always produced lighthearted films with adult themes, but knowing how to hide those behind a hopeful backdrop. They know this will be much different. You don't bring people involved with films like Black Hawk Down and Zero Dark Thirty to make a happy, G-rated fantasy film. This is going to be a straight up war movie with a lot of death, so I wouldn't doubt that the test screenings may feel pretty dark, if that's the issue. But, we also have to remember that reshoots happen all the time for one reason or another. Its a common occurrence in filmmaking. Remember all of the noise created by Suicide Squad when that film had to undergo reshoots? Oh, and The Force Awakens underwent reshoots as well, and so will Episode VIII.

Above all, I wouldn't trust this report unless I hear Kathleen Kennedy confirm what the source said in one way or another. Page Six has a reputation of being gossipy, although they did get the Alden Ehrenreich casting right (even though we all speculated he was the frontrunner for the role, but I digress). There have been so many bogus stories concerning these films since Disney bought Lucasfilm. If its not a "leaked" script, its character information, or something else to grab headlines (remember the Finn action figure that alluded to him being Lando's son?). This is nothing more than click-bait, in my opinion, just to stir up controversy and plant seeds of doubt in the minds of Star Wars fans. All I'll say is this: we're gonna see Vader kicking ass on that battlefield and that alone should make you freaking excited.

Also, some advice to Page Six, if you wanted to make a bigger splash with this story, you should've waited until Star Wars Celebration since there will be a Rogue One panel. Chances are people will forget about this in about a week. Just sayin'.

May the Force be with you.

Chris O'Dowd Set to Join 'God Particle' Cast

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Chris O'Dowd (The IT Crowd, Thor: The Dark World) is in final negotiations to join Bad Robot's God Particle. Alongside O'Dowd will be David Oyelowo (Interstellar, Selma), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Concussion), John Krasinski (13 Hours, The Office), Elizabeth Debicki (The Night Manager, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.), and Daniel Bruhl (Captain America: Civil War).The sci-fi feature is said to revolve around an "American space station, that after an accident with a particle accelerator, suddenly finds that Earth has vanished." This synopsis of  God Particle was reported by Spencer Perry on ComingSoon.net. The Hollywood Reporter discussed a bit more of the plot in a story a few weeks ago that touched on Bruhl's negotiations to join the film, saying that after the disappearance of Earth and finding themselves alone, the crew of the space station must decide whether those aboard a newly appeared space shuttle are hostile.

God Particle was originally written by Oren Uziel of 22 Jump Street and Freaks of Nature, and has since seen a rewrite by Doug Jung. God Particle will be directed by Julius Onah and is set to be released on February 24, 2017.

Rumors Suggest Solo Films for More 'Suicide Squad' Characters

It appears DC has the hit its been looking for.

Back in March, DC believed itself to have one of the most epic films of the year in Batman v. Superman. Bringing two of the most iconic characters of all time on screen together for the first time, and have them at odds? Sign me up. Unfortunately, as we all know, the film did not critically perform as expected. However, by the looks of early reviews, this could be the film to point the DCEU in the right direction.

News already broke that a Harley Quinn solo movie will be one of the spinoffs from Suicide Squad, but now we're also getting word that more of the characters from the film could be getting their own solo films as well. According to We Got This Covered, a source close to the studio revealed the future plans for Warner Bros. regarding the DC franchise, noting that Jai Courtney's Boomerang and Jared Leto's Joker are among those in talks to get their own stand alone films.

All of this news, if true, is very promising. But, I fear that making these kinds of decisions before the movie has been released isn't the right move. Despite positive early reviews, how do you know audiences will receive all of these characters well? You can't pre-determine an audiences reaction to a film. If that were the case, Batman v. Superman should've been the movie to beat this year and probably one of the most profitable superhero films of all time, if not the most. With that being said, I really hope this film knocks it out of the park. DC has some of the best comic book characters out there and being able to see a worthy adaptation on screen is something we all want as fans.

Suicide Squad is set for release on August 5th, 2016.

Beauty and the Beast Official US Teaser Trailer

Disney has returned with another live action adaptation of one of its most beloved films, Beauty and the Beast. Hoping to go beyond 2015's Cinderella, a very well received adaptation of the classic Disney film, Beauty and the Beast is already off to a great start with its first teaser trailer. I think the opening shot of the castle says it all, hinting at a film filled with charm and a hint of mystery.



The cast for Beauty and the Beast features Emma Watson (Belle), Dan Stevens (Beast), Ian McKellen (Cogsworth), Luke Evans (Gaston), Josh Gad (LeFou), Kevin Kline (Maurice), Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Plumette), Ewan McGregor as Lumiere, and Stanly Tucci (Credenza).



Directed by Bill Condon, Beauty and the Beast is slated for release on March 17, 2017.

