Michael Fassbender embodies ‘Steve Jobs’ in full-length trailer; plus, Michael B. Jordan reignites ‘Rocky’ franchise in ‘Creed’ spinoff

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Apple aficionados, brace yourselves, because this extended look at the upcoming Steve Jobs film from screenwriter Aaron Sorkin and director Danny Boyle is completely engaging and pedal-to-the-metal from start to finish. It builds on the previously released teaser trailer and gives an even broader glimpse into the pursuit for perfection that Steve embodied during his tenure as the head and face of Apple. Michael Fassbender fully embraces the late CEO’s eccentricities and ultimate passion for advancing society with technological sensations. His supporting cast including Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniack, Jeff Daniels as John Sculley, and Kate Winslet as Joanna Hoffman are also in it to win it; with such a stellar cast and high-ranking auspices behind the script and lens, I’ll say it again: this isn’t your Ashton Kutcher’s Steve Jobs. Opens October 9.

Jump after the break to see Michael B. Jordan in Rocky boxing spinoff Creed. Continue reading Michael Fassbender embodies ‘Steve Jobs’ in full-length trailer; plus, Michael B. Jordan reignites ‘Rocky’ franchise in ‘Creed’ spinoff →

First-look photos at ‘Batman v Superman’ surface days before Comic Con

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With Comic Con just around the corner, we’re bound to see a new teaser for Zack Snyder’s upcoming Batman v Superman superhero flick. For now, I’m more than positive these flashy new pics will hold you over until then. Entertainment Weekly has scored a solid handful of first-look images from Dawn of Justice; it’s latest cover features Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in full costume and there’s simply no denying it–Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, and Gal Gadot look absolutely fantastic in character. In addition to the cover shot, EW also shares production stills and a single behind-the-scenes image with Snyder director Affleck. Want to see an epic stare-down between Affleck’s Batman and Cavill’s Superman? Or how about a seductive look at Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince? Dive into the gallery below to see all this and more, including a first-look at Jesse Eisenberg as the villainous Lex Luthor still sporting some hair atop his infamous dome.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theatres March 26, 2016.

[Via EW 1, 2]

TV reminder: 5 series to look out for in July

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Summer is here and the hits keep on comin’. Masters and Virginia unveil their sex study to the public; Denis Leary reenters the spotlight as a former rock’n’roll legend looking for a way back in; the Bowmans are ready for a second round of give-and-take; everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic horse is back for more introspection; and the misfits of Camp Firewood go back in time to experience another wet, hot, american summer.

Jump after the break to explore the series you can’t miss this month. Continue reading TV reminder: 5 series to look out for in July →

It’s ‘Elementary’ versus ‘Person of Interest’ in this amusing syndication spot

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To promote crime dramas Elementary and Person of Interest heading into syndication, CBS and WGN American teamed up to create this highly amusing spot featuring the major players from each series. Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu square off against Michael Emerson and Jim Caviezel, all in character. It’s silly, really, and fans of either show will find the funny in it. I know I did! #TeamMachine

Zane Lowe debuts Beats 1, already solidifies station as keen music discovery tool (first broadcast tracklist inside!)

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Apple Music is here and Beats 1 is live! DJ host Zane Lowe kicked things off at 9am PT as promised and in case you missed the flip being switched on, you can relive the moment in the SoundCloud snippet embedded above. “We have to kick this whole thing off at some point,” he said coming out of anticipatory mood music provided by Brian Eno’s Ambient 1: Music for Airports. “We spent the last three months trying to build this radio station and now we can build no more. We must launch.”

The first track spun on Beats 1? That was “City” by Spring King. The Manchester band quickly flocked to Twitter to express their surprise and gratitude: “yo @zanelowe are you kidding?!!?!? you just spun our tune! you’re an absolute legend!!” Keep this in mind–it may just be the answer to a future Jeopardy question. But why start with such an obscure song? Well, that’s sort of the point of Beats 1. Lowe and company are aiming to differentiate Apple’s radio station from all the rest–instead of playing songs merely because they are popular, they spin tunes based on their personal tastes and what they think could be and should be lighting the industry on fire.

