Second Red-Band Your Highness Trailer

A new trailer for Your Highness, courtesy of MSN, has dropped and here for your viewing.

By sheer virtue of how much that first red-band trailer caught everyone off guard with its vulgarity and raunch, the element of surprise is gone this time out. It however does reassure us of one thing. It looks like there's plenty of filth gone unspoiled for the final film.

If that's your kind of thing; thankfully, it is for me.

Captain America Trailer

I've been harping on how slotting Captain America the week following Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows – Part II (without question, the #1 box-office champion this year) was a bad idea for Marvel. The final Potter was going to be too much in the zeitgest for anything else coming immediately after it to make a dent.

Well, the trailer just got leaked. Fuck what I said earlier and what I've thought for months on the matter. This is gonna play big-time with both the comic-devoted nerd culture and the general public.

It works for two reasons. First and foremost, Chris Evans' Steve Rogers as the little guy who everyone dismisses at face-value. All it takes is an experimental serum and he goes from ugly duckling to juiced-up swan and here's his chance to prove himself. Universal theme of being the underdog at work.

Second, don't know the last time we as Americans got to proclaim our nationality as a source of pride (not meant as pro-Obama/anti-Bush statement; I actually like both guys). But the last time I can remember where a big commercial movie was met with such a "Ya for USA!" response was interestingly enough Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, and that was a year after 9/11. Kicking Nazi ass helps a lot too; just ask Inglorious Basterds.

Walden Hell-Bent (No Pun Intended) on Fourth Narnia

Christianity might be the religion of choice by most Americans, of which yours truly is one of, but that hasn’t translated to mucho-dollars for the Narnia movies in quite some time.

Past Lion, Witch & the Wardrobe (which to the surprise of everyone pantsed Peter Jackson's King Kong), the masses fell from the faith of the Christian-geared fantasy-series. Prince Caspian got stricken with a bad case of shitty release date syndrome and by the time this past Christmas' Voyage of the Dawn Treader dropped, there shouldn't be a doubt in anyone’s mind that this franchise isn't going to win anyone back beyond its committed fan-base.

When your third movie barely crosses the $100 million stateside, you'd think the producers would get the message. But those damn foreigners (kidding!) picked up the slack and their markets single-handedly helped Treader to $400 million bank worldwide. Naturally, another one is the pipeline producers tell The Christian Post.

If they get their way (and they probably will since Fox is reduced to developing a Percy Jackson sequel), the next installment will be The Magician's Nephew. I'm told it's the second most popular book in the series behind Lion. Don't have any figures to prove or disprove that statement. Although I do recall a married couple/old pals of mine saying how that was the one book they couldn't wait to see made into a movie after the first film hit.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Playing...Somebody in Batman 3!

He's going to be in The Dark Knight Rises. That's all the Internet can agree on.

Days after Variety scooped Joseph Gordon-Levitt's role in Batman Numero Tres as being Alberto Falcone; son of Tom Wilkinson's Gotham gangster Carmine Falcone from Batman Numero Uno, Entertainment Weekly says to the contrary (or as translated, "NU-UH!")

The site offers no alternative nor does it go into further details. Comes off like a subordinate being told by a higher-up to fan the flames. Since EW and Warner Brothers are both owned by Time-Warner; similiar to how Henry Cavill wound up on the cover of the magazine last month. That's, however, not to say they're blowing smoke. They could very well be dead-on, and their status-report on the Aronofsky-absent Wolverine 2 rung true.

But it's reads like spin-control and wouldn't be the first (or last) time leaked info is "debunked" then winds up being legit. I'm with the trades on this one. But please, let's not turn this into a nerd dick-measuring contest. Those are just...sad.

WB Serious About Akira; Looking for Lead Actors

Already hearing the cries, "BUT...THEY'RE NOT JAPANESE!"

Not to excuse this shortlist (It's an oddity, I'll admit), but the setting behind the in-the-works live action Akira films isn’t New Tokyo, but New Manhattan. They're going to aim for young, white leading men as leads Kaneda and Tetuso. I'm sure their names will be changed too. How many white-bred New Yorkers do you know named Tetuso without a speck of Oriental in their blood?

