The Walking Dead Season 8 Adds Role For Maria Bello
31 OCTOBER, 2016


Season 7 of The Walking Dead has only just begun, and the long-awaited reveal of Negan’s victim(s) has finally happened. With the loss of both Glenn and Abraham, the series now has room for more characters to be introduced in the coming episodes. And that goes well beyond what is expected to be an expanded role for Negan, and possibly one for the soon-to-be-introduced King Ezekiel.

For his part, Negan has already proven effective in shortening the recurring character list, and there is a chance that the leather-clad villain isn’t done there. That means there’s and even greater chance that the series will need new blood throughout the remainder of this season and beyond. As it just so happens, in light of the recent season 8 renewal, it appears the series’ producers have already added one new cast member.

People spoke recently with Maria Bello, who confessed her love for The Walking Dead and revealed that she has managed to convince them on giving her a role next season. While Bello could not reveal what her role is or to what extent she would be appearing, she did explain how the opportunity arose.

“I am obsessed with the show. I have a friend who’s a producer on it and I’ve asked them to write me a part, which apparently they are for next season… Even if I just play a zombie. I said, ‘I’ll just come out and play a zombie for an episode, I don’t care!’ But it is my favorite show.”
                      

Bello can currently be seen in the Amazon original series Goliath, but has also made a name for herself in Hollywood through Lights Out, A History of Violence, and Prisoners, just to name a few. Bello is a terrific performer, who always brings something memorable to her roles, as she did in the short-lived American adaptation of Prime Suspect. And given the sheer number of impressive performances she’s delivered in both film and TV, The Walking Dead is not only lucky to count her as a fan, but as a willing participant on the show itself.

While Bello sounds excited for the opportunity to appear on the show, fans will have to wait and see what role she will have. There are still plenty of events left to unfold throughout season 7, so the landscape of the series may be very different by the time she is brought on. For now, fans of the show and Bello will have to watch the power struggle between Rick and Negan unfold to see where she can potentially fit into the story next season.

Arrowverse Cast Offer Details on ‘Huge’ Four-Episode Crossover Event
31 OCTOBER, 2016


Whether or not movie audiences are fully onboard for the DC Extended Universe as a feature film franchise, one thing is for certain: The Warner Bros.-owned superhero “multiverse” is running the table on broadcast television. The small screen comic book universe includes Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow and now Supergirl winning over audiences and critics alike with colorful, action-heavy adventures playing out weekly on The CW, and fans are eagerly anticipating their first major crossover.

While the various Arrowverse shows have all crossed over several times in one way or another already, the big focus in terms of potential lasting change is the impending inclusion of The CW newcomer Supergirl to the mix. Originating on CBS in its first season, a one-off guest appearance by Grant Gustin’s Flash established that Kara Zor-El’s storyline takes place in an alternate universe — a status-quo that has thus far been maintained despite all four series now sharing a network.

Asked at EW‘s PopFest about how her character will react when confronted by an entire universe of heroes she’s meeting for the first time, Supergirl actress Melissa Benoist offered:

“I think Kara just wanted to be accepted and be like a part of the cool kids, and I felt the same way. It was so fun to be in this big group setting where everyone… It was like this infectious environment where we all.. It felt really cool. But she had good interactions with almost everyone there.”


The four-part event, which will run throughout a week’s worth of new episodes for each series, will be titled ‘Invasion’ and involves the emergence of DC Comics villains The Dominators. As a major player in the first crossover event, Gant Gustin spoke to the sheer scope of ‘Invasion,’ especially as it compared to the previous Legends of Tomorrow episodes:

“It’s just a lot bigger. Last year was Flash and Arrow and now… We have 17 characters in multiple scenes and almost everyone interacts with every other character, at a certain points. So, it’s huge! Huge.”

While plot details are being kept secret for now, producer Greg Berlanti was also onhand to tease the beginnings of how the major event will play out:

“They all have their own continuing storylines thoughout it, but it really does feel like in the middle of the whole season a 3-hour movie. It starts a little at the tail-end of Supergirl, because she’s in a whole other universe, on a whole other planet, so having to go get her. And then it really begins on the night of The Flash. It’s three parts and called ‘Invasion.’ The complex they talked about shooting in: We found an exterior shot that looks a lot like the Hall of Justice, so we like that.”

The Flash Producer Says Savitar is Barry’s Biggest Foe Yet
31 OCTOBER, 2016


There’s no denying that Barry Allen has faced some formidable opponents throughout the two seasons of The Flash we’ve seen him in to date. Reverse Flash plagued Barry’s existence from his early childhood and returned to complete his mission during the show’s first season, while the second season saw evil speedster Zoom hoping to wipe Barry out and steal his speed for himself.

