General Zod to Earth: "You Are Not Alone!"

It's not much but it will do as anticipation builds for the third Man of Steel trailer.

What was that "static" on the official site all about? It's a message from General Zod informing us we are not alone... and for Superman (or "Kal-El" as he refers to him) to surrender.

Sounds familiar:

We're wondering if it relates to Zod and a purported scene. The General interrupts all transmissions (TV, radio, Internet, cell-phones) warning the denizens of Earth. He's "traveled across an ocean of stars" to locate the criminal he refers to as "Kal-El." They can hand over the Kryptonian fugitive hiding among them or face annihilation.

When the static clears (depending on which theory you believe) it might be Michael Shannon and his soul-patch staring at us.

Is a "TOLDJA" in order?

What’s the Deal with That Man of Steel "Static"?

Superman hears the cries of the world begging for a Savior. We hear the cries of fandom begging for the Man of Steel publicity to commence. It's in full-swing.

Artwork from cross promotions leaking online (Kellogg's won't be alone for long), the big cover story on Entertainment Weekly and a third trailer expected faster than a speeding bullet. Henry Cavill will present at the MTV Movie Awards tomorrow evening and the worldwide press tour will soon kick off as we are two months shy from release.

So what's up with that static hijacking the official site?

We're wondering if it relates to Zod and a purported scene. The General interrupts all transmissions (TV, radio, Internet, cell-phones) warning the denizens of Earth. He's "traveled across an ocean of stars" to locate the criminal he refers to as "Kal-El." They can hand over the Kryptonian fugitive hiding among them or face annihilation.

When the static clears (depending on which theory you believe) it might be Michael Shannon and his soul-patch staring at us.

The New Trailer for The Hangover Part III

Recycling is a thing of the past. The promise for The Hangover Part III was a change of pace. No more bachelor parties. No more roffies. No more "We have to get to the big wedding" finale. Unlike Part II, they're telling the truth judging by the new trailer.

On the plus side, there is a sympathetic hook for Alan (Zach Galifianakis). His father is dead which presents the question. What happens to someone as unstable as him when his caretaker (in this case, his wealthy father and in essence his meal ticket) is gone? Put him in a mental institution.

Unfortunately that leads to a plot centered on Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong). If you tired of his routine in The Hangover Part II (and Transformers 3... and Community... and those Coke Zero commercials), prepare yourself. There are laughs had (Alan's eulogy, acknowledging Justin Bartha is the Red Shirt, the Melissa McCarthy bit) and who isn't welcome to seeing John Goodman as the villain.

Not as bad as I was dreading but I'm not feeling nostalgic for the end of the Wolfpack either.

James Wan Directing Fast & Furious 7

The search for the Fast & Furious 7 director ended just as it was amping up. The truth is Universal is so antsy for a summer 2014 release there is no time to waste. They need a helmer in pre-production ASAP.

So while there was a short-list of filmmakers with working relationships at Universal, they have gone in another direction. James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring) will direct. His filmography doesn't spring to mind the appropriate choice for the franchise's signature slick cars, hot girls, great stunts and Vin Diesel/Paul Walker homoeroticism. But when you're into your sixth installment, it's good to mix things up.

Production is aiming for a September start.

Superman Rocks the Cover of EW - In An Image You've Seen Before

It was about time Man of Steel made the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Corporate synergy has to count for something! Though it's not new artwork per say. This was actually leaked a few months back. But it still looks cool.

The issue hits newsstands on Friday. Between now and then expect new pictures leak online. Hopefully of Superman throwing a punch since that seems to be the top priority of this reboot. They only tell you at every waking opportunity this one has lots and lots of action.

I remain confident in Team Snyder. We've heard nothing from good things from peeps lucky enough to see it in advance. There's a quiet confidence on Warner Brothers' part. They know they have something. With it due in two months, this is the time they start to boast that confidence in Kal-El.

Elysium Trailer

In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard line government official will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

Anne Hathaway Joins Christopher Nolan's Interstellar

Anne Hathaway will reteam with Christopher Nolan on his latest, the space-bound Interstellar "TOLDJA" reports. As usual, nobody knows anything besides those crucial in the "Need to know" camp. Matthew McConaughey co-stars.

The talk of late on Hathaway is the perceived hatred online. Fan of hers as yours truly is, even I tired of the fake cries during the Les Miserables acceptance speeches. Yes, she deserved the Oscar win but at the same time yes she knew she was going to win. It got old. Fast. But it's in the past. She never stopped bringing the goods onscreen.

I'd be surprised if Interstellar is the exception to that rule.

First Look at 300: Rise of an Empire

The green-screen, muscles and loin-cloths are back. But where is the grease to shine up those pecks? Perhaps downplaying the homoeroticism lest we forget the countless jokes back in 2007. 300: Rise of an Empire comes six years after its "groundbreaking" predecessor. But after all the copycats, is there room for a 300 follow-up?