'Star Trek Beyond' Trailer #2

The third installment in the 2009 Star Trek reboot is finally upon us, and with a new trailer. Returning to their iconic roles will be Chris Pine, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, John Cho and Zachary Quinto. New additions to the cast will include Sofia Boutella, Joe Taslim and Idris Elba. Now, the first trailer for Star Trek Beyond was highly criticized due to the music and overall tone of the film, feeling more like an action film rather than a Star Trek film. The use of the Beastie Boys track from the 2009 film was intended to be a throwback, but using it for the duration of the trailer seemed totally out of place. Also, you could totally feel Justin Lin's stamp on this film since he directed four of the Fast and the Furious films, featuring motorcycles and aerial stunts that should've featured Vin Diesel attempting to save Letty from some terrible fate.


However, the second trailer felt like the J.J. Abrams Star Trek (which I like a lot). There was no out of place music, they weren't trying to sell the movie solely based on the action sequences, and we were able to get a feel for what story this movie will tell. I think we're going to see Captain Kirk really come into his own in this film because it looks like another "Either we're going down, or they are," scenario.


Star Trek Beyond is set for release on July 22, 2016.

'The Nice Guys' Initial Reaction and Review

*I couldn't remember the name of my own blog.*

Joe Pesci Turns Down Role in Martin Scorsese's 'The Irishman'

Martin Scorsese (left), Joe Pesci (right) in Casino 1995
Photo via imdb.com

Coming off his last mobster film The Departed, director Martin Scorsese is returning to the genre with The Irishman. The film will be an adaptation of the book entitled "I Heard You Paint Houses," written by Charles Brandt and follows the story of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a union guy connected to the mob and the death of Jimmy Hoffa. Originally, the film was going to star Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci, but it appears that Pesci has turned down the role.

Pesci's last film was 2010's Love Ranch, a relatively unknown film. He has also turned down comedian Louis C.K., so this doesn't seem to be a decision based on this particular project. Having starred in films such as Raging Bull, Casino and Goodfellas, all of which were directed by Scorsese, it appears as if Pesci just doesn't want to be a part of anything at the moment. However, according to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Scorsese seems optimistic that they'll be able to persuade Pesci to be part of the film.

If Pesci does not return to the film, I will be very disappointed. His performances in Goodfellas and Casino are incredible and I don't believe we would see anything different in The Irishman. However, if they need to replace him, Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) or Frank Vincent (Goodfellas, Casino, Raging Bull) would be the perfect men for the job. Both have worked with Scorsese before and turn in great performances.

As it stands today, The Irishman will feature Robert De Niro (Raging Bull, Goodfellas, Casino), Al Pacino (Scarface, The Godfather), Harvey Keitel (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), and Bobby Cannavale (Ant-Man, Chef, The Bone Collector).

New Images Released for Warren Beatty's 'Rules Don't Apply'

Bulworth. The 1997 picture was the last film that Warren Beatty directed, until the upcoming Howard Hughes-centric drama Rules Don't Apply. We haven't heard anything about the film since the news broke that Beatty was set to return to the director's chair. Today, images have been released showing the stars of the film Lily Collins and the new Han Solo, Alden Ehrenreich.

 Set in 1958, Rules Don't Apply, according to Collider, follows the relationship between Lily Collins' "religiously devout actress" and Ehrenreich's "equally conservative driver." Both characters are employed by Hughes who forbids any intimate relationships between the employees. Hughes is portrayed by Beatty himself who wrote, produced, and directed the film.

In an interview with Collider last January, Collins mentioned that the film is "about the perils and trials and tribulations" of 1950's Hollywood. Aside from Collins and Ehrenreich, the cast of Rules Don't Apply includes Annette Bening (Regarding Henry, American Beauty), Alec Baldwin (Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, The Departed), Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Producers), Candice Bergen (Murphy Brown, Boston Legal), and Steve Coogan (Philomena, The Other Guys).

Rules Don't Apply is slated for release on November 11th, 2016. Images below are courtesy of EW.



Image via 20th Century Fox



Image via 20th Century Fox



Image via 20th Century Fox

Geoff Johns Now In Charge of DCEU

After the disappointing reception that Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice received from audiences and critics alike, Warner Bros. has made its biggest move yet in order to put the DCEU on the right track. Their latest move puts DC Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns and DC executive vice-president Jon Berg in charge of bringing the comic book adaptations to the big screen.

Photo by comicbookmovie.com

Geoff Johns has been involved in all of the DC projects since Man of Steel, but now this latest move puts him at the top. With Johns' vast comic book knowledge and understanding of the DC characters, fans can't help but think this is a step in the right direction. Berg, on the other hand, has worked on Batman v. Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman and Justice League. Both men are also connected to Ben Affleck, who has become an executive producer for the Justice League film. Johns has been writing the new stand alone Batman film alongside Affleck, and Berg worked with Affleck on Argo and on Affleck's upcoming film Live By Night. This is the one project that audiences are very excited about since Affleck's portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne was one aspect of the film that many enjoyed. Also, his abilities behind the camera should give anyone reason to believe that he's the right person to be in charge of the project. Affleck has written films such as The Town, Gone Baby Gone, and Good Will Hunting, as well as directed the Oscar-winner Argo.

