Just as one Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles controversy dies down, another takes its place. Costar Jim Sturgess discusses the sprawling Cloud Atlas adaptation. Plus new Doctor Who hints and trailers for Snow White and the Huntsman, Wrath of the Titans, and Dark Shadows!
Spoilers from here on out!
Top image from Doctor Who.
The Avengers
Here's a dubbed Polish trailer that quickly dispenses with all of the male Avengers and devotes most of its 50 second running time to Scarlett Johannson's Black Widow, proving once again why international trailers truly are the best trailers. (Or at least the most savvy in understanding what the audience wants to see.) Non-Polish speakers aren't going to get much out of the dialogue, but the footage does seem to confirm her previously rumored intro scene. [Coming Soon]
Here's a behind-the-scenes featurette. [/Film]
And here are a bunch of new promo images, including a bunch taken from some trading cards. [Coming Soon, MovieZine, Comic Book Movie]
Robocop
Newly cast star Joel Kinnaman took time out from moping through the raindrops on AMC's The Killing to discuss the Robocop reboot. He praised director Jose Padilha as "the read deal" and "a badass", something that anyone who has seen the Elite Squad movies will happily confirm. He also revealed that Alex Murphy's pre-Robocop death scene will play out a bit differently this time around and that the movie will feature some political satire. He dropped some science to explain just how the idea of Robocop will work this time around, plus this movie's relationship to Paul Verhoeven's original:
"There's a lot of neuroscience now raising the question, 'Is all the intelligence in the human body in the brain?' and they're finding out that, no, it's not like that. The body has intelligence itself, and we're much more of an organic creature in that way. It's not a control tower that does everything."
"'RoboCop' is going to be a lot more human. The first movie is one of my favorite movies. I love it. Of course, Verhoeven has that very special tone, and it's not going to have that tone. It's a re-imagination of it. There's a lot of stuff from the original. There are some details and throwbacks, but this version is a much better acting piece, for Alex Murphy and especially when he is RoboCop. It's much more challenging."
Part of the whole "better acting piece" thing will apparently involve us actually getting to see more of Kinnaman's face as Robocop, meaning he won't have to attempt to match Peter Weller's legendary jaw acting:
"It's not going to be jaw action. They're still working on the suit and how it's going to look, but the visor is going to be see-through. You're going to see his eyes."
Battle: Los Angeles
The movie's underwhelming but not particularly disastrous box office performance left the door ajar for a sequel, and director Jonathan Liebesman says he's still intent on prying the damn thing open:
We've just started the script now. So thats where we are. And just because I don't want the studio to get pissed at me, so I'm not sure what I can or can not say. But what's exciting is it sounds like the budget will be just as big - they're gonna make it an event.
I think it really says all you need to know about this project that the movie's director is actually kinda shocked the studio will give him the same amount of money to go make a sequel. [/Film]
Snow White and the Huntsman
Here's a pair of TV spots. [/Film]
Dark Shadows
Here are some new TV spots. [/Film]
Wrath of the Titans
Here's a new trailer. [The Movie Box]
Director Jonathan Liebesman says he would love to make another sequel:
"I loved working on the movie, it's up to [the studio]. To work with Sam and Liam [Neeson] and Ralph [Fiennes] it was honestly an honor for like an idiot like me, so I loved it. And the crew was exceptional, the amount of talent we were working with on the crew side of things [was great]."
[Collider]
Ninja Turtles
In what was once a mere nerd controversy but now threatens to escalate to a full-blown Cuban Missile Crisis of nerd rage, Michael Bay's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reboot might drop the "Teenage" and "Mutant" parts of the title. Considering all the uproar about possibly making the turtles into aliens, the deletion of "mutant" isn't so surprising, but "teenage"? Some internet wags have even wondered whether these potential non-adolescent turtles would even eat pizza anymore, having left behind such juvenile fare in favor of more adult delicacies like caviar, escargot, calamari, and turtle soup. Well, probably not that last one. Anyway, the rumor is that this is driven by marketing concerns along the same lines as the decision to drop "Of Mars" from the John Carter title. Because if there's one movie we should be looking to for guidance when it comes to marketing decisions, it's John Carter. [Bleeding Cool]
The Highlander Reboot
28 Weeks Later director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo again says immortality will be a curse in his Highlander movie, and for some reason this means he wants a relatively unknown actor for the part:
I'm so keen to make it, because I think it would be a very interesting new approach into that world, but let's see because we're in an early stage still...Some kind of new flavor [as the star], how about that? Especially because of the big theme of the story, which is the immortality as a curse, because I found it so interesting."
Personally, I always kind of liked the sense in the original Highlander that immortality wasn't so much a curse as it was something to just sort of be getting on with... although that may just say more about Christopher Lambert's performance than anything else. [Coming Soon]
Cloud Atlas
Across the Universe actor Jim Sturgess spoke to the website Jim Sturgess Online, which I really do have to assume is your #1 source online for all things Jim Sturgess, about his work on Tom Twyker and the Wachowskis' adaptation of the David Mitchell novel:
Making Cloud Atlas was an amazing experience. I loved every minute of it. It was so ambitious and exciting. Everyone involved all knew that we were working towards something that has not really been done before on this kind of a scale. Whether it succeeds or not it will definitely be a cinematic event. It was like rep theatre on a massive scale. so really it was almost going back to basics in a way. Using make up and and big spoonful of your imagination to make it work. I love that the audience almost have to participate and lend the film there own imagination for a couple of hours. It's much more rewarding that way, and much more like watching an old play or pantomime in that respect!