Executives at Warner Brothers are anxiously awaiting word back from the select-few actors presented the script of the Steven Kloves-rewrite which Albert Hughes (one-half of the Hughes Brothers) is expected to direct.

The short-list, according to "TOLDJA," consists of Michael Fassbender, Garrett Hedlund, Joaquin Phoenix, Chris Pine and Justin Timberlake for biker Kaneda and Andrew Garfield, James McAvoy and Robert Pattinson for as Kaneda’s troubled, and psychic-powered, pal-turned-enemy Tetsuo.

The graphic novel and 1988 anime-feature don’t translate itself to the big screen, and most of these guys (ranging from the already-established like Pine to the on-the-verge like Garfield) seem too old. But their sources say the final pick will come from this list. So since they're gearing up to start filming in August, that rules some and leaves others open.

My random picks of who get cast from this shortlist? Hedlund and Pattinson; both are about the same age and don't appear to have anything on the horizon. That said, I'm still having a hard time fathoming that this is legitimately happening.

Avatar 2 Also Impacted by Japan Tragedy

Putting aside for one second the recent director-shuffle, the tragedy in Japan has obviously affected any and all plans for The Wolverine, and there's no telling how long until Fox decides to get the wheel turning on that one again. But it appears that it isn't the only Fox-based project in a hairy predicament.

A source has told Corona Coming Attractions the studio's numero-uno priority, the sequel to James Cameron's Avatar, is in a similar boat – to be fair, probably nowhere near as severe if one had to compare the two.

Writer/producer/director Cameron planned to film scenes deep within the Marianas Trench for Avatar 2 utilizing 3D cameras and a specialty built-submersible to get him and his crew down there. But an insider has told our pal Patrick Sauriol those plans are in great jeopardy due to the situation with Japan:

"Hundreds of aftershocks have been felt since the first quake, and while the intensity of the aftershocks are of lesser strength than the original 9.0 quake, they will go on for an undetermined period of time -- perhaps for years. That's why Cameron's dive is now in jeopardy; the safety of the divers, including Cameron himself, may now be beyond a point where liability insurance will allow for."

Since Avatar 2 isn't scheduled for release until Christmas 2014, there's conceivably plenty of time to either come back to the Trench later (presumably when the risk factor decreases) or relocate altogether.

New Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Trailer

Disney has kicked things into full-gear for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides including new character-specific one-sheets to a second theatrical trailer, presented by Yahoo! Movies.

Whoever cut this trailer fortunately for us dialed back on the Jack Sparrow-isms and focused on the main narrative for this May's sequel (the search for the fountain of youth) and amped up the action. Still not much of Ian McShane's Blackbeard. But ten year-olds aren't going for him now are they? They were even so kind to throw in the obligatory Keith Richards cameo.

You guys know where I stand on this however, and how I think it'll end up. So no need of me turning blue in the face stating that again. For those anticipating another Pirates romp, enjoy.

Middle-Earth Lives Again; The Hobbit Finally Starts Production

There aren't enough fingers to count the problems plaguing The Hobbit. Losing directors (from Guillermo del Toro to Peter Jackson), financial woes (the near collapse of MGM), the near-lose of New Zealand as the base of operations, multiple delays for both the start of production and release dates and concerns of losing leads Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen to prior commitments, to name a few.

Yet all those headaches are in the past as cameras rolled on the two films yesterday in New Zealand, as the studio officially announced via press release along with new pictures of a healthy looking Jackson on set via Facebook:

"Production has commenced in Wellington, New Zealand, on 'The Hobbit,' filmmaker Peter Jackson's two film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's widely read masterpiece.

'The Hobbit' is set in Middle-earth 60 years before Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings,' which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.'