Now, in broader context, the move of putting Johns and Berg in charge of the DCEU is an attempt to duplicate what Marvel has accomplished with Kevin Feige. What Feige has done with the MCU has been incredible to say the least. Being an expert on the source material of these films, as well as knowing how to craft a good story, Feige knows when a film is ready to be green-lit or when it has to go back to development. That is a problem that has plagued the DC franchise. It seems like a lot of their films do not get that critical eye, therefore getting the reception that Batman v. Superman received.

In regards to other DC films slated for release in the coming year, the studio has been making moves behind the camera for those releases as well. One of the major moves spoken of earlier was the addition of Ben Affleck as executive producer for Justice League. Then, The Flash director Seth Grahame-Smith and Warner Bros. parted ways, saying that they wanted a more experienced director. And finally, Johns' involvement in post-production for Suicide Squad led to his new role in the DCEU. It had been reported that the film was undergoing "major additional photography," and reshoots. David Ayer mentioned that it was for a new action sequence in the film.

What this tells me is that the studios acknowledge that they have been underperforming. These moves hope to be a step in the right direction and I believe they are. The upcoming releases look very promising, especially Wonder Woman from what Patty Jenkins said after production wrapped on the film. With Johns and Berg overseeing these films, I think these films will appear as a more cohesive body of work.

New Images and Character Descriptions from 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' Visual Story Guide

The marketing for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story has been virtually nonexistent after the first trailer premiered. All we know in regards to the film has been the general plot and the cast, but we have not gotten certain character details. Well, a 164-page visual story guide from Media Lab Books, much like the one for Star Wars: The Force Awakens, has released some character info and new images in the preview. Also, the visual guide will eventually include 130 pages of photos. Now, if one wants to go into the movie completely fresh, its best to avoid the images and details.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story takes place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope, and centers around a group of rebel fighters that go on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. The plot for the film comes from the crawl text for the original film. Now, the visual story guide gives us more insight about the characters and some of the new models of vehicles that'll be introduced.


Here are some of the character details for the crew of the Rebel Alliance:



Image via Media Lab Books

Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones): As a highly skilled soldier and warrior, Jyn, along with her cohorts in the rogue band of resistance fighters, is prepared to steal the Death Star plans and bring new hope to the galaxy. United in this daring mission, Jyn and the others heroes in the Rebel Alliance will have to enter battle against the evil forces of the Empire.

Captain Cassian Andor (Diego Luna): Rebel Alliance officer.

Chirrut (Donnie Yen): A "spiritual warrior."

Baze (Jiang Wen): A freelance assassin.

Bodhi (Riz Ahmed): A rebel soldier.

Alan Tudyk (possibly K-250): An enforcer droid.


Here are some of the character details for the Galactic Empire:


Image via Media Lab Books

Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn): As Director of the Imperial Military, Krennic is prepared to protect and preserve the evil Galactic Empire. His means of defense will be needed more than ever when a rogue band of resistance fighters comes together for a daring mission that will see them attempt to steal plans for the Death Star, the Empire’s ultimate weapon.

Death Troopers/Stormtroopers:  As elite Empire soldiers with the sole purpose of thwarting enemy Rebel Alliance forces, stormtroopers are prepared to protect and preserve the evil Galactic Empire.

There are also some images of vehicles, including a TIE Striker and Rebel Starfighter.

Image via Media Lab Books

Image via Media Lab Books

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is directed by Gareth Edwards and is slated for release on December 16, 2016.

View the first official teaser trailer here.

Warner Bros. Developing Harley Quinn Film

Photo by screenrant.com

According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, a Harley Quinn film is currently being developed by Warner Bros. starring Margot Robbie as the villain. Her character has been the main focus of the Suicide Squad trailers, and seems to be the lead of the film. Now, that's not to say that audiences are not excited to see Jared Leto's interpretation of the Joker, as well as the rest of the cast.

While researching for the role of Harley Quinn, Margot Robbie grew to love many of the female DC characters, which prompted her to bring this idea forward. After bringing on the writer, reportedly a female, it was picked up for development. There's also word that the Harley Quinn centric movie will not be a "solo" film, but will include a number of female DC characters, including Batgirl and the Birds of Prey. Obviously, the studio is not confirming any of these details, and has not said who will be involved behind the camera.

Audiences will get their first look at Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, set for release on August 5th. Joining her will be Jared Leto (The Joker), Will Smith (Deadshot), Cara Delevingne (Enchantress), Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang), and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc). Suicide Squad is directed by David Ayer (End of Watch, Fury).