Now, in The Flash‘s third season, Barry will be facing yet another villainous speedster in the form of Savitar – a character from the DC comic books created by Mark Waid and Oscar Jimenez and introduced in 1995.

Speaking at EW PopFest, actor Grant Gustin promised the Big Bad would be coming “very, very soon,” whilst producer Greg Berlanti added: “He’s the God of motion, so Flash is up against his biggest foe yet.” The producer also spoke about the current timeline The Flash is taking place within, explaining why he’s not entirely sure things will be able to go back to the way they were in the earlier days of the series:

“I’m not sure that we can [return to the original timeline], given what we’ve established. If we’re not challenging ourselves and creating new territory and new obstacles for the characters, I think it’s less rewarding to watch and probably less rewarding to play. We like to grow ourselves and grow our characters.”


It would seem fans of The Flash can rest assured Savitar is going to be providing some chaotic and action-packed storylines and scenes moving forward, without the possibility of erasing his existence by simply returning to a former timeline. Egotistical and speed-obsessed within the comic book universe, Savitar dedicated his life to unlocking the secrets of motion and learned powers that no-one else had ever been able to master, even becoming the leader of his own cult after picking up legions of dedicated followers.

Savitar’s inclusion in the third season of The Flash may see the show injected with yet another dose of speed, but some fans may be fed up of seeing Barry fight powerful speedsters time and time again, especially when they play such an integral role in the entirety of the season.

With that being said, Savitar isn’t the only Big Bad we can expect to see action from throughout the rest of the season. We’ve already seen Barry’s battles against ‘sleeper’ metahumans in recent new episodes – brought to life by Doctor Alchemy – and there’s no signs of the mysterious character slowing down any time soon.

New Doctor Strange Clip Reveals First Look at [SPOILER]
31 OCTOBER, 2016


[Warning: Contains minor SPOILERS for Doctor Strange.]

As Doctor Strange rolls out across the world (and soon, America), the most unusual member of the Avengers is about to shift the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s perspective. Early reviews certainly make it look like Disney has another hit on its hands, and international box office numbers are playing out this scenario as well. If all goes well with Strange’s entry, he’ll bring with him a new bag of trick to the Avengers, as well as a whole host of new adversaries.

Fans are already aware of Chiwetel Ejiofor’s somewhat friendlier Baron Mordo in the film, as well as main nemesis Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelson). At the same time, many wondered whether any other major adversaries would be introduced during the Sorcerer Surpreme’s first outing.

The latest Doctor Strange promo proves that yes, Strange-fans, there is a dark lord. The trippy clip entitled “The Multiverse” is introduced by a clean-shaven Benedict Cumberbatch. In it, he takes viewers upon a brief montage of the multiverse, including a few new clips of some of the unusual realms traversed in the film. The most curious moment for devotees of the mystical doctor arrives 41 seconds into the clip, where two massive eyes peer from the void at viewers. They arrive in concert with this ominous line of dialogue:

“There are dangers yes but wonders too, and power, so much power that in the wrong hands, anything could happen.”

Now certainly, there are plenty shots of main baddie Kaecilius to consider, but those fiery purple eyes sure look like they belong to Dormammu, the ruler of the Dark Dimension. At the end of the trailer, there’s also a distinctive moment where Strange stares into a massive purple negative space. In all likelihood, the shimmery void is one of the dreaded lord’s Sauron-like peepers.
      

If this is our first look at Dormammu, it appears he’ll be playing a continuing role in the saga – which would make sense since he’s been antagonizing Doctor Strange since 1964. Director Scott Derrickson and Marvel have managed to keep the ruler of Mindless Ones under wraps thus far. However, early rumblings suggested that Kaecilius and his Zealots were in contact with some pretty nasty forces. Derrickson has already teased a sequel, which could very well include more from the Dark Dimension dictator as well as another old favorite, Nightmare.

Until the film’s been fully released, it’s difficult to say how much of a role, beyond a creepy cameo or end credit tag, the fearful Faltine ruler will have. If Kaecilius and his cult have awakened Dormammu, though, he’ll stop at nothing to expand his rule over Earth’s corner of the multiverse. After all, someone who lives in a fiery dimension would probably love some beachfront property.

The Rock Plays Halloween Prank on Kevin Hart While Filming Jumanji
31 OCTOBER, 2016
    

It seems that once again Halloween is upon us and the spirit of the season is spreading. Horror movie franchise marathons are being queued up on a variety of networks; creative and detailed costumes are being shown off on social media alongside the odd how-to guide on how to build your own costume props; and Netflix has beefed up their Halloween Favorites category – for those who just want to sit back and soak up all the seasonal frights on offer.

