Steven Spielberg has found his stride again. In Lincoln he tells the historic tale… As the Civil War nears its end, President Abraham Lincoln clashes with members of his cabinet over the issue of abolishing slavery. Daniel Day-Lewis plays our sixteenth President to a T, Sally Field is Mary Todd, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Robert Todd, and Tommy Lee Jones is Thaddeus Stevens. Rounding out this all-star cast is Lee Pace, Jackie Earle Haley, Gregory Itzin, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, and Jared Harris as Ulysses S. Grant.
As we inch closer to fall and Halloween, you can sense the return of Ryan Murphy’s spooktacular inventive anthology series American Horror Story. Over the course of the last few weeks, FX has dropped clues for fans to watch and dissect. The first three can be viewed here, and the rest of them have been neatly posted to AHS‘ official Facebook page. The most intriguing of the bunch include two new trailers introducing the members of Asylum and they are Jessica Lange, Zachary Quinto, Lily Rabe, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and newcomers Adam Levine, Chloë Sevigny, Joseph Fiennes, and James Cromwell. Other new players not featured in the trailers are Jenna Dewan and Clea Duvall. Watch an introductory trailer above and an even insaner one after the break; they both play in front of an AHS theme-infused rendition of the famous song “Que Sera Sera.”
Below, flip through four creepy pieces of key art; I wouldn’t recommend peeking before bedtime.
Following two tantalizing teasers, Showtime has released a full-on trailer for the second season of its critically acclaimed drama Homeland. Carrie looks to be a lot more stable following her shock treatment at the end of the first season, and this time she’s going undercover as a brunette with brown eyes. She’s still popping pills, mind you, but now we know that without them she can’t do her job. What else? Saul is there for moral and professional support, and David Estes looks on with suspicion. On the other side Brody is still praying with the Qur’an in cahoots with the terrorist Abu Nazir, but it appears as if he’s still treading a fine line between acting as war hero and serving as a “turned” terrorist. In the meantime, Carrie and Virgil and his cousin are back at video surveilling Brody and the clip ends with a major twist: Carrie and Brody get back together again? All of this plays in front of a beautiful, haunting rendition of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” by Scala & Kolacny Brothers.
Homeland returns Sunday, September 30 on Showtime.
All of the activity has led to this, or so says the tagline of the upcoming Paranormal Activity film. In the fourth installment of the scary franchise, returning directors Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost (Paranormal Activity 3, Catfish) jump back to the present making PA 4 a true sequel to PA 2 (if you can recall, last year’s PA 3 took movie-goers to the ’80s as they discovered protagonist Katie’s backstory. 27 seconds into this extended, delightfully frightening trailer you can clearly see the camera’s timestamp display November 2011 so you can expect a story that will take place following the scares as seen in the second film. Katie (Katie Featherston) and her son Hunter are back to terrorize a mother and daughter in their demonic ways. Zack Estrin (The River, No Ordinary Family, Prison Break) wrote the script.
Cloud Atlas explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future. Action, mystery and romance weave dramatically through the story as one soul is shaped from a killer into a hero and a single act of kindness ripples across centuries to inspire a revolution in the distant future.
That is the official synopsis out now for the upcoming film Cloud Atlas. Written for the screen and directed by siblings Andy and Lana Wachowski (The Matrix) and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), Cloud Atlas is adapted from a 2004 novel written by David Mitchell. The epic tale tells multiple stories and intricately weaves them all together. It spans across centuries and travels between the past, present, and future. And it cannot be delegated to a single genre; Cloud Atlas is a romance story with elements of action-adventure, fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi. It’s also being described as political and philosophical. “Why keep genres separated?” exclaims Andy Washowski.
It’s got a great cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, Zhou Xun , Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, and Hugh Grant. And get this: The majority of these actors will be playing multiple characters in the film. “We all see this amazing opportunity to use the entire cast in multiple roles,” the filmmakers explain. “We love actors and we saw this chance to not just play different characters, but different ages, different races, different genders. Representing a core concept of the book: an idea of connectedness and karma, each character inheriting the consequences of their lives.”
To spread the word of their upcoming genre-defying epic, the Wachowskis and Twyker released a very long trailer maxing out at 5 minutes and 41 seconds. You’ll really get a sense of the massive scope Cloud Atlas brings to the table, both visually and in its storytelling format. For more, jump after the break to watch the filmmakers discuss how the movie came together and what movie-goers can expect from such a unique work of art.