I have so much faith in both the Wachowski's and Tom Tykwer. They are such forward thinking and visionary artists and so incredible and inspiring to be around. They have really managed to visually enhance the ideas that lie within the book and make it more than just a straight adaptation.
He went on to discuss just how the movie handles its six interlocking timelines:
Basically most of the main actors play or ‘appear' in each story in some way or another. We were always trying to come up with new ways to try and get everyone involved in every story…which wasn't always possible but was a lot of fun. I can tell you that I managed to appear in all six of the stories which I was really pleased about! I'm not going to tell you how I ‘appear' or who I play as I really believe that it would ruin part of the fun of watching the film. You have to really look out for it. I understand that people want to find out whose playing who, and i'm sure a lot will be revealed in the trailer but I honestly believe if you want to get the most out of watching the film the less you know the more fun it will be!
The hardest part was without doubt all the make up. I got off fairly lightly compared with some of the other actors but I was always in the chair for a good 2 hours, and other days for a lot longer. We sometimes jumped from different times in one day which would be a bit confusing. I remember shooting a scene in the future and then having to go and shoot another scene way back in the past…it is the closest I will ever get to actual time travel!!!
There's still more at the link. [Jim Sturgess Online]
Maleficent
Angelina Jolie discusses her return to acting in this live-action retelling of the Sleeping Beauty story, featuring Jolie as the evil queen:
It's not anti-princess, but it's the first time they're looking at this epic woman...I hope in the end you see a woman who is capable of being many things, and just because she protects herself and is aggressive, it doesn't mean she can't have other [warmer] qualities. You have to figure out the puzzle of what she is. It sounds really crazy to say that there will be something that's good for young girls in this because it sounds like you're saying they should be a villain. [Maleficent] is actually a great person, but she's not perfect. She's far from perfect... In general, it's a very good message to say, "let's look at something from the other side." But then also, what our challenge will be - and the script writer [Linda Woolverton] has already cracked it - is not to simplify it, not to just reverse the story but tell a bigger story that doesn't point the finger [at Princess Aurora] either. It doesn't flip it.
There's more at the link. [EW]
The Seventh Son
The adaptation of Joseph Delaney's novel The Spook's Apprentice has begun filming, and Warner Bros. has helpfully released a synopsis that goes beyond my usual vague descriptions that it has something to do with Jeff Bridges witch-hunting Julianne Moore:
In a time long past, an evil is about to be unleashed that will reignite the war between the forces of the supernatural and humankind once more. Master Gregory (Jeff Bridges) is a knight who had imprisoned the malevolently powerful witch, Mother Malkin (Julianne Moore), centuries ago. But now she has escaped and is seeking vengeance. Summoning her followers of every incarnation, Mother Malkin is preparing to unleash her terrible wrath on an unsuspecting world. Only one thing stands in her way: Master Gregory.
In a deadly reunion, Gregory comes face to face with the evil he always feared would someday return. Now he has only until the next full moon to do what usually takes years: train his new apprentice, Tom Ward (Ben Barnes) to fight a dark magic unlike any other. Man's only hope lies in the seventh son of a seventh son.
You can check out the link for a full cast and crew list. The film includes a bunch of recognizable names beyond Bridges and Moore, including Dollhouse's Olivia Williams and Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington. [Coming Soon]
Doctor Who
There are two more tidbits of information that have emerged from the recent Doctor Who convention. The Daleks will show up in the first episode, and that forms part of an upcoming shooting block with episode five, which sees the return of the Weeping Angels, the departure of the Ponds, and New York City. Also, the current plan is apparently to air all fourteen in one continuous run built around Christmas. If that's the case, one would assume the series wouldn't start airing until November, possibly as late as around November 23 - which would be the show's 49th anniversary, and just happen to set the timing up nicely for next year's 50th anniversary special. You know... just a thought. [Blogtor Who]
The TARDIS set was available for tours at the, and here are some apparent additions that may or may not show up on the series itself. [Life, Doctor Who, and Combom]
Fringe
Here are some promo photos for this week's episode, "Nothing As It Seems." [SpoilerTV]
True Blood
Here are some new promos, although none of them actually feature footage from the upcoming fifth season. [Shock Till You Drop]
Awake
You can check out the link for a sneak peek at this week's episode, "Oregon", in which Michael Britten's attempts to shift information between universes gets him into trouble with the FBI. [TV Line]
Once Upon a Time
Here's a promo for this week's episode, "The Stable Boy", featuring Black Swan's Barbara Hershey as the Evil Queen's mother.
Supernatural
Here's a promo and a sneak peek for this Friday's episode, "Party On, Garth", which sees the return of DJ Qualls as an obnoxious fellow hunter.
Being Human (UK)
The BBC has officially renewed the show for a fifth season, presumably of eight episodes once again. Toby Whithouse confirmed that new series regulars Michael Socha and Damien Molony will be back for more, though it's not yet clear if series stalwart Lenora Crichlow will also be back. [EW]
Alphas
Costar Azita Ghanizada tweeted this photo from the start of filming for season two. [@AzitaGhanizada]
The Secret Circle
Here's a promo for this week's episode, "Sacrifice."
Arrow
Here are some set photos from the CW's Green Arrow pilot, featuring stars Stephen Amell and Katie Cassiday, who respectively play Green Arrow and Dinah Laurel Lance - who may or may not also be Black Canary - in the pilot. [SpoilerTV]
Additional reporting by Ben Vrignon and Charlie Jane Anders.