Weekend Box Office Report: May 15, 2016

Photo by comicbook.com

Retaining the top spot at the box office is, to no ones surprise, Captain America: Civil War with $72.5 million in its second week. The latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews from audiences and critics alike. The film did suffer a 59.5 percent drop from its opening weekend, but in the bigger picture, is still performing very well. Globally, it's amassed $940.8 million, and $295.8 million domestically. Captain America: Civil War will hit the $1 billion mark and be the fourth Marvel film to reach that number.

Disney continues to dominate with The Jungle Book coming in second place, grossing $17.7 million. This film boasts a stellar cast, breathtaking special effects that make the film feel real, and fantastic performances. The Jungle Book has a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 95%. The film currently stands at $311.7 million domestically.

Finishing the weekend in third place is the drama/thriller Money Monster, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts. According to ScreenRant, the mixed reviews of the film are partially to blame for the $15 million performance, although it only cost $27 million to make. In all fairness, it was not the type of film that was going to get a large draw since Civil War continues to dominate and see repeat viewings.

Finishing fourth is the newest horror flick, The Darkness, making just $5.1 million. Albeit a small film, it did receive negative reviews which, unfortunately, has become the norm for many modern horror films. However, films like The Conjuring and The Witch are trying to reverse that trend.

Coming in fifth is Mothers Day, grossing $3.2 million. The film is now has a domestic total of $28.7 million at the end of its third week.

Zootopia reaches $331.8 million domestically, making $2.8 million this weekend and placing sixth.

Seventh place belongs to The Huntsman: Winter's War, grossing $2.5 million and bringing the films domestic total to $44.5 million.

The Key and Peele led comedy, Keanu, finished the weekend in eighth place with $1.9 million. Keanu stands at $18.6 million.

Barbershop: The Next Cut finishes in ninth place with $1.6 million, reaching a domestic total of $51.3 million.

Finally, rounding out the top 10 is Melissa McCarthy's The Boss with $1.1 million, reaching a domestic total of $61.1.


*Numbers provided by ScreenRant.com*

Michael B. Jordan Joins 'Black Panther' Cast

There's no question that the Black Panther character was one of the highlights in Captain America: Civil War. From what we saw in Chadwick Boseman's performance, there's so much to explore with his character and that's where Ryan Coogler shines. Seeing what he did with Fruitvale Station and Creed, I can assure you that we're going to get the same, rich story and character development in the upcoming Marvel film.

Now, if fans weren't already excited, news broke today that Michael B. Jordan has joined the highly anticipated Marvel film. I mean, check out these names: Chadwick Boseman, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael B. Jordan. This is the cast for Black Panther, and holy crap it's fantastic. Just a couple of days ago we got word that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o was in talks to play Boseman's love interest in the film, adding more star power to the Coogler directed film. Now, adding Creed star Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther will have some amazing performances.

This will be the third film in which Coogler and Jordan will work on together (Fruitvale Station, Creed). There's no word yet on who Jordan's character will be, but a source told the Hollywood Reporter that he could be a villain. Jordan is already familiar with the superhero genre, having starred in the albeit disappointing Fantastic Four reboot, as the Human Torch.

Black Panther is slated for release on February 2, 2018.

Ben Affleck to Star in Action-Thriller 'The Accountant'

Photo by CinemaBlend

Coming off the heels of Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck has put away his cape and cowl, and now plays the role of Christian Wolff, accountant/assassin. The trailer for the film gave me a bit of an American Psycho feel, but without the eccentricity of Christian Bale's character. Affleck doesn't utter a single word in the whole trailer, and that makes it pretty uncomfortable, but in a good way. Anna Kendrick is opposite Affleck in the film, which is a very intriguing pairing, as well.

As reported by Collider, the official synopsis of The Accountant is as follows:

"Christian Wolff (Ben Affleck) is a math savant with more affinity for numbers than people. Behind the cover of a small-town CPA office, he works as a freelance accountant for some of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations. With the Treasury Department’s Crime Enforcement Division, run by Ray King (J.K. Simmons), starting to close in, Christian takes on a legitimate client: a state-of-the-art robotics company where an accounting clerk (Anna Kendrick) has discovered a discrepancy involving millions of dollars. But as Christian uncooks the books and gets closer to the truth, it is the body count that starts to rise."

Affleck seems to have a lot on his plate now, executive producing Justice League: Part One and directing Live By Night, a crime film based on the 2012 novel. But, this seems like a very intriguing premise and one that I'm very excited to see him tackle. This role seems to be out of his comfort zone, playing sort of an odd character that I hope has many layers to him.

Gavin O'Connor, director of Warrior, will be helming the film, and will star Affleck in the title role, Jon Bernthal (Fury, Daredevil, The Walking Dead, Sicario), Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development, The Hangover), and John Lithgow (Dexter, Interstellar).

The Accountant is slated for release on October 14, 2016.

Watch the first official trailer here.

