James Gunn confirms he's directing (and writing) Guardians of the Galaxy. Chris Evans drops story hints for the Captain America sequel. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes might have lost its director. Bill Paxton will once again play an ass-kicking space marine!
Spoilers from here on out!
Top image from Doctor Who.
Thor: The Dark World
This doesn't sound like too much beyond errant conversation between Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, but the former says he could possibly cameo as Captain America in the latter's new Thor movie. Here's what he has to say about the prospect:
"[Chris] Hemsworth and I even talked about that. I would love to do a little thing in Thor 2. It is obviously going to be tricky trying to work out the plot, the reason why I am not there to help him, and why he is not there to help me. But the best thing about Marvel is that, like I said, the movies were so good and we had such a good time making them."
[Collider]
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
As for his own movie, Chris Evans suggests The Avengers provided a lot of foundation for Cap's journey in the 21st century — or, more specifically, the stuff that was cut out of The Avengers did:
"The most I am looking forward to is exploring a little bit of Steve's… they had all those deleted scenes with The Avengers because a lot of those scenes are for Captain 2, you know what I mean? It was good stuff, but it all felt like that was his story. It is a different movie. With The Avengers there was so much to cram in. Like I said, it was a long movie anyway. So I think making it any longer would have just been exhausting... A lot of that stuff [that was cut] is for Captain America 2. That is his story. It is him trying to on a personal level adjust to the fact that everyone he knows is gone and the whole Peggy Carter of it all. There are a lot of things that he kind of has to come to terms with. So I don't know. I am excited to kind of see flashes of the first Captain, if you know what I mean, and to see his memory of what we now know as an audience of who he was."
[Collider]
Guardians of the Galaxy
Although Joss Whedon already pretty much confirmed this, Slither and Super director James Gunn has only just now admitting that he is indeed rewriting and directing Marvel's big, raccoon-starring space epic. Here's Gunn's announcement from his Facebook page:
For a month or so there's been a lot of Internet speculation about my involvement with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Until now I haven't said anything, because I'm trying to be less expulsive about this project than I am about the rest of my life. But last night I got the go-ahead from Kevin Feige to let you all know that, yes, indeed, I am rewriting and directing Guardians of the Galaxy. As a lifelong lover of Marvel comics, space epics, AND raccoons, this is the movie I've been waiting to make since I was nine years old. Kevin, Joss, and all the folks at Marvel have been amazing collaborators so far, and we're committed to bringing you something majestic, beautiful, and unique. I am incredibly excited.
The Avengers 2
Marvel co-chairman Louis Esposito says The Avengers sequel will feature some additions to the team:
"...We discussed it at the time and I think in 'The Avengers 2' will see some new characters," he explained. "We're currently working on Phase 2 and we have 'Iron Man 3,' 'Thor: The Dark World' and 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier,' so we returned to those franchises to enlarge them, but I think in 'The Avengers 2' will see one or two new characters."
The obvious contenders here would probably have to be Ant-Man and the Wasp — but then again, we've been talking them up for what feels like decades now, and it still hasn't happened, so maybe Marvel will go in a different direction entirely. [The Playlist]
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Director Rupert Wyatt is reportedly leaving the sequel to his surprise blockbuster Rise of the Planet of the Apes. There's no official confirmation yet, but the rumor is that Wyatt is stepping down due to concerns that he won't be able to make the movie right and still meet the announced May 23, 2014 release date. [First Showing]
All You Need Is Kill
The polygamous astronaut side of the great Bill Paxton/Pullman chimera — Bill Paxton, in other words — is reportedly in negotiations to play a supporting role in Tom Cruise and Bourne Identity director Doug Liman's movie about a futuristic soldier who keeps reliving the last day of his life. Paxton would reportedly play "the tough leader of Cruise's platoon", which is quite a promotion from his early days as a lowly private in the Colonial Marines — oh, and fair warning, don't click that link if you don't want to hear some heavy-duty cussing from Mr. Paxton. [Variety]
Frankenweenie
Here's a featurette all about Tim Burton's latest stop-motion horror fantasy.
Horns
Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe explains why he decided to sign on for The Hills Have Eyes and Piranha 3D director Alexander Aja's adaptation of the Joe Hill novel about a man who has horns growing out of his head after the mysterious murder of his girlfriend. In particular, Radcliffe explains why he just can't seem to get away from the supernatural in his films:
"I always liked the idea that ['Hills Have Eyes' director] Alex [Aja] and I are in kind of similar places, where everybody is very willing to put us both in boxes and assume that there are certain things we do and certain things we don't want to do. I think we're both very keen to flex new muscles, both of us. The script is so good, the story. There's nothing really, I think, that can be so exciting to an actor as an original idea. It's an original idea that's tackled in an original, fresh and vibrant way. Hellboy is what we're trying to avoid. [Laughs] It's not going to be that on-the-nose. It is interesting. There will be a lot of prosthetics involved towards the end, because some terrible things happen to my character."
Wreck-It Ralph
Fringe
Here's a short description season five's second episode, "In Absentia", which airs October 5:
The fifth and final season continues when the Fringe team revisits the Harvard lab, now under Observer control, to try to find the information they need as the team fights on in their mission to save the world.
Revolution
Here's a promo for next week's episode, "Chained Heat."
Alphas
Arrow
Here's the latest sneak peek for The CW's Green Arrow show.
Battlestar Galactica and Dollhouse alum Tahmoh Penikett has reportedly joined the cast as "Tom Salvati, the right-hand man to mob boss Frank Bertinelli" — the same Frank Bertinelli who is the father of Helena Bertinelli, otherwise known as the Huntress. While the Huntress is set to debut in the sixth episode, it's not clear if that will also mark Penikett's first appearance, or indeed if this is a one-off role or a recurring character. Frank Bertinelli himself will be played by Jeffrey Nordling, who you probably remember from 24 or Tron Legacy but who I personally know best as Coach Bombay's successor in D3: The Mighty Ducks. I'm equal parts thrilled and horrified that I still remember that. [Live Feed]
Beauty and the Beast
Here's a clip from the series premiere of Smallville star Kristin Kreuk's big return to The CW.
Additional reporting by Rob H. Dawson and Charlie Jane Anders.