I’ve been listening into the station for the past two hours and I’m enthused to report that Lowe’s reputation from his days at BBC’s Radio 1 has followed him directly to Los Angeles, his new home for Beats 1. I’m jamming out to artists I have never heard of before, already curating a list for me to return to later. Following Spring City, Lowe celebrated AC/DC entering the world of streaming music with their classic track “For Those About to Rock (We Salute You).” Later in the first hour he debuted Pharrell’s brand new song “Freedom,” a current exclusive to Apple Music and the first “world record” on Beats 1. And because he likes it so much, Lowe played it again right as it was fading out. By the end of the first hour, Lowe was introducing another never-heard-before track, a “world first” from rising R&B crooner Gallant and it’s called “Weight in Gold.” Hour 2 saw the first song to stream from Dr. Dre’s iconic rap album The Chronic, “Let Me Ride,” as well as a new song from Eminem, “Phenomenal,” from the upcoming movie Southpaw. All in all, Lowe is indeed the tastemaker that UK music fans have always touted him to be, and I can’t wait to use Beats 1 as a music discovery tool from now on.

Be sure to check out the new portal applemusic.tumblr.com to see Beats 1’s schedule for your time zone. Zane Lowe in LA, Ebro Darden in NYC, and Julie Adenuga in London host programming blocks Monday through Thursday. In addition to pumping tunes, the DJs will also air interviews exclusive to the station. Lowe confirmed today that his upcoming interview with Eminem will air tomorrow (7/1). Also, Pharrell’s radio show “Other Tone” is debuting July 5 at 3pm. Click that link to find out when more shows are launching including The Pharmacy with Dr. Dre, Elton John’s Rocket Hour, and Jaden Smith’s MSFTS FREQUENCY. Want to request a song? Call in!

Dying to know the tracks Lowe broadcasted worldwide to over 100 countries over the course of Beats 1’s first couple hours? Jump after the break. Continue reading Zane Lowe debuts Beats 1, already solidifies station as keen music discovery tool (first broadcast tracklist inside!) →

Apple Music and Beats 1 launch Tuesday, here’s what you need to know

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On Tuesday, June 30, Apple Music goes live and it may very well be the next evolution in the music industry like iTunes before it. With Spotify, Pandora, and Rdio breathing down Apple’s neck, the house that Steve Jobs built is ready to take on the competition with both feet in, offering up a subscription-based streaming service as well as a 24/7 global Internet radio station.

Apple unveiled Apple Music at WWDC earlier this month, and you can learn all about it there. Today I’m here to discuss what’s new before the service rolls out tomorrow morning. First let’s talk exclusives. In order to compete with the aforementioned competition, Apple is taking advantage of its artist relationships to bring special content to Apple Music that listeners won’t be able to find elsewhere. After pulling her latest album 1989 from Spotify’s library, country-turned-pop star Taylor Swift is granting Apple Music streaming rights to it. This followed, of course, Swift’s public letter to Apple regarding paying artists (both large and indie) royalties during users’ free three-month trial periods. Apple’s Senior VP of Internet Software and Services Eddy Cue swiftly took to Twitter to announce his company’s about-face. The indie community, as well as Swift, backed Apple’s decision to pay artists before users’ subscriptions kick in and this seemingly opened the floodgates for more goodwill and exciting exclusives coming to Apple Music. Pharrell is debuting his brand new single “Freedom” exclusively on the service on Tuesday, and it will likely come packaged with a music video. Additionally, Dr. Dre’s iconic rap album The Chronic will stream digitally for the first time on Apple Music; due to a legal spat, the Beats co-founder couldn’t even get it spinning on the Beats Music service before Apple gobbled it up.

The remainder of new information surrounds Beats 1, the new global radio station powered by Apple and run by former BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe. He’ll be broadcasting from Los Angeles, and two other hand-picked DJs–Hot 97’s Ebro Darden and UK tastemaker Julie Adenuga–will broadcast live from New York City and London, respectively. In an interview with The New York Times, Lowe shared his aspirations for Beats 1, after the break. Continue reading Apple Music and Beats 1 launch Tuesday, here’s what you need to know →

‘Paranormal Activity’ revealed in sixth and final film in the franchise

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Four films and one spinoff later, the Paranormal Activity franchise is ready to reach its climax and conclusion. Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension is prepared to guide the supernatural horror flicks that came before it into the light by addressing the many unanswered questions and riddles left lingering over the years. Producer Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions confirmed to USA Today that Ghost Dimension is indeed the final installment and that answers are coming.

“It’s coming to an end. This is it, the finale,” says Blum. “We’re saying it before the movie opens. We’re not going to grind this horror franchise into the ground. This will keep Paranormal Activity as part of this culture and this particular time in a really fantastic way. We couldn’t go just teasing. All the questions that everyone has asked from the past Paranormal Activity films: What does Toby look like? What’s the backstory to the families? These questions have been teased out. Now they will be answered.”