Lupita Nyong'o in Talks to Star in Black Panther

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o is currently in talks to star in the highly anticipated Black Panther film, joining Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman. Nyong'o won an Oscar for the film 12 Years A Slave, and played the alien Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Her character has yet to be named or described, but The Hollywood Reporter says that she'll serve as Boseman's love interest in the film. ComingSoon.net also makes the connection that her character could be a member of the Dora Milaje, which are Black Panther's all-female bodyguards and potential queens. So, if that means that we'll get more of Lupita Nyong'o in the MCU going forward, I'm definitely all for it.

Black Panther will be written and directed by Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed), and will star Chadwick Boseman in the title role, Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings trilogy, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), and possibly Lupita Nyong'o.

The film is slated for release on February 16, 2018.

Live-Action 'Peter Pan' / 'Alice in Wonderland' Prequel in the Works

Beloved Disney animated properties have been the subject of live action remakes in recent years. There have been ups and downs with audience reception of these films, the most popular being Cinderella, and the not so popular Pan. But, uncertainty of success doesn't seem to be a cause for concern for Brenda Chapman. The Brave co-director, who will make her live-action directorial debut with Come Away, is set to direct a Peter Pan/Alice in Wonderland prequel.

Chapman was the first woman to win the animation Oscar in 2012, and has story credits in some Disney classics, including the Hunchback of Notre Dame and Beauty and the Beast. She was also the story supervisor for The Lion King. With a history like that, this is the right person for the job. To succeed with films like these that take liberty with the source material, you have to be able to craft a good story. That's what I think has been lacking in films such as Pan, and The Hunstman: Winters War, receiving a 26% and 16% Rotten Tomatoes rating. It's not enough to make a film look good, it has to be good.

Variety reports the following, "Marissa Kate Goodhill has written the script, based on the premise that the Alice and Peter characters were a brother and sister who had to deal with their older brother perishing in an accident and their parents’ despair over the tragedy — leading them ultimately to journey to Wonderland for Alice and Neverland for Peter."

Considering Chapman's previous work and involvement in classic Disney properties, I am very excited to see what she does with this film.

Assassin's Creed Official Trailer #1 Released On Jimmy Kimmel

News broke on a few days ago that the Assassin's Creed trailer was going to drop as some point on Wednesday. Then, we got word that it was to be released the following day. So, everyone stepped away from their tablets, phones and computers and continued having a life.

For those who watched Jimmy Kimmel, congratulations! The trailer dropped during the show and was the worlds first look at the much anticipated adaptation of the popular video game. You can view the first official trailer here.

I had a lot of expectations going into it, having played almost every game in the Assassin's Creed franchise, and I must say that I enjoyed it very much. The tone of the film feels right, both in the past and present. This particular film takes place during the Spanish Inquisition, following Callum Lynch's (Michael Fassbender) ancestor, Aguilar. Lynch will get to experience his ancestors past, thus gaining knowledge from the secret order of assassins in order to take down the Templar Organization. We see that he's joined by a fellow female assassin who shows off some pretty badass moves. They also showed the classic Assassin's Creed wall climbing and leaps from building to building. And if you're a fan of the game, you'll love the ending scene of the trailer.

One thing I did not like was the choice of music they decided to accompany this trailer. Hip-hop and the 15th century don't necessarily mix. That's the same criticism that the Star Trek: Beyond trailer received, saying that the Beastie Boys track served well in that moment, but to have it play throughout the whole trailer completely took away from the feel and took you out of the experience. Also, the animus isn't the traditional therapeutic-looking bed from the video games. Instead, it looks like one of Doctor Octopus's arms clinches whoever is using the machine, thus allowing the subject to mimic the movements they're experiencing. It's different, but it does for for what they're going for. Now, this is only the first official trailer for the film, so they will definitely be cleaning up any CGI sequences and anything of that sort. The movie has about 7 months until it's release, so there's no need to worry.

Michael Fassbender is joined by Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendon Gleeson, Ariane Labed and Michael K. Williams. This film was directed by Macbeth's Justin Kurzel.

Assassin's Creed is slated for release on December 21, 2016.

Justice League: Part One Villain Possibly Revealed, And It's Not Darkseid

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice was probably the most anticipated film of the year. The chance to see two of the most iconic superheroes of all time battle it out on the big screen is enough to pack theaters worldwide. This was going to be what Iron-Man was for the MCU, the film that would establish the DC universe going forward. For the most part, it accomplished that feat. Unfortunately, the reception from fans and critics alike was not what we expected. But, for those who say, "BVS was our last hope," I shall reply, "No there is another." Director Patty Jenkins informed the public via Twitter that Wonder Woman had just wrapped production, and that she couldn't have been happier with the job done by the cast and crew. Wonder Woman was one of the best parts of BVS, according to those who saw the film, so hearing such positivity from the director, as well as Gal Gadot herself, should put our minds at ease.

Now, the spotlight is back on Zack Snyder and his follow up to BVS, Justice League: Part One. There have been rumors going around about who the potential villain for the film will be. Darkseid? Maybe even Superman? Nope. Birth.Movies.Death. has reportedly gotten word that the villain for the first film will be Steppenwolf. We did not see this character in the film, but a deleted scene was released just days after the release of BVS. You can watch the deleted scene here.