The two films, with screenplays by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo del Toro and Peter Jackson, will be shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Filming will take place at Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

'The Hobbit' follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's 'precious' ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Martin Freeman takes the title role as Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen returns in the role of Gandalf the Grey. The Dwarves are played by Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Ken Stott (Balin), Graham McTavish (Dwalin), William Kircher (Bifur) James Nesbitt (Bofur), Stephen Hunter (Bombur), Rob Kazinsky (Fili), Aidan Turner (Kili), Peter Hambleton (Gloin), John Callen (Oin), Jed Brophy (Nori), Mark Hadlow (Dori) and Adam Brown (Ori). Reprising their roles from “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy are Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Andy Serkis as Gollum and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Jeffrey Thomas and Mike Mizrahi also join the cast as Dwarf Kings Thror and Thrain, respectively. Further casting announcements are expected.

'The Hobbit' is produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, alongside Carolynne Cunningham. Executive producers are Ken Kamins and Zane Weiner, with Philippa Boyens as co-producer. The Oscar-winning, critically acclaimed ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, also from the production team of Jackson and Walsh, grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide at the box office. In 2003, ‘The Return of the King’ swept the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film. The trilogy’s production was also unprecedented at the time.

Among the creative behind-the-scenes team returning to Jackson’s crew are director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, composer Howard Shore and make-up and hair designer Peter King. Costumes are designed by Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor.

Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of weaponry, armour and prosthetics which are once again being made by the award winning Weta Workshop. Weta Digital take on the visual effects for both films, led by the film’s visual effects supervisor, Joe Letteri. Post production will take place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.

'The Hobbit' films are co-produced by New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM. The two films are planned for release in late 2012 and 2013, respectively."

Similar to finishing The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, there's a weird feeling of completion here. We've all spent years now detailing the multitude of stories (both the real and bullshit) about the two Hobbit movies and after all this time, they're finally shooting.

That said, it's only a matter of time before Jackson and/or the studio stop blowing smoke up fans' asses and fess up that Part I won't hit next Christmas.

Darren Aronofsky & The Wolverine Are Done Professionally

Just when fans were having their faith steadily restored in X-Men again as First Class approaches.

In news that will castrate enthusiasm for the sequel-to-a-prequel, THR has the breaking news of Darren Aronofsky vacating his planned directing duties on The Wolverine.

Both Aronofsky and 20^th Century Fox are playing nice with his exit releasing separate statements to the press and the Oscar-nominated director pegged it on his not wanting to leave the country for so long. Which, all due respect, reeks of bullshit. From the start, it was known this would be an overseas shoot with plans (in all probability down the toilet for obvious reasons) to lens primarily in Japan.

Personally I'm happy Aronofsky's off the project. If he has a big blockbuster itch to scratch, I never liked that he was settling on taking fourth-helpings after Bryan Singer, Brett Ratner and Gavin Hood instead of rebooting a franchise from the top up and adding his stamp or just doing something commercial originating from his own noggin. But yes, I'm disappointed for the fans looking forward to this.

How Soon Till We See Henry Cavill In Suit as Superman?

First impressions go a long way, and month or so after his hiring, Warner Brothers wisely threw new Superman Henry Cavill in the spotlight chatting it up with the press. It was a 180 from how Brandon Routh was kept shrouded in secrecy during the making of Superman Returns.

Though we're far from its December 2012 release and it's too early to take this as Gospel, reactions from general public type has been positive so far to Cavill. Where he has the advantage is his lack of, what I call, "new guy" syndrome. Having to be the first actor to occupy an iconic role after the most famous, recognizable one; that happened to Routh and George Lazenby and it's also a direction I think new Spider-Man Andrew Garfield is sadly headed in.

Most of their judgment is probably reserved until they get their first official look at the British actor as Superman. Speaking to Hero Complex, director Zack Snyder reveals the time of his unveiling in the newly-done suit could be sooner rather than later:

"I asked if Snyder had anything he could share about the costume that Cavill will wear. 'I can't say — although I appreciate the question. I’d love to talk about it. We're going to have to show it before we shoot, probably a while before that because [otherwise] someone will be on the set and get a picture of it.'"

My TMT partner-in-crime Peter and I were talking about this awhile back, and I recall presenting the idea of an early showcasing of the new suit. So this remark confirms those suspicions. Again, it's all about getting the word of a new Superman out as soon and as loud as possible.