Shortly after Daniel Craig as James Bond escorted the Queen of England to the Olympics in this highly entertaining clip, NBC aired this new teaser for the upcoming 007 flick Skyfall. Though it mostly contains selections from the previously releases teaser trailer, there are some new shots featured here including a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it look at the movie’s antagonist Raoul Silva played by Javier Bardem and a stunning action sequence that is only slightly tongue-and-cheek there at the end.
Update: Jump after the break to find two new Skyfall trailers; they’re the best ones yet packed with jaw-dropping action sequences and our first real acquaintance with Bardem’s Silva. They are domestic and international versions of the same trailer, with only slight differences here and there. Discern them after the break. Continue reading ‘Skyfall’ teaser airs during the Olympics [Update: Lengthier theatrical trailers posted]→
As promised, here is the teaser trailer for Zach Snyder’s upcoming Superman movie Man of Steel. But there’s a twist. Warner Bros. has released two trailers today. While the footage in both remains the same, it’s the narration that’s different. Kevin Costner, who plays Clark Kent’s adoptive father Jonathan Kent, shares his wisdom in the clip embedded above; Russell Crowe, who plays Kal-El’s biological father Jor-El, speaks in the teaser posted after the break. If Snyder’s Superman is going to capture our collective imagination and tell a story worth investing in, it must peel back the layer of steel and show the origins of how the man decided to become a superhero.
What these teasers suggested is that Clark (played by Henry Cavill) will have a decision to make: embrace his powers to fend off evildoers or take advantage of them for selfish purposes. Costner as father Kent says, “You have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be. Whoever that man is, good character or bad, is gonna change the world.” Crowe as Jor-El embues, “You will give the people an ideal to strive towards…In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.” Even as a young boy, having been supplanted from the planet Kypton to Earth, Clark aspires to become something super; he dons a small red cape in his yard as witnessed here. He is destined to grow up and become Superman; what this movie sets out to do is show us how he gets there. And if done right, Synder might just have the next best superhero saga following Nolan’s dissection of The Batman.
“It’s only 13 episodes so I’m going to be careful with what I say because I really want you guys to experience it. I’m going to be tight lipped.” Fringe sole showrunner J.H. Wyman warned fans early on that the show’s panel would not spoil anything for fans eagerly anticipating the sci-fi drama’s fifth and final season. He did, however, shed light on when exactly he finally decided on how the show would end. Ideas were already brewing during season one, “but those change because people bring things to the pie that you don’t expect. I had two and a half versions of what I should do at the end and I decided about a month ago.” He also teased fans by saying that he’s already told the cast members how things will conclude. “We want to write the scripts early to make sure everything is absolutely perfect. If I’m doing that, I wanted to make sure the actors had enough time to bring their ideas and to know where they are going for the final season. I want to make sure they had enough advance warning.” The only thing that Wyman would spill is that the season 5 premiere will take place in the year 2036 and is “going to pick up exactly where we left off in [episode] 419, the next day.”
Other tidbits… Wyman would not confirm nor deny the return of Henry Ian Cusack’s character; and we will soon learn why we have yet to see female Observers. Interesting, yes.
Without diving deep into where season five will go, the Fringe panel mostly reminisced about the past four seasons and at one point looking back made Jasika Nicole (Astrid), Anna Torv (Olivia), and even Lance Reddick (Broyles) cry like babies.
“The characters don’t end when the show ends,” said Josh Jackson (Peter). Two items so worth mentioning spring from this statement. Wyman announced that a book will release after the show ends; it will tell a tale through the perspective of our friend September the Observer. “We are trying to give you guys back so much because without you, we would not be here,” Wyman said to the cheering fanbase.
And then there’s this bombshell. When a fan asked if the show will survive after the fifth season airs, John Noble (Walter) responded like this: “Anything is possible. If this season goes off as we think it will, I would think a film is very possible down the track.” Added Jackson, “The show will live on in some form or another.” These are actors talking here, not network execs or movie studios, and so this must be taken with a grain of salt. But still, knowing that the actors are just as passionate as the fans are that they’d even mention such an exciting idea should make you feel good inside no matter what happens.
With all those words out of the way, indulge yourself with the season 5 preview trailer that’s embedded above. Most of it contains highlights from last season, especially from pivotal episode 419. But there’s also some new stuff sprinkled in that’ll get you going. Fun fact: Wyman says that this video was used to sell a fifth season to FOX. The cult fanbase had its say, of course, and for that Wyman and the entire cast of the show forever remains grateful.
