Roberto Orci reveals whom Benedict Cumberbatch is not playing in the Star Trek sequel. Andrew Garfield charts Peter Parker's heroic journey in The Amazing Spider-Man. Is Marvel moving ahead with its most cosmic movie yet? Plus more Catching Fire casting news!
Spoilers from here on out!
Top image from the Star Trek sequel.
The Dark Knight Rises
Here's a page from the I Can Read series children's book Batman vs. Bane, which is a novelization of the movie aimed at people who are still a good eight or so years away from reading their first novel. The page depicts Bane kidnapping Commissioner Gordon and taking him into "his secret lair deep in the underground tunnels." Whether we'll actually see Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman acting out that scene is an open question, as I'm guessing plenty of things in the movie have to be condensed and changed for the children's book audience — assuming the book is really even based closely on the movie at at all — but I think we can officially throw "Bane kidnaps Commissioner Gordon" into the giant pile of things that may or may not happen in the final Batman movie. Thanks to Daniel for the tip and the great photo!
Here's the latest piece of viral marketing. This time, it's a communique between Lucius Fox and Bruce Wayne. You can also check out the link for a transcript. [Comic Book Movie]
The Amazing Spider-Man
Star Andrew Garfield offers a great encapsulation of Peter Parker's journey towards truly being the superhero Spider-Man over the course of this movie:
I think what's cool about this movie, is that he discovers the power of what he's created; he doesn't create the symbol with any high-mindedness, he creates it so he can protect himself while he searches for his uncle's killer. He is a vigilante for part of this story, this particular story. I think it's true for any teenager who goes through any amount of tragic events, to have the impulse to kick out and rebel, to use their power in a way that they're not thinking responsibly or not thinking at all. That whole section is Peter running away from the pain, the guilt. he's putting it into something physical, and sweating it out.
So there's a period where he's acting out these impulses, he accidentally discovers the symbol he's created that's bigger than him, that can be used for good. It's also important that he started with a heroic impulse, without any power to do anything with it.
There's more at the link. [Newsarama]
Here's a clip of Andrew Garfield showing off what Peter Parker really does best, far more than any webslinging and/or wisecracking: skateboarding. [Comic Book Resources]
Here's an IMAX poster. [Coming Soon]
Star Trek 2
Co-writer Roberto Orci has officially ruled out some potential villains — and, by extension, the identity of Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch's role — for J.J. Abrams's sequel. Neither Cumberbatch nor anyone else is playing the android Ruk, marooned human Charlie Evans, or ascended godlike being Gary Mitchell. Of these, only Gary Mitchell was even vaguely considered a serious possibility for the movie's villain. Of course, Orci didn't rule out Khan as a villain, which people are making a lot out of because, well, a lot of people would really like Khan to be the movie's villain. But then, Orci also didn't specifically say Benedict Cumberbatch wasn't playing Trelane, the Squire of Gothos, and nobody is reading that as indirect confirmation that Cumberbatch is playing Trelane, which is actually a vaguely awesome idea now that I think about it.
Orci also said Yeoman Janice Rand, who along with Nurse Chapel was probably tied for eighth most notable cast member on the original series, will not make an appearance, which eliminates the slight chance new cast addition Alice Eve was being brought in to play the part, which wasn't really a rumor anyway beyond the fact that Eve actually looks quite similar to Rand. And, finally, Orci says the Borg won't be showing up, which nobody was considering a real possibility — though I would argue that, if you're going to go the trouble of semi-rebooting the franchise and making this shiny new timeline, you might as well go all the way and give us Kirk vs. Borg in the third movie or something. I imagine there may not be unanimity on this point though. [Cinema Blend]
Catching Fire
Alice in Wonderland star Mia Wasikowska has reportedly dropped out of contention for the part of Johanna Mason. That leaves model/actress Zoe Aggeliki as a contender, alongside the newly rumored addition of Sucker Punch star Jena Malone. Also, rapper Lil' Romeo and WWE wrestler Kevin Nash have revealed they are up for parts, though it's not clear precisely who. Slashfilm suggests that Nash might be up for the part of former Hunger Games victor Brutus. [EW via /Film]
Avatar 2
Sigourney Weaver reportedly revealed that James Cameron has plans to make Avatar 2, Avatar 3, and Avatar 4, all in fairly close proximity. Also, Weaver will potentially be in all of them, despite that whole "dying in the first movie" detail that Cameron long since decided wasn't particularly important. The story suggests Weaver is setting time aside to film the three sequels this fall more or less simultaneously, but I'm going to guess that may end up getting pushed back until, say, 2017. Really, James Cameron has enough money to move at whatever damn pace he wants. [Showbiz411]
Guardians of the Galaxy
Marvel Comics has reportedly filed a bunch of trademark applications for various tie-in products related to their cosmic comics property. The applications cover such things as jewelry and cosmetics — which may be the sorts of random items — along with other things covered by the applications such as "computer games, fabrics, foods, paper goods, entertainment and internet services, and even retail store services" — that would fall under the heading of tie-in products for a big motion picture. So, basically, there's a better than decent chance that Marvel Studios is close to going ahead with a Guardians of the Galaxy movie, something studio president Kevin Feige has been talking up some time as one the projects he most wants to pursue. [Bleeding Cool]
Doctor Who
According to her CV, Call the Midwife actress Jessica Raine is set to appear in a season seven episode that is directed by Jamie Payne and at least provisionally entitled "Phantoms of the Hex." It's known that Payne is directing the eleventh episode, which is written by Luther creator Neil Cross. That's the first episode new companion actress Jenna-Louise Coleman filmed, it's seemingly set in a haunted house, and indeed a previous rumor had suggested it was called "The Hider in the House." So either this is another episode Payne is directing — which is entirely possible — or this is another working name for the same episode. Certainly, a haunted house story could quite easily be called "Phantoms of the Hex", insofar as I can even work out what on earth that title means in the first place. [Life, Doctor Who, and Combom]
True Blood
Costar Joe Manganiello discusses working with Alcide's werewolf father, as played by Terminator 2: Judgment Day villain Robert Patrick:
"I just worked with my 'daddy' till six am on Saturday morning and we're having a blast. It's creepy, it's dark and it gives so much back story into why Alcide hates being a werewolf. It is so great!"
[TV Guide]
Adina Porter confirms she will make a return appearance as Tara's mother, but she leaves the precise nature of that return about as cryptic as humanly possible:
"I am [returning], but with True Blood you never know how I'm coming back because there are flashbacks. There are flashbacks, there's the future…a person can appear in many different ways."
This Sunday's episode will be the first directed by show star Stephen Moyer. Check out the link for his thoughts on the directorial process. [TV Guide]
Continuum
Here's the synopsis for episode six, "Time's Up":
Liber8 decides to rebrand their image and Kiera must save the kidnapped CEO of a major corporation. Kagame pursues the first step of his new agenda – winning over the intellectuals and the grassroots dissenters. When Liber8 kidnaps the CEO of a major corporation, Kiera and Carlos must race an actual ticking clock to save the CEO from public punishment.
Teen Wolf
Here's a promo for episode six, "Frenemy."
Creator Jeff Davis drops this hint about the tenth episode:
"We've just started editing episode 10, which is something of a bottle episode as it takes place mostly inside the Sheriff's Station. It's tense and dramatic and I'm quite excited to see how the cut turns out."
Additional reporting by Jennifer Griffth-Delgado and Charlie Jane Anders..