Spoilers let you dream of a better tomorrow — like some new Iron Man 2 set photos, for example. They also help you face up to the inevitable, like when Michael Bay talks Transformers 2. Meanwhile, Russell T. Davies drops Doctor Who regeneration hints. Plus Dollhouse, Chuck and True Blood.
Iron Man 2:
Some new set photos. What the heck is going on here? Who's that guy attacking Tony in a parking lot? It looks like Tony's already taken a bit of a beating. Actually, ComingSoon says this is just a fight training session, but then why is it happening in a parking lot? Way, way more pics at the link. [Superhero Hype and ComingSoon]
Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen:
Director Michael Bay showed a reporter about 25 minutes of footage. There was the scene where Sam decides to go off to college, and his parents struggle with the "empty nest" feeling, while Mikaela poses on a motorcycle. And then a robot destroys a big chunk of the Witwickys' house. And then there's a scene where Alice the Desexycon (thanks Charax!) smooches Sam, and then a "nasty steel tail" comes out from under her skirt "like a scorpion's stinger." Then there's an "intense action sequence" in Shanghai, followed by the classroom sequence where a "leering lothario" professor (Rainn Wilson) has a run-in with the suddenly brilliant Sam. (Apparently, Wilson's character is based on a horny film professor whom Bay remembers from Wesleyan, who wore leather pants and tried to seduce coeds. Random thought: were Michael Bay and Joss Whedon at Wesleyan at the same time?) And Bay says some of the smaller robots will play a huge role in the film. (Like Wheelie, I guess.)
And Bay says this film is darker and less "quippy" than the first one. And Megan Fox is "vastly improved." [L.A. Times]
Roberto Orci says the trope of the hero refusing the call to adventure plays a huge part in this new movie — Sam just wants a normal life. The Autobots need him, but he refuses, and chaos ensues. "It becomes about fate testing you as a hero at a time when your heroics are least likely." Meanwhile, says Alex Kurtzman, the Autobots are working with our government, but it's not clear if they're really welcome here. And can the secret of the Transformers' existence be kept? [Newsarama]
Doctor Who:
David Tennant has finished filming his stint as the time-traveling weirdo whom we all love. And he was heard to remark something on the set about being like "an uncool Spider-Man." Did he mean that the Doctor was climbing walls or kissing upside-down in his final scenes? Or was he referring to one of the many comics where Spidey drops acid and has weird Spider-themed head trips? Or something else? Also, apparently Matt Smith starts filming in about a month, which means only one thing — more set reports. (Well, it also means they'll be making some television, I suppose.)
Also, Russell T. Davies tells the BBC the next special episode, "The Waters Of Mars," will air in November-ish. And he hints that the Tennant-Smith regeneration may be "a lot more complicated" than just one Doctor turning into the other — "We've got a lot more tricks up our sleeve." [Planet Gallifrey]
Dollhouse:
Amy Acker's new pilot Happy Town has been picked up, but Joss Whedon is still hoping she'll appear as Claire Saunders as well. He says it's possible she could only appear in some of the second season's episodes. Or if it turns out that she's not available at all, then the Dollhouse may have to get a new doctor. Fingers crossed! [EW]
Chuck:
There'll be a new love intcerest on the show, promises producer Josh Schwartz — someone who can triangulate between a couple of the characters. But as to whether this person will be male or female, Schwartz isn't saying yet. [EW]
True Blood:
Episode 11 of the new season is called "Frenzy," and here's a casting call for some new characters we'll meet:
[HADLEY HALE] Sookie's (Anna Paquin) cousin, this fresh-faced 20 something year old country girl is locked in a steamy clinch with the vampire queen (Evan Rachel Wood). The dazed Hadley has been seduced into a whole other world - but she still feels the pull of her human roots…3 speeches & 1 line, 3 scenes (1) May recur next season in a few episodes
[LUDIS] Under 30. This straight, handsome, well-built Latvian man (with or without an accent), clad only in gym shorts, is only too delighted to volunteer for another man's "feed"…3 lines, 1 scene (44)
[FRENZY MAN IN DRESS] This skinny, tattooed, "frenzy-eyed" man is wearing a badly ripped dress that doesn't do a thing for him…1 line, 1 scene The more tattoos the better