In the future Olivia will join Walter, Peter, Astrid, Henrietta, and even Belly in the fight against the Observers. “We need to keep those bald-headed basterds occupied,” says Peter. “What’d you have in mind?” Olivia asks. “I think it’s time we caused a few fringe events of our own,” Peter replies. But it is Walter’s new line that takes the licorice-lined cake: “I know what we need to do. I know how to rid our world of the Observers.” BOOM.
Fringe returns Friday, September 28 at 9PM on FOX.
Update: Major kudos awarded to Warner Bros. for posting the Fringe panel in its entirety to YouTube in glorious high definition! Watch the waterworks fly in the video link provided here. Also inside you’ll be privy to a Comic Con exclusive video made by the Fringe team for the fans; it spectacularly highlights some of the best moments of the show over the course of the past four seasons and tees things up for the final thirteen. Pick an hour out of your day and WATCH IT.
The Walking Dead returns October 14 at 9PM on AMC. And here’s your very first look at season three! While Rick and his gang attempt to penetrate the prison merely teased at the end of last season, Andrea and Michonne are captured by next season’s villain known as The Governor and are brought to a town called Woodbury. There will come a time when these storylines cross and Rick will face off with The Governor as our hero won’t easily give up their newfound home. “I’m not giving up this prison. We took it, it’s ours. We split blood. If we see you out here, anywhere near our people, I’ll kill you,” snarls a gruffy Rick Grimes. Speaking of appearances, you’ll surely notice that Rick is overdue for a haircut and shave and the former goes for his son Carl too; and old man Hershel is rocking one helleva white beard. What else? David Morrissey’s Governor comes off as an inviting fellow in this teaser; obviously everything is not as it seems here. “I don’t trust him,” Michonne whispers to Andrea in that perfect little town of his. And then, at the very end, Merle returns in the flesh this time. Dontcha like what he did with his stub?
Jump after the break to see The Walking Dead Comic Con banner. It features Rick with a hoard of zombies creeping behind him, Michonne with her zombie slaves wielding her katana sword, and The Governor offering his hand with that mysterious helicopter flying in the skies above him. “May-day, May-day!” the soldiers controlling the ‘copter scream in the clip. Is it the same one Rick saw recently? The questions pile on as anticipation ramps up like never before. Is it October yet? Continue reading Comic Con 2012: ‘The Walking Dead’ season 3 trailer inside→
Sam Raimi, the director of the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man trilogy, is back in Oz The Great and Powerful. In it he tells the fantastical origin story of The Wizard of Oz, a character originally invented by L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The story serves as a prequel to the famous 1939 film starring Judy Garland. A synopsis follows:
When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot–fame and fortune are his for the taking–that is until he meets three witches, Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity–and even a bit of wizardry–Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
Oz: The Great and Powerful opens March 8, 2013 in 3D.
Lionsgate is outputting a remake of the critically panned Sylvester Stallone vehicle Judge Dredd. The new one is simply called Dredd and it stars Karl Urban (Star Trek) as the judge, jury, and executioner. He is assigned to rookie Cassandra Anderson (played by Olivia Thirlby) and together they attempt to take down prostitute turned drug lord Ma-Ma (played by Game of Thrones‘ Lena Headey). The film, directed by Pete Travis (Vantage Point) promises to return “the celebrated character to the dark, visceral incarnation from John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra’s revered comic strip.” Will the remake end up being better than the corny original? You be the judge.
This marks the fourth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series to debut on television. As you will see in the first full-length trailer embedded above, the Ninja Turtles embody a unique style of CGI animation. If the clip is any indication of what’s in store, viewers can prepare to watch the Turtles’ origin story unfold in the premiere episode. And if you are wondering, the voice cast includes recognizable talents like Jason Biggs (American Pie), Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings), Robert Paulsen (who voiced Raphael in the original 1987 TMNT animated series) Kevin Michael Richardson (The Cleveland Show), and Mae Whitman (Arrested Development).
Executive producer Ciro Neili told EW the aim of the show: “I tried to boil it down and get to really what’s at the core of it which is this sense of brothers and camaraderie. Everything grew out of that. It’s like a band. You want a Beatles thing.”
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles debuts October 20 on Nickelodeon. Kowabunga!