That’s a big one. Ever since the first Paranormal Activity released in 2007, audiences have been forced to use their powerful imaginations to put a face on the invisible, angry entity that has been terrorizing the families featured in all the movies. In Ghost Dimensions, a special video recording device enables the latest family to actually see the paranormal activity going on around them. PA producer and director of the original Oren Peli commented on this major reveal: “We’ve done well without showing Toby, being able to create tensions and scares based on audiences’ imagination,” he said. “But people are very curious.”

Curious, indeed! And by the looks of it, Ghost Dimension may just be the most haunting Paranormal Activity of all. Watch the debut trailer hanging above to see what I mean. Though the many sequels failed to capture the same kind of awe and suspense of the original, this final chapter aims to bring it all home by tying everything that came before it together in a neat bow. Hopefully plot satisfaction and fun scares will have made the journey worth it.

Eight years after the micro-budget original spent $15,000 and made $193 million at the box office worldwide, there’s no denying the powerful effect the Paranormal Activity franchise has had on the horror genre and the box office in general. It spurred the proliferation of scary micro-budget movies including other Blumhouse works like Insidious, Sinister, and The Purge. And perhaps we haven’t seen the last of PA after all?

“At some point, might there be a reboot? You never know. We’ve never discussed it,” says Blum. “[But] we made this movie like it’s the end of this Paranormal line for sure.”

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension hits theatres October 23, and it’s the first PA movie to be released in 3D. Just in time for Halloween! Continue reading ‘Paranormal Activity’ revealed in sixth and final film in the franchise →

HRG & Hiro return in new ‘Heroes Reborn’ teaser

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Where are the heroes? That’s the tagline used in the freshly minted teasers for NBC’s upcoming event series Heroes Reborn. Five years after the Peacock network axed Tim Kring’s sci-fi series about ordinary people discovering super-human abilities, it’s reigniting the spark again for a new 13-episode run. Prior to releasing the preview embedded above, NBC started airing a rather lackluster teaser featuring the aforementioned tagline scribbled throughout a city in rubble. It did little in the way of building any sort of tangible hype since it held too much back. This more pronounced preview, however, certainly does the trick. After borrowing imagery and Scala & Kolancy Brothers’ haunting track “Nothing Else Matters,” it finally gives fans a peek at some actual Reborn footage. There’s the return of HRG and Hiro, as well as a smattering of new characters with all kinds of awesome abilities, including mastery of auroras. And of course, fans of the series’ original run will no doubt beam in elation when Shankar’s iconic strings close the clip out. Hunting for plot details? Look no further as NBC provides this:

A year ago, a terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas, left the city decimated. Blamed for the tragic event, those with extraordinary abilities are in hiding or on the run from those with nefarious motives.

Two such vigilantes include Luke (Zachary Levi, “Chuck”) and Joanne (Judith Shekoni, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2”), who are seeking to avenge a tragic loss.

Noah Bennet, aka H.R.G. (Jack Coleman, “Heroes”), has gone off the grid but conspiracy theorist Quentin Frady (Henry Zebrowski, “A to Z”) finds him and opens his eyes to the truth behind the Odessa tragedy.

While in hiding, some are discovering their newfound skills. Awkward teen Tommy (Robbie Kay, “Once Upon a Time”) just wants to be normal and win the girl of his dreams, Emily (Gatlin Green, “Criminal Minds”), but normalcy is virtually impossible after learning of a new ability that terrifies him. Coming from a very sheltered upbringing, a bold and ethereal teenager, Malina (Danika Yarosh, “Shameless”), has been told she is destined for greatness. In Tokyo, a quiet and unique young woman, Miko (Kiki Sukezane, “Death Yankee 3”), is trying to track down her missing father while hiding an extraordinary secret that will make her a force to be reckoned with. Elsewhere, a different type of hero is emerging through former soldier Carlos (Ryan Guzman, “The Boy Next Door”).

Heroes Reborn premieres this fall on NBC. Confirmed returning characters include HRG (Jack Coleman), The Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis), Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg), and matriarch Angela Petrelli (Cristine Rose).