Steppenwolf is the uncle of Darkseid and the military leader of Apokolips. ScreenRant.com gave a bit of backstory in relation to Darkseid and Steppenwolf, saying, "Steppenwolf will supposedly have a contentious history with his nephew in the first DCEU Justice League film, which just might lead to his impending invasion of Earth in the movie." Darkseid will supposedly make an appearance towards the end of the film as a lead in to Justice League: Part Two.

Of course, these are just tumors, but the aforementioned site had a pretty good track record with BVS news. Until then, the DCEU will boast a couple of new films beginning this summer.

Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot will be reprising their roles in the upcoming Zack Snyder film. Joining the trio will be Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as the Flash and Ray Fisher as Cyborg.

Justice League: Part One will be released on November 17, 2017.

Star Wars Celebration 2016 Will Feature Rogue One Panel

The highly anticipated Star Wars story, Rogue One, will have its own panel at this years Star Wars Celebration. Director Gareth Edwards and Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy will be in attendance, as well as some "special guests." Those special guests may just be the stars of the upcoming film. After the trailer dropped back in March, the buzz around the new Star Wars film was loud and clear. The theories and speculations about certain characters, and the reveal of a classic character, have been the topic of conversation among Star Wars fans.

Serving as a prequel to Star Wars: A New Hope, Rogue One is centered around a band of rebels, led by Felicity Jones, who go on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star. The plot for this film is based on a line in the crawl text of the original Star Wars. Felicity Jones (Jyn Erso) is joined by Diego Luna, Mads Mikelsen, Donnie Yen, Forrest Whitaker, Ben Mendelsohn, Jiang Wen, Alan Tudyk, and Riz Ahmed.

John Williams will not be scoring Rogue One, but will be scored by Alexandre Desplat.

Directed by Gareth Edwards, Rogue One is set to be released on December 16, 2016.

*Star Wars Celebration 2017 will be held in Orlando, FL, April 13-16.*

Daniel Bruhl Reportedly Joining Cast of Bad Robot's God Particle

The casual movie-goer may not recognize the name Daniel Bruhl, but they've definitely seen him in some major motion pictures. Bruhl is currently starring in the box-office dominating Captain America: Civil War, playing a character that will forever change the Avengers. He can also be seen in Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds.

Now according to the Hollywood Reporter, Bruhl will be joining the cast of Bad Robot's upcoming film, God Particle. The sci-fi feature is said to revolve around an "American space station, that after an accident with a particle accelerator, suddenly finds that Earth has vanished." This synopsis of God Particle was reported by Spencer Perry on ComingSoon.net. The Hollywood Reporter discussed a bit more of the plot, saying that after the disappearance of Earth and finding themselves alone, the crew of the space station must decide whether those aboard a newly appeared space shuttle are hostile.

Julius Onah will be directing the film, starring David Oyelowo, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John Krasinski and Elizabeth Debicki, and by the looks of it, Daniel Bruhl. God Particle was originally written by Oren Uziel of 22 Jump Street and Freaks of Nature, and has since seen a rewrite by Doug Jung. God Particle is set to be released on February 24, 2017.

Production On Wonder Woman Has Officially Wrapped

Director Patty Jenkins took to Twitter to announce that production has officially wrapped on the anticipated film, starring Gal Gadot in the title role and Chris Pine. Many who saw Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice pointed to Wonder Woman as being one of the highlights of the film. That was our first time seeing this particular Justice League member on screen. Jenkins also expressed her feelings toward the entire cast and crew, in particular Pine and Gadot, who she became very fond of while shooting the follow up to Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. If her tweets are any indication, we're in for a treat with this film.

Featuring Gal Gadot reprising her role as the Amazonian warrior, Wonder Woman also stars Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Hustin, David Thewlis, Ewen Bremner, Saïd Taghmaoui, Elena Anaya, Connie Nielson and Lucy Davis.

Directed by Patty Jenkins, Wonder Woman is slated for release on June 2, 2017.

The Mummy Reboot Praised By Russell Crowe

The Mummy is returning.

Director Alex Kurtzman will reboot the franchise that will begin an MCU-like shared monster universe. It will also have a completely different tone, according to Russell Crowe who has confirmed that he will be playing Dr. Jekyll in the film. In an article written by Sarah Goncalves of ScreenRant.com, Russell Crowe said plainly that this movie "is designed to scare the s--- out of you." This is definitely a departure from the Brendan Frasier led franchise. Russell Crowe also had an extensive discussion with the folks over at Collider about the general direction of the film, his role, and his confidence in director Alex Kurtzman.