*Sin City did it first. But since 300 made more money and had its moment in 2007's pop culture ("This. Is. SPARTA!"), it gets the credit.

Source: USA Today

Marvel Wants You to Know Captain America: The Winter Solider Started Filming

Marvel has formally announced the start of production on Captain America: The Winter Soldier. They also included the first image from the sequel due out next April. That's how they roll. I wish others took a queue from Marvel here. It looks... moody?

That's fine. Hasn't been their M.O. is all. Is that the theme for Phase 2? We had our fun and now it's time for shit to get real.

Following in the footsteps of the record-breaking Marvel Studios’ release, “Marvel’s The Avengers,” production on the highly anticipated release, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” has commenced in Los Angeles, Calif., with production also including locations in Cleveland, Ohio, and Washington D.C. Directing the film is the team of Anthony and Joe Russo (“Welcome to Collinwood”) from a screenplay written by Christopher Markus (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) & Stephen McFeely (“Captain America: The First Avenger”). Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” returns Chris Evans (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”) as the iconic Super Hero character Steve Rogers/Captain America, along with Scarlett Johansson (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 2”) as Black Widow and Samuel L. Jackson (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Iron Man 2”) as Nick Fury. In addition, film icon Robert Redford has joined the all-star cast as Agent Alexander Pierce, a senior leader within the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is set for release in the U.S. on April 4, 2014.

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” will pick-up where “Marvel’s The Avengers” left off, as Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world and teams up with Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, to battle a powerful yet shadowy enemy in present-day Washington, D.C.

Based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series, first published in 1941, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” features an outstanding supporting cast that includes Sebastian Stan (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “Black Swan”) as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier, Anthony Mackie (“The Hurt Locker,” “Million Dollar Baby”) as Sam Wilson/Falcon, Cobie Smulders (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “How I Met Your Mother”) as Agent Maria Hill, Frank Grillo (“Zero Dark Thirty”) as Brock Rumlow and Georges St-Pierre (“Death Warrior”) as Georges Batroc. Rounding out the talented cast are Hayley Atwell (“Captain America: The First Avenger”) as Peggy Carter, Toby Jones (“Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Hunger Games”) as Arnim Zola, Emily VanCamp (“The Ring 2,” “Revenge”) as Agent 13 and Maximiliano Hernández (“Marvel’s The Avengers,” “Thor”) as Agent Jasper Sitwell.

Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige is producing the film. Executive producers on the project include Alan Fine, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Michael Grillo and Stan Lee. The creative production team on the film includes director of photography Trent Opaloch (“Elysium,” “District 9”), production designer Peter Wenham (“21 Jump Street,” “Fast Five”), editors Jeffrey Ford, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. (“Star Wars: Episode 7,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) and three time Oscar®-nominated costume designer Judianna Makovsky (“The Hunger Games,” “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”).

Marvel Studios’ upcoming release schedule includes “Iron Man 3” on May 3, 2013, and “Thor: The Dark World” on November 8, 2013. The studio most recently produced the critically acclaimed “Marvel’s The Avengers,” which set the all-time, domestic 3-day weekend box office record at $207.4 million. The film, which shattered both domestic and international box office records, is Disney’s highest-grossing global and domestic release of all time and marks the studio’s fifth film to gross more than $1 billion worldwide.

In the summer of 2011, Marvel successfully launched two new franchises with “Thor,” starring Chris Hemsworth, and “Captain America: The First Avenger,” starring Chris Evans. Both films opened #1 at the box office and have grossed over $800 million worldwide combined. In 2010 “Iron Man 2,” starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Mickey Rourke and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury took the #1 spot in its first weekend with a domestic box office gross of $128.1 million.

In the summer of 2008, Marvel produced the summer blockbuster movies “Iron Man” and “The Incredible Hulk.” “Iron Man,” in which Robert Downey Jr. originally dons the Super Hero’s powerful armor and stars alongside co-stars Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub and Gwyneth Paltrow, was released May 2, 2008, and was an immediate box office success. Garnering the number one position for two weeks in a row, the film brought in over $100 million in its opening weekend. On June 13, 2008, Marvel released “The Incredible Hulk,” marking its second number one opener of that summer.

Jessica Chastain Joins Crimson Peak

The buzz description on Crimson Peak is Guillermo del Toro does a Haunted House movie. That alone peaks my interest. If it's a return to his Spanish-language days like the superb The Devil's Backbone, even better.

It's casting up nicely too. Jessica Chastain has joined the cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Stone and Charlie Hunnam. Plot details are the minimum for the moment. As filming approaches its February 2014 start, we'll hear more.

Source: Variety