Scary pranks have also long been associated with the lead up to Halloween and sometimes the best opportunities arrive in the unlikeliest of locations. Many might not consider the gorgeous, sunny environments of Hawaii as the spookiest of locales, but Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been working there since September, filming the upcoming Jumanji. Clearly not one to miss out on providing a scare when the opportunity arises, The Rock recently decided to have some Halloween fun at the expense of co-star Kevin Hart.

While filming in the jungle, The Rock was quick to throw a fake, furry spider on to his co-star during a take that saw both actors lying down on the ground. The end result was a clear-cut, bad case of heebie-jeebies for Heart, who got to his feet and fled the scene at top speed, much to the delight of Johnson and the entire film crew. After posting the below video to his Instagram account, Johnson also had this to say about the incident and Heart’s sizeable fear of nature:

Frank Miller Says His Batman Movie Would Be ‘Much Smaller’
31 OCTOBER, 2016nk Miller Says His Batman Movie Would Be ‘Much Smal


The cinematic history of Batman has been a relatively short one compared to his extensive and varied seventy-seven year comic book history. The movies have only truly been in regular production for the past twenty-seven years (off and on), with the exception of the 1966 Batman movie, which was primarily created to promote the then-new television series.

The darker version of Batman that fans have been treated to since the days of Tim Burton were largely thanks to the legendary comic book writing of Frank Miller. His grim and serious version of Batman helped encourage filmmakers to take Batman away from the “Biff, Bang, Pow” camp version of the character and drive him back into the shadows. Miller recently made comments about how he’d handle the Batman film franchise and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Frank Miller changed the landscape of mainstream comics with his epic Batman: Year One and Batman: The Dark Knight Returns comic book series back in the mid-1980s. The ripple effect of these works have inspired countless other comic writers, artists, filmmakers and even television animators. Miller recently spoke to Variety about how he would handle the Dark Knight on the big screen:

“My dream would be to make it much smaller. To lose the toys and to focus more on the mission, and to use the city a great deal more. Because he’s got a loving relationship with the city he’s protecting. And unlike Superman his connection to crime is intimate; it has been ever since his parents were murdered. And he defeats criminals with his hands. So it would be a different take. But it will never be in my hands, because it would not be a good place to make toys from. There wouldn’t be a line of toys.”


There is a serious irony to Miller’s final statement about toys. If you take a moment to visit your local Target or Walmart you will find that a large part of the Batman toy section is occupied by the Mattel DC Comics Multiverse action figures that pay tribute to the 30 year anniversary of The Dark Knight Returns. The other portion of the Batman toy section features Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice toys, and fans will note that the armored Superman battling version of Batman from that film is directly influenced by Batman’s Dark Knight Returns armor. The influence that Miller had on Batman v Superman didn’t go beyond his notice; when Variety asked him about the film he said simply:

“I’ll just say: ‘Thanks.’ What can I say? [Laughs] No, actually I’ll withdraw that; I’ll say: ‘You’re welcome!’”

Miller also commented on the scrapped Darren Aronofsky directed Batman film that he was helping with and was in the works before Christopher Nolan was brought in to do Batman Begins:

“That screenplay was based on my book Batman: Year One, and yeah it was much more down to earth. In it a fair amount of time is spent before he became Batman, and when he went out and fought crime he really screwed it up a bunch of times before he got it right. So it was 90-minute origins story.”

There is a good portion of the fan base that would undoubtedly be interested in seeing Miller get a go at the Caped Crusader in live-action form. A more intimate portrait of Batman working as a detective and dealing with day-to-day crime, instead of the typical big villain scheme and battle template that we get from most films. We seem to be inching closer and closer, albeit slowly, to a better version of Batman on the big screen. Ben Affleck’s The Batman is due in 2018 and maybe he’ll forge interesting new ground. Until then, at least we have the Lego Batman Movie, right?

Lady Gaga Lands Fourth Number 1 Album with ‘Joanne’!

 

Lady Gaga's Joanne has landed at the number one spot on the billboard 200 after selling 201,000 equivalent album units in the last week!

The album was released on October 21. This is Lady Gaga's fourth number one album following Cheek to Cheek (with Tony Bennett in 2014), Artpop (2013) and Born This Way (2011).

Joanne is also the fourth largest debut in 2016 behind Drake’s Views (1.04 million), Beyonce’s Lemonade (653,000) and Frank Ocean’s Blonde(276,000 units).

Congrats to Lady Gaga!