Set in present day, the film will also star Tom Cruise, playing a Navy SEAL who comes across the monster, and thus sets the plot into motion. The official synopsis from Universal was released, essentially stating that the new adaptation will be about an ancient queen who is awoken from her crypt and sets out to wreak havoc from the Middle East to London in today's world, kicking off the newly created monster universe. Future films include The Invisible Man, Dracula and Van Helsing.

The stars include, aside from Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe, Sofia Boutella as the ancient queen, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance and Annabelle Wallis.

The Mummy is set for release on June 9th, 2017.

Captain America: Civil War Reaches $181.8 Domestically

The numbers are in for one of the most highly anticipated films of the year. Captain America: Civil War has reportedly earned a total of $181.8 million at the domestic box office, along with an overseas earning of $202 million the previous week, according to Collider. The third installment in the Captain America franchise has also placed in the top 10 domestic openings of all time, coming in at number 5 behind Avengers: Age of Ultron. Disney has yet to hit any roadblocks with its releases, having Star Wars: The Force Awakens becomwe the highest grossing domestic release of all time, and The Jungle Book dominating the box office before handing first place over to the superhero epic.

This is a testament to Disney and Marvel for continuing to put out quality products, and subsequently raising the bar with every release. Also, a heap of praise should be given to Anthony and Joe Russo, Stephen McFeely, and Christopher Markus because of the task they had to accomplish with this film. From the writing to the on-screen storytelling, having to interweave a number of storylines together, making this feel like a Captain America centric movie, as well as introducing new characters to the ever expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, makes this a daunting task for any director. They've certainly mastered their craft and will make viewers thrilled to know that they'll be helming Avengers: Infinity War.

Captain America: Civil War will continue to rake in millions at the box office, pointing to the fact that there are no signs that there will be a significant drop off in its second week. It will also retain the top spot until May 27th, which will be the release of X-Men: Apocalypse. Then, once we get into the heart of the summer season, expect these upcoming releases to trade places frequently in the box office.

Assassins Creed Photos Show Michael Fassbender In Action

The video game genre has been one of the few in Hollywood that has not picked up much steam. From Mortal Kombat to Super Mario Bros., these popular video game franchises have not translated well on the big screen. But, that could very well change since two films set to release this year are taking on the challenging genre. First, we have Warcraft, based on the popular RPG that has amassed a worldwide audience of passionate fans. We've gotten a chance to see a couple of trailers detailing some of the plot, as well as showing audiences the world that they will be immersed in on June 10th.

On the heels of Warcraft will be the highly anticipated, at least for gamers, Assassins Creed adaptation starring Michael Fassbender in the title role. We have yet to see any footage of the film, but we now have new images of the film, which can be viewed on ComingSoon.net.

Assassins Creed will follow the story of Callum Lynch, who will be able to experience the memories of his ancestor, Augilar, during the Spanish Inquisition. This ability then informs Callum that he is a descendent of a secret society of Assassins, whose purpose is to take down the Templar organization, an enemy of the secret order. This seems to be a pretty faithful adaptation of the highly regarded franchise. Also, there is no doubt that the talent surrounding this film, both on camera and off, makes it a much more desirable movie experience than does Warcraft.

Assassins Creed will be directed by Macbeth director, Justin Kurzel. It will also star Michael Fassbender as Callum Lynch (Augilar), Marion Cotillard, Michael K. Williams, Jeremy Irons, and Brendan Gleeson. The film is set to release on December 21, 2016.

Captain America: Civil War Rakes In $75.3 Million In Its First Day

According to ComingSoon.net, Captain America: Civil War earned an estimated $75.3 million on Friday "from 4,226 theaters, an average of $17,807 per theater," including the profits from the Thursday premiere. By the end of its opening weekend, the latest Marvel installment is estimated to be the fifth largest domestic release of all-time. The overall excitement and overwhelmingly positive response that the film has amassed will no doubt keep it at number one for weeks to come. The only film that has a chance to unseat Captain America: Civil War from its top spot will be X-Men: Apocalypse, slated for release on May 27th.

Disney has been dominating the box office for the past month, trading places with The Jungle Book. The popularity of the film will also protect it from significant drop-offs next week. One thing that Captain America: Civil War has succeeded in, same with the Avengers, is that it has been able to attract newcomers to the superhero genre. Word of mouth has the potential of exceeding expectations at the box office and possibly surpassing the $191.3 mil.

The next Marvel film, and possibly its most obscure, Doctor Strange, is slated for release on November 4th, 2016. Marvel has been able to make lesser known heroes household names, and if history is any indication, Doctor Strange will be no exception.

Captain America: Civil War box office report for Friday: http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/684517-captain-america-civil-war-soars-to-75-3-million-on-friday#/slide/1

Ben Affleck Is Now An Executive Producer for Justice League

Coming off the heels of the much anticipated super-hero epic,  Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck announced that he, along with Geoff Johns will be in charge of the solo Batman films, simply titled The Batman. Now, we are learning that Affleck has been the newest addition to the creative team in charge of the first DC, superhero team-up film, Justice League.