Update (6/30): Two cool “motion posters” featuring HRG and new hero Malina (played by Danika Yarosh) hang after the break. Continue reading HRG & Hiro return in new ‘Heroes Reborn’ teaser →

Go behind the scenes in ‘The Walking Dead’ with star Michael Cudlitz (Comic Con poster inside)

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We’re still many months away from the sixth season premiere of AMC’s The Walking Dead, but to keep you going until October, the network is sharing a candid look behind the scenes with your host, Michael Cudlitz. In this clip, Abraham Ford’s portrayer guides you around the set of the season 6 opener, checking in with various cast members including Sonequa Martin-Green (Sasha), Lennie James (Morgan), Lauren Cohan (Maggie), Christian Serratos (Rosita), and Dani Guerira (Michonne). Also, a special someone stops by to give Guerira an impromptu kiss!

Though very little is divulged in terms of where things are headed (spoiler alert) following the surprise return of Morgan at the end of last season, Cudlitz hypes up the upcoming premiere calling it a “huge, huge episode” and saying that “the first episode is going to blow your mind.” Mission accomplished, Cudlitz; I’m shaking in my post-apocalyptic boots.

And if that isn’t enough to satiate your walker obsession, be sure to jump after the break to eyeball the Comic Con exclusive key-art for season 6; it appears to set up to distinct factions: Rick and his people versus Morgan and the Alexandrians. Interesting, indeed! Stick it here for the latest Walking Dead deets as a trailer is likely to leak out of Comic Con in July. Continue reading Go behind the scenes in ‘The Walking Dead’ with star Michael Cudlitz (Comic Con poster inside) →

An ode to ‘Hannibal’ as TV’s boldest experiment gets the axe

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This one’s tough. As I sit here nearly on the verge of sad, frustrated tears, this is something that fans have been dreading for some time now. NBC has pulled the plug on one of television’s most daring series, Hannibal.

The procedural-turned-serialized niche drama about the famed cannibal straight out of Thomas Harris’ novels and influenced by Anthony Hopkins’ stirring take on the iconic character is one for the ages. Specifically, the Golden Age of TV we currently reside in. Though it never gained in mass-popularly due to its intrinsically violent nature, Hannibal quickly proved its worth beyond the traditional scales of storytelling. Creator Bryan Fuller imagined and exquisitely executed a masterpiece program compelling its viewers with fine acting, engaging and wickedly smart dialogue, an eclectic, trancing score, and most all, with a uniquely bold direction, cinematography, and color palette that consistently evoked out-of-this-world dreamlike states of being. And yet, Hannibal always felt grounded in reality due much in part to its all-star leads. Mads Mikkelsen, who we all thought in the beginning would simply step into Hopkins’ shadow to replicate Dr. Lecter, did oh-so-much more than that with the character; with his diabolical flair for high society, Mikkelsen made Hannibal his own and swiftly managed to twist the serial killer into a deceptively compassionate–and at times–likable pro/antagonist. His match? Hugh Dancy, who effortlessly played crazy and controlled the dreamscapes that endlessly torment Will Graham throughout the series. Watching these actors revel in the cat-and-mouse game they love to play is as entertaining as it is addicting. Fuller wove a beautiful tapestry (not unlike Hannibal’s corpse-infused designs), and Mikkelsen and Dancy danced in it marvelously with grace and undeniable conviction.

As hard as it is to see the show go, the writing has been on the wall for awhile. Hannibal was never able to climb out of its low ratings hole, and so NBC had no choice but to mark season 3 as the end. It’s sad to leave these characters behind and even more frustrating to do so before their stories reach their natural conclusions. That being said, it’s hard to hate on the network that had the guts to give birth to such a peculiar kind of series. On top of the obvious violence, gore, and other “viewer discretion is advised” material that makes Hannibal what it is, Fuller wasn’t afraid to drizzle his show in copious amounts of philosophical and metaphysical exchanges you normally wouldn’t find on broadcast television. In fact, the same can be said for pretty much everything else this bizarre show set out to do. Oft-featured directors David Slade, Michael Rymer, and this season’s Vincenzo Natali wield the camera in ways that make our window into the world of Hannibal a character unto itself. Incessant close-ups of liquids like water and blood–in addition to most bizarre angles and dizzying mental lapses–successfully aided in driving viewers into the emotionally fractured abyss that Hannibal called home. You can literally pause the show at any moment and like magic you’re presented with a wonderfully construed canvas of artwork, every frame a unique painting, breathtaking to behold. Hannibal was never afraid to commit the unexpected, to look and sound and feel and taste, well, different from everything else. Now take all of these things into consideration; the network bet big on Fuller’s cinematic adaptation of this classic tale and fans should consider themselves lucky to have made it this far into the journey.