Anna Kendrick Couldn’t Afford Shoes to Wear to Her First Oscars

Anna Kendrick shows off her gorgeous tulle dress while making an appearance on The Tonight Show on Friday (October 28) in New York City.

While promoting her memoir Scrappy Little Nobody, the 31-year-old actress revealed that she couldn't afford shoes for her first Oscars in 2009.

"My stylist told me I had to wear the perfect shoes for an outfit, and because the movie isn’t out yet, nobody really knows who you are. 'The shoe places don’t want to loan you the shoes so can you buy a pair?'" she explained on The Ellen Show.

Anna added, "I was like, 'I’m still poor.' So it was this weird combination of like all these great things are happening but at the same time nothing has changed so, it was a weird dichotomy."

FYI: Anna is wearing a Jonathan Cohen dress.

Also pictured: Anna heading out of her hotel that same day in NYC.

David Crosby Slams Kanye West: ‘He Can Neither Sing, nor Write, nor Play’

David Crosby hasn't been particularly quiet about his distaste for Kanye West, and during an appearance on Watch What Happens LiveTuesday night he didn't hold back. 

  Speaking with host Andy Cohen about his new album, the conversation somehow turned to West, which led the Crosby, Stills & Nash icon to echo an argument about West he's made before. 

"He can neither sing, nor write, nor play," Crosby said. "The thing that bugs me about him is the 'I'm the greatest living rock star.' Somebody needs to drive him over to Stevie Wonder's house right now so he understands what a real one is. Secondly, they should send him all of Ray Charles's catalog so he can learn how to sing." 

Cohen's response to the rant? "Very good!" 

Tom Cruise-Led Methuselah Lands Pirates of the Caribbean 5 Director
30 OCTOBER, 2016


Tom Cruise can currently be found on the big screen playing military police officer-turned loner Jack Reacher, in the sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back. The A-lister will be back in theaters in June 2017 in The Mummy – a reboot of the supernatural horror/adventure franchise – and then show up again just a few months later, in the true story-based dramatic thriller American Made by Cruise’s Edge of Tomorrow director, Doug Liman. Cruise is also going to keep busy next year by reprising his role as IMF agent Ethan Hunt in Mission: Impossible 6, under the watchful eye of his Jack Reacher and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation director, Christopher McQuarrie. What the A-lister will be working on after that, remains to be determined.

There are currently two Cruise-led sequels in the pipeline – Top Gun 2 and Edge of Tomorrow 2 – that could be next in line for the actor, after he finishes working on the sixth Mission: Impossible movie. Another possibility is Methuselah, a Biblical epic about the life and times of the eponymous character (who lived to be nearly 1,000 years old) that Cruise is attached to headline, with Warner Bros. Pictures serving as the distributor and David Heyman (Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) producing the film.

Deadline is reporting that Methuselah has found a director in Joachim Rønning: the co-director of the Oscar-nominated drama Kon-Tiki, as well as the first two episodes of Netflix’s Marco Polo TV series and the upcoming Disney tentpole, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (all of which he co-helmed with Espen Sandberg). The project currently has a finished script draft by Zach Dean (Deadfall), but Deadline is reporting that WB and Heyman are on the hunt for an A-list screenwriter to rewrite the screenplay – in the hope of getting Cruise to commit to the project, in the foreseeable future.


Directors Espen Sandberg and Joachim Rønning

The Biblical epic sub-genre was once a lucrative one for Hollywood, but that has changed somewhat in recent years. Darren Aronofsky’s 2014 film Noah – which stars Anthony Hopkins as Methuselah, as it were – was generally well-received and a solid commercial hit thanks largely to its global box office take. Ridley Scott’s Exodus: Gods and Kings hit the scene the same year as Noah did, but it didn’t perform as well in either of those respects (something that the movie’s white-washing controversy might have contributed to). This year’s Ben-Hur retelling did far worse than either Noah or Exodus, earning poor reviews and failing to even match its $100 million production budget at the global box office in the process.

WB might be hesitant to move forward on Methuselah too quickly for related reasons, even after having landed an A-list star in Cruise and a capable director in Rønning. The latter, over the past few years, has demonstrated a knack for imbuing intimate indie dramas, Netflix TV shows and, judging by the early buzz surrounding Dead Men Tell No Tales, Disney blockbusters alike with a proper sweeping epic feel. If Rønning’s proposed vision (coupled with the impending script rewrite) for Methuselah are impressive enough to get a firm commitment from Cruise, then perhaps that will give WB enough of a confidence boost to green-light the project within the next year or so.

We’ll bring you more information on Methuselah as it becomes available.