Since production has already begun, it seems as though this was not the original intent. According to Deadline, Affleck is on board simply to "support" Snyder, and have the film fulfill its potential. Something that did not happen with Batman vs. Superman, according to the critics. Many believe that Snyder sacrificed storytelling for imagery. So, since Affleck is set to direct the new Batman trilogy, I'm sure he would want to test the waters with Justice League and maybe add certain things to serve his eventual Batman story.

This report does not give any details in terms of story, but we can assume that it will include the whole JL team. But, what this really says is that Warner Bros. is being very cautious with its future properties. With the underperformance of BVS in its second week, they may feel like they have to bring certain creative voices aboard to ensure that the film does not suffer the same fate. The only film that seems to have the full confidence of the studio is Suicide Squad, set to be released on August 5, 2016. Hopefully the success of that film will ease any worries and make for a much calmer, and confident, studio in the years to come.

Justice League: Part 1 is slated for release on November 17, 2017.

Collider: http://collider.com/ben-affleck-justice-league-executive-producer/

Alden Ehrenreich Cast as Han Solo

After many names were rumored for the role of young Han Solo, including Taron Egerton and Jack Reynor, it has been confirmed that Alden Ehrenreich has been cast in the stand alone Star Wars film. Eherenreich starred in Hail, Caesar! and was praised for his performance in the film.

Phil Lord and Chris Miller, directors of 21 Jump Street and 22 Jump Street, will helm the film, slated to premiere in the summer of 2018. There are still no details as far as the general plot of the movie, but we do know that it will take place before the events of Star Wars: A New Hope and may feature some familiar characters. 

Here is the Collider Movie Talk crew talking about this latest development: https://youtu.be/ygfCcqN5gXQ

Captain America: Civil War Review (Mild Spoilers)

Joe and Anthony Russo, the directors of Captain America: Winter Soldier, are back once again and have raised the bar higher than any of us thought possible with Captain America: Civil War. The third installment in the Captain America franchise has the potential to be the greatest Marvel film to date. From start to finish, the audience is in for one hell of a ride and is forced to make a choice by the end of the film. That alone makes Civil War one of the more emotional Marvel films since it delves into the conflict between our heroes.

Serving as a sequel to both Captain America: Winter Soldier and Avengers: Age of Ultron, this superhero "team-up" film is very different than what we've seen before. After a mission goes awry in Africa and costs the lives of many civilians, the team is now a controversial entity. Do they have too much power? Should they operate unilaterally? These are questions that hope to be addressed by the Sokovia Accords. The document states that the Avengers will essentially be government employees, working under a UN panel, and told when and when not to engage in certain situations. Tony Stark, along with Vision, Black Widow, and War Machine are for the new restrictions. Captain America, Falcon and Scarlett Witch? Not so much.

But, where does Bucky Barnes factor into all of this? We've seen him in the trailers and know he is on Captain's side. Well, after a terrorist attack takes out a notable figure in the film during a high profile meeting in Vienna, Bucky is framed for the attack. Under the Sokovia Accords, Captain America cannot interfere in this matter, but he does anyway to help his life-long friend, making him a fugitive. After learning who was behind the attack and what's coming next, Captain America sets out to find the person responsible. Now, the Civil War begins.

When all of our heroes meet, ideologically opposed, we are given, arguably, the greatest action sequence of all time. Each character showcases what they can do, and there is one moment in particular which made the audience erupt in applause. Also, we finally get a chance to see Black Panther in action, played by Chadwick Boseman, as well as Spider-Man, played by Tom Holland. Boseman showcases the strength and speed of Black Panther, but also the regal and intelligent persona of T'challa. Now, to avoid spoilers, I will just say that Tom Holland's performance as Peter Parker/Spider-Man is everything we hoped for. He perfectly captures the teenage personality of the web-slinger and gives us no reason to be worried about Spider-Man: Homecoming, which will feature Robert Downey, Jr.

Now, the ending of this film is the most emotional of any Marvel film. We learn that the pasts of two characters collide in such a way that it may test your allegiance to Team Iron-Man or Team Cap. While the previous films have ended with a bombastic battle, whether it be in New York, D.C., or Sokovia, Civil War takes a different approach and absolutely nails it. It's an intimate ending that forces the characters involved to own the path they've chosen.

Captain America: Civil War is a cinematic masterpiece. Each character serves a purpose in the story and isn't just shoehorned in for the action sequences. We get to see these characters interact in a way that we really haven't seen before. In previous films, there may have been minor disagreements between members of the Avengers, but we've never seen them so ideologically opposed as we do in this film. Also, no scene feels out of place in this movie. Each scene fed the next and subsequently raises the stakes for the whole team. But, the greatest accomplishment of this film was its perfect blend of humor, action and emotion. That is a testament to the abilities of Joe and Anthony Russo to deliver an enjoyable movie, while also furthering the development of these characters for the future films.

Rating: 4.8/5