A most delicious experience it was (and continues to be) for Fannibals worldwide. As season 3 resumes, be sure to consume and enjoy every ticking second that goes by. Now that it’s grown out of its procedural roots, Hannibal has fully embraced its true design: Will hunting down his friend, his enemy, his equal in the show’s most beautiful scenery yet: Florence, Italy. And when it’s all over, an everlasting fact will remain: Hannibal, for all of its elegant flourishes and suspenseful, high-class drama, is the best premium cable show that aired on a broadcast network.

Jump after the break to see Fuller and NBC’s reactionary quotes to today’s news. Continue reading An ode to ‘Hannibal’ as TV’s boldest experiment gets the axe →

‘Bombshell,’ the Marilyn Monroe musical from ‘Smash,’ is upgrading to Broadway

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Good news, Smashers! The musical within the musical drama is coming to Broadway. Of course I’m talking about Bombshell, the fictional B’way musical featured in NBC’s short-lived drama starring Katherine McPhee and Megan Hilty. After getting cut two seasons in, fans of the show we all loved to hate-watch continued to support it by buying the Bombshell soundtrack. The creatives behind the show and the music caught wind of this, teamed up with the non-profit Actors Fund, and took to Kickstarter to rake up the cash to bring the Marilyn Monroe musical to life at the Minskoff Theater for one-night only. The limited engagement sold out in minutes, and lucky fans in attendance experienced the Smash songs with more than a handful of the show’s stars belting them out, including leads McPhee and Hilty, as well as Christian Borle and Debra Messing. The show was such a success that Universal Stage Productions has decided to move forward with the idea on everyone’s minds: just bring Bombshell to Broadway already!

Smash executive producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan, who also produced live adaptations The Sound Of Music and Peter Pan for NBC, will produce the new Bombshell when its hits a stage under the bright lights of New York City. Joining them as EPs are Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, who wrote the Bombshell songs for the TV series. Though the behind-the-scenes crew is shaping up nicely, there hasn’t been any word as to whether or not any Smash actors are participating in this extended encore of sorts. (Please Megan Hilty, be our Marilyn!)

NBC head Bob Greenlight is excited for the work ahead: “There is a still a lot of love for ‘Smash’ and a rabid fan base out there, and we’re thrilled to be able to keep the dream alive as we work towards bringing ‘Bombshell’ to theatre audiences. ‘Smash’ was ambitious because every episode was a complicated musical for television and we also built the foundation of the musical-within-the-musical about Marilyn’s endlessly fascinating and tumultuous life. Over the course of two seasons an entire ‘Bombshell’ score was written to service ‘Smash’ storylines, and now that show will have a chance to stand on its own.”

“We are so thrilled that Smash isn’t over and that Bombshell gets to live on,” Zadan chimed in. “The Emmy-nominated songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, including the iconic ‘Let Me Be Your Star,’ are every bit the caliber of their Tony- and Grammy-winning Broadway work. The Actors Fund benefit reinforced how alive this material is on stage and how much the audience wants to see the Marilyn Monroe musical in its entirety.”

“As life imitates art, Joshua Bergasse, our brilliant Emmy-winning choreographer from ‘Smash,’ actually made his Broadway debut this season as a choreographer and was nominated for a Tony Award,” added Meron. “Now he will get the chance to reimagine his exhilarating ‘Bombshell’ dances for the theatre.”

Click here to catch glimpses of the one-off benefit concert, perhaps a window into what we can expect when Bombshell comes to Broadway for good!

[Via Broadway World]

Arnold Schwarzenegger: actor, governor, ultimate prankster!

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Arnold Schwarzenegger gets in character for charity leading up to his the release of his new movie Terminator: Genisys. After being transformed in the makeup chair to become his iconic film character The Terminator, Ah-nold takes to Hollywood Boulevard where he interacts with unsuspecting bystanders and even a Terminator street impersonator. The former Governor also visits Madame Tussauds wax museum to prank visitors like a pro. It’s all funny stuff, and it’s for a good cause. He’s promoting his charity After-School All-Stars that benefits after-school programs for kids. Omaze is hosting donations, and you can enter to win a ticket to the Genisys premiere in Los Angeles.  Way to go, Schwarzenegger; hearty laughs for a good cause!